Chapter Summaries

Qi Yu visited Qi Xiao in the imperial study and waited while his father finished work, then invited him to dinner. When Qi Yu planned a hunt with Xie Ning, Qi Xiao allowed him to go but arranged extra protection, leaving the hunt set for the next morning.

• Qi Xiao worked through memorials while Qi Yu complained about the Imperial Kitchen's sweet-and-sour fish and decided to visit his father again.
• Qi Yu entered the imperial study, invited Qi Xiao to share soup at the Empress's, and waited on the couch while he read.
• Qi Yu told Qi Xiao he planned to hunt with Xie Ning the next morning, and Qi Xiao agreed while ordering De'an to send extra men and keep them out of the western woods.
• After Qi Yu left, Qi Xiao ordered De'an to have Xie Ting and Marquis Jinghai join the hunt.

Qi Yu traveled to the West Mountain Hunting Grounds to hunt with Xie Ning and several noble youths, while Xie Ting watched over the gathering. The Crown Prince, Qi Ling, arrived at the end and greeted Qi Yu.

• Qi Yu woke, dressed for the hunt, and set out from the palace with Zheng Ping's guards.
• Qi Yu reached the hunting grounds and reunited with Xie Ning, then greeted Wang Yuan and the other young noblemen as they arrived.
• Xie Ning gave Qi Yu a gentle bay horse named Zaofeng, and the young men mounted while Xie Ting watched from the lookout platform.
• Qi Yu and Xie Ning prepared to enter the woods, but Xie Ning warned that they must avoid the western part; Qi Yu also refused Wang Yuan's offer of wine.
• Xie Chen arrived with the Crown Prince, Qi Ling, who supported Qi Yu as he started to kneel and said he had come because their father told him the grounds would be lively.

Crown Prince Qi Ling visited the hunting grounds to check on Qi Yu, who hunted with Xie Ning and the other boys. Qi Yu caught a rabbit to raise and shot a pheasant for his brother, then invited Qi Ling to hunt with him another time.

• Qi Ling watched Qi Yu and the boys prepare to hunt, then declined to ride and went to drink tea with Xie Ting.
• Qi Yu chased down a young rabbit and decided to take it back to the palace as a pet.
• Qi Yu and Xie Ning found a golden pheasant, and Qi Yu brought it down with one arrow.
• Qi Yu roasted the pheasant, saved a leg for Qi Ling, and brought it to him in Xie Ting's tent.
• Qi Yu invited Qi Ling to join him on a future hunt, and Qi Ling agreed to wait until Qi Yu finished hunting before they returned together.

Qi Yu returned from the hunt with a rabbit and fell asleep against Qi Ling during the ride back to the palace. Qi Ling carried him to Yuning Hall, arranged for his care, and ordered wrist guards for him to use when drawing his bow.

• Qi Yu gave Xie Ning the choice of a whole gray rabbit after Xie Ning complained about being promised only half of one.
• Qi Ling let Qi Yu curl up beside him in the carriage, and Qi Yu fell asleep on his lap.
• Qi Ling remembered their late mother as he watched the sleeping Qi Yu, then held his hand as the carriage traveled through the city.
• Qi Ling carried Qi Yu into Yuning Hall and tucked him into bed after he briefly woke and asked about the rabbit and food.
• Qi Ling told Chun He to prepare congee and have A Ping cage the rabbit, then ordered wrist guards for Qi Yu from the Eastern Palace.

Qi Xiao spent the day distracted by Qi Yu’s absence from the West Warm Pavilion and learned that the prince’s arms were too sore from archery to visit. After hearing how the Crown Prince cared for Qi Yu, Qi Xiao returned to his memorials and ordered almond cream for the next morning.

• Qi Xiao noticed Qi Yu did not come to the West Warm Pavilion as he usually did, and he worked through the morning and lunch alone.
• Qi Xiao ate little and continued reviewing memorials, while De'an quietly attended him.
• Qi Xiao learned from De'an that Qi Yu had drawn a heavier bow until his arms hurt and stayed in Yuning Hall, afraid his imperial father would laugh at him.
• De'an told Qi Xiao that the Crown Prince had carried Qi Yu to Yuning Hall, arranged medicine and wrist guards, and ridden back with him from the hunting grounds.
• Qi Xiao ate one of Qi Yu’s favorite ribs, then asked the Imperial Kitchen to prepare almond cream with half the sugar for the next morning.

Qi Yu, still suffering from strained arm muscles after archery, went to Xuanzheng Hall to see Qi Xiao and discovered that his father had quietly ordered his almond cream made less sweet. Qi Xiao arranged more medicinal ointment and daily carrots for Qi Yu’s rabbit as Qi Yu left to visit it.

• Chun He fed Qi Yu breakfast and rubbed medicinal oil into his sore arms, while Qi Yu recognized that the Imperial Kitchen had halved the sugar in his almond cream.
• Qi Yu walked to Xuanzheng Hall despite his aching arms and waited in the emperor’s inner hall for Qi Xiao.
• Qi Xiao examined Qi Yu’s arms and scolded him for showing off with a heavy bow, while Qi Yu admitted he had been carried away by the hunt.
• Qi Yu told Qi Xiao that he had recognized his father’s order in the less-sweet almond cream, then left to see his rabbit.
• Qi Xiao ordered the Imperial Medical Bureau to send more ointment to Yuning Hall and the Imperial Kitchen to provide two carrots for the rabbit each day.

Qi Yu attended a lesson in the Imperial Study while his injured arms made it difficult to write, and he answered Grand Tutor Sun’s question with a critique of King Wu of Chu. During the break, Qi Ming accused him of always receiving special treatment, leaving Qi Yu unsettled as he headed to Xuanzheng Hall with Qin Wei.

• Qi Yu arrived at the Imperial Study, where Qin Wei helped him handle his books and grind ink because his arms were still sore.
• Grand Tutor Sun questioned Qi Ming, Qi Zhao, and Qi Yu about the Zuo Zhuan; Qi Yu argued that King Wu of Chu’s reason for attacking Sui was unjustified, and Grand Tutor Sun praised his answer while advising him to explain the text first.
• During the break, Qi Yu accidentally splashed ink onto Qi Ming’s sleeve and apologized, but Qi Ming refused the ink cloth and complained that Qi Yu had always received the best treatment.
• Qi Yu asked Qi Ming whether he had something against him, but Qin Wei nudged him to stop speaking before class resumed.
• After class, Qi Zhao passed Qi Yu with a soft cough, and Qi Yu left with Qin Wei, saying he was going to Xuanzheng Hall.

Qi Yu told Qi Xiao that Qi Ming had insulted him, but Qi Xiao refused to punish his second son and asked Qi Yu to consider his situation. Qi Yu then coaxed Qi Xiao into letting him sleep in Xuanzheng Hall that night, and De'an began preparing for his stay.

• Qi Xiao learned from De'an that Qi Ming had made cutting remarks to Qi Yu during lessons and told De'an not to punish Qi Ming.
• Qi Yu visited Qi Xiao, described his quarrel with Qi Ming, and complained that Qi Xiao would not defend him.
• Qi Xiao explained that Qi Ming was also his son and urged Qi Yu to consider his second brother's feelings.
• Qi Yu asked Qi Xiao to love him more and let him sleep beside him that night, and Qi Xiao agreed.
• De'an went to prepare the dragon bed and breakfast, recalling how Qi Yu had taken the quilt from Qi Xiao during his previous overnight stay.

Qi Yu spent the night with Qi Xiao, bringing his pillow and book to the imperial bed. After teasing each other and worrying that his Second Brother resented him, Qi Yu was reassured by his father and settled down to sleep.

• Qi Yu arrived at Xuanzheng Hall with his pillow and book after preparing himself to look aggrieved before entering.
• Qi Yu joked with Qi Xiao about printing money, then recalled a lesson about how excess currency could drive up prices.
• Qi Yu teased Qi Xiao about frightening the court officials and rested his head on his father's lap.
• Qi Yu worried that his Second Brother held a grudge because of him and offered to speak less in the Imperial Study.
• Qi Xiao told Qi Yu not to change himself, playfully pinched his cheeks, and ordered him to sleep after agreeing to his breakfast requests.

Qi Yu woke after spending the night beside Qi Xiao and reflected on how deeply his father favored and cherished him. After feeding his rabbit, he decided to visit the Crown Prince in the Eastern Palace, leaving with A Ping as he continued to grow beyond childhood.

• Qi Xiao quietly left the bedchamber for court, ordering De'an to let Qi Yu sleep and prepare his favorite breakfast.
• Qi Yu woke near the si hour, learned that Qi Xiao had let him sleep in, and wondered whether he clung to his father too much.
• A Ping told Qi Yu that he was the one Qi Xiao cherished most, and Qi Yu acknowledged that everyone in the palace knew he was favored.
• Qi Yu fed the rabbit in Yuning Hall and reflected on his responsibilities and the jade pendant Qi Xiao had given him.
• Qi Yu set off with A Ping for the Eastern Palace to return the Crown Prince's wrist guards and look for new travel accounts of the south.

Qi Yu visited the Eastern Palace, where Qi Ling discussed government affairs with his advisers while Qi Yu read, ate pastries, and drank honeyed milk. After the advisers left, the brothers talked about Qi Yu’s wrist guards and calligraphy, and Qi Yu went to eat lychees while Qi Ling continued reviewing documents.

• Qi Yu crossed the palace grounds with A Ping and entered the Eastern Palace, where Fu Shun welcomed him and let him wait inside.
• Qi Ling discussed river dredging, granary repairs, and military provisions with Xie Chen and the two advisers while Qi Yu read and ate nearby.
• After the advisers left, Qi Yu offered Qi Ling a walnut pastry and asked about the flood risk and his wrist guards.
• Qi Ling let Qi Yu keep the wrist guards and advised him not to overexert himself when hunting.
• Qi Yu praised Qi Ling’s temper and handwriting, then said he would wait to have lunch with him.
• Qi Yu followed Fu Shun to eat chilled lychees, promising to save the biggest ones for Qi Ling while his brother resumed reviewing documents.

Qi Yu spent the day with Qi Ling, then persuaded Qi Xiao to let him sleep in Xuanzheng Hall again. Meanwhile, Xie Ning practiced with Xie Ting after receiving a rabbit from Qi Yu and planned to visit the palace the next day.

• Qi Ling dragged Qi Yu out of the Eastern Palace and sent him toward Xuanzheng Hall, keeping the two walnut pastries Qi Yu had left behind.
• Qi Yu told Qi Xiao that the scholar in his picture book had been wrong to reject the fox spirit, then said he would repay kindness with kindness.
• Qi Yu persuaded Qi Xiao to let him stay the night in Xuanzheng Hall, and Qi Xiao told him to wash his feet first.
• Consort Jing reflected on her years in the palace as the rear palace lights went out.
• Xie Ning told Xie Ting that Qi Yu had sent him the gray rabbit, and Xie Ting sparred with him beneath the moonlight.
• Xie Ning said Qi Yu had invited him to the palace after lessons, and Xie Ting told him the rabbits were only an excuse for Qi Yu to see him.

Qi Yu spent the day missing Qi Xiao, sharing cake with Qin Wei, and welcoming Xie Ning and his rabbit to Yuning Hall. After taking soup to his exhausted father, Qi Yu was invited to sleep beside him that night.

• Qi Yu woke late, asked A Ping whether he slept too much, and brought Osmanthus Cake to class for Qin Wei.
• Qi Yu fed his rabbit, then hurried to meet Xie Ning, who brought a pale gray rabbit to Yuning Hall.
• The two rabbits settled beside each other, and Qi Yu borrowed Xie Ning’s embroidered handkerchief before seeing him off.
• Qi Yu learned Qi Xiao was still discussing affairs and carried him a bowl of Pork Rib and Chinese Yam Soup.
• Qi Xiao drank the soup and invited Qi Yu to sleep with him that night.

The emperor tested the princes on their schoolwork, and Qi Yu surprised him by explaining a passage from Mencius in his own words. After the examination, Qi Yu tried to comfort Qi Ming, who rejected his sympathy, while Qi Xiao kept Qi Ling behind to discuss another matter.

• Qi Xiao questioned Qi Ling on the Zizhi Tongjian, and Qi Ling passed after answering a series of questions.
• Qi Ming faltered on the Record of Music, so Qi Xiao told him to reread the chapter for the next examination.
• Qi Zhao answered questions from the Book of Documents and returned to his place without further probing.
• Qi Yu admitted he could not recite the full Mencius passage, then explained its meaning and compared it to the Ministry of Revenue’s spending.
• Qi Xiao dismissed the princes but kept Qi Ling behind, and Qi Yu heard him tell Qi Ling that Qin Wei had notes to lend him.
• Qi Yu tried to reassure Qi Ming, who said the comfort made him feel pitied, then returned to the Imperial Study with Qin Wei.

As the Autumn Examination approached, the court prepared strict safeguards while candidates from across the realm arrived in the Capital City. On the eve of the examination, Qi Yu finished a policy essay arguing that selecting scholars meant selecting upright hearts.

• Candidates flooded the Capital City, and prominent households tried to influence examiners with visiting cards and gifts, though Emperor Chengwu insisted that only examination papers mattered.
• Qi Xiao appointed Zhou Zhongping as principal chief examiner and sent Xie Ting to patrol the Examination Compound against misconduct.
• Xie Ting inspected the examination cells and remembered his own provincial examination, then saw the impoverished candidate Gu Hengsheng struggling to dry his rain-soaked book.
• Qi Yu struggled to write his assigned essay on selecting scholars while Qin Wei worked steadily, and Grand Tutor Sun urged them to continue.
• Qi Yu finally wrote that selecting scholars meant selecting upright hearts, and the Autumn Examination was set to begin the next day.

Qi Ling interviewed candidates for the autumn examinations and chose Sun Qiwen and Gu Hengsheng as protégés for the Eastern Palace. Qi Yu gave Gu Hengsheng money to prepare for the examination, which was about to begin.

• Sun Qiwen told Qi Ling that Yunnan’s reported copper output concealed private furnaces and that he had been afraid to speak without support.
• Qi Ling dismissed an aristocratic candidate who emphasized his connections instead of practical knowledge.
• Qi Ling questioned Gu Hengsheng about his studies and Henan’s tax remissions, then circled his name on the list.
• Qi Yu gave Gu Hengsheng some of his savings so he could prepare for the autumn examinations.
• Qi Ling explained to Qi Yu that he wanted people who did the work, and left Sun Qiwen and Gu Hengsheng marked as his protégés.

On the fifteenth, Qi Yu stayed away from Xuanzheng Hall because Emperor Qi Xiao would spend the night with Empress Xiao Luo, and he struggled to sleep alone in Yuning Hall. As the Autumn Examination began, Gu Hengsheng continued writing through the night in his examination cell.

• Candidates entered the Examination Compound after soldiers searched them, and the gates closed at six in the morning.
• Madam Xie prayed for her nephew taking the examination, then watched Xie Ning practice with his staff; Consort Jing prayed for her son’s safety.
• Qi Yu studied, finished a policy essay with Qin Wei’s help, and stopped lingering at the Eastern Palace, leaving Qi Xiao to wonder why he had not visited.
• Qi Yu told A Ping he would sleep alone, while Qi Xiao learned he had eaten little and changed his plan to go to Jiaofang Hall.
• Qi Xiao visited Xiao Luo, where they sat quietly beside untouched osmanthus cakes prepared for Qi Yu.
• Qi Yu lay awake in his own bed, missing his father’s scent and embrace, while Gu Hengsheng wrote in his examination cell through the night.

Qi Xiao visited Xiao Luo in Jiaofang Hall, where they recalled Yang Ning and shared a quiet, distant evening. Qi Yu avoided the hall and struggled with questions about his father’s monthly visits, while Qi Xiao and Xiao Luo ended the night sleeping apart.

• Qi Xiao ended court after the ministers of revenue agreed to check their conflicting tax figures, then declined to select a consort’s tablet.
• Qi Xiao visited Jiaofang Hall and spoke with Xiao Luo about the osmanthus tree and Yang Ning’s unopened jar of wine.
• Qi Yu saw Jiaofang Hall’s lanterns on his way back from lessons and detoured to Yuning Hall instead of passing its entrance.
• Qi Yu left most of his food untouched, asked A Ping what his father did when visiting the empress, and examined the handkerchief tucked into his travelogue.
• Qi Xiao and Xiao Luo slept side by side without touching, while Xiao Luo reflected on their distant relationship and her memories of Yang Ning.

After seven days of avoiding Xuanzheng Hall, Qi Yu reunited with Qi Xiao in Yuning Hall, where his carefully restrained behavior gave way to tears and reconciliation. The chapter ended with Qi Yu smiling again and Qi Xiao staying the night.

• Qi Yu quietly kept to his lessons and Yuning Hall for seven days, leaving Qi Xiao’s tea untouched and worrying the people around him.
• Qi Xiao learned that Qi Yu had been absent for seven days and went to Yuning Hall to see him.
• Qi Yu greeted Qi Xiao formally, and the two ate dinner together in silence.
• Qi Xiao asked Qi Yu about his lessons, then called him over; Qi Yu cried against his father’s shoulder before calming down.
• Qi Yu smiled again, prepared to sleep beside Qi Xiao, and De'an told the young eunuch to serve the Almond Cream with less sugar the next morning.

Qi Yu developed a dangerously high fever during the night, and Qi Xiao stayed by his side as the imperial physicians treated him. As morning court approached, Qi Yu remained ill, and De'an reminded Qi Xiao that it was time to attend.

• Qi Xiao woke to find Qi Yu burning with fever and ordered De'an to summon the physicians on duty.
• Physician Zhou Zhongming diagnosed Qi Yu with wind-cold that had turned to heat and prescribed medicine.
• Qi Xiao helped the delirious Qi Yu drink the medicine and stayed beside him through the night.
• Qi Yu briefly mumbled about osmanthus cake, his imperial father, and a rabbit.
• De'an told Qi Xiao that it was nearly time for morning court.