Recaps

Lu Jia complained about Lin Yunwan’s treatment of Qing and learned that Lu Zhengliu hoped the Xia family’s physician could restore Madam Lin’s sight. As Lu Jia weighed her precarious place in the Xia family and wondered about the mysterious cousin, she returned to her room and ordered the maids to replace its porcelain.

• Lu Jia criticized Lin Yunwan for favoring Chang Gong over Qing, but Old Madam Lu rebuked her and refused to reveal more about the family’s distant female cousin.
• Lu Jia described the Xia family, and Lu Zhengliu asked whether Old Madam Xia’s younger brother could treat eye ailments; Old Madam Lu hoped he could cure Madam Lin’s blindness.
• Old Madam Lu told Lu Zhengliu that Madam Lin’s distress over Yunwan’s lonely marriage had contributed to her grief, and Lu Zhengliu resolved to make amends to Yunwan.
• A pageboy reported that a messenger from Old Madam Xia was waiting in the Front Courtyard, and Lu Zhengliu went to meet him.
• Lu Jia told Roujuan that she had shared details about the Xia family to secure her own family’s support and said she wanted to meet the mysterious cousin.
• Lu Jia returned to her room, complained about its furnishings, and ordered the maids to replace her porcelain teacup.

Lin Yunwan avoided getting drawn into Lu Jia’s complaints, but Lu Jia’s demands and harsh treatment of a maid led Old Madam Xia to punish her. That evening, Lu Jia went to Old Madam Lu to complain about Lin Yunwan, and Lin Yunwan overheard her.

• A maid told Ping Ye that Lu Jia had repeatedly complained about her quarters and scolded the servants, and Ping Ye reported it to Lin Yunwan.
• Lin Yunwan told Ping Ye to replace Lu Jia’s tea set with qilin cups, record the gift, and avoid Old Madam Xia.
• Ping Ye tried to leave when she saw Old Madam Xia, but Lu Jia stopped her and threatened to slap her for running away.
• Old Madam Xia reprimanded Lu Jia for mistreating the maid and demanding extravagant cups, then ordered Ping Ye to bring the cups used by the Xia family instead.
• Old Madam Xia punished Lu Jia by making her stand in the courtyard, and news of the punishment spread through the Wuding Marquis Residence.
• After hearing that an uncle from the Xia family had agreed to help, Lin Yunwan went to inquire and overheard Lu Jia complaining to Old Madam Lu about her.

Lin Yunwan learned that Seventh Master Li would examine Chang Gong before visiting her family, while Old Madam Lu and Lu Zhengliu planned to use the Xia family's connection to Assistant Grand Secretary Zhang and Prince Huan to restore the Lu family's influence. Lu Jia decided to help her younger brother take her cousin as a concubine, unaware that her meddling could cause trouble.

• Old Madam Lu told Lin Yunwan that Seventh Master Li would examine Chang Gong the next morning and that Lu Zhengliu would escort him to the Lin Family afterward.
• Lu Jia left after speaking resentfully about Lin Yunwan, and Lu Zhengliu arrived to speak privately with Old Madam Lu.
• Old Madam Lu told Lu Zhengliu that the Xia family's Old Master was a trusted aide to Assistant Grand Secretary Zhang, who had ties to Prince Huan, and urged him to seek an introduction.
• Old Madam Lu warned Lu Zhengliu to protect his reputation and keep his plans concerning Ge Bao'er from the Xia family.
• Lu Jia asked Roujuan about her cousin's background and decided to help her younger brother take the cousin as a concubine.

Lin Yunwan prepared for the Xia family’s visit and the opera gathering while Lu Chang'gong waited for Seventh Master Li to examine his eyes. The examination was completed, but Lu Zhengliu failed to appear, and Seventh Master Li left before he could examine Lin Yunwan.

• Lin Yunwan told Lu Chang'gong to meet his maternal granduncle from the Xia family the next morning, and Zhu Qing reported that Ge Bao'er had been asking about Cousin Miss and meeting Qing.
• Qing persuaded Lu Chang'gong to tell him when the eye examination would take place, claiming they should arrive together so the Xia family would not think Lin Yunwan favored one son.
• Lin Yunwan oversaw the garden preparations as the Lu and Xia families arrived and watched opera performances with the guests.
• Seventh Master Li examined Lu Chang'gong, said his eye problem was not serious, and began writing a prescription while asking for Lu Zhengliu.
• After Lu Zhengliu could not be found, Seventh Master Li left in a hurry, and Qing invited Lu Chang'gong to go watch the opera.

During the opera gathering, Zhuo fell ill after drinking milk, and Lin Yunwan learned that Lu Zhengliu had vanished, causing Seventh Master Li to leave before he could see her mother. The gathering was then interrupted by news that the Eldest Young Master and the Second Young Master were fighting and blood had been spilled.

• Zhuo vomited and had diarrhea after drinking milk, so Lin Yunwan ordered that he be taken to a room and examined by a physician.
• Lu Jia blamed the wet nurse and insulted Lin Yunwan, who answered calmly and returned to the opera.
• Nanny Yuan told Lin Yunwan that Lu Zhengliu had disappeared and that Seventh Master Li had left without visiting the Lin Family.
• Old Madam Xia said Seventh Master Li might make another trip in a few days, and Lin Yunwan agreed to arrange for her brother to meet him.
• A matron rushed in to report that the Eldest Young Master and the Second Young Master were fighting outside the covered walkway, with blood spilled.

Lin Yunwan and the Lu family discovered Ge Bao'er had tried to hang herself, exposing the Heir Apparent’s involvement with her. Lin Yunwan stopped Lu Zhengliu from taking Ge Bao'er as a concubine by revealing that she was already betrothed.

• Lu Chang'gong told Lin Yunwan that he had fought Qing because Qing prevented him from reporting that Ge Bao'er had hanged herself.
• Lin Yunwan brought Old Madam Xia and the others to Ge Bao'er's room, where Lu Zhengliu had just rescued her.
• Zhu Qing suggested that Lu Zhengliu and Ge Bao'er had behaved improperly, and Lu Jia proposed that he take Ge Bao'er as a concubine.
• Lin Yunwan refused and explained that Ge Bao'er was already betrothed, so taking her as a concubine would mean stealing another man's wife.

Ge Bao'er's staged suicide exposed her relationship with Lu Zhengliu and threw the Wuding Marquis Residence into turmoil, while Lin Yunwan contained the fallout. Zhu Qing then warned Lu Zhengliu that Ge Bao'er had carefully orchestrated the crisis, leaving him to question whether their reunion had been planned.

• Lu Zhengliu tried to explain that he had only saved Ge Bao'er, but her confession and the witnesses' suspicions convinced the family that they were involved.
• Lin Yunwan called for a rope to punish Ge Bao'er, and Old Madam Lu spat blood amid the ensuing chaos; Lin Yunwan organized help while Wei Shi had Ge Bao'er tied up.
• Lu Zhengliu later confronted Ge Bao'er, who denied intending to harm him or the Lu family, and he left her bound after warning her not to squander their childhood affection.
• Lu Zhengliu went to Zhu Qing's room, where she explained how Ge Bao'er had timed events to disrupt his plans and turn the family against him.
• Zhu Qing questioned whether Ge Bao'er had truly been helpless when Old Madam Lu took her in, and Lu Zhengliu wondered if Ge Bao'er had deliberately arranged for him to find her.

Lin Yunwan and Zhu Qing helped Lu Chang'gong understand that Qing had deliberately provoked him, while Lin Yunwan urged him to focus on his studies. Three days later, Old Madam Lu learned that the Xia family planned to move out and was told to resolve Cousin Miss's situation before trying to mend ties.

• Zhu Qing told Lin Yunwan that the Xia family were packing to leave the Lu household.
• Zhu Qing explained to Lu Chang'gong that Qing had provoked their fight by tugging at his treasured jade pendant, and Lu Chang'gong resolved to protect Lin Yunwan from further manipulation.
• Lin Yunwan let Lu Chang'gong follow his nature and learn to protect himself, while advising him to focus on his studies.
• Three days later, Lin Yunwan told Old Madam Lu that Old Madam Xia had confined Lu Jia and that the Xia family were preparing to move out.
• Old Madam Lu wanted to visit Old Madam Xia, but Lin Yunwan told her to settle Cousin Miss's matter first.

Old Madam Lu weighed how to deal with Ge Bao'er, while Qing overheard her plan to kill his mother and pleaded for her to stay. Lu Zhengliu chose to keep Ge Bao'er as his concubine, and Lin Yunwan agreed to arrange her status and residence without hiding her displeasure.

• Lin Yunwan said Ge Bao'er deserved death, but Old Madam Lu dismissed the women and privately resolved to eliminate Ge Bao'er without upsetting Qing.
• Qing overheard Old Madam Lu and Nanny Yan discussing his mother’s death, then begged to stay with his great-grandmother and care for her.
• After Qing fell asleep, Old Madam Lu instructed Nanny Yan to investigate a convent nun’s poison-making methods and any disciples she had taught.
• Old Madam Lu asked Lu Zhengliu whether to keep Ge Bao'er or send her away, and he chose to keep her for Qing’s sake.
• Lu Zhengliu told Lin Yunwan that Ge Bao'er would become his concubine, and Lin Yunwan agreed to give her proper status and a residence.

Lin Yunwan challenged the Lu family’s plan to make Ge Bao'er a Concubine, warning that her background could make the arrangement illegal. Old Madam Lu agreed to delay granting Ge Bao'er status until her engagement was broken off and her circumstances could be examined.

• Zhu Qing urged Lin Yunwan to persuade Lu Zhengliu to abandon Ge Bao'er, but Lin Yunwan said she wanted Ge Bao'er to bring about her own ruin.
• Old Madam Lu summoned Lin Yunwan, and Lu Jia argued that Lin Yunwan should agree to Ge Bao'er becoming a Concubine to protect the family’s reputation.
• Lin Yunwan questioned Lu Jia’s claim that the matter had brought shame, prompting Old Madam Lu to learn that Lu Jia’s in-laws had criticized the family.
• Lin Yunwan warned that taking a woman of criminal status or from a convicted official’s household could violate the law and lead to impeachment.
• Zhu Qing advised Old Madam Lu to investigate Ge Bao'er, and Old Madam Lu decided to withhold her status until her engagement was broken off.

Lin Yunwan handled tensions in the Marquis's Residence while worrying about her mother's worsening eyesight and waiting for Seventh Master Li. The chapter ended with Qi Lingheng bringing the physician to treat his teacher's wife and agreeing to take him to another patient afterward.

• Lin Yunwan dismissed Zhu Qing's suggestion to investigate Cousin Miss herself and let Lu Jia lecture her about accepting the Heir Apparent's mistress.
• Lin Yunwan praised Lu Chang'gong's studies, suggested he could attend school soon, and asked whether he liked living in the Marquis's Residence.
• After the Mid-Autumn Festival, Lin Yunwan learned that Nanny Yan had returned but received no news from Old Madam Xia or Seventh Master Li, so she wrote to her family asking them to wait.
• Lady Guo sent Lin Yunwan incense powder and her Manual of Incense in return for a Mid-Autumn gift.
• Qi Lingheng escorted Seventh Master Li from the palace to treat his teacher's wife, offering him a carriage full of wine, and agreed to take him to treat another woman's eyes afterward.

Seventh Master Li examined Madam Lin and found that her damaged eyes could be treated, though her sight might not fully recover. Lin Yunwan learned that Prince Huan had brought the physician to her family and discovered that Seventh Master Li had come to the capital to treat the emperor.

• Prince Huan brought Seventh Master Li to the Lin residence, where Lin Yunyi welcomed them and the physician examined Madam Lin's eyes.
• Madam Lin saw a little light after Seventh Master Li used needles, and he explained that her condition could be treated with difficult-to-find medicines and careful care.
• Lin Yunyi wrote to Lin Yunwan that their mother's eyes could be treated, while he kept Prince Huan's role to himself.
• Lin Yunwan thanked Old Madam Xia for arranging the visit, but Old Madam Xia said she had sent no one with Seventh Master Li.
• Old Madam Xia hinted that Seventh Master Li had been treating the emperor, and Lin Yunwan realized Prince Huan had likely taken him to the Lin residence.

Lin Yunwan learned more about Madam Lin’s eye ailment and prepared to visit her family after the Xia family left the Lu residence. Meanwhile, Old Madam Lu secretly arranged to obtain medicine, and Qi Lingheng heard that the Lu heir had neglected Madam Lin’s needs for a woman.

• Lin Yunwan received Lin Yunyi’s reply about Madam Lin’s eye ailment and arranged the Xia family’s farewell gifts before planning a visit to her maiden home.
• Old Madam Xia warned Old Madam Lu to put the Lu household in order, while Lu Jia complained about moving into the Xia family’s cramped new home.
• Old Madam Lu told Nanny Yan to report when their agents returned, then learned that a surviving apprentice could provide three months’ worth of medicine for five hundred taels.
• A Fu told Qi Lingheng that the Lu heir had left Master Li waiting while he dealt with a woman, and Qi Lingheng condemned the heir as shameless.

Lin Yunwan returned to the Lin residence to see her mother and arranged to sell a dowry shop to pay for medicine. After she left, Prince Huan arrived with Seventh Master Li to treat Madam Lin, who learned that he had been her husband’s student.

• Lin Yunwan returned to the Lin residence and learned that Madam Lin’s sight was beginning to improve under Seventh Master Li’s treatment.
• Lin Yunwan offered to sell her Zhongzhou shop to buy rare medicinal ingredients, while Lin Yunyi said he had another way to help pay for their mother’s treatment.
• Lin Yunwan entrusted the shop deeds to the Lin Family Steward and told him to ask Manager Luo’s relative about buying the shop.
• Lin Yunwan and Lin Yunyi discussed the family accounts and agreed that the Lin Family should thank Prince Huan, Old Madam Xia, and Seventh Master Li.
• After Lin Yunwan left, Prince Huan brought Seventh Master Li to give Madam Lin acupuncture, and she recognized Prince Huan as her late husband’s former student.

Lin Yunyi managed his mother’s care and household affairs, while Lin Yunwan received his letter and visited the Xia family’s housewarming banquet. The banquet was interrupted when Old Madam Xia learned something had happened to Lu Jia, and Lin Yunwan and Wei Shi went to find her.

• Lin Yunyi thanked Qi Lingheng for bringing Physician Li, then learned Qi Lingheng had arrived just after Lin Yunwan left the Lin household.
• Lin Yunyi sent gifts to Qi Lingheng’s residence and Physician Li, and Qi Lingheng returned gifts that included medicine for Madam Lin.
• Lin Yunyi wrote Lin Yunwan a detailed letter about the family, and she praised how capably he was handling matters.
• Lin Yunwan and Wei Shi brought gifts to the Xia family’s housewarming banquet, where Old Madam Xia said Lu Jia had gone to rest because she was unwell.
• After a matron told Old Madam Xia something that made her leave, Wei Shi and Lin Yunwan went to check on Lu Jia.

Old Madam Xia reprimanded Lu Jia for defying her and mishandling Xia Ji’s concubine, while Lin Yunwan and Wei Shi visited and gave Lu Jia little comfort. Back at the Wuding Marquis Residence, Lin Yunwan learned that the attempt to break Cousin Miss’s engagement had uncovered something alarming about Ge Bao’er’s background.

• Old Madam Xia scolded Lu Jia in her courtyard and threatened to send her back to the Lu family and take Zhuo from her.
• Lin Yunwan and Wei Shi visited Lu Jia, but Wei Shi and Lin Yunwan both said Lu Jia should have handled Xia Ji’s mistress without provoking a quarrel.
• Lin Yunwan returned to the Wuding Marquis Residence, where Tao Ye told her that the people sent to break Cousin Miss’s engagement had come back.
• Zhu Qing reported that Old Madam had nearly fainted after learning something on the trip, leaving Lin Yunwan to suspect that Ge Bao’er’s background was problematic.

Old Madam Lu discovered that Ge Bao'er had once been a Criminal's Bondservant and, after learning she was legally free, permitted Lu Zhengliu to keep her as a lowly concubine while insisting the Lu family protect itself. Zhu Qing went to the Hall of Longevity with medicinal soup as a pretext, then hurried back to Drooping Silk Hall after Nanny Yan warned her to keep quiet.

• Zhu Qing asked Lin Yunwan whether she should investigate at the Hall of Longevity, and Lin Yunwan told her to observe how Old Madam Lu settled Ge Bao'er's status.
• Old Madam Lu slapped Ge Bao'er and confronted Lu Zhengliu, who admitted he had known about her past servitude.
• Old Madam Lu allowed Lu Zhengliu to keep Ge Bao'er as a concubine, then ordered her to sign a new deed of servitude so the Lu family would not bear future trouble.
• Nanny Yan explained that Ge Bao'er had been freed before her adoptive family was exiled, and Old Madam Lu acknowledged that her main anger was Lu Zhengliu's concealment.
• Old Madam Lu praised Lin Yunwan's judgment and said the household should heed her, while ordering Nanny Yan to question Qing about Ge Bao'er.
• Zhu Qing brought soothing medicinal soup to the Hall of Longevity, but Nanny Yan sent her away and warned her not to repeat anything she had heard; Zhu Qing then hurried to Drooping Silk Hall.

Old Madam Lu confronted Qing about visiting Ge Bao'er and ordered him to grow close to Lin Yunwan and keep his distance from his birth mother. Lin Yunwan and Lu Chang'gong treated Qing kindly, leaving Ge Bao'er worried that she was losing her influence over him.

• Zhu Qing told Lin Yunwan that Old Madam Lu had said Qing needed a proper education, then moved into Rain Apricot Pavilion and sent pastries to Wu'er.
• Old Madam Lu scolded Qing for visiting Ge Bao'er and ordered him to learn from Lin Yunwan while keeping his distance from his birth mother.
• Qing accompanied Lu Chang'gong to breakfast with Lin Yunwan, who kindly urged him to eat more.
• Lu Chang'gong offered to help Qing with his studies, and later told Lin Yunwan he did not need to know why she was treating Qing kindly.
• Ge Bao'er heard that Qing was now close to Lin Yunwan and anxiously asked Wu'er why he had not come to see her.

Lin Yunwan grew closer to Lu Chang'gong and Qing while Ge Bao'er watched Qing turn away from her. Old Madam Lu revealed that she was secretly drugging Ge Bao'er and intended for Qing to forget her, leaving the household’s plans dependent on Qing denying his birth mother’s identity.

• Zhu Qing told Lin Yunwan that Ge Bao'er was ill, and Lin Yunwan left her care to Old Madam Lu.
• Lin Yunwan served Lu Chang'gong and Qing vegetarian and meat taro suanhuo, and the two boys began visiting her together each day.
• At Rain Apricot Pavilion, Zhu Qing praised how much the boys resembled Lin Yunwan, while Ge Bao'er watched Qing leave with her and wept.
• Old Madam Lu praised Lin Yunwan as the only suitable mistress of the household and learned that Ge Bao'er had caused no trouble.
• Old Madam Lu and Nanny Yan discussed secretly giving Ge Bao'er medicine that would gradually kill her, and Old Madam Lu said Qing’s denial would make Ge Bao'er seem mad if she exposed his identity.

Lin Yunwan asked Ping Ye to keep an eye on Xiliu, who discovered Ge Bao'er secretly meeting Qing and heard him call her Mother. Ge Bao'er pressured Xiliu to keep their secret, leaving her and Qing anxious about whether she would tell anyone.

• Zhu Qing praised Lin Yunwan's tea before leaving as the stewardesses arrived.
• Lin Yunwan asked Ping Ye about Xiliu and told her to watch over the maid.
• While taking Ge Bao'er a cloak, Xiliu overheard Qing call Ge Bao'er Mother and learned they were secretly meeting.
• Ge Bao'er made Xiliu promise to keep their relationship secret, warning that her life and Qing's depended on it.
• Xiliu worried about whether to tell Lin Yunwan, while Qing feared his mother and elder brother would reject him if they learned the truth.

Qing tried to get Old Madam Lu to punish Xiliu, while Lin Yunwan discovered that Xiliu had learned of Ge Bao'er and Qing's secret meetings. Lin Yunwan decided to use Qing's birthday to bring Ge Bao'er and her son together.

• Qing met Ge Bao'er in secret, and she told him she would handle the threat to his future after he said he would ask Old Madam Lu for help.
• Qing asked Old Madam Lu to punish Xiliu, but she refused and told Nanny Yan not to interfere with how Xiliu treated Ge Bao'er.
• Lin Yunwan and her maids rushed to the pond when they thought Xiliu was going to jump in, but Xiliu explained that she had only slipped.
• Xiliu privately told Lin Yunwan that she had witnessed Ge Bao'er and Qing meeting in the rockery, and Lin Yunwan told her to act as usual and stay away from water and wells.
• Lin Yunwan ordered invitations sent to her relatives and Old Madam Xia and the eldest young lady for Qing's birthday, planning to use the gathering to reunite Ge Bao'er and Qing.

Lin Yunwan watched Ge Bao'er and prepared Young Master Qing's birthday banquet while Xiliu gathered information and kept close to Tong Liu. On the day of the celebration, Qing anxiously waited for his birth mother, unaware of what Ge Bao'er intended to do.

• Lin Yunwan asked Ping Ye to have a servant discreetly watch Xiliu, and Xiliu reassured Ping Ye that she could handle herself.
• Xiliu questioned Tong Liu about swimming and told Ge Bao'er that the Lin family would attend Qing's birthday banquet, prompting Ge Bao'er to send her back to learn more.
• Tong Liu reported her observations to Zhu Qing, who instructed her to choose a modest birthday gift for Young Master Qing.
• Lin Yunwan learned that the Xia family and Young Master Yi would attend, then permitted Ge Bao'er to give Qing the embroidered insoles.
• Qing saw Xiliu visit Lin Yunwan and feared his secret would be exposed; he later met Ge Bao'er, who promised to keep the truth hidden and urged him to enjoy his birthday.
• At the birthday banquet, Qing remained distracted and wondered why Ge Bao'er had not arrived with his birthday present.

At Qing’s birthday banquet, a frightened Qing ran off after hearing that Ge Bao’er might be dying. Lin Yunwan and the others found him pleading for help as Ge Bao’er and her maid drowned in a pond, and Qing revealed that Ge Bao’er was his birth mother.

• Lin Yunyi gave Lu Chang'gong a gift, while Lu Zhengliu presented Qing with a jade pendant at the birthday banquet.
• After Zhu Qing joked that Ge Bao’er might be dying, Qing fled the banquet to find her.
• Lin Yunwan and the others followed Qing into the garden, where they found him crying beside the pond after Ge Bao’er and her maid jumped into the water.
• Qing knelt before Lin Yunwan, begged her to save Ge Bao’er, and revealed that she was his birth mother.
• Lu Jia realized that Qing was Lu Zhengliu’s child with a mistress from before his marriage.

Zhu Qing exposed Ge Bao'er as Qing's birth mother and nearly drowned her while pretending to rescue her. Lin Yunwan demanded that the Lin clan elders be summoned, and the Lu and Lin families prepared to discuss the scandal while Lin Yunwan remained at the residence.

• Qing declared that Ge Bao'er was his birth mother, and Zhu Qing realized Ge Bao'er had secretly exchanged the babies.
• Zhu Qing shoved Ge Bao'er underwater during the rescue, but the matrons pulled her out; Lin Yunwan sent Xiliu to warm up and bathe.
• The servants learned that Ge Bao'er had given birth to Qing before Lin Yunwan married into the Lu family and spread the news at the banquet.
• Lin Yunwan asked Madam Lin to summon the Lin clan elders, while Lu Zhengliu admitted that Ge Bao'er had given birth to Qing.
• Madam Lin tried to take Lin Yunwan home, but Old Madam Lu and Lu Zhengliu insisted she could not leave; Old Madam Xia suggested that elders from both families discuss the matter.
• Lin Yunwan saw Madam Lin and Lin Yunyi out and agreed to stay while they returned home.

Lin Yunwan feigned illness to avoid the Old Madam and let the household feel the burden of managing without her. As the residence adjusted to her absence, Zhu Qing visited her, and Lu Chang'gong beat Qing after leaving the rear courtyard.

• Lin Yunwan announced that she was ill, while Ping Ye spread the news and Wei Shi struggled to manage the residence's affairs.
• Wei Shi learned that Lin Yunwan was refusing visitors and approved the confinement of Ge Bao'er, while Zhu Qing warned the matrons not to give her water.
• Zhu Qing visited Lin Yunwan, learned she would wait for the Lin clan elders before deciding whether to leave, and reported that Lu Chang'gong had stayed in the Front Courtyard.
• After dark, Lu Chang'gong left through the Second Gate, went to Qing's room, and beat him.