"Get him to go farther away," unexpectedly, Long Xiaojiu noticed that Gu Jingtian was still lingering nearby. Su Wan'er glanced over and sure enough, he was standing behind a tent not far away.
"Brother Jingtian, you can go back first. I'm really okay," she said.
After seeing Gu Jingtian leave, a sly glint seemed to flash across Long Xiaojiu's eyes. Then, taking advantage of a moment when Su Wan'er wasn't paying attention, she took out the prepared powder and threw it at her.
Su Wan'er was highly skilled in martial arts, and her hands and feet were much quicker. She grabbed Long Xiaojiu's hand.
"Xiaojiu, what are you doing? Don't be naughty. You know you can't beat me," Su Wan'er said as she let go of her after explaining.
"Who are you exactly? What on earth are you doing here?" Long Xiaojiu was extremely confused. Su Wan'er had inexplicably gone from being the Queen of the Jin Kingdom to the Marshal of the Su Family Army. And she had told Long Xiaojiu that she was Uncle Emperor. But then why was she so entangled with this general just now?
"I know you're afraid I'm lying to you now, and I know the current situation makes it hard for you to trust others easily. But I really am your Uncle Emperor. That day when I gave you the dragon robe, you whispered in my ear that this token was your most precious possession. So, I never took it out or showed it to others unless it was a critical moment. Today, I'm returning it to you..."
"Are you really?" Long Xiaojiu still hesitated. Although the Southern Border was an ancient and mysterious tribe, and as a daughter of the Long family, she knew many strange things, from the very beginning, she had firmly believed in her Uncle Emperor. Now, Uncle Emperor suddenly told her that she was actually a woman.
"Even if you don't believe me for now, could you at least tell me why you came to the Southern Border? I'm worried about your safety. Why don't you come to the army with me?"
Su Wan'er had thought about Long Xiaojiu's purpose of appearing in the Southern Border army more than once. She guessed that with Long Xiaojiu's personality, she might want to avenge the Long family single - handedly. But now the Southern Border was completely in the hands of the Yuwen family. If Xiaojiu really had this plan, wouldn't it be extremely dangerous?
"I... Don't worry. I'll try my best to protect myself. You'd better take this. Anyway, I don't need it now. It's safer with you than here in the Southern Border," Long Xiaojiu said. Although she couldn't accept what Su Wan'er said immediately, she still let down her guard because of this familiar concern.
"Xiaojiu, what on earth do you want to do? Could you tell me? How can I not worry about you like this?" Su Wan'er knew it wasn't easy for her to fully trust her.
"Xiaojiu can't say for now. But if you're really Uncle Emperor, could you do me a favor?" Obviously, Long Xiaojiu had now returned to her cute and innocent girlish image.
Su Wan'er smiled at her. "Of course. Tell me. As long as I can do it." Now she was the Marshal of the Su Family Army, and this title was earned by herself, so she was much more confident than before.
"After this war, the Yuwen family will surely be more eager to recruit soldiers. They will definitely come to provoke and attack the Jin Kingdom again within a month. At that time, could you drag out the war for a while?" Long Xiaojiu pleaded sincerely.
"You mean... You want me to delay the Southern Border army as much as possible, not kill all the newly recruited soldiers, and make the Yuwen family not want to care about domestic affairs, right?" Different from the Yuwen family, the Long family was at least the traditional ruler of the Southern Border. And Xiaojiu, as the Holy Maiden, always valued her people highly.
"Yes. Is that okay?" Long Xiaojiu's face showed an extremely eager expression.
"Of course it's okay. Moreover, I can help you drive the Yuwen family out of power. Xiaojiu, this is not only because of our friendship but also what the people of the Jin and Southern Border kingdoms want. Only when the four major families regain power and drive the Yuwen family out can the war really end." As a woman, Su Wan'er could easily pull Xiaojiu into her arms and hug her lovingly.
"Xiaojiu, you don't have to work so hard and put everything on yourself. Do you want to trust me? I can help you." This girl was more independent and responsible than she had imagined. But with just her own strength, even with the foundation of the Long family, she couldn't withstand the power of the entire Yuwen family.
"I... Anyway, just do as I say. Thank you for today. It's so late. I'll go back first." Long Xiaojiu didn't know if it was because of shyness or simply because she wasn't used to the fact that her Uncle Emperor was a woman. So she ran away in a hurry. But then she thought it seemed impolite, so she turned back and said, "If there's really any trouble, I'll come to you for help."
"Hey... Xiaojiu," Su Wan'er wanted to call her back, but she knew she couldn't stop her.
"Is the old acquaintance you mentioned the Holy Maiden of the Southern Border?" Gu Jingtian unexpectedly appeared behind her. Su Wan'er was deep in thought about Xiaojiu's matter and was immediately startled.
"Brother Jingtian, why are you still here?" Su Wan'er couldn't help but feel a bit angry. She didn't know how much of their conversation he had heard.
"Why am I still here? I want to ask you if you know how dangerous it was just now. Do you know what kind of existence the Holy Maiden of the Southern Border is? You actually dared to stay alone with her."
Gu Jingtian was really annoyed. The witchcraft in the Southern Border was unpredictable. Su Wan'er had sent him away and then casually chatted with that person. She was the commander - in - chief of an army. Now the two countries were in a full - scale war. The people of the Southern Border hated her to the core. How many people wanted her dead, and how much impact would her death have on the war? Did she even know that?!
"You mean Xiaojiu. Now that the Long family has lost power, she can hardly be called the Holy Maiden. We've known each other for a long time. We're not only old acquaintances but also friends. I know she won't do anything to me."
The two returned to the military camp all the way. Su Wan'er explained all the way, but Gu Jingtian still thought she was being very hasty.
But early the next morning, an even more hasty thing happened. A warhorse galloping at top speed with an eight - hundred - li - urgent message brought an imperial edict written by Si Junlin in the palace two days ago.
To be honest, Su Wan'er came from a prominent family, had been a queen for several years, and had even been an emperor for a few days. Although she had seen countless imperial edicts, none of them was as hasty as this one.
Si Junlin actually ordered the generals of the Su Family Army to immediately return to the capital to report on their duties, leaving only a few resident deputy marshals here to defend. He claimed it was because the war had been a great victory and he wanted to hold a celebration banquet for them.
But this was just the beginning. It was reasonable to report on their duties, but they should just send a couple of generals. How could they all be recalled? What was the point of this back - and - forth hassle?