Did The Young Prince’s Kingdom Get Destroyed Today? Chapter 126

After accompanying the little one in the bath for some time, Emperor Ling finally felt too uncomfortable and got out a bit early. He put on his clothes and stood by the side, holding onto the little one, ensuring he finished the entire bath.

After half a day of using the medicinal bath and other treatments, the little one’s complexion noticeably improved, his once pale face gaining a hint of color.

Seeing this change, Emperor Ling smiled with relief. “This Shui Shui does seem to have some skill.”

The constant detoxification showed its effects gradually to the onlookers, with the little one’s complexion slowly improving. But for the little one himself, the change was far more intense.

Though his eyes remained closed and his small body showed no external reaction, inside, he felt warmth spreading throughout his body. His head occasionally throbbed with pain as well.

Amidst this internal discomfort, the little one let out a soft whimper.

Hearing the little one’s whimper of distress, Emperor Ling and Noble Consort Yi’s eyes were filled with joy. “Quick! Call Shui Shui over, Little Seven is responding!”

It had taken so long for the little one to show any response that Emperor Ling and Noble Consort Yi were both extremely excited.

They called for Shui Shui, but Shui Shui had been delayed.

Shui Shui lived in the courtyard closest to the Third Prince.

The Third Prince had a weak constitution, a condition caused by complications during pregnancy. Even the best imperial physician could only slowly nurture his health back to strength.

That’s why Shui Shui lived nearby, to help care for the Third Prince in secret, unbeknownst to the Empress.

The Empress didn’t trust or like Shui Shui.

The palace maid who had stopped Shui Shui wasn’t clearly from the Empress’s palace, but she gave off a similar aura, which made Shui Shui instinctively dislike her.

“Little Miracle Doctor, my sister has fallen seriously ill. The imperial physicians refuse to treat her, and the physicians in the palace won’t help either.”

“I live in a palace very close to yours, and I’ve known about you for a while. Could you please help save my sister this time?”

“Please, Little Miracle Doctor, I beg you.”

The palace maid’s plea echoed a phrase often used by the little one, “please, help me.” 

Every time Shui Shui heard the little one say something like that, his heart would soften, finding Little Seven adorable.

But even as this maid knelt and begged, Shui Shui’s expression remained impassive.

“Little Miracle Doctor, isn’t there a saying that saving a life is better than building a seven-story pagoda? My sister’s life is in your hands.”

“Please, save my sister.”

The palace maid continued to beg, blocking Shui Shui’s path.

After a moment of hesitation, Shui Shui frowned and said, “Alright.”

The maid’s eyes lit up with joy. “You are truly kind. I thank you on behalf of my sister.”

She stood up, preparing to lead Shui Shui to her sister.

But Shui Shui didn’t follow.

The maid stopped, confused. “Little Miracle Doctor, why aren’t you coming?”

Shui Shui replied slowly, “I never said I’d go with you.”

The maid was stunned.

Under her bewildered gaze, Shui Shui pulled out a piece of paper from his pocket.

“Take this to the imperial physicians; they will help save your sister. No charge.”

By now, the physicians at the Imperial Hospital were all quite familiar with Shui Shui.

At first, the physicians didn’t think much of Shui Shui, even looking down on him. But after several instances where he proved them wrong, their attitude had changed.

Now, whenever Shui Shui went to the Imperial Hospital, the physicians greeted him warmly.

The maid stared at the paper in her hand, stunned. She glanced between the note and Shui Shui. “No, that’s not it.”

She stammered a bit before continuing, “Little Miracle Doctor, please, you must come with me to save my sister. I can’t rely on the imperial physicians.”

“My sister is critically ill, and I doubt the imperial physicians can help. Only you, Little Miracle Doctor, can save her.”

Shui Shui had already given her the note, and seeing that she still wouldn’t leave, he frowned even more deeply.

He wasn’t fond of talking to strangers, and offering this note had already been a rare gesture of kindness.

But the maid was still unsatisfied and wouldn’t let him go.

This made Shui Shui unhappy.

His small, delicate face remained expressionless as he stared at the maid. A moment later, he turned and angrily shouted, “Ling Yi!”

He called out twice, and Ling Yi quickly appeared.

Seeing Ling Yi, the maid’s expression changed slightly.

“Alright, Shui Shui, you should hurry on,” Ling Yi said, knowing what was at stake and not wanting to waste Shui Shui’s time. “I’ll handle things here.”

Shui Shui nodded and walked away.

Once Shui Shui was gone, Ling Yi squinted at the maid. “Which palace are you from? Blocking Shui Shui at such a critical time—are you harboring ill intentions?”

Everyone in the palace now knew that Shui Shui was treating Little Seven.

At a time like this, anyone disturbing Shui Shui raised suspicion in Ling Yi’s mind.

“Reporting to the Third Prince, this servant is a lowly maid responsible for cleaning in Beauty Fan’s palace.”

Beauty Fan—the name was somewhat unfamiliar to Ling Yi.

After thinking for a moment, he vaguely recalled that this Beauty had once been favored, but it lasted only a few days before she was forgotten.

His father had always been like this. Women flowed through the palace like water, but only one, Noble Consort Yi, had been favored for many years.

“What was your reason for blocking Shui Shui just now? Tell me.”

The maid repeated her earlier story.

When she finished, Ling Yi chuckled. “Since you’re in such a hurry to save your sister, I happen to have some time. Why don’t I go with you to check on her?”

The maid hesitated and bit her lip.

She turned around and led the way, soon bringing Ling Yi to her destination. Just before arriving, the maid suddenly began coughing several times, as if she had come down with a cough.

At her residence, sure enough, there was a maid who appeared ill.

Ling Yi looked at the sick maid, his expression unreadable.

He simply nodded and said, “Since she’s sick, she indeed needs treatment.”

“Go call for an imperial physician. The note Shui Shui gave you will be useful at the Imperial Hospital.”

With Ling Yi’s command, the maid took the note and headed to the Imperial Hospital.

Afterward, Ling Yi didn’t return to his own palace. Instead, he headed straight for the Eldest Prince’s residence.

Among all his siblings, Ling Yi relied most on his eldest brother.

As a child, he was frequently ill, sometimes so seriously that it seemed his life was hanging by a thread.

The Empress had strict control over him, so strict that it sometimes made him feel stifled. At times, he would think that death might be a more freeing option than living under such constraints.

It was his eldest brother who first noticed his gloom and stayed by his side to keep him company.

His elder brother was meticulous and thoughtful. In Ling Yi’s eyes, his eldest brother could do anything.

When Ling Yi arrived at the Eldest Prince’s residence, he walked quickly.

The servant who was supposed to announce his arrival didn’t even have time to do so before he was already inside.

As soon as he entered and saw his brother at his desk, Ling Yi skipped any greeting and got straight to the point. “Big Brother, quickly, I need you to investigate someone—a palace maid.”

Ling Chen had been feeling uneasy for most of the day.

Little Seven’s coma was now known throughout the palace.

He was worried but couldn’t go to visit.

With the Emperor and Noble Consort Yi by Little Seven’s side and the Imperial Hospital in a frenzy, his presence would only be a disturbance.

Though Ling Chen had restrained himself from going, his worry hadn’t eased.

He had been trying to calm his mind by writing, but before he could even start, his younger brother had come in.

“What’s the issue with this palace maid? Why investigate her?”

“She’s suspicious.”

Ling Yi briefly recounted what had happened earlier and his concerns. “She was trying to take Shui Shui away at such a crucial moment. Something feels off, Big Brother. And while you’re at it, also look into Beauty Fan.”

“Alright, I understand.”

Hearing the story, Ling Chen’s expression became serious.

He had many more resources than Ling Yi. As the eldest and legitimate son, and now older and more established, he had more influence.

Investigating a person would be a simple matter for him.

“Did you tell anyone else about this palace maid?”

“I didn’t have time.”

Sensing something was wrong, Ling Yi had come straight to his brother.

After all, to Ling Yi, whenever something happened, going to his eldest brother was always the right move.

“Little Yi, go rest. Don’t worry about this matter, I’ll handle it.”

“As for Little Seven, with Shui Shui by his side, he’ll be alright. You’re not in good health, so don’t let yourself be too anxious.”

Ling Yi’s heart warmed at his brother’s concern.

“Don’t worry, Big Brother. My health has improved a lot.”

This wasn’t the time for chit-chat, so after briefing his brother, Ling Yi didn’t stay long.

Once Ling Yi left, Ling Chen immediately sent people to investigate.

His handsome face grew serious, and any trace of calm and gentleness faded away.

He knew the palace was never truly peaceful.

The unavoidable rivalry between him and the Fourth Prince weighed heavily on him, making him feel both conflicted and helpless.

He and the Fourth Prince represented two different families, two opposing forces.

There was no way for peace between them.

Ling Chen had accepted the situation with his brother, but Little Seven—Little Seven shouldn’t be caught up in any of this, shouldn’t be dragged into the dark schemes of the inner palace.

To him, Little Seven was the purest presence in the palace.

His hand slowly clenched into a fist as his voice turned cold and stern: “Who…”

Who was behind all of this?

Ling Chen’s men hadn’t yet returned with any news, and he couldn’t calm himself, so he picked up a painting to look at.

The painting he grabbed happened to be one of the little one’s self-portraits.

It was a picture Little Seven had sent back while studying at Guan Shan Residence. The little one knew that the people in the palace missed him, so he often sent things back.

This painting had been one of those things.

In the painting, Little Seven looked lively and full of spirit, with an expression as radiant as the morning sun, exuding vitality.

As the Eldest Prince looked at the painting, the real Little Seven, still unconscious, whimpered softly but remained unresponsive.

He had briefly opened his eyes, muttering about his discomfort, asking for his father and mother’s embrace.

The Emperor and Noble Consort Yi were already holding him, yet Little Seven was still in a daze, asking to be held.

The way Little Seven, even while resting in the Emperor’s arms, still asked to be embraced wasn’t seen as demanding or hard to please by the Emperor; instead, it made his heart ache.

His poor little one, how much pain must he be in to be this disoriented?

The Emperor’s heart ached, and so did Noble Consort Yi’s.

Both adults were so distressed that they were nearly beside themselves.

Shui Shui, watching the little one fuss, was also heartbroken, though his face remained expressionless. Even when he felt sympathy, it was hard for others to notice.

“This fussiness from His Highness is a good sign,” Shui Shui said. “He’s detoxifying right now, and it’s uncomfortable, so he’s agitated. Once the toxins are fully expelled, he’ll calm down.”

Hearing this was a sign of improvement, the Emperor finally breathed a small sigh of relief.

He then asked Shui Shui, “You’ve done so much to detoxify Little Seven this time. Have you thought of any reward you’d like?”

Shui Shui shook his head. “I haven’t.”

Shui Shui had very few personal desires. He already had plenty of medical texts to study, and enough herbs to research, plus living in the palace meant he had no worries about food or shelter. There was really nothing he wanted.

The Emperor found it strange that Shui Shui didn’t even want anything. “You’re just a child. How could you not want anything?”

If it were his Little Seven, as soon as he heard the mention of a reward, he’d probably rush over with pen and paper, shouting, “I want this! I want that!”

His Little Seven would write out page after page of all the little things he wanted.

“Your Majesty, I really don’t want anything,” Shui Shui reiterated, maintaining his humble stance.

The Emperor’s respect for Shui Shui deepened due to this lack of desire for reward.

After speaking, Shui Shui returned to adjusting the medicinal bath. Once finished, he informed the Emperor of how long Little Seven would need to soak.

The Emperor glanced at the medicinal bath and casually remarked, “Shui Shui, isn’t this herbal mixture a bit stimulating? When I soaked in it, I broke into a sweat.”

The Emperor added, “I’m not questioning its effectiveness—Little Seven seems to be benefiting from it. I’m just not sure if I’m suited to it.”

Though the Emperor spoke lightly, Shui Shui’s expression grew more serious.

“Your Majesty, you sweat during the bath?”

“Mm.”

“Besides sweating, did you experience any other symptoms?”

“My chest felt tight, and it was hard to breathe at times, but that’s all.”

Shui Shui: “…”

It sounds like you’re almost dying.

Shui Shui’s face tensed, and he quickly changed his mind about his earlier statement. “May I request a reward after all?”

The Emperor paused. “Of course. What do you want?”

“I want Your Majesty not to get angry with me,” Shui Shui said with a tone as serious as his expression.

The Emperor was a little taken aback by this unusual request.

However, he nodded and agreed. “Alright, I won’t get angry with you.”

“Your Majesty, I’d like to take your pulse.”

“Go ahead.”

Once skeptical of Shui Shui, the Emperor now allowed him to take his pulse.

As Shui Shui took the Emperor’s pulse, rumors that had recently been suppressed by Murong Xue’s military achievements began to spread again in the capital.

This time, the gossip claimed that the Seventh Prince was not human but a transformed demon beast. Some even said they had seen him change into a terrifying creature in the palace.

The rumors, fantastical as they were, included details of the beast being man-eating, adding an eerie twist to the tale.

Such supernatural stories, reminiscent of small-time novels, spread quickly. Whether people believed them or not, they couldn’t help but discuss them during their meals.

The rumors eventually reached the Emperor’s ears.

He had just finished having his pulse taken by Shui Shui when he heard the report, causing him to twitch a little.

“Little Seven… a demon beast… eating people…”

The Emperor picked out the key points from the rumors, then glanced down at his little one, who was still fussing and asking for hugs.

Little Seven’s cheeks were still streaked with tears, and in his half-conscious state, everything he said or did was in a daze.

The Emperor looked at his little one asking for hugs, then thought of the demon beast described in the rumors.

His smile turned cold. “Little Seven eating people… That’s certainly terrifying to me.”

As he spoke, he teasingly held his hand out to Little Seven’s mouth. “Come on, Little Seven, take a bite.”

Little Seven: “…”

The little one whimpered and avoided his father’s hand, refusing to bite. All he wanted was to be carried around.

The Emperor, unable to resist his little one’s persistence, stood up and began pacing with him in his arms.

Shui Shui watched this scene quietly, preparing for his next move.

While the palace was abuzz with chaos, outside the palace, at a temple.

A ferocious beast, now much larger than before, pressed its sharp claws against the throat of a monk.

Its low growls and the fierce glint in its eyes terrified the monk, whose face was pale with fear.

Can’t wait until next week to see more? Want to show your support? Come to my Patreon where you can get up to 5 more chapters of Did The Young Prince’s Kingdom Get Destroyed Today? right away ! Or go donate at Paypal or Ko-fi to show your appreciation! :)