Translated by Eve

　　Edited by Wuxian

　　After expending a great deal of effort into placing the Emperor's sh.e.l.l onto the bed and arranging it into a sleeping posture, Sui Yuan sat beside the bed, resting his chin on both his hands, expression sullen.

　　5237 floated to his side and looked at him with a sympathizing and pitying gaze, "I have just received 0007's message. Zhao Xihe was shut into a little black room by Boss. It is uncertain when he will be let out. As for 0007, as an accomplice, it was also shoved there, la!"

　　——Of course, it would be better if it didn't sound so happy over their misfortunes.

　　With regards to his lover's bitter experience, Sui Yuan had long since antic.i.p.ated this and was not all that surprised. From his Creator's words, Zhao Xihe shouldn't be in any danger. He only wished to teach him a lesson. However, he was shut inside a little black room by the Origin…then…what about the plot?! The Emperor cannot be like this, unable to wake from slumber, ah!

　　Sui Yuan had no choice but to believe that this was in fact the punishment given to him by his Creator for incessantly ruining the plots. Zhao Xihe, that main offender, has already been shut into a little black room. So, Sui Yuan, the accomplice, was being charged with tidying up the terrible mess he left behind.

　　However, this was originally a task for two people. How can one person complete it? He didn't have his Creator's ability to split himself, ah!

　　"Don't worry, silly host! Look at me!" 5237 flew in front of Sui Yuan's face, swaying proudly. Afterwards, it opened up the page to the system exchange page.

　　Since Sui Yuan and Zhao Xihe had gotten together, all sorts of props had been exchanged by Zhao Xihe, that local tyrant, and given to Sui Yuan to use. This time, 5237, who was finally given a chance to be of use, was simply itching to get on with it. "Look here! There are emergency props here. For example, this one here can temporarily manipulate a body for a day, two days, three days, a week, a month—there are items of all grades to suit whatever you need!"

　　"…So expensive…" This was Sui Yuan's thought at the moment. To exchange for a manipulation prop that lasts a week would practically use up all of his acc.u.mulated points.

　　"…Can't do anything about it. This prop is too defiant of natural order and cannot be used lightly," 5237 also felt really helpless. Its host was a little pauper. It understood….

　　Sui Yuan browsed through the exchange page, unresigned, for half a day. In the end, he had no choice but to choose the manipulation prop 5237 had recommended at the very beginning. After that, he used the rest of his points to exchange for a bottle of medicine that could be used to inflict an incurable illness onto someone.

　　In any case, the plot has already developed to this point. The Emperor would soon fall sick and be shut in his room, stuck on his sick bed because of his lingering illness before departing from this world. Although the pacing was a bit quicker, it shouldn't have too big an impact…ba?

　　Thus, after Sui Yuan secretly schemed and arranged things, the sky covering the entire empire abruptly changed.

　　The original Emperor that was br.i.m.m.i.n.g with vitality fainted before the cabinet ministers and did not wake up. After an intense discussion, the Imperial doctors had no choice but to conclude: the Emperor received many injuries in his military campaign last year that resulted in an incompletely cured illness—a hidden danger. Afterwards, he exerted himself to make their country strong and didn't take good care of himself which caused the little ailments to incessantly acc.u.mulate. In the end, it gradually worsen. Even if Hua Tuo walked this world again, he would not be able to turn this hopeless situation around.

　　——Of course, this was the simplified version. Even if the Imperial doctors were comparatively more courageous, they still dared not say that the Emperor was already beyond salvation and they needed to quickly make funeral arrangements.

　　Only, the Officials and the members of the Imperial household were all intelligent. They immediately understood what this tactful message was signifying.

　　In the previous period of time, the Emperor's especially tough and unrelenting method had long since made the oppressed harem feel greatly resentful. Once they heard that the Emperor would soon die, the first reaction of each lady was of great happiness. They immediately began to scheme.

　　Of course, what needed to be feigned still needed to be feigned. After the Empress asked the Imperial doctors to diagnose the Emperor, she wanted to behead this gang of 'crooks' in a fit of anger. Fortunately, the Emperor had 'awoken' in time. Only then were the small lives of these Imperial doctors spared. As for the grieving Imperial concubines that had stubbornly come to attend upon the Emperor in his sickness, they were also chased away by the Emperor in rage. The only one who was permitted to stay by his side was Xu Tu.

　　Even when unconscious, the Emperor still tightly held onto Xu Tu, as if he were his very last attachment to this world, the person one could not leave nor abandon.

　　"Emperor Father, he…is he really not well?" The Second Prince took advantage of a moment where no one was paying attention to gather close to Sui Yuan and whisper to his ear.

　　Sui Yuan raised his head and forced a smile. He then nodded. Anyone could see how sorrow penetrated right into his bones.

　　"You…just accept it. After all, Emperor Father is much older than you are. He would always pa.s.s before you," The Second Prince kneaded Sui Yuan's shoulders, voice low, tone comforting.

　　It wasn't that Situ Gui did not feel sad. After all, the one lying on the bed was his blood father. He was the Emperor Father that always sat like a towering and imposing mountain, making people only able to look up towards him. For him to topple over like this without any warning, it was indeed difficult for Situ Gui to accept.

　　However, after this feeling of sorrow pa.s.sed, there was an uncontrollable feeling of inspiration and eagerness. Emperor Father's fall meant that it was the end of the old era and the start of the new. Furthermore, it was now time for the fight to determine just who out of these princes would lead the way to this new era.

　　"I know," Sui Yuan lowered his eyes, "I just never expected…that this day would come so soon."

　　This was absolutely Sui Yuan's true thoughts. Originally, he and Zhao Xihe had been planning on where to 'retire' after Zhao Xihe faked illness and abdicated from the throne on the grounds that his energy was not good. He never expected that his Creator would suddenly stick a foot in and turn this feigned illness into a 'true illness'. Just like that, their vacation plans were ended prematurely, with Zhao Xihe shut in a little black room, with an unknown release date. Thus, obviously, Sui Yuan's sorrowful expression was naturally much more sincere.

　　The Second Prince accompanied Sui Yuan in a long moment of silence. Ultimately, he could no longer bear it and thus, asked him the question that had been constantly on his mind, "When Emperor Father woke up, did he mention who he wanted as his heir to the throne?"

　　The members of the Imperial family were pragmatic. At this time, the most important thing wasn't the state of the Emperor but who the successor would be.

　　Sui Yuan did not want to deceive Situ Gui. But likewise, even if he and Situ Gui had good feelings between them in this world, he could not change who the position of Emperor belonged to in the plot and help Situ Gui avoid his cannon fodder end. This was the integrity of an Actor.