Chapter Summaries

Tang Zhuyun used the secret tunnel beneath the bed to return to the Prince of Jin’s residence and confronted Nanny Rong, who admitted she was protecting someone she believed would not harm the prince. As rumors spread and the family celebrated Tang Zhuyun’s apparent quarrel with the prince, Yanran spotted someone flying her goldfish kite and rode Jiaojiao off to retrieve it.

• The Prince of Jin led Tang Zhuyun through a glowing tunnel beneath the bed back to his residence.
• Tang Zhuyun questioned Nanny Rong and discovered she had been pretending to be delirious while protecting a former master of the Xiao Family.
• The Prince of Jin sent Nanny Rong to an estate outside the capital after her wound began to heal.
• Rumors claimed Tang Zhuyun had driven Nanny Rong to her death and the Prince of Jin had sent his consort home, while Xue Lie complained that the family had used him to stir up a fight.
• Xue Lie suggested Tang Zhuyun leave the Prince of Jin, but she thought their relationship was harmonious.
• Yanran recognized her goldfish kite, climbed onto Jiaojiao, and rode off to retrieve it as Xiu'er rushed after her.

Yanran and Xiu'er confronted the Qiao sisters after Qiao Qiao took Yanran’s kite without permission. The Prince of Jin arrived as Yanran accused the sisters of trying to become her stepmothers, and he questioned their excuse for visiting.

• Yanran returned to the prince’s residence and learned that Qiao Qiao and Qiao Jiao were in the garden.
• Qiao Qiao took Yanran’s goldfish kite from a maid and tried to fly it despite Qiao Jiao’s objections.
• Yanran and Xiu'er confronted the sisters, and Yanran ordered the servants to throw them out.
• The Prince of Jin arrived with Qiao Geng, and Yanran clung to him, saying the sisters had stolen her kite and wanted to become her stepmothers.
• Qiao Jiao admitted the kite belonged to Yanran, and the Prince of Jin challenged the sisters’ claim that they had come to visit Nanny Rong.

Qiao Qiao was reprimanded for bullying Yanran at the Prince of Jin's residence, and Qiao Geng took his daughters home without letting them visit Nanny Rong. The sisters argued on the way back, while Yanran and Tang Zhuyun put the incident behind them.

• Qiao Geng ordered Qiao Qiao to apologize to Yanran, but the Prince of Jin defended his household and Qiao Geng confined Qiao Qiao for a month.
• Qiao Jiao offered to share her sister's confinement, then stopped Qiao Qiao from making another scene and left with her.
• The Prince of Jin told Qiao Geng that the sisters should not visit Nanny Rong, and Qiao Geng agreed to send them home.
• Yanran asked for the goldfish kite to be burned and went out to play with Cui Xiaoqiu, while Qiao Jiao warned Qiao Qiao not to provoke the Prince of Jin.
• Qiao Qiao taunted Qiao Jiao about Wei Xuan and Sun Jun, and Qiao Jiao angrily rejected her sister's accusations.
• Tang Zhuyun listened to Xiu'er recount the incident and asked Yanran if she was still angry; Yanran said she was not.

Tang Zhuyun and the Prince of Jin considered whether Qiao Geng was behind Nanny Rong’s sudden change, then spent a quiet night together. The next morning, Tang Zhuyun planned to see the Xue Family off while the Prince of Jin prepared to meet with the emperor.

• Tang Zhuyun and the Prince of Jin discussed Nanny Rong’s fear of Qiao Geng and wondered whether he had caused her to act strangely.
• Tang Zhuyun comforted the Prince of Jin and gave him cupping therapy and a massage, and he fell asleep before drawing her into his arms.
• Tang Zhuyun and the Prince of Jin cooked breakfast together the next morning, and he said the emperor might keep him after court.
• Tang Zhuyun decided to see the Xue Family off at Ten-Li Pavilion, while the Prince of Jin said he would not tell the emperor the truth until the matter was clear.

Tang Zhuyun saw off the Xue Family outside the city and reconsidered whether Qiao Geng was behind the schemes against her. As the family departed, Linlin tugged at Tang Zhuyun’s sleeve but would not explain why.

• Tang Zhuyun wondered whether Qiao Geng had truly planned to target her, while Xiu'er suggested several possible reasons and said the Prince of Jin was acting unusually during his investigation.
• Tang Zhuyun took Yanran and Linlin outside the city to meet the Xue Family at the Ten-Li Pavilion.
• Old Madam Xue tearfully embraced Tang Zhuyun, urged her to write often, and told her to visit her mother, Shulan.
• Tang Mingfan sent Old Madam Xue a hundred taels as a parting gift but did not come in person, and Tang Zhuyun assured her grandmother that he would remember her on festivals.
• As the Xue Family prepared to leave, Linlin tugged Tang Zhuyun's sleeve and said nothing was wrong.

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.