Xishi

Xishi is the protagonist. She is a young woman growing up in a rural Chinese village in ancient China, based on a real legendary figure from Chinese history. While her appearance is the reason she is chosen for the mission to infiltrate the Wu court, the novel refuses to define her by beauty alone. Instead, it emphasizes her selflessness, intelligence, and moral complexity. Her decision to join the mission is an act of sacrifice, driven by the trauma of her sister Susu’s death at the hands of Wu soldiers and a desire to protect others from the same fate.

Xishi’s emotional openness is one of her defining traits early in the story. When she first arrives at Riverside Cottage, Fanli warns her that her emotions are too visible: that they will betray her intentions in the dangerous world of espionage. Over time, she learns to mask...