Jinshi

Jinshi is the official who runs the rear palace, the part of the imperial court where the emperor's consorts and their servants live. He is known as a eunuch, a male palace servant who cannot father children. Jinshi is so beautiful that both men and women stare at him and fall for him, and he often uses his charm to get what he wants. He is almost always joined by his loyal and serious aide, Gaoshun.

Behind his sweet smile, Jinshi is clever and hardworking. He tries to balance his many duties while making life in the palace better. When he learns that someone secretly warned the consorts about poison in their makeup, he tracks down the person who wrote it: Maomao, a low-ranking servant girl. He sees how useful her skills are and starts sending her to solve strange problems for him.

Jinshi is used to people adoring him, so he is surprised when Maomao shows no interest in him at all and even treats him with cold dislike. Her reaction only draws him to her more. He grows fond of her, and he often teases her or tries to get close, while she keeps pushing him away. Their odd partnership, part detective team and part slow romance, is at the heart of the series. There are also hints that Jinshi is hiding important secrets about who he really is.