Biodata
| Feature | Value |
|---|---|
| Name | Zhou Luming (周鹿鸣) |
| Alias(es) | Eldest Miss Zhou; “demon consort who brings ruin to the nation” in the original novel’s future 4 33 |
| Gender | Female 4 |
| Affiliation | Marquisate of Southern Pacification; Great Zhou 4 8 |
| Occupation/Role | Zhou Yunshen’s eldest daughter; Jiang Shuyue’s stepdaughter 4 |
| Status | Alive in the current storyline; identified as engaged to Shen Rufeng 33 49 |
| First Appearance | Chapter 4 4 |
Background / History
Zhou Luming lost her birth parents at five and was brought home by Zhou Yunshen. She spent three years living with the household’s first mistress but received no affection from her. Zhou Yunshen remembers Luming as his most obedient and sensible child, who followed him from place to place and enjoyed few peaceful days 4 8.
Fate in the Original Novel
The system reveals that Luming’s notorious future reputation conceals an attempt to avenge her father. After the Fourth Prince kills Zhou Yunshen and takes the throne, she enters his palace seeking revenge. Although initially favored, she is discovered trying to recover her father’s body. The prince has her sexually assaulted, falsely accuses her of depravity and treason, and orders her limbs cut off. She dies after being placed in a wine jar and exposed to the sun for three days 4.
A separate scheme by Concubine Liu damages Luming’s reputation despite her never marrying Liu Xi. Rumors portray her as involved with multiple men, prompting the Shen family to prevent Shen Rufeng from proposing. He nevertheless continues protecting her and eventually becomes a eunuch to help her seek revenge. After her death, he sacrifices his fortune trying to recover her body, only for the Fourth Prince to take the money and execute him 8 9.
These are foretold events, not her current fate. Luming and Zhou Yunshen hear the revelations through Jiang Shuyue’s thoughts, learning about the threat before it unfolds 4.
Appearance
- Alluring beauty: Luming considers herself prettier and more alluring than most; Jiang Shuyue immediately admires her combination of beauty and fierceness 4.
- Fair skin and long legs: Jiang uses these features to emphasize how unsuitable Liu Xi is as a prospective husband 7.
- Expressive charm: She twirls her hair while smiling and sometimes hides her amusement behind a fan 6.
Personality
Luming is fiercely loyal to her father and rejects the suggestion that she could bring ruin to Great Zhou. She points out that, apart from killing enemies, she has never even killed a chick. Her loyalty also has a ruthless side: after learning what Li Qiner’s schemes will cause, she wants Li dead and later reports administering the medicine intended to kill her 4 5.
Jiang Shuyue’s promise to protect her deeply affects Luming because she has never received that kind of care from an outsider. She quickly becomes affectionate toward her new mother, clinging to her arm, arranging meals, buying gifts, and watching over her comfort. Her practical generosity includes recognizing signs of Jiang’s previous poverty and organizing more substantial homecoming gifts 7 8 10 12.
She is perceptive and adaptable rather than merely confrontational. Luming readily learns Jiang’s staged-victim tactics, yet also accepts Chu Xin’er’s apology once their longstanding misunderstanding is exposed 9 43.
Abilities & Skills
Martial Arts
Luming has combat experience and the precision to use small objects as improvised projectiles 4 35.
- Knocks a hairpin out of Zhao Lushuang’s hand with a thrown peanut, stopping an armed attack on Chu Xin’er 35.
- Pulls Jiang Shuyue out of the Fourth Prince’s punch, spins her around, and places her safely behind herself 49.
- Li Qiner describes her as accomplished in both letters and martial arts 4.
Hearing Jiang Shuyue’s Thoughts
Luming can hear Jiang Shuyue’s inner voice and the system’s disclosures, giving her access to concealed motives and possible future events 4 5.
- Helps identify wedding guests whose reactions suggest that they can hear the thoughts too 5.
- Conceals her own access from Zhou Yunshen alongside her siblings, fearing his reaction to the exposure of private family secrets 5.
- The ability is later understood to exclude hostile listeners and operate within approximately three hundred meters; these rules are established by Zhou Yunshen, the emperor, and Prince Huai 28.
Social Performance
Luming quickly adapts Jiang Shuyue’s exaggerated innocence into a tool for public confrontations 8 9.
- Portrays herself as a mistreated girl during the dispute with Concubine Liu, using reddened eyes, a lowered head, and quiet sniffling to win sympathy 9.
- Supports Jiang’s staged collapse by accusing Chen Furong of frightening her mother 44.
- Helps press Consort Shu into the sworn-sisterhood ceremony by publicly congratulating her and personally placing incense in her hands 48.
Equipment / Items
- Dragon-and-phoenix bracelet — A first-meeting gift from Jiang Shuyue, given with a wish for her safety 6.
- Fan — Used to conceal her smile while teasing her younger sister’s foretold romantic fate 6.
Relationships
- Zhou Yunshen — Adoptive father and the focus of her fierce loyalty. He entrusts her with household tasks and intends to keep her at home for another two years before marriage 4 5 8 10.
- Jiang Shuyue — Stepmother. Their bond develops into reciprocal protection: Jiang defends Luming’s reputation, while Luming supplies gifts, companionship, and physical protection 8 12 34 49.
- Zhou Shiye — Younger brother. They coordinate household precautions and silently discuss whether to reveal their ability to hear Jiang’s thoughts 5.
- Zhou Sesong — Younger sister. Shares the siblings’ secrets and reacts fiercely to Liu Xi’s attempt to exploit Luming 5 8.
- Shen Rufeng — Devoted admirer and later identified fiancé. Learning the depth of his feelings changes Luming’s understanding of him; Zhou Yunshen encourages their acquaintance at a future poetry gathering 9 10 33.
- Chu Xin’er / Chu Xin — Childhood adversary whose hostility was cultivated by Zhao Lushuang. Luming accepts her apology, and Chu promises a generous wedding gift 34 43.
- Zhao Lushuang — Instigator of the feud with Chu Xin’er. She frames Luming over damaged clothes, sabotages a gifted horse, and blames her for Chu’s broken engagement 34.
- Concubine Liu and Liu Xi — Would-be exploiters who try to arrange an unsuitable marriage. Liu Xi intends to use Luming’s family connections while maintaining a pregnant lover 7 8.
- The Fourth Prince — Her foretold killer and her father’s future enemy. In the current storyline, she directly blocks his attack on Jiang Shuyue 4 49.
Story Role / Major Arcs
| Arc | Chapters | Luming’s involvement |
|---|---|---|
| Wedding confrontation | 4 5 | Rebukes Li Qiner for clinging to her father, hears her own tragic future, and helps the family take precautions after the wedding. |
| Rejected marriage proposal | 7 8 9 10 | Follows Jiang’s lead in defeating Concubine Liu’s proposal, learns of Shen Rufeng’s devotion, and receives her father’s encouragement to spend time with him. |
| Care for her stepmother | 10 11 12 33 | Serves Jiang food, brings her a blanket, endures her dubious sewing, and arranges lavish gifts after recognizing her past deprivation. |
| Exposure of the childhood feud | 34 35 43 | Learns how Zhao Lushuang engineered her clashes with Chu Xin’er, disarms Zhao during the teahouse fight, and later accepts Chu’s apology. |
| Consort Shu’s birthday banquet | 43 44 46 48 49 | Shields Jiang from ridicule, objects to a disrespectful seating arrangement, assists the sworn-sisterhood maneuver, and saves Jiang from the Fourth Prince’s punch. |
Notable Quotes
“This is your first time here, Mother, isn't it? Don't be afraid. If anything happens, I'll shield you. No one will dare laugh at you.” 43
“Everyone says Your Fourth Highness is gentle and refined. We were having a perfectly pleasant conversation. Why suddenly resort to violence?” 49
Trivia
- Jiang Shuyue plans to redeem a Youth-Restoring Pill so Luming can remain youthful and beautiful throughout her life. The provided chapters do not show her receiving it 43.
- After Luming reassures Jiang that the rouge-shop owner’s orphaned sons have wealthy relatives, her private thoughts identify those relatives as the Duke of Qi’s household. She takes satisfaction in having told the truth without explaining the scandal behind the connection 33.