Chapter Summaries

Plot points

• Shen Yangge reads the passage’s records, which explain how Great Chu’s founding emperor divided control of the Imperial Secret Guards among court factions to prevent any one group from dominating.
• The late emperor later split the Guards’ authority to keep it from the old emperor. Chu Xuanzhi held most of it, while the old emperor’s apparent control was largely a façade.
• A newly carved entry reveals that Chu Xuanzhen inherited a third portion of the authority. His power can counter Chu Xuanzhi’s, potentially allowing him to have Chu Xuanzhi arrested.
• Chu Xuanzhen says he learned this only that day. When Shen asks about the Guards under his command, Chu Xuanzhen begins to answer—but the chapter ends before he does.

Character developments and interactions

• Shen Yangge pieces together the conspiracy and reacts with growing amazement, excitement, and amusement at how thoroughly the old emperor and Chu Xuanzhi may have been outmaneuvered.
• Chu Xuanzhen remains outwardly composed, though the crossed-out name and final inscription affect him. He shares little, then leans close to Shen as they discuss the strength and numbers of his Guards.
• The chapter also reveals Chu Xuanzhen’s severe resentment toward the old emperor: he is keeping him alive in a helpless state as punishment for past crimes.

Significant themes

• Power and counterbalance: Authority over the Imperial Secret Guards was repeatedly divided to prevent any ruler or faction from holding unchecked power.
• Hidden histories and deception: The records have been altered, and what appeared to be the old emperor’s control concealed Chu Xuanzhi’s greater authority.
• Revenge and justice: Chu Xuanzhen’s treatment of the old emperor reflects his belief that prolonged helplessness is a fitting consequence for the emperor’s cruelty.
• Irony and reversals: The final inscription reveals that Chu Xuanzhen himself holds the means to challenge the very power Chu Xuanzhi inherited.

Key plot points and events

• Chu Xuanzhen reveals he commands nine thousand of the fourteen thousand Imperial Secret Guards, making him the true holder of power while rival factions had been watching one another.
• He summons the guards and orders an investigation into those holding the remaining command tokens. Shen Yangge secretly observes and hopes the investigation will expose the Second Prince.
• Three days later, the guards locate the Second and Fourth Princes at the Sacrificial Altar and Sky-Measurement Tower—places beyond the imperial family’s jurisdiction under an ancient law.
• Shen Yangge proposes using his status as the Divine Dragon to send men in. Chu Xuanzhen agrees, and they arrest many rebels, but both princes have already escaped.
• Their escape reveals an informant among Shen Yangge’s party: one of Chu Xuanzhen’s Death Soldiers. The traitor dies before questioning, leaving the motive and source of the leak unknown. Chu reshuffles his forces, and Su Shang is troubled that the traitor served under him.
• Chu remains confident the princes will not stay free for long, while Shen Yangge grows impatient for their capture and Chu’s eventual accession to the throne.

Character developments and interactions

• Chu Xuanzhen emerges as a more powerful and strategic figure than anyone—including Shen Yangge—had realized. He stays composed despite the leak, and shows affection toward Shen by carrying and kissing him, even when Shen feels capable of walking.
• Shen Yangge is curious, politically engaged, and eager to help Chu uncover the princes’ network. He watches the guards, proposes a way around the jurisdictional barrier, and privately connects Chu’s rise to his own search for answers about the Database and System 615.
• Su Shang is shaken by discovering a traitor among his own men, especially someone he knew well, but does not try to excuse the failure.
• Shen and Chu’s relationship remains affectionate and teasing: Shen chafes at Chu’s overprotectiveness, while Chu calmly reassures him with intimacy rather than explanation.

Significant themes

• Hidden power and political misdirection: Chu has held decisive authority in secret while others fought over lesser power.
• Loyalty and betrayal: A trusted Death Soldier’s defection exposes how fragile even carefully trained allegiances may be.
• Old laws versus imperial authority: The princes exploit institutions and spaces that royal power cannot freely enter.
• The Database and the unknown: Shen suspects System 615 has changed and believes Chu’s rise may help expose the truth behind the Database, which appears increasingly person-like.

Plot points and events

• Shen Yangge struggles with the prospect that helping Chu Xuanzhen become emperor may send him back to his original world—and separate him from the man he loves. He decides he would rather risk regretting staying than regret leaving Chu Xuanzhen forever.
• He rushes to the imperial study and asks Chu Xuanzhen whether he could ascend the throne after the middle of the month, which Shen suspects will be a turning point.
• Chu Xuanzhen questions whether the throne matters so much to Shen. Shen considers confessing that his identity and abilities are unusual, but Chu gently tells him he trusts him and will not force him to reveal his secrets. He asks only that Shen trust him more.
• Chu Xuanzhen kisses Shen and holds him on his lap while continuing to review memorials. Xue Pingyuan arrives to report on the Second Prince’s whereabouts, witnesses the intimate scene, and leaves thoroughly embarrassed.
• In a separate scene, Chu Tianyin tortures the captive Chu Xuanzhi, demanding a token. Chu Xuanzhi remains defiant and even tries to coax him, provoking Chu Tianyin further. The chapter ends as Chu Tianyin threatens him, with the confrontation unresolved.

Character developments

• Shen Yangge recognizes that his love for Chu Xuanzhen now outweighs his desire to return home, though he remains uncertain about what becoming emperor will mean for them.
• Chu Xuanzhen shows affection and patience, reassuring Shen that he trusts him while subtly asking for greater emotional openness.
• Chu Xuanzhi remains composed and provocative despite being tortured.
• Chu Tianyin is ruthless and increasingly hostile, driven by his search for the token and resentment of Chu Xuanzhi’s hidden power.

Significant themes

• Love and the fear of separation
• Trust, secrecy, and emotional vulnerability
• Political ambition, hidden power, and rivalry
• The contrast between tender intimacy and brutal coercion

Character interactions

• Shen and Chu Xuanzhen’s conversation blends political planning with unspoken fears about their future; Chu responds to Shen’s hesitation with tenderness rather than pressure.
• Xue Pingyuan becomes an unwilling witness to their intimacy.
• Chu Tianyin and Chu Xuanzhi engage in a violent contest of wills, with Tianyin using force and Xuanzhi resisting through calm defiance.

Plot points and events

• In a dungeon, Chu Xuanzhi kisses Chu Tianyin, then provokes him by licking blood from his lip. Chu Tianyin kicks him away and vows to make him suffer once he takes the throne.
• Though Chu Xuanzhi appears helpless and is chained, Chu Tianyin leaves deeply unsettled, convinced his prisoner remains dangerous and determined to seize the throne so he can kill him.
• After Chu Tianyin departs, Chu Xuanzhi gets up, secretly loosens his shackles, and sits in the chair Chu Tianyin used. He fondly touches the armrest and says he will soon make the “disobedient” Chu Tianyin behave—by taking his eyes.
• In the Northern States, Nan Jiaxi returns to a ruined temple with a rabbit he caught in a trap. He cooks it and coaxes Ruthis into eating some, despite Ruthis’s reluctance.
• Just after they finish eating, armed men storm the temple and threaten to kill them. Ruthis initially shields Nan Jiaxi, but Nan Jiaxi steps forward to protect Ruthis.

Character developments and interactions

• Chu Tianyin remains determined to gain power, but his fear of Chu Xuanzhi has not faded. Their encounter exposes the mixture of hostility and intense emotional tension between them.
• Chu Xuanzhi uses apparent weakness to unsettle Chu Tianyin, while his effortless escape from the restraints reveals that he is not truly powerless. His fixation on Chu Tianyin appears possessive and menacing.
• Nan Jiaxi is cheerful, devoted, and self-sacrificing. He sees staying beside Ruthis as a blessing and instinctively puts himself in danger to defend him.
• Ruthis is reserved and reluctant to engage, but he accepts food to appease Nan Jiaxi and reacts protectively when danger arrives. Nan Jiaxi’s expression briefly reminds him of the Divine Dragon.

Significant themes

• Power and vulnerability: Chu Xuanzhi’s restraints conceal his continuing control and threat.
• Fear, revenge, and obsession: Chu Tianyin’s ambition is driven by his fear of Chu Xuanzhi, while Chu Xuanzhi’s affection is bound up with domination and revenge.
• Loyalty and protection: Nan Jiaxi’s devotion to Ruthis is expressed through care and his willingness to shield him.
• Unresolved danger: The chapter ends with both the dungeon conflict and the temple confrontation poised to escalate.

Plot points and events

• Western Regions Prince Ruthis and Nan Jiaxi are attacked by Great Chu assassins. Nan Jiaxi bravely shields Ruthis, who reveals his formidable skill and kills the attackers.
• Ruthis’s reinforcements arrive and report that the plan to seize Great Chu’s capital has failed, Commander Ake is dead, and much of the campaign has been lost. Ruthis refuses to retreat, invoking his god and insisting that Great Chu must be conquered. His followers, led by Nan Jiaxi, pledge loyalty.
• In the Imperial Study, Shen Yangge finds Minister Liu’s memorial urging Crown Prince Chu Xuanzhen to ascend the throne. Chu Xuanzhen has left it unread, prompting Shen to question why he is delaying.
• When Shen asks, Chu Xuanzhen probes whether he wants him to become emperor. Shen says the timing is right, then adds that he will respect Chu’s decision. Their conversation turns playful and awkward as Chu teases him and Shen protests.
• Shen asks to leave the palace and returns to the Eastern Palace to retrieve a hidden box. He is upset by Chu’s silence and believes Chu is concealing a reason for delaying his accession.

Character developments and interactions

• Ruthis is shown as ruthless, confident, and committed to continuing the invasion regardless of losses. His casual affection toward Nan Jiaxi also hints that he sees the boy through the lens of an obsession with someone else, rather than as an equal.
• Nan Jiaxi displays unexpected courage and unwavering devotion, protecting Ruthis and publicly reaffirming his loyalty.
• Shen Yangge has grown invested in Chu Xuanzhen’s future as ruler. He wants Chu to use his talents to strengthen Great Chu, but is increasingly troubled by Chu’s evasiveness and emotional distance.
• Chu Xuanzhen remains guarded about his reasons for not ascending the throne. His teasing familiarity with Shen contrasts with his silence on the issue, leaving Shen hurt and frustrated.
• Their affectionate, teasing exchanges reveal closeness, but the throne question exposes a growing tension: Shen wants an explanation, while Chu does not give one.

Significant themes

• Ambition and duty: Ruthis’s religious justification for conquest contrasts with Shen’s hope that Chu’s power will bring peace and prosperity.
• Loyalty and sacrifice: Nan Jiaxi and Ruthis’s followers pledge themselves to Ruthis, while Shen’s support for Chu is rooted in belief in his ability to govern.
• Secrecy and trust: Chu’s unexplained hesitation over the throne strains his relationship with Shen, who senses that something important is being withheld.
• Power and its costs: The chapter weighs the burden of rule against the promise of political authority, while foreshadowing renewed conflict between the Western Regions and Great Chu.

Plot points and events

• After leaving the imperial palace, Shen Yangge walks all the way home, despite servants urging him to take a palanquin. He is distressed by the guilt he feels over hiding the truth from Chu Xuanzhen, and needs distance from him.
• At the Shen Residence, Shen Mother welcomes him home tearfully. Shen Yangge apologizes for being an unfilial son and sees his inherited younger sister, He Yimo, and He Nuan again.
• His sister explains that Shen Mother has denied rumors that Shen Yangge is the Divine Dragon, protecting the family from unwanted scrutiny. Shen Yangge confirms that returning home was also meant to reassure them.
• He sends a box containing a hairpin to the Su Residence, asking that it be delivered to Miss Su from an old acquaintance in Lingnan. The hairpin recalls a wounded young man’s plea that it be returned.
• That night, Chu Xuanzhen slips into Shen Yangge’s room and joins him in the bath. He repeatedly calls Shen’s name until Shen wakes, embraces him, and tearfully asks why he took so long to come.

Character developments and interactions

• Shen Yangge is emotionally worn down by secrecy and guilt. Though he leaves Chu Xuanzhen to gather himself, he remains attached to him and breaks into tears when they reunite.
• Shen Mother reveals her fierce devotion: she stayed in the dangerous capital rather than risk Shen Yangge returning to an empty home. Their reunion is tender and full of mutual guilt.
• He Yimo and He Nuan show their affection for Shen Yangge, with the younger He Nuan boldly hugging him and He Yimo cautiously reaching for his sleeve.
• Chu Xuanzhen comes after Shen Yangge despite his weariness, showing how deeply he misses him. Their reunion conveys both intimacy and unresolved hurt.

Significant themes

• Family, home, and belonging: Shen Yangge’s return comforts his mother and reconnects him with the household.
• Secrecy and guilt: His concealed truths strain his relationship with Chu Xuanzhen and weigh heavily on him.
• Longing and emotional vulnerability: Both men’s attachment emerges through their reunion, while Shen Yangge’s tears expose feelings he had tried to contain.

Plot points and events

• After an emotional night together, Shen Yangge and Chu Xuanzhen share a tender kiss. Chu Xuanzhen seems unusually vulnerable, admitting that he came too late.
• Shen Yangge wakes sore and embarrassed to find Chu Xuanzhen gone. He discovers visible red marks on his neck and wrists and dresses to hide them.
• At breakfast, Shen Yangge tries to conceal what happened. His mother notices the marks on his wrist and tells him to explain himself afterward.
• In the Imperial Study, Chu Xuanzhen learns that the death soldiers sent after the prince of the Western Regions have all been killed. He summons Xue Pingyuan to discuss the crisis.
• Before Xue Pingyuan can respond, a eunuch reports that his younger brother, Xue Qian, has fainted after complaining of a headache.

Character developments

• Shen Yangge is openly affectionate with Chu Xuanzhen, but afterward becomes flustered and anxious when his mother notices evidence of their intimacy.
• Chu Xuanzhen shows rare panic and tenderness, suggesting deep concern for Shen Yangge. He is also focused on the dangerous political situation.
• Shen Mother demonstrates perceptiveness and experience, recognizing that the marks on Shen Yangge’s wrist have an intimate cause.
• Xue Pingyuan is caught between his responsibilities and worry for his younger brother; news of Xue Qian’s collapse immediately alarms him.

Significant themes

• Intimacy and vulnerability: The lovers’ tenderness contrasts with Chu Xuanzhen’s usual composure.
• Privacy versus family scrutiny: Shen Yangge’s attempt to keep his relationship private fails when his mother spots the marks.
• Personal ties amid political danger: The court crisis unfolds alongside concerns for family and loved ones.

Character interactions

• Shen Yangge and Chu Xuanzhen share an intimate, emotionally charged moment.
• Shen Yangge tries to deflect his mother’s questions, while his mother insists on speaking with him privately.
• Mo Yihe and He Nuan offer Shen Yangge mild food at breakfast, prompting a light, affectionate family moment.
• Chu Xuanzhen briefs Xue Pingyuan on the failed hunt; Xue’s concern for Xue Qian takes precedence when the eunuch brings news of his collapse.

Plot points and events

• Xue Pingyuan asks Crown Prince Chu Xuanzhen where Shen Yangge is, hoping to bring his injured younger brother, Xue Qian, for help. Chu says he doesn’t know; Shen has taken leave.
• Xue Pingyuan carries the unconscious Xue Qian to the Shen Residence. There, he notices a carriage from the Su family, whose relationship with the Shen family is usually hostile.
• Palace guards’ gossip reaches Chu Xuanzhen: Xue Pingyuan has gone to Shen Yangge’s residence. Chu’s mood turns icy, and he asks his eunuch what he would do if his wife were involved with someone else. The frightened eunuch answers that he would kill the rival.
• Chu sets aside his work and leaves, apparently heading to confront Shen.
• At the Shen Residence, Su Huaihuan sits with Shen Mother, who has been questioning her and warmly drawing her into conversation. Xue Pingyuan drops off Xue Qian and quickly flees after hearing that Chu is on his way.
• Shen Mother asks Su what she thinks of Shen Yangge. Shen, drinking tea nearby, spits it out in alarm and privately hopes Chu isn’t there.

Character developments and interactions

• Chu Xuanzhen reveals intense jealousy and possessiveness toward Shen Yangge, despite keeping his feelings hidden in public. His question to the eunuch—and immediate departure—suggests he believes a rival may be involved.
• The eunuch knows Chu’s attachment to Shen and carefully tries to avoid provoking him, but is forced into an absurdly violent answer.
• Xue Pingyuan is focused on saving his brother, but once he hears Chu is coming, he prioritizes escaping the situation.
• Su Huaihuan is unexpectedly welcomed by Shen Mother, who probes her feelings about Shen. Shen Yangge reacts with comic panic to the question.
• The chapter also highlights the contrast between the palace’s tense jealousy and the Shen household’s seemingly warm, awkward conversation.

Significant themes

• Jealousy and possessiveness: Chu’s behavior suggests that Shen’s relationships with others feel threatening to him.
• Secrecy and social caution: Servants and visitors carefully manage what they say around powerful figures.
• Comic misunderstanding and tension: Chu’s implied “caught in the act” mission contrasts with the ordinary conversation awaiting him at the Shen Residence.

Key events

• Shen Yangge coughs while drinking, and Shen Mother notices red marks on his neck before the Crown Prince’s arrival interrupts her.
• Chu Xuanzhen enters the Shen residence. His cold, commanding presence unsettles the household, while Shen Yangge anxiously assumes he has come to reprimand him.
• Chu drinks from Shen Yangge’s teacup, deliberately using the same spot, signaling possessiveness.
• When Chu asks whether the Shen family is celebrating a happy occasion, Shen Yangge and his mother dodge the question with polite reassurances.
• Chu notices Su Huaihuan holding a box and needles Shen Yangge about being romantic. Su explains that it came from her childhood sweetheart and was once a token of love.
• Chu leans close to Shen Yangge and pointedly asks whether he has secretly pledged himself to someone else.

Character developments and interactions

• Shen Yangge is embarrassed and physically uncomfortable after the previous night, yet tries to manage the awkward visit and avoid provoking Chu. He struggles to explain the box before Su speaks.
• Chu Xuanzhen displays controlled jealousy and possessiveness through small gestures—drinking from Shen’s cup, watching the box, and confronting him with an intimate question.
• Shen Mother suspects there is more to the situation but avoids forcing the truth into the open. Her polite words also urge Shen Yangge to attend to Chu.
• Su Huaihuan is visibly unnerved by Chu’s presence and clings to the box for reassurance. Her explanation inadvertently makes the situation sound romantic.

Significant themes

• Jealousy and possessiveness: Chu interprets the box and Su’s explanation as evidence that Shen may belong to someone else.
• Secrecy and strained propriety: Shen Mother and Shen Yangge avoid openly discussing what they suspect, while formal courtesies conceal the tension.
• Misunderstanding and ambiguity: Su’s vague account of the box intensifies Chu’s suspicion and leaves Shen scrambling to respond.

Key plot points and events

• Crown Prince Chu Xuanzhen mistakenly assumes Su Huaihuan has privately pledged herself to Shen Yangge and grows visibly jealous.
• Shen denies any romance with Su, explaining that she visited to thank him for returning something that belonged to the man she loves.
• Shen declares that he already loves someone, prompting his mother to ask who the woman is and revealing that she had been considering a match between Shen and Su.
• Su, embarrassed but resolute, tells Shen’s mother that she would rather remain unmarried than marry someone she does not love. She then takes her leave, as does Shen’s mother.
• Alone together, Shen teases Chu for his excessive jealousy. Their argument turns affectionate, and Shen finally makes his feelings unmistakable: “The one before me is the one I love.”

Character developments

• Shen Yangge moves from carefully maintaining appearances to openly confronting Chu’s jealousy. He reassures him, teases him, and ultimately makes a direct declaration of love.
• Chu Xuanzhen reveals how possessive and insecure he can be, though his jealousy is softened by playful intimacy. He still pretends not to know who Shen loves, inviting Shen to spell it out.
• Su Huaihuan is humiliated by the misunderstanding but responds with dignity. Her remarks affirm her belief in mutual affection and suggest her own unwavering devotion to the man she loves.
• Shen Mother appears to be arranging a match for her son, but leaves unsettled after Shen’s declaration and Su’s comments.

Significant themes

• Mutual love and personal choice: Su rejects marriage without affection, while Shen insists that his love is already chosen.
• Jealousy and reassurance: Chu’s jealousy creates the misunderstanding, and Shen answers it with humor and an explicit confession.
• Social expectations: The possibility of a relationship between two men remains difficult in their society, making family approval and marriage customs important background pressures.

Character interactions

• Chu’s possessive behavior embarrasses both Shen and Su, while Shen’s clear denial protects Su from further implication.
• Su speaks respectfully but firmly to Shen’s mother about choosing love over a loveless marriage.
• Once alone, Shen and Chu trade teasing accusations, share an intense kiss, and end the confrontation with Shen’s unmistakable declaration of love.

Plot points and events

• Chu Xuanzhen abruptly carries Shen Yangge back to his room, intending to act on their intimacy despite it being broad daylight.
• Shen Yangge resists by bracing his feet against the door, then stretches himself across the doorway and clings to it so Chu cannot get him inside.
• Servants witness the spectacle and gossip about Shen Yangge’s closeness with Chu and with General Xue. Their assumptions and speculation amuse the hidden observer Su Shang.
• Su Shang shields the child He Yimo from the scene, but frightens him by claiming that staring causes a painful eye illness. He takes the crying boy aside to comfort him.
• News of Shen Yangge’s predicament reaches Shen Mother. She hurries over, then thoughtfully sends maids ahead to announce her arrival so she will not embarrass the couple.
• As Shen Yangge struggles to hold on, two maids arrive with the message—and find him still awkwardly stuck across the doorway.

Character developments

• Shen Yangge is embarrassed and determined to preserve his dignity, resorting to increasingly ridiculous physical resistance. His thoughts make clear that he is comfortable with Chu in private but objects to being intimate in broad daylight.
• Chu Xuanzhen is confident and teasing. Once Shen Yangge wedges himself in place, he stops trying to carry him and seems content to enjoy the sight.
• Shen Mother shows new tact and consideration toward the couple, taking care to warn them before arriving.
• Su Shang remains a discreet observer, but his attempt to protect He Yimo backfires when his frightening explanation makes the child cry.

Significant themes

• Public image versus private intimacy: The servants’ gossip contrasts their formal expectations of ruler and subject with the couple’s obvious closeness.
• Comic embarrassment and miscommunication: Shen Yangge’s desperate resistance, mistaken explanations, and startled witnesses drive the chapter’s humor.
• Changing family attitudes: Shen Mother’s careful concern suggests growing acceptance and support for the relationship.

Character interactions

• Chu’s playful pursuit and Shen’s stubborn resistance form the central comic exchange.
• The servants debate Shen Yangge’s relationships and misinterpret the scene.
• Su Shang tries to shield and reassure He Yimo, but instead scares him.
• Shen Mother and her maids act with discretion, while the arriving maids urgently try to help Shen Yangge down.

Key plot points and events

• After Shen Yangge slips while climbing down from a door panel, Chu Xuanzhen catches him by the waistband. Their unusual position leaves two maids convinced they are being flirtatious.
• Shen Mother arrives and sees the pair together. Shen Yangge decides not to reveal their relationship yet, believing she needs time to accept it.
• Shen Mother warns him not to act improperly around the Crown Prince, whom she sees as his sovereign and a political danger. Shen Yangge reassures her that Chu Xuanzhen is a good man but avoids confessing his feelings.
• In private, Shen Yangge checks on his mother’s health and tries to ease the tension between her and Chu Xuanzhen. Shen Mother raises marriage again; Shen Yangge repeats that he loves someone and will never marry a woman.
• After Shen Mother leaves, Shen Yangge kisses Chu Xuanzhen in gratitude for respecting her feelings. Chu Xuanzhen responds affectionately, telling him that the person before his eyes is the one in his heart.

Character developments

• Shen Yangge resolves to live honestly, even if loving Chu Xuanzhen conflicts with Shen Mother’s wishes. He remains considerate, giving her time and continuing to treat her as his mother.
• Chu Xuanzhen shows restraint and consideration by staying quiet rather than forcing Shen Mother to confront their relationship.
• Shen Mother remains worried about her son’s future and disapproves of his closeness with the Crown Prince, though she does not openly scold him.

Significant themes

• Love versus family duty: Shen Yangge intends to pursue love while still honoring and caring for Shen Mother.
• Acceptance and patience: He hopes to help his mother come to terms with the relationship gradually rather than forcing a decision.
• Power and vulnerability: Shen Mother fears the imbalance between ruler and subject, while Shen Yangge sees Chu Xuanzhen as a good man, not merely a powerful sovereign.

Character interactions

• Shen Yangge and Chu Xuanzhen’s playful physical closeness is noticed by the maids, then tempered around Shen Mother.
• Shen Yangge acts as mediator between Chu Xuanzhen and his mother, trying to keep both at ease.
• Once they are alone, the lovers share a passionate kiss and exchange affectionate words.

Chapter summary

Key plot points

• Chu Xuanzhen visits Shen Yangge, flirts with him, and kisses and holds him. Shen, still sore from their recent intimacy, stops things from going further.
• Chu cuts Shen’s approved leave short, requiring him to return to the palace the following afternoon.
• Xue Qian visits Shen. Shen notices that Chu Xuanzhen’s curse has not flared recently and recalls that Chu once bit him and drank his blood. He wonders whether his blood has a special effect—and whether this connects him to the original novel’s heroine or the system’s mysterious “bugs.”
• When Xue suffers a severe headache from his Gu Poison, Shen gives him a drop of his own blood. Xue quickly recovers, strengthening Shen’s suspicion that his blood can suppress supernatural afflictions. Xue remains in the capital because he cannot safely leave while affected by the poison.
• In prison, Chu Xuanzhi endures torture from Chu Tianyin but remains defiant. He proposes joining forces, arguing that Chu Xuanzhen’s knowledge of the Imperial Secret Guards threatens both their interests. Chu Tianyin rejects the idea and brings up an old childhood grievance.

Character developments and interactions

• Shen is drawn to Chu Xuanzhen’s affection but also sets a clear physical boundary because he is in pain. Their teasing shows growing intimacy alongside Shen’s wariness of being swept up in Chu’s advances.
• Shen becomes increasingly alert to the possibility that his own blood has unusual powers, and his successful treatment of Xue gives that theory new weight.
• Xue’s childlike dependence on Shen gives way briefly to clearer understanding: he recognizes that Shen is also the person he calls “Lord Divine Dragon,” and thanks him before asking about his brother.
• Chu Xuanzhi responds to torture with provocative humor and a calculated offer of alliance. Chu Tianyin’s reaction to Xuanzhi’s beauty briefly unsettles him, but he masks it with hostility and resentment over their past.

Significant themes

• Hidden identity and supernatural mystery: Shen’s blood may connect him to both Chu’s curse and Xue’s Gu Poison, hinting at a larger secret.
• Power and control: Chu’s authority over Shen’s leave contrasts with Shen’s insistence on control over his own body; political power is also central to the imprisoned princes’ proposed alliance.
• Affection amid danger: Tenderness and flirtation sit alongside illness, torture, curses, and political intrigue.
• Resilience and manipulation: Chu Xuanzhi withstands brutal treatment while using humor and strategic persuasion to influence his captor.

Key plot points and events

• In the cell, Chu Xuanzhi tries to kiss Chu Tianyin but is shoved away. When Chu Xuanzhi lies motionless, Tianyin briefly worries—then Chu Xuanzhi tricks him, pulls him down, and teases him.
• The two struggle. Tianyin pins Chu Xuanzhi and considers killing him, but holds back because Xuanzhi still possesses useful power and information.
• Xuanzhi warns that they are running out of time and that confronting Chu Xuanzhen is dangerous. Tianyin demands answers, but Xuanzhi evades him with flirtatious jokes. Tianyin leaves to investigate.
• The next morning, Shen Yangge goes to the palace to test his theory that his blood can help Xue Qian’s gu poisoning. As he approaches the Imperial Study, his system suddenly beeps and displays a huge red exclamation mark.

Character developments and interactions

• Chu Tianyin remains hostile and distrustful toward Chu Xuanzhi, treating his advances with disgust and violence. Yet his momentary alarm when Xuanzhi appears unresponsive hints at concern he does not acknowledge. He chooses patience over killing Xuanzhi so he can learn what he knows.
• Chu Xuanzhi continues to use teasing, physical intimacy, and feigned helplessness to provoke and manipulate Tianyin. His warning about the lack of time suggests he knows more than he reveals; a brief glimmer in his eyes hints at something concealed.
• Shen Yangge acts urgently on his suspicion about his blood and Xue Qian’s illness, but the system’s warning interrupts his attempt to reach Chu Xuanzhen.

Significant themes

• Manipulation and mistrust: Both men try to control the encounter, and neither is willing to reveal everything.
• Power and vulnerability: Chu Xuanzhi is chained, injured, and blind, yet remains capable of surprising Tianyin and unsettling him.
• Urgency and hidden danger: Xuanzhi’s warning and Shen Yangge’s system alert signal that events are approaching a critical point.

Key plot points

• Database/System 615 punishes Shen Yangge for failing to actively help the male lead ascend the throne. After a glitching countdown, it announces a fifteen-day punishment and abruptly disconnects.
• Shen recovers without the nearby guard noticing anything unusual. A crash from the Imperial Study draws him inside, where he finds shattered porcelain and no attendants.
• Searching the room, Shen discovers Crown Prince Chu Xuanzhen has somehow become a child of about five or six. He suspects the system’s malfunction caused its punishment to affect Chu instead.
• Chu refuses to receive the Minister of Rites. Shen sends the visitor away, then, at Chu’s command, picks him up and gathers his oversized robes around him.

Character developments

• Shen is unnerved by Database’s interference and worried about Chu, but his concern quickly mixes with amusement and delight at Chu’s adorable appearance. He tries to maintain his composure and fulfill his duties, though he cannot resist touching the child.
• Chu remains stern, suspicious, and commanding despite his small body. He keeps Shen under scrutiny and privately considers biting him for being overly familiar.

Significant themes

• Power and vulnerability: Chu’s sudden physical helplessness contrasts with his unchanged authority and intimidating presence.
• System control and its limits: Database’s punishment malfunctions, disrupting the expected divide between Shen and the world’s male lead.
• Comedy through contrast: Chu’s severe manner clashes with his childlike appearance, while Shen’s playful impulses clash with his need for caution.

Character interactions

• Shen reassures Chu that he did not cause the transformation and promises it should last only fifteen days.
• Chu silently questions Shen’s innocence, orders him to turn away the visitor, and then demands to be carried.
• Shen obeys while teasingly calling him “my little Highness,” and Chu tolerates the handling while plotting a way to rein in Shen’s mischief.

Key events

• Chu Xuanzhen has mysteriously shrunk to a child. Shen Yangge carries him to a chair and asks how to proceed, worried that the Second and Fourth Princes might exploit his condition.
• Chu Xuanzhen reassures Shen that he is still alive and in control. He orders Shen to summon Su Shang and find him clothes that will let him move discreetly.
• Shen dresses Chu Xuanzhen, briefly gives him crooked pigtails, then summons Su Shang. Su Shang is startled by the Crown Prince’s size, but quickly composes himself.
• Chu Xuanzhen chastises Su Shang for stepping back, first ordering twenty strokes and then an additional punishment of rolling on nails. He ultimately withdraws the harsher sentence and gives Su Shang a task: find someone to impersonate him while he remains hidden.
• Su Shang accepts and leaves. Soon after, Consort Xue requests an audience. Shen, suspicious of her timing and mindful that Chu Xuanzhen cannot be seen, shuts the study door and goes out to meet her.

Character developments and interactions

• Shen Yangge moves from anxiety to determined protectiveness, resolving to keep Chu Xuanzhen safe. His affectionate gestures and irreverent inner thoughts contrast with his careful handling of the political danger.
• Chu Xuanzhen remains composed and authoritative despite his childlike body, directing the concealment plan and reminding Shen not to panic. His stern treatment of Su Shang shows that his usual severity remains intact, though he ultimately relents.
• Su Shang is briefly overwhelmed by the transformation, then submits to Chu Xuanzhen’s reprimand and accepts the impersonation assignment.
• Shen and Chu share a quiet, reassuring exchange before Shen faces Consort Xue alone. Shen’s protective caution signals his growing role as Chu’s trusted ally.

Significant themes

• Power and vulnerability: Chu Xuanzhen’s physical transformation leaves him exposed, while his authority and strategic judgment remain.
• Loyalty and protection: Shen and Su Shang each respond to the crisis by serving the Crown Prince, though Shen takes particular care to shield him.
• Secrecy and political danger: The need for a double reflects the threat posed by rival princes and the risks of revealing Chu Xuanzhen’s condition.
• Humor amid tension: Shen’s comic thoughts and the pigtail mishap lighten an otherwise dangerous situation.

• Plot: Consort Xue visits the Imperial Study and probes Shen Yangge about the Crown Prince’s illness. Shen Yangge insists Chu Xuanzhen has only caught a chill and says an Imperial Physician has examined him. Consort Xue departs without pressing further. Inside, the shrunken Crown Prince is struggling to write at his desk; he asks Shen to hold down the paper while he writes a letter for Xue Pingyuan. Chu explains that Shen must deliver it himself, since Xue might distrust a message sent by Su Shang. Shen stays in the palace to protect the Crown Prince’s secret. That night, he secretly brings Chu to the Eastern Palace and, at Chu’s command, prepares a bath, carrying in the hot water himself.
• Character developments: Shen remains dutiful and discreet, shielding Chu from suspicion and keeping palace staff from discovering his condition. Though tempted to tease and touch the tiny prince, he restrains himself—or tries to. Chu remains authoritative despite his size, focused on official work and his plans, and shows a sharp eye for Shen’s cheek-pinching.
• Interactions: Consort Xue attempts to draw Shen into a more familiar relationship through their connection to Qian’er, but he maintains formal distance. Her pointed questions and the servants’ nervous reaction suggest she suspects more than she says. Chu gives Shen practical instructions, while Shen privately grumbles about Chu’s double standard over physical teasing; their tense, affectionate banter continues when Chu orders him to help with bathing.
• Themes: The chapter highlights secrecy and political suspicion within the palace, the burden of maintaining appearances, and the contrast between Chu’s childish size and his adult authority. Their shifting roles also create comic tension: Shen must care for the prince while navigating their usual power dynamic.

Key plot points and events

• Shen Yangge finishes preparing a bath for the shrunken Crown Prince, Chu Xuanzhen, and is delighted when Chu orders him to help.
• He lifts Chu into the tub, where the water nearly reaches the Crown Prince’s neck. Shen struggles not to laugh at the sight—and promptly blurts out that it is funny.
• While washing Chu’s hair and upper body, Shen accidentally pushes his head underwater when trying to tilt his chin up. He apologizes, then continues more carefully, though he occasionally sneaks in a touch.
• Chu insists on washing his lower body himself. Shen respects his decision and waits behind the screen.
• After bathing, Chu finds his underpants out of reach and calls Shen back. He asks for them and orders Shen to turn around while he puts them on.
• Shen turns away, privately amused by Chu’s concern for modesty. A splash suddenly sounds behind him, and he turns back to find that Chu has fallen into the water; the chapter ends there.

Character development

• Shen Yangge is playful and increasingly bold around the shrunken Chu, teasing him and enjoying the reversal of their usual dynamic. Still, he shows care by supporting Chu in the tub and respecting his wish to wash himself.
• Chu Xuanzhen remains authoritative despite his tiny stature, but his dependence on Shen exposes his physical vulnerability. He tries to preserve his dignity and autonomy, especially around bathing and changing.

Character interactions

Their bath-time exchange mixes practical assistance, teasing, embarrassment, and trust. Shen’s amusement repeatedly clashes with Chu’s stern commands, while Chu’s insistence on privacy shows that he still expects to be treated with respect.

Significant themes

• Dignity amid vulnerability: Chu’s reduced size makes ordinary tasks difficult, but he maintains his authority and personal boundaries.
• Role reversal and intimacy: Shen relishes being the one in control, yet his teasing is tempered by genuine concern.
• Physical vulnerability and reliance: The final fall underscores how easily Chu can be endangered while attempting to manage on his own.

Key plot points and events

• After Shen Yangge rescues the shrunken Chu Xuanzhen from the bath, he dries and cares for him. Both become dizzy, and Shen discovers a two-part incense whose later-burning portion causes the effect. He extinguishes it and suspects someone has entered the Eastern Palace with hostile intent.
• Chu Xuanzhen soon develops a high fever and becomes semiconscious. Shen finds a broken container of blood-soaked soil nearby and recalls that Consort Xue’s maid had unusually dirty shoes when they visited. He suspects the maid—or someone using her visit as cover—brought the material into the palace.
• Chu Xuanzhen directs Shen to a hidden compartment in the bed, where Shen finds a red pill. Chu explains that it is a medicinal catalyst that suppresses South Seas Curse-Head Sorcery, but does not explain its risks.
• Afraid of what will happen if Chu takes it, Shen refuses to hand over the pill. When Chu promises he will be safe, Shen secretly licks the pill and then feeds it to him.
• Chu’s fever and blackened eyes recede, but Shen suffers the pill’s severe effects: alternating heat and cold, nausea, and intense, crawling pain. Chu holds him through the night, and the ordeal begins to ease by dawn.

Character developments and interactions

• Shen Yangge moves from attentive caretaker to determined protector, investigating the apparent attack and insisting that he and Chu should share their burdens. His choice to take the medicine’s risk himself shows both his devotion and his impulsive recklessness.
• Chu Xuanzhen remains controlled despite his illness and knows how to access the hidden medicine. He reassures Shen, calls him “Yang’er” with unusual tenderness, and stays beside him during the painful reaction.
• Their relationship becomes more openly mutual: Shen refuses to leave Chu to face danger alone, while Chu comforts and physically supports Shen when the medicine harms him. Their teasing and caretaking coexist with genuine fear and trust.

Significant themes

• Shared burdens and mutual protection: both men reject the idea that one should suffer alone.
• Trust and sacrifice: Shen’s decision to risk himself is an expression of devotion, but also a dangerous act made without full knowledge.
• Hidden threats and vigilance: the incense, blood-soaked soil, and suspicious maid suggest a coordinated attack concealed within ordinary palace routines.
• Care amid vulnerability: bathing, drying, holding, and reassuring one another reveal intimacy beneath their guarded behavior.

Chapter summary

Key plot points and events

• After a night of severe pain and fever, Chu Xuanzhen wakes in his shrunken form beside Shen Yangge. His eyes have returned to normal, and he appears calmer, though traces of dangerous madness remain.
• A palace attendant announces that Consort Xue is waiting to see the Crown Prince. Shen Yangge claims Chu Xuanzhen is ill and turns her away, hoping to conceal his condition.
• Shen Yangge, still weak from the previous night, dresses and tends to Chu Xuanzhen. While dressing him, he accidentally—or impulsively—touches him inappropriately, then privately panics while pretending nothing happened.
• Shen Yangge discovers that a letter meant for Chu Xuanzhen has been badly crumpled and torn. When Chu Xuanzhen finds it, Shen Yangge blames the damage on Chu’s feverish movements and suggests writing another. Chu sees through the excuse but does not challenge it.
• Shen Yangge gently washes Chu Xuanzhen and helps him write a replacement letter. He then hides Chu from an Imperial Physician, who examines the Crown Prince without seeing him and prescribes medicine.
• Consort Xue questions the physician about the visit. Meanwhile, Su Shang secretly reports to Chu Xuanzhen what he learned and says he has found a double. Just as the group believes their arrangements are secure, an unforeseen complication arises.

Character developments

• Shen Yangge is physically exhausted but remains devoted to caring for Chu Xuanzhen. His humor, irreverence, and impulsiveness contrast with his genuine tenderness and growing suspicion of Consort Xue.
• Chu Xuanzhen is recovering, with his normal eye color restored, but his composure masks lingering instability. He is observant and quietly perceptive, noticing Shen Yangge’s misconduct and his attempt to conceal the damaged letter.
• Consort Xue becomes more suspiciously prominent: her repeated visits and her questioning of the Imperial Physician reinforce Shen Yangge’s belief that she may be connected to recent events.
• Su Shang continues to work discreetly for Chu Xuanzhen, gathering information and arranging a double to help protect the secret.

Character interactions

• Shen Yangge’s care for Chu Xuanzhen is intimate and practical: he feeds, dresses, washes, and protects him, while Chu watches his behavior closely.
• Their exchange over the torn letter highlights their contrasting styles—Shen Yangge improvises clumsy excuses, while Chu quietly recognizes the truth.
• Shen Yangge and the palace staff cooperate to keep Chu’s shrunken condition hidden from the physician and Consort Xue.
• Su Shang maintains a covert channel with Chu, reporting what he learns from Consort Xue’s inquiry.

Significant themes

• Care and reciprocity: Shen Yangge remembers how Chu once cared for him and now takes responsibility for Chu in return.
• Secrecy and deception: The characters conceal Chu’s condition from palace outsiders, while Shen Yangge also lies about the damaged letter.
• Trust and intimacy: Their close physical proximity and unspoken understanding deepen their bond, even amid teasing and embarrassment.
• Political suspicion: Consort Xue’s attention raises questions about her motives and the palace power dynamics surrounding the Crown Prince.