"Your Majesty, I have made a military pledge, and before the end of the year, I still need to capture Zhuang Xiaocheng..."
"You have suffered grave injuries for the sake of our country, so I will grant you some additional time; there's no rush at the moment."
"...Uh." Zhao Douan lost his temper, wilting down, looking as pitiful as an abandoned puppy (feigning).
The Empress scoffed, making as if to stand up and leave, saying:
"Seeing that you're in good spirits reassures me. Stay in the palace tonight. If you can move by tomorrow morning, then you're free to head home."
"Your Majesty..." Zhao Douan, in panic, reached out and grabbed the Empress's wrist, which felt smooth and warm to the touch.
"Hm?" Xu Zhenguan turned her head back with a displeased look in her eyes.
Zhao Douan weakly said, "Your Majesty, I feel a bit unwell, I need to be looked after."
