News from the Border

Lately, there was no end to the gossip on the capital's streets. The common folk treated their ministers and aristocracy as entertainment, much in a manner that would remind Yan Zheyun of readers of modern celebrity tabloids, should he have the chance to mingle with them. As such, any local of the capital worth his salt would be able to tell the curious traveller about the sensational news that had taken Great Ye by storm; Emperor Xuanjun had flown in the face of all convention and named his younger brother his heir. 

Not to say that this was wholly unexpected. Given how smitten he was towards his male empress, how none of the concubines of his imperial harem had become pregnant from no lack of trying to climb the dragon bed, a prince of the first rank taking on the role of crown prince wasn't the shock factor in this situation.