Fengxian was born to the Madam of the Verdigris House shortly after her mother retired as a courtesan. Though she was her biological daughter, Fengxian never considered the Madam her true mother, as courtesans in the red-light district were forbidden to raise children. Following in her mother’s footsteps, she became a high-ranking courtesan whose brilliance and intellect helped transform the Verdigris House from a modest brothel into a prestigious establishment. She gained fame not through physical intimacy but through her mastery of strategy games and her air of unattainable mystery, earning loyal attendants like Meimei.

Her life changed when she met Lakan, a brilliant strategist and military man who was invited to play Go with her as a jest. To everyone’s shock, Fengxian defeated him, sparking a mutual respect and intellectual connection that blossomed into love. Captivated by her wit and grace, Lakan became a regular visitor, though her rising value made it difficult for him to see her often. In hopes of escaping her life as a courtesan, Fengxian took a desperate gamble by seducing Lakan and becoming pregnant, hoping their child would lead to her freedom.

Unaware that Lakan had been sent away for years and never received her letters, Fengxian bore and raised their daughter, Maomao, alone. Her pregnancy destroyed her reputation, and she was forced into lower-class work, selling her body to survive. In time, she contracted syphilis, which slowly robbed her of her health and sanity. Tormented by her circumstances and believing herself abandoned, Fengxian grew violent and unstable, even lashing out at Maomao. In a moment of anguish and madness, she severed both her own pinky and part of Maomao’s as a dark symbolic act of severing their fates.

As her illness advanced, Fengxian’s mind and body deteriorated beyond recovery. No longer able to work, she was hidden away in the annex of Verdigris House, cared for by Meimei and Maomao. Years later, fate reunited her with Lakan when Maomao, now grown, forced him to redeem a courtesan from the house as part of a wager. Upon discovering Fengxian was still alive, Lakan paid an enormous sum to take her away and finally made her his wife, fulfilling at last the love and freedom that had eluded her for nearly two decades.

In her prime, Fengxian was a striking beauty with a fair complexion, dark plum eyes, and dark green hair adorned with golden ornaments and a red ribbon. Her red lips, eye shadow, and forehead marking added to her allure, while her proud, distant demeanor gave her an untouchable aura.

Over time, tragedy stole her beauty. After contracting syphilis, her body and mind deteriorated as she became thin, her hair grew wild, her nose decayed, and her skin was marked with rashes and gummas. Once radiant in colorful robes, she was reduced to wearing simple pale garments, a shadow of the renowned courtesan she once was.

Fengxian was known for her cold and proud demeanor. Unlike other courtesans who charmed patrons with smiles and seduction, she carried herself with distance and arrogance, choosing to sell her art rather than her body. Her aloof behavior limited her clientele but earned her the fierce devotion of a few wealthy patrons. Despite her cool exterior, she was respected by her juniors, especially Meimei, who served as her attendant and pupil before rising in rank herself.

Her only true affection was for Lakan, her most devoted patron and intellectual equal. Their bond was built on shared respect and admiration for each other’s strategic brilliance. Realizing she was becoming too expensive for him to visit, Fengxian made a calculated choice to seduce him, intending to become pregnant and destroy her own value as a courtesan so that he could buy her freedom. Though her plan succeeded, Lakan’s untimely reassignment ruined her hopes of escape.

Left alone, Fengxian was forced into the lowest tier of prostitution, where she eventually contracted syphilis. The disease, combined with her despair, drove her into madness. She became violent and cruel toward her daughter, Maomao, even mutilating both their fingers in a symbolic act meant to curse Lakan. Maomao would later recall that Fengxian had no memory of ever being a mother.

In her final years, the late stages of syphilis left Fengxian in a child-like state. She could no longer care for herself but still clung to her love for Go, often playing alone with pebbles. When Lakan finally found her seventeen years later, she briefly regained lucidity and recognized him. The two married, and though her time was short, Lakan remained devoted, cherishing the woman who had once defeated him in both strategy and heart.