Chapter 7
Chapter 7: Life-Value Scan
The Emperor had always been sentimental—he simply hid it behind endless state affairs and a deliberately cold face.
In truth, his heart was softer than anyone’s.
That little face—so much like Consort Li’s—was streaked with terrified tears. And that trembling “Imperial Father” hit him like a needle in the tenderest part of his chest.
He bent down almost without thinking and scooped the shivering little dumpling into his arms, holding her as if she might vanish if he blinked.
When he took the jade pendant from her tiny hand, cold seeped into his fingertips—and old memories stirred like dust shaken loose from a sealed box.
He looked down at the child hiccupping sobs into his robe, and his voice softened before he even realized it.
“Don’t worry. I won’t be angry with you.” He paused, then said it like an admission. “I… like you.”
Chu Tian Tian sniffled hard and blinked up at him. “Then… Imperial Father… can you like Sweetie the most?”
Her small hand reached up to touch his brow, as if trying to smooth away his frown.
The Emperor had no idea how to coax children. But agreeing couldn’t be wrong.
“…Yes,” he said. “I like you the most.”
[Beep! Defying fate.]
[Host successfully rekindled pity in the tyrant who once hated you to the bone.]
[Reward: Life-Value Scan x5.]
Life-Value Scan?
Chu Tian Tian froze, confused even as she clung to the Emperor’s neck.
What was that?
[Ding. Important figure detected: Retired Emperor.]
[Spend 1 scan chance to view his life value? Scans remaining: 5.]
Chu Tian Tian’s whole body went rigid.
In her mind, she screamed, Tong Tong! Hurry! Check Imperial Grandfather!
She wanted him to live forever. She wanted him to become a true old immortal!
At once, a faint health bar appeared above the Retired Emperor’s head.
Life value remaining: ten years.
Chu Tian Tian’s mouth trembled. Tears flooded her eyes so fast they nearly spilled over.
Ten years?
That was… she counted on her short fingers, got to ten, and stopped, devastated.
So little.
So, so little.
She swallowed hard, then clenched her tiny fists.
From now on, she would bring Imperial Grandfather spirit fruit every single day. Every day.
“Sweetie,” the Retired Emperor said, reaching out, “do you want Imperial Grandfather to hold you?”
The Emperor, expression calm, took one small step back.
The Retired Emperor’s arms caught nothing but air.
“Hey!” The old man glared. “You brat!”
The Empress chose that moment to speak, voice smooth as water. “This consort also believes the Ninth Princess is not a demon.”
She calmly explained how Chu Tian Tian had saved Cheng Xuan earlier.
The Retired Emperor stroked his beard, satisfied. “In one day, she saved the crown prince and saved me. How is that a calamity star? She’s clearly Heaven’s blessing to Great Ning—my Little Lucky Star!”
He shot the Emperor a look that practically said: Try it. I dare you.
The Emperor felt the child trembling in his arms, clutching his neck so tightly her little fingers hurt.
His heart softened into a mess.
He patted her head. “Yes. My Little Nine is Great Ning’s blessing. My fortunate little treasure.”
Chu Tian Tian’s face brightened instantly through her tears. “Heehee! Thank you, Imperial Father! Sweetie loves Imperial Father the most!”
She dug into her sleeve again and produced a single remaining fruit like it was the crown jewels.
“Sweetie only has one fruit left today… for Imperial Father to eat.”
That spirit fruit tree in her pocket space was still tiny. It had only borne three fruits. When she picked one, a new one would sprout—small and stubborn—taking a full day to ripen again.
Tong Tong said once the tree grew, it would bear more… but Tong Tong had suspiciously skipped the part about how to make it grow.
The Emperor didn’t hesitate. He ate the fruit.
It melted on his tongue, and a cool, cleansing current rushed through his body, washing away heaviness like a tide pulling back from shore.
The fatigue of endless memorials vanished.
His mind cleared so sharply it felt like someone had thrown open windows in his skull. Even his vision seemed brighter.
For a wild moment, he felt ten years younger—energized enough to review three baskets of memorials without blinking.
He adjusted the little girl in his arms. She was so light she barely weighed anything.
Then she smiled at him—pure, proud, offering her treasure—and his heart softened all over again.
This wasn’t a fruit.
This was an immortal pill.
His gaze slid to the National Preceptor.
The Emperor didn’t raise his voice, but the chill in it made the entire hall fall silent.
“National Preceptor. I respect that you oversee the heavens. I won’t say more than this.”
He paused, and something sharp flashed behind his calm.
“If you dare use a vague nightmare to label my own blood a demon again…”
The air felt colder.
“Then go back and calculate properly. Calculate until you have certainty.”
The National Preceptor’s jaw tightened, but he didn’t argue. Between the Retired Emperor and the Emperor, their stance was unshakable.
“…Yes.” He lowered his head, hiding his unwillingness. “This minister obeys.”
He withdrew quietly.
Consort Xian lowered her eyes too, but hers were burning.
Her nails dug into her palm until it hurt.
Consort Li again. Always Consort Li.
That woman was already locked in the Cold Palace—how could her child still climb back up?
And the Empress, that fool, didn’t even take the chance to crush the little bastard. She even spoke for her.
Fine.
Very fine.
This little bastard would still have to die—along with her bitch mother.
Before Consort Xian could speak, the head eunuch hurried in.
“Your Majesty, Old General Qin has entered the palace and is waiting outside the Imperial Study.”
The Emperor’s expression tightened. “Little Nine, Imperial Father needs to handle business. You—”
The Retired Emperor’s hand shot out like he was snatching treasure. “Enough. State affairs are important. Sweetie stays with me!”
Chu Tian Tian’s little hands moved faster than her mind.
She grabbed the Emperor’s sleeve.
Hard.
The Emperor looked down.
The little girl pressed her lips together, eyes damp, staring at him as if he were the last solid thing in the world.
He couldn’t bear it.
“I heard the boy from the Qin clan is five,” he said, shifting her weight. “He should be able to play with our Little Nine.”
With that, he took her from the Retired Emperor’s arms.
“Little Nine will come with me.”
The Retired Emperor blinked, then laughed helplessly. “Fine. Go, then.”
Outside the Yang Qing Hall, Chu Tian Tian sat on the Emperor’s arm, picking at the gold thread on his robe with tiny fingers, then rubbing her head against his shoulder like a kitten.
“Imperial Father,” she asked timidly, “Mother said you have lots of big things to do every day. If Tian Tian stays with you, will I bother you?”
The Emperor patted the little tuft of hair on her head. “Of course not. Little Nine is smart and adorable. Having you with me makes me happy.”
The head eunuch walking beside them could only marvel.
So many princes and princesses… and he’d never once seen the Emperor dote on a child like this.
“But…” Chu Tian Tian scratched her ear, voice soft and wronged. “Tian Tian’s clothes are torn. They’re ugly. If I go see the great general like this… Imperial Father will lose face.”