The Qianlong Emperor, ruler of the empire. He is deeply attached to Empress Fucha, having canceled the customary move to the Old Summer Palace to spend the Lantern Festival with her. Overjoyed at the birth of his seventh son on Buddha's Birthday, he names the prince Yongcong and composes a poem titled 'Rain on Buddha's Bathing Day, Thus Inscribed.' He summons imperial physicians daily during the pregnancy and exhibits a tense, uneven temper due to worry.
