Chapter Summaries

Su Qiao tried to persuade Ye Lihan that she wanted him to help with troublesome matters, but he remained suspicious and demanded a contract for reassurance. The chapter ended with Su Qiao agreeing to draw one up and offering to protect him in return for his help.

• Ye Lihan asked Su Qiao to make a contract so he would have some assurance about her intentions.
• Xiao Yuzi reminded Ye Lihan that Su Qiao had no reason to covet their possessions, but Ye Lihan suspected she wanted his silver.
• Su Qiao agreed to Ye Lihan's contract proposal and told Li Jue to fetch brush, ink, and paper.
• Ye Lihan asked Su Qiao to explain directly what she wanted him to do.
• Su Qiao said she needed his help handling troublesome matters in Huangming and would protect his personal safety in return, but Ye Lihan did not believe her.

Su Qiao offered to marry Ye Lihan as a political shield and promised to protect him from the Eastern Jin Crown Prince, whom she secretly wanted to avenge. Ye Lihan agreed to draft a contract with additional conditions, and Su Qiao began reviewing them.

• Su Qiao explained that marrying Ye Lihan would deter rumors and pressure for her to marry someone else.
• Xiao Yuzi asked whether Su Qiao could keep Ye Lihan safe even from the Eastern Jin Crown Prince, and Su Qiao vowed to kill him if he came to Huangming.
• Ye Lihan asked to add conditions to their contract, and Su Qiao agreed to let him write them.
• Ye Lihan drafted the contract in less than fifteen minutes, and Su Qiao reviewed his clauses about respecting each other's wishes and avoiding interference except when cooperation was necessary.

Su Qiao and Ye Lihan signed an agreement forbidding interference in each other’s private affairs and intimate contact. After he accepted the contract, Su Qiao arranged for him to move into the neighboring estate and ordered clothes and shoes made for him, insisting these comforts were part of their agreement.

• Ye Lihan insisted that Su Qiao stay out of his private affairs, and they agreed not to have intimate physical contact.
• Su Qiao signed and sealed the contract despite Li Jue’s hesitation.
• Su Qiao ordered Li Jue to prepare the neighboring estate and send servants and skilled guards there.
• Ye Lihan said he and his companion could move his belongings themselves, but Su Qiao ordered people to help him.
• Su Qiao told Ye Lihan she would arrange custom clothes and shoes, saying the agreement required it.

Su Qiao persuaded Ye Lihan to get new clothes so others would believe in their relationship, but Ye Lihan objected to spending money. As Ye Lihan and Xiao Yuzi left to pack their belongings, Li Jue watched them move in and wondered why Su Qiao liked such a stingy man.

• Su Qiao argued that Ye Lihan needed decent clothes so people would believe in their relationship, and Xiao Yuzi supported her.
• Ye Lihan protested that the clothes should not be paid for with his silver, while Su Qiao said she would cover the cost.
• Xiao Yuzi pulled Ye Lihan away before he could embarrass himself further, then scolded him for being stingy despite having money.
• Ye Lihan and Xiao Yuzi debated whether to save their silver or use it to open a small shop as they headed back to pack.
• Li Jue directed people moving their belongings and wondered why Su Qiao had taken an interest in the plainly dressed, frugal Ye Lihan.

Su Qiao suspected Mu Rong’s king was hiding his strength and had recently threatened the Eastern Jin Crown Prince, while defending his desire for revenge. Mu Rong and Mu Jin prepared to carry out Su Qiao’s instructions, and Li Jue pressed them for details about the King and Prince Ye.

• Su Qiao reasoned that the King’s survival in Huangming and the Eastern Jin Crown Prince’s actions suggested he was secretly powerful and had recently done something threatening.
• Su Qiao defended the King against 444’s claim that he was not a good person, then settled down to cultivate.
• Mu Rong and Mu Jin arranged everything Su Qiao had instructed and felt energized by the King’s apparent change of heart.
• Li Jue asked Mu Jin and Mu Rong what had happened between the King and Prince Ye at Mount Meng, but Mu Jin said there was nothing between them.

Li Jue, Mu Rong, and Mu Jin speculated that their lord treated Ye Lihan differently and wondered whether she might be interested in him. They hoped she would turn away from the person in the palace and considered a marriage alliance with the abandoned Hostage Prince, though no decision was made.

• Li Jue recounted what had happened, and Mu Rong and Mu Jin agreed that their lord had been treating Prince Ye differently.
• Mu Rong cited the lord watching Prince Ye at Mount Meng, secretly arranging his escort, and ordering his withheld salary reimbursed.
• Li Jue and Mu Jin wondered whether Ye Lihan resembled the person in the palace, while Mu Rong insisted their lord could see through that person's tricks.
• Li Jue said she hoped their lord might like Prince Ye instead, and Mu Rong questioned whether his identity made him an unsuitable match.
• Mu Jin suggested arranging a marriage alliance with Eastern Jin, and Li Jue and Mu Rong agreed that Ye Lihan seemed like a better choice than the lord's palace attachment.

Su Qiao continued preparing to seize power, ordering her allies to infiltrate government and palace positions while spreading news of her opposition to the emperor’s tax increase. She left the Little Emperor in charge of government affairs, intending to expose her dependence on Li Sang and her father.

• Li Jue, Mu Jin, and Mu Rong agreed to help Prince Ye more.
• Su Qiao learned that Shadow Guard Camp agents had infiltrated ministers’ residences and ordered her allies to replace key palace officials and watch Phoenix Palace.
• Mu Jin reported that news of the emperor’s tax increase and Su Qiao’s opposition would spread from the capital the next morning.
• Mu Rong said the Little Emperor had been agitated but calmed after seeing Su Qiao’s decree ennobling Little Master as a prince.
• Su Qiao said she had let the Little Emperor take charge so her fall would be harder, and affirmed she would not let men control Huangming Kingdom.

Su Qiao ordered her subordinates to arrange a marriage between Li Ruo and Huang Ling as revenge for how Li Ruo had tormented Aran in her previous life. The next day, Huang Lan was officially made a Prince, and Su Qiao left to check on Prince Ye.

• Su Qiao told Mu Rong, Li Jue, and Mu Jin to arrange for Li Ruo and Huang Ling to consummate their marriage, refusing Mu Jin's suggestion to kill Li Ruo immediately.
• Mu Rong, Li Jue, and Mu Jin accepted Su Qiao's orders and left the study eager to act.
• An Imperial Decree made Huang Lan a Prince and granted him a princely residence.
• Huang Lan celebrated his new title by hugging and nibbling Su Qiao, then asked if she was going to see Prince Ye.
• Su Qiao said she was visiting Prince Ye to check that his clothes and other necessities were being properly arranged.

Su Qiao rebuffed Huang Lan’s teasing about marrying Ye Lihan and sent him to finish his studies. Huang Lan left for the schoolroom, while Su Qiao briefly wondered whether she looked old before dismissing the thought.

• Huang Lan teased Su Qiao about falling for Ye Lihan and suggested she marry him as her principal consort.
• Su Qiao asked whether Huang Lan had finished his homework, and he admitted he had not.
• Huang Lan urged Su Qiao to marry before she grew old, prompting her to wonder whether she looked older than her age.
• Su Qiao insisted that Huang Lan study because he was now a prince, and he reluctantly headed to the schoolroom.

Su Qiao set plans in motion to deal with Li Ruo and keep watch on Shang Shuheng, then visited Ye Lihan at the neighboring residence. Ye Lihan complained about the clothes and jewelry he had received, and Su Qiao blamed Li Jue for the jewelry.

• Mu Rong reported that Li Ruo had secretly gone to the riverbank to take a boat, and Su Qiao ordered her to watch Li Ruo and move quickly.
• Su Qiao told Mu Rong to find Shang Shuheng and keep an eye on him, intending to stop him and the Little Emperor from joining forces.
• Su Qiao went to the neighboring residence and quietly approached Ye Lihan as he read in the pavilion.
• Ye Lihan told Su Qiao he had received piles of useless clothes, shoes, and jewelry, and Su Qiao said Li Jue must have arranged the jewelry herself.

Su Qiao visited Ye Lihan, then returned to her residence to cultivate while waiting for Mu Rong’s news. Meanwhile, Li Ruo went out drinking, woke after sleeping with a familiar man, and vowed to punish him.

• Su Qiao told Ye Lihan she had come because she was bored and wanted to see him, and he warned her not to let the Little Emperor turn against her.
• Ye Lihan urged Su Qiao to leave, and she said she had other matters to handle but had visited him first because she could not bear to leave him alone.
• Su Qiao returned to Prince Rui’s Residence and cultivated in her study while waiting for news from Mu Rong.
• After two days without consequences, Li Ruo regained her courage, disguised herself, and went out to sail, tour the lake, and drink flower wine.
• Li Ruo became drunk, slept with a man she recognized, and threatened to have her father punish him and her imperial sister execute him.

After waking up beside Li Ruo, Huang Ling learned they had slept together, and she soothed his anger by claiming she had long admired him. As Li Ruo helped him dress, Huang Ling explained that he had secretly left the palace in disguise.

• Huang Ling woke naked beside Li Ruo and struck her with a pillow before she identified herself as his cousin.
• Li Ruo claimed she had been drunk and possibly drugged, then said she would go to the palace and accept punishment.
• Huang Ling stopped Li Ruo from leaving, and she told him she had admired him for years and waited for him to grow up.
• Li Ruo helped Huang Ling get dressed, while he admitted he had disguised himself as a junior attendant and slipped out of the palace with his attendants.

Li Ruo sent Huang Ling back to the palace after he explained how he had been lured aboard and knocked unconscious, while Su Qiao learned Shang Shuheng would visit North Mountain the next day. Su Qiao planned to stage a bandit attack so she could use a rescue to provoke Ye Lihan and drive a wedge between Shang Shuheng, Li Sang, and Huang Ying.

• Huang Ling told Li Ruo he had come aboard the ship to admire it and had been knocked unconscious before entering the cabin.
• Li Ruo promised to investigate and coaxed Huang Ling into returning to the palace, where he slapped his attendant for failing to protect him.
• Mu Rong reported that Shang Shuheng planned to visit the North Mountain Imperial Temple with friends the next day.
• Su Qiao decided to arrange a bandit attack and have Shang Shuheng rescued so she could provoke Ye Lihan and sow suspicion between the Shang Family and Li Sang and his daughter.

Su Qiao rescued Shang Shuheng on the way to the imperial temple and impressed him as part of her plan to disrupt his relationship with Huang Ying. After Shang Shuheng invited her to a poetry gathering, Li Jue reminded her that she had promised Ye Lihan a hunting trip, just as Ye Lihan arrived ready to go.

• Mu Rong explained to Mu Jin that Su Qiao intended to use Shang Shuheng to make Prince Ye jealous and drive a wedge between him and Huang Ying.
• Su Qiao went hunting with Mu Jin and Mu Rong, rescued Shang Shuheng on the road to the imperial temple, and escorted him there.
• Su Qiao and Shang Shuheng discussed poetry, the arts, and military strategy, and he grew to admire her.
• Shang Shuheng sent Su Qiao an invitation to a poetry gathering.
• Li Jue reminded Su Qiao that she had promised to take Ye Lihan hunting, and Ye Lihan arrived asking when they would leave.

Su Qiao left to attend a poetry gathering hosted by Shang Shuheng, while Ye Lihan insisted that their relationship was only a transaction despite his unease. Li Jue urged him to consider a future with the King, but Ye Lihan rejected the idea, and Xiao Yuzi hesitated to speak after they returned home.

• Su Qiao told Ye Lihan she could not accompany him and explained that she was going to a poetry gathering attended by influential scholars.
• Li Jue warned Ye Lihan that Su Qiao had been invited by Shang Shuheng and asked what he would do if something happened between them.
• Ye Lihan said Su Qiao could do as she pleased because their relationship was only a transaction, though he felt uncomfortable.
• Li Jue argued that the King could offer Ye Lihan and his servants security and a prosperous future, but Ye Lihan said they were unsuitable and that he was unworthy of her.
• After Ye Lihan returned to the residence with Xiao Yuzi, Xiao Yuzi hesitated to speak, and Ye Lihan asked what he wanted to say.

Ye Lihan struggled with his feelings for Prince Rui while insisting he would return to Dongjin. After Xiao Yuzi left, Ye Lihan ordered his hidden guard to begin a plan and investigate Prince Rui, then sat alone in an unusually quiet hall.

• Xiao Yuzi complained that Prince Rui had canceled her hunting plans with Ye Lihan to attend a poetry gathering with Young Master Shang.
• Ye Lihan insisted that his relationship with Prince Rui was only governed by their contract and that he would soon return to Dongjin.
• Xiao Yuzi urged Ye Lihan to reconsider, but Ye Lihan angrily dismissed him and told him to leave.
• After Xiao Yuzi left, Ye Lihan ordered a hidden guard to tell their allies they could begin and to investigate Prince Rui's recent movements.
• The hidden guard departed, and Ye Lihan remained in the hall feeling unsettled by its silence until Xiao Yuzi returned with soup.

Ye Lihan told Xiao Yuzi he planned to return to Eastern Jin alone, while Xiao Yuzi pleaded not to be left behind. Their conversation turned to Prince Rui’s feelings and his growing closeness with Shang Shuheng, leaving Ye Lihan visibly irritated.

• Ye Lihan told Xiao Yuzi that he would return to Eastern Jin without him, and Xiao Yuzi begged not to be left alone.
• Xiao Yuzi explained that he had thought Ye Lihan and Prince Rui were well matched, but Ye Lihan questioned how Prince Rui could fit the role of a compliant spouse.
• Ye Lihan reminded Xiao Yuzi that Prince Rui had wanted to use him as a shield and might refuse to admit he had fallen for the wrong person in the palace.
• Xiao Yuzi said Prince Rui had rescued Shang Shuheng at North Mountain and seemed to get along with him, making Ye Lihan grind his teeth and demand tea.

Su Qiao went to Phoenix Palace after pretending to accept Shang Shuheng’s invitation, where she punished the attendants who looked down on her. Li Sang confronted her, but she used his claim of feeling upset to justify blaming his servants and left him unable to openly object.

• Ye Lihan became angry when Su Qiao skipped their hunt to accept another invitation from Shang Shuheng.
• Su Qiao let others believe she had gone boating with Shang Shuheng, then went to the Imperial Palace after Li Sang urgently summoned her.
• Su Qiao ordered the Phoenix Palace attendants dragged out and given fifty strokes for failing to serve Li Sang wholeheartedly.
• Li Sang rushed out from behind the screen and protested as his attendants were taken away.
• Su Qiao told Li Sang to return to bed and claimed his servants had served him poorly because he felt upset.

Li Sang tried to persuade Su Qiao to allow a marriage between Li Ruo and Aran, disguising his motives with regrets about their past. Su Qiao rejected his emotional performance inwardly and reflected on how the original owner had been used by him and his family.

• Li Sang told Su Qiao that official troubles and poor health had left him without an appetite.
• Li Sang asked whether Li Ruo and Aran could still marry, praising Li Ruo and invoking his old wish.
• Su Qiao recalled that Li Ruo had already slept with Huang Ling and judged Li Sang shameless for proposing her to his younger brother.
• Li Sang apologized for betraying Su Qiao and suggested her resentment explained why she would not marry into his family.
• Su Qiao reflected on the original owner's years of devotion to Li Sang and how his family had used her.
• Li Sang noticed Su Qiao was distracted and asked what she was thinking about.

Su Qiao rejected Li Sang’s attempt to arrange Li Ruo’s marriage to Aran and instead supported Huang Ling marrying Li Ruo. Li Sang concealed Li Ruo’s dangerous nature, but Su Qiao ended by declaring Li Ruo unworthy of Aran.

• Su Qiao said Li Ruo was an excellent match for Huang Ling and explained that she had known about Huang Ling’s marriage demand.
• Li Sang privately recalled Li Ruo’s violent and abusive behavior and grew angry that Su Qiao was pushing the match.
• Su Qiao asked whether Li Sang objected to Li Ruo or the Li family, and Li Sang denied that either was a problem.
• Li Sang claimed Huang Ling was too willful and suggested that Aran should marry Li Ruo instead.
• Su Qiao said Li Ruo’s status as a secretary’s son made her unworthy of Aran, provoking Li Sang.