Chapter Summaries

Plot and events

• Shen Shixu and four companions visit the ailing An Chengyu at the Duke’s Residence, bringing gifts. On the way, they run into Jiang Bin, who embarrasses Shen by nearly calling him “cousin-in-law.” Shen threatens to have his cousin spar with Jiang Bin, then reminds him to bring Zhang Ming over that night to collect some written study material.
• Outside An Chengyu’s room, the visitors overhear him congratulating Xiao Ruixuan on staying behind in the capital to take revenge on his father and stepmother. An Chengyu opens the door, delighted by the group’s visit.
• Xiao Ruixuan watches their warm reunion and feels envious, recalling that no one has cared for him since his mother died.
• The chapter recounts how Ruixuan has been resisting his father, Prince Changping, and the prince’s new consort. He uses his status as heir to torment the consort and her older illegitimate son, Xiao Jiping, and arranges for his friends to humiliate Jiping. Ruixuan then gets to his father first with an apparent apology, making Jiping seem petty and turning the prince against him.
• When the consort becomes pregnant, Jiping pushes her in anger, causing her to bleed. She survives, but the incident exposes Jiping’s cruelty and disrupts the family’s plans.
• Ruixuan has since slipped away from the troubled residence to confide in An Chengyu. At the gathering, he recognizes Xiao Jinyi, who has been away from the capital for years. Jinyi is surprised by how much Ruixuan has grown and asks why he was absent from the previous day’s banquet.

Character developments and interactions

• Shen Shixu responds to Jiang Bin’s teasing with mock severity, then gives him a practical task involving study materials for him and Zhang Ming.
• Jiang Bin is playful but quickly backs down when threatened with sparring against his cousin.
• An Chengyu is exuberant and welcoming, delighted that his friends have come to visit.
• Xiao Ruixuan is shown as lonely, calculating, and driven by revenge. He manipulates his father’s impressions of Jiping while using his heirship as leverage against the household.
• Xiao Jiping grows increasingly resentful and ultimately acts violently toward his pregnant mother.
• Xiao Jinyi reconnects with Ruixuan, though he knows little about the recent turmoil in Prince Changping’s family.

Significant themes

• The contrast between care and neglect is central: An Chengyu is surrounded by concerned visitors, while Ruixuan remembers a mother’s devotion and the isolation that followed her death.
• Family legitimacy, inheritance, and resentment shape the conflict at Prince Changping’s residence, especially the tension between the recognized heir and the older illegitimate son.
• Revenge and manipulation define Ruixuan’s strategy, raising the question of how far he will go to punish his father and stepfamily.
• Appearances versus reality recur in the household’s forced displays of affection and in Ruixuan’s carefully staged apologies.

Key plot points and events

• Shen Shixu, Xiao Jinyi, and several others visit An Chengyu, bringing gifts. Most bring food or drink, while Shen Shixu and Xiao Jinyi give An books, leaving An unsure how to react.
• The gossip-spirit 011 reveals that Xiao Ruixuan’s late mother was slowly poisoned by her maid, Chun Tao, who had been bribed by Prince Changping’s current wife. The stepmother also tried to poison Xiao Ruixuan, but he scarcely ate the affected food. Chun Tao fled after the princess’s death.
• Xiao Ruixuan’s maternal uncle had considered taking him in, but Xiao refused. He resented his father’s quick remarriage and believed his parents’ relationship had been betrayed, though he did not know the full truth about the poisoning.
• 011 explains that Xiao Ruixuan has covertly retaliated against his older half-brother, Xiao Jiping, while presenting himself as helpful. Prince Changping’s favor toward Jiping has waned, and the stepmother has become anxious to protect her son’s prospects.
• Jiping recently pushed his pregnant mother during a jealous outburst, causing bleeding, though the unborn baby survived. The resulting turmoil allowed Xiao Ruixuan to slip away and visit An Chengyu; remarkably, his household has not yet noticed he is missing.

Character developments and interactions

• Xiao Ruixuan is shaken by learning the truth about his mother’s murder and nearly cries. The group responds with sympathy, especially An Chengyu, who realizes how much hardship his friend has endured.
• An Chengyu quickly hides Xiao Ruixuan’s reaction when Shen Shixu notices him stand, pretending he stepped on the boy’s foot. He then helps Xiao catch his breath after accidentally covering his face too long.
• Xiao Ruixuan emerges as both a grieving, devoted son and a calculating child who has quietly maneuvered against his half-brother.
• Prince Changping is portrayed as neglectful and increasingly disillusioned with Jiping, while the current princess consort is ruthless and preoccupied with her children’s status.
• Shen Shixu privately scorns Prince Changping for focusing on Jiping’s troubles rather than noticing his heir has disappeared.

Significant themes

• Betrayal and injustice: Xiao Ruixuan’s mother was betrayed by people close to her, while her death was mistaken for illness.
• Grief and filial devotion: Xiao’s anger and desire for revenge stem from love and loyalty to his mother.
• Childhood resilience and cunning: Despite his youth and vulnerability, Xiao uses strategy to protect himself and challenge his rivals.
• Family dysfunction and neglect: The Changping household is divided by favoritism, jealousy, and concealed wrongdoing, leaving Xiao largely uncared for.

Plot points and events

• Shen Shixu decides to investigate the suspicious death of Xiao Ruixuan’s mother, despite having no formal connection to Prince Changping’s Residence. He considers inventing an anonymous accusation to gain access.
• Xiao Ruixuan asks Shen directly to investigate, explaining that his mother’s prolonged decline despite medical care, the disappearance of the maid who prepared her medicines, and the simultaneous disappearance of a servant who handled her snacks all seem suspicious.
• Shen agrees and prepares to visit the residence with Xiao Jinyi and Jiang Bin. He leaves his disciples Jiang Miaokong and Zhuo Yang behind to protect them from possible retaliation.
• At Prince Changping’s Residence, Prince Changping broods over a recent incident: his favored son, Xiao Jiping, pushed the current princess consort while she was pregnant. Although furious at first, Changping struggles to punish him because he is devoted to the boy’s mother, Liu Ru.

Character developments and interactions

• Xiao Ruixuan moves from suffering in silence to actively seeking answers about his mother’s death. He shares concrete suspicions and wants to take responsibility for investigating his own family’s history.
• Shen Shixu is eager to help and shows both moral resolve and practical concern for his companions. He agrees immediately to investigate, while shielding Jiang Miaokong and Zhuo Yang from the risks of visiting a royal household.
• Prince Changping reveals how deeply his favoritism shapes his judgment. Though he recognizes Xiao Jiping’s wrongdoing, he even thinks the situation would have been easier if Xiao Ruixuan had been responsible, since that would give him grounds to disinherit him.
• Liu Ru pleads for Xiao Jiping, framing his action as a momentary mistake, reinforcing Changping’s reluctance to hold him accountable.
• Jiang Miaokong wants to witness the investigation, but accepts Shen’s decision to keep him safe. Jiang Bin cheerfully promises to recount what happens.

Significant themes

• Parental favoritism and injustice: Changping’s attachment to Liu Ru and Xiao Jiping distorts his sense of fairness toward Xiao Ruixuan.
• Seeking truth and justice: Shen and Xiao Ruixuan treat suspicious deaths and unexplained disappearances as matters that must be investigated.
• Power and vulnerability: Even an idle prince’s status can make outsiders vulnerable to accusations, prompting Shen to manage who accompanies him.
• Family loyalty versus accountability: Changping’s affection for his son conflicts with his duty to respond to serious harm.

Plot points and events

• Prince Changping learns that his heir, Xiao Ruixuan, left the estate and has returned with Shen Shixu, Xiao Jinyi, and Jiang Bin. His steward assures him the estate’s servants have concealed the previous day’s events.
• In the main hall, Prince Changping scolds Xiao Ruixuan for leaving without permission, pretending he feared for his safety.
• Xiao Ruixuan rejects his father’s concern and accuses him of favoring his elder brother and Liu Ru. He then declares that Liu Ru is not his mother: his mother was Hu Lanxin, whom he believes Liu Ru murdered.
• Prince Changping tries to silence him and insists Hu Lanxin died of illness. Xiao Ruixuan points to suspicious details: her long decline despite medical care, and the disappearance of both her medicine-serving maid and the servant responsible for his snacks.
• Shen Shixu proposes a formal investigation. Jiang Bin argues that Hu Lanxin was a princess consort and that her death cannot be ignored. Prince Changping realizes he has little choice but to allow the inquiry.

Character developments

• Xiao Ruixuan openly breaks with his father, confronting him with what he has learned and demanding recognition of his mother’s identity and suspicious death.
• Prince Changping is exposed as emotionally invested in Liu Ru and reluctant to investigate. His confidence that the estate’s secrets are contained gives way to unease as the accusations gain public and official weight.
• Shen Shixu shifts from observer to investigator, offering his experience and using his official position to press for accountability.
• Jiang Bin supports the investigation by framing it as a matter of justice and public security, not merely a family dispute.
• Xiao Jinyi physically prevents Prince Changping from striking Xiao Ruixuan, making his support clear.

Significant themes

• Family betrayal and favoritism: Xiao Ruixuan believes his father neglected him and Hu Lanxin for Liu Ru and her children.
• Justice versus concealment: The steward’s cleanup and Prince Changping’s wish to keep the matter private contrast with the demand for a proper investigation.
• Power and accountability: The victim’s status as a princess consort—and the risk posed by a possible killer—makes the case a threat to the wider imperial family.
• Truth and evidence: Xiao Ruixuan presents suspicious circumstances, while the others insist that suspicion must be tested through an investigation.

Character interactions

• Xiao Ruixuan’s sarcastic replies turn Prince Changping’s paternal scolding into a direct confrontation.
• Prince Changping denies the murder accusation and attempts to defend Liu Ru, but Xiao Ruixuan challenges his motives and neglect.
• Xiao Jinyi intervenes when Prince Changping raises his hand against his son.
• Shen Shixu and Jiang Bin unite behind the investigation, leaving Prince Changping pressured to accept it.

Plot points and events

• Prince Changping warns Shen Shixu not to pursue the case, then rushes off to question Liu Ru and protect her if she was involved in the late consort Hu Lanxin’s death.
• Shen orders the mansion steward to gather everyone who served Hu Lanxin. Xiao Ruixuan confirms the group is complete except for Chun Tao, who has fled.
• A maid who shared a room with Chun Tao says Chun Tao came from Majia’ao, Tianshui County, and that Songshi—a servant who handled Xiao Ruixuan’s snacks—disappeared with her.
• Shen sends Jiang Bin to fetch Zhang Ming and have him lead armed men to find and bring back Chun Tao and Songshi. He provides money for the assignment, continuing his discreet support of Zhang and his family.
• Meanwhile, Prince Changping confirms Liu Ru killed Hu Lanxin. He orders a trusted subordinate to kill the two escaped witnesses, then strikes Liu Ru for acting without telling him. When he reveals that Shen Shixu and Xiao Jinyi are investigating, Liu Ru panics. Prince Changping promises to protect her and says he has already sent men after the witnesses.

Character developments and interactions

• Shen Shixu is methodical: he uses the household questioning to establish a legitimate lead before sending investigators, and quietly supports Zhang Ming without embarrassing him.
• Xiao Ruixuan helps identify his mother’s former servants and shows admiration for Xiao Jinyi’s intimidating authority.
• Xiao Jinyi needs only a cold stare to make the steward obey.
• Prince Changping reveals that protecting Liu Ru matters more to him than confronting her: his anger stems from her failing to tell him, and he acts quickly to cover up the crime.
• Liu Ru initially assumes the prince is angry because he loved Hu Lanxin, then feels reassured by his concern. Once she learns who is investigating, she becomes frightened and pleads for his protection.
• Shen’s care for Zhang Ming is shown through small, carefully disguised acts of financial and professional support.

Significant themes

• Justice versus cover-up: Shen’s investigation advances while Prince Changping tries to eliminate evidence.
• Loyalty and complicity: The prince’s devotion to Liu Ru becomes active protection of her alleged crime.
• Power and intimidation: Rank and personal authority shape how people respond, as seen in Xiao Jinyi’s effect on the steward.
• Care expressed discreetly: Shen supports Zhang Ming while preserving his dignity.

Key plot points

• Liu Ru, pregnant and newly rescued by Prince Changping, feels relieved that he has protected her, while her son Xiao Jiping has just completed a day and night of punishment in the ancestral hall.
• Xiao Jiping tries to turn Xiao Ruixuan against the unborn child, hoping Xiao Ruixuan will act recklessly and eliminate a rival for him. Xiao Ruixuan sees through the scheme.
• When Xiao Jiping insults Xiao Ruixuan’s deceased mother, Xiao Ruixuan loses his temper and beats him. Shen Shixu steps in to stop the fight.
• Xiao Jiping mistakes Shen for a servant and curses him. Xiao Jinyi arrives and slaps Xiao Jiping, then orders the steward to give him thirty more slaps for insulting and threatening members of the imperial family.
• The steward carries out the punishment. Xiao Jiping is left badly bruised, while Xiao Ruixuan and Shen Shixu are satisfied that he has been taught a lesson.

Character developments and interactions

• Xiao Ruixuan shows political insight by recognizing Xiao Jiping’s attempt to manipulate him, but his devotion to his mother makes him react violently when she is insulted.
• Xiao Jiping reveals himself as calculating and spiteful, yet his arrogance leads him to provoke powerful people without knowing who they are.
• Xiao Jinyi acts decisively to defend Shen Shixu and enforce discipline, invoking his authority as Prince Jing.
• Shen Shixu witnesses the boys’ scheming, intervenes in their fight, and welcomes Xiao Jiping’s punishment.
• The steward is caught between the household’s young master and Prince Jing, but ultimately obeys the prince’s order.

Significant themes

• Family rivalry and insecurity: The possible birth of another child intensifies competition over inheritance and parental favor.
• Manipulation versus clear judgment: Xiao Jiping tries to make Xiao Ruixuan act for his benefit, but Xiao Ruixuan recognizes the trap.
• Honor and loyalty: Xiao Ruixuan’s fierce response to insults against his mother shows how strongly he reveres her memory.
• Power and consequences: Xiao Jiping’s status and threats cannot protect him once he insults members of the imperial family.

Key plot points and events

• Xiao Jiping collapses after enduring thirty slaps. Steward Lü has him taken back to his courtyard and calls for a physician.
• As Steward Lü prepares to report the incident to Prince Changping and Liu Ru, Xiao Ruixuan stops him. He says his father should not be disturbed and reminds the steward that Xiao Jiping cannot inherit: Prince Changping was forbidden to acknowledge him, while Xiao Ruixuan’s position as heir was protected by Emperor Wu’an.
• Xiao Ruixuan asks Steward Lü to reveal what he knows about Liu Ru’s life before her marriage into the household and the servants around her.
• Investigators need to find the source of a slow-acting poison but cannot easily examine the buried princess consort’s body. Since Liu Ru is unlikely to confess, they are tracing her past through people connected to her.
• Xiao Ruixuan offers to place Steward Lü’s son in his service and help arrange a good marriage for his daughter. Steward Lü accepts the bargain and agrees to speak privately.
• Steward Lü reveals that Prince Changping arranged Liu Ru’s residence in Furong Alley before her marriage. A trusted maid besides Furong remained there; she has a large mole beside her mouth and may know important information.

Character developments and interactions

• Xiao Ruixuan acts with growing authority and political awareness. He uses both a pointed reminder of the succession rules and practical rewards to win Steward Lü’s cooperation.
• Steward Lü shifts his allegiance toward Xiao Ruixuan, even changing how he refers to Liu Ru. He weighs the benefits to his children before agreeing to help.
• Xiao Jiping is shown as physically resilient, though his collapse underscores the severity of his punishment.
• Xiao Ruixuan’s conversation with Steward Lü is shaped by the larger investigation led by Shen Shixu and others, who need evidence beyond witness testimony.

Significant themes

• Power and succession: Xiao Ruixuan’s status as heir is reinforced by the emperor’s conditions on Prince Changping’s remarriage.
• Loyalty and self-interest: Steward Lü’s allegiance follows the promise of security and advancement for his family.
• Uncovering hidden truths: With direct evidence difficult to obtain, the investigators pursue clues through servants and Liu Ru’s past.

Key plot points and events

• Steward Lü’s information confirms the location of Liu Ru’s old residence in Furong Alley. Xiao Ruixuan, Shen Shixu, and Xiao Jinyi decide to investigate, bringing Jiang Miaokong and Song Zhuoyang along.
• In the alley, Miaokong and Zhuoyang quickly identify the house by a large willow tree and confirm that a woman with a mole beside her mouth lives there.
• The group confronts Xia He, Liu Ru’s former servant. Shen Shixu identifies the party as members of the Court of Judicial Review and uses the threat of official punishment to unsettle her.
• Xia He panics and agrees to confess. Shen Shixu begins questioning her about where Liu Ru obtained the slow-acting poison used against the late Princess Consort Changping, Hu Lanxin, and how and when it was administered.

Character developments

• Xiao Ruixuan remains emotionally detached from Prince Changping, whose hostile stare reinforces Ruixuan’s disappointment in his father. He also jokes at Jiang Bin’s expense.
• Jiang Miaokong shows a protective side by stopping Jiang Bin from pinching Xiao Ruixuan and insisting that an adult should not take a child’s teasing personally.
• Xia He is revealed as fearful and easily intimidated. Liu Ru had left her behind because she considered her too foolish to be useful, but that choice may now expose Liu Ru’s crimes.

Character interactions

• The younger group’s teasing and roughhousing briefly lighten the mood before Shen Shixu redirects everyone to the investigation.
• At Xia He’s door, Shen Shixu leads the questioning while Xiao Jinyi’s cold presence adds to her fear. Xia He pleads to be spared bodily harm and offers to tell what she knows.

Significant themes

• The consequences of past choices: Liu Ru’s decision to leave Xia He behind may become the turning point that brings her down.
• Intimidation and truth: Shen Shixu deliberately uses fear and a vague accusation to prompt a confession.
• Broken family bonds: Xiao Ruixuan’s indifference to Prince Changping reflects how thoroughly their relationship has deteriorated.

Key plot points and events

• Xia He confesses that Liu Ru poisoned Hu Lanxin, the late princess consort of Prince Changping, with a slow-acting drug called Thousand-Day Fall. Liu Ru began dosing her after the birth of the young heir, counting on the princess consort’s weakened condition after a difficult labor to conceal the poison’s effects.
• Liu Ru also tried to poison the young heir through his pastries, but the attempt failed because he rarely ate them. Xia He reveals that she kept the remaining poison, which Shen Shixu’s group retrieves as evidence.
• Shen promises Xia He will be spared execution because she confessed, though she will likely spend the rest of her life in prison. She is to accompany the group to Prince Changping’s Residence to confront those involved.
• Meanwhile, Zhang Ming reaches Majia’ao to find witnesses Chun Tao and Songshi. Rather than arrest them immediately, he waits for Prince Changping’s men to come silence them, planning to rescue them and win their trust.
• Two attackers arrive at the witnesses’ home that night. Zhang Ming and his men intervene and quickly capture them.

Character developments and interactions

• Xia He shifts from terrified pleading to a full confession, providing both crucial testimony and physical evidence. She is relieved and grateful when Shen spares her life.
• Shen Shixu handles the confession pragmatically and assures Xia He of leniency, while recognizing the value of the preserved poison.
• Xiao Jinyi takes the poison himself to protect Shen, showing his concern despite Jiang Bin’s teasing.
• Jiang Bin jokes about Xiao Jinyi’s protectiveness and resists the idea of marrying soon. Jiang Miaokong points out that family and authority figures already tell him what to do, prompting laughter from Shen and Xiao Ruixuan.
• Xiao Ruixuan says he would welcome a wife who cared for him, hinting at his desire for companionship.
• Zhang Ming demonstrates strategic thinking by arranging to rescue the witnesses at the moment they are attacked. His companions praise him and hope to benefit from his rising standing under Shen’s patronage.

Significant themes

• Justice and evidence: Xia He’s confession and the recovered poison strengthen the case, while the captured attackers may expose the conspiracy further.
• Loyalty and protection: Xiao Jinyi’s care for Shen and Zhang Ming’s plan to protect the witnesses show different forms of loyalty.
• Trust through action: Zhang Ming believes rescuing the witnesses will make them more willing to cooperate.
• Companionship and care: The banter about marriage contrasts Jiang Bin’s wish for independence with Xiao Ruixuan’s openness to being cared for.

Key plot points and events

• Zhang Ming persuades Chun Tao and Songshi to return to the Capital and testify, promising them protection. They agree, hoping to expose the person who bribed them.
• Two days later, Shen Shixu arrives at Prince Changping’s Residence with the witnesses and physical evidence. Liu Ru realizes her scheme has been uncovered.
• Xia He explains that Liu Ru arranged for the late princess consort to be slowly poisoned with Thousand-Day Fall. Chun Tao admits accepting money to put poison in the woman’s medicine, while Songshi reveals Liu Ru also paid him to poison Xiao Ruixuan’s pastries—though he never succeeded.
• The hairpin and bracelet given to the servants are recognized by Prince Changping as gifts he had given Liu Ru, corroborating their testimony.
• Prince Changping stops Shen Shixu from presenting the two captured assassins, then faces the evidence against Liu Ru. She pleads for mercy, promising to care for Xiao Ruixuan and pointing to the son she has borne and the child she is expecting.
• Prince Changping asks Xiao Ruixuan to spare Liu Ru for the sake of her children. Xiao Ruixuan refuses.

Character developments and interactions

• Chun Tao and Songshi move from frightened accomplices to cooperating witnesses, driven by fear, guilt, and resentment toward Liu Ru.
• Liu Ru shifts from apparent confidence to desperation, pleading with Prince Changping and trying to use her children to secure protection.
• Prince Changping continues to defend Liu Ru even as the testimony and objects implicate her. His appeal to Xiao Ruixuan reveals that he prioritizes Liu Ru and her children over justice for his first wife and son.
• Xiao Ruixuan openly rejects his father’s authority and condemns his failure to seek justice for his murdered mother. His final refusal makes clear he will not forgive Liu Ru.
• Shen Shixu presents the case against Liu Ru and sharply challenges Prince Changping’s selective skepticism. Xia He, Chun Tao, and Songshi each give testimony that strengthens the accusation.

Significant themes

• Justice versus loyalty: Prince Changping’s protection of Liu Ru conflicts with the pursuit of justice.
• Betrayal and complicity: Liu Ru’s crimes relied on bribed servants, while those servants eventually testify against her.
• Family and moral responsibility: Xiao Ruixuan rejects the idea that blood ties require forgiveness, especially when his father has failed him and his mother.
• Consequences and retribution: The witnesses’ fear of being killed—and their decision to expose Liu Ru—shows the eventual cost of the crimes they helped carry out.

Key plot points and events

• Xiao Ruixuan insists on justice for his murdered mother, rejecting Prince Changping’s plea to spare Liu Ru out of concern for her children. He points out that he, too, grew up without his mother and has been denied justice.
• Evidence that Prince Changping hired assassins is presented. He is sentenced to eighty strokes, stripped of his title and status, and imprisoned for three years.
• Liu Ru, facing execution after giving birth because she is pregnant with an imperial heir, breaks down and threatens to kill herself and her unborn child. Xiao Ruixuan slows her, allowing Prince Changping to stop her.
• Xiao Ruixuan promises to keep Xiao Jiping alive but send him away from the capital, and to provide a home for Liu Ru’s unborn child.
• Prince Changping and Liu Ru later die together. With the prince stripped of his title, Xiao Ruixuan becomes the new Prince Changping.
• News of the case prompts men across the capital to reconsider how they treat their wives, improving married life for many couples.

Character developments and interactions

• Xiao Ruixuan moves from grief and vulnerability to firm resolve. Though deeply wounded by Prince Changping’s continued concern for Liu Ru and her children, he chooses not to punish the children for their parents’ crimes.
• Prince Changping remains devoted to Liu Ru and tries to secure a future for her children, even as he faces punishment. He ultimately chooses to die with her.
• Liu Ru shifts from rage and envy to a moment of remorse, recognizing that her greed helped cause the tragedy. Prince Changping’s steadfast love makes her feel her scheming was not entirely futile.
• Shen Shixu supports Xiao Ruixuan and ensures the law is enforced, showing no sympathy for Liu Ru’s breakdown.
• Xiao Jiping and the unborn child are treated as innocent of their parents’ wrongdoing; Xiao Ruixuan commits to supporting them while keeping Jiping away from the capital.

Significant themes

• Justice versus compassion: Xiao Ruixuan acknowledges the children’s innocence without yielding on accountability for their parents.
• The lasting harm of betrayal and favoritism: Prince Changping’s choices deepen Xiao Ruixuan’s sense of abandonment and grief.
• Greed and consequences: Liu Ru recognizes that her pursuit of wealth and status set the tragedy in motion.
• Reciprocity in marriage: The scandal prompts broader reflection on the sacrifices wives make and the value of mutual care.

Plot points and events

• On Crown Prince Xiao Yuanqi and Meng Jiyao’s wedding day, Xiao Jinyi is unusually cheerful because he hopes to begin planning his own wedding with Shen Shixu once his brother is married.
• Shen Shixu explains that their wedding must wait: his parents and eldest brother cannot attend until a family matter is resolved. Shen’s brother was once engaged, but the match ended badly; the former prospective in-laws have now returned seeking to revive it, so his parents summoned him home.
• An Chengyu and Xiao Ruixuan interrupt their private conversation, proudly showing off the red envelopes they collected. The group then joins the wedding festivities.
• Jiang Bin escapes relatives trying to arrange a match for him, only to be summoned back when Emperor Wu’an and Empress Lin arrive.
• Xiao Yuanqi and Meng Jiyao complete the formal wedding rites. He gently reassures his nervous bride by taking her hand, and the princesses escort her to the bridal chamber.
• Xiao Jinyi is made to drink on his brother’s behalf. Shen Shixu steps in and takes several cups for him, sparing the couple from further pressure. The imperial family enjoys the celebration.

Character developments and interactions

• Xiao Jinyi looks forward to marrying Shen Shixu, while also showing concern for Shen’s family and accepting the delay because he wants their wedding to include both families.
• Shen Shixu reveals more about his family’s past and protects Xiao Jinyi from being over-served. Their affection and mutual concern are clear.
• Xiao Yuanqi and Meng Jiyao share a tender moment: his steady hand calms her nerves as they enter married life.
• An Chengyu and Xiao Ruixuan bring playful energy to the gathering, while Jiang Bin’s frantic retreat highlights his discomfort with relatives’ matchmaking.
• Emperor Wu’an and Empress Lin are visibly delighted by their first child’s wedding and encourage guests to celebrate freely.

Significant themes

• Marriage as a family union: Xiao Jinyi wants both families present to bless his and Shen Shixu’s marriage.
• Care and protection: Xiao Yuanqi steadies Meng Jiyao, and Shen Shixu shields Xiao Jinyi from the guests’ drinking pressure.
• Duty and unresolved history: Shen’s elder brother must return home to confront an old broken engagement and its renewed proposal.
• Joyful communal celebration: The wedding brings together relatives and friends, mixing solemn ritual with teasing, matchmaking, and drinking.

Key plot points and events

• After the Crown Prince’s wedding banquet, most guests leave drunk. Shen Shixu stays sober enough to arrange everyone’s transport home.
• Xiao Jinyi, drunk and unusually clingy, refuses to let go of Shen Shixu. Shen feeds him sobering soup, but when Xiao grabs his wrist, Shen gives up on leaving and sleeps beside him in his clothes.
• Meanwhile, Bai He and Mo Yu discuss love. Bai He tries to hint at his feelings, but Mo Yu remains oblivious and complains that nobody likes him.
• Mo Yu impulsively suggests that he and Bai He get together since neither seems wanted by anyone else. Bai He accepts, kisses him, and Mo Yu admits he doesn’t dislike it—though he is startled by how quickly Bai He acts.
• Mo Yu then becomes jealous at the possibility that Bai He has kissed someone before.

Character developments

• Xiao Jinyi shows his deep attachment to Shen Shixu through his drunken clinginess.
• Shen Shixu is patient and caring, tending to Xiao and staying beside him for the night.
• Bai He finally gets an opening with Mo Yu and responds decisively, though he has been concealing his feelings for fear of frightening him.
• Mo Yu remains romantically clueless, but his suggestion that they become a couple and his jealousy hint that he may already feel more for Bai He than he realizes.

Significant themes

• Love expressed through care, devotion, and physical affection.
• The comic frustration of unrecognized romantic feelings.
• How closeness can prompt people to discover emotions they have not understood.

Character interactions

• Xiao Jinyi’s possessiveness contrasts with Shen Shixu’s calm tenderness.
• Bai He teases and confesses indirectly, while Mo Yu repeatedly misunderstands his hints.
• Their first kiss shifts their relationship from friendship toward romance, even as Mo Yu protests and demands to know whether Bai He has kissed anyone else.

Plot and events

• Bai He and Mo Yu reveal they are now a couple. Bai He explains that after Mo Yu asked him to take responsibility for having “made him stupid,” he promised to care for him for life.
• At breakfast, Mo Yu casually has Bai He peel his egg, making their new closeness obvious to Shen Shixu and Xiao Jinyi.
• Xiao Jinyi congratulates them and gives them generous support for setting up a household: property, shops, gold and silver, and furnishings. Shen Shixu also offers to give them a gift.
• Xiao Jinyi and Shen Shixu travel to the palace for the tea ceremony welcoming Meng Jiyao into the imperial family. At Cikang Palace, Meng Jiyao serves tea to the Empress Dowager, Emperor Wu’an, and Empress Lin, who give her red envelopes. She then presents embroidered gifts and carefully selected presents to the younger royals.
• Meng Jiyao gives Xiao Jinyi a renowned sword, Frost and Snow. Her gift for Shen Shixu is singled out as especially thoughtful, but the chapter ends before it is revealed.

Character developments and interactions

• Mo Yu and Bai He: Their relationship shifts from long-standing companionship to an acknowledged romance. Mo Yu accepts Bai He’s devotion with cheerful practicality, while Bai He is openly delighted.
• Xiao Jinyi: Shows affection and generosity toward the people close to him, treating Bai He and Mo Yu’s future household as a responsibility he is glad to support.
• Shen Shixu and Xiao Jinyi: Their handholding and easy, affectionate exchange reinforce their own closeness. Shen Shixu hesitates to attend the ceremony before their marriage, but Xiao Jinyi persuades him to come and is pleased when Shen offers to contribute a gift to the household.
• Meng Jiyao: Performs her new-family duties with respectful formality and demonstrates care through personal, thoughtfully chosen gifts. The Empress Dowager also takes the opportunity to speak with Shen Shixu at length.

Significant themes

• Devotion and commitment: Bai He’s promise to remain with Mo Yu for life turns their years of closeness into an explicit partnership.
• Chosen family and generosity: Xiao Jinyi’s lavish gifts express how deeply he values those around him and welcomes their happiness.
• Ritual and belonging: The tea ceremony formally establishes Meng Jiyao’s place in the family, while the exchange of gifts builds connections among its members.

Key plot points and events

• The Girls’ School students present Shen Shixu with a finely made blue-and-white Cloud Brocade outfit to thank him for helping improve women’s opportunities. Their shops have flourished by selling products designed for women, and Shen Shixu had encouraged ordinary working girls to hold shares in the businesses.
• Shen Shixu loves the gift and changes into it at the palace. Everyone admires how well it suits him, especially Xiao Jinyi.
• After the gathering, Bai He brings urgent news: Shen Zexi has been imprisoned in Minglu City, suspected of murdering the woman who was once betrothed to him. Shen Father’s letter begs Shen Shixu to hurry home.
• Xiao Jinyi immediately orders horses prepared so they can leave for Minglu City. Shen Shixu is terrified for his brother.

Character developments and interactions

• The students’ gift shows their gratitude to Shen Shixu and the sense of community fostered by the Girls’ School. Their shared ownership of the shops gives ordinary girls a stronger stake in their work and future.
• Meng Jiyao welcomes Shen Shixu as family and asks him to call her “Sister-in-law.” Xiao Yuanqi likewise asks him to call him “Elder Brother,” reinforcing Shen Shixu’s place within the family.
• Xiao Jinyi is openly captivated by Shen Shixu’s appearance and wants him to change into the outfit; his possessive glare eventually discourages the others from crowding around.
• The Empress and Emperor are pleased that Shen Shixu has joined their family through his marriage to Xiao Jinyi.
• When the crisis arrives, Xiao Jinyi responds decisively, while Shen Shixu’s fear for Shen Zexi reveals how deeply he cares for his elder brother.

Significant themes

• Women’s independence and solidarity: Education and shared business ventures give women practical choices and a measure of security in a society that still limits their status.
• Gratitude and belonging: The handmade outfit expresses the students’ appreciation, while the family’s warm welcome strengthens Shen Shixu’s new relationships.
• Family loyalty and sudden danger: The celebratory palace scene gives way abruptly to a threat against Shen Zexi, shifting the story toward urgency and the search for justice.

Key plot points and events

• Shen Shixu panics when he learns his elder brother, Shen Zexi, has been imprisoned after a Wu Family woman’s death. Xiao Jinyi comforts him, and Xiao Yuanqi promises to manage matters in the capital while they travel home.
• Mo Yu provides horses and supplies, and Shen Shixu and Xiao Jinyi ride urgently to Minglu City.
• On the road, Shen Shixu explains the history of the Shen and Wu families. Their grandfathers arranged a childhood betrothal between Shen Zexi and Miss Wu. The families had been friendly, and Shen Zexi behaved honorably toward his intended.
• Four years earlier, just before the wedding, the Wu Family broke the engagement after securing a more advantageous connection. They kept the Shen Family’s substantial betrothal gifts and relied on their ties to the Prefect to deter retaliation.
• Shen Shixu, then fourteen, publicly exposed the Wu Family’s conduct. The resulting scandal forced them to return the gifts, but the families severed contact afterward.
• Now the Wu Family claims Shen Zexi stole a family heirloom and is using Shen Shixu’s old reputation to pressure his parents. The Shen parents called Shen Zexi home without telling Shen Shixu.
• The Wu Family fears Shen Shixu’s growing influence and may be seeking to eliminate the threat he poses. The Prefect knows Shen Shixu holds office as Vice Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, so he has confined Shen Zexi without torturing him and summoned Shen Shixu home.

Character developments and interactions

• Shen Shixu shifts from fear to focused suspicion, then reveals his anger over the Wu Family’s past betrayal and worries that his brother may be in immediate danger.
• Xiao Jinyi reassures Shen Shixu, accompanies him, and quietly adds the Wu Family to the list of people he intends to hold accountable.
• Xiao Yuanqi supports their departure and takes responsibility for affairs in the capital.
• The Shen parents’ decision to conceal the accusation from Shen Shixu shows their protectiveness, while also leaving him unaware of the danger until late.
• The Prefect’s restraint appears motivated by knowledge of Shen Shixu’s official status, rather than confidence in Shen Zexi’s innocence.

Significant themes

• Family loyalty and protection: Shen Shixu and Xiao Jinyi rush to defend Shen Zexi, while their parents try to shield their younger son from trouble.
• Power and justice: The Wu Family once used its connection to the Prefect to avoid consequences; now Shen Shixu’s official standing affects how the case is handled.
• Reputation as leverage: Both sides have used public opinion—first Shen Shixu against the Wu Family, and now the Wu Family against the Shen household.
• Betrayal and unresolved conflict: The old broken engagement and withheld betrothal gifts resurface as the foundation for the new accusation.

Plot points and events

• The Wu family had planned to use a family heirloom to lure Shen Zexi home, drug him, and engineer a marriage between him and their unmarried daughter. They hoped the connection would win back the Shen family’s favor and help secure their own future. Their plan went awry when the man they had arranged for died.
• The Wu daughter’s earlier engagement had collapsed after Shen Shixu exposed the affair publicly. Xu Wanda, the prefect of Minglu City, had also persuaded his brother-in-law to abandon the match, judging the Wu family too scheming to trust and recognizing Shen Shixu’s promise.
• After riding nonstop for three days, Shen Shixu and Xiao Jinyi reached the Shen residence. Exhausted, Shen Shixu collapsed upon dismounting, and Xiao Jinyi carried him inside.
• Shen Shixu reunited with his parents and introduced Xiao Jinyi as his fiancé. His father was displeased by the match, while his mother welcomed Xiao warmly.
• Though worried about Shen Zexi, Shen Shixu agreed to rest before acting. He gave his father his token to take to Xu Wanda, trusting that the prefect would understand the signal and protect Shen Zexi. Shen Shixu and Xiao Jinyi slept until morning.

Character developments and interactions

• Shen Shixu shows both urgency and trust: he rushes home to help his brother, but knows his exhaustion makes rest necessary and relies on Xu Wanda to keep Shen Zexi safe.
• Xiao Jinyi demonstrates care and endurance, carrying Shen Shixu into the residence and making an effort to present himself respectfully to his future in-laws.
• Shen Shixu’s parents’ reactions differ: his father resents Xiao Jinyi for winning their son’s affection, while his mother is openly fond of him. Both prioritize Shen Shixu’s health and welcome his return.
• Steward Shen’s deep affection for the brothers is clear in his joy and concern when he sees Shen Shixu arrive.
• Xu Wanda’s practical judgment and political instincts have shaped the Wu family’s failed plans and may now help protect Shen Zexi.

Significant themes

• Family loyalty and protection: Shen Shixu’s return is driven by concern for his brother, while his parents and the steward share the family’s anxiety.
• Trust and political foresight: Shen Shixu relies on Xu Wanda’s intelligence, and Xu’s earlier decision shows the value of reading people and anticipating consequences.
• Coercion and ambition: The Wu family treats marriage as a tool for gaining influence, contrasting with the warmth and personal affection surrounding Shen Shixu and Xiao Jinyi’s relationship.

Key events

• Shen Shixu and Xiao Jinyi arrive at the county office to investigate the murder. Prefect Xu Wanda greets Shen effusively and brings them to the ice-preserved body.
• The victim’s face has been slashed beyond recognition. The Wu family and several acquaintances identified her as Miss Wu based on her build, but no one could confirm her identity from her face.
• Shen examines the body and finds twenty-six facial cuts, all apparently inflicted after death. A stab wound through the heart caused her death.
• He notices calluses on the victim’s feet and fingertips, plus a poorly treated burn scar on her hand. These signs conflict with what he remembers of Miss Wu, who had been pampered and rarely walked.
• Xu confirms that the Wu family continued to treat their daughter well even after her engagement was broken off. Shen concludes the victim is probably not Miss Wu and says they must investigate her identity anew, including checking for distinctive marks.

Character developments and interactions

• Shen is methodical and cautious, using a handkerchief as protection because he lacks his usual examination tools. His prior acquaintance with Miss Wu helps him notice details others overlooked.
• Xu is eager to flatter Shen and deferential toward Xiao Jinyi, whom he recognizes as someone of high standing. Though startled by Shen’s conclusion, he listens to the evidence.
• Xiao accompanies Shen during the examination, while Shen directs the inquiry and explains his reasoning to Xu.

Significant themes

• Evidence over assumption: A family’s claim and witness recognition are not enough to establish identity.
• Careful observation: Small physical details can overturn an accepted account.
• Appearance and deception: The killer’s deliberate mutilation obscures the victim’s identity, making the investigation more complex.

Key plot points

• Shen Shixu examines the corpse and notices it lacks a brown birthmark that Madam Wu says her daughter, Wu Qiaoyun, had on her left ankle.
• This proves the dead woman was not Wu Qiaoyun. Shen Shixu suspects the real Wu Qiaoyun is alive and may have orchestrated the crime.
• In prison, Shen Zexi explains how the Wu Family lured him to their home by accusing him of stealing a family heirloom. They served him wine that he believes was drugged, then took him to a room where incense was burning.
• Wu Qiaoyun entered, made him smell something, and he lost consciousness. He woke beside a disfigured woman’s corpse, holding a bloodstained dagger, and was arrested.
• Shen Shixu identifies the drugged wine, suspicious incense, and Wu Qiaoyun’s apparent resistance to her parents’ plan to reconcile with Shen Zexi as key clues.

Character developments and interactions

• Shen Shixu’s worry for his brother turns to anger when he finds Shen Zexi safe, well-fed, and chatting cheerfully in prison. He reprimands him for hiding the danger from him and involving Xiaoshi in keeping it secret.
• Shen Zexi feels guilty but explains that he underestimated the Wu Family’s willingness to endanger lives. He recounts events carefully, helping Shen Shixu piece together the scheme.
• Xu Wanda continues to act as a fair-minded official: he has treated Shen Zexi decently and promptly sends someone to investigate the birthmark.
• Shen Zexi remains confused by Shen Shixu’s deduction and asks Xiao Jinyi to explain it.

Significant themes

• Appearance versus truth: The victim’s identity—and the apparent evidence against Shen Zexi—has been deliberately falsified.
• Family concern and recklessness: Shen Shixu’s fierce anger reflects his care for his brother, while Shen Zexi’s impulsiveness nearly costs him his freedom and safety.
• Justice and careful investigation: Xu Wanda’s fairness and the physical clue on the corpse help expose the deception rather than relying on appearances alone.

Plot points and events

• Xiao Jinyi explains that the dead woman is not Wu Qiaoyun: she had hand burns and foot calluses inconsistent with a pampered young lady, and she lacked Wu Qiaoyun’s reported ankle birthmark.
• Shen Shixu suspects Wu Qiaoyun may have staged events to frame Shen Zexi. With the identity of the body in doubt, Shen Zexi is released, though the dead woman’s identity and killer remain unknown.
• Xu Wanda summons Wu Liang and Mrs. Wu to identify the body again. They are shocked to learn it may not be their daughter. The chapter ends as Xu asks them to check for the birthmark.
• Shen Shixu is eager to solve the case because his supernatural assistant, 011, has promised a major piece of gossip—and an upgrade—once he does. Xu Wanda is equally excited to join the investigation.

Character developments and interactions

• Shen Zexi feels deeply aggrieved by being caught up in the case, but is relieved to leave prison. He treats his fellow inmate generously before departing.
• Xiao Jinyi openly tells Shen Zexi what the investigation has uncovered, showing trust and support.
• Shen Shixu takes charge of the next steps, while Xu Wanda follows his lead and respectfully defers to him—something that unsettles Wu Liang.
• Wu Liang and Mrs. Wu appear genuinely stunned by the possibility that the body is not their daughter. Wu Liang hides his curiosity about Shen Shixu’s standing and tries to keep the conversation focused on the case.

Significant themes

• Appearance versus truth: The body’s identity, initially treated as certain, is now in question.
• Deception and justice: The investigators must uncover who the dead woman was, who killed her, and whether Wu Qiaoyun engineered the accusation.
• Comic motivation: Shen Shixu and Xu Wanda’s enthusiasm is fueled partly by the promise of sensational gossip, giving the investigation a lighthearted counterpoint to its serious stakes.