Chapter Summaries

After Lu Zhengliu caused a scandal at the Duke's Residence by harassing the Prince Huan Consort, Ge Bao'er learned he had called the Princess Consort Yun Wan and returned to the Wuding Marquis Residence to confront him. Lu Changzong's confused memories of a woman from his past deepened her suspicion that the woman who had burned to death might have appeared again.

• Ge Bao'er and Lady Liu found Madam Chen shaken after Lu Zhengliu harassed the Prince Huan Consort, while Lu Zhengliu admitted he was wrong and walked away.
• Ge Bao'er learned from the Stewardess that Lu Zhengliu had called the Princess Consort Yun Wan and hurried back to the Wuding Marquis Residence to find him.
• At the Duke's Residence, Chen Heir Apparent argued with Madam Chen about her ties to the Lu family, then decided he and Second Master Chen should apologize at Prince Huan's Residence.
• Madam Chen fainted after her heart ailment flared up, and Chen Heir Apparent sent for a physician.
• Ge Bao'er found Lu Changzong holding bamboo and learned he might have seen the woman he remembered at the Duke's Residence.
• Ge Bao'er went to confront Lu Zhengliu, wondering whether the woman who had burned to death had returned.

Lu Zhengliu became convinced that Prince Huan’s Consort resembled Lin Yunwan and went to dig up the Lin family grave, while Qi Lingheng and Lin Yunwan dealt with Duke Xingguo’s Residence’s apology. The grave had been moved, and the emperor heard the rumors but did not question them.

• Lu Zhengliu left to inspect the Lin family ancestral graves after Ge Bao’er insisted Lin Yunwan had died.
• Zhu Qing discussed the rumors with Lu Chang’gong and told Mu’er that she had her mother, her elder brother, and their Young Madam.
• A Fu told Qi Lingheng that Lu Zhengliu intended to dig up Lin Yunwan’s grave, but Yun Yi had moved it years earlier.
• Lin Yunwan accepted Duke Xingguo’s Residence’s apology, judging that the Lu family’s wrongdoing did not require punishing the entire household.
• Qi Lingheng sent Qi Zaijun to the palace, where Emperor Jingshun welcomed him and declined to ask about the rumors.

Ge Bao'er and Madam Chen suspected that the Prince Huan Consort was Lin Yunwan returned from the dead, while Lin Yunyi and Wenhai entered the Provincial Examinations. At a banquet after the exams, the ailing Crown Prince warmly received Qi Zaijun and gave him his Jade Thumb Ring.

• Lu Zhengliu became convinced that the Prince Huan Consort was Lin Yunwan, while Ge Bao'er insisted on seeing her for herself.
• Ge Bao'er asked Madam Chen to arrange a meeting, and Madam Chen agreed to wait for an opportunity to take her secretly to see the Prince Huan Consort.
• Lin Yunyi, Lu Chang'gong, and Wenhai entered the Provincial Examinations, and Lin Yunjiao argued with Wen Mu over Wenhai's prospects and her own place in the family.
• After the nine-day examinations, Lin Yunjiao wondered whether Lin Yun Wan was truly her sister returned in another body.
• At a Crown Prince's Residence banquet, the Crown Prince warmly received Qi Zaijun and gave him the Jade Thumb Ring Emperor Jingshun had bestowed on him.

At the Crown Prince’s banquet, Ge Bao’er recognized Lin Yunwan and returned with Madam Chen determined that Lin had survived and framed her. Lin later learned why Qi Lingheng had once fought the Crown Prince, and the Provincial Examination results revealed several familiar names among those who passed.

• Qi Zaijun showed Lin Yunwan the jade thumb ring the Crown Prince had given him, while Ge Bao’er disguised as a maid caught sight of Lin and recognized her.
• Madam Chen took Ge Bao’er away, where Ge insisted Lin Yunwan was alive and had conspired with her adopted son to frame her; Madam Chen worried that the adopted son might gain control of the Lu family.
• The Crown Prince Consort told Lin Yunwan that Madam Chen had visited the residence, and Lin guessed that Ge Bao’er had been the maid who broke a cup.
• Lin showed Qi Lingheng the Crown Prince’s ring, and he explained that he had been sent away from the Capital after fighting the Crown Prince over the Crown Prince’s wet nurse and the punishment she received.
• The Provincial Examination results showed that Yun Yi, Chang Gong, Wenhai, and Xia Jin had all passed, and Qi Lingheng predicted that someone would soon seek out Ge Bao’er.

Lin Yunyi and Lu Chang'gong celebrated passing the provincial examinations, while Ge Bao'er pressed Lu Zhengliu about Lin Yunwan and set out to question her relatives. Lu Chang'gong stayed with Mu'er, teaching her and wishing his absent mother could share his success.

• Lin Yunyi placed thirty-second in the provincial examinations, received congratulations from the Lin clan, and remembered that his late sister Yun Wan had taught Lu Chang'gong.
• Lu Zhengliu celebrated Lu Chang'gong passing the examinations at fifteen, but Old Madam Lu became confused and asked whether Yun Wan had returned.
• Lu Zhengliu caught Ge Bao'er's maid revealing that Madam Chen was searching for Lin Yunwan's former servants, and Ge Bao'er challenged him about Yunwan's supposed death and current life as Prince Huan Consort.
• Ge Bao'er told Lu Zhengliu that Lin Yunjiao was related to Prince Huan Consort and decided to visit the Wen family to seek evidence.
• Lu Chang'gong taught Mu'er to write and promised to teach her boxing, swordplay, and riding; Zhu Qing said Yun Wan's spirit had blessed his success.

Ge Bao'er visited Lin Yunjiao and offered her money to identify Lin Yunwan as the Prince Huan Consort, but Lin Yunjiao refused and gave Ge Bao'er information to investigate on her own. Lin Yunjiao then visited Lin Yunwan at Prince Huan's Residence and returned the money, insisting she owed her nothing.

• Ge Bao'er visited Lin Yunjiao and offered five hundred taels for her to identify the Prince Huan Consort.
• Lin Yunjiao refused to identify Lin Yunwan, but gave Ge Bao'er information to investigate and accepted eight hundred taels.
• Lin Yunjiao went to Prince Huan's Residence, and Lin Yunwan welcomed her and prepared refreshments and gifts for the children.
• Lin Yunjiao returned the banknotes to Lin Yunwan and said she had come only because of the money from the Wuding Marquis Residence.

Lin Yunjiao told Lin Yunwan that Ge Bao'er had asked about her origins, but refused to identify her and accepted help for her family. Meanwhile, Lin Yunyi’s examination success drew marriage interest, the Chang family turned against Duke Xingguo’s Residence, and Ge Bao'er claimed she had found evidence that Lin Yunwan was not Prince Huan Consort.

• Lin Yunjiao told Lin Yunwan about Ge Bao'er’s questions and refused to help the Lu family’s Concubine identify her, then left with gifts and an eight-hundred-tael banknote.
• Lin Yunjiao bought clothes for Wenhai, their child, herself, and Wen Mu, while Wenhai thanked her and promised not to claim connections to the Prince’s household.
• Lin Yunwan read that Lin Yunyi had passed the Provincial Examinations and discussed his decision to postpone marriage until after the Metropolitan Examination with Qi Lingheng.
• Madam Chang regretted missing the chance to match her daughter with Lin Yunyi, and Prefect Chang agreed to write a memorial against Duke Xingguo’s Residence.
• Ge Bao'er told Madam Chen that she had found evidence that Lin Yunwan was the Lin Family’s Di Daughter and the former mistress of the Marquis of Wuding’s household, not Prince Huan Consort.

Ge Bao'er persuaded Madam Chen and Lu Zhengliu to help expose Lin Yunwan’s identity, hoping to destroy her and secure the Wuding Marquis Residence for Qing'er. Lu Zhengliu agreed to approach Prince Huan privately, while Ge Bao'er secretly resolved that Lin Yunwan could not be allowed to live.

• Ge Bao'er convinced Madam Chen to seek help from the Crown Prince and Crown Prince Consort in exposing Lin Yunwan as an impostor.
• Madam Chen agreed that the Crown Prince’s side might exploit the accusation, though she worried about offending Prince Huan.
• Ge Bao'er told Lu Zhengliu she had met with the Jiangqian Lin family and suggested Lin Yunwan could be exposed and brought back to him.
• Lu Zhengliu agreed to speak with Prince Huan in private but warned Ge Bao'er not to spread the accusation publicly.
• After Lu Zhengliu left, Ge Bao'er decided Lin Yunwan had to die so Qing'er could inherit the Wuding Marquis Residence.

Lin Yunwan and Qi Lingheng agreed to let Yun Yi choose his own marriage after his examinations. Lu Zhengliu tried to expose Lin Yunwan’s past to Qi Lingheng, but learned that Qi Lingheng already knew and had helped her; meanwhile, Ge Bao’er sought the Crown Prince’s support, and Lin Yunwan prepared to face the Crown Prince’s birthday banquet.

• Lin Yunwan told Qi Lingheng that Yun Yi wanted a steady wife and proposed letting him choose after his examinations; Qi Lingheng agreed to support his choice.
• Qi Lingheng met Lu Zhengliu in secret, and Lu Zhengliu claimed Lin Yunwan had once been mistress of the Wuding Marquis Residence and said he had proof she deceived the emperor.
• Qi Lingheng revealed that he knew Lin Yunwan’s past and said he himself had deceived the emperor, leaving Lu Zhengliu stunned.
• Lu Zhengliu left in disarray, realizing Qi Lingheng had secretly helped Lin Yunwan fake her death and leave the Wuding Marquis Residence.
• Ge Bao’er concluded that the Crown Prince might care about Lin Yunwan’s identity and arranged to meet the Crown Prince Consort.
• Lin Yunwan and Qi Lingheng discussed the Crown Prince’s unusual birthday banquet; Lin Yunwan said she was unafraid and looked forward to confronting Lu Zhengliu and Ge Bao’er.

Lin Yunwan attended the Crown Prince’s birthday banquet with Qi Zaijun, where the Crown Prince Consort arranged for her to face Madam Chen and the Old Madam of the Wuding Marquis Residence. Old Madam Lu begged Lin Yunwan to return to the Lu family, and the Crown Prince framed the confrontation as an inquiry into her innocence; Prince Huan arrived as the scene ended.

• Lin Yunwan and Qi Zaijun arrived at the banquet, where the Crown Prince Consort warmly welcomed Lin Yunwan and seated her beside Madam Chen of Duke Xingguo’s Residence.
• The Old Madam of the Wuding Marquis Residence arrived in a wheelchair, recognized Lin Yunwan as Yunwan, and begged her to return to the Lu family.
• Cuiqin tried to have Old Madam Lu removed, while Lin Yunwan denied being the person she had mistaken her for.
• The Crown Prince arrived and told Qi Zaijun that he and the Crown Prince Consort were investigating Lin Yunwan, then assured her she would not be wronged.
• A Fu announced Prince Huan’s arrival, and the Crown Prince ordered that he be admitted.

At the banquet, the Crown Prince investigated Ge Bao'er’s claim that Lin Yunwan looked exactly like the late mistress of the Lu family. The chapter ended with Lu Zhengliu presenting a portrait of his late wife as evidence, while Qi Lingheng remained protective of Lin Yunwan.

• Qi Lingheng arrived at the banquet and sat beside Lin Yunwan and Qi Zaijun, then asked the Crown Prince whether the commotion concerned Prince Huan's Residence.
• The Crown Prince Consort sent the ladies to the Warm Pavilions, and Ge Bao'er identified herself as Concubine Ge of the Wuding Marquis Residence.
• Ge Bao'er brought four maids before the Crown Prince; three said Lin Yunwan resembled their former Young Madam, while Xiliu said Lin Yunwan looked more dignified and gentle and had different eyes.
• Ge Bao'er urged the Crown Prince to hear evidence from Lu Zhengliu, who entered with a portrait of his late wife and claimed it proved the resemblance.
• Qi Lingheng squeezed Lin Yunwan’s hand as Lu Zhengliu presented the portrait, and Lin Yunwan reassured her husband in return.

At the Crown Prince’s Residence, Ge Bao’er tried to prove Lin Yunwan was the missing Young Madam by presenting witnesses, but each one denied recognizing her. Lin Yunjiao also rejected Ge Bao’er’s claims, leaving the accusation unsupported as the hearing continued.

• Ge Bao’er brought Zhu Qing and her daughter Mu’er before the Crown Prince and Crown Prince Consort, but Zhu Qing denied knowing Lin Yunwan and accused Ge Bao’er of trying to harm her.
• Lu Chang'gong arrived with Ping Ye and Tao Ye; both maids said Lin Yunwan resembled their former mistress but was not her.
• When Ge Bao’er claimed Lin Yunjiao had privately said the Princess Consort was not her real elder sister, Qi Lingheng had Lin Yunjiao brought in.
• Lin Yunjiao denied making the claim and affirmed that Lin Yunwan was her elder sister, accusing Ge Bao’er of harboring ulterior motives.

At the Crown Prince’s birthday gathering, Qi Lingheng exposed the weakness in the accusations against Lin Yunwan and led her away. Outside the residence, Lin Yunwan presented Madam Chen with a woman who looked like Ge Bao’er and carried the Leopard-Tail Jade Pendant, leaving Madam Chen convinced she had found her missing daughter while Ge Bao’er accused Lin Yunwan of plotting against her.

• Qi Lingheng questioned the Wuding Marquis Residence maids, who withdrew their claim that Lin Yunwan resembled their late Young Madam, and Ge Bao’er’s outburst further undermined her accusation.
• Qi Lingheng left the Crown Prince’s residence with Lin Yunwan and Qi Zaijun, while the Crown Prince Consort had the Wuding Marquis Residence party removed.
• Madam Chen regretted trusting Ge Bao’er, then met Lin Yunwan outside and saw a veiled woman who looked like Ge Bao’er and carried the Leopard-Tail Jade Pendant.
• Madam Chen recognized the pendant and embraced the woman as her missing daughter, while Ge Bao’er tried to claim the pendant and was rebuked by Madam Chen.
• Ge Bao’er accused Lin Yunwan of arranging the lookalike to clear herself, and Lu Zhengliu recognized Lin Yunwan as the woman he had believed was dead.
• Qi Lingheng lowered Lin Yunwan’s carriage curtain and ordered the coachman back to the residence.

Lu Zhengliu struggled to accept that Lin Yunwan had returned, while Lu Chang'gong and Zhu Qing revealed they had long known and were waiting for her. At a palace banquet, Emperor Jingshun confronted Qi Lingheng about his marriage to Lin Yunwan, and Qi Lingheng said it was what the Crown Prince owed him.

• Lu Zhengliu insisted that Prince Huan's Consort was Lin Yunwan, but Zhu Qing and Lu Chang'gong denied it to protect the Lu family.
• Duke Xingguo's Residence reclaimed Ge Bao'er's wealth and servants, and Lu Chang'gong reassured Zhu Qing that they would manage with Lin Yunwan's help.
• Zhu Qing realized Lu Chang'gong had known Lin Yunwan was alive and had helped her from within the residence.
• Emperor Jingshun questioned the Crown Prince, Qi Lingheng, and Qi Zaijun about rumors concerning Lin Yunwan, but the Crown Prince dismissed them and Qi Lingheng deferred to him.
• Emperor Jingshun showed Qi Lingheng a secret letter confirming the facts of his marriage in Jiangqian, and Qi Lingheng said it was what the Crown Prince owed him.

Emperor Jingshun and Empress Zhao discussed Qi Lingheng’s past and agreed that he had protected Lin Yunwan by taking responsibility for her resemblance to the Lin family’s daughter. As the Crown Prince’s health worsened, Qi Lingheng and Lin Yunwan looked ahead to the Lu family’s reckoning and learned that Lu Chang'gong had privately sought Qi Lingheng’s help.

• Emperor Jingshun told Empress Zhao that Qi Lingheng had admitted Lin Yunwan was the Lin family’s daughter, and they recalled how the Crown Prince’s wet nurse had nearly harmed Qi Lingheng.
• Empress Zhao recognized that Qi Lingheng had claimed Lin Yunwan merely resembled the Lin family’s daughter to protect her, and Emperor Jingshun accepted that the people believed it.
• Qi Zaijun said he would like his eldest uncle only if the Crown Prince stopped making things difficult for his Mother Consort.
• An imperial physician reported that the Crown Prince had been saved, but his health continued to deteriorate.
• Lin Yunwan asked Qi Lingheng about the knife-wielding palace maid, and he explained that his years away from the Capital had broadened his view of the world.
• Qi Lingheng told Lin Yunwan that Duke Xingguo had returned and that Lu Chang'gong had privately come to him, while he planned to let the Lu family face turmoil before the Imperial Court acted.

Qi Lingheng hinted that Lu Chang'gong had a hidden side, while the Wuding Marquis Residence crumbled under financial and clan pressures. Lu Chang'gong quietly maneuvered against Xiao Xuan, and Ge Bao'er learned of her schemes but feared Lu Changzong would not believe her.

• Qi Lingheng told Lin Yunwan that Chang Gong likely had reasons for keeping his actions from her.
• Lu Zhengliu lamented the family’s decline and urged Lu Chang'gong to protect the ancestral home and land and focus on his studies.
• Lu Zhengliu learned the clansmen wanted to divide the ancestral land and rushed to confront them.
• Lu Chang'gong asked Qianru about Xiao Xuan, then had Zhu Qing alert Ge Bao'er to Xiao Xuan’s suspicious outings.
• Ge Bao'er learned Xiao Xuan had been leaving the residence and feared Lu Changzong would dismiss her warning, but she resolved that Qing'er was still her son.

Lu Changzong caught Xiao Xuan with a supposed lover, only to learn the visitor was an old woman treating her, and Xiao Xuan claimed she was pregnant. After she blamed Concubine Ge and Nanny Yan told him that Concubine Ge had poisoned Old Madam, Lu Changzong was left to choose whether to report his mother, while Lu Chang'gong heard that Concubine Zhu Qing’s plan had been carried out.

• Lu Chang'gong told Qianru to warn Xiao Xuan that she was being followed, while Concubine Ge arranged for maids to tell Lu Changzong that Xiao Xuan was secretly meeting a man.
• Lu Changzong forced his way into the house where Xiao Xuan had gone and found her with an apparent lover, but the visitor turned out to be an old woman treating her.
• Xiao Xuan told Lu Changzong that she was pregnant, then pressed him to bring in the maids who had tipped him off; they confessed that Concubine Ge had paid and threatened them.
• Xiao Xuan accused Concubine Ge of wanting to harm her and her unborn child, and Lu Changzong promised to think of a way to protect them.
• Nanny Yan told Lu Changzong that Concubine Ge had poisoned Old Madam, then urged him to reason with his mother.
• Qianru told Lu Chang'gong that Concubine Zhu Qing’s plan had been taken care of, and Lu Chang'gong wondered whether Lu Changzong would report Concubine Ge.

Ge Bao'er tried to have Xiao Xuan seized after Lu Zhengliu refused to intervene, while Lu Changzong secretly prepared to bring a lawsuit against his birth mother. The authorities arrived at the Wuding Marquis Residence, and Lu Chang'gong ordered the Second Gate opened.

• Ge Bao'er urged Lu Zhengliu to send Xiao Xuan away, but he accused her of manipulating Qing'er and gave her one last chance to act herself.
• Lu Changzong read instructions on bringing a lawsuit and followed them in secret.
• After Lu Zhengliu returned, he confronted Ge Bao'er and refused to help her remove Xiao Xuan.
• Ge Bao'er led her servants to seize Xiao Xuan, then ordered them to strangle her when Xiao Xuan revealed she was carrying Lu Changzong's child.
• Zhu Qing asked Lu Chang'gong whether they should intervene, and he told her to wait for the authorities.
• When the authorities arrived, Lu Chang'gong ordered the Second Gate opened, and Zhu Qing realized Lu Changzong had sued his own birth mother.

Shuntian Prefecture arrested Ge Bao'er after Lu Changzong accused her of poisoning Old Madam Lu and trying to kill Xiao Xuan. As the Old Madam died and officials arrived to confiscate the Wuding Marquis Residence’s property, Lu Zhengliu took Lu Chang'gong aside to give him instructions.

• Lu Chang'gong agreed to take Mu'er to the Second Gate, where Shuntian Prefecture bailiffs announced they were arresting Ge Bao'er for poisoning Old Madam Lu.
• The bailiffs found Ge Bao'er after she had tried to strangle Xiao Xuan, and Lu Changzong revealed that he had reported his mother to the authorities.
• Lu Changzong denounced Ge Bao'er and comforted Xiao Xuan, while the bailiffs prepared to investigate Old Madam Lu's food and drink.
• Old Madam Lu confessed her regret over mistreating Yun Wan and allowing Ge Bao'er into the family, then died as Lu Zhengliu wept beside her.
• A steward announced that officials had come to confiscate the Wuding Marquis Residence’s property, and Lu Zhengliu took Lu Chang'gong aside to speak with him.

Lu Chang'gong rejected Lu Zhengliu’s dying instructions and revealed that his resentment stemmed from Lu Zhengliu causing his mother’s death. As the authorities confiscated the Wuding Marquis Residence, Qi Lingheng took charge of the case and Lin Yunwan said Lu Chang'gong should be judged by what motivated his actions.

• Lu Chang'gong refused to protect the Lu family, saying he would send Lu Zhengliu’s biological sons away, sell the ancestral fields, and leave the family’s affairs to their fate.
• Lu Chang'gong told Lu Zhengliu that he blamed him for his mother’s death and had known Yun Wan faked her death.
• Lu Zhengliu attacked Lu Chang'gong but fell, and Lu Chang'gong said he would observe mourning before taking the next examination after the family was gone.
• Guards and government officers arrived to confiscate the Wuding Marquis Residence and placed Lu Zhengliu in a cangue; Lu Chang'gong comforted Mu'er as she hid with him.
• Qi Lingheng told Lin Yunwan he would preside over the Lu family case, and she said Lu Chang'gong should be judged by what he had acted for.