The palace maid Wei Li was framed and sent to Fengtaigong to care for the deposed emperor imprisoned there.
Rumor had it that the deposed emperor, Xiao Yichuan, was incompetent, brutal, and guilty of every evil. That was why he had been plotted against three years ago, forced from the throne, and imprisoned in Fengtaigong.
His residence was old and decaying, filled with a nauseating mixture of strong liquor and cheap tobacco.
The once-arrogant young emperor, who had believed the world belonged to him, now had unkempt hair and a scraggly beard. His bare feet were shackled in heavy chains, and the wounds that had accumulated around his ankles over the years were bleeding.
"You should leave. I don't need anyone to look after me."
Xiao Yichuan drank strong liquor and smoked cheap tobacco. His self-destructive behavior was infuriating.
Wei Li thought that since she was here, she might as well make the best of it. No matter how difficult things were, she had to keep living well.
"No matter what situation you're in, young master, you should keep striving to live positively."
Xiao Yichuan had spent ten years as a monk, three years as emperor, and three years as a prisoner. He had killed all his enemies and enjoyed absolute power. Now, he was a walking corpse, with nothing left to look forward to and no hope.
So he spent his days smoking and drinking, lost in a daze. He never expected to meet Wei Li.
The girl was clever and hardworking, but she was always prone to tears. Whenever she cried, Xiao Yichuan, usually cold and ruthless, would become flustered. He gradually began to live like a normal person, just to please her.
Later, he took her away from Fengtaigong, intending to treat her well for the rest of their lives and make her the most honored woman in the world.
He never expected Wei Li to betray him for power, then disappear without a trace.
Xiao Yichuan searched for Wei Li like a madman for three years. When he saw her again, both her legs were paralyzed, and she was frail and haggard.
"Living a life worse than death is the best punishment for an evildoer. Don't you agree?"
Xiao Yichuan resolved to torment her and take revenge, keeping her imprisoned by his side for the rest of her life. But then he discovered that when he had been near death all those years ago, Wei Li had saved his life with her own heart's blood...
Theme: Even in adversity, face every hardship with courage
