Chapter Summaries

Tang Zhuyun wondered whether the Prince of Jin had gone to find a former fiancée from the Xiao Family, then dealt with an itchy reaction from peeling yam. When Zong Heng returned with his younger sister to visit the mourning hall, Tang Zhuyun went to meet them, with the Prince of Jin following.

• Tang Zhuyun connected the Prince of Jin's maternal Xiao Family to the massacred Prince of Zhenbei's household and speculated that he might be seeking his former fiancée.
• Tang Zhuyun got yam juice on her skin, and the Prince of Jin helped apply ointment to her neck.
• Xiu'er reported that Zong Heng had come looking for Tang Zhuyun, but Song Jingyang sent him away.
• The Prince of Jin predicted Zong Heng would return with a female family member, and Tang Zhuyun prepared to confront him.
• Zong Heng arrived with Zong Xueci, and Tang Zhuyun greeted them in the mourning hall while the Prince of Jin came to watch.

Tang Zhuyun verbally sparred with Zong Heng and Zong Xueci in the prince’s mourning hall, driving them away after mocking Zong Heng over the red-mole accusation. The Prince of Jin then appeared at the doorway, having overheard the confrontation.

• Zong Heng asked Tang Zhuyun to dismiss the servants so he could confront her privately, but she refused.
• Zong Heng declared that he had no red moles, and Tang Zhuyun implied the Crown Princess and Zong Heng had discussed intimate matters among themselves.
• Zong Xueci returned when she heard Zong Heng shout, then apologized and defended her family as Tang Zhuyun accused them of bullying a widow and her children.
• Tang Zhuyun insulted Zong Heng and Zong Xueci until Zong Heng ended the visit and led his sister away.
• Xiu'er lamented that Zong Heng had not brought his dog, while Song Jingyang worried about reporting the exchange to the Prince of Jin.
• The Prince of Jin revealed that he had heard everything, so Song Jingyang would not need to repeat it.

Tang Zhuyun prepared medicines for the Prince of Jin before his departure, including contraceptive pills, while he tried to talk with her. When Zong Heng surrounded the residence under the pretext of searching for a lost jade pendant, Linlin and Yanran went out with Jiaojiao, the tiger cub, to deal with him.

• Tang Zhuyun packed medicines for the Prince of Jin and insisted he take contraceptive pills in case he was drugged again.
• Xiu'er warned Song Jingyang after the Prince of Jin told her to have Song Jingyang make extra visits to the brothels on his behalf.
• Zong Heng returned at night with a dog and many guards, claiming he was searching for a missing jade pendant, and Song Jingyang reported that his men had surrounded the residence.
• The Prince of Jin suspected Zong Heng was using the dog to search for him, but he stopped Tang Zhuyun from going outside.
• Linlin went out with Yanran and Jiaojiao, and the Prince of Jin told Tang Zhuyun that dogs were naturally afraid of tigers.

Yanran and Linlin helped drive Zong Heng from the Prince of Jin's residence, and the Prince prepared to leave the next morning. Before his departure, Song Jingyang confronted him about his feelings for Tang Zhuyun, which the Prince denied.

• Yanran told Tang Zhuyun how she embarrassed Zong Heng by asking whether his mother was dead and offering to buy him another jade pendant.
• Linlin explained that he had reminded Zong Heng that the emperor had declared the Prince of Jin dead, and warned that Zong Heng was still a formidable opponent.
• Tang Zhuyun took Yanran to prepare food for the Prince, while Linlin stayed to say goodbye to his father and promised to care for the residence.
• Song Jingyang asked the Prince whether he had settled things with Tang Zhuyun, then argued that she would not have married him without the imperial decree.
• Song Jingyang told the Prince that he had developed feelings for Tang Zhuyun and that nearly everyone who knew he was alive had noticed, but the Prince denied it.

Song Jingyang urged the Prince of Jin to make Tang Zhuyun fall for him, but the prince rejected his advice to consummate their marriage. Before leaving on a journey, the Prince of Jin reassured Tang Zhuyun and gave her a lavish box of pearls, which she eagerly accepted.

• Song Jingyang told the Prince of Jin that Tang Zhuyun might only be making do with him and advised him to win her affection by using his strengths.
• When the Prince of Jin admitted he could think of no strengths that would impress Tang Zhuyun, Song Jingyang suggested consummating their marriage, and the prince angrily rejected the idea despite being tempted.
• Tang Zhuyun asked who would accompany the Prince of Jin on his journey, and he explained that Song Jingyang would stay behind while Huaishang had gone to Jiangzhou to protect her family from trouble over the past.
• The Prince of Jin told Tang Zhuyun he had altered his complexion and eyebrows to disguise himself, and she reminded him to speak with Nanny Rong and prepare for Yanran's birthday.
• The Prince of Jin presented Tang Zhuyun with a box of eastern pearls, and she enthusiastically asked him to keep insulting her with such gifts.

The Prince of Jin realized he could no longer bear to leave Tang Zhuyun and the children, then departed quietly after spending the night near them. Tang Zhuyun woke to find him gone, and Xiu'er rushed in with news that a crowd had arrived.

• The Prince of Jin offered Tang Zhuyun control over the residence, but she focused on her pearls and said she would move out after the burial.
• Song Jingyang asked Xiu'er about betrothal gifts, while she grew exasperated with his endless questions.
• The Prince of Jin watched Tang Zhuyun sleep, but Jiaojiao confronted him and Tang Zhuyun accidentally struck his chin when she woke.
• The Prince of Jin admitted he could not bear to leave the children, and Tang Zhuyun invited him to sleep on the kang before swapping places with him.
• The Prince of Jin left quietly with the things Tang Zhuyun had prepared, and she woke to find him gone.
• Xiu'er hurried into the courtyard and told Tang Zhuyun that many people had gathered outside.

Tang Zhuyun discovered that disaster victims had gathered outside Prince of Jin's residence to defend her, but suspected someone had stirred them up and warned against letting them be used. After calming the crowd and consulting with Tang Mingfan, she gave the victims travel money, dispersing them peacefully.

• Xiu'er told Tang Zhuyun that disaster victims carrying makeshift weapons had gathered outside, and Song Jingyang explained they had come to seek justice for her.
• Tang Zhuyun suspected someone had organized the crowd to exploit the confrontation, ordered Song Jingyang to investigate, and went out to calm the victims.
• Tang Zhuyun assured the crowd that the incident with Zong Heng had been a misunderstanding and spotted Qin Sang among them.
• Tang Mingfan told Tang Zhuyun that he and other officials had petitioned the emperor, who punished Zong Heng with twenty strokes, and warned her not to incite the victims.
• Tang Zhuyun promised each victim a tael of silver for the journey home, and the grateful crowd lined up to collect it and dispersed.

Tang Zhuyun questioned Qin Sang about the disaster victims’ demonstration and learned that the Zong Residence had secretly incited it. After receiving the emperor’s reward and a warning from Wang Fu about Zong Heng’s punishment, she learned that the prince had sent a message by carrier pigeon.

• Tang Zhuyun asked Qin Sang how she learned of the disaster victims’ demonstration, and Qin Sang said Xiao Kouzi had told her without naming an organizer.
• Tang Mingfan recalled that a courtesan had once helped him and agreed with Tang Zhuyun that Zong Heng was likely behind the unrest.
• Tang Mingfan advised Tang Zhuyun not to appeal again to the emperor, and she learned that the Zong Family remained difficult to challenge because of its ties to the empress.
• Wang Fu delivered the emperor’s reward of silk and silver to Tang Zhuyun and privately said he had made Zong Heng’s twenty strokes as severe as he could.
• Song Jingyang’s investigation confirmed that people from the Zong Residence had incited the disaster victims, and he told Tang Zhuyun that a carrier-pigeon message had arrived from the prince.

Tang Zhuyun received a blunt message from the Prince of Jin and sent him a brief reply while he was away. Back at home, she practiced archery with Linlin and Yanran before discovering that the enormous falcon delivering another letter belonged to the prince.

• Song Jingyang read the Prince of Jin’s note aloud: “Either write back or consummate the marriage,” and Tang Zhuyun eventually replied, “Everything is well. Do not worry, Your Highness.”
• The Prince of Jin received Tang Zhuyun’s letter and Song Jingyang’s request that he write more legibly, then became too embarrassed to send another message for several days.
• Tang Zhuyun vented her anger at Zong Heng by hitting a sandbag while Linlin led Yanran in archery practice.
• Tang Zhuyun hurried the children inside when a huge bird approached, but Song Jingyang explained that it was the Prince of Jin’s gyrfalcon, Xiao Ye.
• Song Jingyang explained that Xiao Ye delivered messages quickly and could carry more letters, and Tang Zhuyun read the new letter with disdain for both the prince and his falcon.

Tang Zhuyun teased the Prince of Jin with a terse reply while investigating Zong Xueci’s possible entry into the Eastern Palace. That night, Yanran asked about her birth mother, and Tang Zhuyun comforted her by explaining Xiao Mo’s story.

• Tang Zhuyun sent the Prince of Jin a reply reading only “Five hundred,” and he angrily demanded another chance to write to her.
• Song Jingyang reported that Zong Xueci might be entering the Eastern Palace and warned Tang Zhuyun that the sixteen-year-old was shrewd and hard to read.
• Tang Zhuyun considered using Zong Xueci as a way to get closer to Zong Heng.
• Yanran tearfully asked whether her birth mother had been cast out, and Tang Zhuyun assured her that Xiao Mo had not been discarded.
• Tang Zhuyun told Yanran that Xiao Mo had left the Xiao Family to protect a descendant, later entrusted Yanran to the Prince of Jin, and died after the Xiao Family was executed.

Tang Zhuyun comforted Yanran about her mother, then learned that the Prince of Jin had discovered Zong Heng’s actions and was making plans of his own. While investigating Zong Xueci’s bid to enter the Eastern Palace, Tang Zhuyun took Yanran and Meng Yulan out shopping and ran into Zong Heng and Jiang Beihan.

• Tang Zhuyun told Yanran that her mother had loved her and asked her to live happily, then wrote the Prince of Jin a long letter about life at the residence.
• The Prince of Jin grew suspicious and ordered Song Jingyang to explain what he and Tang Zhuyun had concealed; after learning about Zong Heng, he told Song Jingyang to reveal his whereabouts to Zong Heng.
• Tang Zhuyun learned from Qin Sang that Zong Xueci’s nurse was seeking bedroom advice, and inferred that the Zong Family planned to send Zong Xueci into the Eastern Palace.
• Song Jingyang confirmed the Zong Family’s plan, while Tang Zhuyun wrote to the Prince of Jin to ask whether she could take revenge.
• Tang Zhuyun celebrated Yanran’s birthday at the Tang Family home, then took Yanran and the pregnant Meng Yulan out shopping and to the Four Seas Tower.
• Tang Zhuyun encountered Zong Heng and Jiang Beihan at the Four Seas Tower and mocked Zong Heng’s false apology and his alliance with Jiang Beihan.

Tang Zhuyun lured Zong Heng into a trap that ruined Zong Xueci, while keeping her husband’s survival secret from Meng Yulan. The chapter ended as Xiu'er arrived with news of another spectacle.

• Tang Zhuyun provoked Zong Heng by staging suggestive marks on her neck and letting him believe she was secretly meeting someone at an inn.
• Tang Zhuyun took Yanran and Linlin to watch the prince's residence guards practice dragon-boat racing while Zong Heng prepared to catch her at the inn.
• A disguised stand-in for Tang Zhuyun lured Zong Heng upstairs, where he and the onlookers witnessed a compromising scene involving the Zong Family; Tang Zhuyun maintained her alibi at the dragon-boat practice.
• Meng Yulan told Tang Zhuyun that Zong Xueci would be forced to die of illness after the scandal, and Tang Zhuyun regretted missing the chance to see Zong Xueci and her sister turn against each other.
• Meng Yulan inferred that the Prince of Jin was alive, and Xiu'er rushed in announcing that there was another good show to see.

Tang Zhuyun learned how Zong Xueci won entry to the Eastern Palace and heard warnings that Zong Heng might retaliate. The chapter ended when Tang Mingfan took Linlin to meet Great Confucian Scholar Kong, whom Linlin recognized as being from the Wang Family of Langya.

• Xiu'er told Tang Zhuyun that the Crown Princess had tried to block Zong Xueci from entering the Eastern Palace, but Zong Xueci was admitted after the Crown Prince agreed to take her in without a title.
• Meng Yulan predicted that Zong Xueci would succeed and explained that the Zong Family would accept either daughter as long as it kept influence over the Crown Prince.
• Qin Sang told Tang Zhuyun that Zong Xueci had escaped home, appealed to the Crown Prince, and persuaded him by serving him; she also revealed that her sister had joined Zong Xueci after being freed.
• Qin Sang warned Tang Zhuyun that Zong Heng might seek revenge, and Tang Zhuyun said the Golden Scale Guard would protect them.
• Tang Mingfan returned and told Tang Zhuyun he would take Linlin to meet Great Confucian Scholar Kong, who might accept him as a disciple.
• Linlin ran out and asked whether the scholar was Great Confucian Scholar Kong of the Wang Family of Langya.

Tang Zhuyun learned why Yanran feared Hongxiu’s return and uncovered the family history connecting them to the Wang Family of Langya. Linlin also pursued the chance to become Great Confucian Scholar Kong’s disciple, while the Wang family’s possible connection to Kong remained uncertain.

• Tang Zhuyun reassured Qin Sang that Lord Tang did not look down on her, then learned from Meng Yulan how prestigious Great Confucian Scholar Kong was and how eagerly she hoped Linlin would become his disciple.
• Tang Zhuyun comforted Yanran, who vowed to take revenge if Hongxiu returned, and learned that Hongxiu had come from the Wang Family of Langya.
• Tang Zhuyun considered asking Nanny Rong about Yanran’s past, but Nanxing explained that Nanny Rong disliked Yanran’s family because Yanran’s grandfather had caused the death of someone Nanny Rong loved.
• Nanxing told Tang Zhuyun that Yanran’s birth mother, Xiao Mo, and Hongxiu were sisters from the Wang Family of Langya, and that Hongxiu had been trusted to care for Yanran.
• Nanxing said the Wang family was so large that Hongxiu probably had no connection to Great Confucian Scholar Kong, leaving Tang Zhuyun unsure how the two matters were related.

Linlin returned home after Great Confucian Scholar Kong accepted him as a disciple, and Tang Zhuyun began preparing a suitable apprenticeship gift. As she and Meng Yulan arranged for a rare book and a dinner for Kong, Tang Zhuyun learned Hongfu had miscarried after Zong Heng’s latest move; an urgent knocking at her door left the chapter on an unresolved interruption.

• Linlin told Tang Zhuyun that Great Confucian Scholar Kong had accepted him and planned to stay in the capital for at least three years.
• Tang Mingfan and Chang Zhi ate the food Tang Zhuyun had sent and decided to invite Great Confucian Scholar Kong to the Four Seas Tower.
• Tang Zhuyun learned that Hongfu had suffered a miscarriage after Zong Heng acted against her, and she decided to leave his affairs alone for the time being.
• Tang Zhuyun asked Meng Yulan for help choosing Linlin’s apprenticeship gift, and Meng Yulan proposed finding a rare book and offered silver for the purchase.
• Meng Yulan arranged for fine Western Regions grape wine and luminous cups to be sent to Tang Mingfan’s dinner with Great Confucian Scholar Kong.
• After Tang Zhuyun put the children to bed, urgent knocking sounded outside, and Xiu’er went to investigate.

Qin Sang rescued Tang Mingfan from a scheme to ruin his reputation and brought him to Tang Zhuyun’s residence. Tang Zhuyun ordered an investigation, while Qin Sang stayed to care for him and arrange to redeem her sister.

• Qin Sang and Xiao Ran rescued the drunken Tang Mingfan from a plot to frame him with a brothel woman, and Chang Zhi left to pursue evidence.
• Qin Sang explained the conspiracy to Tang Zhuyun, who ordered Song Jingyang to have the Golden Scale Guard investigate.
• Tang Zhuyun offered to pay to redeem Qin Sang’s sister and warned Qin Sang to seek help from the prince’s residence if needed.
• Qin Sang planned an excuse for staying the night, then arranged sobering soup and carefully tended to Tang Mingfan.
• Tang Zhuyun wondered if Qin Sang had fallen for her father as Xiu'er praised Qin Sang’s attentiveness.

Tang Zhuyun learned Qin Sang secretly cherished Tang Mingfan and let her care for him after he was drugged and brought to the inn. After Tang Mingfan went to court, Tang Zhuyun discovered Zong Heng had arranged the plot and learned the Prince of Jin had gone northwest to deal with him.

• Qin Sang insisted on staying overnight to care for Tang Mingfan, while Tang Zhuyun silently worried about her feelings and her father's suitability as a husband.
• Tang Mingfan woke at dawn, learned what had happened, thanked Qin Sang, and left for court with pastries Tang Zhuyun had packed for him.
• Qin Sang advised Tang Zhuyun to keep food prepared for Tang Mingfan and received five hundred taels to free her sisters.
• Tang Zhuyun suspected Zong Heng had framed Tang Mingfan, and the investigations by Chang Zhi and the Golden Scale Guard confirmed it.
• Tang Zhuyun told Song Jingyang to warn the Prince of Jin, but Song revealed that the prince had deliberately lured Zong Heng northwest to help her get revenge.

Tang Zhuyun learned that Tang Mingfan had appealed to the emperor after the attempted assault, while Zong Heng remained away and the Prince of Jin sent her melancholy letters. On her birthday, she discovered that the Prince of Jin had built a gigantic wooden pool filled with river water and decorated like a sea so she could swim.

• Tang Mingfan complained to the emperor about nearly losing his chastity, prompting an investigation, and asked Tang Zhuyun whether Sangsang would be punished for helping him.
• Linlin studied with Great Confucian Scholar Kong, while Tang Zhuyun exchanged letters with the absent Prince of Jin about ordinary daily events.
• Tang Zhuyun received birthday gifts from her family, including Yanran's scented pouch and a gold-and-gem collar she said was from her father.
• Song Jingyang led Tang Zhuyun and Yanran to the Prince of Jin's residence to see the prince's special birthday gift.
• Tang Zhuyun found a vast, sea-themed wooden pool filled with river water, which the Prince of Jin had built so she could swim.

On Tang Zhuyun’s birthday, Song Jingyang tried to persuade her to swim in a river-fed pool, unaware she was being urged by the Prince of Jin’s misguided surprise plan. Tang Zhuyun went home without discovering that the pale shape Yanran had seen in the water was the Prince of Jin, who had returned to celebrate her birthday.

• Song Jingyang urged Tang Zhuyun to try swimming in the pool, but Xiu'er and Tang Zhuyun objected to the cold water.
• Yanran spotted a large pale fish in the pool, while Tang Zhuyun doubted that a big fish could have passed through the narrow bamboo pipes.
• Song Jingyang worried that Tang Zhuyun might discover the Prince of Jin hiding in the water after he returned home to surprise her.
• Madam Wang visited Tang Zhuyun and gave her a fine white jade Buddha statue for her birthday.
• Tang Zhuyun returned home, cooked food for her family, and sent a meal to Tang Mingfan at the government office when he could not come back.

Tang Zhuyun opened Qin Sang’s gift and mistook its contents for a ginseng root before the Prince of Jin emerged and accidentally injured his foot. After she treated him, he said he would attend court the next day and asked how she had been at the residence, but his tender manner turned dark when he noticed the broken gift.

• Tang Zhuyun opened Qin Sang’s box alone and found a strange object inside.
• The Prince of Jin emerged from behind a screen, and Tang Zhuyun tried to claim he had dropped the object.
• The Prince of Jin stepped on the object, broke it, and hurt the sole of his foot.
• Tang Zhuyun treated the Prince of Jin’s foot and avoided explaining who had given her the object.
• The Prince of Jin said he would attend court the next day and asked Tang Zhuyun how she had been.
• The Prince of Jin noticed the broken pieces and darkly remarked that Tang Zhuyun seemed to have been doing well.