Chapter Summaries

Hu Xiaotian and Xi Yan searched an underground chamber while Hong Beimo maneuvered to secure Long Tingzhen’s claim to the throne and arranged for Hu Xiaotian to be killed. The chapter ended with Qiqi arriving to see Long Xuan'en, unaware of the court’s plans.

• Hu Xiaotian examined a strange skull and sword hilt in the jade box, while Xi Yan teased him about marriage before their search stalled at a locked stone door.
• Hong Beimo told Long Tingzhen that Long Xuan'en had agreed to reveal his existence but remained reluctant to name him crown prince, and Long Tingzhen pledged to share the realm with Hong Beimo if he gained the throne.
• Hong Beimo told Long Tingzhen that Princess Yongyang and Hu Xiaotian would marry on the sixteenth day of the fifth month, prompting Long Tingzhen to rage over Hu Xiaotian’s influence and Qiqi’s possible claim to the throne.
• Hong Beimo told Unenlightened to kill Hu Xiaotian when he arrived on the sixteenth day; Unenlightened suspected Hu Xiaotian might be the man who had rescued the white-haired stranger but kept his suspicion to himself.
• Qiqi arrived early at the Hall of Mental Cultivation to request an audience with Long Xuan'en, and Yin Zheng told her that His Majesty was in a fairly good mood.

Qiqi met with Long Xuan'en, welcomed Long Tingzhen back, and offered to give up her royal title and residence. When she suggested that Long Tingzhen be named Crown Prince, Long Xuan'en angrily left, leaving Long Tingzhen suspecting the emperor never intended him to inherit the throne.

• Qiqi visited Long Xuan'en and pretended to be moved when he revealed that Long Tingzhen was alive.
• Qiqi asked Long Xuan'en to revoke her title of King Yongyang and return the Prince's Residence to Long Tingzhen.
• Long Xuan'en agreed to restore Long Tingzhen's residence and Divine Strategy Office, while Qiqi would continue leading the government until he learned its affairs.
• Qiqi suggested that Long Xuan'en appoint Long Tingzhen Crown Prince, but Long Xuan'en rebuked her and left.
• Wang Qian offered to speak with Long Xuan'en while Qiqi and Long Tingzhen went outside.

Hu Xiaotian reunited with Baobao in the Library Pavilion and learned that Hong Beimo and Princess Yongyang might be plotting together. After Li Yuncong revealed that Long Tingzhen had been restored to the throne, Hu Xiaotian arranged another use for the exposed secret passage and discovered that Xi Yan had left.

• Hu Xiaotian encountered Baobao in the Library Pavilion, where Li Yuncong stopped her from attacking him and she warned that Hong Beimo and Princess Yongyang seemed to be plotting something major.
• Li Yuncong told Hu Xiaotian that Murong Zhan had reported Ji Feihua's return and that Long Xuan'en had publicly restored Long Tingzhen to the throne after Princess Yongyang relinquished it.
• Hu Xiaotian asked Li Yuncong to bring someone else into the palace through the secret passage, and Li Yuncong agreed to help once more.
• Hu Xiaotian asked Li Yuncong about a historical account of heavenly fire striking people near the Kang Capital in Jiafeng's seventeenth year.
• Hu Xiaotian returned to Xi Yan's hiding place and found that she had left, taking the handle but leaving him a Ji Feihua mask.

Hu Xiaotian returned to the Kang Capital in disguise and met Yang Lingqi to discuss Princess Yongyang’s political moves and his need to approach her. After deciding to reveal himself sooner than planned, Hu Xiaotian chose to visit Chancellor Zhou Ruiyuan, while Liang Yinghao inspected a possible underground route into the palace.

• Hu Xiaotian sent Liang Yinghao into the palace with Li Yuncong to inspect the old secret passage and assess a route into the Imperial Palace.
• Hu Xiaotian told Zhan Peng to spread word at Heavenly Dragon Temple that Unenlightened was hiding in the palace and to invite Yang Lingqi to Swallowcloud Tower.
• Hu Xiaotian revealed his identity to Yang Lingqi, who warned him that Princess Yongyang was relinquishing the Prince’s Residence and Divine Strategy Office to Long Tingzhen and moving into the palace.
• Hu Xiaotian learned that Princess Yongyang had grown wary of his associates and decided he needed to speak with her face-to-face.
• Yang Lingqi advised Hu Xiaotian to account for Chancellor Zhou Ruiyuan and Grand Tutor Wen Chenghuan, so Hu Xiaotian decided to visit Zhou Ruiyuan first.

Hu Xiaotian visited Chancellor Zhou Ruiyuan in disguise to seek his help against the emperor’s plan to marry him to Princess Yongyang and weaken him. He used secrets about Zhou’s family to break through his reluctance, and Zhou acknowledged the danger of the emperor’s actions before Hu asked about Long Tingzhen.

• Hu Xiaotian entered Zhou Ruiyuan’s residence under the name Chu Qingfeng and revealed his identity after dismissing the servants.
• Hu Xiaotian asked Zhou for guidance about his precarious position, but Zhou refused to get involved in the court’s power struggle.
• Hu Xiaotian raised Zhou’s late wife and the Master of Mei Manor, using information from Ji Feihua’s ledger to force Zhou to listen.
• Hu Xiaotian explained that the emperor meant to lure him into the capital and trap or eliminate him, while Zhou agreed that attacking him would weaken Great Kang.
• Hu Xiaotian called the emperor senile and selfish, then asked Zhou whether he had heard about Long Tingzhen.

Hu Xiaotian warned Zhou Ruiyuan that Hong Beimo might be maneuvering to put Long Tingzhen on the throne and preserve the Imperial Mausoleum project, then asked Zhou to influence the emperor. Hu Xiaotian arrived unexpectedly at King Yongyang's Residence as Qiqi prepared to return it to her brother, and objected to her decision.

• Hu Xiaotian told Zhou Ruiyuan that the emperor might be losing faith in Hong Beimo and that Hong could support Long Tingzhen's accession to keep the Imperial Mausoleum under construction.
• Hu Xiaotian asked Zhou Ruiyuan to learn the emperor's intentions and make him understand that Hu was not his greatest enemy.
• Qiqi ordered Quan Dean's men to take down the plaque at King Yongyang's Residence and prepare to return the residence to Long Tingzhen.
• Hu Xiaotian rode up unexpectedly, embraced Qiqi in front of the gathered attendants, and questioned why she was removing the plaque.
• Qiqi said she would also return the Divine Strategy Office to Long Tingzhen, but Hu Xiaotian told her to wait and said she had not discussed the decision with him.

Hu Xiaotian returned to the Kang Capital and discussed the emperor’s political pressure with Qiqi, who remained wary of their betrothal even as he promised to protect her. As they toured their future residence, Hu Xiaotian grew suspicious of the renovations, while Long Xuan'en and Zhou Ruiyuan discussed rumors about the crown prince.

• Qiqi welcomed Hu Xiaotian to the Prince's Residence, and they discussed his return, the emperor’s summons, and the political threat to Qiqi’s power.
• Hu Xiaotian promised that he would not let anyone hurt Qiqi, but she urged him to leave and teased that the imperial family could break off their engagement.
• Hu Xiaotian toured the renovated Prince Consort's Residence with Qiqi and suspected that the extravagant construction could be a trap to ruin their reputations.
• Hong Beimo greeted Hu Xiaotian at the residence and said he had preserved the old furnishings; Hu Xiaotian planned to send servants to oversee the property.
• Zhou Ruiyuan told Long Xuan'en that Hu Xiaotian had returned early and that the Yong River Navy was drilling at Cloud Marsh, then raised rumors that the emperor intended to name a crown prince.

Zhou Ruiyuan urged Long Xuan'en to appease Hu Xiaotian while advising caution over naming Long Tingzhen heir apparent. After Long Xuan'en refused to receive Qiqi and Hu Xiaotian, Long Tingzhen approached them at the palace.

• Long Xuan'en asked Zhou Ruiyuan whether he should name Long Tingzhen heir apparent and lamented Great Kang's declining power.
• Zhou Ruiyuan recommended rewarding Hu Xiaotian to appease him and delay any confrontation that could trigger civil war.
• Zhou Ruiyuan advised Long Xuan'en to observe Long Tingzhen longer before naming him heir apparent, and Long Xuan'en remarked that Qiqi surpassed him in ability and insight.
• Qiqi and Hu Xiaotian arrived to pay their respects, but Long Xuan'en claimed to be unwell and refused to see them.
• Hu Xiaotian prepared to leave while Qiqi stayed at the Palace of Gathered Elegance, but Long Tingzhen approached them.

Hu Xiaotian deliberately provoked Long Tingzhen, then entered the palace with Qiqi to meet Long Xuan'en and discuss their wedding. He praised the emperor’s generosity but declared that the prepared Prince Consort’s Residence was unsuitable for Qiqi, leaving Long Xuan'en asking what needed changing.

• Qiqi warned Hu Xiaotian to mind his manners, but he traded insults with Long Tingzhen until Qiqi intervened.
• Hu Xiaotian told Qiqi that Long Tingzhen had done nothing during Great Kang’s crisis and was undeserving of the rewards, while Qiqi worried that Hu Xiaotian would disrupt her plans.
• Wang Qian invited Qiqi and Hu Xiaotian to see Long Xuan'en after the emperor felt better.
• Long Xuan'en welcomed Hu Xiaotian, teased the couple about their affection, and granted him leave to stay in the Kang Capital until the wedding.
• When Long Xuan'en asked about wedding arrangements, Hu Xiaotian said the Prince Consort’s Residence was unsuitable for Qiqi, surprising her and prompting the emperor to ask what was wrong.

Hu Xiaotian challenged Long Xuan'en over Qiqi’s treatment and used an emotional appeal to defend her, while pushing to make King Yongyang’s Residence their home. The chapter ended with Long Xuan'en suspecting Hu Xiaotian was blaming him for stripping Qiqi of her royal title.

• Hu Xiaotian rejected the Prince Consort's Residence and proposed that he and Qiqi live in King Yongyang's Residence, though Qiqi said she had already promised to return it to her third imperial brother.
• Hu Xiaotian questioned why Qiqi had lost her royal title, and Long Xuan'en claimed she had chosen to relinquish it herself.
• Hu Xiaotian praised Qiqi’s service to Great Kang and described the burdens she had carried while he was away, moving both Qiqi and Long Xuan'en.
• Hu Xiaotian accused Long Tingzhen of arrogance and disrespect toward Qiqi, and Long Xuan'en promised to investigate the matter.
• Long Xuan'en asked whether Hu Xiaotian was blaming him for stripping Qiqi of her royal title.

Qiqi persuaded Long Xuan'en to let her keep her royal title and King Yongyang's Residence despite Hu Xiaotian's provocative argument. Hu Xiaotian then discussed palace politics and Qiqi with Shi Xuedong, only for Qiqi to arrive and overhear their remarks.

• Hu Xiaotian argued that Qiqi should relinquish her title, but Long Xuan'en insisted she remain King Yongyang and keep King Yongyang's Residence.
• Qiqi grew angry with Hu Xiaotian and headed to the Palace of Gathered Elegance after learning he had gone to the Directorate of Imperial Cuisine.
• Hu Xiaotian met Yin Zheng, who told him that Zhou Ruiyuan had discussed the heir apparent with the emperor.
• Hu Xiaotian and Shi Xuedong ate and drank together, and Shi Xuedong warned that Great Kang was declining and criticized Qiqi as a prospective wife.
• Qiqi entered Shi Xuedong's room after overhearing his remarks, and Shi Xuedong dropped to his knees and slapped himself.

Qiqi challenged Hu Xiaotian over his interference in imperial affairs, while he urged her to seek the throne so they could protect themselves. Hong Beimo warned Long Tingzhen that Qiqi and Hu Xiaotian could threaten his succession, and Long Tingzhen resolved to turn against the emperor.

• Qiqi apologized to Shi Xuedong and then questioned Hu Xiaotian about why he had spoken against her third imperial brother.
• Hu Xiaotian argued that Long Tingzhen was unfit to rule and offered to help Qiqi become heir apparent, but Qiqi said she wanted only to marry him.
• Hu Xiaotian warned Qiqi that the emperor might move against them and that they needed to strike first to survive.
• Long Tingzhen flew into a rage after learning the emperor had restored Qiqi's residence and title, while Hong Beimo suggested Qiqi might become heir apparent.
• Hong Beimo stopped Long Tingzhen from rushing to kill Qiqi and Hu Xiaotian, and Long Tingzhen declared that he would show the emperor no loyalty if the emperor showed him no benevolence.

Qiqi questioned Hu Xiaotian about his past confidantes and his reasons for wanting to marry her, while he pretended to be drunk. After leaving the palace, Hu Xiaotian learned that most Imperial Guards had recently been replaced and secretly asked Zuo Tang to investigate the new guards’ backgrounds.

• Qiqi coaxed Hu Xiaotian into naming his past lady confidantes, including the late imperial aunt, Xue Lingjun, Yan Nujiao, and Lady Wen, then asked whether he truly wanted to marry her.
• Hu Xiaotian affirmed that he wanted to marry Qiqi but passed out before answering whom he loved most; Qiqi poured wine over him and stormed out, while he revealed he had only pretended to be drunk.
• Hu Xiaotian left the palace and was stopped at Jingsheng Gate because the new Imperial Guards required identity checks, until Zuo Tang recognized his Five-Colored Coiling Dragon Gold Plaque.
• Zuo Tang told Hu Xiaotian that most old Imperial Guards had been replaced over the past two months, with Steward Murong and Hong Beimo overseeing the screening.
• Hu Xiaotian offered work at his Prince Consort's Residence to the displaced guards and quietly tasked Zuo Tang with investigating the new guards and how they entered the Imperial Palace.

Hu Xiaotian questioned Quan Dean about court intrigues and the dangers facing Qiqi, while revealing his suspicions about Hong Beimo and the Imperial Mausoleum. He left Quan Dean knowing he intended to defend Qiqi’s rightful throne, though the old eunuch still doubted his motives.

• Hu Xiaotian returned to King Yongyang's Residence and told Quan Dean that the emperor had given it to him and the princess as their marital home.
• While bathing, Hu Xiaotian discussed Quan Dean’s past service to Qiqi and said the emperor wanted to keep him in Kang Capital to weaken his control of the Yong River Navy.
• Hu Xiaotian suspected Hong Beimo wanted something hidden in the Imperial Mausoleum and warned that its secrets could endanger Qiqi.
• Hu Xiaotian asked Quan Dean about Ling Jiazi and the former crown princess, then pointed out that the emperor had painted and kept her portrait.
• Hu Xiaotian warned that Long Tingzhen becoming Crown Prince could put Qiqi and him in danger, and declared that no one would take away what rightfully belonged to her.

Hu Xiaotian staged an assassination to turn suspicion against his enemies, but the plan was disrupted when Qiqi collapsed from apparent poisoning. After she regained consciousness and described being stung by a strange red bee, Hu Xiaotian suspected Xi Yan might be involved.

• Hu Xiaotian moved into King Yongyang's Residence, recruited former palace guards, opened an underground escape route, and used Ji Feihua's ledger to pressure court ministers.
• Hu Xiaotian staged an attack on himself and arrived at the Prince Consort's Residence with an arrow wound, intending to accuse his enemies of plotting against him.
• A eunuch reported that Qiqi had fallen gravely ill, so Hu Xiaotian hurried to the palace and Hong Beimo followed.
• Quan Dean told Hu Xiaotian and Hong Beimo that Qiqi had been poisoned, and Hu Xiaotian found her unconscious in the Palace of Gathered Elegance.
• Qiqi woke and said a red bee had stung her left shoulder; Hu Xiaotian saw a red mark there and wondered whether Xi Yan had caused it.

Qiqi was poisoned by a king-level Crimson Flame Mad Bee, and Hu Xiaotian struggled to keep her stable while the emperor and Hong Beimo suspected one another. Meng Zizai identified a Dark Nether Ice Toad as the cure, leaving Hu Xiaotian worried that Xi Yan possessed the only one he knew of.

• Qiqi’s condition worsened, so Hu Xiaotian sent for his medicine chest while Quan Dean summoned help and the Old Emperor arrived at her bedside.
• Hong Beimo identified the bee as a queen-level Crimson Flame Mad Bee, while Long Xuan'en suspected Hong Beimo and urged him to find a way to save Qiqi.
• Hu Xiaotian fed Qiqi a Blood-Cleansing Pill and removed a tiny vermilion stinger from her shoulder.
• Meng Zizai arrived, confirmed that a king bee had stung Qiqi, and explained that a Dark Nether Ice Toad could draw out the venom.
• Hu Xiaotian remembered that Xi Yan had taken a Dark Nether Ice Toad and feared she might refuse to help if she had poisoned Qiqi.

Hu Xiaotian agreed to risk himself to save Qiqi, but suspected Meng Zizai’s proposed treatment was a trap. Xi Yan revealed that she had come to warn him before Murong Zhan, Hong Beimo, and Meng Zizai cornered her, leaving Hu Xiaotian realizing she had risked herself for his sake.

• Meng Zizai told Hu Xiaotian that he could save Qiqi through Palace-Shifting Blood Exchange, and Hu Xiaotian agreed after their blood was found compatible.
• Long Xuan'en privately asked Hu Xiaotian about the attempt on his life, and Hu Xiaotian implied that Hong Beimo had arranged the secret visit where the attack occurred.
• Hu Xiaotian met Xi Yan disguised as Murong Zhan, learned she had attacked Qiqi, and let her go despite demanding the Dark Nether Ice Toad.
• Xi Yan began warning Hu Xiaotian about a trap, but the real Murong Zhan appeared and joined Hong Beimo and Meng Zizai in blocking her escape.
• Xi Yan fought back with bombs and needles, and Hu Xiaotian realized she had risked coming to warn him rather than harm Qiqi.

Xi Yan was exposed as the woman who had impersonated Murong Zhan after she tried to warn Hu Xiaotian and was badly injured. As the men argued over who would take her, she accused Meng Zizai and Murong Zhan of trying to silence her and challenged Meng Zizai over the princess’s missing antidote.

• Meng Zizai emerged unharmed from Xi Yan’s phosphorus fire bombs, struck her down, and Hu Xiaotian secretly softened the force of his attack before shielding her from Murong Zhan’s sword.
• Hu Xiaotian stopped Murong Zhan from killing Xi Yan, removed her Human-Skin Mask, and claimed he had mistaken her for Murong Zhan.
• Meng Zizai identified Xi Yan as the Saintess of the Five Immortals Cult, and Hu Xiaotian admitted that he knew her from escorting the Prince of Zhou to Xiezhou.
• Hong Beimo, Murong Zhan, and Hu Xiaotian disputed who should take Xi Yan until Quan Dean arrived, and Hu Xiaotian agreed to hand her over to him.
• Xi Yan resisted Quan Dean’s threats, accused Meng Zizai and Murong Zhan of trying to silence her, and challenged Meng Zizai to explain why he had not saved the princess.

Hu Xiaotian and Quan Dean pressured Xi Yan to reveal a cure for Qiqi, while Hu Xiaotian grew suspicious of Meng Zizai’s motives. Xi Yan finally told Hu Xiaotian where she had hidden the Dark Nether Ice Toad, leaving him moved by her willingness to help him.

• Hu Xiaotian promised Xi Yan safe passage from the Imperial Palace if she cured Qiqi, but she refused and Quan Dean knocked her unconscious.
• Meng Zizai questioned Hu Xiaotian about unusual substances in his blood, but Hu Xiaotian refused to let him take his pulse.
• Quan Dean summoned Hu Xiaotian and said he suspected someone had tried to kill Xi Yan to conceal their role in poisoning the princess.
• Quan Dean asked Hu Xiaotian to persuade Xi Yan to cure Qiqi and promised to spare her if she did.
• Xi Yan woke, told Hu Xiaotian she would listen only to him, and revealed where she had hidden the Dark Nether Ice Toad.

Long Xuan'en heard Hong Beimo accuse Hu Xiaotian and Li Wuyou of conspiring against Qiqi, while remaining suspicious of Hong Beimo himself. Hu Xiaotian used Xi Yan’s Dark Nether Ice Toad to remove Qiqi’s poison, then went to see Xi Yan just as Murong Zhan arrived to take her away.

• Murong Zhan reported the palace attack to Long Xuan'en, who ordered him to investigate and find the plot’s mastermind within a day.
• Hong Beimo told Long Xuan'en that the captured Xi Yan was Li Wuyou, the daughter of Li Tianheng and Hu Xiaotian’s former betrothed, and suggested the two had targeted Qiqi together.
• Long Xuan'en suspected Hong Beimo was the true threat, while Hong Beimo worried that Murong Zhan and Meng Zizai had tried to kill Xi Yan to conceal something.
• Hu Xiaotian used the Dark Nether Ice Toad to draw the bee venom from Qiqi, who awoke and asked him to stay with her.
• Hu Xiaotian went to the room where Xi Yan was imprisoned, but Quan Dean warned him against entering and Murong Zhan arrived with guards to take her away on Long Xuan'en’s orders.