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.