Cui Rong

Biodata

Feature	Details
Name	Cui Rong (崔荣)
Alias(es)	Xuanzhi — courtesy name; “Little Uncle” — the Crown Prince’s address for him 108 149
Gender	Male
Age	Twenty-five in the main storyline; nineteen in the six-years-earlier sequence 135 145
Affiliation	Cui family; Hanlin Academy; formerly Prince Xuan’s faction; later the Eastern Palace 83 131 134
Occupation/Role	Hanlin Compiler; Provincial Governor of Jiangzhou; Crown Prince’s Attendant and Eastern Palace administrator; later addressed as Grand Tutor by Emperor Jing 131 151
Family	Chancellor Cui’s son, the Noble Consort’s younger brother, and Prince Xuan’s maternal uncle 131
Status	Alive and in a mutually acknowledged romantic relationship with Emperor Jing at the latest documented appearance 151
First Appearance	Named in the autumn-hunt succession discussion 57

Background / History

Family and official career

Cui Rong is the Chancellor’s son and the Noble Consort’s younger brother. Despite becoming the Top Graduate in the imperial examinations, he prefers scholarly work to advancement. He remains a Compiler at the Hanlin Academy for seven years, wishing to spend his life quietly compiling history. His father’s instruction to support Prince Xuan draws him into succession politics 83 131.

Position or distinction	Chapter	Details
Top Graduate in the imperial examinations	131	Achieved despite later choosing a modest official career.
Hanlin Compiler	83 131	Remains in the position for seven years, concentrating on historical compilation.
Nominee for Hanlin Academician	131	The retiring academician nominates him, but he instead accompanies Prince Xuan to Jiangzhou.
Provincial Governor of Jiangzhou	131	Takes the provincial post after leaving the capital with Prince Xuan.
Crown Prince’s Attendant	131 135	Requests responsibility for all Eastern Palace affairs; the appointment is approved to begin after the Lantern Festival.
Grand Tutor	151	Emperor Jing addresses him by this title after ascending the throne.

Previous-life death

Xiao Yu’s thoughts reveal that Cui Rong was murdered in the previous life after the Crown Prince’s death and the Sixth Prince’s elevation to heir. A jealous Hanlin scholar spread allegations that Cui Rong abused his father’s status, encouraged colleagues to ostracize him, and sabotaged his assignments. Cui Rong ignored the hostility and continued working rather than confronting it 86.

The scholar eventually pretended to befriend him, lured him outside the academy, and hired someone to kill him. The Sixth Prince found his body exposed in the wilderness. Hearing this account leaves the surviving Cui Rong appalled that he had been deceived so completely 86.

Appearance

• Dark eyes: Described as deep and often outwardly unreadable 83 135.
• Thin lips: Noted during his confession to the Crown Prince 149.
• Serene bearing: The younger Crown Prince sees him as noble and composed when he intervenes in the classroom 140.
• Visible embarrassment: His ears and face redden when affection breaks through his usual restraint 84 107 108.

Personality

Cui Rong is reserved, studious, and habitually self-controlled. His mother describes him as a lifelong bookworm who seldom seeks closeness or displays worldly desires; she had even worried that he might become a monk. His lack of career ambition contrasts with the political influence available through his family and examination success 83 131 135.

When involved in succession politics, he is pragmatic and calculating. He initially accepts rumors that the Crown Prince is incompetent, discusses winning Xiao Yu over to Prince Xuan’s side, and believes a ruler must be prepared to fight and kill. Direct experience of Yuanruo’s kindness and persistence changes his judgment 57 83 84.

His affection is usually expressed through practical care: warming hands, supplying food, providing clothing, and watching for threats. He repeatedly treats his own happiness as secondary to Yuanruo’s safety and reputation. Nevertheless, he is capable of jealousy and deliberate maneuvering, eventually pretending to be drunk to make the confession he can no longer suppress 115 135 148 150.

Abilities & Skills

Scholarship and Teaching

Cui Rong’s academic qualifications and years at the Hanlin Academy support his work as a historian and instructor 83 131.

• Compiles historical records at the Hanlin Academy 86.
• Teaches the princes about the founding of the Jin Kingdom 140.
• Uses calm authority to make both the Crown Prince and the usually inattentive Sixth Prince sit properly and listen 140.

Political Judgment and Administration

He understands factional rivalries, imperial suspicion, and the consequences of harm coming to the heir 57 84 112.

• Assesses how Xiao Yu’s court connections could strengthen Prince Xuan’s position 57.
• Recognizes that assassinating the Crown Prince could implicate the Cui family and endanger their relatives 83 84.
• Serves as Jiangzhou’s Provincial Governor and later assumes oversight of the Eastern Palace 131.
• Recommends Princess Ning’an as a politically advantageous bride, identifying the support available through her family connections 148.

Internal Energy

Cui Rong can channel internal energy to provide warmth; no cultivation realm or advancement is documented for him 85 108.

• Warms Yuanruo while holding him through the cold cave night 85.
• Channels internal energy through their joined hands during the Jiangzhou New Year celebrations 108.

Protective Vigilance

His protection of Yuanruo extends beyond personal attendance to the use of guards and intelligence 112 135.

• Notices Ji Tian’s unusual absence from Prince Xuan’s side and correctly suspects danger to the Crown Prince 112.
• Leaves most of his people in Jiangzhou to support Prince Xuan when he returns to the capital 116.
• Orders continued surveillance after Changfeng reports that assassins following Yuanruo at the lantern festival have been dealt with 135.

Equipment / Items

• Handkerchief — Uses it to wipe soot from Yuanruo’s face. A handkerchief left behind during his secret nighttime visit later identifies him to the prince 83 88.
• Hand warmer — Offers it to Yuanruo during the Jiangzhou visit and their snowy plum-blossom outing 106 107 116.
• Robe and cloaks — Covers Yuanruo with his robe in the cave; after Yuanruo’s memory loss, has Changfeng provide a fresh cloak rather than offering his own 85 115.
• Waist token — Handles it while deciding where to stay after leaving the Chancellor’s residence 135.

Relationships

• Yuanruo / the Crown Prince / Emperor Jing — His principal romantic attachment. Their bond develops from political distrust into affection, survives Yuanruo’s loss of shared memories, and culminates in a mutual kiss and accepted proposal to spend their lives together. Yuanruo later calls Cui Rong his family 83 115 150 151.
• Prince Xuan / the Sixth Prince — His maternal nephew and original political charge. Cui Rong corrects his contempt for the Crown Prince without withdrawing his affection. Prince Xuan eventually encourages him to return to the capital and support Yuanruo 87 116.
• Chancellor Cui — His father, who directs him to support Prince Xuan. Their loyalties clash when Cui Rong declares his love for the Crown Prince and refuses to abandon his Eastern Palace appointment 83 134.
• The Chancellor’s wife — His mother and confidante. She supports his choice in the main storyline, although she fears the pain of an apparently unrequited attachment. In the earlier-time sequence, she initially mistakes his beloved for a eunuch before realizing he means the Crown Prince 135 145 146.
• The Noble Consort — His elder sister and Prince Xuan’s mother. Cui Rong carries her a message from her son after returning from Jiangzhou 131.
• Cui Sheng — His nephew, who accuses him of neglecting their promised Lion Dance outing to visit a “future aunt” 134.
• Changfeng — His trusted subordinate, responsible for travel arrangements, supplies, and security reports concerning Yuanruo 106 115 116 135.
• Xiao Yu / Prince Yu — Initially someone Cui Rong hopes to recruit to Prince Xuan’s faction. Xiao Yu later saves Yuanruo and remains watchful—and sometimes jealous—of Cui Rong’s growing intimacy with him 57 88 114.
• Emperor Jinyuan — Approves Cui Rong’s appointment despite suspecting that he might be acting for Prince Xuan. Cui Rong stakes his life on his promise not to harm the Crown Prince 131.
• Shen Zhijie and Su Xun — Yuanruo’s protectors, who are initially wary of Cui Rong’s closeness to him at the Lantern Festival 134.

Story Role / Major Arcs

From Rival Faction to Affection

• During the autumn-hunt succession discussion, Cui Rong argues that Xiao Yu could be persuaded to support Prince Xuan once the Crown Prince is shown to be “beyond help” 57.
• He saves Yuanruo during an assassination attempt partly to prevent the Cui family from being framed. Although Yuanruo believes his leg was broken in the rescue, Cui Rong’s thoughts reveal that he initially feigned the injury to gain the prince’s trust 83.
• Stranded together in a rain-soaked forest and cave, he reassesses Yuanruo’s supposed weakness. The prince’s persistence and care lead Cui Rong to offer reassurance, tenderness, and eventually warmth through the night 83 85.
• He asks Yuanruo to kill him rather than face him later as a political enemy. Yuanruo refuses to repay a rescue with betrayal, challenging Cui Rong’s expectations of succession politics 84.
• After their rescue, Cui Rong rebukes Prince Xuan for insulting Yuanruo. Before leaving for Jiangzhou, he secretly visits the Eastern Palace to say farewell; Yuanruo recognizes him afterward and conceals the intrusion from the guards 86 87 88.

Jiangzhou Reunion and Yuanruo’s Rebirth

• Cui Rong receives Yuanruo when the prince brings New Year supplies to Jiangzhou, houses him at his residence, and cares for him throughout the holiday 106 107 108.
• A false message claiming Cui Rong is in danger draws Yuanruo into an ambush. Cui Rong notices warning signs and discovers the prince’s empty room and the note 111 112.
• His desperate prayer beside the dying Yuanruo activates the Life-and-Death Talisman Xiao Yu had placed over the prince’s heart. Xiao Yu arrives and sacrifices a wisp of his divine soul to complete Yuanruo’s rebirth 114.
• Yuanruo survives but loses the memories of their shared experiences and former feelings. Cui Rong accepts this as a possible price of his wish, valuing the prince’s survival above being remembered 115.
• After a restrained farewell, Cui Rong returns to the capital with Prince Xuan’s encouragement. His fear of losing Yuanruo without another chance to see him outweighs his intention to remain apart 116.

Service in the Eastern Palace

• Cui Rong petitions to become the Crown Prince’s Attendant and oversee the Eastern Palace, assuring Emperor Jinyuan that Yuanruo will be a good sovereign 131.
• At the Lantern Festival, he finds Yuanruo after the crowd separates him from his guards and uses their safety as an excuse to hold his hand 133 134.
• He openly tells his father that he loves Yuanruo. Despite the Chancellor’s anger, he refuses to give up the appointment and leaves the family residence 134 135.
• Yuanruo offers him lodging in the side hall of his bedchamber. Cui Rong’s wish to serve him personally creates awkward intimacy, while his abrupt retreat to control his attraction leaves the prince feeling rejected 135 136.

Six-Years-Earlier Sequence

• In the time-reversal sequence, Cui Rong teaches the younger princes, stops the Sixth Prince’s bullying, and returns Yuanruo’s scattered books 140.
• Discovering that Yuanruo and Wei Yi are digging bamboo shoots for food, he invites the prince to share his meal. Yuanruo reciprocates by serving him food, deepening Cui Rong’s concern 140 141.
• He gives Yuanruo steamed buns intended for the Sixth Prince, then kneels in the ancestral hall to repent for his feelings. Although he promises restraint, he leaves the next morning with a lavish breakfast for the neglected prince 145 146.

Confession and Commitment

• Six years later, Yuanruo’s parents press him to choose a Crown Princess. Cui Rong recommends Princess Ning’an despite privately dreading the marriage and regarding the candidates as rivals 148.
• Seeing Yuanruo laughing with Ning’an drives him to abandon silence. He asks the prince to call him Xuanzhi rather than “Little Uncle,” confesses his love, and offers himself as Crown Princess 149.
• Cui Rong asks permission before kissing Yuanruo, who returns the kiss and accepts his proposal. Cui Rong’s thoughts reveal that he is sober and has deliberately used apparent drunkenness to voice his desires 150.
• After Yuanruo becomes Emperor Jing, their relationship remains openly affectionate in private. The emperor reassures Cui Rong of his place as family and addresses him as Grand Tutor 151.

Notable Quotes

“Your Highness, you are not stupid. Do not belittle yourself.” 83

“Whatever everyone else has, you'll have too, Your Highness.” 107

“Whether or not he appoints a Crown Princess, I will always stand behind him and quietly protect him...” 148

“To share a quilt in life and a grave in death...” 150