Heir apparent and only son of Empress Tao. His mother was the eldest daughter of Grand Duke Tao Lunan. He has been heir for twenty years and regent for twenty more. He once tried to recruit Situ Sheng but was rebuffed. He is politically astute and weathered every storm. He feels mounting pressure from Consort Jing's restored favor and the fourth prince as a rival. He visited Prince Tai at the rear temple to probe old secrets about Consort Jing.
