Chapter Summaries

Xia Wanwan confronted Hezhou’s townspeople over abandoning baby girls, but realized their beliefs were rooted in women’s lack of security and status. Zhong Youyan arrived and offered to help her blow up the Abandoned Infant Pagoda, leaving Xia Wanwan wondering how Zhong knew she was the Capital’s Bombing Criminal.

• Jing Wu sent Steward Qiao to fetch help while Xia Wanwan sat with the townspeople still kneeling and roasted fish with Yuanbao.
• Xia Wanwan challenged the townspeople for abandoning girls, and a woman explained the pressure women faced to bear sons and depend on their families.
• Xia Wanwan let the townspeople rise and concluded that she needed to change their hearts to save the baby girls.
• Zhong Youyan arrived, picked up Xia Wanwan, and said she had been waiting to blow up the Abandoned Infant Pagoda with her.
• Xia Wanwan asked Zhong Youyan how she knew she was the Capital’s Bombing Criminal.

Xia Wanwan arrived in Hezhou and demanded men and explosives to destroy the Abandoned Infant Pagoda, but local opposition and the Qiao family’s hostility complicated her plans. As she went to the Qiao Residence, her parents watched from a teahouse and decided to follow and protect her.

• Zhong Youyan explained that Qiao Zhishu was her brother-in-law, and Xia Wanwan let him and the others rise.
• Xia Wanwan refused Qiao Zhishu’s offer of a welcoming feast and demanded men and explosives so she could go to the mountain and destroy the pagoda.
• Zhong Youyan persuaded Xia Wanwan to visit the Qiao Residence by tempting her with Hezhou’s pig’s trotters, while the commoners cursed them for threatening the pagoda.
• The commoners confronted Steward Qiao, who promised that Xia Wanwan would be driven out of Hezhou and revealed his hostility toward her.
• Xia Siheng and Liu Wan watched from a teahouse, worried about the people of Hezhou and Steward Qiao’s intentions toward Wanwan.
• Xia Siheng agreed to follow Liu Wan and teach Steward Qiao a lesson.

Steward Qiao and Qiao Tianci plotted to drug Xia Wanwan and force her into marriage, but Xia Siheng and Liu Wan stopped them and planned a response. At the Qiao Residence, Xia Wanwan noticed something unusual about Zhong Youling’s pregnancy.

• Qiao Tianci asked Steward Qiao how he could become a prince and take revenge on Xia Wanwan, and Steward Qiao promised to make her his child bride.
• Steward Qiao revealed his plan to drug Xia Wanwan and her attendants, but Xia Siheng knocked him and Qiao Tianci unconscious.
• Liu Wan persuaded Xia Siheng not to kill the pair and whispered a plan to him.
• The Qiao family welcomed Xia Wanwan, and Qiao Zhishu tried to send his eight-months-pregnant wife, Zhong Youling, back to rest.
• Xia Wanwan studied Zhong Youling’s belly and counted on her fingers, appearing to notice something strange.

Xia Wanwan visited the Qiao Residence to address the Abandoned Infant Pagoda and offered to bless Zhong Youling's unborn baby. The Qiao elders privately revealed their plan to let the baby die at birth and blame the Princess.

• Master Qiao and Old Madam Qiao pressured pregnant Zhong Youling to stand and entertain Xia Wanwan, while Qiao Zhishu tried to defend his wife.
• Xia Wanwan recognized the Qiao elders' hostility and disguised her near-outburst as a question about blowing up the Abandoned Infant Pagoda.
• Qiao Zhishu explained that the Imperial Court planned to destroy the pagoda and introduce a law protecting baby girls, citing His Majesty's orders.
• Xia Wanwan offered to bless Zhong Youling's baby, and Qiao Zhishu escorted her toward his wife's room while Yuanbao followed them.
• After the others left, the Qiao elders revealed that they expected the baby to die at birth and intended to blame Xia Wanwan.

Xia Wanwan questioned why the Qiao elders seemed indifferent to Zhong Youling’s pregnancy, and Zhong Youyan revealed how the Qiao family had mistreated her sister after she eloped with Qiao Zhishu. Hidden nearby, Qiao Zhishu heard the story and remembered how he had refused his parents’ demand that he marry an official’s daughter.

• Old Master Qiao assured Madam Qiao that the proposed law had not passed and said they could stall Princess Ximing by manipulating her.
• Xia Wanwan asked Zhong Youyan why the Qiao elders seemed unhappy about her blessing Zhong Youling’s baby.
• Zhong Youyan explained that the Qiao family had prospered after donating to the Abandoned Infant Pagoda, then mistreated Zhong Youling after she was disowned by her family.
• Zhong Youyan recounted how Zhong Youling supported Qiao Zhishu through his studies and endured poverty and cruelty from the Qiao family.
• Qiao Zhishu listened from the doorway, realized how much his wife had suffered, and recalled refusing his parents’ plan for him to marry an official’s daughter.

After learning how much Ling'er had sacrificed for him, Qiao Zhishu vowed to leave his parents’ home with his wife and child. Xia Wanwan then revealed that the unborn child had been poisoned and warned Qiao Zhishu that saving his family would expose the truth about his birth.

• Qiao Zhishu overheard Zhong Youyan explain Ling'er's sacrifices, broke down in tears, and vowed to protect her and move out after the birth.
• Yuanbao clarified that he was a man, and Xia Wanwan explained that she had deliberately let Qiao Zhishu hear the conversation so he would understand his wife's devotion.
• Xia Wanwan suspected that someone had destroyed the lily of the valley to prevent Ling'er from conceiving and revealed that the unborn child had been poisoned.
• Zhong Youyan grew furious and wanted to attack the Qiao elders, but Yuanbao stopped her and urged her to uncover their motives first.
• Qiao Zhishu fell to his knees and begged Xia Wanwan to save Ling'er, and she warned that doing so would reveal the truth about his birth.

Xia Wanwan blessed Zhong Youling and calmed the poisoned baby in her womb, while Qiao Zhishu agreed to investigate whether his parents had harmed his wife. The chapter ended with Xia Wanwan heading to dinner and sending Yuanbao to deal with Jing Wu and Gu Ming before their fight turned deadly.

• Xia Wanwan questioned Qiao Zhishu about his origins, and he promised to cooperate with the investigation and stand by Zhong Youling.
• Zhong Youling arrived, and Xia Wanwan claimed Qiao Zhishu and Zhong Youyan had cried because they were moved by her blessing.
• Xia Wanwan used spiritual power to calm Zhong Youling's restless baby and told him to behave until birth.
• Jingjing reported that the Qiao family had prepared a meal for Xia Wanwan, who eagerly agreed to go eat.
• Xia Wanwan and Yuanbao warned that Jing Wu and Gu Ming would fight, so Yuanbao left with Qiao Zhishu to find them.
• Xia Wanwan took Zhong Youling toward the Front Hall and hoped to destroy the Abandoned Infant Pagoda before the baby was born.

Steward Qiao and Qiao Tianci were beaten repeatedly by people protecting Xia Wanwan after they harbored intentions toward her. They were finally carried back to the Qiao Residence badly injured, leaving Madam Qiao devastated.

• A servant found Steward Qiao and Qiao Tianci bruised and swollen, and Qiao Tianci mistook his father's battered face for a pig demon when he woke.
• Xia Siheng and Liu Wan watched from nearby as Liu Zimu, Liu Zi Xing, and Qing Da ambushed Steward Qiao and his son and beat them with clubs.
• The Empress Dowager, Consort Ling, and Xia Qianhui intercepted the battered pair and gave them another beating, leaving Steward Qiao with a broken arm and legs he could not use.
• A servant and people from the medical clinic carried Steward Qiao and Qiao Tianci back to the Qiao Residence, where Madam Qiao wept at their injuries.

Old Master Qiao planned to poison Zhong Youling and use her death to bind Princess Ximing and Qiao Tianci to the Qiao family, while Qiao Zhishu and Yuanbao discovered his scheme. Yuanbao set out to investigate the poisoned flowers and soil as Qiao Zhishu worried about his wife and unborn child.

• Old Master Qiao decided to blame Princess Ximing for Zhong Youling's death in childbirth, make her a child bride to Qiao Tianci, and secure Qiao Tianci's place as Imperial Son-in-Law.
• Old Master Qiao sent a trusted servant to seek Duke Yan's protection and slipped medicine from Steward Qiao's porcelain bottle into the hot-and-sour pig's trotters.
• Qiao Zhishu and Yuanbao secretly witnessed Old Master Qiao's plans, and Qiao Zhishu struggled to believe his parents would poison Princess Ximing.
• Qiao Zhishu urged Yuanbao to stop Princess Ximing from eating the dish, but Yuanbao said she could eat it and proposed searching for evidence in the flowerpot and soil.
• Qiao Zhishu told Yuanbao that the flowers had been destroyed but the pot and soil remained, and they went to investigate.

At the Qiao family banquet, Xia Wanwan used a tantrum to force the elders to recognize Zhong Youling as mistress of the household and give her the Matriarch's Jade Pendant. After the Qiao family coaxed Xia Wanwan back to the table, Old Master Qiao served her a hot-and-sour pig's trotter, which she ate despite suspecting it was drugged.

• Xia Wanwan objected that Zhong Youling was seated far from the seat of honor, and Zhong Youyan revealed that the Qiao family had denied her sister a proper place at the table.
• Xia Wanwan rejected Madam Qiao's attempt to sit beside her and cried that the Qiao family was humiliating her.
• Zhong Youyan demanded an explanation and helped Zhong Youling take the seat beside Xia Wanwan.
• Xia Wanwan insisted that the true mistress of the household needed the Matriarch's Jade Pendant, so Old Master Qiao ordered Madam Qiao to produce it.
• Zhong Youyan took the pendant and gave it to Zhong Youling, while Old Master Qiao persuaded Xia Wanwan to stop crying.
• Old Master Qiao served Xia Wanwan a hot-and-sour pig's trotter, and she ate it while suspecting he had drugged it.

At dinner in the Qiao Residence, Xia Wanwan stopped Zhong Youling from drinking her pregnancy medicine, while Old Master Qiao grew suspicious and arranged for the sleeping princess to be carried away. Zhong Youyan became wary of the maid carrying the medicine as Zhong Youling worried about Xia Wanwan’s safety.

• Xia Wanwan praised the sweet-and-sour pig’s trotters, easing Old Master Qiao’s fears that she had noticed the drug in the dish.
• When Jingjing brought Zhong Youling’s medicinal broth, Xia Wanwan called it foul-smelling, and Zhong Youling told the maid to take it away.
• Old Master Qiao noticed Lord Qiao had not returned and whispered to Madam Qiao, who left the table; Xia Wanwan pointed Zhong Youyan in her direction.
• Xia Wanwan pretended to fall asleep, and Old Master Qiao had a maid carry her to the east side room while Zhong Youling and Zhong Youyan left the table.
• Zhong Youling worried that the Qiao elders might harm Xia Wanwan, while Zhong Youyan grew suspicious of Jingjing and the pregnancy medicine.

Zhong Youyan warned Zhong Youling that the Pregnancy-Calming Medicine and Jingjing were dangerous, while Yuanbao found that the Flower Soil held the drug that had caused Zhong Youling’s infertility. Madam Qiao took the soil to the lake and ordered it thrown in, as Qiao Zhishu and Yuanbao followed.

• Zhong Youyan told Zhong Youling not to drink the Pregnancy-Calming Medicine and left Jin Yu to guard her.
• Zhong Youling revealed that the baby had been calmer on nights she secretly poured away the medicine.
• Yuanbao examined the Flower Soil and found that it carried the drug used to cause Zhong Youling’s infertility.
• Madam Qiao took the Flower Soil from the Flower Room despite the maid’s objection.
• Madam Qiao warned Jingjing to make Zhong Youling drink the medicine, then carried the Flower Soil to the lake and ordered it thrown in.

Xia Wanwan’s plan exposed the Qiao elders’ efforts to destroy evidence of their plot against Zhong Youling, while Qiao Zhishu witnessed his mother’s guilt. She prepared to provoke a public scandal at the Qiao Residence so the Government Office would investigate, but a maid then brought Young Master Tianci to her chamber.

• Yuanbao stopped Madam Qiao from throwing the flowerpot into the lake, and Qiao Zhishu confronted her about the evidence hidden in the Flower Soil.
• Madam Qiao realized Qiao Zhishu knew about the Pregnancy-Calming Medicine’s Herb Residue, while Yuanbao retrieved the floating flowerpot.
• Jing Wu and Gu Ming seized the medicine-brewing kitchen hand and collected the Herb Residue, and Jing Wu set out to arrest Jingjing.
• Xia Wanwan explained that she had arranged to expose the Qiao elders and planned to stir up trouble at the residence to bring the case before the Government Office.
• A maid announced that Young Master Tianci had been brought to the Private Chamber and told him not to bite Xia Wanwan.

Xia Wanwan discovered Qiao Tianci’s history of abusing his child brides and severed his other leg. Old Master Qiao arrived, accused her of being a vengeful ghost, and decided to take the matter to the authorities and Imperial Court.

• Maids carried the injured Qiao Tianci into Xia Wanwan’s room and discussed hiding his three child brides from the princess.
• Xia Wanwan confronted Qiao Tianci and used her power to send a maid to tell Master Qiao that she had broken his other leg.
• Qiao Tianci dismissed his child brides’ lives as worthless, so Xia Wanwan cut off his uninjured leg with a dagger.
• Old Master Qiao arrived, saw Qiao Tianci’s injury, and accused Xia Wanwan of being a vengeful ghost.
• Old Master Qiao resolved to turn Xia Wanwan over to the authorities and have Qiao Zhishu petition the Imperial Court.

Xia Wanwan provoked Old Master Qiao into taking her to the Government Office while Xia Siheng and Liu Wan prepared to expose Steward Qiao. Liu Zi Xing and Liu Zimu rescued two abused girls from the Qiao Residence, but firelight flared behind them as they reached the exit.

• Xia Wanwan accused Old Master Qiao of grave crimes and let his guards escort her toward the Government Office, intending to make him summon his powerful backers.
• Xia Siheng and Liu Wan watched Xia Wanwan leave and decided to help her by going after Steward Qiao.
• Liu Zi Xing and Liu Zimu found two terrified girls in the Wood Shed, who revealed that Steward Qiao and the Qiao household had abused and abducted them as child brides.
• Liu Zi Xing knocked the girls unconscious, and he and Liu Zimu carried them toward a small gate where Qing Sheng and Qing Da waited.
• The brothers pushed open the gate, and firelight suddenly flared behind them.

Liu Zi Mu and his companions were caught by Steward Qiao while rescuing two girls from the Qiao Residence and fought to protect them. As the household guards gained the advantage, Liu Zi Mu trusted that his father’s trap would keep them safe.

• Liu Zi Mu, Liu Zi Xing, Qing Da, and Qing Sheng were surrounded by Qiao family guards after rescuing two girls.
• Steward Qiao ordered his men to seize the rescuers and threatened to hand them over to the Government Office.
• Liu Zi Mu realized his father had arranged for the Qiao household to discover them and stayed calm as the fight began.
• Liu Zi Xing, Qing Da, and Qing Sheng fought the guards, but their growing numbers began to overwhelm the rescuers.
• The two girls woke in the carriage, begged the rescuers to leave them behind, and cried as Liu Zi Mu reassured them.
• The guards tightened their encirclement around Liu Zi Mu and the others beside the carriage.

Liu Zimu and his companions faced Steward Qiao’s attack until the First Prince arrived with government soldiers and turned the tables. With Steward Qiao and his guards arrested, Liu Zimu believed his family had gathered at the government office and the Qiao family would face judgment.

• Steward Qiao ordered his guards to kill Liu Zimu’s group and seize the girls, while Qing Da and Qing Sheng put the two young masters on a carriage and stayed behind to fight.
• Liu Zimu watched Qing Da take blows, then jumped from the carriage to save him when a guard raised a dagger.
• An arrow pierced the dagger-wielding guard’s hand, and government soldiers surrounded the scene as Constable Xiao arrived with the First Prince, Xia Qianhui.
• Steward Qiao urged Xia Qianhui to arrest Liu Zimu’s group, but the soldiers seized Qiao’s guards and Constable Xiao kicked Steward Qiao to the ground.
• Xia Qianhui helped Liu Zimu up and apologized for arriving late, while Liu Zimu concluded that the Qiao family would face its final judgment.

Xia Wanwan brought Old Master Qiao to the Government Office, where Qiao Zhishu investigated evidence that Madam Qiao had harmed his wife with fertility-blocking substances. The chapter ended as Qiao Zhishu called for a third witness to testify against his mother.

• Old Master Qiao followed Xia Wanwan into the Government Office, confident he could defeat her in court.
• A physician identified Northeastern Musk in the flowerpot soil and strange scarlet grass in the Pregnancy-Calming Medicine, both of which could harm Qiao Zhishu's wife and her unborn child.
• Qiao Zhishu accused Madam Qiao, but she denied responsibility and challenged the evidence against her.
• Zhong Youyan brought in Jingjing, the wife's maid, and the Qiao Residence's accountant as bound witnesses.
• Madam Qiao realized Qiao Zhishu intended to prosecute her, and he ordered the guards to bring in a third witness.

Jingjing, the cook, and the accountant exposed Madam Qiao’s role in poisoning Qiao Youling and trying to prevent her pregnancy. Xia Wanwan revealed that Qiao Zhishu was not Master and Madam Qiao’s biological son, then the First Prince arrived with Steward Qiao, leaving Old Master Qiao stunned.

• Jing Wu brought the cook to court, where he admitted hiding Wonder Ape Grass from the Pregnancy-Calming Medicine.
• Jingjing confessed that Madam Qiao had ordered her to use musk to make Qiao Youling infertile and later supplied the pregnancy medicine.
• The accountant produced records proving Madam Qiao had bought the musk and Wonder Ape Grass, and Zhong Youyan verified the accounts.
• Xia Wanwan declared that Qiao Zhishu was not the Qiao elders’ biological son, while Master Qiao dismissed her claim and defended the family’s actions.
• The First Prince arrived with Steward Qiao under guard, and Old Master Qiao’s expression changed abruptly.

First Prince Xia Qianhui presented evidence that Steward Qiao and his son had abducted and abused young girls, forcing Qiao Zhishu to confront crimes committed under his authority. As Qiao Zhishu realized his parents might have knowingly protected Qiao Tianci, he began to suspect Steward Qiao’s true relationship to the family.

• Xia Qianhui explained that he had arrested Steward Qiao after investigating a dead child bride’s family and catching the steward trying to murder two girls.
• Qiao Zhishu denied knowing about the child brides, while Steward Qiao claimed he had paid for the girls and Old Master Qiao dismissed their accusations.
• Sheng Yue revealed her wounds and testified that Steward Qiao and his son had abused her and the other girl.
• Constable Xiao presented the thorn-studded whip found in Steward Qiao’s hidden compartment, and Qiao Zhishu condemned the steward.
• Qiao Zhishu recalled his father preventing a maid from speaking to him and began to suspect that Steward Qiao was connected to Qiao Tianci in a shocking way.