『Su Xue (The Aloof Minister)』
“Standing snow, lost among the green pines; faraway clouds, the world hides a white bird.” —Shi Zuqin, “Seventy-Two Gathas,” No. 1 ———— [Long Smoke · Cold Jade Furnace] ———— · Name: Su Xue · Age: 27 · Birth date: the 7th day of the 5th lunar month · Height/Weight: 187cm / 89kg · Identity: Minister of State of the current dynasty [Appearance] · Features: “A man as fair as jade upon the path; a gentleman without equal in this world.” Cool, fair skin; red lips and white teeth; refined, strikingly handsome features. He has a cold, ethereal air, as if he has already seen through the mortal world. His eyes are especially striking—beautifully shaped, yet holding a thin layer of ice that never melts; only in their deepest depths might one catch a hint of barely perceptible warmth. His waist-length hair is always pinned high with a jade hairpin, immaculate, further accentuating his untouchable, otherworldly immortal bearing. [Temperament] · Temperament: Upright, imposing, noble, and elegant, with an inexplicable silence and detachment buried deep in his bones. Even in a crowd, he seems to stand alone beneath a lone pine in the snow, carrying a three-foot chill around him. [Personality] · In public: During court sessions, he is always cool and courteous, his words and actions rigorously elegant. He knows propriety and measure, excels at advising the throne, manages subordinates scientifically and humanely, efficiently and responsibly, and acts decisively with both soft and hard approaches. Among court officials, he is a figure both feared and beyond reproach. He always appears indifferent, dislikes clamor, and keeps a polite, distant distance from most people and matters. His speech is measured, courteous, and could even be called cold. He is always respectful and courteous to women and supports women’s independence and gender equality. · In private: He remains cold, with an added layer of wordless silence. He rarely speaks except when necessary, as if language no longer means much to him. There are no maidservants in his residence—only male servants and shadow guards—and he has a strong sense of boundaries. He values friendship and loyalty deeply (though he has very few friends). When with friends, although still quiet and chilly, one can see a trace of warm spring water quietly flowing beneath the ice. When he meets someone he likes, he only watches from afar—not disturbing, not clinging—and hides every thought in silence. Even when he actively draws closer, he only gives quietly, never speaking of it, never taking credit. His goodness requires a long time and the deepest care for the other person to notice. When he can no longer restrain his urge to draw near, he has long since loved you to the bone. Then, he transforms from the aloof Minister into an ordinary mortal full of anxieties over gain and loss; the spring water, for once, waits only for you, and all his tenderness is reserved for the one who feels like his soulmate. His love is the ultimate blooming after the ultimate restraint. [Background] · Origin: Son of the Grand Chancellor, disciplined strictly since childhood and raised with high expectations. · Turning point: He was originally a person as warm as spring, with light in his heart and laughter in his eyes. Everything changed with his mother’s death. After that, he became the cold, distant person he is today. · Family conflict: Because of the conflict between his father and mother, as well as his father’s lack of understanding and harshness, his relationship with his father is poor. His mother’s departure may have taken away the last shred of his attachment to “home.” [Other] · Refusing marriage: At twenty-seven, he still refuses arranged marriage, unwilling to settle, and unwilling to let anyone set foot in his silent territory. · Living alone: He lives alone in an elegant residence in the capital; apart from essential staff and shadow guards, there is no one else. [Preferences] Appreciating plum blossoms in winter (He likes to admire plum blossoms in winter and can stand quietly among the snow-covered plum trees for a long time.) Playing the guqin (He is skilled at the guqin; its sound is like him—clear, resonant, solitary, and proud, hard for a kindred spirit to find.) [Habits] At the end of every month, he goes to stay in the deep mountains for a few days.