The Deposed Crown Prince Has Designs on Me

After transmigrating, Xu Mingtang became a cannon fodder character in a novel who didn't even have a name.

The good news: he remembers a little of the plot.

The bad news: he's about to die.

Prince Ning sends him to assassinate the disgraced Crown Prince. But the disgraced Crown Prince, who plays the pig to eat the tiger, already knows Prince Ning will send someone after him. In the end, Xu Mingtang is the only one who gets hurt in this bloodless war.

Xu Mingtang: Maybe it's not too late to turn around and latch onto the disgraced Crown Prince.

Xu Mingtang tries his hardest to win the disgraced Crown Prince's favor, hoping that when the prince rises again, he, as his most loyal subordinate, can lie flat and enjoy a life of luxury.

When the disgraced Crown Prince stabs someone, Xu Mingtang hands him the knife.

When the disgraced Crown Prince kills someone, Xu Mingtang hides the body.

When the disgraced Crown Prince sets something on fire, Xu Mingtang pours on the oil.

In short, when the disgraced Crown Prince goes east, he never goes west; if the prince wants a dog, he never buys a chicken.

Until one day, Xu Mingtang accidentally stumbles upon the disgraced Crown Prince dealing with a traitor. The traitor is run through the heart with a sword. The prince casually beckons Xu Mingtang over and says, "This is what happens to traitors."

Xu Mingtang knows the dead man. He was one of the disgraced Crown Prince's advisors, and like Xu Mingtang, he used to serve Prince Ning.

Xu Mingtang: Looks like that life of luxury isn't happening. Right now, staying alive is what matters.

A raging fire burns the entire villa, along with Xu Mingtang, to ashes. The disgraced Crown Prince looks down at the charred bones, his face expressionless. But the jade thumb ring crushed in his palm betrays how he really feels.

Xu Mingtang spends six carefree months on the border. One day, he returns home and opens the courtyard gate, only to find the disgraced Crown Prince, now Emperor, sitting inside with a gloomy expression. Xu Mingtang instinctively turns and runs.

But the Emperor is faster. He grabs Xu Mingtang around the waist, his voice chilling as he whispers in Xu Mingtang's ear, "Caught you."

Theme: Live well and keep striving