Judge Dee is an honest, conscientious statesman and magistrate of Chang-ping during the Tang dynasty. He comes from a distinguished family of officials and feels a deep sense of duty toward justice and the common people. He frequently conducts hands-on investigations, sometimes venturing out in disguise to gather information directly.

Sergeant Hoong is an older man who has served the Dee family for his entire life. He knows the judge from childhood, allowing them to communicate freely and comfortably as equals in private. He possesses a natural talent for detective work and serves as the magistrate's chief assistant.

Ma Joong is a reformed former highway robber who now serves the law under Judge Dee. He possesses exceptional martial arts skills, including fencing and boxing, which make him highly effective at apprehending dangerous individuals. He approaches his investigative duties with an adventurous and heroic spirit.

Mrs. Djou is the young, beautiful widow of a poor shopkeeper named Bee Hsun. She exhibits behavior deemed highly improper for a mourning widow, such as openly scolding her mother-in-law and laughing in public. Her husband's sudden death and her own hostile demeanor quickly draw Judge Dee's suspicion.

Djao is a tall, physically imposing traveling silk merchant from Kiangsu. He previously studied medicine and boxing under a village warden's father. He takes his business reputation seriously and willingly cooperates with the authorities when he becomes inadvertently connected to a murder case.

Chiao Tai is a former highway robber who reformed his ways alongside his friend Ma Joong. He works as a reliable lieutenant for the Chang-ping tribunal, using his fighting abilities to support the magistrate's investigations.

Tao Gan is a reformed itinerant swindler who previously worked as a runner for another magistrate's tribunal. He utilizes his past experiences and cunning to gather intelligence for Judge Dee.

Koong is a forty-year-old man who owns a hostel in Six Mile Village. He seeks out Judge Dee's help after two dead bodies are placed at his doorstep and the local warden attempts to extort him for silence.

Pang is the warden of Six Mile Village. He harbors a grudge against Koong Wan-deh over inadequate holiday tips and attempts to exploit a double murder by extorting the hostel owner.

Djao San is the assistant to Warden Pang Deh. He provides Sergeant Hoong with crucial information about his superior's gambling habits and whereabouts on the night of the murders.

Shao is a traveling silk merchant who goes missing following an overnight stay in Six Mile Village. When his business partner is found dead, Judge Dee immediately identifies Shao as the prime suspect in the crime.

Liu is a young traveling silk merchant. He is murdered during a stopover at Six Mile Village, triggering Judge Dee's first major investigation in the district.

Wang is a local carter who happens to be in Six Mile Village on the night of the murders. His unexpected death complicates the initial investigation into the silk merchant's killing.

Mrs. Wang is a middle-aged woman and the widow of the murdered carter. She seeks out the authorities after investigating her husband's disappearance and learning of his death.

Bee Hsun was a poor shopkeeper in Huang-hua Village who died suddenly of a severe stomachache a year prior. The circumstances of his death, specifically his bulging eyes, arouse intense suspicion when reported to the authorities.

Mrs. Bee is an elderly widow and the mother of the deceased shopkeeper Bee Hsun. She is an honest, straightforward woman who experiences genuine grief over her son's passing and trusts her daughter-in-law completely.

She is the seven-year-old child of the deceased shopkeeper Bee Hsun. She mysteriously lost her ability to speak two months after her father's sudden death.

Ho Kai is the warden of Huang-hua Village. He is responsible for monitoring several hundred families and relies primarily on written announcements to track local births, deaths, and marriages.

Mr. Hua is an affluent and influential retired official. He demands immediate action from Judge Dee after his son's young bride dies suddenly on her wedding night, and he grows frustrated when the judge does not automatically accept his theories.

Candidate Hoo is a friend of Mr. Hua's son. He becomes the prime suspect in the poisoning of the new bride solely because he made careless jokes during the wedding celebration.

Doctor Tang is a retired, highly respected scholar of literature who lives in the compound adjacent to the Bee family. He devotes his time to his students and studies, remaining largely oblivious to the activities within his own household.

Hsu Deh-tai is a tall, slender young man of about 25 who comes from an old, influential family. He lives as a student under Doctor Tang in the room directly adjoining Mrs. Djou's bedroom.