Chapter Summaries

Key plot points and events

• Before the ceremony, Chun Tao tries to fix Chu Youning’s elaborate hairstyle but accidentally makes it worse. Youning removes the ornaments, uses Wu Qingyuan’s phoenix hairpin to secure her hair, and finds the simpler style more comfortable.
• At the Palace of Heavenly Purity, Youning climbs the three thousand steps astonishingly fast, leaving the officials and Emperor Chu Wenzong bewildered. Despite her haste, she displays impeccable dignity and etiquette.
• Eunuch Fu Kang reads a lengthy imperial edict praising Youning. She listens patiently—and secretly records the compliments on her phone.
• The edict grants her the title Jia Yu, a princess’s residence, and the three principal commanderies of South River as her fief. It also declares a general amnesty throughout the realm.
• Youning thanks her imperial brother and kneels to receive the edict, surprised to find herself moved by the amnesty.

Character developments and interactions

• Chu Youning remains practical and playful, preferring comfort to elaborate dress, but proves capable of formal composure. Her reaction to the general amnesty reveals a more sentimental side.
• Chun Tao is anxious about her mistake, while Youning kindly reassures her and takes charge of her own appearance.
• Chu Wenzong has prepared an unusually long, lavishly praising edict. He privately resents Youning’s effortless dash up the stairs and intends to praise her until she is moved.
• Wu Qingyuan notices Youning’s changed hairstyle but watches the ceremony with a warm, approving smile.
• The Jiang family looks on proudly, while Lin Xiangyin’s earlier uncertainty has given way to emotion and pride in her daughter’s imperial status.

Significant themes

• Public dignity versus private irreverence: Youning’s humorous thoughts and shortcuts contrast with her flawless ceremonial bearing.
• Family recognition and belonging: The ceremony affirms Youning’s place in the imperial family and moves those who care for her.
• Power expressed through ceremony: Her new title, fief, residence, and the realm-wide amnesty make the ceremony both a personal honor and a political event.

Plot points and events

• Chu Youning’s investiture ceremony proceeds at the Sacrificial Altar. After the State Preceptor and senior royals offer incense, Youning is about to complete her own ritual when Grand Princess Chu Zhaohua arrives unexpectedly.
• Youning hurries to finish the offering before Zhaohua can disrupt the ceremony. Qing Qianxue quietly warns her that the Grand Princess is dangerous.
• Zhaohua arrives with eight nuns and two cloaked figures. Youning recognizes one as Chu Haoze and suspects he is connected to Zhaohua—and perhaps to the foreign Marquis involved in past events.
• Youning’s thoughts suggest that Haoze once killed members of the imperial family but spared Zhaohua, who later gathered their bodies. She wonders whether Haoze might actually be Zhaohua’s son rather than Emperor Chu Wenzong’s.
• Wenzong addresses Zhaohua as “Abbess Hui’an,” emphasizing her religious identity and estrangement from the palace. Zhaohua says she came to see the niece whose return prompted the Emperor to grant a general amnesty.
• Zhaohua makes pointed remarks about Youning’s resemblance to her and recalls how she herself was raised as exceptional before being sent abroad in a political marriage.
• When the Empress Dowager asks her to wait until the ceremony is over, Zhaohua denies intending harm and presents a large entourage of nuns carrying gifts for Youning.

Character developments and interactions

• Chu Youning remains irreverent and curious, privately treating the tense arrival as an opportunity for gossip, but acts quickly to protect the ceremony. She identifies Haoze and draws potentially explosive conclusions about his parentage and alliances.
• Chu Zhaohua presents herself as affectionate toward Youning, yet her taunts reveal resentment and pain over her own political-marriage past. Her return unsettles the imperial family.
• Chu Wenzong is visibly shaken by Youning’s suspicions about Haoze, though he does not address them directly. His formal, distant title for Zhaohua signals their strained relationship.
• Wu Qingyuan is rattled by Zhaohua’s arrival and tries to postpone the confrontation until after the ceremony.
• Qing Qianxue acts protectively, warning Youning to be cautious.

Significant themes

• Family secrets and uncertain loyalties: Youning’s suspicions about Haoze’s origins and Zhaohua’s connections threaten the official understanding of the imperial family.
• Power, ceremony, and public image: The investiture’s solemn rituals contrast with the personal conflict unfolding before the court.
• The costs of political marriages: Zhaohua’s bitter recollection exposes the human price behind royal privilege.
• Hidden danger beneath courtesy: Zhaohua’s affectionate language, gifts, and religious entourage coexist with sharp accusations and the court’s evident fear of her.

Plot points and events

• Princess Chu Youning’s investiture ceremony concludes after the Elder Princess, Chu Zhaohua, gives her thirteen chests of treasures—including a white wolf cub. Youning is formally entered into the imperial genealogy at the ancestral shrine.
• During the procession afterward, Youning sneaks bites of food while remaining wary of Zhaohua’s unexpected appearance. Zhaohua observes that Youning resembles a woman from her past, even in her eating habits.
• At Youning’s banquet, guests are seated according to the invitations and gifts they purchased. Zhong Jian, a low-ranking official, uses a costly SVVIP invitation to sit with the Emperor and other royals, believing this will advance his career.
• Youning privately recognizes that the invitation scheme has exposed the backgrounds of ambitious households. Officials are already moving to investigate and raid those with criminal records.
• Chu Yunfeng approaches Jiang Wanrong with a thank-you gift. After initially refusing, Jiang accepts when his wounded, self-pitying act makes her feel guilty. He then invokes family ties to call her “Aunt,” prompting Xie Ciyan to become suspicious and jealous.

Character developments and interactions

• Chu Youning remains observant and guarded despite her playful appetite and delight in the gifts. Her invitation scheme also reveals her shrewdness: she has used the banquet to identify potentially corrupt families.
• Chu Zhaohua is composed and generous, while privately comparing Youning to someone she remembers. Her presence leaves Youning uncertain of her motives.
• Zhong Jian mistakes the Emperor’s courtesy for genuine political favor and congratulates himself on his expensive invitation.
• Chu Yunfeng uses fragility and emotional pressure to get Jiang Wanrong to accept his gift, then quickly turns the exchange into a claim of familial closeness.
• Jiang Wanrong tries to maintain polite boundaries but yields to Yunfeng’s display of hurt. Xie Ciyan, who has been admiring her, reacts with heightened vigilance.

Significant themes

• Power and performance: Ceremonies, gifts, etiquette, and displays of weakness all serve as tools for shaping relationships and influence.
• Appearance versus reality: Zhong misreads the Emperor’s politeness; Yunfeng’s vulnerability may be strategic; Youning’s playful manner masks careful judgment.
• Family and belonging: Youning’s new place in the imperial family is formalized, while the characters negotiate what family ties mean in practice.
• Surveillance and consequences: The invitation system exposes guests’ ambitions and backgrounds, turning a lavish celebration into a means of political scrutiny.

Key plot points and events

• At a family gathering, Chu Youning notices her sixth nephew acting pitiful to win sympathy, while Xie Ciyan silently fumes that he is competing for her attention.
• Youning goes to toast the Jiang family and then Qing Qianxue, the National Preceptor. Before she can do so, Grand Princess Chu Zhaohua arrives and invites her out.
• Youning’s inner thoughts warn that Zhaohua has poisoned people. Several guests react with alarm, and Qing Qianxue and others try to intervene. Zhaohua offers Youning the choice to stay or leave; Youning willingly accompanies her.
• Zhaohua carries Youning across the Imperial City’s high walls, with Qing Qianxue, Xie Ciyan, Jiang He, Jiang Li, and others pursuing. Wu Qingyuan and Chu Wenzong mobilize the Death Squad to protect Youning.
• Zhaohua takes Youning to the Returning Swallow Tower, a lakeside tower built when Zhaohua was born and renamed by her brother in the hope she would return from Jialan. There, she reflects on her painful history and suggests she might have been better off dying in Jialan.

Character developments and interactions

• Chu Youning stays composed despite the danger, carries her stun baton, and chooses to trust Zhaohua enough to go with her. She directly asks why Zhaohua poisoned people and refuses to accept the idea that family affection alone explains her past.
• Chu Zhaohua appears gentle and calm, but her envy, bitterness, and grief emerge as she compares Youning’s support with her own experience. Her account of the tower reveals that the imperial family once showed her affection and hoped for her return.
• Qing Qianxue attempts to delay their departure and follows when Zhaohua leaves. Xie Ciyan and the others also pursue, while the Death Squad is ordered to ensure Youning’s safety.
• Jiang Wanrong reacts to Youning’s warning by checking her pulse, showing how seriously she takes the threat.

Significant themes

• The difference between affection and genuine care: Zhaohua questions whether the imperial family’s gestures amounted to love.
• The scars of exile and forced separation: The tower embodies the family’s hope for Zhaohua’s return, while her memories reveal that returning may not undo her suffering.
• Protection, trust, and choice: Youning is surrounded by people ready to defend her, yet she chooses to hear Zhaohua’s story herself.
• Contrasting fortunes: Zhaohua envies the love and protection Youning receives, setting up a deeper exploration of their differing lives.

Key plot points and events

• Chu Youning meets her aunt, Grand Princess Chu Zhaohua, who openly admits arranging the abduction that nearly got Youning killed. She says she once planned to kill her niece, but has changed her mind.
• Youning offers Zhaohua a can of cold cola. Their oddly casual exchange contrasts with Zhaohua’s confession and hostility.
• Zhaohua recounts her past: once the privileged and lonely Princess Zhaoshu, she escaped palace life in disguise and fell in love with a man who did not know her identity.
• He became a celebrated general and surrendered his military command and honors in exchange for permission to marry her. Her brother refused, instead ordering him to wed another woman.
• Zhaohua explains that the man was the surviving son of a family executed for treason. Doubting his love and believing their relationship impossible, she arranged his marriage herself.

Character developments

• Chu Youning remains wary but curious, using humor and snacks to cope with the dangerous conversation. She questions whether her mother may have been misunderstood.
• Chu Zhaohua is revealed as both a former would-be killer and a deeply lonely woman shaped by a painful, self-defeating love. Her apparent certainty and bluntness give way to regret and grief.

Significant themes

• Loneliness and power: Zhaohua’s status brought privilege but prevented genuine friendship.
• Love and mistrust: She loved the general but doubted his feelings because of his family’s past.
• Regret and consequences: Her own decision helped destroy the relationship she longed for.
• Truth and misunderstanding: Zhaohua’s account complicates Youning’s assumptions about her mother and the past.

Character interactions

• Youning’s relaxed offer of cola disarms Zhaohua without erasing the threat between them.
• Zhaohua tests Youning with her confession, while Youning challenges her motives and asks whether the past involved a misunderstanding.
• As Zhaohua tells her story, Youning listens with curiosity, occasional skepticism, and her characteristic humor.

• Plot: Chu Zhaohua recounts how, during another war, the small kingdom of Jialan demanded her hand in marriage and three cities as a dowry. Yu’s court accepted the arrangement rather than let her lead an army against Jialan. She endured years of abuse there until her nephew led a campaign to destroy the kingdom. A man who had loved her for years died saving her, and her nephew’s arrow killed both him and Jialan’s king. Returning to court, Zhaohua found that everyone expected her to resume her former life, though she felt irreparably changed. Chu Youning listens, then secretly stuns her aunt and brings her back to the palace. There, she gives Zhaohua medicine to help her sleep and reassures the anxious Emperor, Empress, and Wu Qingyuan that her aunt is merely resting.
• Character developments: Zhaohua’s anger at the imperial family is revealed as the result of betrayal, forced marriage, prolonged abuse, and the court’s failure to acknowledge her suffering. She also hates herself and has survived partly because of the dead man’s final plea that she live. Youning responds with compassion, recognizing the depth of her aunt’s trauma and intervening when Zhaohua is overwhelmed.
• Interactions: Zhaohua confides in Youning, who encourages her to speak. The Emperor, Empress, and Wu Qingyuan rush to check on Zhaohua but are met with Youning’s calm reassurance. Their anxious reaction hints at unresolved guilt and fear surrounding the past.
• Themes: The chapter presents war as a source of undeserved tragedy, exposing how political expediency can sacrifice individuals—especially women—for stability. It also explores trauma, grief, betrayal, and the painful gap between surviving and being able to return to one’s former life. The title’s point is that no one truly wins: even victory leaves lives and relationships shattered.

• After the Grand Princess, Chu Zhaohua, is found asleep and unharmed, the family checks whether she poisoned them. Jiang Wanrong reports that she has examined everyone and found no signs of poison, though she cannot rule out a toxin beyond her skill to detect.
• Chu Youning reflects that Zhaohua’s account of her past is shaped by her feelings and should not be taken as the whole truth. The family’s affection for her and the portrait still preserved in the ancestral hall suggest there is more to the story.
• Wu Qingyuan takes Chu Youning, Jiang Wanrong, Chu Lange, and Little Wukong to a secluded palace once used by Zhaohua. As they explore its persimmon trees and rooms full of books, weapons, and mechanisms, Wu recalls vivid memories of Zhaohua and the late emperor.
• Wu Qingyuan asks whether Chu Youning now thinks the imperial family was cold-hearted. Chu Youning replies that people should withhold judgment until they know the whole picture. Wu approves and praises the Jiang family for raising her well.
• Wu begins giving her version of Zhaohua’s history. She recalls that Zhaohua was happiest after falling in love with a promising young man—and reveals she had already secured an imperial decree granting the marriage. She produces the decree, explaining that she hid it beneath Zhaohua’s jade pillow, intending to surprise her on her eighteenth birthday. The plan was never carried out, and Zhaohua apparently never knew the decree existed.
  Character developments and interactions: Chu Youning remains protective of her family and thoughtful about judging Zhaohua’s story; her private longing for her absent “little treasure” briefly surfaces. Jiang Wanrong is unsettled by the question of poison and suspects the Grand Princess may connect to earlier reports of evil incense. Wu Qingyuan shifts from grief to candid recollection, revealing her affection for Zhaohua and her concealed attempt to secure her happiness. Little Wukong’s curiosity draws out memories, while Chu Lange checks on Chu Youning’s safety.
  Themes: The chapter contrasts partial, emotionally colored memories with hidden evidence; stresses withholding judgment until the full story is known; and explores family love, regret, and the private costs of imperial arrangements.

Key plot points and events

• Chu Lange notices an imperial decree granting Princess Zhaohua permission to marry Li Zi’an, and asks why Zhaohua later entered a political marriage alliance.
• Wu Qingyuan explains that the late emperor discovered Li Zi’an was the son of a disgraced official and arranged another marriage for Zhaohua. The royal family later regretted the decision.
• During a war that left Yu Kingdom dangerously weakened, Jialan used poison and venomous insects to pressure the court into marrying Zhaohua to its king. The emperor accepted to protect the capital and prevent further military disaster.
• Zhaohua secretly spent years undermining Jialan from within. When the emperor eventually marched to bring her home, Li Zi’an offered his life in exchange for the Jialan king’s. The emperor chose to save Zhaohua, and Li Zi’an died.
• Zhaohua returned psychologically damaged and never spoke of her ordeal. The royal family tolerated her later misbehavior out of guilt and agreed when she chose to live in Jiangnan as a spiritual cultivator.
• Wu Qingyuan confesses that, besides Zhaohua, she feels she wronged Chu Youning most, and says she cannot punish Zhaohua for taking the child away by force.

Character development

• Wu Qingyuan reveals her deep remorse over the choices made by the imperial family and their lasting consequences.
• Zhaohua emerges as both a victim of political decisions and a resourceful, courageous figure who helped bring down Jialan, though she returned traumatized.
• Li Zi’an is portrayed as devoted and self-sacrificing, choosing to die so Zhaohua could live.
• Chu Youning is the focus of Wu Qingyuan’s personal guilt, though the reason for that guilt is only briefly mentioned.

Significant themes

• Duty versus personal love: The court repeatedly sacrifices private happiness to protect the kingdom.
• Political power and moral cost: Decisions made for national survival leave individuals—especially Zhaohua and Li Zi’an—to bear devastating consequences.
• Trauma and remorse: Zhaohua’s silence and changing moods hint at lasting harm, while Wu Qingyuan’s regret shows how unresolved past choices shape the present.
• Sacrifice and loyalty: Li Zi’an’s death and Zhaohua’s actions both demonstrate devotion at immense personal cost.

Character interactions

• Chu Lange’s question prompts Wu Qingyuan’s account of Zhaohua’s past.
• Wu Qingyuan explains the imperial family’s choices while addressing Chu Youning tenderly, then admits her resentment toward Zhaohua is outweighed by guilt and affection.
• Zhaohua’s relationship with Li Zi’an is revealed through his willingness to exchange his life for hers, while her relationship with the emperor and Wu Qingyuan is shaped by both love and betrayal.

Key plot points and events

• After hearing the Grand Princess’s tragic history, Empress Dowager Wu Qingyuan bows to Jiang Wanrong on behalf of the Chu family, acknowledging that they wronged her. Jiang’s resentment softens as she recognizes that Chu Zhaohua, rather than Wu, is the source of her grievance.
• Chu Youning keeps the old imperial edict, hoping it may one day help the person it was meant for. Wu warns her not to use it to provoke Zhaohua.
• The Grand Princess leaves a letter addressed specifically to Chu Youning, along with a packet of medicine. The letter reveals that she has been playing a “game” with the entire Yu Kingdom and urges Youning to survive.
• Fearing Zhaohua may have released a dangerous illness or poison, Wu orders tighter patrols and immediate quarantine and reporting of suspected cases. The medicine is brewed into tea and given to the banquet guests as a precaution.
• The apparent danger soon becomes real: tiny winged insects emerge from the guests’ hair and gather into a black mass that flies away. Chu Youning and Qing Qianxue are the only ones unaffected. Youning is startled to find that she has no insect of her own.

Character developments and interactions

• Wu Qingyuan shows remorse and compassion by bowing to Jiang Wanrong, while also taking decisive precautions against Zhaohua’s threat.
• Jiang Wanrong begins to let go of some resentment after hearing the story and seeing Wu’s sincerity.
• Chu Youning stays composed, safeguards the edict, and tries to reassure her mother, but the insect outbreak exposes how uncertain the threat remains.
• Chu Lange cries over the Grand Princess’s mixture of cruelty and suffering. Little Wukong echoes a lesson about the pitiable side of hateful people, briefly lightening the tense mood.
• The family’s warmth and humor briefly ease the emotional strain, but the banquet guests’ infestation quickly restores the danger.

Significant themes

• Compassion and accountability: Understanding someone’s suffering does not erase the harm they caused; Jiang distinguishes the Grand Princess’s pain from the Chu family’s debt to her.
• Cycles of grievance and survival: The edict and Zhaohua’s continued schemes suggest that old wrongs may shape future struggles.
• Threat beneath appearances: A seemingly celebratory investiture turns into a possible public-health crisis, underscoring how fragile safety is.
• Family solidarity: The characters respond collectively—through apology, protection, and shared precautions—even as the danger escalates.

Key plot points

• The others worry that Chu Youning may still have a bug in her body and make her drink several pots of tea while they inspect her scalp. The tea does nothing but send her urgently to the chamber pot.
• There, Chu Youning discovers that her System has returned. It examines her and confirms that she is healthy, though it teases her for having a slow brain.
• County Lady Baojin recognizes Chu Youning as the person who saved her. When Chu confirms it, Baojin cries because she had imagined her rescuer as a male hero and is disappointed to learn she is the Elder Princess.
• Chu comforts Baojin with a handkerchief and chocolate. Baojin brightens and decides that a capable, gentle woman can still be her “peerless hero.”
• After the banquet, Chu reassures everyone that her bug is gone. Back in bed, she catches the System up on events—though only after trying to charge it for the story.

Character developments and interactions

• Chu Youning is relieved and delighted to have the System back, then shows her softhearted side while comforting Baojin. Her playful, opportunistic nature also resurfaces when she tries to trade money for an excessive number of points.
• The System returns to find Chu’s circumstances dramatically changed: she is now an imperial princess rather than the Jiang family’s supposed fake daughter. It is exasperated by her antics but remains curious about what happened.
• Baojin moves from grief over her romanticized image of her rescuer to accepting Chu as a worthy heroine in her own right. Their encounter ends on a warm, affectionate note.
• Chu’s family and companions show concern for her health, supplying tea and searching her hair for the suspected bug.

Significant themes

• Identity and expectations: Baojin’s disappointment comes from the gap between her imagined hero and the real person, but she ultimately revises her idea of heroism.
• Care expressed through humor and small gestures: Chu’s teasing, handkerchief, and chocolate help soothe Baojin and lighten the tension around the bug scare.
• Reunion and changing circumstances: The System’s return highlights how much has changed for Chu while it was away—and how little her scheming personality has changed.

Key plot points and events

• Chu Youning trades fifty taels of gold for 4,500 System points, then spends them drawing prizes while catching the System up on recent events.
• The System reveals major character-collapse rewards. Jiang Huai’an, Jiang Li, Jiang He, and Lin Xiangyin have all reached high percentages, as have Zhao Yi and Xie Ciyan. Chu Youning’s sister remains at 99%, while Qing Qianxue is only at 52%, partly because his survival is still uncertain.
• The System has located an antidote for Qing Qianxue, but it is still being made. Chu Youning considers giving him a revival card, then decides to wait because the antidote offers a more reliable chance of saving him.
• The palace investigates Chu Zhaohua’s warning about a game. Chu Youning and the System search the capital and find no suspicious poisonous insects.
• Chu Youning learns that the Snow Wolf cub Chu Zhaohua gave her can detect poisonous insects and gu creatures, and that its blood can neutralize poison. She names it Little Yuanbao and claims it as a treasured companion.

Character developments

• Chu Youning remains practical and opportunistic, eagerly collecting rewards but prioritizing Qing Qianxue’s guaranteed survival over gambling on the revival card.
• Her family and close associates appear increasingly emotionally affected by her departure from the Jiang household, reflected in their rising collapse scores.
• The System is more cautious than Chu Youning, explaining Qing Qianxue’s low score and warning her about the card’s risks.
• Chu Youning quickly shifts from suspicion about the wolf cub to delight once she discovers its unusual abilities.

Significant themes

• Affection expressed through separation: The high collapse scores suggest that Chu Youning’s loved ones react strongly to her absence.
• Risk versus certainty: Chu Youning weighs a potentially unreliable revival card against a dependable antidote.
• Unexpected value in what seems ordinary: The Snow Wolf cub proves to be a powerful resource rather than merely a pet.
• Trust and reliance: Chu Youning trusts the System’s investigation, but continues to make her own decisions based on its information.

Character interactions

• Chu Youning and the System banter over rewards, Qing Qianxue’s condition, and the System’s progress finding the antidote.
• Little Wukong tells Chu Youning that the children have been forbidden to handle the cub because its safety is uncertain.
• The System reassures Chu Youning that the cub is safe, then reveals its special abilities, prompting her to adopt it enthusiastically.

Key plot points and events

• Chu Youning plays with the wolf cub Little Yuanbao, while Little Wukong enjoys petting it. The system warns her to step back just before bird droppings land where she had been standing.
• Little Food Bucket, the parrot, accuses Chu Youning of replacing it with the wolf. Chu Youning teases the bird by calling Yuanbao her “new Hachi,” but wins Little Food Bucket over by promising food. The bird pretends to die dramatically, then immediately revives when offered a deal.
• Wu Qingyuan learns that Chu Youning, Chu Lange, and Little Wukong have spent over an hour playing with the animals without any apparent ill effects. Reassured, she continues to wonder what Chu Zhaohua is planning.
• The next day, Han Shuang arrives and declares that she will serve Chu Youning. Chu Youning initially assumes Han Shuang is a man and jokes that she would prefer a maid. Han Shuang reveals she is a woman, and Chu Youning welcomes her and has Chun Tao find her a dress.

Character developments and interactions

• Chu Youning is affectionate toward Yuanbao but playful and teasing with Little Food Bucket. She shows warmth toward Han Shuang, readily welcoming her once she learns the truth.
• Little Food Bucket is jealous of Yuanbao, theatrically complains about being discarded, and proves both shameless and clever by bargaining for treats.
• Little Wukong and Chu Lange are delighted by the animals’ antics and stunned by the bird’s performance; Chu Lange even calls Chu Youning heartless.
• Wu Qingyuan is cautious about the children’s wellbeing but relaxes after hearing they are fine.
• Han Shuang takes a significant step by revealing her gender. Though composed, she is anxious about how the Young Commandery Prince might react if he learns she had concealed it. Chu Youning’s praise and physical familiarity leave her visibly flustered.

Significant themes

• Affection and jealousy: Little Food Bucket’s comic rivalry with Yuanbao turns the animals into a playful household “love triangle.”
• Trust and acceptance: Han Shuang’s disclosure tests whether she will be accepted, and Chu Youning responds warmly.
• Comic performance and bargaining: The bird’s exaggerated distress—and instant recovery for food—drives the chapter’s humor.

Plot and events

• Chu Youning asks her new palace maid, Han Shuang, to show off her skills. Han Shuang dances in the Imperial Garden while Chu Youning watches and feeds the fish.
• Crown Prince Chu Wenjing hears Chu Youning’s private thoughts and follows them to the garden. Han Shuang mistakes his approach for a threat and kicks a pebble at him, then realizes who he is and kneels.
• Chu Youning defends Han Shuang, joking that Wenjing should have announced himself. Wenjing agrees, but his attention stays fixed on Han Shuang.
• Though he leaves, Wenjing secretly climbs a begonia tree to keep watching her dance. Mosquito bites make him uncomfortable; when Chu Youning catches him, he pretends to faint from embarrassment.
• Chu Youning sends Han Shuang to retrieve him. Han Shuang carries Wenjing away bridal-style, delighting Chu Youning, who privately enjoys “shipping” the pair.
• Chu Lange arrives, calling out to Chu Youning.

Character developments and interactions

• Chu Youning is playful and meddlesome, teasing Wenjing while encouraging his interest in Han Shuang. She enjoys watching the two together.
• Chu Wenjing is clearly attracted to Han Shuang, but is shy about being caught watching her. His eagerness overcomes his dignity, leading him to hide in a tree.
• Han Shuang is alert and protective, reacting quickly to a perceived intruder, yet remains respectful once she recognizes the Crown Prince. She later carries him with ease.
• Chu Youning’s teasing, Wenjing’s awkward affection, and Han Shuang’s composed strength create the chapter’s central comic dynamic.

Significant themes

• Romantic matchmaking: Chu Youning treats Wenjing and Han Shuang as a potential couple and enjoys engineering opportunities for them.
• Embarrassment and concealed desire: Wenjing’s secret watching reveals feelings he cannot openly express.
• Comic contrast: Courtly status and decorum give way to silly mishaps, mosquito bites, and a fake faint.

Plot points and events

• Chu Youning runs into Chu Lange and County Lady Baojin, who each urgently want her company. She has them settle who goes first with rock-paper-scissors; Baojin wins and invites Chu Youning to shop at the Black Market. Lange then proposes going to the riding grounds to watch a polo match.
• Chu Youning agrees to do both: browse the Black Market first, then head to the match.
• At the Black Market, the staff greet Chu Youning warmly and provide fresh, fragrant cloaks. Baojin notices the unusually attentive service, while Lange—visiting for the first time—is excited and curious about the place.
• Chu Youning asks her System whether there are rare treasures to find. It says there are no guaranteed lucky discoveries and, unusually, appears more diligent than before. The System privately explains that it was reprimanded for slacking and now risks losing internet access unless it works enough hours.
• A masked attendant invites Chu Youning and her companions to the Shadow Pavilion, where the room is brightly lit, the ominous wolf statue is covered, and tea and pastries are served as they await a selection of jewels and accessories.

Character developments and interactions

• Chu Youning handles the rivalry between Lange and Baojin with playful authority, then accommodates both of their plans.
• Baojin is eager to treat Chu Youning to shopping; Lange’s coy suggestion to see the young men at the polo match hints at an ulterior interest, but she withholds what she really wants to discuss while Baojin is present.
• Baojin and Lange exchange competitive looks and jostle for Chu Youning’s attention, but cooperate once she sets the order.
• The System’s apparent improved work ethic has a comic explanation: it is only working harder to avoid losing internet access, while continuing to watch dramas.

Significant themes

• Affection and rivalry: Both young women compete for Chu Youning’s company, showing how valued she is.
• Social masks and hidden motives: Lange disguises her interest in seeing the gentlemen as a polo outing and cannot speak freely in front of Baojin.
• Privilege and preferential treatment: The Black Market’s unusually considerate service suggests Chu Youning’s connections or status have changed how she is treated.
• Comedy through contrast: The refined shopping trip is paired with the System’s mundane workplace troubles and Chu Youning’s matter-of-fact responses.

Plot points and events

• At the Shadow Pavilion, Baojin and Chu Lange are welcomed and browse its jewelry. Chu Youning notices people watching her and confronts their guide, Qian Lei, with her stun baton.
• Qian Lei explains that the Pavilion’s members recognize the sword hairpin she carries and are excited to meet someone they regard as their master. He offers Youning free access to the Pavilion’s goods.
• Youning explores the Pavilion’s hidden underground quarters and chooses a packet of poisoned silver needles and a mask—items associated with Qing Qianxue. Qian Lei warns her about the poison and offers an antidote.
• After the women leave, Qian Lei remarks that Princess Yongning is taking their “mistress” to watch polo and pick a man; he confirms that their master has already been informed.
• The group leaves the Black Market for a polo match. After Xie Ciyan scores, Chu Lange consults her register of unmarried men and points out a handsome, eligible young nobleman.
• Lange first suggests the man as Youning’s potential husband, then, when Youning declines, asks whether she herself should marry him.

Character developments and interactions

• Chu Youning is alert and bold, quickly confronting the Pavilion’s staff, but also readily tempted by valuable goods. Her choices reveal an interest—or at least curiosity—in Qing Qianxue’s belongings.
• Qian Lei is respectful and openly protective of Youning, treating her as a favored member of the Pavilion. His warning about the poisoned needles shows genuine concern.
• Chu Lange is lively and matchmaking-minded, shifting her attention from Youning’s romantic prospects to her own.
• Baojin enjoys shopping and pays generously, helping keep peace with Chu Lange for the moment.

Significant themes

• Belonging and recognition: The Shadow Pavilion’s members accept Youning because of her connection to their master.
• Romance and teasing: The Pavilion’s assumptions about Youning’s relationship, followed by the women’s matchmaking at the polo grounds, drive the chapter’s playful tone.
• Power and danger: Youning’s new poisoned needles offer her a weapon, but the warning underscores their risk.

Plot points and events

• Chu Lange tells Chu Youning she wants to choose a prince consort, prompting Chu Youning to correct her misunderstanding: a prince consort traditionally joins the princess’s household. On the polo field, Xie Ciyan overhears them and, believing his “little fairy” may be nearby, suddenly plays with renewed energy and poses for the ladies.
• Chu Lange explains that her goal is to avoid being sent abroad in a political marriage. Thinking about the suffering of her great-aunt—a princess married off to another country—has made her fear losing her freedom and being mistreated.
• She proposes finding suitable men early and asking her father to issue marriage edicts. County Lady Baojin, whose own marriage may also be arranged for her, bargains to join the search by offering to pay for the others’ purchases.
• Chu Youning examines Chu Lange’s directory of eligible men. Qing Qianxue ranks first, and the Jiang brothers are also listed among the Capital’s top ten. Seeing her eldest brother Jiang Yunzhou’s portrait reminds Chu Youning that he is stationed at the border and has yet to meet him.

Character developments and interactions

• Chu Lange shows a practical, if blunt, determination to control her future. Her matchmaking plan stems from genuine fear of the restrictions and dangers of an arranged political marriage.
• Chu Youning is amused by Lange’s misconceptions and candid remarks, but takes her concerns seriously. She also quietly reflects on her absent eldest brother.
• County Lady Baojin initially mocks the idea of choosing a husband one dislikes, then recognizes the risk of an unwanted arranged marriage and negotiates her way into the search.
• Xie Ciyan tries to impress the ladies once he thinks his beloved may be watching. Chu Youning privately compares his showy behavior to a peacock; he appears to hear her, abruptly claims illness, and leaves the match.
• Chu Lange gives humorous, unfiltered opinions about the men on the list, including why each Jiang brother may or may not suit Chu Youning, leaving her aunt speechless.

Significant themes

• Marriage and personal agency: The women seek some control over whom they marry in a society where royal and noble marriages may be arranged.
• Fear of political marriage: Chu Lange’s concern about exile, loss of freedom, and mistreatment turns matchmaking into a way to protect herself.
• Humor and social commentary: The chapter uses teasing, blunt judgments, and Xie Ciyan’s “peacock” antics to poke fun at courtship and marriage conventions.

Plot points and events

• Chu Youning teases Chu Lange by saying she would choose Yuan Ye as a husband. Lange becomes possessive and insists that, if necessary, she will make him her prince consort and care for him for life.
• Youning warns Lange not to make such promises lightly and reassures her that her parents would not force her into a political marriage unless circumstances left them no choice.
• Xie Ciyan summons Youning, offering her half his fortune if she helps him court her sister. She accepts, arranging for him to join them at a tavern.

Character developments

• Chu Lange shows sincere affection and protectiveness toward Yuan Ye, though her declaration is impulsive and youthful.
• Yuan Ye remains quiet, but hears Lange’s promise and reacts visibly by lowering his head and gripping his sword.
• Chu Youning is playful and teasing, yet gives Lange thoughtful advice. She is also readily persuaded by Xie Ciyan’s generous offer.
• Xie Ciyan sets aside pride to enlist Youning’s help, using flattery and a substantial reward. He is delighted to learn that his love interest already likes him.

Significant themes

• The chapter contrasts youthful declarations of love with the maturity required for lifelong commitment.
• It highlights personal choice in marriage, especially against the threat of political arrangements.
• Humor and teasing soften the characters’ vulnerability, while loyalty and romantic matchmaking drive the interactions.

Character interactions

• Youning playfully provokes Lange about Yuan Ye, then offers her earnest counsel.
• Lange responds with fierce loyalty to Yuan Ye; though he says nothing, his reaction suggests her words affect him.
• Youning and Xie Ciyan trade sarcastic banter before striking a deal: she will help him spend time with her sister in exchange for his fortune.

Key plot points and events

• Qian Yan sees Chu Youning talking with Xie Ciyan and mistakenly reports her to Qing Qianxue for having an illicit affair.
• Qing Qianxue reprimands him for slander and orders thirty strokes, a month scrubbing chamber pots, and six months washing socks. She also tells him to apologize to Chu Youning.
• Qian Yan realizes the man is Xie Ciyan and apologizes. Chu Youning forgives him in principle, but demands half his savings; Qing Qianxue insists he hand over all of them.
• Qing Qianxue joins Chu Youning and Xie Ciyan to watch polo. Xie Ciyan gives her his seat and arranges a cloak, hot tea, and a brazier before taking the field.
• Chu Youning privately approves of Xie Ciyan’s attentiveness and jokes to herself that she might accept him as her brother-in-law. Xie Ciyan overhears and is delighted.

Character developments

• Qing Qianxue shows firm fairness in punishing Qian Yan, while also displaying concern for her health and warmth toward Xie Ciyan.
• Qian Yan goes from gleefully accusing Chu Youning to realizing his mistake, accepting blame, and feeling ashamed of his suspicion.
• Chu Youning remains playful and forgiving, though she turns the apology into a humorous chance to claim Qian Yan’s money. She becomes more approving of Xie Ciyan.
• Xie Ciyan is eager to impress Qing Qianxue and takes unusually attentive care of her.

Significant themes

• Misjudgment and humility: Qian Yan’s hasty assumptions earn him a harsh rebuke.
• Justice tempered by humor: Qing Qianxue enforces accountability, while Chu Youning responds with teasing rather than anger.
• Affection shown through care: Xie Ciyan’s practical concern for Qing Qianxue hints at growing closeness.
• Comic misunderstandings and hidden thoughts: The characters’ private reactions add irony to their outwardly ordinary conversation.

Character interactions

• Qing Qianxue firmly corrects Qian Yan, then directs him to apologize to Chu Youning.
• Chu Youning accepts the apology but bargains for Qian Yan’s savings; Qing Qianxue raises the demand.
• Xie Ciyan fusses over Qing Qianxue’s comfort, while Chu Youning observes and privately encourages the possible romance.
• Qing Qianxue gently suggests Xie Ciyan may be eager to impress Chu Youning’s sister.

Key plot points and events

• Chu Youning attends a polo match with Chu Lange and County Lady Baojin, who enthusiastically assess the eligible young men playing. Chu Youning joins in with candid, humorous judgments but finds none especially appealing.
• As the weather warms, she gradually moves her stool closer to Qing Qianxue to enjoy the coolness around him, eventually sitting pressed against him while pretending to focus on the match.
• After cheering for Xie Ciyan, Chu Youning accidentally drinks from Qing Qianxue’s teacup. Embarrassed, she apologizes and offers him the untouched side.
• Qing Qianxue teases her by drinking from the same side she used, then likens her to a thirsty crow. Chu Youning bristles and threatens to curse him.
• Her Little Bee System reveals that her Jinx Skill has already activated: when she thinks of a jinx and immediately speaks it, her words become law. The skill is now on cooldown, and Chu Youning realizes she may have unknowingly cursed Qing Qianxue.

Character developments

• Chu Youning remains playful, impulsive, and easily flustered. Her attempts to look composed after the teacup mishap contrast with her panicked inner thoughts. The system’s revelation leaves her suddenly alarmed.
• Qing Qianxue shows a more openly teasing side. He notices Chu Youning’s closeness and deliberately drinks from her side of the cup, appearing amused by her reactions.
• Chu Lange and Baojin are lively and practical in their matchmaking talk, paying little attention to Qing Qianxue during the match.

Significant themes

• Words and consequences: The chapter’s central twist is that Chu Youning’s spoken jinxes can become reality, making casual threats potentially dangerous.
• Playful intimacy and embarrassment: Shared space, the stolen coolness, and the shared teacup create comic tension between Chu Youning and Qing Qianxue.
• Public composure versus private thoughts: Chu Youning maintains a polite outward appearance while her inner monologue reveals her embarrassment, irritation, and excitement.

Character interactions

• Chu Youning banters internally with Chu Lange and Baojin as they judge the polo players.
• She quietly inches closer to Qing Qianxue for his cooling effect, while he appears not to notice.
• Their teacup exchange turns into teasing: Qing Qianxue calmly drinks after her and calls her a crow; Chu Youning threatens him with a jinx.
• The system interrupts their exchange with the revelation that her words may already have taken effect, leaving Qing Qianxue’s fate—and Chu Youning’s intentions—uncertain.

Plot points and events

• Chu Youning warns Qing Qianxue that her “Jinx” ability may bring him serious misfortune. Though she privately worries about cursing a friend, Qing is intrigued rather than alarmed.
• Xie Ciyan wins the polo match and offers Chu Youning some of his jade prize. She refuses his “leftovers”; Qing then offers her purple jadeite, but she declines that too.
• Chu Lange and County Lady Baojin interrupt the awkward exchange and suggest going to a tavern. Chu Youning invites Qing, who accepts.
• Chu Youning decides to ride with Qing so she can keep an eye on him. Xie Ciyan, overheated, hopes to join them to enjoy Qing’s unusual coolness.
• Qing refuses Xie, citing limited carriage space and his sweat. Chu Youning takes this as proof Qing deliberately shared a cup with her earlier despite being a clean freak, and angrily vows to kill him herself.

Character developments and interactions

• Chu Youning is torn between irritation at Qing and guilt about potentially harming him. Her protective concern leads her to stay close, though her thoughts quickly turn to outrage when she suspects he has taken advantage of her.
• Qing Qianxue remains composed and curious about the effects of Chu’s jinx. His offer of jade and calm manner contrast with Chu’s increasingly agitated inner monologue.
• Xie Ciyan shifts from delight at winning to confusion over Chu’s supposed jinx and the tension between her and Qing. He also discovers Qing’s cooling effect and tries to ride with him.
• Chu Lange and County Lady Baojin break up the jade-related standoff by inviting everyone to eat.

Significant themes

• The gap between thoughts and speech: Chu’s private, dramatic reactions contrast with her outward behavior, while others begin noticing clues to what she really thinks.
• Luck, curses, and responsibility: Chu jokes about her jinx but feels accountable for the risk it may pose to someone she cares about.
• Playful suspicion and intimacy: Qing’s teasingly ambiguous behavior—especially his earlier shared cup—fuels Chu’s suspicion and their comic friction.