Chapter 19

However, they were interrupted by a knock on the door. Li Jun's annoyance grew as someone disturbed his quality time with Zhao Yang. Reluctant to leave, he covered their naked bodies with a blanket, but his right-hand man, Yue Ling, entered the room upon permission. Unfazed by the sight of the Emperor and Zhao Yang in bed, Yue Ling knew about the person in Li Jun's heart. Annoyed by the interruption, Li Jun demanded to know the purpose of the visit.

Yue Ling respectfully informed Li Jun that General Wang sought an audience. Hearing this, Li Jun's expression became complex, and he glanced at Zhao Yang with an enigmatic look. Quickly dressing himself, Li Jun gave Zhao Yang a tender kiss on the forehead before leaving, instructing him to stay put.

In the main hall, Li Jun took his seat on the majestic black and gold dragon throne. He observed three individuals, two men and one woman, bowing before him. One man had a white beard, while the other appeared to be in his 50s. The woman possessed striking features and caught Zhao Yang's attention, who had come out of the room due to Li Jun's peculiar expression. Overwhelmed, Zhao Yang noticed the strong resemblance between the middle-aged man and his late grandfather, as well as the woman.

As Zhao Yang's heart raced, he sensed an undeniable connection between these individuals. Lost in thought, he failed to realize that the discussion had already begun. Suddenly aware, his heart seemed to stop as he heard General Wang propose bringing someone over after 18 years. Li Jun remained indifferent, as if the matter had no significance to him. However, the middle-aged man and the woman exchanged a meaningful glance. The woman then knelt before Li Jun.

Addressing Li Jun as "Your Majesty," she mentioned the person as his fiancé, who had come of age at 18. She suggested seeking his approval to bring this person to the palace. Despite Li Jun's lack of reaction, the middle-aged man and the woman anxiously exchanged worried looks. They had waited patiently for this moment, but it appeared that the Emperor had no intention of granting approval.

Meanwhile, Zhao Yang felt paralyzed, his breath heavy and his heart pierced with pain. It felt as if a massive weight had been placed upon his heart.

Zhao Yang's mind went blank upon learning about Li Jun's fiancée. The walls seemed to close in on him, and he desperately wanted to escape from this suffocating situation. Already weakened by previous events, the news threatened to crush him entirely. In his distress, he accidentally knocked over a vase, shattering it.

The sound of the vase breaking snapped Li Jun back to reality. He realized the impact of the situation and said nothing to the three individuals in the hall, rushing back to his room. Upon entering, he found Zhao Yang sitting on the bed, his face devoid of any emotions, which only deepened Li Jun's concern. He wanted to approach Zhao Yang and explain himself, but he feared causing more harm. Slowly, Li Jun sat down beside him.

"Do you really have a fiancée?" Zhao Yang asked, his tone filled with self-mockery. Li Jun struggled to find the right words, but seeing the look in Zhao Yang's eyes, he knew he had to be honest.

"I do," Li Jun replied, keeping it brief. Zhao Yang couldn't comprehend his emotions at that moment. Before he could finish his sentence, tears streamed down his face. Witnessing this scene, Li Jun's heart ached, and he enveloped Zhao Yang in a comforting embrace.

"Eighteen years ago, after the war, my father fell seriously ill. The palace doctors couldn't help him, so we invited a traveling doctor. He spoke of a rare flower with healing properties that could save my father's life, even on the brink of death. General Wang and I, along with a few others, embarked on a journey to find this flower. But when we arrived, there was someone else seeking it," Li Jun began, his voice filled with a mix of sorrow and nostalgia.

"It was General Wang's daughter and son-in-law. They had a newborn baby who was also critically ill. In that moment, all that mattered to me was my father's well-being, but seeing the woman's desperate pleas to save her child, I couldn't bear it. I agreed to give her the flower under the condition that she and her husband would accompany us back to the Demon Kingdom and that when their son turned 18, he would come here for marriage."

Li Jun looked at Zhao Yang with an overwhelming love in his eyes. He couldn't bear to see him cry any longer. Releasing him from the hug, Li Jun stood up and interlocked their hands. Without saying a word, he guided Zhao Yang back to the main hall, where the three individuals still waited. They watched in astonishment as the Emperor and Zhao Yang entered hand in hand. Initially, panic flashed across the faces of the middle-aged man and the woman, but as they beheld the boy's appearance, their hearts raced with anticipation.

As Zhao Yang looked at the couple, his heart raced even faster. Their features seemed like a combination of both of them, as if he was the product of their union. Li Jun observed the couple closely as they gazed at Zhao Yang. The woman appeared to be struggling to say something, but the words got caught in her throat.

"His name is Zhao Yang, the grandson of General Zhao of the Mu Kingdom," Li Jun stated, and just that sentence was enough to weaken the woman's legs, causing her to fall to the ground.

"Yang-er," the woman uttered with tears streaming down her eyes. Zhao Yang didn't know why, but he too started crying as he approached the woman.

"Mother?" Zhao Yang questioned uncertainly, yet the woman was overjoyed and embraced him tightly, weeping.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry," she repeated. The more she cried, the more Zhao Yang's tears flowed. Eventually, Li Jun intervened, instructing someone to prepare a meal. He prevented the two from hugging any longer as he gently separated Zhao Yang from the woman. Both of them were taken aback by the sudden movement.

"Let's have a conversation over dinner," Li Jun suggested as he held Zhao Yang's hand, guiding him to the dining table. As they walked, Zhao Yang kept looking back at the woman and the man, who were following behind them. The efficiency of the palace was remarkable as the food was already laid out on the table when all five of them sat down. However, apart from Li Jun, no one else touched their chopsticks. Li Jun noticed that no one was eating and gave them all a meaningful look until his gaze landed on Zhao Yang, who regarded him as if he were an idiot.