"Your Majesty, what do you mean by that? As the Holy Maiden, it's only natural that I live in the palace. Since Your Majesty has extended this invitation, I'll just move closer from now on. I had some external affairs in the past few days, so I came a bit late. Please don't blame me."
As Long Xiaojiu said this, the people below naturally began to whisper among themselves. Who didn't know that the Holy Maiden had fled when the Yuwen family launched a campaign to usurp power from the Long family? She had dared not show herself during these days outside, and the Yuwen family had been eager to capture her. Yet now she dared to live in the palace?
"Yes, Your Majesty is new here and naturally doesn't know the customs of our Jin Kingdom. The Holy Maiden should indeed live in the palace." The Grand Elder suddenly spoke up at this moment, which surprised everyone even more. At this time, the people of the Yuwen family were all enraged. But out of respect for the Grand Elder's face and his usual authority, they all held back their anger.
Si Junlin didn't expect that getting through the Grand Elder would be so easy. Didn't this clearly mean that he was willing to cede power?
"That would be best. However, our Jin Kingdom has always respected men as the dominant gender, which has given rise to many unnecessary conflicts. Our Emperor will discuss something with the Holy Maiden in a few days and seems to have some questions. I hope the Holy Maiden will accept the invitation then."
"Definitely." Long Xiaojiu readily agreed, knowing that this was to ensure her safety in the palace. As long as the Emperor of the Jin Kingdom still wanted to see her, the Yuwen family wouldn't dare to act rashly.
The ceremony to enthrone the queen passed just like that. Presumably, Long Xiaojiu's return to the Holy Maiden's Palace would surely upset many people.
As the queen, Si Junlin finally had the opportunity to discuss things with Long Xiaojiu together with Su Wan'er. But before the palace servants could invite Long Xiaojiu over, they heard that Yuwen Shan seemed to have gone to cause trouble for Long Xiaojiu.
"What should we do? Xiaojiu... Now the palace must be full of people from the Yuwen family. What does Yuwen Shan want to do to Xiaojiu?" Su Wan'er was dressed in a guard's uniform but sitting on the bed in the queen's palace. She was extremely anxious at the moment.
"No, Qingcao, come with me. Si Junlin, you stay here. We'll go and save Xiaojiu." Su Wan'er picked up the sword she always carried and turned to walk out the door.
"Come back! Stop right there!" Si Junlin frowned and blocked her way. "You're just a guard now. Moreover, most people in the palace have recognized you after what happened these days. What good will it do if you go now?"
Su Wan'er also stopped in her tracks. Not to mention that everyone in the palace recognized her, but also that she didn't have her previous martial arts skills while in Si Junlin's body.
"But what should we do? Are we just going to watch Xiaojiu get persecuted by Yuwen Shan right after she came back?"
"She's at least the Holy Maiden. Although the palace is full of people from the Yuwen family, the Yuwen family has just had a marriage alliance with the Jin Kingdom. Naturally, they're the most afraid of touching the Holy Maiden. Yuwen Shan is probably just after the sacred artifact. But your Xiaojiu isn't a fool. Since it was announced today that the Emperor of the Jin Kingdom wants to see the Holy Maiden, Long Xiaojiu won't be in danger for the time being."
"But you know what kind of woman Yuwen Shan is. She's always been ruthless and has a deep hatred for Xiaojiu. What if she really doesn't care about anything?" Su Wan'er was faintly worried. Maybe there really was such a possibility. Compared with the interests in the Southern Border and her power there, Yuwen Shan seemed to act more impulsively and without a plan.
"If you're really worried, I'll go with you as the queen to take a look."
"That's right. How could I forget you, the queen? Let's go, hurry up!" Without caring about the royal etiquette or the appropriate clothes for going out, Su Wan'er pulled Si Junlin and ran all the way. Along the way, all the palace servants were looking at them.
"Wan'er, there's no need to be in such a hurry. Look at what you're doing. The palace will surely be full of rumors later." Si Junlin was really helpless. Moreover, she didn't have good martial arts skills in the first place. Being pulled by Su Wan'er like this, she was surely out of breath. And as a queen, it was really improper for her to be pulled by a guard.
"Okay, then let's walk faster. I'll let go of you."
Sure enough, when they arrived, Yuwen Shan had already led a group of people there to confront Long Xiaojiu.
Yuwen Shan actually wanted to force Long Xiaojiu to kneel with the power of her men, but Long Xiaojiu had brought some people from the Long family with her, so the two of them were at a stalemate there.
Su Wan'er was just about to speak up to help Long Xiaojiu when Si Junlin and Qingcao held her back.
"The Holy Maiden's place is so lively today. As soon as she returned to the palace, there are already people coming to congratulate her?" At this time, the best way was naturally to use the queen's status to confront Yuwen Shan properly. Otherwise, if they really fell out with her and fought head - on, they might end up outnumbered. If they angered this venomous woman Yuwen Shan, no one knew what crazy things she would do.
When Long Xiaojiu saw them coming, she naturally felt a warm feeling in her heart and gained some confidence. "Your Majesty has come."
After the two of them politely greeted each other, Long Xiaojiu invited Si Junlin to the main seat. On the side, Yuwen Shan found herself being ignored, so she immediately roared at Si Junlin: "Why is it you again? Do you still want to cause trouble and ruin my good deed today? I won't spare you!"
Facing Yuwen Shan's threat, Si Junlin calmly retorted: "Is this the rule of your Yuwen family? Your Holy Maiden still treats me with respect. Who do you think you are to yell at me, the queen?"
"Respect? Humph." Yuwen Shan snorted disdainfully and said, "I'm afraid she's colluding with foreign countries and being servile."
"Bold! The queen is my honored guest. How dare you spout such nonsense in my Holy Maiden's Palace?"
"Long Xiaojiu, you bitch. Do you really think you're still the highly - respected Holy Maiden? Attack!" At Yuwen Shan's order, her subordinates should have swarmed forward, but Long Xiaojiu took out the sacred artifact and placed it on the table with a bang.
"I didn't know that no one in the Southern Border palace recognizes me as the Holy Maiden anymore. But do you all still recognize this thing?"
Everyone immediately looked at each other. The Southern Border was an ancient place, and this jade jue had been passed down from ancient times. Naturally, everyone knew its significance, so they didn't dare to act rashly for a moment.
"Attack! Now the Yuwen family is in charge. I'm the Holy Maiden. Who still recognizes Long Xiaojiu? Quickly snatch that sacred artifact from her." Yuwen Shan was furious. On one hand, she lusted after the sacred artifact, and on the other hand, she was afraid that she might not be able to defeat Long Xiaojiu in a one - on - one fight.
"Tsk tsk," Si Junlin sneered disdainfully. "You have such a narrow mind and still dare to claim to be the Holy Maiden. Today I'll ask all of you. If Yuwen Shan becomes your Holy Maiden and leads you to bully the weak and force others in front of me, the queen, and the sacred artifact passed down from our ancestors, would you want such a Holy Maiden?"