He Is Crown Prince Liu Ju

Liu Ju was a historical archaeologist. While examining the tomb of the Crown Prince Li of the Western Han, he transmigrated there by a twist of fate.

When he woke up, he had become Liu Ju, the son of Emperor Wu of Han and Empress Wei. In other words, he was the ill-fated Crown Prince Li from history, the crown prince hounded to death by his ministers and his own father.

Historical records say that Emperor Wu built the Boyang Garden for this son, whom he once cherished and relied upon, so he could meet with distinguished guests. Later, the empress fell out of favor, Wei Qing passed away, and Emperor Wu grew suspicious of everyone. When the witchcraft affair erupted, Liu Ju only meant to protect himself, but he was falsely accused of rebellion and forced to flee, eventually taking his own life. Though Emperor Wu regretted it bitterly and built the Palace of Thoughts for His Son and the Terrace of Returning Gaze, it was too late to change anything.

Liu Ju: Impossible. Absolutely impossible.

He would never let that happen.

Later, the court historians recorded: Crown Prince Ju was benevolent and generous, mild-mannered and cautious. Yet when he led troops, he enforced military discipline strictly and united his soldiers, crushing the Xiongnu so thoroughly that they did not dare invade south for a hundred years. At court, he governed with such care that not a single detail escaped him, leaving no one in the government daring to harbor disloyal thoughts.

When the witchcraft rebellion broke out and the crown prince was framed, he considered the bond between father and son and the innocence of those whose lives were at stake, and willingly offered his neck to the executioner. Emperor Wu came to his senses, immediately ordered the execution of the treacherous ministers, and recalled the crown prince. Father and son reconciled.

In the first year of Yuanyou, Crown Prince Ju succeeded to the throne, as all had hoped.

Some years later, a minister accidentally unearthed a notebook from the time His Majesty was still crown prince. It read:

1. Today, Jiang Chong told me His Majesty hates my big nose and that I should cover it with paper when I go in. I knew he wanted to slander me in front of Father, so I denounced him harshly to Father. (You call this refined, handsome nose of mine big? The claim that my nose is big is simply untrue.)

2. Gongsun Jingsheng, that idiot, is abusing his mother's influence, living extravagantly and breaking the law. He misappropriated nineteen million coins in Northern Army funds! I need to report and expose him to Father right away, before I get burned by this. (Everyone knows the Northern Army is under my protection. He really has no idea what he's getting into.)

3. Father fell ill at Ganquan Palace, so I went to nurse him myself. I never expected that Jiang Chong, that scoundrel, would try to hide a witchcraft doll in my palace. But he doesn't know that I've already planted enough doubts in Father's ear. Jiang Chong's antics are nothing but a clown's performance!

(Never mind. We've been fighting for years, and I almost feel a kinship with him. I'll fool him just this once and pretend to flee!)

Since transmigrating, Liu Ju has diligently honed his art of subtle manipulation and held himself to strict standards. He has long since mastered it. His wise and mighty father has been steeped in the same art without realizing it, and not only does he fail to notice, he thinks everything the crown prince does is exactly to his liking.

Liu Ju: Walk the path others take, and leave them with no path to walk.

Theme: Keep the world in your heart and never forget your original aspiration.