Did the Little Crown Prince Ascend the Throne Today?

Wu Junji, a man who spent his previous life climbing from beggar to Crown Prince only to assassinate Emperor Zhou and die of laughter at his funeral, is reborn as the premature son of the same Emperor. His birth is a shocking secret: Emperor Zhou, an intersex ruler who gave birth via abdominal surgery, views Wu Junji as living proof of his shame and initially intends to kill him. However, plagued by recurring nightmares of a weeping man at his coffin, Emperor Zhou hesitates. After six months of neglect in a detached palace, the Emperor brings the infant back, eventually declaring him the eldest son and Crown Prince, surpassing the child born to Noble Consort Dong.

Wu Junji, retaining his adult memories and ambition, understands that his position is precarious. He is physically frail due to his premature birth, unable to compete with the robust Second Prince in martial prowess. His primary goal is survival and securing his power through political maneuvering rather than force. He navigates the treacherous court with calculated ruthlessness, engaging in a psychological tug-of-war with his father. Their relationship is defined by mutual suspicion and a bizarre intimacy; Emperor Zhou oscillates between affection and violent rage, often treating Wu Junji as a possession while simultaneously fearing the dark destiny hinted at in his dreams.

A critical turning point occurs when Wu Junji learns that his childhood friend and political rival, Chen Yu, has also been reborn. In his previous life, Chen Yu destroyed Wu Junji’s life’s work, the Taiping Civil Code, and led the rebellion that toppled the dynasty. Now a child again, Chen Yu is determined to change his fate and dismantle the Zhou dynasty from within. Wu Junji must now contend with a foe who knows his future strategies and possesses intimate knowledge of his weaknesses.

The political landscape shifts further with the introduction of Chen Yang, the Grand Marshal and Chen Yu’s uncle. Emperor Zhou reveals Wu Junji’s existence to Chen Yang, effectively using the Crown Prince as a hostage to bind the powerful military family to his throne. This move secures Chen Yang’s loyalty but places Wu Junji at the center of a web of familial and political obligations that could easily tighten around his neck.

As Wu Junji grows, he faces the constant threat of deposition. Emperor Zhou has explicitly stated that if Wu Junji shows no promise by age three, he will be removed. The Emperor’s mental state is increasingly unstable, haunted by visions of a future where Wu Junji is humiliated and broken. These nightmares drive Emperor Zhou to overcompensate with excessive protection and indulgence, creating a volatile environment where love and terror are indistinguishable.

Wu Junji also discovers the return of a mysterious System, designated 88, which provides cryptic information but offers limited practical assistance. The System confirms the gravity of Chen Yu’s rebirth, warning Wu Junji that his nemesis is no longer the defeated rival he remembered but a formidable opponent with foreknowledge of events. Wu Junji realizes that the path to the throne is not just about outmaneuvering court factions but surviving the psychological warfare waged by his own father and the rewritten history driven by Chen Yu.

The story unfolds against the backdrop of a dynasty built on strict succession laws that favor the eldest son, a tradition Emperor Zhou himself benefited from but now struggles to uphold due to the circumstances of Wu Junji’s birth. The court is divided between those who support the legitimate Crown Prince and those who favor the Second Prince, with Noble Consort Dong actively plotting to undermine Wu Junji’s status. Wu Junji must navigate these familial betrayals while maintaining the facade of a dutiful son and a capable heir, all while preparing for a confrontation with Chen Yu that will determine the fate of the Great Zhou.