Recaps

Jiang Yingcheng uncovered Zeng Wencheng’s scheme to sell Emperor Mingze’s birth details, then dug up Noble Consort Rou’s scandals after Rou accused her of witchcraft. Rou’s claim that Jiang Yingcheng had changed dramatically in just a few days left the emperor and others facing her renewed accusation.

• Jiang Yingcheng learned that Zeng Wencheng had sold Emperor Mingze’s birth details to women throughout the harem, while Fang Siwan silently denied buying them.
• Noble Consort Rou urged Emperor Mingze to take rumors of witchcraft seriously, prompting Jiang Yingcheng to investigate Rou’s past.
• Jiang Yingcheng discovered that Noble Consort Rou had stolen her elder sister’s chance to enter the palace by plotting to ruin her sister’s chastity.
• Jiang Yingcheng learned that Noble Consort Rou’s first love was Prince Jing, Jiang Yi'an, and that she had named her son Jiang Huai'an after him, alarming Emperor Mingze and Eunuch Changshun.
• Noble Consort Rou argued that Jiang Yingcheng’s sudden change from timid to lively proved something unusual had happened to her.

Noble Consort Qing exposed Noble Consort Rou’s role in buying Emperor Mingze’s birth details, and Zeng Wencheng confessed after Jiang Yanchuan confronted him. Jiang Yingcheng recovered from her fear while her father comforted her, then revealed where she had hidden the box; her thoughts suggested Noble Consort Rou had bribed servants in her mother’s hall.

• Noble Consort Rou claimed Jiang Yingcheng might be possessed by an evil spirit, but Jiang Yanchuan mocked the accusation and comforted his frightened daughter.
• Noble Consort Qing arrived with Zeng Wencheng bound and presented a booklet documenting his sales of Jiang Yanchuan’s birth details.
• Noble Consort Rou slipped by revealing knowledge of Consort Wan’s possible involvement, and Jiang Yanchuan questioned Zeng Wencheng, who confessed.
• Jiang Yingcheng feared she and System Bro would be treated as dark and unholy, so Jiang Yanchuan held her and reassured her.
• Jiang Yanchuan asked where Jiang Yingcheng had hidden her box, and she pointed beneath a plant stand while thinking Noble Consort Rou had bribed servants in her mother’s hall.

Jiang Yingcheng exposed Noble Consort Rou’s attempt to frame Fang Siwan, and Eunuch Changshun uncovered tribute bracelets hidden by the bribed maids. Emperor Mingze confined Noble Consort Rou to Flowing Splendor Hall while the truth was investigated, and Noble Consort Qing stayed behind after hearing Jiang Yingcheng’s thoughts about Gaoyang’s tribute.

• Jiang Yingcheng recognized that the palace maids had helped Noble Consort Rou and worried about how to alert her father.
• Eunuch Changshun stumbled into the maids, found their hidden bracelets, and recognized them as tribute from the Gaoyang Kingdom.
• Emperor Mingze rejected Noble Consort Rou’s excuse and ordered her confined to Flowing Splendor Hall pending an investigation.
• Noble Consort Rou pleaded that she had not framed Fang Siwan, but attendants dragged her from Starfrost Hall.
• Noble Consort Qing decided not to leave after hearing Jiang Yingcheng think that Gaoyang pretended to be poor despite being wealthy.

Jiang Yingcheng read about the Gaoyang Kingdom’s emperor and discovered the truth behind his frugal image and tribute jewelry. Just as Noble Consort Qing prepared to leave, Jiang Yingcheng found a ledger of Zeng Wencheng’s transactions that also implicated Auntie Yushi.

• Jiang Yanchuan sent the bribed palace maids to the Eastern Depot, and Jiang Yingcheng kissed him before returning her attention to the gossip panel.
• Jiang Yingcheng praised the Gaoyang Kingdom’s emperor for enduring insults to save money, then learned that he forced his consorts to live frugally and denied the little princesses pastries.
• Jiang Yingcheng discovered that the emperor imposed harsh policies and crushing taxes while hoarding a mountain of gold, and that his consorts wore low-quality tribute jewelry for a year to improve its appearance.
• Noble Consort Qing realized she had received such jewelry and hurried to leave Starfrost Hall so she could clean herself.
• Jiang Yingcheng found Zeng Wencheng’s transaction ledger and was shocked that Auntie Yushi had delivered it despite her own transactions being recorded inside.

Noble Consort Qing escaped punishment after reporting the consorts who bought Emperor Mingze’s birth date, while Jiang Yingcheng’s inner voice nearly exposed Noble Consort Qing’s wish for a baby. At court, Pan Chengbi tried to take the blame for Noble Consort Rou, but officials began discussing her schemes as Jiang Yingcheng prepared to dig up more gossip.

• Noble Consort Qing handed over the page recording her purchase, and Emperor Mingze rewarded her for reporting the matter instead of punishing her.
• Jiang Yingcheng’s inner voice revealed that Noble Consort Qing wanted to ask for a baby, leaving her too embarrassed to request a reward.
• At court, Pan Chengbi asked to be dismissed from office to answer for Noble Consort Rou’s actions against Jiang Yingcheng.
• Jiang Yingcheng’s inner voice accused Noble Consort Rou of planting a Witchcraft Doll and framing her, and she set out to uncover Pan Chengbi’s scandals.
• The Ministers of Revenue and Works and other officials openly discussed Noble Consort Rou’s actions and the search of Zeng Wencheng’s residence.
• The officials stopped their denunciations when Jiang Yingcheng’s excited inner voice suggested she had found fresh gossip.

Jiang Yingcheng exposed that Pan Chengbi’s son was actually Pan Jifeng’s child and that Prince Jing had secretly advanced Pan Chengbi’s career through criminal schemes. She revealed that letters linking Prince Jing to the Pan household were hidden in Pan Jifeng’s courtyard, leaving the military generals eager to help retrieve them.

• Jiang Yingcheng revealed that Pan Chengbi’s wife had conceived with Pan Jifeng and that Pan Chengbi’s son and the servants knew the truth.
• Xin Anzhi and another official reminded Pan Chengbi that his wife had announced her pregnancy at a winter solstice banquet, making him realize the premature-birth story had concealed the affair.
• Jiang Yingcheng revealed that Prince Jing had supplied Pan Chengbi with achievements that helped him earn promotions.
• Jiang Yingcheng disclosed that Prince Jing had ordered the Xiangzhou governor to torture wealthy merchants and sent the seized wealth to his private treasury before handing evidence to Pan Chengbi.
• Jiang Yingcheng revealed that letters between Prince Jing and the Pan household were buried beside a path in the rockery at Pan Jifeng’s courtyard, and the military generals silently volunteered to dig them up.

Jiang Yingcheng searched among the military officials for someone to retrieve letters from the Pan Residence, while her gossip exposed several officials’ embarrassing family matters. She remembered that Zhu Qian had raised the Gaoyang Kingdom’s tribute and urged the system to uncover Pan Chengbi’s crimes.

• Yan Yuebin pretended to cough to attract Jiang Yingcheng’s attention, but she decided he seemed unwell and moved on.
• Dong Kangsheng drew Jiang Yingcheng’s notice, and she revealed that his youngest son had tried to take Pu Mingxu’s daughter Yun Sui home.
• Jiang Yingcheng exposed Gao Siyuan’s romantic connection to Pan Luoxi, leaving Gao stunned and the officials gossiping.
• Jiang Yingcheng passed over Lei Zhixin and rejected more than a dozen military officials as she searched for someone to help retrieve the Pan Family’s letters.
• Jiang Yingcheng recalled Zhu Qian’s concerns about the Gaoyang Kingdom’s tribute, blamed Pan Chengbi for derailing the matter, and asked the system to find evidence of his crimes.

Jiang Yingcheng revealed more of the Pan Family’s crimes, and Jiang Yanchuan used Lu Yao’s report of alleged land seizures to keep Pan Chengbi under investigation. The chapter ended with Jiang Yingcheng abruptly wondering where the ruler of the Gaoyang Kingdom hid his treasures.

• Jiang Yingcheng revealed that Pan Chengbi had helped slaughter an entire village to conceal a plague and had threatened an imperial commissioner by kidnapping his family.
• Jiang Yanchuan signaled Lu Yao to report Pan Chengbi for allegedly seizing commoners’ farmland.
• Lu Yao asked that Pan Chengbi remain under the Embroidered Uniform Guard’s watch until the accusation was investigated.
• Jiang Yanchuan ordered Lu Yao to investigate within three days and clear Pan Chengbi’s name, while Jiang Yingcheng hoped the delay would let her expose the Pan Family’s crimes.
• Jiang Yingcheng suddenly wondered where the ruler of the Gaoyang Kingdom hid his treasures.

During court, Jiang Yingcheng exposed Gaoyang’s ruler as a cruel tyrant who had hoarded wealth and deceived Great Rui. Her thoughts persuaded the officials that helping Gaoyang’s rebels could let Great Rui take control without a costly invasion, and Jiao Hongmiao petitioned to send troops.

• Jiang Yingcheng compared Gaoyang’s ruler with Emperor Mingze and revealed that Gaoyang’s people suffered crushing taxes and forced labor.
• Jiang Yingcheng discovered that Gaoyang’s ruler had hidden his wealth in more than a dozen locations and a secluded tomb.
• Zhu Qian argued that Gaoyang’s ruler had repeatedly swindled Great Rui and boasted of deceiving other nations.
• Jiang Yingcheng suggested secretly aiding Gaoyang’s existing rebel groups so Great Rui could later help rebuild the country and gain influence.
• Jiao Hongmiao petitioned Emperor Mingze to send troops to Gaoyang to rescue its people.

Jiang Yingcheng welcomed Lin Jinshu as her new study companion, then took him to Noble Consort Qing to collect a greeting gift before planning more visits. On the way, Jiang Tinghuai and the others hurried to help Imperial Physician Du reach the Third Prince, whose condition seemed critical.

• Eunuch Changshun rushed Jiang Yingcheng to the Academy, where she met Lin Jinshu at a newly added desk beside hers.
• Jiang Tinghuai explained that the Empress Dowager had taken Lin Jinshu in as her great-grandson and arranged for him to stay at Changning Palace.
• Jiang Yingcheng brought Lin Jinshu to Anqin Hall and pressured Noble Consort Qing into giving him a pouch as a greeting gift.
• Jiang Yingcheng studied System Bro's map of the imperial harem and planned which consort to visit next, despite Jiang Tinghuai's attempts to return to the Academy.
• A palace maid hurried Imperial Physician Du toward the Third Prince, and Jiang Tinghuai carried the physician's things so they could move faster.

After learning that Jiang Zhuolan had been deliberately attacked and was near death, Jiang Yingcheng used her Merit Points to summon a Medicine Ball and secretly fed it to him. The chapter ended as Emperor Mingze entered and the Medicine Ball had not yet melted.

• Yuzhu told Jiang Tinghuai that Jiang Zhuolan had fallen, struck his head, and lost consciousness.
• Jiang Yingcheng’s inner voice revealed that someone had pushed Jiang Zhuolan and struck his head with a rock to keep him from exposing the attacker.
• Imperial Physician Du judged Jiang Zhuolan’s deep forehead wound grave, and Consort Xuan collapsed in despair.
• Jiang Yingcheng decided to use her Merit Points to save Jiang Zhuolan, while Jiang Tinghuai and the others discreetly shielded her.
• Jiang Yingcheng summoned a huge Medicine Ball and forced it into Jiang Zhuolan’s mouth just as Emperor Mingze arrived.

Jiang Yingcheng secretly tried to help Jiang Zhuolan by getting the Medicine Ball in his mouth to melt, while Jiang Yanchuan distracted the others. The Medicine Ball melted and Jiang Zhuolan recovered from immediate danger, but Jiang Tinghuai remembered that Hanying might be involved in the plot against him.

• Jiang Yanchuan stalled Consort Xuan and Imperial Physician Du while Jiang Yingcheng nudged the Medicine Ball farther into Jiang Zhuolan’s mouth.
• Jiang Yingcheng tried to soften the Medicine Ball with warm water, but Imperial Physician Du caught her and Jiang Yanchuan lifted her into his arms.
• The Medicine Ball melted, and Imperial Physician Du found Jiang Zhuolan’s pulse steady and declared him out of danger.
• Consort Xuan rushed to Jiang Zhuolan’s bedside in tears, while Jiang Yingcheng thought he needed discipline for sneaking away from his guards.
• Jiang Tinghuai recalled Jiang Yingcheng’s warning about Hanying and resolved not to let the suspected conspirator escape.

Hanying lied about how Zhuolan was injured while Jiang Yingcheng’s inner voice revealed that Hanying and an accomplice had pushed him down and struck his head with a stone. As Consort Xuan recovered and grew closer to Jiang Yingcheng, the emperor prepared to hear more, and the little princess turned her attention to protecting the pretty consort and confronting Hanying.

• Hanying told Emperor Mingze that Zhuolan had slipped and fallen from the artificial hill, concealing that he had been attacked.
• Jiang Yingcheng’s inner voice revealed that Hanying and another person had pushed Zhuolan down and smashed a stone onto his head.
• Consort Xuan learned that Zhuolan’s condition had stabilized after Jiang Yingcheng gave him medicine, and she greeted the little princess.
• Jiang Yingcheng decided she would protect Consort Xuan and glared at Hanying as the first person she would deal with.

Jiang Yingcheng learned that Hanying had helped Consort Hui and her accomplice attack Jiang Zhuolan, then exposed Hanying by claiming her unconscious brother had spoken. Hanying denied the accusation and blamed Consort Hui and the man beside her.

• Jiang Yingcheng recalled how Jiang Zhuolan had witnessed Consort Hui’s illicit affair and been struck with a rock after Hanying betrayed him.
• Consort Xuan broke down in grief but resolved to stay and see Hanying exposed.
• Jiang Yingcheng pretended to hear Jiang Zhuolan move and speak, then accused Hanying of smashing his head with a rock.
• Hanying denied striking Jiang Zhuolan and accused Consort Hui and the man beside her of attacking him.

Hanying accused Consort Hui and a mysterious man of killing the Third Prince, but Jiang Yingcheng’s thoughts exposed her lies and revealed a plot involving the Anping Kingdom. After Hanying was taken away, Jiang Yingcheng discovered that the Third Prince’s head wound had vanished after she touched him.

• Hanying claimed Consort Hui and a mysterious man murdered the Third Prince, while Jiang Yingcheng’s thoughts revealed that Hanying had delayed calling for help.
• Hanying presented a jade pendant engraved with “Qi,” and Jiang Yanchuan and the others recognized it as belonging to the Anping Kingdom’s Imperial Family.
• Jiang Yingcheng’s thoughts exposed a scheme to plant the pendant in Consort Xuan’s palace and frame her for colluding with the enemy; she also revealed that the conspirators had targeted her.
• Jiang Yanchuan ordered the guards to take Hanying to Xing Junchu, and they dragged her away as she begged for mercy.
• Jiang Yingcheng touched the Third Prince and noticed that his head wound had disappeared, leaving her alarmed about how to explain it.

Jiang Yingcheng led her siblings away from the Academy to seek greeting gifts, but their wandering brought them to a dilapidated courtyard. Before they could explore, a stranger snatched her and identified himself as an assassin.

• Jiang Yingcheng tried to negotiate with System Bro for a way to give Jiang Yanchuan a scar, and Consort Xuan choked when she heard her thoughts.
• Jiang Yingcheng refused Jiang Tinghuai's attempt to take her back to the Academy and led the younger princes on a detour toward the consorts' halls.
• Jiang Yingcheng's group got lost and arrived at a run-down courtyard, where she begged Jiang Tinghuai to let them explore.
• A stranger scooped Jiang Yingcheng up onto the courtyard wall as Jiang Tinghuai ran toward her and demanded to know who he was.
• The stranger introduced himself as an assassin.

Jiang Yingcheng stayed remarkably calm after Zhong Chengwang took her hostage, and her brothers offered to take her place. As Jiang Yanchuan arrived, she was chatting cheerfully with her kidnapper and waved to her father, leaving the confrontation about to begin.

• Jiang Yingcheng persuaded Zhong Chengwang to loosen his grip, while Jiang Tinghuai, Jiang Xingran, Jiang Qiuyu, and Lin Jinshu offered themselves as hostages instead.
• Jiang Yingcheng privately recalled pranks she had played on her brothers, and Jiang Tinghuai interrupted her before she revealed more.
• Zhong Chengwang told Jiang Yingcheng his name, and she called on System Bro to get to work.
• Jiang Yanchuan hurried to the scene, and his party overheard Jiang Yingcheng giving directions to Zhong Chengwang as they traveled.
• Jiang Yanchuan arrived and stared at Zhong Chengwang and Jiang Yingcheng, who cheerfully waved to him from the kidnapper's arms.

Jiang Yingcheng learned that Zhong Chengwang had entered the palace pretending to assassinate Jiang Yanchuan so he could avenge his murdered family, and she offered to help him escape in exchange for pastries. When Jiang Yanchuan confronted them, Zhong Chengwang used Jiang Yingcheng as a hostage and demanded single combat.

• Jiang Yingcheng discovered that Zhong Chengwang's relatives had killed his father and elder sister and seized his inheritance, prompting him to fake an assassination attempt on Jiang Yanchuan.
• Jiang Yingcheng offered to help Zhong Chengwang escape if he bought her pastries, and she decided to make him her father's bodyguard.
• Jiang Yanchuan confronted Zhong Chengwang in the alley as Jiang Tinghuai and the other children caught up with them.
• Jiang Yingcheng prompted Zhong Chengwang to put his hand to her neck so he would look like a convincing assassin, though he used no real force.
• Zhong Chengwang declared his identity and demanded that Jiang Yanchuan face him in single combat, using the Little Princess's safety as leverage.

Jiang Yingcheng and Zhong Chengwang staged a kidnapping so Zhong could escape the palace, while Jiang Yanchuan pursued them in a fury. As Zhong reached the palace gates with Jiang Yingcheng, a dangerous stranger confronted him and asked whether she was the Eleventh Princess.

• Jiang Yingcheng told Zhong Chengwang how to flee and warned him not to hurt Jiang Yanchuan, while Jiang Yanchuan took a saber and demanded that Zhong put her down.
• Zhong Chengwang charged at Jiang Yanchuan, vaulted over his blade, and ran toward the palace gates with Jiang Yingcheng in his arms.
• Jiang Yanchuan chased them over the wall, and Eunuch Changshun ordered the guards to follow.
• Jiang Yingcheng guided Zhong through courtyards and woods until they lost their pursuers, and Zhong promised to bring her the snacks she wanted.
• Zhong escaped through the palace gate during a shift change, but a dangerous stranger approached and asked whether the child in his arms was the Eleventh Princess.

Jiang Yingcheng stayed outside the palace with Liaochen and Zhong Chengwang while planning to help Xie Jinrou escape prison. Emperor Mingze found her sleeping safely and appointed Zhong Chengwang a sixth-rank Imperial Guard.

• Zhong Chengwang tried to flee with Jiang Yingcheng but surrendered after Liaochen revealed himself as Zhou Qichuan, a Martial Arts Grandmaster.
• Liaochen took Jiang Yingcheng and Zhong Chengwang to the Heavenly Fortune Pavilion, where Jiang Yingcheng insisted she wanted to stay outside the palace for three days.
• Liaochen let Jiang Yingcheng sleep in the room while he and Zhong Chengwang kept watch, knowing she planned to help Xie Jinrou escape prison the next day.
• Jiang Yanchuan arrived at midnight, checked on the sleeping Jiang Yingcheng, and ordered Liaochen to remove her hot-water bottle.
• Jiang Yanchuan appointed Zhong Chengwang a sixth-rank Imperial Guard, leaving him bewildered.

Emperor Mingze spared Zhong Chengwang and appointed him despite his attempted assassination, while Jiang Yingcheng secretly worried that her father would take her back to the palace. The next day, she and the two men visited charitable institutions to earn points, then announced that she would treat them to drinks at the Heavenly Fragrance House.

• Emperor Mingze appointed Zhong Chengwang and showed irritation when Jiang Yingcheng’s thoughts revealed she planned to escape with him again.
• Jiang Yanchuan sent Zhong Chengwang and Liaochen outside to talk, then gently stroked Jiang Yingcheng’s head before leaving her room.
• The next morning, Liaochen disguised himself and Zhong Chengwang with veiled hats, and the three traveled toward the refugee camp.
• Jiang Yingcheng and the men visited charitable institutions, spending all the gold nuggets in her purse.
• On the late-night carriage ride back to the city, Jiang Yingcheng offered to treat her uncles to drinks at the Heavenly Fragrance House, alarming them.

Lu Yao exposed Mu Hui’s plan to rescue Xie Jinrou and set his men to track the fugitives. Meanwhile, Jiang Yingcheng, Liaochen, and Zhong Chengwang visited the Heavenly Fragrance House to meet Lin Yin, leaving the madam shocked by their arrival.

• Mu Hui pretended to be drunk, unlocked Xie Jinrou’s cell, and fled with her from the Imperial Prison.
• Lu Yao revealed that he had anticipated Mu Hui’s betrayal and ordered his men to coordinate with Xu Jiu and prepare to capture the fugitives.
• Jiang Yingcheng, Liaochen, and Zhong Chengwang arrived at the Heavenly Fragrance House, drawing stunned silence from the street.
• Jiang Yingcheng asked to see Lin Yin and offered the madam a banknote, while also requesting four portions of Hibiscus Pastry.
• The madam led the group to Lin Yin’s room and announced that she had guests.

Jiang Yingcheng waited at the Heavenly Fragrance House for Wu Leyong, while he followed Xie Jinrou and Mu Something-hui as they tried to escape the city. After soldiers intercepted them, Wu Leyong was driven to Lin Yin’s room, where Liaochen and Zhong Chengwang were waiting to seize him.

• Jiang Yingcheng used pastries to wait with Liaochen and Zhong Chengwang for Wu Leyong, revealing that she expected him to seek out Lin Yin.
• Wu Leyong followed Xie Jinrou and Mu Something-hui toward a city gate as they discussed escaping and marrying.
• Soldiers ambushed Xie Jinrou and Mu Something-hui at the gate and called for Wu Leyong to come out of hiding.
• Liaochen hid the unconscious Lin Yin while Jiang Yingcheng answered Wu Leyong’s signal at the window.
• Wu Leyong entered the room and was immediately attacked by Liaochen and Zhong Chengwang.

Jiang Yingcheng confronted Wu Leyong and revealed what her imperial father had learned about Wu’s family and Xie Jinrou, leaving Wu shaken. Elsewhere, Kan Ruifeng and Lei Zhixin’s men surrounded the Pan Residence and prepared to act.

• Jiang Yingcheng tried to comfort Wu Leyong by patting his head and feeding him a pastry while Liaochen restrained him.
• Wu Leyong asked why Jiang Yingcheng was there and demanded to be released, but she refused because he might report to Eastern Li.
• Jiang Yingcheng told Wu Leyong that the ruler of Eastern Li had his family beheaded and that her imperial father had learned of it from a secret letter in Xie Jinrou’s bundle.
• Wu Leyong demanded to know whether Jiang Yingcheng was telling the truth, and she offered to take him to ask Xie Jinrou.
• Lei Zhixin spotted their target fleeing into the Pan Residence, and Kan Ruifeng led the soldiers out to begin their operation with Lu Yao waiting outside.

Kan Ruifeng’s soldiers searched the Pan Residence and captured Xie Jinrou, while Jiang Yingcheng arrived at the Imperial Prison with her companions to begin a rescue plan. The chapter ended with Jiang Yingcheng tearfully greeting Lu Yao, who had just returned to the prison.

• Kan Ruifeng surrounded the Pan Residence and persuaded Pan Jifeng to let his soldiers search for Xie Jinrou.
• Xie Jinrou tried to flee through the garden as the soldiers searched, while Dong Kangsheng slipped out of a hidden passage in the rockery.
• Lu Yao escorted Xie Jinrou out of the residence, and Pan Jifeng hurried to the garden after learning where she had been found.
• Jiang Yingcheng went to the Imperial Prison with Liaochen, Zhong Chengwang, and Wu Leyong, who disguised themselves with Human-Skin Masks.
• Jiang Yingcheng failed to reach the prison gate’s door ring, so Liaochen knocked for her.
• Lu Yao prepared for Jiang Yingcheng’s arrival, then watched her turn from angry to tearful and run toward him.