The Jin Kingdom has always adopted the provincial administrative system and the Three Departments and Six Ministries structure. In such a large country, power is concentrated in the hands of a small group of people in the capital. Therefore, those in power are extremely dangerous, and most monarchs are suspicious. Not to mention the prime minister, even the ministers of each department rarely serve consecutive terms.
Su Wan'er has always specialized in military strategy and is not very well - versed in political affairs. However, she does have some knowledge of the previous dynasty. There was even a prime minister who served for ten years in the previous dynasty.
"No, I've also asked Father. It's precisely because the State Preceptor didn't like to hold too much power. For several years out of the ten, he was outside the capital. So, the position of prime minister, which is like a hot potato, was just right for him." Si Junlin remembered that when he had just ascended the throne, the prime minister had resigned from his position and taken the idle post of State Preceptor. Moreover, in recent years, he had become more and more interested in the arts of Taoist alchemists.
"Then why is he doing this now? He even kidnapped Si Jingcheng. Could it be that all his previous airs of a carefree recluse were just an act?" Su Wan'er now thought that the previous emperor was not so wise.
"Not necessarily. He..." Si Junlin seemed to pause for a moment. "He is not from the Jin Kingdom."
"What?!" Su Wan'er was even more shocked. He was not from the Jin Kingdom? The State Preceptor of the Jin Kingdom, who had once served as the prime minister for ten years, was not from the Jin Kingdom? Then the previous emperor was too hasty. Wouldn't it be easy for the State Preceptor to... It's not even just treason. It's like having an undercover agent from another country.
"Then which country is he from?" If he's not from the Jin Kingdom, it also means he's not from the previous dynasty, the Gong Kingdom. Could it be...
"Southern Border." Si Junlin said calmly, but unconsciously frowned.
Sure enough, Su Wan'er understood. Only people from the Southern Border would do such strange things. Now that the two countries were at war, did the State Preceptor want to take advantage of the situation to gain a winning chance for his own country?
"If something goes wrong in the capital now, we can only take the Southern Border first and then fight our way back." Su Wan'er quickly came up with a plan in her mind. Anyway, the Su Family Army now almost concentrated all the military forces of the Jin Kingdom. If the State Preceptor really wanted to rebel, it was probably just to save the Southern Border. If they were to return to the capital now because of him, wouldn't they be falling into his trap?
"Have you ever thought about why the State Preceptor has been back in the capital for some time, but only made his move when the two countries were at a cease - fire?" Si Junlin pondered silently for a while and suddenly asked this question.
"..." Su Wan'er was also stunned. Right, the State Preceptor should have arrived when they were on the way to battle a few days ago. It also took time for the message to travel.
"Maybe he doesn't want to save the Southern Border, but wants us to attack it."
"What?!! That can't be. Why would he do that?" Su Wan'er really couldn't understand. In a flash, a suspected undercover agent from another country who was at risk of colluding with the enemy and betraying the country had turned into someone who used the power of another country to attack his own country.
"General Su said he saw with his own eyes that the State Preceptor was in contact with the city - guarding troops. He must have had this in mind." Seeing that the State Preceptor was making connections with the army, Si Junlin actually felt more at ease. Like the previous emperor, he knew that the State Preceptor had no ambition for power. At this time, he was most afraid that the State Preceptor would ignore the court affairs. Now that he was making connections with the army, he would surely settle all other matters first. Otherwise, there would surely be trouble.
"Then what should we do now? Will he attack us? Or force us to continue fighting?" Su Wan'er was very worried. The worst part of the situation now was that they were all in the Southern Border. If the Grand Elder really acted recklessly...
"Do nothing for now. We'll deal with it when he really tries to force us." Let him first reorganize the capital and get ready. He will surely send a letter later. At that time, they could try to appease him. At worst, they could show the posture of continuing the war.
"Do you mean that we should act quickly on our side and ignore him?"
"Exactly. So, you don't have to worry about Long Xiaojiu. We'll go and rescue her tomorrow." Si Junlin seemed to have thought of a countermeasure.
"Tomorrow? There's no need to wait until tomorrow. Let's go and find Xiaojiu now." Su Wan'er was very excited.
"Now? Just the two of us?" Si Junlin gave her a calm look.
"You... Won't it still be just the two of us tomorrow?" Su Wan'er knew he was mocking her.
"Long Xiaojiu is the Holy Maiden of the Southern Border. If she goes missing, you'll be anxious, and the people of the Southern Border will be anxious too. Don't you know that when she was missing a few days ago, the Yuwen Family issued a reward notice instead of a wanted notice. This is what suppressed the discontent of the women in the Southern Border towards her as the Holy Maiden." Si Junlin looked confident, but Su Wan'er was still very anxious.
"Do you mean to..."
Su Wan'er was worried all night. She also knew that the two of them were in a weak position at the moment, so she could only anxiously wait until dawn.
In the morning, she couldn't even eat breakfast. Su Wan'er still couldn't help but keep discussing and planning with Si Junlin.
"Your Majesty, the Grand Elder is here." Qingcao, who was standing beside the door, deliberately raised her voice to signal the two to stop their conversation.
"Please come in quickly." Si Junlin composed himself and sat upright in the main seat. Su Wan'er quickly stood up and stepped aside.
The Grand Elder entered the courtyard but didn't come straight here. Instead, he sighed with emotion at the osmanthus flowers that were just in bloom in the courtyard.
"The Grand Elder comes so early in the morning. May I ask what your business is? If you haven't had breakfast yet, I've just prepared some. How about having it together?" Si Junlin was very generous. After having a war of words with the Grand Elder yesterday, he really found this person quite interesting.
"Your Majesty is too kind. No need. I've just come from court. The elders and court officials have reminded me many times, so I had to come." The Grand Elder seemed to have a strange expression, but he didn't seem to be looking for trouble.
No wonder he had been lingering in the courtyard and was reluctant to come in.
"May I ask what it is that troubles the Grand Elder to come here in person?" Si Junlin was even more curious. Even Su Wan'er and Qingcao beside him were curious. Su Wan'er originally thought that since the Grand Elder had imprisoned Xiaojiu, he would surely not dare to show his face. Now that he had come so early in the morning, she naturally wanted to see some clues from his face.
"..." The Grand Elder's expression seemed even stranger. "It's not really a big deal."
Su Wan'er couldn't stand this kind of pedantic and slow - paced personality. But it was just this kind of person who was most to Xiaojiu's liking. She really didn't know what was so good about him.
That day, she had asked Xiaojiu what she liked about the "Emperor Uncle". That little girl had actually replied that she liked his gentle and kind personality. Su Wan'er was immediately speechless. It was just that because Xiaojiu was so small, she was used to coaxing her like a child. Besides, at that time, she was just getting used to Si Junlin's body and always felt that she had to act like an emperor. But she herself couldn't stand this kind of slow - paced personality at all on a normal day.
"Many of the court officials are good at divination. They said that the celestial phenomena this year have been mostly auspicious with few inauspicious signs. It's a rare good omen in more than a decade..."
See, she knew it. He was going to start rambling again.