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

Chapter 56: I Didn't Say You Had to Stay

After Leng Yuling entered the palace alone, Jun Ao never summoned any of them to the palace again.

She was satisfied with the result.

Although Jun Ao made no move, Leng Pingchu sent someone to the post station to invite her and Mo Zhen to stay at the Prime Minister's residence for a few days.

Leng Yuling and Mo Zhen exchanged a glance and understood each other's thoughts.

The happiest person among them was Leng Siyu. If Mo Zhen stayed at the Prime Minister's residence, she could see him every day.

"Eldest sister, eldest sister, please stay with your brother-in-law the Emperor for a few more days." As soon as she entered the door, Leng Siyu grabbed Leng Yuling's arm and pleaded.

However, his gaze remained fixed on Mo Zhen, who was standing next to Leng Yuling.

Alas, the young girl's romantic feelings were on full display.

Leng Yuling couldn't help but shake her head. Leng Pingchu had high expectations for Leng Siyu, even wanting her to become the Empress of the Northern Desert. However, Leng Siyu only saw Mo Zhen in her eyes.

Although Leng Siyu is a minor whether in the 21st century or this era, seeing her adoring look at Mo Zhen still made Leng Yuling feel somewhat uncomfortable.

It's like someone has their eyes on your things.

She deliberately blocked Leng Siyu's view of Mo Zhen and smiled, "Stay, you absolutely have to stay. It's a rare opportunity to come home, so naturally you should stay for a few more days, right, Mo Zhen?"

She deliberately addressed Mo Zhen by his full name in front of Leng Siyu and Leng Pingchu; the more she did so, the more it would seem that she and Mo Zhen had a good relationship. Otherwise, who would dare to address the emperor by his full name so directly?

Mo Zhen smiled at her and said indulgently, "Of course we'll listen to Ling'er's wishes."

Leng Pingchu frowned. She never expected that Mo Zhen and Leng Yuling had such a good relationship. She thought that Leng Yuling had no backing or support in the Southern Chu Kingdom, so she would not be able to win Mo Zhen's favor.

Unfortunately, he was wrong; Mo Zhen's affection for Leng Yuling exceeded his expectations.

Leng Pingchu prepared the best room in the Prime Minister's residence for Mo Zhen and Leng Yuling. Inside the room, Leng Yuling looked around and couldn't help but click her tongue.

"The Emperor is indeed different. I've never stayed in such a nice room before. I'm really grateful to you for this." Leng Yuling gently patted Mo Zhen's shoulder to express her gratitude.

Mo Zhen frowned: "Is this how you express your gratitude?"

Leng Yuling was taken aback at first, but when she saw that Mo Zhen was looking at her hand on his shoulder, she realized what he was talking about.

She let go of his hand, rubbed her hands together, and then said with a flattering look, "Doesn't this make our relationship seem even better?"

Mo Zhen didn't mind. Anyway, Leng Yuling's words always left him speechless, so he simply ignored her, poured himself a glass of water, and took a small sip.

Although the room arranged by Leng Pingchu was not bad, it was still far inferior to the Southern Chu Imperial Palace. However, Mo Zhen was not the kind of person who indulged in pleasure, so he didn't mind.

"What do you think Leng Pingchu's purpose is?" Leng Yuling lay on the soft couch for a while, then suddenly sat up and looked at Mo Zhen to ask.

It seemed that she was getting along with Mo Zhen more and more naturally, and she was no longer as afraid of him or resistant to him as before. Their communication was more natural, which made Mo Zhen very satisfied.

Leng Yuling looked at him, waiting for his answer.

After a moment of silence, Mo Zhen finally spoke: "I'll let you stay."

What he meant was that this might not be Leng Pingchu's intention, but rather Jun Ao's.

Leng Yuling nodded in agreement: "Who wants to stay! I was almost strangled to death by Jun Ao a few days ago, and he hates you so much. If I stay, he'll kill me one day."

Just thinking about it terrified her. Although she was clever and skilled with poison, she could never compete with power.

"I didn't say you had to stay."

Just one sentence warmed Leng Yuling's heart; it felt good to have someone protecting her.

-

The first day at the Prime Minister's residence passed peacefully, but a big problem arose on the second day.

All the young ladies and gentlemen from the Prime Minister's residence came to the courtyard where Leng Yuling and Mo Zhen lived, saying they were there to pay their respects to Mo Zhen.

When Leng Yuling heard this, she immediately said: What the hell?

In the end, he still couldn't escape this group of people.

"Is Your Majesty comfortable staying at the mansion?" The one who spoke was Leng Liang, the legitimate son of Leng Pingchu and the half-brother of Leng Yuling.

Mo Zhen simply nodded faintly, softly replied with an "Mm," and then fell silent, creating an awkward atmosphere once again.

Of course, it was them who were embarrassed, not Leng Yuling and Mo Zhen. Leng Yuling wished they would be even more embarrassed, and that they would leave when the conversation couldn't go on.

"Eldest sister, how long do you plan to stay in the Northern Desert?" Leng Siyu was too naive and innocent to feel any awkwardness, and continued to ask the questions she wanted to know.

Leng Yuling glanced at Mo Zhen with a deeply affectionate expression, making anyone who saw her think she was head over heels in love with him. However, only Mo Zhen knew that she was just acting.

Leng Yuling said, "His Majesty is busy with official duties. If it weren't for knowing that I miss home, he would have gone back long ago." As the name suggests, the reason he stayed for so many days this time was entirely because he thought of Leng Yuling's homesickness.

Upon hearing this, Leng Siyu admired Mo Zhen even more, feeling that Mo Zhen was the most handsome and best man she had ever met.

Seeing Leng Siyu's infatuated expression, Leng Yuling couldn't help but smile. She also subconsciously looked at Mo Zhen, whose face was so innocent that it could attract butterflies just by standing there.

She understood Leng Siyu's meaning.

After they all left, Leng Yuling asked Mo Zhen, "If Leng Siyu wants to go back to Southern Chu with us, would you agree?"

Mo Zhen frowned first, then asked in return, "Don't you dislike her?"

He thought Leng Yuling just wanted to take Leng Siyu to Nan Chu for a few days, but Leng Yuling continued, "Didn't you realize that she likes you? She definitely wants to go back to Nan Chu with you."

After hearing Leng Yuling's explanation, Mo Zhen's face darkened even more. He found Leng Siyu's constant chatter annoying, and he disliked stupid women.

Finally, Mo Zhen said, "She is your sister."

“Aren’t there many sisters sharing one husband here? Besides, she and I weren’t born to the same mother.” So in Leng Yuling’s eyes, Leng Siyu couldn’t be considered her sister.

"Your place here?" Leng Yuling's words once again aroused Mo Zhen's suspicion, but when he thought of the things Leng Yuling often said that he couldn't understand at all, he dismissed his doubts.

Leng Yuling hurriedly explained, "I was referring to the Southern Chu Kingdom. Didn't you say you didn't mind these things?"

“I am different from them.” After saying that, Mo Zhen went into the house.

Leng Yuling watched his retreating figure, but the corners of her mouth couldn't help but curl upwards. She was just testing Mo Zhen. Even if Mo Zhen had this intention, she would absolutely not agree.

After realizing her own thoughts, she couldn't help but wonder why she disagreed, since her marriage with Mo Zhen was only a sham.

Unable to figure it out, Leng Yuling shook her head and decided to stop thinking about it.