Wait, Don't Die Yet!

Jian Yanqing received a mysterious package and became a beta tester for the virtual reality game The Emperor.

His main quest was to raise a little prince in the cold palace, who was reviled as a "jinx," and groom him into a wise ruler of the age.

Jian Yanqing confidently jumped in, only for...

The little prince, who was kneeling in the snow and starving, choked to death on the cold bun Jian Yanqing gave him.

Gaming genius, hardcore grinder, Jian Yanqing: "?"

Unwilling to accept defeat, he gave the little prince medicine after he fell into the water in winter. Seven of the eight ingredients caused an allergic reaction, and the little prince died again.

After countless attempts, Jian Yanqing stared at the familiar death screen. "..."

Forget raising a wise ruler, he couldn't even keep the kid alive. :)

Fortunately, the game had a shred of conscience. After several consecutive deaths, it unlocked a fortune system called "Fortune and Misfortune Go Hand in Hand," which let Jian Yanqing take damage on the little prince's behalf.

It was just a little hard on the body.

In the crumbling palace, the little prince was sick with a high fever and wouldn't wake. A timid young eunuch stayed up all night tending to him, coughing up blood as he went.

In the bone-chilling waters of the pond, a newly arrived, brilliant physician, still recovering from severe injuries, threw himself in without hesitation just to save the little prince.

After being rescued for what had to be the umpteenth time by this wandering ghost who kept possessing different bodies, the little prince stared with ink-black, emotionless eyes and coldly asked:

"What do you want?"

Jian Yanqing answered without hesitation, sincerely: "I want you to stay alive."

Don't mess with my new account.

The little prince abruptly looked away, his eyelashes trembling.

Jian Yanqing diligently raised the little dumpling into adulthood, gazing with satisfaction at the [Perfect Clear] icon that was almost within reach.

Then a long, strong hand reached around his waist.

Jian Yanqing was horrified. "?"

The icon changed rapidly, [Perfect Clear] turning into [Severe Deviation].

Jian Yanqing: "..."

His heart had gone as cold as someone who'd spent thirty years gutting fish at RT-Mart.

Under the little emperor's bewildered gaze, he promptly logged out of the game.

It wasn't until one day, when the Special Administration Bureau came knocking, that Jian Yanqing learned The Emperor was actually a medium connecting to the ancient world.

And the little prince was a wise ruler, a once-in-a-millennium emperor who had died young.

Unable to refuse the Bureau's request, Jian Yanqing reluctantly logged back into the game.

A cool hand wrapped around his waist, drawing him into an embrace. A low whisper sounded by his ear: "I found you..."

The people from the Bureau: "...?"

Bonus scene:

Emperor Yuanzhao was the most mysterious emperor in history. He was farsighted and wise, knew how to use people, pursued bold reforms, and won the people's trust. Through sheer force of will, he saved a tottering dynasty and breathed new life into a kingdom weakened by poverty.

Yet apart from a few brief lines in the history books, he left no trace for posterity.

On the first day the Bureau entered The Emperor, a report appeared out of nowhere:

[Emperor Yuanzhao, surname Xie, given name Huaiyu

Preferred men.]

Reader's guide:

1. Completely fictional setting! Mountains of original worldbuilding!

2. This blurb was screenshotted on September 15, 2024. It may be revised before the story begins, but the premise won't change.

Theme: Life is precious