During the Yongchang period of Dasheng, the fourth prince Xiao Chengyun received the bronze mirror gifted by his mother and concubine on her deathbed on a snowy night, with only one sentence left in his ears: "Don't forget your original intention."
He didn't know at that time that this mirror would reflect the light and darkness, kindness and violence, true self and phantom of his life.
The father is suspicious, the brothers are fighting, and the situation in the court is abysmal.
He had no intention of seizing the legitimate heir, he only wanted to protect himself, but he fell into the vortex of power and intrigue step by step.
He once swore to be a wise king, reduce taxes, pardon wrongdoers, and open up avenues for speech;
He once trusted his best friends, respected his loyal ministers, and loved his parents and children.
But when the dragon chair was added to his body, he discovered——
The throne is not the end of power, but the beginning of devouring human nature.
He began to doubt every word of advice and fear every bow of his head;
He established the "Inspection Department" to supervise hundreds of officials and punish three clans;
He demoted his old friend, put the prince under house arrest, and finally shot his own son with his own hands.
One night, he looked in the mirror and realized:
That look, that sneer, that murderous intent between the brows...
He was exactly the same as the father he hated all his life.
