The Crown Prince Is Sweet on the Outside, Dark on the Inside

After seeing the secret stash in his father's vault, Zhu Song felt his whole world collapse. Those were all imperial tributes.

Eighty-one items in all. There weren't enough heads in the whole family to cover the execution order.

But there was no need to panic just yet. There was still a way to fix this.

Almost all these "fake tributes" were now in the Eastern Palace. As long as he could switch them back without anyone noticing, everything would be fine.

But to come and go freely in the Eastern Palace, he had to get on good terms with the Crown Prince.

That was going to be a bit difficult...

Everyone knew that the Eastern Palace's Crown Prince, Wen Fengxuan, had been sickly and frail since childhood. Gloomy and cold, he never made friends. An old abbot had once predicted he wouldn't live past twenty-five. Nobody at court took him seriously, and he had only become Crown Prince because the Emperor retained a sliver of affection for the late Empress. He wouldn't remain master of the Eastern Palace for long.

But for the sake of his entire family, Zhu Song was ready to go all in. If it was difficult, he'd still do it. Even if he had to force his way through.

*

By the time Zhu Song was so exhausted he was nearly dead, he had finally replaced every last counterfeit, and the Crown Prince had ascended the throne.

Beneath warm red curtains, Wen Fengxuan stood barefoot on the floor. He gently rested a hand on his slightly swollen belly, smiling as he asked, "Tell me, what do you want?"

Zhu Song was overjoyed. Kneeling on the floor, he blurted out, "This subject wants nothing else. I only ask Your Majesty to grant me a few more immunity-from-death tokens."

"Nothing. Else." Wen Fengxuan raised an eyebrow, gritting his teeth as he repeated each word. "You dare deny that the child is mine?"

Zhu Song was baffled. A child? There was a child too???

Damn it, his father had even stolen Wen Fengxuan's child!!!

Sunny, cheerful, straightforward top x sickly, scheming, calculating bottom

Theme: Face difficulties without fear and keep moving forward