I Took a Real Crown Prince as My Lover

[Ambitious, domineering fake princess and double-personality, truly jealous crown prince, drafting]

Su Zhaolu is radiant as springtime, the envy of all as the crown princess. After wandering among the common folk for over a decade, she returned to the palace one day and was showered with love and favor.

Only Su Zhaolu knows that she is the cat in the cat-for-prince switch. The real crown prince is Cui Yunye, the top scorer in the imperial examinations.

Before long, Cui Yunye will reunite with the emperor and reclaim his status as crown prince. She will become a fake princess, despised by all and made to suffer imprisonment and calamity.

Even so, given another life, Su Zhaolu still snatches Cui Yunye's jade pendant and goes to claim her place in the family. This time, however, she decides to take Cui Yunye under her wing and keep him under close supervision.

Unexpectedly, when she wakes from a dream one night, she sees Cui Yunye standing beside her bed. During the day, he wears a cold expression and keeps everyone at arm's length, but now his gaze is like a blaze, burning hot.

Su Zhaolu parts her lips, but before she can speak, Cui Yunye bends down. His broad palm grips her chin and forces her to meet his cold lips, yet his voice is utterly humble:

"Day and night, I yearn for Your Highness. Why have you not come?"

"The nights are cold and damp in Zhaoye Hall. I can only feel at ease by Your Highness's side."

*

Cui Yunye is the top scorer in the imperial examinations, with a bright future in officialdom, but the emperor grants him to the crown princess, cutting off all hope of a career in government.

Cui Yunye refuses to let her have her way. He lies low and waits, ready to repay her tenfold once he succeeds.

But when he thinks of the other self, who had not appeared for ten years, kissing Su Zhaolu on the lips, Cui Yunye, usually so composed and self-controlled, still loses his composure.

Cui Yunye suddenly recalls the taunts of a former classmate not long ago: "Top scorer? You're nothing but a kept man the princess decided to take on a whim."

He wants to become crown prince again, but his other self only wants to be Su Zhaolu's kept man, waiting for her favor.

*

A little scene:

Su Zhaolu watches Cui Yunye do her hair and makeup, then stops his hand and says coldly, "Don't pretend to be him."

Cui Yunye laughs in fury and bends close to whisper in Su Zhaolu's ear. His gaze fixes on her pale, slender neck, and his tone is more cutting than ever.

"He's just a fool. What makes him think he can compete with me for you?"

Afterward, Cui Yunye takes Su Zhaolu's hand and lays it over the sachet she sewed for him herself, at his waist. His expression turns gentle, and his voice softens.

"I know Your Highness's feelings have always been true. Why would you be misled by a villain and change your mind on a whim?"

The first version of this blurb was finalized on August 17, 2023, and a screenshot has been saved.

Theme: Love takes effort from both people