Deep in the night.
All was dead silent.
Inside a dilapidated guardroom lit by a flickering candle, Zhao Zheng, whose face was strikingly handsome, slowly opened his eyes. Fresh crimson blood was still trickling down his forehead like an earthworm.
He instinctively reached up to rub his head, only to find his body tightly bound with thick hemp rope.
"Was I kidnapped?"
Zhao Zheng licked his parched lips and exerted every ounce of his strength, trying desperately to break free.
After struggling for a long time, he gradually realized that his body was abnormally weak, and a sudden, tearing pain shot through his head.
A flood of memories that did not belong to him surged forward.
As a retired member of the Flying Tiger Special Operations Team, he had actually transmigrated into an unfamiliar dynasty called Dazhen, becoming nothing more than a humble, powerless commoner.
The original owner's life had been utterly tragic; his entire family was slaughtered by brutal bandits, leaving him as the sole survivor.
Just as Zhao Zheng regained consciousness, footsteps echoed from a few dozen paces outside the guardroom, instantly putting him on high alert.
Could the people who had captured the original owner be returning?
Zhao Zheng immediately feigned unconsciousness, hoping to conserve his energy and wait for the right moment to strike.
Creak—
The battered wooden door of the guardroom was pushed open.
"Take him to see His Majesty."
The shrill, duck-like voice made Zhao Zheng furrow his brow.
Just as the eunuch stepped inside, Zhao Zheng had been all set to make a move on them.
However, upon hearing that he was to meet the Emperor of Dazhen, he decided to play dead a little longer.
If the Emperor of Dazhen wanted him dead, it would be as effortless as crushing an ant; why bother hog-tying him in a guardroom?
With that thought, Zhao Zheng allowed the eunuchs to drag him across the ground like a dead dog, hauling him all the way to a resplendent, magnificent grand hall.
Outside the hall, security was airtight.
Dozens of guards in full armor and swords at their waists stood rigidly on either side.
Inside the hall, right in front of the imperial couch, hung a hazy, semi-transparent screen, exuding supreme imperial authority.
Standing before the screen was a burly, thick-waisted eunuch who looked far more ferocious and imposing than any military general.
Seeing his subordinates bring the prisoner in, he hastily bowed deeply toward the side of the screen where the Emperor of Dazhen resided, making his report.
"Your Majesty, this old servant has brought the man here as you commanded, to be dealt with entirely at Your Majesty's discretion."
"Ahem, ahem, ahem..."
The Emperor of Dazhen was scrawny and deathly pale, struggling laboriously as he propped himself up from the dragon couch.
"You've had a tiring journey on Our behalf, Lord Cao. Help Us up..."
From the sound of it, Zhao Zheng could tell that the Emperor of Dazhen lacked deep breath support; he was clearly hollowed out by prolonged indulgence in wine and women, his vital essence depleted, and his illness had already reached an incurable stage.
The personal attendant eunuch hurriedly assisted the emperor to the front of the screen.
"Let Us take a look. Just how much does this humble commoner resemble Us?"
Cao Zhengchun dropped to his knees at once, flattering with a sycophantic smile. "Thanks to Your Majesty's boundless fortune, this old servant managed to track this fellow down in a village outside the capital. He will surely help Your Majesty stabilize the court for the time being."
With that, he immediately signaled the eunuchs behind him to wake Zhao Zheng up.
Zhao Zheng was eager to find out what the Emperor of Dazhen actually wanted with his life.
He blinked open his eyes with a look of feigned bewilderment, then stared in apparent terror at the Emperor of Dazhen and the crowd of eunuchs surrounding them.
The Emperor of Dazhen's eyes widened in astonishment as well, staring at Zhao Zheng with a satisfied smile blooming across his face.
"Lord Cao, to think there truly is someone in this world who looks identical to Us."
"Indeed. When this old servant first laid eyes on him the other day, I was given quite a fright myself."
"With him here, Our grand plan can succeed! Bring him closer so We can take a good look."
With a chuckle, Cao Zhengchun grabbed the back of Zhao Zheng's neck and kicked him forcefully behind the knee.
"You're in the presence of His Majesty! Why aren't you kneeling?"
Kneel in your grandmother's dreams!
Furious, Zhao Zheng clenched his teeth, but for the sake of survival, he had no choice but to swallow his anger for now.
With a look of aggrieved reproach, the Emperor of Dazhen scolded Cao Zhengchun, "Lord Cao, don't rough him up. He still has great utility for Us."
Cao Zhengchun quickly cupped his hands and bowed. "Your Majesty, this old servant was clumsy."
"A lowly commoner like this would usually tremble at the mere sight of a county magistrate."
"It's only natural that he is terrified out of his wits upon seeing Us."
"Raise your head and let Us have a good look at you."
Taking a deep breath, Zhao Zheng raised his gaze to meet the Emperor of Dazhen's eyes directly.
He desperately wanted to know what purpose the Son of Heaven could possibly have in kidnapping a nobody like him.
The Emperor of Dazhen held the flickering candle up to Zhao Zheng's face, muttering repeatedly, "The resemblance... uncanny, too much like Us..."
"As long as this man can help Your Majesty steady the court, once Your Majesty recovers, you can resume direct control of the government."
The Emperor of Dazhen shook his head weakly. "We know the state of Our own body; Our days are numbered."
"It's just that We can never put Our mind at ease regarding Consort De and her young son."
"Without Our protection, how will the mother and child ever survive in this palace?"
Dropping to his knees once more, Cao Zhengchun choked out through tears, "Your Majesty's fortune is as vast as the heavens, you will surely live a hundred years! Please rest easy, Your Majesty; even if this old servant has to forfeit this aged life, I will protect Consort De and the Third Prince with my dying breath."
The Emperor of Dazhen smiled bitterly. "Lord Cao, of course We trust you. You have served Us for many years and remained utterly loyal."
"But those people are all waiting for Us to die. The moment We pass away, their opportunity will arrive!"
"We only regret that Consort De's son is still too young, otherwise We would certainly depose the Crown Prince and name a new heir!"
Listening to the exchange between master and servant, Zhao Zheng's heart sank steadily.
They were looking for a body double for the emperor!
For an emperor on the brink of death, this was a final burst of borrowed time, but for Zhao Zheng, it was a path with nine deaths and zero hope of survival.
Given the emperor's current condition, the imperial court was bound to be embroiled in treacherous winds and endless crises!
This wasn't just finding a body double; this was finding a scapegoat to die in his place!
If he did a good job, the Emperor of Dazhen would kill him; if he did a poor job, the Emperor of Dazhen would still kill him. Not to mention that a single misstep in the court would spell absolute, irretrievable doom.
Bypassing Cao Zhengchun, the Emperor of Dazhen stared straight into Zhao Zheng's eyes, his gaze narrowing by degrees.
"Do you know why We had you brought here?"
Though he had roughly guessed their intentions, Zhao Zheng had to play dumb to avoid arousing the emperor's suspicions.
Men deeply entrenched in the whirlpool of power struggles for years were invariably plagued by extreme paranoia.
He put on an expression of utter innocence, shaking his head frantically with a blank stare.
"I... I don't know..."
Cao Zhengchun sneered, "His Majesty intends for you to act as his body double!"
"This humble commoner is foolish, please enlighten me."
Crouching flat on the ground, Zhao Zheng played the part of an ignorant, witless peasant.
Fortunately, his acting skills were passable, and he betrayed no flaws to the Emperor of Dazhen or the pack of eunuchs.
He needed to make the Emperor of Dazhen drop his guard as much as possible if he was to carve out any margin for survival.
The Emperor of Dazhen and Cao Zhengchun exchanged a glance; despite the disgust in their eyes, they were immensely pleased inside.
Naturally, they had no desire for a body double who was too clever, lest he cause major chaos and unnecessary trouble.
What they wanted was a compliant tool—a puppet who would do whatever he was told!
"His Majesty has recently been afflicted by a severe illness and needs to recuperate in his ancestral home for a period of time. From this moment on, you shall act in His Majesty's stead, handling the court officials during morning audiences and managing the inner palace afterward."
"When His Majesty recovers, he will naturally send you out of the palace, granting you a lifetime of wealth and glory so your final years are free of worry."
"Do you understand?"
A cold smirk played inside Zhao Zheng's heart.
Fooling a genuine bumpkin was one thing.
As a transmigrator, was he really someone so easily duped?
Once he took on the role of the imperial double, he could forget about ever leaving the palace alive. What freedom could he possibly expect?
Yet, he had no room for choice right now; whether he agreed to be this puppet or not, death awaited him either way.
"Your Majesty, this commoner cannot possibly pull this off..."
To complete the ruse, Zhao Zheng hurriedly put on a look of utter panic and helplessness.
A glint of murderous intent flashed through the Emperor of Dazhen's sinister gaze.
"Wretch! You will obey Us! Otherwise, killing you would be as simple as crushing an ant!"
"Your Majesty, this fellow is quite pitiful. His entire family was slaughtered by bandits, and only a younger sister remains alive. She is currently in this old servant's hands."
The Emperor of Dazhen clapped his hands and laughed, "Good, very good! Wretch, did you hear that? Your sister is still in Our hands. If you dare to disobey, We will send both you and your sister to reunite with your dead parents in the netherworld."
Zhao Zheng let out a silent sigh inwardly. He truly hadn't expected the original owner to have such a fatal weakness as a biological sister!
Playing the double meant death, and refusing meant death as well.
He might as well agree for now.
The Emperor of Dazhen looked sickly, yet he actually knew how to wield both favors and intimidation; he certainly possessed a fair share of cunning and depth.
Seeing that Zhao Zheng had been frightened out of his wits, the Emperor of Dazhen nodded in satisfaction. "Very well! Lord Cao, take him away and have him familiarize himself with everything in the palace as soon as possible."
"Teach him the etiquette of the Dazhen nobility, and make him study every word and action of Ours."
"In three days, bring him back to the imperial palace to deal with the ministers and the inner court!"
Cao Zhengchun slowly backed out of the main hall.
The moment he stepped outside the doors, his expression turned dark and heavy.
Seeing him emerge, several eunuchs hurried forward.
"How did the task this old servant assigned you turn out?"
"Reporting to the chief eunuch, everything is nearly prepared."
Waving a hand to disperse the men, Cao Zhengchun slowly broke into a sinister, cunning smile.