Contents
Biodata
| Feature | Value |
|---|---|
| Name | Ye Yubei (夜御北) |
| Alias(es) | “Scumbag Dad,” “Deadbeat Dad,” and “Blind Deadbeat Dad,” used by Ye Tangtang in her thoughts 1 12 |
| Title(s) | Emperor of Northern Li; War God of Northern Li 32 46 |
| Gender | Male |
| Affiliation | Northern Li Kingdom; imperial household 14 32 |
| Occupation/Role | Reigning emperor, military commander, and father of the imperial princes and princesses 1 32 |
| Status | Alive in the present storyline; Tangtang predicts his death three years later 1 50 |
| First Appearance | Chapter 1 1 |
Background / History
Ye Yubei ascended the throne thirteen years before the current events. Lady Shu entered the palace at the beginning of his reign and served him for more than a decade. Under his rule, Northern Li grew strong enough to rank among the top three of the Seven Kingdoms 20 32.
Twelve years earlier, he banished Shen Qingqing to the Cold Palace, where his youngest daughter, Ye Tangtang, was born. He subsequently neglected both mother and daughter so thoroughly that he could not identify Tangtang when she was brought before him for punishment 1 2.
His failure to remember Shen Qingqing becomes an unresolved mystery. Touching her hand brings him inexplicable sadness, and ordinary gestures feel familiar, but he cannot recover clear memories of their past. He initially attributes this to the number of women in his harem, then recognizes that her name exists among fragmented memories he cannot piece together 8 33 34.
Appearance
- Build and apparent age: Tall, with firm muscles; he appears barely over thirty at his introduction 1 45.
- Face: Sharply sculpted features, stern brows, long narrow eyes, pitch-black pupils, and cold, pale skin 1.
- Usual clothing: Black dragon robes edged in gold, with a metal-adorned waist sash 8 14.
- Reputation for beauty: Described as the most handsome emperor in Northern Li’s history 14.
Personality
Ye Yubei has a violent temper and a reputation for killing over minor disagreements. Civil and military officials fear that a single wrong word could cost them their lives. His possessiveness extends to women he scarcely remembers: he considers every woman who enters his harem to belong to him and reacts brutally to infidelity 8 11 20.
His pride initially prevents him from accepting responsibility for his family’s suffering. Even after hearing about Tangtang’s deprivation, he insists internally that, as the Son of Heaven, everything he does is right. Shen Qingqing’s refusal to welcome his attention wounds him because he expects the deference and admiration other palace women offer 12 32 45.
Tangtang gradually exposes his emotional vulnerability. Her insults unsettle him, while even brief praise leaves him delighted. He becomes willing to indulge her, protect her publicly, and reconsider punishments to avoid frightening her or disappointing Shen Qingqing. This softening is selective rather than a complete rejection of cruelty: he still orders servants executed while defending his daughter 25 47 48.
He also values his own survival over remaining on the throne. After taking Tangtang’s predictions seriously, he considers installing a prince as emperor and retaining power as the Retired Emperor; the provided events do not show him carrying out this plan 10 11.
Abilities & Skills
Hearing Ye Tangtang’s Thoughts
Ye Yubei begins hearing Tangtang’s unspoken thoughts when he orders her execution. Her account of the accusation and prediction of his death immediately change his response 1.
- Detecting deception: He hears the motives behind her innocent expressions, flattery, and attempts to fake illness 12 22 48.
- Uncovering scandals: Her gossip alerts him to affairs involving Lady Liu and Lady Shu, which he subsequently verifies 8 9 18 20.
- Learning future threats: Her thoughts identify Grand Secretary Lu and Prince of Yan Ye Yulin as participants in a future betrayal 47.
- Recognizing Tangtang: Her familiar internal complaints confirm her identity when her dinosaur pajamas make her appear monstrous 43.
- Limits: He frequently misunderstands her unfamiliar vocabulary and only partly understands her references to points and prize draws. He initially believes he is the sole listener, but other characters also hear her thoughts 1 14 15 22.
Martial Arts and Battlefield Command
Ye Yubei is an exceptionally skilled martial artist whose military reputation earns him the title War God of Northern Li 32.
- He catches Tangtang after her high-speed skating collision without being knocked backward 32.
- He is said to be capable of taking an enemy’s head amid a chaotic army 32.
- The narration credits him with never losing a battle he personally fought 32.
- Tangtang acknowledges his bravery and strategy, attributing his foretold defeat to political betrayal rather than a lack of military ability 47.
Imperial Authority
As emperor, Ye Yubei can determine punishments, alter harem ranks, confer princess titles, and allocate palace resources 12 14 47.
- Restores Shen Qingqing’s position, later promoting her and granting the title Chen 2 12.
- Names Tangtang Princess Chaoyang despite objections from Consort Liang 14.
- Orders Tangtang’s enrollment at the Royal Academy and refuses her attempts to evade school 15 22.
- Overrides warnings about Consort Li’s powerful father when punishing the eunuchs who threatened Tangtang 47.
Equipment / Weapons / Items
- Heaven-Questioning Sword — Worn at his waist; drawn when he mistakes Tangtang’s dinosaur costume for a creature that has harmed his daughter 43.
- Black-and-gold dragon robes — His imperial attire, also worn while publicly bestowing Tangtang’s title 8 14.
- Borrowed pink flashlight — Tangtang teaches him its controls and lends it to illuminate his path, explicitly asking for its return 34.
- Photographic portrait — Taken by Tangtang; he admires it as the best picture of himself he has seen and requests another with Shen Qingqing 40.
Relationships
- Ye Tangtang — Youngest daughter and Ninth Princess. Their relationship changes from near-execution and mutual alienation to protective affection. He rejects a proposed marriage to Lu Wuyou and promises to support her even if she never marries 1 14 48.
- Shen Qingqing — Tangtang’s mother and a former Cold Palace consort. He renews his interest in her, but her fear and continued distance prevent an easy reconciliation 2 11 12 45.
- Ye Muxue — Third Princess and an empress-born daughter he originally favors. Although he recognizes that she bullied Tangtang, he lets the first incident end because of her status, privately resolving not to overlook a recurrence 1 14.
- Ye Linmo — Sixth Prince, whom he has largely forgotten. Tangtang’s concern for Linmo after he is injured defending her makes Ye Yubei recognize that the boy needs more attention 46 47.
- Empress Lu — His empress, whom he initially regards as virtuous and competent. Tangtang’s accusations challenge that image; he later directs his anger at her after the attempt to brand Tangtang a demon 15 50.
- Jun Yuyuan — Captive crown prince of a fallen kingdom. Ye Yubei considers killing him to eliminate the future threat suggested by Tangtang’s thoughts, but permits Tangtang to invite him to a meal instead 17 18.
- Eunuch Wang — Attendant entrusted with investigations, provisions, and personal errands. He also becomes the unwilling recipient of Ye Yubei’s spicy-food ordeal 1 12 23.
- Grand Secretary Lu / Lu Qin — Senior court official identified in Tangtang’s thoughts as a future traitor. Ye Yubei also rejects his proposal to marry Tangtang to his grandson 47 48.
- Ye Yulin — Seventh brother and Prince of Yan, residing in Yanbei. Tangtang predicts that aristocratic families will help him seize the throne 47.
Story Role / Major Arcs
| Arc | Chapters | Ye Yubei’s role |
|---|---|---|
| Interrupted execution | 1 | Orders Tangtang beaten to death over Muxue’s accusation, then halts the punishment and instructs Eunuch Wang to investigate after hearing Tangtang’s thoughts. |
| Return from the Cold Palace | 2 | Restores Shen Qingqing to the rank of Talented Lady and permits her departure. A nearby lightning strike connected to Tangtang’s remaining spiritual power frightens him into retreat. |
| First verified affair | 8 9 | Follows Tangtang’s gossip to Lady Liu’s residence, catches her with her lover, and orders both beaten to death. |
| Recognition of family neglect | 11 12 | Doubles the Palace of Gathered Elegance’s food allowance, orders frostbite ointment for Tangtang, demotes Consort Shu, and promotes Shen Qingqing to Lady Chen. |
| Princess Chaoyang’s elevation | 14 15 | Publicly carries Tangtang, grants her a title no other princess has received, and arranges her education at the Royal Academy. |
| Medical misunderstanding | 17 18 | Summons more than twenty imperial physicians because he suspects Tangtang has epilepsy. All confirm that she is healthy; neither her illness nor his supposed hereditary epilepsy is established. |
| Lady Shu’s execution | 19 20 | Catches Lady Shu with actor Xiao Bai and orders their deaths. Her attempted disclosure about events thirteen years earlier is interrupted by the Empress and remains unresolved. |
| Schooling and parental discipline | 22 23 31 32 | Endures Tangtang’s painfully spicy snacks, exposes her feigned illness, insists on school attendance, and later catches her skating collision and praises her academic medal. |
| Mercy toward the lovers | 24 25 26 | Spares Consort Li and Master Xue, banishing her to Bodhi Temple instead. Tangtang’s distress and Shen Qingqing’s presence influence his decision, while the families’ court connections also make restraint advantageous. |
| Further garden scandal | 33 34 | Investigates another affair and orders three participants executed. His memories of Shen Qingqing remain fragmented despite renewed intimacy and familiarity. |
| Supporting Tangtang’s business | 39 40 | Frightens away her portrait customers, compensates her with valuable tribute items, and sits for a photograph. |
| Dinosaur-costume panic | 43 44 45 | Rushes to Shen Qingqing after she faints, mistakes Tangtang for a monster, and lowers his sword once her thoughts reveal her identity. |
| Barbecue-stall confrontation | 46 47 | Executes the eunuchs who pursued Tangtang, demotes the Consort Li involved in the confrontation, and promises to restore the ruined stall. |
| Marriage refusal and demon accusation | 48 50 | Rejects the Lu family’s marriage proposal. After receiving news of Tangtang’s detention, he rushes to the Empress Dowager’s palace and confronts those responsible. |
Foretold Death and Political Betrayal
- Death in three years: Tangtang predicts that Ye Yubei will be killed, his head displayed on the city wall for three days and nights, and his eyes pecked out by crows 1.
- Northern Li’s fall: She also predicts the kingdom’s collapse within three years. Ye Yubei increasingly treats her warnings as credible after witnessing other statements come true 10 11.
- Internal betrayal: Grand Secretary Lu, aristocratic families, and Ye Yulin are foretold to undermine him, enabling Jun Yuyuan to defeat Northern Li’s army 47.
- Unresolved outcome: These are predictions of the original storyline, not events shown to have occurred in the supplied chapters 1 47 50.
Notable Quotes
“Neither you nor Tang Tang is to blame for this. Don't cry.” 12
“Don't worry. Father will see justice done for you. No one is allowed to bully Tang Tang.” 46
“Who gave you the nerve to lay hands on my little princess?” 50