The whole crux is the emperor's illness, right? That's the first huge swerve. He's dying and starts seeing visions of his past atrocities, which is what kicks off the entire repentance arc. It's not just a random change of heart; the narrative uses a supernatural element to force self-reflection.
Then there's the scene with the poisoned tea. He realizes a consort is trying to kill him, mirroring his own past methods, and instead of executing her brutally, he just... exiles her. That moment of unexpected mercy shocks the court and the readers. It's the first tangible action proving his internal shift isn't just guilt-fueled delirium.
Later, the major pivot involves his legitimate heir, the crown prince he previously neglected and despised. He publicly acknowledges the boy's merits and dismantles the faction backing his favored, but cruel, younger son. This political move solidifies his reform, burning bridges with his old allies. The story's tension then shifts from 'will he become good?' to 'can he survive the backlash from the monsters he created?' The ending, where he chooses to abdicate peacefully instead of clinging to power, feels like the final, hard-won turning point that proves the change was genuine.