Chapter 99: An Ran's Lie (First Update) Please Subscribe

Jun Moli took a few steps back and then turned away with a cold sneer. His Imperial Father was truly old now, and his mind was failing him. The audacity to treat them all like fools, to be used at his whim—it was simply preposterous. Jun Zi'ao and Jun Ruohan had long been unable to restrain themselves; if not for Yu Jinglan accompanying Zhan Lun on the diplomatic mission to Xuanyue, one of them would likely have already staged a palace coup.

Jun Zi'ao was impulsive and often lacked patience, but with his uncle’s strategic guidance and his position as the eldest imperial prince, he was a legitimate contender for the throne, even if his literary and martial prowess fell short of Jun Ruohan’s. Jun Ruohan, on the other hand, was dark-natured, ambitious, ruthless, and highly calculating. He possessed a strong desire for vengeance and mirrored Jun Dingyue’s temperament perfectly. The two had been at odds for years, locked in a bitter struggle for power.

As Jun Moli pondered these thoughts, he entered the side hall. Jun Ruohan and An Ran were sitting on opposite sides, sipping fine palace tea in silence.

When Jun Ruohan saw Jun Moli enter with such graceful composure and a faint smile, his expression flickered. He quickly suppressed the shock in his eyes. How could the Emperor have allowed him to leave? It was impossible that Jun Moli had agreed to marry the second daughter of the Marquis of Yongle, yet seeing him so smug, Jun Ruohan dared not provoke the Emperor’s wrath.

"Second Imperial Brother, you have been staring at me. Is there a flower on my face that holds your gaze?" Jun Moli approached, offering a mocking joke upon seeing Jun Ruohan’s stunned expression.

Jun Ruohan snapped back to reality, quickly averting his gaze. He coughed awkwardly and took a sip of tea before replying, "You misunderstood, Seventh Brother. I thought I saw something on your face and feared it was dirt. My mistake."

"Then it was indeed my misunderstanding. I hope Second Brother will not take offense."

After speaking, Jun Moli sat in the chair next to An Ran, his eyes instantly softening as he gazed at her with unconcealed affection.

An Ran felt the burning intensity of his stare and gave a faint, dismissive glance. This man was acting like he was in heat everywhere he went; she was beginning to regret the morning's events.

Seeing Jun Moli’s glowing eyes—as if he hadn't seen a woman in eight hundred years—Jun Ruohan looked at him with disdain and quickly turned away, fearing that looking any longer might give him an eye infection.

"Ran'er, the Emperor wants to see you. Do not be afraid. Just answer truthfully whatever he asks. Go on," Jun Moli said, his tone filled with gentle concern after watching her for a quarter of an hour. While it sounded like comfort, both knew the true meaning: no matter what Jun Dingyue asked, she must claim ignorance. She absolutely could not reveal the fact that she had cured him.

Both Jun Moli and An Ran knew exactly what kind of man Jun Dingyue was. The events of fifteen years ago still pained An Ran’s heart, and today, in facing him, she intended to give him a proper "welcome."

"My thanks to Prince Li for the advice."

An Ran feigned a distance, thanking him coldly before following Eunuch Fu, who was waiting outside, toward the main hall.

Hearing her cold response, Jun Ruohan looked at the rebuffed Jun Moli with schadenfreude, thinking to himself that it was rare to see Jun Moli meet with such ill luck.

Jun Moli simply sat in his chair, sipping tea with a slight upward curve to his lips, lost in thought. No one knew what he was contemplating.

"Miss An, please."

Eunuch Fu, having reported to Jun Dingyue, stepped out with a respectful air and bowed slightly toward An Ran.

An Ran nodded, her footsteps light as she entered the Imperial Study. She walked toward Jun Dingyue step by step, though each step felt unusually heavy.

Jun Dingyue sat firmly on the Dragon Throne, observing her with a majestic air. His eyes betrayed a flicker of shock and admiration. Few dared to look him directly in the eye when facing the Emperor. This young girl, whether out of ignorance or true fearlessness, met his gaze without flinching.

An Ran looked at him silently—the man who was her greatest enemy in her past life. After ascending the throne, he had discarded his allies like worn-out shoes. Such a man, driven by near-insane paranoia, was the only one a hypocrite like Lu Anrong would dare to conspire with.

*Hmph*, since Jun Dingyue had summoned her today, she wouldn't mind giving the Prime Minister’s estate a surprise. She would make Lu Anrong and Leng Yiyun suffer silently, and force Lu Xueqing to tumble from her high pedestal into the mire. She would drive Leng Yiyun to total madness.

"This commoner greets the Emperor of Xuanyue. May the Emperor live for ten thousand years!"

An Ran bowed, but showed no intention of kneeling.

Jun Dingyue looked as if he had been struck by lightning. What did she just call him? The Emperor of Xuanyue? This form of address... was she not his subject?

A knot of frustration tightened in Jun Dingyue’s heart. How was An Ran not a subject of Xuanyue? If she were not, he could not force her to do his bidding; he would have to negotiate.

This caught him off guard. Why hadn't that fool Jun Ruohan researched her background properly? Had he done this on purpose? To trick him into killing An Ran, then stir up trouble between the two nations, allowing Jun Ruohan to rally the masses and dispose of the Emperor who caused the war?

One had to admit, Jun Dingyue’s paranoia had reached an incurable stage. He believed An Ran’s information came from Jun Ruohan, who had gotten it from Lu Xueqing. He had assumed she was a local, never imagining she was not from Xuanyue.

"Rise."

An Ran did not kneel, and Jun Dingyue was unhappy, but he had no excuse. There was an unwritten rule that foreigners did not need to kneel before the Emperor. He had hoped to break her spirit, but he found no opening.

"Thank you, Emperor of Xuanyue."

This was the first time An Ran had revealed her identity as a citizen of the Night Moon Kingdom. The reason was simple: Jun Dingyue would investigate her origins, but he wouldn't broadcast them. He was angry now, but once he confirmed her status in Night Moon, he would not dare touch her. Even without considering Yu Jinglan, her reputation as the "Divine Physician of Night Moon" would have him begging for her help.

But she didn't want things to go that way today. She didn't want to rely on Yu Jinglan’s influence or her status as a "Divine Physician." She wanted to adopt a new identity that would catch everyone off guard.

"Miss An, you look no older than sixteen, yet you traveled all the way from Night Moon to Xuanyue. Are you here to visit relatives or for pleasure?"

Though the nations were at odds, commoners still intermarried. Jun Dingyue categorized her among those returning to visit their ancestral roots.

"No, I have come to Moon City to search for my family," An Ran replied, standing tall and composed.

"Oh?" Jun Dingyue felt a glimmer of hope. "Could it be that your family are subjects of Xuanyue?"

An Ran lowered her head, feigning sadness while a flash of triumph crossed her eyes. *Jun Dingyue, no matter how clever you are, you could never imagine I am a soul returned from the dead, and I know exactly what kind of inhumane acts you have committed. Hmph, wait for me to work for you? You can wait forever. I’ll be sure to give you a surprise.*

"Yes. When I was a child, I traveled with my parents and was abducted by traffickers, sold to Night Moon City, and raised by a kind couple. Two years ago, they had a son of their own and told me I was not their biological child. They said my family was from Xuanyue and gave me enough money to return and search for them."

"I spent countless silver, traveled with two servants, and after much searching, I found the man who abducted me. He said he took me from the outskirts of Moon City, where my family was out for a spring outing. My parents were prominent figures in Moon City, apparently surnamed Lu. He told me to come here to inquire."

"But after I arrived, the only family of status surnamed Lu was..." An Ran’s voice choked with feigned sobs. She wiped her dry eyes and continued, "I thought I would see my long-lost kin, but no one in the Prime Minister's estate believed me. The Old Madam even less so. She dotes on that eldest Miss Lu and refuses to believe I am her true granddaughter. That Miss Lu is the one adopted by the Prime Minister and his wife; I am the true eldest daughter of the estate! *Wuu wuu...*"

An Ran began to weep audibly.

Jun Dingyue was delighted. If everything she said was true, and she was the real daughter, he could issue an imperial decree to restore her status. She would be eternally grateful and work for him.

He had heard of Lu Xueqing’s beauty and had intended to take her as a concubine, but she had contracted smallpox. Now, if An Ran were the real daughter and Lu Xueqing a fraud, he could simply have her brought to the palace if she survived the smallpox.

His mind raced with schemes. He would gain An Ran’s help—specifically for his virility tonics—and gain the beauty of Lu Xueqing as well. Once his health improved, his harem would no longer be mere decorations.

He was so blinded by joy that he believed her.

"Do you truly wish to return to the Prime Minister’s estate?" Jun Dingyue asked, testing her so she would remember his favor.

An Ran continued to sob, a hidden smile in her eyes, and nodded repeatedly.

"I shall believe you for now. I will issue a decree for you to return to the estate..."

"Thank you, Emperor, for your great grace! If there is anything I can do for you, I will go through fire and water without hesitation! Thank you for allowing me to go home!"

An Ran interrupted him, expressing her willingness to serve. Jun Dingyue nodded in appreciation. She was sharp, much better than that rebellious son of his, Jun Moli. A little girl, easily manipulated.

"An Ran, I have something to ask you. You must answer truthfully!" Jun Dingyue said, his expression turning serious.

"Yes, I will tell you everything I know. Please, Emperor, ask." An Ran wiped her eyes, appearing overwhelmed with gratitude.

Jun Dingyue nodded, pleased. "You took the pulse of Prince Li. How much longer does he have to live?"

If one couldn't see his face, his tone sounded like that of a concerned father. But An Ran saw the faint hatred and anger in his eyes. She knew Jun Moli must have refused one of his demands, leading to this resentment. He didn't trust Jun Moli’s words, so he was asking her to verify the timeline of his death.

An Ran shook her head, feigning three parts regret. "Prince Li’s life is nearing its end."

"Truly?" Jun Dingyue raised his voice, questioning her.

"Yes. The poison has eroded his internal organs, and his body’s functions are failing. Even the gods could not save him. The Prince is certain to die."

Since Jun Moli wanted to be with her and join her family, she didn't mind if he "died" early. Once dead, he could change his identity and live in peace, no longer being targeted.

"Can you not save him? Can you not extend his life by two or three years?" Jun Dingyue asked, still clinging to hope.

An Ran nearly laughed. *What does he want from Jun Moli that he suddenly cares about his survival? Does he want him to marry the daughter of the Mu family and produce an heir?*

"I cannot. My medical skills are limited; my previous successes were mere luck. Prince Li suffers from a Gu poison from the Miao border. Only the one who planted the Gu can kill the mother-parasite to give him a chance. Finding that person is difficult, and even then, finding the mother-parasite is nearly impossible."

Jun Moli’s condition was indeed artificial, but An Ran couldn't understand how he could recover his strength so quickly to rival Yu Jinglan. He was a monster, unlike anyone she had ever met.

Jun Dingyue was deeply disappointed. Jun Moli was truly going to die. But he wasn't willing to let him go just yet; his utility hadn't been fully exhausted.

"Do you know any way to extend a person’s life? No matter the cost?" Jun Dingyue suggested. *Methods* could be interpreted as sinister means. He was willing to use toxic methods on his own son without hesitation. An Ran sneered inwardly, feeling a deep sorrow for Jun Moli.

*Jun Moli, do not worry. You fear the stigma of patricide, so I, An Ran, will take revenge for you slowly. A father as cold-blooded and heartless as Jun Dingyue is a disgrace to you!*

"There is a method, but it will eventually cause the patient to lose their mind, and the end will be exceptionally bloody."

An Ran did have such drugs. Combined with her acupuncture, they could extend life by two or three years, but the final year would be one of agonizing torture, ending in bleeding from all seven orifices.

Jun Dingyue pondered for a moment, his presence heavy and oppressive. "Never mind the outcome. You are to prepare this medicine and treat Prince Li when the time comes. Leave the rest to me. And—keep your mouth shut."

"I understand. Please be assured, Emperor, I will not tell a soul. Just let me know when, and I will do my best to treat Prince Li and restore his health!"

An Ran promised with feigned anxiety. She wasn't making a vow; she was setting a trap. Jun Dingyue, in his desire to use Jun Moli regardless of his life, was doomed to fail. He shouldn't have trusted her. The game had barely begun, and Jun Dingyue had already lost.

"Good. I will have someone arrange it. Go now; I will issue the decree to restore your status as the eldest daughter of the Lu family, and starting tomorrow, you shall serve in the Imperial Medical Institute. Do well, and I will not treat you poorly."

Jun Dingyue pulled his lips into a stiff, deceptive smile.

"An Ran thanks the Emperor for his great grace!"

An Ran bowed and retreated with a cold smile on her lips. *Jun Dingyue, in time, you won't be able to smile at all.*