The Ruins of the Scepter

Era: The middle period of the fictional Great Zhao Dynasty, an alternate setting combining institutions reminiscent of the Tang and Ming dynasties Core conflict: The century-old system of “rule by three ministers” has reduced imperial authority to a figurehead, while the new emperor seeks to break the balance and reclaim real power Key image: The “shadow edict,” a dual-track political system in which official decrees and their actual implementation are completely disconnected