TV-Series
Description
Guien is a recurring character who serves as the only official court physician assigned to the inner palace, the residential area for the emperor's concubines. He is a eunuch of middle age, identifiable by his short, plump stature and small black eyes. At the start of the story, he sports a thin mustache that one character memorably compares to a catfish's whiskers, though he is later ordered to shave it off. His voice, a result of his castration, is notably high-pitched and effeminate.
His past explains much about his present circumstances. Before entering the palace, Guien came from a family of paper-makers. When the previous empress regnant imposed strict logging limits, the family business suffered a sharp decline. Facing destitution, a plan was made for his younger sister to become a maidservant in the palace. To spare her from this fate, Guien instead volunteered to be castrated and assumed the position of a court physician, a role that paid a higher price than that of a female servant. The position was not one of his choosing, but a sacrifice made to protect his family from economic ruin.
In terms of personality, Guien is fundamentally kind, friendly, and hospitable. He is, however, also notably meek, insecure, and guileless, which makes him ill-suited for the intricacies of palace politics. He is loose-lipped by nature and often hears rumors and schemes without ever piecing together their meaning or danger. His daily life is centered on simple comforts, such as caring for a cat also named Maomao and enjoying the palace's food. Having lost his libido due to castration, his appetite for eating has become a primary pleasure. While initially wary of the protagonist, Maomao, viewing her as a potential disruption, he quickly warms to her when he realizes her skill and kindness. He becomes very fond of her, eagerly sharing his snacks, tea, and medical ingredients.
His role in the story is largely defined by his professional incompetence. Guien is a "quack doctor" with almost no practical medical knowledge; he is afraid of corpses, cannot perform basic procedures like dissecting a chicken, and is largely untrained. The other palace physicians gave up trying to educate him due to the extent of his ineptitude. Because no other capable physician was willing to become a eunuch to serve in the inner palace, he was never dismissed despite his lack of skill. This vacancy in skill is what allows Maomao to unofficially take over his duties. With the silent approval of the powerful noble Jinshi, Maomao uses Guien's medical office to create her medicines and diagnose illnesses, effectively performing his job for him while he acts as a friendly, if useless, figurehead.
His most significant relationship is with Maomao. Internally, she refers to him as the "quack doctor," yet they share a cooperative and even amicable bond. He provides her with the space and resources she needs, and she relieves him of the responsibilities he cannot handle. He also has a respectful connection with the former court physician Luomen, who is one of the few people who calls him by his real name. His development is subtle; he grows from a defensive territory-guarder to a relaxed individual who is relieved to delegate his difficult tasks to Maomao. While he remains medically useless, his position provides a vital cover, allowing Maomao to operate in a space where women are not permitted to be official physicians. Despite his lack of practical power, his ability to survive in the dangerous inner palace by being non-threatening and agreeable is a notable trait. His one useful, non-medical skill is his knowledge of paper-making from his family background, a craft he occasionally uses in the medical office.
His past explains much about his present circumstances. Before entering the palace, Guien came from a family of paper-makers. When the previous empress regnant imposed strict logging limits, the family business suffered a sharp decline. Facing destitution, a plan was made for his younger sister to become a maidservant in the palace. To spare her from this fate, Guien instead volunteered to be castrated and assumed the position of a court physician, a role that paid a higher price than that of a female servant. The position was not one of his choosing, but a sacrifice made to protect his family from economic ruin.
In terms of personality, Guien is fundamentally kind, friendly, and hospitable. He is, however, also notably meek, insecure, and guileless, which makes him ill-suited for the intricacies of palace politics. He is loose-lipped by nature and often hears rumors and schemes without ever piecing together their meaning or danger. His daily life is centered on simple comforts, such as caring for a cat also named Maomao and enjoying the palace's food. Having lost his libido due to castration, his appetite for eating has become a primary pleasure. While initially wary of the protagonist, Maomao, viewing her as a potential disruption, he quickly warms to her when he realizes her skill and kindness. He becomes very fond of her, eagerly sharing his snacks, tea, and medical ingredients.
His role in the story is largely defined by his professional incompetence. Guien is a "quack doctor" with almost no practical medical knowledge; he is afraid of corpses, cannot perform basic procedures like dissecting a chicken, and is largely untrained. The other palace physicians gave up trying to educate him due to the extent of his ineptitude. Because no other capable physician was willing to become a eunuch to serve in the inner palace, he was never dismissed despite his lack of skill. This vacancy in skill is what allows Maomao to unofficially take over his duties. With the silent approval of the powerful noble Jinshi, Maomao uses Guien's medical office to create her medicines and diagnose illnesses, effectively performing his job for him while he acts as a friendly, if useless, figurehead.
His most significant relationship is with Maomao. Internally, she refers to him as the "quack doctor," yet they share a cooperative and even amicable bond. He provides her with the space and resources she needs, and she relieves him of the responsibilities he cannot handle. He also has a respectful connection with the former court physician Luomen, who is one of the few people who calls him by his real name. His development is subtle; he grows from a defensive territory-guarder to a relaxed individual who is relieved to delegate his difficult tasks to Maomao. While he remains medically useless, his position provides a vital cover, allowing Maomao to operate in a space where women are not permitted to be official physicians. Despite his lack of practical power, his ability to survive in the dangerous inner palace by being non-threatening and agreeable is a notable trait. His one useful, non-medical skill is his knowledge of paper-making from his family background, a craft he occasionally uses in the medical office.