Lihua

Lihua has flowing dark-blue hair with bangs swept to the left side and dark magenta eyes. With her voluptuous body, she is the Emperor's favorite consort when it comes to body type. As a high consort, she is often seen wearing extravagant clothes and decorations to bring out her mature beauty. Her elemental motif among the high consorts is water, and thus is generally seen in blue and purple attire. Even for the garden party and when meeting with the Empress Dowager.

On the outside, Lihua presents a serious, snobby and overpowering personality that at first glance seems materialistic. In reality, while she is proud, she isn't arrogant and cares deeply for those who assist her, thanking their care and ensuring their efforts are properly rewarded, and is actually a fair and just mistress. As prideful as she is this is not from a place of feeling superior but a need to project herself as strong and establish her power, and she has no problem changing her views when presented with new info, Despite her initial hostile treatment of Maomao, she quickly changed her stance after Maomao tirelessly worked to save her life when she was poisoned, even going so far as to gently stroke her head in a motherly manner when Maomao collapsed on a chair to sleep. She is very benevolent to her female attendants, they in turn are incredibly loyal and protective of her, wanting her to succeed. She even went forgave a lady-in-waiting who had nearly killed her unintentionally by continuing to apply the same poisonous face powder on her that had killed her son. This was due to her recognizing that the maid had no ill intentions and hadn't truly comprehended how dangerous the face powder was. This duality is what drew the Emperor to her compared to the other consorts, and she in turn admires his character deeply. She is very similar to Consort Gyokuyou in terms of capability and demeanor, being smart and politically savvy as well as kind, but she is more emotional and attached with bouts of insecurity, especially after the loss of her first son. She is the Emperor's current second favorite consort after Gyokuyou.

Influence: As one of the Emperor's favorite consorts, Lihua carries considerable influence within the inner and outer courts.

Lihua, a distant relative of the Emperor via Empress Dowager Anshi’s line, was sent to become a consort alongside her paternal cousin Shin, who became her head lady‑in‑waiting. With a prominent clan, Lihua had one of the largest courts — around thirty staff members. Despite bearing the Emperor a son (first in line for the throne), she wasn’t promoted to Empress — possibly because there was no urgency, or due to her son’s rapid illness after birth.

Lihua and her son were poisoned by lead‑based face powder. Blaming Gyokuyou (despite her daughter also being a victim), Lihua attacked her in agitation. Maomao left an anonymous warning, but it was ignored — Lihua’s son died at three months. The powder was banned, yet one lady‑in‑waiting hid it, worsening Lihua’s condition until she was bedridden. Maomao intervened, treating her and exposing the culprit. Over two months, Maomao nursed Lihua back to health, earning her deep gratitude. Maomao also taught her how to regain the Emperor’s interest.

Grateful, Lihua became one of Maomao’s benefactors. At the winter garden party, she gave Maomao a hair stick. Later, when Maomao needed space to grow roses, Lihua let her use her sauna building; in return, Maomao gave Lihua one of the Emperor’s favourite “spicy” books.

Shin, jealous of Lihua’s status, created a miscarriage‑inducing drug from perfumes and hid a sick lady‑in‑waiting in an old garden house. Confronted by Jinshi, Shin blamed Maomao and the Quack Doctor. Lihua led the investigation, forcing Shin to admit guilt and reveal her feelings. Lihua slapped and dismissed Shin from the Inner Court, ensuring the innocent lady‑in‑waiting received care outside the palace. Months later, Lihua bore the Emperor a second, healthy son.

Her name, "Lihua," is Chinese for "pear blossom". Of the four consorts, she is the only one with a truly traditionally Chinese female name. Her loyalty to her family, protective tendency towards her children and devotion to the Emperor seem to reflect being in a position of a traditional feminine role She is symbolised by the Chinese bellflower, representing eternal love and elegance, and her cardinal color is blue, associated with the East.[citation needed] Of the four high-ranking consorts presented in the beginning of the series, Lihua is the only one who has retained her position, with Gyokuyou becoming Empress, Ah-duo and Lishu banished from their respective positions, and Loulan missing.