Chapter Summaries

Key plot points

• Shen Lantang worries that Xuanxin’s Pregnancy-Safeguarding Talisman may endanger women who drink it. Though she sees little way to stop them, she is disgusted by his profiteering and fears his influence could be used to harm others.
• She considers how to expose him, suspecting the Fourth Prince or other powerful figures may be involved and knowing that acting carelessly could put her in danger.
• At a customary family dinner, Xie Heng unexpectedly hears Shen Lantang’s unspoken thoughts about Xuanxin, the Fourth Prince, and political enemies. When he reacts, she insists she said nothing.
• Xie Madam covers for the awkward moment by pretending Xie Heng has brought up an old disagreement between them. After Shen Lantang leaves, the couple discuss what happened; Xie Madam confirms that Shen was not speaking aloud.

Character developments and interactions

• Shen Lantang shows compassion for women at risk, sharp moral resolve, and caution about confronting someone with possible royal backing. She remains unaware that Xie Heng can hear her thoughts.
• Lan Xin reassures Shen that she would protect her from being forced to drink the talisman water. Shen responds affectionately, recognizing Lan Xin’s deep loyalty.
• Xie Heng has begun to regard Shen as a person in her own right, particularly after seeing how she handled the Nanny Feng incident. Hearing her thoughts shocks him and gives him a glimpse of her private concerns.
• Xie Madam quickly shields Shen from Xie Heng’s reaction, then privately explains that Shen was not speaking. Her familiarity with the phenomenon suggests this is not the first time it has happened.
• The dinner’s formal etiquette contrasts with the private tension stirred by Shen’s thoughts and Xie Heng’s sudden response.

Significant themes

• Responsibility and deception: Shen is disturbed by people exploiting spiritual beliefs when women’s health and lives are at stake.
• Power and risk: Challenging Xuanxin may mean confronting political forces, so doing what is right requires careful judgment.
• Private thoughts and family trust: Xie Heng’s unexpected access to Shen’s inner voice creates a new, unspoken complication within the family.

Plot points and events

• Xie Madam tells Xie Heng about Shen Lantang’s ability to hear people’s thoughts, including how it helped expose a bad marriage prospect for Xie Ying and contributed to Nanny Feng leaving the Residence.
• Xie Heng is initially stunned, then regrets not being told sooner. Xie Madam points out that he would not have believed her.
• They discuss Lan Tang’s apparent concern about Master Xuanxin of Mystic Temple. Xie Heng explains that the emperor favors the Daoist and plans to establish a palace alchemy chamber, raising fears that the emperor may pursue immortality and let Xuanxin influence state affairs.
• Xie Madam recalls Lan Tang’s odd behavior at Mystic Temple: she stopped Yan from drinking talisman water and later asked about Xuanxin and the Pregnancy-Safeguarding Talisman. Xie Heng condemns the talisman as dangerous superstition.
• The couple decide to speak with Lan Tang the next day, hoping to learn what she suspects.
• When Lan Tang arrives, Xie Heng asks what she thought of Xuanxin. She becomes wary, wondering whether the Daoist complained about her.

Character developments and interactions

• Xie Madam is protective of Lan Tang and reassured by her concern for others. She also knows Lan Tang’s thought-reading can help her communicate indirectly.
• Xie Heng shifts from disbelief about Lan Tang’s ability to taking her suspicions seriously. His concern about Xuanxin reflects his political judgment and sense of duty.
• Lan Tang remains considerate but guarded. Her inner thoughts reveal suspicion that Xuanxin may be a charlatan and that her father-in-law’s question may have a hidden motive.
• The Xie couple share concerns about both family matters and the threat Xuanxin may pose to the court. Their exchange also shows their familiar, candid relationship.

Significant themes

• Trust and understanding: Xie Heng’s earlier disbelief contrasts with his growing willingness to heed Lan Tang.
• Superstition versus reason: The talismans and proposed elixirs are treated as potentially harmful fraud, not harmless custom.
• Family and wider responsibility: Lan Tang’s concern extends from her relatives to the public, while the couple weigh private trust against political danger.
• Power and political risk: The emperor’s reliance on Xuanxin threatens to blur spiritual influence and state governance.

Key plot points and events

• Xie Heng tells Shen Lantang that the Xie family fears the court is being corrupted by Master Xuanxin, a supposed mystic who has won the emperor’s favor and meddles in state affairs. Xie Heng wants to expose him but lacks evidence or knowledge of his tricks.
• He suspects Shen Lantang knows something, based on her visit to the mountain and her interest in Xuanxin’s Pregnancy-Safeguarding Talisman, which he believes has caused real harm.
• After recognizing Xie Heng’s sincerity, Shen admits she knew Xuanxin was a fraud. She claims she learned about his methods from a book called Chemistry, which described tricks used by impostors.
• Shen agrees that she can help expose Xuanxin, but says she needs time. Xie Heng accepts and offers support.

Character developments

• Xie Heng reveals his political concerns and shows unusual candor toward Shen, asking for her help on behalf of the people. He remains practical, focusing on how to undermine Xuanxin’s influence with the emperor.
• Shen Lantang moves from guarded suspicion to cautious cooperation. She devises a cover story that lets her share her knowledge without revealing its true source, and intends to let others carry out the exposure rather than draw attention to herself.

Significant themes

• Trust and cooperation: Xie Heng’s openness helps Shen decide to work with him, though she still regards the relationship as partly strategic.
• Deception and evidence: Xuanxin’s apparent supernatural abilities are politically powerful, and exposing their tricks could strip him of the emperor’s protection.
• Power and public welfare: Xie Heng frames the effort as a response to harm affecting the people, not merely a family or political feud.

Character interactions

• Xie Heng probes Shen’s knowledge but recognizes her guardedness and chooses to speak plainly about the Xie family’s concerns.
• Shen listens, weighs his conduct and reputation, then gives him a carefully framed explanation of what she knows.
• Their exchange establishes a tentative alliance: Xie Heng will give her time and assistance, while Shen will help expose Xuanxin.

Chapter Summary

• Shen Lantang’s spirits improve after Xie Heng agrees to support her effort to expose Xuanxin as a fraud. Because the matter involves imperial heirs, he insists that her name remain out of it and that she stay out of public view. She readily agrees, saying she wants to stop Xuanxin’s deception, not gain recognition.
• Xie Heng tells her that her claims must be backed by evidence. Shen accepts the challenge, and he affirms his confidence in her.
• Back in her courtyard, Shen eagerly lists the materials she needs. Xie Heng arranges for them to be gathered and provides a secluded work space, protected by his trusted men.
• After several days of experiments, Shen demonstrates how she can produce a flame at her fingertip using prepared powders. She adds convincing ritual-like gestures to make the trick look mysterious. She also explains that different metals could create flames of different colors, though time and materials are limited.
• Shen then demonstrates other planned illusions, including the Lotus-Birth Technique. She explains how a hollowed lotus seed, a dyed pith flower and leaf, thread, and a hidden lead weight can create the appearance of a flower emerging from the seed. The excerpt ends as she begins describing the mechanism.

Character Developments and Interactions

• Shen Lantang shifts from discouragement to confidence and purpose. She is resourceful and theatrical, combining practical experimentation with an understanding of how presentation can persuade an audience.
• Xie Heng becomes her active patron, supplying materials, space, protection, and discretion. He remains cautious, expecting proof before acting, while showing growing trust in her abilities.
• Lan Xin and Baozhu support Shen: Lan Xin helps prepare her work, and Baozhu enthusiastically praises her demonstration.
• Shen and Xie Heng establish clear terms: he will decide when and how to expose Xuanxin, while Shen’s role remains concealed.

Significant Themes

• Deception and performance: Shen intends to defeat Xuanxin’s false mysticism with carefully engineered illusions of her own, while emphasizing that convincing presentation matters.
• Evidence and credibility: Xie Heng’s support depends on Shen demonstrating results rather than merely making claims.
• Power, secrecy, and risk: The involvement of imperial heirs makes discretion essential, while Xie Heng’s influence enables Shen’s preparations.

• Lantang’s experiments: Shen Lantang demonstrates that Xuanxin’s supposed sorcery—making lotus blossoms appear from seeds and retrieving objects from boiling oil—is based on ordinary physical effects and simple tricks, not supernatural power. She says chemistry explains natural laws that people have not yet understood. Xie Heng is encouraged and asks her to finish the remaining tests within two days.
• The family’s secrecy: Xie Madam explains that the household is divided into tiers of trust and that a diversion in the outer courtyard helps conceal the real purpose of their guarded work. Lantang realizes she is likely part of that cover. With the experiments progressing, Xie Heng prepares to take action against Xuanxin.
• Xie Heng recruits an ally: Under the moonlight, Zhang Yulin complains to his friend Gao Qingyang about Xuanxin’s influence over the emperor. Xie Heng arrives and says he can expose the Daoist, but will need the right time, place, and people. Zhang agrees to help.
• Xie Jin’s return is delayed: When Xie Jin is due home, Xie Heng tells the family to stop him from returning, prompting quiet amusement from Lantang and mixed feelings from Xie Madam. Xie Jin receives the message at camp and is alarmed—until he reads it, leaving him with an unmistakably perplexed expression. The letter’s contents are not revealed yet.
  Character developments and interactions: Lantang’s scientific knowledge and principled refusal to pursue personal fame continue to earn the Xie family’s trust. Xie Heng shifts from planning to active collaboration, while Zhang Yulin’s skepticism turns into a willingness to help. Gao Qingyang remains amused by Zhang’s indignation, and Xie Madam shows both loyalty and a playful familiarity with Lantang.
  Themes: Rational inquiry versus superstition; the political usefulness of reputation; trust and secrecy within a household; and the way personal alliances can support efforts to challenge deceptive authority.

Plot points and events

• After Shen Lantang’s final test succeeds, she asks an associate to demonstrate the process again. Xie Heng inspects the results and confirms that everything works. Xie Ying and the others are curious about the secret activity but do not dare question it.
• Two days after a torrential rain, anonymous notices appear across Zhaojing, accusing Daoist Xuanxin of fraud and claiming he sacrifices lives to cheat people out of money. The accusations alarm the public, especially because many have used his Pregnancy-Safeguarding Talisman.
• Commander Zhang Yulin orders the notices removed and leads soldiers to investigate. In court, the Fourth Prince defends Xuanxin, arguing that anonymous slander should not be trusted.
• Xie Heng instead emphasizes Zhang’s failure to keep the city secure. The Crown Prince agrees Zhang should be punished but insists the court must address the public’s fears and determine whether the accusations are true.
• The First Prince appears to side with the Fourth Prince, but challenges him by demanding that Xuanxin confront the accuser. The Fourth Prince accepts the challenge while also arguing that the law and the court’s authority must be upheld. The Crown Prince stresses that the talisman’s growing popularity makes establishing the truth urgent.

Character developments and interactions

• Shen Lantang and Xie Heng work together on a successful, undisclosed test, suggesting a plan whose purpose is not yet revealed.
• Xie Heng uses the scandal to criticize Zhang Yulin’s security failure while avoiding direct judgment of Xuanxin.
• The Fourth Prince defends Xuanxin, whose rise has strengthened his own political position, but is caught in the First Prince’s challenge.
• The First Prince unexpectedly aligns with the Fourth Prince only to put him on the spot, revealing the maneuvering behind court politics.
• The Crown Prince focuses on public confidence and the need to verify the accusations, rather than simply taking sides.
• Zhang Yulin accepts responsibility for failing to prevent the notices from spreading.

Significant themes

• Truth, rumor, and public trust: Anonymous accusations unsettle the city and threaten confidence in Xuanxin’s remedies.
• Political rivalry and strategic speech: The princes and Xie Heng use the scandal to advance arguments and expose one another’s vulnerabilities.
• Law versus political necessity: The court must punish a security failure while also investigating claims that could affect public welfare.

• Court decision: With the princes divided over whether to let Daoist Master Xuanxin face his accuser, Xie Heng argues for a contest to establish the truth. He adds that the culprit’s punishment should depend on whether he acted justly or out of jealousy. The Crown Prince, First Prince, and ministers support the plan, leaving the Fourth Prince little choice but to agree. Emperor Shunde gives Commander Zhang Yulin two days to find who posted the accusations, promising a pardon if he succeeds.
• Princes’ rivalry: After court, the Fourth Prince needles his older brothers about their sudden agreement. The First Prince answers bluntly that shortcuts eventually bring consequences, while the Crown Prince maintains that they want to prevent the people of Zhaojing from being deceived. The exchange ends in hostility, with the contest set to determine whether Xuanxin is genuine.
• Family life: At home, Xie Heng shares a warm dinner with Xie Madam and Shen Lantang. They confirm that the day’s court proceedings went as planned. Xie Madam’s concern about the Daoist’s alleged scams reflects her wish to protect women from being defrauded. Shen Lantang jokes that Little Five has learned enough to earn a living performing on the street, and the family playfully banters about his future.
• A summons: Just as Xie Heng is about to rest, a palace attendant summons him to Emperor Shunde’s study. The emperor finishes writing before acknowledging him, leaving the reason for the private meeting unresolved.
  Character and thematic notes: Xie Heng is measured and pragmatic, steering the court toward a process that weighs both truth and motive. The Crown Prince and First Prince cooperate against the Fourth Prince, though their alliance is presented as strategic rather than a genuine reconciliation. The chapter contrasts political maneuvering and public justice with the warmth of domestic life, while raising questions about truth, deception, accountability, and the protection of ordinary people.

Key plot points and events

• After Xie Heng exposes Xuanxin’s alleged deception, the emperor asks where he found the rival Taoist. Xie Heng claims the man volunteered out of principle, then suggests holding their contest at Consort Chen’s summer residence. The emperor agrees.
• Rumors about Xuanxin unsettle people, and Mystic Temple loses visitors. At the Xie residence, Xie Zhao and Yan resolve to avoid dubious remedies and follow medical advice. Xie Zhao asks after Lan Tang, who has gone out.
• At Consort Chen’s estate, palace guards secure the grounds and the emperor, Consort Chen, princes, and officials assemble to watch the contest. The First Prince stays away, while the Crown Prince and Fourth Prince exchange a show of brotherly affection that conceals their rivalry.
• The two Taoists arrive: Xuanxin in formal robes and his plain-clothed challenger. The Fourth Prince recognizes the challenger and suspects Xie Heng arranged his appearance. Xuanxin begins with his famous Lotus-Birth Technique, producing an impressive display of lotus flowers in a bowl of hot water.

Character developments and interactions

• Xie Heng remains composed and politically astute, steering the emperor’s decision about the contest’s venue while keeping the challenger’s identity and his own role discreet.
• The emperor trusts Xie Heng’s account and is pleased by the princes’ outward show of harmony.
• The Crown Prince uses polished, conciliatory language to frame the contest as harmless, while the Fourth Prince recognizes the maneuver and answers with matching insincerity.
• Xie Zhao and Yan become more cautious about folk remedies and Taoist claims. Their conversation also recalls that Lan Tang refused talisman water for Yan.
• Consort Chen, the emperor’s favored consort, hosts the contest at her elegant residence.

Significant themes

• Appearance versus truth: Xuanxin’s spectacle and the princes’ courteous exchange may conceal very different realities.
• Political maneuvering: Xie Heng shapes events discreetly, while the princes compete under a façade of familial harmony.
• Skepticism and trust: Rumors prompt people to question spiritual remedies and rely instead on medical advice.
• Public belief and reputation: The allegations have already damaged Mystic Temple’s standing before the contest begins.

Key events

• Xuanxin demonstrates a series of seemingly supernatural tricks, including making a lotus appear and a paper fish swim. The gray-robed man reproduces each feat, leaving the contest tied and unsettling the Fourth Prince.
• Xuanxin then performs his most impressive demonstration: blood poured into a basin makes the water turn red, hiss, and burst into flames. Shen Lantang recognizes it as a chemical reaction involving sodium and phenolphthalein.
• Unable to immediately explain or reproduce the final trick, the gray-robed man asks for thirty minutes to think. The Crown Prince and Consort Chen support the request, and the emperor grants it.
• In private, the man asks Shen Lantang what to do. She reassures him that they anticipated this possibility and says she has new materials that may help. After thirty minutes, he returns and says he believes he has worked out the method, though he lacks the materials to demonstrate it.

Character developments and interactions

• Xuanxin shifts from smug confidence to mounting frustration as the gray-robed man matches his tricks. He regains the upper hand with the fire-on-water demonstration and challenges his rival to explain it.
• The gray-robed man remains composed under pressure. Rather than bluffing, he admits the limits of his knowledge and asks for time; he then turns to Shen Lantang for guidance.
• Shen Lantang proves observant and scientifically knowledgeable, identifying the chemistry behind Xuanxin’s feat. She also shows foresight, having planned with Xie Heng for a possible setback, and takes charge of preparing the man’s response.
• The Crown Prince reassures the Fourth Prince while arguing that the gray-robed man deserves time. The Fourth Prince, increasingly anxious, objects to the delay. Consort Chen backs the request by pointing out that thirty minutes is reasonable.

Significant themes

• Apparent magic versus practical science: The chapter reveals that several “Daoist” feats rely on chemistry or physical principles.
• Preparation and adaptability: Shen Lantang and Xie Heng’s contingency planning helps them respond when the contest takes an unexpected turn.
• Pressure and composure: The gray-robed man’s honesty and calm contrast with the political anxiety surrounding the demonstration.

Plot points and events

• Shen Lantang’s side presents a final chemistry demonstration, the “Underwater Garden.” A quartz-derived solution and metal salts produce branching crystals that resemble coral and plants, astonishing Consort Chen and the gathered officials.
• When Consort Chen asks Xuanxin to explain the effect, he can only glare at the demonstrator. The Fourth Prince tries to defend him by claiming he could reproduce it with enough time, but the claim makes Xuanxin’s performance look like a trick rather than divine power.
• Consort Chen ends the contest, citing the heat and her headache. The Crown Prince declares both demonstrations impressive and orders rewards for the gray-robed man and Xuanxin, who is left stunned and humiliated.
• Shen Lantang quietly leaves the courtyard. In a carriage, she tells Xie Heng the preparations went smoothly and asks what will happen to Xuanxin. Xie Heng says Xuanxin must face the consequences of his own actions.
• As Xie Heng departs, the Crown Prince thanks him for the day. Xie Heng modestly says he was only fulfilling his duty.

Character developments and interactions

• Shen Lantang is relieved and satisfied that the plan succeeded, but recognizes that exposing Xuanxin may bring him severe consequences.
• Xuanxin loses his composure after being unable to explain the demonstration and is left isolated, apparently rejected by the Fourth Prince’s retinue.
• The Fourth Prince attempts to rescue Xuanxin but makes matters worse, then falls silent when he realizes the political implications.
• The Crown Prince turns the event to his advantage, openly praising the demonstrations while showing scorn for the Fourth Prince’s defense. He privately thanks Xie Heng.
• Xie Heng remains composed and supportive of Shen Lantang, while making clear that Xuanxin’s downfall is the result of his own choices.
• Consort Chen reacts with wonder to the chemistry display and uses her discomfort to bring the contest to a close.

Significant themes

• Knowledge versus superstition: Chemistry creates effects that seem miraculous but have natural explanations.
• The danger of political ambition: Xuanxin’s attempt to gain influence through deception leaves him vulnerable once exposed.
• Power and public perception: The demonstrations shift the balance among the emperor, the princes, and their followers, even without an explicit verdict.

Key events

• After secretly handling the contest with Xie Heng, Shen Lantang returns to the Xie Residence in disguise, wearing a convincing man’s outfit. Xie Madam welcomes her and compliments her appearance; Lantang later orders the outfit burned to protect her identity.
• Xie Ying asks Lantang to join her for dinner, and Lantang agrees, relieved that the danger and strain of the recent affair have passed.
• News spreads that the wandering Taoist exposed Xuanxin’s supposed miracles with a dazzling “Underwater Garden,” created using knowledge from a book called Chemistry. The revelation enrages the public, especially people who had bought Xuanxin’s talismans.
• While sharing watermelon with the family, Lantang is thanked for preventing Yan from drinking talisman water. Yan invites Lantang, Xie Ying, and Xie Madam to Lady Yunya’s autumn gathering; they accept.
• Xie Heng later summons Lantang to his study. His expression suggests mixed feelings about her unusual abilities, while Xie Madam appears ready to defend her if necessary.

Character developments and interactions

• Shen Lantang remains resourceful and self-assured, using disguise and careful planning to conceal her role in the contest. She enjoys a lighter moment with Xie Madam and Xie Ying after the ordeal.
• Xie Madam shows affection and protectiveness toward Lantang, praising her and appearing concerned about Xie Heng’s reaction.
• Xie Ying seeks Lantang’s company and seems to be recovering from her earlier heartbreak.
• Yan expresses gratitude to Lantang for preventing her from trusting Xuanxin’s talisman water and invites the household to a social gathering.
• Xie Heng recognizes that Lantang is both unusual and capable, but his conflicted response hints at a serious conversation or decision ahead.

Significant themes

• Exposure of fraud: Xuanxin’s reputation collapses as people learn his “miracles” relied on practical knowledge rather than divine power.
• Cleverness and concealment: Lantang’s disguise and planning show how intelligence can protect her while allowing her to act in a world where her identity is sensitive.
• Trust and family support: Lantang’s household members worry about, thank, and defend one another amid public scandal and private uncertainty.

• Xie Heng backs Shen Lantang: He tells her that Xuanxin has been stripped of his title and Mystic Temple’s plaque, and can no longer remain in Zhaojing. Though the Crown Prince is grateful to Shen, her role must stay secret because the affair involved a prince. Shen declines public recognition, saying she wants to live freely rather than attract political attention.
• A bond with her in-laws deepens: Xie Heng urges Shen to stand up to injustice, promising that the Xie family will support her. His sincerity moves her, and she begins to see him and Xie Madam as good people. On returning to her quarters, she shares the thought with Lan Xin, then sends her in-laws homemade milk pastries—an unusual gesture of affection that pleases Xie Madam.
• A new social gathering begins: Two days later, Shen and her companions attend a fashionable autumn gathering hosted by Lady Yunya, a high-ranking imperial aunt from a prestigious family. Her status makes attendance effectively obligatory, and the chapter closes as guests and servants crowd into her residence.
  Character developments and interactions: Shen remains wary of political entanglements but is touched by Xie Heng’s support. Xie Heng shows both his approval of her and his confidence in her judgment; Xie Madam observes that Shen has an impressive ability to regain her composure. Lan Xin warmly shares in Shen’s relief that her in-laws are kind.
  Themes: Personal freedom versus political recognition; the value of principled support and speaking against injustice; and the comfort and obligations of family relationships.

Key plot points and events

• At a gathering hosted by Lady Yunya, Xie Madam introduces Shen Lantang to Zhaojing’s prominent families. Lantang plays the part of a shy, well-mannered new daughter-in-law, while the parade of important guests overwhelms her and several members of the Xie family.
• Once the introductions end, the family disperses: Xie Ying joins friends, while Xie Zhou and Madam Qian go off together. Xie Madam and Lantang settle in a quiet spot.
• Their break is interrupted by Madam Chen, Xie Madam’s half-sister, who arrives with her own daughter-in-law. The sisters have a long-standing rivalry, and Madam Chen’s apparently complimentary remark about Lantang contains a cruel reference to Xie Madam’s son having had two wives.
• Lantang recognizes the insult and responds with mock innocence: she says Xie Madam described Madam Chen as generous and expected her to bring a splendid gift. Xie Madam backs her up, leaving Madam Chen unable to answer.

Character developments

• Shen Lantang shows that beneath her reserved public manner she is observant, quick-witted, and loyal to her mother-in-law. She defends Xie Madam without openly breaking etiquette.
• Xie Madam is visibly displeased by her half-sister but joins Lantang’s playful counterattack, revealing a trusting rapport between them.
• Madam Chen uses polite language to assert superiority, but is caught off guard when Lantang turns the exchange into an awkward demand for a gift.

Significant themes

• Social rank and reputation: The gathering’s elite guests and the discussion of official influence show how status shapes relationships.
• Family rivalry and comparison: Xie Madam and Madam Chen’s competition has lasted from childhood through marriage and now extends to their daughters-in-law.
• Politeness as a weapon: Lantang uses perfect manners and feigned innocence to expose the hostility hidden beneath Madam Chen’s “praise.”

Character interactions

• Lady Yunya warmly welcomes the Xie family and treats Lantang kindly.
• Xie Madam guides Lantang through the formal introductions and later shares a quiet moment with her.
• Madam Chen makes a pointed comment about Xie Madam’s family; Lantang and Xie Madam answer together, shifting the embarrassment back onto her.

Plot points and events

• Madam Chen tries to embarrass Shen Lantang by contrasting her humble background with Yunwan’s scholarly upbringing, clearly hoping to provoke a poetry contest.
• Shen is eager to answer with famous poems, but Prince Liang intervenes and redirects the challenge to Cuju, invoking the Princess and the emperor to make refusal difficult.
• Shen and the younger Madam Chen change into sportswear and join the match. Once on the field, Shen rediscovers her childhood love of Cuju and her competitive spirit.
• Shen trades playful challenges with Fifth Miss Liu, who dislikes her sudden rise in status. Shen’s team quickly takes the lead, with Shen scoring once and helping set up another goal.
• When the younger Madam Chen contributes little, Fifth Miss Liu orders her off the field. She reluctantly complies, and a skilled woman from the Hanke Tribe takes her place.

Character developments

• Shen Lantang shows confidence and humor rather than shame at Madam Chen’s taunt. The match awakens a competitive side she had set aside as she grew older and busier.
• Prince Liang demonstrates loyalty to his friend Xie Jin by stepping in to protect Shen, while using tact and royal authority to defuse the social confrontation.
• Madam Chen is frustrated when her attempt to force a poetry contest is thwarted and later has to defer to the Princess.
• Fifth Miss Liu reveals her arrogance and hostility toward Shen, while her team’s poor performance makes her increasingly anxious.
• The younger Madam Chen is caught between pride and the pressure of rank; despite resenting Liu’s order, she leaves the field.

Character interactions

• Madam Chen needles Shen through comparisons with Yunwan, but Shen meets the insinuation without embarrassment.
• Prince Liang intervenes on Shen’s behalf and steers the gathering toward a public Cuju match.
• Shen and Fifth Miss Liu exchange spirited challenges before competing.
• Baozhu cheers Shen from the sidelines. Madam Chen criticizes her, but Xie Madam and the Princess defend the maid’s enthusiasm.
• Fifth Miss Liu humiliates the younger Madam Chen by removing her from the game.

Significant themes

• Social status and public face: Rank shapes how people behave, but Shen’s composure and performance challenge the assumptions made about her origins.
• Female capability: The Princess’s support for women’s physical strength frames Cuju as more than entertainment—it reflects the idea that women can contribute to family and country.
• Competition and rediscovered identity: Returning to a childhood sport reconnects Shen with a bold, energetic part of herself.
• Power and loyalty: Prince Liang uses his position to protect Shen, while Liu uses hers to control others.

Plot points and events

• Liu Mingyue brings a Hanke tribeswoman onto her cuju team, provoking accusations of cheating. She argues that the rules allow it and invokes the emperor’s friendly relations with the Hanke Tribe.
• The Hanke player’s speed and strength help Liu’s side score twice, but Shen Lantang turns the game around with a deft tackle, pass, and header-assisted attack. The match remains close.
• Liu Mingyue feigns an injury to distract Shen and enable a teammate to steal the ball. Later, her loud instructions unsettle the Hanke player, whose wayward kick sends the ball toward the spectators.
• Xie Jin catches the ball and cautions the players not to lose their tempers. His arrival interrupts the match; Liu Mingyue quits, and Shen’s team leaves having won.
• Xie explains that he was assigned to keep order because city personnel are busy dealing with trouble at Mystic Temple. After Shen changes, Xie Madam encourages the couple to spend time together, and they walk beside the lake.

Character developments and interactions

• Shen Lantang shows confidence and athletic skill, staying composed enough to counter the Hanke player and help secure victory. She is also flustered by Xie Jin’s unexpected compliment that she looks beautiful.
• Liu Mingyue is competitive and manipulative: she exploits a feigned injury and pressures her teammate, then angrily quits after her side loses.
• Xie Jin appears unexpectedly, acts responsibly in calming the game, and gives Shen a sincere, disarming compliment. His attention suggests a growing warmth between them.
• Xie Madam is pleased to see her son and deliberately leaves Shen and Xie Jin alone. Their walk begins with polite conversation about Shen’s recent outing and his parents’ enjoyment of it.

Significant themes

• Fair play and rivalry: The teams argue over what the rules permit, while Liu’s tactics contrast with Shen’s skillful play.
• Changing political relations: Liu uses improved relations with the Hanke Tribe to defend including its player.
• Growing intimacy: Xie Jin’s compliment and Shen’s embarrassment hint at a deepening connection, even as their conversation remains cautious and formal.

• Key events: After returning from the lake, Shen Lantang learns that Xie Jin’s parents joined the family’s ball game. She is reassured that he seems comfortable with her parents. Liu Mingyue then tries to insult her, claiming the Xie family chose her only because she was an acceptable second wife and that Xie Jin loves someone else. Shen Lantang counters with playful, exaggerated devotion, leaving Liu flustered. Soon after, she sees Xie Jin speaking with Commandery Princess Hexi, who appears displeased when he turns away to approach his wife. Xie Jin explains that his military shift is changing and that he must stay in camp to train for the upcoming Autumn Sacrifice. Shen Lantang graciously accepts—privately delighted at the prospect of having their large bed to herself. Tired from the outing, she heads home early and runs into Zhang You, a trusted servant of Xie Heng.
• Character developments: Shen Lantang remains practical and irreverent: she avoids a pointless quarrel, turns Liu’s provocation into a joke, and values her own comfort more than romantic competition. Still, Liu’s claim makes her curious about Xie Jin’s possible feelings for someone else. Xie Jin is considerate and apologetic about his military duties, while Shen Lantang’s growing ease with his family suggests she is settling into her new household.
• Interactions: Shen and Xie Jin share polite conversation during their walk, though they run out of topics. Shen sharply outmaneuvers Liu Mingyue, whose insults expose her jealousy and insecurity. Lan Xin misunderstands Shen’s thoughtful expression as worry and reassures her about Xie Jin’s reliability. Xie Jin politely dismisses Commandery Princess Hexi before rejoining Shen, then explains his absence to her and his mother.
• Themes: The chapter plays with the gap between social expectations and private motives: Shen performs the role of a devoted wife while privately welcoming solitude. It also highlights status anxiety, romantic gossip, and the way marriage and family ties shape people’s standing.

Plot points

• Shen Lantang is taken to a modest residence, where she discovers that her father-in-law, Xie Heng, has acquired a magnificent black horse for her. She accepts it enthusiastically, bonds with it, and is assigned Wang Liu as its groom and riding instructor.
• Her young son, Xie Hongwen, envies the horse and asks for one of his own. Shen promises he can have a pony when he turns five, if he eats well and grows strong.
• After returning to her routine, Shen resolves to deepen her relationship with Qi Tongjun. She invites Qi on a countryside outing, and Qi accepts. The chapter ends as the two women settle beside a lake for tea and pastries.

Character developments and interactions

• Shen’s delight in the horse reveals her long-standing love of horses and her spontaneous, affectionate nature. She treats the horse as a companion and is eager to care for and ride it.
• Xie Heng’s thoughtful gift shows that he has paid attention to Shen’s childhood wishes. Zhang You is relieved when she likes it, having worried that her tastes might have changed.
• Hongwen is openly envious but responds positively to his mother’s promise, eagerly committing to grow strong.
• Shen is determined to move beyond polite acquaintance with Qi Tongjun and build a closer friendship. Their warm greeting and peaceful picnic suggest growing ease between them.

Significant themes

• Thoughtfulness and affection: A meaningful gift reflects attention to another person’s history and preferences.
• Family care and encouragement: Shen’s promise gives Hongwen something to look forward to while guiding him gently.
• Building relationships: Shen recognizes that friendship requires effort and deliberately creates opportunities to spend time with Qi.
• Shared passions and new beginnings: The horse brings Shen fresh excitement, while the outing opens the possibility of a deeper bond with Qi.

Key plot points and events

• Shen Lantang spends a pleasant outing with Qi Tongjun while Xie Hongwen plays with Gale, the black horse Shen named and received from her father-in-law, Lord Xie.
• They discuss the recent events at Mystic Temple. Qi explains her fascination with the “chemistry” book and the Underwater Garden illusion, and her hope of recreating the trick. Shen says the book may have practical uses beyond entertainment.
• Shen believes the emperor’s limited interest in the demonstrations—he only had the techniques written down—will spare her and Xie Heng further scrutiny.
• The women share tea and conversation. Shen introduces Qi to milk powder mixed with powdered tea.
• As they part, Qi promises to invite Shen out next time. Qi later tells her maid they should visit Clear Book Studio to find books to share with Shen.

Character developments and interactions

• Shen Lantang is warm, candid, and eager to build a friendship with Qi. She enjoys Qi’s praise and jokes about her accomplishment in helping Lord Xie.
• Qi Tongjun is increasingly drawn to Shen’s sincerity and openness, qualities she finds unusual among noblewomen. She reciprocates Shen’s friendship and plans to bring her books.
• Yan’er, Qi’s maid, likes Shen because she treats Qi kindly, though she also comments on Shen’s suitability as Xie Heng’s wife.
• Qi privately distinguishes friendship from romantic compatibility: Shen’s marriage is not her concern; she values Shen as a friend in her own right.

Significant themes

• Female friendship and affection: The chapter shows mutual warmth growing through conversation, shared interests, and plans to meet again.
• Knowledge and practical ingenuity: Chemistry and theatrical tricks spark curiosity about useful applications, even as the emperor remains focused on immortality.
• Social status and sincerity: Shen’s straightforward kindness contrasts with the reserve and self-importance Qi associates with elite society.
• Personal judgment: Qi separates her friendship with Shen from outside opinions about Shen’s marriage.

Plot points and events

• At Clear Book Studio, Qi Tongjun reads alone while her maid, Yan’er, goes to buy snacks. Incense makes Qi grow drowsy, and she wakes later with a small red mark on her neck. Yan’er assumes she scratched herself; the cause of the mark remains unexplained.
• Back at the Xie household, Shen Lantang finds her mother-in-law, Xie Madam, preparing an exceptionally lavish set of Mid-Autumn gifts for the Shen family. Xie Madam explains that a generous first-year gift signals how much the husband’s family values its daughter-in-law.
• Shen helps choose the gifts, and the household sends them to her parents’ home several days before the festival. The procession of carts draws a crowd and becomes neighborhood news.

Character developments

• Qi Tongjun is shown to be fond of poetry, history, and reading. Her unexplained lapse in consciousness and the mark on her neck introduce a note of mystery.
• Shen Lantang is practical and willing to learn the customs of her new family. Though surprised by the scale of the gifts, she trusts Xie Madam’s judgment and joins in choosing them.
• Xie Madam demonstrates care for Shen through her attention to family obligations and her wish to honor Shen’s parents.
• Xie Ying is playful and already imagines following the same generous tradition when she marries.

Character interactions

• Yan’er fusses over Qi Tongjun after finding her asleep, joking with her and checking her clothes and neck.
• Xie Madam guides Shen Lantang through the gift-selection custom, while Shen responds respectfully and cooperatively.
• Xie Ying jokes with Madam Zhou about Shen’s earnest approach; Madam Zhou affectionately explains that Shen is capable with important matters but inexperienced in smaller customs.

Significant themes

• Family duty and social custom: Mid-Autumn gifts help maintain ties between in-laws.
• Affection expressed through generosity: The lavish gifts publicly signal the Xie family’s regard for Shen and her family.
• Public reputation: The conspicuous procession turns a private family gesture into neighborhood spectacle.
• Mystery and vulnerability: Qi’s unexplained sleep and neck mark suggest that something may have happened while she was alone.

Plot points and events

• Shen Lantang returns to her family home with a large collection of gifts prepared by her mother-in-law, Xie Madam. Shen Mother is impressed and pleased, while Lantang jokes about sending some back.
• Lantang tells the family that the Xie household has invited them to a Mid-Autumn Festival dinner and moon-viewing. The invitation reassures her parents that her husband’s family values her.
• The Shen family agrees to attend and starts planning what to wear and what gifts to bring in return. Shen Father and Shen Mother eventually select a modest set, worried that bringing too much could imply they feel pressured to match the Xie family’s generosity.
• Lantang spends a relaxed day at home eating snacks, reading, and catching up with her family. She also affectionately asks her pregnant sister-in-law, Li Xinyi, about the baby.

Character developments and interactions

• Shen Lantang remains practical, confident, and playful. She is comfortable with both her birth family and her in-laws, and leaves formal gift-planning to the older generation.
• Shen Mother is delighted by the Xie family’s generosity and proud that Lantang is cherished there. She scolds Lantang over etiquette but clearly cares for her.
• Shen Father pretends that a father should not greet a married daughter at the gate, though he has actually been waiting anxiously. He later joins the discussion about proper gift-giving.
• Shen Chang’an proudly praises his sister’s cleverness and success, while Li Xinyi quietly restrains him when he is about to challenge their mother.
• The family’s warmth is evident in their teasing, their concern for Lantang’s standing, and their affectionate attention to Li Xinyi and her unborn child.

Significant themes

• Family affection and belonging: Lantang is warmly welcomed by her birth family and valued by her in-laws.
• Etiquette and social standing: The families carefully navigate gifts, invitations, and appearances to show respect without seeming indebted or overawed.
• Generosity and dignity: The Xie family’s lavish gifts signal esteem, while the Shen parents insist on providing the return gifts themselves to preserve their dignity as parents.