Recaps

Xu Xi used her foresight to win the old madam’s support for dividing the family and preventing the Marquis of Suiping’s Residence from meeting its doomed fate. The eldest madam agreed to hold those involved accountable and arrange a family recognition banquet after the search for the midwife was resolved, while Xu Xi also asked permission to design jewelry for Xiao Ruotong’s shop.

• The old madam reflected on Xu Xi’s intelligence and accepted that the legitimate branch might have to settle for a safe, modest life if Xu Xi proved to be Lady Wei’s daughter.
• Xu Xi recalled that Zhao Yuankun’s alliance with the crown prince would lead to the residence’s confiscation, and resolved to gain influence in the family by advocating for a division.
• The eldest madam told Xu Xi that her portraits had helped locate the midwife and that the marquis had gone to Jiangnan to investigate.
• The eldest madam promised to hold those responsible accountable and divide the family after the marquis returned, and said the family recognition banquet would follow once the matter was cleared up.
• Xu Xi told the old madam and eldest madam that Xiao Ruotong wanted her jewelry designs for a shop in Beining, and they considered her request.

Xu Xi finished a jewelry design at the shop and warned the first madam and old madam to stay composed while they prepared to confront the second branch. Lady Wei arrived seeking an audience, and Xu Xi’s presence left her appearing pleased as she waited for Xu Xi to greet her as “Mother.”

• Xu Xi designed jewelry at the shop while Xu Xue watched, then asked Shopkeeper Wang to prepare drawing supplies for her next visit.
• Xu Xi urged the first madam to hide her distress from the eldest young master and warned that Lady Wei might suppress their efforts if she became suspicious.
• The first madam and old madam regained their appetites after Xu Xi reminded them they would need their strength for the turmoil ahead.
• A maid announced Lady Wei’s arrival, and Xu Xi reassured the old madam that the visit did not mean Lady Wei had discovered anything.
• Lady Wei entered, paid her respects, and waited for Xu Xi to call her “Mother,” distressing the first madam.

Xu Xi avoided Lady Wei’s attempt to take her to the Wei Residence by saying she had already promised to help the County Princess of Qingyang during the holiday. Lady Wei’s plan to introduce Xu Xi to her family and arrange a marriage was thwarted, while the old madam was left with little room to insist.

• Lady Wei asked the old madam why the residence had not arranged a celebration for Xu Xi and Miss Yu’s academy admissions, and the old madam postponed it until the marquis returned.
• Lady Wei asked to take Xu Xi to the Wei Residence to meet her maternal family, and the old madam considered agreeing.
• Xu Xi said she had promised to help the County Princess of Qingyang at her silver shop during the holiday, and the first madam backed her up by noting the powerful households involved.
• Lady Wei asked whether Xu Xi could visit the Wei Residence for dinner after helping at the shop, and Xu Xi said the County Princess might need her all day and guards from the Prince of Zhennan’s Residence would escort her home.

Xu Xi realized Lady Wei intended to take her to the Wei Residence to arrange her marriage to a Wei son, likely to keep the truth about their identities from coming to light. The old madam had already agreed to the visit, leaving Xu Xi to face Lady Wei’s plan once she was free of the silver shop.

• Lady Wei secured the old madam’s agreement to take Xu Xi to the Wei Residence for a meal after Xu Xi finished helping with the County Princess of Qingyang’s silver shop.
• After Lady Wei left, Xu Xi reflected on her cold sneer and searched her memories of the novel for clues about her intentions.
• Xu Xi recalled maids saying that even the Wei Family’s shu-born young masters looked down on the original host.
• Xu Xi concluded that Lady Wei had previously taken the original host to the Wei Residence to arrange a marriage with a Wei young master.
• Xu Xi suspected Lady Wei now wanted to marry her into the Wei Family to prevent the first madam from exposing the truth about their identities.

Xu Xi warned the old madam and the first madam that Lady Wei might use a forced marriage scheme to make her part of the Wei Family, and they agreed to protect her without raising suspicion. Meanwhile, Lady Wei investigated Xu Xi’s escort and summoned Zhao Yuanliang to discuss an urgent matter.

• Xu Xi suspected Lady Wei wanted to take her to the Wei Residence and have a young Wei master defile her to force a marriage.
• The first madam and the old madam realized the danger and feared Lady Wei had uncovered their plans.
• Xu Xi proposed staying at the academy and using Madam Xiao’s silver shop as cover while guards secretly protected her.
• The first madam agreed to Xu Xi’s plan and told her to ask Madam Xiao for protection.
• Lady Wei learned that guards from the Prince of Zhennan’s Residence had escorted Xu Xi and dismissed her as someone currying favor with the powerful.
• Lady Wei summoned Zhao Yuanliang, who returned smelling of rouge and powder and impatiently demanded to know what she wanted.

Lady Wei tried to arrange for Xu Xi to visit the Wei Residence and marry into her maiden family, while Zhao Yuanliang agreed to persuade their daughter. After ordering an investigation into Xu Xi, Lady Wei heard that Fourth Miss might have exchanged a handkerchief with Seventh Young Master Wei.

• Lady Wei told Zhao Yuanliang she wanted to take Xu Xi to the Wei Residence so her family could consider a marriage match for her.
• Zhao Yuanliang agreed to speak with Xu Xi, and Lady Wei ordered him to meet her after school the next day.
• Lady Wei instructed Matron Wang to have Wang Gui investigate the County Princess of Qingyang’s silver shop and Xu Xi’s standing at the academy.
• Lady Wei planned to visit the Wei Residence to discuss Xu Xi’s marriage and considered arrangements for Miss Rui as well.
• Matron Li told Lady Wei that Fourth Miss had spoken privately with Seventh Young Master Wei and given him a handkerchief, prompting Lady Wei to demand why she had not heard sooner.

Zhao Yuanliang waited for Xu Xi to return, then grew worried when she was nearly an hour late and decided to go look for her. As he set out, he learned that the first madam had also sent a maid to ask about Xu Xi.

• Lady Wei decided to wait until she had spoken with Zhao Yuanliang before choosing how to bring Xu Xi back to the Wei Residence.
• Zhao Yuanliang waited in a pavilion for Xu Xi, but she did not return at her usual time.
• After learning Xu Xi was nearly an hour late, Zhao Yuanliang realized he had neglected his daughter and ordered a carriage to go search for her.
• A young maid from the first madam's courtyard refused a manservant's request to carry a message to the kitchen because she was on an errand to ask about Xu Xi.
• Zhao Yuanliang set out in the carriage and learned that the first madam's maid had asked the gatekeeper about Xu Xi but had not found her.

Zhao Yuanliang learned that Xu Xi was staying at the academy to draw jewelry designs for the County Princess of Qingyang and worried she had taken on too much. The Old Madam and First Madam maintained Xu Xi’s cover story, while the First Madam tightened control over the servants to keep Lady Wei from discovering the truth.

• Qingfeng told Zhao Yuanliang that Madam Xiao had kept Xu Xi at the academy to design jewelry for the County Princess of Qingyang’s new silver shop.
• Zhao Yuanliang worried that Xu Xi might offend the county princess and told Qingfeng to urge her to apologize and avoid exceeding her abilities.
• Zhao Yuanliang sent the food away, ordered fresh dishes for the outer study, and decided to sleep there rather than return to Lady Wei.
• Qingfeng reported to the Old Madam and First Madam that Xu Xi was safe at the academy and had made no special requests.
• The First Madam sent Caidie with Qingfeng to warn Matron Yuan to keep the servants quiet, and the Old Madam remarked that their choice of Xu Xi’s servants had proved fortunate.

Lady Zhu set a quiet trap to distract Lady Wei from Xu Xi while the marquis was away. That night, news that a woman had climbed into Zhao Jing'an’s bed sent Lady Wei and Matron Li rushing to his courtyard, where Qingliu’s sobs suggested she was involved.

• Lady Zhu praised Xu Xi’s careful arrangements and told the old madam she was returning to the first household’s courtyard.
• Lady Zhu checked that Matron Zhou had prepared the trap, then removed her jewelry so she would not look suspicious when she went to watch it unfold.
• A maid alerted Lady Wei that someone had climbed into Zhao Jing'an’s bed, and Lady Wei hurried to investigate.
• Matron Li feared the woman was her granddaughter Qingliu, whose ambitions were directed at Zhao Jingli rather than Zhao Jing'an.
• Lady Wei and Matron Li reached Zhao Jing'an’s courtyard and heard Qingliu sobbing as the first madam scolded her.

Qingliu explained how she had mistakenly entered Zhao Jing'an’s room while trying to reach Zhao Jingli, and Matron Li suspected someone had arranged the confusion. Lady Wei tried to save Qingliu from punishment, but the first madam insisted the household rules applied while she held authority.

• The first madam ordered Qingliu tied up, given thirty strokes, and sold, but Lady Wei intervened.
• Matron Li embraced Qingliu and asked how she had ended up in Zhao Jing'an’s room.
• Qingliu explained that at Qingxue’s birthday feast she heard the first madam planned to select a bedchamber maid for Zhao Jingli, so she went looking for Zhao Jingli after drinking.
• Qingliu said she followed Zhao Jingli’s manservants into his courtyard but entered Zhao Jing'an’s room by mistake, where Zhao Jing'an struck her and the commotion drew the servants.
• Matron Li suspected someone had manipulated events, while Lady Wei argued that Qingliu had been promised as Zhao Jing'an’s bedchamber maid and should be spared.
• The first madam rejected Lady Wei’s appeal and declared that Qingliu and Zhao Jing'an would be dealt with under the residence’s rules.

The First Madam resisted Lady Wei’s attempt to shield Qingliu by arguing that household rules had to apply equally, and the servants sided with her. Zhao Jingli arrived and challenged Lady Wei’s position, after which Zhao Jing'an chose to punish Qingliu according to the rules.

• Lady Wei accused the First Madam of treating the second branch harshly and defended her right to show Qingliu leniency.
• The First Madam argued that excusing serious misconduct would make the household unsafe, and the servants agreed that rules should be followed.
• Zhao Jingli arrived and asked Lady Wei whether she would risk encouraging another maid to seek Zhao Jing'an’s bed.
• Zhao Jingli called Zhao Jing'an out and asked him whether Qingliu should be dealt with according to the rules or his mother’s wishes.
• Zhao Jing'an chose to follow the household rules, explaining that he had no interest in Qingliu and believed she wanted Zhao Jingli instead.

After Qingliu’s attempt to get into Zhao Jingli’s bed led her into Zhao Jing'an’s instead, the family debated her punishment. Zhao Jing'an offered to take twenty strokes in her place, leaving Matron Li to choose between her position and her granddaughter’s life as Lady Wei demanded her answer.

• Zhao Jing'an said he despised Qingliu and refused to take her as his bedchamber maid.
• Lady Wei reminded Zhao Jing'an that Matron Li had served her faithfully and asked whether he would let Qingliu die under the manor’s punishment.
• Zhao Jing'an offered to take twenty strokes himself so Qingliu could receive ten and be sold.
• The first madam left the decision to Lady Wei, who waited for Matron Li to reject Zhao Jing'an’s proposal.
• Lady Wei coldly asked Matron Li what she had to say, and Qingliu begged her grandmother to save her.

Matron Li and her family pleaded with Lady Wei and the first madam to spare Qingliu’s life, but the first madam ordered the family punished and sold. Lady Wei accepted the ruling while resenting the first madam, and the chapter ended with the punishment about to begin.

• Matron Wu and Matron Li’s family knelt and begged Lady Wei to save Qingliu, with her parents and younger brother offering to take some of her punishment.
• Lady Wei accused Matron Li of trying to make Zhao Jing'an take Qingliu’s beating, while Matron Li insisted she only wanted Qingliu’s life spared.
• The first madam ordered Li Mu and Li Mu's Wife to receive ten strokes each, Qingliu to receive ten strokes, and the entire family to be sold from the manor.
• The Li family feared Lady Wei might retaliate if she bought them back, while Lady Wei regretted losing her trusted aides but accepted the first madam’s decision.
• The first madam ordered Li Mu's Wife and Qingliu taken to the inner courtyard and left Li Mu to Zhao Jingli.

The first madam delayed punishing Li Mu's wife and Qingliu, following the residence's rules and exposing Lady Wei's urgency to remove them. She accused Qingliu of pursuing the heir, while Qingliu claimed she had entered Zhao Jing'an's room by mistake, leaving the dispute unresolved.

• Zhao Jingli ordered Li Mu's wife and Qingliu confined in the inner compound woodshed and Li Mu taken to the outer compound woodshed.
• Lady Wei demanded that the first madam punish Li Mu's wife and Qingliu immediately so she could have them removed from the residence.
• Lin Song's Wife explained that servants had to witness punishments and that nighttime offenders were kept in the woodshed until the following noon.
• The first madam said Qingliu had been pursuing the heir, Zhao Jing'an, and asked whether she had tried to enter his bed or the second young master's.
• Qingliu denied seducing anyone and claimed that she had been drunk and entered the second young master's bedroom by mistake.
• An older servant who had helped Qingliu dress accused her of stripping naked and throwing herself at the second young master.

Lady Zhu imprisoned Qingliu and her mother over Qingliu’s alleged advances toward Zhao Jingli, then secretly tried to extract information about Lady Wei from them. When their statements revealed nothing about the children being switched, Lady Zhu arranged to move the family to a guarded courtyard, while Xu Xi heard about the affair the next morning.

• Lady Zhu ordered Qingliu and Li Mu’s Wife locked in the woodshed until their punishment the next day, and Lady Wei returned to her quarters without challenging the order.
• Lady Zhu secretly sent Old Woman Liu and Matron Yue to question Qingliu and her mother, offering leniency, safe passage, and silver for an honest account of their dealings with Lady Wei.
• Old Woman Liu returned with their statements, which mentioned no child-switching, and Lady Zhu ordered the family moved to a guarded courtyard before dawn.
• Lady Zhu arranged for Wu Da’s Wife and Granny Qian to be drugged and replaced the household’s night guards with her own trusted people.
• Qingfeng told Xu Xi about the previous night’s commotion, and Xu Xi admired Lady Zhu’s methods.

Xu Xi left the academy for the silver shop, while Xu Xinda and Huang Xing watched the newly opened shop across the street and tried to learn who was behind it. They reported Xu Xi’s visit to the second young master and later saw an elegant woman arrive at the shop.

• Xu Xi reassured Qingfeng that she was safe at the academy, then departed for the silver shop in Madam Xiao’s carriage.
• Xu Xinda and Huang Xing saw Xu Xi enter the shop across the street and wondered about its owner and her connection to Zhao Ruyu.
• Huang Xing decided to write to the second young master and warned Xu Xinda not to act without orders.
• Huang Xing watched the shop as Xu Xi left with a maid and Shopkeeper Wang, then returned later that afternoon.
• That evening, a beautiful woman arrived at the shop in another magnificent carriage and went inside.

Xiao Ruotong learned that Juren Meng had mocked Xu Xi and demanded more money for his designs, so she dismissed him and praised Xu Xi’s work. During their meal, she told Xu Xi that Noble Consort Cen might invite her to the palace to paint a portrait, leaving Xu Xi worried about the prospect.

• Huang Xing recognized Xiao Ruotong as the County Princess of Qingyang and wondered why she had come to Gathered Treasures Studio.
• Shopkeeper Wang told Xiao Ruotong that Juren Meng had mocked Xu Xi and demanded a higher fee after learning she had designed jewelry for the shop.
• Xiao Ruotong ordered Shopkeeper Wang to dismiss Juren Meng and heard that Xu Xi’s designs were plentiful and impressive.
• Xiao Ruotong invited Xu Xi to eat and told her that Noble Consort Cen might invite her to the palace to paint a portrait.
• Xu Xi panicked at the possibility, and Xiao Ruotong reassured her that the invitation might never happen.

Xu Xi offered to teach her distinctive painting style for three thousand taels per student, hoping to spread the technique and earn enough to secure her independence. Xiao Ruotong agreed to help recruit students and signed up herself, while revealing that Master Kang also wanted to learn.

• Xu Xi asked Xiao Ruotong why her painting had caused controversy, and Xiao Ruotong explained that older painters denounced her unusual style while younger painters admired it.
• Xu Xi decided to offer painting lessons without formal master-disciple ties, setting tuition at three thousand taels per student for two months of classes.
• Xu Xi told Xiao Ruotong she no longer needed to work evenings at the silver shop because she could draw designs at the academy at noon.
• Xiao Ruotong welcomed Xu Xi's plan and said she wanted to be the first student, despite being Xu Xi's teacher.
• Xiao Ruotong revealed that Master Kang had also wanted to learn from Xu Xi and insisted that both of them pay the full tuition.

Xu Xi refused payment for teaching her painting technique and arranged to trade lessons with Master Kang, while reconsidering how much time she spent at the academy. She left the chapter planning to focus on skills and independence that mattered most to her future.

• Xu Xi refused Xiao Ruotong's and Master Kang's tuition payments, saying she would teach them her painting technique without charge.
• Nanny Yun advised Xiao Ruotong to give Xu Xi several pieces of jewelry to make up for the tuition she had declined, and Xiao Ruotong agreed.
• Master Kang asked Xu Xi whether he could learn her painting technique, and Xu Xi offered to study his painting methods in return.
• Xu Xi realized that her academy schedule left little time for her other goals and worried about the limited years she had before marriage expectations constrained her choices.
• Xu Xi asked Master Kang to teach her during some afternoon classes she could skip and decided to put needlework and zither lessons aside for now.

Xu Xi arranged painting lessons with Master Kang and continued designing jewelry as the Gathered Treasures Studio opened to a crowd of noble customers. Across the street, Xu Xinda and Huang Xing learned the new shop had hired Juren Meng, then drove him away; Juren Meng agreed to design jewelry for their Abundant and Prosperous Pavilion instead.

• Master Kang offered to arrange painting students for Xu Xi and agreed to teach her on four afternoons every ten days.
• Shopkeeper Wang promoted the Gathered Treasures Studio through sales calls and offered opening-day customers a ten percent discount.
• Noble families' carriages arrived at the Gathered Treasures Studio on opening day, alarming Xu Xinda and Huang Xing.
• Huang Xing told Xu Xinda that the Gathered Treasures Studio had hired Juren Meng but dismissed him after he complained about his design fee.
• Huang Xing said Juren Meng had accepted an offer to design jewelry for the Abundant and Prosperous Pavilion for one hundred taels per design, and Xu Xinda questioned the reported price.

Xu Xi continued her classes while trouble over the escaped servants embroiled Lady Wei and the Marquis of Suiping's household. In Gusu City, Zhao Yuanxun arranged to leave in disguise while Zhu Heyu stayed behind to finish their business.

• Lady Wei learned that Li Mu's family had fled and quarreled with the eldest madam and Lady Su, until the old madam reprimanded her and ordered compensation.
• Lady Wei locked Matron Li in the woodshed, then ordered her brought out and treated when she fell gravely ill.
• Zhao Yuanxun and Zhu Heyu watched an elderly woman enter the Gusu City government office to beat the complaint drum.
• Zhao Yuanxun disguised himself as a servant and left Gusu City in a carriage with a wealthy gentleman, while Zhu Heyu remained behind.
• A guard reported that the matter was done, and Zhu Heyu approved.

Zhang Shun investigated who had arranged for a midwife to expose a fourteen-year-old baby switch involving the Marquis of Suiping’s Residence. He learned that Zhu Heyu had asked him to send the case file to the Court of Judicial Review, but the chapter ended before Zhang decided what to do.

• Zhang Shun and Shi Maodian suspected someone had forced the midwife to confess and agreed to handle the case cautiously.
• Zhang Shun went out to meet the person behind the summons, while Shi Maodian stayed behind to keep watch and arrange for help if needed.
• An attendant introduced his master as Zhu Heyu, an Earl of Lin'an and Ministry of Personnel official, and led Zhang Shun to a teahouse.
• Shi Maodian returned to the yamen and set up surveillance while Zhang Shun met Zhu Heyu.
• Zhang Shun returned home and told Shi Maodian that Zhu Heyu had asked him, on behalf of the Marquis of Suiping, to submit the case file to the Court of Judicial Review.
• Zhang Shun explained that the case concerned a baby switch involving the legitimate daughter of the Marquis of Suiping’s second branch and a scholar’s daughter from Little Banyan Village.

Zhao Yuanxun and Zhu Heyu’s family sought a way to punish Lady Wei for switching and abandoning their daughter, but Wei Qiu’s rank and political backing made the case dangerous. Zhao Yuanxun returned to the capital with signed confessions and went to enlist Grand Tutor Cen’s help against Wei Qiu.

• Zhang Shun told Shi Maodian that the second madam’s father, Wei Qiu, had risen to Principal Third Rank, and that evidence of Zhang Shun’s embezzlement left him unable to refuse the case.
• Zhang Shun ordered Shi Maodian to send the case file onward and protect the midwife.
• Zhao Yuanxun returned to the capital and met Zhu Hehuai, who updated him on what Zhu Heyu had learned from Li Mu’s family.
• Zhao Yuanxun and Zhu Hehuai discussed how Lady Wei had switched the children, abandoned their daughter, and later tormented Xu Xi, and why they needed to bring down Wei Qiu to punish her.
• Zhao Yuanxun took Li Mu’s family’s signed confessions to the Duke of Wei’s Residence, intending to put evidence against Wei Qiu in Grand Tutor Cen’s hands.

After learning that the marquis had returned to the capital, the first madam ordered Matron Zhou to begin acting against the second branch. Meanwhile, Lady Wei watched over the recovering Matron Li, who secretly planned to obey the unknown person threatening her family and bring Lady Wei down.

• Matron Zhou told the first madam that the marquis had returned to the capital, and the first madam ordered her to get things moving at the second branch.
• Lady Wei worried that Li Mu and his family might have been captured and questioned, then visited the recovering Matron Li in the side room.
• Matron Li remembered that an unknown person had threatened her children and grandchildren, and resolved to follow that person's orders even if she had to poison Lady Wei.
• Matron Li decided to win over Chunjing and the other servants, then gave Chunqing silver to buy medicine for her mother.

Matron Li learned that Concubine Wang was pregnant and suspected the first madam had leaked the news to undermine Lady Wei while protecting Concubine Wang. Convinced that the first madam might also know where her son and grandson were, Matron Li resolved to follow her instructions.

• Matron Li gave Chunqing silver to help pay for her mother's medicine, and Chunqing tearfully thanked her.
• After hearing that Concubine Wang was two months pregnant and Lady Wei had gone to confront her, Matron Li suspected the first madam had arranged for the news to surface.
• Matron Li recalled that Li Mu and his family had disappeared while under the first madam's control, and believed the first madam might know where her son and grandson were.
• Matron Li explained that Concubine Wang had sought the old madam's protection and might have Zhao Yuanliang's support against Lady Wei.
• Matron Li decided to follow the first madam's instructions, believing the first madam would protect her family while Lady Wei would not.