Qinglian Chronicles has about eleventy billion named characters, which was starting to confuse me. Here’s an outline of who’s who.
Central Characters
Zhang Qinglian – The Main Character
Gender: Female soul, male body
Abrv: ZQL
Other names/titles: Marquis Yijia
Originally a modern-day, highly educated, and successful Chinese businesswoman, she died in a plane crash and spontaneously ended up transmigrating into the body of a devastatingly beautiful male official in a world resembling ancient China.
The Original Zhang Qinglian – The Antagonist
Gender: Male
Abrv: O!ZQL
Who the current Qinglian inherited their identity, and multitude of problems, from. Though gone now, most – if not all – of the troubles the MC currently faces are direct consequences of his previous poor decisions, corrupt lifestyle, and general acts of irredeemable evil.
Yao Jinzi – The Male Lead
Gender: Male
Abrv: YJZ
Other names/titles: Jindiao, Brilliant Sabre
A 17-year-old genius martial artist with an unsmiling face – understandably so, because O!ZQL completely destroyed his life. Acts as the current ZQL's bodyguard. What exactly he's thinking at any time isn't easily determined.
Zhang Residence's People
Hong Feng
Gender: Female
The caretaker and head maid of ZQL's estate. A pretty and generally stoic woman. Seems to have had an intimate past with O!ZQL, but the exact details are unclear.
Xiao Lu
Gender: Male
A 13-year-old servant boy. Gets on well with Jinfeng, and is one of the few people who genuinely liked O!ZQL for more than his looks.
Yao Jinfeng
Gender: Male
YJZ’s bratty tsundere younger brother who (very understandably) hates ZQL.
Tian Chun
Gender: Male
ZQL's fatty guard. Has a gambling problem.
Zhu Xianxi
Gender: Male
ZQL's skinny guard. Has a moocher-son problem.
Zi Luan
Gender: Female
Other names/titles: Xue Yongyao
Caretaker of O!ZQL’s harem. Actually Xue Yongfu’s little sister, and YJZ’s ex-fiancee. Has plans to marry ZQL for political reasons.
Luo Yaozu
Gender: Male
Scholar and former member of O!ZQL’s harem, who now tutors Xiao Lu and Jinfeng.
Palace-Goers
The Little Emperor
Gender: Male
The 7-year-old Emperor-to-be. Both of his parents are dead. ZQL and YJZ both have a hand in his education. He is of the Gui Dynasty.
Shao Qing
Courtesy: Minzhi
Gender: Male
Party: ZQL
Other names/titles: General Shenwu/Zhenguo, Marquis/Duke Guowei
The Minister of War and a celebrated General with a lot of power. O!ZQL’s lover, and still on ZQL’s side.
Gao Yushu
Courtesy: Linxi
Gender: Male
Party: ZQL
O!ZQL's adopted "son" that's about twice his age. The Minister of Justice. A debauched kiss-ass, but actually pretty smart.
Gu Yunzhi
Gender: Male
Party: Qingliu
The Minister of Rites. One of the Emperor's literature teachers, and the central figure of the Qingliu.
Liu Chunxi
Gender: Male
Party: ZQL (kinda)
An official of the Ministry of Revenue. No official affiliation with ZQL, but they cooperate together.
Li Minguo
Gender: Male
Party: Waiqi
Grand General of the front Calvary. The former Empress was his daughter. Leader of the Waiqi.
Zhou Zizhu
Gender: Male
Party: Qingliu
A scholar and graduate of the Hanlin Academy. One of the Emperor’s literature teachers.
Nursemaid Liu (name unknown)
Gender: Female
Party: Weiqi
Helps look after the Emperor. Shares Liu Chunxi’s surname, but whether they’re actually related remains to be seen.
Wang Fugui
Gender: Male
Party: ZQL
A eunuch who keeps an eye on things in the palace for ZQL.
Imperial Doctor Lin
Gender: Male
Party: ???
Exactly what his title is. Shares Lin Guiquan’s surname, but whether they’re actually related remains to be seen.
O!ZQL’s Misc. Social Circle
Shao Min
Gender: Male
Shao Qing’s older half-brother. Married into the Yuwen family.
Yuwen Fang
Gender: Male
Head of the Yuwen family. Wants one of the Cui family dead for raping and killing his daughter.
Xue Yongfu (also commonly known as Son-in-Law Xue/Mr. Xue)
Gender: Male
From an affluent militaristic family, who likes ZQL a suspicious amount and seems blind to his faults.
Cui Yu
Gender: Male
His family’s buddies with the Cui family. His son raped and killed a daughter of the Yuwen family. Gao Yushu’s friend.
Uncategorized
Lan Guan
Gender: Male
Former proprietor of a male-only brothel, current manager of the mixed-gender Everfragrant House. Gao Yushu takes an interest in him.
Yuan Qingyun
Gender: Male
A so-called male prostitute with a particular fixation on ZQL.
Lin Guiquan
Gender: Male
Made a deal (bribe) with ZQL to allow his family to smuggle goods across the border.
Qu Baifeng
Gender: Male
A die-hard fan of ZQL’s literary talents.
Wang Hejing
Gender: Male
A less-celebrated General than Shao Qing, currently fighting in the Southwest (Tibet). Shares Wang Fugui’s surname, but it remains to be seen if they’re actually related.
Dead (or Missing) People
Former Gui Emperor
Gender: Male
The current Emperor's father. Recently deceased of illness (allegedly), and the Empress chose to die with him (allegedly). Favored O!ZQL.
Yao Qianjin (alternate spelling Ganjin)
Courtesy: Qingtian
Gender: Male
The Yao brother's father and previous Imperial Censor. Lost his head by the former Emperor.
Bao Cunxin
Gender: Male
Status Unknown
The General before Shao Qing who was brought down with the Yao family.
Parties
Zhongli
The Centrist/”neutral” party. More concerned with keeping the peace than rocking the boat.
Qingliu
Literally means “Clear Stream”. A real political party in the Qing dynasty made of scholars (or something, I’m bad at politics). Might have been referred to by previous translators as “mainstream”.
Waiqi (I misspell this as Weiqi a lot and don’t catch myself, sorry)
The “consort kin” party, as in, the Empress’ immediate relatives. For being the Emperor’s blood family, they sure aren’t very nice. Might have been referred to by previous translators as “outsiders”.
ZQL’s party
I don’t think this one has an official name, but the party members kinda centralize on ZQL.