The Crown Princess is a Fool

In the sixth year of Chengde, Emperor Zhide passed away, leaving the throne to his younger brother and a will. The posthumous child was named Qi Zhen, styled Ziji.

Regardless of gender, they were to be enshrined as the Crown Prince and ascend the throne upon coming of age.

In the seventh year of Chengde, the Crown Prince was born. The former Empress was assassinated and died.

In the tenth year of Chengde, the Crown Prince was poisoned by palace staff.

The Crown Prince’s teacher knocked on the palace gates at night, found an imperial physician, and saved the Crown Prince’s life.

Half a month later, the Crown Prince’s teacher was sentenced to execution for the crime of knocking on the palace gates at night.

In the thirteenth year of Chengde, the Crown Prince’s essay on water management became famous throughout the land.

In the twentieth year of Chengde, the Crown Prince’s faction knelt before the palace, pleading with the Emperor to relinquish power and allow the Crown Prince to participate in state affairs.

In the twenty-fifth year of Chengde, the Crown Prince was assassinated. Fortunately, he was saved by Lin Shouyan, the son of the local county magistrate, and his life was spared.

However, Lin Shouyan was severely injured while saving the Crown Prince, suffering from a high fever that wouldn’t subside.

Upon waking, he became a fool.

The Emperor, using the debt of saving his life, ordered the Crown Prince to marry Lin Shouyan.

A Crown Prince with a male spouse was a great humiliation.

–

In the cold winter, all the springs were frozen.

“Slap!”

“Slap!”

“Slap!”

The crisp and loud sound of slaps echoed in the back garden of the Eastern Palace.

A guard, tied up tightly, knelt on the ground, his cheeks swollen from the slaps of the eunuch in front of him, blood at the corner of his mouth.

The eunuch’s hand burned with pain, yet he was too angry to stop.

“His Highness the Crown Prince has treated you well, yet you commit such an ungrateful act! How can you face His Highness!”

Last month, the Huigu envoy came to the capital, seeking to marry a princess.

After much planning, the Crown Prince took on the task of welcoming the envoy on behalf of the Emperor.

Everything was handled flawlessly, from start to finish.

But yesterday, at the princess’s wedding banquet, the Fifth Prince raised his cup and toasted the Crown Prince with ill intentions.

“Your Highness, I heard the Crown Princess wants to have a child with you. Not only do you handle tasks well, but you also have such abilities! You shouldn’t keep it to yourself; share it! Then no one will have to worry about heirs anymore!”

The palace officials and Huigu nobles were stunned!

Everyone knew the one in the Eastern Palace was a man!

The Fifth Prince, fearing the gossip wasn’t juicy enough, spilled everything.

The foolish Crown Princess had somehow heard that in ordinary families, the wife bears children.

So he eagerly ran to the Crown Prince’s study and said, “Crown Prince brother, let’s have a child! I want a little friend to play with. However many you want me to have, I’ll have, okay?”

The atmosphere at the banquet became awkward.

The Crown Prince’s faction looked angry.

The Emperor’s faction tried hard not to laugh, enjoying the show.

Fortunately, the Crown Prince, having navigated through many storms, remained calm and retorted.

“If Fifth Brother fancies a man and wishes for heirs, don’t use me as an excuse.”

Face was saved on the spot, but how the matter leaked needed investigation.

As soon as the princess left the city, Qi Zhen’s men captured the informant and brought him before him.

The guard knelt heavily on the ground, his voice choked.

“I know I’ve wronged His Highness, but Juan Niang is in their hands, and I had no choice.”

The eunuch trembled with anger and slapped him again.

“His Highness has investigated; that woman was sent to seduce you! You fell into their trap!”

The guard’s face turned pale, looking at Qi Zhen.

Qi Zhen remained unmoved, finally asking, “Do you regret it?”

The guard smiled bitterly.

The Crown Prince, with the Empress’s delicate and beautiful features, looked like a painting. But his eyes were lifeless, like still water.

“No regrets, Your Highness wouldn’t understand.”

Years of master-servant relationship destroyed for a scheming woman.

Qi Zhen truly didn’t understand.

“Leave him a whole body.”

Betraying the Crown Prince, causing him to be ridiculed, leaving a whole body was already generous.

The guard knelt heavily again, his forehead breaking and bleeding.

“Thank you, Your Highness! I won’t trouble you!”

With that, he bit his tongue and ended his life.

The old eunuch kicked the corpse aside, muttering about bad luck. Just as he was about to comfort the Crown Prince, he noticed a pair of eyes watching from the bamboo grove.

Their Crown Princess was standing not far away, staring intently.

Qi Zhen, sensing the eunuch’s gaze, turned his head.

Through the winter wind, Qi Zhen’s eyes met Lin Shouyan’s.

Lin Shouyan was so frightened he fell to the ground.

Qi Zhen said nothing, just looked at him.

The atmosphere was tense and cold.

The eunuch was shocked.

What to do?

If necessary, kill him too!

Though handling the aftermath would be tricky.

After a while, the little fool got up, didn’t run away, probably knowing escape was impossible, and walked to Qi Zhen, looking at the bleeding person on the ground, then at Qi Zhen.

Trembling, he asked, “Did Crown Prince brother kill someone?”

The eunuch was stunned, remembering this person was a fool.

He thought about lying, saying they were rehearsing a play, unsure if it would work.

Qi Zhen said, “Yes.”

Eunuch: “…”

Well, scaring him works too.

The little fool was indeed frightened, his face turning white, and he pulled out a dagger from his chest.

The eunuch was shocked, ready to protect the Crown Prince and kick the fool away, but the little fool ran to the tree and started digging.

One stab, two clumps of dirt.

Eunuch: “…”

What is he doing?

Foolish actions are always baffling.

The little fool stuck the dagger into the ground, struggling for a long time, finally making a hole big enough for his little fist.

He was about to cry, “Crown Prince brother, help Yan Yan! We need to bury him quickly, or someone will find out…”

The eunuch’s heart warmed, his expression moved.

He looked at Qi Zhen, seeking permission, “Your Highness…”

Qi Zhen’s expression didn’t change, coldly saying, “You can dig another one here. If anyone else finds out about today, you can lie in it yourself. Save me the trouble.”

Lin Shouyan was stunned with fear.

Qi Zhen wasn’t joking.

He instructed the eunuch, “Handle it well.”

Then he turned and left.

Lin Shouyan stood up, “Crown Prince brother! Where are you going?”

The Crown Prince didn’t look back or respond.

The eunuch glanced at Qi Zhen’s back, then comforted the fool, “Crown Princess, let’s handle this together, okay? This will be a secret between the three of us.”

A secret among three?

The fool’s eyes lit up.

He nodded heavily!

“Okay!”

–

“Reporting to Your Highness, as per your instructions, we’ve placed people in the princess’s entourage. How the Fifth Prince persuaded the Emperor to marry off the princess will be relayed to her in full.”

“Additionally,” the guard captain pulled out an invitation from his chest, offering it with both hands, “this is the list of accompanying officials for the year-end ceremony in five days.”

Qi Zhen didn’t take it, saying, “Understood.”

The guard captain placed the invitation down, asked if Qi Zhen had further instructions, then retreated to the door. Turning, he saw Lin Shouyan standing at the courtyard gate.

Lin Shouyan, a Jiangnan native, had the typical southern appearance, like a flower blooming in the misty Jiangnan, dewy and fresh. His doe-like eyes were clear, yet seemingly affectionate.

The guard captain stepped forward, bowing.

“Why is Young Master Lin here?”

Lin Shouyan fidgeted, unsure.

The mud on his hands fell off in clumps.

His once slender, jade-like hands were now red from the cold.

He didn’t explain, only asked, “Can I see Crown Prince brother?”

The guard captain hesitated, then announced him.

Lin Shouyan stood at the study door.

Qi Zhen sat inside.

Even sitting, his upper body was straight, like a pillar unmoved by storms. Knowing Lin Shouyan was there, he didn’t even glance up.

“Yan Yan has a request for Crown Prince brother…”

The little fool’s voice was soft and timid, “Crown Prince brother, I’m scared. That person is frightening, cold. Can Crown Prince brother let Yan Yan stay for the night? Yan Yan is small, won’t take up space.”

Qi Zhen said flatly, “There’s no place for you here.”

“Yan Yan can sleep on the floor by the bed… Yan Yan will be good.”

“Will the teacher teaching you manners agree?”

With the year-end approaching, there were many social engagements. Even if Qi Zhen didn’t take him out, people would visit the Eastern Palace. If this fool caused any embarrassment, it would be Qi Zhen’s face lost.

The little fool looked troubled.

With determination, he nodded heavily.

Only then did Qi Zhen allow him to stay the night.

Lin Shouyan lay on the Crown Prince’s bed, pulling the covers over half his face.

His heart surged.

He shouted, “System! Look! I’m on the male lead’s bed!”

System: […]

Yan Yan’s small step, a big step for the mission!

——-

——-

First Chapter Warning:

Not purely sweet, there will be angst.

If you’re an gong fan or heavily focused on the shou, please exit promptly.

The shou is a face-con; in one volume, he only likes the gong’s hardware, not falling for him, focusing solely on completing the mission. Please don’t overinterpret.

After the gong’s wife died, his emotions were unstable, but he’s not truly crazy. Once his anger subsides, he earnestly pursues his wife. Therefore, if you have high expectations for crazy plots, please exit promptly.

(These are temporary, will add more if needed.)