As it turns out, the child won't be that kind of child.

The imperial physician was summoned by Emperor Chongle. Under the emperor's pressure, he told a small lie in front of Qianyuan, saying that the emperor's injury was not serious.

Qian Yuan was half-believing, half-doubting, until the Celestial Master arrived. When he saw his ancestor's current state, he couldn't help but reveal his true feelings:

"Grandmaster, I'm so sorry, sob sob sob..."

Before he could finish speaking, he was dragged away by the shadow guards once again.

Seeing her father's stubbornness, Qianyuan felt genuinely angry for the first time.

He walked to Emperor Chongle's side and used a strip of cloth to tie his hands and his father's hands together.

“From now on, if Father tells me to stay here, then I will stay here. But Father is not allowed to leave, and he is not allowed to get hurt where I can’t see him.”

"I'm really angry. Unless Dad apologizes to me, I will never again try to be cute with him, not even a little bit."

Emperor Chongle opened his mouth, but the little guy pressed his finger against his lips:

"Shh!"

After that, the little guy, like a dragon guarding a treasure, kept a close eye on his father, afraid that his father was too fragile and might bump or hurt himself.

Emperor Chongle was initially stung by his child's cold gaze, but gradually, he felt that it was quite nice that the little guy was so clingy to him and served him so diligently.

He was unaware that the guards were saying that His Majesty had retired early and was enjoying his retirement.

It's so nice to be taken care of by the little prince. It's like having a short-legged puppy around you who isn't very useful but cares about you a lot. The puppy wags its tail and runs around your legs, tugging at your pants or pouring you water. Although it doesn't help much and you always get scolded by the short-legged, furry puppy, you can't help but be charmed by its cuteness.

Emperor Chongle looked at his good tea, which had been brewed into a mess and completely ruined, then at the memorials arranged from thick to thin but actually in disarray, and then at Qianyuan, who was holding pastries and had gotten up, forgetting that she and her father were tied together, and tripped but still tried to protect the pastries.

"I'll handle these things myself..."

Qianyuan: "Did I do a bad job? The palace servants always bring you such a small cup to pour tea, which is not enough for you. Look, I poured you tea from a big pot, so there's plenty for you. And the memorials were all messy, so I sorted them out for you. I also brought you some savory snacks. I had the imperial kitchen make them this morning. They're filled with salted egg yolk and pepper salt, and they're sure to be delicious."

"Am I not good enough? Okay, we're still arguing. I know Dad won't praise me."

"Is there anything else you need me to do? Little Dragon, I promise to complete the task!"

Emperor Chongle: ...

Emperor Chongle remained silent for a while. If Qianyuan could see the changes in the target's mood at any moment, she would definitely be able to clearly see the little heart that popped up on her father's head.

"All right."

Emperor Chongle took his teacup—no, his large teapot—and held it out to Qianyuan with one hand:

"Pour me some more water."

Qianyuan: "Dad, you've drunk so much water, do you need to pee? Let me help you!"

Emperor Chongle: "I only have a heart injury, I'm not lame, you don't need to support me like that."

The little guy has almost cured Chongledi's clingy habit.

See? This family fell apart without Qianyuan's sacrifices.

Pillars of strength, a thousand bonds!

Days passed by, and without her magical powers, Qian Yuan's health deteriorated day by day. In contrast to Emperor Chong Le's slow recovery, Qian Yuan began to fall ill and suffer frequently.

However, every time he woke up, his father did not leave him, but stayed by his side without leaving him, just as he said.

Sometimes, when Qianyuan woke up after a very long sleep, he would often see the imperial physicians giving him acupuncture or visiting him. He would shake his head at Emperor Chongle from time to time, revealing a regretful sigh.

Emperor Chongle seems to have become even more gloomy.

The people in the palace didn't dare to breathe loudly, and they did everything very quietly, for fear of waking their fragile little prince.

This winter seems particularly oppressive and cold.

Two years later, in early spring again, Qian Yuan seemed to have gone through a long hibernation. He rubbed his eyes and went into the courtyard, wanting to bask in the sun, but he overheard the palace servants discussing:

"There has been a mutiny in the Western Regions... Taking advantage of the death of the old king and the chaos in the royal court, the second prince rose up and seized the throne. Now he is even going to declare war on the Great Yu."

"The Second Prince? Is he the alien we met before? Good heavens, after humiliating him like that, he must have a deep-seated hatred for the Great Yu..."

"Why are you thinking so much?! Too much talk leads to mistakes! Anyway, with His Majesty around, the Western Regions won't be able to cause any trouble."

"But I'm afraid that guy will come after us later... I wouldn't even give that kid cold rice back then."

Qianyuan's heart tightened upon hearing this.

After Zejin left, his father told him that Zejin had gone home. However, the situation was too chaotic at the time, and Qianyuan was too busy to take care of himself, so he did not ask any further questions. But later, Qianyuan wrote several letters and entrusted them to someone to deliver to Zejin, but they all disappeared without a trace.

He thought Zejin was busy after returning home and that's why he hadn't replied to his letter, but he didn't expect that Zejin might hate him.

Perhaps all those interactions before were just a facade, a way of compromising and making concessions.

Perhaps he had already hurt Zekin without Zekin's knowledge.

How could someone so ambitious and proud be willing to be trampled into the ground and treated as dust?

Qianyuan felt somewhat ashamed and lonely.

It turns out they weren't on the same path.

Qianyuan really wanted to apologize to Zejin, but perhaps they would never be able to meet again in this lifetime.

A gust of cold wind blew in Qianyuan, and he couldn't help but cough. The shadow guards who were waiting there quickly appeared and told him to go back inside.

"I want to be outside."

Qianyuan smiled and said, "I haven't been out for a long time to breathe fresh air."

The shadow guard softened when he saw the way the man was looking at him so expectantly, but his actions remained firm.

Until the Shadow Guard grabbed Qianyuan's wrist.

He was startled.

Too thin.

How did you suddenly lose so much weight?

Because Qian Yuan was always sleeping, and when she occasionally got out of bed, she was always wrapped in a thick fox fur coat, and Emperor Chong Le wrapped her up in layers upon layers of clothing, so when he touched the little prince's wrist, he was shocked to realize that the little prince's illness and suffering were more than that of children from ordinary families.

Isn't it said that those destined for greatness are people of immense wealth and honor? Why is Heaven so unkind to their little prince?

"Brother Shadow Guard..."

Before Qian Yuan could finish speaking, the shadow guard suddenly picked him up and carried him into the palace with a light touch, as if he were a fragile item. He carefully and gently placed him back on the bed.

"Your Highness, please cover yourself with the blanket and wait. I will go and call the imperial physician."

Qianyuan hesitated, wanting to speak but holding back.

He opens his eyes to find the imperial physician, the imperial physician; they're so familiar with each other that there's really no need for them to meet!