A Ping
The Emperor’s Spoiled Little Prince
Biodata
| Feature | Value |
|---|---|
| Name | A Ping (阿平) |
| Alias(es) | Eunuch Ping 30 |
| Gender | Male |
| Affiliation | Yuning Hall; Fourth Prince Qi Yu’s household 29 30 |
| Occupation/Role | Qi Yu’s personal eunuch 29 |
| First Appearance | Chapter 1, “His Fourth Highness” 1 |
Background / History
A Ping is De’an’s adopted son and addresses him as his godfather. By the time A Rong arrives, he has served at Yuning Hall for six years and knows every maid and eunuch in the household. He is among the attendants selected for Qi Yu by the emperor 1 29 30.
His duties take him regularly between Yuning Hall, Xuanzheng Hall, and the Eastern Palace. He is familiar enough with Fu Shun and the Eastern Palace attendants to sit beneath their covered walkway, drink tea, and chat while Qi Yu visits the crown prince 11.
Personality
A Ping is patient and attentive, often accommodating Qi Yu rather than insisting on strict discipline. He waits nearly four hours with a warm breakfast while the prince sleeps and, on another occasion, delays waking him despite instructions to do so because he is sleeping soundly 10 13.
He notices small changes in Qi Yu’s behavior, including a reduced appetite, unusual silence, and departures from his daily routine. During the prince’s seven-day withdrawal, he recognizes that the problem is not an ordinary quarrel; seeing Qi Yu briefly smile at his rabbits pains him more than the absence of a smile 17 19.
His caution reflects De’an’s instruction to “see what you should see, and do not see what you should not.” He chooses reassuring words when Qi Yu asks about the emperor’s affections, but becomes visibly frightened when pressed to discuss the emperor’s private life with the empress 18 31.
Abilities & Skills
Personal Attendance
A Ping handles much of Qi Yu’s daily care, including dressing, grooming, meals, and bedtime arrangements 2 6 10 13 31.
- Helps fasten robes and belts, puts on boots, and combs and secures Qi Yu’s hair 10 13 28.
- Feeds Qi Yu almond cream while his arms are strained from archery 6.
- Carries book bags, prepares tea, dims lamps, and arranges transport when requested 18 30 31 42.
Observation and Reporting
His familiarity with Qi Yu’s habits and Yuning Hall’s staffing helps him identify changes that warrant attention 19 30.
- Supplies information to De’an about Qi Yu’s sore arms and the Second Prince’s remarks 5 8.
- Questions A Rong’s arrival because staff normally transfer in batches and the senior palace maid receives advance notice 30.
- Reports Qi Yu’s poor sleep to Qi Xiao when the prince becomes unusually irritable 43.
- His vigilance has limits: A Rong passes him while he is dozing in the corridor and enters the bedchamber through a side door 32.
Animal Care and Travel Support
- Looks after Qi Yu’s rabbits, supplying food and water and replacing the lining beneath their cage 3 4 10 30.
- Rides alongside Qi Yu’s hunting party and the returning carriage; signals the driver to slow down after the prince falls asleep 3 4.
- Hires a mule cart to carry the silver gathered for Xiao Ya’s mother’s burial 46.
Relationships
- Qi Yu — His master and daily charge. Qi Yu relies on him for practical care and asks him personal questions about sleep, imperial favor, and his father’s feelings 10 13 31.
- De’an — His adoptive father and mentor. De’an teaches him discretion, receives his reports, and reassures him during Qi Yu’s recovery from fright 29 31 36.
- Chun He — His fellow attendant at Yuning Hall. They coordinate Qi Yu’s care and privately discuss changes in his appetite and mood 2 19 31 37.
- Qi Xiao — The emperor, whom A Ping informs during emergencies and consults about Qi Yu’s condition 34 43.
- Fu Shun — A familiar colleague in the Eastern Palace who welcomes him with tea while Qi Yu visits Qi Ling 11.
- A Rong — A newly assigned maid whose irregular arrival arouses his suspicion before she is discovered naked in Qi Yu’s bed 30 34.
Story Role / Major Arcs
- West Mountain hunt: Accompanies Qi Yu, takes charge of his captured rabbit, and helps ensure a quiet carriage journey home. At Yuning Hall, he carries the prince’s boots while Qi Ling carries the sleeping prince inside 2 3 4.
- Qi Yu’s withdrawal: Notices the prince’s reduced appetite and subdued behavior during his avoidance of Xuanzheng Hall. After Qi Yu reconciles with Qi Xiao, A Ping fetches water at the emperor’s instruction 17 18 19.
- Fever vigil: Stands guard outside Qi Yu’s bedchamber through the night, repeatedly fighting sleep while waiting for his fever to break 21.
- A Rong incident: Recognizes irregularities in A Rong’s assignment and resolves to question Chun He or De’an. When Qi Yu later faints after finding her naked beside him, A Ping races to Xuanzheng Hall, losing one shoe and splitting the other, to alert the emperor 30 34.
- Aftermath: Reports that Qi Yu is awake and eating but unnervingly obedient and quiet. De’an tells him that recovery will take time and does not allow him or the other Yuning Hall attendants to witness A Rong’s execution 36.
- Xiao Ya’s burial fund: Follows Qi Yu and Xie Ning with a hired mule cart carrying their collected silver, repeatedly checking the chest as they travel 46.
Notable Quotes
“Your Highness, you are favored. You are... you're the one His Majesty cherishes most. Everyone in the palace knows it.” 10
“If it knew about examinations, it shouldn't just eat carrots. It ought to gnaw through a few books.” — Responding to Chun He’s question about Qi Yu’s rabbit 15