The Ming Dynasty’s Sharpest Critic

Zhang Weiying, the eldest legitimate son of Zhang Zhiji, Duke of Britain.

After a serious illness, his temperament changed completely. The once-gentle young nobleman became Beijing's notorious “Little Devil”:

Sharp-tongued: He picks fights with everyone, from the emperor's father-in-law to the chief grand secretary, from his own father to the emperor. His one ridiculous argument after another leaves people fuming, yet unable to refute him.

A born clown: He attends banquets in an apron, gives tortoises as birthday gifts, and climbs over the wall into the Jiaofang Bureau. He commits one absurd act after another, yet somehow always gets the right result by accident.

Full of twisted logic: “The less you amount to, the longer you'll live.” “Honest officials don't accept valuable gifts, so I gave him a tortoise.” Beneath his nonsense lies a clear-eyed understanding of the world.

Outrageous in his ways: On the surface, he's the capital's most notorious wastrel, but he cares deeply about the realm. Saving songstresses, protecting loyal officials, raising military funds, and fighting corrupt power brokers: behind his carefree mask, every absurd escapade hides a purpose.

He's the least dependable son of a noble house, yet the most clear-eyed observer of the dying age. While everyone else is still pretending all is well, he has already seen the truth: the realm is about to descend into chaos.