The room gradually fell into silence.
After the royal physician and the palace guards left, only the faint scent of medicine lingered in the air. The doors were gently closed, and even Xiao Lan had stepped out to prepare the prescribed herbs.
For the first time since waking up, Li Xuan was truly alone.
His expression, which had been calm and indifferent moments ago, slowly darkened.
"Poison…"
He muttered under his breath, his eyes narrowing slightly.
This was no accident.
Someone had clearly wanted him dead.
Leaning back against the pillows, Li Xuan closed his eyes, replaying everything that had happened since he awakened in this body.
The previous prince… weak, insignificant, almost invisible in the palace.
And yet—someone still chose to eliminate him.
"Interesting…"
A faint, cold smile appeared on his lips.
"If even a useless prince is worth killing, then the situation in this palace is far more complicated than it seems."
His thoughts quickly shifted.
In this imperial palace, the most dangerous people were not assassins—but the princes.
There were five princes in total.
And he… was the most disregarded among them.
The First Prince, Li Junhao—born of the Empress, the rightful heir. Steady and composed on the surface, yet inherently arrogant. With the full backing of his mother's powerful clan, his position in the court was as stable as a mountain.
The Second Prince, Li Tianwu—talented and fiercely ambitious. Favored by many military generals, he held significant influence within the army. Known for his decisiveness… and feared for his ruthlessness.
The Third Prince, Li Shiyu—gentle and refined in appearance, the very image of a cultured prince. Yet beneath that calm exterior lay a deeply scheming mind. A man who would use any method necessary to achieve his goals.
And lastly…
The Fifth Prince, Li An—a mysterious and reclusive figure. Rarely seen within the palace, with little known about him. Even his cultivation… was a secret known only to a select few.
Li Xuan slowly opened his eyes, a faint glint flashing within them.
"Among them…"
"Who benefits the most from my death?"
The First Prince?
Unlikely.
As the Crown Prince, his position was already secure. Killing a prince would only stain his reputation.
The Second Prince?
Possible—but unnecessary.
The Third Prince…
Li Xuan's gaze sharpened.
" A wolf in disguise."
Among all the princes, the Third Prince appeared the most harmless.
No powerful backing
Not very high cultivation
But in Li Xuan's experience, such people were often the most dangerous.
"They smile the brightest…"
"…and stab the deepest."
A soft chuckle escaped his lips, though there was no warmth in it.
"Li Shiyu…"
"I'll remember that name."
But suspicion alone was not enough.
There was still something that troubled him.
The poison.
The royal physician's reaction had not been normal.
Even a skilled doctor had been visibly shocked.
Which meant—
"That poison wasn't ordinary."
Li Xuan's fingers lightly tapped against the edge of the bed.
"And yet… I survived."
This was the biggest anomaly.
From the physician's tone, the original Li Xuan should have died without a doubt.
But instead—
He woke up.
Alive.
"And now…"
A faint, dangerous light flickered in his eyes.
"…everything has changed."
---
Meanwhile, in a quiet chamber within the palace—
The royal physician stood with his head lowered, facing a man seated behind a large desk.
The atmosphere was heavy.
"Your Majesty," the physician said respectfully, "this humble servant has examined the Fifth Prince."
The man seated before him was none other than the Emperor of the Great Li Dynasty—
Li Zhengyuan.
His expression was calm, almost indifferent, as he glanced over a memorial in his hand.
"Speak."
The physician hesitated for a brief moment before continuing.
"The poison found in the Fifth Prince's body… is not ordinary."
That made the Emperor pause, if only slightly.
"Oh?"
"It is a rare compound poison," the physician explained carefully. "Extremely potent. Even a small amount would be fatal."
He lowered his head further.
"Under normal circumstances… the Fifth Prince should not have survived."
Silence filled the room.
For a moment, only the faint rustling of paper could be heard.
Then—
Li Zhengyuan set the memorial aside.
"And yet, he lives."
His tone was neither surprised nor concerned.
"Yes, Your Majesty," the physician replied, his voice tense. "This is precisely what confuses this humble servant."
The Emperor leaned back slightly, his expression unreadable.
"A prince who was never meant to live… survives."
He tapped his finger lightly against the armrest.
Then, after a brief pause, he waved his hand dismissively.
"Since he is alive, then he is alive."
The physician blinked, slightly startled.
"Your Majesty… should we investigate—"
"There is no need."
Li Zhengyuan's voice was calm, yet carried an unquestionable authority.
"A trivial prince being targeted is nothing unusual in the palace."
His gaze turned distant, as if the matter had already lost its importance.
"If he dies, he dies."
"If he lives… then that is his fate."
The physician lowered his head deeply.
"This humble servant understands."
"Continue to treat him," the Emperor added casually. "As for the rest…"
He picked up another memorial.
"…leave it be."
The message was clear.
This incident—no matter how strange—was not worth his attention.
To the Emperor—
The life of the Fifth Prince held no significance.
---
Back in his chamber—
Li Xuan slowly exhaled.
Though he did not know it, his survival had already been dismissed as insignificant.
But perhaps…
That was for the best.
A faint smile appeared on his lips.
"In a place where no one cares whether I live or die…"
"…I can move more freely."
His eyes turned cold.
"Since someone wants me dead…"
"Then let's see…"
"…who dies first."