For actual ranks and government structure at a high level you can refer to my diagram here:

  

  
• Guanjia (管家): A Steward or Chief Butler. The head of the household staff, responsible for managing the daily operations of a large estate.


  
• Hubu Zhushi (户部主事): A mid-level administrative position, translated here as "Department of Finance Assistant."


  
• Jie-jie (姐姐): The Mandarin word for "older sister."


  
• Shìláng (侍郎): Vice Minister. A very high-ranking official, second in command of one of the six major ministries.


  
• Son of Heaven (天子 - Tiānzǐ): A formal title for the Emperor of China. It reflects the belief that the Emperor's right to rule was granted by divine mandate.


  
• Uncle / Auntie (叔叔 / 阿姨 - Shūshu / āyí): Used as a general term of polite and familiar respect for an older person who is not a relative, similar to addressing an elder as "sir" or "ma'am."


  
• Xiao'èr (小二): Literally "Little Two." A common term for a waiter, clerk, or general attendant in an inn, teahouse, or shop.


  
• Xiǎo Yé (小爷): A very arrogant and informal way to refer to oneself, roughly translating to "this young master."


  
• Lord: Here it is used in the place of a generic formal address without indicating peerage.


  

  

  
• Biāojú (镖局): An escort or security agency. These organizations protected merchants, goods, and travelers for a fee. The transmigrator establishes the "Black Wind Cliff Escorts" as a legitimate Biāojú. These did not exist historically until the Song and Ming Dynasty.


  
• Censorate (御史台 - Yùshǐtái): A powerful and often feared branch of the imperial government tasked with monitoring and impeaching other officials for corruption or incompetence.


  
• Jiaofang (教坊): The "Music and Dance Bureau." Publicly, it was responsible for training musicians and dancers for the imperial court. However, it is also where female relatives of convicted criminals were often sent to serve as courtesans at the whim of the court.


  
• Jianghu (江湖): Literally "Rivers and Lakes." A term for the "martial world," the community of martial artists, vagabonds, and sects existing outside the strict controls of mainstream society and government.


  
• Jinwu Wei (金吾卫): The "Golden Guard," one of the elite military units serving as the Imperial Guard in Chang'an, responsible for the security of the capital and the palace.


  

  

  
• Biǎndan (扁担): A long, flat carrying pole, typically made of bamboo or wood, balanced across the shoulders to carry heavy loads in baskets or bundles at either end.


  
• Dāo (刀): A single-edged Chinese blade, often translated as a sword or saber. Generally heavier and more focused on cutting and slashing than the jian. It was a common military sidearm of the era and is typically straight edged. These eventually evolved to become curved in later dynasties, mostly from steppe influence. These were much faster to pick up and learn compared to a Jian, marking it as the weapon of a soldier rather than an aristocrat.


  
• Duǎn Hè (短褐): A short robe or tunic made of coarse, simple fabric like linen or hemp. It was the typical garment of commoners, laborers, and the poor.


  
• Jian (剑): A double-edged straight sword. In Chinese culture, it is often considered a "gentleman's weapon," requiring grace, precision, and skill, as opposed to brute force. Unfortunately, it kind of translates to “Sword” as well but fights very differently to dao in practice and usually required lengthy training periods of decades to master. As such the Jian was a sort of status symbol and scholars would often be seen with one hanging from their sides, despite never getting to use it.


  
• Liǎng (两): A tael. A unit of weight for silver, used as a form of currency for large transactions. One liǎng of silver was a significant amount of money, equivalent to roughly one to two thousand copper coins (wén). The actual value of this weight of silver varies greatly over time although it generally lost value as the supply of silver steadily increased. Most shops would have shears that would allow you to cut and pay in smaller increments, as it was the weight of the silver that mattered. They would also have scales that allow them to weigh and measure that loose silver.


  
• Lǐ (里): A traditional Chinese unit of distance, roughly equivalent to 500 meters or about a third of a mile.


  
• Taels of Silver: See Liǎng.


  
• Wén (文): The smallest unit of currency; a single copper or bronze coin with a square hole in the middle, allowing them to be strung together.


  

  

  
• Hubing (胡饼): A type of toasted flatbread, often sprinkled with sesame seeds. The name literally means "barbarian bread," as it was introduced to China from the Western Regions (Central Asia) via the Silk Road and became an extremely popular staple food.


  
• Congee (粥 - Zhōu): A thin rice porridge or gruel. It is easily digestible and a common meal for breakfast, or for those who are sick or starving. Don’t get me wrong, Congee can be delicious and is eaten to this day with a variety of toppings by basically everyone in china.


  

  

  
• Diǎnxué (点穴): The martial art of striking pressure points or vital spots on an opponent's body to cause paralysis, pain, unconsciousness, or death.


  
• Lianzuo (连坐): "Collective punishment" or "guilt by association." A harsh legal principle where the family and relatives of a convicted criminal were also held responsible and punished for the crime.


  
• Running Script (行书 - Xíngshū): A semi-cursive style of Chinese calligraphy. It is faster to write than the more formal regular script but still legible, prized for its artistic and dynamic flow.


  
• Tianbao Era (天宝): The era name for the later part of Emperor Xuanzong's reign in the Tang Dynasty (742-756 AD). While initially a prosperous period, it was marked by growing political corruption and military weakness that culminated in the devastating An Lushan Rebellion.


  
• Xuan Paper (宣纸 - Xuānzhǐ): A famous type of high-quality paper originating from ancient China, prized for its use in calligraphy and painting. It is known for being soft, absorbent, and durable.