White Banner

In the Spring and Autumn era, ritual collapses in silence, and a killer need not wield a sword. Prince Jizi of Wei is only eleven and has yet to truly take power, yet a white banner has already left the city in his name. Nine carts of military provisions are diverted, and seventeen Xing captives are about to die under an “order from the Eastern Palace.” Forged documents, genuine seals, and a succession of silent witnesses all point the blame at the Crown Prince’s residence. To save lives and clear the Crown Prince’s name, Jizi has no choice but to enter the perilous game of power deep within the Wei palace. He gradually realizes that perhaps only the white banner is false. What can truly command officials, mobilize war chariots, and decide life and death is the title of Crown Prince itself. The Marquis of Wei’s silence, the royal clan’s watchful eyes, the ministers’ choices, and the alliance between Qi and Wei all force the boy to make a decision: protect his spotless reputation, or take responsibility for a calamity he did not cause with his own hands? From the palaces of Diqiu to the lords’ summit, from the white banner at the ancestral temple to the snow and wind along the Qi River, this is the story of a young crown prince learning to wield power amid ritual, conspiracy, and human lives, even as power drives him toward his fate.