Volume One, Chapter 18: House Arrest and Imprisonment

The medicinal bath was remarkably effective. After soaking for a while, Li Tianqing felt much of the fatigue in his body melt away, and his mind became far clearer.

Suddenly, the door was pushed open and Butler Lin entered, carrying a bowl of dark, murky medicine in his hands.

“Your Highness, this is a prescription from Imperial Physician Zhang. Please drink it while it’s still hot.”

Li Tianqing gazed at the bitter concoction, an unspeakable aversion welling up within him. Butler Lin wore a smile, but Li Tianqing sensed no warmth in it—only a biting chill.

He cast a glance at the bowl, then closed his eyes and said, “Leave it there.”

Butler Lin stood motionless, smile unwavering, but his eyes sharpened.

“Your Highness, the medicine must be drunk while hot.”

With those words, Butler Lin stepped to the side of the bath, offering the medicine to Li Tianqing.

Li Tianqing opened his eyes and looked at Butler Lin, a flash of icy light passing through his gaze.

“I said, leave it.”

But Butler Lin remained unmoved, still holding out the bowl. “Your Highness, please don’t make things difficult for this old servant. If you refuse, I cannot answer to my superiors.”

Li Tianqing’s expression turned cold as ice; the temperature in the room seemed to drop several degrees. Butler Lin still stood there, smiling, utterly unafraid of Li Tianqing.

A trace of murderous intent flickered in Li Tianqing’s eyes, but it quickly vanished. He took a deep breath, gazing at the seemingly deferential butler before him, rage surging in his heart.

He took the bowl and drained it in one gulp. The bitter medicine slid down his throat, and he forced himself to swallow it, suppressing his disgust.

“So, is this to the Emperor’s satisfaction?”

His tone was flat, betraying neither joy nor anger.

Butler Lin, hearing this, took back the empty bowl and bowed. “This old servant would not presume to comment. His Majesty cares deeply for Your Highness. Please, understand His Majesty’s good intentions.”

Li Tianqing closed his eyes, ignoring Butler Lin, who, seeing this, wisely withdrew.

Once Butler Lin had left, Li Tianqing opened his eyes, a shadow passing through them. He clenched his fists so tightly his nails drew blood, which trickled down his fingers to stain the bathwater red.

Now, I am the fish on the chopping block, and others wield the knife.

Li Tianqing was overwhelmed by a fury and humiliation unlike anything he had ever felt before. The sense of disgrace was so suffocating, he could barely breathe.

He swore to himself: One day, I will make them pay for what they have done!

He would become strong—strong enough to seize his own destiny, strong enough to inspire fear in all who opposed him! No one would ever control his fate—not even the Emperor, his father in name!

After a long while, Li Tianqing unclenched his fists and opened his eyes, now calm and serene, the gloom having vanished. This was not yet the time to show his hand. He had to endure and bide his time, waiting for the perfect moment to soar.

He rose, dressed, dried himself, tossed his clothes aside, and collapsed onto his bed, falling into a deep sleep. The day had utterly exhausted him—body and spirit alike.

…

That night, in the Hall of Tranquility, a shadow guard reported Li Tianqing’s behavior to the Emperor.

“Your Majesty, Prince Jing… he seems to harbor some resentment towards you,” the shadow guard knelt, speaking with the utmost caution.

At these words, the Emperor’s expression turned thunderous. He slammed the table and bellowed, “Resentment? What right does he have to resent me? Everything he has, he owes to me!”

The shadow guard trembled, not daring to speak. The Emperor glowered in his chair, his face as dark as a storm.

Knowing the Emperor’s suspicious and ruthless nature, the shadow guard hesitated, then tried to mollify him. “Your Majesty, Prince Jing is still young. It’s not unusual for him to be a bit willful.”

No sooner had he finished than he bowed his head even lower, fearing the Emperor’s wrath might spill onto him if he said another word.

The Emperor’s anger did not subside; he remained grim-faced, unmoved by the shadow guard’s words. The shadow guard dared not even breathe loudly, sweat pouring down his brow.

“From tomorrow, no one leaves Prince Jing’s manor!” the Emperor ordered.

The shadow guard was startled. Was His Majesty planning to place Prince Jing under house arrest?

With a wave of his hand, the Emperor dismissed him. The shadow guard, as if pardoned from death, swiftly rose, saluted, and withdrew.

Once he was gone, the Emperor remained seated, his expression shifting between light and shadow. He stared at the flickering candle on the table—the flame’s unsteady dance seemed to reflect his own unsettled mood.

“Your Majesty… the heir of Prince Xuan—your second imperial grandson—has brought a sage who claims to know the secret of immortality. What is your wish…”

A senior eunuch in dark crimson robes spoke carefully.

The Emperor’s eyes flickered with interest. “Is that so?” he mused.

The old eunuch, seeing the Emperor’s silence, ventured to repeat himself.

The Emperor returned to himself and looked at the eunuch. “Tell me—do you believe there truly exists an immortal technique in this world?”

The eunuch pondered a moment before replying, “Your Majesty, the world is full of marvels. This servant believes… perhaps such a secret does exist.”

A glint of greed flashed in the Emperor’s eyes. He murmured, “Immortality… if only I could live forever…”

…

The next morning, at Prince Jing’s manor.

Li Tianqing rose early. He intended to visit the estates where the refugees had been settled and look into how Moyang’s affairs were progressing.

But the moment he stepped out the manor gate, he found two guards waiting.

“Your Highness, you cannot leave,” one guard informed him.

Li Tianqing paused, his expression darkened. “Why not?” he demanded.

“It is His Majesty’s order, Your Highness. We are only following instructions. Please, do not make things difficult for us,” the guard replied, kneeling.

Li Tianqing looked at the kneeling guards in silence.

“Your Highness, breakfast is ready,” Butler Lin appeared behind him, seemingly out of nowhere.

Li Tianqing glanced back at him.

“Please, Your Highness,” Butler Lin gestured for him to return inside.

Li Tianqing regarded the butler with a smile that betrayed nothing of his true feelings.

So, the Emperor wants to keep me under house arrest… How I’d like to kill that old wretch…

Butler Lin, unsettled by Li Tianqing’s smile, lowered his head, not daring to meet his gaze.

A flash of malice passed through Li Tianqing’s eyes, but it quickly vanished. He turned and walked back into the manor.

The days that followed were highly regimented: medicinal meals, herbal baths, potions, martial training.

Gradually, Li Tianqing’s health improved. His complexion became rosy, and the lines of his muscles grew ever more defined.