29: Chapter 29 The Tragic Little Prince's Nobleman 11

"Imperial Physician Wang, have you figured out how to treat the State Preceptor's illness?"

A low, majestic voice reached Lu Zhan's ears. It sounded like that Little Madman, Fifth Prince Qi Yuxuan.

"Your Majesty, based on your description and my observations and diagnosis just now, in my humble opinion, the State Preceptor's illness was likely caused by a sudden, extremely intense shock. Being unable to accept or face it at the time led to an emotional breakdown. As for the State Preceptor's subsequent loss of cognitive function, it appears more like a transitional defense mechanism formed by the brain's self-protection, an unconscious attempt to escape."

The voice was upright and gentle, sounding quite aged; he was likely an elderly imperial physician. From the perspective of Daoist Xuanchen alone, what the old physician said was not far off the mark.

After all, for this immersive performance, Lu Zhan had perfectly integrated his consciousness into the character of Daoist Xuanchen.

Lu Zhan knew clearly that Fifth Prince Qi Yuxuan was not so easily fooled. Only by deceiving himself first could he draw the other into his trap, turning passivity into initiative.

Now, he had let the Male Protagonist know that Daoist Xuanchen did not lack feelings for him, while simultaneously causing the Male Protagonist to feel remorse and self-reproach for forcing him into this state.

Otherwise, given the Male Protagonist's attitude when they first met—that nonchalant desire to destroy the sect and the innocent cruelty with which he tortured Disciple Kong Yu—Lu Zhan eliminating the blackening value would be nothing short of a fantasy.

Lu Zhan was in no hurry to wake up and continued to play dead; he had to give the Little Madman some time to prepare. He was actually quite looking forward to what surprises and unexpected gains would follow.

"Imperial Physician Wang, I am not asking for the cause; do not speak these ambiguous words. I am asking how to treat him. If you cannot cure the State Preceptor, you know the consequences, Imperial... Physician."

By the end, especially with that drawn-out, emphasized title, it was obvious that his anger was surging.

Imperial Physician Wang naturally heard the implied threat. Given this Your Majesty's temperament, he did not think he was joking.

"Your Majesty, the State Preceptor's illness is primarily a sickness of the heart. It can be said to be easy to treat, as the one who tied the bell must untie it, but it can also be said to be difficult to treat, for as the ancients say, 'a heart-sickness is hard to cure.'"

The words "heart-sickness" seemed to touch a painful spot for Fifth Prince Qi Yuxuan, because no one knew better than him why his master had become like this.

"'A heart-sickness is hard to cure,' 'the one who tied the bell must untie it'—do you need to tell me this? If you are so useless, perhaps your entire household should go ahead and pave the way for my master, what do you think, Imperial Physician Wang?"

The majestic, irrefutable words were filled with violence and cruelty, yet his eyes were overflowing with worry for his master.

Imperial Physician Wang, whose body was already stooped while speaking, dropped to his knees with a thud.

"Your Majesty, please forgive me. Allow this old subject to say two more things; perhaps there might be a turning point."

Fifth Prince Qi Yuxuan was never known for his patience, but when it came to his master, he could not afford to be careless. Moreover, this Imperial Physician Wang was the most senior and skilled physician in the palace, so he nodded, signaling for him to continue.

"Your Majesty, in this old subject's view, I fear you are the only one who can save the State Preceptor. Although the State Preceptor has lost his wits, he still remembers Your Majesty and calls your name, which shows that Your Majesty holds a special place in his heart."

"Your Majesty can try to guide him, to make the State Preceptor believe that the thing he did wrong, the thing he dares not face or admit, was not wrong at all, but right. If the State Preceptor still feels he was wrong, then Your Majesty can guide him to believe there were extenuating circumstances and the fault was not his. This might untie the knot in his heart and allow the State Preceptor to walk out of it himself."

Fifth Prince Qi Yuxuan carefully considered Imperial Physician Wang's words in his mind. Perhaps it was truly worth a try; what happened that day was not his master's intention, but his own fault.

"But now, whenever Master sees me, his emotions become even more intense. What should I do?"

As a slightly softer tone reached his ears, the heavy stone in Imperial Physician Wang's heart fell slightly, and he carefully deliberated before replying.

"Perhaps the 'Your Majesty' in the State Preceptor's mouth is not the current Your Majesty, but the one in his memories."

Upon hearing this, Fifth Prince Qi Yuxuan felt as if the clouds had parted to reveal the light; so that was it.

That Fifth Prince Qi Yuxuan, who had spent five years with him day and night, who was sensible, obedient, pitiful, innocent, and held his master in high esteem—that was the Nickname in his master's mouth.

The current Fifth Prince Qi Yuxuan was likely a nightmare in his master's eyes, so how could the person he was calling be him? What kind of daydream was he having?

Fifth Prince Qi Yuxuan had never expected that one day he would be so jealous of himself—that former self.

After figuring this out, Fifth Prince Qi Yuxuan said nothing more and waved his hand, signaling him to withdraw.

"Your Majesty, this old subject will take his leave."

Imperial Physician Wang scrambled up and retreated. As he walked, he wiped the cold sweat from his face with his sleeve; he had nearly lost his life here.

The room instantly fell silent, so quiet that a falling needle could be heard. A moment later, soft footsteps sounded.

Lu Zhan felt that Fifth Prince Qi Yuxuan must be walking toward him. There was a faint sound of the gauze curtains being lifted, and the side of the bed sank slightly.

Lu Zhan knew Fifth Prince Qi Yuxuan was sitting on the edge of the bed, but he did not open his eyes, continuing to maintain his motionless sleeping posture.

His face was gently caressed by a warm hand, and a voice filled with love and a hint of uncontrollable obsession reached his ears.

"Master, you must get better, do you know? Nickname knows that with your temperament, if you knew you were in this state, you probably wouldn't want to live even for a second, and would rather just die. But Nickname cannot accept Master's death; just thinking about it makes the pain unbearable. So, please allow Nickname's selfishness to force Master to stay and accompany me like this. But Nickname promises Master, it won't be for long. If Master really cannot get better in the future, Nickname loves you so much that I will have no choice but to fulfill Master's wish and die together with you. Thinking about it, being buried together would also be a kind of Perfection. It's just that what I owe Master will have to be repaid in the next life."

Listening to this, Lu Zhan truly felt an indescribable emotion in his heart. This tendency to think about dying together at every turn, and the mindset that dying together was also a kind of Perfection.

Why did it feel so similar to that child Lin Sicheng? But Lin Sicheng and Fifth Prince Qi Yuxuan were vastly different in every aspect. Was it just his illusion, or was it merely a coincidence?

Lu Zhan thought for a moment, but couldn't figure it out. He wanted to give up, but felt a nagging itch in his heart.

He sensed that his forehead had been kissed by the other party; the lips were warm, not like his own, which always carried a hint of coolness.

The gauze curtains were lowered again, a series of soft footsteps sounded, and the noise of the door closing followed.

He must have left. Thinking this, Lu Zhan opened his eyes. Through the gauze curtains, his indifferent eyes looked toward the direction Fifth Prince Qi Yuxuan had left, his gaze filled with a measure of inquiry and scrutiny.

In the previous world, Lu Zhan had spent fifty years with Lin Sicheng. To say he had no feelings at all would be impossible.

Lin Sicheng was Lu Zhan's first mission target, and also the first child he had raised, so it was inevitable that he had invested a bit more energy and effort.

Therefore, when he entered the second time, it was easier for him to soften his heart toward him. Coupled with the feelings that developed later—though not love—he was indeed somewhat special to him.

But could there really be such a coincidence? Two different people, the same feeling.

Yet neither of them had memories of the Main World, nor did they have a System; they were truly just characters of the Small World.

Lu Zhan still couldn't figure it out and could only put the matter aside for now.

The mission was important; he should focus on the mission first.