Chapter Summaries

Xiao Ge approved Wu Huaisi’s plan to appoint Zhao Yuanxun as assistant prefect of Gusu in Jiangnan. Qi Xugu agreed to the personnel arrangements and asked Xiao Ge to give the Ministry of Revenue first consideration if Zhao Ruxi wanted an official post after the spring examination.

• Xiao Ge learned that Zhao Yuanxun was capable of serving as an assistant official and asked Wu Huaisi to find him a post in Jiangnan.
• Wu Huaisi proposed a chain of appointments that placed Zhao Yuanxun in Liu Zineng’s assistant prefect position in Gusu.
• Xiao Ge approved Wu Huaisi’s arrangement and said he would consult Qi Xugu about the Ministry of Revenue vacancies.
• Qi Xugu agreed to the appointments and asked Xiao Ge to promise the Ministry of Revenue first consideration if Zhao Ruxi sought an official post after the spring examination.
• Xiao Ge said the decision depended on Zhao Ruxi, and Qi Xugu decided to have Gan Lun persuade her.

Zhao Ruxi’s aunts visited to celebrate their husbands’ recent advancement, which they believed she had helped bring about. Zhao Ruxi then told Lady Zhu and the Old Madam that she had declined a county-princess title in exchange for an official post for her father, and they learned the decision could no longer be changed.

• Lady Meng and Lady Cao praised Zhao Ruxi and explained that Zhu Heyu had been promoted and Zhu Hehuai had received guidance from Lord Peng, which they credited to her connections.
• After the aunts left, Lady Zhu asked Zhao Ruxi whether she had spoken to Minister Wu and Lord Peng, and Zhao Ruxi denied influencing her uncles’ fortunes.
• Zhao Ruxi told Lady Zhu and the Old Madam that Xiao Ge had intended to make her a county princess, but she had instead requested an official post for Zhao Yuanxun.
• Lady Zhu and the Old Madam scolded Zhao Ruxi for giving up the title and urged her to change the decision.
• Zhao Ruxi told them the decision could no longer be changed.

Zhao Ruxi persuaded the old madam and Lady Zhu that the family should leave the capital for Jiangnan to avoid the coming struggle for the throne. Just as they discussed how to arrange the move around Zhao Ruxi’s spring examination, Zhao Yuanxun arrived and announced that His Majesty intended to appoint him to Jiangnan.

• Zhao Ruxi suggested sending Zhao Yuanxun to Jiangnan, but the old madam refused to leave the capital.
• Lady Zhu worried about leaving the old madam behind and about Zhao Yuanxun’s health if he went without her.
• Zhao Ruxi warned that the princes’ struggle for the throne could endanger the family and urged them to leave the capital for a year or two.
• Zhao Ruxi persuaded the old madam to go to Jiangnan, and proposed that Lady Zhu and Zhao Jingtai travel first while she stayed for the spring examination.
• Zhao Yuanxun entered and announced that His Majesty intended to send him to serve in Jiangnan.

After Zhao Yuanxun learned he would take up a post outside the capital, Zhao Ruxi and the family quickly arranged who would travel with him and prepared for the move. Zhao Jingtai chose to go with his father, while the family awaited the imperial edict and the destination.

• The old madam approved of Zhao Yuanxun leaving the capital and decided to remain with Zhao Ruxi until after the spring examination, then join him.
• Lady Zhu agreed to travel ahead with Zhao Yuanxun and settle the household before he arrived.
• Zhao Ruxi revealed that she had bought residences and silk shops in Hangzhou Prefecture and Gusu Prefecture the previous summer and autumn.
• Lady Zhu summoned Zhao Jingtai from clan school and asked whether he wanted to go with his father or stay in the capital.
• Zhao Jingtai chose to accompany Zhao Yuanxun, and Lady Zhu told everyone to begin preparing for the move and farewell gatherings.

Zhao Yuanxun received an appointment as assistant prefect of Gusu Prefecture and moved there with Lady Zhu and Zhao Jingtai, leaving Zhao Ruxi in the capital. After noticing Zhao Ruyu’s transformed beauty, Zhao Ruxi investigated her plans and learned that Fu Yunkai intended to marry Mu Qingqiang while Fu Yunlang still planned to wed Zhao Ruyu.

• Lady Zhu urged Zhao Ruxi to focus on her studies and earn a jinshi degree while the household prepared to leave the capital.
• Zhao Yuanxun received an imperial appointment as assistant prefect of Gusu Prefecture, and his family departed with their servants.
• After seeing Zhao Ruyu’s striking new beauty, Zhao Ruxi suspected she had bought a Beauty Pill with system points.
• Zhao Ruxi wrote to Xiao Lingyan, who told her Fu Yunkai planned to propose to Mu Qingqiang and Fu Yunlang still intended to marry Zhao Ruyu.
• Zhao Ruxi decided not to question Mu Qingqiang about Fu Yunkai’s proposal and wondered whether Zhao Ruyu wanted more than marriage to Fu Yunlang.

Zhao Ruxi decided not to force Zhao Ruyu to marry Fu Yunlang after Xiao Lingyan argued that their changed fates made new choices possible. With the system away upgrading, she relied on herself and went to ask her grandmother about servants in Second Uncle’s household who might know what Zhao Ruyu and Zhao Ruyu’s sister were planning.

• Zhao Ruxi asked the system whether the world would collapse if Zhao Ruyu did not marry Fu Yunlang, but the system admitted it did not know.
• Zhao Ruxi sent Xiao Lingyan a letter about Zhao Ruyu’s sudden change in appearance and received his reply that night.
• Xiao Lingyan advised Zhao Ruxi to let Zhao Ruyu choose her own path rather than force her into the original plot.
• Zhao Ruxi agreed to let Zhao Ruyu do as she pleased and realized she would have to investigate without the upgrading system.
• Zhao Ruxi comforted her grandmother about missing Lady Zhu and the rest of their family, then asked whether they had placed trusted servants in Second Uncle’s household because Fourth Sister and Sixth Sister seemed suspicious.

Zhao Ruxi discussed Zhao Rurui and Zhao Ruyu’s situations with the old madam, who tried to arrange a match for Zhao Rurui but gave up after repeated failures. Zhao Ruxi continued preparing for the spring examination, then received a letter from Xiao Lingyan about the Fu Family.

• Zhao Ruxi warned the old madam that Zhao Rurui’s resentment and unsettled marriage could cause trouble, and asked her to watch Zhao Ruyu’s relationship with the Marquis of Pingnan’s second son.
• The old madam told Zhao Ruxi about the household’s informants in the second and third branches and shared her experience with inner-household struggles.
• The old madam took Zhao Rurui on visits to find her a husband, but most families rejected her and Zhao Rurui turned down the one man who was interested.
• The old madam abandoned the search, and Zhao Ruxi suggested asking Eldest Brother to find Zhao Rurui a jinshi after the spring examination.
• Zhao Ruxi told the old madam she was having teachers review her essays and had reread her books.
• Qingfeng brought Zhao Ruxi a letter from Xiao Lingyan describing the Fu Family’s recent situation.

Fu Yunlang argued with the Wife of the Marquis of Pingnan over his wish to marry Zhao Ruyu, but she opposed the match and urged him to accept Tenth Miss Cen instead. She used the Cen Family’s power and the prospect of wealth and status to persuade him, leaving his response unstated.

• Fu Yunlang insisted that Zhao Ruyu was a suitable bride for him and argued that her talent and education made her a better match than Mu Qingqiang.
• The Wife of the Marquis of Pingnan warned Fu Yunlang that marrying Zhao Ruyu would leave him without powerful in-laws or a substantial dowry.
• She revealed that she had already proposed a match with Tenth Miss Cen, and that the Cen Family had agreed.
• The Wife of the Marquis of Pingnan claimed Tenth Miss Cen would be an ideal bride because of her beauty, family connections, and likely deference to her mother-in-law.
• She tearfully compared Fu Yunlang’s likely future with Zhao Ruyu to the wealth and status his elder brother would gain, pressing him to reconsider.

Fu Yunlang reconsidered marrying Zhao Ruyu after Lady He urged him to pursue a match with Tenth Miss Cen for the status and support it could bring. When Fu Yunkai offered to help arrange his marriage to Zhao, Fu Yunlang refused, leaving his brother alarmed by their mother's influence.

• Lady He persuaded Fu Yunlang that marrying Zhao Ruyu would leave him at a disadvantage and urged him to marry Tenth Miss Cen instead.
• Fu Yunlang asked whether the Cen Family would accept his taking a concubine, and Lady He told him to wait until after the wedding to bring it up.
• Fu Yunkai told Fu Yunlang that Prince of Qi and Noble Consort Cen were willing to help him marry Zhao Ruyu.
• Fu Yunlang declined their help and said he would let Lady He arrange his marriage as she wished.
• Fu Yunkai questioned what Lady He had told Fu Yunlang and urged him to marry the woman he wanted.

Fu Yunkai told Xiao Lingyan that Fu Yunlang had rejected Noble Consort Cen’s help, then discussed his own upcoming marriage. Xiao Lingyan refused Noble Consort Cen’s proposed political match with Miss Qi Xuan and left after challenging her to stop treating his happiness as a sacrifice for Xiao Lingpu.

• Fu Yunlang told Fu Yunkai to stay out of his affairs and asked him to thank Xiao Lingyan for the offer of help.
• Fu Yunkai visited Xiao Lingyan, explained what had happened, and apologized for Fu Yunlang’s response.
• Xiao Lingyan congratulated Fu Yunkai on his planned fifth-month wedding, while Fu Yunkai teased him about Noble Consort Cen pressuring him to marry.
• Xiao Lingyan went to the palace and told Noble Consort Cen about Fu Yunlang, then tried to leave without discussing marriage prospects.
• Noble Consort Cen urged Xiao Lingyan to marry Miss Qi Xuan of the Duke of Wei’s Residence to secure an ally.
• Xiao Lingyan objected that she was using him to advance Xiao Lingpu’s future and left the palace.

Noble Consort Cen realized she had overlooked Xiao Lingyan’s feelings when arranging his marriage and summoned him back to discuss his intentions. Xiao Lingyan assured her he had no desire to contend with Xiao Lingpu for the throne, leaving her convinced that he meant what he said.

• After Xiao Lingyan left, Noble Consort Cen reflected on his words, and Auntie Yu cautiously agreed that his feelings were understandable.
• Noble Consort Cen recognized that Xiao Lingpu had protected and raised his younger brother, then asked for Xiao Lingyan to return so she could prevent a rift between them.
• Xiao Lingyan returned to his quarters, expecting his words to trouble his mother and intending to reassure her and Xiao Lingpu that he had no ambitions against his brother.
• Noble Consort Cen told Xiao Lingyan she would reject the marriage proposal involving the Duke of Wei’s Residence if he did not want it, and asked him not to let the matter affect his relationship with Xiao Lingpu.
• Xiao Lingyan openly denied wanting the throne and said he would refuse it even if it were offered to him; Noble Consort Cen believed him.

Xiao Lingyan comforted Noble Consort Cen over her fears that her sons might fight for the throne and promised to marry only one woman, never taking a concubine. After learning he might not like the Duke of Wei’s daughter, Noble Consort Cen assured him she would not force the match and hoped he would marry someone he loved.

• Noble Consort Cen wept as she confessed her fear that Xiao Lingyan and Xiao Lingpu might turn against each other over the throne.
• Xiao Lingyan let his mother cry, then comforted her and promised that he and Xiao Lingpu would stand together and protect her.
• Xiao Lingyan vowed to marry only a woman he loved and never take a concubine, moving Noble Consort Cen to tears.
• Xiao Lingyan asked whether Noble Consort Cen could bear to have him marry someone he disliked.
• Noble Consort Cen said she would not force him to marry the Duke of Wei’s daughter and would seek an imperial decree for a woman he chose.

Xiao Lingyan rejected the marriage arranged by Noble Consort Cen and visited Zhao Ruxi to tell her about it and discuss his future after Xiao Lingpu takes the throne. Zhao Ruxi offered to support him whether he pursued the throne or stayed cautious, leaving their political plans undecided.

• Noble Consort Cen promised to end the proposed match with the young lady from the Duke of Wei's Residence after Xiao Lingyan said he wanted to choose his own marriage.
• Xiao Lingyan left a shadow guard in his place at the Prince of Qi's Residence and secretly went to visit Zhao Ruxi at the Earl of Suiping's Residence.
• Xiao Lingyan told Zhao Ruxi about the marriage arrangement and his conversation with Noble Consort Cen.
• Zhao Ruxi asked whether Xiao Lingpu would become suspicious of Xiao Lingyan once he became emperor, and Xiao Lingyan said he could not be certain.
• Xiao Lingyan asked whether Zhao Ruxi wanted him to take the throne, and she said she would support his choice while urging caution and noting he had kept gunpowder in reserve.

Zhao Ruyu learned that Fu Yunlang had agreed to marry Tenth Miss Cen and left the Capital Women's Academy in tears, while Qi Xuan discovered Xiao Lingyan had rejected the proposed match with her. Qi Xuan resolved to find out why he refused and whether he loved someone else.

• Zhao Ruxi reassured Xiao Lingyan that they could protect their peaceful lives and that he could rule temporarily if necessary; he thanked her before leaving.
• Zhao Ruyu learned through her system that Fu Yunlang had consented to a match with Tenth Miss Cen, then waited for the news to spread at the academy.
• After students mocked her over Fu Yunlang's engagement, Zhao Ruyu left the academy and told Fushu to retrieve her belongings because she would stop attending.
• Fushu went to the Duke of Wei's Residence to ask Qi Xuan for help but was left waiting outside her rooms.
• Qi Xuan learned that Xiao Lingyan had rejected the marriage proposal, despite the Cen Family's interest and her own willingness to marry him.
• Qi Xuan asked her mother to investigate whether Xiao Lingyan loved someone and where he went, insisting the match would benefit their family.

Qi Xuan’s parents investigated the Prince of Qi as a possible match, while Zhao Ruyu learned that Qi Xuan’s marriage plans had changed and tried to discover why. The Second Master and Second Madam ended the chapter wondering whether the Prince of Qi had a problem because he had refused a bedchamber maid.

• Qi Xuan urged the Second Madam to ask her husband to investigate the Prince of Qi, and the Second Master went out without consulting the Duke of Wei.
• Qi Xuan dismissed Zhao Ruyu’s request for help, and Fushu returned home after waiting for a reply.
• Zhao Ruyu recalled that Qi Xuan’s marriage had followed a different course in her previous life and considered how events connected to Zhao Ruxi often changed.
• Zhao Ruyu sent a servant to investigate Qi Xuan’s marriage arrangements and counted her savings to plan new clothes and jewelry.
• The Second Master told the Second Madam that the Prince of Qi had refused a bedchamber maid, and they wondered whether he had a problem in that regard.

Qi Xuan pursued a meeting with Xiao Lingyan at the auction house after her family discussed the possibility of their marriage. Xiao Lingyan refused to see her and made clear that he knew who she was but did not want to marry her.

• The Second Master argued that Qi Xuan could benefit from marrying the Prince of Qi even if rumors about his incapacity were true, and the Second Madam agreed to pass his advice along.
• The Second Madam told Qi Xuan about Xiao Lingyan's habits, and Qi Xuan decided to use an auction-house visit as a pretext to meet him.
• Qi Xuan went to the auction house and asked the shopkeeper to tell Xiao Lingyan that she was Sixth Miss Qi from the Duke of Wei's Residence.
• Xiao Lingyan refused to meet Qi Xuan and instructed the shopkeeper to tell her that he knew who she was but did not want to marry.
• When Qi Xuan tried to go upstairs, a guard blocked her, and the shopkeeper repeated Xiao Lingyan's refusal, leaving her with no hope of meeting him.

After Xiao Lingyan rejected Qi Xuan at the auction house, Zhao Ruyu learned of the encounter and began considering him as a possible husband. She decided to seek the Prince of Qi’s attention, but only if he would make her his consort.

• Xiao Lingyan rejected Qi Xuan’s overture and had the shopkeeper return the item she brought for auction, leaving her in tears.
• Xiao Lingyan wrote to Zhao Ruxi about his success, and she sent him a crushed peach blossom as his requested reward.
• A servant boy told Zhao Ruyu that Qi Xuan had visited the auction house and left crying after meeting the Prince of Qi.
• Zhao Ruyu reconsidered her marriage prospects and concluded that Xiao Lingyan could offer her an honored life despite the risk of widowhood.
• Zhao Ruyu decided to appear before Xiao Lingyan and pursue marriage only if he would make her his consort rather than a concubine.

Zhao Ruyu tried to attract Xiao Lingyan’s attention, while he followed Zhao Ruxi’s advice to ignore her. After waiting outside the auction house for an hour and a half, Zhao Ruyu confronted him as he left, and his guards stepped in to stop her.

• After learning Zhao Ruyu had asked about his whereabouts, Xiao Lingyan wrote to Zhao Ruxi, who told him to ignore Zhao Ruyu unless he found her attractive.
• Zhao Ruyu pretended to twist her ankle outside the auction house, but Xiao Lingyan glanced at her and went inside without stopping.
• Zhao Ruyu waited outside while Xiao Lingyan read in the auction house; he eventually left when Xiao Liuzi delivered an invitation from Xiao Lingpu.
• Zhao Ruyu approached Xiao Lingyan and called out to him, prompting his guards to block her and ask what she wanted.

Zhao Ruyu tried to attract Xiao Lingyan’s attention by asking him to stop and help repair her carriage, but he left without responding to her appeal. Back home, she abandoned her hopes of winning him over and reflected on the dangers of marrying Fu Yunlang against the wishes of his family.

• Zhao Ruyu asked Xiao Lingyan to have his guards repair her carriage, but he ignored her and rode away.
• Fushu urged Zhao Ruyu to return home after she stood frozen, disappointed by Xiao Lingyan’s rejection.
• Zhao Ruyu asked Fushu whether she was beautiful enough, and Fushu explained that the palace held many beauties who could rival her.
• Zhao Ruyu realized the Beauty Pill had improved her looks but could not make her surpass the women Xiao Lingyan had seen in the palace.
• Fushu suggested Zhao Ruyu meet Fu Yunlang, but Zhao Ruyu feared the Wife of the Marquis of Pingnan would torment her if she married into his family.

Zhao Ruyu kept up her beauty treatments to hide her changing appearance and began pursuing the fourth young master of Prince Jingping's Estate, while Zhao Ruxi monitored her from a distance. As the metropolitan examination approached, Zhao Ruxi focused on her essays and met Xiao Lingyan before the exam.

• Zhao Ruyu explained to Fushu that she was trying to secure a place for herself and promised to repay Fushu's loyalty.
• Xiao Lingyan reported the day's events to his superior and received another rotten peach blossom in return.
• Zhao Ruxi learned that Zhao Ruyu had sent someone to find Xiao Sijie, and she instructed Lady Luo to watch Zhao Ruyu's movements.
• Zhao Ruxi heard that Zhao Ruyu and Zhao Rurui were making frequent spring outings to meet young men.
• Before the metropolitan examination, Xiao Lingyan visited Zhao Ruxi and asked whether she was confident; she answered proudly that she was.