Qin Yuwei

Biodata

Feature	Details
Name	Qin Yuwei (秦玉薇)
Species/Race	Human
Gender	Female
Affiliation	Qin Family of Red River County; Imperial Capital Academy; Fourth Prince Yan Yangyi's retainer and lover
Occupation/Role	Imperial Capital Academy student; former claimant to Qin Yao's literary top honors
Status	Imprisoned pending joint investigation and judgment by the Three Judicial Offices
First Appearance	1

Background / History

Qin Yuwei was the cherished granddaughter of Qin Family patriarch Qin Yongnian and one of the Qin Family's foremost younger-generation talents, noted for her beauty and martial aptitude. She was Qin Yao's cousin by seniority. 1

After Qin Yao earned top honors in the county literary examination, Qin Yuwei and the Qin Family elders accused him of cheating. The clan stripped Qin Yao of his title, gave the honor to Qin Yuwei, expelled him from the clan, and sent him into the chain of events that made him a mine slave. 1 415

When Qin Yao was later pardoned from mine-slave status, Qin Yuwei understood that overt retaliation could draw imperial scrutiny. With Qin Yongnian's approval, she instead planned to act covertly and selected someone to deal with him. 47 She exploited Wang Xiangming's infatuation by performing sorrow and grievance before him, prompting the Wang Family heir to travel to Tang Village and attempt to kill Qin Yao in her name. 101 167 She remained anxious that Qin Yao might expose the truth of the examination fraud before she entered Imperial Capital Academy. 167

At the academy, Qin Yuwei cultivated an image as Red River County's exceptional woman, accomplished in both literature and martial arts. She became one of the “Four Beauties of the Freshmen” and entered the Fourth Prince's service, swearing a blood oath to support him after graduation. 369 417 She also became Yan Yangyi's lover, treating proximity to him as a means of securing greater status and protection. 421 447

Appearance

Qin Yuwei is repeatedly described as strikingly beautiful and carefully composed, with an appearance suited to the refined image she presents in public. 1 167 449

• At fifteen or sixteen, she wore a new silk dress and carried pride openly in her expression. 1
• She later wore a deep-blue dress in the Qin Family residence; it emphasized her fair skin and beauty. 167
• At Ten Thousand Schools Plaza, she wore a pale-blue dress and maintained the polished bearing of a noble young lady. 419
• For the imperial literary contest, she dressed in a moon-white gown embroidered with peach blossoms, with a flying-immortal hairstyle, jade hairpin, and pearl earrings. 449
• By the time of the Judgment Square, she wore a gray prison uniform and was bloodied, disheveled, hollow-cheeked, and devoid of her former arrogance. 506

Personality

Qin Yuwei is ambitious, status-conscious, and highly protective of her reputation. She views Imperial Capital Academy and proximity to the Fourth Prince as paths to greater power, and she resents anyone who threatens the identity she has built around herself. 167 417 421

She is calculating when secure, preferring indirect methods that conceal her involvement. When pressured, however, she becomes panicked and defensive, relying on tears, denials, manipulation, and powerful backers rather than admitting fault. 47 424 425

Her confidence often turns into arrogance. She repeatedly underestimates Qin Yao, assumes his past disgrace cannot be undone, and believes the Fourth Prince's protection will preserve her position. 419 421 427 451

Qin Yuwei is willing to commodify both loyalty and intimacy in pursuit of advancement. She swore a blood oath to Yan Yangyi, became his lover, and expected his influence to shield her while she prepared to destroy Qin Yao through the literary contest. 417 421 447

Abilities & Skills

Martial Cultivation

Qin Yuwei possesses notable martial aptitude and had opened at least one blood aperture by the time she became the Fourth Prince's retainer. 1 417

• Recognized within the Qin Family as having outstanding martial aptitude. 1
• Described as having opened a blood aperture at a young age. 417

Power Progression

Period	Cultivation Advancement	Details
Before entering Imperial Capital Academy	Blood Aperture Realm	Qin Yuwei had opened at least one blood aperture by the time she entered the Fourth Prince's service; her exact level was not disclosed. 417

Literary Ability

Qin Yuwei presents herself as skilled in poetry, lyrics, songs, prose, and literary examination work. Her claimed talent is ultimately challenged by Qin Yao's accusation that her writings were stolen. 417

• Confident enough to accept a public literary contest against Qin Yao. 425
• Believed literary examinations depended substantially on examiners' subjective judgment, giving her confidence that Qin Yao could not defeat her without an overwhelming advantage. 425
• Prepared for the imperial contest by memorizing works supplied through the Fourth Prince's circle rather than relying solely on spontaneous composition. 447 451
• Her contest poem was technically strong but drew suspicion for its “air of twilight,” which seemed incongruous for her age. 452 453
• She ultimately conceded that Qin Yao's poem was superior. 457

Manipulation and Social Maneuvering

Qin Yuwei uses performance, connections, and calculated displays of vulnerability to preserve her standing.

• Helped secure Qin Yao's expulsion and the transfer of his literary honor through the Qin Family's false cheating accusation. 1 415
• Planned secret action against Qin Yao after his pardon rather than risking public blame. 47
• Manipulated Wang Xiangming's devotion through a display of sorrow, leading him to independently seek Qin Yao's death in Tang Village. 101 167
• Sought and obtained the Fourth Prince's patronage, then reinforced the connection through a blood oath and an intimate relationship. 417 421 447
• Denied Qin Yao's accusations publicly, portrayed herself as a victim, and attempted to win sympathy through tears. 424 425
• Refused to swear a blood oath when initially challenged over the examination fraud, heightening public suspicion. 425

Relationships

• Qin Yao — Clan cousin and principal enemy. She took his literary honor and participated in the false accusation that led to his exile; he later publicly challenged and defeated her in the literary contest. 1 425 467
• Qin Yongnian — Grandfather and Qin Family patriarch. He supports her ambitions, reassures her about Qin Yao, and advises covert action against him. 1 47 167
• Yan Yangyi — The Fourth Prince. Qin Yuwei became his retainer, swore a blood oath of loyalty, and became his lover; she relied on his influence during her conflict with Qin Yao, but he did not rescue her once the case collapsed. 417 421 427 447 467
• Chu Siyou — Retainer of the Fourth Prince who informed Qin Yao of Qin Yuwei's allegiance and warned him against revisiting the Red River County examination matter. 417
• Wang Xiangming — Eldest young master of the Snow Pine County Wang Family and one of Qin Yuwei's devoted admirers. After she performed sorrow before him, he set out to kill Qin Yao in hopes of winning her affection. 101 167
• Qin Xusheng — Qin Yongnian's trusted confidant and agent. His disappearance while investigating Qin Yao intensified Qin Yuwei's fears that Qin Yao had survived and become dangerous. 167
• Zhang Xiaoqi — Academy roommate and friend. Zhang initially trusted Qin Yuwei but began doubting her after Qin Yao's accusation and Qin Yuwei's refusal to swear an oath; after Qin Yuwei's exposure, she publicly distanced herself from her. 369 428 468
• Qin Dashan — Qin Yao's grandfather. He deeply hates Qin Yuwei for the persecution that nearly killed his family. 415
• Yan Qinyu — Ruler of Great Yan who presided over the literary contest, accepted Qin Yuwei's concession, and ordered all participants in the examination-fraud case to face joint investigation and trial. 457 468

Story Role / Major Arcs

Theft of Qin Yao's Literary Honor

Qin Yuwei benefits from the Qin Family's accusation that Qin Yao cheated in the literary examination. His title is transferred to her, while he is expelled and later condemned to mine slavery. 1 415

Suppression of Qin Yao

After Qin Yao receives a special pardon, Qin Yuwei worries that he may reveal the truth. She and Qin Yongnian discuss eliminating the threat through covert means, while she prepares for the palace examination and Imperial Capital Academy. 47 167

She subsequently exploits Wang Xiangming's feelings for her, allowing her grievance-ridden performance to send him after Qin Yao as an assassin. 101 167

Imperial Capital Academy and the Fourth Prince

Qin Yuwei enters Imperial Capital Academy before Qin Yao and establishes herself as a celebrated freshman. She becomes the Fourth Prince's retainer, binding herself to his faction through a blood oath. 369 417

Her relationship with Yan Yangyi extends beyond political allegiance. She becomes his lover and believes that her devotion and their private connection will ensure that he protects her against Qin Yao. 421 447

Public Confrontation

Qin Yao recognizes Qin Yuwei at Ten Thousand Schools Plaza and later publicly accuses her of bribery, collusion, paper-switching, and framing him. Qin Yuwei denies every allegation, claims she is being slandered, and accepts a literary contest to settle the matter. 419 424 425 427

Although she presents herself as wronged and appeals to the Fourth Prince's protection, her refusal to match Qin Yao's blood oath causes Zhang Xiaoqi and many onlookers to question her innocence. 424 425 428

Literary Defeat and Arrest

Convinced that prepared poems and the Fourth Prince's support will secure victory, Qin Yuwei enters the imperial literary contest overconfidently. Her work raises suspicion, while Qin Yao's poems decisively surpass hers. She admits defeat after the sovereign demands her judgment. 451 453 457

The sovereign declares Qin Yao the winner, orders a full investigation of all participants in the examination-fraud case, and has Qin Yuwei taken to the dungeon. When she begs Qin Yao for help and calls on the Fourth Prince, she receives no rescue. 467 468

Judgment Square

Half a year later, Qin Yuwei appears among the kneeling prisoners at the Judgment Square alongside Qin Yongnian. Her former status and pride have been entirely destroyed. 506

Upon seeing Qin Yao arrive as a Principal Second Rank Northern Expedition General, with Northern Pacification General Ke Leiyong among his subordinates, she suffers a hysterical breakdown at the disparity between his rise and her own ruin. 506

Trivia

• Qin Yuwei was counted among Imperial Capital Academy's “Four Beauties of the Freshmen.” 369
• She believed drawing the “First” lot in the literary contest gave her a psychological and practical advantage over Qin Yao. 451
• Her poem's unusually aged tone became an early warning sign that drew official suspicion. 453
• Her former image as Red River County's extraordinary woman accomplished in both literature and martial arts was publicly overturned after Qin Yao's victory and the imperial decree for a joint investigation. 468