The Cold Crown Prince and the Maniac Tyrant - Chapter 1

“Your Highness, Your Highness”

Hmm? Who? Who is calling out, and what “Your Highness”?

Sang Wan’s first thought was that this must be a joke. What kind of era is this? The Qing Dynasty collapsed over a century ago.

【Transmigration System 996, successfully bonded with host.】

The voice resonated as if it were coming from inside his own head.

Sang Wan snapped his eyes open, his mind still spinning. He clutched his forehead, his lips curving into an instinctive smile. To dream of some “Highness” and a heaven-sent system… I must really be reading too many novels.

As he took in his surroundings, his eyes widened, confusion clouding his gaze.

Where is this?

Shouldn’t I be in my doctoral dormitory?

He felt something soft beneath his palm and looked down. It was a bright red fur rug. His pupils dilated uncontrollably.

This… this color. Could it actually be the legendary fur of a Grade II protected red fox?

His body reacted like a spring. Sang Wan leaped up, cautiously stroking the plush fur while catching his breath.

The Transmigration System 996 watched its host’s antics in silence, feeling somewhat ignored.

【Main Mission: Assist Beihai Zhao in becoming the ruler of the world.】

Sang Wan: “!!!”

So the system is real!

Sang Wan lowered his eyes, his thick, long lashes trembling.

He remembered that before the “transmigration,” he was in his A-University dorm, suffering through his dissertation with his roommate, Fu Rong. They had completely lost track of time.

“Damn this dissertation, you little succubus, I’ve finally finished you!” the bedheaded Fu Rong had shrieked. “Ahhh, I’m starving to death!”

He turned to his roommate. “Sang, the brainiac, want to go forage for food?”

Sang Wan looked up, looking lost.

Thump, thump, thump. The sight struck Fu Rong’s heart. Even after living in the same room for years, Fu Rong was still stunned by such a refined and handsome face.

Sang Wan shook his head. “I won’t go. I’m past the point of hunger.”

“Oh… alright. I’ll bring you a meat bun when I get back,” Fu Rong said, blushing slightly.

Sang Wan nodded vaguely, quickly losing himself back in his work.

Hours later, as he typed the final punctuation mark, Sang Wan let out a long sigh. “Finally done.”

He closed his eyes and removed his bulky black-rimmed glasses, gently massaging his temples. His exquisite features were highlighted under the incandescent light. Stretching his arms, he mumbled to himself as he walked toward the bathroom, “Getting a meat bun takes so long.”

When he stepped out of the bathroom, it was already dusk.

The lingering heat from his shower blurred his cool, detached demeanor. Sang Wan dried his hair while opening a novel he hadn’t finished reading, his eyelids growing heavier by the second.

Finally, his head tilted to the side, and he drifted off to sleep.

Beihai Zhao?

Isn’t that the protagonist of the novel I was reading before I came here?

Sang Wan’s pupils constricted. Did I really transmigrate into the book?!

Connecting this to the “Your Highness” he heard earlier… could he have become that ill-fated crown prince—the one whose country was destroyed by the protagonist, Beihai Zhao, and who was subsequently imprisoned, tortured, and met a miserable end?

The Transmigration System 996 spoke: “Host, Beihai Zhao is indeed the protagonist of the novel The Eternal Emperor that you were reading.”

Sang Wan frowned deeply. Of course, being a cannon-fodder character with the same name as the protagonist is the classic red flag for transmigration.

The netizens weren’t lying!

Yes, this unfortunate, doomed crown prince was also called Sang Wan. Bitterness.jpg

The system continued: “According to the world’s progression set by the author, the protagonist, Beihai Zhao, will eventually end the centuries-long chaos of the Five Kingdoms and become the sole ruler of the world.”

Sang Wan blinked.

Before transmigrating, he had only read up to the part where Beihai Zhao sent his troops to attack the Sang Kingdom. The kingdom fell, and Beihai Zhao turned the Sang Crown Prince into a human swine, keeping him imprisoned and humiliating him. Then, Beihai Zhao immediately went on to attack the Nanming Kingdom, even carrying the “human swine” Sang Wan with him to ensure he could humiliate him at any time.

Hiss!

Thinking of this, Sang Wan felt phantom pains in his limbs, and his face twisted in horror.

Although he hadn’t read further, he could guess with his toes that the rest of the story was likely a “cool” power fantasy where Beihai Zhao slaughtered his way to dominance.

Isn’t this just a variation of Qin Shi Huang? As long as the next generation doesn’t act foolishly, the throne could last for ten thousand generations.

With a protagonist that unstoppable, why does he need an assistant?

Sang Wan asked this very question.

The system replied: “The later plot collapsed.”

“Collapsed?” Sang Wan asked, confused.

“Host, are you familiar with Yang Guang, the Second Emperor of the Sui Dynasty?”

As a top student, Sang Wan answered immediately: “Of course. History records that he had a ‘dignified appearance and was clever from a young age.’ Before ascending the throne, he presented himself as simple and frugal, devoted only to his wife, Empress Xiao.”

“But after becoming Emperor, he became increasingly extravagant, tyrannical, obsessed with grandeur, and stubborn, leading to the suffering of the people. Eventually, the dynasty collapsed in the second generation.”

“A quintessential tyrant.”

The system continued: “The protagonist, Beihai Zhao, suddenly underwent a drastic personality shift in the later stages. He became cruel, ruthless, and dictatorial. He disregarded the foundation of the state, launching frequent wars. The iron cavalry of the Beihai Kingdom trampled across the Nine Provinces, plunging the world into flames and causing massive devastation. The entire world collapsed because of this.”

Sang Wan felt a wave of secondhand embarrassment. What kind of mindless plot is this? Does the author have any common sense? Can you really destroy the whole world just by playing war in the era of cold weapons?

The system added: “The system analyzed the cause of Beihai Zhao’s personality change. Through layers of calculation, we concluded that during the six years he spent as a refugee in the Sang Kingdom, he did not receive proper guidance, and he grew up twisted!”

Sang Wan raised an eyebrow. A rebellious teenager needs a parent, not a political advisor.

Wait, so the blame for this lands on the Sang Crown Prince who kindly took in the young prince from an enemy nation?

Sang Wan grumbled inwardly. Seriously? The Sang Crown Prince ended up as a human swine!

He asked, “What if I refuse the mission?”

The system replied: “If the world is destroyed, the host will naturally cease to exist as well.”

Suddenly, there was a commotion outside.

“Oh no! Someone died! Someone is dead!”

“Someone was hit by a carriage, hurry and take a look!”

“Shh—don’t talk nonsense. Do you know who is sitting in that carriage?”

The curtain of the carriage was lifted a corner from the outside.

“Your Highness, why are you crouching in the carriage? Were you startled by the commoners outside? I will go clear the crowd immediately.”

The sudden voice startled Sang Wan, but he quickly composed himself. In a calm voice, he said, “I am fine.”

If he remembered correctly, this was how the Crown Prince addressed himself in the book.

After a moment, Sang Wan added, “My legs are numb. I’m just crouching for a moment.”

The system provided the information: “This is the Crown Prince’s equerry, Meng Tian.”

Sang Wan understood. This was one of the people who grew up protecting and serving the Crown Prince, alongside another named Meng Hai.

Meng Tian opened his mouth to say that if his legs were numb, he should sit down to rest, but he ultimately swallowed his words.

Instead, he cursed Meng Hai in his heart. That brat, I don’t know where he ran off to. He failed to take care of the Crown Prince. When we get back to the palace, I’ll break his legs!

Sang Wan asked, “Meng Tian, why is there such a commotion outside?”

Meng Tian hung his head in shame. “Reporting to Your Highness, it was my negligence. The carriage accidentally hit a commoner.”

Sang Wan frowned. “I will go take a look.”

The system provided the background context: The Sang Kingdom was suffering from a massive drought, and the Crown Prince was returning from the Temple of Heaven, where he had been performing rituals to pray for rain and a good harvest on behalf of the King.

Up ahead, a dirty, thin child was kneeling on the ground. He looked frail, yet his back was as straight as a resilient piece of bamboo growing upward.

Lying in front of the child was a middle-aged man. His face was the gray-white of someone near death. His chest was caved in, his ribs clearly shattered, and he was coughing up large amounts of blood. Every breath seemed like torture. His mouth opened and closed as if trying to say something.

The child simply stared at him with dark, bottomless eyes.

To an outsider, the boy looked like a little fool.

The surrounding crowd whispered, looking at the scene with pity.

“How pitiful. He’s lost so much blood; he probably won’t survive.”

“Sigh, I’ve seen these two before. They’re a father and son living together. This child is going to have a rough time.”

“Indeed, just a young boy. How will he survive? He’ll likely end up a beggar.”

The middle-aged man tremblingly reached out to grab the child’s sleeve, pulling him closer. His words were barely audible: “Little Master… cough, cough… I am not going to make it.”

The child remained silent.

“We cannot return home.”

“There are people looking for you everywhere. This is the capital of the Sang Kingdom; they wouldn’t dare act brazenly here.”

“Rumor has it the Sang Crown Prince is benevolent and loves his people as his own children. Since I am dying because of him—whether intentional or accidental—he certainly won’t leave you to fend for yourself.”

“Little Master, only by staying by the Sang Crown Prince’s side will you be truly safe.”

A woman watching the scene nudged a passerby. “Have you noticed? That kid hasn’t even cried.”

“He looks so cold,” the passerby nodded.

“Maybe he’s just frightened into a stupor,” another person speculated.

The middle-aged man caught a glimpse of a noble, refined young man walking toward them. Finally, he is here.

His eyes suddenly widened as if in a final burst of energy. He gripped the child’s hand tightly, his voice filled with deep worry and attachment. “My son, what will you do all alone in the future?”

The woman watching gasped. “Oh, I think he’s dead.”

“Sigh, judging by what he said, the child is all alone now,” the passerby noted.

“How pathetic,” someone else sighed.

Someone with sharp eyes shouted, “It’s the Crown Prince! The Crown Prince is here!”

“Everyone, move aside!”

The crowd quickly parted to clear a path.

【Target Beihai Zhao has appeared.】

【Current Corruption Value: 20】

【Beep】

【Corruption Value +1, Current Corruption Value: 21】

Sang Wan’s footsteps faltered. The protagonist, Beihai Zhao? We’re meeting this early? I’m not ready!

His heart skipped a beat, but he forced himself to calm down.

He began to analyze the situation. Since this was the protagonist, he had to consider whether the Crown Prince’s carriage had actually hit someone, or if this man had used his life to frame the Crown Prince.

Sang Wan briefly entertained a conspiracy theory.

The system said: “A qualified ruler of the world must not have a black hole in his heart. If Beihai Zhao’s corruption value exceeds 80, the main mission will collapse immediately!”

Sang Wan gave an indifferent “Oh,” his back straight, his presence imposing. With a cold, sharp gaze, he looked like a person who didn’t want to be bothered.

He lifted his chin slightly, looking proud and arrogant, and cast a scrutinizing gaze at his future nemesis—Beihai Zhao.

He first noticed the child’s thin arms. The patched clothing looked empty and ill-fitting, but surprisingly clean.

This is the twelve-year-old protagonist, Beihai Zhao.

He looks so miserable.

Sang Wan didn’t feel relieved; instead, his expression grew heavier. The protagonist’s childhood experiences were only briefly summarized in the book.

The system added: “The protagonist’s birth mother was of humble background but possessed extraordinary beauty. She was deeply favored by the King of Beihai as soon as she entered the palace, but she died from excessive hemorrhaging after giving birth to Beihai Zhao.”

“The King believed that Beihai Zhao had ‘cursed’ his mother to death the moment he was born, marking him as an omen. From then on, he ignored him completely.”

“Last spring, the Queen, who had been childless for years, adopted a son. To ensure her son would inherit the throne, she sent people to secretly assassinate every prince who could potentially challenge him, including the protagonist, who had been living in the cold palace.”

“After countless assassination attempts, sieges, and poisonings, Beihai Zhao was forced to flee the Beihai Kingdom. With the protection of loyal servants, he escaped all the way to the Sang Kingdom.”

Sang Wan realized the situation. He stared down at Beihai Zhao’s thin back. “So this is the scene from the book where the Sang Crown Prince saves the protagonist?”

“Yes,” the system replied.

Sang Wan tested the waters: “Can I choose not to be this doomed Crown Prince?”

Who wants to be a Crown Prince with a six-year expiration date?!

The system remained silent.

Sang Wan posed a soul-searching question: “Do I really have to save this person?”

Living for six years with a future tyrant who will eventually turn me into a human swine, the thought alone is terrifying.

The system’s voice turned cold: “This is a critical plot point in the book; it cannot be changed!”

What are your thoughts on how Sang Wan should approach this situation?

Support