Xing Yuan was furious, emanating a palpable chill.
Ning Yue, however, kowtowed to her, remaining kneeling without looking up, a testament to her unwavering resolve.
Xing Yuan could no longer suppress her volatile emotions. Her sensitivity had been heightened by past unpleasant memories.
Now, with Ning Yue suddenly demanding her permission to leave, Xing Yuan was unsure whether the overwhelming feeling was the anger of abandonment or sheer panic.
Xing Yuan walked step by step towards Ning Yue. No one dared to approach her. She gently cupped Ning Yue's chin, forcing her to meet her gaze, and then spoke to her word by word, "Does Young General Ning truly intend to do this? Have you thought it through?"
"Yes! I humbly request Your Majesty's permission." Ning Yue met her gaze directly, her eyes filled with determination.
"Your Majesty, peace is paramount!" a minister whispered from the side.
"Young General, you should also say less. Your Majesty is currently enraged!" another minister murmured.
In the profound silence of the grand hall, even these deliberately softened voices carried clearly to their ears, yet neither of them paid any heed.
Xing Yuan looked at Ning Yue, a sliver of her reason returning. She blinked, momentarily dazed.
Seizing this opportunity, Ning Yue broke free from Xing Yuan's grasp and kowtowed again, "Your Majesty personally made a promise. I implore Your Majesty to honor it."
"Hmph!" Xing Yuan sneered. "Are you negotiating terms with me?"
Enraged, Xing Yuan pointed at the few individuals cowering like ostriches in the hall, her imposing presence fully displayed.
"I am the Emperor. Look at them. If I truly break my promise, who would dare defy me?"
"I implore Your Majesty's permission." Ning Yue simply looked at her with clear eyes, performing the rites of sovereign and subject.
"Fine! Very well! Since that is your wish, I shall grant it." Xing Yuan declared with fury.
"I will give you one hour to pack your belongings. Go wherever you please. However, if I see you in the capital after this hour, it will be an act of deceiving the Emperor."
Xing Yuan was incandescent with rage and kicked a pillar in the hall.
Her eyes turned crimson, and her throat felt a slight sweetness. Even at this extreme level of anger, she refused to let Ning Yue see her in a disheveled state. With a flick of her sleeve, she turned and vanished.
The ministers exchanged glances. Finally, a few approached and helped the kneeling Ning Yue to her feet.
One minister advised, "Young General, why put yourself through this? The border is harsh and cold, and His Majesty cherishes you so. Why must you ruin your own future?"
"Indeed! Given His Majesty's regard for you, and the prosperity of the General's mansion, why would you need to strive for military merit?"
Ning Yue's face was calm. She blinked, suppressing the tears that threatened to spill.
She pushed down the bitterness in her heart and said faintly, "I believe the ministers should understand best why I am doing this.
The Crown Prince of Xi attacked the Emperor of Feng Nian. Once the news spreads, war is inevitable between the two nations. While Aunt Yu is powerful, she cannot withstand an army of thousands alone. Is it wrong for me to want to lend her a hand?"
"But... but Young General, this has wounded His Majesty's heart! If you had told the truth, His Majesty might not have refused."
Ning Yue's eyes held a hint of mockery as she looked at the minister who had uttered this absurdity.
Everyone knew Xing Yuan was not destined to be a wise ruler, but as the only one qualified to inherit the throne, they had no choice but to support her. Did they not realize that if she had told the truth, she would never have been allowed to leave the capital?
Because their Emperor had never truly cared for the realm, she had to deliberately provoke her to have even a sliver of a chance. Yet... Ning Yue lowered her head and glanced at the sachet at her waist.
She would likely never be forgiven now. After all, Xing Yuan valued face above all else, and forcing her in front of all the ministers was something she had explicitly stated she could not tolerate.
Ning Yue had almost finished packing. In a mere hour, she, along with a small contingent of those willing to leave the capital with her, swiftly departed towards the border.
Xing Yuan fell ill, neglecting all state affairs for a full month.
The ministers believed she was still angry about being "defied." In reality, her poison had flared up.
Xi Feiyan lived up to her reputation as a divine physician. Her medicine was effective, but Xing Yuan's earlier rage had directly exacerbated the poison within her.
Xi Feiyan said with a grave expression, "Your Majesty must not leave your bed during this period, or I cannot guarantee your complete recovery."
"Alright!" Xing Yuan replied listlessly, devoid of joy or sorrow.
In her heart, she thought, "By now, my sister must have already left. She is truly heartless, abandoning me all alone like this."
Xing Yuan had now realized that Ning Yue had deliberately provoked her, guiding her to speak those words with a single objective: to go to the border.
Hmph! Did she hold no place in her heart at all? To treat her this way.
If all else failed, she could have taken her along.
She lay in bed, passively receiving acupuncture from Xi Feiyan and taking whatever medicine was prescribed, as obedient as a soulless puppet.
Although Xing Yuan's current state was somewhat unsettling, doctors favored such patients. Xi Feiyan had no grounds to comment and remained silent.
Two months later, the Prime Minister successfully negotiated the price for Xi Nan Shan.
After the return of the Crown Prince of Xi, the two nations officially went to war.
Following over two months of treatment, Xing Yuan's condition had improved considerably, and some of the poison had been purged. However, Xi Feiyan had still not found a cure.
War between nations was a grave matter, and Xing Yuan, as the ruler, naturally had to preside over the situation.
Intelligence from the front lines reported a stalemate, with neither side able to gain a decisive advantage.
Xing Yuan glanced at the report and carelessly tossed it aside. Lately, she had lost interest in everything. Far from indulging in extravagance, she couldn't even muster the will to draw her sword and kill.
"Your Majesty, what... what should we do?" a minister stepped forward to ask.
"You ask me?" Xing Yuan suddenly erupted in anger, grabbing a memorial and throwing it down.
"If I knew everything, what use would there be for me to employ you all?"
"Take him away and execute him!" Xing Yuan commanded with a wave of her hand, and the guards promptly dragged the man away.
"Your Majesty, Minister Wan merely misspoke. His crime does not warrant death!" a minister pleaded for him.
Xing Yuan glanced at her and issued another order, "In that case, guards! Take both of them and execute them. It will also fulfill their camaraderie."
For a moment, the entire hall fell silent, each person fearing that the Emperor, whom no one could placate, might have them executed next.
If only they had persuaded the Young General more, then there wouldn't be a single person in the court brave enough to offer counsel to His Majesty.
After all, whenever His Majesty flew into a rage, only the Young General could calm her down. And now, the Young General was gone.