Chapter Summaries

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Zhu Bafu and Li Chenjing continue searching for the emperor, who has secretly left the palace.
• Zhu Bafu becomes exasperated because Li Chenjing knows almost nothing about the emperor’s appearance, habits, or favorite destinations, despite having claimed he could help find him.
• When Zhu Bafu threatens to cancel their deal, Li Chenjing suddenly suggests searching in a brothel district. His reasoning is that, as long as the emperor is still a man, he is likely to visit such a place.
• They travel to Beijing’s famous entertainment district, where Zhu Bafu is immediately surrounded by women from competing brothels trying to lure her inside.
• The various establishments aggressively advertise their wine, beauties, and discounts, creating a chaotic and embarrassing scene.
• Li Chenjing initially watches, but becomes visibly jealous and uncomfortable when the women touch and flirt with Zhu Bafu. He finally pulls her away by the waist and shields her from them, claiming that she is merely his penniless attendant.

Character Developments

• Zhu Bafu: Becomes increasingly frustrated with Li Chenjing’s irresponsibility and shameless behavior. She remains focused on the dangerous task of finding the emperor and is embarrassed by the attention she receives in the brothel district.
• Li Chenjing: Reveals an even more shameless and opportunistic side, especially when his financial reward is threatened. Beneath his outward indifference, however, he displays strong possessiveness and jealousy toward Zhu Bafu. His concern that she might become attracted to women exposes both his romantic feelings and insecurity.
• The Emperor: Remains absent, but his secret habit of visiting brothels becomes the basis of the search. His behavior is treated humorously as a contrast to his exalted imperial status.

Significant Themes

• Jealousy and possessiveness: Li Chenjing’s reaction to the women surrounding Zhu Bafu reveals feelings he is reluctant to admit openly.
• Appearance versus reality: The refined, cold, and elegant image associated with Li Chenjing contrasts sharply with his shameless schemes and emotional volatility.
• Role reversal and gender ambiguity: Zhu Bafu’s disguise and Li Chenjing’s uncertainty about her attraction to women create comic confusion around gender and desire.
• The contrast between imperial dignity and ordinary vice: The emperor, despite being the “True Dragon,” is humorously imagined as an ordinary man who visits brothels.
• Commercialized romance and desire: The brothel district is portrayed as a lively marketplace where women aggressively compete for customers through persuasion, flirtation, and promotional offers.

Character Interactions

• Zhu Bafu repeatedly interrogates Li Chenjing about the emperor, while he responds with evasive indifference and absurdly poor memory.
• Their argument over the canceled deal shows Zhu Bafu’s practical frustration and Li Chenjing’s self-interest.
• In the brothel district, the women compete to pull Zhu Bafu and Li Chenjing into their establishments, creating a chaotic public spectacle.
• Li Chenjing’s protective intervention—grabbing Zhu Bafu by the waist and placing himself between her and the women—reveals his jealousy and deepening attachment, even as he disguises it as concern for his “attendant.”

Chapter Summary

Plot points and events

After learning that Zhu Bafu is poor, the brothel women lose interest in her and turn their attention to Li Chenjing, whose refined appearance suggests wealth. Li steps in front of Zhu, shielding her from the women and preventing them from harassing her. When Zhu tries to ask whether they have seen a richly dressed man carrying a cat—clearly referring to the Emperor—Li repeatedly stops her from speaking. Instead, he bribes the women with banknotes, ordering them not to answer the “attendant” behind him. Zhu protests that he is wasting money and insists she needs to question them. Li proposes that she whisper her questions to him so he can ask on her behalf, forcing her to depend on him.

Character developments

Zhu is unsettled by how naturally Li protects her. His broad shoulders and decisive actions make her briefly wonder what it feels like to rely on someone, but she immediately rejects the idea, recalling how she survived her family’s downfall, her father’s imprisonment, confiscation of their property, and the breaking of her engagement without male support. Despite this determination, she repeatedly grabs Li’s sleeve and accepts his help. Li, meanwhile, acts playful and domineering, clearly enjoying her irritation and embarrassment. His lavish bribery and insistence on speaking for her reveal both his wealth and his desire to control the situation—and possibly to keep her attention focused on him.

Character interactions

Li physically shields Zhu, calls her “attendant,” and commands her not to speak. Zhu resents being treated like a subordinate and suspects he is merely teasing her or showing off in front of the brothel women. Their argument becomes a flirtatious exchange: she stops him from throwing away money, he insists on relaying her questions, and she finally beckons him to bend down so she can whisper. Before she speaks, Li gently tucks her hair behind her ear, making the intimate gesture intensify her emotional confusion.

Significant themes

The chapter explores independence versus reliance, as Zhu struggles to preserve her self-sufficient identity while instinctively accepting Li’s protection. It also develops the themes of gender performance and appearances: Zhu’s disguise as a man cannot reproduce Li’s physical authority and presence, while Li’s wealth and handsome appearance immediately change how others treat him. Beneath the comic banter, the scene highlights growing romantic tension, as Li’s protectiveness and tender gestures leave Zhu unexpectedly flustered.

Plot points

• Zhu Bafu asks Li Chenjing to help find a richly dressed young man who travels with a Persian cat—unaware that the man is the emperor.
• Li deliberately makes her repeat the question, prolonging their close, intimate exchange. She recognizes his teasing but indulges him, and the moment leaves them both flushed and stirred.
• He then describes the missing man as an “idiot” who visits brothels with a cat. A reward quickly draws answers: the man is at Chunfen Pavilion with Liu Rongrong, the Capital’s most celebrated courtesan.
• Zhu realizes Liu may be the key to Li’s lost memories and past love. Taking him there could restore his memories and free Zhu from their confusing attachment—but she hesitates, unsettled by the thought of losing his closeness.
• The chapter introduces Chunfen Pavilion as a refined, politically connected pleasure house whose courtesans are valued for their talents as well as their beauty. Liu Rongrong’s status suggests she is an impressive and influential figure.

Character development and interactions

• Zhu Bafu is torn between wanting Li’s memories restored and fearing the emotional distance that might follow. Her willingness to prolong their whispering exchange also hints that her feelings are more complicated than she admits.
• Li Chenjing shows a playful, teasing side, using the search as an excuse for intimacy while still helping Zhu. He appears unaware of the significance Liu Rongrong holds for his past.
• Their whispered conversation creates a charged, affectionate closeness; afterward, Li acts composed, while Zhu privately wrestles with what their connection means.

Significant themes

• Intimacy and concealed feelings: a simple exchange becomes a meaningful moment of closeness.
• Memory and identity: Liu Rongrong may reconnect Li with the past he has lost.
• Freedom versus attachment: Zhu sees the practical benefits of restoring Li’s memories but is reluctant to give up their current bond.
• Power and social influence: Chunfen Pavilion is portrayed as a place where pleasure, talent, status, and political affairs intersect.

Page 64 Summary

• Setting and premise: In the Capital, Zhu Bafu/Xiao Ba accompanies Young Master Li Chenjing to Chunfen Pavilion, a renowned brothel. She reflects on Liu Rongrong, the exceptionally beautiful courtesan rumored to have captivated even the emperor. Zhu is puzzled by Rongrong’s refined, noble bearing, which seems incompatible with the life of a courtesan.
• Arrival at Chunfen Pavilion: The pavilion is revealed to be an impressive building bearing the two characters “Mortal Realm.” Zhu recognizes that the inscription was written by Li Chenjing at Liu Rongrong’s request. She imagines that the words may express his conflicted feelings about love, social prejudice, and his inability to possess or retain Rongrong.
• Li Chenjing’s reaction: Li pauses before the inscription but claims not to recognize it. Instead, he harshly dismisses the calligraphy as ugly and mocks whoever wrote it. When a maid defending the inscription reveals that Li himself created it, he sarcastically calls his former self an “idiot.” His lack of recognition confirms that he has lost his memories of Liu Rongrong and his previous connection to the pavilion.
• Interaction with the maid: The maid initially scolds Li for insulting the pavilion’s treasured inscription, but immediately panics when she recognizes him and kneels in fear. She explains that Li used to visit Chunfen Pavilion to see Liu Rongrong, though Rongrong had ordered that he not be identified as the writer of the inscription. Li is surprised by this information and asks whether he often came there, revealing how completely he has forgotten his past.
• Liu Rongrong’s absence: The maid says Rongrong is currently unwell and cannot receive him, nervously glancing upstairs. Li responds with indifference, since he has not come specifically for Rongrong; he is accompanying Zhu to search for the emperor. Zhu, however, remains distracted and emotionally affected by the pavilion and the memories associated with it.

Character Developments

• Zhu Bafu/Xiao Ba: She shows increasing insight into Liu Rongrong’s character and the emotional meaning of the pavilion. Her discomfort and hesitation suggest that Rongrong’s past relationship with Li—and possibly Li’s connection to the emperor—is personally significant to her.
• Li Chenjing: His memory loss is emphasized. He behaves arrogantly and dismissively, yet his past actions—writing the inscription and repeatedly visiting Rongrong—suggest he once had deep feelings for her. His present contempt for the inscription contrasts sharply with his former attachment.
• Liu Rongrong: Though absent, she dominates the scene through her reputation, beauty, social influence, and connection to both Li and the emperor.
• The maid: Her fearful reaction highlights Li’s high status and the strict secrecy surrounding his relationship with Rongrong.

Significant Themes

• Memory and identity: Li’s inability to recognize his own handwriting or remember Rongrong creates a sharp contrast between his former and present selves.
• Love versus social status: The inscription evokes forbidden or socially improper affection, as Li’s noble position conflicts with his attachment to a courtesan.
• Appearance and hidden histories: Rongrong’s refined demeanor challenges assumptions about courtesans, while the pavilion conceals complicated relationships beneath its elegant exterior.
• Irony: Li mocks the inscription without realizing he wrote it, making his current disdain an ironic reversal of his former devotion.

Chapter summary

Key plot points and events

• Li Chenjing asks the brothel’s attendant about the man and cat in Liu Rongrong’s room, then heads there with Zhu Bafu.
• He kicks in the door and finds Liu Rongrong fastening the clothes of “Young Master Piao,” while a cat is also present.
• Li Chenjing demands to know which man is the emperor, revealing that he still does not recognize the emperor after losing his memory.
• Zhu Bafu recognizes Young Master Piao as the emperor and panics, realizing she has unknowingly involved him in her schemes and behaved disrespectfully toward him.
• She prostrates herself and urges Li Chenjing to kneel too. Li refuses, insisting that neither he nor Zhu Bafu needs to kneel.

Character developments and interactions

• Li Chenjing acts unusually bold and rough, kicking open the door and ignoring court etiquette. Despite his amnesia, he shows a firm, protective attachment to Zhu Bafu, declaring that she is not an outsider to him.
• Zhu Bafu swings from alarm at Li’s behavior to terror when she recognizes the emperor. Her comic desperation contrasts with Li’s refusal to show deference.
• The emperor (Young Master Piao) remains amused and self-assured. He lets Li choose whether to kneel, then teases Zhu Bafu about bringing Li to show off their growing closeness.
• Liu Rongrong is shocked by Li’s changed personality and apparent failure to recognize the emperor. She continues to attend to the emperor, serving him tea.

Significant themes

• Amnesia and changed identity: Li’s memory loss has transformed his behavior and relationships.
• Power versus personal loyalty: Zhu Bafu focuses on the emperor’s authority, while Li prioritizes his bond with her over protocol.
• Comedy through misunderstanding and social reversal: Zhu Bafu’s panicked attempts at etiquette clash with Li’s bluntness and the emperor’s teasing amusement.

Key plot points and events

• Zhu Bafu (“Xiao Ba”) brings Li Chenjing to find the emperor, Young Master Piao, following Lord Wei’s advice that Li is the only person likely to persuade him back to the palace.
• Piao teases Zhu about bringing Li along and implies that the two are close. To provoke Li, he draws Liu Rongrong onto his lap and kisses her neck, appearing to flaunt their intimacy.
• Zhu is distressed, fearing that seeing Piao and Rongrong together might restore Li’s memories of a past in which he loved Rongrong—and leave no place for Zhu.
• Instead, Li misunderstands the display as a lesson in kissing. He insists he wants to kiss Zhu and tries to turn her toward the couple so he can imitate them, unintentionally breaking the tense atmosphere.
• When Piao questions whether Li is romantically involved with Zhu, Li angrily rejects the suggestion that they are merely “cutting sleeves,” but openly says he likes Zhu and wants to be with him.
• Li shows no recognition of Rongrong or of his former relationship with her. Piao concludes that Li truly remembers nothing and is no longer the person he once was.

Character developments and interactions

• Zhu Bafu is anxious about Li’s lost memories and the possibility that he will return emotionally to his former life. Li’s clumsy, sincere desire to be with her reassures and moves her.
• Li Chenjing remains direct, possessive, and oblivious to social subtext. He openly claims Zhu and treats the emperor’s provocation as irrelevant, while failing to recognize Rongrong.
• Young Master Piao deliberately tests Li by displaying affection toward Rongrong. His laughter turns to recognition once Li’s lack of memory becomes clear.
• Liu Rongrong watches the exchange with embarrassment and resentment, but has little direct involvement beyond being part of Piao’s test.

Significant themes

• Memory and identity: Piao’s test suggests that Li’s memories—and perhaps the person he used to be—are gone.
• Love and reassurance: Zhu fears being erased by Li’s past, while Li’s present-day affection offers comfort.
• Jealousy and provocation: Piao uses Rongrong to test Li and unsettle Zhu, but Li’s reaction defies expectations.
• Comic misunderstanding: Li’s earnest, literal focus on learning to kiss punctures the scene’s dramatic tension.

Chapter Thirty-Two Summary

Key plot points and events

Li Chenjing and Zhu Bafu find Young Master Piao—the disguised Emperor—at Chunfen Pavilion and try to persuade him to return to the palace. He refuses, claiming that since “Little Jing” is no longer the person he believed her to be, he has no reason to go back. Zhu Bafu argues that, as Emperor, he must consider the people and avoid behavior that could endanger his health or damage the court’s reputation. When Liu Rongrong attacks Zhu Bafu for speaking out, the Emperor unexpectedly admits that he has considered her advice. He then sets Zhu Bafu a dangerous challenge: replace the plaque bearing “Mortal Realm” at Chunfen Pavilion with a poem that suits the establishment and satisfies him. She has only one incense stick’s worth of time to compose it.

Character developments

Zhu Bafu shows courage and practical intelligence by confronting the Emperor despite the danger. Her motives are not personal loyalty but self-preservation and concern that his reckless conduct could bring trouble to innocent people, including herself and the Zhu household. She remains wary of the Emperor, recognizing him as unpredictable and tyrannical, and resolves to survive the encounter rather than seek revenge. The Emperor reveals a playful, manipulative side, turning Zhu Bafu’s attempt to reason with him into a test while also showing that her words have affected him. Li Chenjing is protective of Zhu Bafu and disapproves of Liu Rongrong’s harsh attack.

Significant themes

The chapter emphasizes the danger of serving absolute power, captured in Zhu Bafu’s realization that being near the Emperor is “like living beside a tiger.” It also explores the conflict between imperial responsibility and personal escapism, as the Emperor abandons the palace to seek comfort while others try to restore him to his duties. Appearance and identity remain important: the Emperor’s disguise and Zhu Bafu’s male persona complicate their interactions and conceal their true circumstances. The poem challenge further highlights power’s arbitrariness, since Zhu Bafu’s fate depends entirely on the Emperor’s mood and judgment.

Character interactions

Zhu Bafu and the Emperor engage in a tense but witty verbal contest. She speaks frankly about his responsibilities, while he teases and tests her, calling her “Pig Kid” and comparing her to the former “Little Jing.” Liu Rongrong reacts defensively, interpreting Zhu Bafu’s criticism of the brothel as an insult to herself and her establishment. Li Chenjing’s glare indicates his concern for Zhu Bafu and his frustration with Liu Rongrong. The chapter ends with Zhu Bafu anxiously composing the required poem under intense pressure.

Chapter 68 Summary

Plot and events

Li Chenjing experiences a vague flash of memory in which he once challenged “Little Eight” to compose a poem within the time it took an incense stick to burn. He cannot recover the memory clearly, but focuses on helping Zhu Bafu, who is now struggling to write a poem on the emperor’s deliberately difficult subject: a brothel. Wanting to ease her anxiety, Li Chenjing openly wipes the sweat from her face and reassures her that she can take her time or leave if necessary. His intimate gesture shocks Zhu Bafu and visibly unsettles both Young Master Piao and Liu Rongrong.
The emperor teasingly accuses Li Chenjing of flirting and draws attention to the awkward love triangle. Liu Rongrong declares that she sincerely blesses Li Chenjing’s relationship with someone else, despite their former childhood connection, and emphasizes that she is now the emperor’s woman. The emperor then probes her feelings, joking that she must feel defeated because Li Chenjing completely ignores her while focused on Zhu Bafu.
As the allotted time nearly ends, the emperor demands Zhu Bafu submit her poem. Instead, she unexpectedly bows to Liu Rongrong and explains that she is trying to persuade the emperor to return to the palace. She apologizes in advance if her words offend Liu Rongrong, suggesting that her coming argument may involve the woman’s past difficulties.

Character development

• Li Chenjing becomes increasingly open and protective toward Zhu Bafu. His instinct is to comfort and help her, even though his former literary brilliance and memories remain inaccessible. His complete absorption in her shows that his feelings have deepened considerably.
• Zhu Bafu is flustered by Li Chenjing’s tenderness but is also beginning to accept and reciprocate his affection. Despite her embarrassment, she remains practical and courageous, choosing to address Liu Rongrong directly for the sake of her larger goal.
• Young Master Piao continues to use humor and provocation to test the relationships around him. His teasing masks a sharp awareness of Liu Rongrong’s emotions and Li Chenjing’s attachment to Zhu Bafu.
• Liu Rongrong maintains a dignified exterior, claiming to offer her blessing and insisting that her relationship with Li Chenjing is over. However, her jealousy and hurt are revealed through her tense reactions and attempts to gauge his response.

Themes

The chapter emphasizes the contrast between past and present, especially through Li Chenjing’s incomplete memories and changed feelings. It also explores jealousy, emotional displacement, and the difficulty of letting go of former relationships. Public teasing and private affection blur the boundaries between performance and genuine emotion, while Zhu Bafu’s willingness to confront Liu Rongrong highlights themes of loyalty, courage, and choosing the present over the past.

Character interactions

The central interaction is Li Chenjing’s tender attention to Zhu Bafu, which creates an intimate moment that provokes both the emperor and Liu Rongrong. The emperor taunts Li Chenjing while questioning Liu Rongrong about her true feelings. Zhu Bafu then shifts the scene by bowing respectfully to Liu Rongrong and preparing to discuss the circumstances surrounding her past, setting up a likely confrontation or appeal concerning the emperor’s return to the palace.

Plot points and events

• Zhu Bafu begins reciting a poem for Young Master Piao, but he initially dismisses her in favor of Liu Rongrong. Li Chenjing intervenes and persuades him to let her finish.
• Bafu’s poem ends with the pointed line, “Since ancient times, heroes are but one; gold, silver, and power wrap around the waist.” It sounds like a rebuke of Rongrong for valuing wealth and status—and, by implication, of the emperor for believing she truly cares for him.
• Rongrong complains that Bafu insulted her and cries in the emperor’s arms. Instead of punishing Bafu, Young Master Piao reframes the poem as fitting the brothel’s theme and suggests its criticism may really be aimed at him.
• He claims the poem has helped him understand his feelings and declares Bafu deserves a reward. He later replaces Chunfen Pavilion’s sign with the poem, written in his own hand but left unsigned.

Character developments

• Zhu Bafu recognizes that her “apology” is actually a dangerous act of remonstrance. She fears she may suffer the same fate as her father, whose family was ruined after speaking recklessly, but cannot stop herself from saying what she thinks.
• Young Master Piao reveals more than expected: although he initially favors Rongrong, he responds to Bafu’s veiled criticism with composure and even turns it into an occasion for self-reflection. His motives remain difficult to read.
• Liu Rongrong moves from confident dismissal of Bafu to shock and tears when the poem exposes the possibility that her attachment is tied to the emperor’s power and wealth.
• Li Chenjing speaks up on Bafu’s behalf, helping ensure she can finish the poem.

Themes

• The danger of speaking truth to power: Bafu’s poem could be interpreted as an insult to both Rongrong and the emperor, putting her at risk.
• Wealth, status, and love: The scene questions whether affection is genuine when it is entangled with power and material advantage.
• Irony and ambiguity: The emperor protects Bafu by reinterpreting her criticism, while publicly displaying the very poem that could have condemned her.
• Performance and appearances: Rongrong’s tears, Bafu’s scholarly posture, and the emperor’s calm response all leave others guessing at what people truly mean.

Character interactions

• Bafu and Rongrong clash over the poem’s implication; Rongrong sees it as an attack, while Bafu privately admits that is precisely what she meant.
• Li Chenjing advocates for Bafu, and Young Master Piao reluctantly gives her the floor.
• Young Master Piao comforts Rongrong but also challenges her sincerity, then shields Bafu by presenting the poem as appropriate to the pavilion’s business and as a lesson about his own dependence on her.

Chapter 34 Summary

1. Key Plot Points and Events

• Young Master Piao agrees to return to the palace with Li Chenjing and Zhu Bafu, preventing Zhu from being punished.
• Before leaving, he remembers Liu Rongrong’s cat, the heavily pregnant Persian Cat known as the “Imperial Noble Consort,” and searches under the bed for it.
• The cat refuses to come out until Piao tricks it by saying that Li Chenjing is about to leave. It immediately rushes to Li and rubs against his boots.
• Piao carries the cat away despite Li’s threats to kick it, joking that the cat has always been attracted to Li’s “male beauty.”
• Zhu Bafu insists that Piao say goodbye to Liu Rongrong, who has locked herself in a room after being angered by Piao’s praise of her terrible poem.
• Piao gives her an insincere and insulting farewell, telling her not to be so narrow-minded because anger will make her ugly.
• As the group begins traveling back, Piao walks ahead with the pregnant cat perched on his head and repeatedly asks Zhu Bafu and Li Chenjing to walk closer to him.
• Li refuses, choosing to walk beside Xiao Ba, while Zhu Bafu tries to preserve the proper distance between emperor and subject. Piao jokingly compares their procession to prisoners being escorted by bailiffs.

2. Character Developments

• Young Master Piao: His playful, shameless, and unconventional personality is emphasized. Despite being emperor, he behaves casually, adores his cat, and is unconcerned with dignity or formal boundaries. He also demonstrates affection and dependence toward Li Chenjing and Zhu Bafu.
• Li Chenjing: Remains blunt, irritable, and openly resistant to Piao’s attempts at closeness. He threatens the cat but still prioritizes staying beside Xiao Ba, revealing his strong attachment to it.
• Zhu Bafu: Acts as the cautious, proper member of the group. He worries about etiquette, Liu Rongrong’s feelings, and the emperor’s public conduct, though Piao constantly overwhelms his objections with teasing.
• Liu Rongrong: Though she does not appear directly, her anger and wounded pride are evident. Her retreat into the room shows her frustration with Piao’s thoughtless behavior.
• Imperial Noble Consort: The pregnant Persian cat is treated like a treasured court favorite. Its affection for Li Chenjing provides much of the chapter’s comedy and highlights Piao’s fondness for cats.

3. Significant Themes

• Irreverence toward authority: The emperor behaves more like a mischievous friend than a distant ruler, undermining traditional palace hierarchy.
• Affection and attachment: Piao’s devotion to the cat and desire to keep his companions close reveal his need for companionship and emotional reassurance.
• Comedy through contrast: Formal ideas of imperial dignity, etiquette, and rank repeatedly clash with the characters’ childish arguments, threats, and personal habits.
• Unromantic social interactions: The farewell to Liu Rongrong exposes the gap between conventional courtesy and Piao’s careless, teasing personality.
• Possessiveness and loyalty: Li’s insistence on walking with Xiao Ba and the cat’s attraction to him reflect the complicated bonds and jealous humor among the characters.

4. Character Interactions

• Piao and Li argue over the cat, with Piao teasing Li about being its favorite and Li responding with exaggerated hostility.
• Piao and Zhu Bafu clash over etiquette: Zhu urges him to say goodbye properly, while Piao treats the farewell as an inconvenience and mocks formal expectations.
• Piao tries to make both companions walk beside him, suggesting that beneath his joking manner he does not want to be separated from them.
• Zhu Bafu’s concern for propriety contrasts with Li’s direct hostility and Piao’s carefree manipulation, creating the chapter’s central comedic dynamic.

Chapter Summary — Page 71

Key Plot Points and Events

• The Holy Emperor playfully embraces Zhu Bafu and Young Master Jing, teasing them about jealousy and their relationship.
• Zhu Bafu accidentally repeats the Emperor’s crude joke, prompting further banter about sexuality, heirs, and the imperial succession.
• The Emperor casually remarks that the court has many possible successors through the late emperor’s extended clan. This alarms Zhu Bafu because it reveals how insecure and replaceable his position may be.
• Zhu Bafu recalls the Emperor’s unusual rise to power. He became emperor at age six despite being only a distant relative of the late emperor, largely because Regent Prime Minister Li selected him as a convenient figurehead.
• The late emperor’s edict prevented the Emperor from ruling personally until age twenty. Even after he reached that age, the regents continued controlling the government.
• Zhu Bafu’s father, a loyal censor, foolishly petitioned the Emperor to take direct control of the court. The regents retaliated by destroying the Zhu family: their property was confiscated, family members were imprisoned or scattered, and her father was beaten, dismissed, and exiled to Qingzhou.
• Zhu Bafu bitterly reflects that the Emperor did nothing to help her family and was instead enjoying himself with a courtesan, making her unwilling to feel loyal toward him.
• Rather than returning directly to the palace, the Emperor insists on visiting Chengshou Temple, an obscure monastery on Xiaopan Mountain. Neither Zhu Bafu nor the amnesiac Young Master understands why the visit is important.

Character Developments

• Zhu Bafu: Her playful confidence is mixed with deep resentment toward the Emperor. She has become more emotionally controlled since her family’s downfall, though she remains sarcastic and distrustful. Her political awareness is also emphasized: she understands that her father’s loyalty was reckless and that survival in court requires caution.
• The Holy Emperor: He appears carefree, flirtatious, and irreverent, but his casual comments hint at deeper concerns about his legitimacy and political position. His insistence on visiting Chengshou Temple suggests a hidden personal motive beneath his frivolous exterior.
• Young Master Jing: He remains suspicious and protective of Zhu Bafu, openly objecting to the Emperor’s physical familiarity with her. His memory loss leaves him as confused about the temple visit as Zhu Bafu is.
• Zhu Bafu’s father: Though absent from the scene, he is portrayed as excessively loyal and politically naïve. His memorial triggered the ruin of the Zhu household.

Significant Themes

• Political power and legitimacy: The Emperor’s authority is revealed to be fragile because he was selected as a convenient successor rather than being the late emperor’s direct heir.
• Loyalty versus self-preservation: Zhu Bafu contrasts her father’s reckless devotion with her own cautious belief that surviving court politics matters more than displaying loyalty.
• Appearance versus reality: The Emperor behaves like a pleasure-seeking, irresponsible ruler, yet his words and unexplained destination suggest hidden political or emotional burdens.
• Trauma and resentment: Zhu Bafu’s family has suffered because of imperial politics, and her outward humor masks anger toward the Emperor and the system that destroyed them.
• Memory and mystery: Young Master’s amnesia leaves both him and Zhu Bafu unable to interpret the Emperor’s motives or the significance of Chengshou Temple.

Character Interactions

• The Emperor uses teasing physical affection and provocative jokes to unsettle both Zhu Bafu and Young Master.
• Young Master reacts protectively and possessively toward Zhu Bafu, warning the Emperor not to touch her.
• Zhu Bafu joins the banter but quickly becomes nervous about overstepping before the Emperor.
• The Emperor dismisses the political implications of succession while simultaneously revealing the precarious circumstances of his own reign.
• Zhu Bafu and Young Master jointly question the Emperor’s decision to visit Chengshou Temple, but he refuses to explain why the trip must happen that day.

Chapter Summary

• Arrival at the Temple: Master Piao and his companions are admitted into a secluded temple by a gatekeeper monk who recognizes the Holy Emperor. As they follow the monk through the temple grounds, Zhu Bafu becomes increasingly nervous, fearing the Emperor may harm them to avoid returning to the palace.
• Li Chenjing’s Recovering Memories: The temple’s layout triggers unexpected memories in Li Chenjing. He accurately recalls the path, a broken water vat, and a stone chessboard containing six white stones surrounded by black ones. Zhu Bafu realizes that he has visited the temple before and worries that his memories—and his former identity as the cold, aloof Chief Counselor of the Eastern Palace—may soon return.
• Zhu Bafu’s Emotional Conflict: Zhu Bafu fears that once Li Chenjing remembers everything, he will forget the affectionate and innocent relationship they have developed during his amnesia. At the same time, she recognizes that she has grown genuinely fond of this gentler, more dependent version of him. Her distress becomes so strong that she unconsciously grips his wrist, afraid he will disappear.
• Li Chenjing Comforts Her: Li Chenjing notices her anxiety and reassures her that he will not abandon her. He holds her hands, kisses the back of one, and promises that no matter how quickly he walks, he will never leave her behind. His tenderness deeply affects Zhu Bafu, who becomes flustered while questioning whether her feelings have become romantic.
• Playful Intimacy: When Zhu Bafu becomes distracted, Li Chenjing moves close to her and catches her when she nearly loses her balance on the uneven stone steps. His natural physical affection and concern embarrass her, especially because she is beginning to realize how much she likes him.
• The Holy Emperor’s Secret Ritual: Li Chenjing points out that the Holy Emperor has not disappeared but is kneeling inside a small, weathered side hall. The Emperor performs a solemn ancestral rite before a lone memorial tablet, offering incense and kowtowing three times. The humble, isolated temple and the fact that the reigning emperor personally worships there suggest a hidden and significant history, though Zhu Bafu deliberately chooses not to investigate.

Character Development and Interactions

• Zhu Bafu shifts from fear and uncertainty to an unsettling awareness of romantic attachment. She is torn between wanting Li Chenjing to remain the affectionate man he is now and fearing the return of his former, emotionally distant self.
• Li Chenjing displays increasing tenderness, protectiveness, and dependence toward Zhu Bafu. His memory begins returning through familiar places, but his emotional connection to her remains strong.
• The Holy Emperor is presented in a more vulnerable and mysterious light, kneeling privately before an obscure ancestral tablet rather than behaving as an untouchable ruler.
• Zhu Bafu and Li Chenjing’s relationship grows more intimate through hand-holding, reassurance, physical closeness, teasing, and mutual concern, even as the threat of Li Chenjing’s recovered identity hangs over them.

Significant Themes

• Memory and identity: The chapter contrasts Li Chenjing’s present personality with the colder man he may become once his memories return.
• Love under uncertain circumstances: Zhu Bafu questions whether her feelings are genuine when directed toward a version of Li Chenjing shaped by amnesia.
• Fear of loss: Her physical grip on him and anxiety about his disappearance reflect her fear that their current bond is temporary.
• Hidden history and ancestral duty: The Holy Emperor’s secret worship at the neglected temple hints at unresolved royal or familial secrets.

Key plot points and events

• Zhu Bafu and Li Chenjing find the Holy Emperor at a secluded shrine, offering incense before a spirit tablet. The Emperor’s secrecy leads Zhu to assume he is mourning a lost romantic love.
• Zhu elaborates on her melodramatic theory, only to learn that the person enshrined is a man. The Emperor reveals the truth: the tablet belongs to his biological father, not a lover.
• The Emperor explains that court custom and the Li family’s dynastic politics require him to honor the late emperor—his imperial uncle—as his father. His biological father has been hidden away in a small temple, and the Emperor must secretly visit him.
• Grieving and resentful, the Emperor asks Li Chenjing whether this treatment is reasonable, then questions whether the Li family has ever truly recognized him as emperor.

Character developments

• Zhu Bafu shows her usual impulsive, comic tendency to invent elaborate stories from little evidence. Her joking speculation becomes an embarrassing misstep once she discovers the shrine’s real significance.
• The Holy Emperor shifts abruptly from playful teasing to revealing deep pain and anger. His visit exposes the personal cost of the court’s imposed version of his identity and family history.
• Li Chenjing becomes the focus of the Emperor’s challenge because of his connection to the Li household. He remains silent as the Emperor confronts him, leaving the question unresolved.

Significant themes

• Power versus personal identity: The Emperor holds supreme authority yet cannot openly acknowledge or mourn his own father.
• Political legitimacy and family loyalty: Court expectations overwrite biological bonds to preserve the official succession.
• Public image and secrecy: The Emperor’s hidden visits contrast with the formal, public rituals demanded of him.
• The limits of authority: The scene underscores the irony of an emperor who cannot control even how his own family is remembered.

Character interactions

• Zhu tries to shield herself and Li Chenjing from the Emperor’s teasing, then blurts out her romantic interpretation and must plead for forgiveness.
• The Emperor playfully mocks Zhu’s imagination before revealing the truth and explaining his resentment.
• He grabs Li Chenjing by the lapels and demands his judgment, turning a private act of mourning into a direct confrontation with the Li family’s treatment of him.

Plot points and events

• Li Chenjing confronts the emperor, demanding that he stop hiding behind a smile and face his anger and humiliation honestly. He tells him that if he does not act like he believes himself to be emperor, he cannot expect others to respect him.
• Zhu Bafu worries that Li Chenjing is being dangerously blunt, but he helps her up and leaves the choice of returning to the palace to her.
• Later, Zhu Bafu brings the emperor his cat, Imperial Noble Consort, to keep him company. She suggests Li Chenjing is worried about him, despite pretending otherwise.
• The emperor confides that he lost his childhood cat, was separated from his parents, and could not see or mourn his father before his death. Though others think him fortunate, he feels he has lost almost everything.
• Asked what expression he should wear if he stops smiling, Zhu Bafu tells him there is nothing wrong with putting on a brave face or laughing through hardship.

Character developments

• Li Chenjing shows both stern honesty and concern for the emperor. Though he criticizes him harshly, he treats him as a friend and looks after Zhu Bafu.
• The emperor reveals the loneliness and grief beneath his composed smile. His confession complicates Zhu Bafu’s view of him: she begins to see him not only as the ruler responsible for her family’s ruin, but as someone who has also suffered profound losses.
• Zhu Bafu moves from fearing the emperor and judging him through her family’s misfortune toward recognizing their shared pain. She offers him sincere comfort.

Significant themes

• Appearance versus inner pain: The emperor’s smile hides anger, grief, and loneliness.
• Power and vulnerability: Even a ruler can feel powerless, bereaved, and isolated.
• Loss and empathy: Zhu Bafu’s own experience of losing everything helps her understand the emperor.
• Friendship and loyalty: Li Chenjing’s bluntness reflects concern, while Zhu Bafu’s companionship offers the emperor reassurance.

Character interactions

• Li Chenjing challenges the emperor directly, refusing to flatter him or soften his criticism.
• Zhu Bafu silently urges Li Chenjing to stop, then follows him when he leads her away.
• Zhu Bafu later comforts the emperor, who responds by sharing memories he has kept buried. Their exchange creates a moment of mutual understanding.

Plot points and events

• The emperor reaches for Zhu Bafu, pulls her into an embrace, and asks her to stay still while he rests. She is uncomfortable with the intimacy and tries to maintain her disguise as a man.
• The emperor notices a feminine scent and playfully questions Zhu Bafu about it. She invents a younger sister as an explanation.
• He jokes that he might bring this supposed sister into the palace as a consort, then reveals his real aim: he wants Zhu Bafu to become someone close to him—a trusted companion who can share his worries.
• The emperor teases that Zhu Bafu could also become his “other kind” of person, leaving her flustered and briefly fearing he has discovered her identity.
• Li Chenjing bursts in, furious at the emperor’s advances, and takes Zhu Bafu away.

Character developments

• Zhu Bafu remains anxious about her disguise and uses increasingly implausible lies to protect it. She is also startled by how intimate the emperor’s attention feels.
• The emperor shows vulnerability beneath his playful manner, admitting that maintaining a strong front is tiring. He wants a confidant, though he mixes sincere warmth with flirtatious teasing.
• Li Chenjing displays strong protectiveness and jealousy toward Zhu Bafu, reacting angrily to the emperor’s closeness with her.

Significant themes

• Disguise and mistaken identity: Zhu Bafu’s efforts to pass as a man shape the scene and its comic misunderstandings.
• Loneliness and trust: The emperor’s desire for someone with whom he can speak openly hints at the isolation of his position.
• Intimacy and jealousy: The emperor’s teasing embrace provokes Li Chenjing’s possessive response.
• Comedy through misunderstanding: Zhu Bafu misreads the emperor’s wish for a political confidant as a romantic or sexual proposition.

Character interactions

• The emperor alternates between seeking comfort, teasing Zhu Bafu, and expressing a genuine wish for companionship.
• Zhu Bafu responds with nervous excuses and tries to preserve distance without openly rejecting him.
• Li Chenjing interrupts their exchange and angrily pulls Zhu Bafu away, accusing the emperor of improper behavior and blaming Zhu Bafu for getting involved.

Plot points and events

• Zhu Bafu interrupts the Emperor and Li Chenjing’s teasing argument and firmly declares that her family’s tradition rules out a romantic relationship between men. Her protest goes largely ignored until she makes the point unmistakable.
• At the palace’s rear avenue, Zhu Bafu makes sure the Emperor promises to return to the palace—and to report to all three Noble Consorts—so she will not be blamed if he disappears.
• The Emperor keeps his word. A Night Cavalry patrol recognizes him, and he rides back to the palace with striking imperial authority, promising that Zhu Bafu and Li Chenjing will be rewarded for their service.
• Watching him leave, Zhu Bafu reflects that the Emperor may have the innate qualities of a strong ruler. She hopes that if he eventually governs directly, he might clear the Zhu family’s name and allow her family to leave the dangerous capital.
• Li Chenjing interrupts her thoughts by pulling her close and kissing her.

Character developments and interactions

• Zhu Bafu remains practical and outspoken, pushing back against the men’s casual discussion of her marriage as if she had no say. Her observation of the Emperor’s commanding presence also sparks cautious hope for her family’s future.
• The Emperor is playful and flirtatious, but his transformation into a commanding ruler before the patrol reveals a more formidable side. He honors his promise to return and acknowledges both companions’ service.
• Li Chenjing banters jealously with the Emperor and objects to him calling Zhu Bafu “Little Eight.” His teasing turns possessive when he draws her close and kisses her.
• The trio’s exchanges mix affection, rivalry, and comedy: the Emperor and Li Chenjing compete over Zhu Bafu while she tries to assert her own wishes.

Significant themes

• Appearance versus reality: The seemingly frivolous Emperor displays genuine imperial majesty, prompting Zhu Bafu to reconsider his potential as a ruler.
• Agency and identity: Zhu Bafu resists being treated as a marriage prize and insists on speaking for herself, especially given her identity as a woman disguised as a man.
• Hope for justice: The possibility of the Emperor ruling in person offers Zhu Bafu hope that her family’s unjust disgrace may eventually be undone.

Key plot points and events

• After Li Chenjing drives away the troublesome man, he demands the “payment” Zhu Bafu promised him.
• He pulls her into a forceful kiss. Zhu protests that they are both men and that kissing in the street is improper, but Li challenges the distinction—and reminds her that he imagines her beside him every night.
• Li admits he cannot sleep without thinking of Zhu. He then presses her about whether she has romantic or sexual experience, becoming suspicious that the emperor might be involved.
• When Zhu insists the emperor is not, Li declares he wants her to do something “impermissible” with him. Unable to refuse outright, Zhu says she will think about it.
• Li decides to use her lips to help him sleep that night. The chapter ends with an atmospheric image of a figure in the palace hot-spring corridors, accompanied by a sleeping, heavily pregnant Persian cat.

Character developments

• Li Chenjing is increasingly possessive and emotionally dependent on Zhu. His jealousy, teasing, and sexual boldness coexist with a vulnerable admission that he cannot sleep without thinking of her.
• Zhu Bafu / Little Eight remains flustered and reluctant, but her resistance weakens: she is embarrassed by Li’s advances and agrees to consider his request rather than rejecting him outright.

Significant themes

• Possessiveness and jealousy: Li objects even to Zhu looking seriously at other men and suspects the emperor might be a rival.
• Desire versus propriety: Their male-presenting identities and public setting make Zhu’s discomfort and Li’s provocative challenges central to the scene.
• Emotional dependence: Li’s inability to sleep without thinking of Zhu reveals that his attraction goes beyond playful flirtation.

Character interactions

• Li controls the encounter through teasing, a kiss, and pointed questions, while Zhu tries to deflect him and maintain propriety.
• Zhu’s reassurance that the emperor is not involved briefly calms Li’s suspicion, but he immediately turns the conversation toward his own desire.
• Their exchange blends coercive-seeming boldness with comic embarrassment, leaving Zhu overwhelmed and Li openly hopeful.

Chapter Summary — Page 78

Key Plot Points and Events

• After bathing, the Emperor tells the eunuchs that he will follow the “same old rules” and allow the Imperial Noble Consort to decide which consort he visits that night.
• A cat is used to determine his destination, and it leads the attendants toward Yaohua Palace, where Consort Pan is waiting.
• The Emperor recognizes that the Imperial Noble Consort has deliberately sent him to Consort Pan, whom he considers difficult and overly demanding.
• At Yaohua Palace, he greets Consort Pan with flirtatious affection, kisses her, and praises her beauty.
• Despite his sweet words, he secretly wipes away the rouge from her lips and reacts with disgust, revealing that his outward tenderness is largely an act.
• He teases Consort Pan by claiming he is merely “playing around” with her, then manipulates her affection by suggesting he may promote her father to a higher official rank.
• When Consort Pan tries to assist him, the Emperor abruptly orders her to remain still and close her eyes. His anger and impatience suggest that he is emotionally distracted and not genuinely interested in intimacy.
• He attempts to make the encounter feel less formal by asking her to address him differently, but his contradictory teasing only confuses her.

Character Developments

• The Emperor: Appears detached, sarcastic, and emotionally preoccupied. He performs affection for Consort Pan while privately displaying revulsion and irritation. His thoughts and actions suggest that his heart has been “warmed” by someone else earlier that day, making his visit to Pan feel like an obligation or a diversion rather than genuine desire.
• Consort Pan: Remains flirtatious, vain, and eager for the Emperor’s attention. Her confidence falters when he says he is only playing with her, but she quickly becomes receptive again when he mentions advancing her father’s career. This shows how closely her emotional security is tied to both imperial favor and family advancement.
• Imperial Noble Consort: Though absent from the scene, she exerts clear influence by directing the Emperor toward Consort Pan, apparently as a joke or deliberate provocation.
• The eunuchs and palace attendants: They understand the court’s rituals and silently obey the Emperor’s wishes, maintaining strict discretion around his private life.

Significant Themes

• Appearance versus reality: The Emperor’s affectionate words conceal boredom, disgust, and emotional distance. Courtly romance is presented as performance rather than sincerity.
• Power and manipulation: The Emperor uses the promise of official promotion to control Consort Pan’s feelings, while the Imperial Noble Consort manipulates the Emperor’s nightly destination.
• Imperial privilege and ritual: The Emperor’s choice of companion is treated as a formal palace procedure, with attendants carefully observing protocol while pretending not to notice intimate affairs.
• Emotional displacement: Although the Emperor is physically with Consort Pan, his thoughts remain focused on the unnamed person who affected him earlier.
• Women and political influence: Consort Pan’s position depends not only on her beauty and intimacy with the Emperor but also on her father’s political advancement.

Character Interactions

• The Emperor and the eunuchs interact through formal, obedient exchanges, though the Emperor’s joking responses reveal his casual attitude toward palace conventions.
• The cat and head eunuch participate in the ritual that determines the Emperor’s destination, reinforcing the playful yet controlled nature of imperial favoritism.
• The Emperor and Consort Pan exchange exaggerated flirtation. He praises her beauty while privately mocking the intimacy, whereas she seeks reassurance that she remains favored.
• Their interaction becomes tense when he orders her not to move and makes contradictory jokes about how she should address him, emphasizing the imbalance of power and his unstable mood.

Key plot points and events

• The Bearded Doctor announces that the Emperor reviewed the students’ assignments unusually quickly and praised Zhu Bafu’s couplet as the class’s top entry: “Ask not a hero’s path; a rogue may be of any age.”
• Zhu, who had been trying to sneak out to avoid the results, is mortified when her irreverent answer is read aloud. Instead of being punished for mocking the Emperor, she is ordered to copy the Book of Rites fifty times.
• As Zhu begins the punishment, a palace eunuch arrives and asks for her by name, leaving her afraid that she is in serious trouble.

Character developments

• Zhu Bafu remains irreverent and anxious, but her view of the Emperor shifts: she suspects his praise reflects frustration with the rigid rules of lineage and succession, and feels some sympathy for him. She accepts the copying punishment with relief, only to become alarmed by the eunuch’s arrival.
• The Bearded Doctor is initially elated by the Emperor’s attention, then visibly dismayed when he discovers which couplet earned the praise. He still imposes the standard punishment for Zhu’s disrespectful work.

Character interactions

• The Doctor eagerly shares the Emperor’s comments with the class, while Zhu tries unsuccessfully to hide and escape the announcement.
• Zhu’s classmates tease her and prevent her from slipping away, insisting that she stay to hear the results.
• The eunuch’s arrival turns the class’s attention toward Zhu and introduces an uncertain new confrontation.

Significant themes

• Satire and irony: Zhu’s cheeky couplet becomes the Emperor’s favorite, making praise more embarrassing than punishment.
• Power and convention: Zhu reflects that imperial systems of ancestry, blood ties, and succession can constrain even the Emperor.
• Uncertainty and consequence: Zhu’s brief relief at receiving only a school punishment ends with the eunuch’s unexpected summons.

Key plot points and events

• A eunuch delivers an imperial decree appointing Zhu Bafu Minister of Works in the Eastern Order, a direct promotion to a ranked official post despite her being a newly admitted academy student.
• Zhu is stunned and privately asks if she can refuse. The eunuch warns that disobeying an imperial decree could cost her head, so she reluctantly accepts—while worrying that the appointment deepens her deception about being a woman.
• Her classmates swarm her with questions and rumors about her connections to the emperor and even his cat. Zhu escapes to the courtyard to eat the lunch Xiaojiu prepared.
• A young boy attacks her with an abacus bead and threatens her with an iron abacus, demanding she leave the lunchbox because the food is his. Zhu argues back, then offers to share her meal.

Character developments

• Zhu Bafu is promoted from student to official, but feels no pride: she is anxious about the dangers of her false identity and unwanted advancement. Despite her own precarious circumstances, she shows compassion toward the hungry boy.
• The boy is introduced as poor, thin, and furious, with a weapon in hand. His insistence that the lunch belongs to him suggests a desperate claim or misunderstanding, though his true circumstances remain unclear.

Significant themes

• Power and peril: Imperial favor brings Zhu status but also increases the risk of exposure and punishment.
• Rumor and social judgment: Her classmates turn her sudden promotion into gossip, illustrating how envy fuels absurd speculation.
• Poverty and compassion: Zhu recognizes the boy’s hunger and offers to share rather than respond to his threat with hostility.

Character interactions

• The eunuch explains the appointment and presses Zhu to accept the emperor’s decree.
• Her classmates interrogate and tease her about her supposed ties to the emperor.
• Zhu confronts the boy over his threat; their standoff shifts toward a tentative offer of food, but he rejects her attempt to bargain.