Quick Transmigration: Playing the Role of a Devoted Tool

"Qi Ran, remember this: you will always be my servant, for all eternity!"

Qi Ran raised her hand and removed her palm from her eyes.

"Your Highness, this servant will stay by your side for life and will not go to anyone else."

"Really?" Gu Qing didn't believe it. He wanted to believe it, but his heart was filled with unease.

"Yes, I swear."

That night, Qi Ran swore an oath to the heavens, and only then did Gu Qing manage to control his emotions.

Qi Ran escorted Gu Qing back to his room, took a bath, and then washed his clothes.

The next morning, Fu Zi was sweeping snow in the yard, Lin Shou was brewing tea in the kitchen, and Qi Ran was helping Gu Qing get up. The days passed by unhurriedly.

After that night, the emperor did not send anyone to disturb Qi Ran.

It was as if that night was a dream.

However, it's also good, as Qi Ran doesn't like trouble.

At the beginning of the year, another heavy snow fell, and a concubine in the palace died.

This matter is like a drop of water falling into a lake, fading away unnoticed.

Because His Majesty is making preparations for the Crown Prince's marriage, who is now seventeen years old.

The Crown Prince is moving out of the Eastern Palace.

Consort Xiao was furious.

But the fire didn't reach Gu Wensi's place.

The emperor's permission for him to move out of the palace signifies his recognition of his abilities and allows him to establish his own staff and independently handle some aspects of state affairs.

This marks the transition of the crown prince from "heir apparent" to "quasi-monarch," enabling him to cultivate his own governing abilities, win over the hearts of the people, and pave the way for his ascension to the throne.

Gu Wensi was certainly pleased.

The Crown Prince's residence was several times larger than the palace's. After moving out, Gu Wensi changed his previous low-key approach, making friends with many talented people and recruiting advisors to handle state affairs for the emperor.

From February to August, the Crown Prince's actions became increasingly awe-inspiring.

When almost everyone thought the next emperor would be the crown prince, the previously unknown ninth prince, Gu Qing, suddenly became frequently involved in court affairs.

This division of power displeased Gu Wensi.

Although Gu Qing had no relatives or friends and no powerful backing, for some reason, Gu Wensi was still uneasy and felt that Gu Qing was a potential threat.

Inside the Crown Prince's residence.

Shu Jing was summoned and saw Gu Wensi sitting in the study. He bowed deeply and asked, "Your Highness, what is the matter that has caused you such a hurry?"

"Sit down, Shu Jing." Gu Wensi was about to give him a task.

"Your Highness, could it be that the Fourth Prince has hatched another scheme and is starting to cause trouble again?"

"no."

Gu Wensi took out a bottle of poison and placed it in front of Shu Jing. "My ninth brother is getting more and more hostile towards me, Shu Jing."

Shu Jing suppressed the smile on his lips, touched the medicine bottle, and remained calm.

"Does Your Highness intend to eliminate him?"

"Be clean, don't leave any loose ends. Father's cold poison has flared up badly recently. I suppose Consort Xiao couldn't wait any longer and has been giving him that medicine quite often."

Gu Wensi sneered, his expression mirroring that of Gu Yan.

Shu Jing responded.

This country is about to change drastically.

After exchanging pleasantries with the Crown Prince, he left the Crown Prince's residence and followed the secret passage into the palace.

When they reappeared, they were already at the secluded Qinghui Courtyard.

Shu Jing revealed Gu Wensi's entire plan and also told Gu Qing a big secret.

"Over the years, Consort Xiao has been poisoning His Majesty. His Majesty's days are probably numbered. Ninth Prince, when do you plan to make your move? Our Shu family will do everything in our power to assist you."

"Thank you, Shu Jing." Gu Qing picked up the medicine bottle, wondering how to return it. "Is this poison lethal?"

"Highly poisonous." Shu Jing nodded.

Shu Jing saw through his intentions and revealed, "In a few days, the Crown Prince will be discussing matters at a banquet hosted by his family. With so many people around, it will be difficult to trace what he ate and drank."

Gu Qing handed the bottle back to him, "Then give him more to eat."

Shu Jing nodded, "Yes."

The atmosphere in the study dissipated as footsteps approached.

"Your Highness, I take my leave!"

Shu Jing wanted to see Qi Ran, but knew that they couldn't reveal too much about their plan, so he opened the secret passage and left.

Qi Ran brought in tea and presented it to Gu Qing, saying, "Your Highness, please have some tea."

"Aran, don't leave the yard for the next few days; it's chaotic outside."

"Yes."

Qi Ran nodded.

A few days later, a torrential rainstorm enveloped the palace.

Qi Ran woke up in a daze, just as a clap of thunder rumbled.

The window had been blown open at some point.

He got up to close the window; outside was pitch black.

Qi Ran felt a sharp pain in the back of her neck, and then someone covered her mouth and nose and dragged her away.

The wind whistled past his ears, carrying a biting chill. He couldn't tell which way was which, only the hurried footsteps of the man in black and the dull thud of his own crashing against the stone wall.

After an unknown amount of time, the coarse linen cloth covering his face was suddenly ripped off, and the blinding candlelight made him squint.

It turned out to be the emperor's bedroom.

The hall was eerily quiet; even the sound of the candle flames popping was exceptionally clear.

The ambergris, mixed with a strong medicinal smell, filled the air, making it hard to breathe.

The bright yellow curtains hung low, and the embroidered dragon patterns twisted in the candlelight, looking as if they were alive.

Suddenly, a withered, bluish-black hand emerged from behind the curtain, its fingertips trembling slightly, and beckoned to him.

"come over."

His voice was hoarse, like a broken bellows, yet it carried an undeniable authority.

The old eunuch standing nearby immediately brought over a basin of warm water, wrung out a handkerchief, and stuffed it into Qi Ran's hand, his eyes filled with a hint of urgency and ruthlessness.

Qi Ran held the warm handkerchief and walked step by step toward the bedside.

Behind the curtain, the emperor lay in a brocade quilt, his face ashen, but his lips were an eerie crimson, with blood constantly seeping from the corners of his mouth, running down his jawline and staining his nightgown red.

Qi Ran raised her hand to wipe away the blood, her fingertips touching the icy cold skin.

But the blood flowed like beads from a broken string; one wave would be wiped away, only for another to gush out. No matter how much you wiped, it wouldn't get clean, and soon the handkerchief was soaked through.

Suddenly, a hand gripped his wrist with astonishing force, the knuckles almost digging into his flesh.

The emperor stared intently at Qi Ran's face, his cloudy eyes swirling with intense lust, as if trying to etch that face into his very bones.

"Come with me...down there."

His voice was barely audible, yet it carried a cruel, obsessive intensity: "Be buried with me... When I go to the underworld, I'll make you a concubine... no... an empress..."

Qi Ran froze, and out of the corner of her eye, she saw two expressionless eunuchs standing in the shadows at the corner of the hall.

Each of them clutched a white silk ribbon in their hands, the cloth clenched tightly and gleaming coldly in the candlelight.

That was something meant to strangle him.

The emperor was still rambling on and on.

It is said that his mother died young when he was a child, and he suffered the cold in the cold palace. It is said that he ascended the throne by stepping on the corpses of his brothers. It is said that he had everything in his life, but only met such a worthy person when he died.

He spoke haltingly, coughing violently, and blood splattered onto Qi Ran's hand, burning him terribly.

Qi Ran neither laughed nor showed fear.

He simply withdrew his hand, found a stool not far from the bed, sat down, and watched quietly.