Chapter Summaries

Su Qiao woke alone after her wedding night and reviewed the original host’s memories. She learned how her love for Emperor Jin Moli had made her a target of the harem, officials, and public opinion, while the Su family’s reputation came under attack.

• Su Qiao noticed that the groom had fled during the night and asked 444 to watch the palace while she reviewed her memories.
• Su Qiao recalled that the original host came from the influential Su family and was doted on by her relatives.
• The original host fell in love with Jin Moli and entered the palace despite her family’s objections, then received the title of Imperial Consort.
• Jin Moli favored the original host alone, causing resentment in the harem and rumors that he neglected state affairs for her.
• Officials and scholars demanded the original host’s execution, and the Su family became a target of attacks while she remained unaware of the danger.

After reviewing the Su family’s tragic fate, Su Qiao questioned whether the man who had just married her was truly the Emperor. 444 insisted he was, so she considered taking the throne herself to deal with him.

• Su Qiao recalled how the Emperor and Empress Dowager had used the original owner, leading to her execution and the destruction of the Su family.
• Su Qiao suspected Grand Tutor Su had died after seeing through the Emperor’s schemes and being enraged by his granddaughter’s fate.
• Su Qiao asked 444 whether the man who had just been with her was really the Emperor, since he seemed unlike the Emperor in her memories.
• 444 said it was completely certain that the man was Su Qiao’s destined partner and the Emperor.
• Su Qiao proposed deposing the Emperor and becoming Empress Regnant so she could take away his power.

Su Qiao and 444 realized the emperor’s name did not match the Great Demon King’s usual identity, but 444 confirmed that the man who had consummated the marriage with her was still her beloved. They also uncovered that he had secretly sent the original host south and that the palace had exposed her to medicines that could ruin her health and prevent pregnancy.

• Su Qiao reminded 444 that the original host wanted revenge on the person who killed her and on Jin Moli for the Su Family’s deaths.
• Su Qiao noticed Jin Moli’s name lacked the characters usually found in the Great Demon King’s name, and 444 confirmed that the man in her bed shared the Great Demon King’s soul.
• Su Qiao realized the man who had secretly sent the original host south was not the emperor but the man who had just been with her.
• 444 recalled that the emperor had used Secret Medicine to make the original host believe she had slept with him, and wondered why the other man had risked saving her.
• 444 warned Su Qiao that the Secret Medicine and medicinal substances in her bed and furniture could damage her body and leave her unable to become pregnant.

Su Qiao learned why the Emperor and Empress Dowager feared the Su Family and resolved to seize power to protect it. She planned to become Empress Regnant and remove Jin Moli, while setting aside the mystery of the man from her wedding night.

• Xiao Si explained that Grand Tutor Su had sent Su Qiao’s father, elder brother, and cousins into the army to weaken the family’s court influence, but unrest among neighboring kingdoms had deepened Jin Moli’s suspicion of them.
• Su Qiao realized the Su Family’s predicament came from its power and Jin Moli’s fear, and decided she needed to become Empress Regnant to protect them.
• Su Qiao and Xiao Si acknowledged that deposing Jin Moli and changing the realm to rule by women would require careful planning and overcoming opposition from officials and the Jin clan.
• Su Qiao wondered why Jin Moli had skipped her wedding ceremony and wedding night, and Xiao Si suggested he was protecting his favored Consort Wan, Gu Wanting.

Su Qiao weighed Jin Moli’s true feelings and ordered 444 to watch him and Consort Wan, whom it suspected of killing the original body. She also learned the plane was Advanced and decided to wait for the mysterious man to appear again, suspecting he was the Emperor’s hidden twin.

• Su Qiao concluded that Jin Moli valued the throne more than Gu Wanting and ordered 444 to monitor him and Consort Wan.
• 444 suspected Consort Wan had killed the original body and revealed that she later became Empress and gave birth to the Crown Prince.
• Su Qiao ordered 444 to investigate the mysterious man’s origins before making further plans.
• 444 told Su Qiao that the plane was Advanced, but reassured her that its monitoring function still worked.
• Su Qiao decided the mysterious man would appear again and suspected he was the Emperor’s twin.

Su Qiao discovered she could cultivate but chose to prepare for a different plan: restoring the medicinal residue in her body and making herself appear seriously ill. After calling her servants to arrange a bath and change the bedding, she heard Ren Dong comment enviously on the room’s furnishings.

• 444 tried to teach Su Qiao palace scheming, but she dismissed the advice and attempted to cultivate.
• Su Qiao discovered that her body could cultivate, then refused to read 444’s book.
• Su Qiao decided to put the medicinal residue back into her body and make herself look sick after bathing.
• Su Qiao called in Nian Xia, Chunyu, Ran Qiu, and Ren Dong, and ordered hot water and fresh bedding.
• Chunyu reported that the hot water and flower petals were ready, while Ren Dong began commenting enviously on the furnishings.

Su Qiao settled into palace life and suspected that Ren Dong was spying on her for Jin Moli and the Empress Dowager. She decided to keep Ren Dong close for now and consider using her to feed the enemy false information.

• Chun Yu corrected Ren Dong for calling Su Qiao “Miss,” and Su Qiao warned her to mind her words in the palace.
• Little Four noticed Ren Dong’s jealous look, and Su Qiao suspected that one of her personal maids was reporting on her.
• Su Qiao recalled that Ren Dong’s father and elder brother worked at Su Manor and resolved to find a way to send a letter home.
• Su Qiao decided to keep Ren Dong around if she had been bought off, so she could use her to pass false information.
• Chun Yu and Nian Xia changed Su Qiao’s bedding, and Chun Yu led her to bathe before she returned to the bedroom.

Su Qiao pretended to be gravely ill so she could avoid palace obligations and obtain medicinal materials. After she settled in to sleep, Jin Canghan secretly came to her bedside to ask why she had fallen ill.

• Su Qiao used acupuncture to make herself appear seriously ill, explaining to 444 that she wanted medicine and to avoid visits from the Empress Dowager and the imperial concubines.
• An imperial physician diagnosed Consort Ying with a severe illness, and the Empress Dowager excused her from paying respects and sent her precious medicinal materials.
• Su Qiao ate porridge and pastries with Chunyu and the others, then went to sleep.
• Jin Canghan entered through the window and asked Su Qiao why she had suddenly fallen ill.
• Su Qiao kept her eyes closed and continued resting, while 444 noted that Jin Canghan had returned to his cold, stern manner.

Su Qiao woke after Jin Canghan slipped away, then prepared to meet the emperor, Jin Moli, who arrived at Jingren Palace and treated her with convincing concern. She and 444 wondered how Jin Canghan and Jin Moli could look identical, and Su Qiao cautioned that the emperor’s apparent tenderness might be an act.

• Jin Canghan watched the sleeping Su Qiao, quietly tucked in her quilt, and left before she woke.
• Su Qiao secretly cultivated Internal Energy while pretending to rest, and 444 told her that the real Jin Moli had arrived.
• Su Qiao reasoned that the lookalike might be Jin Moli’s twin and questioned whether the Black Obsidian Nation had a hidden emperor.
• Jin Moli sat beside Su Qiao’s bed and gently asked how she felt, while 444 warned her to be wary of his acting.

Su Qiao acted weak and affectionate to provoke Jin Moli while concealing her amusement at his forced patience. Jin Moli left to attend to ministers, surprised when she calmly urged him to go.

• Su Qiao pretended to be weak and blamed Jin Moli for leaving her alone, revealing the marks on her neck.
• Jin Moli hid his anger and accepted the blame while 444 worried that he might hurt Su Qiao.
• Jin Moli said urgent business and ministers were waiting, and that he could not stay with Su Qiao.
• Su Qiao sweetly urged Jin Moli to return to state affairs, surprising him because he had expected her to make a scene.
• Su Qiao coyly asked Jin Moli what he had thought.

Su Qiao persuaded Jin Moli that she would try to behave sensibly while accepting his promise to protect her, and he excused her from visiting the Empress Dowager while she recovered. After he left, she learned Nanny Bai had been sent by her grandparents to assist her and arranged for Jin Moli to receive nourishing food.

• Su Qiao told Jin Moli she would try to change her willful ways, and he promised to protect her.
• Jin Moli tucked in Su Qiao, excused her from paying respects to the Empress Dowager, and left Jingren Palace.
• Chunyu introduced Nanny Bai, whom Su Qiao's grandparents had arranged to assist her.
• Chunyu remarked that Jin Moli looked angry, and Su Qiao guessed he had been summoned for urgent military affairs overnight.
• Su Qiao ordered easy-to-digest food and supplements sent to Jin Moli.

Su Qiao prepared medicine while 444 warned her that Jin Moli had been beaten. In the Underground Palace, Jin Moli confronted Jin Canghan over what had happened with Su Qiao, and the Empress Dowager tried to stop him from punishing his younger brother.

• Su Qiao dismissed her attendants and began preparing medicine while 444 watched the palace spies outside.
• 444 alerted Su Qiao that Jin Moli had been beaten and showed her a live view of the Underground Palace.
• Jin Moli ordered his hidden guards to drag Jin Canghan away and tear him to pieces.
• The Empress Dowager blocked the guards and urged Jin Moli to hear Jin Canghan's explanation.

Jin Canghan explained that he had slept with Su Qiao after she woke from the drugged wine, while Empress Dowager urged Jin Moli to forgive him and treat Su Qiao as a gift. Jin Moli remained silent and cold, leaving his younger brother’s fate uncertain.

• Jin Moli dismissed his hidden guards and demanded that Jin Canghan explain himself.
• Jin Canghan admitted that Su Qiao woke after drinking the drugged wine and that they slept together while he was confused and drunk.
• Empress Dowager questioned whether the wine or Secret Medicine had been tampered with and vowed to investigate who had reached Jingren Palace.
• Empress Dowager told Jin Moli that Jin Canghan had been framed and asked him to let Su Qiao remain with his younger brother.
• Jin Moli continued to stare coldly at Jin Canghan without answering.

Jin Moli spared Jin Canghan but warned him to stay away from Su Qiao. Empress Dowager made Jin Canghan promise not to seek Su Qiao out, while Su Qiao watched him from the shadows.

• Empress Dowager begged Jin Moli to spare his younger brother, and Jin Moli warned Jin Canghan not to approach Su Qiao again.
• Jin Canghan asked whether Su Qiao would survive, and Empress Dowager said she would be fine for now but insisted the Su family must be exterminated.
• Empress Dowager urged Jin Canghan to forget Su Qiao and offered to send him palace maids, but he refused.
• Jin Canghan promised Empress Dowager he would not seek Su Qiao out, then pounded the stone wall after she left.
• Su Qiao watched Jin Canghan from the shadows as the Host confirmed that Jin Moli and Jin Canghan were twins.

Su Qiao reconsidered Jin Canghan’s unhappy upbringing and questioned how the Empress Dowager could have hidden his birth for so long. She learned that Ren Dong had drugged the nuptial wine, but the medicines had not harmed either newlywed.

• Su Qiao blamed Jin Canghan for obeying the Empress Dowager, while 444 explained how his upbringing had made him submissive.
• Su Qiao questioned whether the Empress Dowager could have concealed the twins’ birth without help and suspected the Former Emperor had known about Jin Canghan.
• Su Qiao asked 444 to find out who had drugged the nuptial wine.
• 444 identified Ren Dong as the culprit and explained that Su Qiao’s Reinforcement Agent and Jin Canghan’s powerful soul had kept the drug from affecting them.

Su Qiao suspected Consort Wan had arranged for Ren Dong to drug her, so she studied a book on defeating White Moons and Green Teas. In Minghe Palace, Consort Wan rebuked Yixue for acting against Su Qiao and worried about the consequences.

• Su Qiao identified Ren Dong as the one who drugged her and suspected Consort Wan was behind it.
• Su Qiao asked 444 for its book about White Moons and Green Teas, then studied its contents.
• At Minghe Palace, Yixue complained that Ren Dong had failed and lamented that Su Qiao outranked Consort Wan.
• Consort Wan scolded Yixue for scheming against Su Qiao, warning that the emperor would punish anyone who plotted against him.
• Yixue knelt and begged Consort Wan to forgive her, explaining that she had acted out of loyalty.

Consort Wan grew unsettled by the Emperor’s decision and Su Qiao’s lavish wedding, while Su Qiao continued feigning illness in Jingren Palace. The chapter ended with Su Qiao welcoming her mother, Madam Su, for a private visit.

• Consort Wan warned Yixue to obey her and privately questioned her standing in the Emperor’s heart.
• Consort Wan’s attendants massaged her as she reacted to Su Qiao’s wedding and the Emperor’s use of exalted colors.
• Su Qiao remained bedridden in Jingren Palace while the Emperor, imperial physicians, and Empress Dowager responded to her persistent illness.
• Su Qiao secretly prepared medicine and cultivated at night, and sometimes copied Buddhist Sutras when she appeared stronger during the day.
• Su Qiao welcomed Madam Su, Jiang Shi, and arranged tea and lunch before sitting with her mother.

Su Qiao revealed that Ren Dong had betrayed her by drugging her bridal wine, then arranged for Chunyu to watch the maid and Nanny Bai to guard the hall. After the others left, Madam Su tearfully told Su Qiao how worried the family had been about her illness.

• Su Qiao ordered Nanny Bai to guard the entrance and Chunyu to watch Ren Dong without alerting her.
• Su Qiao told the others that Ren Dong had betrayed her and drugged her bridal wine, and Madam Su and Chunyu reacted with anger and disbelief.
• Su Qiao said Consort Wan was the only suspected buyer for now, while Nanny Bai considered who else might target them in the future.
• Chunyu hurried to watch Ren Dong in the kitchen room, and Nanny Bai went to guard the entrance.
• Alone with her daughter, Madam Su clasped Su Qiao's hands and told her how worried the family had been during her illness.

Su Qiao reassured Jiang Shi that she was recovering and secretly passed her a note hidden in the Azure Jade Hairpin. Jiang Shi understood the warning and left with a Buddhist Sutra Su Qiao had copied for her grandmother.

• Jiang Shi cried over Su Qiao’s marriage into the palace and worried about how she would endure palace life.
• Su Qiao told Jiang Shi that she had caught a cold rather than been poisoned and whispered that she had stayed ill to see her and bring her something.
• Su Qiao slipped the Azure Jade Hairpin into Jiang Shi’s hair and quietly told her that it held a note.
• Su Qiao gave Jiang Shi a Buddhist Sutra for her grandmother, and Jiang Shi pretended to scold her while signaling that she understood.
• Su Qiao asked Jiang Shi to reassure her grandmother that she was recovering, while Jiang Shi doubted that Su Qiao would be able to leave the palace.

Su Qiao reassured Jiang Shi that she had recovered, while her mother warned her to be ruthless and promised to deal with threats back at the estate. After Jiang Shi left, Su Qiao began preparing to pretend she was pregnant so she could avoid trouble in the palace.

• Jiang Shi checked that Su Qiao was well and urged her to deal with Ren Dong, but Su Qiao said Ren Dong was still useful and asked her mother to handle the people at home.
• Jiang Shi promised to deal with Ren Dong’s father and brother at the estate, then warned Su Qiao to protect herself before leaving Jingren Palace.
• Su Qiao swallowed medicine after Jiang Shi left, while 444 reported that a hidden guard had returned from monitoring the palace.
• Su Qiao told 444 she intended to claim she was pregnant to gain peace and avoid kneeling to the Empress Dowager, though 444 confirmed she was not pregnant.