Chapter Summaries

Key plot points and events

• Shen Zexi feels left out when An Chengyu boasts that he has a “wife”—Xu Baozhen, a girl he recently met and asked to marry him as part of children’s play. Frustrated, Shen Zexi leaves.
• Shen Mother reminds Shen Zexi that he promised to bring home a spouse before New Year. She explains that she and Shen Father worry his difficult past experiences with the Wu Family have made him wary of relationships.
• Shen Shixu, Xiao Jinyi, and the others reassure her that Shen Zexi may simply not have met the right person and should not be pressured.
• Shen Mother shifts her attention to preparing Shen Shixu’s dowry for his upcoming marriage to Xiao Jinyi. Jinyi explains the imperial household’s customary limits: the largest standard dowry is 126 loads, while Shen Shixu’s family has prepared far more.
• Shen Father clarifies that the family has saved for both sons since before their births, and Shen Shixu will also take his rewards and gifts. They do not want an oversized dowry to invite criticism.
• An Chengyu suggests making the chests larger. The family accepts the idea and commissions 126 oversized chests.

Character developments and interactions

• Shen Zexi is embarrassed and resentful at being the only one without a partner, while his mother’s reminder revives pressure to marry.
• Shen Mother and Shen Father reveal that their matchmaking concern comes from fear that Shen Zexi’s past has left him emotionally guarded. They also show how long and carefully they have prepared for their sons’ futures.
• Shen Shixu protects his brother from pressure and is surprised by the scale of his own dowry.
• Xiao Jinyi helps explain imperial customs and gently reassures the Shen parents about Shen Zexi.
• An Chengyu proudly announces his childlike “marriage” and later offers the practical solution that resolves the dowry problem.

Significant themes

• Family concern and patience: The Shen parents’ pressure comes from love, but Shen Shixu cautions that emotional healing and finding a partner cannot be forced.
• Marriage and social expectations: The chapter contrasts Shen Zexi’s reluctance with the family’s excitement over Shen Shixu’s wedding.
• Tradition versus practicality: Imperial dowry limits create a logistical challenge, which the family solves by adapting the containers rather than reducing what they wish to give.

Key plot points and events

• After a month without Shen Shixu’s usual court gossip, officials and even Emperor Wu’an grow bored and eagerly anticipate his wedding to Prince Jing, Xiao Jinyi.
• On the eve of the wedding, Shen Shixu’s enormous dowry draws crowds through the Capital. Xiao Jinyi’s soldiers have to carry the custom-made chests.
• On the wedding day, Xiao Jinyi scatters copper coins along the route to the Shen Residence, delighting the crowds who follow him.
• As Shen Shixu prepares to leave, his parents and brother share an emotional farewell. They reassure him that his family will remain close and support him if he is ever mistreated.
• Shen Shixu’s disciples and friend Rong Hua block the gates, making Xiao Jinyi pass a series of playful tests: reciting a poem, handing out red envelopes, praising Shen Shixu with idioms, and answering questions about married life.
• Rong Hua and Shen Zexi turn Xiao Jinyi’s answers into a written agreement, requiring him to sign and leave his fingerprint before he can enter.

Character developments and interactions

• Shen Shixu appears radiant and composed, reassuring his tearful mother and promising his family he will be happy.
• Shen Mother’s pride in her son is mixed with sadness at his leaving; Shen Father comforts her, while Shen Zexi firmly reminds Shen Shixu that he can always return to his family.
• Xiao Jinyi shows his generosity by scattering money for the public and his willingness to humor the gatekeepers, though he relies on the Fourth Prince for a poem.
• Jiang Bin, An Chengyu, Jiang Miaokong, and Rong Hua tease Xiao Jinyi while also making clear how much they care about Shen Shixu’s welfare.
• Shen Zexi joins Rong Hua in securing promises from Xiao Jinyi, turning affectionate concern into a comic but pointed safeguard.

Significant themes

• Family bonds and separation: Shen Shixu’s marriage brings joy, but his family’s affection makes parting difficult.
• Support and protection: His loved ones insist he should never endure mistreatment alone.
• Marriage as a public celebration: The lavish dowry, crowds, and scattered coins make the wedding a communal event.
• Humor and affection: The playful challenges balance the emotional farewell and express the groom’s friends’ and family’s care.

Key plot points and events

• Xiao Jinyi arrives at the Shen residence to bring Shen Shixu home for their wedding. The princes and Crown Prince are startled by the written pledge Xiao Jinyi signs, which binds him to treating Shen Shixu well; Xiao Jinyi signs eagerly.
• Shen Zexi opens the gates and entrusts his younger brother to Xiao Jinyi. Xiao promises he will never let Shen Shixu down.
• Nervous despite his eagerness, Xiao Jinyi approaches Shen Shixu’s courtyard. Shen Shixu teases him for hesitating, and they embrace and exchange compliments.
• The couple bids farewell to Shen Shixu’s parents and family. Shen Mother, Shen Father, and Shen Zexi struggle with their emotions, and Shen Shixu cries too. Xiao wipes his tears and has him ride to the wedding beside him rather than in a sedan chair.
• On the way, onlookers praise the match and admire Xiao Jinyi’s devotion. At Prince Jing’s Residence, the couple completes the wedding rites before Emperor Wu’an, Empress Lin, and their guests.
• After offering brief toasts, they retire early, claiming to be drunk. They drink their wedding wine privately, then embrace and go to bed; Shen Shixu is nervous as Xiao undresses him.

Character developments and interactions

• Xiao Jinyi is openly devoted and confident in his promise to Shen Shixu, but grows shy and nervous when the long-awaited wedding becomes real. He comforts Shen Shixu during the emotional farewell and shows consideration by arranging for them to share a horse.
• Shen Shixu is playful with Xiao Jinyi but deeply moved by leaving his family. His tears reveal how much the separation and change in his place within the family mean to him.
• Shen Zexi formally welcomes Xiao Jinyi as family and protects his younger brother’s interests, while struggling to hide his sadness at the farewell.
• Shen Father and Shen Mother are proud but heartbroken to see Shen Shixu leave. Rong Hua gently teases Shen Zexi about suppressing his tears.
• The guests and relatives provide humor and warmth: Xiao Yuanqi reminds the couple to say goodbye properly, while Jiang Bin abandons plans to stir up trouble after Xiao’s warning.

Significant themes

• Commitment and trust: Xiao Jinyi’s written pledge and promise to Shen Zexi underline the responsibility he accepts in marriage.
• Family bonds and transition: The farewell shows that marriage changes Shen Shixu’s role and household ties, even as his family expects him to return.
• Love expressed through care: Xiao’s gestures—from wiping Shen Shixu’s tears to accommodating his dislike of a bridal sedan—show affection in practical ways.
• Joy mixed with sorrow: The celebration is joyful, but the family’s grief at parting gives the wedding an emotional counterpoint.

Key plot points and events

• Xiao Jinyi and Shen Shixu spend an intimate night together, leaving Shen Shixu exhausted and sore.
• Because they must attend the palace tea ceremony, Xiao Jinyi dresses and grooms Shen while he sleeps, then carries him to the palace. On the journey, he uses his internal energy to ease Shen’s aches, and Shen freely orders him to massage his arms.
• The couple serves tea to the Empress Dowager, Emperor Wu’an, and Empress Lin, then gives carefully chosen gifts to their siblings.
• During the gathering, 011’s livestream reveals that the Third Prince was nearly assaulted the previous night by Ji’an, his trusted attendant—actually the notorious Flower-Picking Thief. Ji’an had secretly been taking liberties with him while he slept and intended to go further.
• A kitchen fire, accidentally caused by a hungry servant, interrupted Ji’an. The Third Prince realizes the fire saved him and asks Xiao Jinyi to help catch the thief.

Character developments and interactions

• Xiao Jinyi’s affection shows through his attentive care for Shen, while Shen is comfortable teasing and commanding him despite his soreness.
• The Third Prince is shocked and humiliated to learn that his trusted attendant has been abusing his trust. Once he understands what happened, he turns to Xiao Jinyi for help.
• Ji’an’s past kindness—being rescued and given a name by the Third Prince—contrasts sharply with his secret predatory behavior. His attachment does not excuse his violation of the Third Prince’s consent.
• The royal family reacts to the livestream with varying levels of embarrassment and sympathy; the Third Prince’s siblings quickly grasp the danger he was in.

Significant themes

• Care and intimacy: Xiao Jinyi’s devotion is expressed through practical tenderness as well as affection.
• Trust and betrayal: Ji’an exploits the Third Prince’s kindness and vulnerability.
• Consent and abuse of power: The livestream exposes the seriousness of Ji’an’s actions, despite his claimed affection.
• Fate and coincidence: An accidental fire prevents the assault, prompting the Third Prince to seek justice.

Plot points and events

• The Third Prince asks Xiao Jinyi to catch the thief who has been troubling his residence. Shen Shixu joins under the pretext of investigating the case, and the Third Prince’s siblings and Meng Jiyao accompany them.
• At the residence, they recognize Ji’an—the handsome man serving the Third Prince—as the Flower-Picking Thief. The Third Prince recalls the previous night and is visibly horrified.
• Xiao Jinyi suspects Ji’an is skilled in martial arts and wagers with the Third Prince that he can prove it. When Xiao attacks, Ji’an instinctively fights back, exposing his abilities. Xiao defeats and injures him, winning the wager.
• The Third Prince demands to know why Ji’an lied about being an ordinary man rescued from bandits. Ji’an claims he only wanted somewhere to go and meant no harm.
• Shen Shixu remembers that the Court of Judicial Review’s files contain a case about a Flower-Picking Thief who assaulted people of both sexes across more than a dozen counties—suggesting Ji’an’s crimes are extensive.

Character developments

• The Third Prince shifts from seeking help to confronting the danger within his own household, though his humiliation and distress remain evident.
• Xiao Jinyi is confident and playful, using a wager to expose Ji’an and then decisively overpowering him.
• Ji’an’s disguise as a helpless victim collapses. His concern that exposure will cost him access to the Third Prince suggests he was deliberately cultivating closeness.
• Shen Shixu takes a cautious, investigative role, recognizing the likely connection between Ji’an and a wider criminal case.

Character interactions

• The siblings’ eagerness to witness the investigation turns the Third Prince’s private embarrassment into a family spectacle; their teasing is tempered by concern for him.
• Xiao Jinyi needles the Third Prince with the wager, while the Third Prince reluctantly accepts and later honors it.
• Ji’an’s fighting exposes the lie to the Third Prince, who directly challenges him. The onlookers reject Ji’an’s claim of harmless intentions, viewing his attachment as part of a predatory scheme.

Significant themes

• Deception and misplaced trust: Ji’an’s false story let him gain a position close to the Third Prince.
• Public humiliation and family loyalty: The Third Prince is embarrassed before his relatives, who nonetheless accompany him and refrain from exploiting his misery.
• Power and exposure: Ji’an’s instinctive self-defense reveals what his carefully maintained helpless persona concealed.

Plot points and events

• Officials concluded that the notorious Flower-Picking Thief had committed a dozen or so assaults in Yuyang City, targeting exceptionally attractive men and women. His victims identified him by a distinctive black, cloud-shaped birthmark on his abdomen.
• The thief, Ji’an Xingzong, had once been badly wounded by martial artists while trying to assault the future young mistress of Famous Sword Manor. Though presumed dead after escaping, he had apparently been rescued by the Third Prince and was living under his protection.
• Shen Shixu orders the princes to check Ji’an’s birthmark. After some reluctance and teasing, the Sixth Prince exposes Ji’an’s stomach and confirms the identifying mark.
• Shen realizes the Third Prince had unknowingly sheltered the criminal. To spare him public embarrassment, Shen decides that they will take Ji’an away themselves rather than have officials arrive at the Third Prince’s residence.
• Xiao Jinyi tries to make the Sixth Prince accompany the prisoner, but the Sixth Prince complains to the Crown Prince. Xiao Yuanqi orders Xiao Jinyi to escort Ji’an to prison while he takes Shen and Meng Jiyao back to the Eastern Palace.
• The Crown Prince invites Shen to lunch. They have an animated conversation about many subjects, and Xiao Jinyi returns after delivering the prisoner.

Character developments and interactions

• Shen Shixu is decisive in identifying the criminal and considerate toward the Third Prince, balancing justice with concern for his reputation.
• Xiao Jinyi is affectionate and possessive toward Shen, joking that he would be jealous if Jinyi undressed another man. He also repeatedly picks on the younger Sixth Prince.
• The Sixth Prince is comic and easily flustered: he resists being tasked with examining Ji’an, boasts that he has someone he loves, and appeals to the Crown Prince when Jinyi keeps assigning him unpleasant jobs.
• The Crown Prince mediates between his brothers, protects the Sixth Prince from being bullied, and enjoys talking with Shen.
• The Third Prince understands why Shen is discreetly removing Ji’an and thanks him for considering his position.
• Meng Jiyao remains with the Crown Prince and Shen, listening to their conversation.

Significant themes

• Justice and accountability: Ji’an’s identity is confirmed, and he is taken to face punishment.
• Loyalty and affection: Jinyi’s devotion to Shen is shown through teasing jealousy, while the Crown Prince’s concern for his younger brother appears in his intervention.
• Prudence and compassion: Shen ensures the criminal is removed without unnecessarily damaging the Third Prince’s reputation.
• Family comedy and hierarchy: The princes’ banter and the Crown Prince’s authority provide lighthearted contrast to the serious crime.

Key plot points and events

• Xiao Yuanqi urges Xiao Jinyi to pay more attention to court affairs, but Jinyi insists that military matters are his strength and that Yuanqi and Shen Shixu can handle politics.
• Meng Jiyao defends Jinyi’s right to enjoy life in peacetime. Jinyi and Shen Shixu tease Yuanqi and Jiyao about having a child, embarrassing them.
• After dinner, Yuanqi promptly sends the newlyweds away. Jinyi kicks the palace gates in irritation, then asks whether they should return home or explore the city.
• Shen Shixu chooses a stroll. They visit Rong Hua’s busy milk-tea shop, where Shixu considers how it might be expanded.
• They spot Shixu’s older brother, Shen Zexi, deep in conversation with Rong Hua. Rather than interrupting, they leave with their drinks.
• Jinyi suggests that romance may have “come knocking” for Zexi. Shixu considers the possibility, reflecting that Zexi’s social life has long been unusual.

Character developments and interactions

• Xiao Jinyi is confident and carefree, pushing back against his older brother’s protective oversight. His affection for Shen Shixu shows in his eagerness to spend time together.
• Shen Shixu supports Jinyi, shares his playful teasing of the royal couple, and is perceptive enough to avoid interrupting Zexi’s private conversation. He also shows a practical, business-minded interest in Rong Hua’s shop.
• Xiao Yuanqi and Meng Jiyao are affectionate toward Jinyi but must accept that he is an adult and married. Their embarrassment at the teasing turns into mock exasperation when they send the couple away.
• Shen Zexi and Rong Hua are shown enjoying an unusually lively conversation, prompting speculation that a romance may be developing between them.

Significant themes

• Growing independence and family concern: Jinyi wants to be treated as an adult, while Yuanqi’s concern reflects their long-standing sibling bond.
• Marital affection and playful intimacy: Jinyi and Shixu act comfortably as a newly married couple, while teasing Yuanqi and Jiyao about starting a family.
• Romance and possibility: Zexi’s easy rapport with Rong Hua hints at a new relationship.
• Leisure and prosperity in peacetime: With the realm stable, the characters can focus on ordinary pleasures, such as exploring the city and enjoying tea.

Plot points and events

• Shen Zexi and Rong Hua are both driven, capable businessmen. Shen Zexi grew his own enterprise before taking over the Shen family’s shops, while Rong Hua’s past poverty motivates him to pursue wealth using ideas from his previous life. Shen Shixu’s connections provide Rong Hua with influential support.
• Shen Shixu and Xiao Jinyi decide not to interfere in their friends’ possible romantic match, preferring to see whether the pair show mutual interest first.
• Out together, Shen Shixu buys candied hawthorn. Xiao Jinyi, remembering that Shen Shixu is only eighteen and deserves time for fun, takes him to a recreation estate belonging to his third brother.
• At the estate, Shen Shixu enters a pitch-pot wager but misses every arrow and loses his stake. Xiao Jinyi then plays, wins the contest and its prize of fifty taels of gold, and gives the money to Shen Shixu.
• The couple head to a matching-couplets contest, whose prize is an antique master’s calligraphy.

Character developments and interactions

• Shen Zexi and Rong Hua are presented as ambitious and well matched in their shared interests and determination; their bond could become a strong friendship even if it does not become romantic.
• Shen Shixu is shown enjoying ordinary youthful pleasures, while Xiao Jinyi is attentive to his happiness and eager to give him a memorable outing.
• Their affectionate teasing and small gestures—Xiao Jinyi quietly helping Shen Shixu, then handing him the winnings—underscore their closeness.

Significant themes

• Ambition and self-reliance: Both businessmen build success through ability and persistence, though networks and backing also matter.
• Letting relationships develop naturally: Shen Shixu and Xiao Jinyi avoid forcing a potential match.
• Care and companionship: Xiao Jinyi’s thoughtfulness helps Shen Shixu enjoy the leisure he has missed.
• Play and shared enjoyment: The contests turn a simple outing into an opportunity for fun and bonding.

Plot points and events

• Shen Shixu takes part in a public couplet contest and wins a calligraphy prize. The other participants discover he is Lord Qian’an, newly married into Prince Jing’s household, and are eager to ask the Top Scholar for scholarly advice.
• Xiao Jinyi, jealous of the attention and determined to keep their outing private, quickly takes Shen away and suggests they go horseback riding.
• Shen chooses a white horse and proposes a race, with the loser agreeing to grant the winner one request. Xiao accepts, concealing a suggestive plan.
• Xiao’s superior riding skill wins him the race. When Shen asks what he wants, Xiao pulls him close and kisses him in the secluded woods. Their affectionate encounter becomes intimate, though Shen briefly resists.
• Afterward, Shen realizes Xiao may have had this outcome in mind when proposing the wager. Xiao denies planning it, blaming the moment and the summer heat. Shen warns that if they are discovered, Xiao will be barred from his bed for half a year.

Character developments and interactions

• Shen Shixu is talented, playful, and competitive, but trusting: he agrees to Xiao’s wager without noticing Xiao’s ulterior motive. He is affectionate toward his horse and flustered by Xiao’s boldness.
• Xiao Jinyi is protective and possessive of their time together. His battlefield experience makes him the stronger rider, and he uses his victory to claim physical affection. He remains teasing and coaxing when Shen confronts him.
• Their relationship is intimate and flirtatious, with Xiao acting impulsively and Shen responding with a mix of resistance, embarrassment, and fondness.

Significant themes

• Competition and playful manipulation: A friendly race becomes a way for Xiao to secure a private “prize.”
• Privacy and possessiveness: Xiao resents others’ interest in Shen and prioritizes their time alone.
• Romantic intimacy: Their teasing, physical closeness, and joking threats reveal familiarity and affection.

Key plot points and events

• Shen Shixu and Xiao Jinyi spend the day together. Once dressed, Shen tells Xiao to burn the ruined outer robe, disappointing Xiao, who had hoped to keep it as a memento.
• While resting, Shen is prompted by 011 to watch a scene involving his disciple Jiang Bin.
• Jiang Bin’s fiancée, Yang Qi, confronts and slaps him after finding him with a woman in pale yellow. She believes he has lied about spending the day with a male friend.
• Jiang explains that the “woman” is actually Fang Huaiyu, a man who enjoys dressing in women’s clothes. Fang confirms this in his natural voice and reveals his Adam’s apple.
• Yang Qi realizes her mistake, apologizes for the slap and for insulting Jiang by saying he was disgracing Shen Shixu. Jiang reassures her that both sides contributed to the misunderstanding and invites them to forgive each other.

Character developments

• Shen Shixu is exhausted after his time with Xiao but becomes instantly alert when promised gossip about his disciple.
• Xiao Jinyi tends to Shen and indulges his interest in watching the drama, though he is disappointed when Shen orders the robe burned.
• Jiang Bin shows loyalty and compassion by accompanying Fang Huaiyu, despite having planned to spend the day with Yang Qi. He responds to her accusation patiently rather than angrily.
• Yang Qi is shown as impulsive and quick to judge, but she feels genuine remorse once she learns the truth.
• Fang Huaiyu explains that dressing as a woman is a personal preference and that he asked Jiang to accompany him as protection from unwanted attention.

Significant themes

• Misunderstanding and communication: Yang Qi jumps to conclusions because she sees an intimate-looking scene before hearing the explanation.
• Compassion and forgiveness: Jiang acknowledges his own part in the confusion and offers reconciliation rather than blame.
• Appearances versus reality: Fang’s convincing disguise leads both Yang Qi and the crowd to assume he is a woman.
• Friendship and support: Jiang helps Fang feel safe, even though doing so inadvertently creates conflict with his fiancée.

Character interactions

• Shen and Xiao share an affectionate, teasing domestic moment before watching the scene together.
• Yang Qi confronts Jiang publicly, while the crowd’s speculation worsens the embarrassment.
• Fang steps in to clarify the truth and prove his identity.
• Jiang comforts Yang Qi after her apology, framing the incident as a shared mistake and making space for reconciliation.

Key plot points and events

• Yang Qi and Jiang Bin reconcile after clearing up her misunderstanding of his relationship with Fang Huaiyu.
• A crowd gathers around Fang Huaiyu to ask for makeup and grooming advice. One man insults him for dressing as a woman, but another spectator—and then Yang Qi—defends him. The critic, embarrassed by the crowd’s disapproval, leaves.
• In gratitude, Fang Huaiyu teaches the men his beauty tips without accepting payment. Yang Qi apologizes for misjudging him, and the three make peace before going shopping together.
• Shen Shixu and Xiao Jinyi finish their outing and return toward Prince Jing’s Residence. They share a horse for part of the journey, then split up before reaching the manor to avoid gossip.
• At home, they learn that Xiao Lie and Bai Lixi have returned with wedding gifts. The gifts were prepared during a month-long treasure hunt at a dangerous site where the pair were trapped.

Character developments and interactions

• Fang Huaiyu feels anxious when criticized for his clothing, but is moved by the people who stand up for him. He responds generously by sharing his skills.
• Yang Qi acknowledges her mistake and shows that she is willing to defend Fang Huaiyu once she understands the situation.
• Jiang Bin and Yang Qi resolve their misunderstanding, allowing the three characters to reconcile.
• Shen Shixu and Xiao Jinyi show care for each other during the ride home: Xiao Jinyi worries about Shen Shixu’s comfort, while Shen Shixu balances that concern against his wish to avoid public speculation.
• Xiao Lie and Bai Lixi are revealed to have gone to extraordinary lengths to prepare meaningful wedding presents for the couple.

Significant themes

• Personal freedom and acceptance: Fang Huaiyu’s choice of clothing is defended as nobody else’s business.
• Misunderstanding and reconciliation: Honest apologies restore trust between Yang Qi, Jiang Bin, and Fang Huaiyu.
• Care expressed through practical gestures: The couples’ concern for one another is shown through protection, consideration, and thoughtful gifts.

Key plot points and events

• Shen Shixu welcomes Xiao Lie and Bai Lixi back from their long treasure-hunting expedition, surprised by how battered and exhausted they look.
• Bai Lixi explains that Xiao Lie’s trusted martial-world friend lured them to an underground palace. After the group survived its traps and found the treasure chamber, the friend locked Xiao Lie and Bai Lixi inside.
• The betrayer admitted he had grown resentful as Xiao Lie’s reputation surpassed his own, and had planned to kill him there. Xiao Lie and Bai Lixi escaped through a hidden passage, then went after the traitor for revenge.
• They returned late and missed Shen Shixu’s wedding feast, but brought him and Jin Yi a box of luminous and Eastern pearls as wedding gifts.
• Shen Shixu suspects the “treasure site” was actually a tomb. The palace has likely since been looted, so he cannot visit it. Xiao Lie worries the burial goods are unlucky and offers to replace them, but Shen Shixu accepts them jokingly as future burial goods.

Character developments

• Xiao Lie is deeply shaken by betrayal from someone he considered a lifelong, trusted companion. His experience leaves him reflecting bitterly on how difficult it is to understand people’s hearts.
• Bai Lixi recounts the ordeal calmly but shares Xiao Lie’s relief at surviving.
• Shen Shixu responds with affection and reassurance, valuing his family’s safe return more than their missing the wedding celebration.

Significant themes

• Betrayal and envy: The friend’s resentment grew as Xiao Lie’s success eclipsed his own, turning gratitude and friendship into murderous jealousy.
• Trust and human nature: Xiao Lie’s distress emphasizes how hard it is to predict what people may become.
• Family and forgiveness: Shen Shixu readily forgives the missed celebration and welcomes the pair home without reproach.
• Humor amid danger: Shen Shixu’s joke about using the pearls as burial goods eases the grimness of the story.

Character interactions

• Shen Shixu gently questions Bai Lixi about Xiao Lie’s condition, then comforts both men and offers to hold a belated wedding celebration.
• Xiao Lie presents the pearls and insists they toast Shen Shixu and Jin Yi’s marriage.
• Bai Lixi and Xiao Lie consider replacing the gifts once they realize they came from a tomb, but Shen Shixu refuses to let them take further risks.

Plot points and events

• Xiao Jinyi overhears Shen Shixu talking about saving objects to serve as burial goods for the two of them. He mistakes this practical remark for a declaration that Shen wants to share his whole life—and death—with him.
• Shen Shixu teases and corrects his lovesick husband, but is touched by Xiao Jinyi’s affection. Xiao feeds Shen pastries while Shen, hungry, happily accepts.
• Xiao Lie mocks the newlyweds’ sweetness. Xiao Jinyi fires back by teasing his uncle about looking old beside Bai Lixi, prompting Xiao Lie to chase him.
• Bai Lixi and Shen Shixu step aside to chat, leaving the uncle and nephew to roughhouse. Their play accidentally injures Mo Yu, who has arrived to announce dinner.
• Mo Yu dramatically claims he has been badly hurt and asks Shen for justice. Though Shen recognizes the exaggeration, he compensates him with money and gives him and Bai He a paid day off. Mo Yu gratefully pledges his loyalty.

Character developments

• Xiao Jinyi is openly devoted and romantic, interpreting Shen’s words in the most affectionate way possible. He also shows a playful, sharp-tongued side when teasing Xiao Lie.
• Shen Shixu is practical and caring: he clarifies his meaning, makes sure Xiao Jinyi is well, and compensates Mo Yu for being caught in the crossfire.
• Xiao Lie and Bai Lixi continue their playful married dynamic. Xiao Lie’s teasing provokes Xiao Jinyi, while Bai Lixi handles him with affectionate firmness.
• Mo Yu turns an accidental injury into a theatrical appeal, then enthusiastically accepts Shen’s generosity.

Significant themes

• Newlywed affection: Xiao Jinyi and Shen Shixu express love through teasing, feeding, and everyday care.
• Misunderstanding and humor: Xiao Jinyi’s romantic interpretation of a practical comment drives the opening comedy.
• Playful family bonds: The banter and roughhousing show the ease and intimacy among the group.
• Kindness and loyalty: Shen takes responsibility for Mo Yu’s mishap, and Mo Yu responds with exaggerated devotion.

Character interactions

• Xiao Jinyi and Shen Shixu exchange affectionate teasing, with Shen indulging Xiao’s sentiment while reminding him that their marriage already proves his commitment.
• Xiao Jinyi and Xiao Lie trade barbs before their roughhousing goes too far.
• Bai Lixi and Shen observe the pair’s scuffle until Mo Yu’s cries draw them out.
• Shen comforts and compensates Mo Yu, who immediately declares himself and Bai He loyal to him.

Plot points and events

• Mo Yu pretends to be injured after being struck, but Xiao Jinyi catches him acting healthy and brings him back to demand compensation from Xiao Lie.
• At Xiao Jinyi’s prompting, Mo Yu theatrically complains of stomach pain. Bai Lixi gives him two gold ingots and sends him home before Bai He can scold him.
• At dinner, Bai Lixi punishes Xiao Jinyi and Xiao Lie by threatening to withhold their meal for roughhousing. Xiao Lie persuades him to choose a lighter punishment instead.
• Bai Lixi warns them that their playful blows could seriously injure the household’s non-martial staff. Shen Shixu reinforces the warning, and Xiao Jinyi promises to be more careful.
• Conversation turns to the newlyweds’ limited leave. Xiao Lie encourages them to take a proper trip together; Shen Shixu calls it a “honeymoon,” and Xiao Jinyi embraces the idea.
• Bai Lixi recommends Spring Breeze Town for its scenery, flowers, grapes, and peaches. Shen Shixu eagerly proposes setting out after their family visit the next day, and Xiao Jinyi agrees.

Character developments and interactions

• Xiao Jinyi shows his mischievous, scheming side by turning Mo Yu’s fake injury into a chance to extract compensation from Xiao Lie. He also attentively serves Shen Shixu and is eager to make the proposed trip happen.
• Mo Yu is revealed as increasingly crafty, apparently influenced by his relationship with Bai He; he readily joins Xiao Jinyi’s compensation scheme.
• Xiao Lie and Bai Lixi’s close, affectionate relationship is clear: Xiao Lie appeals to Bai Lixi’s feelings, while Bai Lixi balances discipline with concern for others’ safety.
• Shen Shixu is excited by the prospect of a relaxing trip with Xiao Jinyi, rather than another journey devoted to investigating cases.
• The chapter closes with the prospect of the honeymoon set against the couple’s frustration that officials keep visiting their residence to fish for gossip.

Significant themes

• Playfulness and consequences: joking around can still hurt people, especially those unable to defend themselves.
• Newlywed intimacy: a shared holiday is presented as a way to deepen a relationship.
• Affection expressed through care: the characters’ closeness appears in teasing, practical concern, and small gestures such as serving food.

Key plot points and events

• After dinner, Xiao Jinyi checks the preparations for Shen Shixu’s homecoming visit. He has arranged an extravagant assortment of gifts—silks, food, jewelry, precious metals, livestock, produce, and even two shops. Shen thinks it is excessive, but Xiao insists the gifts honor his husband and in-laws. He agrees not to add more when Shen asks.
• That night, Shen declines Xiao’s advances because he is tired and wants to save his energy for the visit. Xiao sulks, then asks for kisses and cuddling instead. Their affection keeps them awake until midnight, and Xiao’s tight embrace gives Shen a night of nightmares.
• The next morning, the couple travels to the Shen Residence. Xiao helps Shen out of the carriage, earning quiet approval from Shen’s parents.
• Shen and his mother enter together, chatting warmly, while Xiao speaks with his father-in-law. Shen’s mother is pleased to see that her son looks happy and well cared for.
• Shen’s mother mentions that Shen Zexi has been leaving home often and returning in high spirits. Shen guesses his brother may have found someone and encourages the family not to interrupt him. Just then, Zexi returns, saying he came because it is his younger brother’s homecoming visit.

Character developments

• Xiao Jinyi shows how seriously he takes his role as Shen’s husband, expressing devotion through lavish gifts and constant affection. He is eager for intimacy but respects Shen’s refusal, settling for kisses and cuddling.
• Shen Shixu balances teasing affection with practical boundaries: he limits the gifts and asks to rest, while also reassuring Xiao and encouraging his brother’s possible romance.
• Shen Mother warmly welcomes her son and accepts Xiao as family, while continuing to tease and advise Shen.
• Shen Zexi appears to have a new romantic interest, though the chapter does not yet confirm the relationship.

Significant themes

• Marriage as mutual care and respect: Xiao’s gifts and attentiveness, and Shen’s ability to set boundaries, present a loving partnership.
• Family acceptance: Xiao’s respectful conduct helps reassure Shen’s parents that their son is being treated well.
• Homecoming and family ties: The visit celebrates Shen’s continued bond with his birth family after marriage.
• Emerging romance: Shen Zexi’s unexplained absences hint at a developing relationship.

Character interactions

• Xiao and Shen move between playful desire and tenderness, with Shen refusing sex but permitting affectionate closeness.
• Xiao’s careful assistance at the carriage and his conversation with Shen’s father reinforce his respectful place in the family.
• Shen and his mother joke and embrace, while she expresses affection for both Shen and her son-in-law.
• Shen supports his brother’s apparent romance by persuading his mother not to summon him; Zexi’s arrival then sets up a family reunion.

Key plot points and events

• Shen Shixu tells his elder brother, Shen Zexi, that once Zexi marries, his spouse and future family should come first. Zexi agrees to remember this, though he reassures Shixu that he is still the most important person in his life for now.
• The newlyweds, Shixu and Xiao Jinyi, explain that Jinyi secured them two extra days of leave, giving them time to visit Spring Breeze Town.
• After lunch, they travel by carriage and arrive at dusk. The town’s cool breeze and quiet scenery offer a welcome contrast to the Capital’s oppressive heat.
• A friendly local woman guides them to an inn and recommends nearby attractions, including Lotus Lake, grape picking, and a cold well for chilling fruit. The couple finds the inn’s last superior room and settles in.
• Tired from the journey, Shixu receives a massage from Jinyi, who uses his internal energy to ease his aches.

Character developments and interactions

• Shen Shixu shows maturity and consideration by encouraging Zexi to prioritize his future spouse. He is also openly affectionate with Jinyi, leaning on him and enjoying their time together.
• Shen Zexi listens to his younger brother’s advice and responds with warmth and teasing reassurance.
• Xiao Jinyi demonstrates care by arranging extra leave and tending to Shixu after the long ride. Shixu’s happiness makes him resolve to take his husband on more outings.
• Shen Father and Shen Mother are pleased by Shixu’s thoughtful advice, seeing it as evidence that marriage has made him more mature.
• The welcoming local woman helps the travelers with directions, lodging, and sightseeing tips; they thank her with pastries after she refuses payment.

Significant themes

• Marriage and priorities: A healthy marriage requires placing one’s spouse and immediate family first.
• Care and mutual affection: Jinyi’s practical attentiveness and Shixu’s closeness show the couple’s growing comfort and happiness.
• Rest and shared experience: Their trip is a rare holiday rather than work travel, offering them a chance to enjoy new surroundings together.
• Hospitality and community: The local woman’s kindness gives the town its welcoming character.

Plot points and events

• After eating at their inn, Shen Shixu and Xiao Jinyi arrange hot bathwater. They bathe together, and the scene closes with them retiring behind the bed curtains.
• The next morning, they explore the lively town, buying woven bamboo hats and clay figurines. Shen Shixu chooses figurines as gifts for An Chengyu.
• He discovers candied-fruit skewers in unfamiliar flavors—grape, peach, and watermelon—and shares one with Xiao Jinyi. They discuss making similar treats at home, where the estate grows plenty of fruit.
• The couple head to Lotus Lake and rent a small boat. Xiao Jinyi rows while Shen Shixu enjoys the breeze, lotus fragrance, and shade.

Character developments

• Shen Shixu is relaxed, easily delighted by new foods and local crafts, and thoughtful toward friends. He is comfortable relying on Xiao Jinyi and sharing the day with him.
• Xiao Jinyi is attentive and affectionate: he washes Shen Shixu’s hair, shares the food, promises to arrange homemade candied fruit, and rows the boat.

Themes

• Domestic intimacy: Their shared bath and everyday routines show their growing closeness.
• Travel and discovery: Local goods and foods make the outing enjoyable and distinctive.
• Care and companionship: Xiao Jinyi looks after Shen Shixu, while Shen Shixu remembers others and shares what he enjoys.

Character interactions

• At the inn, Xiao Jinyi takes charge of the bath and cares for Shen Shixu, who initially offers to give him the tub.
• In town, Shen Shixu eagerly chooses treats and invites Xiao Jinyi to taste them; Xiao Jinyi offers to recreate them at home.
• On the lake, Xiao Jinyi rows and provides shade, while Shen Shixu relaxes and enjoys the outing.

Plot and events

• While boating on Lotus Lake, Shen Shixu playfully puts a lotus in Xiao Jinyi’s hair. Xiao fetches one for Shen, and they admire how beautiful he looks wearing it.
• After lunch, they visit the Lin family’s vineyard and pay to pick grapes. Shen hopes to turn them into juice, so Xiao tries crushing some by hand; the result tastes poor. Shen stops the experiment and suggests asking Rong Hua for help back in the Capital.
• The next day, they buy watermelons and leave them to chill in a well. While waiting, they climb a nearby hill and admire the view over Spring Breeze Town.
• Shen reflects that the town is peaceful and wishes they could stay. Xiao reminds him that home is where their loved ones are, though they can always return. They eat the chilled watermelon, settle their inn bill, and depart for the Capital.

Character development

• Shen is playful and pleasure-seeking, enjoying flowers, fruit, and the town’s scenery. Yet he remains mindful of his responsibilities and the people awaiting him at home.
• Xiao is affectionate and attentive, openly praising Shen and indulging his enthusiasm. His clumsy attempt at making grape juice also shows his eagerness to solve problems for Shen, even without knowing how.

Themes and interactions

• Affection and admiration: The lotus-flower exchange lets Xiao express his admiration, while Shen teases him into voicing it.
• Home and belonging: Shen recognizes the appeal of a peaceful place but concludes that home is defined by the people who matter to you.
• Everyday joys and duty: The couple enjoy simple pleasures together, but their return is tied to Shen’s work, reunions, guidance, and the lively gossip awaiting him in the Capital.

Summary

Everyday Life ①: Ministers seek gossip

On the second evening of their marriage, Shen Shixu goes to bathe alone, having refused Xiao Jinyi’s company because he fears Xiao will take advantage of the situation. Xiao waits in their bedroom until Mo Yu reports that ministers are lingering outside the residence. Armed with a sword, Xiao confronts them and accuses them of trying to eavesdrop on A-Xu.
A mechanical voice reveals the private troubles of General Cao: after an old injury left him unable to perform, he tried to arrange for his wife to find another man. She discovered the scheme, drove him away with a hairpin, and returned to her parents’ home with their children. The ministers recognize Cao, who has been hiding nearby, and leave satisfied with the gossip. Xiao is left annoyed at how much time they have to pry into other people’s lives.

Everyday Life ②: Shen Zexi courts Rong Hua

While Shen Shixu and Xiao are away on their honeymoon, Shen Zexi visits Rong Hua, bringing fruit sent by Xiao. He explains that he is taking a break from the family business and that Rong Hua is his only close friend. Rong Hua welcomes him warmly and asks him to help with the monthly accounts.
As they work, Shen Zexi cautiously asks about Rong Hua’s hopes for a partner. Rong Hua says he has no strict requirements and would love someone regardless of gender, provided he genuinely cares for them. Encouraged, Shen Zexi privately realizes he has a chance and resolves to pursue Rong Hua patiently, though he knows the path may be difficult.

Character developments and interactions

• Xiao Jinyi is protective and quick to confront perceived threats, but restrains himself around Shen Shixu’s boundaries. He is exasperated by the ministers’ nosiness.
• Shen Shixu sets a playful but firm boundary by bathing alone.
• The ministers reveal their eagerness for gossip, while General Cao is embarrassed by his marital troubles and unsuccessfully tries to hide.
• Shen Zexi becomes more open about his feelings for Rong Hua and gains hope after learning Rong Hua is open to loving someone of any gender.
• Rong Hua is trusting and affectionate toward Shen Zexi, but remains oblivious to the romantic intent behind his questions.

Significant themes

The chapter contrasts comic curiosity about other people’s private lives with sincere personal vulnerability. It also explores marriage, loyalty, and unconventional love: General Cao’s misguided attempt to free his wife highlights the strain of unspoken feelings, while Shen Zexi’s growing confidence suggests that patient, genuine affection may overcome uncertainty.

Key events

• Shen Shixu and Xiao Jinyi are left to babysit three young relatives while their parents enjoy a child-free outing.
• A quarrel over who gets to be carried turns into tears; the older boy’s teasing makes matters worse. The adults calm the children with patience and snacks.
• The boys soon make up and climb a peach tree in search of fruit. Shen Shixu and Xiao Jinyi find them and pick peaches for them instead.
• After the children get messy, the couple tries to bathe them. The two younger boys fear the large pool, but feel safe enough to join once the adults get in too. Bath time becomes a water fight before the exhausted children finally fall asleep.
• Once the children are returned home, Shen Shixu and Xiao Jinyi agree that they prefer their carefree life together and promise to look after each other.

Character developments and interactions

• Shen Shixu and Xiao Jinyi discover firsthand that caring for several small children is far harder than it looks. They work together to settle arguments, keep the boys safe, and manage bath time.
• The three boys show distinct personalities: Xiao Mu clings to his uncle, Shen Rong protests his turn being taken, and Xiao Li acts like a leader but panics when his teasing makes the younger boys cry.
• Despite their squabbles, the children quickly reconcile and enjoy playing together. Their interactions bring out both their affection for one another and their mischievousness.

Significant themes

• The warmth and humor of family life, especially the contrast between children’s adorable sleeping faces and their energetic chaos while awake.
• Caregiving as an exhausting but affectionate shared effort.
• The couple’s contentment with their child-free life and commitment to one another.
  The chapter ends with a teaser for the next book, My Uncle Is Three and a Half, about a mysterious little boy mistaken for the son or younger brother of several prominent men—though he is, unexpectedly, their uncle.