Recaps

After waking from his coma, Qi Yuanzuo used his childhood vulnerability to secure his father’s affection and build support among his brothers while navigating palace rivalries. The Qi Emperor prepared to take him to the Double Ninth Banquet, where Qi Yuanzuo was to meet Grand Commandant Yin as his maternal grandfather.

• Qi Yuanzuo woke from his coma, recognized the Qi Emperor, his tutor, and Bolao from his memories of a disastrous future, and learned from system 88 that it had no useful abilities to offer.
• The Qi Emperor protected Qi Yuanzuo and punished Wet Nurse Zhang after discovering that she had kept him hungry, while Qi Yuanzuo cultivated the Eldest Prince’s loyalty and rejected Bolao’s suggestion to give flowers to the Third Prince.
• Qi Yuanzuo challenged the Empress Dowager after she humiliated Lady Yin, and Bolao rescued him from the incense burner she hurled at him before the Qi Emperor carried him away.
• Qi Yuanzuo and the Qi Emperor exposed Xi Ming’s misconduct, and the Qi Emperor exiled Xi Ming to Lingnan while Qi Yuanzuo confronted Bolao’s attempts to manipulate him and made him pledge obedience.
• During a storm, Qi Yuanzuo hid his chest pain to avoid disturbing the Qi Emperor, who rushed to his bedside, gave him a blood jade bracelet, and agreed to be summoned whenever he felt ill.
• Qi Yuanzuo visited Consort Xian with her tabby cat and startled Qi Chengyou by kissing him, prompting the Qi Emperor to decide to find Qi Yuanzuo a Grand Tutor after the Double Ninth Banquet.
• At the Imperial Garden, Qi Yuanzuo watched Lady Xiao dance and anticipated the Double Ninth Banquet, while the Qi Emperor told him to address Grand Commandant Yin as his maternal grandfather.

Qi Yuanzuo uncovered plots against himself and the royal family while drawing Jiang Liang and the princes into his orbit. After the Empress Dowager’s violent confrontation with the Qi Emperor, he protected Jiang Liang from Zhaoyi Wei and left the palace tensions unresolved.

• Qi Yuanzuo rescued the Third Prince from Lady Zhou’s perfumed room, and the Qi Emperor sent Lady Zhou to the Cold Palace after the child nearly died.
• Qi Yuanzuo discovered oleander pollen hidden in Tabbyback’s fur, and the Qi Emperor accused Consort Xian of plotting against the Crown Prince and demoted her.
• Qi Chengyou read letters revealing his ties to Su Changhe, rejected Lady You’s demand to oppose the Crown Prince, and declared that anyone who harmed Qi Yuanzuo was his enemy.
• Qi Yuanzuo passed Zhang Yao’s tests and began lessons, while Shi Yu challenged him over the human cost of his luxurious clothes.
• The Empress Dowager claimed she was pregnant, clashed violently with the Qi Emperor, and injured the Third Prince before the Qi Emperor collapsed.
• Qi Yuanzuo comforted his recovering father and resolved to help him deal with the Empress Dowager, while Jiang Liang was beaten by Zhaoyi Wei in the Imperial Garden.
• Qi Yuanzuo confronted Zhaoyi Wei over Jiang Liang’s beating and spared Wei and her servants after they admitted fault, while the Eldest Prince praised his fighting spirit.