Chapter Summaries

After Lang Xuan woke beside Linlin, she worried over what she had done while drunk and grew jealous of a woman who had set her sights on Yuwen Duo. Yanran then told Lang Xuan that Cui Xiaoqiu was upset because she had watched Zhao Yingzhu flirt with him without getting jealous.

• Madam Lang scolded Lang Wu for objecting to Prince Ming staying with the Lang Family, while Linlin cuddled close to Lang Xuan as she slept.
• Lang Xuan woke beside Linlin, panicked about their night together, and hurried out when Madam Lang called her.
• Linlin returned Lang Xuan to the princely residence and went to handle official business, while Lang Xuan fumed about a young woman who had eyed Yuwen Duo and offered to serve her.
• Yanran told Lang Xuan that Cui Xiaoqiu was angry because she had watched Zhao Yingzhu make advances toward him without showing jealousy.
• Lang Xuan suggested Yanran coax Cui Xiaoqiu, but Yanran objected that even her eldest brother did not need coaxing.

Lang Xuan worried that Yuwen Duo would resent her for getting drunk and taking liberties with him, so she resolved to apologize by copying the Classic of Poetry. Meanwhile, Yuwen Duo discussed Zhao Yingzhu’s advances and the negotiations with Cui Xiaoqiu, unaware of the surprise awaiting him that evening.

• Lang Xuan asked Yanran whether Yuwen Duo was the sort of person to settle scores later, and Yanran recounted how he had quietly exposed her for stealing his candy as children.
• Yanran warned Lang Xuan not to offend Yuwen Duo, prompting Lang Xuan to fear that he would judge her for what happened while she was drunk.
• Lang Xuan told Yanran she had gotten drunk and feared offending Yuwen Duo, then recalled that he had switched their wedding wine so she would not drink alcohol.
• Lang Xuan began copying the Classic of Poetry to show Yuwen Duo she regretted her behavior and planned to cook congee for him.
• Yuwen Duo told Cui Xiaoqiu that Zhao Yingzhu had tried to seduce him, and they turned their attention to the negotiations.

Linlin returned home to find Lang Xuan asleep over a poem she had copied as an apology, and he gently reassured her about the previous night. He offered to find a better home for her family and take her to the seaside, leaving Lang Xuan feeling deeply cherished.

• Linlin returned to find Lang Xuan asleep at the table, then she startled awake and accidentally banged his jaw and marked his face with her brush.
• Linlin discovered Lang Xuan had copied a poem to apologize for the previous night, accepted the paper, and told her nothing had happened that she needed to feel burdened by.
• Lang Xuan served Linlin seafood congee and thanked him for replacing the wedding wine with sweetened water; he teased her as she applied medicinal oil to his jaw.
• Linlin suggested finding a larger home for Lang Xuan's parents and younger brother, explaining that he wanted her to include him in her family matters.
• Linlin proposed arranging the move and then taking Lang Xuan on a seaside trip.

Linlin reassured Lang Xuan that she could rely on him, then explained why he was staying in Liaodong and delaying his rise to power. The couple planned a seaside trip, and Lang Xuan ended the conversation comforted by his promise to guide and protect her.

• Lang Xuan declined Linlin’s offer to move her parents, explaining that her mother was comfortable where she lived.
• Lang Xuan reminded Linlin that he was still in mourning for the late emperor, and Linlin said he would not treat the emperor as his grandfather.
• Linlin explained that he was avoiding a clash with the ministers because his imperial father wanted to retire and put him forward as crown prince.
• Lang Xuan realized Linlin was staying in Liaodong partly to avoid being pushed into power, and he told her he would remain there for at least six months to a year because of local and regional problems.
• Linlin promised Lang Xuan she would stay near her family and agreed to take her to the seaside.
• Linlin urged Lang Xuan to stop fearing everyone and to tell him when something happened, promising to teach and protect her.

Linlin and Lang Xuan talked privately, and she warned him to be wary of Wei Jun. Lang Xuan decided to stay by Linlin’s side and help him, agreeing to assist the heir’s consort in finding an important treasure in Liaodong.

• Linlin reassured Lang Xuan that Jiaojiao frightened her because the tiger liked her, then invited her to share what was troubling her.
• Lang Xuan warned Linlin that Wei Jun seemed untrustworthy, and Linlin agreed to be on guard while privately deciding to make Wei Jun play along.
• Lang Xuan struggled with whether to stay with Linlin, then decided she would remain by his side unless he sent her away.
• Lang Xuan asked Linlin how she could help him as his consort, and he told her the heir’s consort had come to Liaodong to find a treasure important to his imperial mother.
• Lang Xuan promised to help the heir’s consort find the treasure, despite Linlin having few clues about it.

Lang Xuan visited Ren Yingying with Yanran to learn what she liked, hoping to become a useful princess consort and help with the treasure hunt. Ren Yingying revealed that she had made a little progress, while Lang Xuan realized Yanran already knew about the four treasures.

• Linlin encouraged Lang Xuan to become more confident by giving her a useful task, and she woke determined to help as a princess consort.
• Lang Xuan visited Yanran, who was arguing with Cui Xiaoqiu about a spring outing and his jealousy over Zhao Yingzhu.
• Yanran took Lang Xuan to visit Ren Yingying and mentioned that the empress had told her about the four legendary treasures.
• Lang Xuan urged Yanran to keep the treasure secret, then met Yuanyang at Ren Yingying's residence.
• Lang Xuan explained her visit to Ren Yingying, who said she had made a little progress on the search.

Ren Yingying and her friends investigated what happened to the princess’s treasures, learning that the princess had suffered at the Prince of Liaodong’s Residence and likely arranged to keep her valuables from her husband. They narrowed down where the treasures might be, but their whereabouts remained unknown.

• Ren Yingying recounted how she had learned about the princess’s unhappy marriage and death from an elderly woman at the Prince of Liaodong’s Residence.
• Ren Yingying said she was investigating the princess’s close associates and their descendants, while Yanran offered to ask her eldest brother to help.
• Ren Yingying revealed that Mu Ziyu was helping with the investigation and that Qu Hua had contributed most by impersonating the princess consort to question a servant.
• Lang Xuan suggested the princess would not have entrusted the treasures to people close to her, and proposed they might be buried with her or remain in her old quarters at the Prince of Liaodong’s Residence.

Lang Xuan suggested a seaside trip to avoid hunting, and Linlin agreed to take her there the day after tomorrow. Meanwhile, Wei Jun hid behind a screen and overheard Linlin and Lang Xuan discussing whether something was wrong with him.

• Qu Hua planned to have Mu Ziyu investigate the princess's former residence while the women considered how to pursue the lead discreetly.
• Lang Xuan urged a seaside trip instead of hunting, and Ren Yingying eagerly joined the plan for the seafood.
• Yanran dragged Lang Xuan to Linlin's study to tell him about the outing, where Linlin ordered Wei Jun to hide behind a screen.
• Linlin gave Lang Xuan his teacup and agreed to take her to the seaside, while she asked whether Wei Jun had been acting strangely.
• Linlin told Lang Xuan to pack because they would leave the day after tomorrow, as Wei Jun remained hidden and puzzled about what was wrong with him.

Linlin and the others traveled to a seaside village, where the group shared a lively seafood dinner. Lang Xuan enjoyed Linlin’s considerate care but remembered that mantis shrimp had once made her ill.

• Linlin told Wei Jun to be more careful because Lang Xuan distrusted him, then insisted he join their seaside trip.
• Two days later, the group set off, and Linlin rode in the carriage with Lang Xuan while Cui Xiaoqiu accompanied Yanran on horseback.
• Linlin described the scenery and Liaodong to Lang Xuan as they traveled, while Cui Xiaoqiu promised Yanran he would choose a seaside posting if sent away from the capital.
• The group reached a fishing village at sunset and agreed to share dinner together at their lodgings.
• At dinner, Cui Xiaoqiu peeled mantis shrimp for Yanran, and Linlin used scissors to prepare shrimp for Lang Xuan.
• Lang Xuan recalled that eating mantis shrimp as a child had caused her a severe stomachache and worried she might become ill again.

During a seafood dinner in Jinzhou, Lang Xuan learned about exercise and the wokou threat, while Yanran and Cui Xiaoqiu talked about whether they would have children. The chapter ended with them agreeing that they wanted a future together without children.

• Linlin gave Lang Xuan dumpling soup, and Yanran urged her to exercise and learn the Five Animal Frolics.
• Everyone enjoyed a seafood meal, including sea worms, and Yanran said she did not want to leave Jinzhou despite Lang Xuan mentioning the wokou.
• Cui Xiaoqiu promised to take Yanran to the roof to watch the stars, but Yanran asked him to draw the Five Animal Frolics instead.
• Yanran asked Cui Xiaoqiu whether they would have children, and he said he did not want any and could not give birth.
• Yanran said she did not want children either, while Lang Xuan sensed that something was wrong.

Lang Xuan suffered stomach pain after eating mantis shrimp, and Linlin stayed up to comfort her while she made repeated trips to the privy. As her pain eased, they talked about her fear that he would be angry and his promise to care for her, before his teasing made her rush back to the privy.

• Lang Xuan’s bloating worsened into severe abdominal pain, and she went to the privy repeatedly.
• Linlin asked whether she felt unwell, and Lang Xuan admitted she could not eat mantis shrimp.
• Lang Xuan refused to have a physician called, so Linlin made her lie down and gently rubbed her abdomen.
• Linlin asked why Lang Xuan had eaten the shrimp despite knowing it might make her sick, and she said she had feared he would be angry if she refused.
• Linlin promised to care for Lang Xuan throughout their lives, and she caught his hand and asked him to keep rubbing her stomach.
• Linlin teased Lang Xuan by whispering in her ear, and she blushed before saying she needed to go to the privy.

Lang Xuan recovered from her stomach trouble and went with Linlin and the others to forage along the shore after the tide went out. The physician confirmed her discomfort came from eating too much seafood, and Lang Xuan gathered tiny snails to make dumplings for Yuwen Duo.

• Linlin stayed up caring for Lang Xuan until she fell asleep, then kept watch while she rested.
• Yanran arrived the next morning and teased Lang Xuan before rushing off to find a physician when she heard about her stomach discomfort.
• Imperial Physician Wang examined Lang Xuan and diagnosed a reaction to the seafood she had eaten, confirming she was fine now.
• Yanran urged Lang Xuan to exercise with the Five Animal Frolics illustrations, while Linlin sent her to find Cui Xiaoqiu.
• The group went to the shore, where fishermen's wives taught them to gather seafood; Lang Xuan collected tiny snails to make dumplings for Yuwen Duo.
• Jiang'er gathered starfish and shells for Baoxuan, who had stayed behind to await the commandery princess.

Lang Xuan feared that Wei Jun’s presence would endanger Yuwen Duo, so she pretended her period had started to keep him from leaving. The chapter ended with her asking Linlin to sleep on the inside of the bed so she could tell if he got up.

• Lang Xuan recalled her past life and felt relieved that she had married Yuwen Duo while Baoxuan remained safe.
• Lang Xuan learned that Wei Jun and Zhao Qing had gone to scout the woods, and she panicked at the thought of hunting and wolves.
• Zhao Qing returned with a wolf bite, prompting Lang Xuan to cling to Linlin and insist that no one go hunting.
• Lang Xuan decided to fake her period to keep Yuwen Duo from going out, then claimed that evening that her stomach hurt.
• Lang Xuan asked Linlin to sleep on the inside of the bed so she would notice if he got up.

Lang Xuan worried that danger awaited Linlin on the hunt, but agreed to go after he promised to stay by her side. At breakfast, Ren Yingying joked that she belonged to the mermaid clan, and Lang Xuan believed her, leaving everyone amused.

• Lang Xuan admitted she was worried about Linlin and asked him to stay with her throughout the hunt, and he agreed before secretly making preparations for possible danger.
• Yanran teased Cui Xiaoqiu with a supposed discovery, while Cui Xiaoqiu denied that he had the thoughts she implied.
• Ren Yingying joked that she was the seventh mermaid princess and that Tang Zhuyun was the sixth, and Lang Xuan sincerely asked whether a crystal palace existed underwater.
• Linlin explained that Ren Yingying had been joking, while Ren Yingying, Qu Nian, and Yanran laughed at Lang Xuan's earnest reaction.

Linlin helped Lang Xuan mount a horse, then accompanied her away from Wei Jun when she became suspicious of his intentions. As Ren Yingying chatted with Lang Xuan, Linlin and Qu Nian discussed the Oirat threat and the coming conflict.

• Linlin reassured Lang Xuan that others were not laughing only at her, then helped her onto his horse for a ride.
• Lang Xuan glared at Wei Jun and steered Linlin away from the eastern path by saying she felt unwell and wanted to sit with Ren Yingying.
• Lang Xuan worried that Yanran might encounter wolves, but Linlin explained that daytime and plentiful spring prey made an attack unlikely.
• Ren Yingying invited Lang Xuan to hear about the Crystal Palace while Linlin and Qu Nian discussed the Tatars' defeat and the Oirat People’s growing power.
• Linlin told Qu Nian that a battle with the Oirat People was inevitable and that defeating them could secure twenty years of peace for Liaodong.

During a hunting outing, Linlin secretly kept a large wild egg for Lang Xuan to hatch, and she treasured it as a token of love with Yuwen Duo. The night ended with an urgent letter arriving from the capital, delivered by Xiao Ye.

• Yanran returned from hunting with game and a huge egg, which she wanted to cook for lunch.
• Linlin warned that the wild egg might be poisonous, then gave it to Zhao Qing to guard.
• Linlin brought the egg to Lang Xuan and let her keep it to hatch, while concealing that he had taken it from Yanran.
• Lang Xuan placed the egg under the quilt and thought about her growing closeness with Yuwen Duo, deciding it would be their token of love.
• Zhao Qing announced that an urgent letter from the capital had arrived with Xiao Ye, and Linlin got up to hear what it said.

Linlin and Lang Xuan learned that Tang Zhuyun had been injured in a gunpowder accident, though her life was not in danger. Lang Xuan offered to return to the capital to care for her, but Linlin reassured her and wrote to his mother while Lang Xuan prepared to add a message.

• Zhao Qing told Linlin and Lang Xuan that Tang Zhuyun had been injured while inspecting a newly completed academy.
• Lang Xuan feared that the gunpowder came from the formula she had given Linlin, but he assured her that he did not suspect her and explained that Tang Zhuyun was lightly injured.
• Linlin told Lang Xuan that Hanxiang had knocked Tang Zhuyun down while trying to save her, breaking Tang Zhuyun's right arm.
• Lang Xuan offered to return to the capital to care for Tang Zhuyun, but Linlin said there were already people looking after her and asked Lang Xuan not to make her worry.
• Linlin wrote a letter to Tang Zhuyun and invited Lang Xuan to add a few words, while explaining that Yanran should not be told yet.

Linlin told Lang Xuan that the four treasures were linked to Dog Meat’s illness and might be needed to preserve peace, so they had to find the final treasure and take all four to Mount Tai. Meanwhile, Emperor Wen struggled to change Tang Zhuyun’s bandage, and Huaishang arrived with news about the attempt on her life.

• Linlin explained that a Daoist priest had identified Dog Meat as a soul from another world and said the four treasures could affect such souls.
• Linlin told Lang Xuan that the treasures had to be gathered and buried on Mount Tai, and that they needed to find the fourth one soon.
• Lang Xuan urged Linlin to return early and help search, but he said they had already sent people to investigate the princess’s former residence and grave.
• Lang Xuan added a message to her letter asking Tang Zhuyun to recover and promising to care for Linlin.
• Emperor Wen struggled to change Tang Zhuyun’s dressing until he finished, then Xiu'er announced that Huaishang had arrived to report on the attempt on Tang Zhuyun’s life.

Huaishang reported that Lei Qun’s concubine had attempted to assassinate Tang Zhuyun and died by suicide, but the circumstances raised suspicions of a conspiracy. Emperor Wen ordered a light punishment and the Lei Family’s release as a way to draw out the real culprit, leaving Tang Zhuyun wondering what he was keeping from her.

• Huaishang reported that Lei Qun’s concubine had arranged the assassination attempt and left a suicide note blaming her unhappy marriage.
• Tang Zhuyun questioned whether the concubine had acted alone or had been used as a scapegoat, and Huaishang explained her close family ties to Lei Qun.
• Emperor Wen asked Tang Zhuyun how she would handle the Lei Family, and she recommended a light punishment rather than punishing everyone severely.
• Emperor Wen instructed Huaishang to release the Lei Family after a warning, and Tang Zhuyun realized he was using them to draw out someone.
• Tang Zhuyun demanded that Emperor Wen tell her what he was hiding, while Xiu'er listened eagerly at the door.

Tang Zhuyun and Xiu'er discussed the Lei family case after Emperor Wen secured the family's release, while Tang Zhuyun prepared to attend the academy despite the danger. The chapter ended with Xiu'er raising a new concern involving Hanxiang.

• Xiu'er helped the children share peaches and coaxed Wuxian into taking a piece from the untouched side.
• Emperor Wen visited the children and privately hoped Guagua would eventually stay in his family.
• Tang Zhuyun told Xiu'er more about the Lei family case, and Xiu'er urged her to protect her healing arm.
• The Lei family was released without charge, and Lei Qun's wife sent Tang Zhuyun a lavish gift.
• Tang Zhuyun said she would attend the academy but ordered the pregnant Xiu'er to stay behind.
• Xiu'er began to tell Tang Zhuyun that something was wrong involving Hanxiang.