What if the two people who already loved each other transmigrated back to an earlier period in the book’s storyline—Young Master Shen at nine years old, Prince Chu at eight years old.
Crown Prince Chu Tan was still alive, and Second Prince Chu Zhaoyu hadn’t had his accident yet.
*
The capital had been snowing heavily for two days straight. When the snow stopped, everything was draped in silver, with icicles hanging from trees—thousands of trees blooming like pear blossoms. The palace paths were still being cleared of snow when someone hurried across the snowy ground.
It was Crown Prince Chu Tan.
Usually dignified and steady, he was now walking very urgently, until he encountered Chu Zhaoyu, who was also hurrying from another direction.
Both stopped simultaneously. Though they had come from different directions, they were heading to the same place.
Obviously for the same matter.
Sixth Prince Chu Zhao had left the palace without permission, been caught and brought back. Emperor Cheng’an was furious and had thrown him in the snow to kneel as punishment.
Both princes had come to plead with Emperor Cheng’an for Chu Zhao.
Chu Zhaoyu pressed his lips together, wanting to speak but hesitating. After thinking, he still spoke: “Has Royal Brother also come for Sixth Brother?”
Chu Tan nodded, his brow showing unconcealed fatigue. Chu Zhaoyu took in his poor condition and advised: “Royal Brother, let me go. I see you haven’t rested well, you should go back first…”
Chu Tan relaxed his brow and smiled, patting Chu Zhaoyu’s head: “I know what you’re worried about. It’s fine. I should see what Little Six actually did first.”
What Chu Zhaoyu worried about was that Chu Tan had just displeased Emperor Cheng’an a few days ago and had even been confined for several days. Even Chu Tan himself hadn’t expected the emperor to be so angry.
These past two years, Father Emperor’s temper had become increasingly strange. Though Chu Tan’s studies and work were getting better and better, it seemed any small issue could bring Emperor Cheng’an’s scolding, and even… without any issues, it would still inexplicably provoke Father Emperor’s anger.
The Crown Prince couldn’t figure out what he had done wrong, but he realized that Emperor Cheng’an was becoming increasingly distant and disgusted with him.
Not just him—others had noticed too.
With only their own people around, Chu Zhaoyu said softly: “Father Emperor has become increasingly stern lately. I… sometimes I almost don’t dare call him Father Emperor anymore.”
The Crown Prince fell silent.
He had heard that Father Emperor had recently been seeking immortality, looking for people who could make elixirs of eternal life, and had become increasingly harsh with his sons.
He had a bad feeling about this.
Chu Tan exhaled softly and composed himself.
“Don’t overthink it. Let’s go see Little Six first.”
Eight-year-old Chu Zhao was being forced to kneel in the courtyard. Emperor Cheng’an was asking if he knew his mistake, and Chu Zhao answered with full vigor: “I’m not wrong!”
“Just went out to play, what’s wrong with that? Besides, yesterday I climbed over someone’s courtyard wall and discovered a very good-looking young master. He said he’s the heir of Marquis Yin’nan’s residence. I’ve already sworn to marry him. Going out once got you a daughter-in-law—shouldn’t you be happy?”
Emperor Cheng’an was livid: “You still dare to talk back—wait, what did you say? Who do you want to marry?”
“I said,” Chu Zhao enunciated each word, “I want to marry the heir of Marquis Yin’nan, Shen Ziqin!”
The Crown Prince and Second Prince had just entered the courtyard when they heard this declaration.
Both princes: “…”
Emperor Cheng’an: “…”
Wind swept snow from the eaves, scattering a few flakes down. Even the air seemed frozen.
After a moment, Emperor Cheng’an’s confused mind slowly cleared in the freezing weather.
He wanted to marry a man?
The imperial family had countless rules. Apart from the commonly used ones, the rest weren’t usually mentioned and were typically forgotten, but if someone brought one up, the fill-in-the-blank would become very familiar.
For instance, Emperor Cheng’an remembered there was such a rule: if an imperial family member married a man as his primary wife, he would lose his right to imperial succession.
Not only did he remember, but Crown Prince and Chu Zhaoyu remembered too.
Chu Tan initially didn’t take it seriously and even found it somewhat amusing—after all, how old was Chu Zhao? What did he understand about love and marriage? It was just childish talk. But soon, his heart jumped with alarm.
Because he saw Emperor Cheng’an’s expression.
That was an expression of contemplation, considering the plan feasible.
Chu Tan and Chu Zhaoyu exchanged glances, both seeing the alarm in each other’s eyes. They quickly stepped forward: “Your sons greet Father Emperor!”
Emperor Cheng’an was deep in thought and glanced at them indifferently: “Come to plead for this little one?”
Chu Tan respectfully lowered his head, anxious inside: “Zhao is still young, with a child’s nature. Leaving the palace should be punished. Father Emperor’s discipline is for his own good—he should copy more books to temper his character.”
Chu Tan was afraid Emperor Cheng’an would severely punish him in his anger. In such cold weather, how could a child kneel in the snow for too long? He absolutely couldn’t endure it. If only punished with copying books, it would turn a big matter into a small one.
Emperor Cheng’an’s anger had subsided considerably since hearing Chu Zhao’s words, as his thoughts had turned elsewhere. He snorted coldly: “A child? This little one is already talking about marriage!”
Chu Zhaoyu also bowed his head respectfully, his hands under his sleeves turning cold from Emperor Cheng’an’s attitude: “Father Emperor, children speak without thinking.”
Because of his maternal grandfather’s military power, Chu Zhao had been different from other princes since birth. Emperor Cheng’an had married his mother to maintain balance, and had always looked unfavorably upon his grandfather’s family, naturally also looking unfavorably upon Chu Zhao.
Chu Tan and Chu Zhaoyu might have experienced a bit of paternal love in their youth, but Sixth Prince Chu Zhao had never felt any warmth.
Chu Zhao knew that Chu Tan and Chu Zhaoyu were both trying to excuse him, but he looked up and stared directly at Emperor Cheng’an: “I’m serious. I want to marry him, and I want no one else but him.”
Chu Tan: “Father Emperor—”
“All of you shut up. Sixth Prince, go back and reflect behind closed doors.” Emperor Cheng’an waved his sleeve. “Issue an edict: tomorrow summon the heir of Marquis Yin’nan to the palace. I want to see what kind of person has captured your heart so completely.”
Chu Zhao hummed.
Chu Tan’s heart sank, his hands and feet turning cold. Emperor Cheng’an’s meaning—he was actually considering arranging a marriage for Chu Zhao!
Chu Tan hurriedly looked up, but the door closed before their eyes. The snow on the roof trembled lightly, blocking Emperor Cheng’an’s figure.
Chu Tan could only lead his two younger brothers away first.
In the bitter cold, Chu Zhao had knelt for a while longer. Chu Tan first brought him to the Eastern Palace, made soup to warm him up, and summoned an imperial physician to examine him, lest he catch cold.
After the physician left, Chu Zhaoyu couldn’t help but speak: “Little Six, what were you saying today! Do you know what marrying a man means? You’re still young—how could you say such things—”
“Second Brother,” Chu Zhao said, wrapped in a blanket, “I’m serious.”
Chu Tan sighed and sat down to look at this child: “Royal Brother knows you’re angry with Father Emperor. There’s still room for this matter—leave it to Royal Brother.”
This was the Crown Prince, alive. Chu Zhao looked at him—indeed, as Chu Zhaoyu had said, a gentleman of integrity, gentle and benevolent.
Yesterday when he opened his eyes and found himself a child again, his first thought was to sneak out of the palace to find Shen Ziqin. He had to confirm whether this current one was his Ziqin.
He had confirmed it—the answer was yes.
Unexpectedly, the two of them had transmigrated back to square one, and everything had to start over. Just thinking about it was exhausting, but the good news was that they could also save more things in time.
Many people were still alive now, like Chu Tan. Chu Zhaoyu’s legs were fine, and there were still many people at the frontier.
It was just that he and Ziqin hadn’t had time to say much before being caught and brought back to the palace.
“Two elder brothers,” Chu Zhao said, “I know that marrying a man means I cannot inherit the throne.”
Both Chu Tan and Chu Zhaoyu were stunned: “You…”
“I truly like Young Master Shen, and the emperor looks unfavorably upon me. If I become engaged to a man, life will be much easier from now on. Isn’t that good?” Chu Zhao held the hand warmer Chu Tan had given him. “With Crown Prince Brother here for the throne, I have no interest anyway. You should have noticed the emperor’s attitude toward his sons.”
The two slightly older princes fell silent.
All the children of their generation were smart from an early age, though in different ways. They were all precocious, but they hadn’t expected that Chu Zhao, at only eight years old, could see things so clearly.
Born as imperial nobility, yet living as if walking on thin ice.
Chu Tan touched his head, feeling both heartache and heaviness.
Chu Zhao looked at them and deliberately changed the topic: “Besides, I’ll get to see Ziqin tomorrow. I’m not at a loss.”
Chu Tan and Chu Zhaoyu came back to their senses. Chu Tan smiled: “You call him so intimately, yet you’ve only met once.”
“Some people only need to be seen once. I must have him and no other. I’ll treat him well in the future.” Chu Zhao held the hand warmer. “I must keep him in the palace.”
Shen Ziqin wasn’t living well at Marquis Yin’nan’s residence. Since he had come, he absolutely couldn’t let Shen Ziqin continue staying there to suffer.
As long as the emperor felt assured about him early on, as long as he posed no threat to the throne, Emperor Cheng’an could confidently use him as a balancing chess piece, never shortchanging him in food, clothing, and living expenses.
Thus, Chu Zhao could also wrap Shen Ziqin in luxury.
At Marquis Yin’nan’s residence—
Little Shen Ziqin curled up on the couch, coughing incessantly.
It hurt, it hurt so much. This was more painful than when he had transmigrated at twenty-one. The young master’s body was even worse now. Not only did his chest hurt, but when he fell ill, his entire body ached. Shen Ziqin’s jade-white little face was full of pain as he tremblingly pulled the blanket tight.
Yesterday, he and Chu Zhao hadn’t had time to say much before being interrupted—how frustrating.
But fortunately, he hadn’t fallen ill then, or Chu Zhao would definitely have been heartbroken.
Shen Ziqin had calculated that in a few days there would be a New Year palace banquet. At that time, he would crawl to the door if necessary and force Marquis Yin’nan to take him to the palace banquet.
Since the county princess’s death, Marquis Yin’nan had never brought the young master to the palace.
As for how he, a half-grown child, would force Marquis Yin’nan, Shen Ziqin had naturally planned that too.
Marquis Yin’nan’s residence was well-located, with other high officials and nobles living nearby. On the day of the palace banquet, many officials would be traveling the same route to the palace. Shen Ziqin would quote classics at the door, letting other passing officials or noble families hear as well.
With his legitimate wife recently deceased, treating his legitimate son so harshly—hiding it in the residence was one thing, but once outsiders knew, where would Marquis Yin’nan put his face?
Since Shen Ziqin had transmigrated to now, did Marquis Yin’nan still want to elevate his concubine to legitimate wife? Not a chance.
Shen Ziqin thought coldly, his little brain spinning rapidly, and then… he coughed himself into oblivion again.
He was dying, it was too uncomfortable, really uncomfortable.
A child’s sick body was truly different from an adult’s. Shen Ziqin’s soul shrunk in the child’s shell, unable to control some reactions. He coughed until he saw stars, and the jade-snow child’s eyes reddened. With one blink, tears just pattered down like that.
Shen Ziqin: “…”
Really, really, it wasn’t that he wanted to cry—it was the child’s physiological reaction that he couldn’t resist.
Chu Zhao, Chu Zhao.
Shen Ziqin clutched the blanket, calling Chu Zhao’s name, trying to comfort himself. But unexpectedly, in his illness-induced vulnerability, his heart felt even more sour and aggrieved, and tears flowed like a burst dam, more and more.
Shen Ziqin: …Fine, if you can’t beat them, join them. Cry then—after all, his body was a child’s now, so it wasn’t embarrassing.
Shen Ziqin lay flat and cried for who knows how long, until he heard hurried footsteps mixed with voices.
How strange—normally, except for medicine and meal times, no one would come to care for him. This wasn’t either time, so who was coming?
Marquis Yin’nan’s voice rang out: “Doctor, quickly examine him. Can he get out of bed tomorrow? Also, can you make his complexion look better? We usually use good medicine to nourish him—it’s his own lack of progress. Don’t let people think we’ve mistreated him when we take him out.”
Shen Ziqin’s heart stirred: Hmm? Something’s not right, there’s a situation.
Sure enough, he heard Marquis Yin’nan’s next words: “Why would His Majesty suddenly think to summon him? Could it be directed at me?”
Shen Ziqin couldn’t control his pattering tears, but his spirits lifted.
The emperor couldn’t possibly think of such a sickly child for no reason—Chu Zhao must have done something!
Shen Ziqin’s heart warmed, but he also worried for Chu Zhao. He wouldn’t have taken risks, would he? If he could wait until the palace banquet and go directly to the Empress Dowager to play pitiful, that would be the safest method.
But yesterday when Chu Zhao hurriedly came that one time, he obviously couldn’t wait to take Shen Ziqin away.
Shen Ziqin missed him very much too.
He hoped he wouldn’t be punished for taking risks and angering Emperor Cheng’an.
Shen Ziqin worried anxiously.
The doctor came and checked Shen Ziqin’s pulse. Stroking his beard without speaking yet, Marquis Yin’nan anxiously asked: “How is it?”
Just as the doctor opened his mouth, Shen Ziqin cut him off: “My body is very good, *cough*, very good.”
The child held back his cough until his pale face turned red.
Doctor & Marquis Yin’nan: “…”
Are you kidding a ghost?
Shen Ziqin wasn’t being stubborn. Since Chu Zhao had made his move, he absolutely had to go to the palace tomorrow no matter what. Shen Ziqin could also guess what Chu Zhao would say to Emperor Cheng’an that would make the emperor want to see him.
Tomorrow he would absolutely perform well, make the dog emperor arrange the childhood engagement, and the future position of Sixth Prince’s consort would be his and his alone!
The ambitious Young Master Shen reached his limit the next second and finally couldn’t hold back, opening his mouth to cough earth-shakingly.
“Quickly bring medicine!”
“Isn’t there still old ginseng at home? Hurry and bring that too!!”
Who would have thought that Marquis Yin’nan’s residence would have a day of chaos over Shen Ziqin’s illness? Ah, how comfortable. The miserable Shen Ziqin watched the drama thinking: I’m fine, really.
##
