Actually, without anyone needing to tell him, Fang Zhiyi had no intention of attending the morning court. Given the physical condition of the original owner of this body, even he was afraid of sudden death from overwork. Who wouldn't catch up on sleep after pulling an all-nighter?
While he was sound asleep at home, rumors spread through the court that the Crown Prince had contradicted the Emperor the previous day, sending the Emperor into a furious rage.
The eyes of several imperial princes who had been granted royal titles lit up.
The eldest brother actually dared to talk back to the old man? Did this mean they now had a chance?
The same news also reached Xu Ruyi's ears. Xu Ruyi frowned. Was Fang Zhiyi crazy? As long as he honestly played his role as the Crown Prince, her goals could be achieved. She absolutely could not let this guy ruin her careful arrangements.
By now, she had completed her transformation from a naive girl into a schemer. She had arranged commercial trade routes for her younger brother and secured a position in the Imperial Guards for her little lover. Although these were not massive moves, Xu Ruyi had already tasted the feeling of holding power.
Even her father and his concubine, who had always looked down on her, now had to speak cautiously around her. This feeling was absolutely wonderful, and the key to it all was Fang Zhiyi. How could she let him ruin everything?
She took her maid and marched straight to the outside of Fang Zhiyi's bedroom. Because Fang Zhiyi often stayed up late reviewing official memorials, he simply slept there. This actually worked out well, saving her from the nausea of having to look at him.
Knock on the door! she ordered. The maid beside her knew that in the Crown Prince's estate, Xu Ruyi was the sky itself, and even the Crown Prince would yield to her. Thus, she began pounding on the door without any hesitation.
The old wet nurse guarding the door wanted to stop her but didn't dare, only managing a sigh in her heart. She was a veteran of the Crown Prince's estate and knew that the Crown Prince always gave way to the Crown Princess; after all, it was a marriage decreed by the Emperor himself.
After a few knocks, the door opened. Fang Zhiyi stood there with messy hair and a deeply displeased expression.
Your Highness, the Crown Princess has a matter to discuss with you. There was not a trace of respect on the maid's face. She knew her mistress despised this Crown Prince, and over time, she had followed suit.
Fang Zhiyi didn't even look at her. Instead, he glanced around, his gaze finally resting on Nanny Wu by the door. Nanny Wu, didn't I say that no matter who comes, no one is to disturb my sleep?
Still sleeping? What did you do yesterday to upset the Emperor? Why aren't you going to apologize! Xu Ruyi interjected directly, her tone full of arrogance.
Fang Zhiyi frowned. Nanny Wu.
Nanny Wu reacted, Your Highness.
Who knocked on my door just now?
It was... Xiaocui, Nanny Wu answered.
A servant disturbed the Crown Prince's rest. Are you blind?
Nanny Wu was stunned, and Xiaocui was as well. Xu Ruyi's face darkened. Fang Zhiyi, what are you saying?
Drag her away and slap her face!
I'd like to see you dare... Before Xu Ruyi could finish her sentence, Nanny Wu directly grabbed Xiaocui's arm. Xiaocui panicked, My lady!
What? One person isn't enough? Men! Fang Zhiyi was the Crown Prince, after all, and there were plenty of servants in the estate. Immediately, someone came running over. Assist Nanny Wu. Teach this maid who disrespects me a good lesson.
Although everyone was somewhat surprised, seeing Fang Zhiyi's fierce gaze, they immediately swarmed up and dragged Xiaocui away.
Hearing the miserable screams and begging coming from the adjacent courtyard, Xu Ruyi's face turned livid.
Fang Zhiyi! How dare you hit Xiaocui!
What? Do I need to submit an official memorial to the old man just to beat a maid?
You! Xu Ruyi couldn't understand why Fang Zhiyi's personality had changed like this. Could it be that he... Xu Ruyi suddenly felt inexplicably guilty. Gritting her teeth and stomping her foot, she turned and left.
Idiot, Fang Zhiyi commented briefly. Just as he closed the door, ready to catch up on his sleep, there was another voice outside.
Sister-in-law, where are you going? Sister-in-law? Listening to the voice, it was the Third Son arriving. So lively, who is getting beaten?
After a short while, someone at the door said softly, Your Highness, Prince Qi has arrived.
Helpless, Fang Zhiyi had to get up. When he opened the door, he saw the Third Son at the door with a cheeky smile.
Eldest brother, I heard you were feeling unwell? I specially brought you... Before he could finish, the items in his hands were snatched away by Fang Zhiyi. ...some tonics...
At least you are thoughtful. Come in.
Eldest brother, I heard you upset the old man last night? Honestly, you know how he is. If you just went along with him, it would have been fine... The Third Son, having sat down, seemed a bit impatient. Although his words sounded caring, his face was full of gossip.
Why should I go along with him? Which of us brothers doesn't go along with him? Huh? Fang Zhiyi suddenly slammed the table, startling Prince Qi. The result of going along with him is being played like a monkey! I approved a vacancy in the Ministry of Revenue for you, and the next thing I know, the Ministry's director goes to complain, and he summons me in the middle of the night just to scold me! Why should I take that?
Fang Zhiyi's volume was not low. Even the Third Son, who was taking pleasure in his misfortune, felt a tingling in his scalp and immediately got up to close the door. Eldest brother, speak cautiously! You are the Crown Prince, after all. Later on, just go and apologize to the old man...
Apologize? Third Son, is your brain broken?
Ah?
Your people enter the Ministry of Revenue, and the Second Son targets them. What does that have to do with me? Why should I take the blame? Let me put it this way: whoever wants to be this Crown Prince can be it. I quit!
Prince Qi looked at Fang Zhiyi's expression and couldn't see even the slightest trace of acting.
Crazy. The Crown Prince must be crazy.
Eldest brother looked honest, but in his heart, he was extremely clear about the matters between him and the Second Son... But what was he after now?
After chatting aimlessly for a few sentences, Fang Zhiyi suddenly said, Third Son, to help you out, I got myself into trouble. Shouldn't you show some appreciation? You know your eldest brother is poor, not like you guys... He rubbed his two fingers back and forth.
Prince Qi was stunned for a long while before taking out his money pouch, but as soon as he held it, Fang Zhiyi snatched it away.
Consider this your eldest brother's compensation for emotional distress. If you need anything in the future, just say the word! Your eldest brother guarantees to get it done for you!
You, I, sigh... Prince Qi's hand hung in the air, with nowhere to rest, and ultimately he could only leave resentfully.
The servants in the estate also noticed that the Crown Prince had changed. Since getting out of bed, he was no longer busy. He either teased the birds or lay in the garden sunbathing. What would normally be a harmonious scene was viewed by others as a terrifying signal: the Crown Prince would likely not remain the Crown Prince for much longer!
Full of anger, Xu Ruyi looked at Xiaocui, who had been beaten so badly she couldn't get up, and resentment grew in her heart. Turning around, she heard that her younger brother Xu Dalang was asking to see her. She didn't think much of it. Xu Dalang wasn't good at studying, but he had a clever mind. Now, relying on his connection to the Crown Prince's estate to do a little business, he had finally given their family some peace of mind.
Sis, something happened, you have to save me! Xu Dalang ran in frantically.
What's wrong?
My subordinates went to collect mountain goods... Those unruly peasants thought the price was too low, and a quarrel broke out between the two sides. As a result, accidentally, one of the unruly peasants was beaten to death by mistake, and now the person who hit him has been arrested and taken to the magistrate's office...
ut it can buy an entire year of absolutely perfect training results! Su Yu stared at his empty wallet and decisively opened up various online loan platforms. “Borrow a thousand bucks! Recharge my vitality!” Boom! His vitality broke a hundred points, shattering the limits of the human body! “Borrow ten thousand bucks! Recharge my combat skills!” Boom! A basic punching technique so common it was everywhere instantly maxed out, revealing the ultimate assassination technique of Five Elements Unity—Inner Force! When a rich kid hired assassins for a midnight ambush, aiming to break both of his legs, they instead ran headfirst into a monster—a human-shaped tyrannosaur, brimming with dragon-like vitality. With just two fingers, Su Yu snapped a steel staff reinforced with alloy. Staring at the killer’s stash of stolen cash—a staggering quarter-million dollars—he showed a corporate-sincere smile: “Thanks for the pre-exam gift pack, Mr. Zhao! I’m gonna go re-invest this!” Three days later, at the National Martial Arts College Entrance Exam, while everyone else struggled just to reach the passing line, Su Yu threw a single punch—and more than a thousand vitality points literally detonated the entire arena!
e bizarre and supernatural had descended. The previous emperor was a thoroughgoing tyrant; no longer satisfied with human women, he had set his sights on a stunningly beautiful supernatural entity. He met his end in his bedchamber, drained of all his vital essence. As the legitimate eldest son and crown prince, Wang Hao was thus hastily enthroned, becoming the young emperor of the Great Zhou Dynasty. No sooner had he awakened the "Imperial Sign-In Intelligence System" than he was assassinated by a Son of Destiny—a classic villain's opening. The Great Zhou, ravaged by the former emperor's excesses, was in national decline. The great families within its borders harbored their own treacherous schemes, martial sects began to defy the imperial court's decrees, and border armies, their pay and provisions in arrears, grumbled incessantly against the central government. Fortunately, the central capital was still held secure by the half-million Imperial Guards and fifty thousand Imperial Forest Army who obeyed the court's orders, along with the royal family's hidden reserves of power, barely managing to suppress the realm. As the Great Zhou's finances worsened and supernatural activities grew ever more frequent, the court sat atop a volcano. Ambitious plotters everywhere dreamed of overthrowing the dynasty, and even some reclusive ancient powers emerged, attempting to sway the tides of the world. At the first grand court assembly, the civil and military officials nearly came to blows, fighting tooth and nail over the allocation of fifty million taels of silver from the summer tax revenues. The spectacle opened Wang Hao's eyes—the Great Zhou's bureaucracy was not only corrupt but also martially proficient, a cabinet of all-rounders. Some officials even had the audacity to suggest the emperor release funds from the imperial privy purse to address the emergency. Wang Hao suddenly felt weary. Let it all burn.
lity and could only live as an ordinary mortal. He only wished to live a peaceful life. Yet he didn't know— The dog he adopted, because it ate his food, became a legendary demon king. The kitchen knife he casually forged became a peerless divine weapon, causing numerous experts to fight desperately for it. The young disciple he took in became an immortal lord that led an era, due to cultivating the techniques Ye Feng taught him. Even the skeletons he looked down on the most were ominous demon kings that suppressed countless worlds. Many years later, looking at the void shattered with a punch, Ye Feng murmured to himself: It turns out the peerless kings were myself all along...
d intelligence to keep the plot moving, and sometimes even the protagonists are forced into absurdly dumb decisions. Why does the A-list celebrity heroine in urban romance novels ditch the top-tier movie star and become a lovestruck fool for a pockmarked male lead? Why do the leads in historical tragedy novels keep dancing between love and death, only for the blind healer to end up suffering the most? And Gu Wei never expected that after finally landing a villain role to stir up trouble, she’d pick the wrong gender! No choice now—she’ll just have to crush the protagonists as a girl!
