Chapter Summaries

Key plot points and events

• Nanny Li confesses that, fourteen years earlier, her sister—then a palace maid—was forced by a gu curse to take the newborn child of the Empress Dowager. Because the sister owed the Empress Dowager her life, she asked Nanny Li to protect the baby.
• To keep the infant safe from the conspirators, Nanny Li switched the baby with Lin Xiangyin’s newborn daughter, Jiang Rong. Jiang Yourning was raised by the Jiangs, while Rong was sent away. Nanny Li also left the note in Yourning’s swaddling cloth revealing her identity.
• Jiang Rong confronts Nanny Li about the switch, then leaves, unable to resolve her conflicting feelings: the deception harmed her family, but it may have saved Yourning’s life.
• Jiang Li says Yourning must go to the palace and let the Emperor decide what happens. Lin Xiangyin resists, insisting that raising Yourning makes her her daughter regardless of blood.
• Yourning agrees to meet the Emperor but promises Lin Xiangyin she will remain her mother and that she will not acknowledge her birth family if they try to separate them. Lin Xiangyin agrees to let Jiang Li escort her.
• Meanwhile, Emperor Chu Wenzong feels an inexplicable chill and foreboding.

Character developments and interactions

• Nanny Li admits responsibility and accepts punishment, explaining that fear and loyalty to her sister’s plea drove her actions.
• Jiang Rong faces the painful truth of her origins and leaves the family gathering emotionally overwhelmed.
• Lin Xiangyin fiercely asserts that love and years of care—not birth alone—make Yourning her daughter. Her grief and protectiveness clash with the prospect of losing her.
• Jiang Yourning comforts her mother and tries to reassure her while preparing to confront the truth of her imperial birth.
• Jiang Li takes charge of the practical next step, though the revelation destroys his excitement about an impending marriage proposal.
• Jiang Huai’an defers the matter to Jiang Li and appears unsure how to respond to the discovery that the children he raised are the Emperor’s offspring and sister.

Significant themes

• Chosen family versus blood ties: Lin Xiangyin and Yourning affirm that their mother-daughter bond will endure regardless of ancestry.
• Sacrifice and moral ambiguity: Nanny Li’s betrayal of one family was intended to save a child from a deadly conspiracy.
• Identity and belonging: Yourning must decide how to relate to her imperial origins without abandoning the family that raised her.
• The consequences of hidden truths: A long-kept secret abruptly changes several characters’ lives and sets up a confrontation with the imperial court.

Key plot points and events

• As she prepares to leave the Jiang Residence for the palace, Jiang Yourning turns back to find her Fifth Sister, Jiang Wanrong, who is quietly watching fish in the garden.
• Yourning cheers Wanrong with a series of magical face-changing tricks, transforming her face into several ridiculous designs until Wanrong laughs and feels less overwhelmed.
• The sisters agree to meet at Cloud Fragrance House that evening. Wanrong carries Yourning down from the rockery, and they walk out together.
• Yourning says goodbye to the Jiang family and leaves by carriage with Jiang Li. Once inside, she is surprised by her own sadness and restlessness at parting.
• The family watches the carriage disappear. Jiang He blames himself for shifting a marriage discussion onto Yourning, which led to the truth about her identity coming out before the family could prepare.
• At the palace, Emperor Chu Wenzong jokes about faking his death and retiring, then receives word that Jiang Li has brought a serious old case requiring the emperor’s personal judgment. He agrees to hear it, warning that Jiang Li will be punished if it is not truly grave.

Character developments and interactions

• Jiang Yourning shows care for Wanrong through playful, spontaneous efforts to lift her spirits. Though she tells herself the family is not truly her home and she can visit again, leaving reveals an unexpected emotional attachment.
• Jiang Wanrong moves from stunned sadness toward acceptance and warmth, responding to Yourning’s humor and affection.
• Lin Xiangyin is deeply moved to see Yourning comforting Wanrong.
• Jiang He is consumed by regret, believing his actions caused the revelation and the family’s sudden separation from Yourning.
• Chu Wenzong appears weary and eager to escape the burdens of rule, but remains responsible enough to hear a potentially important case. His exchange with Fu Kang offers comic relief.

Significant themes

• Family and belonging: Yourning’s insistence that she can return does not erase the pain of leaving; the family’s bonds are evident in their grief.
• Comfort through affection and humor: Yourning’s antics help Wanrong cope with painful revelations.
• Regret and unintended consequences: Jiang He dwells on how one conversational choice accelerated the family’s loss.
• Duty versus freedom: The emperor’s wish to retire contrasts with the obligations that keep both him and Jiang Li engaged in matters of state.

Plot points and events

• Jiang Li brings Jiang Yourning to the Imperial Study to present evidence that she is Chu Wenzong’s missing daughter. Yourning is awkward and reluctant about acknowledging the relationship, while Chu Wenzong is equally offended by her apparent disdain.
• Jiang Li offers a Red String embroidered with the character “Yu.” Chu Wenzong recognizes it and its distinctive, clumsy stitching, which strongly suggests his mother made it.
• Chu Wenzong summons Wu Qingyuan after learning the missing princess may have been found.
• At Cining Palace, Wu Qingyuan rushes to the Imperial Study. There, A-Qi recounts his past and what he learned from his aunt, while Nanny Li begins explaining her younger sister’s story.
• Recognizing details from her memories, Wu Qingyuan approaches Jiang Yourning in tears.

Character developments and interactions

• Jiang Yourning remains blunt and resistant to the idea of gaining a royal family, even privately considering delaying the reunion.
• Chu Wenzong is stunned by her attitude and privately resents the prospect of a troublesome, money-minded sister, though the Red String makes the claim persuasive.
• Jiang Li acts as the intermediary, bringing the evidence and witnesses while leaving the truth for the emperor to judge.
• Wu Qingyuan shifts from cheerful play with her grandson to urgent, emotional hope when she hears the missing princess may have been found.
• Cui Zhao’an stays behind, calmly asking Fu Kang to recount what happened.

Significant themes

• Family and recognition: The characters confront whether evidence, memory, and shared history can restore a broken family bond.
• Reluctant affection: Both Yourning and Chu Wenzong resist their apparent new relationship, using irritation and sarcasm to mask the emotional weight of the reunion.
• Hope and loss: Wu Qingyuan’s tears reveal the long-lasting pain of the princess’s disappearance and the hope that she may finally be home.

Key plot points and events

• Wu Qingyuan accepts Jiang Yourning as her long-lost daughter, Yu’er, and embraces her despite Jiang Yourning’s suggestion that they seek further proof.
• Emperor Chu Wenzong remains cautious. He orders the Death Squad to investigate the old case and has the witnesses taken for another secret interrogation.
• Jiang Yourning remembers that she has Truth-Telling Pills from the Black Market. She gives several to Jiang Li so the witnesses can be questioned more reliably.
• Wu Qingyuan invites Jiang Yourning to Cining Palace to celebrate their reunion. Before going, Jiang Yourning speaks privately with Jiang Li.

Character developments and interactions

• Jiang Yourning stays wary and emotionally detached, viewing the reunion through the practical lens of someone who thinks of herself as a player in a story. Yet the separation from the Jiang family affects her more than she admits.
• Wu Qingyuan is overwhelmed with joy and guilt, convinced that Jiang Yourning is her daughter and lamenting that she could not raise her herself.
• Chu Wenzong balances his mother’s certainty with political caution. He listens to Jiang Yourning’s thoughts, which reassure him that the Jiang family was caught up innocently, and pursues further verification.
• Jiang Li struggles with losing his little sister to her new identity as Elder Princess. He formally addresses her as “Your Highness,” thanking her for granting his wish, then leaves in tears. Jiang Yourning responds gently, promising to observe the proper public boundaries.

Significant themes

• Family versus duty: Jiang Yourning and Jiang Li must adjust to a relationship changed by her royal status, even as their affection remains.
• Trust and uncertainty: Wu Qingyuan embraces the reunion, while the emperor insists on investigating the past.
• Identity and emotional distance: Jiang Yourning’s detached, game-like outlook conflicts with the real emotional consequences of her new role.
• Formalities and loss: Court etiquette turns a familiar sibling bond into a sovereign-subject relationship, leaving both characters hurt.

Key plot points and events

• Jiang Yourning prepares to leave the Imperial Study with Wu Qingyuan and wonders whether she can persuade Chu Wenzong to fund a move out of the palace.
• Little Wukong runs to Yourning, excited that she is his aunt and they can live together again. He resists changing how he addresses her, but Yourning warns him that “Big Sister” will not do. He gives in and calls her Auntie.
• Wu Qingyuan takes Yourning and Wukong to Cining Palace, where she orders an elaborate meal and has a side hall cleaned for her daughter.
• Wu Qingyuan offers to show Yourning the treasures she has kept for her. Chu Wenzong and Cui Zhao’an follow, hoping to see the riches too.
• Wu Qingyuan sends Chu Wenzong away to prepare a welcome gift, invoking Yourning’s long separation and supposed hardships. Yourning privately laughs at the reversal: Chu came hoping for a handout and is now expected to spend money.

Character developments

• Jiang Yourning is delighted by her mother’s authority and the prospect of treasure, but remains calculating and teasing. She also asserts her new place in the family by correcting Wukong’s form of address.
• Wu Qingyuan shows deep affection for her returned daughter, fussing over her comfort and preparing gifts, while using her authority to control the household—and manipulate Chu Wenzong into honoring Yourning.
• Chu Wenzong is exasperated by Wukong’s antics, but pleased that Yourning can keep him in line. His hopes of receiving some of Wu Qingyuan’s wealth are dashed when she sends him off to prepare a gift.
• Little Wukong is eager to resume his close relationship with Yourning, but backs down when she reminds him of her authority.
• Cui Zhao’an watches the family dynamics with amused patience and supports the idea that Yourning may help rein in Wukong.

Significant themes

• Family reunion and belonging: Yourning is welcomed into her birth family, and small matters like titles signal her changed place in the family.
• Maternal love and protection: Wu Qingyuan expresses her devotion through practical care, lavish gifts, and a promise to cherish Yourning.
• Power and family maneuvering: Wu Qingyuan uses her status and rhetoric to direct others, while Yourning’s inner commentary exposes the family’s comic scheming.
• Affection mixed with teasing: The family’s bonds are shown through mock complaints, playful threats, and competing hopes for wealth and attention.

Character interactions

• Wu Qingyuan warmly leads Yourning and Wukong to Cining Palace, while Yourning playfully enforces the new aunt–nephew relationship.
• Chu Wenzong and Cui Zhao’an privately discuss Wukong’s behavior and whether he can spend the night with his grandmother and aunt.
• Wu Qingyuan praises Yourning and reproaches Chu Wenzong in front of her, turning his attempt to join the treasure viewing into an obligation to prepare a welcome gift.

Key plot points and events

• Cui Zhao’an promises to prepare gifts for the imperial princess and quickly leaves with Chu Wenzong, who is confused by the exchange.
• Wu Qingyuan reveals a hidden chamber packed with treasures and tells Jiang Yourning that everything inside belongs to her.
• Jiang Yourning accepts Wu Qingyuan as “Mother,” moved by her generosity. Wu Qingyuan weeps with joy, and Jiang patiently comforts her.
• Wu Qingyuan sorts through the treasures, choosing items she thinks will suit Jiang. Since Jiang cannot carry everything, they bring several boxes back to the Side Hall.
• Wu Qingyuan presents a huge gold lock charm made by Jiang’s imperial father. Jiang is impressed rather than alarmed, and admits she loves gold.
• When Jiang lists her other tastes—food, beautiful things, and handsome people—Wu offers to take her to the Cloud Fragrance House, which she owns.

Character developments

• Jiang Yourning grows closer to Wu Qingyuan, sincerely calling her “Mother.” She is delighted by the treasure and openly reveals her simple, material tastes.
• Wu Qingyuan expresses her affection through generous gifts and attentive choices. Her happiness at being accepted makes her emotional, while her playful side emerges as she discusses gold and the Cloud Fragrance House.
• Cui Zhao’an acts quickly to fulfill the promise of gifts, though the chapter gives little further insight into him.

Character interactions

• Cui Zhao’an ushers Chu Wenzong away to prepare gifts.
• Wu Qingyuan welcomes Jiang into the family’s hidden treasury and encourages her to choose whatever she wants.
• Jiang comforts Wu through her tears, turning their exchange into a tender mother-daughter moment.
• Their conversation about the oversized gold charm reveals shared family traits and builds their rapport; Wu then enthusiastically offers to introduce Jiang to her own establishment.

Significant themes

• Belonging and acceptance: Jiang’s heartfelt change of address marks a growing bond with Wu.
• Family affection expressed through generosity: The treasure and carefully chosen gifts show Wu’s desire to care for her daughter.
• Humor and excess: The enormous gold charm and the family’s fondness for wealth provide comic contrast with Jiang’s claim to “simple, unpretentious” tastes.

Plot points and events

• Wu Qingyuan proudly confirms Jiang Yourning’s new status as her daughter and eagerly takes her to the Cloud Fragrance House.
• At the palace, Chu Wenzong hosts a banquet to introduce his newly discovered sister to the imperial relatives. He has spent half his fortune on gifts and preparations, but the guests of honor—Wu Qingyuan, Jiang Yourning, and his own children—fail to appear, leaving everyone waiting.
• At the Cloud Fragrance House, Chu Lange struggles to accept that Jiang Yourning is now her aunt, despite being a year older. A promise of half-price food quickly wins her over. Little Wukong also claims Jiang Yourning as his aunt, and the children settle their dispute with a silly crawling contest.
• While the group watches dancers, Wu Qingyuan goes to the roof. Jiang Yourning asks Jiang Wanrong about the Jiang family; Wanrong says the household has become unusually subdued since Yourning left.
• Wu Qingyuan reappears upside down through the window and offers to buy the neighboring residences, renovate them into a Princess’s Residence, and move in with Jiang Yourning.

Character developments and interactions

• Wu Qingyuan is affectionate but impulsive and unreliable: she prioritizes an evening out over the palace banquet, yet is also attentive to Yourning’s attachment to her former home.
• Jiang Yourning accepts her new family role with calm humor and remains concerned about the Jiang household.
• Chu Wenzong tries to manage the family’s sudden upheaval with outward composure, though he privately regrets how unpredictable his mother is.
• Chu Lange shifts from indignation to eager affection once offered a practical perk, while Little Wukong playfully competes with her.
• Jiang Wanrong quietly recognizes how much Yourning’s departure has affected the Jiang family.

Significant themes

• Family identity and belonging: Yourning’s new royal ties reshape relationships, even between relatives close in age.
• Affection expressed through humor and practical gestures: Discounts, gifts, and offers of a new residence become playful ways of showing love.
• Chaotic family dynamics: Wu Qingyuan’s spontaneity disrupts formal obligations, while the children’s antics bring levity to the transition.

Summary

• Jiang Yourning and Jiang Wanrong are relieved when Wu Qingyuan proposes building the Princess’s Residence beside the Jiang Residence. This would let Yourning remain close to the Jiang family who raised her, easing her conflict over her newly discovered imperial identity.
• The group stays at the Cloud Fragrance House without notifying the palace. Wu Qingyuan sends Lique Spring to deliver the news afterward.
• At the National Preceptor’s Residence, Qian Yan is stunned to learn that the girl he once dismissed as “Sixth Jiang” is actually the Empress Dowager’s youngest daughter. Qing Qianxue takes the revelation calmly, but misunderstands Qian Yan’s complaint about “digestion” and responds by ordering punishing extra training. Qian Yan’s earnest gratitude only makes the exchange more comic.
• The next morning, imperial relatives and nobles arrive at court resentful after waiting in vain for the Empress Dowager and Elder Princess at the previous night’s banquet. They suspect Emperor Chu Wenzong has once again devised a scheme to extract wealth from them.
• Chu Wenzong announces that his long-lost younger sister has been found and credits the Jiang family with raising her. He reassures Jiang Huai’an, then awards the family ten thousand taels of gold, a manor, and triple salaries for its court-serving members. Jiang Huai’an’s anxiety turns to delight as the rewards are announced.

Character developments and interactions

• Yourning welcomes a solution that allows her to honor both her birth family and the Jiang family that raised her. Her affectionate admiration for Wu Qingyuan highlights their warm relationship.
• Wu Qingyuan shows practical compassion, recognizing that Yourning’s loyalty to the Jiang family matters as much as her imperial status.
• Qing Qianxue keeps Jiang Yourning’s hand warmer close, suggesting his attachment to her, while his deadpan response to Qian Yan’s literal misunderstanding drives the humor.
• Qian Yan and Qian Miao continue their teasing, exasperated sibling dynamic: Qian Yan gets himself into trouble, and Qian Miao refuses to rescue him.
• Jiang Huai’an is wary that the imperial court may resent the Jiang family’s repeated role in raising royal children. Chu Wenzong’s reassurance and generous rewards ease his fears.
• Chu Wenzong manages both the nobles’ suspicion and the formal announcement, using praise and rewards to affirm the Jiang family’s service.

Significant themes

• Family and belonging: Yourning’s imperial origins do not erase her bonds with the family that raised her.
• Gratitude and recognition: The Emperor publicly acknowledges the Jiang family’s care and service.
• Power and suspicion: The nobles interpret palace events through their expectation of being exploited, while the court must manage both appearances and loyalty.
• Comic misunderstandings: The exchange between Qing Qianxue and Qian Yan provides levity amid the political and emotional revelations.

Key plot points and events

• The Emperor rewards the Jiang Family for their service, including treasures that several other officials had only just presented to him. Jiang Huai’an and Jiang Li also receive salary increases.
• Wu Qingyuan asks Jiang Yourning what name she wants to use. Yourning chooses to keep the name she chose for herself, with the surname Chu, while accepting the pet name Yu’er.
• Wu Qingyuan tells Yu’er she is free to make her own choices in the palace—and that her mother will support her, provided she does not undermine the kingdom.
• Yu’er agrees to take Chu Lange and Little Wukong to visit the Jiang Family. Wu Qingyuan sends Lique Spring, the Chief Eunuch, and a decree along with them.
• Emperor Chu Wenzong returns from court hoping to explain matters to the imperial relatives, only to discover his mother is unavailable and the three youngsters have left the palace again. His repeated delays are damaging his credibility.
• At the Jiang residence, Lin Xiangyin is disappointed that Jiang Huai’an and Jiang Li return with gifts but without Yu’er. Jiang Huai’an boasts about the honors he received, while Jiang Li’s mention of their salary raises ruins his father’s hopes of keeping the extra money private.

Character developments and interactions

• Yu’er/Yourning settles on an identity that honors both her adoptive mother and the name she chose for herself. Wu Qingyuan’s reassurance helps her feel secure in her new position.
• Wu Qingyuan shows thoughtful respect for Madam Jiang’s place in Yu’er’s life and makes clear that she will be a protective, supportive mother.
• Chu Lange and Little Wukong eagerly persuade Yu’er to take them along, and her decision draws them closer.
• Chu Wenzong is increasingly frustrated by his family’s repeated departures and the consequences for his standing with the imperial relatives.
• Jiang Huai’an and Lin Xiangyin reveal contrasting reactions: he relishes the public recognition, while she chiefly misses Yu’er. Jiang Li’s blunt honesty adds comic tension.

Significant themes

• Chosen identity and family: Yu’er keeps the name she chose while joining a new family, and the chapter acknowledges the bonds she has with both households.
• Parental support and trust: Wu Qingyuan gives Yu’er unusual freedom while promising to protect her.
• Recognition and loyalty: The Emperor’s rewards signal the court’s esteem for the Jiang Family.
• Comedy amid family life: The Emperor’s thwarted plans and Jiang Huai’an’s lost hopes of extra spending money balance the chapter’s emotional moments.

Key plot points

• Chu Yourning returns to the Jiang Residence with Chu Lange and Little Wukong. The Jiang family eagerly welcomes her, but she struggles to switch from familiar family titles to formal public ones.
• Before they can catch up, Fuyuan delivers an imperial edict recognizing several Jiang family members:
  • Lin Xiangyin is made a First-Rank Imperial Lady.
  • Jiang Wanrong is granted the title of Commandery Princess Changhuan.
  • Jiang He receives a year’s leave, permission to keep more of his commercial earnings, and an imperial marriage decree.
  • Jiang Heng is appointed as the Eighth Prince’s study companion and will be taught by the Imperial Tutor.
• Jiang Heng is dismayed: although he can leave the academy, he will have to study alongside Little Wukong again.
• After the officials depart, Wu Qingyuan gives Chu Yourning and the Jiangs time alone together. Yourning reassures Lin Xiangyin that her new Princess’s Residence will be built beside theirs.

Character developments and interactions

• Chu Yourning remains deeply attached to the Jiangs and speaks to them with her usual warmth, even while observing the formalities required of an Elder Princess. She finds a private way to preserve her bond with Lin Xiangyin.
• Lin Xiangyin eagerly embraces Yourning, then catches herself and resumes court etiquette. She is delighted to learn she can call herself “Mama” without openly using the forbidden family title.
• Jiang He feels guilty that Yourning can no longer openly call the Jiangs her family, though she still clearly considers them so.
• Jiang Heng reacts with exasperation to his new study arrangement, while Little Wukong innocently teases him about having missed his brother.
• Jiang Huai’an and Jiang Li acknowledge that the past cannot be changed and encourage the family to look ahead, while still grieving the change in Yourning’s status.

Significant themes

• Family bonds versus public duty: Yourning’s royal identity changes how the family must behave in public, but not how they feel about one another.
• Adaptation and continuity: The new titles and formalities reshape the family’s circumstances, while small gestures and private language help preserve their closeness.
• Affection expressed through teasing: Little Wukong’s cheerful insistence that Jiang Heng must be happy to study with him turns an official appointment into a comic family moment.

Plot and events

• Chu Youning’s return to the Jiang family brings the household back to its cheerful rhythm. Lin Xiangyin reads the Emperor’s edict and delights in its praise of her and Jiang Rong.
• Jiang He takes Youning for a walk and apologizes for once taking the red string that helped set the events of her life in motion. Youning reassures him that she has found her birth family and still considers him her brother.
• Jiang He offers her several chests of gold as a congratulatory gift. Youning eagerly accepts, asking that the chests be kept at the Jiang estate so she can collect gold whenever she needs it.
• Jiang Li arrives with a gift of his own. Youning playfully teases him about his stiffness and his sleepless night of sword practice after fearing he had lost his sister. Jiang He confirms the story, embarrassing Jiang Li.
• Youning persuades Jiang Li that a gift from a brother to his sister is different from a gift to an official. He gives her his money pouch, then hurriedly leaves. Inside are banknotes—likely years of saved New Year’s money.

Character developments and interactions

• Youning is affectionate and reassuring toward her Jiang family, while remaining mischievous and delighted by gifts. She treats the brothers’ generosity as proof that having more family is wonderful.
• Jiang He moves past some of his guilt after Youning affirms their bond. His gentle apology and generous gift show that he still sees her as his little sister.
• Jiang Li reveals an emotional, vulnerable side beneath his rigid manner. Though embarrassed and initially resistant, he bends his strict sense of propriety to give Youning his savings.
• Lin Xiangyin quickly recovers her good spirits, helping restore the family’s familiar warmth.

Significant themes

• Family bonds beyond blood: Youning insists that changing her birth status does not end her relationship with the Jiang siblings.
• Reconciliation and reassurance: Honest affection helps ease Jiang He’s guilt and the family’s pain at Youning’s departure.
• Comedy through contrasting personalities: Youning’s playful scheming contrasts with Jiang Li’s formality and makes his hidden tenderness visible.
• Generosity and belonging: The brothers’ gifts affirm that Youning remains cherished in the Jiang household.

Plot points and events

• Chu Youning and her Second Brother, Jiang He, tease each other about which brother deserves the title of “best.” Their playful chase ends with Jiang He catching her and making her praise him.
• Youning privately credits her father’s erratic behavior with helping her learn qinggong, explaining her newfound speed.
• At sunset, the Jiang family sees Youning off in good spirits. She promises to visit at least every other day; Little Wukong says he will see Jiang Heng tomorrow.
• At the palace, Eunuch Fu Kang—red-faced from waiting in the sun—tells the returning group that the Emperor has been waiting for them since the previous afternoon.
• In the Imperial Study, Chu Wenzong complains to State Preceptor Qing Qianxue that Youning has repeatedly kept her family from him, even taking his daughter and son along. When asked what he will do when she returns, he cannot come up with an answer and declares that he will pretend he has no sister.

Character developments and interactions

• Youning and Jiang He’s affection shows through mock insults, chasing, and bargaining; Jiang He is jealous of the praise she gives their Third Brother, while Youning enjoys provoking him.
• The Jiang family’s earlier sadness has given way to warm, cheerful farewells. Youning’s promise to visit regularly reinforces her growing closeness with them.
• Fu Kang’s anxious vigil contrasts with the group’s relaxed return.
• Chu Wenzong’s complaints reveal that beneath his frustration, he wants time with his sister and the children. Qing Qianxue remains composed, having listened to his grievances all afternoon.

Significant themes

• Sibling affection expressed through teasing: The playful quarrel between Youning and Jiang He masks genuine closeness.
• Belonging and family ties: Youning maintains bonds with the Jiang family while also being eagerly awaited by her imperial family.
• Comic frustration and affection: Chu Wenzong’s exasperation stems less from anger than from feeling left out and unable to persuade Youning to spend time with him.

• Chu Youning sharply taunts her brother, Emperor Chu Wenzong, leaving him speechless and unsure whom he can call on to counter her. The State Preceptor, Qing Qianxue, calms him by praising Youning’s frankness and lively presence.
• Wenzong tells Youning her Elder Princess investiture is in seven days and that she will be trained in the required etiquette. Though Youning privately worries about how exhausting it will be, Wenzong secretly plans to make the ceremony as complicated as possible.
• Wenzong asks where she wants her fief. Youning proposes taking a third of Prince Anhe’s territory, turning its valuable mineral resources toward the imperial family’s benefit while also helping Wenzong deal with the prince. She offers to put half the mines’ proceeds in the Imperial Treasury and split the rest with him. Impressed, Wenzong warmly praises her and sees her as a useful partner in managing money and politics.
• Wenzong invites Qing Qianxue to the palace family banquet that evening, partly hoping to benefit from the wealthy State Preceptor. Qing accepts, then reveals he has prepared an investiture gift for Youning, who eagerly agrees to receive it.
  Character developments and interactions: Youning shows that beneath her teasing and playful manner she is politically astute and generous in sharing the gains. Wenzong shifts from exasperation to admiration once her proposal serves his interests, while still entertaining a petty plan to tire her out at the ceremony. Qing remains composed and diplomatic, easing tension and responding graciously to the imperial family.
  Themes: The chapter blends sibling rivalry with affectionate family dynamics, and highlights political pragmatism, shared wealth, and the way Youning’s apparent mischievousness conceals genuine capability.

Key plot points and events

• Chu Youning receives a heavy congratulatory gift from State Preceptor Qing Qianxue. Trying to carry it herself to preserve her dignity, she abruptly vanishes—apparently using impressive lightness skills.
• Qing Qianxue explains her disappearance, prompting Chu Wenzong to praise her training. Little Wukong and Chu Lange are jealous that Qing knows things about Chu Youning they do not, and ask what his relationship with her is. He replies that Chu Youning herself gets to define it.
• Back at Cining Palace, Chu Youning opens the gift: a finely made, solid-gold pixiu and a matching cloud-shaped base. Delighted, she privately promises to help Qing obtain an antidote sooner when her System returns.
• Wu Qingyuan visits and tells Chu Youning that more gifts have arrived—from the emperor and the capital’s imperial relatives. Chu Youning plans to keep what she likes and trade the rest for gold.
• At the evening banquet, Chu Youning arrives in full princess attire beside Wu Qingyuan. Xie Ciyan is startled to see that the woman he knew as “Sixth Jiang”—and imagined as a future sister-in-law—is actually his aunt.
• Chu Wenzong introduces Chu Youning to the imperial relatives, beginning with the elderly Marquis of Protecting the State, who welcomes her warmly and gives her another list of gifts. Chu Youning greets him respectfully, though her private thoughts tease his grandson Xie Ciyan.
• After the elders have greeted her, the younger generation begins. Crown Prince Chu Wenjing is the first to bow and welcome his newly revealed imperial aunt.

Character developments and interactions

• Chu Youning shows pride and determination, refusing help with the chest despite its weight. She is also openly delighted by wealth and thoughtful gifts, while presenting a composed, respectful face at court.
• Qing Qianxue remains gentle and enigmatic. His remark that Chu Youning decides their relationship hints at a closeness others do not understand.
• Little Wukong and Chu Lange display playful jealousy toward Qing, questioning his unusual familiarity with Chu Youning.
• Wu Qingyuan is affectionate and supportive, helping Chu Youning settle into her new standing and sharing the gifts sent in her honor.
• Xie Ciyan struggles with the reversal in their relationship: the woman he thought might become his sister-in-law is now his aunt, and her private teasing leaves him feeling slighted.
• The Marquis of Protecting the State welcomes Chu Youning warmly, while the imperial family and relatives adjust to her unexpected identity and status.

Significant themes

• Identity and changing relationships: Chu Youning’s revelation as the Elder Princess transforms how others relate to her, especially Xie Ciyan.
• Pride and affection: Her stubborn independence is played for comedy, while the family’s teasing and concern reveal their closeness.
• Public dignity versus private thoughts: Chu Youning behaves with regal decorum at the banquet while privately making irreverent judgments.
• Status, wealth, and generosity: The gifts underscore her new position, while her enthusiasm for gold adds humor to the formal celebration.

Key plot points and events

• Chu Youning warmly welcomes the Crown Prince, privately thinking he is pleasing—then calls him a “dumb dog” in her thoughts. Xie Ciyan bursts out laughing, but Youning moves on before anyone can hear the rest.
• When Xie Ciyan greets her, Youning teases him for avoiding her gaze and reminds herself that he once called her “sister-in-law” but must now call her “aunt.” She even considers having her mother adopt her sister, which would make Youning and Xie Ciyan share a mother. Xie Ciyan, alarmed by the thought, tries to placate her with exaggerated flattery.
• Just as the family banquet is about to begin, Fu Kang announces that the frail young commandery prince, Chu Yunfeng, has arrived with gifts.
• Yunfeng apologizes for worrying the family and meets his newly discovered aunt. Youning notices his resemblance to their grandfather and feels sorry for him.
• Youning’s thoughts reveal that Yunfeng’s poor health stems from his mother going into premature labor after the New Year’s Eve Palace Coup. The revelation recalls a painful period of political turmoil, and the banquet turns somber.
• Wu Qingyuan tries to lift the mood by inviting Yunfeng to dinner and announcing an acrobatic troupe.

Character developments and interactions

• Chu Youning is affectionate and welcoming, but her mischievous inner commentary repeatedly unsettles those around her. She teases Xie Ciyan while showing compassion toward Yunfeng.
• Xie Ciyan is amused by Youning’s thoughts about the Crown Prince, then grows anxious when her reflections turn to his former relationship with her and the possibility of a shared mother. He covers his worry with compliments.
• Chu Yunfeng appears physically fragile but makes the effort to attend the banquet and meet Youning, showing respect and warmth toward his new aunt.
• Chu Wenzong and Cui Zhao’an are used to Youning’s unsettling turns of thought and react warily; the older generation’s mood changes when she recalls the coup.

Significant themes

• Cause and effect, and retribution: Youning jokes that Xie Ciyan’s new status as her nephew is the turning of the wheel of fate.
• Family and shifting relationships: Youning’s new place in the family reshapes how she relates to the younger generation and prompts thoughts of bringing her sister closer.
• The lasting cost of political conflict: The palace coup’s consequences remain visible years later in Yunfeng’s frail health and the family’s sorrowful memories.

Key plot points and events

• Chu Youning’s internal commentary reveals that the delicate young eunuch serving Chu Wenjing is actually Hanlu, his childhood sweetheart, disguised as a man. Chu Wenjing has spent years obliviously close to her, even arranging dates with women because he feared he might not be attracted to women.
• The assembled family members learn the truth through Youning’s thoughts. Xie Ciyan slips away, pretending to be ill so he can laugh privately.
• Once the banquet ends, Jiang Yourning leads the younger relatives onto the palace roof to admire the moon. Chu Yunfeng persuades Youning to let him sit beside her.
• Youning privately hopes that a “sweet, naive” person may know how to improve Yunfeng’s poor health. Chu Wenjing asks her to invite Jiang Yourning’s fifth young lady, who is skilled in poisons and medicine, to examine him. Youning agrees.
• Xie Ciyan worries that this visit might expose the identity of his “little fairy,” while Qing Qianxue grows jealous and wonders who Youning means by her “sweet, naive” person.
• To enliven the quiet gathering, Youning offers to play “Hundred Birds Paying Homage to the Phoenix.”

Character developments and interactions

• Chu Wenjing is embarrassed by the revelation about Hanlu, but his concern for Yunfeng’s health leads him to seek Youning’s help. He is also encouraged by her confidence in finding treatment.
• Chu Yunfeng uses his frailty to get close to Youning and responds warmly to her kindness.
• Chu Youning shows growing affection for Yunfeng and offers practical help, while remaining unaware of the jealousy her thoughts provoke.
• Xie Ciyan is amused by Wenjing’s romantic obliviousness and anxious to keep his own “little fairy” secret.
• Qing Qianxue becomes unsettled by Youning’s mention of another person she trusts.

Significant themes

• Romantic irony and misunderstanding: Wenjing’s years of closeness to Hanlu contrast with his inability to recognize her feelings or identity.
• Family care and loyalty: Youning’s concern for Yunfeng prompts the family to seek help for his illness.
• Hidden identities and jealousy: Secret relationships and unanswered questions create comic tension among the characters.

Key plot points and events

• Chu Youning plays the suona on the palace roof to celebrate her return. The music is unexpectedly cheerful, delighting the imperial relatives and prompting Wu Qingyuan to join her on the roof.
• Little Wukong tries to imitate her with a miniature suona. His shrill playing clashes with hers, sparking an absurd musical face-off. The others flee or cover their ears; Wu Qingyuan watches with amusement, pleased that the palace feels lively again.
• The noise frightens frail Chu Yunfeng so badly that he develops a fever. Feeling responsible, Chu Youning fetches her sister Jiang Wanrong to treat him.
• Jiang Wanrong uses acupuncture to bring down the fever and advises that Chu Yunfeng get more sunshine and exercise instead of being kept sheltered.
• The next morning, Chu Wenzong proposes a lavish investiture ceremony for Chu Youning, claiming the kingdom owes her for the time she was missing. Wu Qingyuan supports the plan, and Chu Youning leaves the decision to her.

Character developments and interactions

• Chu Youning shows affection and responsibility: after the musical chaos contributes to her nephew’s illness, she feels guilty and promptly seeks help for him.
• Little Wukong is playful and overconfident, mistaking his noisy imitation for musical talent. His antics turn a peaceful evening into a comic showdown.
• Jiang Wanrong demonstrates calm competence and gentleness, treating Chu Yunfeng and offering practical guidance for his health. Chu Youning’s guilt also reverses their usual dynamic: Youning carries her sister to the palace rather than being carried.
• Chu Yunfeng recovers after treatment and is charmed by Jiang Wanrong, imagining her to be a fairy.
• Wu Qingyuan enjoys the palace’s renewed liveliness and approves of Chu Wenzong’s proposal.
• Chu Wenzong, normally opposed to extravagance, presents a grand ceremony as compensation for Youning’s absence—though his sudden generosity seems partly motivated by wanting to please his mother.

Significant themes

• Family affection and responsibility: The comedy gives way to genuine concern when Chu Yunfeng falls ill, and the family acts quickly to care for him.
• Renewal and belonging: The lively music makes Wu Qingyuan feel that the palace has come alive again, underscoring Youning’s importance to the family.
• Comedy amid tenderness: The suona duel is ridiculous, but it strengthens the sense of warmth and closeness among the characters.
• Care versus overprotection: Jiang Wanrong’s advice suggests that protecting Chu Yunfeng also means helping him build strength and become more active.

Plot points and events

• Chu Wenzong leaves after asking Chu Youning to learn the etiquette for her upcoming investiture ceremony. Youning privately mocks his aching back and considers selling him medicine, but he hears her thoughts and turns back to admonish her.
• Youning assumes the ceremony will be simple. The next two days of rigorous training with Wu Qingyuan prove otherwise, and she secretly curses the emperor while continuing to practice.
• To make the waiting more enjoyable—and apparently monetize the ceremony—Youning prepares four invitation tiers. She personally visits the Crown Prince’s residence to offer Chu Wenjing a choice.

Character developments and interactions

• Chu Youning remains outwardly obedient but privately irreverent, scheming, and commercially minded. Though furious about her demanding lessons, she knows she cannot openly refuse while Wu Qingyuan supervises her.
• Chu Wenzong is amused by Youning’s predicament and quietly enjoys her mistaken belief that the ceremony will be easy. Their exchange shows that he can hear her unspoken thoughts, while she remains unaware.
• Jiang Wanrong is relieved that Youning is the emperor’s sister, since this protects her from the danger her uncertain identity once posed.
• Chu Wenjing receives Youning warmly and asks about her unusual invitations. Youning explains that attendees can buy better seating rather than being seated solely according to rank.

Significant themes

• Appearance versus private thoughts: Youning’s respectful words contrast sharply with her irreverent inner commentary.
• Power and privilege: The invitation scheme turns status and proximity to the royal family into purchasable benefits.
• Comedic irony: Youning underestimates the ceremony’s difficulty, while Wenzong knows what awaits her and finds her confidence amusing.

Key plot points and events

• Chu Youning explains her tiered banquet invitations to Crown Prince Chu Wenjing: honest officials will choose affordable seats, while lower-ranking officials willing to spend beyond their means may reveal questionable wealth or ambitions.
• Chu Wenjing buys an expensive invitation and thanks his aunt for her insight. Chu Youning also reveals that the “little eunuch” caring for his sixth nephew is actually Ruan Yuyan, a woman who likes Peach Blossom Wine.
• Chu Wenjing orders continued protection for the young commandery prince and arranges for Han Shuang to follow Chu Youning. He also hopes to help his aunt and Yan’er grow closer.
• Officials across the capital receive invitations. Many buy costly places for the chance to approach the imperial family. A gold-leaf invitation granting a seat with the Emperor and Empress Dowager is bid from one hundred taels of gold to ten thousand.
• Emperor Chu Wenzong welcomes the revenue and the resulting list of potentially corrupt officials, but is troubled by how much some officials appear to possess.
• In Jiangnan, Reverend Mother Hui’an is revealed to be Chu Zhaohua, the former Grand Princess. After reading a secret letter, she burns it and decides to return to see old acquaintances.

Character developments and interactions

• Chu Youning shows strategic intelligence beneath her playful manner, using the banquet to expose suspicious wealth. She also helps Chu Wenjing by revealing Ruan Yuyan’s identity.
• Chu Wenjing proves receptive to his aunt’s advice and acts on it, combining political vigilance with concern for his family and a desire to support Chu Youning.
• Chu Wenzong benefits from his sister’s scheme but is increasingly uneasy about official corruption.
• Chu Zhaohua shifts from serene religious seclusion to purposeful action; the secret letter stirs surprise, resentment, and murderous intent before she conceals her feelings and resolves to return.

Significant themes

• Appearances versus reality: Chu Youning’s apparent frivolity hides political insight; the eunuch is a woman; and the gentle Reverend Mother has a powerful, troubled past.
• Corruption and wealth: The invitation auction turns social ambition into a means of identifying officials whose wealth may be unexplained.
• Family loyalty and influence: Chu Youning guides her nephew, while Wenjing responds by protecting relatives and fostering closer connections.

Plot points and events

• On the morning of her investiture, Chu Youning is exhausted by preparations but perks up at the smell of food. After eating, she completes her formal visits to the Empress Dowager, Emperor Chu Wenzong, and Cui Zhao’an.
• She sets off on a ceremonial carriage tour of the capital, initially enjoying the crowds’ praise and attention. After nearly an hour, she learns she is expected to tour every corner of the city—an instruction she had missed while tuning out earlier conversations.
• Rather than endure the procession, Chu Youning puts a life-sized inflatable double in the carriage, uses an Invisibility Cloak to slip away, and returns to Cining Palace to sleep. She bribes Little Food Bucket with chicken wings to wake her near the palace gates.
• Her companions notice the carriage occupant seems unusual and let the procession proceed directly to the palace. Meanwhile, Chu Wenzong eagerly anticipates her distress, only to learn she is resting comfortably in the palace.
• The chapter ends as Little Food Bucket wakes Chu Youning in time for the carriage’s arrival. She quickly resumes her place and jumps down, ready to continue the ceremony.

Character developments

• Chu Youning is playful, food-loving, and adept at evading burdensome duties. Her confidence and ingenuity let her turn an exhausting public spectacle into an opportunity for a nap.
• Chu Wenzong reveals a mischievous, teasing side: he deliberately arranged the long procession and hoped to see his sister suffer, but is thwarted by her tricks.
• Chun Tao is devoted and enthusiastic, carrying out the procession with pride, though she does not realize Chu Youning has escaped.
• Jiang Wanrong and the others are fondly exasperated by Chu Youning’s antics and choose not to expose her.

Significant themes

• Sibling rivalry and affection: Chu Wenzong and Chu Youning compete through elaborate pranks, but their schemes reflect familiarity and closeness.
• Ingenuity and comic resistance: Chu Youning uses magical tools and quick thinking to avoid an unwanted obligation.
• Public ceremony versus private convenience: The grandeur of the investiture contrasts with Chu Youning’s practical priorities—food, rest, and escaping formal duties.

Character interactions

• Wu Qingyuan lovingly helps Chu Youning dress and eat; Su Xi tries to keep the makeup process on track.
• Chu Youning jokes with Chun Tao, then relies on her without revealing the deception.
• Little Food Bucket accepts a bargain for chicken wings and later uses the Empress Dowager’s name to rouse Chu Youning.
• Chu Wenzong questions a Death Squad operative about his sister, whose hesitation underscores how absurdly his plan has been defeated.