Are You the One Recap, Plot, Synopsis

Are You the One Synopsis

The clever and decisive Liu Miantang, as the first lord of Yangshan, led the people of Yangshan to punish the wicked, promote goodness, and uphold justice. However, he suffered serious injuries under the attack of various evil forces and was rescued by Cui Xingzhou, the Prince of Huaiyang.

When Liu Miantang woke up, she had no memory of Yangshan, mistaking Cui Xingzhou for her husband Cui Jiu.

With extraordinary courage and wisdom, she opened a porcelain shop and helped create a successful porcelain brand in the town, which thrived.

The court appointed Cui Xingzhou to go to Jinjia Pass, and to protect Liu Miantang from any harm, Cui Xingzhou left a farewell letter and departed.

Liu Miantang stood by him, and together they supported the rear, fought enemy forces, and suppressed bandits.

They worked in harmony, guarding the frontier, and finally came together as a true couple.

However, their identities were exposed, and their relationship faced another test, but they faced it honestly after enduring hardships.

In the difficult times, the couple helped the grandson of the emperor, Zi Yu, eliminate the rebels and stabilize the court, finally living a sweet and peaceful life.

Are You the One Recap

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In the spring, with flowers blooming and willows lush and green, a beautifully crafted carriage slowly makes its way through the bustling market. The carriage stops in front of an exceptionally luxurious residence. From the carriage steps down a graceful figure, veiled and rarely revealing her true face. The neighbors whisper among themselves about this mysterious beauty, only knowing that her husband is a merchant from another region, dealing in porcelain, but they know nothing more. This beauty is Liu Miantang.

Since losing her memory, she only recalls hearing her husband's name as "Cui Jiu" on the day of their grand wedding, while she was on her way to Mount Yang in the red bridal sedan. After that, she remembers nothing else. Later, when she woke up, she saw a graceful and elegant man, who wore a jade pendant and instructed the doctor to use the best medicine to heal her.

She also heard the people around her calling him "Cui Jiu," so she assumed that he must be her husband. Liu Miantang immediately addressed Cui Xingzhou as "husband," which startled him, but he responded nonetheless. Now that Liu Miantang has settled in, Cui Xingzhou goes out to entertain a guest. The two men discuss official matters, and the other person remarks that Cui Xingzhou has encountered "romantic luck," though unfortunately with an enemy.

The friend is referring to Liu Miantang, whose true identity is Lu Wen's beloved concubine. Cui Xingzhou, being an official of the court, had been secretly monitoring Lu Wen for a long time, but still hadn't found any leads. Out of desperation, Cui Xingzhou intended to use Liu Miantang as bait, but unexpectedly, when he found her, she was already injured and suffering from amnesia, remembering nothing of her past.

Even though Liu Miantang calls Cui Xingzhou "husband," he remains courteous and respectful, yet cautious, always on guard. He suspects that Liu Miantang might be faking her amnesia to get close to him with ulterior motives. After returning home and having a meal with Liu Miantang, Cui Xingzhou excuses himself, claiming to be busy with official duties and prepares to leave.

Liu Miantang believes him and quickly brings out a newly made cloak for Cui Xingzhou, tying it for him with a bit of force. Immediately, Cui Xingzhou grabs her arm, wary, but Liu Miantang apologizes, explaining that she accidentally used too much strength.

Cui Xingzhou doesn’t lower his guard, deliberately revealing a fragrance powder he once found on her, but Liu Miantang shows no recognition of it, instead, she thanks Cui Xingzhou for the gift, advising that in these times of frugality, there’s no need for such expensive presents. Cui Xingzhou has arranged for Liu Miantang to stay in a residence surrounded by spies, monitoring her every move around the clock.

He understands that the large sum invested in Liu Miantang is meant to yield a corresponding return. If he fails to lure out Lu Wen, all his previous efforts will be in vain. Through the neighbors' gossip, Liu Miantang learns that her husband, Cui Jiu, is supposedly in the porcelain business.

Her nursemaid also explains that Cui Xingzhou is indeed in business and has been planning to open a new shop, but for some reason, the plan has been put on hold. From then on, Liu Miantang becomes more attentive, not only offering her dowry to fully support Cui Xingzhou but also frequently visiting the market to select the location for the shop. Liu Miantang is not only beautiful but also intelligent and shrewd in business.

She has her eye on a very good shop, but the owner, seeing her interest, deliberately raises the price. So, Liu Miantang deliberately rents a neighboring shop to sell funeral goods, causing the shop she wanted to become undesirable, and she easily buys it at the lowest price. The nursemaid reports Liu Miantang's actions to Cui Xingzhou with admiration.

Cui Xingzhou listens carefully, particularly interested in whether Liu Miantang deliberately contacts certain people or leaves behind any clues during the day. He shows little enthusiasm for her efforts to find a shop and even instructs the nursemaid to leave the shop’s management to Liu Miantang, hoping it will create more opportunities for her to interact with the suspects.

Liu Miantang, though slender in appearance, possesses a resilience akin to that of a man. One day, while at the market, she encountered a lecherous man who, driven by lust, attempted to take advantage of her. However, he underestimated Liu Miantang. She quickly stabbed him in the neck with a hairpin, threatening that if he dared to assault another woman, he would face dire consequences. The man, terrified, fled in disgrace.

When Cui Xingzhou heard of Liu Miantang’s "heroic deed," he became even more convinced that she wasn't truly suffering from amnesia. That evening, he returned home intending to "interrogate" his wife, but when he pushed the door open, he found Liu Miantang stepping out of her bath. Despite having seen many beautiful women at court, this was the first time Cui Xingzhou had encountered someone as stunning as Liu Miantang.

Although he had posed as Liu Miantang’s husband, Cui Xingzhou could not deny that he was tempted by her beauty. However, his deep-seated hatred for Lu Wen, with whom he shared a life-and-death enmity, and Liu Miantang's position as Lu Wen’s beloved concubine, kept him from lowering his guard. Initially, Cui Xingzhou planned to expose Liu Miantang’s pretense of amnesia. However, Liu Miantang, holding a piece of porcelain, deliberately tested his knowledge of porcelain-making techniques.

Cui Xingzhou responded briefly, and Liu Miantang quickly confirmed her suspicion—Cui Xingzhou knew nothing about porcelain-making. Despite being tested, Cui Xingzhou, seasoned by many challenges, deliberately admitted in a loud voice that he was just a dissolute idler. He claimed that Liu Miantang managed the business, while he only occasionally helped with deliveries. Therefore, the newly rented shop should be left in Liu Miantang’s care. Cui Xingzhou’s response was flawless, leaving Liu Miantang unable to find any loopholes.

However, Cui Xingzhou inwardly realized that Liu Miantang, with her keen intelligence, had begun to suspect him. Intrigued, he decided to observe her next move and, on a whim, announced that he wouldn’t leave that night and would stay there instead. This was Cui Xingzhou’s first time resting at home. Liu Miantang, sitting on the bed, waited nervously for him to join her.

She couldn’t help but feel tense, unsure of what it had been like to share a bed with Cui Jiu, her supposed husband of three years. Cui Xingzhou, pretending to be calm, lay down in an orderly manner, secretly watching Liu Miantang’s actions. To his surprise, aside from some initial nervousness, she slept peacefully through the night.

The neighbors, having noticed Liu Miantang frequently appearing in public and rarely seeing Cui Xingzhou during the day, began to whisper among themselves, speculating that Liu Miantang might be a concubine. This rumor quickly reached Cui Xingzhou’s ears. Seizing the opportunity, he decided to use this to his advantage to lure out his enemies. He planned to create a situation where the entire town would see Liu Miantang’s beauty, prompting Lu Wen to make his next move.

Upon hearing the neighbors gossip that Liu Miantang was a concubine, Cui Xingzhou decided to clear her name while simultaneously advancing his plan. He arranged a grand banquet to publicly affirm their status as husband and wife. Liu Miantang was deeply moved by this gesture but also worried that it would waste Cui Xingzhou’s money. The nursemaid, aware of Cui Xingzhou’s intentions, comforted Liu Miantang, reassuring her that this was Cui Xingzhou’s way of expressing his feelings for her.

In the deep of the night, when the dew thickens and the coolness of the evening feels like water, a melancholic tune echoes softly from a zither. A figure slowly moves behind the screen and asks the player if they are once again missing Sister Liu. The zither player lets out a long sigh, just as a servant arrives to report that they have found Liu Miantang! Cui Xingzhou and Liu Miantang were delivering invitations to the neighbors for a banquet.

On the way, they passed by a chess club, and Liu Miantang insisted on dragging Cui Xingzhou inside to deliver an invitation. Cui Xingzhou had already anticipated this and had his men strategically placed inside the chess club, who then "enthusiastically" greeted him. Seeing so many people recognize Cui Xingzhou, Liu Miantang became convinced that he indeed spent his days here playing chess. She felt that she might have misjudged him and admired even more her husband’s good social standing.

On the day of the banquet, Liu Miantang specially went to offer incense and pray for blessings, even securing the first incense for her husband. Cui Xingzhou spared no expense for the banquet, causing quite a stir in the town. Naturally, Lu Wen also caught wind of it and had placed many spies in the town, closely observing Liu Miantang’s every move. Cui Xingzhou, meanwhile, quietly observed from a teahouse, noticing several unfamiliar faces following behind Liu Miantang’s sedan chair.

These individuals were cautiously trailing her, frequently surveying their surroundings, indicating to Cui Xingzhou that the "fish" was about to take the bait. Halfway through the journey, the horses suddenly became spooked and bolted, causing the sedan chair to split in two. However, Liu Miantang resolutely found a fast horse and rode directly to the banquet venue. Cui Xingzhou, watching from the upstairs window, found the scene highly amusing.

As the banquet began, Cui Xingzhou instructed his men to give Liu Miantang ample time to entertain the mysterious guests. Pretending to be drunk, he left Liu Miantang to greet the guests in the front and back yards alone. As expected, Cui Xingzhou noticed some suspicious signs—indeed, Lu Wen’s people were present, but the true mastermind had not shown up.

Just as Cui Xingzhou had anticipated, the assassins who came were not led by Lu Wen but by Sun Yuner, one of Lu Wen’s attendants. Sun Yuner had long harbored feelings for Lu Wen and couldn’t wait to get rid of Liu Miantang, hoping to free Lu Wen from his lingering attachment to her. However, Sun Yuner didn’t expect Liu Miantang to have amnesia and genuinely not remember her.

This led Sun Yuner to abandon her plans to kill her, especially since Liu Miantang was now openly recognized as a married woman. It wasn’t worth the risk, as Lu Wen might trace the deed back to her, leading to unimaginable consequences. After the banquet, Liu Miantang returned to her bedroom and suddenly noticed a strange fragrance in the room. Realizing it was a drugged scent, she quickly covered her nose and quietly escaped through the window.

At the same time, Cui Xingzhou received secret information and, believing Lu Wen had arrived, sneaked into the room. To his surprise, the intruder turned out to be the same scoundrel who had harassed Liu Miantang at the market. Liu Miantang, noticing movement, immediately threw hot water at the source of the noise, scalding both Cui Xingzhou and the scoundrel. That night, Liu Miantang personally applied medicine to Cui Xingzhou’s burns.

Recalling a neighbor’s comment that warming the room could also lead to a "little spring night," she decided to fulfill her duties as a wife since they were sharing the same bed. However, Cui Xingzhou quickly waved his hand, stating that he was willing to wait until Liu Miantang was ready. Liu Miantang didn’t understand Cui Xingzhou’s meaning. The next day, she asked Cui Xingzhou’s friend, Zhao Quan, about it.

Zhao Quan, knowing Cui Xingzhou’s plans but unable to reveal the truth, hastily made an excuse that Cui Xingzhou had some physiological issues. Liu Miantang believed it and even began studying medicinal diets to help Cui Xingzhou regain his health. When Cui Xingzhou heard from Zhao Quan about his sudden "illness," he was so furious that his face turned red.

Cui Xingzhou usually claimed that he was learning chess from a master, but in reality, he was secretly keeping a close eye on Liu Miantang's every move. One day, his men reported that they had discovered a secret sign left by Lu Wen in the city. Cui Xingzhou carefully examined it and noticed a few small characters indicating the time and place of departure. He was thrilled, thinking that the moment to capture Lu Wen was near.

To avoid alarming the enemy, he discreetly deployed his elite troops to the meeting location. However, a spy reported some movement from Liu Miantang’s side, suggesting that she was about to leave in a hurry. Cui Xingzhou prepared a fast horse and quietly followed her, only to discover that she was meeting his friend Zhao Quan. The two of them then entered a bamboo grove together.

Cui Xingzhou's men held their breath, thinking that their sister-in-law might be doing something to enhance the prince's status. But it turned out that a few days earlier, Zhao Quan had given Liu Miantang a beautifully crafted painting. Liu Miantang was so taken with the style that she asked Zhao Quan to bring her to meet the artist. On this day, she sincerely invited the artist to become her craftsman for producing exquisite porcelain. Cui Xingzhou felt a bit embarrassed.

He had never stopped testing and being cautious of Liu Miantang, yet time and time again, he was proven wrong. This time, Liu Miantang’s earnest words were indeed meant to seek talent for his business. When the artist hesitated, thinking Liu Miantang wasn’t sincere enough, Cui Xingzhou stepped forward to confirm that they both valued talent. Only then did they successfully recruit the artist.

Meanwhile, on the other front, where Cui Xingzhou was closely monitoring, they found that Lu Wen’s boat waited by the shore for a while but left without anyone showing up. On the boat, Cui Xingzhou saw the name Shi Yikuan, realizing that these people were connected to Shi Yikuan. Liu Miantang’s porcelain shop opened, but despite the exquisite products, the prices were too high, leading to poor sales.

After the store closed for the day, a distinguished guest suddenly arrived and bought out an entire set of porcelain. Liu Miantang was overjoyed. Cui Xingzhou, upon seeing the patterned porcelain, noticed that it resembled the secret code he had shown Liu Miantang a few days earlier. It seemed that she truly didn’t remember anything about her past. The next day, business was still slow.

Seeing Liu Miantang in low spirits, her mother-in-law explained that such wealthy customers who buy out entire sets of designs are rare. She accidentally let slip that it was Cui Xingzhou who arranged for the purchase. Although it was done to cheer her up, Liu Miantang earnestly told him not to deceive her again. When it was time for Cui Xingzhou’s mother to celebrate her birthday, Cui Xingzhou naturally had to attend the banquet in person.

Unexpectedly, Shi Yikuan was there. Shi Yikuan, relying on the Empress Dowager's favor, used the occasion to pressure Cui Xingzhou into relinquishing some of his military power. Anticipating this, Cui Xingzhou presented a map of national defense and publicly declared that he would rather serve the people and the court, announcing plans to undertake a major water conservancy project for the benefit of the people.

His words were so compelling that Shi Yikuan had nothing more to say and could only agree to stay and witness Cui Xingzhou’s efforts to build the dam. Cui Xingzhou’s cousin, Lian Ruilan, was betrothed to him. At his mother’s birthday banquet, Lian Ruilan personally attended to his mother, sending subtle signals of affection toward Cui Xingzhou. However, while the fallen flower has feelings, the flowing water is heartless.

Cui Xingzhou never had any fondness for Lian Ruilan, but his mother believed that Lian Ruilan’s father’s position in the Ministry of War would provide a strong backing in the future. Thus, Cui Xingzhou had no choice but to accept the engagement.

Cui Xingzhou was fuming with anger during the banquet, and even when he returned home, he was still full of frustration. Liu Miantang helped him take off his boots and gently advised him to drink less in the future. She mentioned that the alcohol outside was often mixed with other substances, suggesting that he should instead enjoy some fine wine at home. Cui Xingzhou had never heard such tender words before.

Usually, he was pressured to handle everything independently, dealing with crises and bringing honor to his family. But now, Liu Miantang was comforting him, telling him to relax a bit. She even mentioned that once the porcelain business improved, he could lead a more leisurely life. Liu Miantang helped Cui Xingzhou undress, and he slept peacefully that night. In his dreams, he once again saw Liu Miantang as she was when they first met.

Back then, Liu Miantang had been swept to the edge of a waterfall by the current, her head struck against a rock, and she lay motionless, with blood dripping from her wrist, staining the surrounding water red. Cui Xingzhou saw her pale face and thought she was dead. He wondered who could have been so ruthless as to sever the tendons in both her hands, a question that still haunted him.

Seeing Cui Xingzhou drowning his sorrows in alcohol, Liu Miantang couldn't help but worry. She wanted to do her best to ease her husband's burden, so she began looking for ways to improve the business. She visited various shops in the area and noticed that one store was particularly successful. Upon entering, she discovered that every piece of porcelain in the shop had a seal at the bottom, indicating that it was made by an official kiln.

This reputation naturally attracted many customers. Liu Miantang sincerely sought advice from He Zhen on how to join the trade association. He Zhen suggested that she ask her husband to take the lead, as the association didn’t allow women to join. However, Liu Miantang didn't give up. When she returned home, she mentioned what she had learned to Cui Xingzhou. He disagreed with her making public appearances and told her to stay in the shop.

It was normal for there to be no business at the beginning, but Liu Miantang was not satisfied. She insisted on trying to join the association and planned to visit them soon. However, she reluctantly followed Cui Xingzhou’s advice, though he left in frustration. That night, the leader of the trade association came to see Cui Xingzhou, asking the prince to plead with the court to reduce some taxes. The association was struggling as taxes increased yearly.

Since Cui Xingzhou was already troubled by Liu Miantang’s desire to join the association, he agreed to negotiate with the court. In return, he requested to be included in the association’s tribute offerings that year. The leader, of course, agreed readily. The next day, Liu Miantang actually went to the trade association, but the members looked down on her, mocking her for relying only on her beauty.

One of them, feeling smug, said they would only allow her to join if she could get their porcelain into the palace. With no other choice, Liu Miantang racked her brain to figure out a way to sell the porcelain to the palace. As she walked through the market, she saw a notice posted. The next day, Shi Yikuan would be inspecting the river channel that Cui Xingzhou was working on. An idea came to Liu Miantang.

She hurried home and instructed her nanny to visit all the shops selling koi fish and buy some to release, believing it would help ward off disaster. The nanny took her instructions seriously and did as Liu Miantang asked. Liu Miantang also prepared a large porcelain fish tank freshly made in their shop. The next day, after Shi Yikuan completed his inspection of the waterworks, he released many koi into the river.

Since koi are considered symbols of good fortune, Shi Yikuan immediately ordered his men to retrieve a few from the water. Liu Miantang seized the moment and had her prepared porcelain tank brought over. In this way, the porcelain her family made was smoothly delivered to the palace. Liu Miantang boldly requested a reward from the guards.

When Cui Xingzhou heard that Liu Miantang was coming to see him, he quickly found an excuse to hide in his carriage, so Liu Miantang did not realize his true identity. Excited, Liu Miantang reported the news of her porcelain being sent to the palace to the trade association. To her shock, the members laughed and told her it was all just a joke to dismiss her. Liu Miantang was so furious that she was left speechless.

When Cui Xingzhou returned home, he criticized Liu Miantang for not behaving like a proper wife. He had already told her that morning to stop pursuing the trade association, yet she went ahead anyway. Liu Miantang was also angry, feeling that Cui Xingzhou lacked ambition and that he was holding her back as well. This marked the beginning of their second major conflict.

Liu Miantang and Cui Xingzhou had a disagreement. To ease the tension between them, the nanny deliberately added more dishes to the meal. During dinner, Liu Miantang felt that the fried rice had been overcooked and asked Cui Xingzhou if he had ever tried her crab roe fried rice. Cui Xingzhou casually replied, "I haven't. " Liu Miantang then set down her chopsticks and went into the room alone.

That night, when Cui Xingzhou was about to go to bed, Liu Miantang sat up and solemnly told him that he was not her type. Although she had lost her memory, she clearly remembered that when she first heard she was to marry Cui Jiu, she was unwilling.

Now, even though she had regained consciousness and heard that Cui Xingzhou had stayed by her side and spent a lot of money to treat her, she was deeply grateful and tried her best to fulfill her duties as a wife. However, the more she tried to be good to him, the more distant they became. So, Liu Miantang candidly expressed that she was willing to divorce.

If Cui Xingzhou disagreed, she was willing to maintain their current state of relationship. That night, the two of them slept in separate rooms. Recently, the leader of the trade association had been unwell. Worried because he had not received a reply from the prince, he took his daughter to the prince's residence. The leader's daughter was He Zhen, and they had met before.

When He Zhen saw the prince, she immediately recognized him as the hero who had saved her life years ago. At that time, she had been kidnapped by pirates and was on the brink of death when government officials came to her rescue. The first person to reach her was Cui Xingzhou, a prince in military attire, radiating heroism. Although they had only met once, He Zhen had never forgotten his face.

Cui Xingzhou instructed the leader of the trade association to find a way to send more ships carrying tribute. Since the waterways were difficult to navigate, valuable porcelain transported by water and then by land would likely be damaged. However, Cui Xingzhou made this a condition for reducing taxes, and the leader agreed. Liu Miantang also learned of this information and cleverly bought the essential route the trade association used for transportation.

As a result, the association had no choice but to agree to let Liu Miantang join. When Cui Xingzhou heard that Liu Miantang was sick, he immediately ordered someone to bring medicine back. But as he stood by the window, he overheard Liu Miantang pretending to be ill to deceive the trade association, revealing her true intentions. The first time Liu Miantang attended a trade association meeting, she was still looked down upon.

The members brought their family members to chat with her, and some of the women, hoping to please Liu Miantang, gifted her with expensive fabrics and rare items. Liu Miantang was used to seeing such things at home, which led the women to mock her, accusing her of bragging. They claimed these were tributes for the palace, and that using such precious fabric to make just a small handkerchief for her was a waste.

Confused, Liu Miantang checked the prices of the fabrics on her way home. Then, she rummaged through the house and found that Cui Xingzhou had bought her many high-quality items. She became suspicious, thinking that Cui Xingzhou might not be as frivolous as she had thought, and secretly followed him. Cui Xingzhou, having been informed by the nanny of Liu Miantang’s strange behavior, prepared in advance.

He deliberately led Liu Miantang to a chess house, making her mistakenly believe that Cui Xingzhou spent his time playing chess with the prince to earn money for the household. This explained why there were palace tributes at home. After the misunderstanding was cleared up, Liu Miantang returned home and earnestly advised Cui Xingzhou not to desecrate the art of chess. Instead of flattering others for money, she suggested that he should do something he genuinely enjoyed.

She assured him that he need not worry about the household’s daily needs. Cui Xingzhou humbly accepted her advice, and they reconciled that day. That night, Liu Miantang moved the bedding to Cui Xingzhou’s study, and the two of them slept together on the same bed again.

Liu Miantang had always dreamed of crafting unique porcelain, and after much effort, she finally succeeded. Overjoyed, she immediately took her newly crafted porcelain to the trade association. However, He Erlang from the association made an excuse about being ill and refused to see her. Disheartened, Liu Miantang returned home, only to learn that Cui Xingzhou had received some accusations against her porcelain.

The accusations claimed that Liu Miantang was trying to take advantage of loopholes and was obstructing the trade route for the tribute. These accusations made Cui Xingzhou uneasy, as he was fully aware of Liu Miantang's actions and knew there was nothing improper about them. Angered, he dismissed the accusing official, telling him to investigate thoroughly before making any further complaints.

At home, Liu Miantang overheard the trade association members accusing her, and she angrily insisted that Cui Xingzhou arrange for her to meet the Prince of Huaiyang so she could explain the situation herself. This made Cui Xingzhou even more anxious. Given that he was only pretending to be her husband, taking Liu Miantang to the Prince's residence would only cause more trouble. Despite Cui Xingzhou’s repeated explanations, Liu Miantang remained determined to proceed with her plan.

Left with no other option, Cui Xingzhou reluctantly made arrangements, instructing his guards to tell Liu Miantang that he was in the military camp when they arrived. However, when Liu Miantang and Cui Xingzhou arrived at the Prince of Huaiyang’s residence, they saw dozens of trade association members kneeling at the gate. They were all petitioning the prince to punish the newly arrived Liu Miantang, accusing her of obstructing the royal merchants' route.

Seeing the large number of visitors, Liu Miantang realized it wouldn’t be wise to confront them directly. She ordered the bearers to turn back, deciding to visit another day. Liu Miantang didn’t sit idly by. First, she heard that a well-known association member surnamed Jia was fond of famous paintings. To win him over, she bought a painting called *Tong Qu Tu*. As expected, Mr. Jia admired the painting and negotiated with the previous buyer.

Using her persuasive skills, Liu Miantang quickly convinced Mr. Jia, discreetly allowing his ship to pass. Having benefited from Liu Miantang, Mr. Jia naturally began to support her. Other members of the trade association noticed that Mr. Jia’s ship had set off early and, unable to contain their impatience, proactively sought out Liu Miantang. This caused a complete breakdown of trust within the association.

The association’s leader had been recuperating from illness, but upon hearing about his son's misdeeds in the past few days, he became furious. He blamed his son for opposing Liu Miantang and ordered him to ensure that Liu Miantang was allowed to attend the next meeting. Liu Miantang dressed up and confidently went to the trade association meeting, bringing along her latest crafted pieces. The association's leaders were secretly impressed by what they saw.

As Liu Miantang was leaving, He Zhen caught up with her, congratulating her on achieving her goal and praising her excellent porcelain craftsmanship. He Erlang, feeling wronged by his father, ran to Liu Miantang’s house and started cursing at the door. Coincidentally, Cui Xingzhou was also home. He instructed the nanny to open the door, and after He Erlang entered the courtyard, the door was shut tightly. Cui Xingzhou bluntly reminded He Erlang not to cause trouble.

Never having met the prince, He Erlang naturally assumed that Cui Xingzhou was just Liu Miantang’s husband and spoke rudely. But when Cui Xingzhou twisted He Erlang’s arm, causing him to cry out in pain, and Liu Miantang showed no sign of backing down, He Erlang left in disgrace. Liu Miantang successfully joined the trade association, and her business flourished.

With more free time on her hands, Liu Miantang personally prepared a crab roe feast for Cui Xingzhou as a token of gratitude. Tasting Liu Miantang’s cooking for the first time, Cui Xingzhou couldn’t stop praising her. Liu Miantang had once told the nanny in the kitchen that crab roe rice was something one cooked for the person they held dear. It seemed that Liu Miantang had finally started to care for Cui Xingzhou.

Liu Miantang had recently begun to notice more of Cui Xingzhou's virtues. Ever since she learned of Cui Xingzhou's condition, she had been making efforts to improve her appearance. Since the two had resumed sleeping on the same bed, Liu Miantang prepared a set of seductive lingerie. With her smooth, jade-like skin complemented by the lustrous material, she naturally looked even more radiant. Liu Miantang took the initiative to showcase her "inner beauty" to Cui Xingzhou.

Seeing her, Cui Xingzhou nearly lost control, but he forced himself to leave the room to cool down. Cui Xingzhou's subordinates reported that Ziyu seemed to be in Qingzhou and was closely associating with Shi Yikuan, who was also a favored person by the Empress Dowager’s side. Cui Xingzhou was unclear about the relationship between the two, but knowing that Ziyu was his mortal enemy, he was determined to capture Ziyu and settle his grudge.

Understanding Ziyu’s cunning nature, Cui Xingzhou recalled that he still had leverage. As long as he utilized Liu Miantang well, he was confident he could lure Ziyu out. When he returned home, he suggested taking Liu Miantang to Qingzhou for a trip, hinting that they might meet Shi Yikuan there. Since Shi Yikuan had a passion for porcelain, there was a chance they could sell their porcelain to the royal family. Liu Miantang had no idea what Cui Xingzhou was planning.

Her focus was entirely on the Yu Shao Porcelain Workshop. To increase sales, she specially prepared a few treasured pieces from the store and then, encouraged by Cui Xingzhou, agreed to go to Qingzhou. Initially, they had planned to go together, but to draw the enemy out, Cui Xingzhou deliberately sent Liu Miantang ahead while he observed from the shadows. Sure enough, as soon as Liu Miantang arrived in Qingzhou, two unknown individuals began following her.

Cui Xingzhou watched closely as Liu Miantang entered a shop and took an interest in a chess set. Liu Miantang was indeed captivated by a finely crafted chessboard inside the shop. When she inquired about the price, she found it expensive and realized that someone else had already placed an order. She lamented her lateness and, given the high cost, reluctantly decided not to buy it. Shortly after Liu Miantang left, Ziyu emerged from the back of the shop.

He instructed the shopkeeper to cancel the reservation and to sell the chess set to Liu Miantang if she returned. The shopkeeper respectfully agreed. Cui Xingzhou quickly received information about Ziyu's whereabouts, confirming that Ziyu had already set his sights on Liu Miantang but had yet to find the right opportunity. To further provoke Ziyu, Cui Xingzhou took Liu Miantang shopping. Despite his subordinates keeping an eye on Ziyu, they eventually lost track of him.

While dining with Liu Miantang, Cui Xingzhou noticed a few unfamiliar faces seemingly watching them. Following their line of sight, Cui Xingzhou looked up and spotted a distinguished figure staring intently at Liu Miantang with a sorrowful expression. Cui Xingzhou was startled—this person was none other than Ziyu! The two men had been battling in the shadows for a long time, with Cui Xingzhou narrowly escaping death several times due to Ziyu's schemes.

After a while, Ziyu took the initiative to invite Cui Xingzhou to a game of chess. When Liu Miantang saw Ziyu for the first time, she felt dizzy, finding Ziyu strangely familiar yet unable to recall why. During the game, Liu Miantang realized she understood Ziyu's chess moves, but the more she tried to remember, the more her head throbbed with pain. After winning the game, Cui Xingzhou escorted the dizzy Liu Miantang back home.

Cui Xingzhou then had the nanny subtly probe whether Liu Miantang had remembered anything, hoping to gain some clues. Meanwhile, Liu Miantang anxiously asked the nanny if she knew whether she and Ziyu had known each other in the past. To test her, the nanny lied, claiming that Ziyu had once been Liu Miantang's lover. Liu Miantang believed her.

Convinced that she must have known Ziyu before, Liu Miantang candidly offered to write a divorce letter if Cui Xingzhou was concerned about her past. Seeing that Liu Miantang had not regained her memory, Cui Xingzhou explained that it was Ziyu who had been persistently entangled with her, assuring her that nothing improper had occurred between them. Only then did Liu Miantang feel relieved.

Liu Miantang and Cui Xingzhou had an open conversation, which made them feel much more comfortable. That evening, they chatted together. Liu Miantang was already looking forward to the future, imagining that once the Yushao Porcelain Workshop's business stabilized, they would hire a manager and then travel the world together as a couple. Alternatively, they might have a child and live the simple life of ordinary people.

Liu Miantang was lost in her daydreams, while Cui Xingzhou was still pondering how to capture Ziyu. After Liu Miantang fell asleep, Cui Xingzhou quietly left the courtyard. He went to the secret chamber, where numerous shadow guards had already disguised themselves and entered the city without alarming the people of Qingzhou. They had thoroughly investigated Ziyu's hiding place and all the possible exits. Now, they only needed to capture him like a turtle in a jar the next day.

The following day, Cui Xingzhou led the shadow guards to surround Ziyu's residence. Ziyu was trapped inside the house with no way to escape. Cui Xingzhou ordered his men to rush in and seize him. At that moment, Shi Yikuan barged in with his guards. He announced that Ziyu had already been pardoned and was not an enemy of the court. He even declared the Empress Dowager's decree, revealing that Ziyu had long since submitted to Shi Yikuan's command.

Cui Xingzhou realized that he had arrived too late, but he still had a lingering doubt. He asked why, despite his earlier declaration of a temporary truce, Ziyu had not followed the agreement and launched a surprise attack on him in the middle of the night, attempting to take his life. Ziyu was taken aback; he had no knowledge of such an attack. It must have been Sun Yuner acting behind his back!

Ziyu could only respond to Cui Xingzhou's suspicion by saying, "All's fair in war. "As Cui Xingzhou was about to withdraw his troops, he heard Ziyu's voice behind him. Ziyu hinted that he and Liu Miantang were no longer involved and hoped that Cui Xingzhou would treat Liu Miantang well. Originally, the matter had concluded, and according to the plan, Liu Miantang was supposed to be set free.

Cui Xingzhou hesitated, unsure whether to tell Liu Miantang the truth and let her decide. The nanny, however, felt compassion for Liu Miantang and pleaded on her behalf. She reminded Cui Xingzhou of how Liu Miantang had been forcibly abducted by bandits and suffered for three years, only to have her tendons cut and be thrown off a cliff.

The nanny's words struck a chord with Cui Xingzhou, especially since Liu Miantang had recently confided her feelings to him, choosing not to reveal her secrets for the time being. Shi Yikuan secretly ordered Ziyu to eliminate Cui Xingzhou in Qingzhou, but Cui Xingzhou managed to escape. Shi Yikuan immediately sent a message to the Empress Dowager, seeking her instructions. Unexpectedly, the Empress Dowager ordered not to move against Cui Xingzhou for the time being, giving him some breathing space.

During this time, Cui Xingzhou began secretly looking for a suitable husband for Liu Miantang. The nanny suggested a few eligible men, but Cui Xingzhou found them all lacking. He insisted on personally selecting someone, claiming that he wanted to find a stable home for Liu Miantang, ensuring that she would be well-provided for in the latter half of her life.

The nanny discreetly arranged for these suitors to buy porcelain plates from the Yushao Porcelain Workshop, but none of them caught Cui Xingzhou's eye. That evening, the nanny noticed that Cui Xingzhou seemed to feel some pity for Liu Miantang, so she suggested sending Liu Miantang to her maternal grandparents' home, as it had always been said that one's mother's family is the closest. Cui Xingzhou remained silent.

As night fell, Cui Xingzhou reflected on the absurd actions he had taken during the day, realizing that he might have made a mistake. Liu Miantang was not an object to be casually given away, and it would be a waste to let her life slip away before his eyes. The nanny suggested sending Liu Miantang back to her maternal family, but Cui Xingzhou had not made up his mind and did not give an answer.

When Cui Xingzhou returned to the bedroom, Liu Miantang was still in front of the mirror, combing her hair. Cui Xingzhou took the comb from her and carefully helped her comb her hair. Liu Miantang noticed that Cui Xingzhou had been acting a bit differently since his return from Qingzhou. Cui Xingzhou lied, saying that he had a dream in which he left, and Liu Miantang was left all alone.

He then asked Liu Miantang what kind of life she wanted. Liu Miantang candidly replied that having him and the Yushao Porcelain Workshop was enough for her; just managing the workshop would keep her busy for half a lifetime. After speaking, she handed him a plate with a dragonfly design, which she had fired last time, and asked him to write a short poem on it.

Cui Xingzhou casually composed a poem, and his words flowed smoothly, perfectly matching the scene. Liu Miantang praised Cui Xingzhou's talent and admitted that she genuinely liked the plate, suggesting they keep it at home. Unintentionally, Liu Miantang gave Cui Xingzhou a choice, and he decided to keep Liu Miantang by his side. The next day, Cui Xingzhou shared his thoughts with Zhao Quan.

Zhao Quan thought Cui Xingzhou was being unrealistic, pointing out that rumors were spreading everywhere about the upcoming marriage of the Prince of Huaiyang. Yet, Cui Xingzhou insisted on taking Liu Miantang as his concubine after the marriage. Zhao Quan warned that if Liu Miantang regained her memory, she would undoubtedly hate him to the core, and there would be no good outcome for him in the future.

Cui Xingzhou had never changed his mind based on anyone's advice, and Zhao Quan's words were no exception. When He Zhen heard about the Prince of Huaiyang's impending marriage, she lost her appetite. Everyone knew that she had become a so-called "leftover woman" because she had a one-sided love for the Prince of Huaiyang. Now that he was getting married, it was a heavy blow for her.

Liu Miantang noticed that He Zhen was troubled by rumors and kindly comforted her. Seeing that Liu Miantang was not like other women who were gossipy and dull, He Zhen considered her a confidante. Meanwhile, Lian Binglan also heard some rumors. Since she was determined to become the princess, she knew that concubines were indispensable in the prince's residence. After much thought, she decided that it would be best to first win over He Zhen as an ally.

Since He Zhen came from a prestigious family, taking her as a concubine would be justifiable and would certainly be more acceptable than Liu Miantang, who had a lowly background and was not even qualified to be a concubine. Lian Binglan believed that by winning over He Zhen, she could use her to achieve her own goals in the future. Lian Binglan took the initiative to find He Zhen.

Upon hearing that the future Princess of Huaiyang was willing to make her a concubine, He Zhen was overjoyed and immediately shared the good news with Liu Miantang. Liu Miantang, also genuinely happy for her, told Cui Xingzhou about it. However, Cui Xingzhou did not agree. The next day, he went to see Lian Binglan, reminding her not to get too close to people irrelevant to the trade association. Lian Binglan tactfully sent He Zhen away.

Without hope, He Zhen fell into despair, refusing to eat or drink, and soon became seriously ill. He Zhen's maid knew that her mistress had a good relationship with Liu Miantang, so she quickly called Liu Miantang to come and comfort her. When Liu Miantang saw He Zhen's haggard appearance, she naturally felt pity for her.

Zhao Quan prescribed medicine for her and ordered that she not leave the house for fourteen days, warning that exposure to wind could worsen her condition. Zhao Quan knew that He Zhen's illness was caused by heartache and thought that things might improve after Cui Xingzhou's marriage.

In his free time, Cui Xingzhou took Liu Miantang out for strolls. Liu Miantang remarked on how much Cui Xingzhou had changed since his return from Qingzhou—he was not only more focused on his work but also more attentive and gentle, often helping her manage the shop. As they walked hand in hand, suddenly, a rude man blocked their path. This man repeatedly called Liu Miantang "wife" and claimed to be "Cui Jiu. " Liu Miantang was completely stunned.

Cui Xingzhou observed the situation quietly. Liu Miantang questioned the man, accusing him of lying. The fake Cui Jiu then produced a marriage certificate, asserting that their marriage was officially recognized with a government seal, and challenged Cui Xingzhou to present his marriage certificate for comparison. Liu Miantang was puzzled when she saw the marriage certificate, but the man claimed to be from Dingzhou, which was clearly not the place mentioned in the certificate.

So, even if he held the certificate, it must be a forgery. Liu Miantang deliberately suggested taking Cui Xingzhou and the man pretending to be Cui Jiu to see an official. Cui Xingzhou, unable to think of a solution at the moment, followed Liu Miantang. When they reached a secluded spot, Liu Miantang quickly pulled out the hairpin from her head and eliminated the impostor’s accomplice. Cui Xingzhou, understanding her intentions, swiftly dealt with the fake Cui Jiu as well.

Sun Yuner had been secretly following Liu Miantang, intending to verify whether she had truly lost her memory. She had forged a marriage certificate and hired a rogue to impersonate Cui Jiu, aiming to make Liu Miantang's life difficult. However, Liu Miantang saw through the plot. Liu Miantang confronted Sun Yuner, questioning her motives for stirring up trouble and ruining her reputation. Sun Yuner turned to face Liu Miantang, her eyes filled with hatred.

Liu Miantang remembered those eyes; at the banquet where she and Cui Xingzhou had celebrated their move, everyone had smiles as warm as spring, except for this woman, whose eyes were full of jealousy and resentment. Liu Miantang still recalled it clearly to this day. Liu Miantang demanded to know Sun Yuner's true intentions, but Sun Yuner retorted, asking if she had forgotten everything. Liu Miantang was shocked.

She couldn't understand why she felt such intense anger whenever she saw this woman, as if they had a deep-seated grudge, but she regretted that she had lost her memory. Sun Yuner ordered her followers to attack Liu Miantang, but at that moment, Cui Xingzhou's shadow guards surrounded them from behind. Sun Yuner's people were quickly subdued. Liu Miantang was astonished by how timely the shadow guards had arrived.

Cui Xingzhou quickly reassured her, saying that the men were righteous warriors who had been entrusted to escort Sun Yuner and her accomplices to the authorities. The next day, Cui Xingzhou personally disguised himself to interrogate Sun Yuner. He questioned her about her relationship with Lu Wen and the nature of her grudge against Liu Miantang.

Forced into a corner, Sun Yuner confessed that she was on a mission because Liu Miantang had secretly taken a large sum of silver from Lu Wen, and now it needed to be recovered. Just as she was about to reveal the mastermind behind her actions, an official from the imperial court, Gongsun Yan, arrived to rescue Sun Yuner.

He declared that since Sun Yuner had been granted amnesty, no violence should be used against her, forcing Cui Xingzhou to release her immediately. Since the incident with the fake Cui Jiu, Liu Miantang had been anxious, constantly searching every corner of the house for her marriage certificate with Cui Xingzhou, but to no avail. The nanny lied to her, saying that the marriage certificate had been lost during the move.

Seeing the nanny speak so sincerely and being so fearful despite her old age, Liu Miantang helped her up and assured her that she would no longer pursue the matter. With the Prince of Huaiyang's wedding approaching, Cui Xingzhou had to return to the prince’s residence to manage the wedding preparations.

He lied to Liu Miantang, saying that his master wanted to improve his chess skills and had ordered him to study on the mountain for a period, forbidding him from bringing his family. Liu Miantang was saddened, but Cui Xingzhou comforted her, promising that he would return home as soon as his studies were complete.

Liu Miantang personally packed her husband's luggage, carefully preparing gold, silver, and both thick and thin clothes. The two of them bid each other farewell with tears in their eyes, finding it difficult to part. Liu Miantang comforted Cui Xingzhou, urging him to return as soon as he finished his studies. She promised that she would continue managing the shop and wait for his return. Cui Xingzhou, worried that she might feel lonely, suggested that she visit her mother's home.

Even when it was time for him to leave, they found it hard to say goodbye. Cui Xingzhou knew that this might be the last time they saw each other, as he was about to get married and could no longer allow himself to let Liu Miantang down. He Zhen happened to be near Liu Miantang's home and was about to share her newfound peace of mind with her friend when she suddenly saw Liu Miantang bidding farewell to Cui Xingzhou.

He Zhen had met Cui Xingzhou in person and knew that he was the Prince of Huaiyang. She began to feel jealous of Liu Miantang, believing that she had been deceived by her from the very beginning. Upon returning to the prince's residence, Cui Xingzhou's future in-laws congratulated him and made arrangements for the wedding preparations. Cui Xingzhou felt bitter, as he didn't like his cousin, yet was forced to marry her and face a long life together.

Everyone noticed Cui Xingzhou's melancholy and mistakenly thought he was missing his fiancée. Shi Xueji happened to encounter Lu Wen on the street. Lu Wen noticed that all the items she had purchased were for her sister, with nothing for herself. Feeling pity, he accompanied Shi Xueji for a while. When he saw her lingering gaze at a pastry shop, he asked if she liked sweets.

Shi Xueji politely replied that her family had taught her not to indulge in snacks from small shops. However, Lu Wen happened to pick up a bundle that had fallen from Shi Xueji, revealing a few sweet pastries inside. He smiled and later ordered his servants to buy the most expensive fabric at the time as a gift for her. Shi Xueji was very impressed by him.

While the entire Huaiyang Prince’s residence was busy preparing for the wedding, the imperial uncle arrived at night to announce an imperial edict. The Empress Dowager appointed Cui Xingzhou as a general and ordered him to go to the border to fight within a month. The Empress Dowager had considered that if Cui Xingzhou refused the order, she would use the charge of treason to exterminate the entire Huaiyang Prince’s family, thus eliminating a major threat.

The imperial uncle specifically asked Cui Xingzhou if he accepted the edict, and Cui Xingzhou readily agreed. Lian Binglan's family also received the news. They guessed that the Empress Dowager intended to be ruthless, as the border was dangerous, and countless soldiers never returned. To secure a better future for Lian Binglan, her mother deliberately spread rumors that her daughter had contracted rubella and was gravely ill.

The Prince of Huaiyang's wife had originally wanted to hold the wedding before her son went to war, but the family members who went to investigate confirmed that Lian Binglan was indeed bedridden. Just a few days ago, Lian Binglan had been full of energy, greeting everyone, and now she was suddenly seriously ill. Cui Xingzhou naturally understood the truth behind this.

He told his mother that since the mountains were high and the waters far, they couldn't predict when he would return, so it was best not to affect his cousin's future. With that, he wrote a letter of divorce. The merchant guild also learned that the Prince of Huaiyang was recruiting soldiers and would soon go to the border to fight. They discussed the recruitment, noting that most would likely die in vain, causing fear among the people.

Liu Miantang overheard and couldn't help but worry that her husband might be drafted. Given his frail health, he had never even killed a chicken. When He Zhen heard of Liu Miantang's worries, she mocked her for being hypocritical before storming off angrily. Liu Miantang was very surprised by He Zhen's change in behavior.

Liu Miantang was deeply concerned about Cui Xingzhou and was urging the nanny to prepare luggage for her to go up the mountain and see him in person to ensure he was safe. The nanny strongly discouraged her. Just as Liu Miantang began to wonder why the nanny wasn’t worried, Cui Xingzhou returned home! Liu Miantang was overjoyed and, hearing that Cui Xingzhou was craving crab fried rice, she immediately went to make it.

Under the moonlight, they ate together and chatted, with Liu Miantang expressing her worries while Cui Xingzhou gently comforted her, telling her not to overthink things.

Next to Liu Miantang, Cui Xingzhou experienced the simple pleasures of an ordinary life, realizing how wonderful it felt to be cared for by someone. He pointed towards the south and told Liu Miantang that when the Prince of Huaiyang returns victorious, he will surely be seen coming from that direction. Liu Miantang couldn't help but ask what would happen if he didn't return victorious.

Cui Xingzhou's heart tightened, and he sighed, "If that time comes, I will likely return home wrapped in horsehide. "That evening, Liu Miantang brought out a marriage certificate cover she had made herself and asked Cui Xingzhou to fill it out. They planned to make a new marriage certificate. Cui Xingzhou hesitated, saying it was too late at night, but Liu Miantang had already prepared the content in advance, so all he had to do was copy it.

He gently embraced Liu Miantang as he carefully wrote the marriage certificate, stroke by stroke. In the early morning, after Liu Miantang had fallen asleep, Cui Xingzhou quietly left the house. The next morning, Liu Miantang found a letter on the table. When she opened it, she was surprised to see that it was not a marriage certificate but a letter of divorce.

Cui Xingzhou, worried that Liu Miantang would be burdened and unable to bear the thought of her waiting for him in vain, had left the divorce letter behind. After reading it, Liu Miantang immediately went out to call for the nanny, instructing her to pack up the household valuables at once—they were leaving Qingzhou. The nanny thought Liu Miantang was planning to return to her parents' home and quickly followed her instructions.

Little did she know, Liu Miantang was heading to Xizhou to follow her husband into battle. Cui Xingzhou received a report from the guards in Qingzhou that Liu Miantang, upon receiving the divorce letter, did not cry, get angry, or show any reaction. Instead, she seemed to calmly order the nanny to quickly pack and leave Qingzhou. He marveled at how composed Liu Miantang was, not realizing that she hadn't taken the divorce letter seriously at all.

Sun Yuner learned from Shi Yikuan that Liu Miantang was heading to Xizhou, so she arranged for several skilled fighters to eliminate Liu Miantang at the border. However, Cui Xingzhou had placed shadow guards around Liu Miantang, who appeared just in time. These guards were not only highly skilled, but Liu Miantang herself was also proficient in martial arts, and they quickly subdued the assassins.

Liu Miantang, eager to continue her journey, ordered that the tied-up assassins be thrown into the wilderness. Upon hearing that Liu Miantang was following him with the nanny, Cui Xingzhou immediately changed into the clothes of an ordinary guard and went to meet her. Liu Miantang, still unaware of the truth, scolded Cui Xingzhou for thinking he could solve everything with a simple divorce letter like the Prince of Huaiyang.

Cui Xingzhou repeatedly apologized, and at that moment, seeing Liu Miantang's true feelings, he felt that his sincere efforts were not in vain. Zhao Quan went to the He family to discuss borrowing boats to transport grain. However, He Zhen's brother, being foolish, heard that a visitor was asking about his sister and started imagining things.

He ordered his servants to tie up Zhao Quan, gag him, strip him naked, and throw him onto He Zhen's bed, intending to ruin He Zhen's reputation and make her an outcast in the merchant guild. When the He family patriarch returned and saw that it was the Marquis of Zhennan who had been tied up, he was furious and immediately grabbed a cane to scold his rebellious son. He Zhen's brother, terrified, knelt and begged for mercy.

Fortunately, Zhao Quan, who was always humble, forgave him. Zhao Quan spoke with He Zhen, but her brother, once again assuming things, speculated that the Marquis of Zhennan might have taken a liking to their sister. He secretly told his father about this. The He family had been merchants for generations, and in theory, they were of low status, far beneath the nobility.

Suddenly hearing that they might have a chance to connect with the upper class, the father was naturally overjoyed. Soon after, Zhao Quan came to discuss borrowing boats and grain with the He family patriarch. Before the old man even understood what Zhao Quan was talking about, he assumed Zhao Quan was there to propose marriage and excitedly agreed, saying he fully supported the idea and would waive all costs.

Zhao Quan, thinking the old man was being extraordinarily generous, repeatedly thanked him, while the He patriarch became even more convinced that his good fortune had arrived, believing Zhao Quan’s excessive politeness was proof of his intentions.

Zhao Quan finally revealed the truth, leaving the He patriarch in a difficult position. However, when the patriarch subtly mentioned He Zhen's situation, he implied that with this relationship, the merchant guild would fully support the front lines with grain supplies. Zhao Quan realized the old man's intentions. Although he knew that He Zhen had no romantic interest in him, someone else would naturally decline the patriarch's proposal, so Zhao Quan did not refuse.

When He Zhen heard that her father wanted her to accompany the Marquis of Zhennan to deliver grain to the front lines, she was clearly unhappy, knowing that her father was trying to match them up. Despite her strong reluctance, her father's stern demeanor left her no choice but to comply.

To satisfy his personal interests, the He patriarch took the lead in rallying the merchant guild members, with everyone contributing money and effort to quickly load the grain onto the ships. According to the original plan, they were supposed to depart that day. He Zhen initially did not intend to go with Zhao Quan, but at that moment, her brother hurried over, ordering all the ships to halt their departure.

He secretly told He Zhen that the court intended to use the front line battle to eliminate a threat to the Empress Dowager, and they never planned for the soldiers to return victorious. With no proper allocation of supplies, the merchant guild should not get involved in this risky and potentially unprofitable venture. However, He Zhen, grateful for the Prince of Huaiyang's past life-saving grace, felt a strong sense of duty and insisted that the guild's ships set sail immediately.

Zhao Quan had He Zhen's brother silenced, and once the situation was under control, he advised He Zhen to return home and wait for news. However, to ensure the successful delivery of the supplies, He Zhen insisted on accompanying the grain convoy. As the soldiers prepared to go to the front lines, their wives and children cried and pleaded to follow.

At this time, Liu Miantang played a crucial role, calmly analyzing the situation for everyone and advising them not to cause worry for their husbands on the front lines. She assured them that as long as everyone worked together, they would ultimately defeat the invaders. After Liu Miantang's advice, the group calmed down and followed her lead, staying behind to wash clothes, mend garments, and be strong support for their men.

Zhao Quan led the convoy with He Zhen and the grain supplies. When night fell, they set up camp to rest. He Zhen noticed that despite his noble status, Zhao Quan did not behave like an aristocrat. He even administered acupuncture to soldiers who had caught a cold, which made He Zhen realize that Zhao Quan possessed some skills. By the campfire, to distract He Zhen from homesickness, Zhao Quan told ghost stories.

Although He Zhen tried hard to act unafraid, when Zhao Quan said he would continue the story, she was so scared that she ran back to her tent. Liu Miantang set up a camp for the soldiers' families at the rear. To help the elderly, sick, and disabled, she even used her own savings to open a pharmacy, treating those in need for free.

When she encountered impoverished families, she also distributed porridge and cloth, earning unanimous praise from the families at the rear. When the battle wasn't too intense, Cui Xingzhou would rush back to visit Liu Miantang. Seeing how well she managed things at the rear, he felt relieved. After a brief visit, he would return to the front lines. Even though the visits were short, Liu Miantang was content.

One day, three unfamiliar women arrived near Liu Miantang's pharmacy, seemingly arguing with the families. Liu Miantang went out to see what was happening and noticed that their attire was not local. One of the women was pregnant, and she claimed to have the deed to the land, demanding that they leave. The families, however, were unwilling to go; their husbands had fought to drive out these invaders, and now they harbored even more resentment towards the enemy's women.

Seeing the pregnant woman's severe abdominal pain, Liu Miantang called for the nanny to help her into the house and brewed a medicinal soup for her. After drinking the warm medicine, the woman felt much better. Liu Miantang offered her a place to stay for now. The woman introduced herself as Lin Siyue and vowed to repay the favor in the future.

On a cold and dewy night in the wilderness, Zhao Quan worried that He Zhen might be cold, so he specially warmed two flasks of wine and brought them to her. The successful transport of the grain was entirely due to He Zhen's support. Initially, He Zhen didn't pick up the wine cup, so Zhao Quan teased her, asking if she was afraid of being taken advantage of after drinking.

He Zhen then grabbed the cup and drank it in one gulp. However, within minutes, she felt dizzy and weak. She didn't know how much time had passed when she finally woke up, finding herself in a carriage. She was about to curse Zhao Quan but found only a coachman, who said they were on their way back and would soon arrive at Lingquan Town. Meanwhile, Zhao Quan continued escorting the grain to Jinjia Pass.

Cui Xingzhou wanted to tell Liu Miantang the truth to keep her from being too persistent. Just as Cui Xingzhou was about to speak, Zhao Quan arrived for dinner, causing Cui Xingzhou to swallow his words. Seeing Liu Miantang's clear eyes, Cui Xingzhou was unsure what might happen if she learned she had been deceived and used. As the military situation grew urgent, Cui Xingzhou took the drunken Zhao Quan back to camp.

In the camp, Cui Xingzhou confided in Zhao Quan, sharing that his mother frequently complained in her letters that his fiancée was threatening to take her own life at home. Everyone was worried and trying to comfort him. Cui Xingzhou could tell that this was all his aunt's doing. He knew that if he ever married his cousin, the whole family would interfere in his household affairs.

One day, while Liu Miantang was busy beside the pharmacy, she suddenly received terrible news: a small team scouting the enemy had met with disaster, with dozens of casualties. Liu Miantang recognized the name of the team as one that Cui Xingzhou had mentioned before. Overcome with fear, she hurried back into her room and locked the door, her mind filled with images of Cui Xingzhou. She prayed repeatedly that nothing had happened to him.

Before long, Liu Miantang heard a familiar set of footsteps—it was her husband! She opened the door to find Cui Xingzhou standing there, and tears instantly rolled down her cheeks. Heaven had indeed protected him; Cui Xingzhou had returned safely. The two embraced each other, and after experiencing a brush with death, their bond deepened even further. Shi Xueji, following her mother’s instructions, went out to buy jewelry.

She wasn’t in a hurry and decided to stop at a shop to get something to eat. The shop assistant recommended a dish called “Xi Shi Tongue,” but Shi Xueji wasn’t interested and ordered a large pork knuckle instead. Not long after, Lu Wen also came in to eat. Shi Xueji initially wanted to hide what she had ordered, but the shop assistant brought the dish directly to her table. Lu Wen understood the situation.

He hadn’t just happened to pass by; he had come specifically to meet Shi Xueji, intending to marry her as soon as possible to achieve his goals. He sat down and dismissed his attendants, then began eating heartily. Seeing Lu Wen’s casual demeanor and lack of pretense, Shi Xueji couldn’t help but warm up to him. She casually asked if he was skilled in chess, as she wanted to learn.

Lu Wen thought back to when he had personally taught Liu Miantang how to play chess, believing they would be together for a long time. However, so much had happened since then. He had no intention of teaching another woman and instead claimed that while he could play chess, he was not proficient at teaching it. Liu Miantang accidentally discovered a herb called "Gui Tian Gen," a plant in the area.

When dried grass soaked in this herb was eaten by animals, it caused weakness in their limbs and mental confusion. Liu Miantang immediately took the nanny with her to gather a large amount of the herb. When she next saw Cui Xingzhou, she told him about the plant’s properties. Since the enemy’s Rong troops were all cavalry, if their horses consumed the herb, it would greatly reduce the effort needed by their own forces.

Liu Miantang urged Cui Xingzhou to report this to the Prince of Huaiyang. Cui Xingzhou devised a plan and deliberately pretended to lose some grain supplies, then embarrassingly retrieved them. The enemy, believing they had gained the upper hand, tested the grain and found it non-toxic, then fed it to their horses. That night, Cui Xingzhou led his troops in a surprise attack. The enemy’s horses were slow to move, and the Prince of Huaiyang won a decisive victory!

Upon returning from the front lines, Cui Xingzhou met Liu Miantang, and their eyes filled with deep affection as they embraced. Suddenly, Cui Xingzhou collapsed. Zhao Quan diagnosed him with exhaustion and, with the battle over, advised Cui Xingzhou to rest well. Liu Miantang had been overworked, causing an old hand injury to flare up again. Cui Xingzhou asked Zhao Quan for advice.

When they first rescued Liu Miantang, they had discovered that her hand tendons had been severed, and the injury had yet to heal. Zhao Quan suggested that Cui Xingzhou take her to soak in a hot spring, as the warm water could help relax her muscles and tendons, speeding up her recovery. Cui Xingzhou thought this was a good idea and, on a clear day, took Liu Miantang to the hot springs.

The water in the hot spring was warm and clear. Liu Miantang invited Cui Xingzhou to join her in the water, but Cui Xingzhou, thinking about the truth he had yet to tell her and not wanting to take advantage of the situation, declined her invitation, saying he didn’t want to disrupt the morale of the troops.

While Liu Miantang was soaking in the hot spring, Cui Xingzhou stayed nearby, warming some hot drinks so she could have tea to ward off the cold when she was done. Seeing how considerate Cui Xingzhou was, Liu Miantang felt very content.

After soaking in the hot spring, Liu Miantang reflected on how satisfied she was with her current life, and her impression of Cui Xingzhou had changed—no longer seeing him as a mere playboy as she did when she first woke up. Liu Miantang wanted to ask for a reward and approached Cui Xingzhou. Seeing Liu Miantang’s fair and flawless skin after her bath, and with the medicinal wine he had just drunk warming him, Cui Xingzhou’s heart raced.

Worried that he might cross the line, he quickly jumped into the water to cool down. Not long after, Zhao Quan arrived with military matters to report to Cui Xingzhou. Upon learning from Liu Miantang that Cui Xingzhou had drunk a lot of the medicinal wine Zhao Quan had sent, he was secretly shocked.

This wine was very potent and should only be sipped in small amounts each day, but unaware, Liu Miantang had given Cui Xingzhou nearly half a pot of it. Agu Shan requested a meeting with Cui Xingzhou, candidly admitting that the court and the Rong troops had a business deal involving iron mines, and this war had been sparked by those mines.

He warned Cui Xingzhou not to get involved, boasting that he had backing from the court and that Cui Xingzhou was powerless against him. Hearing Agu Shan’s statement, Cui Xingzhou realized that this matter was quite tricky, and it seemed this war was not simply about repelling invaders, as the Empress Dowager had claimed. Shi Yikuan soon received word that Agu Shan had been captured alive.

He was furious, as he had originally wanted to provoke a situation where Cui Xingzhou and Agu Shan would both be severely injured, using it as cover for the iron mine issue. To his dismay, Cui Xingzhou emerged unscathed, and Agu Shan was captured alive! Shi Yikuan realized he needed to eliminate Cui Xingzhou as soon as possible and decided to bypass the Empress Dowager to silence him.

It turned out that the pregnant woman Liu Miantang had helped some time ago was actually Princess Chun Yue of the Rong tribe. When the Rong people came looking for her, Cui Xingzhou proposed a deal: they could release the princess, but Chun Yue must hand over the ledgers detailing the transactions between the court officials and the Rong tribe regarding the iron mines.

With her father dead, the ledgers were of no use to Chun Yue, so she agreed to Cui Xingzhou's terms. Chun Yue had seen Cui Xingzhou at Liu Miantang’s home before and realized that Liu Miantang was completely in the dark about everything. Cui Xingzhou asked Chun Yue to keep this secret, assuring her that he would protect Liu Miantang. As Chun Yue prepared to leave, Liu Miantang personally saw her off.

The two had grown close during this time, and Liu Miantang even gave Chun Yue a jade pendant as a parting gift. In return, Chun Yue gave her a dagger made of black iron, explaining that it was a gift for her closest friends. When Liu Miantang saw the dagger, she suddenly recalled that someone had given her a similar one before, also for self-defense.

Lately, perhaps due to the change in environment, Liu Miantang had been dreaming about past events. Now, hearing Chun Yue speak in the Rong language, she felt an inexplicable familiarity with this place, as if she had once lived here. Cui Xingzhou took Zhao Quan to Xizhou to investigate the customs records. If there was iron ore being transported, it would have to pass through Xizhou.

They found an excuse to secretly search for clues over the past three years, but the trail mysteriously went cold the year Agu Shan took power. According to Agu Shan, it was the court’s betrayal—an assassination of their old comrade—that had sparked the conflict between the two armies, all while the Empress Dowager remained in the dark.

Cui Xingzhou wanted to root out the mastermind behind all this, but Zhao Quan felt it was too dangerous, as their enemies operated in the shadows while they were exposed. Besides, the Empress Dowager had always seen Cui Xingzhou as a thorn in her side. Zhao Quan advised against getting involved, but Cui Xingzhou felt that leaving this matter unresolved would be a lingering threat.

Liu Miantang began to pay close attention when she met Cui Xingzhou again. She pretended to casually ask Cui Xingzhou what they were doing around this time last year. Cui Xingzhou casually replied that they were in Qingzhou doing porcelain business. However, Liu Miantang clearly remembered that she had been here at the market just during the day, and it had only been a year since then. Now, Cui Xingzhou was saying that she had been living in Qingzhou.

Liu Miantang found this increasingly suspicious, though she said nothing and simply asked Cui Xingzhou why he was treating her so well. Cui Xingzhou sincerely replied that it was far from enough. That night, Cui Xingzhou took Zhao Quan to the county yamen of Qizhou. There was a loophole in the border crossing records, indicating a connection with the officials there. During their conversation over drinks, Cui Xingzhou deliberately mentioned that Agushan had already explained everything.

The county magistrate panicked and, to prevent Cui Xingzhou from getting any evidence, secretly ordered someone to silence Agushan. However, Agushan was highly skilled and killed all the guards sent to assassinate him. Cui Xingzhou's guards witnessed the county yamen's staff attempting to assassinate the criminal in prison, which implicated the county magistrate. Just as Cui Xingzhou was about to force him to confess the truth, the county magistrate was poisoned and killed.

Liu Miantang laced the wine with a sedative, first putting the nanny to sleep. Then, while everyone else was unprepared, she sneaked out alone and went to the location of the escort agency she remembered from the day. Sure enough, she recognized the people and things there. She even recalled how excited everyone was, calling her "sister" and running over whenever they saw her return.

Filled with hope, she pushed open the door, only to find it pitch-black inside and raining outside. An old woman, hearing the noise, came over. Liu Miantang immediately recognized her as "Granny Zhao. " The old woman called her "Miss" with teary, cloudy eyes and asked where she had been all this time. She then pulled Liu Miantang inside, offering her some fruit.

The old woman explained that the children had been tired from their work earlier in the day and were now resting, before preparing to call them. Inside the house, Liu Miantang heard the sound of cold weapons clashing—clearly, a fierce battle was taking place outside. She immediately rushed out and saw her brothers being slaughtered by a group of men in black.

Even Granny Zhao, who had just given her the fruit, was stabbed in the abdomen and died before her eyes. Fortunately, one familiar brother insisted on helping Liu Miantang escape. Though she was unwilling to flee, he knocked her unconscious and hid her in a large cargo box, thus allowing her to escape the massacre. Liu Miantang didn't know how much time had passed when she slowly regained consciousness.

She had just witnessed a bloody battle and remembered many things, including how three years ago, on her way to marry Cui Jiu, they were attacked by bandits. In fact, those bandits were people from the escort agency in disguise. Later, she met Ziyu, who taught her to read, write, play chess, and master many skills.

As for how she ended up unconscious afterward, she recalled that it was also on a rainy night when someone wearing a mask ambushed her. In Liu Miantang's memory, she distinctly remembered that hideous mask. Cui Xingzhou soon arrived at the escort agency with his men. He reasoned that those transporting iron ore would not dare to do so openly and must have used the escort agency for transportation. However, Cui Xingzhou was still too late.

The courtyard of the escort agency was drenched in blood, but not a single corpse was found. Clearly, the scene had been cleaned up by experienced criminals. At the entrance of the escort agency, Cui Xingzhou suddenly saw an umbrella—it was Liu Miantang's. He became extremely worried and immediately searched for her everywhere. At home, he found the nanny sleeping at the table and then rushed out to the courtyard. Fortunately, he found Liu Miantang!

Liu Miantang claimed that her umbrella was still at home. Seeing Liu Miantang standing before him as usual, Cui Xingzhou chose to believe her. That night, they slept together on the same bed. Liu Miantang deliberately asked Cui Xingzhou some questions about the past, but he knew nothing about the escort agency and even said that Liu Miantang was always at home doing needlework or managing business affairs.

Liu Miantang felt a chill in her heart—it seemed that Cui Xingzhou had been deceiving her all along. Once Cui Xingzhou fell asleep, Liu Miantang went out to the courtyard alone. Now that she had regained her memory, she was determined to uncover the truth, including who had massacred the entire escort agency and the masked assailant who had attacked her that rainy night. Liu Miantang wrote down each name on slips of paper and began investigating them one by one.

Shi Yikuan took Ziyu to meet the Empress Dowager, who was having a meal with the Emperor. The young Emperor, meeting Ziyu for the first time, immediately asked him to present the pastries that were set aside. Ziyu respectfully served them and also presented the Empress Dowager with a grand gift—a statue of the Queen Mother of the West, crafted from an exceedingly rare and precious jade.

The Empress Dowager was somewhat moved, smiling with delight, when suddenly the Grand Empress Dowager arrived. The Grand Empress Dowager glanced at the luxurious dishes on the table and remembered that today was the late Emperor's memorial day, which the Empress Dowager had evidently forgotten. The Grand Empress Dowager sternly reprimanded the Empress Dowager for her lack of decorum.

Ziyu noticed that the Empress Dowager was in an awkward position, so he quickly stepped forward and tactfully explained that the banquet couldn't be too modest today, as it might lead some to think that the imperial treasury was empty, which would be detrimental to both the nation and its people. The Grand Empress Dowager was left speechless, and the Empress Dowager, turning her anger into joy, immediately encouraged the young Emperor to grant Ziyu a noble title.

As a result, after just one meeting, Ziyu was assigned a position in the Ministry of War. After the Grand Empress Dowager departed in a huff, Ziyu took the initiative to visit her and expressed his gratitude on his knees. However, the Grand Empress Dowager, knowing that he was Shi Yikuan's future son-in-law, had no fondness for him and warned him to be careful not to become complicit with the tiger, lest he be devoured by it in the end.

Liu Miantang had completely regained her memory. That night, while sharing the bed with Cui Xingzhou, she intentionally mentioned that she had recalled some things, including working at the escort agency. Cui Xingzhou, intrigued, asked what she did during the day and advised her to be careful and not go out too often. However, Liu Miantang had no intention of listening to Cui Xingzhou.

She falsely claimed that she was going to a teahouse for noodles, but each day, she would wander around the streets near the escort agency in the capital with her nanny, silently contemplating how to find the culprits. Before long, she encountered an old acquaintance—her uncle—who was pretending to be a fortune-teller. He offered to do a reading for Liu Miantang, and she quietly wrote down the time and place for their next meeting. Cui Xingzhou was not idle either.

He and his guards found the location where the bodies were hidden and took a count, discovering that only one person was missing—Qiao Xian! With this sole clue, Cui Xingzhou immediately ordered his men to post wanted posters everywhere, offering a large reward for information. Soon, someone provided a lead, claiming that the person in the poster had been seen in Fengliu Alley. Cui Xingzhou swiftly led his men to the location.

Although they didn't find the person, they discovered that the individual might be skilled in fortune-telling. He promptly ordered his guards to seal off the fortune-telling shop. At that moment, Liu Miantang was inside, talking with Qiao Xian. They had just exchanged a few words when Qiao Xian asked what Liu Miantang had been through. Liu Miantang said that the person who ambushed her that rainy night and the one who massacred the entire escort agency might be working together!

Just then, Cui Xingzhou arrived. Seeing the nanny and Liu Miantang in the fortune-telling shop, he had already figured out most of the situation. He chose not to make any arrests out of consideration for Liu Miantang. Acting as if she knew nothing, Liu Miantang invited Cui Xingzhou to have his fortune told as well. Li Xian had just disguised himself, making it difficult to tell if it was him.

Li Xian also told Cui Xingzhou and Liu Miantang that their marriage would fall apart due to secrets they were keeping from each other and that they needed to be honest with each other to avoid this fate.

In the evening, Cui Xingzhou discussed the clues they had found during the day with Zhao Quan. He instructed Zhao Quan to return to Qingzhou after tonight and keep an eye on He Zhen. Now that He Zhen knew his identity, she might cause additional complications. Cui Xingzhou wanted Zhao Quan back in Qingzhou to monitor the situation there closely.

Liu Miantang then persuaded Cui Xingzhou to accompany her on a stroll, claiming she wanted to spend time together as a couple. She insisted that Cui Xingzhou not bring as many shadow guards for protection as he usually did. Although Cui Xingzhou was busy with military affairs, Liu Miantang kept clamoring to return to Qingzhou.

However, since Cui Xingzhou still had unfinished business in the area, he couldn’t go back to Qingzhou immediately, so he agreed to take a walk with Liu Miantang nearby. During the day, Liu Miantang first had roasted cakes with her nanny and Cui Xingzhou. While eating, Cui Xingzhou accidentally spotted Qiao Xian and immediately got up to chase after him. Little did he know that this was part of a scheme between Qiao Xian and Liu Miantang.

Qiao Xian quickly hid in a nearby house and placed two young children at the entrance to play chess. When Cui Xingzhou arrived, he noticed that the stones the children were using were actually iron ore. These children had been prearranged by Qiao Xian. The children claimed they had picked up the stones near the entrance of the house across the street and that there were many more of them.

Cui Xingzhou quietly investigated and discovered people busily moving things inside the house, with large boxes everywhere. It was evident that this place was connected to the iron ore. Suddenly, Cui Xingzhou feared he had fallen into a trap. He rushed back to the place where he had just been eating with Liu Miantang, only to find the seats empty. Terrified that something had happened to Liu Miantang, Cui Xingzhou frantically searched for her, eventually finding her safe.

Overcome with emotion, he tightly embraced Liu Miantang. Sensing Cui Xingzhou's worry, Liu Miantang realized that this imposter still deeply cared about her safety. Liu Miantang eventually uncovered that the person responsible for the massacre at the escort agency was Cao Tuo. She held a dagger to Cao Tuo's neck, demanding to know who had framed her. Cao Tuo immediately revealed that it was Lu Wen who orchestrated everything.

Liu Miantang stabbed Cao Tuo, reflecting that if Cao Tuo had been vague, it would have confirmed Lu Wen's involvement. By eliminating Cao Tuo, Lu Wen had been cleared of suspicion, leaving Sun Yuner as the prime suspect. Liu Miantang then handed the dagger to her uncle, asking him to avenge the fallen brothers of the escort agency. By the time Cui Xingzhou arrived, Cao Tuo was already dead, silenced before any valuable information could be extracted.

Cui Xingzhou felt as though he had met a worthy opponent. The last time he had this feeling was when playing chess with Lu Wen, which led him to believe that Lu Wen had returned to the capital. Cui Xingzhou's intuition was spot on—Lu Wen was indeed in Qingzhou, but many of the actions were carried out by Yuner. Cui Xingzhou then escorted Agushan to present him to the Emperor.

However, the Empress Dowager did not grant an audience and instead hastily conferred a title upon Agushan before ordering his immediate execution. Many clues were left unexplored, and although Cui Xingzhou intended to plead with the Empress Dowager, he couldn’t even secure a meeting and had to watch helplessly as the witness he had painstakingly protected was beheaded. Frustrated and with no one to turn to, Liu Miantang returned home and noticed Cui Xingzhou's unusual behavior.

She deliberately asked about the scar on his palm. Reluctantly, Cui Xingzhou explained that it was from a sneak attack during a fierce battle. The arrow had nearly pierced his throat, and if he hadn’t caught it in time, he would have died. From this, Liu Miantang deduced that Cui Xingzhou was the King of Huaiyang and was about to return to Qingzhou. Liu Miantang then drugged her uncle and revealed Cui Xingzhou's true identity to him.

Cui Xingzhou returned victorious from the battlefield, and when Lian Binglan heard that her cousin had come back to Qingzhou, she immediately went with her mother to congratulate him. Lian Binglan's mother deliberately mentioned how much her daughter missed Cui Xingzhou while he was away, but Cui Xingzhou remained unmoved. However, the mother of the King of Huaiyang, who bore no grudges, suggested that Cui Xingzhou draft a new wedding invitation. Cui Xingzhou firmly refused.

He would no longer compromise—during the days of licking blood off the blade at the frontline, Liu Miantang had stayed by his side through thick and thin, which deeply touched him. He was now resolute in his decision to marry Liu Miantang. When Lian Binglan's mother heard Cui Xingzhou's response, she immediately reported to her sister, claiming that Cui Xingzhou had already found another woman, and that this woman had once been insulted by bandits.

Cui Xingzhou was extremely displeased by this comment and sternly warned them that whoever spoke of Liu Miantang in such a manner would face consequences. Lian Binglan was so shocked by Cui Xingzhou's attitude that she couldn’t utter a word. Previously, Liu Miantang had sent Zhao Quan back to Qingzhou first, advising him not to reveal the truth about the King of Huaiyang to He Zhen.

To get closer to He Zhen, Zhao Quan sent her a bouquet of jasmine flowers. When He Zhen arrived at the location mentioned in the note, she realized it was Zhao Quan and understood his intentions. As expected, after He Zhen exposed the truth, Zhao Quan felt somewhat embarrassed. He explained to He Zhen that it was not wise to reveal the truth at this time.

After the trials of the frontline war, the bond between Cui Xingzhou and Liu Miantang had only grown stronger, and Liu Miantang already knew Cui Xingzhou's true identity. Exposing the secret now would not be advantageous. Although He Zhen was deeply connected to Liu Miantang as a sister, Cui Xingzhou was already preparing to propose marriage. If they truly became a family in the future, He Zhen might end up displeasing both sides.

He Zhen, hearing Zhao Quan’s reasoning, naturally abandoned her original plan. While Zhao Quan and Liu Miantang were talking, a servant secretly eavesdropped. He Zhen's brother soon found out and passed on the fragmented conversation to the He family's patriarch. Misinterpreting what he heard, the patriarch caught the word "proposal" and assumed Zhao Quan was planning to propose to He Zhen. Upon hearing about the King of Huaiyang, he thought Zhao Quan had already secured a matchmaker and was overjoyed.

As merchants were traditionally of lower status, this connection with the Marquis of Zhennan would greatly improve their standing. Liu Miantang secretly brought her uncle back to Qingzhou and hid him at her porcelain workshop. One time, during a routine inspection by soldiers, they were almost discovered. Fortunately, the painter whom Liu Miantang had sincerely hired earlier helped by posing as someone else. Liu Miantang thanked the painter, knowing her uncle was now safe.

Despite all this, Zhao Quan still hadn't proposed. Anxious to hasten his sister's marriage, He Zhen's brother resorted to unscrupulous means. He secretly arranged a meeting with Zhao Quan under the guise of their father’s name and invited his sister to dinner as well. He then drugged the wine. After finding an excuse to leave, He Zhen's brother locked the door tightly.

Zhao Quan, after drinking the drugged wine, felt his body heat up and tried to leave, only to find the door locked. He Zhen, also feeling unwell, suddenly realized there was something wrong with the wine. Zhao Quan, struggling to control his impulses, tied He Zhen up with his belt and bound himself as well. To stay calm, he smashed a porcelain cup and drove a shard into his palm, using the pain to maintain his clarity.

The next morning, when the He family patriarch learned that his son had resorted to such a method, he was furious and scolded him harshly. He immediately unlocked the door and found that Zhao Quan and He Zhen were not together. Zhao Quan declared that he would protect He Zhen’s honor. If He Zhen insisted on him taking responsibility, he would formally propose and marry her with the proper rites.

The patriarch of the He family was eager to establish a connection with the Marquis of Zhennan, so he ordered He Zhen to stay home and prepare for marriage. He Zhen felt a bit disheartened, wondering if all her silent contributions at home were less valued than a marriage alliance. However, unable to defy her father's orders, she reluctantly agreed. With some free time, she went to visit Liu Miantang.

Unsure of how to broach the subject, He Zhen, anxious and uneasy, came up with a story about a friend who accidentally suffered a head injury and mistook someone else for a relative. She wanted to tell this friend the truth but was stopped by many people and didn’t know what to do. Liu Miantang, realizing what He Zhen was implying, subtly advised her not to worry too much.

He Zhen, reassured, finally felt at ease, and the two of them then shifted their discussion to embroidery without any lingering tension between them. Lian Binglan, unwilling to give up the position of Princess of Huaiyang, frequently visited the Prince of Huaiyang’s residence. She even persuaded her aunt to publicly acknowledge her as the daughter-in-law during a prayer ceremony at the temple, making it known to everyone who the future princess would be.

Cui Xingzhou’s mother, easily swayed, quickly agreed to Lian Binglan's request. On the day of the prayer ceremony at Liuming Temple, some Daoists arrived in the city. Although they all carried the proper documents to enter, Cui Xingzhou soon discovered that two strangers had infiltrated the city. That day, there was also a ritual at Liuming Temple, so Cui Xingzhou immediately ordered additional security and strict enforcement of the rules.

Hearing that Liu Miantang had also gone in the direction of Liuming Temple with her maid, Cui Xingzhou hurriedly returned home. As soon as he reached the house, he heard Liu Miantang's voice outside the door. She was chatting with her maid about the freshness of the fish paste they had just bought.

The maid, unaware of anything amiss, mentioned that they had originally planned to go to Liuming Temple early in the morning, but Liu Miantang had suddenly changed her mind and decided to visit the pharmacy for some tonic instead. She then sent the maid out for some shopping. While Liu Miantang was at the pharmacy, she had already met with an important person and arranged the next steps of her plan.

Seeing Liu Miantang return safely, Cui Xingzhou was relieved, but he also suspected that she had met with an assassin. Liu Miantang countered by asking if he was testing her. Cui Xingzhou was half-convinced about Liu Miantang's supposed amnesia, but for now, he wanted her to stay by his side and chose not to expose her. Cui Xingzhou's mother called him back to the Prince's residence, pressuring him to marry Lian Binglan. When he refused, she physically punished him.

Later, when Liu Miantang saw Cui Xingzhou soaking in the bath, she noticed his shoulder covered in bruises. Cui Xingzhou lied, saying that the Prince of Huaiyang had been upset, likely because he had refused the marriage his mother arranged, and he had been caught in the crossfire. Liu Miantang understood the situation and, after hearing Cui Xingzhou share some stories about Yangshan, suggested that she go to Yangshan to settle an old matter.

Liu Miantang and Cui Xingzhou climbed to a high place together, discussing some of the details of the ambush that day. Based on the clues provided by Cui Xingzhou, Liu Miantang deduced that the ambush at Yangshan was not orchestrated by Lu Wen but rather by Sun Yuner, a cruel woman. Before leaving, Liu Miantang left a handkerchief at Yangshan, arranging a time and place to meet with Sun Yuner.

When Cui Xingzhou heard that his mother was ill, he immediately returned to the residence. This time, his mother suggested that he could take Liu Miantang as a concubine, but Cui Xingzhou refused. Having witnessed his father taking multiple wives and the grievances his mother suffered when he was very young, he was determined not to let future generations endure the same. Saying this, he respectfully apologized to his mother.

Cui Xingzhou's sudden return home caught Liu Miantang off guard. Her gaze repeatedly lingered on the porcelain vase behind Cui Xingzhou. After chatting for a while, Cui Xingzhou mentioned that he wanted to eat crab meatballs made by Liu Miantang herself, so she went to the kitchen to prepare them. When the room was empty, Cui Xingzhou secretly took something out of the vase that Liu Miantang had placed there.

Inside was an old, yellowed book and a letter detailing the matters Liu Miantang was investigating, revealing Lu Wen's true identity, events that had occurred at Yangshan, and even the current condition of her grandfather. The complexity of these matters far exceeded Cui Xingzhou's expectations, leaving him somewhat bewildered.

On the surface, Liu Miantang seemed to behave as usual, but the contents of the letter suggested she was far from an ordinary woman—her actions were meticulous and ruthless, and she remained calm under pressure, comparable to any outstanding man. The maid quietly informed Cui Xingzhou that during the day, Liu Miantang had bought a lot of potent medicinal herbs and warned him to be cautious.

During the meal, as Cui Xingzhou was enjoying his food, Liu Miantang deliberately mentioned that she had added something to the meatballs. Cui Xingzhou bit into a small red wooden splinter, and Liu Miantang jokingly said that finding such a piece in the food was a sign of good fortune for the New Year. Cui Xingzhou's feelings were complicated; in recent days, he had noticed that Liu Miantang was no longer the simple, quiet person she once appeared to be.

Now, her eyes reflected distrust and caution, as if she had completely changed. In the middle of the night, Cui Xingzhou saw that Liu Miantang was sound asleep. He quietly watched her for a while before getting up and riding away on his horse. Liu Miantang, of course, knew what was happening, but at this point, she had no expectations of Cui Xingzhou and was indifferent to the matter of trust.

Late at night, Cui Xingzhou returned home, and a maid informed him that the Dowager's health had improved. After much deliberation over the past few days, the Dowager had decided to compromise, stating that if Cui Xingzhou truly favored Liu Miantang, she would no longer oppose it. Zhao Quan asked Cui Xingzhou about his future plans, to which Cui Xingzhou responded that he intended to depart for the capital immediately.

He believed the capital was dangerous, with ambitious vassal kings using the iron mining business to secretly forge weapons, clearly harboring rebellious intentions for a long time. Shi Yikuang took his future son-in-law, Ziyu, to meet the Lord Protector. After several rounds of drinks, Ziyu began to sense the danger around him, noticing that two or three people were secretly observing him closely, while Shi Yikuang remained oblivious, continuing to drink and make toasts.

Ziyu, seeing Shi Yikuang, who rarely got drunk, now slumped over the table in a deep sleep, overheard Shi Xueji sending a message to Cui Xingzhou. Ziyu quickly recognized the hidden message, warning him to be wary of the wine. Ziyu didn't drink the wine, having already guessed that the Lord Protector had uncovered his true identity—the legitimate son of the former Crown Prince!

The Lord Protector ordered Shi Yikuang, who had passed out, to be carried into a room and splashed cold water on him to wake him up. Upon hearing that his carefully chosen son-in-law was actually the bloodline of the former Crown Prince, Shi Yikuang was terrified. That night, Ziyu, with a clear mind, quickly brought the intoxicated Shi Yikuang back to the residence, safely escaping danger.

Shi Xueji went to see her father and found him in a miserable state, cowering in a corner, muttering that he had made the wrong choice. Learning Ziyu's true identity shocked Shi Xueji, but after a few minutes, she took hold of her father's trembling hand, reminding him that since they were already on this treacherous path, they had no choice but to continue. The fate of their family now rested in their hands, and they had to proceed with caution, as there was no turning back.

Liu Miantang devised a plan to lure Sun Yuner into a cave. Although Sun Yuner was ruthless, her intelligence was no match for Liu Miantang's. With ease, Liu Miantang used a dagger to deceive Sun Yuner, finally uncovering who had ordered the killing of the brothers at Yangshan, including the midnight attack on Cui Xingzhou and the massacre of the escort agency. It turned out that these orders came from Prince Sui.

Sun Yuner had been acting as a lackey, secretly committing many vile deeds, all while Ziyu remained in the dark. After obtaining the answers she sought, Liu Miantang shot an arrow to break the oil jar tied to the cave wall, then wounded Sun Yuner with another arrow, igniting the oil. At that moment, Cui Xingzhou arrived with reinforcements. Through the flames in the cave, he saw Liu Miantang holding a crossbow.

The once gentle and delicate woman now stood before him, resolute and determined. Their eyes met, and Liu Miantang pointed the crossbow at him. With just a slight release of her hand, Cui Xingzhou would have surely met his end, but Liu Miantang hesitated. Instead, she shot an arrow at a bag of oil beside Cui Xingzhou. By then, reinforcements had arrived, and Cui Xingzhou ordered them to retreat.

Standing before the waterfall, Liu Miantang asked Cui Xingzhou if he had already known she had regained her memory, as she hadn’t seen a trace of surprise in his eyes. Cui Xingzhou made no attempt to hide that he was aware Liu Miantang had been investigating the truth in her own way. Liu Miantang told him to forget the Liu Miantang he once knew and everything that happened during her period of amnesia.

As she spoke, she resolutely drew the hairpin from her head and stabbed it into Cui Xingzhou's chest. But Cui Xingzhou remained unmoved; he couldn't disregard the deep affection he had for Liu Miantang. He calmly pulled the hairpin out of his body, wiped the blood off with his sleeve, and placed it back in Liu Miantang's hair. Tears rolled down Liu Miantang's cheeks as she turned and walked away. Three months later, a coup occurred in the capital.

Empress Wu was deposed, and a new emperor ascended the throne, with new laws being issued one after another. Zhao Quan shared drinks with Cui Xingzhou at a tavern, discussing the recent events in the capital. Zhao Quan couldn’t help but marvel at how the plot unfolded like a storybook—once a bandit from Yangshan, then conscripted by the imperial court, and now revealed as a royal bloodline. The situation changed faster than the weather.

However, Cui Xingzhou wasn't concerned about the weather. He had heard that Qiulin was now in the capital, a person who was always with Liu Miantang. This led Cui Xingzhou to believe that Liu Miantang had also arrived in the capital. Moreover, the new emperor had recently issued an edict summoning all vassal kings to return to the capital. With that, Cui Xingzhou immediately packed his belongings to head for the capital.

When Cui Xingzhou met the new emperor, it was indeed Ziyu. Back in Xizhou, Cui Xingzhou had nearly captured Ziyu, but Shi Yikuang intervened, allowing Ziyu to escape. Thus, Ziyu could not easily forgive Cui Xingzhou, especially since there was also a woman between them. Ziyu bluntly pointed out that Cui Xingzhou had rushed from Qingzhou, not to set an example for other factions, but because he feared Liu Miantang had made a choice.

The new emperor, upon his ascension, naturally wouldn’t start a killing spree. It seemed that their accounts would be settled slowly. After returning from the palace, Cui Xingzhou first visited his elder sister in the capital. From her, he learned that the position of empress was still vacant. Although Shi Xueji had once been betrothed to Ziyu, it now appeared that the new emperor might favor someone else.

She also advised Cui Xingzhou to pay close attention so they could win the new emperor's favor. Cui Xingzhou felt a bit melancholic—Ziyu seemed to still be thinking about Liu Miantang. Liu Miantang was indeed in the capital. She hadn't been idle; instead, she disguised herself as a foreign merchant, using exquisite and unique jewelry to attract the attention of the Princess of Sui.

The Princess of Sui frequently visited her shop, and during important festivals, she even had Liu Miantang bring the jewelry to the palace to help with her adornment. By chance, Cui Xingzhou visited the Prince of Sui's residence and happened to encounter Liu Miantang.

At that time, the Princess of Sui, following the prince's wishes, sought to win over Cui Xingzhou. She specifically asked Liu Miantang to bring some jewelry for Cui Xingzhou to try on personally. Ziyu's elder sister was also present. The Princess of Sui casually chatted with Cui Xingzhou, asking if he had considered another marriage after canceling his previous engagement. She even suggested a possible match for him.

Ziyu exchanged a look with his elder sister, who then explained that Cui Xingzhou already had someone special in his heart back in Qingzhou and had even given her the most precious perfume. Liu Miantang, who had once received a gift from Cui Xingzhou, naturally recognized the mention of that perfume. Hearing the Princess of Sui inquire further about the woman Cui Xingzhou was fond of, Liu Miantang accidentally dropped a jade belt on the ground.

The Princess of Sui had no choice but to ask her to return and prepare a new set. Ziyu summoned Liu Miantang to the palace. Upon entering the Crown Prince's residence, Liu Miantang was greeted by a sea of blooming begonia flowers, reminiscent of the one in Yangshan, their fragrance wafting for miles. Inside the residence, the furnishings were arranged just like in Yangshan, evoking a strong sense of familiarity.

Ziyu approached and saw Liu Miantang warming her hands by the stove. He asked her how she had been lately. Knowing what he wanted to hear, Liu Miantang deliberately replied that it was just as he had seen before. Ziyu felt a chill in his heart, recalling how close Liu Miantang and Cui Xingzhou had once appeared. Ziyu then bluntly stated that he knew Liu Miantang had disguised herself as a Hu merchant to seek revenge and eliminate Prince Sui.

Liu Miantang didn’t deny it. Ziyu cautioned her that Prince Sui was deeply cunning and extremely cautious, making it very difficult to catch him off guard. Ziyu proposed that they work together to remove Prince Sui, as Prince Sui, emboldened by his military achievements, had become arrogant and intolerant. He, too, wanted to bring down this "thorn in his side. "After Liu Miantang left, Ziyu often found himself holding a begonia flower in his hand while alone.

Shi Xueji approached to serve tea and, noticing Ziyu lost in thought, couldn't help but ask if he liked begonia flowers. Ziyu didn’t deny it, mentioning that there had been a begonia tree in Yangshan, under which he had many fond memories. Shi Xueji, seeing Ziyu so wistful, naturally guessed that it involved a woman. Back in Yangshan, Ziyu, constrained by his status, had always acted with great caution, often suppressing his emotions.

But now, as the emperor, he no longer needed to be so reserved. He invited Liu Miantang to stroll through the night market with him, play a game of pitch-pot, and even gave her flowers. Cui Xingzhou accidentally witnessed this, feeling deeply troubled. However, as Ziyu was now the reigning emperor, Cui Xingzhou knew he couldn’t harbor any inappropriate thoughts. Returning to the Prince of Huaiyang’s residence, Cui Xingzhou wrote the word "endure" on a piece of paper.

Ziyu went to pay respects to the Empress Dowager, who urged him to quickly choose an empress, praising Shi Xueji repeatedly. Ziyu, however, did not give a definite response. The Empress Dowager then suggested moving Shi Xueji into the former empress's palace, but Ziyu immediately objected, saying that it was a significant matter that needed to be discussed with key officials from the Ministry of Rites before making a decision.

During this meeting with the Empress Dowager, another important topic was brought up. The Empress Dowager expressed her intention to betroth Princess Wuhua to Cui Xingzhou, asking for Ziyu's opinion. Princess Wuhua held a noble status, and marrying her would be like adding wings to Ziyu's ambitions. However, Ziyu had not yet figured out how to deal with Cui Xingzhou and couldn’t afford to give him any more advantages.

Ziyu could only explain that as long as Princess Wuhua agreed, he had no objections. The Empress Dowager then decided to use the upcoming spring hunt as an opportunity for Wuhua to meet Ziyu.

Cui Xingzhou secretly ordered someone to follow Liu Miantang. On the day of the spring hunt, knowing that Liu Miantang was planning to take action, he began to protect her from the shadows. Liu Miantang quietly sneaked into the woods where the spring hunt was taking place. Seizing the moment when Prince Sui was off guard, she deliberately aimed an arrow to kill him. Unfortunately, her first arrow missed the vital spot.

She attempted to shoot another arrow, but Ziyu arrived and grabbed her hand, reminding her that the opportunity had been lost and that any further delay could cost her life. Ziyu then pulled Liu Miantang away to escape, with pursuers close behind. Fortunately, Cui Xingzhou intercepted the pursuers just in time, giving Ziyu and Liu Miantang enough time to flee. Cui Xingzhou rode up to Prince Sui and deliberately claimed that the arrow Liu Miantang had shot was his doing.

Prince Sui believed him and became furious, demanding that Cui Xingzhou be arrested and punished. However, Cui Xingzhou was well-prepared. He threatened that if Prince Sui tried to arrest him, he would expose Prince Sui’s secret purchases of iron ore to make weapons, a matter that the Empress Dowager would not take lightly. This revelation struck a nerve with Prince Sui, and he had no choice but to swallow his anger.

Ziyu then secretly placed Liu Miantang under the protection of Shi Xueji, allowing her to escape danger. Shi Xueji finally got to meet the woman who had captured Ziyu’s heart. She marveled at Ziyu's keen eye for beauty, while Liu Miantang, in turn, recognized Shi Xueji's intelligence and her deep feelings for Ziyu. Liu Miantang intentionally remarked that she wished she could meet someone she could trust, just as Shi Xueji had.

After the spring hunt, Ziyu took Liu Miantang to climb a mountain. At the mountaintop, as they watched the sunrise, Ziyu asked Liu Miantang if she had made her choice. He hoped that one of the reasons she had returned to the capital was because of him. Liu Miantang replied with a smile that her return was solely for revenge.

She acknowledged that since she had failed this time, Prince Sui would likely tighten his defenses, making a second attempt even more costly. Ziyu promised to protect her with all his might, but Liu Miantang told him to let go. She said that if the first chance was missed, things would no longer be the same, and she knew that Ziyu was someone who understood how to weigh his options.

Back then, he had tolerated Sun Yuner because she was under Prince Sui's influence, and he hadn’t wanted to offend Prince Sui, which is why he had allowed Sun Yuner to harm Liu Miantang. Their paths were different, and Liu Miantang left the capital with her uncle and a few companions in a carriage. Cui Xingzhou stood on the city wall, watching the silhouette of Liu Miantang's carriage as it faded into the distance. He did not chase after her.

Knowing that after this departure, it was uncertain when they would meet again, Cui Xingzhou focused on his important task—convincing the former subordinates of Prince Sui on the border to pledge their loyalty to the emperor. Ziyu sat under the begonia tree in the Crown Prince's residence, lost in thought for a long time.

Finally, he made a decision to marry Shi Xueji as his empress, thereby also winning over Shi Yikuan from the Ministry of War, effectively reclaiming half of the military power. Shi Xueji, of course, knew that Ziyu’s heart was not with her. When she heard that she would be named empress, she was quite surprised. On the day of their grand wedding, she couldn’t help but ask Ziyu why he had chosen her.

Ziyu candidly replied that, as the daughter of a general, she would naturally understand the bigger picture and be entirely loyal to the emperor. Shi Xueji felt a coldness in her heart, realizing that the emperor had chosen her not out of love but after carefully weighing the pros and cons. That night, Ziyu excused himself, saying he had memorials to review, and left on his own. Cui Xingzhou arrived in the northwest and met with Prince Sui’s former subordinates.

They were all old and cunning, outwardly claiming they wouldn’t get involved in the palace disputes, but in reality, each harbored ulterior motives. Cui Xingzhou remained calm, using a strategy of first suppressing and then encouraging them, deliberately expressing support for their decision.

In Youzhou, after Cui Xingzhou had his fill of food and drink, the Prince of Youzhou sent a stunning woman to his room late at night to entertain him. Cui Xingzhou remained unmoved, but he was concerned that outright rejection might offend the Prince. So, he asked the woman to spend the night copying calligraphy. The next day, the woman tearfully complained to the Prince of Youzhou.

When the Prince heard the poetry she had copied, he realized that Cui Xingzhou was not as simple-minded as he seemed. Madam Shi, the wife of Shi Yikuan, would often visit the Empress and give her unsolicited advice. Although Shi Xueji preferred crimson rhododendrons, Madam Shi ordered the servants to keep only the deep red ones because they were more appropriate for royalty.

She reminded Shi Xueji that the reason Lu Wen relied on their family’s military power was so that Shi Xueji would always consider the interests of the Shi family. Now that the emperor had promoted Sun Yuner to the rank of Virtuous Consort, Madam Shi warned Shi Xueji to be vigilant and not let that consort forget her place.

She added viciously that if Shi Xueji did not support the Shi family, they had plenty of daughters and did not need her. After Madam Shi’s lecture, she left feeling satisfied, but Shi Xueji was left feeling sad and helpless. Even before she was married, she had to live under the influence of others, and now, even as the Empress, she could not escape being a puppet.

Although she had no ambition or delusions, the immense pressure was beginning to force her into action. Cui Xingzhou persuaded the Prince of Youzhou to go to the capital and pledge allegiance to the new emperor sooner rather than later. He suggested that those who pledged their loyalty early might receive additional rewards. However, the Prince of Youzhou feared that the new emperor might be setting a trap and was reluctant to take the risk.

Understanding his concerns, Cui Xingzhou offered to stay behind as a hostage, assuring the Prince that the emperor would certainly allow him to return. The Prince of Youzhou was pleased with this arrangement and began making preparations to present himself before the emperor. Liu Miantang returned to her maternal home, where her grandfather was still alive and in good health. He first punished his two irresponsible sons and whipped Liu Miantang’s uncle for allowing her to act recklessly.

Although he disciplined them, he still doted on Liu Miantang when he saw her. Her mother had died young, so her grandfather had always been somewhat indulgent with her. Liu Miantang temporarily stayed at her grandfather’s house, which was managed by her second aunt. This aunt was a harsh woman, and now that Liu Miantang had returned, she was worried about losing out on the family inheritance and became very cautious.

Her daughter, Qingying, was pampered and spoiled, showing no understanding of propriety. Not only did she lack respect for her elder sister, but she also warned her mother not to be deceived by the pocket money Liu Miantang gave them. Qingying had reached the age of marriage, so her grandfather instructed others to find a suitable match for her.

Meanwhile, Cui Xingzhou, who was far away in Youzhou, had no idea that Liu Miantang had a younger sister and mistakenly thought that Liu Miantang was seeking another marriage prospect, which left him brooding for quite some time. During the day, a suitor came to the house, but he was not interested in Qingying. Instead, when he caught a glimpse of Liu Miantang’s figure in the courtyard, he became infatuated and asked the matchmaker to inquire about Liu Miantang’s age.

The second aunt, not wanting to see Liu Miantang have a good match, deliberately spoke ill of her. At dinner, Liu Miantang’s grandfather asked the second aunt to help find a husband for Liu Miantang as well. The second aunt immediately claimed that they wouldn’t have enough for two dowries if they prepared both at the same time. Liu Miantang quickly reassured her, saying that she had no desire to marry.

Her grandfather became angry, saying that their escort agency had been in business for many years, and they had certainly saved enough money to afford two dowries. The second aunt, embarrassed, had no choice but to agree meekly.

Cui Xingzhou, finding himself with nothing to do, instructed his subordinates to inquire about Liu Miantang's recent situation. When he heard that her maternal grandfather was preparing to sell the escort agency, he specifically ordered his subordinates to pay extra attention and report Liu Miantang's whereabouts to him daily. He even bribed the cooking granny who looked after Liu Miantang, instructing her to ask him if she couldn't find something Liu Miantang wanted to eat.

When he heard that Liu Miantang wanted to eat Wujiang vinegar, Cui Xingzhou personally had his servants search several places to find it and personally delivered it to the cooking granny. When Liu Miantang saw the familiar Wujiang vinegar, she became very suspicious. This product was only widely produced in Qingzhou, so she deliberately asked the cooking granny to make roast goose the next day.

Cui Xingzhou quickly received the news and, in order to provide Liu Miantang with the finest goose meat, specially had his subordinates borrow a black-maned goose from the Northern Zhou Prince's Mansion. That evening, Liu Miantang, her grandfather, and her aunt ate happily. Everyone marveled at the goose's firm and especially delicious meat, asking Liu Miantang if she had spent a lot to buy it.

The cooking granny was very surprised, saying it only cost a hundred coins, which even Liu Miantang’s grandfather couldn't believe. He had run escort businesses for decades and had seen all kinds of delicacies and rare beasts. This kind of item would surely cost several taels of silver.

Hearing that it only cost a mere hundred coins, her grandfather decided to go back the next day and buy another one, and Cui Xingzhou indeed went back to the Northern Zhou Prince's Mansion to "borrow" another. Liu Miantang personally went to see the person who sold the goose the previous day and immediately recognized him as one of Cui Xingzhou's shadow guards.

The guard was quite embarrassed, and Liu Miantang compensated the price difference for the goose and instructed the shadow guard to convey a message to Cui Xingzhou: since the two of them no longer had any relationship, it would be best not to bother her anymore. Liu Miantang secretly bought the escort agency. The silver she had saved up in the past finally came in handy.

Now that her aunt was eager to buy the agency to accumulate wealth, she simply decided that it was better to keep the wealth within the family. That evening, she told her grandfather that she had bought the escort agency. Her grandfather, although he admired Liu Miantang's courage and spirit, still felt that it was proper for a woman to marry early. When the shadow guard returned, he conveyed Liu Miantang's message.

Cui Xingzhou, unwilling to give up, found out the date of the escort agency's reopening and boldly walked into the agency. Liu Miantang, aware of Cui Xingzhou's intentions, deliberately referred to her cousin as her "husband" to make Cui Xingzhou back off. As a result, Cui Xingzhou was gloomy for several days, and whenever he heard words with the character "marry" in them, he would get a severe headache, scaring his guards into silence.

Cui Xingzhou secretly investigated Liu Miantang's so-called "husband" and, after discovering he was a fake, devised another plan. He went to the escort agency himself, claiming he needed an escort. The item to be escorted was none other than himself. As it was a business, Liu Miantang could not refuse a paying customer and agreed to ensure his safety. During the day, Cui Xingzhou wandered around the market with his little escorts.

When he saw a vendor selling candied hawthorns, he specifically bought a skewer and ordered Liu Miantang to hold it. This gesture was familiar to Liu Miantang, as Cui Xingzhou and she had shared a skewer of candied hawthorns together in Qingzhou. Liu Miantang made no effort to hide her disdain for Cui Xingzhou and reminded him that she was just an escort and had no obligation to listen to his idle chatter.

In the afternoon, on a whim, Cui Xingzhou rode out to the countryside with Liu Miantang protecting him by his side. The two of them rode until they reached the border. Cui Xingzhou asked Liu Miantang if she would agree to reconcile, but Liu Miantang rode past the boundary marker, indicating to Cui Xingzhou that not only were their identities now vastly different, but she was also free and unrestrained, bound by nothing.

Cui Xingzhou, however, had a mission and many concerns. Cui Xingzhou deliberately followed closely behind her, demonstrating that although he was a hostage, he feared no restraints and was determined to prove his resolve through action. The Northern Zhou Prince, upon hearing that Cui Xingzhou had crossed the border, was naturally frightened and immediately ordered his guards to apprehend him.

When Cui Xingzhou was brought back, he made no effort to hide his past with Liu Miantang, even claiming that Liu Miantang was his little wife from Qingzhou. The Northern Zhou Prince, of course, did not believe him. How could the esteemed King of Huaiyang be interested in an ordinary woman? Fearing that Cui Xingzhou might cross the border again, the Northern Zhou Prince placed him under house arrest in the prince's mansion.

Recently, the Su family frequently visited Liu Miantang’s maternal family, expressing their interest in Qing Ying. Liu Miantang privately investigated and discovered that the Su family’s son was indeed a notorious playboy who had accrued a massive gambling debt at the casino. With no other options left, they thought of marrying Qing Ying to settle the debt with her substantial dowry. Liu Miantang mercilessly warned Mrs. Su not to entertain any more underhanded schemes. Frightened by Liu Miantang’s sternness, Mrs.

Su naturally dared not visit again. Liu Miantang’s second aunt was furious that the marriage arrangement was ruined by her, and she scolded Liu Miantang without holding back. However, Liu Miantang remained unfazed, treating her aunt with courtesy and addressing her as "Aunt" at every turn, leaving her aunt with nothing more to say. While Cui Xingzhou was held as a hostage at the Northern Zhou Prince's Mansion, he was placed under house arrest.

Despite being filled with longing, he continued to write diligently. Late at night, he noticed the spies planted by the prince still closely monitoring his every move, and he mockingly ridiculed the prince’s underhanded tactics. Nevertheless, the prince did not dare to act recklessly. Upon hearing that Cui Xingzhou had a cough, he even arranged for a physician to treat him.

The vassal prince of Northern Zhou finally arrived in the capital and, after meeting with the emperor, not only received rewards but was also promoted. Seeing the potential benefits, other vassal princes began to prepare to offer tribute as well. Upon his return to Northern Zhou, the emperor and the Grand Empress Dowager were greatly impressed by Cui Xingzhou’s role in this matter and decided to reward him.

Cui Xingzhou had always been concerned about the old injury on Liu Miantang’s wrist. Zhao Quan once mentioned a rare medicinal herb called "eagle bone flower," which had excellent healing properties but was extremely rare and hard to obtain, even for a hundred gold pieces. However, Cui Xingzhou was determined and eventually acquired it. He summoned Zhao Quan and instructed him to quickly turn the herb into an ointment and deliver it to Liu Miantang.

Knowing that Liu Miantang would likely refuse his goodwill, Cui Xingzhou implored Zhao Quan to make the trip on his behalf. When Liu Miantang saw Zhao Quan, she did not greet him kindly and even accused him of conspiring with Cui Xingzhou to deceive her while she had amnesia. Zhao Quan repeatedly apologized and presented the medicine as a gesture of sincerity. Liu Miantang believed him and asked how much it cost, saying she would reimburse the full amount.

Zhao Quan could only shake his head helplessly, realizing that Cui Xingzhou’s deep affection would likely be misunderstood once again. Before Zhao Quan left, Cui Xingzhou had instructed him not to mention his name, fearing that Liu Miantang would refuse the medicine, leaving Zhao Quan in a difficult position. Zhao Quan, being the Marquis of Zhen Nan, had visited Liu Miantang’s grandfather’s house, sparking a wave of gossip among the neighbors.

Soon, many matchmakers came calling, and before long, a suitable match was found, leading to a grand wedding for Qing Ying. When Cui Xingzhou heard the news of the Liu family daughter’s marriage from the Northern Zhou Prince's Mansion, he could no longer hold back. He seized the Northern Zhou Prince's precious horse and rushed to stop the wedding.

He boldly blocked the bridal sedan chair and asked Liu Miantang if she had truly decided to get married, offering to take her home if she had any feelings for him. Though his time under house arrest had left him looking haggard, his eyes remained resolute. Liu Miantang, watching from a distance, could not help but tear up. When Cui Xingzhou confirmed that the person in the sedan chair was not Liu Miantang, he finally allowed the procession to pass.

He thought he still had a chance, but a decree from the emperor soon arrived. The Grand Empress Dowager, in recognition of his meritorious service, had decreed that Princess Wu Hua be betrothed to him. With the imperial decree, refusal was not an option. Cui Xingzhou knelt to accept the decree, his hands trembling uncontrollably. Liu Miantang, upon hearing the contents of the decree, left in sorrow.

Returning to his residence, Cui Xingzhou personally wrote a letter to the emperor, expressing his hope that Liu Miantang could be granted to him. The emperor, upon reading the letter, flew into a rage, not only tearing the letter to pieces but also immediately issuing an order, promoting Liu Miantang to the rank of county magistrate with the title of Huaisang.

After receiving the imperial decree, Cui Xingzhou delayed returning to the palace to report back. The Prince of Northern Zhou, fearing that the emperor might think he was detaining Cui Xingzhou and refusing to release him, earnestly urged Cui Xingzhou to return to the capital as soon as possible. Cui Xingzhou was in a difficult position, as returning meant he would have to marry Princess Wu Hua.

Suddenly, the prince’s youngest son lost control while riding a horse, and the horse wildly bolted forward, with cries for help echoing through the forest. Cui Xingzhou hurriedly rode after him, but ended up injuring his leg. The Prince of Northern Zhou, seeing Cui Xingzhou's leg covered in blood, immediately called for the imperial physician to treat him.

Zhao Quan examined Cui Xingzhou’s pulse and, after carefully assessing the injury, deliberately exaggerated the situation, claiming that Cui Xingzhou might not be able to walk properly in the future and that it would severely affect his ability to have children. The palace servants who had come to deliver the emperor’s decree heard all of this.

With Cui Xingzhou now bedridden and unable to return to the palace, they had no choice but to let him rest and recover, while they themselves returned to the palace to report Cui Xingzhou’s condition truthfully. Cui Xingzhou was still thinking about Liu Miantang, so he sent Zhao Quan to deliver a message, hoping that Liu Miantang would wait for him.

When Zhao Quan met with Liu Miantang, although he was concerned about her injury, Liu Miantang did not want Cui Xingzhou to risk defying the imperial decree, so she refused to meet with him. Ever since He Zhen fled from her arranged marriage, Zhao Quan had not seen her for several days and asked Liu Miantang about her whereabouts.

Liu Miantang, knowing He Zhen’s temperament, smiled mysteriously and suggested that Zhao Quan bring some food when he went to find her. Zhao Quan did have feelings for He Zhen, and after getting the address from Liu Miantang, he hurriedly set out to find her. He Zhen, intending to test Zhao Quan’s sincerity, deliberately chose a secluded wilderness. Zhao Quan limped along, holding a torch and calling out He Zhen’s name.

When he finally found her, despite accidentally breaking a porcelain dish, the two reconciled. At this time, someone came again with a marriage proposal. The suitor was once Qing Ying’s intended husband, but after Liu Miantang discovered his enormous gambling debt, he fled in disgrace. It was puzzling why he dared to propose again so soon.

Liu Miantang’s uncle intentionally brought up the gambling debt, but to their surprise, the suitor had not only repaid the enormous debt in just a few days but had also acquired an additional hundred acres of good land. Liu Miantang found the situation suspicious and suspected someone was orchestrating events behind the scenes. However, her grandfather, believing that the suitor’s family was now wealthy enough to be a good match, agreed to the marriage.

When Cui Xingzhou heard that Liu Miantang had agreed to the marriage, he became extremely anxious and sent his men to investigate the situation in secret. They found out that Prince Sui was pursuing Liu Miantang with the intent to harm her. Fortunately, Cui Xingzhou led troops to her rescue just in time. Liu Miantang had already sensed the danger and had moved with many bodyguards from her grandfather’s house, but trouble quickly found its way to her doorstep.

Cui Xingzhou drove off Prince Sui’s men, but Liu Miantang did not greet him kindly. Yet for Cui Xingzhou, just being able to see the person he loved was a happiness in itself. Since Shi Yikuan became the emperor’s father-in-law, he grew increasingly arrogant, submitting three petitions in quick succession, hoping to be granted a place of honor in the Imperial Ancestral Temple.

The emperor, annoyed by his persistence, heard from his attendants that Shi Yikuan’s achievements did not merit such an honor. However, the emperor chose to tolerate Shi Yikuan’s arrogance as a means to restrain Prince Sui and did not refuse his request. Since being crowned empress, Shi Xueji had never returned home to visit her family. This time, she had the opportunity to visit and brought gifts for her many sisters.

However, her elder half-sister, who had always been arrogant, complained that Shi Xueji’s gift was too modest. Having grown up under the oppression of these elder sisters, Shi Xueji remained expressionless. But soon, their father, Shi Yikuan, arrived and harshly slapped the elder sister, causing her to leave in tears, much to Shi Xueji’s satisfaction.

Shi Yikuan then asked Shi Xueji why she hadn’t responded to his letters and whether she had managed to persuade the emperor to let him enter the Imperial Ancestral Temple. Shi Xueji earnestly analyzed the current political situation for her father, advising him not to bother the emperor over such a trivial honor. Although Shi Xueji meant well, Shi Yikuan slapped her hard, leaving her face instantly swollen.

She had never been slapped in her life, and to be struck over this matter shattered what little familial affection remained between them.

When Ziyu heard that Shi Xueji had returned from visiting her family, he specifically went to see her. At that time, she was washing dates with the palace maids, laughing and joking without showing any trace of the grievances she had suffered at her family home. After the dates were washed and brought to Ziyu, he deliberately tasted them while chatting casually, asking Shi Xueji if she had conveyed any messages from her father.

Shi Xueji smiled sweetly, not mentioning the instructions her father had given her earlier in the day. Instead, she used the dates as a metaphor, saying that dates become sweeter after a frost, advising Ziyu not to be swayed by the prince, that a little pressure is good, but not too much. Ziyu was very pleased with Shi Xueji's wisdom and understanding, feeling reassured that she would not interfere in state affairs while residing in the harem.

He wondered why Shi Xueji didn't speak on her father's behalf, but Shi Xueji had a clear view of the current situation and believed that fully supporting Ziyu was her best path. She was willing to devote herself to alleviating Ziyu's burdens. In the middle of the night, Cui Xingzhou was reading when suddenly a wisp of white smoke seeped through the window. Someone was releasing poison, and the servant beside him had already fainted.

The book in Cui Xingzhou's hand also fell to the ground. The window opened, and it turned out to be Liu Miantang. She had rushed over in the night to check on Cui Xingzhou's injuries and brought precious ointment to apply to his wounds. On the table, there was a stack of logs that Liu Miantang found intriguing, and she began to flip through them, finding the contents quite interesting.

After bandaging Cui Xingzhou's leg wound, Liu Miantang was about to leave when Cui Xingzhou suddenly pulled her close. It turned out that Cui Xingzhou was not unconscious. Knowing that Liu Miantang had come, he affectionately pulled her to his side and asked if she was willing to spend the rest of her life with him. Liu Miantang stubbornly refused to accept Cui Xingzhou's invitation.

The next day, Cui Xingzhou's leg injury improved slightly, allowing him to walk around with the aid of a crutch. He wasted no time in ordering his men to prepare a carriage to visit the Qiao family. That day happened to be the day Liu Miantang's younger sister returned to her parental home. The Qiao residence was decorated with red banners, and Liu Miantang's grandfather, aunt, and uncle were all waiting at the entrance.

Suddenly, a sedan chair stopped, and Cui Xingzhou stepped out. Everyone was surprised. Liu Miantang's uncle, recognizing Cui Xingzhou, immediately pulled him aside and introduced him as a friend. Since the son-in-law had not yet arrived home, Liu Miantang's grandfather met Cui Xingzhou for the first time. Cui Xingzhou presented a pair of fine Hetian jade walnuts as a gift, and the uncle, seeing such a treasure, couldn't help but exclaim in envy.

Cui Xingzhou was about to formally propose to the Qiao family when the newlywed returned, prompting Liu Miantang's grandfather to leave immediately. After the Qiao family’s affairs were settled, Liu Miantang's grandfather personally called Cui Xingzhou to another room and carefully inquired about his name and past. Upon learning that Cui Xingzhou had taken advantage of Liu Miantang’s amnesia to keep her at his home, the grandfather was furious.

Cui Xingzhou sincerely apologized and voluntarily sought punishment, hoping for the grandfather's forgiveness. However, even after striking Cui Xingzhou with his cane twice, the grandfather's anger was not appeased. He even drew a nearby sharp blade. Liu Miantang, noticing the danger from outside, immediately rushed in to stop her grandfather and revealed that the man before him was none other than Prince Huaiyang. Liu Miantang's grandfather found himself in a dilemma.

Prince Huaiyang was known for his bravery and fearlessness in battle, earning a sterling reputation, yet he had wronged his granddaughter. Liu Miantang's grandfather could not agree to Liu Miantang being with Cui Xingzhou and also disagreed with her insistence on being alone. He only wanted his granddaughter to marry into an ordinary family and live a peaceful and happy life. After Cui Xingzhou left, Liu Miantang's grandfather told her the story of her mother.

Her mother was intelligent and sharp, but she fell in love with Liu Miantang's father, an ambitious rogue. As a result, her mother suffered and passed away prematurely. Liu Miantang comforted her grandfather, telling him not to be sad. Her mother had once told her on her deathbed that she had lived a very happy life and had no regrets.

News quickly spread to the palace that Cui Xingzhou had fallen from his horse and injured his leg while trying to save the young son of the Prince of Beizhou. The Grand Empress Dowager speculated that Cui Xingzhou either genuinely had an accident or was intentionally trying to avoid the marriage proposal.

Ziyu, who had always disliked Cui Xingzhou and was eager for him to settle down, was now even more inclined to find a way to punish him for exploiting this situation. Shi Xueji could tell that Ziyu was already planning something. She knew that since Cui Xingzhou still held significant military power, now was not the right time to punish him, as it could disrupt the morale of the troops.

She comforted the Grand Empress Dowager, suggesting that while Cui Xingzhou may have intended to refuse the marriage, his fall while saving the Prince of Beizhou demonstrated his sincerity. This showed that he did not want to take undue credit and was willing to serve the court loyally.

Shi Xueji's reasoning was sound, and since the new emperor had just ascended the throne and the Suwang was still making small moves, it was indeed not wise to act against Cui Xingzhou at this time. The Grand Empress Dowager agreed, but Ziyu was displeased and left, finding an excuse to do so. After leaving the Grand Empress Dowager's presence, Shi Xueji was summoned by Ziyu to the Hall of Diligent Governance for lunch.

Shi Xueji felt uneasy, having just gone against Ziyu’s wishes, and worried that there might be consequences. When the imperial kitchen served a dish of pork knuckles, Shi Xueji was startled, thinking Ziyu might be punishing her. Ziyu, looking into her eyes, assured her that it was purely an invitation to dine together, as it would bring him some peace of mind. Recently, Cui Xingzhou had been visiting Liu Miantang frequently, hoping to chat with her.

On days with good weather, Liu Miantang would push Cui Xingzhou's wheelchair along the riverbank to enjoy the breeze and scenery, though she still kept a cold demeanor. One night, with a gentle breeze blowing, Cui Xingzhou hobbled to Liu Miantang’s door on his crutches and poured out his heart, asking her to marry him. Liu Miantang was torn. She was well aware of the vast difference in status between them and did not want to become anyone’s concubine.

What she desired was equality. Cui Xingzhou loudly reminded her that he wanted to marry her with full honors as his official wife, becoming the Princess Consort of Huaiyang, not a concubine. Liu Miantang, however, did not agree, throwing a pillow at the doorframe and telling him to leave immediately. The next morning, Cui Xingzhou had already arrived early at Liu Miantang’s grandfather’s room for a game of chess.

He expressed his desire to marry Liu Miantang and even offered to move her grandfather and the entire family to Zhenzhou, where he would provide them with a large mansion. Liu Miantang’s grandfather asked Cui Xingzhou in return: if he liked Liu Miantang so much, why would he want her to give up her budding career in Beizhou just to join him? Cui Xingzhou was surprised and asked if this was her grandfather’s opinion or Liu Miantang’s.

When Liu Miantang woke up, she did not find Cui Xingzhou. She went to her grandfather’s room and found him sitting alone in a daze. Her grandfather recounted what had happened earlier and regretted whether his casual remark to test Cui Xingzhou might have jeopardized his granddaughter’s lifelong happiness. It was absolutely impossible to ask Cui Xingzhou to give up his position as the Prince of Huaiyang, as it was not only his lifelong mission but also essential.

Liu Miantang quickly set out to find Cui Xingzhou, searching many places before returning to the riverbank where they had once spent time together. Cui Xingzhou arrived with a notebook in hand. He seriously showed Liu Miantang his planned schedule, indicating that he was willing for her to stay here. He promised to diligently manage state affairs and return to reunite with her whenever he had free time.

Touched by Cui Xingzhou’s deep affection, Liu Miantang finally agreed to marry him. The two immediately went to the local yamen (government office), and when they saw the bright red official seal on their marriage certificate, they were overwhelmed with emotion.

Just as Liu Miantang and Cui Xingzhou were preparing for their wedding, an imperial decree arrived at the Qiao residence, publicly announcing that Liu Miantang was to be conferred the title of County Princess, along with a reward of five hundred households. She was also granted the title "Huai Sang. "Although an official promotion was generally seen as a good thing, Liu Miantang’s aunt muttered that the name "Huai Sang" didn’t sound particularly pleasant.

However, Cui Xingzhou praised the name, saying it perfectly tempered the sharpness of Liu Miantang’s original name, making it seem more gentle and harmonious. With their belongings packed, the Qiao family prepared to leave. Liu Miantang’s grandfather saw her off at the door, and Cui Xingzhou reassured the old man that he would take good care of Liu Miantang in Zhenzhou. The Emperor had already heard about Liu Miantang and Cui Xingzhou receiving their marriage certificate.

He was heartbroken, having hoped that Liu Miantang would change her mind and enter the palace to become his concubine. He had even reserved the night of his coronation and wedding for her. But in the end, he lost her. Shi Xueji, seeing the Emperor’s anger, quickly served him tea before hastily withdrawing. Cui Xingzhou brought Liu Miantang back to Zhenzhou, where they settled into the house they had originally prepared.

The neighbors, seeing Cui Xingzhou return limping, were ready to mock him, but when they saw Liu Miantang had returned with him, they were instead moved by the deep bond between the two. Cui Xingzhou’s aunt heard about his return to Zhenzhou and, weeping, brought her daughter to the Huaiyang Prince’s residence, hoping to make Lian Binglan his concubine. Just as Cui Xingzhou’s mother was about to relent, a letter from Cui Xingzhou arrived.

In it, he sternly instructed that anyone unrelated to them should leave, and he declared that the bride mentioned in the marriage certificate was Liu Miantang. She had once traveled a great distance to the border to support him, and now that she was his partner, he wished for a lifelong monogamous relationship, never taking a concubine. After hearing her son’s heartfelt declaration, Cui Xingzhou’s mother could say nothing more.

On their first night back in Zhenzhou, Cui Xingzhou was somewhat reserved. Liu Miantang took the initiative to invite him to share the bed, and the two embraced and fell asleep together. Cui Xingzhou marveled at how they had weathered so many trials and finally found happiness. He expressed his desire to hold a grand wedding banquet, and Liu Miantang agreed.

That evening, during the banquet, the neighbors who heard that the Prince of Huaiyang lived next door were so frightened they knelt in reverence. They admired Cui Xingzhou even more, recognizing him as both a good husband at home and a formidable warrior on the battlefield. After the wedding banquet, Liu Miantang and Cui Xingzhou took a stroll near their home. The moonlight was bright, and a gentle breeze blew, putting them both in a good mood.

Cui Xingzhou revealed a more innocent side of himself, and Liu Miantang, stepping on his shadow, was delighted to see him so relaxed. Naturally, the Prince of Huaiyang needed to bring his wife into the family formally, so the Dowager Consort hosted a banquet to welcome her son's return.

Cui Xingzhou’s aunt, hoping to ruin the occasion, bribed several women heavily to criticize Liu Miantang for living with the Prince as a concubine before marriage when they arrived at the Prince's residence. However, when they finally stood before the Dowager Consort, they were so intimidated that they changed their tune, instead thanking Liu Miantang for saving lives on the front lines.

Cui Xingzhou’s aunt was visibly upset, realizing that her plan, which she thought was clever, had been foiled by Cui Xingzhou. Seeing that people were coming to express their gratitude to his new wife, Cui Xingzhou took the opportunity to announce that he and Liu Miantang would officially marry next month.

Cui Xingzhou's aunt deliberately tried to cause trouble and even attempted to win people over to publicly embarrass Liu Miantang. However, Cui Xingzhou was fully aware of his aunt's tactics. He specifically called his uncle aside and warned him: if he continued to allow his aunt to create disturbances in their household, it would end his nephew's career, or worse, result in the Lian family being expelled from Zhenzhou.

This time, Cui Xingzhou’s aunt finally realized the severity of his warning and dared not act out again. Barely half a day after returning home, an imperial decree arrived from the palace—Prince Lu had rebelled, and the King of Huaiyang was ordered to quickly lead troops to suppress the revolt. The military situation was urgent, and it might not be possible to wait until the planned wedding day.

As Cui Xingzhou prepared to set out on the campaign, his only concern was Liu Miantang. He went to his mother’s study, asking her to pass on the Huaiyang Princess's seal to Liu Miantang early. At first, the Dowager Consort was reluctant, but she couldn’t resist Cui Xingzhou’s earnest pleas, and finally, she handed the Huaiyang Princess's seal to Liu Miantang.

Now that Cui Xingzhou was reassured, he visited Liu Miantang in her room before departing, carefully giving her a few words of advice. He didn’t want Liu Miantang to accompany him to the frontlines again, and Liu Miantang, understanding his concern, comforted him by promising to stay with the Dowager Consort and wait for his triumphant return. After Cui Xingzhou left, the Dowager Consort called Liu Miantang alone to her study.

She solemnly handed her a beautifully crafted wooden box and asked her to open it. Inside, Liu Miantang found a pearl hairpin, which at first seemed ordinary. The Dowager Consort smiled and then instructed the servants to close the doors and windows and extinguish the candles. Suddenly, the pearl hairpin in Liu Miantang’s hand shone brightly, dazzling in the darkness. It turned out to be the legendary luminous pearl hairpin, a rare family heirloom.

By giving it to Liu Miantang, the Dowager Consort clearly acknowledged her status. When Cui Xingzhou’s aunt heard that the luminous pearl hairpin had been given to Liu Miantang, she regretted that the situation had turned against her, and Lian Binglan’s face turned pale with frustration. The two of them, filled with resentment, planned to take action, determined not to let the position of Huaiyang Princess slip away from them. He Zhen had recently been deeply engrossed in studying porcelain making.

She spent many days and nights at the kiln factory and finally produced a satisfactory ceramic body. Excitedly, she showed it to Liu Miantang. Liu Miantang advised He Zhen that since the Emperor disapproved of extravagance, she should focus on the details. He Zhen accepted Liu Miantang's suggestions and produced porcelain that was both rich in color and delicately refined.

When she presented these pieces to the porcelain guild members, they were full of praise for the colors and finally acknowledged He Zhen's porcelain-making skills. To solidify his position, Shi Yikuan arranged for his other daughters to enter the palace, deliberately inviting the Emperor to admire their beauty. The Emperor, fully aware of Shi Yikuan's intentions, had no choice but to temporarily compromise, given the unstable political situation. He needed Shi Yikuan's active resistance against Prince Sui.

Shi Xueji's older sister, expecting to be soon conferred the title of Noble Consort, became arrogant and overbearing, almost on par with the Empress. Although Shi Xueji was displeased, she did not embarrass her elder sister. While Cui Xingzhou was on the frontlines, he wrote letters to Liu Miantang during his spare time, almost one every day, and their relationship remained sweet.

Since Liu Miantang entered the Zhen Nan Marquis's residence, the Dowager Consort grew increasingly fond of her as she got to know her better. When she received an invitation from the Marquis of Zhen Nan, she decided to take Liu Miantang with her to the banquet. The Dowager Consort even had several luxurious outfits made for Liu Miantang. When Liu Miantang appeared before her in these opulent fabrics, the Dowager Consort couldn’t help but exclaim how beautiful she looked.

She asked Liu Miantang to turn around so she could admire her from all angles, and then instructed the maid to bring out the jewelry she had worn in her youth for Liu Miantang to choose from. The Dowager Consort marveled at how Liu Miantang, with her natural beauty, looked stunning in any style of clothing.

One day, while Liu Miantang was dressing up, the Dowager Consort came in to help her choose a suitable pearl hairpin. As they chatted, the Dowager Consort reminisced about how she had once helped her own daughter dress before her wedding. Later, when her niece came to live with her, she gave her many pieces of jewelry, but since her niece didn’t resemble her, the jewelry didn’t suit the Lian family girl, who had a more delicate appearance.

Now, the Dowager Consort felt that the jewelry looked especially fitting on Liu Miantang and praised her son for having such excellent taste in choosing a wife. Liu Miantang was surprised to hear from the Dowager Consort that Cui Xingzhou had never sent home a single letter while he was away at war. This puzzled her because, ever since Cui Xingzhou went to the frontlines, Liu Miantang had been receiving his letters almost daily.

When the Dowager Consort inadvertently saw a stack of letters in Liu Miantang’s dressing box, she noticed that they were all in Cui Xingzhou's handwriting. Reading through some of the contents, the Dowager Consort felt a pang of sadness, realizing that her son had grown up and no longer relied on his mother. Despite the numerous letters, not one had been written to her. Feeling hurt, the Dowager Consort sat quietly for a while before leaving.

He Zhen finally succeeded in producing a porcelain with a rare color. According to the family’s usual practice, the recipe, firing process, and timing should all be made public for mass production, especially since her second brother was urging her to do so in order to make money quickly. However, He Zhen refused to disclose the formula, which angered Old Master He greatly.

Liu Miantang then visited the He family to speak on He Zhen’s behalf, arguing that since He Zhen had spent a long time experimenting and working hard to produce these porcelains, it was only fair that others who hadn’t made such efforts shouldn’t be given the recipe. As Liu Miantang had recently been titled by the Emperor, her words carried weight.

After considering her advice, Old Master He decided to hand over the family’s official seal to He Zhen, thus acknowledging her position. He Zhen was finally recognized by her father. Smiling, she helped him up and returned the family's authority to him. With her father’s approval, she was content and agreed to eventually disclose her developed formula. That evening, Zhao Quan came to take He Zhen home, and the couple finally reconciled.

They had always cared for each other but hadn’t expressed their feelings due to various reasons. He Zhen was grateful that, by a twist of fate, she had chosen a true man. Despite being from a marquis's household, Zhao Quan had never been condescending and had willingly accompanied her to the mountains to make porcelain, showing his genuine love. Late at night, someone sneaked into Liu Miantang’s quarters and swapped the luminous pearl hairpin that the Dowager Consort had given her.

The next day, the Dowager Consort took Liu Miantang to a banquet, where Cui Xingzhou’s aunt intentionally asked what hairpin Liu Miantang was wearing. The Dowager Consort proudly replied that it was the luminous pearl hairpin. Lian Binglan deliberately suggested that they dim the lights to let everyone see its brilliance. However, even after the lights were dimmed, the hairpin didn’t glow.

Lian Binglan and her mother then maliciously questioned whether it was a fake or if it had been stolen. Liu Miantang calmly explained that since the wedding ceremony hadn’t yet been completed, she didn’t want to flaunt such a valuable item and had therefore made a replica. Her quick wit allowed her to smoothly defuse the situation. That evening, the Dowager Consort closed the doors and gathered all the family members to inquire about the incident with the hairpin.

Liu Miantang admitted that she had long noticed the maid's covetous gaze toward the hairpin, so she had secretly replaced it beforehand, commissioning a craftsman to make a replica. With Lian Binglan and her mother’s scheme exposed, this time, the Dowager Consort did not plead for leniency on Lian Binglan’s behalf.

A few days later, Liu Miantang was summoned by the Dowager Consort. When she arrived at the Dowager Consort's room, she saw Lian Binglan's mother hurriedly leaving, indicating that she had just spoken with the Dowager Consort. The Dowager Consort discussed with Liu Miantang the idea of making Lian Binglan a secondary wife.

Liu Miantang candidly explained that in the past, merchants who spent long periods away from home would sometimes marry two wives, one in the north and one in the south, to maintain households in both places. Since the two wives lived in different regions, they seldom had any conflicts. However, if Lian Binglan were to be made a secondary wife now, it would inevitably lead to disturbances and trouble in the future.

Liu Miantang remained courteous and calmly analyzed the pros and cons, but the Dowager Consort spoke as if issuing a command, saying that if Lian Binglan were not taken as a secondary wife, outsiders would mock them, claiming that even the mighty Prince of Huaiyang couldn’t accommodate a concubine. Without hesitation, Liu Miantang requested to take her leave. Although she came from a humble family, she still had her dignity.

She had endured much out of respect for Cui Xingzhou, but this request crossed her bottom line. The Dowager Consort thought Liu Miantang was only speaking out of frustration, but to her surprise, Liu Miantang really packed her things, returned the luminous pearl hairpin to the Dowager Consort, and decisively left the Prince of Huaiyang's residence.

Worried that her son, who was away at war, would hear about the upheaval at home, the Dowager Consort ordered a lockdown on the information, forbidding anyone from leaking the news, especially about Liu Miantang’s departure. Shi Yikuan had been delaying the military orders, failing to send reinforcements to the frontlines. Cui Xingzhou’s troops in Zhenzhou were nearly out of supplies. Despite several urgent requests from the Emperor, Shi Yikuan continued to make excuses.

Shi Xueji found a reason to summon her father to the palace, where she solemnly reminded him to dispatch troops immediately. She warned him that she and the Emperor were on the same side now, and they had to consider the bigger picture. If he didn’t act, she would feign poisoning from the cakes sent by her elder sister, and the Emperor would surely hold her sister accountable.

Furious, Shi Yikuan left the palace, even knocking over a potted plant as he stormed out. The Emperor visited the Empress’s residence, and upon seeing the broken flowerpot and the frightened palace maids, he understood what had happened. He quickly issued an edict praising the Shi family for raising virtuous daughters and commending the Empress for her wisdom and grace. The entire Shi family was awarded titles.

With these honors bestowed, Shi Yikuan had no choice but to send troops, and he did so promptly. Upon hearing that Shi Yikuan was sending reinforcements, the rebel Prince Sui arranged for assassins to capture Cui Xingzhou’s family to force the Prince of Huaiyang to retreat. Liu Miantang received word of this and rushed back to the Prince of Huaiyang’s residence overnight, escorting the Dowager Consort and the rest of the family to Qingquan Town just in time.

By the time Prince Sui’s men arrived, Liu Miantang had already safely evacuated the Dowager Consort. During their escape, the conditions were rough, and Lian Binglan and her mother couldn’t bear the hardship. They acted arrogantly towards Liu Miantang, even demanding that she personally cook noodles for them. They haughtily claimed that since they were from the Lian family and not part of the Prince of Huaiyang’s household, they shouldn’t have to endure a life on the run.

The Dowager Consort overheard this and immediately scolded them. Seeing their true colors exposed, Lian Binglan and her mother had no choice but to leave in disgrace. Fearing any unforeseen circumstances, Liu Miantang moved the Dowager Consort and others to a porcelain kiln she had previously purchased. Prince Sui’s men searched everywhere but couldn’t find them. Meanwhile, Cui Xingzhou personally led his soldiers in a night raid on the rebel prince’s mansion, capturing Prince Sui’s followers and crippling his forces.

Cui Xingzhou found Liu Miantang and his mother in Zhenzhou. With the rebel army defeated, Cui Xingzhou brought his wife and mother back to the Prince’s residence. Once again, Cui Xingzhou’s aunt began performing her tearful acts in public, begging Cui Xingzhou to take Lian Binglan as a secondary wife. Cui Xingzhou firmly refused.

His aunt resorted to threats of suicide, but the Dowager Consort, unable to tolerate it any longer, ordered everyone else out so she could speak privately with her sister.

The Dowager Consort initially intended to comfort her sister, but unexpectedly, her sister revealed a long-buried secret. Shamelessly, she confessed that if it weren't for her switching the marriage contracts back then, the position of the Dowager Consort of the Prince of Huaiyang should have been hers! The Dowager Consort had always lived a life indifferent to fame and wealth, raising her child alone after her husband passed away many years ago.

The hardships she endured were known only to her. To learn that all this was due to her sister's actions filled her with rage. The Dowager Consort slapped her sister and, despite her sister’s desperate pleas, the Dowager Consort remained resolute. She sternly reminded her that even if Liu Miantang agreed to Cui Xingzhou taking a concubine, she would not, as the consort of the Prince of Huaiyang must be exceptional in every way. Lian Binglan was utterly devastated.

Late at night, she stood by the lakeside, reflecting on the past years. She realized how naive and laughable her previous thoughts were. All she ever cared about was the position of the Princess Consort of Huaiyang, without considering whether she could truly be with someone for a lifetime. Earlier that day, she had seen Cui Xingzhou protect Liu Miantang in every possible way, and she was moved by his deep affection for Liu Miantang.

Lian Binglan yearned to find a man who would cherish her as much, desiring the simple life of an ordinary couple. When Cui Xingzhou approached and overheard his sister’s lament, he apologized for having accepted the arranged marriage in the past without being certain of his own feelings. Finally, Cui Xingzhou and Liu Miantang were to be married. The Qiao family arrived at the Prince of Huaiyang’s residence with an extravagant dowry, attracting much attention along the way.

People speculated about which family’s daughter had such a grand dowry. As Liu Miantang sat before the mirror, dressing for the occasion, the bright red wedding robe accentuated her gentle and charming demeanor. Meanwhile, Cui Xingzhou was busy with the wedding preparations at the Prince of Huaiyang’s residence. Even though they had only been apart for two days, he was eager to see her again. He confided in Zhao Quan about his nervousness and anxiety.

Zhao Quan assumed it was just the typical pre-wedding jitters, but Cui Xingzhou admitted that he had long considered Liu Miantang his other half, a feeling that far surpassed mere romantic affection. On the day before the wedding, Liu Miantang felt surprisingly relaxed. She spent the time playing cards and chess with her close friends, enjoying a rare moment of leisure.

He Zhen, having witnessed the journey of her friend and Cui Xingzhou from meeting to falling in love to getting married, was genuinely happy for her friend as she finally found happiness. The wedding day was lively and filled with various rituals. To add to the excitement, He Zhen brought out four or five red strings, each tied to a different beauty, to test which one Cui Xingzhou would choose.

With his sharp mind and deep familiarity with Liu Miantang, Cui Xingzhou selected the correct one on his first try. That evening, the Prince of Huaiyang’s residence was brightly lit with festive decorations. The old nurse, worried that Cui Xingzhou might get drunk, sent a servant to check on him. However, Cui Xingzhou didn’t linger after the toasts and headed straight to the bridal chamber.

When he entered, he found Liu Miantang fast asleep on the wedding bed, which he found endearing. When Liu Miantang awoke, they shared a tender moment and finally consummated their marriage. The next morning, an imperial edict arrived, granting Cui Xingzhou a promotion and additional titles, and commanding him to immediately report to the palace to receive his rewards. The Dowager Consort and Liu Miantang assisted Cui Xingzhou in preparing for his audience at the palace.

During the suppression of the rebels, Cui Xingzhou had captured Wen Tinghe. During his interrogation at the Dali Temple, Wen Tinghe couldn’t withstand the strict legal procedures and confessed that it was Prince Sui who ordered him to act. Besides Prince Sui, there was also a figure known as the “Great Master” who was responsible for arms smuggling and accepting bribes. When Prince Sui heard that Wen Tinghe had confessed, fearing further trouble, he immediately ordered Wen Tinghe to be silenced.

The Emperor appointed Cui Xingzhou as the Assistant Minister of the Ministry of War. This was initially a positive development, but Shi Yikuan, wary of the military power held by the Prince of Huaiyang, was displeased. Hearing that Cui Xingzhou had married without the consent of the Ministry of Revenue, Shi Yikuan made a point of reporting this to the Emperor. The Emperor, who was unaware of Cui Xingzhou's marriage, clenched his fists in anger.

On his way to the capital, Cui Xingzhou was increasingly anxious. He knew that his hasty marriage, without proper protocol, might cause trouble. He was uncertain about the challenges he might face during his audience with the Emperor. Seeing his tension, Liu Miantang took his hand to offer comfort. Inside the palace, someone accused Cui Xingzhou of being tardy in coming to the capital, suggesting that his position as Assistant Minister of the Ministry of War be revoked.

Cui Xingzhou explained that he had prioritized defending the country over personal matters. After facing numerous dangers and his mother nearly being harmed by enemies, he had rushed into marriage to fulfill his mother's wishes. His teacher in the palace also interceded on his behalf, so the Emperor had yet to make a final decision. Liu Miantang accompanied Cui Xingzhou to the palace, where the Empress hosted a banquet for her.

Many consorts attended the event, and Liu Miantang ran into an old acquaintance—Sun Yuner, who had once challenged her and nearly pushed her off a cliff. Now a consort herself, Sun Yuner was visibly surprised to see Liu Miantang. During the banquet, a palace maid accidentally spilled wine on Liu Miantang's skirt. The maid apologized and offered to replace her gown.

Liu Miantang, initially indifferent, was later advised by the Empress to change into a new dress, as the maid serving her was one of the Emperor’s personal attendants. Liu Miantang had prepared herself for potential difficulties on the way to the palace. She told Cui Xingzhou that even if they faced challenges, it would be unwise to oppose the Emperor directly, as it would play into Prince Sui's scheme.

Following the palace maid, Liu Miantang arrived in the back garden, where she met the Emperor, who inquired if she was satisfied with her current life. He warned her that if she was unhappy, he might annul her marriage to Cui Xingzhou. Liu Miantang calmly responded that if it were the former Ziqing, she would naturally bless and respect the decision. The Emperor insisted on keeping Liu Miantang in the palace.

That evening, Cui Xingzhou, not having seen his wife, was frantic. He hurried back to the palace but was told by the palace maids that Liu Miantang had already returned. The Empress advised the Emperor not to let this matter derail important affairs. She pointed out that Liu Miantang and Cui Xingzhou were now a pair, and forcibly separating them would only lead to further trouble.

The Empress, always perceptive, convinced the Emperor to release Liu Miantang that night, and he presented them with a pair of jade cups, wishing them harmony and a hundred years of happiness. With the Emperor's anger abated, Cui Xingzhou prepared to help remove the Emperor’s internal threats. As Prince Sui had already become a trapped turtle, Cui Xingzhou needed to investigate the identity of the "Great Master" due to a lack of concrete evidence.

Liu Miantang and Cui Xingzhou decided to temporarily stay at the Duke's residence to facilitate the investigation of this mysterious individual.

Cui Xingzhou intended to investigate the true identity of the Duke, so he instructed his subordinates to impersonate Prince Sui’s men and kidnap the Duke. True to form, as his teacher, the Duke remained composed even with a knife to his neck. Cui Xingzhou signaled his men from a distance, and they demanded 5,000 gold to release the Duke’s son instead.

Hearing the amount, the Duke sighed and lamented that despite his lifelong integrity as an official, he didn’t possess such wealth. It seemed that the Duke was not affiliated with Prince Sui, so Cui Xingzhou signaled his men to release him at the right moment. At the Duke's residence, Liu Miantang attended a banquet for the first time. Cui Xingzhou’s eldest sister was the Duke’s daughter-in-law and, in theory, should have enjoyed exclusive favor.

However, Liu Miantang noticed that the Duke’s son, Guo Yi, privately favored a concubine, Gai Yurao, who wore extremely luxurious clothing. Even the palace’s nobles rarely wore such fine materials. Liu Miantang observed that Gai Yurao’s jade bracelet was of exceptional quality, likely worth a fortune. Gai Yurao was arrogant and dismissive of the main wife, boldly sitting in Cui Xingzhou’s eldest sister’s place. Liu Miantang reported her observations to Cui Xingzhou.

They focused their investigation on Guo Yi and indeed discovered irregularities. Guo Yi, who previously used Cui Xingzhou’s eldest sister’s dowry, had recently stopped using it and bought many expensive items with cash. This suggested he had received an unexpected fortune. Cui Xingzhou and Liu Miantang set a trap to expose Guo Yi.

Liu Miantang invited both the eldest sister and Guo Yi to a public event, giving the eldest sister a luminous pearl hairpin, while Gai Yurao received a pair of gold hairpins. Gai Yurao, feeling slighted, asked Liu Miantang to buy a matching pair of hairpins for him at a price half again as high as the market rate. The hefty price of 500 gold was accepted by GuoYi.

Cui Xingzhou had previously withdrawn part of the eldest sister’s dowry to the Huaiyang Prince’s residence. Unable to produce the dowry, Guo Yi was beaten by debt collectors. In desperation, he pawned a land deed. Cui Xingzhou’s shadow guards promptly went to register the details of the land deed and discovered that Guo Yi had pawned many land deeds, which were not part of the eldest sister’s dowry.

Cui Xingzhou and his sister discussed the need to find Guo Yi’s account books. Despite numerous searches, they could not find them until Cui Xingzhou, using his exceptional wits, retrieved them from a scroll. With both witness and material evidence confirming that Guo Yi was indeed the "Great Master" involved in accepting bribes for a long time, including dealings with the Ministry of Personnel, they confirmed his role.

Cui Xingzhou reported his findings to the Emperor, who was dismayed to learn that even officials from the Ministry of Personnel were corrupt. This made it clear that any case involving Prince Sui would be handled corruptly by them. If the Ministry of Personnel were involved, it would undoubtedly cause turmoil in the court. Cui Xingzhou suggested waiting and observing.

With the Prince Sui case not yet resolved, he had initially planned to swiftly eliminate Prince Sui and return to Qingzhou with Liu Miantang. Now, with no clear timeline for returning, Liu Miantang tried to encourage him by suggesting they go out and enjoy a walk together.

Cui Xingzhou’s shadow guards received information that Prince Sui planned to start a rebellion during the Mid-Autumn Festival. If the guards stationed near the capital were breached, the consequences would be dire. Liu Miantang and Cui Xingzhou anticipated Prince Sui’s attack plans and predicted a fierce battle would soon erupt in the capital. The Emperor was also aware of Prince Sui’s plan and had long wanted to confront him decisively.

However, fearing for the safety of the Empress amidst the chaos, he secretly arranged for the shadow guards to protect her diligently and advised her to go to a remote temple to burn incense and pray on the night of the Mid-Autumn Festival. The Empress, perceptive as ever, noticed the Emperor’s preoccupation with state affairs and his worried demeanor, as well as the unusual request for her to leave the palace for a distant temple.

The Empress’s gift to Sun Yuner was refused. Liu Miantang was also at the Empress's place for tea and overheard Sun Yuner’s maid arrogantly claim that the favored concubine wanted the newly presented headpiece. Shi Xueji looked troubled, as this headpiece was the only one of its kind in the palace, and she was the only one who possessed it.

Seeing that Sun Yuner coveted it, Liu Miantang subtly suggested to the Empress that it would be gracious to grant her request. The Empress gave Sun Yuner the only set of phoenix-themed jewelry in the palace. Sun Yuner eagerly adorned herself with it and went to the palace where the Emperor reviewed official documents, flaunting her elaborate attire. The Emperor, preoccupied with various troubles, was not pleased by Sun Yuner’s ostentatious display and ordered her to remove the headpiece.

Sun Yuner, deeply aggrieved by the reprimand, pleaded with the Emperor for leniency, claiming it was her birthday and hoping for his company. The Emperor remained unmoved and ordered the removal of the headpiece immediately. Feeling dejected and wronged, Sun Yuner dismantled all the jewelry and left in a huff. Sun Yuner intended to return to Prince Sui’s residence to apply some pressure on the Emperor, hoping that the Emperor might reconsider due to his relationship with Prince Sui.

However, Prince Sui avoided meeting her and did not permit her return. Infuriated, Sun Yuner was about to leave when one of her maids received a gift from Prince Sui’s consort. Upon opening it, Sun Yuner found a note carefully hidden beneath a jade bracelet, along with a packet of powder. Prince Sui had learned of Sun Yuner’s fall from favor but was too occupied with planning the rebellion for the Mid-Autumn Festival to pay her much attention.

He hoped for no further disturbances in the meantime. Sun Yuner, mistakenly believing the powder was a message from Prince Sui, decided to use it at the Emperor’s feast the following day after testing its toxicity. At the imperial banquet, where the Empress Dowager was present, both the Emperor and the Empress fell unconscious and vomited blood after drinking a cup of wine. The Empress Dowager immediately ordered all palace doors to be sealed.

Experienced in such matters, she directed the court physician to administer an antidote to the Emperor and the Empress while having the wine cups inspected. It was found that only the Emperor’s and the Empress’s cups contained poison. The court physician discovered that the poison was made from pulverized ebony vine mixed with heat to enhance its potency. The Empress Dowager questioned who was responsible for the banquet.

A palace servant from the Kitchen Department claimed that the wine pot was brought by Liu Miantang, who had previously been known to craft such porcelain. The servant then threw herself against the wall in distress. Sun Yuner quickly shifted the blame to Liu Miantang, alleging that the Emperor, having a past affection for her, might be seeking revenge on the Empress out of jealousy. The Empress Dowager, not easily fooled, interrogated Liu Miantang and summoned the court physician.

The physician confirmed that the poison turned yellow upon contact with water and could not be washed off with soap. The Empress Dowager ordered each person present to have their hands tested with water. The results exposed Sun Yuner’s guilt. The physician reported that Shi Xueji had died, and Sun Yuner, sneering, was dragged away. Upon hearing that the Empress was dead and the Emperor poisoned, Prince Sui was pleased, thinking the Emperor’s demise was only a matter of days.

He abandoned his original plan for rebellion and prepared to rightfully claim the throne after the Emperor’s death. Prince Sui cautiously had his subordinates inquire about Cui Xingzhou, learning that he had hurriedly returned to Qingzhou, mistakenly believing that Cui Xingzhou had fled to seek reinforcements.

In recent days, the Emperor had been unconscious, with the Empress Dowager keeping vigil by his side. After several days and nights, her health deteriorated, and she retreated to Yongshou Palace to rest. Prince Sui then took on the heavy responsibility of overseeing the state, ordering that all petitions be reported to him first. At this time, among the many officials, Cui Xingzhou's teacher stood up and demanded that Cui Xingzhou be impeached.

On the surface, Prince Sui appeared surprised, but in reality, he had been prepared. The day before, the Duke had proactively visited Prince Sui, kneeling and pleading for him to spare his son. Prince Sui had been unable to win over the Duke in the past, but seeing the Duke now on his knees, he felt a sense of triumph.

After all, the Duke had only one son and no other descendants, and as a father, he naturally felt deep affection for his son. Prince Sui thus trusted the Duke and revealed his plans to him. On the day of the impeachment, Cui Xingzhou was thrown into prison.

Prince Sui ordered Cui Xingzhou to be handed over to the Court of Judicature for sentencing and then issued an edict to the Huaiyang Residence, forbidding all family members from leaving and placing them under house arrest. That night, Prince Sui visited the prison, taunting Cui Xingzhou and arrogantly demanding that he kneel. Cui Xingzhou remained unfazed, refusing to kneel despite the edict and reminding Prince Sui not to rejoice too soon.

Eager to ascend the throne, Prince Sui pressured the Empress Dowager to reveal the whereabouts of the imperial seal. The Empress Dowager, recognizing Prince Sui’s treacherous intentions, advised against rebellion but refused to disclose the seal’s location. Meanwhile, the court physician reported that the Emperor’s condition had improved, and a remedy had been developed that would soon lead to a full recovery.

Impatient, Prince Sui took soldiers to the palace, ordering the court physician to step aside while he personally attended to the Emperor. Once the physician was dismissed, Prince Sui intended to suffocate the Emperor, fully engaged in his treacherous plot. When the Emperor suddenly opened his eyes, Prince Sui was horrified, and the Jinyiwei (Embroidered Uniform Guard) arrived to protect the Emperor. Prince Sui was quickly captured, realizing that despite his meticulous plans, he had ultimately failed.

Liu Miantang personally brought food to Cui Xingzhou in prison. With the situation at the Emperor’s side still unclear, Liu Miantang thought it best to rescue Cui Xingzhou quickly. She bravely staged a prison break, utilizing her skills as a former bodyguard. Shi Yikuan promptly came to their aid and successfully rescued both Cui Xingzhou and Liu Miantang. Liu Miantang then met with Sun Yuner.

Upon hearing the call to arms from her foster father, Sun Yuner mistakenly believed it was meant to rescue her. Liu Miantang reminded her that her malicious deeds would eventually lead to her downfall. The packet of powder was actually a harmless substance that only induced sleep for two days.

The supposed color change of the hands upon contact with water was a trick; Liu Miantang had replaced the water with clear liquid, leaving Sun Yuner as a pawn used by others. With Prince Sui dead by his own hand, and the Emperor having eliminated his internal threat, he met with the Empress once more. He was deeply moved, reflecting on their shared hardships and the support she had given him.

As they looked at each other, no words were needed—their eyes were already moist. With the nation now stable and the people enjoying peace, Cui Xingzhou came to play chess with the Emperor. He explained that he was still unaccustomed to palace life and that Liu Miantang disliked the other princes with their multiple wives and concubines. They planned to return to Lingquan Town, fulfilling his promise to travel and enjoy the beauty of their country once it was peaceful.

Cui Xingzhou decided to retire from his official duties. Despite his remarkable achievements, he remained humble and unassuming. The Emperor personally poured him a cup of wine as a farewell, and the two had come to see each other as confidants. As a farewell gesture, Cui Xingzhou discreetly left the command medallion on the table. Soon, amidst the picturesque landscapes, the couple traveled together, deeply in love and exploring the beautiful mountains and rivers of their homeland.

Cui Xingzhou fulfilled his promise, living a life of tranquility and contentment with Liu Miantang. As a minister, he was valiant in battle, defeating enemies and stabilizing the region. As a husband, he was caring and faithful, embodying the virtues of a true and honorable man.

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