Wu Junzheng

Biodata

Power Progression

Background / History

Previous Life

Wu Junzheng lived as the eldest imperial prince for sixteen years and believed the Crown Prince position was effectively his. Emperor Zhou favored him as a successor, and he wanted to become a good elder brother to the other imperial children. Wu Junji’s return from life as a beggar displaced him from that position, planting the resentment that drove their rivalry 50.

Their conflict extended beyond court arguments. Wu Junzheng planted Eunuch Rulan beside Wu Junji as a spy. In another confrontation, Wu Junzheng lost only three followers while Wu Junji lost fields, shops, and people accumulated over five years; Emperor Zhou’s intervention protected Wu Junzheng from the accounting his brother demanded 37 47.

His advancement to flood dragon fortune changed his understanding of the succession. He learned that none of the imperial children born during Wu Junji’s sixteen-year absence possessed flood dragon fortune, and that Master Tianxuan had identified Wu Junji as the means of saving Great Zhou from collapse 19 50.

Wu Junji’s eventual rise left him deeply afraid of his elder brother. He remembered Wu Junji overthrowing the eighth prince, becoming Emperor Zhongzu, and subjecting his brothers to flaying or use as living sacrifice pillars. Wu Junzheng entered his new life wanting to strike first, but unable to overcome that fear 17.

Birth and Changed Succession

Consort Dong gave birth to Wu Junzheng at noon, and he was reported healthy. He was initially treated as the eldest prince while Wu Junji remained outside the imperial palace 1 2.

Emperor Zhou later established that Wu Junji had been born earlier. Wu Junzheng consequently became the Second Prince, while Wu Junji was invested as Crown Prince. The Retired Emperor and Empress Dowager nevertheless continued to favor Wu Junzheng 5 6 14.

Appearance

• Sturdy constitution: Healthy, strong, and physically more robust than the prematurely born Wu Junji 6 10 22.
• “Little tiger” image: Emperor Zhou and the palace consorts repeatedly describe him as a sturdy little tiger; his grandparents praise his resemblance to the emperor’s bearing 10 14 22.
• Sensitive to comparisons: He resents receiving praise chiefly for his strength while Wu Junji is admired for delicate features and beauty 22.

Personality

Wu Junzheng is proud of his royal standing and bitter about losing the succession position he once regarded as his own. His jealousy centers as much on Emperor Zhou’s affection as on the throne: he cannot understand why their father keeps Wu Junji constantly beside him while treating him differently 22 50.

His hostility coexists with intense fear and reluctant admiration. He regards Wu Junji as an exceptionally dangerous schemer, considers Chen Yu the only person capable of matching him, and repeatedly abandons defiance when confronted by his brother’s authority 17 29.

At Jixia Academy, that rivalry becomes unexpectedly protective. Watching Wu Junji endure degradation shatters his image of an invincible elder brother. He attacks the demons, restores Wu Junji’s clothing and hair, and later admits to himself that he does not want to see him reduced to something lowly—even while refusing to concede defeat 28 50.

He also restrains himself out of affection for Consort Dong. Although frustrated by her innocent understanding of palace politics, he remembers her spending much of her previous life struggling for him and dying miserably 22.

Abilities & Skills

False Flood Dragon Fortune

Wu Junzheng manifests a red false flood dragon and controls fortune with the familiarity retained from his previous life 28 31.

• Mass suppression: Forces all thirty-one demons in the Zhou quarters to reveal their true forms 28.
• Combat: Launches the dragon against Lang Xi while demanding Wu Junji’s release 31.
• Limits: Most demons struck at the academy suffer only light injuries and revert to the Demon Spirit Stage. His fortune can frighten or force those spirits to kneel, but cannot inflict further injury on them 30.
• Vulnerability: The demon heirs repeatedly shatter his dragon during their attack 31.

Heavenly Eye

• Sees that many residents of Jixia Academy are demons rather than ordinary humans 27.

Retained Memories and Imperial Knowledge

• Uses previous-life experience to wield fortune without relearning its control 28.
• Remembers the expected births of his younger brothers and worries that Wu Junji may prevent them 22.
• Identifies the Deputy Imperial Seal and explains that it carries authority equivalent to the Jade Seal 42.
• Recognizes how Wu Junji manipulates the academy’s rules to make the demon heirs justify killing their own kind 33.

Equipment / Items

• Dong Family Red Cord — A maternal family heirloom said to have been blessed at the Great Light Sound Temple. Wu Junzheng initially seeks it while considering a preemptive attack on Wu Junji. His uncles had supplied it in his previous life for secretly harming Emperor Zhou; in the current life, he burns the cord that could be used to curse Wu Junji 22 50.

Relationships

• Wu Junji — Elder brother, Crown Prince, and former succession rival. Wu Junzheng fears his cruelty and envies his position, yet repeatedly protects him at Jixia Academy and increasingly acknowledges his abilities 17 28 31 50.
• Emperor Zhou / Wu Bing — Father. Favored Wu Junzheng as a successor in the previous life; his present affection for Wu Junji becomes a major source of jealousy 22 37 50.
• Consort Dong — Mother. Proud of his health and strength, but often fails to understand his fears about Wu Junji and the academies. He remembers her sacrifices for him and suppresses his anger toward her 22 50.
• Retired Emperor — Paternal grandfather and principal supporter. Celebrates his false flood dragon fortune and regards him as the proper successor, but also strikes him for remarking on Emperor Zhou’s severed-tail dragon 15 16 18.
• Empress Dowager — Paternal grandmother. Favors him over Wu Junji and enjoys his affectionate gestures, including picking flowers for her 9 14.
• Chen Yu — Potential ally whom Wu Junzheng considers capable of matching Wu Junji. Later suspects him of abandoning or scheming against the Crown Prince 17 28.
• Unnamed summoned general — Taken captive at Jixia Academy. Wu Junzheng seeks help recovering them and rejects Ruan Yuan’s claim that they were merely invited away 29 35.
• Eunuch Rulan — Spy placed beside Wu Junji during the previous life 47.

Story Role / Major Arcs

General Summoning

Wu Junzheng initially appears triumphant after receiving false flood dragon fortune. He urges the Retired Emperor to leave before Wu Junji can undergo his own ceremony, then reluctantly agrees that his elder brother may try. Wu Junji’s manifestation of Human Emperor fortune overturns his advantage, and the officials redirect their support to the Crown Prince 16 17 18 19.

Jixia Academy

Despite fearing attendance alongside Wu Junji, Wu Junzheng follows him into the Zhou dormitories. The demons’ abuse provokes him to attack the cook and suppress the dormitory’s thirty-one demons. After his summoned general is seized, he joins Wu Junji against the academy and helps grind ink while his brother writes the Peaceful People’s Encyclopedia 22 27 28 29 30.

He continues defending Wu Junji during the demon heirs’ attack, but becomes a hostage in his brother’s bargain with them. He then watches in horror as Wu Junji turns the heirs into executioners 31 33.

When Emperor Zhou arrives, Wu Junzheng confirms that Wu Junji was given watery porridge and insulted as a bastard. The emperor’s tenderness toward the Crown Prince afterward again leaves him envious 36 37.

Minglu Academy

At the Retired Emperor’s insistence, Emperor Zhou sends Wu Junzheng to Minglu Academy after Wu Junji. He regards the academy as another potential trap and protests having to follow his brother everywhere. During this period, he destroys the Red Cord rather than using it against Wu Junji 50.

Notable Quotes

“Mother, how am I any worse than Wu Junji?!” 22

“Where’s that overwhelming presence you crushed me with in your last life?!” 28

“Who are you trying to fool with those honeyed words?! My summoned general was trussed up and dragged away! Is that what you call an invitation?!” 35