From Hostage to Holder of Power

From Hostage to Holder of Power

Empress Lysandra of Zhou, manipulated by the powerful Su clan, demands a hostage from Justinian of Qi, resulting in the arrival of his young, simple-minded son Crispin at the capital. Unknown to all, Crispin's condition is no accident — his uncle Mortimer orchestrated a childhood injury to make the boy pliable and position himself as a future replacement heir. As Lysandra navigates a drought-fueled political crisis and pressure to wed Su loyalist Corin, Crispin's presence in the capital sets off a chain of events that will reshape the balance of power between Zhou and Qi.