Quick Transmigration: Playing the Role of a Devoted Tool

[Host, this is an ancient world. The man in front of you is the male lead. Don't underestimate him just because he's young and easy to bully now. When he grows up, he'll be a ruthless tyrant. Just make sure your affection level is high enough.]

The system's voice is a babyish voice, which sounds harmless.

Upon hearing this, Shu Jing's gaze drifted downwards.

In the dilapidated courtyard of the cold palace, there was still a figure.

He was about the same age as the Ninth Prince, with a pale face and a thin body shivering in the cold wind, yet he was still diligently washing clothes.

"System, who is he?"

[The male lead's servant. Host, if you ask him what he's doing, he's just an NPC, don't worry about him. You should first figure out who you want to possess, that will make it easier to win over the male lead.]

The system introduces characters who can get close to the male protagonist.

Shu Jing didn't speak, her gaze falling once again on that thin figure.

Despite being clearly cold, he silently buried himself in his work.

Sometimes the male lead would look at it and want to tell him to stop, but he would hesitate to speak.

"Aran."

Gu Qing still called out.

It's probably because I'm still sick and my voice is hoarse.

Upon hearing His Highness's voice, Qi Ran quickly stopped what he was doing, dried his hands, and jogged over.

"Your Highness, what's wrong? Are you feeling unwell?"

Gu Qing shook his head, but his gaze fell on Qi Ran's bright red fingertips. "Don't wash them. Come inside with me. I'm cold by myself. How about you warm my hands?"

"Yes, Your Highness." Qi Ran, oblivious to his presence, returned to the room, took the prince's hand in her arms, and warmed it.

There was no charcoal fire in the cold palace, and Gu Qing survived every winter by sheer willpower.

It has snowed several times in the palace this year, and the roof of the side room in the Cold Palace is leaking. It is the room where Qi Ran sleeps, and now Qi Ran has nowhere to sleep.

Fearing that he would freeze to death in the desolate palace, Gu Qing called his only servant to his room, where they squeezed together and it was much warmer.

The two children, covered by a thin blanket, huddled together for warmth, and Shu Jing frowned as she watched.

The system's voice urged again.

[Host, have you decided who you want to possess?]

"Let him be the Crown Prince's study companion."

[Okay, host. Target locked. Countdown in progress...]

After the surveillance gaze disappeared, Qi Ran opened her eyes and fell asleep peacefully in Gu Qing's arms.

There are two mission takers in this world, but Shu Jing is a high-level mission taker and Qi Ran is a low-level mission taker.

When Qi Ran is doing a mission, he must not reveal that he is a mission taker.

His mission is to stay by the side of the male lead, Gu Qing, and accompany him as he transforms from a down-on-his-luck ninth prince into a terrifying tyrant.

Shu Jing is the male protagonist of this world.

He will possess the body of the Crown Prince's tutor, gradually getting closer to Gu Qing, helping him, protecting him, and providing Gu Qing with power.

The next morning, Qi Ran got up early.

Today, the Imperial Household Department received mostly coarse rice and stale flour, along with some yellowed green vegetables and pickled radishes. The smell of meat was almost unbearable.

The person delivering the food was a young eunuch. He took the food with a slightly hoarse voice.

"Thank you, sir."

"You caught a cold?" Lan Bo frowned, his words filled with concern. He quietly took out a small packet of candied fruit from his sleeve and gave it to him. "Take this. Life in the Cold Palace is miserable. You're pitiful too."

Lan Bo didn't say much to Qi Ran, watching the small, thin figure go inside before leaving.

Qi Ran took the food to the kitchen next to the main house.

In the freezing cold season, life in the cold palace was even more unbearable.

Qi Ran had been here for some time. Once, when she went to the Imperial Household Department to collect something, she witnessed Lan Bo being bullied by a group of eunuchs.

After they left, out of kindness, Qi Ran helped him back to his house and gave Lan Bo hot water to wash the blood off his face, thus forming a good relationship.

Lan Bo had a bad time in the palace and was used to being bullied. This was the first time someone was willing to help him. They didn't mind Qi Ran and the Ninth Prince's situation and were willing to take on the task of delivering food.

He opened the cloth bag, rummaged through the flour and brown rice, and sure enough, found a small piece of meat hidden underneath.

Qi Ran was somewhat moved.

Lan Bo probably remembered that kindness, so he would occasionally hide things and send them over to help him and the Ninth Prince improve their meals.

Qi Ran took out a palm-sized piece of meat, washed it clean, and cut it into small pieces. She also looked at the yellowing green vegetables, chopped them up, and set them aside. Then she kneaded dough to make noodles.

"Aran," Gu Qing called out, standing at the kitchen doorway.

It was freezing cold, and the tip of his nose was red from the cold. He wasn't dressed properly, just wearing an old long smock as he stood at the door. His hair wasn't tied up and hung down on his shoulders, looking a bit messy in the wind.

Seeing this, Qi Ran washed her hands, dried them, walked to the door, took Gu Qing's hand, and led him back to the main house.

"Why did Your Highness come out? Dinner will be ready in a moment." Qi Ran said, standing in front of the dressing table to comb his hair.

Gu Qing had a nightmare, and when he woke up he couldn't see Qi Ran, which made him very anxious.

He thought Qi Ran was missing, so he hurriedly ran out the door.

I dreamt of my mother.

"Your Highness will be blessed by the Empress, so there's no need for you to be sad." Qi Ran finished tying Gu Qing's hair before going to the kitchen to cook.

While Qi Ran was busy, Gu Qing sat in front of the stove and warmed himself by the fire.

The aroma of meat filled the small kitchen, and Gu Qing's eyes immediately changed as he stared intently at the two bowls of noodle soup with meat flakes floating on top.

"Is there meat today?" Gu Qing asked, puzzled.

He knew that the Imperial Household Department wouldn't be so kind as to give them meat to eat.

It must have been sent by that little eunuch.

This isn't the first or second time.

Since his mother was executed, Qi Ran has followed him and has never had a good life.

Gu Qing felt uneasy, yet he was also afraid that one day Qi Ran would grow tired of him and abandon him like the other maids and eunuchs.

"It was sent by Eunuch Lanbo." Qi Ran smiled and first ladled a bowl of noodle soup and handed it to Gu Qing. "Your Highness, please drink this first to warm yourself up."

"You drink too." Gu Qing brought the bowl to Qi Ran's lips, looking at him expectantly, but the latter took a step back, maintaining his proper manners.

"Your Highness, this is against the rules. Please drink it. This servant cannot overstep his bounds." Qi Ran respectfully refused and went to cut noodles.

Gu Qing held the bowl; his palms were warm, but his heart was cold.

He knew that Qi Ran treated him well, but he still couldn't help feeling sad.

He sat down silently, sipped his noodle soup, and watched the people moving around.

Qi Ran put the cut noodles into the pot. In the steaming heat, the cold outside seemed to lessen. Even the plum tree in the corner, which was almost dead, miraculously survived in this cold palace.

The noodles were ready, and the two ate them quietly at the only wooden table in the kitchen, while snow began to fall outside the window, large and beautiful flakes.

After the meal, while the pot was still warm, Qi Ran washed the dishes and chopsticks, heated some water, and washed yesterday's clothes. By then, most of the day had passed.

At that time, Gu Qing would sit on the threshold, watching Qi Ran sweep the snow, and in the midst of his busy work, he would stand in the yard, staring blankly at a plump bird.

Life went on so difficultly, and everything was heading in an unknown direction.