Recaps

Wei Mingxiu identified Kou Yuan as the Zhao Family’s planted official, while feeling insecure about how much more Zhou Ye’s friend Yun Shen could help him. Meanwhile, the Zhao Family began planning to rescue Zhao Hai by exploiting Kou Yuan and Noble Consort Shu, unaware that their supposed opening was a trap.

• Wei Mingxiu named Kou Yuan as the opening the Zhao Family would use, and Zhou Ye praised the choice as part of their plan to lure them into a trap.
• Zhou Ye told Wei Mingxiu that Yun Shen was his knowledgeable informant, leaving Wei Mingxiu envious and worried that he could not yet share Zhou Ye’s burdens; Zhou Ye reassured him and said he believed in his future.
• Empress Feng ordered Noble Lady Lian watched and arranged for Feng Chenyi’s men to monitor the Zhao Family in disguise.
• Lady Shen visited Zhao Hai in prison, then begged Noble Consort Shu to help save him.
• Lady Shen told Noble Consort Shu that the Zhao Family planned to have Kou Yuan swap Zhao Hai with a condemned prisoner and smuggle him out during the Qingming procession, using pressure on Noble Lady Lian and the empress’s seal to make it possible.

Zhou Ye and Yun Shen discussed the Zhao Family’s plan to smuggle Zhao Hai out during the Qingming ceremonial procession and agreed that Yun Shen would pose as an assassin to create grounds for a search. Wei Mingxiu’s respectful note moved Yun Shen, while Wei Mingxiu privately struggled with jealousy and concern for Zhou Ye.

• Zhou Ye brought Wei Mingxiu’s questions about medicine and poison to Yun Shen, who praised the prince’s insight and annotated them.
• Zhou Ye told Yun Shen that Zhao Junze had secretly met Kou Yuan and that Madam Kou had visited Noble Lady Lian, suggesting the Zhao Family’s plan was about to unfold.
• Yun Shen proposed disguising himself as an assassin to prompt Feng Chenyi’s men to call for a search of the procession, and Zhou Ye agreed to cover him.
• Zhou Ye found Wei Mingxiu’s note thanking Yun Shen and asking to call him teacher; Yun Shen had replied that he could simply call him Yun Shen.
• The chapter revealed that Wei Mingxiu had torn up several jealous, protective messages before writing his respectful note, and Yun Shen never learned what he had first wanted to say.

Noble Consort Shu and the Zhao Family arranged to smuggle Zhao Hai out of prison during the Qingming rites, while Wei Zhao tried to provoke Empress Feng into appearing jealous. As the procession left the palace, Feng Chenyi encountered the disguised Yun Shen.

• Noble Consort Shu prepared to help Zhao Hai escape by joining the Qingming procession, despite Wei Chengye's concern for her.
• Kou Yuan replaced Zhao Hai with a lookalike beggar, hid Zhao Hai in a grain chest, and had it carried toward the palace as Feng Chenyi and Yun Shen's men watched.
• Wei Zhao invited Noble Consort Shu into his carriage to placate her and provoke Empress Feng, but Empress Feng calmly made room for her.
• Zhou Ye told Feng Chenyi to protect someone during the coming chaos, and Feng Chenyi agreed to help that person escape.
• Feng Chenyi told Nan Yu to let Kou Yuan's chest reach the procession, then accidentally knocked the hood from Yun Shen's disguise and met his eyes.

Yun Shen recognized Feng Chenyi during the imperial procession but kept his identity secret, then attacked Wei Zhao in a bid for revenge. Feng Chenyi helped him escape, recognizing the crescent birthmark and suspecting he was Zhang Yunqian.

• Yun Shen saw Feng Chenyi, resisted revealing himself, and left after Feng Chenyi called him Zhang Yunqian.
• Feng Chenyi recognized the crescent birthmark behind Yun Shen’s ear but dismissed it as a coincidence because he believed Zhang Yunqian had died fifteen years earlier.
• As Wei Zhao rode through the streets, Yun Shen remembered his family’s execution and attacked the emperor’s carriage, cutting through the guards and wounding his shoulder.
• Zhou Ye intervened and gave Yun Shen a chance to retreat, while Zhao Junze pursued him and the crowd scattered.
• Feng Chenyi’s Patrol Camp soldiers clashed with Zhao Junze’s forces as Yun Shen removed his disguise and Feng Chenyi hid him, then ordered him to flee.

Yun Shen escaped after planting commoners in the crowd, while Feng Chenyi maneuvered Wei Zhao into ordering a search of the sacrificial procession. Feng Chenyi then ensured Zhao Junze would search the chests arranged by Noble Consort Shu, leaving the Zhao Family exposed.

• Yun Shen slipped away from the street after planting commoners in the shoving crowd.
• Feng Chenyi persuaded Wei Zhao to order a thorough search of the sacrificial procession, despite Zhao Junze's warning that the assassin had entered the crowd.
• Feng Chenyi and Zhao Junze argued over who would search the chest holding Zhao Hai and the attendants and offerings from the inner palace.
• Zhao Junze realized Feng Chenyi had set a trap and suspected the Feng and Zhou Families had joined forces, but he had no evidence.
• Feng Chenyi ordered Nan Yu to open the chests and search them.

After an assassination attempt, Wei Zhao refused to leave before the attacker was found, and the investigation uncovered a secret involving Noble Consort Shu. Wei Chengye rushed to confront the crisis while Wei Mingxiu decided to go watch what happened.

• Empress Feng offered Wei Zhao tea, but Noble Consort Shu urged him to return to the palace before the investigation was complete.
• Wei Zhao refused, saying he would wait until the assassin was caught.
• Wei Mingxiu reassured Wei Zeyu that Noble Consort Shu would be safe, while Wei Chengye watched the soldiers outside with growing unease.
• An Imperial Guard told Wei Chengye that Commander Feng had found the Zhao family's eldest young master hidden in a chest of sacrificial offerings prepared by Noble Consort Shu, and that Wei Zhao was holding her accountable.
• Wei Chengye ran toward the front, and Wei Yuanshi followed him.
• Wei Mingxiu told Wei Zeyu they would go watch the show, then left the carriage.

Feng Minghe and Bai Yanting called for the Zhao Family to be punished after Zhao Hai was caught hiding in the procession, and Wei Zhao suspected the Feng Family had engineered the affair. When Wei Zhao asked Zhou Ye for his judgment, Zhou Ye urged him to apply state law to public crimes and family rules to family matters.

• Feng Chenyi dragged Zhao Hai from a chest, and Bai Yanting demanded justice from Wei Zhao for the Zhao Family's deception.
• Feng Minghe and several officials backed Bai Yanting's request, prompting Zhao Guofeng and Zhao Junze to suspect the Feng Family had set a trap.
• Wei Zhao pieced together the events and angrily accused the Zhao Family of growing brazen.
• Noble Consort Shu claimed she alone had arranged Zhao Hai's escape, while Empress Feng argued that her actions challenged the court and the emperor's judgment.
• Wei Zhao asked Zhou Ye for his opinion, and Zhou Ye said state matters should follow state law while family matters should follow family rules.

Wei Zhao judged the Zhao Family and Noble Consort Shu after Zhou Ye advised him to follow the laws of the imperial harem and the land. Zhao Hai was executed, Zhao Junze and Zhao Guofeng were demoted, and Noble Consort Shu was stripped of her title and confined to the cold palace for life.

• Zhou Ye advised Wei Zhao to punish Noble Consort Shu and the Zhao Family according to the appropriate laws, giving him a path to appear impartial.
• Wei Zhao confronted Zhao Junze over shielding Zhao Hai and ordered him to execute his son as a chance to answer for the crime.
• Zhao Junze killed Zhao Hai, and Bai Yanting finally felt that his son had been avenged.
• Wei Zhao demoted Zhao Junze and Zhao Guofeng, sending Zhao Junze to serve in Yu Town and lowering Zhao Guofeng to assistant minister.
• Noble Consort Shu admitted her crimes, but Wei Zhao stripped her of her phoenix seal and rank and sentenced her to lifelong confinement in the cold palace.

After the assassination attempt, Wei Zhao continued the Qingming procession and confronted Empress Feng, who accepted her break with him and the Feng Family’s opposition. Noble Consort Shu was sent to the cold palace, while Wei Mingxiu challenged Wei Chengye to try to kill him at the imperial hunt in May.

• Wei Zhao ordered Feng Chenyi to reorganize the procession and continue to the imperial ancestral temple, then told Empress Feng that no one would contest her claim to the phoenix seal.
• Empress Feng recalled how she had once loved Wei Zhao, but resolved to protect the Feng Family and Yu'er after he turned against them.
• Noble Consort Shu was sent back to the palace under lifelong confinement, and she warned Wei Chengye to stay calm and wait for her brother to return from Yu Town.
• Wei Chengye insulted Wei Yuanshi, threatened Wei Mingxiu, and kicked a table toward him, but Wei Mingxiu caught it and returned it to its place.
• Wei Mingxiu told Wei Chengye that he would give him a chance to kill him at the imperial hunt in May, and warned that otherwise he would take Wei Chengye's life one day.

After Kou Yuan revealed the truth about the Zhang Family’s downfall in a letter to Feng Minghe, the Feng family resolved to overturn the case despite the danger of exposing Wei Zhao’s collusion with Chu. Feng Chenyi, overwhelmed by grief for Zhang Jingming, met Zhou Ye and asked him to take him drinking.

• Noble Lady Lian appealed to Wei Zhao, who spared Kou Yuan’s life and stripped him of his official position.
• Before leaving the capital, Kou Yuan sent Feng Minghe a letter revealing that Wei Zhao had colluded with the State of Chu and framed the Zhang Family.
• Feng Minghe showed the letter to Feng Chengbai and Feng Chenyi, and the brothers agreed to pursue justice for the Zhang Family despite the risk.
• Feng Chengbai urged Feng Chenyi to find someone he trusted and drink, and Feng Chenyi ran into Zhou Ye on the street.
• Feng Chenyi tearfully asked Zhou Ye to take him drinking, so Zhou Ye brought him to the Jade Fragrance House and left him with Yun Shen.

Zhou Ye brought Feng Chenyi to meet Yun Shen, who chose to welcome him despite refusing to reveal their past connection. After returning home drunk, Zhou Ye felt the warmth of Wang Yulan’s care and found himself no longer wanting to die.

• Zhou Ye brought Feng Chenyi through the window to see Yun Shen, who teased Feng Chenyi before recognizing his grief over a lost friend.
• Yun Shen invited Feng Chenyi to drink with him and Zhou Ye, then admitted he could not yet acknowledge their former relationship but would cooperate if needed for an alliance.
• Zhou Ye told Yun Shen he would not force him to see Feng Chenyi again and let him decide how their relationship would proceed.
• Zhou Ye returned to the Marquis of Zhenbei's Household late at night and knocked at the gate instead of sneaking into his courtyard.
• Wang Yulan took Zhou Ye by the hand and cared for him, while Zhou Zhenghai scolded him for waking her.
• Feeling Wang Yulan’s warmth, Zhou Ye realized his heart felt full and that he no longer wanted to die.

Feng Chenyi drunkenly revealed to Yun Shen that Yun Shen’s father had been framed, giving Yun Shen evidence to pursue his exoneration. At court, Zhou Ye deflected Wei Zhao’s questions, then confiscated Wei Mingxiu’s books about relationships between men; Wei Mingxiu said he had a plan to secure adoption by the Empress.

• Feng Chenyi told Yun Shen that Wei Zhao had framed Lord Zhang, who was innocent of embezzlement and treason.
• Yun Shen thanked Feng Chenyi, realizing the Feng Family had likely obtained evidence that could clear his father’s name.
• At morning court, Zhou Ye gave Wei Zhao a deliberately unhelpful answer about choosing a new Imperial Guard commander.
• Zhou Ye confiscated Wei Mingxiu’s books about relationships between men and told him he was too young to read them.
• Wei Mingxiu asked why Zhou Ye chose Yun Shen despite social criticism, and Zhou Ye said Yun Shen was the only person he liked and was worth it.
• When Zhou Ye raised the need for Wei Mingxiu to be adopted by the Empress, Wei Mingxiu said he already had a plan but did not reveal it.

Wei Mingxiu planned to act on his own, while Zhou Ye struggled to understand why he had become distant. After Yun Shen explained why Wei Mingxiu resented being called young, Wei Mingxiu realized he disliked the formal distance between himself and Zhou Ye as ruler and subject.

• Wei Mingxiu refused to tell Zhou Ye his dangerous plan, insisting he was not young and wanted to accomplish something by himself.
• Zhou Ye told Yun Shen about their disagreement, and Yun Shen explained that repeatedly calling Wei Mingxiu young made him feel his judgment and abilities were being dismissed.
• Zhou Ye and Yun Shen joked together before discussing Kou Yuan as the remaining lead in the old case and Feng Chenyi's long years without marrying.
• Wei Mingxiu practiced archery in the palace courtyard and told Xiao Wu he disliked both Zhou Ye calling him young and Zhou Ye becoming overly respectful.
• Xiao Wu suggested that their mutual regard had blurred the ruler-subject relationship, and Wei Mingxiu realized he disliked being limited to that formal bond with Zhou Ye.

Wei Mingxiu concealed his strength while preparing for his promised deadly fight with Wei Chengye at the May royal hunt. At the hunting ground, both princes disappeared, and Empress Feng learned that Wei Chengye had pulled Mingxiu in a particular direction.

• Wei Mingxiu let Wei Chengye win their Imperial Academy sparring matches, reassuring him that he would not back out of their fight to the death at the May hunt.
• Zhou Ye read Zhou Ya's letter saying Empress Feng understood his plans and that the Feng Family would support him.
• Zhou Ye asked Feng Chenyi why he had never married, and Feng Chenyi said the person he wanted to marry was no longer there.
• At the hunting ground, Wei Zhao ordered the Imperial Guards to search for Wei Chengye after both princes went missing.
• Empress Feng told Wei Zhao that Wei Zeyu had seen Wei Chengye pull Wei Mingxiu in a certain direction.

Wei Mingxiu lured Wei Chengye into the woods, where Wei Chengye revealed his ambush and hunted him with hired deathsworn. Wei Mingxiu followed his hidden markers toward drifting smoke and pretended to beg for mercy as Wei Chengye closed in.

• Wei Zhao rode to North Mountain with Qian Zhong after Wei Zeyu said he had seen Wei Chengye, while Empress Feng followed with Wei Zeyu.
• Zhou Ye rode north, fearing Wei Mingxiu planned to kill Wei Chengye and incur Wei Zhao's wrath.
• Wei Chengye slashed Wei Mingxiu's horse, then revealed five hired deathsworn and ordered them to kill him.
• Wei Mingxiu fled on foot, dodging Wei Chengye's arrows while secretly following marks he had left on the trees.
• Near drifting white smoke, Wei Mingxiu pretended to fall and begged Wei Chengye to spare his life.

Wei Chengye stabbed Wei Mingxiu after chasing him through the hunt, but Zhou Ye and Wei Zhao arrived in time to witness it. As Zhou Ye tended Wei Mingxiu’s wound, Wei Mingxiu accused Wei Chengye before their father and pleaded for justice.

• Wei Mingxiu begged Wei Chengye for mercy, but Wei Chengye disarmed him and stabbed him in the chest.
• Wei Mingxiu smiled at Wei Chengye and told him to look behind him as Qian Zhong, Zhou Ye, Wei Zhao, and others arrived.
• Zhou Ye rushed to Wei Mingxiu and pressed a hand over his wound, visibly distressed.
• Wei Mingxiu told Wei Zhao that Wei Chengye had lured him hunting, attacked him, and tried to kill him.
• Wei Mingxiu pleaded with Wei Zhao to uphold justice and have pity on him.

Zhou Ye realized that Wei Mingxiu had orchestrated the confrontation to expose Wei Chengye’s attempt on his life, and joined the prince in pressing the case before Wei Zhao. Empress Feng arrived and demanded that Wei Zhao judge the matter fairly, leaving him under public pressure to act against the son he favored.

• Zhou Ye recognized that Wei Mingxiu’s wound and the events in the woods were part of a dangerous plan to expose Wei Chengye.
• Zhou Ye backed Wei Mingxiu’s account and reminded Wei Zhao that Wei Chengye had used the martial skills he had been taught to wound his brother.
• Wei Zhao slapped Wei Chengye, who then claimed he had accidentally injured Wei Mingxiu while trying to save him from the death warriors.
• Empress Feng arrived, ordered Qian Zhong to fetch the imperial physician, and asked Zhou Ye to explain what had happened.
• Zhou Ye recounted the incident, and Empress Feng told Wei Zhao that he must handle the matter fairly before the court officials and Imperial Guards.

Wei Mingxiu’s plan forced Wei Zhao to punish Wei Chengye after the Third Prince grievously wounded him. As Wei Chengye began receiving thirty lashes and faced five years of confinement, Wei Mingxiu declared victory while resting in Zhou Ye’s arms.

• Wei Mingxiu reassured himself that Empress Feng had taken his side, then coughed up blood and collapsed into Zhou Ye’s arms.
• Wei Mingxiu appealed to Wei Zhao and Empress Feng for justice, while a military officer proposed checking the arrows and bloodstains to verify his account.
• Zhao Guofeng rode off to retrieve the evidence, and Feng Chenyi followed him at Empress Feng’s signal.
• Wei Zhao kicked Wei Chengye away and sentenced him to thirty lashes and five years confined at Cypress Mountain Temple.
• The Imperial Guards lashed Wei Chengye as he glared at Wei Mingxiu, who thanked Wei Zhao for upholding justice.

Wei Mingxiu survived his sword wound while Zhou Ye stayed by his side and cared for him. After Wei Zhao showed more concern for Wei Chengye, Zhou Ye carried Wei Mingxiu away, assuring him that he cared for him.

• Wei Zhao belatedly comforted Wei Mingxiu, who concealed his disgust and thanked him, while Empress Feng and Zhou Ye doubted his sincerity.
• The imperial physician examined Wei Mingxiu and confirmed the sword had missed his vital organs, then prepared to remove it and stitch the wound.
• Zhou Ye held Wei Mingxiu steady as the imperial physician pulled out the sword and stitched the wound, letting Wei Mingxiu bite his fingers through the pain.
• After the imperial physician bandaged both of them, Wei Zhao asked him to treat Wei Chengye, and Zhou Ye carried Wei Mingxiu away, telling him, “He doesn't care for you, but I do.”

After Wei Mingxiu was injured, Zhou Ye and Empress Feng maneuvered Wei Zhao into letting her adopt and raise him. The chapter ended with Wei Mingxiu moving into Empress Feng’s residence, fulfilling his and Zhou Ye’s goal.

• Zhou Ye left the unconscious Wei Mingxiu in Wei Zeyu’s care and went to confront Wei Zhao.
• Feng Chenyi returned with arrows that could have exposed Wei Chengye, but Wei Zhao ordered the evidence destroyed and the captured assassins executed.
• Zhou Ye claimed that Wei Mingxiu had called for his deceased birth mother and lamented his lonely life in the palace.
• Empress Feng asked Wei Zhao to let her adopt Wei Mingxiu, and Wei Zhao agreed to move him into her residence.
• Zhou Ye thanked Empress Feng with a look and hurried back toward Wei Mingxiu’s carriage.

On the journey back from the hunting grounds, Zhou Ye realized he had come to genuinely care for Wei Mingxiu and urged Wei Zeyu to treat his Sixth Brother with affection. Wei Mingxiu woke to Zhou Ye’s angry scolding and told him, “Junior Preceptor, I won.”

• Zhou Ye cared for the injured Wei Mingxiu on the carriage ride back, and Wei Zeyu asked why he cared for him so much.
• Zhou Ye admitted that Wei Mingxiu was hard not to care for and asked Wei Zeyu to welcome him if he moved in with the empress.
• Wei Zeyu promised to love Wei Mingxiu as much as he loved Xuexue and fell asleep during a rest stop.
• Wei Mingxiu woke, grasped Zhou Ye’s hand, and discovered that Zhou Ye was angry with him for risking his life without consulting his teacher.
• Zhou Ye helped Wei Mingxiu drink soup and scolded him, while Wei Mingxiu smiled at the concern before saying, “Junior Preceptor, I won.”

Wei Mingxiu explained how he had planned his victory and trusted Zhou Ye, while Zhou Ye warned that he might someday leave. Five years later, a Chu princess arrived in Great Wei to renew the marriage alliance, and Wei Zhao turned his attention to Wei Mingxiu as a possible groom.

• Wei Mingxiu told Zhou Ye he had secured the plan’s success by learning about his wound, keeping a way to defend himself, and trusting Zhou Ye and the Feng Family.
• Zhou Ye apologized for underestimating Wei Mingxiu, then warned that he might one day leave the capital; Wei Mingxiu asked whether he could visit him if that happened, and Zhou Ye agreed.
• Wei Mingxiu moved into Wei Zeyu’s residence under Empress Feng’s protection, while Wei Zhao planted servants who repeatedly failed to poison or kill him.
• Wei Zhao realized Wei Mingxiu may have engineered the trap against him, but could not undo the order placing the boy in Empress Feng’s care.
• Five years later, a Chu envoy brought the third princess to Great Wei after the eldest princess died, seeking a new marriage alliance, and Wei Zhao set his sights on Wei Mingxiu.

After Wei Mingxiu quelled corruption in the south, he learned that the State of Chu would send a princess to Great Wei following the eldest princess’s death. Zhou Ye ordered him to protect the princess and win her over, leaving Wei Mingxiu troubled by the plan.

• Wei Mingxiu swiftly exposed and punished corrupt officials in the south, earning the gratitude of local people as he prepared to return to the capital.
• A-Nan teased Wei Mingxiu about accepting a wildflower and revealed that the State of Chu was sending its third princess to visit the emperor.
• A-Nan told Wei Mingxiu that Zhou Ye had sent him a letter, and Wei Mingxiu eagerly read it.
• Zhou Ye instructed Wei Mingxiu to go to Nanlu Town, ensure the princess’s safety, and try to win her over.

Wei Mingxiu and A-Nan rescued the State of Chu’s delegation from skilled assassins while traveling to protect the princess. After the attackers fled, Zhou Ye arrived with them captured and asked Wei Mingxiu whether he had missed him.

• Wei Mingxiu followed Zhou Ye’s orders and rode with A-Nan to the official road near Nanlu Town.
• Wei Mingxiu and A-Nan intervened when assassins attacked the State of Chu’s delegation, killing several attackers and driving the rest away.
• Wei Mingxiu stopped A-Nan from pursuing the fleeing assassins and identified them as death soldiers carrying poison.
• Lord Zheng thanked Wei Mingxiu, who introduced himself as Prince You of Great Wei.
• Zhou Ye arrived with the captured assassins and revealed himself to Wei Mingxiu, asking whether he had missed him.

Zhou Ye secretly reunited with Wei Mingxiu after capturing the robbers who had attacked the State of Chu's delegation. Once the group set off for Yu Town with Zhou Ye as their guide, Wei Mingxiu asked whether Young Master Yun had come with him.

• Zhou Ye arrived in the Southern Border, captured fleeing robbers, and met Wei Mingxiu while concealing his identity behind a mask.
• Wei Mingxiu recognized Zhou Ye and played along with his cover story as Zhou Li, a tea merchant, while A-Nan learned Zhou Ye was the junior preceptor.
• Zhou Ye offered to escort Zheng Feng and the delegation, and Wei Mingxiu persuaded Zheng Feng to accept his help.
• The group cleared away the corpses and set off for Yu Town, with Wei Mingxiu pulling Zhou Ye into his carriage and sending A-Nan to drive.
• Wei Mingxiu asked Zhou Ye whether Young Master Yun had come with him.