The powerful minister Ming Cheng died on a snowy night in the first year of Qianhe.
In life, he had been unrivaled in status, feared by every official, and never showed the new emperor any deference. Yet after drinking the poisoned wine, he was hastily buried in a straw mat.
The new emperor watched him die without a sound. Then he galloped through the snowy night to share the good news with his lifelong best friend outside the palace.
But his friend didn't return that night.
His friend didn't return for several days.
The new emperor turned the entire city of Tangjing upside down. At last, like a madman, he dug up the lonely grave he'd ordered buried just days earlier and lifted the metal mask the man had never once taken off.
The person he hated most wore the face of the person he loved most. His features were as lean as ever, the corners of his mouth turned up as if mocking the emperor's foolishness.
The new emperor went mad.
When Ming Cheng woke again, he was wearing ordinary clothes and taking a whip for the little prince who had just been demoted to commoner.
Ming Cheng: ...
A max-level character only needs to clear the newbie village once. Why does he have to do it again? Is there any justice in this world?
The little prince watched his best friend leap to his feet and beat everyone on his own before walking away.
The little prince: Didn't he say he couldn't fight?
This time, Ming Cheng stopped personally handling everything and constantly protecting the ungrateful little brat. He let him grow wild and free. In the end, he still couldn't escape that man's cup of poisoned wine.
Ming Cheng: You really are going to keep shearing the same sheep, aren't you?
Unexpectedly, after the warm wine went down, the world spun. He actually got to wake up again.
He awoke in the Hall of Supreme Harmony.
The new emperor he'd raised to be gentle and refined had bloodshot eyes. He leaned down and spoke into Ming Cheng's ear, one word at a time, like a whisper from hell.
"Sir, you have made Your Majesty search high and low."
Theme: Treat each other sincerely
