Chapter 40: The hostage prince

Before entering the mission pod, He Ting was still thinking about the memories from his previous mission world.

He asked one of the staff members, “If I succeed in this mission, does that mean I can get back the memories from the last one?”

The staff member nodded. “If the mission is successful, then yes, of course.”

He Ting smiled, clenched his fist, and cheered himself on. “I can definitely do it!”

But the moment he woke up in the mission world, all that confidence disappeared.

He even rubbed his face in disbelief before asking pitifully, “System, how about we go back? This mission world is completely unsuitable for me. Can we manually eject ourselves?”

The system replied, “I wouldn’t recommend that. Even if you don’t succeed, you should at least try. Even if we eject now, there’s no guarantee that the next mission world won’t be even more dangerous. It’s like digging a hole to plant a tree. You dig one hole and think the location is bad, then dig another and think the soil quality is poor. If you keep doing that again and again, you’ll eventually become the King of Holes.”

“…”

What was that? What kind of nonsense was that? Was this system mentally ill?

But… why did it somehow sound a little reasonable?

This mission world was an ancient one.

The original host was named Wen Ruofeng.

Wen Ruofeng was the heir apparent of the State of Wen, theoretically the future crown prince. However, under political pressure, he had been sent to the neighboring State of Fu as a hostage when he was only ten years old.

He grew up in Fu.

On the surface, Fu treated him extremely well. Fine clothing, exquisite food, rare treasures, beautiful attendants—he lacked nothing, and in some ways lived even more comfortably than he had in Wen.

Yet despite all of that, he lived in constant fear, terrified that a single wrong step would leave him buried in foreign soil.

Eight years of luxury had never eroded his resolve.

Though he appeared to be a carefree playboy, he had secretly spent those years planning for the day he could return to his homeland, seize power, and restore Wen’s former glory.

A young man with such grand ambitions had ultimately been destroyed by love.

After spending eight years walking on the edge of a blade, he longed desperately for warmth.

Amid the pleasures of wine and women, his heart was captured by Prince Shen Run, the Seventh Prince of Fu, who treated him with extraordinary tenderness.

Shen Run even produced a handwritten letter from Wen Ruofeng’s younger brother, Wen Ruoyun.

The letter said that if Wen Ruofeng helped Shen Run seize the throne, then once Shen Run succeeded, Wen Ruofeng would finally be allowed to return home.

Mutual affection and irresistible promises led Wen Ruofeng to make the greatest mistake of his life.

Taking advantage of Crown Prince Shen Yuan’s trust, he repeatedly stole intelligence and passed it to Shen Run.

Shen Run succeeded.

But he never allowed Wen Ruofeng to return to Wen.

Instead, he supported Wen Ruoyun’s rise to power, imprisoned Wen Ruofeng, and kept him as a possession to satisfy his own desires.

Heartbroken and humiliated, Wen Ruofeng eventually found an opportunity to take his own life.

His life was tragic.

He had trusted the wrong person and loved the wrong person, and in the end he became nothing more than a plaything.

Once a son of heaven, he was reduced to dust.

That was exactly why He Ting wanted to abort the mission.

Palace struggles and battles for the throne were far beyond him.

He was simple by nature and had absolutely no talent for political intrigue.

But quitting without trying felt unbearable.

Sitting in the warm pavilion with a small hand warmer in his arms, he slowly thought things through.

At this point in the story, he and Shen Run were still in that ambiguous stage where affection had not yet been fully confessed.

Fortunately, no irreversible mistake had been made.

Everything could still be changed.

He Ting knew his own limitations.

Since he was incapable of fighting for power, he might as well withdraw completely and quietly enjoy life.

Anything was better than becoming someone’s toy.

The thought made him shiver.

Shen Run looked gentle and refined, but in bed he had…

So many tricks.

Really.

Really…

He Ting’s face turned red.

“These ancient people are so open-minded,” he complained to the system.

The system replied, “You’re an open-minded ancient person now.”

“…”

He suddenly sat upright.

“No, no, no! I refuse to become a plaything!”

His mind raced.

Simply withdrawing wasn’t enough.

He also had to prevent Shen Run from succeeding.

Whether he participated or not, if Shen Run became emperor, he would still end up imprisoned and exploited.

His own power was limited.

But if he could quietly sabotage Shen Run at the right moments and become a stumbling block on his path to the throne, perhaps that would be enough.

His thoughts were a mess.

Eventually he leaned back in the reclining chair and decided, Enjoy life first. Adapt as circumstances change second.

He Ting had a naturally broad heart.

Once he sorted out his thoughts, he felt much better.

He grabbed a handful of raw peanuts and tossed them into the brazier.

Something still felt missing.

So he called the estate steward, Uncle Feng.

“Uncle Feng, have someone buy some dried sweet potatoes.”

Looking at the old man, He Ting thought that Uncle Feng had died horribly in the original story.

This time, he wanted to treat him better.

“Dried sweet potatoes?” Uncle Feng looked confused.

“Yes. Dried sweet potatoes.”

Uncle Feng acknowledged the order and left.

Not long afterward, he hurried back.

“My lord?”

He nodded.

“My lord, Prince Shen Run has arrived.”

He Ting froze for a moment.

Shen Run…

The smile vanished from his face.

He frowned, but did not dare delay.

“Please invite him in.”

The curtain of the warm pavilion was lifted.

He Ting immediately stood and bowed.

Shen Run stepped forward and took his hand.

“Your health is poor. You don’t need to bother with formalities anymore.”

He smiled faintly, his tone carrying a hint of intimacy.

“Besides, there’s no need for such formalities between you and me.”

Wen was in the south, where spring lasted all year.

Fu was in the north, and its capital was even farther north, where winter lasted nearly half the year.

Wen Ruofeng had arrived as a child.

Separated from his family and homeland, frightened and unable to adapt to the northern climate, he had fallen seriously ill several times and permanently damaged his health.

He spent more time drinking medicine than eating meals.

He Ting quietly withdrew his hand and smiled.

“Your Highness, what are you saying? If someone overheard, wouldn’t it create unnecessary rumors?”

His peach blossom eyes curved with a smile.

Shen Run stared at him, momentarily entranced.

“You’re right. I was careless.”

Then he asked, “When I came in, I saw one of your servants rushing out into the snow. Was something urgent?”

He Ting smiled.

“There’s nothing urgent here. I simply asked them to buy some dried sweet potatoes. But Your Highness came through the snow yourself. Is something the matter?”

Shen Run laughed.

“You and your sweet potatoes. If you want dried sweet potatoes, I’ll have my people deliver an entire cart to you.”

As he spoke, he reached for He Ting’s hand again.

He Ting quickly stepped back.

Shen Run didn’t seem offended.

“Come with me to Jiangxue Pavilion. There are several new girls there. I’ve already had them reserved for you. They’re all untouched.”

He Ting nearly choked.

“System,” he said, “why did I end up in this world? What part of me fits here?”

The system answered, “The part where you become a plaything.”

“I’m warning you. This attitude of yours is very unhealthy. I’m filing a complaint when we get back.”

The system replied, “Telling the truth is a crime?”

He Ting sighed.

“We’re both outsiders in a foreign land. We’re on the same side, okay? Can you please recognize reality?”

The system fell silent.

He Ting rubbed his forehead.

He was still searching for an excuse to refuse when Shen Run said,

“Didn’t you say last time that you really wanted to go?”

“…I did,” He Ting admitted helplessly.

Wen Ruofeng had said it.

What else could he do?

Outside, snow was still falling heavily.

The carriage had already been prepared.

Wrapped in a white fox-fur cloak, He Ting climbed aboard with Zhang Quan.

Shen Run’s carriage led the way as the two carriages set off one after another.

The peanuts in the brazier had roasted.

He Ting used small tongs to take them out and shared them with Zhang Quan.

Both Zhang Quan and Uncle Feng had accompanied him from Wen.

They were fiercely loyal.

In the original story, Shen Run had eventually arranged for both of them to be killed.

Lowering his eyes, He Ting silently vowed that he would protect them this time.

Otherwise, he would truly have no one left to rely on.

After less than half an hour, the carriage stopped.

Zhang Quan helped him down.

The sky had already darkened, but the snow reflected a pale glow.

The bright red lanterns of Jiangxue Pavilion stood out vividly against the endless white.

Warmth and fragrance rushed toward them.

Following Shen Run inside, the madam hurried over.

“Oh my, I knew this snowfall was auspicious! We’ve welcomed distinguished guests. Your Highness, Young Lord Wen, this way please!”

They went upstairs into a private room.

Soon several beautiful young girls entered.

They looked no older than fourteen or fifteen.

‘Far too young.’

He Ting thought.

Even though he knew that girls of that age were commonly married off in this era, he simply could not accept it.

Shen Run chose two of them and pulled them into his lap.

“Choose one.”

He Ting smiled and said to the attendant beside him,

“Let Rui Zhu come. I only like her.”

Rui Zhu was one of his spies in Jiangxue Pavilion.

Over the years, Wen Ruofeng had planted many agents.

Most had already been discovered and eliminated.

Only Rui Zhu and one other remained.

The entire evening was torture.

Watching Shen Run touch those girls made it hard for He Ting to breathe.

To avoid suspicion, Rui Zhu also had to remain close to him.

She clung to him constantly, even pretending to feed him wine mouth-to-mouth.

She was afraid anyone might notice something unusual.

He Ting spent the whole night awkwardly trying to keep up appearances.

A thin layer of sweat formed on his back.

His cheeks were flushed from embarrassment.

His obvious discomfort only made Shen Run lose interest in the girls.

Instead, his gaze kept drifting toward He Ting.

Only after climbing back into the carriage did He Ting finally let out a long breath.

The sweat on his back had turned cold.

His inner robe clung damply to his skin.

He closed his eyes and leaned against the carriage wall.

He had never felt so exhausted.

It was mental exhaustion more than anything.

When the carriage stopped outside the hostage residence, Zhang Quan lifted the curtain and murmured in surprise,

“Hm? What is it?”

Zhang Quan lowered the curtain again.

“It’s the Crown Prince’s carriage.”

He Ting rubbed his forehead and climbed down half-dead.

Uncle Feng was already waiting outside the warm pavilion.

“My lord, His Highness the Crown Prince has been waiting for a long time. Also, Prince Shen Run sent over an entire cart of dried sweet potatoes.”

He Ting frowned and went to inspect them first.

Then he laughed helplessly.

“They’re raw?”

Uncle Feng looked puzzled.

“Are there cooked ones?”

He Ting waved his hand.

“Forget it. Have someone buy a cart of fresh sweet potatoes.”

He stood outside the pavilion for a moment before lifting the curtain.

Crown Prince Shen Yuan was lounging in the very reclining chair He Ting had been using that afternoon.

When he entered, Shen Yuan smiled without warmth.

“So you’ve been drinking and visiting brothels again?”

He Ting bowed properly.

“I only sat there for a while.”

Shen Yuan straightened and raised one elegant eyebrow.

“Come here.”

He Ting obediently walked over.

When he was still half a step away, Shen Yuan raised a hand to stop him.

Frowning, he said,

“You reek of perfume. Wen Ruofeng, after all these years, have you made any progress beyond eating, drinking, gambling, and chasing pleasure?”

He Ting lowered his head and silently complained in his heart.

Isn’t this exactly what all of you wanted? If I were actually capable, none of you would be sleeping peacefully.

Shen Yuan stood and grabbed him by the shoulders.

“Are the girls in the brothel fun?”

He Ting stammered,

“Fu-fun… Have you never been there, Your Highness?”

Shen Yuan gave a short laugh.

“I really haven’t. Why don’t you teach me?”

Before He Ting could respond, Shen Yuan had already cupped his chin and lifted his face.

“How?” he asked softly.

“Teach me.”

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