"Let bygones be bygones. Your Excellency the State Preceptor needn't dwell on it any longer," Si Junlin consoled. "Father Emperor had already informed me of your past and said there was no need to investigate. Although what you did was inappropriate, fortunately, everything has settled down now."
"I wonder if Your Excellency the State Preceptor has figured out what went wrong with that spiritual item. Marshal and I are in quite an inconvenient state like this. We have to trouble Your Excellency to come up with a solution quickly." This was what Si Junlin was most worried about.
"Your Majesty needn't worry. Although we don't know what's wrong with that spiritual item, I've already started refining a new one. The marshal urged me several times in the past few days, so I set up an alchemy furnace in the camp. I believe there will be results soon, and then we can solve the urgent problem."
"I'm here today, Your Majesty, to make a request," the State Preceptor said, looking a bit hesitant.
"Please speak freely," Si Junlin replied. He guessed it was probably about Long Xiaojiu.
"Although Xiaojiu is from the Southern Border, her parents are no longer alive. At such a young age, she has suffered a great deal. My elder sister was very kind to me during her lifetime. Now that the major matters have been settled and she is willing to marry the Grand Elder, I can't stop her. But could Your Majesty... could you confer the title of princess of the county on her according to the etiquette of our Great Jin? I want to plan for her future. In this way, I can give an account to the ancestors, and Long Xiaojiu will have a support in the future."
"Yes, Your Majesty. I also think that Xiaojiu has contributed a lot to the peace between the two countries. Although she is the Holy Maiden, the Long family has declined, and now she has no one to rely on," Su Wan'er said. She had long wanted to give Xiaojiu a noble title so that she would have support in the Southern Border. In this way, not only would the Grand Elder not bully her in the future, but even those from the Yuwen family in the Southern Border would not make things difficult for her.
Si Junlin hadn't thought much about it at first. The State Preceptor had served the country for decades without any children of his own. He had truly dedicated himself and never asked for wealth or honor. It was reasonable to make more compensation on this occasion. But when Su Wan'er spoke, he had other ideas and didn't want to agree so quickly.
"Long Xiaojiu is originally the Holy Maiden of the Southern Border. There's no reason for our Great Jin to confer a title on her. This matter... let's discuss it later," Si Junlin said, looking very embarrassed and pretending to be in deep thought.
"If Your Majesty finds it difficult, then conferring the title of county princess would be fine. It's just a title. As long as Great Jin acknowledges it, Xiaojiu will have a support in the future."
"Your Excellency the State Preceptor, don't be anxious. I've been really tired on this journey. Let's discuss this matter tomorrow. I still need to discuss these intelligence reports with the marshal on the way."
The State Preceptor naturally understood the meaning behind these words, so he obediently withdrew. A man like him could be described as cunning. It seemed that Si Junlin wasn't refusing but was using this matter to blackmail Su Wan'er. Then he didn't need to get involved. Moreover, his old face still carried some weight after decades, and Si Junlin would surely give him face this time.
"Your Majesty, is there any important intelligence on this journey? Even if Your Majesty doesn't consider what Xiaojiu has done for the two countries, just based on the State Preceptor's decades of dedication, you can't ignore his face."
"Long Xiaojiu is from the Southern Border, and there are many complications. I know you want Great Jin to be her backer. But wouldn't it be better if you directly became her backer? How about this? When we get back, I'll restore your position as the queen. Then you'll be a force that can shake the whole of Great Jin. From then on, you can be her backer in Great Jin," Si Junlin said persuasively, as if he wasn't proposing but seriously explaining the interests involved.
But beneath his calm appearance was a heart full of confusion. He had rushed here in a hurry these days because he was worried that Su Wan'er and Gu Jingtian would rekindle their relationship. If he wasn't around, wouldn't Gu Jingtian take advantage of the situation?
"Si Junlin, what do you mean?" Su Wan'er was very surprised. Why did it come back to this matter again? It had been so long. She had almost forgotten that she had once been the queen.
"This is exactly what I mean. If you agree, I'll confer Long Xiaojiu as your adopted daughter tomorrow and remarry her to the Southern Border with the etiquette of the eldest legitimate princess of Great Jin. In this way, we can also achieve the alliance between the two countries." In fact, he had thought of this perfect solution long ago, but he was just using it to persuade Su Wan'er.
"I need to think about this matter," Su Wan'er said. Although such conditions were extremely beneficial to Miss Long, she was still very hesitant. In any case, she really didn't want to return to the palace. What was this all about? Moreover, at this moment, she and Si Junlin were just monarch and subject.
"Your Majesty... we are just monarch and subject."
"After all that has happened, do you really think we're just monarch and subject in your heart?" There seemed to be a glint of cold light in Si Junlin's eyes, attracting her. Su Wan'er quickly averted her gaze.
This matter was left unsettled. Who would have thought that an hour later, there was a sudden loud explosion from the State Preceptor's tent.
"Your Majesty, the spiritual item has been successfully refined. Please follow me to the altar quickly to perform the ritual," a subordinate reported.
The two of them followed the State Preceptor's guidance and slowly stood on the altar, closing their eyes and waiting for the State Preceptor to reactivate the new spiritual item.
But this time, it wasn't as smooth as before. Before long, both Su Wan'er and Si Junlin felt a sharp pain.
After that, they seemed to be drunk and walked off the altar in a daze.
"Your Majesty?" the State Preceptor tried to call out. Fortunately, he saw Si Junlin turn his head. The State Preceptor knew that it was probably a success. Si Junlin was clearly in his own body at this moment.
"Your Excellency the State Preceptor? Why are you here? When did you return to the court?" Si Junlin suddenly looked at him in confusion.
The State Preceptor was extremely shocked and quickly asked, "Your Majesty, don't you remember? Do you remember what year and month it is now and where I should be?"
"Your Excellency the State Preceptor, what are you talking about? It's just the first year of Jiahe, when I just ascended the throne. Didn't you start traveling around the mountains and rivers from the day Father Emperor passed away and promised not to return for three years?"
"What?" The lost memories for such a long time! The State Preceptor exclaimed. Although he had expected that there might be some mistakes, this mistake was too big. He had never failed like this before. Could it be that the two of them were so strong - minded that there was such a big error during the calling process?
"Your Majesty? This humble girl pays respects to Your Majesty. May I ask who this is?" Su Wan'er seemed to have just woken up. The State Preceptor looked at her and carefully questioned her. Could it be that she had also lost the same memories?
"This is the State Preceptor who has been traveling far away. I wonder why Your Excellency the State Preceptor has returned this time?" Si Junlin looked around again. Could this be a battlefield? Why did he suddenly end up in the army? He didn't remember any war.