"Indeed, I haven't learned about the casualties in this battle yet. Marshal, why don't you report it to me now?" Si Junlin changed the subject. Naturally, he wouldn't agree so easily. Instead, he found an excuse to talk to Su Wan'er.
Su Wan'er was taken aback. She couldn't even remember how she had spent these days, let alone the casualty situation.
Qingcao had a sudden inspiration. She motioned to the national teacher and pointed at Gu Jingtian.
The national teacher immediately understood. "Your Majesty, the marshal has been busy planning strategies all day. The deputy marshal knows more about the casualties. How about letting General Gu report?"
"Oh? Really?" Si Junlin frowned and looked at Gu Jingtian, who was riding towards them. He didn't seem to think Gu Jingtian was suitable for this task.
"Your Majesty, I've been in charge of this matter these days." Gu Jingtian replied calmly. At this moment, he no longer had the hostility towards Si Junlin. He firmly believed that as long as he proposed marriage, Su Wan'er and Si Junlin would have nothing to do with each other from then on.
"Then tell me." Si Junlin seemed to have lost interest in listening.
"Your Majesty, the number of casualties this time is less than one-tenth of that in previous battles. This is thanks to Your Majesty and the marshal's ingenious plan of going deep into the enemy camp, which avoided several large-scale battles. As a result, the casualties caused by the occasional sneak attacks from the Southern Border were very few. Now that we are returning in triumph, it is an unprecedented victory."
"Really?" Si Junlin's eyes brightened again. "It seems the national teacher didn't know the situation before. Since the casualties are so few, shouldn't we have a good celebration? It seems it won't empty the national treasury." Si Junlin laughed proudly, not caring about the embarrassed look on the national teacher's face.
"In my opinion, the imperial consort selection should still be held. After all, it's a happy event. I haven't been in the palace for some days and have been away from the Empress Dowager. I can't always fulfill my filial piety. But the Empress Dowager often advises me to take care of the harem. I should make her happy."
The national teacher was speechless.
Su Wan'er frowned even more. The matter was thus settled without further discussion. The national teacher pondered all the way but couldn't figure it out. However, the generals were eager to return home, so they covered more and more distance each day, as if they wanted to complete the journey of dozens of days in just five or six days and reach the capital.
On the fourth day, everyone was exhausted. So Si Junlin ordered them to rest outside the city ahead. The generals naturally found inns to stay in, while the soldiers pitched tents on the spot.
In the evening, after Qingcao served Su Wan'er dinner and was about to take the dishes and other things downstairs, when she opened the door, Gu Jingtian was standing outside.
"General Gu, why are you here? You just stand there without knocking. Do you have something to talk to my lady?"
Gu Jingtian seemed very hesitant but still spoke up. "How is your lady's mood now? Is she over - tired?"
Qingcao immediately understood that he must come to tell her lady about the marriage proposal first. Although she was sad, she knew she couldn't ruin their relationship because of her own feelings. "My lady is a bit tired, but she had a good appetite for dinner. She should be in a good mood now, after all, she will be home in two days."
"Good. I'll go in now. You go and do your work."
Qingcao's eyes dimmed again. Indeed, except for things related to her lady, Gu Jingtian probably wouldn't say a word to her. But it was precisely because he always thought about her lady and cared about her that he attracted Qingcao the most. How ridiculous she was. Just because this man was good to her lady, she fell in love with him.
"General Gu, you..." Qingcao suddenly stared at him fixedly, with tears glistening in her eyes.
Although Gu Jingtian had prepared what to say, he was still very nervous at this moment. Seeing Qingcao looking at him like this, he thought there might be something wrong with him. "What's wrong, Qingcao? Is there something wrong with me?"
"No, no. Everything is fine." Qingcao bit her lip secretly. She had been loyal to her lady over the years. Now, although she had watched them grow up together as childhood sweethearts, she also knew in her heart that no matter how much effort General Gu put into her lady, her lady only regarded him as an elder brother. So why didn't she give it a try today?
Give it a try? Even if she was sure it would fail, at least she wouldn't regret it in the future.
"General Gu, could you please go in later? I have something to say to you."
Although Gu Jingtian was puzzled, he knew Qingcao generally didn't joke with him, so he followed her to the corridor.
The night was beautiful, and the evening breeze was slightly cool. Qingcao put the packed dishes aside, reached out and pinched a wisp of her hair, as if this could keep her from being flustered and losing her composure.
"Qingcao, just say what you want to say." Gu Jingtian looked at the scene and vaguely guessed something. He had never noticed Qingcao's feelings for him before, but Wan'er often mentioned it to him. Since then, a seed had been planted in his heart. Sometimes when he talked to Qingcao a little more, that seed seemed to germinate.
He knew Qingcao was a good girl, but this feeling really made him unhappy, because he was so infatuated with Wan'er, while Wan'er was always trying to match him with others.
Even though Qingcao never thought of hurting him and never made trouble for him even though she knew his feelings for Wan'er, he still felt unhappy. Just the fact that there was such a person there, and Wan'er hoped to match them up, was enough to make him unhappy.
"Facing you like this now, I don't want to say anything anymore." Qingcao suddenly calmed down. Since she already knew the result, why be nervous and hesitant?
"However, I guessed what you're going to say to my lady later. Are you going to tell her about the marriage proposal now?"
Gu Jingtian felt even more unhappy. He hadn't made up his mind yet. How did Qingcao see it? And now she even brought it up on her own initiative.
"Yes. Wan'er and I have been through a lot these years. I don't want to experience any more hardships. Otherwise, I'm afraid I'll lose her."
"Yeah, it hasn't been easy for you and my lady all these years." Qingcao smiled. It seemed she still couldn't get involved in this perfect match. Maybe if she didn't bring it up today... she could just pretend nothing had happened.
"Congratulations, General. You and my lady have finally seen the light after the darkness. I'm happy for my lady." Qingcao quietly wiped away the tears from the corners of her eyes. "My lady will finally realize her dream of fighting on the battlefield. I'm sure you'll take her with you to gallop on the battlefield then." How happy and wonderful that would be.