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.

Lakan is a middle-aged man with dark hair and striking blue eyes, a feature he passed on to his daughter. He typically wears the formal attire of a court official but pays little attention to his appearance, often looking unkempt. A distinctive trait of his is the monocle he wears over his right eye, which adds to his scholarly yet disheveled look.

Lakan is widely known for his eccentricity, much like many members of the La Clan. A brilliant tactician with a mastery of Go and Shogi, he is otherwise inept in most areas of life. Thanks to his knack for selecting competent subordinates, he spends much of his time idly gossiping or lounging around. Approaching forty, he has never shown public interest in romance, has never married, and adopted his half-nephew as his heir. He speaks in riddles and provokes others with a cheerful yet unsettling demeanor, earning him the reputation of a “henjin,” an odd and unnerving man.

In court, Lakan is infamous as the “sly fox,” known for his cunning, mischief, and vengeful calculations. Many officials prefer to avoid him altogether. His tendency to treat people as mere Go or Shogi pieces stems from his congenital face blindness. On his uncle Luomen’s advice, he learned to recognize people through their voices and mannerisms instead, categorizing them like pieces on a game board according to their worth and actions. This strange coping method made him an exceptional strategist but emotionally detached. Only Fengxian and Maomao have ever appeared to him with real faces, which makes his rare emotional connections both precious and painful.

Beneath his bizarre exterior, Lakan is deeply flawed in his ability to form genuine relationships. He often harms the very people he cares for through his schemes or inaction, leaving him regretful but unable to express it properly. Despite this, when it comes to his daughter Maomao, he turns into an overly emotional and doting father.

Lakan’s paternal affection borders on comical. He proudly calls himself “papa” and becomes frantic whenever Maomao is in danger or at the thought of her marrying Jinshi. His attempts to show love are often clumsy and overwhelming, frustrating Maomao to no end. Even so, his longing to connect with her remains genuine, showing the rare human warmth hidden beneath his eccentric and calculating nature.