Longyang

Biodata

Background

Longyang is the younger of the Long Household’s two sons and the younger brother of Long Ang. The family raised him to compete with Li Chenjing, heir to its longstanding rival, the Li Household. Longyang entered Dongxu Mansion with an outstanding examination score and was personally selected as the Holy Emperor’s study companion and attendant, but Li continued to surpass him in scholarship and the arts. Longyang blames that rivalry for the childhood he and his brother lost 45 46.

As Minister of War on Dongxu Mansion’s Six-Ministry Student Council, Longyang handles military and security matters. He is close to the Emperor and later sides with the Imperial Faction against the Prime Minister’s faction 24 96 145 175.

Appearance

Longyang is a handsome, broad-chested young man who wears his long hair in a braid. His manner is often conspicuously relaxed, even during official meetings 24 32 156.

• Usual accessories: A silver phoenix smoking pipe, a jade ring, and a red military seal pendant 24 32.
• Later attire: A red tunic and black soft armor while serving as an Imperial Guard Commander 255.

Personality

Longyang is brash, competitive, and quick to provoke Li Chenjing. He mocks romance and favors casual relationships, yet becomes jealous when his own feelings are involved. His insults often conceal concern: he repeatedly warns Zhu Bafu about political danger while helping her evade it 24 46 185 223.

He can read a political advantage, but not always the full situation. He initially expects the Li family’s internal conflict to benefit the Long Household without accounting for the Emperor’s intervention 106 107.

Abilities & Skills

Swordsmanship and Security

• Cuts Zhu Bafu’s belt apart with his sword while threatening to punish her for entering a forbidden area 31 32.
• Oversees security and invigilation at Dongxu Mansion; during an examination, he conducts Zhu’s search himself and prevents an inspector from searching her further 185.
• Helps Wei Chenmu incapacitate the guards at Pan Mansion before they confront Pan Yong 159 160.

Political Judgment

• Recognizes the danger to the Long Household of a strong alliance between the Li and Wu families, though Long Ang challenges his assessment of the Emperor’s role 106 107.
• Argues that Li Chenjing would not turn against his father merely to take the chancellorship 211.

Equipment & Items

• Smoking pipe — Carried at council meetings and used to strike an inspector’s hand away from Zhu Bafu 24 185.
• Cold Light Sword — Used to slice Zhu Bafu’s belt during their confrontation 32.
• Red Jade Ministry of War Seal — An emblem of his authority that he gives Zhu as a possible means of protection before leaving the capital 222 223.

Relationships

• Long Ang — His elder brother. They tease and argue, but Longyang tries to keep him from being sacrificed in the Li–Wu political conflict 46 106 123.
• Li Chenjing — His lifelong rival. Longyang seeks chances to displace him and later competes with him for Zhu Bafu’s attention 45 46 156.
• Zhu Bafu — Initially an adversary whom he believes to be a man. After discovering her disguise, he protects her secret, pursues her, and gives her his seal despite their frequent quarrels 31 154 155 223.
• Zhao Huangpu — The Holy Emperor and Longyang’s political ally. The Emperor’s interest in Zhu forces Longyang to weigh his own feelings against loyalty 145 174 187.
• Li Danxin — A former childhood companion whose return stirs painful memories. Longyang later objects to her drawing Long Ang into danger 100 106.

Story Role

• Zhu Bafu’s disguise: Longyang first treats Zhu as a male rival and threatens her over a breach of Dongxu Mansion’s rules. He discovers she is a woman while rescuing her during the Pan family affair, then keeps the discovery from his attendants 31 32 154 155.
• Imperial faction struggle: He joins the Emperor’s supporters, protects Zhu during her examination, and resists his family’s proposal to offer her to the Emperor to secure favor 145 175 185.
• Departure and return: Before leaving the capital on an assignment, he gives Zhu his Red Jade Seal. He later leads former Wu Household troops from Jiangnan into the capital under a secret imperial decree, helping the Emperor retake command of the Imperial Guards 223 242.