Xing Yuan nodded in satisfaction and left with a flourish.
Her answer was truly perfect!
As soon as Xing Yuan returned to her sleeping quarters, Xiao Yan arrived at a leisurely pace.
"Your Majesty, you have been poisoned with many toxins. I fear I cannot research an antidote for it in a short time, but I do have a method that can temporarily alleviate the pain when your poison acts up."
Xing Yuan asked with great interest, "Tell me about it!"
Xiao Yan presented a sandalwood box. Xing Yuan opened it and saw several sesame-sized pills inside.
"These are pills I developed, and they are extremely effective for your condition. At the very least, they will give you enough energy to handle state affairs."
Although Xiao Yan was not part of the imperial court, as a man who grew up in the martial world and had seen much of the people's suffering, he was deeply concerned about these matters.
Xing Yuan felt a little embarrassed but accepted the pills without hesitation. For the sake of these pills, she would reluctantly refrain from being a foolish monarch for now.
Xiao Yan relaxed slightly, a hint of a smile appearing on his clear, handsome face, which made Xing Yuan momentarily dazed. He was truly a handsome man!
As if recalling something, Xing Yuan suddenly called out, "Divine Physician, please wait!"
Xiao Yan turned back in confusion, but his attitude remained as respectful as ever, "Does Your Majesty have any other urgent matters?"
Xing Yuan hummed uncomfortably and dismissed everyone before sitting down on a chair. She then gestured for Xiao Yan to sit down as well.
"Since Divine Physician will be staying in the palace for some time, would you be willing to do me a small favor?"
Xiao Yan's expression hesitated for a moment, but he then said, "If there is anything Your Majesty needs my assistance with, I will naturally not refuse."
Xing Yuan smiled, and a touch of gentleness appeared on her resplendent face.
"I will not hide it from you. You know my current physical condition, and I don't know if I will ever fully recover. This matter cannot be known to those ministers, or it will inevitably shake the imperial court.
However, the court has recently been pressuring me to select consorts. Given my current physical condition, if I were to take a concubine, wouldn't that be harming them?
Since Divine Physician will be staying temporarily, perhaps you could be inconvenienced and take on the title of a consort. I will find an excuse to bring you into the palace, and then I can use that as a reason to silence those ministers.
Divine Physician, rest assured, I will not do anything to you. I can even personally write an imperial decree to protect your safety. My harem is empty, and no one will harm you. What does Divine Physician think?"
Xiao Yan frowned and pondered. Even if he didn't understand court affairs, he knew the consequences of such an action. However... he nodded and agreed.
"Excellent, excellent!" Xing Yuan was overjoyed. A ready-made shield had appeared! She didn't want to be nagged by a bunch of ministers every day.
Moreover, according to her past memories, the envoy from the Xi Kingdom intended to form a marriage alliance with her. If she already had a husband or companion, it would be easier to refuse that person. That person from Xi Nan Mountain was not easy to deal with; she had almost fallen for him before. In terms of cunning, Xing Yuan was not entirely confident.
Thinking this, Xing Yuan's face broke into a smile that was as pleasant as a spring breeze. "Since Divine Physician has agreed, what is Divine Physician's real name... It's not convenient for me to always call you Divine Physician, is it?"
Xiao Yan pursed his lips and said faintly, "Fei Yan, my name. My master gave it to me."
Free and unrestrained like a wild goose, that was what his master had hoped for. Yet, perhaps he would never be able to achieve what his master expected.
"I understand," Xing Yuan nodded lightly, her eyes smiling, appearing very pleased.
Fei Yan said no more and turned to leave.
He could tell that His Majesty had no feelings for him. Otherwise, she would never have agreed. He was clear about his position: merely a shield in the eyes of the world.
However, it didn't matter. The more he gave, the more he would eventually gain. Besides, he was not someone who could be easily overpowered.
He even suspected that the Empress of Feng Nian Kingdom had seen through his identity. Otherwise, among so many people in the world, why would she have chosen him at this particular time?
A few days later, Xing Yuan openly left the palace and then saw a handsome man on a pleasure boat, whom she immediately brought back to the palace.
As soon as the news spread, the ministers were in an uproar.
Although they all knew that the current emperor had gained the throne improperly and her character was not entirely virtuous, those ministers who supported her ascension could not help but have designs on the master of her harem. As soon as the news spread, the gates of the Golden Palace were almost battered down.
Ning Yue also received the news. She was silent for a moment, then began practicing martial arts in the courtyard. She understood her; once someone of her disposition made a decision, they would not go back on it.
So, what was the point of her going to ask?
Xing Yuan had always been impatient with these ministers and casually found excuses to placate them. She had been waiting in the imperial study for that person to come and ask her. As long as she came to ask, she would tell her everything.
However, she waited from sunrise to sunset, but the person she wanted to see never arrived.
Disappointed, Xing Yuan went to Fei Yan's sleeping quarters. Although they did not have genuine affection for each other, they still had to maintain appearances for others.
Fei Yan was grinding medicine expressionlessly, ignoring Xing Yuan's disappointment. They were not yet close enough to talk about everything; they were merely partners.
The room was silent, so quiet that a pin drop could be heard.
Xing Yuan became restless. She had never been patient, so she spoke first, "Does Divine Physician have someone you like?"
Although Xing Yuan knew the other identity of this person, she still wanted to address him this way.
Fei Yan glanced at her faintly, no longer bothering to maintain even superficial politeness. "No!"
He then added, "However, I understand a principle: no one likes people the way Your Majesty does. I think Your Majesty has never told her, have you?"
Fei Yan had eyes that could see through worldly affairs. He looked at Xing Yuan calmly. Just as Xing Yuan had the thought of digging out his eyes, she calmly shifted her gaze away.
Xing Yuan sighed and said dejectedly, "Never mind, I can't explain it clearly to you."
"Why don't we talk about something else? For example, why are you willing to save me?
Don't tell me it was out of helplessness. I am the emperor, after all, and I have investigated some matters. If you truly didn't want to come, my people wouldn't have been able to find you."
Fei Yan nodded. "Indeed!"
"However, although Your Majesty is not a wise ruler, you are currently the only choice for Feng Nian Kingdom. If you were to die, Feng Nian Kingdom would inevitably fall into turmoil.
Your Majesty is very intelligent. The people you have left behind are within their acceptable range and will not threaten the status of the common people. And I grew up here, so naturally, I cannot bear to see the common people suffer."