Chapter Summaries

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.