Chapter Summaries

Hu Xiaotian secretly met his parents in Water Well Alley, where he revealed to Hu Buwei that he had not been castrated and offered to help them escape. After Ji Feihua secured Hu Xiaotian's cooperation by promising to protect his parents, he took him to drink beneath West Phoenix Bridge.

• Hu Xiaotian and Hu Buwei secretly exchanged messages in charcoal, and Hu Buwei warned that the Emperor kept him alive because he knew the secret to Great Kang's wealth.
• Hu Xiaotian told Hu Buwei that he had not been castrated, but Hu Buwei refused to flee and urged him to stay alive and not visit again.
• Xu Fengyi and Liang Dazhuang waited outside while a black-clad spy watched the family and reported their written conversation to Ji Feihua.
• Hu Xiaotian thanked Ji Feihua for arranging the visit, and Ji Feihua promised to keep his parents safe if Hu Xiaotian obeyed him.
• Ji Feihua took Hu Xiaotian to drink with an elderly couple beneath West Phoenix Bridge during the first heavy snowfall of winter.

Ji Feihua forced Hu Xiaotian to decide Rong Baoxing’s fate, and Hu Xiaotian killed the eunuch before warning Ji Feihua that Wen Ya might be bait. Hu Xiaotian returned to Bright Moon Palace and found Wen Ya waiting outside in the snow.

• Ji Feihua revealed that Rong Baoxing had stolen Hu Xiaotian’s Black Tiger Whip and let Hu decide how to punish him.
• Hu Xiaotian crushed Rong Baoxing’s throat, and Ji Feihua praised his Dark Nether Yin Wind Claw.
• Hu Xiaotian warned Ji Feihua that Wen Ya might be bait, but Ji Feihua insisted he would not tolerate her presence and returned the Black Tiger Whip to Hu.
• Hu Xiaotian returned to Bright Moon Palace and found Wen Ya waiting in the snow, where he urged her to go inside and rest.

Hu Xiaotian dealt with a nighttime intruder at the Bright Moon Palace and grew suspicious of the guards’ unusually convenient arrival. After the palace search ended, Baobao secretly visited him and said she had something to tell him.

• Wen Ya asked Hu Xiaotian to recite a poem, and he shared a lyric he had written during a snowfall.
• Imperial guards led by Chen Chengqiang rushed into the Bright Moon Palace after a thief was spotted fleeing across its roof.
• Wen Ya allowed Chen Chengqiang’s men to search the palace, but they found no sign of the intruder.
• Hu Xiaotian questioned whether the break-in had been staged and wondered if Ji Feihua was behind it.
• Baobao came to Hu Xiaotian’s room in the night, embraced him, and said she had something to tell him.

Hu Xiaotian and Baobao caught Ma Liangpeng lurking outside Hu Xiaotian’s room and killed him after he tried to escape. When Wutong accused Hu Xiaotian of murdering him to silence a witness, Hu Xiaotian denied it and claimed Ma Liangpeng had attacked them.

• Baobao told Hu Xiaotian she had seen Ma Liangpeng sneaking around with Qiuyan and Wutong secretly releasing a bird.
• After Baobao heard someone outside the window, Hu Xiaotian lured the lurker into the open and fought him with Baobao’s help.
• Hu Xiaotian and Baobao wounded and subdued the masked intruder, revealing him to be Ma Liangpeng.
• When Ma Liangpeng cried for help as Wutong and others arrived, Hu Xiaotian snapped his neck, and Baobao pretended to be terrified.
• Hu Xiaotian told Chen Chengqiang that Ma Liangpeng had attacked Baobao and that he had killed him while defending her.
• Wutong insisted she had seen Hu Xiaotian murder Ma Liangpeng to silence him, while Hu Xiaotian denied her accusation.

After Ma Liangpeng was killed in Bright Moon Palace, Wen Ya shielded Hu Xiaotian from the guards’ investigation and ordered Baobao to leave the next day. Hu Xiaotian then went to Ji Feihua, where a conversation about arranging plum blossoms led him to advise against striving for perfection.

• Wutong accused Hu Xiaotian of killing Ma Liangpeng, while Hu Xiaotian denied her claims and argued with Commander Chen Chengqiang.
• Wen Ya dismissed the guards’ suspicions of Hu Xiaotian, ordered them to take Ma Liangpeng’s corpse, and sent Wang Ren and Qiuyan to bring Baobao inside.
• After Wutong left, Wen Ya told Hu Xiaotian to have Baobao leave the following day and revealed that she had heard Ma Liangpeng’s cries for help.
• Hu Xiaotian learned that Ma Liangpeng had been one of Ji Feihua’s men and went to the Directorate of Internal Affairs to see Ji Feihua.
• Ji Feihua asked Hu Xiaotian how to arrange a branch of red plum blossoms in a porcelain vase, and Hu Xiaotian urged him to value curiosity over perfection.

Hu Xiaotian persuaded Ji Feihua that killing Ma Liangpeng could help preserve his cover, and Ji Feihua ordered him to eliminate Wutong. After Hu Xiaotian left, Lin Wan revealed that he possessed the Rejuvenation Flute and the antidote to the Myriad Insects Bone-Eroding Pill, leaving Ji Feihua to suspect that another of Hong Beimo’s accomplices was in the palace.

• Hu Xiaotian tossed a plum branch into a vase, and Ji Feihua admitted that Ma Liangpeng had been his subordinate.
• Ji Feihua deduced that Hu Xiaotian and Baobao had killed Ma Liangpeng, but decided to use the incident to strengthen Hu Xiaotian’s cover.
• Ji Feihua ordered Hu Xiaotian to secretly kill Wutong and cut off Wen Ya’s contact with the outside world.
• After Hu Xiaotian left, Ji Feihua destroyed the plum branch and spoke with Lin Wan, who had overheard their conversation.
• Lin Wan told Ji Feihua that Hu Xiaotian had used the Rejuvenation Flute on her and possessed the antidote to the Myriad Insects Bone-Eroding Pill.
• Ji Feihua confirmed Lin Wan was telling the truth, while she urged him to arrest and torture Hu Xiaotian.

Ji Feihua ordered Lin Wan to stay in Lingyu Hall, while Lin Wan confronted Baobao over her hidden knowledge and her growing attachment to Hu Xiaotian. After returning to Bright Moon Palace, Hu Xiaotian learned Baobao was leaving, and she came to say goodbye without revealing where she would go.

• Ji Feihua told Lin Wan to remain in Lingyu Hall and forbade her from visiting him through the secret passage without permission.
• Lin Wan accused Baobao of hiding the Revival Flute and helping set a trap that let Ji Feihua target Hu Xiaotian, and Baobao resolved to question their godfather.
• Wang Ren resumed sweeping Bright Moon Palace after Hu Xiaotian had killed Ma Liangpeng, and Hu Xiaotian returned without having been punished.
• Hu Xiaotian suspected Baobao had deliberately lured Ma Liangpeng into following her so he would expose and kill the spy.
• Baobao told Hu Xiaotian she had been expelled from Bright Moon Palace and came to say goodbye, while he offered to ask Wen Ya to reverse the order.

Hu Xiaotian comforted Baobao before Wen Ya allowed her to remain in Bright Moon Palace. He accompanied Wen Ya to Purple Orchid Palace, where she presented Long Xiyue with Wen Boyuan’s painting, and his frank criticism angered Wen Ya.

• Hu Xiaotian comforted the tearful Baobao, who embraced him before leaving his room.
• Wen Ya changed her mind and let Baobao stay, then ordered Hu Xiaotian to accompany her to Purple Orchid Palace.
• Wen Ya presented Long Xiyue with a painting by Wen Boyuan, but Long Xiyue returned it after Wen Ya said she cherished it.
• Long Xiyue and Wen Ya pressed Hu Xiaotian to give his opinion of the painting, and he called it somewhat gaudy and vulgar.
• Wen Ya rebuked Hu Xiaotian, pointing out that Wen Boyuan had studied under Liu Qingshan and was a prized pupil.

Hu Xiaotian warned Wen Ya that her painting for Princess Anping could endanger the Wen family, then arranged to visit Long Xiyue secretly that night. After sleeping through the appointed time, he set out anyway in the heavy snow.

• Hu Xiaotian embarrassed Wen Ya by interpreting her painting as indecent, while Long Xiyue found his remarks amusing.
• Hu Xiaotian warned Wen Ya that the gift could be used against her family because Princess Anping was betrothed to Xue Chuanming, and Wen Ya admitted she had not considered the risk.
• Hu Xiaotian signaled Long Xiyue that he would visit her at the first watch, then refused Wen Ya’s demand that he kneel and returned to the Palace Gardens Bureau.
• Hu Xiaotian slept until late at night, realized the first watch had passed, and quietly headed toward the wine cellar despite the heavy snow.

Hu Xiaotian secretly visited the Purple Orchid Palace hoping to meet Long Xiyue, but Li Yuncong caught him and led him through a hidden entrance into the sixth floor of the Library Pavilion. There, Hu Xiaotian discussed the deaths at Bright Moon Palace, Baobao, and a poison investigation with Li Yuncong, who denied involvement in the Myriad Insects Bone-Eroding Pill; the chapter ended with Li Yuncong asking how Hu Xiaotian’s investigation was progressing.

• Hu Xiaotian entered the Purple Orchid Palace through the Secret Passage and watched Long Xiyue come outside with a lantern, but Li Yuncong stopped him before he could approach her.
• Li Yuncong escorted Hu Xiaotian back through the tunnel and revealed a hidden exit beneath the Library Pavilion’s Literary Sage Statue.
• Li Yuncong told Hu Xiaotian they were on the Library Pavilion’s sixth floor, then questioned him about the deaths at Bright Moon Palace.
• Hu Xiaotian explained that he had killed Ma Liangpeng, a spy sent by Ji Feihua, and described how he had used Li Yuncong’s Rejuvenation Flute on Baobao.
• Hu Xiaotian reported that Lin Wan and others had been poisoned with the Myriad Insects Bone-Eroding Pill, but Li Yuncong denied having anything to do with it.
• Li Yuncong asked Hu Xiaotian how the investigation he had assigned him was going.

Hu Xiaotian visited the Imperial Medical Academy to see Qin Yutong, where they reunited and discussed their past separation. Princess Anping arrived to visit Qin Yutong, leaving Hu Xiaotian concerned about the princess’s friendship with her.

• Hu Xiaotian discussed Lin Wan and his stalled cultivation with Li Yuncong, then slept through the morning as heavy snow blanketed the palace.
• After Xiao Dengzi reported that Qin Yutong was treating patients at the Imperial Medical Academy, Hu Xiaotian went to see her.
• Hu Xiaotian and Qin Yutong reunited, exchanged apologies and thanks, and helped treat an injured young eunuch.
• Princess Anping arrived and greeted Qin Yutong warmly, while Hu Xiaotian realized they were close friends and worried about Anping.

Hu Xiaotian comforted Princess Anping, then challenged Qin Yutong over her acceptance of the princess’s political marriage. As he left the Imperial Medical Academy, Long Tingzhen confronted him and demanded a poem, but the Third Prince’s sudden greeting to his elder brother interrupted the encounter.

• Princess Anping spoke with Qin Yutong, then apologized to Hu Xiaotian for involving him in trouble and urged him to take care of himself.
• Hu Xiaotian argued that Qin Yutong should help Princess Anping rather than excuse her arranged marriage as a sacrifice for national interests.
• Hu Xiaotian left the Imperial Medical Academy and encountered Long Tingzhen, who made him kneel in the snow and demanded that he compose a poem.
• Hu Xiaotian pleaded that he could not compose poetry, and Long Tingzhen abruptly greeted his approaching elder brother.

Hu Xiaotian escaped Long Tingzhen’s demand for a poem and earned the First Prince Long Tingsheng’s apparent favor by offering to find medicine. Back at the Palace Gardens Bureau, he reunited with Baobao, then learned Wen Ya had summoned him and that Chen Chengqiang had searched his room; he suspected Wen Ya was becoming wary of his relationship with Baobao.

• Long Tingsheng intervened when Long Tingzhen made Hu Xiaotian kneel in the snow and demand a poem, then praised Hu and asked him to help find medicinal ingredients.
• Hu Xiaotian offered to check the Palace Gardens Bureau’s medicine room and returned there with Long Tingsheng’s prescription.
• Hu Xiaotian found Baobao waiting in his room, flirted with her, and told her he intended to marry her; Baobao then stopped him from getting carried away.
• Baobao told Hu Xiaotian that Wen Ya wanted him back, that the Emperor had given Wen Ya rare gifts, and that Chen Chengqiang’s guards had searched his room with Wen Ya’s approval.
• Hu Xiaotian suspected Wen Ya was deliberately working against him and discussed with Baobao how Grand Tutor Wen might try to secure Wen Ya the Emperor’s favor.

Hu Xiaotian went to Bright Moon Palace at Wen Ya’s summons, where Empress Jian defended Wen Ya while threatening to remove him from his Palace Gardens Bureau duties. Afterward, Chen Chengqiang questioned Hu about Ma Liangpeng’s murder and used suspicious evidence to pressure him into becoming his friend.

• Hu Xiaotian left the Palace Gardens Bureau with Baobao and went to Bright Moon Palace, where he intimidated Zhao Jinxi for calling him “Little Hu.”
• Empress Jian criticized Hu for neglecting Wen Ya and threatened to transfer his duties, but Wen Ya defended him and said she had sent him to work at the bureau.
• Empress Jian departed as Chen Chengqiang arrived to ask Hu about the murder at Bright Moon Palace.
• Hu tried to leave, but Chen’s guards blocked him, and Chen questioned him about Ma Liangpeng’s death, hair found on his bed, and roof tiles from his room.
• Chen suggested someone had killed Ma Liangpeng to conceal a secret and hinted that he could report Hu, then said he wanted Hu to become his friend.
• Hu suspected Chen was threatening him for some hidden purpose and wondered which side had sent him.

When Emperor Long Yelin visited Bright Moon Palace, he developed severe abdominal pain after drinking tea and suspected poison. Hu Xiaotian examined him and suspected a sudden attack of kidney stones as the chapter ended.

• Long Yelin visited Bright Moon Palace, where Wen Ya charmed him and Hu Xiaotian grew jealous as the emperor took her hand.
• Long Yelin dismissed the attendants so he could speak privately with Wen Ya, but soon cried out with severe abdominal pain and accused the tea of being poisoned.
• Hu Xiaotian blamed Wutong, who denied tampering with the tea, and slapped her as guards surrounded her.
• Hu Xiaotian offered to examine Long Yelin, identified the pain as a possible acute surgical abdomen, and tapped his flank, worsening the emperor's pain.
• Long Yelin pointed to his right flank and said he needed to relieve himself, while Hu Xiaotian suspected kidney stones rather than poisoning.

Hu Xiaotian diagnosed Long Yelin with kidney stones and helped him pass one, earning the emperor’s gratitude and drawing attention to his own identity. The chapter ended as Ji Feihua arrived at Bright Moon Palace, leaving Hu Xiaotian newly noticed by the emperor and wary of the powerful eunuch.

• Long Yelin passed bloody urine and suspected Wen Ya and the palace servants had poisoned him, but Hu Xiaotian diagnosed kidney stones instead.
• Qin Yutong relieved Long Yelin’s pain with gold needles, and Hu Xiaotian told him to drink water and jump down steps to help pass the stone.
• Long Yelin passed a small stone, and Hu Xiaotian called it a “dragon crystal” to flatter him.
• Long Yelin learned Hu Xiaotian was the son of the disgraced official Hu Buwei and considered rewarding him for his treatment.
• Ji Feihua arrived at Bright Moon Palace, and Long Yelin briefly showed unease before ordering Hu Xiaotian to rise.

After Long Yelin recovered from his sudden illness, Hu Xiaotian and Ji Feihua raised suspicions about the tea served in Bright Moon Palace and Wutong’s role in the incident. Ji Feihua left Wutong with Wen Ya for now, saying that proving the tea was poisoned would not establish Wen Ya’s guilt and that he needed more patience.

• Ji Feihua secured Hu Xiaotian a Coiling Dragon Gold Plaque and Long Yelin’s permission for him to visit his parents openly.
• Wen Ya pleaded her innocence before Long Yelin, but Hu Xiaotian argued that the tea might have triggered the emperor’s illness and called for it to be examined.
• Long Yelin ordered Ji Feihua to investigate, and Ji Feihua had Wutong brought in for questioning.
• Wen Ya defended Wutong and asked that she not be taken away until the tea was examined; Qin Yutong took the teapot to inspect it with her master.
• Outside Bright Moon Palace, Ji Feihua told Hu Xiaotian that even poisoned tea would not prove Wen Ya’s involvement and urged patience.

Hu Xiaotian found Qiuyan dead at Bright Moon Palace, and Murong Zhan arrested Wang Ren and took Wutong away for investigation. Left with few allies, Wen Ya stopped Hu Xiaotian as he warned her that others might force a confession from Wutong.

• Hu Xiaotian returned to Bright Moon Palace and Wen Ya told him she would report his actions to the Empress and wanted him to leave.
• Qiuyan collapsed and died, and Wang Ren insisted he had found her that way.
• Hu Xiaotian encountered Murong Zhan and brought him to Bright Moon Palace, where Murong Zhan found a fine silver needle in Qiuyan's neck and ordered Wang Ren taken for questioning.
• Murong Zhan revealed that His Majesty had ordered him to take Wutong for investigation, and Wen Ya could not prevent him from doing so.
• Hu Xiaotian warned Wen Ya that Wutong might be forced into confessing, and Wen Ya stopped him to ask whether he suspected someone would torture her confidante.

After Bright Moon Palace’s recent deaths and arrests, Wen Ya tried to seek the Empress’s help while Hu Xiaotian comforted her and grew closer to Baobao. The chapter ended with Zhang Fuquan summoning Hu Xiaotian for a private talk, though Quan Dean was absent.

• Wen Ya asked Hu Xiaotian to clear the palace paths and accompany her to seek an audience with Empress Jian, but Baobao reported that the Empress was unwell and unavailable.
• Hu Xiaotian persuaded Wen Ya to eat Bird's Nest Porridge, and she suggested she understood why he had come to Bright Moon Palace.
• Hu Xiaotian and Baobao shared food and wine, discussed the danger surrounding Bright Moon Palace, and he promised to protect her.
• Zhang Fuquan summoned Hu Xiaotian to his residence, where Hu Xiaotian learned that Quan Dean was absent because His Majesty was unwell.

Hu Xiaotian drank with Zhang Dequan, who kept him at the Directorate of Imperial Cuisine until midnight, then returned to Bright Moon Palace and found a masked intruder fleeing the roof. He rushed into the chambers and discovered a headless guard’s corpse, while Wen Ya and Baobao remained unaccounted for.

• Zhang Dequan congratulated Hu Xiaotian on receiving the Coiling Dragon Gold Plaque and questioned him about the incidents at Bright Moon Palace and the emperor’s recovery.
• Zhang Dequan asked to see Hu Xiaotian’s plaque and repeatedly urged him to stay for more wine and conversation.
• Hu Xiaotian left Zhang Dequan’s residence at midnight and returned to Bright Moon Palace through the main entrance.
• Hu Xiaotian spotted a masked figure on the palace roof and shouted for the guards, but the intruder quickly escaped.
• Hu Xiaotian entered the chambers, found a headless guard’s corpse, and called for Wen Ya and Baobao.