Xie Peiyi died, but not completely. The new emperor used every kind of miraculous medicine to drag him back from the brink.
When Xie Peiyi woke, the Crown Prince, Lu Jingheng, had already been emperor for three years. The first person Xie Peiyi saw was Lu Jingheng.
Xie Peiyi: ...Your Highness?
Lu Jingheng touched his face. "Sir, you should call me Your Majesty now."
Xie Peiyi: "Congratulations..."
Lu Jingheng gently pressed a finger to Xie Peiyi's lips. His eyes shone with an excitement Xie Peiyi had never seen before. "It's too soon for congratulations, Sir. You've only just woken up. Our wedding will take some time to arrange."
Xie Peiyi: "...What did Your Majesty say?"
Lu Jingheng: "I've already announced to the world that I'm making you my empress. Once you've recovered a little..."
Xie Peiyi was so shocked he sat up, but his body was too weak, and he immediately collapsed again. Lu Jingheng, as if used to this, carried him to the imperial bed and tended to him.
Xie Peiyi: "Your Majesty, please show some restraint..."
Lu Jingheng: "Sir, I've been taking care of you for the past three years. Medicinal baths, bathing you, dressing you..."
Xie Peiyi: "I wouldn't dare..."
Lu Jingheng: "As long as I dare, that's enough."
With that, he took off all of Xie Peiyi's clothes and gave him a medicinal bath.
Xie Peiyi: ...
It would have been better if he'd just died for good back then. Could someone explain why the sweet, sensible Crown Prince he'd raised from childhood had turned into such a stubborn, domineering emperor?
Lu Jingheng's answer: "Sir, I'm no longer the boy who pretended to be weak and obedient to win your affection. I have the greatest power now, so naturally I can have you without restraint."
Xie Peiyi: ...
Today is another day I wish I were dead.
Theme: Live well.
