After Reading Minds, I Discovered My Cousin the Crown Prince Is a Madman!

Shen Qingtang is an adopted daughter of the Marquis of Cheng, raised with immense affection by her adoptive mother and her aunt, the Empress. Her life appears idyllic, surrounded by protective family members and her betrothed, Lu Rongyu, a talented scholar. However, following her coming-of-age ceremony, she discovers she can hear the inner thoughts of others. This new ability initially seems like a blessing, allowing her to navigate court politics with greater awareness, but it quickly becomes a source of terror when she overhears the Crown Prince, Xiao Chengyu. For years, Xiao Chengyu has been her closest protector, treating her with the warmth of a devoted older brother. Yet, through his inner monologue, Shen Qingtang learns that his feelings are far from platonic. He harbors obsessive, possessive desires for her, viewing her engagement to Lu Rongyu as an obstacle and fantasizing about locking her away in the Eastern Palace.

The core conflict emerges as Shen Qingtang realizes the extent of Xiao Chengyu’s surveillance. She discovers that her personal maid, Jinshu, has been secretly reporting her every move to the Crown Prince, along with the estate’s chef and other servants. Her seemingly safe environment is revealed to be a gilded cage constructed by Xiao Chengyu’s influence. When she attempts to maintain a distance from him, his outward gentleness masks a growing anger and suspicion. He interrogates Jinshu about her silence regarding Shen Qingtang’s brief encounter with Lu Rongyu, threatening her position and life. The Crown Prince’s visits become increasingly intrusive, as he brings imperial chefs to control her diet and demands she rely solely on him for her needs, effectively isolating her from her family and fiancé.

A key turning point occurs when Shen Qingtang’s cousin, Ding Ru Shan, visits with the explicit goal of marrying into the Eastern Palace. While Ding Ru Shan’s mother and stepmother view Shen Qingtang with disdain and suspicion, believing she is scheming to attract the Crown Prince, Shen Qingtang refuses to facilitate the meeting. She recognizes that Ding Ru Shan is naive about the Crown Prince’s true nature and that entering the palace would be a death sentence for an ordinary noblewoman. The Crown Prince’s inner thoughts reveal his utter contempt for Ding Ru Shan, whom he sees only as a nuisance interfering with his time with Shen Qingtang. His rejection is cold and dismissive, shattering Ding Ru Shan’s illusions but confirming to Shen Qingtang that the Crown Prince’s interest is exclusively and dangerously fixated on her.

Shen Qingtang’s psychological state deteriorates as she tries to find a way out. She attempts to confide in Lu Rongyu, arranging a secret meeting, but the Crown Prince’s network of spies prevents any genuine communication. Her only ally, her maid Huaping, remains unaware of the mind-reading ability and the full depth of the threat. The story moves toward a climax as Shen Qingtang experiences a vivid hallucination or dream in which she is forced into a wedding with the Crown Prince instead of her fiancé. In this vision, Xiao Chengyu locks her in the Eastern Palace, declaring that no one else will ever see her. This nightmare reflects her waking fear: that her fate is being sealed by a man who views her as property rather than a person. The narrative establishes a tense dynamic where Shen Qingtang must navigate the Crown Prince’s suffocating affection while hiding her knowledge of his true intentions, knowing that any slip could result in her complete loss of freedom.

The story direction points toward a struggle for autonomy against an omnipotent rival. Shen Qingtang is trapped between her duty to her family, her love for Lu Rongyu, and the terrifying power of the Crown Prince. She cannot expose her mind-reading ability without risking being labeled mad or witchcraft, nor can she openly reject the Crown Prince without facing his wrath. The tension escalates as Xiao Chengyu becomes more aggressive in his pursuit, interpreting her caution as coquettishness or the influence of others. Shen Qingtang is forced to play a dangerous game, pretending to accept his care while secretly planning her escape or seeking a political solution that does not involve surrendering her soul to the man who watches her every breath.