A Lone Minister Enters the Game: Cutting Down Powerful Officials Step by Step

A lone scholar from humble origins is drawn into the game. The imperial power falls, and with one hand he turns the tide! Lin Chengdao, a scholar from a humble family and a rising star at the Hanlin Academy, should have had a smooth path to success. But because he befriended the wronged Crown Prince, the great clans see him as a thorn in their side. Overnight, he goes from a rising court official to a discarded pawn, forced to tread carefully as deadly traps close in at every turn. A new emperor ascends the throne, powerful ministers rule, imperial authority wanes, and the dynasty teeters on the brink! After the late emperor’s death, the Crown Prince finally takes the throne, only to discover that the court has long since been commandeered by powerful ministers. With his life and reign at stake, Emperor Xuanhe can only turn to his former close friend, Lin Chengdao. He is the only man in the realm bold enough to stand against the ministers in power! A battle of wits, every move fraught with peril! Break the deadlock with cunning and challenge fate with your life! Facing aristocratic clans with power enough to blot out the sky, Lin Chengdao makes himself a piece on the board, throws the court into turmoil, sows discord among the great families, turns enemies against one another, and strikes at the root of their power! His plans are flawless and his courage unmatched. Time and again, he turns the tables in the direst of situations! From discarded pawn to chief minister, from humble origins to a powerful official! See how, with unparalleled strategy, he helps Emperor Xuanhe reclaim his authority and writes an astonishing legend of a reversal of fortune in this treacherous court!