Quick Transmigration: Playing the Role of a Devoted Tool

The imperial carriage traveled all the way to the Peacock Terrace.

This building is located at the highest point of the palace. Its white marble railings are carved with patterns of a hundred birds paying homage to the phoenix. When the morning light shines in, it dyes the railings a translucent jade color.

A bronze cauldron stands atop the platform, its smoke curling and drifting in all directions on the morning breeze.

Gu Qing released his hand, turned around and took the jade and silk from the master of ceremonies, the hem of his black ceremonial robe sweeping across the cloud-patterned bricks on the table.

The person beside him stood a step behind him.

The morning light fell on his eyebrows and eyes, softening his features. The shadows cast by his long eyelashes covered his eyes, concealing his dullness, making him look as beautiful as a traditional Chinese painting of a lady.

Qi Ran simply let his hands hang down, his gaze still fixed blankly on a patch of moss in the crack between the bricks, his fingers unconsciously curling up as if he had been frozen in place.

He seemed to be startled awake only when the red tassels of the emperor's crown fell down and brushed against his fingertips.

Then he slowly raised his hand, his fingertips brushing against the red tassel, his movements gentle and slow, with a hint of bewildered intimacy.

His fingertips brushed against the silk threads of the red tassel, but the sensation seemed to stir no ripples in his heart; his gaze remained empty.

The prayer text for the sacrificial ceremony to Heaven was written by the emperor himself, and the ink still carried the fragrance of pine soot ink.

He walked slowly to the altar, his voice deep and resonant, carrying through the swirling smoke:

"Under the watchful eye of Heaven, and in accordance with the laws of Heaven, the Empress and I now offer this sacrifice to Heaven, wishing for the eternal stability of our land and rivers, the eternal peace of our people, and for us to protect this land year after year."

As the words fell, the distant palaces lit up one by one, their golden glazed tiles shimmering in the morning light.

The wind swirled the cigarettes on the stage, swept past the overlapping shadows of the two people, and then rose higher into the sky.

The person beside him gazed at the emperor's retreating figure, a slight smile playing on their lips.

There was no laughter, nor sadness.

Those beautiful eyes were still blank, but they held an inexplicable vulnerability that shone through the morning light that filled the stage.

The cheers from the audience rose again.

This time, they chanted "May the Emperor and Empress live a long life."

Qi Ran was pushed by Lin Shou beside her before she bowed and greeted him. The jade crown on her hair swayed, and the jade ornaments that fell down brushed against her cheeks.

His head drooped, his gaze still empty.

She landed on the brick ground warmed by the morning sun, her profile was incredibly soft, even a single strand of hair falling by her temple exuded breathtaking beauty.

Later, the people learned that the emperor and empress were stunningly beautiful women.

Unfortunately, he was an idiot.

In the winter of that year, heavy snow fell in Gu Kingdom, and the disaster in the north was severe. No matter how late it was, Gu Qing would come to the emperor and empress's palace to talk with them.

As dusk settled over the palace walls, it stretched the glow of the gilded palace lanterns long and thin.

Gu Qing removed his court robes, wearing only a black casual outfit, and pushed open the vermilion door of the sleeping quarters.

Only a single palace lantern was lit inside the hall, its warm yellow light enveloping the tranquility and falling upon Qi Ran.

Upon seeing His Majesty arrive, Lin Shou wisely made his departure.

He stood guard outside the palace, watching the snow falling heavily under the eaves, and slowly loosened his clenched palms.

Inside the hall.

Qi Ran sat on the soft couch by the window, still wearing the same plain nightgown. Her black hair was loosely tied up, with a few strands falling beside her cheeks, making her beautiful face appear even more radiant.

He just sat there, his back very straight.

Her gaze, however, was blankly fixed on the night outside the window, not even disturbing the sound of Gu Qing's footsteps as he entered, like an exquisite jade statue that had lost its soul.

"Ranran." Gu Qing walked over, his voice extremely soft.

Qi Ran then slowly turned her head back.

Her gaze swept across his face blankly, she didn't speak, but just blinked, her long eyelashes trembling like butterfly wings, with a dazed look of complete oblivion.

Gu Qing bent down and picked him up horizontally. When his arm went under the knees, his fingertips touched the cool skin of the man.

Qi Ran was very well-behaved. The moment she was picked up, she subconsciously raised her arms to encircle his neck and gently pressed her cheek against his shoulder.

Its breath was soft and gentle, and it clung to her obediently without struggling at all, like a tamed little animal.

Gu Qing placed him on the bed, leaned down and kissed his forehead, his fingertips slowly tracing the outline of his eyebrows and eyes.

Qi Ran stared at him with her beautiful eyes, a thin mist still veiling them, making it impossible to discern her emotions.

It wasn't until Gu Qing pressed harder, his fingertips brushing against the skin of his neck, that he frowned slightly, but didn't say anything; his eyes slowly reddened.

In the cold, late night, amidst tender affection, he remained obedient, compliantly enduring everything.

When it hurt, she would just bite her lips hard, making them even more crimson, without letting out a single cry of pain.

Only when the pain intensifies will she blink and large tears roll down her cheeks and into her hair, wetting a small patch.

He didn't hide or make a fuss; he just stared with tears streaming down his face, his gaze still vacant, as if he didn't know he was crying or the reason for the pain.

Gu Qing raised his hand to wipe away his tears, his fingertips brushing against his slightly cool cheek, his voice barely audible and hoarse: "It's snowing outside, Ranran, shall we go build a snowman tomorrow?"

Qi Ran blinked, tears still falling, but she didn't respond. She simply reached out her cool fingertips and gently touched Gu Qing's chin, her movements blank yet dependent.

Gu Qing's heart softened, and he pulled him into a tight embrace, resting his chin on the top of his head, feeling the warm breath and slight trembling of the person in his arms.

The palace lanterns inside the hall flickered, casting the overlapping shadows of the two people.

Qi Ran nestled obediently in his arms, her tears gradually stopping, though her eyelashes were still wet, occasionally trembling slightly like butterfly wings after the rain.

However, the task of building a snowman was still left unfinished.

With the enemy invading, Gu Qing had no time to come to his palace.

Lin Shou remembered what he said that night, and he built a snowman in the snow to show Qi Ran.

Qi Ran couldn't understand, so she touched the snowman and then touched Lin Shou.

In an instant, Lin Shou panicked.

He grasped Qi Ran's fingertips, his gaze breaking apart inch by inch.

The snowflakes stung people's cheeks, falling softly across the blue brick floor and onto Lin Shou and Qi Ran's shoulders.

He knelt in the snow, his knees sinking into the cold snow, his body stiff, only his shoulders trembling violently.

He gripped Qi Ran's fingertips tightly with both hands; those fingertips were slightly cool, like a piece of jade that had lost its warmth.

His head was bowed low, his forehead pressed against Qi Ran's hand, and suppressed sobs escaped from his throat, mingling with the sound of wind and snow, breaking into a jumbled mess.

Tears fell onto the snow, leaving a small, dark stain, which was quickly covered by new snow.

Qi Ran stood before him, her moon-white cloak frosted with a thin layer of snow, and her black hair adorned with fine snowflakes.

He lowered his eyes, but his gaze did not fall on Lin Shou; it was already drawn to the birds hopping on the plum branches not far away.

Those incredibly beautiful eyes were now filled with a bewildered joy, and the corners of her mouth were slightly upturned in a faint, silly smile.

The wind carried the scent of plum blossoms, along with Lin Shou's suppressed sobs.

He cried so hard his body trembled, gripping Qi Ran's hand tighter and tighter until his knuckles turned white.

He cried for the person who used to smile and hand him a heater, who would gently remind him to put on more clothes.

I weep for this lifeless puppet, who can't even cry out in pain.

What made it even more heartbreaking was that she could only watch helplessly, without even the slightest strength to protect him.

The snow fell heavier and heavier, turning Lin Shou's hair white.

Qi Ran looked at the birds fluttering their wings on the plum branch, her eyes crinkling with laughter, completely unaware of how violently her own hand was trembling.

The world was a vast expanse of white, with only suppressed sobs and soft, meaningless laughter drifting in the wind and snow.