Chapter 49

Gu Jun's drowsiness scattered. His groggy, heavy head instantly became clear in that split second. His face paled slightly. Clenching his fists and holding his breath, he stood up.

This was not his first time encountering a wolf.

He panicked for a moment, then calmed down. Exhaling a long breath, he looked around to see which tree could be climbed to seek safety.

The surrounding trees weren't very dense, but not all trees lacked branches in their lower halves. He quickly found a suitable tree.

Pulling a burning dry branch from the fire and placing it below the tree, he shouldered his bundle, rolled up his sleeves, grabbed a branch, and pressed his feet against the trunk, climbing upwards.

"Hiss—" The wound on his back seemed to have split open due to his large movements, causing a continuous, dense pain. Gu Jun couldn't help but cry out. Gritting his molars, he stared at the pitch-black tree top and continued climbing.

The soles of his shoes were relatively soft, making climbing not too troublesome.

He stepped onto a branching limb, pushed upward, wanting to step onto a second branch. Just as he stepped on it, he heard a crack—it actually broke.

His foot lost its hold, nearly causing him to fall. He hurriedly hugged the tree trunk tightly. Before he could feel relieved, rustling noises came from not far away. Not daring to look back, he continued climbing upward. Climbing halfway up the tree, feeling he was safe, he hugged the trunk, stood on a branch, and carefully changed positions. Only when he was seated did he look towards the source of the sound.

There was nothing at the sound source.

As if sensing something, Gu Jun looked down.

Sure enough, two yellow-eyed wolves had reached the bottom of the tree. The burning branch he had placed below was still aflame, with weak firelight and tiny sparks sputtering.

The two yellow-eyed wolves circled the tree. They actually didn't fear the fire? Gu Jun froze for a moment, then looked closely.

Ash-grey fur, robust and powerful, narrow waists and long legs, pointed ears and muzzles, sharp eyes, long slender tails standing upright... wait, were these dogs? For a moment, Gu Jun couldn't distinguish if they were wolves or dogs. If dogs, their appearance was wolf-like; if wolves, their tails were held upright, and besides, they weren't afraid of fire.

As Gu Jun was pondering this, he only saw the two yellow-eyed wolves rest their front paws against the tree trunk and start barking furiously, barking while looking back.

Gu Jun's heart lurched. Following their gaze, he looked ahead.

There was a moon tonight. Though it was just a curved sliver, the light it cast wasn't dim. To the naked eye, most of the scenery could be seen clearly.

Tall, large trees stood on the ground, their slender branches and leaves swaying in the wind. The shadows of the trees danced, stretched across the ground like a patch of tangled seaweed. Below the trees grew clusters of bushes and shrubs. The moonlight was blocked by the tree canopy, plunging them into a patch of darkness.

Suddenly, the bushes shook. Though it was late autumn and the branches already had few leaves, with the violent shaking, the remaining leaves rustled and fell straight down.

Gu Jun saw several human figures heading this way.

He understood in an instant. Breaking off a few branches, he threw them at the two yellow-eyed "wolves". "Go! Go away! No barking!" Gu Jun suppressed his voice and scolded.

The two dogs nimbly dodged and barked even louder.

Gu Jun glared fiercely at the two dogs and climbed towards the treetop. After climbing two branches, he truly didn't dare climb any further—the branches were too thin. He crouched down, curled into a ball, and casually broke off a handful of branches, holding them in front of him as cover.

At that very moment, someone arrived beneath the tree.

The two dogs stopped barking. Gu Jun looked down through the gaps in the aged, dark green leaves. The others had stopped not far away; only one person was beneath the tree.

That person was wearing a white fine-cloth long robe, their hair loose and wet. From a cloth bag carried with them, they felt around and took out two dried meat strips.

The two dogs jumped up, each taking one in their mouths. The person laughed and reached down to pet the dogs' heads.

What a dog king.

Gu Jun thought. The next moment, the dog king lifted his head and looked up.

A face with clear contours, illuminated by the nearby firelight, narrow phoenix eyes, black and white distinctly clear, exceptionally deep.

With one glance, Gu Jun recognized this person. Startled, he nearly fell out of the tree headfirst. Damn Crown Prince, wasn't he drugged? He softened his breathing, walking on thin ice, staring at the other party.

Chao Yan didn't seem to have noticed him, withdrawing his gaze in just an instant. He walked over to the fire and sat down, turning his head to dry his hair by the heat.

Someone wanted to come forward to help, but he stopped them.

He just sat by the fire, unhurriedly doing his things.

Gu Jun warily watched him.

Water vapor rose from his hair in wisps. Once the side of his jet-black, straight, soft hair facing the fire was dry, he changed positions, turning the undried side towards the fire, continuing to dry it.

Gu Jun furrowed his brow. So many things happening. What exactly do you want? Had he already been discovered? Why wasn't he pointing it out? Was he playing with him or what?

He was restless and uneasy. His legs had already gone numb from crouching in the tree. Just as he was about to change his posture and lie down on the tree, the two dogs, who had been gnawing on the dried meat strips so enthusiastically drool flowed, heard the movement and lifted their heads to look up.

What are you looking at? I'll snatch all your dried meat strips!

Gu Jun fiercely glared at the two dogs, baring his teeth. The two dogs seemed frightened by him, lowered their heads, and continued gnawing the meat.

Proud and elated, Gu Jun slowly twisted his body to change his posture. He switched to a sitting position. Just at that moment, a sentence softly drifted up from below, "Is the wind very pleasant up there?"

Gu Jun: "..."

Gu Jun's eyes pressed against the gaps, looking down. Chao Yan had, at some unknown time, walked over and was looking up.

Gu Jun confirmed he was being teased. The courage that had filled his chest instantly dissipated completely. Within his chest ignited a raging fire. His head clouded by anger, in a fit of pique, he threw the branches down.

Damn Crown Prince.

The branches fell down, two of them even poking the other party's forehead.

Gu Jun saw bright red beads of blood emerge from the poked spot and froze on the spot. His anger-fogged head cooled down, regret welling up, and he thought: It's over.

Chao Yan pulled out a handkerchief from his sleeve, wiped away the blood, and said coolly, "How long do you intend to stay up there?"

Gu Jun pressed his lips together, slid down the tree trunk to the ground, came before the other party, lowered his head, and said in a muffled voice...

Chao Yan raised his hand. Gu Jun, thinking he was about to be hit, subconsciously closed his eyes. Yet the other party's hand landed on his shoulder, taking the bundle he carried. "Go back."

Gu Jun opened his eyes and looked at the other party.

"Not leaving?"

Chao Yan handed the bundle to an attendant. Walking up to Gu Jun, Gu Jun retreated backwards. After only a couple of steps back, the other party grabbed his waist and leg, hoisted him up, and landed several spanks on his butt.

"Gu Jun, who taught you to drug me? Do you not want your head anymore?"

Gu Jun's face flushed red. He clenched his fist, hammering towards the other party's back. A hand's distance away, a thunderbolt split through his mind. The Crown Prince, this is the current heir apparent. Calm down, calm down, calm down. Gu Jun withdrew his hand, pinched the other party's arm, and said: "I was wrong, Your Highness."

Chao Yan said: "Do you truly know you were wrong, or is it false?"

Gu Jun said: "I truly know I was wrong. You, a great man, don't hold it against a small man's measure. Don't quibble with me generally."

Chao Yan raised his eyelids and carried him forward. Gu Jun struggled lightly, saying: "Your Highness, put me down! There are people..."

Chao Yan said: "They won't look at you." Gu Jun strained to lift his head, only to see the others had turned their backs, not a single glance directed this way. Gu Jun let out a grunt, draped himself like a dead fish, lowered his head, and lessened his struggling.

After traversing this stretch of rough road, Gu Jun saw many horses. He was taken by Chao Yan onto a horse. The other party encircled him from behind, holding the reins. With a light scold, the horse galloped forward.

The swift wind whooshed past. Gu Jun tightly grasped the other party's sleeve. He didn't know how to ride a horse. The last time he rode was when he was six years old on a trip, riding a small horse belonging to a herdsman for a photo.

Chao Yan sensed his nervousness, wrapped one arm tightly around his waist, and simultaneously slowed down: "Must you leave me? If you must leave, I can let you go. However, for the matter of drugging me, the death penalty can be waived, but punishment for the living cannot be escaped..."

Gu Jun said: "I'm not leaving anymore, truly not leaving."

Gu Jun immediately interrupted his words, flustered and anxious, defending himself: "I do admire Your Highness, but I am afraid of you. You are the Crown Prince. You have so many beauties; I don't want to compete for your favor. I am foolish and clumsy, have no family background, and don't know court etiquette. I can't compete with them. What if one day I anger you? I'm afraid you will forget the affection between us, severely punish me, or leave me forgotten in some corner."

Chao Yan said: "I only have you. You don't need to compete with anyone, nor do you need to worry that I will forget the affection between us. Unless you commit a grave error."

Gu Jun, upon hearing this, said hesitantly: "Are you just coaxing me?"

Chao Yan said: "If I deceive you, may heaven strike me and earth destroy me. This time, bringing you back, I will give you a title. However, the position of Crown Princess cannot be given for the time being. How about I make you a secondary consort?"

Gu Jun felt half-dead inside and said: "Fine."

"Why aren't you smiling? Are you not happy?"

Gu Jun forced a smile: "I am happy, Your Highness."

Chao Yan, from above, observed him. His hand slipped under the short jacket, through the thin clothes, sensing the other party's suddenly tensed body, and completely understood. He lowered his eyes and said softly: "In private, call me husband."

Gu Jun, lifelessly: "This isn't proper, Your Highness."

Chao Yan said: "Wife, I must tell you a secret. You must promise me not to reveal it to anyone else."

Gu Jun: "Hm?" Perhaps humans are naturally fond of spying on others' secrets. Anyway, Gu Jun revived. "What secret?"

Chao Yan lowered his head, pressed against his ear, and whispered: "I haven't recovered my memory."

Gu Jun's eyes slowly widened.