Who Let Him Become Emperor?!

In the fourth year of the Zhengde era, twelve years remain before Jiajing takes the throne.

Zhu Shou appears to be a wise and enlightened emperor, but in truth, he's just a pawn controlled by Yang Tinghe.

He wants to stay alive, live off his status as emperor, and do nothing, and he's even considered fighting back. But when he angers the mastermind behind the scenes, they retaliate.

That lesson marks the beginning of his efforts to take control of the Ming Empire. The inner court and the ministers are all his chess pieces, and he leads them into the surging current of history.

Wang Yangming, the tacit partner he befriends.

Yang Tinghe, the imperial tutor who wants to make a name for himself.

Liu Jin, who wants to become the power behind the throne.

Li Dongyang, who relies on cunning and tact to get by.

Wang Ao, stubborn and determined to keep his integrity.

Yang Tinghe can't take it anymore and wants to bring him down!

But it's easy to invite the gods in and hard to send them away.

Once he has ascended the throne, a hero's origins don't matter.

The ministers: “We agreed to do this together. Why has Your Majesty changed?”

Zhu Houzhao: “I've always been like this.”

The dissatisfied crowd: “Who let him become emperor?”

The tides of history keep crashing against him, threatening to swallow him up and change him at any moment...

Zhu Houzhao goes from cautious and careful to forging ahead boldly. He will accomplish the great deeds the Zhengde era never managed.