Waiqi means 'outer relatives': the family of an emperor's wife or mother, who rose with her. In imperial China such clans often held high office and could dominate the court, which made the relationship between a ruler and his consort's family one of dependence and fear in equal measure. Dynastic history is full of cases where a consort clan propped up a throne or threatened it. Royal Nirvana builds its crown prince's position on it: his mother's family, the Gu, makes him half Gu.
