The Fifth Year After He Died

As soon as Xie Wuchen died, the court and the country celebrated.

In the first year after Xie Wuchen's death, the Great Chu court underwent a major shake-up. Everyone close to him was either killed or demoted.

In the second year after Xie Wuchen's death, the emperor, who was only twenty, unified the north and south and ushered in a golden age.

In the third year after Xie Wuchen's death, the ministers urged the emperor to take more consorts and produce an heir. The emperor flew into a rage and demoted every minister who had made the suggestion by one rank.

In the fourth year after Xie Wuchen's death, every official who had been demoted because of him was reinstated.

Xie Wuchen sat on his own nameless grave marker, listening to a passing ghost tell him what had happened after his death.

"That Xie Wuchen really did wreak havoc at court while he was alive, and then in the imperial harem after he died."

Xie Wuchen blinked. He'd been dead for four years. Why were they still pinning all the blame on him?

In the fifth year after Xie Wuchen's death, he saw the young emperor again.

Xie Zhaoli knelt before his grave, just an inch away from his toes.

Tears streaming down his face, he once again cried like a child in front of him.

"Elder Brother, I was wrong."

Xie Wuchen finally heard his apology, but then he looked at the crack in his own chest.

Why are you crying? You're the one who put that sword through my heart.

When he opened his eyes again, Xie Wuchen was lying in a carriage, reborn as Jiang He, a hostage sent from Nan Li to Great Chu.

Not biologically related, but with a fake-brothers setup. Top and bottom roles.

Short story in an alternate setting.

Blurb dated 2025.8.31

Theme: Realize your mistakes in time