Chapter Summaries

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.

Lady Wei went to Rongxi Hall looking for Concubine Wang and challenged the old madam, then tried to search the rooms. The old madam pretended to faint so her servants could summon Physician Shi and the first madam.

• Lady Wei found that Concubine Wang had gone to Rongxi Hall and barged in to demand her whereabouts.
• The old madam rebuked Lady Wei and ordered Matron Jin and Liuli to escort her out, but Lady Wei left insisting the second branch’s affairs were hers to handle.
• Outside the hall, Lady Wei ordered Chunfen to search the rooms for Concubine Wang, while Matron Jin warned that she had no authority to search the residence.
• Lady Wei took the old madam’s silence as submission and forced Chunfen to look inside the next room.
• The old madam told Daimao to fetch Physician Shi and the first madam, then pretended to faint as Daimao and Liuli cried for help.

The old madam pretended to suffer a stroke so Lady Wei would be blamed for her collapse and forced to remain in Rongxi Hall. Physician Shi helped keep up the deception, and Zhao Yuanxun and First Madam arrived still believing the old madam was ill.

• The old madam slumped motionless in her chair, and Lady Wei tried to leave to fetch a physician.
• Liuli’s instructions led the servants to block Lady Wei and accuse her of causing the old madam’s stroke by ordering a search of her courtyard.
• Physician Shi arrived and declared that the old madam had suffered a stroke, while Matron Jin fainted from distress.
• After Physician Shi cleared the room, the old madam opened her eyes and revealed that she had been pretending to be ill.
• Physician Shi treated the old madam’s migraines with silver needles and wrote a stroke prescription to preserve the ruse.
• Liuli opened the door to find Zhao Yuanxun and First Madam waiting anxiously, and they went inside without knowing the truth.

Zhao Yuanxun returned and learned that the old madam had suffered a stroke, only to discover that she was pretending to be ill. After he confirmed that their suspicions were correct, the old madam told the eldest madam to send word to her married daughters.

• Zhao Yuanxun arrived at the old madam’s quarters with his wife and was alarmed by her apparent stroke.
• The eldest madam blamed herself for revealing Concubine Wang’s pregnancy, while Liuli kept the servants and Lady Wei outside the room.
• Lady Wei moved with Lady Su to the west side room as Physician Shi treated the old madam.
• The old madam revealed privately to Zhao Yuanxun and the eldest madam that she was feigning illness.
• Zhao Yuanxun confirmed that their suspicions were correct, and the old madam ordered the eldest madam to alert her married daughters.
• Physician Shi removed the old madam’s needles and left to oversee the preparation of her medicine.

Zhao Ruyu learned that Lady Wei had angered the old madam and was being sent back to the Wei family. Worried the scandal would ruin her and Zhao Rurui’s marriage prospects and her chance to attend the Women's Academy, she resolved not to let Lady Wei be sent away.

• The first madam ordered Matron Ruan and others to escort Lady Wei to the Wei Residence and explain her conduct to her parents.
• Lady Su mocked Lady Wei, and the first madam scolded both women before ordering Lady Wei escorted out.
• Lady Wei returned to the second branch to pack her valuables before leaving the marquis’s residence.
• Zhao Ruyu arrived at Rongxi Hall and learned that Lady Wei had caused the old madam’s stroke and was being sent back to her maiden home.
• Zhao Ruyu recalled how Lady Wei had once forced Concubine Wang to lose her pregnancy and how the family had tolerated Lady Wei’s behavior.
• Zhao Ruyu feared that Lady Wei’s disgrace would harm her and Zhao Rurui’s futures, and decided she would not allow the dismissal.

After Lady Wei angered the old madam and was ordered sent back to the Wei Family, her children and Zhao Jing'an pleaded with Zhao Jingli to intervene. Zhao Jingli began to reconsider when Zhao Ruyu argued that divorcing Lady Wei could provoke a damaging conflict between the two families.

• Fushu told Zhao Jing'an and Zhao Rurui that Lady Wei had been ordered sent back to the Wei Family, and Zhao Jing'an rushed to ask Zhao Jingli for help.
• Zhao Rurui overcame her reluctance and hurried to Rongxi Hall, where Zhao Ruyu was already begging Zhao Jingli to stop the divorce.
• Zhao Jingli refused to intervene, saying Lady Wei should face the elders' decision after making the old madam suffer a stroke.
• Zhao Jing'an, Zhao Ruyu, and Zhao Rurui knelt and pleaded with Zhao Jingli to spare Lady Wei.
• Zhao Ruyu argued that sending Lady Wei away could set the Wei Family against the marquis's residence, making Zhao Jingli hesitate.

Zhao Jingli and the other children pleaded for Lady Wei after she angered the Old Madam into having a stroke, but Lady Zhu rejected their appeals and condemned Zhao Jingli for disregarding his grandmother. Matron Zhou exposed Zhao Ruyu’s self-interest, leaving Zhao Jingli and Zhao Jing'an to question her motives.

• Zhao Ruyu persuaded Zhao Jingli that Lady Wei should be punished within the residence, warning that sending her back to the Wei Family would harm Zhao Jing'an’s prospects.
• After learning that Zhao Jingli had pleaded for Lady Wei, Zhao Yuanxun and Lady Zhu realized they could no longer keep him by their side without resentment.
• Zhao Yuanxun told the children that the Old Madam had been treated in time and would recover, then Zhao Jing'an offered to take fifteen strokes in Lady Wei’s place.
• Zhao Ruyu and Zhao Rurui offered to copy Buddhist scriptures, and Zhao Jingli asked his parents to give Lady Wei a chance to admit her mistake.
• Lady Zhu refused Zhao Jingli’s plea and said he had disappointed her by failing to consider the Old Madam’s feelings.
• Matron Zhou rebuked Zhao Ruyu for allegedly defending Lady Wei to protect her planned marriage into the Marquis of Pingnan’s Residence, prompting Zhao Jingli and Zhao Jing'an to look at her in surprise.

After the household scandal, the Old Madam and First Madam arranged to bring Xu Xi back to the residence in secret and keep her in Fragrant Courtyard, suspecting Lady Wei might try to harm her. The residence then spread news of the Old Madam’s stroke to Zhao Ruyu, leaving her alarmed at her married home.

• Zhao Jing'an learned his mother had returned to her maiden home and hurried to confront his father in the study.
• The Old Madam, First Madam, and Zhao Yuanxun agreed to bring Xu Xi back from the academy and guard her closely.
• The First Madam told Zhao Yuanxun to bring Xu Xi back in disguise and hide her in Fragrant Courtyard to expose Lady Wei’s agents in the residence.
• The residence sent managing matrons to inform Zhao Ruyu’s household about the scandal and tell her that the Old Madam had suffered a stroke.
• Zhao Ruyu became tense when she heard someone from her family had come to see her during dinner.

Zhao Ruyu learned that her grandmother, the old madam of the Marquis of Suiping’s Residence, had suffered a stroke after a confrontation with Lady Wei. The scandal spread through the capital and prompted a censor to impeach Wei Qiu, whom the emperor publicly rebuked and ordered to discipline his children.

• Zhao Ruyu heard that her grandmother had suffered a stroke and hurried with Peng Jinrui to the Marquis of Suiping’s Residence.
• The Peng Family learned that Lady Wei had angered the old madam while searching her courtyard over a concubine.
• Gossip spread among prominent families, and visitors confirmed that Lady Wei’s actions had caused the old madam’s stroke.
• A censor impeached Wei Qiu, accusing him of failing to govern his household and allowing his daughter to behave arrogantly.
• The emperor rebuked Wei Qiu in front of the officials and ordered him to discipline and educate his children.

After the Wei family was reprimanded over Lady Wei’s conduct, Lady Wei secretly met Zhao Ruyu and demanded that she help lure Zhao Ruxi into marrying the Wei family. The chapter ended with Lady Wei promising to secure Zhao Ruyu’s marriage to the Marquis of Pingnan’s second son in return.

• Wei Qiu was reprimanded by the emperor and ordered Madam Wei to apologize to the Marquis of Suiping's Residence, but both Wei Qiu and Madam Wei planned to retaliate later.
• Lady Wei suspected that the first madam knew about her child switch and decided she needed to learn what was happening at the marquis's residence.
• Wei Qiu forbade Lady Wei from going out, but she left anyway to meet Zhao Ruyu near the Capital Women's Academy.
• Lady Wei asked Zhao Ruyu to lure Zhao Ruxi into marrying the Wei family and promised to help Zhao Ruyu marry the Marquis of Pingnan's second son.

Zhao Ruyu refused to help Lady Wei arrange Zhao Ruxi’s marriage into the Wei Family, growing suspicious of Lady Wei’s motives. She left for the marquis’s residence without seeking Fu Yunlang’s comfort, determined to let him worry and wondering what Lady Wei was hiding.

• Zhao Ruyu questioned why Lady Wei wanted Zhao Ruxi to marry into the Wei Family and recalled that her earlier attempts to arrange the match had failed.
• Lady Wei demanded that Zhao Ruyu approach Zhao Ruxi, then threatened her when Zhao Ruyu pointed out that Zhao Ruxi would grow suspicious.
• Lady Wei ordered Chunqing to tell Zhao Ruyu to send Second Young Master to meet her at the side gate behind the marquis’s residence.
• Zhao Ruyu agreed to pass on the message but left for the marquis’s residence without discussing Lady Wei’s request with Fu Yunlang.
• Zhao Ruyu decided to let Fu Yunlang worry about her and questioned why Lady Wei was so determined to marry Zhao Ruxi into the Wei Family.