Su Wan'er was in a daze until Qingcao, who had been waiting anxiously outside the Yangxin Hall, welcomed her in.
"Miss, how was it? Did anything unexpected happen when you paid your respects to the Empress Dowager?"
Qingcao poured her a cup of tea. It was her habit to drink something to moisten her throat after coming back from outside. But she found that Su Wan'er was so absent - minded that she didn't even reach out to take it.
"Miss, Miss?" Qingcao called out twice before Su Wan'er snapped out of it.
"Miss, what's wrong with you?"
"Nothing. The Empress Dowager just said a lot of things. Qingcao, do you think Si Junlin really cared a great deal when I left back then?" Originally, the war situation was urgent that day. Moreover, over the years, Si Junlin's actions had shown that he didn't really care about her, the queen.
So she didn't take it to heart. But now thinking about it, maybe Si Junlin did care about this. Otherwise, the Empress Dowager wouldn't have had that kind of expression.
Just like this, they stayed in the capital for several days. When Su Wan'er came, she had planned to stay for only three days. The other generals had the same intention because they were afraid of delaying the war. But now, hoping that the national teacher would receive his letter and reply, Si Junlin, in his capacity as the emperor, ordered the generals to stay for three more days. However, there was still no reply from the national teacher.
A carrier - pigeon message should have arrived in a day. Wutai Mountain, where the national teacher went on a pilgrimage, was only a hundred miles or so away from the capital. But now there was no news at all. It was obvious that no one had received the carrier - pigeon messages sent out.
Having no other choice, Su Wan'er had to follow Si Junlin on the road as he had said.
Regarding the emperor's personal campaign, the ministers had submitted memorial after memorial, believing that there was no crown prince in the country at present. Not to mention a crown prince, there wasn't even an imperial heir. It was really dangerous for the emperor to go.
Su Wan'er had heard this when she went to the morning court on Si Junlin's behalf. But since Si Junlin found out about it himself, he had flown into a rage.
So, the only meaning of his existence as the emperor was to continue the imperial line for the Jin Kingdom? Now that he had no son, he couldn't even die a straightforward death. These old men could even say such things. It was really infuriating.
Because of the identity swap, Su Wan'er and Si Junlin had to ride side by side on their horses. Originally, as the deputy commander, Gu Jingtian should have ridden side by side with Su Wan'er behind Si Junlin.
Because of what had happened that day, Si Junlin, in Su Wan'er's identity, had said such things, which naturally made Gu Jingtian sad for a long time. So now he tried to avoid Su Wan'er as much as possible.
Originally, this was exactly the effect Si Junlin wanted. But facing Su Wan'er's threat, Si Junlin had to promise her to comfort Gu Jingtian and clean up the mess he had made.
According to what Su Wan'er had told him, Si Junlin had to bite the bullet and take the initiative to show his friendliness to Gu Jingtian.
"Brother Jingtian, this horse today is still the one you gave me. Two years have passed, and its stamina has gotten better and better."
"Really? I'm glad Wan'er likes it." Gu Jingtian had been in a gloomy mood for several days. Now hearing such words, he was naturally very happy.
"Does Wan'er still remember? When we were kids, you always liked to follow me on my left - rear side. It wasn't that your horse was slow. You were just afraid that it would not listen to you if it walked in front of me."
Hearing such words, Si Junlin's face immediately turned cold. He was about to say that he didn't remember, but Su Wan'er coughed beside him as a hint.
He could only say impatiently, "Remember, remember. I remember everything."
So, there was nothing he could do. Si Junlin had to ride the horse that Gu Jingtian had given Su Wan'er and ride side by side with him behind Su Wan'er.
Su Wan'er rode the imperial war - horse and watched the two harmonious people with great satisfaction. She had felt sorry for Gu Jingtian these days, and now she felt a bit better.
Gu Jingtian smiled all the way and talked to Si Junlin from time to time. But Si Junlin had no intention of talking to him at all.
Before long, Si Junlin said that he had something to discuss with the emperor. Then he whipped his horse hard and rode a few steps quickly to get beside Su Wan'er.
"Si Junlin, why can't you just follow the rules obediently once? The commander - in - chief should ride beside the deputy commander. Why did you come here?"
"And what about you? When have you ever been obedient? You were supposed to be the queen, but now you've come to the battlefield as the commander - in - chief?" Si Junlin naturally had complaints about this. He still had a bellyful of anger that he hadn't let out. How could he take care of that General Gu for her?
"I..." Originally, Su Wan'er had been very tough on this matter. But after experiencing all kinds of things in the palace these days, she couldn't be tough anymore. Maybe there were really some inappropriate things about her in this matter. So whenever Si Junlin mentioned how reluctant she was to be the queen, Su Wan'er didn't want to talk to him much.
"Si Junlin, you... Elder brother told me a few days ago about you dispersing the harem. It seems that this matter has a very bad influence in the capital. At the dinner that day, my father also asked about it. Why is that?"
Su Wan'er was always very puzzled. In every dynasty, the emperor's harem was always full. Moreover, Si Junlin was an emperor who still had no heir. During the morning court these days, some ministers even argued fiercely about this matter in the court.
"For no reason. I'm just tired of those women," Si Junlin said casually about this matter, showing none of the Empress Dowager's worries.
"Really? I also told my father and elder brother the same thing at that time. Those women are really old. It's inevitable that you're tired of looking at them. It's better to replace them with some new ones," Su Wan'er secretly rejoiced that she seemed to have guessed right.
"What? Replace them? When did you say this?" Si Junlin suddenly realized that something was wrong.
"At the dinner that day. After you and Brother Jingtian went out, father and elder brother asked me about this. They guessed that you must have some difficulties. I just thought at that time that you were just tired of these women. There was no other reason." Her father and elder brother had overestimated him. Su Wan'er couldn't help feeling proud.
"Su Wan'er, you... I'm a wise emperor. General Su values the virtue of the monarch most. You! You actually said that I..." Didn't this clearly imply that he was a fatuous emperor?
Si Junlin didn't even have time to argue with her when he saw a scout come to report.
"Your Majesty, Commander - in - Chief. Our scouts in the front have detected some strange movements."
The group had just left the palace for half a day and had traveled less than a few dozen miles. Since it was the emperor's personal campaign, naturally a part of the imperial guards from the palace had also come out. Coupled with the attendants of the various generals, they were all elites. So there was no need to worry about safety.
Su Wan'er decided to go and check in person. But unexpectedly, the generals behind all stopped her and volunteered to go themselves.
Look, this was the difference between the commander - in - chief and the emperor. The commander - in - chief could charge to the front and shield the soldiers. But if it was the emperor on a personal campaign, even if he was at the forefront, everyone had to protect him more.
"Maybe the commander - in - chief should go with me," everyone knew that the commander - in - chief was highly skilled in martial arts, so no one stopped them this time.
The two rode their horses to the front of the troops. Sure enough, they found some figures moving one by one in the distance.
Could there be an ambush? It was impossible. The route they had planned before coming was to travel within the territory of the Jin Kingdom. After reaching the border, they would directly arrive beside the barracks. There should be no mistakes along the way. No one in the Jin Kingdom would dare to attack them.