Zhao En

Zhao En is a woman from the gentry of the Zheng Empire, and one of the attendants to He Xiu.

Background
Zhao En comes from a family in the far south of the Empire, in Nanhai Commandery. Belonging to minor local nobility, they are currently distantly aligned to the Lu Faction.

She has four brothers - Zhao Anzhi, Zhao Weizhi, Zhao Fuzhi and Zhao Zuozhi. Two of them - Anzhi and Zuozhi - have since become retainers of He Xiu.

Story
Zhao En first encounters He Xiu while serving as a maid in Shaohua Palace. The Prince is attracted to her, but does not act on it until a while later.

He Xiu eventually finds out, from Guo Congfang's investigations, that Zhao En is in fact a spy of the Empress. Nonetheless, he chooses to take her as attendant - perhaps as a way to assure the Empress of his intentions.