Chapter Summaries

Key plot points

• Xie Guifan taunts Shen Zhijie with the marriage contract that binds Shen Yuzhu to him. Zhijie punches him, but Yuzhu stops her brother from escalating the fight to protect their family from political repercussions.
• Xiao Yu learns that Duan Wu and Shen Yuzhu’s second uncle conspired to arrange the match: Duan Wu sought revenge on the Shen family, while the uncle was willing to trade his daughter for influence.
• Yuzhu is devastated to discover her father’s betrayal, while Zhijie struggles to contain his anger on her behalf.
• Xiao Yu intervenes, claiming to be attracted to Xie Guifan and ordering the Imperial Guards to take him to his residence. Xie protests and invokes his father’s rank, but Xiao Yu asserts his imperial authority and refuses to let him go.

Character developments

• Shen Yuzhu tries to endure the humiliation quietly, but learning of her father’s role deepens her heartbreak and sense of abandonment.
• Shen Zhijie shows fierce loyalty to his sister, yet restrains himself when she warns that fighting could endanger their family.
• Xiao Yu uses his outrageous reputation and commanding status to turn Xie’s own coercive behavior against him, though his intervention is deliberately provocative.
• Xie Guifan, initially smug and bullying, becomes frightened when confronted by someone with greater power.

Significant themes

• Betrayal and family duty: Yuzhu’s father treats her as a bargaining tool, shattering her hopes.
• Power and coercion: Xie exploits his noble status to pressure Yuzhu; Xiao Yu counters him through superior political authority.
• Loyalty and protection: Zhijie and Xiao Yu both act to shield Yuzhu, though in very different ways.
• Revenge: Duan Wu’s grudge drives the scheme against the Shen family.

Character interactions

• Zhijie confronts Xie physically, while Yuzhu intervenes to prevent the dispute from harming their family.
• Xie mocks Yuzhu and asserts control through the marriage contract, intensifying her distress.
• Xiao Yu first unsettles Xie with flirtatious teasing, then uses the Imperial Guards to overpower his resistance, leaving the scene on Xie’s desperate pleas for release.

Key plot points and events

• Xiao Yu stops Xie Guifan from harassing Shen Yuzhu, but when Xie struggles, Xiao Yu accidentally tears open the front of his flimsy robe. Xie, humiliated and furious, accuses Xiao Yu of shameless behavior and flees.
• The onlookers immediately assume Xiao Yu was making advances on Xie. Shen Zhijie jokingly asks why Xiao Yu prefers Xie to him, while Xiao Yu insists the incident was a misunderstanding.
• Xiao Yu asks Shen Yuzhu what she plans to do about her marriage contract. He advises her to settle the matter with her family and says she need not marry simply because of her age or social expectations; marriage should come from mutual affection, and her happiness matters most.
• Reassured, Shen Yuzhu thanks him and invites him to eat noodles. Shen Zhijie supports her and is grateful to Xiao Yu.
• Back at the palace, the Crown Prince has heard the rumors and asks whether Xiao Yu truly likes Xie. He explains that the Marquis of Pingxi has complained to the Emperor, claiming Xiao Yu violated his grandson.
• The Crown Prince is ordered to stay with the Empress and princess, preventing him from intervening. Xiao Yu enters the Imperial Study to face the Emperor, while the Crown Prince waits outside, ready to fetch his mother if necessary.

Character developments and interactions

• Xiao Yu acts to protect Shen Yuzhu, then becomes the target of scandalous rumors. He remains reassuring and respectful toward her, affirming her right to choose whether and when to marry.
• Shen Yuzhu moves from uncertainty about her engagement and social obligations toward greater confidence in prioritizing her own happiness.
• Shen Zhijie is protective of his sister, wants the engagement ended, and shows both playful jealousy toward Xiao Yu and gratitude for his help.
• Xie Guifan leaves in anger and humiliation, while his family’s complaint escalates the incident into a dispute with the Emperor.
• The Crown Prince is confused by rumors about Xiao Yu’s romantic interests but remains concerned for him and plans to support him if the confrontation goes badly.

Significant themes

• Personal choice versus social pressure: Shen Yuzhu is encouraged to make marriage decisions for herself rather than submit to convention.
• Rumor and reputation: A clumsy accident is quickly recast as a scandal, with consequences reaching the palace.
• Protection and loyalty: Xiao Yu intervenes for Shen Yuzhu, while Shen Zhijie and the Crown Prince show concern for those close to them.

Key plot points

• Prince Yu, Xiao Yu, returns to Emperor Jinyuan’s study, where the Marquis of Pingxi is demanding justice after Xiao Yu’s confrontation with the marquis’s grandson, Xie Guifan.
• Xiao Yu explains that Xie Guifan was abducting a woman, so Xiao Yu retaliated by abducting him. The emperor initially exclaims at Xiao Yu’s audacity, but then asks the marquis whether the accusation is true.
• The marquis cannot deny it, knowing that an investigation could expose his grandson’s mistreatment of women. As he considers this, Xiao Yu’s private thoughts reveal that Xie Guifan will eventually poison the marquis, leave him helpless, and bring about the family’s ruin. The marquis suddenly faints.
• The emperor sends the marquis to the Imperial Medical Bureau, then reprimands Xiao Yu for his repeated scandals and the many ministers calling for his impeachment. Xiao Yu’s father has also sent an angry memorial urging the emperor to discipline him.
• The emperor confines Xiao Yu to the Eastern Palace and forbids him to leave without permission. Xiao Yu leaves cheerfully, despite the scolding.
• In Southern Zhao, acting king Qi Yunheng asks about recent news. When he hears that Xiao Yu abducted a man in the Jin Kingdom’s capital, he smashes his desk in anger.

Character developments and interactions

• Xiao Yu remains brazen, playful, and unrepentant. He needles the marquis and frames his retaliation as a matter of fairness, while relying on the emperor’s protection.
• Emperor Jinyuan is exasperated by Xiao Yu’s recklessness but clearly favors and shields him. He is caught between protecting his younger brother and maintaining order—and ultimately punishes him by confinement.
• The Marquis of Pingxi begins furious and demanding, but falters when confronted with the truth about Xie Guifan. His fainting interrupts the confrontation.
• Qi Yunheng is shown as a diligent but politically embattled acting king; his violent reaction to the news suggests a strong personal stake in Xiao Yu’s actions.
• The emperor and Xiao Yu trade familiar, teasing complaints, while the marquis’s confrontation with Xiao Yu exposes the tension between the prince’s impunity and the law.

Significant themes

• Favoritism versus justice: The emperor openly protects Xiao Yu, even as he must address the marquis’s claims.
• Power and accountability: Xiao Yu’s status shields him from immediate consequences, while the marquis’s grandson’s abuses threaten to surface under scrutiny.
• Reputation and political pressure: Xiao Yu’s conduct fuels impeachment efforts and damages trust between the emperor and Xiao Yu’s father.
• Foreshadowing and dramatic irony: The reader learns the marquis’s household will be destroyed by Xie Guifan, even as the marquis remains devoted to him.

Plot points and events

• After hearing that Xiao Yu has supposedly taken an interest in someone else, Qi Yunheng explodes with jealousy and orders Uncle Fu not to mention him again. Uncle Fu suspects that, despite the anger, Xiao Yu has made Qi’s previously lifeless gaze more animated.
• In Jin’s Eastern Palace, Fuxi arrives with a bottle of poison on Qi Yunheng’s orders, claiming Xiao Yu has damaged his master’s reputation and must die. Xiao Yu refuses to drink it and sends back a letter explaining himself.
• Qi Yunheng reads Xiao Yu’s letter: “You may poison my body, but you cannot stop my heart from loving you.” Flustered, he tries—and repeatedly fails—to compose a dignified reply, eventually sending only “Wan.ton.”
• Xiao Yu reads the insult, flies into a rage, and throws both the letter and Fuxi out the window. When Fuxi insists on taking back a reply, Xiao Yu threatens to roast it and sends Xiao Ba back as well, declaring he will no longer raise it.

Character developments and interactions

• Qi Yunheng reveals intense jealousy and emotional investment in Xiao Yu. His anger gives way to embarrassment and agitation when he receives Xiao Yu’s declaration, though he hides his feelings behind insults.
• Xiao Yu is startled and embarrassed that Qi Yunheng has heard the rumors, but remains defiant and refuses to die. He responds to Qi’s “Wan.ton” with comic outrage.
• Uncle Fu quietly observes Qi Yunheng’s unusual emotional liveliness and appears to encourage the connection indirectly.
• Qinggeng protects Xiao Yu from Fuxi, while Xiao Yu reassures it that the messenger poses no immediate threat.
• Fuxi acts as the reluctant messenger between the two men, becoming the target of Xiao Yu’s anger. Xiao Ba is caught up in the quarrel and sent back to Qi Yunheng.

Significant themes

• Jealousy and concealed affection: Both men react strongly to rumors and messages, while disguising their feelings with anger and insults.
• Miscommunication and comic romance: Xiao Yu’s earnest confession and Qi Yunheng’s awkward, one-word reply intensify the misunderstanding.
• Defiance and self-preservation: Xiao Yu refuses the poison, insisting that he will not give up his life.

Plot points and events

• In Southern Zhao, Qi Yunheng worries that Xiao Yu has stopped replying. Uncle Fu suspects his earlier editing made Qi’s letter sound too much like a lecture, and suggests sending a shorter one.
• Qi sends Xiao Ba back to Jin with another note. Xiao Yu reluctantly reads it, rejects Qi’s demand for a reply, and eventually sends back, “I don’t want to.”
• Their correspondence turns into a comic back-and-forth: Xiao Yu asks whether Qi has nothing better to do, and Qi replies that he is busy but still makes time to write to him.
• When Fuxi delivers Qi’s next letter in the middle of the night, Xiao Yu answers by telling Qi to wash up and go to bed early, calling him a “little brat.” Qi angrily corrects him, but Xiao Yu teases him in reply by offering to call him “Ah Heng” instead.
• Qi is delighted by the affectionate nickname. Once Southern Zhao is settled, he tells Uncle Fu he wants to visit Jin.

Character development and interactions

• Qi’s worry about Xiao Yu’s silence reveals how much he values their connection, even as he insists he has no romantic feelings. His irritation at being called a brat quickly gives way to visible pleasure at “Ah Heng.”
• Xiao Yu remains prickly and dismissive, but he keeps answering Qi’s letters and shows a flicker of unexpected tenderness at Qi’s insistence that he makes time for him.
• Uncle Fu feels responsible for having altered Qi’s earlier letter and steps back from interfering in their exchanges.
• Xiao Ba, afraid of being abandoned, wins Xiao Yu’s reassurance and becomes his “new master.” Little Eleven tries to comfort Qi with candy, but Qi responds by assigning him writing practice.

Significant themes

• Affection through teasing: Their banter and mock irritation disguise a growing intimacy.
• Distance and communication: The letters—and the birds carrying them—keep the two men connected despite their separation.
• Unspoken attachment: Both men downplay their feelings, yet their eagerness to write, read, and interpret each other’s messages says otherwise.

Plot points and events

• Three years later, Prince Yu, Xiao Yu, uses himself as bait at the Fortune House to lure a wanted mask maker who can alter people’s faces. Just as he is about to catch the man, a masked stranger bursts in and drives the target away with a dagger.
• Xiao Yu complains that the stranger has spoiled his plan. The masked man abruptly collapses onto him, revealing an abdominal wound.
• Xiao Yu helps the stranger to bed and asks his attendant, Shen Zhijie, for hot water and medicine. The injured man refuses to let Shen treat him, so Xiao Yu tends to the wound himself.
• The stranger, Qi Yunheng, starts to remove his mask, but Xiao Yu stops him, wary of being pressured into taking responsibility after seeing his face. While examining him, Xiao Yu flirts and teases; Qi becomes flustered and insists he not touch or stare at certain places.
• Xiao Yu claims he likes women. Qi, who has heard rumors of Xiao Yu’s romantic exploits, privately dismisses this as a lie.

Character developments and interactions

• Xiao Yu is bold, irreverent, and flirtatious, but also practical and considerate: despite his annoyance at losing the mask maker, he treats the stranger’s wound and respects his wish to keep his face hidden.
• Qi Yunheng is guarded and secretive, yet visibly shy around Xiao Yu. His reaction suggests he is personally affected by Xiao Yu’s attention.
• Shen Zhijie is loyal and concerned for Xiao Yu, but his eagerness to leave the two men alone leads him to imagine the stranger is Xiao Yu’s lover.
• Xiao Yu and Qi’s first encounter is charged with teasing and mutual misreadings: Xiao Yu interprets Qi’s reserve as shyness, while Qi sees Xiao Yu’s flirtation as evidence of his rumored promiscuity.

Significant themes

• Appearance and secrecy: The face-changing mask maker and Qi’s concealed identity establish masks and hidden selves as central motifs.
• Flirtation and misunderstanding: Their banter creates comic tension while revealing how differently the two men interpret each other.
• Duty versus desire: Xiao Yu’s attempt to capture a criminal is derailed by an unexpected encounter that shifts his attention to caring for an injured stranger.

Plot points

• Qi Yunheng reflects on his growing desire for Xiao Yu and recalls traveling to the Jin Kingdom after six years apart. Jealousy and hurt led him to attack Xiao Yu when he saw him with another man, though he deliberately missed and softened at the last moment.
• Xiao Yu treats Qi Yunheng’s wound but does not recognize him. His thoughts reveal that he remembers his childhood friend Ah Heng and plans to write to him about meeting a stranger with a similarly bad temper.
• Qi Yunheng realizes Xiao Yu is thinking of him and is affected by the discovery. When Xiao Yu reaches to check his fever, Qi Yunheng tells him not to touch him, creating an awkward, charged moment.
• Xiao Yu invites Qi Yunheng—who gives the courtesy name Yuchu—to eat. They go to a restaurant, where they run into Su Xun.
• A male courtesan approaches Xiao Yu, but Qi Yunheng drives him away and asks whether Xiao Yu often visits the establishment. Su Xun challenges Qi Yunheng’s right to control Xiao Yu. Stung by the question, Qi Yunheng leaves through a window.

Character developments and interactions

• Qi Yunheng is possessive and jealous, but his feelings are complicated by restraint and tenderness. Learning that Xiao Yu remembers him—though not yet recognizing him—gives him hope, while Su Xun’s challenge exposes how little claim he believes he has.
• Xiao Yu is caring toward the injured stranger yet remains unaware that he is his old friend. His attraction and unease surface in the brief, silent moment when Qi Yunheng rebuffs his touch.
• Su Xun needles Qi Yunheng and takes a protective, older-brother stance toward Xiao Yu. His intervention intensifies the rivalry and awkwardness.

Significant themes

• Unrecognized identity and memory: Xiao Yu remembers Ah Heng but fails to connect him with Yuchu.
• Jealousy and possessiveness: Qi Yunheng’s longing turns into resentment when he sees Xiao Yu with others.
• Restraint and vulnerability: Qi Yunheng tempers violence and hides his feelings, while Xiao Yu struggles to interpret their charged interaction.
• The right to claim someone: Su Xun’s question—“What right do you have to control him?”—forces Qi Yunheng to confront his uncertain place in Xiao Yu’s life.

Key plot points and events

• After Qi Yunheng storms out, Su Xun teases Xiao Yu about their apparent history. Xiao Yu insists they barely know each other and threatens to report Su Xun for taking him to Drunken Spring House. Their banter gives way to a serious conversation: at eighteen, Xiao Yu plans to leave the palace and establish his own household.
• Xiao Yu tells Su Xun to reassure their grandfather that he knows what he is doing. He does not mention that he would rather return to the Southern Border to see his family, believing Emperor Jinyuan would refuse.
• Xiao Yu asks the emperor for permission to move into Prince Yu’s Residence. The emperor would prefer to keep him in the palace—as a trusted stabilizing presence at court and, eventually, as support for the Crown Prince—but agrees that Xiao Yu may leave after the autumn hunt.
• The emperor reflects fondly on the six years Xiao Yu has spent in the capital and admits that, despite his old complaints about Xiao Yu, he has grown attached to him.
• Later, the Crown Prince finds Xiao Yu on the roof. Xiao Yu happily shares the news that he can move out; the Crown Prince is saddened and asks him to stay. Xiao Yu says he cannot remain in the Eastern Palace forever and tells the Crown Prince it is time to take a Crown Princess.

Character developments

• Xiao Yu remains composed and independent, determined to leave the palace while carefully avoiding a direct request to return home. He also draws a clear boundary around the idea of marrying the young princess, whom he regards as a daughter or younger sister.
• Emperor Jinyuan reveals that his reluctance to let Xiao Yu go comes from both political concerns and genuine affection. Though he wants Xiao Yu to help steady the court, he ultimately respects his wish to move out.
• The Crown Prince shows how attached he has become to Xiao Yu: the prospect of losing his daily presence visibly disappoints him.
• Su Xun shifts from playful teasing to sincere concern about Xiao Yu’s future, while still providing comic relief.

Significant themes

• Independence versus duty: Xiao Yu seeks a life beyond the palace, while the emperor and Crown Prince hope to keep him close for personal and political reasons.
• Affection and separation: The emperor’s nostalgia and the Crown Prince’s sadness show the emotional cost of Xiao Yu leaving.
• Boundaries and propriety: Xiao Yu rejects the emperor’s suggestion that he marry the princess and cites palace rules as a reason to establish his own household.
• Humor masking deeper feelings: Jokes and teasing soften conversations about loyalty, attachment, and impending separation.

Character interactions

• Su Xun teases Xiao Yu about Qi Yunheng’s apparent resentment, then asks about Xiao Yu’s plans on their grandfather’s behalf.
• Xiao Yu respectfully but firmly negotiates with Emperor Jinyuan, who tries to keep him in the palace and proposes him as a future match for Princess Xiyue.
• The Crown Prince shares Xiao Yu’s happiness at first, but his disappointment reveals how much he depends on their closeness.

Key plot points and events

• Xiao Yu comforts the Crown Prince, who is unhappy about being expected to marry. He urges him to speak up if he loves someone, not realizing the Crown Prince’s feelings are for him.
• When the Crown Prince asks whether Xiao Yu loves anyone, Xiao Yu gives a broad answer, though a mysterious figure briefly crosses his mind. The Crown Prince begins to confess his feelings, but an assassin interrupts.
• The masked assassin Yuchu shoots at them. Xiao Yu protects the Crown Prince from the first arrow; the Crown Prince then shields Xiao Yu from a second and is struck in the shoulder.
• Xiao Yu carries him inside and treats the wound. The arrow is poisoned, and Xiao Ba identifies the poison as a Southern Zhao gu that requires the poisoner’s blood as a catalyst for a cure.
• Before fainting, the Crown Prince tells Xiao Yu he does not want to take a Crown Princess. Xiao Yu promises that no one will force him while he is there.
• Xiao Yu suspects Yuchu’s attack may be connected to Qi Yunheng. When Qi Yunheng’s messenger Fuxi arrives with a letter, Xiao Yu tries to learn whether Qi has come to Jin. Instead, the letter accuses Xiao Yu of kissing and protecting someone, carrying him, and letting him into his bed.

Character developments and interactions

• The Crown Prince reveals how deeply he loves Xiao Yu, describing his feelings as admiration and faith. His willingness to take an arrow for him shows the depth of his devotion, while his hesitation to confess reflects his belief that their love could never be accepted.
• Xiao Yu is protective and reassuring toward the Crown Prince, but remains unaware of the full meaning of his affection. His brief, evasive reaction to the question of whom he likes suggests he may have feelings of his own.
• Xiao Ba demonstrates its growing abilities by speaking and catching Fuxi. Xiao Yu praises it, then interrogates Fuxi and restrains it when it does not answer.
• Xiao Yu’s practical concern for the Crown Prince turns to alarm when he discovers the poison, while the Crown Prince remains focused on Xiao Yu’s safety even as he is treated.

Significant themes

• Forbidden and unspoken love: The Crown Prince’s feelings conflict with his royal duties and expectations around marriage.
• Duty versus personal desire: His marriage is treated as a matter of state, leaving little room for his own choice.
• Protection and sacrifice: Both men act to shield the other, revealing their closeness in different ways.
• Jealousy and misunderstanding: Qi Yunheng’s letter implies he is jealous of Xiao Yu’s apparent intimacy with someone, setting up further tension.

Key plot points and events

• Xiao Yu reads Qi Yunheng’s letter and realizes its teasing references to kissing and cuddling may concern his closeness with the Crown Prince. He also concludes that the masked figure Yuchu is actually Qi Yunheng, who has secretly returned to Jin.
• Angered that Qi Yunheng shot at him and never revealed himself, Xiao Yu decides to find him. He threatens Qi Yunheng’s bird, Fuxi, and burns the feathers off its head until it reveals Qi Yunheng’s location.
• Xiao Yu leaves the ailing Crown Prince in Qinggeng’s care and goes to the abandoned residence where the Southern Zhao hostage once lived.
• In the dark, Qi Yunheng knocks Xiao Yu down. Xiao Yu recognizes him beneath his mask and tries to take him outside, but Qi Yunheng accuses him of being overly forward.
• Their argument turns to old rumors: Xiao Yu once claimed he was in love with Qi Yunheng and pursuing him. Xiao Yu is mortified, but acknowledges that spreading the rumors was his fault. He asks what Qi Yunheng wants; Qi Yunheng begins to answer, but the chapter ends before he says.

Character developments

• Xiao Yu shifts from bewilderment and irritation to determination to confront Qi Yunheng. Though he jokes and blusters, he accepts responsibility for the damage his rumors caused.
• Qi Yunheng remains guarded and resentful, confronting Xiao Yu over both the rumors and his casual physical contact. His embarrassment at Xiao Yu’s explanation hints at more complicated feelings.
• Qinggeng stays behind to care for the Crown Prince, while Fuxi reluctantly reveals its master’s whereabouts.

Significant themes

• Misunderstandings and rumors can have lasting consequences, especially when they harm someone’s reputation.
• The chapter blends comedy and tension through Xiao Yu’s threats, the burned-feathered bird, and the awkward confrontation.
• Secrecy and unresolved history shape the characters’ strained reunion, while the final exchange raises the question of what Qi Yunheng truly wants.

Character interactions

• Xiao Yu intimidates Fuxi into giving up Qi Yunheng’s location, then entrusts the Crown Prince to Qinggeng.
• Xiao Yu and Qi Yunheng trade accusations and jokes over physical closeness and Xiao Yu’s past declarations of love.
• Beneath the bickering, Xiao Yu’s apology and Qi Yunheng’s emotional reaction suggest their past still matters to both of them.

Plot points

• Qi Yunheng demands that Xiao Yu kiss him, jealous of rumors portraying Xiao Yu as intimate with other people—including the Crown Prince.
• Xiao Yu dismisses the stories as fictional, but Qi Yunheng insists that Xiao Yu’s willingness to tolerate them makes his refusal to kiss him hurtful.
• To end the argument, Xiao Yu kisses Qi Yunheng on the cheek. Qi Yunheng responds by grabbing him and kissing him on the lips, biting hard enough to make them both bleed.
• Xiao Yu bites back, and Qi Yunheng, startled by Xiao Yu’s anger, releases him and disappears. Xiao Yu is left injured and mortified, but remembers that he now has the medicinal catalyst and plans to test it with his blood.
• At a private residence, Uncle Fu finds Qi Yunheng pale and bloodied. Qi Yunheng admits that Xiao Yu kissed him and that he bit him. When Uncle Fu explains that this is not how to kiss, Qi Yunheng sincerely asks how it should be done.

Character developments

• Qi Yunheng reveals that his jealousy and resentment stem from strong, poorly understood feelings for Xiao Yu. He is impulsive and possessive, but also inexperienced and confused about intimacy.
• Xiao Yu gives in to the cheek kiss to settle the dispute, but is startled and angry when Qi Yunheng escalates it. Despite the awkward encounter, he remains focused on his practical goal of using the medicinal catalyst.

Themes

• Jealousy and insecurity: Qi Yunheng takes fictional stories and Xiao Yu’s rumored closeness with others personally.
• Miscommunication and emotional inexperience: Neither man handles the encounter well; Qi Yunheng cannot express his feelings gently, while Xiao Yu tries to deflect the underlying issue.
• Reputation versus reality: The sensational stories about Xiao Yu contrast with his own dismissal of them as harmless entertainment.

Character interactions

• Xiao Yu challenges Qi Yunheng to explain himself, but Qi Yunheng repeatedly returns to the demand for a kiss.
• Their argument shifts from playful accusation to a tense, unwantedly forceful kiss, leaving both injured and Xiao Yu angry.
• Uncle Fu becomes Qi Yunheng’s confidant and gently points out his lack of skill, prompting Qi Yunheng to seek guidance.

Plot and events

At morning court, Advising Grandee Ma Shang and Censor Lu accuse Prince Yu, Xiao Yu, of behaving indecently after being seen entering pleasure houses with men. Ma calls for Xiao’s removal from office, while Emperor Jinyuan braces for another court dispute. Xiao, unruffled, counters by asking whether seducing married women is even worse misconduct.
Xiao’s unspoken thoughts reveal Ma’s affair with Censor Lu’s former wife and his later pursuit of Superintendent Yin Huizhou’s mistress. Xiao also foresees that Ma and the mistress will frame Yin’s wife for adultery, drive her to suicide, and eventually murder Yin. The revelations set off chaos: Censor Lu slaps Ma, and Yin attacks him. The officials turn against Ma, who is arrested and sentenced to execution. The emperor orders Xiao to stay home from court for a few days, officially to reflect on his conduct and privately to get some peace.

Character developments and interactions

• Xiao Yu remains calm under accusation and uses his sharp tongue—and revealing inner thoughts—to expose Ma’s hypocrisy and crimes. His mouth is injured, which he explains awkwardly to Su Yan as the result of a nighttime fall; his thoughts insist he is innocent.
• Emperor Jinyuan is exasperated by Xiao’s repeated disruptions but recognizes that he exposes corrupt officials. He ultimately dismisses the court and gives himself a brief respite by sending Xiao home.
• Censor Lu initially backs the accusations against Xiao, then turns on Ma when he learns Ma betrayed him with his former wife.
• Yin Huizhou goes from trying to keep order to attacking Ma after learning the truth about his wife and mistress.
• Ma Shang, who had hoped to help bring Xiao down, is exposed as a serial seducer and conspirator, then arrested.
• Su Yan quietly asks Xiao about his injured mouth; Xiao’s embarrassment suggests concern about being judged.

Significant themes

The chapter contrasts public virtue with private corruption, as Ma’s moralizing accusation collapses under exposure of his own conduct. It also highlights Xiao’s disruptive truth-telling: his thoughts uncover wrongdoing that official procedure and appearances conceal. Finally, the scene mixes courtroom farce with serious injustice, as personal betrayal and abuse of power emerge amid a chaotic political spectacle.

Key plot points and events

• On the road outside Capital City, Qi Yunheng stops two scholars, Gongsun Yun and Yan Mu, at swordpoint. To learn how people kiss, he orders them to kiss each other.
• A woman named Zi Ying appears and offers to demonstrate. She kisses Gongsun Yun while he is trapped by Qi Yunheng’s blade. Qi Yunheng watches with visible displeasure, then releases the scholars and leaves.
• Gongsun Yun immediately declares himself in love with Zi Ying and runs after her. Yan Mu warns that her background is unknown and that Gongsun’s family may object, then watches him go in silence.
• In the Eastern Palace, Xiao Yu hides the storybook Qi Yunheng previously gave him when Qi arrives. Qi is hurt and angry that Xiao Yu seems wary of him, though Xiao Yu’s fear stems from Qi having bitten him before.
• Qi admits he came to Jin to see Xiao Yu. When he says he still needs a queen, Xiao Yu misunderstands and offers to find eligible Jin women for him to meet. Qi, furious at the misunderstanding, smashes a table and leaves.
• The Crown Prince arrives to investigate the noise. Xiao Yu claims the table was flimsy and asks for a replacement sturdy enough to withstand a beating.

Character developments and interactions

• Qi Yunheng is awkwardly trying to learn about kissing, but his possessiveness and temper remain evident. He wants Xiao Yu’s attention and reacts badly when Xiao Yu misunderstands his mention of a queen.
• Xiao Yu is cautious around Qi because of their past physical conflict, yet tries to placate him. His sincere offer to arrange a match shows how far he is from recognizing Qi’s feelings.
• Gongsun Yun is impulsive and quickly infatuated with Zi Ying after their encounter.
• Yan Mu is restrained and protective of Gongsun, but his quiet reaction as Gongsun pursues Zi Ying suggests unspoken feelings or disappointment.
• Zi Ying is flirtatious and confident, though she backs off when Qi threatens her.

Significant themes

• Miscommunication and unspoken affection: Qi’s desire for Xiao Yu clashes with Xiao Yu’s oblivious interpretation of his words.
• Jealousy and possessiveness: Qi’s discomfort watching Zi Ying kiss Gongsun, and his anger over Xiao Yu’s matchmaking offer, hint at deeper attachment.
• Comic contrast between decorum and desire: The scholars’ horror at the public kiss contrasts with the characters’ increasingly personal romantic entanglements.

Key plot points and events

• Xiao Yu checks on the Crown Prince, who is recovering from an injury sustained because of Xiao Yu. Xiao Yu tells him to rest, and the Crown Prince almost confesses something before Little Xiyue arrives.
• Xiyue admits she sneaked away from her nanny. The Crown Prince scolds her out of concern, while Xiao Yu playfully lifts and swings her, teasing her about boasting of her abilities.
• The Crown Prince sends Wei Yi to reassure the Empress and others that Xiyue is safe.
• While Xiyue rests against Xiao Yu, she notices his romance storybooks—many of them pair him with men. Her inner thoughts jokingly criticize the books for leaving the Crown Prince out and speculate about the two men’s romantic roles.
• Xiyue’s thoughts make both Xiao Yu and the Crown Prince cough and blush. They realize they can hear her thoughts, though neither acknowledges it aloud.
• The Crown Prince awkwardly leaves, then returns to take Xiyue with him before she can say more. Afterward, Xiao Yu wonders whether the Crown Prince really likes him and becomes quietly reflective.

Character developments

• Xiao Yu shows genuine concern for the Crown Prince and affectionate, teasing care for Xiyue. Her thoughts unsettle him and force him to consider the possibility of the Crown Prince’s feelings.
• The Crown Prince is tender toward Xiao Yu and protective of Xiyue. His embarrassment at her matchmaking thoughts suggests he may have romantic feelings for Xiao Yu, but he avoids confronting them.
• Little Xiyue is bold, mischievous, and convinced of her own special power. She also acts as an enthusiastic, unfiltered matchmaker, imagining Xiao Yu and the Crown Prince as a couple.

Significant themes

• Unspoken affection and romantic tension: Xiao Yu and the Crown Prince’s closeness is evident, but neither openly addresses what it might mean.
• Comic misunderstandings and privacy: Xiyue’s private thoughts expose feelings and assumptions the adults would rather keep hidden.
• Care and responsibility: The Crown Prince worries about Xiyue’s safety, while Xiao Yu’s attentiveness shows his affection for both her and the Crown Prince.

Character interactions

• Xiao Yu and the Crown Prince share a gentle, intimate exchange that is interrupted before the Crown Prince can speak.
• The Crown Prince reprimands Xiyue for sneaking out; Xiao Yu follows with playful teasing and physical affection.
• Xiyue’s matchmaking commentary embarrasses both men, while their mutual concern and exchanged glances intensify the romantic subtext.
• The Crown Prince removes Xiyue before she can say more, leaving Xiao Yu alone with the possibility that the Crown Prince likes him.

Key events

• Little Xiyue is found safe at the Empress’s chambers after secretly leaving to visit her Little Imperial Uncle. The Empress scolds her, and Xiyue admits her mistake and pleads to spare Nanny Fang from blame.
• The Crown Prince learns that his attendant Wei Yi never delivered the message he had sent to the Empress. He leaves, asking that Wei Yi meet him at the Ministry of Rites if he appears.
• In the Eastern Palace, Xiao Yu is reading a storybook when “Wei Yi” arrives. The attendant makes unwanted advances, undresses, and claims Xiao Yu should give in. Xiao Yu knocks him unconscious, but the man wakes and embraces him.
• Xiao Yu realizes the intruder is actually Wu Langxing wearing Wei Yi’s face. Wu says he disguised himself to reach Xiao Yu inside the palace and refuses to change back, wanting to remain there with him.
• Qi Yunheng enters and sees Xiao Yu holding a naked young man. Furious, he threatens to kill Xiao Yu.

Character developments and interactions

• Little Xiyue shows that she understands her mistake and cares about Nanny Fang, despite feeling embarrassed by her first public spanking.
• The Crown Prince is attentive to his family but becomes concerned when Wei Yi fails to appear.
• Xiao Yu remains wary and rejects Wu Langxing’s advances, prioritizing Wei Yi’s safety and demanding that Wu restore his face.
• Wu Langxing’s obsession with Xiao Yu is revealed through his deception and refusal to leave.
• Qi Yunheng’s sudden, jealous anger sets up a confrontation.

Significant themes

• Responsibility and care: Xiyue’s apology and concern for Nanny Fang contrast with the danger caused by her impulsive escape.
• Deception and mistaken identity: Wu Langxing’s disguise creates a threat within the palace and leaves Wei Yi’s whereabouts unknown.
• Boundaries and obsession: Xiao Yu rejects Wu’s advances, while Wu disregards his refusal.
• Jealousy and misunderstanding: Qi Yunheng interprets what he sees as betrayal, escalating the situation.

Plot points

• Qi Yunheng arrives and catches Xiao Yu with Wu Langxing, misunderstanding the scene. He attacks, beheading Wu—but Wu proves to be a supernatural being who can reattach his head.
• Wu lunges at Qi Yunheng. Xiao Yu breaks Wu’s blade-like arm and shields Qi, explaining that he will not tolerate harm to innocent people.
• Wu offers to free Wei Yi in exchange for a kiss from Xiao Yu. Xiao Yu refuses to bargain, while Qi clings to him, grows jealous, and bites his ear when Wu mentions Xiao Yu’s earlier promise.
• Hearing guards approach, Wu withdraws, implying he will pursue Xiao Yu again.
• Qi removes his Ghost Mask and insists Xiao Yu must take responsibility for having seen his face. He asks to kiss him, then kisses him; Xiao Yu does not push him away.
• The Crown Prince witnesses the kiss, dismisses the guards, and leaves in heartbreak, accepting that Xiao Yu does not belong to him.

Character developments and interactions

• Qi Yunheng reveals intense jealousy and possessiveness, but also vulnerability: he claims to be frightened and seeks closeness with Xiao Yu. His bold kiss suggests he is acting on long-held longing.
• Xiao Yu protects Qi despite their argument and stands against Wu’s violence. He remains wary of Qi’s possessiveness, but his failure to resist the kiss hints at growing affection or uncertainty.
• Wu Langxing is exposed as nonhuman and fixated on Xiao Yu. Though hostile and manipulative, he retreats rather than risk Xiao Yu’s anger.
• The Crown Prince quietly accepts his unreturned feelings and suffers the loss without confronting Xiao Yu or Qi.

Significant themes

• Jealousy and possessiveness: Qi’s rage and Wu’s fixation frame Xiao Yu as someone both men believe they might claim.
• Consent and emotional ambiguity: Xiao Yu objects to Qi’s behavior and does not openly welcome the kiss, yet ultimately does not push him away.
• Unrequited love and acceptance: The Crown Prince recognizes that his devotion cannot make Xiao Yu love him.
• Protectiveness and responsibility: Xiao Yu’s choice to defend Qi and oppose Wu’s harm to innocents reveals his moral resolve.

Plot points

• At the Autumn Hunt, the Sixth Prince taunts Xiao Yu about supposedly being expelled from the Eastern Palace. Xiao Yu mocks him in return and defends his friendship with Shen Zhijie.
• Cui Rong advises the Sixth Prince to court Xiao Yu rather than antagonize him, arguing that Xiao Yu could be won over once the Crown Prince is removed. The Sixth Prince agrees to act more courteously, though he remains unsure whom Xiao Yu would support.
• Xiao Yu and Shen Zhijie hunt together. After Xiao Yu makes a shot, they discuss Shen Zhijie’s sister Yuzhu: her former engagement to Xie Guifan ended three years earlier, and she has since cut ties with Shen Zhijie’s second uncle.
• Su Xun suddenly appears, fleeing a Tulao—a dangerous, goat-like beast with unusually tough hide. Xiao Yu’s ordinary arrow fails to harm it.
• Xiao Yu summons Xiao Ba, his enormous snake companion, but first uses spiritually charged arrows to pin the beast’s four horns down. Xiao Ba then swallows it.

Character developments and interactions

• Xiao Yu remains confident, sharp-tongued, and protective of his friends. He treats the Sixth Prince like a child, openly rejects political suspicion, and responds calmly and resourcefully to danger.
• The Sixth Prince is resentful of Xiao Yu’s closeness to the Crown Prince and Shen Zhijie, but Cui Rong’s counsel makes him recognize Xiao Yu’s political value.
• Shen Zhijie shows loyalty by accompanying Xiao Yu and stepping in front of him when danger approaches. His open admiration for Xiao Yu’s archery also adds a friendly, teasing note to their relationship.
• Su Xun turns to Xiao Yu for help and clings to him in panic, creating comic contrast with Xiao Yu’s composure.
• Xiao Ba is eager to eat the beast but wary of its sharp horns; Xiao Yu solves the problem before letting him feed.

Themes

• Court politics and shifting alliances: Xiao Yu’s influence makes him a prize in the struggle surrounding the Crown Prince’s position.
• Loyalty and friendship: Xiao Yu and Shen Zhijie’s easy rapport stands against the Sixth Prince’s isolation and suspicion.
• Competence under pressure: Xiao Yu handles both political provocation and a dangerous animal with confidence.
• Humor amid danger: Banter, frightened horses, and Xiao Ba’s food-related complaints lighten the hunt’s sudden peril.

Key plot points and events

• Su Xun admits he angered the Four-Horned Sheep by tugging on one of its horns. Xiao Yu scolds him for needlessly provoking dangerous creatures.
• Su Xun tells Xiao Yu that the Crown Prince was nearby and seemed agitated. Xiao Yu learns where he went and heads after him.
• The Crown Prince, unsettled after seeing Xiao Yu kiss a man, has been trying to identify that man. He catches sight of Qi Yunheng and asks about his relationship with Xiao Yu. Qi answers possessively: “He’s mine.”
• A group of masked assassins suddenly attacks the Crown Prince. The Crown Prince orders his attendant Wei Yi to escape and fetch help, insisting he can defend himself using the martial arts Xiao Yu taught him.
• Qi Yunheng intervenes, claiming he dislikes the assassins’ masks and appearance rather than helping the Crown Prince out of concern. He fights them alongside the prince.
• Xiao Yu hears the commotion and rushes to the scene. Finding Qi Yunheng armed and bloodied, and the Crown Prince covered in blood, he shields his nephew and warns Qi not to hurt anyone close to him.
• Qi Yunheng responds bitterly, asking whether Xiao Yu regrets their relationship.

Character developments and interactions

• Xiao Yu remains protective of the Crown Prince and quick to mistrust Qi Yunheng when he believes his nephew may be in danger. His reaction shows that his past suspicions still shape how he sees Qi.
• Su Xun is sheepish after his reckless curiosity nearly gets him hurt. His teasing question about the giant snake also reveals his fear of Xiao Ba.
• The Crown Prince is melancholy and distracted by what he witnessed, but acts decisively during the ambush. He demonstrates courage and the martial skill he learned from Xiao Yu.
• Wei Yi is fiercely loyal, reluctant to leave the Crown Prince, and obeys only after being persuaded that getting reinforcements is the best way to protect him.
• Qi Yunheng is jealous of the Crown Prince’s closeness to Xiao Yu, yet restrains himself because he does not want to damage his recently repaired bond with Xiao Yu. Despite his hostile explanation, he protects the prince from the assassins. Xiao Yu’s accusation leaves him visibly hurt.

Significant themes

• Jealousy and possessiveness: Qi Yunheng resents the Crown Prince’s bond with Xiao Yu and openly claims Xiao Yu as his.
• Trust shaped by the past: Xiao Yu interprets the bloody scene through memories of Qi Yunheng once attacking the Crown Prince, while Qi feels judged regardless of what he does.
• Loyalty and protection: The Crown Prince risks fighting alone to send Wei Yi for help, and Qi Yunheng steps in despite his stated indifference.
• Misunderstanding and emotional distance: Their confrontation ends not with reconciliation but with Qi Yunheng’s wounded question about whether Xiao Yu regrets being with him.

Key plot points

• Xiao Yu’s silence convinces Qi Yunheng that he has once again been rejected. He lashes out, insisting he will never change or compromise for anyone, then disappears.
• The Crown Prince reveals that Qi Yunheng saved him. He admits he had seen what was happening and apologizes for driving a wedge between Xiao Yu and Qi Yunheng. He accepts that Xiao Yu will always be his youngest uncle, a bond he regards as a source of faith rather than romance.
• Xiao Yu sends Shen Zhijie to protect the Crown Prince and follows Qi Yunheng with a Tracking Talisman. He realizes he misunderstood Qi Yunheng and regrets speaking before asking what happened.
• At the lakeside, distraught and feeling abandoned, Qi Yunheng raises a knife to harm himself. Xiao Yu stops him. Mistaking Xiao Yu for an illusion, Qi Yunheng is reassured when Xiao Yu proves he is real.
• Xiao Yu apologizes and repeatedly takes Qi Yunheng’s hand despite being shaken off. He thanks him for holding back for his sake and promises not to doubt him again. Qi Yunheng’s anger eases, and the pair reconnect through teasingly extravagant demands for affection.

Character development

• Qi Yunheng is exposed as deeply wounded by a lifetime of being treated as expendable. His defiant declaration that he will never change masks fear of rejection; Xiao Yu’s reassurance gradually helps him soften.
• Xiao Yu recognizes that his protectiveness led him to misjudge Qi Yunheng. He takes responsibility, apologizes directly, and offers unwavering trust.
• The Crown Prince reaches clarity about his relationship with Xiao Yu, accepting their bond as familial and grounding rather than romantic. He also acknowledges his own part in the rift.

Significant themes

• Abandonment and insecurity: Qi Yunheng’s past makes him interpret Xiao Yu’s silence as another rejection.
• Trust, loyalty, and forgiveness: Xiao Yu’s apology and commitment to believe in Qi Yunheng begin repairing their relationship.
• Love beyond fixed categories: The Crown Prince describes Xiao Yu as a source of faith, while Xiao Yu and Qi Yunheng move toward renewed intimacy.
• Miscommunication and reconciliation: The crisis stems partly from Xiao Yu acting before understanding, and is eased by honest admissions and reassurance.

Character interactions

• Qi Yunheng’s parting words wound Xiao Yu, while the Crown Prince’s confession forces Xiao Yu to reconsider his assumptions.
• Xiao Yu and the Crown Prince settle their relationship into a clear, affectionate uncle-and-nephew bond.
• At the lake, Xiao Yu’s persistence contrasts with Qi Yunheng’s attempts to push him away. Their hand-holding, apology, and playful exchange restore closeness, ending with Qi Yunheng asking to kiss him and Xiao Yu teasingly warning him not to overdo it.

Plot points and events

• After their earlier argument, Xiao Yu notices Qi Yunheng’s reddened eyes and gently kisses the corner of them. Qi Yunheng insists he had not been crying, then becomes flustered when Xiao Yu kisses him.
• Qi Yunheng wonders aloud why his heart is beating so fast. Xiao Yu is equally overwhelmed, and they share a long, passionate kiss that lasts until nightfall.
• Qi Yunheng admits he has “grown a little fond” of Xiao Yu, though his intense gaze suggests stronger feelings. When Xiao Yu prepares to leave, Qi Yunheng asks for another kiss.
• Seeing Qi Yunheng’s disappointment at their parting, Xiao Yu changes his mind and invites him to return with him, calling him his “beloved consort” and taking his hand.
• At the Hunting Grounds Palace, the Crown Prince worries about Xiao Yu’s safety after the attack by lethal assassins. Su Xun assures him that Xiao Yu is more than capable of defending himself.
• Xiao Yu arrives safely with Qi Yunheng. Su Xun is stunned to see them holding hands. Xiao Yu warns Su Xun not to tease Qi Yunheng and publicly introduces him as his consort.
• Emperor Jinyuan arrives with Censor Lu and other ministers, overhears the introduction, and catches Xiao Yu off guard.

Character developments and interactions

• Xiao Yu shifts from playful restraint to openly acknowledging his affection. He is attentive to Qi Yunheng’s vulnerability and ultimately chooses not to leave him behind.
• Qi Yunheng becomes more emotionally candid, showing his longing and admitting his growing fondness for Xiao Yu. His eagerness for affection contrasts with his earlier pride and defensiveness.
• Their relationship advances through teasing, mutual embarrassment, affectionate kissing, and Xiao Yu’s public declaration.
• Su Xun moves from confident reassurance to stunned surprise at the couple’s joined hands.
• The Crown Prince remains anxious about Xiao Yu’s safety, while Emperor Jinyuan’s unexpected arrival creates a new source of tension.

Significant themes

• Favoritism and affection: Xiao Yu’s indulgence emboldens Qi Yunheng to ask for more closeness.
• Emotional honesty and vulnerability: Both men struggle to interpret their physical reactions and growing feelings, but become increasingly open with one another.
• Public acknowledgment: Xiao Yu’s decision to introduce Qi Yunheng as his consort signals that he no longer wishes to hide their relationship.
• Love’s limits and longing: Xiao Yu tries to set a boundary around kissing, while Qi Yunheng’s reluctance to part—and Xiao Yu’s response—shows how deeply they are becoming attached.