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

Chapter 98: I don't need her to know

After leaving the Empress Dowager's palace, Mo Zhen warned, "You are not allowed to see the Empress Dowager alone again."

"Why?" She didn't dislike the Dowager Consort; on the contrary, she felt that there was always an inexplicable sense of mystery about her that always made her want to get closer.

"I said you can't go, so you can't go. Why ask so many questions!" This wasn't the first time Mo Zhen had inexplicably lost his temper in front of Leng Yuling, but this time it was because she had gone to see his mother.

In Leng Yuling's eyes, no one would want their wife to have a harmonious relationship with their mother, so Mo Zhen's actions became increasingly puzzling to her.

"Do you think I'm not worthy to meet your mother as your wife?" Leng Yuling suddenly changed to a serious face, and before Mo Zhen could speak, she said, "If so, just tell me directly, I, Leng Yuling, don't care."

Watching Leng Yuling flick her sleeves and stride away, Mo Zhen couldn't help but sigh. Every time, he was the one who got angry first, but in the end, it was Leng Yuling who had to be coaxed.

He must have owed her something in his past life to worry about her all the time, yet he receives no gratitude in return.

"Your Majesty, the Empress just didn't know that you were angry because you were worried about her." Li Quan, who had seen many things, knew a lot. Seeing Mo Zhen's helpless look, he understood why he sighed.

"I don't need her to know." She just needs to live the way she wants, and all he can do is protect her and give her what she wants.

"I'm afraid the Empress can't see the Emperor's deep affection for her." Mo Zhen had just finished speaking when another voice came from not far away. Looking in the direction of the voice, it was none other than Ma Xiaoxiao.

Mo Zhen remained calm, showing no displeasure or unease at suddenly seeing Ma Xiaoxiao or hearing his words. He simply asked her, "How did you end up in the palace?"

Ma Xiaoxiao returned a day later than them, but returned to the capital on the same day as them. This did not surprise Mo Zhen. What surprised him was why she was in the palace at this time.

Ma Xiaoxiao was still wearing her military uniform, and her face showed signs of travel and exhaustion. It was clear that she had gone straight to the palace upon returning to the capital. It wasn't hard to guess the purpose of her visit. She said, "I had many things to take care of after returning to the palace, so I didn't have time to see Yun'er. Is she feeling much better?"

With the renowned physician Bai Xiaozi watching over her in the palace, Ma Zhiyun's illness could only get better and better, and it was impossible for her to return to her previous state. He still had that much confidence. Otherwise, they wouldn't have gone to such lengths to personally go to the Northern Desert to bring Bai Xiaozi back.

"I heard from Yun'er that if it weren't for the Empress, the Sage of Medicine wouldn't have been able to come to Southern Chu. I will personally thank the Empress in the palace another day." With that, Ma Xiaoxiao cupped her hands to Mo Zhen to express her gratitude.

Mo Zhen reached out and lifted her hand: "This is something I promised you and Yun'er, so there's no need for words of thanks."

"I want to thank the Empress," Ma Xiaoxiao said, emphasizing each word.

Mo Zhen was taken aback. Leng Yuling was his empress, so thanking Leng Yuling was the same as thanking him. That was how he saw it, but Ma Xiaoxiao still saw them as separate entities.

“If you want to see her, you don’t need to go to the palace too early, she gets up rather late.” Mo Zhen didn’t say anything more, but told her the time when Leng Yuling got up.

Watching Mo Zhen's receding figure, a flicker of emotion flashed in Ma Xiaoxiao's eyes, and a self-deprecating smile curved her lips.

-

Just two days later, Ma Xiaoxiao actually paid a personal visit.

When Ziyan said that Ma Xiaoxiao had arrived, Leng Yuling couldn't believe it until she saw her standing in front of her.

"When did you come back? You didn't come back with us that day, did you?" Upon seeing Ma Xiaoxiao, she asked several questions in a row.

Ma Xiaoxiao was taken aback at first, not expecting Leng Yuling to be so enthusiastic towards her, so she smiled and replied, "I set off the day after you returned." However, she would not tell her the reason, but fortunately Leng Yuling was not curious.

"I thought Mo Zhen had sent you to the border again, which made me angry with him the whole way." Thinking of this, she suddenly felt a little sorry for Mo Zhen, but when she thought that he never told her that Ma Xiaoxiao would be back the next day, she felt that Mo Zhen deserved it these past few days.

Although Leng Yuling spoke the last sentence very softly, Ma Xiaoxiao still heard it. However, she was curious as to why Leng Yuling was angry with Mo Zhen for sending her to the border.

Before she could even ask, she heard Rong Mama walk in and say, "Young lady, you're finally back! You've been away at the border for years, and I've missed you terribly."

Upon seeing Rong Mama, Ma Xiaoxiao finally smiled and said, "Rong Mama."

Leng Yuling had no idea that they actually knew each other, and it was obvious that they were very close!

It's clear that Rong Momo really likes Ma Xiaoxiao. At least Leng Yuling has never seen such a happy expression on Rong Momo's face before. It's true that comparisons are odious.

Leng Yuling pouted and gestured to Ziyan beside her to pour her some tea.

Ziyan could tell the reason for Leng Yuling's displeasure, so she leaned close to Leng Yuling's ear and whispered, "Your Majesty, General Ma has grown up with the Emperor since childhood, and Rong Mama has served the Emperor for a long time. They are naturally familiar with each other. Your Majesty, why bother..."

Before Ziyan could finish speaking, she was interrupted by a look from Leng Yuling. She then consciously shut her mouth and stopped talking, instead obediently pouring tea for Leng Yuling.

"Miss, are you going to the palace to see the Dowager Consort or Consort Ma?" Although Ma Xiaoxiao is now a general of the country, in front of Rong Momo, she is just a girl who has watched her grow up since she was a child. Moreover, Ma Xiaoxiao is not wearing military uniform today, so she has less of a tough look and more of a gentle look.

“Granny Rong, I’m not here to see the Dowager Consort or to find Yun’er. I have something to discuss with the Empress.” Ma Xiaoxiao treated Granny Rong with the same respect one would show an elder. After all, she was the Dowager Consort’s dowry maid and Mo Zhen’s wet nurse. Even Mo Zhen treated her with respect, so how could she not?

Leng Yuling, on the other hand, didn't put on any of those so-called rules with Mo Zhen, let alone with Rong Mama. Seeing that they had exchanged so many pleasantries, she got impatient and said, "How about I lend you a room to catch up properly?"

Since Ma Xiaoxiao came to see her, she must have something to say, and she didn't want Rong Momo to ruin it.

But upon hearing her words, before Ma Xiaoxiao could speak, Rong Momo interjected, "Your Majesty, you know that General Ma is a meritorious official of our Southern Chu Kingdom. Even the Emperor has some respect for General Ma, you..."

"What's wrong with me?" Leng Yuling interrupted Rong Mama.

"Granny Rong, I really have something to say to the Empress. I'll go see the Dowager Consort with you later, okay?" To Leng Yuling's surprise, Ma Xiaoxiao actually coaxed Granny Rong with the tenderness of a little woman.

Clearly, Rong Momo was easily swayed by this and withdrew after hearing what she said.

"That Rong Mama, all she does is argue with me all day long. Sometimes I really want to fight her, but I only refrain because she's an old woman," Leng Yuling said unhappily after Rong Mama left.

Ma Xiaoxiao couldn't help but laugh after hearing this, even though she didn't know what '怼' meant.