Warm Jade Water Pavilion

Looking across all the Qi Emperor's children.

The Crown Prince, Jiang Wuhua, was out of the question.

Over the years, no matter how the winds and clouds shifted in Linzi City, His Highness the Crown Prince had hardly ever shown his face.

The Deposed Crown Prince, Jiang Wuliang, was imprisoned in Blue Stone Palace. The Qi Emperor would not let him take a single step outside.

Jiang Wuhua, on the other hand, seemed to have imprisoned himself. Apart from the necessary seasonal rites and paying his respects at the palace, he spent almost the entire year inside Changle Palace. Every day, he cooked, tended flowers and plants, read, and painted...

Just like his name, he showed not the slightest trace of ostentation.

Nor was he anything like his younger brothers and sisters, who ran all over the world.

Those outstanding younger siblings worked to build up their influence everywhere, striving to claim the position of Heir Apparent. He, meanwhile, remained as steady as the Eight Winds, making himself as inconspicuous as possible... because he already held the position. He was Great Qi's Heir Apparent.

If the Qi Emperor were to meet with some mishap right now, he would be the undisputed successor to this vast empire.

To say nothing of the fact that Jiang Wang did not know the Great Qi Crown Prince. Even if he found a chance to meet him, Jiang Wuhua would never act on his behalf. His Highness the Crown Prince would rather hide away in the East Palace, where no one would bother him; he certainly would not go stirring up trouble in the Near-Sea Archipelago.

Among the princes and princesses below him, those qualified to speak for Qi State to some degree included:

The Third Imperial Princess, Huaying Palace Mistress Jiang Wuyou, had made