Zhao Yingqiong

Biodata

Background

Zhao Yingqiong is a Golden Body Great General whose authority extends across Jade City's Gold-Seeking Guard. She is also an expert of the Zhao Family of Wanghe Circuit, combining the Zhao lineage's teachings with Jade City's martial traditions. Her reputation rests on decisive command, formidable personal combat ability, and a refusal to tolerate incompetence. 487 578

She lives alone in a courtyard of the Zhao Residence and maintains a private training ground on Yingqiong Mountain, where she frequently tests herself through martial contests. 501 504

Her influence extends beyond her official command. She maintains household retainers, martial-world experts, and advisers, controls the Boat Guild and shipping business, and has commercial ventures in both the western and eastern city. Her personal connections include Golden Body and Silver Body experts, wealthy merchants, and prominent martial-world figures, many of whom visit when she announces her supposed seclusion. 506 603

She became famous young and guards Jade City's western city. Several years before Li Xian's rise, she personally suppressed the Bronze Body Sect after Xu Shaoqian failed to resolve its disturbances, defeating its elders and forcing them to submit. She also killed a notorious Crimson List expert, establishing a reputation that distinguishes her from less combat-capable Third Martial Realm cultivators. 577

Zhao Yingqiong and Jade Maiden Zhao Ranran can be considered distant relatives through their Zhao lineage. She distinguishes her own clan from Jade City's smaller Zhao families. 524

Appearance

Zhao Yingqiong is a tall, fair-skinned woman of approximately seven cubits, with a sturdy build, broad shoulders, narrow waist, and an overwhelmingly heroic bearing. Her fierce gaze and commanding presence often eclipse conventional impressions of femininity. 487 503

• Usually wears a Ridge-Feather Crown, Light-Reflecting Armor, and knee-high deerskin or beast-leather boots. 487
• Often favors short skirt-style armor, designed to preserve mobility and distinguish her from male commanders. Its incomplete protection also reflects her confidence that opponents cannot harm her. 498
• Keeps her long hair in a ponytail; she also wears a sachet, revealing a restrained personal softness beneath her martial image. 487
• Rides the scale-armored white horse Divine Jade and is accompanied by a jade-white crane. 487 508
• Frequently appears in red skirt-armor and dark boots, though she changes into black satin clothing, fitted blue-green trousers, bracers, and a half-gauzy skirt when traveling discreetly to Perilous Jun Pool. 507 508 603
• As Wu Qiuhan, she wears a concealing black robe and the Smiling Face Like a Flower disguise, sharply contrasting with her usual military appearance. 627 631

Personality

Zhao Yingqiong is proud, competitive, and direct. She despises cowardice, rigid passivity, and subordinates who surrender their judgment to authority. Xu Shaoqian's fixation on Tao Xiangrong and failure in command cause her to strip him of real power, despite preserving his nominal title. 487 498 501

She values capability over pedigree. Li Xian initially earns her suspicion because of his concealment and rapid rise, but his tactical ability, courage, and refusal to flatter her gradually win her respect. She rewards merit openly, yet refuses to promote or trust someone until they have proven both their ability and character. 487 503 506

Her pride makes her intensely protective of face. She conceals injuries, humiliation, and uncertainty whenever possible, even when poisoned or trapped by Li Xian's bindings. 505 572 574 Beneath this severity, she can be pragmatic and unexpectedly considerate, as seen when she personally tends Li Xian's wounds after he accepts three palms in place of his soldiers. 526

Her competitiveness also conceals an unacknowledged desire to encounter someone who can defeat her. She becomes interested in men who challenge or contradict her, while quick submission gradually causes her to lose respect for them. Her repeated contests with Li Xian expose this tension between her determination to dominate and her attraction to an opponent who refuses to yield. 525

Although self-interested and no saint, she neither oppresses nor exploits commoners. Li Xian's ordinary acts of consideration affect her more deeply than grand declarations of benevolence. Her commitment to her soldiers is particularly evident when she rejects abandoning captured Gold-Seeking Guards in order to prioritize the Heavenly Secret Lotus. 591 597

Her reliance on overwhelming martial force is not entirely inflexible. After suffering setbacks against Li Xian's restraints, she begins reconsidering her earlier preference for accumulating powerful offensive arts without sufficient attention to subtler methods. In later sparring, she deliberately counters his physical strength through force-dissolving and force-releasing techniques. 582 602

Power Progression

Abilities & Skills

Golden Body Martial Cultivation

Zhao Yingqiong is a Golden Body expert whose personal strength vastly exceeds ordinary Gold-Seeking Guard officers.

• Defeated Pei Xin and Protector Duan together during the confiscation of the Pei Estate. 510
• Overpowered four attackers—He Tiexin, Master Willow Mountain, Yin Changya, and Pan Bo—after feigning weakness on Phoenix Island. 577 578
• Can fight through formations and shatter defenses through raw palm force. 512
• Her martial path favors overwhelming force and aggressive offense, leaving her less adept at subtle escape methods. 505
• Fought He Luobi, Xue Guan, and Su Bowu simultaneously through the night while retaining the Heavenly Secret Lotus, eventually locking all four combatants in an intertwined Inner Qi struggle. 594
• Regularly bathes in rare Treasure Soup to develop an enduring physique and strong physical foundation alongside her Inner Qi. 504 594
• Her physical power is inferior to Li Xian's, but her higher realm, profound family teachings, and sophisticated martial applications allow her to counter him while holding back in later unrestricted sparring. 602

Mysterious Water Palm

Her best-known palm art is the versatile Mysterious Water Palm, which she has cultivated to Perfection. 572

• Uses water-force transformations for offense, defense, and medicinal treatment. 571 572
• Can improve the efficacy of medicinal baths by circulating the palm art through the water. 571
• Uses Flooding Water Dragon to expel poison, though deep-seated poison can return afterward. 572
• Later shares the manual with Li Xian so that his Profound Flame Palm can be studied alongside it. 580
• Frequently uses it against manageable opponents because its versatility leaves room to change techniques while concealing her less familiar trump cards. 572
• Its interaction with Profound Flame Palm consumes substantial Inner Qi and stamina while providing a means of joint refinement. 580

Physical Combat and Restraint Techniques

Zhao Yingqiong is highly skilled in full-body combat, using her shoulders, knees, elbows, legs, and waist as weapons even when her limbs are restricted. 504 525

• Regularly handicaps herself in sparring by binding her hands and feet, seeking a more difficult contest. 504
• Knows the Full-Body Force Technique, which channels force through every part of the body. 525
• Uses Limit-Breaking Finger, Peng Transformation Form, and the Nine Transformations of the Fish-Dragon. 505 571
• Her experience against restraints is limited by her reliance on force; Li Xian's modified Tiger-Tendon Cord leaves her unable to escape by brute strength. 505
• Becomes progressively more adept at fighting while bound during her repeated rematches with Li Xian. She later defeats Xu Shaoqian in an arena challenge despite being restrained. 525 532
• Has trained her boot heels and pointed toes for kicking, striking, and breaking defenses. During the Bluehorn Ferry ambush, she cooperates with Li Xian as he wields her bound body like a spear, using her feet as its striking point. 577 619
• Can obstruct an opponent's acupoints with precise finger strikes, leaving Feng Qinghong's leg numb despite attempts to clear the blockage with Inner Qi. 609

Other Martial Arts

• Jade-Shaking Palm — Used to counter Pei Xin's tea-water and table attack. 510
• Jade Luo Palm — Used during her exchange with Li Xian. 506
• Mountain-Covering Thousand-Extinctions Palm — A crushing palm art with oppressive killing intent. 526 She later uses repeated strikes to destroy a sunken supply ship and free trapped laborers and physicians. 586
• Heart-Breaking Roar — A forceful vocal technique that injures and destabilizes opponents. 510
• Divine Dragon Whip Technique — Enhances whip strikes with Chest-Drum Thunder Resonance, producing a dragon-like roar. 571
• Heaven-and-Earth Unitary Breath Technique — A breathing art used to study the condition of her body and breath. 572
• Unvanquished Golden Technique — A powerful body-protecting art capable of returning one part of an opponent's force as three. Its force-rebounding application remains usable even when the Jade Meteorite arena suppresses cultivation. 504 She also uses it to withstand a sudden palm attack and defend against three generals. 593 594
• Overlord's Formation-Breaking Spear — An aggressive spear art used against Protector Duan and during her battle with He Luobi, Xue Guan, and Su Bowu. 510 594
• Shifting Form and Moving Shadow School — Coordinates multiple techniques to create a misleading phantom image; she uses it to evade the bronze bell trap set by Pei Xin and Protector Duan. 510
• Air-Splitting Palm — One of the powerful offensive arts she accumulated in her youth. 582
• One-Zhang Heavenly Heart Technique — Supports her combined martial repertoire during the three-general battle. 594
• Double Wafting Immortal Tone — Supplies subtle internal applications, including the Celestial Note of Force Dissolution and Celestial Note of Force Release, which reduce or disperse incoming physical force. 602

Movement and Aquatic Combat

The Nine Transformations of the Fish-Dragon mobilizes her whole body's strength and supports many of her other martial arts. Although not itself a lightness skill, it enhances her movement and allows rapid changes of posture in midair. 571 593

• Peng Transformation Form is associated with breaking shackles and escaping a deadlock through a sudden burst of sublimating force, though it fails against Li Xian's specialized bindings. 505
• Soaring Dragon Form allows her to rise again in midair by drawing on the force of a dragon's flight. 594
• Can move through the sea faster than a shark and destroy a submerged ship while rescuing its occupants. 586
• Can land on a lake's surface and slide across it while dissipating the force of a heavy blow. 577
• Fights effectively both underwater and above the water against pursuing Golden Body generals. 594

Thirty-Three Realms Divine Ecstasy Art

The Thirty-Three Realms Divine Ecstasy Art is Zhao Yingqiong's realization, with Li Xian serving as her auxiliary cultivator. They practice it during the Flower Cage Sect infiltration. Opening its bodily realms creates replenishing currents that nourish the body, relieve fatigue, and strengthen qi; Zhao Yingqiong receives greater benefits than Li Xian, including increased strength, more vigorous blood, and continuing internal nourishment. 631 632

Archery and Horsemanship

Zhao Yingqiong is an exceptional archer and rider.

• Her arrows can shatter a polished dark-stone target that blades cannot mark. 503
• She rides Divine Jade with great speed and uses mounted movement to cross obstacles and pursue enemies. 508
• Her competitiveness extends to horsemanship; she challenges Li Xian to a race while en route to the Pei Estate. 508

Medical and Medicinal Knowledge

• Uses Mysterious Water Palm to increase the efficacy of medicinal bathing and attempt poison expulsion. 571 572
• Knows how to prepare Black Tortoise Marrow-Washing Soup from the ancient Spirit-Treasure Alligator Turtle and teaches the method to Li Xian. 597
• Maintains a strong physique and impressive poison resistance, though Sky Toad Incense still causes numbness and makes her Inner Qi difficult to mobilize. 618

Equipment

• Divine Jade — A white, scale-armored horse capable of leaving no trace on snow. 487
• Jade-white crane — A pristine crane that accompanies her and perches on her shoulder. 487
• Silver spear — Her signature weapon during formal military appearances. 487
• Treasured bow — Maintained by a dedicated Bow-Attendant Lang. 503
• Whip — Used with the Divine Dragon Whip Technique. 571
• Black-Gold Cord — Used to bind captured assassins securely. 578
• Jade-Shattering Spear — A portable wondrous item that appears as a short jade pestle when inactive. It gathers jade-infused gravel into a heavy long spear; although its stone body can be shattered, she restores it during the Pei Estate battle. 510
• Heaven-Piercing Spear — A higher-quality spear kept at her estate and rarely brought out. 510
• Mechanism-equipped boots — Conceal a deployable blade that she attempts to use during her rematch with Li Xian. 525
• Mithril Flower Cord — Initially used to restrain her during the pirate hostage exchange; she later knots its severed pieces together and wields it as a makeshift weapon. 591 593
• Thin Blades and jade dagger — Concealed escape tools prepared for the Flower Cage Sect mission. Li Xian removes them while arranging her undercover confinement, leaving her unable to free herself. 607 611
• Dragon-Scale Soft Garment — Secretly placed beneath her gown by Li Xian before the Flower Cage Sect gathering. 618
• Smiling Face Like a Flower — A disguise used as Wu Qiuhan that conceals her facial reactions during the infiltration. 627

Story Role / Major Arcs

Military Formation Contest

Zhao Yingqiong presides over the military formation contest at Sand-Gathering Basin, where Liu Longhai, Bai Zhengcheng, and Xu Shaoqian command competing formations. She immediately recognizes Xu's defensive strategy as ineffective and notices Li Xian's grasp of the Thunder-Drum Godslaying Formation after he salvages the battle. 487

She rewards Li Xian with 1,000 military merits and 5,000 taels, while withholding promotion until she can judge him more fully. 487

Removal of Xu Shaoqian

After concluding that Xu Shaoqian is compromised by his obsession with Tao Xiangrong, Zhao Yingqiong beats and reprimands him, then removes his actual authority over Tailstreet Marquis Wu Station while leaving him with an empty title. 498 501

Her conversations with Tao Xiangrong deepen her concern that beauty and personal desire can compromise military command. Tao, however, exploits Zhao's suspicions to steer her distrust toward Xu rather than Li Xian. 498 500

When Xu later seeks restoration of his authority and accuses her of favoring Li Xian, she challenges him on the arena and defeats him despite being bound. His failure reinforces the loss of his standing under her command. 532

Testing and Promoting Li Xian

Zhao Yingqiong summons Li Xian to Yingqiong Mountain as a possible replacement for Xu Shaoqian. She challenges him to prove himself through a martial contest on a Jade Meteorite arena, binding her own limbs while forbidding the use of cultivation. 503 504

Li Xian defeats her despite the handicap, exposing both her overconfidence and his abnormal physical strength. After further confrontations, Zhao recognizes that his boldness and ability are necessary to the Guard's future. 504 506

She appoints him Bronze Body, Silver Face Central Lang General of Tailstreet Marquis Wu Station, placing him over a twenty-six-li territory, sixteen wards, three gates, Evil-Quelling Island, prison affairs, and roughly 6,000 guards. 506

She also helps arrange his promotion gala and approves Wang Kuquan's temporary impersonation of him, allowing Li Xian to leave the celebration secretly for the Pei Estate operation. 508

Pei Estate Confiscation

Zhao Yingqiong leads the operation against Pei Xin, coordinating an encirclement while personally infiltrating the Pei Estate with Li Xian. 508 509

When Pei Xin and Protector Duan resist, she defeats both, oversees the capture of the estate, and authorizes its confiscation. She allows soldiers to claim three treasures each and grants Li Xian five treasures for his contribution. 510

During the battle, she uses the Jade-Shattering Spear and a combination of offensive, defensive, and deceptive martial arts to overcome their coordinated attacks. Her phantom-image technique defeats their attempt to trap her under a heavy bronze bell. Afterward, she has the estate's inhabitants gathered, reassures cooperative captives that she does not intend wanton slaughter, and orders its valuables inventoried. 510

Dragon-Slaying Tower

Following the dragon-slaying campaign, Zhao Yingqiong purchases the banquet grounds to establish Dragon-Slaying Tower, intended to commemorate the warriors who slew the dragon. She gives Li Xian a five-percent share for his work on the project. 521

She had also arranged to purchase dragon scales and claws from dragon-slaying experts before the corpse's disappearance, demonstrating her interest in obtaining its rare materials. Zhao Tianxing later arranges for a friend to discuss supplying stone landscapes for the tower. 527 579

Rematches and Flood Preparations

Zhao Yingqiong rewards Li Xian with 1,000 military merits and 3,000 taels of silver before challenging him to another restrained martial contest. Although she improves her full-body fighting methods over successive rounds, he defeats her repeatedly, including after her restraints are removed. 524 525

She subsequently storms into Marquis Wu Station seeking to settle the humiliation. When Li Xian accepts three palms in place of his soldiers, she reveals a gentler side by treating his injuries. 526

At the Water-Control Tower, she accompanies Li Xian as he investigates rising rivers and unusual fish. His deductions reveal connections between the Foothill River, Chu River, Forbidden River, and Dream River. She approves his proposal to aid flood-stricken nearby counties, both preparing for a worsening disaster and winning support for Jade City. 527

Heavenly Secret Lotus Investigation

After the attack and fire at Sun-Hiding Residence, Zhao Yingqiong briefs Li Xian on the Azure-Red Conflict and the missing Heavenly Secret Lotus. She draws its thirty-two-petaled form for him and promises a generous reward for useful clues. 549

Li Xian's gift of a Lovesick Bean becomes a source of embarrassment and mutual provocation when she discovers its intimate purpose. During a subsequent visit, she tests his Profound Flame Palm and questions him about the gift. 549 550

Phoenix Island Assassination Attempt

At the Nirvana Feast on Phoenix Island, Zhao Yingqiong captures Pan Bo but is struck by a hidden assailant and poisoned. The island's celestial convergence prevents anyone from leaving for seven days, forcing her to confront the conspiracy while injured. 571 572

Though she initially conceals the injury, she ultimately seeks treatment from Li Xian under his Ghost Doctor identity. She later uses her apparent weakness as bait, capturing four would-be assassins alive. 574 577 578

Li Xian reports that construction supervisor Chen Nuo appears to have hired the assassins and fled Jade City. Zhao doubts that someone of his limited ability could truly threaten her, and agrees with Li Xian that a more powerful figure is likely behind the affair. 579

Water–Fire Palm Training

After observing the complementary nature of her Mysterious Water Palm and Li Xian's Profound Flame Palm, Zhao Yingqiong proposes joint training. Their opposing palm forces refine Inner Qi through water–fire interaction, and she gives Li Xian the Mysterious Water Palm manual. 579 580

Her interest follows an unsuccessful attempt to obtain Water-Fire Body Tempering through medicinal dishes, leading her to consider whether the interaction of their martial arts is the necessary method. 579

Redwave Sea Campaign and Pirate Hostage Exchange

Zhao Yingqiong and Li Xian lead the Gold-Seeking Guard into Redwave Sea while considering the conflicts that might follow the acquisition of the Heavenly Secret Lotus. She advances cautiously, authorizes an ambush against pirates attacking a merchant vessel, and later orders the destruction of the Iron Sand Gang after Li Xian infiltrates and defeats it. The Cavaliers receive shares of its spoils. 585

When a supply ship sinks, she enters the sea and uses Mountain-Covering Thousand-Extinctions Palm to break its hull apart, freeing trapped laborers and physicians. 586

After the Mad Slaughter Pirate Alliance captures Gold-Seeking Guard soldiers, she rejects Shi Ze's suggestion to prioritize the lotus over their rescue. At Snow Eagle Island, she agrees to Xia Linshu's demand that she enter the pirates' territory bound in exchange for the hostages, intending to exploit the visit. Li Xian warns her about the Mithril Flower Cord, helps prepare concealed weapons, and remains behind to command the fleet and monitor events. 591

Battle Against Three Generals

During the pirate infiltration, Zhao Yingqiong withstands a surprise attack while bound, sheds its force through the Nine Transformations of the Fish-Dragon, and later repurposes the severed Mithril Flower Cord as a weapon. 593

She escapes the burning Treasure Pavilion carrying the Heavenly Pivot Box containing the Heavenly Secret Lotus. He Luobi and Xue Guan pursue her across Rainbow Mist Island and out to sea, where Su Bowu joins them. Facing three generals, she combines spearwork, defensive arts, movement techniques, and Mysterious Water Palm to continue fighting through the night. 594

The struggle eventually traps all four in a whirlpool of intertwined Inner Qi. At dawn, her opponents' depleted fleets arrive, followed by Li Xian at the head of a powerful Gold-Seeking Guard fleet with Du Pingsi and Xu Zhenglie captured. Zhao recognizes him with open joy. 594

Spirit-Treasure Alligator Turtle

Zhao Yingqiong assists Li Xian and the Cavaliers in restraining and killing the ancient Spirit-Treasure Alligator Turtle. She claims its blood and yellow, gives Li Xian its gallbladder and member, and teaches him to prepare Black Tortoise Marrow-Washing Soup. 597

Li Xian distributes the medicinal soup according to need and merit, serves her before himself, and saves a private pot for her. His consideration touches her, and she later shares her private serving of turtle meat and soup with him. 597

Flower Cage Sect Infiltration

Zhao Yingqiong agrees to assist Li Xian's plan to infiltrate the Flower Cage Sect and seek the Heavenly Secret Lotus. They stage her entry into closed seclusion at Perilous Jun Pool to conceal her absence. Before departing, she assigns military responsibilities and directs her officers to consult Li Xian and Liu Longhai when necessary. 603

She steals Flower Cord from Chen Mojin's cave on Seven Maidens Mountain, prepares concealed weapons and a treasure pill, and supplies information about her advisers Ding Longxiang and Feng Qinghong. She later personally confronts Feng Qinghong while undercover. 607 609

Li Xian gives her the alias Wu Qiuhan, binds her, and conceals her in a chest beside Ding Longxiang as part of the infiltration. Her preparations become more dangerous when she discovers that he has removed her escape blades and subsequently takes her jade dagger. 611

Before the gathering, Li Xian uses Sky Toad Incense and Acupoint-Sealing Bone-Picking Needles to support their disguise as incapacitated captives, while secretly placing the Dragon-Scale Soft Garment beneath Zhao's gown. At Bluehorn Ferry, the party is ambushed by nearly a hundred Wood-Seeking Guards; Zhao cooperates with Li Xian as he uses her bound body as a spear to break an enemy formation. 618 619

The women are subsequently affected by the Seven-Day Body-Boiling Pill, whose reactions are intensified by Zhao's Ten-Thousand-Year Black Tortoise broth. Concerned about entering hostile territory while poisoned, she orders Li Xian to help neutralize its effects and challenges his loyalty and courage when he hesitates. 622

Within the sect, accumulating Flower Cords, golden bracelets, and other restraints leave her increasingly dependent on Li Xian. At the Mud House, she learns that he is both the real Li Xian and the real Hua Wucuo, and that his infiltration was undertaken at Zhao Ranran's direction. The pair agree to combine their efforts, unaware that Jin Feng is watching and investigating his connections. 627

They study Li Hengfeng's hidden terrain map, identifying Yin Jiudu's residence, the Death-Sealed Gate, and a Robes-and-Cap Tomb. Zhao recognizes the Death-Sealed Gate as Jiang Tianming's Quiet Contemplation Gate and considers it a possible refuge. She also explains Jiang Tianming's secret meeting with Mu Qinghong and begins revealing the history behind Jade City's martial uprising. 631

Their cooperation remains strained. After she rejects Li Xian's explanations, he silences her, imposes the Wu Qiuhan identity as a Flower Consort, and uses a Lovesick Bean against her. His subsequent advancement in the Sole-Self Heart Technique gives him a potential means of disabling the bracelets through Heart Corrosion, but she is still shown seeking escape from her bonds afterward. 634 635

Relationships

• Li Xian — Subordinate, rival, and increasingly trusted ally. She first notices his tactical talent during the military formation contest, later appoints him Central Lang General after repeatedly testing his skill and resolve. Their relationship develops through rivalry, mutual provocation, joint operations, and water–fire palm training. 487 503 506 580 His rescue during the three-general battle and ordinary acts of consideration deepen her attachment. She nevertheless struggles with his romantic interest because accepting a younger man who has defeated her threatens her sense of authority and face. 591 594 597 During the Flower Cage Sect mission, their intimacy and mutual dependence increase, and they agree to unite their efforts after his identity disclosure. Their bond remains complicated by his removal of her escape tools, coercive treatment, and her anger and attempts to free herself. 611 618 622 627 634 635
• Xu Shaoqian — Former Central Lang General under her command. Zhao considers him talented but ultimately unfit for responsibility because he allows his pursuit of Tao Xiangrong to interfere with duty; she removes his real authority. 487 498 501 She had initially admired his early achievements, but came to regard his deference before her as uninspiring. She later defeats him while bound when he challenges her decision to favor Li Xian. 525 532
• Tao Xiangrong — A courtesan Zhao initially distrusts as a dangerous influence over military officers. Their polite exchanges conceal mutual suspicion and ideological disagreement over love, power, and femininity. 498 500 571 Despite disliking Tao's behavior, Zhao eventually acknowledges that she has not committed unjust acts and that they have no direct conflict of interest. Tao helps arrange her access to the supposed Ghost Doctor on Phoenix Island while privately seeking benefits for Li Xian. 574 575
• Zhao Tianxing — Her younger cousin, a Ghost Valley Sect and Star-Picking Bureau diviner. She spars and bickers with him, but also relies on his divination when assessing Li Xian. 578 579
• Liu Longhai — Gold-Seeking Guard subordinate and commander. Zhao relies on him during military operations but also harshly disciplines him when displeased. 487 508 521 During her staged seclusion, she designates him and Li Xian as figures whom other officers can consult on difficult matters. 603
• Bai Zhengcheng — A commander under her authority who participates in the military formation contest and later helps surround the Pei Estate. 487 508 510 He questions the wisdom of her announced seclusion before accepting her arrangements for military affairs. 603
• Wei Qinghuang — Commandery Princess Anyang and political adversary. Wei Qinghuang regards Zhao as a powerful obstacle and arranges the Phoenix Island assassination scheme to either kill her or provoke factional conflict. 578
• Zhao Ranran — Jade Maiden and distant relative through the Zhao lineage. Zhao Yingqiong recognizes their tenuous kinship, and later learns that Li Xian's Flower Cage Sect infiltration was undertaken at Zhao Ranran's direction. 524 627
• Ding Longxiang — Adviser known as the Iron-Palm Enchantress. Zhao understands her martial background and passion for books, painting, and calligraphy. Ding becomes her fellow captive during the Flower Cage Sect infiltration without initially knowing Wu Qiuhan's real identity. 607 611 627 She later begins suspecting the resemblance between Wu Qiuhan and her commanding general. 631
• Feng Qinghong — Adviser whose abilities and weaknesses Zhao describes to Li Xian. Zhao personally confronts her while undercover and disables one of her legs with acupoint strikes. 607 609
• He Luobi, Xue Guan, and Su Bowu — Rival generals who jointly attack her while she carries the Heavenly Secret Lotus. She holds them off through the night until Li Xian arrives with reinforcements. 594
• Jin Feng — Flower Cage Sect figure who becomes suspicious of Li Xian, secretly watches him and Zhao Yingqiong, and orders an investigation into his official connections. 627

Trivia

• Zhao Yingqiong's prestige is so great that Gold-Seeking Guard officers fear to look directly at her when she rides past. 487
• She wears a sachet despite her aggressively martial image. 487
• She is unusually willing to handicap herself in sparring, but her repeated defeats by Li Xian reveal that this competitiveness conceals a desire to face an opponent who will not yield to her. 504 525
• Zhao Tianxing cannot divine Li Xian's fate, describing him as someone who appears to have slipped beyond heaven's calculations. 579
• Zhao Tianxing's successful divination of her own fortunes predicts advancement and a change in her romantic fate. 579
• She boasts that she can fight in a skirt and still rout her enemies, treating her unconventional uniform as a declaration of martial confidence rather than a concession to practicality. 498
• Her long-worn boot heels have become weapons in their own right. 577
• She jokingly urges Li Xian to acknowledge her as his godmother, intending both to draw him closer and reassert seniority over him. The title subsequently becomes another source of provocation during their undercover mission. 603 611 631

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