My Imperial Brother Is Seriously Ill Again

Xiao Han, a top lawyer famed for never taking criminal cases with sentences under ten years, was brought down by bootleg liquor and transmigrated.

Most people transmigrated as emperors or princes. He got to become the ten-year-old only son of a rebel leader at the end of a dynasty!

When he arrived, his father, who had launched a rebellion, had just ambushed a prison cart and rescued a marquis exiled by the court.

They said the marquis had defied the court's order to suppress the refugees, resolutely led his army to repel the Northern Hu as they marched south to massacre villages, and held the northern frontier. He was charged with disobeying an imperial decree, and the whole realm considered the verdict unjust.

By saving the man, his father instantly won the hearts of the people among the rebel kings.

"Lin'er, from now on, he'll be your big brother. How about letting him teach you to read and write?"

Xiao Han was moved to tears. He was a highly educated man, but here he couldn't even recognize the character for "Ding." Having a teacher from somewhere else meant he wouldn't be found out. Perfect.

Shen Ting had suffered an arrow wound and torture injuries. After being unconscious for seven days, he woke to find a fair-skinned little boy staring at him with wide eyes, holding his hand and calling him Big Brother.

At first, he thought the rebel leader wanted to use him. But then he realized the leader's son might have what it took to become a great ruler.

From then on, he devoted himself to looking after the little dumpling: soothing him to sleep when he was tired, giving him medicine when he was sick, teaching him to read and write, military strategy, and the art of governing the realm.

Shen Ting put his heart into it. Xiao Han was in agony, because he wasn't a dumpling! Shen Ting was exactly his type, and his intentions were anything but pure. But there was nothing he could do when he was only ten... He'd have to wait until he grew up!

Six years later, his father unified the south and ascended the throne, making him crown prince.

Less than a year later, his father died, and he inherited the throne. Shen Ting became a prince of a different surname and, despite his grave illness, fought campaigns in the north and south.

After the realm was pacified, Shen Ting supported selecting officials through the imperial examinations, making him a thorn in the side of the great clans.

Day One: "Your Majesty, Prince Yongning is hoarding weapons, building up his army, and plotting rebellion."

Day Two: "Your Majesty, Prince Yongning's cold has worsened, and he is unconscious."

The emperor abandoned his court officials and went straight to the prince's manor.

When framing him didn't work, they tried to push women on the emperor. The ministers had barely submitted a memorial calling for a grand selection when Prince Yongning fell gravely ill again. This time, the emperor brought him straight into the palace. With an adult prince staying there, how could the empresses and consorts enter the harem?

Whenever this prince fell ill, the emperor indulged him in everything. He followed Shen Ting's wishes, setting up schools for ordinary people, implementing the imperial examinations, and suppressing the great clans, carving a path forward for countless poor scholars.

A little scene:

At the Prince's Manor

Emperor Wu of Zhou, in a black imperial robe, held a thin, sickly man in his arms and fed him medicine. A cold hand clasped his wrist, and a weak voice spoke:

"I've made things difficult for Your Majesty."

"Don't say that, Brother. Take your medicine. Once you've recovered, how about you personally oversee next year's spring examinations?"

After Emperor Wu left, an attendant gently urged the man on the bed,

"Your Highness, His Majesty treats you with such affection. Why ruin your health?"

"No matter how close we are, we cannot escape the words 'ruler and subject.'"

In the Palace

"Your Majesty, the prince went two days without taking his medicine after catching a cold, which is why his condition worsened. I'm afraid..."

"Afraid he did it on purpose to make me worry."

"I wouldn't dare say so."

"Get up."

Alone beneath the nine tiers of the palace, the emperor wore a dark robe. Shen Ting didn't believe in an emperor's vows made before ascending the throne, nor that an emperor could remain constant. So he was even willing to use his own health as a tool.

He would spend a lifetime making Shen Ting believe that even an emperor could love just one person faithfully. After all, he was the man he'd fallen for at first sight.

Theme: Love must be treated with care.