The assassins had already been subdued by the arriving Imperial Guard, but Qin Quexi paid no attention to them.
He just trembled as he lightly touched Gu Shengyin’s nose, then suddenly turned around and shouted loudly, "Imperial Physician!"
The Phoenix Monarch also struggled to stand up at that moment, hurriedly walked over to the two, and upon seeing his daughter with a knife thrust through her chest, he almost fainted on the spot.
By the time the Phoenix Emperor had received the news and rushed over, the Imperial Physician had just finished treating Gu Shengyin.
"How is it?" the Phoenix Emperor asked urgently.
Her heart was heavy. She had just seen Changge’s wound—such a location...
As expected, the Imperial Physician replied with a grave expression, "Your Majesty, the location of the Crown Prince’s injury is critical. I fear... it is extremely dangerous."
Qin Quexi’s body swayed.
The Phoenix Monarch looked at him angrily, "If it weren’t for you, my Changge wouldn’t have..."
"Phoenix Noble!" the Phoenix Emperor shouted sternly, "Changge did it willingly! It’s not fair to blame others."
"If we must blame anyone, let’s hold accountable the mastermind behind the scenes!" Her eyes were brimming with murderous intent, whoever dared target Changge must be prepared to face the consequences.
Qin Quexi suddenly smiled gently, his gaze fixed intently on the unconscious Gu Shengyin, not sparing anyone else a glance, "Phoenix Monarch, rest assured, if anything untoward happens to Changge, I will follow her in death. I won’t let her be alone."
"..." The Phoenix Monarch looked at this proud and noble man with complex emotions.
From his reaction, from how Changge had unhesitatingly taken that knife for him in the great hall, how could he not know there was affection between them?
The Phoenix Emperor said nothing. Seeing Qin Quexi’s obviously unstable emotions, she sighed and, along with the Phoenix Monarch, left the room, giving him space to be alone.
Palace Attendants all stood nearby, not daring to cast their gaze this way.
Qin Quexi looked at this woman, never having imagined that at such a moment, she would, without hesitation, take a deadly blow for him.
"You win." he suddenly laughed.
"If you can wake up this time, I’ll formally answer that question you asked me that night."
"If... if you really can’t wake up, then I’ll join you," he said softly, "never leaving you alone."
He gently rested his head beside her.
Gu Shengyin was in a coma for seven days.
Even the Imperial Physician was helpless, and the chief even apologized to the Phoenix Emperor, admitting his helplessness and saying that everything was now in the hands of fate.
Qin Quexi sat motionless by the bed for seven days.
Just by looking at him, he appeared no better than Gu Shengyin lying in the bed.
He numbly watched the person on the bed, the words of the Imperial Physician echoing in his ears, "If His Royal Highness the Crown Prince does not awaken tonight, I am truly..."
Gu Shengyin regained consciousness at that moment.
Seeing Qin Quexi’s appearance, a sharp pain spread through her heart: This man, where was there now even a trace of his former splendid and peerless appearance? His face was pallid, his eyes sunken, even his lips were cracked and bleeding.
"System, just how miserable have you made me look?"
The system answered honestly, "Host, you said you wanted to look extremely dangerous, close to being unsalvageable. I operated strictly according to your instructions."