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

Chapter 96: Deceived

However, on the day they returned to the capital, Leng Yuling did not see Ma Xiaoxiao in the group.

Her previously happy and expectant face suddenly fell. She looked at Su Xi, pouted, and said, "Miss Su Xi, you lied to me."

Su Xi was caught off guard by Leng Yuling's sudden display of affection and even thought she was angry. She quickly clasped her hands and knelt on one knee, saying, "Your Majesty, please forgive me. I did hear that the General was returning to the capital with us." As for why the plan had changed, she couldn't explain it either.

Su Xi's actions surprised Leng Yuling, who subconsciously swallowed and whispered to Ziyan, "Did I say something wrong?"

After understanding, Ziyan helped Su Xi up and told her, "Guard Su, get up quickly. Her Majesty doesn't mean to blame you."

Su Xi had always lived a life of commands, so she was not yet used to Leng Yuling's way of communicating with people. Zi Yan, on the other hand, was already used to it.

"Your Majesty, this subordinate..."

Su Xi was about to explain when Leng Yuling interrupted her: "It's not your fault. Mo Zhen must have given you false information." But she really couldn't understand what Mo Zhen's purpose was if that were the case.

When she saw Mo Zhen, she merely glanced at him before getting into the carriage. He, however, was completely baffled and had no idea what was wrong with her.

The reason he went back early was simply because she said she wanted to go back, but she was so ungrateful and ignored him.

Standing in front of the carriage, Mo Zhen asked with a stern face, "What's wrong with your empress again?"

Although Leng Yuling showed no fear in front of Mo Zhen and did whatever she felt comfortable with, that was just something Leng Yuling could do.

When facing Mo Zhen, especially when he was angry, Zi Yan couldn't help but tremble. She lowered her head and whispered, "This servant doesn't know."

Mo Zhen frowned even more deeply, knowing that Zi Yan had now completely become Leng Yu Ling's person and naturally wouldn't get any information from her. So he looked at Su Xi and said, "Su Xi, you tell me."

Su Xi first glanced at the carriage before looking at Mo Zhen, cupping her hands in greeting and saying, "This subordinate does not know."

Mo Zhen's face darkened. He knew Zi Yan was keeping quiet to protect Leng Yuling, but Su Xi's expression indicated that she genuinely didn't know. Su Xi had never considered, nor did she believe, that Leng Yuling was unhappy because Ma Xiaoxiao hadn't gone back with her.

After getting into the carriage, Leng Yuling sat with her arms crossed and her eyes closed, her face expressionless. Although her eyes were closed, she knew that Mo Zhen, who had gotten into the carriage, was definitely watching her.

She was furious, but didn't know how to vent her anger, so she could only bottle it up inside. If Ma Xiaoxiao were to suffer any harm while protecting the Southern Chu Kingdom, she would definitely not let Mo Zhen off the hook.

"Speak your mind directly, don't give me that look." After settling down, Mo Zhen spoke slowly, his tone unreadable.

It was only after hearing his words that Leng Yuling slowly opened her eyes, lowered her arms which were crossed over her chest, and asked in a questioning tone, "Why isn't Ma Xiaoxiao in the group returning to the capital?"

"You seem to care about her a lot."

Mo Zhen was indeed very curious about why Leng Yuling cared so much about Ma Xiaoxiao, and even more curious about why she kept suggesting that Ma Xiaoxiao return to the capital with them.

"I think I don't need to explain to you why I care about her anymore." After saying that, Leng Yuling turned her head away uncomfortably, not intending to tell Mo Zhen the truth.

Even if she told the truth, no one would believe her; instead, they would think she was a freak or a lunatic, so why should she waste her breath?

After a long silence, Mo Zhen suddenly spoke, "I do not wish you to have any ill intentions towards Xiao Xiao."

Leng Yuling subconsciously looked up. Was he worried that she might do something to Ma Xiaoxiao?

Is that the kind of woman Mo Zhen sees her as?

Ha ha.

Leng Yuling really wanted to roll her eyes at him, and sneered, "Don't worry, even if it hurts me, I won't hurt her in the slightest."

Much later, Mo Zhen finally understood what Leng Yuling meant by those words.

-

Upon entering the Southern Chu Imperial Palace and returning to Jingling Palace, she was greeted by Leng Ruoxi, whom she hadn't seen for a long time, yet she felt no longing for her.

"Elder sister, you're finally back." Leng Ruoxi's face was full of joy as she looked her up and down. "Seeing you safe and sound, I can finally put my mind at ease."

"What are you worried about? I'm with Mo Zhen and the others, how could anything happen to me?" Although she could feel that Leng Ruoxi was genuinely concerned about her this time, she still felt very uncomfortable.

"Elder sister, you...you still don't know?" Seeing Leng Yuling's indifferent expression, Leng Ruoxi couldn't help but ask, which made Leng Yuling even more puzzled. "Should I know something?"

Could something have happened while she was away from the capital? Seeing Leng Yuling's furrowed brows and curious face, Leng Ruoxi realized that she didn't know what had happened.

“Eldest sister, during the days you and the Emperor were away from the palace, news came from Yongcheng that the people were praising you as a goddess, and then…” Leng Ruoxi paused, looked at Leng Yuling, but dared not continue.

Is this not the information age? How can news travel so fast?

And then... and then what?

She looked at Leng Ruoxi, waiting for her answer, but the latter never dared to speak.

"Fine, don't tell me then." Leng Yuling walked straight into the room, ignoring Leng Ruoxi.

After waiting for a long time without receiving a reply from Leng Ruoxi, her patience ran out. Moreover, they had traveled a long way back by carriage, and she was not used to the mode of transportation in this era. Now she was too tired to talk and did not want to give Leng Ruoxi any more patience.

Once inside, Leng Yuling took off her clothes and said to Ziyan, "Ziyan, go and find out what Leng Ruoxi wanted to say earlier. I'm going to take a nap; I'm exhausted."

As she spoke, she took off her coat, casually kicked off her shoes, hugged the blanket, and closed her eyes to sleep.

Before going to bed, I said with a touch of melancholy, "It's still so comfortable at home."

Perhaps even Leng Yuling herself didn't realize that she had already made the Southern Chu Imperial Palace her home, and that she had also regarded Mo Zhen and Mo Xuan as her family.

Seeing Leng Yuling sleeping with her blanket wrapped around her without any regard for her image, Ziyan couldn't help but laugh. She went over to help her lower the curtain before turning and leaving.

Ziyan entered the palace at a young age and served many masters, encountering both good and bad ones. However, she had never met someone like Leng Yuling before, and she secretly vowed that if she could stay by Leng Yuling's side, she would serve her well.