As summer set in, the edict from the Tang Room circulated across the realm, announcing Emperor Jing's passing and the ascension of his young son, Jiade, with the era name Zhaoning, known as Emperor Zhao.
This decree, according to ancient customs, raised many questions. Emperor Jing had nine sons and seventeen daughters, with his eldest over thirty, but since Emperor Jing was in his prime, there had been no talk of establishing a successor.
However, overlooking the eldest son and installing a son not yet five is intriguing. After all, besides the Imperial First Son, four other sons were over fourteen and at a marriageable age.
But at the time, Prince Jin was regent, wielding power over the court, with the entire civil and military officials singing his praises, with no dissent heard.
