After I Was Caught Spreading Rumors

Wang Yueshan is the last surviving member of the main branch of the Wang clan of Hezhong.

She travels in fine carriages drawn by fine horses and dresses in silk and brocade. Everyone who sees her can't help remarking that the Wang family's daughter truly lives up to her title as the Empress Dowager's favorite, Commandery Princess Zhaoyang, adored by all and shining like the bright moon in the heavens.

Wang Yueshan fears nothing, except her cousin, the Crown Prince, whose favor the emperor has set his heart on.

At their very first meeting, Ji Yunxi saw through her bluster and recognized how weak and timid she really was.

He thought nothing of her flirtations, her schemes, or her efforts to climb the social ladder.

Still, Wang Yueshan isn't afraid he'll spread rumors and ruin her plans for a good marriage.

She has Ji Yunxi's secret in her hands:

The Crown Prince is impotent, and the Eastern Palace has no consort.

The ministers publicly support the Crown Prince's rightful claim, but quietly pledge their allegiance to the Fifth Prince, who has children of his own.

Yet she notices that the Crown Prince's eyes, seemingly filled with thunder, never show the slightest panic. He seems utterly unconcerned.

*

Ji Yunxi has been blessed with an aura of prestige and endless favor since birth. He is the Crown Prince chosen by fate and ordained by Heaven.

His impoverished cousin Wang Yueshan should never have caught his attention, but she's so foolish that she makes him angry just to watch her.

She gives everyone things like a little god of wealth, not realizing that this will only attract greedy wolves with ulterior motives. She'll never get the armor she wants that way.

Aside from the emperor, he's the only one who can give her what she seeks: the Crown Prince!

But what angers him is that whenever she sees him, his cousin's eyes hold no joy at all, only undisguised fear.

And what's even more infuriating is that he's developed a serious problem.

He discovers that he's only able to respond to this fool who's terrified of him.

*

After becoming Crown Princess, Wang Yueshan gathers her courage and asks Ji Yunxi:

"I-if we can't have children, could we just divorce? At least then we could part on good terms and each find happiness."

Ji Yunxi laughs in anger on the spot.

The next day, Wang Yueshan wakes up with an aching waist and unable to get out of bed. She starts to wonder who spread that ridiculous rumor.

Oh, right. It might have been me.

A note for readers:

* Foolish beauty x Crown Prince chosen by fate, both virgins and each other's first love

* Blurb first drafted in 2023, revised on October 15, 2026

Theme: Love helps people grow, becoming more mature and strong.