Emperor

The Emperor is a man in his 30’s with a slim well built body with a defined, masculine face. He has short black hair, red eyes, and a neatly trimmed beard that compliments his imperial aura. He has an expressionless face most of the time, but will sometimes show a faint smile. He wears a head wrap, or a Chuijiao Putou, on his head with a gold embellishment on it, with two wing-like flaps going down to his back. He wears a black Yuanlingpao with a gold dragon-like design on the middle and a black belt with a dragon design on it. Underneath, he wears a white robe. The sleeves of the robe were long and flowing with the end of the robe loose and flowing.

The Emperor strives to be nothing like his turbulent, manipulative father. He seeks peaceful, stable rule, listening to trustworthy advisors — yet is willing to use violence if needed to maintain order. Reserved in public, he’s more relaxed and joking with close ones, especially not with Jinshi’s liking. He despises his father’s taste in young girls, preferring adult women.

Pragmatic about consorts, he prioritizes political usefulness over affection, seeming cruel. Yet he shows mercy: he allowed Son to stay after her disfigurement, and protects Lishu. Brought as a consort for his father, Lishu was shielded from him and later made a high consort symbolically — this spared her from being a pawn of her unscrupulous father, despite causing her social shame.

His sole emotional attachment is Ah‑Duo, his childhood friend and the only consort he truly loves. He once wanted her as his only wife, but after she lost fertility and their son, that dream ended. Ironically, like his father, he imprisoned Ah‑Duo in the harem — though he saw her as an equal, he failed to see the power imbalance. Afraid of losing her, he coerced her into being his consort, unaware she longed for freedom and travel. He realized his error when their son pointed out that forcing Maomao as a consort would strip her freedom — she couldn’t say no, just as Ah‑Duo couldn’t.

Influence: Being the Emperor, everyone in the country is at his disposal and he can do almost whatever he pleases with them. His power, however, is not absolute as he risks upsetting the balance of the various factions at court.

Unlike the Former Emperor, the current Emperor is not a fool. Instead, he possesses a very keen understanding of ruling a nation peacefully and prosperously, while navigating political dilemmas.

Main article: Emperor/History

The Emperor was noted to have given the following orders and implemented reforms during his reign: Appointed Lakan as Grand Commandant. Ordered the U Clan to send Lishu to the inner court as a high consort. Accepted Anshi's suggestion to stop the practise of slavery. Accepted Anshi's suggestion to stop the practise of making eunuchs. Accepted Anshi's suggestion to establish an unofficial clinic run by and for palace women. Appointed Ah-Duo as the overseer of the Southern Imperial Villa. Accepted Jinshi's suggestion to build a literary school for palace ladies. Ordered the execution of all the members of the Shi Clan for the crime of rebellion, minus the children (in secret). Appointed Gyokuyou as Empress. Accepted Jinshi's suggestion to try to create a policy which would replace eunuch physicians in the Inner Court with female physicians. Accepted Jinshi's suggestion to provide alimentary, medical and investigative aid to the Western capital during the locust plague.