Chapter 176: If You’re Threatened by Him, Just Blink

"You... were sent back?"

’Mu Yunlian swore he wasn’t gloating in the slightest, just genuinely confused.’

’Didn’t Your Majesty like her? Why would she send her back?’

Ling Ji’s shoulders slumped in dejection. Looking at her from behind, one would have no doubt she was about to burst into tears.

Mu Yunlian had no choice but to get up and look for Xiao Yang. But before he could even leave, Xiao Yang arrived.

She scanned the room, and not seeing Ling Ji, finally spoke. "Ling Ji was doing just fine by your side. Why did you drive her away?"

Mu Yunlian was speechless. "When did I ever drive her away?"

"Didn’t you tell her to follow me?" Xiao Yang asked.

"Yes," Mu Yunlian replied.

"I have no issue with her staying by your side," Xiao Yang said. "Don’t make things difficult for her."

Mu Yunlian paused for a moment, then understood.

"You know how she feels about me, yet you still indulge her."

He was so exasperated he let out a laugh. "Your Majesty is truly generous. What do you take me for?"

Seeing the change in Mu Yunlian’s expression, Xiao Yang raised a hand and pressed it against his chest.

"I’m certainly not petty. She just wants to repay a kindness, mixed with a bit of a girlish crush. You’re good to her and handsome; it’s only natural she’d admire you. But I know you know your limits, and her heart is in the right place, so things won’t go astray. You don’t need to send her to me. She’s a nice girl—don’t go and corrupt her."

’She seems to have complimented me.’

A ripple of light spread through Mu Yunlian’s eyes. He took her hand, draped it around his waist, and naturally pulled her closer.

His eyes crinkling with a smile, he lowered his head. "Your Majesty is so considerate of her. Did you ever think that she might have wanted to go to your side willingly? Now that you’ve rejected her, she’s probably hiding under her blankets crying."

Xiao Yang: "Huh?"

Seeing her confused look, Mu Yunlian seized the opportunity to steal a peck on her lips, his eyes narrowing in delight like a fox that had just nabbed a fish.

"There’s one thing about you that hasn’t changed, Ah Yang. You’re completely oblivious to your own charm."

Back then, he had seemed cold and aloof, but in his heart, a fire had long been blazing just for her. He had approached her subtly, appearing to do nothing, while secretly fending off countless rivals to secure his place as her only friend.

Although she didn’t talk much back then, she was always polite and gentle, readily helping others without ever expecting anything in return.

These were all trivial matters, but they were deeply ingrained in her upbringing, lending her a unique personal charm.

Intelligent but not arrogant, powerful yet kind. Even at a young age, she attracted many people, both men and women.

And yet, it was as if she were incapable of romantic love, drawing a clear line that no one was allowed to cross.

She would reject confessions without batting an eye. And if feelings went unsaid, no matter how fervent, she remained completely oblivious.

It was only he, relying on his deceptively innocent face and pretending to have no ulterior motives, who managed to become her friend step by step.

’Ling Ji is ready to defect from my side, yet in Xiao Yang’s eyes, the girl is still just nursing a secret crush on me and can’t bear to leave. It’s truly like wasting flirtatious glances on a blind man.’

When Xiao Yang went next door, she found Ling Ji. She wasn’t hiding under the covers crying, but her eyes were red.

"If you want to come to my side, you are of course welcome. If he threatened you, just blink."

Hearing this, Ling Ji couldn’t help but burst out laughing.

"Your Majesty, it’s what I want. As long as you’ll have me."

Having finally poached her, how could Xiao Yang possibly refuse?

「 」

Accompanying Li Wei were Xiao Lan and Xiao Cheng. They were also thrilled to see Xiao Yang, though not as dramatically as Xie Liuzheng.

After seeing Xiao Yang, they stuck to her side, refusing to leave. This time, they would not allow any harm to befall Your Majesty, no matter what.

"The Beimeng King is holed up in Wumu City and has not yet left."

Xiao Cheng brought news from the scouts. "Your Majesty, it seems the Beimeng King is showing signs of sending reinforcements to Wumu City."

The day before yesterday, Jin Zeyu was forced to retreat to Wumu City and has not moved since. Judging by his current actions, he intends to go to war.

"This war won’t happen."

Mu Yunlian came in. "Although the Old Beimeng King paved the way for Jin Zeyu, the supporters of the Eldest Prince and Second Prince won’t submit to him easily. Starting a war right after taking the throne, before his position is even stable, would certainly incite widespread discontent. The Old Beimeng King doesn’t have much time left. Once he dies, they might switch their support to the Fourth Prince. Jin Zeyu would become an exiled king, and Beimeng would surely descend into chaos."

"The Old Beimeng King is very shrewd. He would never let that happen, so he will definitely find a way to recall Jin Zeyu before he dies."

Xiao Yang sighed. "What a shame."

The city where Xiao Yang was currently staying was called Luoyan City, and the pass ahead was Fengxue Pass.

With the Emperor having graced them with her presence, Lu Huaixi, the governor of Luoyan City, immediately had a banquet prepared and came personally to kneel and extend an invitation.

After he had been kneeling outside for a full hour, Xiao Yang finally agreed to attend.

Li Wei accompanied her with five hundred Black Dragon Cavalry, while Mu Yunlian, Xie Liuzheng, Xiao Lan, Xiao Cheng, and Ling Ji also went along.

They were just going for a meal, but their grand procession ended up looking like they were occupying the Governor Mansion.

A dozen or so tables were set up in the spacious main hall. Xiao Yang sat in the seat of honor, with Li Wei, Mu Yunlian, and the others to her left, and the governor and high-ranking officials of Luoyan City to her right.

Lu Huaixi spoke with polite reverence, his eyes crinkled into a smile as he repeatedly raised his cup to offer toasts. Xiao Yang merely nodded in acknowledgment, leaving him to drink them all himself.

After three rounds of drinks, the people beside him began their performance, recounting the hardships of Luoyan City and the difficulties the governor faced.

They claimed the governor loved the people as his own children and served the nation with unwavering resolve. He was not greedy, they said, and wouldn’t take a single coin from the common folk. His character was as noble and pure as a plum blossom in the winter snow, truly admirable.

Xiao Yang didn’t know if this Governor Lu was truly as they described, but she knew this whole setup was just to sing Lu Huaixi’s praises.

The goal was one of two things: a promotion or a reward.

Xiao Yang remained aloof throughout, occasionally nodding to show she was listening and offering verbal praise. As for what he truly wanted, she didn’t mention a single word.

Seeing that Xiao Yang was impervious to both hard and soft tactics, they switched to another plan. Dancers came on stage, each one enchanting and seductive. Their dance was wild and sensual, and after they finished, they didn’t leave. Instead, one was assigned to each guest to serve them wine.

Even Xie Liuzheng had one beside her, but Xiao Yang did not.

Lu Huaixi quickly gave a signal with his eyes, and a young man stood up, apparently intending to serve Xiao Yang.

Xiao Yang said nothing, but Ling Ji directly blocked his path, preventing him from getting closer.

Lu Huaixi said, "Your Majesty, this is my son. It would be his honor to serve Your Majesty."

’Xiao Yang had no intention of granting him that honor.’

The young man clutched his sleeve, his body trembling slightly. He inadvertently revealed the marks of an injury as he looked up at Xiao Yang, the picture of pitiable vulnerability. "This commoner, Lu Bing, greets Your Majesty. Please feel free to command me as you wish."

It had to be said, the young man was quite handsome. His pitiful, fragile appearance was indeed enough to stir one’s compassion.

’But Xiao Yang found it a little amusing. Why would they think that a woman who was an Emperor would be into this type of man?’

"Ling Ji, let him approach."

At Xiao Yang’s words, Ling Ji finally stepped aside.

A happy smile instantly blossomed on Lu Bing’s face, and he started walking toward the Emperor. However, he had only taken two steps when, in the instant he passed her, Ling Ji seized his hand...