Jinshi

Emperor: Jinshi's father/brother; sovereign of the empire
Intelligent, calculating, reserved, respected, he fosters the commitment of Maomao and Jinshi, a loving grandfather in private.

Gyokuyou: High-ranking imperial concubine; mother of one of the heirs
Elegant, intelligent, perceptive, kind, politically astute, she maintains a cordial relationship with Maomao.

Lihua: High-ranking imperial concubine
Dignified, reserved, proud, intelligent, maintains good relations with Maomao.

Ah-Duo: Former high-ranking imperial concubine (Jinshi's biological mother)
Charismatic, mature, independent, intelligent, she maintains important ties with the imperial family.

Lishu: Young Imperial Concubine
Shy, sensitive, polite, easily intimidated, she develops trust with Maomao.

Loulan: High-ranking imperial concubine
Mysterious, intelligent, refined, difficult to read, politically relevant.

Lahan: Lakan's eldest adopted son
Extremely intelligent, calculating, interested in money and administration, a useful political ally of Maomao.

Gaoshun: Jinshi's bodyguard, assistant, and trusted confidant
Serious, responsible, patient, observant, loyal, competent, and protective of Jinshi, he is used to controlling his impulses and covering up his recklessness. He has known Jinshi since he was young and is one of the few people capable of scolding him. He maintains a respectful relationship with Maomao and eventually comes to trust her completely.

The Empress Dowager (Anshi) Mother of the Emperor and grandmother/mother of Jinshi
A former empress, powerful, proud, traditional, intelligent, politically influential, and fiercely protective of the imperial family. She considers Jinshi her son and treats him with special affection, though she maintains a demanding attitude. She initially has a cautious relationship with Maomao, but eventually comes to appreciate her intelligence and character.

Jinshi retains many of his original characteristics, but his upbringing as a prince modifies some aspects.

Is:

*Charismatic.

• Intelligent.
  *Observer.
• Diplomat.
  *Extremely aware of his position.
• Elegant and polite in public.
  Mischievous and provocative with those he considers close. Quite proud of his attractiveness.
  Capable of manipulating political situations when necessary. Protective of those he cares about.
  Very affectionate in private. Much more emotional than he shows publicly.

With Maomao, his more childlike side emerges.

From a young age, he's been used to her rejecting him, ignoring him, or responding with complete indifference. Instead of discouraging him, this only makes him more interested in her.

Over time, the childish annoyance becomes a kind of game between them.

Jinshi particularly enjoys provoking reactions in Maomao.

And when she finally begins to show affection, he discovers that he can be extremely possessive of her attention, although he always tries to maintain the composure of a prince.

Position: Imperial Prince / Younger brother of the Emperor
Age: Similar to Maomao; they have known each other since childhood.
Future: Husband of Maomao and central member of the imperial family.

Appearance

Jinshi retains his canonical appearance: he is considered one of the most beautiful men in the empire, to the point that his beauty may seem almost unreal.

A fine and delicate face, with harmonious features. An androgynous appearance, with a beauty that can easily be mistaken for that of a woman.
Large, expressive eyes with an intense gaze. Long, dark, and carefully styled hair.
Fair and well-cared-for skin. Tall, slender, and elegant build.
Despite her delicate appearance, she possesses a well-developed and trained body due to her upbringing as a member of the imperial family. Her movements are refined and controlled, typical of someone raised within the court.
He usually wears high-quality clothing in colors befitting his social standing. His presence makes people notice him even when he's not trying to draw attention to himself.

As they both approach the appropriate age to marry, the emperor makes a decision.

He does not wait for Lakan to offer his daughter.

He is the one who asks for Maomao's hand in marriage for Jinshi.

The request carries enormous political weight.

Maomao is the daughter of Lakan, a figure of enormous importance within the empire, and has proven to be an intelligent, educated young woman capable of navigating the court.

Jinshi, in addition to being a member of the imperial family, already maintains a relationship with her built since childhood.

The emperor believes he would not be handing his son/brother over to a stranger.

It would be uniting two people who already know each other, trust each other, and have grown up together.

Lakan agrees.

Not because he wants to use his daughter as a political pawn, but because he trusts the emperor and has known Jinshi for years.

That doesn't mean I'll stop warning him.

Jinshi has one last private conversation with his future father-in-law.

Lakan makes it very clear that he may be a prince, but that Maomao is still his daughter.

Jinshi fully understands the threat.

And she accepts it.

For Maomao, the commitment is much more complicated.

She understands all the political advantages of the union.

She understands that Jinshi would be a suitable husband.

She understands that he treats her with exceptional consideration.

And, above all, he understands that she is one of the few people with whom he can be completely himself.

But there's a small problem:

The prince she considered an annoying child for years is now the man she is going to marry.

And Jinshi is delighted.

Because while Maomao tries to rationally analyze the commitment, he has probably been waiting for that exact moment for years.

Maomao and Jinshi have known each other since childhood due to the relationship between Lakan and the emperor.

Jinshi, used to receiving attention and admiration, feels immediate curiosity about that girl who doesn't seem impressed by him.

Maomao, on the other hand, considers the prince to be too insistent.

Jinshi wants to play with her.

Maomao wants to be left alone.

Jinshi returns the next day.

Maomao rejects him again.

And so begins the relationship that, many years later, will eventually become a marriage.

During their childhood, the two develop an exceptional familiarity.

Maomao can speak to her with a freedom that others would never have, while Jinshi learns that she is not easily manipulated with titles, gifts, or beauty.

At the same time, Maomao begins to receive teachings from the three adults who will most influence his personality:

Lakan teaches him to observe power.

Luomen teaches him to observe the body.

His mother teaches him to observe people.

The combination is dangerous.

Over the years, Maomao becomes a young woman capable of analyzing both a poison and a political negotiation.

Jinshi, for his part, begins to get used to having her by his side.

What for Maomao remains a particular friendship begins to transform into something much deeper for him.

During adolescence, Jinshi begins to understand that he no longer simply wants to spend time with her.

He wants Maomao to stay by his side.

And Maomao, although she still does not fully recognize her own feelings, begins to discover that the prince is no longer as unpleasant to her as before.

The fundamental change in this timeline is simple:

Jinshi never enters the Inner Palace as a eunuch.

Growing up as a prince from the start, his relationship with Maomao can develop within the nobility and the court, without the enormous social barrier that originally existed.

At the same time, Lakan's presence in Maomao's life causes her to be recognized as her daughter and grow up with a completely different social position.

These two changes produce an inevitable consequence:

Maomao and Jinshi are raised as members of families closely linked to the imperial court.

Therefore, the emperor begins to consider them a possible couple from a young age.

The union would not only be romantic, it would be an extraordinarily convenient alliance:

*The imperial family establishes a direct relationship with the powerful Lakan family.

• Lakan strengthens his family's position within the court.
  Maomao obtains a position that corresponds to her intelligence and lineage. Jinshi gains a future wife who understands politics and can become a formidable ally.
  The emperor secures an alliance between the imperial family and a military figure of enormous importance.

Thus, what began as a childhood friendship ends up becoming a marriage possibility that is convenient for practically everyone involved.

Except, possibly, for Maomao, who for much of his childhood considered Jinshi to be simply a particularly annoying spoiled child.

Maomao's uncle and one of his main teachers.

By remaining within the imperial environment as a physician, he continues to participate in her upbringing and education. He teaches her medicine, pharmacology, poisons, and treatments.

He is probably one of the few people able to observe the growth of Maomao and Jinshi from outside their political games.

She knows them both perfectly and understands long before they do where their relationship is headed.

Maomao's legitimate father and one of the most influential men at court. A great military strategist and leader of the "La" clan.

By publicly acknowledging his daughter, he seeks to give her a dignified position and an education that will allow her to thrive among the nobility.

He is an extremely protective father, although he tries to hide it behind his usual eccentric attitude.

The emperor's respect makes the relationship between Lakan's family and the imperial family especially close.

As the prince's future father-in-law, however, he discovers that there is a considerable difference between respecting the emperor and allowing someone to get too close to his daughter.

Ka Zuigetzu

Publicly recognized as an Imperial Prince from birth, he never enters the Inner Palace as a eunuch and thus grows up aware of his identity, responsibilities, and position within the Imperial Family.

From childhood he is exceptionally handsome, intelligent and charismatic, but he also receives an education designed to make him an important political figure.

His relationship with Maomao begins very differently from the one he has with her as an adult: during childhood he is fascinated by her because she is one of the few people who does not seem impressed by his position.

Over the years, his childlike curiosity transforms into affection and finally into love.

The legitimate daughter of Lakan and a highly talented former courtesan named Fengxian, she grew up in a prominent position within her father's family and received an education befitting a young noblewoman, though she maintained a close relationship with her uncle Luomen.

From a young age, she demonstrates exceptional intelligence, an extraordinary memory, and an unconventional curiosity. Luomen imparts to her knowledge of medicine, plants, and poisons, while Lakan tries to teach her strategy, politics, and how to read people.

Unlike the original Maomao, she doesn't need to resort to medicine for survival. She knows about it and enjoys it, but her true fascination ends up being the workings of the court: alliances, power, succession, marriages, and the motivations behind political decisions.

She also retains some of her mother's teachings on etiquette, conversation, and courtly behavior. Over the years, she learns to use them deliberately, especially to entertain or disconcert Jinshi.