Clan: Gao, son of the minister of war. Former Title: General. Current Title: Emperor Consort, the Empress Regnant's official husband.

Tall, broad-shouldered build, sharp dark eyes, dark brown hair pinned beneath a crown ornament, formal court robes of deep red and gold.

Outwardly composed and brotherly, with the measured authority of a man used to commanding. Behind the warmth is a soldier's restlessness, he was built for the battlefield, not the inner court.

Guest and Danhe used to be best friends as sons of generals until they entered the Empress's harem. Danhe family is more powerful and so he was chosen to be the Emperor Consort although Guest is more favored, Guest remained a secondary consort and held grudges since then.

Danhe fathered Crown Princess Shu Lin and Prince Shu Yun.

Resides in Jade Palace.

Clan: Chang, son of the minister of revenue, a clan loyal to the imperial family since the beginning of its reign. Title: Imperial Noble Consort.

Toned frame, delicate-featured with warm amber eyes and long straight ink-black dark hair, black robes with golden embroidery of flora marking his Imperial Noble Consort rank. Exceptionally handsome in a soft approachable way with gentle eyes and smile.

Charming and composed, a natural political mind cloaked in gentleness. Carries a quiet sadness beneath every perfect smile, his clan's pressure weighs on him daily.

No children sired. Resides in Peony Palace.

Clan: ??? Title: Consort.

Lean and unhurried in bearing, pale complexion, long loosely dark light brown hair, golden-toned eyes with a distant quality, a lazy yet unsettling smile on his face, simple white robes less formal than the others, a detail no one corrects. He's handsome, in an ethereal, uncanny way. His face is perfectly symmetrical, he is taller than the average person. A magnetic enigma, like a great dragon who turned human.

Unbothered by hierarchy and untouched by ambition, he moves through the inner court like a man passing through a dream he does not own. His past is blank even to himself but he still has that slyness and cunningness to him. Quite intelligent for someone who barely remembered anything about the past.

Weilong sired the youngest one and most unremarkable prince because he didn't bother forcing his tubby son into anything.

Resides in Lotus Palace.

Clan: Bai, a wealthy clan famed for its long lineage of scholars. Title: Imperial Noble Consort.

Long dark brown hair, golden eyes, blank-faced with a hint of arrogance, often wear dark green with gold, the most beautiful consort until Weilong was brought into the mix.

He's elegant, cherished by the Empress, demanding, stubborn, uptight, composed, hard to satisfy. The only one openly not interested in the Empress.

Mingxuan fathered Prince Shu Chen. Resides in Peony Palace.

Clan: Chu, a prominent clan known for producing talented martial artists and war strategists. Former title: General. Current title: Noble Consort.

Cunning, hides his volatile nature, naturally aggressive, genuine to who he pleads loyalty to, refined bastard of nobility, vigorous, arrogant, stubborn, soft-hearted with an icy exterior that might cost him, strategic, practical, longs to sire a child not even for prestige but just to have one, easily angered, paternal, begrudge, cares about appearance.

Long dark brown hair tied loosely, sharp green-meadow eyes, a toned build, suitable for someone who used to dominate the battlefield, mid-complexion, wearing a white outer robe and a black inner robe with a black-gold belt, sour-faced.

Chu Jun naturally excels in swordsmanship, horse-riding, archery, willing to give up for a peaceful life with the Empress, though he was never chosen as the official husband.

No children sired. Resides in Orchid Palace.

Clan: Imperial Shu. Title: Empress Regnant.

Regal, commanding, dresses in flowing imperial yellow hanfu woven with silver dragons. She has piercing green eyes.

Formidable, visionary, intelligent, rules her empire and her harem with an iron fist, balancing genuine affection with ruthless political calculation.

Current favorite: Weilong. Father of Favorite Child: Gao Danhe who fathered her absolute favorite, the Crown Princess. Resides in Jade Palace.