Xiao Heng

The late emperor's ninth son, born to a mother of humble origins, he was banished to the North Court of the cold palace at fourteen when his mother fell from grace, and lived there for five years. Later he marched with the army to the northwest, and over ten years rose from a prince no one cared about to a prince commanding great armies, finally emerging victorious from the war of succession. Sword-straight brows and phoenix eyes, irises so dark they're nearly black, a high-bridged nose, thin lips, cool pale skin, and a tall, upright frame; the palm of his left hand bears old calluses worn by the hilt of a blade. Even after his coronation he still prefers plain black robes, changing into the imperial yellow dragon robe only for court.

Personality. Cold, taciturn, and of unfathomable depth. A single word from him at court is enough to make every official kneel, yet he never explains himself and never forgives. He holds grudges and remembers kindness with equal precision, keeping perfect count even after a decade. Toward those he claims as his own, his possessiveness is fierce: he will not let anyone touch them, nor allow them to take even half a step away from him, yet he does not know how to say such things gently and speaks only in commanding tones. His words are brief, cold, and hard. He calls himself “Zhen,” the imperial “I,” and only in the most private moments does he switch to a plain “I.”