261: Your Majesty, I am selfless

"What does genetic collapse mean?"

Once Tu Nan steadied herself, she immediately pressed for an answer.

"Your Majesty's genes were contaminated during gestation... they were never really stable to begin with," James replied, stammering.

"Hah."

That person stood to the side, speaking carelessly about the Empire's greatest secret.

"We are twins; you should have figured that out by now?" The Emperor twitched the corner of his mouth. "When he and I were in the Foster Mother's womb, he was taken out and transplanted into the Empress Dowager's womb."

He also walked over to the Treatment Pod, looking at the calm black liquid without expression.

"Then he became the Empress Dowager's biological son, the only prince born. And I was taken away by this doctor, who I can't tell is either bold or stupid."

"The Foster Mother? Your biological mother? She..." Tu Nan asked.

"Her?" The Emperor laughed with malice. "She, of course, died a long time ago. James didn't let the Empress Dowager know she was carrying twins, so he raised me in secret like this."

"Oh, right in the basement of the Medical Institute... let me think, probably right under your office."

"So, what are you thinking about now?" The Emperor watched with interest as Tu Nan fell silent.

"Are you wondering why Your Majesty is so tolerant of your attitude? Hmm?"

Dr. James stood to the side, silently weeping, and took over the conversation.

"The transplant technology never succeeded precisely because of the genetic contamination issue, but after the Empress Dowager discovered she couldn't conceive, she forced me to transfer Your Majesty into her body."

"Your Majesty was destined not to live long from birth... but the Empress Dowager only cared about whether he could leave behind a child before he died so she could continue to enjoy the glory in that position."

"What about Your Majesty's father?" Tu Nan asked. What kind of Emperor could tolerate all of this?

"Oh, you're asking about that deadbeat? When the Empress Dowager married into the royal family, he was already half-dead. The fact that he could get the Foster Mother pregnant was purely a final burst of energy before death." He commented on his biological father this way.

That made sense, Tu Nan nodded to herself. So this was the reason the Empress Dowager had to snatch a legitimate child no matter what.

Because if she waited any longer, she might lose everything.

James nodded. "Royal heirs are difficult to come by, and their health is also deteriorating."

He continued.

"But after Your Majesty was finally born, I slowly discovered a problem. Although Your Majesty's genetic potential was unexpectedly high, it was very unstable. The contaminated genes have been eroding him, causing him unbearable pain."

Tu Nan could visualize his appearance through that pool of black liquid.

"He coughs often, is it because of this?"

James nodded, his heart aching. "That's when he couldn't hold it back anymore, but in his daily life, he must have been enduring pain like ten thousand ants gnawing at his heart."

Tu Nan's hand pressed against the Silver Armored Knight's armor, trembling uncontrollably.

She had never noticed Your Majesty enduring anything; apart from his forever pale, bloodless face, his hands, though cold, were always steady and strong.

"He... has been enduring it the whole time."

"Yes, the whole time." James sighed. The Emperor used excellent willpower to control his outward expression, pushing himself to the limit at every moment.

"Oh~ Actually, he could have delayed the collapse for a while, but who told him to force a Breakthrough again and again?"

The Emperor's tone was cold and full of confusion. "Every time it's for a group of commoners and small soldiers, consuming himself and yet finding it sweet—I don't get it."

Tu Nan shifted her gaze to him.

"What about you, then? Why are you willing to be Your Majesty's shadow? You are also S-Rank."

The Emperor was furious. "What do you mean? It's an exchange! He said that as long as I endure until he dies, everything he owns will be mine."

"Then you're about to get your wish," Tu Nan observed his expression. "Why don't you look happy?"

The Emperor looked very displeased.

"He hasn't died yet." He shot her a warning glare.

Tu Nan breathed a sigh of relief in her heart. Although she didn't know why, this person didn't seem completely devoid of feelings for his brother.

He didn't want Your Majesty to die either, thank goodness...

"Can he be saved?" Tu Nan asked. "Last time he took me to Kong Jiamu's spiritual sea, and you are also S-Rank, is your Talent the same as Your Majesty's? Can you take me—"

"Impossible!" The Emperor interrupted her impatiently.

"His is a genetic collapse, not a spiritual sea collapse; his spiritual sea isn't weak." He tilted his head, admitting it unwillingly. "Besides, he even had a Breakthrough, so he's a higher rank than me now, making it even more impossible."

So that was it.

"Then let me come over first. Where are the coordinates?" Tu Nan asked.

The Emperor looked at her strangely and clicked his tongue.

"Don't mess around, we're on our way back."

Tu Nan didn't expect such a reply and looked a bit dazed.

"The front line, after that wave, can be stable for a while. I'm taking you back to the Capital City." The Emperor suddenly became happy again. "Did you miss me? You wouldn't just miss him, would you? I was also injured, but it wasn't too serious; it's already healed."

"That's good..." Tu Nan couldn't keep up with his erratic train of thought.

"Don't run around. I'll be there in three days." The Emperor seemed to have forgotten he was standing next to Your Majesty, excitedly talking about his plans.

"The Capital City is already preparing for the wedding. Let's get it done quickly while your belly isn't big yet and it's still convenient to wear a wedding dress."

"Wedding? I'm not in the mood." Tu Nan refused him.

The Emperor's face turned cold instantly. "What, do you have some objection?"

He looked at Tu Nan, his gaze sweeping over the Silver Armored Knight beside her, and sneered coldly: "Who do you not want to know? Don't think about it. Think about the Children in your belly; they will need this wedding."

Ignoring Tu Nan, The Emperor cut off the Video Call. Before the image disappeared, he left one last sentence.

"He hopes for it too."

Tu Nan walked out of the room, looking at the Imperial Guard guarding outside, and gave a new order.

"Let's go back. Your Majesty... he is coming."

Yes, for them, Your Majesty is coming back.

And for her.

The same.

The one guarding her side suddenly asked: "Do you want to marry him?"

With countless words surging in his heart, in the end, he found another sentence.

"Are you doing this voluntarily?"

Tu Nan looked at him in surprise. After hearing so many secrets, the knight's final question was actually one that only concerned her own personal wishes.

She was moved by this kind concern. As she walked, she pondered everything that had happened today.

The bad news came so suddenly, forcing out her inner thoughts that were so buried she could hardly discover them herself.

Your Majesty...

"I am willing to become the Queen of the Empire, if that is what he wishes." Tu Nan answered this way.

Not marrying him, not for such a shallow reason.

What was Your Majesty thinking when he made that decision? Tu Nan tried to touch his thoughts.

The heir he chose, this younger brother, seems unreliable. And Tu Nan? She was examined by him, educated by him, and kept by his side.

Carrying... his child, and his brother's child.

Tu Nan finally understood why Your Majesty was so silent when he discovered all of this.

Perhaps he wasn't not angry, but he believed that for the Empire, this had actually become an optimal solution.

Your Majesty... he truly did everything for the future of the Empire, even if it required him to pave it with his own blood.

Tu Nan was lost in thought.