Chapter Summaries

The Su Family presented ledgers proving the vast dowry Su Shi had brought to the Lin household, and Lin Huabin agreed to add it to Lin Yunwan’s dowry. Lin Yunwan refused to accept it, but Old Madam Lin decided that half would go back to the Su Family and half would remain for Yunwan, leaving Lin Huabin anxious about how to make good on the decision.

• Master Su had the dowry ledgers examined, and Nanny Fan confirmed that they were genuine before Old Madam Lin acknowledged the listed property.
• Master Su asked Lin Huabin to add the dowry to Lin Yunwan’s, and Lin Huabin agreed while privately planning to avoid returning the wealth.
• Lin Yunwan refused the dowry, explaining that accepting it would be improper and could harm her reputation and Prince Huan’s.
• Old Madam Lin ruled that half of Su Shi’s dowry would be returned to the Su Family and half kept for Lin Yunwan.
• Master Su accepted Old Madam Lin’s decision and left with his family, while Lin Huabin worried about producing the property.

Old Madam Lin compelled Lin Huabin to return Su Shi’s dowry, while Lin Yunwan visited Dong Shuangshuang and the Lin family prepared for Yunwan’s wedding to Qi Lingheng. Lin Yunjiao accepted Zheng Shi’s reassurances about losing household possessions, though she still wondered what her mother planned and thought of Cousin Wenhai.

• Old Madam Lin explained to Lin Yunwan that she had promised to return half of Su Shi’s dowry, then confronted Lin Huabin and told him to give Yunwan her share and repay the Su family with property and money.
• Lin Yunwan reunited with Dong Shuangshuang, who described her new living arrangements and her mother-in-law’s hopes for the child she was carrying.
• Lin Yunwan encouraged Dong Shuangshuang to consider her future as mistress of the Lu household, given the family’s history of having only one son per generation.
• As Yunwan and Qi Lingheng’s wedding approached, Lin Huabin’s branch moved possessions out to repay Su Shi’s dowry, while Zheng Shi calmed Lin Yunjiao by promising she would have better things at Prince Huan’s Residence.
• After Zheng Shi left, Lin Yunjiao wondered whether her mother had been lying and thought again of Cousin Wenhai.

On the eve of Lin Yunwan’s wedding, her enormous dowry was prepared while she and Lin Yunjiao received instruction for their wedding nights. As Qi Lingheng’s wedding procession arrived, Lin Yunwan suspected Zheng Shi was planning to act during the final moments before the ceremony.

• Xiruo and Cuiqin oversaw the preparation of Lin Yunwan’s extensive dowry, which included the Prince’s betrothal gifts, Su Shi’s belongings, and other contributions.
• Nanny Fan explained the wedding-night instructions to Lin Yunwan, who felt embarrassed and tried to rest before the wedding.
• Lin Yunjiao complained to Zheng Shi that her dowry was too small and that she had been made to return Su Shi’s belongings to Lin Yunwan.
• Lin Yunwan woke before dawn and received bridal makeup while relatives gathered around her, but Zheng Shi was absent.
• Qi Lingheng arrived with the wedding procession, and Lin Yunwan wondered whether Zheng Shi would make her move before the ceremony.

On her wedding day, Lin Yunwan thwarted Zheng Shi’s attempt to switch her with Lin Yunjiao by recognizing the staged fire and insisting on leaving first. After the procession departed, Nanny Fan warned Zheng Shi that Old Madam Lin knew about her scheme.

• Lin Yunwan and Xiruo noticed Lin Yunjiao was dressed to resemble the bride, and Lin Yunwan realized Zheng Shi meant to use a fire to send her daughter out first in her place.
• A fire broke out in the Through Hall, but Nanny Fan’s group quickly extinguished it before Lin Yunjiao could cross; Lin Yunwan proceeded over a clean carpet and left first.
• Nanny Fan told Zheng Shi that someone could retaliate in her courtyard just as she had done dirty work in the Eldest Branch’s Flower Garden, revealing that Old Madam Lin knew of the plot.
• Lin Yunwan bid farewell to Old Madam Lin, then left in the Grand Bridal Sedan; Lin Yunjiao followed and called Zheng Shi “Mother,” leaving Zheng Shi confused about the failed switch.
• Nanny Fan met Zheng Shi and told her to go see Old Madam Lin.

Lin Yunwan and Qi Lingheng celebrated their wedding in Jiangqian, where Qi Lingheng made sure she was cared for despite the wedding festivities. After she washed and nearly fell asleep in the bathing pool, Qi Lingheng found her and carried her back to the bridal chamber.

• Qi Lingheng checked on Lin Yunwan before her bridal sedan set off, then led her into the prince's residence for their wedding bows.
• Qi Lingheng lifted Lin Yunwan's veil, and the wedding party shared tangyuan and completed the nuptial rites.
• Qi Lingheng left for the wedding feast after asking the Zhao family adults to look after Lin Yunwan.
• Lin Yunwan's aunt cleared the bridal chamber so she could rest, and Qi Lingheng sent A Fu with a meal and offered reliable servants to help her.
• Lin Yunwan bathed and nearly fell asleep in the pool before Qi Lingheng found her, wrapped her in a cloak, and carried her back to the bridal chamber.

After their wedding, Lin Yunwan and Qi Lingheng settled into married life at Prince Huan’s Residence, where he kept her away from palace formalities and made clear that she would manage the household. On their third day, they traveled to visit the Lin family, with Qi Lingheng eager to stay close to her.

• Lin Yunwan asked when she and Qi Lingheng would return to the Capital, and he explained that he would remain in Jiangqian and had arranged for Nanny Wang to leave soon.
• Qi Lingheng and Lin Yunwan spent their wedding night together, and she woke near noon the next day.
• Qi Lingheng drew Lin Yunwan’s eyebrows, and they shared lunch before visiting Nanny Wang, whose room was already packed for her departure.
• Lin Yunwan asked Qi Lingheng about the uncollected wedding bedding, and he told her the residence was now in her hands.
• Lin Yunwan told Qi Lingheng that she had never consummated a marriage before their wedding, and they stayed at Prince Huan’s Residence for the first two days.
• On the third day, Lin Yunwan and Qi Lingheng set out to visit the Lin family, and he held her hand as they traveled.

Lin Yunwan and Qi Lingheng visited the Lin Residence, where Old Madam Lin kept Lin Huabin from turning their visit into a bid for river-embankment profits. Lin Yunjiao went to see her ill mother and discovered that Zheng Shi was confined and Nanny Fan was gone.

• Lin Yunwan and Qi Lingheng arrived at the Lin Residence and greeted Old Madam Lin, who said Zheng Shi was ill and did not need a sickbed visit.
• Lin Yunjiao and Wenhai arrived, greeted the Prince and Princess Consort, and asked where Zheng Shi was.
• Lin Huabin tried to steer his conversation with Qi Lingheng toward river-embankment work, but Old Madam Lin redirected him to family matters.
• Old Madam Lin left with Lin Yunwan and Qi Lingheng supporting her, while Lin Yunjiao and Wenhai went to Zheng Shi's courtyard.
• Lin Yunjiao found matrons guarding Zheng Shi's courtyard and learned that Nanny Fan was gone.

Lin Huabin learned from Old Madam Lin that Zheng Shi had schemed against Lin Yunwan and Lin Yunjiao and that Lin Huabin was not Prince Huan's father-in-law. He returned home furious and went to confront Zheng Shi.

• Old Madam Lin told Lin Huabin that Lin Yunwan's marriage to Prince Huan had not been a mere accident and warned him not to claim the Prince as a son-in-law.
• Old Madam Lin revealed that Zheng Shi had tried to marry Lin Yunwan to Wenhai, causing Lin Yunjiao to marry him instead, and had also caused Lin Yunwan to fall into the water and set fire to the passage hall to swap the brides.
• Lin Huabin accepted that Zheng Shi's actions had endangered the family, left Old Madam Lin, and resolved to question his wife.
• Old Madam Lin explained to Nanny Fan that she had withheld details of Lin Huabin's own offense against Prince Huan so he would fear acting presumptuously again.
• Lin Huabin scolded Lin Yunjiao for her behavior as a married woman, then went to see Zheng Shi.

Lin Huabin rejected Zheng Shi’s plan to end Lin Yunjiao’s marriage to Wenhai, and Lin Yunjiao learned that her mother had helped cause the marriage. Lin Yunwan and Qi Lingheng enlisted Master Su to help with affairs in their fief, then returned home together.

• Zheng Shi pleaded with Lin Huabin about Lin Yunjiao’s difficult marriage and proposed that the couple divorce.
• Lin Huabin accused Zheng Shi of causing Lin Yunjiao’s marriage, forbade a divorce, and confined Zheng Shi to her quarters.
• Lin Yunjiao overheard her parents and confronted Zheng Shi about conspiring with her maternal aunt to make her fall into the water.
• Lin Yunwan and Qi Lingheng visited Master Su, discussed her birth mother’s unpaid dowry, and asked him to assist them with matters in the fief.
• Master Su agreed to do his utmost, and Lin Yunwan and Qi Lingheng returned to their residence, where Qi Lingheng led her toward the bed.

Lin Yunwan heard that Lin Yunjiao was struggling with her mother-in-law and had fallen out with Zheng Shi, then went with Qi Lingheng to dine at the Zhao Residence. Back at the prince’s residence, she reflected on her peaceful days before Qi Lingheng raised his wish for a child.

• Cuiqin told Lin Yunwan that Lin Yunjiao quarreled with her formidable mother-in-law and had stopped seeking help from Zheng Shi.
• A Fu told Lin Yunwan that Qi Lingheng could not accompany her to the Zhao Residence, but Qi Lingheng surprised her by waiting in his carriage.
• Qi Lingheng asked Lin Yunwan about the grievance she had suffered at the Lin Residence, and she said it was only a small matter.
• Lin Yunwan and Qi Lingheng ate hot pot with Madam Zhao and Zhao Jingyi at the Zhao Residence.
• Back at the prince’s residence, Lin Yunwan played the zither and said she had not enjoyed such peaceful days in a long time.
• Qi Lingheng said he was troubled because he still had no children.

With the New Year approaching, Qi Lingheng and Lin Yunwan wrote memorials reassuring Emperor Jingshun and Empress Zhao about their hopes for a child, and the imperial couple replied with praise and rewards. Lin Yunwan managed the prince’s household preparations and, after hearing Dong Shuangshuang was near childbirth, made donations to Ci'en Temple; the chapter also showed the Crown Prince being sent home in the snow and examined by Imperial Physician Chen.

• Lin Yunwan learned that Qi Lingheng had promised Emperor Jingshun and Empress Zhao an imperial grandson, and she and Qi Lingheng each wrote a memorial taking responsibility for the delay.
• Emperor Jingshun and Empress Zhao praised the couple, sent generous rewards, and said they hoped to meet Lin Yunwan the following year.
• Emperor Jingshun turned away the Crown Prince because of the severe wind and snow, then sent Imperial Physician Chen to examine him and ordered rare medicines for his residence.
• Lin Yunwan discussed finding a suitable marriage for Xiruo and began organizing the prince's household affairs and New Year gifts.
• Lin Yunwan heard that Dong Shuangshuang was expected to give birth in the first month and arranged donations to Ci'en Temple, where the Su Family had also donated.

Lin Yunwan visited the Lin Residence and learned that Lin Huabin had sent Zheng Shi to the country estate while Concubine Man quietly took charge of the household. At the Lantern Festival, Lin Yunwan’s riddle spread her reputation in Jiangqian, and the chapter ended with her and Qi Lingheng suspecting she might be pregnant.

• Lin Yunwan and Qi Lingheng visited the Lin Residence, where Concubine Man told Lin Yunwan that Zheng Shi had been sent to the country estate after quarreling with Lin Huabin.
• Lin Huabin returned and kept the couple from staying for lunch, then asked Concubine Man to prepare dishes for Wenhai.
• Lin Yunwan explained to Qi Lingheng why Lin Huabin would not divorce Zheng Shi, and warned him that Concubine Man was patient and should not be underestimated.
• At the Lantern Festival feast, Lin Yunwan wrote a riddle and offered a jade bangle as the prize, and Nanny Zhao spread the word about her talents.
• Qi Lingheng returned with Lin Yunwan’s riddle and said scholars throughout Jiangqian were trying to solve it.
• Lin Yunwan realized her monthly courses were late, and Qi Lingheng said he would have a physician check her pulse the next day.

Lin Yunwan learned that Dong Shuangshuang had given birth to a son and later attended the child’s full-month banquet, where her congratulatory tribute drew notice. When she returned, Qi Lingheng revealed that he had brought her younger brother Lin Yunyi to see her, and Lin Yunyi told her he was studying at Mingshan Academy with Chang Gong.

• A physician found no sign of pregnancy but confirmed Lin Yunwan was in good health, and Qi Lingheng rewarded him.
• After hearing Dong Shuangshuang had given birth to a boy, Lin Yunwan sent her nourishing medicine and gifts for the child and offered to register his name at Prince Huan’s Residence.
• At the Lu family’s full-month banquet, Lin Yunwan gave the child a congratulatory tribute that spread and made her literary talent known.
• When Lin Yunwan returned, she hurried to Qi Lingheng’s study and found that he had brought Lin Yunyi to see her.
• Lin Yunwan reunited with Lin Yunyi, who explained that he had come on a study tour and was now studying at Mingshan Academy with Chang Gong.

Lin Yunwan saw her brother Lin Yunyi off after he visited Jiangqian, and entrusted Qi Lingheng with finding someone connected to a leopard-tail jade pendant. Back at the prince's residence, she arranged to let Xiruo meet Xu Tianyou and learned from a physician that she was two months pregnant.

• Lin Yunwan worried that Ge Bao'er and the Lu family might cause trouble for the Lin family, so she asked Qi Lingheng to help find someone using the leopard-tail jade pendant.
• Lin Yunwan and Qi Lingheng showed Lin Yunyi around Jiangqian and took him to Ci'en Temple before his departure.
• Lin Yunyi refused Qi Lingheng's list of official contacts, saying he wanted to become strong enough to protect his sister and family himself.
• After seeing Lin Yunyi off, Qi Lingheng went to the government office to address concerns about possible disasters and the province's river dikes and weirs.
• Lin Yunwan learned that Xiruo was interested in Xu Tianyou and agreed to ask whether he would meet her, then summoned a physician when her monthly courses failed to come.
• The physician told Lin Yunwan that she was two months pregnant.

Lin Yunwan discovered she was pregnant and kept the news from Qi Lingheng until he returned, after which they shared their joy and arranged Xiruo’s marriage. As heavy rain threatened Yulin, Lin Yunwan prepared for a possible epidemic, and the chapter ended with news that a river embankment had breached.

• Lin Yunwan learned she was pregnant and told Cuiqin and the other maid to keep it from Qi Lingheng until after the first three months.
• Qi Lingheng returned from Yulin, realized Lin Yunwan was acting differently, and was overjoyed when she revealed her pregnancy.
• Qi Lingheng and Lin Yunwan agreed to arrange Xiruo’s marriage, and Xiruo married Commander Wei’s youngest legitimate son in the sixth month.
• Lin Yunwan asked Dong Shuangshuang to buy medicinal ingredients in case flooding around Yulin brought an epidemic.
• After heavy rain fell for half a month, A Fu hurried to report an emergency, and Lin Yunwan overheard that a river embankment had breached.

After Qi Lingheng left to deal with the flooding, Lin Yunwan learned that refugees and students had been trapped outside Jiangqian City. Despite her pregnancy and worsening morning sickness, she organized aid with the Su and Lin families and went to the city gates, where she found the students gathered in the rain.

• Qi Lingheng left Jiangqian that night to respond to the flood, while Lin Yunwan stayed behind as her morning sickness worsened.
• Dong Shuangshuang told Lin Yunwan that refugees from other provinces had reached Jiangqian but were being kept outside the city gates.
• Lin Yunwan asked Dong Shuangshuang for help and entrusted her dowry silver and useful supplies to Master Su for disaster relief.
• Lin Yunwan asked the Lin family to support the relief effort, and Old Madam Lin ordered the family to contribute funds and halt Lin Huabin's wine production.
• Lin Yunwan traveled to the city gates in the rain with Cuiqin and Xiruo, where she saw refugees and Green Gull Academy students gathered outside the walls.

Lin Yunwan watched the disaster victims and Green Gull Academy scholars press against Jiangqian’s city gate, then intervened when the authorities’ negotiations failed and force threatened to cause deaths. She sent Xu Tianyou to deliver instructions bearing Prince Huan’s seal, and the Prefect finally agreed to carry them out.

• The Assistant Prefect of Jiangqian Prefecture blamed the Green Gull Academy scholars for stirring up trouble, while Xiruo defended them and Lin Yunwan decided to wait before intervening.
• After the Assistant Prefect’s negotiations with the scholars failed, the Prefect ordered yamen and garrison men to suppress them by force, and Lin Yunwan felt pain in her belly as she heard the news.
• Lin Yunwan wrote several pages of instructions, stamped the last page with Prince Huan’s private seal, and told Xu Tianyou to take them to the Prefect and enforce them as the Prince’s orders.
• Xu Tianyou delivered the instructions to the Prefect, who hesitated to obey what he suspected came from Lin Yunwan, but yielded when Xu Tianyou threatened to detain anyone who defied the sealed orders.
• The Prefect agreed to carry out the instructions and kept the document bearing Prince Huan’s seal, while Xu Tianyou urged him to act without delay.

Lin Yunwan organized porridge and rain shelters to calm Jiangqian’s disaster victims, while Xu Tianyou persuaded Green Gull Academy’s scholars to let the books be moved into the city. After noticing that the Su Family’s contribution was being credited to the Lin Residence, Lin Yunwan ordered the Su Family’s banner displayed and Master Su and his son invited over.

• Lin Yunwan sent porridge and arranged rain shelters for the disaster victims, who dispersed after receiving food.
• Xu Tianyou persuaded the scholars guarding Green Gull Academy’s books to accept his protection and help distribute porridge; he identified Lin Yunwan as the person who ordered the books escorted into the city.
• Xia Jin recognized Lin Yunwan as possibly the Lin clan’s Di Daughter who had supposedly died, and went to help distribute porridge.
• Lin Yunwan learned that the Lin Residence had taken credit for the Su Family’s porridge despite using the Su Family’s money and sending only two of its people.
• Lin Yunwan ordered Xiruo to put the Su Family’s banner beside Prince Huan’s Residence’s shelter and invite Master Su and his son.

Lin Yunwan coordinated disaster relief in Jiangqian while heavily pregnant and waiting for Qi Lingheng to return. After several days without news of him, she planned to return to the prince's residence, but Xiruo arrived with urgent news.

• Lin Yunwan urged Master Su to make the Su family's role in distributing congee visible, and Master Su joined his son and servants in the relief effort.
• Lin Huabin tried to keep Master Su's family separate from the Lin Residence's relief work, but Master Su refused and demanded repayment of the silver.
• Lin Yunwan learned that physicians were treating vulnerable disaster victims and that officials and local gentry were offering aid and making themselves known.
• Nanny Lü reported that the prefect had sent people to find Qi Lingheng, whose return could take several days, and Lin Yunwan decided they could manage for three more days.
• After two more days without news of Qi Lingheng, Lin Yunwan told Cuiqin she would return to the prince's residence at sunset the next day, but Xiruo hurried in with urgent news.

Lin Yunwan continued overseeing Jiangqian’s flood relief while officials and scholars criticized her for interfering in government, and she grew increasingly worried when Qi Lingheng failed to return. Qi Lingheng arrived, defended her before the officials, and hurried to find her at the residence.

• Lin Yunwan dismissed Xiruo’s anger over rumors that she had taken credit for Prince Huan’s work and urged her to focus on helping the disaster victims.
• When Qi Lingheng remained missing, the Prefect’s colleagues challenged Lin Yunwan’s authority, while scholars complained about her role in the relief effort.
• Xia Jin took a scholar’s congee after he disparaged Lin Yunwan, and the relief stalls refused to serve him.
• Qi Lingheng appeared on the city gate tower and went to meet the Jiangqian officials.
• Qi Lingheng told the officials that Lin Yunwan had issued his instructions with his permission and rebuked them for spreading rumors about her.
• Qi Lingheng returned to the residence and hurried to find Lin Yunwan in the Main Courtyard.