The Grand Elder is now looking for Long Xiaojiu. If the entire Yuwen Family learns that Xiaojiu is the Holy Maiden, won't they just be after that token? Long Xiaojiu might very likely be killed to silence her then.
"Right! By then, it won't be the palace servants looking for Xiaojiu, but the soldiers."
"It was my oversight, Your Highness."
"Let's just wait and see. The reason we dared to tell the Grand Elder was originally because we knew she had her eye on Xiaojiu. Even if she knows Xiaojiu is the Holy Maiden, she won't send troops to capture her recklessly just to seize the token. I'm afraid according to the Grand Elder's thinking, she'll even keep this matter a secret."
Sure enough, most of the guards in the palace were recalled. It seems that from now on, the Grand Elder can only send her trusted subordinates to look for Xiaojiu. In this case, Xiaojiu will be in much less danger. Su Wan'er anxiously awaited the arrival of the queen - crowning ceremony the day after tomorrow.
"Right! How could I forget such an important thing today? You haven't asked the Yuwen Family to have the Holy Maiden show up yet." Su Wan'er slapped her forehead and looked at Si Junlin reproachfully. Such a thing should of course be mentioned earlier. Otherwise, if they're caught on a technicality tomorrow and the Southern Border accuses them of being picky, what should they do?
"Don't worry. I've made all the arrangements. There will surely be someone to mention it."
"Someone? Who?" They were both here. Who else from the Jin Kingdom would mention this matter?
"Of course it's the Emperor of the Jin Kingdom who personally issued an imperial edict to mention it."
"The Emperor of the Jin Kingdom? Si Junlin, what nonsense are you talking about?" It took Su Wan'er a moment to come to her senses. "Did you secretly issue an imperial edict? This is indeed a well - thought - out plan. If the queen were to propose it, the Southern Border might just make up an excuse to fob us off. But if it's an imperial edict personally issued by the Emperor of the Jin Kingdom, the Southern Border will surely take it seriously."
According to the etiquette, since the imperial edict from the Jin Kingdom had arrived, as a female general of the Jin Kingdom, she also had to go to receive it. Sure enough, in the evening, a eunuch came to invite them to the main hall to receive the imperial edict from the Emperor of the Jin Kingdom.
It was probably the first time in Si Junlin's life that the emperor had to receive his own imperial edict.
"Let's go, Your Majesty the Queen, to receive the imperial edict." Su Wan'er teased him. "I wonder if you'll kneel then." Kneeling to receive his own imperial edict was really quite comical.
Si Junlin also felt embarrassed: "Otherwise, I'll tell the Grand Elder later that there's no custom of kneeling to receive an imperial edict in the Jin Kingdom." After much hesitation, Su Wan'er forbade his risky and absurd behavior. Si Junlin had no choice but to obediently kneel down to receive his own imperial edict.
Sure enough, the tone in the imperial edict was rather harsh. It was obvious that it was taking advantage of the Jin Kingdom's strength and its current superiority on the battlefield to oppress the Southern Border.
However, it seemed that the Southern Border was actually benefiting from this matter. After all, as long as the war stopped, any request was justifiable. Therefore, the Grand Elder could only stand there respectfully and listen to the messenger read out the edict.
After arranging for the messenger to leave, the Grand Elder then came back to discuss with the queen: "Regarding what the Emperor of the Jin Kingdom mentioned in the imperial edict just now about having all the elders and the Holy Maiden attend, the Southern Border has already made all the arrangements. Your Majesty the Queen needn't worry. Just prepare well."
"Grand Elder, aren't you just telling lies with your eyes open? I personally came with the guards this afternoon to tell you about the Holy Maiden. After I went back and made a thorough inquiry, I found out that the missing general is the real Holy Maiden. May I ask who the Holy Maiden the Yuwen Family is going to send is?" Si Junlin deliberately made things difficult. He had been waiting for this moment. He wanted the Southern Border to be unable to produce the Holy Maiden and leave the seat of the Holy Maiden empty, waiting for Long Xiaojiu to return rightfully. If they casually arranged a fake Holy Maiden, there would surely be a dispute.
Moreover, the Yuwen Family was in power now. Even if Long Xiaojiu came back with the sacred object, there was no guarantee that the Yuwen Family wouldn't suppress the matter.
"Your Majesty the Queen can see that the Yuwen Family is in power in the Southern Border without a doubt. Naturally, the Holy Maiden should come from our Yuwen Family. What this noble person said today is all about the past and doesn't count." The Grand Elder was also very embarrassed and tried to muddle through.
"Hey, Grand Elder, you didn't say so this afternoon. You clearly said with certainty that the Holy Maiden is the unique person in the Southern Border. Naturally, the replacement of the Holy Maiden is a major event celebrated by the whole country of the Southern Border. Why have I never heard that the Holy Maiden has been replaced?"
"She has indeed been replaced... because of the tense situation in the war, we just replaced her in a hurry. The current Holy Maiden is a young girl from our family, Yuwen Shan."
Si Junlin thought of Yu Wen Shan's ugly face and felt angry. So he became even more indignant: "Grand Elder, do you think you can fool me? The queen - crowning ceremony hasn't even taken place yet, and you just casually pick a girl from the Yuwen Family to fob me off?" Si Junlin glared at him angrily.
"If I didn't know about this today, it would be fine. But now that I know, I will never tolerate such a thing happening. Moreover, I've just received the imperial edict from our emperor. Grand Elder, do you know that disobeying the imperial edict in the Jin Kingdom is a capital offense? Even if I wanted to help you, I don't have the courage. Please find the real Holy Maiden to attend the ceremony the day after tomorrow. Otherwise, I'm afraid I can't accept the position of queen."
Si Junlin was used to the status of being the supreme ruler of the world. Now that he had said these two sentences, he felt very relieved. He flicked his sleeves and walked out with Su Wan'er.
Su Wan'er held back her laughter all the way until they reached the queen's palace and then burst out laughing.
"Hahaha, it's so cute. Did you see the Grand Elder's face? He was already extremely anxious because Xiaojiu was missing. Now we give him such a surprise. He's such an old man. I hope he won't be so angry that he dies." Su Wan'er couldn't stop laughing, but Si Junlin, contrary to his usual self, felt that this was a bit unfair.
"After all, they've lost their beloved one. Even though we had to do this for the big plan today, you don't have to laugh at them behind their backs like this."
"Hey, why are you so kind - hearted today?" Su Wan'er stopped laughing and was quite surprised by Si Junlin's conscience.
"Because I know the feeling of having the one I love leave."
"Alright, alright, alright. You mean you and that Grand Elder are really birds of a feather."
"Miss, go and rest quickly. The bed has been made." Qingcao saw that her young mistress had deliberately made the emperor unhappy and naturally came to the rescue.
Su Wan'er was very glad at this moment that she had brought Qingcao, this smart girl, with her when she left. Only in this way could she live comfortably now.
"Ouch, although it's cold in the Southern Border, it's still summer now. They still heat the kang at night. It's really warm." Su Wan'er lay on the comfortable bed, looking very content.
"Miss, actually... actually, after you left, the emperor was really sad." Qingcao couldn't help but speak up.
"How do you know? Did the general tell you?" Su Wan'er guessed that besides her elder brother, who was always meddling in other people's business, no one else would say good things about Si Junlin.
"It's not just the general who said so. It seems that everyone in the palace is spreading the word... that the emperor seems to have changed into a different person. That day when I returned to the palace, I heard Xiaotao and the others talk about it for a long time." Qingcao remembered that when she returned to the palace that day, all her good friends were telling her about the emperor.