Recaps

After dying with Xiao Huaijin in his arms, Xiao Lin awoke years earlier and began showing his young son the care he had once withheld while secretly investigating the Shen Clan’s influence. The arc left Xiao Lin encouraging bonds among the princes, but wary of Xiao Yu as memories of their former conflict returned.

• Xiao Yu’s coup ended with Xiao Huaijin dying while protecting Xiao Lin, who punished Shen Mingzhu and the Shen Clan and imprisoned Xiao Yu for life before awakening in the past.
• Xiao Lin began teaching young Xiao Huaijin, giving him small kindnesses and bringing him to honor his late mother, while Xiao Huaijin eagerly sought his father’s affection.
• As Xiao Huaijin grew closer to Xiao Lin and his siblings, Xiao Lin secretly investigated the Shen Clan’s ties to military funds and palace guards.
• Xiao Lin included Xiao Huaijin, Xiao Yu, and Xiao Lan in palace celebrations and took the children hunting, where Xiao Huaijin and Xiao Yu shared their catches and fell asleep beside him.
• On the return journey, Xiao Lin gave Xiao Yu a small bow but ordered it inspected first, remembering the brothers’ former conflict, while Xiao Huaijin wondered whether Xiao Yu would always remain good.

Xiao Huaijin grew closer to Xiao Lin and his siblings while learning to bear grief, take on responsibility, and advise on state affairs. The Shen Clan was punished, Lu Ming began preparing defenses at Shuofang, and Xiao Lin received a report of mismatched cavalry supplies as Xiao Huaijin recovered from illness.

• Xiao Huaijin and Xiao Yu became friends, and Xiao Huaijin joined Xiao Lan, Xiao Yue, and Xiao Rui in shared lessons, drawings, and palace celebrations.
• After Xiao Huaijin’s wet nurse died, Xiao Lin comforted him, brought him into the Hall of Mental Cultivation, and stayed beside him through his grief and frightened nights.
• Xiao Lin and Sun Jingtang uncovered Shen Clan corruption and a plot against the crown prince, while Xiao Lin cleared Zhang Qian and Shen Mingzhu died after warning Xiao Yu to follow Xiao Huaijin.
• Xiao Huaijin and Xiao Yu strengthened their bond, and Xiao Lin gathered the children for the winter solstice, spring hunt, and summer-welcoming ceremony.
• Xiao Huaijin began helping Xiao Lin with policy, proposing salt-tax reforms and defenses for Shuofang, while Xiao Lin chose Lu Ming to command a new cavalry camp.
• After Xiao Huaijin and Xiao Yu sneaked out to the East Market, Xiao Lin promised to arrange a guarded outing and later took Xiao Huaijin to harvest grain and visit the market.
• Xiao Lin and Xiao Huaijin grew closer after sharing a night together, and Xiao Lin stayed by Xiao Huaijin through a high fever until he began to recover.
• Xiao Huaijin returned to class for half a day, then fell asleep in the Hall of Mental Cultivation as Xiao Lin received Lu Ming’s report of mismatched supplies and records at three Shuofang relay stations.