Chapter Summaries

Tang Zhuyun served the Prince of Jin a meal while keeping her distance from him, convinced he posed a danger to her family. After she took Linlin for a walk, the Prince of Jin watched her thoughtfully as Chang Zhi asked him why he had come.

• Tang Zhuyun cooked extra dishes and served noodles to the Prince of Jin, Chang Zhi, and Linlin.
• Tang Zhuyun gave Linlin an egg and teased him about being precious, while Chang Zhi awkwardly tried to explain her words to the Prince of Jin.
• The Prince of Jin tried to get another bowl of noodles, but Tang Zhuyun's cool reply made him sit back down and pretend he was full.
• Tang Zhuyun served Linlin fruit ice cream and told him to share it with the hard-working men.
• Chang Zhi tried to take Linlin riding, but Tang Zhuyun led Linlin away to rest after eating.
• Chang Zhi asked the Prince of Jin what he had really come to do.

Tang Zhuyun rejected the Prince of Jin’s request for help, but he warned her that Tang Baixin had embezzled silver. That night she overheard Tang Baixin confess to their father, and entered the room to find out how she could help him.

• The Prince of Jin asked Tang Zhuyun for help, but she refused and angrily rejected his claim that Tang Baixin had embezzled five or six thousand taels.
• Tang Baixin told Tang Zhuyun not to worry and said he would handle the matter, leaving her uneasy.
• Tang Zhuyun woke at night and heard Tang Mingfan beating Tang Baixin while demanding to know what had happened to the silver.
• Tang Baixin admitted that he had given in to greed and said the silver had been stolen from him.
• Tang Zhuyun suspected the Prince of Jin might have framed her brother and pushed open the door to enter the room.

Tang Zhuyun tried to learn why Tang Baixin was accused of embezzling several thousand taels, but he refused to explain and offered to be cast out of the family. When she threatened to confront the Prince of Jin at daybreak, Tang Baixin finally agreed to tell her the truth.

• Tang Zhuyun entered to find Tang Baixin kneeling while Tang Mingfan stood over him with a rattan cane.
• Tang Zhuyun pressed Tang Baixin to explain the embezzlement and promised the family would face the consequences together.
• Tang Baixin kowtowed and asked Tang Mingfan to cast him out of the family.
• Tang Zhuyun asked what punishment the law imposed and learned that repayment might not prevent exile or execution.
• Tang Zhuyun threatened to visit the Prince of Jin at daybreak, and Tang Baixin stopped her and agreed to tell her what happened.

Tang Zhuyun’s family confronted the evidence framing Tang Baixin for embezzlement and agreed to seek time to clear his name. Tang Zhuyun went to the Prince of Jin’s Residence to sound him out, where his attendant suspected she had made the prince miss court.

• Tang Baixin admitted that evidence showed someone had used his official seal to withdraw several thousand taels, and he urged Tang Mingfan to cast him out of the family.
• Tang Zhuyun scolded Tang Baixin for trying to sacrifice himself and asked Tang Mingfan to decide what was best for the family.
• Tang Mingfan planned to ask the emperor to sentence Tang Baixin to exile while he investigated the case, and Tang Zhuyun offered to approach the Prince of Jin.
• Tang Zhuyun made breakfast for Tang Mingfan, then sent Tang Baixin to the Ministry of Personnel and left Linlin in Xiu'er’s care.
• Tang Zhuyun arrived at the Prince of Jin’s Residence, where Song Jingyang watched warily as the prince agreed to see her.

The Prince of Jin offered to protect Tang Zhuyun’s eldest brother from embezzlement charges if she cured his daughter within a month. On the way to see the girl, Tang Zhuyun fell and accidentally pulled down the Prince of Jin’s pants, then followed him to a secluded courtyard.

• The Prince of Jin asked Tang Zhuyun to save someone in exchange for helping her eldest brother, claiming he could use his authority to explain the embezzlement as part of an investigation.
• Tang Zhuyun questioned the Prince of Jin’s token and suspected he meant to use her services indefinitely, but he promised the arrangement would last only until the case caught up with her eldest brother.
• The Prince of Jin gave Tang Zhuyun one month to cure his daughter and said he would repay the embezzled silver if she met his demands.
• Tang Zhuyun insisted on seeing the Prince of Jin’s daughter before agreeing, and he led her down from the pavilion.
• Tang Zhuyun tripped on the slope and accidentally pulled off the Prince of Jin’s pants; Song Jingyang arrived and was ordered to leave.
• The Prince of Jin led Tang Zhuyun, who pretended nothing had happened, to a secluded courtyard.

Tang Zhuyun examined Yanran and said she was fine, despite the Prince of Jin’s doubts and Hongxiu’s accusations. After sending everyone out, Tang Zhuyun asked Yanran to take off her clothes, and Yanran stared at her in disbelief after hearing what she said.

• Tang Zhuyun stopped the Prince of Jin from giving Yanran her medicine and checked Yanran’s pulse instead.
• Tang Zhuyun declared Yanran fine, prompting the Prince of Jin to question her and Hongxiu to call her a swindler.
• Tang Zhuyun insulted Hongxiu, and the Prince of Jin ordered the maid to leave the room.
• Tang Zhuyun told the Prince of Jin and everyone else to leave so she could examine Yanran alone.
• Tang Zhuyun asked Yanran to take off her clothes, reassured her, and said something that left Yanran staring at her in disbelief.

Tang Zhuyun discovered that Hongxiu had abused Yanran and fabricated her illnesses, then confronted the Prince of Jin and demanded justice. Yanran clung to Tang Zhuyun and finally cried openly as the Prince of Jin began to understand what had happened.

• Tang Zhuyun suspected Hongxiu was harming Yanran after finding no serious illness and noticing a tiny pinhole on the girl’s arm.
• Tang Zhuyun gently persuaded Yanran to let her examine her and found many needle marks on the insides of her thighs.
• Tang Zhuyun carried Yanran outside and told the Prince of Jin to have Hongxiu seized and beaten until she talked.
• Hongxiu claimed she was loyal to Yanran, but Yanran clung to Tang Zhuyun, and the Prince of Jin ordered Song Jingyang to slap Hongxiu.
• Tang Zhuyun accused Hongxiu of causing Yanran’s injuries and inventing her illnesses, explaining that the reported fits could have been ordinary fever convulsions.
• Yanran wrapped her arms around Tang Zhuyun’s neck and wept aloud, trembling as she released her pent-up hurt.

Tang Zhuyun took Yanran home after the Prince of Jin exposed Hongxiu’s abuse, then watched the Prince of Jin grow close to Linlin while Yanran stayed by her side. The chapter left Tang Zhuyun exasperated by the Prince of Jin’s daily visits and amused by Linlin’s unusual reason for wanting to grow up.

• Song Jingyang stopped Hongxiu from revealing more, and the Prince of Jin let Tang Zhuyun take Yanran home after she refused to leave her.
• Tang Zhuyun learned that the Prince of Jin would help Tang Baixin’s case, while Tang Mingfan insisted they treat his five thousand taels of silver as a loan.
• Yanran clung to Tang Zhuyun, and both she and Linlin asked whether Tang Zhuyun intended to marry the Prince of Jin.
• The Prince of Jin moved next door and began visiting for meals, while Yanran kept her distance and Song Jingyang warned Tang Zhuyun about Hongxiu’s punishment.
• The Prince of Jin bonded with Linlin through riding, hunting, and play, while Yanran helped Tang Zhuyun with cooking and chores.
• Linlin told Tang Zhuyun he wanted to grow up so he could pee farther than the Prince of Jin.

Tang Zhuyun learned that the emperor had asked her to care for Yanran, then met Qingfeng, the male courtesan her predecessor had once pursued. Qingfeng undressed and offered himself to her, while Tang Zhuyun remained unimpressed and stopped him as he approached.

• Tang Zhuyun asked Tang Mingfan whether her closeness to the Prince of Jin might raise the emperor’s suspicions, and he said he had already discussed it with the emperor.
• Tang Mingfan revealed that the emperor wanted Tang Zhuyun to care for Yanran and had offered her a reward, which he had refused.
• Tang Zhuyun asked how the Prince of Jin had ended up among commoners, but Tang Mingfan avoided answering and sent her to watch Linlin and Yanran.
• Xiu'er told Tang Zhuyun that Qingfeng had arrived and hurried the children away, expecting to give the pair privacy.
• Qingfeng apologized, removed all his clothes, and offered to let Tang Zhuyun do whatever she wanted to him.
• Tang Zhuyun told Qingfeng to wait as he approached, while he privately assumed she was eager to accept him.

Tang Zhuyun intimidated Qingfeng with a cleaver, then persuaded him to partner with her selling kidney-tonifying medicines. Qingfeng also revealed that the Marquis of Changyang’s fifth young master had offered 10,000 taels for a lenient sentence, and Tang Zhuyun regretted missing the chance to profit from the deal.

• Tang Zhuyun pretended she would cut Qingfeng with a cleaver, and the Prince of Jin arrived to find Qingfeng naked and cornered.
• Tang Zhuyun sent the Prince of Jin away and convinced the frightened Qingfeng to become her business partner.
• Tang Zhuyun proposed splitting the proceeds from selling her kidney-tonifying medicines with Qingfeng, and he agreed.
• Qingfeng told Tang Zhuyun that the Marquis of Changyang’s fifth young master had killed someone while drunk and that 10,000 taels had been offered for a lenient sentence.
• Tang Zhuyun regretted not being able to take a cut of the promised silver.

Tang Zhuyun argued with the Prince of Jin over Yanran staying in her care, and the two agreed to leave things as they were. The Prince of Jin then accepted Song Jingyang’s plan to find Tang Zhuyun a man, though he rejected Song Jingyang as the candidate.

• Yanran returned to Tang Zhuyun in tears, and Tang Zhuyun comforted her while the Prince of Jin reluctantly stayed quiet.
• Tang Zhuyun defended her conduct with Qingfeng and insisted Yanran should remain with her because she was weak; the Prince of Jin accused her of behaving improperly.
• Tang Zhuyun rebuked the Prince of Jin for making Yanran cry and reminded him that he had begged her to care for Yanran, but their argument ended with the arrangement unchanged.
• Song Jingyang suggested finding Tang Zhuyun a handsome, loyal man to keep her occupied, and the Prince of Jin agreed the idea was worth trying.
• The Prince of Jin named Song Jingyang as a possible candidate, but Song Jingyang protested that Tang Zhuyun would disgrace him; the prince said he was only teasing, and Song Jingyang offered another candidate.

The Prince of Jin asked Chang Zhi to marry Tang Zhuyun, but Chang Zhi refused, and Yanran fell ill after being frightened. Tang Zhuyun cared for her, prepared for the Dragon Boat Festival, and arrived at the celebration with Linlin and Yanran, where someone mocked her.

• Song Jingyang urged the Prince of Jin to consider Chang Zhi as a husband for Tang Zhuyun, but Chang Zhi refused because he already had a sweetheart and did not want to marry.
• Yanran developed a fever and called for her sister; Tang Zhuyun tended to her through the night while the Prince of Jin watched, and Linlin stayed beside Yanran.
• After Yanran recovered, Qingfeng's attendant paid Tang Zhuyun her share of the medicine profits and asked her to prepare more.
• Tang Zhuyun asked the Prince of Jin to pay for Dragon Boat Festival outfits, and he sent satin; Tang Mingfan revealed that he had given away the emperor's five hundred taels to his subordinates.
• Tang Zhuyun, Linlin, and Yanran attended the Dragon Boat Festival celebration, where a woman sarcastically called Tang Zhuyun the capital's famously lovesick woman.

Tang Zhuyun publicly humiliated Ruan Anruo and Ruan Anhua before turning her attention to the arrival of the celebrated Meng Yulan. When Yanran pointed out the Prince of Jin as her father and ran to Tang Zhuyun, the gathered nobles were left astonished by their closeness.

• Tang Zhuyun traded insults with Ruan Anhua and exposed the gifts she had taken from Ruan Anruo, embarrassing both sisters in public.
• Ruan Anruo and Ruan Anhua tried to deflect Tang Zhuyun's accusations, but Tang Zhuyun came away satisfied with her victory.
• The noble ladies discussed Meng Yulan and the rumor that the Prince of Jin's future princess might be chosen for her.
• Tang Zhuyun admired Meng Yulan and fantasized about matching her with her brother before the Prince of Jin appeared beside the emperor.
• Yanran pointed out the Prince of Jin as her father and ran to Tang Zhuyun, startling the onlookers with their closeness.

At the palace banquet, Yanran’s affection for Tang Zhuyun drew attention, and the emperor summoned Tang Zhuyun and the children. The emperor praised Linlin and rewarded him, Yanran, and Tang Zhuyun, while Yanran’s offer to give Tang Zhuyun her rewards for a dowry left Zhuyun embarrassed and fearing the rumors would never stop.

• Yanran’s remarks about Tang Zhuyun and the Prince of Jin prompted Meng Yulan to approach Zhuyun, though Meng denied having any concern about the prince.
• A palace maid told Tang Zhuyun that the emperor wanted to see her, so she brought Yanran and Linlin toward the Prince of Jin.
• Tang Zhuyun had Linlin lead Yanran to the Prince of Jin, who took them to pay their respects to the emperor.
• The emperor spoke with Yanran and Linlin, praised Linlin, and rewarded him with writing supplies, chicken-blood stone, and gold and silver ingots.
• The emperor rewarded Yanran with gold and silver and Tang Zhuyun with six bolts of silk, then laughed when Yanran offered Zhuyun her rewards for a dowry.

Tang Zhuyun exposed Ruan Anruo's attempt to frame her for theft at the palace banquet and publicly humiliated her. Ruan Anruo then revealed that she and her cousin were about to be betrothed.

• A palace maid spilled tea on Tang Zhuyun's sleeve, and Tang Zhuyun noticed that the maid's clothes did not fit her.
• Ruan Anruo approached Tang Zhuyun with a false show of concern, but Tang Zhuyun mocked her in front of the guests.
• Tang Zhuyun found Ruan Anruo's jade monkey pendant and accused the palace maid of planting it; Song Jingyang caught the maid as she tried to flee.
• Tang Zhuyun slapped the maid and threatened her until the maid revealed that Ruan Anruo had bought her.
• Ruan Anruo argued that the Tang household was poor, and Tang Zhuyun warned that the scheme would harm her marriage prospects.
• Ruan Anruo announced that she and her cousin were about to be betrothed.

Tang Zhuyun won the confrontation with Ruan Anruo, then spent an awkward conversation with Meng Yulan, who hinted at her own dislike of the Prince of Jin. After Meng Yulan was summoned away, Yanran tearfully asked Tang Zhuyun why she could not marry her father.

• Ruan Anruo claimed her cousin had passed the palace examination, and Tang Zhuyun mocked his third-class jinshi rank by boasting about her family's examination successes.
• Meng Yulan arrived, ended the quarrel, and caused Ruan Anruo and the other onlookers to back down.
• Tang Zhuyun apologized after Meng Yulan pointed out that she had insulted families proud of their third-class jinshi relatives, and Meng Yulan said she hated the Prince of Jin too.
• Tang Zhuyun declined to bet on the princes' dragon boat teams, while Meng Yulan also refused to wager and praised her.
• A palace maid summoned Meng Yulan to the Empress Dowager, the Empress, Consort De, and Consort Qi, and Yanran asked Tang Zhuyun why she could not marry her father.

At the dragon boat races, Tang Zhuyun befriended Madam Wang, then learned the emperor had decreed that Meng Yulan would marry the Prince of Jin as his principal consort and Tang Zhuyun as his secondary consort. Tang Zhuyun insisted she did not want the marriage, and Tang Baixin began considering a way out.

• Tang Zhuyun watched the dragon boat race with Yanran and Linlin, then welcomed Madam Wang when the other guests shunned her.
• Meng Yulan returned looking upset, and Tang Zhuyun learned the emperor had decreed her marriage to the Prince of Jin as his secondary consort, alongside Meng Yulan as principal consort.
• Back at the residence, Tang Mingfan and Tang Baixin assumed Tang Zhuyun was pleased with the match, while Yanran celebrated and Linlin grew unhappy.
• Tang Zhuyun repeatedly told her father and brother that she did not want to marry the Prince of Jin, and Tang Baixin hinted that he had an idea for stopping it.

Tang Zhuyun tried to avoid marrying the Prince of Jin by planning to fake a serious illness, while her father and brother investigated possible exam fraud involving Ruan Anruo’s cousin. In the middle of the night, the Prince of Jin took Tang Zhuyun away to help save Meng Yulan.

• Tang Zhuyun persuaded Tang Baixin to suggest she fake a terrible disease so she could avoid marriage, and she decided to make medicine that would disfigure her.
• Tang Zhuyun told Tang Mingfan and Tang Baixin that Ruan Anruo’s cousin had become a third-rank jinshi despite being a good-for-nothing, and they agreed to investigate the exam results.
• Tang Zhuyun worked late making medicine, then fell asleep after dreaming that her disfigurement frightened the Prince of Jin.
• The Prince of Jin entered Tang Zhuyun’s room at night and offered her money to help save someone urgently.
• Tang Zhuyun agreed to go with the Prince of Jin and learned that the person he needed her to save was Meng Yulan.

Tang Zhuyun accompanied Prince of Jin to Duke Meng's Residence after Meng Yulan attempted suicide. She found Meng Yulan alive, and the chapter ended as Meng Yulan asked her mother to leave so she could speak privately with Zhuyun.

• Tang Zhuyun suspected Prince of Jin had harmed Meng Yulan, but he took her on horseback to Duke Meng's Residence to help save her.
• Duke Meng apologized to Prince of Jin and explained that the family had not summoned a doctor because they feared a scandal.
• Prince of Jin sent Tang Zhuyun into Meng Yulan's room to examine her because she knew medicine.
• Tang Zhuyun saw the ligature mark on Meng Yulan's neck, but Meng Yulan woke and said she would live.
• Meng Yulan asked Duke Meng's Wife to leave so she could speak with Tang Zhuyun.

Meng Yulan told Tang Zhuyun that she loved someone else and would rather die than marry the Prince of Jin. After Meng Yulan gave Tang Zhuyun her jewelry and spoke of her despair, Tang Zhuyun promised to help her find a way out before the imperial edict was issued.

• Tang Zhuyun urged Meng Yulan not to give up, but Meng Yulan said she refused to marry the Prince of Jin because she loved someone else.
• Meng Yulan revealed she had rejected marriage proposals for six years while waiting for her beloved, but believed the emperor's words left her no choice.
• Meng Yulan said she admired Tang Zhuyun's freedom and boldness, then gave her a box of jewelry as a trousseau gift and an apology to the Prince of Jin.
• Tang Zhuyun wiped Meng Yulan's tears and promised to help her avoid the marriage, insisting that the imperial edict had not yet been issued.