Chapter Summaries

Shen Tingjue pretended to be gravely ill to protect his deception and punish Consort Xian, while the Emperor and Chancellor promised to deal with Zhao Zhichao. After driving Consort Xian to surrender her Golden Silk Snow Swallow, Shen Tingjue told Xiao Hanye he had framed Zhao Zhichao to help him weaken the aristocratic families, then tried to lure him into bathing together.

• Physician Zhang pretended Shen Tingjue was dangerously weak, and the Emperor Chenghuan, the Chancellor, and Consort Xian arrived at his bedside.
• Consort Xian suggested summoning Physician Dou, but Shen Tingjue woke and acted sick, prompting the Chancellor to threaten Zhao Zhichao and the Emperor to promise severe punishment.
• Shen Tingjue demanded Consort Xian's Golden Silk Snow Swallow, and the Emperor ordered her to surrender all of it.
• Shen Tingjue shared the delicacy with Xiao Hanye and said he had framed Zhao Zhichao to help weaken the aristocratic families for Xiao Hanye's sake.
• Shen Tingjue called himself Xiao Hanye's future virtuous helpmate and invited him to bathe, but Xiao Hanye tried to leave.

Xiao Hanye forbade Shen Tingjue from meddling in court affairs, prompting Shen Tingjue to declare that they were breaking ties before the two fought and bit each other. After Zhao Zhichao was stripped of his post and the Chancellor pursued the Zhao House, Xiao Hanye sent Shen Tingjue gifts and delicacies to make peace.

• Xiao Hanye told Shen Tingjue he would lose his Imperial Guard Bureau command and should stay out of court affairs, but he gave no explanation for wanting to protect him.
• Shen Tingjue declared that they were breaking ties, and he and Xiao Hanye wrestled and bit each other's necks while Dark Seven and Steward Feng watched.
• The Chancellor rejected the Grand Secretariat's proposed reconciliation and joined the Censor-in-Chief in attacking Zhao Zhichao and the Zhao House.
• The Zhao family abandoned Zhao Zhichao, who was stripped of his post, and Xiao Hanye temporarily placed the Tiger Roar Battalion under the Imperial Guard.
• Emperor Chenghuan and others sent rewards and tonics to Shen Tingjue, while Xiao Hanye sent him game and seafood from the East Palace.

While Shen Tingjue resented Xiao Hanye, Xiao Chongrui visited and recounted how the Crown Prince had taken Frost-Soul Grass to save a shadow guard. The story triggered Shen Tingjue’s painful, fragmented memories, and Steward Feng sent for a physician as Xiao Chongrui insisted he was blameless.

• Shen Tingjue complained that Xiao Hanye’s gifts and concern were insulting, while Steward Feng tried to reassure him.
• Xiao Chongrui visited with supplements and asked whether Shen Tingjue had quarreled with the Crown Prince, but Shen denied it.
• Xiao Chongrui described the Crown Prince forcibly taking his rare Frost-Soul Grass and giving it to a shadow guard.
• Shen Tingjue suddenly recalled fragments of the past, clutched his head, and cried out in pain.
• Steward Feng called for Physician Zhang, while Xiao Chongrui backed away and denied causing Shen Tingjue’s headache.

After Shen Tingjue fainted at the Chancellor's Residence, Physician Zhang reassured everyone that he might soon recover his memories. Xiao Hanye learned that Shen Tingjue had fainted after Prince Kang insulted him, then visited him before dawn and found him flirting despite their unresolved quarrel.

• Physician Zhang treated Shen Tingjue and told Steward Feng that the fainting might be a sign his memories would return.
• A shadow guard reported to Xiao Hanye that Shen Tingjue had eaten his gifts, fainted after Prince Kang spoke ill of him, and prepared traps against thieves at the eastern wall.
• Xiao Hanye refused to visit Shen Tingjue, saying he would recover after sleeping, but later went to see him before dawn.
• Shen Tingjue woke from a nightmare about being struck by an arrow and falling into a ravine, then recognized Xiao Hanye beside him.
• Shen Tingjue flirted with Xiao Hanye and insisted that the Shen Tingjue who had cut ties with him was not Lin Zhao.

Xiao Hanye spent the night with Shen Tingjue before leaving for morning court, and Shen Tingjue attended the Imperial College's poetry gathering as the newly titled Marquis of Eternal Joy. At Spring Garden, he ignored the scholars' expectations and set up a charcoal grill, leaving everyone staring at him.

• Xiao Hanye visited Shen Tingjue in the night, stayed with him until dawn, and slipped away after leaving warm jade in his hand.
• Wu Dequan questioned Dark Three about Xiao Hanye's absence and learned that he had gone to the Chancellor's Residence.
• The Chancellor arranged for Shen Tingjue to attend the Imperial College's snow-viewing poetry gathering at Spring Garden.
• Shen Tingjue teased Xiao Chongrui about his swollen lips, and Xiao Chongrui suspected that Shen Tingjue had told the Crown Prince about his insults.
• The students and lecturers watched as Shen Tingjue set up a stove to grill food during the gathering.

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.