Returning to the Time of the Tyrant's Seizure - Chapter 1

This was a clean and organized room.

The bed was layered with soft, embroidered silk bedding, flanked by thin curtains tied to the sides. A jujube-red desk stood nearby, fully equipped with the Four Treasures of the Study, alongside plates filled with delicacies and pastries. A landscape painting by a famous scholar of the previous dynasty hung upon the grey stone walls.

If not for the eerie absence of windows, the frost covering the blue-brick floor, the solid wall of cast iron bars, and the heavy iron locks winding around the door, one could hardly tell this was a sunless prison cell.

Xie Linchuan sat at the desk, the candlelight illuminating a scroll of bright yellow imperial silk.

Written in the tone of the “Tyrant Emperor” Qin Li, the decree meticulously listed various treasonous crimes, including rebellion, regicide, and usurpation. It claimed that now that the “True Dragon” had returned to his throne, Qin Li felt deep remorse, was surrendering the Imperial Jade Seal, and was willing to accept execution.

Xie Linchuan scanned this unsigned “Imperial Decree” and silently turned his head, glancing at the man in magnificent robes entering the cell, surrounded by armored guards.

This man, the former Li royal family member who had been emperor for only three days before losing the country, was the lord Xie Linchuan once served: Li Xuehong.

Li Xuehong wore a noble white-and-gold ceremonial robe. His posture was tall and lean, his face refined and elegant, and every movement exuded the noble temperament cultivated by two hundred years of the Li royal bloodline.

Even his voice sounded as gentle as jade: “Linchuan, the Tyrant Emperor and the Imperial City are already under our control.”

“Regrettably, Qin Li is stubborn. If you can pry the location of the Jade Seal and the military tallies from his mouth and have him personally write a decree of abdication, we can settle this turmoil with the greatest speed and the lowest cost.”

He raised his hand slightly, signaling a guard to bring forward a tray holding a dagger. “As for the chance to take revenge with your own hands, I can grant that to you.”

A chance for personal revenge? Xie Linchuan was almost amused by this rhetoric.

As expected of the pure and noble Prince Xuehong, even the act of making Xie take the fall for regicide and draw all the public’s hatred could be framed as a benevolent gift.

“Tyrant Emperor? Qin Li isn’t even dead yet, and you’ve already thought of his posthumous title?” Xie Linchuan sneered, casually pushing aside the burly guard holding the dagger. He stood up to face Li Xuehong directly.

An armored guard immediately stepped forward with a blade drawn, but Li Xuehong waved him back.

Xie Linchuan was tall and fit, standing half a head taller than the prince. He wore a dark-patterned, narrow-sleeved green robe that fit him perfectly, outlining the smooth lines of his chest and arms and his well-proportioned, broad-shouldered frame.

His features were handsome and sharp. When he narrowed his eyes, his gaze was like a sword. Even in the dim firelight, it was hard to mask the disciplined aura of a veteran killer surrounding him.

The only softening feature was a small, bright red mole on the side of the bridge of his nose, which was a stroke of genius from nature that balanced the murderous edge in his eyes.

Xie Linchuan reminded him slowly, “Your Highness, before I agreed to act, you personally promised that once you reclaimed the throne, you would not put Qin Li to death. You said you would merely return the title he once gave you.”

Li Xuehong turned his head and ordered the guards to withdraw until only the two of them remained in the cell with the quiet candlelight.

“Linchuan, has your heart softened? You can’t bear to kill Qin Li?” Li Xuehong lowered his voice and approached him slowly, his delicate brows furrowed with an expression of heartbreaking disappointment.

“Have you forgotten how Qin Li led those rebels into the Imperial City, leaving a trail of severed heads? Have you forgotten how you and I were forced to kneel at his feet to be trampled upon? Have you forgotten how he humiliated you, forced you, and took the dignified Chixiao General of the Great Jing as his personal plaything for the world to mock?!”

“Enough!” Xie Linchuan interrupted sharply, his sword-like brows knitting together as his chest heaved slightly. “Of course I haven’t forgotten. That is why I helped you restore the kingdom.”

He turned his face away, his deep black pupils staring at the flickering candle flame. His voice was low and raspy: “Overthrowing Qin Li, that is my revenge against him.”

“It is not enough!” Li Xuehong’s voice suddenly rose, his face turning cold as frost.

After a moment of silence, he composed himself, and a mocking curl touched his lips. “Three years ago, Qin Li destroyed the Great Jing’s mandate. To flaunt his hypocritical mercy, he didn’t kill me; he deliberately used the title ‘Prince of Submission’ to humiliate me. Taking my throne wasn’t enough; he had to take you from my side! Only by seeing him die by your hand can the hatred in my heart be appeased.”

Xie Linchuan gave him a deep look without saying a word, his thoughts uncontrollably drifting.

Three years ago, a car accident caused him to accidentally transmigrate into this world, becoming the Chixiao General of the Jing Kingdom, who shared his name.

At that time, it was the end of the Great Jing Dynasty, which was marked by years of chaos and rising conflict. The original general, despite his distinguished military service, was slandered by corrupt officials to the old Emperor. Multiple decrees were issued to strip him of his power and summon him back to the capital, only for him to be ambushed on the road.

When Xie Linchuan first arrived, he was nearly thrown into prison. Fortunately, the Eldest Prince, Li Xuehong, admired him greatly, pleading for mercy and protecting him. He even accepted some of Xie’s unorthodox modern ideas.

Li Xuehong’s mother had died early, and he was not favored, but he was humble, elegant, and had an excellent reputation throughout the court. As a newcomer, Xie Linchuan was touched by Li Xuehong’s apparent sincerity. He treated him as a confidant and decided to assist him. He strategized and fought at the front lines, acting as the prince’s blade, hoping only to save the collapsing government and end the war.

However, within two months, the old Emperor, whose body had been hollowed out by wine and lust, died suddenly in the harem. Li Xuehong and the Third Prince, Li Fenghao, fell into a fierce internal struggle for the throne. Corruption ran rampant, and the common people, unable to survive, rose in rebellion.

Amidst this internal and external strife, Qin Li, the King of Yao who had established his own power base, boldly led his army into the Imperial City. He successfully changed the dynasty, ascended as the new Emperor, and named the era Yao.

Xie Linchuan, who became a general of a fallen nation only three months after arriving, and Li Xuehong, who had been emperor for less than three days, both became prisoners of Qin Li.

Qin Li was violent, arrogant, and had a preference for men. He took an immediate interest in the famous Chixiao General. To resist Qin Li’s forced possession, Xie Linchuan endured for three years. He planned meticulously and finally found an opportunity to drug Qin Li, drag him off the throne, and restore his devoted former lord, Li Xuehong.

He never expected that as the greatest contributor to this victory, he would now be locked in the dark Imperial Prison to enjoy the fruits of success.

Thinking of this, Xie Linchuan looked at Li Xuehong, and a mocking smile touched the corners of his eyes.

As if stung by this cold smile, Li Xuehong grabbed Xie Linchuan’s hand tightly. His expression was as sincere as it had been three years ago when he knelt outside the old Emperor’s palace all night in the freezing snow to plead for Xie.

Li Xuehong said earnestly, “The Jade Seal and military tallies must be hidden in the palace, but we don’t know when the loyalist armies outside the city will arrive. We need to settle this quickly; we have no time to waste.”

“Qin Li refuses to say a word even under torture, nor will he write the decree. He only repeatedly demands to see you. Surely he still has feelings for you. If you speak, he might agree.”

The mockery in Xie Linchuan’s eyes deepened. He remained unmoved and pulled his hand away forcefully. Li Xuehong’s hands froze in mid-air for a moment before he sighed and continued:

“Linchuan, outsiders don’t know you; they think you are a coward who sold your body to the Emperor for glory. But I know you. Only by doing as I say will the world believe you never betrayed your old lord. Only then can I wash away the stain on you and restore your innocence.”

“Innocence?” Xie Linchuan found it increasingly absurd. “You think because I slept with Qin Li, I am stained and no longer innocent, don’t you?”

Li Xuehong looked as if he had been pricked by a poisonous thorn. His hands instinctively clenched into fists, and a visible flash of anger appeared in his eyes. “I am doing this for your own good!”

Xie Linchuan let out a bark of laughter. “For my own good? To burn the bridge after crossing it, to lock me in a cell, and to threaten the lives of my entire family, is that also for my own good?”

Li Xuehong was silent for a long time. He closed his eyes, and his tone regained its composure. “Once you complete this last task for me, I will not only release you but allow you to continue leading troops as the Chixiao General. I won’t let a single official slander you, and I won’t touch your family.”

Xie Linchuan said coldly, “Prince Xuehong, do you think I will ever believe you again?”

Li Xuehong slowly withdrew his cold fingertips and stared at him with eyes full of disappointment. “Linchuan, do you truly have no regard for the feelings we have shared all these years?”

Xie Linchuan closed his eyes and remained silent.

A look of pity entered Li Xuehong’s eyes. “The Xie family has been loyal for three generations. Your father died on the battlefield and was posthumously named the Marquis of Loyalty and Bravery. Your mother followed him shortly after. Now, only your elderly grandmother, a pair of younger siblings, and dozens of loyal personal guards remain in your household. Even if you don’t care for our friendship, do you not care for them?”

Xie Linchuan snapped his eyes open and glared at him. “Li Xuehong, you haven’t even secured that dragon throne yet, and you’re already anxious to deal with me? Who will control the troops in the city? Do you think trapping those high-ranking officials and their families makes everything foolproof?”

Li Xuehong shook his head dismissively. “You needn’t worry about that. There are naturally other loyal ministers to share our burdens.”

Other loyal ministers?

Xie Linchuan narrowed his eyes. Li Xuehong had indeed been keeping secrets from him. Even now, Li Xuehong had not revealed the identity of the other major mole, someone who could apparently replace Xie in commanding the Imperial Guard.

After a moment of hesitation, Li Xuehong pulled a small brown vial from his sleeve and placed it in front of Xie Linchuan.

Xie Linchuan’s lips curled. “What, not poisoned wine?”

Li Xuehong said, “This is not poison, but a Carefree Pill. If taken for seven days, you will forget all those unpleasant memories of the past.”

His expression became earnest again. “Whether you believe it or not, I never intended to move against you, let alone kill you. It’s just that some things are better forgotten.”

Xie Linchuan said coldly, “Do you want me to forget Qin Li, or do you want me to forget the secret that the person who poisoned your father, the Emperor, was you?”

He watched Li Xuehong’s face drain of color, and his own gaze remained calm. “Your father favored the Consort and the Third Prince, Li Fenghao. Everyone knew he intended to change the heir. Three years ago, you killed your father to take the throne and framed Qin Li’s spies. The old Emperor’s death caused the government to collapse, which gave Qin Li the opportunity to march all the way to the capital. If the world knew this secret, those following you now would probably defect to the Third Prince, wouldn’t they?”

Li Xuehong’s expression shifted several times. “So you did know.”

He didn’t explain, nor did he ask when Xie Linchuan found out; that would only be more humiliating. His elegant royal composure shattered completely. He grabbed Xie Linchuan’s arms, and his fingertips were as white as his face. His voice trembled with a dark mix of anger and hatred:

“Why did you have to say it? You could have clearly pretended to know nothing! Kill Qin Li, take the medicine I gave you, and forget everything. We could have started over, acting as if nothing happened, just like before! I could have overlooked those unsightly entanglements between you and Qin Li. This was the best arrangement I could make for you. Why must you ruin my efforts?”

Xie Linchuan shook off his hands and laughed in pure anger, his voice laced with mockery. “Your efforts? You’re just afraid you’ll end up in Qin Li’s position one day, so you’re eliminating me as a liability in advance!”

He was a modern soul. If he lost his memories and his self-awareness, becoming a puppet for Li Xuehong to manipulate, how was that different from death? And yet, the man was blaming him for not being willing to die quietly.

Xie Linchuan tilted his chin up, and his looking down eyes carried a contemptuous smile. “Should this humble official say, ‘Thank you, My Lord, for your immense grace’?”

The sound of their argument drew the attention of the nervous armored guards. They looked toward the cell but dared not approach.

Li Xuehong’s brow twitched. His hatred was replaced by frustration and confusion. He tried to touch Xie Linchuan’s face, but his hand was swatted away.

“Linchuan, I truly like you. I will treat you well. As long as you follow my arrangements today, I will give you whatever you want in the future, including military power and a title of King.”

Xie Linchuan no longer wished to acknowledge him. He sat back in his chair and closed his eyes.

Finding himself in this situation today was truly laughable.

Seeing his silence, Li Xuehong felt a glimmer of hope. He knew Xie Linchuan. Usually, as long as he pleaded softly, Xie would eventually soften his heart.

“Linchuan, I don’t blame you for being angry with me, but think more of the people in the Xie Manor.”

Xie Linchuan remained peaceful and silent, like a piece of decaying wood.

Until Li Xuehong raised his voice to command the guards outside: “Bring Qin Li here!”

In a short while, the sound of iron chains dragging against the rough stone floor echoed, accompanied by slow footsteps.

Xie Linchuan’s eyelashes fluttered. He couldn’t help but open his eyes, and a familiar figure immediately came into view.

Qin Li.

Outside the cell, several armored guards were pushing a tall man forward.

The man’s hands and feet were bound by iron chains as thick as a forearm. His ankles were rubbed raw and bloody, and his steps were weak, yet his back remained straight.

Qin Li was much thinner than the last time Xie Linchuan had seen him. His eye sockets were deeply sunken, making his brow bones appear sharper. His signature silver-grey hair was stained with blood and grime, hanging messily over a back covered in whip marks.

He wore only a thin prisoner’s tunic, which was stuck to his body by crisscrossing bloodstains. His hair crown was lopsided, and a few stray strands hung over his forehead, yet none of this diminished the arrogance and coldness in his eyes.

There was a trace of blood at the corner of his mouth. As he wiped it away with the back of his hand, it left a dark red streak. His chin was held high, and his gaze was disdainful, as if he were not a prisoner being escorted but a King reviewing his troops.

The prison officials were experts at swaying with the political winds. With the new master of the palace right in front of them, they were eager to flatter him.

One guard kicked the back of Qin Li’s knee. “Traitor! Kneel and pay respects to the True Dragon Son of Heaven!”

Unexpectedly, the kick did not move him. Qin Li’s legs remained locked straight, and his knees did not budge an inch.

“True Dragon Son of Heaven?” He sneered, and his voice was a lazy rasp. “A defeated foe, how is he worthy?”

The guard caught a glimpse of Li Xuehong’s expressionless face and broke into a cold sweat. He hurriedly raised a whip soaked in brine, preparing to lash Qin Li. “You tyrant that everyone wants dead! How dare you still be so stubborn at death’s door!”

Though Qin Li’s hands and feet were bound by chains, his body was still as agile as a hunting leopard. Not only did the guard’s whip miss him, but Qin Li caught it, gave it a hard yank, and pulled the guard face-first onto the ground at his feet.

Qin Li stepped on the guard’s head and looked down with a contemptuous smirk. “What kind of thing are you, to dare bark in my presence?”