Reborn as Li Chengqian, I Keep My Head Down Until Li Shimin Dies

Reborn as Li Chengqian, the Tang dynasty's doomed crown prince, who historically rebelled and was deposed before dying in disgrace, he starts in hell mode: his father is Li Shimin, an emperor of the ages who is suspicious, ruthless, and seemingly immortal; his younger brother Li Tai is eyeing the throne, and the entire court is full of spies watching him. The original Li Chengqian had a leg ailment and an inferiority complex, kept male favorites, adopted Turkic customs, and plotted rebellion. Every one of these is a path to death.

While everyone else schemes for power, making careful moves at every turn, I just want to keep my head down and stay alive.

I immediately put an end to every self-destructive habit, distance myself from my male favorites, abandon foreign customs, and refuse to form factions, hoard power, or show ambition. On the outside, I'm meek and utterly filial. On the inside, I lie flat, take everything as it comes, and have no ambitions at all. I play the "harmless crown prince" to perfection.

Li Tai lets his ambitions spiral and brings about his own downfall, while the court officials and my maternal uncles naturally take my side. All I have to do is wait for Li Shimin to die.

Don't compete, don't struggle, don't rebel. Keep your head down until the end, and you've won. When the day comes for me to ascend the throne, I'll eliminate the threat posed by the Wu clan, take control of the Great Tang, and become a peaceful emperor who wins the world by lying flat.