The prophecy became true despite their efforts to make sure it didn't. The ML dies in the hands of the FL because…
Yeah the second male lead is in love with the female lead, it turns out she's kinda like a reincarnation of his lover in the past life, it's a whole thing. He's her servant and also protector and he ends up finding out that she looks exactly like the lover in her past life. Its not too bad at first but then it gets worse and worse at the end.
The prophecy became true despite their efforts to make sure it didn't. The ML dies in the hands of the FL because…
Xue lu "likes him" but it's basically only for power because she's a illegitimate daughter so she wants power and status and she basically promised her mom she will be strong so she goes after him but then she falls in love with someone else down the line who treats her right and doesn't care about all that stuff and leaves him alone.