Recaps

At a poetry gathering in Spring Garden, Shen Tingjue discovered that Sang Wen had been murdered and identified signs that he had been strangled before being thrown into the lake. The Imperial Guard and Court of Judicial Review sealed the garden, and Shen Tingjue called out to the arriving prime minister for help.

• Shen Tingjue refused to compose a poem, while Su Yan and Sang Wen discussed the dangers of holding to one’s principles in officialdom.
• After the gathering, Shen Tingjue found Sang Wen’s body beside the lake, and Su Yan rushed to mourn him.
• Shen Tingjue spotted fresh marks on Sang Wen’s neck and said he had likely been strangled before being pushed into the water.
• Director Zhang reported the murder, and the Imperial Guard sealed Spring Garden so no one could leave.
• Wen Jingkong arrived and joked with Shen Tingjue, who then called out to the arriving prime minister as if frightened.

Shen Tingjue stayed at Spring Garden while the investigation into the death continued, and Xiao Hanye’s Warm Jade sparked teasing and jealousy between them. The coroner revealed that Sang Wen was a woman, while the investigation uncovered that her family home had burned down and her elderly parents had disappeared.

• Shen Tingjue refused to leave Spring Garden without the chancellor, then waited as the Imperial Guard searched and questioned the students.
• Wen Jingkong realized Shen Tingjue wore Xiao Hanye’s Warm Jade and learned that Xiao Hanye had given it to him.
• Shen Tingjue confronted Xiao Hanye about the scent of rouge on his clothes and tried to stuff peanuts into his mouth.
• The deputy general announced that Sang Wen had been a woman who drowned after being forced into the water, and Xiao Hanye silenced the students’ uproar.
• The Court of Judicial Review learned that the Sang Family home had burned down and that Sang Wen’s elderly parents were missing; villagers said Sang Wen had gone to the capital as a servant at age ten.

The Court of Judicial Review’s investigation linked Sang Wen to the disgraced Zhan family, raising the possibility that he was Zhan Lingxiang in disguise. Xiao Hanye and his officials learned that the murder case might expose the truth behind Zhan Ru’s old conviction as they prepared to reopen it.

• A villager told the constables that Sang Wen had studied in the capital and served the Zhan household before returning to the village.
• Wen Jingkong visited Xiao Hanye in the East Palace and reported that Zhan Ru’s daughter, Zhan Lingxiang, had supposedly died in a brothel after the family was disgraced.
• Wen Jingkong revealed that burned scraps found in Sang Wen’s room mentioned avenging his father’s injustice and an account book.
• Yao Yinqing and Wen Jingkong suspected Sang Wen was Zhan Lingxiang, though her veiled appearances meant they could not confirm her identity.
• Wen Jingkong said the Court of Judicial Review would join with the Censorate to reopen Zhan Ru’s case.

Shen Tingjue clung to Xiao Hanye while learning about the Zhan family’s downfall and pressing to share in the Crown Prince’s burdens. Xiao Hanye assigned Wen Jingkong to oversee Chang’an’s drainage repairs and promised him a training ground, then tried unsuccessfully to send Shen Tingjue away.

• Shen Tingjue sat on Xiao Hanye’s lap and asked what crime the Zhan family had committed.
• Xiao Hanye and Yao Yinqing explained that Zhan Ru had embezzled funds for drainage repairs, causing floods and deaths, and had been convicted of corruption, bribery, and murder for profit.
• Yao Yinqing warned that Chang’an’s drainage channels also needed repairs, and Xiao Hanye told Wen Jingkong to supervise the work and promised to secure the Northern Plains Hunting Grounds for the Imperial Guard.
• Xiao Hanye said reassignment orders for the Tiger Roar Army would arrive soon, and Wen Jingkong suspiciously questioned his cousin’s sudden generosity.
• After the others left, Shen Tingjue challenged Xiao Hanye for stopping him from speaking and insisted on staying with him that night.

Shen Tingjue recalled moments from his past with Xiao Hanye, while Xiao Hanye admitted he wanted to keep him safe from court affairs. Later, Shen enjoyed his new title and popularity in Chang’an, where Lu Qukun noticed that his eyes resembled someone.

• Shen Tingjue teased Xiao Hanye into hearing his memories of becoming head of the shadow guards and campaigning with him at Twilight Cloud Pass.
• Xiao Hanye told Shen Tingjue he kept him away from court affairs because he did not want anything to happen to him, but Shen fell asleep before hearing it.
• Shen Tingjue woke near sunset, ate with Xiao Hanye, and left after demanding a long kiss.
• Shen Tingjue received food from townspeople in Chang’an while Lu Qukun and Ji Zhang discussed his title and imperial connections.
• Lu Qukun watched Shen Tingjue from Drunken Immortal Tower and said his eyes resembled someone.

Ji Zhang ordered Lu Qukun to investigate whether the young master of the Chancellor's Residence was the black-clad fighter from the northern grain-route incident, while plotting to eliminate Yuan Zhiyi's adopted son and frame Xie Cong through Zhan Lingxiang's death. At the same time, the Black Tiger Guard arrived to summon Wang Zhonggui to the palace by the Crown Prince's order.

• Lu Qukun told Ji Zhang that a black-clad fighter had rescued Yuan Zhiyi's adopted son and nearly blinded him, then said the young master of the Chancellor's Residence reminded him of that fighter.
• Ji Zhang ordered Lu Qukun to approach the young master at the Red Sleeve Pavilion and carefully investigate his identity, while warning him not to underestimate him.
• Ji Zhang said Yuan Zhiyi's adopted son was a threat and revealed his plan to exploit Zhan Lingxiang's death to provoke public outrage and settle accounts with Xie Cong.
• Wang Zhonggui told Xie the Grand Secretary that the investigations into Zhan Lingxiang's suspicious death could implicate the Ministry of Revenue and the Ministry of Justice.
• Yuchi Sheng and the Black Tiger Guard entered and ordered Wang Zhonggui to come to the palace by the Crown Prince's command.

Xiao Hanye investigated Zhan Lingxiang’s death and the alleged embezzlement of disaster relief funds, while political rivals clashed over the case. He dismissed and detained officials pending investigation, then resisted the Empress Dowager’s efforts to arrange a marriage for him.

• The Vice Minister of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices admitted that Zhan Lingxiang had used Sang Wen’s identity to enter the Imperial College and said she had sought evidence to clear her father’s name.
• Wang Zhonggui denied that the ledger showing irregularities in Tongzhou disaster relief accounts was genuine, while the Chief Censor accused him and the Minister of Justice of covering up Zhan Ru’s case.
• Xiao Hanye dismissed Wang Zhonggui pending investigation, detained him in the Temple of Revealed Guilt, and suspended the Minister of Justice from duty.
• Xiao Hanye ordered an investigation into alleged illegal copper-coin sales by the Baochang Bureau, further alarming Wang Zhonggui.
• The Empress Dowager urged Xiao Hanye to take a wife and add women to the East Palace, but he rejected the idea and insisted he was perfectly well.

At the Empress Dowager’s urging, Xiao Hanye was trapped at lunch with the Eldest Princess and Shen Tingjue, who openly confessed that he loved the Crown Prince. The Empress Dowager accepted the match and offered to arrange their marriage, leaving Xiao Hanye pressed to reveal whether he felt the same.

• Xiao Hanye tried to leave when he heard the Eldest Princess and Shen Tingjue had arrived, but the Empress Dowager held him back for lunch.
• The Empress Dowager and the Eldest Princess discussed finding marriage matches for Xiao Hanye and Shen Tingjue.
• Shen Tingjue said he liked men like Xiao Hanye and then declared that he loved the Crown Prince most.
• The Eldest Princess realized Shen Tingjue was serious, and Shen Tingjue confirmed his feelings were romantic.
• The Empress Dowager accepted Shen Tingjue’s confession and offered to arrange their marriage if Xiao Hanye liked him too.
• Xiao Hanye tried to leave again, but the Empress Dowager, the Eldest Princess, and Shen Tingjue waited for him to answer.

The Empress Dowager and Grand Princess assumed Xiao Hanye and Shen Tingjue were in love and discussed their wedding, while Xiao Hanye struggled with the sudden public claim. In the East Palace, Shen Tingjue pressed Xiao Hanye to clarify whether he truly liked him, but Xiao Hanye still could not explain his feelings.

• The Empress Dowager pushed Xiao Hanye to admit whether he liked Shen Tingjue, and he sarcastically said that he liked him very much.
• The Empress Dowager and Grand Princess welcomed the match and began discussing a wedding, while Xiao Hanye objected that there was no rush.
• After leaving the palace, Xiao Hanye dragged Shen Tingjue to the East Palace and confronted him for telling the elders about their relationship.
• Shen Tingjue asked whether Xiao Hanye would give him a proper status, then began to doubt that Xiao Hanye truly cared for him.
• Shen Tingjue demanded to know whether Xiao Hanye liked him, and Xiao Hanye insisted he had already answered but could not fully understand his own feelings.

Shen Tingjue pressed Xiao Hanye to prove his affection, and their teasing turned into a private tryst in the East Palace. Afterward, Xiao Hanye summoned Yuchi Sheng, who had been waiting outside to deliver his report.

• Shen Tingjue demanded that Xiao Hanye prove he liked him, and Xiao Hanye refused his request for a public display atop the city walls.
• Shen Tingjue kissed Xiao Hanye until Xiao Hanye took control, and they made love in the bedchamber.
• Yuchi Sheng waited outside with a report while the Shadow Guards pretended not to hear the sounds from inside the room.
• Dark Two knocked Yuchi Sheng into a snowdrift when he tried to listen at the room.
• Xiao Hanye cared for the sleeping Shen Tingjue, changed into clean robes, and summoned Yuchi Sheng to deliver his report.

Xiao Hanye discussed the Dashing Cavalry Battalion’s failed campaign against the bandits of Boundless Mountain and hinted that disorder in the Southern Four Commanderies could serve his plans. Yuchi Sheng was punished for eavesdropping, then embarrassed himself by asking Shen Tingjue whether he and Xiao Hanye were lovers, only to realize Xiao Hanye had overheard him.

• Yuchi Sheng reported that the Dashing Cavalry Battalion had repeatedly failed to find the bandits, while Xue Luanjin struggled against the local officials.
• Xiao Hanye explained that the cavalry lacked experience in Boundless Mountain and suggested that greater chaos in the Southern Four Commanderies could benefit him.
• Dark Two and the hidden guards accused Yuchi Sheng of eavesdropping, and Xiao Hanye punished him by making him stand beneath a plum tree in the snow.
• Shen Tingjue saw Yuchi Sheng outside and mocked him, then refused to come closer when Yuchi Sheng tried to ask him a private question.
• Yuchi Sheng asked whether Shen Tingjue and Xiao Hanye were in a romantic relationship, and Shen Tingjue silently warned him that Xiao Hanye was present.

Shen Tingjue learned that Zhan Lingxiang had been killed by someone in Prince Kang’s faction, while Xiao Hanye planned to punish Wang Zhonggui for his other crimes. Later, Shen Tingjue encountered Su Yan burning paper offerings for Zhan Lingxiang.

• Xiao Hanye told Shen Tingjue that Wang Zhonggui had confessed to hiring a killer, but the evidence was suspect and he would be punished for other crimes as well.
• Xiao Hanye said someone from Prince Kang’s faction had likely killed Zhan Lingxiang, and vowed to reform the court.
• Shen Tingjue urged Xiao Hanye to visit Danyang Mountain with him to admire the snow, but Xiao Hanye refused.
• Shen Tingjue served Xiao Hanye snow bird’s nest and told him he had to live to a hundred with him.
• After the snow and rain, Shen Tingjue found Su Yan burning paper offerings for Zhan Lingxiang beneath a bridge.
• Su Yan told Shen Tingjue that he had been Zhan Lingxiang’s classmate and wanted to honor her memory.

Su Yan feared that entering officialdom would force him to compromise his principles, but Shen Tingjue encouraged him to keep pursuing his ambitions, and Su Yan regained his resolve. Later, Shen Tingjue tried to avoid his planned snowy outing with Xiao Hanye, who hauled him out of bed and carried him to the carriage.

• Su Yan mourned Sang Wen and worried that a career in court might make him betray his principles or suffer the Zhan family's disgrace.
• Shen Tingjue argued that Su Yan should not abandon his studies and could rely on good officials and His Highness for support.
• Su Yan asked Shen Tingjue for help standing, then learned that he had a beloved and blushed at Shen Tingjue's teasing description of their intimacy.
• After watching Shen Tingjue depart, Su Yan cast off his despair and resolved to face the future with pride and fearlessness.
• Xiao Hanye arrived to take Shen Tingjue to Danyang Mountain to see the snow, but Shen Tingjue tried to lure him into bed instead.
• Xiao Hanye realized Shen Tingjue was avoiding the outing, dragged him from bed, carried him out of the Chancellor's Residence, and put him in the carriage.

Xiao Hanye took Shen Tingjue to Danyang Mountain, where they flirted and kissed while snow viewing. Their moment was interrupted when nearby scholars insulted the Crown Prince, and one was struck by a snowball.

• Xiao Hanye carried Shen Tingjue over the crowded mountain road with his qinggong, drawing amazed looks from the scholars.
• Xiao Chongrui took Xiang Rong on an excursion but refused her request to fly over the congestion.
• At the summit, Shen Tingjue teased Xiao Hanye about poetry, and they kissed after Xiao Hanye laughed at him.
• Shen Tingjue and Xiao Hanye overheard scholars praising Prince Jing and Xie the Grand Secretary while condemning the Crown Prince as a murderous fiend.
• A snowball struck one of the scholars, leaving him stunned and shivering.

Shen Tingjue and Xiao Hanye punished scholars who insulted the crown prince, then Shen Tingjue declared he would win over scholars by giving them all a home. At the Chancellor's Residence, a maid from the Duke's Residence saw Shen Tingjue parting affectionately from a man and realized his beloved might be male.

• Shen Tingjue confronted the scholars on Danyang Mountain, and Xiao Hanye ordered the shadow guards to take them to Jingzhao Prefecture for punishment and bar them from official service.
• In the carriage, Shen Tingjue sought Xiao Hanye's comfort and announced that he would give scholars throughout the realm a home, despite Xiao Hanye's objections.
• The Eldest Princess accepted the duchess's invitation to view plum blossoms but said Shen Tingjue was too attached to the person he loved to join her.
• Outside the Chancellor's Residence, the Duke's maid saw Shen Tingjue hold and stroke the hand of a man inside a carriage, and she suspected his beloved was male.

After hearing Shen Tingjue describe the scholars’ mistreatment at Danyang Mountain, the Grand Princess and Emperor Chenghuan supported his plan to build an academy for scholars from humble families. The Emperor promised books and a plaque, but Shen Tingjue left him to realize that the academy also needed funding.

• Shen Tingjue returned home and told the Grand Princess about the scholars’ behavior at Danyang Mountain.
• Shen Tingjue proposed building an academy where scholars from humble families could study for free, and the Grand Princess offered her private treasury and an unused residence.
• At dinner, Emperor Chenghuan noticed Shen Tingjue’s poor appetite and asked whether the events at Danyang Mountain had upset him.
• Shen Tingjue presented the academy plan to Emperor Chenghuan, who praised it and promised to provide books and bestow a name and plaque.
• When Shen Tingjue hinted that building the academy was difficult, he told Emperor Chenghuan he had no money.

Shen Tingjue’s free academy won him widespread praise, eclipsing Prince Jing, while Wang Zhonggui’s corruption was exposed and he died in prison. Shen Tingjue then stopped Xie the Grand Secretary in the street and publicly begged him to lend books, leaving Xie furious and unable to refuse without looking ungenerous.

• Xiao Jinhong defended himself before the townspeople, and Xiao Hanye shoved him aside without replying.
• Yu Gao presented evidence of Wang Zhonggui’s corruption, and Wang Zhonggui took the blame and killed himself in prison.
• The Emperor Chenghuan gave confiscated wealth to Shen Tingjue to build a free academy, earning Shen praise across the realm.
• Xiao Jinhong complained to Xie the Grand Secretary about Shen Tingjue’s growing reputation, but Xie remained silent and irritated.
• Shen Tingjue stopped Xie the Grand Secretary’s carriage and publicly asked to borrow books for the academy.
• Xie the Grand Secretary realized Shen Tingjue had maneuvered him into appearing selfish if he refused and pulled his hand away in anger.

Shen Tingjue persuaded Xie the Grand Secretary to lend books for the academy and hurried to collect them, earning a glowing reputation that enraged Xiao Jinhong. He then joined Xiao Hanye in the bath and teased him until the two gave in to the moment together.

• Shen Tingjue emotionally pressured Xie the Grand Secretary into lending his books and asking other great families to lend theirs.
• Shen Tingjue insisted on going to Xie the Grand Secretary's residence immediately to move the books himself.
• News of Shen Tingjue's efforts spread through Chang'an City, boosting his virtuous reputation and making Xiao Jinhong furious.
• Shen Tingjue entered Xiao Hanye's bath, threw his clothes out of reach, and poured floral oil into the water.
• Shen Tingjue teased Xiao Hanye and declared that he wanted to marry him, prompting Xiao Hanye to drag him into the bath.
• Shen Tingjue continued touching and provoking Xiao Hanye until they indulged in each other in the steamy pool.

After spending the night together, Shen Tingjue and Xiao Hanye became the subject of court gossip, while Xiao Chongrui finally defied Consort Shu over her attacks on Ji Pinglan. Consort Shu blamed Ji Pinglan for turning her son against her.

• The Eldest Princess reminded the sleepless Prime Minister that Xiao Hanye had once criticized him in much the same way, and urged him not to interfere with the couple.
• At court, officials noticed Xiao Hanye's strong floral scent, and he demanded to know what they were laughing at; Wen Jingkong teased him about his fragrant bath.
• Officials secretly discussed Xiao Hanye and Shen Tingjue's unusual relationship after hearing that Shen Tingjue had spent the night in the East Palace.
• Consort Shu scolded Xiao Chongrui for neglecting his studies and loving Ji Pinglan, then compared him unfavorably with the Crown Prince.
• Xiao Chongrui swept books from the table and confronted Consort Shu about failing to become Empress before leaving in anger.
• Consort Shu blamed Ji Pinglan for turning Xiao Chongrui against her and grew more hostile toward her.

Shen Tingjue refused to take his medicine because he feared recovering would make Xiao Hanye stop indulging him, and he worried that their intimacy had not meant Xiao Hanye loved him. He left the residence to drown his sorrows, then tried to make Wen Jingkong drink with him at the Imperial Guard camp.

• Shen Tingjue decided to stop taking medicine, and he questioned Physician Zhang about whether intimacy could happen without love or by accident or force.
• Shen Tingjue told Physician Zhang that he was troubled by love and did not want medicine, so Physician Zhang gave him several bottles of Jade Dew Pills.
• Shen Tingjue climbed over the residence wall, bought two jars of strong liquor, and went to the Imperial Guard camp to get drunk.
• Wen Jingkong warned Shen Tingjue that drinking at the camp could cause trouble, so Shen Tingjue handed him a jar and insisted he drink instead.
• Shen Tingjue dragged Wen Jingkong back and tried to force the wine on him while promising to take responsibility for his neglect of duty.

Shen Tingjue visited Red Sleeve Pavilion, where Lu Qukun recognized a resemblance between him and a masked man from years earlier. After rejecting Zhao for being ugly, Shen Tingjue left to find the crown prince.

• Wen Jingkong drank until he passed out, and Shen Tingjue later wandered the snowy streets eating beef cakes.
• At Red Sleeve Pavilion, Shen Tingjue learned that Zhao had booked the venue and that Lu Qukun was accompanying him.
• Shen Tingjue invited Zhao and Lu Qukun upstairs, but sent them away after finding Zhao unpleasant to look at.
• Lu Qukun recognized that Shen Tingjue looked nearly identical to a masked man he had encountered years earlier.
• Shen Tingjue told the steward he had dismissed Zhao because he was ugly, then climbed out the rear window to find the crown prince.

Shen Tingjue visited Xiao Hanye in the Hall of Literary Brilliance, teased him, and settled into his arms while he reviewed memorials. Xiao Hanye eventually carried him to bed and soothed him back to sleep.

• Shen Tingjue climbed through the window and teased Xiao Hanye, who confronted him about refusing his medicine for his brain ailment.
• Shen Tingjue offered Xiao Hanye cold beef pies and kissed him while Xiao Hanye tried to continue reading memorials.
• Shen Tingjue curled up in Xiao Hanye's arms and refused to leave, while Wu Dequan brought in ginseng tea and found them embracing.
• Xiao Hanye carried the sleeping Shen Tingjue to bed, then later went to him when he tossed restlessly.
• Shen Tingjue hugged the quilt and nuzzled Xiao Hanye, who patted his back and told him to sleep.

Shen Tingjue went to fetch the Chancellor after hearing he had been injured, but their carriage was ambushed on the way home. Shen Tingjue saved his father from a blade as assassins surrounded them, leaving the Chancellor fearing for his life.

• Shen Tingjue insisted on going to the Rejuvenation Clinic to fetch the Chancellor despite the Eldest Princess's concern about the storm.
• Shen Tingjue found the Chancellor bandaged and asleep, woke him, and helped him into the carriage.
• Shen Tingjue questioned how the Chancellor's carriage had broken down, but their own carriage stopped abruptly on the road.
• A scarred, burly man attacked Dark Seven, and a group of black-clad assassins closed in around the carriage.
• An assassin thrust a blade through the carriage curtain, but Shen Tingjue knocked it aside with the Shadowchaser Sword and leaped out with the Chancellor.

Shen Tingjue slaughtered the assassins who attacked him and the Chancellor, then collapsed into Xiao Hanye’s arms and claimed he was frightened. Xiao Hanye carried the apparently helpless Shen Tingjue while the Chancellor looked on in dismay.

• Shen Tingjue told the Chancellor to close his eyes and cover his ears, then killed several assassins with a single move.
• Dark Seven fought beside Shen Tingjue and recognized reinforcements by the wolf-head embroidery on their clothes.
• The Imperial Guard Bureau patrol arrived as the surviving assassins fled in a cloud of smoke and snow.
• Xiao Hanye arrived after the battle and approached Shen Tingjue, who dropped his sword and threw himself into the Crown Prince’s arms, saying he was scared.
• The Chancellor tried to reclaim Shen Tingjue but became too weak and nauseated to move, while Shen Tingjue asked Xiao Hanye to carry him back.

At court, Shen Tingjue turned the debate over the assassination into a warning that the attack challenged imperial authority, then deflected suspicion toward Xie the Grand Secretary. Ji Zhang questioned Shen Tingjue about his fighting skills and former identity, leaving Shen to play up his frailty while glancing at Xiao Hanye.

• Shen Tingjue arrived at court looking unwell, and Emperor Chenghuan gave him a chair, cushions, and fur.
• Prince Kang's and Prince Jing's factions blamed the Imperial Guard Bureau for failing to protect the Prime Minister, while Lian Su defended its patrols.
• Shen Tingjue wept and argued that the assassination might be an attack on Emperor Chenghuan, prompting the officials to kneel and the Emperor to warn them against dismissing the threat.
• Shen Tingjue suggested his academy project may have earned him enemies and drew attention to Xie the Grand Secretary, who denied hiring assassins.
• Ji Zhang asked whether Shen Tingjue's fighting skills meant his former identity had been extraordinary, and Shen glanced at Xiao Hanye before pretending to cough weakly.