Chapter One: Prologue

He who possesses the Divine Maiden can command all under heaven!

In the fourth year of Jianwen, Prince Yan, Zhu Di, led his army to breach Nanjing, fulfilling his campaign of pacification. The Jianwen Emperor vanished without a trace. That same year, Zhu Di ascended the throne and changed the era name to Yongle.

Within the imperial palace, in the grand hall, the emperor sat upon the dragon throne, his face dark and cold as he gazed down at those kneeling before him.

“The Divine Maiden—where is the Emperor Hui?”

“The Emperor Hui is dead.”

“Why is there no body?”

“I do not know.”

A silence as deep as death followed.

After a long while, he finally broke the stillness: “For the sake of Emperor Hui, do you truly cast aside all feelings for me?”

“I truly do not know.”

He regarded her with an icy, chilling gaze, his words slow and merciless: “The Divine Maiden has committed high treason, spread wicked lies, and bewitched the masses. Imprison her in the imperial dungeons—she shall never be released!”

As she was dragged away, a trace of reluctance appeared in the emperor’s eyes...

Within the imperial city, a storm brewed and tension filled the air.

Fang Xiaoru—execution by a thousand cuts, his entire clan exterminated.

Tie Xuan—execution by a thousand cuts, his son put to death.

Huang Zicheng—execution by a thousand cuts, his clan erased...

In an instant, corpses littered the land by the hundreds of thousands.

In the end, he began his massacre.

“No matter how many I kill, it cannot quell the hatred in my heart! Why have you all betrayed me so?!”

My name is Yang Xiaoqing, thirty-three years old, and I climbed my way to middle management at a financial company. My career was flourishing, my life simple and happy. Though work was stressful, the generous income brought me satisfaction.

But all that was mine began to change a year ago. Heaven took everything from me, piece by piece. From the heights of the clouds to the depths of despair takes but a moment—a single event.

When did things begin to go wrong? I still find myself recalling those days. When the avalanche begins, not a single snowflake is innocent. Every cause and effect is like a domino: tip over the first, and the rest topple in an instant.

It began at a company recruitment fair, the first time I met Lin Ping.

Looking back now, it seems as if the wheel of fate began to turn at that very moment. This young man, so much younger than I, possessed a charm I could not resist. Without hesitation, I decided to hire him that very day.

At first, I thought it was the best decision I had ever made.

After joining, Lin Ping became my subordinate, and soon, my right hand. He was the greatest support at work—whether it was the leadership, clients, or colleagues, without exception, everyone praised him.

And as it often happens, we began an office romance. By day, we were colleagues and partners; by night, we were friends and lovers.

I was not ignorant of the risks—how it might affect our work, or that we were unlikely to have a real future together. Though a vague unease tugged at me, that time was so beautiful I could not bear to let it go. Perhaps my first mistake began right there.

Things moved too quickly, and my worries became reality. I lived in a dream and could not tear myself free.

A newly graduated woman joined the company, and soon, she and Lin Ping were together. Yes, I was abandoned.

I do not know if Lin Ping was with me for his own gain or if he ever truly loved me; in the end, people can change in the blink of an eye.

Indeed, I was much older than him, and what man does not prefer youth and vitality?

Seeing him every day was torture. I could not bear to watch the one I loved flaunt his new affection before me, while I could only stand by helplessly. The torment was so great I could not endure it for even a day.

Work lost its meaning for me. My mind was heavy with sorrow, mistakes crept into everything I did... and yet, that was not the worst of it.

The company brought in a new manager. My former boss, who had always supported me, was transferred away.

The nightmare began.

What I never expected was that Lin Ping started currying favor with the new manager, bypassing me entirely. My repeated mistakes at work played right into his hands. As expected, the new manager quickly grew to dislike and distance himself from me.

Even my former clients were handed over to Lin Ping. In a flash, I lost the very foundation that had allowed me to stand firm in the company, and there was nothing I could do—utterly powerless.

With the loss of important clients and the new manager’s support, I fell instantly to the bottom. In such a fiercely competitive workplace, any mistake can mean ruin and replacement. My former subordinates all drifted away from me...

I had anticipated this as human nature, but how could the one I once loved so deeply push me into the abyss? What terrible mistake had I made to deserve this?

Worse was yet to come. The business I started with a friend had to close due to operational difficulties, leaving me with hundreds of thousands in sudden debt.

Not long after, the company decided to revoke my position. My high salary was gone, and with the crushing debt on my shoulders, everything came crashing down at once. I had hit a dead end.