It was the second year of the Zhenghe era of the Han dynasty. In Chang'an, on death row in the Court of Justice,
A thick, damp rag of mould, blood and urine covered Liu Bingyi's mouth and nose.
'Crack!'
A barbed leather whip lashed across his back, the excruciating pain of tearing flesh jolting him awake.
'Speak! Where are the remnants of Crown Prince Wei hiding?' The interrogator's face contorted with rage as he brandished a red-hot branding iron. 'You, the great-grandson of the Emperor, are less than a dog in this prison. If you sign this confession, I guarantee you a quick death.'
Liu Bingyi gasped for breath; his brain felt as though it had been struck by a hammer and was being flooded with countless unfamiliar memories.
In the 21st century, he was a top-tier actor, sweeping major film festivals and winning awards left, right and centre. One moment he was on the Oscars stage accepting his golden statuette; the next, he was the most tragic 'wandering imperial grandson' in Han dynasty history.
His grandfather, the Crown Prince, had been implicated in the 'witchcraft scandal', and his entire family had been slaughtered. Now, he was just an infant condemned to death, about to be beheaded.
Was this a dead end from the start?
Good grief, what a terrible script!
[Ding! Host's emotional fluctuation detected. 'Destined Actor System' activated.
Current situation: Condemned prisoner, survival rate 0.01%.
[Newbie gift issued.]
God-level Mimicry – Beginner: Can instantly adjust facial muscles and eyes to perfectly simulate 'extreme fear' or 'righteous indignation', increasing deception accuracy by 50%.
Eye of Insight: Can see the other party's current psychological weaknesses.
Imperial Guard Combat Techniques – Muscle Memory: Despite his young and frail appearance, he has been imbued with the most advanced combat techniques.
'Liu Bingyi, are you scared?' The interrogator sneered as he pressed the red-hot branding iron close to Liu Bingyi's eyeballs.
'Eye of Insight' activated, displaying: Target: Minor Clerk of the Court of Judicial Review. Psychological state: Anxious, Fearful, Weakness: Fear of being purged after the 'Witchcraft Case' is overturned.'
Liu Bingyi's eyes changed.
His previously unfocused pupils suddenly contracted and the trembling in his soul vanished, replaced by a calm that sent chills down the interrogator's spine.
'He's lying to you,' said Liu Bingyi, his voice hoarse yet dignified.
'Who? Who's lying to me?' The interrogator was stunned.
'The man who sent you to kill me,' said Liu Bingyi, his lips curling into a mocking smile. 'His Majesty is old. He dreams of Crown Prince Wei every night. If you kill me today and His Majesty regrets it someday and needs a scapegoat to appease the Crown Prince's resentment, who else would be more suitable than you?"
The interrogator's hand trembled violently and the branding iron fell to the ground with a shower of sparks.
'You're lying!'
'Whether I'm lying or not, you know best in your heart.' Liu Bingyi used 'God-level Mimicry', instantly adopting a compassionate and mysterious expression as if he were not a condemned prisoner but a high and mighty deity.
'The winds of change in Chang'an are about to shift. Your whipping could cost you and your entire family your lives.'
The interrogator's face turned deathly pale and he took two steps back instinctively. Although the boy before him was young, his eyes were more unfathomable than those of the highest officials he had ever seen in court.
Just then, hurried footsteps sounded outside the cell.
'Imperial edict!'
'Although the emperor's great-grandson, Liu Bingyi, is still an infant, heaven, with its benevolent heart, hereby issues this decree pardoning and releasing him from prison so that he can be cared for by the government.'
Upon hearing this edict, Liu Bingyi's tense body finally relaxed slightly.
He knew that Bing Ji had saved him.
However, he also knew that this was merely the beginning of a long drama.
He walked out of the gloomy death cell. The sunlight outside was so bright that he could barely open his eyes. The streets of Chang'an were bustling and vibrant. Beneath this façade of prosperity, however, the powerful Minister Huo Guang loomed over the entire imperial city like a shadow.
'Liu Bingyi...' he murmured softly, touching the bloody welt on his chest.
'Now that I've been given a second chance at life, the Han dynasty will be my grandest stage.'
Huo Guang, the Han court officials and the distant Xiongnu would all compete for power on this stage.
Are you ready?
My performance begins now.