Volume One Chapter One: A Stranger in a New Land
“Report! An urgent dispatch from eight hundred miles away!”
“The Northern Yan is marching south, assembling a hundred thousand armored cavalry at the border. The Prince of Northern Yan himself is leading an envoy to our court, seeking to open border trade with us. They will arrive at the imperial capital in a few days!”
“Northern Yan are wolves in sheep’s clothing; their ambition must be crushed!”
The Emperor of Zhou’s expression hardened, his fist clenching.
“How dare insignificant Northern Yan act so brazenly! Convey my decree: all high officials in the capital are to convene at the Hall of State without delay.”
He furrowed his brows, pacing back and forth within his chambers.
...
Deep within the palace, at the Prince’s residence.
“When will the days in this deep palace ever end…” Li Tianqing murmured, reclining on his couch, his thoughts adrift.
“Just endure two more years. Once I’m granted a household, things will change.” He could only comfort himself with such thoughts for now.
Though he had come to terms with the reality of transmigration, spending day after day in this labyrinthine palace, forced to deal with inscrutable minds, was unspeakably dull.
“The world outside is still the best…” Li Tianqing sighed, gazing out the window, his eyes full of longing.
Li Tianqing was a transmigrator. As for his former identity, he had merely been a master’s graduate in the liberal arts—well-versed in literature, history, and philosophy, yet considered useless in practical affairs. For the sake of survival, he had once been a Sanda coach, written web novels, danced, streamed online, taught classes, and even dabbled in fortune-telling…
Life had forged him into a versatile jack-of-all-trades.
His close friends described him as “a learned yet sly charmer, a smiling tiger, a schemer.” The assessment was not inaccurate; Li Tianqing had always been clever, articulate, and perceptive to human nature. No matter the environment, he could thrive with his silver tongue and adaptable ways, living freely and at ease.
He now walked to the window, gazing at the towering palace walls, a surge of indescribable frustration rising within him.
The original owner of this body was born after the Emperor of Zhou drunkenly slept with a palace maid. His mother died in childbirth. Though born a prince, he had never known paternal affection and was utterly alone in this deep palace, without status or support.
Since childhood, the original owner had learned to survive in the palace, adept at self-preservation. Deeply shrewd and skilled at disguise, he never confided in anyone. Thus, despite years in the palace, he had made no enemies.
He had lived with clear awareness, understood his precarious position, and was always cautious, never provoking others, striving to remain invisible within the palace walls.
Yet Li Tianqing was unwilling to accept this!
After finally transmigrating, was he to spend a lifetime as a caged bird?
As for the imperial father—well, the imperial family was notorious for its coldness.
Brothers? The princes were so desperate for the throne they would spill each other’s brains if they could!
Li Tianqing asked himself—could he really resign himself to such a fate?
No, he must find a way to turn the tables!
...
Li Tianqing let out a soft sigh. With a father who didn’t care and no mother at all, turning things around was nearly impossible.
He scratched his head, worrying so much it felt like his hair would fall out.
As the saying goes, “One either explodes in silence, or perishes in silence!” Li Tianqing had no intention of perishing in silence—he wanted to rise, to change his fate.
Just then, a young eunuch came running in haste.
“Your Highness, Your Highness!” The eunuch was out of breath. “Prince Xuan has returned to the capital! Tonight, His Majesty will host a banquet in the palace to welcome him, and all the princes are summoned to attend!”
“Oh? Prince Xuan is back?” Li Tianqing’s eyes flashed with a sharp light. He gritted his teeth and, from his sleeve, produced a few taels of silver, discreetly slipping them into the eunuch’s hand.
His heart ached—an underage prince’s monthly stipend was fixed and meager; this was a significant expense!
The eunuch glanced around, quietly closed the doors and windows, then leaned in and whispered, “I heard some rumors, Your Highness. Prince Xuan’s return is because of Northern Yan.”
“Northern Yan?” Li Tianqing was taken aback, then his eyes brightened—he sensed that his chance to rise had come!
The eunuch continued, lowering his voice, “It’s said things aren’t peaceful in Northern Yan. Their border troops have repeatedly violated our frontiers. His Highness Prince Xuan’s return is likely for a council regarding Northern Yan.”
“Your Highness, will you attend the banquet tonight?” The original owner had always feigned illness to avoid such occasions.
“Of course I will!” Li Tianqing smiled, a glint of cunning in his eyes.
Now that opportunity had presented itself, he must seize it. In this capital, without power or influence, one could only survive by leveraging others’ strength.
That night, the palace was ablaze with lanterns.
“Well, Tenth Brother, you’re quick this time—has your illness recovered?” A mocking voice sounded behind him. Li Tianqing didn’t need to turn around to know it was his Ninth Brother.
“Thank you for your concern, Ninth Brother. It was just a minor ailment.” Li Tianqing smiled gently, his expression flawless.
He looked up to see a youth in resplendent robes approaching. The young man was about seventeen or eighteen, handsome, with a sharp, commanding gaze—none other than the Ninth Prince.
“I live closer to the palace than the others, so I arrived a bit earlier,” Li Tianqing replied obediently, standing beside the Ninth Prince.
One must bow when necessary; flexibility is the key to survival.
As expected, the Ninth Prince was momentarily stifled by his words. It was like punching into cotton—thoroughly unsatisfying!
The Ninth Prince coughed softly to cover his discomfort and muttered, “So glib!”
Seeing Li Tianqing’s docile demeanor, irritation flared within him, his annoyance only growing.
He snorted coldly and, not wanting to waste words, flicked his sleeve and strode quickly toward the main hall.
Li Tianqing’s polite smile didn’t falter.
“Ninth Brother, wait up for your little brother!” he called cheerfully.
“So useless, can’t even walk properly!” Though the Ninth Prince grumbled, his pace did slow a little.
When Li Tianqing and the Ninth Prince entered the great hall, most of the other princes had already arrived.
Li Tianqing observed quietly. The princes gathered in small groups and exchanged pleasantries.
“Ah, Ninth Brother is here!” someone called.
The Ninth Prince paused and, glancing back at Li Tianqing, snorted again. He lowered his voice, “Later, eat more, talk less.”
With that, he walked off on his own.
Li Tianqing blinked. “Thank you, Ninth Brother. I’ll remember your advice.”
This Ninth Brother of his truly was… What was the word? Oh yes—tsundere!
A tsundere Ninth Brother—how entertaining.
As the youngest, the original owner could not forgo proper etiquette.
He stepped forward, bowed to the assembled princes, and said, “Brothers, I greet you all.”
None of the princes bothered to look up, replying with a perfunctory grunt.
Li Tianqing was happy to be left alone, unwilling to get entangled with them. In the imperial family, everyone knew how things stood between brothers.
He quietly withdrew to a corner, found an inconspicuous seat, closed his eyes, and waited for the banquet to begin.