Chapter Summaries

Ye Jinghua defended his decision to claim Su Qiao as his Princess Consort and promised to clear the Su Prime Minister's Estate of its charges before their wedding. After Su Qiao rested, Ye Jinghua stayed by her side and joined her in bed.

• Su Baiwen challenged Ye Jinghua for claiming Su Qiao as his Princess Consort, but Ye Jinghua said he had done so to protect her from the Emperor and Empress.
• Ye Jinghua told Su Baiwen that the marriage decree would arrive soon and that he would marry Su Qiao in three months.
• Ye Jinghua promised to clear the Su Prime Minister's Estate of its charges and bring the Empress and Daoist Priest He to justice.
• Su Qiao bathed, ate, and fell asleep while Su Baiwen returned to his room exhausted.
• Ye Jinghua stayed beside Su Qiao, and when she invited him to join her, he got into bed and held her under the quilt.

Su Qiao woke to find Ye Jinghua gone, but he soon returned and took her to see a show. At Phoenix Perch Palace, Ye Beiyao confronted Su Yue after she returned from a secret night outside the palace, accusing her of meeting another man.

• Su Qiao woke, ate breakfast, and wondered how to give Su Yue the Marrow-Devouring Gu.
• Ye Jinghua arrived, draped a fox-fur cloak over Su Qiao, and led her away to see a show.
• Su Yue returned to Phoenix Perch Palace and learned that Ye Beiyao had been waiting for her all night.
• Eunuch Liu summoned Su Yue into the palace hall, where she faced Ye Beiyao in fear.
• Ye Beiyao accused Su Yue of leaving the palace at night to fool around with a man, while recalling that He Zhou had loved Su Yue's mother.

Ye Beiyao exposed Su Yue as an older woman who had deceived him and ordered her imprisoned, along with the deaths of Phoenix Perch Palace’s attendants. As Su Qiao and Ye Jinghua arrived, Ye Beiyao faced the relatives who already knew the truth.

• Ye Beiyao ordered two Old Wet Nurses to examine Su Yue, then called her shameless and revealed that Nanny Gui had exposed her identity.
• Su Yue suspected Su Qiao had arranged the scheme and tried to explain her origins, but Ye Beiyao refused to listen and ordered her taken to the dungeon.
• Ye Beiyao ordered everyone in Phoenix Perch Palace beaten to death and said he had watched Su Yue since the banquet and uncovered her false life-saving story.
• Ye Beiyao said Daoist Priest He would soon join Su Yue, then had a guard drag her away with her mouth covered.
• Ye Jinghua and Su Qiao arrived holding hands, and Ye Beiyao felt embarrassed, frustrated, and furious when he saw them.

Su Qiao parted from Ye Jinghua after he handed her his token, then went with Su Baiwen to the dungeon to confront Su Yue. She planned to return the parasitic worm Su Yue had given her.

• Ye Jinghua presented Ye Beiyao with evidence against Prime Minister Su and went with him to the Imperial Study.
• Ye Jinghua gave Su Qiao his token and told her to have anyone who provoked her beheaded, as long as she had a justification.
• Su Qiao left Ye Jinghua and met Su Baiwen, who asked about Su Yue being imprisoned.
• Su Qiao told Su Baiwen they were going to the dungeon to return Su Yue's parasitic worm.

Su Qiao and Su Baiwen visited Su Yue in the Imperial Palace's Private Prison, where Su Yue revealed that she had used a Marrow-Devouring Gu to torment Su Qiao. Su Baiwen explained that Su Qiao had already extracted it, leaving Su Yue's threat powerless.

• Su Qiao showed the Regent's token to gain entry to the Private Prison and went to Su Yue's cell with Su Baiwen.
• Su Yue accused Su Qiao of drugging her, and Su Baiwen kicked her before revealing his identity by removing his Human Skin Mask.
• Su Yue claimed her master had planted a Marrow-Devouring Gu in Su Qiao and described the suffering she had inflicted on her.
• Su Baiwen angrily attacked Su Yue as she threatened to use the Gu to kill Su Qiao.
• Su Baiwen told Su Yue that Su Qiao had extracted the Gu because she was a Master of Medicine and Poison.

Su Qiao and Su Baiwen confronted Su Yue in prison, where Su Yue explained that she sought revenge because she believed Su Qiao’s mother had poisoned her own. Su Qiao put the improved Marrow-Devouring Gu into Su Yue and left with her brother, while Su Yue screamed in terror.

• Su Yue accused Su Qiao’s mother of poisoning her mother, causing her death and leaving Su Yue to grow up without her.
• Su Yue declared that she did not fear death and taunted Su Qiao and Su Baiwen about the dead Prime Minister Su and the people of Su Manor.
• Su Qiao revealed the improved Marrow-Devouring Gu and said the Emperor would likely kill Su Yue himself.
• Su Baiwen pinned Su Yue down while Su Qiao cut her wrist and poured the Marrow-Devouring Gu onto the wound.
• Su Qiao and Su Baiwen left the prison cell as Su Yue wailed, and Su Qiao admired the blooming peonies on their way back.

Su Qiao visited Su Yue in the dungeon and told Ye Jinghua she had given her the Marrow-Devouring Gu. Ye Jinghua arranged for Su Yue to be guarded, while He Zhou was left in Ye Beiyao’s hands and brutally punished.

• Su Qiao admired the flowers with Su Baiwen and declined to have them picked.
• Ye Jinghua found Su Qiao returning from the dungeon and warmed her cold hand by the fire.
• Su Qiao told Ye Jinghua she had given Su Yue the Marrow-Devouring Gu, and he ordered Xun Feng to keep watch over her.
• Ye Jinghua told Su Qiao that He Zhou had been captured and handed over to Ye Beiyao, who had crippled him.
• Ye Beiyao whipped He Zhou in front of Su Yue, accusing them both of betraying him.

Ye Beiyao tortured Su Yue and He Zhou until Su Yue revealed information about Peach Blossom Valley. After Su Qiao cured Ye Jinghua’s poison, the two teased each other, leaving Su Qiao’s vow unfinished.

• Ye Beiyao accused Su Yue and He Zhou of adultery, ordered her mutilated, and beat her when she protested.
• Su Yue offered information about Peach Blossom Valley to save her life and revealed what she knew.
• Su Qiao spent two days making an antidote, then gave it to Ye Jinghua and confirmed his poison was gone.
• Ye Jinghua teased Su Qiao about their wedding night and called her adorable, making her blush and leave.
• Ye Jinghua feigned pain to make Su Qiao turn back, and she began an angry vow.

Ye Jinghua told Su Qiao about his violent impulses and confessed that he had wanted to possess her and hurt anyone who coveted her. Su Qiao was only a little unsettled, and when she asked why he did not depose the Little Emperor, Ye Jinghua asked if she wanted to be Empress.

• Ye Jinghua explained that a battlefield head injury and poisoning had worsened his temper, though he had felt violent impulses since childhood.
• Su Qiao said she was not afraid because she believed Ye Jinghua would not hurt her, and he promised he would never harm her.
• Ye Jinghua admitted that seeing Su Qiao at Ye Beiyao's birthday banquet had made him want to claim her and attack anyone who looked at her.
• Su Qiao told Ye Jinghua not to keep wanting to chop people up, and he promised to find a reasonable excuse whenever he did.
• Su Qiao asked why Ye Jinghua did not depose the Little Emperor and take the throne, and Ye Jinghua asked whether she wanted to be Empress.

Su Qiao and Ye Jinghua agreed that he would remain a prince and travel with her and Su Baiwen instead of becoming Emperor. As preparations for their wedding continued, Ye Beiyao visited Su Qiao and offered to move her to another palace, leaving his intentions unclear.

• Ye Jinghua agreed not to pursue the throne and said he would accompany Su Qiao and her brother on their travels while remaining a prince.
• Su Qiao learned that Su Baiwen was overseeing the renovation of Su Prime Minister's Estate and that Su Yue had been crippled and disfigured, while He Zhou had been whipped to death.
• Su Baiwen rebuilt the estate and Ye Jinghua prepared for the wedding as Su Qiao spent her days reading, eating, and studying the Gu Manual.
• Ye Beiyao visited Su Qiao and offered to move her from her quiet residence, but she declined because she planned to return to Su Manor once it was renovated.

Ye Beiyao tried to win Su Qiao over by offering to make her Empress and restore the Su Prime Minister's Estate, but she remained devoted to Ye Jinghua. She defended Ye Jinghua as a good person and began listing the kind things he had done for her.

• Ye Beiyao praised Su Qiao and suggested she would be qualified to become Empress.
• Su Qiao asked whether Ye Beiyao intended to abdicate and give the throne to Ye Jinghua.
• Ye Beiyao offered to reinstate Su Qiao's brother and restore the Su Prime Minister's Estate if she became Empress.
• Ye Beiyao asked why Su Qiao treated Ye Jinghua so well, and she said it was because he was a good person.
• Su Qiao defended Ye Jinghua against rumors of cruelty and listed how he had shared food and helped her against palace bullies.

Ye Beiyao tried to delay Ye Jinghua’s marriage to Su Qiao by raising concerns about appearances, but Su Qiao dismissed his argument. Ye Jinghua kept the wedding plans and teased Su Qiao about wanting to marry him.

• Su Qiao praised Ye Jinghua to Ye Beiyao, insisting that rumors about him were false.
• Ye Jinghua arrived and asked Ye Beiyao for the Imperial Decree granting his marriage to Su Qiao.
• Ye Beiyao explained that Su Yue and Daoist Priest He had been executed for framing Prime Minister Su, taking bribes, and attempting to poison him.
• Ye Beiyao argued that granting the marriage so soon could make people suspect Prime Minister Su’s Estate had been cleared because Ye Jinghua favored Su Qiao, then left.
• Su Qiao told Ye Jinghua that Ye Beiyao was using appearances as an excuse to delay their wedding, and Ye Jinghua teased her about being eager to marry him.

Su Qiao and Ye Jinghua discussed Ye Beiyao’s attempt to make her Empress and why Ye Jinghua had supported him as Emperor. Ye Beiyao continued visiting their courtyard, where he asked to join them for hotpot.

• Su Qiao said she might consider becoming Empress, and Ye Jinghua angrily objected to Ye Beiyao pursuing her.
• Ye Jinghua explained that he preferred the battlefield to ruling and had supported Ye Beiyao because the late Emperor named him heir and court officials might not accept Ye Jinghua’s claim.
• Su Qiao agreed to leave the palace with Ye Jinghua for food and suggested inviting her brother, but Ye Jinghua said to let him rest.
• Ye Beiyao repeatedly visited Su Qiao’s courtyard, and during one visit he asked to sit and eat hotpot with her and Ye Jinghua.

Su Qiao demanded that Ye Beiyao grant her marriage to Ye Jinghua and clear her family’s name, provoking the emperor to leave. The next morning, Ye Beiyao accused Ye Jinghua of treason and moved against him, forcing Su Qiao to flee the palace as armed guards confronted her party.

• Su Qiao asked Ye Beiyao to grant her and Ye Jinghua a marriage and restore the Su Prime Minister’s Estate’s reputation, and Ye Beiyao agreed to issue the marriage edict the next day.
• Ye Beiyao left the meal in anger, while Ye Jinghua and Su Qiao were pleased with how their exchange had gone.
• Xun Feng told Su Qiao that Ye Beiyao had accused Ye Jinghua of treason and listed seventy-two charges against him in court.
• Su Qiao prepared to leave the palace, told Xun Feng to protect Su Baiwen, and departed with Xun Feng, Fifteen, and hidden guards.
• A squad of more than a hundred armed guards blocked Su Qiao’s party, apparently intending to seize her as a hostage.

Su Qiao used powder to incapacitate more than a hundred guards, then headed deeper into the Imperial Palace to find Ye Jinghua. In the Hall of Supreme Harmony, Ye Jinghua and his ministers confronted Ye Beiyao, who threatened them with death.

• Su Qiao scattered powder over the Guard Patrol, incapacitating more than a hundred guards while Xun Feng and Fifteen covered their noses.
• Su Qiao refused to leave the Imperial Palace and continued toward the Hall of Supreme Harmony to find Ye Jinghua.
• Ye Jinghua denied plotting rebellion and argued that his military strength and support among the ministers made such a plot unnecessary.
• More than half the ministers knelt in support of Ye Jinghua and urged Ye Beiyao not to trust accusations against his uncle.
• Ye Jinghua criticized Ye Beiyao's rule and said he could not entrust Eastern Yue to him.
• Ye Beiyao threatened that the ministers might lose their lives because of Ye Jinghua.

Ye Beiyao threatened the court officials’ families to force them to kill Ye Jinghua, while claiming he had surrounded the palace. After Ye Beiyao threatened Su, Ye Jinghua struck him down and challenged the strength of his forces.

• Ye Beiyao revealed that he had brought the ministers’ families into the palace and promised to spare them if they killed Ye Jinghua.
• Some officials turned against Ye Jinghua, while others warned that Ye Beiyao would purge them regardless and stood in the Prince’s way.
• Two officials tried to stab Ye Jinghua, but he kicked them away and said he had never trusted anyone except Xun Feng and Qing Feng.
• Ye Beiyao claimed five thousand elite soldiers and hidden guards surrounded the Hall of Supreme Harmony, then threatened to send Su to Ye Jinghua as a corpse.
• Ye Jinghua attacked Ye Beiyao after he boasted of taking Su and declared that the soldiers and guards could not stop him.

Su Qiao used an anesthetic hallucinogen to incapacitate the soldiers surrounding the Hall of Supreme Harmony, then led her guards to force their way inside. Ye Jinghua was startled to see her enter carrying a porcelain crock, after telling her to leave the palace.

• Xun Feng told Su Qiao that troops guarded the way to the Hall of Supreme Harmony and that Qing Feng was mobilizing reinforcements.
• Su Qiao gave her people antidotes and ordered them to spread anesthetic hallucinogen among the guards.
• The green smoke incapacitated the five thousand elite soldiers surrounding the hall in moments.
• Su Qiao ordered Xun Feng and the hidden guards to blast open the Hall of Supreme Harmony's doors.
• Ye Jinghua saw Su Qiao enter with a blue-and-white porcelain crock and asked why she had not left the palace.

Su Qiao arrived at the hall where Ye Jinghua faced Ye Beiyao and his allies, then used her Gu insects to kill two ministers who had tried to attack him. Ye Jinghua ordered his hidden guards to execute the remaining enemies, while Su Qiao waited outside with her porcelain jar.

• Xun Feng reported that Su Qiao had taken down everyone outside the hall, and Ye Jinghua realized she had intervened before the fighting began.
• Su Qiao asked Ye Jinghua about the two ministers who had tried to kill him and released Gu insects to kill them.
• Ye Jinghua praised Su Qiao and told her he would handle the rest of the enemies himself.
• Su Qiao sat at the doorway with her porcelain jar while Ye Jinghua ordered his guards to kill everyone on the opposing side and leave Ye Beiyao's body intact.
• The ministers begged Ye Jinghua for mercy, claiming Ye Beiyao had seized their families and forced them to act.

Ye Jinghua crushed Ye Beiyao’s rebellion but chose to keep him alive, while Su Qiao grew bored in the palace and urged Ye Jinghua to pursue a life beyond the throne. They headed to the dungeon together, with Ye Jinghua carrying a secret manual and considering what kind of martial-world faction to build.

• Ye Jinghua’s men killed the officials who tried to reach him, and he ordered Ye Beiyao kept alive so he could witness Ye Jinghua’s legitimate rise to power.
• Su Qiao complained that palace life was boring and went to visit Ye Beiyao in the dungeon, so Ye Jinghua followed her.
• Ye Jinghua said he had sent for Ye Beirong and refused to become Emperor because ruling would limit the time he could spend with Su Qiao.
• Su Qiao gave Ye Jinghua the Peerless Secret Manual and proposed establishing Number One Manor Under Heaven.
• Ye Jinghua suggested founding a Demonic Sect instead, but Su Qiao said the Demonic Sect was boring.

Su Qiao explained to Ye Beiyao that Ye Jinghua had never wanted the throne and that Ye Beirong would soon rule Eastern Yue. She also revealed the truth about Su Yue and how she had manipulated Ye Beiyao into suspecting her.

• Su Qiao mocked Ye Beiyao in the dungeon and said his attempt to block her marriage to Ye Jinghua had brought about his downfall.
• Su Qiao told Ye Beiyao that Ye Jinghua had given up his ambitions for the throne after meeting her, and that Ye Beirong would soon become emperor.
• Ye Jinghua confirmed Su Qiao's words and criticized Ye Beiyao's impatience and lack of judgment.
• Su Qiao assured Ye Beiyao that she could restore Ye Beirong's health and noted that he already had a son to inherit the throne.
• Su Qiao revealed that Su Yue was her illegitimate half-sister and explained how she had used Nanny Gui and medicine to make Ye Beiyao suspect Su Yue.