Chapter Summaries

Plot points and events

• Lu Guangchen’s death-sworn guards discover that his estate has been burned and his letters stolen. Rather than help those trapped inside, they abandon Lu Guangchen as useless.
• Shen Yangge and Liang Yu escape the burning estate and hurry toward the rendezvous point with Su Shang. Shen believes their attack will keep Lu from retaliating for a while.
• Along the way, Liang Yu asks about Shen’s unusual eye color and thanks his rescuers. Su Shang makes clear that Shen saved Liang Yu; he himself acted only as Shen’s guard.
• Su Shang urges Shen to conceal his eyes beneath a black-veiled hat. At the rendezvous, Shen reassures the townspeople that Lu cannot strike back soon and casually admits that he burned the estate. The townspeople celebrate the destruction of the corrupt official’s home.
• Two badly wounded members of a group sent outside the city return. They report that a much larger force is fighting its way in and killing anyone it encounters.
• One wounded man entrusts Shen with a jade hairpin for Su Huaihuan, the woman he loves, then turns back with his companion to delay the attackers. Su Shang pulls Shen toward the rear gate as the others flee.

Character developments and interactions

• Shen Yangge remains composed after the escape and accepts responsibility for the attack, but the volunteers’ sacrifice deeply affects him. He sees their willingness to risk themselves as evidence of their sincere, generous nature.
• Su Shang is protective and practical: he insists Shen hide his eyes and acts quickly to get him away from danger. His cold manner contrasts with Shen’s gentler approach to Liang Yu.
• Liang Yu is shaken but grateful. He cautiously seeks conversation, though Su Shang’s aloofness quickly discourages him.
• The townspeople move from celebration to terror when the invasion is reported. Despite their fear, two of their number choose to hold off the attackers so the others can escape.
• Lu Guangchen’s guards show ruthless self-preservation, abandoning their employer and the people trapped in his estate.

Significant themes

• Sacrifice and courage: Ordinary, frightened people risk their lives to protect others.
• Corruption and vengeance: The townspeople welcome the burning of Lu Guangchen’s estate as a long-awaited answer to his abuses.
• Loyalty versus self-interest: The guards abandon Lu, while Shen’s companions and the volunteers act for others.
• Humanity amid catastrophe: Shen recognizes the townspeople’s fear, but also their unvarnished compassion and courage.

Key plot points and events

• Shen Yangge and the fleeing civilians reach the rear gate, where armed soldiers block their way. Su Shang stays behind to fight, urging Shen to survive because Chu Xuanzhen would lose control without him.
• The group escapes with help from Su Shang and several guards. Shen learns that Physician Liu stayed behind to help others, while the elderly who had remained in the crowd have also seemingly sacrificed themselves.
• Outside the city, the survivors grieve for loved ones left behind as flames spread through the city. Shen blames himself, though System 615 reminds him that his presence helped buy time for others to escape.
• Chu Xuanzhen arrives. Seeing Shen’s distress, he comforts him and lets him drink his blood. He then vows to kill those responsible and rides back toward the city.
• Shen asks Chu to find Physician Liu and bring him out. After Chu leaves, Shen quietly hopes he returns safely.

Character developments and interactions

• Shen Yangge is shaken by the deaths and sacrifices around him and feels undeserving of survival. His growing concern for Chu is revealed when he asks him to return safely.
• Su Shang proves his loyalty by risking his life at the gate. His calm, accepting smile suggests he has made peace with the possibility of dying.
• Chu Xuanzhen shows tenderness toward Shen, comforting him without demanding an explanation, but also reveals a fierce, vengeful side when he sees Shen’s pain.
• Liang Yu reaches safety with the child and, despite his exhaustion, reassures the child that he will live. The child’s desperate care for him highlights their bond.
• The survivors’ grief underscores the cost of escape, while System 615 tries to ease Shen’s guilt.

Significant themes

• Sacrifice and survival: Some stay behind so others can escape, leaving survival inseparable from loss.
• Grief and survivor’s guilt: Shen and the civilians struggle with the knowledge that loved ones may be gone.
• Loyalty and attachment: Su Shang’s devotion to Shen and Shen’s concern for Chu reveal the strength of their bonds.
• Comfort amid violence: Chu’s gentle care for Shen contrasts sharply with his threat of revenge.

Plot points and events

• Chu Xuanzhen arrives during a desperate battle and turns the tide. He orders his troops to kill the rebels, and the Seventh Prince’s faction is eventually surrounded and defeated.
• The surviving soldiers rescue civilians, including an elderly man with the plague, who leads them to the dying Physician Liu.
• Physician Liu dies clutching a bloodstained child’s pellet drum. Chu Xuanzhen takes it, orders a proper burial, and learns Liu’s last message concerned taking a child called Little Bamboo Shoot to see winter jasmine in spring.
• At sunrise, Chu Xuanzhen returns to Shen Yangge. After an intense, relieved embrace and kiss, he offers Shen Yangge the chance to drink his blood. Shen refuses, worried Chu is injured and that others may notice. Chu insists he is unhurt and accepts the refusal, leading Shen beneath a tree.

Character developments

• Chu Xuanzhen shows decisive leadership and ruthlessness in battle, but also tenderness and grief in the aftermath. His reunion with Shen reveals how deeply shaken he was by the danger and how strongly he longs for him.
• Shen Yangge is visibly anxious about Chu’s safety and reciprocates his affection, but holds back from feeding on him out of concern and caution.
• The soldiers and civilians are portrayed as determined to survive despite fear, loss, and overwhelming odds.
• Physician Liu is revealed as compassionate and devoted to a child, remaining concerned with their future even as he dies.

Significant themes

• Survival, duty, and sacrifice: The soldiers fight knowing many may die, while civilians cling to hope.
• Grief and remembrance: The dead are honored, and Liu’s final message and treasured drum preserve his bond with the child.
• Love amid danger: Chu and Shen’s reunion conveys relief and intimacy after separation and violence.
• The cost of victory: The battle is won, but more than a thousand people have died.

Character interactions

• Chu rallies and commands his troops, who respond with renewed resolve.
• A civilian guides the soldiers to Physician Liu and explains the circumstances surrounding his injuries; Chu listens, retrieves the drum, and arranges Liu’s burial.
• Chu and Shen reunite through an embrace and kiss. Chu offers his blood, while Shen declines because of concern for Chu and the risk of being discovered; Chu respects his choice.

Key plot points and events

• Shen Yangge and Chu Xuanzhen sit together after the ordeal. Exhausted, Chu Xuanzhen falls asleep against Shen Yangge, who shields him from the sun and realizes his feelings for him are stronger than he had admitted.
• Chu Xuanzhen wakes in the afternoon, freshly changed. Shen Yangge feeds him congee, then asks what happened during the past two days.
• Chu Xuanzhen recounts being pursued to a cliff. With no certainty he would survive, he jumped into the river rather than surrender; he later met Little Eight, turned the situation around, and killed his pursuers.
• When Shen Yangge asks whether Chu Xuanzhen had truly risked death, Chu Xuanzhen notices his distress, touches his face, and asks whether he is upset. Shen Yangge urges him to preserve his life for Great Chu.
• Chu Xuanzhen presses Shen Yangge about his own safety, then catches his curled fingers and calls him a “little liar,” recognizing that his professed concern is more personal than he admits.
• A child brings in an old pellet drum found in the clothes. Chu Xuanzhen reveals it belonged to Physician Liu, who has died. The drum was his apprentice’s, and Liu apparently held onto it in his final moments, suggesting his last wish was to see the apprentice again.

Character developments

• Shen Yangge recognizes that he loves Chu Xuanzhen and is deeply shaken by the danger Chu faced. He still hides his feelings behind the language of duty, but his reaction and body language betray him.
• Chu Xuanzhen shows unusual gentleness and vulnerability: he rests on Shen Yangge, tells him about his ordeal, and responds tenderly to his distress. He also reveals his determination to survive and his awareness of Shen Yangge’s concealed feelings.
• Physician Liu, though absent, is remembered through the pellet drum: his attachment to his apprentice and his death give the scene a quiet emotional weight.

Significant themes

• Love beneath duty: Shen Yangge frames his concern as a subject’s obligation, while Chu Xuanzhen sees the deeper feeling beneath it.
• The will to survive: Chu Xuanzhen risks the cliff jump because he refuses to lose the life and future he has struggled to obtain.
• Grief and remembrance: The pellet drum becomes a keepsake that points to Liu’s final hope and the bonds he left behind.
• Tenderness amid danger: After violence and exhaustion, small gestures—shielding someone from sunlight, feeding them, and touching their face—reveal intimacy.

Character interactions

• Shen Yangge quietly cares for the sleeping Chu Xuanzhen, then feeds him when he wakes.
• Chu Xuanzhen turns Shen Yangge’s concern back toward him, gently exposing his concealed feelings by calling him a liar.
• Shen Yangge and Chu Xuanzhen share a subdued moment of grief over Physician Liu, with the pellet drum connecting Liu to his apprentice.

Plot points and events

• Shen Yangge mourns Physician Liu, whose death came after he left a message concerning his young apprentice. Chu Xuanzhen comforts him, saying he has killed Liu’s murderers.
• Shen reflects on death and his own feelings for Chu. For the first time, he returns Chu’s embrace, accepting that he cannot let go of him.
• Chu asks whether Shen would grieve if he died. Their intense kiss draws out Shen’s pent-up sorrow over the recent deaths and sacrifices; Chu holds him as he cries.
• The next day, survivors recover and bury the dead. Civilians who learned plague treatment from Physician Liu volunteer to travel to other affected areas. Before leaving, they kneel and kowtow to those gathered at the city gates.
• Chu Xuanzhen and the Eighth Prince defeat the Seventh Prince’s remaining forces in Lingnan. Chu returns amid the victory bell, finds Shen waiting for him, and greets him with the odd question, “Want to drink blood?”
• With Lingnan stabilized, Chu reports the fighting to the emperor, who is furious at the risk his son’s actions posed to the city and the throne.

Character developments

• Shen Yangge allows himself to grieve and openly reciprocates Chu’s affection. He also recognizes that coming to this world has mattered to him: he has learned, grown, and come to understand his sexuality.
• Chu Xuanzhen shows tenderness beneath his possessiveness, comforting Shen and urging him not to suppress his grief. His return makes clear that he, too, is deeply attached to Shen.
• Lingnan’s civilians turn loss into service, choosing to carry what they learned to other plague-stricken communities.

Significant themes

• Grief and remembrance: The dead remain present through the people who remember them, especially Physician Liu through his apprentice.
• Love amid mortality: Shen’s fear of losing Chu helps him acknowledge the depth of his feelings.
• Sacrifice and compassion: Civilians risk leaving home to help others survive the plague.
• Hope after devastation: Burial, volunteer work, and victory mark the beginning of Lingnan’s recovery.

Character interactions

• Chu comforts Shen after Liu’s death, then draws him into an intimate exchange that lets Shen release his grief.
• Shen and Chu’s relationship shifts as Shen finally embraces Chu in return.
• The civilians explain their plans to Shen, who checks that they understand the cost of leaving home and supports their choice.
• At the city gates, Chu reunites with Shen in front of onlookers, mixing a triumphant return with his characteristically strange blood-drinking question.

Plot points and events

• The emperor orders Chu Xuanzhen back to Capital City to investigate the Lingnan affair. Chu discusses the situation with the Eighth Prince, who teases Shen Yangge about his veiled hat and their past conflict.
• As Chu’s party leaves Lingnan, the townspeople try to give the soldiers food. The soldiers leave it behind, knowing the people need it more, and the townspeople send them off with heartfelt blessings.
• Shen Yangge reflects on the Shen family’s deaths and his encounter with Shen Rongfei, who shows no obvious resentment. Shen Rongfei suggests that Shen Yangge ask Shen Mother about why Shen Zhi called him a monster.
• Before reaching the capital, Shen Yangge’s Vampire punishment is lifted. When he removes his hat in front of Chu, Chu reacts with alarm and insists he put it back on.
• In court, Chu accuses the Seventh Prince of building a faction and secretly maintaining troops in Lingnan. Shen Yangge supplies letters proving the prince’s collusion with local officials.
• The Seventh Prince attacks Shen Yangge, who kicks him away. Chu then strikes the prince and warns him not to touch “my man.” The emperor strips the Seventh Prince of his title, makes him a commoner, and banishes him from the capital.

Character developments and interactions

• Shen Yangge shows restraint toward Shen Rongfei and confidence in court, personally presenting decisive evidence and defending himself when attacked.
• Chu Xuanzhen remains protective of Shen Yangge and ruthlessly backs him in court. His alarm at seeing Shen’s uncovered face hints at strong personal concern.
• The Seventh Prince shifts from tearful denial to violent anger, then begs for mercy. His punishment leaves him convinced someone betrayed him, though he does not know how his secrets were exposed.
• The Eighth Prince playfully probes Shen Yangge about his appearance and past, while Chu’s cold stare curbs his teasing.
• The people of Lingnan express gratitude and care through their farewell, underscoring the bond formed with the departing soldiers.

Significant themes

• Justice and accountability: The Seventh Prince’s crimes are exposed and punished, while Chu’s campaign also deters corrupt local officials.
• Compassion and sacrifice: The townspeople’s attempted gifts and the soldiers’ refusal to keep them show mutual concern.
• Trust, secrets, and unresolved identity: Shen Yangge’s past and the reason he was called a monster remain unexplained, as does the source of the prince’s leaked correspondence.
• Protective attachment: Chu’s defense of Shen Yangge suggests a deepening personal bond.

Key plot points

• In the Golden Throne Hall, the Seventh Prince begs the emperor not to banish him, then insists he has been framed. Shen Yangge calmly suggests verifying the handwriting on the incriminating letters.
• Chu Xuanzhen presents evidence implicating the Seventh Prince: the Sovereign Tiger Tally, Azure Dragon Military Banner, and Black Tortoise Token. The Seventh Prince denies everything and accuses the First Prince of setting him up.
• The First Prince denies the charge and demands proof. The emperor, suspecting a wider conspiracy, orders an investigation. The Seventh Prince is taken away for questioning, while Chu Xuanzhen receives a substantial reward. Shen gets none; his contribution is treated as atonement for his disgraced family.
• Shen complains inwardly about being overlooked. He then takes a day’s leave and returns to the Shen Residence, where he finds Shen Mother talking with an unfamiliar young woman. She calls him “Brother.”

Character developments

• Shen shows new composure and confidence in court, surprising the ministers who remember him as a foolish young man. Privately, however, he remains irreverent and resentful about receiving no reward.
• Shen admits to himself that he has fallen for Chu Xuanzhen and delays his planned departure, despite System 615 reminding him that his mission has a deadline.
• Chu Xuanzhen remains stern and forceful, ensuring the Seventh Prince is confronted with evidence.
• The First Prince appears controlled and persuasive, but Shen suspects his polished manner conceals ruthlessness.

Character interactions

• Shen challenges the Seventh Prince’s claims indirectly by proposing verification, while Chu Xuanzhen backs him with decisive evidence.
• The Seventh Prince turns on the First Prince; the First Prince denies involvement and redirects the burden of proof back to him.
• Chu Xuanzhen’s jealous or displeased look makes Shen stop staring at the First Prince.
• System 615 reminds Shen of his mission, but Shen chooses to stay longer because of his feelings for Chu Xuanzhen.
• At home, Shen Mother is warmly engaged with the young woman, who greets Shen as her brother.

Significant themes

• Power and political intrigue: Evidence points to the Seventh Prince’s secret military force, but the emperor suspects others may be involved.
• Appearance versus reality: Shen’s changed demeanor surprises the court, and the First Prince’s courteous composure may conceal a ruthless nature.
• Family reputation and justice: Shen’s past association with a disgraced family costs him recognition for his service.
• Duty versus affection: Shen’s mission conflicts with his growing attachment to Chu Xuanzhen.

Plot points and events

• Shen Yangge returns home and learns the young woman he mistook for a prospective wife or concubine is his younger sister, Shen Heqian. She has come back after staying with their maternal relatives.
• At Shen Mother’s urging, Heqian apologizes for their strained childhood relationship. Yangge accepts, and the siblings reconcile; the three share a warm dinner and talk about Yangge’s travels.
• In the Eastern Palace, Su Shang reports that Yangge accepted an offer of women and later held hands with a young woman. Chu Xuanzhen’s jealousy becomes unmistakable: he cracks the table, then destroys his chair and table as he leaves.
• Chu arrives at the Shen residence. He overhears Yangge discussing a future trip with his mother and sister, then demands to know who the woman is. Heqian tries to identify herself, but Chu cuts her off and presses Yangge for an answer.

Character developments

• Shen Yangge discovers Heqian’s identity and feels relieved that she is his sister rather than a romantic partner. He accepts her apology and offers to take her and their mother to Lingnan.
• Shen Heqian regrets her past behavior and takes the first step toward repairing her relationship with her brother.
• Chu Xuanzhen reveals intense, possessive jealousy over Yangge, despite trying to appear calm.
• Su Shang is caught between reporting honestly and fearing the consequences for both himself and Yangge.

Significant themes

• Family reconciliation: Mother encourages Yangge and Heqian to let go of old grievances and begin again.
• Jealousy and possessiveness: Chu interprets Yangge’s ordinary interactions with women as a threat.
• Misunderstanding and dramatic irony: Readers know Heqian is Yangge’s sister, but Chu arrives convinced there is something suspicious.
• Comedy through contrast: Chu’s controlled manner clashes with his destructive reactions, while Yangge’s anxious inner thoughts heighten the humor.

Character interactions

• Shen Mother gently guides Yangge and Heqian toward reconciliation.
• Yangge and Heqian exchange apologies and begin bonding over dinner.
• Su Shang reports Yangge’s actions to Chu, reluctantly revealing the most inflammatory detail.
• Chu confronts Yangge at the Shen home, while Heqian’s attempt to explain herself is interrupted by his pointed demand.

Plot and events

• Chu Xuanzhen storms into the Shen residence and accuses Shen Yangge of having a “sweetheart.” Shen Yangge is baffled, while his family fears the Crown Prince’s volatile temper.
• The accusation proves to be a misunderstanding: Chu mistakes Shen Yangge’s younger sister, Shen Heqian, for his lover. Once the truth is explained, Chu lets her stand and praises Shen Yangge as the more attractive sibling.
• Shen Yangge invites Chu to dinner and tries to postpone their discussion until afterward. The meal is tense and nearly silent, as the family is afraid to offend the Crown Prince.
• After dinner, Chu and Shen Yangge walk through the courtyard. Though neither speaks, Shen Yangge wonders how to soothe Chu’s apparent displeasure. Chu finally asks whether Shen Yangge likes women.

Character developments and interactions

• Shen Yangge remains outwardly polite and attentive, but internally mocks Chu’s erratic behavior. He protects his mother and sister from unnecessary alarm and takes Chu’s hand to guide him toward dinner.
• Chu Xuanzhen appears imperious and unpredictable, yet his jealousy—or suspicion—seems focused on Shen Yangge. He compliments him openly and ends the scene with a direct, intimate question.
• Shen Heqian is terrified by Chu, recalling his violent reputation, but learns that her brother is treated as an exception to his usual cruelty.
• Shen Mother panics and pleads for Yangge’s safety. Su Shang, hidden outside, realizes his mistaken information sparked the embarrassing misunderstanding.

Themes

• Miscommunication and mistaken assumptions: Chu’s accusation stems from confusing Shen Heqian with a sweetheart.
• Power and fear: The family’s fearful deference contrasts with Chu’s unusual leniency toward Yangge.
• Jealousy and intimacy: Chu’s possessive concern, praise, and final question hint at personal feelings beneath his controlled demeanor.

Plot points and events

• Shen Yangge is about to answer Chu Xuanzhen’s question about whether he likes women, but System 615 warns that admitting otherwise would break his assigned persona and trigger a Database punishment.
• Shen questions why an earlier impulsive act—kicking the Seventh Prince—didn’t count as breaking character. Database immediately reacts, giving him a one-hour countdown before generating another punishment.
• Worried the punishment could expose or erase him, Shen tries to end his time with Chu Xuanzhen and send him away. Chu instead interprets this as an invitation to Shen’s quarters.
• Shen reluctantly takes Chu there, tends to his needs, then sneaks away under the pretense of fetching a quilt as the punishment countdown nears its end.
• Hiding in an empty room’s cabinet, Shen discovers the punishment has turned him into a “Little Dragon”: a small, partly human being with the body of a five- or six-year-old, who can also take a true dragon form. Chu finds him and approaches the cabinet; the chapter ends as the door begins to open.

Character developments

• Shen Yangge remains frustrated and wary of the system, but also shows growing concern about revealing his true identity and feelings to Chu. He tries to manage the punishment alone rather than risk being discovered.
• Chu Xuanzhen shows concern when Shen appears unwell and is determined to stay close to him, though his interpretation of Shen’s hints is comically self-serving.
• System 615 is anxious and apologetic, but offers little practical help; it goes offline when Chu closes in.

Significant themes

• Identity and self-censorship: Shen must suppress his honest feelings to maintain the character imposed on him.
• Control and unpredictability: The Database’s strange, escalating punishments make Shen’s body and circumstances unreliable.
• Comedy through misunderstanding: Chu’s reading of Shen’s attempt to send him away leads to an unwanted visit to Shen’s quarters.
• Vulnerability and concealment: Shen’s new childlike form leaves him especially exposed just as Chu is about to find him.

Character interactions

• Shen and System 615 debate what counts as breaking character; their exchange inadvertently seems to provoke the Database.
• Chu responds to Shen’s apparent illness with concern, then insists on accompanying him to his quarters and stays there.
• Shen tries to avoid Chu and hide the transformation, while Chu tracks him to the empty room and reaches the cabinet.

Key plot points and events

• Shen Yangge, transformed into a tiny, horned version of himself, hides in a wardrobe while Chu Xuanzhen searches the room.
• After Chu seems to leave, Shen tries to climb out but trips over his oversized clothes. Chu catches him by the collar.
• Chu notices Shen’s Dragon Horns and touches one. The contact causes Shen to reflexively cling to Chu’s hand. System 615 then warns that Shen’s horns are extremely sensitive—especially around the male lead—before abruptly going offline.
• Shen says he will recover in about ten days and claims his unusual physical condition explains the transformation. Chu remains skeptical and asks whether Shen is a demon.
• Chu examines the tiny Shen, who nervously shields his horns and struggles to manage his oversized clothes. Shen asks Chu for help.
• Chu agrees, but demands that once Shen returns to normal, he kiss Chu for an hour every day. Shen privately concludes that Chu is a pervert.

Character developments

• Shen Yangge is frightened and embarrassed by his sudden transformation, but tries to maintain a solemn, convincing front. He is especially protective of his sensitive horns and increasingly dependent on Chu for practical help.
• Chu Xuanzhen remains composed and inquisitive, closely observing Shen’s unusual form. His final condition reveals a bold, teasing—or sexually suggestive—interest in Shen.
• System 615 provides crucial information too late, then disappears again, leaving Shen to handle the situation alone.

Significant themes

• Vulnerability and dependence: Shen’s tiny size and ill-fitting clothes leave him physically helpless and reliant on Chu.
• Secrecy and suspicion: Shen tries to explain away his transformation, while Chu probes whether he is something other than human.
• Comic embarrassment and tension: Shen’s attempts to hide his horns and preserve dignity contrast with Chu’s calm scrutiny and provocative demand.
• Unexpected intimacy: The horn-touching causes an involuntary reaction, heightening the closeness and awkwardness between them.

Character interactions

• Chu catches Shen when he falls and handles him with surprising care, but also touches his sensitive horns before Shen can stop him.
• Shen repeatedly tries to reassure Chu that he is human and asks for help, while Chu studies him and presses him with questions.
• Their exchange ends with Chu turning Shen’s request into a teasing bargain, leaving Shen flustered and offended.

Plot points

• Shen Yangge, now in a child-sized body as a result of a punishment, struggles with Chu Xuanzhen’s desire to kiss and hold him. Though he has accepted that he likes Chu, he is still uncomfortable with their intimacy and refuses the proposed daily hour-long kissing.
• Chu Xuanzhen carries him anyway, teasing him by stroking his feet, touching his horns, and calling his round cheeks “steamed-bun-like.” Shen Yangge tries to persuade him to put him down and find clothes that fit, but Chu insists on carrying him.
• Chu finally agrees to get him clothes. At the door, he tells Shen to keep his eyes closed; Su Shang arrives with an urgent message and finds Chu holding the tiny Shen.
• Shen jokingly calls Chu “Daddy,” leaving Su Shang to mistakenly conclude that they have somehow had a child. Chu orders Su Shang to buy clothes, then squeezes Shen’s horn.
• Soon afterward, Shen feels a sudden wave of heat, becomes dizzy, and passes out. When he wakes much later, he is coiled tightly around someone’s body.

Character developments and interactions

• Shen’s feelings for Chu are clear, but his discomfort with rapid, intense intimacy remains. He uses excuses, polite appeals, and comic deception to get what he wants.
• Chu shows possessive affection through carrying and teasing Shen, while also agreeing to help him. His teasing touch to Shen’s horns appears to provoke a physical reaction.
• Su Shang’s surprise and mistaken assumptions provide comic relief, while revealing that Chu is normally not known for liking children.

Themes

• Affection versus personal boundaries: Shen likes Chu but is not ready to accept every expression of intimacy.
• Appearance and identity: Shen’s childlike body contrasts with his adult thoughts and pride.
• Comedy through misunderstanding: Shen’s “Daddy” joke sends Su Shang into an absurd spiral of speculation.
• Unexplained transformation: Shen’s sudden collapse and waking coiled around someone hint that his dragon nature or curse may be changing.

Plot and events

• Shen Yangge wakes in dragon form, coiled tightly around Chu Xuanzhen. System 615 explains that the transformation is a Database punishment and that changing back requires Chu Xuanzhen to squeeze his horns.
• Shen discovers he is a small, plump golden dragon. He speculates about the value of his scales—and whether he could sell some to fund a future escape.
• Chu Xuanzhen handles him by the neck and asks whether dragons have any special taboos. Shen secretly retaliates by lashing Chu with his tail, then claims he feels unwell.
• At Shen’s request, Chu carefully untangles him. Shen is left exhausted, while Chu seems unaffected.
• A servant, Su Shang, arrives with clothes for the “young master.” He nearly calls Shen the imperial grandson, but hesitates because Chu has never confirmed their relationship. Shen darts beneath the bedding, where a golden tail briefly shows.

Character developments

• Shen Yangge remains irreverent and self-interested, even in dragon form. He resents being at Chu’s mercy, plots a possible escape, and discovers he has little control over his tail. His speech and mannerisms are also becoming more childlike.
• Chu Xuanzhen appears composed and attentive, patiently freeing Shen and responding to his complaints. His good mood while handling the dragon hints at unusual fondness or amusement.
• Su Shang is cautious and deferential, wary of making assumptions about Shen’s place in Chu’s family.

Themes and interactions

• The chapter plays comic contrast between Shen’s grand schemes and his helpless, unfamiliar body.
• Transformation brings both wonder and vulnerability: Shen is fascinated by being a golden dragon but cannot control himself or escape without help.
• Shen and Chu’s relationship is defined by reluctant dependence, teasing, and physical closeness; Chu has practical control, while Shen’s tail offers a mischievous form of resistance.
• Su Shang’s hesitation over Shen’s title underscores the uncertainty surrounding Shen’s status and relationship to Chu.

Plot points and events

• After spotting Shen Yangge’s dragon tail, Su Shang leaves Chu Xuanzhen’s room in stunned disbelief.
• Once alone, Shen Yangge emerges from the bedding and discovers he can fly in his dragon form. Chu Xuanzhen catches him and holds him in his palm.
• Shen Yangge tries to placate Chu Xuanzhen, but realizes Chu is enjoying the chance to handle and tease him. Shen Yangge lashes him with his tail, then panics about having hurt him.
• Shen Yangge recalls that dragon saliva can heal wounds; System 615 confirms it works on other people, but not on himself.
• Chu Xuanzhen reveals small puncture wounds on his neck and insists Shen Yangge treat them. He invokes Shen Yangge’s supposed responsibility, and Shen Yangge reluctantly agrees.

Character developments

• Shen Yangge is startled by his new ability to fly, but quickly becomes frustrated by how little control he has around Chu Xuanzhen. His anger and embarrassment give way to nervous concern after striking him, and his attraction to Chu remains despite recognizing his shamelessness.
• Chu Xuanzhen shows himself to be playful, manipulative, and increasingly bold in teasing Shen Yangge. He uses the healing property of dragon saliva as an excuse to demand intimacy.
• Su Shang leaves with his assumptions about the world overturned after seeing Shen Yangge’s tail.
• System 615 provides useful information but also warns Shen Yangge that his hoped-for loophole will not work.

Significant themes

• Power and control: Shen Yangge’s dragon form gives him new abilities, but Chu Xuanzhen still physically and emotionally keeps him at his mercy.
• Attraction mixed with frustration: Shen Yangge is exasperated by Chu’s behavior yet remains susceptible to his touch and voice.
• Fantasy and the absurd: A real dragon, supernatural healing, and Shen Yangge’s panicked inner commentary combine serious magic with comic embarrassment.

Character interactions

• Su Shang’s discovery prompts a brief, tense exchange with Chu Xuanzhen before he withdraws.
• Chu repeatedly handles and teases Shen Yangge, who alternates between protesting, striking back, and worrying about the consequences.
• Chu pressures Shen Yangge to heal his neck wounds; Shen Yangge agrees under pressure, while privately blaming Chu for the situation.

Plot points and events

• Chu Xuanzhen has two untreated puncture wounds on his neck. Shen Yangge reluctantly uses his dragon saliva to heal them.
• As Shen treats him, Chu grows warm and then appears to collapse. Shen panics, fearing his saliva has poisoned him, and calls on System 615 for help.
• Chu suddenly grabs Shen by the tail and carries him to the bed. The system then reveals that dragon saliva causes a strong sexual response—not unconsciousness.
• Shen realizes Chu likely faked his collapse to lure him down. Chu strokes and restrains the dragon, while Shen protests and struggles unsuccessfully.
• The encounter ends off-page. Later, Shen, back in his small-dragon form, sits in the courtyard staring bleakly at the moon.

Character developments and interactions

• Shen Yangge shifts from reluctant caretaker to alarmed, then furious and humiliated captive. His concern for Chu’s fading breath exposes an instinctive worry beneath his sarcasm, but he also feels powerless and resentful at being tricked.
• Chu Xuanzhen appears weak, then reveals he was likely acting. His behavior suggests he is deliberately exploiting Shen’s treatment and has shed his usual restraint.
• System 615 provides unreliable information at first, then identifies the saliva’s actual effect—too late to prevent the situation.
• Their interaction turns from healing and coaxing into a struggle over control: Chu physically dominates Shen, while Shen protests and tries to escape.

Significant themes

• Deception and misread appearances: Chu’s apparent collapse fools Shen, while the system’s initial uncertainty worsens the misunderstanding.
• Power and vulnerability: Though Shen is a dragon, he is physically overpowered by Chu; the reversal fuels his comic despair.
• Care entangled with unintended consequences: Shen’s attempt to heal Chu triggers an effect neither he nor the system initially understands.
• Comic embarrassment: Shen’s panicked thoughts, modern anti-fraud joke, and bleak final moon-gazing contrast with the increasingly suggestive scene.

Key plot points and events

• After the previous night’s intimate encounter, Shen Yangge is mortified and frustrated. Chu Xuanzhen has genuinely passed out, and Yangge decides to stay by his side for the next ten days, wary of danger after his earlier near-fatal experience as a cat.
• The next morning, Yangge wakes in Chu Xuanzhen’s arms and tries unsuccessfully to get free. Chu Xuanzhen wakes only when a servant knocks, then insists on personally washing and carrying the transformed Yangge.
• Yangge uses System 615 to conceal his dragon horns and eye color. The disguise lasts at most two hours and can be used only twice a day, so it offers limited protection during his ten-day punishment.
• At breakfast, Shen Mother and Shen Heqian mistake Yangge for an unfamiliar child. Chu Xuanzhen explains that Shen Zhuanxie has been sent away on a task, concealing Yangge’s true identity. Yangge notes that spies and dangerous people remain within the Shen Residence and must eventually be dealt with.
• Chu Xuanzhen serves Yangge porridge himself, astonishing Shen Mother with his attentive treatment of the child.

Character developments

• Shen Yangge remains embarrassed and sharp-tongued, but is also cautious and strategic: he hides his identity and recognizes the danger posed by spies in the residence.
• Chu Xuanzhen shows an unexpectedly tender, possessive side, caring for Yangge despite Yangge’s protests. His calm, practical handling of the disguise and the cover story suggests he is willing to protect Yangge’s secret.
• Shen Mother and Shen Heqian are puzzled by the child’s familiarity, but both are wary of questioning Chu Xuanzhen.

Significant themes

• Hidden identity and vulnerability: Yangge’s transformed appearance forces him to conceal who he is while depending on Chu Xuanzhen.
• Care and control: Chu Xuanzhen’s gentle attention blurs into overbearing behavior, which Yangge resists with humor and irritation.
• Political danger: Spies and hostile forces within the Shen Residence make secrecy essential.
• Comic contrast: Yangge’s indignant inner commentary clashes with his small childlike body and Chu Xuanzhen’s composed, attentive demeanor.

Character interactions

• Yangge pushes, threatens, and argues with Chu Xuanzhen, while Chu Xuanzhen largely ignores his protests and tends to him anyway.
• Chu Xuanzhen gives the household a cover story about Shen Zhuanxie’s absence, shielding Yangge from questions.
• Shen Mother and Shen Heqian defer to Chu Xuanzhen, and Shen Mother is especially startled to see him personally care for the child.

Key plot points and events

• After breakfast, Chu Xuanzhen takes Shen Yangge back toward the palace. Their carriage waits while a prison cart passes, carrying the disgraced Seventh Prince, who has been convicted and sentenced to lifelong forced labor in Lingnan.
• Shen realizes Chu Xuanzhen may have deliberately waited so he could see the Seventh Prince’s fate. He thanks the Crown Prince, but Chu quickly turns the moment into a teasing invitation to sit on his lap; Shen refuses.
• Back at the palace, Shen is carried through the grounds, prompting servants to speculate about his identity. A guard warns them to stop, and rumors about the child reach the emperor and other palaces.
• That evening, the emperor summons Chu Xuanzhen to meet the child. Chu dresses Shen in lavish clothes, hides his dragon horns beneath an ornate hat, and gives him a dagger to carry.
• At the banquet, the emperor asks who Shen is. Chu claims he found the orphan in Lingnan and plans to find him a kind family. The ministers doubt this explanation, especially given the expensive clothes and priceless hat Chu has given him.

Character developments

• Shen Yangge remains observant and cautious, reading the implications behind Chu’s actions while trying to maintain his independence. He meets the court’s scrutiny without shrinking back.
• Chu Xuanzhen shows a protective, increasingly personal interest in Shen: he shields him from gossip, dresses him in exceptional finery, and equips him with a dagger. His teasing also keeps their relationship playfully tense.
• The Seventh Prince’s downfall is made public, underscoring the consequences of the investigation and Chu’s power.

Significant themes

• Power and reputation: Rumors spread quickly through the palace, and even a child’s identity becomes a matter of political speculation.
• Protection and control: Chu protects Shen, but also manages what he sees, how he appears, and how others perceive him.
• Appearances versus truth: Chu presents Shen as a temporary orphaned ward, while his conspicuous generosity makes that explanation hard for the court to believe.
• Justice and punishment: The Seventh Prince’s public exile marks the conclusion of his investigation and the cost of his crimes.

Character interactions

• Chu and Shen shift between gratitude, teasing, and wary resistance during the carriage ride.
• Palace maids’ gossip about Shen is abruptly stopped by a guard, emphasizing the risks of speaking freely in the palace.
• At court, Chu answers the emperor’s questions on Shen’s behalf, while Shen follows his lead and stands openly before the watching officials.

Plot points and events

• The emperor questions Crown Prince Chu Xuanzhen about the valuable hat he gave Shen Yangge, which was originally intended for a future crown princess. Chu redirects the conversation.
• The emperor examines Shen, who claims he cannot remember his name. He acts frightened and innocent, convincing the emperor—though Shen privately recognizes the emperor’s suspicion and manipulative nature.
• Assassins disguised as performers attack the palace banquet. Chu grabs Shen and takes cover, then hands him to his guard Su Shang while he stays behind to investigate.
• Su Shang tries to escort Shen out, but the assassins spot them and block the exit. Su Shang reveals that Chu stayed because he intends to investigate the curse-head sorcery placed on him years ago and use the attack to learn about the emperor’s hidden death-sworn guards.
• In the fighting, an assassin knocks off Shen’s hat, exposing his golden dragon horns. The assassins and Su Shang are stunned, and Su Shang blurts out that Shen may be “a dragon’s son.” More people begin noticing him.

Character developments and interactions

• Shen Yangge carefully performs the role of a frightened, amnesiac child, while privately displaying sharp judgment, sarcasm, and awareness of court politics. Despite his own danger, he worries about Chu.
• Chu Xuanzhen remains composed and protective, but chooses to risk staying behind to pursue his investigation. His calm gaze reassures Shen before the emperor’s questioning.
• The emperor is shrewd and distrustful, testing Shen’s story while concealing his own motives.
• Su Shang is loyal to Chu and tries to protect Shen, but cannot explain Chu’s plan. He is shaken when Shen’s horns are revealed.

Significant themes

• Deception and performance: Shen’s convincing act mirrors the court’s culture of manipulation, and his thoughts suggest the emperor himself once relied on acting.
• Hidden identity and danger: Shen’s concealed dragon horns turn him from an apparently helpless child into a figure of startling significance.
• Loyalty and risk: Chu stays behind for his larger investigation, while Su Shang prioritizes getting Shen to safety.
• Power and suspicion: The emperor’s scrutiny and the secret guards reflect the constant threat and intrigue surrounding the throne.

Plot and events

• Shen Yangge’s golden Dragon Horns are exposed during the banquet. Su Shang shields him and carries him out while the assassins split up: some keep attacking the emperor, while others pursue the child.
• Inside the hall, four Violet-Clad guards reveal they were hidden there and quickly capture the remaining attackers. Two assassins kill themselves with poison, and three are unable to speak.
• As the emperor and his guards relax, a captive assassin spits out three poisoned needles. Chu Xuanzhen blocks two but cannot stop the third from striking the emperor. The emperor collapses, and Chu declares him poisoned.
• Su Shang entrusts Shen Yangge to another deathsworn guard and leads pursuers away using clothing as a decoy. The guard flees with Shen through the Imperial Medical Bureau, where Shen persuades him to escape alone. The guard dives into a lotus pond; Shen finds and opens a small vent, preparing to crawl through it.

Character developments and interactions

• Shen Yangge stays composed despite being hunted. He recognizes the guard’s urgency, offers a practical escape plan, and shows a maturity beyond his apparent age.
• Su Shang acts quickly to protect Shen, then risks himself to divert the pursuers.
• Chu Xuanzhen helps save the emperor from most of the needles and appears concerned, though the emperor’s suspicions of him remain unresolved. The narration hints that Chu’s claim to have diagnosed the poison may be an act.
• The emperor is shaken by the attack and wonders who arranged it. He doubts Chu’s innocence despite Chu being wounded.
• The deathsworn guard follows Shen’s advice, while the assassins’ attack leaves the officials terrified and the palace in confusion.

Significant themes

• Concealment and suspicion: Shen’s horns expose his secret, while hidden guards and uncertain loyalties complicate the emperor’s search for the culprit.
• Protection and sacrifice: Su Shang and the deathsworn guard put themselves in danger to safeguard Shen.
• Appearances versus reality: Shen’s childlike appearance belies his composure, and Chu’s actions may not reflect his true intentions.

Key plot points and events

• Shen Yangge escapes through a vent, covered in ash, and is discovered by Little Bamboo Shoot, a young apprentice grieving his master, Physician Liu.
• Shen claims to be a dragon and tells the boy that his master asked him to visit. Little Bamboo Shoot, who has been struggling to accept his master’s death, breaks down crying and clutches the keepsake drum his master left behind.
• Shen reassures him that he will meet his master again in another life. When guards approach, Shen warns Little Bamboo Shoot that his own capture could put that promise at risk.
• Little Bamboo Shoot hides Shen by lending him old clothes. After the guards search briefly and leave, Shen asks the boy to claim that a dancer took him away. When more people arrive, Shen slips back into the vent.
• Meanwhile, Chu Xuanzhen learns that Shen is missing from the Imperial Medical Bureau. Alarmed and furious, he abandons the palace and rushes to find him.
• The Crown Prince arrives at Little Bamboo Shoot’s room and asks whether he has seen a horned child. Terrified, the boy repeats Shen’s fabricated story, pointing the searchers in the wrong direction.

Character developments and interactions

• Shen Yangge shows unexpected tenderness toward Little Bamboo Shoot, comforting him about his master while continuing to plan his escape. He also reflects that becoming attached to this world could endanger his mission.
• Little Bamboo Shoot moves from grief and isolation toward trusting someone again. He believes Shen’s account, embraces him, and risks lying to protect him, though he remains frightened and naïve.
• Chu Xuanzhen reveals how deeply Shen’s disappearance affects him: his usual control gives way to urgency, dread, and a threatening resolve.
• Shen and Little Bamboo Shoot form a brief, affectionate bond. Shen adopts the role of “big brother,” while the boy helps him evade both the guards and the Crown Prince.

Significant themes

• Grief and consolation: Little Bamboo Shoot’s sorrow over his master is met with reassurance and a renewed sense of hope.
• Attachment versus duty: Shen recognizes that emotional ties may make it harder to complete his mission and leave the world.
• Trust and deception: Shen’s comforting story helps the boy, while the boy’s false lead becomes essential to Shen’s escape.
• Protection and vulnerability: Though Shen presents himself as a powerful dragon, his powers are temporarily gone, and he depends on a frightened child for help.