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

"certainly."

"Then please extend your hand, Your Majesty."

Taking Chu Junci's wrist, the divine physician spoke after a few seconds: "Your Majesty must have already guessed."

"…Um."

Chu Junci did have some doubts, even though his father had said that he and A Li would not have sex.

But his and A-Li's "origins" were already unusual, and given the miraculous effects of the snow lotus, Chu Junci was unsure whether their combination would...

Eighteen years ago, the Imperial Advisor predicted that he would face a calamity, and instructed his father to seize the Snow Lotus in advance, which is now kept in a secret chamber.

What will that calamity be?

Thoughts raced through his mind, and Chu Junci snapped back to reality. "The divine physician shall reside in the palace from today onwards."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

Everything was understood without being spoken. The divine physician smiled and said, "Speaking of which, this humble subject and Your Majesty met twenty years ago."

Upon hearing this, Chu Junci looked up at him: "My father once said that he knew a divine physician named Xue Wu. I never imagined it would be you."

"Back then, the Emperor wanted to keep Physician Xue in the Imperial Hospital, but Physician Xue loved freedom and did not want to be bound by the rules of the palace."

Xue Wu chuckled and nodded. "Yes, I much prefer that little village to being a royal physician in the palace."

"No rights disputes, carefree life—that's what ordinary people yearn for."

"I know."

Chu Junci nodded slightly: "After the matter is accomplished, the divine physician may make one request to me. As for the divine physician's whereabouts, I will not force him."

"Thank you, Your Majesty."

"Go down."

"Yes."

After Xue Wu left, Chu Junci stood up and looked out the window. The matter had been confirmed, and his heart was in turmoil.

After leaving Mo Yan's side, he was prepared never to see him again, but now...

The relationship that had been severed was now intertwined again... Chu Junci pursed her lips, feeling a bit of a headache.

He stood by the window for a long time, so long that he didn't even notice Chu Li coming up behind him.

"elder brother?"

Chu Li looked at him in confusion: "Brother, what's wrong?"

"A-Li..."

With her fingertips slightly curled, Chu Junci didn't know what to say. After hesitating for a few seconds, she shook her head: "It's nothing."

"Why are you here?"

"Is my brother really alright? Or is he hiding something from me?"

"It's really nothing."

Chu Junci was unwilling to speak, and Chu Li didn't press him: "Alright."

"Brother, let's sit over there."

Pulling Chu Junci to sit down on a chair, Chu Li propped his chin up and said, "Brother, there's a horse archery competition outside the city next month. I want to go and watch."

The younger generation in Yongdu often holds equestrian archery competitions, and most of the participants are powerful and influential figures from the capital.

"With Ah Jin?"

Yes, yes.

Chu Li nodded vigorously: "Ah Jin signed up and asked me to go cheer him on."

"Brother, would you like to go and take a look too? I've already checked, and I happen to have a day off that day."

"No."

Chu Junci refused and ruffled Chu Li's hair: "You and A Jin have fun, he will protect you."

With Yuan Jin by Chu Li's side, Chu Junci was not worried.

"But you also need to take good care of yourself, okay?"

"Okay."

After rubbing against Chu Junci's palm, Chu Li became pouty again after remembering something: "Brother, I suddenly remembered something."

"What is it?"

"Before the envoy from Zhao Kingdom came to demand the snow lotus, Mo Yan even sent people to kidnap me!"

"Kidnapping?!"

Chu Junci was taken aback; no one had ever mentioned this matter to him.

"Yes, I didn't bring any guards that day, and A-Jin wasn't there either, which is why Mo Yan's men were able to succeed."

"Luckily, Ah Jin found me the next day. Brother, you have no idea, Mo Yan is absolutely despicable!"

When Mo Yan was mentioned, Chu Li couldn't stop expressing her disgust and loathing. "If I had the chance, I would like to stab him a few times, preferably to kill him with one blow."

"..."

After hearing what Chu Li said, Chu Junci's lips trembled, "A Li, it's your brother who's sorry."

"Why do you say that, brother? This has nothing to do with you."

Chu Li lay on the table, "Blame Mo Yan, not my brother."

But Chu Junci shook his head: "No, it's my fault."

Based on the timing of Mo Yan's kidnapping of A Li and his demand for Xue Lian, as well as the black medicine Mo Yan made him drink that night, Chu Junci came to a conclusion—

Perhaps Mo Yan asked for the snow lotus for his sake.

After drinking his heart's blood, Mo Yan's poison was cured, and there was no need for him to keep eyeing the snow lotus in their national treasury. However, if Mo Yan wanted the snow lotus to nourish his body, then everything would make sense.

That bowl of dark, murky medicine contained what Mo Yan believed to be snow lotus, but little did he know, the snow lotus was fake…

He couldn't help but think back to the past. If he hadn't taken the snow lotus and had instead tried to destroy it, perhaps none of this would have happened.

But given the circumstances, with Mo Yan at the foot of the mountain, consuming the snow lotus was the fastest and safest solution...

With a splitting headache, Chu Junci covered his forehead, his heart filled with mixed emotions.

"Brother, what's wrong?"

"I'm fine."

Withdrawing his hand, Chu Junci looked at Chu Li again: "A Li, thankfully you're alright."

otherwise……

"Don't worry, brother, I'm fine."

"Um."

After the two brothers talked for a while, Chu Li got up and left: "Brother, I made an appointment with A Jin to go out of the palace to play, so I'll be leaving now."

When Chu Junci went missing, Chu Li had to deal with state affairs and had no time to play. Now that his brother has returned, he can be a carefree prince again.

"Go ahead and have fun."

"Uh-huh!"

After Chu Li left, Chu Junci drank a cup of water, and looking at the gently rippling surface, he couldn't help but recall the past—

Fifteen years ago, he was five years old, and Mo Yan was eight.

After pestering him for several days, Mo Yan disappeared for two days. When he reappeared in front of him, he was holding a paper kite.

"Ah Ling, do you know how to fly a kite?"

"What did you call me?"

"Ah Ling, the Regent has agreed to let us be friends."

"…boring."

As he walked past Mo Yan, he heard Mo Yan say, "I'm returning to Zhao Kingdom in three days. Can't we even be friends for two days?"

"..."

Chu Junci stopped.

A few seconds later, her voice came out hesitantly: "...No."

"Then I'll teach you."

They stood in the Imperial Garden, and Mo Yan stuffed the kite string into his hand, saying, "When I let go, step back and pull the string."

"Um."

Holding the cotton thread, Chu Junci was a little nervous. When Mo Yan let go, she took a few steps back and gently pulled the cotton thread.

As the kite took flight, he tilted his head back slightly, his eyes filled with wonder. This was the first time he had ever been so "unconventional."

Mo Yan stood beside him, about to say something, when suddenly his brows furrowed and he spat out a mouthful of black blood.

"What's wrong with you?" Chu Junci was startled, her voice tinged with awkward concern.

"fine."

Mo Yan wiped the blood from his lips: "I won't die."

"..."

This was the first time Chu Junci had met someone who didn't value his own life. He paused, then turned his head and said, "Oh."

Mo Yan himself doesn't care, so he won't meddle in other people's business.