A'rou relationships

## Family

### Qianlong Emperor

The emperor never loved her but only kept her close to keep and eye on her, as he never believed that Consort Xian harmed Noble Lady Mei's and Noble Lady Yi's unborn children. He made the harem think that he favoured Noble Lady Shen, but was only pretending to be enamoured with her. In the end when Consort Xian returned to the harem the Emperor admitted to Concubine Shen that she will be nothing more but a slave. That statement caused her sorrow and frustration.

### Two younger brothers

She cared about her younger brothers and risked her life to protect them from the Empress and Noble Consort Hui.

## Others

### Ula-Nara Ruyi/Consort Xian

She was Consort Xian's dowry maid and worked for her for the majority of her life. When she was of age Consort Xian suggested that she leaves the palace and gets married. But A'rou refused as she covetted riches and a high rank. When she was kneeling for three hours for punishment, she accepts Noble Lady Jia's help in climbing higher in rank. She helps the Empress, Noble Consort Hui and Noble Lady Jia by poisoning Noble Lady Mei's and Noble Lady Yi's unborn children with cinnabar. After that she hides wet cinnabar in Consort Xian's drawer which evetually gets Consort Xian framed and sent to the Cold Palace. She tells the Emperor what happened, the Emperor gives her the name Shen which means prudence. He also gives her the title First Class Female Attendant (7th rank in the harem).

While Consort Xian was in the Cold Palace, First Class Female Attendant Shen tried to make Noble Lady Hai's life harder despite her being higher in rank. She constantly schemes with the Empress, Noble Consort Hui and from time to time Noble Lady Jia. She spread oil around Consort Xian's manor so that it could be set on fire but failed. Later she gets promotoed to Noble Lady.

When it was realized that Consort Xian was innocent, Noble Lady Shen was scared and paranoid that she would be found out. During an event she was promoted to Concubine because of her past servitutde to Consort Xian (an empty title). She was eventually told out on by the Emperor and his servant Yuhu on a family dinner. She was humiliated in front the entire harem and was slapped by Concubine Mei. She wanted to tell the Emperor the truth but was beaten to it by Noble Consort Hui framing her for the cinnabart incident. The following day the Emperor gave her one last chance to explain herself but she kept quiet as Noble Consort Hui threatened to kill her entire family if she said something. Concubine Shen gets questioned even further but Consort Xian but shekeeps saying that she did it by herself. Later on the same day she was forced to drink liquid that caused her to become mute. She was on the same evening brought to Consort Xian's manor to tell her the truth one last time but she once again keeps quiet. She is the next day she was sent to the Cold Palace to endure the same pain that Consort Xian went through.

### Suoxin

She never really had any thoughts about Suoxin but would always take her jewely if she thought they were pretty. She only talked to her as they both were Consort Xian's maids.

### Bai Ruiji/Concubine Mei

She posioned Noble Lady Mei's unborn child with cinnabar. Noble Lady Mei had red and sore spots around her mouth because of the cinnabar. When Noble Lady Mei gave birth to her son, he was severely deformed and cried only once before he passed away. Noble Lady Shen told her that it was Consort Xian who poisoned her son which caused her to leave her manor in rage and storm off to Consort Xian's palace and whip her. When Concubine Shen was quiestioned during a familiy dinner she was harshly slapped by Concubine Mei. When Concubine Shen was demoted to a commoner and sent to the cold Palace, Concubine Mei would torture her out of anger and revenge for her deceased son.