Xing Yuan smiled gently, her face suddenly appearing tender.
"Get up! Why are you kneeling on the ground all day? It's as if I've bullied you."
"Yes!" the ministers chorused.
"Things have been quite chaotic outside recently! Is there any general willing to take the command and play with those who are just playing house?"
Xing Yuan leaned casually on the dragon throne, tapping her fingertips on the table, her gaze falling on the officials below, as if contemplating who to send to resolve the recent issues.
The unrest had indeed appeared extremely serious at first, but as time passed, the flaws within this force, gathered from disaster victims, began to surface.
Disunity!
Most of them had joined the group simply to find a way to survive. The leader had initially strived with the goal of restoring the kingdom, but later, accustomed to flattery and praise, he had lost his original fighting spirit.
Logically, this force should not have lasted this long under the local garrisons, but it had support from behind.
While they were fools, the Xi Kingdom was well-prepared, and those sent were naturally not on the same level as the disaster victims.
Tu Yingping was a merchant. Merchants are driven by profit. He saw the situation clearly and sent word to Xing Yuan.
He was also taking a gamble. If his bet succeeded, he would have the support of a monarch, and the returns would far outweigh the expenses.
If he failed, he would simply start over. His ability to survive and his business acumen were both first-class.
Xing Yuan did not fully believe him, but she had no intention of acting herself. If someone was willing to be her pawn, why would she refuse?
In the end, Xing Yuan chose an old general who had served on the frontier for many years.
As for herself, she would, of course, remain elegantly in the imperial palace!
After more than half a year, the border conflicts and the internal strife in the Feng Nian Kingdom were resolved simultaneously.
Xing Yuan had a particularly happy half-year! The frontier was harsh and cold, but the imperial palace was luxurious.
When she was truly bored, she would summon several performance troupes from the populace to entertain her in the palace. Occasionally, she would also do some not-so-proper things.
For example, watching dancing girls!
Although Xing Yuan felt she should remain chaste for her wife, it was fine to feast her eyes, wasn't it? Anyway, she always made sure to avoid others when she summoned the dancing girls. Her sister would never know she had done something bad!
Xing Yuan: I am truly a genius! ٩(๑^o^๑)۶
Ever since she received the news that the grand army was returning to the capital, Xing Yuan had thoroughly cleaned the palace again, sending away anyone who shouldn't be there.
Xi Feiyan had already left the imperial palace when Xing Yuan personally led the troops, returning to her own country.
This war's smooth conclusion was also partly due to her.
With the support of her own subordinates, plus some people Xing Yuan had secretly sent to accompany her, and even employing spies known to both dynasties to pave her way.
By the time Xing Yuan received the peace overture from the Xi Kingdom, Xi Feiyan had already overthrown her father and ascended the throne.
There are no eternal enemies in the world, only eternal interests!
Strictly speaking, both sides' internal affairs had always had pros and cons.
Although the Feng Nian Kingdom's military strength was superior to the Xi Kingdom's, it was almost impossible to annihilate the other country. Even if they succeeded, the Feng Nian Kingdom itself would likely be close to disappearing.
Therefore, peace talks were beneficial for both sides and the best choice.
The Feng Nian Kingdom was the victor this time. Xing Yuan felt that by helping Xi Feiyan seize the throne, she had repaid his kindness in helping her detoxify. Thus, regarding the peace terms, although she didn't make exorbitant demands, the conditions were still considered harsh.
The internal strife in the Xi Kingdom was more severe than in the Feng Nian Kingdom. After careful consideration, Xi Feiyan agreed to most of the demands, even ceding three cities, but she had her own stubbornness on other matters.
Xi Feiyan had checks and balances in her court, but Xing Yuan did not.
After she had killed so many people, the entire court had long since become her echo chamber. She usually delegated power to these ministers, but her decisions could not be questioned in the slightest.
It was a very forceful approach, yet no one in the court dared to question it.
Not to mention that her decision this time was considered reasonable; even if she had made a wrong decision, they wouldn't dare to openly resist!
However, it didn't matter, the person who could suppress her had returned.
On the day Ning Yue returned, all the details of the peace talks had been finalized, and the envoy for the talks had been chosen, personally selected by Xing Yuan.
They happened to be sending off the envoy when they were welcoming Ning Yue back.
Ning Yue first accepted her enfeoffment on the palace's grand hall, officially inheriting her mother's general title. Afterward, Xing Yuan met Ning Yue privately in the imperial study.
"Your subject pays respects to Your Majesty!" Ning Yue said respectfully, her eyes filled with an unprecedented fervor.
"Rise!" Xing Yuan rushed over and helped her up.
"Sister Ning, when did you become so formal with me? Didn't I say before? When we are alone, Sister Ning doesn't need to call me Your Majesty." Xing Yuan affectionately linked arms with Ning Yue.
It was as if she were just Ning Yue's little sister, with no other status.
"Alright! I understand." Ning Yue tried to remain calm, but the tenderness in her eyes could not be suppressed.
She had always known that this young girl in her eyes, ever since her father's death, had not had an easy time. But she thought that Xing Yuan, being the legitimate daughter of the empress, would at least be safe even if she faced some exclusion and schemes.
If Xi Feiyan hadn't wanted to leave herself a way out, she might have been kept in the dark her entire life, never knowing this secret, because Xing Yuan only ever showed her good side.
And her most fragile, wounded parts were deeply hidden, not allowing anyone to pry.
Thinking of this, Ning Yue embraced her with a heart full of pain.
Xing Yuan blinked in confusion, but she greatly enjoyed Ning Yue's enthusiastic demeanor and happily hugged her back.
"Your Majesty!" Ning Yue whispered, her voice slightly hoarse.
She knelt on the ground, looked into Xing Yuan's eyes, and asked with extreme seriousness, "Your subject wishes to deceive the emperor! May I ask if Your Majesty can allow your subject to be rebellious just once?"
Xing Yuan clutched her heart, her face blushing profusely, but she forced herself to calm down and said coolly, "Is General serious?"
"Naturally!"
Ning Yue's eyes held a smile. She suddenly stood up and lightly kissed Xing Yuan's lips.
Then she said, "Now, does Your Majesty believe me?"
Xing Yuan didn't speak. She directly wrapped her arms around Ning Yue's neck and, standing on tiptoe, kissed her.
After a long while, they parted. Xing Yuan smiled, "Now I believe you."
Before, she would have dodged when Xing Yuan kissed her, but now she didn't. So this time, she must have made up her mind and wanted to be with her.
"I will welcome you into the palace tomorrow," Xing Yuan promised.
Then, her tone seemed to carry a hint of coquettishness, "But my great general will have to be wronged a little! You'll have to enter the palace under someone else's identity."
"No hardship, I accept it gladly!" Ning Yue said gently.
As soon as they had discussed it, Xing Yuan impatiently began to write an imperial decree. After finishing, Xing Yuan looked at Ning Yue beside her.
She asked with some annoyance, "Does Sister have any requirements for betrothal gifts?"
"No! As long as I end up with you, that's all that matters."
Xing Yuan was not appeased by this statement and became unhappy instead, "But I want to give Sister the best in the world." Because Sister deserved all the precious things in the world.
"A Yuan!" Ning Yue called her by her given name.
Xing Yuan frowned, looking at her in confusion.
She asked, puzzled, "Why is Sister suddenly calling me by my name?"
Ning Yue smiled gently and said softly, "Since we are going to get married, what is yours is naturally mine. So these superficial things for outsiders are meaningless to me."
"If A Yuan truly wants to give Sister the best gift, then give Sister the best A Yuan in the world!"
Xing Yuan looked away shyly, but softly murmured, "A Yuan has already belonged to Sister. Why would I need to give it again!"
However, she ultimately followed Ning Yue's suggestion and made some changes to the imperial decree.
The next day, Xing Yuan proactively summoned the ministers for the morning court.
Xing Yuan gave the chief eunuch a look. He immediately understood and began to read the imperial decree.
[By the grace of Heaven, the Emperor decrees! The son of the former general, Ning Cheng, is gentle and refined, virtuous and upright, and is suitable to be the consort. By the Emperor's great favor, he is bestowed with a phoenix coronet and robes, a pair of jade Ruyi scepters, and ten thousand mu of fertile land... He shall enter the palace on the third day of next month and be granted the title of Phoenix Consort.]
The ministers were stunned, kneeling on the ground, and watched as Ning Yue stepped forward to receive the decree, their eyes filled with disbelief.
Does the Ning family have someone named Ning Cheng? Have their memories become confused?
In fact, they hadn't misremembered. Although Ning Yue had an elder brother and a younger brother, there was indeed no Ning Cheng. This was because the imperial decree referred to Ning Yue.
Some intelligent individuals, like the Prime Minister, had already guessed the truth, but she dared not say much.
With the Emperor's increasingly tyrannical actions recently, she had already made some predictions. She was paving the way for this unreasonable event today.
In this situation, anyone who dared to question it would only face death.
The Prime Minister valued her life and would not do anything foolish. The fools in the court had already died under Xing Yuan's orders, so everyone feigned ignorance. This matter proceeded unexpectedly smoothly.
Even though the various ministries knew there was no such person, they diligently carried out the preparations for the Emperor's wedding to the Phoenix Consort, leaving Xing Yuan with no reason to make an example of anyone.