The Captive Dragon: A Young Emperor's Rise

In the winter of the 17th year of the Yuanyuan era of the Great Yin Dynasty, the 12-year-old Seventh Prince Zhao Chen is enthroned as emperor by the eunuch Wang Cheng'en after the late emperor's death. He faces power struggles and challenges from imperial clansmen and ministers, including Prince Yan Zhao Jin, Prince Ning Zhao Yu, and Chancellor Liu Chengfeng, and even survives a poisoned tea plot by Empress Dowager Liu. With the help of his shadow guard Mo Ying, he quickly responds to a northern invasion by the Beidi tribe, forces Liu Chengfeng to donate his wealth for military funds, and engages in deadly battles against Liu and his faction through a series of conspiracies. He ultimately kills Liu Chengfeng in the Qingya Valley but suffers physical damage from the residual poison of the 'Heart-Eating Powder,' and must continue to face threats from the new Beidi leader Aguda and Western conspiracies to defend the empire.