border. He receives Xiong Tingbi's book Discussion on Liaodong from Lian Nichang. Imperial Envoy Li () and Imperial Envoy Zhou () are emissaries sent by the emperor to meet Zhuo Yihang. They are infected with a slow-acting poison by Jin Qianyan, who hopes that they will die from poisoning days later in Zhuo's house, so that he can frame Zhuo for murdering the emissaries. However, Zhuo notices that the emissaries are poisoned and saves them. Eunuchs: Pang Bao () is a high-ranking court eunuch who is implicated in the Case of the Palace Assault and executed. They are replaced by Wei Zhongxian. Liu Cheng () is a high-ranking court eunuch. Long Chengye () is an Inner Court Colonel. Tian Ergeng () is the Nine Gates Infantry Commander. Ye Xianggao () succeeds Fang Congzhe as chancellor. Wang Bingbei () leads a group of soldiers to arrest Zhuo Yihang when he was accused of murdering the two emissaries. Hong Chengchou () Chen Qiyu () Wei Dazhong () Gu Dazhang () Yuan Huazhong () Zhou Chaorui () Secret police Li Tianyang () is He Qixia's ex-husband who divorced his wife to pursue his career by marrying a general's daughter. After he became a secret police commander, he attempts to persuade his ex-wife to return to him but she refuses. Happy to be reunited with his son, he decides to give up his job and release his son and other captives from prison. He manages to reconcile with his wife with help from their son. Shi Hao () is a secret police commander who is killed by Zhuo Yihang. Hu Guozhu () is Li Tianyang's escort who is defeated by He Ehua in a fight. Commander Qin () escorts the emissaries Li and Zhou to Zhuo Yihang's house. Cui Yingyuan () is a secret police commander present at the scene of Yang Lian's murder. He secretly memorises Yang Lian's final statement and spreads it, causing Yang to be remembered in history as a loyalist. Palace guards Cheng Kun () is a palace guard commander loyal to the Taichang Emperor who is arrested and imprisoned by Wei Zhongxian after suspecting that the emperor was poisoned to death. Wei Zhongxian agrees to release him after his colleagues promise to persuade him to make a false statement about the emperor's death. When he refuses to make the false statement, his colleagues immobilise him and attempt to kill