Reincarnated as the daughter of my mortal enemy, all I want is to ascend the throne.

Li Yan's eyes widened in fury, and she gritted her teeth as she asked, "What did you say?"

Despite being just a royal physician, Zhao Zheng was fearless and bluntly stated, "His Highness is not going to make it."

The little brat who was cursing and swearing just now because he got a spanking is suddenly in a bad mood.

Li Yan had no idea. He hugged Li Qingyan, calling her name, and even threatened to demolish her newly built precious study.

But Li Qingyan didn't react at all.

"His Highness was so frightened that he damaged his heart meridian and now he is barely clinging to life."

This child was delivered by Zhao Zheng and raised by Zhao Zheng. He didn't want to believe that a child who had overcome so many hardships could be scared to death.

The usually calm and collected emperor trembled this time as he stroked Li Qingyan's face; her round, chubby cheeks were now somewhat cool.

There aren't many people in this world who care about him, but this little guy went up against the Empress Dowager to protect him, even though he was terrified of dying.

She scared herself half to death. How could such a smart little kid be so foolish today, acting out of a moment of anger?

"Zhao Zheng will save her at any cost, do you hear me?"

The majestic emperor lost control, his voice hoarse and trembling.

"We need to find someone with profound internal strength to protect the young prince's heart meridian while he takes a medicinal bath, but this can only delay the inevitable... Only Master Qingshan has a life-saving elixir."

Zhao Zheng kowtowed heavily, for the only thing in the world that could save Li Qingyan was the medicine in the hands of Daoist Qingshan.

"Someone go and summon Yan Xu."

Among those with profound internal strength, he could only think of Yan Xu. And only Yan Xu would genuinely expend his internal energy for Li Qingyan.

Master Qingshan's whereabouts are unpredictable, and only one person knows his location.

The air in the Wenmian Palace was filled with the scent of incense and candles. The retired emperor had always been a believer in Taoism, and his devotion only intensified after he became retired emperor.

Neither father nor son wanted to see each other. But they had to meet today anyway.

"The Empress Dowager did something wrong and you banished her to the imperial mausoleum. I didn't want to get involved, so what are you doing here?"

Did the retired emperor not love his wife? It's rare for a couple to be childhood sweethearts. He and the Empress Dowager have been together since their youth, and they have even gone through war and supported each other.

Unfortunately, in recent years the Empress Dowager has become increasingly insane, doing too many wrong things for her own selfish desires and causing the deaths of many people. The Emperor Emeritus could not bear to expose her or see her like this, so three years ago he separated from the Empress Dowager in two palaces and never saw her again.

"I've come to ask where Master Qingshan is."

Li Yan rarely uses the word "I" anymore, and today's use is already a sign of weakness.

The retired emperor kept his eyes closed, pretending he hadn't heard anything.

Seeing his indifferent attitude, Li Yan knelt down with a thud. "I'm begging you! Qingyan's heart meridian has been damaged by the Empress Dowager's threats, and only Daoist Qingshan can save her. Are you just going to watch her die?"

Upon hearing the voice, the retired emperor finally opened his eyes. He was shocked that Li Yan would yield to him, and also shocked by the empress dowager's resolute actions. Yet, he still shook his head, "Everyone has their own destiny."

Those four words made Li Yan suddenly laugh out loud, "Everyone has their own destiny, what a wonderful saying. Do these few words excuse the humanity in your heart?"

When soft tactics failed, Li Yan resorted to hard ones. He remained kneeling, but straightened his back. "The Emperor Emeritus is a recluse who does not participate in worldly affairs. If my son dies, then there is no need for the Great Yu to exist."

The retired emperor suddenly stood up. He couldn't believe what he was hearing. An emperor was willing to destroy his country for the sake of a child.

"Are you crazy?"

The retired emperor looked at his son kneeling on the ground. He and this second son used to have a deep father-son relationship. When did they become irreconcilable enemies?

Li Yan's eyes held an icy chill, a chill devoid of any feeling for the world. "Mad? Does the Emperor Emeritus truly believe I love this empire?"

This sentence reminded the retired emperor of Li Yan when he was fifteen years old, before the establishment of the Great Yu Dynasty, when he and his father were fighting and killing on the frontier.

On a summer night, he sat with Li Yan on a high mountain and asked her what she wanted to do in the future.

Li Yan said that when the world is at peace, he will travel around to see the mountains and rivers, and travel all over the beautiful land for his father and brothers, writing a record of the mountains and rivers and drawing the most complete map.

Thirteen years later, the retired emperor suddenly understood something. He looked at Li Yan kneeling on the ground. This son never cared about the country, so why did he seize the throne back then? Why did he sit in this position?

He had too many questions, but when he opened his mouth, he felt a lump in his throat and couldn't say anything.

"Has the Emperor Emeritus thought this through? Do you really want to ruin the empire because of a personal grudge against me?"

"If my child dies, the Great Yu Dynasty will be destroyed at any moment."

It is not easy for an emperor to maintain his empire, but it is easy to destroy it.

The retired emperor, his hands trembling, turned the lotus candlestick on the table, revealing a hidden compartment. Hidden inside was not some treasure, but a firework. He threw it into Li Yan's arms, "Light it. Master Qingshan will appear in less than half an hour."

Li Yan took the item, quickly turned around, and looking at his back, the retired emperor wanted to ask: Why did you kill your brother and seize the throne back then?

Unfortunately... I didn't get the answer.

As soon as Li Yan arrived outside the Hall of Diligent Governance, he lit fireworks. With a "bang," sky-blue lotus flowers exploded in the air, illuminating half of the palace.

"How is it?" At this moment, Li Yan's hair and clothes were somewhat disheveled, and he no longer had his usual imperial majesty.

"General Yan and Imperial Physician Zhao are watching over the young prince."

Laifu hurriedly followed behind him, throwing all manners and rules aside.

The bathroom reeked of medicine, a bitter smell tinged with the scent of death, which made Li Yan uneasy.

Yan Xu held Li Qingyan as they sank into the water.

The petty man who used to argue with Li Yan had turned deathly pale, and now he was a lifeless little lump.

He didn't even dare to touch her, afraid that he would feel the coldness on Li Qingyan's body.

"Flying fork! Flying fork!" Li Qingyan shouted in a daze, "Am I going to die?"

[Host...you...can't...die...]

The flying fork reacted, but it was very laggy, and the voice sounded off.

Where have you been all this time?

Don't worry... Flying Fork... didn't... abandon you... we'll... meet soon...

The system space went black instantly. Li Qingyan didn't dare to wander around and could only sit on the ground and wait. But why was it getting colder and colder around her?

"Your Highness, Your Highness!" Yan Xu shouted several times, "Imperial Physician Zhao, Your Highness's pulse is gone!"

Despite his old age, Doctor Zhao was unusually agile today, leaping forward and grabbing Li Qingyan's arm.

He felt around while inserting the needles, moving them very quickly. He even brought soup to give to Li Qingyan, but it all spilled and none of it went in.

Li Yan's head was buzzing. He subconsciously took Li Qingyan's arm, grabbed her chin, and forced the medicine down her throat. Some of it did get in.

Can……

Zhao Zheng shook his head; there was no pulse at all. "The little princess has stopped breathing."

Li Yan, holding Li Qingyan, used a handkerchief to wipe her wet nightgown. He then wrapped her in his cloak, holding her gently in his arms, patting her softly. "What do you mean by 'no breath'?"

His voice was eerily calm, devoid of anger, accusation, or sorrow; it was merely a statement.

"Zhao Zheng, you are the best doctor."

His bloodshot eyes were fixed on Zhao Zheng, urging him to continue the treatment.

"Your Majesty..." Yan Xu pressed down on Li Yan's shoulder. That child was also his daughter, gone. She was only three years old when she was gone.

Nobody can accept that.

The little baby who was so lively and energetic during the day has just disappeared so absurdly.

Li Yan locked himself inside the palace, forbidding anyone to enter. He assumed Li Qingyan was asleep and said to her, "Little brat, sleep well tonight. If you don't wake up tomorrow, you won't be lonely."

"During the first and second nine-day periods, keep doors and mouths closed. During the third and fourth nine-day periods, the ice will freeze and crack the cracks..."

These are words used to lull a child to sleep. He heard them when his mother was comforting his sick older brother, and he has remembered them since he was four years old.

Li Qingyan always liked to listen to him read those ancient books before going to sleep; he had never had the chance to sing nursery rhymes.