Chapter 1: The Symphony of Life and Death

  In the fourth year of the Jinglong era of the Tang Dynasty, during a scorching summer, drought began to show its effects in Guanzhong and Henan. Urgent messages from various states and counties poured into the imperial court like snowflakes. Emperor Zhong was deeply worried and spent several days handling these documents without leaving the Godly Dragon Hall. He was exhausted, but it was almost noon on a sweltering day, and he continued to write rapidly, sweat dripping down his back. His worn-out appearance was unbearable to behold. At this moment, Gao Yan, an imperial attendant who had been standing in the hall for some time, could no longer bear to watch. He glanced at Emperor Zhong with pity, carefully approached him, and whispered: "Your Majesty, it's almost noon; you should have your meal."

  "Oh."

  The white-haired Emperor Zhongzong of Tang, Li Xian, heard the commotion and raised his head in a daze, revealing a pale face that had reached its limit. His eyes were dull as he looked at Gao Yan for a moment, then grunted indifferently, rubbed his temples with his hand, and moved his lips slightly, just about to say something when the corner of his eye caught sight of a palace maid holding a tray walking slowly from outside the hall. He stopped speaking and only looked over with inquiring eyes.

  "Your Majesty, the Empress said that you have been working hard on state affairs and specially made some steamed buns with her own hands. She asks Your Majesty to try them." The palace maid Tingting walked gently to the front of the dragon case, curtsied slightly, and held up the tray high above her head, reporting crisply.

  "Good, very good, the Empress has put her heart into it. Bring it over and I will carefully taste a few."

  Zhong Zong had always liked to eat buns, and at this time his stomach was empty. When he saw the steamed buns on the tray, white and tender, his appetite was greatly stimulated. He excitedly clapped his hands and beckoned the palace maid to bring the tray over. With some impatience, he picked up a white and tender steamed bun, dipped it in the honey in the small dish, and put it into his mouth. As he chewed, he murmured vaguely that it was good.

  Perhaps due to his extreme hunger, Zhong Zong's eating manner was truly unbecoming of an emperor, and the sight of him wolfing down his food caused the eunuchs attending him in the palace to stifle giggles.

  "Your Majesty, I'll take my leave."

  The palace maid who brought the cake saw that Zhong Zong had already eaten and was about to open it, a flash of sharp light flashed in her eyes, with a few points of excitement, a few points of panic, and a few points of unease, she hastily bowed her head and reported in a trembling voice.

  "Hmm, hmm."

  Zhong Zong was enjoying his food, and didn't care about the palace maid's departure. He waved his hand and murmured something, indicating that she could leave as she pleased. He himself continued to eat with gusto, not even lifting his head.

  "Oh no, it hurts so much..."

  The palace maid who brought the cake had just left, and Zhong Zong, who was eating with great relish, suddenly felt a severe cramp in his stomach, let out a loud cry, and fell to the ground on the dragon bed, with foul blood gushing continuously from his mouth and nose.

  "Your Majesty, Your Majesty! Someone's coming, hurry up!"

  Eunuch Gao Jie was apparently frightened by this sudden scene, standing still for a long time before shouting loudly, and the eunuchs and palace maids in the hall immediately became chaotic...

  The Book of History: In the fourth year of Jinglong, on June 4 (July 3, 710 AD), Tang Zhongzong Li Xian was poisoned to death by Empress Wei and her daughter Princess Anle in the God Dragon Hall at the age of 55.

  On July 3, 2012, in a luxurious private room of a five-star hotel in Xi'an, a grand banquet had just begun. Over a dozen middle-aged men with elegant attire sat around the table, each with an impressive aura that made it clear they were high-ranking officials. In fact, even the lowest among them was at least a deputy director-level official. If you took any one of them out and stamped their foot, the city of Xi'an would tremble immediately. However, when these officials looked at the young man sitting in the main seat, who was only in his early thirties, their eyes involuntarily showed a few hints of reverence. It was clear that this young man's background was not ordinary. Indeed, he was Li Sheng, the newly appointed vice mayor of Xi'an.

  The vice mayor is not considered a high-ranking official, especially one who has just taken office and hasn't yet been appointed as a standing committee member of the municipal party committee. In a big city like Xi'an, this position doesn't hold much weight. However, considering Li Sheng's age, barely over thirty, the implications are entirely different. No one dares to overlook Li Sheng's vast future prospects, and no one dares to easily offend this rising star. Flattery and sycophancy have become the unanimous choice of officials.

  Feeling the admiring glances of his colleagues, Li Sheng's face remained calm as usual, but deep down he couldn't help feeling a little proud. Of course, he had every reason to be proud - in just ten years since graduating from university and passing the civil service exam, he had already risen to the position of vice mayor, a feat that was beyond doubt impressive. However, few people knew about the hardships and dangers he had faced along the way. Fortunately, everything had worked out in the end, and although it couldn't be said that he had achieved great success or fame, his future prospects were undoubtedly bright. Li Sheng could certainly afford to feel proud of himself, but this pride was not something that could be openly displayed in front of his subordinates. Therefore, when faced with the flattery and fawning of his colleagues, Li Sheng simply smiled blandly and didn't rush to expound on his lofty views.

  It's not necessary to say much, but wine can't be left undrunk. Not only must it be drunk, but also to the point of intoxication, and Lee Sheng was originally a good drinker. When his mood improved, he drank with great relish, and no matter who came to toast him, he would always finish the cup. Drinking like this from noon till dusk, he knocked out half of his subordinates in the "alcohol test". As he continued drinking, Lee Sheng suddenly felt dizzy, his body swaying uncontrollably, a wave of weakness washed over him, and the wine cup slipped from his hand to the ground. Immediately after, his whole body tilted, and amidst a chorus of shocked cries, he slid softly to the ground...

  On July 4, 2012, the Xi'an Daily published an obituary: Comrade Li Sheng, Vice Mayor of our city, suddenly suffered a myocardial infarction while on duty and was rushed to hospital for emergency treatment but unfortunately passed away early this morning... The municipal party committee has decided to posthumously award Comrade Li Sheng the title of martyr after research and discussion. A farewell ceremony will be held...

  On the twelfth day of the twelfth month of Linde, the first year (January 3rd, 665 AD), at the time of Chen, the sky was already bright, and the northern wind that had been raging all night finally stopped. However, the snow continued to fall heavily, with large flakes gently falling from the sky, covering everything in a vast expanse of white. Only a few plum blossoms in the corner of the wall refused to bow their heads in the heavy snow, stubbornly blooming into pale yellow flowers amidst the snow-covered branches. The delicate fragrance wafted quietly through the courtyard, adding a touch of vitality to the desolate scene, making it the only highlight in the garden. A young man wearing a purple royal robe stood by the window, his eyes fixed intently on the plum blossoms in the courtyard, his motionless figure like a wooden or clay sculpture.

  "Your Highness, the time has come, you should enter the palace."

  Just as the young man was dazed, a small eunuch hastily walked in from outside, quietly approached the young man's back, bowed his body and softly reminded him.

  The eunuch's voice was not loud, but the young man in royal attire was as if struck by lightning, his thin body trembling violently, stiffly turning around, his eyes fixed on the little eunuch, his face with an extremely strange expression.

  "Your Highness, what is this..."

  The little eunuch was apparently frightened, and retreated two small steps in a daze, looking at the young king with suspicion and muttering half a sentence.

  "Your Highness? Your Highness..." The young king murmured in a daze, his expression bewildered to the extreme, as if he had been bewitched.

  "Your Highness, it's time to enter the palace, look at this..."

  As soon as he saw the young king's expression was not quite right, the little eunuch couldn't help but feel a bit flustered. He wanted to shout for someone to come, but was also worried that the young king would think it strange. In his anxiety, he could only swallow hard and hoarsely remind him in a low voice.

  "You, are you Gao Miao?" The young king was stunned for a good while, and then suddenly took a big step forward to the little eunuch's side, grabbed his arm and asked with a trembling voice.

  "Yes, yes, servant, servant..."

  Eunuch Gao Miaochen was completely bewildered by the scene before him, his eyes wide with shock as he stuttered out a reply.

  "How could this be? How could this be?"

  The young king "hiss, hiss, hiss" retreated three big steps, holding his head, and muttered with a pale face. The scenes of the past flashed before his eyes like a movie, and the young king finally understood one thing - an unbelievable strange thing: he was now Li Xian, the seventh son of Emperor Gaozong of Tang, but in his memory, there were also memories of "dying for duty" Li Sheng, as well as the memories of Zhongzong who was poisoned by his own queen and daughter. The three kinds of memories from past lives intertwined with each other, intersecting and difficult to distinguish, like a dream, making young Li Xian's head big and his face pale and unclear.

  "Your Highness, please wait for a moment, I'll go and summon the imperial physician right away."

  Eunuch Gao Miao saw that things were not going well, and he couldn't stay still any longer. He hastily bowed his head and was about to slip out of the room.

  "Halt!"

  As soon as Gao Mei heard that he was going to invite the imperial physician, Li Xian's body suddenly shook violently, his face darkened and he glared at him, shouting abruptly.

  "Your Highness, you, you, you..."

  Li Xiansheng was gentle and weak by nature, and originally timid, but this sudden loud shout had an air of unyielding dominance to it, instantly stunning Gao Miao into submission, who stood there at a loss, staring at Li Xiansheng, for the time being unable to think of what to say.

  "Then I'll go into the palace!"

  Li Xian didn't bother to ask what Gao Miao was saying, and stood there woodenly, his face changing for a long time before he let out a deep breath, shook his head slowly, dropped the sentence, and turned to leave with a big swing of his sleeve. Gao Miao saw this and although he was suspicious in his heart, he didn't dare ask more questions, and hastily followed after him in small steps...