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

The virtuous Chu Junci had her chin pinched, and then she heard Mo Yan's deep voice: "Not only will I not hold a selection of concubines, but I will also make you my empress, and we will be buried together a hundred years from now."

"A hundred years from now, I will have a ritual performed to bind our souls together. In this life and for all eternity, Aci, you will never escape me."

"You can only be my Aci."

Chu Junci was stunned. What did Mo Yan say? He wanted to make him empress?

His expression was complicated as he brushed Mo Yan aside, saying, "The court officials will not agree."

"Anyone who disagrees with me will be killed. This country belongs to me, not them."

Since ascending the throne, Mo Yan has been diligent in governing and caring for the people, executing corrupt officials, reforming the legal system, and emphasizing the imperial examination system.

Under his rule, Zhao became a powerful nation, and its people lived in peace and prosperity.

Each and every one of these events is enough to prove that he was a qualified emperor.

"There are other offspring of the imperial clan with the surname Mo. I can simply adopt one and make him the crown prince. It's better not to let the empire change its surname."

"But if a courtier decides not to serve me simply because I like men... it is not a pity to kill him."

"but……"

Mo Yan chuckled softly, his right hand resting on Chu Junci's lower abdomen: "If Aci can give birth, all problems will be solved."

Mo Yan started acting inappropriately again, and Chu Junci slapped his hand away: "Get lost."

"I was just joking, don't be angry."

Chu Junci didn't want to see Mo Yan's face anymore, so he simply picked up a book and started reading it carefully. Seeing this, Mo Yan also got down to business and picked up the memorials on the table to start reviewing them.

Neither of them spoke, yet the atmosphere was gentle and tacit.

Before long, Chu Junci got tired and became drowsy.

He lay there on the table, his left cheek resting on his arm, his breathing becoming increasingly long and even.

"Aci?"

Noticing that he had fallen asleep, Mo Yan carried him into the inner room, where a small couch was placed.

The noise woke Chu Junci. He was still sleepy, and his voice was incredibly soft: "Mo Yan..."

"I am here."

Mo Yan kissed his eyes: "Sleep, I'm here."

"Um……"

He responded unconsciously and fell asleep again.

Mo Yan sat in front of the bed, smoothed the hair on his forehead, took off his boots, covered him with a quilt, and finally lowered the curtain before reluctantly leaving the inner room.

A young eunuch stood before the desk where the memorials were being reviewed, his back to the reviewer.

Upon hearing the commotion, the young eunuch quickly explained, "This servant is bringing tea for His Majesty."

"Let it go."

"Yes."

He placed the teacup on the table, his voice seemingly hooked: "Your Majesty has been reviewing memorials for a long time; you must be thirsty. Please have some hot tea."

He added some aphrodisiacs to the tea, and once His Majesty drinks it... there will be another male concubine in the palace.

His voice was unfamiliar, and his behavior was even bolder. Mo Yan coldly raised his eyes and saw his profile.

"Raise your head."

"Yes."

He slightly raised his head, revealing his carefully made-up face, his heart pounding wildly.

"Who sent you?"

Contrary to expectations of His Majesty's infatuation with him, His Majesty's voice was tinged with murderous intent, sending chills down one's spine.

He was startled and immediately knelt on the ground, saying, "Your Majesty, please forgive me."

His body was trembling violently; he didn't know how things had turned out this way.

His profile is so similar to Chen Jun's, so why is he treated so differently from Chen Jun?

This is not fair!

He gritted his teeth. "Your Majesty, please understand, this servant really came to bring you tea."

"Oh."

Mo Yan sneered: "Don't think I can't see what you're thinking. You're delusional to think you can rise to the top in one step by relying on a slight resemblance in appearance. Little do you know that you can't even compare to a single hair of his."

"Someone come here!"

"His Majesty."

Two guards appeared in response, awaiting Mo Yan's instructions.

"Drag him away and beat him to death."

"His Majesty!"

The little eunuch panicked, "Your Majesty, spare my life! This servant will never dare to do it again! Please, Your Majesty, spare my life!"

"Your Majesty, please spare my life!"

"Cover his mouth."

"Yes."

Two guards stepped forward, covered his mouth, and pulled him out. The hall immediately fell silent. Mo Yan rubbed his temples and ordered someone to bring another pot of hot tea.

As dusk approached, he got up, lit a candle, and went into the inner room.

His Aci was still asleep, his face peaceful and his breathing steady.

He glanced at her, then lay down on the bed, pulled her into his arms, and closed his eyes.

In a daze, he found himself in an unfamiliar place.

This is an altar.

For miles around, not a blade of grass grows. In the center of the altar stands a man, eight feet tall, with disheveled hair.

Looking at his back, Mo Yan felt that he looked strangely familiar, as if... it was himself.

On the altar, the man lay in the center and then pulled out a dagger.

With the sound of a dagger slicing through his skin, blood flowed continuously from his wrists and ankles, eventually trickling into the grooves of the altar.

Slowly, the groove filled with blood, and his face turned pale.

He looked up at the sky and gave a faint smile.

Beneath the altar, an old Taoist priest in white robes stroked his beard: "Heaven will hear Your Majesty's request and send the person you wish to see back to your side."

"From this day forward, for all eternity, for all lifetimes to come, you will never be separated again."

"Now, Your Majesty, please deliver the final blow."

The man on the altar numbly raised his hand, gripped the dagger, and plunged it into his heart. He groaned and twisted it a few more times.

Blood from the heart flowed into the groove from the wound, and the final step was completed.

"Ah, Ling..."

The unheard murmurs dissipated into the heavens and earth, and the person on the altar stopped breathing completely.

Mo Yan stared blankly at the scene, wondering why he had dreamed about these things. He wanted to go to the altar to check on the situation, but regained consciousness the next second.

"woke up?"

Chu Junci sat by the bed and breathed a barely perceptible sigh of relief.

"What's wrong with you? I couldn't wake you up no matter what I called you before."

Mo Yan shook his head: "I don't know either."

The dream was too bizarre. He sat up and suddenly pulled Chu Junci into his arms: "Aci, let me hold you."

Chu Junci did not resist, quietly staying in Mo Yan's arms. After a while, she asked, "Did you have a nightmare?"

"Um."

Mo Yan remained silent, appearing somewhat vulnerable at this moment.

"Dreams are all fake."

"I know."

Mo Yan nuzzled against Chu Junci's shoulder and neck, then resumed his usual demeanor: "If Aci can comfort me, I might soon forget the contents of the nightmare."

"..."

Mo Yan pressed his advantage, and Chu Junci pushed him away, saying, "Then you should still remember it."

"Alright, I won't tease you anymore. Let me give you a hug."

Mo Yan pulled him back and held him in his arms: "If time could stop at this moment forever, at least you and I would be together forever."

Mo Yan was ultimately affected by the nightmare; he feared that the person on the altar was him, simply because—

If he set up an altar to sacrifice himself, there is only one reason: something happened to his Aci.

"Aci, promise me you'll do well, okay?"