The next day, we began the journey back to Xi's capital city. As or whether Wu Min Jun had sent people to look for the little Marquis, I did not ask and did not want to know. The matter between the little Marquis and Hu Fu, or more precisely, the matter between Hu Fu and Wu Xu was somewhat similar to the matter between Wu Min Jun, but my revenge plan was more direct, Hu Fu was alone, and was very beautiful so she could take the road of the beauty trap, as for me...forget it, don't even mention it.
On the journey back, Wu Min Jun forced me to stay with him. Now everyone believed that Wu Min Jun is truly raising a small soldier. Zhen er' also told me congratulations and told me that he heard that the Empress's martial arts skill is not weak and that she was a tigress and so to be careful and docile.
He should be careful with his head.
I was so...I couldn't even smile.
It was also from him that I heard that, 'The Empress is mighty, the empress is strong' has been spreading all around the people, and the things that Wu Min Jun did when he was me, were all counted on my head and various rumors were spreading all with the same conclusion that the Emperor was tamed by the Empress.
I asked Zhen er', how to be docile?
The next day, Zhen er' came again with a mysterious smile: "Do you know that there was a time when the ministers wanted the Emperor to choose concubines?
I said, "I Know, what happened?"
Zhen er': "It is said that after hearing this, the Emperor was very happy and was laughing for a long time in his palace, but the Empress had a sour expression for several days."
I: "..."
Yes, that was because I was taking pleasure in someone else's misfortune so I was laughing. Wu Min Jun had to spend a long time dealing with the concubines' list and was very impatient so I found it funny.
Zhen er' continued: "Do you know Liu Ya of Minister Liu's family?"
I nodded: "Yes, I know."
"It is said that she arranged a meeting with the Emperor one night for a tryst, then the Empress showed up unexpectedly and kicked her into the Lotus pond, and the Emperor did not dare to say anything! Then later during the Spring festival, the Empress led Liu Ya to a trap and caused her to fall in a pit!" Zhen er' was wide-eyed as he narrated as if he witnessed it himself, "On that cold day, to fall in ice water, I heard that the servants brought ginger tea, but the Empress did not allow Liu Ya to drink it!"
I: "..."
Who arranged a meeting with Liu Ya...what can I say?! As for the Spring festival, Liu Ya's ginger tea, her falling, wasn't it Wu Min Jun who arranged it all...?
Zhen er's eyes gleamed: "I also heard that there was another time, don't know how the Emperor provoked the Empress, so she was angry, the Emperor tried to appease her and the Empress actually jumped in the Lotus pond with the Emperor!"
I: "......"
This was the strangest thing!
It was obvious that I first kicked Wu Min Jun in, so the rumor should be about the Emperor's abuse of the Empress! How... is it that I have to live with the reputation of a tigress my whole life...?
I wanted to cry out, Zhen er' patted my shoulder and said: "Rest assured, the empress may be willing to accept you."
"Huh?" I froze.
Zhen er': "You are a man ah, and so cannot give birth to children, how can you be a threat to the Empress's status? Rather than have other women in the palace vying for favor with her, she would probably prefer that the Emperor looks for men?"
When he finished talking, he looked at me proudly: "Relax, I am sure I am correct!"
I: "...aiya, ah, ah ah, ah..."
Zhen er' was confused: "Ah, why are you crying? Have I really misunderstood?!"
I was overjoyed, finally, Zhen er' has been enlightened, I eagerly nodded: "Yes!"
Zhen er' solemnly looked at me: "I didn't think that you were forced by the Emperor..."
I: "..."
Zhen er': "..."
Finally, he revealed a determined expression and grasped my wrists: "Otherwise, I, although I am not a broken sleeve, I think that you are very good. Let's tell the Emperor that the person you like is me and ask the emperor to step aside, this way you can be free."
I: "..."
How hasn't he died...ah?!
"Oh, step aside?" I suddenly heard Wu Min Jun's voice behind me, Zhen er' and I jumped.
Zhen er' unexpectedly actually nodded: "Yes, Tian Wei and I are really in love!"
"Oh, Tian Wei?" Wu Min Jun's voice became more gloomy, and I felt cold sweat form on my forehead.
Zhen er' did not sense anything and continued: "Emperor, I have great respect for you, but love, this thing, one must be willing in love... and he has been waiting on you for so many days, yet you actually do not know his name, this..."
Zhen er' was really not afraid of death, I was a little moved and did not know whether to laugh or cry, I turned around and looked at Wu Min Jun and said: "Emperor...cough, Zhen er' does not know anything, do not be angry...Also, this name, Tian Wei was just due to habit... as I had used it with Situ Youqing, I don't mean that I am Tian Wei..."
Wu Min Jun looked condemningly at me and finally said: "Forget it for now, after we return to the palace, you will see."
I: "... um."
Wu Min Jun hooked my face with a satisfied expression, completely ignoring the confused expression on Zhen er's face, then he turned and left.
Zhen er': "...What does this mean? You, you and the emperor, seem to have known each other for a long time..."
I said, "There is no such thing."
Zhen er' let out a sigh of relief: "Oh."
I said: "Just about two years."
Zhen er': "..."
Since then, the young man named Zhen er' descended into confusion, he could not understand how Wu Min Jun and I could be related, so whenever there was free time, he would ask me, "What exactly is your relationship?", I only looked at him silently, laughed but never say anything.
Because it was a triumphant return, it was a happy and relaxed journey on our way back. When we finally arrived in the capital city, there were people cheering on all sides of the streets of the city, they came out to welcome the returning army, some of whom were looking out for their sons or husbands - looking anxious as they scanned the arriving soldiers with their eyes, and after they saw their own, they smiled, if they couldn't find them, they couldn't help but start shedding tears.
This was probably the reason why I don't like war, whether it was a loss or a win, the result was ultimately both.
War was a game between nations and a game for the powerful in society.
Wu Min Jun did as he did when they departed, and walked to the high platform and addressed the people: "...Nan has retreated, and have ceded five cities to Xi, Xi country is blessed by the Heavens!"
Everyone around happily cheered. Wu Min Jun came down from the platform with He Qin, I was standing below with the other soldiers. He approached me and when he got to me, he took my hand and quietly said: "Let's return."
***
After three months, I have finally returned to the Imperial Palace, the servants still cleaned our palace everyday, so it was clean and tidy as always. Wu Min Jun and I took a bath first then changed clothes and then Wu Min Jun went out to meet the ministers to go over the state affairs that have happened over the past few months, he will probably be busy for a while. Also regarding the matter of the gu insects being planted, he was definitely going to punish He Chen and the others for it.
I was very tired and so I went to sleep first. After I woke up, I received a letter from Pingyang, saying that she hopes that I would come to visit her in her palace. She was probably about eight months pregnant now, she should be giving birth soon, so I went to her palace.
When I arrived at Pingyang's palace, Pingyang was taking a walk in the garden with LiLu helping her at her side. The two were walking around the yard and saw me coming, Pingyang's face brightened: "Royal sister-in-law."
I quickly walked over: "Don't be too excited, your stomach is so big..."
Pingyang said: "It's doesn't get in the way, it doesn't."
Lu Lu had a complicated expression: "..."
I said: "Why are you still moving? Isn't it the time to rest as much as possible?"
Pingyang smiled and said: "The Imperial doctor said do some small exercise, otherwise it will be difficult during delivery."
"Well, then keep walking." I don't know about pregnancy, hearing her words, I hurriedly agreed. The child in Pingyang's stomach was important, Pingyang was also important, both are very important.
Lu Lu was at her side accompanying her, I did not dare to go take her hand: "I will walk later, let's sit down, for now, I want to speak with royal sister-in-law."
Lu Lu nodded and helped Pingyang to sit down. I sat down opposite her and Pingyang started: "Royal sister-in-law, you are really bold, you actually went straight to the battlefield...I sent a letter to you, but I did not get a reply, I felt it was strange, so I grabbed He Chen, only then did I find out what was going on...Fortunately, you are fine, otherwise royal brother would have been worried."
I: "Something happened at that time so I had to go look for your royal brother."
Pingyang asked: "Was the battlefield fun?"
Lu Lu shot me a look.
I quickly said: "Of course it is not fun, how can it be fun? It was nothing more than fighting and killing, my heart hurts seeing it, if it was not important, I will definitely not have gone."
Pingyang nodded and seemed not to be thinking up strange thoughts, I sighed and asked: "Will the child be born soon?"
Pingyang: "Yes, the Imperial doctors are here and every day they come to check on me and take my pulse."
After that, she sighed: "This is really troublesome, royal sister-in-law will understand when you have a child in the future."
I said: "Oh, um..."
Pingyang shot Lu Lu a look and then said: "I am afraid there will be a second child in the future, it is really unfair. If I can choose, one is enough with Lu Lu."
Lu Lu: "..."
Pingyang saying this actually reminded me. I - I should find Situ Youqing, so we can switch again and let Wu Min Jun be pregnant for me, or let him give birth for me, so I don't need to go through the pain of childbirth...Oh, but this idea I have still have to discuss it with him...
Pingyang later asked me questions about life on the battlefield. I dare not mention anything too exciting, I only mentioned the boring parts of it. She listened and felt no interest in it and stopped asking questions.
After staying at Pingyang's palace for a long time, I saw that the sky was getting dark and so said my farewell, Pingyang had to rest early so she did not stop me.
When I got back to our palace, Wu Min Jun was already there, with a thick stack of memorials. I walked over and asked, "Have you eaten?"
"Mm." Wu Jun nodded and suddenly said, "Today, I gave Zhen er' an official position."
I was surprised: "What position? Head of eunuchs?!"
Wu Min Jun: "..."
He smiled at me: "Good, tomorrow I will appoint him as the head of eunuchs. "
I hurriedly asked: "What position did you assign him to?"
Wu Min Jun: "Originally, I planned to raise him to captain saying that he had rendered meritorious deeds and so deserves to be promoted."
I nodded: "This way..."
This should be fine.
Wu Min Jun continued: "However, there are no wars to fight now, so I gave him a civil post."
"Civil post?" I said, "What?"
"Imperial Censor." Wu Min Jun smiled at me, "Because he dared to talk."
I: "..."
I think, Zhen er' taking on this position will not be under too much pressure, right?