Recaps

At the flower-viewing banquet, Ning Sang-sang slipped away from Pei Yunluo’s group and met Hua Liuli in a secluded pavilion. Hua Liuli heard Ning’s unspoken thoughts about her and began to suspect she could hear them.

• Ning Sang-sang’s thoughts predicted that Song Minghan and Song Mingze would fall for Su Miaoling after her performance, but both brothers denied liking her.
• Ning Sang-sang claimed she had a stomachache and hurried away from Pei Yunluo’s group instead of entering the waterside pavilion.
• Ning Sang-sang wandered through the Chancellor’s Residence and settled in a secluded pavilion beside Hua Liuli.
• Ning Sang-sang’s thoughts described Hua Liuli’s future entanglement with Chu Aotian and lamented how it would ruin her life.
• Hua Liuli heard Ning Sang-sang’s thoughts despite her lips not moving and began to suspect they were inner thoughts.

At the Flower-Viewing Banquet, Hua Liuli heard Ning Sang-sang’s inner thoughts predicting she would fall hopelessly in love with Seventh Prince Chu Aotian, but she remained unimpressed when she met him. Chu Aotian then heard Ning Sang-sang’s thoughts too, leaving him puzzled as the story ended.

• Hua Liuli heard Ning Sang-sang’s thoughts claim that she would fall for Chu Aotian and become meek, and she resolved to see whether the prediction came true.
• When Hua Liuli’s nephew Hua Yun went missing, she asked Ning Sang-sang to help find him so she could hear more of her thoughts.
• Chu Aotian rescued Hua Yun from the artificial rockery, but Hua Liuli found him merely ordinary and denied being infatuated with him.
• Chu Aotian approached Hua Liuli, who answered him expressionlessly, while Ning Sang-sang wondered why Hua Liuli was acting differently from her predictions.
• Chu Aotian heard Ning Sang-sang’s unspoken thoughts and realized he could hear her voice without her speaking.

Seventh Prince Chu Aotian discovered that Ning Sang-sang’s thoughts were audible to him, while Hua Liuli enjoyed her irreverent commentary and decided to break off her engagement. When Gu Yunshen arrived, he also heard Ning Sang-sang’s thoughts and became unsettled by her gossip about him.

• Ning Sang-sang thought Chu Aotian’s tear mole looked like eye gunk, making Hua Liuli laugh and Chu Aotian nearly lose his composure.
• Chu Aotian realized Ning Sang-sang’s inner voice belonged to her and heard her say he was in love with Su Miaoling, prompting Hua Liuli to decide to end their engagement.
• Chu Aotian struggled to speak to Ning Sang-sang, eventually asking her name after she criticized his unfinished sentences.
• Gu Yunshen arrived and teased Chu Aotian, then heard Ning Sang-sang call him a purple-skinned scallion and consider digging up his gossip.
• Chu Aotian told Ning Sang-sang to stop, and she recalled one of his dramatic lines about a woman playing with fire.

Ning Sang-sang’s unfiltered thoughts exposed Gu Yunshen’s embarrassing habit and led Hua Liuli to ask her to be friends. Ning Sang-sang agreed, and Hua Liuli offered her beautiful gems and jade.

• Gu Yunshen teased Seventh Prince Chu Aotian about the mole beneath his eye, while Ning Sang-sang thought it resembled eye gunk.
• Ning Sang-sang called Gu Yunshen a purple-skinned scallion and revealed that he sniffed his own armpits every day.
• Gu Yunshen coughed to interrupt Ning Sang-sang before she could reveal more of his strange habits.
• Hua Liuli asked Ning Sang-sang to be her friend after hearing Ning Sang-sang’s thoughts about her.
• Ning Sang-sang agreed and resolved to help Hua Liuli avoid ruining her life for a man.
• Hua Liuli offered Ning Sang-sang beautiful gems and jade.

Ning Sang-sang agreed to be friends with Hua Liuli, while Gu Yunshen also asked to be her friend, and her irreverent thoughts about Seventh Prince Chu Aotian made him furious. Chu Aotian finally looked away from her, but before he could respond, another young man spoke.

• Hua Liuli befriended Ning Sang-sang, and Gu Yunshen asked Ning Sang-sang to be friends with him as well.
• Ning Sang-sang thought that Chu Aotian had a poor personality and wondered whether his abs could be used as a washboard, prompting him to roar at her.
• Ning Sang-sang silently called Chu Aotian “Proud One” and teased him about his expression and his abs, while Gu Yunshen tried to stop him from glaring at her.
• Gu Yunshen nearly repeated Ning Sang-sang’s nickname for Chu Aotian, then joked that Chu Aotian was making her shy by staring at her.
• Chu Aotian shifted his gaze away from Ning Sang-sang, and a lively young male voice interrupted before he could speak.

At the Flower-Viewing Banquet, Ning Sang-sang’s thoughts revealed that Hua Yun would die in a future accident, prompting Hua Liuli to stay close to her. Ning Hui led Ning Sang-sang away, while several others followed, curious about her thoughts.

• Ning Hui arrived with Chen Zihao and told Ning Sang-sang he had been worried about her.
• Ning Sang-sang thought Chen Zihao would face more sadness, but a mysterious power prevented him from asking what she meant.
• Ning Sang-sang thought Hua Yun would drown at his grandmother’s birthday celebration, and Hua Liuli reacted by deciding to stay near her.
• Hua Liuli told Ning Sang-sang she wanted to be friends, while Ning Sang-sang wondered why Hua Liuli was not pursuing Seventh Prince Chu Aotian.
• Ning Hui hurried Ning Sang-sang away from Chu Aotian, and Hua Liuli, Hua Yun, and Chen Zihao followed them.
• Gu Yunshen accidentally called Chu Aotian “Proud One,” and Chu Aotian insulted him before walking away.

Ning Sang-sang and Ning Hui tried to avoid Seventh Prince Chu Aotian while her thoughts about him continued to reach those around her. After Chen Zihao left, Ning Sang-sang pressed Ning Hui to reveal the secret he had promised to investigate for him.

• Chu Aotian told Gu Yunshen to get close to Ning Sang-sang, then wondered why his male lead halo seemed to be acting strangely.
• Ning Hui warned Ning Sang-sang to stay away from Chu Aotian, while Chen Zihao heard her insulting thoughts and noticed Chu Aotian and Gu Yunshen following them.
• Ning Sang-sang imagined Chu Aotian was interested in Hua Liuli, and Hua Liuli privately disagreed before reminding her that Chu Aotian seemed to be there for her.
• Ning Sang-sang, Ning Hui, and Chen Zihao hurried away from Chu Aotian; Hua Liuli left with Hua Yun, and Gu Yunshen teased Chu Aotian about Ning Sang-sang running from him.
• Ning Hui told Chen Zihao to stop following them and promised to investigate his situation, then refused to tell Ning Sang-sang why he was helping him.
• Ning Sang-sang offered to share one of her own secrets if Ning Hui revealed his.

Ning Sang-sang and Ning Hui exchanged secrets before going to the Flower-Viewing Banquet’s Back Garden, where the crowd began hearing Ning Sang-sang’s unspoken thoughts. As Su Miaoling played the zither, Pei Yunluo confronted Ning Sang-sang, and Ning Sang-sang’s thoughts announced that Proud One had arrived.

• Ning Hui lied that Chen Zihao had asked him to learn how many mistresses his father kept, and Ning Sang-sang thought Chen Zihao would later be devastated by his father’s plot with his mistress to kill his mother.
• Ning Hui worried that their father might keep a mistress, but Ning Sang-sang assured him that their father was devoted to their mother, then shared gossip about Lord Li’s unusual fondness for his concubine’s bound feet.
• Ning Sang-sang took Ning Hui to the Back Garden to watch the noble young ladies perform, and nearby guests began hearing her inner thoughts and staring at her.
• Su Miaoling played the zither, and Ning Sang-sang thought that the supporting female character’s powerful halo made her performance sound heavenly.
• Pei Yunluo confronted Ning Sang-sang for avoiding her, and Ning Sang-sang thought that Pei Yunluo was temperamental before announcing that Proud One was approaching.

Ning Chengxiao rescued Ning Sang-sang from the Flower-Viewing Banquet, where her unfiltered thoughts angered Seventh Prince Chu Aotian, and took her and Ning Hui to the countryside. As they enjoyed the quiet scenery, a wheelchair creaked nearby.

• Seventh Prince Chu Aotian and Gu Yunshen arrived, and Ning Sang-sang privately mocked them while Pei Yunluo tried to keep her close.
• Su Miaoling greeted Chu Aotian, whose mood darkened after Ning Sang-sang's thoughts exposed her teasing remarks about him.
• Ning Chengxiao pretended their mother needed Ning Sang-sang and led her and Ning Hui away from the banquet.
• Ning Chengxiao took Ning Sang-sang and Ning Hui to the countryside, where Ning Hui asked about the Ten Thousand Flowers Valley where she grew up.
• As the three walked along a woodland path, they heard the creaking of a wheelchair.

Ning Sang-sang encountered Yan Xuanjing, the novel’s future archvillain, and thought about the suffering that had left him masked and crippled. Yan Xuanjing focused on her after hearing her thoughts, which revealed that Imperial Uncle Yang had arranged the poisoning through Hei Zi.

• Ning Sang-sang recognized Yan Xuanjing as the ultimate villain when he arrived in a wheelchair.
• Ning Hui greeted Yan Xuanjing warmly, and Ning Chengxiao brought Ning Sang-sang over to meet him.
• Yan Xuanjing fixed his attention on Ning Sang-sang, intrigued by the voice he could hear.
• Ning Sang-sang thought that Imperial Uncle Yang had bribed Hei Zi to poison Yan Xuanjing, ruining his face and crippling his legs.

Ning Sang-sang’s thoughts revealed that Yang Wenguang and Heizi had betrayed Yan Xuanjing, stirring Ning Hui and Yan Xuanjing’s anger. As Ning Sang-sang wondered whether anyone could hear her thoughts, Ning Chengxiao realized Yan Xuanjing could and steered her away from him.

• Ning Hui grew furious at Yang Wenguang and Heizi for harming Yan Xuanjing, but Ning Chengxiao calmed him down.
• Yan Xuanjing realized Heizi had betrayed him and wondered how Ning Sang-sang knew so much and why he could hear her thoughts.
• Ning Sang-sang suggested the group look around, then asked Little Melon whether anyone could hear her thoughts and accepted its reassurance.
• Ning Sang-sang privately wondered what Yan Xuanjing looked like after his restoration, and Yan Xuanjing listened to her thoughts.
• Ning Chengxiao noticed Yan Xuanjing could hear Ning Sang-sang’s thoughts and led her away; she decided to keep her distance from Yan Xuanjing.

Ning Sang-sang’s thoughts revealed Yan Xuanjing’s brutal childhood and vengeful nature, alarming Ning Chengxiao about his younger brother’s closeness to him. When Ning Hui and Yan Xuanjing caught up with them, Ning Chengxiao suspected Yan Xuanjing might be the man coveting Ning Hui, but Ning Sang-sang’s thoughts implicated Yang Wenguang instead.

• Ning Hui reassured Yan Xuanjing that Ning Sang-sang meant him no harm, though Yan Xuanjing had sensed her hostility.
• Ning Chengxiao warned Ning Sang-sang to be careful around Yan Xuanjing, and she agreed while thinking about his villainous reputation.
• Ning Sang-sang’s thoughts revealed that Yan Xuanjing had endured abuse as a child and secretly planned revenge on those who harmed him.
• Ning Chengxiao worried that Ning Hui’s closeness to Yan Xuanjing might put him in danger.
• Ning Hui and Yan Xuanjing caught up with Ning Chengxiao and Ning Sang-sang, prompting Ning Chengxiao to suspect Yan Xuanjing coveted Ning Hui.
• Ning Sang-sang’s thoughts identified Yang Wenguang as coveting Ning Hui and Yan Xuanjing, and Ning Chengxiao grew furious with him.

Ning Sang-sang, Ning Hui, and Ning Chengxiao left Yan Xuanjing’s residence after Ning Hui apologized for bringing up Bai Xinrou. Meanwhile, Pei Yunluo grew troubled by Ning Sang-sang’s warning about Zhang Yu and sneaked out to confront him.

• Ning Hui protested that Ning Sang-sang still treated him like a child, and Ning Chengxiao insisted the siblings head home.
• Ning Hui accidentally mentioned Bai Xinrou, angering Ning Chengxiao, then apologized and worried that his brother would demand repayment of the thirty thousand taels he owed.
• Ning Chengxiao warned Ning Hui to stay away from Yan Xuanjing, but Ning Hui and Ning Sang-sang defended Yan, and Ning Chengxiao relented.
• Pei Yunluo brooded over Ning Sang-sang’s claims about Zhang Yu, then told Feicui to cover for her as she slipped out to find him.

Pei Yunluo found Zhang Yu with Peony and discovered that Ning Sang-sang had been right about his intentions. She ended their relationship and left, while Zhang Yu’s plans to benefit from her status collapsed.

• Pei Yunluo visited Zhang Yu’s shabby courtyard, doubting Ning Sang-sang’s accusation but growing uneasy when she heard a woman inside.
• Pei Yunluo overheard Zhang Yu praise the woman on his lap and insult her, admitting he pursued her because of her status.
• Pei Yunluo entered the room, saw Zhang Yu with Peony, and slapped him when he tried to explain.
• Pei Yunluo declared that she and Zhang Yu were finished and threatened to have Pei Xingjian jail him if he blocked her.
• Zhang Yu let Pei Yunluo leave and seethed over losing his chance to use her family’s influence to rise in rank and grow rich.

Zhang Yu blamed Peony for exposing their affair and prepared to flee, while Pei Yunluo left in anger. Ning Sang-sang went shopping and ate with Ning Hui and Ning Chengxiao before Pei Yunluo confronted her and asked to speak with her.

• Zhang Yu slapped Peony, then decided to pack his belongings and run away with her after she warned that Pei Yunluo would not spare them.
• Pei Yunluo left Zhang Yu's home and headed to the main street, regretting that she had trusted him.
• Ning Hui invited Ning Sang-sang to explore the street, and Ning Chengxiao agreed to buy her whatever she wanted.
• Ning Sang-sang and her brothers went to a restaurant, where Pei Yunluo appeared and angrily demanded to know why Ning Sang-sang was eating outside the Chancellor's Residence.
• Pei Yunluo calmed herself and told Ning Sang-sang that she wanted to ask her something.

Pei Yunluo took Ning Sang-sang aside to ask what her friend should do after being betrayed by the man she loved. Ning Sang-sang advised her to reject him, and Pei Yunluo left without revealing that she had been asking about herself.

• Pei Yunluo insisted that Ning Sang-sang accompany her outside, despite Ning Hui’s objections.
• In an empty corridor, Pei Yunluo asked what her friend should do after the man she loved betrayed her.
• Ning Sang-sang urged Pei Yunluo’s friend to have the man beaten and refuse to forgive him, privately assuming the man was Zhang Yu.
• Pei Yunluo thanked Ning Sang-sang and left, while Ning Sang-sang returned to the table and told Ning Hui the conversation was for girls.

After returning to the Duke of Ning's Residence, Ning Sang-sang learned from Little Melon that she had to stop Yan Xuanjing from turning evil to prevent the world’s destruction. She accepted the connected missions after Little Melon promised her a gossip collection and confirmed she would not have to romance the archvillain.

• Ning Xiaotian and Madam Jiang greeted Ning Sang-sang at the residence gates and escorted her inside with their sons, Ning Chengxiao and Ning Hui following.
• After resting in her room, Ning Sang-sang complained to Little Melon about bonding with the Gossip System too late.
• Little Melon told Ning Sang-sang that the System Bureau had assigned her the mission of stopping the archvillain from turning evil, warning that the world would otherwise be destroyed.
• Little Melon showed Ning Sang-sang three connected missions: stopping the archvillain, saving the male and female leads, and rewriting the tragic ending for the cast.
• Little Melon promised Ning Sang-sang a gossip collection and assured her she would not have to win Yan Xuanjing’s affection, so Ning Sang-sang enthusiastically accepted the missions.

Pei Yunluo was forgiven after admitting she had secretly met Zhang Yu, while Duchess Su confronted Xiu Yu about swapping her child and ordered her execution. Duchess Su was left reflecting on how her biological daughter had suffered after being separated from her for years.

• Pei Yunluo apologized to Princess Yongle for meeting Zhang Yu in secret, and Princess Yongle forgave her after warning her not to repeat the mistake.
• Princess Yongle ordered Pei Xingjian to arrest Zhang Yu and banish him to a desolate place.
• Duchess Su ordered Xiu Yu to drink the Beauty-Nourishing Soup, and Xiu Yu dropped it in terror.
• Duchess Su accused Xiu Yu of swapping her daughter, and Xiu Yu confessed that she had done it to avenge her elder sister.
• Duchess Su slapped Xiu Yu and ordered Nanny Liu to have her beaten to death.
• Duchess Su reflected that her biological daughter had suffered outside the family for years and regretted not having raised her.

Ning Sang-sang visited Yan Xuanjing with Ning Hui, hoping to prevent him from becoming a villain, but her thoughts about reforming him stirred his dark emotions and sent his corruption value rising. She left him silently hiding his turmoil behind a calm expression.

• Yan Xuanjing ordered Xifeng to throw a tortured traitor into the mass graveyard, then returned to his room.
• Ning Sang-sang persuaded Ning Hui to visit Yan Xuanjing, intending to stop him from turning evil before the Third Princess came to provoke him.
• Yan Xuanjing agreed to receive Ning Sang-sang and Ning Hui after briefly considering refusing them.
• Ning Sang-sang thanked Yan Xuanjing for saving Ning Hui, while Yan Xuanjing privately wondered why she wanted to get close to him.
• Ning Sang-sang thought that Yan Xuanjing needed to be reformed, causing his emotions and corruption value to rise as he concealed his turmoil.

Ning Sang-sang took Yan Xuanjing and Ning Hui to the Hundred Flowers House to avoid the Third Princess and satisfy her curiosity about brothels. When the madam saw through Ning Sang-sang’s disguise and suggested she go elsewhere, Ning Sang-sang recognized her as Auntie Cuihua.

• Ning Sang-sang invited Yan Xuanjing to go for a stroll, thinking she could keep him away from the Third Princess, and he agreed.
• Ning Sang-sang changed into men's clothes and led Yan Xuanjing and Ning Hui to the Hundred Flowers House, where Yan Xuanjing agreed to enter despite Jingzhe’s surprise.
• Ning Sang-sang and Ning Hui looked around the quiet brothel, while Yan Xuanjing watched Ning Sang-sang and Jingzhe wondered if his prince favored her.
• Aunt Hong came downstairs and asked whether they wanted girls or a place to discuss business.
• Ning Sang-sang asked Aunt Hong for a private room and pretty girls, but Aunt Hong saw through her disguise and directed her to the South Wind House, prompting Ning Sang-sang to call her Auntie Cuihua.

Ning Sang-sang used Fifth Senior Brother’s Jade Pendant to make Auntie Hong let her and the others into the Hundred Flowers House. The group settled into its finest private room, while Yan Xuanjing grew more suspicious of Ning Sang-sang’s identity.

• Ning Sang-sang insisted Auntie Hong was her Auntie Cuihua and led her away from Yan Xuanjing and Ning Hui.
• Ning Sang-sang showed Auntie Hong Fifth Senior Brother’s Jade Pendant, making Auntie Hong recognize its authority and agree to let girls dressed as men enter the Hundred Flowers House.
• Ning Sang-sang asked Auntie Hong to arrange a private room and pretty attendants, then promised not to tell the young master that Auntie Hong had offended her.
• Ning Sang-sang told Ning Hui that Auntie Cuihua had remembered her, while Yan Xuanjing decided to investigate Ning Sang-sang’s past.
• Auntie Hong led Ning Sang-sang, Ning Hui, Yan Xuanjing, and Jingzhe to the finest private room, where Ning Sang-sang admired the view and several pretty girls arrived.

Ning Sang-sang’s thoughts gave Yan Xuanjing and Ning Hui the idea to turn Chu Yuzhu against Yang Wenguang, while Chu Yuzhu failed to find Yan at the Hostage's Residence. After receiving a letter accusing Yang Wenguang of harming Yan, Chu Yuzhu set out for State Uncle Yang's Residence with a force of men.

• Yan Xuanjing dismissed the courtesans at the Hundred Flowers House, and Ning Sang-sang decided she wanted to buy some as maids.
• Ning Sang-sang thought that Chu Yuzhu would pursue Yang Wenguang if she learned he had disfigured and crippled Yan Xuanjing, and Ning Hui also planned to pass that information to her.
• Yan Xuanjing privately instructed Jingzhe, who hurried away to carry out his orders.
• Chu Yuzhu went to the Hostage's Residence, but Xifeng told her Yan Xuanjing was out with Fourth Young Master Ning, so she left without seeing him.
• A letter reached Chu Yuzhu at the Princess's Residence, accusing Yang Wenguang of coveting Yan and poisoning him.
• Chu Yuzhu ordered more men summoned and went with Zijuan to State Uncle Yang's Residence.

Chu Yuzhu stormed into State Uncle Yang’s residence and accused him of poisoning Yan Xuanjing after he set his sights on him. She ordered a search for Yang Wenguang’s male favorites, while he was prevented from leaving the hall and secretly trusted that his hidden chambers would keep them safe.

• State Uncle Yang ordered his guard to stop Yan Xuanjing and Ning Hui from sleeping with women at the Hundred Flowers House, then resumed his affair with a male favorite as Lady Li seethed outside.
• Chu Yuzhu arrived at the State Uncle’s Residence with guards, forced her way inside, and ordered them to smash its furnishings.
• Yang Wenguang reached the wrecked hall, where Chu Yuzhu slapped him and accused him of targeting and poisoning Yan Xuanjing.
• Chu Yuzhu confronted Yang Wenguang with a letter describing his conspiracy and ordered guards to search his residence for his male favorites.
• Yang Wenguang tried to leave the hall, but Chu Yuzhu had guards stop him; he reassured himself that the favorites were hidden in secret chambers.

Lady Li secretly tipped off the Third Princess's guards about Yang Wenguang's hidden male favorites, and they uncovered them in his bedroom. Chu Yuzhu confronted Yang Wenguang, who collapsed and began convulsing as she insulted him.

• Lady Li sent Cui'er to leave a note revealing where Yang Wenguang had hidden his male favorites.
• The Third Princess's guards used the note to find the secret chamber in Yang Wenguang's bedroom and fought past his guards.
• The guards brought more than a dozen youths to the main hall, and Yang Wenguang realized his secret had been exposed.
• Chu Yuzhu accused Yang Wenguang of secretly keeping male favorites and mocked him when he protested.
• Yang Wenguang turned red, collapsed to the floor, and began convulsing with foam at his mouth.

After Chu Yuzhu seized Yang Wenguang’s male favorites, she reported him to Emperor Mingqing, who summoned him to the palace. Yang Wenguang suspected Chu Yuzhu had accused him and set off to face the emperor, fearing the consequences.

• Yang Wenguang collapsed with an epileptic fit after Chu Yuzhu left his residence, and a physician treated him.
• Chu Yuzhu took Yang Wenguang’s male favorites to the Princess’s Residence and went to the palace to complain to Emperor Mingqing.
• Chu Yuzhu accused Yang Wenguang of abusing the young men and defying the emperor, prompting Emperor Mingqing to order his immediate summons.
• After recovering, Yang Wenguang learned Chu Yuzhu had taken his favorites and ordered his servants beaten when they could not identify who had revealed the secret chamber.
• Eunuch Zhang arrived with Emperor Mingqing’s summons, and Yang Wenguang went to the palace, worrying about the emperor’s anger.