Chapter 36 Chess Player
In his previous life, Sun Wei had a lot of dealings with the empress dowager and knew her temper well.
No matter who they are, what virtues they have or what abilities they possess, the Queen Mother only cares about obedience.
Sun Wei must demonstrate impeccable honesty and follow the Queen Mother's orders respectfully before the Queen Mother will allow her to continue to be the concubine.
Therefore, even though he was injured and sick yesterday, Sun Wei still had to go to the Buddhist temple to copy scriptures at dawn.
He spread the rattan paper flat and used a paperweight to hold it down tightly. Copying was no problem, but after all, he had just been ill, and after sitting for a while, Sun Wei felt tired.
Just at this time, Sima Jun came.
"You're already in this state, why are you still copying scriptures?"
He had obviously been out riding early in the morning, and his clothes were soaked with sweat and stuck to his body.
Sun Wei's gaze lingered on him. In her past life, her favorite thing was watching him ride a horse; he was truly handsome.
"Copying scriptures is to ward off disasters and resolve difficulties, so we must not slack off." Sun Wei retracted his gaze. "Practicing Zen and accumulating merit requires perseverance. How can we give up halfway?"
Sima Jun raised his eyebrows slightly: "When you argue with me, it's all about principles, why are you so timid when you meet the Queen Mother?"
This one word revealed the truth, leaving Sun Wei speechless.
Then, Sima Jun reached out, took a copy of the scriptures from her desk, and handed it to Deng Lian.
"Go to the outer courtyard and find Shen Ping. Ask him to find a master who is good at copying handwriting and make a hundred copies of this sutra. There will be a reward for those who copy well."
Deng Lian agreed.
Sun Wei: “…”
She looked at Sima Jun and said, "Your Highness's kindness is appreciated. But you must know that this is a crime of deceiving your superiors."
"Since I did it, it's not considered deceiving the superior." Sima Jun said unconcernedly, "Do you think the Empress Dowager would have the time to slowly read the scriptures you copied?"
That's the truth.
"In that case, thank you, Your Highness." She bowed. "If the Queen Mother finds out, please remember to speak up for me."
Sima Jun smiled faintly and sat across from her at the table.
"Madam, aren't you afraid this is a trap I've set?" He picked up a small crystal paperweight from the table, looked at it, and said, "I'm going to falsely accuse you of the crime of deceiving your superiors, then report you to the Empress Dowager and have you driven away?"
Sun Wei's gaze settled, and then he smiled.
This wasn't an act; she genuinely found it funny.
If Sima Jun could really do such a thing, he would not have died in Xunyang City in his previous life.
"I am a weak woman, all alone. Even if I bear the false title of Consort, I am nothing but a blade of grass in front of the Crown Prince." She said, "If the Crown Prince wants to drive me away, there are ten thousand ways to do it. Why go to such great lengths? Now that I am here, I will accept it. Now that I have heard it, I will believe it. I have no need to doubt it."
"Really? Madam, you actually trust others so much." Sima Jun's eyes were profound. "To be honest, I can't be like you."
"Your Highness is probably too obsessed with perfection," Sun Wei said, pouring a cup of tea from the teapot and placing it in front of Sima Jun. "You must know that no one is perfect. Your Highness, relax, otherwise you will be the one who gets tired."
Sima Jun remained silent.
"I see. Thank you for your advice." He said, picking up the teacup and taking a sip.
The rain continued, and the water droplets dripping from the eaves formed a string of beads.
Sun Wei also took a sip of tea, his thoughts in turmoil.
This is a completely different experience from the previous life.
Back then, they were either very good or very bad. They either liked each other or tolerated each other, but never like now, as strangers, guessing each other's thoughts and saying roundabout things.
Like two chess players playing against each other.
Sima Jun put down his teacup and said, "Yesterday, Madam saved the life of Xie Xiao, the son of Marquis Changyang. He is very grateful. Today, he wants to come with General Yingyang, Chu Yue, to visit Madam. I wonder what Madam thinks."
Sun Wei was a little surprised.
"Since the two generals want to see you, how can I refuse?" Sun Wei said.
Sima Jun said, "Chu Yue and Chu Zhuojing used to work with me in Jiangzhou and are longtime friends. They are currently serving in the Northern Palace Camp in Jingkou. They are engaged to General Xie's cousin and plan to marry in October."
Sun Wei said "Oh", as if she knew this for the first time.
"So they have this connection. Speaking of which, I wonder if yesterday's case has been solved? What's the background of that assassin?"
"This matter is still under investigation," Sima Jun said. "However, Madam, with your extraordinary foresight, couldn't you figure out the assassin's origins?"
Sun smiled faintly.
"Not everything in this world can be predicted," she said. "For example, yesterday, the Crown Prince told Sima Deng not to search the palace for He Lang. I never realized then that the Crown Prince was bluffing, trying to lure the snake out of its hole."
Sima Jun asked, "What do you mean?"
"That snake is He Lang, who is still hiding in the mansion." Sun Wei said, "As for the lure, it is me. I am the concubine and the culprit who caused him to do such a bad thing. He can't kidnap the prince with his own abilities. So, in this mansion, there is no one else who can be of use to He Lang except me."
Sima Jun did not deny it.
"I stopped the search in the mansion to lure him out," he said frankly. "Whether my lady believes it or not, I have no intention of harming her, nor did I expect him to dare to attack her."
Sun Wei remained silent.
"The Imperial Court has taken over the matter," he said. "The Crown Prince was furious when he heard the news. Last night, he ordered the Imperial Court to take the assassin and the He siblings away for a thorough investigation. Then, my lady will know the whole story."
Sun Wei pondered for a moment and said, "I think the Crown Prince should keep these people in the palace and interrogate them personally."
Sima Jun's eyebrows raised slightly.
"Madam, do you not trust the Supreme Court?"
"The prince hasn't found the mastermind yet, so no one can be trusted."
Sima Jun disagreed, but changed the subject: "There is one more thing I would like to ask Madam for help."
"What is it?"
Sima Jun looked at Afu, who was serving beside him, and said, "The maidservant of Madam was so skilled yesterday that she was no less skilled than the guards of the palace. I had no idea that there was such a hidden dragon and crouching tiger beside Madam."
A'ru was stunned for a moment and quickly lowered her head: "Your Highness, you are too kind." As she said this, she glanced at Sun Wei out of the corner of her eye.
Sun Wei smiled faintly.
"It was only yesterday that I learned that A'ru actually had such abilities," she said. "A'ru was bought by Attendant Cao. He is truly competent in everything he does. I am very grateful."
Sima Jun said nothing.
He had already asked Cao Song about this yesterday. This A'ru was indeed bought by Cao Song at the human market, and it took him a long time to find her. Sun Wei had never touched her.
Everything was so coincidental that it made him suspicious, but he couldn't find any fault.
"Everything I did yesterday was actually for the prince." Sun Wei said at this time.
Sima Jun raised his eyes: "Oh?"
Sun Wei also looked at him: "I have said that I want to ensure that the prince has a smooth life. Only when the prince is safe and sound can I take care of him in my old age."
Sima Jun then said, "I never agreed."
"Is that so?" Sun Wei asked, "But the prince still saved me. He also said that he had no intention of harming me. If the prince couldn't tolerate me, he could have let He Lang kill me and then arrest him, right?"
Sima Jun seemed to have heard a joke. He looked up at the sky outside and laughed.
He stopped talking, put down his teacup, and stood up: "I am going to the palace today. When General Chu and General Xie come, Madam, don't forget to meet them."
After saying that, he turned and left.
"I was so scared just now." A'ru looked at Sima Jun's back as he strode away and patted her chest. "I thought he knew something."
Sun Wei looked deeply.
"Let's go back." She also stood up and said, "There will be guests coming later, and I need to change clothes."
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