ADENCPIFPM Chapter 1

“Help! His Highness the Sixth Prince has fallen into the water!”

A scream erupted from a pleasure boat on Changning Lake, startling passengers on nearby vessels, who all leaned over their railings to see what was happening.

But the night was too dark. All they could see was a solitary figure thrashing in the water.

The figure’s struggles grew weaker and weaker, clearly on the verge of drowning…

On the pleasure boat, the Fifth Prince, who had been drinking himself into a stupor, was suddenly jolted awake. He clung to the railing, his voice shrill as he shrieked, “Sixth Brother! Quick, save my Sixth Brother! He is His Highness the Sixth Prince! If anything happens to him, none of you will escape punishment tonight!”

As he spoke, the Fifth Prince pointed accusingly at the surrounding boats, his voice dripping with grief and rage, as if rebuking everyone for their “cold-heartedness and refusal to help.” Yet, he himself dared not jump into the water. The air was freezing, and Changning Lake was deep; for someone who couldn’t swim, jumping in was a death sentence.

No matter how much the others wanted to earn credit, none dared risk their lives.

In the water, Chu Chen swallowed two big gulps of lake water, so furious he wanted to curse his mother.

A few days ago, after dying a brutal death, he had unexpectedly transmigrated to the Great Chu Kingdom and become its Sixth Prince. This Sixth Prince shared the same name and appearance as Chu Chen. Chu Chen had thought that in this second life, he could enjoy a life of luxury and ease, never wanting for food or clothing. He never expected that in less than a week, he would be about to die in these icy lake waters.

If he could turn back time by just two hours, he would definitely have refused the Fifth Prince’s invitation to go out drinking…

Two hours ago…

The Fifth Prince, Chu Can, had arrived at Chu Chen’s residence with a mysterious look on his face, inviting him out for drinks.

Chu Chen had originally wanted to refuse, but remembering that the original owner of this body was a profligate who loved to eat, drink, and play, refusing the Fifth Prince’s invitation would have seemed out of character. Besides, the Fifth Prince’s biological mother was the most favoured Noble Consort in the imperial court, so his status was naturally high. Building a good relationship with him would surely benefit Chu Chen.

But Chu Chen never imagined that the “drinking” the Fifth Prince had mentioned would actually be drinking on a pleasure boat!

“Fifth Brother, why did you bring me to a pleasure boat to drink?” Chu Chen stood outside the boat, looking a bit reluctant.

“Drinking on a pleasure boat is where the real flavour is!” The Fifth Prince pulled Chu Chen along, saying as they walked toward the ornate boat, “I’ve arranged many tricks and treats for tonight. I guarantee my Sixth Brother will be so delighted he won’t want to return home.”

The Fifth Prince had chosen the most magnificent pleasure boat on the entire lake, and he had even gone to the expense of booking the whole vessel. Inside the cabin, many beautiful young men had been arranged for their entertainment. Unfortunately, Chu Chen had no interest in such common beauties; after entering, he could only keep his head down and drink in awkward silence.

Seeing him drinking so enthusiastically, the Fifth Prince hurriedly poured him a few more cups himself.

“Did Imperial Brother come straight from the palace tonight?” Chu Chen asked, trying to find a topic of conversation.

“Sigh, don’t even mention it,” the Fifth Prince complained. “Imperial Father came from the court with a belly full of anger. He couldn’t vent it on anyone else, and by chance, I ran into him. He gave me a thorough scolding.

Chu Chen asked, “What made Imperial Father so angry?”

“It’s still about the Yao Kingdom. I heard from Imperial Mother that the Yao Kingdom actually had the audacity to demand that one of Great Chu’s princes go there for a marriage alliance.” The Fifth Prince said with a look of disdain, “They don’t think about how they’ve been our defeated foes for so many years, and they even sent hostages to us just a few years ago. How do they have the face to ask for a marriage alliance?”

Chu Chen hadn’t dared to enter the palace for the past few days. To avoid exposing his identity, he also didn’t dare to ask too much about court affairs. Tonight, the Fifth Prince had drunk too much wine and was loose-lipped, which gave him the perfect opportunity to pry for information.

“Imperial Father won’t agree, will he?” Chu Chen asked.

“How could he?” The Fifth Prince drained another cup of wine. “Do you know what the palace servants were saying about the Yao Kingdom today?”

Chu Chen’s face lit up with curiosity. “That they can’t defeat us?”

“Not that.” The Fifth Prince lowered his voice, his tone turning conspiratorial. “The Yao Kingdom is to our north, and their customs are utterly savage. The servants say that if a husband dies in battle or of disease, the wife must continue to serve his brothers—or even remarry her father-in-law! What kind of propriety is that? It’s a complete disregard for human ethics!”

Chu Chen wasn’t surprised. He recalled that in his original world, many fierce ancient tribes had similar customs. The Yao Kingdom must be another such barbaric clan.

“And do you know what’s even worse?” the Fifth Prince continued. “Those barbarians are all rough and unrefined, especially in *that* matter. I’ve heard that many men and women from the Central Plains who marry into their lands have been killed on their wedding night because their husbands were too brutal.”

The Fifth Prince shuddered as he spoke, instinctively shielding his lower body. It was clear he was terrified by the rumours. Not only him—Chu Chen felt a chill of disgust too. Thank goodness the emperor had rejected the marriage proposal; otherwise, both he and the Fifth Prince would be in grave danger!

“Anyway, enough of that,” the Fifth Prince said, sensing the mood had turned sombre. He waved over a young male dancer, wrapped an arm around the boy’s waist, and turned to Chu Chen. “Sixth Brother, I brought you here tonight to teach you how to ‘sample the goods’.”

It was common knowledge that the Sixth Prince indulged in every pleasure imaginable—food, drink, and entertainment—yet he alone abstained from visiting the pleasure quarters. He showed no interest in women or men, and at nearly twenty, his own bedchamber remained empty. In contrast, the Fifth Prince, only six months his senior, already kept a harem of concubines and attendants.

“Fifth Brother, I have a banquet at the palace tomorrow,” Chu Chen replied. “I’m afraid I won’t be able to wake up if we stay out too late.”

It wasn’t that Chu Chen was playing the moralist. These men were all from Nanfeng Pavilion. Setting aside his fear of contracting some foul disease, their delicate and overly feminine demeanours were simply not to his taste. More importantly, he still felt a deep-seated aversion to the very idea of paying for sex.

“I see. You must think they’re not clean enough,” the Fifth Prince said, smugly convinced of his own cleverness.

‘His Sixth Brother is still a novice,’ he thought. ‘If I bring him someone too experienced, he’ll feel pressured. ‘

Believing his logic was sound, the Fifth Prince dismissed the previous men and brought in a youth who looked clean-cut and bore a hint of bashfulness on his face. ‘Surely Sixth Brother will be satisfied this time, ‘he thought.

Chu Chen glanced at the youth. He was good-looking, but he wore so much face powder that the scent was stifling.

“Lüzhu, serve my Sixth Brother well tonight,” the Fifth Prince said, his tone earnest as he addressed the youth. “Tomorrow, I will pay for your freedom and send you to his estate to serve him. It will be far better than staying here at Nanfeng Pavilion.” Then, he turned to Chu Chen. “Sixth Brother, don’t let my efforts go to waste.”

After speaking, the Fifth Prince couldn’t help but glance at the wine cup in Chu Chen’s hand, a faint smile playing on his lips as he turned and left.

Chu Chen noticed the look, and his heart sank. ‘Did that bastard drug my wine? ‘

His mind was a whirlwind of confusion, but he knew something was terribly wrong.

“Your Highness…” Lüzhu reached out to pour Chu Chen more wine, but Chu Chen blocked the cup with his hand.

Lüzhu froze, a flicker of panic crossing his eyes.

Chu Chen spoke up. “It’s a bit stuffy in here. Come with me to admire the moon outside.”

Without waiting for Lüzhu’s reply, Chu Chen rose and walked out.

Though winter in the capital city wasn’t cold enough to freeze the lake, it was still early spring, and the night air carried a lingering chill. This was especially true on a pleasure boat anchored in the middle of the lake, where the wind blew with a piercing coolness.

“Your Highness, I’m so cold,” Lüzhu murmured. Seizing the moment as the wind gusted, he threw himself recklessly into Chu Chen’s arms.

Out of the corner of his eye, Chu Chen glanced at the opposite pleasure boat. The lights on its deck were dim, but he could just make out two tall figures standing in the shadows.

A thought struck him. Suppressing the heat gradually spreading through his body, he half-heartedly responded to Lüzhu’s embrace. Then, finding an awkward angle, he pretended to lean in for a kiss, but instead tilted his body and tumbled over the railing.

Splash!

He fell straight into the water.

Lüzhu gasped in horror and immediately screamed for help.

Chu Chen feigned splashing in the water, but in truth, he was secretly swimming toward another pleasure boat.

Whatever the Fifth Prince’s intentions were, Chu Chen’s instinct for self-preservation told him he had to fight back. Otherwise, not only would his reputation be ruined, but if he were to contract some disease, the cost would be far too high!

Just as he was about to “splash” his way to the other boat, his body suddenly seized up. The shock of the cold water, combined with the alcohol he’d drunk, caused his leg to cramp. This time, the feigned splashing became real.

On the deck of the other pleasure boat, a young man stood motionless, his eyes covered by a black cloth. Hearing the change in the splashing sounds from the water, his expression darkened. The person opposite him quickly spoke, “Young Master, do not cause unnecessary trouble. We must leave this place immediately.”

The man hesitated for a moment and turned to leave with his companion. But then, the Fifth Prince’s voice boomed from the opposite boat: “Sixth Brother! Quick, save my Sixth Brother! … If anything happens to His Highness the Sixth Prince, none of you will escape this night unscathed!”

The two men, who were about to depart, froze at the Fifth Prince’s words. ‘The person in the water is the Sixth Prince?’ If he truly drowned, the imperial court would launch an investigation, and everyone on this boat would likely be implicated.

“I’ll go,” the man said.

“Young Master, you should leave first.”

“You’re not a good swimmer. I’ll do it,” the blindfolded young man said. With a flick of his wrist, he launched a steel grappling hook that caught the cabin roof. He then leaped down, his hand seizing Chu Chen’s flailing wrist…

Chu Chen had choked on several mouthfuls of water, certain he was about to die. But suddenly, his wrist tightened, and he felt his body grow light as a powerful force dragged him from the water. After being hauled up, he clung to the man, trembling with cold from the sudden chill in the air, instinctively trying to burrow into the man’s embrace.

The man’s martial arts were superb; he had pulled Chu Chen out without getting himself wet.

Chu Chen huddled in the man’s arms, feeling his solid, warm body…

“We should go,” the other person reminded them.

The man didn’t respond. Instead, he pushed Chu Chen out of his embrace and strode away.

‘What a pity,’ Chu Chen thought. ‘Between the blindfold and the dim light, I couldn’t even see his face. ‘

‘But with such skill, he must be handsome,’ he added optimistically.

Watching the man disappear into the distance, Chu Chen unconsciously touched the wrist that had been held. The lingering warmth of the man’s palm stirred a strange flutter in his heart…

Chu Chen: …

‘Damn it, that aphrodisiac is still working even after being soaked in water!’