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

Mo Yan: "..."

Once again experiencing what it means to "lift a rock only to drop it on one's own foot," Mo Yan said in a hoarse voice, "Tell Aci that I'll come later."

Carrying the damaged portrait, Mo Yan took a few steps, then looked back, but Bai Yang had already gone back, and the guards ignored him.

This was not the Zhao Kingdom's palace after all; to them, he was just an outsider.

Back at the palace where he was staying, he placed the portrait on the table. The portrait, which had originally been adorned with blooming green plum blossoms, was now replaced by a black hole, and his eyes were filled with regret.

With his fingertips gently gliding over the inkstone, he took out a brush, ink, paper, and inkstone, and carefully began to repair it.

In the evening, he finally finished restoring the portrait. At the same time, a young eunuch appeared before him with a bowl of noodles: "Your Majesty, this is longevity noodles sent from the Imperial Kitchen."

"Let it go."

Mo Yan didn't even glance at the painting, carefully putting it away. But soon, he stiffened and asked, "How did the Imperial Kitchen know it was today...?"

Not many people know his birthday; only Aci knows it in the Yong Kingdom's palace. Furthermore, the imperial kitchen would never send longevity noodles without prior instruction.

Therefore, it is obvious how this bowl of noodles came about.

It is Aci.

It was Aci who instructed the imperial kitchen staff to make longevity noodles for him...

The thought excited Mo Yan. He picked up the jade chopsticks and slowly put the longevity noodles into his mouth.

He didn't bite it off, imagining Ah Ci's expression when he gave the order, and a slight smile appeared on his lips.

Even when Aci was angry, she didn't forget to have someone make longevity noodles for her; Aci still cared about him.

After finishing the last sip of soup, Mo Yan jumped onto the roof and gazed in the direction of Qianhe Palace.

Behind him, the guards were watching him warily when Mo Yan suddenly said, "Did you report the situation on my side to Aci today?"

"...Not yet."

"When you report later, you must emphasize that I ate all the longevity noodles and didn't waste a single one."

"..."

The person before him did not resemble a "prisoner" at all, but rather the master of the Yong Kingdom's palace. The guard was momentarily dazed, vaguely wondering: Could this not be Yongdu? Or perhaps the Zhao Kingdom's palace?

Mo Yan continued, "Also, tell Aci that I really like the birthday gift he gave me, I really like it."

"……oh."

The two remained in this strange place for an unknown period of time before Mo Yan jumped off the roof and entered the hall.

The guard pondered for a moment, then headed to the Qianhe Palace.

"His Majesty."

"Um."

At that time, Chu Junci was writing. He stood in front of the desk and wrote the character "静" (quiet).

The guard lowered his head and reported, "Around noon, Emperor Zhao returned to the palace and placed a painting of green plum blossoms on the table."

"The green plum painting was burned with several large holes, so Emperor Zhao took out brush, ink, paper and inkstone to repair it. The repair was finally completed in the evening. Then a young eunuch appeared and said: This is longevity noodles sent by the imperial kitchen."

"Emperor Zhao instructed the eunuch to put the noodles down. Suddenly, as if thinking of something, he became excited and ate all the longevity noodles."

Recalling Mo Yan's instructions, his movements stiffened slightly before he continued, "After finishing the longevity noodles, he jumped onto the roof and spoke to his subordinates, saying that he really liked the birthday gift His Majesty had given him."

"..."

Chu Junci paused in writing the character "静" (quiet), then resumed writing as usual. He lowered his eyes and said, "I understand. Keep an eye on it."

"Yes."

After the guards left, Chu Junci put down his pen. Below the character "静" (quiet), there was a portrait.

Pushing aside the character "静" (quiet), one can clearly see a person depicted below, tall and with a handsome face.

It was Mo Yan.

Chu Junci let out a breath as his gaze swept over the portrait, then carefully put it away and set it aside.

"Your Majesty, it's getting late, you should rest," Bai Yang reminded him.

"understood."

After washing his face and hands, Chu Junci lay on the couch, placed his hands on his lower abdomen, and slowly closed his eyes.

I slept without any dreams.

The next day, after the King of Chu left the court, he summoned Xue Wu. After taking Xue Wu's pulse, Xue Wu said softly, "Everything is as before."

"Um."

Chu Junci withdrew his hand and listened as Xue Wu continued, "Yesterday, I heard from my junior brother that His Majesty and he are about to have a good time together."

"..."

Slowly lifting her eyelids, Chu Junci glanced at him and asked, "What did he say?"

"He said His Majesty is about to accept him."

Xue Wu smiled and said, "The alliance between the two countries is a good thing for all people."

Chu Junci remained silent.

After a while, he asked, "Do you think it's a good thing?"

"yes."

"With this relationship in place, it is not easy for Yongzhao to start a war, and the people can feel more at ease and do not have to live in fear."

"……Um."

With a gentle flick of his fingertips, Chu Junci continued, "But what if one day I become his enemy?"

"If the day ever comes when we turn against each other, then allies will be meaningless. It's better to follow your heart and leave no regrets."

"Human effort can overcome nature; Your Majesty need not worry too much."

"I cannot help but worry."

Chu Junci murmured, "But you're right, anything is possible with human effort, and man can conquer nature."

Nothing is predetermined.

"Alright, you can go now."

"Yes."

Xue Wu took his leave and walked along the palace road. He stroked his beard and thought to himself: Junior brother, this is all I can do to help you.

He leisurely returned to Changning Pavilion, where Mo Yan was waiting for him in the courtyard. Hearing the noise, he turned around and said, "Senior Brother."

"Junior brother is here."

Xue Wu smiled and said, "Sit down."

"Um."

The two sat in the courtyard, and Mo Yan asked, "How is Aci's health?"

He knew that Aci had summoned Xue Wu to take his pulse today, so he waited here on purpose.

"Very good, junior brother, there's no need to worry."

After briefly explaining today's pulse, Xue Wu poured a cup of tea and pushed it towards Mo Yan, saying, "This is the new tea His Majesty has bestowed upon me."

He picked up his teacup and drank it all in one gulp. Mo Yan put down the cup, stood up, and took his leave.

Today, envoys from the Zhao Kingdom have entered the city. He needs to meet with them and enter the palace under a different identity.

Thinking of this, he came to the outside of Qianhe Palace. Since he left Lengqi Palace in disguise last time, Aci had dismissed the guards who were guarding him, leaving only one secret guard to keep an eye on him at all times.

In other words, he can now move freely within the palace, except for the guarded palaces.

Standing at the door, he said to the guards, "I want to see Your Majesty."

The guard glanced at him and went inside to report.

A short while later, he reappeared: "His Majesty says he will not see you. Please leave."

With a light flick of his fingertips, Mo Yan was about to say something when a guard handed him a token: "His Majesty says he knows your intentions. With this token, you may leave the palace without being stopped."

"..." After taking the token, Mo Yan looked towards the door and left without saying a word.

He left the palace and met up with the Zhao Kingdom delegation at the post station outside the palace. Upon seeing him, the official leading the delegation wept with joy: "Your Majesty, I have finally met you."

"Um."

After changing into the unique attire of the Zhao Kingdom's emperor, Mo Yan instructed, "Write a letter in my name; I wish to see His Majesty of Yong Kingdom."