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

"Aci, have you...?"

"Mo Yan".

Chu Junci lowered his eyelashes and stopped looking: "Let's go back."

"…good."

Walking back through the snow, unlike the hurried pace they had taken on the way there, they remained silent, a strange atmosphere permeating the air, making Mo Yan somewhat uneasy.

"Aci, don't you like the things I gave you?"

"no."

"lie."

Seeing Mo Yan's persistence, Chu Junci sighed, "I live in the palace and can't take care of my properties outside the palace, so you don't need to send me these things."

"But I want to give you the very best."

His son, Aci, was all alone, and he wanted to give him more things so that he wouldn't have any worries.

Chu Junci remained silent for a moment, then moved his lips slightly: "With you here, that's enough. I don't need any of those things."

Mo Yan froze again.

He suspected that Aci had eaten honey today, otherwise why would every word he said excite him so much?

A sweet feeling welled up in his heart, and he kissed Chu Junci's hair. "I will always be by Aci's side."

"Um."

"I'll hunt some foxes for you tomorrow; they'll look good on Aci."

"Um."

Time passed by, and Mo Yan rambled on and on, talking about how he would give Chu Junci the key to the private treasury after returning to the palace, and what he would hunt for him during the next few days. Chu Junci listened quietly, occasionally responding with a few words.

Gradually, he became sleepy.

He leaned against Mo Yan's chest and slowly closed his eyes.

Mo Yan stopped speaking and gently wrapped his arms around his waist. Lately, Aci had been sleeping a lot, making him suspect that the snow lotus that Yongguo had given him was fake.

Although he had never seen the snow lotus, in theory, Aci should have returned to his former self after taking the snow lotus. He should not be as energetic as he is now, sleeping for most of the day at a time.

The thought that Yongguo was deceiving him grew stronger, causing him to narrow his eyes and feel anger rising in his heart.

Several days ago, he sent someone to look for information about Xue Lian, but so far there has been no result.

If we count the days, we might reap some rewards tonight.

He thought a lot and pulled the person in his arms even tighter.

The two were pressed tightly together, and warmth spread along the point of contact. Mo Yan lowered his eyes, his gaze sweeping over Chu Junci's face.

His son, Aci, was fast asleep, his expression peaceful, as if he was no longer having nightmares.

He urged Ta Xue back to the palace, lifted the person off the horse, and walked step by step back to the bedchamber.

Time flew by and it was evening, at the hour of Hai (9-11 PM).

Chu Junci woke up once during the meal, but fell asleep again after finishing his dinner.

Mo Yan stayed by his bedside, quietly keeping him company. It was at this moment that a guard appeared before him, speaking in a very soft voice: "Your Majesty."

Mo Yan glanced at him, tucked Chu Junci's blanket in, and then walked out of the courtyard.

The two stood not far from the swing, completely unaware that Chu Junci inside the hall had opened his eyes.

Following the direction Mo Yan left, he hesitated for a few seconds before getting off the bed.

He walked barefoot on the ground without making a sound, quietly listening to the conversation between the two people in the courtyard.

"Your Majesty, I have fulfilled my mission and have finally found the information on the Snow Lotus."

The guard presented several pages of documents and continued, "These were all found in a secret room in the Imperial Preceptor's residence."

"The Imperial Advisor hid it in a book."

The secret room contained thousands of books, and the Imperial Preceptor hid the information about the Snow Lotus on pages 9, 26, and 59 of one of them.

The information was tightly embedded in the book and would be impossible to find without careful examination.

This also led to them searching for many days before finally finding real information about snow lotus.

"Give it to me."

Without wasting words, Mo Yan took the documents and skimmed through them. After a moment, he shouted angrily, "Chu Li!"

"You really were lying to me!"

When the snow lotus was delivered to him, he examined it carefully. Although it looked very similar to the one in the document, there were still some differences.

He had already suspected that Chu Li had given him a fake snow lotus, and now that suspicion was officially confirmed.

After all, the crossbow blueprints he gave Chu Li were fake.

Anger surged within him, and he pressed his temples: "Summon General Fu here."

"Yes."

While the guards went to summon General Fu, Mo Yan turned around and returned to the palace.

His Aci was still fast asleep, just as he had been when he left, with no difference whatsoever.

Mo Yan gently stroked the hair on his forehead, his expression darkening slightly as he thought to himself—

Perhaps after consuming the real snow lotus, his Aci can return to his former appearance.

They are vibrant and lively, no longer looking listless as they have been lately.

Therefore, he must obtain the real snow lotus from Yong Kingdom.

While I was pondering, General Fu arrived.

He cautiously stepped out of the courtyard and interrupted General Fu's salute: "How are the soldiers stationed at the border?"

"Your Majesty, they are still at the border. Their provisions and weapons arrived a few days ago. They are just waiting for Your Majesty's order to breach the gates of Yong Kingdom."

"it is good."

Mo Yan nodded: "Continue to make preparations. I will personally go there after the hunt."

"Your Majesty is wise."

General Fu was slightly agitated, and then Mo Yan instructed him: "In the next few days, you will send people to negotiate with the cities on the border of Yong. Those who surrender voluntarily will not be killed by me."

General Fu remained silent for a moment. Although he felt the idea was somewhat far-fetched, he still nodded in agreement: "Yes, Your Majesty."

"But...I don't think they will surrender."

"It's alright, just send someone to negotiate."

"Yes."

Mo Yan then gave a few more instructions, and finally waved his hand: "Go down, and be quiet, so as not to disturb the Empress."

General Fu was wearing armor, and his footsteps made a lot of noise, not to mention his swaggering gait, which made him even noisier.

"...Yes, Your Majesty."

He turned around and couldn't walk for a moment. It took him a while to recover before he tiptoed away.

Mo Yan also turned around and went back to his bedroom. He sat on the edge of the bed and looked at Chu Junci's face through the candlelight.

After an unknown amount of time, the person on the bed opened their eyes, and he quickly helped them sit up: "Awake?"

Helping him lean against the headboard, Mo Yan poured him a glass of water: "Are you thirsty?"

"..."

Chu Junci didn't say anything, but took the water and drank it silently.

There was still half an hour left until midnight.

After finishing his glass of water, he looked at Mo Yan, his voice colder than usual: "Pour me another glass."

"OK."

Mo Yan turned around, poured a glass of water, and handed it to Chu Junci: "Would you like more?"

Chu Junci shook his head, staring at the water in the cup, his eyes filled with coldness.

"Mo Yan".

"Um?"

I'm hungry.

"I'll have someone send some food over."

Mo Yan got up and left the courtyard. Chu Junci watched his back and threw a white pill into the water.

He had Liu Ji prepare the pills before leaving the palace, and instructed Liu Ji not to tell Mo Yan, so Mo Yan did not know that he had hidden the medicine.

The pill dissolves instantly in water, dissolving completely as if nothing had ever happened.

"..."

Setting the cup aside, Chu Junci, expressionless, pulled a dagger from under the bed—the one he had hidden yesterday.

He hid the dagger under the brocade quilt, and almost the instant he had concealed it, he heard Mo Yan's footsteps.

He returned to him with the food: "Aci, what would you like to eat?"

"Noodles."

"it is good."

Mo Yan picked up a mouthful of noodles, blew on it, and held it to Chu Junci's lips: "Open your mouth."