Zhao Heng, a psychology master's graduate, dies suddenly after staying up all night and transmigrates into a deposed crown prince who has been framed for poisoning his imperial father and is now bound to an execution rack, awaiting death. Using his ability to read minds through microexpressions, he tricks Liu Quan, the chief palace eunuch, into revealing that the mastermind is the Third Prince, Zhao Yu. He saves his life but is poisoned with a slow-acting toxin that will kill him in three days. Thus begins his deadly struggle against corrupt nobles, armed with modern psychology and game theory. He defeats political enemies such as Zhao Yu, He Jin, and Yan Hui, and uncovers the Empress Dowager's secret manipulation. Every victory comes at a terrible cost, and eventually the old poison spreads, leaving him with only two years to live. Determined to make his remaining time count, he reforms education and establishes schools in eleven counties in the southern borderlands. After leaving behind a written Ten-Year Education Plan, he quietly passes away.