Chapter 139: Donkey Lips Don't Fit a Horse's Mouth

He was just about to leap away when he heard Chi Nan Yi whisper, "Prince, if one day you discover I am not the way you see me now, how would you react?"

"Not at all. Are you asking This Prince whether I would regret being your backing, whether I would regret helping you vent your anger?"

"Exactly."

"Won't." The two words landed with a thud; Mo Junyan looked at Chi Nan Yi, his eyes deep. He only regretted that in his previous life he could not protect her, regretted watching her marry into the Crown Prince's Residence without fighting for her, regretted coming a step too late, and when he saw her again she was already lying in a pool of blood.

So!

To live again, no matter what she wishes to do, I will protect her to the end.

"Very well." Chi Nan Yi walked slowly to his back: "Thank you, Prince. I, a commoner, wish to ally with you."

Alliance, not reliance.

Mo Junyan's lips curled slightly as he produced a jade pendant: "With this jade pendant, you can stride through Jingcheng at will."

In the candlelight, the character "Yan" on the pendant glowed warmly.

Chi Nan Yi tightened her grip on the jade pendant, smiling, "I have nothing to offer as a token, only this bottle of scar ointment." She produced a white porcelain bottle and handed it to Mo Junyan: "When I previously performed acupuncture on you, Prince, I inadvertently saw the scar revealed at the edge of your mask. You always wear the mask, presumably because of that scar. This ointment I prepared works well; you may give it a try."

Taking the porcelain jar from her, Mo Junyan's expression shifted.

"Thank you."

"You are being modest, Prince."

Mo Junyan returned to the Prince's residence, and Yun Shui carried a stack of memorials into the study.

"Prince, this just arrived."

"Bring the bronze mirror over."

"Huh?" Yun Shui was initially startled, then nodded and hurried out to fetch the bronze mirror.

Since the Prince's half face was disfigured, no bronze mirror had been placed in the room since.

After Yun Shui set down the bronze mirror, Mo Junyan sent them out.

He pondered for a moment, then slowly removed the mask, gazing at the crisscrossing scars on half his face, an indescribable fury roiling within his body.

Even Divine Doctor Xiao had no remedy for the scars on his face; can this single bottle of ointment truly heal them?

He applied the ointment to his face; the cool, refreshing sensation felt very pleasant.

After a short while, the area where the ointment had been applied suddenly burned, Mo Junyan furrowed his brows; looking again at the bronze mirror, he saw the previously dark‑red scar appear somewhat lighter.

The color shift was subtle, yet a change was evident.

Mo Junyan's heart leapt.

Could it be… that his face could truly be healed?

In his previous life, he was disfigured and injured, even crippled both legs, his temperament became twisted, and he felt unworthy of the Chi Nan Yi who shone like a bright pearl.

In this life, his legs are intact; if the facial scar could disappear…

He would never give Chi Nan Yi to anyone.

"Prince." Yun Tian stood outside the study, whispering, "News from the palace says you are to enter the palace tomorrow."

Mo Junyan walked to the bedside, gazing at the snow falling again outside the window, and calculated the time; the snow disaster would not be far off.

"Are the provisions ready?"

"Yes, Prince, they have been prepared. The camps have also stockpiled sufficient food; the soldiers can eat through the winter. Moreover, Miss Chi's pills have been sent to the camps as well. By the way, Prince, Dark Guard reports that the Yuqin Guo Princess has set out for the Northern Desert, and Yuqin Guo's envoy will arrive in Jingcheng soon."

"Any news on Shao Zhi?"

"Not yet; likely because of this matter, the Yuqin Guo Princess is heading to the Northern Desert."

"Send additional forces; we must locate Shao Zhi."

The abnormal lack of information on Gu Shao Zhi worries Mo Junyan greatly; the completely divergent path from his previous life's trajectory—what variables lie within?

The next morning, after the early court session, Mo Junyan went to the Imperial Study.

The Emperor, not even having time to change clothes, hurried to Mo Junyan's side, his gaze burning as he stared.

"Father Emperor, you had better not look at your son minister that way; it's terrifying."

"You little brat, how dare you speak to me?" Though Emperor Mo Wei Gong scolded him, anyone with eyes could see he was not truly angry.

"I wonder what business Father Emperor has summoned your son minister for?"

The Emperor smiled, "I have heard you have a beloved person?"

Mo Junyan's gaze flickered: "Father Emperor's tactics are shrewd, managing to bribe those around your son minister. It seems Yun Bai has been sending you many reports over the years; your son minister, recalling that he has served by your side since childhood, has never been overly calculative, but now he cannot even tell what should be said and what should not be said."

The Emperor's smile became somewhat stiff upon hearing that.

It turned out he had known from the start that Yun Bai was his man.

"I also care about you. Tell me, since you left the palace and established your residence, if I hadn't summoned you, when did you ever take the initiative to see me? Your mother consort is no longer…"

"Father Emperor, if you still wish to maintain a superficial harmony with your son minister, do not bring up the mother consort again," Mo Junyan said lightly, "Believe your son minister; you will not hear any comforting words here."

This little brat truly cannot spit ivory from a dog's mouth; in front of him he is like a hedgehog.

"Enough, I will not spar with you. I summoned you today merely to tell you something; I originally intended to make her a Crown Prince's side consort…"

"Crown Prince's side consort?" Mo Junyan interrupted, "Why do you wish to elevate her to that position?"

Now Chi Nan Yi is no longer the legitimate daughter of the Meng Family; why does the Father Emperor still want to do this?

"What are you shouting? You startled me!" The Emperor glared, "I haven't finished! Do not interject. She is from the Minister's Residence and is your beloved; if she cannot be the Crown Prince's side consort, I will grant you her as a principal consort. How does that sound?"

In his previous life, Chi Nan Yi was probably appointed as a side consort at this time, and after reaching adulthood she could enter the Crown Prince's Residence; the Father Emperor likely still remembers her.

"Father Emperor, you need not intervene in this matter; your son minister does not wish to force her."

The Emperor, looking at his most favored son, felt a slight pang of anxiety.

What could the Su family's little daughter possess to earn his such affection?

At a palace banquet years ago, he had glimpsed her from afar; the girl was beautiful but somewhat sharp‑tongued, which he disliked and felt she was unfit for his son. In contrast, the Meng Family girl he had seen earlier, though young, was poised and her looks were among the best. The Crown Prince had previously expressed a desire to take a Su family girl as a side consort, which he found somewhat forced; now to make her Prince Li's principal consort, he felt even more unfit, yet there was no solution.

This little brat clearly has deep feelings for the girl; their relationship already bears cracks, and if he further obstructs this matter, it will only widen the rift.

If Mo Junyan could read minds, he'd probably be angered to death.

What he told the emperor isn't even a person.