Daughter of the Moon Goddess

Xingyin’s first friend in the Celestial Kingdom and main love interest, Liwei is the son of the Celestial royals. He disagrees with his parents’ ruthlessness and the nobles’ political scheming, preferring to befriend people who are straightforward, honest, and direct, like General Jianyun and Xingyin. Skilled in painting, martial arts, and magic, he tries to be open-minded and is not above bending the occasional rule as long as doing so doesn’t cause harm.

Though he is intelligent and loyal, especially to Xingyin, he can be naive regarding his privilege and change. He values Familial Duty and Honesty, and he is hurt when the truth of Xingyin’s identity comes out, unable to understand her situation. He is straightforward with his emotions, confessing his love and support to Xingyin many times and making it clear that his betrothal to Princess Fengmei is political, not emotional. He is also prone to jealousy, especially toward Wenzhi, and has difficulty letting Xingyin go despite his betrothal and duty to his country.

He gifts Xingyin accessories that symbolize their bond, such as a hairpin—a common token of love—and a matched pair of Sky Tassels, which alert them whenever the other is in serious danger. He impulsively travels to rescue Xingyin several times, though he often ends up as a passive support rather than an active defender, until the end of the novel when he shields her from his father’s Sky-fire. In the final chapter, he visits Xingyin on the moon and tells her that has broken off his betrothal and still harbors feelings for Xingyin, but he does not ask her for a response.

One of Xingyin’s first friends in the Celestial Kingdom, Shuxiao is a career soldier who enlisted in order to gain political allies for her family after a scandal in which her sister rejected the advances of a lecherous nobleman (269-70). She comes from a large family in the countryside, with six siblings and a father who dislikes life at court (86). She cares about her family deeply, which strengthens her bond with Xingyin. Rather than be a soldier, she would prefer to settle down and be with her loved ones back home; she dislikes her promotion because it binds her to court (270).

Shuxiao is perceptive and intelligent, guessing Wenzhi’s and Liwei’s feelings for Xingyin before Xingyin does. She is also adept at seeing through false rumors, and offers to help Xingyin even if doing so is detrimental to her own goals. Shuxiao also uses her low social status to her advantage, often in support of her friends. She is staunchly loyal to Xingyin; she, along with General Jianyun, bring the entire Celestial Army to support Xingyin against the Celestial Emperor’s rage, which forces the emperor to keep his bargain and free Chang’e.

Youngest captain in the Celestial Army, second prince of the Cloud Wall, and Xingyin’s other love interest, Wenzhi is a complex character. First presented as a popular, accomplished soldier, he supports Xingyin during her emotional turmoil with Liwei and mentors her when she joins the military. They often go on missions together, as he is assigned dangerous tasks due to his military prowess, and Xingyin wants the Crimson Lion Talisman, which she is more likely to get on such missions. He professes his love to Xingyin in a more roundabout way than Liwei does, and the two men are often at odds.

Wenzhi reveals a ruthless and manipulative personality over the course of the narrative. Due to his fraught relationship with his elder half-brother, he seeks to become Crown Prince, striking a deal with his father to overthrow the Celestial Kingdom in return for the Cloud Wall throne (387-88). His plots involve secrecy, manipulation, and deceit, and Xingyin is almost killed several times as a consequence of his schemes. He lies to her about his background and justifies his kidnapping of her as something she consented to, as she once she agreed to go home with him after his resignation (385). He is also a skilled Mind Talent, a forbidden form of magic in the Celestial Kingdom; he defends it as a neutral tool, just like any other Talent. Despite the many ways he damages their relationship, Wenzhi insists his love for Xingyin is real. He is a foil for Liwei in terms of personality, behavior, and background. Like Liwei, he chooses his country over his love; however, he also chooses deceit instead of honesty, and reflects his dysfunctional family rather than rising above them.

Xingyin and Wenzhi’s relationship takes a complicated path. Despite his actions, she rejects the opportunity to kill him when he’s vulnerable. Later, he allows her to pass unhindered, and he visits her in a dream once she returns to the moon to tell her he still loves her. Though she rejects him, his hopes for reconciliation hint at a reunion in the future.