Liu Bang was the founding emperor of the Han Dynasty, who built a powerful empire and inaugurated a glorious chapter in Chinese history. However, behind his brilliance, there is a tragic story hidden, that is, the indissoluble love affair between him and Mrs. Qi.
Mrs. Qi is Liu Bang's favorite concubine, she is beautiful and intelligent, and she is deeply favored by Liu Bang. However, fate is often cruel, and just when Liu Bang was about to abandon her, Mrs. Qi became pregnant with Liu Bang's child.
For Liu Bang, Mrs. Qi's pregnancy was a dilemma. On the one hand, he has decided to abolish Mrs. Qi and arrange other favorite concubines to be queens, so as to provide a better stage for his subsequent political arrangements. On the other hand, he was reluctant to give up his own flesh and blood, hoping to leave a way back for Mrs. Qi.
So, before his death, Liu Bang decided to write a letter to tell Mrs. Qi the secret secret, hoping that she could understand his distress, give him a little comfort and forgiveness, and also leave a way back for her.
He struggled to think about how to express these thoughts, and finally gave the letter to the closest and trusted courtiers around him, hoping that he would give it to Madame Qi.
However, it is a pity that Liu Bang did not choose to give the letter directly to Mrs. Qi, but put it in a seemingly inconspicuous wooden box and handed this wooden box to the courtiers. He hoped that Mrs. Qi would be able to see the box, understand its meaning, and perceive his sincerity and apologies.
The plot shifts to Chang'an City, the location Liu Bang chose on his deathbed, the center of his power and the place where he ended his life. Liu Bang's condition is getting worse day by day, and he can feel the approach of death, but he is still worried about Mrs. Qi in his heart, and he doesn't know if she can understand his mind.
In Liu Bang's last moments, with the passing of his life, his thoughts were still returning to Mrs. Qi quickly. He wished she could open the box and read what he had written. He had loved her dearly, and he was afraid that she would hate him when he died, and he hoped that she would understand the choices he had made.
However, Mrs. Qi didn't know the inside story of all this. She looked at the wooden box, and she didn't know the truth about it. She just felt that this wooden box seemed meaningless, maybe it was just a whim of Liu Bang. So, she put the wooden box in the storage room full of miscellaneous items and turned to leave.
In Chang'an City, the tragedy was staged silently. Liu Bang died, his ruling power was transferred to Liu Ying, and Madame Qi was forced to leave the court after becoming deposed. No one knew Liu Bang's thoughts before he died, and no one knew the pain that Mrs. Qi endured.
Mrs. Qi left Chang'an City and returned to her hometown, where she once lived. Her heart has always been full of hatred and incomprehension for Liu Bang, she can't understand why Liu Bang abandoned her, why he didn't want to give her a way back.
However, time passed, and as the years passed, Mrs. Qi gradually understood some facts. She learned everything about the wooden box, and she heard Liu Bang's explanation to his courtiers before he died. Madame Qi was defeated by her own ignorance and misunderstanding, and she realized that she had once misunderstood and been indifferent to Liu Bang.
Madame Qi deeply regretted her mistake, she regretted not carefully observing the wooden box, not opening it to read Liu Bang's letter. She realized that perhaps before Liu Bang died, he not only left a way back for himself, but also wanted to express his love and apologies to her.
In order to find the wooden box, Mrs. Qi returned to Chang'an City. She hoped to find it, hoping to feel Liu Bang's heart. However, the city of Chang'an has become unrecognizable, with palaces destroyed and streets in tatters. She searched everywhere, but could not find any trace of the wooden box.
Mrs. Qi was desperate, she felt that she could not make up for the misunderstanding and regret with Liu Bang. She understood that Liu Bang left her a wonderful back road, but she missed it. It was the biggest regret of her life, and she knew there was no chance to make up for it.
Sad and helpless, Mrs. Qi decided to stay in Chang'an City for a while. She traveled to every corner destroyed by the war, looking for memories with Liu Bang. She wants to make amends and commemorate, hoping to feel the breath of Liu Bang's passing.
Finally, in the most dilapidated corner of Chang'an City, she found a small stone stele. It was engraved with Liu Bang's name and a line of vague handwriting. Madame Qi stared at the words, and suddenly, she seemed to hear Liu Bang's voice, and his voice was full of gratitude and affection.
Mrs. Qi finally understood everything Liu Bang expected before he died. He didn't want to put her in danger, but he wanted her to start over and find her own happiness. He hoped that she would understand his distress and forgive him for his choice. He used to love her deeply, but he abandoned her for the sake of the big picture.
Mrs. Qi knelt down in front of the stone tablet, tears streaming non-stop. She told Liu Bang that she finally understood his sincerity and apologies, and she regretted not reading the letter and regretting not cherishing their love. She told Liu Bang about her pain and remorse, hoping that he would be in heaven.