Chapter Summaries

Jiang Yingcheng learned from the system 007 that she was a fake princess facing a deadly future, and that she needed to win over the Seventh Prince to survive. After she intervened when the Fourth Prince falsely accused and bullied him, Emperor Mingze arrived and heard her thoughts hinting at his early death.

• Jiang Yingcheng cried after 007 revealed that she was a fake princess who would eventually be executed, then learned that 007 could help her survive.
• 007 told Jiang Yingcheng that the Fourth Prince’s subordinate had pushed her and framed the Seventh Prince, whom she needed to befriend.
• Jiang Yingcheng rushed to stop Jiang Huai'an from bullying Jiang Xingran, insisting that he leave the Seventh Prince alone.
• Emperor Mingze arrived, and Eunuch Changshun noticed Jiang Yingcheng’s forehead wound and ordered an imperial physician.
• Emperor Mingze heard Jiang Yingcheng’s thoughts about his early death and wondered whether she had been talking about him.

Jiang Yingcheng learned that a cuff button could prove the seventh prince’s innocence, while Emperor Mingze overheard her thoughts about his future death and the plot against him. The search uncovered a palace eunuch’s button, and one of the kneeling princes began to tremble.

• 007 told Jiang Yingcheng that the person who pushed her had lost a cuff button in the snow, which could clear the seventh prince.
• Emperor Mingze ordered Eunuch Changshun to search the snow around the stone steps for clues.
• Jiang Yingcheng’s thoughts revealed that Emperor Mingze would be poisoned, and 007 said the fourth prince had helped an enemy general enter the palace.
• The searchers found a palace eunuch’s cuff button and presented it to Emperor Mingze.
• Emperor Mingze recognized the button, and one of the kneeling princes began trembling.

Jiang Yingcheng discovered that Eunuch Changshun was fated to be poisoned, and Changshun overheard her thoughts and learned who was plotting against him. Emperor Mingze questioned the eunuch who had framed Jiang Huai'an, while Jiang Yingcheng revealed that Jiang Huai'an had arranged for her to be pushed and blamed Jiang Xingran.

• Eunuch Changshun took Jiang Yingcheng to the imperial physician and heard her inner voice predicting that he would die from poison.
• Jiang Yingcheng learned from 007 that a newly arrived eunuch would poison Changshun and planned to have him expelled from the palace.
• Jiang Huai'an realized that he could hear Jiang Yingcheng's inner voice and considered how her knowledge might help him at court.
• Emperor Mingze confronted the kneeling eunuch, who claimed he had bumped into Jiang Yingcheng by accident, while Jiang Huai'an blamed the man for misleading him.
• Jiang Yingcheng told Emperor Mingze in her inner voice that Jiang Huai'an had ordered someone to push her and frame Jiang Xingran, and that he had not arranged treatment for her wound.

Jiang Yingcheng clung to Jiang Yanchuan and watched him order the fourth prince investigated, then learned more about Great Rui’s dangerous future. As officials arrived in his chambers, her thoughts revealed that one of them had embezzled nine hundred thousand taels, though she did not know how much money that was.

• Jiang Yingcheng showed Jiang Yanchuan her wound and asked him to pick her up, and he took her hand before ordering Ying Feng to drag the fourth prince away for questioning.
• Jiang Yanchuan sent Jiang Xingran and the imperial physician to his chambers with Jiang Yingcheng and Changshun.
• As the imperial physician treated her, Jiang Yingcheng revealed that Jiang Yanchuan would be poisoned, the fourth prince would try to seize the throne, and Jiang Xingran would eventually restore Great Rui.
• Jiang Yanchuan summoned five officials to his chambers after hearing Jiang Yingcheng’s account of the future.
• Jiang Yingcheng recognized one official as an embezzler of nine hundred thousand taels but wondered how much that amount was.

Jiang Yingcheng’s inner voice warned Jiang Yanchuan that Zhang Ding’an had falsified the moat embankment inspection and used unsafe soil, while other officials’ secrets also surfaced during their reports. The chapter ended with Jiang Yanchuan confronting newly promoted Minister of Personnel Liu Zhengqing after hearing that he had embezzled nine hundred thousand taels.

• Jiang Yanchuan caught Jiang Yingcheng as she hurried toward a figure in the hall, and she settled happily beside him.
• Zhang Ding’an claimed that he had inspected the moat embankment, but Jiang Yingcheng’s inner voice revealed that he had lied and used cultivated soil for the repairs.
• Jiang Yanchuan silently resolved to investigate Zhang Ding’an, while Jiang Yingcheng asked 007 to remind her about the embankment before it breached next year.
• As the officials gave their reports, Jiang Yingcheng’s inner voice revealed embarrassing secrets about several of them.
• Jiang Yingcheng reacted with outrage when 007 explained the scale of an official’s nine-hundred-thousand-tael embezzlement, and Jiang Yanchuan rose to confront Liu Zhengqing.

Jiang Yanchuan confirmed that Changshun and Tan Songsong could hear Jiang Yingcheng’s thoughts, while she secretly shared pastries with Jiang Xingran. Jiang Xingran accepted the treats for his mother and smiled at her, leaving Jiang Yanchuan and Jiang Xingran both reconsidering what they had assumed.

• Jiang Yanchuan decided to investigate Liu Zhengqing’s alleged corruption after hearing Jiang Yingcheng’s thoughts.
• Jiang Yanchuan realized Tan Songsong could hear Jiang Yingcheng’s thoughts when she praised him and plotted to get more pastries.
• Jiang Yingcheng offered pastries to Jiang Xingran, who hesitated before accepting them to take back to his mother.
• Jiang Xingran smiled faintly at Jiang Yingcheng, who celebrated that her seventh brother had acknowledged her.
• Jiang Yanchuan and Jiang Xingran both raised their brows, sensing that things were not as they had expected.

Consort Fang reunited with Jiang Yingcheng at Xianyang Palace, where the little princess charmed Emperor Mingze and secured punishment for the eunuch who had tripped her. On the ride home, 007 revealed that Consort Fang was not Jiang Yingcheng’s birth mother, shocking both the girl and Consort Fang.

• Consort Fang embraced Jiang Yingcheng and apologized to Emperor Mingze for losing her composure.
• Jiang Yingcheng packed pastries to take with her and left two for Emperor Mingze, who laughed at her gesture.
• Jiang Yanchuan wrote down his observations about who could hear Jiang Yingcheng’s thoughts and suspected that the feeling had to be mutual.
• Changshun told Jiang Yanchuan that the eunuch who tripped Jiang Yingcheng had been beaten, and Jiang Yanchuan asked about the man’s hidden accomplice.
• Jiang Yingcheng demanded that her father punish the eunuch, and Jiang Yanchuan agreed to investigate who was behind him.
• 007 told Jiang Yingcheng that Consort Fang was not her birth mother, leaving Jiang Yingcheng and Consort Fang stunned.

Jiang Yingcheng learned that she had been switched into the palace as a baby, but she assured Consort Fang that she loved her and believed Consort Fang loved her too. Consort Fang embraced her, then overheard that Jiang Yingcheng’s birth mother had revealed Jinshu’s identity and was plotting to become empress dowager.

• 007 told Jiang Yingcheng that her birth mother was Consort Fang’s elder sister and had switched her into the palace to protect her from Noble Consort Rou’s harm to royal princes.
• Jiang Yingcheng listed the ways Consort Fang cared for her and told 007 that she loved her mother.
• Consort Fang drew Jiang Yingcheng into her arms, and Jiang Yingcheng offered her pastries she had stolen from Emperor Mingze.
• 007 asked Jiang Yingcheng about her birth mother, and Consort Fang listened anxiously to their exchange.
• Jiang Yingcheng’s inner voice revealed that her birth mother had told Jinshu his identity and intended to become empress dowager after he took the throne.
• Consort Fang realized her elder sister had betrayed her trust and feared her motives.

Consort Fang secretly sent Qingbi to investigate whether her sister was mistreating Jinshu, while Emperor Mingze ordered Lu Yao to investigate the moat repairs, Liu Zhengqing, and Pan Jifeng. The emperor also chose to give Jiang Yingcheng time to improve her relationship with the Seventh Prince before intervening.

• Jiang Yingcheng went to nap after 007 persuaded her not to rush into telling Consort Fang what she knew.
• Consort Fang asked Qingbi to secretly watch Jinshu and Fang Yiwan, suspecting Fang Yiwan might know Jinshu's identity.
• Emperor Mingze ordered Lu Yao to inspect the city moat embankment and investigate Liu Zhengqing's corruption.
• Emperor Mingze also sent Lu Yao undercover to gather confidential information from Pan Jifeng's residence.
• Emperor Mingze declined to arrange special care for the Seventh Prince, deciding Jiang Yingcheng should first mend their relationship.

Jiang Yingcheng learned how to use 007’s Merit Points while Consort Fang listened to their private conversation and discovered the child wanted to help her reunite with Jinshu. The chapter ended with Consort Fang considering bringing Jinshu to the palace as Jiang Yingcheng’s study companion, while Jiang Yingcheng hoped to avoid attending school herself.

• Jiang Yingcheng pretended to sleep so she could talk to 007, but actually fell asleep before their conversation began.
• At dinner, Jiang Yingcheng kissed Consort Fang and promised to sneak out with Emperor Mingze again so her mother could spend more time with him.
• 007 explained that Jiang Yingcheng could redeem items from its shop by earning Merit Points through good deeds.
• Jiang Yingcheng asked 007 to help bring her little cousin Jinshu to Consort Fang, and 007 suggested making him her study companion.
• Consort Fang realized she could ask Emperor Mingze to let Jinshu study in the palace, while Jiang Yingcheng asked if only her companion could attend school.

Jiang Yingcheng went to Xianyang Palace at Emperor Mingze’s invitation, while Consort Fang worried about the risks of the child growing close to him. She arrived to find Jiang Yanchuan meeting with five officials and offered him every sweet she had saved from the sedan chair.

• Qingbi slipped out of the palace, and Consort Fang dressed Jiang Yingcheng warmly before Eunuch Changshun arrived to take her to Xianyang Palace.
• Eunuch Changshun asked whether Consort Fang had enjoyed dinner, prompting her to suspect that Jiang Yingcheng’s thoughts had affected the meal.
• Jiang Yingcheng reached Xianyang Palace and found Jiang Yanchuan meeting with five elderly officials.
• Jiang Yingcheng pulled all the sweets she had saved from the sedan chair out of her clothes and offered them to Jiang Yanchuan.
• Jiang Yanchuan set the sweets aside, sat Jiang Yingcheng beside him, and offered her his refreshments.

Jiang Yingcheng’s inner voice exposed Pu Yuanzhou’s secret affair and abuse, while Jiang Yanchuan and Hu Hongyuan listened and resolved to investigate. The chapter ended with Jiang Yingcheng deciding to find something else to throw at him after eating the last pastry.

• Jiang Yanchuan listened to Jiang Yingcheng’s amused thoughts about an official who spent his stipend on his son’s schooling.
• Hu Hongyuan noticed Jiang Yingcheng’s unspoken comments and realized he could hear her inner voice.
• Jiang Yingcheng revealed that Pu Yuanzhou used official purchases to support his mistress’s child and sought a post for his illegitimate son.
• Jiang Yingcheng revealed that Pu Yuanzhou kept his mistress nearby and abused his wife’s children.
• Hu Hongyuan resolved to investigate Spring Fragrance Lane, while Jiang Yingcheng ate the last pastry instead of throwing it at Pu Yuanzhou.

Jiang Yingcheng followed Eunuch Changshun to Fragrant Pavilion and sneaked inside to meet Consort Lan, the Seventh Prince’s mother. When she heard someone collapse inside the main room, she rushed toward the sound.

• Lu Yao reported Lord Liu Zhengqing’s crimes to Emperor Mingze and received three unrelated investigations into officials’ private lives.
• Eunuch Changshun led Jiang Yingcheng to Fragrant Pavilion, where he explained that Consort Lan and the Seventh Prince were neglected and bullied.
• Jiang Yingcheng tricked Eunuch Changshun and the watching servants with a game of hide-and-seek so she could enter the courtyard alone.
• Jiang Yingcheng heard sorrowful sobbing from the main room, then heard a heavy fall and hurried toward it.

Jiang Yingcheng met Cheng Yunmeng and tried to help her up, but Jiang Xingran mistook her actions and knocked her down. She stormed out, then returned with food to make peace, while Jiang Xingran remained suspicious of her intentions.

• Jiang Yingcheng found Cheng Yunmeng sitting on the cold floor in the Fragrant Pavilion and tried to lift her, making Cheng Yunmeng laugh.
• Jiang Xingran rushed in, accused Jiang Yingcheng of hurting his mother, and knocked her to the floor.
• Cheng Yunmeng explained that Jiang Yingcheng had only been trying to help her, but Jiang Yingcheng cried and ran outside, saying she hated Seventh Brother.
• Jiang Xingran helped Cheng Yunmeng into a chair instead of immediately chasing Jiang Yingcheng, believing guards were already watching over the little princess.
• Jiang Yingcheng returned to push an oilpaper parcel toward Cheng Yunmeng and demanded that Jiang Xingran coax her, while he wondered what she might be scheming.

Jiang Yingcheng stopped Miaoxi, a maid from Noble Consort Rou’s palace, from intimidating Cheng Yunmeng and insisted on protecting her. She led Cheng Yunmeng and Jiang Xingran to Eunuch Changshun, then exposed Miaoxi’s false claim that Consort Qing had summoned them.

• Cheng Yunmeng realized Miaoxi had been sent by Noble Consort Rou’s palace to take her away under Consort Qing’s name.
• Jiang Yingcheng clung to Miaoxi, identified her as a maid from Noble Consort Rou’s palace, and warned that she had seen Miaoxi try to push her.
• Jiang Xingran led Jiang Yingcheng inside, but Cheng Yunmeng prepared to follow Miaoxi while Jiang Xingran and Jiang Yingcheng stood protectively beside her.
• Jiang Yingcheng told Cheng Yunmeng that Eunuch Changshun was waiting outside, and Cheng Yunmeng went with the children to find him.
• Eunuch Changshun emerged from a thicket, and Jiang Yingcheng invited him to join them before telling him that Miaoxi claimed Consort Qing had summoned them.

Jiang Yingcheng exposed Miaoxi as a servant connected to Noble Consort Rou, and Eunuch Changshun brought the frightened maid to Noble Consort Qing’s residence. As Noble Consort Qing welcomed Jiang Yingcheng, the princess’s inner voice revealed that Rou had repeatedly framed Qing and damaged her reputation.

• Jiang Yingcheng told Eunuch Changshun that she had seen Miaoxi in Consort Rou’s residence, and he sent one group to report to Emperor Mingze while another took Miaoxi to Anqin Hall.
• Noble Consort Qing was alarmed by Miaoxi’s battered condition when she entered the front hall.
• Jiang Yingcheng admired Noble Consort Qing but hesitated to approach after learning that Qing punished servants by smacking their palms.
• Noble Consort Qing offered Jiang Yingcheng sweets and listened as Eunuch Changshun explained why they had come.
• Jiang Yingcheng’s inner voice revealed that Noble Consort Rou had repeatedly framed Qing and made people believe she was cruel.

Jiang Yingcheng’s thoughts revealed that Noble Consort Rou had been poisoning Noble Consort Qing with gifts to prevent her from conceiving. After Chengcheng gathered the dangerous items in Qing’s room, Noble Consort Qing resolved to confront Rou that day.

• Jiang Yingcheng’s thoughts exposed Noble Consort Rou’s rumors against Noble Consort Qing and revealed that a sachet Rou had gifted Qing contained herbs that could cause infertility.
• Noble Consort Qing realized Rou had repeatedly given her sachets and other gifts that may have been poisoned, possibly preventing her from having a child.
• Noble Consort Qing gave Chengcheng the sachet after hearing her plan to hide it in Noble Consort Rou’s room.
• Chengcheng gathered several more gifts from Rou, including a box and writing paper, while her thoughts identified them as dangerous.
• After Chengcheng lamented that more poisoned items remained in her bedroom, Noble Consort Qing decided to storm into Noble Consort Rou’s residence that day.

Jiang Yingcheng’s thoughts exposed Xueqing as Noble Consort Rou’s spy and revealed that Noble Consort Qing was being poisoned and framed. Noble Consort Qing punished Xueqing and found hope in Jiang Yingcheng’s promise to obtain medicine to heal her.

• Jiang Yingcheng gathered gifts from Anqin Hall while the palace maids worried that her actions would offend Noble Consort Qing.
• Jiang Yingcheng’s inner thoughts revealed that Xueqing was Noble Consort Rou’s spy, and Noble Consort Qing realized that her trusted maid had betrayed her.
• Noble Consort Qing slapped Xueqing and ordered attendants to give her twenty heavy strokes of the paddle.
• Jiang Yingcheng comforted Noble Consort Qing and thought that she would use merit points to obtain medicine for her illness.
• Noble Consort Qing held Jiang Yingcheng and wept as she considered the possibility that the medicine could heal her.

Jiang Yingcheng exposed Miaoxi’s scheme and warned Noble Consort Qing that Noble Consort Rou planned to ruin Cheng Yunmeng and damage Noble Consort Qing’s reputation. Noble Consort Qing punished Miaoxi with forty strokes, while the others realized the danger they had narrowly escaped.

• Jiang Yingcheng pretended Miaoxi had tripped her, and Consort Lan supported the accusation by recommending forty strokes of the paddle.
• Noble Consort Qing recognized that Consort Lan could hear Jiang Yingcheng’s thoughts and sentenced Miaoxi to twenty strokes.
• Jiang Yingcheng’s thoughts revealed that Noble Consort Rou had planned to torture Cheng Yunmeng and frame Noble Consort Qing, shocking Cheng Yunmeng, Noble Consort Qing, and Eunuch Changshun.
• Noble Consort Qing ordered another twenty strokes because Miaoxi had used her name to commit wrongdoing at the Fragrant Pavilion.

Noble Consort Qing brought the punished maid Miaoxi to Flowing Splendor Hall to confront Noble Consort Rou over her false summons. Noble Consort Rou turned her anger toward Consort Lan and threatened to have her slapped, while Noble Consort Qing appeared to accept the punishment and left the matter poised to reach Emperor Mingze.

• Noble Consort Qing ordered Miaoxi carried to Flowing Splendor Hall and kept Eunuch Changshun outside as part of her plan.
• Jiang Huai'an accused Jiang Xingran of causing his twenty-stroke punishment, while Jiang Yingcheng privately gloated that Jiang Huai'an would be bedridden.
• Noble Consort Qing confronted Noble Consort Rou about Miaoxi using her name to summon Consort Lan, and the unconscious maid was brought into the hall.
• Noble Consort Rou blamed Miaoxi, then ordered Consort Lan slapped for failing to pay her respects properly.
• Noble Consort Rou claimed she wanted to avenge Jiang Huai'an and asked Noble Consort Qing to understand; Noble Consort Qing agreed, thinking of Emperor Mingze's wrath.