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* DeterminedWidow: Her husband, Nie Feng, is dead before the start of the show. [[spoiler: Subverted since Nie Feng turns out to still be alive.]]
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* TheWatson: Not being a dedicated politico like most of the other main cast-members, he winds up asking a ''lot'' of CaptainObvious questions so plot-points can be explained to him (and slower members of the audience).
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Dewicking Ill Boy
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* IllBoy: Mei Changsu is a sympathetic and near perfect character who certainly manages to look very pretty even when he's turning deathly pale and coughing up blood. Thankfully he's also a very layered and nuanced character who avoids the more annoying Marty Stu versions of this trope.
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* MoralEventHorizon: He crosses it in Episode 17, [[spoiler: when he deliberately has a gunpowder warehouse exploded in the middle of the city, killing countless uninvolved civilians,]] as part of his ongoing feud with the Crown Prince.
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* DarkHorseSibling
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* BrotherSisterTeam: in charge of defending the southern border with Nihuang.
* FoolishSiblingResponsibleSibling: Nihuang chastises him multiple times for goofing off and not attending to his studies.
* MySisterIsOffLimits: toward Nihuang's many suitors.
* FoolishSiblingResponsibleSibling: Nihuang chastises him multiple times for goofing off and not attending to his studies.
* MySisterIsOffLimits: toward Nihuang's many suitors.
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* PutOnABus: Leaves for Southern Chu in episode 26 [[spoiler:with his half-sister]] and doesn’t reappear until episode 51.
* TheBusCameBack: Returns to the capital in episode 51 [[spoiler:just in time to kick-start the revelation of Xie Yu’s crimes]].
* TheBusCameBack: Returns to the capital in episode 51 [[spoiler:just in time to kick-start the revelation of Xie Yu’s crimes]].
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* PosthumousCharacter
* MissingMom: [[spoiler:to Prince Yu.]]
* MissingMom: [[spoiler:to Prince Yu.]]
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* LongLostRelative: [[spoiler:to Jingrui.]]
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!The Xie and Dingfeng Household
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!The Xie and Dingfeng Household
Zhou Households
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* SarcasticConfession: When he's cornered by Consort Yue and Xia Jiang's attempt to reveal his true identity, Lin Shu straight up ''admits'' it to the emperor's face. [[spoiler:But then he follows up by saying even if he admits it it doesn't prove anything and uses enough Word Fu to convince the emperor to dismiss Xia Jiang entirely.]] That is talent. [[spoiler:Although, admittedly it doesn't prevent the emperor from trying to kill him anyway... See MurderistheBestSolution.]]
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* SarcasticConfession: When he's cornered by Consort Yue and Xia Jiang's attempt to reveal his true identity, Lin Shu straight up ''admits'' it to the emperor's face. [[spoiler:But then he follows up by saying even if he admits it it doesn't prove anything and uses enough Word Fu to convince the emperor to dismiss Xia Jiang entirely.]] That is talent. [[spoiler:Although, admittedly it doesn't prevent the emperor from trying to kill him anyway... See MurderistheBestSolution.MurderIsTheBestSolution.]]
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[[folder:Jun Niang, Forth Sister]]
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[[folder:Jun Niang, Forth Fourth Sister]]
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* SilkHidingSteel: Liyang comes off as very quiet and accepting of everything that has happened to her, including being separated from her lover, being [[ButLiquorIsQuicker drugged and raped and then [[AndNowYouMustMarryMe having to marry her rapist,]] and [[spoiler: having said husband hire an assassin to murder her lover's child after she gave birth.]] However, not only does she manage to protect her son and does her best to protect Nihuang from a similar marriage plot, Liyang proves herself far from a wilting flower in episode 21 when she [[StopOrIShootMyself holds a knife to her own throat]] to get Xie Yu to allow Prince Yu's guards into the manor. The fact that her husband of 20 years complies says a lot about whether she's bluffing.
to:
* SilkHidingSteel: Liyang comes off as very quiet and accepting of everything that has happened to her, including being separated from her lover, being [[ButLiquorIsQuicker drugged and raped raped]] and then [[AndNowYouMustMarryMe having to marry her rapist,]] and [[spoiler: having said husband hire an assassin to murder her lover's child after she gave birth.]] However, not only does she manage to protect her son and does her best to protect Nihuang from a similar marriage plot, Liyang proves herself far from a wilting flower in episode 21 when she [[StopOrIShootMyself holds a knife to her own throat]] to get Xie Yu to allow Prince Yu's guards into the manor. The fact that her husband of 20 years complies says a lot about whether she's bluffing.
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* FriendOnTheForce: Xia Dong becomes this to our protagonists
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* FriendOnTheForce: Xia Dong becomes this to our protagonistsprotagonists.
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* DirtyCop: The Xuanjing Bureau is supposed to be completely neutral in party politics and loyal only to the emporer, but Xia Jiang uses the faction disputes to protect his own personal power.
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* DirtyCop: The Xuanjing Bureau is supposed to be completely neutral in party politics and loyal only to theemporer, emperor, but Xia Jiang uses the faction disputes to protect his own personal power.
* DirtyCop: The Xuanjing Bureau is supposed to be completely neutral in party politics and loyal only to the
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->'''Played by:''' Hu Ge and Zhehan Zhang (young)
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->'''Played by:''' Ge Hu Ge and Zhehan Zhang (young)
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->'''Played by:''' Wu Lei
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->'''Played by:''' Wu Lei
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->'''Played by:''' Chen Long
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->'''Played by:''' Chen Long
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->'''Played by:''' Wang Hong and Zhao Yilong
Two survivors of the Chiyan Army that serve Mei Changsu
Two survivors of the Chiyan Army that serve Mei Changsu
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->'''Played by:''' Hong Wang Hong and Zhao Yilong
Yilong Zhao
Two survivors of the Chiyan Army that serve MeiChangsu
Changsu.
Two survivors of the Chiyan Army that serve Mei
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->'''Played by:''' Zhou Qiqi
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->'''Played by:''' Zhou Qiqi
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->'''Played by:''' Gong Fangmin
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->'''Played by:''' Wang Hong
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->'''Played by:''' Jin Dong
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-> '''Played by:''' Yingzhe Shan
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->'''Played by:''' Wang Kai
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->'''Played by:''' Yujian Zhang
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->'''Played by:''' Yujian Zhang
Victor Huang
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[[folder:Xi Qi]]
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* DeathByChildbirth: Xi Qi dies in childbirth,[[spoiler: possibly because of complications from the shock of the Family Disunion.]]
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* DeathByChildbirth: Xi Xie Qi dies in childbirth,[[spoiler: possibly because of complications from the shock of the Family Disunion.]]
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-> '''Played by: Shengli Zheng'''
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* ActionGirl: Is said to have died on the battlefield before the show begins
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* ActionGirl: Is said to have died on the battlefield before the show beginsbegins.
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* ActionGirl: Her fight with Jingrui is her first appearance
* ArrangedMarriage: Nian Nian goes to Da Liang to be married to one of the princes. [[spoiler: She ends up engaged to Jingting]]
* ArrangedMarriage: Nian Nian goes to Da Liang to be married to one of the princes. [[spoiler: She ends up engaged to Jingting]]
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* ActionGirl: Her fight with Jingrui is her first appearance
appearance.
* ArrangedMarriage: Nian Nian goes to Da Liang to be married to one of the princes. [[spoiler: She ends up engaged toJingting]]Jingting.]]
* ArrangedMarriage: Nian Nian goes to Da Liang to be married to one of the princes. [[spoiler: She ends up engaged to
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* RagstoRoyalty: Tingsheng is a slave who ends in the care of [[spoiler: and later adopted by]] Prince Jing. [[spoiler: But he was really a prince all along, being the only son of the late Prince Qi.]]
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* RagstoRoyalty: RagsToRoyalty: Tingsheng is a slave who ends in the care of [[spoiler: and later adopted by]] Prince Jing. [[spoiler: But he was really a prince all along, being the only son of the late Prince Qi.]]
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[[folder:Li Gang and Zu Ping]]
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[[folder:Li Gang and Zu Zhen Ping]]
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Expanding on how exactly Mei Changsu is an insufferable genius
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* InsufferableGenius
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* InsufferableGeniusInsufferableGenius: Played straight as Lin Shu, people overlooked it because his personality wasn't particularly obnoxious and because he really was that talented. Mostly averted as Mei Changsu, who doesn't have the energy or the circumstances to be as showy as Lin Shu. He still has his moments where he uses his superior logical thinking to outwit Lin Chen and his followers into letting him get involved in the action despite his poor health.
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* SilkHidingSteel: Liyang comes off as very quiet and accepting of everything that has happened to her, including [[spoiler: being separated from her lover,]] [[spoiler: being [[ButLiquorIsQuicker drugged and raped]] and then [[AndNowYouMustMarryMe having to marry her rapist,]]]] and [[spoiler: having said husband hire an assassin to murder her lover's child after she gave birth.]] However, not only does she manage to [[spoiler: protect her son]] and does her best to protect Nihuang from [[spoiler: a similar marriage plot,]] Liyang proves herself far from a wilting flower in episode 21 when [[spoiler: she [[StopOrIShootMyself holds a knife to her own throat]] to get Xie Yu to allow Prince Yu's guard's into the manor. The fact that her husband of 20 years complies says a lot about whether she's bluffing]]
to:
* SilkHidingSteel: Liyang comes off as very quiet and accepting of everything that has happened to her, including [[spoiler: being separated from her lover,]] [[spoiler: lover, being [[ButLiquorIsQuicker drugged and raped]] raped and then [[AndNowYouMustMarryMe having to marry her rapist,]]]] rapist,]] and [[spoiler: having said husband hire an assassin to murder her lover's child after she gave birth.]] However, not only does she manage to [[spoiler: protect her son]] son and does her best to protect Nihuang from [[spoiler: a similar marriage plot,]] plot, Liyang proves herself far from a wilting flower in episode 21 when [[spoiler: she [[StopOrIShootMyself holds a knife to her own throat]] to get Xie Yu to allow Prince Yu's guard's guards into the manor. The fact that her husband of 20 years complies says a lot about whether she's bluffing]]bluffing.
* StopOrIShootMyself: As mentioned above, she threatens suicide to make Xie Yu stand aside.
* StopOrIShootMyself: As mentioned above, she threatens suicide to make Xie Yu stand aside.
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** [[spoiler:The Crown Prince and his mother Consort Yue attempt this with Nihuang so that she is forced to marry one of her potential suitors, that is loyal to them, and have her military and political influnce serving their faction. Thankfully it stops at {{Attempted Rape}}.]]
to:
** [[spoiler:The Crown Prince and his mother Consort Yue attempt this with Nihuang so that she is forced to marry one of her potential suitors, that is loyal to them, and have her military and political influnce influence serving their faction. Thankfully it stops at {{Attempted Rape}}.AttemptedRape.]]
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* BigBrotherInstinct: He's very protective of Nihuang (though the trope is inverted because he's her younger brother). After Sima Lei tried to rape Nihuang, Mu Qing beat him up and broke his leg.
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One of the most powerful political forces in the pugilist world of Da Ling. It's leader, Mei Changsu, created it and spent 12 years gaining power in order to facilitate his larger plans.
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One of the most powerful political forces in the pugilist world of Da Ling. It's Its leader, Mei Changsu, created it and spent 12 years gaining power in order to facilitate his larger plans.
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* ArrangedMarriage: Nian Nian goes to Da Liang to be married to one of the princes. [[spoiler: She end's up engaged to Jingting]]
[[/folder]]
[[/folder]]
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* ArrangedMarriage: Nian Nian goes to Da Liang to be married to one of the princes. [[spoiler: She end's ends up engaged to Jingting]]
[[/folder]][[/folder]]
----
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*WarriorPrince: Jingyan is a capable fighter and general, as well as the seventh son of the emperor.
*[[WarriorPrince Warrior Princess:]] Nihuang is the general of the armies defending Yannan from Southern Chu and her first appearance has her defeating Jingrui and Yujin, two-on-one in combat.
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[[folder: Princess Linglong]]
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[[folder: Princess Linglong]]
Linglong, Consort Xiang]]
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*TheMedic: Lin Chen is the one who saved Mei Changsu after he was poisoned and was his primary physician for 12 years.
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*TheMedic: Mei Changsu's personal doctor while he is in the capital.
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Commander General of Da Liang and of the Imperial Guard .
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* AndNowYouMustMarryMe: A decidedly non-G rated version where[[spoiler:Princess Liyang was in love with a foreign prince but the empress and Marquis Xie conspired to [[SlippingAMickey drug]] and rape her so that she would be forced to marry Xie. Unsurprisingly this situation led to some complications, see Family Switcheroo. ]]
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* AndNowYouMustMarryMe: A decidedly non-G rated versionwhere[[spoiler:Princess where[[spoiler: Princess Liyang was in love with a foreign prince but the empress and Marquis Xie conspired to [[SlippingAMickey drug]] and rape her so that she would be forced to marry Xie. Unsurprisingly this situation led to some complications, see Family Switcheroo. ]]
* AndNowYouMustMarryMe: A decidedly non-G rated version
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->'''Played by:''' Hu Ge
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->'''Played by:''' Hu Ge
Ge and Zhehan Zhang(young)
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* Batman Gambit: Basically all of Mei Changsu's strategies are this. He is extremely good at predicting how others will react to events.
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* Batman Gambit: BatmanGambit: Basically all of Mei Changsu's strategies are this. He is extremely good at predicting how others will react to events.
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* BashBrothers: With Jingyan in their youth.
* BecauseImGoodAtIt: One of Lin Shu's justifications for taking on the role of the political manipulator
* BlatantLies: When Lin Shu tells Nihuang [[spoiler: he has 10 years left to live and any other time Lin Shu says he'll hang around with Jingyan in the future even in the very last episode, dammit.]]
* BlueOniRedOni: The highly intellectual and manipulative Mei Changsu plays blue oni to the red oni that is the emotionally driven Prince Jingyan.
* CapturedOnPurpose: Lin Shu walks right into the Xuanjing Bureau and Xia Jiang's hands in super slow motion and looking totally bad-ass.
**Xia Jiang even told the emperor he wanted to move fast so Mei Changsu wouldn't know he was coming and be able to plan for it. When he arrives at the Su residence though, MCS meets him at the entrance completely unruffled.
* CassandraTruth: Lin Shu admits he's a member of Prince Qi's household to Xia Jiang partly so that he will sound even crazier and discredit himself when he reports it to the emperor. Lin Shu even explains away Xia Jiang's claim to Jingyan by saying he ''lied'' about his identity for this very effect.
* TheChessmaster: Mei Changsu is a master of manipulating others, predicting their actions and reactions, and thinking steps ahead of them. [[spoiler: During the confrontation in Xie Manor, he sends Fei Liu to sabotage the armory so Xie Yu's guards are unable to fire on his guests with crossbows.]]
**He even has wooden tiles for each one of his enemies that he burns upon 'removing' them from the board.
* TheChosenOne: "To have the Divine Talent is to have the World." [[spoiler: Possibly subverted in that Lin Chen is Mei Changsu's best friend and this "prophecy" was likely given out as part of his master plan. Doubly subverted when you consider that Langya Hall's "prophecies" are actually just statements of fact derived from carefully compiled information. Essentially, Mei Changsu chose himself.]]
* ChronicHeroSyndrome: Lin Shu just can't seem to stop trying to help his friends and uphold his duty, even when he's literally dying from pushing himself too hard.
* CrazyPrepared: Lin Shu's ability to foresee and plan for every possible outcome is the quality that makes him the ultimate Divine Talent. See The Chosen One
* EmptyPromise: regarding his health and life expectancy. [[spoiler: Any time Mei Changsu promises anyone anything regarding the future. See his promise to stay by Jingyan's side and watch him become emperor or his promise never to leave Nihuang again.]]
* FlashbackNightmare: The first scene of the series shows the bloody massacre of an army and the young Lin Shu's dying father urging him to survive just before he falls off a cliff... and our adult hero [[CatapultNightmare catapults awake, panting in his bed]].
* IllBoy: Mei Changsu is a sympathetic and near perfect character who certainly manages to look very pretty even when he's turning deathly pale and coughing up blood. Thankfully he's also a very layered and nuanced character who avoids the more annoying Marty Stu versions of this trope.
* IncorruptiblePurePureness: After 12 years playing shadowy manipulator, a lot of people would have lost sight of their original goals. Granted, being on the verge of death tends to give people a sense of priority.
* InsufferableGenius
* MultilayerFacade: When he first comes to the capital, Mei Changsu introduces himself as "Sir Su" a mere visiting scholar. When his enemies get suspicious, they do a background check and discover his "real" identity, the powerful leader of the Jiang Zuo Alliance. This prevents them from thinking to dig deeper and discover his actual {{Secret Identity}} Lin Shu.
* ReportsOfMyDeathWereGreatlyExaggerated
* SarcasticConfession: When he's cornered by Consort Yue and Xia Jiang's attempt to reveal his true identity, Lin Shu straight up ''admits'' it to the emperor's face. [[spoiler:But then he follows up by saying even if he admits it it doesn't prove anything and uses enough Word Fu to convince the emperor to dismiss Xia Jiang entirely.]] That is talent. [[spoiler:Although, admittedly it doesn't prevent the emperor from trying to kill him anyway... See MurderistheBestSolution.]]
* StarCrossedLovers: Nihuang and Lin Shu have loved each other their whole lives [[spoiler: but are fated never to be together in this life.]]
* StartingANewLife: Lin Shu's new life as Mei Changsu.
* UnsportsmanlikeGloating: Mei Changsu uncharacteristically gives in to a little gloating the last time he sees Xia Jiang in prison. "You're just here to gloat this time aren't you?" "Yes. I've seen you play all your best cards and end up back in prison anyway. It makes me happy." So. Satisfying.
* YourDaysAreNumbered: Mei Changsu is driven to reach his goal as quickly as possible because of his limited time left to live.
[[/folder]]
* BecauseImGoodAtIt: One of Lin Shu's justifications for taking on the role of the political manipulator
* BlatantLies: When Lin Shu tells Nihuang [[spoiler: he has 10 years left to live and any other time Lin Shu says he'll hang around with Jingyan in the future even in the very last episode, dammit.]]
* BlueOniRedOni: The highly intellectual and manipulative Mei Changsu plays blue oni to the red oni that is the emotionally driven Prince Jingyan.
* CapturedOnPurpose: Lin Shu walks right into the Xuanjing Bureau and Xia Jiang's hands in super slow motion and looking totally bad-ass.
**Xia Jiang even told the emperor he wanted to move fast so Mei Changsu wouldn't know he was coming and be able to plan for it. When he arrives at the Su residence though, MCS meets him at the entrance completely unruffled.
* CassandraTruth: Lin Shu admits he's a member of Prince Qi's household to Xia Jiang partly so that he will sound even crazier and discredit himself when he reports it to the emperor. Lin Shu even explains away Xia Jiang's claim to Jingyan by saying he ''lied'' about his identity for this very effect.
* TheChessmaster: Mei Changsu is a master of manipulating others, predicting their actions and reactions, and thinking steps ahead of them. [[spoiler: During the confrontation in Xie Manor, he sends Fei Liu to sabotage the armory so Xie Yu's guards are unable to fire on his guests with crossbows.]]
**He even has wooden tiles for each one of his enemies that he burns upon 'removing' them from the board.
* TheChosenOne: "To have the Divine Talent is to have the World." [[spoiler: Possibly subverted in that Lin Chen is Mei Changsu's best friend and this "prophecy" was likely given out as part of his master plan. Doubly subverted when you consider that Langya Hall's "prophecies" are actually just statements of fact derived from carefully compiled information. Essentially, Mei Changsu chose himself.]]
* ChronicHeroSyndrome: Lin Shu just can't seem to stop trying to help his friends and uphold his duty, even when he's literally dying from pushing himself too hard.
* CrazyPrepared: Lin Shu's ability to foresee and plan for every possible outcome is the quality that makes him the ultimate Divine Talent. See The Chosen One
* EmptyPromise: regarding his health and life expectancy. [[spoiler: Any time Mei Changsu promises anyone anything regarding the future. See his promise to stay by Jingyan's side and watch him become emperor or his promise never to leave Nihuang again.]]
* FlashbackNightmare: The first scene of the series shows the bloody massacre of an army and the young Lin Shu's dying father urging him to survive just before he falls off a cliff... and our adult hero [[CatapultNightmare catapults awake, panting in his bed]].
* IllBoy: Mei Changsu is a sympathetic and near perfect character who certainly manages to look very pretty even when he's turning deathly pale and coughing up blood. Thankfully he's also a very layered and nuanced character who avoids the more annoying Marty Stu versions of this trope.
* IncorruptiblePurePureness: After 12 years playing shadowy manipulator, a lot of people would have lost sight of their original goals. Granted, being on the verge of death tends to give people a sense of priority.
* InsufferableGenius
* MultilayerFacade: When he first comes to the capital, Mei Changsu introduces himself as "Sir Su" a mere visiting scholar. When his enemies get suspicious, they do a background check and discover his "real" identity, the powerful leader of the Jiang Zuo Alliance. This prevents them from thinking to dig deeper and discover his actual {{Secret Identity}} Lin Shu.
* ReportsOfMyDeathWereGreatlyExaggerated
* SarcasticConfession: When he's cornered by Consort Yue and Xia Jiang's attempt to reveal his true identity, Lin Shu straight up ''admits'' it to the emperor's face. [[spoiler:But then he follows up by saying even if he admits it it doesn't prove anything and uses enough Word Fu to convince the emperor to dismiss Xia Jiang entirely.]] That is talent. [[spoiler:Although, admittedly it doesn't prevent the emperor from trying to kill him anyway... See MurderistheBestSolution.]]
* StarCrossedLovers: Nihuang and Lin Shu have loved each other their whole lives [[spoiler: but are fated never to be together in this life.]]
* StartingANewLife: Lin Shu's new life as Mei Changsu.
* UnsportsmanlikeGloating: Mei Changsu uncharacteristically gives in to a little gloating the last time he sees Xia Jiang in prison. "You're just here to gloat this time aren't you?" "Yes. I've seen you play all your best cards and end up back in prison anyway. It makes me happy." So. Satisfying.
* YourDaysAreNumbered: Mei Changsu is driven to reach his goal as quickly as possible because of his limited time left to live.
[[/folder]]
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Mei Changsu's young bodyguard and close companion.
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* Badass Adorable
Mei Changsu's bodyguard and close companion
Mei Changsu's bodyguard and close companion
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* Badass Adorable
Mei Changsu's bodyguard and close companion
BadassAdorable
* WireFu: Apparently the second thing every martial artist learns is flying, but Fei Liu especially spends most of his time on rooftops.
[[/folder]]
Mei Changsu's bodyguard and close companion
* WireFu: Apparently the second thing every martial artist learns is flying, but Fei Liu especially spends most of his time on rooftops.
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Commander General of Da Liang and of the Imperial Guard
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Commander General of Da Liang and of the Imperial Guard
Guard .
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* ActionGirl
to:
*ActionGirl: [[spoiler: Daughter of an assassin]] and very skilled with a sword.
*ActionGirl
IgnoredEnamoredUnderling: Gong Yu's has a really obvious crush on Mei Changsu. He takes the {{Cruel To Be Kind}} approach and never gives her any hope.
[[/folder]]
*
[[/folder]]
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* InsufferableGenius
* JerkWithAHeartOfGold
* LongHairedPrettyBoy: Lin Chen has long flowing hair - instead of the topknots most of the other men wear - and an androgynously handsome face.
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Physican Yan]]
->'''Played by:''' Weihua Zhong
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Nie Feng]]
* ChekhovsGunman: You know that "beast" Jingyan's soldiers have been trying to catch since the early episodes? It's almost the end of the series and they finally caught it! [[spoiler:Turns out it's actually one of the few survivors of the Chiyan Army, Nie Feng, who helps reveal how Lin Shu himself survived and the nature of his illness.]]
* ReportsOfMyDeathWereGreatlyExaggerated
[[/folder]]
* JerkWithAHeartOfGold
* LongHairedPrettyBoy: Lin Chen has long flowing hair - instead of the topknots most of the other men wear - and an androgynously handsome face.
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Physican Yan]]
->'''Played by:''' Weihua Zhong
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Nie Feng]]
* ChekhovsGunman: You know that "beast" Jingyan's soldiers have been trying to catch since the early episodes? It's almost the end of the series and they finally caught it! [[spoiler:Turns out it's actually one of the few survivors of the Chiyan Army, Nie Feng, who helps reveal how Lin Shu himself survived and the nature of his illness.]]
* ReportsOfMyDeathWereGreatlyExaggerated
[[/folder]]
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* AmbitionIsEvil: Jingyan seeks power for altruistic reasons and [[spoiler: is ultimately able to become Emperor.]] while The Crown Prince and Prince Yu [[spoiler:are ultimately defeated by the consequences of their own unscrupulous greed for power.]]
*ArrangedMarriage: When Princess Nian Nian arrives in Da Liang to be married to one of the princes, Jingyan is a candidate having only one concubine. [[spoiler: She end's up engaged to Jingting]]
* BashBrothers: With Lin Shu in their youth.
* BlueOniRedOni: The highly intellectual and manipulative Mei Changsu plays blue oni to the red oni that is the emotionally driven Prince Jingyan.
* HonorBeforeReason: Jingyan's default setting. Mei Changsu tries his best to make him behave more strategically, but [[spoiler:has to give in when Jingyan refuses to leave Wei Zheng in prison to be executed, even though breaking him out is an extremely dangerous move that will potentially waste all of Jingyan's political gains so far.]]
* IncorruptiblePurePureness: The reason many support Jingyan to become emperor. [[spoiler: Prince Yu even points this out when Jingyan is sent to handle disaster relief, wondering how Jingyan can resist skimming off the relief funds.]]
* LockedOutOfTheLoop: Mei Changsu won't let anyone tell Jingyan who he really is because he knows his best friend will be too worried about him to treat him as a mere strategist and follow his plans without question. [[spoiler: By the time Jingyan finds out, it feels like everyone knows but him, including his mother.]]
* PullingTheThread: Jingyan attempts to do this when he asks both his mother and Mei Changsu what his father's name was without giving them time to consult each other.[[spoiler: Unfortunately for him, Mei Changsu's cover is too well planned- they both give the same name, the one Lin Shu's real father used as an alias.]]
* ScrewTheRulesImDoingWhatsRight: When Jingyan insists on breaking the falsely accused Wei Zheng out of prison.
* SpottingTheThread:
** Jingyan notes Mei Changsu's habit of rubbing at things when he's thinking- just like this one guy he used to know...
** Lin Shu accidentally draws Jingyan's sword and uses it to point out troop movements, unconsciously repeating a familiar gesture which Jingyan recognizes
[[/folder]]
*ArrangedMarriage: When Princess Nian Nian arrives in Da Liang to be married to one of the princes, Jingyan is a candidate having only one concubine. [[spoiler: She end's up engaged to Jingting]]
* BashBrothers: With Lin Shu in their youth.
* BlueOniRedOni: The highly intellectual and manipulative Mei Changsu plays blue oni to the red oni that is the emotionally driven Prince Jingyan.
* HonorBeforeReason: Jingyan's default setting. Mei Changsu tries his best to make him behave more strategically, but [[spoiler:has to give in when Jingyan refuses to leave Wei Zheng in prison to be executed, even though breaking him out is an extremely dangerous move that will potentially waste all of Jingyan's political gains so far.]]
* IncorruptiblePurePureness: The reason many support Jingyan to become emperor. [[spoiler: Prince Yu even points this out when Jingyan is sent to handle disaster relief, wondering how Jingyan can resist skimming off the relief funds.]]
* LockedOutOfTheLoop: Mei Changsu won't let anyone tell Jingyan who he really is because he knows his best friend will be too worried about him to treat him as a mere strategist and follow his plans without question. [[spoiler: By the time Jingyan finds out, it feels like everyone knows but him, including his mother.]]
* PullingTheThread: Jingyan attempts to do this when he asks both his mother and Mei Changsu what his father's name was without giving them time to consult each other.[[spoiler: Unfortunately for him, Mei Changsu's cover is too well planned- they both give the same name, the one Lin Shu's real father used as an alias.]]
* ScrewTheRulesImDoingWhatsRight: When Jingyan insists on breaking the falsely accused Wei Zheng out of prison.
* SpottingTheThread:
** Jingyan notes Mei Changsu's habit of rubbing at things when he's thinking- just like this one guy he used to know...
** Lin Shu accidentally draws Jingyan's sword and uses it to point out troop movements, unconsciously repeating a familiar gesture which Jingyan recognizes
[[/folder]]
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* TheChessmaster: Consort Jing may be even more of a Chessmaster than Mei Changsu. [[spoiler: She tampers with the Emperor's medicine to induce insomnia, restlessness, and hallucinations, which all contributed to him having nightmares which she then convinced the Emperor is caused by restless ghosts and can only be resolved by setting up a memorial plaque.]]
* SilkHidingSteel: Empress Yan compares her to a cotton ball because she absorbs everything thrown at her until she turns it all against you.
* SpottingTheThread:
** Consort Jing discovers Mei Changsu's true identity after finding a veiled reference to his mother's name in a book he wrote notes in
**She also realizes her maid was part of the enemy's plot to cause mistrust between Jingyan and Mei Changsu when the maid makes sure to tell the story of Mei Changsu's supposed capture of her to the prince. They couldn't leave such a crucial part of the plot (making sure Jingyan heard the story told their way) to some unrelated person.
[[/folder]]
* SilkHidingSteel: Empress Yan compares her to a cotton ball because she absorbs everything thrown at her until she turns it all against you.
* SpottingTheThread:
** Consort Jing discovers Mei Changsu's true identity after finding a veiled reference to his mother's name in a book he wrote notes in
**She also realizes her maid was part of the enemy's plot to cause mistrust between Jingyan and Mei Changsu when the maid makes sure to tell the story of Mei Changsu's supposed capture of her to the prince. They couldn't leave such a crucial part of the plot (making sure Jingyan heard the story told their way) to some unrelated person.
[[/folder]]
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[[folder:Lie Shen Zhui and Cai Quan]]
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**[[spoiler: Subverted by the fact that, being the son of the late Crown Prince Qi, Tingsheng would have been third in line for the throne upon his birth had his father not been declared a traitor. Had Prince Qi become emperor, Tingsheng would have been Crown Prince. Technically, the Crown Prince, Prince Yu, and Prince Jing are all after him in a direct line of succession.]]
*RagstoRoyalty: Tingsheng is a slave who ends in the care of [[spoiler: and later adopted by]] Prince Jing. [[spoiler: But he was really a prince all along, being the only son of the late Prince Qi.]]
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Shen Zhui and Cai
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[[/folder]]
!The Mu Household
[[folder:Princess Mu Nihuang]]
->'''Played by:''' Tao Liu and Xiaoyang Pan (young)
*ActionGirl: General of the military in Yunnan guarding the border with Southern Chu.
* AndNowYouMustMarryMe: A decidedly non-G rated version.
** [[spoiler:The Crown Prince and his mother Consort Yue attempt this with Nihuang so that she is forced to marry one of her potential suitors, that is loyal to them, and have her military and political influnce serving their faction. Thankfully it stops at {{Attempted Rape}}.]]
* EngagementChallenge: The tournament set up for Nihuang's suitors. The top ten have to pass the final challenge- beating Nihuang herself. This effectively gives Nihuang {{Child Marriage Veto}} powers.
* LadyOfWar: Nihuang has protected the southern border from invasion as the general of the southern fortress for years and she's so awesome at martial arts than none of the skilled warriors from all around China that come to compete as her potential suitors are able to beat her in a one on one duel.
* StarCrossedLovers: Nihuang and Lin Shu have loved each other their whole lives [[spoiler: but are fated never to be together in this life.]]
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Prince Mu Qing]]
->'''Played by:''' Xiaoqian Zhang
[[/folder]]
!The Yan Household
[[folder:Yan Yujin]]
->'''Played by:''' Xiaoran Guo
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Marquis Yan Que]]
->'''Played by:''' Jinsong Wang
* HoldingTheFloor: Marquis Yan does this admirably on many occasions.
[[/folder]]
!The Mu Household
[[folder:Princess Mu Nihuang]]
->'''Played by:''' Tao Liu and Xiaoyang Pan (young)
*ActionGirl: General of the military in Yunnan guarding the border with Southern Chu.
* AndNowYouMustMarryMe: A decidedly non-G rated version.
** [[spoiler:The Crown Prince and his mother Consort Yue attempt this with Nihuang so that she is forced to marry one of her potential suitors, that is loyal to them, and have her military and political influnce serving their faction. Thankfully it stops at {{Attempted Rape}}.]]
* EngagementChallenge: The tournament set up for Nihuang's suitors. The top ten have to pass the final challenge- beating Nihuang herself. This effectively gives Nihuang {{Child Marriage Veto}} powers.
* LadyOfWar: Nihuang has protected the southern border from invasion as the general of the southern fortress for years and she's so awesome at martial arts than none of the skilled warriors from all around China that come to compete as her potential suitors are able to beat her in a one on one duel.
* StarCrossedLovers: Nihuang and Lin Shu have loved each other their whole lives [[spoiler: but are fated never to be together in this life.]]
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Prince Mu Qing]]
->'''Played by:''' Xiaoqian Zhang
[[/folder]]
!The Yan Household
[[folder:Yan Yujin]]
->'''Played by:''' Xiaoran Guo
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Marquis Yan Que]]
->'''Played by:''' Jinsong Wang
* HoldingTheFloor: Marquis Yan does this admirably on many occasions.
[[/folder]]
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[[folder:Lie Zhanying]]
%image%
->'''Played by:''' Yujian Zhang
%image%
->'''Played by:''' Yujian Zhang
to:
%image%
* AmbitionIsEvil: Like the Crown Prince, Prince Yu [[spoiler:is ultimately defeated by the consequences of his own unscrupulous greed for power.]]
* DarkMistress: In Qin Banruo.
*EvilCannotComprehendGood: Prince Yu doesn't understand how Prince Jing can be so moral. [[spoiler: When Jingyyan is sent to handle disaster relief, Prince Yu wonders how can control himself when there is so much money.]]
* TheEvilPrince
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Qin Banruo]]
->'''Played by:'''
*ActionGirl
* DarkMistress: To Prince Yu.
* TheVamp
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Empress Yan]]
->'''Played by:''' Xiaoli Fang
* CoolCrown: There are some stunningly elaborate royal headpieces in this drama, but the Empress's crown definitely takes the prize.
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Jun Niang, Forth Sister]]
->'''Played by:''' Feng Jin
* HoneyTrap: Fourth Sister is set up as this to get information out of Mei Changsu's messenger Tong Lu.[[spoiler: This is partially subverted when Jun Niang actually falls for Tong Lu and later helps him escape.]]
[[/folder]]
!Xuan Jing Bureau
[[folder:Xia Dong]]
->'''Played by:''' Lingxin Zhang
*ActionGirl
*DeterminedWidow: Her husband, Nie Feng, is dead before the start of the show. [[spoiler: Subverted since Nie Feng turns out to still be alive.]]
* FriendOnTheForce: Xia Dong becomes this to our protagonists
* IWillWaitForYou: Xia Dong has never forgotten her dead husband even after 13 years. [[spoiler: Happily she is rewarded for her faithfulness when Nie Feng returns alive against all hope.]]
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Xia Jiang]]
->'''Played by:''' Yongquan Wang
* DirtyCop: The Xuanjing Bureau is supposed to be completely neutral in party politics and loyal only to the emporer, but Xia Jiang uses the faction disputes to protect his own personal power.
* EvilMentor: Xia Jiang is this to Xia Dong. Leading a disillusioned Xia Dong to a {{Was It All A Lie}} speech.
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Xia Chun and Xia Qiu]]
->'''Played by:''' Guanlin Liu and Shuyang Sui
[[/folder]]
!The Eastern Palace and Allies
[[folder:Xiao Jingxuan, Crown Prince Xian]]
->'''Played by:''' Xin Gao
* AmbitionIsEvil: Like Prince Yu, the Crown Prince [[spoiler:is ultimately defeated by the consequences of his own unscrupulous greed for power.]]
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Noble Consort Yue]]
->'''Played by:''' Yuting Yang
* CoolCrown: Yue is always very elaborately dressed.
* WoundedGazelleGambit: Consort Yue really likes to use this.
[[/folder]]
!The Xie and Dingfeng Household
[[folder:Xiao Jingrui]]
->'''Played by:''' Haofeng Cheng
* BreakTheCutie: When all truths are revealed, Jingrui is left a little worse for wear.
* FamilyDisunion: Jingrui's disaster of a birthday party. You know it's a failed family get together when [[spoiler:you find out neither of your "fathers" is actually related to you, one of them was trying to kill you all along, and he's decided to finish the job now, along with the rest of your family and all the guests who now know too much.]] Ouch.
* FamilyRelationshipSwitcheroo: Jingrui has two surnames. His mother gave birth on the same night as her friend at the temple they were staying at. That same night they were attacked and the two baby boys were mixed up in the darkness and confusion, making it impossible to tell which baby belonged to which mother. When one of the babies died after a few days, things became even more complicated. With no way to decide which family the baby belonged to, the emperor declared that he should belong to both of them and be given both their surnames. [[spoiler: However the real switcheroo is that Jingrui's real mother Princess Liyang was pregnant with her lover's baby and then was forced to marry Marquis Xie. She realized her husband was trying to kill her illegitimate son but had actually killed her friend's baby by accident. She perpetuated the confusion with the Zhuo family in order to protect Jingrui from the Marquis. Jingrui finds out his true parentage at his birthday party.]]
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Marquis Xie Yu]]
->'''Played by:''' Yijun Liu
* DestroyTheEvidence: [[spoiler: Marquis Xie used the martial arts skills of the Zhuo family]] to get rid of incriminating evidence and people.
* MurderIsTheBestSolution: Xie Yu tended to have anyone who he saw as a threat killed, even when he could have easily paid them off or they were [[spoiler: the entirety of his household]] This leads to...
* NoKillLikeOverkill: See Family Disunion above.
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Grand Princess Liyang]]
->'''Played by:''' Yanyan Zhang
* AndNowYouMustMarryMe: A decidedly non-G rated version where[[spoiler:Princess Liyang was in love with a foreign prince but the empress and Marquis Xie conspired to [[SlippingAMickey drug]] and rape her so that she would be forced to marry Xie. Unsurprisingly this situation led to some complications, see Family Switcheroo. ]]
*SilkHidingSteel: Liyang comes off as very quiet and accepting of everything that has happened to her, including [[spoiler: being separated from her lover,]] [[spoiler: being [[ButLiquorIsQuicker drugged and raped]] and then [[AndNowYouMustMarryMe having to marry her rapist,]]]] and [[spoiler: having said husband hire an assassin to murder her lover's child after she gave birth.]] However, not only does she manage to [[spoiler: protect her son]] and does her best to protect Nihuang from [[spoiler: a similar marriage plot,]] Liyang proves herself far from a wilting flower in episode 21 when [[spoiler: she [[StopOrIShootMyself holds a knife to her own throat]] to get Xie Yu to allow Prince Yu's guard's into the manor. The fact that her husband of 20 years complies says a lot about whether she's bluffing]]
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Xie Bi]]
->'''Played by:''' Muye Kuang
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Zhuo Dingfeng]]
->'''Played by:''' Haoming Liu
* DestroyTheEvidence: [[spoiler: Marquis Xie used the martial arts skills of the Zhuo family]] to get rid of incriminating evidence and people.
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Zhuo Qingyao]]
->'''Played by:''' Jie Yan
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Xi Qi]]
->'''Played by:''' Yumeng Sui
* DeathByChildbirth: Xi Qi dies in childbirth,[[spoiler: possibly because of complications from the shock of the Family Disunion.]]
[[/folder]]
!The Royal Family
[[folder:Xiao Xuan, Emperor of Liang]]
->'''Played by:''' Yongdai Ding
* MurderIsTheBestSolution: The emperor is pretty sure he doesn't believe Xia Jiang's claims about Mei Changsu's real identity, [[spoiler:but his solution is to attempt to poison him anyway just to make certain there's no future threat.]]
* NeverMyFault: The Emperor takes this to extremes.
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Prince Ji]]
->'''Played by:''' Wentong Ning
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Grand Dowager Empress]]
->'''Played by:''' Yuzhi Zheng
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Consort Hui]]
->'''Played by:''' Lina Chen
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Xiao Jingting, Prince Nian]]
->'''Played by:''' Bin Li
*ArrangedMarriage: [[spoiler: Becomes engaged to Princess Nian Nian of Southern Chu]]
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Xiao Jingyu, Prince Qi]]
->'''Played by:''' Chen Ji
* DeathByOriginStory: Prince Qi and General Lin Xie and his men are betrayed and framed as traitors. Lin Shu is also almost killed but comes back as Mei Changsu with the goal of getting justice for their deaths.
* IncorruptiblePurePureness
* NoGoodDeedGoesUnpunished: The ultimate reason why Prince Qi was framed and the emperor threw him under the bus. He was just too good and had too many loyal followers, making him a threat to the throne and the powerful Xuanjing Bureau.
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Lin Yueyao, Consort Chen]]
* DeathByOriginStory: Hangs herself after her son dies.
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Grand Empress]]
[[/folder]]
!The Lin Household
[[folder:Lin Xie]]
* DeathByOriginStory: General Lin Xie, his men, and Prince Qi are betrayed and framed as traitors. His son. Lin Shu, is also almost killed but comes back as Mei Changsu with the goal of getting justice for their deaths.
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Grand Princess Jinyang]]
* DeathByOriginStory: Commits suicide have her son and husband are declared traitors and to have been executed, unaware her son survived.
[[/folder]]
!The Hua Kingdom
[[folder:Princess Xuanji]]
[[/folder]]
[[folder: Princess Linglong]]
*ActionGirl: Is said to have died on the battlefield before the show begins
[[/folder]]
!The Southern Chu Kingdom
[[folder: Wen Xian, Prince Ling]]
[[/folder]]
[[folder: Princess Nian Nian]]
*ActionGirl: Her fight with Jingrui is her first appearance
*ArrangedMarriage: Nian Nian goes to Da Liang to be married to one of the princes. [[spoiler: She end's up engaged to Jingting]]
[[/folder]]
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'''Beware of unmarked spoilers on this page.'''
[[foldercontrol]]
!Jiang Zuo Alliance and Allies
One of the most powerful political forces in the pugilist world of Da Ling. It's leader, Mei Changsu, created it and spent 12 years gaining power in order to facilitate his larger plans.
[[folder:Mei Changsu/Su Zhe/Lin Shu]]
[[quoteright:262:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/mei_changsu.png]]
->'''Played by:''' Hu Ge
The leader of the Jiang Zuo Alliance
*Batman Gambit: Basically all of Mei Changsu's strategies are this. He is extremely good at predicting how others will react to events.
** [[spoiler: The best example is when Lin Shu tricks Xia Jiang into leading our protagonists straight to Wei Zheng's secret location by manipulating him to infer that they have already discovered his location themselves.]]
[[folder:Fei Liu]]
%image%
->'''Played by:''' Wu Lei
* AmbiguousDisorder: Fei Liu has some kind of developmental disability, which mostly seems to manifest in acting young for his age and rough, limited speech. It certainly doesn't hurt his motor skills or coordination.
*Badass Adorable
Mei Changsu's bodyguard and close companion
[[folder:Meng Zhi]]
%image%
->'''Played by:''' Chen Long
Commander General of Da Liang and of the Imperial Guard
[[folder:Li Gang and Zu Ping]]
%image%
->'''Played by:''' Wang Hong and Zhao Yilong
Two survivors of the Chiyan Army that serve Mei Changsu
[[folder:Gong Yu]]
%image%
->'''Played by:''' Zhou Qiqi
*ActionGirl
[[folder:Sir Shisan]]
%image%
->'''Played by:''' Gong Fangmin
[[folder:Tong Lu]]
%image%
->'''Played by:''' Wei Wei
[[folder:Wei Zheng]]
%image%
->'''Played by:''' Wang Hong
[[folder:Lin Chen]]
%image%
->'''Played by:''' Jin Dong
!The Jing Household and Allies
[[folder:Xiao Jingyan, Prince Jing]]
%image%
->'''Played by:''' Wang Kai
[[folder:Consort Jing]]
%image%
->'''Played by:''' Liu Mintao
[[folder:Lie Zhanying]]
%image%
->'''Played by:''' Yujian Zhang
[[folder:Xiao Tingsheng]]
%image%
->'''Played by:''' Juming Zhang
[[folder:Lie Shen Zhui and Cai Quan]]
%image%
->'''Played by:''' Hui Feng and Duo Li
!The Yu Household and Allies
[[folder:Xiao Jinghuan]]
%image%
->'''Played by:''' Yujian Zhang
[[folder:Lie Zhanying]]
%image%
->'''Played by:''' Yujian Zhang
[[foldercontrol]]
!Jiang Zuo Alliance and Allies
One of the most powerful political forces in the pugilist world of Da Ling. It's leader, Mei Changsu, created it and spent 12 years gaining power in order to facilitate his larger plans.
[[folder:Mei Changsu/Su Zhe/Lin Shu]]
[[quoteright:262:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/mei_changsu.png]]
->'''Played by:''' Hu Ge
The leader of the Jiang Zuo Alliance
*Batman Gambit: Basically all of Mei Changsu's strategies are this. He is extremely good at predicting how others will react to events.
** [[spoiler: The best example is when Lin Shu tricks Xia Jiang into leading our protagonists straight to Wei Zheng's secret location by manipulating him to infer that they have already discovered his location themselves.]]
[[folder:Fei Liu]]
%image%
->'''Played by:''' Wu Lei
* AmbiguousDisorder: Fei Liu has some kind of developmental disability, which mostly seems to manifest in acting young for his age and rough, limited speech. It certainly doesn't hurt his motor skills or coordination.
*Badass Adorable
Mei Changsu's bodyguard and close companion
[[folder:Meng Zhi]]
%image%
->'''Played by:''' Chen Long
Commander General of Da Liang and of the Imperial Guard
[[folder:Li Gang and Zu Ping]]
%image%
->'''Played by:''' Wang Hong and Zhao Yilong
Two survivors of the Chiyan Army that serve Mei Changsu
[[folder:Gong Yu]]
%image%
->'''Played by:''' Zhou Qiqi
*ActionGirl
[[folder:Sir Shisan]]
%image%
->'''Played by:''' Gong Fangmin
[[folder:Tong Lu]]
%image%
->'''Played by:''' Wei Wei
[[folder:Wei Zheng]]
%image%
->'''Played by:''' Wang Hong
[[folder:Lin Chen]]
%image%
->'''Played by:''' Jin Dong
!The Jing Household and Allies
[[folder:Xiao Jingyan, Prince Jing]]
%image%
->'''Played by:''' Wang Kai
[[folder:Consort Jing]]
%image%
->'''Played by:''' Liu Mintao
[[folder:Lie Zhanying]]
%image%
->'''Played by:''' Yujian Zhang
[[folder:Xiao Tingsheng]]
%image%
->'''Played by:''' Juming Zhang
[[folder:Lie Shen Zhui and Cai Quan]]
%image%
->'''Played by:''' Hui Feng and Duo Li
!The Yu Household and Allies
[[folder:Xiao Jinghuan]]
%image%
->'''Played by:''' Yujian Zhang
[[folder:Lie Zhanying]]
%image%
->'''Played by:''' Yujian Zhang
