Zhao Ruyu

Biodata

Power Progression

Background / History

Switched at Birth

Zhao Ruyu is the Xu Family child switched with Xu Xi, later known as Zhao Ruxi. Raised in luxury as Zhao Yuanliang and Lady Wei’s daughter, she receives the education and social opportunities intended for the Zhao Family’s biological child. When the truth emerges, the Old Madam assures her that she will remain part of the household because her birth parents are dead 7 17.

Lady Wei’s coldness teaches her to seek protection elsewhere. From the age of nine, she deliberately cultivates the Old Madam and Lady Zhu’s favor through obedience, diligent study, and favorable reports from her instructors. By thirteen, Lady Zhu regularly takes her to social gatherings, where her accomplishments attract praise and marriage interest 7.

Previous Life

In her previous life, Zhao Ruyu marries Fu Yunlang and eventually becomes the Marchioness of Pingnan. When disaster strikes the Suiping household, she attempts to intercede but cannot prevent its downfall; her efforts also make her own position in her husband’s household more difficult 7 168.

After losing the Suiping household’s support, she treats the Wei Family as her natal family and relies on Wei Qiu’s official standing. Fu Yunlang remains devoted to her, but her mother-in-law repeatedly belittles her background. The deaths of the Marquis of Pingnan and Fu Yunkai allow Fu Yunlang to rise in status 168 271.

She remembers a border defeat, a palace uprising, and the Third Prince’s purge. Although these upheavals benefit her and Fu Yunlang, Zhao Yuankun’s rebellion brings confiscation and exile upon his family 196.

Rebirth and Rivalry with Zhao Ruxi

Returning to thirteen, Zhao Ruyu no longer accepts the household’s affection at face value. She believes its elders value her usefulness, particularly her marriage prospects, and conceals her distrust behind a convincing display of gratitude 7 789.

She arranges to take the Women’s Academy examination secretly and gains admission to the Capital Women’s Academy, an opportunity she did not obtain in her previous life. However, Zhao Ruxi’s changed personality and increasingly favorable treatment unsettle her. After a confrontation, she concludes that this is not the Zhao Ruxi she remembers 26 44 78 97 187.

Lady Wei tries to exploit their rivalry, first asking Zhao Ruyu to bring Zhao Ruxi back under the second branch’s authority and later seeking her help in luring Zhao Ruxi into a Wei Family marriage. Zhao Ruyu recognizes the danger to her own standing and questions Lady Wei’s motives rather than simply complying 56 159 160.

As her expected marriage to Fu Yunlang becomes uncertain, she blames Zhao Ruxi. Zhao Ruxi counters by suggesting that she support herself through music teaching and asks her to help avert the Zhao Family’s approaching disaster. Zhao Ruyu agrees to try, but rejects teaching as an alternative to marrying well. Zhao Ruxi’s knowledge of her precisely hidden savings leaves her frightened of further confrontation 190 191.

Academy Reputation and the System

Zhao Ruyu places third in a year-end music competition, earning a modest reputation and access to gatherings whose participants previously paid her little attention. She chooses acquaintances partly through her knowledge of the future, avoiding families she expects to fall in the coming political struggle 452 453.

Her own circumstances nevertheless deteriorate. The Zhao household divides, the Wei Family is exiled, and Lady Wei is executed. Fu Yunlang’s mother increasingly regards her as an unsuitable wife, while Fu Yunlang becomes occupied with the Fifth Prince’s business and fails to secure their betrothal 515.

The system she receives on her coming-of-age day offers a new route to an advantageous marriage. She takes leave from the academy and plays the qin obsessively to earn points for a Beauty Pill. Her behavior alarms Fushu and Zhao Jing’an, who suspect possession. After Zhao Jing’an takes her to a temple, she moderates her practice and resumes attending classes 514 515 516.

She tests Zhao Ruxi by saying “System” aloud and watching her reaction. Zhao Ruxi feigns confusion, leaving Zhao Ruyu mistakenly convinced that she alone possesses such an advantage 517 518.

Pursuit of a Higher Marriage

After taking the Beauty Pill, Zhao Ruyu tries to attract Xiao Lingyan by pretending to twist her ankle outside an auction house. He ignores the performance, and his guards block her when she approaches him afterward. She subsequently begins visiting a lakeside painting spot frequented by Xiao Sijie 580 582.

Fu Yunlang later asks her to become his concubine. She agrees only after he swears to treat her well, stipulating a quiet nighttime entry into his residence and a deadline within two months. The arrangement does not result in her joining his household: Zhao Rurui enters instead, while Zhao Ruyu becomes Xiao Sijie’s concubine at Prince Jingping’s Estate 644 645 683 693.

Zhao Ruxi suspects that Zhao Ruyu deliberately arranged Zhao Rurui’s substitution. This reverses a scheme from the original story, in which Zhao Rurui had tried unsuccessfully to replace Zhao Ruyu in her bridal sedan 683.

Life at Prince Jingping’s Estate

Zhao Ruyu enters the estate at night without the Zhao Family’s knowledge or the consort’s prior approval. Xiao Sijie refuses his mother’s demand to send her back, earning Zhao Ruyu the consort’s lasting hostility. News of Zhao Ruxi’s betrothal to the Prince of Qi nevertheless forces the household to admit Zhao Family visitors and treat her more courteously 704 811.

Hoping eventually to become Xiao Sijie’s principal wife, she largely confines herself to her courtyard and follows the estate’s rules. Rival concubines and the principal wife work against her, and she loses a six-month-old son. When evidence implicates Concubine Qiao, Xiao Sijie imposes only a brief confinement and a reduced allowance, then warns Zhao Ruyu not to pursue the matter further. Her feelings for him turn cold 749 782 811.

Her prospects of promotion fade as Xiao Sijie considers marrying a noblewoman. The Consort of Prince Jingping also secretly tampers with Zhao Ruyu’s restorative medicine to prevent her from conceiving 782 814.

Separation and Independence

Zhao Ruyu eventually asks Zhao Ruxi and her adoptive family to help her leave. Zhao Ruxi arranges a teaching opportunity in Gusu under the protection of Prefect Zhang Shun and his wife. Zhao Ruyu is moved that her cousin is willing to help despite their past hostility 813.

The consort mistakes her request for a maneuver to obtain promotion and offers to make her principal wife. Zhao Ruyu refuses to abandon her departure. She has recognized that rank cannot compensate for a husband’s infidelity, endless household conflict, and dependence on others’ approval 814 815.

After leaving, she spends four days with the Zhao Family before traveling to Gusu. Zhao Ruxi gives her 500 taels, Zhao Yuanliang gives her 300, and her grandmother, uncle, and aunt each give her 200. Despite this support and income from her dowry, she wants to begin earning promptly rather than consume her savings 817.

Teaching and Marriage to Yu Zilü

In Gusu, Zhao Ruyu earns praise for her qin playing and attracts the attention of Yu Zilü, the “Qin Addict.” He repeatedly seeks musical exchanges with her, and their correspondence develops into mutual affection 820 821.

She tells him about her former status as a concubine before accepting his proposal. He does not object, and Zhang Shun and his wife arrange the marriage. Zhao Yuanliang, her brothers, and Lady Zhu attend the wedding, while Zhao Ruxi sends gifts for her dowry 821.

After marrying, Zhao Ruyu continues teaching at the Women’s Academy, instructing three female disciples, and submitting articles to a newspaper. She becomes pregnant after obtaining a Recovery Pill. Her relationship with Yu Zilü is explicitly distinguished from her former dependence on Fu Yunlang: Yu Zilü respects her as an equal rather than cherishing her as a dependent possession 821.

Appearance

• Original appearance: Shorter than Xu Xi, with a slender, graceful figure, above-average features, and bright, limpid eyes. Her vulnerable, fawnlike appearance encourages others to pity and protect her 18.
• Family resemblance: Her features resemble those of her deceased biological parents, recognized by Madam Xie 18.
• After the Beauty Pill: Her enhanced bearing and an effect likened to a “beauty filter” create a striking impression; Madam Zhang considers her beauty to surpass even Zhao Ruxi’s 817.
• Concealment: Uses plain, dark clothing and deliberately unflattering makeup when she does not want attention 598.

Personality

Early in the story, Zhao Ruyu is socially perceptive, calculating, and skilled at presenting herself favorably. Her experience in her previous life’s inner household enables her to cry on command and conceal resentment beneath obedience. She recognizes Lady Wei’s attempts to manipulate her and understands the importance of securing influential protectors 7 56.

Her ambitions initially center on marriage, wealth, and social standing. Even musical competition and supernatural enhancement become means to obtain a better husband. She repeatedly rejects the possibility of earning her own living and measures her prospects against Zhao Ruxi’s success 191 389 427 515 518.

Her composure is not entirely an act. Zhao Ruxi acknowledges her ability to endure the difficult path she has chosen without constantly demanding rescue. Ultimately, however, Zhao Ruyu learns to distinguish endurance from accepting a degrading life 729 815.

Her later conduct reflects genuine change. She accepts responsibility for her choices, pursues paid work, compensates Fushu for years of delayed marriage, and maintains her professional identity after remarrying. Zhao Ruxi explicitly regards her repentance as sincere 817 819 821.

Abilities & Skills

Qin and Guzheng Performance

Music is Zhao Ruyu’s principal accomplishment and eventual livelihood 97 813 821.

• Receives household instruction and carries over further guzheng experience from her previous life 97.
• Initially ranks only above average among Capital Women’s Academy students despite her two lifetimes of experience 97.
• Places third in a music competition, gaining a reputation beyond her family 453.
• Later receives praise in Gusu placing her qin skill alongside, or above, Yu Zilü’s 820.
• Becomes an academy teacher and continues instructing three female disciples after marriage 821.

Rebirth and Foreknowledge

Her memories provide experience and advance knowledge, not an automatic transformation in talent 454 789.

• Remembers future wars, rebellion, purges, and the downfall of prominent households 196.
• Uses expected political outcomes to select potential friends and avoid dangerous associations 452.
• Recognizes discrepancies between the current timeline and her previous life 453.
• Finds her knowledge increasingly unreliable as Zhao Ruxi changes events 489 515.

System and Point Marketplace

Her system converts qin performances into points and offers supernatural goods through a marketplace 515.

• Performance rewards: Usually earns six points per piece; distracted or poor performances can fall to two or three 515 516.
• Beauty Pill: Costs 10,000 points and supplies the enhancement she uses in pursuing a higher-status marriage 515 582.
• Information services: The system can gather news, but charges points; its demand for 6,000 points for frontier intelligence demonstrates the expense 547.
• Recovery Pill: Obtained after she establishes her new life; pregnancy follows her marriage to Yu Zilü 821.
• Limitations: Accumulating points requires sustained effort, and excessive practice disrupts her education and alarms her household 514 516 517.

Social Performance and Persuasion

Her upbringing and previous life give her considerable skill in household politics 7 818.

• Wins elders’ favor through apparent obedience and public accomplishments 7.
• Uses tears and vulnerability to influence others 7 704.
• Builds a small network of servants within Prince Jingping’s Estate 815.
• Uses Zhao Ruxi’s openly stated support to pressure the estate into permitting her departure 814 815.

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• Guzheng: Selects an ordinary instrument from the marquis’s storeroom, publicly stating that she has left the better one for Xu Xi 97.
• Private savings: Hides 136 taels inside the hollow front-right leg of her bed; Zhao Ruxi’s knowledge of the hiding place frightens her 191.
• Beauty preparations: Buys medicinal herbs and applies facial treatments to provide a plausible explanation for the Beauty Pill’s effects 582.
• Departure funds and dowry income: Receives family financial support after leaving Prince Jingping’s Estate, but chooses employment to support herself and her servants 817.

Relationships

• Zhao Ruxi / Xu Xi — The girl switched with her at birth and her nominal elder cousin. Their early rivalry becomes fear and resentment, but Zhao Ruxi ultimately helps her leave concubinage, find work, and rebuild her life 7 78 191 813 821.
• Zhao Yuanliang — Adoptive father. Her origins complicate his affection, but he later supports her departure and attends her wedding to Yu Zilü 17 817 821.
• Lady Wei — Adoptive mother. Her harshness shapes Zhao Ruyu’s dependence on other protectors; she later threatens Zhao Ruyu while trying to recruit her against Zhao Ruxi 7 159 160.
• Zhao Jing’an — Adoptive brother, raised believing she was his twin. He remains protective after learning the truth and supports her decision to begin again 703 813.
• Zhao Jingli — Adoptive brother and disciplinarian. Criticizes her fixation on marriage, threatens to return her to the Xu Family if she damages the family’s reputation, and later helps arrange her move to Gusu 350 427 813.
• Zhao Rurui — Adoptive elder sister and former confidante. Zhao Ruyu’s memories of a previous-life betrayal sour their relationship; later, Zhao Rurui enters Fu Yunlang’s household in her place. Zhao Ruyu ultimately burns a resentful letter from her without replying 44 56 683 821.
• Fu Yunlang — Previous-life husband and current-life lover. Their expected marriage collapses; his later offer of concubinage does not bring her into his household 119 515 644 683.
• Xiao Sijie — Former partner, whose concubine she becomes at Prince Jingping’s Estate. His favoritism toward Concubine Qiao after her miscarriage destroys her affection for him 693 811.
• Yu Zilü — Second-life husband and fellow qin enthusiast. Accepts her past and supports a marriage founded on mutual respect 820 821.
• Fushu — Loyal maid, later freed and made her sworn younger sister. Zhao Ruyu gives her a 200-tael dowry and arranges her marriage to Liu Chang 819 821.
• Zhang Shun and Madam Zhang — Protectors in Gusu. Welcome her, help with Fushu’s marriage, and act as matchmakers for her marriage to Yu Zilü 817 819 821.
• Madam Xie and Xu Xue — Members of her biological family. After her origins become public, she stops visiting them and ignores them when they meet 598.

Notable Quotes

“Back then, I admired the heir’s bearing and was willing to give up my family, my identity and my standing to stay by his side. I thought that as long as our feelings were mutual, nothing else mattered. But I discovered I was wrong.” 814

“I never thought that after I willingly debased myself and slipped into the abyss, Her Highness would still be willing to reach out and save me.” 813