Chapter Summaries

Su Qiao planned to use her pregnancy to make her enemies reveal their weaknesses and force Jin Canghan to come see her. She also ordered 444 to investigate how Jin Canghan had been poisoned with the Root-Severing Potion.

• Su Qiao rejected the idea of attending to Jin Moli, reasoning that his affection for her was false and that he still had to pretend while the Su family remained secure.
• Su Qiao explained that her pregnancy would make people anxious and push them into revealing their flaws.
• Su Qiao admitted that she wanted to force Jin Canghan to appear by making him worry about her and their child.
• 444 warned that Jin Canghan might believe the child belonged to another man because his past poisoning had made it nearly impossible for him to have offspring.
• Su Qiao said she could restore Jin Canghan's ability to father a child and told 444 to investigate who had given him the Root-Severing Potion.

Su Qiao revealed her pregnancy by asking for an imperial physician after she began dry heaving, while Old Wet Nurse Bai agreed that announcing it openly would protect the child. At Qian Yuan Hall, Jin Moli heard the news and rushed into alarm.

• Su Qiao began dry heaving during lunch, and the palace maids worried that she was still ill.
• Old Wet Nurse Bai tried to prevent an imperial physician from being called, but Su Qiao insisted and explained that she had her own plans.
• Jin Moli learned that Madam Su had delivered Consort Ying’s Buddhist Sutra without any suspicious message or object being found.
• A hidden guard told Jin Moli that Consort Ying had begun dry heaving, and reminded him that Imperial Concubine Yu had shown the same symptom early in her pregnancy.
• Jin Moli dropped his brush and sprang to his feet in shock.

Jin Moli learned that Su Qiao was pregnant and struggled to hide his anger while pretending to be delighted. Su Qiao described her dream of a simple life with him, leaving him trapped in her fantasy of their shared happiness.

• Jin Moli decided to visit Su Qiao after hearing that she had recovered.
• Imperial Physician Liu confirmed that Su Qiao had been pregnant for over a month and prescribed medicine to support her health and the pregnancy.
• Jin Moli dismissed Imperial Physician Liu and forced himself to act happy about the news.
• Su Qiao questioned Jin Moli’s reaction, then said she only wished for their child to be born safely.
• Su Qiao told Jin Moli she had once dreamed of living an ordinary, happy life with him.

Su Qiao soothed Jin Moli with affectionate talk while concealing her awareness of his hostility toward her unborn child. She asked him to bring pickled cabbage from her mother and hinted that her cravings meant she was carrying a boy.

• 444 spotted someone on the roof and realized Su Qiao was deliberately testing Jin Canghan's loyalty.
• Jin Moli praised Su Qiao for her thoughts and promised she could live happily in the palace without being bullied.
• Su Qiao urged Jin Moli to care for his health, but he suppressed his anger when she mentioned their child.
• Su Qiao asked for sour pickled cabbage from her mother and told Jin Moli that sour cravings meant she was carrying a boy.

Su Qiao pretended that she was pregnant with Jin Moli’s child, and he struggled to hide his envy and frustration over the heir he had never managed to have. Jin Moli left to handle official business after telling her to take care of herself.

• Su Qiao claimed that her cravings meant she had a Prince in her belly, and Jin Moli wondered whether the child could have been his if they had not taken precautions.
• Jin Moli thought about his lack of an heir and the ministers’ dissatisfaction, while Su Qiao asked why he was staring at her abdomen.
• Su Qiao said she preferred a Little Princess because she wanted to teach her dancing and the four arts.
• Su Qiao lamented that pregnancy meant she could not dance, and Jin Moli told her there would be other opportunities.
• Jin Moli warned Su Qiao to take care of herself, and she cheerfully promised to protect their son, nearly breaking his composure.
• Jin Moli left to attend to official business.

Su Qiao sent Jin Moli away and began planning ways to expand her family’s wealth and support Su Zimo’s maritime ambitions. Meanwhile, Jiang Shi returned home and went straight to the old master’s study.

• Su Qiao dismissed Jin Moli with a smile, and he returned to Qian Yuan Hall in frustration.
• Su Qiao asked Little Four to watch outside while she copied a Buddhist Sutra and organized formulas and business plans.
• Little Four suggested Su Qiao write down methods for making weapons to help Su Zimo on overseas voyages, and she agreed to record methods for crossbows and gunpowder devices.
• Jiang Shi returned home and hurried to the old master’s study to find her father-in-law.

Su Qiao’s family discovered her hidden message in a Buddhist Sutra and learned that the emperor had long plotted against the Su family. They realized she was in grave danger in the palace, leaving them alarmed and regretful.

• Grand Tutor Su recognized that the slip of paper contained a medicinal formula, then ordered the family to gather ingredients and summon Su Yuncheng.
• Su Yuncheng prepared the solution and spread it over the Buddhist Sutra, revealing Su Qiao’s concealed letter.
• The Su family read the letter and learned that the emperor had been planning to eliminate them.
• Su Zimo realized the emperor’s marriage to Su Qiao might have been meant to make the Su family lower its guard.
• Jiang Shi regretted allowing Su Qiao to enter the palace as the family understood that she faced the emperor and Empress Dowager alone.

After Su Qiao’s family resolved to protect her and investigate the spies in their residence, they learned that she had been confirmed pregnant in the palace. Her relatives questioned the news because she had told them she was given contraceptive medicine, and the chapter ended with them marveling at her knowledge and abilities.

• The Old Madam told the Su family to protect Qiao'er and ensure she could live happily, even if she had to fake her death and leave the palace.
• Su Zimo vowed to rescue his sister, but the Old Grand Tutor warned him not to disrupt her plan and called for the household to root out spies.
• The butler reported that an imperial physician had confirmed the Imperial Consort was pregnant, and that the Emperor and Empress Dowager had sent her gifts.
• Su Yuncheng and Jiang Shi questioned how Qiao'er could be pregnant after saying she had been given contraceptive medicine.
• Jiang Shi praised Qiao'er's pharmacological knowledge and talents, while Su Zimo and the Old Madam argued over how seriously she had studied.

The Su family discussed Qiao'er’s coded message and planned how to respond to the dangers she had revealed. Su Zimo wanted to leave for overseas trade to build resources and eventually rescue his sister, but Old Grand Tutor told him to wait for her business plan.

• Jiang Shi praised Qiao'er’s cleverness, and Old Grand Tutor redirected the family to deciding what to do next.
• Old Grand Tutor said they would treat the rumor of Qiao'er’s pregnancy as true and ordered the family to learn Pinyin in secret.
• Old Grand Tutor told Su Yuncheng to send a warning to his younger brother at the frontier about the traitor surnamed Liang.
• Su Zimo asked to go overseas to trade, hoping to earn money and build forces to rescue Qiao'er.
• Old Grand Tutor agreed that Su Zimo might leave later but told him to wait for Qiao'er’s business plan.

The Su family feared for Su Qiao, who was trapped in the palace as the Emperor’s hostage, while the Empress Dowager and Jin Moli confronted the consequences of her pregnancy. The Empress Dowager denied Jin Moli’s accusation that she had lied about Han being unable to father children.

• Old Grand Tutor told the Su family that the Emperor would not dare move against them while Su Qiao was his hostage, though she might suffer in the palace.
• At Yongshou Palace, the Empress Dowager wondered whether something had gone wrong with the medicine given to Han.
• Jin Moli demanded an explanation from his mother, accusing her of promising that Han could never have children and lamenting that Han had taken Su Qiao and gotten her pregnant.
• Jin Moli recalled being moved when Su Qiao said she would gladly live with Han as his wife, even in poverty.
• The Empress Dowager denied betraying Jin Moli and tearfully insisted that she had always put him first, while Nanny Qin pitied the Third Prince.

Jin Moli and the Empress Dowager learned that Consort Ying and Guard Liu might both have been able to conceive a child, and they ordered Chief Physician Yu to investigate further. Jin Canghan overheard that the imperial family had poisoned him and collapsed in the Cold Palace, furious that they had cut off his bloodline.

• Jin Moli told the Empress Dowager how aggrieved he felt about Consort Ying bearing another man's child.
• The Empress Dowager summoned Chief Physician Yu, who explained that Consort Ying could have conceived and Guard Liu might have recovered his fertility.
• The Empress Dowager admitted that they had used a mild contraceptive dose on Consort Ying and planned to increase it after she entered the palace.
• Jin Moli ordered the Empress Dowager to have Chief Physician Yu examine Guard Liu and determine whether he had secretly recovered.
• Jin Canghan overheard their conversation, ran to the Cold Palace, and realized the imperial family had poisoned him to prevent him from having children.
• Jin Canghan pounded the ground and demanded to know why they had taken away his bloodline when he had never tried to compete with his imperial brother.

Jin Moli searched for Jin Canghan and confronted the Empress Dowager about the unborn child, arguing that the child threatened his throne and the empire. The Empress Dowager reluctantly agreed to let Jin Moli eliminate the child, while urging him to avoid a rift between the brothers.

• Jin Canghan raged in the Cold Palace, wondering why his mother had drugged him and taken away his chance to have heirs.
• Jin Moli searched the Imperial Palace for Jin Canghan, then suspected he had gone to Jingren Palace.
• The Empress Dowager tried to calm Jin Moli as he insisted that Jin Canghan's child could threaten his throne and provoke the Su family.
• Jin Moli warned that secretly sending the child away would not prevent Jin Canghan or the Su family from searching for him.
• The Empress Dowager agreed to Jin Moli's plan to eliminate the child and told him to prevent discord between the brothers.

The Empress Dowager and Consort Wan both reacted to the news that Su Qiao was pregnant, while Su Qiao took a stroll in Jingren Palace’s rear garden. The chapter ended with Su Qiao wishing she could exercise and practice martial arts, but realizing her body had no such skills.

• The Empress Dowager told Nanny Qin that Jin Moli had seemed different when he spoke about Su Qiao.
• Consort Wan became distraught over Su Qiao’s pregnancy and Jin Moli’s broken promise that she would bear his first son.
• Consort Wan fainted, and Chuxue and Yixue sent for an imperial physician and informed the Emperor.
• Su Qiao walked in Jingren Palace’s rear garden with Nanny Bai, Chunyu, and Nianxia after growing tired of copying the Buddhist Sutra.
• Su Qiao wanted to practice boxing and sword techniques but realized her body knew no martial arts.

While staying in Jingren Palace, Su Qiao learned that Consort Wan had been angered unconscious and that the Empress Dowager and Jin Moli wanted to harm her unborn child. She then staged a dangerous stretch to draw Jin Canghan’s attention, leaving him disguised as a eunuch in her service.

• Su Qiao learned from 444 that Consort Wan had been angered unconscious and that the Empress Dowager and Jin Moli wanted to get rid of her child.
• Su Qiao decided to keep slowly driving Jin Canghan away from his ties to the Empress Dowager and Jin Moli.
• Su Qiao walked to a pavilion and did the splits while pregnant, alarming Nanny Bai, Chunyu, and the others.
• Jin Canghan rushed over, lifted Su Qiao away, and claimed he was a newly transferred eunuch from the Laundry Bureau.
• Nanny Bai explained that the Emperor had assigned four maids and four eunuchs to serve Su Qiao, while Nian Xia confronted Ren Dong over her behavior.

Su Qiao noticed Jin Canghan disguised as a eunuch and appointed him to serve inside Jingren Palace, while Nian Xia warned Ren Dong against disloyalty. The chapter ended with Jin Canghan hurrying to find food for the pregnant Su Qiao and 444 asking whether she would forgive him.

• Nian Xia warned Ren Dong that she would punish anyone who was disloyal to the Imperial Consort, and Ren Dong nervously denied harboring ill will.
• Su Qiao teased Nian Xia, accepted Nanny Bai's suggestion to return indoors, and asked the disguised Jin Canghan for his name.
• Jin Canghan called himself Little Yu, and Su Qiao assigned him to serve inside the palace hall.
• When Su Qiao said she was hungry, Jin Canghan rushed to the kitchen to find pastries.
• 444 questioned why Jin Canghan had disguised himself as a eunuch, and Su Qiao said he was protecting his son.

Su Qiao considered why Jin Canghan had died in his previous life and concluded that he needed to see how the imperial family had used him. Jin Canghan returned with pastries, and Su Qiao ate them.

• Su Qiao asked what had happened to Jin Canghan in his previous life and reasoned that Jin Moli had used his attempt to send her away as an excuse to kill him.
• Su Qiao and 444 realized that Jin Canghan may have known he had been drugged and made unable to have children.
• Su Qiao decided she had to expose the truth to Jin Canghan so he could free himself from his filial duties and family ties.
• Jin Canghan carried pastries into the hall and placed them on the table for Su Qiao.
• Su Qiao ate three qingtuan pastries.

Su Qiao put Jin Canghan in charge of the small kitchen, trusting that he would protect her and her unborn child. The next day, Jin Moli visited again, and Su Qiao privately explained why she had kept up formal etiquette in front of others.

• Jin Canghan warned Su Qiao not to eat too many glutinous-rice qingtuan and revealed he had worked in the Imperial Kitchen.
• Su Qiao made Jin Canghan responsible for the small kitchen, and he accepted eagerly so he could keep her food safe.
• Nanny Bai and Chunyu worried about letting Jin Canghan handle the kitchen, but Su Qiao assured them he would not harm her.
• Su Qiao slept peacefully, then spent the next day embroidering before Jin Moli arrived at mealtime.
• Su Qiao performed the formal greeting for Jin Moli, then told him in private that she only acted distant for appearances.

Su Qiao used attentive, affectionate behavior to weaken Jin Moli’s feelings for Gu Wanting and advance her revenge. She reminded Jin Moli that she was carrying his child, and he agreed she should avoid dancing until after she gave birth.

• Jin Moli joined Su Qiao for a meal of light dishes she said she had prepared in case he visited.
• Su Qiao reflected on her plan to erode Gu Wanting’s place in Jin Moli’s heart, provoke Jin Canghan, and avenge her past life.
• Su Qiao told Jin Moli she had given up dancing to avoid harming his reputation and said she needed to be careful because she was pregnant.
• Jin Moli agreed that Su Qiao should not dance while pregnant and promised to provide musicians for her after she gave birth.

Su Qiao kept Jin Moli at a distance while carefully presenting herself as a dutiful consort who wanted him to expand the Imperial Family. Jin Canghan returned to Jingren Palace and secretly watched their conversation, still worried about what Jin Moli intended to do.

• Su Qiao delightedly thanked Brother Li for his offer, then resumed her meal after Jin Canghan slipped away in anger.
• Jin Canghan vented in the Cold Palace before sneaking back to Jingren Palace, where a eunuch sent him to help boil water for the masters.
• Jin Canghan rushed toward the main hall, then stopped to remind himself that Su Qiao was pregnant and could not attend Jin Moli in bed.
• Jin Canghan slipped through a window and saw Su Qiao resisting Jin Moli's attempt to stay with her every night.
• Su Qiao told Jin Moli that she wanted his company but would not keep him from favoring other women or expanding the Imperial Family.

Su Qiao pretended to be tolerant of Jin Moli’s other women, hoping to outdo Gu Wanting at appearing selfless and become Jin Moli’s White Moonlight. Jin Moli was moved by her performance, while Su Qiao privately considered killing him and taking control herself.

• Su Qiao resolved to imitate Gu Wanting’s magnanimity and win Jin Moli’s devotion by appearing to want nothing.
• Su Qiao told Jin Moli she had accepted sharing him and was grateful that he visited her and gave her a child.
• The system praised Su Qiao’s convincing performance and warned that her words were making her man furious.
• Su Qiao privately said she would kill Jin Moli and let her man take the throne if he dared to intervene.
• Jin Moli told Su Qiao he was moved by the depth of her feelings for him.