[A cunning, aloof, teasing true crown prince seme × an easygoing, free-spirited Taoist uke]
In his previous life, Zhu Zhibai was the true crown prince, brought back to the palace, but the emperor did not favor him, and the false crown prince claimed everything for himself.
At his most wretched, he met a carefree Taoist priest who served the false crown prince. Seeing the glint in the man's eyes, Zhu Zhibai knew his opportunity had come.
With the Taoist priest's help, he eventually reclaimed everything that was rightfully his, but the priest had already sacrificed himself in the struggle for the throne.
When Zhu Zhibai held his sword to the neck of the false crown prince, who had become like a stray dog, the latter asked him, "Li Xianyi betrayed me and did so much for you. Did you ever fall for him?"
He replied calmly, "Why would I fall for him?"
Zhu Zhibai governed diligently for twelve years, then finally fell at the throne. He never expected to open his eyes again and find himself back at the age of sixteen.
In one year, he would be brought back to the palace and made into a puppet crown prince, someone anyone could trample on. But this time, he would never again be so passive, or win at such a terrible cost.
Just as he made up his mind, he turned and saw Li Xianyi as a boy.
Why was the other man looking at him as if he'd seen a ghost?
After Li Xianyi died in his previous life, his soul stayed by Zhu Zhibai's side. Just as he was about to congratulate him for finally reclaiming everything, he heard Zhu Zhibai say those words.
"Why would I fall for him?"
Li Xianyi clenched his fists.
So this little brat had tricked him into giving up everything, even his underwear! And here he was, a transmigrator, for heaven's sake!
Then, in the blink of an eye, he was reborn too.
This time, he was definitely going to stay away from that little brat.
Li Xianyi made a quick getaway, determined not to get involved with him again. Then he ran straight into a shrunken-down Zhu Zhibai, from before he became crown prince.
In his heart: I really want to leave.
His body: Not moving an inch.
The little brat was so thin and small, nothing like the magnificent and noble man in his memories.
Li Xianyi: He's so pitiful. I should take care of him for a while. He tricked me in my last life, so this time I'll make him call me godfather!
Years later.
Li Xianyi lay across Zhu Zhibai's lap, his eyes misty and his face flushed. The refined and resplendent emperor bent down, the corners of his mouth curling up as he murmured, "What do you call me?"
"...Husband."
Reading Guide:
1. They dote on each other, with a slight bias toward the seme. Not recommended for readers with extreme seme or uke preferences.
2. The seme is aloof to everyone else, but acts coy and manipulative with the uke. The uke is thoroughly wrapped around his finger. No groveling-for-forgiveness arc, and they are mutually devoted.
3. The story takes place in a completely fictional setting. Don't apply real historical Chinese products or prices; the author made it all up.
4. The story is full of wild ideas and nested twists: two transmigrators, three people reborn, and one person who only thinks he's a transmigrator (yes, the seme).
More content warnings to come. The author is organizing the outline and saved chapters. If you're interested, feel free to bookmark it for now. Thank you!
Theme: We don't always get another chance. This time, we'll grow old together.
