Chapter Summaries

Ye Shaoxuan fed Su Qiao at the banquet while she rebuffed his talk of having children and revealed that she could not taste food. He was shocked by her confession, and the chapter ended with her explaining that everything tasted bland to her.

• A woman who had mocked Ye Shaoxuan and Su Qiao ran away crying, and Huangfu Youran followed her out.
• Ye Zhongli watched Ye Shaoxuan feed Su Qiao and felt disgusted by her behavior.
• Ye Shaoxuan searched the dishes for food Su Qiao would like and suggested that she bear his children.
• Su Qiao challenged the idea that women had to give birth, and Ye Shaoxuan agreed that they could live without children.
• Ye Shaoxuan continued feeding Su Qiao until she told him she had no sense of taste, leaving him stunned.

Su Qiao told Ye Shaoxuan that she had lost her sense of taste after Old Poison Ghost poisoned her years ago. Ye Shaoxuan took her away from the banquet and arranged for her to be examined and cared for, leaving her quietly touched by his concern.

• Su Qiao explained that Old Poison Ghost had poisoned her when she was twelve or thirteen, leaving her unable to taste anything.
• Ye Shaoxuan worried that someone had tortured Su Qiao, but stopped questioning her when she said she did not want to remember the past.
• Ye Shaoxuan comforted Su Qiao and led her away from the banquet to have Du Heng examine her.
• Ye Shaoxuan ordered Nanny Wu, Xiao Huan, and Xiao Wu to prepare hot water, ginseng tea, charcoal, mountain ginseng, and bird's nest for Su Qiao.
• Su Qiao questioned Ye Shaoxuan's fussing, while he said her weak health made him anxious and wished she had told him sooner.

Su Qiao overheard Huangfu Youran and Ye Ningshuang discussing Lin Hanyan’s feelings, then revealed that Lin Hanyan and Huangfu Zhenlou loved each other. Ye Ningshuang refused to believe the news, but Huangfu Youran confirmed it.

• Ye Shaoxuan promised to find a cure for Su Qiao’s blocked meridians, and she considered trying harder to find a solution.
• Su Qiao overheard Huangfu Youran tell Ye Ningshuang that Lin Hanyan had feelings for Ye Shaoxuan.
• Su Qiao sent Ye Shaoxuan ahead and went to confront the two women.
• Su Qiao told Ye Ningshuang that Lin Hanyan and Huangfu Zhenlou loved each other and that everyone in the fortress knew it.
• Ye Ningshuang angrily demanded that Huangfu Youran deny the claim, but Huangfu Youran admitted it was true.

Ye Ningshuang learned that Lin Hanyan and Huangfu Zhenlou were a known couple and ran off to confront her. Meanwhile, Ye Shaoxuan sent Huangfu Youran flying after she insulted Su Qiao, leaving Ye Ningshuang stunned by his reaction.

• Ye Ningshuang heard that Lin Hanyan was regarded as Huangfu Zhenlou's wife and ran to ask Lin Hanyan why she had lied about her feelings.
• Huangfu Youran blamed Su Qiao for driving a wedge between the women, and Su Qiao retorted that Huangfu Youran had no chance of winning Ye Shaoxuan's heart.
• Su Qiao acted hurt and clung to Ye Shaoxuan, who had walked over, while secretly pinching his waist.
• Huangfu Youran kept insulting Su Qiao despite Ye Shaoxuan's presence, so he struck her with a wave of his palm and sent her flying.
• Ye Ningshuang leaned against a tree and asked Ye Shaoxuan in disbelief how he could treat her that way.

Ye Shaoxuan defended Su Qiao against Huangfu Youran, threatening her and declaring that he felt disgust rather than hatred for her. He left with Su Qiao, who was unsettled by his offer to feed his enemies to his pets.

• Ye Shaoxuan ordered Huangfu Youran to stop insulting Su Qiao and threatened to cut out her tongue.
• Su Qiao pretended to be frightened and clung to Ye Shaoxuan while mocking Huangfu Youran.
• Ye Shaoxuan warned Huangfu Youran that she was in Flying Eagle Fortress and said he would kill her if she spoke against Su Qiao again.
• Ye Shaoxuan told Huangfu Youran that he felt disgust, not hatred, and Su Qiao laughed at his insult.
• Su Qiao tugged Ye Shaoxuan away, and he offered to kill Huangfu Youran or feed her to his pets; Su Qiao denied being afraid of him.

Ye Shaoxuan pressured Su Qiao to tell him how she felt, and she soothed him by saying she was content to stay by his side. After they returned to the Water Moon Pavilion, Su Qiao pushed him away, leaving him hurt and arguing with her over who was attracting attention.

• Ye Shaoxuan stopped Su Qiao and demanded that she tell him whether she feared or disliked him.
• Su Qiao said she knew her status was low but was satisfied as long as she could stay with him, and Ye Shaoxuan embraced her and promised she would become the Fortress Lord's Madam.
• Su Qiao agreed to keep her distance from other people, and Ye Shaoxuan took her away from Huangfu Zhenlou and the others.
• Huangfu Youran fainted after Su Qiao and Ye Shaoxuan left, and her maid caught her.
• Back at the Water Moon Pavilion, Su Qiao pulled free of Ye Shaoxuan, and the two argued over her pinching him and attracting attention.

Su Qiao questioned Ye Shaoxuan’s sudden concern about what others thought, but he ignored her question and insisted she call him by name and then “husband.” After she used his promise of three favors to ask him to stay farther away, he unexpectedly agreed, leaving Su Qiao wondering what he was plotting.

• Su Qiao asked Ye Shaoxuan why he had become particular about other people’s opinions.
• Ye Shaoxuan sent Nanny Wu and the others away, sat beside Su Qiao, and asked her to say his name aloud.
• Ye Shaoxuan coaxed Su Qiao into calling him “husband” by offering to grant her three requests.
• Su Qiao used her request to tell Ye Shaoxuan to stay farther away from her.
• Ye Shaoxuan agreed immediately, and Su Qiao grew suspicious of his intentions.

Su Qiao and Ye Shaoxuan teased each other over his promise to grant her three requests, while he sincerely tried to win her over. Ye Shaoxuan revealed he had kept her at the fortress because he knew she wanted to leave.

• Ye Shaoxuan moved only three centimeters away from Su Qiao, prompting her to accuse him of breaking his word.
• Su Qiao reminded Ye Shaoxuan that he had promised to grant her three requests, but she lost interest and went into the inner room.
• Ye Shaoxuan offered Su Qiao his position, his possessions, and even his body and heart, but she rejected them.
• Ye Shaoxuan offered to compete for Martial Arts Alliance Leader so Su Qiao could become the Alliance Leader's Madam.
• Ye Shaoxuan said Su Qiao had provoked him first, and she reminded him that he had once kept her at the fortress despite her being sickly.
• Ye Shaoxuan explained that he had kept Su Qiao because he knew she wanted to leave, leaving her stunned.

Ye Shaoxuan admitted he had kept Su Qiao because she wanted to leave, then left to handle urgent business as the Martial Arts Convention approached. After learning that the Demonic Sect had infiltrated the area, he discovered from a portrait that Su Qiao was not the Su family's adopted daughter, Su Lian Yue.

• Ye Shaoxuan told Su Qiao he had kept her because he liked forcing people to do what they did not want, and he affectionately called her his medicine.
• Xiao Wu summoned Ye Shaoxuan, who promised Su Qiao he would return for dinner.
• Su Qiao learned that the Demonic Sect had infiltrated the area around Flying Eagle Fortress and suspected they were targeting the Martial Arts Convention.
• The system told Su Qiao that Xu Changsong had proclaimed himself Cult Master and Hong Luan had become Left Protector of the Demonic Sect.
• A black-clad subordinate showed Ye Shaoxuan a portrait of the Su family's young lady, and Ye Shaoxuan realized Su Qiao was not Su Lian Yue.

Ye Shaoxuan ordered his subordinate to erase the traces of the unknown woman and heard that the Demon Cult was preparing for a major move. He refused to intervene in the conflict and said he would welcome the destruction of Flying Eagle Fortress.

• Ye Shaoxuan threatened the man in black for suggesting they deal with the unknown woman, then ordered him to conceal her identity.
• The man in black reported that Xu Changsong was running the Demon Cult while its mysterious new cult master had disappeared.
• Ye Shaoxuan learned that martial artists were gathering to target the cult master, whose rumored powers and flesh had drawn them.
• Ye Shaoxuan refused to interfere in the conflict, saying he did not care if Flying Eagle Fortress was destroyed.

Ye Shaoxuan arranged to deliver Su Qiao’s requested medicinal ingredients and stopped investigating her identity, while Su Qiao went to watch Ye Ningshuang confront Lin Hanyan. The argument ended with Ye Ningshuang challenging Lin Hanyan to swear she had never wanted to marry Ye Shaoxuan.

• Ye Shaoxuan learned that the medicinal ingredients Su Qiao requested had all been found and decided to deliver them himself.
• Ye Shaoxuan told the man in black to stop investigating Su Qiao’s identity and declared that he would not let her leave.
• Su Qiao sent Xiao Huan to handle a matter, then walked toward Lin Hanyan’s courtyard with Nanny Wu.
• Ye Ningshuang accused Lin Hanyan of wanting to marry her brother while also liking Huangfu Zhenlou.
• Lin Hanyan denied ever saying she wanted to marry Ye Shaoxuan, and Ye Ningshuang challenged her to swear she had never thought so.

Lin Hanyan denied Ye Ningshuang’s claim that she liked Ye Shaoxuan, and Huangfu Zhenlou apologized after believing the accusation. Su Qiao then arrived and challenged Lin Hanyan’s version of events, pointing out that she had seemed pleased when Madam Ye proposed a betrothal to Ye Shaoxuan.

• Huangfu Zhenlou arrived and asked Lin Hanyan whether Ye Ningshuang’s accusation was true.
• Ye Ningshuang swore she was telling the truth, while Huangfu Youran confronted Lin Hanyan and demanded that she swear she had never loved Ye Shaoxuan.
• Lin Hanyan denied the accusation, said she loved Huangfu Zhenlou, and told him to leave; Huangfu Zhenlou apologized and promised not to doubt her again.
• Su Qiao appeared at the courtyard entrance and asked why Lin Hanyan had seemed shy and pleased when Madam Ye proposed marrying her to Ye Shaoxuan.

Su Qiao exposed Lin Hanyan’s past statements about marrying Ye Shaoxuan and having Su Qiao sold, but Lin Hanyan regained Huangfu Zhenlou’s trust by claiming she had mistaken her feelings for her cousin as romantic love. She left Ye Ningshuang humiliated after revealing her feelings for Huangfu Zhenlou.

• Su Qiao reminded Lin Hanyan that she had said she would marry Ye Shaoxuan and have Su Qiao sold, then dared Lin Hanyan to swear an oath that the accusation was false.
• Huangfu Zhenlou confronted Lin Hanyan and asked whether she had wanted to marry Ye Shaoxuan and what their relationship meant to her.
• Lin Hanyan apologized to Huangfu Zhenlou and claimed she had only felt sibling affection for her cousin before falling in love with him.
• Huangfu Zhenlou chose to believe Lin Hanyan, though the incident worsened his impression of Ye Ningshuang and Su Qiao.
• Ye Ningshuang accused Lin Hanyan of lying, but Lin Hanyan exposed her feelings for Huangfu Zhenlou and advised her to let him go.

Su Qiao’s suggestion that Huangfu Zhenlou marry both Lin Hanyan and Ye Ningshuang failed, and he chose Lin Hanyan. Lin Hanyan hesitated when he proposed, leaving Huangfu Zhenlou questioning whether she truly loved him.

• Su Qiao suggested that Huangfu Zhenlou marry both women and let them compete over their places in the household.
• Lin Hanyan and Ye Ningshuang each refused to become a concubine and insisted their sects could not accept the loss of face.
• Huangfu Zhenlou chose Lin Hanyan, confessed his love, and proposed marriage after the Martial Arts Convention.
• Ye Ningshuang asked Lin Hanyan whether she loved Huangfu Zhenlou or Ye Ningshuang’s brother.
• Lin Hanyan hesitated, and Huangfu Zhenlou asked why she had risked her life and used her sect’s sacred medicine to save him if she did not love him.

Ye Ningshuang confronted Lin Hanyan after learning she loved Huangfu Zhenlou, but Ye Shaoxuan defended Su Qiao and threatened his sister. Ye Ningshuang was left terrified of being sent to the Snake Pit.

• Huangfu Zhenlou confessed that he wanted to spend his life treating Lin Hanyan well, and she admitted she was willing to be with him but remained uneasy.
• Ye Ningshuang accused Lin Hanyan of deceiving her and condemned her for pursuing Huangfu Zhenlou while accepting the prospect of marrying Ye Shaoxuan.
• Ye Shaoxuan arrived and struck Ye Ningshuang when she insulted Lin Hanyan.
• Ye Ningshuang tried to flee, but Ye Shaoxuan ordered Xiao Wu and Xiao Liu to block the courtyard gate.
• Ye Shaoxuan put his arm around Su Qiao and threatened to throw Ye Ningshuang into the Snake Pit if she insulted Su Qiao again, terrifying her.

Ye Shaoxuan defended Ye Ningshuang and mocked Huangfu Zhenlou and the Gathering of Sages Villa, while Su Qiao laughed at his insults. The confrontation escalated as Huangfu Zhenlou’s attendant stepped forward to challenge Ye Shaoxuan.

• Ye Ningshuang apologized to Ye Shaoxuan, then accused Su Qiao and Huangfu Zhenlou of bullying her and stealing the man she liked.
• Ye Shaoxuan insulted Huangfu Zhenlou as a sickly pretty boy and mocked Ye Ningshuang for wanting him.
• Huangfu Zhenlou’s attendant objected to Ye Shaoxuan’s remarks, and Ye Shaoxuan mocked the Gathering of Sages Villa’s ambitions in the martial world.
• Su Qiao burst out laughing, and Ye Shaoxuan encouraged her while dismissing the anger of Huangfu Zhenlou and his companions.
• Huangfu Zhenlou’s attendant stepped forward, ready to fight Ye Shaoxuan.

Ye Shaoxuan confronted Huangfu Zhenlou over his rejection of Ye Ningshuang, then turned his anger on Su Qiao when he caught her watching the dispute. As Gathering of Sages Villa members gathered and challenged him, Huangfu Zhenlou stopped them, and everyone began to suspect Su Qiao had unusual influence over Ye Shaoxuan.

• Xiao Wu and Xiao Liu blocked the attendants, but Huangfu Zhenlou ordered his people to stand down and explained that he rejected Ye Ningshuang for her own good.
• Ye Shaoxuan called Huangfu Zhenlou an idiot, then scolded Su Qiao for sneaking out to watch and threatened to remove whatever parts of Huangfu Zhenlou she admired.
• Several Gathering of Sages Villa members arrived and angrily challenged Ye Shaoxuan, who mocked them and invited them to fight.
• Huangfu Zhenlou stopped his Sixth Uncle from drawing his sword and dismissed the confrontation as a minor verbal dispute.
• The gathered people watched Su Qiao and wondered how she had gained such influence over Ye Shaoxuan, while Huangfu Zhenlou studied her.

Ye Shaoxuan confronted Su Qiao after seeing her praise Huangfu Zhenlou and warned her not to act rashly with the medicinal materials. Su Qiao agreed to wait for Du Heng, but secretly planned to proceed that night.

• Ye Shaoxuan realized Su Qiao had quickly won his attention and pulled her away from the watching crowd.
• Su Qiao assured Ye Shaoxuan that she had no interest in Huangfu Zhenlou, and he told her not to mention or look at him again.
• Ye Shaoxuan demanded that Su Qiao not look at other men, but she warned him not to control her too much.
• Ye Shaoxuan told Su Qiao the medicinal materials had arrived and urged her to wait for Du Heng before using them.
• Su Qiao agreed outwardly but secretly planned to act that night, while Ye Shaoxuan warned her that her recovery depended on caution.

Ye Shaoxuan and Lin Hanyan reassured each other after learning about her past feelings for Ye Shaoxuan, though the revelation left Ye Ningshuang’s brother wary. Meanwhile, Su Qiao told Ye Shaoxuan to leave, rejecting his claim that he was her husband because they had never formally married.

• Ye Ningshuang returned to her mother in anger and distress, while Huangfu Youran and the others left Huangfu Zhenlou and Lin Hanyan alone.
• Huangfu Zhenlou questioned whether Lin Hanyan truly wanted to be with him, and she threatened to leave before he apologized and stopped her.
• Lin Hanyan reassured Huangfu Zhenlou that she would stay with him, though he remained troubled by her past feelings for Ye Shaoxuan.
• Su Qiao asked Ye Shaoxuan to leave as night fell, but he hinted that he planned to stay.
• Ye Shaoxuan called himself Su Qiao’s husband, and Su Qiao challenged him to name any formal wedding rites or public marriage announcement he had completed.

Su Qiao refused to let Ye Shaoxuan announce their relationship while she would be known only as a concubine, and she hinted that she might leave. Ye Shaoxuan pressed her to reveal her identity but ultimately accepted her secrecy, insisting only that she not leave him or become involved with another man.

• Su Qiao rejected Ye Shaoxuan's plan to announce their relationship and said she would leave rather than accept being his concubine under another identity.
• Ye Shaoxuan confronted Su Qiao about who she was, where she came from, and where he could find her if she left.
• Ye Shaoxuan explained that her manner, clothing, and jewelry suggested she came from a wealthy or official household, perhaps even the Imperial Palace.
• Su Qiao told Ye Shaoxuan he would learn the truth when the time was right.
• Ye Shaoxuan stopped pressing her for answers but demanded that she remain his and not leave him; Su Qiao asked whether he feared she would ruin the Ye family, and he told her to do as she pleased.