Prologue: In the distant era of Great Qi, there was once a legend about a forest of maple trees. They say that the seventh ruler of Great Qi, Xian Daozhang, was born dull-witted and terribly ugly. His father, Emperor Wei, even considered stripping him of his position as crown prince. But everything changed when he was seven.
That year, Xian Daozhang accompanied his father, Emperor Wei, on a hunting trip to Qingfeng Mountain. Passing a maple forest, he was captivated by the fiery red trees and wandered inside. Then, inexplicably, he disappeared for a whole year. During that time, Emperor Wei sent forty-two groups of shadow guards to search for him, but none found a trace.
A year later, just as the court officials were urging Emperor Wei to name a new heir, Xian Daozhang suddenly appeared before Xuanwu Gate at the imperial city. But he was gravely ill, hovering between life and death. Emperor Wei immediately sent people to bring him back to the Eastern Palace.
Once back in the palace, Xian Daozhang’s skin grew as hot as if it were being scorched by fire. At last, it began to split and peel away inch by inch. Strangely, once his skin had peeled, not only did his illness vanish, but he seemed reborn. He grew more handsome and more clever with every passing day.
When Emperor Wei asked what had happened during that year, Xian Daozhang said he remembered nothing at all. It had felt like a dream, yet a year had passed in the mortal world. From then on, rumors that the crown prince had attracted a demon and become possessed spread far and wide...
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