Chapter 001: The Crown Princess is a Fool

In the sixth year of Chengde, the Emperor Zhide passed away, leaving the throne to his younger brother along with a will. The posthumous child was named Qi Zhen, styled Ziji. Regardless of gender, they were enshrined as the Crown Prince, and upon reaching adulthood, would ascend the throne.

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 someone close. The Crown Prince’s teacher knocked on the palace gates at night, seeking the imperial physician, saving 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, a treatise on water management by the Crown Prince became renowned throughout the land.

In the twentieth year of Chengde, the Crown Prince’s faction knelt before the palace, earnestly requesting 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 attacked. Fortunately, he was saved by Lin Shouyan, the son of the local county magistrate, barely escaping with his life.

However, Lin Shouyan was gravely injured from saving the Crown Prince, suffering a high fever that wouldn’t subside. Upon waking, he became a fool. The Emperor, using the life-saving grace as leverage, ordered the Crown Prince to marry Lin Shouyan.

A nation’s Crown Prince having a male spouse was a great humiliation.

–

In the cold winter month, 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 trickling from the corners of his mouth.

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

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

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 beautifully, without a flaw from start to finish.

But yesterday, at the princess’s wedding banquet, the Fifth Prince raised his glass to the Crown Prince with ill intentions.

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

The court officials and Huigu nobles were all stunned!

Who didn’t know that the Crown Princess of the Eastern Palace was a man!

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

The foolish Crown Princess of the Eastern Palace, somehow heard that in ordinary households, the wife bears children.

So he eagerly ran to the Crown Prince’s study, saying, “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 palace banquet became subtly awkward.

The Crown Prince’s faction looked angry.

The Emperor’s and princes’ faction forced themselves to hold back laughter, enjoying the show.

Fortunately, the Crown Prince, having navigated through many storms over the years, remained steady and turned the situation around with a single sentence.

“If Fifth Brother fancies a man and wishes for him to bear heirs, there’s no need to use me as a cover.”

Face was saved on the spot, but the matter of how it got out needed investigating.

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

The guard heavily kowtowed on the ground, his voice choked with emotion.

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

The eunuch, trembling with anger, slapped him again.

“His Highness the Crown Prince has already investigated, that woman was sent by them to seduce you! You’ve fallen into their trap!”

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

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

The guard gave a bitter smile.

The Crown Prince before him had inherited the Empress Shujin’s looks, extremely exquisite and beautiful, like someone from a painting. But his eyes were like a pool of dead water, calm and unperturbed.

“I don’t regret it, Your Highness the Crown Prince probably wouldn’t understand.”

Over a decade of master-servant relationship, destroyed in an instant for a woman with ulterior motives.

Qi Zhen indeed didn’t understand.

“Leave an intact corpse.”

Betraying the Crown Prince, causing him to be ridiculed, leaving an intact corpse was already lenient.

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

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

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

The old eunuch kicked the corpse aside, muttering something unlucky. Just as he was about to comfort the Crown Prince, he noticed a pair of eyes peeking through the bamboo grove.

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

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

Through the cold 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 old eunuch was startled.

What should be done?

If worse comes to worst, kill him too!

Though dealing with the aftermath would be troublesome.

After a while, the little fool got up, didn’t run away. Probably knowing he couldn’t escape, he walked up to Qi Zhen, looked at the person bleeding from the mouth on the ground, then at Qi Zhen.

With a trembling voice, “Did Crown Prince brother kill someone?”

The old eunuch was taken aback, remembering that the person before him was a fool.

Thinking to himself, maybe telling him they were rehearsing a play would calm him down.

Qi Zhen said, “Yes.”

The old eunuch: “…”

Alright, scaring him works too.

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

The old eunuch was shocked, about to protect the Crown Prince and kick the fool away when the little fool ran to the tree and started digging the ground.

One stab, two clumps of dirt.

The old eunuch: “…”

What is he doing?

Foolish behavior is always puzzling.

The little fool plunged the dagger into the ground, struggling and panting, finally digging a hole big enough for his little fist.

He was about to cry, “Crown Prince brother, come help Yan Yan! Let’s bury him quickly, or we’ll be discovered…”

The old eunuch’s heart warmed, his expression moved.

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

Qi Zhen’s expression didn’t change, speaking coldly, “You can dig another one over there. If anyone else finds out about today’s matter, you can lie in it yourself. Save me the trouble of dealing with you.”

Lin Shouyan was stunned with fear.

Qi Zhen wasn’t joking.

He instructed the old eunuch, “Handle it.”

Then turned and left.

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

The Crown Prince didn’t look back, nor did he respond.

The old eunuch glanced at Qi Zhen’s departing figure, then approached to comfort the fool, “Crown Princess, would you like to handle it with me? In the future, this will be a secret between you, me, and His Highness.”

A secret for the three of them?

The fool’s eyes lit up.

He nodded vigorously!

“Mm!”

–

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

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

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

The head guard placed the invitation down, asked if Qi Zhen had any other instructions, then retreated to the door. Turning around, he saw Lin Shouyan standing at the courtyard entrance.

Lin Shouyan was from Jiangnan, with typical southern features, like a flower blooming in the misty rain of Jiangnan, dewy and fresh. His doe-like eyes were clear, yet seemed full of emotion.

The head guard approached, bowing in greeting.

“Why is Young Master Lin here?”

Lin Shouyan, unsure, rubbed his hands together.

The wet dirt fell off in clumps.

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

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

The head guard hesitated, then went to announce him.

Lin Shouyan stood at the study door.

Qi Zhen sat inside.

Even sitting, his upper body remained straight, like a pillar unmoved by the stormy seas. Knowing Lin Shouyan was there, he didn’t lift his head to look at him.

“Yan Yan has something to ask Crown Prince brother…”

The little fool’s voice was soft, timid, “Crown Prince brother, I’m scared. That person is so frightening, cold. Crown Prince brother, let Yan Yan stay for a 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 obedient.”

“Will the teacher teaching you manners agree?”

The year-end is approaching, with many social engagements. Even if Qi Zhen doesn’t take him out, people will visit the Eastern Palace. If this fool causes any embarrassment, it reflects poorly on Qi Zhen.

The little fool looked troubled.

With determination, he nodded heavily.

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

Lin Shouyan lay on the Crown Prince’s bed, pulling the blanket to cover half his face.

His heart was racing.

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

System: […]

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

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First Chapter Warning:

Not purely sweet, there will be angst.

If you’re an attack-control or heavily receive-control, please exit promptly.

The receiver is a face enthusiast. In one volume, the receiver only likes the attack’s physical attributes and doesn’t fall for the attack, solely focused on completing the mission. Please do not over-interpret.

After the attack’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 scenarios, please exit promptly.

(For now, this is it. Will add more if I think of any.)