Chapter Summaries

Qi Yu woke beside Qi Xiao before morning court and asked his father to say good morning before Qi Xiao left. After returning to Yuning Hall, Qi Yu prepared breakfast and sent Qi Xiao a clean handkerchief for his wet cuff.

• Qi Xiao rose before dawn, covered Qi Yu with the quilt, and quietly dressed for morning court.
• Qi Yu woke when Qi Xiao tucked his exposed ankle under the quilt and asked him to say good morning.
• Qi Yu returned to Yuning Hall, dressed himself, and arranged breakfast with an extra bowl and chopsticks.
• Qi Yu ate the ginseng soup and smiled at the softened red dates.
• Qi Yu gave Chun He a clean handkerchief to deliver to Qi Xiao after court, explaining that his father's cuff had gotten wet.

Unable to sleep, Qi Yu went to Xuanzheng Hall, where he discussed the Ministry of Revenue’s tax accounts with Qi Xiao and kept him company while he worked. Qi Yu fell asleep in the West Warm Pavilion, and Qi Xiao let him stay nearby as he continued reviewing memorials.

• Qi Yu noticed Qi Xiao was absent at dinner and went to Xuanzheng Hall because he could not sleep.
• Qi Yu explained what he had learned about fire consumption and the Ministry of Revenue’s autumn tax accounts, and Qi Xiao offered to have the minister explain it to him the next day.
• Qi Yu told Qi Xiao he would wait until he finished his remaining memorials, despite Qi Xiao urging him to sleep first.
• Qi Yu fell asleep in his chair, and Qi Xiao covered him with his cloak and moved a candlestick away from his hand.
• Qi Xiao ordered De'an to let Qi Yu sleep in the pavilion and raise the charcoal fire, then resumed reviewing memorials.

Qi Xiao noticed that Qi Yu was irritable after a restless night and realized he was overtired. He settled Qi Yu in bed, and Qi Yu asked him to stay beside him.

• Qi Yu kicked the threshold, hurt his toe, and snapped at a young eunuch while fidgeting restlessly in Xuanzheng Hall.
• A Ping told Qi Xiao that Qi Yu had stayed awake until nearly eleven and tossed and turned for over an hour.
• Qi Xiao carried Qi Yu to the inner chamber, removed his boots and outer robe, and tucked him into bed.
• Qi Xiao patted Qi Yu's tense back and told him that sleep would help him feel better.
• Qi Yu's eyelids drooped, and he asked Qi Xiao to stay with him.

After learning that several members of the exiled Xiao Family had died on the road, Qi Ling ordered officials to provide the survivors with basic aid and proper burials, while refusing to reverse the family’s punishment. He also rewarded officials who had helped bring down the Xiao Family, leaving the court’s political game under the emperor’s control.

• Xie Chen delivered Qi Ling a report that the Xiao Family’s old madam and two other relatives had died during their journey south.
• Qi Ling recognized that officials along the route had gone beyond the emperor’s intentions in mistreating the Xiao Family.
• Qi Ling ordered relay stations to provide the Xiao Family with food and hot water and local officials to bury the dead properly.
• Qi Ling circled two supporters’ names on a candidate list and arranged for younger members of their families to enter service in the Eastern Palace.
• Qi Ling warned that anyone who imposed further unauthorized punishment on the Xiao Family would be punished.

Qi Yu and Xie Ning tried to raise money for a girl selling herself to bury her mother, then sought help from their fathers. The girl received enough money for the burial and support, while Qi Yu insisted on repaying the amount his father gave him.

• Qi Yu and Xie Ning found a girl in the East Market selling herself to bury her mother, and Xie Ning gave her two hundred taels while promising to find the rest.
• Xie Ning told Xie Ting what had happened, and Xie Ting sent him to ask his mother for five hundred taels.
• Qi Yu asked Qi Xiao for four hundred and fifty taels, and Qi Xiao ordered De'an to bring a thousand taels so the girl could also settle down.
• Qi Yu insisted that he repay the money through deductions from his monthly allowance, then kissed Qi Xiao on the cheek before leaving.

Qi Yu and Xie Ning gathered money to give Xiao Ya’s mother a proper burial, then brought Xiao Ya to the Jinghai Marquis Residence without making her a servant. After helping her settle there, the two boys parted, feeling they had accomplished something important.

• Qi Yu and Xie Ning returned to Xiao Ya with more than fifteen hundred taels, arranged a better coffin, and brought her hot buns.
• Qi Yu and Xie Ning attended Xiao Ya’s mother’s burial, where Xiao Ya kowtowed in the rain.
• Xiao Ya offered to serve Xie Ning for life, but he invited her to the Jinghai Marquis Residence without requiring a bond of servitude.
• Qi Yu and Xie Ning escorted Xiao Ya to the residence, where Madam Xie arranged for her to bathe and change.
• Qi Yu and Xie Ning laughed together outside the residence before heading back to the palace and the household.

Qi Yu faced his father’s examination after helping a young woman at the East Market, struggling to explain his studies but earning Qi Xiao’s approval for his compassion. Qi Xiao gave him a light swat for a factual mistake, then stayed with him as he rested, promising fresh chestnuts the next day.

• Qi Ling explained his proposal for transporting salt overland, Qi Ming recited from Zizhi Tongjian, and Qi Zhao described the history of the five punishments.
• Qi Yu told Qi Xiao about helping a young woman bury her mother and admitted he had given her five hundred taels from the silver his father had provided.
• Qi Yu stumbled through questions about Emperor Xuan of Han, then described how Xie Ning had taken the young woman to the Jinghai Marquis Residence without making her a servant.
• Qi Xiao asked Qi Ming to hear Qi Yu’s account, and Qi Ming praised his brother’s kindhearted actions.
• Qi Yu recited the establishment of the Protector General of the Western Regions, and Qi Xiao lightly struck him once with the ruler after correcting a year.
• Qi Xiao offered to have fresh chestnuts roasted for Qi Yu, eased the pressure as Qi Yu rested, and covered him with the quilt when he fell asleep.

After Qi Xiao treated the injury he had given Qi Yu, the two talked about new nightclothes before Qi Yu fell asleep. Qi Xiao arranged food and clothes for his son, leaving the story with Qi Yu resting and recovering.

• Qi Xiao gently applied medicinal oil to Qi Yu’s injured backside after the imperial physician confirmed there was no serious damage.
• Qi Yu complained that the ruler had hurt and asked for black nightclothes like Qi Xiao’s.
• Qi Xiao tucked Qi Yu in and watched him sleep, thinking of his cold chestnuts, lessons, and storybooks.
• Qi Xiao told De'an to arrange four sets of black silk nightclothes with dark gold trim and qilin embroidery.
• Qi Xiao ordered De'an to have the Imperial Kitchen reheat Qi Yu’s chestnuts and prepare Osmanthus Cake and ginseng soup for him.

Xiao Ya settled into the Jinghai Marquis Residence while Madam Xie observed her and considered where she belonged. The chapter left Xiao Ya uncertain about her future, though she thought well of Xie Ning.

• Nanny Zhou taught Xiao Ya the household rules and helped her change into a maid's clothes and arrange her hair.
• Madam Xie continued observing Xiao Ya without assigning her a specific post, while the maids speculated about why Xie Ning had brought her home.
• Xie Ning encountered Xiao Ya carrying tea and asked how she was settling in, but he showed no special interest in her.
• Nanny Zhou reported Xiao Ya's conduct to Madam Xie, who decided to watch her a little longer.
• Xiao Ya kept learning the rules and wondered what work the household would give her.

Madam Xie decided that fifteen-year-old Xie Ning should have a bedchamber maid and sought his consent. She chose Xiao Ya for the role and planned to tell her first, with the arrangement to take place after winter.

• Madam Xie recalled how Xie Chen's bedchamber maid Lin Shi had become a concubine and considered arranging a maid for Xie Ning.
• Madam Xie summoned Xie Ning from the Drill Ground and told him she wanted to choose a bedchamber maid for him.
• Xie Ning blushed, said he would leave the choice to his mother, and hurried out of the room.
• Madam Xie decided Xiao Ya was suitable because she was diligent, proper, and did not seem to displease Xie Ning.
• Madam Xie instructed Nanny Zhou to explain the arrangement to Xiao Ya and wait until after winter to proceed.

Qi Yu and Xie Ning went hunting in the woods, where two tigers attacked them and Qi Yu sprained his ankle while escaping. Qi Xiao brought Qi Yu to safety, rewarded Xie Ning for guarding the prince, and treated his injuries; Qi Yu worried that Xie Ning would be punished by Marquis Xie.

• Qi Yu and Xie Ning rode with A Ping and guards to the woods, unaware that tigers had been sighted there.
• After the group hunted rabbits, Zhao Hu sensed danger, and two tigers emerged from the bushes.
• A Ping rode to summon help while the guards protected Qi Yu and Xie Ning; during their retreat, Qi Yu fell into a hidden pit and sprained his ankle.
• A guard carried Qi Yu out of the woods, and A Ping reached the palace to alert Qi Xiao.
• Qi Xiao carried the injured Qi Yu inside and ordered De'an to reward Xie Ning with five hundred taels for guarding the prince.
• Imperial Physician Zhou reset Qi Yu's dislocated ankle, and Qi Yu asked Qi Xiao whether Marquis Xie would punish Xie Ning.

After Qi Yu was injured fleeing a tiger, Qi Xiao punished him for risking his own life and the lives of his guards. Qi Yu apologized and promised to avoid danger as Qi Xiao tended to his wounds.

• Qi Xiao ordered A Ping to fetch the disciplinary ruler and laid it beside Qi Yu's bed.
• Qi Xiao beat Qi Yu for leaving the palace without permission and entering the woods despite the tiger danger.
• Qi Yu remembered how Zhao Hu, the guards, Xie Ning, and Qi Xiao had protected him during the incident.
• Qi Yu apologized and promised never to enter dangerous places or treat his life carelessly again.
• Qi Xiao stopped the beating and applied ointment to Qi Yu's injuries.

Qi Xiao stayed awake beside the sleeping Qi Yu, burdened by the affairs of the empire and shaken by how nearly he had lost the boy. As dawn approached, he reflected on the fragile burden of being emperor while De'an prepared fresh tea.

• Qi Xiao watched Qi Yu sleep and carefully covered his injured shoulder with the quilt.
• Qi Xiao worked through memorials on taxes, river repairs, and the Northern Border troop rotation throughout the night.
• Qi Xiao recalled believing as a child that his father could hold up the sky, and thought about how close he had come to losing Qi Yu.
• De'an watched the candlelit window as dawn neared and went to brew Qi Xiao fresh tea.

Qi Yu recovered from his injuries after his father beat him, while Qi Ming mocked him and Qi Yu chose not to retaliate. He accepted the Empress’s medicine and wondered what his second brother truly wanted from him.

• De'an gently applied ointment to Qi Yu’s bruised backside, while A Ping cared for him with unusual attentiveness after De'an reminded him how much Qi Yu’s father cared for the prince.
• Qi Yu wondered whether Xie Lao'er had been beaten at home, then complained that he would never return to the woods to hunt rabbits.
• Qi Ming visited with Zhou Wenhan and mocked Qi Yu for becoming the tiger’s prey, but Qi Yu answered calmly and promised to bring him a tiger-skin cloak next time.
• After Qi Ming left, Qi Yu admitted that he had stayed quiet because his backside hurt too much to argue.
• The Empress sent Qi Yu two kinds of ointment and a message urging him to recover, and Qi Yu thanked her through her attendant.
• Qi Yu wondered when Qi Ming would stop finding fault with him and decided that his brother wanted something he could not give, so he would keep yielding.

After Xie Ning returned from the palace, Xie Ting punished him for endangering the Fourth Prince, and Xiao Ya tended his wounds through the night. Xie Ning woke to find breakfast and a handkerchief she had embroidered, which he tucked into his sleeve.

• Xie Ning walked home from the palace and knelt before Xie Ting, returning the banknotes and wound medicine.
• Xie Ting gave Xie Ning ten strokes with the family cane for taking the Fourth Prince into danger and risking the Jinghai Marquis Residence.
• Madam Xie helped Xie Ning to his room, where Nanny Zhou cleaned his wounds and Xiao Ya applied ointment.
• Xiao Ya told Xie Ning she would be heartbroken if anything happened to him, then stayed by his bed and cared for him during the night.
• Xie Ning woke to warm porridge, Osmanthus Cake, and a handkerchief embroidered by Xiao Ya, which he tucked into his sleeve.

Qi Yu complained that his injuries hurt and that Qi Xiao had not come to comfort him, so Qi Xiao visited and tended to him. Reassured by his father’s indulgence, Qi Yu fell asleep as Qi Xiao stayed by his bedside.

• Qi Yu lay on his stomach, complained to A Ping about his pain, and asked him to tell Qi Xiao that he had fainted.
• Qi Xiao came to Qi Yu’s room, checked whether he had used the prescribed ointment, and listened as Qi Yu complained about being beaten in front of the servants.
• Qi Xiao told Qi Yu that he was his son and pulled the quilt over his shoulders.
• Qi Yu asked Qi Xiao to stay and requested Osmanthus Cake for the next day before falling asleep.
• Qi Xiao stayed until Qi Yu was asleep, then told De'an to keep dinner warm for him.

Qi Xiao punished the Cui Family for embezzling military supplies, while the resulting purge reshaped court appointments in the Crown Prince’s favor. Qi Yu learned what had happened from Qi Ling and reflected on why he needed to understand the court.

• Qi Xiao ordered a thorough investigation of the Cui Family after evidence showed military supplies for the Northern Border had been falsified and stolen.
• Noble Lady Cui knelt outside Xuanzheng Hall, but Qi Xiao refused to see her and had her sent back.
• The Cui Family’s property was confiscated, its male members were exiled to Lingnan, and Noble Lady Cui was stripped of her title and moved to the Cold Palace.
• The investigation implicated more than a dozen officials, while Gu Hengsheng and Sun Qiwen received appointments that strengthened the Crown Prince’s influence at court.
• Qi Ling told Qi Yu about the case, and Qi Yu accepted that his father had acted rightly and resolved to understand how the court worked.

Qi Xiao confronted his unspoken feelings for Yu'er while insisting that the boy was still too young to understand them. The next morning, he visited Qi Yu in Yuning Hall and refused to promise that Qi Yu could leave the palace once he recovered.

• Qi Xiao watched Yu'er sleep and quietly cared for him, keeping his changed feelings to himself.
• Qi Xiao declined De'an's offer of a calming herbal decoction and ignored the consorts' name tablets as usual.
• After morning court, Qi Xiao visited Qi Yu, checked his injuries, and said he could leave bed in two days.
• Qi Yu asked whether he could leave the palace after recovering, but Qi Xiao said it would depend and that asking the Crown Prince would not help.
• Qi Yu noticed Qi Xiao's faint smile and began plotting how to persuade him.

Qi Xiao kept watch beside the sleeping Qi Yu, struggling privately with his feelings while maintaining his restraint. At dawn, he left for morning court after asking De'an to prepare extra Almond Cream for Qi Yu.

• Qi Xiao put aside a Ministry of War memorial and watched Qi Yu sleep, recalling their intimate moments and suppressing his thoughts.
• De'an saw Qi Xiao keeping watch and reflected on the emperor's lonely nights, but chose to remain silent.
• Qi Xiao washed his face with cold water, returned to bed, and planned the next day's duties while Qi Yu leaned against him in his sleep.
• De'an woke Qi Xiao for morning court, and Qi Xiao carefully tucked in Qi Yu before dressing.
• Qi Xiao asked De'an to have the Imperial Kitchen prepare extra Almond Cream with half a portion of sugar, then left for court reflecting on his duty to the realm.

Xie Ning recovered from his wounds while Xiao Ya’s new place in his household led the servants to treat her as a likely future concubine. Meanwhile, Qi Ling managed the aftermath of the Xiao Family affair and sent Qi Yu medicine and cakes while Qi Yu remained confined to bed, hoping to speak with their father once he healed.

• Xie Ning praised Xiao Ya’s flower, and she blushed as she finished applying ointment to his wounds.
• Madam Xie gave Xiao Ya fabric, flowers, and silver bangles, while Nanny Zhou moved her into Xie Ning’s courtyard; the household began treating Xiao Ya with greater respect.
• Nanny Zhou told Madam Xie that Xiao Ya was steady, and Madam Xie said they would watch her a little longer.
• Qi Ling continued placing loyal followers in key offices and sent Qi Yu bruise ointment and chestnut cakes at Yuning Hall.
• Qi Yu finished his storybooks and snacks in Xuanzheng Hall, then fell asleep while waiting for his injuries to heal so he could speak with his father.