700 years ago there was a kingdom called Tianmeng the kingdom was rich in beauty music and riches mountains and rivers in that kingdom lived the emperor and his wife who at that time was the empress and their two sons the crown prince Jing Shao and his brother Jing Lian it was said that the crown prince was the favorite of the heavens he was responsible friendly and cared about the common people and was easy to get along with there was no one in the Tianmeng kingdom who did not love him he was excellent in martial arts he cultivated since he was 10 years old and it took him around 1 year to make his spiritual core and achieve immortality and he was extremely handsome truly the favorite of the heavens he had long brown hair very fair skin his eyebrows were arched and phoenix eyes his gaze was cold that made people have the impression that he was like a beast really terrifying but when talking to him it was absolutely the opposite he was actually kind and caring and had a good temper making it easy to deal with everyone They said he would be a good emperor and that he would lead with righteousness and wisdom, but the same could not be said of his brother. He was capricious and never had any interest in the throne. He only went to brothels and hardly practiced martial arts, and obviously he did not achieve immortality like his brother. Although his appearance was good, he only had that, but the emperor and empress never blamed him or rejected him for that.
Tianmeng, although not lacking in wealth or economic inequality, there was still dislike toward the royal family, whether due to envy or hatred. Many disputes and political disputes arose in the majestic Tianmeng throne room. The lights and chandeliers reflected the tense faces of the gathered nobles. The air was thick with whispers and suspicious glances. That was no ordinary day: the emperor had convened his council to discuss the growing instability looming beyond the palace walls. Minister Xua, known for his sharp tongue and boundless ambition, stood up with a grave expression.
"Your Majesty," he said, looking at the emperor, "the peace we have enjoyed for years is threatened by the lack of unity among your people. Crown Prince Jing Shao, though young and powerful, has not yet earned the trust of all the clans. On the other hand, your younger brother, Jing Lian, with his excesses and disregard for tradition, only increases the discontent."
A murmur ran through the room. Some nobles nodded, while others frowned.
The emperor, in a calm voice, replied: "Jing Lian is my son, and although his path may differ from Jing Shao's, I will not deny him my love or my patience. But yes, we must find a way to strengthen our union to face difficult times."
Outside the palace, in the markets and villages of Tianmeng, the murmurs had turned to low shouts. Peasants and merchants argued about the tax burdens that seemed to increase without reason, the food shortages in some areas, and the lack of justice in the local courts. In the shadows, agitators whispered words of rebellion, pointing the finger at the government.
Within the palace, Jing Lian kept to himself, avoiding formal gatherings. He had no interest in the throne or the expectations that weighed upon it. But he couldn't deny that the growing tensions reached him even there, threatening to destroy what little remained of his old life. He knew it was his fault, but he refused to take responsibility.
An unexpected news broke out like a blow in the palace: the Fengyu army had been communicating with a group of rebels, taking advantage of the internal division, they have sent enemy troops towards the borders of the Tianmeng kingdom.
Jing Lian felt it, knew it, knew that soon he would have to decide whether to continue being his brother's shadow or to assume the destiny that heaven had refused him to accept, he was terrified, restless, uncomfortable just thinking about it.
He never considered himself an intelligent person. He was always alone. He liked his solitude. He never liked to stand out or compete. He always found it boring. He never envied Jing Shao. He knew he had no talent. He had a bad temper and wasn't kind. He considered himself a hindrance all his life. He knew he would never catch up with his brother. He accepted that a long time ago and was fine with it.