Chapter Summaries

An Ziran settled his household into a rented residence in Gentlemen City and examined the betrothal information Old Master An had left behind, which named only Fu Fengzheng. Hoping to learn who Fu Fengzheng was, An Ziran went with Qiulan to a restaurant to listen for local gossip.

• An Ziran rented a residence for his fifteen companions and servants because staying at an inn in Gentlemen City would be too expensive.
• After the household moved in, An Ziran read the sachet Old Master An had left and found the name Fu Fengzheng as the only detail about his betrothed.
• The next morning, An Ziran and Qiulan went to the Three Springs restaurant to gather information about Fu Fengzheng.
• An Ziran chose a private room overlooking the restaurant's main hall, where guests were discussing Gentlemen City's latest gossip.

An Ziran learned that Fu Fengzheng was Old Prince Fu and that his grandson, Prince Jun, was An Yuzhi’s betrothed. He told An Yuzhi the truth and planned to investigate Prince Jun before deciding whether to pursue the marriage, but Steward Su arrived before his informants returned.

• An Ziran questioned a waiter about Fu Fengzheng and learned that he was Old Prince Fu, whose only grandson was Prince Jun.
• The waiter reported An Ziran’s questions to the shopkeeper, who ordered him to watch for the young master and report any further inquiries.
• An Ziran weighed the risks of involving the An Family with imperial kin and decided that An Yuzhi should choose whether to pursue the marriage.
• An Ziran told An Yuzhi that her betrothed was Prince Jun and said he would investigate him before taking her to meet the Fu family.
• The next day, Steward Su arrived before An Ziran’s informants returned.

An Ziran learned that An Yuzhi’s betrothed, Fu Wutian, was a celebrated war hero and decided to approach Prince Fu’s residence without warning. The chapter ended as An Ziran and Steward Su arrived at its gates to pursue the marriage agreement.

• Steward Su arrived from Anyuan County and reported that the An Family’s affairs were in order.
• An Ziran met Liu Er at a teahouse and learned that Fu Wutian was Prince Jun, a renowned undefeated general whose parents had died.
• An Yuzhi expressed that she would leave the marriage decision to An Ziran, and he concluded she was willing to marry Fu Wutian.
• An Ziran told Steward Su to keep their plans quiet and prepare to catch the Fu family off guard.
• An Ziran and Steward Su appeared near Prince Fu’s residence, and An Ziran urged them to proceed.

Prince Fu tortured a man accused of treason in the manor's main hall until Steward Li interrupted him with news that visitors had brought the old Princess Consort's Drake Jade. An Ziran entered the bloodied hall with Steward Su and met Prince Fu's icy gaze.

• Prince Fu pressed his foot against the tortured traitor's chest while the soldiers watched without sympathy.
• Steward Li interrupted Prince Fu to report that two visitors had brought the old Princess Consort's Drake Jade and requested an audience.
• Prince Fu confirmed the token and ordered Steward Li to let the visitors in.
• An Ziran and Steward Su followed Steward Li into the hall, where An Ziran caught Steward Su as his legs weakened at the sight of the bloody man.
• An Ziran looked up and met Prince Fu's deep, icy eyes.

An Ziran confronted Fu Wutian about the jade pendant that served as the An Family’s betrothal token, and Fu Wutian summoned Old Prince Fu to verify its history. Old Prince Fu arrived and greeted An Ziran as his grandson, leaving An Ziran and Steward Su stunned.

• Fu Wutian ordered his men to remove a blood-soaked man, then asked An Ziran where the jade pendant was.
• An Ziran showed Fu Wutian the pendant and explained that Old Prince Fu had given it to the An Family as a betrothal token ten years earlier.
• Fu Wutian sent for Old Prince Fu so An Ziran could question him face-to-face.
• Old Prince Fu entered, rushed over to An Ziran, and called him his grandson.

An Ziran tried to use the betrothal token to make Fu Wutian honor the marriage agreement between Old Prince Fu and An Ziran’s grandfather, but Old Prince Fu’s failing memory prevented him from confirming it. An Ziran asked Fu Wutian to marry An Yuzhi as his principal wife, but Fu Wutian would only accept her as a secondary wife, so An Ziran left the Prince’s residence.

• An Ziran showed Old Prince Fu the jade pendant and reminded him of the marriage agreement, but Old Prince Fu mistook it for his wife Shan Xue’s pendant.
• An Ziran realized Fu Wutian already knew about the agreement and asked him to honor it by marrying An Yuzhi.
• An Ziran insisted that An Yuzhi become Fu Wutian’s principal wife so she would be protected from mistreatment.
• Fu Wutian said An Yuzhi could only enter the Prince’s residence as a secondary wife.
• An Ziran took back the jade pendant and left the Prince’s residence with Steward Su.

An Ziran told An Yuzhi that Prince Fu could offer her only the status of a secondary consort, but she still chose to marry him. At Prince Fu's Manor, Fu Wutian agreed to marry her as his princess consort after Old Prince Fu raised the question.

• An Ziran asked An Yuzhi whether she would marry Fu Wutian as a secondary consort and offered to cancel the marriage if she refused.
• An Yuzhi firmly said she still wanted to marry Fu Wutian, and An Ziran accepted her decision.
• Fu Wutian received a detailed report on the An Family, and Ge Qian'an recognized that An Ziran had sought to use Prince Fu's Manor as a patron.
• Fu Wutian said the An Family deserved the Mandarin Duck Jade Pendant and turned to address Old Prince Fu.
• Old Prince Fu asked whether Fu Wutian objected to marrying An Yuzhi as his princess consort, and Fu Wutian said he did not.

An Ziran received Fu Wutian’s invitation to discuss the marriage between their families and planned to use Old Prince Fu to secure An Yuzhi’s position as a principal wife. When An Yuzhi refused to visit Prince Fu’s Manor, An Ziran went there with Steward Su without her.

• Ge Qian'an delivered Fu Wutian’s invitation for An Ziran to visit Prince Fu’s Manor in two days and discuss the marriage.
• An Yuzhi asked An Ziran for permission to go out and buy things, and he agreed.
• An Ziran reviewed the An Family’s accounts and considered Prince Fu’s Manor essential to his future plans.
• An Yuzhi missed dinner, and Steward Su told An Ziran she had been examined by a doctor and was feeling unwell.
• When An Yuzhi again said she was unwell and refused to visit Prince Fu’s Manor, An Ziran left for the manor with Steward Su.

An Ziran challenged Prince Fu's Manor's treatment of him and insisted that his sister Yu Zhi be made Fu Wutian's principal wife under the marriage agreement. Fu Wutian accepted, and An Ziran left after they discussed the wedding arrangements, while Ge Qian'an was warned not to act on his own again.

• Steward Li received An Ziran with cold tea and mocked his family's status while An Ziran waited for Fu Wutian.
• An Ziran criticized the manor's servants, and Fu Wutian ordered Steward Li to bring hot tea for their guests.
• An Ziran told Fu Wutian that the An Family would not accept Yu Zhi becoming a secondary consort because Old Prince Fu had promised she would be the princess consort.
• Fu Wutian agreed to marry Yu Zhi as his princess consort, and he and An Ziran discussed the arrangements without further dispute.
• As An Ziran left with Steward Su, he passed Ge Qian'an, whom Fu Wutian later told not to act on his own again.

An Ziran learned that An Yuzhi’s health had improved and told her that Fu Wutian would take her as his consort within a month. Her reaction made him suspect that something had happened to her, but he could not uncover the cause.

• Qiulan told An Ziran that An Yuzhi had eaten well and looked rosy that morning.
• An Ziran began preparing An Yuzhi’s dowry list, then summoned her to the study.
• An Ziran told An Yuzhi that Fu Wutian had agreed to take her as his consort, but she grew pale and left, claiming she felt dizzy.
• An Ziran questioned Qiao'er and Xing'er, who said An Yuzhi had fallen while leaving a jewelry shop two days earlier.
• An Ziran found no clear explanation for An Yuzhi’s behavior and wondered if she was anxious about the wedding.

An Yuzhi hid her plans from An Ziran as preparations began for her marriage to Fu Wutian. After the emperor tried to challenge the match, Fu Wutian and Old Prince Fu secured his acceptance, while An Yuzhi prepared to elope the next day.

• An Yuzhi reassured Qiao'er and Xing'er that An Ziran could not learn what she was hiding, while Qiao'er insisted her future status would protect her.
• The wedding date was set for the seventeenth day of the fourth month, and Prince Fu's Manor sent betrothal gifts to the An Family's newly purchased residence.
• News of Fu Wutian's marriage caused a stir in Gentlemen City, and Emperor Fu Chong summoned him to the palace.
• Emperor Fu Chong objected to a landowner's daughter becoming Fu Wutian's princess consort, but Fu Wutian brought Old Prince Fu to meet him, and the emperor accepted their marriage contract.
• With seven days remaining before the wedding, An Yuzhi panicked because she planned to elope the next day.

With her wedding to Fu Wutian only days away, An Yuzhi decided she could not accept the marriage and fled with Qiao'er. An Ziran returned to find Xing'er waiting with the news that his sister was gone.

• An Yuzhi learned that the imperial decree had approved her marriage and asked what would happen if she refused, but she assured Xing'er and Qiao'er she was only asking casually.
• As the wedding preparations continued, An Yuzhi packed her belongings while An Ziran was away at Prince Fu's Manor.
• An Yuzhi told Qiao'er she intended to flee and persuaded her to come along, believing Brother would find a way to protect the An Family.
• An Yuzhi and Qiao'er slipped out through the back gate.
• An Ziran returned near sunset, and Xing'er told him that An Yuzhi was gone.

An Yuzhi fled the arranged marriage after being frightened by rumors about Fu Wutian, leaving An Ziran to contain the fallout. When Fu Wutian learned of her flight, he chose not to pursue her and waited to see what An Ziran would do.

• An Ziran calmed Little Bun, then read An Yuzhi’s letter saying she had left to pursue her own happiness and would not marry Fu Wutian.
• Xing'er confessed that An Yuzhi had heard rumors about Fu Wutian being disfigured and cruel, which likely frightened her into fleeing.
• An Ziran refused to send people searching for An Yuzhi, fearing that a public search would expose the flight and anger Fu Wutian.
• An Ziran asked whether a man could replace An Yuzhi in the marriage, leaving Steward Su and Xing'er dumbfounded.
• Ge Qian'an told Fu Wutian that An Yuzhi had fled, but Fu Wutian declined to send anyone after her and waited to see An Ziran’s response.

An Ziran rejected the idea of marrying Fu Wutian in An Yuzhi’s place and decided to sever ties with his sister after her selfish actions endangered the family. He chose to visit Prince Fu’s Manor with Steward Su to address An Yuzhi’s elopement directly.

• Steward Su worried that An Ziran intended to marry Fu Wutian, but An Ziran assured him he would not.
• An Ziran refused to use An Xueyan for a marriage alliance because her temperament would bring trouble to the An Family.
• An Ziran declared that he would no longer acknowledge An Yuzhi as his sister because she had ignored the danger her actions posed to her brothers.
• An Ziran told Steward Su to accompany him to Prince Fu’s Manor the next day so he could discuss An Yuzhi’s elopement with Fu Wutian.
• An Ziran and Steward Su arrived at the gates of Prince Fu’s Manor, where Steward Su realized An Ziran would not be dissuaded.

An Ziran told Fu Wutian that An Yuzhi had fled their arranged marriage and tried to protect the An Family from the fallout. Fu Wutian warned that the Emperor would discover the truth, then proposed that the wedding continue, and An Ziran agreed to cooperate.

• An Ziran confessed that An Yuzhi had run away from the marriage and promised Fu Wutian an explanation and the An Family’s greatest sincerity.
• Fu Wutian warned that the failed wedding would damage Prince Fu’s Manor’s reputation, and An Ziran proposed announcing that An Yuzhi had died of a grave illness.
• Fu Wutian explained that the Emperor’s approval meant canceling the wedding could provoke his wrath and endanger the An Family.
• Fu Wutian said the wedding should continue, and An Ziran agreed to cooperate.

An Ziran discovered that Fu Wutian intended him to marry into Prince Fu's Manor in An Yuzhi's place, and confronted him about the plan. After learning that the emperor had already approved the marriage, An Ziran agreed on the condition that Fu Wutian would help him leave and start over if the arrangement did not work out.

• Ge Qian'an delivered wedding clothes made for An Ziran and revealed that Fu Wutian had chosen him to marry in An Yuzhi's place.
• Steward Su believed An Ziran had sacrificed himself for the An Family and wept over his supposed fate.
• An Ziran went to Prince Fu's Manor to find Fu Wutian, then later received him in his study after Fu Wutian entered the An Family residence through the front gate.
• An Ziran demanded that Fu Wutian cancel the arrangement, but Fu Wutian said the emperor had already approved their marriage.
• Fu Wutian promised to help An Ziran assume a new identity and leave if the marriage did not work out, and An Ziran agreed.

On the day of Fu Wutian’s wedding, word spread through Gentlemen City that his intended consort was An Ziran, a man, shocking the public and prompting some to consider placing people at Fu Wutian’s side. An Ziran prepared to leave the An Family Compound while Steward Su struggled with worry, and the wedding procession arrived.

• A jewelry vendor told two women that Fu Wutian was rumored to be marrying An Ziran, the eldest young master of the An Family, rather than a landlord’s daughter.
• News that Fu Wutian would take a man as his princess consort spread through Gentlemen City, and some people began considering how to place others at his side.
• An Ziran came out in his wedding robe and urged Steward Su to be happy on his wedding day.
• The second young master laughed from his wet nurse’s arms, easing the somber mood in the courtyard.
• Fu Wutian’s wedding procession arrived at the An Family Compound with firecrackers and gongs.

An Ziran refused to wear a bridal veil and left the An Family residence for his wedding to Fu Wutian. Fu Wutian personally came to receive him, and the procession set off for Prince Fu’s Manor.

• An Ziran refused the wedding matron’s request to cover his head with a red veil and said he would take responsibility if the prince objected.
• An Ziran left without any An Family elders seeing him off, as his relatives had not been told about the marriage.
• The crowd stared at An Ziran as he emerged, and he noticed Fu Wutian waiting at the front of the procession.
• Fu Wutian offered An Ziran his hand and called him Princess Consort; An Ziran accepted it and climbed into the bridal sedan with Fu Wutian’s support.
• The wedding procession set off, and onlookers exclaimed that Fu Wutian was far more handsome than the rumors claimed.

Fu Wutian and An Ziran held a lavish wedding, and Fu Wutian carried his veiled male consort into Prince Fu's Manor. After the banquet, Fu Wutian summoned the guests to the bridal chamber, leaving them uneasy as they reached its door.

• Fu Wutian's grand wedding procession returned to Prince Fu's Manor, where he carried An Ziran inside with his face hidden by a sleeve.
• Fu Wutian and An Ziran performed the ceremonial bows before Old Prince Fu, who happily accepted the marriage.
• Hundreds of guests celebrated at the banquet, while Fu Wutian drank nearly two jars of wine without getting drunk.
• Guan Su spoke to Ge Qian'an about feelings he seemed to understand, but Ge Qian'an denied that anything was wrong and declined to join the bridal-chamber teasing.
• Fu Wutian invited the guests to follow him to the bridal chamber, where they fell silent outside the room.

On their wedding night, Fu Wutian introduced An Ziran to his subordinates and insisted they drink the wedding wine despite their agreement that the marriage was only an act. An Ziran drank, and Fu Wutian followed after a brief, unnoticed pause.

• Fu Wutian called An Ziran his Princess Consort and led him out to meet his subordinates.
• Shao Fei and the others introduced themselves to An Ziran, and Fu Wutian sent them away before they could tease the newlyweds.
• Shao Fei asked where Zhong Yue was, but Guan Su and the others avoided answering and hurried him away.
• Fu Wutian poured the wedding wine and argued that their marriage ceremony made them husband and wife despite his promise to An Ziran.
• An Ziran drank his cup, and Fu Wutian paused briefly before drinking his own without An Ziran noticing.