As the Prince of Wu in the Tang Dynasty, Li Ke has been burdened since childhood by his ties to the previous dynasty, leaving him a marginal prince in the struggle for the throne.
A man of both letters and arms, he has great ambitions but must tread carefully. Caught between Crown Prince Li Chengqian and Prince of Wei Li Tai as they vie for power, he struggles to survive, with no way to realize his aspirations.
Just as he believes he is destined to remain obscure for the rest of his life, he unexpectedly binds himself to the “Imperial Strategy System,” completely changing the course of his life.
The ability to remember everything he sees lets him read widely and rapidly expand his knowledge. His knack for reading people helps him see through schemes and avoid traps in the treacherous court.
Facing his father, Emperor Li Shimin, and his scrutiny and tests, Li Ke presents a sound plan for water transport and uses his rewards to aid disaster victims, gradually overcoming his father’s prejudice and earning his trust. When the Crown Prince and Prince of Wei grow suspicious and try to suppress him, he responds with exceptional cunning and the System’s assistance, steadily building his strength with every clash.
From an overlooked prince to a pivotal figure stirring up the court, from cautious, patient concealment to a forceful rise that reveals his true abilities, Li Ke writes his own legend on the stage of the prosperous Zhenguan era.
Can he break free of the constraints of his bloodline and emerge victorious in the struggle for the throne? How will he usher in a new chapter for the Tang Dynasty? A grand tale of political intrigue, growth, and a rise against the odds is slowly unfolding in the Zhenguan era.
