Gyokuyou

Gyokuyou has jade-green eyes and long salmon pink hair that is tied back save for a thick strand framing the right side of her face. Although she is not as voluptuous as some of her rivals in the Imperial Harem, her foreign heritage gives her an exotic appeal.

Fitting with her pink hair, Gyakuyou's elemental motif among the high consorts is fire and thus she is generally seen in red and pink dresses with her signature turquoise shawl and jewelry. Occasionally, she wears apricot orange colors. For formal occasions such as the garden party and the meeting with the Empress Dowager, she dresses in gold and crimson red with pink accents and the same turquoise accessories.

Gyokuyou embodies the qualities of a wise and benevolent empress, quickly becoming the Emperor’s favourite consort due to her kind and witty nature. She is just, considerate, warm, and protective towards her children and attendants, who are fiercely loyal in return.

She subtly defies traditions: she compensated a wet nurse who accidentally poisoned her daughter instead of punishing her harshly; offered her ladies‑in‑waiting protection from male officials; sent gifts to women in her hometown; and had Maomao teach her daughter herbal medicine for self‑defence. Gyokuyou also has a mischievous side — she gossips, plays with her children, and teases attendants (and Jinshi) about their love lives.

Like Maomao, Gyokuyou is pragmatic: she sees herself as a tool to help her family by marrying into a higher status and providing heirs. Politically savvy, she uses her position and connections (especially Maomao) to gather information for her family’s commercial interests, but keeps her ambitions in check to avoid suspicion. She embraces her marital duties enthusiastically, seeking to keep things exciting, yet holds no romantic illusions — she accepts sharing her husband with other consorts, even feeling relief when they draw his attention. In private, she admits envy of Fuyou’s loving marriage.

Despite the competitive race to become empress — where losing the Emperor’s favour means losing power and the ability to support one’s family — Gyokuyou feels no jealousy towards fellow consorts. She can be ruthless when needed but avoids undermining others without cause, recognising they face the same struggles. For instance, she forgave Lihua after being falsely accused of trying to murder her son and slapped, understanding Lihua’s distress. Gyokuyou even felt genuine sadness at Lihua’s son’s death, despite its benefit to her own position.

Intelligence: Gyokuyou is noted to be very wise, prudent and cunning. She has shown numerous times to be able to navigate the politics of the Inner Court deftly, in specific her capacity to identity highly capable and trustworthy allies.

Knowledge: Being raised in a merchant's household, Gyokuyou is well-informed of many aspects outside of common knowledge, especially within finances and trade. She often sends letters with information from the court about the country's situation back home to her family's headquarters.

Influence: As the Emperor's current favourite consort, Gyokuyou holds much power within the Inner and Outer Courts. Her influence only grew after she became the empress.

Gyokuyou, the daughter of a travelling dancer from Shaoh, became Gyokuen’s sixth and youngest daughter when he took her mother as a concubine. Growing up, she faced torment from Gyoku‑ou due to her foreign blood. At 14, she was sent to the Inner Court; at 18, Jinshi chose her as a high consort of the Emperor.

Entering the rear palace as an outsider with few allies, Gyokuyou survived two poisoning attempts by rivals. She and her head lady Hongniang trusted only their remaining attendants: Yinghua, Guiyuan, and Ailan.

Before the series began, Gyokuyou’s daughter Lingli was born and nearly fell victim to poisonous face powder used in the harem. Thanks to a warning note from Maomao, Lingli survived. After Jinshi discovered Maomao’s role, Gyokuyou invited her to serve as a poison taster and pharmacist. Later, at a winter garden party, Maomao prevented Gyokuyou from being poisoned — the toxin meant for Lishu had been swapped into Gyokuyou’s dish by Kanan as a prank.

During her second pregnancy, Gyokuyou asked Maomao to bring mentor Luomen to the Inner Court for assistance. Three new ladies‑in‑waiting from her hometown — Haku‑u, Koku‑u, and Seki‑u — also joined her. Despite a breech birth, her son, the Crown Prince, was born safely. As the Emperor’s favourite with strong family ties (bolstered by the intel she sent from court), she became the first consort to bear a healthy heir and was appointed Empress.

Months later, the Emperor denied Gyokuyou’s request to keep Maomao as her lady‑in‑waiting due to Maomao’s La clan connections, though they remained on good terms. Gyokuyou then took Yaqin — her “niece” sent by Gyoku‑ou as a potential consort for the Moon Prince — as a lady‑in‑waiting instead.

When Maomao travelled to the Western Capital to treat locust plague victims, Gyokuyou realised Gyoku‑ou would soon march on the Royal Capital, threatening her family. She therefore allowed Rikuson (of the fallen Yi clan) to take revenge and kill her “brother”.

Her name Gyokuyou is likely a reference to "金枝玉葉" (Golden branch and Jade Leaves), referring to someone with very high (most likely royal) pedigree, which is quite odd considering that she did not come from a well-connected family. Another theory is that since her and her father's surname was "楊", she should formally be referred as "楊貴妃", similar to one of the four beauties in China and was historically known to be one of the cause of the downfall of Tang China. Considering the name of the real-life 楊貴妃 was "玉環" (Jade circlet), and the fact that some other character also referred to the 8th century Tang Dynasty, this seems highly likely. Furthermore, in the novel, Maomao once mentioned that "The beauties who were rumoured to destroy a country, is it really true that they are all bad women?". Gyokuyou is symbolised by the peony flower, representing nobility and splendor, and her cardinal color is crimson red, associated with the South.[citation needed]