To Embers We Return — Dramatis Personae
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Main characters
Shen Ni (沈逆): Marquess Jing’an, the empire’s foremost machinist. Inner disciple of Shuangji Hall, shimei to Bian Jin and shijie to Zeng Qingluo. Seven years younger than Bian Jin. A double S-tier machinist.
Bian Jin (边烬): The most senior disciple of Shuangji Hall, shijie to Shen Ni and Zeng Qingluo. Seven years older than Shen Ni. Formerly the ‘Empire’s Blade’, commander of the army against the incursions from the Xuanzhou Empire in the north. Formerly Governor-General of the North. A double S-tier warrior.
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Important secondary characters
Diwu Que (第五阙): Shen Ni’s former comrade. Deputy Military Commissioner of Muzhou. An S-tier warrior.
Dou Xuanji (窦璇玑): An official of the Lijing Bureau. Partner of Fang Pan.
Fang Pan (房判): An official of the Lijing Bureau. Partner of Dou Xuanji.
Han Fu (韩复): Director of the Lijing Bureau.
He Lanzhuo (贺兰濯): Military Commissioner of Muzhou. Diwu Que’s immediate superior.
Li Ruoyuan (李渃元): The emperor. Older sister of Li Chu and Li Shan.
Li Shan (李煽): Prince Yong. The emperor’s younger sister, born of a maidservant. Director of the Supreme Bureau of Research and Innovation. An S-tier machinist.
Li Si (李司): A general of the Southern Garrison, commander-in-chief of the Jinwu Guards. A distant relative of the emperor, daughter of the Duke of Luoyang.
Qin Wushang (秦无商): The emperor of Xuanzhou. An S-tier machinist.
Zeng Qingluo (曾倾洛): Outer disciple of Shuangji Hall, shimei of Bian Jin and Shen Ni. Shen Ni’s agent within the capital. A B-tier warrior.
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Other characters
Shen Ni’s household
Auntie Wan (万姑姑): Housekeeper at Shen Ni’s residence. Previously held a similar position at Shuangji Hall.
At the palace
Li Chu (李褚): Prince Wei. The emperor’s younger brother, born of the same mother.
At Lantai
Cheng Zhe (程辙): Director of Lantai.
Meng Chu (孟初): A young female official at Lantai.
At the Directorate for the Construction of the City Fortifications
Cui Ning (崔凝): A young female official at the Directorate for the Construction of the City Fortifications.
Fan Zhi (梵知): A young male official at the Directorate for the Construction of the City Fortifications.
Elsewhere in Chang’an
Marchioness Chengqing (成庆侯夫人): Wife of Marquess Chengqing. Shen Ni’s neighbour.
Liu Ji (刘吉): Proprietor of a flower shop in the East Market. Recently deceased.
Madam Xu (徐氏): Proprietor of a flower shop in the East Market. Widow of Liu Ji.
Liu Bolin (刘伯蔺): Son of Liu Ji and Madam Xu.
Outside Chang’an
Dou Bin (窦宾): Eldest son of the patriarch of the Dou clan.
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douqi 随笔 