Hope Within Hope

Another winter came around. The Third Prince, Nan Yuan, beloved by the emperor, made an unprecedented visit to the desolate Cold Palace, all just to take a few glances at the children abandoned there for having impure bloodlines.

Over the course of that winter, the prince took an interest in a “wolf” who was good at disguising himself and knew how to use his wits.

He had thought this “wolf” was a thoroughly timid “dog,” one who never fought back when bullied.

But in secret, he saw the shards of a ceramic bowl clutched in the boy's hand, ready to fight back at any moment, and the “masterpieces” he'd laid along the bullies' usual route...

Each little detail revealed a side of him few people knew existed.

Among the abandoned children, the “wolf” seemed to be bullied, but in truth he held all the cards.

The Third Prince slowly approached the “wolf,” whose body was covered in wounds. With an inscrutable smile, he bent down and whispered in his ear, gentle yet fierce:

“Even without a pair of capable hands, you can still sink your sharp teeth into them and tear off a piece of flesh.”

The “wolf” turned to look at him with disdain. In a hoarse, indifferent voice, he replied:

“If I'm going to bite, I won't bite them. Their meat isn't as good as pork.”

Nan Yuan burst out laughing, recognizing the boy's sarcasm toward the bullies.

“Pork” meant pig meat. He was implying that the bullies were nothing but brainless, utterly stupid pigs.

With admiration in his eyes, the Third Prince secretly decided who he would help ascend the throne.

After leaving the palace, Nan Yuan used the emperor's birthday banquet as an occasion to bring the “wolf” into the ranks of the imperial princes.

He gave him the name Nan Pan, meaning “hope.”

He hoped and prayed without end for the day Nan Pan would become emperor.

Nan Pan loved his freedom and had never wished for the throne above all others.

Nan Yuan eliminated every threat and raised Nan Pan up to the throne.

But just as Nan Yuan prepared to leave for good, he was suddenly seized and taken back to the palace.

Standing in the very center of the palace was the current emperor, Nan Pan.

As Nan Yuan stared at him in confusion, Nan Pan gently brushed his fingertips across his cheek and whispered in his ear, imitating Nan Yuan's tone from all those years ago:

“What I've always wanted was never imperial power, but you, unreachable beyond the foundations of that power.”

When he was carried to the bed,

after years of palace intrigue had left his heart unruffled, he panicked for the first time and didn't know what to do...

Theme: All things are boundless hope and longing