Qi Yu

Biodata

Background / History

Qi Yu grew up with exceptional access to his father. He began sleeping beside Qi Xiao at two, played with imperial memorials as a toddler, and received his father’s constant care during a bout of smallpox at five. At seven, he persuaded Qi Xiao to take him outside the palace for the lantern festival, returning asleep in his father’s arms with a paper rabbit lantern 4 10.

His mother died during his childhood. Qi Ling remembers her while watching Qi Yu sleep, noting that his younger brother inherited her long eyelashes 4.

Qi Xiao personally selected Qin Wei as Qi Yu’s study companion. By the opening lessons, the two have spent three years using discreet signals to bring Qi Yu’s wandering attention back to class 7.

Appearance

• Hair: Thick, soft black hair, usually secured with a white jade hairpin; frequently becomes tousled or loosely tied 2 4 22.
• Face: Fair complexion and unusually long eyelashes resembling his mother’s 4 6.
• Clothing: Often wears brightly colored robes with rabbit-fur collars. His specially commissioned hunting outfit is slate-blue cloud brocade with ermine trim and a white jade belt ornament 2 6 14.
• Growth: By the later chapters, he has grown noticeably taller and outgrown the sleeves of the previous year’s nightclothes 40 48.

Personality

Qi Yu is lively, talkative, and mischievous. He interrupts lessons with remarks, sketches in his notes, and teases the people closest to him. He is particularly uninhibited around Qi Xiao, openly complaining, arguing, and using deliberately aggrieved expressions to obtain attention or permission 4 8 9 30.

Despite knowing he is favored, he is not indifferent to others’ feelings. After arguing with Qi Ming, he wonders whether his own behavior contributes to his brother’s resentment and offers to speak less in class. His generosity is practical as well as affectionate: he shares food with Qin Wei, makes birthday noodles for his father, and gives substantial financial help to a stranger 9 10 13 47.

His attachment to Qi Xiao also makes him vulnerable to jealousy and fears of being left behind. When distressed, he often withdraws, loses his appetite, or becomes unusually formal instead of explaining himself. His father eventually urges him to speak directly about what troubles him 17 19 26 31 37.

Abilities & Skills

Riding, Archery, and Hunting

• Rides Zaofeng, a steady bay horse prepared for him by Xie Ning 2 3.
• Shoots two rabbits and a pheasant during the hunt and catches a young gray rabbit with his bare hands 3 6.
• Overestimates his strength: drawing an overly heavy bow more than twenty times leaves both arms strained, though his tendons and bones remain unharmed 6.

Classical Studies and Policy Judgment

• Challenges King Wu of Chu’s justification for attacking Sui, earning Grand Tutor Sun’s praise for his reasoning, though he is advised to explain the text before criticizing it 7.
• Connects Mencius’s teaching on preserving resources with the Ministry of Revenue’s need to retain funds for future years 14.
• Identifies errors in recommended examination essays and recognizes the merit of an essay addressing hardship and tax relief in Henan Circuit 24.
• Can explain lessons about “fire consumption” and autumn tax accounts to Qi Xiao 42.
• Remains inconsistent in memorization and written work: he struggles with policy essays, receives criticism for his handwriting, and gives a disjointed account of Emperor Xuan of Han 11 15 47.

Reading Qi Xiao’s Moods

• Notices minute changes in his father’s expression and uses them to judge when he can be bolder 14.
• Recognizes Qi Xiao’s fatigue from the lowered pitch and heavy cadence of his voice, even while waiting outside a meeting 13.
• Has practiced feigned grievance since early childhood, using it to prompt his father to ask what he wants 8 9.

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• White jade qilin hairpin — Birthday gift from Qi Xiao, carved with a small qilin at its head 4.
• Jade pendant — Originally worn by Qi Xiao; given to Qi Yu after he prepared longevity noodles for his father’s birthday 10.
• Cowhide wrist guards — Silver-buckled guards from Qi Ling. Initially described as a loan, they become a gift and help prevent wrist discomfort during calligraphy practice 11.
• Cotton pillow — A worn pillow with faded embroidery that he brings when staying in the imperial bedchamber 9 22.
• Xie Ning’s handkerchief — A plain white handkerchief embroidered with bamboo leaves. Qi Yu keeps it in his sleeve and repeatedly handles it after Xie Ning’s visit 13 14.
• Black silk nightclothes — Four sets ordered by Qi Xiao at Qi Yu’s request, with dark-gold trim and qilin embroidery 48.

Relationships

• Qi Xiao — Father and chief source of comfort. Qi Yu regularly brings him food, keeps him company during work, and seeks reassurance by sleeping beside him 1 9 13 42.
• Qi Ling — Elder brother and crown prince, sharing the same mother. Protects Qi Yu during the hunt, cares for him afterward, and welcomes his visits to the Eastern Palace 3 4 11.
• Qi Ming — Second elder brother. Resents Qi Yu’s preferential treatment and frequently speaks sharply to him, but later acknowledges his improved handwriting and praises his kindness 7 27 47.
• Qi Zhao — Third elder brother and fellow student in the Imperial Study; generally quiet during their shared lessons 7 47.
• Empress Xiao Luo — Treats Qi Yu affectionately, commissions his hunting clothes, and prepares osmanthus cakes for him. Qi Yu refers to her as “Mother,” while his shared mother with Qi Ling is deceased 2 4 17 18.
• Xie Ning — Close friend and hunting companion. Exchanges rabbits with Qi Yu, visits him in Yuning Hall, and helps arrange shelter for the young woman they assist at the East Market 2 12 13 47.
• Qin Wei — Study companion and trusted friend. Helps with books, ink, notes, and missed lessons, while quietly curbing Qi Yu’s classroom distractions 7 13 22 30.
• Chun He and A Ping — Close attendants responsible for his daily care. They monitor his health and investigate suspicious interference in Yuning Hall 2 6 32.
• Grand Tutor Sun — Strict teacher who recognizes Qi Yu’s reasoning but expects disciplined study and independent work 7 15.
• Imperial Physician Zhou — Treats his shock after the A Rong incident; Qi Yu later proposes learning massage from him 34 38.

Story Role / Major Arcs

West Mountain Hunt

Qi Yu persuades Qi Xiao to permit a hunting trip with Xie Ning despite a recent riding injury. His father arranges additional protection, and Qi Ling joins the gathering. Qi Yu returns with game and a live gray rabbit, but his enthusiasm with an unsuitable bow leaves his arms painfully strained 1 2 3 4 6.

Lessons and Brotherly Resentment

An accidental ink splash prompts Qi Ming to accuse Qi Yu of receiving the best of everything. Hurt by the exchange, Qi Yu complains to his father and later considers making himself less conspicuous in class. Qi Xiao tells him he need not change himself for his brother’s sake 7 8 9.

Withdrawal and Reconciliation

Around the fifteenth of the month, when Qi Xiao is expected to stay with the empress, Qi Yu begins avoiding Xuanzheng Hall. He maintains an unusually restrained routine for seven days before his father visits Yuning Hall. His formal composure breaks into tears, and the two reconcile 17 18 19.

Autumn Examinations

While struggling with his own policy assignments, Qi Yu also takes part in discussions of the examination candidates’ work. His criticism of two recommended essays and praise for the Henan tax-relief essay contribute to Qi Xiao’s consideration of the palace examination list 15 24.

Jiang Baolin and the A Rong Incident

Jiang Baolin’s musical performance and physical attentions toward Qi Xiao unsettle Qi Yu. While he remains troubled, A Rong secretly touches him in his sleep; Chun He intervenes and begins investigating her placement. Qi Yu later faints from fright upon finding A Rong naked beside him 31 32 34.

The investigation connects A Rong to the Xiao Family, whom Qi Xiao orders out of the capital. During Qi Yu’s recovery, father and son agree to communicate their troubles more openly. Qi Yu finally voices his objections to Jiang Baolin’s attentions and offers to learn massage himself 34 36 37 38.

Helping the Young Woman at the East Market

Qi Yu gives five hundred taels to a young woman who needs help burying her mother. Xie Ning arranges for her to stay at the Jinghai Marquis Residence without becoming a servant. During the subsequent assessment of the princes’ studies, both Qi Xiao and Qi Ming approve of Qi Yu’s compassion, although a mistaken historical date still earns him a single swat with the disciplinary ruler 47.

Notable Quotes

“If they gave me one measure of kindness, I’d give them ten.” 12

“Then love me a little more.” 8

“Then you have to tell me things from now on too, Father. You have to tell me what troubles you too.” 37

Trivia

• His favorite foods include almond cream, osmanthus cakes, braised ribs, lychees, and sugar-roasted chestnuts. He recognizes the almond cream prepared with half the usual sugar 6 9 11 22 47.
• Qi Xiao has a separate kitchen established specifically for him 13.
• He enjoys travelogues and fox-spirit stories, although the latter can frighten him at night 5 12 26.
• He cares for rabbits in Yuning Hall and secretly saves breakfast crumbs to feed a familiar red-and-white koi 11 13.
• He habitually kicks off quilts, clings to his father in his sleep, and once rolls out of the imperial bed wrapped in his bedding 10 13.