The death of Emperor Jiang Wanxiang of Ying Kingdom brought sorrow to the entire realm.
According to his last wishes, his funeral was kept simple without any grand ceremonies.
The whole empire was steeped in a heavy atmosphere of mourning.
Yet, no matter how deep the grief, it would eventually fade—life must go on.
When a king passes, another long-suppressed question inevitably surges forth.
And when it appears, it grows fierce and uncontrollable.
With Jiang Wanxiang’s death, who would be the next heir to this vast empire?
The Crown Prince, Jiang Gao, virtuous and respected, was well-regarded by the civil officials but seen as soft in nature; lacking the commanding spirit needed for a chaotic age.
The Second Prince, Jiang Yuan, had been unruly in his youth but reformed and even proved himself in battle when Wolf King Chen Fubi led an army against the capital of Ying Kingdom—leading troops to the rescue with notable performance.
Each of these princes was backed by powerful factions.
After Jiang Wanxiang’s demise, these two sides began to secretly scheme for their future.
Even two famed generals who had fought side by side in the campaign against Jiangnan started to develop animosity.
At the start, discussions in the court were cautious but quickly heated.