Prince Jiujiang

Biodata

Feature	Details
Name	Prince Jiujiang (九江王)
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Prince Jiujiang's Estate; Jiujiang Prefecture
Occupation/Role	Powerful feudal prince and ruler of Jiujiang Prefecture
Status	Alive, as of Chapter 254 254
First Appearance	Chapter 38 38

Background / History

The Jiujiang princely line originated with Emperor Taizong's eldest son, who was initially favored for the succession but lost his expected position when the Empress bore a legitimate son. To compensate him, Emperor Taizong granted the branch the prosperous Jiangnan fief, authority over local appointments and industries, and a private army; the arrangement effectively made the estate a state within a state. 52

The current Prince Jiujiang rules the most powerful feudal domain in Great Xi. His estate controls much of Jiangnan and commands an army of two hundred thousand, making the imperial court reluctant to punish its members even after the True and False Crown Prince Case implicated his heir's household. 48

He has long harbored ambitions of taking the throne but has delayed open rebellion while maintaining a balance with the court. Years earlier, Abbot Xuanqing told him that one of his descendants possessed an extraordinarily noble fate—a statement Prince Jiujiang interpreted as implying that his descendants, rather than he himself, might ultimately rise to the throne. 163

Appearance

Prince Jiujiang carries himself with the bearing of a ruler: he enters with the gait of a dragon and tiger, surrounded by attendants, and commands overwhelming majesty. 164

• Hawk-like, oppressive gaze when interrogating or disciplining his sons. 240
• Tiger-like eyes that reveal grief beneath his composed public exterior. 247
• Wears rare Moonshadow Gauze, a costly fabric reserved for favored members of the princely household. 236

Personality

Prince Jiujiang is ambitious, proud, and deeply unwilling to accept that Heaven's mandate may belong to someone else. Although he has spent years preparing to contend for the realm, the emergence of both Xiao Qianyu and Xiao Qianyì as possible children of destiny unsettles his confidence and provokes intense killing intent. 165 169

He is politically cautious despite his ruthlessness. He suppresses rumors through executions, conceals sensitive information even from his own sons, and avoids killing Xuanqing when doing so could destabilize Jiujiang Prefecture. 168 252

His treatment of family is pragmatic and conditional. He values capable sons, punishes wrongdoing harshly, and protects useful relatives, but repeatedly places the estate's stability and his personal ambition above affection. 240 242 247

Abilities & Skills

Political and Strategic Leadership

Prince Jiujiang governs Jiujiang Prefecture as an autonomous power center and plans his actions around both military strength and political legitimacy.

• Built and maintains a princely palace that functions as a miniature imperial court, with civil and military officials serving beneath him. 164
• Intended to use Xiao Qianyu's execution as a pretext to raise troops under the slogan of purging the emperor's side and avenging a wrongfully killed Crown Prince. 168
• Publicly acknowledges the Crown Prince when necessary to stabilize the estate and gain leverage over the capital's intelligence network. 248
• Uses Xiao Qianyì's recognition to set his sons against one another, hoping internal competition will temper a worthy successor. 254

Military Command

He commands substantial military resources and responds personally to threats against his fief.

• Controls an army of two hundred thousand through Prince Jiujiang's Estate. 48
• Orders scouts and General Feng to respond immediately when Spirit Creek Town is seized. 240
• Treats Spirit Creek Town as strategically vital because of its grain production, military granary, and defensible terrain. 240
• Maintains secret weapon production through an iron mine known to fewer than five people in the estate. 251

Intelligence and Internal Control

Prince Jiujiang relies on covert networks, trusted advisers, and severe punishments to preserve control.

• Operates covert agents and intelligence strongholds in the capital, including the Inkfeather Division. 168 220
• Entrusts his most sensitive discussions to Advisers Xin and Li, whose families and ambitions are bound to his rule. 168
• Orders executions of palace servants to suppress news of the Buddha statue revealed by the collapsed rockery. 168
• Establishes checkpoints and conducts sweeping investigations into spies and rumor-mongers after unrest in Jiujiang Prefecture. 242

Ruthless Discipline

Prince Jiujiang punishes challenges to his authority without sentimentality.

• Forces Xiao Ye to choose between a Child-Severing Pill and a Life-Ending Elixir after Xiao Ye's role in the Three-Step Snake incident; Xiao Ye chooses to end his branch's succession. 242
• Has Xiao Jiang's birth mother killed when she attempts to avenge her son's death without permission. 242
• Considers killing Xiao Qianyì whenever the latter's identity, forces, or prophetic status threaten the estate. 239 251

Relationships

• Xiao Jing / Prince Jiujiang's Heir — His eldest son and heir, stationed in the capital as a hostage for many years. Their relationship is marked by distrust: Prince Jiujiang repeatedly withholds authority from him, while Xiao Jing resents being sidelined. 163 220 221
• Xiao Qianyu — Xiao Jing claims Xiao Qianyu is his biological son and thus Prince Jiujiang's grandson, but Prince Jiujiang remains doubtful of both the bloodline claim and Xiao Qianyu's intentions. Xiao Qianyu's destruction of the estate's capital network makes him a political threat. 168 247
• Xiao Qianyì / Xiao Yi — Recognized as Prince Jiujiang's legitimate eldest grandson after Xuanqing's pressure and political negotiation. Prince Jiujiang remains suspicious of him, but permits him to command eight thousand men at Spirit Creek Town. 253 254
• Xuanqing — Abbot-turned-rebel who presents the prophecy and extraterrestrial stone identifying Xiao Qianyì as a savior. Their relationship is a prolonged power struggle between Xuanqing's religious influence and Prince Jiujiang's authority. 165 252
• Adviser Xin and Adviser Li — His two most trusted advisers. They counsel caution regarding the competing claims of Heaven's mandate and assist him in evaluating threats to the estate. 168 169
• Xiao Feng — His favored second son, valued for competence and relied upon within the estate. Xiao Feng's death in the vassal lords' delegation attack deeply affects Prince Jiujiang. 168 231 247
• Xiao Ye — His sixth son, punished for manipulating Xiao Jiang into targeting Xiao Qianyì with a Three-Step Snake. Prince Jiujiang spares him but severs his line of succession. 240 242
• Xiao Jiang — His youngest son, whom Prince Jiujiang doted on for his perceived innocence. Xiao Jiang dies after personally releasing venomous snakes into Xiao Qianyì's courtyard. 241

Story Role / Major Arcs

The True and False Crown Prince Case

Prince Jiujiang's estate is connected to the switching of the imperial princes through Xiao Jing's schemes. The court avoids seriously punishing the family because Prince Jiujiang's military power makes the consequences of confrontation too dangerous. 38 48

He sees Xiao Qianyu's execution as the ideal justification for rebellion. His agents attempt to ensure Xiao Qianyu dies at the Execution Grounds through poisoned wine, arrows, and death warriors, but divine lightning destroys the assassins and ruins the plan. 168

The Two Grandsons and the Prophecy

Xuanqing brings Xiao Qianyì to Jiujiang Prefecture, claiming that he is Prince Jiujiang's legitimate grandson and the savior foretold by an extraterrestrial stone. Prince Jiujiang investigates the evidence but refuses immediate acknowledgment, fearing manipulation and the loss of his own claim to the throne. 165 167

After a rockery collapse reveals a Buddha statue inscribed with “Heaven's mandate lies here—protect him, bless him,” Prince Jiujiang permits Xiao Qianyì to remain in the estate while concealing the incident from the public. 167 168

Conflict Within the Princely Estate

The arrival of Xiao Qianyì intensifies the succession struggle among Prince Jiujiang's sons. Prince Jiujiang initially keeps Xiao Qianyì's identity uncertain, then later uses the recognized grandson as a common enemy to force his sons into competition. 168 254

After the Three-Step Snake incident kills Xiao Jiang and exposes Xiao Ye's involvement, Prince Jiujiang disciplines the household with executions, succession penalties, and a broad purge of rumor-spreaders and spies. 240 242

Compromise with Xiao Qianyì

When Xuanqing reveals Guardian Temple's deep influence in Jiujiang Prefecture and threatens wider unrest, Prince Jiujiang agrees to recognize Xiao Qianyì under conditions. Xiao Qianyì is entered into the family register and gains authority over the eight thousand men at Spirit Creek Town. 252 253 254

Prince Jiujiang accepts this compromise while secretly investigating Xiao Qianyì's forces, treating the new arrangement as a temporary retreat rather than surrender. 254

Trivia

• Prince Jiujiang's palace contains a Golden Throne Hall and operates like a smaller version of the imperial court. 164
• He has eight sons and six daughters; his heir remained in the capital for years, leaving the fief dominated by rival factions among his other sons. 163
• He regards the Jiujiang branch's private iron mine as one of the estate's greatest secrets. 251