Two Systems Crashed Into Each Other Inside Me

Younger top, alternate universe.

In the eleventh year of Xingqing, Xu Fu, born to a poor family, passed all three imperial examinations and became the top scorer. He enjoyed his success for barely three days before suddenly falling gravely ill and dying.

When he opened his eyes again, he had not only traveled three hundred years into the past, but somehow acquired two Systems inside him.

One System slacked off, while the other was a workaholic. They argued in his head every day.

Xu Fu simply ignored them both and did as he pleased. But things seemed to be taking a different turn than he'd expected.

As the only scholar in a family full of soldiers, he heard his father say meaningfully in the study one day, "The most favored son of the General of the Garrison's household doesn't need to be able to lift a finger or carry a load. It's fine if he's capricious, spoiled, and domineering."

Xu Fu understood: don't put all your eggs in one basket.

So he brazenly climbed into the carriage of Xie Tianji, the leader of the opposing faction.

"I left in a hurry and forgot my umbrella. The sky looks like it's going to rain. Would you mind giving me a ride?"

Xie Tianji glanced at the glaring white sun, then looked at Xu Fu as if he were an idiot. "Are you sure?"

Since he hadn't refused outright, Xu Fu took that as a yes and sat down across from Xie Tianji.

On the way back, as the sound of rain pattering outside the carriage began, Xie Tianji leaned close to Xu Fu's ear and tried to get the upper hand with a nasty remark. "Yesterday, your uncouth father cursed me out and wanted to capture me alive and tear me apart. Today you're riding back in my carriage. Aren't you afraid he'll break your legs?"

Xu Fu blinked and shifted into a more comfortable position. "I've been alive this long, and he hasn't even made me get up early for a single day of drills. Why would he get angry just because I happened to ride in a carriage?"

"Oh, I'm terribly sorry. I forgot they still haven't found your missing father."

Xu Fu smiled as he twisted the knife.

Three years later, the man who had shared a carriage with him would become a powerful contender for the throne.

On the night the corrupt emperor died and Xie Tianji ascended the throne, he said, "What did you say when we first met? 'I forgot they still haven't found your missing father.' Was that it?" Xie Tianji tried to get revenge for the old slight. "Come on, call me Daddy, and I'll let you..."

Xu Fu looked at Xie Tianji lying on the bed, then rose to blow out the red candle.

What was the point of a war of words in a situation like this?

The important thing was to bend without breaking and retreat in order to advance.

Theme: When the time is right, heaven and earth join forces; when fortune turns, even heroes are powerless.