List of The Deer and the Cauldron characters


The following is a list of characters from the novel The Deer and the Cauldron by Jin Yong. Some of these characters previously appeared in another novel Sword Stained with Royal Blood, which is also written by Jin Yong. Some of these characters are based on historical figures, such as the Kangxi Emperor, Oboi, Wu Sangui, Chen Yuanyuan, Princess Changping, Zheng Keshuang, Feng Xifan, Shi Lang, Galdan Boshugtu Khan, Sophia Alekseyevna, Desi Sangye Gyatso, and Wu Liuqi, as well as Zha Jizuo, a purported ancestor of Jin Yong.

Wei Xiaobao and his family

  • Wei Xiaobao is the witty, sly and illiterate protagonist who was born in a brothel in Yangzhou during the Qing dynasty. He bumbles his way into the imperial palace and has a fateful encounter with the young Kangxi Emperor, with whom he develops a friendship. By sheer luck and wit, he makes a series of accomplishments that have an impact on significant historical events during the Kangxi Emperor's reign. Definitely not a conventional protagonist, as he does kill innocent people if necessary, use drug and poison, harass and even rape people.
  • Wei Chunfang is Wei Xiaobao's mother and a prostitute from a brothel in Yangzhou.

    The seven wives

In order of appearance in the novel:
  • Mu Jianping is Mu Jiansheng's younger sister and a princess of the House of Prince Mu. Due to a conflict between the House of Prince Mu and the Tiandihui, she is taken hostage by the Tiandihui and sent to the imperial palace to be placed under Wei Xiaobao's watch. Later, she is captured by the Mystic Dragon Cult and forced to join them. She is the second youngest and most naïve of the seven.
  • Fang Yi is Liu Dahong's apprentice and a servant of the House of Prince Mu. She is initially in a romantic relationship with Liu Yizhou, who also serves the House of Prince Mu. After a failed assassination attempt on the Kangxi Emperor, she is wounded and forced to rely on Wei Xiaobao to keep her safe in the imperial palace. Wei Xiaobao then uses every opportunity to make advances on her and force her to promise to marry him if he saves Liu Yizhou, who has been captured by imperial guards. After seeing how committed she is to Liu Yizhou, Wei Xiaobao wavers between giving up on her and insisting that she keeps her promise. However, Fang Yi later ends her relationship with Liu Yizhou after seeing how cowardly he is, and decides she wants to be with Wei Xiaobao after realising that he is more trustworthy despite his flaws. At one point, she is captured by the Mystic Dragon Cult and forced to join them and lure Wei Xiaobao into traps. Wei Xiaobao manages to save her with Su Quan's help.
  • Shuang'er is a servant of the Zhuang family of Huzhou and an apprentice of He Tishou. The matriarch tells her to follow Wei Xiaobao and serve him – as an expression of her gratitude to him for avenging their family by killing Oboi – and she initially serves as his bodyguard before becoming one of his wives. Among the seven, she is the youngest and the most loyal. At one point, she becomes sworn siblings with Wu Liuqi.
  • Su Quan is Hong Antong's wife who is adept in using her beautiful looks to seduce men and bend them to her will. As Hong Antong had forced her to marry him, she harbours a grudge against him and has been trying to consolidate power within the cult by promoting younger members to replace the older ones who are more loyal to Hong Antong. As Hong Antong need to have sex with virgins in order to release accumulated disruptive high-level inner energy, he has never consummated his marriage with Su Quan. Wei Xiaobao flatters and flirts with her during his first encounter with the Mystic Dragon Cult. Later, she disguises herself as a prostitute to lure Wei Xiaobao into a trap in a brothel, but he sees through her guise easily as she is unfamiliar with the ways of a brothel. He tricks her into drinking drugged wine, rendering her unconscious, and places her on the bed along with Fang Yi, Mu Jianping, Zeng Rou, Shuang'er and Ake; and randomly has sex with some of them. The next time she and Wei Xiaobao meet, her attitude is warmer, and it is later revealed that she is pregnant with his child. She decides to follow Wei after the Mystic Dragon Cult is destroyed in its internal conflict. She is the most powerful in martial arts and the oldest among the seven.
  • Princess Jianning is a younger sister of the Kangxi Emperor. It turns out later that she is not related to the emperor because her biological mother is Mao Dongzhu, who has been impersonating the empress dowager. Of the seven wives, she is the most violent, sadistic, and spoiled. She loves Wei Xiaobao because he is the only one who dares to stand up to her, and she likes to engage in BDSM activities with him. When the Kangxi Emperor finds out that Jianning is not his real sister, he arranges for Jianning to be sent to Yunnan to marry Wu Yingxiong in a political marriage. Before the wedding, she drugs Wei Xiaobao, strips him naked, whips him, and tries to use candles to burn his hair. He gives in to her seductive advances and sleeps with her that night. The next day, Wei Xiaobao gives her one of the pistols he received from Wu Sangui as a gift. She tricks Wu Yingxiong into going into her room, points the pistol at him, and orders him to strip before castrating him. The marriage still proceeds as planned although Jianning continues to have an ongoing affair with Wei Xiaobao. She eventually reveals that she is pregnant with Wei Xiaobao's child and they elope. The Kangxi Emperor later issues a decree declaring that Jianning is Wei Xiaobao's formal spouse.
  • Zeng Rou is from the Wangwu School. She attempts to assassinate Wei Xiaobao in a military camp and catches him off guard while he is gambling with some officers. However, Wei Xiaobao turns the gambling game to his advantage and outsmarts her by cheating in the game. He then lets them go and earns Zeng Rou's admiration and affection. Zeng Rou is the most polite and cultured among the seven.
  • Ake is the daughter of Chen Yuanyuan and Li Zicheng. She was kidnapped and raised as a tool by her master, Princess Changping so she would kill Wu Sangui, as it was assumed he was the father. She has a crush on Zheng Keshuang previously but leaves him after he reveals his true colours due to the reveal that she's pregnant after Wei Xiaobao raped her. She is Wei Xiaobao's most beautiful wife.

    The three children

  • Wei Shuangshuang is Wei Xiaobao's daughter and first child, born to Princess Jianning. Originally named "Bandeng", which means "wooden bench", her name was changed to "Shuangshuang" on Su Quan's suggestion.
  • Wei Hutou is Wei Xiaobao's first son and second child, born to Ake. His name literally means "tiger head".
  • Wei Tongchui is Wei Xiaobao's second son and third child, born to Su Quan. His name literally means "bronze hammer".

    Qing Empire

  • The Kangxi Emperor is the ruler of the Qing Empire. First introduced as "Xiaoxuanzi", he forges a close friendship with Wei Xiaobao. He is a wise, knowledgeable, and logical person.
  • The Empress Dowager is the Kangxi Emperor's stepmother. She was immobilised and imprisoned in a wardrobe in her room by Mao Dongzhu, who has been impersonating her until she is discovered and freed by Wei Xiaobao.
; Imperial court officials
; Imperial guards
  • Duolong is the Supervisor of the Imperial Guards and a close friend of Wei Xiaobao. At one point, Wei reluctantly kills him in order to save the Tiandihui members who are under siege by imperial guards. It turns out later that he has survived and does not know that Wei had attempted to kill him earlier.
  • Ruidong, nicknamed "Undefeated Iron Palm", is the Deputy Supervisor of the Imperial Guards. Mao Dongzhu sends him to kill Wei Xiaobao but Wei outsmarts him and kills him.
  • Chaerzhu is a cavalry commander of the Plain Yellow Banner.
  • Zhang Kangnian
  • Zhao Qixian
  • Shi Laoliu is killed by Mao Dongzhu.
  • Xiong Laoer is killed by Mao Dongzhu.
  • Ge Tong is killed by the Wangwu Sect members.
  • Captain Gua is killed by Chen Jinnan.
  • Shi Song, nicknamed "Black Dragon Whip", tries to arrest Mao Shiba. Wei Xiaobao kills him and saves Mao Shiba.
  • Fuchun is a cavalry officer.
  • Ajichi is a vanguard commander.
  • Commander Tai is a vanguard officer.
; Eunuchs and palace maids
  • Hai Dafu is a fifth class eunuch serving as deputy supervisor of the imperial kitchen. He is also a martial arts expert of the Kongtong School and has received a secret mission from the Shunzhi Emperor to investigate Consort Donggo's death. He kidnaps Wei Xiaobao and brings him into the imperial palace. Later, he is killed by Mao Dongzhu in a fight after confirming his suspicion that she murdered Consort Donggo.
  • Xiaoguizi is a young eunuch serving under Hai Dafu. Wei Xiaobao kills him and impersonates him and continues serving under Hai Dafu.
  • Eunuch Wu is in charge of the imperial study.
  • Wen Youdao and Wen Youfang are eunuchs serving in the imperial study.
  • Pingwei
  • Ruichu is Mao Dongzhu's personal handmaiden.
  • Dong Jinkui is a eunuch serving as Mao Dongzhu's messenger. He is killed by Wei Xiaobao.
; Defectors from Tungning
  • Shi Lang is a naval officer of Tungning. After the Tungning ruler Zheng Jing executes his family, he defects to the Qing Empire and meets Wei Xiaobao, who recommends him as a talent to the Kangxi Emperor because of his expertise in naval warfare. He leads the Qing navy against Tungning during the Battle of Penghu.
  • Lin Xingzhu
  • Hong Chao
  • He You
; Others
  • Wu Zhirong is the governor of Yangzhou. He played a key role in the massacre of the Zhuang family of Huzhou many years ago. Shuang'er recognises him and begs Wei Xiaobao to help her avenge her family. Wei then frames him for collaborating with Wu Sangui and has him arrested and sent to Huzhou, where he is killed by the widows of the Zhuang family.
  • Jiang Baisheng is a military officer serving under Prince Kang.
  • Huang Fu is a naval officer.
  • Zhao Liangdong is a military officer who leads Qing forces to suppress Wu Sangui's rebellion. He becomes Viceroy of Yun-Gui and Minister of War later.
  • Ma You is a governor.
  • Mu Tianyan is a chief secretary.
  • Lergiyen is a prince and general who leads Qing forces to suppress Wu Sangui's rebellion.
  • Zhang Yong is a provincial military commander in Yunnan.
  • Wang Jinbao is a military officer stationed in Yunnan.
  • Sun Sike is a military officer stationed in Yunnan.
  • Major General Peng is a military officer stationed on the island where Wei Xiaobao goes into self-exile.
  • Vice Admiral Lu is Shi Lang's deputy.
  • Bahai is a general stationed in Ningguta.
  • Sabusu is a general stationed in Heilongjiang.
  • Vice Admiral Ban oversees the construction of naval weapons.
  • Pengchun
  • Mala
  • Langtan
  • Aerni
  • Ma Qi
; Characters mentioned by name only
  • The Grand Empress Dowager is the Kangxi Emperor's grandmother.
  • Consort Donggo was the Shunzhi Emperor's favourite concubine who was murdered by Mao Dongzhu.
  • Consort Zhen was Consort Donggo's younger sister who was also murdered by Mao Dongzhu.
  • Empress Xiaokangzhang was the Kangxi Emperor's biological mother who was murdered by Mao Dongzhu.
  • Suksaha is one of the Four Regents who govern the Qing Empire when the Kangxi Emperor is still a child. He is framed for treason by Oboi and executed.
  • Chakedan is Suksaha's son who is executed along with his father.
  • Sonin is one of the Four Regents and Songgotu's father.
  • Ebilun is one of the Four Regents.
  • Hechabo is the commander of the Bordered Red Banner.
  • Tong Tulai was the father of Empress Xiaokangzhang and Tong Guogang, and the maternal grandfather of the Kangxi Emperor.
  • Fudeng is the commander of the Plain Blue Banner.
  • Jiakun is the former commander of the Plain Blue Banner.
  • Eshuoke is the commander of the Bordered Blue Banner.
  • Yang Guangxian is an official in the Bureau of Astronomy.
  • Gan Wenkun is the Viceroy of Yun-Gui.
  • Zhu Guozhi is the governor of Yunnan.
  • Zhang Guogui is the provincial military commander of Yunnan.
  • Cao Shenji is the governor of Guizhou.
  • Li Benshen is the provincial military commander of Guizhou.
  • Lu Yifeng is the magistrate of Jing County.