An Chengyu

Biodata

Feature	Value
Name	An Chengyu (安澄瑜) 18
Alias(es)	Little Yu; Little Senior Brother 36 63
Gender	Male 19
Age	Five years old when Shen Shixu agrees to accept him as a disciple 21
Affiliation	Duke An’s household; Shen Shixu’s disciples 24
Occupation/Role	Duke An’s young heir; Shen Shixu’s first disciple 39 68
Family	Duke An’s only grandson; lives with his mother and eldest uncle’s wife when at the ducal residence 4 63
Residence	Alternates between the Shen Residence and Duke An’s Residence 63
Status	Alive; survives an attempted abduction and sale to traffickers 18 177
First Appearance	Introduced as Duke An’s rescued grandson; named when the duke requests a teacher for him 4 18

Background / History

Abduction and Rescue

Chengyu is the only child remaining in Duke An’s household. His grandfather wants him to pursue scholarship rather than the family’s dangerous military tradition, but earlier tutors were so rigid that Chengyu disliked studying and his lessons were stopped 4 18.

Shen Shixu rescues Chengyu from a child trafficker during his celebratory horseback procession. The trafficker initially appears to have acted opportunistically, targeting the boy’s fine features and expensive clothing. System 011 later reveals a larger scheme: Duke An’s nephew, Luo Kun, arranged Chengyu’s abduction to improve his own chances of inheriting the ducal title. A mix-up allowed Shen to rescue him; in his original fate, Chengyu would have been drowned 4 18.

After hearing the revelation, Duke An confronts Luo Kun, who eventually confesses and surrenders to the authorities. He is sentenced to beheading for child trafficking and other killings 19.

Becoming Shen Shixu’s Disciple

Duke An asks Shen to teach Chengyu because the boy admires him and is less likely to resist a young teacher. Shen agrees, moved by Chengyu’s circumstances. When his grandfather brings home the news, Chengyu celebrates, rushes to tell his mother and aunt, and begins preparing an apprenticeship gift 18 19.

Chengyu and Jiang Bin formally become Shen’s disciples together. Shen accepts Chengyu’s tea first, establishing him as the senior disciple despite Jiang Bin being older. Chengyu receives a warm-jade peace pendant and presents Shen with protective gold-thread armor 21 24.

After Shen moves to a larger residence, Chengyu begins staying there so lessons can fit around his master’s official duties. He usually spends two or three days with Shen, followed by two days at the ducal residence, where his mother and aunt miss him 63.

Life with His Master and Friends

Chengyu helps with Shen’s move by directing servants to transport his belongings. During the subsequent dispute over Xu Qing’s identity, he mocks the Earl of Everlasting Prosperity’s contradictory claims about recognizing his own daughter. Hearing about Xu Qing’s suffering exposes him to hardship far beyond his own sheltered upbringing 34 39 40.

His fondness for sweets eventually causes a cavity. Shen and several companions visit him at Duke An’s Residence, where his best friend, Xiao Ruixuan, has come to confide in him. Chengyu later helps conceal Ruixuan’s emotional reaction when 011 reveals the truth about his mother’s poisoning 100 101 102.

Chengyu also participates in Shen’s family occasions. He and Jiang Bin insist on welcoming Shen’s parents to the capital, describing themselves as practically half-sons to their master. Later, he proudly announces that his new playmate, Xu Baozhen, has agreed to be his “wife”—a childhood game rather than a formal marriage 159 161.

Appearance

Chengyu is a small child with soft, fair cheeks and noticeable baby fat 19 64.

• Eyes: Wide and round, becoming tearful when he pleads against handwriting punishment 19 63.
• Clothing: His fine clothing helps attract the trafficker’s attention 4.
• Expressions: Frequently beams, puffs out his chest, or stands with his hands on his hips when pleased with himself 19 34 161.

Personality

Chengyu is exuberant and affectionate. He jumps and circles his grandfather upon learning that Shen will teach him, rushes toward his master for hugs, and delights in visits from his fellow disciples. Praise matters greatly to him: Shen’s approval immediately restores his spirits when he worries that his apprenticeship gift has been overlooked 19 24 63 101.

His devotion to Shen includes a strong desire to protect him. Initially believing his master has no martial skills, Chengyu gives him protective armor and promises to become capable enough to guard him personally. After discovering Shen can fight, he chooses a concealed short sword as a housewarming gift 24 34.

He learns enthusiastically when material is engaging but dislikes repetition. Shen’s story-based explanations hold his attention, whereas handwriting drills bore him. He readily admits neglecting practice, then tries affectionate bargaining to reduce the punishment. Seeing Shen’s calligraphy—and hearing Jiang Bin praise the care behind his lessons—gives him a stronger reason to persevere 63 64.

Although pampered, Chengyu is not indifferent to others’ pain. He is shaken by Xu Qing’s childhood suffering and nearly cries upon hearing what Xiao Ruixuan has endured. He can also be outspoken, openly shaming the earl and offering to help Ruixuan retaliate against his neglectful family 39 40 101 102.

Abilities & Skills

Academic Learning

• Memorization: Completes the Three Character Classic and can recite it from memory 63.
• Comprehension: Gives reasonable explanations of passages taught through Shen’s short stories 63.
• Handwriting weakness: His test contains ugly handwriting and incorrectly written characters after he neglects assigned copybooks 63.
• Corrective practice: Must copy selected sheets ten times each before beginning new lessons; he subsequently commits to developing handwriting as beautiful as Shen’s 63 64.

Martial Training

• Intends to learn enough from Duke An to protect Shen personally 24.
• Receives Hundred Explanations of Sword Techniques from Xiao Jinyi 102.
• Relies on Datong for immediate physical protection, boasting that his attendant can send a bully flying with one punch 36.

Hearing Shen Shixu’s Thoughts

• Can hear Shen’s internal exchanges with System 011, including Shen’s deductions about Xu Qing 37.
• Reacts quickly when Ruixuan nearly exposes that he has heard 011’s revelation, covering his face and claiming to have stepped on his foot 102.

Equipment / Weapons / Items

Personal Items

• Warm-jade peace pendant — Shen’s apprenticeship gift; described as nourishing the wearer’s body 24.
• Copybooks and practice sheets — Materials assigned for handwriting practice 63 64.
• Annotated Thousand Character Classic — Given by Shen during the visit prompted by Chengyu’s toothache 102.
• Hundred Explanations of Sword Techniques — A book given by Xiao Jinyi during the same visit 102.

Gifts to Shen Shixu

• Flexible gold-thread armor — Chosen with advice from his mother and eldest uncle’s wife. It can withstand blades and spears, is inconspicuous beneath clothing, and is one of only two suits in Great Qian 24.
• Windshaker Sword — A renowned short sword selected as a housewarming gift after Chengyu discovers Shen knows martial arts; intended to be concealed in his wide sleeves 34.

Relationships

• Duke An — Grandfather and guardian. Prioritizes Chengyu’s safety and happiness, arranges his apprenticeship, and assigns Datong to protect him after the abduction 18 34.
• Mother and eldest uncle’s wife — Affectionate caregivers who help choose his apprenticeship gift and miss him when he stays with Shen 24 63.
• Shen Shixu — Rescuer and master. Balances affectionate care with firm academic discipline; later counts teaching Chengyu as experience raising a child 18 63 64 146.
• Jiang Bin — Junior fellow disciple. Encourages Chengyu’s handwriting practice and regularly brings him food, especially candied hawthorn 64 68 100.
• Jiang Miaokong — Junior fellow disciple and playmate. Their friendship develops within two days; Miaokong searches for dried sweet potatoes as a toothache-friendly get-well gift 100.
• Xiao Jinyi — His master’s husband. Gives him a sword-technique book; Chengyu jokes that Jinyi’s cousinship with Ruixuan makes their generational relationships tangled 101 102.
• Xiao Ruixuan — Best friend and confidant. Chengyu offers help against his father and stepfamily and shields his reaction to the truth about his mother’s death 101 102.
• Datong — Attendant and bodyguard. A strong battlefield veteran raised by Duke An, entrusted with Chengyu’s safety 34.
• Luo Kun — Duke An’s nephew and Chengyu’s father’s cousin. Engineers Chengyu’s abduction despite having watched him grow up 18 19.
• Xu Baozhen — New playmate, the granddaughter of Duke An’s old friend. Chengyu calls her his “wife” after she agrees to marry him while playing 161.
• Shen Father and Shen Mother — Welcomed as elders within his master’s family. Chengyu prepares gifts for them and enthusiastically promises New Year visits after receiving generous red envelopes 159 160.

Notable Quotes

“As your disciple, it's my duty to protect you. I can't protect you right now, so this armor can do it in my place.” 24

“Shame on you! You already mistook someone else for your daughter, yet here you are saying a father could never fail to recognize his own child.” 39

“Master, practicing handwriting is so boring. I really don't have the patience for it.” 64

Trivia

• Loves sweet pastries and candied hawthorn; even his preferred meals are sweet and sour. Shen normally limits his sweets 100.
• Despite being five, he holds seniority over older disciples because Shen accepted him first 21 24.
• Receives two thousand taels in banknotes, silver ingots, and golden peanuts from Shen’s parents at their reunion 160.
• Shen chooses lifelike clay figurines for him while visiting a town outside the capital 177.