Zhào Chún'er 赵淳儿 (pl: Xià Mèng 夏梦)

(Lǐ Qìn as Yuán Chún  元淳 daughter of emperor of Wèi, in PA) The former princess who had been originally innocent, kind, and deeply in love with Yàn Xún, became part of the broader web of alliances and conflicts involving the four kingdoms

Lǐ Cè 李策 (pl: Lǐ Xiàoqiān 李孝谦)

(Dèng Lún as Xiāo Cè 萧策, prince of Liáng, in PA)

Lǐ Cè was the crown prince of Biàn Táng , providentially appearing to save Chǔ Qiáo [ ep.4] and next treat her wounds and bring her to Tángjīng, where he pretended she was "princess Fu" [ep6].

He protected and helped Chǔ Qiáo despite her rejection of his offer of marriage.

Empress Biàn huánghòu 卞皇后 (pl: Lǐ Mèng 李梦, guest role)

She was a powerful matriarchal figure within the court, contributing to the complex web of conspiracies and power struggles. [Ep.6 to 19]

She had substituted her own son (born of her and former prince Maocheng) at birth, leaving Lǐ Yàn in care of a nanny, while the unknown baby was killed by the murderous Biàntáng emperor.

Chéng Yuǎn 程远 (pl: Zhōu Lùla 周陆啦)

The general of the Black Eagle Army had vowed to kill Chǔ Qiáo whom he considered as a threat to Yàn Xún's revenge, and to eliminate the Universal Harmony Guild who sided with Chǔ Qiáo . But he was always faithful to his king and even became his blood brother.

Hèlián Líng 赫连凌 (pl: Hú Jiāxīn 胡嘉欣)

Lady of the Hèlián tribe, she wanted to be Queen of Yàn [ep.2] and became Yàn Xún's consort, despite Yàn Xún's initial scorn. She was better understood by Chéng Yuǎn, but won over Yàn Xún when she brought news of Huán Huán who had saved her [eps.23, 26].

Lǐ Yàn 李彦 (pl: Lú Mǐlè 卢米乐)

He was the Prince of Luò, Biàntáng. [ep.5] exiled away from Tángjīng with his father who had died of depression. He rescued Chún'er before returning to Tángjīng to meet the fake princess Fu (to whom he had been betrothed 7 years earlier). But he betrayed Lǐ Cè after seeming to ally with him, once he realized what the Empress had revealed about their true ancestry [ep.22]

Huán Huán 缳缳 (pl: Kuāng Yùtíng 匡玉婷)

General, chief of Snowy Tribe and cousin of Yàn Xún. She disapproved of the drug he used by t make Chǔ Qiáo forget her past and took her to the Lake as per her "dying wish" [ep.3] She took action to prevent Yànběi from civil war during Yàn Xún's coma, but Yàn Xún was not grateful (ep.7). Nevertheless, she reappeared in exile later, saving Hèlián Líng.

Xiāo Rán 萧然 (pl: Yán Yùchén闫玉晨)

A jianghu doctor enlisted by Chǔ Qiáo   [ep.11] He became one of her faithful subordinates, together with Wang Shi'er, a grave robber, fortune telelr and cartographer ; and Fang Miaomiao, another former convict who became a martial arts master.

Mǐng Lù 酩露 (pl: Shí Xīntóng 石欣桐)

Chief Maid of Lǐ Cè Crown prince’s mansion  [ep6] Despite her initial hatred for Chǔ Qiáo (whom she blamed for the execution of her father in the wake of the rebellion led by Chǔ Qiáo and Yàn Xún), Mǐng Lù finally rallied to Chǔ Qiáo's plan to create a new and more free world.

Zhān Zǐyú 詹子瑜 (pl: Charles Li Borui/ Lín Bǎiruì 林柏叡)

The Empress of Biàn's male favorite, Grand Minister of Rites in Biàntáng, was entirely devoted to his queen, until her role in his complicated background was exposed [ep.6 to 19]

Xiǎo Chǔ Qiáo 小楚乔 (pl: Liú Jiāxǐ刘佳玺)

in flashback of Qingshan manor [ep.27]

Why is character name "Xuan Qingqing" on MDL cast list?

King Xīméng wáng 西蒙王 (pl: Jīn Hàn 金瀚)

The poison master king had Zhūgé Yuè (once fished out of Frozen Lake) revived, but forced him (through a poison and a drug to heal Chǔ Qiáo) to become a willing decoy in dangerous missions, hidden behind his full face leather mask [ep.2].

Among the expendable decoys he used was the "fake" King of Xī Méng (briefly played by Fán Yìníng who also plays a different role as Biàntáng  Minister Pei Jian in the drama), who was killed by Chǔ Qiáo. [ep.25]

Wū nán shénnǚ 乌南神女 (pl: Mai Davika Hoorne, cameo role)

Aka Wū Nán Immortal lady. She was brought by Chéng Yuǎn to treat comatose Yàn Xún and took him to a mountain altar to revive him [ep6]. But Yàn Xún was not grateful [ep.7].

Queen Líng Yuè nǚwáng 陵越女王 (pl: "Cici" Wáng Zǐxuán 王紫璇)

She is one of the key political figures navigating the power struggles among the four empires, alongside other characters such as Empress Biàn and Prince Zhào Chè. She appeared first alongside the Xī Méng king to bring back Zhūgé Yuè and later went with him into Li'An [ep.8] and Biàntáng [ep.10] Finally, her sad back story led to her death.

Zhào Chè 赵彻 (pl: "Peter" Shèng Yīlún 盛一伦)

Prince of Dà Yōng, also referred to as 7th Prince, or Zhào Chè Jian, as a defender of the border. he was pragmatic about the interests of Dà Yōng. He let off Yàn Xún and Chǔ Qiáo [ep.2]. He agreed to send supplies to the Biàntáng defenders of Longyin pass and ask for soldiers to reinforce the neighboring state that was locking access from Yànběi hostile armies.

Zhào Yáng 赵飏 (pl: Wū Jākǎi 邬家楷)

Prince of Dà Yōng, also referred to as 13th prince, jealous and ruthless, he had cut off Zhào Chè's supplies at a critical moment and schemed in Dà Yōng capital to undermine Zhào Chè's status.

Yuè Qī 月七 (pl: Huáng Xīyàn 黃曦彥)

Zhūgé Yuè's trusted guard (played by Xíng Zhāolín in PA), who died in the Icy Lake massacre. There were many "Moon guards" in Qinshan mansion in PA, and some appear as "out posted" (exiles or spies) in Rebirth.

Yún niáng 筠娘 (pl: Zhōu Jiéqióng 周洁琼)

In flashback [ep.27], the mistress of Zhūgé Xi's mansion helped young Chǔ Qiáo escape punishment and taught her some martial arts before being killed. Yún niáng also gave Chǔ Qiáo hope of freedom.

Zhòng Yǔ 仲羽 (pl: Hú Yìxuán胡意旋)

Formerly Yàn Xún’s subordinate in Wèi and  leader of the Yànběi jianghu forces, she became a member of the  Universal Harmony Guild hunted to death by Chéng Yuǎn [ep4].

only her dubber is listed on MDL!

Zhào Sōng 赵嵩 (pl: Lín Mùrán林沐然)

He was Chún'er's brother in PA, who lost an arm to the blade of Yàn Xún when Zhào Sōng (never proficient in martial arts and assassination) tried to kill the Yàn Běi king on his way to reconquer his country.

Hèlián Chuān 赫连川 (pl: Bai Bái Nàrìsū 白那日苏)

Brother of Hèlián Líng, and chief of Hèlián tribe, he was a loser, who was ready to sell his sister to an old tribe leader, for horses and money!

Ā Jīng 阿精 (pl: Huáng Zǔxīn 黄祖鑫)

Yàn Xún's subordinate accompanied him and Hèlián Líng to find Huán Huán. [ep.26]

Yuè Shíyī 月十一 (pl: Lǐ Jiānán 李嘉楠)

He was part of Zhūgé Yuè's faithful "Moon guards" subordinates from Qingshan mansion, out posted to help Zhūgé Yuè and his followers.

Zǐ Míng ( 子茗(pl: Mǎ Lìyà 马丽亚)

Lǐ Cè ’s trusted concubine seemed harmless but had a complicated background. She was pregnant with his heir, infant Prince Xiuyi.

Jiā Mèng 迦孟 (pl:Fù Dōngnuǎn 傅冬暖, guest role)

She stopped the palanquin of pregnant Chún'er, claiming she could help her see Li Yan. Although Chún'er was not fooled by her powders and hallucinogenic incense, she decided to use the sorcerer’s tricks to manipulate Zhào Yáng   [ep.28] .

Jīng Xiǎobā 荆小八 (pl: Xú Dōngyì 徐东艺)

"Sister" of Chǔ Qiáo in the family which adopted her in PA, before they were enslaved and taken to Zhūgé Yuè's mansion. She suddenly appears out of nowhere claiming she wants to kill Zhūgé Yuè for having massacred her family and next acts as an ally to Zhūgé Yuè patriarch who wants his son to submit to Dà Yōng (ep.29]

Hú Měirén 胡美人 (pl: Bái Yìrǔ白翊汝)

She and maid Qingxiang accused Empress Biàn of having an affair, but the Emperor only found the Empress bathing with Zǐ Míng (pregnant by Lǐ Cè), and he ordered the Beauty and her maid to be beaten to death [ep.16} Why was this character even included....

Note : The drama is set in a historical period roughly corresponding to the end of 16 kingdoms . The story is fictional as well as the protagonists who are in part from Dà Xià 大夏 and Běi Yàn 北燕 (409–436), even though these kingdoms are inspired from those of the times of Emperor Taiwu of Northern Wèi (408 – 11 March 452). But Dà Yōng 大雍 is a creative invention for the story, as well as the Yàn Běi 燕北 , Xī Méng 西盟 (West League) and the Biàn Táng 卞唐 (Dà Xià or Northern Wèi) which are a creative construct for the drama's fictional political landscape and appear on the character relationship map.

Map of the four countries, from ep1