Xiao Shiyu, the ninth prince of the Jing Dynasty, is twenty years old and holds the title Prince Yubei. Cool and reserved, with a striking bearing, he is like a solitary piece of jade in a cold pool, keeping his edge hidden beneath the turbulent surface of court politics. Yet as a son of the imperial house, his fate is not his to choose. Though he has no desire to contend for the throne, he is still swept into the heart of a maelstrom of fraternal strife and powerful clans vying for influence.
Shangguan Rongchao, the Chancellor’s legitimate daughter and his childhood companion, is the only moonlight in his heart. But she must wait until the day he rules the empire before she can wear the phoenix crown and take her rightful place as empress.
An emperor’s intentions are impossible to fathom. One imperial decree brings Yun Ruozhao, the neighboring kingdom’s eldest princess, through the gates of his residence. It is a political marriage, and the beginning of a storm. The Minister of Revenue stages a calculated beauty trap, sending his legitimate daughter Shen Ruoyan into the prince’s household as a spy. Yet she finds herself falling for him, walking a razor’s edge between loyalty and love.
On a northern campaign against the Yun Kingdom, he is ambushed on the battlefield and barely survives. He endures every humiliation in enemy territory, yet wins the heart of Yun Ruojin, the kingdom’s most revered ninth princess. A bargain concerning both the realm and their own fates is quietly struck…
Meanwhile, his tenth brother, Xiao Shisheng, dreams only of a carefree life, but is forced into the game when he is granted a princely title and ordered to take a wife. Shen Ruoyu, the Minister’s illegitimate daughter, enters his household, bringing unforeseen complications to this well-matched couple.
In this game of strategy with the realm itself at stake, how will Xiao Shiyu plan each move and navigate the tangled web of brothers, court officials, enemy kingdoms, and the women who love him? Within the imperial palace, can his mother, the consort estranged from the emperor, resolve the bitterness between them before fate reaches its end?
See how Prince Yubei makes the first move amid schemes, true affection, loyalty to the realm, and old grudges. From a prince under constant suspicion, he will ultimately master the game, answer the Mandate of Heaven, ascend the throne, and write an enduring legend of an emperor all his own.
The author wrote a very good group drama. It is very suitable for TV dramas. But the emperor was written too fast after 3 years. It suddenly jumped to 10 years. I need to write more. I feel that the second part of the story can be started. It was written in the introduction that I thought the emperor would be able to conquer the world. Overall It's wonderfully written. The first story has full characters. There are some small flaws in the language and logic, but the flaws are definitely outweighed.
Very logical. The logic of male and female protagonists is online. Double strong text!