Chapter Summaries

Nanxing asked Tang Zhuyun to let her remain at the Prince of Jin’s residence and warned her about Noble Consort Jia. Tang Zhuyun was lured into the palace, where Noble Consort Jia had her slapped, and she retaliated by slapping Noble Consort Jia.

• Nanxing told Tang Zhuyun that her loyalty was to the Xiao Family, not Noble Consort Jia, and asked her to speak for her to the prince.
• Xiu'er reported that Tang Mingfan had fallen ill after the Qiao Family wedding banquet, but he insisted on returning to work before recovering.
• Zhang Zheng tricked Tang Zhuyun into going to Noble Consort Jia instead of the outer court.
• Tang Zhuyun realized she had been deceived and tried to escape, but Noble Consort Jia's people restrained her and dragged her into the palace.
• Noble Consort Jia ordered Tang Zhuyun to be slapped, and Tang Zhuyun struck Noble Consort Jia in return.

Tang Zhuyun fought back against Noble Consort Jia, but was seized and beaten after secretly giving the consort a pill. When Noble Consort Jia ordered the beating to continue despite learning Tang Zhuyun might be pregnant, the Prince of Jin forced his way in and saw blood beneath Tang Zhuyun.

• Tang Zhuyun stuffed a pill into Noble Consort Jia's mouth and slapped her repeatedly before guards dragged her away.
• Nanny Rong stopped the beating briefly to remove Tang Zhuyun's outer clothes, then quietly told her the Prince of Jin was on his way.
• Nanny Rong noticed blood on Tang Zhuyun's clothes, and Tang Zhuyun pretended she had lost her child before fainting.
• Noble Consort Jia ordered the guards to beat Tang Zhuyun despite Nanny Rong warning that it would worsen her rift with the Prince of Jin.
• As rain poured down, the guards resumed beating Tang Zhuyun until a eunuch announced that the Prince of Jin had forced his way in.
• The Prince of Jin arrived, saw the blood beneath Tang Zhuyun, and his eyes turned scarlet.

The Prince of Jin arrived at the palace and found Tang Zhuyun injured after Noble Consort Jia’s trap, then carried her to safety and tended to her. As Noble Consort Jia demanded to see him, Tang Zhuyun warned him not to let her hurt him, but she fainted after recognizing the handkerchief he used to wipe her face.

• Nanxing told Xiu'er that Noble Consort Jia had set a trap for Tang Zhuyun, and they waited for the Prince of Jin at the palace gates.
• The Prince of Jin rushed to Tang Zhuyun, carried her into a room, and comforted her while she insisted that she had not been pregnant and was not badly hurt.
• The Prince of Jin changed Tang Zhuyun's clothes and examined her bruises, but he insisted that she had been pregnant.
• Nanny Rong summoned the Prince of Jin to Noble Consort Jia, and Tang Zhuyun warned him not to let his mother beat him and said she had a way to settle the matter.
• The Prince of Jin wiped Tang Zhuyun's face with a handkerchief, and she recognized it as one she had given him before fainting.

The Prince of Jin slaughtered the palace servants who had restrained Tang Zhuyun and nearly killed Noble Consort Jia before Xiu'er and Nanny Rong stopped him. He sent Tang Zhuyun back to the residence and, after telling Xiu'er to claim she had miscarried, went to face the emperor.

• After Tang Zhuyun fainted, the Prince of Jin ordered Xiu'er to care for her and went outside with Nanxing.
• The Prince of Jin and Nanxing killed the palace servants who had helped restrain Tang Zhuyun, then he entered Noble Consort Jia's room and killed her maids.
• The Prince of Jin confronted Noble Consort Jia over her role in his father's and elder brother's deaths and pointed his sword at her.
• Xiu'er and Nanny Rong begged the Prince of Jin to spare Noble Consort Jia, while Nanxing returned carrying Zhang Zheng's severed head and Noble Consort Jia fainted.
• The Prince of Jin sent Tang Zhuyun back to the residence, told Xiu'er to say she had suffered a miscarriage, and asked her to have a physician examine Tang Zhuyun.
• After the officials saw him covered in blood, the Prince of Jin asked Tang Mingfan to look after A-Yun and said he would go see the emperor.

Tang Zhuyun woke at the prince's residence and learned that the Prince of Jin had killed everyone around Noble Consort Jia except Nanny Rong, claiming Tang Zhuyun had miscarried. As she tried to stay calm and plan how to help him, her father and elder brother arrived.

• Tang Zhuyun woke in pain and asked Xiu'er where the Prince of Jin had gone.
• Nanxing told Tang Zhuyun that the Prince of Jin had taken her to teach Noble Consort Jia a lesson, and that everyone around the consort except Nanny Rong was dead.
• Xiu'er recounted how she had stopped the Prince of Jin from killing Noble Consort Jia and explained that he had entered the palace without Song Jingyang.
• Tang Zhuyun decided to trust the Prince of Jin, have a doctor confirm her supposed miscarriage, and consider how she could help him.
• A maid announced that Tang Mingfan and Tang Baixin had arrived, and Xiu'er hurried to welcome them.

Tang Zhuyun discussed the Prince of Jin’s uncertain fate with Tang Mingfan and Tang Baixin, while learning that even the emperor did not know the truth about Noble Consort Jia and the Xiao Family’s past. She decided to stay by the prince and considered whether her father’s letter could help save him, regretting that her choices had worried her family.

• Tang Zhuyun told Tang Mingfan and Tang Baixin that her miscarriage had been faked, and they agreed the Prince of Jin had acted impulsively to defend her.
• Tang Zhuyun asked about Xiao Wu, and Tang Mingfan explained that the emperor still did not know what role Noble Consort Jia had played in the Xiao Family’s alleged rebellion.
• Tang Mingfan warned that the Prince of Jin might lose his rank or be banished, though he believed his life was probably not in danger.
• Tang Baixin vowed to gather people and petition to clear the Prince of Jin, while Tang Zhuyun worried about implicating her family.
• After her father and brother left, Tang Zhuyun realized she had mistaken the letter Tang Mingfan gave her for a way to leave her husband, when it might instead help save him.

Tang Zhuyun learned that the Prince of Jin had made plans before his arrest, including arranging Song Jingyang’s transfer to Qingzhou, and she began trying to protect the people around her. The chapter ended with Nanxing missing, and Xiu'er feared she had gone to break the Prince of Jin out of prison.

• Tang Zhuyun considered using Tang Mingfan’s letter to save the Prince of Jin, but Xiu'er urged her to use it because he had sacrificed so much for her.
• Xiu'er told Tang Zhuyun that Song Jingyang had given her jewelry and said she would soon be a regional commander's wife.
• Song Jingyang revealed that the Prince of Jin had arranged for him to become regional commander of Qingzhou after Qin Sang obtained compromising evidence against the Prince of Yong.
• Song Jingyang warned that the Prince of Jin and Nanxing could face trouble for entering the palace armed, and said Nanxing had refused to leave.
• Tang Zhuyun sent Song Jingyang to learn news of the Prince of Jin and asked Xiu'er to bring Nanxing to her.
• Xiu'er returned unable to find Nanxing and feared she had gone to break the Prince of Jin out of prison.

Tang Zhuyun and Meng Yulan prepared for the Prince of Jin’s possible downfall by planning to protect Linlin, preserve household valuables, and shelter Qin Sang. Nanxing remained missing, and Tang Zhuyun wondered whether she had gone to protect Linlin, though she was wrong.

• Tang Zhuyun ordered the search for Nanxing to continue while she and Xiu'er worried about her disappearance.
• Meng Yulan discussed Noble Consort Jia with Tang Zhuyun, who feared that Jia might claim Linlin if she learned he was the prince's son.
• Meng Yulan urged Tang Zhuyun to stand by the Prince of Jin and helped her plan how to protect the household's assets, including hiding valuables in the tunnel to the Tang Family home.
• Tang Zhuyun told Meng Yulan that Qin Sang might be in danger from the Prince of Yong, and Meng Yulan agreed to find a way to protect her.
• Tang Zhuyun considered sending Linlin to Master Hong'en as a last resort, while Meng Yulan advised keeping him home and planning together.
• Tang Zhuyun guessed that Nanxing might have gone to protect Linlin, but she was mistaken.

Nanxing went to Marquis Champion's Residence to find Pei Shen and ask him to save her. After six years apart, Pei Shen welcomed her inside, and she revealed that she needed his help.

• Nanxing arrived at Marquis Champion's Residence and told the guards that Vermilion Bird had come to see Pei Shen.
• Mo Ting recognized Nanxing's name and alerted Pei Shen, who hurried out to meet her.
• Pei Shen welcomed Nanxing through the main gates and led her to his study.
• Pei Shen offered Nanxing honey water and calmly told her not to panic when she asked him to save her.
• Nanxing recalled Pei Shen's ties to the emperor and his past investigation into the Xiao Family's alleged treason.

Nanxing told Pei Shen that she had killed people in Jiaren Palace and asked him for help, then used her desire for him to rekindle their intimacy. She returned to the prince's residence, leaving Pei Shen confident that she would come back to him.

• Nanxing reflected on her guilt over the Xiao Family and learned that Pei Shen had known she was back in the capital.
• Nanxing told Pei Shen she had gone on a killing spree in Jiaren Palace and explained what had happened; he agreed to help her.
• Nanxing asked Pei Shen for himself, and they spent the day and night together.
• Nanxing said she needed to return to the prince's residence and would hide there while Pei Shen handled the danger.
• Pei Shen watched Nanxing leave and believed she would return to him.

Nanxing returned to the prince’s residence and reassured Tang Zhuyun, who was preparing for the next stage of the Prince of Jin’s plan. Xiu'er told Nanxing that she had decided to stay with Tang Zhuyun rather than go with Song Jingyang to Qingzhou, though she struggled with the choice.

• Nanxing returned to the residence and met with Tang Zhuyun, who told her to hide in the tunnel if anyone came looking for her.
• Tang Zhuyun confirmed that she had carried out the Prince of Jin’s plan by having a physician declare that she had miscarried, while Song Jingyang planned to take things to the Prince of Jin in prison.
• Xiu'er teased Nanxing about the marks on her neck, then spoke with her privately over tea.
• Xiu'er told Nanxing that Song Jingyang was going to become the regional commander of Qingzhou, but she had decided to stay with Tang Zhuyun.
• Nanxing warned Xiu'er that Tang Zhuyun might be away from the capital for years and asked whether Song Jingyang knew of her decision, making Xiu'er’s eyes redden.

Xiu'er explained why she had decided to stay with Her Highness rather than leave with Song Jingyang, despite loving him and fearing the separation. After confiding in Nanxing, she planned to think about how to tell Nanny Jing first and put off telling Song Jingyang until she had recovered.

• Nanxing urged Xiu'er to go with Song Jingyang, but Xiu'er recalled how Her Highness had given her and her mother shelter when they had nowhere else to turn.
• Xiu'er said she could not leave Her Highness during the years ahead, even though she loved Song Jingyang and wished him happiness.
• Nanxing tried to comfort Xiu'er by suggesting the prince might return soon or Song Jingyang might wait, but Xiu'er refused to keep him waiting.
• After crying and talking through her decision, Xiu'er told Nanxing she would consider how to tell Nanny Jing and leave telling Song Jingyang for later.
• Xiu'er asked whether Nanxing's man could help the prince, and Nanxing said he probably could not.

Nanxing and Xiu'er discussed their feelings for Pei Shen and Song Jingyang, and Nanxing explained her plan to turn Pei Shen against Noble Consort Jia. Tang Zhuyun prepared to visit the Prince of Jin in the imperial prison by arranging for him to fall ill, while Xiu'er and Song Jingyang remained uncertain about their parting.

• Xiu'er gave Nanxing contraceptive medicine, and the two joked about Nanxing staying with Pei Shen and Xiu'er leaving Song Jingyang behind.
• Xiu'er said she would stop asking about Song Jingyang and try to let him go, while Nanxing urged her to wait and hear what he had to say.
• Nanxing told Xiu'er how she had first approached Pei Shen on a mission and described her plan to provoke his anger at Noble Consort Jia by staging her own injury.
• Song Jingyang came to collect supplies for the Prince of Jin, and Tang Zhuyun said she would visit him in prison herself.
• Tang Zhuyun hinted that she would tamper with the Prince of Jin's food so a physician would be summoned, then reassured Xiu'er that she had done what she could and would leave the outcome to the emperor.

As Tang Zhuyun prepared to leave the capital with the Prince of Jin, she arranged matters for Xiu'er and questioned Nanny Jing about the prince’s childhood. Nanny Jing’s account of his mother’s cruelty left Tang Zhuyun wondering whether the Prince of Jin was truly Xiao Wu’s son.

• Yanran learned that she and her brother would leave the capital, then went to find Cui Xiaoqiu, whose grandfather she hoped to learn from.
• Tang Zhuyun tried to discuss Xiu'er's dowry, but Xiu'er insisted that she handle everyone else’s arrangements first and kept her decision to stay secret.
• Nanny Jing asked whether Song Jingyang could give up his new post in Qingzhou to help the Prince of Jin, and Tang Zhuyun told her to follow the prince’s plan.
• Nanny Jing recalled how Xiao Wu had mistreated the Prince of Jin as a child and how he had worked hard to win her approval.
• After Nanny Jing said the rest of the Xiao Family had treated the prince well, Tang Zhuyun wondered whether he was Xiao Wu’s son but still had Xiao Family blood.

Song Jingyang told Tang Zhuyun that the Prince of Jin had planned to earn merit by defeating Xia’s champion and clear his crimes, though he would still leave the capital with her to investigate the past. Tang Zhuyun learned the champion was an old acquaintance who would let the Prince of Jin win, and Song Jingyang said she need not worry about finding people to plead for him.

• After several groups searched the prince’s residence for Nanxing without finding her, Song Jingyang returned from visiting the Prince of Jin in prison and reported that he was well.
• Song Jingyang explained that envoys would arrive in the eleventh month and that Xia’s greatest warrior would challenge the court, giving the Prince of Jin a chance to earn merit and clear his crimes.
• Song Jingyang said the Prince of Jin still planned to leave the capital with Tang Zhuyun to investigate past events, while Xiu'er fell silent and Nanxing looked at her with pity.
• Tang Zhuyun worried about whether the Prince of Jin could defeat the formidable Xia warrior, but Song Jingyang revealed the warrior was an old acquaintance who would make his defeat convincing.
• When Tang Zhuyun wondered whom they could ask to plead for the Prince of Jin, Song Jingyang said she did not need to worry about that either.

Song Jingyang began gathering court support for the prince while Xiu'er struggled to tell him something important about their relationship. Their outing was interrupted by a young woman who tried to attract Song Jingyang's attention, and the chapter ended as a guard began reporting who she was.

• Song Jingyang showed Tang Zhuyun the prince's list of potential supporters, and Tang Zhuyun told him to report his progress each day.
• Xiu'er asked Song Jingyang who was on the list, then agreed to go shopping with him while preparing to tell him something difficult.
• A young woman dropped her jeweled veil near Song Jingyang, but Xiu'er accused her of trying to become his concubine and Song Jingyang threw the veil down.
• Song Jingyang bought Xiu'er several pieces of jewelry, and she secretly wiped away a tear.
• A guard arrived and began telling Song Jingyang who the young woman was.

Xiu'er told Song Jingyang she would stay with Her Highness instead of accompanying him to Qingzhou, but he comforted her and insisted their separation was only temporary. He resolved to marry her before leaving and asked her to wait for him while she remained with Her Highness and helped care for his mother.

• At dinner, Xiu'er warned Song Jingyang not to fall for the crown prince's adopted daughter, then revealed she could not go with him to Qingzhou.
• Xiu'er explained that she had decided to stay with Her Highness and apologized, while Song Jingyang comforted her and said he would wait for her.
• Song Jingyang asked Xiu'er to stay with Her Highness and help care for his mother, saying he could not bear to leave the prince either.
• Song Jingyang insisted they should marry before he left, and Xiu'er urged him not to add to Her Highness's troubles.
• Song Jingyang joked that Xiu'er could not bear to be apart from him, and she pinched his waist while he apologized and called her his wife.

Song Jingyang asked Old Madam He for Xiu'er’s hand and explained that he wanted Xiu'er to help care for his ailing mother while he served in Qingzhou. Old Madam He agreed to a wedding in three days, and Xiu'er left still anxious about her conflicting responsibilities and whether she could have a baby.

• Song Jingyang brought Xiu'er to visit Old Madam He and presented her with a gold hairpin.
• Song Jingyang explained that he wanted Xiu'er to look after his mother, and Old Madam He said the Song Family should send a matchmaker and hold the wedding within days.
• Old Madam He questioned Xiu'er about Song Jingyang’s plans, then urged her to marry quickly and have a child so she could secure her place in the Song Family.
• As Song Jingyang accompanied Xiu'er away, she blurted out that she feared she might not be able to have a baby.

Song Jingyang and Xiu'er reconciled over their marriage and whether to have a child, with Song Jingyang insisting they wait until they could be together and safe. Back at the prince's residence, Xiu'er learned Nanxing could not become pregnant because of the medicines forced on the Xiao Family's death warriors.

• Song Jingyang told Xiu'er he did not want her to endure pregnancy and raise a child alone while he was away in Qingzhou, and said they could wait or remain childless.
• Xiu'er asked if they could have a child, but Song Jingyang firmly refused; she accepted his decision and teased him about wanting to marry her.
• Xiu'er tested Song Jingyang's loyalty by asking whether he would marry another woman for the crown prince's sake, and he said he would choose her.
• Xiu'er returned to the prince's residence and told Nanxing she had changed her mind about separating from Song Jingyang.
• Nanxing told Xiu'er she could not become pregnant because the Xiao Family's death warriors had been made to take countless bitter medicines.

Tang Zhuyun met Qiao Jiao at a restaurant after learning she might know the truth about the Prince of Jin’s parentage. Qiao Jiao revealed that Noble Consort Jia and Qiao Geng planned to marry her to Wei Xuan, and Tang Zhuyun heard that the Prince of Jin might not be Noble Consort Jia’s son, while Qiao Jiao pleaded for help eloping with the man she loved.

• Tang Zhuyun decided to meet Qiao Jiao because she suspected Qiao Jiao knew something about the Prince of Jin’s parentage, and Xiu'er accompanied her with Yanran and Jiaojiao.
• Qiao Jiao asked Tang Zhuyun to help her elope in exchange for revealing a secret.
• Qiao Jiao explained that she had overheard Qiao Geng and Noble Consort Jia discussing her marriage to Wei Xuan and their plans for her.
• Qiao Jiao told Tang Zhuyun that Noble Consort Jia called the Prince of Jin a bastard and described him as born of a lowborn woman, suggesting he was not Noble Consort Jia’s son.
• Qiao Jiao pleaded with Tang Zhuyun to help her escape and reunite with the man she loved, whom she had not seen for three days.