Chapter 53: Saving the Aloof Crown Prince 04

0731 did not ask Jin Chen whether the souls would merge.

It instinctively felt that the Host had vast divine abilities and could do anything.

Of course, Jin Chen could indeed do so.

Even though he really wanted to see his true lover soon, he wanted even more for him to live well.

「Bao Bao……」

Jin Chen let out a soft sigh.

He reached out and covered Xiao Su's black hair, gently rubbing it, his eyes overflowing with endless tenderness.

「Be good, let go first. 」

Jin Chen released the hand clutching his own clothes and straightened his body.

Suddenly feeling the warm chest suddenly leave, Xiao Su let out a soft groan, furrowed his brows tightly, and curled himself into a ball.

He placed his palm on Xiao Su's chest, slowly transmitting a gentler spiritual power, within the limits Xiao Su's body could bear, stabilizing his lover's soul.

It seemed he had once again sensed the familiar aura and power.

Xiao Su's complexion gradually eased, his brow relaxed, and he lay relaxed.

Li You, having seen everything, exclaimed:?!!

What did I even see!

Could it be that the master and this dark guard…?

He pondered a moment, then hurriedly left the inner chamber, not allowing the palace maids to enter.

Loyal guards will keep secrets!

The poison in Xiao Su's body is congenital.

The current step Empress, who is also the mother of the Eldest Prince, bears a grudge against the Empress who stole her position, and feels that her unborn child has taken what should have been the Eldest Prince's place as Crown Prince.

When the Empress was near childbirth, she poisoned the medicinal soup.

To avoid detection, this poison does not affect the mother but is entirely absorbed by the fetus, so the newborn appears to have a congenital deficiency.

In reality, as age increases, the toxin grows stronger.

Even without the imprisonment from the original plot, Xiao Su would not live past the age of thirty.

【0731, can we exchange for an antidote?】

【Exchanging for a complete cure antidote requires a Heartbeat Value of 60; now we can only exchange for 100 points' worth of Heart-Protecting Pill, which suppresses the toxin from spreading further.】

【Yes, let's exchange.】

【Ding! The Host has exchanged for a Heart-Protecting Pill, points -100, remaining 1600.】

【Side quest: Please help Xiao Su detoxify.】

Just as Jin Chen obtained the porcelain bottle containing the Heart-Protecting Pill, he heard coughing and footsteps from outside.

He slipped the bottle into his sleeve, rose as if nothing had happened, and hid within the hall.

Li You brought Imperial Physician Zhong inside; seeing that there was no more shocking interaction, he breathed a sigh of relief.

「Imperial Physician Zhong, please quickly examine Your Highness. 」

Imperial Physician Zhong sat on the soft stool beside the bed and felt Xiao Su's pulse.

He also examined his complexion.

「This…」

He sighed, stroked his graying beard, and then shook his head.

「Your Highness is naturally frail; today catching a chill from the wind and being frightened caused the faint. 」

Imperial Physician Zhong looked at Li You and said, "Old man, do we still have any of the medicine I prescribed last time?"

「Yes, yes, Your Highness doesn't like taking medicine, so there's plenty left. 」

「This won't do，" Imperial Physician Zhong frowned, "don't let Your Highness be willful; not taking medicine will harm his foundation—when will he ever recover?"

「Quickly go decoct another dose; once Your Highness awakens, let him drink it. 」

Li You quickly nodded.

「I will also prescribe some calming medicine for Your Highness and decoct it together. 」

After giving his instructions, Imperial Physician Zhong rose and handed Li You a prescription.

The East Palace has its own small pharmacy; Li You quickly took it and ordered the little eunuch to fetch the medicine.

Only then did they respectfully see off Imperial Physician Zhong.

Jin Chen jumped down from the beam.

He coldly watched Imperial Physician Zhong's retreating back.

In the original plot, the step Empress's poison came from this Imperial Physician Zhong's hand.

The medicine Xiao Su has been taking appears to be purely tonic herbs, but after decoction it reacts with the toxin in his body, causing it to volatilize more quickly.

Xiao Su refuses to take the medicine, fearing that he has been reborn and knows Imperial Physician Zhong's scheme.

He will look for an opportunity to kill Imperial Physician Zhong.

But not now.

If he were to die in the East Palace, the entire Imperial Palace would know who ordered it.

Li You was startled by him, scratched his head oddly, and took the initiative to greet him.

「Who… is it Ying Jiu, right? 」

Jin Chen shifted his gaze to his face and nodded.

「I won't ask about your relationship with Your Highness, but since you have become Your Highness's dark guard, you must cut ties with others, no matter who they are or how high their status. 」

Li You understood the implication, clearly fearing that Jin Chen was a spy planted by Emperor Yong Shun in the East Palace.

Hmm.

Jin Chen cherishes his words like gold.

Li You couldn't stand the embarrassment and proactively left the inner chamber.

Your Highness has homosexual inclinations; he has no objection, after all, given Your Highness's physical condition, it's probably difficult for women to bear his children.

But Ying Jiu is so gloomy; how could Your Highness like someone like that?

Jin Chen stood by the bedside, silently gazing at Xiao Su, his eyes full of tenderness.

Perhaps it was Jin Chen's Spiritual Power stabilizing his soul, allowing his body to gradually adapt, or perhaps his gaze was simply too fervent.

Xiao Su's eyelashes trembled as he slowly opened his phoenix eyes.

His gaze was confused for a moment, then regained clarity.

He met Jin Chen's gaze.

In an instant, his face flushed with faint anger.

Jin Chen, ever compliant, knelt again.

Xiao Su had not lost his memory.

When he lost consciousness, his reliance on Jin Chen was crystal clear in his memory.

But precisely because of that, Xiao Su felt even more ill at ease.

Your Highness! You're awake!

Li You walked in happily, holding a tray with two delicate porcelain bowls filled with dark herbal decoction.

A flash of resistance crossed Xiao Su's phoenix eyes.

Physician Zhong said, 'You can't keep refusing the medicine, or your condition will worsen.'

Li You lifted a bowl and handed it to Xiao Su, saying, 'Besides, I've also prepared another prescription to calm the mind.'

Your Highness, please drink it quickly.

Xiao Su frowned slightly, took the porcelain bowl, and glanced at Jin Chen.

With others present, he didn't feel comfortable directly explaining Physician Zhong's matter to Li You.

Jin Chen noticed his gaze, raised an eyebrow, and first spoke in a cold tone.

Physician Zhong belongs to the Empress.

What?!

Li You stared at him in shock.

Xiao Su felt doubtful and wary.

Jin Chen continued his explanation.

Reporting to my lord, while on covert duty, I once overheard a private conversation between Physician Zhong and the Empress; though I didn't know the people involved, the voice matched Physician Zhong's exactly.

The prescription he gave also matches the content of their discussion.

Xiao Su's eyes held an inscrutable meaning.

How coincidental that you know this.

Heaven Moon Pavilion often has assignments to thwart assassins, requiring round-the-clock covert duty, so one hears many things.

Jin Chen looked at Xiao Su, his gaze resolute.

I, your subordinate, am now loyal only to my lord; naturally, I will hide nothing.

Xiao Su lazily set down the bowl, letting Li You continue his shock.

Then why did you come to the Lone Palace without even a hint of the Father Emperor's order?

Jin Chen's gaze did not waver, fixed firmly on Xiao Su.

Your Majesty's will is not my own intention.

His tone was sincere, his eyes holding warmth.

Now, no one can surpass the lord's place in my subordinate's heart.