Cinnabar's Call, Pearls Hidden in the Mountains and Rivers

[True prince, false guard | Patient revenge | Political intrigue and conquest | The beauty of a tragic ending | A love that began beautifully and ended in heartbreak] Born the legitimate prince with a silver spoon in his mouth, he was switched at birth while his mother lay gravely ill and fell from grace overnight, becoming a commoner among the people. He endured years of poverty, living beside Buddhist lamps and ancient scriptures, and suffered the humiliation of being bullied. Yet he never bowed to fate or yielded to the forces of evil. Over sixteen years, he steadily honed his abilities and built a network of connections. Along the way, he grew worldly without losing his innocence. Though surrounded by darkness, his heart stayed turned toward the light. He punished the wicked and restored order, at last returning to court to rule the realm. Those who once regarded him as an insect bowed before him, while those who once trampled him were ultimately crushed beneath his feet. An immortal descended into the mortal world to help him scheme for the throne, and a beloved companion stayed by his side as their love took deep root. The realm was a game of chess, love a calamity. Everyone was trapped in this Forbidden City chessboard, powerless to escape their fate. Later, he discovered that mortal life was but a dream. He was Ziwei Star Lord, a deity from the Ninth Heaven, and when the seven stars aligned, it would be time for him to leave! This seemingly long life was merely a grand dream, a way for him to see through the mortal world and settle the karma of the past. But when he once again dons that cold divine robe, what will become of the unforgettable love, hatred, and bonds he formed in the mortal world?