Recaps

Tang Zhuyun exposed a plot involving the ominous characters on a roof, then learned that someone had tampered with her father’s snuff bottle. The chapter left her welcoming Nanxing to the palace.

• Tang Zhuyun ordered Lu Zhenyan to write “Long Live Our Emperor” beside “Overturn Heaven and Earth,” and honey attracted ants that revealed the original characters had been written in sugar water.
• Emperor Wen arrived, sat beside Tang Zhuyun, and warned her to stay in the palace until danger had passed.
• Meng Yulan sent word that a snuff bottle given to Tang Mingfan by the late emperor contained musk, and Tang Mingfan began investigating who had tampered with it.
• Tang Zhuyun welcomed Nanxing after a female official announced her arrival.

Nanxing told Tang Zhuyun that Lei Qun had been arrested and revealed his role in a plot involving the White Lotus Sect and a woman who resembled the empress. She also disclosed that Lei Qun was a member of the imperial family, leaving Tang Zhuyun wondering what he had wanted to tell her.

• Nanxing returned after two months helping Pei Shen investigate the White Lotus Sect and told Tang Zhuyun that Lei Qun had been arrested.
• Nanxing confirmed that the Prince of Yong had nothing to do with the earlier attempt to change heaven and earth.
• Nanxing revealed that the woman resembling Tang Zhuyun came from the Yanrong Aristocratic Family of Nanyue and that Lei Qun had found her.
• Nanxing explained that the White Lotus Sect had been building political influence and ultimately targeting Emperor Wen.
• Nanxing revealed that Lei Qun was also a member of the imperial family, and Tang Zhuyun recalled that he had looked like Emperor Wen and wondered what he had wanted to tell her.

Tang Zhuyun learned that Lei Qun was the posthumous son of Prince Taihe and that his grandmother was likely Dowager Consort Jingyi, the hidden leader of the White Lotus Sect. Lei Qun had surrendered willingly and asked to see Tang Zhuyun, but she deferred the meeting and ordered the authorities to focus on suppressing the sect.

• Nanxing revealed that Lei Qun was the posthumous son of Prince Taihe, whose family had supposedly been killed while fleeing the capital.
• Tang Zhuyun and Xiu'er deduced that Lei Qun's grandmother was likely Dowager Consort Jingyi, who had faked her death and led the White Lotus Sect.
• Nanxing explained that Lei Qun had deliberately allowed himself to be captured and confessed because he was tired of being manipulated by Dowager Consort Jingyi.
• Nanxing told Tang Zhuyun that Lei Qun wanted to see her, but Emperor Wen had refused to allow it.
• Tang Zhuyun postponed meeting Lei Qun, ordered his good care and the suppression of the bandits, and summoned Jinse to learn more about Dowager Consort Jingyi.

Tang Zhuyun and Emperor Wen discussed Lei Qun’s motives and agreed he could be spared, while Jinse’s unexplained absence prompted a search. The chapter ended with Emperor Wen comforting Tang Zhuyun and abandoning his memorials to kiss her.

• Tang Zhuyun learned that Lei Qun had admired his Lei Family grandmother and that his concubine had been controlled by the White Lotus Sect.
• Emperor Wen told Tang Zhuyun he had sent Nanxing to speak with her because he was afraid jealousy would affect his judgment.
• Tang Zhuyun discovered Jinse had not returned, so Emperor Wen ordered Lu Zhenyan to search for her and explained that someone was watching over her.
• Tang Zhuyun and Emperor Wen agreed to decide Lei Qun’s fate after the White Lotus Sect was defeated, and Emperor Wen said Lei Qun could live but should still be punished.
• Emperor Wen reassured Tang Zhuyun that he liked her at every age, then swept aside the memorials and kissed her.

Tang Zhuyun learned that Jinse was tracking people from Nanyue and agreed to meet Lei Qun after he warned that someone wanted to harm her. Lei Qun admitted he had arranged the attack on her sedan chair, then asked whether Emperor Wen was outside the dungeon.

• Emperor Wen and Tang Zhuyun discussed Jinse’s disappearance, and a palace official later reported that Jinse had gone after someone and would be away for a while.
• Tang Zhuyun learned that Jinse was tracking people from Nanyue and heading northeast, possibly toward Liaodong.
• Nanxing told Tang Zhuyun that Lei Qun insisted on warning her of danger, and Emperor Wen agreed to accompany her to meet him.
• Tang Zhuyun questioned Lei Qun in the dungeon, where he admitted he had arranged the attack on her sedan chair to warn her.
• Lei Qun asked Tang Zhuyun whether Emperor Wen was outside, and she denied it.

Lei Qun explained that his birth grandmother had arranged to impersonate Tang Zhuyun and spread rumors portraying the empress as unfaithful, hoping to damage her reputation and destabilize the throne. He warned Tang Zhuyun to find the poisoned impostor quickly and admitted he had kept the truth from Emperor Wen because he feared no one would believe a man acted from admiration alone.

• Lei Qun told Tang Zhuyun that his birth grandmother had brought a skilled woman from Nanyue to impersonate her, and Tang Zhuyun said she already knew about the woman.
• Lei Qun revealed that his grandmother had planned to exploit Tang Zhuyun's kindness and spread false rumors that she had romantic feelings for him.
• Lei Qun explained that the conspirators intended to stage encounters between the impostor and other men, ruining Tang Zhuyun's reputation and weakening Emperor Wen's position.
• Lei Qun confessed that he had poisoned the impostor but did not know whether she was still alive, and he urged Tang Zhuyun to find her before she could cause further damage.
• Tang Zhuyun asked why Lei Qun had not told Emperor Wen, and Lei Qun replied that people would not believe a man had helped her solely out of admiration.

Tang Zhuyun and Emperor Wen discussed the White Lotus Sect, their children, and a possible trip to Liaodong while Emperor Wen privately worried about Tang Zhuyun’s ten-year deadline. In Liaodong, Linlin forbade Yanran and the others from exploring the princess’s tomb, leaving Yanran determined to go despite his refusal.

• Emperor Wen reunited with Tang Zhuyun after her visit to Lei Qun in prison, and she urged him to capture the woman who had impersonated her.
• Emperor Wen told Tang Zhuyun that Jinse had lured the woman out and that he had killed her and burned her body.
• Tang Zhuyun and Emperor Wen discussed the White Lotus Sect, visiting Liaodong, and their children, while Emperor Wen privately worried about the Daoist priest’s warning and Tang Zhuyun’s deadline.
• In Liaodong, Yanran proposed exploring the princess’s tomb after repeated searches of the ruins yielded no clues.
• Linlin insisted that he would take men to the tomb alone, refusing Yanran, Lang Xuan, and the others permission to join him.
• Yanran appealed to Lang Xuan, reminding her that she still needed to hatch their egg, but Lang Xuan blushed and said it would happen soon.

Lang Xuan spent the day caring for Linlin and preparing clothes while Yanran invited everyone to try grilled squid. The household enjoyed a peaceful evening, but an uninvited guest arrived at Ren Yingying's courtyard late that night.

• Linlin called Cui Ling away to discuss the attempt on Zhao Yingzhu, and Cui Xiaoqiu reassured Yanran that the matter would be handled.
• Lang Xuan declined Yanran's invitation to go shopping and stayed home to sew new clothes for Linlin.
• Yanran returned with pastries and told Lang Xuan about the grilled squid she had eaten, then arranged for the stallholder to bring some to the residence the next day.
• Lang Xuan checked on her unhatched egg and considered asking Yuwen Duo for something when he returned.
• Lang Xuan stayed with Linlin at dinner while Cui Xiaoqiu watched Yanran test tools, and an uninvited guest arrived at Ren Yingying's courtyard late that night.

Ren Yingying endured late-pregnancy discomfort while Qu Nian catered to her demands, until Jinse arrived with news of a gu raiser who had escaped and might be heading for Jinzhou. The next morning, Ren Yingying was invited to the commandery prince’s residence, and Qu Nian arranged for grilled squid to be sent to her if she arrived too late.

• Ren Yingying demanded that Qu Nian learn to make shredded chicken wontons, but a commotion outside announced Jinse’s arrival.
• Jinse reassured Ren Yingying that Emperor Wen and the empress were safe, then explained that a Nanyue gu raiser had escaped after being pursued toward Jinzhou.
• Jinse said her people had already reported the gu raiser’s likely destination to the commandery prince, while Ren Yingying worried about Linlin and Yanran.
• Ren Yingying stayed up talking with Jinse, and Qu Nian slept in a side room.
• When Yanran invited Ren Yingying to eat grilled squid the next morning, Qu Nian first declined for her, then asked that the squid cook be sent over if Ren Yingying arrived after everyone had eaten.

At the prince's residence, Yanran suddenly attacked Linlin after a flute melody seemed to control her, and the ensuing fight left Linlin wounded. Jinse played her pipa to counter the flute while Yanran remained under its influence.

• Yanran brought Linlin and Lang Xuan to try grilled squid, and Lang Xuan shyly shared a skewer with Linlin.
• Yanran and Cui Xiaoqiu grew suspicious of the squid seller's assistant and his unusually sharp knife.
• A flute sounded, and Yanran seized a cleaver and attacked Linlin, but Lang Xuan stepped in front of him and Linlin was cut.
• Jiaojiao tackled the assistant as guards rushed in, while Cui Xiaoqiu and Linlin struggled to restrain Yanran.
• Linlin ordered the guards to find the flute player and joined the fight as Yanran continued attacking Cui Xiaoqiu.
• Jinse played her pipa to disrupt the flute music, arriving with Qu Nian and a bewildered Ren Yingying.

Jinse countered a gu breeder who had taken control of Yanran, while Linlin and Cui Xiaoqiu restrained and subdued her. Jinse returned without catching the breeder and explained that Yanran had likely been afflicted by gu the previous day, leaving her condition uncertain.

• Jinse pursued the gu breeder as her flute music weakened, while Linlin and Cui Xiaoqiu held Yanran back.
• Linlin knocked Yanran unconscious after Cui Xiaoqiu hesitated to strike her.
• Lang Xuan worried over Linlin and Yanran, and the imperial physician examined the wounded group.
• Ren Yingying and Lang Xuan suspected Nanyue was behind Yanran's attack.
• Jinse returned and said Sound Attack could counter gu breeders, but she had lost track of the man.
• Jinse explained that Yanran was probably afflicted by gu while eating grilled squid the previous day.

After Yanran’s attack, Jinse explained that other gu cultivators might still control the gu insect inside her, and no one knew how to remove it. Cui Xiaoqiu asked Linlin for permission to stay by Yanran’s side as her husband, and Linlin agreed.

• Imperial Physician Wang treated Linlin and Cui Xiaoqiu while Yanran remained unconscious.
• Jinse told Cui Xiaoqiu and the others that killing the flute-playing gu cultivator had not ended the danger, since others could still command Yanran’s gu insect.
• Cui Xiaoqiu asked Jinse whether there was any way to draw out the gu insect, but she said Yanran’s condition and future were uncertain.
• Cui Xiaoqiu bowed to Linlin and asked to marry Yanran so he could watch over her constantly.
• Lang Xuan urged Linlin to accept Cui Xiaoqiu’s request, and Linlin agreed, telling him to care for Yanran for the rest of his life.

After Yanran woke from a gu-induced blackout, Cui Xiaoqiu told her how she had attacked him and her eldest brother before Jinse stopped her. Yanran agreed to be confined for safety, while Cui Xiaoqiu vowed to stay by her side, and she asked him to bring Jinse over so she could question her.

• Yanran woke in the evening with a sore head and worried first about the grilled squid she had missed.
• Cui Xiaoqiu explained that a gu had taken control of Yanran and that she had injured him before Jinse intervened.
• Yanran blamed herself for nearly hurting Cui Xiaoqiu and her eldest brother, but Cui Xiaoqiu reassured her that the attack was not her fault.
• Yanran agreed that she should be locked up to prevent her from harming anyone during another episode, and Cui Xiaoqiu decided to stay with her.
• Yanran asked Cui Xiaoqiu to bring Jinse to her and have the kitchen prepare something to eat.

Yanran worried that the gu worm inside her might make her lose control, but Jinse explained that it was not an aphrodisiac and revealed that a hidden master on Mount Yu might be able to remove it. Yanran and Cui Xiaoqiu considered seeking the master, while Yanran wondered whether she would have to remain in Liaodong if the gu worm could not be removed.

• Yanran asked Jinse whether the gu worm could make her lose control and ravish Cui Xiaoqiu, and Jinse reassured her that it was not an aphrodisiac.
• Jinse told Yanran that a reclusive master on Mount Yu could remove the gu worm, though she appeared only on the first day of the new year and was difficult to find.
• Cui Xiaoqiu decided to send people to Nanyue to gather information and planned to take Yanran there when circumstances allowed.
• Jinse said she wanted to visit the heir's consort when she gave birth, and Yanran agreed, though her mood briefly dimmed.
• Yanran worried she might have to stay in Liaodong if the gu worm could not be removed, and Cui Xiaoqiu promised to stay with her.

Yanran ate with Cui Xiaoqiu and spoke calmly about the possibility of dying from the gu worms, asking him to comfort her family if anything happened. After Linlin and Lang Xuan visited, Lang Xuan warned Yanran to control herself around Cui Xiaoqiu for his safety.

• Yanran ate green bean noodles and asked Cui Xiaoqiu to recount how someone had controlled her with the gu worms.
• Yanran told Cui Xiaoqiu she was not afraid of death and asked him to tell her empress mother that she would be happy wherever she went.
• Cui Xiaoqiu promised to pass on her message and hugged Yanran quietly.
• Linlin and Lang Xuan visited Yanran with fruit, and Linlin took Cui Xiaoqiu to another room to speak with him.
• Lang Xuan warned Yanran to avoid losing control around Cui Xiaoqiu, and Yanran said she would not do so unless she lost control.

Lang Xuan and Yanran discussed her feelings for Yuwen Duo, while Linlin let Cui Xiaoqiu remain with Yanran and agreed to keep her confinement private from their parents. After more than half a month of cheerful confinement, Yanran heard that Yingying had gone into labor and waited anxiously for news.

• Yanran encouraged Lang Xuan to be open about wanting Yuwen Duo’s affection, and Lang Xuan admitted she was content with how things were.
• Linlin reprimanded Cui Xiaoqiu for hesitating to knock Yanran out, then trusted him to stay with her while Linlin searched for the fourth treasure.
• Linlin found Yanran and Lang Xuan chatting and agreed with Yanran not to tell Imperial Mother or Imperial Father about what had happened.
• Cui Xiaoqiu kept Yanran entertained during her confinement with games and activities, and Yanran practiced writing briefly each day.
• Yanran learned that Yingying had gone into labor, held back from visiting her, and sent someone to ask for news.

Ren Yingying went into labor, and Qu Nian anxiously stayed by her side until she gave birth to their daughter, Jingjing. He held the newborn for the first time, only for her to poop in his palm.

• Ren Yingying’s water broke, and Qu Nian hurried to summon the midwife while nervously tending to her.
• Ren Yingying calmly prepared for labor as Qu Nian panicked, then vomited outside from nerves.
• After nearly fourteen hours of labor, Ren Yingying safely gave birth to a daughter.
• Qu Nian cut the umbilical cord and carefully held Jingjing, who stopped crying in his hands.
• Jingjing pooped in Qu Nian’s palm, and he laughed as he announced it.

Ren Yingying and Qu Nian welcomed their daughter, Jingjing, while Qu Hua discussed her ultimatum to Mu Ziyu and Jinse visited to comfort the new mother. The chapter ended with Ren Yingying falling asleep to Jinse’s pipa music and Qu Hua leaving with Jinse.

• Ren Yingying gave birth to a daughter, and Qu Nian arranged for news of Jingjing’s birth to be sent out.
• Qu Hua told Ren Yingying she had given Mu Ziyu two choices: give up being heir and leave with her, or stay heir and lose her.
• Qu Nian argued with Qu Hua over her decision, while Qu Hua praised her niece and urged her to value her own happiness.
• Jinse visited Ren Yingying, explained that her pipa could ease childbirth pain, and later played music to help Ren Yingying sleep.
• Qu Hua asked Jinse to attend when she gave birth someday, then left with her after Jinse declined her guard’s attentions.

Xiu'er gave birth to Song Miemie, formally named Song Rong by Emperor Wen, while catching cicadas in the imperial garden. In Liaodong, Yanran discovered Cui Xiaoqiu’s musical talent when he played the chime bells he had brought from the capital.

• Qu Hua persuaded Jinse to help her after she gave birth, and Jinse agreed.
• Xiu'er went cicada-catching with the children, went into labor, and gave birth to Song Miemie in the imperial garden.
• Emperor Wen named the boy Song Rong, while Xiu'er and Tang Zhuyun settled on calling him Miemie.
• Ren Yingying joked about betrothing the children, but Qu Nian refused and said they could discuss it when Jingjing grew up.
• Cui Xiaoqiu showed Yanran the chime bells his grandfather had sent and played a beautiful tune for her.
• Yanran praised Cui Xiaoqiu’s abilities, and he claimed he had learned to play the bells just then to make her happy.

Yanran practiced playing an instrument with Cui Xiaoqiu, then learned that he had put calming medicine in her soup to help her sleep while the gu worm affected her. After Yanran fell asleep, Jiang'er remained suspicious of Cui Xiaoqiu and questioned whether he had told Yanran the whole truth.

• Yanran struggled to learn the instrument and felt reassured when Cui Xiaoqiu told her she would improve with practice.
• At dinner, Yanran mentioned her unusual sleepiness, and Cui Xiaoqiu said Jinse had predicted it and that he had added calming medicine to her soup.
• Yanran drank the soup and went to bed, unaware that Cui Xiaoqiu privately feared the gu worm might reach her brain.
• After Yanran fell asleep, Cui Xiaoqiu left Jiang'er to watch over her.
• Jiang'er recalled seeing Cui Xiaoqiu add something to Yanran's soup and remained uncertain whether his explanation was truthful.

Jiang'er grew increasingly suspicious of Cui Xiaoqiu’s nightly absences, but Linlin said he had sent him on an errand. Meanwhile, Qu Nian prepared an extravagant full-month celebration for Jingjing, and Jinse returned to help despite Ren Yingying’s worries about possible gu breeders.

• Jiang'er secretly checked whether Cui Xiaoqiu had gone to see Linlin, then watched him return hours later without explaining where he had been.
• Jiang'er noticed Cui Xiaoqiu left every night for exactly four hours and once returned carrying a fragrance unfamiliar to Yanran’s room.
• Jiang'er told Linlin about Cui Xiaoqiu’s strange behavior, and Linlin said he had sent Cui Xiaoqiu on an errand.
• Qu Nian arranged more than two hundred banquet tables for Jingjing’s full-month celebration, and Qu Hua happily took charge of the women’s side.
• Jinse returned two days before the celebration, and Ren Yingying urged caution about gu breeders and suggested bringing Yanran somewhere Jinse could watch over her.

Ren Yingying and her companions celebrated Jingjing’s calm arrival and teased Yuanyang and Lang Xuan, while Yanran endured painful cramps in her courtyard. When a servant announced that the commandery princess consort had been taken hostage, Yanran rushed to act but let Cui Xiaoqiu go in her place.

• Jinse played the pipa to soothe Jingjing to sleep, and Ren Yingying praised her.
• Qu Nian arrived to see Jingjing and proudly carried his daughter before Linlin’s arrival brought Lang Xuan to visit.
• Ren Yingying and the others teased Lang Xuan about having a child and Yuanyang about Zhao Qing.
• Yanran stayed in bed with severe menstrual pain and asked Cui Xiaoqiu to visit the heir’s residence for news.
• A servant reported that the commandery princess consort had been taken hostage, and Yanran reached for her golden bow.
• Yanran abandoned the idea of going out because she feared striking her own people, and Cui Xiaoqiu went to investigate.

Lang Xuan was taken hostage by Lady Lei, who had been controlled by a flute-playing Gu worm. Linlin agreed to release the captured White Lotus Sect members to save Lang Xuan, while the flute’s influence over Lady Lei continued.

• Lang Xuan joined the women at the gathering and impressed them with her poise, strengthened by Linlin’s encouragement.
• Lady Lei suddenly took Lang Xuan hostage at dagger point, and Lang Xuan realized a flute had placed her under the influence of gu.
• Jinse played her pipa while Linlin, Qu Nian, and others arrived, but the music failed to suppress the flute.
• A maid demanded the release of the White Lotus Sect members captured in Liaodong, and Linlin immediately agreed.
• Linlin ordered Jinse to stop playing and Zhao Qing to release every captured White Lotus Sect member, while Lady Lei remained under the flute’s influence.
• Pang Wanchun arrived and urgently demanded that Lady Lei put down her knife.

Lang Xuan saw through Lady Lei’s act of being controlled by a gu insect and escaped her knife with Linlin’s help. As Linlin comforted and kissed Lang Xuan, Yanran realized the gu cultivator at Jingjing’s celebration had been a diversion and that she was the real target.

• Lang Xuan noticed Lady Lei reacting emotionally to her words and suspected she was pretending to be controlled by a gu insect.
• Lang Xuan provoked Lady Lei with a false accusation, then struck back and escaped as Linlin pulled her to safety.
• Linlin took Lang Xuan to rest, but she urged him to check on Yanran because she feared the enemy might be using a real gu insect against her.
• Lang Xuan explained how she had read Lady Lei’s breathing, and Linlin praised her while reassuring her and kissing her.
• Yanran realized the supposed gu cultivator at Jingjing’s one-month celebration had been a feint to distract everyone from the attack on her.

Yanran was controlled again by the flute music, but Cui Xiaoqiu countered it with chime bells and helped lure out the gu worm. Yanran woke in the evening, learned the danger was over, and asked Cui Xiaoqiu how he had done it.

• Yanran had Jiang'er tie her to a pillar so she would be restrained if she lost control while Cui Xiaoqiu was away.
• When the flute music controlled Yanran again, Jiang'er tried throwing water on her, then summoned the guards to find the flute player.
• Cui Xiaoqiu played the chime bells, weakening the flute music until a tiger's roar made it stop.
• Cui Xiaoqiu left to capture the flute player alive, while Yanran recovered and woke later with Lang Xuan and Linlin beside her.
• Cui Xiaoqiu told Yanran that the gu worm had been lured out, and she celebrated before dismissing his claim that the commandery prince deserved the credit.