弦月 covered her mouth with her hand as she spoke, striding confidently through the palace door, with her companions, Green Pearl and others, closely following. As they passed by the kneeling ministers, she frowned slightly but still managed to flash a toothy grin at the terrified officials, instilling in them a greater sense of fear.
How could they not be afraid? The person standing before them was the Phoenix King—unrestrained in her actions and reckless in her demeanor. It was hard to forget that this seemingly innocent little girl had killed at the age of four, summoned eagles with her flute at the Pan City Conference, and had eradicated the entire Li family's influence shortly after ascending the throne. Such iron-fisted methods would terrify anyone.
At this moment, shouldn't she be sleeping in the Snow Mulberry Palace? How could she possibly appear in the Yuxuan Palace?
The queen had been the one to propose the military campaign. The more they thought about it, the more anxious they became, their trembling hands pressing against the ground.
弦月 halted in front of the kneeling Xu An, a smirk gracing her lips. "Young Master Lan, what great majesty you possess."
Lan Yixuan gazed at her pure white figure, warmth flickering in his smile.
Both Lei Yun and Lei An felt a surge of joy upon seeing Xuan Yue, especially Lei An, who looked upon Xu An's group with a touch of schadenfreude.
"Young Master Lan?" The queen had casually referred to the king as Young Master Lan before all the officials. This nonchalance was disarming, causing those who cautiously looked up at Lan Yixuan to see his lips curve upward, his gentle eyes radiating warmth and indulgence.
Xuan Yue shifted her gaze from Lan Yixuan to the kneeling ministers below, her expression one of curiosity. "What could be causing such a commotion?"
The innocence in her demeanor was disarming.
The ministers regretted their decisions; Xu An and his faction grumbled about being tasked with such a tricky situation, while the others lamented their choice to wade into these murky waters, fully aware that the queen was not to be trifled with—truly, they had asked for trouble.
"Is no one going to respond?"
Xuan Yue took a step back, and Lan Yixuan gave a slight nod to the eunuch beside him. A chair quickly appeared behind Xuan Yue.
She sat down, crossing her legs and lightly tapping her fingers on the armrest. After a moment, she sighed and pointed at the kneeling ministers; as her finger landed on someone, their shoulders trembled, and their heads drooped even lower, daring not to breathe.
"Oh?"
Xuan Yue chuckled. "No one wants to speak?"
She redirected her finger to Lei Yun standing behind Lan Yixuan. "Lei Yun, why don't you tell me?"
"They believe it is inappropriate for the queen to lead the armies of both Feng and Lan nations."
"What makes it inappropriate?"
Xuan Yue asked casually.
"The officials think that since the queen is the ruler of Feng Nation and deeply bonded with the prince, her heart lies with Feng. If she were to represent Lan in battle, it would surely be detrimental to Lan. Additionally, there is no precedent for a woman leading troops in Lan."
Xuan Yue responded with a light "Oh," "So, in your eyes, I am not the queen of Lan?"
The seemingly frivolous remark sent a chill down the spines of the ministers, who could not bear the weight of such grave accusations.
Despite the harsh tactics of Feng, their reputation among the people and in the martial world was extremely high. If this matter were to be embellished by those with ulterior motives and reach the ears of the populace, the ones in trouble would be them.
"Princess, don't waste your breath on them. Since they don't acknowledge you as the queen of Lan, let us return to Feng."
"Yes, back to Feng. Let them fend for themselves against those of Xuanyuan."
Xuan Yue turned her head to look back at Green Pearl and the others, her brow furrowed in contemplation. After a moment, she nodded in agreement. "You're right; why endure grievances here when we could enjoy a good life in Feng?"
Yue Ying smiled brightly, chiming in, "Exactly! The princess and the queen have no grand ambitions. Anyone with sense would avoid provoking Feng at this time. I think returning would be the best course of action. Xuanyuan has become so powerful; we could secure an alliance or something."
Before Yue Ying could finish her sentence, panic spread among the ministers below. Generals like Cheng Qiang hurriedly kneeled before Xuan Yue. "Your Majesty, we would never entertain such thoughts!"
The other ministers followed suit, bowing deeply.
"On the battlefield, swords show no mercy. I am merely concerned for your safety, Your Majesty, with no ulterior motives."
"Then, you acknowledge that I am the queen of Lan?"
Before Xuan Yue could finish, the ministers began fervently chanting, "Long live the queen! Long live the queen! Long live the queen!"
Xuan Yue clapped her hands, nodding with satisfaction. "So, do you have any objections regarding my leading the troops into battle?"
Xu An, Hu Hai, and the others exchanged wary glances, unsure who dared to speak.
"Lord Xu, I believe you have something to say."
Xuan Yue leaned back in her chair, gazing at the kneeling Xu An with a smile, "Feel free to share your thoughts; I pride myself on being quite democratic."
With a playful blink, she presented an utterly approachable demeanor.
"I believe Your Majesty should embark on the campaign alongside the queen," Xu An said cautiously, casting a wary glance at Xuan Yue. Noticing her slightly frosty expression, he swallowed hard but pressed on, "Having just ascended to the throne, it is a perfect opportunity for you to achieve great deeds, allowing the people to witness the majesty of the emperor, which would undoubtedly boost our army's morale, leading to a decisive victory over the Xuanyuan forces and a triumphant return."
"The bond between the emperor and the queen is profound; their joint expedition would surely become a celebrated tale among the people."
"Yes, yes," several ministers stupidly chimed in. However, upon catching Xuan Yue's icy smile, they promptly fell silent, bowing their heads and refraining from further comment.
"Lord Xu and Lord Zou have a point," Xuan Yue said, pursing her lips and resting her chin in her hand, nodding thoughtfully.
"What say you, Prince Lan?" she asked, her eyes wide as she turned her gaze to Lan Yixuan.
"What do you think, Xuan Yue?" Lei An looked between Lan Yixuan and the smiling Xuan Yue, puzzled.
While he harbored no fondness for Xu An and his ilk, he could not deny the merit in their words. Although the prince held a certain reputation in the martial world, it was still the martial world, not Lan Guo. The common people had little familiarity with the prince; considering his talents along with Xuan Yue's prowess and the women's army of Lan Guo, they would eventually triumph over Xuanyuan. Seizing this opportunity would be beneficial for the prince's standing in Lan Guo, wouldn't it?
Yet his overall impression was a singular word: strange!
Ever since the prince married Xuan Yue, both had exhibited odd behaviors.
"I hold a somewhat different view than Lord Xu," Xuan Yue replied with a smile. "Unlike other princes, Prince Lan did not grow up in Lan Palace. Since the people do not know him well, it is essential for him to establish closer ties with them, fostering the bond between ruler and subjects. Wouldn't you agree with my assessment?"
The ministers remained silent.
"Well, it goes without saying that if the emperor goes to war, the distance will hinder the people's understanding of the prince."
"Affection requires cultivation."
"The princess speaks truthfully."
With a group of followers, Ya'er and her companions ensured that there was no risk of an awkward silence.
Xuan Yue rested her hands on her knees, her bright eyes sharp as polished blades, piercing through all facades, serving as a mirror reflecting the deep-seated corruption within their hearts.
"And I propose…"
Lan Yixuan gazed at Xuan Yue, who looked up at him, her lips twitching. He could foresee that her next statement would be nothing short of shocking.
Xuan Yue pushed herself up from her knees and kicked the chair away, proclaiming, "Speaking of the people reminds me of another matter. The prince has not been raised in Lan Guo, and in order to gain the people's recognition, he must accomplish notable feats. Isn't that what you meant, Lord Xu? If the people demand this, then surely the ministers must as well. Do you not harbor any discontent towards Prince Lan in your hearts?"
Earlier, it was the queen; now, it was the emperor. As ministers, how could they possibly dare to feel that way? Even if they did, it would be a secret they could never reveal.
"I, your humble servant—" They were too frightened to voice dissent.
Xuan Yue retracted her finger and waved dismissively, "Do not interrupt my train of thought."
The ministers fell silent, some even nervously covering their mouths.
"Thus, the prince should diligently cultivate relationships with you, the ministers, and the common people. He must actively serve their needs to gain their acknowledgment. Moreover—"
Xuan Yue crouched beside Xu An, whose heart raced with foreboding, drenched in cold sweat.
"Familiarity does not guarantee trust."
Xu An quickly retorted, "Your Highness, that is not what I meant."
Xuan Yue patted his shoulder, "I find your argument quite reasonable; after all, I am the queen of Feng Guo. It is natural for you to worry about my loyalties to Lan Guo."
Xu An sighed in relief, yet his heart remained in turmoil.
Xuan Yue suddenly stood up, "Prince Lan has been away from Lan Guo for over a decade. Many of you are unfamiliar to him; you have only recently crossed paths a few times. By what merit did each of you ascend to your current positions? The prince likely remains unaware of your true loyalties—whether they lie with him or elsewhere—who could know?"
"I assure Your Majesty that I am steadfastly loyal to the throne, and would never entertain disloyalty."
The ministers felt a wave of helplessness wash over them; they were already aware that the queen had not grown up in the palace, her unconventional actions often caught them off guard.
"Haha!"
Xuan Yue laughed heartily, spreading her hands wide.
"Now, the sincerity of words can only be gauged by your actions, dear ministers. In the realm of governance, it has always been a game of cunning and deceit, with interests at the forefront. Who can guarantee that none of you secretly supported other princes during Prince Lan's absence? Such occurrences have not been rare in the court."
"Your Majesty is astute."
"Your Majesty is astute."
Lan Yixuan regarded Xuan Yue, astonished by her boldness. Such candid truths could only be uttered by someone of her courage.
"The queen's observations are not without merit. How can I trust you all?"