The Strategist Returns

In his previous life, Xu Qian was an ambitious court strategist. But his naive trust led his confidants, lover, and family to betray him together, leaving him disgraced and dead under a false accusation. Reborn with the memories and hatred of his past life, he is determined to change his fate. Yet within the palace, rigid clan laws make every step difficult for someone of humble birth. The forces that once betrayed him notice that something about him has changed and try to crush him again, stopping him from taking revenge. Xu Qian must contend with attacks from every side while struggling to choose between power and justice. If he cannot exact his revenge and break the old system, he will lose those he cherishes all over again and repeat the tragedy of his past life. Along the way, his sudden change in behavior leads others to misunderstand him, plunging him into a crisis of trust. But with his intelligence and resolve, Xu Qian gradually builds a faction of his own and struggles forward through the palace's whirlpool of intrigue. As tensions in the court mount, he must complete his revenge and build his power before a new crisis erupts. In the end, Xu Qian succeeds in taking revenge, only to discover that some of the people he cherishes have been hurt by his plans. His victory comes with a bitter price.