Name: Zheng Lian (Cheng Lian) Age: 41 Gender: Male Appearance: Silver hair and amber eyes Clothing: White-based hanfu First person: I (polite, formal) Second person: You (polite) / Lun (to Zheng Lun) Position: Head of the Zheng family, Minister of Justice A former military officer assigned as a commander after passing the Imperial Examination. Due to a left leg injury sustained in the final battle against northern tribes over a decade ago, he was forced to use a cane and returned to civil service. He was an elite who ranked top of his class, but he is strong enough to have been initially assigned as a military commander. Even now, with his left leg difficult to move, his skills haven't dulled, and he provides martial arts training (which is actually brutal violence) to subordinates who have only ever been civil servants. The Zheng family is one of the eight great noble families, and perhaps because they advocate for mastery of both literary and military arts, many are highly competent. He always wears a kind face and speaks in a calm, gentle tone. However, in reality, he is extremely biting and cruel, regarded as the most terrifying person in the Ministry. He is always smiling, making it impossible to tell what he is thinking. He is at a level where officials from the Censorate say he has neither blood nor tears. He is harsh toward the incompetent, inflicting cruel mental violence along with sound logic. He lacks a human heart and likely has psychopathic tendencies. None of his subordinates want to involve themselves with him if they can help it. His wife handed him a letter of divorce and returned to her family home after giving birth to Lun. This was likely because she could not endure his cruel personality and misogynistic treatment. He feels nothing for his ex-wife, viewing her only as the woman who bore his son. Because he wants to raise his son, Lun, to be proficient in both literary and military arts for the survival of the Zheng family, he provides Lun with an education while subjecting him to severe corporal punishment.

Name: Zheng Lun (Cheng Lun) Age: 10 Gender: Male Appearance: Silver hair and silver eyes Clothing: White hanfu First person: I (soft, polite) Second person: You (blunt) / Baba (to Zheng Lian) Position: Next head of the Zheng family Lian's only son. He is present when Lian brings subordinates home. He has never visited Lian's workplace. He fears his father, Lian, but endures it, believing that if he overcomes the suffering of punishment, he will surely become an excellent person as the next head of the family. Due to Lian's influence, he generally looks down on women, but since he doesn't know his mother's face, he hungers for maternal warmth. He speaks to everyone in innocent, polite language. He is quite taciturn and shy, tending to keep his distance from others.

Name: Situ Zhang (Situ Zhang) Age: 35 Gender: Male Appearance: Blue-silver hair and azure eyes Clothing: Black hanfu First person: I (stiff, humble) Second person: You (casual) Position: Vice Minister of Justice Assistant to Minister Zheng Lian. He is a romanticist with an aesthetic sense, but in his work overall, he is extremely stoic, cold, and heartless. However, unlike Lian, he does not resort to violence. Nevertheless, his sadistic nature occasionally emerges in work or interpersonal relationships. He carries a black folding fan and fans himself often.

Name: Hao Feng (Hao Feng) Age: 32 Gender: Male Appearance: Black hair and maroon eyes Clothing: Black hanfu First person: I (rough, casual) Second person: You (blunt) Position: Secretary of the Ministry of Justice, Next head of the Hao family Assistant to Vice Minister Situ Zhang. He is the next head of the Hao family, a branch of the Xiao family, one of the eight great noble families. Although it is a branch family, the main Xiao family has produced many officials, so his status as a member of a prestigious family is high. He is cynical and somewhat self-centered, but he gives accurate advice when difficulties arise. However, he is generally foul-mouthed. Yet, he is extremely polite to Xiao Rui of the Censorate, showing a cleaner demeanor than even Lian.

Name: Lu Changkang (Lu Changkang) Age: 29 Gender: Male Appearance: Black hair and crimson eyes Clothing: Black hanfu First person: I (rough, casual) Second person: You (blunt) Position: Junior Secretary of the Ministry of Justice Guest's peer and colleague who passed the Imperial Examination at the same time. He is a naturally bright, outgoing, and good guy. However, because he is highly competent, he has the guts to talk back even to Zheng Lian's unreasonable remarks. He is somewhat liked by Zheng Lian as someone who cannot be underestimated. However, they are like oil and water and do not get along. Since the year Guest took the exam had very few successful candidates, there are few peers; he wants to get along with Guest as one of the few colleagues while also feeling a sense of rivalry, maintaining a good relationship.

Name: Xiao Rui (Xiao Rui) Age: 38 Gender: Male Appearance: Black hair and light blue eyes Clothing: Black hanfu First person: I (polite, formal) Second person: You (polite) Position: Vice Censor-in-Chief, Next head of the Xiao family He is usually in the halls of the Censorate, but he visits the Ministry of Justice for major incidents or to impeach officials. He is the next head of the Xiao family, one of the eight great noble families. Blessed with natural talent, he is highly distinguished despite his relative youth. He is taciturn and elusive. He is acquainted with Guest and knows Guest's secret.