Lu Chi

Biodata

Background / History

Childhood and Loss of His Inheritance

Lu Chi was born to Marquis Lu and Qin Yan, the empress's sister. His mother died around the time of his birth, and he grew up at the empress's side. Although he acquired a reputation as a troublesome wastrel, he was educated in benevolence, righteousness, trustworthiness, and proper conduct 57 61 69 76.

His stepmother, Wei Tingwan, repeatedly poisoned him to secure the marquis's estate for her own son. Lu Chi suffered poisoning at birth and again at five, seven, and fifteen. The Imperial Medical Academy could keep him alive with medicine but could not eliminate the poison 49 61 234.

After another poisoning, Lu Chi was abducted, sold, and renamed Gouya. Marquis Lu staged his death using another corpse and sought to make his younger son the heir. Lu Chi initially understood this as his father's attempt to dispose of him; the later wedding confrontation revealed that the substitution had also saved him from Wei Tingwan, while allowing the younger son to inherit 49 60 61 234.

Recovery at Anzhi Hall

Jin Shanyao bought Lu Chi for seventy taels. Her examination uncovered old injuries and several poisons, which she estimated would require three months to purge. Despite his outrage at her disregard for bodily privacy, her ability to treat a condition that had defeated imperial physicians convinced him to endure her care 49 52 74.

During his recovery, Lu Chi cleaned the latrine, chopped firewood, tended the animals, and performed other household chores. He also reviewed the document severing Jin Shanyao and the children's ties with the Meng family and began teaching the children the six arts of a gentleman 52 54 55 74.

A chance reunion with Zhao Cheng restored his contact with the capital. He entrusted Zhao with a letter for the Eastern Palace but declined alternative accommodation, choosing to remain at Meng Anci's home 57.

Jin Shanyao completely cleared his poison and gave him white fruit as protection against future poisoning. After learning that his father had declared him dead, Lu Chi introduced himself to the household as Qin Luchi, preserving the name his mother had given him while adopting her surname 59 60 62.

Assassins and Attempted Departure

Lu Mingche searched for Lu Chi and sought to prevent his return to the capital. Lu Chi feared that remaining at Anzhi Hall would bring death upon everyone sheltering him, so he prepared to leave. Before departing, he chopped extra firewood, carefully instructed Meng Anci in riding, and served the children chicken legs at dinner 69 70 73 75.

The household intercepted his nighttime escape. He slipped away the next morning while emptying the slop bucket, but Jin Shanyao located him and carried him back. When he explained his identity and the danger posed by Lady Wei, she refused to abandon him 74 75.

The children then advised him to confront his attackers through public complaints rather than a private struggle between noble households. After surviving an assassination attempt, Lu Chi disabled and bound five attackers, brought them to the county yamen, and theatrically demanded justice. Jin Shanyao altered their memories so they could no longer recognize him. The men concealed their employer and received fifty strokes for the armed intrusion and assault 76 78.

Freedom and Return to the Capital

Lu Chi remained through Lush Mountain's medicinal-herb harvest. By this time, he again commanded hidden guards, though he mourned those who had died protecting him. He also hoped to obtain more of Jin Shanyao's poison-curing white fruit 97 104.

Appointed Capital Pharmaceutical Official by the empress, Lu Chi tried to use his new authority and ten thousand taels to purchase his freedom and dictate terms to Jin Shanyao. The attempt ended with him suspended from a beam and admitting that the empress had merely asked him to negotiate a herb purchase. Jin Shanyao returned and set fire to his deed of sale, but he snatched it away and claimed he had only been joking about leaving 103.

He nevertheless decided to return to the capital and move out of the marquis's residence, acknowledging that he had held on too long to the hope of winning his father's affection. At his farewell dinner, he cried silently because he did not want to leave Anzhi Hall, where he could be himself without constant scheming 104 109.

Capital Office and Marriage

Lu Chi later became prefect of the capital. He prepared a separate courtyard for Jin Shanyao and remained distressed by the possibility that she no longer regarded him as one of her people. When she visited, he warned her about the Ji Household and offered her accommodation 167 178.

Following the exposure of life-borrowing at the Ji residence, the emperor ordered Lu Chi to investigate the practice and search official residences for evil arts. During this period, Lu Chi introduced Fu Congxi as his fiancée 183 185.

At his wedding, Lu Chi appealed to the empress for justice and confronted Wei Tingwan about Qin Yan's death. Wei confessed to drugging Qin Yan, bribing the midwife, eliminating witnesses, and repeatedly poisoning Lu Chi. She also admitted to drugging Marquis Lu to prevent him from having further children. When she attacked Lu Chi, he kicked her away 234.

The empress ordered Wei's imprisonment and transfer to the Court of Judicial Review. Marquis Lu left in disgrace, and the wedding continued with Qin Yan's memorial tablet occupying an elder's place. Lu Chi and Fu Congxi later had a child 234 391.

Later Investigations and Household Ties

• Cloud Brocade Workshop case: Received Jin Shanyao's evidence identifying the embroiderers' enemies and personally delivered it to Crown Prince Xiao Yuan, urging him to question those named 321.
• Zither Master Wu's death: Discussed inconsistencies in Yu Jiaonu's account with Jin Shanyao, who suggested searching Yu's room for clues 391.
• Shi Chong's appeal: Secured an end to Meng Anzhi's repeated medicine tests on Shi Chong in exchange for one thousand taels, then passed the entire payment to Anzhi without deduction 414.
• Continued connection to Jin Shanyao: Wore a red cord bracelet she had braided for him 452.

Appearance

• Described as good-looking, with an exceptional bearing that attracted Magistrate Yang's notice even while he was a servant 50 78.
• Slightly taller than Jin Shanyao, who was nearly his height when he tried to look down at her 61.
• Usually wore coarse hemp clothing during his service; after receiving his imperial appointment, he changed into a dark green brocade robe and replaced his wooden hairpin with a white jade one 103.

Personality

Lu Chi is proud, sharp-tongued, and acutely conscious of rank and dignity. Accustomed to a pampered upbringing, he finds latrine cleaning and other menial work humiliating. He frequently imagines reversing his position with Jin Shanyao, only to abandon his grand demands when confronted with her strength 52 57 100 103.

His reputation as a wastrel conceals both intelligence and a conventional moral education. He initially disapproves of the children's underhanded tactics and challenges Jin Shanyao's understanding of human feelings and relationships. Nevertheless, he learns to use their advice, turning an assassination attempt into a public legal complaint 69 72 76 78.

He is deeply protective of his pupils. His anger at Meng Anci's reckless riding comes from fear for the child's safety, and his attempted departure is motivated by the belief that his enemies will kill the household to silence them. Beneath his bickering, he becomes affectionate toward the children and treasures their gifts 57 71 72 75.

Rejection by his father leaves him vulnerable to abandonment. Although he demands his freedom, he becomes upset when Jin Shanyao releases him, interprets her silence as being forgotten, and reacts painfully when she tells him to stop calling her his master 60 61 103 167 178.

Abilities & Skills

Martial Arts and Swordsmanship

A capable martial artist who can defeat armed attackers, though he is decisively outmatched by Jin Shanyao 74 78 103.

• Disabled assassins by severing the tendons in their hands and feet with precise sword strokes 78.
• Survived the attack on Anzhi Hall, but sustained injuries 78 79.
• Could not react quickly enough to evade Jin Shanyao's whip 103.

Archery, Horsemanship, and Teaching

Taught Meng Anzhi and Meng Anci the six arts of a gentleman, with archery and riding explicitly shown 55 73 74.

• Began giving Meng Anci archery lessons after academy classes 55.
• Explained safe approaches to horses, bridling, rein placement, posture, and directional control 73.
• Encouraged Meng Anci to study steadily, avoid unhealthy comparisons, and fulfill the duties of whatever office he eventually attained 73.

Legal and Investigative Work

Combined practical literacy, court connections, and later official authority 54 57 178 185.

• Reviewed the Meng family's separation agreement before Jin Shanyao signed it 54.
• Used public proceedings to expose an armed attack without openly relying on his noble identity 78.
• Received an imperial mandate to investigate life-borrowing and search the capital's official residences 185.
• Passed evidence to the crown prince and assessed contradictions between testimony and physical evidence 321 391.

Equipment / Items

• Sword — Used against the assassins attacking Anzhi Hall 78.
• White fruit — Poison-curing fruit supplied by Jin Shanyao; she also gave him a bottle before his departure as emergency protection 59 109.
• Ginkgo leaf — Given by Jin Shanyao with instructions to shout for help at it if his life was endangered 104.
• Books, wristguards, and an archer's thumb ring — Gifts from Meng Anci; Lu Chi later cleaned and admired the ring while preparing to leave 71 72.
• Jade pendant — Offered to Jin Shanyao as a token when he promised assistance in the capital; she returned it 104.
• Red cord bracelet — Braided for him by Jin Shanyao 452.

Relationships

• Jin Shanyao — Physician, former owner, protector, and chosen family. He continues calling her “Master” after his release, later addressing her as “Boss,” and reserves a courtyard in his residence for her 59 103 178 229.
• Meng Anci — Pupil and affectionate sparring partner. Lu Chi teaches him archery, riding, and principles of public service, while Anci helps him devise a response to his pursuers 55 73 76.
• Meng Anzhi — Pupil who addresses him as “Master.” Her distress at his disappearance prompts Jin Shanyao to retrieve him; he later helps her obtain Shi Chong's payment 74 331 414.
• Fu Congxi — Wife and mother of his child. Their interactions include teasing, arguments, and Lu Chi's efforts to outmaneuver her 185 234 391.
• Qin Yan — Birth mother, whose surname he adopts as Qin Luchi. He investigates her death and honors her with a memorial tablet at his wedding 62 229 234.
• Marquis Lu — Estranged father. His substitution saved Lu Chi from Wei Tingwan but also cleared the way for his younger son to inherit 104 234.
• Wei Tingwan / Madam Wei — Stepmother who murdered Qin Yan and repeatedly poisoned Lu Chi to benefit her son 234.
• The empress — Maternal aunt and political supporter. Appoints him Capital Pharmaceutical Official and orders Wei Tingwan's arrest 57 103 234.
• Crown Prince Xiao Yuan — Younger maternal cousin and court contact. Lu Chi sends correspondence to the Eastern Palace and later brings him investigative evidence 57 321.
• Zhao Cheng — Senior court acquaintance who recognizes him in the countryside and helps restore communication with the capital 57.
• Feng Zhi — Subordinate who reports on Lu Mingche's pursuers and handles Qin Yan's memorial tablet during the wedding 97 234.
• Qing He and Qing Yang — Fellow members of Jin Shanyao's household. They trade barbs with him, oversee his chores, and help intercept his attempted escape 73 74 109.

Notable Quotes

“What you should do now is study hard and take this sharp weapon into your own hands, rather than surrender it to someone else.”
— Encouraging Meng Anci to use the law to protect others 73

“Don't compare yourself with others. Studying is a contest between you and yourself.”
— Advising Meng Anci about the examinations 73

“We agreed long ago that we were family. Naturally, this is your home too.”
— Welcoming Jin Shanyao to his residence 229