"Oh, shit," I cursed under my breath, clutching my head as a sharp, searing pain shot through my skull.
It felt like an entire world was crashing into my mind all at once. I stumbled back, disoriented, trying to hold myself together, but the pain was overwhelming.
It subsided almost as quickly as it had come, but in its wake, a flood of memories poured into me—no, through me.
I wasn't in my world anymore.
I opened my eyes and found myself in a place that resembled ancient China. But this was no simple replica—it was filled with mystique and grandeur, something far more vivid and alive.
I blinked, trying to adjust as my mind scrambled to process all the new information rushing into it. These weren't just facts; they were lives—lived experiences, full of intricate relationships, politics, and wars.
At the center of it all was Rui Hua, a dazzling daughter of a Duke, and the female lead of this story.
Rui Hua's life was one of privilege and admiration. She was everything a woman should be in this world—beautiful, graceful, and talented. She was adored and pampered by all who knew her.
She was outgoing, a prodigy in music and the arts, and even had the kind of charm that could disarm anyone. People loved her for her headstrong nature and her ever-present kindness. She was like a radiant star, casting light wherever she went.
As the heroine, it was only natural that everyone adored her.
But it wasn't just her perfection that mattered. It was her destiny.
And like any fairy tale, there was a hero meant to match this perfect heroine. Enter Liang Wei—the male lead.
Liang Wei wasn't just any prince. He was the crown prince of the kingdom of Liang, embodying everything good and noble. Smart, kind, brave, and beloved by his people. He led armies into battle, earning glory and admiration with each victory. In short, he was the kind of guy who could do no wrong.
When he and Rui Hua met at a grand festival, their connection was instant—classic love-at-first-sight. The entire kingdom rejoiced when they were betrothed after just a few months.
The stage was set for the perfect ending—a happily-ever-after that everyone could look forward to.
But, as always, there was a catch.
A villain had to exist in every story, didn't it?
In this case, the villain was Han Feng, the ruthless king of the neighboring kingdom of Han. His reputation preceded him—powerful, feared, and cold as ice.
His kingdom lay in the northern reaches, where the harsh conditions and endless snow had forged the strongest warriors. Han Feng himself had been shaped by a life of pain and betrayal.
His mother had taken her own life the moment he was born. Forced into a loveless marriage to an aging emperor, she couldn't bear the thought of living as a mere sex toy to a man she neither loved nor respected.
As a child, Han Feng had been neglected, treated with indifference by a family that saw him as nothing more than a tool. He quickly learned that power was the only way to escape his torment.
Driven by a thirst for vengeance and survival, he meticulously built an army, formed alliances with powerful noblemen, and eventually eliminated his siblings to seize the throne from his weak father.
Han Feng rose to become the undisputed ruler of Han, commanding both fear and respect across the land.
But despite all his strength, he had never known love. That was until Rui Hua came into his life.
When Rui Hua was taken as a hostage, something shifted in Han Feng. For the first time, someone showed him kindness. She was bright, cheerful, and full of compassion—everything he had never experienced before.
It didn't take long for him to fall for her.
But, like any tragic villain, Han Feng's fate had already been sealed. His kidnapping of Rui Hua sparked a war between the two kingdoms—a war that, of course, Liang Wei would win.
Han Feng's fatal mistake was believing in Rui Hua's kindness. In his loneliness and desperate need for love, he had trusted her, letting his guard down. Little did he know, the very kindness he sought would be the thing that destroyed him.
As the final battle with Liang Wei approached, Rui Hua, torn between her love for Liang Wei and the lives already lost in the brutal war, chose to poison Han Feng to end it all.
With trembling hands, she slipped the deadly toxin into his drink, sealing his fate. The cruel irony was that the very person who had captured his heart was the one who would bring about his end.
Han Feng's life had been full of hardships and pain, and it ended with the same cold loneliness that had marked his entire existence.
"What a pitiful man," I muttered.