Recaps

After the corn harvest confirmed its promise, Gu Yuanshi reported the discovery to the emperor and credited Gu Wanning, bringing her amicable divorce closer. Gu Wanning remained resolved to leave Xu Weibei and planned to establish her own household, while Xu Weibei hurried off to see his feverish daughter, A Yi.

• Gu Yuanshi verified the corn yield and went to the palace to tell the emperor that Gu Wanning deserved credit for the discovery.
• Gu Anqi brought Gu Wanning news of their father's success and quietly confirmed that she still wanted an amicable divorce.
• Gao Lan reported that A Yi had developed a high fever, so Xu Weibei sent for an imperial physician and went to see her with Gu Wanning.
• Gu Wanning asked whether the emperor might approve their divorce before the new year, and Gu Anqi promised to speak with their father.
• Gu Wanning told Gu Anqi she intended to establish her own household rather than return to the family residence.

Gu Anqi promised to protect Gu Wanning and carefully vet anyone hired to serve her after she moved out. After he left, Gu Wanning experimented with sugar-coated popcorn and planned to ask Baoji to sell it.

• Gu Anqi told Gu Wanning he would take care of everything for her, and she saw him to the courtyard gate.
• Er Ya and Gu Anqi found Shitou crying in a bamboo grove after he had sneaked out to relieve himself, and Er Ya reassured him before guiding him back toward the courtyard.
• Gu Anqi told Er Ya to have him review the backgrounds of anyone hired to serve Gu Wanning after she moved out.
• Gu Wanning experimented with adding sugar to popcorn and decided to approach Baoji about selling it.
• Er Ya suggested that wealthy customers might pay a high price, and Gu Wanning joked that Xu Weibei was an excellent customer.

Gu Wanning partnered with Baoji to sell popcorn and corn cakes, hoping to amass money before her planned divorce, while Xu Weibei agreed to the deal and kept control of the earnings. After A Yi recovered, Xu Weibei arranged for the household to distribute porridge as the snow disaster worsened.

• Xu Weibei told Gu Wanning that A Yi's fever kept returning and left Third Concubine to help care for her.
• Gu Wanning persuaded Baoji to consider selling her popcorn and corn cakes through the shop.
• Xu Weibei agreed to help Baoji sell Gu Wanning's foods but intended not to give her the silver.
• Gu Wanning's popcorn and corn cakes sold well, and she calculated they could earn her several thousand taels.
• Xu Weibei told Gu Wanning that A Yi had recovered and that the household would set up a porridge stall for disaster victims.

Gu Wanning organized the Marquis's Residence's porridge distribution for disaster victims and brought the concubines and Jiaoniang along. The chapter ended with Jiaoniang wanting to help the poor children and First Concubine suggesting they exchange Jiaoniang's costly outgrown clothes for more practical old ones.

• Xu Weibei arranged for court officials' charcoal allowances to fund disaster relief and entrusted Gu Wanning with the porridge stalls.
• Xu Weibei told Gu Wanning to bring First Concubine and Jiaoniang, and promised Qin Lie would help maintain order.
• Gu Wanning asked whether Gu Wanqing's household would also distribute porridge, worrying about her birth family and Gu Wanqing's connection to Xu Weibei.
• Gu Wanning arrived with the concubines at the porridge line, where Qin Lie helped manage the crowd and quietly checked on First Concubine.
• Jiaoniang was moved by the children's poverty and asked to give them her outgrown clothes, so First Concubine suggested exchanging them for more old clothes at Second Concubine's family's pawnshop.

Gu Wanning and the women of the Marquis's Residence continued distributing congee and clothes to disaster victims, while Qin Lie’s brave intervention in a riot deepened First Concubine’s concern for him. As Gu Wanning’s birthday approached, Xu Weibei decided to give her gifts and arranged to keep the silver she was owed from reaching her.

• Gu Wanning, the concubines, and Er Ya handed out congee as Second Concubine chased off a man trying to take a second helping.
• Qin Lie led his men into a crowd at a nearby congee stall, where disaster victims had rioted after someone spat in the congee, and Xu Weibei arrived to help resolve the crisis.
• First Concubine worried over Qin Lie’s supposed injuries, while Xu Weibei suspected Qin Lie was feigning pain to win her sympathy.
• The women of the Marquis's Residence continued distributing congee and clothes for several days, and First Concubine stayed up late altering garments for children.
• Xu Weibei told Baoji’s shopkeeper to withhold the silver owed to Gu Wanning, then discussed birthday gifts for her with Gao Lan.

Xu Weibei planned an elaborate birthday celebration and gifts for Gu Wanning, while Gu Wanning remained unaware of her birthday and prepared to leave the Marquis's Residence after hearing the divorce was progressing. The chapter left her packing for a new life, with Er Ya wondering whether she could find a husband better than Xu Weibei.

• Xu Weibei asked Gao Lan for gift ideas and decided to give Gu Wanning fine treasures as well as a thoughtful surprise.
• Xu Weibei ordered craftsmen to carve ice flowers for a courtyard display and told Gao Lan to keep the plan secret from Gu Wanning.
• Xu Weibei instructed the concubines to prepare for Gu Wanning's birthday and gave them silver they had to spend.
• Gu Wanning received a letter from Gu Anqi saying the divorce by mutual consent was progressing, so she and Er Ya secretly packed her belongings.
• Er Ya said she could not bear to leave Gu Wanning and wondered what kind of husband Gu Wanning would find after the divorce.

On her birthday, Gu Wanning was unexpectedly fetched from Xu Weibei’s residence and brought to the Gu family home, though she could not tell why they had called her back. He Shi welcomed her and planned a family meal, while Gu Anfang went to sleep after his night watch.

• Gu Wanning worried that her twitching right eye signaled trouble and wondered whether something had happened to the Gu family.
• Gu Anfang fetched Gu Wanning and Er Ya, refusing to let her bring Third Concubine or anyone else.
• Er Ya coaxed Gu Anfang into admitting that he did not know why Old Madam had ordered him to fetch Gu Wanning.
• He Shi welcomed Gu Wanning at the Gu Residence and said the family would celebrate her birthday over lunch and dinner.
• Gu Anfang teased He Shi about his eldest brother, then went inside to sleep.

Gu Wanning learned that the emperor had agreed to oversee her divorce from Xu Weibei after witnessing the corn harvest, though he was wary of her abilities. She stayed at her parents’ home and expected Xu Weibei to resist when the emperor summoned him to discuss the divorce.

• He Shi brought Gu Wanning to Wei Shi, who asked whether she truly wanted the divorce.
• Wei Shi explained that Gu Wanning’s father had reported the corn harvest and that the emperor had witnessed it himself before agreeing to oversee the divorce.
• Gu Wanning said she did not regret seeking freedom, while Wei Shi told her the emperor would summon Xu Weibei to discuss the matter and let him appear to initiate it.
• Wei Shi said Gu Wanning would remain at her parents’ home and they would not ask for her dowry, leaving Gu Wanning worried about her money and how Xu Weibei would react.

Gu Wanning chose to live outside the Gu family home and learned that Gu Wanqing had miscarried, while Gu Xiaoxiao had proposed marrying into the same princely household. Gu Wanning opened Gu Wanqing’s birthday gift and discovered it was a treasured jade pendant their elder brother had bought years earlier.

• Gu Wanning decided to stay in the nearby house rather than live under the same roof as Gu Xiaoxiao.
• Wei Shi told Gu Wanning that Gu Wanqing had miscarried shortly before the porridge distribution and had insisted on going out despite her condition.
• Wei Shi revealed that Gu Xiaoxiao had offered to help ease Gu Wanqing’s burden by joining her in the princely household, angering Wei Shi and Gu Wanning.
• Gu Wanning opened Gu Wanqing’s birthday gift and found a purple jade pendant carved with two fish.
• Wei Shi explained that Gu Wanning’s elder brother had bought the pendant for Gu Wanqing years earlier with his savings, and that Gu Wanqing had treasured it.

On Gu Wanning’s birthday, she declined a jade pendant from Gu Wanqing and spent time with her family, while a story about helping a child moved He Shi to tears. Xu Weibei hurried away from court to return to Gu Wanning, convinced that the day could change their relationship.

• Gu Wanning told Wei Shi she wanted Gu Wanqing to keep the jade pendant because it suited her better, then spent her birthday playing chess with Ling Ge and losing repeatedly.
• Gu Wanning told He Shi about helping Shitou, and He Shi wept as she thought of Zhi Nu; Gu Wanning comforted her, and Wei Shi brought in longevity noodles.
• After court, Xu Weibei ignored the chief eunuch’s summons and rushed out, assuming the emperor wanted money and wanting to spend Gu Wanning’s birthday with her.
• Gao Lan met Xu Weibei at the palace gates, but Xu Weibei rode off in a hurry to check on the preparations before Gu Wanning returned.

Xu Weibei was summoned to the palace while preparing a beautiful ice-flower display for Gu Wanning, then learned that the emperor was considering ending their marriage. He rejected the divorce and accused Gu Yuanshi of lying about his daughter’s wishes, leaving the emperor to stop their argument.

• Xu Weibei returned to find the ice flowers arranged and waited for Gu Wanning, but Gao Lan told him the emperor had summoned him.
• Xu Weibei reluctantly went to the imperial study, where he found Gu Yuanshi and faced the emperor’s accusations over memorials impeaching him.
• The emperor proposed ending Xu Weibei and Gu Wanning’s marriage, but Xu Weibei insisted he had changed and refused an amicable divorce.
• Gu Yuanshi claimed Gu Wanning wanted the divorce, prompting Xu Weibei to angrily accuse him of sowing discord and mistreating his daughter.
• The emperor ordered Xu Weibei and Gu Yuanshi to stop arguing and focus on serving the realm.

Gu Wanning was summoned before the emperor to decide whether to remain married to Xu Weibei or divorce him. She chose divorce, citing her failure to bear children and saying Xu Weibei should take a new bride.

• The emperor decreed that Gu Wanning alone would decide whether her marriage to Xu Weibei continued.
• Xu Weibei and Gu Yuanshi waited with the emperor while discussing disaster relief and reform.
• Gu Wanning arrived at the palace and appeared calm, reassuring Xu Weibei with a smile.
• The emperor directly asked Gu Wanning whether she wanted to stay married to Xu Weibei or divorce him.
• Gu Wanning asked the emperor to grant her a divorce, saying she had failed the Xu family's ancestors by bearing no children and would make way for a worthier woman.

Gu Wanning secured a divorce from Xu Weibei in the emperor’s presence, despite Xu’s last attempt to keep their marriage intact. She returned to her family and prepared to visit the Marquis’s Residence to collect her belongings and say goodbye to the concubines.

• Xu Weibei told the emperor that his absence and lack of children were not Gu Wanning’s fault, but Gu Wanning insisted on ending their marriage.
• Gu Wanning told Xu Weibei she was unworthy of him, and the emperor ordered a decree for their divorce.
• Xu Weibei followed Gu Wanning and Gu Yuanshi after they left the palace, hoping she would turn back, but she never did.
• Gu Wanning told her family about the divorce, and Er Ya offered to pack her things from the Marquis’s Residence.
• Gu Wanning decided to return to the residence with Gu Anqi to collect her belongings and bid farewell to the four concubines.

Gu Wanning returned to the Marquis's Residence to end her marriage with Xu Weibei, where the four concubines pleaded to go with her and she said goodbye to them. She saw Xu Weibei's elaborate birthday gift and prepared to speak with him after packing.

• Gu Wanning returned to the residence with Gu Anqi and found the four concubines waiting, upset that she was divorcing the Marquis.
• Gu Wanning saw the ice flowers Xu Weibei had arranged as a birthday present and took in the scene despite her tears.
• Gu Wanning told First Concubine, Second Concubine, and Third Concubine to plan for their own futures and promised they could stay in touch after she left.
• Fourth Concubine asked Gu Wanning to take her and First Concubine along, but Gu Wanning said she could not support them.
• Fourth Concubine pointed out that Xu Weibei's birthday gifts, displayed in brocade boxes, could be sold for money.

Gu Wanning returned to her family home after leaving Xu Weibei’s residence, feeling guilty about the trouble her divorce had brought him. Wei Shi recognized the new servant Shitou as Zhi Nu and tearfully welcomed him back.

• Gu Wanning said goodbye to Xu Weibei, who coldly told her to get out, and left with Er Ya and Shitou.
• Gu Wanning chose not to warn Xu Weibei about Gu Wanqing and decided to speak to Gu Wanqing instead.
• Wei Shi waited anxiously for Gu Wanning, who returned with Shitou and introduced him as a new errand boy.
• Wei Shi recognized Shitou as Zhi Nu, called for Gu Anqi, and embraced the boy while crying that he had come home.

Gu Wanning’s family recognized Shitou as the long-lost Zhi Nu because he looked exactly like Gu Anqi as a child, and they welcomed him home. Gu Wanning took Shitou to stay with her for the night while Gu Anqi planned to investigate the old case records.

• Wei Shi and Gu Yuanshi saw Shitou and recognized his strong resemblance to Gu Anqi as a child.
• Wei Shi found old portraits that confirmed the family’s impression, and Shitou clung to Gu Wanning in shock.
• Gu Anwei returned and agreed that Shitou looked like Gu Anqi, while He Shi said Zhi Nu had no birthmarks.
• Gu Wanning told her father and brothers that she would take Shitou to stay with her, and Gu Anqi said he would review the old case records.
• Gu Wanning asked the family to tell Gu Wanqing the happy news the next day.

Gu Wanning comforted Zhi Nu as he struggled to believe he was the Gu family's missing second young master, while He Shi insisted on publicly celebrating his return. The next day, Gu Anqi persuaded Gu Yuanshi to agree to a banquet for Zhi Nu.

• Gu Wanning reassured the frightened Zhi Nu that the evidence pointed to him being the missing second young master and urged him to take time to settle in.
• Unable to sleep, Gu Wanning told Zhi Nu about her own difficult return to the family and encouraged him to trust that their relationships would grow closer.
• He Shi argued with Gu Anqi that Zhi Nu deserved a banquet to show the family and outsiders that he was their legitimate son.
• Gu Anqi agreed to arrange the celebration after He Shi pleaded with him and reminded him of what had happened to Gu Wanning.
• The next day, Gu Anqi proposed a banquet to Gu Yuanshi, who initially objected but soon agreed when Gu Anqi insisted.

He Shi and Gu Wanning arranged a small celebration for Zhi Nu’s return, but a rumor that it was for Gu Wanning’s return enraged Xu Weibei. Three days after the divorce, Xu Weibei learned that the Grand Princess intended to challenge the Emperor’s decision and bring Gu Wanning back, and he resolved to stop her.

• He Shi and Gu Wanning invited Gu Yuanshi’s colleagues and the brothers’ colleagues to celebrate Zhi Nu’s return, while refusing gifts.
• A rumor reached Xu Weibei that the Gu family was holding a grand banquet for Gu Wanning’s return, and Gao Lan corrected him that the celebration was for Zhi Nu.
• Xu Weibei angrily refused Fourth Concubine permission to visit Gu Wanning and ordered her never to see her again.
• Gao Lan told Xu Weibei that the Grand Princess planned to appeal to the Emperor and then go to the Gu family to bring Gu Wanning back.
• Xu Weibei realized the Grand Princess might force Gu Wanning to return and decided he could not let her do so.

Xu Weibei confronted the Grand Princess over Gu Wanning’s divorce and insisted he would not give up on her, despite claiming he wanted no part in the marriage. He ordered Gao Lan to settle Gu Wanning’s payment and give her all the money from selling the items, while remaining unsure how to win her back.

• Xu Weibei arrived at the Grand Princess's Residence as she prepared to petition the emperor over Gu Wanning’s divorce.
• Xu Weibei told the Grand Princess he had planned the divorce and warned her not to provoke a complete break with the Gu family.
• Xu Weibei left, privately deciding that he would not give up on Gu Wanning and would seek to propose to her again after she had time to calm down.
• Gao Lan asked whether Xu Weibei meant to smash the Gu Residence’s pots, and Xu Weibei rebuked him.
• Gao Lan reported that someone from Baoji had come for payment, and Xu Weibei ordered him to settle it with Gu Wanning and give her all the money from selling the items.

At the Gu family banquet celebrating Zhi Nu, Gu Wanning reassured him about the guests' gossip and watched him begin to bond with Gu Anqi. The gathering left Gu Wanning welcomed by her family, while Gu Wanqing had yet to arrive.

• Xu Weibei arranged silver for Gu Wanning and offered his three present concubines the chance to leave, but all refused.
• At the Gu family banquet, Zhi Nu nervously greeted the guests after rehearsing with Gu Wanning.
• Gu Wanning told Zhi Nu not to fear gossip and reminded him that his eldest aunt, Gu Wanqing, was expected home.
• Gu Anqi took Zhi Nu to meet people, and Zhi Nu timidly called him Father.
• Gu Anwei explained that his wife had stayed home to avoid the crowd and invited Gu Wanning to visit them at the Princess's Residence.

Gu Wanning welcomed Gu Wanqing and discussed her divorce from the Marquis, insisting she was content with her decision. The chapter left Gu Wanqing and Wei Shi worrying about Gu Wanning’s future, while Gu Wanning dismissed concerns about marriage and ancestral offerings.

• Gu Anwei left after extending an olive branch to Gu Wanning, and she reflected on why he might understand her.
• Gu Anqi returned with Zhi Nu, and He Shi persuaded her son to accompany her to greet his uncle and aunt.
• Gu Wanqing arrived with her entourage, and Gu Wanning arranged a place for them to rest while Gu Xiaoxiao fawned over her.
• Gu Wanqing sent Gu Xiaoxiao away to sort her gifts so she could speak privately with Gu Wanning and Wei Shi.
• Gu Wanqing cautiously raised Gu Wanning’s divorce from the Marquis, and Gu Wanning said the divorce had been mutual and she was fine.
• Wei Shi worried that Gu Wanning might have no one to make offerings to her after her death, but Gu Wanning dismissed the concern.

Gu Wanning refused Wei Shi’s suggestion to adopt Zhi Nu, insisting that her sister-in-law should not have to sacrifice for her and asking her mother not to make decisions on her behalf. She brought Gu Wanqing to her rented home, where the sisters laughed together after Little Flower spat at them both.

• Wei Shi suggested that Zhi Nu be adopted into Gu Wanning’s line, but Gu Wanning firmly refused.
• Gu Wanning explained that Gu Wanqing and her husband deserved the chance to make up for the time they had lost with Zhi Nu, and asked Wei Shi not to arrange things behind her back.
• Gu Wanqing backed Gu Wanning, and Wei Shi accepted that she had been mistaken.
• Gu Wanning invited Gu Wanqing to her rented home, where Gu Wanqing was surprised to see Little Flower the alpaca.
• Little Flower spat at Gu Wanqing and then Gu Wanning, and the sisters retreated indoors laughing.

Gu Wanning comforted Gu Wanqing as she grieved her miscarriage and struggled with jealousy over the Prince of Qin’s concubines, urging her to stop blaming herself and face the realities of her marriage. She returned the silver Gu Wanqing had lent her and warned her to guard her reputation, recalling the fabricated past with the Marquis.

• Gu Wanning welcomed Gu Wanqing into her cozy room, and the sisters shared popcorn as they talked.
• Gu Wanqing confessed that she was still grieving her miscarriage, had been bleeding for a month, and resented the Prince of Qin visiting his concubines.
• Gu Wanning told Gu Wanqing that her jealousy was normal and urged her to protect herself rather than hold herself to impossible standards.
• Gu Wanning returned the two hundred taels and warned Gu Wanqing about the dangers surrounding her and her family.
• Gu Wanning cautioned Gu Wanqing not to give anyone a chance to ruin her reputation, pointing to the false past with the Marquis.

Gu Wanning reassured Gu Wanqing that she was not to blame for the rumors about the Marquis and urged her to put the past behind her and protect herself and An-ge. After Gu Wanqing left, Fourth Concubine arrived with a gift she had stolen from the residence.

• Gu Wanning told Gu Wanqing that she had divorced the Marquis for their own sake and warned that someone might be trying to frame them.
• Gu Wanning encouraged Gu Wanqing to focus on raising An-ge and revealed that she already knew Gu Wanqing was not their parents’ biological daughter.
• Gu Wanqing apologized, and Gu Wanning said she had made peace with the past but would not tolerate being dragged into future trouble.
• Gu Anfang called for Gu Wanqing, and she left after accepting Gu Wanning’s offer of popcorn for An-ge.
• Fourth Concubine visited Gu Wanning with a parcel of garlic she had stolen because she could not afford a proper gift.

Gu Wanning hosted Zhou Yaya, who had snuck out of the Marquis’s Residence, and sent her home with dumplings and fried chicken. Zhou Yaya sneaked back over the wall, where Xu Weibei’s dogs surrounded her.

• Zhou Yaya visited Gu Wanning and admitted she had come without the Marquis’s permission.
• Gu Wanning let Zhou Yaya stay for lunch and dinner, then packed her dumplings and fried chicken to take home.
• Zhou Yaya returned to the Marquis’s Residence by climbing over the wall after checking that no guards were nearby.
• Xu Weibei came outside for air and noticed Zhou Yaya, but the scent of her food drew three dogs to surround her.