Prince Miankai

Character Profile

Name:	Miankai
Date of Birth:	1794
Service:
Rank:	Prince
Nationality:	Chinese
Billets:

Biography

Miankai was the son of the Jiaqing Emperor and the younger brother of Prince Mianning, the heir presumptive.

His uncle, Prince Yongxing, intended to use him to overthrow the Emperor. Miankai was supposed to become Temeraire's companion and assume the throne after Emperor's death, with Yongxing as regent.

However, Miankai himself was not aware of Yongxing's intentions. He was asked only if he would like a Celestial of his own and would like to be Emperor, without being told how this was to come about. When Yongxing brought him to meet Temeraire and left the two of them together, Miankai soon slipped off to play with Roland and Dyer instead.

As a result, Roland and Dyer were able to recognize Miankai when they saw him again in formal robes at a theatrical performance. This was news to Laurence and Hammond, who had not realized that the boy Yongxing brought was the young prince. This final piece of evidence forced Hammond to acknowledge the connection between Yongxing and the attacks on Laurence's life, which he had previously pooh-poohed. It also made Temeraire more determined than ever to kill Yongxing.