Xiao Yu

Biodata

History

Original Timeline: Rise at Court

Xiao Yu grew up as the second prince, two years younger than Crown Prince Xiao Huaijin. At eight, he attended the Double Ninth Festival archery test beside Shen Mingzhu and struck the bull’s-eye twice, compared with Xiao Huaijin’s five successful shots 3. Later, he accompanied Xiao Lin to the New Year sacrifice to Heaven after the emperor withdrew Xiao Huaijin’s invitation because of a cold 5.

At fourteen, Xiao Yu gained recognition for his Imperial Academy studies, particularly his policy essays. Shen Mingzhu arranged opportunities for his learning to attract attention without openly requesting advancement. After Xiao Lin praised a lecture he delivered, Xiao Yu received the Minister of Revenue’s son as his study companion, while his mother’s household gained a larger allowance and greater ceremonial standing 7.

A Hanlin scholar’s memorial subsequently brought Xiao Yu into court. He stood immediately below Xiao Huaijin and became popular with officials within a month through modest manners and small courtesies. At the Mid-Autumn banquet, however, he privately taunted his brother over Xiao Lin’s refusal to approve Kang Zhengyuan’s appointment 7. After Xiao Huaijin was deposed, Xiao Yu complained to his mother that their father had still not named him crown prince 8.

Original Timeline: Rebellion and Execution

Xiao Lin later recalled that Xiao Yu had already maintained three hundred private soldiers at fourteen 14. Xiao Yu eventually led those troops into the Hall of Mental Cultivation with Shen Mingzhu and demanded his father’s abdication. His mother revealed that she had poisoned Xiao Lin’s calming soup for two years 1.

Although initially frightened when Xiao Lin drew his sword, Xiao Yu relied on his numerical advantage and ordered the soldiers forward. When the imprisoned Xiao Huaijin arrived to protect their father, Xiao Yu mocked his loyalty to the emperor who had deposed and neglected him. Xiao Huaijin was fatally wounded by the attacking soldiers, and the Imperial Guards subsequently defeated the rebellion 1 10.

Xiao Yu was initially sentenced to lifelong imprisonment. Xiao Lin later ordered his execution by poisoned wine and refused his final request for an audience 1 11.

Altered Timeline: Isolation and Friendship

Following Xiao Lin’s rebirth, three-year-old Xiao Yu remained closely supervised by Shen Mingzhu. He wanted to sit with his father as Xiao Huaijin did, but his mother emphasized the distinction between an imperial prince and the heir apparent. At the Double Seventh celebration, she also refused his request to join the other children 18 20.

During a prolonged illness, Xiao Yu became thin and withdrawn. Xiao Huaijin persuaded Xiao Lin to visit him, entertained him with stories, and brought osmanthus cakes. Afterward, the emperor rewarded Xiao Yu’s observance of etiquette with a ruyi scepter, ten books, and permission to visit the Eastern Palace without separate approval 21 22.

Their friendship strengthened during the autumn hunt. Xiao Huaijin reassured Xiao Yu when he became nervous about shooting before the emperor and helped him claim a gray rabbit after his arrow merely grazed another. On the return journey, Xiao Yu gave his brother a falcon feather 23 24 25. Subsequent visits involved handwriting lessons, shared meals, and play; Xiao Huaijin eventually remarked that his younger brother seemed happier 26 27.

Altered Timeline: Shen Clan’s Fall

When the Shen Clan’s plots were exposed, Shen Mingzhu drank poisoned wine. Xiao Yu discovered her dying and begged her not to leave. Before they were separated, she urged him to follow Xiao Huaijin, return his kindness, and never shoulder or defend her wrongdoing 35.

Xiao Yu revealed that he had noticed his mother’s dislike of the crown prince despite being too young to understand the full political conflict. He tried to stop her death by smashing the wine cup and overturning the jug, but she had already drunk the poison. Liu An carried him away, and Xiao Lin placed him in Consort Jing’s care 35.

After learning what the Shen Clan had done, Xiao Yu avoided Xiao Huaijin because he feared his brother hated him. Consort Jing stayed beside him through sleepless nights, while the other consorts brought food and books. Xiao Huaijin continued visiting and drew him back into activities with their siblings, including building a snowman 36.

Altered Timeline: Recovery and Continuing Grief

Xiao Yu resumed lessons and hunting with the family, though his grief persisted. At the spring hunt, he kept his mother’s bracelet beneath his pillow and revisited the passage about Kong Rong yielding pears in the Three Character Classic, which they had discussed together 35 37.

He increasingly returned his brother’s care. When Xiao Huaijin studied state affairs, Xiao Yu quietly left cakes at the doorway and distracted Xiao Yue to prevent an interruption 40. He also joined Xiao Huaijin’s unauthorized trip to the East Market, suggesting a tree-climbing route back into the palace when they missed the guard change. Their father discovered the excursion and assigned extra lessons 42.

On Shen Mingzhu’s birthday, Xiao Yu shut himself in his room, distressed that he could remember her sewing and cooking but not clearly recall her face. Noble Consort Jing comforted him and promised to remember her with him each year 47. Later, Xiao Lin acknowledged his improving riding and archery and promised him a larger horse after another two months of practice 49.

Appearance

• Face: Fair complexion, a clean-cut face, and two prominent dimples when he smiles 3 18.
• Childhood clothing: Frequently wears sapphire blue, including robes and riding clothes trimmed with rabbit fur 18 23.
• Adolescent appearance: At thirteen, he has sword-like brows, bright eyes, and a notably gentle-looking smile 5.
• Effects of illness and bereavement: His face becomes pointed and his dimples shallower after illness; following his mother’s death, he again grows thinner and smiles less fully 22 36.

Personality

In the original timeline, Xiao Yu combines polished courtesy with political ambition. He presents himself as modest and harmless at court while privately provoking Xiao Huaijin. His dissatisfaction after the crown prince’s deposition and his eventual attempt to seize the throne reveal ambitions beyond his position as second prince 7 8 1.

In the altered timeline, he is initially obedient and hesitant, quickly restraining himself in response to his mother’s gestures or refusals. He longs for affection from his father and companionship with his siblings, but often waits for permission rather than approaching them freely 18 20 23. As he becomes more secure, he grows playful and adventurous, protesting his height in Xiao Lan’s drawings and readily joining the palace escape 27 42.

Xiao Yu is also attentive to others’ feelings. He notices the conflict between his mother and Xiao Huaijin, asks a maid to bring a cloth for his rain-soaked brother, and protects his brother’s study time without seeking recognition 26 35 40. His attachment to Shen Mingzhu survives the exposure of her crimes, alongside anxiety that her actions will make others reject him 36 47.

Abilities & Skills

Scholarship and Calligraphy

• Original timeline: Excels at the Imperial Academy, especially in policy essays praised by Hanlin scholars for their “breadth and grandeur” 7.
• Delivers a lecture on the Tang annals in the Comprehensive Mirror for Aid in Governance that earns Xiao Lin’s approval 7.
• Altered timeline: Learns characters, including his own name, from Xiao Huaijin. His early work is uneven, but later practice shows steadier structure and more balanced strokes 26 31 37.

Riding and Archery

• At eight in the original timeline, hits two bull’s-eyes during the stationary archery test 3.
• Begins the altered timeline with a child-sized bow and short, blunt-headed arrows; his first documented hunt shot grazes a rabbit rather than securing it 24.
• Progresses to riding a short-legged pony and trains under Kong Wu 37 50.
• Cannot draw Xiao Lin’s iron-backed bow, even with Xiao Yue helping 37.
• Receives praise from Kong Wu and Xiao Lin for his progress in riding and archery 49.

Courtly Conduct

• Wins officials’ goodwill through measured courtesy, respectful forms of address, and assistance with memorials and messages 7.
• Observes formal etiquette even during illness, prompting an imperial reward in the altered timeline 22.

Climbing

• Climbs trees secretly during childhood and later uses a scholar tree to scale the palace wall 42.
• His escape is imperfect: a broken roof tile catches his belt and tears his robe 42.

Possessions

• Child-sized bow and blunt arrows — Specially made for his early hunting practice 24.
• Gold bracelets — Shen Mingzhu leaves him a pair engraved with trailing lotus vines, originally made by his maternal grandmother. He later treasures one beneath his pillow 35 37 47.
• Wooden horse — A finely carved gift from his uncle, kept in a box with pretty stones and a copper coin 26.
• Gray rabbits — Keeps the rabbit claimed at the autumn hunt and finds a second during the spring hunt; he feeds them vegetable leaves 27 37.
• Ruyi scepter and ten books — Imperial gifts awarded during his childhood illness 22.
• Rabbit-fur-trimmed clothing — Initially sewn or altered by Shen Mingzhu; Consort Jing later reproduces the trim on a new riding outfit 35 37.

Relationships

• Xiao Lin — Father and emperor. Xiao Yu rebels against him in the original timeline; in the altered timeline, he seeks his attention and takes great pleasure in his approval 1 23 49.
• Shen Mingzhu — Birth mother. Her ambitions shape his original rise, while her affection, political crimes, and death leave the younger Xiao Yu grieving and conflicted 7 35 47.
• Xiao Huaijin — Elder half-brother. Originally a rival whom Xiao Yu mocks during the coup; in the altered timeline, his teacher, protector, and closest companion 1 22 26 40.
• Noble Consort Jing — Guardian after his mother’s death. Comforts him at night, makes food for him, and helps him preserve memories of Shen Mingzhu 36 47.
• Xiao Lan — Half-sister and companion. Shares drawings and family outings with him and helps welcome him into Consort Jing’s household 27 35 36.
• Xiao Yue — Younger half-brother and playmate. Joins him in trying to draw their father’s bow and follows him to watch ants while Xiao Huaijin studies 37 40.
• Kong Wu — Riding and archery instructor who recognizes his improvement 49 50.
• Shen Boyong — Maternal grandfather and head of the clan plotting against Xiao Huaijin; his arrest precedes Shen Mingzhu’s death 19 35.

Notable Quotes

“Then when you grow up, I’ll hand you arrows.”
— To Xiao Huaijin during the autumn hunt 23

“But Mother, Crown Prince Brother is a good person. He’s good to me.”
— Questioning Shen Mingzhu’s hostility toward Xiao Huaijin 35

“I remember her sewing rabbit-fur cuffs for me. I remember the sweet-and-sour ribs she made. But her face—I don’t know why, why it grows blurrier the harder I try to remember.”
— Mourning his mother on her birthday 47

Trivia

• Xiao Huaijin explains that the character 煜, Yu’s given name, means “light shining brightly” 26.
• Comparing the two timelines, Xiao Lin concludes that the brothers originally had no deep hatred between them and that the bloodshed had been caused by adults 25.