Recaps

Gu Wanning publicly rebuked Lu Baozhu, then confronted her elder brother Gu Anqi when he summoned her to discuss the quarrel. His defense of Gu Wanqing reopened the wound of Gu Wanning’s exile to the country estate, and she ended by bitterly blaming herself for it.

• Gu Wanning traded insults with Lu Baozhu and warned her not to let others use her as a weapon.
• Gu Anqi arrived, sent Lu Baozhu away, and asked Gu Wanning to speak with him in a teahouse.
• Gu Anqi criticized Gu Wanning for arguing in public and defended Lu Baozhu and Gu Wanqing.
• Gu Anqi began repeating the family’s grievances about Gu Wanning’s resentment toward Gu Wanqing, triggering painful memories.
• Gu Wanning sarcastically declared that she alone was at fault for being sent to the country estate.

Gu Wanning confronted Gu Anqi about the neglect and humiliation she had endured after being brought back to the Gu family. She rejected his apologies and questioned why she had to beg for the care and understanding she had been denied.

• Gu Wanning told Gu Anqi that she had been blamed for her own humiliation and warned against being aggressive.
• Gu Wanning recalled being left at the estate while Gu Wanqing received an education and better marriage prospects, and described how her family shamed her for secretly admiring the Prince of Qin.
• Gu Anqi explained that the family had intended to give Gu Wanning a larger dowry but lacked the means, and apologized for not considering her feelings.
• Gu Wanning described how the family’s conditional affection and constant comparisons had made her feel abandoned and out of place.
• Gu Anqi admitted that he had failed her, and Gu Wanning asked whether she had been expected to kneel and beg for care.

Gu Wanning told Gu Anqi that she wanted his help divorcing Xu Weibei so she could establish her own household, then left with Er Ya. She visited Rongrong’s family’s pawnshop and other Jin family shops, offering protection and giving Second Concubine’s younger brother a pouch of silver and gold.

• Gu Anqi apologized, and Gu Wanning told him she wanted to divorce Xu Weibei and live independently rather than accept his idea of making amends.
• Gu Wanning left with Er Ya, while Gu Anqi reflected on how deeply his family had wronged her.
• Outside, Gu Wanning found Fourth Concubine holding Gao Lan for eavesdropping and told everyone to leave for the pawnshop.
• Gu Wanning visited Rongrong’s family’s pawnshop and other Jin family shops, promising to help if they encountered trouble.
• Second Concubine introduced her fifteen-year-old younger brother to Gu Wanning, who gave him a pouch of gold and silver ingots.

After a painful day, Gu Wanning drank heavily with the concubines, then returned to the residence and burned paper money for her late grandmother. She avoided Xu Weibei, but he came to the garden and found her quietly offering him a cucumber.

• Second Concubine treated Gu Wanning and the other concubines to a meal, where Gu Wanning drank and mourned the original owner of her body.
• First Concubine stopped the waiter from bringing more wine, and Gu Wanning decided to return to the residence to burn paper money.
• Gu Wanning and Er Ya burned paper money in the garden, and Er Ya cried as she reflected on Gu Wanning's hardships.
• Gu Wanning said she did not want to see Xu Weibei, but he appeared at the garden gate after hearing her remark.
• Gu Wanning offered Xu Weibei a cucumber, while he noticed her sadness and her distance from him.

Gu Anqi apologized to Gu Wanning for the Gu family's neglect and offered to help her separate from Xu Weibei. He explained that the Grand Princess and Gu Yuanshi had reasons to support Gu Wanning, including Gu Yuanshi's Death-Exemption Gold Plaque.

• Gu Wanning agreed to hear Gu Anqi after Xu Weibei refused to meet him.
• Gu Anqi admitted that he and the Gu family had neglected Gu Wanning and said Wei Shi favored Gu Wanqing.
• Gu Anqi proposed asking Gu Yuanshi to approach the emperor about ending Gu Wanning's marriage to Xu Weibei.
• Gu Anqi explained that the Grand Princess wanted Gu Wanning devoted to Xu Weibei so she might seek Gu Yuanshi's help if Xu Weibei faced trouble.
• Gu Anqi revealed that Gu Yuanshi possessed a Death-Exemption Gold Plaque bestowed by the emperor.

Gu Anqi explained the Grand Princess’s reasons for arranging Gu Wanning’s marriage to Xu Weibei and promised to help her obtain a divorce. Gu Wanning then asked about Xu Weibei’s family history and the mistress and child Gu Anqi had mentioned.

• Gu Anqi told Gu Wanning that her father had helped the Grand Princess and Marquis Xu, and that the Grand Princess arranged the marriage so Gu Yuanshi would protect Xu Weibei for Gu Wanning’s sake.
• Gu Wanning agreed to wait while Gu Anqi found a way to use the Death-Exemption Gold Plaque to secure her divorce.
• Gu Wanning asked why the Grand Princess had kept the marriage’s purpose from Xu Weibei, and Gu Anqi said Xu Weibei’s pride would make the truth harder for him to accept.
• Gu Anqi described the Grand Princess’s losses and said Xu Weibei’s resentment toward her might be connected to his father’s death.
• Gu Anqi promised to keep Gu Wanning’s confidences, and Gu Wanning asked what he had meant by mentioning a mistress and child.

Gu Wanning learned the truth about Xu Weibei’s mistress and children while discussing her planned divorce with Gu Anqi. She also questioned her father’s reforms and rejected the idea that her marriage should protect her from the consequences if they failed.

• Gu Anqi told Gu Wanning that Xu Weibei’s mistress had died and left a daughter over five, while his pregnant bedchamber maid was staying with the girl until she gave birth.
• Gu Wanning told Gu Anqi she planned to divorce Xu Weibei and asked him to keep the matter private while he handled it.
• Gu Wanning asked why Xu Weibei opposed Gu Yuanshi, and Gu Anqi explained that their father wanted to reform the laws and strengthen Great Chu.
• Gu Anqi said Gu Yuanshi had agreed to Gu Wanning’s marriage partly because he hoped Xu Weibei could protect her if the reforms failed.
• Gu Wanning said she would not stay bound to Xu Weibei merely to cling to a miserable existence, and Gu Anqi urged her to keep herself safe.

Gu Anqi warned Gu Wanning to avoid confronting Xu Weibei and left after she urged him to care for his health. That night, Xu Weibei challenged Gu Wanning over her changed attitude and announced that he wanted to separate, but she treated his demand as unserious and urged him to go to bed.

• Gu Anqi told Gu Wanning to send Er Ya to find him if Xu Weibei caused trouble, and she promised to be careful.
• Er Ya said she planned to make shoes for Gu Anqi and praised him and He Shi for carrying the Gu family’s burdens.
• Gu Wanning recalled that Zhi Nu’s disappearance might have been revenge for Gu Yuanshi’s investigation into examination fraud.
• Xu Weibei stopped Gu Wanning from spreading the cooling mat and accused her of acting boldly because Gu Anqi had visited.
• Gu Wanning challenged Xu Weibei’s accusations, and he said he wanted to separate, but she dismissed him and urged him to sleep.

A heavy storm threatened Gu Wanning’s corn, so she rushed outside to protect the seedlings despite Xu Weibei’s protests. When a door panel nearly fell on her, Xu Weibei saved her, and he was left admiring her determination and feeling unsettled when she promptly returned to work.

• Er Ya warned Gu Wanning that Gao Lan expected the rain to become heavy, and Gu Wanning reassured her that the drainage ditches should protect the corn.
• As the wind strengthened, Gu Wanning decided to cover the seedlings with door panels, despite Xu Weibei telling her not to go out.
• Xu Weibei summoned Gao Lan and guards to bring door panels into the garden while Gu Wanning and Er Ya tried to remove one nearby.
• A loosened door panel fell toward Gu Wanning, and Xu Weibei pulled her into his arms to save her.
• Gu Wanning thanked Xu Weibei and went back to carrying the panel, while he reflected on her lack of scheming and her devotion to farming.

Gu Wanning and Xu Weibei protected her corn patch from a storm, and their closeness left Xu Weibei increasingly confused about his feelings. After Gu Wanning fell asleep, she dreamed that First Concubine gave her a summer gown before a door panel came crashing down.

• Xu Weibei gave Gu Wanning his rain cape, then ordered the guards to build a tent over her corn patch as the storm worsened.
• After the rain stopped, Gu Wanning gave the guards silver and ginger soup to thank them for helping.
• Gu Wanning returned to her room, where Er Ya prepared hot water for Xu Weibei, who had already washed outside.
• Xu Weibei watched Gu Wanning after her bath and struggled to calm his growing attraction to her.
• Gu Wanning dreamed that First Concubine brought her a summer gown and said she was leaving to marry her beloved.
• In the dream, a door panel fell and crashed down as Gu Wanning and First Concubine talked.

After waking from a nightmare, Gu Wanning tried to arrange Xu Weibei’s visits among his concubines and went to inspect the storm-damaged garden with him. She headed to see First Concubine while Xu Weibei carried the gathered fruit away, having guessed that Second Concubine had paid Gu Wanning for a favor.

• Gu Wanning woke from a nightmare about First Concubine and told Xu Weibei she wanted to check on her.
• Gu Wanning proposed a schedule for Xu Weibei to visit his concubines, but he reacted with displeasure.
• Gu Wanning went to inspect the corn after the rain, and Xu Weibei followed her and helped tend the garden.
• Gu Wanning collected fallen fruit and explained she could make jam and wine from it.
• Gu Wanning suggested Xu Weibei take the fruit to Second Concubine, and he accused her of accepting silver from her.
• Xu Weibei carried the basket away while Gu Wanning went to First Concubine’s room, wondering how he had discovered her deal.

Gu Wanning discovered First Concubine gravely weakened by fever and learned from Third Concubine that her distress came from heartbreak. After an outside physician prescribed medicine, First Concubine refused to take it, leaving Fourth Concubine desperate to persuade her to live.

• Gu Wanning found First Concubine feverish and helped her to bed, but First Concubine would not explain what had upset her.
• Third Concubine examined First Concubine, judged her illness to be distress of the heart, and agreed to care for her.
• Xu Weibei showed no concern about First Concubine and instead asked Gu Wanning about uncovering the corn.
• Fourth Concubine urged Gu Wanning to call an outside physician, who prescribed medicine for First Concubine's chill.
• First Concubine refused the medicine, and Fourth Concubine pleaded with her to think of her mother.

First Concubine lost her will to live after discovering that the man she loved had married someone else, but Gu Wanning tried to persuade her to keep living for herself. The chapter ended with First Concubine learning that Xu Weibei had a woman and child outside the residence, and wondering what would happen if the Grand Princess eventually allowed them in.

• First Concubine refused food and water after learning that the man she loved had married another woman.
• Gu Wanning stayed with First Concubine and learned that she had secretly sent money to the man’s mother, hoping to win her approval.
• First Concubine explained that seeing her beloved marry someone else had left her with no hope for the future.
• Gu Wanning urged First Concubine to enjoy the present and believe she could find a better man, while acknowledging she could make no promises about Xu Weibei.
• Gu Wanning revealed that Xu Weibei had a woman and child outside the residence, shocking First Concubine.

Gu Wanning tried to keep First Concubine from giving up after her hopes collapsed, while Fourth Concubine stayed by her side. Xu Weibei offered to let his concubines choose whether to leave, then Gu Wanning and Xu Weibei discussed their hoped-for divorce, ending with him teasing her about wanting to become the Prince of Qin's concubine.

• Gu Wanning urged First Concubine to live for herself, though she could not be sure she had changed her mind about dying.
• Fourth Concubine promised to stay with First Concubine, and Gu Wanning told her to keep her company.
• Xu Weibei told Gu Wanning that First Concubine, Second Concubine, and Third Concubine could choose whether to stay or leave, while Fourth Concubine could not be moved.
• Gu Wanning said First Concubine had nowhere to go and that she and Xu Weibei had both wanted an amicable divorce.
• Xu Weibei questioned Gu Wanning's farming skills and reminded her that he thought she wanted to become the Prince of Qin's concubine.

Gu Wanning sought help when First Concubine fell into an unresponsive sleep, then resorted to a spirit ritual when the imperial physician could not explain her condition. Xu Weibei arrived ready to scold them, but seeing Gu Wanning’s earnest efforts for a woman who competed with her for him, he held back.

• First Concubine remained asleep through the next day and could not be woken, despite the household’s efforts and a doctor’s examination.
• Gu Wanning asked Xu Weibei to summon an imperial physician, and he told her to seek help from his grandmother instead.
• Gu Wanning brought an imperial physician to First Concubine, but he could not determine what was wrong.
• Second Concubine suggested that a ghost might be responsible, so Gu Wanning hired a spirit medium to perform a ritual.
• Xu Weibei found Gu Wanning and the concubines waving peachwood swords, and Gu Wanning pressed a sword into his hand to join them.
• Xu Weibei saw how hard Gu Wanning was trying to save First Concubine and swallowed his rebuke.

After First Concubine recovered, Gu Wanning focused on growing corn, but fresh chicken manure burned her seedlings. Xu Weibei secretly brought her the estate’s remaining corn seeds, leaving her to find two sacks waiting when she returned at night.

• Xu Weibei’s sword flourishes coincided with First Concubine waking, and the women credited him with helping her recover.
• Xu Weibei returned to court after his month of confinement while Gu Wanning and the concubines tended their crops.
• Gu Wanning carefully fertilized her corn with fresh chicken manure, and the seedlings wilted by the next day.
• Gu Wanning tried to save the seedlings by removing the manure and watering them, then realized she had used uncomposted manure.
• Xu Weibei found Gu Wanning distraught beside the corn and sent Gao Lan to bring her all the remaining corn.
• Gu Wanning returned late at night to find two burlap sacks waiting on the ground.

Xu Weibei gave Gu Wanning two sacks of rare corn, and she tried to persuade him to let her plant it on a large scale. He offered her an estate as compensation for their eventual divorce, and she eagerly accepted.

• Xu Weibei opened a sack and revealed that both sacks were filled with corn, which he offered to Gu Wanning.
• Gu Wanning decided she wanted to plant all the corn but had no land or help, so she asked Xu Weibei to let her use his land.
• Xu Weibei teased Gu Wanning about how she would pay, and she proposed splitting the profits with him and Second Concubine.
• Xu Weibei asked why Gu Wanning had been raised at the country estate, and she joked that perhaps she had been ugly.
• Xu Weibei offered to assign Gu Wanning an estate as compensation for their eventual divorce, and she accepted while promising not to cling to him.

Xu Weibei took Gu Wanning to the Estate he lent her, where she instructed the steward on planting corn. After eating figs, Gu Wanning’s mouth swelled painfully, and Xu Weibei sent for an imperial physician as the concubines grilled meat back at the residence.

• Xu Weibei took Gu Wanning to see his thirty qing of farmland outside the capital and explained that he could let her manage it but could not give it away.
• Gu Wanning asked the estate steward to plant corn and enjoyed the Estate’s figs at lunch.
• Gu Wanning’s mouth began swelling and hurting on the return journey, so Xu Weibei stopped the carriage and summoned an imperial physician.
• Xu Weibei climbed into the carriage to watch over Gu Wanning while Gao Lan rode ahead to fetch the physician.
• First Concubine, Second Concubine, Fourth Concubine, and Er Ya grilled meat in the garden and joked about the meal saving them money.

After Gu Wanning returned with a swollen mouth, rumors spread that she and Xu Weibei had been passionate in the carriage, though she insisted she had only eaten too many figs. The Grand Princess invited her to a flower-viewing banquet, and Gu Wanning gave the sent tonics to the concubines, urging Third Concubine to protect her health and preserve her choices.

• Er Ya and the concubines rushed to meet Gu Wanning after Gao Lan brought an imperial physician back to the residence.
• Gu Wanning stepped out of the carriage with a swollen mouth, and the gathered household misread the situation as improper intimacy with Xu Weibei.
• Third Concubine examined Gu Wanning and said the swelling would go down by the next day, while Xu Weibei told Gao Lan that Gu Wanning had been greedy.
• The Grand Princess sent Gu Wanning tonics and invited her to a flower-viewing banquet on the twenty-sixth day of the seventh month.
• Gu Wanning told Third Concubine to choose tonics for herself and the other concubines, then persuaded Third Concubine to take deer fetus paste for her health.

Gu Wanning prepared to attend the Grand Princess’s flower-viewing banquet with the concubines and reassured First Concubine Jinxiu that she still intended to leave the Marquis’s Residence. At the banquet, Gu Wanning arrived with the four concubines and greeted the Grand Princess, now more confident about handling her intentions.

• Gu Wanning invited Third Concubine and the other concubines to attend the flower-viewing banquet and joked with them about their talents and how to deal with difficult guests.
• Gu Wanning told Jinxiu she did not have to attend if the crowd would upset her, and encouraged her to move on from her heartbreak.
• Jinxiu asked whether Gu Wanning still planned to leave the Marquis’s Residence, and Gu Wanning confirmed that she did despite getting along with Xu Weibei.
• Jinxiu said she would accompany Gu Wanning, and Gu Wanning agreed.
• On the day of the banquet, Gu Wanning took the four concubines to the Princess’s Residence, where the Grand Princess welcomed her warmly.

Gu Wanning attended the Grand Princess’s flower-viewing banquet and waited for her elder sister, Gu Wanqing, to arrive. Gu Wanqing appeared with Lu Baozhu and a married woman, then impressed the guests with her poise as she rebuked the woman for a pointed remark.

• The Grand Princess asked Gu Wanning whether she was taking her supplements and told her that Gu Wanqing would attend the banquet.
• Gu Wanning sat beside the Grand Princess, shared Jade Dew Pastries with the concubines, and received public praise for her graciousness.
• Gu Wanqing arrived with Lu Baozhu and her attendants, and the Grand Princess warmly welcomed her and asked after her son, Ange.
• Gu Wanqing explained that she had punished Ange for climbing onto a table to touch the emperor’s calligraphy, and the Grand Princess questioned why she had punished him.
• A married woman behind Gu Wanqing made a barbed remark, but Gu Wanqing’s stern gaze made her apologize.
• Gu Wanqing apologized to the Grand Princess for the woman’s behavior, and the Grand Princess offered to deal with anyone who mistreated her.

Gu Wanning attended the Grand Princess's gathering, shared food and conversation with the four concubines, and reflected on their peaceful relationships. She left the banquet for the garden and settled by Jade Belt Lake with a fishing rod to avoid being disturbed.

• Gu Wanqing sat beside Gu Wanning, and Lu Baozhu tried to disparage Gu Wanning before Gu Wanqing stopped her and left with her companions.
• Gu Wanning and the four concubines discussed the Princess of Qin's household and enjoyed sharing pastries, while the Grand Princess observed their closeness.
• The Grand Princess sent Gu Wanning out to mingle in the garden and arranged for more pastries to be brought to her.
• Gu Wanning watched guests show off their talents across Jade Belt Lake, then sat down with a fishing rod to keep people from disturbing her.

Gu Wanning retaliated against Lu Baozhu by deliberately falling into the lake, only for Xu Weibei to jump in after her and discover that she could swim. The chapter ended when Lu Baozhu belatedly jumped into the lake as the guests watched.

• Gu Wanning sent her concubines away to attend to the princess and stayed by the lake fishing with Second Concubine.
• Lu Baozhu insulted Gu Wanning and praised Gu Wanqing, but Gu Wanning traded barbs with her and declared herself a crumbling wall before deliberately falling into the lake.
• Second Concubine failed to catch Gu Wanning, and Xu Weibei jumped into the water to save her.
• Gu Wanning swam away from Xu Weibei and reached shore, while he realized she could swim and grew angry at her stunt.
• Gu Wanning recognized Xu Weibei and smiled at him, and Lu Baozhu suddenly jumped into the lake as the guests looked on.

After Lu Baozhu fell into the lake while trying to attract Xu Weibei’s attention, Gu Wanning returned to the Marquis’s Residence and joked with the concubines about Lu’s interest in the Marquis. Xu Weibei then hurried away after Gao Lan reported trouble at the Thirteen Wards, while Third Concubine revealed the Grand Princess had ordered him to deal with someone there.

• Gu Wanning realized Lu Baozhu had fallen into the lake to get Xu Weibei to save her, but the Princess’s Residence servants rescued Lu instead.
• Gu Wanning insisted she had fallen into the water by accident and returned early to the Marquis’s Residence, where she told the concubines she suspected Lu Baozhu wanted Xu Weibei.
• Xu Weibei overheard the women discussing Lu Baozhu and glared at Gu Wanning before Gao Lan reported trouble at the Thirteen Wards.
• Third Concubine told Gu Wanning that the Grand Princess and Xu Weibei had argued because he refused to deal with someone at the Thirteen Wards.
• Fourth Concubine complained that her senior brother had not returned from the Northwest and blamed Xu Weibei for leading him astray.

Gu Wanning received visits from her concubines and family after falling into the lake, then spoke privately with her sister-in-law He Shi. The chapter left He Shi remarking that marriage and household affairs had changed Gu Wanning.

• Gu Wanning dismissed the concubines and told Er Ya to look after First Concubine.
• Er Ya gave Gu Wanning the two-hundred-tael note from Gu Wanqing, and Gu Wanning told her to keep it.
• He Shi visited with her six-year-old son Ling Ge and said Gu Anqi had sent her to check on Gu Wanning.
• Gu Wanning offered Ling Ge pastries and had Er Ya lower the parrot’s perch so he could watch it safely.
• He Shi sent Er Ya and Ling Ge outside, then told Gu Wanning she seemed different since marrying and managing a large household.