Chapter 1: Revealing the Identity of the Time Traveler

In the eighth year of the Kai Bao era, on the twenty-fifth day of the eleventh month, by the banks of the Bian River, in the city of Kaifeng:

A cold wind swept down from the north, freezing parts of the river’s windward surface, yet it could not freeze the prosperity and bustle within Bianliang City.

During the chaotic Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period, warlords vied for power, emperors and dynasties changed like a revolving lantern, each taking the stage in turn.

Except for the Later Tang, four successive dynasties—the Later Liang, Later Jin, Later Han, and Later Zhou—had all established their capitals here.

Now, the Great Song Dynasty had also made this its capital.

Fifteen years had passed since Lord Zhao ascended the throne as emperor. The realm showed signs of unification and social stability. Bianliang City grew increasingly vibrant.

“Yesterday’s solar eclipse nearly scared me to death! That celestial dog is truly bold—biting the sun piece by piece in broad daylight until the sky turned dark! If not for the people’s desperate shouting, beating drums and gongs to drive it away, forcing it to spit the sun back out, I fear we wouldn’t survive!”

Within a teahouse facing the street in Bianliang, people spoke of the event with lingering fear.

Many voiced agreement: one said without the sun, crops couldn’t grow, everyone would starve. Another said without sunlight, they’d have to light lamps constantly, wasting oil and money. Apart from officials and nobility, everyone else would live in darkness...

“You don’t know a thing! The celestial dog’s eclipse was just right, perfect! In my eyes, it was the best omen!”

A loud voice rose, silencing the crowd’s chatter.

At first, many felt anger welling up and turned to curse.

But upon seeing the speaker—a tall man standing bare-chested in the biting cold, his furry chest exposed—they swallowed their words.

“There cannot be two suns in the sky, nor two rulers over the realm. Now that our armies are attacking the Southern Tang, I see this eclipse as a portent that the southern Tang will soon be destroyed!”

As he spoke, a group hurried past.

Leading them was a young man on horseback, looking no more than twenty, clad in official robes.

Those knowledgeable immediately fell silent.

For this youth was dressed as a military governor!

Behind him followed twenty guards armed with swords and spears.

Behind the young governor’s horse-drawn carriage, the curtain was pulled back to reveal a poor, plainly dressed youth, gazing curiously at the passing scenery as if admiring ancient relics...

“Who is that man? Such an imposing presence!”

Once the group had passed and the teahouse quieted, the noise gradually resumed.

“Don’t understand, do you?”

Someone dragged out the words, acting as if everything was under control.

Drawing enough attention, and after repeated urging, one finally lowered his voice, full of mystery:

“So young, yet dressed as a military governor—who else could he be but the emperor’s own son?”

“Old Third, your insight is remarkable!”

The crowd praised him, and the speaker, now more spirited, took a satisfying sip of tea.

***

“But... who is that inside the carriage? Judging by his clothes, he’s no wealthy man. Yet he rides alongside such a figure?”

A question was raised.

In times past, the crowd would have speculated loudly.

But now, with such high-ranking persons involved, no one dared speak carelessly...

Ignoring the bustling city around them and the gossip their group would stir, the young military governor, Zhao Dezhao, led his entourage straight toward the imperial city, moving with urgency.

They halted only before the city gates.

Twenty guards stayed outside, while Zhao Dezhao took the youth who had jumped down from the carriage and approached the palace gates, producing a tally for the palace guards to verify.

After considerable effort, they passed through the heavy palace restrictions and advanced deeper into the imperial city.

The youth, of course, had no tally, but since Zhao Dezhao escorted him, the guards offered no resistance.

“Wait here while I see Father. Do not wander.”

Hearing this sincere instruction from Zhao Dezhao, the youth, who was curiously examining the palace, twitched his face.

It was clear he wanted to speak but held back, simply nodding to acknowledge.

A eunuch nearby intended to reprimand the youth for disrespect, but seeing Zhao Dezhao’s indifferent nod, he quickly headed toward the imperial gardens, suppressing his impulse.

Curiosity about the plainly dressed youth grew, and the eunuch cautiously observed him.

Secretly, the youth—who had bought several oranges for Zhao Dezhao and even planted a hundred or so orange trees—cast a glance at the eunuch before returning his gaze to the ancient, elegant imperial city.

The Great Song imperial city was far grander than the Qingming Riverside Scene he had seen before.

Indeed, he was a time traveler named Li Cheng.

Just over a month ago, he woke up to find the sky had fallen—he had traveled through time!

Moreover, he had landed in the early Song Dynasty, during Zhao Kuangyin’s reign, a period rarely visited in time-travel novels.

His new identity was miserable: an orphan from a poor family, barely scraping by.

According to his knowledge, his family had once been wealthy. His parents had left considerable property, entrusted to his third uncle.

But how could a child of eight or nine guard a family fortune?

Naturally, it was all devoured.

Life grew increasingly bleak.

Five years later, he froze to death in a cattle pen.

Then Li Cheng arrived.

After many attempts and realizing he could not return to his own time, he gradually accepted his fate and planned to survive in this era.

Although the weak Song history was somewhat frustrating and featured stories of brotherly loyalty, it was relatively stable overall.

At least the Bianliang area was stable and prosperous.

With his skills, he could live comfortably.

As for the donkey-cart warlord’s series of misdeeds and his brotherly bonds with Zhao Kuangyin, Li Cheng had no interest in getting involved.

***

In his previous life, he had few desires; the same held true now.

Who ruled as emperor mattered little—he only wished to live well.

But some people would not let him be.

He had barely earned some money and painstakingly created some perfume, hoping to make a profit, buy land, marry a beautiful wife, and live a peaceful, prosperous life.

Yet on the very day, someone targeted him.

The man behind it was powerful—the steward of Prince Zhao Guangyi, the future donkey-cart warlord.

They aimed to seize his formula and strip him clean.

Already frustrated by being thrown into the early Song period with no modern conveniences—no phones, computers, internet, soda, or air conditioning—and suffering such a pitiful start, Li Cheng finally exploded.

Now, the steward of the donkey-cart warlord also bullied him!

Was there justice? Law?

So Li Cheng decided to bet everything, to play big.

By chance, he met Zhao Dezhao entering the capital and volunteered to stop him, revealing his identity as a time traveler.

Using various means, he convinced Zhao Dezhao and persuaded him to take him to see Zhao Kuangyin.

Li Cheng planned to expose the donkey-cart warlord’s deeds and the chaos that would follow his rise to emperor—ruining generations—directly to Zhao Kuangyin!

If they wouldn’t let him live, then no one would!

He believed that once Zhao Kuangyin learned of his time-travel identity, he would be greatly interested and would question him.

Then, it would be time to watch the brotherly loyalty turn into a bloodbath!

...

“Father, on my return outside Kaifeng, I met a strange man. He comes from over a thousand years in the future...”

Within the imperial gardens, Zhao Dezhao greeted his father respectfully, asked the attendants to withdraw, then eagerly spoke.

Zhao Kuangyin, jade axe hanging from his right waist and a sling in hand, had initially looked solemn upon seeing his son return, as though about to reveal something important.

Interest stirred within him.

But after hearing his son’s words, that expectation vanished, and his already dark face darkened further.

“Where is this man?”

“Father, he waits just outside the gardens,” Zhao Dezhao said, excited and impatient. “I will have him brought in immediately!”

Immersed in the joy of encountering such a rare person who could ease his burdens, and seeing his father’s inscrutable expression, Zhao Dezhao failed to notice the displeasure rising in his father’s heart.

As he spoke, he began to turn and step out of the garden to bring the stranger before his father.

“No need. Have him killed!”