After being thoroughly violated, he ran away with the enemy emperor's child.

"…good."

Another day.

Mo Yan waited at the city gate; today was the day he was to leave Yong Kingdom.

But he waited for a long time without seeing the person he wanted to see. After a long while, the envoy urged him, "Your Highness, we should go."

"Wait a little longer."

He waited a while longer, until he was sure that Chu Ling wouldn't be coming, before reluctantly boarding the carriage.

After the carriage had gone far away, a person appeared at the city gate; it was Chu Ling.

Holding a candied hawthorn in his hand, he watched the carriage depart in the direction it had gone, and after a while, he turned and went back to the palace…

Eight-year-old Mo Yan did not see this scene, but twenty-three-year-old Mo Yan did.

He stared blankly at Chu Ling's retreating figure, thinking to himself: So Aci came to see him off. He left too quickly; he should have waited a little longer.

With regret on his face, Mo Yan wished he could go back fifteen years and let his eight-year-old self wait a little longer.

So close, so very close...

and also……

How could he have forgotten?

I forgot Aci, I forgot the promise I made to Aci.

He said he would always remember Aci's life-saving grace, but he forgot; he said he would send a message to Aci, but he broke his promise; he also said he wouldn't start a war after ascending the throne, but he forgot that too...

Mo Yan, how could you forget all of this?

If he hasn't forgotten...

Perhaps he and Aci will exchange letters for more than ten years, they will become best friends, he will know everything about Aci, and he will never make him angry.

But now all of that has come to nothing.

He not only mistook Aci's identity, but also angered him.

Aci doesn't want him anymore.

The thought made Mo Yan grit his teeth, wishing he could tear the poisoner to pieces.

A surge of hatred made him open his eyes. Looking at the unfamiliar curtains above him, he smelled a faint medicinal scent.

A familiar voice rang out from nearby: "His Majesty of Zhao Kingdom has awakened?"

It is Yuan Jin.

"..."

Mo Yan didn't say anything, but silently sat up from the bed.

He glanced around the room, then leaned against the headboard: "Where is your Emperor?"

"His Majesty has official business to attend to and has no time to see idle people."

"..."

"By the way, His Majesty instructed me to return this item to its rightful owner."

The jade pendant was tossed over, and Mo Yan caught it instinctively. He then heard Yuan Jin say, "Then please let His Majesty of Zhao recover well. This humble subject will take his leave now."

Mo Yan ignored him, his eyes lowered as he gazed at the jade pendant, his lips pressed tightly together.

The jade pendant was a gift he had given to Aci, and Aci used it to plan her second escape.

Aci...

Clutching the jade pendant, recalling the contents of his dream, Mo Yan longed to see him.

He lifted the quilt, got out of bed, and walked out of the courtyard.

In the courtyard, eunuchs and palace maids were sweeping away fallen leaves and dust. He looked around and walked out of the palace gate.

His steps were stopped by soldiers, one of whom said expressionlessly, "Your Majesty, please remain here."

"His Majesty has instructed that it would be best for His Majesty of Zhao not to leave until his injuries have healed."

"I wish to see Your Majesty."

"His Majesty is preoccupied with official duties and has no time to see you at the moment."

"..."

His gaze swept across the palace path. Mo Yan desperately wanted to disregard everything and burst into Aci's palace, but...

He was afraid he would get angry.

With his thin lips slightly pursed, he turned and went back into the hall.

As he sat down at the table, the imperial physician appeared with a bowl of medicine: "Your Majesty, you are awake."

"Um."

"This is an excellent medicine for replenishing qi and blood. Your Majesty, please take it as soon as possible."

"Let it go."

Mo Yan gently pressed his fingertips against his brow, his brows furrowing.

"Yes."

Setting down the medicine bowl, the imperial physician moved his lips, unable to resist instructing, "You suffered a serious injury before; old wounds haven't healed, and new ones have been inflicted. For the sake of your future lifespan, you still need to..."

"I understand, you may leave."

The imperial physician nodded slightly: "His Majesty has instructed me to treat your injuries. I will come again later."

"Um."

After the imperial physician left, Mo Yan looked at the medicine, recalling the "lifespan" the physician had mentioned, and then drank it all in one gulp.

Wiping his lips, Mo Yan walked out of the courtyard again, his gaze sweeping over the many eunuchs and palace maids.

Finally, he chose a young eunuch who was sweeping in the corner: "I have something to ask you."

The young eunuch was taken aback, then nodded after regaining his senses: "Please ask."

The two arrived at a secluded place, and Mo Yan asked, "Where is this?"

"Your Majesty, this is Lengqi Palace."

"Cold Abode Palace?"

"Yes."

"Where does Your Majesty reside?"

"this……"

The young eunuch looked troubled. Before they came, General Yuan had specifically instructed them not to say too much, especially about His Majesty…

Why is he so unlucky?!

He hesitated to give an answer, so Mo Yan narrowed his eyes and didn't press him further.

"Who was that person who just came in?"

"You mean General Yuan Jin?"

"Yuan Jin? What's his relationship with Chu Li?"

"this……"

Sweat beaded on the young eunuch's face. "This servant doesn't know either."

"What is His Majesty's courtesy name?"

"..."

The little eunuch's lips trembled, and his hands, hanging by his sides, shook. He really wanted to kneel down and beg him not to ask any more questions!

Unperturbed by the lack of an answer, Mo Yan continued, "Does Your Majesty have anyone in your harem?"

When does he plan to appoint an empress?

"..."

The questions were getting harder and harder to answer. The little eunuch couldn't take it anymore and bowed, saying, "Your Majesty, please ask someone else about these questions. This servant does not know the answers."

"You don't know? Then who does?"

"..."

Seeing that the other person was on the verge of collapse, Mo Yan asked one last question: "Have any outside physicians appeared in the palace recently?"

Compared to other questions, this one was much easier to answer, and the little eunuch breathed a sigh of relief: "Yes, a miracle doctor appeared in the palace some time ago."

"A miracle doctor?"

"Yes."

The young eunuch nodded: "The divine physician's surname is Xue. He was brought back from out of town by Lord Lin."

Where?

"This servant is unaware of this."

After listening to the young eunuch's words, Mo Yan rubbed his fingertips together and asked, "Is that divine physician still in the palace?"

"Yes, I am," the young eunuch replied.

Where does he live?

"this……"

The young eunuch hesitated for a moment, unsure if he could answer the question.

He didn't answer, so Mo Yan continued, "The palace has imperial physicians, so why did that Lord Lin have to seek one from elsewhere?"

"This...this servant is unaware."

He vaguely sensed that he was being tricked into revealing information, and hurriedly said, "Your Majesty, this servant has other matters to attend to, so perhaps..."

"Go."

Having obtained the information he wanted, Mo Yan didn't make things difficult for him anymore.

"Thank you, Your Majesty." The little eunuch breathed a sigh of relief and jogged away.

After the eunuch left, Mo Yan looked towards the door, thinking that he should go and see that so-called miracle doctor.