Novel character directory • English edition
Idle Wife, Evil Husband 闲妻邪夫
Xian Qi Xie Fu • By Mo Feng (墨枫)
A household-by-household guide to the characters of Idle Wife, Evil Husband, with original Chinese names, English descriptions, aliases, familial relationships and affiliations.
Character directory
Open a household or faction to view its characters, arranged by family members, staff, attendants or function where applicable.
01 — Principal Characters (主角)
Principal leads
Female protagonist; heiress of the Murong family
Only daughter of Murong Qing. Exceptionally composed, commercially astute and cuttingly witty. After her father dies, she takes charge of the family fortune and business interests. Formerly engaged to Fang Hongfei; eventually marries Chu Changge.
Male protagonist; Demon Sect leader
A formidable martial artist and unconventional sect leader. Fiercely protective of Murong Yunshu. His concealed royal ancestry plays a significant part in the succession conflicts.
02 — Murong Household (慕容府)
Family members
Murong Qing (慕容青)
Yunshu’s father
Deceased before the main events. Established the Murong family’s substantial mercantile wealth and influence.
Madam Murong (慕容夫人)
Yunshu’s biological mother
Deceased. Her personal name is not established in this dossier.
First Madam (大夫人)
Senior stepmother
Senior among Murong Qing’s nine concubines; helped to raise Yunshu.
Second Madam (二夫人)
Stepmother
One of Murong Qing’s concubines.
Third Madam (三夫人)
Stepmother
One of Murong Qing’s concubines.
Fourth Madam (四夫人 / 四姨娘)
Stepmother
One of Murong Qing’s concubines; suffers a leg injury in an early part of the story.
Fifth to Ninth Madams (五夫人至九夫人)
Other stepmothers
The remaining five of Murong Qing’s nine concubines. Their individual personal names have not been verified in this dossier.
Son of the protagonists
Son of Murong Yunshu and Chu Changge. Nicknamed Xiao Murong (小慕容, Little Murong). Clever and mischievous.
Staff and managers
Steward Qian (钱总管)
Senior manager
Handles financial and commercial matters in the Murong businesses.
Steward Yin (银总管)
Senior manager
Oversees business matters associated with the Murong commercial network.
Steward Wu (吴总管)
Residence manager
Manages the Murong residence in Chu Prefecture.
Household Steward (管家)
Domestic administrator
Unnamed steward appearing in the opening part of the story.
Servants and attendants
Lü-er (绿儿)
Yunshu’s personal maid
A loyal, outspoken companion whose emotional reactions often contrast with Yunshu’s dry humour.
03 — Chu Family and Demon Sect (楚家 / 魔教)
Family members
Chu Xiyue (楚惜月)
Changge’s twin sister
Affectionately called Xi-er (惜儿). Her fate and soul-transfer storyline involve the Li tribe’s princess.
Yaoyue Xianzi (妖月仙子)
The woman who raised the twins
An eccentric, formidable woman also called the Moon Enchantress. She is not their biological mother.
Mingyue Xianzi (明月仙子)
Changge’s biological mother
Also known as Yue Guifei (月贵妃, Imperial Consort Yue). Distinct from Yaoyue Xianzi.
Tiancheng Emperor (天成皇帝)
Changge’s biological father
His royal relationship to Changge affects the succession and the identity of Changge’s siblings.
Leadership and Guardians
One of the Four Guardians
Also called Da Dong (大东). A trusted Guardian who tries to keep his colleagues organised.
One of the Four Guardians
Also called Da Nan (大南) or Xiao Nan (小南); a skilled martial artist.
One of the Four Guardians
Also called Xiao Xi (小西). Regularly involved in the Four Guardians’ comic disputes.
One of the Four Guardians
Also called Xiao Bei (小北). Talkative and often the subject of teasing.
Envoy Yang of the Left (杨左使)
Senior Demon Sect official
One of Changge’s high-ranking aides.
Envoy Xiang of the Right (向右使)
Senior Demon Sect official
Another senior aide managing sect matters.
Associates and guards
Guo Quede (锅缺德)
Eccentric martial artist
Also called Guo Chuzi (锅厨子, Cook Guo). Uses a cooking pot and undertakes protection assignments.
Nine Deadly Rakshasas (夺命罗刹)
Nine bodyguards
Group of covert bodyguards watching over Yunshu. Their individual names are not confirmed here.
04 — Fang Household and Famous Sword Manor (方家 / 名剑山庄)
Family members
Fang Hongfei (方鸿飞)
Yunshu’s former fiancé
Heir of Famous Sword Manor. Ends his engagement shortly after her father’s death and subsequently becomes an antagonist.
Master Fang (方庄主)
Head of Famous Sword Manor
Father of Fang Hongfei.
Madam Fang (方夫人)
Hongfei’s mother
Gave the Fang family’s jade ruyi as an engagement token.
Li Wunai (李无奈)
Hongfei’s maternal elder half-brother
A late revelation clarifies his family connection to Fang Hongfei.
05 — Feng Household (凤家)
Family members
Feng Yan (凤阎)
Father of Feng Cheng and Feng Ling
An established figure known within older martial arts circles.
Feng Cheng (凤城)
Physician; Feng Ling’s elder brother
Nicknamed Sai Huatuo (赛华佗, One Who Rivals Hua Tuo). His medical expertise is central to the poisoning and Chu Xiyue arcs.
Feng Ling (凤灵)
Feng Cheng’s younger sister
Outspoken, persistent and romantically attached to Nie Qing.
06 — Imperial Hua Family (华氏皇族)
Royal family members
Hua Lingtian (华陵天)
Crown Prince; later the Shenwu Emperor
Yunshu’s childhood acquaintance and maternal cousin (biaoge). Has romantic feelings for her and later ascends the throne.
Hua Yeli (华夜离)
Young Prince Liang
An ambitious rival with romantic interest in Yunshu. Later revealed to be Chu Changge’s paternal half-brother.
Prince Liang (梁王)
Hua Yeli’s legal father
Not Hua Yeli’s biological father.
Princess Consort Liang (梁王妃)
Hua Yeli’s mother
Her revelation establishes her son’s concealed parentage.
Prince Chu (楚王)
Regional prince
Father of Hua Ziqing and ruler of Chu Prefecture.
Hua Ziqing (华子清)
Heir of Prince Chu
Initially light-hearted; later drawn into negotiations involving the imperial family.
Prince Sheng (晟王)
Regional prince
An influential figure in the dynasty’s succession struggles and military conflicts.
Shenwu Emperor’s son (神武皇帝之子)
Unnamed imperial child
A child successor after the Shenwu Emperor’s death. Personal name not confirmed here.
07 — Officials, Soldiers and Advisers (官员 / 军人 / 谋士)
Court officials and advisers
Nie Qing (聂青)
Imperial official; later Chancellor
Initially stern and dutiful. Later holds high political authority. Connected to Yunshu and pursued romantically by Feng Ling.
Xu Hu (徐斛)
Hua Yeli’s adviser
Supports the prince’s political and military planning.
Shi Er Xiansheng (石二先生)
Craftsman and builder
Linked to the Murong household and later to the construction of military fortifications.
Military officers
Wei Zhentian (卫震天)
General
Associated with Prince Sheng’s troops and involved in conflict alongside Changge.
Wei Qian (卫谦)
Deputy officer
Wei Zhentian’s younger brother; becomes acquainted with Lü-er during the island storyline.
08 — Jianghu Figures and Martial Sects (江湖 / 门派)
Families and martial artists
Lin Zhenyuan (林镇远)
Escort agency head
Leads the Zhenyuan Escort Agency (镇远镖局); father of Lin Shui-er.
Lin Shui-er (林水儿)
Lin Zhenyuan’s daughter
Praised for her beauty; later romantically connected with Fang Hongfei.
Shenji Laoren (神机老人)
Elder strategist
Involved in the martial alliance and antidote negotiations.
Li Dao (李刀)
Kunlun martial artist
Threatens Yunshu during the Shaolin confrontation.
Tang Sanniang (唐三娘)
Woman connected with poison intrigues
Appears in martial arts conflicts involving poisoning.
Zhao Da (赵大)
Supporting figure
Appears in events associated with Li Xiaoru.
Li Xiaoru (李小茹)
Supporting figure
Her treatment requires a significant sacrifice of Changge’s internal energy.
Five Tigers of Kaishan (开山五虎)
Five martial artists
A group that attempts to abduct Yunshu; the individual names have not been verified.
One-Eyed Pirate (独眼海盗)
Pirate
Involved in the island plot; later spared and assigned work.
Religious and sect leaders
Xuan Kong Dashi (玄空大师)
Shaolin abbot
An influential monk involved in the conflict with Changge.
Qingyuan (清远)
Shaolin monk
Connected with the Eighteen Arhats formation.
Sect Leader Mo (莫掌门)
Wudang leader
Advises Yunshu to reconsider her union with Changge.
09 — Li Tribe and Five Poisons Sect (黎族 / 五毒教)
Li tribe
Hu Boge (胡伯格)
Chief shaman
Participates in divination, antidote matters and the soul-transfer plot.
Li Tribe Princess (黎族公主)
Princess
Her body becomes crucial to the identity and soul-transfer storyline involving Chu Xiyue.
Jin Yanzi (金燕子)
Soul-transfer-related figure
Later occupies the princess’s body in the identity storyline.
Five Poisons Sect
Holy Maiden (五毒教圣女)
Poison expert and antagonist
A dangerous adversary with a grudge against Changge; threatens Yunshu and her child.
10 — Later Generation and Final Arc (后代 / 结局)
Family and romance
Later-generation female character
Described in the previous dossier as Changge’s daughter; involved in the final arc and romantically linked to Fu Chengfeng.
Martial artist
Junior martial brother of Chu Changge; romantically linked with Rong Yi and known for swordsmanship.
Yu Tianli (俞天离)
Martial brother
Associated with Fu Chengfeng and mentioned in Yun Ni’s storyline.
Riyue Manor and opponents
Yun Hendong (云恨东)
Riyue Manor master
Head of Riyue Manor (日月山庄), martial alliance leader and father of Yun Nitian and Yun Ni.
Yun Nitian (云逆天)
Antagonist
Son of Yun Hendong. His resentment drives a deception central to the ending.
Yun Ni (云霓)
Yun Hendong’s daughter
Sister of Yun Nitian; her fate forms an important identity revelation.
Qin Muzhi (秦慕之)
Accomplice
Works with Yun Nitian during the Riyue Manor plot.
Huamei (画眉)
Emei disciple
Her death is connected with disputes between martial arts sects.
Sect Leader Xiao (肖掌门)
Huashan Sect head
Appears in the closing martial arts conflicts.
Relationship reference
| Characters | Connection |
|---|---|
| Murong Qing + Madam Murong | Parents of Murong Yunshu |
| Murong Yunshu + Chu Changge | Married couple; parents of Chu Murong |
| Chu Changge + Chu Xiyue | Twins; raised by Yaoyue Xianzi |
| Tiancheng Emperor + Mingyue Xianzi | Biological parents of Chu Changge and Chu Xiyue |
| Chu Changge + Hua Yeli | Paternal half-brothers |
| Fang Hongfei + Li Wunai | Maternal half-brothers |
| Feng Cheng + Feng Ling | Elder brother and younger sister |
| Yun Nitian + Yun Ni | Brother and sister |
Terminology and editorial notes
Titles: Wang (王) means Prince; Wangfei (王妃) means Princess Consort; Guifei (贵妃) means Noble Consort; Hufa (护法) means Guardian; Dashi (大师) means Buddhist Master. Jianghu (江湖) denotes the world of martial artists and sects.
Names: Cardinal-direction Guardians are listed by their titles because personal names have not been confirmed in this guide. Yaoyue Xianzi (妖月仙子) and Mingyue Xianzi (明月仙子) are two distinct people.
Later arcs: Identities and kinship stated for late-story characters should be checked against the relevant Chinese chapter before publication as an authoritative reference.
Reading reference
The Chinese novel and chapter index can be consulted here: 闲妻邪夫 — Chinese chapter index ↗. Examples: Chapter 1 (engagement), Chapter 75 (Chu Changge and Yunshu), Chapter 110 (royal conflict).
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