Shen Qingci: A medical woman from a once-wealthy family, now fallen on hard times. Her grandfather was once a senior physician in the Imperial Medical Bureau.
Xiao Jue: Regent of the Dayao Dynasty and guardian of the emperor, his nephew. He commands a powerful army. Poisoned as a child during a palace coup, he was left with cold poison and an unusual pulse. His mother died young, and the late emperor entrusted him with the emperor's care.
