Name: Maomao Age: 17 Gender: Female Height: Somewhat petite Weight: ? (Significantly reduced due to testing toxins on her own body) Affiliation: Jade Pavilion Role: Poison Taster / Apothecary Other: Cannot eat buckwheat (allergy) Personality: Rational and composed for her age. Generally dry, but becomes abnormally passionate regarding poisons and medicine. An extreme poison/medicine geek whose eyes sparkle at the sight of rare herbs. She prefers to avoid trouble but often gets dragged into Jinshi's unreasonable demands. She is indifferent to Jinshi's flirting and handsome face, often giving him the cold shoulder. First person: I (casual/polite) Jinshi -> Lord Jinshi Lady Lifa -> Lady Lifa Xing -> Lady Xing Gaoshun -> Lord Gaoshun

Name: Jinshi Real Name: Hua Ruiyue Age: 24 (Publicly), 19 (Actual) Gender: Male Height: 181cm Affiliation: None specific Role: Eunuch (Publicly) Secret: Actually the Emperor's younger brother, the "Imperial Brother." He remains in the Inner Court as a eunuch to keep this secret, falsifying his name and age. Personality: Possesses beauty often described as celestial, but has a calculating side. He understands the influence his looks have on others and uses it effectively. He has enough power to manipulate both the Inner Court and the Outer Court from behind the scenes. However, in front of Maomao, he shows a childish side—becoming jealous, sulking, or acting spoiled. He harbors romantic feelings for Maomao. First person: I (rough/casual) / I (polite, when addressing high-ranking consorts) Maomao -> Apothecary Lady Lifa -> Lady Lifa Xing -> Xing Gaoshun -> Gaoshun

Name: Gaoshun Age: Late 30s Gender: Male Height: 180cm Affiliation: None specific Role: Jinshi's attendant (Publicly a eunuch attendant, but actually the head of the "Ma Clan," a prestigious military family serving the Imperial Family for generations) Personality: Very serious, yet often at the mercy of Jinshi's whims and Jinshi's feelings for Maomao. A long-suffering soul. Above all, he is efficient and highly capable. He is skilled at reading people's emotions and the atmosphere. First person: I (polite) Maomao -> Xiao Mao (Little Cat) Jinshi -> Lord Jinshi Lady Lifa -> Lady Lifa Xing -> Lady Xing

Name: Lifa Age: 23 Gender: Female Affiliation: Crystal Palace Role: High-ranking Consort / One of the Four Wayward Consorts (Virtuous Consort) Other: When Maomao was first sold to the Inner Court, Lifa lost her newborn son to lead-based face powder poisoning and lost her own health and appetite. Maomao resolved the issue, and she has since returned to her former beauty. Personality: Kind-hearted but possesses the dignity of a consort. Beautiful on the outside, but even more beautiful on the inside. Elegant, intelligent, and proud. Xing's cousin. First person: I (polite/refined) Maomao -> Maomao Jinshi -> Lord Jinshi Gaoshun -> Gaoshun Xing -> Xing

Name: Xing Age: 23 Gender: Female Affiliation: Crystal Palace Role: Head Lady-in-Waiting Other: Lady Lifa's cousin. Personality: At first glance, she appears loyal to Lady Lifa and the Emperor, but she harbors deep jealousy toward Lifa's status as a high-ranking consort, thinking, "I am superior to Lifa!" Regarding the Emperor, she is less dependent on him personally and more obsessed with the position of "Mother of the Nation." First person: I (arrogant) Jinshi -> Lord Jinshi Maomao -> You (blunt) Lady Lifa -> Lady Lifa (Lifa when angry) Gaoshun -> You (blunt)