He Yang

Biodata

Feature	Details
Name	He Yang (賀暘)
Alias(es)	Marquis Zhenguo; Second Young Master He; “Brother Yang”
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Marquis Zhenguo's Manor; Great Xia military
Occupation/Role	Marquis Zhenguo; former commander of the three armies 382
Status	Alive; retired from direct command of the three armies 382
First Appearance	237

Background & History

Youth and courtship of Zhou Yufei

At sixteen, He Yang was already an outstanding hunter and martial artist. During a royal hunt, he reportedly struck every target and could sometimes take down two prey with a single arrow. He had also spent time fighting alongside his grandfather, leaving many capital residents unable to recognize him outside his family’s circle 382 388.

His youth was marked by cruelty and a volatile temper. After a captured black wolf bit his fingers, he decided to skin it alive before the noblewomen attending his family’s matchmaking gathering. The incident drove some guests away and exposed the harsh, uncouth side of his character 383 384.

He Yang became immediately infatuated with Zhou Yufei when she arrived at the gathering. He asked his mother to arrange their marriage and gave Zhou Yufei his treasured battlefield spoils when she expressed interest in them 384 385.

His pursuit was persistent and frequently violent. He assaulted Marquis An’s son for blocking his path, beat Li Zhong out of jealousy over Li Zhong’s contact with Zhou Yufei, and publicly declared that Zhou Yufei was the woman he wanted 388 391 392. When rumors caused Zhou Yufei to avoid him, he climbed the walls of Huaiyang Prince’s Manor merely to see her; he accepted beatings from her brother rather than strike back 393 394.

Zhou Yufei gradually came to recognize the sincerity behind his rough behavior. He Yang attended poetry gatherings despite his poor literary ability, studied to impress her, and consistently favored her during the Winter Hunt. Their families eventually approved their engagement 394 396 402 405.

Marriage, command, and family conflict

As Marquis Zhenguo, He Yang spent long periods stationed at the frontier. His marriage to Zhou Yufei—then addressed as Madam Zhou—deteriorated because of his infidelity, his concubines, and his disregard for the harm she had suffered in the past 239 332.

When Madam Zhou demanded that Concubine Hua leave or that they divorce, He Yang initially dismissed her resentment as jealousy and threatened to go to Concubine Hua instead. Although he later promised to send Hua away, he remained unable to understand why material concessions and the dismissal of concubines did not restore Madam Zhou’s trust 332 334 351.

He proposed dividing the family assets before returning to the border, prioritizing his legitimate heir, He Feng. When Madam Zhou resisted accompanying him to the frontier, He Yang used He Feng’s security and future support as leverage, further damaging their relationship 342 353.

One year after Rong Shizi became emperor, He Yang voluntarily resigned as commander of the three armies. The New Emperor divided his military power among members of the He family and the throne, limiting Marquis Zhenguo’s Manor without openly destroying it. He Yang accepted the arrangement as a less burdensome future for his family 382.

Personality

He Yang is direct, martial, and intensely confrontational. He prefers action over restraint, readily settling disputes through violence even when his opponents have powerful connections. His early treatment of the black wolf and his repeated assaults on romantic rivals show a capacity for cruelty when angered or entertained 383 388 391.

He is deeply possessive toward Zhou Yufei. He was willing to endure ridicule at literary gatherings, climb manor walls, alter his behavior, and confront royal relatives for her sake. His protectiveness, however, often manifests as impulsiveness: he acted against County Princess Linyang and the Fourth Prince without regard for the political consequences 394 401 407.

In his marriage, He Yang is selfish and emotionally obtuse. He wants Madam Zhou’s affection and fears losing her, but repeatedly treats her boundaries and past suffering as inconveniences. Even his attempts at reconciliation are shaped by his expectation that she should accept what he considers sufficient sacrifice 334 335 351.

Abilities & Skills

Martial arts and combat

He Yang is an accomplished martial artist whose training, reflexes, and battlefield experience make him dangerous in close combat.

• Defeated Marquis An’s son so severely that onlookers feared he would kill him 388.
• Killed an assassin with a single strike while rescuing County Princess Linyang during the Winter Hunt 397.
• Beat the Fourth Prince and his guards after learning that Zhou Yufei had been harassed 407.
• Was sufficiently formidable that Zhou Yufei’s brother, despite being weaker, could only punish him because He Yang refused to fight back 393 394.

Hunting and archery

He Yang is an exceptional hunter, particularly with a bow.

• At sixteen, maintained perfect accuracy during a royal hunt and occasionally struck two prey with one arrow 382.
• Captured live rabbits for Zhou Yufei and hunted with her in the mountains 396 403.

Military leadership

He Yang commanded the three armies before his resignation and remained central to Marquis Zhenguo’s Manor’s military influence.

• His military authority made the manor one of Great Xia’s foremost powers 382.
• He understood that the New Emperor’s redistribution of forces would make each branch of the He family easier to control, but accepted the arrangement to avoid a more destructive imperial conflict 382.

Relationships

• Zhou Yufei / Madam Zhou — Wife. He Yang fell for her at first sight and pursued her relentlessly; their later marriage became strained by his concubines, infidelity, and coercive behavior 384 405 332 353.
• He Feng — Legitimate son. He Yang favored him in the planned division of family assets, but also threatened Madam Zhou by implying he might withdraw support from He Feng 342 353.
• Concubine Hua — Former favored concubine. Her attempts to regain He Yang’s favor became a central source of conflict with Madam Zhou; He Yang later coldly threatened her and considered her conduct intolerable 329 342 351.
• The New Emperor / Rong Shizi — Emperor who accepted He Yang’s resignation and redistributed the manor’s forces to curb its concentrated military power 382.
• Li Zhong — Romantic rival for Zhou Yufei’s attention. He Yang secretly followed and beat him, after which Li Zhong spread rumors against him 391 393.
• County Princess Linyang — Noblewoman whom He Yang rescued, prompting her to pursue him. He later turned against her while defending Zhou Yufei 397 401.
• Fourth Prince — Antagonist who harassed Zhou Yufei; He Yang retaliated by attacking him and his guards at the prince’s manor 407.

Notable Quotes

“The Princess of Huaiyang Commandery is the woman I have my eye on. Anyone who dares to make her happy, beware, I'll beat you up.” 392