Chapter Summaries

At a palace banquet honoring Shen Tingjue, he slipped outside and unexpectedly encountered the crown prince, Xiao Hanye, whose face he recognized from his dreams. The chapter ended with Shen Tingjue staring at him instead of kneeling, prompting Wu Dequan to demand an explanation.

• Xiao Hanye brooded over Lin Zhao’s disappearance while Wu Dequan learned that Emperor Chenghuan had summoned him to a banquet for Shen Tingjue.
• Shen Tingjue received lavish gifts from the empress dowager and Emperor Chenghuan before attending the banquet at Purple Dawn Hall.
• Shen Tingjue escaped the courtiers’ attention by claiming he needed to relieve himself, then sat beside a pond to enjoy the night air.
• Hearing that a prince was approaching, Shen Tingjue recalled his father’s warning to beware of the princes, especially the crown prince.
• Shen Tingjue saw Xiao Hanye, recognized his face from his dreams, and ignored the eunuch’s urging to kneel.
• Wu Dequan rebuked Shen Tingjue for failing to kneel before Xiao Hanye and demanded to know who he was.

Shen Tingjue reunited with Xiao Hanye in the palace, believing they had been lovers, while Xiao Hanye remembered their encounter as an accidental night caused by incense. Xiao Hanye confirmed Shen Tingjue had been his shadow guard and asked him to keep their connection quiet before they returned to the palace banquet.

• Wu Dequan recognized Shen Tingjue as the Chancellor's son and tried to placate him, while Xiao Hanye teased him about hiding his face.
• Shen Tingjue claimed he remembered sharing an intimate night with Xiao Hanye on Mount Wu and concluded they were in love.
• Xiao Hanye recalled that Joy-Bone Incense had caused their night together after the Jingzhou rebellion, then denied being familiar with Shen Tingjue.
• Wu Dequan recognized Shen Tingjue's eyes and asked if he was Commander Lin, and Xiao Hanye confirmed that Shen Tingjue had been his shadow guard.
• Xiao Hanye asked Shen Tingjue not to reveal their connection to the Grand Princess and others, but Shen Tingjue called it a secret affair.

Shen Tingjue accepted the Emperor Chenghuan’s offer to attend the Imperial College, partly because he wanted to become a capable ally to Xiao Hanye. On his first visit, he admitted to Director Zhang that he had barely studied and could not read many characters.

• At the palace banquet, Shen Tingjue and Xiao Hanye arrived holding hands, surprising the Prime Minister and delighting the Eldest Princess.
• The Eldest Princess told Shen Tingjue that the Emperor Chenghuan had invited him to study at the Imperial College, and Shen Tingjue agreed after learning Xiao Hanye still attended lessons there.
• Shen Tingjue told the Eldest Princess that he liked Xiao Hanye because he was good-looking, then called the pair a perfect match.
• After sleeping late, Shen Tingjue prepared to visit the Imperial College, while Steward Feng urged him to complain to the Emperor and the Eldest Princess if anyone bullied him.
• Director Zhang showed Shen Tingjue around the Imperial College and asked which hall he wanted to attend.
• Shen Tingjue told Director Zhang that he had only read storybooks, did not recognize many characters, and needed Steward Feng to read to him.

Shen Tingjue entered Imperial Academy Hall despite Director Zhang’s doubts about his literacy and gave Vice Director Tao Wenzhi an “auspicious” pouch of money as an apprenticeship gift. He settled himself at the front with tea and snacks, and Tao abandoned his attempt to discipline him when Shen appeared frail and began coughing.

• Shen Tingjue claimed he had abundant inner force and offered to demonstrate by striking the Worthy Achievement Stele, but Director Zhang hurriedly stopped him.
• Shen Tingjue insisted he would thrive in Imperial Academy Hall, and Director Zhang led him to meet Vice Director Tao Wenzhi.
• Shen Tingjue presented Tao with a bulging pouch, then persuaded him to accept it as a harmless auspicious gift.
• Shen Tingjue’s servants moved desks to the front and set out food, pastries, and tea while he made himself comfortable during Tao’s lecture.
• Tao raised his ruler to discipline Shen, but lowered it after Shen coughed and appeared too frail to strike.

Vice Minister Yu Gao reported illegal coin sales at the Baochang Bureau to Xiao Hanye and wondered whether the Crown Prince had found his beloved. Xiao Hanye then visited Shen Tingjue at the Imperial College and wiped the ink from his face.

• Xiao Hanye made Yu Gao wait outside in the summer heat before receiving him at the East Palace.
• Yu Gao recalled how the Ministry of Revenue had framed the Ministry of War over missing military funds, prompting him to pledge allegiance to Xiao Hanye.
• Yu Gao reported that the Baochang Bureau had colluded with merchants to sell copper coins illegally, then asked whether Xiao Hanye had found his beloved.
• Wu Dequan rushed Yu Gao out after his question, and Xiao Hanye went to the Imperial College.
• Xiao Hanye found Shen Tingjue painting with ink smeared across his face and wiped it away with a handkerchief.

Shen Tingjue practiced calligraphy and tried to charm Xiao Hanye while they spent time together at the Imperial College. The chapter ended with Shen Tingjue insisting Xiao Hanye had promised to teach him, leaving the Crown Prince simmering with frustration.

• Shen Tingjue proudly showed Xiao Hanye his poor handwriting and tried to recite an improper romantic passage, prompting Xiao Hanye to silence him.
• Shan Liang and another servant brought Shen Tingjue an elaborate meal and calming soup, which he quickly ate while Xiao Hanye watched.
• When Xiao Hanye asked why he wanted to enter the Imperial College, Shen Tingjue said he would win the top scholar title for him, and Xiao Hanye suggested he pursue the military title instead.
• Shen Tingjue told Xiao Hanye that Physician Zhang attributed his amnesia to stagnant blood, then said remembering Xiao Hanye was enough and declared they had a long future ahead.
• As Xiao Hanye tried to leave, Shen Tingjue claimed he had promised to teach him calligraphy, and Wu Dequan retreated to avoid the Crown Prince's anger.

Shen Tingjue silenced the Imperial Academy students by smashing a desk, then watched Xiao Jinhong panic over dead spiders in a copybook. As the princes’ factions began arguing, Shen Tingjue staged a fainting spell, leaving the hall baffled.

• Xiao Hanye promised to teach Shen Tingjue to write and take him to Drunken Immortal Tower for dinner before leaving.
• Shen Tingjue smashed Young Master Xiang’s desk and quieted the classroom by threatening to complain to the Emperor.
• Xiao Jinhong gave Shen Tingjue copybooks containing dead spiders, then screamed and fled when he saw them.
• Xiao Chongrui and Xiao Jinhong’s supporters traded accusations, and the two factions broke into a loud quarrel.
• Shen Tingjue signaled his attendants and collapsed, pretending to faint, while the students stared in confusion.

Xiao Hanye learned that Lin Zhao was safe, though he had fainted after Imperial Academy Hall students fought over a dead spider planted by Xiao Hanye. At the Chancellor's Residence, Shen Tingjue recovered and insisted Xiao Hanye would take him to dinner, leaving the Crown Prince pressured to keep the appointment.

• Wen Jingkong asked Xiao Hanye about Lin Zhao, and Xiao Hanye revealed that the shadow guard had been found.
• Meng Si reported that students at Imperial Academy Hall had been ordered to kneel and recite the Tao Te Ching after Shen Tingjue fainted during a dispute over a dead spider.
• Xiao Hanye admitted that he had arranged for the spider to be placed in Prince Jing's copybook and went to watch the students' punishment.
• Shen Tingjue heard that the students were being punished, then recovered and ate the Grand Princess's tonic stew.
• Shen Tingjue told the Grand Princess that Xiao Hanye would take him to Drunken Immortal Tower, prompting her to send a maid to summon the Crown Prince.
• Wu Dequan warned Xiao Hanye that he could not avoid Shen Tingjue forever, and Xiao Hanye faced pressure to honor their dinner appointment.

Shen Tingjue repeatedly disrupted Xiao Hanye’s routines, from forcing him to drink deer antler soup to taking his snow wolves, pillow, and sword while Xiao Hanye was away. He then won the Emperor Chenghuan’s attention at Yanfu Palace, leaving Consort Shu furious after interrupting her evening with the Emperor.

• Shen Tingjue and the Eldest Princess made Xiao Hanye drink potent deer antler soup, and Xiao Hanye got a nosebleed.
• Wen Jingkong met Shen Tingjue and Xiao Hanye at the Golden Jade Pavilion, where Shen Tingjue got drunk, bit Xiao Hanye’s cheek, and fell asleep on his lap before the Chancellor came to take him home.
• After learning Xiao Hanye had left for Mount Li, Shen Tingjue took two snow wolves, the Crown Prince’s pillow, and the Shadowchaser Sword from the East Palace, and sent a letter demanding Xiao Hanye return to ransom the wolves.
• Shen Tingjue named the snow wolves White Dragon and White Tiger, neglected his lessons, and charmed the Empress Dowager and Emperor Chenghuan with stories during palace visits.
• Shen Tingjue interrupted Consort Shu’s evening with Emperor Chenghuan by waiting on the Hall of Mental Cultivation’s roof to invite the Emperor for drinks, and the Emperor left to join him.

Shen Tingjue persuaded the Emperor Chenghuan to appoint him Commander-in-Chief of the Imperial Guard Bureau, while the Crown Prince received a letter from the capital that enraged him. The chapter left Xiao Hanye furious over an apparent threat, though he claimed nothing was wrong.

• The Emperor Chenghuan shared tea on the roof with Shen Tingjue, who asked for an official post and said he wanted to become rich enough to rival a nation.
• The Emperor Chenghuan offered Shen Tingjue the vacant position of Commander-in-Chief of the Imperial Guard Bureau, and Shen accepted after asking about its pay and protection from punishment.
• The Emperor Chenghuan ordered He Fulu to fetch the Imperial Guard Bureau's badge and command tally for Shen Tingjue.
• At Mount Li, Yuchi Sheng asked Xiao Hanye about going to the Southern Four Commanderies to deal with the bandits.
• A Gyrfalcon delivered a letter from the capital, and Xiao Hanye read it, claimed nothing was wrong, then struck a tree in anger.

Xiao Hanye returned to the capital and found Shen Tingjue serving as Commander-in-Chief of the Imperial Guard Bureau, with his wolves in tow. When Xiao Hanye came to retrieve them, Shen Tingjue publicly accused him of falling for someone else.

• Xiao Hanye ordered the Black Tiger Guard to run another lap, gave Yuchi Sheng military instructions, and hurried back to the capital.
• Shen Tingjue attended court, then challenged Assistant Commandant Lian Su and defeated him to establish his authority at the Imperial Guard Bureau.
• Xiao Hanye learned from Steward Feng that Shen Tingjue had taken White Dragon and White Tiger out on patrol and arranged a female dog for them.
• Shen Tingjue watched a street quarrel with Lian Su while White Dragon and White Tiger ate treats, then saw Xiao Hanye arrive.
• Xiao Hanye tried to call the wolves back, but Shen Tingjue threw a half-eaten hibiscus cake at him and demanded to know whether he had fallen for someone else.

Xiao Hanye tried to calm Shen Tingjue during a meal, but Shen pressed him for affection and made him kiss him. Afterward, Xiao Hanye accompanied Shen Tingjue through the evening streets, buying whatever he wanted.

• Xiao Hanye took Shen Tingjue into a restaurant to keep him from talking, while the Imperial Guard Bureau party gossiped outside about their relationship.
• Shen Tingjue tried to tie Xiao Hanye up and demanded to know whether he had found a new lover while Shen was missing; Xiao Hanye denied it and remained coldly unresponsive.
• Shen Tingjue howled and threatened to go to the palace until Xiao Hanye soothed him and agreed to kiss him.
• Xiao Hanye kissed Shen Tingjue, who then kissed Xiao Hanye on the cheek and sat down to eat.
• After dinner, Shen Tingjue made Xiao Hanye hold a candied hawthorn stick and accompany him as he shopped along Vermilion Bird Street.

Xiao Chongrui tried to disrupt the closeness between Shen Tingjue and Xiao Hanye, but became distracted by Ji Pinglan. Later, at the Grand Princess’s birthday banquet, Shen Tingjue flirted with Xiao Hanye, prompting the Chancellor to defend his son from the Crown Prince’s glare.

• Xiao Chongrui followed Shen Tingjue and Xiao Hanye at the night market, hoping to undermine their relationship, but his attention shifted when he saw Ji Pinglan.
• Xiao Chongrui blushed and invited Ji Pinglan to watch the acrobatics, while Shen Tingjue teased Xiao Hanye about how Xiao Chongrui acted around someone he liked.
• Shen Tingjue refused to wear the red robe Steward Feng offered for the Grand Princess’s birthday banquet and chose a plain outfit instead.
• At the banquet in Sile Garden, Shen Tingjue met Xiao Hanye’s eyes and smiled provocatively, and Xiao Hanye glared back at him.
• The Chancellor shielded Shen Tingjue from Xiao Hanye, who called the Chancellor a mother hen and enraged him.

At the Eldest Princess’s birthday banquet, the Empress Dowager arranged marriages for Xiao Chongrui and Xiao Jinhong after cousin marriage was condemned, while Shen Tingjue disrupted the schemes around the Crown Prince’s match. Afterward, Shen Tingjue asked the Eldest Princess to buy Red Sleeve Pavilion, which he planned to turn into a song-and-dance hall.

• Consort Shu proposed marrying Xiao Chongrui to his cousin Si Yin, but Xiao Hanye and the Censor-in-Chief argued that cousin marriages could produce foolish or short-lived children.
• Xiao Hanye proposed exchanging the marriage matches of Xiao Chongrui and Xiao Jinhong between the Xie and Ji families, and Shen Tingjue enthusiastically supported him.
• Consort Shu and Consort Xian each suggested a bride for the Crown Prince, but Shen Tingjue pretended their argument had made him ill, prompting the Empress Dowager to take charge.
• The Empress Dowager arranged for Si Yin to marry Xiao Jinhong and Xie Xiyu to marry Xiao Chongrui, and Ji Zhang agreed while Xie the Grand Secretary cited Xiyu’s mourning period.
• Shen Tingjue told the Eldest Princess that he liked someone like the Crown Prince, then asked her to buy Red Sleeve Pavilion for him.
• The Eldest Princess bought Red Sleeve Pavilion, and Shen Tingjue planned to turn it into a song-and-dance hall rather than a brothel.

Shen Tingjue told Physician Zhang that he remembered only the Crown Prince, while Xiao Hanye learned this and reflected on a hidden birthday gift from his former chief secret guard. Later, Shen Tingjue was assigned to review the Imperial Guard roster, and Wen Jingkong explained how aristocratic families were weakening the guard.

• Shen Tingjue told Physician Zhang that he remembered only his beloved, whom he identified as His Highness the Crown Prince.
• Xiao Hanye asked Physician Zhang about Shen Tingjue’s memory loss and learned that a person might remember what mattered most to him.
• Physician Zhang told Xiao Hanye that Shen Tingjue had called him his beloved, and Wu Dequan hurried the physician out.
• Xiao Hanye stared at an inkstone that Dark Two had said the chief secret guard carved as a birthday gift for him but never gave him.
• The Crown Prince assigned Shen Tingjue to re-examine the Imperial Guard roster.
• Wen Jingkong told Shen Tingjue that insufficient funding and aristocratic influence had weakened the Imperial Guard.

Wen Jingkong complained that the Imperial Guard lacked funds, so Shen Tingjue went to the Ministry of Revenue to collect the silver it owed. After threatening Minister Wang Zhonggui with a sword and a fabricated accusation, Shen forced him to agree to calculate the accounts immediately.

• Wen Jingkong told Shen Tingjue about the Imperial Guard’s unpaid repair costs and other debts, and Shen left to collect the money.
• Wang Zhonggui claimed the treasury and Grand Secretariat had not approved the funds, while Shen mocked his wealth and demanded repayment.
• Shen threatened to expose Wang as corrupt and raided his arguments with sharp insults when Wang tried to leave.
• Shen drew his sword and pressed it to Wang’s throat, then threatened to claim Wang had tried to violate him if he resisted.
• Wang agreed to calculate the accounts and allocate the silver, and Shen ordered him to finish that day or face a staged self-inflicted injury.

Shen Tingjue checked the Ministry of Revenue’s accounts, stopped Xiang Cheng from bullying Su Yan, and then slipped into the East Palace at night to visit Xiao Hanye. He left Wu Dequan speechless as he climbed into bed beside the Crown Prince, who pretended to be asleep.

• Shen Tingjue questioned Wang Zhonggui about using river-repair funds to repay the Imperial Guard and warned him against falsifying the accounts.
• Shen Tingjue intervened when Xiang Cheng and his companions bullied Su Yan, then gave the scholar chestnuts and repeated his father’s warning about Su Yan’s prospects as an official.
• Su Yan bowed after realizing Shen Tingjue was the son of the man who had assessed his learning, then went home to study by lamplight.
• A palace maid heard footsteps on the roof, and Shen Tingjue evaded a covert guard before entering Xiao Hanye’s bedchamber.
• Xiao Hanye pretended to be asleep while Shen Tingjue got into bed and told Wu Dequan to leave him alone with the Crown Prince.

Shen Tingjue and Xiao Hanye gave in to their mutual desire, and Xiao Hanye wondered why Shen Tingjue loved him. The next day, Shen Tingjue learned that Dark Seven had been assigned to follow him, while Xiao Hanye arrived as officials debated how to suppress bandits near Qinghe.

• Shen Tingjue teased Xiao Hanye until the Crown Prince stopped pretending to sleep, and they spent the night together.
• Xiao Hanye asked Shen Tingjue why he loved him, but Shen Tingjue fell asleep before answering.
• Steward Feng brought Shen Tingjue warm clothes and plum blossom noodle soup, and Shen Tingjue admitted he needed to recover from the previous night.
• Dark Seven told Shen Tingjue that Xiao Hanye had ordered him to follow the Young Master, though Dark Seven had actually been cast aside.
• Officials discussed Qinghe's weak garrison and whether to send the Tiger Roar Battalion against bandits, then Xiao Hanye entered the hall.

Xiao Hanye sent Xue Luanjin to investigate banditry in the Southern Four Commanderies, overriding Xie the Grand Secretary’s objections. Shen Tingjue then befriended Zhao Zhichao over drinks and revealed his plan to remove him as an obstacle to the Crown Prince.

• Xiao Hanye ordered the Tiger Roar Battalion to suppress the bandits and demanded a civil investigation into why unrest had arisen in the Southern Four Commanderies.
• Xiao Hanye named Xue Luanjin to supervise the investigation and stamped a transfer order despite Xie the Grand Secretary’s resistance.
• Shen Tingjue patrolled the streets with Dark Seven and Lian Su, then met Zhao Zhichao, who mocked Shen’s promotion and insulted Lian Su.
• Shen Tingjue praised Zhao Zhichao and invited him to drink at Red Sleeve Pavilion, sending Zhao’s subordinate ahead to muster the troops.
• Shen Tingjue explained that he meant to break the great clans’ military monopoly and told his men to get Zhao Zhichao.

Xiao Hanye, Wen Jingkong, and Yao Yinqing visited Red Sleeve Pavilion, where Shen Tingjue lured Zhao Zhichao into a drunken advance and kicked him down. Shen Tingjue then pretended to collapse into Xiao Hanye’s arms, asking him to summon Physician Zhang before feigning unconsciousness.

• Wen Jingkong brought Xiao Hanye to Red Sleeve Pavilion, and Yao Yinqing joined them as they watched the dancers from upstairs.
• Xiao Hanye stopped Wen Jingkong from inviting Shen Tingjue to their room, while Yao Yinqing and Wen Jingkong discussed Shen Tingjue’s sly nature.
• Shen Tingjue entertained Zhao Zhichao with wine and dancers until Zhao became drunk and tried to embrace him.
• Shen Tingjue kicked Zhao Zhichao into the railing, and an Imperial Guard lieutenant accused Zhao of harboring improper thoughts about him.
• Shen Tingjue clutched his chest, fainted into Xiao Hanye’s arms, and asked him to summon Physician Zhang.