Chapter 097: Saving Her Isn’t Impossible (Bonus Chapter for Red Packet Support)

At that moment, Mo Yan turned her around, lifted her chin with his hand, allowing her to meet his enchanting peach blossom eyes directly.

"Learning to paint isn't painful. The real pain is not being able to see you. I miss you every day, regretting not taking you away with me back then. But I fear that one day, when I want to think of you, all that remains in my mind will be a vague, blurry shadow."

Jin'er gazed into the deep affection and faint sadness in his eyes, feeling an indescribable ache in her heart, like ivy creeping over every inch of her chest.

Oh, Mo Yan, with such profound devotion, how am I to respond?

Seeing a trace of inner conflict and pain in her eyes, Mo Yan smiled lightly and said, "Are you feeling sad for me? It's alright, everything has passed. Haven't I just endured the storm and now see the moonlight?" With that, he embraced her once more, holding her like a precious treasure.

"Jin'er, marry me." Suddenly, his low, magnetic voice whispered in her ear. Jin'er froze completely.

Sensing her surprise, Mo Yan stepped back, lowered his head to look at the still stunned Jin'er, and smiled. "I told you before, two years from now you would be mine. Now, that's already overdue. What, do you still want me to suffer like before?"

"Th-that... I don't even know if I can survive. It's too soon to talk about this now," Jin'er’s mind raced, suddenly using that as an excuse to deflect.

In truth, she knew she had feelings for him. Perhaps it was more gratitude than love. In any case, she had never considered marrying him.

She was barely over fifteen, not ready to become a wife so soon. Besides, with the poison coursing through her, she barely had the strength to think about such things.

"I’m here, I’ll never let anything happen to you again," Mo Yan said firmly, looking into her eyes.

"Really? But you haven’t even heard of that thing," Jin'er's eyes darkened as she spoke.

He, a prince, didn’t even know about the Fire Eye Stone? And yet claimed it was the national treasure? She even doubted whether what Xue Gu said was true…

“Don’t worry. If this thing really exists, I will find it for you. I’ll ask the emperor later,” Mo Yan squeezed her arm, trying to reassure her.

Seeing her still glum, he smiled and said, “Once I cure you of the poison, you must marry me.”

Jin'er looked up at him, pouting, “What if I don’t marry you? Then you won’t help me?”

Mo Yan was slightly taken aback but then smiled warmly, “I believe you will marry me. A husband as handsome and devoted as I am is hard to find, even with a lantern.” He finished proudly, lifting his chin.

Jin'er was amused by his confidence.

This guy is really full of himself. Well, let him be confident. She wasn’t going to give him a definite answer anytime soon.

After chatting for a while longer, Mo Yan escorted Jin’er back to her room to rest. He instructed Fusheng and Xiaodie to take good care of her, then left Haoyue Palace alone.

Before reaching the imperial study’s entrance, Mo Yan heard a coughing sound and frowned.

"Your Majesty, the Second Prince requests an audience," the Fire Kingdom emperor, looking somewhat aged but still imposing, paused in surprise while handling official documents and ordered a servant to announce.

“I pay respects to the father emperor,” Mo Yan said, bowing as he entered.

“Mo Yan, the sun must have risen in the west today. What brings you to my study?” The emperor’s face was a little older, but his demeanor was still extraordinary as he rose and approached the desk.

“I heard you coughing just now. Is your old ailment acting up again? Father emperor, please take care of your health and don’t overwork,” Mo Yan said as he stepped forward to support the emperor.

“Ah, you only know how to comfort with words but won’t share the burden,” the emperor sighed helplessly as they each took a seat nearby.

“Father, you know I’ve never liked being tied down by court affairs. But you can let the crown prince help shoulder the burden,” Mo Yan said.

The emperor laughed helplessly as if hearing a joke, “You know your elder brother’s character and ability. Let him help? I’m afraid that would only cause trouble.”

Mo Yan smiled silently, shaking his head in resignation.

Servants brought two cups of hot tea in, and the emperor signaled for them to leave before closing the door.

“Why did you come all of a sudden today? What business do you have?” The emperor sipped tea and looked at Mo Yan.

The young man had hardly left Haoyue Palace in two years; the last time they met was three months ago when the emperor had personally visited him.

“Father, I do have something to ask,” Mo Yan said.

“What is it? Tell me.” The emperor was curious; besides painting day in and day out, what else could interest him?

“Have you heard of the Fire Eye Stone?”

Before the emperor could bring the cup to his lips, his hand froze, evidently shocked. “How do you know of the Fire Eye Stone?”

Seeing his father knew about it, Mo Yan’s heart filled with hope.

“I heard it’s the Fire Kingdom’s national treasure. I thought it didn’t exist since I never heard of it, but it really does?”

“Where did you hear this? And what do you want it for?” The emperor frowned anxiously.

“I heard from a friend who was poisoned by a rare toxin. Only the Fire Eye Stone can cure it, so I want to ask you to lend it to me…”

“Impossible!” Before Mo Yan could finish, the emperor interrupted sternly.

Mo Yan was stunned. His father had always been loving and gentle with him, rarely ever harsh.

Realizing his tone was too severe, the emperor softened slightly, “Since you know it’s our national treasure, you should understand its importance. It cannot be given to outsiders lightly.”

“But father, that person is very important to me. If she isn’t cured, she will die!” Mo Yan became desperate.

“Oh? Someone important? The one you paint every day?” The emperor raised a brow suspiciously.

“Yes!” Mo Yan answered without hesitation.

The emperor stroked his graying beard thoughtfully and lowered his gaze. After a long moment, he looked up with a serious expression. “Do you know what the Fire Eye Stone means to our kingdom?”

Mo Yan shook his head blankly. If not for Jin’er mentioning it, he wouldn’t have even known of its existence.

“This is not something I should tell you, but since you already know, I won’t hide it. Come closer.”

Mo Yan leaned in, listening attentively.

“The Fire Eye Stone is a spiritual stone left by our ancestors. It ensures the imperial family’s spiritual power continues without end. It is, in essence, the lifeblood of our royal bloodline.

Because of its importance, past generations never revealed anything about it. Only each reigning monarch knows of its existence and where it is kept.” The emperor’s face was grave.

“However, it seems the Fire Eye Stone is no longer a secret within the royal family,” he sighed with concern. “After thousands of years, some things change. But no outsider should know its whereabouts. Even though you know now, I will not tell you.”

“Father, since it’s a spiritual stone, maybe I can just borrow it to cure her poison and return it immediately,” Mo Yan pleaded.

“Even borrowing is forbidden. That is the rule set by our ancestors. It’s already wrong for me to tell you this,” the emperor frowned and turned away.

“Father...” Seeing his firm resolve, Mo Yan bit his lip and knelt before him with a thud.

“What are you doing...?” The emperor was shocked.

“Father, I lost her once. You must have seen how much I have suffered these past two years. Now that I have found her again, if I have to watch her die before my eyes, I... I might not survive either!” Mo Yan’s handsome face was devoid of its usual radiant smile, replaced by coldness, sorrow, and an unyielding determination in his dark eyes.

The emperor stared at him, unable to believe his dashing son would go this far for a woman, sighing deeply.

After a long pause, he spoke calmly, “Are you truly determined to save her, no matter how difficult it is?”

“Yes! I beg you, father, to grant me this!” Mo Yan sensed a glimmer of hope in his father’s words and looked up at him resolutely.

“Actually, it’s not impossible to save her...” The emperor took a deep breath and bent down to help Mo Yan up. A flicker of light briefly flashed in his lowered eyes.

“Really?” Mo Yan was overjoyed and rose with him.

“You just have to become the emperor,” the emperor said with a faint smile and raised brows.

Though he didn’t know how the Fire Eye Stone cured poison, it was unlikely it required ingesting the stone itself. If it merely borrowed the stone’s spiritual power, it wouldn’t be a big deal. But he could never lend it to Mo Yan.

Firstly, it would violate ancestral laws; secondly, this might be the only chance to push Mo Yan to vie for the throne. And Mo Yan was adamant about never wanting to be emperor.

If the kingdom fell to Mo Fan instead, given the current perilous situation, it would likely meet the same fate as the Mu Kingdom. He would never allow that to happen.

[End of today’s update]

////Thanks to “Lian Canyang” for the reward. I’m very happy. With your support and recognition, I will work even harder.

Also, I just created a group. Those who like this story can join with the group number: #hidden#, password: any character’s name from the book. There are benefits to joining. Everyone is welcome to join enthusiastically.