Chapter 221.3

A sense of desolation spread within him, and Emperor Jin’an became lost in his thoughts, oblivious to the roaring voice inside his mind and Yaoniang’s gaze.

“Your Majesty, do you remember the most outrageous thing you did to me back then?”

“Are you referring to that matter? I didn’t know about it, and if I had, I wouldn’t have let you suffer…” Emperor Jin’an thought Yaoniang was talking about the incident where she became pregnant before they were married. He knew she had suffered greatly and almost didn’t survive.

Yaoniang pouted, “I’m not talking about that.”

“Then…”

She reached around his neck from behind, placing her face in the crook of his neck. “Good brother, how could you forget that?”

He thought she was being playful and gently stroked her cheek, smiling, “Stop teasing me.”

“I’m not teasing you. How could you forget, good brother?” Something surged from the depths of Yaoniang’s eyes, but it remained hidden beneath the mist, making it hard to discern.

Suddenly, she smiled, and just as Emperor Jin’an was about to say something, he suddenly lost consciousness.

When Emperor Jin’an woke up again, he found himself lying in bed.

He was startled, thinking that the original owner might have done something that caused him to faint. However, he quickly realized that the situation was not quite right—he found himself tied up. His hands and feet were tied with ropes, fastened to the bedpost, and he instinctively struggled. Before him stood a person.

This person was none other than Yaoniang.

Yaoniang had changed her clothes, unlike before, she was now covered up tightly. Her face was somewhat pale, her eyes filled with suspicion, yet also with a kind of bitterness, her lips tightly pursed.

“Who are you, really?”

Emperor Jin’an’s heart skipped a beat, furrowing his brows and pretending nonchalance, “What do you mean by this?”

Yaoniang approached, sat on the edge of the bed, and reached out to touch his face. Her touch was gentle, but her voice revealed unmistakable panic, “I’ve tried many times, your face is real, your body is real, and I know every scar on His Majesty. These cannot be faked, but the person inside is not His Majesty. Who are you…”

Throughout the countryside, there were always stories of spirits and ghosts taking over people’s bodies, so after numerous tests, Yaoniang couldn’t help but have wild thoughts.

In fact, she had given him an opportunity with that phrase she used earlier, “Good brother.” During the time when Jin Wang was afflicted by the poison, there was a period when he forced Yaoniang to address him this way. Later, after the poison was cured, he changed from using his previous vulgar language, and Yaoniang even teased him about it.

This was the most intimate thing between them; the real Emperor Jin’an couldn’t possibly not know it. However, the other party didn’t understand the significance and thought she was just being affectionate.

After hearing Yaoniang’s words, Emperor Jin’an remained silent. Yaoniang couldn’t help but cry, “Who are you? What do you want? I can promise you anything. Even if you are a wandering spirit or ghost, you must have family, right? Tell me where your family is, whether you want money or an official position, I can provide it, as long as you can give me back His Majesty, I can give you anything.”

Glistening tears streamed down her fair cheeks, dropping onto his neck and face. They had no warmth, but they made him shiver.

“What do you want? Tell me, I can definitely do it…”

“I…” I only want you.

A profound sense of desolation swept over him, and at the same time, deep within his soul, there was a storm. He didn’t know what triggered it. Even though the original owner was in a coma, he woke up for some inexplicable reason and started colliding with that barrier.

He took a deep breath and scolded coldly, “Is this why you’re causing a commotion? To question whether Zhen is a wandering spirit or ghost for such a ridiculous reason and even tie me up?”

“I…,” she began.

He sighed, “Lately, I’ve been suffering from severe headaches, and my memory has inexplicably declined. I’ve forgotten many things. I didn’t want to tell you, fearing you’d worry, but I didn’t expect you’d come up with such absurd thoughts.”

“Your Majesty…”

“You have a red mole in that place.” After saying this, Emperor Jin’an fell silent, his face cold as he stared at her.

This was the most private part of a woman, something even her personal palace maids didn’t know. Only Emperor Jin’an, the person closest to her, knew about it, as he was the one who had told her.

Yaoniang’s face blushed and paled in quick succession as if she had been shocked by something. She hurriedly untied the ropes binding Emperor Jin’an’s hands and feet.

She was flustered, her words stumbling, “Your Majesty, I didn’t mean it, I… you can punish me…”

“I really didn’t mean it, I thought…” She was on the verge of tears again.

He sat up, adjusted his limbs, and sighed before pulling her into his arms, “That’s enough; let’s not talk about this anymore. Zhen is very tired. Let Zhen rest for a while.”

Yaoniang lay quietly in his arms, and he gently stroked her back. It was quiet all around.

“Your Majesty, please don’t keep things from me in the future. I’ll worry a lot,” she said.

“Mm.”

After this incident, it seemed that Yaoniang had exhausted a lot of energy. She quickly fell asleep.

He looked at her peaceful sleeping face, and faint traces of tears could still be seen at the corners of her eyes. He reached out to touch her and closed his eyes.

In that dark space, Emperor Jin’an had been cursing for a long time. Now, he had exhausted himself and collapsed.

“Despicable, shameless, vile…”

Suddenly, a suction force came, and he couldn’t control himself as he began to rise. Something seemed to twist, and he was surrounded by a colourful light. In a daze, a tall figure passed by him.

“Zhen will return her to you; please don’t tell her that I was here.”

He was shook. He trembled and then he woke up.