As soon as Si Junlin returned to the palace, the Empress Dowager summoned him. Naturally, the Empress Dowager had been extremely worried and missed him dearly during these days.
However, due to his amnesia, Si Junlin couldn't remember how he had spent these days. So he didn't really miss the Empress Dowager. Instead, he was a bit afraid that the Empress Dowager might notice something and worry even more.
The Empress Dowager, longing for her son, looked him up and down and asked all sorts of questions.
"Lin'er, have you been injured during these days? I've been seeing in the battle reports every day that the war situation has been on hold, and there's no sign of a battle. Could it be that those old ministers are deceiving me?" Although the Empress Dowager had been attending to state affairs behind the curtain every day, like everyone else in the country, she only cared about the situation on the battlefield.
But ever since Si Junlin and Su Wan'er had gone deep into the Southern Border Palace, the battle reports had simply stated "on hold" or "suspended" because there had been no actual fighting.
The Empress Dowager read the battle reports every day and worried about whether Si Junlin had been injured or was in danger. However, the strange battle reports had made her go from initial relief to later suspicion, and her worry had deepened.
"Mother, don't worry. I've never been injured on the battlefield." Si Junlin also found it quite strange. His only personal expedition as an emperor hadn't actually seen any real fighting.
Although the national master and others had explained the reasons to him, he couldn't remember a thing. However, this strategy seemed like the one described in the military books about seizing a mountain stronghold.
"That's good, that's good. I've been really worried about you these days." The Empress Dowager hesitated for a moment and looked at him. "Come to think of it, my worry is not unfounded. Lin'er, you've always been excellent in everything since childhood and never let me worry about anything. But this expedition has really broken my heart. Moreover, if you had an heir, I wouldn't have to worry every day and feel ashamed in front of our ancestors..."
Seeing that the Empress Dowager was on the verge of tears, Si Junlin quickly interrupted her. "Mother, there's no need to worry so much. The Southern Border is just a small country. Moreover, our hundreds of thousands of troops in the Jin Kingdom are not to be trifled with. Since I'm on this personal expedition, I'll naturally try my best to protect myself and the soldiers."
"Although that's true, since ancient times, a country can't be without a king for a single day. At your age, your father already had you. Our ancestors of the Si family have always emphasized having many descendants, and it's best to have a prosperous family."
The Empress Dowager felt that she had spoken a bit too seriously. Before Si Junlin's birth, she had noticed that he seemed to really care about Su Wan'er. And she felt that this expedition was related to Su Wan'er. So she was afraid that her son really couldn't get over this hurdle and couldn't live without that woman. Although the harem was currently empty, she didn't dare to persuade Si Junlin to hold another imperial concubine selection or expand the harem.
The Empress Dowager was really afraid that Si Junlin would look so dejected again. So she thought, forget it. If it's Su Wan'er, then so be it. Now she could only pin her hope of having an heir on her.
"If you really can't live without her... then, then quickly bring her back into the palace. I won't interfere in your affairs from now on. If she treats you well and can give birth to an heir for the royal family, then she can still be named the queen."
Normally, such a compromise would be absolutely unacceptable for a strong - willed woman like the Empress Dowager. After all, only she knew how she had obtained the position of the queen, and how difficult it had been for her to ascend to this position in her lifetime. So she would do her best to protect the glory and wealth of herself and her family, and also choose a perfect queen who could assist the emperor for her son.
But obviously, Su Wan'er's personality really didn't appeal to her. However, during the few months when Si Junlin was on the expedition, she often regretted that if she hadn't personally driven Su Wan'er out of the palace, perhaps her son wouldn't have had to go on this expedition in person.
When Si Junlin heard these words, he felt as if he had been struck by lightning. Not only did his head start to ache faintly, but the things the Empress Dowager said sounded like a fantasy to him.
Who was the "her" in the Empress Dowager's words? Directly naming her the queen and saying he couldn't live without her. Could it be that there really was such a person in the past three years?
"Mother, who are you talking about?" Si Junlin didn't think much and blurted out the question subconsciously.
Although the Empress Dowager was surprised, she thought that Si Junlin didn't believe that she had already compromised because of her previous attitude towards Su Wan'er. So she also blurted out, "Who else could it be? It's Su Wan'er."
At this moment, Si Junlin felt even more thunderstruck. After his head suddenly ached, he felt dizzy.
The Empress Dowager frowned and watched him press his forehead. She felt something was very wrong. "Lin'er! What's wrong with you? Are you feeling unwell? Quick, summon the imperial physician."
The female official beside the Empress Dowager quickly supported Si Junlin and helped him lie down on the soft couch beside them. Then she sent someone to summon the imperial physician.
The imperial physicians in the palace naturally couldn't diagnose anything wrong with Si Junlin. After a while, Si Junlin felt more clear - headed.
"May I ask where Your Majesty is feeling unwell? Your servant has examined your pulse, and it doesn't seem to be right." The old imperial physician watched as the emperor sat upright on the soft couch with a normal complexion. He had been practicing medicine for many years, and he dared to say that Si Junlin's pulse was normal at the moment.
Si Junlin was also very clear in his heart that his amnesia must not be known to others, otherwise, there would be a big mess.
"It's nothing. Maybe I rode my horse too fast these days in a hurry to return to the palace to see Mother. So I caught a cold. There's no other serious problem."
Hearing this, the imperial physician examined his pulse again, but he couldn't even detect the symptoms of a cold. But seeing the worried look on the Empress Dowager's face, he could only say, "Your servant will prescribe a tonic prescription for recuperation."
After the imperial physician left, Si Junlin's mind was in a mess, and he tried to sort out his thoughts. It seemed that the person the Empress Dowager was talking about was definitely Su Wan'er. But now, Su Wan'er was really a stranger to him with no intersection. Moreover, Su Wan'er was the daughter of a military general. If he thought according to his own ideas, he had been taught by the national master and the late emperor since childhood and naturally knew the art of being a king.
He would definitely not have the kind of connection with the daughter of a military general that the Empress Dowager had mentioned. Could it be that Su Wan'er had entered the palace in the past three years?
Si Junlin naturally knew that if he asked the Empress Dowager now, she would surely tell him the truth. But his amnesia must be handled carefully, and there must be no mistakes, otherwise, it might shake the imperial court. So after much thought, he decided to go and ask the national master.
"Mother, I've already said that I'm fine. There's no need for you to worry. But there's one thing that I'm afraid will trouble you to take care of."
After much thought, he felt that the imperial concubine selection was not just a joke for himself. The national master's consideration was also very reasonable. At this time, the imperial concubine selection would definitely play a very important role in stabilizing the court.