Sevenseas

Peach Flower House

Via Lactea

Rosmei

Monogatari

Haitang

Seven Seas

Copper Coins: Tong Qian Kan Shi

There's Something Wrong with the Chief: Du Zhu You Bing

Thrice Married to a Salted Fish

Three Hundred Years of Longing: Bu Jian Shang Xian San Bai Nian

Mistakenly Saving the Villain

The Wife Comes First: Qi Wei Shang

The White Cat’s Divine Scratching Post

The Villain's White Halo

After the Disabled God of War Became My Concubine

Twin Jades of Jiangdong

Copper Coins: Tong Qian Kan Shi

There's Something Wrong with the Chief: Du Zhu You Bing

There's Something Wrong with the Chief: Du Zhu You Bing

There's Something Wrong with the Chief: Du Zhu You Bing

Mistakenly Saving the Villain

The Wife Comes First: Qi Wei Shang

The White Cat’s Divine Scratching Post

The Villain's White Halo

After the Disabled God of War Became My Concubine

Twin Jades of Jiangdong

Copper Coins: Tong Qian Kan Shi, Vol. 1

ARC 1: SEEKING

Chapter 1:
The Ghostly ScholarDuring a cold winter dawn in Ningyang County, Huizhou Prefecture, a waiter at Jiuwei House sets up a breakfast stall with steamers of buns.
A night watchman buys buns and jokes with the waiter about a mysterious customer.
The waiter has prepared a takeout box for a strange man who’s been coming for two days in a row, ordering the restaurant’s signature dishes with increasingly odd customizations.
The man doesn’t breathe in the cold air, doesn’t speak beyond ordering, and gives off an eerie presence.
The waiter and watchman both fear this customer may not be human, especially since he comes at dawn during the "witching hour."
The customer arrives again: a scholar in an ash-blue robe with a flushed face and an unremarkable but fatigued appearance.
His voice is strange—pleasant but detached from his mouth’s movement. He orders peach-braised pork belly.
The waiter nervously gives him the box, which the scholar receives with difficulty, as though it’s very heavy.
The scholar slowly leaves and disappears down the road.
The watchman and waiter discuss what they just saw, then notice a white-robed monk silently appearing nearby.
The monk has Wudi coins at his waist, which are traditionally used to ward off evil spirits. This indicates he might be a real exorcist.
The waiter, desperate and terrified after three days of the strange scholar’s visits, calls out to the monk.
The monk is cold and expressionless. He doesn’t confirm his identity or purpose but listens.
The watchman explains that the scholar looks like Jiang family’s son, but the whole family died in a fire three years ago, except for a daughter who married into another town.
The monk asks where the scholar went.
The waiter offers to lead him to the Jiang family’s old clinic and instantly regrets it as the monk's cold presence is unbearable.
They reach the alley where the ruined Jiang clinic stands. The scholar is seen talking to himself in two voices: one clear and one hoarse.
The clear voice mocks the slowness of the walk, the hoarse voice retorts about being dead for over three years.
The scholar passes through the crumbling wall like a ghost.
The waiter is terrified and flees after giving the monk a purse of money as thanks.
The monk shows mild disgust at the purse’s filth but keeps it.
The waiter returns to Jiuwei House, breathless, and recounts everything to the watchman.
He suddenly realizes the monk looked familiar.
He notices a decayed wanted poster on the wall with only the bottom half remaining, but clearly showing a neck with a small mole.
He remembers that the monk had the same mole—implying the monk is a wanted criminal with a high bounty on his head.

Chapter 2:
Paper DollJiang Shining, a ghost confined to a paper doll, delivers food to Xue Xian, a sickly man who is half-paralyzed and living in the burned remains of the Jiang family clinic.
Xue Xian mocks Jiang Shining for slouching and implies Jiang’s paper body is inferior. Jiang retorts by criticizing Xue Xian’s chopstick skills.
Xue Xian admits he was paralyzed and recently regained enough strength to sit up.
After a petty exchange involving a chicken bone and rouge on the paper doll's face, Jiang Shining collapses, hitting the time limit for his daily manifestation.
Jiang Shining warns Xue Xian that a monk followed him, describing a man with copper coins at his waist.
Alarmed, Xue Xian hides using illusion magic, disguising himself and Jiang Shining as moss.
A young monk enters the courtyard, appearing inexperienced with dulled copper coins and lacking the typical sheen of a skilled exorcist.
Despite the illusion, the monk sees through it and picks up the "moss" using cloth and copper, placing them into a pouch.
Inside the pouch, Xue Xian grumbles while enjoying the monk’s warmth during the cold winter.
He begins snooping through the monk’s pouch, finding a peach twig, flint, and a cloth bag full of needles.
Jiang Shining, also inside the pouch, scolds Xue Xian for poking him in the face.
A crowd gathers outside the clinic—officers led by Scribe Liu come to apprehend the monk based on a report from a waiter who saw a wanted poster.
Xue Xian tries to escape the pouch but is shoved back in by the monk’s finger, infuriating him. In retaliation, he jabs a needle into the monk’s back.
This inadvertently triggers a strange reaction—Jiang Shining speaks even though his time should be up. Xue Xian suspects the monk’s body holds something powerful.
The monk gives his name as Xuanmin, says he’s unaffiliated with any temple, and is accused of being the wanted criminal.
Scribe Liu compares him to the wanted poster and dismisses him as too young and unskilled.
As Xuanmin leaves, he tells Scribe Liu cryptically that he “won’t live long,” triggering outrage.
Xue Xian overhears everything and is both amused and suspicious.
Xuanmin removes Xue Xian from the pouch after he keeps stabbing with the needle.
The two argue silently while Scribe Liu grows angry and orders Xuanmin’s arrest.
Xuanmin delivers an ominous prophecy, noting a shadow between Liu’s brows and a blood mark on his left ear, indicating a short life and someone having marked him for revenge.
Xue Xian notices the blood mark and realizes it’s his own blood, meaning Scribe Liu was present at the scene where Xue Xian had his bones and tendons stripped—he is one of the culprits.
Overwhelmed by hatred and memories of the event, Xue Xian confirms Liu must die.
Suddenly, a servant arrives, reporting that Scribe Liu’s son has fallen into a well.
Terrified, Liu drops the charges and tries to drag Xuanmin with him.
Xuanmin refuses, but Xue Xian escapes the pouch and clings to the servant boy’s back to follow Liu, determined to investigate further.
Despite being paraplegic even as a paper doll, Xue Xian stubbornly latches onto the servant’s collar for the ride.

Chapter 3:
The Scribe’s ResidenceXue Xian, in his flimsy paper form, is carried by a frightened servant boy to Scribe Liu’s residence, complaining all the while and insulting the layout as a well-prepared grave.
The terrified servant boy hears Xue Xian’s whispering and panics, running into the guest hall where he trips and sends Xue Xian flying.
In the guest hall, the household is in chaos — Scribe Liu’s son, Liu Jin, lies motionless and appears dead, with people mourning around him.
Xue Xian tries to escape by pulling himself with a grass blade, but is captured again by Xuanmin, who shows up uninvited.
Xue Xian is furious and curses Xuanmin internally, clinging to the grass in protest, but is plucked up anyway.
Xuanmin subtly rolls a stone to trip Scribe Liu, causing him to fall directly onto Liu Jin’s chest, which miraculously revives Liu Jin through forced expulsion of water.
The household rejoices in shock, and Scribe Liu, overwhelmed, begins to suspect that Xuanmin may actually be a legitimate high monk.
Scribe Liu’s faith in his home's geomantic design, which follows auspicious feng shui principles like “Reclaiming the Four Waters” and “Winding Waters Grace the Hall,” makes him hesitant to accept any flaws.
Xue Xian, despite lacking deep geomantic knowledge, instinctively senses the courtyard is dangerously wrong and calls it grave-digging.
Xue Xian and Xuanmin continue to argue inside the pouch until Jiang Shining, who has been hiding inside it, finally speaks up.
Jiang Shining panics when he realizes they are at Scribe Liu’s home, mentioning there had been deadly “bad blood” between his family and Scribe Liu.
Xuanmin becomes suspicious of a narrow side door in the courtyard that leads to a hidden passage.
A thud is heard from behind the door, and a timid young man peeks out — Scribe Liu’s eldest son, Liu Chong, who appears to have a mental disability and behaves like a child.
Scribe Liu tries to wave it off, calling Liu Chong harmless and referring to him as his “disappointment of an eldest son.”
Xuanmin criticizes the flawed feng shui of the west side of the courtyard, especially the hidden side path and southwest corner brimming with yin energy.
Scribe Liu awkwardly admits the passage was added later, further validating Xuanmin’s concerns.
Liu Chong timidly retreats down the narrow path to a small shack, which Xue Xian notes is unnaturally steeped in yin energy, like a burial site.
Xue Xian internally criticizes Scribe Liu for making his son live in such a terrible place, calling it rat-like and questioning the father’s care.
Scribe Liu tries to justify it by saying Liu Chong dislikes noise and prefers quiet, which Xue Xian mentally mocks.
When Scribe Liu asks if sealing a window would fix the imbalance, Xuanmin coldly asks whether Liu Chong doesn’t need to breathe, catching Scribe Liu off guard.
Xue Xian’s opinion of Scribe Liu continues to drop as he sees how little thought is given to Liu Chong’s well-being.
The courtyard grows brighter with daylight, revealing sharp contrasts — everything looks clear except for Liu Chong’s dark, eerie shack, indicating how out of place and unnatural it is..

Chapter 4:
Gold IngotsXuanmin walks quickly to a nearby shack and stops at its entrance.
Xue Xian, peeking from Xuanmin’s pouch, sees a heap of yellow paper ingots through the door, folded to resemble gold ingots—ritual offerings for the dead.
Liu Chong, trailing behind, asks if he can play with the yellow paper, pointing directly at the paper doll—Xue Xian.
Xuanmin is confused at first, but realizes Liu Chong is referring to the doll.
Xue Xian is internally outraged that he, a dragon, is being mistaken for a toy.
Panicked, he retreats deeper into the pouch and pinches Xuanmin hard through the fabric to warn him not to hand him over.
When Liu Chong isn’t looking, Xue Xian flips over to show his painted face to Xuanmin and glares up with fury.
Xuanmin is surprised to meet the doll’s painted eyes and notes its eerie, corpse-like expression.
Unlike other spirits he's encountered, Xue Xian is unusually defiant and troublesome.
Xuanmin picks up the doll again and dangles him by two fingers, bringing it closer to Liu Chong.
Xue Xian internally vows revenge, threatening lightning strikes and humiliation.
Liu Chong reaches for the doll, but Xuanmin denies him, saying “You can’t,” with a flat expression.
Relieved, Xue Xian relaxes and goes limp in Xuanmin’s fingers.
Liu Chong looks disappointed but says nothing. His sorrow is obvious, as his disability makes every action effortful and sincere.
Xue Xian avoids looking at Liu Chong, fearing the boy’s innocence might infect him with stupidity.
Xuanmin nods at Liu Chong instead of speaking, which Xue Xian mocks internally.
Liu Chong excitedly invites Xuanmin into his room like a child greeting a playmate.
Xue Xian resigns himself to silence and limply dangles from Xuanmin’s fingers.
Liu Chong opens the door fully, revealing the shack’s cluttered and cramped interior—overrun by yellow paper ingots.
Scribe Liu, watching from outside, is clearly displeased and refuses to enter the room.
The room is sparse and poorly furnished, more like a servant’s quarters than a young master’s room.
A partition divides the tiny shack, attempting to create an inner and outer room.
Xuanmin picks up one of the paper ingots and inspects it.
Xue Xian, hanging upside down, sees the bottom of the ingot and reads the childish character for “Dad.”
Xue Xian realizes the character was poorly written, with spacing that made it look like multiple words.
Xue Xian deduces that Liu Chong has been making these ingots for his parents, innocently but ignorantly using real names—an act that is normally akin to cursing them.
Xuanmin continues examining other ingots and finds a total of seven: two say “Dad,” three say “Mom,” and two are blank.
Xue Xian notices that the ingots are neatly categorized: father’s pile by the door, mother’s by the table, blank ones on the floor.
A fourth pile next to the bed draws their attention.
Xuanmin moves toward the inner partition. As he enters, a sudden gust of yin wind blows in, and Xue Xian sneezes.
Liu Chong stares at Xuanmin’s fingers in confusion, trying to understand how fingers could sneeze.
Xuanmin and Xue Xian both become acutely aware of a heavy concentration of yin energy in the room.
Xuanmin examines the bed-side pile of ingots, noticing their undersides are smeared with ink and hard to read.
He determines the writing likely says “Liu,” but the full names are illegible.
Suddenly, Jiang Shining falls out of Xuanmin’s pouch, transforming from a paper doll into a human due to the excessive yin energy.
Jiang Shining, pale and scholarly-looking, is bewildered by his transformation.
Xue Xian explains that Jiang Shining’s ghostly state is affected by yin energy, which makes transformation easier here.
Liu Chong remains unfazed by Jiang’s sudden appearance, treating it like nothing unusual.
Jiang Shining asks why Xue Xian hasn’t transformed, and Xue Xian replies irritably that he’s not dead.
Jiang Shining questions why a living being is occupying a paper figure—suspecting something’s off about Xue Xian.
Xue Xian mocks him in return and urges him to get up and stop crushing the ingots.
Realizing he’s sitting on someone’s offerings, Jiang Shining apologizes to Liu Chong and tries to help fix them.
Liu Chong shoves Jiang Shining aside to save the ingots, using his strength without restraint.
Jiang crashes into a cabinet and injures his hand on a nail in the floor, despite being a ghost in physical form.
He complains and jokes with Xue Xian about using leather or even human skin next time.
Xuanmin, annoyed, presses his finger to Xue Xian’s mouth to shut him up.
Jiang Shining discovers there’s a piece of yellow paper attached to the nail he got hurt on.
Xuanmin investigates and finds a copper nail pinning a cinnabar-drawn yellow talisman to the floor.
Three such nails are found, forming a triangle and pointing in specific directions—northwest, southwest, northeast.
Jiang Shining asks if they are health talismans, but starts to feel warmth—an unusual sensation for a ghost.
Xuanmin confirms it’s a feng shui array and continues examining the patterns.
Outside, Scribe Liu overhears the noise and asks if Liu Chong is misbehaving, still refusing to enter.
Xuanmin asks who lives in the building to the northwest.
Scribe Liu first claims it’s his own residence but quickly corrects himself, saying his younger son Liu Jin lives there—the one who fell into the well.
Xuanmin asks if Scribe Liu has heard of a feng shui layout called “Drawing the River to the Sea.”
Scribe Liu is clearly rattled and finally admits he used the formation two years ago due to declining health.
Jiang Shining hides from view, recognizing Scribe Liu and feeling a wave of anger and resentment over past events.
Meanwhile, Liu Chong becomes distracted and crawls toward the talismans, fascinated like a child.
He touches one of the copper nails and cuts his hand, drawing blood that drips onto the talisman.
Jiang Shining tries to warn him too late—the blood soaks into the talisman.
A sudden, unnatural stillness falls over the house, as even the wind outside ceases.
Jiang Shining senses a suffocating silence, feeling ghostly alarm.
Xuanmin, frowning, looks toward the sky, silently acknowledging that something very serious has just been triggered.

Chapter 5:
GhostfenceAfter a ghostly droning sound, everyone loses consciousness simultaneously as if struck on the head.
Xue Xian wakes up alone in a strange, silent courtyard with no sign of Xuanmin, Scribe Liu, Jiang Shining, or anyone else.
He deduces he's in the northeast corner of the compound, which is significant because it's where Liu Jin (Scribe Liu’s youngest son who nearly drowned) lived—and where the droning noise came from.
Unable to walk, Xue Xian uses wind and ivy to hoist his paper body up a tree to survey the surroundings.
He realizes he’s trapped in a ghostfence, a spiritual formation that loops the environment and confuses reality, likely triggered by a disruption in the “Drawing the River to the Sea” feng shui layout.
He recalls the Eight Gates of the Qimen Dunjia formation and decides he doesn’t want to crawl around figuring them out with his paralyzed legs.
Xue Xian uses a talisman he got from a ragged Daoist to call thunder—normally ineffective, but it works because the dragon it summons is essentially himself.
The thunder strikes the courtyard, damaging the array and creating a crack through which he hears faint voices, confirming others are trapped too.
Xue Xian hears copper coin-like sounds growing closer. The narrow corridor door creaks open, and Xuanmin appears wearing white robes and fastening copper coins at his waist.
Xue Xian sarcastically throws ivy at Xuanmin, who catches it and asks what the thunderstorm was about. Xue Xian brushes it off, saying he just wanted to let people know he was there.
They banter about whether Xue Xian should summon another lightning bolt, but Xuanmin tells him there’s no need because he’s already found the Eight Gates.
Xue Xian reveals he cannot walk. Xuanmin verifies this by touching his leg and noticing there's no reaction, confirming his paralysis.
Xue Xian transforms back into his paper doll form and demands to be carried on Xuanmin’s shoulder for a better view.
He dramatically climbs Xuanmin’s face to get onto his shoulder, demonstrating both shamelessness and agility.
They discuss Xue Xian’s real body. Xue Xian admits it was lost—his tendons and bones were stripped from him in Guangdong, and his body was swept to sea and turned into a golden marble. A fisherman found it and vanished.
While moving through the compound, Xue Xian realizes they’ve circled back to where he woke up.
Xuanmin confirms that was a fake location created by the ghostfence and that they’re now at the real place.
He reveals that the building they’re approaching is the Life Gate, the exit point of the array.
Just as they’re about to step inside, unexpected voices are heard inside the supposedly empty building, prompting Xuanmin to freeze and hide with Xue Xian still on his shoulder.
The chapter ends with the question: why are there people here?

Chapter 6:
Bronze MirrorXue Xian and Xuanmin observe Liu Chong and an old lady (Old Lady Liu) performing ritual acts, including folding and burning paper ingots with names, under festive lanterns.
Xue Xian notices a specific ingot with the name “Liu Xian,” leading to questions about earlier unclear scribbles.
The old lady and Liu Chong perform a ritual with a bronze mirror, burying it beside broken porcelain under a tree, saying it’s to “change misfortune to blessing.”
Xue Xian wonders if the Life Gate of the mystical array they're trapped in is forcing them to experience past memories.
Suddenly, the atmosphere turns sinister. Liu Chong and the old lady’s demeanor becomes lifeless and eerie, indicating the Life Gate has turned into a Death Gate.
Xuanmin warns that they must avoid being seen by the figures or they’ll be pursued until death.
Xuanmin and Xue Xian evade them through multiple narrow doors, navigating what is explained as a Qimen Dunjia formation—eight mystical gates: Initiation, Repose, Life, Injury, Obstruction, Scenery, Fright, and Death.
They realize the configuration of the gates has shifted, causing danger. Previously auspicious gates now trigger haunting phenomena.
Xuanmin opens several doors, each leading to different haunting scenes, chased by strange, ghost-like people replaying parts of the Liu family’s memories.
In one scene, maids discuss the old lady’s worsening condition and fear about her health and medicine, suggesting possible malpractice by Jiang Shining’s family.
Scribe Liu is overheard blaming the Jiang family for his mother’s death. It’s revealed his mother died allegedly due to misprescription, and Jiang Shining’s family clinic later burned down.
Jiang Shining, the ghost, appears beside Xuanmin and Xue Xian but seems unaware of the conversation about his parents.
Xue Xian, realizing Jiang Shining might cause trouble, tries to get him to leave, but he ends up cooperating.
Xuanmin and the group hide from Scribe Liu and a guest while eavesdropping on their conversation about past events and misfortunes tied to the Jiang family.
Liu Chong appears again in the real world with a different outfit and mole placement, confirming he’s real and not an apparition.
Xuanmin suddenly drags the real Liu Chong through a narrow door, escaping Scribe Liu.
Jiang Shining notices that Liu Chong’s mole has moved from one cheek to the other, implying that the entire Liu residence has become a mirror-inverted version of itself.
They deduce the buried bronze mirror caused this inversion, flipping the positions of the Eight Gates—Death Gate became Life Gate, etc.
Xuanmin cleverly uses the Obstruction Gate multiple times to shake off ghostly pursuers.
Jiang Shining is pushed into the Death Gate, which acts as an exit for ghosts. He vanishes, escaping the array.
Xuanmin takes Xue Xian and Liu Chong to the newly identified Life Gate, which is Liu Chong’s own shabby room, now repositioned by the mirror’s influence.
As they prepare to leave the array, Liu Chong hears his “grandma’s” voice and turns back at the last second, refusing to exit.
Xue Xian and Xuanmin successfully leave the array, but Liu Chong is left behind, still searching for his dead grandmother.

Chapter 7:
Empty MillstoneHere is a full spoiler summary of Chapter 7 of Copper Coins: Tong Qian Kan Shi, titled Empty Millstone, with every plot point laid out in bullet form:
Jiang Shining is relieved to see Xue Xian and Xuanmin return safely, but panics when he realizes Liu Chong and Scribe Liu are missing.
Xuanmin investigates the talismans and copper nails that sealed the formation trapping the others.
Instead of using any magical or spiritual method, Xuanmin casually tears off the talismans and pulls out the nails to destroy the array.
Xue Xian is disappointed by the mundane method, expecting something more impressive.
Xuanmin burns the talismans, and they wait for Liu Chong and Scribe Liu to appear, but neither do.
They hear a strange, old, exhausted sigh, which none of them seem to have made.
Xue Xian guesses it might be the spirit of an old lady, and starts to suspect something worse tied to the residence.
He mentions a human rumor about burying elderly relatives under houses to bring prosperity.
Xuanmin confirms the practice, known as “Building Yang Over Yin,” where a yin spirit is bound to guard the household.
Xuanmin tracks the sound to a part of the floor beneath a wooden cabinet and detects it's hollow.
He finds a tightly sealed stone slab that none of their fingers can open.
Xue Xian volunteers to slip inside and try to open it himself.
As Xue Xian prepares to squeeze in, Xuanmin stops him and instead uses a silver needle from his toolkit to pry open the stone slab.
Upon opening it, a surge of spiritual pressure explodes, nearly knocking them all unconscious.
Inside the hole is a strange iron chain and soil, with a tiny millstone and talismans binding it.
Xuanmin finds the chain rotating as if someone is endlessly pushing the millstone.
After burning the talisman, a ghostly figure forms—a frail, sickly old woman, revealed to be the true spirit of Old Lady Liu.
Xue Xian is disgusted to learn her own family trapped her beneath the house as a protective spirit.
Old Lady Liu was refined into a spiritual millstone guardian, endlessly toiling underground for three years.
Xuanmin removes the millstone, burns the talisman binding it, and the ghost is fully released.
Liu Chong appears, having escaped the array, and is shocked to see his grandmother's spirit.
Despite her frail state, Old Lady Liu lovingly talks to Liu Chong, and he sobs for her, asking why she never came to visit after her death.
She assures him she always watched over him and was aware of everything.
Scribe Liu bursts in, covered in mud and terrified, and is shocked to see his mother’s ghost.
Old Lady Liu confronts him for his crimes: trapping her, altering her medicine, and falsely accusing the Jiang family.
Scribe Liu breaks down and grovels, blaming a sorcerer, claiming he acted for her benefit.
She slaps him twice—one for her grandson Liu Chong, and one for the Jiang family clinic.
She declares she endured pushing the millstone for three years to repay her debts to him and that Liu Chong had repaid his filial duties by living there.
She tells Scribe Liu it’s now his turn to repay his debts to the Jiang family.
Old Lady Liu fades, requesting to move on, and enters the millstone, indicating her spirit is at peace.
Xuanmin retrieves the millstone and carries both it and the unconscious Jiang Shining outside.
Scribe Liu panics and notices his face is swollen with two red handprints, signs of spiritual punishment.
Xuanmin confirms that spirits with grievances get one chance to mark the person who wronged them.
Scribe Liu begs for help, clutching Xuanmin’s robe.
Xue Xian, from the pouch, asks whether Scribe Liu had been to Huameng, Guangdong.
Scribe Liu denies it but remembers buying a “golden marble” from a fisherman from Huameng.
The sorcerer melted this “marble” into the millstone to enhance its spiritual power.
Xue Xian realizes the marble was part of his dragon body and becomes so enraged he faints.
Scribe Liu continues begging for help, prompting Xuanmin to chant a verse and tap his forehead.
Scribe Liu believes the spiritual mark has been removed, but Xuanmin warns him the debt still must be repaid.
Scribe Liu continues groveling and crying that Buddhists are merciful.
Xuanmin coldly declares he cultivates no compassion and leaves without looking back.

Chapter 8:
Medical BellXue Xian regains consciousness after being unconscious for ten hours and finds himself in a luxury suite at Guiyun Hall, an inn with an ominous-sounding name.
Xuanmin is performing a solemn handwashing ritual and preparing funeral rites for Old Lady Liu, now referred to by her maiden name Lady Xu.
Xue Xian mocks Xuanmin’s rituals and panics when he realizes Xuanmin plans to chant sutras, which he detests.
Xue Xian tries to jump off the table in protest but is caught and then pinned under a paperweight by Xuanmin.
Xuanmin completes a simple funeral rite with incense, yellow paper, and chanting a single line of sutra, then taps the millstone.
The millstone shatters, releasing Old Lady Liu’s spirit with her final thanks before vanishing.
A golden marble and a silver bell fall out of the shattered millstone.
Xue Xian realizes the golden marble is his own compressed dragon body and demands it back.
Xuanmin tests Xue Xian’s claim by holding it to a flame, revealing a coiled dragon shape inside.
Xue Xian confirms its identity and impatiently demands the marble, only to be crushed under its weight and fall off the table.
Xuanmin picks him up, places him on the table again, and returns the marble.
Xue Xian discovers the second object is a silver medical bell and asks about it.
Jiang Shining regains his ability to speak and identifies the bell as his great-grandfather Jiang Yong’s medical bell, passed down through generations.
Xuanmin reveals the souls of Jiang Shining’s parents are trapped in the bell and can only be freed using three drops of laogong blood from a living relative.
Xuanmin prepares to use another incense stick for Jiang Shining, implying a second soul-sending ritual.
Before anything happens, Xuanmin suddenly falls ill, red lines spreading from a mole on his neck as he goes silent and unresponsive.
Xue Xian confirms he’s alive but meditating or unconscious, then convinces Jiang Shining to leave him behind.
Jiang Shining hesitantly agrees and escapes with Xue Xian, who is still clutching the golden marble.
As they sneak through Ningyang County past the curfew guards, Xue Xian provides comically bad directions, leading them in circles.
Jiang Shining takes over navigation and they finally make progress.
They pass by Scribe Liu’s residence and overhear arguments inside but choose not to get involved.
Jiang Shining, ever the compassionate doctor, chooses to walk away rather than witness suffering he can't fix.

Chapter 9:
The Old ClinicJiang Shining and Xue Xian seek shelter from the snow in an abandoned temple on Mount Jiguan.
Xue Xian reverts to his human form and takes the best spot beneath the Buddha statue, frustrating Jiang Shining.
Jiang Shining lights a candle using a fire starter Xue Xian stole from Xuanmin during their escape.
Jiang Shining questions Xue Xian about his strong desire to escape from Xuanmin.
Xue Xian admits his concern stems from the golden marble, which contains his dragon body and is weakly connected to him.
Xue Xian suspects that Xuanmin might be influencing the marble or harboring hidden power.
Xue Xian sensed something strange under Xuanmin’s skin and felt Xuanmin was suppressing a hidden, dangerous power.
Xue Xian believes Xuanmin’s actions and aura are inconsistent with a normal monk’s peaceful nature.
Jiang Shining brings up the medicinal smell he noticed earlier in Xuanmin’s room and identifies it as medicine used to treat dissociation (soul loss syndrome).
Jiang Shining explains the symptoms of dissociation and suspects Xuanmin may be suffering from it, despite his composed appearance.
Xue Xian argues that someone with dissociation wouldn’t be actively meddling in others’ affairs or wandering alone.
Xue Xian points out Xuanmin’s behavior in Ningyang: he captured them, dismantled the Liu family’s feng shui array, laid Old Lady Liu’s spirit to rest, retrieved the golden marble, and tried to help deliver the bell to Jiang Shining’s sister—all highly suspicious actions.
Xue Xian sarcastically remarks on how unfriendly Xuanmin’s icy demeanor is, making his supposedly helpful actions seem suspiciously overfamiliar.
Jiang Shining questions why Xue Xian helped his family in the first place and why he stayed at the ruined Jiang clinic.
Xue Xian vaguely recalls a past visit to Ningyang County when he was not yet injured and had all his powers.
During a snowstorm, a kind middle-aged doctor pulled Xue Xian from the street to treat a wound on his hand, showing him warm hospitality.
The doctor lived at the Jiang Family Clinic with his wife and young son, Jiang Shining.
The doctor bandaged Xue Xian’s wound, gave him a small brazier to stay warm, and treated him with kindness despite being a stranger.
A year later, Xue Xian secretly returned and left the brazier and some golden pearls as a thank-you gift.
On his current return to Ningyang, Xue Xian found the clinic in ruins and Jiang Shining alone, prompting him to help.
Xue Xian admits he helped because of that past kindness—not everything in the world is motivated by selfishness.
Back at the temple, Jiang Shining asks what Xue Xian left on the table before they departed.
Xue Xian reveals he gave Xuanmin a dragon scale from his real body, as repayment for retrieving the marble.
Dragon scales are extremely rare and valuable, more potent than most healing herbs.
Meanwhile, Xuanmin sits alone in the suite at Guiyun Hall, unmoving after Xue Xian’s departure.
The scent of the dragon scale awakens him, causing the mole on his neck to shrink back.
On the table is a yellow note with messy writing: "Mystical medicine, can cure anything. Believe it or not."
Xuanmin realizes the disc is the same as the one sketched on a note in his possession labeled "Find them".
He silently compares the two, pockets the note, and continues staring at the dragon scale as snowstorms howl outside.

ARC: NAMELESS

Chapter 10:
The Blind Fortune TellerSnow falls for a full day and night, creating favorable conditions for Jiang Shining, who, as a spirit, fears yang energy.
Xue Xian rides on Jiang Shining’s shoulder but due to strong wind, he hides in Jiang Shining’s lapels to avoid being blown away.
They travel to Wolong County, where Xue Xian intends to visit two bickering brothers—one of whom may help identify the origin of his golden marble.
They take mountain routes to avoid towns and potential trouble, though Jiang Shining remains wary of rumored bandits.
Despite signs of violence and previous fights along their path, they encounter no bandits, which unsettles Jiang Shining.
They reach Wolong County safely after four days of travel.
At the city gates, Jiang Shining finds another iron tag with a wolf head engraving and a scratched-out name—similar to one he found earlier.
Inside the city, they navigate a chaotic maze of roads using Xue Xian’s food-based memory of landmarks.
Xue Xian suspects someone is following them, but they see no signs of a pursuer.
They arrive at a small, rundown courtyard home belonging to the two brothers Xue Xian seeks.
Jiang Shining knocks lightly, and Xue Xian tells him to knock harder since one brother is deaf in one ear.
A child inside yells “Thief!” and throws a basin of water at Jiang Shining, drenching both him and Xue Xian.
Jiang Shining’s paper body crumples from the water; the golden marble rolls away.
A boy tries to steal the marble but is caught by Xuanmin, who unexpectedly appears at the door.
Xue Xian is furious to see Xuanmin again and screams insults at him.
Xuanmin captures the boy, uses a talisman to silence him, and retrieves the stolen marble.
Xuanmin inspects the marble by sniffing and rubbing it, puzzling Xue Xian.
Xuanmin declares he will hold onto the marble for now; Xue Xian is unable to protest due to his soaked body.
Xuanmin asks the boy for a brazier, then starts a fire to dry Jiang Shining and Xue Xian by hanging them on a tree branch.
He produces a mysterious paper with writing and drawings, then correctly guesses the boy’s surname is Lu.
The boy’s reaction confirms his identity: Lu Nianqi, younger brother to Lu Shijiu.
Xue Xian demands to know Lu Shijiu’s whereabouts, explaining he wants him to track someone using the marble.
Lu Nianqi reveals their family all died mysteriously and the brothers were left to survive alone.
He confirms he remembers Xue Xian’s voice from his previous visits.
When asked why he tried to steal the marble, Lu Nianqi breaks into tears and confesses that Lu Shijiu disappeared half a month ago.
Lu Nianqi says his brother went to Fentou Island in the river and hasn’t returned since, leaving him searching and desperate

Chapter 11:
Fentou IslandThe chapter begins with a description of Fentou Island, an isolated and overgrown location near Wolong County, known for its eerie appearance and medicinal herbs.
Lu Shijiu disappeared after leaving a note for Lu Nianqi saying he went to Fentou Island.
Lu Nianqi waited days in the rain for Lu Shijiu to return but only found out from a boatman that Lu Shijiu had boarded a boat and never returned.
After several days of rain, Lu Nianqi tried searching the island multiple times but found no sign of Lu Shijiu except hearing his voice once, which vanished when he called back.
A whirlpool near the island capsized boats, making boatmen refuse to return; Lu Nianqi couldn’t afford the fare after someone stole his and Lu Shijiu’s saved money.
Strange knocking sounds began at night, and the money was stolen from a chest inside their home.
Xue Xian and Lu Nianqi argue, with Lu Nianqi revealing he is actually fifteen, though he looks younger due to childhood illness.
Xuanmin prepares to go to Fentou Island; Lu Nianqi begs to go with him and is allowed.
Xue Xian, still in paper doll form, discovers silver inside the pouch, suspects Xuanmin is collecting money somehow.
At the river crossing, boatmen refuse to sail to the island; Xuanmin rents a boat directly with silver.
Xuanmin uses a talisman and a reed to magically control and steer the boat to Fentou Island.
Lu Nianqi cuts his palm on a hidden piece of metal on the boat; Jiang Shining tends to the wound.
Lu Nianqi reveals Lu Shijiu could see “qi” and “form” despite being blind and often read Lu Nianqi’s palm, predicting long life despite evidence of early death in his palm lines.
Xuanmin also examines Lu Nianqi’s palm and tells him this is a calamitous year for him and to be careful.
Lu Nianqi says he thought he saw hair in the river but dismisses it as plants, despite experience seeing drowned corpses.
As they near the island, Xue Xian senses his marble reacting and lies on it in the pouch like he’s brooding an egg.
Once ashore, Xuanmin’s copper coins jingle ominously, and Xue Xian hears a strange, distant voice sounding like Xuanmin.
Jiang Shining and Lu Nianqi begin to get spooked by the atmosphere and fog, which has been unusually persistent.
Xuanmin examines the ground; Xue Xian hears mumbling that sounded like chanting or a sutra from afar, but no one else heard it.
Xuanmin burns a talisman; where the ash drifts, a trail of eerie, barely-there footprints appears—like someone hanging had brushed the ground.
They follow the trail; Xue Xian requests the pouch be cut lower so he can look out while still clutching his marble—Xuanmin refuses.
Xue Xian leans out awkwardly, spots something under a split tree, and directs Xuanmin to it.
Under the tree, they find a broken coin string that Lu Nianqi identifies as the one he tied for their money, which had been stolen.
As soon as they examine the string, Lu Nianqi is hit by something, falls, and triggers a hidden mechanism.
The ground gives way and all four fall into a trap beneath the island.
Xuanmin lands flawlessly, while others crash down painfully.
Xue Xian’s paper body suffers the worst—his neck tears, and his paper head falls off completely.
The chapter ends with Xuanmin lighting a talisman and looking down at Xue Xian’s severed paper head on the ground.

Chapter 12:
Island TombJiang Shining wakes up after a fall and sees Xuanmin frozen in shock, staring at something on the ground.
Lu Nianqi is injured, having landed on his head and reopened a wound on his hand; Jiang Shining checks on him.
They approach Xuanmin and find Xue Xian’s paper doll decapitated, his head lying face-up on the ground.
Jiang Shining and Lu Nianqi panic, wondering if Xue Xian is truly dead and where his body is.
Xuanmin presents the decapitated paper doll and decides to burn it, claiming Xue Xian is beyond saving.
Just before the talisman touches the doll, an invisible voice—Xue Xian's—tells Xuanmin to stop.
Xue Xian's soul escaped the doll and is now invisible, hiding behind Xuanmin.
Xue Xian begs to stay near Xuanmin, proposing to anchor himself in Xuanmin’s pouch near the golden marble.
Xuanmin agrees and inscribes a talisman with his blood onto the marble, allowing Xue Xian to reside within it.
Xue Xian is now trapped in the marble and unable to move freely, but content to be close to the marble and Xuanmin.
Xuanmin explores their surroundings using the talisman flame and discovers they are in a stone chamber.
They find giant stone statues of tomb guardians—proof the island might actually be a massive tomb.
The tomb guardians are newly carved, within the last three to five years, indicating the tomb is recent.
Xuanmin leads them deeper into the tomb through a half-open stone door and finds beast murals painted with cinnabar.
Cinnabar is typically used to ward off evil, but here it traps the dead, suggesting malicious intent.
Behind the door, they discover two unconscious people: Old Man Liu and Lu Shijiu, Lu Nianqi’s brother.
Lu Shijiu wakes and recognizes Lu Nianqi by touching his features; his blindness is confirmed but subtle.
The brothers' reunion is cold and distant despite their earlier desperation to find each other.
Xuanmin and Xue Xian (in marble form) confirm that Lu Shijiu is the boy they were searching for.
Xue Xian hires Lu Shijiu for divination using the golden marble, and Lu Shijiu identifies four past owners of the marble.
The fifth person is Xuanmin himself, which shocks everyone—especially Xue Xian, who realizes Xuanmin may be amnesiac.
Xuanmin asks Lu Shijiu to divine who gave him a folded paper with the words “Find them” on it.
Lu Shijiu replies that Xuanmin gave it to himself, confirming his memory loss.
The group learns the only path forward is deeper into the tomb, as the way back is blocked.
They reach a vast chamber with night pearls forming the Big Dipper constellation on the ceiling.
The path ahead is made of narrow stone platforms above deep black water; stepping wrong could be fatal.
Lu Shijiu guides the group using his ability to sense qi, but warns Lu Nianqi not to look down.
Lu Nianqi panics, looks down, and freezes; he jumps to a wrong platform, triggering a chain reaction.
The black water roars to life, and waves begin crashing down on the group.
Xuanmin grabs Jiang Shining and Lu Nianqi and sprints across the platforms.
The stone platforms begin to collapse and break, and the water level rises rapidly.
A massive wave knocks the group into the water; Xue Xian's marble falls into the pool and drags Xuanmin with it.
The water is cursed and stings; Xue Xian becomes disoriented, feeling bloated and overheated.
The marble absorbs something buried in the soil—possibly a fragment of Xue Xian’s dragon body.
A whirlpool forms, pulling everyone under and knocking them unconscious.
The tomb chamber is drained completely, revealing hundreds of broken stone statues at the bottom.
Inside each statue is a corpse; the furious ones are headless, the sad ones legless, and the joyful ones handless.
Xue Xian vomits up all the water from the marble; Xuanmin wakes up but seems to suffer from temporary memory loss.
Xuanmin doesn’t recognize Xue Xian and behaves like a different person, hinting at multiple personalities or possession.
Xue Xian spots a strange spider-like mark on Xuanmin’s neck that vanishes when touched.
The mark resembles spider legs emerging from a mole; it disappears after Xuanmin touches it and appears again.
Xue Xian regains some of his spine after absorbing something from the soil; it helps him grow part of his body back.
Xuanmin and Xue Xian examine the statues and deduce that they represent the components of a forbidden feng shui array.
Xuanmin remembers the array as the “Flow of a Hundred Soldiers,” which sacrifices three hundred people for good fortune.
The furious statues represent fierce generals, the sad ones represent suffering commonfolk, and the joyful ones wicked villains.

Chapter 13:
Life Exchange ArrayLu Yuan, a widower, moved to Wolong County 13 years ago with his biological son Lu Nianqi after his wife’s death.
On the way, he found an abandoned, sickly boy, Lu Shijiu, in an old mountain temple and adopted him.
Lu Shijiu had been abandoned by his family due to illness and blindness; Lu Yuan took pity on him and raised him alongside Lu Nianqi.
Lu Nianqi was mischievous and energetic while Lu Shijiu was quiet, withdrawn, and eerie due to his health and blindness.
Although Lu Yuan disciplined Lu Nianqi often, he never laid a hand on Lu Shijiu and cherished him deeply.
Lu Nianqi constantly followed Lu Shijiu around despite Lu Shijiu finding him annoying.
Over time, as Lu Shijiu lost his vision entirely, he began experiencing strange sounds and phenomena.
When Lu Shijiu was 9 and Lu Nianqi 7, Lu Shijiu was drawn to the river by a mysterious sound and fell in after glimpsing a dragon's shadow in the water.
Lu Nianqi jumped in to save him but nearly drowned.
Lu Yuan arrived and had to choose who to save first. He pulled Lu Nianqi ashore, but before he could return for Lu Shijiu, a water vortex pulled him under, and he drowned.
This trauma changed Lu Nianqi, who developed a fear of water and became distant from Lu Shijiu.
Lu Shijiu recounted this story calmly, with no visible emotion, unnerving the listeners.
Xuanmin examined Lu Nianqi’s palm and discovered that someone had unnaturally extended his lifeline at the age of six.
Lu Shijiu admitted he performed a life-exchange spell to lengthen Lu Nianqi’s life, which resulted in Lu Yuan’s death as a price.
Lu Shijiu asked Xuanmin to escort Lu Nianqi safely out of the tomb as one final favor.
When they prepared to leave, Xue Xian and Jiang Shining argued about how to escape the water pit.
They discovered a rusted iron door and forced it open, which woke up the unconscious Lu Nianqi.
Lu Shijiu showed no warmth toward his brother, telling him to walk on his own if he wanted to leave.
As they climbed the stairs to the tomb’s exit, Jiang Shining smelled a faint poisonous aroma and warned everyone.
The scent came from a deadly plant poison called “Seven Climb Eight Descend Nine Pass,” or antiar sap, which was smeared on the walls, floor, and ceiling.
Jiang Shining warned that since everyone was wounded, contact with the sap could be fatal.
Xuanmin realized their walking formation had changed—Lu Nianqi was now behind Lu Shijiu and Old Man Liu without Xuanmin between them.
Lu Nianqi stared intently at Lu Shijiu, suspecting something was wrong.
Lu Shijiu reached the final steps and declared that beyond a stone door was the way out but stated he wasn’t going any further.
He handed Lu Nianqi a bundle of twigs tied with red string and refused to continue.
Lu Nianqi became emotional, trying to convince Lu Shijiu to keep going, and started crying.
Lu Shijiu patted Lu Nianqi’s head and said he was going to find Lu Yuan, their father.
Lu Nianqi rubbed his eyes, but when he looked up, both Lu Shijiu and Old Man Liu had vanished.
Xuanmin found them collapsed by the wall, dead from the poison that entered through wounds on their backs and necks.
Lu Shijiu had drawn a blood array surrounded by specifically-placed copper coins used for a life-exchange ritual.
Xuanmin realized Lu Shijiu had stolen the copper coins Lu Nianqi lost earlier using spiritual energy to perform the ritual.
When Lu Nianqi stepped into the array, it activated—the blood glowed and a wisp of spirit left Lu Shijiu’s body and circled Lu Nianqi, completing the life exchange.
The spirit bowed to Xuanmin in thanks and faded.
Lu Shijiu had traded his life to fully restore Lu Nianqi’s.
His last thought was wondering if his younger brother would cry for him.

Chapter 14:
The Skeletons on the RiverbedAfter the life swap ritual is completed, a wave of yin corpses attacks the group in the tomb.
Xuanmin hesitates to use his copper coins, but eventually activates them with his blood, causing a massive explosion that collapses the tomb and destroys Fentou Island.
The tomb floods with river water, dragging corpses, debris, and the characters into a maelstrom.
Xue Xian, still in marble form, is swept into the chaos but begins to transform after absorbing power; he regains his true dragon body during the storm.
As a dragon, Xue Xian rises into the sky with thunder and lightning, is briefly witnessed by a family, then crashes back into the river due to lingering paralysis in his lower body.
Xue Xian accidentally slams into and knocks out Xuanmin underwater.
Lu Nianqi, Lu Shijiu, and Old Man Liu's bodies float to the surface; Lu Nianqi is found alive and revived by a corpse collector, who is startled.
Xue Xian finds a chained corpse under the river, slices the chain with his claw, and sends the body floating to the surface.
He also finds a massive stone lock with a craftsman's mark, suspecting it's connected to the tomb's feng shui array.
Xue Xian tries to leave the river in human form but transforms back into a dragon after realizing he’s naked.
He disguises himself as a tiny dragon and coils around Xuanmin’s wrist, waiting for him to wake up.
Xuanmin awakens, and Xue Xian helps him recover his memories by guiding him to touch the mole on his neck.
Xuanmin realizes Xue Xian is now in his true dragon form and questions why he’s still hanging around; Xue Xian insists it’s his choice and refuses to leave.
Xue Xian admits internally that being near Xuanmin benefits his recovery and healing.
Xuanmin and Xue Xian investigate the stone lock and chained corpse; they find more iron military tags, suggesting a connection to the tomb.
Lu Nianqi arrives and asks for help, revealing that he can’t see Lu Shijiu anymore, only vague outlines of other people.
Jiang Shining confirms he is a ghost inside a paper doll and explains soul lingering; Lu Nianqi is comforted by this.
Lu Nianqi struggles to walk and admits to feeling pain and bone-deep aches.
Jiang Shining and Xue Xian realize Lu Nianqi has inherited Lu Shijiu’s abilities, particularly spiritual sight, and that his physical suffering is part of the price of the life swap.
Xuanmin confirms this by identifying a mole on Lu Nianqi’s forehead as a mark of a successful life swap.
Lu Nianqi passes out from emotional and physical exhaustion; Xuanmin and Xue Xian decide to stay in the brothers’ home temporarily.
Xuanmin orders a coffin and prepares Lu Shijiu’s funeral arrangements while placing Lu Nianqi to rest.
Xue Xian complains about being naked and demands new clothes; Xuanmin mocks him using his own earlier words.
Xue Xian bites Xuanmin several times in retaliation, leaving multiple marks on his fingers.
Jiang Shining enters and leaves again, unable to bear the ridiculous scene.
Xuanmin prepares to leave to find clothes for Xue Xian, which leads to upcoming complications and developments.

Copper Coins: Tong Qian Kan Shi, Vol. 2

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There's Something Wrong with the Chief: Du Zhu You Bing (Novel) Vol. 1

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Thrice Married to a Salted Fish, Vol. 1

Chapter 1A wedding night takes place at the marquess of Nan’an’s manor, where matrons gossip that the groom Lu Wancheng is extraordinarily handsome but sickly, and that the marriage only happened because Lin Qingyu’s birth bazi was believed to bring fortune and ward off death.
Lin Qingyu is revealed to be the bride, wearing a bridal veil despite being a man, and he is now the legitimate male wife of Lu Wancheng, the heir of the marquess of Nan’an.
After the servants leave, Lin Qingyu removes his own veil and looks at Lu Wancheng, who lies unconscious on the bed in red wedding robes, handsome but pale and clearly very ill.
Lin Qingyu reflects bitterly that he had spent years preparing for the Imperial Academy of Medicine, hoping to become a medical official or physician, but all his plans were destroyed by this forced marriage.
The empress arranged the marriage after learning Lin Qingyu was born at the exact time specified by the imperial preceptor as the only way to save Lu Wancheng’s life, making refusal impossible without endangering the entire Lin family.
Lu Wancheng’s illness is explained: he was predicted to die before age twenty, has been bedridden for years, and recently fell into prolonged delirium, prompting the marquess to seek supernatural help.
Lin Qingyu accepts becoming Lu Wancheng’s wife purely to protect his parents and younger brother, feeling humiliated and resentful, especially after being taught the “ways of a male wife” and prepared like a concubine.
A maid urges Lin Qingyu to serve Lu Wancheng in bed, which fills Lin Qingyu with anger and disgust, though he suppresses it and extinguishes most of the candles.
As a physician, Lin Qingyu examines Lu Wancheng’s condition by taking his pulse and confirms that Lu Wancheng’s vitality is nearly exhausted and that he will not live more than six months.
Lin Qingyu briefly feels relief, thinking that once Lu Wancheng dies, he will finally be free from this marriage.
While Lin Qingyu is checking his pulse, Lu Wancheng unexpectedly stirs and begins to wake up, surprising Lin Qingyu.
Lu Wancheng opens his eyes in confusion and calls Lin Qingyu a beauty, showing inappropriate humor despite his condition.
Lu Wancheng does not recognize Lin Qingyu, nor does he seem to understand where he is or why he is there, suggesting memory confusion or something stranger.
Lin Qingyu realizes Lu Wancheng may have been unaware of the marriage due to his long delirium and introduces himself by name.
Lu Wancheng reacts oddly to Lin Qingyu’s name, calling him “the beautiful imperial physician who died in the Eastern Palace,” which deeply confuses Lin Qingyu.
Lu Wancheng demands a mirror, and upon seeing his own reflection, reacts with shock and curses, as if realizing something is terribly wrong with his situation or identity.
The servants are alerted, and the marquess’s household rushes in, including Physician Zhang, who examines Lu Wancheng and is astonished to find that his pulse has dramatically improved overnight.
Physician Zhang declares Lu Wancheng’s recovery miraculous, saying it is as if new life has been breathed into him, though he only promises a slim chance of survival rather than a full cure.
The marchioness of Nan’an is overjoyed and believes Lin Qingyu’s marriage has saved Lu Wancheng, calling Lin Qingyu her son’s savior and entrusting Lu Wancheng’s future care to him.
Lin Qingyu outwardly smiles and agrees to care for Lu Wancheng, though inwardly he clenches his fists, resentful of being further bound to this role.
The household jokes that Lin Qingyu should call Lu Wancheng “my husband,” deepening Lin Qingyu’s humiliation, before everyone finally leaves the bridal chamber.
Alone again, Lu Wancheng appears thoughtful and conflicted, while Lin Qingyu stands by the window feeling alienated and trapped in his new life.
Lu Wancheng casually addresses Lin Qingyu and explains that he has been thinking things through, including the unfairness of Lin Qingyu becoming a widow after caring for him.
Lu Wancheng states that if he had been conscious earlier, he would not have agreed to the marriage, but acknowledges that it is now irreversible and known throughout the capital.
Lin Qingyu coldly reveals that Lu Wancheng was unconscious during the ceremony and that he had to kneel and perform the rites with a rooster instead of his groom.
Lu Wancheng mocks the situation and tells Lin Qingyu not to take the marriage seriously, stating bluntly that he expects to die within half a year.
Lu Wancheng promises that after his death, Lin Qingyu can take whatever inheritance he gains and return to the Lin family, offering freedom and no resistance from him.
Lu Wancheng ends by describing himself as someone too weak to contend with the deep politics of the manor, saying he only wants to lie low and live like a “salted fish,” closing the chapter with an odd mix of resignation and mystery.

Chapter 2Lin Qingyu listens to Lu Wancheng speak casually about his impending death and realizes that Lu Wancheng truly does not seem afraid of dying.
Lu Wancheng, exhausted and ill, reclines on the bed and teasingly calls Lin Qingyu “Beautiful,” which angers Lin Qingyu due to past harassment, though he notes Lu Wancheng does not behave lewdly.
Lin Qingyu reflects on the humiliation of being forced to wear wedding makeup and vows to remember the indignities imposed by the marquess’s household and the imperial family.
Lin Qingyu decides that since Lu Wancheng is a dying man and their marriage is in name only, he will not hold a grudge against him.
With only one bed in the bridal chamber, Lin Qingyu chooses to sleep on a soft divan and takes an extra quilt from the bed despite the cold weather.
Lu Wancheng briefly wakes when Lin Qingyu takes the quilt, agrees to it, and later comments on Lin Qingyu sleeping in his clothes, prompting Lin Qingyu to undress to nightclothes.
The next morning, servants arrive to wake the couple for the traditional tea-serving ceremony, but Lu Wancheng remains deeply asleep.
Lin Qingyu refuses makeup, changes into plain men’s robes, and orders the wedding trousseau removed, showing his rejection of the marriage’s trappings.
When Lu Wancheng still does not wake, Lin Qingyu examines him and determines he is only sleeping, advising the servants not to disturb him due to his illness.
Lin Qingyu argues that tradition should not outweigh Lu Wancheng’s life and implies that neither of them needs to serve tea if Lu Wancheng is unwell.
A servant reports to Lady Liang, who decides that Lin Qingyu alone serving tea is sufficient, revealing her deep concern for Lu Wancheng.
Lin Qingyu begrudgingly follows orders to attend the tea ceremony and observes the wealth and power of the marquess of Nan’an’s manor.
Lin Qingyu serves tea to the marquess of Nan’an and Lady Liang while imagining poisoning them, highlighting his resentment and suppressed hostility.
Lady Liang speaks kindly and encourages Lin Qingyu to treat the manor as home, while an aunt scolds him for not calling Lady Liang “Mother.”
Lin Qingyu resists changing his form of address, causing displeasure from the marquess of Nan’an, though Lady Liang smooths things over.
Lady Liang explains that Lin Qingyu’s fate matches Lu Wancheng’s and urges him to prioritize Lu Wancheng and care for him on his sickbed.
The marquess of Nan’an orders Lin Qingyu to use his medical skills to assist in Lu Wancheng’s care, reinforcing Lin Qingyu’s confinement to the manor.
Lady Liang gifts Lin Qingyu a jade bracelet originally meant for a future grandson, subtly expressing regret over Lu Wancheng’s inability to have children.
Lin Qingyu concludes that the marquess’s family is irritating and that Lu Wancheng is the only tolerable member among them.
Back at Lanfeng Pavilion, Lin Qingyu checks on Lu Wancheng, intending to examine his unusual pulse rather than out of concern.
Lin Qingyu attempts to take Lu Wancheng’s pulse but is caught when Lu Wancheng grabs his hand and teasingly questions his intentions.
Lu Wancheng openly states that he does not like men and asks Lin Qingyu about his preferences, leaving Lin Qingyu unsettled by the question.
Lin Qingyu admits he does not like men and expresses bitterness about being forced into a warding-off marriage.
Lu Wancheng offers compensation for Lin Qingyu’s grievance, including his inheritance, though Lin Qingyu points out it would still require struggle.
Lin Qingyu insists on examining Lu Wancheng’s pulse and discovers that while his vitality has improved, the root of his illness remains incurable.
Lin Qingyu determines that Lu Wancheng still has no more than half a year to live, as his body continues to consume the fleeting breath of life.
When Lu Wancheng asks if there is hope, Lin Qingyu avoids answering directly, revealing his grim conclusion through silence.
Lu Wancheng calmly remarks that Lin Qingyu should wish for his death to come sooner and states that he does not fear fate or death.
Lu Wancheng jokingly calls Lin Qingyu his future widow and accepts his imminent death as inevitable, leaving Lin Qingyu unable to respond.

Chapter 3Lin Qingyu leaves Lu Wancheng after confirming that Lu Wancheng has no will to live and thinks that the sooner Lu Wancheng dies, the sooner he can return to the Lin residence.
Lin Qingyu returns to the study and reflects on how he came alone to the marquess of Nan’an’s residence with only clothes and medical books, refusing to bring servants because he did not want to treat this marriage as a dowry arrangement.
Lin Qingyu immerses himself in medical books, revealing his eidetic memory, his lifelong devotion to medicine, and his abandoned dream of becoming a medical official in the Department of Imperial Physicians.
Auntie Liu arrives to summon Lin Qingyu to eat and insists that he must dine with Lu Wancheng because Lady Liang believes Lin Qingyu is a lucky charm whose presence will help Lu Wancheng recover.
Lin Qingyu mocks the superstition behind the warding-off marriage and verbally intimidates Auntie Liu, forcing her to retreat after asserting his authority as young lord.
Auntie Liu insists that Lin Qingyu must accompany Lu Wancheng to eat ginseng chicken soup ordered by Lady Liang, and Lin Qingyu criticizes the dish as medically inappropriate for Lu Wancheng’s condition.
Lin Qingyu sends Auntie Liu away with the soup and privately worries that Lady Liang’s repeated nourishing treatments are worsening Lu Wancheng’s chronic illness.
Lin Qingyu decides to observe Lu Wancheng’s rare condition longer, partly out of medical curiosity and partly as an act of karma.
Lin Qingyu goes to the bedroom after learning that Lu Wancheng is eating in bed and tries to warn him not to drink the ginseng chicken soup.
Lin Qingyu discovers that Lu Wancheng has not touched the ginseng chicken soup and learns that Lu Wancheng refuses anything sent by Lady Liang.
Lu Wancheng cryptically implies that his family wants him to die sooner and jokes about having exactly half a year left to live.
Lu Wancheng laughs excessively, coughs, and exposes the fragile state of his health while hinting at a strained and insincere mother-son relationship.
Lu Wancheng offers Lin Qingyu wedding gifts and insists on showing him one item despite Lin Qingyu’s initial refusal.
Hualu presents Lin Qingyu with a leather acupuncture bag, which deeply moves Lin Qingyu because of its professional significance.
Lin Qingyu realizes that among many luxurious wedding gifts, Lu Wancheng deliberately chose the acupuncture bag for him.
Lin Qingyu notices the embroidery reading “Union of Lu and Lin, always of one heart” and questions the meaning of the gift.
Lu Wancheng vaguely says the acupuncture bag is for Lin Qingyu’s future use and avoids directly saying it is meant for treating him.
Lu Wancheng teases Lin Qingyu about being upset and deflects tension with humor while clearly observing Lin Qingyu’s emotions.
Lu Wancheng warns Lin Qingyu that Lady Liang is approaching, correctly deducing that Lin Qingyu ignored her instructions to stay with him.
Lin Qingyu abruptly decides to play along and feeds Lu Wancheng porridge intimately on the bed.
Lady Liang and Auntie Liu rush in expecting to catch Lin Qingyu neglecting Lu Wancheng but instead find the couple appearing harmonious and affectionate.
Lu Wancheng calmly addresses Lady Liang and pretends to be touched by her concern, subtly controlling the situation.
Lady Liang asks whether Lu Wancheng drank the ginseng chicken soup, and Lu Wancheng shifts the blame to Lin Qingyu for stopping him.
Lin Qingyu explains the medical reasoning against ginseng soup, cornering Lady Liang with logic and exposing her ignorance or negligence.
Lu Wancheng deflects responsibility onto Auntie Liu, forcing her to kneel and accept blame for the incident.
Lin Qingyu formally punishes Auntie Liu according to manor rules by fining her salary and sentencing her to hard labor.
Lady Liang reluctantly agrees to the punishment, losing face and authority in front of both Lin Qingyu and Lu Wancheng.
After Lady Liang leaves, Lu Wancheng asks Lin Qingyu why he targeted Auntie Liu so harshly.
Lin Qingyu reveals that Auntie Liu forced him to address Lu Wancheng as husband, which he deeply resented.
Lu Wancheng teases Lin Qingyu for holding grudges and asks how he learned the manor rules so well.
Lin Qingyu states that Auntie Liu repeatedly recited the rules to him and that his perfect memory made him remember them effortlessly.
Lu Wancheng privately admires Lin Qingyu’s intelligence and composure, calling him impressive.

Chapter 4Lin Qingyu realizes before sleeping that he forgot to arrange a bed in the study and considers sleeping at the desk, but Lu Wancheng sends Hualu to call Lin Qingyu back to sleep in their shared room.
Lin Qingyu enters the bedroom unhappy and questions Lu Wancheng about why he is being asked to sleep there despite their agreement not to take the marriage seriously.
Lu Wancheng bluntly explains that he did not intend to sleep together and jokes crudely, which irritates Lin Qingyu and leads to a tense exchange.
Lu Wancheng reveals that he wants Lin Qingyu’s presence because he believes Lin Qingyu’s good fortune eases his physical discomfort.
Lin Qingyu mocks Lu Wancheng for believing in superstition and rejects ideas like souls, spirits, reincarnation, and the imperial preceptor’s claims.
Lu Wancheng insists he has personally experienced things that make him believe, and mentions wanting to meet the imperial preceptor one day.
Lin Qingyu notices that Lu Wancheng had a proper divan prepared with bedding for him, avoiding sharing a bed while still appearing harmonious.
Lin Qingyu decides to sleep on the divan permanently, finding it acceptable and useful for avoiding Lady Liang’s scrutiny.
That night, Lin Qingyu and Lu Wancheng chat awkwardly, discussing their ages, with Lu Wancheng teasing Lin Qingyu about seniority and nicknames.
Lu Wancheng privately remarks that Lin Qingyu is beautiful but ill-tempered and muses that someone like him is strangely not the story’s protagonist.
Lin Qingyu falls asleep and dreams about the Imperial Academy of Medicine, recalling his confidence and dedication before the entrance examination.
In the dream, just as Lin Qingyu is about to enter the examination hall, a eunuch stops him with an imperial edict announcing his marriage to Lu Wancheng.
The dream ends with the academy doors closing on Lin Qingyu, symbolizing the loss of his future as a physician.
Lin Qingyu wakes up distressed and reflects that in reality he was disqualified from the exam and forced into marriage before it even began.
Unable to sleep, Lin Qingyu hears Lu Wancheng groaning in pain and discovers him suffering from palpitations and chest discomfort.
Lin Qingyu treats Lu Wancheng seriously as a patient, giving him calming medicine and performing acupuncture despite Lu Wancheng’s fear of needles.
Lu Wancheng speaks casually about dying again, but Lin Qingyu firmly states that he will not let Lu Wancheng die that night.
The treatment succeeds, Lu Wancheng falls asleep peacefully, and Lin Qingyu stays awake until dawn, relieved.
Lu Wancheng sleeps for over twelve hours the next day, worrying Hualu, while Lin Qingyu notes that excessive sleep may indicate deeper illness.
Lu Wancheng wakes after noon, thanks Lin Qingyu sincerely, and jokes that he would not have known how he died without him.
Lu Wancheng claims he wants to repay Lin Qingyu’s kindness by doing something troublesome for him, which Lin Qingyu dismisses coldly.
Fengqin announces the arrival of Lu Wancheng’s second younger sister, who has come to visit him with handmade kneepads.
Lu Wancheng hesitates and ultimately refuses to see his sister, despite her concern and repeated visits.
Lin Qingyu questions why Lu Wancheng avoids his sister, but Lu Wancheng admits he does not want to put on an act in front of her.
Lu Wancheng instructs Fengqin to tell his sister to treat him as if he were dead, turning away and revealing his loneliness and stubborn resolve.

Chapter 5Lu Wancheng shows slight physical improvement after several days of care but quickly gives up trying to walk, joking that he chooses to give up rather than endure difficulty.
Lin Qingyu is irritated by Lu Wancheng’s defeatist attitude and avoids his room for an entire day.
The day arrives for Lin Qingyu, as the bride, to return to his parental home, and although he dislikes the label, he deeply misses his family.
Lady Liang sends a steward with only two chests of return gifts, explaining that the amount corresponds to Lin Qingyu’s minimal dowry.
Lin Qingyu refuses to take the gifts, stating they should be left for the marquess and marchioness instead.
Hualu worries Lin Qingyu will be gossiped about for returning home empty-handed, but Lin Qingyu does not care about public opinion.
The narrative explains that although homosexuality is accepted in Great Yu, Lin Qingyu’s marriage to Lu Wancheng is abnormal because men cannot be main wives under the law.
Lin Qingyu is infamous in the capital as the first man made a wife by imperial decree.
Lin Qingyu departs alone after being told that Lu Wancheng is too ill to accompany him, which Lin Qingyu says was never his intention anyway.
On the way, Lin Qingyu stops at Yongxing Street and personally buys wine, candied fruit, and snacks as gifts for his family.
Lin Qingyu arrives home and is warmly greeted by his mother, his servant Huantong, and his six-year-old brother Lin Qinghe.
Lin Qingyu reassures his mother that Lu Wancheng did not come and repeats Lu Wancheng’s remark about being treated as dead.
Lin Qingyu learns that his father is hosting his student Tan Qizhi, which displeases him.
Lin Qingyu reunites with his father, who is quietly happy to see him.
Tan Qizhi is surprised that Lu Wancheng did not accompany Lin Qingyu and subtly implies this is improper.
Tan Qizhi openly scrutinizes Lin Qingyu’s appearance and mocks his plain clothing despite his noble marital status.
Lin Qingyu sharply retorts by mocking Tan Qizhi’s flashy attire and likening him to a noble family’s male wife.
Tan Qizhi asks to see Lin Qingyu’s return gifts, clearly expecting something extravagant.
Lin Qingyu presents only two jars of wine and mentions candied fruit, embarrassing Tan Qizhi.
Lin Qinghe happily thanks Lin Qingyu for the candied fruit, undermining Tan Qizhi’s attempts at ridicule.
Tan Qizhi suggests Lin Qingyu is hiding better gifts, which Lin Qingyu’s father rebukes.
Tan Qizhi claims propriety forbids him from drinking with Lin Qingyu now that Lin Qingyu is married.
Lin Qingyu turns Tan Qizhi’s argument around and directly orders him to leave as an outsider.
Tan Qizhi attempts to stay by claiming he has another request to make.
A steward suddenly announces that Lin Qingyu’s son-in-law has arrived, revealing Lu Wancheng’s unexpected appearance.
Lin Qingyu is shocked and goes out to greet Lu Wancheng, accompanied by his parents and Tan Qizhi to avoid rumors.
Lu Wancheng appears in a wheelchair, dressed elegantly and visibly healthier than before.
Lu Wancheng lightly teases Lin Qingyu for not bringing him along.
Lu Wancheng stands with assistance and formally greets Lin Qingyu’s parents with perfect courtesy.
Lin Qinghe openly admires Lu Wancheng’s looks, which Lin Qingyu immediately denies.
Lu Wancheng sits back down and acknowledges Tan Qizhi, deliberately pretending not to remember the name of Tan Qizhi’s apothecary to humiliate him.
Lin Qingyu sends his family inside due to the cold and stays behind with Lu Wancheng.
Lin Qingyu questions Lu Wancheng’s motives, sensing this behavior is unusual.
Lu Wancheng admits it took great effort to come and claims he did so to support Lin Qingyu and repay him for medical treatment.
Lin Qingyu bluntly states he is not touched and suggests Lu Wancheng should leave.
Lu Wancheng reacts with mock despair, ending the chapter on a note of dry humor.

Chapter 6Lu Wancheng arrives at the Lin residence looking dramatic despite only waking early and riding in a wheelchair, which Lin Qingyu internally mocks.
Lin Qingyu is annoyed that both Tan Qizhi and Lu Wancheng have appeared, ruining his chance to quietly eat with his family.
Lu Wancheng initially plans to leave after delivering gifts but is pulled into the house when Lin Qinghe calls them inside.
Lu Wancheng insists on following etiquette by greeting Lin Qingyu’s parents and is given a seat at the table.
Lu Wancheng claims he cannot eat and must leave due to poor health, prompting Lin Qingyu’s mother to invite him to rest instead.
Lu Wancheng deliberately hints at being ill so Lin Qingyu’s father will examine him, while Lin Qingyu pretends not to notice.
Lu Wancheng secretly stays mainly because he wants to eat the plum-blossom cake, which Lin Qingyu believes despite finding it ridiculous.
Lin Qingyu directly asks Tan Qizhi why he is still present since Lin Qingyu cannot drink with him.
Tan Qizhi argues that Lu Wancheng should be open-minded and allow drinking, and Lu Wancheng agrees on the surface.
Lu Wancheng subtly drives Tan Qizhi away by questioning whether Tan Qizhi’s wife would be offended by him drinking with a married male couple.
Tan Qizhi is forced to leave awkwardly, realizing Lu Wancheng is deliberately pushing him out.
Lu Wancheng reveals he brought five carriages of gifts Lin Qingyu forgot, further humiliating Tan Qizhi.
Lin Qingyu and Lu Wancheng whisper during the meal, appearing intimate to Lin Qingyu’s parents despite privately bickering.
Lu Wancheng suggests the gifts be sold for silver after his death, joking about Lin Qingyu enjoying his inheritance, which Lin Qingyu accepts pragmatically.
Lin Qingyu’s father examines Lu Wancheng and confirms his illness is congenital and incurable, advising rest and caution.
Lin Qingyu privately confirms Lu Wancheng has about half a year left to live.
Lin Qingyu’s father admits there is a method to extend Lu Wancheng’s life by another half year at the cost of great suffering.
Lin Qingyu internally decides he does not want Lu Wancheng to live longer, wanting the marriage to end sooner.
Lin Qingyu’s mother asks if Lu Wancheng treats him well, and Lin Qingyu dismisses the marriage as a six-month farce.
Tan Qizhi later corners Lin Qingyu under the excuse of losing a jade pendant and brings up the Imperial Academy of Medicine exam.
Tan Qizhi deliberately needles Lin Qingyu about his inability to take the exam, while Lin Qingyu mocks Tan Qizhi’s past failure.
Tan Qizhi asks to borrow Lin Qingyu’s medical books, implying Lin Qingyu no longer needs them.
Lin Qingyu coldly refuses, insults Tan Qizhi’s ability, and has him sent away.
Lin Qingyu prepares to return to the marquess’s residence with snacks packed by his mother, including plum-blossom cakes for Lu Wancheng.
Lin Qingyu finds Lu Wancheng awake and lazing in bed, pretending to be helpless due to the cold.
Lin Qingyu yanks away Lu Wancheng’s quilt, refusing to indulge him, and Lu Wancheng cheerfully complies.
Lin Qingyu vents his frustration about Tan Qizhi being allowed to take the medical exam while he cannot.
Lu Wancheng reassures Lin Qingyu that Tan Qizhi is insignificant and jokes about dying faster so Lin Qingyu can be widowed before the exam.
Lu Wancheng gently encourages Lin Qingyu not to compare himself to others, leaving Lin Qingyu momentarily speechless.

Chapter 7Lin Qingyu and Lu Wancheng finish packing, bid farewell to Lin Qingyu’s parents, and return together to the marquess of Nan’an’s manor, with the entire Lin household seeing them off.
Lin Qingyu reflects that returning home is rare and difficult for him because he needs Lady Liang’s permission and can only visit a few times each year, which makes the farewell especially emotional.
Lin Qingyu’s mother is reluctant to let him go, Lin Qinghe clings to him, and Huantong cries the hardest because Lin Qingyu is the center of his life and purpose.
Huantong begs to follow Lin Qingyu back to the marquess’s manor, and Lin Qingyu’s mother supports this, worrying that Lin Qingyu has no one he can fully trust there.
Lin Qingyu agrees to take Huantong with him, which turns Huantong’s tears into joy.
Lin Qingyu informs Lu Wancheng about bringing Huantong along, and Lu Wancheng casually approves, saying it will be nice to have another boy at Lanfeng Pavilion.
Lin Qingyu worries that Huantong will be trapped in the inner chambers like himself, while Lu Wancheng cheerfully claims the inner chambers are paradise for someone like him.
Lin Qingyu dismisses Lu Wancheng’s attitude, stating that people on different paths cannot plan together.
Lin Qinghe sweetly says goodbye to both Lin Qingyu and Lu Wancheng, and Lu Wancheng notes with amusement that Lin Qinghe seems to like him.
Lin Qingyu bluntly says Lin Qinghe judges people by appearance and implies that Lu Wancheng is only “all right,” which still surprises Lu Wancheng.
Lu Wancheng jokingly calls Lin Qingyu the “number one beauty,” and Lin Qingyu seriously argues that such rankings are illogical and impossible to prove.
Lu Wancheng speaks nonsense about someone who has seen everything and ranked their looks, which Lin Qingyu dismisses as absurd and ignores.
Lin Qingyu worries that Lady Liang will know about the many gifts sent to the Lin family and may indirectly pressure him about them, which irritates him.
After returning to the manor, Huantong pushes Lu Wancheng’s wheelchair as they head toward Lanfeng Pavilion, but Lu Wancheng insists they should first greet Lady Liang.
Lin Qingyu questions Lu Wancheng’s sudden filial behavior, suspecting ulterior motives because Lu Wancheng usually avoids Lady Liang.
They visit Lady Liang, who feels sorry for Lu Wancheng’s illness and says he did not need to accompany Lin Qingyu home.
Lu Wancheng jokingly suggests Lin Qingyu should be punished for leaving without him, but Lady Liang sides with Lin Qingyu and dismisses the idea.
Lu Wancheng subtly brings up the return gifts, explaining he chose them from his birth mother’s dowry, and Lady Liang calmly says he may use them as he wishes.
Lin Qingyu recalls rumors about Lu Wancheng’s background, including his powerful birth mother who died in childbirth and Lady Liang raising him as her own.
After leaving Lady Liang’s courtyard, Lu Wancheng collapses into bed from exhaustion, while Lin Qingyu rests behind the screen in their room.
Lin Qingyu comments that Lu Wancheng is not stupid, and Lu Wancheng admits he can force himself to do things he hates if they are good for him.
Lin Qingyu asks about Lu Wancheng’s education despite his lifelong illness, but Lu Wancheng falls asleep before answering.
As the weather warms, Lu Wancheng’s health improves, and he no longer needs a wheelchair, spending his days enjoying leisurely amusements.
Lin Qingyu studies a prescription written by his father and debates whether to give it to Lu Wancheng because it contains harsh, toxic ingredients.
Lu Wancheng walks outside with his pet bird, Huantong, and several maids, whose laughter and chirping disrupt Lin Qingyu’s concentration.
Lin Qingyu coldly asks Lu Wancheng to quiet the bird, while Lu Wancheng invites him to take a break and enjoy the day.
Lin Qingyu refuses, claiming he will forget his ambitions if he stops working, and shuts the window firmly.
Lu Wancheng remarks that Lin Qingyu is boring, while Huantong defends Lin Qingyu by saying he was different at the Lin residence.
A loud crash comes from the study, and everyone finds Lin Qingyu injured after missing a step while putting away books.
Lin Qingyu insists he is fine but admits he sprained something and asks to be helped to the bedroom for medicine.
Lu Wancheng impulsively tries to carry Lin Qingyu despite his weak body, nearly collapsing and making the situation worse.
Huantong easily carries Lin Qingyu instead, highlighting the contrast between Lu Wancheng’s intentions and physical limits.
Lu Wancheng watches this, laughs bitterly, and curses in frustration, revealing his shaken emotions and helplessness.

Chapter 8Huantong carries Lin Qingyu back to the bedroom after he sprains his ankle and sets him on a divan.
Lin Qingyu orders Huantong to fetch the medicine chest and personally applies sprain treatment to his ankle, enduring the pain without calling a physician.
Hualu worries about Lin Qingyu’s injury, but Huantong insists Lin Qingyu himself is the best physician.
Lin Qingyu refuses help with massage and instructs Hualu to prepare a cold compress, showing his medical discipline.
Lin Qingyu notices Lu Wancheng sitting silently and asks if he is hurt, but Lu Wancheng instead worries about Lin Qingyu’s sprain.
Lin Qingyu says the sprain would have healed faster if Lu Wancheng had not thrown him earlier, embarrassing Lu Wancheng.
Lu Wancheng offers his wheelchair to Lin Qingyu, but Lin Qingyu refuses and instead relies on Huantong’s assistance.
Hualu remarks on Lin Qingyu’s appearance while injured, and Lu Wancheng calls him a “war-torn beauty” while watching him closely.
That night, Lu Wancheng cannot sleep and sighs repeatedly, disturbing Lin Qingyu while he reads.
Lu Wancheng admits he is upset because he could not lift Lin Qingyu earlier, which deeply frustrates him.
Lin Qingyu bluntly explains that Lu Wancheng’s body is weak and that he should understand his limits instead of comparing himself to others.
Lu Wancheng argues emotionally and compares himself to Huantong, only to be mocked when Lin Qingyu throws his own words back at him.
Lin Qingyu smiles playfully for the first time, surprising Lu Wancheng and making him see Lin Qingyu’s inner beauty.
Lu Wancheng gently asks if Lin Qingyu is still in pain and suggests they share the bed since Lin Qingyu is also injured.
Lin Qingyu repeatedly refuses, claiming Lu Wancheng has terrible sleeping habits and might crush his hair.
Lu Wancheng relents after Lin Qingyu threatens to medically silence him for three days.
Lady Liang sends a maid to inquire about Lin Qingyu’s injury, maintaining appearances.
A maid from Concubine Pan delivers ointment patches said to be effective for sprains.
Lin Qingyu confirms the ointment is good but hesitates to accept it because he has never met Concubine Pan and does not want to owe her.
Lu Wancheng accepts the ointment on Lin Qingyu’s behalf and claims Concubine Pan is timid and trustworthy.
Lin Qingyu reflects that among everyone in the manor, only Lu Wancheng is someone he truly trusts.
Lu Wancheng reveals that the acupuncture bag Lin Qingyu once rejected was actually made by Concubine Pan as a wedding gift.
Lu Wancheng tries to apply the ointment patch to Lin Qingyu’s ankle, but Lin Qingyu forcefully escapes and leaves the room.
Lin Qingyu’s sprain heals after three days of rest.
Lu Wancheng replaces the laughingthrush with a myna bird that loudly imitates words, driving Lin Qingyu away from Lanfeng Pavilion.
Lin Qingyu goes to dry herbs in a garden with Huantong, enjoying the peace and spring weather.
Huantong remarks that life in the marquess’s manor is happier than expected and that Lu Wancheng treats Lin Qingyu well.
Lu Niantao, Lu Wancheng’s half sister, approaches Lin Qingyu and greets him politely as Sister-in-Law.
Lin Qingyu is uncomfortable with the address but maintains courtesy in front of servants.
Lu Niantao notices the herbs and assumes Lin Qingyu is preparing medicine for Lu Wancheng.
Lu Niantao warns that only Physician Zhang should decide what medicine Lu Wancheng takes, subtly questioning Lin Qingyu’s authority.
Huantong tries to defend Lin Qingyu’s medical skill but is silenced by Lin Qingyu.
Lin Qingyu coldly states the herbs are not for Lu Wancheng and leaves, ending the conversation.
Back at Lanfeng Pavilion, Lu Wancheng annoys Lin Qingyu by parading the myna bird while it shouts “Physician Lin.”
Lin Qingyu threatens to kill the bird and turn it into soup, forcing Lu Wancheng to back down.
The two exchange dark jokes about death, graves, and burning paper money.
Lin Qingyu tells Lu Wancheng about his encounter with Lu Niantao and questions why Lu Wancheng avoids her.
Lu Wancheng claims the stars told him Lu Niantao is not a good person and that he should stay away from her.
Lin Qingyu quietly reflects on Lu Wancheng’s words, ending the chapter with suspicion and unresolved tension.

Chapter 9Lin Qingyu goes every morning to Lady Liang’s room out of obligation as a daughter-in-law and endures polite but strained interactions to avoid giving her fault to pick at.
Lady Liang brings up that a wife’s most important duty is bearing children, indirectly pressuring Lin Qingyu despite knowing he cannot do so.
Lin Qingyu coldly suggests divorce so Lu Wancheng can marry someone capable of giving children, which Lady Liang dismisses by calling Lin Qingyu Lu Wancheng’s lucky charm.
Lady Liang shifts the topic to household management, saying Lin Qingyu should assist Lu Wancheng by taking charge of the manor’s affairs.
Lin Qingyu mocks Lu Wancheng’s lack of real worries and directly mentions Lu Wancheng’s illness, making Lady Liang uncomfortable.
Lady Liang insists Physician Zhang will handle Lu Wancheng’s illness, but Lin Qingyu reminds her that he was ordered to oversee Lu Wancheng’s health.
Lady Liang flatters Lin Qingyu’s intelligence and memory, arguing that capable people should shoulder more responsibility.
Auntie Liu appears and presents Lin Qingyu with thick account books for the manor’s finances.
Lin Qingyu notes that Auntie Liu has visibly aged from hard labor, subtly reminding her of past punishment.
Lady Liang gives Lin Qingyu three days to sort out the accounts, framing it as a sign of trust and favor.
Lin Qingyu realizes refusing would make him look ungrateful and accepts all the account books.
After Lin Qingyu leaves, Lady Liang reveals to Auntie Liu that she never intended to give up real control of the household.
Lady Liang explains she investigated Lin Qingyu and learned he has no real experience with accounts, believing he cannot balance medicine and accounting.
Lady Liang orders servants skilled in accounting not to help Lin Qingyu, ensuring his failure.
Lu Wancheng sleeps until noon and complains of a headache, which Lin Qingyu diagnoses as oversleeping.
Lin Qingyu massages Lu Wancheng’s temples but abruptly stops when reminded of his workload.
Lin Qingyu sarcastically comments that Lu Wancheng has an excellent stepmother, hinting at Lady Liang’s scheme.
Lu Wancheng learns about Lady Liang forcing the accounts on Lin Qingyu and reacts with amused indifference.
Lin Qingyu spends the afternoon grinding herbs while Lu Wancheng lounges in the sun, their contrasting temperaments on display.
Lin Qingyu mentions preparing a medicine that is effective but causes kidney deficiency, unsettling Lu Wancheng.
Late at night, Lin Qingyu begins reviewing the account books and discovers they are messy, incomplete, and deliberately difficult.
Lin Qingyu works past midnight, exhausting himself despite sore eyes and poor lighting.
Lu Wancheng visits the study and urges Lin Qingyu to rest, showing unexpected concern.
Lin Qingyu tries to rope Lu Wancheng into helping with the accounts, causing Lu Wancheng to flee while pretending his head hurts.
Lu Wancheng returns, blows out the lamp, grabs Lin Qingyu’s wrist, and tells him to leave the accounts to him.
Lin Qingyu refuses, stating that Lady Liang would accuse him of neglecting his husband if Lu Wancheng helped.
Lu Wancheng argues that Lady Liang’s schemes should be his responsibility, not Lin Qingyu’s.
Lin Qingyu insists on handling it himself and tells Lu Wancheng to focus only on his illness.
Lu Wancheng jokingly claims he cannot sleep without Lin Qingyu, but Lin Qingyu shows no sympathy.
Lin Qingyu barely sleeps and resumes working on the accounts early the next morning.
A man named Zhang Shiquan arrives, sent by Lu Wancheng through the duke of Wen.
Zhang Shiquan identifies that the account books have been tampered with and offers to finish them alone in one day.
Lin Qingyu accepts Zhang Shiquan’s help, recognizing professional expertise.
Lin Qingyu goes looking for Lu Wancheng and finds him gambling at pitch-pot with maids, acting like a carefree wastrel.
Watching Lu Wancheng laugh and waste money, Lin Qingyu suddenly feels that he truly understands Lu Wancheng for the first time.

Chapter 10Zhang Shiquan, an experienced accountant chosen by the Duke of Wen, finishes organizing a full month of account books in a single day and confidently claims he has never made a mistake.
Lin Qingyu thanks Zhang Shiquan, while Lu Wancheng rewards him with silver and asks him to remain in the Marquis of Nan’an’s residence in case further accounting issues arise.
After Zhang Shiquan leaves, Lu Wancheng immediately relaxes and complains that Lin Qingyu did not trust him to handle the accounts personally.
Lin Qingyu points out that Lu Wancheng indeed did not do the work himself, leading to playful but sharp banter about relying on others for life tasks.
Lu Wancheng jokingly twists the conversation into crude humor about having children without effort, which angers and embarrasses Lin Qingyu, who calls him hopeless.
The day arrives for Lady Liang to inspect the household accounts, and she prepares carefully while Auntie Liu complains bitterly about her prior punishment working in the garden.
Lady Liang reassures Auntie Liu that she was wronged and hints that today will be a turning point in her favor.
Lu Niantao arrives early to accompany Lady Liang, but Lin Qingyu does not appear on time, prompting Auntie Liu to mock him as an ill-mannered male wife.
Lu Niantao cautions Auntie Liu to mind her words and suggests waiting longer before judging Lin Qingyu.
Lin Qingyu and Lu Wancheng arrive together, surprising Lu Niantao and unsettling Lady Liang, who feels increasingly threatened by Lu Wancheng’s improving health.
Lady Liang reflects internally on how she arranged Lu Wancheng’s warding-off marriage expecting his death, only to see him recover under Lin Qingyu’s care, which fills her with fear and regret.
Lu Niantao reassures Lady Liang that rationality and fairness will protect her position, while Auntie Liu confidently believes Lin Qingyu will fail the accounting test.
Lin Qingyu wheels Lu Wancheng into the hall, and Lu Wancheng bluntly defends Lin Qingyu’s lateness, silencing Auntie Liu.
Lu Niantao expresses concern that Lu Wancheng cannot walk, but Lin Qingyu calmly explains that Lu Wancheng is simply lazy and sleepy.
Lin Qingyu immediately presents the organized account books to Lady Liang through Huantong, without engaging in further pleasantries.
Lady Liang grows suspicious because Lin Qingyu appeared too busy with medicine to complete the accounts, yet she is shocked by how clean, detailed, and professional the books are.
Auntie Liu nearly loses composure, while Lady Liang realizes the accounts are superior even to those prepared by the marquess’s own accountant.
Lu Niantao hints that an outside helper must have been involved, but Lu Wancheng calmly explains that his grandfather sent someone to assist, shutting down suspicion.
Lu Niantao publicly praises Lin Qingyu and suggests Lady Liang can safely hand over household authority to him, while Lu Wancheng adds that Lady Liang deserves a leisurely life.
Lu Niantao proposes testing Lin Qingyu’s memory, and Lady Liang agrees, hoping to find a flaw.
Lin Qingyu confidently answers detailed questions about businesses, farms, profits, and losses entirely from memory, even referencing Lady Liang’s ancestral home.
Lady Liang is forced to admit that Lin Qingyu’s answers are all correct, while Lu Wancheng watches him with open pride.
Lu Wancheng dismisses Lin Qingyu, claiming he has private matters to discuss with Lady Liang, and Lin Qingyu leaves without protest.
Alone with Lady Liang, Lu Wancheng asks her to help him stand, reversing their usual power dynamic and making her feel physically and emotionally smaller.
Lu Wancheng calmly claims his illness is terminal, says Lin Qingyu cannot save him, and implies he has less than half a year left to live.
He states that he only wants to eat, drink, and admire beauties in his remaining time, while advancing toward Lady Liang until she is forced to retreat.
Auntie Liu attempts to intervene but is silenced by Lu Wancheng’s cold authority, terrifying her and the other servants into submission.
Under intense pressure, Lady Liang panics and finally agrees to Lu Wancheng’s request, effectively conceding control.
Lu Wancheng thanks Lady Liang politely, sealing his dominance in the exchange.
Back at Lanfeng Pavilion, Lu Wancheng returns coughing and exhausted, and Lin Qingyu notices his condition worsening despite the warm weather.
Lu Wancheng dismisses it as the result of being too aggressive earlier, while Lin Qingyu checks his pulse with concern.
Lu Wancheng immediately reverts to childish behavior, complaining about being sleepy, which leaves Lin Qingyu exasperated and speechless.

Chapter 11Lin Qingyu realizes something is wrong when Lu Wancheng starts coughing, and by the next day Lu Wancheng develops a high fever and falls into a deep, unresponsive sleep.
The servants of Lanfeng Pavilion are accustomed to Lu Wancheng’s fluctuating health, knowing that even minor illnesses can be life-threatening due to his long-standing condition.
Lin Qingyu diagnoses Lu Wancheng with a cold but understands internally that Lu Wancheng’s weakened body makes even a cold dangerous.
Physician Zhang arrives with his new disciple Tan Qizhi, who greets Lin Qingyu with false familiarity.
Lin Qingyu deliberately humiliates Tan Qizhi by forcing him to wait outside in the sun while only allowing Physician Zhang to examine Lu Wancheng.
Tan Qizhi reveals his jealousy, mocking Lin Qingyu for being trapped in the manor as Lu Wancheng’s spouse and caretaker instead of pursuing the Imperial Academy of Medicine examination.
Lin Qingyu sees through Tan Qizhi’s hostility as jealousy and dismisses him as insignificant.
Physician Zhang confirms the diagnosis of a cold and prescribes ordinary medicine before leaving.
Lin Qingyu considers modifying the prescription for better effectiveness but ultimately lets Hualu prepare it as written.
While Lu Wancheng remains unconscious, Lin Qingyu continues his daily routines but reflects coldly on Lu Wancheng’s inevitable death.
Lin Qingyu prepares a complex pill meant to strengthen Lu Wancheng’s body, insisting on handling the process himself.
Lin Qingyu overhears maids gossiping that Lady Liang has not visited Lu Wancheng due to a quarrel involving Lin Qingyu.
Lin Qingyu ignores the gossip and orders Huantong to retrieve Lady Liang’s monthly household account book under the pretense of helping her.
Lady Liang feels relieved upon hearing of Lu Wancheng’s illness and believes Lin Qingyu cannot save him.
Auntie Liu encourages Lady Liang to act against Lin Qingyu, warning her that Lin Qingyu may seize control of the household.
Despite hesitation and fear of Lu Wancheng, Lady Liang agrees to send the account book to Lanfeng Pavilion.
Lin Qingyu asks Zhang Shiquan to examine the accounts, who notes that more months are needed to find irregularities.
Lin Qingyu requests additional account books from previous months.
On the third day, Lu Wancheng’s fever subsides, but he remains unconscious and extremely weak.
When Lu Wancheng resists drinking medicine in his sleep, Lin Qingyu personally takes over feeding him.
Lin Qingyu is summoned by Lady Liang before he can finish, forcing him to leave Lu Wancheng.
Lady Liang accuses Lin Qingyu of losing a crucial page from the household accounts related to restaurant revenues.
Steward Wang theatrically claims he deserves death for the missing page, which Lin Qingyu mocks without sympathy.
Auntie Liu and Lady Liang imply that the page went missing after Huantong returned the account book, shifting blame onto Lin Qingyu.
Lin Qingyu agrees calmly to return to Lanfeng Pavilion to search for the missing page.
Upon returning, Lin Qingyu discovers that Lu Wancheng has awakened and is joking with the maids.
Lu Wancheng speaks weakly but cheerfully, describing his repeated brushes with illness and recovery.
Lin Qingyu scolds Lu Wancheng for acting spoiled and then apologizes for his sharp tone, blaming accumulated frustration.
Lu Wancheng teasingly asks if Lin Qingyu is disappointed that he failed to die.
Lin Qingyu replies that he is slightly disappointed, and Lu Wancheng laughs, apologizing for surviving.

Chapter 12Lin Qingyu reflects on Lu Wancheng’s apology and realizes he no longer clearly understands his own intentions, since although he once wished for Lu Wancheng’s early death to free himself, he has recently worked seriously on medicine that could extend Lu Wancheng’s life by up to six months.
Lin Qingyu internally admits that the medicine is not true salvation and questions whether extending Lu Wancheng’s life even matters, given Lu Wancheng’s indifference toward life and death.
Lu Wancheng jokes about not committing suicide because he fears being forced into hard labor as a ghost, which slightly eases Lin Qingyu’s tension.
Lu Wancheng remains extremely weak, survives only on liquids, and spends his waking hours reading novellas and forcing Lin Qingyu to listen to him tell stories before sleeping.
Lin Qingyu explains that servants are searching Lanfeng Pavilion for a supposedly missing page from an account book, which Lu Wancheng immediately recognizes as an opportunity for Lin Qingyu to fight for inheritance power.
Lin Qingyu confirms he deliberately ordered a search for a nonexistent page, revealing that both he and Lu Wancheng are thinking strategically.
Lu Wancheng jokingly proposes becoming sworn brothers with Lin Qingyu, but Lin Qingyu bluntly refuses, reminding him that they are already married.
The servants fail to find the missing page, and Lady Liang and Auntie Liu accuse Lin Qingyu of negligence, insisting the page must have been lost in Lanfeng Pavilion.
Lin Qingyu calmly accepts blame without resistance, which unsettles Lady Liang and disrupts her expectations.
Lady Liang pretends generosity, decides not to trouble the Marquess of Nan’an, and frames the incident as a minor oversight to avoid appearing petty.
Lin Qingyu is given another stack of account books to manage, while Lady Liang positions herself as his protector to maintain moral authority.
Lin Qingyu has Zhang Shiquan guard the account books carefully, locking them away and counting pages repeatedly to prevent further accusations.
When Lin Qingyu reports back, Lady Liang deliberately claims another page is missing, this time page twenty-six, despite Lin Qingyu’s certainty that it was intact.
Auntie Liu confirms the book has only 119 pages instead of 120, escalating the accusation and making Lin Qingyu appear incompetent.
Lady Liang warns Lin Qingyu that she cannot protect him repeatedly and suggests he abandon household management to care for the sick Lu Wancheng instead.
Lin Qingyu refuses to retreat and openly asks for another chance, revealing his ambition to retain control over household affairs.
Lady Liang recognizes Lin Qingyu’s desire for inheritance power and decides to remove him from bookkeeping while assigning him the dangerous task of preparing a birthday gift for Noble Consort Chen.
Lady Liang explains the political sensitivity of gift-giving to the crown prince’s mother and sets strict rules to trap Lin Qingyu into making a mistake.
Lin Qingyu accepts the task despite knowing the risks and his lack of direct contact with the Eastern Palace.
Back in Lanfeng Pavilion, Lu Wancheng deliberately finishes his medicine quickly upon seeing Lin Qingyu to avoid being scolded.
Lin Qingyu deduces that someone loyal to Lady Liang stole the page at the last moment, and Lu Wancheng casually identifies Fengqin as a likely culprit.
Lu Wancheng explains that nearly everyone in Lanfeng Pavilion answers to Lady Liang, revealing his sharp observational skills and surprising Lin Qingyu.
Lin Qingyu chooses not to confront Lady Liang, deciding instead to let her continue her schemes so he can respond on his own terms.
Lu Wancheng openly acknowledges Lin Qingyu’s darker thoughts and expresses amusement and admiration, calling him beautiful even when doing bad things.
Lin Qingyu realizes that Lu Wancheng understands him more deeply than anyone else, becoming an unexpected confidant despite his frail and lazy demeanor.
Late at night, Lu Wancheng wakes coughing and finds Lin Qingyu standing alone by the window, appearing cold, distant, and luminous.
Lin Qingyu questions whether Lu Wancheng would still admire him if his “bad deeds” involved poisoning or killing someone.
Lu Wancheng reacts with excitement rather than fear and affirms that he would still find Lin Qingyu beautiful, explicitly stating that he loves the way Lin Qingyu looks when he uses poison.

Chapter 13The Great Yu Empire’s crown prince, the emperor’s eldest son, has ruled the Eastern Palace for three years, and his birth mother Noble Consort Chen is preparing to receive birthday congratulations from all titled noblewomen.
Lady Liang orders Lin Qingyu to prepare a birthday gift for Noble Consort Chen that matches past gifts in value without appearing to curry favor or offend the empress.
Lin Qingyu reviews the residence storerooms and notes that valuable items like the mutton-fat jade scepters and a thousand-year-old ginseng are no longer there.
Lin Qingyu selects several items and brings them to Lanfeng Pavilion to examine them carefully.
Lu Wancheng becomes unusually concerned when he hears the gift is for Noble Consort Chen and warns Lin Qingyu to be cautious of Lady Liang’s intentions.
Lady Liang wakes early on the birthday morning, learns that the marquess stayed with Concubine Pan, and suppresses her irritation.
Lady Liang summons the marquess to breakfast and emphasizes the political importance of Noble Consort Chen’s birthday gift.
Lady Liang arranges for Lin Qingyu to present the prepared gift to the marquess for inspection.
Lin Qingyu presents a rolled ancient painting as the gift, which enrages the marquess.
The marquess recognizes the painting as a priceless family heirloom once admired by the emperor and accuses Lin Qingyu of nearly causing a political disaster.
Lady Liang pretends shock and supports the accusation that Lin Qingyu acted recklessly.
Lin Qingyu calmly claims that he chose the painting under Lady Liang’s instructions to match previous gifts in value.
Lin Qingyu mentions the mutton-fat jade scepters supposedly bestowed by the crown prince, which Lady Liang and the marquess deny ever receiving.
Lin Qingyu produces the account book Lady Liang gave him, which now lacks any record of the jade scepters.
Lady Liang claims Lin Qingyu mishandled the books and hints that missing pages are due to his negligence.
The marquess orders Lin Qingyu punished for intentionally endangering the household.
Lin Qingyu questions why account books keep losing pages after being handled in Lanfeng Pavilion.
Auntie Liu suddenly collapses, writhing in agony, followed shortly by Fengqin suffering the same symptoms.
Lin Qingyu reveals that the missing page mentioning the jade scepters was coated with a special poison to catch the culprit removing pages.
Lin Qingyu explains that the poison causes unbearable itching and pustules but is not fatal.
Lin Qingyu states that Auntie Liu and Fengqin touching the poisoned page proves their involvement.
Auntie Liu confesses that Lady Liang ordered her to burn the missing pages.
Lady Liang denies everything and accuses Lin Qingyu of framing her through cruelty.
Lin Qingyu suggests questioning Steward Wang, who was not poisoned, to uncover the truth.
The marquess orders Auntie Liu and Fengqin taken away and later personally interrogates Steward Wang.
Lady Liang is made to kneel in the ancestral hall all night and falls ill the next day.
The marquess entrusts household authority to Lin Qingyu and Concubine Pan, marking Lady Liang’s loss of power.
Lu Wancheng’s health improves slightly, and Lin Qingyu changes his daily medicine prescription.
Lu Wancheng initially reacts badly to the new medicine but quickly realizes Lin Qingyu would not poison him.
Lin Qingyu admits the new medicine can extend Lu Wancheng’s life by six months and ease his final suffering.
Lin Qingyu reflects on his duty as a physician and his regret over missing the Imperial Academy of Medicine exam.
Lu Wancheng thanks Lin Qingyu sincerely, showing emotional closeness despite his usual joking demeanor.
Lin Qingyu coldly tells Lu Wancheng that he will never be strong enough to lift him, no matter how long he lives.

Chapter 14Lin Qingyu becomes one of the two people in charge of the household’s affairs, causing servants to fear him due to rumors of poisoning and to report even trivial matters to him.
Lin Qingyu is annoyed by managing mundane affairs but accepts control over important matters and asks Lu Wancheng to appoint trustworthy stewards to help manage the residence.
Lu Wancheng teases Lin Qingyu about previously insisting on doing everything himself, and Lin Qingyu replies that circumstances have changed.
Lu Wancheng agrees to write a letter to his grandfather to arrange stewards and jokingly asks Lin Qingyu to grind ink, expecting refusal.
Lin Qingyu unexpectedly agrees to grind the ink, surprising Lu Wancheng, and the two quietly share the space while Lu Wancheng writes.
Lu Wancheng notices the scent of herbs on Lin Qingyu and is puzzled by his own heightened senses.
Lu Wancheng’s calligraphy is revealed to be elegant and skillful despite his chronic illness, contradicting his lazy demeanor.
Lu Wancheng complains of fatigue after writing briefly, while Lin Qingyu points out that his skill implies years of practice.
Lu Wancheng claims he was forced to practice calligraphy as a child by his mother, who demanded excellence in many arts, though he never explicitly names Lady Liang.
Lin Qingyu deduces that Lu Wancheng is not referring to Lady Liang as his “dear mother,” and Lu Wancheng silently admits this with a smile.
While distracted, Lu Wancheng spins the inked brush, splattering ink onto Lin Qingyu and Huantong, embarrassing everyone involved.
Lu Wancheng reaches out to wipe ink from Lin Qingyu’s face, briefly touching his eyelashes, which causes Lu Wancheng to freeze in confusion.
Lin Qingyu swats Lu Wancheng’s hand away and cleans himself, while Lu Wancheng remains unsettled by the moment.
Lin Qingyu is summoned by Concubine Pan to discuss Qingming arrangements and leaves Lu Wancheng to finish the letter.
Concubine Pan explains that Lady Liang is unable to perform ancestral rites due to illness and seclusion, and that Lin Qingyu, as main wife, must take her place.
Lin Qingyu agrees to visit Changsheng Temple, partly for formality and partly to pray for his own family.
Concubine Pan recounts how Lin Qingyu’s father once saved her and her mother when they were destitute, earning her lifelong gratitude.
Lin Qingyu responds warmly, acknowledging his father’s character and accepting Concubine Pan’s offer of future help.
Lin Qingyu returns to prepare for the Qingming trip as persistent rain creates a gloomy atmosphere in the residence.
Lu Wancheng becomes increasingly morose over several days, refusing to explain his mood despite Lin Qingyu’s questioning.
When Lu Wancheng refuses to take his medicine, Lin Qingyu intervenes directly to confront him.
Lu Wancheng finally confesses that his medicine has caused sexual dysfunction, leaving him distressed and ashamed.
Lin Qingyu calmly explains that he added potent herbs to improve Lu Wancheng’s survival chances, and that such side effects are unavoidable.
Lin Qingyu bluntly states that preserving Lu Wancheng’s life matters more than his pride or sexual function.
Lu Wancheng struggles to argue but ultimately concedes, sarcastically praising Lin Qingyu as “badass” before drinking the medicine.

Chapter 15Lanfeng Pavilion becomes gloomy because Lu Wancheng has fallen into deep depression, stopped enjoying his usual hobbies, and lies listlessly in bed, which affects all the servants.
Hualu and Huantong notice that Lin Qingyu and Lu Wancheng are not speaking to each other and believe the two have quarreled, though they have never actually shared a bed despite being married.
Lin Qingyu knows Lu Wancheng is depressed but believes the erectile dysfunction caused by medicine is a minor price compared to the severe pain the medicine prevented, and he assumes Lu Wancheng will eventually accept it.
Continuous rain causes mold in the study, and while sorting books, Lin Qingyu discovers annotations in Lu Wancheng’s old book and realizes Lu Wancheng’s recent handwriting seems deliberately imitated rather than genuine.
Lin Qingyu overhears Lu Wancheng instructing servants sent by Duke Wen to secretly secure most of the household inheritance for Lin Qingyu after Lu Wancheng’s death, bypassing the marchioness.
Lin Qingyu is deeply moved and burdened by Lu Wancheng’s quiet preparations for his future.
Lin Qingyu confronts Lu Wancheng, and Lu Wancheng assumes Lin Qingyu is there to apologize for causing his impotence, refusing to accept an apology.
Lu Wancheng internally struggles with wounded pride, believing his masculinity is gone and thinking Lin Qingyu deserves someone stronger than him.
Lin Qingyu unexpectedly proposes that they become sworn brothers instead, shocking and angering Lu Wancheng at first.
Lin Qingyu explains the impotence is temporary and treatable with acupuncture, easing Lu Wancheng’s fear though he pretends not to care.
Lu Wancheng agrees to the sworn brother ritual after realizing Lin Qingyu calling him “elder brother” would be satisfying.
Lu Wancheng prepares an overly dramatic sworn brother ceremony inspired by novels, while servants are baffled because the two are already married.
Lu Wancheng modifies the traditional oath, focusing on mutual support and companionship rather than grand ideals.
Lin Qingyu and Lu Wancheng complete the oath, drink the wine, and officially become sworn brothers.
Lu Wancheng is pleased until he realizes Lin Qingyu intends to call him “Wancheng-xiong” instead of “Wancheng-gege,” meaning he was subtly outmaneuvered.
Lin Qingyu promises to treat Lu Wancheng with acupuncture to restore his condition, ending the tension between them.
After the rain stops, Lin Qingyu prepares to travel to Changsheng Temple, and Lu Wancheng is in an unusually good mood due to his recovery progress.
Lin Qingyu teases Lu Wancheng about inspecting his recovery, embarrassing him but confirming the treatment is working.
Lin Qingyu invites Lu Wancheng to accompany him to Changsheng Temple, and Lu Wancheng agrees because he wants to meet someone there.
At Changsheng Temple, Lin Qingyu intends to seek answers from Imperial Preceptor Xu Junyuan, who once calculated his marriage fate and indirectly ruined his life.
Lin Qingyu prays alone while Lu Wancheng inspects eternal lamps with Huantong.
Lin Qingyu wanders into a quiet orchard and unexpectedly sees Lu Wancheng meeting privately with Imperial Preceptor Xu Junyuan under blooming peach trees.
Lin Qingyu observes how composed and dazzling Lu Wancheng appears before others, contrasting sharply with his silly behavior around Lin Qingyu.
Lu Wancheng asks Imperial Preceptor Xu Junyuan whether there have ever been cases of people resurrecting after death or waking up in another person’s body, hinting at deeper secrets about his own existence.

Chapter 16Lin Qingyu secretly listens from behind peach blossoms as Lu Wancheng speaks with Xu Junyuan, the imperial preceptor, in a secluded peach orchard near Changsheng Temple.
Lin Qingyu realizes Lu Wancheng only agreed to come because he wanted to meet Xu Junyuan, since Lu Wancheng rarely leaves the manor unless something truly interests him.
Lu Wancheng asks Xu Junyuan directly whether the dead can return to life or awaken in another body, a question Lin Qingyu finds absurd and offensive to medical logic.
Xu Junyuan explains that immortality and resurrection have been pursued since ancient times without success, and that he has never seen a dead person revive or awaken in another body, though he does not deny the possibility outright.
Lu Wancheng dismisses Xu Junyuan’s answer as meaningless words, showing clear skepticism toward the imperial preceptor’s authority.
Xu Junyuan remarks that if such a reborn person existed, they would never admit it because no one would believe them and it would bring trouble.
Huantong arrives with Lu Wancheng’s wheelchair, and Lin Qingyu reveals himself and formally greets Xu Junyuan.
Lu Wancheng introduces Lin Qingyu to Xu Junyuan as his neiren, surprising Lin Qingyu and making him uncomfortable because neither of them treats the marriage seriously.
Xu Junyuan praises Lin Qingyu’s elegance and calls him Lady Lu, which Lin Qingyu accepts stiffly despite his displeasure.
Lu Wancheng openly admires Lin Qingyu without shame, treating him like a beautiful peach blossom, which embarrasses and irritates Lin Qingyu.
Xu Junyuan orders wine to be brought out, but Lin Qingyu stops him by citing Lu Wancheng’s illness, and Xu Junyuan instead toasts them with tea.
Lin Qingyu refuses to raise his cup, openly showing hostility toward Xu Junyuan.
Lin Qingyu cites his exact birth date and time and confronts Xu Junyuan with the question of why he was chosen for this marriage.
Xu Junyuan answers that it was mandated by the heavens, which Lin Qingyu mocks as superstition used to excuse helplessness and ignorance.
Xu Junyuan points out that Lu Wancheng’s health has improved since the marriage, implying the union had real effects.
Lin Qingyu insists the improvement is merely coincidence, and Xu Junyuan drops the argument.
Lu Wancheng asks how Xu Junyuan reached his conclusion, and Xu Junyuan explains that he divined Lu Wancheng would survive only if he met a benefactor.
Lu Wancheng responds that the marriage did not change his fate and criticizes Xu Junyuan for match-making so carelessly.
Xu Junyuan asks whether Lu Wancheng has another name, suggesting a new divination could be done.
Lu Wancheng hesitates before answering no, which Lin Qingyu notices and finds suspicious.
Lin Qingyu recalls rumors about Lu Wancheng’s past and realizes many things about him do not add up, including his odd behavior and ignorance about himself.
Lin Qingyu briefly considers whether rebirth into another body could be real, then decides Lu Wancheng must be hiding something.
As dusk approaches, Xu Junyuan bids them farewell without seeing them off.
Lin Qingyu coldly acknowledges Xu Junyuan and privately decides that if he ever takes revenge, he will not be overly cruel.
Lu Wancheng plucks a peach blossom as they leave, too weak to walk, and Huantong pushes his wheelchair while Lin Qingyu walks ahead.
Pilgrims stare openly at Lin Qingyu’s beauty, which annoys Huantong but does not bother Lu Wancheng.
Lu Wancheng comments casually that everyone likes to look at beautiful faces and jokes that Lin Qingyu only belongs to him.
Huantong teases Lu Wancheng about not being jealous like other husbands, and Lu Wancheng jokes that Lin Qingyu’s beauty makes him look better.
Lu Wancheng admits lightly that he can see Lin Qingyu every day, though not for long, hinting again at his impending death.
Huantong tries to comfort Lu Wancheng by saying winter is still far away and he has time.
Lu Wancheng imagines Lin Qingyu standing in the snow wearing a red cloak and looking breathtaking.
Lin Qingyu overhears this, stops, and turns back to stare at Lu Wancheng intently.
Lin Qingyu asks again whether Lu Wancheng truly has no other name.
Lu Wancheng deflects the question with humor, denying it without seriousness.
Lin Qingyu chooses not to press further and calmly says he hopes Lu Wancheng lives until the first snow.

Chapter 17Lin Qingyu reflects on how Lu Wancheng seems to see through everyone while hiding his own depths, and he feels resentment that Lu Wancheng knows him so well while remaining an enigma himself.
Lin Qingyu asks Hualu to help him sort through Lu Wancheng’s old calligraphy and artwork under the excuse of tidying the study, driven by his unease and desire for answers.
By examining the calligraphy chronologically, Lin Qingyu notices that Lu Wancheng’s handwriting stabilized at around age sixteen but changed again after Lu Wancheng’s terminal illness and coma, particularly after their wedding night.
Lin Qingyu learns from Hualu that Lu Wancheng used to be quieter, less cheerful, and longed to leave the marquess’s residence, often saying he would die happy if he could visit Lin’an.
Lin Qingyu becomes suspicious of Lu Wancheng’s drastic change in attitude toward Lady Liang and Lu Niantao and wonders whether Lu Wancheng learned something significant about them.
While flipping through a detective novel Lu Wancheng had read, Lin Qingyu finds an annotation in Lu Wancheng’s handwriting identifying the killer early in the story, revealing Lu Wancheng’s sharp insight.
Lin Qingyu writes the word “Scram” next to Lu Wancheng’s annotation as a quiet expression of irritation.
During a meal together, Lin Qingyu notices that Lu Wancheng avoids eating carp because of the bones, which leads to curt exchanges between them.
Steward Zhang Shiquan reports that Qingdai Pavilion has accused the accounts office of cutting Lu Qiaosong’s allowance and reducing his meals.
Lin Qingyu infers that Qingdai Pavilion had previously received more than the established rules allowed and orders the rules to be enforced strictly.
Lin Qingyu states that if Qingdai Pavilion continues to cause trouble, it would be better for the matter to reach the marquess.
Auntie Qiu, Lu Qiaosong’s wet nurse, causes a public disturbance in the accounts room, accusing Concubine Pan and Lin Qingyu of persecuting Lu Qiaosong while the marchioness is ill.
Auntie Qiu claims that Lu Qiaosong has fallen sick because his allowance was cut and demands silver instead of accepting a physician.
Lin Qingyu insists on inspecting Lu Qiaosong personally and leads people to Qingdai Pavilion despite Auntie Qiu’s objections.
Lin Qingyu examines Lu Qiaosong and immediately diagnoses him with kidney deficiency caused by excessive indulgence.
Lu Qiaosong reacts with shame and rage, ordering everyone out and hurling insults at Lin Qingyu and Lu Wancheng.
Lin Qingyu states plainly that he will not let Lu Qiaosong off and leaves the treatment to an outside physician.
Lin Qingyu encounters the physician and recognizes him as Chang Yang, his junior fellow student from their medical apprenticeship.
Lin Qingyu notices Lu Niantao watching them closely and tells Chang Yang to focus on treating the patient before speaking further.
After returning to Lanfeng Pavilion, Lin Qingyu learns that Lu Wancheng already knows about Lu Qiaosong’s illness.
Lu Wancheng accurately guesses that Lu Qiaosong suffers from kidney deficiency, reinforcing Lin Qingyu’s suspicion that Lu Wancheng knows far more than he should.
Lu Wancheng casually mentions the crown prince while criticizing men who overindulge, which unsettles Lin Qingyu.
Lin Qingyu mentions Chang Yang again and notes that Chang Yang is from Lin’an, the same place Lu Wancheng once longed to visit.
Lin Qingyu suggests traveling to Lin’an after Lu Wancheng’s condition improves.
Lu Wancheng firmly refuses, stating that travel would exhaust him and worsen his health.
Lin Qingyu silently questions Lu Wancheng’s refusal and grows more wary of what Lu Wancheng is hiding.

Chapter 18Chang Yang examines Lu Qiaosong and gives the same diagnosis as Lin Qingyu, attributing the illness to overwork, excessive drinking, and resulting digestive discomfort, while downplaying the severity.
Lu Niantao deliberately brings up that Chang Yang addressed Lin Qingyu as shixiong, revealing their shared mentorship, and uses this to encourage Chang Yang to visit Lin Qingyu at Lanfeng Pavilion.
Lu Niantao personally tends to the marquess with bird’s nest soup and emotionally reports Lu Qiaosong’s illness and Lady Liang’s distress, successfully evoking the marquess’s sympathy.
The marquess allows Lady Liang to leave confinement but keeps her from resuming control of household affairs, signaling lingering distrust.
Lady Liang rushes to Qingdai Pavilion, discovers Lu Qiaosong’s illness stems from indulgence at the Bureau of Entertainment, and angrily berates him for his recklessness.
Humiliated and enraged, Lu Qiaosong blames Lin Qingyu for exaggerating his condition in front of servants and vows revenge rather than accepting shame.
Lu Niantao intervenes, notes Lady Liang’s weakened position, and warns that Lin Qingyu and Lady Pan are the true obstacles to regaining household authority.
Lu Niantao criticizes Lady Liang for acting without consulting her, pointing out that Lu Wancheng is not expected to live past next year and that patience would have been wiser.
Lady Liang realizes Auntie Liu’s instigation led her to make disastrous decisions that cost her power and trust.
Lu Qiaosong complains that their allowance is insufficient and demands concrete action rather than blame.
Lu Niantao proposes a plan to keep Chang Yang treating Lu Qiaosong, hinting at using the physician for future leverage.
In Lanfeng Pavilion, Lin Qingyu writes a prescription and jokingly tells Lu Wancheng it is an aphrodisiac, mocking Lu Qiaosong’s accusation that Lin Qingyu slandered him out of sexual frustration.
Lin Qingyu goes out to meet Chang Yang, leaving Lu Wancheng oddly alert and insecure, symbolized by his fixation on the “green” pillow implying jealousy.
Lin Qingyu and Chang Yang reunite and reflect on their shared past under the same mentor, with Chang Yang harboring unresolved affection and resentment over Lin Qingyu’s forced marriage.
Chang Yang openly suggests that Lin Qingyu was wronged by the imperial edict and hints at long-suppressed feelings, believing he understands Lin Qingyu better than anyone.
Chang Yang proposes secretly taking Lin Qingyu away from the marquess’s residence to travel together, attempting to rekindle their former bond.
Lu Wancheng unexpectedly appears, calmly asserts his presence, and forces a formal introduction, disrupting Chang Yang’s attempt to persuade Lin Qingyu.
Chang Yang claims he and Lin Qingyu are like brothers, subtly staking emotional territory, while Lu Wancheng responds with polite but pointed sarcasm.
Chang Yang shifts the conversation to medicine, mentioning a rare herb effective against consumption, which genuinely interests Lin Qingyu.
Lu Wancheng deliberately plays the role of a magnanimous and unbothered spouse, sitting beside Lin Qingyu and allowing the discussion to continue.
Lu Wancheng invites Chang Yang to stay for dinner, but Chang Yang declines, feeling out of place and unable to advance his plan.
Before leaving, Chang Yang confirms Lu Qiaosong’s kidney deficiency and mentions his prescription, while Lin Qingyu notes that Lu Niantao already knows about their connection.
After Chang Yang departs, Lu Wancheng drops his noble façade, teasingly claims he acted out of spousal benevolence, and is bluntly dismissed by Lin Qingyu.

Chapter 19Chang Yang becomes a frequent visitor at the marquess of Nan’an’s residence, coming every three days to take Lu Qiaosong’s pulse and often bringing gifts for Lin Qingyu.
Lu Wancheng is always present during Chang Yang’s visits, acting overly familiar and preventing Chang Yang from ever speaking privately with Lin Qingyu.
Chang Yang grows increasingly resentful of Lu Wancheng’s frivolous behavior and feels more determined to save Lin Qingyu from what he believes is an unhappy marriage.
On one visit, Chang Yang arrives with plum-blossom cakes only to find Lu Wancheng hosting a noisy cockfight in Lanfeng Pavilion.
A chicken feather lands on Chang Yang’s head, embarrassing him, while Lu Wancheng cheerfully explains that he is cockfighting for fun.
Lin Qingyu returns from the garden, clearly irritated by the chaos, and coldly comments on the mess Lu Wancheng has made.
Lin Qingyu recognizes the victorious rooster as the one that replaced Lu Wancheng during their wedding ceremony and bowed with him instead.
Lu Wancheng is shocked that Lin Qingyu remembers this detail and orders Huantong to confirm whether the rooster truly performed the wedding rites.
Chang Yang again fails to find time alone with Lin Qingyu and is forced to leave after brief conversation.
During the visit, Chang Yang reminisces aloud about traveling with Lin Qingyu and their shifu, recounting shared hardships and warmth from the past.
Lu Wancheng listens attentively to Chang Yang’s stories and reacts with apparent interest, which further irritates Lin Qingyu.
Lin Qingyu asks about Lu Qiaosong’s condition, and Chang Yang explains that Lu Qiaosong is nearly recovered but will continue being monitored at Lu Niantao’s request.
After Chang Yang leaves, Lin Qingyu expresses suspicion that Lu Niantao is deliberately using Chang Yang due to his connection with Lin Qingyu.
Lu Wancheng casually eats the pastries Chang Yang brought, teasing Lin Qingyu about being stingy.
Lin Qingyu questions Lu Wancheng about his claimed past friendships, pointing out inconsistencies in his upbringing.
Lu Wancheng offers to answer Lin Qingyu’s questions truthfully, but Lin Qingyu refuses, stating he has no interest.
Lu Wancheng suggests eating the rooster that performed the wedding ceremony, claiming it annoys him.
Lin Qingyu mocks Lu Wancheng for letting a rooster stand in for him during the wedding and accuses him of discarding things once they are no longer useful.
On a later visit, Chang Yang finishes treating Lu Qiaosong and is told by Lu Niantao that his services are no longer needed.
After Chang Yang leaves, Lu Niantao secretly orders a servant to follow him and report anything unusual.
Believing this may be his last chance, Chang Yang writes a note asking Lin Qingyu to meet him privately and entrusts it to Huantong.
Huantong hesitates but agrees to deliver the message while Chang Yang warns him not to let Lu Wancheng know.
Lin Qingyu and Lu Wancheng are playing weiqi when Huantong blurts out that Chang Yang wanted to secretly pass a message without the young marquess noticing.
Lu Wancheng becomes openly angry at the secrecy and reads the note aloud, sarcastically mocking its romantic implications.
Lin Qingyu deduces that Lu Niantao already knows about Chang Yang’s feelings and is trying to exploit them.
Lu Wancheng bluntly accuses Chang Yang of being enamored with Lin Qingyu and expresses jealousy in vulgar terms.
Lin Qingyu counters by reminding Lu Wancheng that they are merely sworn brothers and good friends, leaving Lu Wancheng momentarily speechless.
Lin Qingyu orders Huantong to tell Chang Yang to leave the residence and never return.
Lu Wancheng suddenly changes his mind and insists Lin Qingyu should meet Chang Yang after all, clearly plotting something.
Chang Yang is told to wait in a deserted building until nightfall so he can meet Lin Qingyu discreetly.
Lin Qingyu leaves Lanfeng Pavilion to meet Chang Yang, while Lu Wancheng watches him go and feels an unexpected sense of possessiveness.
Lu Wancheng imagines Chang Yang confessing and forcing himself on Lin Qingyu, which unsettles him.
Lin Qingyu meets Chang Yang at night, and Chang Yang immediately begs Lin Qingyu to leave the marquess’s residence with him.
Chang Yang proposes that they flee the capital and live in seclusion with their shifu.
Lin Qingyu rejects the idea, citing the emperor-ordained marriage and the danger such an escape would pose to his family.
Chang Yang reveals a plan involving the Departure Pill, a medicine that can induce a fake death, claiming their shifu succeeded in creating it.
Chang Yang suggests Lin Qingyu fake his death to gain freedom without endangering his family.
Lin Qingyu questions the value of freedom gained through becoming legally dead.
Lin Qingyu bluntly states that Chang Yang does not understand him or his ambitions.
Lin Qingyu admits he desires power, wealth, influence, rare medical resources, and prestige, and wants to become the greatest physician possible.
Lin Qingyu declares that only the Imperial Academy of Medicine can give him what he wants and mocks Chang Yang’s naive idealism.
Chang Yang is shocked, realizing Lin Qingyu is not the virtuous, selfless man he imagined.
Chang Yang criticizes Lu Wancheng, claiming he is a dying wastrel incapable of giving Lin Qingyu what he desires.
Lin Qingyu angrily defends Lu Wancheng, describing in detail his illness, suffering, and efforts to endure quietly.
Lin Qingyu argues that Lu Wancheng deserves to live carefree during his remaining six months.
Chang Yang asks if Lin Qingyu has feelings for Lu Wancheng.
Lin Qingyu states he is not attracted to men and defines his relationship with Lu Wancheng as that of kindred spirits bound by marriage.
Chang Yang accepts the rejection, apologizes, and hands Lin Qingyu the formula for the Departure Pill before leaving.
Chang Yang reflects bitterly that he projected his own desires onto Lin Qingyu and resolves to leave the capital.
Huantong comforts Chang Yang and brings him to a nighttime outing arranged by Lu Wancheng.
Meanwhile, Lu Qiaosong and Auntie Qiu attempt to frame Lin Qingyu and Chang Yang by accusing them of meeting secretly at night.
Their scheme fails when Lu Wancheng and the marquess arrive and are revealed to be the figures by the pond.
The marquess scolds Lu Qiaosong and becomes suspicious after learning Physician Chang treated him for kidney deficiency.
Lu Qiaosong tries to provoke Lu Wancheng by implying Lin Qingyu is admired by many men.
Lu Wancheng publicly asserts that Lin Qingyu is his wife and coldly warns everyone present not to touch him or even think of doing so.

Chapter 20Lin Qingyu returns to Lanfeng Pavilion after parting with Chang Yang and learns that the marquess interrogated Lu Qiaosong overnight about his misconduct.
Lu Qiaosong initially denies everything, but his servant boy exposes that he has been frequenting prostitutes for over a month.
Lu Qiaosong claims he only enjoyed cultured entertainment like poetry, wine, and qin music, but the marquess is enraged by his excuses.
The marquess slaps Lu Qiaosong, orders him to reflect in the ancestral hall for one day, secludes him for a month, and scolds Lady Liang for poor parenting.
Lin Qingyu dismisses the punishment as dull and ineffective.
Lu Wancheng falls ill after eating cold well-soaked grapes in summer, developing a low fever but remaining conscious.
Lin Qingyu scolds Lu Wancheng while treating him, warning him not to eat cold food again and writing him a prescription.
Lu Wancheng jokes about his frailty and sickness, and Lin Qingyu bluntly attributes it to his lack of restraint.
Lu Wancheng’s illness creates a brief period of peace at Lanfeng Pavilion.
Lady Pan visits to check on Lu Wancheng, and she and Lin Qingyu discuss household matters instead since Lu Wancheng is resting.
Lin Qingyu learns that Lu Qiaosong’s courtesans are unpaid because Qingdai Pavilion is overspending and Lu Qiaosong lacks funds.
The courtesans approach Lady Pan for allowances because they fear Lin Qingyu and find Lady Pan more approachable.
Lin Qingyu decides that the household will only keep half of the courtesans and lets them compete to stay, knowing most will fight for Lu Qiaosong’s favor.
The decision forces rivalry among the courtesans, increasing Lu Qiaosong’s indulgence and dependence on them.
Lin Qingyu prepares a special aromatic incense made from buried herbs and arranges for it to be delivered through servant channels.
Lu Wancheng notices the fragrance on Lin Qingyu and deduces that it is poisonous.
Lu Wancheng correctly guesses that Lin Qingyu intends to use the drug on Lu Qiaosong to cause his death during sexual activity.
Lin Qingyu openly admits he wants Lu Qiaosong to die humiliatingly because of past insults and attempted reputation damage.
Lin Qingyu reflects that his darker nature has emerged since marrying into the marquess’s family, encouraged by Lu Wancheng’s acceptance and indulgence.
Lu Wancheng praises Lin Qingyu and asks to participate in his future schemes, and Lin Qingyu agrees.
Lu Wancheng becomes eagerly invested in monitoring events at Qingdai Pavilion while recuperating.
Steward Zhang Shiquan reports suspicious financial gains from drought-stricken estates in Xu Prefecture.
Lin Qingyu chooses to ignore the issue despite Zhang Shiquan’s concerns about unlawful income.
After Lin Qingyu leaves, Lu Wancheng secretly orders Zhang Shiquan to investigate Xu Prefecture immediately.
Lin Qingyu later realizes Lu Wancheng sees situations clearly but avoids effort unless forced, and he acknowledges Lu Wancheng’s hidden competence.
Lin Qingyu prepares a medicinal bath for Lu Wancheng to ease his coughing and insomnia.
During the bath, Lin Qingyu analyzes Lu Wancheng’s personality and concludes that he hates losing and excels despite pretending to be lazy.
Lu Wancheng admits he no longer knows why he still tries, given his failing health and lack of ambition.
The medicinal bath improves Lu Wancheng’s condition temporarily, and he jokes about preparing for his funeral.
Lin Qingyu is unsettled by Lu Wancheng’s casual acceptance of death.
Music from Qingdai Pavilion disturbs Lu Wancheng’s nap, revealing that Lu Qiaosong is openly entertaining courtesans nearby.
Lin Qingyu and Lu Wancheng go to confront the gathering at the gazebo.
Lu Qiaosong is drinking, painting, and entertaining friends and courtesans despite his weakened health.
Lu Qiaosong’s friends openly admire Lin Qingyu and speculate crudely about his status as a concubine.
Lu Wancheng firmly declares Lin Qingyu as his legal wife and demands respect.
Lu Wancheng proposes that Huang-xiong drink ten cups of wine to atone, escalating the situation.
Lu Qiaosong insists on drinking the ten cups himself despite warnings about his health.
Lu Qiaosong finishes all ten cups, provoking Lu Wancheng before dismissing them coldly.
That night, chaos erupts at Qingdai Pavilion after a woman screams, signaling disaster.
Huantong reports that something has finally gone wrong, implying Lu Qiaosong’s scheme has taken effect.
Lin Qingyu smiles and invites Lu Wancheng to witness the outcome together.
Lu Wancheng realizes Lin Qingyu calling him by name is tied to shared wrongdoing and emotional closeness.

Chapter 21Lin Qingyu and Lu Wancheng arrive at Qingdai Pavilion to find it filled with servants acting as if at a funeral, while a woman sobs inside.
A courtesan who had played the pipa earlier is dragged out by servants, her clothes disheveled and her red dudou stained with Lu Qiaosong’s blood.
In the inner room, Lady Liang cries hysterically beside Lu Qiaosong’s bed, Lu Niantao tends to him with restrained grief, and Physician Zhang stands by.
Lady Pan and the marquess wait outside, both shaken and grim over Lu Qiaosong’s condition.
Lady Pan explains privately to Lu Wancheng and Lin Qingyu that Lu Qiaosong collapsed after sleeping with a courtesan.
The courtesan had secretly used a sweet-smelling herb meant to arouse men, hoping to regain Lu Qiaosong’s favor and secure her future.
Lu Qiaosong, already anxious about his health and drunk from earlier festivities, became aroused by the scent and overexerted himself.
During intercourse, Lu Qiaosong suddenly bled heavily from the nose and mouth and collapsed.
Physician Zhang declares Lu Qiaosong beyond his ability to save, causing Lady Liang to faint in despair.
Lu Wancheng performs exaggerated mourning while Lin Qingyu coldly observes the chaos.
The marquess begs Physician Zhang for alternatives, but is told nothing more can be done.
Lin Qingyu steps forward and offers to treat Lu Qiaosong.
Lin Qingyu examines Lu Qiaosong and states calmly that he can save Lu Qiaosong’s life.
Lin Qingyu warns that Lu Qiaosong will become permanently impotent and unable to father children.
Lu Niantao urgently begs for Lu Qiaosong’s life to be saved regardless of the consequences.
The marquess agrees, choosing Lu Qiaosong’s survival over his fertility.
Lin Qingyu performs acupuncture through the night and stabilizes Lu Qiaosong.
Afterward, Lin Qingyu leaves to find Lu Wancheng waiting for him despite his own poor health.
Lin Qingyu explains to Lu Wancheng that keeping Lu Qiaosong alive but ruined is more entertaining than letting him die.
In the following days, the marquess becomes visibly aged and refuses to see Lu Qiaosong again.
Lady Liang falls ill with rage and grief after learning her son is impotent.
Lu Qiaosong sinks into despair, refuses medicine, and loses the will to live.
Lu Niantao bears the burden of caring for both her mother and brother.
Lu Wancheng praises Lin Qingyu’s aphrodisiac, realizing it worked only because alcohol triggered its effects.
Lin Qingyu admits he personally created the drug.
Lu Wancheng probes Lin Qingyu about his sexual experience, assuming he must have had relations in the past.
Lin Qingyu states he has never slept with anyone and values fidelity as modeled by his parents.
Lu Wancheng jokes about dying a virgin and awkwardly asks about sex out of curiosity.
Lin Qingyu coldly shuts down Lu Wancheng’s suggestion to experiment together.
Despite the marquess’s attempts at secrecy, gossip about Lu Qiaosong’s humiliating incident spreads throughout the capital.
Other branches of the Lu family speculate that the marquess’s bloodline may end and discuss adoption.
The marquess becomes furious upon receiving letters suggesting succession plans.
The marquess orders Lady Pan to handle a solution since Lady Liang is incapacitated.
Lady Pan informs Lin Qingyu that relatives will visit during the Mid-Autumn Festival under the guise of a reunion.
Lady Pan reveals the marquess is desperate to continue the family line.
Lin Qingyu immediately realizes Lady Pan is testing whether he can provide fertility medicine.
Lady Pan awkwardly denies it, but Lin Qingyu bluntly assesses her chances of conceiving with the marquess.
Lady Pan finally admits the marquess wants Lu Wancheng to take a concubine.
Lin Qingyu responds with cold mockery, stating it would be more effective for the marquess to produce more children himself.

Chapter 22Lin Qingyu firmly rejects Lady Pan’s suggestion regarding future arrangements by invoking the marquess, causing Lady Pan to drop the topic and move on to Mid-Autumn Festival preparations.
Lin Qingyu privately realizes he failed to consider that after Lu Qiaosong lost the ability to continue the family line, the marquess would naturally place his hopes on Lu Wancheng despite Lu Wancheng’s frail health.
That night, Lu Wancheng returns after bathing and notices Lin Qingyu staring at him in a way that makes him uneasy.
Lin Qingyu bluntly asks Lu Wancheng whether he can still become aroused, focusing on his sexual function rather than his health.
Lu Wancheng reacts with resentment, pointing out that the medicine Lin Qingyu prescribed is the cause of his impotence.
It is revealed that Lu Wancheng’s sexual function is entirely controlled by Lin Qingyu through medicine or acupuncture, and Lu Wancheng has resigned himself to this state.
Lin Qingyu tells Lu Wancheng he can restore his function with acupuncture if Lu Wancheng believes it is worthwhile.
Lin Qingyu coldly explains that restoring Lu Wancheng’s function would be for producing a male heir to continue the family line.
Lu Wancheng immediately understands that someone has spoken to Lin Qingyu about taking a concubine and laughs it off.
Lin Qingyu directly asks Lu Wancheng whether he wants to take a concubine.
Lu Wancheng pretends to hesitate and admits he has never been close to a woman, expressing a half-serious desire to experience intimacy before his death.
Lin Qingyu sees through Lu Wancheng’s teasing and refuses to take his words seriously.
Lin Qingyu calmly asks what kind of woman Lu Wancheng likes so he can select a suitable concubine.
Lu Wancheng gives a vague answer, saying he likes someone pretty, gentle, and unlikely to lose her temper at him.
Lin Qingyu states he will choose a concubine the next day and tells Lu Wancheng to go to sleep.
Lu Wancheng protests that Lin Qingyu is his official husband and questions how he can so calmly help him find a concubine.
Lin Qingyu jokes that he has no husband, only a sworn brother, and that Lu Wancheng’s future child would call him uncle.
Lu Wancheng regrets ever pushing for the sworn brother relationship and tries to deny its validity.
Lin Qingyu insists that sworn brotherhood is lifelong and dismantles Lu Wancheng’s argument by pointing out they never consummated their marriage.
Lu Wancheng sulks and later meets privately with the marquess, after which the marquess spends the night in the ancestral hall and visibly ages.
The issue of Lu Wancheng taking a concubine is quietly dropped.
As Mid-Autumn Festival approaches, autumn sets in and Lin Qingyu becomes withdrawn, cold, and unwilling to eat.
Lin Qingyu recognizes his own melancholy and frustration but cannot control his emotions despite knowing they are unproductive.
Lu Wancheng brings Lin Qingyu osmanthus cakes and tries unsuccessfully to cheer him up.
Lin Qingyu dismisses Lu Wancheng and asks to be left alone.
Lu Wancheng later tells Huantong that Lin Qingyu likely wants solitude and should not be disturbed.
Lu Wancheng correctly guesses that Lin Qingyu’s mood is connected to the release of the Imperial Academy of Medicine exam results.
Lin Qingyu wanders the residence alone, reflecting on time passing, his status in the marquess’s household, and how his life changed after marrying Lu Wancheng.
Lin Qingyu thinks about the exam he gave up and wonders where he would be if he had not extended Lu Wancheng’s life by six months.
Lin Qingyu spitefully wishes that everyone he despises, especially Tan Qizhi, will fail the exam, even promising to abstain from meat for seven days.
Huantong rushes to Lin Qingyu and announces that Tan Qizhi and several others who wronged Lin Qingyu have all failed the exam.
Lin Qingyu learns that Lu Wancheng secretly sent Huantong to check the results, knowing Lin Qingyu would care about them.
Lin Qingyu is shaken by how deeply Lu Wancheng understands his hidden bitterness and emotions.
Lin Qingyu returns to Lanfeng Pavilion and finds Lu Wancheng whistling cheerfully and inviting him to eat together.
Lin Qingyu reflects that he sacrificed his own future for Lu Wancheng’s life extension but finds some consolation in Lu Wancheng’s presence and simple happiness.
Lin Qingyu finally smiles genuinely and agrees to have dinner with Lu Wancheng.

Chapter 23During the Mid-Autumn Festival, the Lu family branch led by the marquess of Nan’an’s half brother travels from Lin’an to the capital, marking the first reunion between the half brothers since the family split, and the household prepares extensively to maintain appearances.
Lu Wancheng remains secluded in Lanfeng Pavilion, claiming worsening illness and relying on a wheelchair, while Lin Qingyu is free from festival duties and accompanies formal receptions.
Lin Qingyu, Lady Pan, and the marquess of Nan’an wait outside the residence to receive the arriving Lu family branch, which enters in an extravagant procession reflecting their wealth.
The marquess of Nan’an exchanges polite but emotionally distant greetings with his elder half brother before leading the guests inside.
Lu Baishuo, the marquess’s nephew and Lu Wancheng’s elder cousin, approaches Lin Qingyu in a friendly and overly familiar manner, introducing himself as Lu Baishuo and suggesting the nickname Lu Laoliu.
Lin Qingyu initially shows disinterest, but Lady Pan explains that Lu Baishuo previously stayed in the residence for three months and is close to Lu Wancheng.
Realizing Lu Baishuo may be useful, Lin Qingyu greets him properly and invites him to visit Lu Wancheng in Lanfeng Pavilion.
Lu Baishuo expresses concern for Lu Wancheng’s health and mentions bringing nourishing foods from Lin’an.
Before entering, Lin Qingyu asks Lu Baishuo for a favor, then brings him to Lu Wancheng under the pretense of a visit.
Lu Wancheng pretends to be gravely ill and initially plays along with Lin Qingyu calling Lu Baishuo the fifth cousin, then quickly corrects him to the sixth cousin, revealing familiarity.
Lin Qingyu notices the awkward exchange and becomes suspicious of Lu Wancheng’s past relationship with Lu Baishuo.
Lu Baishuo laughs it off, claiming Lu Wancheng could not possibly forget him after their previous closeness.
Lin Qingyu internally concludes that Lu Wancheng deliberately hides his past from others and decides to wait until he can force the truth out later.
More Lu relatives arrive at Lanfeng Pavilion under the excuse of visiting the sick Lu Wancheng.
Lin Qingyu correctly deduces that their true motive is probing the inheritance, since Lu Wancheng has no children and cannot take concubines, making adoption a lucrative possibility.
Lu Wancheng tries to escape hosting by claiming dizziness, but Lin Qingyu deliberately ignores him and orders the guests to be invited in.
The front hall fills with cousins, children, and even grandnephews, all treating Lu Wancheng as a senior family elder.
Lin Qingyu remains silent and detached, forcing Lu Wancheng to entertain everyone politely despite his reluctance.
Gossip circulates among the relatives about other family members’ scandals, increasing Lu Wancheng’s irritation while he maintains a flawless façade.
A blunt relative raises the topic of heirs and suggests Lu Wancheng should consider concubines.
Lu Baishuo attempts to stop the discussion, but his eldest brother persists, citing family interests.
Lin Qingyu challenges the rumor directly, and Lu Wancheng theatrically declares that he has no desires and has devoted all his love and affection solely to Lin Qingyu.
Lu Wancheng publicly professes exaggerated devotion to Lin Qingyu, stunning the relatives and triggering excessive praise of their marriage.
Lin Qingyu is visibly unsettled by the attention and uses Lu Wancheng’s medicine schedule as an excuse to dismiss the guests.
After the guests leave, Lu Wancheng drops his act and complains dramatically about feeling “greasy” from the forced affection.
That evening, a welcoming banquet is held for the Lu relatives, but Lu Wancheng skips it due to illness, and Lin Qingyu stays behind to care for him.
Lin Qingyu and Lu Wancheng quietly observe the moon together in the courtyard with festival foods and wine laid out, which Lu Wancheng cannot consume.
Lu Wancheng suggests fleeing to the Lin residence to avoid the remaining guests, but Lin Qingyu questions his sense of responsibility.
Lin Qingyu asks directly how Lu Wancheng recognized Lu Baishuo, and Lu Wancheng admits he relied on guesswork based on the past self he is impersonating.
Lu Wancheng remarks that this is their first and last Mid-Autumn Festival together and asks whether Lin Qingyu will remember him.
Lin Qingyu sincerely calls Lu Wancheng a kindred spirit and promises to always remember him as a close friend.
Lu Wancheng confesses that he lied before and does have another name, asking Lin Qingyu to remember it.
He immediately ruins the seriousness by jokingly claiming his other name is Zhu Dazhuang and suggesting Lin Qingyu call him Dazhuang-ge.
Lin Qingyu, exasperated by Lu Wancheng’s behavior, stands to leave, feeling foolish for expecting sincerity.
Lu Wancheng stops him and claims he was about to tell the truth, beginning to say another name.
Before Lu Wancheng can finish revealing it, Hualu rushes in to announce that someone from the palace has arrived, abruptly cutting off the confession.

Chapter 24Eunuch Feng arrives from Fengyi Palace on Empress Wen’s orders to deliver Mid-Autumn Festival gifts to the marquess of Nan’an, forcing Lu Wancheng, Lady Liang, and Lu Qiaosong to receive them in person despite illness.
Lady Liang appears mentally shattered and aged, Lu Qiaosong looks physically ruined, and Lu Wancheng maintains composure thanks to Lin Qingyu’s treatment and mindset.
Lu Wancheng receives especially lavish imperial gifts meant for him and Lin Qingyu, clearly surpassing those given to the rest of the household.
Eunuch Feng subtly reminds the household that Empress Wen has never met Lin Qingyu and expects a palace visit.
The marquess of Nan’an promises to bring Lady Liang and the family to the palace to express gratitude, as Lady Liang is too dazed to respond properly.
Back in their courtyard, Lu Wancheng declines having new clothes made, hinting at his worsening condition.
Lin Qingyu and Lu Wancheng lose interest in moon-viewing, and Lu Wancheng becomes quietly irritated after the imperial visit.
Lu Wancheng asks Lin Qingyu not to go to the palace, offering no clear reason, which creates tension between them.
Lu Wancheng even suggests Lin Qingyu abandon entering the Imperial Academy of Medicine, deeply offending Lin Qingyu and ending the conversation coldly.
The marquess of Nan’an harshly scolds Lady Liang for her failure to uphold her duties as main wife, threatening her position.
Lady Liang laments that Lu Qiaosong can no longer father children and despairs over her future status.
Lu Niantao persuades Lady Liang to regain ambition by suggesting Lu Niantao marry well and gain power through imperial connections like Empress Wen.
Lady Liang resolves to reenter social and palace circles and use Lu Niantao’s marriage to restore their standing.
Lady Liang recovers overnight, requests permission to enter the palace, and orders Lin Qingyu to accompany her.
Lin Qingyu finds the idea of entering the Inner Palace as a male wife absurd but unavoidable.
Lu Wancheng asks to accompany Lin Qingyu but cannot due to illness, revealing his desire to see Empress Wen.
Lin Qingyu dresses in formal attire, and Lu Wancheng becomes visibly unsettled by how striking Lin Qingyu looks.
Lu Wancheng begs Lin Qingyu not to go and finally admits fear that the crown prince or emperor might notice Lin Qingyu.
Lin Qingyu reassures Lu Wancheng that the crown prince should be away at the autumn hunt.
Lin Qingyu, Lady Liang, and Lu Niantao travel together to the palace, both women carefully dressed to impress.
They are received at Fengyi Palace by Eunuch Feng and meet Empress Wen.
Empress Wen praises Lin Qingyu for improving Lu Wancheng’s health and openly takes credit for forcing the marriage.
Lin Qingyu feels humiliated but hides it, understanding the power dynamics of the palace.
Empress Wen shows little interest in Lady Liang and Lu Niantao, focusing almost entirely on Lin Qingyu.
Eunuch Feng announces that the crown prince is arriving, having returned early because the emperor fell ill.
Lin Qingyu attempts to leave to avoid meeting the crown prince, and Empress Wen allows it.
Outside, Lu Niantao deliberately delays the group to encounter the crown prince, but Lin Qingyu rebukes her sharply.
The crown prince stops them, questions Lin Qingyu’s identity, and learns he is Lu Wancheng’s male wife.
The crown prince orders Lin Qingyu to raise his head and becomes visibly shaken upon seeing the mole near Lin Qingyu’s eye.
The crown prince asks Lin Qingyu’s name, declares he will remember it, and leaves for Fengyi Palace.
Lin Qingyu realizes that Lu Wancheng’s possessive fears were justified.
Back at the manor, Lin Qingyu tells Lu Wancheng everything about meeting the crown prince.
Lu Wancheng darkens but ultimately tells Lin Qingyu to pursue his own path and let others worry about the consequences.
That night, Lin Qingyu finds Lu Wancheng awake, coughing and writing names of the princes and palace factions.
Lu Wancheng burns the paper, but Lin Qingyu realizes he is planning something dangerous involving palace politics.
Lin Qingyu suspects Lu Wancheng’s plotting is connected to protecting him from the crown prince.
Lu Wancheng jokingly admits he is worrying about Lin Qingyu even while dying and asks Lin Qingyu to be gentler with him.
Lin Qingyu is left conflicted and emotionally shaken, staring at the ink stains on his clothes as the chapter ends.

Chapter 25Autumn rain cools the manor, and Hualu discovers Lu Wancheng alone in the study, struggling to think through a problem and feeling dizzy, tired, and irritated.
Hualu forces Lu Wancheng to close the window due to the cold and encourages him to rest after he gives up on thinking further.
Lin Qingyu finishes bathing when Lu Wancheng returns, creating brief awkwardness due to Lin Qingyu’s damp, translucent clothing.
Lin Qingyu calmly dismisses the awkwardness and rejects Lu Wancheng’s teasing about bathing during the day.
Lin Qingyu examines Lu Wancheng and notes his poor sleep, advising him to let go of worries for the sake of his health.
After the rain clears, Lu Wancheng’s condition improves slightly, and Lu Baishuo comes to bid farewell before returning to Lin’an.
Lu Baishuo reminisces about previously dining at Jinxiu Pavilion and expresses regret at being unable to book a private room this time.
Lin Qingyu suggests that Lu Wancheng accompany Lu Baishuo to Jinxiu Pavilion, believing the outing may lift Lu Wancheng’s spirits.
Lu Wancheng proposes that he and Lin Qingyu dine together at Jinxiu Pavilion and bring lamb-goose back for Lu Baishuo.
Lin Qingyu pushes Lu Wancheng’s wheelchair through the capital streets, drawing attention due to their appearances.
They stop at a street vendor, where Lin Qingyu buys a dangling hairpin for Lu Wancheng to stop his habit of twirling brushes at night.
At Jinxiu Pavilion, they are escorted to a prime private room after revealing their identities.
While watching musicians perform, Lin Qingyu openly acknowledges the beauty of the female performers, unsettling Lu Wancheng.
Lin Qingyu and Lu Wancheng move closer to the railing, drawing the attention of others in the pavilion.
Lin Qingyu notices the crown prince Xiao Cheng staring at him with open interest.
Xiao Cheng sends a guard to offer Lin Qingyu a cup of wine, which Lin Qingyu refuses.
Lu Wancheng openly mocks the crown prince’s gesture and provokes him by referencing Princess Jingchun.
The guard relays Lu Wancheng’s message, causing Xiao Cheng visible anger.
After returning to their private room, Huantong worries about offending the crown prince, while Lu Wancheng dismisses the concern with dark humor.
Lin Qingyu reassures Huantong, and Lu Wancheng agrees to listen to Lin Qingyu.
The group returns to the manor with lamb-goose, and Lu Wancheng collapses into sleep due to exhaustion.
Lin Qingyu later works alone in the study experimenting with incense when rain begins again.
Lin Qingyu discovers Lu Wancheng standing outside in the rain, exhausted and coughing after walking there alone.
Lu Wancheng confesses that he cannot ignore the situation involving Xiao Cheng and refuses to allow Lin Qingyu to be demeaned or destroyed.
Lu Wancheng collapses from cold and illness, and Lin Qingyu shields him from the rain.
Lu Wancheng admits he must find a definitive solution to the problem he has been grappling with.
Lu Wancheng finally states that he wants Xiao Cheng dead.
Lin Qingyu firmly accepts this declaration and offers his help without hesitation.

Chapter 26Lin Qingyu and Lu Wancheng acknowledge that wanting to kill Crown Prince Xiao Cheng is treason that could wipe out their families, yet they still seriously consider it despite their weak positions and the crown prince’s heavy guard.
Lin Qingyu admits he never intended to kill Crown Prince Xiao Cheng before, but Xiao Cheng’s leering behavior toward him at Jinxiu Pavilion disgusts him enough to push him toward preemptive action.
Lin Qingyu reasons that once Lu Wancheng dies, Crown Prince Xiao Cheng will no longer restrain himself, so striking first feels safer than waiting.
Lu Wancheng is emotionally shaken but agrees to the plan, and the two silently share resolve while sheltering from the rain in the study.
Huantong discovers Lu Wancheng missing from the bedroom and panics, only to find Lin Qingyu and Lu Wancheng together in the study.
Lin Qingyu insists on carrying Lu Wancheng back due to the wind and his weak state, embarrassing Lu Wancheng but ultimately forcing him to concede his condition.
Lu Wancheng is returned to bed, changed out of wet clothes, and drinks ginger tea while clearly exhausted and coughing blood.
Lin Qingyu deduces that Lu Wancheng rushed out after a nightmare, which Lu Wancheng indirectly confirms without explaining the dream.
Lu Wancheng tries to joke about his appearance, wanting to seem “cool” in front of Lin Qingyu, and is flustered when Lin Qingyu sincerely reassures him.
From that night on, Lin Qingyu and Lu Wancheng begin secretly plotting together rather than Lin Qingyu acting alone.
Lin Qingyu asks Lu Wancheng to recount everything he knows about Crown Prince Xiao Cheng, revealing Xiao Cheng’s theatrical, manipulative, and flirtatious behavior.
Lu Wancheng explains that Crown Prince Xiao Cheng is publicly ruthless but privately obsessive and prone to using degrading nicknames for people he desires.
Lin Qingyu presses for useful intelligence, leading to the revelation of Princess Jingchun’s past relationship with Crown Prince Xiao Cheng.
Lu Wancheng explains that Princess Jingchun and Crown Prince Xiao Cheng were childhood lovers, but she was forced to marry the North King with the emperor’s approval.
Crown Prince Xiao Cheng did not oppose the marriage to protect his standing and instead sought comfort in people resembling Princess Jingchun.
Lin Qingyu learns that his resemblance to Princess Jingchun lies in the mole beneath his left eye, explaining Crown Prince Xiao Cheng’s interest in him.
Lin Qingyu coldly rejects the idea of harming himself to escape Crown Prince Xiao Cheng’s attention and instead wants to destroy Xiao Cheng without personal loss.
A servant reports that Lady Liang and Lu Niantao secretly visited the palace with expensive gifts paid from Lady Liang’s dowry.
Lin Qingyu and Lu Wancheng deduce that Lady Liang and Lu Niantao were not seeking the empress’s favor but instead approached Noble Consort Chen.
They conclude that Lady Liang is desperate for external backing because she has lost power in the manor and fears her decline.
Lin Qingyu decides to visit the Lin manor immediately, and Lu Wancheng insists on accompanying him.
Lu Wancheng explains that he wants Lin Qingyu’s father to tell him how much time he has left, forcing Lin Qingyu to accept.
Lin Qingyu secures permission from the marquess of Nan’an to take Lu Wancheng to the Lin manor under the pretense of treatment.
Lin Qingyu returns home with Lu Wancheng, Huantong, and Hualu, surprising his family.
Lin Qingyu’s younger brother Lin Qinghe innocently comments on Lu Wancheng’s frailty, while Lu Wancheng responds kindly.
Lin Qingyu learns that his father is about to leave for Yongliang to treat Great General Gu, who was poisoned in battle.
Lin Qingyu worries about his father traveling to a war-torn border region but understands the duty involved.
Lin Qingyu sends his father off with concern and respect, ending the chapter with looming danger both political and personal.

Chapter 27Lin Qingyu brings Lu Wancheng home to the Lin residence and is taken by Lin Qingyu’s father into the study because his father knows this visit has a serious purpose.
Lin Qingyu gives Lin Qingyu’s father a porcelain bottle of incense and asks if he recognizes it.
Lin Qingyu’s father identifies the scent as nearly identical to Pursuing Phoenix, the incense uniquely used in Fengyi Palace, and notes it is about nine-tenths similar.
Lin Qingyu is dissatisfied with the imperfection of the recreation, showing his high standards.
Lu Wancheng comments on how impressive it is that Lin Qingyu recreated the incense so closely with limited exposure, and lightly teases him.
Lin Qingyu insists the incense is still not good enough and rebukes Lu Wancheng for being flippant.
Lin Qingyu’s father observes the couple’s banter and understands why Lu Wancheng has survived so long, implying Lin Qingyu’s care keeps him alive.
Lin Qingyu asks his father to help obtain samples of incense from Fengyi Palace, Changle Palace, and the Eastern Palace.
Lin Qingyu’s father considers using his connections and former students among imperial physicians and palace attendants to get the incense samples.
Lin Qingyu refuses to explain his true purpose and reassures his father while hiding that his real goal is to kill Xiao Cheng.
Lin Qingyu’s father warns him about the dangers of palace politics, and Lin Qingyu claims he knows his limits.
Lin Qingyu’s father asks to check Lu Wancheng’s pulse, and Lu Wancheng agrees politely.
Lin Qingyu feels nervous despite already knowing Lu Wancheng’s condition, realizing the result will only confirm how little time remains.
Lin Qingyu’s father realizes Lin Qingyu modified the original prescription by replacing harsh ingredients with gentler ones.
Lin Qingyu’s father explains that the gentler medicine is insufficient for Lu Wancheng’s severe condition and that stronger medicine would be needed to prolong his life.
Lu Wancheng asks what would happen if he took the stronger medicine, and the silence from Lin Qingyu and his father implies severe consequences.
Lu Wancheng refuses the stronger medicine, joking that he is afraid of pain.
Lin Qinghe calls everyone to dinner, and Lin Qingyu asks him to push Lu Wancheng’s wheelchair.
After Lu Wancheng leaves, Lin Qingyu privately asks his father if there is truly no other way to save him.
Lin Qingyu’s father tells him to prepare Lu Wancheng’s last rites and reveals that Lu Wancheng has at most two months left to live.
Lin Qingyu silently accepts this and wonders if two months will be enough to kill Xiao Cheng.
Lu Wancheng eats dinner with the Lin family, appearing cheerful while actually forcing himself to eat to avoid worrying them.
Lin Qingyu notices Lu Wancheng’s lack of appetite and feels the quiet cruelty of reality.
Lin Qingyu’s father informs Lin Qingyu that his former student will visit tomorrow to help obtain incense samples.
During dinner, Lu Wancheng falls asleep at the table from exhaustion, worrying the family.
Lin Qingyu confirms Lu Wancheng is only sleeping and arranges for him to be taken to rest.
Lin Qingyu decides Lu Wancheng will sleep in a guest room rather than with him, breaking their long-standing habit of sharing a room.
Lin Qingyu returns to his childhood bedroom and feels unsettled by the absence of Lu Wancheng’s presence before sleeping alone.
The next morning, Lin Qingyu’s father departs for Yongliang after Lu Wancheng wakes early to see him off.
Lin Qingyu tells Lu Wancheng he can sleep as much as he wants now, revealing his knowledge of Lu Wancheng’s limited time.
Lu Wancheng responds calmly, saying there will be plenty of time to sleep later.
Lin Qingyu spends the morning supervising Lin Qinghe’s studies while Lu Wancheng idly draws and plays with a brush and hairpin.
Lin Qinghe admires Lu Wancheng’s tricks and wants to learn, but Lin Qingyu forbids it while Lu Wancheng promises to teach him secretly.
Lin Qingyu’s mother sends desserts, allowing Lin Qinghe a break, but Lin Qingyu declines to eat.
Lu Wancheng asks if he must sleep in the guest room again, and Lin Qingyu is startled but avoids answering directly.
Imperial Physician Hu arrives, interrupting their conversation, and Lin Qingyu prioritizes sending Lu Wancheng away to take his medicine.
As Huantong pushes him away, Lu Wancheng quietly admits he feels sad because he seems to be the only one who has not adjusted to the emotional distance.

Chapter 28Lin Qingyu meets Hu Ji, his late father Lin Qingyu’s father’s former student and current imperial physician, in the Lin manor, and recalls how Lin Qingyu’s father once saved Hu Ji from poverty and enabled his career, ensuring Hu Ji will never refuse a request from the Lin family.
Hu Ji secretly brings Lin Qingyu two incense samples stolen from the palace at great risk, explaining that the red incense is Pursuing Phoenix used by the empress and the beige incense is Plum and Willow used by Noble Consort Chen, while Xiao Cheng never burns incense.
Hu Ji explains the medicinal effects of both incense blends and emphasizes they are palace secrets that cannot be used without imperial permission, showing fear over the danger Miss Yunxiu and Xiaokuanzi faced to obtain them.
Lin Qingyu asks why Xiao Cheng does not burn incense, and Hu Ji explains that Xiao Cheng is extremely cautious due to witnessing the third prince die from poisoning and strictly controls all food and supplies entering the Eastern Palace.
Lin Qingyu reflects bitterly on how his kind parents produced someone like himself, then shows the incense to Lu Wancheng and proposes the idea that harmless substances can combine into deadly poison.
Lin Qingyu explains his theory that a poison could be formed through reactions with commonly encountered items rather than direct delivery, but notes that Xiao Cheng’s security makes this extremely difficult.
Lu Wancheng suggests that while objects cannot be sent into the Eastern Palace, a person might be, and the two agree to divide tasks, with Lu Wancheng creating the opportunity and Lin Qingyu finding the catalyst.
Lin Qingyu orders Huantong to replace the divan in his room with a bed, insisting that Lu Wancheng must stay close to him at all times due to his fragile health.
Lu Wancheng happily escalates the idea into sharing beds everywhere and jokingly proposes a bunk bed arrangement, while Huantong silently notes how infatuated Lu Wancheng is.
Lin Qingyu immerses himself in studying incense for days, struggling with its complexity despite his medical background, until news arrives that the emperor plans to select concubines for Xiao Cheng.
The emperor approves Duke Wen’s proposal to select concubines since Xiao Cheng has reached marriageable age, delegating the task to the empress while delaying the choice of a crown princess.
The empress submits a list of noblewomen, including Lu Niantao, and the emperor decides Xiao Cheng should personally choose among them.
Lu Niantao feels both hope and anxiety, remembering that Xiao Cheng once ignored her and focused on Lin Qingyu instead, but takes comfort in the secret gifts she and Lady Liang have sent to Changle Palace.
News spreads that Xiao Cheng plans to burn copied Buddhist prayers at Changsheng Temple to pray for the emperor’s health, and Xiaokuanzi relays this information through Hu Ji to Lin Qingyu.
Lin Qingyu and Lu Wancheng travel to Changsheng Temple, where a young monk greets them under orders from Imperial Preceptor Xu Junyuan and subtly reveals that Lady Liang and Lu Niantao are also present.
Lin Qingyu separates from Lu Wancheng to avoid interference with their plan to bring Xiao Cheng and Lu Niantao together, allowing Lu Wancheng to meet Xu Junyuan alone.
Xu Junyuan tells Lu Wancheng that his fate still ends in the final month of the year, while Lu Wancheng coldly rejects fatalism and asks Xu Junyuan to divine another person’s fate using written information.
After the divination, Xu Junyuan cryptically claims certainty unless the universe itself changes, and Lu Wancheng dismisses him as unreliable and leaves.
Reuniting with Lin Qingyu, Lu Wancheng dodges questions about the meeting and instead teases Lin Qingyu by asking whether he would rather be kissed by Xiao Cheng or Lu Wancheng.
Lin Qingyu resists, then reluctantly admits he would choose Lu Wancheng, prompting Lu Wancheng to stand, pull him close, and stage a fake kiss to mislead an unseen observer.
The fake kiss only brushes Lin Qingyu’s cheek, but the closeness causes Lu Wancheng’s heart to race, and he suddenly collapses from excitement and weakness.
Lu Wancheng faints in Lin Qingyu’s arms after begging him not to carry him in a princess carry, leaving Lin Qingyu flustered and speechless.
Huantong arrives in panic, but Lin Qingyu determines that Lu Wancheng merely fainted from overexcitement and orders Huantong to carry him to rest.
After Lu Wancheng is taken away, Lin Qingyu coldly addresses Xiao Cheng, revealing that he has noticed Xiao Cheng observing them from hiding.

Chapter 29Lin Qingyu encounters Crown Prince Xiao Cheng, who openly mocks and enjoys the scene between Lin Qingyu and Lu Wancheng, revealing his arrogant and predatory nature.
Xiao Cheng fixates on Lin Qingyu’s eyes, admitting nostalgia and revealing that Lin Qingyu resembles Princess Jingchun, whom Xiao Cheng still loves.
Lin Qingyu bluntly points out that Xiao Cheng’s interest is rooted in that resemblance rather than genuine affection.
Xiao Cheng belittles Lu Wancheng as a weak, dying man and implies Lin Qingyu deserves someone of higher status.
Lin Qingyu challenges Xiao Cheng by questioning whether he would still be considered beautiful without his eyes or facial mole.
Xiao Cheng aggressively flirts with Lin Qingyu, invading his personal space and making explicit remarks despite knowing Lin Qingyu is married.
Lin Qingyu invokes the authority of the emperor and empress to warn Xiao Cheng to behave, forcing Xiao Cheng to temporarily restrain himself.
Xiao Cheng ominously states that Lu Wancheng will not live long and implies he will wait to claim Lin Qingyu afterward.
Lin Qingyu leaves and internally curses Xiao Cheng, wishing for his death instead of submission.
Lin Qingyu returns to Lu Wancheng, who has regained consciousness after receiving acupuncture from a Changsheng Temple monk.
Lu Wancheng awkwardly explains that his fainting was due to his weak body and exaggerated reaction, trying to preserve his pride.
Lin Qingyu reassures Lu Wancheng half-heartedly, which visibly cheers Lu Wancheng.
Lin Qingyu tells Lu Wancheng that Xiao Cheng called him “Xiao-Qingyu,” deeply unsettling Lu Wancheng.
Lin Qingyu thanks the monk who treated Lu Wancheng and discusses his condition, showing professional respect for Buddhist medicine.
At the temple, Huantong urges Lu Wancheng to pray to the Buddha on his behalf.
Lu Wancheng wishes not for himself, but for Lin Qingyu to be happy forever.
Upon returning to the manor, Lady Liang and Lu Niantao encounter Lin Qingyu and Lu Wancheng, sensing tension between them.
Lu Wancheng behaves coldly toward Lin Qingyu for the first time, refusing his help and ordering Huantong to push his wheelchair instead.
Lu Niantao deduces that Lu Wancheng’s anger stems from jealousy and wounded pride over Xiao Cheng’s desire for Lin Qingyu.
That night, Lin Qingyu and Lu Wancheng have a fierce argument, trashing Lanfeng Pavilion.
Lu Wancheng accuses Lin Qingyu of secretly planning to meet Xiao Cheng and deliberately wearing a scented sachet to attract him.
Lin Qingyu denies the accusations but remains emotionally detached, which only worsens Lu Wancheng’s insecurity.
Lu Wancheng bitterly claims Lin Qingyu wants him to die early so he can remarry someone of higher rank.
The argument ends with both men breaking objects, though Lu Wancheng stops himself from smashing an antique meant for Lin Qingyu’s inheritance.
Servants clean up the wreckage the next day, including the scented sachet that Xiao Cheng had noticed.
Lin Qingyu reads letters from Zhang Shiquan regarding an ongoing investigation and coldly instructs him to continue searching.
Lu Wancheng surprises Lin Qingyu by installing a custom bunk bed so they can sleep closer together.
Lin Qingyu reluctantly accepts the arrangement after noticing Lu Wancheng’s frail condition.
Late at night, Lu Wancheng wakes Lin Qingyu, not due to illness but to speak with him.
Lu Wancheng reveals that it is his eighteenth birthday, ending the chapter on a quiet, intimate note.

Chapter 30Lin Qingyu is awakened at midnight by Lu Wancheng, who announces that someone has just turned eighteen, and Lin Qingyu realizes that Lu Wancheng is referring to himself rather than Lu Wancheng.
Lin Qingyu reflects that he normally would not care about birthdays, but Lu Wancheng’s clear and excited expression makes him get out of bed to listen.
Lin Qingyu climbs down from the bunk bed in the dark, briefly holding Lu Wancheng’s cold hand for balance before pulling away once he reaches the ground.
Lu Wancheng internally wonders if that brief contact counts as holding hands and is left flustered by it.
Lu Wancheng explains that turning eighteen is extremely important in his homeland because it marks the age when one gains many freedoms.
Lu Wancheng hints at freedoms such as staying out overnight and gazes shyly at Lin Qingyu’s lips, revealing romantic tension.
Lin Qingyu mentally imagines the person Lu Wancheng might have been in his original world, picturing him as a lazy but brilliant and attractive youth who never dated.
Lu Wancheng admits he never thought he would live to see his eighteenth birthday and credits Lin Qingyu for extending his life.
Lu Wancheng praises Lin Qingyu as the “protagonist” who gave him half a year of life instead of poisoning him as fate once dictated.
Lin Qingyu asks what a protagonist is, and Lu Wancheng defines it as someone who shines brightly despite hardship and bloodshed.
Lin Qingyu smiles softly, sits close to Lu Wancheng, and the two share a quiet, intimate moment with their shoulders touching.
Lin Qingyu asks about birthday customs, and Lu Wancheng mentions longevity noodles.
Lin Qingyu offers to have someone prepare the noodles, but Lu Wancheng asks Lin Qingyu to personally do something for him instead.
Lin Qingyu decides to perform acupuncture to help Lu Wancheng sleep, telling him to undress and unintentionally shocking him.
Lu Wancheng awkwardly accepts, and Lin Qingyu’s birthday gift to him becomes a peaceful night of sleep.
As winter approaches, Hualu sorts clothes and discovers Lin Qingyu’s ornate red wedding robes from his marriage to Lu Wancheng.
Hualu and Huantong tease Lu Wancheng about the wedding night, but Lu Wancheng admits he cannot remember what Lin Qingyu looked like in the robes.
Lin Qingyu reveals he also does not remember Lu Wancheng’s wedding appearance because he had been focused on poisoning him at the time.
Lu Wancheng asks Lin Qingyu how much it would cost for him to wear the wedding robes again, expressing a strong desire to see it.
Lin Qingyu mocks him and suggests Lu Wancheng wear the robes himself, but Lu Wancheng insists they could wear them together and even begs.
Before Lin Qingyu can respond, a servant announces that Lady Pan wishes to speak with Lin Qingyu.
The next morning, Lu Niantao goes to the palace alone to attend a flower-viewing event meant to select concubines for the crown prince.
Lady Pan reports that Lu Niantao dressed modestly in white and even copied Lin Qingyu’s beauty mark beneath her eye.
Lin Qingyu coldly states that Lu Niantao chose this path herself and must bear the consequences alone.
Lady Pan reminds Lin Qingyu that he once predicted Lu Wancheng would not survive until the end of the year.
With the year nearing its end, Lady Pan asks if preparations for Lu Wancheng’s funeral rites should begin.
Lin Qingyu falls silent and finally states that he will personally handle Lu Wancheng’s final arrangements.

Chapter 31Three days after the flower-viewing party, a palace eunuch announces that the emperor and empress have chosen Lu Niantao, daughter of the marquess of Nan’an, to become Xiao Cheng’s concubine, along with another general’s daughter.
The eunuch explains that Xiao Cheng and Lu Niantao supposedly met earlier in the gardens when Lu Niantao lost a perfumed sachet and charmed Xiao Cheng, causing him to become smitten with her.
Lin Qingyu finds the story ridiculous and reflects bitterly that becoming a crown prince’s concubine is not true good fortune, since Lu Niantao will never be a main wife and will enter the Eastern Palace without a formal wedding.
The empress orders the Bureau of Astronomy to choose an auspicious date, and Lu Niantao is scheduled to enter the Eastern Palace in one month, leaving little time for preparation.
Lady Liang becomes busy preparing Lu Niantao’s dowry, regains confidence, and gains favor in the manor as everyone anticipates Lu Niantao’s future rise in status.
Lady Liang removes large amounts of valuable goods from the storehouses, including imperial-bestowed Jiangnan silk, which Huantong laments could have gone to Lin Qingyu.
Lin Qingyu does not care about the loss and privately harbors vicious thoughts, hoping Xiao Cheng will exhaust himself indulging in Lu Niantao before dying.
On the day Lu Niantao departs, the Lu family gathers in the main hall, with Lu Wancheng attending in his wheelchair while others stand.
Lu Niantao appears in extravagant red wedding robes and gold accessories provided by the palace, which are more luxurious than the robes Lin Qingyu once wore.
Lu Wancheng jokingly regrets that he slept through Lin Qingyu’s wedding night and missed seeing Lin Qingyu in makeup, revealing lingering intimacy and regret.
Lu Niantao kneels and performs three prostrations to thank the marquess of Nan’an and Lady Liang for raising her, and Lady Liang tearfully helps her up.
A steward announces that Xiao Cheng has personally arrived to pick up Lu Niantao, shocking the household because etiquette does not require him to do so for a concubine.
The Lu family elders praise the honor, while the marquess of Nan’an cautiously reminds everyone that a concubine is still not equal to a wife.
Lin Qingyu and Lu Wancheng decide to go greet Xiao Cheng despite their resentment, since Xiao Cheng is Lu Wancheng’s cousin.
Xiao Cheng arrives arrogantly in the crown prince’s sedan chair and initially does not stand, clearly displaying his status rather than respect.
Xiao Cheng notices Lin Qingyu and Lu Wancheng in the crowd and finally exits the sedan chair, showing particular interest in them.
When the matron of honor prepares to place Lu Niantao’s hand into Xiao Cheng’s, Xiao Cheng refuses and orders her to escort Lu Niantao directly into the nuptial litter instead.
Xiao Cheng approaches Lu Wancheng, pretends concern for his illness, and ominously hints that he will take care of Lin Qingyu after Lu Wancheng’s death.
Lu Wancheng mocks Xiao Cheng by asking whether he will call Lu Niantao “Xiao-Taotao,” provoking Xiao Cheng’s irritation.
Xiao Cheng coldly tells Lu Wancheng that everything ends with death, but Lu Wancheng calmly replies that nothing ends until he says so.
Xiao Cheng leaves after giving Lin Qingyu a lingering look, and the marriage procession departs for the palace.
Lin Qingyu and Lu Wancheng avoid the remaining celebrations and return to Lanfeng Pavilion, disturbed by Xiao Cheng’s continued interest in Lin Qingyu.
Lu Wancheng explains that Xiao Cheng desires what he cannot have, and Lin Qingyu’s rejection only makes Xiao Cheng more obsessed.
Lu Wancheng begins coughing violently again, underscoring the seriousness of his condition.
After Lu Wancheng falls asleep, Hualu informs Lin Qingyu that a representative from a funeral parlor has arrived.
Lin Qingyu meets the funeral-parlor employee outside the gate due to the wedding taboos and quietly begins arranging Lu Wancheng’s funeral.
Lin Qingyu instructs the funeral arrangements to be done according to Lu Wancheng’s personal tastes rather than strict ritual.
Lu Wancheng’s condition worsens as he alternates between frequent sleep and painful wakefulness, coughing every few hours.
In the evening, Lu Wancheng wakes to see Lin Qingyu watching over him in the sunset light and calls out to him weakly.
Lu Wancheng asks about news from the Eastern Palace, but Lin Qingyu avoids answering, knowing their long-term plan involving incense will not show results soon.
Lin Qingyu gently changes the subject and asks Lu Wancheng what colors he likes.
Lu Wancheng reveals he prefers red in Great Yu and subtly realizes Lin Qingyu is preparing his funeral rites.
Lu Wancheng calmly asks to choose his own coffin, joking that he wants one that is comfortable, ending the chapter with quiet acceptance of his approaching death.

Chapter 32Lin Qingyu realizes that Lu Wancheng is serious about planning his own funeral, including choosing his burial clothes, requesting colorful attire for attendees, and arguing to carve a humorous epitaph about being a salted fish onto his gravestone.
Lin Qingyu refuses the epitaph idea and mocks Lu Wancheng’s delusions of future fame, while Lu Wancheng reacts with exaggerated disappointment and sulks in his wheelchair.
Hualu feels pity for Lu Wancheng and urges Lin Qingyu to indulge him since he only has a month left, but Lin Qingyu explains that Lu Wancheng is deliberately acting cheerful to put others at ease and should not be contradicted.
Lin Qingyu instructs everyone in Lanfeng Pavilion to behave as usual during Lu Wancheng’s remaining time, revealing his quiet understanding and care, which Hualu interprets as a deep mutual understanding between the two.
Lin Qingyu takes Lu Wancheng to Wuwang Parlor to personally choose a coffin, pushing his wheelchair through a street filled with funeral shops, which frightens Huantong.
The funeral parlor employee is shocked that Lu Wancheng himself has come to choose his coffin, but politely introduces various coffins made from catalpa wood and nanmu.
The employee mentions that since Lin Qingyu and Lu Wancheng are married, two coffins should be chosen for eventual co-burial, which leaves both men silent and forces Lin Qingyu to confront the real weight of the term “husband and wife.”
Lu Wancheng gently refuses the idea of co-burial, saying he sleeps alone and does not want Lin Qingyu to feel like an outsider in the Lu family grave, and Lin Qingyu calmly supports his decision.
The group encounters Mistress Huo, a mourning woman choosing a coffin for her recently deceased husband, and the employee explains her tragic past as a former dancer who eloped with a scholar and lost him to illness.
Mistress Huo softly mourns her husband while touching a nanmu coffin, shedding a silent tear, which deeply unsettles the atmosphere and causes Lin Qingyu to leave.
Lu Wancheng chooses a nanmu coffin, and within days Wuwang Parlor completes all funeral preparations, prompting Lu Wancheng to joke that he could die at any moment.
When the funeral parlor employee later visits to collect payment, he reveals that Mistress Huo committed suicide by drowning herself after completing her husband’s funeral, unable to endure her grief.
Hualu and Huantong are devastated by the news, while Lu Wancheng becomes unusually quiet, clearly affected by Mistress Huo’s fate.
After taking his medicine, Lu Wancheng anxiously asks Lin Qingyu whether he truly considers him a husband, and Lin Qingyu answers that he only considers him a close friend.
Lu Wancheng insists that Lin Qingyu should not even see him as a close friend but instead as a disposable tool, hoping Lin Qingyu will not grieve.

Chapter 33Winter begins, the scenery around Lanfeng Pavilion turns barren and cold, mirroring the quiet atmosphere of the estate.
Lady Liang regains favor in the marquess’s household because Lu Niantao has married into the palace as a concubine, and she is given household authority again.
Lu Qiaosong becomes active in seeking doctors to cure his illness, though Lin Qingyu confidently states that Lu Qiaosong cannot be healed.
Lu Wancheng and Lin Qingyu jokingly acknowledge their shared schadenfreude and accept being “villains” together.
Hualu appears upset, and it is revealed that Huantong mocked her for poorly drawing a huadian on her forehead.
Lu Wancheng promises to scold Huantong, while Lin Qingyu offers to draw a proper huadian for Hualu.
Lin Qingyu skillfully draws a flame-shaped huadian on Hualu, leaving her delighted and embarrassed.
Lu Wancheng suggests Lin Qingyu draw a huadian for him as well, but the moment is interrupted by the arrival of Imperial Physician Hu Ji.
Hu Ji reports palace news, explaining that Crown Prince Xiao Cheng has taken two concubines and initially favored Lu Niantao but has since grown cold toward both women.
Lu Wancheng remarks that Xiao Cheng only desires what he cannot have, while Lin Qingyu worries that Lu Niantao is failing to maintain Xiao Cheng’s interest.
Hu Ji reports severe troubles in the empire, including a deadly southern epidemic, an ongoing western war, and the emperor’s worsening health.
Lin Qingyu learns that his father, Head Imperial Physician Lin, is in Yongliang attempting unsuccessfully to treat Great General Gu’s poisoning.
It is revealed that Great General Gu is critically ill and may not survive until the new year, despite his legendary military achievements.
Lin Qingyu laments the injustice of fate, noting that good people suffer while evil people endure.
After Hu Ji leaves, the mood darkens, and Lu Wancheng wonders aloud whether he will die before Xiao Cheng, admitting that he does not want to die.
Lin Qingyu reassures Lu Wancheng that there must be other ways, though both know their power is limited.
Lin Qingyu spends a restless night thinking about how to extend Lu Wancheng’s life, eventually preparing medicine to combat his own insomnia.
Lu Wancheng later instructs Hualu to change his prescription and reveals it came from Head Imperial Physician Lin without informing Lin Qingyu.
Lin Qingyu notices the altered medicine immediately but chooses to respect Lu Wancheng’s decision after learning he requested it the day Lin Qingyu’s father departed.
Lu Wancheng admits he is willing to endure pain for the chance to see snow one last time before dying.
Lin Qingyu feeds Lu Wancheng the medicine and stays with him as the severe side effects cause intense pain and cold sweats.
Lu Wancheng jokingly asks to “take advantage” of Lin Qingyu by having him call him “laogong,” despite knowing the term’s mocking meaning.
Lin Qingyu, realizing Lu Wancheng is delirious from pain, nevertheless complies and softly calls him “laogong.”
Lu Wancheng smiles in satisfaction and calls Lin Qingyu “laopo,” ending the chapter on a bittersweet, intimate note amid suffering.

Chapter 34Lin Qingyu follows Lin Qingyu’s father’s prescription that fights poison with poison, using extremely toxic medicine to force out Lu Wancheng’s remaining life force, which causes unbearable pain and side effects, including Lu Wancheng losing feeling in his legs after three days.
The medicine can only extend Lu Wancheng’s life briefly, and every day after winter begins might be Lu Wancheng’s last.
As long as Lu Wancheng is alive, Xiao Cheng does not dare move against the marquess of Nan’an’s manor, but Xiao Cheng is clearly waiting for Lu Wancheng to die.
In mid-tenth month, Zhang Shiquan returns to the manor after months away and immediately reports to Lin Qingyu because Lu Wancheng is mostly unconscious.
Zhang Shiquan reveals that extra income from a store in Xu Prefecture actually comes from an illegal private salt business.
Lin Qingyu realizes Lady Liang is secretly running the private salt trade, an offense punishable by death, and notes her boldness despite her inability to protect her own children.
Zhang Shiquan explains that the storefront was only a front and most profits were sent to Lady Liang’s parents.
Lin Qingyu deduces that Lady Liang’s family relied on the marquess’s name to avoid scrutiny, assuming the emperor was far away and local officials would not dare offend the marquess.
Lin Qingyu concludes the marquess himself is likely unaware, but if the secret is exposed, the marquess would lose his title and face investigation.
Zhang Shiquan asks whether to inform Lu Wancheng, and Lin Qingyu refuses, stating that once Lu Wancheng dies, he will deal with everyone involved.
Lin Qingyu and Zhang Shiquan discuss the evidence further, then Lin Qingyu asks about an epidemic spreading from the south.
Zhang Shiquan reports a deadly outbreak causing fever, stomach pain, and boils, killing weak victims within days and spreading north as refugees flee.
Zhang Shiquan says physicians from across the empire have gathered at the Imperial Academy of Medicine to seek a cure.
The chapter notes a violent winter setting in, possibly the coldest in a decade.
Lu Wancheng awakens, and Zhang Shiquan is allowed to visit him briefly.
Zhang Shiquan sees that Lu Wancheng is near death, barely able to sit up, and is deeply distressed.
Lu Wancheng asks Zhang Shiquan if Lin Qingyu’s instructions were followed, and Zhang Shiquan confirms everything is under control.
Lu Wancheng asks about a personal request, and Zhang Shiquan presents a token wrapped in a handkerchief.
Lu Wancheng tells Zhang Shiquan not to inform Lin Qingyu yet and orders him to summon the manor’s carpenter.
Lin Qingyu goes to the apothecary and overhears an argument involving Huantong and servants from Qingdai Pavilion over thousand-year fleeceflower root.
The servants argue that Third Young Master Lu Qiaosong also needs the rare herb, while Huantong insists it is reserved for Lu Wancheng.
Lin Qingyu learns Lu Qiaosong has been desperately seeking cures for his impotence and wants the herb based on a wandering physician’s prescription.
Thousand-year fleeceflower root is extremely rare, and the manor has only a small supply that Lin Qingyu obtained specifically for Lu Wancheng.
Lin Qingyu orders that Lanfeng Pavilion will no longer store medicine at the apothecary and will prepare Lu Wancheng’s medicine themselves.
A servant from Qingdai Pavilion pressures Lin Qingyu to compromise for Lu Qiaosong’s sake, but Lin Qingyu coldly refuses.
Lin Qingyu declares that Lu Qiaosong’s condition will be incurable for life and that he will remain useless.
The servant threatens to report Lin Qingyu’s words to Lady Liang and Concubine Lu, and Lin Qingyu tells her to repeat his words exactly.
Back in Lanfeng Pavilion, Lin Qingyu finds Lu Wancheng sitting up in bed, using a custom table to draw despite severe trembling.
Lu Wancheng cheerfully calls Lin Qingyu “laopo,” a term Lin Qingyu does not fully understand but tolerates.
Lin Qingyu asks about Zhang Shiquan’s visit, and Lu Wancheng downplays it.
Lin Qingyu notices Lu Wancheng has drawn a strange eye-like symbol and asks about it.
Lu Wancheng explains that people who try to replace someone often fall in love with one of their replacements and become obsessed.
Lu Wancheng lists surnames like Shen, Chu, Bai, and Xie, and Lin Qingyu realizes he means Shen Huaishi.
Lu Wancheng confirms Shen Huaishi is a man and one of Xiao Cheng’s shadow guards who may already have noticed them.
Lin Qingyu stops the conversation when Lu Wancheng shows signs of the poison acting up and urges him to rest.
Lu Qiaosong forcibly barges into Lanfeng Pavilion, demanding the fleeceflower root.
Lin Qingyu blocks Lu Qiaosong from seeing Lu Wancheng and orders him to leave.
Lu Qiaosong cruelly claims Lu Wancheng is beyond saving, mocks his inability to produce an heir, and insults Lin Qingyu.
Lin Qingyu orders servants to drag Lu Qiaosong out.
Lu Qiaosong threatens that once Lu Wancheng dies, he will sell Lin Qingyu to the Bureau of Entertainment.
Lu Wancheng suddenly calls out to Lin Qingyu, collapses, and vomits blood.
Lin Qingyu’s rage explodes, and he slams Lu Qiaosong against a pillar, declaring that Lu Qiaosong is dead.

Chapter 35Lu Wancheng suddenly vomits large amounts of blood due to the toxic medicine in his body, shocking everyone in Lanfeng Pavilion, and he loses consciousness while Lin Qingyu focuses on preserving his dignity rather than saving his life.
Lu Qiaosong witnesses the scene, becomes hysterical, mocks Lin Qingyu for failing to save Lu Wancheng, and is forcibly dragged out by servants after causing chaos.
Lin Qingyu works until midnight and successfully stabilizes Lu Wancheng so he survives, cleans him, changes his clothes and bedding, and watches over him as he sleeps peacefully.
The incident reaches the marquess of Nan’an, who is furious with Lu Qiaosong for provoking his gravely ill elder brother and initially intends to punish him.
Lady Liang defends Lu Qiaosong by claiming he is also ill, recently found a cure for his shameful condition, and should not be punished while sick, which causes the marquess to hesitate.
The marquess ultimately decides to let both sons rest and postpones punishment, effectively letting Lu Qiaosong off without consequences.
Lin Qingyu leaves the marchioness’s courtyard coldly, showing no expectation that the marquess will act justly, and orders Huantong to summon Zhang Shiquan.
Lu Wancheng remains unconscious for three days before waking up.
Lu Qiaosong is forbidden from approaching Lanfeng Pavilion again, but the marquess spends large sums to buy thousand-year fleeceflower root for Lu Qiaosong’s treatment.
Lu Qiaosong wastes money on medicine without improving, realizes the wandering physician likely deceived him, and imprisons the physician while threatening mutilation.
Under pressure, the wandering physician produces a new prescription that actually works, restoring Lu Qiaosong’s vitality and convincing him that his condition will soon be cured.
Lady Liang becomes overjoyed, believing her son will outlive Lu Wancheng, produce an heir, and secure her perfect future.
Lady Liang grows anxious when Lu Niantao fails to respond to messages from the Eastern Palace, and a eunuch coldly rebukes her by saying the marquess of Nan’an raised a good daughter.
Lin Qingyu already knows the truth because Hu Ji confirms that Lin Qingyu’s poison scheme has taken effect.
Xiao Cheng begins suffering unbearable migraines, hearing issues, and eye pain, and all imperial physicians fail to diagnose the cause.
Noble Consort Chen orders a thorough investigation of food, water, clothing, and palaces, but nothing suspicious is found at first.
Lu Niantao’s incense is discovered but deemed harmless until further analysis.
Xiao Cheng, suspicious by nature, bans incense in the Eastern Palace even without proof.
Lin Qingyu realizes Lu Niantao is no longer useful long-term and decides to extract her remaining value.
Hu Ji identifies the true cause as the interaction between Lu Niantao’s incense and the Pursuing Phoenix and Plum and Willow blends used by the empress and Noble Consort Chen.
Xiao Cheng’s frequent visits to Fengyi Palace, Changle Palace, and the concubines worsen the inflammation and migraines over time.
Noble Consort Chen explodes in rage, believes the empress manipulated Lu Niantao, publicly slaps Lu Niantao, and nearly reports the matter to the emperor.
Lu Niantao collapses in tears, insisting she used the incense only because Xiao Cheng liked it, and Xiao Cheng believes her innocence.
Xiao Cheng suppresses the scandal to avoid offending the marquess of Nan’an, quietly orders Lu Niantao to move out, and effectively abandons her.
Lady Liang never hears from Lu Niantao again, and Lu Niantao permanently loses Xiao Cheng’s favor, facing a future as either a palace widow or a discarded concubine.
Hu Ji gains immense recognition, becoming a rising star in the Department of Imperial Physicians.
Lin Qingyu tells Lu Wancheng only part of the truth, mentioning Xiao Cheng’s migraines but not Lu Niantao’s downfall.
Lu Wancheng asks to stop taking the painful poison medicine, and Lin Qingyu agrees if that is his wish.
Lu Wancheng rewards Lin Qingyu with a custom-made physician’s medicine chest designed for his future career.
Lu Wancheng jokingly asks Lin Qingyu to repay the gift by wearing wedding robes again, then reveals he is teasing after seeing Lin Qingyu’s discomfort.
Despite his complaints, Lu Wancheng continues taking his medicine obediently.
That night, Hualu reports that Lu Qiaosong is dead.
Lin Qingyu calmly acknowledges Lu Qiaosong’s death and softly admits to Lu Wancheng that he has done another bad thing.

Chapter 36Lu Qiaosong overdoses on medicine and dies suddenly in Qingdai Pavilion, bleeding from all seven orifices and losing control of his body before dying violently.
Lady Liang faints upon hearing of Lu Qiaosong’s death, and the marquess of Nan’an is so shocked that his hair turns completely gray overnight and he does not attend court the next morning.
Lady Pan takes charge of Lu Qiaosong’s funeral arrangements, even though the funerary items had originally been prepared for Lu Wancheng and must now be hastily replaced.
Lu Qiaosong’s coffin is placed in the hall, mourners arrive in large numbers, and Lady Liang kneels before the coffin in white mourning clothes, appearing emotionally hollow and exhausted.
An unfamiliar man claims to be a eunuch from the Eastern Palace sent to mourn on behalf of Concubine Lu, prompting Lady Liang to ask anxiously about Lu Niantao’s condition.
The eunuch reveals that Lu Niantao has been banished to the Cold Palace, causing Lady Liang to fall into shock and emotional collapse.
When Lady Liang sees Lin Qingyu, she screams that he is a demon who married into the marquess’s manor and completely loses her sanity.
Lin Qingyu coldly reminds Lady Liang that she once called him the manor’s lucky charm, which further unravels her mental state.
A physician diagnoses Lady Liang as having gone mad with little hope of recovery, and the marquess of Nan’an falls seriously ill from consecutive shocks.
The marquess withdraws from managing household affairs and places Lady Pan fully in charge while ordering servants to keep Lady Liang confined.
During Lu Qiaosong’s funeral period, Lu Wancheng’s condition slightly improves, allowing him to remain awake longer and converse.
Lu Wancheng reacts calmly to the news of Lu Qiaosong’s death, Lady Liang’s madness, and the marquess’s illness, and instead comments appreciatively on Lin Qingyu’s changed appearance.
Lin Qingyu remarks that Lu Wancheng is the one who turned him into what he is now, and Lu Wancheng responds that it was his honor.
As Lu Qiaosong’s funeral procession proceeds outside, Lu Wancheng asks Lin Qingyu where he thinks Lu Qiaosong will go after death.
Lu Wancheng reveals that he himself has died once before in another life after being run over by a truck while saving a pregnant woman.
Lu Wancheng explains that Xu Junyuan calculated his fate and suggested that he might not be destined to die permanently.
Lu Wancheng admits that if he dies again, he may truly die or awaken in another world or body, and even he is uncertain of the outcome.
Lin Qingyu becomes emotionally distraught, angry that Lu Wancheng would tell him something so uncertain and force him to cling to false hope.
Lu Wancheng asks Lin Qingyu to wait for him for one hundred days, promising that if he does not return by then, Lin Qingyu should assume he is completely dead.
Lu Wancheng proposes creating a secret code so they can recognize each other if his soul transmigrates into another body.
Lin Qingyu insults Lu Wancheng, but ultimately agrees to hear and memorize the secret code.
Lu Wancheng gives a cryptic mathematical phrase as the secret code, insisting it is easy to remember and unique to them.
When the poison takes effect and Lu Wancheng suffers intense pain, he refuses acupuncture and only asks Lin Qingyu to stay with him.
Lin Qingyu holds Lu Wancheng as he endures the pain, and Lu Wancheng makes Lin Qingyu promise again that he has memorized the secret code.
As winter approaches, Lu Wancheng’s condition steadily worsens, and he is awake less often and no longer able to leave his bed.
Lin Qingyu visits his family alone for his mother Lady Lin’s fortieth birthday, indirectly confirming that Lu Wancheng’s situation is dire.
After returning to Lanfeng Pavilion, Lin Qingyu learns from Hualu that Lu Wancheng has unexpectedly woken up, eaten porridge, and asked to wear a lucky red outfit.
Lin Qingyu freezes in shock and fear, realizing the sudden improvement may signal something ominous rather than true recovery.

Chapter 37Lin Qingyu returns to the Lin family manor alone and overhears Huantong caring for Lu Wancheng, noticing that Lu Wancheng seems unusually energetic and insistent on waiting for Lin Qingyu to return for dinner.
Lu Wancheng asks for plum-blossom cake and keeps glancing toward the wardrobe, clearly anxious for Lin Qingyu to come back soon.
Lin Qingyu realizes something is wrong and withdraws without entering the room, then borrows Hualu’s makeup box.
Lin Qingyu applies a huadian and dresses himself in his wedding robes, recreating his appearance from the day he married Lu Wancheng, even though he understands this is a farewell rather than a second wedding.
Huantong accidentally sees Lin Qingyu dressed in wedding robes and is shocked by his beauty and composure, sensing the gravity of the situation.
Lin Qingyu calmly instructs Huantong to prepare dinner and dismiss all servants for the night, indicating he wants to be alone with Lu Wancheng.
Lin Qingyu hurries through the manor in the heavy wedding robes to find Lu Wancheng waiting in the garden in a wheelchair, dressed in red and appearing briefly radiant and healthy.
Lin Qingyu is struck by how alive Lu Wancheng looks and momentarily wishes this improvement were real, despite knowing the truth about Lu Wancheng’s condition.
Lu Wancheng greets Lin Qingyu normally and shows no strong reaction to the wedding robes, revealing that his poisoned body can no longer respond as expected.
Lin Qingyu remembers that Lu Wancheng’s body is failing from poison and forces himself to accept that this abnormal calm is part of the illness.
Lu Wancheng asks to eat plum-blossom cake together again, and Lin Qingyu agrees and pushes him back inside to the main hall.
Despite Lin Qingyu’s usual medical strictness, Lu Wancheng asks for wine to celebrate having reached eighteen years old, and Lin Qingyu ultimately allows him one cup.
Huantong struggles to keep his composure while serving wine and food, clearly aware that Lu Wancheng is nearing death.
Lin Qingyu personally feeds Lu Wancheng soup and stays by his side, shocking Lu Wancheng with his tenderness and care.
Lu Wancheng enjoys the wine even though he can no longer taste medicine, emphasizing how close he is to the end.
Lu Wancheng jokes about their nuptial wine and assumes Lin Qingyu drank it with him rather than the ceremonial rooster, deepening the emotional weight of the scene.
Snow begins to fall, and Lin Qingyu remembers Lu Wancheng once saying he wanted to see Lin Qingyu standing in the snow in red robes.
Lin Qingyu takes Lu Wancheng outside under an umbrella, wearing his wedding robes in the snow with no servants present to witness the moment.
As Lu Wancheng watches the snow, his color fades rapidly, his body weakening even as his eyes remain bright.
Lin Qingyu holds Lu Wancheng’s freezing hand, powerless to stop his decline, and asks if he is cold.
Lu Wancheng asks Lin Qingyu whether he still likes girls, and Lin Qingyu answers yes, which seems to comfort Lu Wancheng.
Lu Wancheng admits he is tired and apologizes for not being able to hold on any longer, asking Lin Qingyu not to be angry with him.
Lin Qingyu kneels in the snow, gently touching Lu Wancheng’s face and assuring him that he is not angry at all.
Lu Wancheng reveals that he understands how events have gone wrong behind the scenes and makes a final dark joke about Xiao Cheng’s eventual tragic death.
Lu Wancheng asks Lin Qingyu to wake him after he sleeps, closes his eyes, and quietly dies beneath the falling snow.
Lin Qingyu holds Lu Wancheng as his body grows cold and stiff, standing in the snow wearing wedding robes and a huadian, mirroring the day they first met.

Thrice Married to a Salted Fish, Vol. 1

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Three Hundred Years of Longing: Bu Jian Shang Xian San Bai Nian, Vol. 1

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Mistakenly Saving the Villain, Vol. 1

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Mistakenly Saving the Villain, Vol. 2

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The Wife Comes First: Qi Wei Shang, Vol. 1

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The White Cat’s Divine Scratching Post, Vol. 1

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The Villain's White Halo, Vol. 1

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After the Disabled God of War Became My Concubine, Vol. 1

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Twin Jades of Jiangdong, Vol. 1

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