The prince stepped on me to get to the top, I angrily flirted with the enemy's hostage

Her expression was gentle, no different from usual, but the fingertips hidden in her sleeves were slightly curled.

Is this request of mine a bit excessive?

But it doesn’t matter.

Since ancient times, no one dared to directly refuse the emperor's order.

This is punishable by beheading.

If you have the guts, let this little emperor chop her to pieces.

After refuting the little emperor in public, Su Rou felt no burden except that she felt a little sorry for him.

After the Ministry of Rites finished its announcement, the hall suddenly became silent, leaving only a wisp of agarwood curling from the beak of the bronze crane.

She raised her head and said softly, "I dare to ask Your Majesty to appoint my brother Su Chi as the Grand General and lead the troops."

The hundreds of people in the hall held their breath.

When the old emperor of the Southern Kingdom was still alive, Su Chi held an official position in the court.

Although he was an idle military general, he had the name of the Su family on his head.

Everyone in the court was somewhat wary of him.

It would be fine if Su Rou just protected her own family, but she did it in front of all the civil and military officials in the court!

It's really audacious!

During the eight years of bloody battles on the southern border, the Gong family made great achievements.

Even if it was given to Gong Yu, it wouldn't make them so unhappy!

Although the old general Gong Yuanzhi had his leg broken by Su Wan a few years ago, he still had military merits.

What is Su Chi?!

Row.

Even if Su Rou really married into the Gong family and became the young lady of the Gong family.

However, at this moment, the daughter-in-law of the Gong family was in the Golden Palace, pushing the military power back to her own family. What kind of situation was this?

The little emperor on the dragon throne had a pair of clear eyes that could hold the entire mountains and rivers.

His fingertips stroked the corner of the jade seal. His voice was gentle, yet it carried the calm sharpness of an emperor. "Third Brother Su, known as the 'White Robe God of War,' I believe in his abilities. But... why didn't Master send Young General Gong?"

With one word "Master", all the civil and military officials in the hall bowed their heads.

This was originally the favor of the emperor's teacher when he was young. Now that he was called out in public by the emperor, he was both loved and suppressed, and no one dared to comment on him.

Su Rou lowered her eyelashes and replied calmly, "According to the old rules of our ancestors, there is no permanent merit for a general, no permanent nobility for a family, only talent can be appointed, and Su Chi is more suitable."

The ministers were in an uproar.

Gong Yu was sitting in the third row. He originally looked up at his wife, but when their eyes met, he suddenly turned his face away.

Arou must have her reasons for doing this.

only……

He felt a little unhappy that his Arou was seeking a career in office for another man.

He understood what she meant, but he was still hurt.

The emperor did not ask any more questions. He gathered his sleeves and waved his order, "Three days later, we will review the troops on the parade ground and discuss this further."

His voice was hoarse from the restraint of a young man, like an effluvium on a snowy night.

When the bell rang, all officials retreated like a tide.

A drizzle began to fall outside the palace gate, and Gong Yu and Su Rou were trapped under the palace eaves.

He used his sleeves to shield Su Rou from some of the rain.

"It's just spring in the south, not summer yet. Can I borrow an umbrella from someone?"

Gong Yu's palm rested on her wrist. Even through her sleeve, she could still feel the coldness and the calluses from the sword.

She pulled Gong Yu's sleeve and asked, "Is it because I pleaded for Third Brother that you are unhappy?"

At that time, Su Rou saw his extension.

The pitiful look seemed to question her, asking if she had any good at all.

Gong Yu froze and said, "I don't mean any harm. You should be kind to your brother. But if you exclude me like this, others will think that I have no say at all, and that you only married me... for the power of my family."

There was still warmth in his voice, but there was an extra layer of distant quietness than before.

As he was speaking, the eunuch in the store came out.

"Master Taifu, General Gong, the Emperor invites you."

The two walked side by side through the corridor.

The plum trees on both sides of the long steps are covered with bright red new buds, and the raindrops hitting the branches emit a faint, cool and intense fragrance.

Just like them at this moment.

The floor heating in the side hall was burning brightly, and hot steamed buns were placed on the rosewood table.

The little emperor brushed off his clothes and sat down. He tapped the white glazed cup with his fingertips. With a crisp sound, he ordered the eunuchs accompanying him to retreat outside the door.

He raised his eyes to look at Su Rou, lowering his voice, "Master! There were only outsiders in the hall just now. Are you dissatisfied with my arrangement?"

Su Rou moved forward and saluted. The little emperor wanted to help her, but she dodged sideways.

She replied calmly, "My third brother is good at defending the city. He is more suitable than my husband. In fact, I would like to take this position myself, but now I am the legitimate daughter-in-law of the Gong family. I should regard my daughter and husband as important. I also don't want my husband to leave us. I hope Your Majesty will not blame me for contradicting Your Majesty."

The little emperor's arms were suspended in the air. Her words had turned their relationship into that of a monarch and his subject.

In the past, when the little emperor was still a prince, he called her Master and could get close to her and talk back.

now……

The bean sprouts are this big now.

When a girl grows up, she should avoid her father; when a boy grows up, he should avoid his mother.

Su Rou was only a few years older than him, but she truly treated the little emperor as her own son.

What this little emperor thought of her was another matter.

She also doesn't like those rigid rules.

But when it's time to follow the rules, you have to follow the rules...

Gong Yu stood aside and looked at Su Rou.

Is this what she meant?

It’s because of this…

It makes him seem a little petty.

"Master, Master's uncle is not in the South Country. When you left, Master's uncle and Master's father dug everywhere to find you. But after Master's father brought back the news that you were safe, Master's uncle went to Jingzhou. I have just sent someone to Jingzhou to call Master's uncle back. In three days, the troops will be inspected in the parade grounds. The generals will make their own judgments. I will give the Su and Gong families a place to perform martial arts each. Master, don't worry, this position... will be given legitimately."

Leave from the side hall.

The palace gates closed again, leaving the couple staring at each other across the red glow of the charcoal fire.

The pine charcoal in the furnace crackled and sparks fell on the edge of Gong Yuxuan's green robe, burning out a wisp of white smoke.

Gong Yu took her outside.

After a long while, Su Rou whispered, "If you stay in the capital and continue to be the Palace Guard, my daughter and I will have to stay with you until you are old enough to retire and return home. I don't want to waste my time in a place like this. I don't want the position of general, and neither do you. I want you to accompany me and find a place to live near the border. It's better for us to be well as a family."

Gong Yu didn't say anything.

Su Rou continued, "If you can't bear to give up fame, wealth, and power, I'll ask the young emperor for a military commander position. We can go guard the border and live there. Is that okay?"

Gong Yu's long eyelashes like crow feathers hid the color of his eyes, "I don't blame you, I am willing to go with you, let's wait for Su Chi to come, then we will leave.

He continued in a hoarse voice, "What I want is not military power, but your safety and your love for me."

Outside the palace, the sound of rain fell like the sound of thousands of troops trampling on iron.

Both of them stopped talking.

The candlelight cast their shadows on the wall, their shoulders almost touching, yet they were separated by the longest river in winter.

……

It rained for two days in a row.

As dusk fell, the wind chimes on the eaves of Wuying Palace jingled as the rain hit them.

Su Chi stood under the red steps.

He held a small baby in his arms.

The child was sleeping soundly, the scent of milk mixed with the air of snow, forming a circle of soft mist around his cold outline.

"I'm glad you're okay." His voice was low and hoarse, but with a smile. His eyes swept across Su Rou's slender shoulders wrapped in fox fur, and after confirming that not even a hair of hers was hurt, he let go of the breath he had been holding.

Su Rou reached out to pick up the child, but before her fingertips touched the baby, she was suddenly pulled into the rain-soaked chest by a force.

Su Chi rested his chin on the top of her head, and his arms were tightly clasped together, as if he wanted to embed her into his bones and blood.

"Third brother..." She was stunned, her voice muffled in his chest.

"Don't move." Su Chi's voice trembled.

The palace door was half-open.

Gong Yu stood outside the threshold.

In his hand, he held the glass cup from the Shangshan Bureau. The soft cream in the cup had long since melted away, leaving only a thin layer of frosting, like moonlight that had been casually shattered by someone.

The glass cup fell to the ground with a clang and broke into several pieces.

Gong Yu took two steps forward, grabbed Su Rou's wrist with his iron-like hands, and pulled her out of Su Chi's arms.

The force was so great that the laces of the fox fur coat were broken, and the snow-white fur flew everywhere like a sudden explosion of white flames.

"Gong Yu!" Su Rou stumbled to her feet, her wrist bones numb with pain. "What are you crazy about?"

Gong Yu didn't answer, but just looked up at Su Chi.

The eyes were dark, reflecting the candlelight, like the edge of a knife polished by wind and snow, cold and bright.

Su Chi subconsciously took a half step forward and pulled the child closer to his arms.

The invisible energy between the two men swirled into a tiny vortex.

"She is my sister." Su Chi's voice was sharp, tempered by the battlefield.

Gong Yu curled his lips, but the smile did not reach his eyes, "Third brother, remember this, don't forget it."

The hall was eerily quiet; the three beats of the night watchman's drum seemed to strike the most fragile string in people's hearts.

Su Chi lowered his eyelashes to hide the fleeting embarrassment.

When he looked up again, he had returned to his usual gentle demeanor, "It's only natural for me to hold her."

"It's only natural?" Gong Yu chuckled, turned to look at Su Rou, and lowered his voice very low, "You also think it's only natural?"

Su Rou was speechless at the question. What was so natural and unjust?

She really felt that Su Chi was making a big deal out of nothing.

My third brother has been like this since he was young. If she gets hurt, Su Chi will stay by her side all night without sleeping.

If she smiled, Su Chi could pick all the stars in the world.

Just a hug, is it enough to make him so jealous?