Also referred to as Lord Yan and Yan Qing, he is the Assistant Minister of the Ministry of Personnel and a close official of the Emperor with real power. He comes from a wealthy and prestigious family; his aunt is the favored Consort Yan. He is described as a once-in-a-lifetime genius, unparalleled throughout the Great Hui Dynasty. He is extremely handsome with jet-black hair held by a white jade hairpin, wearing snow-white robes embroidered with cold plum blossoms and a transparent black jade pendant. He purchased Wen Yuesheng's Buddhist scriptures for ten taels and sent them to the palace, which miraculously cured the Empress Dowager. He calmly revealed at the palace banquet that the scriptures were written by County Princess Sining.
