Chapter 360: Intimate (Part 2)
Sun Qiao's eyes were red, and after a while, he said, "I promised my sister that I would be fine."
When Sima Jun came back, he saw the brother and sister sitting in the corridor talking.
Sun Qiao had a smile on his face, and he looked much happier than when he saw him yesterday.
"Master is back!" Sun Qiao said suddenly.
Sun Wei looked over and saw Sima Jun coming towards him.
She stood up with Sun Qiao and saluted Sima Jun.
Sima Jun walked up to them and asked them to excuse themselves.
"Are you used to living in the other palace, my lady?"
Sun Wei replied, "Everyone in the palace has been very kind to me, so I'm not unaccustomed to it."
Sima Jun's gaze lingered on her face for a moment, then he said, "You two can talk some more. I'll have someone send Ah Qiao back this afternoon. He's been gone for so long, your father and mother might be worried."
Sun Wei was stunned.
Unexpectedly, Sima Jun's thoughts were more detailed than hers.
She had just been through such a big thing, and given her mother Li's personality, even if she received the news of safety, she would still be in a state of panic. If Sun Qiao also left, she would be even more prone to overthinking.
"Thank you, Your Highness, for keeping our family safe." Sun Wei said.
Sima Jun didn't say anything, just left the two siblings alone and left.
In the afternoon, after Sun Wei had given Sun Qiao all the instructions he had, he urged him to get on the car and go back to Xunyang.
She and Sun Qiao walked for a long distance before reluctantly seeing him off to the carriage.
Today was a bright, sunny day. Sun Wei raised her hand to her forehead, squinting her eyes as she watched the carriage drive away.
Suddenly, the sunlight was blocked a little, and it was Sima Jun standing beside her.
"Go back," he said.
Sun Wei had no objection and followed him into the palace.
The most interesting part of this palace is the surrounding pine forest. From the outside of the palace to the garden inside, the gurgling water flows along the hills, creating a unique scene.
The sound of birds singing makes the forest seem even quieter.
"This carriage is light and agile, Aqiao can return to Xunyang before sunset." Sima Jun said suddenly.
Sun Wei responded.
After a while, she said, "Your Highness has done a lot for my parents. I will remember this kindness in my heart."
Sima Jun turned around and looked at her.
"Did you forget something?"
Sun Wei was surprised.
"You said we were on the same boat," Sima Jun said. "And now, the boat is still there."
Sun Wei: “…”
"I just gave some orders, and the people below did a good job." Sima Jun turned back, looked at the birds flying through the woods, and said calmly, "Since you regard this as a favor, then give me good advice and don't let this ship sink."
Sun Wei could only say: "I will do my best."
Sima Jun said "hmm", and silence fell between the two again.
Sun Wei followed Sima Jun for a few steps and continued, "Since our last separation, I thought it would be a while before Your Highness returned to Xunyang."
Sima Jun said: "It should have been so, but something happened later and I had to come back to avoid suspicion."
"What is it?"
"The news that the Crown Prince wanted to appoint Lü Qiuyan as the General of Zhenbei reached the Queen Mother's ears, and she ordered me to persuade the Crown Prince."
Sun Wei was stunned: "Your Highness, did you come back to escape this matter?"
"Isn't it possible?" Sima Jun asked, "Isn't it the Lady who advised me to retreat occasionally when I encounter difficulties?"
Sun Wei looked at him: "I thought Your Highness would not bother to do this."
"In the past, I would have been obliged to do so. Back then, the Crown Prince was still receptive to advice. Now, his character has changed drastically, and anything I say would be against him. Even though I don't want Lü Qiuyan to succeed, this matter is ultimately impossible."
Sun Wei could tell that there was a hint of self-mockery in Sima Jun's tone.
"Your Highness, there's no need to blame yourself." Sun Wei said, "After all, even the Queen Mother couldn't persuade the Crown Prince. That means the Crown Prince has changed."
"It's not completely hopeless. The Queen Mother intends to ask His Majesty to issue an imperial decree."
This was something Sun Wei had not expected.
"Your Majesty has not been involved in state affairs for many years. Are you willing to step out of retirement for this matter?"
"It's not easy, but it's not impossible," Sima Jun said, "as long as the Empress Dowager agrees to build a terrace for His Majesty."
Sun Wei knew this terrace.
It was a high platform that the emperor had dreamed of building on a mountaintop for many years, costing millions of gold. However, due to the excessive labor and financial resources, it was opposed by the empress dowager and court officials, and the project was delayed.
I find it incredible: "Just to get His Majesty out of the mountains, are we going to spend a huge amount of money to build a terrace?"
Sima Jun sneered: "There are many absurd things, and this one is no exception."
He said, pointing to the road to the right.
"The Queen Mother is just talking nonsense," Sima Jun said. "The court can't spare the money for this right now. Before I left Jiankang, the court was still arguing about the food shortage in various places."
He said this with a hint of worry.
Sun Wei said, "I know that Jiangzhou and Jingzhou are still self-sufficient. Your Highness, please do not be a philanthropist and give away your surplus food. Now is the time to stock up on food."
When Sima Jun heard the words "store up grain", he stopped in his tracks.
A few wisps of gentle wind brushed against Sun Wei's calm face. She looked at Sima Jun and said, "The Crown Prince has recruited Lü Qiuyan into his fold, which means he will take action against Your Highness sooner or later. It's time to prepare now, Your Highness."
Sima Jun remained silent.
The pine forest rose and fell like waves. He said nothing, but walked forward silently.
After a while, he slowly said, "My Lady, do you know that when we were in Liyang, the Crown Prince asked me if I could hand over the military power of Jiangzhou and Jingzhou?"
Sun Wei was shocked.
She anticipated the prince's plan, but she didn't know that he was eager to make his thoughts known to the world.
"How did His Highness respond?"
"I didn't answer, but the Crown Prince later said it was a joke, and I just laughed it off," Sima Jun said. "I've been pondering the Crown Prince's words these days. My heart is to unify the world and revive the imperial family. If the Crown Prince can suppress the Wang family and make all the civil and military officials submit, and if he can also control Lu Qiuyan and seize control of the Northern Palace, then that would be exactly what I hope for. Since that's what I want, should I hand over my military power and let the Crown Prince gather all the troops?"
"No." Sun Wei answered without thinking.
"Why?"
"I don't care what Your Highness wishes," Sun Wei said, "I just want Your Highness to be alive."
Sima Jun's gaze fixed.
"If Your Highness surrenders your military power, you will become a prey on the chopping board. Anyone holding a knife can then take Your Highness's life. I would rather Your Highness become a traitor than destroy yourself!"
She knew that this outrageous remark would cost her several heads.
In the forest, the cold wind blew through the trees, and she could hear the sound of her own heartbeat.
"If I become a traitor, I'm afraid many people will leave me."
"Those loyal to His Highness will not leave."
"Where's the lady?"
"So do I."
Sima Jun didn't answer, just stared at her.
His eyes were like a deep lake, so deep that she couldn't see the bottom.
There is a strange feeling in my heart.
Whether in her previous life or this life, she was no stranger to Sima Jun's deep expression.
But this time, her heart beat particularly violently.
It's like a little animal that knows it is being stared at by a ferocious beast that has just woken up.
Sima Jun did not answer, and then went straight back to the palace.
He left that day.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
