The Secret History of the Crown Prince

Author: Yang Haiwei
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-03-01
Features: The Grand Prince of the Great Qing rose and fell twice, a tragic and beautiful love story that echoes through the ages, fierce power struggles in the palace, deep father-son bonds, human emotions intertwined with fate, a tragic and intense saga that grips the heart, a sister story to "The Secret History of Empress Xiaozhuang," the Chinese version of "Hamlet." The wise Emperor Kangxi and the kind Grand Prince Yinzong share a deep father-son bond, yet they endured two ascensions and two depositions, a historic succession crisis without precedent! In the thirteenth year of Kangxi's reign, as the Three Feudatories rebelled, the Great Qing faced an unprecedented crisis. Thirty years later, under Kangxi's meticulous guidance, Yinzong strived to become the satisfactory heir. Kangxi's sons each had their strengths, and the ambitious First, Fourth, and Eighth Princes, each with their own supporters, formed a force around Yinzong. Jealousy, betrayal, and power struggles plunged Yinzong into turmoil. Like the sun, moon, and stars, three girls whose veins ran with the blood of royal enemies were cruelly fated to be entangled in the palace's rivalries. Dragged into the royal court, it was not their choice! Amidst political storms and surging emotions, those trapped in the chaos struggled to endure the torment of turbulent waves! After a series of fierce conflicts and convoluted emotional entanglements, the accumulated misunderstandings between Kangxi and Yinzong finally exploded. In a burst of intense grief and fury, Kangxi impulsively deposed the Grand Prince for the first time, and the imperial sons rose to seize the throne. Kangxi soon regretted his actions and, with painstaking effort, reinstated the Grand Prince. Unbeknownst, a year later, Yinzong unexpectedly requested to be deposed again! Could the Kangxi, deeply moved by familial bonds, bear the pain of his sons' infighting? How did the Fourth Prince emerge from among his brothers to seize the throne and become the future Emperor Yongzheng? The tragic struggle for succession, the passionate enmities, and the secret history of the Great Qing court unfold in a gripping saga. While profoundly depicting the high-level political struggles, the book also gives a harrowing portrayal of the various views on love—whether twisted or steadfast—of those crushed under the weight of supreme power. The plot twists are gripping, and the emotional moments are heart-wrenching.