Let the Black‑Lotus Crown Prince Carry a Baby

Upon discovering his father’s secret hoard inside a hidden chamber, Zhu Song felt as though the very sky had collapsed on him—for the collection was nothing less than imperial tributes.

Eighty-one items in total¹, enough that even if the entire family pooled their heads together², they would not be sufficient to pay the price for this crime.

But—no need to panic just yet. There was still room for a remedy.

At present, nearly all of these so‑called “counterfeit tributes” were inside the Eastern Palace. If he could somehow switch them out, unnoticed and without leaving a trace, then everything would be resolved.

However, to move freely in and out of the Eastern Palace, one must earn the favor of the Crown Prince himself.

And that… was no easy task.

Everyone knew that Crown Prince Wen Fengxuan had been weak and sickly since childhood, cold and withdrawn, never befriending anyone. An old abbot³ once proclaimed that he would not live past the age of twenty‑five. Neither court officials nor outsiders ever took him seriously. The only reason he had managed to secure the Crown Prince’s title was because the Emperor still clung to a sliver of fondness for the late Empress⁴. But as far as anyone could see, he would not remain heir apparent for long.

Yet for the sake of his entire family, Zhu Song had no choice but to try—no matter how difficult, he would press on, even if it meant forcing his way forward.

By the time Zhu Song was so exhausted he nearly dropped dead from overwork, he had finally managed to switch out all the fakes. And as fate would have it, the Crown Prince ascended to the supreme throne.

Inside the warm glow of red silk bed curtains, Wen Fengxuan stood barefoot upon the floor, one hand gently caressing a faintly rising belly, his eyes curved with a smile.
“Tell me,” he asked softly, “what do you desire?”

Joy surged through Zhu Song’s heart. Dropping to his knees, he blurted out without thinking:
“This humble subject has no other wish, only to beg Your Majesty for a few more ‘death‑exempting gold medallions’⁵.”

“‘No. Other. Wish.’” Wen Fengxuan raised his brows, biting out each word through his teeth, “And you would refuse to acknowledge my child?”

Zhu Song froze in bewilderment.
A child? There’s… a child???

Heaven above! His father had even stolen the Crown Prince’s child!!!

☼ Cheerful, sunny, straightforward gong (active partner) × sickly, scheming, black‑bellied shou (passive partner)

Please add to your collections, bowing gratitude!!