Chapter 255: He Really... Really, Really Likes Ah Yang

After Mu Yunlian woke up, Xiao Yang let the people from the Southern Domain go.

The Witch Clan elders were eager to return with their people, and Yin Tianqi didn’t dare to linger either. Only Qi Yue still wanted to stay.

"Your Majesty, I can save him. I can restore his memory. I can definitely create the medicine for you."

Unfortunately, once the members of the Witch Clan confirmed Mu Yunlian was fine, Xiao Yang didn’t spare Qi Yue another glance.

Everything the Southern Domain People had used, from a teacup to a house, was destroyed. Xiao Yang also ordered a city-wide disinfection, an extermination of pests, and an expulsion of evil spirits.

She then ordered the Southwest Border to be placed under martial law.

As Xiao Yang issued her decrees, Mu Yunlian... no, he went by Meng Xuechen now... stood right beside her, watching her with a complicated and surprised look in his eyes. Occasionally, a proud expression, as if sharing in her glory, would flash across his face.

’My junior, Ah Yang, is incredible. She looks so cool as the Empress.’

Xiao Yang had been watching him from the corner of her eye. Amused by his expression, the corners of her lips curved up, and she couldn’t resist reaching out to take his hand and give it a squeeze.

Meng Xuechen’s pupils quaked as a visible blush spread over his entire body.

Right now, he wasn’t that insatiable fox spirit, but the innocent Senior Meng.

In his mind, Xiao Yang was only fifteen, and he was still nursing a secret crush on her, waiting for her to grow up.

This shy, innocent version of him looked even purer than Xu Xingchen.

After everyone had left, Xiao Yang didn’t hide anything from him. She told him all about his transmigration, and then her own. The parts she didn’t understand herself were relayed by Xiao Ziling and the people around him.

He was calm while listening to the other parts, as if hearing someone else’s story. But the moment he heard that he and Xiao Yang were in love and about to be married, he bristled like a startled cat, his eyelashes fluttering like fans. "We... were together?"

Xiao Yang was speechless. ’I said so much, and that’s the one thing he focuses on?’

"Yes."

Xiao Yang didn’t deny it, but she also told him about the existence of the other three men.

Xiao Yang squeezed his hand. "You don’t have your memories, and you can’t accept all this. So don’t think about it. Right now, you’re just my senior. Focus on recuperating."

’As long as he’s okay otherwise, it doesn’t matter if he ever remembers this life.’

Meng Xuechen had been bombarded with too much mind-blowing information, and he was left completely dazed.

’Dying and coming back to life, transmigration, amnesia, reuniting with a grown-up Xiao Yang, Xiao Yang being the Empress, me being her lover, and her having more than just one lover...’

’The fact that I haven’t fainted from all these shocks must mean I have a really strong heart.’

To allow Meng Xuechen to recuperate properly, Xiao Yang had him stay in the palace. The closest residence to Zichen Palace was Taihe Palace, so she had him move in there, with an Imperial Physician in attendance.

Of course, he was the Minister of Revenue, so to keep his days from being too boring, she also had documents from the Ministry of Revenue sent over.

’His memory is gone, not his mind. With a bit of time to get back up to speed, he’ll definitely be able to take up his duties again.’

’I really don’t want anyone else taking his position as Minister of Revenue.’

That night, Xiao Yang chose Rong Yin to spend the night with her.

For the past ten-odd days, because of Mu Yunlian, she hadn’t been in the mood to pay any of them mind. Now that the storm had passed, Xiao Yang had finally kept someone for the night.

After their lovemaking, Rong Yin held Xiao Yang, unwilling to let go. "Your Majesty... you are so good to Mu Yunlian..."

That seemingly limitless tolerance was truly envy-inducing. Mu Yunlian had clearly lost his memory, yet their relationship was still one that outsiders couldn’t penetrate.

Xiao Yang snuggled into the crook of his shoulder. "Am I not good to you?"

Rong Yin replied, "It’s not the same."

’Not the same? How is it not the same?’

Xiao Yang couldn’t figure it out, so she simply stopped thinking about it. ’I’m dead tired. He can deal with his own problems.’

Rong Yin’s heart, full of jealousy and bitterness, gave way to a helpless sigh when he heard her soft, sleeping snores.

"You heartless little Majesty."

’She really doesn’t seem to care one bit about our inner turmoil and jealousy.’

’This heartless side of her is something I both love and hate.’

’I hate that I can’t be her favorite, yet I love that she has no favorite.’

’Because I know full well that if she did play favorites, I definitely wouldn’t be the one she chose.’

Meng Xuechen, who hadn’t slept well all night, rose early. This strange place made him uneasy, and he wanted to find Xiao Yang.

However, just as he arrived before Zichen Palace, he saw Rong Yin emerging from within.

Although he only had the memories and mentality of a seventeen-year-old, he understood the implications. Besides, Xiao Yang had already told him that they were all her lovers.

’Lovers sleeping together... they can’t just be platonic roommates.’

Meng Xuechen’s face was pale, and he was shrouded in melancholy. With that air of cold, lonely gloom and that foxy, captivating-yet-aloof face, who wouldn’t feel a pang of pity looking at him?

Well, except for Rong Yin.

"Minister Mu."

For once, Rong Yin took the initiative to greet Mu Yunlian. "Minister Mu, is it true that your memory cannot be restored?"

Meng Xuechen replied, "For now, it seems not."

Rong Yin’s gaze darkened. "Minister Mu has forgotten everyone but remembers Her Majesty. And yet, while you remember Her Majesty, you don’t recall what passed between you. Your ailment is truly fascinating."

It sounded like an observation, but it was dripping with suspicion.

Meng Xuechen could feel Rong Yin’s undisguised hostility—the hostility of a romantic rival.

’I’m jealous of Rong Yin’s relationship with Ah Yang, but at the same time, Rong Yin is jealous of me.’

After Rong Yin left, Meng Xuechen stepped into Zichen Palace, and only then did a question occur to him.

’If Rong Yin stayed the night here... does that mean I’ve stayed here before, too? And between me and Xiao Yang... have we already done... more intimate things?’

Xiao Yang, dressed in her Dragon Robe, walked over and looked at the stunned Meng Xuechen.

"Did you need something? No, wait... why is your face so red? It looks like it’s about to cook!"

Meng Xuechen grabbed Xiao Yang’s hand, his shyness intensifying. "Don’t say it!"

He was so embarrassed he felt like he was steaming. It took him a long while to gather his thoughts.

"Have... have we already... slept together?"

He looked at Xiao Yang nervously, wanting a clear answer.

Looking at this face, brimming with shyness, Xiao Yang knew for sure this was her innocent senior.

She coughed awkwardly. "Mm."

’Why do I suddenly feel so guilty? Damn it.’

A wave of bitterness almost drowned him. Meng Xuechen found it hard to accept. "I... I was waiting for you to come of age... I hadn’t even confessed..."

He smiled, but it looked like he was about to cry. "My past self... did he confess to you properly?"

His mood was infectious, and Xiao Yang’s own heart felt tight and sore. "Yes. My senior very seriously told me that you really, really like me."

Tears dripped down Meng Xuechen’s face. He looked at her through a watery blur, smiling, but it was a sight that could break your heart.

Xiao Yang was at a loss.

"Don’t be like this. Don’t force yourself to accept it. Take it slow."

’I can’t take it slow,’ Meng Xuechen thought. ’Not knowing the truth is torture with every passing moment.’

He opened his arms, his emotions stirred, yet he still asked politely, "Ah Yang, may I hug you?"

Xiao Yang stepped forward, and Meng Xuechen received the hug he had been longing for.

’Even though this situation is a little strange, there’s one thing that hasn’t changed.’

’I really... really, really like Ah Yang.’