Stance

Xiao Qianyu did not hate the Emperor. He felt neither joy nor anger toward him.

There was no right or wrong between them, only a life-and-death struggle of opposing positions.

System 007 had failed to act like a decent thing and thrown him into this world without authorization, even making him the supporting character, the "False Crown Prince," who was about to be beheaded.

Xiao Qianyu wanted to live. He was destined to become the protagonist's enemy, and the Emperor, who stood on the protagonist's side, was therefore his enemy.

He did not want to die beneath the Executioner's Blade as a Traitorous Official and Rebel. He did not want to live as a pathetic, useless coward with his life and death held in another's hands. He could only exhaust every means to save himself.

Protagonist and supporting character—he had had enough of being reduced to the protagonist's foil, living for the protagonist and dying for the protagonist. Who said a supporting character could not become the protagonist of his own life?

And how many protagonists were truly great, righteous, spotless, and worthy of that title? It was nothing more than the meddling of the plot god.

In a world without a system pulling the strings, forcing people through the plot and making them log off when the time came, whoever claimed the deer would depend on their own abilities. It would come down to whether the other side's protagonist halo was stronger, or whether his Golden Finger was more formidable.

The hall was silent as a grave. What kind of suffocating move was this? The Crown Prince was actually going to personally feed medicine to Emperor Yongchang, who had issued two consecutive imperial edicts demanding his life.

The imperial physician tremblingly placed the second bowl of brewed medicine into Xiao Qianyu's hands.

Xiao Qianyu scooped up a spoonful of bitter medicine, blew on it with his lips, then steadily brought it to Emperor Yongchang's mouth. "Father Emperor, take your medicine!"

Heavens, his voice was so gentle yet resolute, so tolerant and caring, like the most loving, indulgent parent coaxing a child. The onlookers could not help but shudder.

It was too bizarre.

As if Emperor Yongchang could possibly drink it.

The corners of his lips twitched into a strained curve as he turned his head aside. "I cannot drink it. I will take it later. Crown Prince, you should return to your palace and rest."

Xiao Qianyu looked at him quietly for a long while, then set down the spoon, his expression turning somewhat desolate. "Could it be that Father Emperor still does not believe your son is innocent, and therefore does not wish for your son to attend you? If so, your son will go kneel at the Ancestral Hall now and ask the ancestors to reveal themselves as witnesses."

"There is no need." Emperor Yongchang's heart and liver trembled.

The Ancestral Hall had been struck by lightning. They had barely managed to save the ancestral tablets. If Xiao Qianyu went there to kneel and air his grievances, even the tablets might not survive. By then, Emperor Yongchang might be forced to admit his own lack of filial piety and virtue and issue an Edict of Self-Blame.

"Of course I believe that my imperial son is my Crown Prince. Heaven as Witness—whoever dares question it is defying Heaven's will, and I shall punish them severely without exception." Emperor Yongchang's lips moved as he forced out the words with difficulty.

Xiao Qianyu's brows lifted, a trace of delight appearing on his face. He said emotionally, "Father Emperor, your son knew it. We father and son are bound by blood, our hearts in accord. You would never doubt me again." He moved the spoon back to Emperor Yongchang's lips. "Father Emperor, drink it quickly. Your illness cuts your son's heart like a knife; I wish I could suffer in your place. So long as Father Emperor's health remains unrestored for one day, your son cannot rest easy for one day. I am willing to remain at your side without removing my clothes, never leaving you by a single step, to attend you."

Heavens above, the person Emperor Yongchang least wanted to see now was Xiao Qianyu. If he had to face him every time he opened or closed his eyes, Emperor Yongchang suspected his lifespan would be cut short by three years.

Under Xiao Qianyu's encouraging gaze, Emperor Yongchang lowered his head slightly with trembling lips, opened his mouth, and drank the unspeakably bitter medicine.

At that moment, the bitter medicine in his mouth was more bitter than coptis. Having personally acknowledged Xiao Qianyu's identity as the true Crown Prince—was there anything more stifling than this?

Xiao Qianyu casually scooped up another spoonful and brought it to Emperor Yongchang's lips. Then, without warning, he said, "Since your son is completely innocent, then the palace servants, eunuchs, friends, and subordinates at your son's side should all be returned. Father Emperor should also retract the edict."

Emperor Yongchang had just swallowed the second mouthful when the words hit him. He immediately choked and burst into coughing, his face flushing red with discomfort.

"Father Emperor!"

"Imperial son!"

"Your Majesty!"

The Empress Dowager, the Empress, and the others who had been watching the Emperor cried out anxiously. Every one of them wished they could rush forward, shove Xiao Qianyu away, and see how the Emperor was doing.

Xiao Qianyu calmly handed the medicine bowl to the side without even looking to see who took it. He personally reached out to pat the Emperor's back, scolding him as he did so, "Father Emperor, honestly, you are not a child anymore. How could you choke just from taking a mouthful of medicine? Be more careful next time."

Emperor Yongchang was furious. Listen to that—were those even human words? If you had not suddenly said that, would I have choked from shock?

If someone else had attended him so carelessly while he drank medicine, the eunuchs at his side would have dragged them away for punishment before he even needed to speak. What use was a servant who could not even serve their master properly?

Even if they were not servants but the Empress or imperial consorts, they would have to kneel and beg forgiveness at once. How could they be like Xiao Qianyu, standing there as steady as a rock, not only refusing to apologize but even turning the blame back on him? Did he have any regard for him at all?

The answer was, of course, no.

Emperor Yongchang dearly wanted to fly into a rage, but when he met Xiao Qianyu's eyes, cold and utterly devoid of emotion, his chest tightened. His anger lasted only a moment before he turned aside to avoid Xiao Qianyu's hand.

"There is no need. I am unharmed."

Hearing Emperor Yongchang say he was unharmed, Xiao Qianyu truly stopped and sat down properly. He did not forget their earlier topic. "By the way, Father Emperor, when will you issue the edict? Why not now? Your son sees that Father Emperor is much more spirited after taking the medicine."

Emperor Yongchang's mouth twisted with fury. Did you think the imperial physician had prescribed some miraculous elixir? I had only taken two mouthfuls—two mouthfuls—and I was already better?