Qi Heng / Yuan Ruo
The only child of the Duke of Qi by his wife, the Princess of Pingning. Ming Lan’s childhood sweetheart and one of Gu Ting Ye's close friends.
An earnest, handsome gentleman with a genuine, amiable nature and sincere soul, Qi Heng is considered the capital's most desirable bachelor, to his eventual sorrow. From his privileged vantage point, Qi Heng can be somewhat oblivious to the inconvenience and plight of others, though never maliciously. Qi Heng is bound to his family and social norms in ways Gu Ting Ye will never be. Q
i Heng is often guilty of underestimating Ming Lan and is frequently surprised when he sees her true nature under the idealized view he has of her. In their youth, Qi Heng obstinately pursues a relationship with Ming Lan despite her more realistic view of their circumstances and promises to marry her, a promise she is reluctant to believe but eventually decides to trust.
Though a health scare finally earns him his mother's reluctant permission to propose to Ming Lan, he ends up being forced to marry a princess who takes a fancy to him when she holds his family hostage until he agrees, causing him to break his promise to marry Ming Lan. He is freed from this marriage when his wife and her family are executed in a failed, violent coup. He then studies hard to pass the civil exam, having made a deal with his mother that she will arrange his marriage to Ming Lan if he passes. However, he is too late: Ming Lan becomes betrothed to Gu Ting Ye during the wait, causing Qi Heng to miss out a second time.
As an imperial official, he begins to antagonize Gu Ting Ye under the claim that he disapproves of his reforms and policies, though it becomes apparent he remains jealous and aggrieved, wallowing in self-pity over not having been able to marry Ming Lan. He marries for a second time, and though their relationship is initially not a loving one, the pair suit each other and become supportive. Eventually, he falls in love with his second wife and moves on from Ming Lan, repairing his friendship with Gu Ting Ye.
(Source: Wikipedia)
