Yueying

Yueying (onyomi: Getsuei) is one of the romanticized names for Zhuge Liang's wife. Not much is known about her historically, but folklore often describes her to be as intelligent and well studied as her husband. There are many stories of her being considered an ugly woman.

Prior to her playable Dynasty Warriors appearance, she is alluded as a default name for a bodyguard. This series accredits her as the inventor of the Juggernaut and wooden oxen. Yueying ranked forty-seventh place with fans in Gamecity's Dynasty Warriors 7 character popularity poll and fifty-seventh in the Dynasty Warriors 8: Xtreme Legends poll. The latest poll for the eighth installment puts her in sixty-second. The character poll for overseas fans puts her in ninth place for the Shu division.

Her character's height in Kessen II is 165 cm (5'5").

Before 2012, Koei titles separated the Chinese characters for her character's name and called her "Yue Ying". Her contemporary nickname is now properly localized in the games.

Role in Games

 * "A most impressive young woman."
 * "Yes, so she is."
 * Liu Bei to Zhuge Liang; Dynasty Warriors 6

Dynasty Warriors
In Dynasty Warriors 4 and its Xtreme Legends expansion, Yue Ying is introduced as Zhuge Liang's wife. Her husband's Legend mode depicts their first meeting and manner of courtship. Her own Legend mode shows her inventing the Juggernaut. In order to test its effectiveness, she and a group of her Juggernauts duel the Five Tiger Generals. The five generals are defeated due to her ingenuity and Yue Ying succeeds in creating her own legacy.

Before her marriage to Zhuge Liang in Dynasty Warriors 5, she was a puppeteer whose wooden-puppet shows were amazingly lifelike. Her in-story monologue explains that, although she may have been unattractive, her husband chose her as his wife due to her well-known intelligence. Her experience in her craft assists her contributions for Shu. In the Nanman Campaign, she opposes the beast units with her Juggernauts. At Tian Shui, she personally tests and confirms Zhuge Liang's suspicions concerning Jiang Wei's greatness. In the Wu Zhang Plains, she opposes the enemy front lines with her wooden oxen and secures the allied supply line. Her husband survives the final campaign in her ending and they enjoy the new era of peace.

Yue Ying's ending scene in Dynasty Warriors: Online shows her and the player watching a group of children play on one of the inventor's Juggernauts. Having decided to be their teacher, she shares her belief that guiding the new generation is essential for their future.

Yue Ying has a minor role in Dynasty Warriors 6 as she participates in a small number of battles (most notably, Han Zhong and Wu Zhang Plains).

In her own story mode in Special, Yue Ying and her father notice Liu Bei struggling to escape at Chang Ban. Though told by her father that she may "find something there", Yue Ying volunteers to aid them out of good will. She leaves after her deed is done and has an arranged marriage with Zhuge Liang prior to Chi Bi. Though it was her father's decision, she admits that she didn't protest. When her husband explains his goal to shield Liu Bei from criticism, she willingly decides to share his burden. In subsequent battles, the couple become closer and more intimate. She becomes worried when she notices her husband straining himself and increases her efforts to support him. When the land is under Shu's reign, her husband laments not doing more; she assures that he has done more than enough for their home and bids him to rest. Pleased with her reply, Zhuge Liang shares his belief that they were fated to be together since their first meeting.

She makes minor appearances during the Three Kingdoms Story Modes in Dynasty Warriors 7. Yue Ying often brings an invention to aid her allies in battle. Her first chronological appearance in the Shu ranks would be Mt. Dingjun during Wei's Story Mode. She follows her husband to Yiling and Wuzhang Plains. To honor the memory of her husband, she continues to defend Shu during Jin's Story Mode. Like other defenders for Shu's later years, Yue Ying dies in battle during their final defense at Chengdu.

Her marriage to Zhuge Liang is noted to have happened sometime during his time of hermitage in her first Legendary Battle. However, she is irked by the three men who are persistent in gaining her husband's service. To test their skills and alleviate her own irritation, Yue Ying decides to challenge the oath brothers herself. Her second Legendary Battle takes place at the Wuzhang Plains. Her ailing husband has collapsed and cannot lead the troops. Therefore, Yue Ying commands in her husband's stead.

The Xtreme Legends expansion adds a Hero Scenario detailing Yue Ying's participation at Jieting. She escorts her husband's favored disciple, Ma Su, to the mountain camp. Since Ma Su lacks the tact and patience of his mentor, the battle quickly turns south against the Wei forces. With the ally main camp under attack, Ma Su orders the troops to withdraw. Yue Ying assists his retreat.

Ma Su may have survived his foolishness at Jieting, but unneeded deaths caused by his rash behavior leads to his execution. Yue Ying is worried by the pain it causes her husband to issue the command, but he assures her that it is necessary to disregard one's feelings. Stating that he has chosen a path of bloodshed, Yue Ying swears to be beside him no matter what choices he makes.

Dynasty Warriors Next has Yueying join Liu Bei's forces together with her husband in the fifth chapter. She helps capture Nanjun behind Cao Ren's back and guides the player in certain story battles. At the Battle of Nanzhong, she personally subdues Meng Huo seven times before defeating Zhurong in a duel. In other chapters, Yueying is usually a minor nuisance when not guarding Zhuge Liang. She becomes more of a threat in Wei or Wu's versions of Chengdu, either ambushing Cao Pi with hidden troops alongside her husband or intercepting Lu Xun's advance using juggernauts.

In Dynasty Warriors 8, Yueying guards her husband at Xinye, not allowing anyone suspicious near him. When Liu Bei and Xu Shu approach for an audience with Zhuge Liang, she fights them to test their resolve. After they pass, she allows them to see her husband. Afterwards, she reprises her role from the previous installment.

In the Xtreme Legends expansion, Yueying stars in the fictional defense of Yong'an against Sun Quan. Her personal contribution to the battle is unleashing her juggernauts to deal with Quan Cong's assault unit. In Jin's story, she is at her husband's side during their fictional assault on Shangyong castle. In Wei's story, she still appears in the revised Mt. Dingjun with her juggernauts, and at Zitong. At Mt. Xingshi, she is one of the beauties that are found, and she is lured out if the Wei forces seize the tigers. In Wu's story, she appears in the revised Yiling, and attacks the fire attack unit with her juggernauts.

In Dynasty Warriors: Unleashed, Yueying helps Zhuge Liang test the player's might by challenging them directly while accompanied by illusions conjured from the fog surrounding Wolong Ridge.

Yueying's bond story details many events involving her life with Zhuge Liang. Having wondered why he chose to marry her of all people, the strategist admits that Huang Chengyan's praise regarding her wisdom made him curious enough to accept the matchmaking. She attributes the various contraptions she made to her father's tutelage, with Zhuge Liang seeing their potential as tools of war. Her wooden oxen are later used to solve transportation issues for Shu's supply lines.

When her husband offers his services to Liu Bei, she is given the option of leaving him for her own safety. However, Yueying has no regrets standing by Zhuge Liang's side and even takes on the challenge of joining the front lines and raising their child at the same time. She also demonstrates an understanding of the various philosophies of the era, agreeing with her husband's idea of creating new laws derived from them.

In Dynasty Warriors 9, Yueying's Story Mode begins shortly after Liu Bei's victory at the Battle of Xinye and his three visits to Zhuge Liang to gain the support of the Sleeping Dragon. Though Zhuge Liang asks his wife to stay and watch over the homestead in Longzhong, she insists on coming with him to aid not just him, but Lord Liu Bei as well. Grateful to her, Zhuge Liang allows her to come with him as he helps Liu Bei escape Cao Cao's pursuit at Bowangpo and Changban, fleeing to Xiakou to meet up with Sun Quan to take down Cao Cao at Chibi before then making to secure Jing Province's southern counties while Wu is focused on Nanjun.

After making a deal with Lu Su to return the counties once Liu Bei secures Yi Province, Yueying joins her husband with capturing Chengdu with Fa Zheng's assistance, but the price is heavy as Pang Tong is slain. Fa Zheng would privately discuss with Yueying not to place too much trust on Wu, especially when a strategic area like Jing was now in contention.

Yueying would join Liu Bei in capturing Hanzhong, slaying Xiahou Yuan at Mt. Dingjun and repelling a counterattack by Cao Cao. However, while Yueying continues to help stabilize things in Chengdu, word comes from Jing Province through Guan Yu's children of Wu's betrayal at Fan Castle and the subsequent death of their father and eldest brother. Yueying takes part in the disastrous campaign at Yiling and is among those that survive the devastating fire attack. Liu Bei would pass away in grief shortly after.

With Liu Shan now the Emperor of Shu in his father's place, Zhuge Liang prepares to face off against Wei as Yueying helps him with first dealing with a five-pronged assault on Chengdu by Wei that includes the Nanman forces from the south, then a southern campaign to convince Meng Huo to join forces with Shu, followed by the northern campaigns against Wei at Tianshui and Wuzhang Plains.

After Zhuge Liang passes away at the conclusion of their final campaign, Yueying receives Jiang Wei, Guan Suo, Guan Yinping in her camp as she has brought out a statue of her husband to help with their retreat and keep morale high. With her husband gone, they can no longer lean on him, but she hopes that his figure will still be of some help. As the younger officers volunteer to move the statue into position, Yueying sheds a tear at the legacy her husband has left her behind.

After her story, she in an active member of Jiang Wei's military faction and participates in several of his failed northern campaigns. When Shu depletes is resources and is invaded by Wei, she will defend eastern Chengdu with her juggernauts in both Wei's and Shu's stories. While she can be slain in Wei's story to make it easier to get Liu Shan and Xingcai to surrender to the Wei/Jin forces under Sima Zhao, she can be spared in Shu's story to still help defend eastern Chengdu with her juggernauts, but her fate afterwards is left ambiguous after Liu Shan surrenders to avoid further bloodshed and sadness for the people.

Warriors Orochi
In Warriors Orochi, Yue Ying joins the resistance movement against Orochi with Ma Chao, Jiang Wei, and Ranmaru. She is captured and held prisoner within a wooden carriage. While her transport was passing through Hasedo, Zhao Yun's army and Magoichi hurry to her rescue. Once she is freed, Da Ji notices them and orders a pursuit. During their flight, Zhuge Liang attempts to stop them by force and confuses his wife with his new allegiance. She continues to act as the voice of reason for many of Shu's battles.

While Liu Bei chases Da Ji in Warriors Orochi 2, she and her husband defend Shu in their lord's absence. However, as Taigong Wang and Lu Xun chase Da Ji and Himiko at Odani Castle, the couple appear to aid them. Recognizing the seriousness of the situation, they agree to help with the front lines. In her dream mode, she teams up with Ling Tong and Mitsuhide to calmly defend Ieyasu at Shikoku.

Though she followed her husband after the second title, Yueying was separated from him after Shu's defeat to the serpent forces. Isolated from her allies she uses her wit and inventions to defend herself throughout the years of war. By the time Benkei and his party search Tedorigawa for potential allies, she is being hunted by Sun Wukong and his forces. When her location is finally discovered by the coalition members, Yueying vents her frustrations on them for destroying her beloved inventions. Apologizing for her lost composure as she joins them, she half jests at the prospect of dismantling Benkei's weapon to satisfy her curiosity regarding the mechanism.

In Ultimate, she rejoins the Shu forces after Orochi X's demise. Thanks to the chaos caused by Tamamo's clones, Shu is plunged into a civil war between Guan Yu and Guan Suo. Hoping to resolve the issue, Yueying joins Zhong Hui and Dian Wei in trying to find the clone within their ranks at Jiange. Once the battle is finished, the Coalition is finally ready to begin taking the fight to Tamamo and Da Ji.

In 4, she is a part of her husband's division and is separated from Liu Bei when they enter the distorted world. By chance, they find Liu Bei and Xu Shu fighting the Date-Wei army at Tedorigawa and lend their support. After they achieve victory and the surrender of the Date-Wei army, Yueying and the rest of Zhuge Liang's forces join Liu Bei's rebel army.

She later helps rescue the imprisoned Liu Shan at Ōdani Castle.

Kessen
Huang Yue Ying is Zhuge Liang's peppy and upbeat wife in Kessen II. Although she never personally takes to the field, she is often presenting several inventions for Liu Bei's consideration. She dances, poses, and practically sings whilst she talks which sometimes embarrasses her husband. She usually ends her sentence with "yeah".

Romance of the Three Kingdoms
Being one of the earliest female additions to the series, Huang Yueying is distinguished from most other female officers for her high Intelligence stat that lands in the high 80's while her Politics and Charisma stats place fairly well in the high 70's. In reference to her reputation as an inventor, she is able to deploy all forms of Siege Weapons and also feature traits that improve the statistics of Siege Weapons overall rendering Huang Yueying extremely adept at not only conducting sieges on enemy cities, but also improving the viability of Siege Weapons for whichever faction she is associated with.

Personality
Yueying is a mature and collected individual. Intelligent and elegant, she appreciates the value of patience and planning. Though their marriage was arranged, she genuinely loves her husband and will do everything in her power to help shoulder his burden. To her friends and loved ones, she is quite generous and can be quite nurturing to younger people. Despite her composure, Yueying has been shown to be quite sarcastic at times and will openly chastise those whom act selfishly or insensitively. She also has little patience for those whom underestimate her and chauvinistic attitudes in general. Yueying takes great pride in her skills and learned abilities.

Within the Warriors Orochi series, she shares special conversations with Oichi, Magoichi, Nene, Gracia, Ieyasu, Ina, Xu Huang, Hanbei, and Benkei.

Character Symbolism
In the Japanese version of Dynasty Warriors 4: Empires, Yueying is given the nickname of "Mrs. Moonlight" while the English version changes it to "The Wind that Rises with the Dragon". As a dominant ruler in Dynasty Warriors 5: Empires, she calls her five greatest warriors the "Five Wise Generals".

Most of Yueying's weapons in the Dynasty Warriors series are named after a moon motif, likely due to her name meaning "Flower Moon" (alternatively "Heroic Moon"). The original name for her level 11 weapon depicts an image of a drifting moon, which may be tied to a moon's reflection from a body of water. It may also relate to the archaic belief of the sun and moon following preset paths in the sky. When a period of absolute chaos emerges, these astronomical objects are often said to veer "off course" in Chinese legends.

Her third weapon and Skill weapon in Special are named after the blue/pale moon, which is considered a somewhat new feature in East Asian symbolism and mythology due to the gradual introduction of the solar calendar. Its meanings is similar to its Western counterpart as a symbol for rarity and uniqueness. The original names to her other weapons in Special depict a crimson moon (Strength) and jade moon (Standard).

Yueying's fourth weapon is literally translated as "Lake Bottom Pale Moon". Within Chinese mythology, dragons are often said to dwell within bodies of water. Some are eternally bound to live in their underwater dwellings and are never destined to rise to the heavens. The idea of looking up at the moon has been romanticized throughout Chinese literature as an act of appreciating beauty, the moon being a soothing presence in most tales. Legends of Houyi and Chang'e also have femininity tied with the moon. Taking these ideas into account, the weapon's name is a probable allusion to Zhuge Liang (the Sleeping Dragon) gazing at Yueying (the extraordinary blue moon).

Her skill chart in Dynasty Warriors 6 is roughly shaped in the form of a wooden ox, an invention that Zhuge Liang is said to have used in his Northern Campaigns. Yueying's personal item in Warriors Orochi may refer to the same creation or Yueying's origins as a crafty inventor in several legends and folklore.

The wooden ox that she is affiliated with in Warriors Orochi 3 refers to the wheelbarrow that her husband was credited to have created to transport grain. Another feature the contraption had in Romance of the Three Kingdoms was that these oxen also contained a special trigger in their tongue which would act as a brake of sorts for the ox, and prevent its wheel from moving. On one occasion, Sima Yi's troops attacked a Shu transport unit that used these triggers. While the transport unit was initially chased away, Sima Yi's men could not activate the wheelbarrow or move it without dragging it and were forced to abandon their prize to the Shu forces again.

Voice Actors

 * Rumi Kasahara - Dynasty Warriors and Warriors Orochi series (Japanese)
 * Yang Jeong Hwa - Dynasty Warriors 4~5 (Korean)
 * Lara Cody - Dynasty Warriors 4~6, Warriors Orochi 1~2 (English-uncredited)
 * Laura Bailey - Dynasty Warriors 7~8 (English-uncredited)
 * Kate Jopson - Dynasty Warriors 9 (English)
 * Biyu Zhang - Dynasty Warriors 9 (Chinese)
 * Kim Doyeong - Dynasty Warriors: Unleashed, Romance of the Three Kingdoms: The Legend of Cao Cao (Korean)
 * Melissa Fahn - Kessen II (English-uncredited)
 * Junko Noda - Kessen II (Japanese)
 * Miho Miyagawa - Sangokushi Legion (Japanese)
 * Romi Park - Shin Sangokushi (Japanese)
 * Chie Satō - Youkai Sangokushi (Japanese)
 * Asami Seto - Sangokushi Hadou (Japanese)

Live Action Performers

 * Kei Jōnishi - Butai Shin Sangoku Musou Sekiheki no Tatakai IF, Butai Shin Sangoku Musou Keishū Soudatsusen IF

Quotes

 * See also: Yueying/Quotes


 * "I shall show you the power of the Juggernaut!"
 * "Our marriage was my father's decision, but... I could not say it was entirely against my will. In this battle, I will watch over Shu... no, I will watch over you, yourself."
 * "I do not understand it myself. But I know that he is a great man. There is a good reason for everything that he does. His behavior on this battlefield must have a convincing explanation too, I am sure."


 * "I have finished development on some new weapons. A tiger tank that breathes fire and a wooden ox to carry supplies."
 * "Ah... Impressive work indeed, Yue Ying."
 * "I was just hoping to build something useful for you."
 * "Your inventions will surely alter the course of the battle. What do you say we go and give them a try?"
 * Yue Ying and Zhuge Liang; Dynasty Warriors 5: Empires


 * "You know that you can't win. Perhaps you should surrender?"
 * "I will not surrender so long as my husband is here. It is my duty as his wife."
 * Wang Yuanji and Yue Ying; Dynasty Warriors 7: Xtreme Legends


 * "Your husband is always so composed. It seems like he knows everything about everything."
 * "I could say the same for your husband as well. He seems to be able to make calm, careful decisions."
 * "Yes, that is true. No one is better than my lord."
 * "No one can match Lord Zhuge Liang either."
 * "Haha... we both feel the same about the ones we love."
 * "Then let's do our best to serve as their source of strength."
 * Zhenji and Yueying; Dynasty Warriors 8


 * "Your husband's abandoned you, and now you've lost the will to live, is that it?"
 * "Oh, you just crossed the line, lady!"
 * Da Ji and Yue Ying; Warriors Orochi


 * "I apologize for getting flustered the other day. It's true, I do enjoy inventing things. Could I see your weapon? I promise to improve it for you."
 * "Now you're talking. I'm glad we can see eye to eye now."
 * Yueying and Benkei; Warriors Orochi 3


 * "Say, Yueying. You're Zhuge Liang's wife, right?"
 * "That's right, Lady Nene. Zhuge Liang is both my husband, and the one who understands me best."
 * "He understands you? What do you mean?"
 * "I like inventing, and I use my skills to create weapons for battle. Zhuge Liang appreciates my talents. There are few wives so capable of supporting their tactician husbands. I am the only wife for him!"
 * "Wow! That's lovely! My own darling is happy when I help in battle. He always thanks me. Those thanks motivate me to try hard again next time!"
 * "Yes, I think I understand. We have both found the perfect partner. We should continue to do our best to support them!"
 * "You said it, Yueying!"
 * Nene and Yueying; Warriors Orochi 4


 * "Do you really wish to marry me? I'm just a strange girl who likes playing around with inventions. Am I really a worthy match for Zhuge Liang?"
 * "I should ask that question of you. I'm just a strange man who likes tinkering with inventions. Please marry me."
 * "Y-Yes, of course I will marry you!"
 * Yue Ying and Zhuge Liang; Romance of the Three Kingdoms XI


 * "Yue Ying, won't you stop with the 'yeah?'"
 * "I'll try be more careful and not embarrass you in public anymore, I swear. I promise, yeah."
 * Zhuge Liang and Yue Ying, Kessen II

Gameplay

 * See also: Yueying/Movesets

Weapons

 * See also: Yueying/Weapons

Dynasty Warriors 8
Yueying still uses the dagger axe as her default weapon in this title. But starting in Dynasty Warriors 8: Empires, her new weapon of choice is the blade bow.

Historical Information
Huang Yueying was Zhuge Liang's wife and is believed to be Huang Chengyan's daughter. "Huang Yueying" is one of her popularized names; her real name is unknown. She is also called Huang Furen (黄夫人), Huang Wanzhen (黄婉貞), or Huang Shou (黃綬). According to Record of Three Kingdoms, her father approached Zhuge Liang when he wanted to marry. He said, "I have an ugly daughter yet I heard you were looking for a wife. She is marred with red hair and dark skin, but I think her wit is well matched with yours." Zhuge Liang agreed to see her and married her.

Shortly after their meeting, her father made the light-hearted proverb, "Do not berate Zhuge Liang's wife or you'll make Chengyan's ugly daughter get you." The message of the statement is to "strive to wed a homely woman" regardless of their looks. Through their marriage, Zhuge Liang became Liu Qi and Liu Cong's cousin, due to Huang Chengyan's brotherly relation with Liu Biao. While Zhuge Liang is documented to have sons of his own, it's not clear if he had them with his wife.

Chinese Fiction
In Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Yueying is briefly mentioned in chapter 117. She was Zhuge Zhan's unnamed mother and was described as plain yet talented. An educated scholar, she studied everything she could, such as literature, strategy, and magic. Zhuge Liang sought to marry her for her good heart and they frequently studied together. She survived her husband for a short time and died soon after the Battle of Wuzhang Plains. Her last words to her son were "Be loyal and filial".

A popular story depicts that Yueying challenged her suitors to personally visit her by claiming that she was ugly. In the possibility that a suitor would visit, she would hide herself under veils as a quiet dare to test their resolve. When Zhuge Liang came to her, her figure was silhouetted by the yellow full moon and her head was covered with two red veils. Unlike other men, he entered alone and didn't hesitate to remove her disguises. As he removed the first cloth from her face, he calmly stated that her ugliness was a misunderstanding by her father. He was rewarded by Yueying's joyful visage and gratification.

There are several folktales regarding their life and marriage but most sources indicate that she was intelligent in some manner. One such tale states that she was a talented inventor whose well made wooden puppets impressed Zhuge Liang enough to marry her. A few suggest that she was actually quite beautiful and that her tanned skin and red hair was actually dyed; the disguise was made to test Zhuge Liang's perceptive nature. Even more tales speculate that Yueying wasn't actually Chinese but from a different part of the world, such as Europe or Indonesia.

Trivia

 * She is the first Shu female character to be playable in Dynasty Warriors.