Brash, irreverent, extroverted top × outwardly gentle and refined, inwardly irritable, gloomy, socially anxious bottom
Xiao Yao × Liu Cheng
When Liu Cheng was young, he awakened a "Double Click to Start Saving Lives" System. Using the strange medical books and medicines it gave him, he gradually became a renowned physician. Eventually, even an envoy from the imperial palace came to seek him out.
At the time, Liu Cheng was in the prime of his life, eager for fame and fortune. The envoy persuaded him with a few words, and he entered the palace to serve as an imperial physician.
But in his sixth year as an imperial physician, Liu Cheng made up his mind to escape.
The palace nobles were one more difficult to please than the next. He was also constantly forced to learn things he shouldn't know, and his life was often threatened. He'd had enough.
He desperately missed his old days living alone in the mountains, gathering herbs in the rain and sitting back to watch the clouds drift by.
He had submitted his resignation twice, but both requests had vanished without a trace.
He couldn't wait any longer. He had to find his own way out.
He began gathering supplies, secretly keeping an eye on everything happening in the palace and waiting for a chance to escape in the confusion.
But for some reason, Prince Rui'an Xiao Yao, with whom he had never interacted before, suddenly started showing up in front of him every few days, making small talk with him for no apparent reason.
Liu Cheng narrowed his eyes slightly.
Had this man noticed what he was planning?
*
Xiao Yao opened his eyes and found himself reborn as the newborn son of Prince Poyang, Xiao Yao.
He had thought he was the only unlucky soul to have crossed over, but the second son of the Duke of Dingguo and the third son of the Minister of Justice turned out to be his two unlucky roommates.
After recognizing one another, the three immediately formed a little group of young wastrels. They spent their days causing mischief and neglecting their studies, enjoying a thoroughly comfortable life.
The only thing weighing on their minds was that they still hadn't found their other roommate, the one who had studied medicine.
Then one day, Xiao Yao happened to notice that an imperial physician highly regarded by the emperor seemed to be a fellow transmigrator.
Xiao Yao decided to test him.
*
Xiao Yao propped his head on one hand and smiled at Liu Cheng across from him. "Mr. Liu, you've been away from home and in the palace for many years. Do you ever 'miss home'?"
Xiao Yao thought he was so clever. If he started with that, then steered the conversation toward memories of home, a modern person would surely give something away. He was quite pleased with himself.
Liu Cheng caught the implication and frowned, a fierce glint in his eyes.
Could this man know about my plan and be warning me?
*
On the day he escaped from the palace, Liu Cheng glanced at the many pursuers behind him, snatched the reins from a passing servant, and climbed onto the horse.
But the horse wouldn't obey him. Just as the pursuers surrounded him, someone suddenly jumped onto the horse behind him, reached around to take the reins, and easily turned the horse around.
Just as Liu Cheng thought his years-in-the-making escape plan was about to end in failure,
Xiao Yao rested his chin in the crook of his shoulder and leaned in to whisper, "You want to go home, don't you? I'll take you."
Blurb date: 2026.03.28
Theme: Empty fame and fortune are a needless strain.
