Comparing Two Tang Dynasties: What the Hell Is Immortal Emperor Li Shimin?

In the tenth year of the Zhenguan era, Empress Zhangsun is critically ill. Crown Prince Li Chengqian is gradually falling out of favor because of his leg condition, while Prince Wei Li Tai is consumed by ambition. Currents of intrigue swirl beneath the surface of the Tang imperial court. Just as Li Shimin stands beside his wife’s sickbed, his heart torn with anguish, a sky screen blots out the heavens and descends upon Chang’an, forcibly launching a live comparison between two Tang dynasties! The sky screen shows a parallel world utterly unlike their own: the Immortal Tang. The officials and rulers of the original Tang are utterly shaken by what they see, and Li Shimin bursts into tears on the spot. In the original world, Crown Prince Li Chengqian stages a rebellion despite his limp and dies miserably in exile. In the Immortal Tang, the Crown Prince has his meridians cleansed and his body remade, becoming a white-robed sword immortal. To avoid becoming emperor, he flees on his flying sword in the dead of night: “Father, reviewing memorials really slows down my sword-drawing speed!” In the original world, Prince Wei Li Tai swears a vicious oath to kill his son and pass the throne to his younger brother in his bid for the crown. In the Immortal Tang, he is obsessed with smithing and crafting artifacts, and regards the throne as worthless. The brothers even fight each other with magic in open court to avoid becoming Crown Prince. In the original world, Princess Changle dies young from asthma, and little Xizi dies at twelve, becoming a lifelong sorrow for the emperor and empress. In the Immortal Tang, Princess Changle awakens a water spirit root and becomes a rain-bringing goddess who blesses all living things. Little Xizi rides the guardian beast of the nation like a dog, and lives for ten thousand years! Watching this immortal Tang ascend as a nation, free of kin slaughter and filled only with loving fathers and filial children, Li Shimin of the original world kicks over the throne. What good is this throne anyway? I want to cultivate immortality too! I want to lead the Tang through a new beginning!