two emperors forever separated from each other, their love never forgotten between them, aging like wine. One cold and ruthless that wanted only the best for citizens, one generous and kind that in truth loved war, the love of the two emperors forbidden and hidden behind masks. Twenty years after ascending the throne, they meet briefly once again, speaking words that should have been spoken in their youth. The emperors lived lives of loneliness, reminiscing of their past days of joy and laughter, now separated by infinite space. When the cold emperor died, he was known in history only as a heartless leader, his sacrifice for his country unknown. After the death of his lover, the kind emperor left his throne not long after, reuniting above the clouds. They met as a prince and a prisoner of war, they left as rulers of two allied countries. The only witness in their forbidden love was a long gone general. The two emperors were remembered as two emperors who united the countries, and nothing more, their love lost in the never ending annals of history, buried beneath politics and war.

written by a certain snow fox

I wanted them to achieve their dreams so badly. I felt like if the events had repeated, the same situation, with no change in personality or roles, they would have made the same choices. Han Xin'so growth really compounded it in. He went from a man with nothing to one with the world on his shoulders.

Sadly, fate is not kind to him, because f*ck you, why would it be. Han Xin basically had a wonderful marshal who was loyal, loved him dearly and respected his decisions and what did he do- he accused him of treason even though he knew he was innocent becausewhynot. Then he burned his apology letter and didn't even attend his funeral.

Everyone is talking about the love story but this guy's fate was the most tragic part of this book. In the end, the only difference between love interest and not-love-interest was that one just took it all by force, while the other let him bloom.

You get to see everyone grow old and die unhappy, yaaaay.

Okay but for real, the way Han Xin's name was pretty much erased from history because he didn't conquer new lands and only focused on defense and the well-being of citizens, even though we know all he's been through and that the country wouldn't exist anymore if not for him... That was true sorrow. Makes you think of how many people like him truly existed, and nobody remembers them.

The little spark of joy at the end was that they had an indirect kid by marrying off their descendants. What they couldn't do was accomplished by their children. Very nice symbolism by the author.

As another review pointed, I think that in real life, they would still be able to find a way to meet from time to time. 20 years is a huge time period to not meet. It's heartbreaking but arguably unnecessary.

virg*n Murong Yu vs Chad Heng Zeyu:

virg*n Murong Yu:

• • takes advantage of a wounded man (I will never, EVER forgive that)

• • grooms someone of lower power

• • neglects his fiancee

• • is born rich and powerful

Chad Heng Zeyu:

• • flirts with someone more powerful who has the authority to kill him on the spot

• • doesn't take advantage of the wounded and instead protects him with his life

• • is loyal af

• • rises to power from a common background through sheer wits and courage

I rest my case.

He gave up his freedom, died early, acted like an emperor which he never wanted to be... but no one remembers his sacrifices, except for a few... If he died as a free man it wouldn't hurt me like it's now... it probably hurt me more than their separation

like even if Xin took Yu's offer and stayed who knows that Yu wouldn't deal with Xin in the future like Helian Yi did with Prince Qi in Qi Ye (book by Priest)... Helian Yi as a good and strong emperor can't have any weakness or anyone clever knowing his secrets to stay alive, that's why he dealt with Prince Qi that way tho he did love him... and Xin dealt in the same way with marshal (who didn't do anything but was loyal and loved Xin), tho he didn't kill him but his ways were ruthless too and he never loved marshal... marshal was a threat to the throne in his eyes (well kinda true)...I wish marshal a peaceful and happy next life with a new love...I know Yu is far better than Helian Yi, I'm just trying to comfort myself by saying this...

The treaty was already in place why the hell he promised not to set foot in Yan???it wasn't needed...I believe the author wanted to make it more angsty in this way, tho it worked and hurts but it looks totally illogical to me, Yu also said it was a s*upid promise, I agree... and Xin didn't gave any reason for this promise, I mean author didn't give us a reason... and also if he didn't promise this they could meet for celebrating decade of peace... Oh, don't give me the emperors are busy reason card, emperors sometimes arranges hunt and banquets too for political reasons and allowing younger generation to show talents etc so it wasn't totally impossible for decade of peace celebration between two countries, no matter how hostile they used to be it'd be already over 10 years, and they could've met much earlier than more than 20 years in their kids wedding (how the bowing to the parents happened anyway if Xin didn't go over... weren't you supoosed to do that in traditional chinease wedding???)... so yeah I kinda agree with the review saying as lovers they were a little lame... well they were fine but by trying to make it more angsty author made them a little lame... also they could've abdicated if they really wanted to be with each other, it's not like emperors never abdicate before dying and their heirs/crown princes were of age already... tho author didn't mention it I do think Yu thought about this like hoped to spend some retirement life with Xin but Xin died... otherwise why would he think (I know he's sad because his lover passed away) that after brief encounter what waited for them was eternal farewell they won't meet again, if he didn't have this thought???and Yu also said it's not too late during the reunion, what did that imply???if not abdication there was no chance for them to meet again anyway, so I think he was probably hoping for a retirement life with Xin but...I wish they were able to, no matter even if it was just 1 month or 2...

Here is how I'm gonna make this extra 2 their next life... spoiler spoiler spoiler about the whole book...

So after Xin's second prince went to Yan with his sister during her marriage with Yan crown prince, Yu's third prince fell in love with him and vise versa (Yeah I'm making up a story with Xin's second prince mentioned only once and Yu's prince who wasn't even mentioned... why not, like father like son)... Yu and Xin was aware but they didn't stop them, they let their kids have what they wanted but couldn't get, they weren't heirs to the throne anyway... after Xin and Yu died their crown princes became Emperors, they respected their father's wishes and didn't wage wars... moreover when another enemy attacked Yan, Rui helped and as gratitude Yan returned the 400 li to Rui... this way the peace became solid... in the war of course the Yan third prince and Rui second prince led the army jointly and won victory together... The Emperors knew their brother's relationship but turned a blind eye, them being like this also lessens their threat to the throne anyway... Murong Yu's son the Yan emperor had a good relationship with his empress, Xin's daughter so he didn't have that much concubine born sons... the ones he had couldn't pose any threat to our dearest Murong Xun, Xin and Yu's grandson... because his grandfather adored him when he was alive, more than his other brothers, probably because he looked like a certain someone, grandmother empress later empress dowager also adored him for the same reason (as it was implied she also kinda liked Xin), also his third imperial uncle protected this nephew for ahem his maternal second uncle, he was favored by his father and mother too, his other maternal uncle, Rui emperor also supported him... So he ascended the throne without a hitch... the day he ascended a baby was born in a merchant family with distant connection with the royal family of Yan... the baby was named Murong Yu... after some years in a merchant family with distant connection with the Han family of Rui another baby was born... he was called Han Xin... that year Yan emperor opened a business route with Rui, so merchants of both countries were able to exchange without a problem... his uncles also supported him... He also became aware of his two uncles relationship early and granted his third uncles request to retire and live leisurely with his second maternal uncle...

Btw What happened in the underworld after Xin and Yu's death in my imagination:

Xin died early at 45... after Xin's death Yu lived another 5-8 years (He died at 60, Xin at 45...I remember Yu was older but I don't remember how much and don't have the heart to re-read to find out... Marshal was 7/8 years older so Yu's probably the same or more, maybe 10)... after he died he saw Xin waiting for him beside the Naihe Bridge... They reunited, kissed and refused Meng Po soup several times, spending lovely time together as ghosts in the underworld... Underworld officials also turned a blind eye to this tragic pair of emperor mandarin ducks... after several decades they finally drank Meng Po soup together and went to reincarnate together...

Continuation of extra 2 imagination :

Yan emperor lived up to his grandfathers expectation of prolonging the peace, so baby Murong Yu and Han Xin lived a worry free life without any burden... they met each other at the border in a business exchange and there was suddenly a feeling of deja vu and finally finding the missing piece if their heart and finally fulfilling a promise... they fell in love quickly but their family didn't agree... so they eloped together to live freely in seclusion like Xin always wanted, because tho they didn't know what is it but they had a feeling of not again... their family could go on without them anyway... they didn't have any neighbors but another family of two middle aged men lived nearby and they could tell the relationship between those two because they were on the same boat (yeah the middle aged couple are the Rui second prince and the Yan third prince)... they felt a unexplainable bond with them and these two family got along happily... extra 2 takes place in a day of their everyday life... they all lived peacefully and freely together without any burden...

So this is the result of my ADHD brain and me unable to get over this book no matter how much I try and having a book hungover for 5 months... who knows when I'll be able to get over, so painful... but yeah they lived happily in their next life and this is the prove... Hopefully I'll be able to get over this soon...

or they reincarnated in a totally different world where they don't have any heavy responsibility or ambition, fell in love and lived together without worry... extra 2 is definitely real, they are really happy now...

is when they were spending the night together, making love, whispering words that for me is nothing but a very solemn and very heartfelt marriage vows knowing that once the morning comes, they will stand at the opposite sides of the battlefield. Basically break up sex

ML just kisses hai xan and they don't even talk about it later? when did he even start to like him? and the meeting with the "old geezer" was so random and MC just dismisses the little foreshadowing stuff that he and the duke talked about.