Changle

The East Palace was called Changle. It was the Crown Prince's residence, a splendid pavilion for the Heir Apparent.

As was customary, the Crown Prince also had a staff of civil officials to handle some of the state's affairs.

Sharing the country's burdens was part of the Heir Apparent's duty.

Jiang Wuliang, for instance, had once even taken a direct hand in governing and made his moves across All-Under-Heaven City.

The Administration Hall, the Military Affairs Hall—all matters of state had to pass through him. During the struggle between Qi and Xia, his views had even clashed with the Qi Emperor's, and the debate over whether to wage war or seek peace had reached an impasse in court and throughout the land...

Of course, everyone knew how it had ended.

But the current Crown Prince, Jiang Wuhua, was naturally indolent and unlike those who came before him. He avoided anything he could, refused to touch matters that didn't fall under the East Palace's purview, and never handled anything ambiguous. Only when the Qi Emperor forced state affairs upon him did he reluctantly pinch his nose and deal with them. He handled everything quite well, but with so few duties and so little responsibility, he had earned no notable merit.

The entire East Palace was just like him. From one year's end to the next, it barely handled a handful of serious matters. He was arguably the least conspicuous Crown Prince since Qi's founding.

No wonder his younger siblings had all risen up, one after another vying with him for the throne. Jiang Wuyou, Jiang Wuxie, Jiang Wuqi—which of them wasn't an outstanding talent? They had both ability and cunning, and each had powerful backing.

As for Crown Prince Jiang Wuhua, neither his talent, his gifts, nor his conduct stood out