The eldest master of the Cheng family and elder brother of Cheng Peinian. He is half-reclining and uses a water pipe. He is pragmatic and ruthless, insisting that the Cheng family must cut ties with the Sheng family to avoid political fallout. He pressures his younger brother to divorce Guiniang, offering promises of a splendid remarriage to Miss Tian Peirong, the newly widowed daughter of Duke Ding whose aunt has become Empress. He is willing to use force if Guiniang refuses to agree to the divorce.
