Recaps

Xu Xi used her portrait skills to help the First Madam search for the midwife while pursuing the imperial examinations and developing her jewelry partnership. After Lady Zhu found the midwife, Xu Xi persuaded the Old Madam to accept a family division if the investigation confirmed the Second Madam’s interference.

• The First Madam investigated the second branch’s behavior while keeping Zhao Jingli kneeling, but found no proof of wrongdoing.
• Xu Xi learned the midwife’s whereabouts from the system and demonstrated her realistic portrait skills by drawing Master Kang.
• Xu Xi encouraged Xu Yongyi to expand his cold-dish business and refused Xu Xinda’s offer to supply jewelry designs to Fu Yunlang.
• Xu Xi gained family support for taking the imperial examinations and drew the midwife’s younger and current appearances from descriptions and the system’s guidance.
• Madam Cui allowed Xu Xi to keep her other classes while preparing for the imperial examinations, provided she ranked among the top three candidates after a month.
• Fu Yunlang refused further dealings with Xu Xi and promised Zhao Ruyu that he would arrange their betrothal after his elder brother married.
• Xu Xi developed her partnership with Gathered Treasures Studio, and the Old Madam told her that Lady Zhu had found the midwife in Jiangnan.
• Xu Xi warned the Old Madam that Zhao Yuankun’s ties to the crown prince endangered the household, and the Old Madam agreed to accept a family division if the investigation confirmed the Second Madam’s interference.

Xu Xi and the first madam use the family’s conflicts to protect Xu Xi while Lady Zhu pursues evidence about the child switch. As the marquis returns and signed confessions reach Zhao Yuanxun, Matron Li turns toward the first madam for her family’s safety.

• Xu Xi urged the old madam and first madam to divide the family after the marquis returned, while Lady Wei pressed to take Xu Xi to the Wei Residence.
• Xu Xi and the first madam suspected Lady Wei planned to force Xu Xi into marriage with a Wei young master, so Xu Xi stayed at the academy under the County Princess of Qingyang’s protection.
• Lady Wei sent Zhao Yuanliang to speak with Xu Xi, but he learned she was at the academy and chose to spend the night in his outer study.
• The first madam punished Qingliu, Li Mu, and their family after Qingliu entered Zhao Jing'an’s room, while Lady Wei’s attempt to intervene failed.
• Lady Zhu secretly questioned Qingliu and Li Mu’s Wife, moved them to a guarded courtyard, and replaced the household’s night guards with trusted people.
• Xu Xi designed jewelry for Xiao Ruotong’s Gathered Treasures Studio, offered painting lessons, and arranged to study with Master Kang.
• Zhao Yuanxun and Zhu Heyu arranged for Zhang Shun to send the baby-switch case to the Court of Judicial Review, and Zhao Yuanxun took Li Mu’s family’s confessions to the Duke of Wei’s Residence.
• After the marquis returned, Matron Li suspected the first madam knew where her family had gone and decided to follow her instructions to protect them.

Lady Wei’s attempt to control the Marquis of Suiping’s household exposed her role in the child-switching and a murder, bringing ruin on the Wei Family and upheaval to the Zhao family. After the imperial punishments and the decision to divide the household, Xu Xi began helping the First Madam assess the family’s finances.

• Lady Wei’s unauthorized search of the Old Madam’s quarters led the Old Madam to feign a stroke, and Zhao Jingli persuaded his family to keep Lady Wei inside the residence rather than send her back to the Wei Family.
• Lady Wei tried to enlist Zhao Ruyu and Zhao Jing'an to arrange Zhao Ruxi’s marriage into the Wei Family, but Zhao Jing'an refused to harm his sister.
• Zhang Changshen investigated the child-switching case, and Lady Wei’s statements and the servants’ testimony linked her and Wei Qiu to the murder of Minister Wen’s grandson.
• Emperor Xiao Ge stripped Wei Qiu of office and sentenced him and the Wei Family to exile, while Lady Wei was sentenced to execution and Zhao Yuanxun and Zhao Jingli lost status and positions.
• The Old Madam agreed to divide the household, and Zhao Jingli pleaded to remain Zhao Yuanxun and Lady Zhu’s son despite losing his place as heir.
• Xu Xi suspected the late Duke of Sui had funded Lady Wei’s child-switching scheme, and Zhao Yuanxun decided to investigate the Gusu case and the source of the money.
• Xu Xi checked the household accounts, found errors and spending that exceeded income, and advised the First Madam to let the Old Madam and Zhao Yuanxun decide how to divide the property.

The Zhao Family divided its household, and Xu Xi became Zhao Ruxi and Kang Shilin’s disciple. Zhao Ruxi confronted Zhao Ruyu about their past lives, while Zhao Yuankun drew Zhao Yuanliang into his plans and Fu Yunlang sought help to preserve his marriage to Zhao Ruyu.

• Zhao Yuanxun divided the family despite Zhao Yuanliang’s pleas, entered Zhao Jingli and Zhao Ruxi into the genealogy, and transferred Xu Xi’s household registration under the name Zhao Ruxi.
• Kang Shilin and Madam Cui visited Zhao Ruxi over her painting classes and uncertain academy enrollment, and Madam Cui proposed an apprenticeship to protect her from criticism over charging tuition.
• Zhao Ruxi accepted Kang Shilin as her master and met her senior brothers Wu Huaisi, Gong Cheng, and Wu Zong.
• Zhao Ruxi claimed to Zhao Ruyu that she had returned after death, denied owing her compensation for her troubled marriage prospects, and secured her agreement to help avert a future disaster for the Zhao Family.
• Zhao Yuanliang appointed Concubine Wang to share household management with Concubine Xue as the second branch settled into its separate quarters.
• Zhao Yuankun arranged a deputy commissioner post for Zhao Yuanliang in exchange for money and shops, and Zhao Ruyu warned Zhao Jingli about Zhao Yuankun’s motives after recalling his future rebellion.
• Fu Yunlang sought the princes’ sympathy over his threatened marriage to Zhao Ruyu, and Fu Yunkai rebuked him for bringing his private affairs before them.
• Fu Yunkai explained that he had arranged Fu Yunlang’s Jiangnan trip to help him build support through the fifth prince, but Fu Yunlang again asked him to persuade their mother to accept Zhao Ruyu.