Chapter 37 – Fasting Palace

Author’s Note:

Note: Some readers asked about Madam Sheng’s name. When creating the character outline, I gave her the name Sheng Shaoni, her uncle’s name is Sheng Tongyu, and her grandfather’s name is Sheng Jingchu. Her three cousins are named Sheng Changzhou, Sheng Changyun, and Sheng Changtian respectively.

The reason I didn’t directly write her name in the text and referred to her as Madam Sheng or Lady Sheng is twofold. Firstly, as the son of Sheng Shaoni, according to ancient customs, children would not call their mother’s name directly, even in their thoughts. For example, in Dream of the Red Chamber, the names of female elders such as Grandmother Jia, Lady Xing, Lady Wang, and Lady Xue are never mentioned directly. Outsiders would not ask for a woman’s name either, as a virtuous woman’s name was considered private information, only known to her husband. Even emperors and empresses of great status, like Wu Zetian and Empress Lu, have few records of their names in historical books, most often being referred to by their titles, rankings, or nicknames.

Secondly, from a narrative perspective, introducing too many names at once can confuse readers. Many readers have already expressed difficulty remembering the long list of names from the Xu family earlier. Actually, when naming characters, I used certain techniques to prevent myself from forgetting them. For instance, the eldest sister’s personality is wild, so I used the word “kui” which means sunflower. The eldest brother’s personality is aloof, so I used a homophone for “loneliness.” The protagonist’s personality is pure, so I used a homophone for “pure.” You can infer the rest based on these examples… Most characters who are not central to the plot are simply referred to as Lady X, Grandfather X, or Empress X, making it easier for readers to understand. As the story progresses, I will introduce the main characters’ names in appropriate scenes, and Madam Sheng’s maiden name will also be revealed at the right time.

In fact, I often make mistakes with names, even after creating a detailed character outline before starting the story. Longtime readers have probably noticed this… Characters’ names and ages are my Achilles’ heel; I can’t remember them, absolutely can’t remember them.