**Core Conflict**:
- **Villainous Mastermind**: In his previous life, Crown Prince Li Chengqian schemed to seize the throne and framed Lu Mingyuan (Protagonist 1), a Ministry of Justice official in charge of the haunted-house case, for the hauntings. Lu’s entire family was executed. After being reborn, Lu Mingyuan discovers that behind the haunted house is a massive conspiracy between the crown prince and the Minister of Revenue (Villain 1). They use “haunted houses” as an excuse to seize private land at bargain prices and embezzle funds from the imperial treasury. The crown prince’s faction becomes the greatest obstacle to Lu Mingyuan’s revenge and his effort to clear his name.
- **Deadly Secret**: After being reborn, Lu Mingyuan discovers that he can see and communicate with ghosts. The long-haired female ghost “A Xiu,” who pursues him through the haunted house, is a commoner woman silenced by the crown prince’s men. Her vengeful spirit refuses to rest, making her a key witness, albeit a ghostly one, in bringing down the crown prince. If his ability is exposed, Lu Mingyuan will be denounced as a demon and hunted by the entire court and the Imperial Astronomical Bureau.
- **Impossible Choice**: Lu Mingyuan forms an alliance with Li Xuan (Protagonist 2), a down-and-out imperial grandson he meets after being reborn. Li Xuan carries a blood feud and wants to overthrow the crown prince, but his radical methods could destabilize the court and harm innocent people. Lu Mingyuan must repeatedly weigh using Li Xuan’s influence to get revenge quickly against upholding the law and preventing widespread bloodshed.
**Character Dilemmas**:
- **Physical and Emotional Struggles**: In his previous life, Lu Mingyuan was a civil official with no strength to defend himself. Against the crown prince’s assassins and the schemes of the court, his lack of martial prowess is a fatal weakness. He also feels crushing guilt over the deaths of his family, who died because he dragged them into danger in his previous life. This guilt may cloud his judgment, making him too reckless or too softhearted in his pursuit of revenge.
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