Nan Zhen

Biodata

Feature	Information
Name	Nan Zhen (南鸩)
Alias(es)	Madam Nan; Scorpion Beauty; Jiang Zhizi (former name) 96 106 275
Gender	Female
Affiliation	Nan Family
Occupation/Role	De facto controller of the Nan Family; formerly its Second Madam 94 273
Status	Alive 402
First Appearance	Chapter 96

Relationship Progression

Stage / Value	Chapter	Notes
12%	105	Her affection for Shen Qingling had risen following their early interactions.
30%	105	Her feelings increase further while using seduction as part of the Nan Family's plan.
80%	144	Shen Qingling's System records the unknown goddess's progress bar reaching 80 after Nan Zhen believes he died in the fire.
100	211	Her heartbeat value reaches 100 after her deception is exposed and she begs Shen Qingling for forgiveness.

Appearance

Nan Zhen is an exceptionally beautiful, refined woman whose mature charm and elegant bearing make her striking wherever she appears. She is often associated with fitted cheongsams, cigarettes, and an outwardly composed smile. 96 97

• Wears form-fitting cheongsams. 96
• Has a sharp, mature beauty contrasting with more delicate-looking women such as Jiang Yuning. 262
• Possesses a soft southern manner of speech that can sound coquettish when she teases Shen Qingling. 103
• Maintains an elegant, noble façade even while directing violence. 96 208

Personality

Nan Zhen is calculating, ruthless, and highly protective of the people she considers family. As the hidden power behind the Nan Family, she is capable of ordering extreme retaliation and personally punishing subordinates who compromise the family. 94 96

Her cruelty developed from a life defined by poverty, forced marriage attempts, abuse, and entrapment within the Nan Family. She became the “Scorpion Beauty” to protect Shui Xin and Nan Yan, sacrificing her own freedom and reputation in the process. 272 273 274

Shen Qingling disrupts her usual composure. She initially treats him as a means to interfere with the Gu–Sheng marriage alliance, but becomes increasingly sincere, jealous, remorseful, and desperate to regain his trust after her original motive is exposed. 105 208 262 327

Abilities & Skills

Leadership and Underworld Authority

Nan Zhen is the Nan Family's actual decision-maker, with Nan Yan serving as its nominal head. The family controls major casinos in Jiangcheng and has influence across both legal and illegal circles. 94 96 203

• Directs Nan Family enforcers and subordinates. 96
• Exercises decisive authority over retaliation, punishment, and internal discipline. 96
• Holds enough influence that prominent Jiangcheng figures attend her birthday banquet. 203
• Maintains the Nan Family's balance between legitimate business contacts and criminal interests. 203

Scheming and Manipulation

Nan Zhen is experienced in conspiracy and social maneuvering, having risen through the Nan Family's internal struggles before becoming its controlling force. 98 273

• Participated in Nan Yi's campaign to eliminate succession rivals. 273
• Used a honey trap involving Shen Qingling to disrupt the Gu–Sheng marriage alliance and gain disputed land. 99 105 208
• Uses indirect answers and carefully selected information when dealing with threats or difficult questions. 190
• Investigates perceived romantic rivals and adjusts her strategy around them. 262

Seduction

Nan Zhen knowingly uses her beauty, charm, and intimate teasing to unsettle Shen Qingling, though her attraction eventually exceeds her original plan. 104 105

• Teases Shen Qingling through calligraphy lessons and flirtatious conversation. 103 104 194
• Takes the initiative in pursuing him, including arranging private encounters at the Nan residence. 400 401
• Carefully stages an alluring bath behind a screen to tempt him. 402
• Her attempts at control can be overturned when Shen Qingling responds assertively. 404

Background

Born Jiang Zhizi in the impoverished southern village of Guimeng, Nan Zhen faced cruelty from her family from childhood. At twelve, she resisted being sold as a concubine by stabbing the intended husband; later, she fled another attempt to force her into a ghost marriage, only to be captured and returned. 275

While pregnant, Shui Xin encountered Jiang Zhizi and brought her to the Nan Family, where she gave her a new name. Jiang Zhizi insisted on retaining the character “Zhen,” becoming Nan Zhen. Shui Xin treated her as a younger sister, and Nan Zhen repaid that kindness with lifelong loyalty. 272

After Shui Xin was falsely accused of infidelity and confined, Nan Zhen endured hard labor, beatings from Nan Qi, and repeated threats arising from her beauty. Despite opportunities to escape through marriage, she remained to support Shui Xin and raise Nan Yan. 272

Nan Zhen gradually learned intrigue under the Third Madam and became her capable assistant. She later allied with Nan Yi, believing his promise to protect Shui Xin and Nan Yan if he became patriarch. 273

Nan Yi betrayed that agreement after gaining power. He forced Shui Xin into marriage and made Nan Zhen his Second Madam, using her as both a hostage and an instrument for murder and silencing witnesses. Nan Yi never consummated his marriage with Nan Zhen, but the title trapped her in the Nan Family and subjected her to humiliation. 273

Following Shui Xin's death, Nan Zhen became Nan Yan's adoptive mother in accordance with Shui Xin's final request. She poisoned Nan Yi, after which Nan Yan became patriarch; despite his title, Nan Zhen became the family's true power. 94 273

Relationships

• Shen Qingling — Initially a target in Nan Zhen's plan to disrupt the Gu–Sheng marriage alliance; she develops genuine love for him, loses his trust when her deception is exposed, and continues seeking reconciliation. 105 208 262 327
• Nan Yan — Adoptive son and closest family member. Nan Zhen raised and protected him after Shui Xin's downfall; together they control the Nan Family. 97 273
• Shui Xin — Benefactor and sister-like figure who rescued Nan Zhen from poverty and brought her into the Nan Family. Nan Zhen devoted her life to protecting Shui Xin and her son. 272 274
• Nan Yi — Former ally and later captor. He made Nan Zhen the Second Madam to bind her to the family; she ultimately poisoned him. 273
• Sheng Mo — Rival for Shen Qingling and opponent in the dispute over land and the Gu–Sheng marriage alliance. Their conflict includes Sheng Mo exposing Nan Zhen's original scheme. 122 208
• Xie Huainian / Xiao Nian — A child under the Nan Family's care. Nan Zhen and Nan Yan repeatedly use his bond with Shen Qingling to bring Shen Qingling to the Nan residence. 105 190 262

Story Role / Major Arcs

Introduction and the Honey Trap

Nan Zhen is introduced as the feared woman behind the Nan Family, reputed to be more dangerous than Nan Yan. She and Nan Yan approach Shen Qingling under the guise of cooperation, then decide to use her attraction as a honey trap to prevent the Gu–Sheng marriage alliance and secure disputed land. 94 96 99

Although she knows Shen Qingling is aware of her seduction, his kindness and moral restraint affect her deeply. She recognizes that he belongs to “the light” while she walks in darkness, yet continues the plan. 105 109 110

Fire at the Sheng Residence

Nan Zhen's scheme to eliminate Sheng Mo results in a fire at the Sheng Family residence. When Sheng Mo survives but Shen Qingling goes missing, Nan Zhen panics, blames Nan Yan's planning, and is driven nearly mad by the belief that she caused Shen Qingling's death. 141

Sheng Mo exploits this grief by convincing Nan Zhen that Shen Qingling is dead. Nan Zhen collapses in the rain from emotional exhaustion, revealing that her feelings have surpassed her original ambitions. 143 144

Exposure and Separation

At Nan Zhen's birthday banquet, Shen Qingling arrives injured after kneeling in the rain for hours to attend. His devotion moves Nan Zhen and convinces Nan Yan that Shen Qingling truly loves her. 204 205

Sheng Mo later plays a recording revealing Nan Zhen's initial motive: using Shen Qingling to disrupt the marriage alliance for land. Shen Qingling is devastated, while Nan Zhen loses her composure and begs him for another chance. 208

Redemption Attempts

Nan Zhen tries to reconnect with Shen Qingling at an orphanage, but he treats her coldly and openly criticizes the Nan Family's past manipulation. Jealous of Jiang Yuning, Nan Zhen nevertheless resolves to keep fighting for Shen Qingling rather than give up. 262

She later takes a bullet intended for Shen Qingling, leaving her severely injured. Shen Qingling spends nearly all of his System points on medicine to save her, recognizing the depth of her feelings. 269

Revealing Her Past

While recovering, Nan Zhen allows her history to be revealed to Shen Qingling. Nan Yan recounts her sacrifices for Shui Xin and himself, while Nan Zhen shares her earlier life as Jiang Zhizi. Shen Qingling reassures her that her acts of survival do not make her disgraceful. 271 275 277

Renewed Pursuit

Nan Zhen remains direct and possessive in her pursuit of Shen Qingling. She demands that he fulfill a promise to her amid the attention of several other women, then brings him to the Nan residence under the pretext of comforting him and Xiao Nian's longing. 368 400

At the residence, she openly teases and seduces him in her study while Nan Yan prevents others from interrupting. 401 402 404

Trivia

• Nan Zhen's original name, Jiang Zhizi, was inspired by the season of gardenia blossoms in which she was born. 275
• She rejected the name Shui Xin initially chose for her and specifically insisted on using the character “Zhen.” 272
• Her reputation as the “Scorpion Beauty” originates from the ruthless methods she adopted to survive and protect Shui Xin and Nan Yan. 106 273
• Despite being publicly known as Nan Yan's mother, Nan Zhen is his adoptive mother rather than his biological parent. 97 273