Chen Yu

Biodata

Power Progression

Background / History

Childhood and Family

Chen Yu was born after his father’s death. His grandfather entrusted Chen Yang with caring for the widowed Ji Shihua and her son until Chen Yu could establish his own household. Chen Yang continued honoring that arrangement after the grandfather died, housing them beside his own residence with a connecting gate. He taught Chen Yu his first lessons and martial arts, while Chen Jin doted on her nephew 4 5.

Previous Life: Revenge against Great Zhou

Emperor Zhou destroyed the Chen household after accusing it of hoarding armor for rebellion. Chen Yang died, and Chen Jin, then Empress Chen, was made to take her own life. Chen Yu survived because his teacher rescued him, allowing him to live under an assumed identity. He made revenge his purpose, remained concealed for fifteen years, and eventually entered court intending to destroy Great Zhou’s Mandate 4 5 14.

Unable to strike directly at Emperor Zhou, Chen Yu targeted Wu Junji. He considered the isolated Crown Prince an ideal puppet or stepping stone, then became determined to break him when he proved resistant. He undermined Wu Junji’s confidence, drew away his teacher and household officials, and used the affection of his fiancée to deepen his humiliation. He also conspired with the Second Prince against him 9 23 49.

Their relationship nevertheless included genuine assistance. Chen Yu taught Wu Junji during much of his early study under Ruan Yuan and managed the Crown Prince’s residence for five years. His intercession secured Wu Junji’s release after ten days of starvation in prison, and he later maneuvered at court to support the Crown Prince’s interception of the imperial procession and journey north 49.

Chen Yu’s most destructive betrayal was burning the Peaceful People’s Encyclopedia: 5,700 volumes, more than one hundred million characters, and ten years of Wu Junji’s work. The fire destroyed their bond as fellow disciples and left Wu Junji increasingly withdrawn 5.

Wu Junji’s refusal to surrender, his suppression of unrest despite illness, and his exhausting work for the realm gradually overturned Chen Yu’s contempt. Chen Yu eventually swore allegiance and placed his faith in the man he had tried to tame. Witnessing demons also shattered his “heart of the Dao” 23.

At Wu Junji’s deathbed, others begged the emperor to execute Chen Yu. Wu Junji hated him but refused to order his death; his final plea concerned the five additional years he wanted to secure the realm’s future. That refusal denied Chen Yu the punishment he believed might settle their past 46.

Rebirth and Renewed Allegiance

Chen Yu awoke in his childhood bedroom with his adult memories intact. He rushed barefoot from his room, asked after his family, and only accepted that his rebirth was real after embracing his living mother 5.

When the runaway Wu Junji arrived at the Grand Marshal’s Residence, Chen Yu recognized him and offered sincere loyalty. Wu Junji pointedly asked whether the household would remain lively on the following New Year’s Eve—the date of its destruction in their previous life. Chen Yu answered with a deep bow and an invitation to the family banquet 12.

General Summoning subsequently identified Chen Yu as Wu Junji’s destined assistant, despite the Crown Prince’s refusal to accept him. Before their journey to Jixia Academy, Emperor Zhou gave Chen Yu a Red Cord and explained its uses, tempting him with the possibility of discovering why Wu Junji disliked him. The emperor secretly ordered that Chen Yu be killed if he used it 19 24.

Chen Yu instead offered the cord to Wu Junji so that the Crown Prince could read his thoughts. Once granted fortune, he awakened as a controllable puppet. Wu Junji tested the ability by forcing him to prostrate himself and eat a dirt-covered apple, then offered him a final chance to leave. Chen Yu chose to remain 26 27.

Jixia Academy and Separation

At Jixia Academy, Chen Yu drew his dagger against the men attacking them. A scholar held a blade to Wu Junji’s neck, forcing Chen Yu to surrender. He was taken away, leaving the Crown Prince isolated 27.

Afterward, Chen Yu knelt in punishment at the palace and felt abandoned. Unlike the Second Prince, who continued sharing fortune with his imprisoned retainer, Wu Junji had stopped supporting him through their connection. Chen Jin sought leniency, and Chen Yu was eventually brought to Zhaocheng Palace 41 42.

Emperor Zhou later rejected Chen Yu as an unsuitable protector and arranged for Li Jiu to replace him. Wu Junji severed their fate connection, leaving Chen Yu free but emotionally devastated. Rather than regard freedom as a new beginning, he continued longing for punishment and an end to his unresolved guilt 45 46.

Becoming Eunuch Chen

A month later, Chen Yu appeared in Minglu Academy’s Black Six Class. When Wu Junji ordered him expelled, he presented a token appointing him as the Crown Prince’s personal eunuch. Reading his thoughts through the still-active Red Cord, Wu Junji discovered that Chen Yu had castrated himself to obtain this chance to serve 48 49.

Chen Yu had concealed the act from Chen Jin until it was done. She slapped him in fury and felt she had failed her deceased brother. The Retired Emperor helped spread the news throughout Chang’an, damaging the Chen household’s reputation. Emperor Zhou nevertheless permitted Chen Yu to approach the Crown Prince, while leaving acceptance of his service to Wu Junji 49 50.

Chen Yu also recovered a meteorite die from the burned ruins of Jixia Academy’s Zhou quarters. Knowing the material’s destructive effects from his previous life, he intended neither a normal future nor a full lifespan: he wanted only ten years, or thirteen at most 50.

Appearance

• Child’s body: Six years old during his service to the Crown Prince; his physique and martial development are insufficient for an independent protector’s role 45.
• Fine-looking: Emperor Zhou describes him as a fine-looking young man 24.
• Habitually composed: His expression remains calm through both advancement and disgrace. At Minglu Academy, he kneels upright with his head lowered in deliberate deference 49.

Personality

In his previous life, Chen Yu was proud, aloof, and controlling. He treated Wu Junji’s dependence as proof of his own superiority and wanted the Crown Prince to believe that he was nothing without him. His outlook is summarized by the principle, “Better I betray everyone under Heaven than let anyone under Heaven betray me” 12 23 46.

His eventual allegiance does not erase his manipulative instincts. After rebirth, he abandons his former future to seek proximity to Wu Junji, staking his reputation and family line on the Crown Prince’s reluctance to kill him. He insists that his self-castration is not a threat, yet explicitly asks for pity and relies on Wu Junji remembering their shared hardships 49 50.

Remorse becomes his dominant motivation. Although he feels guilty toward many people, Wu Junji is the one person to whom he wants to offer atonement. He welcomes the prospect of revenge, seeks death rather than ordinary happiness, and cannot let go because Wu Junji refuses to give their relationship a final punitive ending 24 41 46.

Abilities & Skills

Puppet

Chen Yu’s General Summoning ability takes the form of a puppet because Wu Junji most needs a warrior who cannot betray him 26.

• Fortune-enhanced durability: Sharing human emperor fortune makes him exceptionally durable 26.
• Compulsory obedience: He cannot resist his lord’s commands while the ability is active 26.
• Controller-dependent combat: His effectiveness depends on Wu Junji’s mental speed and control, rather than durability alone 26.
• Hostage limitation: At Jixia Academy, Wu Junji cannot control him well enough to kill the attackers in a single blow before the Crown Prince is threatened 27.
• Dependent activation: Wu Junji’s withdrawal of fortune releases him from immediate puppet control. Their permanent fate bond is later severed 27 46.

Red Cord Mind Link

The Red Cord links their minds in one direction, allowing Wu Junji to perceive Chen Yu’s thoughts 26 41 49.

• Chen Yu offers the connection as evidence of sincerity 26.
• He cannot use their established link to read Wu Junji’s thoughts 41.
• The link remains usable after Chen Yu ceases to be the Crown Prince’s summoned general 46 49.

Education and Administration

• Learned his early lessons and martial arts from Chen Yang 5.
• Served as Wu Junji’s teacher for much of his study under Ruan Yuan 49.
• Managed the Crown Prince’s residence for five years and later supported him through court maneuvering 49.
• Retains memories of his previous life, including knowledge of the Chen household’s destruction and meteorites’ harmful effects 5 12 50.

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• Red Cord — Given by Emperor Zhou and offered to Wu Junji. Its stated uses include stealing fortune and establishing a one-way mental link; Chen Yu uses it for the latter 24 26.
• Dagger — Drawn against the attackers at Jixia Academy 27.
• Personal eunuch token — Presented at Minglu Academy to establish his appointment as Wu Junji’s study attendant 49.
• Meteorite dog, previous life — A two-inch carving bestowed by Wu Junji. Chen Yu wore it close to his body; after five years, his internal organs began deteriorating 50.
• Recovered meteorite die — Found in Jixia Academy’s burned ruins, with some golden markings melted and dulled. Chen Yu keeps it despite understanding its danger 50.

Relationships

• Wu Junji — Former target of revenge, teacher’s fellow disciple, lord, and focus of atonement. Their relationship combines betrayal, shared hardship, genuine assistance, and Wu Junji’s refusal to forgive or execute him 5 23 46 49.
• Chen Yang — Paternal uncle and guardian. Raised and educated Chen Yu, maintained a home beside his mother’s household, and hoped he would become a worthy aide to the Crown Prince 5 12.
• Ji Shihua — Mother. Her survival is what finally convinces Chen Yu that he has truly returned to childhood 5 12.
• Chen Jin — Paternal aunt and Imperial Noble Consort. Seeks leniency for him, but is devastated and furious when she learns of his self-castration 41 50.
• Emperor Zhou — Destroyer of Chen Yu’s household in the previous life. In the current life, tests him with the Red Cord, supports his replacement as summoned general, and eventually permits his attempt to serve as a eunuch 5 24 45 49.
• Ruan Yuan — Teacher who rescued Chen Yu from the Chen household’s destruction in the previous course of events 5 41.
• Ruan Zhizhi — Childhood sweetheart in the previous life. She waited unmarried into her twenties while he pursued revenge; he still feels guilty toward her after rebirth 41.
• Wu Junzheng — The Second Prince, with whom Chen Yu conspired against Wu Junji in their previous life 49.
• Li Jiu — Successor to Chen Yu as Wu Junji’s summoned general. The two quietly assess each other when Chen Yu returns at Minglu Academy 45 47 49.

Notable Quotes

“In this life, I ask for nothing else. I wish only to serve at Your Highness’s side. Even as a servant who warms your feet, I would be willing.” 49

“My body is base. This is not meant as a threat. I simply know that Your Highness’s heart is firm as stone. I only... wish to beg for your pity.” 49

Trivia

• Chen Yu is the only living person identified as having witnessed Wu Junji’s entire previous rise from obscurity to imperial power. A historian consulted him when writing Wu Junji’s biography 47.
• The account of his father’s death differs between passages: the early family history says he died of illness, while a later reflection says he died in battle for Great Zhou 5 49.