After an Original Inhabitant Picked Up a System

[Size Difference] [Age Difference]

Saintly, laid-back, unlucky, bear-of-a-dad gong x vindictive, horny, broken little waif shou

The eldest prince, Chu Mengyan, has the title of elder brother but little support from his mother's family.

He has no grand ambitions. He only wants to be a caring older brother who diligently looks after his younger siblings, hoping that whoever takes the throne will grant him a rich fief so he can live peacefully as an idle prince.

His sweet dream is shattered by his pig-headed second brother.

The second prince rebels and is defeated, and all the strategists who backed him are branded traitors. Chu Mengyan has always treated his younger siblings with warmth and patience, but in the end they mock him as a simp and send him to the frontier.

-

As Chu Mengyan creaks and sways in the carriage, he hears some news: Ji Cih, the wicked strategist who schemed for the second prince and outmaneuvered the other princes at every turn, is dead. The cause is unknown, but Chu Mengyan can't help lamenting the loss. Then he starts feeling sorry for himself again. With his mighty build, he'd once been able to carry all four of his younger siblings at once!

And what did he get for it?

All those younger siblings who smiled and promised to make their big brother a prince one day have been ruined along with him by that pig-headed second prince!!!

He's so mad!!!

Chu Mengyan is trying to psych himself up, telling himself the frontier can't be that desolate. The soil is just a little barren, life is a little hard, the mountains a little rugged, and the trees... Wait, why is there a person hanging from that tree?

He goes over to look. The person is already dead, with only a fat orange cat circling them.

Fat cat (crossed out: System): Your cannon-fodder status has been detected. Sign a contract with me! Once you do, I'll help you rise to the top! You'll even inherit the top-tier chess piece left behind by my previous Host!

Chu Mengyan (wistfully hard of hearing): Sorry, I'm not interested in stealing someone else's wife.

System: Too late. Your personal chess piece will arrive in three days.

Chu Mengyan: ...

Chu Mengyan: Wait, can I pick someone prettier? I want to make someone my princess consort right away!

System: You have such a weird taste!

So, on the third day, Chu Mengyan finds Ji Cih, the greatest strategist who should have died long ago, by his carriage.

The poor thing is frozen stiff in the snow, his face blue and his limbs rigid!

Chu Mengyan's heart softens. Thinking of his adorable younger siblings, he forgets all about whether this man is a traitor or not, scoops him into his arms, wraps him up, and gets into the carriage.

-

As Ji Cih lies in a pool of blood with both legs broken, memories of his few childhood joys come back to him.

When he fell into the water as a boy, the second prince had leaped in and saved his life.

Something icy and bone-chilling, yet warm and soft, burns him until he finally comes back to his senses. The man who has been a fool for ten years opens his eyes to see the second prince, just as bedraggled and soaked as he is.

In the years that follow, he tramples morality, shatters the dignity of the noble families, and ruthlessly stirs up turmoil. He tears into his enemies at court, using every sort of reviled scheme to dismantle opposing forces and cut off the other princes' support. Once his countless plots are complete, he puts his savior on the Eastern Palace's throne.

Then he is executed for his vicious cruelty.

Ji Cih hates himself for being so blind, but all he can think of is that scorching chest that pulled him back to life. People really can't forget the things they couldn't have when they were young.

The person he longed for became the blade that stabbed him.

Thinking of it, Ji Cih can't help laughing bitterly as he lets the snow and wind swallow his consciousness.

But it was so warm, so soft.

In his fading awareness, he seems to feel that warmth again...

-

When he opens his eyes again, the first thing he feels is the body beside his cheek, the one he has truly longed for day and night. Ji Cih struggles to turn his eyes, and his cheek is squished into a lump.

Ji Cih: ...

His senses gradually return. He hears a noisy argument nearby. The other person seems furious, chest heaving with every breath, blood pumping through their veins. From a distance so close Ji Cih can hardly breathe, he manages to turn his eyes and sees the man arguing like a madman with a fat cat.

Chu Mengyan: Didn't you say I'd get my own wife? Where's my princess consort?

System: How is it my fault that you're hard of hearing? I said chess piece, someone you can command and use! And you wanted someone beautiful. Just tell me, is he beautiful or not?

Chu Mengyan: You stupid cat who can't even speak plainly...

System: Host, stop yelling for a second! He's awake!

Chu Mengyan looks down and meets a pair of dazed eyes.

Chu Mengyan: !!!

How is this the wicked, depraved strategist everyone talks about? He's just a helpless little waif!

The pretty young man's cheeks puff up as he trembles out, "Your Highness~"

The next instant, blood gushes from his nose and he faints with a little cry.

-

Later, Chu Mengyan carves out a territory for himself, personally settles the score with the wicked second prince, and becomes the ruler of the frontier.

The System pops up with a cheeky grin: Chess pieces and wives can actually turn into each other, you know.

Chu Mengyan hastily covers the person in his arms' ears and shoos it away fiercely: Get lost! Don't let that filthy talk reach my darling.

And a certain dedicated strategist, who worked through the night and still got up at dawn to handle official business, can finally sleep soundly against a warm and familiar chest.

-

Content warnings:

Not suitable for readers who strongly favor one side of the pairing.

The shou picked the wrong person, but also didn't pick the wrong person.

The younger siblings play an important role in bringing the couple together, and they're related to the gong and shou by blood, haha (a huge spoiler).

I'll start writing at around 300 followers. Slowly building up a stock of chapters, xoxo

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Theme: Think things through when problems arise