Driving the Crown Prince Crazy

Today is the day of my grandwedding to the Crown Prince of Jinzhao Kingdom. While the groom hadn't arrived yet, I lifted my red bridal veil and gleefully pulled out a chicken drumstick, meatballs, and a red bean bun from my sleeve, happily devouring them. Smart, right? I knew I'd be starving on my wedding day, so I prepared snacks in advance. I still remember the wide-eyed shock on Xiaody's face when she saw me stuffing food into my wedding robe sleeves. Alright, fine, I’ll admit it—I'm not originally from this world. When I first learned that the Chancellor wasn’t my real father, just my adoptive one, I cried my heart out. I mean, seriously, such a handsome and powerful man not being my real dad? The betrayal! Thinking of that unknown Crown Prince’s reluctant attitude during our wedding ceremony just now filled me with joy. I’d heard he had someone he truly loved and only married me because of the emperor’s command. That made me practically jump for joy. Since he was forced, and I was unwilling, too, surely getting a divorce later would be easy! Suddenly, I heard the rustling of footsteps outside. The groom was probably there. I hurriedly shoved the last bite of red bean bun into my mouth, covered myself with the red veil again, and sat obediently on the bed. The door opened. Footsteps approached slowly. When the veil was roughly lifted, I looked up—only to meet a pair of deep, sharp phoenix eyes. And the red bean bun in my mouth… Dropped out. I swear to the heavens—I wasn’t trying to be disgusting. And I definitely wasn’t so stunned by this handsome, charming, ethereal man that I lost control. It was because this groom, my new husband, the Crown Prince of Jinzhao Kingdom and future emperor… was my senior brother!! My senior brother is the Crown Prince? The Crown Prince is my senior brother?! I felt like a herd of wild alpacas just stampeded past me. I remembered him introducing himself as Lin Xiao, saying he wandered the world before settling in Youran Valley under our master. Of course, I also lied, telling him I was the daughter of a merchant and had come with my brother to study. Fine, he lied to me, I lied to him—let’s call it even. The real issue is—my senior brother is in love. With someone. And that someone is none other than his junior disciple, my childhood friend, my brother: Su Nuo! That’s right! He’s into guys! He’s into guys!! He’s into guys!!! He likes his junior disciple! He likes my brother! I remember when I’d just learned disguise techniques and transformed into Su Nuo to sneak into his room. He hugged me tightly and confessed his love, even tried to kiss me! I ran out like my life depended on it—because I was literally wearing my brother’s face! I remember sneaking out of the valley with my brother when our master was away, staying out all night. My senior brother went mad looking for us and screamed at me, heartbroken, like I’d betrayed him. His eyes were trembling with pain. Once, when I hadn’t had meat in over a month, my brother caught two fish and cooked them for me. I kissed him in gratitude—just a peck!—and my senior brother gave me a look so cold it could pierce my soul. His possessiveness toward my brother was intense and so obvious. If I couldn’t tell he liked Su Nuo after all that, I’d have to be a total i***t. But he’s doomed to unrequited love, because… My brother is straight! He’s very straight! And—he’s already in love. With me. Yes. The person my brother loves is… the girl who grew up alongside him—me. Thinking of Su Nuo's confession before the wedding filled me with a mix of emotions. There was still sticky red bean paste in the corner of my mouth. Just as I expected, my senior brother—now husband—looked at me with disdain and disgust. He sneered coldly: “The Chancellor’s daughter is certainly… unique. Mediocre in looks, coarse in manners. The rumors of your peerless beauty must’ve been part of your scheme—doing good deeds publicly, spreading word of your virtue, tricking the Emperor and Empress into naming you Crown Princess. Clever indeed. But let me be clear: even if you were as beautiful as a goddess, I would never glance your way.” His mocking words stunned me. Was this really my senior brother? I remember him as gentle, composed, never cruel like this. How did he become so bitter after just a month? Oh, wait… I get it now. It’s definitely because of my brother. He can’t find Su Nuo, and he’s being forced to marry me. His personality… snapped. Oh, right—I forgot to mention. I’m in disguise right now, so he didn’t recognize me. I stared at him in silence, all kinds of thoughts flying through my head while he looked down on me with contempt. Then he gave a final scoff, tossed my red veil to the floor, and walked away without a second glance. Just as I thought. He really is gay. He has zero interest in me as a woman. Ah… what a twisted fate! He loves his junior disciple, but is forced to marry his junior sister. The disciple he loves someone else—and that someone is the junior sister he just married and doesn’t love. What a gloriously messy triangle! What a tragedy! I could almost cough up blood from the absurdity. Poor senior brother… destined for heartbreak. Thinking back to how we first met—it was such a cringe-worthy memory. Utterly ridiculous. A black mark on my life I wish I could erase. Because back then, I was so unbelievably dumb… Every time I think of it…