Character Index

Ashina: Personal name Ibilga, princess of the Eastern Turkic Khaganate, Kayla's wife. Notably, she keeps her title of Princess rather than becoming Duchess as was custom at the time for members of royal or Imperial houses.

Qiu Yun: Kayla's personal maidservant, chosen for her plain looks and bubbly personality.

Zhao Wei: Wenyuan's uncle, former Minister of War. Currently demoted to the provinces after willingly stepping down to preserve the clan's safety.

General Yan: Kayla's ally, currently the commander of reinforcements to Chuluo Khagan according to the terms of the marriage alliance between Kayla and Ashina.

Chuluo Khagan: Khaganate of the Eastern Turkic Khaganate, Ashina's father. Kayla's father-in-law.

Shegui Khagan: Khaganate of the Western Turkic Khaganate. Formerly assumed to have become a puppet ruler in his illness, he has re-emerged on the battlefield with his youngest son.

Hong Xifan: The middleman responsible for hiring Xia Xun, the spy captured by the Bureau in the hostel raids.

Tabuyir: A Senior Investigator of the Bureau and a Vice-Censor. Of Khitan ancestry, he entered Kayla's faction with his nephew Yilie as a hostage/ward in the Zhao household.

Zhou Kuang: The Third Prince.

Zhou Xianchun: The Seventh Prince.

Zhou Yunqi: The Fifth Prince.

Sir Yang: An elderly eunuch who serves the Emperor.

Captain Jiang: A young captain of the Imperial Guards who is well-trusted by the Emperor and by Kayla.

Tao Qian: Kayla's retainer and bodyguard.

Li Que: A Senior Investigator of the Bureau, Kayla's supporter.

Zhou Mingda: The Sixth Princess, born of a marriage alliance with the Uyghur tribe. She arranged to enter an alliance with Kayla with a young hostage, Qazar, from her clan to enter the Zhao household.

Sun Ruhui: Right Secretariat of Justice, Kayla's supporter.

Chen Caichun: Chamberlain of the Court of Judicial Review, Kayla's supporter.

Chujiao/Jing Shuyou: Cousin of Qu Boyong/Xiang Daozong, she was Wenyuan's childhood friend and sweetheart after being forced to enter the Zhao household under dangerous circumstances after the destruction of her clan.

Alizhi: Mingda's cousin, grandson of Commander Tumizhi, the ruler of the Uyghur tribe. Previously helped Hu Qing as a guide.

Hu Qing/Liang Hongfei: Lord of the Liang clan and Vice-Censor. Publicly known to be Kayla's most trusted and favored supporter both to his benefit and detriment.

Lin Jie: Former Attendant Censor, he was murdered after uncovering dangerous information.

Zhang Wuxian: Attendant Censor and Lin Jie's friend, currently working to piece together his late friend's findings.