Lu Jingsi

Biodata

Background

Lu Jingsi is the only son of Grand Princess Zhou Anyun and Prince Consort Lu, and the reigning emperor’s nephew. Cherished by the emperor from childhood, he grew up alongside Crown Prince Zhou Xuheng 4 9 13.

He entered the military camp at fifteen and trained under his father before fighting at the Northern Frontier. After father and son returned victorious to the capital, the emperor granted him the title of Prince Cheng’an and a separate residence. Prince Consort Lu died less than a year after their return from old injuries and illnesses 4 32.

Before marrying Su Luoqian, Lu Jingsi investigated her and the Su family. He then asked the emperor to grant their marriage, knowing she had little room to refuse 14 46 47.

Appearance

Lu Jingsi is exceptionally tall and broad-shouldered, with a handsome face and a commanding presence 6 7.

• Features: Swordlike brows, dark eyes and ink-black hair 6 18 33.
• Build: A muscular back and shoulders; his fingers are callused from wielding weapons 30 38.
• Clothing: He has worn black-and-gold cloud-patterned brocade, dark purple official robes and a purple satin robe with a jade-inlaid silver crown 6 18 33.

Personality

In public, Lu Jingsi is known for his cold manner, authority and inscrutable mind. His work has made him feared by powerful officials, while his ability to conceal his intentions allows him to present a very different face when investigating 9 18 30.

He trusts Su Luoqian’s judgment in managing the residence and can be quietly attentive to her, but he is also possessive and overbearing. He repeatedly pursues intimacy despite her protests, including refusing to stop when she asks him to 24 30 37 41.

Abilities & Skills

Investigation and interrogation

Lu Jingsi leads major investigations for the Prison Administration, which answers directly to the emperor 9 18.

• Compared case files after learning of Peilan’s death and found similarities among the murdered women’s cases 9.
• Adopted the persona of a rakish admirer to gain Lin Yonghong’s confidence and access his estate 7 9.
• Used Prince Jin’s court statement to unsettle Lin during interrogation; Lin later signed a confession without being tortured 18 25.

Military skill

Lu Jingsi trained with his father and became a general capable of commanding independently. His battlefield experience included fighting with swords and blades 30 32.

Resistance to incense

A physician attributed the weak pleasure incense’s lack of effect on Lu Jingsi to his strong constitution. On a later visit to Lin’s estate, Lu noticed suspicious incense and gave himself and Su Luoqian counteracting pills 2 10.

Relationships

• Su Luoqian — His wife and Princess Consort of Cheng’an. She helps him investigate Peilan’s death, and he entrusts her with managing the residence 9 41.
• Zhou Anyun — His mother, the grand princess. He and Su Luoqian visit her and offer incense at his father’s memorial tablet 9 33.
• Prince Consort Lu — His late father and military mentor 32.
• The emperor — His maternal uncle, who granted his title and marriage and oversees the Prison Administration 4 18 46.
• Zhou Xuheng — The crown prince and Lu Jingsi’s childhood companion; their bond endured his years at the Northern Frontier 13.
• Chengying — A longtime subordinate who assists with surveillance, reports and other investigative work 1 2 47.
• Fulin — His attendant, who has served him since before the establishment of Prince Cheng’an’s residence 4 13.
• Yan Bai — His former teacher, who visits to ask Su Luoqian to inscribe the Painting of a Walking Horse 28.
• Lin Yonghong — Prince Jin’s heir and the target of Lu Jingsi’s investigation into the female corpse cases 9 18.

Story Role

Female corpse cases

After Su Luoqian tells him about Peilan’s death, Lu Jingsi identifies links between several cases. The investigation is secretly transferred from the Capital Prefecture to the Prison Administration 9.

At Lin Yonghong’s villa, Lu Jingsi finds Su Luoqian drugged by incense. He carries her away, summons a physician and creates a cover story that he has taken a performer from the villa 1 2.

He later returns undercover with Su Luoqian posing as that performer. They enter Lin’s secret chamber, where Su Luoqian opens a locked chest. Lu Jingsi subsequently arrests and interrogates Lin, then presents the evidence and Lin’s signed confession at the palace. Xu Jia also confesses after being imprisoned 9 10 18 25 28.

Household and later cases

When Nanny Liu conspires with a man to frame Su Luoqian, Lu Jingsi gives his wife authority to decide their punishments. Nanny Liu is beaten and expelled from the residence 41 42.

Lu Jingsi later investigates a provincial examination cheating case and questions Su Youqing overnight. During a Qixi outing at Bright Moon Lake, he leaves Su Luoqian on their boat to investigate a murder at the Pavilion of Fragrant Flowers; on his return, she mistakenly accuses him of visiting courtesans 43 46 49.