Chapter Nineteen: Even Teaming Up, We Get Wiped Out? I Give Up!

"Yes, transmigration, ancient times, showing off, courting girls, flirting with cross-dressing masters, slaying mountain bandits, and now sitting in jail—I think my life has reached perfection, so I might as well die quickly." As he spoke, Ming Tian prepared to smash his head against the muddy wall of the prison.

Seeing this, An Luo, who shared the cell, hurriedly bear-hugged Ming Tian, stopping him.

"Ming Tian, you mustn't! You're the Marquess chosen by the Princess herself! If you kill yourself here, that's a grave insult to the Emperor!"

"Get off me! I don't want to live! Let go!"

Fortunately, An Luo was severely wounded and had little strength, so Ming Tian easily broke free from his embrace. Otherwise, with An Luo's strength, a hug like that might have truly killed him, his guts squeezed out.

After landing, Ming Tian knelt in despair, his heart full of anguish.

What on earth is this place? Have I transmigrated again? Is this the Age of Antiquity?

I thought I knew all the mistakes historical novels and dramas made, but this place is so disgusting it's beyond belief.

Is this a prison? Who would believe even the latrines here?

The prisons in TV dramas are all made of thick wooden bars, with a window overhead, surrounded by yellow clay walls, the floor covered in straw—giving an impression of backwardness.

Now it’s clear, TV dramas can’t be trusted!

What is this nightmare?

Doing your business in a bucket is one thing, but why is the floor covered in thick excrement? Is your method of disposal just dumping it on the ground? Why even keep a bucket? Are you using filth as flooring? Step wrong and you'll sink right in… Where are the cleaners? All dead?

And where are the bars? Where? There’s only a wooden door the thickness of a fist. Where’s the skylight? Where’s the straw on the ground?

Soldiers, do you realize there’s no ventilation here? It stinks! It’s so pungent it burns the eyes! Even the latrines smell better! Slip while walking and you’ll really be eating shit! I beg you, anyone, just kill me, please, kill me!

Ming Tian was utterly broken. How foul was this cell? Here’s a fact:

When he first entered, Ming Tian, ever attentive to detail, noticed two flies flying in with him and An Luo. Now, those two flies lay twitching on the floor beside him, barely alive.

This cursed place can actually suffocate flies!

"Ming Tian, don’t lose hope. There’s still a way out."

An Luo, comforting the nearly shattered Ming Tian, took out a token from his waist and handed it to Ming Tian.

Ming Tian glanced at the pure gold token, engraved with the character Xiao, unable to fathom its significance.

"What is this thing?" Ming Tian impatiently pushed away the token, wanting only to cry.

Mother, save me!

At this moment, An Luo clearly mimicked Ming Tian’s old habit of acting mysterious, stroking his chin as if proud.

"This is useful. It’s the Princess’s command token. When this token is shown, all ministers and generals must obey. If we show this to the Prefect, he’ll surely let us out."

"Oh, really? That’s great," Ming Tian replied listlessly, but as soon as the words left his lips, his mind thundered with realization.

"Wait… wait… you said… what is this token again?" Ming Tian stood up, and though he couldn’t see his own face, he was certain his eyes were about to pop out of their sockets.

"The Princess’s command token? What’s wrong?" An Luo, intimidated by Ming Tian’s glare, seemed frightened.

Ming Tian truly collapsed.

A command token, the Princess of Jiangmen’s token? This is the Princess’s token?

You…

"You pig-head, why didn’t you take this out earlier?!"

Ming Tian roared like a Spartan warrior defending Thermopylae, nearly screaming his lungs out. Even the nearby bucket cracked from the force of his shout.

In the neighboring cell, hearing all this, Yin Chan slapped his own forehead, lamenting just how stupid An Luo was.

An Luo, scolded by Ming Tian, pouted in grievance. "I thought you knew I had the token and were deliberately waiting to expose the impostor."

Ming Tian felt utterly hopeless.

God, what kind of pig-headed teammate have you given me?

"How was I supposed to know you had the token?! Are you stupid? 'You thought'—when was it ever about what you thought? If it were my temper from two years ago, I’d have kicked you into the city defense cannon and fired you into smithereens, then used you for fertilizer!"

"Cannon? What’s that?" An Luo, already dumbfounded by Ming Tian’s verbal barrage, was completely lost. Ming Tian’s tongue was so sharp it left An Luo stunned, crooked-mouthed like a bewildered child.

Oh, right, there aren’t cannons yet. Those were invented at the end of the Tang Dynasty. Why am I even nitpicking this? Why am I nitpicking myself?

Ming Tian slapped himself hard.

"You dare talk back?" The more he thought, the angrier he became, snatching the token and nearly punching An Luo in the head.

But recalling how, two days ago when fighting mountain bandits, after slapping and kicking An Luo, Ming Tian’s own hand and foot had swollen instead of An Luo showing any reaction.

With lingering fear, Ming Tian pursed his lips, unable to bring himself to strike.

It’s not compassion—this idiot is built like iron, and I’m injured myself; if I hit him, my hand will break.

Looking at the gleaming token in his hand, Ming Tian was truly on the verge of tears.

Damn it, even in a three-person gaming group, a teammate can sabotage the team. Did An Luo allocate all his skill points to muscle? Is his brain shaped like a biceps?

"Sorry… it’s my fault." An Luo, like a remorseful child, twisted his index fingers, sitting quietly in the corner.

Ming Tian sighed at this sight.

Brother, don’t sit on the floor, will you? It’s all filth!

"Sigh, forget it, it can’t be helped now. I’ll keep this for the moment and return it to you once we leave Douhu County." With a sigh, Ming Tian stowed the token, his mind beginning to race.

In this predicament, perhaps it’s not all bad.

Someone is impersonating him and has befriended the Prefect. This means news of his dealings with the Princess is spreading.

That’s perfect; I want to see who dares to counterfeit me. You must have a death wish!

Just let me out—even if you drag me out for execution, I’ll make you pay.

Thinking thus, Ming Tian began calculating every possible outcome.

Two hours later.

In the cell so foul not even flies remained, Ming Tian was nearly suffocated when, suddenly, an unexpected announcement came from outside.

"The Prefect has arrived—"

Opportunity!

Realizing this, Ming Tian grabbed An Luo’s face and warned, "Don’t you dare remind me to show the token or do anything stupid! If I forbid you to speak, you don’t speak! Say the wrong thing and we might both die here, understand?!"

"Under… understood!" An Luo, eager to atone, nodded frantically like a duck.

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