Lin Changqing

Biodata

Power Progression

Appearance

• Face and bearing: Handsome and dashing despite being over fifty 6.
• Complexion: Smooth and lustrous like jade 6.

Personality

Lin Changqing places royal authority and political stability above personal attachments. He resents Su Song and Su Ying’s attempts to control him, but initially tolerates them because Chishui still needs the Su Clan’s strength. He openly tells Liu Ling’er that the decisive factor in destroying the clan is not sufficient justification, but the right opportunity 13 14.

His treatment of his consorts is emotionally detached and strongly influenced by status. He considers Liu Ling’er’s former position as a maid grounds for dismissing her expectations of protection, and admits that making her a secondary consort was a way to spite Su Ying. He later acknowledges little affection for Shi Feifei or any of his other consorts 13 14 45.

He is capable of shame and concern without consistently placing them above expediency. Fleeing the royal city leaves him deeply ashamed; during the next invasion, he allows noncombatant palace servants to evacuate and personally attempts to bring Lin Heng to safety. Nevertheless, his plans repeatedly expose his son to political danger, contributing to their estrangement 11 18 19 45.

History

Conflict with the Su Clan

Lin Changqing deliberately prevented Su Ying from becoming pregnant because he distrusted her and her father Su Song’s appetite for power. The two attempted to circumvent him with God-Intoxicating Brew and sobering soup containing Illusory Soul Powder 13.

Liu Ling’er, then Su Ying’s maid, served the doctored soup without knowing what the powder was. Although she briefly considered taking Su Ying’s place, she decided to leave; Lin Changqing deliberately pulled her back and slept with her. When she became pregnant, he elevated her to secondary consort specifically to anger Su Ying and Su Song 13.

He subsequently neglected Liu Ling’er throughout most of her pregnancy and punished her by sending her to the Palace of Reflection. Although he knew who was behind attempts to poison and assassinate her, he declined to act while the kingdom remained dependent on the Su Clan 12 13 14.

First Devil Race Attack

Under an Imperial Devil-Resisting Decree from Great Xia, Lin Changqing arranged to send Chishui’s army and three Quasi-God experts to reinforce Lingxi Kingdom. He assigned Hong San to guard the Devil-Sealing Well in their absence 6.

When three Devil Race Quasi-Gods attacked Chishui Royal City, he recognized that the assault on Lingxi had been a diversion. Urged to preserve himself and the royal family, he fled more than a hundred li before Hong San reported that a mysterious woman had defeated the attackers 9 10.

He returned in shame and sought information about the rescuer. Despite her resemblance to Mu Wanqing, he rejected the idea that she was their long-dead ancestor, citing the destruction of her original weapons and robes. After learning that Hong San’s Divine Body had collapsed, he permitted him to retire and arranged for him to teach Liu Ling’er’s child 11.

Attempted Separation of Liu Ling’er and Lin Heng

Shortly before Lin Heng’s birth, Lin Changqing told Liu Ling’er that Hong San would raise the child while she would lose her title and be secretly sent away. He presented this as both a means of protecting her from palace enemies and a way to remove a reminder of his supposed drunken misconduct 14.

After Lin Heng was born, he accepted Liu Ling’er’s chosen name and stationed Hong San at Heartwarming Pavilion. A subsequent decree stripped her of her secondary-consort status and ordered her to leave, but she refused to comply 16 17.

During the next Devil Race invasion, Lin Changqing personally tried to take Lin Heng to the Hall of Longevity for evacuation. Both mother and son refused. He was astonished to discover that the newborn could already speak, then left angrily after Lin Heng rejected him 19.

Discovery of Liu Ling’er’s Strength

Duanmu Lan attempted to evacuate Lin Changqing and other royal elites when the city’s defenses collapsed. During the battle, Lin Changqing recognized Liu Ling’er as the woman using the Eight Sounds of the Profound Zither against the Devil Race. He immediately regretted trying to expel a God Realm expert from his palace 20 21.

After her victory, he knelt outside Heartwarming Pavilion for three days, joined by other members of the royal clan. Liu Ling’er neither welcomed his apology nor restored their relationship. When he later appealed to her for Lin Heng’s sake, she declared their ties severed and said she remained only out of regard for Chishui’s ancestors 22 23 26.

Lin Changqing nevertheless celebrated Lin Heng’s engagement to Dongfang Yao with a grand banquet, delighted by the marriage alliance with the Great Xia Imperial Clan 27.

Tournament and Ten Fiends Prison

After Liu Ling’er’s ascension, Lin Changqing attempted to impose stricter rules on Lin Heng. He rebuked his son for forcing entry into the Hall of Longevity, but also reminded Su Song that Lin Heng remained a royal prince and that Liu Ling’er had spared the Su household 31.

At the martial arts tournament, he declined to punish Lin Heng for injuring Su Zhenyu. He then allowed Lin Xuan to challenge his younger brother, hoping Lin Heng would learn humility. His attitude briefly changed to pride when Lin Heng demonstrated overwhelming strength 35 36 37 38.

After Lin Heng destroyed Lin Xuan’s Purple Mansion in retaliation for a hidden-weapon attack, Lin Changqing sentenced him to two months in the Ten Fiends Prison. His deeper plan was to use the imprisonment to draw out the Su Clan and let the recovered Hong San eliminate them. He believed Hong San’s increased strength would keep Lin Heng safe 38 39 40 44 45.

Failure to Protect Shi Feifei

When Hong San returned with the bodies of Su Song and a Lingxi Martial Thearch involved in the prison assassination plot, Lin Changqing refused to protect Su Ying. He did, however, attempt to shield Shi Feifei to preserve Chishui’s marriage alliance with Lingxi 43.

Hong San openly placed Lin Heng’s commands above the king’s and revealed two powerful divine artifacts alongside his advanced Quasi-God cultivation. Unwilling to provoke a battle among Chishui’s strongest defenders, Lin Changqing withdrew. Shi Feifei’s death was subsequently confirmed, defeating his expectation that he could save her and secure her gratitude 44 45.

He informed the Lingxi Royal Clan that Shi Feifei had plotted against Lin Heng and that Lingxi experts had participated in assassination attempts against both mother and son. This prevented Lingxi from openly holding the Chishui Royal Clan responsible for her death 45.

Lin Heng’s Departure

Lin Changqing relayed the Great Xia emperor’s invitation for Lin Heng to study at the Great Xia Divine Martial Institute, admitting that he did not dare offend the imperial clan by refusing. Lin Heng and Hong San later departed without informing him, so he provided no escort 45 46.

News of Lin Heng’s safe enrollment brought him considerable relief; he had been worried that something would happen to his youngest son 50.

Relationships

• Lin Heng — Youngest son. Their relationship is openly estranged: Lin Heng rejects his protection and addresses him as “Your Majesty” rather than father. Lin Changqing alternates between resentment, pride in his abilities, and genuine concern for his safety 31 35 38 45 50.
• Liu Ling’er — Former secondary consort and Lin Heng’s mother. His neglect and instrumental treatment of her precede his discovery of her divine strength; she rejects his subsequent attempt at reconciliation 13 14 26.
• Shi Feifei — Principal consort and Lin Xuan’s mother. He tries to protect her for the sake of the Lingxi alliance, but ultimately refuses to risk Chishui’s Quasi-Gods in her defense 31 43 44.
• Su Ying — Consort whose efforts to secure a royal child deepen his distrust. He abandons her after the assassination plot against Lin Heng is exposed 13 43.
• Su Song — Grand commander and political rival. Lin Changqing tolerates his influence while Chishui needs the Su Clan, then schemes to have Hong San destroy it 14 44 45.
• Hong San — Former chief steward entrusted with Lin Heng’s upbringing. His eventual declaration that he would kill the king on Lin Heng’s orders exposes the collapse of Lin Changqing’s authority over him 16 44.
• Lin Xuan — Eldest son. Lin Changqing permits his challenge against Lin Heng and later punishes Lin Heng after Lin Xuan’s Purple Mansion is destroyed 37 38 39.
• Dongfang Lin — Great Xia imperial uncle and prospective in-law through their children’s engagement. Lin Changqing regards the alliance as a major benefit to the Chishui Royal Clan 24 25 27.

Notable Quotes

“What really matters is the right opportunity! Our Chishui Kingdom isn't strong enough yet, and we still need the Su Clan.” 14

“Unfortunately, for all my calculations, I never expected you to insist on putting the principal consort to death, much less that you'd be able to make me bow my head!” 45