Li Shimin faked his death? Then I will be powerful enough to conquer the world!

A few rays of light came in through the window, falling beside the bed, reflecting the figures of Li Chengqian and Su Zhi.

Li Chengqian stood beside the bed, his eyes fixed on Su Zhi. His eyes were red, but when Su Zhi looked up at him, Li Chengqian quickly adjusted his expression, pulled up a faint smile at the corner of his mouth, and tried his best to appear calm and composed.

Su Zhi is suffering from illness and is fragile inside. He must not let her notice his sadness. As the crown prince of the Tang Dynasty, his calmness is one of the few things Su Zhi can rely on at this moment.

In the Tang Dynasty, everyone has the right to express their emotions, cry loudly when they are in pain, and talk freely when they are sad.

But Li Chengqian couldn't do that. He shouldered the heavy responsibility of the country and was the hope for the future of the Tang Dynasty. His every move and every emotion could affect the entire body.

He must stand firm like a towering mountain, and even if his heart is full of holes, he must not show any signs of collapse.

Li Chengqian took a deep breath and slowly stretched out his hand. His hand paused briefly in mid-air and trembled slightly before he steadily picked up the medicine bowl placed beside him.

In the medicine bowl, the thick medicinal soup was dark in color, steaming with wisps of hot steam and emitting a pungent and strong bitter smell.

Li Chengqian leaned over slightly, looked at Su Zhi tenderly, and asked softly, "Lingxier, this medicine is very bitter, right?" There was heartache in his voice.

Su Zhi's face was as pale as paper. She forced a smile and shook her head gently. Then she patted the back of Li Chengqian's hand with her skinny hand, as if silently comforting him that she could still bear it.

Li Chengqian picked up the medicine bowl and slowly brought it to his nose. With just a light sniff, the bitter smell rushed into his nasal cavity like a surging tide, making him frown subconsciously.

He calmed himself down, as if mustering up his courage, and slowly put the medicine into his mouth, taking a sip.

In an instant, the unbearable bitterness and nausea cut through his mouth.

His brows furrowed instantly, and his stomach seemed to be violently stirred by an invisible giant hand, churning like a raging sea.

Li Chengqian clenched his teeth, his throat rolling up and down with difficulty. He suppressed the nausea that almost swallowed him, and took a lot of effort to force himself to swallow the medicine.

His face was pale, and he looked at the half-empty medicine soup left in the bowl, feeling distressed.

He slowly put the medicine bowl back on the bedside table, covered his face with his weak hands, his shoulders trembling slightly, and his painful expression could no longer be hidden.

Su Zhi lay on the bed, taking in all of this.

She forced herself to hold on to her weak body, stretched out her hand, and gently pulled Li Chengqian's sleeve. With determination in her eyes, she looked at the bowl of medicine on the bedside table, as if to tell Li Chengqian that she was willing to continue taking the medicine.

Li Chengqian slowly lowered his hands. His eyes were bloodshot and red. He stared at the haggard Su Zhi lying on the bed, and his heart ached.

The person in front of him is the Queen of the Tang Dynasty, his first wife who was hand in hand with him and had a deep love for him.

With a smile as beautiful as a flower and a graceful figure, she is the most beautiful and charming person in the palace.

Now, he has been tortured beyond recognition by this hateful disease. Why does he have to endure such great pain?

Li Chengqian questioned God over and over again in his heart.

The medicine was so bitter that he could hardly bear it after just one sip.

But Su Zhi has to drink it six times a day, and this will last for more than half a year.

Thinking of this, Li Chengqian felt a wave of despair in his heart.

He really couldn't imagine how Su Zhi would persevere in this pain day after day.

Looking at Su Zhi's gentle eyes, although Li Chengqian was reluctant, he still picked up the medicine bowl again.

He carefully helped Su Zhi into his arms, then he picked up the spoon, scooped up a spoonful of medicine, and slowly brought it to her mouth.

Su Zhi opened her mouth and swallowed the entire spoonful of medicine without hesitation.

The bitterness of this medicine was far beyond the tolerance of ordinary people. Even though Su Zhi was determined and tried hard to overcome her inner resistance, her physiological reactions were difficult to control.

She began to dry heave uncontrollably. Seeing this, Li Chengqian quickly reached for a towel and wiped the remaining liquid from Su Zhi's mouth.

He put down the medicine bowl and held Su Zhi tightly in his arms.

"Lingxi'er, I'll go talk to Hu Bugui and ask him to change these medicines. I know there's a kind of medicine that doesn't taste bitter, it's called capsules."

Li Chengqian whispered in Su Zhi's ear.

"I'll have someone find a way to make it right away. Don't drink this bitter medicine for now. It should be fine if you skip it for a couple of days. I really can't bear to see you suffer like this."

Li Chengqian hugged Su Zhi, feeling her body which was so thin that it was almost just a bag of bones, and blamed himself extremely.

In just one and a half months, this hateful disease had tortured her into a completely different person.

The plump figure that Su Zhi once had had long since disappeared, and now she was just skin and bones, which made people feel heartbroken just by looking at her.

How could she eat after drinking such bitter medicine every day? How could her body withstand it in the long run?

"Brother Qian, I can't... not drink. You'er hasn't come back yet."

Su Zhi said weakly, with worry in her voice.

Hearing this, Li Chengqian patted her back gently and said softly, "You'er, You'er, You'er is not a child anymore. You don't have to worry about him so much."

"He's a little adult now. When Emperor Taizong and I were his age, we had already begun recruiting troops and planning great undertakings."

"He will definitely achieve great things in the future, Lingxi'er, just relax."

"How about we not take the medicine today? Does your head still hurt? If not, how about I take you out for some sunshine and some relaxation?"

Su Zhi nodded gently in Li Chengqian's arms.

"Xianhuai, Bugui, Xiao Taohong, all of you come in."

Li Chengqian raised his voice and shouted outside the door.

The voice echoed in the empty bedroom. The three people waiting outside the door heard the call and immediately walked in hurriedly.

They lowered their heads, not daring to breathe. The oppressive atmosphere in the bedroom made them feel suffocated.

"Bugui, your medicine is too bitter. Is it okay if Your Majesty doesn't take it today?"

Li Chengqian looked at Hu Bugui and said, his tone was negotiating, but more of a tone that implied that no one could refuse.

Hearing this, Hu Bugui was slightly stunned, his face showing difficulty. After hesitating for a moment, he said: "Your Majesty, this good medicine tastes bitter. If you don't take it, the Queen's condition may..."

"But this medicine is too bitter. I'll tell you a recipe later. See if you can make a medicine that's not bitter."

"For the next few days, you can rely on acupuncture to stabilize the queen's health, okay?"

Li Chengqian interrupted Hu Bugui, his eyes full of determination.

From a medical point of view, what Hu Bugui did was indeed right, and the medicine did work, but it was too bitter.

How can a person survive if he can’t even eat?