That night after his encounter with Ji-hye, Shin Yi left the king city to join the military.
As months flew by Shin Yi rose in rank and through his hard work, bravery and tenacity he soon became the youngest general to lead his own squadron.
Shin Yi's history with Ji-hye made him a cold hearted, and very reserved person, but he was fair in all his dealings, and will always the the first to lead when it comes to danger. He doesn't expect his men to do anything he wouldn't do, and he has this policy. No man left behind. No matter what it takes he makes sure he returns from every battle with every single one of his men.
His men loved him and are willing to lay down their lives for him. Soon his popularity grew out of bound, extending beyond his men, the baracks into the kingdom. He became the beloved of the people. They revered him more than they did the King.
As his popularity and strength grew he began to strike fear in the hearts of foe and aligns. The King became scared of his growing popularity among his people. Rumours, whispers of the Kingdom needing a younger King began to circulate through the kingdom.
Musicians sang of his heroism, story tellers told tales of his bravery. The women both young and old swooned at the mention or sight of him. Everyone wanted to be the one to capture Shin Yi's heart but it remained locked. There was only one person who had the power to unlock it, unfortunately she resides in the palace growing envious of Shin Yi fame.
He was perceived as threat where he has no interest to venture, a future road block that needs to be eliminated before he grows too powerful to be contained. His enemies began to plot, while Shin Yi went about his royal duties unaware of the danger looming close.
Plots perfected, time for execution.
As if fate was playing into the hands of his enemies, a war broke out between Wuxiang Kingdom and the neighbouring Kingdom on the south borders and the King with the support of his ministers tasked Shin Yi with leading the armies.
Though shocked to have been giving such an honour Shin accepted his duty with aplomb, promising to bring victory to the King and the kingdom.
The plot to kill him at the battle field failed, and to the dismay of his enemies Shin Yi came back victorious.
He was welcomed home by his people who all came to line up the road he will ride pass. They danced and sang his praises. Throwing flowers at him and fine linen on the ground his horse road on. They all worshipped him. The king and his ministers received him with fake smiles and accolades. They threw a celebration in the palace in the honour of Shin Yi victory.
By the time night fell across the kingdom they had their second plot to kill Shin Yi in motion.
One of the female palace maiden approached Shin Yi and handed him a piece of paper with some words written on it.
Shin Yi opened the piece and his heart leapt off his chest. He will recognise the delicate beautiful penmanship anywhere.
The words written on the paper was a request from Queen Ji-hye to Shin Yi asking him to meet her in her chambers.
For months since their bitter and hurtful misunderstandings Ji-hye has never bothered to see him, even during the days he was bed ridden from battle injuries she never came.
Shin Yi wanted to ignore the letter, but this is the woman that owns his heart. Despite the ill treatment he received from Ji-hye and her father he still loves her so much. She is the only woman he is ever going to love in this life time. It doesn't matter that she doesn't love him back, he will always love her.
Shin Yi got up from his seat and left the celebration to honour Ji-hye invitation.
When he arrived Ji-hye called out to him from her inner chambers and Shin Yi followed her voice to where she was. He found her wearing an attire meant to seduce and seeing her glowing beauty in this light was a strong test to Shin Yi's restraint.
He did his best to remain strong as Ji-hye tried her feminine wiles on him.
"Drink with me," she requested in a sweet serene voice, giving Shin Yi sexy looks that made him weak in the knees.
"Why are you doing this?" Shin Yi question felt like a plea as his will power strained tightly against his desire for the stunning woman before him. Ji-hye is his weakness and she knows it.
"I have missed you," Ji-hye batted her long lashes at him, trying to get him to relax his guard.
Shin Yi wanted to remind her that it was her fault things are what they are between them, but his heart and body were enjoying having his beautiful Ji-hye close to offer any compliant.
"Here drink, for me," Ji-hye raised the cup of wine to Shin Yi lips. She held his eyes with a look of infatuation, using Shin Yi's feelings for her to get him to do her bidding.
Unable to resist her charm anymore Shin Yi drank the wine. Ji-hye smiled coyly at him, reaching up to wipe a stain from his lips further trapping Shin Yi into her snare.
Few seconds later the room began to spin, the objects in the room appearing blurry to Shin Yi's eyes.
"What did you do to me?" Shin Yi glared at Ji-hye as he tried to fight the effect of the drug.
For a bleep of second Ji-hye looked regretful of her action before it disappeared and a cold calculative look took its place.
"I am sorry Shin Yi but you have grown to powerful for the King to let you live."
The drug moved through Shin Yi system paralysing most of his muscles and soon he lost consciousness.
The next time Shin Yi regained consciousness it was morning and he was surrounded by palace soldiers. As he was still trying to get a bearing of his surrounding he was hurled off to prison.
An allegation that he tried sexually assault the Queen flew through the kingdom like forest fires and the King didn't waste time to pass his judgment. Shin Yi is to die in three days by poisoning.
His crime turned people against him and the only ones that believed his innocence were his men, but they were powerless against the scheming and cruelty of the King and his allies.
The third day came and Shin Yi was dragged out to the city square where he was made to drink poison in front of the people who once adorned him. His beloved was there to watch his final moments.
Staring at her without blame in his eyes Shin drank the poison. Death was a sweet relief to the agony of his existence where the woman he loved belongs to another.
After his death, Shin Yi's soul was supposed to journey to the underworld, but the gods had a different plans for him.
His soul traveled through time far into the future and got imprinted into the body of a boy who at the moment of his death also passed on.
Shin Yi woke up in his body to a world totally different from his and his head hurting like hell.