Fu Qi

Biodata

Feature	Information
Name	Fu Qi (傅岐)
Alias(es)	Commander Fu; Attendant Gentleman
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Southern Liang imperial court; loyalist effort to preserve the Xiao Liang royal bloodline
Occupation/Role	Court official and commander; organizer of Prince Xiao Dong's escape from Taicheng
Status	Active; attempting to escape Jiankang with Xiao Dong amid Hou Jing's siege 50
First Appearance	Chapter 23

Background & History

Fu Qi first appears at Emperor Wu of Liang's court as an Attendant Gentleman. He fiercely opposes appointing Xiao Zhengde to command the defense against Hou Jing, citing Xiao Zhengde's prior defection and alleged collusion with the rebel. He instead recommends Yang Kan as commander, but Emperor Wu appoints Xiao Zhengde regardless 23.

During the siege of Taicheng, Fu Qi becomes alarmed by Emperor Wu's altered, inhuman appearance. His spiritual eyes let him perceive the eerie figure on the throne, leading him to suspect that Tongtai Temple's monks have bewitched the emperor and are consuming the royal family 39.

Believing Taicheng cannot be held, Fu Qi recruits Yang Kan to help smuggle Xiao Dong—the grandson of the late Crown Prince Xiao Tong and Prince of Yuzhang—out of the city. He supports the plan with intelligence on approaching loyalist forces and insists that protecting Xiao Dong is necessary to preserve the Xiao Liang bloodline 39.

Fu Qi travels with Zhu Yuanzhang, disguised as Zen Master Minghe, to Hualin Garden. Although weakened by Taicheng's salt shortage, he continues toward the prince's residence 40. In one attempt, he recognizes the revenant Consort Ding and is immediately desiccated by her touch 41.

On a subsequent attempt, Fu Qi reveals that Consort Ding's corpse was discovered with a wax goose, identifying the palace curse connected to her death. He uses a secret method to feign death while he and Zhu Yuanzhang shelter from the battle in Hualin Garden 45. He is later drawn into the garden by Consort Ding's hands, retrieves Xiao Dong, and returns severely injured and pursued by a Mahakala 46.

Fu Qi, Xiao Dong, and Zhu Yuanzhang escape Hualin Garden and reach Yang Kan's forces. Fu Qi remains resolute in his trust that Yang Kan will arrange their departure from Taicheng, even after his vitality is badly depleted 47 48. At Xuanyang Gate, his purchased transit token proves to be a Xianbei trap; he recognizes the deception and helps the group escape using medicinal powder against the Zahu soldiers 49. He later calculates that loyalist reinforcements will arrive in roughly half an hour, allowing the group to plan a breakout during the expected fighting 50.

Appearance

Fu Qi is an older court official who typically wears formal official robes. His appearance deteriorates sharply during the escape from Hualin Garden 45 46.

• He is pale, trembling, and short of breath after going five or six days without salt 40.
• After rescuing Xiao Dong, he has white hair, a blackened left eye leaking purplish-red blood, frost covering half his body, and shredded robes 46.
• His life-force is described as critically diminished after leaving Hualin Garden, despite the lack of obvious external wounds 47.

Personality

Fu Qi is outspoken, politically decisive, and deeply committed to the survival of the Xiao Liang royal line. He openly challenges the appointment of Xiao Zhengde, urges the execution of Zhu Yi to stabilize the state, and repeatedly argues that Taicheng's fall is imminent if decisive action is not taken 23 39 44.

He is also pragmatic and cautious rather than conventionally heroic. Faced with Consort Ding, he immediately calls for Zhu Yuanzhang's protection instead of trying to fight 41. He understands court intrigues, supernatural curses, and the value of concealment, using a feigned-death method and planning to move through the city inconspicuously 40 45.

Despite his political calculation, Fu Qi remains steadfast in protecting Xiao Dong. Even while severely injured, he prioritizes reaching Yang Kan and securing the prince's escape 47.

Abilities & Skills

Spirit Pupil

Fu Qi possesses inherited spiritual eyes, said to resemble those of his grandfather Fu Yan.

• Allows him to commune with divine forces and ward off malevolent entities 39.
• Lets him perceive the monstrous, partially human silhouette occupying Emperor Wu's throne behind the bamboo screen 39.
• Enables him to identify Consort Ding's revenant more clearly than Zhu Yuanzhang and recognize her as Crown Prince Xiao Tong's mother 41.

Court Strategy and Political Knowledge

Fu Qi understands the factions, loyalties, and vulnerabilities within the Southern Liang court.

• Opposes Xiao Zhengde's command because of the prince's history of betrayal and suspected alliance with Hou Jing 23.
• Identifies the threat posed by Tongtai Temple and acts to remove Xiao Dong from Taicheng before the royal bloodline can be destroyed 39.
• Knows the Wax Goose Curse associated with Consort Ding's death 45.
• Predicts the arrival time of loyalist reinforcements through astronomical methods recorded in the Heguanzi 50.

Escape and Survival Methods

Fu Qi is capable of using improvised methods to survive hostile situations.

• Uses a secret method to mimic death while hiding in Hualin Garden 45.
• Carries prepared money, a transit token, and medicinal powder during the attempted breakout through Xuanyang Gate 49.
• Uses the powder to incapacitate Zahu soldiers and reunite with Xiao Dong 49.

Equipment / Items

• Official robes — worn throughout his service in the Southern Liang court 41.
• Prepared funds and transit token — intended to bribe passage through Xuanyang Gate; the token is later exposed as part of a Xianbei trap 49.
• Medicinal powder — used to blind and disperse Zahu soldiers 49.

Relationships

• Xiao Dong — Fu Qi's primary charge; he risks his life to remove the Prince of Yuzhang from Taicheng and preserve the Xiao Liang bloodline 39 46 47.
• Yang Kan — loyal military ally recruited to arrange Xiao Dong's escape and coordinate with outside loyalist forces 39 48.
• Zhu Yuanzhang / Zen Master Minghe — temporary ally and protector during the Hualin Garden mission; Fu Qi relies on his strength while assisting the escape plan 40 46 49.
• Emperor Wu of Liang — Fu Qi becomes convinced that the emperor has been corrupted or replaced by a demonic influence 39.
• Xiao Zhengde — political opponent; Fu Qi warns that he has colluded with Hou Jing and should not command the defense 23.
• Zhu Yi — Fu Qi advocates executing him to appease public anger and remove a cause exploited by Hou Jing's rebellion 39 44.
• Consort Ding — a supernatural threat linked to the palace's past; she kills Fu Qi in one attempt and later enables his entry into Hualin Garden to retrieve Xiao Dong 41 46.