The Fussy Crown Prince, Spoiled by a Rough-Hewn Man

Pei Yu is a pampered little crown prince, cherished by everyone around him. He has been frail and sickly since childhood, precious and delicate, with a terrible temper.

After the late emperor dies, the little crown prince, once exalted to the heavens, plunges into the depths. A prince strips him of power and sends him to the Southern Barbarians, supposedly to foster friendly relations with a neighboring country. But those in the know can all guess that the little crown prince probably won't return.

They say the Southern Barbarian chieftain is nearly two meters tall, with one arm thicker than the little crown prince's thigh. He could probably crush the frail little prince with one hand...

Pei Yu and his young attendant spend more than half a month being jolted around in a carriage before finally reaching this wilderness. The little crown prince, who's never suffered a hardship in his life, immediately refuses to cooperate. He cries himself hoarse in the carriage and won't get out.

Then someone lifts the carriage curtain, and a sturdy, sun-browned arm reaches inside. Pei Yu's tear-filled eyes widen in alarm, and he even forgets to cry.

Luye Shu can't take his eyes off the little crown prince curled up in the corner of the carriage.

He's never seen anyone so beautiful. The little one's eyes are pink from crying, and he looks up at Luye Shu obediently. His scent fills Luye Shu's senses with every breath. Luye Shu's dark eyes deepen, and his Adam's apple bobs.

"Are you the gift the Central Plains sent me?"

The little crown prince cries even harder. What kind of bird language is this man speaking? He can't understand a word! OnO?

Luye Shu's expression darkens. With one large hand, he easily draws the little crown prince into his arms and coaxes him in broken Central Plains speech: "Don't cry. We go home."

*

The man sets the little crown prince on the edge of the bed. Pei Yu lowers his head in fear. Th-this man is so huge!

But the man kneels on one knee in front of him, pulls off his silk cloth shoes with a look of distaste, and replaces them with soft little lambswool boots himself.

"These are comfortable." The man watches Pei Yu earnestly and explains in oddly accented Central Plains speech: "Those... poor quality."

Pei Yu is a little angry. Their Central Plains silk is precious! What a barbarian who doesn't know quality! Pei Yu climbs out of bed to argue with him, but his feet sink into the soft wool.

Pei Yu: ...Th-they are more comfortable, aren't they? o_O?

*

Just as the all-powerful prince is considering taking the throne, an unexpected visitor breaks through the gates of the imperial court.

The officials all turn around in unison. A man in foreign clothes strolls in, with a person wrapped in a fox-fur cloak and showing only their head seated in the crook of his arm.

The officials exchange glances. Didn't they say the Southern Barbarian chieftain was terrifyingly cruel? Why does the frail little crown prince in his arms look a little plumper?

*

At night, the man pins Pei Yu against the desk in the imperial study, which is piled high with memorials.

"Baby, I've taken care of him for you. Shall we try it here tonight?"

Size difference | Sweet, everyday fluff | Both are each other's first | Happy ending

PS: This is an alternate-history setting. All related details serve the story and have nothing to do with real history.

Theme: Fight back when all seems lost