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

"This servant obeys the decree..."

Lu Shu trembled violently, his entire body exuding an aura of being "threatened".

Mo Yan suppressed his impatience and pressed his temples: "If the Empress asks you if anything has happened recently, how will you answer?"

"Only a servant would say, 'One, everything, as before.'"

"..."

Mo Yan remained silent for a moment, then, unable to contain himself any longer, shouted: "Guards!"

"Take Lu Shu away."

Upon hearing this, Lu Shu turned pale. "Your Majesty, spare my life!"

"Your Majesty, spare my life!"

He trembled even more violently, his voice filled with terror.

"I will not kill you, but will send you out of the palace to reunite with your mother."

His voice was filled with gritted teeth as Mo Yan turned his back: "Return to the palace to serve after the hunt."

After saying that, he flicked his sleeves and strode back into the hall.

Lu Shu knelt on the spot, staring blankly at his retreating figure, then exclaimed joyfully, "Thank you, Your Majesty!"

At the same time, a carrier pigeon carried Mo Yan's words to Yong State, and the message reached Chu Li's ears at dusk.

Mo Yan gave him only two choices: either present the snow lotus within seven days in exchange for the Zhao Kingdom's bow and crossbow blueprints, or declare war on the two countries after seven days.

Sitting at the desk, Chu Li clenched his fists and gritted his teeth.

He didn't want to give the snow lotus to Mo Yan, and he knew Mo Yan's intention in wanting the snow lotus—it was simply to cure the Gu poison in his body.

He and his brother both knew that the peace between the Yong and Zhao kingdoms had been maintained for the past few years entirely because Mo Yan had been poisoned. Once he recovered, then…

He dared not think any further and got up to go to a secret room.

The secret chamber was built by the emperor twenty years ago specifically to store the snow lotus.

He pressed the switch, and the door to the secret room opened in front of him. The room was like an ice cellar, with a jade box placed in the center.

Through the jade box, a snow-white lotus flower is clearly visible.

The lotus is as white as snow, with delicate petals, and remains unchanged even after many years.

The only drawback is that it is not complete.

Gazing at the missing petal, Chu Li recalled the past; it was something his father had told him before his death—

Eighteen years ago.

The sky was unusual that day, and Emperor Yong, Chu Yun, frowned slightly. He turned to the Regent behind him and said, "A Chuan, perhaps what the Imperial Advisor said is true."

"Yunyun."

Gu Chuan put his arm around his shoulder reassuringly: "Don't be afraid, I'll lead the troops there right now and we'll definitely get our hands on that snow lotus."

"Um."

Chu Yun nodded and instructed Gu Chuan, "Be sure to be careful. A-Ling and I will be waiting for you to come back."

"it is good."

Half an hour later, Chu Yun stood on the city wall with Chu Ling in his arms, looking down into the distance.

Gu Chuan sat on his horse, soldiers following behind him, and waved to them: "It's freezing cold, go back."

Chu Yun didn't move, but shook his head.

Gu Chuan had no choice but to sigh and turn his horse around: "Let's go."

Soon, the army disappeared from Chu Yun's sight. He pursed his lips and his eyes reddened.

"Father."

Chu Ling, nestled in his arms, touched his face. "Don't be sad..."

"Alright, Father, don't be sad."

Chu Yun smiled. "A-Ling, how about you sleep with Father Emperor tonight?"

Chu Ling was precocious and steady, and after she could speak, she stopped sleeping with them.

At that moment, he snuggled into Chu Yun's arms: "Okay~"

That night, Chu Ling slept next to Chu Yun, completely unaware that his father was looking at him with worry in his eyes.

Six months ago, the Imperial Advisor told Chu Yun that His Highness the Crown Prince was a reincarnation of an immortal with an excellent destiny, but he was burdened with a calamity.

This calamity is a death calamity. If you can overcome it, you will have no worries for the rest of your life; if you cannot overcome it, you will turn into withered bones.

Chu Yun still remembers how terrified he was when he first heard the prophecy, but fortunately the Imperial Advisor said that the matter was not beyond redemption.

"The item that can resolve His Highness's death calamity is the purest and most pristine thing in the world. I have a premonition that a snow lotus will be born on the snow mountain in six months. At that time, Your Majesty must obtain it no matter what."

Because of this prophecy, Gu Chuan led his troops there this morning.

The secret chamber for storing the snow lotus has already been built, but it remains to be seen whether the journey will be successful...

He sighed, looked out the window, and murmured to himself: Ah Chuan, you must return safely.

a few days later.

Gu Chuan brought the snow lotus back to Yong Kingdom. Chu Yun was overjoyed and wept tears of joy. She quickly stored the snow lotus in a secret room.

On that very night, the Yong Kingdom was about to welcome its Second Prince, Chu Li.

Three years passed in the blink of an eye. In that year, Chu Ling was five years old and Chu Li was two years old.

On this day, Chu Ling's martial arts instructor took leave, and Gu Chuan taught him archery instead.

The two stood on the training ground. Chu Ling shot several arrows in a row, each hitting the bullseye. Gu Chuan nodded in praise: "A Ling, you are talented and hardworking. You will surely lead Yong Kingdom to a new height in the future."

"Father, you flatter me."

Gu Chuan smiled and ruffled his hair: "We have guests from Zhao Kingdom today, would you like to go and meet them, A-Ling?"

"I heard that their sixth prince, Mo Yan, is coming, and he is about your age."

Yongzhao is currently maintaining a facade of peace. The emperor's birthday is approaching, and in addition to Zhaoguo, people from other countries have come to Yongguo to celebrate his birthday.

However, among the guests, only Mo Yan was about the same age as Chu Ling.

"No."

Chu Ling refused; he was not interested in Mo Yan.

"it is good."

Gu Chuan didn't say anything; A Ling's answer was exactly what he expected.

Afterwards, he gave Ah Ling some more instruction on swordsmanship. Seeing that it was almost time, he wiped the sweat from Ah Ling's forehead and said, "Let's stop practicing here for today. A balance between work and rest is essential for long-term success."

"Um."

After sheathing her sword, Chu Ling did not return to the East Palace, but went to Chu Li's residence.

Coincidentally, Chu Li was also on his way to find him, so the two met in the Imperial Garden.

The nanny who was taking care of Chu Li smiled and said, "The Second Prince misses the Crown Prince so much that he keeps calling him 'brother, brother.'"

"Brother~"

Chu Li looked up at him, her eyes sparkling. Chu Ling's heart softened, and she knelt down to hug him: "A Li."

"Brother~"

Chu Li grinned, revealing a few teeth, and kissed Chu Ling's cheek, smearing his face with saliva.

Chu Ling sighed, "Alright, A-Li."

"Um?"

Chu Li tilted her head, not understanding why her brother wouldn't let her kiss him.

For some unknown reason, he pouted, and tears instantly welled up in his eyes.

"..."

Under such a gaze, Chu Ling gave in and kissed Chu Li's cheek: "I don't dislike A-Li."

Chu Li's emotions came and went quickly. After being kissed by Chu Ling, she was happy again and hugged his neck, acting coquettishly in his arms.

Chu Ling could only hug him and pat his back, while noticing a gaze upon him.

Following the source of his gaze, he saw a child who was half a head taller than him.

He was very thin, dressed in brocade robes, and his lips were dark purple; he looked as if he had been poisoned.

He stood behind the weeds, staring intently at them with an unfathomable look in his eyes.