Huai'an

Biodata

Background

Huai'an is the younger sister of Empress Qi Yueli. Their relationship is initially distant: Huai'an fears and dislikes her sister, while the empress dowager describes Qi Yueli to her as heartless. Qi Yueli's willingness to reject an unwanted marriage later causes Huai'an to question that portrayal 7 15.

Her residence occupies the former site of Shuming Palace, once home to the late emperor's favored Consort Ming. After Qi Yueli dismissed the late emperor's consorts and destroyed the building, it was rebuilt and bestowed upon Huai'an. The residence stands near the empress dowager's bedchamber 13.

Appearance

• Wears splendid clothing and long skirts, which she lifts when rushing into fights or running through the palace 6 20.
• Has a lively, lovely face; she blushes conspicuously during intimate exchanges with Gu Yuan 34.

Personality

Huai'an is impulsive, combative, and accustomed to asserting her rank. On seeing the Mystic Shadow Guards sparring, she eagerly charges over to “teach them a lesson,” ignoring Xiaoyun's warning that further fighting could earn her punishment. She also expects to decide where Gu Yuan serves simply because she is a princess 6 7.

She strongly resists having her marriage decided for her. Her first solution is to have her prospective husband castrated; when Gu Yuan refuses, she threatens to accuse him of molesting her, even at the cost of her own reputation. Beneath these outbursts, she insists that she wants to marry someone she likes 14 15.

Her attachment to Gu Yuan brings out both generosity and possessiveness. She is prepared to seek a marriage decree to save his life, but becomes jealous when Lu Yunshu approaches him. Although she repeatedly denies wanting his attention, she resents his failure to visit and eagerly seeks opportunities to see him 20 29 30.

Abilities & Skills

Palm Strikes and Unarmed Fighting

• Uses light, graceful palm movements and agile footwork, though Gu Yuan considers her attacks showy rather than effective 7.
• Fails to land a single punch on Gu Yuan during an angry flurry of attacks 14.
• Requires Gu Yuan's protection from the provincial heirs' surrounding true qi during their reception 31.

Swordsmanship

• Regularly practices swordsmanship in her courtyard and claims to have received instruction from a renowned master 13 20.
• Performs graceful sword flourishes, but Gu Yuan privately judges her technique incapable of killing anyone 13.

Equipment & Items

• Jeweled sword — A treasured weapon encrusted with pearls and jade, which Gu Yuan judges to be extremely valuable 13.
• Imperial jade pendant — Bestowed by Qi Yueli and authorized as a pass into Huai'an's residence without a summons. Huai'an offers it as a tournament prize and gives it to Gu Yuan after his victory 31 33 34.
• Carriage — Allows Gu Yuan to rest inside after his battle with the provincial heirs; she lets him sleep with his head on her lap 33 34.

Relationships

• Gu Yuan — Romantic interest. His irreverence distinguishes him from the deferential people around her, and she openly praises his looks, martial talent, and boldness. By Chapter 34, she actively invites him to visit her residence 13 15 34.
• Qi Yueli — Elder sister and reigning empress. Initially estranged, they take a step toward reconciliation when Qi Yueli agrees to oppose Huai'an's unwanted marriage 7 15.
• Empress Dowager — Favors Huai'an and seeks her marriage to Xiao Chen. Her descriptions of Qi Yueli contribute to Huai'an's distrust of her sister 14 15.
• Xiaoyun — Palace maid and childhood companion. One of the few people who jokes with Huai'an, she advises her, carries news, and discreetly encourages her interest in Gu Yuan 13 20 29.
• Xiao Chen — Proposed husband and her intended romantic counterpart in the original storyline. In the altered events, Huai'an rejects the match and finds him increasingly irritating 7 14 31.
• Lu Yunshu — Perceived romantic rival. Seeing her speak with Gu Yuan prompts Huai'an to hurry down from the city wall and join them 30 31.

Story Role / Major Arcs

Meeting Gu Yuan

Huai'an first encounters Gu Yuan while he is sparring with Shangguan Weiming. Blaming him for disturbing her sleep earlier that day, she attacks him, only to be kicked away. Shangguan catches her before she falls 6 7.

She spares Gu Yuan the death penalty but demands that he become her daily punching bag. Qi Yueli refuses to entertain the demand and orders Huai'an escorted home 7.

Rejecting the Qingzhou Marriage

Huai'an invites Gu Yuan to lunch, where they shock the palace maids by exchanging food with their own chopsticks. After dismissing the servants, she asks him to castrate Xiao Chen so the empress dowager will abandon their proposed marriage 13 14.

Gu Yuan refuses and advises her to appeal to Qi Yueli instead. Huai'an brings her sister snow lotus soup, declares that she only wants to marry someone she likes, and names Gu Yuan as that person. Qi Yueli agrees to speak to the empress dowager and cancel the match 14 15.

Protecting Gu Yuan and His Family

When Gu Yuan is imprisoned for killing Prince Duan's heir and two officials' sons, Huai'an decides to request a marriage decree, reasoning that becoming an imperial son-in-law would protect him. She also orders Xiaoyun to bribe prison personnel to prevent him from being silenced 20.

Unable to obtain an immediate audience with Qi Yueli, she follows Shangguan Weiming's advice to visit the Gu family. She moves Gu Yuan's parents and elder sister into her residence for safety, unintentionally destroying his plan to escape the capital with them 20.

After the three fathers are arrested and Gu Yuan is cleared, Huai'an abandons the proposed marriage request. She later complains that his only thanks was a stick of candied hawthorns rather than a personal visit 22 29.

The Provincial Heirs' Reception

Huai'an goes to the city gates hoping to see Gu Yuan. After noticing Lu Yunshu speaking with him, she joins the gathering and requests a martial contest, offering her jade pendant while secretly hoping Gu Yuan will win it 29 30 31.

Initially frightened by the fighting, she becomes openly admiring as Gu Yuan defeats the heirs. After his victory over Xiao Chen, she gives him the pendant and lends him her carriage 32 33.

When Gu Yuan wakes with his head in her lap, Huai'an explains that she wanted him to sleep comfortably. She reveals that the pendant permits unsummoned visits to her residence and insists that he promise to come 34.

Original Storyline and Illusory Role

• Original storyline: According to Gu Yuan's recollection, Huai'an falls in love with Xiao Chen after a staged romantic encounter and later helps him kill Qi Yueli. These are events from the plot he remembers, not accomplished events in the altered story 7 8.
• Altered storyline: Her rejection of Xiao Chen and growing affection for Gu Yuan convince him that the original plot has gone off course 15 35.
• Black-mist illusion: Appears as Consort An, a member of Gu Yuan's imagined harem. This identity exists within the vision, not her established real-world position 40.

Notable Quotes

“I only want to marry someone I like...” 15

“Saving his life comes first. I can't worry about all that now!” 20