Marquis's Residence

Biodata

Background / History

Before receiving a marquisate, the Xie family lived in a border town. The household later faced collapse when Marquis Jing'an was imprisoned. Its elders sought a marriage between his heir, Xie Jin'an, and Liu Wan, the legitimate daughter of the Minister of Rites. Minister Liu agreed because Marquis Jing'an had previously saved his life 9 11.

Liu Wan married into the family at fifteen, bringing a gold Death-Exemption Token inherited from her aunt. Her intervention saved the household and allowed Marquis Jing'an to petition to fight at the frontier and prove his innocence 9 12 40.

For five years, Liu Wan managed the residence's accounts, domestic affairs, and struggling businesses. She was still examining accounts the night before giving birth. Her dowry subsidized both the household and its shops while the court withheld the residence's stipend 4 10 23.

The family's noble standing originated with the Old Marquis, whose death while saving the Late Emperor is repeatedly invoked when the household seeks leniency. His son, Xie Jian, inherited the title of Marquis Jing'an. According to Madam Li's later public account, inheriting the title made Xie Jian increasingly domineering and violent toward his wife, sons, and concubines; some concubines took their own lives after enduring his abuse 13 143 164.

The supposed debt of gratitude underlying Liu Wan's marriage is later challenged. Xia Siheng's investigation raises the possibility that Marquis Jing'an deliberately created the opportunity to rescue Minister Liu, using either the Liu family's Death-Exemption Token or Xu Rourou's connections to Southern Mei as safeguards against punishment. Subsequent evidence includes an imperial gold ingot bearing the residence's name and letters presented as proof that Jing'an bribed bandits to kidnap Minister Liu 128 169.

The household loses its hereditary title after Old Madam leaves her lifelong confinement and assaults the emperor. It is officially renamed the Xie Residence and is subsequently reported to have been struck from the Xie clan genealogy. The revocation ends the hereditary line but initially leaves the current Marquis Jing'an's personal title in place while he is away at war 99 109 121.

Marquis Jing'an returns from the southern campaign and is formally cleared of the earlier treason charge, but his military service does not restore the household's hereditary standing. He later loses his office and command of 13,000 troops after attempting to turn the emperor against the Ninth Prince 121 145.

Layout and Notable Areas

Household Administration

Authority over the residence is contested between its senior women and male relatives. Account books, household keys, and the mistress's jade token mark control of domestic management 22 23 32.

Liu Wan explicitly rejects the assumption that she resumed management during the others' absence. When Jin'an returns from disaster relief and thanks her for handling household affairs, she states that she has not been managing anything and refuses his pressure to take responsibility again 60.

Finances and Businesses

• Withheld stipend: The court has withheld the residence's stipend during Marquis Jing'an's campaign to prove his innocence 23 32.
• Dependence on Liu Wan: Household expenses and losing businesses have been sustained by her dowry rather than sufficient income of their own 23 32.
• Jinxi Jewelry Store: Carries an enormous deficit and needs a substantial inflow of money to recover 23.
• Withdrawal of subsidies: After surrendering management, Liu Wan stops contributing her own money, leaving Madam Li with a large funding shortfall 23.
• Zhong marriage alliance: The family expects Zhong Youyan's dowry of shops and properties to revive its businesses and support the residence for more than a decade 32.
• Wage crisis: By Liu Wan's return, the accounts office cannot pay monthly wages. Servants protest, and Xie Jinqiu threatens to have several beaten to death 50.
• Accumulated deficit: Madam Li's later examination of the accounts reveals a deficit of 180,000 taels and four months of unpaid allowances. The accountant explains that Jinqiu diverted servants' allowances to rescue Jinzhao and Xu Rourou's father, while unprofitable businesses continued operating because no one authorized their sale 61.
• Risk of liquidation: The accountant says the losing shops must close and the debts must be repaid. Failure could result in liquidation of the residence's property, including its ancestral home. He resigns rather than remain exposed to the consequences 61.
• Golden Radiance Jewelry Shop: Old Madam and Madam Li subsequently describe a 200,000-tael shortfall associated with this shop. Madam Li fears that an investigation into its concealed activities could endanger the entire family 63.
• Zhong family bailout: Zhong Youyan obtains money from her birth family to cover the shortfall. Madam Li later admits that this intervention saved the estate from financial ruin, but Youyan threatens to stop financing it after the imperial-property scandal 79.
• Jewelry accounts as leverage: Youyan takes possession of the jewelry-shop account books before agreeing to pay for gate repairs. Liu Wan understands that she intends to find irregularities capable of bringing down the Xie household 112.
• Imperial fine: Zhong Youyan is fined 30,000 taels during the emperor's punishment of the household over missing imperial property 78.
• Illicit business network: Saiban's testimony identifies the Golden Radiance Jewelry Shop as a money-laundering front for an illicit drug operation, supported by secret family channels and gambling houses. The operation began under Xie Jian more than twenty years earlier and is later run by Xie Jinqian, with supplies coming from Southern Yue and distribution extending beyond the capital. Saiban states that Jin'an did not know about it 189.
• Loss of military support: Xie Jian regards his inherited military command as the family's last remaining hope. The emperor's confiscation of his 13,000 troops and dismissal of him from office remove that source of influence 145.

Residents and Staff

The residence accommodates more than a dozen family households, including the marquis's concubines and their children 19.

Xie Family and Dependents

• Marquis Jing'an / Xie Jian — Titled head of the family; absent on military service during the early household conflicts. Returns to find the hereditary title revoked and later loses his office and military command. Saiban identifies him as the original employer behind the family's illicit trade operation 9 13 121 145 189.
• Old Madam Xie — Senior elder who promotes Huai Shan's status and schemes to secure a higher-ranking wife for Xie Jin'an; later confined to Charity Hall. Her departure from confinement and attack on the emperor lead to the household's loss of title. She is eventually returned starving and paralyzed, placed under Xu Rourou's care, and dies of poisoning 5 7 13 99 130 131 158.
• Madam Li — Marquis Jing'an's wife and Xie Jin'an's mother; returns from Golden Mountain Temple and takes management from Liu Wan. Later acknowledges that removing Liu Wan helped cause the financial crisis. Her longstanding affair with Xu Xinbo and attempted elopement become a public scandal 16 18 22 61 164.
• Xie Jin'an — Former heir apparent and Liu Wan's former husband; conceals his longstanding relationship with Xu Rourou. Loses his official post, is confined by imperial order, and becomes an ordinary Young Master Xie after the household's hereditary title is revoked 6 11 13 78 99 112.
• Liu Wan — Former household mistress whose management, dowry, and birth-family connections sustain the residence. Obtains a divorce and moves to a separate home, later marrying Xia Siheng and settling at the Ninth Prince's Residence 9 10 23 109 112 302.
• Xie Zi Mu and Xie Zi Xing / Liu Zi Mu and Liu Zi Xing — Boys adopted into Liu Wan's family after selection from respectable families; Zi Mu initially holds the position of eldest legitimate son. Zi Mu temporarily remains at the Xie Residence to protect Qing Da's family, but both boys later join the Liu genealogy and receive a courtyard at the Ninth Prince's Residence 10 12 99 302.
• Wanwan / Xia Wanwan / Princess Ximing — Liu Wan's daughter; her full-month celebration exposes the household's favoritism and hidden schemes. Later leaves with her mother and is recognized as Princess Ximing, a status the Xie family unsuccessfully tries to use for its own advantage 5 8 112 129 143 144.
• Xie Jinqian — Second Master, present at the extended-family gathering. Later identified as the current leader of the Xie-linked illicit drug operation; he and Jinzhao have cut ties with the family by the time of the emperor's investigation 19 189.
• Xie Jinzhao — Third Master and concubine-born son; abuses his authority over servants and is later arrested. His relationship with Li Duoduo leads to an arranged marriage, and he later devises plans to shift criminal blame onto Qing Da and Zi Mu 32 38 58 60 148.
• Xie Jinqiu — Fourth Master and concubine-born son; temporarily manages the household and seeks the wealthy Zhong marriage alliance. Marries Zhong Youyan and later becomes gravely ill after she secretly tampers with his medicine 32 33 61 130.
• Zhong Youyan — Fourth Branch's principal wife and later household manager. Her family's money sustains the residence, giving her leverage against the Xies; she also intervenes to protect Liu Wan during the imperial-property scandal 58 61 78 79 130.
• Xu Rourou — Xie Jin'an's lover, initially presented as Huai Shan's wet nurse and later called Concubine Xu. Her supposed connection to Southern Mei's Eldest Princess is repeatedly treated as a means of rescuing the family. Marquis Jing'an eventually appoints her household manager 3 23 36 79 94 131.
• Xie Huai Shan / Xie Huaishan — Xu Rourou's son, initially believed to be Jin'an's biological child, publicly passed off as adopted, and then claimed as Jinqiu's child. The Eldest Princess later reveals that Xu Xinbo confessed to being his father, meaning the boy is not a blood descendant of the Marquis's family 10 16 33 96.
• Li Duoduo — Young cousin from Madam Li's natal family; participates in the household's disputes over donations and rewards. Her relationship with Jinzhao becomes the basis for Zhong Youyan's decision that they should marry 19 26 58 60.
• Xu Xinbo — Xu Rourou's nominal brother, brought from Golden Mountain Temple at Madam Li's request. Later revelations state that he was purchased by Xu Bo and is not Rourou's blood brother; he is identified as Huai Shan's father and publicly exposed as Madam Li's lover 17 96 164.

Staff

• Qing Da — Steward whose family has served the residence for three generations; promoted from the outer courtyard to the Second Courtyard. Later follows Zi Mu's orders to have the returning Marquis Jing'an beaten and jailed, suffers retaliation, and is selected as a scapegoat for theft. Eventually accompanies Liu Wan's household to the Ninth Prince's Residence 18 19 21 129 130 148 302.
• Qing Sheng — Qing Da's daughter, an exceptionally strong maid who protects Liu Wan from Madam Li's matrons. Later carries messages between Liu Wan and Zhong Youyan during efforts to rescue Zi Mu and her imprisoned parents, and accompanies Liu Wan to the Ninth Prince's Residence 21 26 131 302.
• Pan Chun and Wang Xia — Liu Wan's attendants, handling messages, reports, and errands. Wang Xia later coordinates with Liu clan elders as Liu Wan prepares to obtain a divorce through the process surrounding Xu Rourou's planned elevation 5 19 23 101.
• Mama Qing — Old Madam's attendant; later spreads the account that Huai Shan is Jinqiu's biological son under orders from her superiors. Remains at the Xie Residence despite an opportunity to leave because an old friend's indenture is still held by Old Madam; she reports the household's worsening condition to Liu Wan 9 36 112.
• Residence Physician — Treats household members, including Wanwan after her severe nosebleed. His absence complicates efforts to help Huai Shan after a failed spiritual attack; he later confirms that Old Madam died of poisoning 23 34 75 158.
• Household accountant — Serves the residence for more than ten years. Explains the financial collapse to Madam Li, defends Liu Wan's contributions, and submits his resignation because of unpaid wages and the risk of liability for the enormous debt 61.
• A Sheng and his family — Loyal servants known to Liu Wan since her arrival. His daughters work in the Third and Fourth Masters' courtyards, while his wife works in Madam Li's courtyard; Liu Wan allocates one hundred taels to make arrangements for them 52.
• Nanny Rong — Has prepared Liu Wan's medicinal tonics since she entered the residence 52.
• Yinliu — Attendant connected to Xu Rourou and Huai Shan. Helps during Huai Shan's medical crisis and is later rewarded by Rourou for concealing Xu Xinbo's involvement in the adultery scandal 75 131.

Household Heirlooms

• Late Emperor's jade bracelet: A hereditary symbol of the residence's mistress. Old Madam gives it to Xu Rourou despite Liu Wan's years of service, provoking Pan Chun's anger 4.
• Late Emperor's Jade Bead Strand: An imperial gift associated with the household mistress and restricted by status rules. Its discovery on supposedly adopted Huai Shan turns a domestic dispute into an imperial offense 8 10.
• Matriarch's Jade Pendant / mistress's jade token: An emblem of household authority demanded by Madam Li and handed over with the account books. Jinzhao later invokes its possession when challenging Jinqiu's right to manage the residence 22 23 32.
• Death-Exemption Token: Liu Wan's personal inherited token rather than an original Xie family possession. It enables the earlier rescue of the household, later becomes central to the missing-imperial-property dispute, and is confiscated by the emperor when the family is punished 9 40 75 78.
• Imperial gold ingot bearing the residence's name: Bestowed by the Late Emperor and later presented as evidence that Marquis Jing'an bribed bandits to kidnap Minister Liu. Jing'an had previously claimed that bandits stole an imperial gift from the residence to justify eliminating them 169.

Major Events

Adoption Gatherings and the Full-Month Banquet

Old Madam's gathering presents Huai Shan as an adopted child while signaling his connection to the Xie bloodline. Liu Wan redirects the occasion into a reception for her brother Liu Ye, whose engagement to the Fifth Princess makes him a desirable imperial connection 2 5.

At Wanwan's full-month banquet, Old Madam plans to have the Fifth Princess pushed into the pond so Xie Jin'an can rescue her and force a marriage. Zi Mu secretly substitutes Xu Rourou as the person pushed into the water, while Liu Wan protects the princess during the surrounding commotion 6 7 12.

The discovery of the Jade Bead Strand on Huai Shan exposes further irregularities. Liu Wan refuses to adopt him as her legitimate son to resolve the scandal. Imperial investigation ends with Old Madam's lifelong confinement, a year's salary deducted from Jin'an, and a Third-Rank Imperial Lady title for Liu Wan 8 10 13.

The “Coal Mine Spirits” Incident

Lightning destroys the carriage carrying Xie Jin'an, Madam Li, and Xu Xinbo. Their soot-blackened appearance makes them unrecognizable at their own gate, where Qing Da has them beaten and sent to the authorities as impostors 17 18.

Officials return the trio to the residence. Jin'an blames Qing Da, but the household defends the steward's actions because the returning masters could not be recognized 19 20.

After months of disaster relief in Anyuan County, the trio returns to renewed household disputes. A later imperial decree awards twenty bolts of silk and brocade, fifty taels of gold, three bronze coal-spirit statues, and an Auspicious Mascot Plaque. Rather than receiving the expected promotion, Jin'an is named the Dynasty's Auspicious Mascot 60 70.

Rejected Charity and Imperial Rewards

Liu Wan proposes a porridge stall outside the city and offers one hundred taels. The family refuses to contribute, and Madam Li explicitly rejects participation. Liu Wan's birth family carries out the relief effort instead 19 22 23.

When imperial rewards arrive for Liu Wan, relatives demand that they enter the residence's treasury. She counters that they rejected the proposal and have no claim to her rewards. An ensuing decree sends Jin'an, Madam Li, and Xinbo to Anyuan County as the supposed “Coal Mine Spirits” 25 26 27 28.

Zhong Engagement Scandal

Jinqiu's false acknowledgment of Huai Shan undermines his engagement to Zhong Youyan. The Zhong family protests by covering the residence's entrance in dung and publicly accusing him of keeping a mistress and fathering a child 34 35 36 37.

Jinzhao's attempt to suppress the protest leads to violence against spectators and the detention of Zhong servants. Lord Qin arrests him after the women are produced bound and gagged. Jinqiu subsequently drugs Youyan during an off-site meeting; betrayal by her own family forces her to accept the marriage, and she promises the residence will regret it 37 38.

Youyan subsequently becomes the Fourth Branch's principal wife and manages the household on Jinqiu's behalf. Her financial leverage allows her to challenge both Jin'an and Marquis Jing'an. Jinqiu later grows gravely ill because she secretly tampers with his medicine 58 61 130.

Threatened Confiscation

The Empress Dowager threatens confiscation of the residence and punishment of the Xie clan if they obstruct her plans for Wanwan. She also recognizes that confiscation would harm Liu Wan. These are threats at this stage, not a completed destruction of the estate 40 41.

After Liu Wan's divorce, Xia Siheng also threatens to confiscate the Xie Residence if Marquis Jing'an returns to harass her household. No completed confiscation of the residence is documented in that confrontation 144.

Financial Collapse and the Zhong Bailout

Madam Li returns expecting to exercise household authority, but disputes over Jinzhao's proposed marriage reveal that Zhong Youyan has been managing affairs rather than Liu Wan. When Jin'an attempts to subordinate Youyan's decision to Madam Li, she refuses responsibility without authority 60 61.

The accountant then exposes a deficit of 180,000 taels, four months of unpaid allowances, and the continued operation of losing businesses. He explains that Liu Wan's dowry had kept the household solvent and warns that its property could be sold to repay the debt. After criticizing the family's treatment of Liu Wan, he resigns 61.

Old Madam and Madam Li attempt to obtain a 200,000-tael rescue for the Golden Radiance Jewelry Shop from Zhong Youyan. They offer unrestricted control of the inner household and greater standing for Jinqiu's branch, but she insists on consulting her birth family. By the later imperial-property dispute, she has secured the money and covered the household's shortfall 63 79.

The Crown Prince's Visit and Huai Shan's Spiritual Attack

Crown Prince Xia Qianlin visits to deliver the disaster-relief decree and bring the residence's predicted “noble infant” to the palace at Consort Ling's request. The household assumes Huai Shan is the child whose presence cured her leg ailment and eagerly anticipates further honors. During the same visit, Qianlin recognizes Zi Mu's scholarly talent despite Jin'an's dismissive introduction 70.

Later, Huai Shan cultivates beside the residence's rockery pond using a Śarīra Fragment. He sends a soul to attack Qianlin in the palace, but Wanwan expels it and forces it to return the stolen Dragon Qi. The backlash leaves Huai Shan collapsed at the manor, where attendants struggle to obtain help because the physician is away and Xu Rourou has departed with Jin'an and the Death-Exemption Token 75.

Punishment over Missing Imperial Property

After Jin'an is summoned to the palace, Zhong Youyan searches the residence under the pretext of investigating a theft. To protect Liu Wan, she removes two bolts of imperial shu brocade from Liu Wan's room and falsely claims to have found them in Xu Rourou's quarters 78.

The emperor recognizes the brocade as a gift to the Fifth Princess and punishes the household. Xu Rourou is jailed for questioning, her father Xu Bo is ordered executed, Jin'an loses his office and is confined to the residence, and Youyan is fined 30,000 taels. Those who knew about the missing imperial property are ordered caned. Liu Wan's token and jade pendant are confiscated, and her Imperial Lady title is revoked 78.

Back at the residence, Youyan demands a divorce and threatens to end her financial support. Madam Li begs her to remain, acknowledging that the Zhong bailout saved the estate. Despite the disaster, the family begins treating Xu Rourou's supposed royal ancestry as another possible means of recovery 79.

Loss of Title and Liu Wan's Departure

The residence sends observers to watch Xu Rourou at the Embassy. When they see Commandery Princess Yan'er escort her to Prince Shuo's Manor, Old Madam wrongly interprets the outing as evidence that the Eldest Princess will acknowledge Xu Rourou and support her return as household mistress 94.

An explosion destroys Madam Li's roof and brings servants and stewards out to investigate possible intruders. A maid reports seeing Wanwan and Pan Chun nearby, but Madam Li dismisses the idea that so small a child could be responsible 96.

Eunuch Yu subsequently announces that the household has repeatedly affronted imperial dignity and allowed Old Madam to leave confinement and assault the emperor. The hereditary title is revoked, and Jing'an Marquis Manor becomes the Xie Residence 99.

Jin'an later plans to elevate Xu Rourou to equal-wife status and give her a separate courtyard. Liu Wan uses the required clan-genealogy process as an opportunity to obtain a divorce agreement. By the subsequent reports, she has moved to a new home, while the Xie Residence faces public condemnation for favoring concubines, mistreating wives, and abusing the Liu family's gratitude 101 109 112.

Passersby spit into the residence while a new gate is installed. Minister Liu's reported life-threatening collapse intensifies hostility toward Marquis Jing'an before his return, and officials threaten impeachment 109.

Marquis Jing'an's Return and Household Retaliation

At the imperial banquet marking his return from war, Marquis Jing'an learns that the household has lost its hereditary title, been expelled from the clan genealogy, and become notorious for mistreating Liu Wan. The emperor clears the old treason charge without restoring the family's hereditary standing 121.

Lightning at the banquet leaves Jing'an scorched black. When he finally reaches home, Qing Da rejects him as an impostor, rallies the guards, and attacks him with a stick. Zi Mu's orders lead to Jing'an being beaten and taken to jail, where he encounters Jin'an and Madam Li and the family erupts into a violent confrontation 124 128 129.

Returned by officials the following day, Jing'an assaults Qing Da, his younger sons, and Li Duoduo. Zhong Youyan evades his attempted slap and reminds him that Zhong money supplies the household. He orders Zi Mu and Qing Da beaten and confined over the false examination-success notice used in Liu Wan's divorce 130.

The Eldest Princess's burlap sack is then opened to reveal Old Madam, starving, paralyzed after a stroke, and unable to speak clearly. Jing'an appoints Xu Rourou to care for her and manage the residence. Rourou uses additional medicine and restrictions on visitors to prevent Old Madam from revealing her origins 130 131.

Loss of Military Command and Scapegoating

Jing'an's attempt to obtain Liu Wan's help ends in confrontation outside the Liu Residence. Xia Siheng rejects the Xies' claims over Liu Wan and Princess Ximing and bars the family from entering 143 144.

Jing'an then accuses Xia Siheng of seeking power through the mother and daughter. The emperor turns the accusation against him, demands his 13,000 troops, and dismisses him from office. A deputy general returns the collapsed Jing'an to the Xie Residence 145 146.

Seeking to free detained relatives and repair the family's reputation, Jinzhao proposes blaming theft on Qing Da and treating Zi Mu's fraudulent examination claim as his own crime. Jing'an accepts the plan and wants Zhong Youyan to fund bribes. Xu Rourou initially welcomes the possibility of making Huai Shan the eldest legitimate son, but panics when Jinzhao tells her that the hereditary marquisate has already been abolished 147 148.

Old Madam's Poisoning and the Family's Public Scandal

When Jin'an returns with Huai Shan, Zhong Youyan reports that Xu Rourou borrowed the Medicine Storeroom key and that poison is missing. The physician confirms that Old Madam died of poisoning. Jing'an attacks Xu Rourou, Huai Shan, and Madam Li, but Jin'an confronts him to protect his mother 158.

The household postpones Old Madam's funeral and moves her body into a side room. Rather than immediately pursuing punishment, Jing'an accepts Jinzhao's proposal to force the Eldest Princess to acknowledge Xu Rourou, hoping that a royal marriage connection will restore the family's offices and fortunes 158.

Madam Li is later caught attempting to elope with Xu Xinbo. In public, she describes years of neglect and violence after Jing'an inherited the title, explains that Xinbo offered her affection at Golden Mountain Temple, and exposes Jing'an's sexual impotence. Jin'an restrains his father, defends his mother, and asks the Eldest Princess to save Xu Rourou from Jing'an's threats 164.

Criminal Investigation of the Xie Businesses

Evidence against Jing'an includes an imperial gold ingot engraved with the residence's name and letters presented as proof that he arranged Minister Liu's kidnapping. The evidence undermines the household's longstanding claim that the Liu family owes its survival to Jing'an's generosity 169.

During a later investigation, Lord Qin raids the Xie Residence, which has yet to install a front gate. Acting on information from the Prince that the family is likely implicated, he orders searches and the arrest of anyone who obstructs them 183.

Saiban's interrogation subsequently exposes an illicit trade network operating for more than twenty years. His answers identify Xie Jian as its original leader, Jinqian as its current operator, and the Golden Radiance Jewelry Shop as a laundering front. The emperor orders covert raids but notes the difficulty of proving Jinqian's personal guilt after he and Jinzhao have cut ties with the family 189.

The emperor allows a monitored attempt to rescue Xie Jian from jail. The Masked Sorcerer substitutes a puppet and takes him to a secluded estate, where Jinqian reveals that the apparent rescue is intended to send their father to Southern Yue dead rather than help him escape 189.

Later Commission to Daoist Huiyue

A later passage records that the Xie Residence has commissioned Daoist Huiyue. Huiyue temporarily sets that work aside when Duke Yan's people contact him, but the nature and outcome of the Xie commission are not specified 400.

Foreknown Original-Story Events

These events belong to the original plot known to Wanwan, rather than the residence's documented present:

• Liu Wan's death: The male lead drives her to death, and the residence fails to give her a proper burial 19.
• Qing Da's fate: After returning on foot from the frontier over two years, he repairs Liu Wan's grave, offers incense, and dies beside it 19.
• Jinqiu's betrayal: He uses his wife's wealth to gain political support, assists the male lead, and secretly drugs Liu Wan 32.

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