Yan Xuanjing

Biodata

Feature	Value
Name	Yan Xuanjing (燕玄璟)
Alias(es)	Brother A-Xuan / Brother Xuan — Ning Hui’s affectionate forms of address 35 47; Xuan / Xuanzi — used in Ning Sang-sang’s thoughts 44 45
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Royal family of the Yan Kingdom; held in Great Chu as a hostage prince 35
Occupation/Role	Sixth Prince of Yan; archvillain of the original novel known to Ning Sang-sang 35
Residence	Hostage’s Residence in Great Chu 44
Status	Alive; still uses a wheelchair and silver mask despite references to his recovery 36 38 44 45
First Appearance	Countryside encounter with the Ning siblings 35

Background / History

Yan Xuanjing was born the unfavored Sixth Prince of the Yan Kingdom. His mother held a lowly position and died tragically in the imperial palace. Unwanted and repeatedly bullied, he developed the ruthlessness that Ning Sang-sang believes allowed him to survive palace life. According to her knowledge of the novel, he already had more than ten lives on his hands before leaving Yan 35 37 38.

At ten, he was sent to Great Chu as a hostage prince, where privileged young men continued to mistreat him. He recorded his tormentors’ names in his own blood in the secret chamber of his study and planned their deaths, waiting until he became powerful enough to retaliate 35 37.

Three years before meeting Ning Sang-sang, Yan saved Ning Hui’s life. Hui subsequently became his devoted companion, continuing to seek his company despite Yan’s reserved responses 35 37.

Two years before his introduction, Yan was poisoned, ruining his face and crippling his legs. Ning Sang-sang’s thoughts identify Yang Wenguang as the instigator: after Yan rejected his advances, Yang bribed Yan’s trusted guard Heizi to administer the poison. Yan learns the identities of his betrayers when he hears Sang-sang’s inner voice 35 36.

Sang-sang states that his appearance has already recovered by their first meeting. Ning Hui later wants to ask how both his face and legs were cured, but the supplied chapters do not explain the treatment or why Yan continues using his mask and wheelchair 36 38.

Appearance

Yan’s introduction emphasizes his noble, aloof bearing even while seated in a wheelchair 35.

• Eyes: Dark and deep, compared to black obsidian; his gaze gives the impression of seeing into people’s hearts 35.
• Face: Described in the original novel as breathtakingly handsome. His beauty attracts the unwanted attention of both Yang Wenguang and Chu Yuzhu 35 36 47.
• Usual presentation: Wears a silver mask and appears publicly in a wheelchair following his poisoning 35 45.

Personality

Yan is outwardly quiet, distant, and controlled. He responds to Ning Hui’s enthusiasm with brief acknowledgments and receives Sang-sang with formal courtesy, concealing his suspicions about her motives. His composed expression can remain unchanged even when violent emotions are rising within him 35 44.

His restraint conceals a deeply vindictive disposition. He remembers injuries, prepares retaliation in detail, and shows no visible sympathy while overseeing the torture of a betrayer. Afterward, he privately vows to kill everyone who bullied him 37 44.

Sang-sang regards his cruelty as a consequence of prolonged abuse rather than an inexplicable desire to harm others. His attachment to Ning Hui also distinguishes him from the indiscriminate threat Ning Chengxiao fears: according to Sang-sang’s thoughts, Yan considers Hui a younger brother and will not hurt him 38.

Yan is difficult to persuade but makes an unusual exception for Sang-sang’s outing. Although he detests brothels, he enters the Hundred Flowers House with her to avoid the Third Princess. He nevertheless dismisses the courtesans because he dislikes their strong perfume 45 47.

Abilities & Skills

Hearing Ning Sang-sang’s Thoughts

Yan can hear Sang-sang’s inner voice even when she does not speak. The ability first catches his attention during their countryside encounter, leaving him puzzled about both her knowledge and the source of the voice 35 36.

• Learns that Heizi and Yang Wenguang were responsible for his poisoning 35 36.
• Discovers that Sang-sang wants to reform him, despite her spoken claim that she merely came to thank him 44.
• Hears her plan to avoid Chu Yuzhu and her suggestion that the princess could be turned against Yang 45 47.
• His demonstrated access is to Sang-sang’s thoughts; the chapters do not establish general mind-reading 35 36 47.

Strategy and Manipulation

Yan uses information and intermediaries to make his enemies act against one another 47.

• Keeps detailed revenge plans against those who abused him 37.
• Quietly instructs Jingzhe after hearing Sang-sang’s suggestion about Chu Yuzhu. A letter exposing Yang’s role in the poisoning then reaches the princess 47.
• Turns Chu’s possessiveness into a weapon against Yang without confronting either of them directly 47 48.

Emotional Concealment

Yan can maintain a harmless-looking, courteous exterior while experiencing intense resentment and destructive urges 44.

• Sang-sang cannot identify his escalating anger from his expression alone; her system must warn her that his corruption value is rising 44.
• He deliberately calms himself after supervising a betrayer’s torture before returning to his room 44.

Calligraphy

• Practices calligraphy in his study before receiving Sang-sang and Ning Hui 44.

Equipment / Items

• Silver mask — Worn publicly after the poisoning disfigured his face; remains part of his appearance after Sang-sang mentions his recovery 35 36 45.
• Wheelchair — Usually pushed by Jingzhe, though Yan can maneuver it himself 35 47.

Relationships

• Ning Hui — Yan saved his life three years earlier. Hui calls him “Brother A-Xuan,” defends him against his siblings’ suspicions, and becomes furious upon learning who poisoned him. Sang-sang states that Yan regards Hui as a younger brother 35 36 38.
• Ning Sang-sang — Her audible thoughts expose his betrayers and draw his scrutiny. She later undertakes a mission to prevent his descent into villainy. Yan questions her motives and considers investigating her upbringing 35 36 42 44 46.
• Ning Chengxiao — Treats Yan respectfully for saving Hui but fears his calculating nature. He reluctantly allows Hui’s friendship to continue after Sang-sang assures him that Yan will not harm their younger brother 35 37 38.
• Jingzhe — Long-serving guard who pushes his wheelchair and understands his silent signals. Having served him for over ten years, Jingzhe carries out his covert instructions and suspects Sang-sang holds a special place in his heart 45 47.
• Xifeng — Loyal subordinate who disposes of a tortured betrayer and refuses Chu Yuzhu entry while Yan is away. He privately vows revenge against those who mistreat his prince 44 47.
• Heizi / Hei Zi — Formerly trusted guard bribed by Yang Wenguang to poison Yan 35 36.
• Yang Wenguang — Unwanted pursuer and the instigator of Yan’s poisoning. Yang continues monitoring Yan and orders a guard to prevent him from becoming intimate with brothel women 35 48.
• Chu Yuzhu, the Third Princess — Obsessed with possessing Yan despite his injuries. Yan despises her but exploits her anger toward Yang after she learns of the poisoning 45 47.

Story Role / Major Arcs

Original Novel’s Archvillain

The following outcomes belong to the original story known to Sang-sang, rather than events already completed in the supplied chapters:

• Yan becomes a cruel archvillain who plunges the world into chaos and destroys six kingdoms 35.
• He takes revenge on Chu Yuzhu by having her forced into prostitution, leading to her horrific end 47.
• Little Melon identifies preventing his war against Great Chu—and guiding him toward becoming a wise ruler—as the route to averting the wider cast’s tragic ending 42.

Countryside Encounter

• Meets Sang-sang while out clearing his head and immediately notices her unspoken voice 35.
• Learns the truth behind his poisoning, provoking intense anger toward Heizi and Yang 35 36.
• Sang-sang’s account of his revenge plans increases Chengxiao’s concern about Hui’s friendship with him, though her assurance of Yan’s brotherly affection later eases that objection 37 38.

Sang-sang’s Reform Mission

• The System Bureau assigns Sang-sang the task of stopping Yan from turning evil. Little Melon warns that failure will cause the world’s destruction and their disappearance; winning Yan’s romantic affection is not required 42.
• Before her visit, Yan oversees a betrayer’s torture and orders Xifeng to dump the mutilated man in a mass graveyard 44.
• Sang-sang visits under the pretext of thanking him for saving Hui. Hearing her intention to reform him brings his childhood grievances to the surface, causing his corruption value to rise rather than fall 44.

Hundred Flowers House and Retaliation Against Yang

• Accepts Sang-sang’s invitation to go out, avoiding Chu Yuzhu’s planned visit to his residence 45.
• Enters the Hundred Flowers House despite his aversion to brothels. Sang-sang’s influence over him prompts Jingzhe to speculate about romantic interest, but Yan’s feelings are not confirmed 45.
• Uses Sang-sang’s suggestion to redirect Chu Yuzhu toward Yang. The resulting confrontation exposes Yang’s hidden male favorites and ends with the princess reporting him to Emperor Mingqing 47 48 49 50.

Notable Quotes

“One day, I’ll kill every last person who bullied me!”
— Yan’s private vow after punishing a betrayer 44

“A good person? I’ll never be a good person.”
— His inward response to Sang-sang’s wish to reform him 44

“A fine show of dogs biting dogs was about to begin...”
— His thought after sending Jingzhe to turn Chu Yuzhu against Yang 47