Character Index

Wu Zhihuan: The scapegoat for the murders of the First and Second Princes.

Liang Hongfei/Hu Qing: Lord of the Liang clan, vice-censor, recently assigned to the oversight committee to be sent north.

Xiang Daozong/Qu Boyong: Lord of the Xiang clan, maternal nephew of the Emperor via his older half-sister.

Jing Shuyou/Chujiao: Cousin of Xiang Daozong, recently engaged to Hu Qing in a political marriage.

General Yan: Commander of the reinforcements sent to the Eastern Turkic Khaganate.

Xie Rengui: Hu Qing's servant, a talented farmboy who happens to share a personal name with IRL general Xue Rengui.

Lord Qu: A retired veteran who was commissioned as the Oversight Censor for General Yan.

Zhou Xianchun: The Seventh Prince.

Consort Chen: Mother of the Seventh Prince, was of low birth but became a consort after receiving the Emperor's favor.

Liang Shen: Former Minister of Justice and Lord of the Liang clan, Hu Qing's older half-brother.

Sir Zhang: An eunuch who is sided with Xianchun.

Jun Shao: Minister of Personnel, Xianchun's supporter.

Zhou Kuang: The Third Prince, husband of Cao Shuyi from the illustrious Cao clan. Son of the Royal Consort.

Zhou Yunqi: The Fifth Prince.

Lin Yaoguang: The Grand Duke's money launderer, allied with the conspirators.

Wei Guang: The Imperial Edict Bearer and Minister of the Office of Censor. Kayla's godfather and the teacher of the Emperor, Imperial Princess, and the Archdukes (aka prev gen of princes).

Archduke Qi: Half-brother of the Emperor, he managed to avoid ruin after the death of the previous Emperor but eventually fell from favor after his student (the Sixth Prince) died in an unexpected riding accident.

Archduke Wei: Full brother of Archduke Qi, half-brother of the Emperor. His daughter Chengxia was sent to the Khaganate to marry one of Chuluo Khagan's sons as part of the marriage alliance.