Eighth Prince

Biodata

History

Rivalry with the Ninth Prince

Xie Tingchun's mother held a low rank, and he was regarded as a good-for-nothing prince. Nevertheless, he pursued the throne and saw the possible return of his younger brother, Xie Huizhou, to the palace as another threat in an already crowded succession struggle 3 6.

His hostility also stemmed from Consort Yu, whose influence had overshadowed his childhood. He feared that seeing her son might rekindle the emperor's affection for her and improve Xie Huizhou's standing. He proposed inviting his sickly younger brother to the Spring Hunt, where a fatal “accident” could be arranged 6 10 12.

Pursuit of Zhou Yanqing

Xie Tingchun targeted Zhou Yanqing, an examination candidate without powerful backing, and attempted to make him drink drugged wine. Xie Huizhou intervened and drank the wine himself, disrupting the encounter that was supposed to bring Zhou Yanqing and Fang Yuanke together 3 16.

At the Spring Hunt, Xie Tingchun asked Xie Huizhou to stop obstructing his pursuit. His confidence faltered when Xie Huizhou suggested that Zhou Yanqing might be the person Zhang Lanhe was searching for. Rather than risk competing with the Imperial Preceptor, he offered Zhou Yanqing's name to Zhang Lanhe in an attempt to gain favor 11 14.

Failed Spring Hunt Assassination

Despite his adviser's objections, Xie Tingchun ordered death-sworn retainers to kill Xie Huizhou in his tent, leave no evidence, and shift suspicion onto someone with a grudge against him. He specifically instructed them not to disturb Zhang Lanhe 10 15.

Xie Huizhou overheard the orders and turned the assassination into a public disaster. His forces created a wider disturbance and drove Xie Tingchun's guards toward Zhang Lanhe, who killed them. Reports that the apparently frail Ninth Prince had fought with extraordinary strength actually concerned a double, but Xie Tingchun and his advisers did not know this 15 19 44.

Meanwhile, the disguised Xie Huizhou claimed to be Xie Tingchun's Shadow Guard and devoted lover. Zhang Lanhe consequently demanded the prince's Shadow Guards. Xie Tingchun refused to expose his hidden forces, unintentionally convincing Zhang Lanhe that he was protecting a romantic partner 17 18 20.

Confinement and Political Decline

The emperor confined Xie Tingchun to his residence after the hunting-ground incident. Zhang Lanhe's retaliation and attacks from rival princes brought repeated impeachments, extended his punishment, and exposed earlier misdeeds. Some factions cut contact with him as rumors of his declining favor spread 21 23 24.

Under pressure from his advisers, Xie Tingchun finally presented his Shadow Guards for inspection. None was the youth Zhang Lanhe wanted. Zhang Lanhe realized that he had been manipulated into targeting the prince, while Xie Tingchun concluded that the entire search had been an excuse to torment him 24 25.

After identifying Xie Huizhou as the disguised youth, Zhang Lanhe continued targeting Xie Tingchun to protect him 27.

Exposure and Death

Once his confinement was lifted, Xie Tingchun discovered that Spring Studio Hermit's paintings exposed his affair with an imperial consort, preparations for rebellion, and spies planted around his brothers. He initially wanted the artist killed, but accepted his adviser's warning that an aggressive investigation might effectively confirm the allegations 43.

At the Qionglin Banquet, jealousy over Zhang Lanhe's support for Xie Huizhou and Zhou Yanqing's affection for him prompted another murder attempt. Ignoring his advisers, Xie Tingchun followed Xie Huizhou, intending to kill him and frame Zhou Yanqing so that he could exploit the scholar's imprisonment 44.

Xie Huizhou lured him to an abandoned lotus pond. Xie Tingchun tried to shove him into the water, but Xie Huizhou sidestepped, and the prince fell in instead. Unable to swim, he begged for rescue. Zhang Lanhe arrived, revealed signs of his snake-demon nature, and intervened as something beneath the water pulled Xie Tingchun down 45.

Consort Shu accused Xie Huizhou after the body was found. Zhang Lanhe supplied an alibi and manipulated witnesses' memories. Testimony that Xie Tingchun had entered the pond to retrieve an imperial consort's handkerchief threatened to expose a scandal, so the emperor closed the case as an accidental drowning and ordered a dignified funeral 46.

Personality

Xie Tingchun was ambitious, vindictive, and intensely jealous of his younger brother. He maintained a courteous façade while planning murder, resented public praise of Xie Huizhou, and feared being reduced to the same neglected position his brother had occupied 11 12 24.

His attraction to beauty extended to both men and women, but he particularly preyed on scholars without influence. His desire for Zhou Yanqing did not outweigh his fear of Zhang Lanhe: the possibility of competing with the Imperial Preceptor was enough to make him hesitate 10 11 24.

He repeatedly dismissed practical advice when angry. His advisers opposed both major assassination attempts, and his decision to undertake the second personally left them considering another lord to serve. Facing death, his bravado collapsed into pleas for his younger brother's help 10 44 45.

Resources and Methods

• Shadow Guards and death-sworn retainers — Secretly trained forces used for assassination. He treated them as a concealed trump card and initially refused Zhang Lanhe's demand to inspect them 15 20.
• Advisers and study companion — Assisted his succession ambitions, warned against reckless attacks, and negotiated his eventual concession to Zhang Lanhe 6 10 24.
• Informants — Maintained spies around his brothers and contacts within the palace 43 46.
• Political coercion — Used his rank to pressure vulnerable scholars into attending his hunt and to pursue Zhou Yanqing 3 10.
• Assassination and framing — Favored direct attacks followed by shifting blame, including plans to implicate an existing enemy of Xie Huizhou or Zhou Yanqing 15 44.

Relationships

• Xie Huizhou — Younger brother and intended assassination victim. Their outwardly cordial exchanges concealed longstanding hostility; Xie Huizhou repeatedly turned his schemes against him 11 15 45.
• Zhang Lanhe — Feared political power whom he initially tried to court. Their conflict escalated through the false Shadow Guard romance and ended at the Lotus Pond 14 18 24 45.
• Zhou Yanqing — Object of coercive pursuit. Xie Tingchun attempted to drug him and later planned to frame him for murder 3 44.
• Consort Shu — Birth mother. She organized a search for him, accused Xie Huizhou after his death, and unsuccessfully demanded justice 46.
• The emperor — Father and source of political authority. Xie Tingchun sought his throne, incurred his suspicion, and ultimately received only an officially dignified funeral 24 43 46.
• Xie Wangqiu — Fourth Prince and longstanding rival, whom Xie Tingchun wrongly suspected of engineering the Shadow Guard scandal 24.
• Xie Shiqing — Fifth Prince and succession rival. He knowingly allowed the final assassination attempt to proceed and mocked Xie Tingchun's failure afterward 46.

Original-Novel Differences

• Intended fate: Lifelong house arrest followed by death during the fighting accompanying a change of dynasty, rather than death at the Qionglin Banquet 33.
• Zhou Yanqing and Fang Yuanke's meeting: In the original plot recalled by Xie Huizhou, Zhou Yanqing escaped Xie Tingchun's drugging scheme and encountered Fang Yuanke. Xie Huizhou's intervention disrupted that meeting 3.

Notable Quotes

“Let me make this clear. I have no romantic involvement with any Shadow Guard. The only thing in my heart is ascending the throne!” 24

“Help! Ninth Younger Brother, save me. I'm your older brother! You can't just watch me die!” 45