Chapter Summaries

Key plot points and events

• Xiao Yu brings Qi Yunheng before Emperor Jinyuan and the assembled court. The emperor’s pointed question makes clear that Xiao Yu’s relationship with Qi is now effectively public.
• Qi Yunheng fears the court’s judgment and worries Xiao Yu might abandon him. Xiao Yu reassures him by holding his hand and standing protectively in front of him.
• Xiao Yu openly signals how much he cherishes Qi, warning the officials not to stare at him. Qi is moved—and flustered—by Xiao Yu’s affection.
• Marquis Yongchang, Gongsun Yi, challenges Xiao Yu’s arrogance. Xiao Yu recognizes him only after Shen Zhijie identifies him, then inadvertently exposes Gongsun’s future through his thoughts.
• Xiao Yu reveals that Gongsun’s son will bring home a mountain ghost disguised as a beautiful woman. The ghost will prefer Gongsun himself, and when Gongsun rejects her, she will falsely accuse him.
• The heir will believe the accusation and tell his mother. Though reputed to be gentle and virtuous, Lady Gongsun will beat her husband with a club and accidentally kill him.
• Horrified by this prediction, Gongsun collapses.

Character developments and interactions

• Xiao Yu moves from shock at being exposed to openly defending his relationship. He is protective of Qi and quick to threaten anyone who makes him uncomfortable, while his unfiltered thoughts repeatedly create awkward situations.
• Qi Yunheng reveals insecurity about being accepted, but Xiao Yu’s reassurance steadies him. He also responds with shy, intimate affection, reminding Xiao Yu that he has abs too.
• Emperor Jinyuan is curious about Qi and amused by Xiao Yu’s protectiveness, though he objects to being dragged into the dispute.
• Marquis Yongchang begins as a confrontational critic but ends terrified by the future Xiao Yu reveals. The court, meanwhile, avoids challenging Xiao Yu, wary of his influence and the secrets he might expose.

Significant themes

• Love and public acceptance: Xiao Yu and Qi must face their relationship before the court, and Xiao Yu chooses to protect rather than conceal his partner.
• Appearance versus reality: The “gentle and virtuous” Lady Gongsun may be violently dangerous, while a beautiful woman may be a predatory spirit.
• Reputation and hidden truths: Xiao Yu’s thoughts expose the gap between public appearances and private realities, turning a court confrontation into a warning about the Gongsun family’s future.
• Humor amid danger: Romantic embarrassment and courtly tension are undercut by Xiao Yu’s candid inner commentary and the absurdly startling prediction.

Key plot points and events

• Humiliated and upset after his recent ordeal, Marquis Yongchang begs Emperor Jinyuan to let him stay in the palace rather than return home, where his son has brought home the woman he distrusts.
• The emperor and ministers avoid taking responsibility for him. Xiao Yu offers him a place at Prince Yu’s Residence, which deeply moves the marquis.
• The marquis declares Xiao Yu his brother—or, when Emperor Jinyuan objects, his “second parent.” Xiao Yu is less than enthusiastic about either title.
• Xiao Yu hears from his master, Immortal Venerable Yuheng, for the first time in six years. Yuheng, appearing as a mosquito, complains that he has been lonely on Spirit Mountain and asks Xiao Yu to return for his approaching eighteenth birthday.
• Xiao Yu says he cannot return yet because he wants someone to become his Dao companion. When Yuheng assumes this person is a woman, Xiao Yu clarifies that he never said so.
• Yuheng falls over in shock, then disguises the awkward moment by telling the gathered court that the “man just now” was his younger brother. He notices Xiao Yu holding hands with a masked man and asks if he is the intended Dao companion. Xiao Yu confirms it.

Character developments and interactions

• Marquis Yongchang reveals his vulnerability beneath his bluster and gratefully accepts Xiao Yu’s help, forming an exaggeratedly affectionate bond with him.
• Xiao Yu shows compassion by sheltering the marquis, while his reunion with Yuheng reveals his affection for his master. He also openly acknowledges his romantic intentions toward the masked man.
• Yuheng is lonely and eager for Xiao Yu’s return, but reacts comically to the revelation about Xiao Yu’s intended partner. His improvised “younger brother” excuse adds to the farce.
• Emperor Jinyuan and the ministers silently refuse the marquis’s plea, apparently wary of the danger posed by Lady Gongsun.

Significant themes

• Loneliness and belonging: The marquis fears having nowhere to go, while Yuheng laments his long separation from his only personal disciple.
• Affection and unconventional family bonds: The marquis’s declarations of brotherhood and parenthood, and Yuheng’s possessive “only disciple” sentiment, show characters reaching for family in comic ways.
• Love and acceptance: Xiao Yu’s matter-of-fact acknowledgment of a male Dao companion sets up a contrast with Yuheng’s startled reaction.
• Comedy through embarrassment: The scene’s humor comes from overblown emotional declarations, awkward misunderstandings, and Yuheng’s desperate attempt to save face.

Chapter Summary

Key plot points and events

• Immortal Venerable Yuheng warns Xiao Yu that Qi Yunheng is mortal and will likely die long before him. He cautions that love can weaken a cultivator’s resolve and asks whether Xiao Yu can bear that future loss.
• Imagining Qi Yunheng growing old and dying pains Xiao Yu, but Qi Yunheng’s reassuring touch helps him accept his feelings. Xiao Yu decides to pursue the relationship despite their limited time together.
• Xiao Yu asks his master for a blessing. Yuheng, though privately resentful of the man “stealing” his cherished disciple, gives his approval and wishes Xiao Yu happiness.
• Xiao Yu tells Yuheng that dangerous beasts have been appearing in the Mortal Realm and asks whether cultivators may be sending them there deliberately. Yuheng knows of no such plot but promises to investigate.
• As Yuheng departs, Xiao Yu says he will return in a hundred years and hopes to meet his master’s wife. Yuheng loses his balance at the teasing remark, then jokes that his “wife” is the sword he carries.
• Outside the capital, the Crown Prince waits to meet someone sent by Qi’an. Princess Ning’an arrives late after encountering assassins, riding alone in military attire. The Crown Prince is startled by her strong resemblance to his youngest imperial uncle.
• Ning’an heads straight to the palace to see Qi’an. When Wei Yi calls her rude, the Crown Prince rebukes him, defending the princess’s independence and lack of concern for formalities.

Character developments and interactions

• Xiao Yu moves from not having considered the pain of outliving Qi Yunheng to consciously choosing love anyway. His request for Yuheng’s blessing shows how deeply he values his master’s approval.
• Qi Yunheng offers quiet reassurance by squeezing Xiao Yu’s hand, though he does not know the cause of Xiao Yu’s troubled expression.
• Immortal Venerable Yuheng reveals both his protective concern and his affection for Xiao Yu. He reluctantly supports the relationship, while his comic reaction to Xiao Yu’s teasing shows their familiar, familial closeness.
• Princess Ning’an is bold, capable, and impatient with ceremony; she handles the assassins herself and rushes ahead to reunite with her brother.
• The Crown Prince is initially awkward and intimidated by Ning’an, but responds with courtesy and firmly stands up for her against Wei Yi.

Significant themes

• Love and mortality: Xiao Yu accepts the risk of future grief rather than refusing love because it may end painfully.
• Choice and resolve: He follows his heart while remembering his master’s teaching not to abandon something merely because the outcome may be bad.
• Family and protection: Yuheng’s blessing and Xiao Yu’s affectionate farewell frame their mentor-disciple bond as parental.
• Gender and respect: The Crown Prince rejects the idea that a woman’s confidence or disregard for trivial etiquette makes her deserving of disrespect.

Plot and events

• In the Imperial Study, Xiao Yu tells Emperor Jinyuan that Immortal Venerable Wuli’s appearance was only a strand of his divine sense.
• The emperor questions Xiao Yu’s relationship with Qi Yunheng. Xiao Yu insists he loves him, while Jinyuan warns him not to behave improperly before they are of age or have formally married. He jokingly accuses Xiao Yu of wanting only a “male favorite.”
• Consort Cui arrives for an audience. Xiao Yu’s thoughts reveal her past: after the kingdom fell in his previous life, she resisted the enemy and chose death rather than betray Jin. The story moves her deeply, and she decides to remain in the palace rather than visit her family.
• Xiao Yu says his elder sister, Princess Ning’an, has arrived in the capital. Jinyuan is eager to see her and offers to go with him, surprising Xiao Yu by claiming he has met her before.

Character developments and interactions

• Xiao Yu is firm about his love for Qi Yunheng, though Jinyuan’s “male favorite” remark unsettles him. His teasing thoughts also reveal unexpected admiration for Consort Cui’s courage.
• Emperor Jinyuan acts as a protective, teasing elder brother, insisting Xiao Yu treat his relationship seriously. He remains wary of Consort Cui’s ambitions but shows unusual interest in her after hearing of her past-life sacrifice.
• Consort Cui shifts from cautious and frustrated to proud and newly devoted to the palace after learning how bravely she acted in her previous life. She still dreams of power, but keeps that ambition in check around Jinyuan.
• Xiao Yu and Cui trade pointed remarks, underscoring their mutual irritation. The chapter ends on Jinyuan’s unexpected connection to Princess Ning’an.

Significant themes

• Love and commitment versus casual possession, framed through Jinyuan’s insistence on proper marriage customs.
• Courage, patriotism, and self-sacrifice, embodied by Consort Cui’s past-life defiance.
• Reincarnation and foreknowledge reshape how characters understand themselves and one another.
• Humor comes from the gap between the characters’ inner thoughts and their outward behavior.

Plot points and events

• Qi Yunheng sneaks into the Eastern Palace and is confronted at spearpoint by Xiao Zhiyu, who mistakes him for a suspicious intruder.
• When Qi Yunheng boasts that he is Xiao Yu’s “most intimate companion,” Zhiyu wonders whether he might be Xiao Yu’s male lover—or even his “little pet.”
• Xiao Yu arrives and introduces Qi Yunheng as the man he loves, then identifies Zhiyu as his elder sister. Qi Yunheng realizes who she is and becomes embarrassed by his earlier claims.
• Emperor Jinyuan arrives and recognizes Zhiyu as Princess Ning’an, whom he briefly raised as a child. He invites her to a welcoming banquet, and she leaves with him.
• Xiao Yu takes Qi Yunheng to the bell tower. There, Qi Yunheng says he must return to Southern Zhao and asks Xiao Yu to go with him.
• Xiao Yu refuses: his family, court duties, and political ties to Jin make it impossible for him to leave. He promises to write and think of Qi Yunheng every day. Qi Yunheng replies that he “won’t miss” him, though his sadness suggests otherwise.

Character developments and interactions

• Xiao Zhiyu is introduced as a capable, blunt, and curious military woman. Her reunion with Emperor Jinyuan reveals a warm connection to her childhood in the palace.
• Qi Yunheng is openly proud of his closeness to Xiao Yu, but becomes flustered when his claims are misunderstood. His request that Xiao Yu leave with him shows how deeply he wants a shared future.
• Xiao Yu openly acknowledges his relationship with Qi Yunheng, but chooses responsibility to his family and kingdom over accompanying him. He tries to soften the separation with affectionate promises.
• Their exchange on the bell tower is tender but restrained: Xiao Yu expresses devotion, while Qi Yunheng hides his hurt behind a denial that he will miss him.

Significant themes

• Love versus duty: Xiao Yu cannot follow the person he loves because of his responsibilities and political obligations.
• Parting and longing: The lovers face separation, using promises and guarded words to manage their sadness.
• Family and recognition: Zhiyu’s return reconnects her with both Xiao Yu and Emperor Jinyuan, while her arrival also brings Xiao Yu’s relationship into the open.

Plot points and events

• Back in Southern Zhao, Qi Yunheng misses Qi’an and tries to write him a letter, though he pretends to Little Eleven that he is practicing poetry.
• Little Eleven sneaks and eats two osmanthus cakes intended for Qi Yunheng, then collapses with symptoms of poisoning. Qi Yunheng urgently calls for an imperial physician and realizes the attack was probably meant for him. He suspects his political enemies have resumed plotting.
• In Jin, Lady Gongsun visits Prince Yu to bring her husband, Marquis Yongchang, home. Through an unexplained ability, she hears Xiao Yu’s unspoken thoughts: that her son’s sweetheart is a mountain spirit who targets men, and that in a previous life Lady Gongsun killed her husband after suspecting him of pursuing the woman.
• Startled and offended, Lady Gongsun confronts Xiao Yu, then claims she had a nightmare. She hears more of his thoughts, including the bizarre details of her supposed past-life death, and concludes that she cannot be the foolish woman he describes.
• Marquis Yongchang arrives with a fish, sees his wife, and retreats nervously. Lady Gongsun reconciles with him and asks him to return home, promising to treat him better. Though he agrees, he privately enjoys his newfound independence.
• Worried about her son’s attachment to the suspicious sweetheart, Lady Gongsun wonders whether he might also be able to hear Xiao Yu’s thoughts.

Character developments and interactions

• Qi Yunheng is lovesick and preoccupied with Qi’an, but the poisoning attempt quickly reveals his alertness and ruthlessness toward those who threaten him. His bond with Little Eleven is evident in his panic when the boy collapses.
• Little Eleven is affectionate toward his brother and playfully teases him, but his snack-stealing accidentally puts him in danger.
• Lady Gongsun shifts from indignation to cautious curiosity as she discovers she can hear Xiao Yu’s thoughts. She remains protective of her son and tries to restore her marriage.
• Marquis Yongchang is uneasy around his wife but enjoys the freedom of living separately; their exchange suggests a respectful relationship that may improve.
• Xiao Yu remains outwardly composed while his private thoughts create comic misunderstandings. Lady Gongsun’s reactions leave him confused.

Significant themes

• Longing and family bonds: Qi Yunheng’s yearning for Qi’an and his concern for Little Eleven.
• Hidden threats and political suspicion: the apparent attempt to poison Qi Yunheng signals renewed danger.
• Appearance versus private truth: characters’ spoken words differ sharply from their thoughts, driving humor and conflict.
• Second chances and mistaken fate: Lady Gongsun confronts a possible past-life tragedy and seems determined not to repeat it.
• Marriage and independence: Lady Gongsun’s effort to bring her husband home contrasts with his enjoyment of freedom.

Key plot points and events

• Lady Gongsun invites Prince Yu (Xiao Yu) to the family residence for a banquet, hoping to thank him for looking after Marquis Yongchang. Xiao Yu eagerly accepts, curious to meet the marquis’s son, Gongsun Yun.
• Gongsun Yun is delighted that his father has returned, but complains that his romantic interest, Zi Ying, believes the marquis dislikes her.
• Gongsun Yun learns Xiao Yu is present and repeats rumors that Xiao Yu abducts and assaults men. He challenges the prince to a fight, prompting his father to restrain and scold him.
• Xiao Yu defuses the confrontation by offering Gongsun Yun money if he calls him “Uncle Xiao.” Gongsun Yun protests, then happily takes the five thousand taels and addresses him as uncle.
• Xiao Yu’s thoughts reveal that Zi Ying is a mountain ghost who desires Marquis Yongchang and may have caused his parents’ deaths. In a previous life, Gongsun Yun devoted himself to her, sought a magical flower at the East Sea to preserve her beauty, and was eaten by the sea demon guarding it.
• Gongsun Yun dismisses Xiao Yu’s account as nonsense and insists Zi Ying is kind and considerate. Just then, Zi Ying arrives, saying she has come to pay her respects to the marquis.

Character developments and interactions

• Xiao Yu is bold, playful, and observant. He enjoys provoking Gongsun Yun, but uses humor and money rather than force to win him over.
• Gongsun Yun shifts from indignant hostility toward Xiao Yu to cheerful acceptance once offered money. He remains devoted to Zi Ying and refuses to believe she could be dangerous.
• Marquis Yongchang and Lady Gongsun are wary of Xiao Yu’s revelations and anxious about their son’s behavior. The marquis repeatedly restrains and reprimands Gongsun Yun while trying to smooth over his insults.
• Zi Ying’s arrival creates immediate tension, since Xiao Yu’s account suggests her visit may be connected to the marquis’s return.

Significant themes

• Appearance versus truth: Gongsun Yun sees Zi Ying as benevolent, while Xiao Yu’s knowledge paints her as a threat.
• Infatuation and self-deception: Gongsun Yun’s attachment blinds him to warnings and possible danger.
• Family duty and loyalty: Gongsun Yun privately claims he would not forgive someone who harmed his parents, despite his devotion to Zi Ying.
• Comedy through contrast: Xiao Yu’s irreverent inner commentary and Gongsun Yun’s easy-to-buy indignation undercut the ominous supernatural revelations.

Key plot points and events

• Zi Ying arrives at the Gongsun residence, apparently drawn by Marquis Yongchang, but quickly becomes interested in Xiao Yu after sensing his abundant spiritual energy.
• Gongsun Yun realizes that Zi Ying’s friendship with him was built on ulterior motives. When she suggests meeting Xiao Yu privately, Yun is shocked and angry.
• Xiao Yu reveals that Zi Ying is actually a mountain ghost: he strikes her, and she collapses into a shriveled, monstrous form. Yun panics, while his parents retreat to the roof rather than help him.
• Yan Mu arrives and comforts Yun. Xiao Yu’s thoughts reveal Yan Mu’s tragic future: he will mourn Yun, become the top scholar in their stead, and later die when the nation falls. Xiao Yu also reveals that Yan Mu has secretly loved Yun for years.
• Unable to bear having his feelings exposed, Yan Mu tries to leave. Yun stops him and asks directly whether he truly likes him.

Character developments

• Gongsun Yun moves from infatuation with Zi Ying to painful disillusionment, then becomes frightened by her true form. Learning about Yan Mu’s devotion and tragic future leaves him deeply affected and prompts him to confront Yan Mu’s feelings.
• Yan Mu is exposed as a loyal childhood companion whose friendship has concealed more than a decade of unspoken love. Embarrassed and vulnerable, he tries to flee.
• Xiao Yu acts on his knowledge of Zi Ying’s identity and exposes her, while also revealing that he views the unfolding drama with a teasing, almost playful detachment.
• Marquis Yongchang and Lady Gongsun briefly fear that Zi Ying is targeting the marquis, then relax when she shifts her attention to Xiao Yu; when danger appears, they abandon Yun to safety.

Significant themes

• Deception and mistaken affection: Zi Ying’s apparent friendship masks predatory intentions.
• Hidden love and missed understanding: Yan Mu’s long devotion has gone unnoticed by Yun.
• Fate and tragedy: The account of their future friendship, success, and deaths highlights how cruelly ambition and loyalty can be cut short.
• Comedy amid danger: The parents’ escape and Yun’s panic undercut the supernatural threat with slapstick humor.

Character interactions

• Zi Ying rejects any romantic connection with Yun and openly turns her attention to Xiao Yu, prompting Yun’s jealousy and heartbreak.
• Xiao Yu taunts Yun with his former declarations of love for Zi Ying, then reveals the mountain ghost’s true form.
• Yun seeks protection first from his parents and then from Yan Mu. Yan Mu instinctively comforts him, and Yun’s final question turns their familiar companionship into a direct confrontation about love.

Plot and key events

• Gongsun Yun freezes when Yan Mu asks whether he would hate him for liking him. Seeing Yan Mu’s fear that he might be rejected, Gongsun reassures him that there is nothing wrong with loving someone.
• Gongsun briefly reflects that his own feelings for Miss Zi Ying are also not wrong; the painful part, he thinks, is having met the wrong person at the right time.
• Yan Mu insists that Gongsun is wonderful, recalling how he cared for him when he was ill and encouraged him after he failed exams. He then openly calls Gongsun beautiful and says he adores him.
• Watching the pair’s tender exchange, Xiao Yu feels lonely and thinks of A-Heng, whom he misses while they are apart.
• In Southern Zhao, Qi Yunheng refuses to visit the recovering Little Eleven, believing that closeness to him will bring the child misfortune. Little Eleven tells him that he is the only person he trusts and that meeting him has made him happy.
• Little Eleven runs to Qi Yunheng in a panic, thinking he may be dying or becoming a ghost. Qi Yunheng takes him back to bed, despite insisting that he will not stay.
• When a letter arrives from the Jin Kingdom, Qi Yunheng hopes it is from Xiao Yu. It tells him to open the window, then describes the breeze as Xiao Yu’s embrace and the insects’ song as his longing. Touched, Qi Yunheng goes to write back, while denying that Little Eleven misses Xiao Yu.

Character developments and interactions

• Gongsun Yun is moved by Yan Mu’s devotion but remains uncertain of his own worth and conflicted by his feelings for Miss Zi Ying. His embarrassment suggests Yan Mu’s affection is affecting him.
• Yan Mu is direct and reassuring, showing how much he cherishes the friend who has supported him for years. He fears rejection but openly expresses his love.
• Xiao Yu is happy for the couple but wistful in their presence, turning his thoughts toward his absent beloved, Qi Yunheng.
• Qi Yunheng tries to keep others at a distance because he believes he is dangerous and destined to be alone. Little Eleven’s trust—and Xiao Yu’s loving letter—soften his guardedness, though he hides his feelings behind sternness and denial.
• Little Eleven is vulnerable but candid: he expresses gratitude and trust toward Qi Yunheng, seeks comfort from him, and playfully claims to miss Xiao Yu.

Significant themes

• Love and acceptance: Yan Mu fears being rejected, but Gongsun tells him that love itself is not wrong.
• Self-worth and care: Yan Mu’s memories show how Gongsun’s everyday kindness has shaped their bond.
• Loneliness and longing: Xiao Yu and Qi Yunheng both miss each other across their separation.
• Trust overcoming isolation: Little Eleven’s affection challenges Qi Yunheng’s belief that he can only bring others misfortune.
• Affection masked by pride: Qi Yunheng’s cool refusals and denials contrast with how eagerly he responds to Xiao Yu’s letter.

Plot points and events

• At the end of Prince Yu’s housewarming banquet, the Crown Prince asks whether he may keep visiting Xiao Yu. Xiao Yu welcomes him, easing the Crown Prince’s worry that moving out will distance them.
• Second Uncle Xiao urges Xiao Yu to remember that they are “truly family,” but Xiao Yu privately recalls that in his previous life Second Uncle helped frame his family for treason.
• Second Uncle introduces the seventh prince, Yun’er, and tries to make her address Xiao Yu as “Cousin-Uncle.” Xiao Yu instead permits her to use “Young Imperial Uncle,” and warns Second Uncle to be careful: officials could accuse him of favoring a prince.
• Second Uncle abruptly leaves Yun’er at Xiao Yu’s residence, claiming she needs shelter and implying Xiao Yu should support her claim to the throne.
• Xiao Yu asks Yun’er whether she wants the throne. She says she does not, but feels compelled to fight because her mother and family may otherwise be killed.
• Xiao Yu tells her the Crown Prince would be a benevolent ruler and warns her not to trust Second Uncle too much. Yun’er appears to learn—through Xiao Yu’s thoughts—the horrifying truth of Second Uncle’s past and possible future treatment of her and her mother.
• Overwhelmed, Yun’er begins to cry. Xiao Yu comforts her and promises, “Whatever happens, you have me.”

Character developments and interactions

• Xiao Yu remains guarded toward Second Uncle, using tact and political caution to protect himself. Yet he is compassionate toward Yun’er, offering her shelter and reassurance.
• The Crown Prince reveals his attachment to Xiao Yu and fear that their bond may weaken; Xiao Yu’s welcome reassures him.
• Second Uncle Xiao appears manipulative: he tries to dictate Yun’er’s relationship with Xiao Yu and seems to be maneuvering her toward a political claim.
• Yun’er is caught between family pressure and her own reluctance to pursue power. Her view of her grandfather is shaken by what she learns about his cruelty toward her mother and herself.
• Xiao Zhiyu questions Second Uncle’s motives, and Xiao Yu identifies the likely plan: to use Yun’er as a means to control the throne and court.

Significant themes

• Family versus betrayal: Xiao Yu distrusts appeals to kinship because of Second Uncle’s past treachery.
• Power and exploitation: Second Uncle treats Yun’er and her mother as instruments for political gain.
• Choice under coercion: Yun’er does not want the throne but believes her family’s survival depends on her fighting for it.
• Protection and trust: Xiao Yu offers Yun’er a rare source of safety, contrasting with the manipulation surrounding her.

Plot points

• The Seventh Prince is revealed to be a girl forced to live as a boy. Her mother warned her that exposure could mean death, leaving her isolated and afraid for most of her life. Her maternal grandfather has recently begun taking her to meet ministers, despite her reluctance.
• Xiao Yu’s disclosure of her identity initially frightens her, but also relieves her: she no longer has to keep the secret entirely alone. Xiao Zhiyu feels compassion for her and offers her a place to rest, though the girl first looks to Xiao Yu for reassurance before following.
• That night, Xiao Yu receives a letter from A-Heng in Southern Zhao. It contains only two emphatic words, but Xiao Yu reads them as proof that A-Heng misses him and keeps the letter close.
• Xiao Yu asks Qinggeng to deliver Voice Transmission Talismans to A-Heng because he wants to hear his voice. Qinggeng briefly fears he is being sent away, but is reassured that Xiao Yu trusts him most and agrees to go.
• The next morning, Su Xun arrives at Prince Yu’s Residence by climbing over the wall and tosses Xiao Yu breakfast buns. He says their imperial elder brother already knows they meet secretly and invites Xiao Yu to lunch with their maternal grandfather.
• The Seventh Prince’s sudden appearance startles Su Xun, who falls from the wall. Learning she spent the night there, he mistakenly suspects Xiao Yu has fallen out with the Crown Prince. Xiao Yu denies it.

Character developments and interactions

• The Seventh Prince shows how deeply years of fear and concealment have affected her. Xiao Yu’s protection gives her an unfamiliar sense of safety, while Xiao Zhiyu responds with quiet sympathy.
• Xiao Yu demonstrates tenderness toward the girl and longing for A-Heng. He also reassures Qinggeng, balancing his personal wish to communicate with A-Heng against his attendant’s insecurity.
• Qinggeng is possessive and anxious about losing his place beside Xiao Yu, but quickly regains confidence when told he is the only one Xiao Yu trusts.
• Su Xun remains casual and irreverent, meeting Xiao Yu through their familiar wall-climbing routine. His misunderstanding about Xiao Yu and the Crown Prince adds comic tension.

Significant themes

• Identity and confinement: The Seventh Prince’s imposed disguise has cost her safety, freedom, and ordinary companionship.
• Trust and protection: Xiao Yu’s reassurance helps her feel less alone, while his relationships with Qinggeng and A-Heng depend on expressions of trust and affection.
• Longing and indirect communication: A-Heng’s terse letter and Xiao Yu’s wish to hear his voice reveal feelings conveyed through small gestures.
• Humor amid tension: Su Xun’s entrance and mistaken assumption provide levity alongside the chapter’s heavier emotional revelations.

Plot points and events

• Xiao Yu explains to Su Xun that his second uncle left Qi’an at the house the previous night, forcing Qi’an into a difficult choice. Xiao Yu then takes the Seventh Prince back to the palace, saying he has something to discuss with Emperor Jinyuan.
• In the Imperial Study, Jinyuan worries that Qi’an no longer trusts him, since Qi’an reported going to the Grand Tutor’s home for a meal. Dequan reassures him that the message shows Qi’an values their relationship, and the emperor quickly agrees—while pretending he knew that already.
• In Southern Zhao, Qinggeng arrives to deliver a letter from his master, Xiao Yu. Little Eleven mistakes the messenger’s purpose, then guides him to Qi Yunheng and calls the message a letter from the king’s “Queen,” alerting the ministers to the possibility of a secret romance.
• Once alone, Qi Yunheng learns Xiao Yu has not come in person and is briefly disappointed. Qinggeng gives him a Voice Transmission Talisman, which lets Qi Yunheng send Xiao Yu a spoken message.
• Little Eleven secretly clings to Qinggeng as he flies away and is carried off. Qi Yunheng is alarmed, then admits inwardly that he envies his brother for being taken away and wants to return to Xiao Yu too.
• Back in the Jin Kingdom, Xiao Yu is with Su Xun and his uncle’s family when Qi Yunheng’s message reaches him: “Qi’an, your king longs for you.” The gathered family’s attention makes Xiao Yu blush.

Character developments and interactions

• Jinyuan is anxious about his bond with Qi’an but is readily comforted by Dequan’s tactful reassurance.
• Qi Yunheng masks his longing with irritation, but the talisman’s message reveals his desire for closeness with Xiao Yu. His frustration at Eleven’s unexpected departure also exposes his wish to go with him.
• Little Eleven is bold and impulsive: he eagerly approaches Qinggeng, helps him find Qi Yunheng, and then secretly rides away with him.
• Qinggeng is straightforward and helpful, though he misunderstands the romantic implications of Eleven’s “Queen” remark.
• Xiao Yu is caught off guard by Qi Yunheng’s openly affectionate message, especially with his family watching.

Significant themes

• Distance and longing: The talisman lets Xiao Yu and Qi Yunheng communicate across kingdoms, while their separation remains emotionally difficult.
• Affection hidden beneath pride: Jinyuan and Qi Yunheng both conceal vulnerability behind indignation or composure.
• Family and political scrutiny: Private relationships attract attention, whether from relatives at Xiao Yu’s home or ministers at Qi Yunheng’s court.

Plot points and events

• Xiao Yu receives a string of intimate voice messages from Yun Heng while at the Su Residence. Because the talisman plays messages aloud, his grandfather and uncles hear them, leaving Xiao Yu mortified.
• When Yun Heng asks whether Xiao Yu’s feelings have faded, Xiao Yu reassures him and explains why he could not answer. He tells him he will return that night, and Yun Heng’s boldness gives way to embarrassment.
• Back at the Su Residence, Xiao Yu overhears his second uncle trying to arrange a marriage between Xiao Wenjun and Su Jingxue, claiming marriage will make Wenjun responsible.
• Xiao Yu exposes Wenjun’s existing mistress and child, rejects the match, and insists Jingxue deserves far better. His second uncle is left with no convincing response.

Character developments and interactions

• Xiao Yu is embarrassed by Yun Heng’s public declarations but also quietly amused by his sudden shyness. He shows fierce loyalty toward his cousin, directly confronting his uncle rather than letting family pressure force an unsuitable marriage.
• Yun Heng comes across as affectionate and needy, sending repeated messages to seek reassurance. Once he learns others heard them, he goes quiet and becomes bashful.
• The old Grand Tutor is protective of Xiao Yu and unwilling to marry Jingxue to Wenjun. He is uncomfortable with the pressure placed on him and is relieved when Xiao Yu takes charge.
• Second Uncle Xiao tries to use family ties to secure Wenjun a bride, but his calculating proposal collapses when Xiao Yu reveals Wenjun’s hidden family.
• Su Jingxue appreciates Xiao Yu’s defense, though she privately objects to his suggestion that she might remain unmarried into old age.

Significant themes

• Affection and vulnerability: Yun Heng’s intense declarations contrast with his embarrassment once they are overheard.
• Family loyalty and protection: Xiao Yu stands up for his cousin and shields his grandfather from an awkward confrontation.
• Women’s dignity and choice: The chapter rejects the idea that Jingxue should accept a disreputable match simply because she is twenty-three.
• Hypocrisy and accountability: Xiao Yu challenges his uncle’s claims about Wenjun’s suitability by exposing the reality of Wenjun’s conduct.

Plot and events

• Su Jingxue worries that Xiao Yu has antagonized his second uncle. Xiao Yu insists the uncle is at fault and asks whether Jingxue has feelings for Xiao Wenjun.
• Xiao Yu privately recalls that in his previous life, Jingxue accepted Xiao Wenjun’s marriage proposal, only to discover he kept mistresses and had a history of coercing women. Her attempt to end the engagement was delayed until political disaster gave Xiao Wenjun’s family an excuse to sever ties.
• Worried for Jingxue’s safety, Xiao Yu advises her not to go out alone. She agrees to stay home.
• Su Xun and Xiao Zhiyu tease Xiao Yu for speaking affectionately to Jingxue, then ask about the man who called himself “This King.” Xiao Yu dodges their questions and leaves.
• Xiao Zhiyu explains that Southern Zhao’s fourth prince has won the throne after years of conflict and is nearing his coronation. The group wonders whether the new sovereign intends to pursue a marriage alliance with Xiao Yu. They doubt the court would allow Xiao Yu to leave, while recognizing that he seems to care for the man from Southern Zhao.
• At Xiao Yu’s residence, Qinggeng returns with an unexpected six- or seven-year-old boy. Xiao Yu is struck by the child’s resemblance to Qi Yunheng and asks whether Qi Yunheng already has a child that old.

Character developments and interactions

• Xiao Yu shows protective concern for Jingxue, informed by memories of her tragic future. He remains evasive about the Southern Zhao ruler and the nature of their relationship.
• Su Jingxue values choosing her own partner and refuses to settle despite feeling pressure about her age. She trusts Xiao Yu’s warning and agrees to stay home.
• Xiao Zhiyu and Su Xun tease Xiao Yu affectionately, then shift to serious concern about his possible departure and its political consequences.
• Qinggeng returns with a mysterious child, prompting Xiao Yu’s alarm and suspicion.

Significant themes

• Freedom in marriage: Jingxue’s independence contrasts with the coercive and politically driven marriages surrounding her.
• Protection and foreknowledge: Xiao Yu’s memories of his previous life shape his efforts to protect Jingxue.
• Family loyalty versus political power: The possible alliance with Southern Zhao raises fears of separation and conflict between personal bonds and state interests.
• Secrets and uncertainty: Xiao Yu avoids revealing the identity of the Southern Zhao ruler, while the boy’s arrival introduces a new mystery.

Key plot points and events

• Xiao Yu meets Yun Cheng, the eleventh younger brother of Qi Yunheng, who has secretly traveled to find him. Yun Cheng enthusiastically calls Xiao Yu his “royal sister-in-law,” convinced that Yunheng loves him.
• Yun Cheng explains that Yunheng has avoided mentioning him and once refused to pass along his message that he missed Xiao Yu. He also reveals that Yunheng secretly took one of Xiao Yu’s robes and hugs it while sleeping.
• Xiao Yu gently scolds Yun Cheng for riding on Qinggeng without permission, warning him not to risk getting hurt. Yun Cheng agrees—but continues calling Xiao Yu his “royal sister-in-law.”
• In Southern Zhao’s court, Yunheng presents a dummy wearing Xiao Yu’s robe as his “Queen.” The ministers are startled and realize the clothing appears to be men’s attire from Jin.
• Yunheng confirms that the person he loves is from Jin. When a minister objects because the kingdoms are historic enemies, Yunheng argues that Southern Zhao provoked Jin and must accept the consequences.
• Yunheng declares that only the man he loves can be his Queen, but refuses to identify him, admitting that the man might reject him.

Character developments

• Xiao Yu responds to Yun Cheng with warmth and care, while remaining embarrassed by the child’s assumptions and revelations about Yunheng.
• Yun Cheng is affectionate and bold, but his dangerous trip shows his impulsiveness. He is also hurt that Yunheng has kept him from Xiao Yu.
• Qi Yunheng publicly defends his love for Xiao Yu despite political opposition. His private attachment is clear in his keeping and sleeping with Xiao Yu’s robe, though he fears Xiao Yu will refuse him.

Character interactions

• Xiao Yu and Yun Cheng quickly form a tender, playful rapport: Xiao Yu corrects Yun Cheng’s reckless behavior and asks him to call him “big brother,” while Yun Cheng repeatedly slips back into “royal sister-in-law.”
• Qinggeng reprimands Yun Cheng for secretly hitching a ride, and Xiao Yu reinforces the warning.
• Yunheng confronts his ministers’ objections with cold confidence, while the court reacts with disbelief to the dummy Queen and uncertainty about the identity—and gender—of the person he loves.

Significant themes

• Unspoken and possibly unrequited love: Yunheng’s devotion is evident, but he believes Xiao Yu may not return it.
• Loyalty versus political hostility: Yunheng challenges the longstanding enmity between Jin and Southern Zhao.
• Family, secrecy, and belonging: Yun Cheng seeks connection with Xiao Yu despite Yunheng’s silence.
• Affection expressed through objects: Yunheng’s treasured robe acts as a private substitute for Xiao Yu’s presence.

Key plot points and events

• Xiao Yu’s Second Aunt invites him to Fortune House, claiming his uncle wants him to begin looking for a wife. Despite Xiao Yu’s objections—and her awareness of rumors that he prefers men—she brings in two prospective matches: his cousin Xiao Qiuxin and her niece Wei Zhiyan.
• Wei Zhiyan is impressed by Xiao Yu’s looks and bearing, while Xiao Qiuxin teases him by asking what kind of woman he likes.
• Little Yun Cheng suddenly rushes in, calls Xiao Yu “Daddy,” and begs him not to find another mother. Xiao Yu plays along, jokingly identifying Second Aunt as the boy’s “Second Grandma,” which shocks and embarrasses her.
• Xiao Yu leaves with Yun Cheng, clarifies that he never agreed to meet Wei Zhiyan, and asks his aunt not to arrange further matchmaking meetings so the women’s reputations are not harmed.
• Outside, Xiao Yu scolds Yun Cheng for making people think he has a young son. Yun Cheng reveals he fears Xiao Yu will marry and leave his “royal brother,” and admits he was chasing a black crane.

Character developments and interactions

• Xiao Yu remains firm about his relationship with Yun Heng and rejects the matchmaking effort without insulting the women. His humor and patience show through as he handles Yun Cheng’s dramatic interruption.
• Second Aunt Xiao is confident that a suitable marriage can overcome Xiao Yu’s preferences, but Yun Cheng’s arrival leaves her embarrassed and confused.
• Wei Zhiyan shifts from distrust, based on rumors, to strong attraction after meeting Xiao Yu. Though he declines the match, she refuses to give up.
• Xiao Qiuxin encourages the conversation with a playful question and notices Wei Zhiyan’s interest.
• Little Yun Cheng displays jealousy and insecurity about losing Xiao Yu, while also showing his impulsive fascination with animals.

Significant themes

• Rumor versus reality: Wei Zhiyan’s first impression overturns the stories she had heard about Xiao Yu.
• Family pressure and personal choice: Xiao Yu’s relatives expect him to marry and continue the family line, but he resists being pushed into a match.
• Affection and insecurity: Yun Cheng’s “Daddy” act humorously reveals his attachment to Xiao Yu and worry about being left behind.
• Public reputation: Xiao Yu recognizes how quickly the incident could fuel gossip and stories across the capital.

Plot points and events

• Madam Wu arranges a match between her son, Wu Lifeng, and Shen Yuzhu, urging him to meet her at Fortune House. Wu is reluctant at first, recalling how previous prospective brides were frightened by his imposing appearance.
• When he learns the woman is Yuzhu—now Madam Shen’s daughter—he becomes interested. He changes into a scholar’s outfit, hoping to impress her, and suggests meeting on a pleasure boat instead.
• At the boat, Wu is so nervous that he can barely speak. Yuzhu and her mother, Madam Shen, are nevertheless favorably disposed toward him: he seems honest and unpretentious, and Yuzhu finds his awkwardness endearing.
• Just as Yuzhu is about to answer Madam Shen’s question about him, a child rushes in and calls Wu “Daddy.” Wu denies knowing him, worries that Yuzhu will misunderstand, and takes the child ashore to demand an explanation.
• The supposed child is Black Crane, who copied a mortal child’s behavior from the previous day, expecting it to make Wu take him home.

Character developments and interactions

• Wu Lifeng shifts from reluctant son to eager suitor. His confidence about his appearance is misplaced, but his affection for Yuzhu makes him unusually self-conscious and eager to impress her. He is blunt, honest, and inexperienced with courtship.
• Madam Wu is forceful and teasing, but genuinely wants her son to find a match. She defends Yuzhu against social prejudice and encourages Wu despite his awkwardness.
• Shen Yuzhu is quiet and considerate. Rather than being put off by Wu’s imposing build or silence, she finds his guileless manner appealing.
• Madam Shen initially notes Wu’s fearsome appearance but trusts the families’ longstanding relationship and is satisfied by his straightforwardness.
• Black Crane unwittingly disrupts the meeting by imitating a child who calls Wu “Daddy,” creating a misunderstanding Wu must immediately address.

Significant themes

• Appearance versus character: Wu’s intimidating looks obscure his gentle, honest nature; the women judge him by his conduct rather than his appearance.
• Family and social prejudice: Madam Wu rejects the idea that Yuzhu should be judged or shunned for appearing in public, emphasizing acceptance and family loyalty.
• Awkwardness in courtship: Wu’s earnest efforts to impress Yuzhu create both humor and tenderness.
• Mistaken imitation and comic misunderstanding: Black Crane copies a behavior without understanding its consequences, abruptly complicating the budding match.

Plot points and events

• Wu Lifeng suspects the child who called him “Dad” may be an adult in disguise, like infiltrators he encountered on the Northern Frontier. He confronts Black Crane, who insists he means no harm and only wants to repay Wu’s kindness.
• Xiao Yu and Little Yun Cheng happen to pass by. Their casual exchange—each mistaking the other’s companion for his son—leads Yun Cheng to recognize that Black Crane smells like the immortal crane he knows.
• Wu Lifeng realizes Black Crane is the same being who has pursued him across lifetimes to repay a childhood rescue. Black Crane explains none of this aloud, but the chapter reveals his long search and the tragic ends he and Wu met in a previous life.
• Wu tells Black Crane that his kindness has already been repaid and urges him to return to his own world. Black Crane refuses, offers Wu a bag of pearls, and asks to be taken home.
• Wu accepts the pearls to reassure him. Yun Cheng sympathizes with Black Crane and suggests bringing him home, while Xiao Yu objects that they cannot simply pick up children—only for Yun Cheng to point out that Black Crane is beside the riverbank, not the roadside.

Character developments

• Wu Lifeng shifts from suspicion and anger to conflicted sympathy after learning how devoted Black Crane is. He accepts the pearls but remains uncomfortable with being called “Dad.”
• Black Crane is revealed as a centuries-old, loyal being who has endured repeated losses while trying to repay Wu. Despite his age and history, he appears and behaves like a tearful child.
• Little Yun Cheng shows compassion and a playful, literal-minded streak, quickly advocating for Black Crane.
• Xiao Yu remains cautious and exasperated as Yun Cheng tries to take the stranger home.

Themes

• Loyalty and gratitude: Black Crane’s determination to repay a single act of kindness spans lifetimes.
• Fate and reincarnation: Wu and Black Crane repeatedly find one another, but their past encounters have ended tragically.
• Appearance versus reality: Black Crane looks like a child but is hundreds of years old, fueling Wu’s initial fear and the chapter’s comic misunderstandings.
• Kindness and compassion: Wu’s original rescue continues to shape Black Crane’s life, while Yun Cheng responds to his distress with empathy.

Character interactions

• Wu interrogates Black Crane, who pleads his case and calls him “Daddy,” much to Wu’s alarm.
• Xiao Yu and Wu exchange awkward, joking assumptions about one another’s “sons.”
• Yun Cheng identifies Black Crane by scent, inadvertently revealing his identity and prompting Wu to reconsider him.
• Yun Cheng urges Xiao Yu to take Black Crane home; Xiao Yu resists, while Black Crane treats Wu’s acceptance of his pearls as permission to join them.

Key plot points and events

• Xiao Yu brings Little Yun Cheng, who secretly left Southern Zhao to find him, and Black Crane to Xiao Zhiyu’s residence. She agrees to host Black Crane and urges Xiao Yu to take Yun Cheng home.
• Yun Cheng admits he misses his royal brother and worries that Qi Yunheng must be anxious. Xiao Yu offers to take him to see Qi Yunheng.
• In Southern Zhao, Qi Yunheng works late while missing Yun Cheng and Xiao Yu. After receiving Xiao Yu’s message—“I miss you. What should I do?”—he admits he wants to visit the Jin Kingdom.
• Xiao Yu arrives at the palace with Yun Cheng and asks Qi Yunheng to open the window. Qi Yunheng rushes out through it and embraces Xiao Yu, while Yun Cheng’s joyful reunion is briefly overshadowed when Qi Yunheng runs past him to greet Xiao Yu.
• Qi Yunheng wants to kiss Xiao Yu, but Xiao Yu suggests they go inside, aware of the watching agents. Yun Cheng then asks to hug them and sleep between them. Qi Yunheng refuses, even answering for Xiao Yu.

Character developments and interactions

• Xiao Yu shows care for both children, makes plans to reunite Yun Cheng with his brother, and openly tells Qi Yunheng he misses him. His embarrassment at being called “An-An” hints at his growing affection.
• Qi Yunheng reveals how lonely and lovesick he has been in Yun Cheng’s absence. His eagerness to see Xiao Yu—and his possessiveness when Yun Cheng asks to share their bed—adds comic jealousy to the reunion.
• Little Yun Cheng is affectionate and impulsive: he sneaks away to find Xiao Yu, then returns happily to Qi Yunheng. He feels neglected when his brother runs past him and later envies their closeness.
• Xiao Zhiyu responds responsibly, prioritizing Yun Cheng’s family’s concern and welcoming Black Crane.
• Black Crane is moved by Xiao Zhiyu’s kindness and resolves to repay her with a pearl. The hidden agents notice Xiao Yu’s arrival and speculate that he is the “Queen.”

Significant themes

• Longing and reunion: The characters’ separation makes their affection and worry apparent, especially Qi Yunheng’s yearning for Xiao Yu and concern over Yun Cheng.
• Family and belonging: Yun Cheng is torn between his attachment to Xiao Yu and his longing for his royal brother, while Black Crane’s gratitude reflects his desire for care and acceptance.
• Romantic affection and jealousy: Xiao Yu and Qi Yunheng’s intimate reunion contrasts with Qi Yunheng’s comically possessive refusal to let Yun Cheng join them in bed.
• Humor and tenderness: The window entrance, Yun Cheng’s overlooked reunion, and the bed-sharing dispute balance the chapter’s emotional warmth with comedy.

Key plot points and events

• Xiao Yu points out that Little Yun Cheng has missed Qi Yunheng. The brothers’ argument softens, and they agree to sleep together that night.
• Yun Cheng innocently announces that he will not peek if Xiao Yu and Qi Yunheng kiss, embarrassing them. Xiao Yu says he will stay for two days, reassuring Qi Yunheng.
• Qi Yunheng jokes about burying Xiao Yu, prompting Xiao Yu to remind him that he really did bury him once. Qi Yunheng apologizes and promises he would bury himself before ever harming Xiao Yu again.
• Seeking a way to make amends, Qi Yunheng invites Xiao Yu to bite him. Xiao Yu finally bites his jaw and cheek, then kisses the bite; Qi Yunheng responds affectionately.
• Their intimacy turns playful and jealous when they discuss whether either has smelled other people. Qi Yunheng admits women had entered his bed, but insists he never touched them and says he had them buried. Xiao Yu accepts his explanation.
• Yun Cheng returns from bathing and climbs into bed, interrupting the couple’s private moment.

Character developments

• Xiao Yu feels relieved and happy that Qi Yunheng now has both him and a caring younger brother, unlike the loneliness Qi Yunheng endured in their previous life. He also shows forgiveness and affection, choosing not to dwell on past harm.
• Qi Yunheng reveals lingering guilt over having buried Xiao Yu, and seeks reassurance through an exaggerated offer to be bitten. He is affectionate and possessive, but also fears Xiao Yu’s jealousy and rejection.
• Little Yun Cheng openly shows affection for his older brother and enthusiasm about sharing a bed with the couple, adding warmth and comic embarrassment.

Significant themes

• Healing and forgiveness: Xiao Yu asks to leave the past behind, while Qi Yunheng struggles to make amends.
• Family and belonging: Yun Cheng’s care gives Qi Yunheng the familial connection he lacked before.
• Love expressed through teasing: The couple’s biting, kissing, and banter turn guilt and jealousy into playful intimacy.
• Jealousy and trust: Their joking exchange about other people briefly unsettles both, but Xiao Yu ultimately chooses to believe Qi Yunheng.

Character interactions

• Xiao Yu gently reunites the brothers and reassures Qi Yunheng by promising to stay.
• Qi Yunheng apologizes for the past and seeks closeness; Xiao Yu responds with forgiveness, a playful bite, and a kiss.
• Their flirtation shifts into mutual questioning about past encounters, with Qi Yunheng nervously defending himself.
• Yun Cheng’s arrival cuts short their private exchange and brings the three together for the promised shared night.