Zhang Xingcai | Shu

Name: Zhang Xingcai

Age: 23 (Born 207 AD)

Appearance: Xingcai is a slender, slightly muscular young woman standing at 5’5. She has black hair she keeps cut at chin-length, pinned and tied away from her face. She has beautiful, if stern features, gray eyes, and is typically seen with a neutral expression or slight frown. She is often seen in shades of green and silver, with clothing and armor befitting her status as empress.

Personality: Xingcai is a resilient warrior who endures hardships and maintains a calm, stiff, and somewhat stoic demeanor. She is passionate about her home and guards it carefully with her diligent personality. Xingcai was close companions with her cousin Guan Ping, and was devastated when he died in 220. She is the wife of the young emperor Liu Shan, having married him when they were both 16-- their relationship is polite and supportive, with the two caring for each other but not being overly expressive about it. Xingcai is well aware of the disdainful rumors about Liu Shan’s competency, but she’s one of the few people he allows to see his true demeanor, someone with a strong spirit but soft heart that cares deeply for the people he oversees and is weary of being a figurehead for the regents. She works hard to help train his strength, often sparring with her husband.

Xingcai deeply loves her soft-spoken mother, Xiahou Ji, even if she doesn’t express it. Xingcai’s feelings towards her father Zhang Fei, who was assassinated in 221, are complicated-- she cared for him and respected his skills highly, but also was uncomfortable with his drinking habits and didn’t quite know how to feel about how her father abducted her mother as a child bride. Xingcai cares for (and occasionally worries about) her much more boisterous and energetic older brother, Zhang Bao.

Zhang Xingcai is a very private, reserved person, and rarely reveals her true thoughts or feelings, even to her own husband or family. She has great admiration for fellow female warriors, such as her cousin Guan Yinping. She’s fond of pretty flowers. Xingcai deeply respects Zhao Yun, her mentor who aided in her combat training. Xingcai’s weapon of choice is a sword and shield, which she learned to wield from her mother.

Background: Zhang Xingcai is the daughter of Zhang Fei and Xiahou Ji. Zhang Fei abducted Xiahou Ji from Wei when she was 13, taking her as his wife. Xingcai grew up alongside the forces of Shu, which operated much like a large family-- Xingcai was raised and trained alongside her (technically not blood related) cousins Guan Ping, Guan Xing, Guan Suo, Guan Yinping, Liu Shan, and Liu Feng.

Xingcai married Liu Shan when they were both 16. Neither of them speak about it out loud, but they’re both well aware that Liu Shan’s status as the emperor of Shu is little more than a title-- Liu Shan is unable to take any real action and his regents and advisors have taken affairs into their own hands. In 220 AD, her close companion Guan Ping died in battle alongside Guan Yu at Fan Castle, which devastated Xingcai. Xingcai diligently fights in Zhuge Liang’s northern campaigns, even if she’s not sure about the viability of the marches. Being the primary wife of Liu Shan, she oversees his children, including 6-year-old Liu Xuan, born from his concubine Noble Lady Wang. Xingcai isn’t particularly jealous or bothered by this, as it is her duty.

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