In the third year of Yong’an, Emperor Wu is growing old and intends to name an heir. Su Yang, heir to the Prince of Jiang, has little hope of succeeding him, but an unexpected victory in the Battle of Haizhou brings him to the emperor’s attention. The political situation is complicated, however, and forces from every side are stirring, making his path anything but smooth. There are countless hurdles on his way to becoming crown prince, but fortunately, he has the company of Lu Qi, the prime minister’s illegitimate daughter; Qing Wu, a princess of the Northern Di; his friend Shen Yao; and many others. Together, they weather one storm after another, until he finally gets his wish.
