Chapter Summaries

Emperor Wen urged Tang Zhuyun to pay attention to Lang Xuan, believing Linlin’s lack of action showed he was still considering her. Lang Xuan reassured Concubine Yun that their household would be spared, but three days later their home was surrounded by guards.

• Emperor Wen told Tang Zhuyun that Linlin’s continued betrothal to Lang Xuan showed he was waiting to see, and asked her to pay attention to Lang Xuan.
• Lang Xuan agonized over her actions around Yuwen Duo and hoped he would remember her help and protect the fourth branch of the Lang Family.
• Concubine Yun feared the family’s possible exile and worried about Lang Xuan’s safety; Lang Xuan said she had told Prince Ming that the Lang Family was raising private troops for the Prince of Ding.
• Lang Xuan assured Concubine Yun that their household would be safe once the Lang Family left the capital.
• Three days later, Chunya discovered guards surrounding their home, and Lang Xuan hoped Yuwen Duo had come to help them.

Lang Xuan and Concubine Yun learned that their branch alone would be exiled to Liaodong, where Yuwen Duo was also headed, and began to suspect the connection might give Lang Xuan a chance with him. Emperor Wen admitted he had arranged their exile to bring them together and asked Tang Zhuyun to find someone reliable to monitor their progress.

• Lang Xuan tried to comfort Concubine Yun after their family was sentenced to exile, but Concubine Yun fell into despair and wanted to die.
• Concubine Yun discovered that the other Lang Family branches were being sent to Lingnan, then sought Prince Ming to learn why Lang Xuan's engagement had come to nothing.
• Lang Xuan and Concubine Yun heard that Yuwen Duo was bound for Liaodong, and Concubine Yun began to hope that he might intend to marry Lang Xuan.
• Emperor Wen told Tang Zhuyun that he had arranged the fourth branch's exile to give Lang Xuan and Yuwen Duo a chance to meet, and asked her to find someone to keep watch over them.
• Tang Zhuyun suggested that Yingying monitor the pair, but Emperor Wen rejected the idea and asked her to think of someone reliable.

Emperor Wen pressed Tang Zhuyun to find a clever woman to help guide Linlin toward marriage and heirs, but she refused to take responsibility. As Tang Zhuyun was about to nap, Ren Yingying rushed in with news that Yuanyang had killed her abusive stepbrother.

• Emperor Wen argued that Linlin needed to marry and have sons to protect the legitimate line, while Tang Zhuyun rejected his proposed plan to find him a matchmaker.
• Tang Zhuyun told Emperor Wen to handle the matter himself and prepared to sleep after he left.
• Ren Yingying ran into the palace and begged Tang Zhuyun for help, explaining that Yuanyang had killed her eldest stepbrother.
• Ren Yingying revealed that Yuanyang’s stepbrother had bullied and possibly assaulted her, while their stepfather had tried to use her to advance his career.

After Yuanyang killed her abusive elder brother, Ren Yingying rushed to protect her, but Tang Zhuyun suspected the killing had been engineered. Tang Zhuyun proposed sending Yuanyang to Liaodong to care for Linlin, while Yanran went to see her and Ren Yingying prepared to enlist Qu Nian's help.

• Yuanyang killed her elder brother in front of the Prince of Min's Residence and calmly explained what had happened before constables took her away.
• Ren Yingying sought Tang Zhuyun's help, and Tang Zhuyun questioned the suspicious timing, the unfamiliar dagger, and the crowd that had gathered so quickly.
• Tang Zhuyun sent Yanran to visit Yuanyang, while forbidding Ren Yingying from going because the affair might be a plot against her.
• Tang Zhuyun suggested that Yuanyang go to Liaodong to look after Linlin, and Ren Yingying agreed and offered to accompany her.
• Ren Yingying went to meet Qu Nian, hoping he could help with Yuanyang's situation.

Ren Yingying arranged for Yuanyang to leave the capital for Liaodong, where she could serve Linlin and accompany Ninth Miss Lang, while Emperor Wen ordered the case against her closed quickly. Days later, the Lang Family's fourth branch was escorted north and found a carriage waiting for them.

• Ren Yingying told Tang Zhuyun to inform Emperor Wen about the plan to send Yuanyang to Liaodong, and Emperor Wen ordered the case closed as quickly as possible.
• After Yuanyang returned from prison, Jinse explained that Qu Nian would not keep her in the residence to avoid suspicion, and Yuanyang agreed to serve Linlin in Liaodong.
• Yuanyang persuaded Ren Yingying not to accompany her, explaining that she could travel with Ninth Miss Lang and become useful to Linlin before returning to the capital someday.
• Qu Nian returned with crab roe buns and learned that Ren Yingying no longer planned to go to Liaodong.
• The Lang Family's fourth branch was escorted north without shackles and found a carriage waiting for them, prompting Lang Xuan to feel the heavens had not abandoned him.

Tang Zhuyun faced censors’ demands that Emperor Wen take consorts by defending her place as empress and planning a school for women. Meanwhile, Yanran found companionship with Cui Xiaoqiu, while Cui Run resisted his mother’s plan to have him adopted into another branch of the Cui Family.

• Lang Xuan followed Concubine Yun’s advice and went to show goodwill to Yuanyang as they traveled toward Liaodong.
• Censors attacked Emperor Wen’s exclusive favor for Tang Zhuyun and accused the empress of meddling in court, so Emperor Wen defended her and appointed Tang Baixin minister of personnel.
• Tang Zhuyun began planning a women’s school focused on practical skills and earning a living, despite knowing censors might use the project against her.
• Ren Yingying joined Tang Zhuyun in the palace to work on the school, while Yanran visited Cui Xiaoqiu after practicing martial arts and they planned to go out for food.
• Cui Xiaoqiu urged Cui Run to prepare for the spring examination and consider his third uncle’s offer to adopt him, but Cui Run refused because he wanted to continue his father’s line.

Cui Xiaoqiu urged Cui Run to resist Lady Gao’s control and consider being adopted, while Cui Xiaoqiu declared he would stay with Yanran rather than pursue a career in Liaodong. Later, Yanran attacked a man who insulted the empress and revealed herself when he recognized her as Princess Yongle.

• Cui Xiaoqiu advised Cui Run to consider adoption as a way to escape Lady Gao’s control, but Cui Run hesitated to disturb Mingzhu and was unsure what to do.
• Cui Run urged Cui Xiaoqiu to go to Liaodong and pursue his future, but Cui Xiaoqiu said he would stay by Yanran’s side and was willing to risk his prospects for her.
• Cui Xiaoqiu reminded Cui Run that his future was in his own hands, then met Third Madam Cui and followed through on a favor he had promised her.
• Cui Xiaoqiu and Yanran went out to eat near the Great Xiangguo Temple, where Yanran heard a man insult the empress and threw food at him.
• When the man charged at her, Yanran aimed her golden bow at his face, and he recognized her as Princess Yongle and begged for mercy.

Yanran beat a man who had insulted her mother, then mistook her upset stomach for menstrual pain before realizing the donkey meat flatbread had made her ill. At an entertainment house, she learned that Qu Hua had split from Mu Ziyu, who had disappeared.

• Yanran beat the man who had insulted her mother and warned the gossiping onlookers not to spread rumors about her.
• Yanran mistook her stomachache for menstrual pain and used Cui Xiaoqiu’s cotton supplies, then realized the donkey meat flatbread had upset her stomach.
• Yanran and Cui Xiaoqiu went to an entertainment house, where they spotted Qu Hua.
• Qu Hua told Yanran that she had dumped Mu Ziyu, then revealed that he had disappeared.

Qu Hua learned that Mu Ziyu had returned to Liaodong without telling her, and she struggled to hide how hurt she felt. Qu Nian revealed that the Tatars were threatening Jinzhou, but Qu Hua dismissed the danger and insisted Mu Ziyu should never return.

• Yanran and Qu Hua worried that Mu Ziyu had disappeared, and Yanran urged Qu Hua to ask Qu Nian to investigate.
• Qu Hua found Qu Nian in the rear courtyard with Ren Yingying, then told him Mu Ziyu was missing.
• Qu Nian said Mu Ziyu had returned to Liaodong and told Qu Hua to let him go since she did not like him.
• Qu Hua angrily insisted Mu Ziyu should never come back, though Qu Nian sensed her loneliness.
• Qu Nian explained that the Tatars wanted to attack Jinzhou, but Qu Hua mocked the idea that Mu Ziyu was needed to turn the tide.

Qu Hua learned that Mu Ziyu had returned to Liaodong because the Tatars might attack Jinzhou, and she struggled with her worry and resentment over his departure. She and Yanran decided to seek permission to go to Liaodong, but Cui Xiaoqiu warned that Mu Ziyu’s position in his father’s household would make their arrival difficult.

• Qu Nian told Qu Hua that Mu Ziyu had gone to Liaodong after his mother, Xi Leyun, warned him that the Tatars planned to attack Jinzhou.
• Qu Hua admitted she resented Mu Ziyu for leaving without trusting her to share his burden, but she understood his duty and worried about his safety.
• Yanran and Qu Hua discussed the matching reports about a possible Tatar attack, and Yanran agreed to go with Qu Hua to Liaodong.
• Cui Xiaoqiu warned Yanran that the Crown Prince had assigned people to watch her, and Yanran decided to ask the emperor for permission to travel openly.
• Cui Xiaoqiu explained that Mu Ziyu likely feared Qu Hua would suffer under the Princess Consort of Liaodong, while Yanran and Qu Hua suggested making Mu Ziyu the prince; Cui Xiaoqiu said the emperor would oppose such a move.

Mingzhu decided to remain in the border city with her mother and Wu Zhenhai rather than accept a princess title, and she told Xiu'er she intended to build a family with Wu Zhenhai. After Xiu'er prepared to leave for the capital, Wu Zhenhai asked Mingzhu when she would marry him.

• Yanran learned that Qu Nian had placed Qu Hua under house arrest, while Tang Zhuyun urged Yanran to stay in the capital until Xiu'er returned.
• Xiu'er asked Mingzhu whether she would leave the border city, and Mingzhu firmly refused to accept a princess title or leave her mother and Wu Zhenhai.
• Mingzhu told Xiu'er she had written to her big brother and asked her to reassure him that Wu Zhenhai would guard the border loyally.
• Mingzhu said she wanted several children with Wu Zhenhai and promised to visit Xiu'er and her family in the capital.
• After Xiu'er left, Wu Zhenhai told Mingzhu he was happy she planned to bear his children and offered to take her to visit her family.
• Wu Zhenhai asked Mingzhu when she would marry him.

Mingzhu accepted Wu Zhenhai’s proposal, and Wu Zhenhai decided to prepare their wedding before Madam Song and the others left. The next day, Xiu'er brought Mingzhu a wedding gift from the empress, though its contents remained a surprise.

• Mingzhu agreed to marry Wu Zhenhai, and the two spent the night together.
• Wu Zhenhai said they would arrange the wedding in the coming days so Mingzhu could marry before Madam Song and the others departed.
• The next morning, Mingzhu learned Wu Zhenhai had ordered the residence to celebrate their upcoming wedding.
• Xiu'er visited Mingzhu, shared advice about having children, and revealed she had brought a wedding gift from the empress.
• Xiu'er urged Mingzhu to open the box, but the chapter ended before she saw what was inside.

Tang Zhuyun and Xiu'er gave Mingzhu generous wedding gifts and comforted her as she prepared to marry Wu Zhenhai. After Xiu'er left to check on the children’s fight, Mingzhu remained behind with her gifts.

• Mingzhu received Tang Zhuyun’s glass bracelet and twenty thousand taels of silver, but Xiu'er persuaded her to accept them.
• Xiu'er gave Mingzhu a thousand taels, a peace talisman, and the proposed name Wu Di for her future son.
• Xiu'er's maid reported that Guagua, Wuji, and Wuxian were fighting over melon, and Xiu'er went to see what was happening.
• Mingzhu called out to someone outside and invited them in.

Mingzhu reassured Wu Yu about her marriage to Wu Zhenhai and learned that he feared their family would change. After Wu Zhenhai returned to arrange the wedding, Mingzhu set three rules for their marriage, and he promised he would never change his heart.

• Wu Yu timidly asked Mingzhu whether she was sure she wanted to marry his father, warning that Wu Zhenhai was not very good to women.
• Mingzhu realized Wu Yu feared that marriage would bring conflict and change, and he asked her to take him to the capital to see Yanran.
• Mingzhu told Wu Yu that Yanran would visit and that she might ask Wu Zhenhai to send him to the Imperial Academy when he was older.
• Wu Zhenhai returned late after overseeing wedding preparations, and Mingzhu told him she wanted to lay down three rules.
• Mingzhu said Wu Zhenhai must not use her connection to the emperor, must not change his heart, and must marry Huo Mingzhu rather than the emperor's younger sister.
• Wu Zhenhai embraced Mingzhu and promised to let the whole world know she was his wife.

Mingzhu reflected on her past with Cui Run and looked forward to marrying Wu Zhenhai, whose wedding celebrations were filled with family and laughter. As Wu Zhenhai carried her into the garrison commander's residence, Zhang Qun blocked the entrance and accused someone of deception, prompting Mingzhu to challenge him.

• Mingzhu remembered Cui Run’s provincial examination success and concluded that Wu Zhenhai was a better match for her, with no regrets about her past.
• On the wedding day, Madam Huo gave Mingzhu advice, and Wu Zhenhai arrived in red as the children celebrated and demanded red envelopes.
• Wu Zhenhai kowtowed to Madam Huo, carried Mingzhu from her room, and took her through the city to the garrison commander's residence.
• At the residence, Wu Zhenhai carried Mingzhu inside instead of kicking the sedan chair door, while the crowd cheered.
• Zhang Qun blocked the entrance and declared that he did not approve of the marriage because he would not let Wu Zhenhai be deceived.
• Mingzhu asked Zhang Qun who had deceived whom.

Mingzhu exposed her beauty to silence Zhang Qun’s challenge and completed her wedding to Wu Zhenhai. She suspected Zhang Qun had been coached to provoke her into revealing her relationship with Emperor Wen, so Wu Zhenhai began investigating.

• Zhang Qun denounced Mingzhu’s status and challenged her right to marry Wu Zhenhai, who tried to stop him.
• Mingzhu unveiled her face, stunning the crowd, and Wu Zhenhai covered her again before completing the wedding ceremony.
• In the bridal chamber, Mingzhu told Wu Zhenhai that Zhang Qun might have been manipulated to draw out her connection to her eldest brother, Emperor Wen.
• Wu Yu revealed that he had seen Zhang Qun dining with an unfamiliar man and said the man might have been an outsider.
• Mingzhu urged Wu Zhenhai to investigate the plot, warning that it might target Emperor Wen’s origins or bloodline.

After Wu Zhenhai and Mingzhu bid farewell to Xiu'er and the children, they discovered that Wu Yu had secretly gone with the group to the capital. On the journey, Xiu'er decided that her sudden craving for mutton soup meant she was pregnant.

• Wu Zhenhai and Mingzhu watched Song Jingyang, Xiu'er, and the children leave after their wedding.
• Wu Zhenhai prepared a family tribute and learned that Wu Yu was missing; Mingzhu found his letter explaining that he had gone with the group to the capital.
• Mingzhu asked Song Jingyang to look after Wu Yu and tell him to behave himself.
• Xiu'er welcomed Wu Yu into the group, then joined Song Jingyang and the children for a meal.
• Xiu'er noticed that mutton soup smelled appealing and announced to Song Jingyang that she must be pregnant.

Song Jingyang learned that Xiu'er was over two months pregnant, and the family celebrated while continuing their journey toward the capital. After Xiu'er and Song Jingyang stopped at an inn for the night, they opened a window to look outside and found an unexpected spectacle.

• Song Jingyang pretended he did not want another child, but Guagua and the boys said they would welcome a little sister.
• A doctor confirmed that Xiu'er was over two months pregnant and that the baby was doing well, making Song Jingyang overjoyed.
• Xiu'er planned to write to Her Highness and Mingzhu, while Song Jingyang agreed to travel by boat so she could rest comfortably.
• Xiu'er craved mutton soup, so Nanny Jing bought dozens of sheep for her and the others to share.
• Song Jingyang booked a riverside inn for the night, and Xiu'er asked him to open the window wider to see the view, where they found a spectacle.

While traveling, Xiu'er learned that six people had drowned trying to retrieve silver from a sunken boat and quietly sent aid to their families. After Wuji fell ill and recovered, she refused to take in an orphaned girl named Baoxuan but gave her family money, then resumed the journey to the capital.

• Xiu'er learned that locals planned to recover silver from a capsized boat and worried about their safety.
• After six people drowned, Xiu'er arranged for twenty taels of silver to be given quietly to each family.
• Wuji developed a high fever, and Xiu'er cared for him until a rash appeared and he recovered.
• A grieving woman asked Xiu'er to take her adopted daughter Baoxuan as a maid, but Xiu'er gave the family fifty taels instead.
• Xiu'er and Song Jingyang continued their journey back to the capital once Wuji recovered.

Xiu'er returned to the capital with Song Jingyang and the children, and Tang Zhuyun welcomed them before catching up with her in the palace. Their reunion ended with Tang Zhuyun asking about Linlin after Emperor Wen mentioned a problem in Liaodong.

• Tang Zhuyun and Emperor Wen met Xiu'er, Song Jingyang, and the children outside the capital, and Tang Zhuyun embraced Xiu'er.
• Yanran arrived and reunited with Xiu'er, while Wu Yu and the children joined the group.
• Tang Zhuyun took Xiu'er into the palace, where Xiu'er discussed the trouble surrounding Mingzhu's wedding and suggested Cui Xiaoqiu as a match for Yanran.
• A palace maid reported that Wuxian refused to eat, and Xiu'er went to comfort him.
• Emperor Wen complained that the children were not close to him, and Tang Zhuyun asked how Linlin was doing.
• Emperor Wen said a small problem had arisen in Liaodong but assured Tang Zhuyun that Linlin could handle it.