Chapter Summaries

Jiang Shuyue rushed off after Huahua sensed juicy gossip, while the emperor interrogated Little Golden Phoenix about the Second Prince and Jin San. The emperor ordered Little Golden Phoenix to keep luring Jin San, intending to use the affair to demand compensation from the Jin Kingdom.

• Huahua sensed gossip southwest, and Jiang Shuyue hurried off in the wrong direction as Zhou Sesong tried to guide her.
• Zhou Luming asked Zhou Shiye whether he would explain the situation, but he said the others could tell their father what happened.
• Little Golden Phoenix was taken to the Marquis's Residence, then brought quietly to the Palace, where the emperor heard the story in the dungeon.
• The emperor struck Little Golden Phoenix and blamed him for seducing Jin San, while Little Golden Phoenix insisted he had only followed the Second Prince's orders.
• The emperor told Little Golden Phoenix to keep luring Jin San so he could demand an explanation and compensation from the Jin Kingdom.

Jiang Shuyue and the others ran to meet Lan Ruoyue, where they found her offering support to the proud examination candidate Jiang Sheng. Huahua revealed that Jiang Sheng had a childhood sweetheart who had come with him to the examination, leaving Jiang Shuyue wondering whether he would betray her.

• Jiang Shuyue pushed herself to run until Huahua told her to stop beside a stack of burlap sacks.
• Jiang Shuyue arrived at a courtyard and heard Jiang Sheng refuse Lan Ruoyue's financial support as an insult to his dignity.
• Zhang Kecai rebuked Jiang Sheng for rejecting Lan Ruoyue's kindness, then left with her.
• Huahua told Jiang Shuyue that Jiang Sheng was the new top scholar and had a childhood sweetheart who had come to the examination.

Jiang Sheng overheard Jiang Shuyue and Huahua discussing the truth about his childhood sweetheart, Li Xiaoya, and learned she planned to seduce his brother-in-law. He realized his eldest sister was in danger and resolved to prevent the events Huahua described.

• Jiang Sheng froze when he heard Jiang Shuyue and Huahua reveal that Li Xiaoya was his paternal half sister.
• Huahua explained that Li Xiaoya had become pregnant by Zhang San and had tried to pass the child off as Jiang Sheng’s, but Jiang Sheng had rejected her advances and told relatives what happened.
• Jiang Sheng decided to avoid Li Xiaoya and warn his family to prevent trouble.
• Huahua revealed that Li Xiaoya planned to seduce Jiang Sheng’s brother-in-law and, in the original events, became his concubine and drove Jiang Sheng’s gentle eldest sister to her death.

Jiang Shuyue and Lan Ruoyue exchanged barbed remarks at the gathering, while Jiang Sheng introduced himself to Jiang Shuyue. Lan Ruoyue mocked Jiang Shuyue about having no children with the Marquis, and Jiang Shuyue suggested Lan Ruoyue might be interested in her husband.

• Jiang Sheng rebuked Lan Ruoyue for making baseless assumptions, then greeted Jiang Shuyue and praised her reputation.
• Lan Ruoyue approached Jiang Shuyue, while her system urged her to win over Jiang Sheng because his fortune could help her.
• Lan Ruoyue mocked Jiang Shuyue about Lu Ye and suggested the Marquis had fathered a child outside the household.
• Huahua tried to attack Lan Ruoyue, but Jiang Shuyue held him back and told him to ignore her insults.
• Lan Ruoyue warned Jiang Shuyue that she might become a discarded wife, and Jiang Shuyue asked whether Lan Ruoyue had taken a fancy to her husband.

Jiang Shuyue exposed Lan Ruoyue’s hostility and forced her to apologize to Huahua, then arranged for him to urinate on Lan Ruoyue while she held him. Lan Ruoyue snapped and threatened to kill the child.

• Jiang Shuyue teased Lan Ruoyue about supposedly admiring Zhou Yunshen, and Zhou Shiye stepped in when Lan Ruoyue appeared ready to strike her.
• Lan Ruoyue insulted Huahua by calling him a bastard, so Jiang Shuyue demanded that she apologize to him.
• Lan Ruoyue apologized to Huahua and, to preserve her image, accepted him into her arms.
• Jiang Shuyue used a Green Tea Point to give Huahua enough liquid to wet Lan Ruoyue’s skirt.
• Lan Ruoyue screamed and threatened to kill Huahua.

Lan Ruoyue tried to throw Huahua, but Zhou Sesong kicked her away and Zhou Shiye caught the baby. Huahua exposed Zhang Tao’s sordid past, while Jiang Shuyue helped Jiang Sheng and other scholars seek lodging at her grandfather’s study residence, leaving Lan Ruoyue furious and humiliated.

• Lan Ruoyue lunged at Zhou Sesong after Huahua soiled her clothes, but Zhou Sesong kicked her and Zhou Shiye caught Huahua before he hit the ground.
• Zhou Luming and Yu Qing condemned Lan Ruoyue for endangering a baby, while Huahua revealed that Zhang Tao wore a fake beard and had deceived his family and several women.
• Huahua told Jiang Shuyue that Zhang Tao had bought Tongsheng status as a child, relied on wealthy women for money, and was hoping to pass the examination after failing twice.
• Jiang Sheng and the other candidates recoiled from Zhang Tao, then Jiang Sheng asked Jiang Shuyue to arrange lodging for them at her grandfather’s study residence.
• Jiang Shuyue agreed to look for vacant houses and said she would not tell her husband about the incident, while Zhou Sesong was to compensate Lan Ruoyue for her clothes.

Jiang Shuyue and the Zhou family confronted Lan Ruoyue after Zhou Shiye paid to compensate her for her clothes, and the dispute ended with the Second Prince arriving to stop her outburst. Huahua then revealed that the prince had a little gossip, comparing it to his unimpressive manhood.

• Zhou Shiye gave Lan Ruoyue his money pouch, but Jiang Shuyue took back most of the money and offered her a hundred-tael banknote in exchange for the clothes.
• Lan Ruoyue rejected the deal and insulted Jiang Shuyue, so Zhou Luming, Zhou Sesong, and Yu Qing slapped her until she lost a tooth.
• Zhou Luming reminded Lan Ruoyue that she still had to prove she was a Goddess before the deadline, while Jiang Shuyue told her to stop pursuing Zhou Yunshen.
• Lan Ruoyue cried out that the Zhou family was bullying her, and the Second Prince arrived and ordered her to get up.
• Lan Ruoyue asked the Second Prince to seek justice, while Huahua privately told Jiang Shuyue that his gossip was as small as what he had between his legs.

Jiang Shuyue confronted the Second Prince over Lan Ruoyue’s behavior and refused his offer of a residence for Jiang Sheng before an assassin attacked. After the attacker escaped, Jiang Shuyue decided to enter the palace and secure Zhou Luming’s marriage to the Shen Family Lad before the Second Prince could pursue her.

• Jiang Shuyue demanded that the Second Prince teach Lan Ruoyue basic manners and rejected his offer to house Jiang Sheng.
• Huahua warned Jiang Shuyue about an incoming arrow, and Zhou Sesong deflected more arrows before pursuing the assassin across the rooftops.
• Lan Ruoyue accused Jiang Shuyue of failing to check on the Second Prince, but Zhou Luming diverted his attention and he let Jiang Shuyue go.
• Zhou Sesong returned after the assassin escaped, while Huahua detected the smell of fermented mare’s milk on the attacker.
• Jiang Shuyue pretended to feel dizzy and left with Zhou Shiye, planning to enter the palace and arrange Zhou Luming’s marriage to the Shen Family Lad.

Jiang Shuyue clung to the emperor and used her fear after an attack to secure comfort and support for Zhou Luming's marriage. The emperor agreed to grant Zhou Luming's marriage to the person she loved and preside over the wedding after the Spring Imperial Examination.

• Jiang Shuyue rushed into the palace, clung to the emperor's leg, and complained that she had been cursed at and attacked by assassins.
• The emperor offered to replace the Imperial City guards, but Jiang Shuyue refused and sought something to soothe her fear.
• Jiang Shuyue said she wanted to live long enough to see Zhou Luming married, and Zhou Yunshen pulled her away before she could lie on the floor and demand more.
• Zhou Luming told the emperor that she and the person she loved intended to marry after her coming-of-age ceremony.
• The emperor promised to grant Zhou Luming's marriage to the Shen Family Lad and preside over their wedding after the Spring Imperial Examination.

Zhou Yunshen urged the emperor to arrange marriages for the Crown Prince and Second Prince, and Huahua warned Jiang Shuyue about a disastrous potential match with Ma Rufeng. Jiang Shuyue then proposed that the emperor arrange matches for the two boys in her household as well.

• Zhou Yunshen pressed the emperor to settle the princes’ marriages, suggesting the Crown Prince choose a bride at a gathering and the Second Prince receive a suitable list of candidates.
• The emperor agreed to let the Crown Prince choose someone he liked and said he would discuss the Second Prince’s candidates with the Empress.
• Huahua warned Jiang Shuyue that the Second Prince must not marry Ma Rufeng, describing how Ma Rufeng’s antics would burn half his face and drive him to torment others.
• Jiang Shuyue asked Huahua what the woman was called, then understood that she meant Ma Rufeng.
• Jiang Shuyue asked the emperor to arrange marriages for the two boys in her household too.

Jiang Shuyue urged the emperor to arrange a match between Zhou Sesong and Ma Rufeng, then learned Zhou Shiye had quietly begun courting a woman. Zhou Shiye agreed to introduce her to his mother when the time was right, leaving Jiang Shuyue eager to prepare another set of betrothal gifts.

• Jiang Shuyue proposed that Zhou Sesong marry Ma Rufeng, the Valiant Cavalry Camp commander's daughter, and the emperor reacted with surprise.
• Zhou Sesong protested that he had never met Ma Rufeng, while Zhou Luming sympathized with him.
• Zhou Shiye said he already loved someone and asked for time to let their relationship develop gradually.
• Huahua revealed that Zhou Shiye's love interest had nearly disguised herself as a man to take the Military Selection examination.
• Zhou Yunshen told Zhou Shiye to continue spending time with her and bring her to meet Jiang Shuyue when things went well.
• Zhou Shiye blushed as Jiang Shuyue celebrated and thought about preparing betrothal gifts.

Jiang Shuyue secured the emperor’s promise to give generous wedding gifts to her children, while Huahua struggled with his embarrassment over his loose diaper. The emperor became fascinated by Huahua’s transformation into a human and ended the chapter teasing him about his body.

• Jiang Shuyue asked the emperor to provide wedding gifts for her children, and he promised to send gifts for their imperial marriage decrees and weddings.
• Zhou Yunshen praised Jiang Shuyue for saving the family money, while Huahua complained internally about their flattery.
• Huahua realized that becoming human had made emotions arise within him on their own, and he felt mortified when part of his diaper slipped out.
• The emperor picked up Huahua and pulled away the dangling diaper, then teased him after discovering he was a boy.

Jiang Shuyue was sent to see the Empress but realized the palace maid leading her was taking her somewhere suspicious. Huahua confirmed that Consort Shu had arranged to drug and disgrace her, leaving Jiang Shuyue aware of the scheme before it could unfold.

• The emperor welcomed Zhou Luye into Jiang Shuyue's household and offered him the title of young duke and a place as the Sixth Prince's study companion.
• Jiang Shuyue left Huahua with Big Flower and followed a palace maid toward the Empress's quarters.
• Jiang Shuyue noticed the maid's hair ornament had six petals instead of the seven worn by the Empress's attendants and suspected a trap.
• Huahua revealed that Consort Shu planned to drug Jiang Shuyue and arrange for her to be caught with another man.
• Huahua explained that Consort Shu had sold her own dudou to obtain the forbidden drugs.

Jiang Shuyue watched Jin San arrive with his fortune to meet his supposed darling, while Cao Ying'er and Zhou Shiye observed from a nearby campsite. Jin San mistook a bearded man for his lover, molested him, and was surrounded by the man’s burly family as they demanded compensation.

• Jiang Shuyue knocked out a palace maid who had tried to take advantage of her, and the incident cost Consort Shu her rank and the Fourth Prince’s care.
• Zhou Sesong fought the Ma family girl sent to be her bride, and the girl became devoted to her afterward.
• Jiang Shuyue invited Cao Ying'er and Zhou Shiye to watch Jin San, who arrived carrying his wealth and calling for his darling.
• Jin San grabbed and kissed a slender figure without checking his face, then recoiled when the bearded man turned around.
• The bearded man accused Jin San of molesting and insulting him, and his husband and several burly men surrounded Jin San to demand compensation.

Jiang Shuyue and Cao Ying'er watched a group capture Jin San after he claimed to be the Third Prince of Jin, then followed them to the capital prefectural office. There, Prince Huai confronted the Jin envoys over Jin San’s staged death, leaving them to answer for the apparent plot against Great Zhou.

• Jin San claimed to be a prince, but the crowd doubted him because he had no identification token and restrained him after he attacked them.
• The group bound Jin San, gagged him with a foot-binding cloth, and hauled him toward the city while beating drums and gongs.
• Jiang Shuyue explained to Cao Ying'er that the Jin Kingdom would likely pay to avoid publicizing the scandal, then accepted tea and urged everyone to see what happened next.
• At the capital prefectural office, Jin San cursed Prince Huai and ordered Erhu to kill the others, but Erhu did not move.
• Prince Huai challenged the Jin envoys to explain why they had claimed Jin San was dead and staged a performance that maligned Great Zhou.

Prince Huai exposed Jin San’s fake death and threatened him with the consequences of provoking war between the kingdoms. The second-in-command used the Disguise Technique to appear as a woman Jin San had supposedly molested, leaving Jin San unable to defend himself.

• Prince Huai accused Jin San of faking his death to extort Great Zhou and threatened to detain the Jin Kingdom’s envoys.
• Jin San raged at Prince Huai and threatened that the Jin Kingdom’s cavalry would trample Great Zhou.
• Prince Huai revealed that Great Zhou’s army had reached Shaogu Pass and that a report of Jin San’s plot was on its way to his father.
• The second-in-command sobbed that Jin San had molested her, then revealed a transformed face that stunned Jin San, Jiang Shuyue, and Cao Ying'er.
• Jin San insisted the woman had been ugly and bearded before, but the prefect dismissed his claim as nonsense.

Prince Huai defended the couple who had reported Jin San and exposed a Jin Kingdom envoy as a eunuch. Huahua revealed that the envoy had betrayed someone for career advancement, leaving Jiang Shuyue convinced he deserved the ridicule.

• A Jin envoy drew his saber against the couple, but Prince Huai's men confronted the delegation and Prince Huai defended the couple as heroes of Great Zhou.
• Huahua identified a Jin envoy by his loose beard as a eunuch, and Prince Huai accused the Jin Kingdom of sending him to humiliate Great Zhou.
• The envoy denied being a eunuch, but someone pulled off his beard and the crowd mocked him.
• Jiang Shuyue felt sorry for the envoy until Huahua revealed that he had betrayed someone for his career and taken several concubines.
• Jiang Shuyue decided the envoy was a scumbag who deserved what happened to him.

Jiang Shuyue watched Jin San and the Jin Kingdom’s men brawl with Prince Huai’s guards, while Huahua revealed that Demon Domain Mountain held a vast gold deposit. When the Left Guard Envoy attacked Jiang Shuyue, Big Flower knocked him out with a brutal butt strike, and Prince Huai rebuffed the Jin envoy’s demand for an explanation.

• Jin San accused Prince Huai of framing him and charged, sparking a chaotic fight between the Jin Kingdom’s men and Prince Huai’s guards.
• Huahua told Jiang Shuyue that Demon Domain Mountain contained a huge gold deposit, and Prince Huai realized he could use the discovery to enrich the kingdom.
• Jiang Shuyue and Huahua mocked the Left Guard Envoy as he lay beaten, prompting him to draw his saber and attack Jiang Shuyue.
• Big Flower struck the Left Guard Envoy, knocked him unconscious with a rear-end slam, and spat out what it had bitten off.
• The old Jin envoy demanded an explanation from Prince Huai, who mocked the Left Guard Envoy for attacking a woman and failing to handle a tiger cub.

Jiang Shuyue mocked the Jin Kingdom’s envoys, then used their angry response to set Prince Huai and the officials against them. She proposed humiliating the Jin Kingdom through stories, songs, and novels, and Prince Huai agreed to send the emperor a collector’s edition.

• Jiang Shuyue insulted the Jin Kingdom’s envoys and hid behind Prince Huai when they shouted at her.
• Jiang Shuyue pretended to be wronged, prompting Prince Huai and the officials to threaten and condemn the envoys.
• Jiang Shuyue privately argued that public humiliation would be more effective than beating or killing the envoys.
• Jiang Shuyue suggested spreading satirical stories, songs, and novels about the Jin Kingdom and giving copies to departing envoys.
• Prince Huai proposed making a collector’s edition for the Jin Kingdom’s emperor.

Zhou Yunshen and the emperor discussed the negotiations with the Jin Kingdom before the emperor ordered Prince Huai to stop playing around and handle the case. Prince Huai ordered the Jin envoys detained and the men who attacked Jiang Shuyue punished, while she pretended to fall ill to reinforce his actions.

• Huahua and Jiang Shuyue joked about Zhou Yunshen's viciousness, which he overheard and questioned.
• Zhou Yunshen urged the emperor to resolve the case before the negotiations became more confused.
• The emperor ordered Prince Huai to stop playing around and threatened to deduct any lost compensation from his stipend.
• Prince Huai ordered Third Prince Jin detained and commanded that the men who attacked Jiang Shuyue have their legs broken.
• Jiang Shuyue pretended to feel ill, and Prince Huai called for an Imperial Physician and the Imperial Preceptor.
• After one Jin envoy accused them of acting, bailiffs stuffed a shoehorn into his mouth, broke his leg, and carried him away.