Chapter Summaries

Gu Wanning encouraged Zhi Nu to pursue his ambitions while warning him against Xu Weibei’s path, and the two discussed the dangers of rising above others. After a carriage collision brought Gu Wanning into conflict with a Niu Residence servant, Xu Weibei ordered Gao Lan to investigate, then complained that Gu Wanning had not visited him after learning he had been beaten.

• Gu Wanning warned Zhi Nu not to become a target, while he explained that he wanted to enter the Imperial College and protect her.
• Er Ya reassured Gu Wanning that Gu Anqi would handle matters concerning Zhi Nu’s application.
• Gu Wanning’s carriage collided with a carriage from the Niu Residence, and Er Ya intimidated its driver into apologizing.
• Gu Wanning told her driver to continue after the Niu Residence man apologized.
• Xu Weibei ordered Gao Lan to find and punish the man who had spoken rudely to Gu Wanning.
• Xu Weibei complained that Gu Wanning knew he had been beaten but had not come to see him.

Xu Weibei learned that Gu Wanning had dismissed the Niu family's apology and ordered Gao Lan to keep her protected from admirers. Meanwhile, First Concubine worried over Qin Lie's injury and, remembering his death in her dream, offered to marry him if he resigned.

• Gao Lan told Xu Weibei that Niu Cunzhong had collided with Gu Wanning's carriage and that Gu Wanning had refused the Niu family's gifts and ended the matter.
• Xu Weibei told Gao Lan to protect Gu Wanning and watch for men pursuing her.
• Qin Lie brought a land deed for First Concubine to deliver to Gu Wanning, then visited First Concubine and Jiaoniang.
• First Concubine noticed Qin Lie's bandaged arm and urged him to have the wound treated, remembering that he had died from an untreated injury in her dream.
• First Concubine asked Qin Lie to resign, promising to marry him if he did.

First Concubine told Gu Wanning about her fear of Qin Lie dying and her demand that he resign, and Gu Wanning urged her to find a way to love him without sacrificing his ambitions. After planning her new farm and making river snail rice noodles, Gu Wanning was summoned to her birth father, who apparently wanted to discuss the Marquis causing trouble at the Xie Residence.

• First Concubine recounted how she had promised to marry Qin Lie only if he resigned, but he refused and left her worried about his safety.
• Gu Wanning comforted First Concubine and urged her not to make marriage depend on Qin Lie giving up his career.
• Gu Wanning planned how to use her land and made river snail rice noodles with Zhi Nu’s help.
• He Shi came to fetch Gu Wanning for dinner, saying her father had sent for her and might want to discuss the Marquis causing trouble at the Xie Residence.

Gu Yuanshi told Gu Wanning that Gu Xiaoxiao wanted to marry Xu Weibei and worried that Wanning might object. Gu Anqi defended his sister and argued that Xu Weibei’s support for their father’s reforms had nothing to do with marriage ties.

• Gu Wanning finished her meal, then went to the Gu family home after Er Ya reported that Gu Anqi had returned.
• Gu Yuanshi summoned Gu Wanning to his study to discuss Xu Weibei’s attack on the Xie Residence, and Gu Anqi joined them.
• Gu Wanning said Xu Weibei’s actions had nothing to do with her and that she had moved on from their marriage.
• Gu Yuanshi revealed that Gu Xiaoxiao had taken a liking to Xu Weibei and hoped for a marriage alliance between their families.
• Gu Anqi argued that Xu Weibei had supported Gu Yuanshi’s reforms regardless of his former marriage to Gu Wanning.

Gu Anqi confronted Gu Yuanshi over his plan to offer Gu Xiaoxiao to Xu Weibei, arguing that the Marquis’s support for the Gu family came largely through Gu Wanning. Gu Wanning listened outside and doubted that she and Xu Weibei could ever become lovers again, while Gu Anqi warned that meddling could drive her further from the family.

• Gu Anqi argued that Xu Weibei had ignored Gu Xiaoxiao and had improved his relationship with the Gu family because of Gu Wanning.
• Gu Wanning left the room, then secretly listened as Gu Anqi told Gu Yuanshi not to interfere with Xu Weibei’s next marriage.
• Gu Anqi warned that proposing Gu Xiaoxiao to Xu Weibei would anger the Marquis and damage Gu Wanning’s relationship with the family.
• Gu Wanning reflected that she could support Xu Weibei as a friend but did not want to become his lover or principal wife.
• Gu Anqi told Gu Yuanshi that Gu Wanning was his only full sister and that Xu Weibei’s support for reform had come partly through her.

Gu Wanning learned that Gu Anqi had arranged a marriage for Gu Xiaoxiao, who agreed to wed a widowed military officer, but Gu Xiaoxiao blamed Gu Wanning and plotted revenge by targeting Xu Weibei. Gu Wanning and Er Ya suspected Gu Xiaoxiao’s quiet behavior concealed another scheme.

• Gu Anqi rejected Gu Yuanshi’s idea of asking the Marquis to marry Gu Xiaoxiao and insisted he would handle her marriage himself.
• Gu Anqi offered Gu Xiaoxiao a choice between marrying a thirty-year-old widowed military officer with two children or returning to the countryside to marry someone chosen by her parents.
• Gu Xiaoxiao accepted the match and began preparing her dowry, while Gu Wanning suspected she was pretending to settle down.
• Gu Xiaoxiao blamed Gu Wanning for her predicament and decided to retaliate by trying to take Xu Weibei away from her.
• Er Ya praised Gu Anqi for finding Gu Xiaoxiao a husband, while Gu Wanning warned that Gu Xiaoxiao’s silence likely meant she was plotting trouble.

Gu Wanning oversaw the corn planting and dismissed Er Ya’s belief that Xu Weibei’s gifts meant he was seriously pursuing her. After Xu Weibei arrived exhausted and hungry, she fed him before he went to see the emperor.

• Gu Wanning worried that the desperate woman might target her father’s political enemies, while Er Ya guessed she would pursue the Prince of Qin.
• Gu Wanning visited her estate to watch the workers plant corn and heard a neighboring estate manager praise her and her father.
• Xu Weibei sent Gu Wanning an agate bowl, which she refused, and then an eight-treasure duck, which she accepted and enjoyed.
• Gu Wanning told Er Ya that Xu Weibei could not let go of their amicable divorce and would eventually lose interest in her.
• Xu Weibei visited after eating nothing all day, explaining that he had worked in the fields and repaired blocked irrigation channels before needing to see the emperor.
• Gu Wanning made Xu Weibei fried eggs and mutton dough-drop soup, which he ate, then offered him a hawthorn pill that he refused.

Xu Weibei visited Gu Wanning before going to the palace, and their teasing turned serious when she warned him that Gu Xiaoxiao wanted to marry him. He left her an extravagant pearl as payment for a meal, which Gu Wanning planned to return later.

• Xu Weibei washed up at Gu Wanning's home and asked her to comb his tangled hair, which she reluctantly did.
• Xu Weibei said he had dealt with the Xie family, and Gu Wanning questioned whether he might set fire to their residence.
• Gu Wanning warned Xu Weibei that Gu Xiaoxiao wanted to marry him and might try something, and he vowed to stop her if she made a move.
• Xu Weibei left a pouch on the table as payment for the meal and hurried to the palace.
• Gu Wanning discovered the pouch held an enormous pearl worth at least ten thousand taels and decided to return it later.

Gu Wanning went to her family home for a meal and found Xu Weibei there, having taken a roundabout route to see her. She kept her distance while helping in the kitchen, and Xu Weibei remained at the house with her family.

• Gu Wanning planned to visit her family and Xu Qiaoqiao, then slept in while Zhi Nu recited lessons in the courtyard.
• Xu Weibei waited at Gu Wanning's family home after visiting Gu Yuanshi on business, and Gu Yuanshi invited him to stay for a meal.
• Gu Wanning arrived with meat and was surprised to find Xu Weibei in the courtyard; he offered to carry her things, but she handed them to a servant woman.
• Gu Xiaoxiao came out dressed up and offered to help cook, while Xu Weibei asked Gu Wanning to show him around.
• Gu Anfang invited Xu Weibei outside to look at his pony, and Gu Wanning went to the kitchen to help He Shi cook.

Gu Wanning visited her maiden home, where Gu Xiaoxiao brought Xu Weibei quail soup while pretending Gu Wanning had prepared it. When Gu Yuanshi served wine to Xu Weibei, Gu Wanning noticed the jar differed from the one she remembered and suspected it might be connected to the plot to frame him.

• He Shi told Gu Wanning that Gu Wanqing had been unable to return, and described how the princess consort was burdened by her birth family and life in the prince's residence.
• He Shi explained that the quail she had bought were cheap because someone had taken their tongues, prompting Gu Yuanshi to decide to investigate the household responsible and impeach them.
• Gu Xiaoxiao carried Xu Weibei a bowl of quail soup and claimed Gu Wanning had watched it simmer, though Gu Wanning had done no such thing.
• Gu Anfang and Xu Weibei talked about horses and proposed drinking, so Gu Yuanshi had a jar of fine wine brought out for their guest.
• Gu Wanning recognized that the wine jar differed from the one she had seen before and watched it closely, suspecting it might be part of the scheme to frame Gu Yuanshi.

At dinner, Gu Wanning inspected the wine jar with Xu Weibei’s dagger, while Xu Weibei unexpectedly became flushed and ill after one bowl. Gu Anfang carried him to a room, and Gu Wanning questioned whether he had been drinking before the meal as she noticed redness across his exposed skin.

• Gu Wanning teased Gu Anfang, then borrowed Xu Weibei’s dagger to cut mutton and secretly check the wine jar.
• Xu Weibei whispered to Gu Wanning about her soup, and his closeness left her family exchanging puzzled looks.
• Xu Weibei stumbled and claimed he could not hold his liquor, while Gu Wanning inspected the jar and took the remaining wine home.
• Xu Weibei grew intensely hot and red after drinking, and Gu Anfang carried him to his room.
• Gu Wanning asked whether Xu Weibei had drunk before arriving, and noticed that his neck, hands, wrists, and other exposed skin were red.

Xu Weibei collapsed after being drugged, and Gu Wanning suspected Gu Xiaoxiao had tampered with his food. Third Concubine identified the drug as an aphrodisiac, leaving Gu Wanning scrambling to find a way to help him.

• Gu Wanning noticed Gu Xiaoxiao acting suspiciously and ordered Zhi Nu to guard the food while Gu Anqi had the door watched.
• A doctor found nothing wrong with Xu Weibei, so Gu Wanning waited for Third Concubine to examine him.
• Third Concubine asked the Gu family to leave, then told Gu Wanning that Xu Weibei had been given an aphrodisiac.
• Gu Wanning realized Gu Xiaoxiao was likely responsible and wondered whether Second Concubine might be willing to help Xu Weibei.

Gu Wanning and Third Concubine realized that Xu Weibei’s strange reaction to the drug suggested he had been taking something that suppressed his desires. The chapter left them suspecting he had been secretly drugged for a long time, despite the Grand Princess’s efforts to arrange an heir.

• Third Concubine ordered cool water prepared, and Gu Anfang put Xu Weibei into Gu Wanning’s bathtub to calm the drug’s effects.
• Xu Weibei regained some control in the cold water and angrily ordered Gu Xiaoxiao beaten for drugging him.
• Third Concubine explained that Xu Weibei’s reaction differed from that of a normal man because he could not perform.
• Gu Wanning and Third Concubine suspected someone had been continuously drugging Xu Weibei to suppress his normal desires.
• Gu Wanning realized their suspicion explained why Xu Weibei had never had a woman or man by his side, even as the Grand Princess tried to arrange for him to have a child.

Gu Wanning learned that Xu Weibei was unable to perform as a man and worried that his condition might endanger his life. She decided to hint at the problem rather than leave him ignorant, and the chapter ended with Xu Weibei blaming her for letting Gu Xiaoxiao bring him the soup.

• Third Concubine told Gu Wanning that Xu Weibei’s longtime physician, Bian, had cared for him during his campaigns and had recently returned to his hometown.
• Gu Wanning asked whether Xu Weibei could be cured, and Third Concubine admitted she did not know but believed his life was not in danger.
• Third Concubine suggested Gu Wanning reconsider Xu Weibei as a husband, but Gu Wanning focused on finding a way to warn him about his condition.
• Gu Anfang vowed to investigate whether Gu Xiaoxiao had tampered with something, while Gu Wanning took Third Concubine into Xu Weibei’s room.
• Xu Weibei, lying beneath a quilt after climbing out of the bathtub, angrily accused Gu Wanning of failing to stop the woman who brought him soup.

After Xu Weibei recovered from the drug, he considered how to use the incident to grow closer to Gu Wanning and decided Gu Xiaoxiao should be removed as a threat. When Zhi Nu visited, Xu Weibei tried to make him worry that Gu Wanning’s future marriage would separate them.

• Third Concubine examined Xu Weibei and confirmed the drug had worn off, while he insisted he still felt hot and demanded a thinner quilt.
• Gu Wanning left to confront Gu Xiaoxiao and her father, and Third Concubine followed her.
• Alone, Xu Weibei considered pretending to be weak to win Gu Wanning’s sympathy and decided he might have to deal with Gu Xiaoxiao himself.
• Zhi Nu came to check on Xu Weibei, who praised him and asked whether he would choose Gu Wanning or his birth parents.
• Xu Weibei warned Zhi Nu that Gu Wanning might marry and that her future husband could limit how often they saw each other.

Gu Xiaoxiao was exposed for drugging Xu Weibei in an attempt to get him, and the Gu family confronted her before Gao Lan arrived to take her into custody. Gu Yuanshi appealed to Xu Weibei, who condemned his poor judgment and demanded to know whether he had treated Gu Wanning fairly.

• Xu Weibei tried to win Zhi Nu over with the promise of a better horse, while Zhi Nu repeated Gu Wanning's refusal to marry again.
• Gu Xiaoxiao denied poisoning Xu Weibei and threatened to kill herself, but Gao Lan arrived and revealed her ties to Granny Wang and Peach-Red Garden.
• Gu Xiaoxiao admitted she had tried to avoid marrying an older widower by scheming to get Xu Weibei, and Gu Anqi rebuked her for comparing herself to Gu Wanning and Wanqing.
• Gao Lan said Xu Weibei had ordered Gu Xiaoxiao taken into custody, and Gu Yuanshi went to speak with the Marquis.
• Xu Weibei accused Gu Yuanshi of failing Gu Wanning and called him a muddlehead at home.

Xu Weibei pressured Gu Yuanshi to punish Gu Xiaoxiao, while Gu Wanning wondered about Xu Weibei’s condition and whether it explained his children. The chapter ended with Gu Wanning asking whether he had ever been injured on the battlefield, and Xu Weibei silently weighing his answer.

• Xu Weibei demanded an account from Gu Yuanshi within one day and insisted Gu Xiaoxiao be sent away and married off quickly.
• Gu Yuanshi ordered Gu Anqi to invite Gu Wanqing back and move Gu Xiaoxiao’s wedding forward, while Gu Anfang was told to watch her.
• Gu Wanning questioned whether Xu Weibei knew about his condition and wondered how Jiaoniang and A Yi had been born if he had never been able to perform.
• Xu Weibei clung to Gu Wanning and argued that she had been more comfortable at the Marquis’s Residence than with the Gu family.
• Gu Wanning asked Xu Weibei whether he had ever been injured on the battlefield, and he did not answer.

Xu Weibei told Gu Wanning about his battlefield wounds and early military achievements, while she questioned him about Jiaoniang and Linglong and grew suspicious of his answers. Their conversation ended when Er Ya announced that Gu Wanning’s eldest sister had returned.

• Xu Weibei said he had been wounded many times and described rising from foot soldier to Hundred-household Commander after killing thirty enemies in his first major battle.
• Xu Weibei showed Gu Wanning some of his scars, and she declined his offer to show her the wounds on his upper body.
• Gu Wanning asked about Jiaoniang’s mother, but Xu Weibei gave vague answers and kept the truth from her because he considered it too dangerous.
• Gu Wanning wondered whether Jiaoniang’s identity and her mother’s death concealed a deeper secret, then discussed Jiaoniang’s future with Xu Weibei.
• Gu Wanning asked why Xu Weibei had waited so long to take Linglong to his bed, and Er Ya interrupted them to announce that Gu Wanning’s eldest sister had returned.

Xu Weibei offered Third Concubine a chance to pursue medicine and demanded that she explain Gu Wanning’s intentions. Meanwhile, Gu Wanqing returned to the Gu family looking frail, and Gu Yuanshi asked her how they should handle Gu Xiaoxiao.

• Xu Weibei offered to support Third Concubine in opening a clinic and entering the Imperial Medical Academy, then pressed her to tell him what Gu Wanning had meant.
• Third Concubine, fearing Xu Weibei’s displeasure, told him everything Gu Wanning had said.
• Gu Wanning saw that Gu Wanqing had grown thin, while the Gu family questioned her about her illness.
• Gu Wanqing denied that the Prince had mistreated her and redirected the family to the matter at hand.
• Gu Yuanshi asked Gu Wanqing how the family should deal with Gu Xiaoxiao, whom they could no longer tolerate but did not want to abandon.

Gu Wanqing proposed taking Gu Xiaoxiao to serve as the Prince’s bedchamber maid after her engagement was broken off. Gu Xiaoxiao eagerly accepted despite her family’s objections, and Gu Yuanshi reluctantly let her go.

• Gu Anqi agreed to explain the situation to the groom’s family and break Gu Xiaoxiao’s engagement.
• Gu Wanqing offered to take Gu Xiaoxiao to the Prince’s residence as a bedchamber maid, with the possibility of promotion to concubine after she had children.
• Gu Yuanshi and Gu Anqi objected, while Gu Anfang and Wei Shi worried that the Prince was mistreating Gu Wanqing.
• Gu Xiaoxiao knelt and promised not to compete with Gu Wanqing, then pleaded with Gu Yuanshi to let her go with her sister.
• After asking Gu Xiaoxiao whether she was certain, Gu Yuanshi reluctantly agreed to grant her wish.