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

The person in front of him seemed somewhat familiar, but Chu Junci couldn't remember him.

"Who are you……"

Xie Yunzhou stood opposite him, looking at Chu Junci's face, tears welling up in his eyes, "Your Majesty."

He knelt on the ground and performed a grand salute: "Your subject Xie Yunzhou greets Your Majesty."

"..."

The man's words left Chu Junci stunned. Xie Yunzhou? Your Majesty?

The long-buried memories were about to break through the soil, but were completely sealed off. Chu Junci covered his forehead, his face turning pale.

"Your Majesty, what's wrong?"

Unable to recall anything further, Chu Junci lowered his hand: "What did you call me...?"

"Your Majesty, you were originally the Emperor of our Great Yong, but you were forcibly taken back to Zhao by Mo Yan."

Mentioning this, Xie Yunzhou's eyes turned red with anger: "This trip was to rescue Your Majesty from the palace and return to Yong Kingdom."

"The court officials, the common people, and the princes of Yong Kingdom are all awaiting His Majesty's return, and also..."

And I.

He meditated in his heart.

"Your Highness? Yes..."

"He is your younger brother, Chu Li."

After briefly explaining the situation, Xie Yunzhou said anxiously, "Now that Mo Yan is not here, it is the perfect time for us to leave."

"Your Majesty, I have discovered a secret passage. Please come with me to leave this place."

"..."

Chu Junci moved his lips, as if he wanted to say something, when he suddenly heard Mo Yan's footsteps.

Xie Yunzhou heard it too. He gripped his longsword and stood protectively in front of Chu Junci.

But Chu Junci didn't want them to run into each other, so she simply pulled Xie Yunzhou and hid him in the wardrobe: "You hide first."

After closing the cabinet door, Chu Junci took a few steps away, while at the same time, Mo Yan pushed open the palace door.

"Aci? What are you doing standing here?"

"...I heard a noise outside, so I got up to check it out."

Walking step by step toward Mo Yan, Chu Junci glanced outside the door and asked, "What happened outside?"

"We've simply caught the assassin."

Holding Chu Junci's hand, Mo Yan returned to the bed and stroked his hair: "Don't be afraid, I'm here."

"Um."

Lying back on the couch, Chu Junci couldn't fall asleep. Xie Yunzhou's words echoed in his mind, and Lu Shu's strange behavior during the day came to mind, making him extremely uneasy.

Not to mention that Xie Yunzhou was hiding not far away.

He didn't know who to believe, but a voice inside him told him that Xie Yunzhou was right.

Mo Yan's words were full of loopholes.

"What are you thinking about?"

Mo Yan cupped his face in his hands, gazing into his eyes: "Why do you look so troubled?"

"no."

"Um?"

Mo Yan gently rubbed Chu Junci's lips with his fingertips, his eyes darkening: "You lied to me again?"

"Really, no."

Chu Junci waved his hand away: "Go to sleep, I'm sleepy."

He then closed his eyes, and his breathing became more and more steady.

Mo Yan looked at him, helplessly pulled him into his arms, and then closed his eyes as well.

Inside the wardrobe, Xie Yunzhou saw this scene through the crack. His hand holding the sword trembled, and he wished he could cut Mo Yan into a thousand pieces.

But he can't.

Daylight broke quickly, and Mo Yan got up to attend court again. "My dear Aci, I'm going to court."

Mo Yan lovingly touched Chu Junci's face, covered him with the blanket, and left, turning back every few steps. After he left, Chu Junci immediately opened his eyes.

He waited a while, and after making sure the person had left, he carefully opened the wardrobe and handed Xie Yunzhou a plate of pastries: "Have something to eat first."

"Thank you, Your Majesty."

Xie Yunzhou took the pastries and ate a few, his gaze fixed on Chu Junci: "Your Majesty, aren't you leaving with me?"

"I have lost my memory."

Chu Junci looked him in the eye as well: "I don't know if what you're saying is true, but I have a feeling that what you're saying is true."

"…His Majesty."

Xie Yunzhou's heart trembled, but Chu Junci had concerns: "Leaving the palace is not easy, especially with Mo Yan watching me all the time."

"I'm afraid he'll discover me before I even leave the palace gates."

"..."

Chu Junci was referring to exactly what Xie Yunzhou was worried about. He clutched his robe tightly and said, "It is because I am useless."

"It's not your fault, and..."

"Don't call me Your Majesty here."

"Yes."

His lips moved, and Xie Yunzhou uttered the name he most wanted to call out: "Aci."

The two then discussed the matter further, and Chu Junci decided to wait for the right opportunity. In the meantime, Xie Yunzhou might be much safer hiding inside the palace than in other places.

After the discussion, Xie Yunzhou returned to the cabinet.

Chu Junci then went to bed, pretending that he had not yet woken up.

After an unknown amount of time, Mo Yan returned.

He stood by the bed, gazing at Chu Junci's sleeping face for a long time.

Only after Chu Junci showed signs of waking up did he pull him into his arms: "Do you still want to sleep?"

Chu Junci shook his head: "No."

"Then I'll help you get dressed."

Inside the cabinet, Xie Yunzhou continued to stare at it as if in self-torture. He saw that Mo Yan would kiss the Emperor every time he helped him put on a piece of clothing.

His Majesty, who was usually as aloof as the bright moon, showed no sign of reluctance or rejection in his eyes.

But clearly back then—

"I had no idea you had such feelings for me."

Inside the Eastern Palace of Yong Kingdom, Xie Yunzhou knelt on the ground, with several portraits of Chu Junci on the ground.

The portraits all mention the name "A-Ling".

"Your Highness..."

Xie Yunzhou lowered his head, then raised it after a while: "My love for Your Highness has already..."

That's enough.

Chu Junci interrupted him, "I am not interested."

He turned his back and said, "From this day forward, you are not allowed to set foot in the East Palace again."

"Your Highness!"

Xie Yunzhou's eyes were bloodshot: "Can't I even stay and serve Your Highness?"

"no."

Chu Junci showed no mercy, throwing the portrait into the charcoal brazier: "From now on, you are not allowed to paint my portrait again, or don't blame me for not remembering our past friendship."

"..."

Xie Yunzhou left dejectedly; he had been expelled from the Eastern Palace.

But at this moment, seeing Mo Yan serving His Majesty, he felt as if his heart was being gnawed by thousands of Gu worms.

His Majesty treats Mo Yan differently.

He finally became convinced of this.

He closed his eyes, gritted his teeth, and tried his best to control his breathing.

He leaned against the wooden plank, recalling the day he first met His Majesty.

He and Aci met first, so why should Mo Yan...?

It's alright. His Majesty is willing to go with him. Mo Yan is a citizen of Zhao. His Majesty will forget about him sooner or later.

His Majesty will forget him sooner or later...

He comforted himself, but when he looked up again, Mo Yan and Chu Junci were gone.

Time passed slowly. Mo Yan sat at the desk, holding the jade bottle in his hand with a hesitant expression.

The imperial physician said that once every three days, it would ensure that Aci would not remember the past. In other words, Aci's memory would be reset every three days, and only he would remember those beautiful memories.

But he wanted Aci to remember as well.

After hesitating for a long time, he stuffed the medicine into his pocket, thinking: I'll wait a little longer.

He would feed Aci the medicine when Aci was about to remember the things he didn't want him to recall.