"I also think what the Emperor said makes sense. Maybe it's not allowed to secretly mock Miss Xiao Jiu for getting close to Your Majesty, but after all, there are so many people watching in this palace now," Qingcao echoed from the side.
"Miss and the Emperor might as well have dinner first. It's already this late."
One after another, dishes from the Southern Border were placed on the table. Although it was against the rules for a guard and the Queen to dine at the same table, Si Junlin had already set the rules for the palace maids. And with Qingcao accompanying them, they couldn't say anything. They just assumed that the rules in the Jin Kingdom were intimidating, and that they could dine at the same table and serve their masters by the way.
Su Wan'er was absent - minded and still couldn't feel at ease.
"Something's wrong. I always feel that something's off. If Xiao Jiu is really in there, at least she should send someone out."
"Maybe... Maybe there's no one serving inside, and Miss Xiao Jiu is the only one there. Maybe she sent all the servants outside."
"Do you also think there were too many people outside just now?" Su Wan'er suddenly asked Qingcao excitedly.
Qingcao hesitated. "It seems there were more than usual, but... but it's also possible that the Grand Elder ordered them to guard the Saintess."
"Yes, the Grand Elder is so concerned about her. Isn't it natural for him to send more people? Didn't he withdraw all the guards in the palace when looking for her a few days ago?" Si Junlin deliberately picked up some food for her, indicating that she should focus on eating.
This made even less sense. Why would Xiao Jiu need the Grand Elder's people? The people she brought from the Long family were enough for her. Now that the Yuwen family hadn't shown any goodwill towards her, wouldn't it be like burying a landmine for herself if she kept the Yuwen family's subordinates?
"If you're really worried, I'll go with you to check."
Before Si Junlin could finish his words, an internal official who came to deliver the Grand Elder's order suddenly appeared outside.
"The Elder has ordered that it seems assassins from other countries have sneaked into the palace. Please, Queen, don't go out these days. In addition, for the Queen's safety, more guards have been added inside and outside the palace. I hope the Queen won't take offense."
"Oh, may I ask where these assassins came from? Have their tracks been seen?" It didn't make sense to forbid people from going out just because there were assassins. If this happened in the Jin Kingdom's palace, the imperial guards would surely be dispatched to search for them. Why was it that here they just locked everyone inside?
"This servant doesn't know either. Queen, please rest and don't go out." The internal official answered respectfully and then withdrew.
Su Wan'er could tell that this was clearly a pretext.
"Forbidding me to go out and sending so many people to guard. This is not protection at all. It's simply house arrest."
Yes, perhaps Miss Xiao Jiu was also "protected" like this. No wonder she didn't come out just now. Qingcao felt that it was probably the same for Long Xiaojiu as for Su Wan'er. The guards outside the palace were also sent there like this.
"No, this matter is rather strange. This so - called protection is indeed like house arrest. Maybe something really happened to Long Xiaojiu. Otherwise, why would the Grand Elder forbid me to go out?"
"Ah, if that's really the case. No, if you can't get out now, aren't we just sitting waiting for death? What's wrong with Xiao Jiu? What on earth does the Grand Elder want?"
"Don't worry. After all, the Grand Elder has feelings for her and won't do anything too bad to her. But I'm afraid this matter is still related to the Jin Kingdom," Si Junlin comforted her.
"If I'm not wrong, your Xiao Jiu must have told the Grand Elder everything. And according to her plan, she wanted the Grand Elder to submit to the Jin Kingdom, but the Grand Elder must be unwilling."
"Yes, Xiao Jiu must have told him that day. What should we do? The Grand Elder will surely not submit to the Jin Kingdom. Does he want to keep Xiao Jiu as his captive?"
"Where are you letting your thoughts run to, woman? The Grand Elder is not such a shameless person. But now, the sacred object must not be in Xiao Jiu's hands anymore." The Yuwen family had always been scheming for that jade pendant. Now that such a good opportunity had presented itself, they were surely eager to snatch it away. Si Junlin analyzed rationally, but Su Wan'er became more and more panicked.
"How dare they? Even you, the Queen, have met this Saintess, and we've declared in advance that the Emperor wants to meet the Saintess. How dare they play tricks?" Did the Grand Elder really help Yuwen Shan rob Long Xiaojiu of her token?
"Now, if we want to verify, we can only advance the matter of the Emperor of the Jin Kingdom meeting the Saintess."
"Yes. Then you can go and arrange it now. Tomorrow, we'll meet Xiao Jiu. We'll just clearly state that we want to meet the Saintess, Long Xiaojiu. I'd like to see how Yuwen Shan can impersonate her!"
"We can't be hasty. Haste makes waste. Moreover, it takes two days to travel back and forth from the capital of the Jin Kingdom to the Southern Border. If we act too suspiciously, it will arouse suspicion. The other day, the Grand Elder already asked about your surname. If we're not careful, we might end up losing more than we gain." At this moment, Si Junlin faintly felt that the Grand Elder was not only targeting Long Xiaojiu but also had doubts about the two of them.
Then what should they do? Two days? Maybe it was too late. After all, it would probably take a few days to prepare for the ceremony of the meeting between the two countries. Moreover, if Long Xiaojiu was really controlled by someone, the Grand Elder could just find an excuse to prevaricate. This wasn't a big deal. What could the Jin Kingdom do?
"Then what should we do? Xiao Jiu's life or death is still unknown..."
"It's not that serious. The Grand Elder won't really harm her," Si Junlin always felt that he understood the Grand Elder.
"Your Majesty, Miss, there's a letter. It's from the capital," Qingcao rushed back from outside, having just intercepted the carrier pigeon delivering the letter.
"The capital? A letter from the capital at this time?" Wasn't it the National Teacher who had returned? Everything should be fine, right?
"It's General Su," Si Junlin unfolded the letter and found that it wasn't in the usual letter format but a memorial.
"Father?" Wasn't he recuperating from his injury? Su Wan'er quickly scanned the letter, and the content on it actually concerned the Grand Elder.
The Grand Elder was plotting a rebellion? Su Wan'er was stunned. If this letter hadn't been written by her father, she would never have believed it. How could a person who only knew how to travel around the mountains and rivers and had been out of sight for several years plot a rebellion?
"Si Junlin, do you think... Is the National Teacher such a person?" Su Wan'er's heart was in a complete mess at this moment. There was a sense of danger faintly hidden in this absurdity.
"It's hard to tell. Although he's the National Teacher, he only taught me for a few years when I was young. But when my father was alive, he served as the prime minister for ten years. The current Prime Minister Wei is still his student." Mentioning this person, Si Junlin also felt that he knew very little about him.
"Ten years as the prime minister? Then..." Su Wan'er suddenly sighed, and then quietly lowered her voice. "Wouldn't it be too easy for him to stage a rebellion?"