Volume One, Chapter One: The Old Man Li Chengqian

Glazed golden tiles, walls of white jade.

Three quarters past dawn, the morning light paved the way.

A thread of crimson sunlight pierced through the vermilion lattice of the Hall of Supreme Harmony, falling upon Li Chengqian’s face. Though the sun hung high overhead, his complexion was pale as frost, as if he stood in a frigid cellar, his body trembling uncontrollably.

“Your Highness, please be mindful, not that this old servant speaks out of turn, but I cannot bear it in my heart,”

“His Majesty only wishes the best for you. Do not take offense with him. What is a mere servant, however favored, compared to the bond between father and son?”

“Admit fault, that is all. After all, His Majesty is your father…”

The elderly eunuch Wang De pleaded earnestly, unwilling to see the Li father and son at odds. Yet, his words made Li Chengqian shudder.

“Am I Li Chengqian? The Crown Prince of the flourishing Tang, second only to one, above all others?”

“I am Li Chengqian!”

“It is the sixteenth year of the Zhenguan era, two years from now, when I will feign illness to lure Li Er into the Eastern Palace, scheming to repeat the coup at the Gate of the Black Tortoise.”

“But fate turns against me. The plot is exposed due to the sudden rebellion of Prince Qi, Li You, and I perish on the road to exile.”

Li Chengqian suddenly looked up, his eyes tumultuous with shock.

Even he could not fathom how, as a mere medical student, he had awoken from a blink to find himself reborn a millennium earlier, in the golden age of the Tang, as the Crown Prince, second only to the Emperor.

Yet Li Chengqian understood his predicament all too well.

It was the fourteenth year of Zhenguan. The original prince, ensnared during the autumn hunt, suffered injuries to his legs, tumbling from his lofty heights into the mire.

After the governance of Zhenguan, the emperor who would later ascend as a monarch for the ages had no need for a crippled heir.

Now, the illustrious Tang, with its Emperor Li Er enthroned as the Celestial Khan, would never permit a lame Crown Prince.

Under Li Er’s ruthless calculations and suppression, the original prince collapsed, choosing to abandon himself to despair, secretly keeping a favored male companion named Chengxin. He never imagined someone would report him in secret.

The Emperor’s wrath was swift and bloody.

Chengxin was executed on the spot, officials of the Eastern Palace implicated, and even the Crown Prince was trampled into the dirt. Li Er’s condemnation of debauchery and improper conduct nailed him to the pillar of shame.

The Crown Prince, before all, would be struck three times with the horsewhip by his father, losing all dignity.

At that moment—

“Unfilial son, kneel!”

Crash!

A teacup smashed at his feet.

Looking up, Li Chengqian saw, upon the Golden Throne, Li Er in his forties, face dark and furious, eyes blazing as if ready to spit fire.

Even from afar, Li Chengqian could feel the Emperor’s rage, longing to tear him limb from limb.

At this moment, Li Er’s heart was ablaze, wishing he could devour his son before him.

The Crown Prince of the Eastern Palace, exemplar of the realm, yet kept a male favorite, indulged in debauchery within the palace. Where was the virtue or temperament befitting a prince?

Were it not for the blood tie, Li Er would have left him to die.

Li Chengqian shook his head, kneeling in silence.

“Crown Prince, do you acknowledge your crime?”

Li Er strode down from the imperial throne, standing before Li Chengqian.

He pressed his lips together, saying nothing. At this point, words were futile.

He did not believe that pleading for mercy would change the mind of the Tang Emperor, renowned for his unwavering resolve. Better to remain silent, endure the three lashes, and then consider his next move.

But Li Chengqian’s silence only further inflamed Li Er’s rage.

“Disgraceful wretch, turn around!”

Li Er barked, kicking Li Chengqian hard in the chest, sending him sprawling several meters. Still unsatisfied, Li Er snatched the horsewhip from an attendant.

Many eunuchs and maids were present.

Even the old eunuch Wang De, who had served Li Shimin for half his life, dared not utter a sound, fearing to provoke the furious monarch.

Li Er raised his hand.

Crack!

The whip sliced the air, landing squarely across Li Chengqian’s back.

The blow tore his splendid robes, delivered with all of Li Er’s strength.

Though Li Chengqian had braced himself, the force was so great he could not help but cry out in pain.

“It still hurts? Unfilial son, you have truly disappointed me.”

“I granted you the title of Crown Prince, yet you lack virtue, indulged in debauchery. How could I have sired such a disgraceful child? Today I’ll beat the uselessness out of you.”

“Have I not been good enough?”

Li Shimin grew angrier with every word, trembling with fury.

The whip fell again, even harder, whistling through the air.

Crack.

Li Chengqian fell once more, skin split open.

The agony tore through him, and he could not suppress a groan. He looked up, meeting Li Er’s furious gaze, but instead of fear, a surge of stubborn anger rose within him.

Exemplar of the realm? Unworthy of the position?

If you hold me in such contempt, why did you place me as Crown Prince?

The original prince may have erred, but he served diligently for years, pouring his heart into his duties—how could he compare to you, Li Er, who killed your brother and imprisoned your father?

You are the emperor, you are mighty!

You are the Celestial Khan, commanding awe across the land, you are formidable.

But why?

The original prince’s resentment instantly ignited into boundless fury within Li Chengqian’s heart. He rose abruptly, staring Li Er in the eyes.

But Li Shimin, already poised for the third lash, struck.

Crack!

The whip landed squarely on Li Chengqian’s face, leaving a scarlet welt from brow to jaw, blood oozing instantly, rendering Li Chengqian ferocious and terrible to behold.

Pain, searing pain.

Yet the torment on his face was nothing compared to the anger surging in Li Chengqian’s heart.

“Your son… refuses to submit!”

Li Chengqian gritted his teeth, staring at the famed emperor before him, his voice thunderous.

Li Shimin’s hand trembled in surprise, never expecting his son to utter such defiant words.

Refuses to submit?

Why?

I am the Son of Heaven; all under heaven are my domain, all subjects my servants.

And you, my imperial son, Crown Prince of the flourishing Tang, indulged in debauchery—should I not punish you?

Instinctively,

Li Shimin raised the whip again.

But he forced himself to stop.

Even so, Li Chengqian was his son. Even so, Li Chengqian was the only Crown Prince of Tang. Even so… he was the child of Lady Guan Yin and himself…

“Crown Prince, do not force me…”