Chapter Summaries

After the Spring Hunt, Xie Huizhou dodged eager admirers and caught Zhang Lanhe’s interest, then returned to drawing comics. He learned the Eighth Prince had been confined, but discovered that the emperor had assigned Zhang Lanhe to tutor him.

• Zhou Yanqing gave Xie Huizhou a hunted rabbit, while Fang Yuanke mistakenly treated Xie Huizhou as a romantic rival.
• When admirers crowded around asking about his romantic preferences, Xie Huizhou fled to Zhang Lanhe, who realized he was inexperienced and decided to mold him as a student.
• After the Spring Hunt, Xie Huizhou drew provocative comics inspired by Zhang Lanhe, and the stories became popular while Zhang Lanhe remained unaware of them.
• Li Xu told Xie Huizhou that the emperor had confined the Eighth Prince and that the emperor had appointed Zhang Lanhe to tutor Xie Huizhou.
• Xie Huizhou protested the assignment as people from the National Preceptor’s Residence arrived and asked him to board their carriage.

Xie Huizhou refused to move to the National Preceptor's Residence, fearing Zhang Lanhe would discover his secrets and exploit the white snake that haunted his dreams. Zhang Lanhe saw through his feigned illness and came to the Detached Palace himself, catching him eating grilled meat.

• Zhang Lanhe sent a grand procession to collect Xie Huizhou, signaling his support for the Ninth Prince and stirring schemes among the other princes.
• Xie Huizhou refused to move, claiming that he sleepwalked and groped handsome men, then pretended his health was too poor to travel.
• Xie Huizhou recalled his dreams of a huge white snake calling him to come, suspected it was Zhang Lanhe using the Snake Pattern to lure him, and had his Shadow Guards watch over him.
• After the National Preceptor's Residence guards left, Xie Huizhou dropped his act and went to barbecue in the garden.
• Zhang Lanhe recognized that Xie Huizhou was avoiding him, went to the Detached Palace, and found him eating grilled meat despite his claimed grave illness.

Xie Huizhou revealed his overseas ventures and cooking to Zhang Lanhe, who continued pressing him to move into the National Preceptor's Residence. After Xie Huizhou agreed to visit regularly instead, Zhang Lanhe left and turned his attention to the struggling Eighth Prince, Xie Tingchun.

• Zhang Lanhe caught Xie Huizhou feigning illness while barbecuing, and Xie Huizhou cheerfully defended his appetite and shared his chili-seasoned meat.
• Zhang Lanhe learned that Xie Huizhou had sent people overseas to obtain crops and had established properties there, and he wondered about the prince's ambitions.
• Zhang Lanhe urged Xie Huizhou to move into the National Preceptor's Residence, but Xie Huizhou agreed only to visit regularly.
• Zhang Lanhe ordered his subordinates to keep watch on Xie Huizhou and asked about Xie Tingchun, whose fortunes he had been undermining.
• Xie Tingchun's men invited Zhang Lanhe to the Eighth Prince's Residence to discuss an important matter.

Zhang Lanhe went to the Eighth Prince’s residence to retrieve the Shadow Guard he had met at the Spring Hunt, while the Eighth Prince’s advisers urged him to surrender the man to end the Imperial Preceptor’s harassment. After inspecting every Shadow Guard and finding no sign of the little fox, Zhang Lanhe realized the man had deceived him again.

• Repeated impeachments and extended confinement left the Eighth Prince convinced Zhang Lanhe was tormenting him, so he gathered his advisers to find a way to stop it.
• The advisers recommended sacrificing the Shadow Guard, but the Eighth Prince denied having romantic feelings for any of them and reluctantly agreed to yield.
• Zhang Lanhe arrived at the Eighth Prince’s residence and demanded to see the person he wanted.
• The Eighth Prince presented his Shadow Guards, who removed their masks and stood in a row for Zhang Lanhe to inspect.
• Zhang Lanhe found that none of the Shadow Guards was the little fox from the hunting grounds and realized the man had lied to him again.

Zhang Lanhe realized the youth had manipulated him into targeting the Eighth Prince, then searched the marketplace for clues and found Li Xu hiding a picture book. He recognized its artwork as being by the same hand as Xie Huizhou’s paintings.

• Zhang Lanhe concluded that the youth was not one of the Eighth Prince’s servants and had used him to strike at the prince.
• Zhang Lanhe divined that he could find a clue in the marketplace and left, while the Eighth Prince raged and vowed revenge.
• Zhang Lanhe encountered Li Xu, who tried to hide a picture book and claimed it contained erotic pictures.
• Zhang Lanhe compelled Li Xu to hand over the book and recognized its familiar artistic style as matching Xie Huizhou’s paintings.

Zhang Lanhe discovered that Xie Huizhou had drawn an erotic album portraying him and exposing details of his life and identity. As he read the collection, Zhang Lanhe became convinced Xie Huizhou understood him better than anyone and recognized him as the youth who had mysteriously vanished that night.

• Li Xu tried to get the album back from Zhang Lanhe, but Zhang Lanhe kept it after recognizing himself in the illustrations.
• Zhang Lanhe bought the rest of the collection and read it, realizing that Xie Huizhou had captured his secret identity and many private experiences.
• Zhang Lanhe felt deeply understood by Xie Huizhou and became captivated by the album despite its slanderous plot and explicit scenes.
• Zhang Lanhe noticed that an illustration showed the exact location of a mole only the vanished youth could have known.
• Zhang Lanhe concluded that Xie Huizhou was the youth who had disappeared that night.

After Zhang Lanhe realized Xie Huizhou was the lover from their passionate night and the artist behind the paintings mocking him, he decided to keep his discovery secret and collect every new work. Xie Huizhou feared Zhang Lanhe had recognized himself but carried on drawing, and half a month later he was due to visit the National Preceptor's Residence.

• Zhang Lanhe pieced together Xie Huizhou's identity and resolved to protect him from the Eighth Prince without revealing that he knew the truth.
• Zhang Lanhe ordered his Shadow Guards to buy every painting by Spring Studio Hermit so he could understand Xie Huizhou's thoughts.
• Li Xu warned Xie Huizhou that Zhang Lanhe had seen his paintings, prompting Xie Huizhou to prepare to flee overseas before Li Xu persuaded him to stay.
• Xie Huizhou decided to keep drawing and mocking Zhang Lanhe, while Zhang Lanhe made no apparent move against him and intensified his retaliation against the Eighth Prince.
• Half a month later, Xie Huizhou was set to visit the National Preceptor's Residence.

Xie Huizhou traveled with Zhang Lanhe to the National Preceptor's Residence, where Zhang's attentive behavior left him uneasy and drowsy. Their carriage was forced to stop when an arrogant stranger with a tiger blocked the road.

• Eunuch Li woke Xie Huizhou early and hurried him out to join the procession sent by the National Preceptor's Residence.
• Zhang Lanhe personally invited Xie Huizhou into his luxurious carriage and watched him as they traveled together.
• Xie Huizhou questioned Zhang Lanhe's persistent gaze, then nearly fell asleep against him while Zhang discussed his studies.
• A frightened horse jolted the carriage, throwing Xie Huizhou into Zhang Lanhe's arms, where Zhang secretly confirmed his suspicions by touching him.
• The coachman reported that a tiger was blocking the road, and the tiger's arrogant owner demanded that the carriage occupants get down.

Xie Huizhou confronted Wei Hu after the spoiled bully blocked his carriage and tried to claim him. Zhang Lanhe stepped out to protect Xie Huizhou and demanded to know how Wei Hu wanted to die.

• Xie Huizhou left the carriage and lashed Wei Hu for blocking the road with his tiger.
• Wei Hu recognized Xie Huizhou as a beauty and tried to claim him, boasting that his sister Consort Wei and the Fourth Prince protected him.
• Xie Huizhou warned Wei Hu to stop and threatened to cut out his tongue, but Wei Hu reached for him anyway.
• Xie Huizhou drew a guard's sword, and Zhang Lanhe struck Wei Hu with his fly whisk, sending him crashing into a wall.
• Wei Hu threatened to have his sister punish them, and Zhang Lanhe emerged from the carriage to shield Xie Huizhou and confront him.

Zhang Lanhe intervened when Wei Hu threatened Xie Huizhou, then guided Xie Huizhou into shooting Wei Hu dead as he fled. With Wei Hu’s allies likely to retaliate, Zhang Lanhe promised to protect Xie Huizhou, who asked about the Imperial Preceptor’s past before they set off at dawn.

• Zhang Lanhe struck Wei Hu down for nearly touching Xie Huizhou, and Wei Hu recognized the Ninth Prince and begged for his life.
• When Wei Hu drew his sword and attacked, Zhang Lanhe defeated him and severed his arm, but Wei Hu escaped with his guards.
• Xie Huizhou warned that Wei Hu would seek revenge, so Zhang Lanhe asked whether he could shoot a bow and guided him in aiming at the fleeing man.
• Xie Huizhou’s arrow pierced Wei Hu’s heart, and Zhang Lanhe declared him a traitor executed for attacking the Ninth Prince.
• Zhang Lanhe promised to protect Xie Huizhou from retaliation, told him he had become Imperial Preceptor after leaving the mountain, and offered to cast a divination.
• Xie Huizhou refused the divination, saying he would face difficulties himself, and the two prepared to set off at dawn.

Xie Huizhou fell asleep in the carriage while Zhang Lanhe used a mystical call to draw him into an embrace. The carriage reached the National Preceptor's Residence with Xie Huizhou still clinging to Zhang Lanhe, and he woke up dazed in his arms.

• Xie Huizhou decided Zhang Lanhe was considerate and fell asleep beneath the carriage blanket.
• Zhang Lanhe admired the sleeping Xie Huizhou and used the Person of Destiny's call to summon him.
• Xie Huizhou woke in a sleep-induced haze, embraced Zhang Lanhe, and murmured that he was all his.
• Zhang Lanhe accepted Xie Huizhou's embrace and resolved to win his heart rather than keep him confined.
• The guards and Shadow Guards pretended not to notice the pair sleeping in each other's arms as the carriage reached the National Preceptor's Residence.
• Xie Huizhou woke to find himself clinging to Zhang Lanhe.

Xie Huizhou began studying at the National Preceptor's Residence and discovered that Zhang Lanhe had collected his drawings. A book about a legendary white snake led Xie Huizhou to pity the trapped creature, while Zhang Lanhe tested his thoughts and appeared with an imperial edict.

• Xie Huizhou and Zhang Lanhe entered the National Preceptor's Residence and began their lessons, which Zhang Lanhe taught seriously.
• While exploring Zhang Lanhe's study, Xie Huizhou found his own drawings collected in multiple copies, along with a book about a white snake trapped in the capital.
• Xie Huizhou asked Zhang Lanhe whether the white snake existed and said he pitied it for being trapped and lonely.
• Zhang Lanhe asked whether Xie Huizhou would still pity the snake if its absence threatened the dynasty, and Xie Huizhou said he cared more about the common people than the throne.
• Xie Huizhou noticed an imperial edict in Zhang Lanhe's hand and asked why he was holding it.

Xie Huizhou received the order to preside over the Imperial Examination, a dangerous assignment tied to a major cheating scandal, and planned to outwit those trying to manipulate it. After Wei Hu’s death, Consort Wei demanded revenge, but Xie Wangqiu chose to wait and see how Xie Huizhou handled the coming turmoil.

• Zhang Lanhe delivered the imperial edict appointing Xie Huizhou to preside over the Imperial Examination, and Xie Huizhou recalled the cheating scandal that had ruined the original Eighth Prince.
• Xie Huizhou decided to set unexpected examination questions so that those stealing papers and arranging cheating could not predict them.
• Zhang Lanhe warned Xie Huizhou that Consort Wei and Xie Wangqiu might retaliate for Wei Hu’s death, and Xie Huizhou assured him he would survive.
• Consort Wei learned Wei Hu had been killed and urged Xie Wangqiu to avenge him, while Xie Wangqiu felt relieved that his troublesome uncle was dead.
• Xie Wangqiu questioned Consort Wei about why the emperor had hated Xie Huizhou, but she refused to reveal what she knew and warned him not to investigate.
• Xie Wangqiu told Consort Wei to wait while he watched how Xie Huizhou handled the Imperial Examination turmoil.

Xie Huizhou prepared to enter the palace and thank the emperor for his new post, while Zhang Lanhe offered to protect him and eagerly tried to attend to him. After Zhang Lanhe’s silver snake avatar wrapped around Xie Huizhou’s wrists, he gave the snake to him and helped him dress before accompanying him to the palace.

• Xie Huizhou worried about meeting the emperor, and Zhang Lanhe reassured him that he would keep him safe.
• Xie Huizhou sent Zhang Lanhe outside while he tried to put on his complicated ceremonial robes.
• Xie Huizhou found a little silver snake and began petting it, unaware that Zhang Lanhe had possessed his avatar.
• Zhang Lanhe controlled the snake to coil around Xie Huizhou’s wrists, then claimed it was his pet, Little White.
• Zhang Lanhe offered Little White to Xie Huizhou and helped him finish dressing after Xie Huizhou asked for help.
• Zhang Lanhe took a sword and accompanied Xie Huizhou to the palace.

Xie Huizhou entered the imperial palace with Zhang Lanhe, where the Fourth Prince tested him with poison and the emperor received him with suspicion. After refusing the emperor’s offer to arrange Zhang Lanhe’s marriage, the emperor turned to Xie Huizhou and told him it was time to take a consort.

• On the way to the palace, Zhang Lanhe warned Xie Huizhou to be careful of the Fourth Prince, Xie Wangqiu.
• Xie Wangqiu tried to grab Xie Huizhou and plant poison on him, but Xie Huizhou’s silver snake bit him instead, and Xie Wangqiu took an antidote.
• Xie Huizhou and Zhang Lanhe met the emperor, who noted that Xie Huizhou resembled his mother and then focused his attention on Zhang Lanhe.
• The emperor offered to arrange a marriage for Zhang Lanhe, but Zhang Lanhe refused and said he would handle his love life himself.
• The emperor told Xie Huizhou that it was time for him to take a consort.

Xie Huizhou refused the emperor’s attempt to arrange a marriage for him, and Zhang Lanhe helped him reject every candidate. The emperor postponed the matter, then gave Xie Huizhou authority to make changes to the upcoming Imperial Examination, leaving Xie Huizhou eager to set a trap for cheaters and his enemies.

• The emperor presented Xie Huizhou with portraits of eligible women and pressed him to choose a bride, while Zhang Lanhe watched anxiously.
• Xie Huizhou refused to consider marriage, and the emperor grew hostile when he compared him to his deceased eldest brother.
• Zhang Lanhe criticized every candidate and invoked Xie Huizhou’s health to stop the emperor from arranging a match.
• The emperor put the marriage discussion aside after Zhang Lanhe blocked his plans.
• Xie Huizhou asked for authority over the Imperial Examination and permission to change its questions, and the emperor granted it by verbal decree.
• Xie Huizhou welcomed the approval and planned to use the exam changes to catch cheaters and those plotting against him.

Xie Huizhou prepared to set the Imperial Examination questions while officials allied with Xie Wangqiu plotted to frame him for examination fraud. As a secret admirer continued sending him gifts and exposing his hidden identity, Xie Huizhou learned that examination questions were being sold, putting him in danger.

• Xie Huizhou visited the Ministry of Personnel, collected examination materials, and dismissed officials' gossip about Zhang Lanhe's rumored beauty.
• After Xie Huizhou left, the minister of personnel and his deputy discussed Xie Wangqiu's plan to frame him for examination fraud and their scheme to leak the questions.
• Xie Huizhou recalled examination questions from his past life and worked on creating new questions for the upcoming Imperial Examination.
• Xie Huizhou received another chest from a secret admirer who knew he was Spring Studio Hermit, and he ordered the Shadow Guards to find the sender.
• A friend warned Xie Huizhou that someone was secretly selling Imperial Examination questions, creating suspicion of examination fraud and possible trouble for him.

Ning Shan warned Xie Huizhou that rumors of leaked Imperial Examination questions were being spread to frame him, so Xie Huizhou enlisted Ning Shan and Li Xu to sell misleading study papers and draw out the plotters. Zhang Lanhe supported the plan and acted on Xie Huizhou’s behalf, while Li Xu grew suspicious of his possessive gaze; the chapter ended with the Minister of Ministry of Personnel reacting furiously to the Bookshop’s competing papers.

• Ning Shan told Xie Huizhou that people were selling supposed leaked exam questions attributed to him and warned that the rumors could implicate him in Examination Fraud.
• Xie Huizhou proposed selling false study papers to confuse buyers and lure the people behind the scheme into the open, and Ning Shan and Li Xu agreed to help.
• Zhang Lanhe visited Xie Huizhou after attending wedding banquets, and Li Xu noticed that the Imperial Preceptor watched Xie Huizhou with a possessive, rival-like gaze.
• After hearing Xie Huizhou’s plan, Zhang Lanhe said his methods were too merciful and promised to stand by him.
• The Bookshop began selling its own secret papers and claimed the other circulating papers were fake, shifting public opinion toward the idea that the whole affair was a scam.
• The Minister of Ministry of Personnel, who had instigated the Examination Fraud plot, grew furious when he learned the Bookshop was disrupting his plans.

Xie Huizhou exposed the Ministry of Personnel’s examination fraud, earning public praise, but was abducted after drinking with his friends. Bound and blindfolded in a carriage, he heard his captor identify him as the artist Spring Studio Hermit and complain about being ignored.

• Xie Huizhou’s interrogation of the Ministry of Personnel’s agents led to the minister’s involvement in examination fraud and the sale of offices being exposed.
• The emperor ordered a thorough investigation, and the Minister of Ministry of Personnel was sentenced to beheading while other participants were punished.
• Xie Huizhou celebrated with his friends at a tavern, despite Zhang Lanhe’s warnings and Li Xu’s suspicions about the Imperial Preceptor.
• A masked abductor seized Xie Huizhou outside the tavern and escaped before the Shadow Guards could stop him.
• Xie Huizhou’s captor called him his favorite artist, Spring Studio Hermit, and demanded that he guess the captor’s identity.

Zhang Lanhe abducted Xie Huizhou, but discovered that Xie Huizhou had been poisoned for years and transferred some of the poison into himself by kissing him. He left Xie Huizhou at the Detached Palace with a warning to trust no one, as Eunuch Li arrived.

• Zhang Lanhe teased Xie Huizhou in the carriage, while Xie Huizhou accused him of being the anonymous pervert who had been stalking him.
• Xie Huizhou coughed up blood, and Zhang Lanhe checked his pulse and discovered that he had been severely poisoned for years.
• Zhang Lanhe kissed Xie Huizhou and used his snake demon powers to draw some of the poison into himself, giving Xie Huizhou temporary relief.
• Zhang Lanhe returned Xie Huizhou to the Detached Palace and warned him not to trust anyone around him.
• Eunuch Li arrived and welcomed Xie Huizhou back.