Chapter Summaries

Zhao Huiluan recognized Daoist Xuanyi and realized the missing-girls case was connected to the source of the pills made from virgin girls’ menstrual blood. She warned Rong An to stop investigating, while Wen Yan remained on hunger strike over his refusal to marry anyone but Shen Zhiyao.

• Zhao Huiluan remembered seeing Daoist Xuanyi give pills made from virgin girls’ menstrual blood to the Yongzhao Emperor and became sick with disgust.
• Zhao Huiluan connected the pills’ ingredients to the missing girls and concluded that a powerful noble person was protecting the trafficking and bribery.
• Zhao Huiluan hurried to the Imperial College and warned Rong An to stop investigating because he and the innocent women involved would suffer if he continued.
• Rong An realized the danger behind the case, and Zhao Huiluan returned to her dull studies as the Wen and Shen siblings stayed away.
• Wen Yan continued his hunger strike rather than marry anyone but Shen Zhiyao, and he could no longer keep food down.

Zhao Huiluan visited Shen Zhiyao to warn her to stop investigating Wen Hong and to tell her that Wen Hong wanted her to marry Wen Qingyu. Shen Zhiyao agreed to the marriage, despite Zhao Huiluan and Shen Zhiyun urging her to reconsider.

• Shen Zhiyun confronted Zhao Huiluan about keeping Shen Zhiyao’s identity and their dangerous plans from her.
• Zhao Huiluan asked Shen Zhiyao whether she wanted to be called Shen Zhiyao or Xie Zhiyao, and Shen Zhiyao asked her to keep using Shen Zhiyao.
• Zhao Huiluan told Shen Zhiyao to stop investigating the case because Wen Hong’s influence made it too dangerous to act without being able to defeat him decisively.
• Zhao Huiluan explained that Wen Hong had asked her to visit so Shen Zhiyao would save Wen Qingyu, who was lovesick.
• Shen Zhiyao agreed to marry Wen Qingyu, but Shen Zhiyun and Zhao Huiluan urged her not to risk her life or act out of hatred.

Zhao Huiluan helped Shen Zhiyao agree to marry Wen Yan and warned Shen Zhiyun that Wen Hong would investigate her identity. The Wen household began the formal wedding arrangements, while the Yongzhao Emperor learned that Princess Zhenning had brought the couple together and complained that Rong An was letting her neglect her studies.

• Shen Zhiyao agreed to marry Wen Yan, and Zhao Huiluan told Shen Zhiyun to make her family background more convincing before Wen Hong investigated it.
• Zhao Huiluan sent Wen Yan's attendant back to the Wen household with Shen Zhiyao's jade pendant, and the family rejoiced when Wen Yan stirred.
• Wen Hong ordered a physician to treat Wen Yan, then told his steward to arrange the marriage and investigate everything thoroughly.
• The Wen and Shen households completed the customary betrothal steps before the fifth month, and Yan Capital anticipated their wedding.
• The Yongzhao Emperor mistook the bride for Shen Zhiyun, then learned it was Shen Zhiyao and heard that Princess Zhenning had brought the couple together.
• The Yongzhao Emperor praised Wen Yan's devotion and scolded Rong An for letting Princess Zhenning neglect her studies.

Wen Yan recovered and told Wen Hong he wanted to enter officialdom, while Wen Nihe objected to his marriage to Shen Zhiyao and resisted her own marriage prospects. On Wen Yan and Shen Zhiyao’s wedding day, he came to fetch her, but Shen Zhiyun blocked the way and demanded a poem before the bride could leave.

• Wen Yan thanked Wen Nihe for nursing him and apologized to Wen Hong for worrying him.
• Wen Yan said he wanted to help support the Wen family, and Wen Hong promised to send him south for practical service after the Mid-Autumn Festival.
• Wen Nihe complained that Wen Yan was marrying Shen Zhiyao, and Wen Hong told her he would seek a suitable match for her as well.
• Zhao Huiluan brought Shen Zhiyao a bridal gift at the Shen residence while the wedding preparations continued.
• Wen Yan arrived in person to fetch Shen Zhiyao, and Shen Zhiyun stopped him at the door and asked him to compose a poem to hurry the bride.

More than a month after marrying Shen Zhiyao, Wen Yan visited Zhao Huiluan at the Imperial College and admitted that his bride remained distant. The chapter left him seeking advice while Zhao Huiluan continued copying books.

• Wen Yan impressed Shen Zhiyun and the wedding guests by composing bridal-makeup poems, then married Shen Zhiyao.
• At the wedding banquet, Zhao Huiluan asked Rong An about Wen Yan, and Rong An called him a fine piece of jade.
• Wen Nihe watched Rong An leave, then confronted Wen Yan for agreeing to sleep in the study on his wedding night while Shen Zhiyao mourned her parents.
• At the end of the seventh month, Zhao Huiluan copied books at the Imperial College when Wen Yan came to visit.
• Wen Yan told Zhao Huiluan that Shen Zhiyao remained distant and had barely spoken to him in the month since their marriage.

Wen Yan confided his worries about Shen Zhiyao to Zhao Huiluan and revealed that he planned to pursue practical service. Inspired by his plans, Zhao Huiluan decided to seek practical service herself, and Rong An later praised her studies to the Yongzhao Emperor.

• Zhao Huiluan reminded Wen Yan that the Shen family had rejected his marriage proposal three times while he was unconscious, then advised him to speak with Shen Zhiyao before leaving for practical service.
• Wen Yan explained that he planned to serve in a southern government office so he could shoulder his family responsibilities and provide Shen Zhiyao with support.
• Zhao Huiluan told Rong An she wanted practical service to learn about life and government, and she planned to use Grand Secretary Wen's arrangements for Wen Yan to her advantage.
• Rong An asked what Zhao Huiluan needed him to tell the Yongzhao Emperor, and she whispered her request to him before teasing him about his red ears.
• On the eve of the Mid-Autumn Festival, Rong An reported Zhao Huiluan's studies to the Yongzhao Emperor, who doubted his praise but heard that she excelled in most subjects.

Rong An showed the Yongzhao Emperor an essay written by Princess Zhenning, whose progress unsettled the emperor even as he praised her. Later, Zhao Huiluan reunited with the little crown prince and waited with him for their father, who found them playing beneath an osmanthus tree.

• Rong An presented Princess Zhenning’s essay to the Yongzhao Emperor and confirmed she had written it herself.
• The Yongzhao Emperor praised Zhenning’s progress and promised rewards for Rong An and the Imperial College staff.
• Rong An met Zhao Huiluan and the little crown prince, who greeted his former teacher before chasing after his elder sister.
• Zhao Huiluan waited with the little crown prince beneath an orange osmanthus tree, where they played rock-paper-scissors.
• The Yongzhao Emperor watched the siblings play, then scolded Zhao Huiluan for bullying her brother as the little crown prince defended her.

The Yongzhao Emperor decided Zhao Huiluan would leave the Imperial College after Mid-Autumn, and she persuaded him to send her out for practical experience. After rejecting Annan as too dangerous, he considered letting her accompany Wen Yan to Jiangnan.

• The Yongzhao Emperor told Zhao Huiluan she would not return to the Imperial College after Mid-Autumn, citing her truancy and meddling in Wen Qingyu's affairs.
• Zhao Huiluan convinced the Yongzhao Emperor not to dismiss all the female students, then proposed leaving the college under the pretext of practical experience.
• Zhao Huiluan said she wanted to go to Annan after hearing of its young general, but the Yongzhao Emperor and the little crown prince warned her that it was unsafe.
• The little crown prince begged the Yongzhao Emperor to choose somewhere safer, and Zhao Huiluan argued that he would not let her travel anywhere alone.
• The Yongzhao Emperor remembered that Wen Yan was going to Jiangnan for practical experience and considered sending Zhao Huiluan with him.

Zhao Huiluan prepared to travel south with Wen Yan, while the Mid-Autumn Festival brought Zhao Jin'ang to comfort her and left Wen Yan longing for Shen Zhiyao. As Wen Yan departed the capital to gain experience, Shen Zhiyao agreed he could fetch her when he returned, and Zhao Huiluan set out with her attendants.

• Zhao Huiluan persuaded the Yongzhao Emperor to let her travel to Jiangnan for fun rather than take an official post, and Zhao Jin'ang lamented that she would be away.
• During the Mid-Autumn fireworks, Zhao Jin'ang held Zhao Huiluan's hand to comfort her, while Rong An and Wen Yan watched the fireworks alone and thought of her and Shen Zhiyao.
• Wen Yan visited Shen Zhiyao after Wen Nihe left her courtyard, and Shen Zhiyao finally came out to speak with him after he said he was leaving the capital.
• Wen Yan draped his outer robe over Shen Zhiyao and promised to fetch her from the Shen residence when he returned; she agreed.
• On the seventeenth day of the eighth month, Zhao Huiluan left the Yan Capital with Nianxia and Fudong, while Zhang Yanli and Zhang Yunchi saw her off and urged her to take more attendants.

Wang He escorted Wen Yan and Zhao Huiluan south after Wen Hong instructed him to prioritize the princess’s enjoyment over official business. Half a month later, they reached Jiangnan, where Zhao Huiluan left the carriage to admire the scenery as Wang He accompanied her on foot.

• Wen Hong told Wang He to keep Zhao Huiluan safe and ensure she enjoyed her stay in Jiangnan, while Wen Yan traveled with him to gain experience.
• Zhao Huiluan and Zhang Yunchi said farewell to Wen Yan, and Shen Zhiyun arrived to see Zhao Huiluan off.
• Shen Zhiyao emerged from the Shen Family carriage, and Wen Yan ran toward his wife.
• Rong An left the carriage beneath the city wall after his sword-carrying attendant called for him.
• After half a month on the road, Zhao Huiluan insisted on walking, so Wang He arranged for guards to accompany them near the city.
• Zhao Huiluan admired the river and autumn scenery as someone asked Wang He whether he was from Jiangnan.