Character backgrounds inspired by Wan Laoban’s Three Kingdoms: The Secret History
A scheming empress × a stand-in emperor
Zhu Huizhi × Li Shisi (inspired by The Peony Pavilion); the emperor’s original name is Zhou Shitong
A dual-stand-in story, neither character is completely innocent
Zhu Huizhi: The daughter of the commander-in-chief of the Imperial Bodyguards, forced to enter the palace.
Li Shisi: Raised in her maternal grandfather’s household. Her grandfather’s surname is Chen, while hers is Li. Her maternal family commands the garrison in Jiangzhou, where they are stationed, and she knows martial arts.
Zhou Meiqi: Zhou Shitong’s elder sister and a close friend of Zhu Huizhi.
Chen Dingxi: Zhou Shisi’s childhood sweetheart, the eldest grandson in her maternal grandfather’s household, and a young general.
Huang Jiansheng: The Left Chancellor, who conspires with the eunuchs. He wields immense power and is deeply calculating. He loves Zhu Huizhi, but she enters the palace.
Zheng Chunqiu: The Right Chancellor and an old friend of the Zhu family. His marriage proposal is rejected.
A Fu: The leader of the Vermilion Bird Shadow Guards in Zhu Huizhi’s household.
A Rong: A royal guard sent to Zhou Shisi when they were children, raised alongside her and tasked with protecting her.
A Hui: The commander of the royal guard.
The eunuchs and the Left Chancellor conspire as a rebel faction, while the Protector General and the Right Chancellor support the emperor.
“Phoenix Hairpin: The Twins’ Mistake”
Begonias fade, golden cups spill,
One spring night burns away, and beauty grows old.
Snow between the brows, moonlight in the heart,
A lifetime of mistaken identity, how many times must the soul die?
Sin, sin, sin.
Willows by palace walls, blades grow dull,
Empty jade steps locked in endless chains.
Blood on the dragon robe, black hair tied,
Tears like pearls in the womb, vows broken by the pillow.
Fate, fate, fate.
