The Crown Prince Is Struggling to Survive Again Today

• Proud, frail beauty bottom x scheming, obsessive, unhinged top (early on)

• As you read, remember: before they've lived and died together, every expression of love can be treated as an act

Blurb:

The newly appointed Imperial Preceptor, Liu Mianyu, is actually the long-missing Crown Prince of the Great Liang. But whatever his identity, he and Fu Jingxuan, heir to the Prince of Zhenbei, are destined to follow different paths.

There are three reasons:

First, they have different goals and cannot work together. Liu Mianyu only wants to use him.

Second, Liu Mianyu might decide to take out his entire family one day by abolishing their fief.

Third, Liu Mianyu doesn't know when he'll die.

However, Fu Jingxuan seems oblivious to something. He constantly declares his feelings and shows concern for Liu Mianyu. That sort of thing has no real impact, so Liu Mianyu accepts it all without complaint.

The two of them had tacitly been performing a little drama: "You fall in love at first sight and cling to me, while I respond at every turn but never take the bait." In essence, they were just using each other, so it was no big deal.

Until Fu Jingxuan obtained an imperial edict granting them a marriage...

Liu Mianyu looked at the scroll with its bright yellow imperial seal on the table, felt insulted, and immediately went to demand an explanation, knife in hand.

The next day, word spread throughout the capital that the Imperial Preceptor and the heir to the Prince of Zhenbei were at odds. Rumor had it they nearly came to blows.

On the third day, the emperor summoned the Imperial Preceptor alone after court. Everyone thought this absurd marriage edict would be rescinded.

On the fourth day, the Imperial Preceptor moved into the Prince of Zhenbei's estate. The order still stood: they were to marry on an auspicious day. The whole court was in an uproar!

Liu Mianyu himself was stunned: "Wait, you're asking me to look after him?!"

The emperor stepped in, and the crisis was resolved. Everyone offered their congratulations, but each had their own little schemes in mind, Liu Mianyu included.

Still, rather than deal with Fu Jingxuan, he would rather deal with the emperor.

Liu Mianyu: Damn that emperor! Didn't you say that an Imperial Preceptor could never marry or have children? (internally screaming.jpg)

Fu Jingxuan: No one said you couldn't marry a man... Besides, being the Imperial Preceptor isn't without its benefits, right?

After some thought, Liu Mianyu really did pretend to be "a married couple" with Fu Jingxuan.

There was no other reason. He simply figured that since his identity and background were both fake, he could just switch to a different identity later and wouldn't have to take responsibility.

Later, Liu Mianyu put himself in danger, faked his death to escape, discarded his Imperial Preceptor secret identity, and went to live quietly in the Kunlun Mountains while recovering from his illness.

Little did he know that the playboy heir, whose heart was full of schemes, collapsed in a faint before his coffin, eyes bloodshot, coughing up blood. He fell seriously ill.

Once he had recovered somewhat, Liu Mianyu returned to his original identity and made a grand entrance back into the capital. The officials lined the streets, and the emperor welcomed him in person.

As the order to rise and be at ease was given, Liu Mianyu happened to glance across the crowd. His gaze paused as he met the calm eyes of the heir to the Prince of Zhenbei.

The corner of the man's mouth lifted, and Liu Mianyu's heart skipped a beat.

The next day, after the ceremony marking his return, Liu Mianyu went back to the Eastern Palace, dismissed everyone, and prepared to rest. But just as he had half removed his outer robe, someone grabbed his wrist from behind and pulled him into the bed curtains.

He instinctively struck back, but the man deflected his attack and pinned him to the bed, leaving him unable to move.

Recognizing him, Liu Mianyu raised an eyebrow and said haughtily, "Heir, breaking into the Eastern Palace is a good way to get yourself killed."

He was cold, ruthless, and contemptuous... He thought he could cut off the past with a single stroke. But people are not made of grass and wood. The moment Fu Jingxuan kissed him, he finally understood what it meant to make one wrong step and be doomed forever.

P.S.

• Their later characterizations will be revealed as the story goes on!

• One-on-one romance, both inexperienced, happy ending

• Countless original worldbuilding details

• The setting is entirely fictional, so please don't nitpick the history

• I'll fix any errors as they come up. I won't abandon the story.

Theme: Live well.