Chapter Summaries

Xu Cheng and Huo Xu found an injured Lin Wenxun, who revealed that people were pursuing him to steal medicine he had found for Xu Cheng. Huo Xu arranged for help, and the three fled the abandoned factory, but two cars began chasing them.

• Xu Cheng called Huo Xu after Lin Wenxun sounded weak, and they drove to the address he gave her.
• Xu Cheng treated Lin Wenxun's injuries after he warned that his attackers were nearby and forbade her from calling the police.
• Lin Wenxun explained that he had found the medicine Xu Cheng needed, hidden it while being tracked, and feared a police investigation would expose it.
• Huo Xu studied a map and arranged for his people to meet them, then the three got into a car to escape.
• Two cars pursued them as soon as they drove out of the factory grounds.

At the Empress Dowager’s birthday banquet, Hua Rongyue was sentenced to serve in the army, and Madam Bai implicated herself by proposing to silence her. The Empress Dowager left after affirming Zhou Yunshen’s choice of wife, while Jiang Shuyue and Huahua revealed the Second Prince’s depravity and his past interest in the Fourth Prince.

• The Empress Dowager spared Hua Rongyue’s life but ordered her sent to serve in the army, and Hua begged Lan Ruoyue to save her.
• Madam Bai slapped Hua Rongyue and offered to make sure she could never disturb the Empress Dowager again, causing Bai Zong to realize his wife had exposed their involvement in silencing a witness.
• The Empress Dowager declared that she would not interfere with Zhou Yunshen’s choice of wife, then left with Prince Huai and ordered Consort Shu back to her palace.
• The Second Prince left the banquet early, and Jiang Shuyue and Huahua revealed that his dissipated life and grooming of young girls had been enabled by the Fourth Prince.
• Huahua disclosed that the Second Prince had once tried to groom the Fourth Prince, shocking everyone at the banquet.

After the banquet, Jiang An tried to justify his actions against Jiang Shuyue to his wife and Jiang Wujie, but they condemned him for betraying his daughter. The chapter ended with Jiang An realizing that failing to earn Jiang Shuyue’s forgiveness could endanger the Jiang Family.

• The Fourth Prince wondered whether the day’s strange events had exposed him, while other banquet guests returned home delighted by the spectacle.
• Jiang An tried to explain to Jiang Mother that he had acted to protect the Jiang Family, but she accused him of abandoning and slandering Jiang Shuyue.
• Jiang Mother claimed Jiang Shuyue had a distinctive birthmark and ordered Jiang An to apologize at the Marquisate of Southern Pacification the next day.
• Jiang Mother warned Jiang An to end the rumors about Jiang Shuyue and stormed out after telling him not to mistake her restraint for permission to keep hurting their daughter.
• Jiang Wujie told Jiang An that selling out his children would not protect the family and that the Empress Dowager’s favor toward Jiang Shuyue made her forgiveness crucial.

After Bai Furong and Bai Yulan’s attempt to frame Jiang Shuyue failed, Bai Zong warned his family that Consort Shu had used them and ordered the women confined. In the inner palace, Consort Shu raged at the Fourth Prince for failing to help her, leaving her plans and standing uncertain.

• Jiang An realized he had misjudged how much others trusted Jiang Shuyue, while Jiang Wujie left the room.
• Bai Zong beat Bai Furong and blamed her and Bai Yulan for helping Consort Shu frame Jiang Shuyue.
• Bai Zong explained that Consort Shu had manipulated Bai Furong with false promises and warned that the Bai women could be blamed if the scheme was investigated.
• Bai Zong ordered new maids and guards to confine Bai Furong and Bai Yulan, while Bai Rou stayed silent.
• Consort Shu learned the Fourth Prince had gone to deliver a recipe to the Crown Prince and cursed him as useless.

Consort Shu tried to cover up her role in the deaths of Hua Rongyue and a guard, while the Empress Dowager reconciled with her sons and arranged to send a eunuch away from her palace. The next day, Jiang Shuyue learned that Liu Cheng had been sent to the frontier to chop wood after a prison-cell insect swarm was declared heavenly punishment.

• Consort Shu ordered Jin San to dispose of Hua Rongyue and learned that a guard had already been dealt with, while she chose to leave Madam Bai alive as a scapegoat.
• The Empress Dowager thanked Shuyue for helping her reconcile with the emperor and Prince Huai, and the emperor promised to reward Shuyue with a gold birdcage.
• Prince Huai used the Empress Dowager’s message to return Consort Shu’s bowl of bird’s nest porridge to her as a remedy for internal heat.
• The Empress Dowager and emperor reassigned Xiao Dezi to the Horse Ranch and planned for Consort Shu to visit the Empress Dowager more often.
• Jiang Shuyue woke around lunchtime and learned from Huahua that bugs had appeared in Hua Rongyue’s prison cell and Liu Cheng had been sent to the frontier to chop wood.

Jiang Shuyue learned about Consort Shu’s punishment and received a parrot from the Empress Dowager, but the bird mocked her appearance until Zhou Yunshen arrived. The chapter ended with Jiang Shuyue clinging to him and complaining that the big bird had called her ugly.

• Huahua told Jiang Shuyue that Consort Shu had been punished with copying Lessons for Women, hairdressing practice, and meatless meals.
• Jiang Shuyue learned that her Green Tea Points had reached 750% and received a white parrot from the Empress Dowager.
• The parrot taunted Jiang Shuyue and Huahua, prompting Ironhead and Huahua to swipe at it through its cage.
• Zhou Yunshen arrived, and Jiang Shuyue hugged him and complained that the big bird had called her ugly.

Zhou Yunshen and Jiang Shuyue tamed the Iron-Beaked Parrot by threatening to roast it and putting it to work shelling sunflower seeds and peeling an apple. Jiang Shuyue decided to keep it and named it Little Lao Liu, while Huahua revealed that it had secretly cursed nearly everyone in the palace, including the emperor.

• Zhou Yunshen comforted Jiang Shuyue after the parrot insulted her, then threatened to release it or roast it until it obeyed.
• The parrot opened its gold cage on command, displayed its crest, and let Jiang Shuyue pat it under Zhou Yunshen's supervision.
• The parrot shelled sunflower seeds and peeled an apple for the family, winning Jiang Shuyue's approval.
• Jiang Shuyue named the parrot Little Lao Liu, and Zhou Luming warned it to obey or be roasted.
• Huahua explained that the parrot had learned poetry from a scholar and had secretly cursed everyone in the palace except the Empress Dowager and Prince Huai, even the emperor.

Jiang Shuyue learned that Jiang An had swapped her away because he feared she would drain his fortune, and that he was a corrupt murderer. When Jiang An knelt outside the Marquis's Residence demanding her forgiveness, Jiang Shuyue eagerly went to confront him and claim Green Tea Points.

• Huahua revealed that Jiang An had swapped Jiang Shuyue with another child after trusting a fortune-teller's predictions about his luck and her supposed threat to it.
• Huahua explained that Jiang An had committed numerous crimes, including arranging deaths and exploiting his influence.
• The steward reported that Jiang An had knelt outside the Marquis's Residence and vowed not to rise until Jiang Shuyue forgave him.
• Zhou Luming offered to drive Jiang An away, but Jiang Shuyue insisted that she wanted to face him herself.
• Zhou Yunshen left the matter to Jiang Shuyue, who happily headed for the gate to confront Jiang An.

Jiang Shuyue turned Jiang An’s public attempt to shame her into a counterattack, exposing his earlier denial of her parentage and the false adultery accusation before the gathered commoners. She left Jiang An rattled and worried that her husband’s investigation would uncover more evidence against him.

• Jiang An knelt outside the Marquisate of Southern Pacification and let the commoners believe his daughter had forced him to beg for forgiveness.
• Jiang Shuyue rushed outside, knelt before Jiang An, and publicly recalled that he had accused her of not being his biological daughter after she was falsely accused of adultery.
• Jiang Shuyue told the crowd she understood Jiang An’s actions but asked him to stand by her in the future, turning the spectators against him.
• Jiang An tried to cast doubt on Jiang Shuyue’s parentage, but she said Zhou Yunshen had ordered an investigation and would support her regardless of the result.
• Jiang Shuyue pulled Jiang An to his feet and assured him she would not complain to the Empress Dowager, leaving him unsure how to respond.

Jiang Shuyue countered Jiang An’s veiled attacks by turning his words back on him and revealing that Jiang Liuli had escaped. Zhou Yunshen then confronted Jiang An at the Marquisate of Southern Pacification.

• Jiang An told Jiang Shuyue that the Jiang Family would support her, while implying that she might be an illegitimate daughter unwelcome at her husband’s home.
• Jiang Shuyue acted forgiving, challenged Jiang An to trust her, and suggested that any mistake in bringing her back was his responsibility.
• Jiang Shuyue asked whether Jiang An had seen Jiang Liuli, then explained that Liuli had escaped after being confined and watched.
• Jiang An tried to embarrass Jiang Shuyue by praising her supposed influence over her parents, but she said she only wanted to live peacefully.
• Zhou Yunshen arrived and criticized Jiang An for making a public scene at the Marquisate of Southern Pacification.

Jiang An fled after Zhou Yunshen rebuked him, reigniting rumors about his treatment of Jiang Shuyue and angering the emperor. The emperor appointed Jiang An to oversee the Spring Imperial Examination, giving the Crown Prince a chance to expose his wrongdoing, while Jiang Shuyue set out to celebrate her father’s new post.

• Zhou Yunshen questioned Jiang An’s motives for visiting Jiang Shuyue, and Jiang An hurriedly left the Marquisate of Southern Pacification.
• Onlookers spread rumors that Jiang An had abandoned Jiang Shuyue and offended the Empress Dowager, and word reached the emperor.
• The Crown Prince proposed appointing Jiang An to oversee the Spring Imperial Examination so he could be held responsible for any misconduct, and the emperor agreed.
• The emperor ordered the Crown Prince to assist Jiang An and investigate the examination without compromising the selection of talented candidates.
• The Second Prince arranged to place his own people in the examination, while the Fourth Prince continued to feign illness.
• After learning Jiang An would oversee the examination, Jiang Shuyue collected a basket of things and went out to celebrate for him.

Jiang Shuyue returned to the Jiang Family residence and, through Huahua's gossip, learned that Steward Chen had divorced a serial poisoner who had tried to enlist him in a plot against her mother. The chapter left Steward Chen shaken by how close he had come to dying from the rare black-stone necklace his ex-wife gave him.

• Jiang Shuyue arrived at the Jiang Family residence, where Steward Chen welcomed her and told her about the dinner plans.
• Huahua revealed that Steward Chen's ex-wife had poisoned four husbands before him and had urged him to drug Jiang Shuyue's mother.
• Steward Chen had refused to help, gathered evidence, and divorced his wife after catching her in an affair.
• Huahua revealed that the ex-wife's black-stone necklace had exposed Steward Chen to dangerous radiation, but he had taken it off and stored it away.
• Jiang Shuyue comforted Steward Chen and encouraged him to find a better wife, while he pretended not to understand her comments.

Jiang Shuyue went to meet Old Madam Jiang’s younger sister despite Steward Chen’s warning and found her demanding gifts for a granddaughter. She deflected the request with a sharp reply, leaving Old Madam Jiang irritated.

• Huahua recounted how Steward Chen had lost weight by drinking huge amounts of congee, and Jiang Shuyue decided to write him a muscle-building meal plan.
• Steward Chen warned Jiang Shuyue that Old Madam Jiang’s visiting sister was difficult, but Jiang Shuyue insisted on going to meet her.
• Jiang Shuyue entered and saw Old Madam Jiang and her sister holding hands affectionately.
• Great-aunt Jiang praised Jiang Shuyue’s finery and asked her to give jewelry to a younger cousin who was soon to marry.
• Jiang Shuyue pointed out that her maternal aunts had only sons, then pretended Old Madam Jiang had frightened her by snapping at her.

Jiang Shuyue exposed Aunt Zhuang’s hypocrisy while Huahua revealed that Aunt Zhuang’s family planned to cheat the imperial examination with Jiang An’s help. Jiang Shuyue and Jiang Mother considered how to protect their family and bring Jiang An down, and Jiang Shuyue ended the visit by presenting Aunt Zhuang’s gifts alongside a basket of funeral offerings.

• Jiang Shuyue deflected the old madam’s request to let Aunt Zhuang’s family stay and reminded them that her mother’s money supported the Jiang Family.
• Jiang Shuyue confronted Aunt Zhuang about mistreating her mother-in-law, and Jiang Mother warned Aunt Zhuang to respect Jiang Shuyue’s noble title.
• Huahua revealed Aunt Zhuang’s son and husband had abused their former wives and were secretly expecting children with mistresses while planning to seek an official post.
• Huahua revealed Jiang An was considering helping Aunt Zhuang’s son cheat in the Spring Imperial Examination, prompting Jiang Mother and Jiang Shuyue to worry about the consequences and consider exposing him.
• Jiang Shuyue agreed with Aunt Zhuang’s advice about pleasing husbands while privately mocking her, then showed off Aunt Zhuang’s gifts beside her own funeral offerings.

Jiang Shuyue and Jiang Mother confronted the old madam and Auntie Zhuang after they condemned Jiang Shuyue for bringing offerings to her parents’ home. The argument ended with Jiang Shuyue offering to show them Erhua, the tiger she kept at home.

• The old madam called for family punishment, but Jiang Mother smashed a teacup and defended Jiang Shuyue, warning that the Marquis of Zhennan and her own family would protect her.
• Jiang Shuyue claimed that the emperor called her husband Second Brother, leaving Auntie Zhuang stunned.
• Jiang Shuyue explained that she had brought candles and a wish book to help her father’s luck, and Jiang Mother backed up her explanation while rebuking the guests.
• Jiang Mother privately hoped the old madam would complain to Jiang An and give her an excuse to confront him.
• After Auntie Zhuang threatened to feed Jiang Mother to Erhua, Jiang Shuyue revealed that Erhua was the household’s growing tiger and invited the women to see it.

Jiang Shuyue and Jiang Mother put the Old Madam and Auntie Zhuang in their place, then Jiang Shuyue learned more about her eldest brother's fearsome bargaining habits. At the pavilion, she discovered that someone had bitten one of her peach blossom pastries.

• Jiang Shuyue revealed that her family kept a tiger, then hid behind Jiang Mother as the Old Madam became angry.
• Jiang Mother defended Jiang Shuyue and mocked the Old Madam while pretending to excuse her behavior.
• Jiang Shuyue recognized Auntie Zhuang's supposed hometown gifts as goods from Minghui Hall and teased her for being stingy.
• Steward Chen told Jiang Shuyue that her eldest brother was helping the Second Young Master prepare for his new home and had arranged insect-repelling incense for her.
• Huahua described Jiang Shuyue's eldest brother as a relentless bargainer, and Steward Chen silently agreed.
• Jiang Shuyue found bite marks on a peach blossom pastry and realized someone had already taken a bite.

Jiang Shuyue confronted Wang Daming and Chen Wang after they stole her pastries and demanded money, then ordered the household guards to punish them for their bullying and insults. When Wang Daming threatened her children, Jiang Shuyue struck him and took the whip herself, determined to teach him a lesson without killing him.

• Jiang Shuyue discovered Wang Daming and Chen Wang had bitten her pastries and demanded money from her.
• Huahua revealed that the boys were notorious bullies, and Jiang Shuyue sent Little Lao Liu flying when they claimed he belonged to them.
• Wang Daming and Chen Wang insulted Jiang Shuyue and boasted that her husband would abandon her for women their aunt introduced.
• Jiang Shuyue ordered Steward Chen and the household guards to seize the boys and give them twenty slaps while making them repay her for the pastries.
• Wang Daming threatened Jiang Shuyue's children, so she struck him with her shoe, stuffed dirt into his mouth, and took the whip to punish him herself.

Jiang Shuyue whipped Chen Wang and Wang Dafa after they insulted her family, using medicated tea to revive them and continue the beating. Li Xinru arrived to save her son, but Huahua exposed her brothel past, and Old Madam Zhuang then rushed in to defend her grandsons.

• Jiang Shuyue whipped Chen Wang and Wang Dafa, while Steward Chen gave them medicated tea to revive them after Huahua warned they were near death.
• Chen Wang threatened Jiang Shuyue with his father’s power, but Huahua revealed that Chen Ruo had gained his post through a concubine’s favor and lacked courage as a soldier.
• Jiang Shuyue slapped Chen Wang and resumed whipping the boys as Steward Chen kept tea ready.
• Li Xinru rushed in to save her son, but Jiang Shuyue dodged her and Huahua revealed that Li Xinru had sold herself to a brothel as a child and betrayed girls who tried to escape.
• Wang Daming insulted Jiang Shuyue, and Old Madam Zhuang stormed in, threatening to skin her for touching her grandsons.

Jiang Shuyue and Jiang Mother faced the Zhuang and Chen relatives after Chen Wang threatened Jiang Shuyue, while Huahua revealed the tangled family relationships behind them. The relatives demanded that Jiang Shuyue kneel and apologize, but she challenged Wang Peng’s claim that she was an outsider.

• Auntie Zhuang fell on Li Xinru, and Steward Chen’s guards repeatedly fumbled while trying to help them up, earning Jiang Shuyue ten green tea points.
• Wang Peng, Chen Yongwang, and Chen Mo arrived, and Huahua revealed that Wang Peng and Chen Yongwang were actually half brothers.
• After Chen Wang demanded that Jiang Shuyue be skinned and abused, Jiang Mother slapped him and ordered the Chen family to leave the Jiang Family.
• Chen Mo and Auntie Zhuang threatened Jiang Shuyue with punishment for disrespecting elders, while Wang Peng called her an outsider and demanded an apology.
• Jiang Shuyue asked Wang Peng who the outsider was and challenged him to name his own surname.

Jiang Shuyue and Jiang Mother confronted Wang Peng, Chen Yongwang, and their relatives after they insulted and threatened Jiang Shuyue’s children. Zhou Yunshen arrived, defended his wife, and ordered Concubine Zhuang taken to the emperor after she threatened to file an Imperial Complaint.

• Jiang Mother’s household guards protected Jiang Shuyue as she recounted the insults and threats made by Wang Peng and Chen Yongwang.
• Jiang Mother ordered the visitors expelled from the estate, and Zhou Yunshen arrived and comforted Jiang Shuyue.
• Zhou Yunshen demanded to know who had called his wife a little bitch, then struck Li Xinru and knocked her into Old Madam Zhuang.
• Concubine Zhuang threatened to file an Imperial Complaint, so Zhou Yunshen ordered his Shadow Guards to take her before the emperor.