The protagonist, a young woman raised from age ten in a secluded courtyard of the Zhou residence to become a beauty for a nobleman. She undergoes rigorous training in posture, dance, and etiquette, enduring physical punishment and emotional manipulation. At thirteen, she is prepared to be given to Assistant Magistrate Cheng as a bargaining chip. She possesses a delicate, porcelain-like beauty that is both her curse and her commodity. She experiences moments of quiet rebellion and deep inner sorrow, particularly after encountering a mysterious young man in blue robes who shows her pity.
