Cherished Little Liangdi

Innocent, cheerful little bunny 🐰 x cunning, sinister deposed crown prince 🐺

Arranged marriage to true love | Sweet romance | First love, 1v1 | Size difference | He is five years older

*

Baozhen is the least remarkable of the family's daughters, a concubine-born girl. The Empress Dowager chooses her and grants her as a secondary consort to the deposed crown prince, Wei Che.

On their wedding night, he doesn't lift her veil. "I married you only to comfort Grandmother. Don't get any ideas."

"From now on, we'll sleep in separate beds and eat at separate tables. And don't call me your husband."

Baozhen obediently nods and commits it all to memory.

The next day, she sits beneath the veranda munching on a bun. When she sees the crown prince come out of his study with dark circles under his eyes, she smiles at him with her cheeks puffed up. "Brother Che, good morning!"

Wei Che stops in his tracks, the shadows under his eyes even darker.

Baozhen thinks marrying Wei Che is the greatest blessing: she gets to sleep in a big bed, eat meat buns, and doesn't have to work.

She decides to be good to him, too.

He's gloomy and never smiles, so she drags him out to bask in the sun. He hates noise, so she saves her pastries to feed the stray cats and keep them quiet.

Half a year passes like this. Baozhen puts on last year's spring dress, which has become too short and tight. Feeling upset about it, she runs to show it to him.

Wei Che slowly raises his eyes. Her rose-red dress clings to her curvy figure, the result of all the good food he has personally fed her.

His gaze lingers there for a long time. He doesn't even notice the ink spreading into a blot on the page.

That night, the little secondary consort is held in his arms, on the verge of tears. He gently coaxes her, "Good Baozhen, call me husband."

With tears in her eyes, she remembers what he said that night. She wants to say it, but doesn't dare.

He chuckles softly and leans close to her ear. "If you won't... then Brother Che will have another bite of your 'meat buns.'"

Baozhen wants to cry: Wei Che is just awful! She wants a divorce!

*

At first, Wei Che doesn't like his little secondary consort. He won't even eat with her.

Until one day, she falls into an icy lake while playing around and comes down with a scorching fever. He stays by her side until dawn, and when she finally opens her eyes, she sleepily tells him, "Brother Che, your eyes are so red. Do you want to sleep for a while?"

Somehow, he lies down, and sleeps more soundly than he has at any time since being deposed.

The hidden dragon rises from the depths, and in a single day, he is restored to his position.

Portraits of every noble young lady in the capital are displayed before him. The Empress Dowager smiles and asks, "Che'er, is there a crown princess you'd like to choose?"

A face suddenly flashes through his mind.

A rose-red dress, a touch of happiness between her brows, and a silly smile directed at him.

He smiles faintly and taps a knuckle on the table. "Didn't Grandmother already choose for me?"

[Extra: The deposed crown prince's sweet-talking tactics]

One day, Baozhen rubs her aching waist, finally reaches her limit, and packs a small bundle to run away.

Just as she climbs onto the wall, a leisurely voice comes from below.

"The kitchen steamed crab-meat buns today. Thin skins, generous filling, and bursting with broth when you bite into them."

Baozhen stops moving.

"They also made rock-sugar bird's nest, sweet and soft."

Baozhen loosens her grip on the bundle.

"The tribute brocade from Jiangnan arrived, too. It would make the most beautiful flowing fairy dress."

Baozhen slowly pulls her leg back.

Wei Che opens his arms beneath the wall, smiling with gentle innocence.

"Come down, good girl. Brother Che will catch you."

She hesitates, closes her eyes, and drops straight into his arms.

He catches her securely and kisses the top of her head, his voice full of laughter.

"Why run? The Eastern Palace walls are high. If you fell, it would break my heart."

Theme: Eat well, sleep well, and live life with a positive attitude.