Bai Quan patiently wiped Yong Cheng’an’s body with warm water, stroke by stroke.
Whether it was Emperor Yong’s illusion or not, he felt that Yong Cheng’an’s face was not as flushed as before.
Yong Cheng’an was acutely aware that he was running a fever.
Am I going to die?
He thought hazily, I don’t want to die yet!
Heavens, if you’re going to transmigrate me into a book, couldn’t you at least give me a cheat?
The moment Yong Cheng’an complained inwardly, a thunderclap suddenly echoed across the clear, sunny sky.
A fluffy, invisible ball of light flew in from outside the hall and burrowed into Yong Cheng’an’s forehead.
“Hello, Host. I am System 007, pleased to be at your service.”
The fluffy ball’s voice carried the unique, mechanical coldness.
The instant System 007 spoke, Yong Cheng’an felt his mind clear considerably.
At the same time, the imperial physicians in Qiankun Gong stared dumbfounded at Yong Cheng’an, whose fever had completely subsided.
They then gazed fervently at Bai Quan—was this some divine method?
How could the Crown Prince’s fever break so suddenly?
Without exaggeration, Yong Cheng’an’s face visibly lost its flush before everyone’s eyes, returning to a normal complexion.
“Excellent, Bai Quan! I hereby appoint you as the Left Court Physician of the sixth rank. From now on, you shall be the Crown Prince’s exclusive imperial physician!”
Though Bai Quan himself was puzzled, he quickly knelt to express his gratitude.
“I obey Your Majesty’s decree! Thank you, Your Majesty!”
Bai Quan’s heart swelled with excitement—ahhh, he was going to become the exclusive imperial physician for the Crown Prince! Wouldn’t that mean he could get close to the little one from now on?
As for Yong Cheng’an’s rapid recovery from the fever, Bai Quan attributed it to protagonist’s halo.
Truly worthy of the little one he adored—even the halo benefited him!
Unaware of the events unfolding outside, Yong Cheng’an focused intently on System 007.
“You’re my exclusive system? Why did you take so long to arrive?”
System 007 replied coldly, “Yes.”
Yong Cheng’an blinked, unperturbed.
Still brimming with curiosity, he asked, “What functions do you have?”
“This system can perform a Favorability Check on anyone toward the host. After upgrading, it can also predict fortune and misfortune for the host.”
“And then?”
System 007 fell silent, hovering quietly before Yong Cheng’an.
Thus, Yong Cheng’an understood—the system had only these two functions.
He instantly deflated. Why was this system so different from the ones described in novels?
Aside from the fortune prediction being somewhat useful, checking favorability seemed rather pointless.
He wasn’t gold that everyone would adore.
There would naturally be those who liked him and those who disliked him.
Yong Cheng’an consoled himself inwardly—having a system was better than having none at all.
Moreover, he could adjust his plans after his identity was exposed based on others’ favorability toward him.
…
Yong Cheng’an’s fever had left him unconscious for a full five days.
In truth, his consciousness had already awakened, but his body simply refused to stir.
007 explained that this was because the energy it had brought was repairing his body.
This energy would allow Yong Cheng’an’s body to maintain a state of frail health—sickly but not life-threatening.
Hearing this, Yong Cheng’an thought to himself, having a system was actually quite nice.
When he had read the book earlier, he knew just how weak the fake Crown Prince’s body was. He had worried that, after his identity was exposed, he would fall ill and die just like in the original story.
Now, such worries were completely unnecessary.
When Yong Cheng’an awoke, Chunmiao was keeping watch by his side.
Over the past few days, Chunmiao and Qiushuang, another senior palace maid from the Empress’s side, had taken turns watching over Yong Cheng’an.
Almost all the attendants serving in the side hall had been replaced inside and out by the Empress and Emperor Yong.
They were all replaced with trusted confidants of Emperor Yong and the Empress.
“The Crown Prince has awakened!”
Chunmiao noticed the moment Yong Cheng’an opened his eyes.
Hearing the commotion, the Empress and Emperor Yong immediately rushed to the side hall.
“An’er!”
The Empress, her eyes brimming with tears, leaned down to pick up Yong Cheng’an and nuzzled his cheek.
Sensing the Empress’s lingering fear, Yong Cheng’an also felt uneasy. He obediently looked at the Empress, babbling in his baby talk while waving his little hands, as if trying to wipe away the tears on her face.
The Empress caught his small hand and kissed it.
Then she gave him an extremely gentle smile.
Before the Empress could finish doting on him, Emperor Yong eagerly wanted to take over.
“Let me hold An’er.”
Only after truly cradling the infant in his arms did Emperor Yong finally relax.
He carefully pressed the back of his hand against Yong Cheng’an’s forehead to check his temperature.
Yong Cheng’an noticed dark circles under the eyes of both the Empress and Emperor Yong, likely from not sleeping well these past few days.
He also reached out to touch Emperor Yong’s face, his chubby little face breaking into a toothless smile.
Yong Cheng’an looked around the hall, wanting to know whether Emperor Yong had dealt with Xiao Cui or not.
The feeling of fever was unbearable—he had nearly burned up.
Naturally, he had to seek revenge!
“What is An’er looking at?” the Empress asked curiously.
She felt An’er was much smarter than ordinary children. At just three months old, he seemed to recognize people.
Every time he saw her and His Majesty, he would smile, as if knowing who his parents were.
Emperor Yong also didn’t know what he was looking at.
But since he wanted to look, Emperor Yong carried him around the hall.
Yong Cheng’an scanned the room and spotted Xiao Cui in a corner.
He was somewhat surprised. Had his father and mother not discovered Xiao Cui?
That wouldn’t do. If Xiao Cui remained hidden so deeply, what if she tried to harm him again in the future?
As a child who couldn’t yet speak or walk, he wouldn’t be able to run away or call for help.
He would be like a turtle trapped in a jar.
Without hesitation, Yong Cheng’an kept pointing his little hand in Xiao Cui’s direction and began wailing loudly.
Of course, he wouldn’t actually cry. His body had just recovered a bit, and he couldn’t afford to suffer again.
He didn’t need to cry for real—just the thunder-without-rain act was enough to make Emperor Yong and the Empress nervous.
“Minister Bai, come quickly and check on the Crown Prince!”
Emperor Yong said anxiously.
For the past few days, Bai Quan had almost constantly been by Yong Cheng’an’s side.
Hearing the crying, he immediately stepped forward.
Yong Cheng’an was curious about the unfamiliar imperial physician who appeared, but his main goal now was to eliminate Xiao Cui.
So he ignored Bai Quan and continued howling.
Bai Quan couldn’t find anything wrong upon examination and grew puzzled.
What’s wrong with the little one? He wouldn’t cry for no reason.
Indeed, Bai Quan’s perception of Yong Cheng’an was just that biased.
If it wasn’t physical discomfort, then perhaps someone was making him uncomfortable?
Bai Quan inadvertently noticed the Crown Prince’s little hand persistently pointing in one direction.
He followed the direction and saw a young palace maid standing there, looking somewhat nervous.
However, everyone’s attention was on Yong Cheng’an, so no one noticed her.
Bai Quan instantly realized—this palace maid was problematic!
Otherwise, why would the little one cry upon seeing her?
Thinking of this, Bai Quan boldly said to Emperor Yong, “Your Majesty, the Crown Prince’s health is not the issue. In my opinion, His Highness is crying because he saw someone.”
Emperor Yong frowned slightly, instinctively feeling this explanation was unreliable.
However, the Empress thought Imperial Physician Bai’s words made some sense. An’er had always been a clever and well-behaved child, never crying without reason.
She also glanced at the people in the hall, and her gaze instantly locked onto Xiao Cui.