The Substitute Prince: Scheming for Power in the Capital

Political intrigue + two equally matched leads + stand-in + comeback

To stay alive, the streetwise Shen An became a stand-in for Xiao Pingsheng, the frail heir to a marquis, and plunged headfirst into the maelstrom of the capital.

He had planned to cling to the benevolent eldest prince, only to despair when he realized that kindness could not rein in wolves and tigers, while the ruthless second brother was no worthy ruler either.

Then the third prince, long rumored to have grown up among commoners, returned to the palace. Amid the throng of officials, Shen An saw his face and was struck dumb with terror.

That night, the heir who had hidden his identity for years cornered Shen An in a secret chamber, a jade token steady in his hand.

“Anyone who sees through both my identities is either my most trusted confidant or a dead man.”

“The road ahead is strewn with corpses and blood. I need an ally who knows me inside out and fears nothing.”

“Shen An, do you want the merit of helping me claim the throne, or would you rather become another pile of bones?”