The Imperial Bodyguard is the man sent by Emperor Yuanhe to impersonate Prince Gong on the wedding night. He wears a red wedding robe, is drunk and lecherous, and attempts to rape Su Wanyan. When she stabs him to death with a hairpin, he becomes the key murder that the Emperor uses as pretext to pursue her. He is later identified as an Imperial Bodyguard from the Palace. His death removes the evidence but triggers a manhunt.
