Character Guide:

Cos all these characters are confusing! And don't worry. You don't need to learn who they all are because some of them will only ever be mentioned in passing. 

Also every single character is from an SM group... no OC's here (I'm way too lazy)

Kyuhyun:

Main character. He’s a 25 yo computer analyst from the 21^st century but after being hit by a car he found himself in the body of the 16yo son of a Manchurian General. Since he is from the future he roughly knows what will happen to the main players. He knows that Siwon and Hangeng will fight for the throne and that Siwon will win.

The Princes:

Emperor Kangin:

Ruler of Qing China. He is based on Kangxi, the longest reigning Chinese Emperor.  He is a deep believer in family and parent fealty. Also believes that the Imperial family is the heart of the Empire and that the brothers need to be united as one for the Empire to survive. He personally raised Yoochun after the Empress died. He loved his Empress and didn’t replace her for many years after she died. Overly doted on Yoochun, overlooking his faults.

Heejoon: The First Prince:

The eldest of the princes. He is the firstborn son yet ignored in favour of Yoochun due to Yoochun being the child of the late Empress. He is bitter and habours a lot of anger towards the Second Prince. 

Yoochun: The Second Prince/The Crown Prince:

Second son of Kangin. Was given the title of Crown Prince when he was a young child. His mother was the Empress and greatly loved by the Emperor, she died not long after he was born. The Emperor personally raised Yoochun, grooming him to be the next Emperor, however Yoochun has turned overly proud and arrogant. Due to his misbehaviour and unsuitability, several seek to remove him from the position of Crown Prince. His eventual removal leads to many of his brothers trying to become the next Emperor.

Seungho: The Third Prince:

Third Son of Kangin. He is an academic and dislikes the court life. He was raised as a playmate with Yoochun so is a well known suppporter for his elder brother.

Siwon: The Fourth Prince:

The Fourth son of the Emperor. Isn’t interested in the throne at first, originally supporting Yoochun but enters the fight after some incidents. Kyuhyun, being from the future, knows that he is the future Emperor so deliberately avoids him and treats him with extra care and attention. Siwon is perplexed by Kyuhyun’s deference and strangeness and finds himself drawn to the younger man, especially as he is always trying to avoid him.

Jaewon: The Fifth Prince:

Shares the same mother as Yesung, the Ninth Prince, but doesn't spend much time with his younger brother. Doesn't like having to choose a side so he avoids most of his brothers and spends most of his time outside the capital. 

Hangeng: The Eighth Prince:

The Eighth son of the Emperor Kangxi. Kyuhyun’s brother-in-law. Hangeng falls in love with him by observing Kyuhyun while he staying with ZhouMi. Hangeng likes Kyuhyun’s feistiness and fresh character. Again Kyuhyun is reluctant to get into a relationship with Hangeng as he is married to ZhouMi, his brother. Also Kyuhyun knows that Hangeng will not win the battle to become Emperor and that he will get punished when Siwon becomes gains the throne.

Yesung: The Ninth Prince:

Kyuhyun and Yesung don’t trust each other. They are never friendly and try to avoid each other as much as possible. Yesung is close with Eunhyuk, having been raised with him. He is loyal to Hangeng.

Eunhyuk: The Tenth Prince:

He is Kyuhyun’s first friend when he arrives. His easy going personality and his happiness makes Kyuhyun feel less homesick. He is loyal to Hangeng, who he looks up to a great deal. He was raised with Yesung, whom he is closed in age to.

Changmin: The Thirteenth Prince:

Becomes incredibly close friends with Kyuhyun. They share a love for freedom, mischief and drinking. Changmin grew up with Siwon and is incredibly loyal to the elder.

Sungmin: The Fourteenth Prince:

Friends with Kyuhyun, though sometimes jealous that the other is closer to Changmin than to him. Kyuhyun and Sungmin argue all the time, easily winding each other up. Sungmin was raised with Hangeng and so remains loyal to him.

Luhan: The Eighteenth Prince:

One of the youngest princes. He is doted on by Kangin nearly as much as Yoochun is.

Other Members of the Imperial Family (families of the princes):

ZhouMi: Kyuhyun’s brother: Hangeng's Ce'fujin:

Kyuhyun’s older brother. The Second wife (Ce’fujin) of Hangeng. He dotes on his younger brother and spoils Kyuhyun. Mi has a tragic past.

Heechul: Hangeng’s Di’fujin:

Hangeng’s First wife (Di’fujin). He is possessive of Hangeng and dislikes ZhouMi intensely as he threatens his position.

Donghae: Eunhyuk’s Di’fujin:

Heechul’s younger brother. He is antagonistic towards Kyuhyun, his dislike stemming from his elder brothers dislike for Kyuhun’s elder brother ZhouMi. He is married to Eunhyuk early in the fic and becomes his Di’fujin.

Kibum (SuJu): Hangeng and Heechul's son:

As Hangeng's only son by his main wives he is spoilt by Hangeng and Heechul. 

Soojung: Changmin's Di'fujin:

Changmin's first wife. Changmin neither likes nor respects Soojung. They have a very frosty relationship. 

Kibum (SHINee): Siwon's Ce'fujin:

Siwon's second most important wife. Married due to Siwon and Lee Sunho, Kibum's older brother, being allies and to cemet their relationship. He gets on well with Siwon's Di'fujin. 

Servants and Aides:

Sunny: Kyuhyun’s maid:

Servant to ZhouMi and Kyuhyun. Been with ZhouMi since he was 16 and she was 14. She travelled with her master to the capital when he was married to Hangeng. She looks after Kyuhyun when he wakes up in the past.

Luna: ZhouMi’s maid:

Always with ZhouMi, especially as Mi’s primary maid, Sunny, was looking after Kyuhyun during his stay at the Eighth’s estate.

Eunuch Leeteuk: Kangin’s personal servant:

The Head of Servants in the Forbidden City. He is the most trusted and valued aide to the Emperor. He was raised in the palace, having been sold to be a eunuch when he was a young child. He is incredibly loyal to his Emperor. He has his own assistant/servant; Shindong. He starts to value Kyuhyun when Kyuhyun is sent to be one of the Emperor’s personal servants.

Eunuch Shindong: Aide to Leeteuk:

Aide to Leeteuk. He runs errands, waits on the Emperor and generally helps. He becomes a close friend of Kyuhyun’s when he enters the palace.

Ryeowook: Aide to Kyuhyun:

After Kyuhyun enters the palace and impresses Leeteuk, Ryeowook and Jinki are assigned to assist and serve Kyuhyun. He becomes a cute younger brother and friend to Kyuhyun.

Jinki: Second Aide to Kyuhyun:

Assigned along with Ryeowook to serve and assist Kyuhyun.

Minseok: Hangeng's servant:

Mostly seen as the servant who delivers messages to Kyuhyun. 

Sehun: Siwon's servant:

Mostly seen delivering messages and gifts from Siwon to Kyuhyun.

Other Characters:

Qian (Victoria): A courtesan:

Changmin’s friend and lover. Becomes friends with Kyuhyun when Changmin introduces them.

Junsu: Mongolian Prince:

Son of the Mongolian King Yunho, he meets and befriends Changmin. He quickly falls in love with Changmin. 

Lord Yunho of Mongolia:

The ruler of the splintered Mongolian groups. He is a lesser ally of the Qing Empire and for the Qing Empires support he protects the Empire from Northern attacks. Has been a close friend of Kangins for many years. They meet every year or two as a show of respect about their alliance. Father of Junsu. 

General Kim Jaejoong, head of Lord Yunho's guard:

The General of Yunho's unit of bodyguards. He is also the mother of Junsu and one of Yunho's wives though he refuses to act like it.

Lee Sunho: Governor of Sichuan:

One of Siwon's key allies. Siwon is married to Sunho's younger brother. 

Miyoung: Mother of Heechul and Donghae:

Mentioned as one of the matchmakers of Eunhyuk and Donghae in Chapter 5. She is married to one of the most powerful courtiers in the Empire as well as being Kangin's cousin. Won't be present until much later in the fic. 

Wives of Kangin:

Sooyoung: Imperial Noble Consort to Kangin: 

She is the mother of Siwon and Sungmin. Both her sons are very different in personality and direction.

Sooyeon: Consort of Kangin:

The mother of Hangeng. She is a lower consort than others.

Yoona: Imperial Noble Consort to Kangin:

She doesn’t have any sons that survived childhood. She is close with Heechul due to their mothers being friendly.

Yuri: Noble Consort of Kangin: 

Raised Eunhyuk though not his mother. Doesn’t have any children of her own.

Jonghyun: Noble Consort of Kangin:

Mother of Luhan. He is a one of the younger of Kangin's wives yet one of his most favoured. 

Other random characters will be added later as they are introduced! I very quickly wrote this because of some confusion. Hopefully this will help.