Chapter Summaries

Tang Zhuyun and Xiu'er discussed Hanxiang’s request to return to her service and agreed to stay wary of her unexpected intervention. Meng Yulan then revealed that Jiang Shuyue, the fourteen-year-old daughter of Jiang Beihan and Yingxue, had been sent to Tang Baixin, leaving Tang Zhuyun stunned.

• Xiu'er told Tang Zhuyun that Hanxiang wanted to return to her side, and Tang Zhuyun agreed that refusing her was prudent despite her gratitude.
• Meng Yulan and Little Tangyuan visited Tang Zhuyun, where Little Tangyuan played with the children and let Wuji admire her sword.
• Tang Zhuyun noticed Meng Yulan’s haggard appearance and reminded her not to seek another woman to bear Tang Baixin a child.
• Meng Yulan said others had begun sending women to Tang Baixin, but she did not consider the attempts worth worrying about.
• Meng Yulan revealed that Jiang Shuyue, Jiang Beihan and Yingxue’s fourteen-year-old daughter, had been sent to Tang Baixin, shocking Tang Zhuyun.

Meng Yulan told Tang Zhuyun how Jiang Beihan and Yingxue died, and how Yingxue’s children fell into ruin. She admitted that she had arranged Yingxue’s death, then revealed that she was pregnant but feared sharing the news with Tang Baixin.

• Xiu'er condemned Jiang Beihan for keeping Yingxue and pursuing Meng Yulan after the truth came out.
• Meng Yulan recounted how Yingxue tried to offer Jiang Shuyue to Tang Baixin, who rejected them and warned Yingxue to keep quiet.
• Meng Yulan admitted that she had arranged Yingxue’s death after Yingxue meddled in her affairs; Jiang Shuyue later entered a brothel and then drowned after approaching Tang Baixin herself.
• Tang Zhuyun reassured Meng Yulan that she and her family would not be blamed, and Meng Yulan explained that she had acted quietly to avoid adding to Tang Zhuyun’s troubles.
• Meng Yulan told Tang Zhuyun that she was pregnant but was anxious and afraid to tell Tang Baixin in case her hopes were disappointed again.

Tang Zhuyun found signs of something unclean affecting Meng Yulan’s pregnancy, and Xiu'er guessed it might be hidden in Tang Mingfan’s quarters. Tang Zhuyun agreed to investigate after Meng Yulan mentioned that Cuiping, who swept the old master’s courtyard, had recently miscarried.

• Tang Zhuyun examined Meng Yulan’s pulse and asked whether she had taken secret medicine to conceive.
• Tang Zhuyun reassured Meng Yulan that the danger was not yet serious, then warned that something unclean was around her.
• Meng Yulan and Xiu'er considered what she ate, used, and encountered each day, while the children played nearby.
• Xiu'er guessed that the source might be in Tang Mingfan’s quarters, which Meng Yulan could not inspect freely as his daughter-in-law.
• Meng Yulan noted that Cuiping, who swept Tang Mingfan’s courtyard, had miscarried the previous month, and Tang Zhuyun said she would handle the matter.

Tang Zhuyun opened the academy and announced that women could take the imperial examinations and serve as officials. As her sedan chair left, she spotted Lei Qun among the kneeling crowd and ordered it to stop, then continued on without explanation.

• Tang Zhuyun reassured Meng Yulan that her child was safe and sent her a pregnancy-protecting prescription and medicinal herbs.
• Tang Zhuyun addressed the academy’s students and presented Emperor Wen’s edict allowing women to take the imperial examinations and serve as officials.
• Tang Zhuyun refused to meet Lei Qun, telling him to return and keep his household in order.
• Tang Zhuyun left the academy in Emperor Wen’s sedan chair and noticed Lei Qun kneeling among the crowd.
• Tang Zhuyun ordered the sedan chair to stop as Lei Qun’s face turned into profile, then told her attendants to continue.

After a bearer stumbled, Tang Zhuyun ordered an investigation and continued toward the palace, but Lu Zhenyan tried to divert her from a disturbance ahead. She saw the slogan “Remake heaven and earth” displayed on a coffin shop and decided to confront the deception.

• A pebble struck a bearer behind the knee, causing Tang Zhuyun’s sedan chair to lurch, and she ordered an imperial physician to examine him.
• Lu Zhenyan urged Tang Zhuyun to return to the palace by another route, but she insisted that no one would dare obstruct her.
• Lu Zhenyan recalled how Emperor Wen had placed him in service to the empress and how he had risen to command the Imperial Feathered Guard by following the emperor’s wishes.
• Lu Zhenyan warned Tang Zhuyun that rebels might be stirring up trouble ahead, but she ordered him to explain the situation.
• Tang Zhuyun saw four moving black characters reading “Remake heaven and earth” on the red-tiled roof of a coffin shop and dismissed the display as a trick meant to fool the people.

Tang Zhuyun exposed a plot involving the ominous characters on a roof, then learned that someone had tampered with her father’s snuff bottle. The chapter left her welcoming Nanxing to the palace.

• Tang Zhuyun ordered Lu Zhenyan to write “Long Live Our Emperor” beside “Overturn Heaven and Earth,” and honey attracted ants that revealed the original characters had been written in sugar water.
• Emperor Wen arrived, sat beside Tang Zhuyun, and warned her to stay in the palace until danger had passed.
• Meng Yulan sent word that a snuff bottle given to Tang Mingfan by the late emperor contained musk, and Tang Mingfan began investigating who had tampered with it.
• Tang Zhuyun welcomed Nanxing after a female official announced her arrival.

Nanxing told Tang Zhuyun that Lei Qun had been arrested and revealed his role in a plot involving the White Lotus Sect and a woman who resembled the empress. She also disclosed that Lei Qun was a member of the imperial family, leaving Tang Zhuyun wondering what he had wanted to tell her.

• Nanxing returned after two months helping Pei Shen investigate the White Lotus Sect and told Tang Zhuyun that Lei Qun had been arrested.
• Nanxing confirmed that the Prince of Yong had nothing to do with the earlier attempt to change heaven and earth.
• Nanxing revealed that the woman resembling Tang Zhuyun came from the Yanrong Aristocratic Family of Nanyue and that Lei Qun had found her.
• Nanxing explained that the White Lotus Sect had been building political influence and ultimately targeting Emperor Wen.
• Nanxing revealed that Lei Qun was also a member of the imperial family, and Tang Zhuyun recalled that he had looked like Emperor Wen and wondered what he had wanted to tell her.

Tang Zhuyun learned that Lei Qun was the posthumous son of Prince Taihe and that his grandmother was likely Dowager Consort Jingyi, the hidden leader of the White Lotus Sect. Lei Qun had surrendered willingly and asked to see Tang Zhuyun, but she deferred the meeting and ordered the authorities to focus on suppressing the sect.

• Nanxing revealed that Lei Qun was the posthumous son of Prince Taihe, whose family had supposedly been killed while fleeing the capital.
• Tang Zhuyun and Xiu'er deduced that Lei Qun's grandmother was likely Dowager Consort Jingyi, who had faked her death and led the White Lotus Sect.
• Nanxing explained that Lei Qun had deliberately allowed himself to be captured and confessed because he was tired of being manipulated by Dowager Consort Jingyi.
• Nanxing told Tang Zhuyun that Lei Qun wanted to see her, but Emperor Wen had refused to allow it.
• Tang Zhuyun postponed meeting Lei Qun, ordered his good care and the suppression of the bandits, and summoned Jinse to learn more about Dowager Consort Jingyi.

Tang Zhuyun and Emperor Wen discussed Lei Qun’s motives and agreed he could be spared, while Jinse’s unexplained absence prompted a search. The chapter ended with Emperor Wen comforting Tang Zhuyun and abandoning his memorials to kiss her.

• Tang Zhuyun learned that Lei Qun had admired his Lei Family grandmother and that his concubine had been controlled by the White Lotus Sect.
• Emperor Wen told Tang Zhuyun he had sent Nanxing to speak with her because he was afraid jealousy would affect his judgment.
• Tang Zhuyun discovered Jinse had not returned, so Emperor Wen ordered Lu Zhenyan to search for her and explained that someone was watching over her.
• Tang Zhuyun and Emperor Wen agreed to decide Lei Qun’s fate after the White Lotus Sect was defeated, and Emperor Wen said Lei Qun could live but should still be punished.
• Emperor Wen reassured Tang Zhuyun that he liked her at every age, then swept aside the memorials and kissed her.

Tang Zhuyun learned that Jinse was tracking people from Nanyue and agreed to meet Lei Qun after he warned that someone wanted to harm her. Lei Qun admitted he had arranged the attack on her sedan chair, then asked whether Emperor Wen was outside the dungeon.

• Emperor Wen and Tang Zhuyun discussed Jinse’s disappearance, and a palace official later reported that Jinse had gone after someone and would be away for a while.
• Tang Zhuyun learned that Jinse was tracking people from Nanyue and heading northeast, possibly toward Liaodong.
• Nanxing told Tang Zhuyun that Lei Qun insisted on warning her of danger, and Emperor Wen agreed to accompany her to meet him.
• Tang Zhuyun questioned Lei Qun in the dungeon, where he admitted he had arranged the attack on her sedan chair to warn her.
• Lei Qun asked Tang Zhuyun whether Emperor Wen was outside, and she denied it.

Lei Qun explained that his birth grandmother had arranged to impersonate Tang Zhuyun and spread rumors portraying the empress as unfaithful, hoping to damage her reputation and destabilize the throne. He warned Tang Zhuyun to find the poisoned impostor quickly and admitted he had kept the truth from Emperor Wen because he feared no one would believe a man acted from admiration alone.

• Lei Qun told Tang Zhuyun that his birth grandmother had brought a skilled woman from Nanyue to impersonate her, and Tang Zhuyun said she already knew about the woman.
• Lei Qun revealed that his grandmother had planned to exploit Tang Zhuyun's kindness and spread false rumors that she had romantic feelings for him.
• Lei Qun explained that the conspirators intended to stage encounters between the impostor and other men, ruining Tang Zhuyun's reputation and weakening Emperor Wen's position.
• Lei Qun confessed that he had poisoned the impostor but did not know whether she was still alive, and he urged Tang Zhuyun to find her before she could cause further damage.
• Tang Zhuyun asked why Lei Qun had not told Emperor Wen, and Lei Qun replied that people would not believe a man had helped her solely out of admiration.

Tang Zhuyun and Emperor Wen discussed the White Lotus Sect, their children, and a possible trip to Liaodong while Emperor Wen privately worried about Tang Zhuyun’s ten-year deadline. In Liaodong, Linlin forbade Yanran and the others from exploring the princess’s tomb, leaving Yanran determined to go despite his refusal.

• Emperor Wen reunited with Tang Zhuyun after her visit to Lei Qun in prison, and she urged him to capture the woman who had impersonated her.
• Emperor Wen told Tang Zhuyun that Jinse had lured the woman out and that he had killed her and burned her body.
• Tang Zhuyun and Emperor Wen discussed the White Lotus Sect, visiting Liaodong, and their children, while Emperor Wen privately worried about the Daoist priest’s warning and Tang Zhuyun’s deadline.
• In Liaodong, Yanran proposed exploring the princess’s tomb after repeated searches of the ruins yielded no clues.
• Linlin insisted that he would take men to the tomb alone, refusing Yanran, Lang Xuan, and the others permission to join him.
• Yanran appealed to Lang Xuan, reminding her that she still needed to hatch their egg, but Lang Xuan blushed and said it would happen soon.

Lang Xuan spent the day caring for Linlin and preparing clothes while Yanran invited everyone to try grilled squid. The household enjoyed a peaceful evening, but an uninvited guest arrived at Ren Yingying's courtyard late that night.

• Linlin called Cui Ling away to discuss the attempt on Zhao Yingzhu, and Cui Xiaoqiu reassured Yanran that the matter would be handled.
• Lang Xuan declined Yanran's invitation to go shopping and stayed home to sew new clothes for Linlin.
• Yanran returned with pastries and told Lang Xuan about the grilled squid she had eaten, then arranged for the stallholder to bring some to the residence the next day.
• Lang Xuan checked on her unhatched egg and considered asking Yuwen Duo for something when he returned.
• Lang Xuan stayed with Linlin at dinner while Cui Xiaoqiu watched Yanran test tools, and an uninvited guest arrived at Ren Yingying's courtyard late that night.

Ren Yingying endured late-pregnancy discomfort while Qu Nian catered to her demands, until Jinse arrived with news of a gu raiser who had escaped and might be heading for Jinzhou. The next morning, Ren Yingying was invited to the commandery prince’s residence, and Qu Nian arranged for grilled squid to be sent to her if she arrived too late.

• Ren Yingying demanded that Qu Nian learn to make shredded chicken wontons, but a commotion outside announced Jinse’s arrival.
• Jinse reassured Ren Yingying that Emperor Wen and the empress were safe, then explained that a Nanyue gu raiser had escaped after being pursued toward Jinzhou.
• Jinse said her people had already reported the gu raiser’s likely destination to the commandery prince, while Ren Yingying worried about Linlin and Yanran.
• Ren Yingying stayed up talking with Jinse, and Qu Nian slept in a side room.
• When Yanran invited Ren Yingying to eat grilled squid the next morning, Qu Nian first declined for her, then asked that the squid cook be sent over if Ren Yingying arrived after everyone had eaten.

At the prince's residence, Yanran suddenly attacked Linlin after a flute melody seemed to control her, and the ensuing fight left Linlin wounded. Jinse played her pipa to counter the flute while Yanran remained under its influence.

• Yanran brought Linlin and Lang Xuan to try grilled squid, and Lang Xuan shyly shared a skewer with Linlin.
• Yanran and Cui Xiaoqiu grew suspicious of the squid seller's assistant and his unusually sharp knife.
• A flute sounded, and Yanran seized a cleaver and attacked Linlin, but Lang Xuan stepped in front of him and Linlin was cut.
• Jiaojiao tackled the assistant as guards rushed in, while Cui Xiaoqiu and Linlin struggled to restrain Yanran.
• Linlin ordered the guards to find the flute player and joined the fight as Yanran continued attacking Cui Xiaoqiu.
• Jinse played her pipa to disrupt the flute music, arriving with Qu Nian and a bewildered Ren Yingying.

Jinse countered a gu breeder who had taken control of Yanran, while Linlin and Cui Xiaoqiu restrained and subdued her. Jinse returned without catching the breeder and explained that Yanran had likely been afflicted by gu the previous day, leaving her condition uncertain.

• Jinse pursued the gu breeder as her flute music weakened, while Linlin and Cui Xiaoqiu held Yanran back.
• Linlin knocked Yanran unconscious after Cui Xiaoqiu hesitated to strike her.
• Lang Xuan worried over Linlin and Yanran, and the imperial physician examined the wounded group.
• Ren Yingying and Lang Xuan suspected Nanyue was behind Yanran's attack.
• Jinse returned and said Sound Attack could counter gu breeders, but she had lost track of the man.
• Jinse explained that Yanran was probably afflicted by gu while eating grilled squid the previous day.

After Yanran’s attack, Jinse explained that other gu cultivators might still control the gu insect inside her, and no one knew how to remove it. Cui Xiaoqiu asked Linlin for permission to stay by Yanran’s side as her husband, and Linlin agreed.

• Imperial Physician Wang treated Linlin and Cui Xiaoqiu while Yanran remained unconscious.
• Jinse told Cui Xiaoqiu and the others that killing the flute-playing gu cultivator had not ended the danger, since others could still command Yanran’s gu insect.
• Cui Xiaoqiu asked Jinse whether there was any way to draw out the gu insect, but she said Yanran’s condition and future were uncertain.
• Cui Xiaoqiu bowed to Linlin and asked to marry Yanran so he could watch over her constantly.
• Lang Xuan urged Linlin to accept Cui Xiaoqiu’s request, and Linlin agreed, telling him to care for Yanran for the rest of his life.

After Yanran woke from a gu-induced blackout, Cui Xiaoqiu told her how she had attacked him and her eldest brother before Jinse stopped her. Yanran agreed to be confined for safety, while Cui Xiaoqiu vowed to stay by her side, and she asked him to bring Jinse over so she could question her.

• Yanran woke in the evening with a sore head and worried first about the grilled squid she had missed.
• Cui Xiaoqiu explained that a gu had taken control of Yanran and that she had injured him before Jinse intervened.
• Yanran blamed herself for nearly hurting Cui Xiaoqiu and her eldest brother, but Cui Xiaoqiu reassured her that the attack was not her fault.
• Yanran agreed that she should be locked up to prevent her from harming anyone during another episode, and Cui Xiaoqiu decided to stay with her.
• Yanran asked Cui Xiaoqiu to bring Jinse to her and have the kitchen prepare something to eat.

Yanran worried that the gu worm inside her might make her lose control, but Jinse explained that it was not an aphrodisiac and revealed that a hidden master on Mount Yu might be able to remove it. Yanran and Cui Xiaoqiu considered seeking the master, while Yanran wondered whether she would have to remain in Liaodong if the gu worm could not be removed.

• Yanran asked Jinse whether the gu worm could make her lose control and ravish Cui Xiaoqiu, and Jinse reassured her that it was not an aphrodisiac.
• Jinse told Yanran that a reclusive master on Mount Yu could remove the gu worm, though she appeared only on the first day of the new year and was difficult to find.
• Cui Xiaoqiu decided to send people to Nanyue to gather information and planned to take Yanran there when circumstances allowed.
• Jinse said she wanted to visit the heir's consort when she gave birth, and Yanran agreed, though her mood briefly dimmed.
• Yanran worried she might have to stay in Liaodong if the gu worm could not be removed, and Cui Xiaoqiu promised to stay with her.

Yanran ate with Cui Xiaoqiu and spoke calmly about the possibility of dying from the gu worms, asking him to comfort her family if anything happened. After Linlin and Lang Xuan visited, Lang Xuan warned Yanran to control herself around Cui Xiaoqiu for his safety.

• Yanran ate green bean noodles and asked Cui Xiaoqiu to recount how someone had controlled her with the gu worms.
• Yanran told Cui Xiaoqiu she was not afraid of death and asked him to tell her empress mother that she would be happy wherever she went.
• Cui Xiaoqiu promised to pass on her message and hugged Yanran quietly.
• Linlin and Lang Xuan visited Yanran with fruit, and Linlin took Cui Xiaoqiu to another room to speak with him.
• Lang Xuan warned Yanran to avoid losing control around Cui Xiaoqiu, and Yanran said she would not do so unless she lost control.