Qi Chen was excited to be granted the power, but he knew this was a double-edged sword. He must not make any mistakes now, or the emperor would deem him unfit for the throne. He dealt with state affairs with fastidious care and made sure to consult the emperor when a tricky problem arose.

The emperor relaxed when he saw that Qi Chen was doing a decent job. He reminded his son to be patient and take things slow. Qi Chen took his advice and told him to not worry too much. What he had to do now was to rest and recover.

Qi Chen was steadily building his foundation. As a result, Prince Duan had gained a strong voice in the court before anyone realized it. Qi Chen often consulted Prince Duan, and during meetings, no one dared argue against the decisions Qi Chen and Prince Duan made together. Even though a few pure-hearted officials refused to abandon their principles,...