Chapter Summaries

Kang Shilin grew impatient when Xu Xi failed to return and explained that she was preparing to teach a private painting class for a fee. He set out to find her, with Madam Cui accompanying him to persuade her, while Shen Feiyang stayed behind to relay his message to Grand Princess Shangde.

• Kang Shilin’s childhood fights and friendship with the late emperor showed why he was feared at court despite his fiery temper.
• Kang Shilin told Madam Cui that Xu Xi had promised to teach a painting class, but had disappeared before it could begin.
• Kang Shilin revealed that Xu Xi would charge each student three thousand taels and would not establish a formal master-disciple relationship.
• Kang Shilin decided to go find Xu Xi and told Madam Cui and Shen Feiyang to keep her from going to the Capital Women's Academy.
• Madam Cui followed Kang Shilin, saying she would try to persuade Zhao Ruxi, and he agreed to let her come along.

Zhao Yuanxun told Zhao Ruxi that her academy enrollment was still being discussed and explained how Wei Qiu’s family had been sentenced to exile. As he worried over the family’s loss of status and his dismissal from office, two academy teachers arrived asking to see Zhao Ruxi.

• Zhao Yuanxun told Xu Xi that her registration had been transferred to his household and that she would now be called Zhao Ruxi.
• Zhao Yuanxun said Madam Cui would consult Grand Princess Shangde before deciding whether Zhao Ruxi could continue studying at the academy.
• Lady Zhu revealed that Zhao Ruxi had supplied the old madam with the political insight about Zhao Yuankun, surprising Zhao Yuanxun.
• Zhao Yuanxun explained that Lady Wei had taken responsibility for the murder, but Wei Qiu’s whole family had been sentenced to exile after the emperor faced pressure from ministers.
• Zhao Yuanxun lamented that his dismissal from the Five Cities Military Command and the divided household had left the family far from court and short of wealth.
• Caidie announced that academy teachers Kang Shilin and Cui Wen had come to see Zhao Ruxi, and Zhao Yuanxun handed her their calling cards.

Zhao Ruxi met with Kang Shilin and Madam Cui to discuss teaching painting, but learned that the arrangement could expose her to public criticism. She admitted she feared the pressure, leaving Kang Shilin lamenting that they had no way to proceed as planned.

• Zhao Ruxi went with Zhao Yuanxun and Lady Zhu to receive Kang Shilin and Madam Cui.
• Kang Shilin urged Zhao Ruxi to begin teaching painting, and Zhao Ruxi suggested moving the classes if she could no longer study at the academy.
• Madam Cui warned Zhao Ruxi that teaching the painting method for tuition could invite criticism, and Kang Shilin angrily tried to send her away.
• Zhao Ruxi calmed Kang Shilin and explained the plan and its fee of three thousand taels to her parents.
• Madam Cui explained that public gossip could burden Zhao Ruxi, who admitted she was afraid of facing it.
• Kang Shilin laughed at Zhao Ruxi's blunt reply, then worried that there was no way to avoid the problem.

Zhao Ruxi became Kang Shilin’s disciple, gaining protection against criticism over attending Beining Academy. Kang Shilin arranged to begin her painting lessons the next day and took her to meet her senior brothers.

• Madam Cui proposed that Kang Shilin take Zhao Ruxi as his disciple to silence anyone who criticized her.
• Zhao Ruxi accepted Kang Shilin as her master, and he gave her the jade pendant bestowed on him by the late emperor.
• Kang Shilin decided Zhao Ruxi would attend his classes at Beining Academy and begin painting lessons the next day.
• Kang Shilin invited Zhao Ruxi to his residence to meet her senior brothers, and she happily agreed.

Zhao Ruxi went with Zhao Yuanxun to Kang Shilin’s residence to formally acknowledge him as her master, where she learned how exalted his family background was. There, Kang Shilin introduced her to Wu Huaisi as her eldest senior brother, leaving Zhao Yuanxun shaken by the powerful men gathered around his daughter.

• Zhao Yuanxun and the First Madam assembled gifts and took Zhao Ruxi to Kang Shilin’s home for her apprenticeship ceremony.
• Zhao Yuanxun told Zhao Ruxi that Kang Shilin was the son of a princess and the current emperor’s elder maternal cousin.
• Zhao Yuanxun and Zhao Ruxi arrived at Kang Shilin’s residence and found Minister Wu Huaisi and left vice minister Gong Cheng waiting with him.
• Zhao Ruxi greeted Kang Shilin as her master, and Kang Shilin introduced Wu Huaisi as her eldest senior brother.

Zhao Ruxi met her senior brothers, accepted their gifts, and agreed to paint Gong Cheng’s mother and teach him her charcoal sketching method. Kang Shilin praised her natural spirit, while Zhao Ruxi insisted their master-disciple bond was settled and her gift could not be returned.

• Wu Huaisi presented Zhao Ruxi with a set of the four treasures of the study as a first-meeting gift from her eldest senior brother.
• Gong Cheng gave Zhao Ruxi a painting and asked her to paint his mother’s portrait and teach him her sketching method, and she agreed.
• Gong Cheng and Wu Huaisi asked whether Zhao Ruxi could make color portraits, and she explained that she only knew how to draw with charcoal.
• Zhao Ruxi explained that she had secretly drawn with charcoal while growing up with her foster family, moving Zhao Yuanxun and the others.
• Kang Shilin told Zhao Ruxi he had chosen her as his disciple because of her natural spirit, and she blushed before reminding him that he could not return her gift.

Zhao Ruxi impressed Kang Shilin and his officials with her confidence and drawing skills, easing Zhao Yuanxun’s worries about her place among them. On the journey home, they encountered Zhao Ruyu leaving a teahouse after an apparent secret meeting, and Zhao Yuanxun stepped out to confront her.

• Kang Shilin introduced Wu Zong as Zhao Ruxi’s third senior brother, and Zhao Ruxi announced that her drawing classes would begin the next day.
• Zhao Yuanxun realized Zhao Ruxi’s lively confidence suited her better than the etiquette lessons he had considered arranging.
• Zhao Yuanxun told Zhao Ruxi about her senior brothers’ official positions and noble backgrounds, while she joked that she could now walk sideways through the capital.
• Zhao Yuanxun spotted Zhao Ruyu leaving a teahouse with Fushu, her eyes red, and ordered the carriage to stop.
• Zhao Yuanxun got out of the carriage, Zhao Ruxi followed, and Zhao Ruyu nervously greeted him as “Uncle.”

Zhao Ruyu feared that Zhao Ruxi’s actions had ruined her marriage prospects, while Zhao Yuanxun brought Zhao Ruxi home to share news that lifted the old madam’s spirits. The old madam celebrated Zhao Ruxi’s acceptance as Kang Shilin’s disciple, and the first madam understood how significant that recognition was for their declining military family.

• Zhao Yuanxun found Zhao Ruyu meeting Fu Yunlang and ordered her to return home, while Zhao Ruxi left with him.
• Zhao Ruyu hurried away, afraid Zhao Yuanxun would discover her secret meeting and learn that her proposed marriage might fail.
• Zhao Yuanxun took Zhao Ruxi to Rongxi Hall, where the old madam was laughing with the first madam and Zhao Jingtai.
• The old madam joyfully confirmed that Kang Shilin had accepted Zhao Ruxi as his disciple and that Lord Wu was her senior brother.
• The first madam reflected that the old madam prized Zhao Ruxi’s recognition because the family’s military lineage had weakened and lacked a capable successor.

The Marquis of Suiping's Residence saw Zhao Ruxi's apprenticeship under Kang Shilin as a path to a career for Zhao Jingtai, who agreed to learn painting from her. Later, Zhao Ruyu approached Zhao Ruxi to speak, but Zhao Ruxi and Matron Yuan remained wary of her intentions.

• The old madam and the first madam hoped Zhao Jingtai could learn painting from Zhao Ruxi and secure an official post, and Zhao Ruxi reassured them that her senior brothers could help.
• Zhao Jingtai praised Zhao Ruxi, and she offered to teach him painting; he eagerly agreed.
• After dinner, Zhao Ruyu stopped Zhao Ruxi in the dark and asked to speak with her alone.
• Zhao Ruxi refused to dismiss her maids, and Matron Yuan arrived and challenged Zhao Ruyu.
• Zhao Ruyu insisted she meant no harm and said she was willing to talk inside.

Zhao Ruxi confronted Zhao Ruyu about the damage to her marriage prospects and claimed she had also begun life again after dying. She left Zhao Ruyu shaken, while explaining that she had learned the truth about Lady Wei’s baby switch as a wandering ghost and intended to make Lady Wei pay.

• Zhao Ruxi invited Zhao Ruyu into the Tea Tasting Residence and sent the servants outside so they could speak alone.
• Zhao Ruyu accused Zhao Ruxi of ruining her life and asked who she really was.
• Zhao Ruxi claimed that she was the Zhao Ruxi who had died, wandered as a ghost, and later returned to life as Xu Xi.
• Zhao Ruxi told Zhao Ruyu that she had watched her die in childbirth and had learned from Lady Wei’s conversations that Zhao Ruxi was not Lady Wei’s daughter.
• Zhao Ruxi said she intended to make Lady Wei repay the harm she had caused.

Zhao Ruxi confronted Zhao Ruyu about blaming her for her misfortunes, urged her to consider supporting herself, and asked her to help prevent a disaster three years away. Zhao Ruyu left frightened of Zhao Ruxi, while the system warned Zhao Ruxi not to dismiss the risks of Zhao Ruyu marrying into a wealthy family.

• Zhao Ruyu cried that Zhao Ruxi had ruined her chances of marrying Young Master Fu, and Zhao Ruxi asked why she did not consider earning her own living.
• Zhao Ruxi suggested Zhao Ruyu could teach music after graduating from the Capital Women's Academy, but Zhao Ruyu rejected the idea because she still wanted to marry well.
• Zhao Ruxi said she did not owe Zhao Ruyu anything and reminded her that she had suffered in her past life because of Zhao Ruyu.
• Zhao Ruxi asked Zhao Ruyu to help protect the Zhao Family from a disaster three years away, and Zhao Ruyu agreed to try.
• Zhao Ruxi revealed that she knew where Zhao Ruyu had hidden 136 taels, frightening Zhao Ruyu into resolving not to provoke her again.
• The system warned Zhao Ruxi that Zhao Ruyu could become powerful if she married into a wealthy family, but Zhao Ruxi insisted she had made the wiser choices.

Zhao Ruxi rejected the system’s insistence that she marry into power and resolved to earn a noble title herself, while steadily saving points toward an Agility Pill. Zhao Ruyu returned to the second branch shaken by Zhao Ruxi’s claims about haunting her after death, as the branch prepared to separate from the first branch and rearrange its residence overnight.

• Zhao Ruxi told the system she would prove she could become powerful without marrying into a powerful family, and the system enthusiastically encouraged her.
• Zhao Ruxi checked her 3,256 points and planned to earn enough for the Agility Pill through calligraphy, study, go, and painting.
• Zhao Ruyu trembled on her way home after remembering Zhao Ruxi’s claim that she had followed her as a ghost for years.
• Zhao Ruyu and Fushu saw that the archway between the branches was being bricked up and realized they would soon have to take a long route to visit the first branch.
• The second branch’s servants worked through the night to move the concubines and young ladies and prepare new quarters, a kitchen, and an outer study before the first branch cut them off.

After Zhao Yuanliang put Concubine Xue and Concubine Wang in charge of the household together, the second branch remained chaotic. Zhao Yuanliang learned that no match had been found for him yet and said he would wait until Lady Wei had been prepared for burial before remarrying; then the third master arrived.

• Zhao Ruyu and Fushu returned to the courtyard and found two servants fighting while Concubine Xue struggled to control the household.
• Zhao Yuanliang punished the servants with slaps, confinement, and a deduction in their allowances, then appointed Concubine Wang to manage the household alongside Concubine Xue.
• Zhao Rurui and Concubine Xue proposed that Zhao Rurui help manage the household, but Concubine Wang persuaded Zhao Yuanliang to have both concubines manage it together.
• Zhao Xing told Zhao Yuanliang that the matchmaker had not found a suitable candidate and warned that people might gossip if he remarried before Lady Wei's execution.
• Zhao Yuanliang said he would wait until Lady Wei had been prepared for burial before remarrying, and a servant announced that the third master had arrived.

After the family division, Zhao Yuanliang struggled to establish his household and sought an official post. Zhao Yuankun offered him a deputy commissioner position in the Capital Guard Command, and Zhao Yuanliang accepted despite its unranked status and demanding work.

• Zhao Yuanliang received Zhao Yuankun in his unfinished quarters and asked why he had come.
• Zhao Yuankun said he had heard Zhao Yuanliang was seeking an official post and claimed he would soon serve as a right discipline official in the Right Spring Directorate.
• Zhao Yuankun offered Zhao Yuanliang a deputy commissioner position in the Capital Guard Command after explaining that no post was available for him in the Office of the Grand Steward.
• Zhao Yuanliang hesitated over the unranked position but accepted it because he needed an income after the family division.

Zhao Yuankun arranged a deputy commissioner post for Zhao Yuanliang, who agreed to pay part of the bribe and promised Zhao Yuankun Lady Wei’s shops in return for the rest. Zhao Yuankun also offered to help find Zhao Yuanliang a new wife, and as he left, Zhao Ruyu arrived with pastries and asked if he was going.

• Zhao Yuankun told Zhao Yuanliang that the post would cost five hundred taels, and Zhao Yuanliang asked him to advance the money in exchange for Lady Wei’s two shops.
• Zhao Yuankun agreed to advance three hundred taels if Zhao Yuanliang paid two hundred, but Zhao Yuanliang refused to write an IOU and handed over silver he had received from Zhao Yuankun the day before.
• Zhao Yuankun instructed Zhao Yuanliang to transfer the land deeds and stay home while he greased the wheels for the appointment.
• Zhao Yuankun said Zhao Yuanliang needed a capable mistress of the house and offered to have his third sister-in-law look for a suitable widow or divorced woman with a substantial dowry.
• Zhao Ruyu brought pastries to Zhao Yuanliang’s room and asked Zhao Yuankun whether he was leaving.

Zhao Ruyu learned that Zhao Yuankun had arranged an official post for her father, Zhao Yuanliang, while taking a position that could lead him toward the crown prince. Remembering the wars, rebellion, and purge that had unfolded in her previous life, she realized the coming upheavals had benefited her and Fu Yunlang, but could bring disaster to her family.

• Zhao Yuankun left after telling Zhao Yuanliang he had secured him a post as deputy commissioner of the Capital Guard Command.
• Zhao Yuanliang told Zhao Ruyu that Zhao Yuankun had arranged the post for him because he was taking a position in the Right Spring Directorate.
• Zhao Ruyu recognized Zhao Yuankun’s new post as the first step toward the crown prince and promised her father she would keep the appointment secret.
• Zhao Ruyu recalled how the border defeat, palace uprising, and third prince’s purge had unfolded in her previous life.
• Zhao Ruyu remembered that she and Fu Yunlang had benefited from those upheavals, while Zhao Yuankun’s rebellion had led to the confiscation and exile of his family.

Zhao Ruyu decided to focus on securing her own future and preventing Zhao Yuanliang from becoming entangled with the third branch. She visited Zhao Jingli while Zhao Jing'an recovered from his fever and told him that Third Uncle planned to arrange a new marriage for their father.

• Zhao Ruyu resolved to pursue a marriage with Fu Yunlang and stop Zhao Yuanliang from getting drawn into the third branch's affairs.
• Zhao Ruyu visited Zhao Jingli, who had been keeping watch beside Zhao Jing'an as his fever worsened.
• Zhao Jingli told Zhao Ruyu that an imperial physician had treated Zhao Jing'an and that his fever had broken.
• Zhao Ruyu told Zhao Jingli that Third Uncle intended to have Third Aunt arrange a marriage for Zhao Yuanliang.
• Zhao Jingli moved their conversation away from Zhao Jing'an's room and asked Zhao Ruyu to explain further.

Zhao Ruyu confided her suspicions about Third Uncle’s matchmaking to Zhao Jingli, then left wishing she could share her worries with Fu Yunlang. At a welcome banquet for Fu Yunlang and the Fifth Prince, the young nobles discussed business and the wealth of the disgraced Wei Qiu.

• Zhao Ruyu told Zhao Jingli she distrusted Third Uncle’s motives for arranging Father a match, and Zhao Jingli agreed to watch for his schemes.
• Zhao Ruyu urged Zhao Jingli to rest and look after Second Brother, then left longing to confide in Fu Yunlang but fearing he would be frightened by the truth about her rebirth.
• Fu Yunlang attended a welcome banquet hosted by Xiao Lingpu after returning from Jiangnan with the Fifth Prince, where Zhang Siyi teased him about pining for Zhao Ruyu.
• The young heirs discussed family businesses and possible deals at the banquet, while Cen Song and others speculated about the sale of Wei Qiu’s properties and the origins of his fortune.

Fu Yunlang tried to use his sadness over Zhao Ruyu to enlist the princes’ help with his marriage, but Fu Yunkai saw through his scheme and warned him. The brothers then discussed what Fu Yunlang had learned during his trip to Jiangnan.

• Zhang Siyi suggested that Fu Yunlang ask Xiao Lingyan to seek Noble Consort Cen’s help with his marriage to Zhao Ruyu.
• Fu Yunlang hinted to Xiao Lingyan and Xiao Lingpu that his marriage was in trouble because of the Wei Family scandal, hoping Xiao Lingyan might intervene.
• In the carriage, Fu Yunkai scolded Fu Yunlang for disregarding their mother’s wishes and bringing his private matter before the princes.
• Fu Yunlang insisted that he would marry no one but Zhao Ruyu, and Fu Yunkai accused him of deliberately playing on the princes’ sympathy.
• Fu Yunkai warned that he would send Fu Yunlang to the army if he tried such tricks again, then asked what he had gained from going to Jiangnan with Xiao Lingyan.

Fu Yunkai confronted Fu Yunlang for neglecting the Fu family’s future and focusing only on Zhao Ruyu, and the brothers argued over their different lives and responsibilities. Fu Yunkai revealed that he had arranged for Yunlang to grow closer to the fifth prince so he could rely on him at court, while Yunlang asked him to persuade their mother to let him marry Ruyu.

• Fu Yunlang explained his plan to open silk shops in the capital, and Fu Yunkai questioned whether the idea came from him or the fifth prince.
• Fu Yunkai rebuked Fu Yunlang for missing the opportunity to learn from the discussion about the Wei family’s property and for thinking only about Zhao Ruyu.
• Fu Yunlang angrily accused Fu Yunkai and their parents of favoring the heir, then apologized after seeing how deeply his words hurt his brother.
• Fu Yunkai told Fu Yunlang that he had asked the Second Prince to send him to Jiangnan so he could build ties with the fifth prince and have support if Fu Yunkai and their father died on the frontier.
• Fu Yunlang showed concern for Fu Yunkai and asked him to persuade their mother to let him marry Zhao Ruyu.