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

Chapter 99: No Need for Words of Gratitude

“Your Majesty, the purpose of my visit to the palace today is to express my gratitude.” As she spoke, Ma Xiaoxiao gestured to a maid to present a box to Leng Yuling. “This was sent to the palace by my father. These past few days, my father has not been able to thank Your Majesty in person, so he asked me to convey his thanks. If Your Majesty ever needs anything in the future, our Ma family will do everything in our power to help.”

Ma Xiaoxiao cupped her hands in a gesture of respect, displaying a rather chivalrous spirit. However, what they didn't know was that seeing how seriously they took this matter made Leng Yuling feel somewhat guilty.

After all, her initial goal was not simply to cure Ma Zhiyun, but more out of curiosity about her illness; Leng Yuling possessed the curiosity of a doctor.

This could also be considered an occupational hazard; she always wanted to figure out exactly what kind of illness she was experiencing and why she couldn't cure it.

Finally, although she was treating Ma Zhiyun's illness little by little, she still couldn't figure out the cause of the illness. However, she gradually realized that she was no longer so curious about the cause of the illness as she was about making Ma Zhiyun better.

However, she still felt guilty about the gratitude from Ma Xiaoxiao and all the Ma family members. She did not intend to accept the gift, but said somewhat self-deprecatingly, "What are you thanking me for? It was my master who treated Yun'er, not me."

"It was you who brought the Sage of Medicine to Southern Chu. If it weren't for you..."

Before Ma Xiaoxiao could finish speaking, Leng Yuling interrupted her: "Even without me, Mo Zhen will definitely do everything he can to get my master to come." Because Mo Zhen had told her before that this was something he had promised Ma Zhiyun, and he would definitely do it.

In fact, Leng Yuling didn't know what had happened or what story existed between Mo Zhen, Ma Xiaoxiao, and Ma Zhiyun. The only thing she could tell was that the relationship between the three of them was like a mystery.

Leng Yuling suddenly looked up at Ma Xiaoxiao, paused for a moment, but still didn't ask the question that had been bothering her.

"But that's the reality." She was referring to the fact that Bai Xiaozi only came to Nan Chu and agreed to treat Ma Zhiyun without any conditions because of Leng Yuling.

Leng Yuling waved her hand, realizing that Ma Xiaoxiao was a persistent person, and then gestured for Ziyan to take the gift that Ma Xiaoxiao had handed over.

“We’ve accepted the gifts and expressed our gratitude. Now…” Leng Yuling raised an eyebrow and looked at Ma Xiaoxiao with a mischievous smile, saying, “Let’s… go find Yun’er.” Originally, Leng Yuling wanted to find out some information about the Dowager Consort and Mo Zhen, but when she saw Leng Ruoxi walking towards them, she changed the subject.

Ma Xiaoxiao was taken aback at first, but then she remembered what Ma Zhiyun had told her yesterday: that Leng Yuling was very kind to her and would come over from time to time to talk to her and relieve her boredom, so she no longer found it strange.

As soon as Leng Yuling finished speaking, Leng Ruoxi, who had approached, said, "This humble woman, Leng Ruoxi, greets General Ma." Leng Ruoxi curtsied to Ma Xiaoxiao. Although her elder sister was the Empress, she still had to observe the proper etiquette to avoid giving others cause for gossip.

Ma Xiaoxiao glanced at Leng Ruoxi and nodded. She had heard that Leng Yuling's half-sister had also returned from the Northern Desert with them. However, this was the first time she had met Leng Ruoxi, and she didn't really have a good impression of her.

"Eldest sister, are you going to Consort Ma's place?" Leng Yuling glanced at Leng Ruoxi, and although she didn't know what she was thinking, she still nodded.

Unexpectedly, Leng Ruoxi said, "I also want to go with you." Seeing Leng Yuling looking at her with a puzzled expression, she explained, "During the days when my elder sister and the Emperor went to Yongcheng, I often went to keep Consort Ma company and chat with her to relieve her boredom."

So it turns out that Leng Yuling kindly asked Ma Zhiyun to take care of her, but in the end, the two of them became good friends. She actually gave Leng Ruoxi an accomplice in this palace?

However, Leng Ruoxi was unlikely to cause any trouble. At this moment, Leng Yuling never expected that Leng Ruoxi could not only cause trouble, but also create quite a stir.

Of course, that's a story for another time.

-

Although she was reluctant, she couldn't refuse Leng Ruoxi's request in front of Ma Xiaoxiao. Besides, she also wanted to know how good Leng Ruoxi's relationship with Ma Zhiyun was.

To her surprise, Ma Zhiyun seemed to like Leng Ruoxi quite a bit, but she didn't become distant from her even after a month apart; she remained the same as before.

"Why did you come with the Empress, sister?" Ma Zhiyun was quite surprised to see her appear with Ma Xiaoxiao, after all, she had never thought that the two of them would become good friends.

"Father asked me to take some things to the Empress, so I came along." After pausing, Ma Xiaoxiao walked to Ma Zhiyun's side, helped her up, and said, "How are you feeling today? Are you feeling any better?"

Ma Xiaoxiao genuinely cares about Ma Zhiyun, which is evident from her face. However, even when the two stand together, they don't look very similar.

They don't look alike, and their personalities are completely different, but they are siblings born to the same mother, and were born only half an hour apart.

"Sister, don't worry, after taking the medicine from the Sage of Medicine, I feel much better now," Ma Zhiyun said with a smile.

Looking at her, her complexion had become much rosier. This was the first time Leng Yuling had seen her since returning from Yongcheng, and she had to admit that Bai Xiaozi's medical skills were indeed superior to hers.

Leng Yuling suddenly thought of a sentence: Your master is your master.

“Then everything is fine. Now that Yun’er’s health is gradually improving, you don’t need to rush to the border.” Seeing their puzzled or surprised expressions, Leng Yuling realized that something was amiss and continued, “What I mean is that you can stay and spend more time with Yun’er.”

Actually, she simply didn't want Ma Xiaoxiao to go to any dangerous places again, and she would also worry when she couldn't see her, didn't know her, and had no news of her.

Although she knew that Ma Xiaoxiao was not Xiaoxiao after all, Leng Yuling had already treated her as Xiaoxiao. She didn't want her to suffer so much, and she didn't want her to be in any danger. These were things that her older sister would worry about.

"The Empress is right, sister. Why don't you stay a few more days this time?" Ma Zhiyun looked at Ma Xiaoxiao expectantly, waiting for her answer, her eyes full of hope. "Just think of it as spending more time with me and my parents, okay?"

It's rare to see Ma Zhiyun like this. Leng Yuling usually only sees her as virtuous and sensible. Perhaps it's only in front of her true family that she shows a side of herself that she doesn't usually show to others.

Leng Yuling had assumed that Ma Zhiyun was her younger sister because she could persuade her, but to her surprise, Ma Zhiyun casually said, "I cannot let down the Emperor and the people's expectations of me."

Upon hearing this, Leng Yuling's face instantly darkened: "You mean, you still want to leave?"

Ma Xiaoxiao looked at Leng Yuling, but did not respond.

Leng Yuling's face instantly darkened.