Jiang Chengze

Biodata

Feature	Value
Name	Jiang Chengze (姜承泽)
Alias(es)	Crown Prince; “Brother Chengze” to Jiang Nuan 17 63
Gender	Male 17 240
Affiliation	Great Xia imperial family and court 17 173
Occupation/Role	Crown Prince and designated heir; entrusted with the imperial court during Jiang Yunsheng’s inspection tour 173 240
Family	Son of Emperor Jiang Yunsheng and Empress Xiao Xiao; elder brother of Jiang Nuan 17
Status	Alive in the altered timeline; his future joint rule with Cen Xue is described by the Heavenly Screen 241 249
First Appearance	First on-page appearance in the supplied excerpts: the family meal in Chapter 17; mentioned earlier as Jiang Nuan’s Crown Prince brother 7 17

Background / History

As Jiang Yunsheng’s eldest son, Jiang Chengze was designated heir from birth and raised under strict expectations. He regarded his father’s severity as a responsibility he had to bear as the future ruler. Their relationship consequently resembled that of sovereign and subject more than an affectionate father and son 17 18 240.

After Jiang Nuan was reunited with Xiao Xiao, Chengze encouraged her to call him “Brother” and offered her his hot-spring estate as a gift. During their family meal, he discovered that he could hear her unspoken thoughts and quickly accepted the phenomenon 17.

Fate in the Original Timeline

Jiang Nuan remembered that Chengze would be deposed three years later, imprisoned in the Prison of Zhao, and die there after falling ill. She initially planned to rescue him, Xiao Xiao, and Jiang Yehua before that future arrived 7.

Guagua later explained that Jiang Yunsheng’s Southern Frontier poisoning, harmful alchemical elixirs, and manipulation by self-serving advisers would worsen his health and temperament. Believing false accusations that Chengze intended to usurp the throne, the emperor would depose him and leave his prison illness untreated 18.

• The same climate of suspicion would enable Min Guangyao to frame Zhai Ruizhen as a member of the Crown Prince faction involved in a fabricated rebellion 144.
• These events belong to the original future, not Chengze’s documented circumstances in the altered timeline 18 173 240.

Appearance

• Handsome, with striking bearing: The Heavenly Screen describes Cen Xue as being dazzled by his appearance at their first meeting 248.
• Visibly tense around his father: Jiang Yunsheng’s arrival interrupts his relaxed family reunion and makes him noticeably stiff 17.

Personality

Chengze is dutiful without being particularly attached to the throne. He holds himself to the standards of a future sovereign because he was born into the role, not because he craves imperial power. When Jiang Yunsheng proposes making Jiang Nuan Crown Princess—the designated successor—Chengze sincerely supports the idea and offers to teach her 240.

With Jiang Nuan, he is generous, protective, and mischievous. He gives her valuable property and gold, but also enjoys teasing her into choosing which brother she likes best. His rivalry with Jiang Yehua centers on becoming her “best brother,” rather than competing for succession 52 53 94.

His protectiveness extends beyond gifts. He helps warn ministers against exploiting Jiang Nuan’s unusual abilities, prepares to search for Jiang Yehua when he fails to return from hunting, and becomes deeply troubled when Nuan refuses to see the family 53 95 239.

Abilities & Skills

Hearing Jiang Nuan’s Thoughts

• Discovers the ability during a meal when he hears Jiang Nuan’s assessment of Xiao Xiao’s cooking 17.
• Can also hear Guagua’s voice, allowing him to learn the causes of his original downfall 18.
• Continues to hear Jiang Nuan while she is physically invisible; her concealment does not prevent her thoughts from reaching him 173.
• The thought-leak is later identified as a system bug. Once it is corrected, Jiang Nuan gains control over whether her thoughts are broadcast 237.

Governance and Practical Judgment

• Works with Chi Hengji on snow-disaster relief, limiting losses in threatened villages 36.
• Responds to the revelation about dangerous elixirs by suggesting that visiting alchemists be summoned for questioning 18.
• Recognizes that Jiang Nuan’s improved iron could strengthen military weapons and promptly reports the discovery to the emperor 63.
• Receives responsibility for the imperial court during Jiang Yunsheng’s tour, with Chi Hengji assigned to assist him because he still lacks experience in some matters 173.

Hunting and Games

• Returns from a farmstead hunt with two wild pheasants and a rabbit 95.
• Takes over Jiang Nuan’s losing position at mahjong and wins repeatedly against the other players 94 95.

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• Hot-spring estate — Offered to Jiang Nuan during their family reunion 17.
• Gold ingots — Gives Jiang Nuan a pouch of gold as a shop-opening gift 52.
• Commercial properties — Owns numerous properties, including the shop adjoining Jiang Nuan’s business; gives her its deed to support expansion 52.
• Personal blade — His own blade is described as better made than the metal of Jiang Nuan’s improved pot, although her metal surpasses ordinary army weapons 63.
• Two improved kitchen knives — Takes them to Jiang Yunsheng as samples demonstrating the military value of Jiang Nuan’s iron-production method 63.

Relationships

• Jiang Nuan — Younger sister. He supports her businesses, protects her from opportunistic ministers, and competes affectionately for her attention. He accepts the possibility of her replacing him as heir and later asks for her help with governing when needed 52 53 240 241.
• Jiang Yunsheng — Father and sovereign. Their early relationship is formal and intimidating; foreknowledge exposes how manipulation could destroy it. In the altered timeline, the emperor entrusts Chengze with the court during his absence 17 18 173.
• Xiao Xiao — Mother. He dutifully eats her badly seasoned cooking for years before Jiang Nuan’s thoughts reveal the problem and prompt her apology 17.
• Jiang Yehua — Fourth Prince and brother. After learning of Yehua’s quiet support, including grain for disaster relief, Chengze investigates and confirms it. Their relationship grows closer, though they continue competing over gifts and attention for Nuan 38 52 94.
• Chi Hengji — Chancellor and trusted collaborator. Their disaster-relief work convinces Chengze of his loyalty; Chi later receives orders to support Chengze’s administration during the imperial tour 36 173.
• Cen Xue — Initially attracted to him, but unwilling to accept the polygamous marriage she assumes a Crown Prince would have. The Heavenly Screen later identifies her as his future empress and partner in government; Chengze promises to make that future real 166 248 249.

Story Role / Major Arcs

Arc	Chapters	Chengze’s involvement
Family reunion and forewarning	17 18	Welcomes Jiang Nuan as his sister, discovers her audible thoughts, and learns why his original future ends in imprisonment and death.
Supporting Nuan’s business	52 53	Supplies gold and an adjoining shop, renews his bond with Jiang Yehua, and helps shield Nuan from ministers seeking to use her.
Military modernization	63 64	Identifies the military applications of improved iron, promises Nuan fair compensation, and takes her to the army inspection. Nuan subsequently decides to entrust him with the saddle and horseshoe project.
Prince Xin’s succession delusion	133 137	His minor chill and absence while handling secret matters become exaggerated rumors that he is dying. Controlled intelligence encourages Prince Xin to mistake these reports for an opportunity to inherit the throne.
Managing the court	173	Remains responsible for central government while Jiang Yunsheng tours Great Xia, supported by Chi Hengji.
Nuan’s withdrawal and succession proposal	239 240 241	Tries to reach his distressed sister, supports her proposed appointment as heir, and accepts her refusal while asking for future assistance.
Future partnership with Cen Xue	248 249	Learns of their future marriage and joint rule through the Heavenly Screen, then takes her hand and pledges to fulfill that account.

Notable Quotes

“Why are you all looking at me? I have absolutely no objection to Nuannuan becoming the Crown Princess.” 240

“I'll make what the sky screen said come true.”
— To Cen Xue after hearing about their future joint rule 249

Trivia

• Enjoys fine tea; Jiang Nuan includes this preference when estimating the money needed for her original escape plan 7.
• Handles spicy hot pot well, unlike Jiang Yehua, who finds the heat more difficult 62.
• Reads Jiang Nuan’s melodramatic novel after hearing her thoughts about it, but finds its plot outrageous and unappealing 100.
• Still regrets Jiang Nuan’s refusal to become heir when the Heavenly Screen recounts the proposal, prompting her to reject the idea all over again 246.