Bolao

Biodata

Background / History

Bolao came out of the Cold Palace before entering the Crown Prince’s service. Among Qi Yuanzuo’s attendants, he was the only one the prince identified as not belonging to the Qi Emperor’s network of spies. This independence made him useful despite the danger he posed 9 13.

Original Novel and Previous Timeline

In the original novel known to Qi Yuanzuo, Bolao approached the Crown Prince after the prince saved his life. His professed gratitude concealed a calculated interest in exploiting the prince’s claustrophobia 5.

Qi Chengyou remembers Bolao as a pawn planted beside the Crown Prince by the Fourth Prince. During the rebellion, Bolao passed information to the rebels and led eunuchs in exploiting the Crown Prince’s fear of darkness and enclosed spaces to imprison him inside the hall. They also forged an imperial decree and opened the palace gates to the rebels 20.

Knowing this history, the present Qi Yuanzuo keeps Bolao nearby both to monitor him and to preserve an attendant outside his father’s surveillance network. He also regards Bolao’s ability to serve multiple masters as a talent worth testing, describing him as an observation subject in an experiment on human nature 13 43.

Appearance

• Youthful: Described as a young eunuch; no exact age is given 9.
• Deceptively meek expression: Habitually lowers his eyes and presents himself as obedient, concealing hostile or calculating looks 7 13.
• Convincing appearance of distress: His face can make a small grievance appear much greater, helping him seem pitiful when punished 35 36.

Personality

Bolao combines outward submission with persistent attempts to control others. Qi Yuanzuo characterizes him as a manipulative psychopath who cannot be won over through gratitude or small favors. His apparent concern often disregards explicit refusals, gradually pushing the prince toward accepting his interference 5 19.

His early hostility develops into an obsessive desire for Qi Yuanzuo’s attention. After the prince exposes his manipulation, Bolao desperately submits; later, sincere acknowledgment of his efforts gives him a sense of fulfillment that his earlier flattery never achieved 20 23. This change does not eliminate his possessiveness. He resents affection shown to Qi Chengyou and perceives Jiang Liang as a rival who might replace him 24 35 42.

Bolao can interpret punishment itself as proof of special treatment. During the confrontation over Lady Zhou, he welcomes the prince’s anger and physical blows because they reveal emotions he believes are reserved for him. Qi Yuanzuo recognizes that his dangerous impulses have been suppressed rather than erased 34 35 36.

Abilities & Skills

Psychological Manipulation

• Uses repeated acts of “care” to wear down resistance, including warming the prince’s feet, urging more food after he is full, and insisting on candy with medicine 19 20.
• Presents himself as an injured, devoted servant, making punishment appear unreasonable to onlookers 19 35.
• Tailors suggestions to palace tensions: his proposed chrysanthemum gift would have angered Lady Zhou while appearing generous 7.
• Limitation: Qi Yuanzuo recognizes these tactics, explicitly identifies them, and refuses to treat persistence as loyalty 7 20.

Palace Intrigue

• Previously operated across several allegiances, working openly for the Crown Prince while secretly aiding other factions 20 43.
• Claims to have arranged for servants with grudges against Lady Zhou to guard the Cold Palace, using authority derived from the Crown Prince 36.
• Gives Jiang Liang information about the prince’s visits to the Nine Bends corridor while privately hoping she will cross a taboo or provoke a noble 42.
• Limitation: Acting without authorization repeatedly brings him into conflict with Qi Yuanzuo 35 36.

Personal Attendance and Cooking

• Reconstructs the soup-filled buns Qi Yuanzuo had requested and arranges a successful trial through the private kitchen 15.
• Assists with clothing, shoes, meals, medicine, and carrying the young prince 7 13 15 23 29.
• Reacts quickly to immediate danger, carrying Qi Yuanzuo clear of a thrown incense burner and later pulling the prince and the Third Prince to safety 12 33.
• Rushes into the rain to summon an imperial physician when Qi Yuanzuo falls ill from fright 23.

Relationships

• Qi Yuanzuo — Master and focus of Bolao’s possessive attachment. Qi Yuanzuo knowingly retains him as a potentially useful but dangerous subordinate, demanding obedience rather than unsolicited interference 20 35 36 43.
• Qi Chengyou, the Eldest Prince — Recognizes Bolao’s previous-timeline treachery, kicks him, and repeatedly urges Qi Yuanzuo not to employ him. Bolao later envies the affection Qi Yuanzuo shows his brother 20 24.
• The Qi Emperor — Rewards Bolao for saving the Crown Prince and tacitly permits him to remain in service. Bolao is nevertheless distinguished from the emperor’s spies 9 13.
• Jiang Liang — A perceived rival. Bolao suspects she wants his position, directs her curiosity toward a dangerous palace location, and later offers to take charge of training her 42 48 50.
• Simiao and Fat Eunuch — Fellow attendants who attempt to persuade him to admit wrongdoing. Bolao later criticizes Simiao’s handling of Jiang Liang and proposes replacing her as the girl’s instructor 35 50.
• Lady Zhou — Target of his unauthorized retaliation after her attempt to implicate Qi Yuanzuo in the Third Prince’s near-death. He admits arranging hostile guards around her but denies personally attacking her 35 36.
• The Fourth Prince — Bolao’s concealed master in Qi Chengyou’s remembered previous timeline 20.

Story Role / Major Arcs

Early Attempts to Influence the Crown Prince

Bolao initially hides violent intentions beneath diligent service, imagining killing Qi Yuanzuo while sweeping outside his window. His attempt to turn the prince’s chrysanthemums into an offensive gift for Lady Zhou is rejected with a slap, leaving him uncertain how much the three-year-old prince understands 5 7.

Rescue and Personal Appointment

After carrying Qi Yuanzuo out of the path of the Empress Dowager’s incense burner, Bolao receives a generous imperial reward. He subsequently wins a personal-attendant appointment by successfully preparing soup-filled buns, gaining the close access he had sought 12 13 15.

Exposure and Submission

Qi Yuanzuo punishes Bolao’s repeated boundary violations, while Qi Chengyou warns against trusting him. After Bolao collapses, the prince revives him with warm water, lists his manipulative behavior, and exposes the hostility beneath his meek expression. Bolao responds with a desperate pledge to serve and obey 18 19 20.

When Bolao later fetches a physician without trying to advertise his effort, Qi Yuanzuo thanks him and asks about his injured knees. Bolao realizes that genuine service has earned the acknowledgment his calculated displays could not 23.

Unauthorized Retaliation Against Lady Zhou

Bolao supports Qi Yuanzuo during the Third Prince’s medical crisis and testifies that Lady Zhou obstructed the rescue 31 32. After her confinement, he secretly visits the Cold Palace. Qi Yuanzuo confronts him with scratches, lingering fragrance, and bloodstained shoes, accusing him of fighting and wanting to kill her 35.

Bolao denies killing anyone or laying hands on Lady Zhou, but admits placing servants hostile to her on guard duty. The prince grants another chance while explicitly warning that further unauthorized action will not be forgiven 36.

Rivalry with Jiang Liang

Fearing replacement, Bolao feeds Jiang Liang information about the Nine Bends corridor while hoping her investigation will get her punished. She subsequently encounters Zhaoyi Wei and is beaten; Bolao shows a faint, shrewd smile when Qi Yuanzuo learns of her injuries 42 47 48.

His satisfaction turns to resentment when Qi Yuanzuo decides to defend Jiang Liang. During the confrontation with Zhaoyi Wei, Bolao invokes the Crown Prince’s authority against her, then tries to use Jiang Liang’s poor etiquette to obtain control over her training 49 50.

Notable Quotes

“This servant knows his guilt! This servant truly wishes to serve at Your Highness's side!” 20

“Your Highness, this servant's loyalty will always belong to you.” 36