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

Chapter 44: Don't exchange it, it's not worth it.

Bai Xiaozi's matter was delayed again and again, to the point that Leng Yuling almost forgot that such a thing even existed.

However, the fact that Leng Yuling had no news did not mean that the people Mo Zhen sent out had not received any information.

That day, Mo Xuan was hurriedly summoned to the palace by Mo Zhen.

Even as he stood before Mo Zhen, Mo Xuan still looked worried. He didn't know why Mo Zhen had summoned him, but he knew that Mo Zhen wouldn't have called him into the palace unless there was a reason.

"Brother, you summoned me to the palace. Is there any new news from the Northern Desert?"

Mo Zhen's eyes, which had been observing the situation, did not lift even for a moment because of Mo Xuan's words; he only let out a faint "hmm" through his nose.

"Jun Ao released Bai Xiaozi?" Mo Xuan asked, with a mixture of doubt and anticipation.

Mo Zhen paused what he was doing, slightly raised his eyes to look at Mo Xuan, and curled the corners of his lips, but before Mo Xuan could speak, he said, "Do you think it's possible?"

Given Jun Ao's personality and Bai Xiaozi's medical skills, even if Bai Xiaozi cannot be used by the Northern Desert Kingdom, Jun Ao would never willingly release Bai Xiaozi.

Especially since Jun Ao knew that both the Southern Chu and Eastern Lin kingdoms wanted to have Bai Xiaozi for their own use, he was even less likely to let Bai Xiaozi out of his sight.

Mo Xuan wasn't unaware of these things, but before entering the palace, and even before hearing Mo Zhen speak, he still held onto a sliver of hope, only to be disappointed in the end.

Mo Xuan couldn't help but sigh, and after a long while, he asked, "What message was sent back?"

"Jun Ao wants us to exchange Leng Yuling for Bai Xiaozi."

Mo Xuan was taken aback and froze instantly.

He seemed to see a glimmer of hope, yet he knew that Mo Zhen would never exchange Leng Yuling for Bai Xiaozi. Not to mention that Leng Yuling was now the Empress of Nan Chu, even if she wasn't, Bai Xiaozi was still a person, not an object, and he might not listen to Mo Zhen.

"Brother Emperor..."

After hesitating for a long time, just as she was about to speak, Mo Zhen interrupted her, saying slowly and deliberately, "I will not change it."

"That……"

Before Mo Xuan could finish speaking, he was interrupted by Leng Yuling, who burst into the Imperial Study from outside. She shouted, "Don't change it! It's not worth it!" As she spoke, she took two steps at a time and kept saying, "Don't change it."

Mo Xuan was stunned, while Mo Zhen frowned, looking displeased.

The eunuch who followed Leng Yuling in was about to explain when Mo Zhen growled, "Get out!"

Leng Yuling pointed at herself and asked, "You were secretly discussing whether to give me away as an object, and you still have the nerve to ask me to leave?"

Mo Zhen's brows furrowed even deeper, but he said coldly, "I'm telling Li Quan to leave, not you."

Upon hearing Mo Zhen's words, Li Quan silently withdrew, and Leng Yuling's anger subsided somewhat.

"Entering the Imperial Study without prior notice? Your brother can punish you, do you know that?" Mo Xuan looked at Leng Yuling. At this moment, he really didn't want Leng Yuling to be here, and he didn't want Leng Yuling to hear their conversation.

"Enough with the nonsense, do you want me to change my master?" Before Mo Zhen and Mo Xuan could speak, Leng Yuling hurriedly interjected, "Don't forget he's my master. Do you think he would work for someone who pushed his disciple into the fire?"

"What, don't you want to go back to Beimo?" Mo Zhen looked up at Leng Yuling and asked, "This is the best opportunity to leave Nan Chu."