This Prince Has Got Style

Northern Song Dynasty, the early years of the Xuanhe reign, Eastern Capital Bianliang.

The city of Bianliang was famed as the "Sleepless City of the East." When night fell, dazzling lanterns illuminated the metropolis until it shone as bright as day, making one feel as if they had stepped into a fairy-tale world.

Yet, no matter how prosperous or lively a city, there were always its dark corners...

Zhao Yu, clad in a short-sleeved black archer’s jacket and holding an iron ruler, stood with piercing eyes on the steps of a dim alleyway, accompanied by two sturdy guards.

Before him, a throng of youths about his age crowded the alley, clutching wooden sticks, iron rulers, and other assorted weapons, their faces eager and restless, awaiting action.

Tonight, Zhao Yu had gathered his men here for a showdown with another gang of roughs from the city’s southern district. The victor would become the unrivaled boss of the southern quarter.

The permanent population of Eastern Capital Bianliang had long since surpassed a million. In such a vast city, turf wars and gang fights erupted daily in various corners. As long as no one was killed, the constables of Kaifeng Prefecture generally turned a blind eye, for there were simply too many incidents to handle.

Zhao Yu, nicknamed "Little Yu," was the leading figure of the rising faction in the south. Frank and loyal, he was well respected by his peers, who willingly followed his command.

But no one knew that this "Little Yu" possessed another illustrious identity—