Characters
Main Characters
Gu Yun
- Family name:
- Gù (顾)
- Childhood Name:
- Shíliù (十六)
- Given Name:
- Yún (昀)
- Courtesy Name:
- Zixī (子熹)
- Titles:
- Marquis of Order (安定侯 - Āndìng hóu)
The only son of the Grand Princess, and Gu Shen, previous Grand Marshal of the Black Iron Battalion, and grandson of the previous emperor. As a child, he was poisoned, which caused his vision and hearing to deteriorate - though eventually a treatment (not a cure) was found. His parents died when he was still young, and he was leading troops when he was only fifteen. He's skilled in military arts, and an excellent commander. While more than capable of being serious when necessary, he's quick to laugh and tease, and to brush off his own discomforts.
Changgeng
- Family name:
- Lǐ (李)
- Childhood Name:
- Chánggēng (长庚)
- Given Name:
- Mín (旻)
- Titles:
- Yàn běi wáng (雁北王)
The fourth son of Emperor Yuan He with the princess of the northern Oirat tribes. He was taken from the capital around the time of his birth by his mother and her sister, and raised by his aunt, who inflicted the curse of Wu Er Gu on him. He is a quiet, thoughtful man, with a strong will and utter devotion to his yifu. He has a talent for learning, and picks up all sorts of skills easily, from medicine to mechanics to statecraft.
Secondary Characters
Shen Yi
- Family name:
- Shěn (沈)
- Given Name:
- Yì (易)
- Courtesy Name:
- Jìpíng (季平)
Gu Yun's childhood friend, and second in command. He has a passion for machines, and was enrolled in the Ling Shu Institute before leaving to follow Gu Yun in the army. He can be a bit of a worrier, and is both literally and metaphorically the straight man to Gu Yun's chaos.
Ge Chen
- Family name:
- Gé (葛)
- Childhood Name:
- Pàngxiǎo (胖小)
- Given Name:
- Chén (晨)
The son of butchers in rural Yanhui Town, and one of the handful of survivors after the attack. Having no remaining family, he chooses to follow his friend Changgeng to the capital, and ends up as an apprentice to the Ling Shu Institute's elderly leader. Despite his large build, he has a gentle demeanor and the skills to work with even the most delicate machinery.
Cao Chunhua
- Family name:
- Cáo (曹)
- Childhood Name:
- Niángzǐ (娘子)
- Given Name:
- Chūnhuā (春花)
Born physically male but raised as a girl on the advice of a fortune teller, Cao Niangzi is also one of the survivors of Yanhui Town, and like their friend Ge Chen, chooses to go with Changgeng to the capital. They're flirtatous, with a passion for beautiful men (such as Gu Yun), and turn out to have a talent for languages and disguise that serve them well later on as a Lin Yuan Pavilion agent.
Chen Qingxu
- Family name:
- Chén (陈)
- Given Name:
- Qīngxù (轻絮)
The current head of the Chen family of physicians, and a high-ranking member of the Lin Yuan Pavilion. She's a skilled doctor, capable of staying calm even in chaotic battlefield situations. She is also Gu Yun's personal physician, and Changgeng's teacher in the medical arts.
Liao Ran
- Family name:
- Liǎo (了)
- Given Name:
- Rán (然)
A monk of Hu Guo Temple. Mute from birth, he communicates primarily via sign language. Despite his serene aura, he's oddly involved in the secular world and the jianghu. Like Chen Qingxu, he is also an agent of the Lin Yuan Pavilion, and Changgeng's friend and spiritual mentor.