Chapter Summaries

Tang Zhuyun tried to keep Meng Yulan from surrendering to the marriage with the Prince of Jin, but Meng Yulan feared harming her family and believed death was her only escape. Meng Yulan asked Tang Zhuyun to preserve her hidden letters for her vanished childhood sweetheart, whose family had been exiled to the border.

• Tang Zhuyun offered Meng Yulan medicine to feign a terrible illness and said she had her own way to avoid danger, but Meng Yulan refused to take the medicine.
• Meng Yulan explained that illness would disgrace her parents and burden her mother, while death would end her torment and longing for the man she loved.
• Tang Zhuyun suggested the Prince of Jin might object to the marriage and noted that his daughter, Yanran, was recovering with her.
• Meng Yulan offered Tang Zhuyun her belongings and asked her to protect letters hidden by Lüzhu, her childhood companion, and deliver them to her beloved if he returned to the capital.
• Meng Yulan recalled that she and her childhood sweetheart had hoped to marry, but his family was exiled to the border before their engagement was settled.

Tang Zhuyun tried to help Meng Yulan avoid marrying the Prince of Jin, learning that Meng Yulan loved Jiang Beihan, the exiled heir of the Marquis of Wuyang. The Prince of Jin gave the women until next May to change the emperor’s mind, then took Tang Zhuyun back and asked what medicine she wanted.

• Meng Yulan told Tang Zhuyun that she loved Jiang Beihan and asked her to deliver her letters if he returned to the capital.
• Tang Zhuyun invited the Prince of Jin to discuss Meng Yulan’s unwillingness to marry him, but Meng Yulan only said she was unworthy of him.
• The Prince of Jin said Meng Yulan could refuse the marriage before the emperor and revealed that no marriage would be bestowed before next May.
• The Prince of Jin warned the women to change the emperor’s mind within a year or marry into his household, then took Tang Zhuyun back.
• Tang Zhuyun complained about her chafed thighs, and when the Prince of Jin suggested ointment, she asked him for a pill.

Tang Zhuyun thanked the Prince of Jin for delaying their marriage edict, and he obtained the emperor’s permission to observe a year of mourning for his maternal grandmother. The emperor explained that a prophecy about Tang Zhuyun had prompted him to arrange her marriage to the Prince of Jin, leaving the prince questioning the decision.

• Tang Zhuyun apologized after learning the Prince of Jin was mourning his maternal grandmother, and she told him that the dead watched over the living as stars.
• Tang Zhuyun prepared separate breakfasts for Tang Mingfan and the Prince of Jin, explaining that the prince had agreed to delay the marriage edict for a year.
• The Prince of Jin ate the vegetarian breakfast Tang Zhuyun had prepared, then asked the emperor why he had arranged for Tang Zhuyun to marry him.
• The emperor said he had once seen Tang Zhuyun pregnant and behaving defiantly at the Tang residence, and admitted that he had been furious with her.
• The emperor recounted how Master Hong'en had prophesied that Tang Zhuyun would have a very different fortune after turning twenty.

The emperor proposed Tang Zhuyun as the Prince of Jin’s secondary consort, but Wang Fu’s unexpected support helped push the decision forward. Tang Zhuyun dismissed the Prince’s warnings to focus on making more medicine, and Meng Yulan arrived at the temple with an undisclosed purpose.

• The emperor told the Prince of Jin that he wanted Tang Zhuyun to become his secondary consort because she had saved Yanran and might bring peace to the family.
• Wang Fu supported the proposal after his wife praised Tang Zhuyun’s kindness, and the emperor teased him for trying to please her.
• The Prince of Jin returned empty-handed and told Tang Zhuyun what had happened, while she regretted her kindness and then remembered she needed to make more medicine.
• Yanran came out and asked the Prince of Jin why he was gritting his teeth, and he claimed nothing was wrong.
• Meng Yulan visited Tang Zhuyun and said she had come to the temple for a reason.

Meng Yulan asked Tang Zhuyun to deliver a package to Jiang Beihan, and Tang Zhuyun arranged for it to be sent. Back home, she shared a meal with the Prince of Jin and Chang Zhi, where Chang Zhi teased them about flirting and accused the Prince of Jin of having feelings for her.

• Meng Yulan asked Tang Zhuyun to send something to Jiang Beihan, and Tang Zhuyun agreed after learning Meng Yulan would send it under her own name.
• Tang Baixin nearly collided with Meng Yulan at the door, blushed, and fled after claiming he had forgotten an official document; Tang Zhuyun wondered if he had a crush on her.
• Tang Zhuyun wrapped Meng Yulan's package and paid twenty taels to have it delivered, then collected money for her seasonings and bought food for home.
• Tang Zhuyun returned to find Linlin teaching Yanran to read, and later Chang Zhi sent pork and carp ahead of his visit for a feast.
• The Prince of Jin arrived for lunch, teased Tang Zhuyun about being his woman, and made her drink the overly salty soup she had prepared for him.
• Chang Zhi joked that Tang Zhuyun and the Prince of Jin were flirting, then claimed the Prince had feelings for her and had been testing him by trying to match Chang Zhi with her.

Tang Zhuyun clashed with the Prince of Jin, then heard how Ruan Anruo had failed to approach him. Two days later, Madam Song arrived at the Tang residence with Song Cui'er, and Tang Zhuyun confronted the grandmother who had abused her.

• The Prince of Jin told Tang Zhuyun that his residence had household rules and a mama to teach them before leaving the Tang residence.
• Ruan Anruo tried to speak to the Prince of Jin, but his icy stare left her too frightened to get a word out.
• Xiu'er told Tang Zhuyun that Ruan Anruo had been unable to speak in front of the Prince of Jin.
• Tang Zhuyun practiced boxing with Xiu'er and the two children until a visitor arrived at the door.
• Madam Song entered the Tang residence with Song Cui'er and scolded Tang Zhuyun for not greeting her.
• Tang Zhuyun called Madam Song an impostor and told Xiu'er to report her to the authorities.

Tang Zhuyun confronted Madam Song when she arrived demanding to be obeyed, and used her status as the Prince of Jin’s secondary consort to stop her from openly attacking the family. Madam Song then tried to arrange Song Cui’er’s marriage to Baixin and threatened Tang Zhuyun with an old scandal, but Tang Zhuyun frightened her into silence by warning that exposing it would implicate the whole family.

• Madam Song demanded that Tang Zhuyun acknowledge her and kowtow, but Tang Mingfan defended his daughter and revealed she was the Prince of Jin’s secondary consort.
• Tang Zhuyun comforted Yanran and Linlin, then secretly listened as Madam Song said she had brought Song Cui’er to marry Baixin.
• Tang Mingfan avoided agreeing to the match, paid the coachman eighty taels through Tang Zhuyun, and left for the yamen.
• Madam Song wailed and cursed after Tang Zhuyun mocked her, then threatened to expose Tang Zhuyun’s past to the Prince of Jin.
• Tang Zhuyun warned that revealing the scandal would make the whole family guilty of deceiving the emperor, frightening Madam Song into silence.

Tang Zhuyun resisted Madam Song’s attempts to take control of the household and planned to use the Prince of Jin’s presence to frighten her into leaving. After Tang Zhuyun invited him to dinner, the Prince of Jin agreed, though he soon regretted it.

• Tang Zhuyun refused to cater to Madam Song, and Tang Mingfan gave her silver to buy food for the household.
• Tang Zhuyun secretly fed Linlin and Yanran boiled eggs, then sent Tang Mingfan to the palace with a meal.
• Madam Song demanded the household money and moved Tang Zhuyun’s furniture and cloth into the main room while Tang Zhuyun was out.
• Tang Zhuyun sent Linlin and Yanran to invite the Prince of Jin to dinner, then persuaded Madam Song to hand over grocery money by warning her about offending him.
• The Prince of Jin accepted Yanran’s invitation to eat red-braised pork at Tang Zhuyun’s home.

Tang Zhuyun used the Prince of Jin’s visit to make Madam Song wary and less controlling, while the prince realized she had treated him as a tool. After tallying her earnings, Tang Zhuyun heard Song Cui'er arrive with something to say.

• Tang Mingfan brought the Prince of Jin to dinner, where Tang Zhuyun fawned over him to impress Madam Song, then invoked Yanran to calm his anger.
• The Prince of Jin warned Tang Zhuyun against repeating her performance, and Madam Song became more cautious after seeing their apparent intimacy.
• Over the next few days, the Prince of Jin visited only through Song Jingyang to see Yanran, while Madam Song urged Song Cui'er to learn the capital’s ways.
• Tang Zhuyun calculated that she and Qingfeng had earned nearly 200 taels, but she still needed money to repay her debt and pursue her plans for the children.
• Song Cui'er visited Tang Zhuyun, who told her to get to the point before the children returned.

Tang Zhuyun encouraged Song Cui'er to ask the Prince of Jin to let her join Tang Zhuyun as an extra dowry maid, and Song Cui'er went to the prince herself. The prince became furious at Tang Zhuyun’s words and planned to confront her the next day, while Tang Zhuyun stayed with the children and Linlin proposed marrying Yanran when they grew up.

• Tang Zhuyun told Song Cui'er that the Prince of Jin had a terrible temper and earned far more than Tang Zhuyun’s brother, prompting Song Cui'er to ask to become an extra dowry maid.
• Tang Zhuyun told Song Cui'er to ask the Prince of Jin for permission, not expecting her to approach him.
• Song Cui'er waited outside the prince’s door and asked whether he would accept an extra dowry maid for Tang Zhuyun.
• The Prince of Jin questioned Song Cui'er about Tang Zhuyun’s remarks, then sent her away and told Song Jingyang they would confront Tang Zhuyun the next day.
• Tang Zhuyun told Linlin and Yanran she would tolerate their great-grandmother’s visit for now, and Linlin said he would marry Yanran when they grew up.

The Prince of Jin brought Nanny Rong to teach Tang Zhuyun proper conduct and spent the day making her attend to him. When he ordered her to help him change, Madam Song pushed Song Cui'er forward instead, and Tang Zhuyun urged her to take over.

• The Prince of Jin arrived while Tang Zhuyun was preparing to take Linlin and Yanran out, and sent the children to choose horses with Song Jingyang.
• The Prince of Jin introduced Nanny Rong, who was there to teach Tang Zhuyun to read, write, and observe etiquette.
• Nanny Rong began teaching Tang Zhuyun, but the Prince of Jin made her practice serving tea and wait on him through the morning.
• The Prince of Jin told Tang Zhuyun to help him change, and Nanny Rong explained that he needed her to hold his belongings while he relieved himself.
• Madam Song pushed Song Cui'er toward the Prince of Jin, and Tang Zhuyun told Cui'er to hurry over and help him take off his trousers.

Tang Zhuyun endured the Prince of Jin’s strange attempt to frighten Song Cui'er, then reassured her family that he had not truly beaten her. She explained what happened and privately tried to find out whether he had peed on his hand, leaving Tang Baixin gravely concerned about why she asked.

• Song Cui'er offered to attend to the Prince of Jin, but Tang Zhuyun sent her to the latrine and followed the Prince when he went there.
• The Prince of Jin ordered Tang Zhuyun to clap while he urinated, then wiped his damp hand across her face and shoved her out.
• Tang Zhuyun realized the Prince of Jin was trying to scare Song Cui'er with the prince’s residence’s harsh rules, but Song Cui'er said she would be obedient.
• Madam Song claimed the Prince of Jin had slapped Tang Zhuyun, prompting Tang Mingfan, Tang Baixin, and Linlin to offer to confront him.
• Tang Zhuyun told her family what had happened, and Tang Mingfan said he would speak with the Prince of Jin the next day.
• Tang Zhuyun asked Linlin whether the Prince of Jin had peed on his hand, and Tang Baixin later questioned Linlin about it too.

Tang Zhuyun tried to keep peace with the Prince of Jin while visiting with Meng Yulan, but Madam Song interrupted to provoke her over becoming a concubine. Meng Yulan revealed that she was the Prince of Jin’s proper wife and defended her friendship with Tang Zhuyun, leaving Madam Song and Song Cui'er plotting to retaliate.

• Tang Baixin told Linlin to fetch his essay for Tang Baixin and Tang Mingfan to review, then discussed the Prince of Jin with his father.
• Tang Zhuyun welcomed Meng Yulan and warned her about Madam Song, while Meng Yulan advised Tang Zhuyun to be patient and protect herself.
• Madam Song confronted Tang Zhuyun, claiming she would have to serve the Prince of Jin’s proper wife, and Tang Zhuyun asked if her grandmother planned to remarry.
• Meng Yulan came out and revealed that she was the proper wife Madam Song meant, then said she and Tang Zhuyun got along like sisters.
• Madam Song returned to her room in shock, and Song Cui'er encouraged her to wait until Meng Yulan left before dealing with Tang Zhuyun.

Tang Zhuyun stopped a visitor from Censor Wang’s household from bringing gifts to the Tang family and staged Madam Song’s slap to expose her cruelty to Tang Mingfan. Tang Baixin tried to strike Madam Song but accidentally hit Meng Yulan, while Tang Mingfan decided to take his mother back to their hometown.

• Tang Zhuyun warned the old woman from Censor Wang’s household that accepting gifts could bring charges against the family and sent her away.
• Madam Song tried to slap Tang Zhuyun, who pretended the blow had knocked her down so Tang Mingfan and Tang Baixin would see it.
• Tang Baixin rushed to defend Tang Zhuyun and swung at Madam Song, but Meng Yulan stepped in and took the blow on her arm.
• Tang Mingfan ordered Madam Song to pack and said he would resign and take her back to their hometown.
• Tang Baixin apologized to Meng Yulan, and Tang Zhuyun brought her inside to apply ointment to her injured arm.

Tang Zhuyun staged the appearance of an injury to persuade Tang Mingfan to send Madam Song away, and he resolved to resign and return to their hometown. The chapter ended with Tang Zhuyun hiding her face behind a veil as the Prince of Jin arrived with Linlin and Yanran.

• Tang Zhuyun explained her plan to Meng Yulan and Tang Baixin, who agreed to stay out of her way.
• Tang Zhuyun pretended to apologize to Madam Song, prompting Tang Mingfan to announce he would resign and return home with his mother.
• Madam Song attacked Tang Zhuyun with a feather duster, but Tang Mingfan stopped her and took Tang Zhuyun to write his memorial.
• Tang Mingfan told Tang Zhuyun he wanted to return home to be with her late mother, while Tang Zhuyun comforted him and left him to think.
• The Prince of Jin arrived with Linlin and Yanran, and Tang Zhuyun covered her face with a veil.

Tang Zhuyun secretly caused Madam Song to suffer a stroke after Madam Song slapped her, then persuaded Tang Mingfan to consider sending the old woman back to the countryside. The chapter ended with Song Jingyang telling the Prince of Jin that Tang Zhuyun had done it.

• The Prince of Jin saw Tang Zhuyun’s swollen face and demanded to know who had hit her, but she said it was Madam Song and asked him to stop Tang Mingfan from resigning.
• A snake startled Song Cui'er, and everyone discovered that Madam Song could neither move nor speak; Tang Zhuyun privately revealed that she had caused the stroke in retaliation for the slap.
• Physicians attributed Madam Song’s condition to a stroke, while Tang Zhuyun acted filial in front of Tang Mingfan and terrorized Madam Song in private.
• Tang Zhuyun suggested sending Madam Song back to the countryside, and Tang Mingfan asked whether she knew someone suitable to care for her.
• Song Jingyang told the Prince of Jin that Tang Zhuyun had caused Madam Song’s stroke, claiming he had heard her admit it after he released the snake.

Tang Zhuyun visited Qingfeng to negotiate an exclusive medicine deal and collect the older courtesan she had asked him to find. As she met Jiahong, Song Jingyang spotted her from a building across the street.

• The Prince of Jin told Song Jingyang to focus on important matters instead of only guarding him from women.
• Tang Zhuyun asked Tang Baixin to watch the children, then went out to meet Qingfeng at the Spring Outing House.
• Tang Zhuyun refused to sign an agreement but offered to supply Qingfeng exclusively for seventy percent of the proceeds.
• Qingfeng misunderstood Tang Zhuyun's reason for seeking an experienced courtesan and offered to teach her himself.
• Qingfeng introduced Jiahong and offered her to Tang Zhuyun, who had not yet responded when Song Jingyang saw them from across the street.

Tang Zhuyun bought Jiahong from Qingfeng, then fled when the Prince of Jin’s Golden Scale Guard raided the Spring Outing House. Back at home, she planned to send Jiahong to serve her grandparents in the countryside, with strict conditions against scandal or harm to her grandmother.

• Qingfeng disciplined Jiahong for interrupting Tang Zhuyun and warned her to obey the person Tang assigned her to serve.
• Tang Zhuyun agreed to take Jiahong, then struggled to free her trouser leg from Qingfeng’s puppy, Madam Ye.
• The Prince of Jin ordered the Golden Scale Guard to raid the Spring Outing House, and Tang Zhuyun recognized him among the masked men.
• Tang Zhuyun left the brothel with Jiahong while the guards searched, then returned home shaken by the Prince of Jin’s appearance.
• Tang Zhuyun told Jiahong she would send her to the countryside to serve her grandparents and set conditions to protect her grandmother and prevent a family scandal.

Tang Zhuyun argued with the Prince of Jin about Qingfeng and his suspicions about her pills, while news arrived that Jiang Beihan was returning to the capital. The chapter ended with the Prince of Jin accusing Tang Zhuyun of plotting against her grandmother, and Tang Zhuyun denying it.

• Tang Zhuyun agreed to let Jiahong attend to Grandmother, while the Prince of Jin told her he had arrested Qingfeng and demanded that she persuade him to help.
• Tang Zhuyun refused to intervene with Qingfeng and traded barbs with the Prince of Jin as she made silver pills.
• A shop assistant returned Tang Zhuyun's bundle and silver, explaining that the Marquis of Wuyang's charges were about to be cleared and Jiang Beihan was on his way back to the capital.
• Tang Zhuyun took the bundle back and dismissed the Prince of Jin, who called her a lovesick fool for longing after Jiang Beihan.
• The Prince of Jin accused Tang Zhuyun of planning to harm Grandmother, and Tang Zhuyun warned him to watch his words.

Tang Zhuyun arranged for Madam Song to return home with money and questioned Tang Baixin about the imperial-examination cheating investigation. Meanwhile, the Prince of Jin threatened Qingfeng with a branding iron until Qingfeng agreed to talk.

• Tang Zhuyun frightened Madam Song into wanting to leave the capital, and Tang Mingfan agreed to send her home.
• Tang Zhuyun gave Tang Mingfan four hundred taels for Madam Song’s journey and asked Tang Baixin about his investigation and the cheating in the imperial examinations.
• Tang Zhuyun told Tang Baixin she planned to deal with Ruan Anruo and asked him how far their father’s investigation had progressed.
• The Prince of Jin interrogated Qingfeng about what he really knew and threatened to brand him.
• Qingfeng agreed to talk as the branding iron approached.