Sometimes, the Late Return

“By law, this is punishable by death.”

Meng Tianxun felt as if he were seeing the lofty emperor before him for the first time.

He pressed his thin lips together and smiled as if life and death meant nothing to him.

At some point,

the sunny young man who had once vowed, “May I share the joy of all under heaven, and may all under heaven be joyful and free of sorrow,”

had become a ruler who looked down on the world, unable to tell good from evil.

Meng Tianxun asked three questions in a row:

first, about the wrongful case; second, about justice; third, about the world.

Every question was hard to answer, impossible to answer, and would always remain unanswered.

The abused Fifth Prince, Wei Hongjian, heard

that an exceptionally gifted young prodigy had arrived at the palace.

He crawled through a dog hole and climbed a willow tree,

and finally got to see Meng Tianxun in his proper red robes.

In an instant, falling blossoms and apricot-colored rain settled in his heart.

He waited for him along the palace paths, schemed for chance encounters, hid his malice and pretended to be obedient.

In return, he won a bond between master and disciple.

He insisted and held on, risking his life to win,

and won the affection of his beloved.

With only a few years left to live, he relinquished military power, won the people's hearts, and eliminated corrupt factions.

He only wanted you to be remembered in the annals of history as an upright and worthy minister.

Why should I fear being condemned by later generations as a foolish and corrupt ruler?

I am willing to trade everything I have for your wish.

You are my beloved, united with me in our ideals.

I would give my life for the world you love.

Meng Tianxun slapped Wei Hongjian across the face, turning the lofty emperor's head to the side.

“What is worth trading your life for?”

“What was the first lesson I taught you?”

The ruthless and capricious emperor covered his cheek and answered in a pitiful little voice,

“To trust. To be honest.”

“I was wrong, Master.”

He sounded terribly aggrieved.

Helpful · Takes on a disciple against the rules · Stabs his lover in the back once bottom × Shrewd and calculating · Uses a little trickery · Ends up giving himself away top

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Theme: A flawed warrior is still a warrior in the end. All beings are equal.