Chapter Summaries

Chapter 14 Summary

Plot Points and Events

• Shi Liuwan teaches Lin Ling—whom she calls “Mushroom”—how to dry fruit while Shi Changyuan is away.
• When Lin Ling fails to return promptly, Shi Changyuan realizes something may be wrong and goes to retrieve him.
• Shi Liuwan teasingly observes that Shi Changyuan has fallen for Lin Ling, speculating that Lin Ling is not from the palace or even the capital. She also hints that Shi Changyuan may intend to keep him by force, given the Shi family’s ruthless reputation.
• Shi Changyuan returns to Li’an Hall and finds Lin Ling beside a lotus pond, searching for a missing bead.
• Lin Ling is wearing an extravagant Western Region dancer’s costume, covered in jewels and ornaments. He explains that Shi Liuwan gave it to him in exchange for the dried fruit he had given Shi Changyuan.
• Shi Changyuan is captivated by Lin Ling’s appearance but feels the ornate costume does not suit him. He removes the ruby ornament from Lin Ling’s forehead and later keeps one of the fallen gemstones by placing it in Lin Ling’s pouch.
• Shi Changyuan takes Lin Ling inside to change. Lin Ling complains about the costume’s weight and is fascinated that humans can dance while wearing so many ornaments.
• Afterward, Shi Changyuan suggests teaching Lin Ling to read and write so he can become “smarter.” Lin Ling interprets this as an insult, becomes indignant, and refuses to learn.
• Shi Changyuan gently teases and reassures him, then points out that Lin Ling will need literacy and greater understanding to travel through many regions on the way to Kunlun Mountain.

Character Development

• Shi Changyuan: His growing affection and possessiveness toward Lin Ling become increasingly obvious. He is visibly entranced by Lin Ling’s beauty, quietly keeps a gemstone connected to him, and begins thinking practically about preparing him for a long journey. His concern is expressed through teasing, protection, and attempts to guide Lin Ling’s development.
• Lin Ling: He continues adapting to human society and has become more perceptive, understanding implied meanings and resisting insults rather than passively accepting them. His curiosity, innocence, vanity, and emerging independence are all evident.
• Shi Liuwan: She is perceptive and mischievous, immediately recognizing Shi Changyuan’s romantic interest. Her comments also emphasize the morally ruthless nature of the Shi family.

Significant Themes

• Growing romantic attachment: Shi Changyuan’s fascination with Lin Ling’s beauty develops into protectiveness and possessiveness.
• Innocence versus human society: Lin Ling remains unfamiliar with human customs, clothing, and education, while gradually learning social cues and language.
• Possession and control: Shi Liuwan suggests the Shi family would obtain what it desires by any means, while Shi Changyuan’s wish to keep Lin Ling hints at this darker family trait.
• Identity and appearance: The lavish Western Region costume emphasizes Lin Ling’s supernatural beauty, but Shi Changyuan prefers his simpler, more natural appearance.
• Education and independence: Teaching Lin Ling to read is presented as necessary preparation for his journey and growing involvement in the human world.

Character Interactions

• Shi Liuwan teases Shi Changyuan about falling in love and challenges him about how he plans to keep Lin Ling.
• Lin Ling eagerly presents his new costume to Shi Changyuan and seeks his approval.
• Shi Changyuan admires Lin Ling but removes the conspicuous forehead ornament, subtly restoring the appearance he prefers.
• Their playful argument over whether Lin Ling is “stupid” shows increasing familiarity, with Lin Ling asserting himself and Shi Changyuan responding affectionately.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Shi Changyuan worries that Mushroom, who cannot read, may be deceived while traveling and accidentally wander farther from Kunlun Mountain. To solve this, he persuades Lin Ling to remain in the palace and study in the Imperial Study.
• Shi Changyuan promises Lin Ling daily meals with imperial cuisine, and the temptation of food quickly convinces Lin Ling to stay.
• Shi Changyuan effectively ties Mushroom both to the palace and to himself. He begins waking Lin Ling before court each morning and brings him to the Imperial Study to study.
• Lin Ling initially assumes Shi Changyuan is making a special trip to wake him, but later discovers that Shi Changyuan has moved into a room near him in Li’an Hall and has been living there all along.
• Feeling that Shi Changyuan is overbearing, Lin Ling tries to sleep in after Shi Changyuan leaves for court. He barely reaches the Imperial Study before Shi Changyuan returns.
• Shi Changyuan teases Lin Ling about his failed attempt to deceive him and teaches him possible excuses, but Lin Ling remains too inexperienced with humans to lie convincingly.
• When confronted with a hundred characters to learn, Lin Ling throws a small tantrum and sprawls across the desk to avoid studying.
• Shi Changyuan threatens to reduce Lin Ling’s sleeping time and snacks if he continues slacking. Lin Ling is especially upset because he had expected immediate access to imperial food, only to discover that meals are delayed until after court and the emperor’s meetings.
• To motivate him, Shi Changyuan promises one additional dish for every extra character Lin Ling learns. Lin Ling immediately becomes enthusiastic and begins studying seriously.

Character Developments

• Lin Ling: Remains innocent, food-motivated, lazy, and emotionally transparent. He struggles with human deception and social customs but begins adapting to palace life. His desire for food becomes a source of both comedy and motivation, while his dependence on Shi Changyuan grows.
• Shi Changyuan: Demonstrates strategic thinking, protectiveness, and a talent for persuasion. He deliberately arranges for Lin Ling to stay close to him, using both concern for Mushroom’s safety and the promise of food. He is also patient but teasing as a teacher, balancing affection with strict discipline.
• Shunde: Though appearing only briefly, he shows consideration for Lin Ling by providing pastries while the latter waits for the delayed imperial meal.

Significant Themes

• Protection disguised as persuasion: Shi Changyuan frames his plan as concern for Lin Ling’s safety, but it also allows him to keep Lin Ling constantly by his side.
• Dependence and attachment: Lin Ling increasingly relies on Shi Changyuan for guidance, food, education, and companionship, while Shi Changyuan takes deliberate steps to remain close to him.
• Education and adaptation: Lin Ling’s literacy lessons represent his gradual entry into human society and palace culture.
• Food as comfort and motivation: Meals and snacks are central to Lin Ling’s decisions, creating humor while also showing his simple, instinctive nature.
• Affection expressed through daily routines: Shi Changyuan’s habit of waking Lin Ling, teaching him, and arranging their rooms nearby reveals intimacy through ordinary acts rather than direct declarations.

Character Interactions

• Shi Changyuan gently manipulates Lin Ling into staying by presenting practical concerns and promising imperial cuisine.
• Their morning routine emphasizes Lin Ling’s sleepy dependence and Shi Changyuan’s persistent caretaking.
• Lin Ling’s discovery that Shi Changyuan has moved into the neighboring room creates a humorous confrontation, though Lin Ling accepts the situation with characteristic simplicity.
• During lessons, Shi Changyuan teases Lin Ling about his inability to lie and pinches or pulls him into cooperation, while Lin Ling responds with complaints, physical affection, and exaggerated sulking.
• Their relationship becomes increasingly domestic and familiar, with Shi Changyuan acting as both guardian and teacher and Lin Ling behaving like a spoiled but trusting companion.

Chapter 15 Summary

• Plot and events: Lin Ling’s meals remain constrained by the palace’s carefully planned schedule, though he enjoys the delicious pastries and Imperial Cuisine. While continuing his assigned studies under Shi Changyuan, he becomes fascinated with illustrated storybooks, finding tales of scholars and fox spirits much more engaging than poetry and classics. When Lin Ling asks Shi Changyuan about suggestive wording in one story, Shi Changyuan realizes its romantic content and confiscates the book. Frustrated with studying, Lin Ling remarks that he could not resist temptation either. Shi Changyuan pins him down and teasingly demands to know what temptations he means. Lin Ling lists food, drink, sleep, and beautiful people, then earnestly identifies Shi Changyuan himself as beautiful. During the exchange, he accidentally bites Shi Changyuan’s finger, prompting further teasing before Shi Changyuan assures him he is not angry.
• Character development: Lin Ling continues to display remarkable learning ability despite his limited literacy, quickly becoming absorbed in stories and developing a more imaginative, curious personality. He remains innocent and straightforward, answering Shi Changyuan’s provocative questions honestly without fully understanding their implications. His dependence on food, rest, and entertainment contrasts with his growing willingness to engage with Shi Changyuan. Shi Changyuan is shown as indulgent toward Lin Ling—allowing him to nap and excusing his distractions—yet also protective and possessive, confiscating the suggestive book and playfully interrogating Lin Ling about attraction. His emotional shifts remain difficult for Lin Ling to understand.
• Themes: The chapter emphasizes innocence confronted with romantic and sensual ideas, the contrast between disciplined study and the freedom of imagination, and the growing intimacy between the two characters. It also explores temptation, possessiveness, and the difficulty of interpreting human emotions. Lin Ling’s “mushroom” nature symbolizes his simplicity and emotional stability, while Shi Changyuan’s teasing behavior introduces ambiguity and tension into their relationship.
• Character interactions: Lin Ling repeatedly interrupts Shi Changyuan’s work to ask about words and stories, creating a domestic and increasingly familiar dynamic. Their conversation about the fox-spirit tale becomes flirtatious when Shi Changyuan challenges Lin Ling about what he finds tempting and beautiful. Physical gestures—holding Lin Ling down, touching his face, pinching his lips, and examining his teeth—heighten the scene’s intimacy, while Lin Ling’s accidental bite and sincere apology reinforce his innocence.

Chapter 16 Summary

Plot points and events

• Lin Ling asks Shi Changyuan about the ending of the human-demon romance they have been reading. Shi Changyuan reveals only that the scholar becomes top scholar, but Lin Ling clarifies that he wants to know whether the human and demon end up together.
• Lin Ling proudly lists the many romance genres he has read, insisting that he is not stupid. Shi Changyuan teasingly calls him “smart Mushroom.”
• Shi Changyuan asks what kind of romance Lin Ling would prefer. Lin Ling criticizes stories filled with misunderstandings, denial, separation, and meddling outsiders. Shi Changyuan describes a gentler story in which lovers remain together and simply share everyday experiences such as festivals, moon worship, hunting, and skating.
• Lin Ling enthusiastically says he would like such a story. Shi Changyuan is pleased by the answer, though Lin Ling soon forgets the conversation when no promised book appears.
• After spending several peaceful days eating and sleeping, Lin Ling is invited by Shi Liuwan to leave the palace and accompany her on one last outing before she returns to the Northern Frontier. He leaves Shi Changyuan a note and goes with her.
• Shi Liuwan takes Lin Ling through the busy streets of the Capital, exposing him to the vendors, crowds, teahouses, and ordinary city life he has rarely seen.
• She brings him to a storytelling establishment rather than the more questionable Cloud Drunk Pavilion. There, Lin Ling recognizes that the story being performed appears to be about Shi Changyuan.
• Intrigued, Lin Ling asks to stay and listen. Shi Liuwan realizes that his interest is probably connected to Shi Changyuan being the story’s protagonist, then leaves him to enjoy the performance while two hidden guards protect him.
• Shi Liuwan enters a private room where music and singing can be heard, suggesting she is meeting old acquaintances.

Character development

• Lin Ling: Shows growing confidence, curiosity, and independence. He proudly defends his intelligence and reveals how much he has learned through reading. His interest in romantic stories increasingly reflects his own emotional curiosity, especially regarding relationships without conflict or separation. His excitement at hearing a story about Shi Changyuan also hints at a deepening personal attachment.
• Shi Changyuan: Becomes more openly playful and emotionally attentive toward Lin Ling. His questioning about Lin Ling’s ideal romance seems designed to discover whether Lin Ling would accept a quiet, enduring relationship—possibly foreshadowing his own wishes.
• Shi Liuwan: Acts as a protective but teasing aunt figure. She takes Lin Ling outside the palace, indulges his interests, and perceptively recognizes his feelings toward Shi Changyuan.

Significant themes

• Romantic ideals: The chapter contrasts dramatic, misunderstanding-filled romances with a peaceful relationship built on companionship and shared daily life.
• Emotional subtext: Shi Changyuan’s questions may function as an indirect confession or test of Lin Ling’s feelings.
• Growing freedom and worldly awareness: Lin Ling’s trip beyond the palace broadens his understanding of ordinary society and exposes him to new forms of entertainment and gossip.
• Stories reflecting reality: The discovery that storytellers have created tales about Shi Changyuan blurs the line between fictional romance and the characters’ own developing relationship.

Character interactions

• Shi Changyuan and Lin Ling share a teasing, affectionate conversation in which Shi Changyuan gently probes Lin Ling’s romantic preferences.
• Shi Liuwan playfully questions whether Lin Ling is interested in the story itself or merely in Shi Changyuan as its subject.
• Shi Liuwan’s protection of Lin Ling, combined with her amusement at his obvious interest, reinforces her role as both guardian and observer of his growing feelings.

Chapter Summary

Key plot points and events

Lin Ling listens enthusiastically to a storyteller recounting a fictionalized version of Shi Changyuan’s life and rise to power. The story focuses on warfare and political achievements but contains no romance, disappointing much of the audience, who demand a female love interest and tender scenes. Lin Ling publicly defends the storyteller’s decision to preserve the story’s original style, encouraging other quiet listeners to support him as well.
Afterward, a maid invites Lin Ling to meet Princess Liuwan’s friend, who turns out to be Liu Xiangyu, the author of the storybook. Lin Ling and Liu Xiangyu bond over their dislike of the Capital’s increasingly romance-focused stories. During their conversation, Lin Ling suggests investigating what kind of person Emperor Shi Changyuan might like as a spouse. At that exact moment, Shi Changyuan enters and teasingly asks why Lin Ling does not simply ask him directly. It is revealed that Shi Changyuan has come because Lin Ling skipped class and secretly left the palace.

Character developments

• Lin Ling shows a strong interest in storytelling and demonstrates his compassion and confidence by defending Liu Xiangyu against the audience’s criticism. His curiosity about Shi Changyuan’s romantic preferences unintentionally reveals a personal interest that embarrasses him when Shi Changyuan overhears it.
• Liu Xiangyu is introduced as the cultured, wheelchair-using author of the popular storybook. She is grateful for Lin Ling’s defense and quickly develops a lively rapport with him. Her inability to imagine who could love Shi Changyuan hints at the emperor’s intimidating or emotionally distant reputation.
• Shi Changyuan appears amused rather than angry when he catches Lin Ling discussing him. His teasing, physical handling of Mushroom, and close attention to Lin Ling’s reactions suggest familiarity and possibly growing affection.
• Shi Liuwan remains observant and composed, seeming to understand more about Lin Ling’s feelings than he does himself.

Significant themes

The chapter contrasts artistic integrity with audience expectations, as Liu Xiangyu is pressured to alter a serious historical narrative to include fashionable romance. It also explores the gap between public reputation and private personality, particularly in the discussion of Shi Changyuan’s supposed lack of romantic appeal. Embarrassment, curiosity, and unspoken attraction emerge as important interpersonal themes.

Character interactions

Lin Ling supports Liu Xiangyu publicly and later shares an easy, humorous conversation with her. Their discussion turns toward Shi Changyuan’s possible romantic preferences, exposing Lin Ling’s curiosity. Shi Changyuan’s sudden arrival transforms the relaxed conversation into an awkward confrontation, with him teasing Lin Ling for skipping class and asking about his interest in the emperor’s preferences.

Chapter 17 Summary

• Shi Changyuan retrieves Lin Ling: Lin Ling tries to justify leaving Shi Changyuan without notice, claiming his note may have blown away. Shi Changyuan reveals that he could find Lin Ling anywhere and teasingly pinches his cheek. He warns Shi Liuwan that abducting Lin Ling is permitted only this once, then takes Lin Ling back to the palace.
• Liu Xiangyu’s strange reaction: Before leaving, Lin Ling says goodbye to Shi Liuwan and Liu Xiangyu. Liu Xiangyu becomes intensely excited upon seeing Lin Ling with the emperor and refers to him as the emperor’s “ration,” revealing that she has already eaten mushroom dishes. Her odd behavior leaves both Lin Ling and Shi Changyuan bewildered.
• Growing possessiveness and intimacy: During the carriage ride, Shi Changyuan appears displeased, though he denies being angry. Lin Ling tries to comfort him by holding his finger. Shi Changyuan catches and tightly holds Lin Ling’s hand, suggesting that his feelings are becoming increasingly possessive. He recognizes that he cannot treat Lin Ling like an ordinary person and is determined to keep him close and protect him.
• Liu Xiangyu’s letter: Several days later, Shi Liuwan delivers Lin Ling a letter from Liu Xiangyu before departing for the northern frontier. Lin Ling struggles to read it because of his limited literacy and realizes he needs to learn. He waits for Shi Changyuan to return and asks him to translate it.
• A new storybook based on the pair: The letter explains that Liu Xiangyu plans to write a new book featuring the original protagonist but with more romance, emotional conflict, and a handsome, kind-hearted young nobleman. The detailed description clearly resembles Lin Ling, though Lin Ling fails to recognize this. Shi Changyuan immediately notices the romantic implications and teasingly asks whether Lin Ling is unhappy about the proposed “entanglement.”
• Lin Ling’s misunderstanding: Lin Ling worries that Liu Xiangyu has invented a male lover for the emperor and that the story could be considered an offense against imperial dignity. He offers to persuade her not to write it if Shi Changyuan dislikes it. Shi Changyuan denies being angry, while Lin Ling remains unaware that the fictional character is based on himself.

Character Development and Interactions

• Shi Changyuan becomes more openly possessive and protective of Lin Ling, using physical affection and control to keep him close. His teasing also reveals that he is aware of the romantic implications surrounding them.
• Lin Ling grows more comfortable showing affection toward Shi Changyuan but remains innocent and slow to understand romantic subtext. He also recognizes his lack of education and the importance of learning to read.
• Liu Xiangyu is established as an eccentric, enthusiastic writer who draws heavily on real people for her fiction.
• Major interactions center on Shi Changyuan reclaiming Lin Ling, Lin Ling attempting to soothe his mood, and the pair discussing Liu Xiangyu’s provocative new story idea.

Significant Themes

Possessive protection and emotional attachment

Romantic subtext and mutual misunderstanding

The contrast between innocence and awareness

The power of fiction to reflect and reshape reality

Education and Lin Ling’s growing self-awareness

Chapter Summary

Key plot points and events

• Shi Changyuan realizes that the new character in Liu Xiangyu’s story is based on Lin Ling, making Lin Ling the subject of a romantic tale involving himself and Shi Changyuan.
• He teases Lin Ling by describing increasingly intimate possibilities in the story—marriage, kissing, sexual intimacy, and even having a child together.
• Lin Ling becomes intensely embarrassed, transforms into a mushroom, and hides on a ceiling beam. He avoids Shi Changyuan for several days, refusing to visit the Imperial Study or let him into his room.
• Lin Ling’s embarrassment affects his dreams and causes his spores to mutate from hallucinogenic to aphrodisiac, creating chaos in Li’an Hall and even affecting nearby birds.
• He writes to Liu Xiangyu, asking her to avoid the romantic material. She responds with a partially completed proof copy, insisting that some provocative content is essential to the story while promising to consider his request.
• Although Lin Ling finds the story compelling, he is distressed by being its protagonist and considers fleeing to the forest.
• Shi Changyuan finally confronts him gently, offering to stop the story or ban it nationwide if Lin Ling truly minds. He argues that Lin Ling cannot avoid or hate him over something fictional.
• Lin Ling admits that he does not hate Shi Changyuan and is only embarrassed. He rejects a ban as excessive and says he simply will not read the story.

Character developments

• Lin Ling: His innocent, easily flustered nature becomes increasingly apparent. He struggles to separate fictional scenarios from his feelings toward Shi Changyuan, and his avoidance reveals how deeply the teasing affects him. However, he eventually communicates honestly and reassures Shi Changyuan that he does not hate him.
• Shi Changyuan: He displays a playful and provocative side, deliberately testing Lin Ling’s reactions. Beneath the teasing, he is emotionally vulnerable and concerned that Lin Ling’s withdrawal reflects genuine rejection. His willingness to suppress the story shows that Lin Ling’s comfort matters to him.
• Liu Xiangyu: She remains confident and mischievous, treating the developing romance as valuable dramatic material. Her response suggests she has no intention of removing the story’s central romantic tension entirely.

Significant themes

• Fiction versus reality: The chapter explores how fictional portrayals can affect real emotions, especially when the characters and events are based on people’s lives.
• Embarrassment and emotional avoidance: Lin Ling responds to uncomfortable feelings by hiding, transforming, and isolating himself rather than confronting them directly.
• Teasing as emotional testing: Shi Changyuan uses provocative hypothetical scenarios to uncover Lin Ling’s feelings, though the teasing eventually exposes his own fear of being rejected.
• Communication and consent: The conflict is resolved when Shi Changyuan offers to stop the story and Lin Ling clearly explains that he is embarrassed rather than hateful or truly opposed.

Important character interactions

• Shi Changyuan and Lin Ling discuss the story and its resemblance to their relationship, with Shi Changyuan intentionally escalating the imagined romance until Lin Ling flees in humiliation.
• Lin Ling unsuccessfully appeals to Liu Xiangyu to change the story, receiving instead a provocative proof copy.
• Shi Changyuan visits Lin Ling’s closed room and speaks sincerely through the door, asking him not to punish their relationship over an imaginary story.
• Lin Ling finally opens the door slightly, admits his true feelings, and restores a measure of understanding between them.

Chapter 18 Summary

Key plot points and events

• Lin Ling continues hiding in the Imperial Study because his mutated spores have not yet returned to normal, fearing they could cause embarrassing misunderstandings.
• As late autumn arrives, he develops severe sleepiness and an increased appetite, suggesting that mushrooms of his kind hibernate during winter.
• Shi Changyuan tries to control Lin Ling’s sleeping schedule and regulate the warmth around him, worried that Lin Ling may eventually sleep through the entire winter.
• Lin Ling explains that mushrooms normally revert to spores and remain underground in cold weather, though he believes the Imperial Study’s warmth will prevent this.
• Their discussion raises a serious problem: Kunlun Mountain, Lin Ling’s intended cultivation destination, is permanently cold and snowy. Lin Ling may be unable to cultivate there if he hibernates.
• Lin Ling begins mapping nearby mountains as possible alternatives, but falls asleep before finishing. Shi Changyuan carries him to his own warmer bedchamber.
• Shi Changyuan pricks Lin Ling’s forehead and collects a bead of blood in a porcelain bottle, hinting that he is investigating or preparing a solution to Lin Ling’s condition.
• At the end of the chapter, Shi Changyuan abruptly orders Shunde to prepare to leave the palace.

Character developments

• Lin Ling becomes increasingly vulnerable as his body’s mushroom nature asserts itself. Although he tries to remain practical and reassure Shi Changyuan, his uncontrollable sleepiness limits his independence.
• He also shows determination by attempting to find another cultivation site rather than abandoning his plans to travel.
• Shi Changyuan grows more openly protective and concerned. He closely manages Lin Ling’s environment, watches over his sleep, carries him personally, and quietly takes his blood for further investigation.
• Shi’s actions also suggest increasing possessiveness or anxiety about Lin Ling leaving for Kunlun Mountain.

Significant themes

• Nature versus human intention: Lin Ling’s plans are challenged by his biological need to hibernate.
• Protection and control: Shi Changyuan’s care is affectionate but increasingly restrictive, as he regulates Lin Ling’s sleep, warmth, and movements.
• Uncertainty and hidden motives: The collected blood and Shi’s sudden decision to leave the palace imply that he is pursuing an undisclosed solution or responding to a concealed threat.
• Emotional avoidance: Lin Ling continues trying to avoid awkward emotional complications, while Shi Changyuan’s concern becomes harder to conceal.

Character interactions

• Lin Ling and Shi Changyuan discuss Lin Ling’s symptoms and whether he can survive or cultivate in Kunlun’s cold climate.
• Shi teases Lin Ling about “cultivating in his dreams,” briefly lightening the mood before the seriousness of the problem returns.
• Lin Ling attempts to reassure Shi, but Shi remains visibly worried and takes increasingly direct steps to protect him.
• Shunde notices Shi’s unusual behavior and questions him, receiving only the sharp command to leave the palace.

Chapter 19 Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Shi Changyuan visits a Daoist and delivers a white porcelain bottle containing what is needed for a binding spell involving Lin Ling.
• The Daoist warns him that humans and demons follow different paths. Lin Ling may possess an opportunity for immortality, and keeping him in the mortal realm could destroy that opportunity and bring unknown karmic consequences upon Shi Changyuan and Great Li.
• The Daoist explains three possible spells using a spirit creature’s brow blood:
  1. Restricting Lin Ling to within one hundred paces of Shi Changyuan.
  2. Trapping Lin Ling inside a magical artifact and controlling him.
  3. Linking their consciousnesses so Shi Changyuan can know Lin Ling’s actions and whereabouts.
• Shi Changyuan’s fate is hidden beneath an overwhelming golden aura associated with the fortune of the Heavenly Dao, preventing the Daoist from determining the consequences of his choice.
• Back in the palace, Lin Ling wakes and realizes Shi Changyuan is absent. He waits anxiously by the window for him, eventually missing dinner.
• Shi Changyuan returns at night during the first snowfall. Lin Ling rushes to greet him, and Shi Changyuan embraces and carries him inside.
• After eating together, Shi Changyuan works on memorials while Lin Ling reads nearby. Lin Ling grows sleepy and eventually lies on the bed, prompting Shi Changyuan to tell him to rest.

Character Developments

• Shi Changyuan: His determination to keep Lin Ling by his side becomes more troubling and possessive. Despite the Daoist’s warnings, he is willing to risk karmic consequences and interfere with Lin Ling’s possible path to immortality. At the same time, he remains deeply attentive and reassuring toward Lin Ling, promising that Lin Ling will never be unable to find him.
• Lin Ling: He becomes increasingly emotionally dependent on Shi Changyuan. He waits for him, feels disappointed when he is absent, and openly expresses that he wanted to accompany him. His attachment is affectionate and trusting, though he is unaware of the more restrictive measures Shi Changyuan is considering.
• The Daoist: He serves as a cautious observer, recognizing the depth of Shi Changyuan’s obsession but choosing not to oppose it. Since Shi Changyuan would seek another means regardless, the Daoist helps him while leaving the decision to fate.
• Qiu Fu and Shunde: They notice and gently encourage the closeness between Lin Ling and Shi Changyuan. Qiu Fu deliberately points out that Lin Ling waited without eating, helping draw the emperor’s attention to Lin Ling’s devotion.

Significant Themes

• Love versus possession: Shi Changyuan’s affection is sincere, but his desire to permanently keep Lin Ling may become controlling.
• Free will and destiny: Lin Ling may have a destined connection to immortality, while Shi Changyuan’s actions could alter that path. The Daoist’s inability to read Shi Changyuan’s fate emphasizes the uncertainty surrounding their choices.
• Human and supernatural boundaries: The chapter highlights the conflict between Lin Ling’s identity as a spirit creature and Shi Changyuan’s mortal world.
• Emotional dependence and reassurance: Lin Ling’s anxiety at Shi Changyuan’s absence contrasts with Shi Changyuan’s promise to remain findable, strengthening their bond.
• Domestic intimacy: Their shared meal, quiet reading, and work in the bedchamber create a warm, almost domestic atmosphere despite the darker magical implications.

Character Interactions

• Shi Changyuan and the Daoist: Their conversation reveals Shi Changyuan’s willingness to use magic to bind Lin Ling and the Daoist’s concern over the consequences.
• Shi Changyuan and Lin Ling: Their reunion is tender and physically affectionate. Lin Ling expresses mild hurt over being left behind, while Shi Changyuan reassures him and cares for him throughout the evening.
• Qiu Fu and Shunde: They privately joke about Qiu Fu’s successful effort to encourage the emperor to notice Lin Ling’s longing and devotion.

Chapter Summary

Key plot points and events

Lin Ling, insisting he is not tired, falls asleep in Shi Changyuan’s bed. When Shi Changyuan asks for room, Lin Ling sleepily moves aside, effectively inviting him to share the bed. Lin Ling initially kicks and shoves in his sleep, but Shi Changyuan restrains him by pulling him into a close embrace. They remain tangled together through the night.
The next morning, Lin Ling wakes in Shi Changyuan’s arms and panics, believing Shi Changyuan is late for court and will be criticized for neglecting his duties. Shi Changyuan explains that it is a scheduled rest day and admits he wants to experience sleeping late like Lin Ling. He also reveals that, during Great Li’s early years, he and other important ministers often worked even on rest days because of the kingdom’s heavy responsibilities. Lin Ling recognizes how exhausting Shi Changyuan’s past has been and quietly agrees to let him continue resting.
However, lying so close to Shi Changyuan leaves Lin Ling increasingly flustered. The warmth and intimacy remind him of his earlier dreams, and he becomes alarmed by physical changes in his body, worrying that his spores might leak. Shi Changyuan appears to notice his discomfort but remains still and does not question him.

Character development

• Lin Ling: Remains innocent, impulsive, and easily embarrassed, but shows growing concern for Shi Changyuan’s well-being. His physical and emotional reactions reveal that his feelings toward Shi Changyuan are becoming more complicated and intimate, even though he does not yet understand them fully.
• Shi Changyuan: Displays patience and gentle humor while accommodating Lin Ling. His teasing becomes more openly intimate, but he also shows restraint and consideration when Lin Ling becomes uneasy. His explanation of his past sleeplessness and relentless work gives insight into his exhaustion and burdens as ruler.

Significant themes

• Growing intimacy: Sharing a bed and sleeping in one another’s arms brings the two characters into a new level of physical and emotional closeness.
• Rest versus duty: Shi Changyuan’s rare willingness to rest highlights the weight of leadership and the sacrifices he has made for Great Li.
• Innocence and awakening desire: Lin Ling’s confusion over his bodily reactions contrasts with the increasingly suggestive intimacy between them.
• Care and restraint: Both characters show consideration—Lin Ling worries about Shi Changyuan’s health, while Shi Changyuan avoids pressing Lin Ling when he notices his discomfort.

Character interactions

Their playful banter about Lin Ling resembling a spring roll establishes the lighthearted mood. Lin Ling’s sleepiness leads him to unintentionally invite Shi Changyuan into bed, while Shi Changyuan responds with amused teasing. During the night, Shi Changyuan physically restrains Lin Ling to stop his kicking, but the embrace becomes comforting and intimate. The following morning, Lin Ling’s frantic concern about court contrasts with Shi Changyuan’s calm desire to rest. Their silent closeness afterward creates emotional tension as Lin Ling becomes increasingly aware of his attraction and Shi Changyuan quietly allows him space to process it.

Chapter 20 Summary: “Stubborn Mushroom”

Key Plot Points and Events

• After waking, Lin Ling discovers that heavy snow has covered the world outside. Shi Changyuan invites him to play, and Lin Ling eagerly builds two imperfect snowmen.
• Lin Ling declares that the slightly better snowman represents Shi Changyuan, amusing the emperor.
• Shi Changyuan suggests spending their rare day of rest bathing in one of his imperial residence’s natural hot springs.
• Shunde helps prepare Lin Ling, including giving him a small blanket and reminding him not to linger outside in the cold.
• Embarrassed when he sees Shi Changyuan undressing, Lin Ling insists that Shi Changyuan change first before he enters the hot-spring area.
• In the open-air hot spring courtyard, Lin Ling admires Shi Changyuan’s strong physique and learns more about his military past.
• Lin Ling becomes worried after noticing the scars or injuries on Shi Changyuan’s chest and asks whether war was dangerous. Shi Changyuan reassures him that there will be no more wars as long as he remains alive.
• Feeling distressed, Lin Ling asks for a hug. Shi Changyuan embraces him, but then mischievously pulls him into the water.
• Lin Ling panics because he cannot swim, angrily calling Shi Changyuan terrible while Shi Changyuan keeps hold of him despite being scratched.

Character Developments

• Lin Ling: Remains playful, curious, stubborn, and easily flustered. His concern over Shi Changyuan’s wounds reveals growing emotional attachment and genuine fear for Shi Changyuan’s safety. His inability to swim also emphasizes his vulnerable, childlike side.
• Shi Changyuan: Shows a gentler and more relaxed side by encouraging Lin Ling to enjoy the snow and hot springs. His past as a capable warrior is revealed, while his affectionate teasing demonstrates increasing intimacy with Lin Ling.
• Shunde: Continues acting as a careful and considerate attendant, preparing Lin Ling’s clothing and blanket. His thoughts also establish that he views Lin Ling as someone important to Shi Changyuan and worthy of loyalty.

Significant Themes

• Rest and emotional healing: Shi Changyuan, once unable to rest, is gradually learning to enjoy leisure and companionship through Lin Ling’s influence.
• Affection and protectiveness: Lin Ling’s concern about war and Shi Changyuan’s injuries shows that their relationship is becoming emotionally deeper.
• Contrast between strength and vulnerability: Shi Changyuan is a powerful former warrior, while Lin Ling is physically weak and unable to swim; nevertheless, Lin Ling’s emotional importance gives him influence over Shi Changyuan.
• Playfulness and intimacy: Snowmen, teasing, and the hot-spring incident create a warm domestic atmosphere that contrasts with Shi Changyuan’s serious imperial and military responsibilities.

Character Interactions

• Shi Changyuan encourages Lin Ling to play in the snow and gently indulges his snowman-making.
• Shunde supports Lin Ling’s comfort and treats him as a second master of the household.
• Lin Ling openly examines and praises Shi Changyuan’s strength, while Shi Changyuan responds with amused reassurance.
• Lin Ling expresses fear for Shi Changyuan’s safety and asks to be held; Shi Changyuan comforts him before teasing him by pulling him underwater.
• Their interaction combines tenderness, growing trust, physical closeness, and playful conflict.

Chapter 21 Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Shi Changyuan realizes Lin Ling is afraid of deep water, though Lin Ling stubbornly denies it. He gently carries him to shallower water and indulges his embarrassment.
• Lin Ling asks about the scars on Shi Changyuan’s body. Shi Changyuan explains that they came from an assassination attempt before his ascension, a battlefield arrow wound, and a self-inflicted stab wound used to escape captivity.
• Hearing the painful history behind scars that are absent from official accounts, Lin Ling feels moved and begins to understand the suffering behind Shi Changyuan’s celebrated victories.
• Shi Changyuan playfully demands that Lin Ling take responsibility for pulling open his robes. Embarrassed, Lin Ling hurriedly dresses him again.
• When Lin Ling climbs out of the water, Shi Changyuan notices his wet clothing and quickly wraps him in a blanket. Lin Ling mistakenly concludes that Shi Changyuan is shy as well.
• They spend the night at the imperial villa. The next morning, Lin Ling accompanies Shi Changyuan to court and waits in the side hall, eventually falling asleep. Shi Changyuan behaves unusually gently during court, apparently mindful of Lin Ling nearby.
• Throughout winter, Lin Ling hibernates and is awake for only brief periods. Shi Changyuan sometimes wakes him for dinner, fireworks, or lantern releases.
• When the snow melts, Lin Ling is awakened by the voices of small spirits discussing him. They are astonished that a sentient Mushroom Spirit is hibernating on the emperor’s bed and are preparing to go to the Dragon Vein to cultivate.
• Lin Ling initially believes the voices are part of a dream and angrily tells them to leave, accidentally startling Shi Changyuan. He then learns that the voices are real, though only he appears able to hear them.

Character Developments

• Lin Ling: Becomes more emotionally open toward Shi Changyuan, admitting that he wants to understand him better. His concern deepens after learning about Shi Changyuan’s scars, and he becomes increasingly comfortable accompanying him in public and courtly settings. He remains easily embarrassed and stubborn, especially about his fear of water and his attraction.
• Shi Changyuan: Reveals vulnerable aspects of his past while maintaining his usual composure. He recognizes that Lin Ling may return his affection, though Lin Ling’s feelings remain uncertain and undeveloped. His protectiveness and gentleness become more obvious, especially when he shields Lin Ling from the cold and accommodates his presence at court.

Significant Themes

• Intimacy and trust: Lin Ling’s questions about Shi Changyuan’s scars represent his growing desire to know him beyond his public identity.
• The hidden cost of glory: Shi Changyuan’s heroic reputation obscures the pain, danger, and sacrifices that shaped him.
• Mutual affection and flirtation: Their teasing, embarrassment, and physical closeness reveal a relationship becoming increasingly affectionate.
• Human and spirit worlds: The appearance of the small spirits introduces a broader supernatural community and hints at Lin Ling’s place among other cultivators.

Character Interactions

• Shi Changyuan gently teases Lin Ling about his fear of water and his demand to hear about the scars.
• Lin Ling examines Shi Changyuan’s wounds, showing concern and emotional investment.
• Their playful exchange over Shi Changyuan’s robes leaves Lin Ling intensely embarrassed.
• Shi Changyuan protects and assists Lin Ling at the water’s edge, while Lin Ling misreads his restraint as shyness.
• During court, Shi Changyuan’s unusually gentle behavior suggests he is attentive to Lin Ling even while performing his imperial duties.
• The chapter ends with Lin Ling hearing the spirit creatures clearly, setting up a new mystery and potential conflict.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Spring arrives, ending Lin Ling’s hibernation. He notices the melting snow, budding branches, and a white spirit bird close to taking human form.
• Lin Ling celebrates by sharing a large meal with Shi Changyuan, then plans to visit Old Turtle in the Imperial Garden for advice about his nature as a mushroom spirit.
• A small white bird urgently asks to speak with Lin Ling privately. Shi Changyuan seemingly tries to feed it a nut, but the gesture frightens the bird away.
• Lin Ling realizes Shi Changyuan is unusually quiet and upset. Shi Changyuan admits, indirectly, that he feels neglected because Lin Ling immediately wants to visit his other friends after awakening.
• Understanding that Shi Changyuan had repeatedly set aside his duties to accompany him during winter, Lin Ling apologizes and invites him to the Imperial Garden for a short outing together.
• In the garden, Lin Ling meets the Great Elder, the White-headed Old Man, who warns him that the nation’s Dragon Vein Fortune is exceptionally prosperous this year. Spirit creatures should quickly secure favorable places within the palace while they can.

Character Developments

• Lin Ling emerges from hibernation energetic and curious, eager to reconnect with his spirit companions and learn more about his identity.
• He becomes more perceptive of Shi Changyuan’s emotions, recognizing that his own excitement caused him to overlook Shi Changyuan’s desire for companionship.
• Shi Changyuan remains protective and attentive, but his restrained jealousy and loneliness become evident. He wants Lin Ling’s attention but expresses it indirectly rather than openly.
• The white spirit bird acts as a messenger and appears anxious to tell Lin Ling something important, though it is frustrated by Shi Changyuan’s presence.
• The Great Elder takes on a guiding role, offering strategic advice about the flourishing Dragon Vein Fortune.

Significant Themes

• Affection and emotional awareness: Lin Ling learns to notice and respond to Shi Changyuan’s unspoken feelings.
• Possessiveness and companionship: Shi Changyuan’s jealousy reflects his deep attachment to Lin Ling and fear of being overlooked.
• Spiritual identity and awakening: Lin Ling continues discovering the implications of being a newly formed spirit and a mushroom requiring hibernation.
• Opportunity and timing: The rare prosperity of the Dragon Vein Fortune creates an important chance for spirits to establish themselves within the imperial palace.
• Hidden identities: The spirit creatures maintain secret identities around the emperor, even though Shi Changyuan already knows Lin Ling’s true nature.

Character Interactions

• Shi Changyuan protects Lin Ling from the cold and later becomes sulky when Lin Ling prioritizes visiting other friends.
• Lin Ling comforts him through physical affection, apology, and an invitation to spend time together.
• The white bird tries to separate Lin Ling from Shi Changyuan, but Shi Changyuan’s presence disrupts the conversation.
• Lin Ling and Shi Changyuan visit the Imperial Garden hand in hand, where the Great Elder gives Lin Ling advice while attempting to conceal the spirits’ identities from the emperor.

Chapter 22 Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• A white-headed bird tells Lin Ling about a place called the Dragon Vein, suggesting it as an alternative cultivation destination since Lin Ling may not be able to go to Kunlun Mountain.
• Lin Ling tells Shi Changyuan about the Dragon Vein and mentions that he may need to leave the palace to cultivate. Although Shi Changyuan remains outwardly calm, he is clearly upset by the possibility of Lin Ling leaving.
• Lin Ling becomes distracted and unhappy, even losing interest in his favorite foods.
• After Old Turtle awakens, Lin Ling confides in him. Old Turtle realizes that Lin Ling is not truly worried about whether the Dragon Vein is cold—he simply does not want to leave Shi Changyuan.
• Old Turtle explains that Lin Ling’s cultivation is still weak. Although he has taken human form, he is not yet a powerful demon and remains vulnerable, including needing to hibernate.
• Old Turtle proposes a compromise: Lin Ling can cultivate at the Dragon Vein during spring, summer, and autumn, then return to the palace during winter so Shi Changyuan can help him through hibernation.
• Delighted, Lin Ling begins packing immediately and writes Shi Changyuan a letter explaining his departure.
• Qiu Fu mistakenly treats the letter as a final farewell and rushes to inform Shi Changyuan. Shi Changyuan hurries to Lin Ling’s residence, fearing that Lin Ling is leaving him permanently.
• Seeing that Lin Ling has packed his belongings but left behind all the gifts and decorations Shi Changyuan gave him, Shi Changyuan becomes even more distressed, interpreting this as evidence that Lin Ling is severing his emotional ties to the palace.
• Shi Changyuan considers using a magical porcelain bottle to prevent Lin Ling from leaving, but ultimately suppresses this impulse and offers to personally accompany him.
• They travel for three days to the Dragon Vein, a ring-shaped mountain surrounding the imperial city. Shi Changyuan stops the carriage away from a small, isolated village near the mountain, and Lin Ling eagerly gets out despite his sore back.

Character Developments

• Lin Ling: Recognizes that his reluctance to leave is rooted in his attachment to Shi Changyuan. He accepts a seasonal cultivation arrangement and remains cheerfully optimistic, already planning future visits and hoping stronger cultivation will shorten his hibernation.
• Shi Changyuan: His concealed dependence on Lin Ling becomes increasingly obvious. He grows jealous and fearful at the thought of Lin Ling leaving, briefly considers imprisoning him through magic, but ultimately chooses to support him by escorting him to the Dragon Vein.
• Old Turtle: Acts as a perceptive adviser, seeing through Lin Ling’s confusion and offering a practical compromise. He also clarifies Lin Ling’s limited cultivation and vulnerable nature.
• Qiu Fu: Misunderstands Lin Ling’s letter as a permanent farewell, unintentionally heightening Shi Changyuan’s anxiety.

Significant Themes

• Attachment versus independence: Lin Ling wants to cultivate and grow stronger, but he also deeply wants to remain connected to Shi Changyuan.
• Emotional misunderstanding: Lin Ling views the journey as temporary, while Shi Changyuan fears it represents permanent separation.
• Possessiveness and restraint: Shi Changyuan’s desire to keep Lin Ling close borders on control, yet he ultimately restrains himself and allows Lin Ling to pursue cultivation.
• Growth and vulnerability: Lin Ling’s human form does not mean he is fully powerful; his need to hibernate emphasizes his incomplete development.
• Home and belonging: The palace has become Lin Ling’s emotional home, while the Dragon Vein represents growth, adventure, and independence.

Character Interactions

• The central interaction is between Lin Ling and Shi Changyuan: Lin Ling casually discusses leaving, while Shi Changyuan silently struggles with fear and jealousy.
• Old Turtle and Lin Ling share a humorous but meaningful conversation in which Old Turtle exposes Lin Ling’s true feelings and gives him guidance.
• Qiu Fu’s mistaken interpretation of Lin Ling’s letter creates tension by making Shi Changyuan believe Lin Ling is saying goodbye forever.
• By agreeing to accompany Lin Ling, Shi Changyuan turns the departure into a shared journey rather than an abandonment.

Chapter 23 Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Shi Changyuan watches Lin Ling disappear into the forest after leaving him. Though he desperately wants to pursue and bring Lin Ling back, he restrains himself.
• Lin Ling settles in the deep forest, placing his flowerpot in a new home among other spirits. The young spirits admire his beautiful human form, and he warns them against seducing scholars after recalling tragic stories.
• Determined to cultivate independently and eventually return triumphantly, Lin Ling resumes his mushroom form and begins cultivating.
• Despite the other spirits’ invitation to worship the moon, Lin Ling prefers to sleep. However, he struggles to rest because he is accustomed to Shi Changyuan’s presence:
  • On the first night, he cannot sleep.
  • On the second, he instinctively reaches for Shi Changyuan in his sleep, falls from the flowerpot, and nearly cries.
  • On the third, he prevents himself from falling but remains unable to sleep.
• Lin Ling spends the day exploring the wilderness and repeatedly wishes Shi Changyuan were there to share the sights with him. He records his experiences on a leaf, but his memories gradually become inseparable from thoughts of Shi Changyuan.
• Realizing he cannot endure six months apart, Lin Ling decides to return before dawn. He soon discovers that the remote village has no convenient transportation, making the journey back extremely long, but he continues walking toward Shi Changyuan.
• Meanwhile, Shi Changyuan has remained nearby for four days, refusing to leave and barely eating or drinking. Shunde urges him to return to his duties, but Shi Changyuan remains consumed by worry for Lin Ling.
• Shi Changyuan finally hears Lin Ling calling from the path. Lin Ling runs into his arms, declaring, “I’m back.” Shi Changyuan is overwhelmed, scarcely daring to touch him because the reunion feels almost unreal.

Character Developments

• Lin Ling: His confidence in living independently quickly gives way to homesickness. He realizes that the wilderness, despite its beauty and welcoming spirits, cannot replace Shi Changyuan. His decision to abandon his cultivation plans and endure the difficult journey home reveals the depth of his attachment and emotional dependence.
• Shi Changyuan: His restraint collapses into intense longing and anxiety. He remains near the mountain, neglects food and drink, and is nearly ready to search the forest himself. His reaction to Lin Ling’s return shows how deeply afraid he was of losing him.

Significant Themes

• Love and separation: Both characters discover that even a short separation is unbearable, emphasizing the strength of their bond.
• Home and belonging: Lin Ling initially views the forest as a new home, but learns that home is defined less by place than by the person he wants beside him.
• Longing and memory: Everyday experiences become reminders of the absent loved one; Lin Ling’s written memories symbolically transform into Shi Changyuan’s name.
• Emotional vulnerability: Lin Ling’s homesickness and Shi Changyuan’s neglect of his own well-being reveal their inability to remain emotionally detached from one another.

Character Interactions

• Lin Ling comforts and advises the younger spirits, becoming popular when he carves their names.
• The spirits notice Lin Ling’s unusual sleeplessness and concern themselves with his well-being.
• Shunde repeatedly urges Shi Changyuan to return to governing, though he avoids directly mentioning Lin Ling.
• The chapter culminates in the emotional reunion between Lin Ling and Shi Changyuan, as Lin Ling runs into Shi Changyuan’s arms and Shi Changyuan struggles to believe he has truly returned.

Chapter Summary

Plot points and events

Lin Ling and Shi Changyuan return to the capital by carriage after Lin Ling’s three-day stay in the mountains. Lin Ling enthusiastically recounts his experiences, including sleeping in a flowerpot, building a leaf fence, and encountering unusual scenery and spirits. Shi Changyuan listens while continuously holding Lin Ling’s wrist. When he grips too tightly and leaves red marks, he apologizes and gently soothes the injury. Lin Ling mistakenly thinks Shi Changyuan is about to kiss his wrist, openly expressing his disappointment when Shi Changyuan merely blows on it.
Lin Ling invites Shi Changyuan to visit the mountains with him and promises to introduce him to the spirits who want Lin Ling to write their names. Shi Changyuan agrees to accompany him in whatever he wishes to do. After they return to the palace, Shi Changyuan goes to the Imperial Study to handle ten days’ worth of memorials. Lin Ling insists on staying with him, and Shi Changyuan readily agrees. Lin Ling struggles to remain awake while Shi Changyuan works, repeatedly rousing him whenever he begins to fall asleep.

Character developments

Lin Ling is shown as energetic, affectionate, impulsive, and increasingly comfortable expressing his desires directly. His invitation for Shi Changyuan to join him in the mountains reflects his wish to include him in every part of his life. Shi Changyuan, meanwhile, becomes more openly attached and possessive, unwilling to release Lin Ling’s wrist and visibly troubled by the thought that Lin Ling enjoys the freedom and companionship of the mountains. Unlike his former, more forceful self, he now indulges Lin Ling’s wishes and allows him to stay by his side, revealing a softer but emotionally intense attachment.

Significant themes

The chapter emphasizes intimacy, possessiveness, and the contrast between freedom and confinement. Lin Ling’s happiness in the mountains highlights the natural world as a place of community and liberty, while Shi Changyuan’s unease reflects his fear of losing Lin Ling to that freedom. Their developing relationship is also marked by mutual inclusion: Lin Ling naturally speaks of them as “we,” and Shi Changyuan promises to accompany him wherever he goes. Playful affection and physical closeness soften the tension between duty and personal desire.

Character interactions

Lin Ling chatters while leaning against Shi Changyuan, and Shi Changyuan responds patiently, holding and comforting him. Their wrist-focused exchange carries strong romantic tension, especially when Lin Ling expects a kiss. Lin Ling proudly proposes that Shi Changyuan impress the mountain spirits with his literacy, while Shi Changyuan humorously remembers that Lin Ling remains “illiterate.” At the Imperial Study, Lin Ling insists on accompanying him, and Shi Changyuan repeatedly wakes him with gentle, teasing gestures as he works, demonstrating their growing domestic familiarity and affection.

Chapter Summary — Page 37

Key Plot Points and Events

• Shi Changyuan finds Lin Ling awake but groggy and affectionately teases him by calling him a “Mushroom.”
• Lin Ling asks why Shi Changyuan remained on the mountain when Lin Ling descended. Shi Changyuan gives a vague answer, concealing his true feelings.
• Lin Ling falls asleep while reassuring Shi Changyuan that his presence had saved him from a ten-day journey back to the capital.
• Believing Lin Ling may leave again at any time, Shi Changyuan privately worries about how he can keep him by his side.
• After working late into the night, Shi Changyuan guides the sleepy Lin Ling back to the palace. Lin Ling instinctively walks into Shi Changyuan’s bedchamber and falls asleep in his bed.
• Shi Changyuan accepts this without protest and lies beside him, holding him protectively. Lin Ling naturally turns into his arms.
• The next morning, Lin Ling wakes before Shi Changyuan and decides to accompany him before court, something he has apparently never done openly before.
• Shi Changyuan playfully catches Lin Ling when he tries to hide under the quilt, then helps dress him.
• Lin Ling becomes flustered by Shi Changyuan’s intimate attention and realizes how attractive he finds him.
• In return for being dressed, Lin Ling helps tie Shi Changyuan’s sash, though his unfamiliarity with human clothing makes the task awkward and endearing.

Character Developments

• Shi Changyuan: His affection and emotional dependence on Lin Ling become increasingly clear. Although he hides his feelings behind casual remarks, he is deeply anxious that Lin Ling might leave again. His tenderness appears in the way he watches over, carries, dresses, and shelters Lin Ling.
• Lin Ling: He is becoming more comfortable treating Shi Changyuan’s chambers as his home and seeking his company. His instinctive movements, such as sleeping in Shi Changyuan’s bed and turning into his arms, reveal growing trust and attachment. He also begins to recognize his romantic attraction to Shi Changyuan.
• Shunde: He remains discreet and observant, recognizing the intimate relationship between the two and quietly withdrawing when Shi Changyuan dresses Lin Ling.

Significant Themes

• Fear of separation: Shi Changyuan’s central worry is that Lin Ling may wander away again, highlighting the insecurity beneath his calm exterior.
• Domestic intimacy: Shared sleep, morning routines, dressing, and tying clothing transform their relationship into something resembling a household partnership.
• Belonging and home: Lin Ling’s unconscious return to Shi Changyuan’s bed suggests that the palace—and especially Shi Changyuan—has become a place of comfort and belonging.
• Human and nonhuman affection: Lin Ling’s unfamiliarity with human customs contrasts with his natural emotional closeness to Shi Changyuan, emphasizing both their differences and their growing bond.
• Role reversal and reciprocity: Shi Changyuan cares for Lin Ling by dressing him, while Lin Ling returns the favor by helping dress Shi Changyuan.

Character Interactions

• Shi Changyuan teases and physically comforts Lin Ling, while Lin Ling responds with sleepy trust and increasing affection.
• Shi Changyuan confesses his worry indirectly while Lin Ling, too tired to notice, innocently reassures him.
• Their playful morning interaction—Shi Changyuan pulling Lin Ling from bed and helping him dress—creates a warm, intimate atmosphere.
• Lin Ling’s attempt to tie Shi Changyuan’s sash symbolizes his willingness to care for Shi Changyuan in return, even though he is still learning human habits.

Chapter Summary

• Key events: Lin Ling helps Shi Changyuan dress for court, tying his waist straps in a simple knot. Impressed by the emperor’s dignified appearance, Lin Ling briefly becomes distracted, prompting Shi Changyuan to tease him affectionately. Shi Changyuan then unexpectedly takes Lin Ling to morning court.
• Worried that his presence will damage the emperor’s reputation, Lin Ling suggests disguising himself as a potted mushroom instead of appearing openly as a Mushroom Spirit. However, Shi Changyuan places the glowing mushroom pot openly on the empty side of the dragon throne rather than hiding it.
• Lin Ling watches the court officials’ reactions, becomes overwhelmed by embarrassment, and falls asleep during court. Afterward, Shi Changyuan brings him back to the Imperial Study and dismisses the attendants before Lin Ling resumes human form.
• Ministers later crowd into the Imperial Study under various pretexts, secretly trying to investigate Lin Ling. They speculate that he may be a powerful recluse, the emperor’s study companion, or even a future empress. The emperor’s changed behavior and his placing a mushroom pot on the dragon throne intensify court gossip, with some ministers fearing that Shi Changyuan has quarreled with his supposed future empress.

Character development

• Lin Ling remains innocent, impulsive, and comically self-conscious. He worries sincerely about Shi Changyuan’s reputation, yet his attempts to solve the problem—especially disguising himself as a flowerpot mushroom—only create more confusion. His comfort around Shi Changyuan is also evident in his casual teasing and physical familiarity.
• Shi Changyuan presents his imperial authority in court but is notably possessive and affectionate toward Lin Ling, keeping him nearby and openly giving him a place beside him on the dragon throne. He enjoys Lin Ling’s presence and quietly recognizes when Lin Ling has fallen asleep.
• The ministers become increasingly curious and suspicious, interpreting Lin Ling’s presence through political and romantic possibilities.
• Themes: The chapter contrasts Shi Changyuan’s public identity as a solemn emperor with his private tenderness toward Lin Ling. It also explores court gossip, appearances, and the gap between reality and political interpretation. Lin Ling’s innocent presence disrupts rigid imperial conventions, while the dragon throne symbolizes Shi Changyuan’s willingness to place him at the center of both his personal and public world.
• Character interactions: Lin Ling and Shi Changyuan share playful, affectionate exchanges, including Shi Changyuan squeezing Lin Ling’s neck and teasing him for staring. Lin Ling attempts to help Shi Changyuan navigate court expectations, but Shi Changyuan ignores conventional explanations and proudly displays him instead. Their closeness contrasts sharply with the ministers’ confused and increasingly elaborate speculation.

Chapter Summary

Key plot points and events

Lin Ling discovers an unopened letter on Shi Changyuan’s bookshelf—the letter he had written before returning to the mountains. Realizing Shi never knew he had intended to come back, Lin Ling confronts him. Shi dismisses an eavesdropping minister, though the minister spreads rumors that the emperor and future empress are quarreling. Shi reads the letter repeatedly and learns that Lin Ling had planned to divide his time between the imperial palace in winter and the mountains in warmer seasons. Lin Ling jokingly imagines Shi destroying his belongings and banning all mention of him, like in the dramatic storybooks he has read. Shi assures him that, regardless of the letter’s contents, he would have read it carefully and understood that Lin Ling was not heartless or ungrateful.

Character developments

Lin Ling shows greater emotional awareness and independence, confidently challenging Shi and defending his motives. However, he still struggles to understand romantic attachment and why his return matters so deeply. Shi’s restrained anxiety becomes clear: he had believed Lin Ling might never return and had been waiting without knowing the truth. Although he teases Lin Ling about wanting both mountain freedom and palace comforts, Shi is ultimately sincere and vulnerable, pressing Lin Ling to explain why he came back.

Significant themes

The chapter explores miscommunication and missed intentions, as Shi mistakes Lin Ling’s absence for a permanent farewell. It also emphasizes belonging versus freedom, with Lin Ling wanting both his secluded mountain life and his relationship with Shi. Another central theme is the gradual discovery of love and emotional dependence: Lin Ling instinctively returns because he cannot bear leaving Shi, even though he cannot yet fully explain the feeling.

Character interactions

Lin Ling confronts Shi with playful suspicion and mock accusations, while Shi responds with teasing affection and physical closeness. Their banter gradually gives way to an earnest conversation. Shi asks the crucial question—why Lin Ling returned—and Lin Ling sincerely answers that he could not bear to leave him. Shi then asks why, forcing Lin Ling to confront emotions he does not yet understand. Their exchange reveals growing intimacy, Shi’s urgency to deepen their relationship, and Lin Ling’s slowly emerging realization of his attachment.

Chapter 24 Summary

Plot Points and Events

• Shi Changyuan embraces Lin Ling and presses him to explain why he cannot bear to leave. His questioning forces Lin Ling to examine his feelings.
• Lin Ling realizes that he is in love with Shi Changyuan. He recognizes that he wants to share everything with him, feels happiest when he is nearby, and longs for his comfort.
• Lin Ling also realizes that Shi Changyuan has known about his feelings for some time and has deliberately guided him toward acknowledging them.
• Instead of openly confessing, Lin Ling mischievously bites Shi Changyuan’s neck, hints that his reason is the answer Shi Changyuan most wants, and then refuses to say it.
• Declaring that Shi Changyuan has made him angry, Lin Ling runs out of the Imperial Study.
• Determined not to become the submissive or easily manipulated partner described in romance stories, Lin Ling decides to study how people behave when they are in love.
• He returns to his room, retrieves the romance novels Liu Xiangyu secretly sent him, and sends her a carrier pigeon asking for advice about romantic relationships.
• Lin Ling finds that most of his books are melodramatic tales of tragic love, betrayal, and violence, making them poor practical guides.
• Shi Changyuan arrives while Lin Ling is trying to hide the books and catches him in the act.

Character Development

• Lin Ling: Finally understands and accepts that he genuinely loves Shi Changyuan. However, rather than confessing directly, he responds with playful defiance and tries to preserve control of the relationship. His behavior shows both emotional growth and his continued mischievous, unconventional nature.
• Shi Changyuan: His affection for Lin Ling is made clear through his patience, physical tenderness, and deliberate efforts to help Lin Ling recognize his feelings. He appears briefly surprised and frustrated when Lin Ling refuses to confess, but remains deeply invested in him.

Significant Themes

• Awakening love: Lin Ling’s realization marks an important turning point in their relationship.
• Mutual affection and emotional recognition: Both men love each other, though Lin Ling is slower to understand his own feelings.
• Playful power dynamics: Lin Ling fears becoming passive in love and deliberately tries to reclaim the initiative after realizing Shi Changyuan has been guiding him.
• Romantic expectations versus reality: Lin Ling attempts to learn about love from dramatic storybooks, but their exaggerated tragedies offer little useful guidance for his genuine relationship.

Character Interactions

• Shi Changyuan tenderly questions Lin Ling while holding him, prompting Lin Ling’s realization.
• Lin Ling notices that Shi Changyuan’s eyes reveal feelings matching his own.
• Lin Ling teases Shi Changyuan by biting his neck and withholding the confession he expects.
• After fleeing, Lin Ling seeks advice from Liu Xiangyu indirectly through a carrier pigeon.
• The chapter ends with Shi Changyuan discovering Lin Ling surrounded by the romance books he had been trying to hide.