The Yuanning Marquis, whose personal name is Su Youwei, is the father of Su Wanyan and Su Muqing. He is a weathered fifty‑six‑year‑old minister with considerable military power. Unwilling to let his beloved legitimate daughter marry the crippled Prince Gong, he secretly adopts his concubine‑born daughter Su Wanyan under his wife’s name and sends her as the substitute bride. He later kneels before the Emperor and argues that his past contributions should earn him leniency for the deception.
