Rou Ai hailed from Qin, born into an ordinary family where his father served as a low-ranking official. Bullied in his youth for lacking physical strength or intelligence, he avoided military service as an adult. Leveraging his father's position, he secured a civil service role but proved inept, instead gaining notoriety for vulgar performances that entertained officials. His life shifted when Ryo Fui, seeking a pleasure companion for Queen Mother Bi Ki, selected Rou Ai due to his reputed physical attributes, described as capable of notable endurance. Rou Ai was smuggled into the royal harem after shaving his beard and eyebrows, posing as a eunuch while secretly serving the Queen Mother. He fathered two children with her, a son and a daughter. Following Qin's victory at Chiyoyou, the Queen Mother unexpectedly proposed Rou Ai as governor of Sanyou. Soon after, they declared the Taigen region an independent state called Ai, naming Rou Ai its king. This declaration challenged Qin's sovereignty and sparked political upheaval. As king, Rou Ai grew ambitious, proposing to withhold tribute from Kanyou, sever ties with Qin entirely, and attack the capital. The Queen Mother rejected this plan, citing insufficient resources. Rou Ai's personality evolved from initial modesty to confidence, though he relied on the Queen Mother for major decisions and fled when threatened, abandoning her. Their rebellion plan centered on attacking King Ei Sei during his Coming of Age Ceremony, partly motivated by Ko Reki kidnapping their children and manipulating Ai's populace. When the rebellion failed, Rou Ai was captured and executed in Kanyou. The Queen Mother pleaded for clemency for their children during his execution, but Ei Sei publicly refused, resulting in her detention.