The cold emperor reigns supreme, the arrogant empress begs for a truce.

Chapter 30: The Strange Illness

Before Ma Zhiyun could speak, she spoke for the third time: "That's not what I meant. Although I am the Empress, my relationship with Mo Zhen is not what you think..."

Seeing Ma Zhiyun's puzzled expression, Leng Yuling sighed and decisively gave up on explaining.

Ma Zhiyun smiled and said, "I know."

Although she didn't know if Ma Zhiyun really understood what she meant, she was indeed relieved. Being misunderstood was unpleasant, so hearing Ma Zhiyun's words made her feel much better.

"Can I take your pulse now?" Leng Yuling changed to a very serious and earnest expression.

Ma Zhiyun paused slightly, then smiled and shook her head: "No need to take my pulse. My illness is probably incurable by anyone."

Leng Yuling could tell that there was a hint of sadness in her tone, but not a deep sense of sorrow or despondency; on the contrary, she seemed quite open-minded.

"Either you tell me, or you let me see for myself." Once Leng Yuling's curiosity was piqued, she was determined to find the answer.

Ma Zhiyun could see Leng Yuling's persistence. After a long pause, she said, "Even the best doctor in the Southern Chu Kingdom doesn't know what illness I have. I don't feel pain, itching, or discomfort, but I always look haggard and have no energy."

Over the years, she had wanted to know what illness she had, but despite seeing many doctors, none of them could find the cause.

Even so, she remained very optimistic. She was unsure when she might suddenly die, but she was prepared for the possibility of dying at any moment.

So she treats every day she's alive as if it were her last, and she cherishes every single day.

Leng Yuling walked to the opposite side of Ma Zhiyun and sat down. She gently placed her fingers on Ma Zhiyun's wrist. This time, Ma Zhiyun did not refuse but looked at Leng Yuling.

She knew that Leng Yuling was the last disciple of the Medical Sage, she also knew that Mo Zhen was the one who had saved her, and she knew that Mo Xuan's eagerness to travel a long distance to the Northern Desert to bring her back was partly due to her as well as Mo Zhen.

However, Ma Zhiyun seems to have lost all hope for her illness, or rather, she dares not have any hope, because she knows that with hope comes disappointment.

If disappointment is inevitable, why choose to have expectations?

“My elder sister and I both have the same strange illness, but my elder sister’s illness only flares up once a year, while mine happens every day.” Seeing the frown on Leng Yuling’s face, Ma Zhiyun finally spoke.

In fact, she knew that even if Leng Yuling took her pulse, she might not be able to figure out what was wrong, so she refused many times when Mo Zhen and Mo Xuan suggested that Leng Yuling take a look at her.

This is also why Mo Zhen was so angry the last time Leng Yuling came to her palace without permission; it was just that Mo Zhen was respecting her.

“I’ve never encountered your illness before, but what’s strange is your pulse.” After a pause, Leng Yuling frowned and said, “It seems very chaotic, yet it’s also very stable.”

"Everyone says the Empress is the last disciple of the Sage of Medicine, and it's true. But my illness..."

Before Ma Zhiyun could finish speaking, Leng Yuling interrupted her: "I can't answer the question you want to ask, but I will definitely study it carefully when I get back."

Looking at Leng Yuling's serious expression, Ma Zhiyun felt a strange sense of emotion. It was enough for her that someone would research something for her sake.