Chapter 5: The Caged Bird

The memories of Prince Huai, Zhu Zigui, surged in Ren Ye’s mind. Yet, they lacked vivid imagery or specific details of life and felt more like the inner monologue of someone recounting their story.

Standing before the bronze mirror, Ren Ye gradually came back to his senses. Muttering with unease, he said, “I’m Prince Huai. The uncle mentioned in those memories must be the Emperor, and my father would be the previous prince consort. And this Emperor has been secretly searching for a ‘Heavenly Pardoned One’?”

The thought sent shivers down his spine. Why is that wretched Emperor looking for me?

More importantly, the original host, Zhu Zigui, was utterly useless. Based on the recollection, he couldn’t even be considered a proper hedonist. Aside from indulging in women, he had no other skills. Worse, he was currently under house arrest by the court.

While Ren Ye was deep in thought, a cold, mechanical voice echoed in his ears.

[Mysterious Legacy Quest Activated: Act One – “Agents in the Shadows”]

[Story Introduction:

The battle for the throne of the Great Qian Dynasty has ended. The spoiled scion Zhu Zigui has inherited the title of Prince Huai but is now under house arrest in the royal residence. The Emperor of Great Qian is cautious and suspicious by nature, yet for reasons unknown, he hasn’t killed you. Instead, he has planted ten covert agents in Prince Huai’s residence to act as his eyes and ears. What is he plotting?]

[The Ten Covert Agents:

Each is played by a separate player, aligned with either the Court Faction or the Opportunist Faction.]

[Your Role Card:

Prince Huai, exclusive to the Prince Huai Faction.]

[Role Ability – “Royal Command”:

You can convert any two players to your Prince Huai Faction. However, this requires personal charisma, and the converted players must swear allegiance.]

[Key Item – The Imperial Brush:

An heirloom left by the founding Emperor of Great Qian. On his deathbed, the old Emperor gave it to you. Inscribed on the brush are the words:

“With a stroke of the brush, I craft a legacy for millennia; on the stage of history, I paint an empire.”

Currently, the brush lies dormant and possesses no supernatural power. It is said that the old Emperor once used it to write a secret edict, which your father stored within the estate.]

[Special Artifact – The Nation-Stabilizing Sword:

The Great Qian Dynasty’s national treasure, once wielded by your father. After his death, the sword mourned for three days before losing its luster, now reduced to an ordinary weapon. Legends say it will only acknowledge one who bears extraordinary destiny.]

[Current Objective 1: Survive for 72 hours.]

[Current Objective 2: Restore the Imperial Brush’s supernatural power. Seek out the old Emperor’s secret edict.]

[Current Objective 3: Protect your identity as the Heavenly Pardoned One and avoid catastrophic exposure. Identifying the true identity of any covert agent will yield substantial rewards.]

[Special Rule:

In this act, players may kill each other and seize their items.]

[Important Note:

The current Emperor is ruthless and paranoid. If he senses any “strange occurrences” in Prince Huai’s residence, everyone might die. Everyone might die. Everyone might die.]

[Countdown to Departure: 71:57:32]

[Blessing from the Star Gate:

“Throughout history, stripped feudal lords have met tragic ends. Let’s hope you’re the exception…”]

As the cold voice faded, Ren Ye’s dazed expression snapped back into focus. A surge of excitement welled within him.

“This is it! The Star Gate quest that Huang Wei mentioned!”

After taking a moment to calm himself, Ren Ye began pacing around the sleeping quarters, piecing together his thoughts.

It was evident that this was a role-playing legacy quest. Besides himself, there were ten other players, making it a faction-based confrontation.

But damn, this character—Zhu Zigui—is just too useless. No skills, no allies, no strategy.

Most critically, he was the sole member of the Prince Huai Faction. From the looks of it, he might face a one-against-ten scenario right at the start…

Impossible! This is way too difficult!

Anxiety weighed on him as he contemplated his situation.

Based on Objective 2, the priority seemed to be restoring the Imperial Brush’s power to bolster his hand. The clues suggested this involved the old Emperor’s secret edict.

Objective 3 required identifying the covert agents hidden within the residence. However, that task seemed lower priority. With his limited resources, he needed to stay under the radar and bide his time…

…

After pacing back and forth, Ren Ye’s thoughts began to clear. He clasped his hands behind his back and surveyed the sleeping quarters, familiarizing himself with the surroundings.

Suddenly, hurried footsteps echoed in the corridor.

“Tap, tap!”

Ren Ye turned toward the sound and saw a maid rushing to the doorway, her face pale with panic. Trembling, she knelt and cried out, “Your Highness! Something terrible has happened!”

Ren Ye stared at the maid, and a fragment of Zhu Zigui’s memory surfaced in his mind.

Huh? I’ve slept with this woman before…

This was Lian’er, a maid whom Zhu Zigui had drunkenly dragged to bed on a dark and stormy night.

Wait a second—why are there no vivid details of us sleeping together?

I want details—details!

Ren Ye adjusted his emotions slightly and deliberately assumed an air of authority. “What’s the matter?”

“The Prefect of Qingliang, officials from the Secretariat, the Qingzhou Guard, the Secret Intelligence Division, and the Internal Affairs Bureau have all gathered in the Hall of Sincerity. They request Your Highness to preside over a case,” the maid replied, bowing her head and kneeling. “The Princess Consort has already gone to the hall and sent me to summon Your Highness.”

“A case? What case?” Ren Ye was baffled.

“They claim that Commander Wang of the Royal Guard has committed treason. They have evidence and witnesses, and they ask Your Highness to adjudicate,” the maid answered.

Ren Ye froze for a moment, and fragments of memories from the previous night surfaced in his mind.

Wang Jingzhong, the Commander of the Royal Guard, was one of the few loyalists who had served under the previous Prince and now remained by Zhu Zigui’s side.

Last night, while drinking together, Zhu Zigui had tearfully and pitifully pleaded with Wang Jingzhong to secretly attempt to win over the Commander of the Secret Intelligence Division, hoping to amass power discreetly for self-preservation. Wang had agreed without hesitation.

And now, he’d been caught?

It seemed Wang Jingzhong’s attempt to turn the tide had failed, and the court officials had used the opportunity to frame him. After all, the Prince’s residence was filled with imperial loyalists acting as spies.

Did Wang Jingzhong implicate me? Ren Ye felt a pang of unease.

“How many officials are present in the Hall of Sincerity?” he asked.

“More than forty,” the maid replied.

“…!” Ren Ye was speechless at the number.

This wasn’t just a case; it was a direct challenge to authority. The conspirators had united against him, leaving him no choice but to face them.

Resigned, Ren Ye sighed. “Lead the way to the Hall of Sincerity.”

…

As Ren Ye left his chamber, he walked briskly down the expansive corridor. On both sides, maids bowed low to the ground, greeting him in unison.

“Greetings, Your Highness!”

“…!”

The voices reverberated around him, and Ren Ye glanced at the maids on both sides, his heart sinking with a peculiar realization.

Wait, this woman… I’ve slept with her.

And this one, too?

What the—her as well?!

“…!”

After a quick scan, Ren Ye concluded that almost every young and beautiful maid in this corridor had, at some point, shared a “passionate and pure” relationship with him.

Internally, he was floored.

This young Prince wasn’t just idle; he was an outright libertine. No responsibility, no strategy—just endlessly stabbing where it didn’t belong.

Even more shockingly, there wasn’t a single innocent woman in this entire corridor. He’d even dallied with at least one older maid over 35—a peach past its prime.

This original host wasn’t just a useless scion. He was a useless scion with a peculiar “talent.” The Emperor’s blade was already at his throat, yet he had the nerve to pursue every fleeting passion.

…

After about a quarter of an hour, Ren Ye finally arrived at the Hall of Sincerity, escorted by a retinue of eunuchs and maids, riding in a sedan chair.

This grand hall, where the Prince was supposed to conduct his affairs, was an imposing structure of blue tiles and red walls. A massive 30-meter-long Nine Dragon Wall stood to the left of the main entrance. Reflected in the rippling waters of the pool before it, the nine dragons appeared almost alive.

In the Great Qian Dynasty, the fiefdoms of princes were akin to miniature kingdoms. The princes were sovereign rulers of their domains, enjoying privileges akin to a second emperor. However, Zhu Zigui was an exception. He’d been thoroughly marginalized, and any high-ranking official in his residence probably lived more comfortably than he did.

As he stepped out of the sedan chair, Ren Ye entered the hall through a side door. Inside, he immediately noticed over forty officials standing in two orderly rows, their heads bowed respectfully.

At the center of their assembly knelt an elderly, broad-shouldered man in his fifties, his graying hair disheveled. His hands were bound behind him, and his body was covered with injuries.

This was none other than Wang Jingzhong, the Commander of the Royal Guard.

“His Highness the Prince has arrived!”

The eunuch’s high-pitched announcement echoed through the hall.

“Greetings to His Highness the Prince!”

The officials spoke in unison and bowed deeply.

Feigning composure, Ren Ye swept his gaze across the group without betraying any emotion. He began walking towards the throne but suddenly stopped.

Seated to the side was a breathtakingly beautiful woman.

She appeared to be around twenty years old, her delicate features radiant and otherworldly, like an untainted lotus rising from the mire. Her bright, clear eyes exuded an unapproachable aloofness, while her lithe, graceful figure hinted at tantalizing curves.

However, despite her striking beauty, she was dressed simply in a plain, loose-fitting Daoist robe. Her jet-black hair was held up with a wooden hairpin, further enhancing her serene and frosty demeanor.

This was none other than the Princess Consort, Xu Qingzhao.

Wait, I’ve never slept with her?

Zhu Zigui, you’re truly pathetic! You’ve seduced every maid over 30, yet you couldn’t win over your own wife?

In his memories, Xu Qingzhao was the legitimate daughter of the Grand Chancellor. Her marriage to Zhu Zigui was purely a political arrangement, devoid of any affection. Since the Prince’s house arrest, their relationship had only grown colder.

Moreover, Xu Qingzhao, though in her prime, was deeply devoted to cultivating Daoist arts. She showed no interest in courtly affairs, making her more of an outsider in this power struggle.

Ren Ye paused briefly, then ascended the dais, seating himself in the throne’s primary position.

The princess consort sat calmly to the side, her expression cold and detached. Her beautiful face remained indifferent, and she didn’t even acknowledge her husband.

In truth, she had been staying at her family’s home for over six months. Upon returning to the royal residence three days ago, she had yet to meet with Prince Huai.

In the solemn atmosphere of the Hall of Sincerity, Ren Ye let his gaze sweep across the officials. With a deliberately stern expression, he remained silent.

Coming from a modern bureaucratic background, Ren Ye understood that while the structure of governance might differ, the essence of political maneuvering remained the same. In situations where he was unclear on the details, it was always best to let others speak first.

Sure enough, after a brief silence, one of the officials stepped forward.

After bowing respectfully, he said, “Your Highness, the Commander of the Royal Guard, Wang Jingzhong, attempted to bribe the Commander of the Secret Intelligence Division, Wu Asan, into rebellion last night. There is overwhelming evidence of his crime. I implore Your Highness to administer severe punishment, interrogate him thoroughly, and root out his accomplices to safeguard the integrity of Qingliang Prefecture.”

Ren Ye glanced at this official. He recognized him as Imperial Inspector Liu, a member of the Secretariat Office. Liu was responsible for monitoring and documenting everything about the prince’s actions, down to the smallest detail.

Since the founding of the Great Qian, the Secretariat Office had been established in all princely courts as a surveillance agency. These offices served as the emperor’s eyes and ears, reporting every movement of the princes—including, presumably, their bathroom habits.

Ren Ye, dressed in a crimson robe, sat upright and responded in formal language, imitating the manner of ancient officials:

“Imperial Inspector Liu, Commander Wang Jingzhong has served loyally for years. He followed my late father to countless battles since the age of 18, earning numerous distinctions. What reason would he have to commit treason?”

“Your Highness, Qingliang Prefecture borders the southern territories. Commander Wang’s actions suggest a connection with the southern states. Had his plot gone undetected, Your Highness’s safety would have been gravely endangered.” Imperial Inspector Liu bowed slightly, his sharp gaze filled with malice. A cold smirk tugged at the corner of his lips. “I beg Your Highness to use severe punishment without delay!”

“Your Highness!” Another voice emerged. It was the Commander of the Secret Intelligence Division. He stepped forward and proclaimed, “Last night, Wang Jingzhong invited me to drink. He probed my intentions several times, offering generous rewards to persuade me into colluding with him. He even suggested seizing control of Your Highness’s quarters. This is clearly an act of treason. I urge Your Highness to administer severe punishment!”

He added, “Several maids and guards witnessed this. They can testify.”

Hearing this, Ren Ye’s heart sank. His initial intent was to protect Wang Jingzhong. After all, being a puppet prince left him with few trustworthy allies, and Wang was one of them. But given the current accusations, it seemed not only was Wang beyond saving, but Ren Ye himself might be in danger.

The officials weren’t asking for Wang’s execution; they specifically demanded torture to extract information about his accomplices. This clearly aimed to force Wang to implicate Ren Ye.

If that happened, it wouldn’t just be a matter of saving face—it would threaten his very survival.

Ren Ye deliberated briefly before looking at a tall, broad-shouldered man in a black robe with streaks of gray in his hair. The man stood silently, not even raising his head.

This was Li Yan, the Director of the Secretariat Office and the de facto overseer of the prince’s court. He was the emperor’s most trusted agent in Qingliang Prefecture.

Imperial Inspector Liu and the Secret Intelligence Division’s commander wouldn’t dare act so brazenly without Li Yan’s tacit approval.

“Director Li,” Ren Ye addressed him, “I have matters to discuss with you. Shall we speak privately in the side chamber?”

Li Yan stood motionless, his gaze fixed downward. He didn’t even flinch. “Nothing outweighs the matter of treason. I urge Your Highness to deal with Wang Jingzhong immediately.”

Negotiations failed.

Ren Ye clenched his teeth, scanning the room before settling his gaze on the princess consort’s exquisite profile. “Does anyone here hold a differing opinion?”

The princess consort accepted a cup of tea handed to her by a maid, sipping it gracefully. Her expression remained calm and aloof, as though she hadn’t heard him.

The hall was deathly silent, not a soul willing to speak up for Ren Ye.

Imperial Inspector Liu stepped forward again, his tone sharper than before. “Your Highness, I beseech you to use severe punishment and investigate Wang Jingzhong’s accomplices!”

“Thud, thud!”

Following his lead, over forty officials stepped forward in unison, bowing and shouting, “We beg Your Highness to use severe punishment and uncover Wang Jingzhong’s co-conspirators!”

Seeing the aggressive crowd closing in, Ren Ye felt despair rising within him.

So, this Zhu Zigui is not just a caged bird—he’s an idiot!

You’re utterly useless. If you’re this incompetent, could you at least stop messing things up?

The only loyal subordinate with military power, and you ordered him to attempt a defection? And then he got caught?!

Are you stupid?

Now you’ve left me with this impossible mess. What am I supposed to do?

As these thoughts churned in his mind, the princess consort placed her teacup down. Her star-like eyes gleamed as she gazed coolly at Wang Jingzhong, who knelt battered and bound in the center of the hall.