Zhao Letian stared at the three prompts before him, a cold sweat breaking out on his back.
The old Emperor had laid a cunning trap. Without the help of the Heavenly Destiny Wheel, he might have opted to do nothing, a choice that would have likely led to his imprisonment.
As for the suggestion to assassinate the Emperor—commit patricide and seize the throne? Only someone utterly deranged would entertain such an idea.
Having an otherworldly cheat made the choice clear: always pick the best option. If there was no "best," then go for the middle ground. Never the worst.
With a dramatic flair befitting an actor, Zhao Letian dropped to his knees.
"Father!" he cried, his voice choked with sobs. "I would never harbor thoughts of harming you! If I may speak from my heart, the struggle for the throne among my elder brothers—the scheming, the betrayals, the endless plotting—it's exhausting and vile. I am not fit to be Emperor, nor do I desire to be! Only by staying by your side do I feel the warmth of family. How could I possibly harm you?"
Tears streamed down his face, each word more impassioned than the last. Even Zhao Letian himself almost believed his heartfelt plea.
"If sacrificing my life could ensure your health and safety, I would gladly give it!"
The Emperor's eyes opened a fraction, sharp and piercing despite his frailty. "Oh? You would trade your life for my well-being?"
"Yes, without hesitation!" Zhao Letian declared resolutely.
The old Emperor let out a low chuckle, satisfaction evident in his gaze. "Very well. There is a way to ensure my safety. Will you do it?"
"Of course, Father!" Zhao Letian responded without a moment's hesitation.
The Emperor's suspicion seemed to ease as he nodded approvingly. "In the drawer to the left, beneath the bottom panel, you'll find a hidden compartment. Retrieve what's inside."
Zhao Letian approached the desk and followed the instructions. "I've found it, Father!"
"Good. Inside is a small jade box. Take it out and open it. There should be a red pill inside."
"This?" Zhao Letian poured the pill into his palm, its crimson hue glinting under the candlelight.
"Feed it to me," the Emperor commanded.
Uncertain of the pill's nature, Zhao Letian hesitated but ultimately complied, carefully placing it into the Emperor's mouth. The old man strained to swallow it, his breaths shallow and labored. Finally, he closed his eyes.
"Leave me. I need to rest," the Emperor murmured, his voice barely audible.
"Do you not need me to stay and care for you, Father?" Zhao Letian asked tentatively.
The Emperor gave no reply, already drifting into a deep slumber.
Zhao Letian lingered for a moment, unsure of what to do. Then, curiosity rooted him in place.
The Dakan Empire was beset by threats—external invasions, internal demonic unrest, and a volatile succession struggle. The world's dominant cultivation paths—martial arts, mysticism, and demonology—were vast and complex, yet this body he now inhabited was weak, incapable of even basic martial training.
Could the Emperor's mysterious pill hold the answers?
A sudden change in the Emperor's breathing startled Zhao Letian. The once shallow and erratic rhythm grew strong and steady. Before his very eyes, a miracle unfolded.
The Emperor's hair, once white as snow, darkened to a glossy black. His sunken skin regained its youthful elasticity. Even his eyes, now brimming with vitality, sparkled like those of a child.
"Is this... rejuvenation?" Zhao Letian whispered in awe.
So this was the secret behind the Emperor's remarkable longevity—a pill capable of defying the march of time. Zhao Letian couldn't help but marvel at his choice to follow the prompt.
As he exited the chamber, he nearly collided with someone in the shadows—a man clad in the black robes of a palace eunuch. Only the stark white of his eyebrows gave away his presence.
Recognition struck Zhao Letian like a thunderbolt. "Chief Eunuch Cao Jianyan," he murmured, his memory offering up the identity of this formidable figure.
Cao Jianyan's hoarse voice cut through the silence. "Nineteenth Prince, how is His Majesty?"
Feigning calm, Zhao Letian replied, "Father is resting peacefully."
The eunuch's eyes narrowed. "His eyes… were they unusually bright?"
The question sent a shiver down Zhao Letian's spine. So Cao Jianyan had been watching all along. If Zhao Letian had failed to act, the eunuch would have stepped in.
"Yes," Zhao Letian answered with a calmness he didn't feel. "It seems Father has a habit of sleeping with his eyes open. I hadn't noticed before."
Cao Jianyan nodded faintly. "I'll wait here for His Majesty." With that, he melted into the shadows, his presence vanishing as if he had never been there.
By dawn, the Emperor awakened. When the chamber doors opened, Cao Jianyan appeared as if summoned by magic, falling to his knees.
"Rise," the Emperor said, his tone brisk. "Send word to the cabinet. Inform them I am unwell and will not hold court today. Make it clear that no one is to enter the Golden Dragon Hall without my explicit command."
"Yes, Your Majesty!" Cao Jianyan and the guards hurried off to carry out his orders.
Turning to Zhao Letian, the Emperor smiled faintly. "Come, let us share breakfast."
Over nine bowls of porridge and eighteen steamed buns, the Emperor regained his full vigor. After completing a round of martial exercises, he turned to Zhao Letian.
"What reward would you like for your loyalty?"
Zhao Letian hesitated before replying, "I seek no material reward, Father. I only wish to strengthen my body through martial training and explore the beauty of our empire. Perhaps, by doing so, I may better understand the people under your reign."
The Emperor chuckled. "Flattery won't change the truth, boy. This empire is in turmoil, and you know it as well as I do. But if you wish to cultivate martial arts, so be it. Cao Jianyan, fetch the cleansing pills from the Danxia Sect. Let the boy strengthen his body and begin his training."
"Yes, Your Majesty," Cao Jianyan said with a bow.
Overcome with emotion, Zhao Letian knelt and kowtowed deeply. "Thank you, Father!"
The Emperor's smile held a rare warmth. "Rise, my child. But don't get too comfortable. I have another task for you."
"Anything you command," Zhao Letian replied.
"Report to the Ministry of Justice. Consider it your first step toward proving yourself. Soon, I will entrust you with a greater responsibility."
Zhao Letian bowed again, though his mind raced with unease. The Emperor's schemes ran deep, and his next move would undoubtedly plunge Zhao Letian further into the dangerous game of imperial politics.