Remarried to a top-tier playboy, her reborn ex-husband is filled with regret.

Everyone in the hall swarmed around them.

Xiao Fang stepped forward and stood at the head of the bed.

The empress leaned forward, her face filled with anxiety.

Long Yuanqi slowly opened his eyes.

His gaze first fell on the Empress.

After two breaths, he turned to Xiao Fang.

"You're back."

His voice was so soft it was almost inaudible.

"Your subject has returned."

Xiao Fang knelt down in front of the bed and whispered.

"Your Majesty, rest assured, with me here, there will be no chaos."

Long Yuanqi twitched the corner of his mouth.

He seemed to want to laugh, but he didn't even have the strength to laugh.

"It's good that you're back."

"The north... is it all leveled now?"

"It's a draw."

Xiao Fang said.

"The Northern Hu have been destroyed, and the Southern Yue and Western Rong have also submitted to us."

"Their king, I have brought back to you."

A fleeting moment of emotion crossed Long Yuanqi's eyes.

"Good, well done."

The Empress could no longer hold back; she covered her mouth and wept uncontrollably.

Long Yuanqi turned his head and looked at the Empress.

"Qing'er, don't cry."

You're pregnant; you can't afford to be upset.

The Empress quickly wiped away her tears and nodded with a smile.

"I didn't cry, I'm happy."

A night wind rises outside the palace.

No one spoke inside the hall.

But everyone knew that this time, Long Yuanqi had simply woken up.

As for how long she will stay awake, no one dares to think about it.

Since that day, Long Yuanqi has been in a coma.

He is rarely awake and spends most of his time sleeping.

Sometimes the empress would feed him half a bowl of medicine, and he would faint after drinking half of it.

The imperial physicians stayed in the side hall day and night, taking the pulse twice a day, morning and evening.

They dared not say it outright, and only shook their heads repeatedly.

"Your Majesty's ability to hold on until today is already beyond the capabilities of ordinary people."

"This breath is held on by a single, unwavering belief in my heart."

"We... can only do our best."

The empress stopped crying.

She stayed by Long Yuanqi's bedside every day.

The palace maids tried to persuade her countless times, but she only shook her head.

Her belly was getting bigger and bigger, and her legs were swollen.

Sometimes she would sit for most of the day, and as soon as Long Yuanqi opened his eyes, she would immediately bend down to him.

But Long Yuanqi's eyes were open for shorter and shorter periods of time each time.

It was early morning, before dawn.

The Empress stayed up all night.

She was wiping Long Yuanqi's face with a handkerchief when she suddenly noticed his eyelashes flutter.

"His Majesty?"

The Empress hurriedly called out.

Long Yuanqi slowly opened his eyes.

On this day, his spirits were stronger than ever.

"Um."

He responded softly in a hoarse voice.

The empress quickly instructed the palace servants to prop up his pillow and then helped him sit up halfway.

"How are you feeling today? Are you hungry? Would you like something to eat?"

Long Yuanqi didn't answer, but turned to look at her.

He stared at her for a long time, as if trying to memorize her appearance again.

"Qing'er, you've lost weight."

The Empress's eyes reddened.

"If you never wake up, how can I eat?"

Long Yuanqi smiled.

He reached out and took the Queen's hand.

The hand had distinct knuckles, was terribly cold, yet held very firmly.

After a moment of silence, a smile appeared on Long Yuanqi's face.

He even talked with great interest about interesting things from the past.

"When we first got engaged, I felt uneasy."

Once, I sneaked out of the palace and went to your house to peek over the wall.

That day you were sitting under the tree reading a book, wearing a light apricot-colored dress.

I was right on the wall, watching you and your little maid laughing and talking.

After I returned, I had someone paint your portrait.

That small portrait has always been kept in a hidden compartment in my study.

When I miss you, I take it out and look at it.

The empress was stunned.

"Why has His Majesty never mentioned this?"

"I'm just shy."

Long Yuanqi chuckled softly.

"Later, on my wedding day, I pretended to be mature and composed."

But when you looked up, you smiled at me.

I completely forgot what I had prepared beforehand.

The empress both cried and laughed.

"So His Majesty was just putting on a brave face back then."

"yes.

I'm afraid you'll notice, yet I'm also afraid you won't.

As Long Yuanqi spoke, he laughed to himself.

"During my illness, I have been fortunate to have you by my side."

You could have found peace and quiet, but instead you chose to stand guard in this place filled with the stench of medicine.

I know it's because you have me in your heart.

Long Yuanqi had spoken so much that he was almost out of breath, but he just wouldn't stop.

"Qing'er, the happiest thing in my life is marrying you."

The Empress bit her lip, tears already falling.

"That's true for me too. My favorite thing is to marry Your Majesty."

Long Yuanqi's gaze then fell on Empress Gaolong's belly.

"I really want to see if he looks like you or like me."

"You will see."

The Empress spoke.

"Your Majesty, please wait a little longer, he will be here soon."

Long Yuanqi nodded and then slowly spoke.

"Qing'er, this child, regardless of whether he is a boy or a girl, should not be allowed to inherit the throne."

The Empress was taken aback.

"Won't you resent me for not letting him become emperor?"

The Empress raised her head and looked at Long Yuanqi.

"Your Majesty must have considered this matter. I will follow your advice."

"it is good."

Long Yuanqi gripped her hand tightly.

"You should still call me Yuan Qi."

"Your Majesty" is a title used by others.

In your presence, I will always only be Yuan Qi.

He was already struggling to speak, but he still managed to pronounce each word clearly.

After resting for a while, he turned his head and looked at his personal steward.

"Summon all officials to the palace; I wish to draft an edict in court."

Half an hour later, all the civil and military officials entered the hall.

One minister ran so fast that his hat was askew.

The princes and members of the imperial clan also arrived one by one.

Xiao Fang, Lu Zhao, and the others knelt at the very front.

Long Yuanqi was helped to sit up and leaned against the soft pillows.

His face was ashen, only his eyes remained clear.

"I have summoned you here today for only one thing."

The hall was completely silent.

Long Yuanqi spoke slowly.

"If I pass away, the throne will pass to Prince Zhenbei, Xiao Fang."

This sentence struck like a muffled thunderclap.

The entire hall erupted in uproar.

Several veteran officials stood up abruptly.

"Your Majesty! You mustn't!"

"How can the throne of Liang be passed on to someone of a different surname!"

"Your Majesty, please reconsider!"

"Your Majesty, although Xiao Fang has made great contributions, he is not of royal blood!"

If that's really the case, wouldn't the Great Liang Dynasty be about to undergo a complete upheaval?

Some people had already knelt down, banging their heads on the ground.

"We, your humble servants, cannot obey the imperial edict!"

Xiao Fang was also in the hall.

He stepped forward and knelt down heavily.

"Your subject cannot accept this imperial decree."

He raised his head and looked at Long Yuanqi.

"Your subject will risk his life to protect the child in the Empress's womb as she ascends the throne."

Regardless of gender, I will help him sit on this dragon throne.

With me here, no one dares to harm the Empress and her child.

Long Yuanqi looked at him, his eyes filled with sorrow and sigh.

"Xiao Fang..."

Xiao Fang kowtowed.

"Your Majesty, I am your subject."

"I am not fit to sit on the throne."

When several relatives saw that Xiao Fang refused to accept it, they also started shouting.

"Your Majesty, please rescind your order!"

"The Liang dynasty must not be handed over to someone outside the family!"

Chaos erupted inside the hall.

Long Yuanqi suddenly smiled.

The smile was bitter and faint.

Before he could say anything more, the Empress suddenly let out a muffled groan.

"What's wrong?" Long Yuanqi's expression changed.

The empress clutched her stomach and slowly sat down.

"I... I think I'm about to give birth..."

She had barely finished speaking when a palace maid beside her called out.

"Her Majesty's water has broken! Quickly, summon the midwife!"

Chaos immediately broke out inside the hall.

Long Yuanqi propped himself up on the edge of the bed, trying to sit up.

He struggled to get up only half an inch before falling heavily back onto the pillow.

"Help the Empress...to my dragon bed."

He said, panting.

"Let her give birth by my side."

"All court officials, withdraw! Wait outside the palace!"

No one dared to say another word.

The civil and military officials and their relatives all left the main hall and knelt on the stone steps outside.

The palace doors closed again.