Chapter Summaries

Lin Yunwan accepted Qi Lingheng’s proposal after he explained how marrying him would help her reunite with her family and promised to support her. She returned to the Lin Residence concealing the engagement, while Lin Huabin mistakenly believed her marriage to Zhao Jingyi was being arranged.

• Lin Yunwan entered Qi Lingheng’s room and found wedding-gift lists prepared for his future Princess Consort.
• Qi Lingheng urged Lin Yunwan to marry him, arguing that he could help her reunite with her mother and brother and protect her future.
• Qi Lingheng admitted he was using his past favors to press her, and Lin Yunwan recognized his sincere feelings and agreed to marry him.
• Lin Yunwan told Qi Lingheng that Lin Huabin and Zheng Shi had been pushing her toward marriage with a relative, and Qi Lingheng gave her his personal gold seal.
• Lin Yunwan asked Qi Lingheng to make the marriage arrangements seem natural, then returned to the Lin Residence and told Lin Huabin that Zhao Jingyi was preparing for her marriage.
• Lin Huabin was pleased, believing Zhao Jingyi would owe him a favor and that this would help him arrange Yun Jiao’s marriage to Prince Huan.

Cuiqin returned with news that Master Su was living in Chengzhou and was willing to meet Lin Yunwan. Lin Yunwan planned to recover the dowry that belonged to Miss Lin’s deceased mother, then went to visit Zheng Shi.

• Cuiqin reported that her brother had found Master Su in Chengzhou and that Master Su was willing to see Lin Yunwan.
• Lin Yunwan rewarded Cuiqin and her brother, and Cuiqin asked for a day’s leave to take the silver home.
• Lin Yunwan explained to Xiruo that the Su Family’s dowry should be returned under Jiangqian’s laws, and that the Lin Residence could be forced to repay what it had spent.
• Lin Yunwan had Xiruo put away the Local Gazetteers and went to pay her respects to Zheng Shi.

Lin Yunwan watched Lin Yunjiao show unusual interest in Wenhai, while Zheng Shi tried and failed to bring Lin Yunwan and Wenhai together. The next day, Lin Yunwan learned that the Eldest Madam had given birth to a boy and wondered whether Prince Huan would attend the child’s full-month banquet.

• Lin Yunwan complimented Lin Yunjiao, whose changed behavior and careful appearance pleased Zheng Shi and surprised Wen Mu.
• Zheng Shi urged Lin Yunwan to study poetry with Wenhai, but Lin Yunwan suggested Lin Yunjiao go instead, prompting Wenhai to flee and Lin Yunjiao to leave in a huff.
• Afterward, Lin Yunwan followed Lin Yunjiao and saw that she was watching Wenhai because her Red Phoenix Star had stirred.
• The next day, Lin Yunwan learned from the Eldest Madam that she had given birth to a boy, and Old Madam Lin agreed that the family should invite Prince Huan to the full-month banquet.
• As she prepared to play the zither, Lin Yunwan wondered whether Prince Huan would attend and how he was preparing for their marriage.

Zheng Shi pressured Lin Huabin to settle Lin Yun Wan’s marriage to Wenhai and, impatient with his delay, devised a scheme to force the match during the Eldest Branch’s grandson’s celebration. Wen Mu agreed to help Wenhai approach Lin Yun Wan, and Zheng Shi began explaining her plan.

• Zheng Shi received an invitation to the Eldest Branch’s feast celebrating its new grandson, and Lin Huabin reminded her to send a generous gift.
• Zheng Shi urged Lin Huabin to settle Lin Yun Wan’s marriage to Wenhai, but he said they needed to wait for Zhao Jingyi’s inquiries.
• Zheng Shi decided to stage an apparent compromising encounter between Lin Yun Wan and Wenhai at the feast so the Old Madam would force them to marry.
• Zheng Shi summoned Wen Mu, offered the prospect of a substantial dowry, and threatened her if Wenhai refused to cooperate.
• Wen Mu said Wenhai had agreed to approach Lin Yun Wan, and Zheng Shi sent Nanny Fan to guard the door before laying out the details.

Lin Yunwan returned from meeting her maternal uncle and prepared for the Eldest Branch’s legitimate grandson’s one-month banquet, while Zheng Shi and Wen Mu privately schemed. At the banquet, Lin Yunwan’s qin playing impressed the visiting ladies, who asked to meet her.

• Lin Yunjiao questioned Lin Yunwan about her outing, and Lin Yunwan said she had gone to buy a new qin.
• Lin Yunwan praised Cuiqin for managing the courtyard and told her she had met her maternal uncle, who promised to attend her wedding banquet.
• Cuiqin reported that Zheng Shi and Wen Mu had spent much of the day talking privately and that Nanny Fan had stayed home.
• Lin Yunwan told Xiruo that Zheng Shi would likely choose a simple way to harm her because the Lin household had divided its branches, and Xiruo vowed to stay close.
• At the one-month banquet, Old Madam Lin told visiting ladies that Lin Yunwan was playing the qin, and they praised her performance and asked to meet her.

Zheng Shi maneuvered Lin Yunwan into fetching Wen Mu from the garden, while Lin Huabin supported the errand as a chance for Yunwan to win Wen Mu over. When Cuiqin told Lin Yunjiao that Wen Mu had twisted her ankle, Jiao'er questioned why her own maid had come to deliver the news and began to suspect something was amiss.

• Zheng Shi pretended to care for Lin Yunwan's hands before the guests left Old Madam Lin's courtyard.
• Lin Huabin asked why Lin Yunjiao had not come to pay her respects, and Zheng Shi said Jiao'er had a stomachache.
• Zheng Shi claimed Wen Mu had twisted her ankle by the lotus pond and told Lin Yunwan to escort her back.
• Lin Huabin agreed with Zheng Shi that Lin Yunwan should fetch Wen Mu, and Yunwan went with Xiruo toward the garden.
• Lin Yunwan told Cuiqin to ask Lin Yunjiao to see Wen Mu off, and Cuiqin reported that Wen Mu had twisted her ankle.
• Lin Yunjiao questioned why Cuiqin, Wen Mu's maid, had come to find her and sensed that something was wrong.

Wen Mu’s plan to push Lin Yunwan into the Lotus Pond went awry when Lin Yunjiao came to fetch her instead. Lin Yunwan watched the aftermath from hiding as the rescue exposed the plot and left Nanny Fan unconscious.

• Cuiqin tricked Lin Yunjiao into going to the Lotus Pond, where she found Wen Mu waiting and insisted on taking her back.
• Wen Mu heard the signal of three meows and, as she and Lin Yunjiao walked beside the pond, grabbed Lin Yunjiao and fell into the water with her.
• Cuiqin called for help, and Wenhai jumped in to rescue Lin Yunjiao while Wen Mu swam to shore on her own.
• Lin Yunjiao wept after Wenhai saved her, and Nanny Fan realized the wrong young woman had fallen into the pond before fainting.
• Lin Yunwan watched from hiding and understood that someone had intended for her to fall into the water; Xiruo remarked that there was now a good show to watch.

Qi Lingheng rushed to the Lotus Pond after hearing that a Lin family daughter had fallen in, only to find Lin Yunjiao in the water and Lin Yunwan watching the commotion. When Lin Yunjiao pushed Yunwan in too, Qi Lingheng jumped into the pond and carried her out, revealing himself as Prince Huan to the stunned Lin family.

• Lin Huabin and Eldest Master Lin escorted Qi Lingheng to pay his respects to Old Madam Lin, but a Matron reported that a second-branch young lady had fallen into the Lotus Pond.
• Lin Huabin realized the girl might be Lin Yunwan, and Qi Lingheng rushed toward the Garden before the Lin brothers could stop him.
• Lin Yunwan watched Wen Mu's plot unfold as Lin Yunjiao, who had fallen into the pond, confronted Wenhai and refused to let him rescue her.
• Lin Yunwan went to check on Lin Yunjiao, who shoved her into the pond; Qi Lingheng immediately jumped in after her.
• Qi Lingheng carried Lin Yunwan ashore, covered her with his robe, and ordered the area cleared, while Lin Yunjiao realized he was Prince Huan.

After Qi Lingheng rescued Yun Wan from the Lotus Pond, the Lin family worried over the consequences and tried to discern his intentions. Old Madam Lin decided Lin Huabin should thank the Prince and wait to see whether he intended to take Yun Wan as a concubine.

• Old Madam Lin learned that Qi Lingheng was unharmed and scolded Eldest Master Lin and Lin Huabin for taking him to the Lotus Pond.
• Zheng Shi arrived and discovered that Qi Lingheng had rescued Yun Wan rather than Yun Jiao, then tried to hide her distress from Old Madam Lin.
• Eldest Madam Lin admitted she had reassigned the Garden matrons, leaving the young ladies without attendants when they fell into the pond.
• Qi Lingheng bathed, joined a private feast at Eldest Master Lin's invitation, and left after paying his respects to Old Madam Lin without mentioning the rescue.
• Old Madam Lin told Lin Huabin to thank Qi Lingheng and wait to learn whether he would take Yun Wan as a concubine, while Lin Huabin regretted that Wenhai had not saved her instead.

Zheng Shi confronted Wen Mu over Lin Yunjiao’s fall into the water, while Wen Mu denied responsibility and insisted Wenhai had only tried to save her. At Lin Yunjiao’s bedside, Zheng Shi learned her daughter was considering marriage to Wenhai, then struck her for saying so.

• Zheng Shi strangled Wen Mu in anger, but Wen Mu denied pushing Lin Yunjiao into the water and threatened to leave with Wenhai.
• Wen Mu argued that Lin Yunjiao could find another match, while Zheng Shi feared the incident would ruin her daughter’s marriage prospects.
• Zheng Shi left Wen Mu’s courtyard and went to check on Lin Yunjiao, who was recovering and eating after swallowing water.
• Zheng Shi promised Lin Yunjiao she would not marry beneath her station, and Lin Yunjiao asked whether Wenhai saving her meant she could still marry someone else.
• Lin Yunjiao asked what would happen to Lin Yunwan after the Prince saved her, and Zheng Shi said Yunwan might be sent to a nunnery or killed.
• Lin Yunjiao said she could marry Wenhai rather than suffer Yunwan’s fate, and Zheng Shi slapped her.

After Lin Yunjiao’s fall, Zheng Shi ordered her confined and privately regretted the scheme that had endangered her daughter, while Lin Huabin blamed Wen Mu and Wenhai. Lin Huabin and Eldest Master Lin went to Prince Huan’s Residence to discuss the family’s response, then returned with the news that Prince Huan would marry Lin Yunwan as his Principal Consort.

• Zheng Shi ordered the servants to keep Lin Yunjiao inside the courtyard and told Nanny Zhao to care for her.
• Lin Huabin argued with Zheng Shi, blamed Wen Mu and Wenhai for Lin Yunjiao’s predicament, and comforted Zheng Shi without knowing she had arranged the incident.
• Lin Yunwan slept peacefully as Xiruo predicted good news, while Lin Huabin and Eldest Master Lin prepared to visit Prince Huan’s Residence.
• Old Madam Lin and Nanny Fan discussed Zheng Shi’s involvement, the young ladies’ marriages, and their suspicions about Lin Yunwan’s quick progress.
• Nanny Fan asked Nanny Zhao about Lin Yunwan’s studies and obtained a scrap of her handwriting to examine.
• Eldest Master Lin told Old Madam Lin that Prince Huan would marry Lin Yunwan as his Principal Consort and would soon bring the betrothal gifts.

Old Madam Lin questioned whether Yun Wan had concealed her literacy after learning Prince Huan wanted her as his principal consort. As Nanny Wang’s assessment approached, Nanny Fan brought Old Madam Lin a burned scrap of Yun Wan’s writing, which strengthened her suspicion.

• Old Madam Lin examined Yun Wan’s earlier writing and suspected she had written it with her left hand to hide her calligraphy skills.
• Old Madam Lin ordered Nanny Fan to find stronger evidence and prepared the household for Nanny Wang’s visit to assess Yun Wan.
• Nanny Fan told Zheng Shi to bring Yun Wan to the assessment looking dignified, while Zheng Shi struggled with jealousy and confusion over Yun Wan’s rise.
• Nanny Zhao gave Nanny Fan a scorched scrap from Yun Wan’s room, and Old Madam Lin recognized its writing as beyond the ability of a country girl.

Lin Yunwan prepared to meet Nanny Wang, who assessed her manner and musical ability during a visit to the Lin Residence. After Nanny Wang left, Old Madam Lin questioned Lin Huabin about his absence and showed him a note, which left Lin Yunwan uneasy.

• Nanny Zhao brought Lin Yunwan fashionable clothes and hair ornaments to wear for Nanny Wang’s visit, and Lin Yunwan asked her maids to help her prepare.
• Nanny Wang visited Old Madam Lin and spoke with Lin Yunwan, then asked her to play the qin and praised the refined intentions in her music.
• After Nanny Wang left, Nanny Fan told Old Madam Lin that the visitor seemed satisfied with Lin Yunwan.
• Old Madam Lin encountered Lin Huabin and questioned where he had gone the previous night, then spoke with him behind closed doors.
• Lin Yunwan listened from the next room as Old Madam Lin showed Lin Huabin a small slip of paper, and she felt uneasy.

Old Madam Lin learned that Lin Yunwan was not Zhao Jingyi’s daughter and that the real Lin Yunwan had died, then inferred that Prince Huan had arranged the marriage. Nanny Wang approved of Lin Yunwan, and Qi Lingheng sent the emperor and empress a letter urging the marriage forward.

• Old Madam Lin confronted Lin Huabin about Lin Yunwan’s exceptional calligraphy and demanded to know what he was hiding.
• Lin Huabin revealed that the girl living as Lin Yunwan was Zhao Jingyi’s daughter and that the real Lin Yunwan had died and remained buried on a mountain.
• Old Madam Lin accepted the deception, reassured Lin Yunwan, and arranged for her to keep visiting Nanny Fan before the wedding as a public explanation.
• Old Madam Lin concluded that Prince Huan had orchestrated the arrangement and told Nanny Fan to keep quiet, while she planned to enlist her eldest son and his wife to watch Lin Huabin’s branch.
• Nanny Wang praised Lin Yunwan’s education, sense, and musical ability to Qi Lingheng and Zhao Jingyi and his wife.
• Qi Lingheng wrote to the emperor and empress and ordered A Fu to send his letter by express, hoping they would read it before the other letters and be even more pleased with the marriage.

Lin Yunwan informed Qi Lingheng that Old Madam Lin had discovered her origins and tightened control over her household while preparing for their marriage. The Ministry of Rites arrived to begin the Nacai ceremony, and Zheng Shi began plotting to substitute Jiao'er for Lin Yunwan as Prince Huan’s prospective consort.

• Lin Yunwan told Xiruo that Old Madam Lin knew she was Lord Zhao's illegitimate daughter and worried the Lin Clan might later use the Prince's favor to demand repayment.
• Lin Yunwan traced the leaked paper to refuse handled by Nanny Zhao, then ordered Cuiqin to ensure nothing left Bixi Hall without her approval.
• Lin Yunwan decided to take Cuiqin as a dowry maid and worried about returning to the Capital, where the emperor and empress might recognize her.
• Xiruo delivered Lin Yunwan's letter to Qi Lingheng and brought back his reassuring reply; Lin Yunwan began embroidering a pouch for him.
• In early August, officials from the Ministry of Rites arrived at the Lin Residence for Nacai, and news of Prince Huan's marriage spread through Jiangqian.
• Zheng Shi learned the officials would come for Wenming on the sixteenth and decided to try replacing Lin Yunwan with Jiao'er, then went to discuss it with Lin Huabin.

Lin Huabin rejected Zheng Shi’s plan to switch Lin Yunwan and Lin Yunjiao’s birth details, but Zheng Shi resolved to push ahead with a scheme to secure the Prince for her daughter. After Lin Yunwan’s name-asking ceremony went smoothly, Lin Yunwan arrived to hear Lin Huabin ask Old Madam Lin to hold both sisters’ weddings together, leaving the decision unsettled.

• Lin Huabin refused Zheng Shi’s suggestion to replace Lin Yunwan’s birth details with Lin Yunjiao’s, then proposed that Yun Jiao marry Wenhai instead.
• Zheng Shi asked Lin Yunjiao whether she wanted to marry Prince Huan, and Lin Yunjiao admitted that she did; Zheng Shi told her to stay away from Wenhai and his mother.
• The Lin family celebrated the Mid-Autumn Festival, where Lin Yunwan played the qin and composed poetry with her younger sisters and sisters-in-law.
• The Ministry of Rites came to ask the bride’s name, and Lin Yunwan’s ceremony went smoothly.
• Lin Yunwan arrived for supper and overheard Lin Huabin asking Old Madam Lin to hold Lin Yunjiao’s wedding together with Lin Yunwan’s; Old Madam Lin questioned whether Zheng Shi had prompted him.

Lin Yunwan learned that Zheng Shi wanted Lin Yun Jiao to marry on the same day as her, while Old Madam Lin managed the wedding preparations and pursued a private rite for Miss Lin. After the eight-character match confirmed Lin Yunwan and Prince Huan were compatible, she heard that their wedding would not take place in the capital and questioned how the required imperial ceremonies could be held.

• Old Madam Lin told Lin Yunwan that Zheng Shi wanted Lin Yun Jiao to marry on the same day, and she began arranging Lin Yunwan’s wedding preparations.
• Lin Yunwan declined Old Madam Lin’s offer of more maids and later suspected Nanny Fan had gone away to perform rites for Miss Lin.
• After Nanny Fan returned smelling of incense and joss paper, Lin Yunwan said the Lin family should return Miss Lin’s mother’s belongings to the Su Family.
• The eight-character match between Lin Yunwan and Prince Huan was declared excellent, and Old Madam Lin announced that the family would discuss Lin Yunwan’s dowry when the betrothal gifts arrived.
• Xiruo reported that Master Su had organized the old dowry list and that Prince Huan said Lin Yunwan would not need to return to the capital for their wedding.
• Lin Yunwan wondered where the wedding would be held and pointed out that the emperor and empress could not leave the capital for the required ceremonies.

Lin Yunwan reviewed the prince's betrothal gifts, while Old Madam Lin and Lin Huabin discussed her dowry and the Su family's silver. When the gifts were moved to Lin Yunwan's courtyard, Zheng Shi tried to claim them, and Lin Yunwan confronted her.

• Lin Yunwan looked over the prince's betrothal gifts, and Old Madam Lin said they would all be added to her dowry.
• Lin Huabin showed Old Madam Lin the proposed dowry list, but she challenged him over withholding the Su family's silver from Lin Yunwan.
• After Lin Huabin left, Old Madam Lin sent Nanny Fan to help Lin Yunwan check the gifts.
• Nanny Fan found Zheng Shi arguing with the household workers over moving the gifts to her courtyard instead of Lin Yunwan's.
• Lin Yunwan asked Zheng Shi whether she intended to keep the prince's betrothal gifts, and Zheng Shi ordered the servants to move them.

Lin Yunwan prepared for the relatives’ wedding gifts while Lin Huabin and Zheng Shi settled her dowry without including Su Shi’s inheritance. The Su Family unexpectedly arrived to give Lin Yunwan wedding gifts, leaving Old Madam Lin uneasy about their return.

• Nanny Fan moved the prince’s betrothal gifts to Bixi Hall on Old Madam’s orders, frustrating Zheng Shi.
• The Wen family confirmed Yun Jiao and Wenhai were a good match and planned to bring their betrothal gifts in three days.
• Lin Huabin and Zheng Shi agreed on Yun Wan’s dowry but excluded the belongings Su Shi had left behind.
• Lin Yunwan dreamed that Yun Yi had passed the provincial examination, then joined the family as relatives brought wedding gifts for her and Yun Jiao.
• The Su Family arrived with Master Su, Madam Su, and their children to give Lin Yunwan wedding gifts, surprising Lin Huabin and unsettling Old Madam Lin.

Madam Su and Master Su visited the Lin Residence for Lin Yunwan’s wedding, bringing a substantial sum for her dowry. Master Su then demanded to compare the register of Su Shi’s original dowry with the Lin family’s records, and Old Madam Lin agreed to check them.

• Madam Su asked Old Madam Lin to receive Master Su, explaining that he wanted to pay his respects before Lin Yunwan’s marriage.
• Master Su arrived with a limp and greeted Old Madam Lin, Lin Yunwan, and Lin Huabin.
• Master Su gave Lin Yunwan a thick stack of banknotes to add to her dowry, which she accepted on Old Madam Lin’s advice.
• Master Su asked whether Su Shi’s dowry had been left to Lin Yunwan and requested to compare the dowry lists.
• Master Su revealed that he had brought Su Shi’s original register and people to check the records that day, and Old Madam Lin agreed to proceed.