Chapter Summaries

Lin Yunwan gave up teaching Lu Qing after Ge Bao'er interfered, and the Lu family decided to hire Zhang Feng'an instead. Back in Drooping Silk Hall, Lin Yunwan encouraged Lu Chang'gong's wish to improve his handwriting before a servant reported that Qiao Da had covered Ge Bao'er in dung.

• Ge Bao'er criticized Lin Yunwan's teaching, but Lin Yunwan challenged her knowledge of raising children and offered to resign rather than teach Lu Qing under the family's complaints.
• Lu Zhengliu returned and told Old Madam Lu that Zhang Feng'an had reconsidered leaving the capital and was willing to teach, provided he had only one student and the elders accepted his strict methods.
• Old Madam Lu agreed to hire Zhang Feng'an for Lu Qing, while Lu Zhengliu learned that Lu Chang'gong had written beautifully on his first day of practice.
• Lu Zhengliu told Ge Bao'er to stop interfering in Lu Qing's studies, and she reassured herself that she had secured a better teacher for him.
• Lin Yunwan teased Lu Chang'gong about studying under her, and he said he wanted beautiful handwriting like hers.
• A garden servant reported that Qiao Da had thrown human, horse, and chicken dung all over Ge Bao'er.

Qiao Da doused Ge Bao'er in dung and publicly cursed her for pursuing the Lu family’s men, while Lin Yunwan refused to intervene and waited for Old Madam Lu to ask. When Lu Zhengliu tried to have Qiao Da beaten, the Marquis and Marchioness of Wuding ordered him to stop, and he left in anger.

• An old servant told Ping Ye that Qiao Da had thrown dung on Ge Bao'er in the garden, and Lin Yunwan decided to wait rather than handle the situation herself.
• Old Madam Lu learned that Qiao Da had accused Ge Bao'er of flirting with men in the household, and she feared the scandal would spread beyond the residence.
• Old Madam Lu sent Nanny Yan to tell Lin Yunwan to send Qiao Da away, but Lin Yunwan had not yet acted.
• Ping Ye reported that Lu Zhengliu planned to have Qiao Da beaten, so Lin Yunwan went to the Front Courtyard.
• Lu Zhengliu ordered the servants to strike Qiao Da, but a messenger delivered the Marquis and Marchioness of Wuding’s order forbidding the beating.
• Lu Zhengliu angrily left for the inner courtyard, suspecting that Wei Shi had intervened because she wanted to protect Bao'er.

Lin Yunwan defended Qiao Da from Lu Zhengliu’s punishment by explaining his loyalty and hardship, and Old Madam Lu finally agreed to let him repair the residence. Qiao Da happily worked through the night, while Zhang Feng’an arrived at the Wuding Marquis Residence and met Lu Chang'gong.

• Lu Zhengliu came to the Hall of Longevity intending to punish Qiao Da, but Lin Yunwan reminded him of Qiao Da’s sacrifices and the loss of his son and grandson.
• Lin Yunwan explained that the residence had cut Qiao Da’s former job after the young cousin arrived, and Wei Shi learned that Old Madam Lu had ordered the cut herself.
• Old Madam Lu rejected Lin Yunwan’s proposal to put Qiao Da in charge of repairs and suggested sending him to the estate, but she relented when Lin Yunwan prepared to announce it as her decision.
• Ge Bao'er learned that Qiao Da had not been punished and had instead received the lucrative repair job.
• Qiao Da worked late making furniture for Lin Yunwan, finishing two small stools by daybreak.
• Zhang Feng’an moved into the Wuding Marquis Residence and met Lu Chang'gong.

Lu Chang'gong met Zhang Feng'an and chose to continue studying with Lin Yunwan for now. Lin Yunwan prompted Wei Shi to take charge of Ge Bao'er's allowance, and Wei Shi arranged shabby quarters for her, leaving Ge Bao'er to face Nanny Yan's warning to keep a lower profile.

• Zhang Feng'an met Lu Chang'gong, judged him a diligent and sensible boy, and returned to his guest room pleased.
• Lu Chang'gong told Lin Yunwan about meeting Zhang Feng'an and declined to study with him, saying he would keep learning from her before returning to school.
• Lin Yunwan asked Wei Shi to decide Ge Bao'er's monthly allowance, and Wei Shi angrily took over the matter.
• Wei Shi assigned Ge Bao'er an old room, battered furniture, and two unhelpful maids, prompting Ge Bao'er to cry over the insult.
• Nanny Yan told Ge Bao'er that Wei Shi had arranged the room and urged her to behave herself and stop interfering in Young Master Qing's affairs.

Ge Bao'er resolved to learn from Lin Yunwan, while Lin Yunwan agreed to visit her family with Lu Zhengliu after his proposed appointment. When Zhang Feng'an refused to teach Qing, Lin Yunwan learned why and negotiated conditions for him to continue.

• Ge Bao'er sent Wu'er to buy writing supplies so she could study and copy Buddhist scriptures for Old Madam Lu.
• Old Madam Lu told Lin Yunwan and Lu Zhengliu to visit the Lin family the next day after Lu Zhengliu reported a proposed post at the Dragon-Tiger Guard Command Office.
• Nanny Yan reported that Zhang Feng'an no longer wanted to teach Qing, and Lu Zhengliu learned that Zhang preferred teaching Chang Gong.
• Zhang Feng'an told Lin Yunwan that Qing was unwilling to study and was indulged by the household, so she negotiated conditions for him to continue teaching.
• Lin Yunwan told Old Madam Lu that Qing had to be as diligent and well-behaved as Chang Gong, and the Lu family could not publicly claim Qing as Zhang's student; Old Madam Lu accepted and sent Lu Zhengliu to fetch Qing.

Lin Yunwan recovered from illness while caring for Lu Chang'gong, then asked whether he missed his birth father and accepted that he did. A letter from Lady Guo suggested she had taken Lin Yunwan’s adoption plans to heart, and Lin Yunwan replied that she would visit her.

• Lin Yunwan left Old Madam Lu to raise Qing and instructed Ping Ye to keep watch on Wu'er after learning Ge Bao'er had renamed her.
• Ge Bao'er overheard that Zhang Feng'an wanted to teach Lu Chang'gong rather than Qing, while Old Madam Lu gently warned Qing to stop having a page do his assignments.
• While ill during a downpour, Lin Yunwan watched Lu Chang'gong recite lessons outside; he stayed there so she could see him until she sent word that she would worry if he caught cold.
• After Lin Yunwan recovered, she asked Lu Chang'gong if he missed his birth father, and he admitted that he did; she reassured him that this was natural.
• Lin Yunwan received a letter from Lady Guo about her adoption plans and wrote back that she would visit her.

Lin Yunwan returned to her family home with Lu Zhengliu, reunited tearfully with her blind mother and younger brother, and discussed the limits her marriage placed on her choices. She arranged to bring Lu Chang'gong to visit her father's grave, and the family set out for the mountain with Lady Guo.

• Lu Zhengliu took Lin Yunwan's hand at the Lin home to make her family think he treated her well, but she pulled away.
• Lin Yunwan reunited with Madam Lin and Lin Yunyi, who had skipped lessons because he expected her return.
• Lu Zhengliu greeted his in-laws and stayed for the midday meal before leaving for official business.
• Madam Lin asked why children had been adopted under Lin Yunwan's name, and Lin Yunwan said she could not have children of her own and could not leave because of Lin Yunyi's future.
• Lin Yunwan asked to bring Lu Chang'gong to her father's grave, and Madam Lin agreed; Lin Yunyi was delighted to learn he had a nephew.
• Lin Yunwan brought Lu Chang'gong to pay respects to Grand Tutor Lin and met Lady Guo before they went up the mountain together.

Lin Yunwan and her family visited Grand Tutor Lin’s grave, where Lu Chang'gong showed care for Madam Lin and paid his respects to his grandfather. After parting from Lady Guo, Lin Yunwan took her son and brother to Red Elephant Temple, thinking about protecting her dowry and supporting her birth family.

• Lin Yunwan introduced Lin Yunyi to Lu Chang'gong as his uncle, and the family joked together on their way up the mountain.
• Lin Yunwan explained that Lu Qing had stayed home to study with his strict tutor, while Lady Guo asked about Lu Chang'gong’s calligraphy lessons.
• Madam Lin’s eyes became uncomfortable after she cried, so Lu Chang'gong went back for a waterskin and brought it to Lin Yunwan.
• At Grand Tutor Lin’s grave, Madam Lin invited Lu Chang'gong to kowtow to his grandfather, and Lin Yunyi helped him up.
• Lady Guo declined to visit Red Elephant Temple, agreed to teach Lin Yunwan about blending fragrances, and went down the mountain.
• Lin Yunwan decided to care for her dowry and support her birth family before taking Lu Chang'gong and Lin Yunyi into the temple.

Lin Yunwan discussed starting an incense business with Madam Lin, then met Qi Lingheng, who was intrigued by her and by the child she had adopted. After returning to the Wuding Marquis Residence, she was summoned by Old Madam Lu, where Lu Qing was also waiting.

• Lin Yunwan told Madam Lin she planned to sell her distant shops and start an incense business in the capital, and Madam Lin offered her and her brother’s help.
• Lin Yunwan met Qi Lingheng, identified four fragrances around him, and could not recognize the scent coming from his body.
• Lin Yunwan and Madam Lin offered incense and drew fortune sticks at the Main Buddha Hall, while Qi Lingheng left wondering why Lin Yunwan had not recognized him.
• Qi Lingheng learned that Lin Yunwan’s older adopted son was nearly nine years old, and A Fu speculated that she could still have children of her own.
• Old Madam Lu summoned Lin Yunwan after she returned to the residence, and the messenger told her Lu Qing was there too.

Qing asked Lin Yunwan to teach him instead of Mr. Zhang, but Old Madam Lu refused to change his studies and Ge Bao'er persuaded him to continue. The chapter ended with Old Madam Lu forbidding Ge Bao'er from practicing her writing, leaving her resentful.

• Qing told Lin Yunwan he wanted her to teach him, then cried that Mr. Zhang's lessons were exhausting and he did not want to attend school.
• Lin Yunwan suggested that Qing study basic characters and learn martial arts, but Old Madam Lu insisted he must study for the imperial examinations.
• Ge Bao'er privately comforted Qing, and he emerged agreeing to study hard under Mr. Zhang.
• Old Madam Lu asked Ge Bao'er how she had persuaded Qing, then told her to stop practicing writing.
• Ge Bao'er hid her anger as she wondered why Lin Yunwan could learn while she could not.

Ge Bao'er persuaded Old Madam Lu to let her study, while Lu Zhengliu began treating Lin Yunwan’s family with more respect. After Qing bullied Lu Chang'gong, Lin Yunwan punished him and resolved to stop her eldest son from yielding to him.

• Ge Bao'er asked Old Madam Lu for permission to learn proper books, and Old Madam Lu warned her against forbidden or frivolous reading.
• Lu Zhengliu agreed with Old Madam Lu that Qing needed discipline and said he would keep Lin Yunwan’s family in mind.
• Qing shot Lu Chang'gong with a slingshot and mocked him for being adopted, until Lin Yunwan overheard them.
• Lin Yunwan had Qing beaten and made to stand as punishment while she treated Lu Chang'gong’s injury.
• After Qing went to complain to Old Madam Lu, Lin Yunwan decided that Lu Chang'gong would no longer have to put up with his younger brother’s bullying.

Lin Yunwan told Old Madam Lu that Qing had spoken as though he would rule the household, and Old Madam suspected Ge Bao'er had taught him. Later, Lin Yunwan warned Lu Zhengliu to keep proper distance from Ge Bao'er and rejected his offer to help her family, leaving him regretful and Ge Bao'er pale after overhearing them.

• Ping Ye told Lin Yunwan that Qing had gone to complain to Old Madam, who had invited Lin Yunwan to supper.
• Lin Yunwan had Ping Ye recount Qing's claim that he was the household's master, and Old Madam Lu grew alarmed and suspected Ge Bao'er had taught him.
• Lu Zhengliu met Lin Yunwan outside the Hall of Longevity and told her he agreed Qing deserved punishment.
• Lin Yunwan warned Lu Zhengliu that his closeness to the unmarried Ge Bao'er could invite suspicion, and he promised to be more careful.
• Lu Zhengliu offered to help the Lin Family, but Lin Yunwan refused to use the Lu family's resources for private benefit and left.
• Lu Zhengliu regretted his words, while Ge Bao'er stood beneath a lamp, pale after overhearing their conversation.

Lin Yunwan persuaded Old Madam Lu to let her choose concubines and servants at a Lu family estate, then brought Lu Chang'gong there. At the estate, Zhu Qing begged Lin Yunwan to take her back to the residence.

• Old Madam Lu agreed that Lin Yunwan could choose two concubines for Lu Zhengliu and take Lu Chang'gong to the estate.
• Qing envied Lu Chang'gong when he learned that he was going to the estate, then went to class instead.
• Lin Yunwan and Lu Chang'gong arrived at the estate, where Lin Yunwan asked to see Zhu Qing and choose women to serve at the residence.
• Zhu Qing told Lin Yunwan that life on the estate had been hard and begged to return to the residence as her servant.

Lin Yunwan brought Zhu Qing back from the estate and offered to make her Lu Zhengliu’s concubine, while planning to have her serve in the household first. She also took Lu Chang'gong to visit his former home, where he learned his birth father had remarried, but he told Lin Yunwan he was happy to devote himself to her.

• Zhu Qing admitted that she had repented of her past arrogance, and Lin Yunwan offered to take her back and make her Lu Zhengliu’s concubine.
• Zhu Qing accepted, while Lin Yunwan found no other suitable girl to bring back as a maid.
• After Lu Chang'gong returned from visiting his former home, Tao Ye told Lin Yunwan that women's clothes were in the courtyard, suggesting his birth father had remarried.
• Lu Chang'gong told Lin Yunwan he was no longer sad or guilty and could now devote himself wholeheartedly to being filial to her.
• Zhu Qing began serving tea in Lin Yunwan’s courtyard while Lin Yunwan planned her next steps.

Lin Yunwan brought Zhu Qing into the household and prepared to make her Lu Zhengliu’s concubine, while warning her not to give her heart to him. Lu Zhengliu resisted the arrangement, and Zhu Qing’s account of his past left Lin Yunwan wondering whether he would have loved Ge Bao’er so deeply if she had never stood in their way.

• Zhu Qing accompanied Lin Yunwan to visit Old Madam Lu and behaved respectfully, earning her approval.
• Zhu Qing noticed Ge Bao’er watching her and Lin Yunwan warned her that Lu Zhengliu already loved someone else.
• Ping Ye reported that Xiliu had cried after being mistreated by Ge Bao’er, and Lin Yunwan sent comfort and food.
• Lin Yunwan proposed that Lu Zhengliu take Zhu Qing as a concubine, but he angrily questioned her eagerness and left.
• Old Madam Lu told Nanny Yan to let Lin Yunwan and Lu Zhengliu handle their own affairs and to watch Ge Bao’er.
• Lin Yunwan arranged Zhu Qing’s place and allowance, then asked what Lu Zhengliu was like; Zhu Qing described how he lost interest in things once he obtained them.

Lin Yunwan arranged for Zhu Qing to become Lu Zhengliu’s concubine, and Zhu Qing soon showed signs of pregnancy. Ge Bao’er saw the household’s growing acceptance of Zhu Qing and worried that she and Qing no longer had a place in the Wuding Marquis Residence.

• Lin Yunwan coached Zhu Qing to attract Lu Zhengliu, and Zhu Qing dressed elegantly before arranging to encounter him and flee.
• Lu Zhengliu caught Zhu Qing on a later encounter, recognized her, and spent the night at Rain Apricot Pavilion.
• Lin Yunwan welcomed Zhu Qing as a concubine and gave her a hairpin; Zhu Qing declined contraceptive medicine because she wanted a child.
• Lin Yunwan gave Lu Chang'gong summer shoes and took him to pay respects, where they saw Qing behaving more obediently under Zhang Feng'an’s teaching.
• Zhu Qing became nauseous at the Hall of Longevity, prompting Old Madam Lu and Nanny Yan to suspect she was pregnant.
• Ge Bao’er arrived with soup, saw Old Madam Lu’s hopeful reaction to Zhu Qing, and returned to her room anxious that Lu Zhengliu might no longer want her or Qing.

Lin Yunwan gave Qiao Da’s hand-cranked fans to relatives and learned that Lu Jia would return to the capital with her family. After confronting Lu Zhengliu over his accusations, Lin Yunwan brought Lu Chang'gong inside to speak with him.

• Qiao Da sent Lin Yunwan a hand-cranked fan, and she rewarded him with silver and wine while ordering more made for her elders.
• Lin Yunwan sent extra fans to Old Madam Lu and Wei Shi, then heard that Lu Jia and the Xia family were returning to the capital.
• Old Madam Lu told Lin Yunwan to pay special attention to Lu Jia’s son, Zhuo, and grew displeased when she learned Qiao Da had given the first fan to Lin Yunwan.
• Lu Zhengliu accused Lin Yunwan of forcing him into his choices, but she challenged him to take responsibility for spending the night at Rain Apricot Pavilion.
• Lin Yunwan found Lu Chang'gong watering flowers and invited him inside to discuss something with her.

Lin Yunwan watched Lu Chang'gong and Qing take a test of their studies, which showed Chang'gong's strong progress and Qing's modest achievement under Zhang Feng'an. Ge Bao'er then knelt before Old Madam Lu and asked to return to her homeland, just as Lu Zhengliu arrived.

• Lin Yunwan warned Lu Chang'gong not to rely on the Wuding Marquis Residence, and he promised to depend on himself.
• Old Madam Lu arranged for Lu Chang'gong and Qing to copy a fu and compose poems while Lin Yunwan and Wei Shi watched.
• Lu Chang'gong completed the test calmly, while Qing struggled but finished before time ran out.
• Old Madam Lu examined their work, praised Zhang Feng'an's efforts teaching Qing, and arranged to thank him with money.
• Ge Bao'er knelt before Old Madam Lu and said she wanted to return to her homeland, and Lu Zhengliu arrived as she made her request.

Ge Bao'er asked to leave the Lu residence, but the family persuaded her to stay and arranged a three-day trip to offer incense. Lin Yunwan suspected Ge Bao'er and Lu Zhengliu had been meeting secretly and warned her servants to prevent scandal, while Xiliu was punished and nearly took her own life.

• Ge Bao'er knelt before Old Madam Lu and asked to return home, but Old Madam Lu, Lu Zhengliu, Nanny Yan, and Lin Yunwan persuaded her to stay.
• Zhu Qing told Lin Yunwan that she suspected Ge Bao'er had been secretly meeting Lu Zhengliu, and Lin Yunwan recalled their affair from her previous life.
• Lin Yunwan warned Zhu Qing and her maids to watch their quarters and prevent anything improper from occurring when the Xia family came to stay.
• Nanny Yan took Ge Bao'er out to offer incense for three days, while Xiliu was beaten as punishment for supposedly failing to serve her well.
• Ping Ye brought medicine and comforted Xiliu, who had nearly killed herself out of despair.

Lin Yunwan learned that Lu Zhengliu had been making Zhu Qing drink contraceptive soup and encouraged her to consider why. After observing Ge Bao'er, Zhu Qing began to suspect the reason, and Lin Yunwan brought her to meet Old Madam Lu about an important matter.

• Ping Ye told Lin Yunwan that Xiliu had been beaten and was back serving Ge Bao'er, and Lin Yunwan urged Ping Ye to prioritize saving her life.
• Zhu Qing told Lin Yunwan that Lu Zhengliu had recently forced her to drink contraceptive soup, and Lin Yunwan asked what Zhu Qing thought was behind it.
• On an auspicious day, Ge Bao'er privately met Lu Zhengliu at a temple, where he recalled their bamboo bracelet and promised marriage while reflecting on Lin Yunwan.
• Ge Bao'er returned from the temple, and Zhu Qing remarked on her flushed appearance and repeated visits to worship Buddha.
• Lin Yunwan arrived while Zhu Qing was visiting Old Madam Lu and invited her inside to discuss an important matter.