Ten Lifetimes of Turmoil

They say the path to the throne has always been a cutthroat one. If Your Highness wants to win, he can't have a single stain on his hands.

"But I am the speck of dust on Your Highness's fingertips."

-

In the fifteenth year of Qianyuan, Ruan Xi's song captivated the capital.

Countless red silks could not rival the singular beauty between Young Master Ruan's brows.

Yet in the depths of night, no one knew he was the foremost assassin, able to kill with a single strike from a hundred paces, or that he was the sharpest blade in the hands of the current Fourth Prince.

In the first year of Fengding, the Fourth Prince ascended the throne and granted a general amnesty.

Only Ruan Xi was locked away in the darkest courtyard.

The court seal-bearer said, "Everyone has tasted the young master's lips. How could His Majesty grant him a title?"

In the third year of Fengding, Ruan Xi's meridians were shattered, and he escaped into the wilderness. The one who had crippled his martial arts was also the one who had once saved him.

"Your Highness, I'm a cripple now. Let me go."

"Xi'er, you are the sharpest blade. You belong only in my hand."

"I was born for Your Highness. Now that Your Highness has gotten what he wanted, there is only one place I can go."

That day, no one knew that the capital's most beautiful man had been reduced to ashes.

All they knew was that the emperor's hair turned white overnight, and he often sat by the sword-forging furnace, asking the oldest master in the palace:

"How hot would the flames have to be to burn everything away?"

"Does it hurt?"

Later, in the realm of reincarnation, Xiao Nanjin found Ruan Xi ten times.

Even knowing Ruan Xi wouldn't remember him, even knowing Ruan Xi's capacity for love had been severed, even knowing Ruan Xi was his fated calamity.

Every time, Ruan Xi gazed at him with innocent, delighted eyes, just as he had the first time. "How do you know my name?"

Every time, Xiao Nanjin was killed by Ruan Xi.

And even as he died, Ruan Xi wouldn't remember a thing about him.

When a sword pierced his heart for the tenth time, Xiao Nanjin suddenly smiled.

He remembered the last words Xi'er had said to him that day.

"May Your Highness's reign be peaceful and prosperous, and may you enjoy good health through every season. In this life and every life to come, may we never meet again."

[Beauty who fell from grace, flower courtesan bottom x devoted yet heartless emperor top]

Over-the-top angst, but sweet, happy ending

Theme: How can we have the best of both worlds?