Recaps

Tang Zhuyun rejected Zong Heng's offer to help in exchange for treating his leg, then visited Qin Sang's shop with the children. Their conversation was interrupted when a maid announced that the Prince of Jin had arrived.

• Zong Heng confronted Tang Zhuyun and demanded that she treat his leg in return for his help, but she refused and mocked his threats.
• Linlin warned Tang Zhuyun to remain wary of Zong Heng, and Xiu'er mentioned that the Prince of Jin's birthday was in three days.
• Tang Zhuyun and her companions visited Qin Sang's shop, where Qin Sang showed them her rouges and face powders.
• Xiu'er and Qin Sang hinted that they were preparing a gift for Tang Zhuyun.
• A maid announced that the Prince of Jin had arrived at the shop.

Tang Zhuyun learned that Qin Sang was being pestered by the Prince of Yong, then told the Prince of Jin about Wang Chunqiu’s unexpected return to the capital. The Prince of Jin recalled that Wang Chunqiu had once treated his mother, possibly because of a connection to Yanran’s birth mother, and they agreed to wait for Linlin to investigate.

• The Prince of Yong waited at Qin Sang’s shop, and Qin Sang told Tang Zhuyun she could handle him before sending her safely away.
• Linlin told Tang Zhuyun that he had seen Wang Chunqiu, the reclusive physician who had treated his senior brother, and planned to ask his master about the physician’s return.
• Tang Zhuyun told the Prince of Jin about Qin Sang and learned that Qin Sang had sought his protection; he agreed to give her a chance to prove herself.
• Tang Zhuyun told the Prince of Jin about Wang Chunqiu, and he recalled that the physician had treated his mother’s back pain after she gave birth.
• The Prince of Jin suspected Wang Chunqiu’s earlier visit had something to do with Yanran’s birth mother, and Tang Zhuyun agreed to wait for Linlin’s findings.

The Prince of Jin took Tang Zhuyun to confront Qin Li, let her vent her anger, and revealed that he planned to use the Marquis of Pingyang's Residence. The next morning, Tang Zhuyun slept late while Madam Qin waited to see her.

• The Prince of Jin led Tang Zhuyun through a tunnel and took her to a guarded alley where the Golden Qilin Guards had beaten and captured Qin Li.
• The Prince of Jin offered Tang Zhuyun the chance to hit Qin Li, but she declined after considering Madam Qin and the Prince's plans for him.
• Qin Li apologized for being incited into offending the Prince of Jin, and Tang Zhuyun magnanimously accepted his apology.
• The Prince of Jin told Tang Zhuyun he wanted to use the Marquis of Pingyang's Residence and called her his lucky star.
• The Prince of Jin and Tang Zhuyun spent the night together, and the next morning Tang Zhuyun's father saw the Prince at court while she slept in.
• Xiu'er woke Tang Zhuyun and told her that Madam Qin and Madam Lu had been waiting to see her.

Tang Zhuyun heard Madam Qin’s explanation about the handkerchief that had caused trouble and agreed to examine Qin Li when she returned. Madam Qin then went to Qin Li’s private residence, where she found Qin Li recovering from her beating and reunited with Yaoyao.

• Tang Zhuyun learned from Madam Qin that a former maid connected to Nanny Rong had delivered the handkerchief to Qin Li, and Madam Qin said Qin Li had left the capital.
• Tang Zhuyun agreed to examine Qin Li after her return and reassured Madam Qin that she did not blame her.
• Madam Qin left Madam Lu at home and went with her maid to Qin Li’s private residence.
• Qin Li’s attendants contradicted each other about whether she was there, and Madam Qin entered to find Qin Li cursing the Prince of Jin for beating her.
• Qin Li recognized Yaoyao, hugged her from behind, and complained that she was in pain.

Madam Qin persuaded Qin Li to let Tang Zhuyun examine them, while Qin Li tried to take the blame for their inability to have a child. They agreed to arrange the examination soon, though Madam Qin worried the consort might become busy with troubles at the prince's residence.

• Qin Li clung to Madam Qin and praised her for guessing that he had been forced to settle the matter.
• Madam Qin told Qin Li that Tang Zhuyun had agreed to examine them, but Qin Li insisted he was the one who could not have children and suggested adopting a child.
• Madam Qin urged Qin Li to try for a child because their situation also affected the rest of the household, and Qin Li grew emotional at her words.
• Qin Li complained of his injuries, stripped to show them, and let Madam Qin apply medicine before she made him get dressed.
• Madam Qin asked whether the maid who had once shared Qin Li's bed had ever become pregnant, and Qin Li insisted he had not given her contraceptive medicine.
• Madam Qin apologized for pressing the issue and told Qin Li they should arrange the examination soon, fearing the consort would soon be occupied with problems at the prince's residence.

Tang Zhuyun pretended to be pregnant to avoid Consort De’s invitation to the palace, then prepared for the Prince of Jin’s birthday. His return ended in a passionate night that left them lying on his father-in-law’s collapsed bed.

• Tang Zhuyun suspected Nanny Rong had deliberately left clues and decided not to tell the Prince of Jin, believing he had already sent Nanny Rong away because he had worked it out.
• Meng Yulan invited Tang Zhuyun and Little Tangyuan to the palace at Consort De’s request, but both women refused to go.
• Tang Zhuyun claimed she was pregnant, and Meng Yulan used the excuse to keep both her and Little Tangyuan away from the palace.
• Consort De sent gifts and a message urging Tang Zhuyun to rest and care for her pregnancy, while Yanran celebrated the news.
• Tang Zhuyun waited for the Prince of Jin on his birthday and discovered Xiu’er had prepared a piece of red gauze as his gift.
• The Prince of Jin returned, and after a passionate night with Tang Zhuyun, they collapsed his father-in-law’s bed.

After the Prince of Jin and Tang Zhuyun’s bed collapsed, he asked Xiu'er to invent an explanation and paid her two hundred taels. Xiu'er cleared away the evidence, teased Tang Zhuyun, and revealed that Song Jingyang had fooled her.

• The Prince of Jin comforted Tang Zhuyun after their bed collapsed and sent Song Jingyang to ask Xiu'er to handle the explanation.
• Tang Zhuyun hid their torn clothes and waited on the kang while the Prince of Jin insisted he had taken care of everything.
• Xiu'er told Tang Zhuyun that the bed’s remains had been burned and revealed that the Prince of Jin had paid her two hundred taels.
• Xiu'er proposed saying that Tang Zhuyun had chased the Prince of Jin with an axe, accidentally destroying the bed, and declared that she would stand by Tang Zhuyun.
• Tang Zhuyun caught Xiu'er taking her contraceptive medicine and teased her after learning that Song Jingyang had fooled her.

Tang Zhuyun discussed Xiu'er's insistence that she have a child, while Xiu'er explained that the Prince of Jin's ambitions made an heir important. Tang Zhuyun remained open to having a child but chose to wait while she investigated the matters ahead of her.

• Xiu'er urged Tang Zhuyun to have a child and revealed that the Prince of Jin had investigated her past and kept watch over the men she had pursued.
• Xiu'er reasoned that the Prince of Jin had ambitions and had tolerated Tang Zhuyun's past because he wanted to be with her.
• Xiu'er warned Tang Zhuyun that an emperor's bestowed woman might test her resolve, and argued that having a son could close off that possibility.
• Tang Zhuyun said she might not become pregnant even without the medicine and decided to leave it to fate.
• Eighth Master cried out about the collapsed bed, and Tang Zhuyun said she was open to having a child but wanted to finish her investigations first.

Tang Zhuyun examined Qin Li and found no physical illness, then privately advised Madam Qin about trouble within the Marquis of Pingyang’s household. The chapter ended with Qin Li following his wife to learn what Tang Zhuyun had told her.

• Tang Zhuyun set aside her medicine, received a new bed, and later practiced punches with Yanran.
• Xiu'er told Tang Zhuyun that Qin Li and Madam Qin had arrived, and Tang Zhuyun agreed to see them.
• Tang Zhuyun examined Qin Li and found that his body was fine, disappointing him.
• Tang Zhuyun spoke privately with Madam Qin, whose expression changed when she came out.
• Qin Li followed Madam Qin after she hurried away, while Meng Yulan explained that Madam Lu relied on Qin Li amid household conflict.

Tang Zhuyun listened to Xiu'er’s advice about keeping her relationship with the Prince of Jin warm and discussed Xiu'er’s upcoming marriage to Song Jingyang. A maidservant then reported that Yanran had fallen into the water and that Cui Xiaoqiu was in danger, leaving Tang Zhuyun rushing to find him.

• Xiu'er urged Tang Zhuyun to use her own ways to keep the Prince of Jin interested and advised her to ask Sangsang for help.
• Xiu'er said she and Song Jingyang were still set to marry at the end of the year, and Tang Zhuyun urged her to hurry up and wed.
• A maidservant reported that Yanran had fallen into the water and that something had happened to Cui Xiaoqiu at the prince’s residence.
• Tang Zhuyun rushed toward the wooden water tank, fearing for Cui Xiaoqiu because of his fragile health.

After Yanran accidentally pulled Cui Xiaoqiu into the wooden sea, Tang Zhuyun cared for him and questioned her about what happened. Cui Xiaoqiu recovered enough to reassure Yanran, then offered to help her avoid her mother's punishment.

• Tang Zhuyun arrived at the prince's residence and found Cui Xiaoqiu drenched but conscious after falling into the wooden sea.
• Yanran admitted she had pulled Cui Xiaoqiu into the water to teach him to swim, and Tang Zhuyun told her they would discuss her punishment later.
• Tang Zhuyun and Xiu'er arranged for Cui Xiaoqiu to change into dry clothes and drink ginger soup, where Yanran learned his name was Cui Ling.
• Yanran worried that Cui Xiaoqiu was ill, but he insisted he was only frail and did not blame her for the accident.
• Cui Xiaoqiu offered to teach Yanran how to avoid punishment from Tang Zhuyun.

Yanran and Cui Xiaoqiu grew closer as they discussed friendship and promised to keep playing together. That night, the Prince of Jin returned drunk and drenched to Linlin’s room, where he asked whether Linlin would leave the capital with him.

• Yanran refused to lie to Tang Zhuyun, and she and Cui Xiaoqiu agreed that she would help him when she was punished with copying.
• Yanran insisted that she and Cui Xiaoqiu become sworn siblings, but Cui Xiaoqiu refused and reassured her that they could remain friends.
• Yanran returned to Tang Zhuyun and was punished by having to recite the Song of Medicinal Formulas.
• Tang Zhuyun worried when the Prince of Jin did not return, then learned from Xiu'er that he had other matters to attend to.
• The Prince of Jin arrived drunk, wet, and muddy in Linlin’s room, and Linlin offered him a bed and dry clothes.
• The Prince of Jin asked Linlin whether he would agree to leave the capital, and Linlin said he would go wherever his parents and siblings went.

The Prince of Jin confided in Linlin that his plans had been affected and that he felt foolish about his life, but his son’s company helped lift his spirits. The next morning, he reunited with Tang Zhuyun and began explaining what had happened when he returned from Qingfeng’s place.

• The Prince of Jin told Linlin that his important plans had been affected and played a game with him through the storm.
• The Prince of Jin decided not to tell Tang Zhuyun about their possible departure yet, and Linlin agreed to keep quiet.
• Tang Zhuyun woke to find the Prince of Jin waiting for her, and he said he had taken leave to spend the day with her.
• Tang Zhuyun asked what had happened the night before, and the Prince of Jin began, saying he had returned from Qingfeng’s place.

The Prince of Jin told Tang Zhuyun that Qingfeng’s information suggested the Xiao Family might truly have rebelled, shaking his belief in the family he had loved and sought justice for. Tang Zhuyun supported him, while Madam Qin later thanked her for helping uncover a plot to prevent her from conceiving.

• The Prince of Jin said he was nearly certain Qingfeng’s information showed the Xiao Family had rebelled, and Tang Zhuyun asked how the family had treated him.
• Tang Zhuyun reassured the Prince of Jin that defending the Xiao Family was natural and promised to stand by him even if he was wrong.
• After the Prince of Jin left, Tang Zhuyun told Xiu'er he was formidable and explained she was taking contraceptive pills because she did not want to give birth during the hottest part of the year.
• Madam Qin visited Tang Zhuyun and thanked her for helping reveal that her second brother-in-law's wife had hidden a drug in the bridal chamber to prevent Qin Li from conceiving.

Tang Zhuyun learned how Madam Qin had forced the marquis's household to split, then spent time with her family and watched Yanran befriend Cui Xiaoqiu. When Cui Xiaoqiu spotted the Qiao twins spying on Yanran, Tang Zhuyun decided to use the sisters to her advantage and proposed a scheme to Xiu'er.

• Madam Qin told Tang Zhuyun that the marquis's household had separated its second branch after the heir refused to let the dispute go.
• Tang Zhuyun visited Meng Yulan and Little Tangyuan'er, while Yanran showed her little sister to Cui Xiaoqiu and brought him inside to have Tang Zhuyun check his health.
• Tang Zhuyun said Cui Xiaoqiu was merely weak, and Yanran took him out for stinky tofu before he insisted they return because someone was spying on her.
• Yanran identified the spies as Qiao Jiao and Qiao Qiao, and Tang Zhuyun suspected Qiao Qiao still had designs on Tang Mingfan.
• Tang Zhuyun called Xiu'er over and proposed having Qiao Qiao seduce the prince, shocking Xiu'er.

Tang Zhuyun and the Prince of Jin joked about seeking refuge with Master Hong'en if his political situation became hopeless, while she worried over the danger ahead. Meanwhile, Qiao Qiao watched the prince's residence for a chance to approach him and followed Xiu'er to a secluded alley.

• Tang Zhuyun told Xiu'er to lure Qiao Qiao into her plan, and Xiu'er agreed in exchange for silver toward her wedding with Song Jingyang.
• Tang Zhuyun worried that the Prince of Jin might be trapped by his suspicions and that retreat could mean death, then suggested he seek refuge with Master Hong'en.
• The Prince of Jin joked with Tang Zhuyun about becoming a monk and revealed that Xiu'er had told him Tang Zhuyun might be pregnant.
• Qiao Qiao kept watching the prince's residence but could not find a way inside.
• Qiao Qiao saw Xiu'er leave the Tang Family residence, followed her to a deserted alley, and spotted a woman waiting there.

Qiao Qiao learned that Xiu'er could arrange favors inside the Prince of Jin's residence, so she paid her two thousand taels to secure a chance to approach the prince. Xiu'er told Qiao Qiao to come when the prince had a day off, and Qiao Qiao remained determined to become his consort.

• Qiao Qiao watched a junk collector pay Xiu'er to bring her into the prince's residence, then paid the woman to learn that Xiu'er arranged favors for silver.
• Xiu'er told Tang Zhuyun about Qiao Qiao's interest, and they decided to demand two thousand taels from her.
• Qiao Qiao pawned her own savings and her older sister Qiao Jiao's dowry to gather the money.
• Qiao Qiao gave Xiu'er two thousand taels in silver notes, and Xiu'er told her to come in two days when the prince had a day off.
• Qiao Qiao insisted Xiu'er arrange for her to reach the prince's bed and resolved to become the Prince of Jin's consort.

The Prince of Jin told Tang Zhuyun that Nanny Rong had survived an assassination attempt but had tried to take her own life, while the captured assassins were deathsworn. Two days later, Xiu'er brought Qiao Qiao to the prince's residence to carry out her plan, leaving Qiao Qiao being ordered to undress.

• The Prince of Jin told Tang Zhuyun that six assassins had attacked Nanny Rong, who had admitted to feigning madness and tried to kill herself.
• The Prince of Jin said Nanny Rong had urged him to take Tang Zhuyun far from the capital, while the assassins had killed themselves after capture.
• Tang Zhuyun comforted the Prince of Jin and said the emperor might protect him, then urged him to wait and see how Uncle reacted to Qiao Qiao's plan.
• Two days later, Xiu'er brought Qiao Qiao into the prince's residence and led her to a room.
• Xiu'er ordered Qiao Qiao to undress and said she would slip the Prince of Jin medicine to make him sleep with her.

Xiu'er drugged Qiao Qiao with incense and arranged a staged compromising scene for the Prince of Jin. As Qiao Qiao began to wake, the Prince of Jin entered and took his place, leaving the plan poised to unfold.

• Xiu'er made Qiao Qiao lie in bed and lit incense that caused her to fall into a deep sleep.
• Xiu'er and Song Jingyang discussed the Prince of Jin's decision not to send a man in, while Huaishang arrived to check on the plan.
• Xiu'er teased Huaishang about Nanxing and his search for a wife before noticing that Qiao Qiao was about to wake.
• The Prince of Jin entered, and Xiu'er covered Qiao Qiao with a quilt, leaving her shoulders exposed.
• Xiu'er urged the Prince of Jin to loosen his clothes and sit with his back to the bed, then left as the show was about to begin.

After Qiao Geng caught the Prince of Jin with Qiao Qiao, he rejected the prince’s offer to make her a secondary consort and said he would arrange her marriage elsewhere. Tang Zhuyun continued to suspect that Xiao Wu was alive and had returned, while the Prince of Jin ended the chapter wondering who was actually in Consort De’s palace.

• Qiao Geng arrived as the Prince of Jin dressed and offered to take responsibility for Qiao Qiao, but Qiao Geng poured tea on her, slapped her, and ordered her and the prince to come outside.
• Xiu'er secretly overheard the confrontation and reported it to Tang Zhuyun, who took Qiao Geng’s insistence on separating the pair as confirmation of the Prince of Jin’s suspicions.
• Tang Zhuyun privately considered that Xiao Wu might be alive and connected her possible return to Nanny Rong’s changed behavior and Consort De’s sudden rise in favor.
• The Prince of Jin asked Tang Zhuyun for cupping treatment, and she told him Yanran wanted to take Linlin and Cui Xiaoqiu to the Great Xiangguo Temple.
• The Prince of Jin told Tang Zhuyun that Qiao Geng planned to arrange a marriage for Qiao Qiao, and she advised him not to interfere in the previous generation’s affairs.
• The Prince of Jin said he was less concerned about the sisters than about who was in Consort De’s palace.

The Prince of Jin confided his doubts about his mother's death to Tang Zhuyun, then warned her to be cautious around Director Li after learning that Wang Chunqiu had returned to the palace. The next morning, Xiu'er rushed in with news from the Qiao Residence.

• The Prince of Jin told Tang Zhuyun that he suspected he had missed something about his mother's death, and she comforted him.
• Tang Zhuyun and the Prince of Jin joked about having children, but he said he could not risk harming a possible child and that she and the children might be all he had left.
• The Prince of Jin warned Tang Zhuyun to stay alert when Director Li next visited, explaining that Wang Chunqiu had gone to the palace to treat the emperor.
• Tang Zhuyun wondered whether Wang Chunqiu was secretly learning from her, and the Prince of Jin asked her to help him see Xiao Pang in a few days.
• The next morning, Xiu'er hurried in to tell Tang Zhuyun about something that had happened at the Qiao Residence.

Tang Zhuyun learned that Qiao Qiao was to marry the officer in charge of Guang'an Gate and suspected the match concealed a scheme connected to Nanny Rong or Xiao Pang. Yanran left to find Cui Xiaoqiu, while Song Jingyang and Huaishang waited at the prince’s residence and argued over candy and Huaishang’s misfortunes.

• Xiu'er told Tang Zhuyun that Qiao Qiao was engaged to the officer in charge of Guang'an Gate after Qiao Geng quickly arranged the match.
• Tang Zhuyun questioned why Qiao Geng had chosen the gate officer and wondered whether the match was part of a plan involving Nanny Rong or Xiao Pang.
• Xiu'er reported that Qiao Jiao had learned Qiao Qiao stole and sold her dowry, and the sisters were quarrelling.
• Yanran left with Jiaojiao to find Cui Xiaoqiu, while Tang Zhuyun warned her not to agree to go out with him.
• Jiaojiao roared at Xiu'er after she joked that Jiaojiao thought he was a cat, startling Tang Zhuyun, Xiu'er, and Eighth Master.
• Song Jingyang refused to share his candy with Huaishang as they waited for the Prince of Jin, and Huaishang lamented that he kept getting stuck with unpleasant tasks.

Huaishang watched Yanran and Cui Xiaoqiu play chess by their own rules while Song Jingyang teased him about his poor prospects for finding a wife. Qiao Jiao then came to the Tang Family seeking an audience with the princess consort, and Xiu'er confronted her about her sister's schemes.

• Huaishang and Song Jingyang waited for the Prince of Jin, while Song Jingyang asked Huaishang for an advance wedding gift and mocked his chances of finding a wife.
• Yanran and Cui Xiaoqiu played Chinese chess without following its rules, and Huaishang tried to correct them until Song Jingyang pointed out that Cui Xiaoqiu was indulging Yanran.
• The Prince of Jin returned, and Yanran told Cui Xiaoqiu that she enjoyed playing chess with him and promised to bring him a protection talisman from the Great Xiangguo Temple.
• Yanran noticed Qiao Jiao lurking nearby and had her request an audience with the princess consort.
• Xiu'er recognized Qiao Jiao and rebuked her, but Qiao Jiao began explaining that she had come to plead for mercy over her sister's actions.

Qiao Jiao tried to plead with Xiu'er over Qiao Qiao’s arranged marriage, while the Prince of Jin’s suspicions about Qiao Geng’s intentions deepened. After receiving an imperial edict ordering Nanny Rong to enter the palace, the Prince of Jin agreed and prepared to wait for the next move.

• Qiao Jiao asked Xiu'er to help Qiao Qiao avoid marrying the gate warden, but Xiu'er refused and sent her away.
• Yanran told Cui Xiaoqiu about the gifts Tang Zhuyun had received from Great Confucian Scholar Kong and Master Hong'en, then continued playing chess with him.
• Huaishang asked whether Qiao Qiao’s marriage to the Prince of Jin’s guard at Guang'an Gate was meant to prepare for a rebellion, and the Prince of Jin said to let it proceed.
• The Prince of Jin confirmed preparations for the trip to the Great Xiangguo Temple and told Huaishang to await further instructions.
• Zhang Zheng delivered an imperial edict ordering Nanny Rong to enter the palace and teach the Ninth Princess, and the Prince of Jin agreed to send her.

After the emperor summoned Nanny Rong to the palace, Tang Zhuyun suspected that he was moving against the Prince of Jin and warned Meng Yulan to keep the Tang Family out of the prince’s affairs unless she asked for help. The next day, Tang Zhuyun and Meng Yulan took Yanran to the Great Xiangguo Temple, where they met Cui Xiaoqiu.

• Zhang Zheng asked the Prince of Jin to let Nanny Rong enter the palace, and the prince sent Song Jingyang to fetch her.
• The Prince of Jin told Tang Zhuyun that Xiao Pang was back at the residence and agreed to let her examine him the next day.
• Tang Zhuyun, Meng Yulan, and Yanran traveled to the Great Xiangguo Temple, bringing Jiaojiao hidden in a chest.
• Meng Yulan raised the emperor’s summons of Nanny Rong and offered to investigate Consort De, but Tang Zhuyun told her not to involve the Tang Family in the prince’s affairs unless asked.
• At the temple, Yanran excitedly greeted Cui Xiaoqiu, who had come with his mother to hear Master Hong'en lecture on the scriptures.