AD (QT) Chapter 157

Two months later, after half a year of hard work, Han Ze finally finished his primers. His tutor wiped cold sweat from his brow and gave him a day off—and used the opportunity to give himself a break as well. This student was the most difficult, worrisome, and exhausting he had ever taught; he wished he could give Han Ze a holiday every single day.

Han Ze didn’t care what the tutor was thinking. He stretched his arms and looked at the sky. The Crown Prince had been gone for two months. The Empress was sick with worry, and the Emperor, worried for her, had kept Xiaoxing and Xiaozhu in the palace to accompany her. Han Ze had been shut in his mansion studying and hadn’t been to the palace for several days. He missed the two little ones, so he decided to head to the palace to see them.

Upon arriving, Han Ze first paid his respects to Emperor Mingzheng before heading to the Kunning Palace. As he passed through the Imperial Garden, he heard a sneer. Han Ze frowned and saw Prince Yong. He intended to act as if he hadn’t seen him and walk past, but Prince Yong had no intention of letting him go and stepped forward to block his path.

Han Ze glared. “What are you blocking me for?”

Prince Yong gave a triumphant smile. “You don’t know yet, do you?”

Han Ze looked at him. “Why are you being so weird?”

Prince Yong’s face darkened for a moment, then he broke into an arrogant laugh. “You really don’t know? Your Big Brother, the Crown Prince, is missing.”

Han Ze said loudly, “Impossible. I don’t believe it.”

Prince Yong continued with a smirk, “With the Crown Prince missing—and gone—who do you think Imperial Father will make the new heir?”

Han Ze suddenly looked at him. “It won’t be you, in any case. Besides, it’s absolutely impossible for my Big Brother to have an accident.”

Prince Yong’s expression turned grim. He’s already missing, and it’s still impossible for something to have happened? “It certainly won’t be a fool like you!”

Han Ze said, “Aside from my brother, who among you is qualified to be the Crown Prince?”

Prince Yong snorted disdainfully. “So what if he’s the most qualified? He’s been missing for half a month—no sign of him alive, no body to be found! If the man is gone, he can’t exactly keep occupying the position of Crown Prince, can he?”

Han Ze pointed at him. “You’re cursing Big Brother! I’m going to tell Dad.” He turned and sprinted toward the Hall of Clear Hearts.

Prince Yong cursed under his breath. Hearing the news of the Crown Prince’s disappearance had made him so happy he forgot Han Ze’s habit of tattling. He scrambled to chase after him, hoping to stop him.

Unfortunately, he was a step too late. The moment he stepped into the Hall of Clear Hearts, the Emperor’s furious roar sent him crashing to his knees.

Emperor Mingzheng didn’t even look at him, barking sharply, “Go kneel outside.” He then added, “Issue a decree: Consort Li has failed to discipline her son; she is demoted to Cairen (Talented Lady). Prince Yong has been disrespectful to his elder brother; he is stripped of his title as a Prince of the First Rank.”

When the decree reached the former Consort Li, she collapsed on the floor. Failed to discipline her son? Was her son hers alone?

When the Empress heard the news, a cold sneer appeared on her lips, but she couldn’t help but worry. What has happened to the Crown Prince?

…

Han Ze entered the Kunning Palace. Seeing the Empress’s somber face, he scratched his head. “Mom, Big Brother will be fine.”

Seeing him, she forced a smile. “Come, sit. Tell Mom, how are your studies going?”

Han Ze said, “Mom, don’t worry. The tutor even praised me today.”

“Really?” she laughed. “He actually praised you?”

“Of course!” Han Ze patted his chest. “He said I’ve made great progress. I wouldn’t lie to Mom.”

The Empress was comforted. She stroked his head and murmured, “That’s good, that’s good.” She believed the Crown Prince would be fine; he would surely return.

Days passed. Another half a month went by with still no news of the Crown Prince. The concubines were all waiting to see the Kunning Palace fall. Since being punished to kneel for a day and a night—fainting outside the hall and being carried back only to find his mother demoted to a low-ranking Cairen because of him—Prince Yong didn’t dare make another move. No matter how happy he was, he had to hide it in his heart.

Of course, with Prince Yong as a warning, no one else dared to show their glee openly for fear of enraging the Emperor.

A few days later, a report arrived from the border: the Crown Prince had won the war and was returning in triumph! Han Ze was in the Hall of Clear Hearts when the news broke. He said hurriedly, “Dad, Mom has been so worried lately. I’ll go tell her the good news!”

He didn’t ask for details of the victory. As long as the Crown Prince returned safely, his task was largely complete.

The Empress was overjoyed at the news. “Rewards! Everyone shall be rewarded!”

Han Ze stepped forward with a beaming smile. “Mom, is there a reward for me?”

She gave a grand wave of her hand. “Yes, for everyone!”

“I want gold,” Han Ze demanded immediately.

“I’ll give you gold.”

“What about Xiaoxing and Xiaozhu?”

“They get gold too.”

“And Xiangxiang?”

The Empress shot him a look—this brat, forgetting his mother once he has a wife. She said helplessly, “I’ll give her gold too. I’ll give all my gold to you lot.”

Han Ze’s smile grew even more brilliant. “Mom is the best.”

The Empress shook her head. With the Emperor and the Crown Prince here, no one could bully Aze. He had suffered in the first half of his life; for the rest of it, he could live however he pleased. No matter who suffered, she wouldn’t let him suffer again.

[Congratulations, Task Taker, for completing the task: Change the fate of the Original Body. Points: 200. Change the fate of the children. Points: 400. Change the fate of Qian Xiangxiang. Points: 200. Change the fate of the Crown Prince. Points: 500.]

[System: The Task Taker’s accumulated points have reached the threshold to purchase a physical body. Would the Task Taker like to purchase one?]

Han Ze was stunned. A moment ago, he was instructing Xiaoxing to look after his two sisters, and then he was pulled away. Hearing this news, a thought occurred to him. “What is the use of purchasing a body?”

[System: You can be resurrected.]

Han Ze asked hurriedly, “Really? Why didn’t you say so before?”

[System: …Task Taker can choose any world for resurrection.]

Han Ze was delighted. Ignoring the system’s avoidance of his question, he asked, “Can I choose my original Interstellar world?”

[System: Yes.]

Han Ze was silent for a moment, his tone emotional. “I want to purchase a body.” He hadn’t expected he could actually return to life.

[System: Body successfully purchased. It is available for use at any time.]

Han Ze looked at the body lying there and asked, “After purchasing a body, can I continue doing tasks?”

[System: Yes. Task points can purchase anything the Task Taker desires.]

“Anything?” Han Ze laughed. “If I want a child that truly belongs to me, is that possible?”

[System: With enough points, the Task Taker can have not just one, but many children that truly belong to him.]

The system seemed to know exactly what he was thinking. Han Ze said, “I will continue doing tasks. I will have a child of my own.”

The system gave a little jump but didn’t tell Han Ze: Resurrection and having biological children? These perks are only possible for you because you have a ‘big shot’ elder brother controlling the fate of our systems. Other task takers wouldn’t even dare dream of such things; they’re lucky just to survive.

 

TL Notes: Hi, Lovelies. We’ve gotten to the end of the book. I feel like the ending was a little rushed, don’t you think? And the last arc wasn’t properly explained. Like how did his father become the emperor. Most of that information had to be inferred from the characters talking. Maybe the author got tired. In the end, its a good book.

Ok guys, hope you enjoyed the book. See you in my next 1. 😉