Chapter Summaries

Ye Shaoxuan questioned his attendant about Miss Su’s identity and background, growing suspicious that she might have been trained as a concubine. He received no portrait to confirm her appearance and ended the chapter in a rage.

• Ye Shaoxuan mocked Du Heng for lacking the physique he claimed women liked, prompting Du Heng to consider training harder.
• A man in black told Ye Shaoxuan that Miss Su was Old Lady Su’s god-granddaughter, was said to be beautiful and frail, and had been associated with an inauspicious fortune-telling.
• The man in black explained that many girls sent to wealthy households were bought from poor families and trained for powerful men, but Ye Shaoxuan doubted Miss Su fit that description because of her temper.
• Ye Shaoxuan asked whether the man had brought back a portrait, then flew into a rage when he learned there was none.

Su Qiao watched Lin Hanyan and Huangfu Zhenlou grow closer as he confessed his love and promised to devote himself to her. Lin Hanyan was moved, but she remained troubled by their bloody history from her previous life and her own past intent to kill him.

• Ye Shaoxuan ordered the man in black to retrieve Su Qiao's portrait, then complained when the man failed to deliver it.
• Su Qiao spent the next two days resting and reading, until 444 showed her images of Lin Hanyan and Huangfu Zhenlou growing closer.
• Huangfu Zhenlou took Lin Hanyan's hand and confessed that he wanted to protect and love her for the rest of his life.
• Lin Hanyan pulled her hand away, but Huangfu Zhenlou insisted that his feelings were sincere and that he would marry no one else.
• Lin Hanyan admitted to herself that she had grown fond of Huangfu Zhenlou, but she remained hesitant because he had killed her in her previous life and she had once wanted to kill him.

Huangfu Zhenlou decided to formally propose to Lin Hanyan after confessing his feelings, while Su Qiao planned to disrupt their growing romance. Su Qiao then encountered Lin Hanyan, whose irritation flared as her maid announced her status.

• Lin Hanyan hurried away after Huangfu Zhenlou confessed, and his attendant suggested he formally propose to her.
• Huangfu Zhenlou learned that his father would arrive in about two days and planned to ask Lin Hanyan's parents for her hand.
• Su Qiao dismissed 444's warning about Lin Hanyan and Huangfu Zhenlou's growing feelings, then agreed to find a chance to provoke them.
• Su Qiao walked with Xiao Huan along Lin Hanyan's usual paths and encountered her beside the pond's rockery.
• Lin Hanyan's maid introduced her as the Kunwu Sect Leader's daughter and future Sect Leader, while Xiao Huan silently scoffed.

Su Qiao walked with Lin Hanyan beside the pond, while Xiao Si revealed that Gong Jun was likely devoted to Lin Hanyan and may have secretly carried out a village massacre for her. Su Qiao asserted that Lin Hanyan should address her as the Young Master’s Wife, and Lin Hanyan challenged her status.

• Lin Hanyan sent Yuechan away, and Su Qiao ordered Xiao Huan to wait by the pavilion before walking with Lin Hanyan.
• Xiao Si told Su Qiao about Gong Jun’s past, his loyalty to Lin Hanyan, and the possibility that he had arranged the village massacre for her.
• Lin Hanyan asked Su Qiao whether she had been doing well, and Su Qiao demanded to be addressed as the Young Master’s Wife.
• Lin Hanyan scoffed at Su Qiao and questioned whether she understood her own status.

Su Qiao confronted Lin Hanyan over her plans to marry Ye Shaoxuan, making clear that he loved Su Qiao instead. Lin Hanyan was left speechless and resentful as she recognized Ye Shaoxuan had never shown her affection.

• Lin Hanyan insulted Su Qiao's status and warned her to accept her fate.
• Su Qiao mocked Lin Hanyan for coveting Ye Shaoxuan and told her she had no chance of marrying him.
• Lin Hanyan claimed Madam Ye supported her marriage to Ye Shaoxuan and threatened to sell Su Qiao or send her to a brothel.
• Su Qiao said Ye Shaoxuan loved her, not Lin Hanyan, and called Lin Hanyan a defeated opponent.
• Lin Hanyan had no answer because Ye Shaoxuan had never treated her kindly, while he cared for Su Qiao.

Su Qiao pretended that Lin Hanyan had frightened and threatened her, drawing Ye Shaoxuan’s protection. Ye Shaoxuan comforted Su Qiao and turned coldly on Lin Hanyan.

• Lin Hanyan warned Su Qiao that Ye Shaoxuan would tire of her and that she would struggle to survive in Flying Eagle Fortress.
• 444 urged Su Qiao to act weak, and Ye Shaoxuan arrived and asked what was happening.
• Su Qiao threw herself into Ye Shaoxuan’s arms and claimed Lin Hanyan had bullied her.
• Su Qiao accused Lin Hanyan of threatening to drive her out of Flying Eagle Fortress, and Ye Shaoxuan promised no one could decide her fate.
• Ye Shaoxuan rebuked Lin Hanyan and told her she could not compare herself to Su Qiao.

Ye Shaoxuan defended Su Qiao against Lin Hanyan and reassured her that she could do as she pleased in the Flying Eagle Fortress. Su Qiao played up her weakness to gain more comfort from him, then praised him, leaving their tension eased.

• Ye Shaoxuan rejected Lin Hanyan and warned her not to trouble or frighten Su Qiao again.
• Ye Shaoxuan took Su Qiao to lunch and told her he would handle any consequences from Madam Ye.
• Su Qiao privately realized that pretending to be weak was useful, while 444 teased her for enjoying the act.
• Su Qiao feigned insecurity about lacking martial skills and poise, and Ye Shaoxuan told her he liked her as she was.
• Su Qiao praised Ye Shaoxuan for standing up for her, and he relaxed at her words.

Su Qiao and Ye Shaoxuan argued over whether their earlier romantic display had been sincere, and Su Qiao turned the dispute into a mock accusation that he had found someone else. The chapter ended with her acting heartbroken and lamenting that she was alone and had to rely on herself.

• Ye Shaoxuan asked whether Su Qiao had truly been joking when she said she had provoked him out of concern.
• Su Qiao said she had deliberately provoked him because she worried he would become ill from lying in the rain.
• Ye Shaoxuan revealed that he had been acting earlier, leaving Su Qiao furious that he had toyed with her.
• Su Qiao accused Ye Shaoxuan of finding someone else and hammered his chest while pretending to cry.
• Ye Shaoxuan denied having anyone else, and Su Qiao lamented that she had traveled far only to be alone and helpless.

Su Qiao coaxed Ye Shaoxuan into swearing that he would never sell, trade, or demean her, then interpreted his promise as proof that he liked her. Ye Shaoxuan regretted swearing but could not bring himself to resist her.

• Ye Shaoxuan comforted Su Qiao and denied having anyone else.
• Su Qiao claimed other women had said Ye Shaoxuan might sell or trade her, making him angrily demand to know who had spread the rumor.
• Su Qiao insisted Ye Shaoxuan swear he would never sell or trade her, and he reluctantly swore it.
• Su Qiao smiled and said she was happy, then apologized for thinking Ye Shaoxuan hated her and said she now knew he liked her.
• Ye Shaoxuan blushed and wondered when he had ever said he liked her.

Su Qiao and Ye Shaoxuan returned to Water Moon Pavilion after he accepted that he had fallen for her, despite wondering about her true identity and motives. She asked him to gather a large number of medicinal ingredients so she could restore her martial arts and prepare for Lin Hanyan’s likely attack.

• Ye Shaoxuan questioned which side of Su Qiao was real and wondered why she had come to Flying Eagle Fortress, but realized he could not bring himself to hurt her.
• Su Qiao insisted that every side of her was real, and Ye Shaoxuan took her hand and led her back.
• Ye Shaoxuan said he felt as if he had fallen into Su Qiao’s trap, while she denied deliberately attracting his attention.
• Su Qiao noticed Ye Shaoxuan looked unusually pale and asked what he had done the night before; he said he had encountered and resolved a problem while practicing martial arts.
• At Water Moon Pavilion, Su Qiao gave Ye Shaoxuan two sheets listing medicinal ingredients and asked him to gather them so she could restore her martial arts and prepare for Lin Hanyan.
• Ye Shaoxuan scanned the list and reacted with surprise at how many ingredients Su Qiao had requested.

Su Qiao gave Ye Shaoxuan a list of rare medicines she needed to treat her illness, revealing that she knew how to manage her condition. Ye Shaoxuan agreed to help gather the ingredients, though he remained suspicious of her origins and decided to investigate her himself.

• Ye Shaoxuan questioned Su Qiao about the rare medicines on her list, and she said she needed them to treat her body.
• Su Qiao admitted she knew a little about Medical Skills and chose to trust Ye Shaoxuan with part of her secret.
• Ye Shaoxuan pressed Su Qiao about what else she was hiding, but she deflected his questions and urged him to help gather the medicines.
• After confirming Su Qiao believed the prescription was safe, Ye Shaoxuan agreed to collect the medicines as soon as possible.
• Back in his courtyard, Ye Shaoxuan reflected that Su Qiao trusted him and called Xiao Wu to speak with him.

Ye Shaoxuan suspected Su Qiao was hiding an unusual identity and ordered Xiao Qi to investigate recent disappearances in the martial world. After Xiao Si told Su Qiao about the investigation, she grew angry and arranged for news of Lin Hanyan’s feelings for Ye Shaoxuan to reach Huangfu Zhenlou, who went to Lin Hanyan’s courtyard.

• Ye Shaoxuan questioned Xiao Wu about Su Qiao’s medical knowledge and suspected her condition and identity were unusual.
• Xiao Wu pointed out that Su Qiao treated Ye Shaoxuan differently from others, but Ye Shaoxuan dismissed her behavior and ordered Xiao Qi to investigate recent disappearances in the martial world.
• Xiao Si told Su Qiao that Ye Shaoxuan was still investigating her, and Su Qiao became angry that he had not asked her directly about her identity.
• Su Qiao asked whether the news that Lin Hanyan liked Ye Shaoxuan had reached Huangfu Zhenlou, and Xiao Si confirmed that Nanny Wu had passed it along.
• Huangfu Zhenlou doubted the news but grew uneasy at the furtive looks from people at the Gathering of Sages Villa, so he went to Lin Hanyan’s courtyard.

After Huangfu Zhenlou and Lin Hanyan argued, Su Qiao planned to keep provoking them to lower their Luck Values. She prepared to attend Ye Zhongli’s birthday celebration in an overpowering fragrance and bright dress, intending to make Ye Shaoxuan retreat.

• Huangfu Zhenlou learned that people were gossiping about him and Lin Hanyan, argued with her, and parted with her on bad terms.
• Su Qiao confirmed that Huangfu Zhenlou and Lin Hanyan’s Luck Values had fallen and planned to keep stirring up conflict between them.
• Flying Eagle Fortress prepared to celebrate its Fortress Lord Ye Zhongli’s fortieth birthday, and Madam Ye summoned Su Qiao to attend.
• Su Qiao learned that Ye Shaoxuan had sent her clothes, jewelry, and makeup, and that he wanted her to dress properly.
• Su Qiao chose a bright dress and a strong osmanthus fragrance, despite Nanny Wu and Xiao Huan’s hesitation.

Su Qiao dressed in a vivid, revealing outfit for the Fortress Lord’s birthday banquet, while Nanny Wu and Xiao Huan worried it was too striking. Ye Shaoxuan caught up with her at the main hall entrance and criticized her clothes and strong perfume.

• Su Qiao admired her colorful outfit, and Nanny Wu and Xiao Huan voiced concerns about how it would look at the banquet.
• Su Qiao set off with Nanny Wu and Xiao Huan, leaving Ye Shaoxuan to catch up with them at the main hall entrance.
• Ye Shaoxuan asked Su Qiao why she was not wearing a veil, and she said it would make eating inconvenient.
• Ye Shaoxuan complained about Su Qiao’s strong osmanthus fragrance and questioned where she had gotten her revealing outfit.
• Ye Shaoxuan asked whether Su Qiao planned to perform onstage and criticized her exposed shoulders.

Ye Shaoxuan tried to keep Su Qiao warm and properly dressed for the banquet, while she complained that his cloak made her look ugly. He coaxed her by promising an outing after she recovered, as he prepared to make an announcement.

• Ye Shaoxuan blocked the servants’ view of Su Qiao and objected to her outfit because the weather was cold.
• Su Qiao accused Ye Shaoxuan of no longer loving her, and he covered her mouth before reassuring her that she looked beautiful.
• Ye Shaoxuan draped his oversized black cloak over Su Qiao, who complained that it hid her dress and made her look ugly.
• Ye Shaoxuan threatened to withhold the medicinal herbs, then soothed Su Qiao and promised to take her out after she fully recovered.

Ye Shaoxuan told Su Qiao he planned to announce her as his only future wife at the birthday banquet, but she refused to agree and said her answer depended on how he behaved. She kept her relationship with him quiet to avoid drawing the Demonic Cult’s attention, and Xiao Wu urged them to join the banquet.

• Ye Shaoxuan told Su Qiao he would announce her as his only wife and marry her after the Martial Arts Convention.
• Su Qiao asked whether he had considered her opinion and said she saw no reason to commit to him.
• Ye Shaoxuan argued that he treated her well and would obtain whatever she wanted, but Su Qiao said she would decide based on his future behavior and her mood.
• Su Qiao avoided a public announcement because it could attract the Demonic Cult before she recovered her martial arts.
• Ye Shaoxuan insisted Su Qiao could not leave his household without him revealing their relationship, and Xiao Wu reminded them that the banquet had begun.

Su Qiao accompanied Ye Shaoxuan to the Fortress Lord’s birthday gathering, where guests admired her beauty and several women reacted with jealousy. As the women’s rivalries simmered, Su Qiao chose not to interfere and let them turn on one another in time.

• Su Qiao warned Ye Shaoxuan not to say anything foolish before they entered the crowded birthday gathering together.
• Guests whispered that Su Qiao was beautiful and might surpass Lin Hanyan as the martial world’s top beauty.
• Huangfu Youran and Ye Ningshuang criticized Su Qiao, while Lin Hanyan told Ye Ningshuang to stop talking.
• 444 relayed the women’s conversation to Su Qiao, who told it not to fan the flames for now.
• Su Qiao considered the tangled attractions among Huangfu Youran, Ye Ningshuang, Lin Hanyan, Ye Shaoxuan, and Huangfu Zhenlou.

At a banquet, Ye Shaoxuan grew jealous when Su Qiao seemed distracted and warned her against seeking another man. He insulted Madam Ye, but Su Qiao reassured him that he treated her well, easing his anger as he fussed over her.

• Ye Shaoxuan pulled Su Qiao to the table and accused her of looking for a wild man.
• Ye Shaoxuan warned Su Qiao that she would belong to him even after death, then claimed he only wanted to protect men's dignity.
• Madam Ye asked why Lian Yue seemed unhappy and advised Ye Shaoxuan not to treat her coldly.
• Ye Shaoxuan told Madam Ye to worry about her own husband, prompting Su Qiao to nearly spit out her tea.
• Su Qiao praised Ye Shaoxuan's attentiveness, and he soothed her and wiped her mouth with a handkerchief.

At Ye Zhongli’s birthday banquet, he urged Su Qiao to follow household rules and Ye Shaoxuan to choose a wife. Ye Shaoxuan rejected the pressure and declared he already loved someone, while Su Qiao warned him against marrying another woman; the banquet continued with Ye Shaoxuan tending to her.

• Madam Ye concealed her anger and reassured Su Qiao and the others that she was glad they were well.
• Ye Zhongli told Su Qiao to serve her husband and bear heirs for the Ye family.
• Ye Shaoxuan said he wanted to spend a few more years enjoying himself with Su Qiao before discussing children.
• Ye Zhongli urged Ye Shaoxuan to choose a suitable wife during the Martial Arts Convention, and Su Qiao secretly pinched Ye Shaoxuan’s thigh in warning.
• Ye Shaoxuan said he already had someone he liked and left the choice of any suitable woman to his father, prompting Ye Zhongli to lose his temper before Madam Ye calmed him.
• Ye Shaoxuan moved dishes to Su Qiao and asked why she was not eating.

At a banquet in Flying Eagle Fortress, Ye Shaoxuan tried to persuade Su Qiao to eat while other women mocked their closeness. He drove the women off with a chicken bone, but Su Qiao refused the bony chicken neck he offered her.

• Su Qiao told Ye Shaoxuan she was not hungry and declined to eat with him.
• Ye Shaoxuan urged Su Qiao to try fish, then offered her stewed chicken to nourish her.
• Huangfu Youran and another woman mocked Ye Shaoxuan for feeding Su Qiao, and other women joined in.
• Ye Shaoxuan threw a chicken bone at one woman and warned the others to stop meddling in his relationship with Su Qiao.
• Su Qiao refused the chicken neck because it had too many bones, and Ye Shaoxuan realized what he had picked up.