The Tyrannical Crown Prince Reincarnated as a Pitiful Ger

Shen Qian is a veteran agent of the Fast-Wear Bureau who has completed three hundred years of missions across various worlds. Upon achieving high scores, he qualifies for retirement and selects an ancient world to inhabit as the legitimate eldest young master of Duke Fuchang’s Residence. His goal is to live a quiet, leisurely life as a wealthy noble. However, moments after transmigration, he is pushed into a freezing lake by an unseen assailant. The shock causes a soul displacement: Shen Qian’s consciousness transfers into the body of Xiao Die, a loyal round-faced servant, while the original host’s soul is replaced by that of Ye Gui, a powerful and formidable figure. Shen Qian is left stranded in a lowly servant’s body, unable to return to his intended retirement identity.

The situation in Ganlin Courtyard is dire. The residence is in chaos because the Duke and his favored concubine, Liu Yiniang, are away enjoying an opera performance. Liu Yiniang, originally a courtesan, has seized control of the inner household and systematically starves the eldest young master of medical care and resources. When the feverish Ye Gui collapses, the servants are too afraid to seek help. Shen Qian, despite his humble status, takes charge. He bribes his way out of the mansion through a dog hole to purchase medicine from a local clinic. During his return, he encounters a military lockdown in the capital caused by political unrest involving the Crown Prince, trapping him in the city.

Upon returning, Shen Qian faces immediate hostility from Shen Chun, the arrogant illegitimate son of Liu Yiniang. Shen Chun arrives with a mob to seize the medicine and harm the young master, believing the dowry left by the late Duchess will be forfeit if the eldest son dies. Shen Qian uses his knowledge of the family’s legal arrangements to bluff Shen Chun, revealing that the dowry would instead revert to the Duchess’s powerful maternal family, Sheng Guogong Mansion, if the eldest young master were harmed. This threat stalls Shen Chun’s aggression. The confrontation escalates until Ye Gui, recovering his strength, intervenes. He physically assaults Shen Chun and orders him thrown into the lake, asserting dominance over the household. This act marks a turning point, as the servants of Ganlin Courtyard, previously cowed into submission, find their courage restored.

With the immediate threat neutralized, Shen Qian organizes the courtyard’s resources. He leads a group of loyal servants to the main kitchen to seize five days’ worth of provisions, using intimidation to ensure they leave with ample food and fuel. He prepares nutritious meals for Ye Gui, prioritizing the health of his original body. During this time, a tentative alliance forms between Shen Qian and Ye Gui. Ye Gui, recognizing Shen Qian’s competence and courage, appoints him as his personal attendant. Before the lockdown lifts, Ye Gui entrusts Shen Qian with a sealed letter bearing a wave crest, instructing him to deliver it to Commander Hua’s mansion. Ye Gui warns that he may lose his memory or consciousness by then, but insists the letter is crucial for the safety of the courtyard’s staff.

As the days pass, the political tension in the capital remains high. Shen Qian navigates the internal politics of the mansion, dealing with suspicious servants like Pan Er, who appears to be a spy for Liu Yiniang. The narrative establishes that the soul swap is an anomaly the system cannot immediately fix, leaving Shen Qian to survive in a servant’s body while Ye Gui inhabits the master’s form. The story sets the stage for Shen Qian to use his position to protect the loyal servants and manage the household’s affairs, while Ye Gui prepares to deal with the external political threats and the Duke’s return. The dynamic between the two souls—one seeking retirement and the other seeking power—creates a complex partnership as they face the looming return of Liu Yiniang and the Duke.