Chapter Summaries

Jiang Muyan, disguised as Young Master Gu, drove He Bingzheng away from the Jiang Family’s auctioned notes and explained his connection to the family. Song Yutang learned that he and Jiang Muyan were friends, then asked him for help with a problem.

• Jiang Muyan challenged He Bingzheng and refused to let him buy back the notes, while Song Yutang politely declined He’s offer.
• He Bingzheng left rather than offend the Jiang and Gu families, and Song Yutang thanked Jiang Muyan for intervening.
• Jiang Muyan avoided being recognized by Jiang Guoqiang and Li Xiulan, then convinced them he was a Gu relative who had known their son at university.
• Song Yutang realized Jiang Muyan had helped her because he was Jiang Muyan’s friend, though she privately criticized his past work as a male model.
• Jiang Muyan offered to help Song Yutang with any trouble, and she said she had something she wanted to ask him to do.

Song Yutang asked Jiang Muyan to investigate the Song Family’s weaknesses and conflicts, then returned to the Jiang estate and confronted Jiang Dingkun’s family over her actions at the auction. She ended by demanding that he compare how much he had spent on her uncle’s education with what he had spent on her father’s.

• Song Yutang asked Jiang Muyan to investigate tensions among the Song Family, and he agreed while hiding his identity and erasing surveillance footage of his movements.
• Song Yutang took her in-laws out for dinner, then returned to find the Jiang Family gathered in the living room to confront her.
• Jiang Dingkun ordered Song Yutang to kneel, but she challenged him, slapped Chen Ruyin twice, and rebuked Jiang Qingyu.
• Jiang Boyan and Li Xiulan stopped Jiang Sinian and Wu Caixia from joining the argument, while Jiang Guoqiang blocked Jiang Qingyu.
• Song Yutang defended lighting the sky lantern at the auction and asked Jiang Dingkun how much he had spent on her uncle’s education compared with her father’s.

Song Yutang exposed the unequal lives Jiang Dingkun had funded for his sons, leaving him unable to defend his favoritism. Chen Ruyin’s attempt to leave and then faint for sympathy failed, and Jiang Qingyu tried to steer the gathering back to lighting the sky lantern as Song Yutang asked to see the brocade box.

• Song Yutang contrasted the lavish upbringing of Jiang Dingkun’s concubine-born son with Jiang Guoqiang’s poverty and hard work, silencing Jiang Dingkun and the family.
• Chen Ruyin wept and threatened to leave, but Jiang Dingkun told her he would not stop her and slapped her when she invoked their past.
• Song Yutang demanded that Chen Ruyin leave behind her jewelry, and Jiang Boyan called on her to surrender an expensive qipao as well.
• When Chen Ruyin pretended to faint, Li Xiulan jabbed her with a needle, making her spring up and exposing the act.
• Jiang Qingyu tried to return the discussion to lighting the sky lantern, and Song Yutang asked Butler Wang to bring over the brocade box.

Song Yutang secured Jiang Guoqiang’s right to use the God of Cooking recipe book and then exposed Wu Caixia for withholding the family’s allowances and medical reimbursement. She defended her demands against Jiang Qingyu and Jiang Sinian, while Jiang Shiya reacted with a dramatic threat to harm herself.

• Song Yutang argued that Jiang Guoqiang deserved to use the family funds for the recipe book, and Jiang Dingkun approved the purchase from the education fund and any future business expenses from the startup fund.
• After Jiang Dingkun adjourned the meeting, Song Yutang revealed that the family had withheld ten years of allowances from her household and had not reimbursed her mother-in-law for Jiang Muyan’s ICU expenses.
• Wu Caixia tried to dismiss Song Yutang’s complaints as greed, but Song Yutang described her family’s hardship and demanded repayment.
• Jiang Qingyu and Jiang Sinian criticized Song Yutang for bringing up Jiang Guoqiang’s kidney donation, so she slapped Jiang Qingyu and verbally rebuked both men.
• Jiang Shiya reddened her eyes, complained of chest pain and difficulty breathing, and theatrically asked for a knife to slit her wrists.

Song Yutang exposed Wu Caixia’s unfair and incompetent handling of the Jiang household finances, forcing Jiang Dingkun to reconsider who should manage the household. Song Yutang proposed that her mother-in-law, Li Xiulan, take over, and Jiang Guoqiang vouched for her ability.

• Song Yutang stopped Jiang Shiya’s dramatic outburst by offering her a fruit knife, then had Butler Wang threaten electroshock treatment until Jiang Shiya backed down.
• Song Yutang confronted Wu Caixia about withholding the eldest branch’s allowances and challenged her to explain why she had treated the family unfairly.
• Song Yutang accused Jiang Dingkun of letting the household fall into chaos, and he offered to let Song Yutang manage it.
• Song Yutang refused the position and said Li Xiulan should manage the household instead because she was the principal eldest daughter-in-law.
• Wu Caixia questioned Li Xiulan’s education, but Li Xiulan described managing the accounts for her family’s restaurant, and Jiang Guoqiang supported her ability.

Song Yutang secured control of the Jiang household for her mother, Li Xiulan, and challenged the family over who should lead the Jiang Clan Charitable Foundation. She exposed questionable spending and aid decisions, leaving Jiang Dingkun furious as Chen Ruyin tried to defend them.

• Jiang Dingkun appointed Li Xiulan to run the household and ordered Wu Caixia to hand over the accounts within three days after Song Yutang threatened an audit.
• Song Yutang suggested Li Xiulan should receive a raise for Butler Wang and raised the matter of the household manager chairing the Jiang Clan Charitable Foundation.
• When Jiang Dingkun said Li Xiulan was unsuited to chair the foundation, Song Yutang offered to take the position and rebuked Chen Ruyin for belittling them.
• Song Yutang demonstrated her knowledge of the foundation’s structure and questioned its administrative expenses and donations to an overseas art academy.
• Song Yutang accused the foundation of diverting aid from disaster-stricken households and impoverished local students to overseas recipients, and Jiang Dingkun angrily shouted for her to stop.

Song Yutang won Jiang Dingkun’s support to become the foundation’s vice chairwoman and took over from Chen Ruyin. After the household’s authority shifted to Li Xiulan, Song encouraged her to manage the Jiang family’s affairs.

• Song Yutang argued that her family ties entitled her to lead the foundation, and Jiang Dingkun appointed her vice chairwoman while approving her plan to add one thousand impoverished students to the program within two months.
• Jiang Dingkun removed Chen Ruyin from her vice-chair position and ordered her to hand the foundation’s affairs over to Song Yutang.
• Chen Ruyin agreed to complete the handover after Song warned that she would bring in an audit team if it was delayed.
• Jiang Dingkun watched Song Yutang face the family’s hostility and wondered whether she could protect his descendants.
• Song Yutang reassured Li Xiulan that she could manage the household, and Jiang Guoqiang offered to oversee the kitchen’s supplies.

After Song Yutang’s auction maneuvers secured her control of the household and influence over the charity foundation, Jiang Muyan secretly admired and kissed her while she slept. At the Song home, Song Ruowei’s family turned on her, and Sun Meifang considered seeking another man to father her son.

• Jiang Muyan watched Song Yutang’s auction strategy succeed, then pretended to be asleep when she returned to bed.
• Jiang Muyan kissed Song Yutang while she slept and excitedly messaged Gu Zheng and Zhao Chuan about how amazing she was.
• Song Ruowei accused Song Jianye and Song Mingzhe of favoring Song Yutang, and Song Jianye slapped her after she insulted her sister.
• Song Mingzhe condemned Song Ruowei’s behavior and left, while Sun Meifang comforted her and said she still wanted a son.
• Sun Meifang hinted that Song Ruowei’s biological father might father a child with her now that he had left prison.

Song Yutang won support at her first foundation board meeting and secured funding for impoverished students, including Su Wanqing. At dinner, Wu Caixia insulted Ms. Zhao, and Song Yutang slapped her and challenged her to leave the Jiang Family and make her own fortune.

• At the board meeting, Chen Ruyin belittled Song Yutang, but Ms. Zhao and Madam Yang publicly criticized Chen Ruyin and Wu Caixia over their misuse of foundation funds.
• Song Yutang thanked the directors for their support, won their approval for a student-aid plan, and added Su Wanqing to the list of recipients.
• Wen Jingyan introduced Song Yutang to the other directors at dinner, helping her build connections as the gathering grew livelier without Chen Ruyin.
• Wu Caixia spilled wine on Ms. Zhao and insulted her family, apparently retaliating for Ms. Zhao's support of Song Yutang.
• Song Yutang slapped Wu Caixia twice, then challenged her to leave the Jiang Family and build a fortune for her sons herself.

Song Yutang asserted control over the Jiang household, defended Wen Jingyan against Wu Caixia, and used the banquet’s aftermath to approach businesswoman Ms. Zhao. Ms. Zhao recognized Song Yutang as Wang Wen’s daughter and began reflecting on the cost of women placing too much faith in love.

• Song Yutang slapped Wu Caixia and forbade her from socializing in the Jiang family’s name, while Wen Jingyan backed Song Yutang and confirmed that Wu Caixia had lost authority in the household.
• Wu Caixia insulted Wen Jingyan and stormed away after Wen Jingyan challenged her to seek out Yaya instead.
• Song Yutang reassured Wen Jingyan that she would protect her, and Wen Jingyan explained that Jiang Sinian’s mother and adopted sister had long caused conflict in her marriage.
• Song Yutang followed Ms. Zhao and offered her a scarf to cover her wet clothes, apologizing for Wu Caixia’s behavior on behalf of the Jiang family.
• Ms. Zhao praised Song Yutang as Wang Wen’s daughter and recalled Wang Wen’s past as a formidable businesswoman, prompting Song Yutang to recount how Wang Wen’s divorce from Song Jianye had left her with little.

Song Yutang gained Ms. Zhao’s trust and asked her to recommend a private detective, then comforted Jiang Dingkun over Jiang Muyan’s coma. Jiang Muyan secretly maintained the deception to draw out his enemies, while Song Yutang grew suspicious of his medical team and proposed replacing it.

• Song Yutang connected with Ms. Zhao, who agreed to send her the contact information for a private detective.
• After handling the vice chair’s duties, Song Yutang returned home and found Jiang Dingkun visiting Jiang Muyan.
• Jiang Dingkun told Song Yutang that Jiang Muyan had less than a one-percent chance of waking, and she tried to reassure him.
• Jiang Muyan revealed that he had bribed Doctor Fang to falsify his examinations and conceal his recovery so Jiang Qingyu and his father would become bolder.
• Song Yutang noticed that Jiang Muyan’s scans showed improvement despite his lack of response and suggested changing his medical team.

Song Yutang explained to Jiang Dingkun why she had joined the foundation and how she had established her standing in the Jiang Family to protect those she loved. Jiang Dingkun approved of her strategy, while Jiang Muyan secretly watched and felt his heart race.

• Jiang Dingkun praised Song Yutang’s performance at the board meeting, then urged her to have an heir for the Jiang Family.
• Song Yutang agreed to care for her in-laws and explained that her experience of being bullied inspired her to help girls like Su Wanqing through the foundation.
• Jiang Muyan opened his eyes and watched Song Yutang as she described her goals and resolve.
• Song Yutang explained that lighting the sky lantern had established her authority as the Jiang Family’s daughter-in-law and helped secure her place in the foundation.
• Jiang Dingkun praised Song Yutang’s careful strategy, and she promised to protect her loved ones while treating the rest of the Jiang Family fairly.

Jiang Dingkun gave Song Yutang the Jiang family mistress’s jade bangle and affirmed her authority over the household and foundation, while making clear that an heir would secure her greater power. Song Yutang negotiated promised gifts for a future baby and, realizing she was ovulating, decided to try for one immediately with Jiang Muyan.

• Jiang Dingkun gave Song Yutang the jade bangle and declared her the Jiang family’s mistress, while promising to correct the old mistake involving Jiang Guoqiang and Jiang Qingyu’s status.
• Song Yutang asked whether she could hire assistants and build her own faction, and Jiang Dingkun told her to act freely as long as she treated his children well.
• Jiang Dingkun asked how Song Yutang learned about the foundation, and she explained that she had hired several private investigation agencies.
• Song Yutang pressed Jiang Dingkun to honor his promise of shares and greeting gifts for a future child, and he agreed to give them if she had a baby.
• Song Yutang realized she was ovulating and decided to have a baby with Jiang Muyan right away.

Song Yutang decided to try to conceive a child with Jiang Muyan, who was secretly awake and reacting to her touch despite pretending to be in a vegetative state. After an embarrassing mishap, she went to shower, and Jiang Muyan prepared himself with rose perfume while waiting for her.

• Song Yutang examined Jiang Muyan's body and decided he seemed fit to father a child.
• Jiang Muyan reacted when Song Yutang touched him, and his response accidentally struck her face as she leaned in to look.
• Song Yutang decided she would try to conceive that night, partly because she wanted a share of the family fortune.
• Song Yutang went to shower, while Jiang Muyan secretly got out of bed and sprayed rose perfume on himself, the blanket, and the pillow.
• Jiang Muyan returned to bed and resumed pretending to be in a vegetative state.

Song Yutang prepared to conceive a child with Jiang Muyan, while he secretly listened to her thoughts and blocked her favorite male performers. The moment she climbed onto him, Jiang Muyan opened his eyes, leaving her shocked.

• Song Yutang psyched herself up to have a baby with the vegetative Jiang Muyan, then blushed when she saw his exposed body.
• Song Yutang touched Jiang Muyan but grew scared and tried to find videos of male performers to get in the mood.
• Jiang Muyan revealed through his thoughts that he had blocked the performers and deleted one contact from Song Yutang’s phone.
• Song Yutang checked that Top Star Brother was still in her contacts and planned to pay him to investigate the Song Family and recommend a psychiatrist.
• Song Yutang climbed onto Jiang Muyan, and he opened his eyes, startling her.

Song Yutang and Jiang Muyan tried to consummate their marriage, but his performance faltered under pressure and the encounter ended almost immediately. Worried she had harmed him, Song Yutang searched for a gentle remedy while Jiang Muyan silently hoped she would not choose a dangerous drug.

• Song Yutang tried to stimulate Jiang Muyan, but his anxiety and her growing nervousness made the attempt uncomfortable and unsuccessful.
• After half an hour, Song Yutang feared her physical therapy had damaged Jiang Muyan, while he silently tried to reassure her that he was not broken.
• Song Yutang tried another approach, but Jiang Muyan climaxed almost immediately, leaving them both stunned.
• Song Yutang considered seahorse paste, then rejected it as too dangerous after Jiang Muyan inwardly warned her against it.
• Song Yutang searched online for a gentler treatment and found a verified physician recommending a three-month course of tonifying medicine.

Song Yutang secretly enjoyed online shopping while Jiang Muyan realized how much hardship had shaped her fear of poverty. When her delivery of kidney tonic tablets arrived, she tried to give them to him, then reconsidered how to feed them safely.

• Song Yutang ordered kidney tonic tablets and hid the purchase from the Song Family’s second branch.
• Song Yutang bought nearly twenty inexpensive items online, including an embroidered dudou, and laughed with delight as she shopped.
• Jiang Muyan felt sympathy for Song Yutang and blamed Song Jianye for the hardships she had endured.
• A servant delivered ten bottles of kidney tonic tablets, and Song Yutang prepared to give Jiang Muyan twelve tablets a day.
• Song Yutang put tablets in Jiang Muyan’s mouth, removed them after worrying he might choke, and came up with another idea.

Song Yutang cared for Jiang Muyan by feeding him medicine mouth-to-mouth, then helped Li Xiulan take charge of the Jiang household. The chapter ended with Li Xiulan announcing restrictions on Chen Ruyin, Wu Caixia, and Shiya, while Chen Ruyin challenged her authority.

• Song Yutang dissolved Jiang Muyan's medicine and fed it to him mouth-to-mouth, leaving him flustered and happy to take the tablets forever.
• After Song Yutang and Jiang Muyan slept, she spoke privately with Li Xiulan and arranged for the second branch of the family to return to the main dining table.
• When Jiang Sinian interrupted Li Xiulan, Song Yutang rebuked him and slapped Chen Ruyin for speaking out of turn.
• Song Yutang defended Li Xiulan's authority and urged her to continue with her announcement.
• Li Xiulan barred Chen Ruyin, Wu Caixia, and Shiya from formal Jiang Family occasions, revoked their access to the communal dressing room, and ordered them to return borrowed items and the keys.

Li Xiulan and Song Yutang forced Chen Ruyin, Wu Caixia, and Jiang Qingyu to accept punishment for their misconduct, with Jiang Dingkun leaving the decision to Li Xiulan. After the defeated relatives withdrew, Jiang Qingyu and Jiang Sinian discussed seizing the Jiang family’s assets, while Chen Ruyin warned them that Jiang Dingkun was too dangerous to underestimate.

• Li Xiulan cited Wu Caixia’s public insult and wine-splashing at the reception as grounds to bar her from representing the Jiang family until she learned proper manners.
• Song Yutang revealed that surveillance footage recorded both the relatives’ conduct at the auction and Wu Caixia’s behavior at the reception.
• Jiang Qingyu accepted the punishment on behalf of his mother and wife, but Song Yutang pointed out that Wu Caixia might embarrass him at a public event; Butler Wang corrected him that the event had already happened the previous week.
• Jiang Dingkun left the decision to Li Xiulan and told Chen Ruyin to stay home and learn manners, prompting the humiliated relatives to leave the breakfast table.
• Jiang Boyan told the remaining relatives they would return to eating separately, and Jiang Sinian damaged a custom-made trash can before storming off.
• Jiang Qingyu complained that Jiang Dingkun favored Song Yutang and Jiang Guoqiang, while Jiang Sinian proposed killing the old man and taking the family shares; Chen Ruyin warned that Jiang Dingkun might already see through their schemes.

Chen Ruyin and Jiang Qingyu plotted to manufacture leverage against Song Yutang, while Song Yutang treasured and copied recipes from her past. Jiang Muyan offered a neurologist for Jiang Qingyu’s half-brother, leaving Song Yutang suspicious about how he knew she needed one.

• Chen Ruyin warned Jiang Qingyu that Song Yutang was building influence and urged him to continue their plan to undermine her.
• Chen Ruyin decided they would create something to use against Song Yutang if they could not find existing leverage.
• Song Yutang read Shuangxi and Yu Suqiu’s handwritten recipe notes, remembered their lives in the Jing Dynasty, and began copying the recipes.
• Jiang Muyan messaged Song Yutang, offering a neurologist to examine her half-brother, who refused to recognize his birth mother.
• Song Yutang asked how Jiang Muyan knew she wanted a neurologist, and he claimed he had inferred it from her efforts to win over Butler Wang.