Eunuch Changshun

Biodata

Feature	Value
Name	Changshun (长顺) 2
Alias(es)	Eunuch Changshun (长顺公公); “Uncle Changshun,” used by Jiang Yingcheng 11 13
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Great Rui imperial palace; Emperor Mingze’s personal attendants 1 3
Occupation/Role	Chief eunuch; Emperor Mingze’s longest-serving eunuch and trusted personal attendant 3
Status	Alive in his latest documented appearance; warned of a future death by poisoning 3 48
First Appearance	Chapter 1 1

Background / History

Changshun has attended Emperor Mingze, Jiang Yanchuan, for many years, managing his daily needs and enjoying his deep trust. His familiarity with the emperor allows him to interpret small changes in expression, including whether the sovereign objects to his affectionate treatment of Jiang Yingcheng 3.

His standing makes him immediately recognizable to palace servants. Even in the neglected Fragrant Pavilion, the abusive maid Zuilan recognizes him at once and drops to her knees. Consort Lan likewise regards his presence as protection against Noble Consort Rou’s influence 15 30.

Personality

Changshun combines careful court etiquette with a warm, almost grandfatherly attachment to Jiang Yingcheng. Her spontaneous affection quickly wins him over, and her determination to protect him gives him what he describes inwardly as his first experience of someone standing up for him. He prepares sweets and toys for her journeys, carries her when she is tired, and finds her sincerity especially precious after years of palace scheming 3 7 11 27 28.

He is shrewd rather than blindly indulgent. He plays along with Yingcheng’s performances while often recognizing the deception behind them, but remains firm when she invents excuses to avoid school. Toward abusive servants, his kindness gives way to intimidation and decisive orders 13 16 30 31 46.

Hearing Yingcheng’s thoughts leaves him torn between amusement and anxiety. Officials’ private scandals entertain him, but warnings of public disaster trouble his conscience. Imperial secrets are particularly uncomfortable because the emperor knows that Changshun has overheard them 5 22 24.

Abilities & Skills

Hearing Jiang Yingcheng’s Thoughts

Changshun first recognizes that he can hear Yingcheng’s unspoken voice while escorting her to the imperial physician. He watches her face closely enough to confirm that she has not spoken aloud 3.

• Hidden information: Her thoughts disclose his predicted poisoning, official corruption, threats to imperial children, and an assassin’s hiding place 3 5 22 31.
• Selective access: Emperor Mingze theorizes that mutual affection determines who can hear her; Changshun is one of his examples 7.
• Recognizing other listeners: He realizes that Consort Qing and Consort Lan can also hear Yingcheng’s thoughts 17.
• Limits: He struggles to remember a rapid stream of revelations for later reporting. Yingcheng remains unaware that he can hear her 17 24.

Palace Authority and Intimidation

Years beside Emperor Mingze have taught Changshun to imitate much of the emperor’s icy bearing. This is particularly effective against inexperienced palace servants 16.

• Pressures Miaoxi when she refuses to identify the residence she serves 16.
• Orders attendants to remove Zuilan for abusing her mistress and disrespecting the princess 31.
• Summons assistance, directs eunuchs, and relays messages and imperial summons 26 43.

Discretion and Protective Coordination

Changshun uses plausible explanations and carefully managed appearances to support the emperor’s plans without revealing Yingcheng’s unusual ability 13 24 28.

• Pretends to have wandered accidentally to Fragrant Pavilion and plays along with Yingcheng’s hide-and-seek scheme 13.
• Manages the Imperial Garden incidents arranged by the emperor to help Yingcheng earn merit points 26 28.
• Orders quiet movement and summons nearby hidden guards before approaching the assassin’s room 32.
• Recommends Yuan Liangping as a teaching assistant so he can report Yingcheng’s classroom revelations to the emperor 48.

Story Role / Major Arcs

Yingcheng’s Injury and the Poisoning Warning

• Notices Yingcheng’s forehead wound, rebukes the attendants for failing to summon a physician, and orders medical help 1.
• Carries out the emperor’s search of the surrounding snow and presents the recovered cuff button, providing evidence connected to the attack on Yingcheng 2.
• Learns through her thoughts that a eunuch near him is destined to poison him, leaving him bleeding from all seven orifices 3.
• Yingcheng stages a fall to secure that eunuch’s punishment. Changshun reports the beating and recommends expulsion, following her original plan. The emperor instead asks whether he wants to discover who stands behind the would-be poisoner 7.

Court Revelations and Palace Intrigue

• Hears warnings about a dangerously repaired moat embankment and worries that remaining silent could cost innocent lives, while not knowing how to explain his source 5.
• Asks whether the Seventh Prince should receive better care after hearing that he will eventually restore Great Rui. The emperor chooses to give Yingcheng time to improve their relationship first 9.
• Escorts Yingcheng to Fragrant Pavilion, where his presence gives Consort Lan confidence that she can resist Miaoxi’s suspicious summons 13 15.
• Helps expose Miaoxi’s connection to Noble Consort Rou and explains the incident to Consort Qing. Qing later leaves him outside Flowing Splendor Hall so he can discreetly report events to the emperor 16 20.
• Accompanies Yingcheng and Yuan Liangping toward Wuyang Hall, trying to retain the officials’ scandals revealed along the way 24.

The Fragrant Pavilion Assassin

• Stops Zuilan’s attack on the children and orders her removal after Yingcheng exposes her longstanding abuse of Consort Lan and Jiang Xingran 30 31.
• Joins the search for the assassin who attacked Emperor Mingze the previous month, with both protection and the prospect of earning credit motivating him 31.
• Calls in hidden guards beforehand, then shields Yingcheng with his own trembling body when the armed assassin emerges 32.
• Supports Lu Yao’s account crediting Jiang Xingran with the decisive arrow shot, although Lu Yao actually fired it 34.

Duke Wang’s Case and Palace School

• Accompanies Lu Yao and Yingcheng to the Court of Judicial Review, immediately understanding that Lu Yao wants her system’s help to uncover the truth behind Duke Wang’s imprisonment 34.
• Protects Yingcheng during the prison visit and takes her away after the revelations provide Lu Yao with a lead to a surviving witness 35.
• Escorts her to school despite repeated excuses, then responds when she stages an accusation against Jiang Yunjian while defending Jiang Xingran 46 47.
• Recommends Yuan Liangping for the school post that lets him monitor and report her unspoken discoveries 48.

Relationships

• Emperor Mingze / Jiang Yanchuan — Longtime master who deeply trusts him. Changshun understands his mannerisms, carries out his instructions, and becomes aware that they both hear Yingcheng’s thoughts 3 7 9.
• Jiang Yingcheng — Affectionate charge who calls him “Uncle.” Her concern for his predicted death inspires his protective devotion, though her schemes regularly leave him speechless 3 7 27 31 47.
• Consort Lan / Cheng Yunmeng — His authority offers her protection from hostile palace servants. He also supports the account giving her son credit for defeating the assassin 15 30 34.
• Jiang Xingran — Advocates for better treatment of the Seventh Prince and helps preserve the credit assigned to him after the assassin’s capture 9 34.
• Noble Consort Qing — Explains Miaoxi’s deception to her and serves as a discreet channel through which the emperor can learn about her confrontation with Noble Consort Rou 16 20.
• Lu Yao — Cooperates with him after the assassin’s capture and escorts Yingcheng alongside him during the investigation into Duke Wang’s framing 34 35.
• Yuan Liangping — Recognizes his usefulness as a listener and recommends him for a teaching-assistant post with a covert reporting duty 24 48.

Notable Quotes

“Your Highness, watch your step.” 3

“This is the assassin who attacked His Majesty last month! Whoever captures him will be richly rewarded!” 32

“This servant’s bones are still plenty sturdy. Carrying your little bit of weight is easy.” 27