TV-Series
Description
Jiang Lihua, also known by her title Tianzi, is a young girl who serves as the 89th Emperor of the Chinese Federation. At the start of her introduction, she is only thirteen years old. Her physical appearance is distinctive, with long silver-white hair and red eyes, and she is notably small in stature. She resides in the Forbidden City, the imperial palace located in the capital city of Luoyang.

Despite holding the highest symbolic office in her nation, Jiang Lihua is a powerless figurehead. The real authority over the Chinese Federation is completely controlled by a group of corrupt eunuch officials, who keep the young Empress effectively imprisoned and isolated within the walls of the Forbidden City. Her personal desire is simple and heartfelt: she wishes to escape the confines of her golden cage and see the outside world, a dream she has held for many years.

Her motivations are deeply personal, centered on freedom and trust. Six years before the main events of the story, she saved the life of a boy named Li Xingke, who had been arrested for bringing medicine to prisoners. In gratitude, Xingke made a solemn promise to her, a "pact of eternal harmony," that he would one day take her outside the palace walls. This childhood promise is the anchor of her existence, and she harbors a strong, loyal affection for Xingke, who grows into her most devoted protector and knight.

In the story, Jiang Lihua is a pivotal figure in a major political crisis. The eunuchs who control her decide to use her as a diplomatic tool, arranging for her to be sent away as a political hostage through a marriage to the First Prince of the Holy Britannian Empire, Odysseus eu Britannia. This event draws the attention of the rebel leader Zero and his Black Knights. The wedding ceremony is disrupted by a coup d'état led by Li Xingke, but in the ensuing chaos, Jiang Lihua is taken into the custody of Zero, who uses her as a strategic piece in his plan to dismantle the eunuchs' power. Initially just a captive, her situation changes when she forms a friendship with another political figure, Kaguya Sumeragi, who helps her understand the situation and offers her comfort.

Her most critical moment comes during the battle for the Chinese Federation. Unable to bear watching Li Xingke risk his life to reach her while under attack, the young Empress bravely leaves the safety of her ship, rushing onto the battlefield to plead for the fighting to stop. The eunuchs, seeing her as a liability, order her to be killed. In a dramatic turn, Zero intervenes, protecting both Jiang Lihua and Xingke. This event exposes the eunuchs' treason to the nation, leading to a popular uprising that sweeps them from power. Liberated, Jiang Lihua is restored as the legitimate leader of the Chinese Federation, which then becomes a key ally to the Black Knights. She later serves as the representative for the newly reformed Chinese state within the United Federation of Nations.

Jiang Lihua's primary relationship is undoubtedly with Li Xingke, her sworn knight and the man she loves. He is the only one she truly trusts, and their bond is the driving force behind her actions. She also develops a close friendship with Kaguya Sumeragi, who acts as a supportive older sister figure, helping her navigate the political world. Her relationship with Zero is more complex; while he initially uses her, he ultimately becomes the instrument of her liberation and a powerful, if distant, ally.

Over the course of the narrative, Jiang Lihua develops from a passive, frightened prisoner into a more confident and decisive young leader. She bravely confronts the reality of her nation's corruption and chooses to side with those fighting for change. In later events, she shows composure as a representative of her nation on the world stage and demonstrates resilience even when she and her allies are captured and face execution. She has no notable combat or strategic abilities, as her power is entirely symbolic, derived from her position and her unshakeable bond of trust with Li Xingke. Her greatest strengths are her sincerity and her courage to act on her personal convictions.