Xiahouji

Xiahoushi (夏侯氏, onyomi: Kakōshi, "Lady Xiahou") is Xiahou Yuan's niece and Zhang Fei's wife, who abducted and took her as his wife when she was twelve or thirteen years old. She requested to have her uncle's remains buried. Later, when Xiahou Ba defected to Shu, he was given preferential treatment due to his ties with her.

In Blast, she is named Xiahou Ji (夏侯姫, onyomi: Kakōki). This character incarnation is Xingcai and Zhang Bao's mother. She placed eighth with fans in Gamecity's first card promotion poll for the game.

Role in Games
Shin Sangoku Musou Blast has Xiahou Ji serve as one of the game's tutors, helping players navigate the menu interface and other features outside of battle. According to her card's flavor text, she initially met Zhang Fei while playing in the forest. He married her nearly on the spot.

Having lived at Xuchang her whole life, circumstances separate Xiahou Ji from her uncle and cousin when Sun Ce's forces invade the capital. Forced to leave and finding herself cornered by bandits, the maiden's luck turns for the better when Zhang Fei intervenes. She is taken to Liu Bei's camp as a refugee and becomes better acquainted with her savior during the latter's training drills.

However, the hospitality of her hosts causes Xiahou Ji to feel conflicted about revealing her true identity to them. She also begins to question her own loyalties to the Xiahou clan after an encounter with Xun Yu. Torn between the beliefs of Cao Cao and Liu Bei, she chooses to forego her family ties at Runan for Zhang Fei's sake, even going so far as to defy Cao Ren who had been searching for her.

Now married to Zhang Fei, the two of them help Liu Bei escape from Changban. Rumors of her husband's death dishearten Xiahou Ji, though she shakes it off to assist the peasants in their time of need. Her conviction to protect them impresses Xiahou Yuan enough to leave the group in peace. After a tearful reunion with Zhang Fei, the young wife vows to remain by his side no matter what.

She appears in Dynasty Warriors 9 as a unique NPC, but becomes playable via DLC.

Xiahou Ji guest stars in a Quiz Battle Toukiden collaboration event. She was mysteriously teleported to Nakatsu Kuni and surrounded by demons. Zhao Yun saved her, but they were separated by another demon swarm. The protagonist and Lady Akatsuki rescue her. Xiahou Ji can't find the courage to speak to them until their Tenko companion calms her. They agree to help the maiden reunite with the general.

In Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Xiahoushi first appeared as a secret character for the eleventh title. Her stats are geared more towards intelligence, charisma, and politics. The twelfth title lists her birth year as 186.

Development
Her design theme for Blast was to establish a shy maiden who is never seen without her stuffed rabbit. Suzuki stated that Xiahou Ji's character design was made to be a sheltered girl who often stays indoors at her mansion. Her red eye make-up and rabbit accessory links her to Xingcai. Shades of her look hint to her family relation to Xiahou Ba.

Personality
Xiahou Ji is a sheltered girl who is shy and introverted. Her innocent appearance belies her ability to adapt. She appreciates the kindness of others and goes out of her way to repay them.

Character Symbolism
Xiahou Ji's design is adorned with rabbit-related items. According to Chinese folklore, rabbits are associated with the moon goddess Chang'e who drank an elixir of immortality to escape her husband Houyi's jealous follower. Her inability to return back home is an analogy to Xiahou Ji remaining in Shu far from her own family.

Voice Actors

 * Rocio Lopez - Dynasty Warriors 9 (English)
 * Nian Ru - Dynasty Warriors 9 (Chinese)
 * Yuuko Mikutsu - Shin Sangoku Musou Blast, Dynasty Warriors 9