Shenmei (
Appearance[]
A high-ranked consort of the Former Emperor, Shenmei was extremely beautiful, but lost her beauty to older age. She has nail caps on her fingers, which she uses to claw others. Jinshi notes that she wore "outrageous clothing and makeup, without any sense of dignity that was appropriate to her age", similar to Loulan.[1]
Personality[]
Shenmei was an extremely prideful, self-involved, and vengeful woman who was jealous of those more beautiful than her, including the Former Emperor and Jinshi. She was also a tenacious and meticulous strategist who was willing to do whatever it took to achieve her goals. After her humiliation of being brought to the inner palace as a consort, she was passed over in favor of her lady-in-waiting who gave birth to the emperor's illegitimate daughter. It was for this humiliation that she went so far as to plan to shame, ruin, and overthrow the Imperial Family. Shenmei was willing to plunge the country into chaos and risk the certain extermination of her entire clan, including not only her own child but the other Shi clan children as well.
Shenmei was very cruel, frequently abusing Suirei and poured boiling water on Loulan's hands in order to discipline her.[2] She also sought to corrupt members of her clan by forcing married women to participate in orgies.[3]
Abilities[]
Influence: Though she was the wife of the clan head, Shenmei seized control of her clan and ran it as a woman, even expelling those who went against her decisions.
Background[]
Twenty years ago, Shenmei was betrothed to Shishou, the adopted heir of the Shi Clan. However, she was later brought to the Former Emperor's Imperial Harem as a high-ranking consort so that the Empress Regnant could control the Shi Clan through her.[1] Taihou, a distant relative,[4] worked under her, but after being impregnated by the Former Emperor, Shenmei abandoned her.
As a result of Shishou's meritorious behavior in helping the Empress Regnant cut off the slave trade, Shenmei was bestowed back to her original fiancé. However, since he already had a wife and daughter, she killed the former and violently abused the latter. She later gave birth to Loulan.
Shenmei plotted to ruin the Country of Li for making a fool of her and chased out members of the Shi Clan who stood against her, but her plans were foiled by her own husband and daughter, who pretended to go along with her plans and allowed her to ruin herself by gathering corrupt followers. With help from Ayla, Shenmei began manufacturing and stockpiling guns in the Northern Province. During the Forbidden Army's attack on an abandoned fortress there, she attempted to shoot Loulan and Jinshi after learning of the deception by taking Loulan's gun; however, the gun was defective and hit Shenmei with its shrapnel instead, causing her to die from blood loss.[1]
Trivia[]
- Her name means "divine beauty" in Japanese and Chinese.
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 The Apothecary Diaries light novel: Volume 4, Chapter 21
- ↑ The Apothecary Diaries light novel: Volume 4, Chapter 14
- ↑ The Apothecary Diaries light novel: Volume 4, Chapter 19
- ↑ The Apothecary Diaries light novel: Volume 4, Chapter 12
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