Timeline

'''SPOILER WARNING. This entire page contains spoilers for the whole novel.'''

A list of many supporting characters can be found here.

Calendar
The calendar in the novel is based on the dynasty and Emperor's reign, For example, Taizu Year 1, Yuan He Year 4. The calendar "name" will change when the new Emperor is crowned. There's usually a period of mourning of up to 1 year after an Emperor's death and the new Emperor is crowned, however this time period may be shortened by circumstance or preference.

The calendar is only standardized the year that Li Zheng inherits the throne and does away with the old calendar format, as part of modernization.

Timeline
Some 200 years before the novel begins:


 * The Great Liang dynasty is founded by Emperor Taizu, with the help of the Lin Yuan Pavilion.

Sometime during Emperor Wu's reign:


 * Opens sea route
 * Founded the Black Iron Camp and the Ling Shu Institute
 * Passed the Rong Jin Law that bans private trading of ziliujin. The same year, 16 family members of Liao Chi were put to death for smuggling ziliujin, he was the only one left alive but imprisoned.
 * Gu Shen and the First Princess got married. Liao Chi was released as part of Emperor Wu "giving amnesty to all" to bring the couple luck. Liao Chi joins Huguo Temple.
 * 46 years after this, Liao Chi attempts to assassinate Emperor Long An.
 * Near the end, Emperor Wu's sons have died, without an heir, he adopts a relative from a branch family with the Li surname and names him crown prince, who later becomes Emperor Yuan He.
 * Before his death, to protect his descendants, Emperor Wu creates the Black Tiger Emblem, a physical tiger shaped emblem which is split in half. Whoever holds either part of this emblem allows the holder to command troops anywhere. He leaves half of the emblem with Gu Shen, and the other to the reigning Emperor.

Yuan He, Year 4, 16th day of the 1st month


 * Gu Yun is born. The First Princess had a tough birth, and decided not to try again.

Yuan He, Year 10


 * The Eighteen Tribes invade, Old Marshal Gu defeats them with 30 heavy armors.
 * The Eighteen Tribes agree to a treaty of providing yearly ziliujin tributes, and sends their Goddess to Emperor Yuan He as his Noble Consort, as well as her sister (Hu Gu Er), who is titled Princess Xiu.
 * The Goddess and Xiu Niang conspire to create tension between Emperor Yuan He and Old Marquis Gu.

Yuan He, Year 11


 * 30 suicide soldiers infiltrate the Black Iron Camp under Emperor Yuan He's orders to assassinate the Gu's. Gu Yun is poisoned and loses most of his eyesight and hearing, he's 7 at this time.
 * Emperor Yuan He journeys to the south, the Goddess and Hu Gu Er escape.
 * Chang Geng is born, his mother dies soon after.
 * Hu Gu Er is captured by bandits, births her son. Creates the Bone of Impurity with her son and Chang Geng.

Yuan He, Year 12


 * Gu Yun's (literary) teacher, Lin Mo Sen is the examiner that year for the Imperial Exams, read Yao Zhen's paper and awarded him zhuangyuan, the first placed scholar that year.
 * Gu Yun is trained harshly by his father during this time so he doesn't end up a useless disgrace.

Yuan He, Year 13


 * The First Princess and Old Marquis Gu die one after the other, orphaned Gu Yun is taken in by Emperor Yuan He to raise within the palace. Gu Yun is 9 at this time.

Yuan He, Year 14


 * Emperor Yuan He assigned Eunuch Wu to murder Gu Yun via poison, but ends up killing the Third Prince Li Yan by accident. Eunuch Wu is imprisoned but manages to escape by faking his death.
 * Hu Gu Er poisons and murders the bandits who kept her captive, takes Chang Geng and goes to Yanhui town, where she changes her name to Xiu Niang and marries Mayor Xu.
 * Gu Yun pays his respects to his new shifu, Zhong Chan (Old General Zhong). Due to the relationship of the Lin Yuan Pavilion, the Chen family helps Zhong Chan (and Gu Yun) with the temporary treatment medicine for his eyes and ears.

Yuan He, Year 16


 * Jia Lai Ying Huo comes up with the "gold erosion plan", to use ziliujin to bribe border soldiers. He works together with Xiu Niang on the plan to attack Yanhui town.

Yuan He, Year 19

Yuan He, Year 21
 * Gu Yun's first expedition southwards and saves Yao Zhen, Liao Ran and Chen Qing Xu. Due to his recklessness and hastiness, General Du sustains heavy injuries.


 * General Du fell ill at the Northwest frontier, causing his old wounds to act up and passes away. Gu Yun is promoted from General Gu to Marshal Gu, and takes over command of the Northwest Army (Black Iron Camp).
 * Shen Yi leaves the Ling Shu Institute around this time and joins the Black Iron Camp

Yuan He, Year 22


 * Gu Yun is assigned to look for the missing Fourth Prince and instead finds the Eighteen Tribes activity. In order to investigate, he deliberately delays reporting to the Emperor, assigned men to watch Chang Geng instead.
 * Chang Geng runs away from home to escape Xiu Niang's abuse and run instead into a pack of wild wolves. He's saved by Gu Yun (and Shen Yi), formally acknowledges Gu Yun as his yifu. Shen Yi and Gu Yun move to Yanhui town and takes advantage of the time to spy on the Eighteen Tribes.

'''Yuan He, Year 24. 16th day of the 7th month'''


 * Giant Kite returns to Yanhui town, Gu Yun and Chang Geng go to take a look together. Gu Yun finds it suspicious.
 * Chang Geng returns home, Xiu Niang commits suicide after telling him she poisoned him with the Bone of Impurity, and that he's doomed to die but not before going crazy.
 * Jia Lai Ying Huo and his men sneak attacks Yanhui town, but are stopped by Gu Yun and his Black Iron Camp. Jia Lai Ying Huo is captured.

Yuan He, Year 24


 * Emperor Yuan He is critically ill, recalls Gu Yun to bring the Fourth Prince back quickly.
 * Emperor Yuan He names Chang Geng - Li Min. Gifts Gu Yun a bead bracelet.
 * Dies 3 days later, Crown Prince Li Feng succeeds the throne and changes the "year/reign" from next year onwards to Long An (from Yuan He)
 * Wolf King Gu Te sends his envoy to begin talks to trade for his son, Jia Lai Ying Huo's return.

Long An, The First Year


 * (New Year's Eve) Li Feng awards amnesty to all before his crowning, agrees to send Jia Lai Ying Huo back for more tributes
 * Wei Wang offers Gu Yun his Kite for the celebration, Gu Yun brings Chang Geng, Ge Chen, Cao Chun Hua and some of his soldiers to celebrate on the kite. Spots the danger the live tiger poses to the crowd, and shoots it in the head when the tiger attacks the clown. The Westerners begin their "Loulan Plan".Fi
 * First day of the Lunar New Year, Gu Yun brings Chang Geng into the palace to pay his respects and wish Emperor Long An well. They meet Liao Ran for the first time there.
 * Sixteenth day of the First month, Emperor Long An assigns Gu Yun to return to the Northwest, and escort Jia Lai Ying Huo back. Chang Geng plans a celebration for Gu Yun's birthday
 * Seventeenth day of the First Month, Gu Yun sneakily departs from the capital the next day without telling Chang Geng. Chang Geng suffers his first attack from the Bone of Impurity. Goes to Huguo temple to meet with Liao Ran.
 * Second month+, Gu Yun finds out the truth about what happened to the Black Iron Camp. Falls ill for over a month, even doctor Chen comes to try to help.

Long An, Year 2, First Month


 * Lin Yuan Pavilion discovers Wei Wang planning a rebellion in Jiangnan, Liao Ran lures Chang Geng over with the idea of traveling to see the country.
 * Gu Yun chases Chang Geng all the way to Jiangnan, works together with Chang Geng and Lin Yuan to take down the rebellion.
 * Gu Yun and Chang Geng argue over Chang Geng's refusal to join Gu Yun (and preference to continue traveling). They part unhappily and don't meet again for 3 years
 * Wei Wang "commits suicide" in prison.
 * Gu Yun doesn't want his presence to be in the report to reduce Li Feng's suspicion of his, but Yao Zhen doesn't want the credit either. The report to Li Feng is submitted without Gu Yun in it, but Li Feng did his groundwork and saw through it. The evasion instead causes Li Feng to be more suspicious.
 * Wei Wang "commits suicide" in prison.
 * Gu Yun doesn't want his presence to be in the report to reduce Li Feng's suspicion of his, but Yao Zhen doesn't want the credit either. The report to Li Feng is submitted without Gu Yun in it, but Li Feng did his groundwork and saw through it. The evasion instead causes Li Feng to be more suspicious.

Long An, Year 3


 * Chang Geng pays his respects to Zhong Chan, acknowledges him as his Shifu

Long An, Year 4


 * Li Feng introduces the Drumming Order, which on the surface seems to control all border generals except Gu Yun, but is actually aimed at reducing Gu Yun's military power
 * Chang Geng starts learning about healing and medicine from Chen Qing Xu

Long An, Year 6


 * Gu Yun escorts Sun Jiao to the Southern Camp under the Emperor's orders to deliver the Drumming Order.
 * Gu Yun and Chang Geng reunite. Chang Geng joins this trip.
 * Sun Jiao and Kuai Lan Tu scheme to use Gu Yun's presence to force General Fu to rebel, Gu Yun instead escalates the situation on purpose to leverage his way into recommending Shen Yi as the new Commander of the Southern Camp.
 * Gu Yun hands in his Black Tiger Emblem, Shen Yi skips 1 grade and is promoted to Commander of the Southern Camp. Chang Geng is formally titled as Yan Bei Wang

Long An, Year 7


 * 16th day of the First month, Old Master Shen gifts Gu Yun 2 carts of wine for his birthday. Chang Geng cooks longevity noodles for Gu Yun. Gu Yun and Shen Yi get hammered. Chang Geng helps Gu Yun back to his room. Gu Yun in his drunken state calls Chang Geng baby, Chang Geng asks if Gu Yun knows who he is, decides to go with the flow when Gu Yun gets it right and kisses him. Gu Yun goes along with it but doesn't actually realise it's Chang Geng. Chang Geng gets suspicious and asks again, Gu Yun passes out.
 * The next day, Gu Yun vaguely recalls a maiden last night, but finds Chang Geng's pouch in his room and realised what happened and is worried that Chang Geng would be angry with him. Chang Geng runs to Huguo temple to avoid Gu Yun, but also tries to find out more about what happened with Gu Yun's hearing and sight.
 * 27th day of the First month, Li Feng sends for Gu Yun, shares with him the good news of a ziliujin mine in Lou Lan. He wants Gu Yun to conquer Lou Lan on behalf of Great Liang. Gu Yun refuses to as they are allies. He's punished to kneel outdoors in the snow overnight
 * 28th day of the First month, Chang Geng heard about what happened, invited the Huguo temple to the palace. Gu Yun is allowed to leave, fined 3 months salary and is put on house arrest. Chang Geng covers him with a coat and brings him home. This is the first time they properly interacted since the kiss.
 * There's suddenly a conflict between Qie Mo in the Western Regions and Kucha, Lou Lan is caught in the middle. Lou Lan Prince is attacked and nearly died. Lou Lan seeks assistance from their ally - Great Liang but none comes due to the drumming order.
 * 10th day, Second month, Gu Yun and Chang Geng finally talk about the kissing. Chang Geng confesses his feelings, but does not want a response and tries to change the subject to political matters. Gu Yun tries to understand but he can't. In his mind, he swears off sex. A black eagle comes with the news from the Western Regions.