Chapter Summaries

• Key events: Zhu Bafu, disguised as a male scholar, argues with a scruffy boy over a meal. The boy insists Zhu Xiaojiu’s cooking belongs to him and threatens to report Bafu for stealing. Xiaojiu arrives and confirms that he made food for both of them. The boy—Nian Youyu, the Minister of Revenue—reluctantly accepts the explanation and settles down to eat. Bafu is astonished to learn who he is and discovers that Xiaojiu has given Nian his food regularly in exchange for holding his Ministry Seal as collateral.
• Character developments: Bafu shifts from indignation to alarm when she realizes the “beggar” is a powerful official—and someone important to Xiaojiu. Xiaojiu is revealed as calm, generous, and teasing, though he treats the Seal as merely a practical pledge. Nian is proud and prickly, yet dependent on Xiaojiu’s meals; beneath his stern manner, he appears attached to Xiaojiu and jealous of his attention.
• Interactions: Bafu and Nian clash over the food and Xiaojiu’s name, each trying to protect their claim to him. Xiaojiu gently defuses the quarrel, then jokes with Bafu about her appetite and height. In private, Bafu presses Xiaojiu to explain his relationship with Nian and the Seal.
• Themes: The chapter uses mistaken identity and comic contrasts between appearance and status: the shabby boy is a high official, while Bafu is a woman disguised as a man. It also highlights generosity and growing attachment, while foreshadowing trouble: neither boy seems to understand the political significance of exchanging or holding an official Seal.

Key plot points and events

• Nian Youyu tells Zhu Bafu that the Six Ministries are meeting, prompting her to reveal that she has been appointed Minister of Works.
• He says she need not attend because the post will keep her busy, then directs her to the ruined Library Pavilion, where reconstruction is underway.
• Zhu discovers that the Ministry of Works’ duties are far more hands-on than she expected: coordinating materials and repairs while doing construction labor.
• Unable to understand the plans or confidently supervise the project, she approves them without changes and starts hauling heavy jade bricks herself.

Character developments

• Zhu Bafu’s new promotion quickly turns from apparent honor into an overwhelming burden. Insecure about her lack of expertise, she responds by pitching in physically rather than pretending to know how to manage the rebuilding.
• Nian Youyu displays dry humor and familiarity with Zhu, seeming to know exactly how challenging—and fitting—her new role will be.

Significant themes

• The gap between status and reality: A ministerial title brings little glamour when the job means carrying bricks and buckets.
• Inexperience and humility: Zhu admits, at least to herself, that she cannot handle the technical work and avoids making decisions she does not understand.
• Consequences of impulsiveness: Zhu ruefully blames her promotion on having comforted the emperor, suggesting that a well-meant act can lead to unexpected trouble.

Character interactions

• Zhu tries to retrieve her lunch from Nian Youyu and objects to his familiar, almost spousal way of addressing her brother, Zhu Xiaojiu.
• Nian teases Zhu about her appointment and points her toward her workplace rather than taking her to the meeting.
• Ministry staff treat Zhu as their new supervisor and ask her to approve plans and coordinate construction; she sidesteps those responsibilities and joins them in the labor instead.

Chapter Summary — Page 83

Key plot points and events

Zhu Bafu struggles to carry two heavy white jade bricks up the Library Pavilion steps while dressed in an oversized scholarly robe. She nearly falls, but Li Chenjing catches her, takes the bricks, and scolds her for carrying them. His teasing quickly turns into an emotional confrontation: he is hurt that she avoided him after their intimate moment the previous night and believes she may have deliberately kept her distance. When he moves closer, Zhu Bafu panics and pushes him away, making him think she dislikes him and no longer cares for him.
As Li Chenjing prepares to leave, Zhu Bafu claims they have official business to discuss and pulls him to a secluded path. She asks whether he has recovered his memory. After he says no and apologizes for disappointing her, she unexpectedly embraces him, leaving him stunned and deeply hopeful.

Character developments

• Li Chenjing: His outwardly gentle, teasing manner gives way to insecurity and emotional vulnerability. He has spent the night agonizing over Zhu Bafu’s feelings and fears that she no longer likes him—or that he is fundamentally inadequate for her. He begins questioning whether recovering his lost memory might restore the person she once loved. Her sudden embrace challenges his belief that she rejects him completely.
• Zhu Bafu: She remains clumsy, practical, and focused on her work, but her nervous avoidance reveals that she is struggling with her feelings after their kiss. Although she initially rejects Li Chenjing’s attempted closeness, she later takes the initiative by hugging him, suggesting that her feelings are stronger and more complicated than her earlier behavior indicates.

Significant themes

• Love and insecurity: Li Chenjing’s self-doubt centers on whether he is loved for himself or only for the person he was before losing his memory.
• Miscommunication: Both characters misread one another—Li interprets Zhu Bafu’s awkwardness as disgust, while she has difficulty expressing her own emotions directly.
• Identity and memory: Li’s amnesia creates uncertainty about whether affection can survive when one’s personality and history have changed.
• Emotional vulnerability: The contrast between their formal male disguises and their intimate interaction highlights how private feelings break through social roles and restraint.

Character interactions

Li catches Zhu Bafu when she nearly falls, holds her close, and complains that she keeps disappearing from him. When he attempts to approach her romantically, she forcefully pushes him away, causing him considerable pain. Later, she draws him into privacy under the pretense of official business, asks about his memory, and then suddenly hugs him. The embrace reverses the emotional balance of the scene, giving Li unexpected reassurance and leaving him speechless.

Chapter 40 Summary

Key events

• Zhu Bafu explains that she only pushed the Young Master away because they were surrounded by people—not because she rejected him. She admits she has considered his proposal from the night before, but says she cannot agree to going further.
• The Young Master is overwhelmed by her reassurance. They kiss passionately, and Zhu Bafu decides she will stop pushing him away and accept his affection, even if she thinks of it as something she has “stolen.”
• Later, the newly appointed Minister of Works, Zhu Bafu, is visibly lovestruck during a meeting with the emperor. He teases her for the obvious signs that she and Xiaojing have become a couple.

Character developments

• Zhu Bafu becomes more honest about her feelings and her embarrassment. Though she still sets a boundary around physical intimacy, she makes clear that she cares for the Young Master and does not want him to misunderstand her.
• The Young Master reveals how deeply he fears being rejected or replaced by his former, more mature self. Her explanation reassures him, and he responds with intense relief and affection.
• The Emperor shows his perceptiveness and playful interest, quickly recognizing the new romance.

Significant themes

• Affection and vulnerability: Both characters struggle to express their feelings, but honest reassurance brings them closer.
• Consent and boundaries: Zhu Bafu welcomes the Young Master’s affection while clearly stating what she is not ready to do.
• Identity and acceptance: The Young Master fears that Zhu Bafu might prefer another version of him, but she accepts the person he is now.
• Public versus private intimacy: Zhu Bafu’s concern about being seen contrasts with the Young Master’s urgency to express his feelings.

Character interactions

• Zhu Bafu and the Young Master move from misunderstanding to mutual reassurance and a more openly accepted romance.
• The emperor playfully confronts Zhu Bafu about her relationship with Xiaojing, teasing her for being unable to hide her happiness.

Key plot points

• Zhu Bafu admits that she loves the Young Master and intends to cherish him while she can, despite fearing he may regain his memories and return to his former self, Grand Secretary Li. The Emperor warns that this could mean losing him, but promises to comfort her if she is hurt.
• Bafu challenges the Emperor about her appointment as Minister of Works. He says he wants to make her “one of his people,” then draws her onto his lap and examines her face.
• He discovers the criminal’s vermilion mark on her chin and identifies her as Zhu Bafu, a descendant of the convicted Lord Zhu. He accuses her of hiding her identity, entering the capital and Dongxu Mansion under false pretenses, and approaching both the Young Master and the Emperor as part of a plan.
• Bafu admits to concealing her identity and disrespecting the Emperor, but insists she never used the Young Master to get close to him. The Emperor asks what she thinks of the charge he imposed on her father.

Character developments

• Zhu Bafu openly acknowledges her love and accepts the risk that the Young Master may eventually forget her. Her earlier bashfulness gives way to fear and defensiveness when the Emperor exposes her identity.
• The Emperor shifts sharply from teasing, affectionate concern to icy suspicion once he sees Bafu’s mark. His interest in her motives becomes a direct interrogation.
• The Young Master remains absent from the scene, but his possible recovery of memory hangs over Bafu’s confession and shapes her urgency.

Significant themes

• Love under uncertainty: Bafu chooses to be with the Young Master despite knowing their relationship may not last.
• Identity and concealment: Her male disguise and hidden family background are exposed, raising questions about whether her actions were innocent or calculated.
• Power and intimacy: The Emperor’s playful physical closeness turns into a means of inspection and control, underscoring the imbalance between them.
• Loyalty and judgment: Bafu must answer for her family’s conviction and for the Emperor’s suspicion that she has been manipulating those around him.

Character interactions

• Bafu and the Emperor begin with teasing discussion of her feelings for the Young Master; he both warns her and offers comfort.
• Their conversation turns into an intimate but coercive examination when the Emperor forces Bafu onto his lap to inspect her chin.
• After identifying her, the Emperor confronts her with accusations. Bafu accepts some charges but firmly denies using the Young Master as a route to the throne.

Chapter 41 Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• The Emperor confronts Zhu Bafu about her motives, asking whether she is trying to use Xiaojing to gain influence and overturn her father’s unjust case.
• He mockingly suggests that she could win his favor through intimacy, comparing her to Rongrong. Zhu Bafu is angered by the insult and firmly denies seeking political advancement or her father’s rehabilitation.
• Zhu Bafu explains that her only goal is to earn money as the Son of Heaven’s Disciple so her exiled father can live more comfortably. She also defends her relationship with Xiaojing, insisting that Young Master’s affairs should not be dragged into her family’s troubles.
• The Emperor teases her about being protective of Xiaojing and about their romantic dynamic, treating the exchange playfully until Zhu Bafu objects.
• He then seriously asks what she would do if he intended to overturn her father’s case. Taking her hand and pressing it to his chest, he reveals that he needs her help.
• The Emperor abandons his frivolous façade and admits that he wants to rule personally rather than hide behind documents, seals, and a carefully maintained image of cowardice.
• He declares that he trusts Zhu Bafu—alongside Xiaojing—as one of the few people he is willing to rely on. He wants to defend loyal and righteous ministers who previously supported him and reclaim his authority as Emperor.

Character Developments

• Zhu Bafu: Demonstrates strong loyalty to Xiaojing and refuses to let the Emperor manipulate or insult him. Though she claims to have no political ambitions, her sharp replies and moral independence show that she is not easily controlled. Her shock and hesitation when the Emperor requests her help reveal how seriously she takes his trust and authority.
• The Emperor: Moves from playful provocation to genuine vulnerability and determination. He admits that his frivolous behavior is a disguise and confesses his desire to become an active, decisive ruler. His trust in Zhu Bafu marks a significant shift from his former unwillingness to rely on anyone except Xiaojing.
• Xiaojing: Though absent, he remains central to the discussion. Zhu Bafu’s protectiveness toward him reinforces their emotional bond, while the Emperor identifies him as one of his most important and trusted people.
• Rongrong: Mentioned as someone who previously tried to gain the Emperor’s favor through intimacy, providing a contrast to Zhu Bafu’s refusal to do so.

Significant Themes

• Trust and political alliance: The Emperor’s request shows that personal trust is becoming the foundation of a new political partnership.
• Masks versus identity: The Emperor’s frivolous persona is revealed as a protective mask concealing fear, frustration, and a genuine desire to govern.
• Loyalty and integrity: Zhu Bafu refuses to flatter the Emperor or exploit Xiaojing, while the Emperor seeks allies who will speak and act sincerely rather than simply obey.
• Power and agency: The Emperor wants to stop being a passive figurehead and personally defend those who supported him.
• Love, teasing, and emotional tension: The playful exchanges about Zhu Bafu and Xiaojing hint at romantic and sexual tension while also showing Zhu Bafu’s deep protectiveness.

Character Interactions

• The Emperor repeatedly teases and tests Zhu Bafu, probing whether she is motivated by love, ambition, or filial loyalty.
• Zhu Bafu responds with sarcasm and defiance, refusing to let him use Xiaojing or her father as leverage.
• Their interaction shifts dramatically when the Emperor physically takes her hand and sincerely asks for her assistance. His confession of trust creates a more serious and intimate bond between them.
• The chapter ends with the Emperor inviting Zhu Bafu into his political struggle, setting up her possible involvement in restoring his authority and revisiting her father’s case.

Chapter Summary

Plot points and events

The emperor gives Zhu Bafu the black jade seal of the Ministry of Works and asks her to trust him, promising to restore justice to the Zhu Household. She is visibly tempted, recalling her family’s hardships and her original reasons for entering Dongxu Mansion. Before she can answer, Li Chenjing bursts into the room and sees her sitting on the emperor’s lap in an intimate-looking position. The emperor deliberately teases him, claiming they were merely chatting and emphasizing that their clothes remain on.
Embarrassed and furious, Zhu tries to explain, but Li carries her away over his shoulder despite her protests. The emperor remains behind, amused by Li’s jealousy. At the Prime Minister’s residence, Li takes Zhu to his room, locks the door, and pins her to the bed. He declares that he will “hold” her even if she refuses, then begins forcibly tearing open her clothing and biting her shoulder, revealing the dangerous intensity of his jealousy and possessiveness.

Character developments

• Zhu Bafu is placed under immense political and personal pressure. The emperor’s offer appeals to her desire for justice, but she is interrupted before making a decision. Her embarrassment and resistance also highlight her vulnerable position between powerful men.
• The emperor proves manipulative and mischievous, using physical closeness with Zhu to provoke Li. He treats Li’s jealousy as entertaining and appears confident that he can control the situation.
• Li Chenjing reveals a previously suppressed possessiveness. His normally controlled demeanor breaks when he sees Zhu with the emperor, leading him to act impulsively and aggressively.
• The emperor’s imperial noble concubine serves as a comic observer, while the emperor imagines how amusing Li’s jealousy would be to others.

Character interactions

The central conflict is a tense triangle between Zhu, the emperor, and Li Chenjing. The emperor frames his interaction with Zhu as innocent while intentionally making it appear scandalous. Zhu attempts to defend herself, but both men speak over or control her: the emperor through teasing and manipulation, and Li through physical force. Their rivalry is expressed through jealousy, taunts, and competing claims over Zhu.

Significant themes

The chapter explores political temptation, as Zhu must weigh the emperor’s promise of justice against the risks of trusting him; jealousy and possessiveness, shown through Li’s sudden loss of control; and power imbalance and lack of agency, since Zhu’s choices are repeatedly overshadowed by powerful men who physically or politically dominate her. The contrast between the emperor’s playful manipulation and Li’s threatening intensity creates a darker undercurrent beneath the comedic misunderstanding.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Li Chenjing confronts Zhu Bafu after seeing her with the emperor, becoming jealous and accusing her of using him to regain access to her former emperor.
• His possessive anger escalates into a physical confrontation. Zhu Bafu slaps him and decisively ends their relationship, declaring that they are “through.”
• She leaves the room in tears, convinced that Li Chenjing’s affection was never truly meant for her and that his heart still belongs to Liu Rongrong.
• Outside, she runs into the emperor, who admits that he intentionally manipulated the situation by hinting at Liu Rongrong’s history with Li Chenjing.
• Zhu Bafu angrily accuses the emperor of treating her like Liu Rongrong and of allowing her to misunderstand Li Chenjing’s feelings. She returns the official seal and rejects her position serving the emperor.
• The emperor unexpectedly embraces her and explains that he wanted her to recognize the true nature of her relationship with Li Chenjing before becoming too emotionally involved. However, he admits that this reasoning may only have been an excuse because he wanted to comfort her.

Character Developments

• Li Chenjing: His intense jealousy exposes his emotional vulnerability and fear of abandonment. He believes Zhu Bafu has used and discarded him, but his accusations reveal how deeply attached he is to her.
• Zhu Bafu: She moves from confusion and emotional defensiveness to openly rejecting the relationship. Her heartbreak stems from believing that Li Chenjing’s feelings are directed toward Liu Rongrong rather than herself. She also shows new independence by returning the emperor’s seal and refusing her assigned role.
• The Emperor: He is revealed as deliberately manipulative but not entirely cold-hearted. Although he engineered the misunderstanding to protect Zhu Bafu from becoming too invested in Li Chenjing, he also admits personal concern and a desire to comfort her.

Significant Themes

• Misunderstanding and mistaken identity: Zhu Bafu fears that Li Chenjing has confused her with Liu Rongrong, while Li Chenjing believes Zhu Bafu has mistaken him for someone useful only because of his memories.
• Jealousy and emotional insecurity: Li Chenjing’s possessiveness and Zhu Bafu’s fear of being second choice drive the chapter’s conflict.
• Love versus usefulness: Both characters question whether their relationship is based on genuine affection or practical value.
• Manipulation disguised as protection: The emperor interferes in their relationship, claiming it is for Zhu Bafu’s benefit, while acknowledging that his actions are also motivated by personal feelings.
• Emotional honesty: Despite the conflict, the characters begin confronting feelings they had previously concealed.

Character Interactions

• Li Chenjing and Zhu Bafu have a heated confrontation that ends with her slapping him and breaking off their relationship.
• Zhu Bafu confronts the emperor, accusing him of deliberately deceiving and humiliating her.
• The emperor responds by physically comforting her and confessing that, although he manipulated events intentionally, he may have done so partly because he cared about her pain.

Chapter 42 Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• The chapter shifts into a humorous “extra” set several years after the main events, focusing on the next generation of the Zhu family.
• Six-year-old Zhu Furu recites a sentimental classical poem while her father, the young master, struggles to care for their infant son, Zhu Xiaojiu.
• Her father bribes her with sweet rice cakes so she will finish reciting the poem, but she improvises the final lines into a comic declaration about food and candy.
• Furu introduces her family:
  • Her father is a minor Ministry of Rites clerk and a handsome but impractical scholar.
  • Her baby brother is the heir to the Zhu household.
  • Her mother, Madame Zhu, has disappeared after leaving home.
• Furu explains her parents’ unconventional love story. Her mother ran away with her father after being influenced by romantic novels, while her father later pursued an official career in a similarly romance-inspired fashion.
• Their marriage initially appeared devoted and happy, with both parents shaping Furu according to their ideals of romantic love.
• However, the rise in popularity of male-male romance stories causes Madame Zhu to suspect that her husband has romantic connections with the Prime Minister and a powerful general.
• After repeated suspicious incidents—her husband staying overnight in the palace, winning the Prime Minister’s favor, and being carried home by male colleagues—Madame Zhu leaves behind a resentful letter and disappears.
• Furu bluntly interprets the letter as meaning that her mother does not object to her father liking men so much as she objects to him taking the submissive role.
• Her father is emotionally devastated and embarrassed, while Furu innocently asks whether he truly has no relationship with the handsome Prime Minister or the formidable general.

Character Developments

• Zhu Furu: Clever, observant, mischievous, and unusually perceptive for her age. She analyzes her parents’ marriage with adult-like cynicism and treats their romantic troubles as entertainment. Her appetite and irreverent sense of humor are emphasized.
• The young master/Furu’s father: Now a married father and minor official, he remains scholarly, handsome, emotionally dramatic, and somewhat helpless in domestic matters. His role as a devoted but flustered father contrasts with his romantic and literary image.
• Madame Zhu/Furu’s mother: Though absent from the chapter’s present events, she is portrayed as passionate, imaginative, and heavily influenced by fiction. Her idealized view of romance collapses when she suspects her husband may be involved in male-male relationships.
• Zhu Xiaojiu: The infant son and household heir, primarily serving as part of the comic domestic setting.
• The Prime Minister and General: They do not appear directly, but their supposed connection to Furu’s father fuels Madame Zhu’s jealousy and departure.

Significant Themes

• The absurdity of romantic ideals: The parents’ lives are shaped by the tropes and expectations of popular romance fiction, which ultimately distort their understanding of one another.
• True love versus social convention: The narration jokingly questions whether arranged marriages might be less emotionally destructive than passionate “true-love” marriages.
• Jealousy and insecurity: Madame Zhu’s fears arise from her suspicion that her husband’s emotional or romantic world includes other men.
• The gap between adult romance and a child’s perspective: Furu interprets complicated marital tensions with blunt, literal logic, turning emotional tragedy into comedy.
• Gender and romantic-role satire: The chapter playfully mocks conventional ideas about male and female roles in both heterosexual and male-male romance narratives.
• Family and domestic comedy: Parenting, food, poetry lessons, and marital conflict are combined into a lighthearted portrait of an unconventional household.

Character Interactions

• The father attempts to teach Furu poetry while simultaneously soothing and feeding the baby, creating a chaotic father-daughter-and-son scene.
• Furu cooperates with her father only because he promises her sweets, revealing their playful but transactional relationship.
• Her father tries to instill literary refinement, while Furu undercuts the lesson with food-related improvisation.
• Furu’s commentary exposes the tension between her absent mother and emotionally wounded father.
• When Furu explains the insulting implication of her mother’s farewell letter, her father is humiliated and devastated.
• The chapter ends with Furu innocently interrogating her father about his alleged relationships with the Prime Minister and General, leaving him unable to respond comfortably.

Plot points and events

• Zhu Furu’s afternoon dream imagines her father trying to win back her absent mother with a love poem. Furu misunderstands the poem, while her mother interprets it as proof that her husband is still entangled with powerful men and mocks her as an “old wife.”
• The dream ends with Furu pleading for her mother to stay and finish a romance novel. She wakes suddenly while dozing in a tree and falls.
• A handsome young man catches her fall, but instead of comforting her, he roughly tosses her aside and tells her to stay quiet because she is in trouble.
• Furu realizes his concern was for someone else: Xiaojing, who is lying beneath the tree. The young man anxiously tends to Xiaojing, who confirms that she is unharmed.

Character developments

• Dream-Furu is precocious, meddlesome, and convinced that romantic-story conventions should guide real life. Her confidence is undercut by her family’s comic misunderstandings.
• Her father appears overwhelmed by domestic duties in his wife’s absence, but still longs for her and hopes to reconcile.
• The young gentleman shifts abruptly from apparent concern for Furu to cold indifference, revealing that his tenderness is reserved for Xiaojing.
• Xiaojing remains composed despite the commotion, calmly assuring him that she is fine.

Significant themes

• Romance versus reality: Furu expects a storybook rescue and instant devotion, but instead gets thrown aside.
• Miscommunication: The parents’ conflict grows from Furu’s badly chosen poem and her mother’s imaginative, suspicious reading of it.
• Comic reversals: Furu’s dream logic and romantic expectations are repeatedly overturned.
• Affection and jealousy: The parents’ separation and the young man’s intense concern for Xiaojing both center on complicated romantic attachments.

Character interactions

• Furu teases her father about pursuing his own happiness and later tries to persuade her mother to return by reciting his poem.
• Her mother rejects the poem’s romantic meaning and angrily interprets its imagery as criticism and evidence of her husband’s infidelity.
• After Furu falls, the young man briefly takes her hand, then dismisses her and turns his attention to Xiaojing, whose safety clearly matters most to him.

Key events

• Zhu Furu falls from a tree onto the white-robed Xiaojing, injuring him only slightly. The young nobleman accompanying him—later identified as a prince or emperor—threatens to punish Zhu and even orders his attendants to dress her as a man so he can beat her.
• Xiaojing intervenes, saying he is unharmed and asking the young master to leave Zhu alone. Zhu then realizes Xiaojing is a man and that the two men share a close, romantic-seeming relationship.
• Convinced that men like them ruined her family and drove her mother away, Zhu angrily denounces them and runs off.
• After she leaves, the young master teases Xiaojing about Zhu, suggesting she may be the childhood sweetheart Xiaojing admires and recognizing a love poem she recited in her sleep. Xiaojing denies knowing her.
• The young master jokes about selecting imperial concubines and says he wants Xiaojing to replace his father as prime minister, giving him greater influence over court and the ruler’s private life.

Character developments and interactions

• Zhu Furu shifts from fearfully trying to appease the young master to indignation once she mistakes the men’s closeness for the kind of romance she resents. Her comic, novel-inspired expectations shape her interpretation of events.
• The young master is swaggering and threatening toward Zhu, but playful and familiar with Xiaojing. He teases Xiaojing about having feelings for Zhu and discusses his future concubines with irreverence.
• Xiaojing remains composed and restrained, protecting Zhu from punishment while neither confirming nor denying the young master’s teasing.
• The exchange between the young master and Xiaojing suggests a close bond, with teasing familiarity on one side and calm distance on the other.

Significant themes

• Comic misunderstandings: Zhu misreads the men’s relationship and projects her own assumptions onto them.
• Romance and expectation: Zhu’s belief in storybook “destined” love is undercut by the awkward reality of her encounter.
• Gender and power: The young master uses his status to threaten Zhu, while his plans for concubines and Xiaojing’s possible political advancement reveal the ruler’s personal life and state affairs becoming entangled.
• Personal resentment: Zhu’s anger at the men reflects her unresolved feelings about her absent mother and the family upheaval she attributes to male romance.

Key plot points and events

• The newly enthroned emperor confronts Li Chenjing (“Xiaojing”) over the court’s expectations that he marry and produce heirs. He says he must fulfill his duty to Prime Minister Li, whose influence helped secure his throne.
• Li Chenjing rejects the idea that their intimacy is merely political, then punches the emperor and openly declares that their relationship is built on power struggles. He challenges the emperor to execute him, arguing that his death would end his father’s family line.
• The emperor dismisses the guards and embraces Li Chenjing, admitting he trusts him above everyone else. Li Chenjing promises not to betray that trust.
• In spring of Tianjuan Year 2, the emperor orders a selection of official families’ daughters as potential consorts. Portraits flood the palace.
• The emperor teases Li Chenjing with a portrait he claims is of Liu Rongrong, whom he assumes Li favors. It turns out to be a portrait of Zhu Cong’s daughter, shown asleep and disheveled. The emperor calls her his “Mother” and says he prefers her natural appearance to Liu Rongrong’s idealized beauty.

Character developments

• The emperor shifts from teasing and politically guarded to openly affirming his trust in Li Chenjing. Though he acknowledges the pressures of rule and succession, he resists the court’s polished expectations in choosing a consort.
• Li Chenjing reveals a fierce, volatile side beneath his composed manner. He refuses to be treated as a pawn or a convenient political companion, but ultimately accepts the emperor’s pledge of trust.
• Zhu Cong’s daughter is introduced indirectly through an unconventional portrait. Her unrefined, sleeping appearance contrasts with the carefully posed portraits of the other candidates.

Significant themes

• Power versus intimacy: The emperor and Li Chenjing’s closeness is entangled with court politics, suspicion, and unequal authority.
• Trust and loyalty: Li Chenjing demands genuine trust, and the emperor’s declaration marks a turning point in their relationship.
• Duty and personal desire: The emperor’s need for heirs conflicts with his wish to retain personal freedom and choose for himself.
• Authenticity versus idealization: The emperor mocks the highly perfected portraits and favors the candid, imperfect image of Zhu Cong’s daughter.

Character interactions

• The emperor and Li Chenjing move from sharp political sparring to physical confrontation, then to an emotionally charged embrace and renewed pledge of loyalty.
• Later, the emperor provokes Li Chenjing by claiming to favor the woman Li supposedly likes, then reveals the portrait is someone else. Their banter exposes the emperor’s playful nature and Li Chenjing’s suspicion of his games.

Key plot points and events

• Li Chenjing thanks the Emperor for honoring the trust between them: despite pressure from the powerful Liu family and a bribed portrait, the Emperor will not summon Rongrong to the palace.
• The Emperor becomes intrigued by Zhu Rongrong’s unusual portrait-album verse. He imagines she wrote it to challenge him to compose a matching line, and decides to visit her for inspiration.
• At home, Rongrong vents about ranking near the bottom of the imperial concubine selection. Her five-year-old brother, Zhu Xiaojiu, bluntly reminds her that she stayed up reading a novel, arrived with dark circles, and performed poorly.
• Rongrong writes a deliberately grandiose, comic poem about her supposedly extraordinary prospects. The poem is posted on the household’s back door, where the Emperor and Li Chenjing find it.
• The Emperor laughs at her verse and tries to climb the wall to see Rongrong without her “panda eyes.” Li Chenjing points out that the selection edict has already been issued, and the Emperor remembers he delegated the choices to Prime Minister Li.

Character developments

• The Emperor shows that he values his trust with Li Chenjing over powerful families’ demands. He is also playful and curious, though his visit is constrained by the formal selection decision.
• Li Chenjing remains a steady, knowing presence, accustomed to the Emperor’s eccentric self-talk and grounding him in practical realities.
• Zhu Rongrong is proud, dramatic, and sensitive about her poor ranking, but also witty and capable of turning her disappointment into comic self-expression.
• Zhu Xiaojiu is precocious and sharp-tongued. He teases his sister while offering a straightforward explanation for her failure.

Significant themes

• Trust and loyalty: The Emperor refuses to compromise his bond with Li Chenjing for political pressure.
• Appearance, merit, and fairness: The selection favors appearance and conduct, while Rongrong believes her literary abilities deserved a better ranking; Xiaojiu counters that her own choices affected her results.
• Humor and self-image: Rongrong’s mock-heroic poem turns humiliation into a joke, while the Emperor’s delight in it complicates his initial assumptions about her.

Character interactions

• The Emperor and Li Chenjing share a warm, candid exchange about trust, then banter over Rongrong’s verse and the Emperor’s plan to visit her.
• Rongrong and Xiaojiu argue in a teasing sibling dynamic: she protests her unfair treatment, while he punctures her excuses.
• When the Emperor and Li encounter Rongrong’s posted poem, the Emperor admires its humor and attempts to see its author, but Li reminds him that the selection process has formally concluded.

Key plot points

• The side story concludes with Emperor Wen Xuan asking why Zhu Furu was rejected from the consort selection. Li Chenjing explains that her family lacks sufficient rank and influence. The emperor accepts that, for now, she is not a suitable match for him.
• Zhu Furu finds her returned portrait album and complains about her low ranking and unflattering portrait. She assumes the emperor never noticed the literary riddle she left for him.
• Her companion, Zhu Xiaojiu, points out that someone has answered it. The emperor’s verse responds with restrained regret, suggesting that although he has come to know her, he cannot choose her under present circumstances. Furu is moved and wonders whether they might meet again.
• The main chapter opens on a punishingly hot day. Zhu Bafu, unable to return the Works seal to the emperor at the right time, remains at a construction site moving bricks. As she works, painful mishaps remind her of the person she has lost.

Character developments and interactions

• The emperor reveals a more thoughtful, vulnerable side through his poetic reply: political and social constraints prevent him from pursuing Furu, despite an apparent interest.
• Zhu Furu shifts from joking dismissal to quiet emotional curiosity. She recognizes the feeling in the emperor’s words and hopes for a future meeting.
• Li Chenjing acts as a candid adviser, explaining the political reasons for Furu’s rejection and later offering to complete the emperor’s verse.
• Zhu Xiaojiu teases Furu and reveals the answer hidden in her portrait album.
• Zhu Bafu begins the new chapter burdened by the Works seal and grieving her separation from Young Master. Her physical labor and injuries underscore her isolation.

Significant themes

• Love constrained by status and duty: The emperor’s interest cannot overcome court politics and family rank.
• Longing and missed connections: The answered riddle creates a brief, intimate exchange between people who have not truly met.
• Literary compatibility: Furu’s test reflects her desire for a partner who shares her intellectual and artistic interests.
• Grief and absence: Bafu’s laboring body and memories of Young Master show how profoundly his absence affects her.

Chapter Summary

Key plot points and events

• Zhu Bafu reflects bitterly on her failed attempt to end her relationship with the Young Master. Although she chose to break things off out of fear and self-protection, she secretly hoped he would refuse to abandon her. She now condemns herself as cowardly and realizes that her wishful expectations have failed.
• While working physically to sort or move materials, Zhu is approached by Long Ang, Minister of Rites.
• Long Ang appears as an exceptionally beautiful, feminine woman, leaving Zhu shocked when he reveals himself to be a cross-dressing man. Zhu is amused and bewildered by the eccentricity of the Six Ministries, whose officials all seem unusual in some way.
• Long Ang presents Zhu with a huge collection of documents and classics salvaged from the Library Pavilion fire. He orders her to organize them into volumes and compile an index, effectively assigning her an overwhelming administrative task.
• When Zhu protests that the work cannot be finished quickly, Long Ang sarcastically reminds her of her supposedly exceptional talent and the Emperor’s confidence in her.
• Long Ang then reveals the real reason for his hostility: Zhu has mistreated “Xiaojing,” presumably the Young Master. He warns her not to approach or toy with Xiaojing again, threatening harsher consequences if she does.

Character developments

• Zhu Bafu: Her outward position has risen after gaining the Emperor’s favor and entering the Six Ministries, but emotionally she is insecure and self-reproachful. She recognizes that her decision to end the relationship was motivated by fear of abandonment. She is also inexperienced in her new official responsibilities and easily overwhelmed by Long Ang’s assignment.
• Long Ang: He is introduced as a flamboyant, cross-dressing Minister of Rites who combines elegance, beauty, sarcasm, and intimidation. Beneath his graceful appearance, he is fiercely protective of Xiaojing and openly hostile toward Zhu because of her treatment of him.
• Xiaojing/Young Master: Though absent from the scene, his emotional importance is central. His apparent withdrawal has wounded Zhu, while Long Ang’s defense of him shows that he has allies who care deeply about him.

Significant themes

• Fear and self-protection: Zhu’s attempt to end the relationship illustrates how fear of being hurt can lead someone to reject what they actually want.
• Regret and emotional consequence: Her self-criticism shows that avoiding vulnerability has not protected her from pain; instead, it has left her feeling abandoned.
• Power and status: Zhu’s promotion gives her authority but does not guarantee competence or acceptance. Long Ang uses her official position and the Emperor’s favor to impose responsibility while warning her not to become arrogant.
• Appearance versus reality: Long Ang’s feminine appearance contrasts with his identity as a male minister, reinforcing the chapter’s playful treatment of gender presentation and the unreliability of outward appearances.
• Loyalty and protection: Long Ang’s anger demonstrates the loyalty surrounding Xiaojing and establishes that Zhu’s actions have affected not only the couple but also their wider circle.

Character interactions

• Zhu and Long Ang’s first meeting is marked by Zhu’s shock at his appearance and identity.
• Their conversation quickly becomes adversarial: Long Ang assigns Zhu an enormous workload, mocks her interruptions and supposed abilities, and deliberately makes her uncomfortable.
• The conflict shifts from bureaucratic pressure to personal confrontation when Long Ang accuses Zhu of “playing with Xiaojing.”
• Long Ang physically forces Zhu to meet his gaze with his fan, emphasizing his dominance and making his warning unmistakable: she must not use her connection to the Emperor or position in the Six Ministries to approach Xiaojing again.

Key plot points and events

• Long Ang shreds a book to shower its pages over a woman, then watches Li Chenjing make her work through the night organizing books. Long Ang urges Li to stop being lenient and drive the woman out of Dongxu Mansion, warning that she is calculating and may be pursuing the Emperor. Li tells him to stop meddling.
• A military party reaches the outskirts of the capital. The commander asks the general’s wife whether they should enter, but she insists they wait for permission from her father, the Prime Minister, to avoid appearing rebellious. She also asks that a messenger contact Long Yang, whose closeness to the Emperor may help them gain entry.
• Exhausted Zhu Bafu wakes to find the Emperor beside her. She panics that her disguise as a man might have been exposed, but it remains intact.
• The Emperor teases her about her shabby lodgings and jokes that her poverty proves she is incorruptible. Zhu counters that she would gladly accept wealth and would rather not be an official at all. The Emperor insists he has shown sincerity by visiting her repeatedly; Zhu sees his behavior as arrogant and overbearing.

Character developments

• Li Chenjing is tense and protective, but his reluctance to act decisively frustrates Long Ang.
• Long Ang is openly suspicious of the woman at Dongxu Mansion and claims she has designs on the Emperor.
• The general’s wife is cautious and politically astute, carefully following court protocol while seeking help through her connection to Long Yang.
• Zhu Bafu remains exhausted, irreverent, and unwilling to serve as Minister of Works, while continuing to protect her male disguise.
• The Emperor uses teasing and flattery to press his authority and keep Zhu in his service.

Significant themes

• Power and political suspicion: Personal relationships and court access are viewed through the lens of ambition and intrigue.
• Duty versus personal desire: Zhu resents being forced into government service, while the military party must navigate rules before reaching the capital.
• Gender disguise and vulnerability: Zhu’s fear of discovery shapes her reaction to the Emperor’s unexpected visit.
• Class and corruption: The Emperor jokes that Zhu’s poverty reflects integrity; Zhu openly admits she would welcome wealth.

Character interactions

• Long Ang criticizes Li Chenjing’s leniency and tries to influence how he treats the woman under his watch.
• The general’s wife calmly explains entry protocol to her commander and directs him to seek Long Yang’s assistance.
• Zhu and the Emperor trade sarcastic remarks: he mocks her living conditions and calls her incorruptible, while she rejects his praise and challenges his authority.

1. Key plot points and events

• The emperor claims he is taking Zhu Bafu to Dongxu Mansion for official business, though she suspects his motives.
• When Zhu’s hair comes loose, the emperor notices her feminine scent and compliments her appearance with her hair down. She invents an excuse about spilled rouge, then escapes to retie her hair.
• At Dongxu Mansion, Zhu learns that the twice-monthly meetings let ministers discuss imperial students and recommend candidates for office. Though the students have not yet entered government, powerful families’ sons can attend and influence decisions.
• Nervous that she will reveal herself as a woman or fail to behave like a politician, Zhu hesitates outside the meeting hall. The emperor pulls her in and introduces her as his new favorite and Minister of Works.
• Before the emperor can finish, a book strikes Zhu in the face. Minister of Revenue Nian Youyu accuses her of embezzlement and bribery. The Ministers of Rites and Military also mock her as an undeserving, lowborn newcomer.

2. Character developments

• Zhu Bafu grows increasingly anxious about maintaining her disguise and handling the political role forced upon her. Her fear quickly turns to indignation when she is attacked and accused of corruption.
• The emperor shows growing personal interest in Zhu: he handles her hair, savors her scent, and makes a suggestive remark. He also presents himself as her protector, though his grand introduction does little to shield her from the ministers.
• Nian Youyu appears openly hostile, accusing Zhu of corruption and striking her with a book, despite his connection to her family.
• The Ministers of Rites and Military establish themselves as disdainful rivals who judge Zhu by her status and background.

3. Significant themes

• Disguise and identity: Zhu’s feminine appearance and manner threaten to expose her male persona.
• Power and patronage: The emperor’s favor gets Zhu into the political arena, but does not automatically earn her respect or protection.
• Class prejudice and political rivalry: Powerful ministers belittle Zhu as a lowborn outsider and challenge her legitimacy.
• Gender and desire: The emperor’s attention blurs official and personal boundaries, while Zhu’s femininity makes her position more precarious.

4. Character interactions

• The emperor teases and flirts with Zhu over her scent and loose hair; Zhu responds with excuses, embarrassment, and retreat.
• The emperor physically ushers Zhu into the meeting and publicly declares her favored, prompting an immediate hostile reaction.
• Nian Youyu attacks Zhu verbally and physically; the Ministers of Rites and Military reinforce the hostility with class-based insults, leaving Zhu facing a political confrontation from the moment she arrives.

Plot points and events

• At a council meeting, Minister Nian Youyu accuses Zhu Bafu, the new Minister of Works, of embezzling money meant to rebuild the Library Pavilion. He presents a ledger showing costs far above market prices.
• Zhu denies taking the money and asks the Emperor to judge fairly. The Emperor immediately says he believes her, provoking Nian and Minister of Rites Long Ang, who accuse him of favoritism.
• Long proposes that the Minister of Punishments investigate. The Emperor responds sarcastically with an even harsher alternative, then makes clear he cannot bear to punish Zhu.
• To defend his trust, the Emperor describes Zhu’s modest living conditions and her history of refusing rewards and office. Longyang counters that poverty could be a motive for theft and brings up Zhu’s past connection to Grand Secretary Li Chenjing.
• Zhu reflects that Li’s feelings still belong to Liu Rongrong, and that she should not exploit his confusion or deepen his hurt.
• Rather than deny the irregular accounts, Zhu admits that she failed to check the prices submitted by her subordinates. Though she says she did not steal, she accepts responsibility and asks the court to decide her punishment.

Character developments and interactions

• Zhu Bafu shows integrity and composure: she acknowledges her oversight instead of hiding behind the Emperor’s protection. She also resolves not to take advantage of Li’s altered memories or feelings.
• The Emperor openly and unwaveringly trusts Zhu, defending her against the ministers’ accusations, though his support risks appearing biased.
• Nian Youyu and Long Ang challenge the Emperor’s judgment and push for an investigation, intensifying the political tension.
• Longyang attacks Zhu’s credibility and uses her history with Li to provoke and embarrass her.
• Li Chenjing remains largely silent. His presence and Longyang’s remarks make Zhu confront the pain and confusion surrounding their past.

Significant themes

• Justice versus favoritism: The Emperor’s personal trust in Zhu clashes with the ministers’ demand for evidence-based accountability.
• Responsibility and integrity: Zhu distinguishes between theft and negligence but accepts responsibility for failing to supervise the accounts.
• Trust, memory, and emotion: Zhu believes Li’s underlying feelings remain unchanged despite his memory loss.
• Power and public scrutiny: Zhu’s appointment places her under immediate political attack, while her humility and poverty become grounds for both defense and suspicion.

Volume Two, Chapter Three Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Zhu Bafu kneels before the officials after being accused of mishandling or embezzling Ministry of Works funds.
• Long Ang argues that Zhu should be removed from his position, expelled from Dongxu Mansion, and permanently barred from office.
• Nian Youyu analyzes the accounts and Zhu’s evidence, concluding that Zhu did not personally profit from the missing silver. Instead, corrupt subordinates likely deceived him after assuming he was incompetent and politically protected.
• Nian suspects Long Ang arranged the accusation as a trap designed to destroy Zhu and damage the Ministry of Revenue.
• Nian refuses to support Zhu’s complete ruin, insisting only that the missing money be repaid and the accounts balanced.
• Zhu is shocked when Li Chenjing, the Young Master, offers to repay the entire debt on her behalf.
• Wei Chenmu accepts this solution because it will restore the funds without harming the national treasury.
• Longyang treats the situation as amusing entertainment and argues that Zhu should not be driven away because her presence makes things more interesting.
• Long Ang looks to the Emperor for support, but the Emperor instead exchanges a cutting private remark with him, implying that Li Chenjing has gained the advantage in his pursuit of Zhu.
• Long Ang is visibly angered when the Emperor suggests that being first does not guarantee victory.

Character Developments

• Zhu Bafu: Her innocence is effectively established, but she becomes distressed at being forced into yet another debt—especially to Li Chenjing. Her instinct is to avoid emotional and personal entanglement with him.
• Nian Youyu: Demonstrates his commitment to financial truth rather than factional politics. Although he recognizes Zhu’s integrity and suspects Long Ang’s manipulation, he limits his intervention to ensuring the accounts are corrected.
• Long Ang: Revealed as a calculating and ruthless political opponent. His apparent gentleness masks a desire to eliminate Zhu completely, and his composure begins to crack when the Emperor challenges him.
• Li Chenjing: Takes advantage of the crisis to reestablish a connection with Zhu. By offering to repay her debt, he deliberately creates a bond of obligation between them, despite her earlier attempt to separate herself from him.
• Longyang: Remains playful, observant, and entertained by the emotional and political tensions around Zhu.
• The Emperor: Shows that he understands the rivalry surrounding Zhu and Long Ang. His teasing remark suggests confidence that he may still outmaneuver Long Ang despite acting later.
• Wei Chenmu: Functions as a practical mediator, endorsing Li Chenjing’s repayment as a legitimate resolution.

Significant Themes

• Justice versus political manipulation: The accounting evidence reveals that official investigations can be engineered to destroy rivals rather than uncover truth.
• Debt as emotional connection: Li Chenjing turns a financial obligation into a means of preserving his relationship with Zhu.
• Power struggles and rivalry: The dispute over Zhu reflects broader competition among powerful officials, the Emperor, and Li Chenjing.
• Appearances versus reality: Long Ang’s gentle appearance hides his hostility, while Zhu’s apparent incompetence conceals her honesty and resourcefulness.
• The limits of neutrality: Nian Youyu claims to care only about accurate accounts, yet his judgment protects Zhu from political destruction.

Character Interactions

• Nian Youyu and Long Ang engage in a tense, indirect confrontation over Zhu’s fate, with both understanding that the financial case is part of a larger political scheme.
• Li Chenjing and Zhu exchange a prolonged, emotionally charged gaze before he publicly offers to assume her debt. His action forces her into an unwanted but meaningful connection with him.
• Wei Chenmu validates Li Chenjing’s proposal and asks the other officials to accept it.
• Longyang encourages the matter to continue as entertainment, while Long Ang silently judges Zhu and Li Chenjing.
• The Emperor and Long Ang trade veiled, highly personal remarks. The Emperor’s suggestion that “being first” does not mean “winning first” deeply unsettles Long Ang and exposes the rivalry beneath their polite interaction.

Chapter Summary

Key plot points and events

• Longyang becomes furious when the emperor teases him, particularly over the implication that “arriving first does not necessarily mean winning.” He leaves the emperor’s presence in anger.
• A page from the Long household arrives with urgent news: Li Danxin, the prime minister’s daughter and the Young General’s Wife of Yuanzhou, has arrived outside the capital and requests permission to enter.
• The emperor recognizes the political and personal significance of Danxin’s arrival. Although Chancellor Li has not formally reported it, the emperor immediately orders that she be admitted, using Longyang as the intermediary.
• While waiting, Longyang drinks alone and reflects bitterly on his complicated history with Li Danxin.
• Danxin and Longyang unexpectedly meet. She appears plain, exhausted, and emotionally changed after marriage, creating a painful contrast with the elegant, competitive girl he remembers.
• Danxin politely thanks Longyang for helping her gain entry, referring to herself as a concubine and maintaining formal distance between them.

Character developments

• Longyang is shown as emotionally vulnerable beneath his composed, feminine appearance. His anger toward the emperor stems from jealousy, unresolved affection, and painful memories of Danxin.
• His memories reveal that he and Danxin were once close childhood companions. He admired her, supported her, and shared her dreams, but their relationship later deteriorated into rivalry and resentment.
• Li Danxin appears significantly changed. Once lively, ambitious, and concerned with beauty and recognition, she now looks subdued, unadorned, and emotionally worn down by marriage and family circumstances.
• The emperor demonstrates sharp insight into the relationships around him. He teases Longyang but also deliberately arranges Danxin’s entrance, suggesting that he may be manipulating events for his own purposes.
• Li Chenjing, Danxin’s younger brother, remains unaware of the news because he is absorbed in an intimate telepathic exchange.

Significant themes

• Unresolved love and jealousy: Longyang’s anger and bitterness reveal that his feelings for Danxin have not disappeared.
• The pain of change: Danxin’s altered appearance and formal behavior emphasize how marriage, family expectations, and social position have transformed her.
• Childhood intimacy becoming adult estrangement: Their affectionate childhood bond gradually became competition and hostility.
• Appearance versus inner emotion: Longyang maintains the outward manners of an elegant woman while suppressing anger, and Danxin’s plain appearance conceals a turmoil of feelings.
• Power and political maneuvering: The emperor uses his authority to control Danxin’s entry into the capital and appears interested in the secrets and tensions within the Li and Long households.

Character interactions

• The emperor provokes Longyang with teasing remarks, while Longyang responds with barely concealed hostility.
• The household page nervously reports Danxin’s arrival, fearful of speaking openly in the emperor’s presence.
• The emperor orders Longyang to assist Danxin, placing him directly in the path of his former companion.
• Longyang and Danxin’s reunion is restrained and formal, but their awkward silence and emotional reactions reveal the depth of their painful shared history.