Destiny of Love Recap, Plot, Synopsis

Destiny of Love Synopsis

In Luzhao Kingdom, Qiao Manman, the proprietress of Ruyi Wanshifang, mistakenly marries into Prince Jin's manor due to a business commission. She and the "limping" Prince Fu Chengjin go from being playful adversaries to working together to resolve crises, jointly opposing the Second Prince Fu Yunnuo and Prince Huer Sa of the Western Lin Kingdom. Meanwhile, Princess Aliya of the Western Lin Kingdom, who was originally betrothed to Fu Chengjin, is unexpectedly taken in by Ji Mo, the second-in-command of Wanshifang, who suffers from gynophobia. Ultimately, both these misplaced romances find their happy endings.

Destiny of Love Recap

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Fu Chengjin was dignified and handsome, with an extraordinary temperament, but he had a leg ailment that made it difficult for him to walk. Fortunately, as a current prince, he still had many attendants to care for him. One day, the emperor specially summoned him to the palace. Although Fu Chengjin didn’t know why his father wanted to see him, he assumed that with his leg condition, he wouldn’t be sent to the battlefield.

After finishing his osmanthus rice dumplings, Fu Chengjin gently put down his cup and prepared to enter the palace. Upon arriving at the palace, Fu Chengjin found out that his father wanted him to enter into a political marriage. It was said that the princess of the Western Lin Kingdom was spoiled, capricious, and mischievous. No matter what kind of woman she was, Fu Chengjin found the idea of going to a foreign land very troublesome.

However, out of respect for his father, he couldn’t refuse right away. Qiao Manman from the Wanshi Hall was not supposed to be involved, but business had been bleak lately, and they were on the verge of getting nothing at all. Her uncle was at his wits’ end and agreed to let Qiao Manman step in to find a solution. Qiao Manman didn’t dare to slack off.

On her first day in charge, she received an order from someone named Pei Er. This man wanted to drive away his recently widowed sister-in-law to seize his elder brother’s property. Qiao Manman saw through Pei Er’s intentions, but calmly analyzed the situation, quickly devised a countermeasure, and promptly returned Pei Er’s deposit. The second client came knocking voluntarily. It turned out to be Princess A Li Ya of the Western Lin Kingdom.

Upon hearing that her future husband was disabled, she immediately sought someone to resolve the matter. After learning that Wanshifang helped with anything, she brought her maid and went in person. Hearing her troubles and seeing the generous reward, Qiao Manman quickly agreed to take the job. That night, Princess A Li Ya arranged to meet Fu Chengjin during the Lantern Festival. Qiao Manman wore a mask and impersonated Princess A Li Ya to meet him.

Fu Chengjin came intending to cancel the engagement and, seeing Qiao Manman, mistook her for the princess. He tried to find a way to refuse, which played right into Qiao Manman’s hands—she was secretly delighted that the job was done. The Second Prince, tasked with guarding duties, heard that Fu Chengjin had gone out with only a few attendants and might be meeting a lady.

Thinking it was a great opportunity, he hinted to his men to assassinate Fu Chengjin amidst the chaos. Just as Qiao Manman and Fu Chengjin were about to part ways, they heard cheers nearby. A couple’s competition was being held, and the host announced a generous prize for the winners. Since Wanshifang had little in reserve, Qiao Manman, tempted by the silver, enthusiastically joined with Fu Chengjin.

Qiao Manman, clever and resourceful, managed to win even though Fu Chengjin, sitting in a wheelchair, refused to cooperate. But when they opened the prize and found only a single coin, Qiao Manman felt swindled. She casually tossed the prize to Fu Chengjin as compensation for his trouble and left. Assassins sent by the Second Prince had already made their move. Hearing the commotion, Qiao Manman turned around and saw Fu Chengjin had fallen hard to the ground.

She rushed to save him. With many thugs closing in, Qiao Manman had no choice but to carry Fu Chengjin and flee. He had never been held in a woman’s arms before and was amazed that this seemingly delicate Qiao Manman had such strength. Once they reached a deserted place, Fu Chengjin pressed her acupuncture point to knock her out, then carried her away.

The next day, news of Princess A Li Ya’s heroic rescue of Fu Chengjin reached the palace. The emperor immediately decreed their marriage. When the news reached the real princess, she rushed to Wanshifang to confront Qiao Manman. To save her life, Qiao Manman had no choice but to beg Princess A Li Ya for leniency, requesting three days' time, promising a definitive answer by then.

Unable to figure things out, Qiao Manman sought help from her brother Ji Mo. Ji Mo analyzed that offending either the Western Lin Kingdom or the Lu Zhao Kingdom was unwise. Since the engagement couldn’t be broken, they might as well use the "substitute the beams with rotten timbers" tactic. With no other choice, Qiao Manman took a desperate gamble. She discussed it with Princess A Li Ya and her maid Yue Tao.

There were originally three roads for the bridal escort. Qiao Manman blocked two of them, leaving only one accessible. She then planned to create chaos and switch the two bridal sedan chairs, so that everyone could get what they wanted. A Li Ya had no interest in Fu Chengjin, and since she could marry her beloved, she gladly agreed.

Qiao Manman bribed Pei Er at the designated spot to gather more people disguised as chair bearers to carry an additional sedan. She thought she had everything under control, but an accident happened during the bridal escort. Pei Er intended to stir up trouble, but when he saw the other side had armed guards, he chickened out and quickly backed down.

Qiao Manman and Princess A Li Ya seized the opportunity to get out of the sedan, intending to escape, but Pei Er hadn’t bought them enough time, leaving both Qiao Manman and A Li Ya anxious. Fortunately, Fu Chengjin had anticipated potential issues and immediately sent his guards to protect them. As agreed, Qiao Manman was to protect Princess A Li Ya at all costs to ensure her escape.

Seeing the plan faltering, Qiao Manman urged A Li Ya to run while she herself stayed in the bridal sedan to adapt as needed. Fu Chengjin’s guards were highly efficient, and the bridal sedan was swiftly delivered to the prince’s residence. Earlier, Qiao Manman and Chun Tao had planned to switch clothes in the sedan, with Chun Tao impersonating the princess.

Fu Chengjin would then arrange for Chun Tao to return to the Western Lin Kingdom under the guise of a family visit and never return. However, Qiao Manman was poisoned during the chaos and fell unconscious. Chun Tao didn’t have the chance to change clothes. As a result, Qiao Manman was mistakenly married into Fu Chengjin’s residence as Princess A Li Ya. That day, Qiao Manman wasn’t the only one scheming—the Second Prince was also plotting.

He quickly planned another assassination attempt on Fu Chengjin with his subordinates. During the bridal escort, aside from Pei Er’s group causing chaos, the Second Prince’s assassins also struck. Many were killed, but since Qiao Manman and A Li Ya weren’t in the bridal sedan at the time, they survived. Fu Chengjin, wise and strategic, was infuriated upon hearing that his bridal procession had been attacked. Palace infighting was rampant, and he could easily guess who was behind the sabotage. But to protect his life, he suppressed his anger and pretended to willingly accept his father’s order.

Dawn broke on the first day of the newlyweds' life. Qiao Manman groggily woke up to find an old matron staring at her, scaring her into sitting up straight. The matron claimed she was personally sent by the Emperor to look after the Princess Consort. Outwardly, Qiao Manman nodded pleasantly, but inwardly she was dismayed—clearly, this was a spy planted by the palace! According to custom, the newlyweds should dine together.

Qiao Manman, remembering that she would have to return to her maiden home in three days, worried about being exposed when she met A Li Ya’s brother, Hu Er Sa. Fu Chengjin noticed her preoccupation and asked what was wrong. Qiao Manman, hinting vaguely, said that she had kicked off the blanket in her sleep and caught a chill, so she had no appetite.

Fu Chengjin quickly understood—Qiao Manman was trying to make the matron believe they hadn’t shared the bed. On her very first day, Qiao Manman was already this cunning. Fu Chengjin decided to counter with a soft approach, saying that if she had no appetite, then she didn’t have to eat. Qiao Manman skipped breakfast and was sent back to her room, feeling extremely frustrated.

Chuntao urged Qiao Manman to think of a plan quickly, or else their identities might be exposed in three days and they could face execution. Anxious, Qiao Manman decided to take a risky path—she would pretend to be ill. When Fu Chengjin heard Qiao Manman was sick, he specially summoned the imperial physician. Chuntao blocked the door, urging Qiao Manman to quickly think of a countermeasure.

Qiao Manman intended to fake illness, but when she saw the physician was going to take her pulse, she broke out in goosebumps. Fortunately, the physician had his own considerations. Although he could tell from her pulse that she was faking, he didn’t want to get involved in the inner affairs of the Prince’s residence. So he immediately claimed she was indeed sick and seriously so, requiring several days of acupuncture treatment.

Seeing the long silver needles in the physician’s hands, Qiao Manman reflexively pushed him away in fear. As a result, the needle accidentally stabbed Fu Chengjin in the leg. The pain was intense, but since he was pretending to be disabled, he had to endure it and asked his attendant Jiutian to push him back to his room. Late at night, Qiao Manman was still worrying about the return to her maiden home in three days.

Since her own attempt at feigning illness had failed, she came up with a plan to make Fu Chengjin fall ill instead. Hearing that Fu Chengjin was bathing, she had Chuntao distract Jiutian while she quietly carried half a bucket of cold water into the room. Qiao Manman wanted to give Fu Chengjin a cold so he wouldn’t be able to return to the palace.

As she was about to pour the water into the tub, she slipped and the bucket flew out, landing right on Fu Chengjin’s neck, fracturing it. Time passed day by day. Meanwhile, the real Princess of Xilin, A Li Ya, encountered danger during her escape and hit her head on a rock, resulting in amnesia. Coincidentally, Qiao Manman’s older brother, Ji Mo, passed by.

Seeing A Li Ya dressed as a man, he assumed he’d found a wounded fellow countryman and carried her home. With A Li Ya suffering from amnesia and Qiao Manman having snuck her way into the Prince’s residence as the Princess Consort, their uncle didn’t want complications. He tricked A Li Ya into believing this was her home, and that Ji Mo was her husband.

He told her that she had tried to drown herself due to constant quarrels, hit her head, and lost her memory. A Li Ya believed him and began treating Ji Mo as her husband.

Qiao Manman felt that staying long in the Prince’s residence wasn’t in her favor. If her identity were ever exposed, the consequences would be unimaginable. But how could she leave with the tight security? She and Chuntao carefully considered it and decided to look for a dog hole in the residence, which could serve as a secret escape route if necessary. While she was anxiously searching for one, she happened to run into the Second Prince, Fu Yunnuo.

He was graceful and handsome, and most importantly, physically fit. Taken by surprise, Qiao Manman greeted him politely and quickly tried to leave. In her haste, she dropped her carefully hidden money pouch, which Fu Yunnuo picked up. As Qiao Manman hurried to retrieve it, another hidden pouch fell out from her clothes. It was extremely awkward—what Princess Consort would be wandering around the estate with two heavy money pouches?

Embarrassed, Qiao Manman reached for the pouch in Fu Yunnuo’s hand, but he, curious, asked why she was carrying such heavy money. The two ended up in a tug-of-war, just as Fu Chengjin happened to pass by and saw them. Ordinary husbands would get jealous at such a sight, but Fu Chengjin was already planning to leave the palace and wanted to find a good match for Qiao Manman before that happened.

Fu Yunnuo, being noble, talented, and attractive, seemed like the perfect candidate. So Fu Chengjin began scheming to create opportunities for the two. First, he sweet-talked Qiao Manman into letting him do her makeup personally and prepared a fine outfit for her, saying he wanted to take her to meet a guest. It was her first time being made up by a man, which felt strange.

After she was dressed up, Fu Chengjin brought her to meet Fu Yunnuo and formally introduced them, praising Fu Yunnuo for being handsome and outstanding. After that meeting, Fu Chengjin organized a gathering and invited Fu Yunnuo to join. He even asked him to help fly a kite. It was obviously strange for a man in a wheelchair to fly a kite, and awkward to ask his younger brother for help. But Fu Yunnuo seemed to have other motives.

Though he didn’t understand why Fu Chengjin was constantly bringing him closer to his sister-in-law, Fu Yunnuo wanted to ask Qiao Manman whether Fu Chengjin’s leg could be cured. He had heard that foreign princesses were skilled in medicine and wondered if one might be able to heal Fu Chengjin soon.

Fu Yunnuo didn’t know that Qiao Manman was an impostor, and Qiao Manman had no knowledge of Fu Chengjin’s condition, so she tried to find a chance to slip away. The kite had only been flying briefly when the string broke. Fu Chengjin then suggested she learn archery from Fu Yunnuo. Fu Yunnuo took off a jade pendant from his waist and shot it in mid-air with a bow, shattering it.

Seeing the pattern on the jade pendant, Qiao Manman was stunned. Her late mother had left her a brocade box with the same pattern. Could there be a connection? Just then, a wooden rack collapsed and nearly hit Fu Chengjin. Qiao Manman immediately shielded him with her body. After risking her safety twice to protect him, Fu Chengjin was deeply moved and immediately approved her request for free access in and out of the residence.

With his permission, Qiao Manman could finally return to Wanshifang to manage her business, and she was overjoyed. When she returned home, she saw the amnesiac A Li Ya no longer recognized her. Qiao Manman was anxious—things were changing faster than expected. Her brother Ji Mo also worried about what the future might bring.

Qiao Manman wanted to open the brocade box her mother left her as soon as possible and needed to visit Fu Yunnuo’s residence to ask about the design. Fu Yunnuo candidly said it was designed by his mother, and he had seen the pattern since childhood. News of Qiao Manman’s visit to Fu Yunnuo’s residence quickly reached the Imperial Consort. She had always been wary of Fu Chengjin.

Hearing that he had just married, she became curious about the Princess she had never met and ordered her attendants to summon Qiao Manman. When Fu Chengjin heard that the Imperial Consort wanted to see Qiao Manman, he knew she was scheming and that the innocent Qiao Manman might not be able to handle her. To be safe, he rushed over as well.

The Imperial Consort, upon meeting Qiao Manman, immediately claimed her head ailment had flared up and asked Qiao Manman to treat her. Qiao Manman panicked—she wasn’t skilled in medicine at all. But she had to avoid revealing her lack of knowledge. She braced herself, massaged the Imperial Consort’s temples and shoulders, and made up a name for an acupuncture point. The Imperial Consort had meant to make things difficult from the start and now demanded Qiao Manman help regulate her health, warning of severe punishment if she failed.

Qiao Manman was startled when she heard the command from the Imperial Consort, but Fu Chengjin remained calm and even claimed that Qiao Manman’s medical skills were beyond doubt, saying that in three days, she would be able to cure the Consort’s chronic headaches. Fu Chengjin began to question the Baihui acupoint that Qiao Manman had just mentioned. After returning to the prince's residence, he deliberately asked her where the Baihui point was. Qiao Manman looked flustered.

When Fu Chengjin said it was located at the top of the head, and she had told the Consort it was at the back of the neck, she quickly claimed that she had meant a different homophonous point. After Qiao Manman left, Fu Chengjin carefully looked through medical books and confirmed that the Baihui point was indeed at the top of the head. He found this suspicious and immediately asked his subordinate Jiutian to help with some tasks.

Soon after, Fu Chengjin invited Qiao Manman for tea and asked which plants were most commonly found in Xilin. Qiao Manman’s mind was in turmoil—she had no idea what her “country” was known for. Thinking on her feet, she blurted out the name of a plant she didn’t even know herself, barely covering up the matter for now. A Li Ya's body gradually recovered, but her memory had yet to return.

Still thinking she was Ji Mo’s wife, she began earnestly acting the part. Seeing her “husband” writing every day, she enthusiastically volunteered to become his promoter, saying she would spread his words through storytelling. Qiao Manman had a lingering worry in her heart—she wasn’t a real doctor, so how could she treat the Imperial Consort’s headaches? The anxiety even followed her into her dreams.

One night, she dreamed of the Imperial Consort furiously accusing her of deceiving royalty, terrifying her so much she couldn’t sleep all night. To ease her worries, she unconsciously went outside to clear her head. At this time, Fu Chengjin had already discovered that Qiao Manman was not the real A Li Ya. But as for who she truly was, he still didn’t know. Nonetheless, he didn’t want to act rashly—after all, his legs weren’t really disabled.

If Qiao Manman was willing to cooperate with his plan, her true identity didn’t matter. Fu Chengjin met the troubled Qiao Manman in the courtyard but did not expose her secret. Instead, he subtly hinted that if the Imperial Consort was also faking her illness, then using poison to counter poison might work. Qiao Manman took the hint, and her mind lit up—she finally figured out how to handle the Consort.

In great spirits, she noticed countless fireflies twinkling around the courtyard. Delighted, she started catching them and made little lanterns. The evening breeze was cool and gentle. Fu Chengjin watched Qiao Manman joyfully catching fireflies, and found her utterly charming. Since the death of his mother, there hadn’t been another woman by his side as lively and clever as Qiao Manman. Fu Chengjin felt something stir in his heart.

That night, lying alone in bed, he couldn’t help but recall every moment he had seen her over the past few days. He began to find her quite intriguing. On the day they were to treat the Imperial Consort, Fu Chengjin accompanied Qiao Manman to the Consort’s residence. As expected, Qiao Manman had tricks up her sleeve. She began treatment with a high-temperature herbal bath. The Imperial Consort couldn’t bear it, so Qiao Manman switched to large acupuncture needles.

Seeing the huge silver needles, the Consort’s scalp tingled in fear and she immediately claimed that her illness was completely cured, saying there was no need for further treatment. To thank Fu Chengjin, Qiao Manman began paying attention to his dietary preferences. She even went out of her way to ask the maidservants for advice and carefully noted all the foods Fu Chengjin enjoyed.

Fu Chengjin invited her to fly kites together once again. This time, Qiao Manman was overjoyed when she heard about it and started preparing early. Last time, Fu Yunnuo had noticed her interest in the patterns on the kite and gifted her another one. Qiao Manman happily accepted the kite and couldn’t wait to find out the secret behind the cloud patterns. When Fu Chengjin saw Qiao Manman and Fu Yunnuo chatting happily together, he couldn’t help but feel jealous.

He deliberately had Jiutian push his wheelchair over to interrupt their conversation. Qiao Manman was listening intently to Fu Yunnuo explaining the origin of the cloud patterns, but Fu Chengjin kept cutting them off, which made Qiao Manman very annoyed. She even took the initiative to suggest flying kites with Fu Yunnuo, wanting to ask again about the cloud patterns in the process. Meanwhile, Ji Mo also took A Li Ya out for a walk.

This was their first outing together, walking through lush fields. Ji Mo used to faint whenever he got close to women, but this time he felt at ease. Even when A Li Ya took his hand, he didn’t react. As they talked while walking, A Li Ya suddenly spotted Qiao Manman in the distance and excitedly greeted her. The maid beside her couldn’t help calling out “Princess. ” Qiao Manman was extremely nervous, realizing she was about to be exposed.

She immediately gave Chun Tao a look to be cautious and insisted the other party had mistaken her for someone else. Fu Chengjin already suspected Qiao Manman’s identity was false. Seeing Chun Tao’s expression and recalling the portrait of the princess he had seen before, he realized the woman in the distance was the real princess. That evening, Qiao Manman, Fu Chengjin, and Fu Yunnuo had a picnic together.

Around the roaring bonfire, each of them had something on their mind. Qiao Manman seized every opportunity to get closer to Fu Yunnuo and subtly asked about the cloud patterns. Suddenly, they saw a shooting star. Qiao Manman had never seen a moving star before and couldn’t help but cheer. Fu Chengjin, who had been jealous all along, deliberately said, “It’s just a star, what’s so special about that?

” His words irritated Qiao Manman, and she snapped back that even the smallest star could shine and light up the night sky. Fu Yunnuo was surprised by her words. When he was young, he had a very good friend—a girl who once told him something similar: though she was small and insignificant now, one day when he became strong, many would admire him, and no one would dare to bully him anymore.

Later, when Qiao Manman noticed that Fu Yunnuo’s hand was injured, she personally helped bandage it. The serious look on her face while bandaging felt incredibly familiar to Fu Yunnuo. Then the butterfly knot she tied shocked him even more—he was now certain she was the very same childhood friend he had been searching for all these years. It turned out she had been right by his side. Fu Yunnuo was almost moved to tears.

The girl he had feelings for was actually the princess of Xilin—how unbelievable. Since learning that the woman he loved was the princess, Fu Yunnuo wrote a letter inviting Qiao Manman to visit the night market. Qiao Manman, already curious about the cloud pattern secret, wanted to please Fu Yunnuo and asked Chun Tao about what kind of things men liked. Chun Tao earnestly suggested the Ju Yi Pavilion, where many beautiful women gathered.

So Qiao Manman dressed as a man and took Fu Yunnuo to visit the Ju Yi Pavilion. Fu Chengjin learned from his subordinates that Qiao Manman was going to meet Fu Yunnuo and couldn’t help but follow them. Seeing the two of them getting along so well was unbearable. The next day, when Fu Yunnuo again had his men deliver many gifts to Qiao Manman, Fu Chengjin immediately stood at the door to refuse them.

But Qiao Manman showed no regard for him and carried away a whole box of gifts. Feeling a strong sense of crisis, Fu Chengjin immediately had someone send a message to Fu Yunnuo: from now on, if he needed anything, he could come to him directly—there was no need to send gifts to Qiao Manman anymore.

Ever since A Li Ya found out that the girls at the private academy often bullied Ji Mo, she took the initiative to become a teaching assistant there to help ease her husband’s troubles. She maintained classroom discipline and publicly laid down three strict rules. Anyone who defied them would be dealt with using silver needles.

The pampered girls, upon seeing the long silver needles, immediately behaved and moved their desks far from the lectern, no longer daring to act out. The Imperial Consort favored Fu Yunnuo and never wanted Fu Chengjin to have things easy. When she saw that the princess of Xilin was treating him, fearing his leg condition might actually be cured, she immediately whispered into the emperor’s ear.

The next day, Fu Chengjin was summoned to the palace, where a female doctor named Bilian was assigned to publicly perform acupuncture on him. This detestable Bilian deliberately chose the most painful acupuncture points and twisted the needles harshly in his flesh. Fu Chengjin trembled from the pain. The emperor, thinking Bilian’s medical skills were impressive, agreed to let her stay at the prince’s residence, providing treatment with daily acupuncture and medicinal meals three times a day.

Fu Chengjin returned to the residence, suspecting this was yet another scheme by the Imperial Consort. It was clear he needed to speed up his escape plan—but what about Qiao Manman? He still hesitated. Suddenly, he heard that Bilian had already moved in with her luggage, and Qiao Manman had even gone to greet her. Worried the two women might clash, Fu Chengjin had his men push his wheelchair over. He deliberately greeted Bilian warmly in front of Qiao Manman.

Enraged, Qiao Manman turned on her heel and left. Seeing her storm off, Fu Chengjin dropped the act and left coldly himself, not bothering to use Bilian’s services at all. When Fu Yunnuo heard that the Imperial Consort had planted Bilian in Fu Chengjin’s residence, he immediately understood her intentions. He specifically instructed his people to remind Bilian not to trouble Qiao Manman. From then on, he would often drop by the prince’s residence to chat with Qiao Manman.

She always welcomed him warmly and was thrilled whenever he brought something related to the cloud patterns. Seeing the look on Qiao Manman’s face, Fu Chengjin burned with jealousy and once again reminded Fu Yunnuo that if he had something to discuss, he could come to him directly. Ji Mo’s students admired his talent and always looked for ways to get close to him. A Li Ya noticed this and showed no intention of backing down.

She secretly challenged them, and in the end, those students behaved themselves and no longer dared to pursue their teacher. One day, Qiao Manman witnessed A Li Ya treating a dislocated joint. A Li Ya deliberately distracted the patient and then forcefully set the bone with a twist. The patient was soon walking as lightly as a swallow. Impressed, Qiao Manman couldn’t help but start learning.

Back at the residence, she tried it on Fu Chengjin—but instead of helping, she made him fall to the ground. Qiao Manman was not someone who gave up easily. Knowing A Li Ya’s medical skills were exceptional, she immediately went to Ji Mo’s house to study. When Qiao Manman called her “sister-in-law,” A Li Ya was overjoyed and taught her everything she knew. The two studied together through the entire night. Fu Chengjin searched everywhere for Qiao Manman.

When he asked Chun Tao, even she didn’t know where the princess had gone—she hadn’t returned all night! Fu Chengjin was furious and immediately instructed the maids that once the princess returned, she was to be confined without food or water. Just then, he was informed that Qiao Manman had gone to consult A Li Ya about how to treat his leg. Fu Chengjin was overwhelmed with emotion—she had stayed up all night studying for his sake.

Touched, he quickly ordered the kitchen to prepare several extra dishes for her. A Li Ya suddenly felt it would be a shame to waste her medical skills, so she set up a clinic at Wan Shi Fang. In just two days, a long line of patients formed at the door. Qiao Manman’s father began helping with collecting fees and preparing prescriptions, counting money until his hands were sore each day.

Having learned some medical skills from A Li Ya, Qiao Manman returned to the prince’s residence and immediately began testing them on Fu Chengjin. With acupuncture and herbal decoctions, she put him through a lot. Yet Fu Chengjin was moved by Qiao Manman’s tireless efforts. Aside from his mother, no one had ever cared so deeply for him or been so willing to work so hard on his behalf.

During the day, Fu Chengjin had just announced that Qiao Manman would be confined, but by night, knowing that she planned to visit Wan Shi Fang to consult A Li Ya, he deliberately allowed her to leave the residence. Jiu Feng was worried that Qiao Manman might be in danger at Wan Shi Fang, but Fu Chengjin reassured him not to worry.

He had visited Qiao Manman’s older brother there over the past few days and found them to be honest and sincere people, with nothing suspicious about them. In addition to treating patients during the day, A Li Ya would also perform acupuncture on herself at night, hoping the method would help her regain her memory.

Ji Mo was alarmed when he saw A Li Ya with her head full of silver needles and quickly asked how she felt and whether she had remembered anything. But A Li Ya still had no recollection—she only mentioned that the storybooks in front of her felt oddly familiar, as if she had read them many times before.

Ji Mo thought this made perfect sense—the storybooks had always been placed in Wan Shi Fang, and since A Li Ya came and went there daily, how could she not have seen them? Qiao Manman had never shown interest in medicine before, but lately she had become fascinated with medical texts and couldn’t put them down, studying treatments for leg disorders every day.

She had just discovered a method called gua sha and was diligently practicing it, even finding a proper bed to perform the technique. Seeing how Qiao Manman was busy every day for his sake, Fu Chengjin no longer sought out Fu Yunnuo and began to enjoy the attention. However, when Qiao Manman treated him, he winced in pain. Although his legs had no real issues, he pretended to have no sensation at all.

Qiao Manman, unaware of the truth, believed her skills were still lacking. That evening, Bilian dined together with Qiao Manman and Fu Chengjin. Thinking about how Fu Yunnuo and Qiao Manman usually got along so well, Fu Chengjin decided to let her have a taste of jealousy. He attentively offered food to Bilian, pretending to be very considerate. Not to be outdone, Qiao Manman quickly served food to Jiu Feng and the maids.

Bilian already had a lovely appearance, and her affectionate expressions only made Qiao Manman more displeased. She put down her chopsticks with a protesting glance and left the table. Fu Yunnuo wasn’t idle either. Upon hearing that Qiao Manman frequently visited Wan Shi Fang at night to seek advice from a physician, he grew curious and planned to investigate personally.

But A Li Ya diagnosed that the visitor had no illness, and when she heard that he was interested in matters concerning her and Qiao Manman, she became wary and promptly showed him the door. Bilian had come with a mission, but Fu Chengjin seemed uninterested in her. She secretly added an aphrodisiac to his herbal tonic. At that moment, Qiao Manman also arrived with medicinal cuisine.

When Fu Chengjin saw that Qiao Manman was again urging him to drink six bowls of herbal medicine, he quickly claimed that Bilian had already given him his dose and warned against mixing remedies. Qiao Manman directly drank the medicine Bilian had brought. As the effects kicked in, she became flushed and restless. With a beautiful woman at his side, Qiao Manman lost some self-control. Fortunately, Fu Chengjin was a gentleman and gently pushed her away, letting her rest alone. In her daze, Qiao Manman murmured her real name: "Manman."

When Fu Chengjin saw Qiao Manman’s condition, he carefully sniffed the medicine bowl and immediately realized he had been drugged. Bilian’s true identity was exposed, and in fear, she tried to flee during the night. The spy Fu Yunnuo had placed by Fu Chengjin’s side immediately delivered the news. It was clear that Bilian could no longer stay in the prince’s residence. Fu Yunnuo stood by watching coldly, ready to enjoy the drama.

The next day, Fu Chengjin took Qiao Manman to the palace to see the Emperor and reported that Bilian had drugged his medicine. Knowing she was in the wrong, Bilian hurried to offer atonement by claiming that, based on her recent observations in the residence, the princess consort was not a true physician—she couldn’t even grasp basic medicinal cooking proportions. Bilian’s words sent a chill down Qiao Manman’s spine.

Indeed, she was a fraud to begin with, how could she possibly distinguish the properties of medicinal herbs? The Emperor was shocked and immediately summoned the imperial physician to verify the claim. Fu Chengjin was also extremely nervous but tried to remain composed, urging the Emperor to consider carefully. He reported that he spent every day with Qiao Manman and could vouch for her knowledge of acupuncture and medicine.

However, the imperial consort pressed aggressively, insisting the imperial physician test her with a few medical problems. The imperial physician arrived at the main hall and brought in several patients, instructing Qiao Manman to take their pulses and diagnose their illnesses, followed by prescribing treatment. Qiao Manman acted the part, and with her sharp mind and keen observations, she actually managed to correctly identify each person’s condition. The consort was still not satisfied and wanted to continue testing her.

When Fu Yunnuo heard that his mother was giving Qiao Manman a hard time, he rushed over and, in front of the Emperor, stated that Qiao Manman’s medical skills were exceptional and that she had once cured the consort’s chronic headaches. With Fu Yunnuo’s support, the consort dropped the matter. The Emperor was curious about what method Qiao Manman had used to cure the consort’s headaches. Qiao Manman stammered, giving a vague and mystical explanation.

The nearby imperial physician, fascinated, couldn’t help but ask, “Could it have been Zhu You Shu? ” Qiao Manman had no idea what Zhu You Shu was, but given the urgent situation, she had no choice but to play along and quickly nodded, confirming it was indeed Zhu You Shu. The Emperor remained skeptical, but since Qiao Manman apparently even understood such mystical healing techniques, he immediately ordered that she be given half a month.

If Fu Chengjin still couldn’t walk by then, she would be severely punished. Fu Chengjin, standing to the side, broke into a cold sweat. Thankfully, the Emperor had given Qiao Manman a chance. As long as he could walk by then, everything would be fine. But the guard Jiu Feng believed it was dangerous for Fu Chengjin.

They had gone to great lengths to maintain this deception for years, intending to stay safe, but unexpectedly, it seemed he had fallen under the spell of a woman. Qiao Manman, unwilling to be punished by the Emperor, hurried to Wan Shi Zhai to consult her uncle about what Zhu You Shu actually was. Her uncle explained the folklore surrounding it—how it was mysterious, formless, without any clear rules, and not even a proper lineage to follow.

Qiao Manman became even more disheartened. How could she possibly master such an elusive method, let alone use it to heal Fu Chengjin’s legs? Her uncle encouraged her to have confidence. As the saying goes, “Where there’s a will, there’s a way. ” As long as she was willing to try, there was still a chance. Qiao Manman had no choice but to steel herself for the challenge.

Every day, she repeated hypnotic suggestions and psychological affirmations to Fu Chengjin, again and again, never giving up. Fu Chengjin saw all this. Qiao Manman was so exhausted that she eventually fell asleep slumped over a chair. Fu Chengjin gently woke her and told her to go back and rest. He then asked, if he were to spend the rest of his life in a wheelchair, would she stay with him? Fu Chengjin’s gaze moved Qiao Manman deeply.

His complete trust made her blush. Qiao Manman solemnly assured him that she would definitely cure his legs. After that, she continued to study treatments for leg disorders.

In the kitchen, Jiufeng was roasting sweet potatoes for Chuntao. After being busy for so many days, the two finally had some leisure time. Jiufeng offered the roasted sweet potatoes to Chuntao first to try. Their masters' relationship was growing deeper, and even the servants were benefiting from it. Qiao Manman was still anxious about what to do if she couldn’t cure Fu Chengjin’s leg.

Chuntao suggested having A Li Ya check his pulse and diagnose him, since A Li Ya was a renowned physician from their homeland. Qiao Manman felt the maid had a point. Her own limited medical knowledge was hardly enough to succeed, so she first went to Wanshifang to sound out her uncle. After gaining his approval, Qiao Manman planned to convince Fu Chengjin to listen to her. Fu Chengjin saw how Qiao Manman worried about his leg day after day.

When he heard that she was trying to invite a famed physician for him, he couldn’t bring himself to refuse. At Wanshifang, Qiao Manman’s uncle, Ji Mo, and A Li Ya were all busy cleaning the room in preparation for the distinguished guest’s arrival. As the appointed time approached, her uncle and Ji Mo grew increasingly nervous, their legs trembling uncontrollably. By dusk, as night fell, Qiao Manman brought Fu Chengjin to Wanshifang for treatment.

When her uncle opened the door, he deliberately addressed Qiao Manman as “Princess,” clearly a prearranged act. A Li Ya carefully diagnosed Fu Chengjin and found his meridians were clear and unobstructed, yet he still couldn’t walk. She suggested Qiao Manman prepare more lotus plumules, as the sprouts from lotus seeds could serve as an excellent medicinal primer.

A Li Ya only intended for the lotus seeds to help calm the mind and ease desire, but to Qiao Manman, it was like grasping at a life-saving straw. She began scouring the area every day for fresh autumn lotus seeds, rising early and returning late, never once slacking. Fu Yunnuo asked his men about Qiao Manman’s recent activities. When he heard she had been busy picking lotus pods, he ordered his men to assist in the search.

Once he received word, he invited Qiao Manman to a lotus pond he had recently discovered. The lotus leaves were lush and green, glistening with water droplets, and the scenery was picturesque. Qiao Manman marveled at nature’s beauty while anxiously picking the fresh lotus pods. Fu Yunnuo, intoxicated by the sight of the beauty beside him and the refreshing fragrance of lotus flowers all around, felt completely content—wishing time would freeze in that moment.

As they finished picking the lotus pods, it began to rain. Fu Yunnuo quickly used his own robe to shield Qiao Manman from the wind and rain, worried she would get wet. The imperial consort heard that Fu Yunnuo had personally shielded Qiao Manman from the rain with his own clothing and was somewhat displeased. She felt that Qiao Manman was overstepping, becoming too close with her brother-in-law.

However, remembering that the Emperor would soon inspect Qiao Manman’s treatment results, she decided to endure it for now. Ji Mo’s private school was holding an event. Summoning great courage, he invited A Li Ya to accompany him. Although A Li Ya agreed with a seemingly annoyed expression, she was secretly overjoyed. She had always seen Ji Mo as a bookworm, but now he finally seemed to be showing some initiative.

Ji Mo took A Li Ya out for a stroll to relax. When they saw other women dancing gracefully, A Li Ya couldn’t help but be tempted. She began to move to the rhythm of the music, her dance uniquely distinct from anything in Luzhaozhao Kingdom. Many young women clapped in admiration and asked to be her disciples. Ji Mo was left stunned, recalling everything about A Li Ya.

The more he thought about it, the more terrified he became—he had been spending every day with someone who turned out to be a foreign princess. If this got out, it could cost him his head. Panicked and disoriented, Ji Mo immediately rushed home to ask his uncle. The truth couldn’t be hidden forever, and his uncle had no choice but to reveal A Li Ya’s true identity. Ji Mo became even more anxious.

He had developed feelings for A Li Ya, but now that their identities were so vastly different, he feared they could never be together. Qiao Manman had tried for several days but still couldn’t cure Fu Chengjin’s leg. In despair, she returned to Wanshitang and warned her uncle to quickly pack up their valuables—it seemed they would need to flee soon. One of the spies A Li Ya had sent had been monitoring Qiao Manman.

After overhearing the conversation between her and her uncle, the spy finally realized that Qiao Manman was not truly a princess from the Xilin Kingdom. When the news reached Fu Yunnuo, he couldn’t contain his joy. If Qiao Manman’s false identity was exposed, perhaps he would have a chance to be with her. The imperial consort, having failed to bring down Fu Chengjin, continued to scheme.

When a prison guard reported to the emperor that the imperial physician Bilian had mysteriously died in jail—possibly poisoned—the consort immediately seized the opportunity to fan the flames. The emperor summoned Qiao Manman to the palace, determined to get to the bottom of it. When Qiao Manman heard she was to enter the palace, she understood that her end was near.

She asked her maid where Fu Chengjin was, but the maid said she hadn’t seen him in several days—not even Jiufeng. Qiao Manman cried inwardly—Fu Chengjin was truly heartless, not even coming to see her one last time. Upon hearing that Fu Chengjin’s leg still hadn’t healed, the emperor flew into a rage and ordered Qiao Manman to be executed. “When the ruler wants the minister dead, the minister must die.

” Qiao Manman was about to submit herself to punishment when a familiar voice rang out—it was Fu Chengjin! The door slowly opened, and the handsome and elegant Fu Chengjin strode in with strong, steady steps. Qiao Manman was dumbfounded and awestruck by the charisma Fu Chengjin exuded—was this dashing, swift-walking man really Prince Fu Chengjin? The death sentence was immediately revoked. Not only that, Fu Chengjin even spoke on Qiao Manman’s behalf in front of his father.

As the emperor had always doted on Fu Chengjin, his only regret had been that his son was confined to a wheelchair. Now, seeing him stand and walk like a normal person, the emperor was overjoyed. Loving his son, he extended his favor to Qiao Manman and no longer found fault with her. Grateful to Fu Chengjin, Qiao Manman wanted to give him a gift.

Thinking he had just recovered from a long illness and might be tired, she carefully crafted a cane for him using quality wood. But the cane turned out too short and didn’t fit well. So, she came up with another idea: she stayed up all night embroidering a handkerchief for him. It was her first time ever using an embroidery needle. Though it was difficult, she completed it and excitedly brought it to Fu Chengjin early the next morning.

But Fu Chengjin, completely lacking tact, commented that she had embroidered two ugly ducks, wounding Qiao Manman’s pride. Jiutian told Fu Chengjin that Qiao Manman had spent an entire day and night making that gift. Feeling a bit ashamed, Fu Chengjin personally prepared a candlelight dinner to apologize and entertain her. Given that Fu Chengjin had once saved her life, and now seeing her savior take the initiative to host and make amends, Qiao Manman couldn’t help but feel delighted once again.

Under the bright moonlight, Qiao Manman and Fu Chengjin sat facing each other. After a few cups of wine, their moods lightened. Bathed in the cool evening breeze, Fu Chengjin stood up and took Qiao Manman's small hand, gracefully leading her into a dance. He had always seemed cold and distant, but now appeared rather romantic.

However, Qiao Manman had drunk a bit too much, and just as Fu Chengjin was about to confess his feelings, she suddenly felt nauseous, bringing the romantic atmosphere to an abrupt halt. In the end, Fu Chengjin carried Qiao Manman back to her quarters. Dazed and half-asleep on the bed, Qiao Manman lamented how hard it was to pretend to be a princess, living in constant fear of execution. Fu Chengjin couldn’t help but chuckle.

He had indeed noticed how exhausted Qiao Manman had been lately. In his heart, he silently vowed to take good care of her and never let her face any danger. At daybreak, Qiao Manman slowly woke up. Recalling her drunken words from the previous night, she feared she might have revealed her true identity. She couldn't be sure, but was definitely worried. Fu Chengjin brought in a variety of pastries to help her sober up.

As Qiao Manman picked up a piece of osmanthus cake and praised its taste, Fu Chengjin suddenly asked if she could taste the "fragrant flavor. " That instantly reminded her—hadn’t she drunkenly said he smelled like osmanthus last night? The embarrassment was overwhelming. Later, Qiao Manman was chatting with Chun Tao in the corridor. Chun Tao could tell Fu Chengjin truly cared about Qiao Manman and even advised her to come clean about her impersonation.

Perhaps Fu Chengjin would protect her. Qiao Manman was anxious; she wasn’t sure if Fu Chengjin could really forgive her. Just then, a crumpled piece of paper flew toward her. Qiao Manman opened it to find an invitation to meet. Thinking it had to do with the Yunwen pattern, she excitedly left the prince's residence, with Chun Tao close behind. At the gate, they were suddenly ambushed—several strong men and a coachman abducted Qiao Manman.

Chun Tao rushed back to report to Fu Chengjin, who immediately set out with Jiufeng and his capable men. A group of thugs held swords to Qiao Manman, preparing to kill her to silence her. Qiao Manman hurriedly explained that she wasn’t a real princess, just an imposter. But the thugs didn’t care—even an impostor had to die. Just then, Fu Chengjin and Jiufeng arrived in time, followed closely by Fu Yunnuo. Fu Yunnuo eliminated all the attackers.

Jiutian asked why no one had been left alive—without a witness, they couldn’t trace the mastermind. Fu Yunnuo gave no response. Fu Chengjin had already guessed the truth—it seemed this murder attempt was connected to someone in the palace. That night, Fu Yunnuo went to see the Imperial Consort, confronting her about the kidnapping of Qiao Manman. She claimed it was because she disliked Qiao Manman and feared losing influence if Qiao Manman bore an imperial grandchild.

Fu Yunnuo sternly warned her to never target Qiao Manman again—or he would show no mercy. The emperor's birthday celebration was approaching, and this year he appointed Fu Chengjin and Qiao Manman to handle it. The Imperial Consort, unwilling to let Fu Chengjin gain more favor, insisted on including Fu Yunnuo.

Qiao Manman felt overwhelmed by the responsibility, but Fu Chengjin reassured her that the Ministry of Rites would assist and that every year's birthday celebration had gone smoothly, if not spectacularly. Fu Yunnuo invited Qiao Manman to the theater, where a play he had commissioned told the childhood story between him and Qiao Manman. As she watched, Qiao Manman felt a sense of familiarity—especially when the little boy praised the girl’s bandaging skills. That was clearly her own experience.

Fearing Fu Yunnuo had uncovered her identity, Qiao Manman pretended to be clueless, claiming she had never left the Western Lin Kingdom. Fu Yunnuo comforted her, saying she need not worry. He had intentionally stayed silent in front of the emperor before, and he wouldn’t reveal her identity now—he would protect her no matter what. Qiao Manman was deeply moved by his words. Since they had known each other since childhood, she treated him as one of her own.

She even retrieved her treasured brocade box and gave it to Fu Yunnuo. The cloud pattern on the box was similar to the decoration on a kite he once made. She asked him to help open it. Fu Yunnuo gladly agreed and promised to find a way to help her leave the prince’s residence safely.

Back at the residence, Qiao Manman recalled how, on the day she was abducted, Fu Yunnuo had quietly told her that curing Fu Chengjin’s leg had brought danger upon her—and that leaving would be for Fu Chengjin’s own good. That thought haunted her. She had developed feelings for Fu Chengjin and didn’t want him to get hurt. Qiao Manman decided to meet Fu Chengjin and, after much deliberation, proposed a separation.

This way, she could hide her impersonation and make Fu Chengjin resent her, thus cutting off any emotional ties. When she brought it up, Fu Chengjin was shocked. He had thought Qiao Manman would be his lifelong confidante, his partner until old age. But now she was asking for a separation. Once she confirmed her decision again, Fu Chengjin was heartbroken and reluctantly agreed to raise the matter with the emperor after the birthday celebration.

In the following days, Fu Chengjin was consumed by the pain of abandonment. Jiutian was puzzled by Qiao Manman’s sudden proposal. But women’s hearts were hard to fathom—he simply couldn’t figure her out. On Qiao Manman’s side, she was equally heartbroken. Her feelings for Fu Chengjin ran deep—how could it not hurt to leave someone she loved so much? But since Fu Chengjin had coldly agreed, she believed he would follow through.

Her departure from the residence was now a matter of time. The emperor had appointed both Fu Chengjin and Fu Yunnuo to organize the birthday celebration. So, all details required joint discussion. Qiao Manman tried her best to perfect every detail. When she submitted the plan to the Imperial Consort, the latter rejected several parts. It was an awkward scene. Fu Chengjin firmly supported Qiao Manman’s proposals, saying they had been carefully prepared and discussed with him.

Even Fu Yunnuo backed the plan, adding that some suggestions had been his. The Imperial Consort, who had always favored Fu Yunnuo, relented upon hearing this and extended the planning deadline by ten days. In recent days, Qiao Manman deliberately avoided Fu Chengjin whenever she saw him approaching. Sometimes, Fu Chengjin would stop her to chat and ask why she was distancing herself. Qiao Manman stammered, unwilling to tell the truth—that she was leaving to protect him.

Fu Yunnuo also sought chances to meet with Qiao Manman again, asking if she had made up her mind to leave with him after the birthday celebration. He reminded her that she had promised in childhood to become his wife and asked if she had forgotten. Qiao Manman awkwardly replied that it was merely a childish joke, and now their identities were too different—such promises were no longer appropriate.

That day, Qiao Manman and Fu Chengjin went to the palace to report the birthday celebration procedures and planning to the Emperor. Fu Chengjin gently reassured Qiao Manman not to worry, saying he would always be there. Qiao Manman only hoped to help Fu Chengjin with this final task and to do it perfectly. The Emperor was very satisfied with Qiao Manman's arrangements. Only Fu Chengjin seemed somewhat concerned.

Qiao Manman noticed his expression and, after returning, examined the celebration venue carefully. She found that the Imperial Garden was long and narrow, with dense trees at both ends, which posed a safety concern. However, the location had already been confirmed with the Emperor, and changing it now would seem rushed. Fu Chengjin advised Qiao Manman not to change the venue and said he would simply strengthen the security measures on the day.

These days, Qiao Manman was busy setting up the venue and was so nervous she hardly had time to eat. Fu Chengjin often brought food in a brocade box to her, and his thoughtful actions moved Qiao Manman deeply. Meanwhile, Gui Hu resumed his secret assassination mission. As Fu Yunnuo’s subordinate, he was eager to eliminate rivals for his master.

Fu Yunnuo sensed Gui Hu's plan and warned him not to act recklessly—he now had someone he desperately wanted to protect and didn’t want any more trouble. Upon hearing Fu Yunnuo’s decision, Gui Hu immediately called off the operation. Qiao Manman brought the Emperor to inspect the site setup. The Emperor praised every detail. Suddenly, the Imperial Consort appeared flustered and ordered her attendants to keep quiet, deliberately drawing the Emperor's attention and leading him to two guards.

One of the palace attendants knelt trembling, claiming that Qiao Manman had just given him a brocade box, and inside it was a human figurine used to curse the Emperor. The Emperor was furious and glared at Qiao Manman. Fu Chengjin immediately pulled Qiao Manman behind him and questioned the guards. He asked when Qiao Manman gave the brocade box and why, if it was sealed, the attendant knew what was inside without opening it.

As it was all fabricated, Fu Chengjin's detailed questioning made the framing guards flustered. The fabric on the puppet was unique to the Xilin Kingdom, and the Emperor had distributed such fine fabric only to the harem, never to Fu Chengjin’s residence. The Imperial Consort panicked. Fu Yunnuo quickly pointed out that there had been thieves in the palace recently and that the Imperial Consort had just lost a roll of fabric. The foolish consort kept agreeing.

It was clear to anyone with sense who was behind the incident. Feelings between Jiufeng and Yue Tao were heating up. Although Jiufeng was usually just a guard with a blade, he spoke of romance with poetic elegance and even composed love poems, reciting them tenderly to Yue Tao. Qiao Manman was curious about what had happened between the Emperor and the Empress that caused her to remain hidden in the palace. Jiufeng initially hesitated to speak, but upon hearing Qiao Manman wanted to introduce a suitor to Yue Tao, he immediately told her everything he knew.

Ever since Ji Mo learned that A Li Ya was a princess from the Xilin Kingdom, he deliberately kept his distance. But A Li Ya remained clueless, thinking Ji Mo’s phobia of women hadn’t been cured and did everything she could to help him. Qiao Manman wanted to use the birthday celebration to reunite Fu Chengjin with his mother. After finding out where the Empress lived, she made her way through layers of palace gates into the deep palace.

The courtyard was sparsely populated. Qiao Manman searched several areas before finally seeing a woman planting vegetables. Thinking she was a maid, Qiao Manman asked her where the Empress was. The woman stood up at the sound and asked who Qiao Manman was. Qiao Manman introduced herself, and upon hearing she was Princess Jing, the woman became visibly emotional. Qiao Manman noticed her graceful demeanor and noble bearing and assumed she must be the Empress.

Though the Empress hid her true identity, she was eager to hear about Fu Chengjin. Qiao Manman thought that only by making the Empress worry about her son could she be moved to leave the deep palace. So she deliberately said that life in the prince's manor had been unstable lately and hoped the Empress could come forward to support Fu Chengjin, who missed his mother deeply. Qiao Manman’s words moved the Empress.

On the day of the celebration, the Empress truly appeared. The moment Fu Chengjin saw his mother, his eyes turned red. The Empress stood beside the Emperor, receiving the court’s homage. Over a decade ago, rumors in the harem claimed Fu Chengjin was not the Emperor’s biological son. The Empress was framed and suffered greatly, unable to defend herself.

Although a blood test later proved Fu Chengjin carried the imperial bloodline, the Emperor’s indifference had deeply wounded her, leading her to retreat into the inner palace and never step out again. At the celebration, the Empress deliberately mentioned how someone kept framing Prince Jing’s manor. The Emperor was surprised and began paying more attention to the prince's household. After the celebration, the Emperor encouraged the Empress to leave the inner palace and live a peaceful life with him.

Now that Fu Chengjin had grown up and married, they might soon have a grandchild. But the Empress, with a cold heart, still firmly refused. It was raining heavily. Fu Chengjin held an umbrella, following behind the Empress. After more than ten years, he finally reunited with his mother. His heart was overwhelmed with emotion, and he couldn’t bear to leave even after she went inside. Jiutian asked if he wanted to go in and see the Empress.

Fu Chengjin shook his head. The front court was still full of strife, and his manor faced hidden dangers. It was too risky for his mother to come out now. He was willing to bear the pain alone as long as she was safe. In fact, for the Emperor’s birthday, Fu Yunnuo had hidden assassins inside the gift Fu Chengjin prepared for the Emperor.

Fortunately, Fu Chengjin discovered it in time, killed all the assassins in the chest, and replaced the performance with "Magu Offering Longevity. " So when the chest was opened at the celebration, Fu Yunnuo reflexively issued a warning about assassins. But instead, a fairy-like “Magu” slowly emerged with a peach of longevity, and the Emperor, unaware of what had happened, thought it was just a false alarm.

Qiao Manman solemnly met with Fu Yunnuo, warning him not to play such tricks again. But Fu Yunnuo said that even as a child, he understood that if he couldn’t achieve glory and success, he’d always have to live under others. He didn’t want to be a prince for life. Despite Fu Chengjin's patience and even planning to escape the palace, Fu Yunnuo still refused to back down, determined to fight to the bitter end.

After Qiao Manman clearly rejected Fu Yunnuo, Fu Yunnuo was completely devastated. He was so heartbroken that he even came down with a high fever. For Fu Yunnuo, the reason he had strived so hard was because Qiao Manman had encouraged him as a child to endure and be strong—so that one day, when he achieved success and fame, no one would dare to bully her anymore.

Fu Yunnuo no longer wanted to live under others and only wished to rise quickly to protect the one he loved. But now that she no longer wanted to marry him, he lost his motivation to keep going. Ever since Ji Mo learned that A Li Ya was the princess of the Western Lin Kingdom, he had been plagued with feelings of inferiority.

Upon hearing that the imperial examination was to be held this year, he started working hard, hoping to build a good life with A Li Ya. Ji Mo's father could only shake his head—passing the exam was no easy feat for ordinary people, and A Li Ya, being of noble blood, would naturally return to the Western Lin Kingdom once she regained her memory. Fu Yunnuo seemed to have fallen sick with lovesickness.

Even though he was ill and feverish, he still desperately wanted to see Qiao Manman. He even wrote a letter personally and had his subordinate Gui Hu deliver it to her. At that time, Qiao Manman had just received a letter from Fu Chengjin, inviting her to admire the moon that evening. When Gui Hu brought the letter from Fu Yunnuo, he emphasized that it must be opened personally by Qiao Manman.

Knowing Fu Yunnuo's deep obsession, Qiao Manman understood that if she didn’t draw a clear line now, things would become even more tangled in the future. She refused Gui Hu. When Gui Hu returned and reported this to Fu Yunnuo, Fu Yunnuo, who had hoped she would agree, felt his joy turn to sorrow.

In desperation to see her, he wounded his own palm with a sword and told Gui Hu to quickly go again, claiming he had been attacked by assassins and gravely injured, hoping this would prompt Qiao Manman to visit him. This time, after being rejected again, Gui Hu knelt in front of Qiao Manman, begging her to see his master. But the more persistent Fu Yunnuo became, the more Qiao Manman knew she couldn’t see him.

In her heart, she apologized and turned away resolutely. Qiao Manman went out with Fu Chengjin to a bustling street. After getting out of the carriage, Fu Chengjin took her hand and led her to a bridge. The streets were lively with crowds, and suddenly, colorful fireworks were set off before Qiao Manman. Fu Chengjin had remembered that she once said she liked fireworks, and he had carefully prepared this romantic surprise for her.

Amid the romantic atmosphere, Qiao Manman looked at Fu Chengjin with joy. When she heard his confession, she fell into deep thought. After a long pause, she murmured that perhaps the one Fu Chengjin loved wasn’t truly her—she was not the princess of the Western Lin Kingdom, but just the ordinary Qiao Manman. Fu Chengjin gazed at her tenderly.

He had long known her true identity, and the woman he truly wanted to marry was the one who had entered the royal residence in a grand procession. In his heart, Qiao Manman had always been his bride. Touched, Qiao Manman never imagined that her destined marriage would be within the royal residence. That night, Fu Chengjin placed her bedding on his bed, hoping they could sleep together from now on, but Qiao Manman soon fell fast asleep.

A Li Ya escorted Ji Mo to the exam hall. To encourage him, she even kissed him. Ji Mo, who already had a fear of women, had just entered the hall when he thought about A Li Ya’s kiss on his cheek. He quickly fainted onto his desk.

Ji Mo felt he had failed miserably. As he left the exam hall, he wallowed in self-pity. A Li Ya and his father saw him throw a hemp rope over a beam and rushed in to talk him down. Ji Mo felt useless—he was nearly thirty, yet had achieved nothing. Ji Shu comforted his son, saying that if he didn’t succeed this year, he could try again next year.

He could still support him, and even A Li Ya chimed in, saying that her medical earnings were enough to help support the household. But Ji Mo was deeply discouraged, believing he could never give A Li Ya a better life. With no other choice, Ji Shu called for Qiao Manman. When Fu Chengjin saw her heading out, he asked if she needed company. Qiao Manman, not wanting him to feel pressured at home, went by herself.

Ji Mo lay in bed without saying a word. Qiao Manman and Ji Shu teamed up to inspire him to stand back up. Though he had failed the exam, Ji Mo had been diligently writing, producing many brilliant stories widely circulated among the people. Qiao Manman encouraged him to start over and not let the characters in his own stories look down on him. Fu Chengjin prepared a room full of candlelight for Qiao Manman.

When she opened the door, she saw red candles arranged in the shape of a heart at the center of the room and was deeply moved. In the center of the candlelight, Fu Chengjin presented her with a gift—a beautifully crafted outfit. He also held out a necklace. This necklace had been gifted to him by the empress on his coming of age, meant for his future princess consort.

Now, it was finally placed on her neck by Fu Chengjin himself. The atmosphere was intimate, and Fu Chengjin picked up Qiao Manman and brought her to the bed. It should have been a romantic night, but outside, Yue Tao asked if Qiao Manman wanted porridge. A while later, Jiu Feng also came, lingering outside the residence worried about Fu Chengjin and even volunteering to keep watch overnight—utterly ruining the couple’s romantic mood.

When Ji Mo was feeling a little better, A Li Ya took him to the market to relax. There, they saw a notice about an upcoming martial arts competition. Ji Mo had just glanced at it when people around began mocking him, asking if he thought too highly of himself—having fainted in the exam hall, and now wanting to fight?

Ji Mo had no martial skills, but after being ridiculed, his pride was wounded, and he stepped up to the stage. He was quickly knocked to the ground. As others finished their matches, the arena was filled with injured competitors. Just as the event was about to end, Ji Mo slowly came to on the ground. Stumbling to his feet, he became the only one still standing—and thus, was named the arena champion.

Fu Yunnuo, unwilling to give up the woman he loved to another man, summoned General Hu Er Sa. Hu Er Sa, being A Li Ya’s brother, naturally knew her well. If he discovered his sister had been swapped, there would be no peace. Fu Yunnuo had Hu Er Sa enter the palace to see the emperor, then stay for a few days. His real goal was to disrupt the peace between Qiao Manman and Fu Chengjin.

As long as General Hu Er Sa remained, Fu Yunnuo believed he had a better chance of succeeding in his plan. Originally, Qiao Manman and Fu Chengjin had planned to leave the palace and its disputes behind. But the emperor summoned them back. The day they met Hu Er Sa, they sensed danger. Though Hu Er Sa didn’t expose Qiao Manman’s true identity outright, the disdain and mockery in his eyes revealed his intent.

The emperor brought his consorts to watch the martial arts competition. As the arena champion, Ji Mo was summoned. Hu Er Sa mocked Dongzhao’s weak martial skills, and the emperor sent four secret guards to teach him a lesson—but they were defeated in moments. Fu Chengjin was going to step in, but Fu Yunnuo quickly suggested that this year’s martial champion fight instead. Ji Mo had only become champion by accident.

Now summoned to the palace arena, he was the last one left. He had never even killed a chicken, so how could he possibly fight the brute Hu Er Sa? The outcome would surely be dreadful. Qiao Manman, seeing her brother about to fight Hu Er Sa, was terrified and signaled Fu Chengjin for help. Fu Chengjin quickly claimed Qiao Manman had fainted from heatstroke. Given the scorching sun, the emperor announced the match would resume the next day.

That night, many were on edge. Ji Mo, terrified from earlier, slept the entire evening. Qiao Manman was nervous about tomorrow’s match, while Fu Chengjin worked actively to find a solution. Fu Yunnuo instructed Hu Er Sa not to expose Qiao Manman’s identity, hoping to win her gratitude. For those dying of thirst, a well is irresistible—and they would play the ones digging the well. But in the end, he wanted her to find the water undrinkable, stuck in her throat. The real drama was just beginning.

The next day, the martial arts competition resumed. Qiao Manman sat by the banquet table and saw that her brother would be facing a burly man with solid muscles. It seemed her brother was doomed this time. Qiao Manman was extremely nervous, but Ji Mo suddenly surprised everyone by claiming that, as a nation of etiquette, they might as well try a different competition method—using only one finger. Hu Er Sa was astonished to hear this.

How could this frail-looking scholar possibly win with just one finger? Hu Er Sa boldly agreed and even personally set the rules: if Ji Mo could make him unable to stand with one finger, he would concede defeat. Ji Mo, feigning calmness, tapped Hu Er Sa’s forehead with his index finger. Unexpectedly, Hu Er Sa exerted great effort but truly couldn’t get up. Everyone applauded in amazement.

Even with repeated attempts, Hu Er Sa still couldn’t stand, leaving no doubt that Fu Chengjin had won the competition and brought honor to Dongzhao Kingdom. The emperor was delighted and immediately conferred the title of Martial Champion upon Ji Mo. They had passed another hurdle. Qiao Manman was overjoyed and brought Fu Chengjin back to Wanshifang that night to celebrate. A Li Ya excitedly made hot pot for everyone.

The group was particularly cheerful that night, eating and chatting, filled with hope for the future. Meanwhile, Hu Er Sa drowned his sorrows in alcohol at Fu Yunnuo’s place. Fu Yunnuo reminded him that losing the competition might not be a misfortune. Soon, he planned to use his power to transfer Ji Mo to the southern border to fight in the war. That way, he could completely restrain Qiao Manman.

Given the deep sibling bond between Qiao Manman and Ji Mo, she would never bear to see him suffer. That night, Qiao Manman, slightly tipsy and weak, was carried on Fu Chengjin’s back under the bright moonlight. Lying on his back, she sighed, saying that Fu Chengjin was supposed to marry a princess of Xilin Kingdom, but fate had other plans. Fu Chengjin didn’t mind; he never cared about the status of Xilin Kingdom.

Once again, he reaffirmed that Qiao Manman was the woman he had always wanted to marry. At bedtime, Qiao Manman gazed at Fu Chengjin with deep affection and said that after finishing something tonight, they could be completely honest with each other. Fu Chengjin took it seriously, thinking she was going to offer herself to him.

But after a brief exchange, Qiao Manman asked him to close his eyes and handed him a brocade box that had belonged to her late mother. Fu Chengjin quickly opened the box, which contained a letter from Qiao Manman’s father to her mother. In the letter, the father wrote that if he didn’t return within half a month, her mother should escape with their infant daughter. Qiao Manman’s eyes welled with tears.

Her mother had waited for her father all her life, year after year, even on her deathbed still hoping for his return—only for the wait to stretch into hopelessness. Two days later, Qiao Manman heard the news that Ji Mo had been sent to the south for battle. Furious, she immediately went to confront Fu Yunnuo and slapped him across the face.

Fu Yunnuo stopped his guards and explained that even if he hadn’t arranged it, as the Martial Champion, Ji Mo was naturally expected to serve the country in battle. Qiao Manman knew she couldn’t change his order and had to leave in frustration. Since Fu Chengjin had successfully stood on his own legs again, the emperor began planning to pass the throne to him. But to do that, Fu Chengjin needed to earn military merit.

The emperor suggested Fu Chengjin go fight in the south and promised to assign secret guards to ensure his safety. At first, Fu Chengjin refused outright. But seeing his father’s earnest hopes, he couldn’t bear to let him down and finally agreed, promising not to disappoint him. As the expedition neared, Qiao Manman not only packed Fu Chengjin’s luggage but also made many bamboo dragonflies. In their childhood, bamboo dragonflies symbolized peace.

Fu Chengjin took her to the imperial garden, where there were many bamboo dragonflies. He had even invited the emperor beforehand. When the emperor arrived, Fu Chengjin deliberately told Qiao Manman that he hoped the bamboo dragonflies would bring peace to his princess consort and that any matters during the expedition should be reported to him without delay.

The spies sent by Fu Yunnuo soon found out that Qiao Manman’s mother was the cousin of Empress Yan in Xilin. She had been granted marriage by the king to Qiao Yuanzhi. Later, Qiao Yuanzhi was manipulated by Xilin spies and committed treason. The emperor, out of old affection, did not execute him but imprisoned him in a dungeon. Now, Fu Yunnuo wanted to offer this as a sentimental gesture to Qiao Manman and immediately reported the matter to her.

Qiao Manman didn’t give Fu Yunnuo a chance to speak. Ever since he had sent Ji Mo to the frontier, she knew he harbored malicious intent. She even reminded him that they should address each other as brother- and sister-in-law. With that, she turned and left. Before coming, Fu Yunnuo had marked the location where Qiao Yuanzhi was hiding. Qiao Manman noticed that the bamboo dragonfly on the ground was different from the ones she made.

Curious, she followed the trail of bamboo dragonflies and came to a cottage, where she saw an old man focused on making bamboo dragonflies. He was so absorbed that he only looked up when he heard a sound. Qiao Manman was intrigued by his craftsmanship and suddenly noticed a scar on his finger that looked exactly like her father’s. As a child, her father often held her on his lap and taught her to make bamboo dragonflies.

Although the old man was now aged, his smile and voice hadn’t changed. When the old man heard her name, he joyfully looked up and was thrilled to confirm that she was his daughter. Qiao Manman tried to pull her father out of the remote, shabby cottage, but Qiao Yuanzhi trembled and urged her to leave quickly. He had been confined here for years and couldn’t leave; otherwise, he’d be in danger and would endanger her too.

Knowing that Qiao Manman’s greatest wish was to reunite with her father, Fu Yunnuo plotted to bring her back to his residence and imprisoned her there. Fu Chengjin was at the frontlines and wouldn’t know anything in the short term. Fu Yunnuo, confident and in control, managed everything from behind the scenes. Qiao Manman dared not act rashly, as her father’s life was in Fu Yunnuo’s hands. Hu Er Sa was summoned to the palace.

The emperor presented him with a gift list. Now that the emperor knew the truth about the real and fake princess consort, he no longer cared who was who. He was open-minded; as long as his son Fu Chengjin liked her, he wouldn’t object. The emperor reassured Hu Er Sa that the promised favorable policies would still be honored but asked him to stay out of matters that didn’t concern him.

Hu Er Sa had already sided with Fu Yunnuo, but upon hearing that the emperor knew about Qiao Manman’s impersonation and didn’t intend to pursue it, he realized the emperor was protecting Fu Chengjin and probably planned to pass the throne to him. He quickly passed this news to Fu Yunnuo, but Fu Yunnuo didn’t care. He said that even though the frontlines brought constant reports of victory, he still had ways to cause accidents for Fu Chengjin.

Everyone knew Dongzhao had two princes—if anything happened to Fu Chengjin, Fu Yunnuo would win without a doubt. Fu Yunnuo sent Qiao Manman back to Wanshifang and told her that the next day he would make a grand display of marrying her. While Fu Chengjin was supposed to marry the princess of Xilin, Qiao Manman was different—she was the one he truly wanted to marry. When Fu Chengjin heard the news at the frontlines, he was extremely anxious.

That night, he and Ji Mo disguised themselves and rushed back. Fu Chengjin secretly visited the imperial consort and proposed a deal: if she revealed Qiao Manman and Qiao Yuanzhi’s true identities in court the next day, he would voluntarily relinquish the throne and never be a threat again. The consort, who dreamed of her own son becoming emperor, called Fu Yunnuo to her chamber that very night and ordered him to release Qiao Manman immediately—but Fu Yunnuo flatly refused.

Fu Chengjin quickly quelled the rebellion and returned triumphantly to the capital. The emperor was delighted to see their long list of military accomplishments. At this moment, Fu Yunnuo, already prepared, was about to report something. The emperor immediately ordered the courtiers to withdraw, but Fu Yunnuo clasped his hands and insisted that he needed to report an important matter that must be witnessed by the ministers present.

Since Fu Yunnuo insisted, the emperor had no choice but to agree, wondering what his son intended. Fu Yunnuo then mentioned the name Qiao Yuanzhi. Previously, Qiao Yuanzhi had collaborated with the enemy and was originally sentenced to death, but the emperor had a moment of compassion and instead confined him for life in a room, never to set foot outside. Now, his son had brought up the old matter again.

The emperor insisted that the elderly man before them couldn’t be Qiao Yuanzhi. Fu Yunnuo remained unyielding and even asked the Ministry of Justice to bring the registry to compare the features of the man beside him. The evidence was irrefutable. Just as the emperor was about to issue an order, Qiao Manman quickly knelt by the side and pleaded for mercy. Fu Chengjin, of course, understood Fu Yunnuo’s real intent.

He immediately advised that both Qiao Yuanzhi and Qiao Manman had committed the crime of deceiving the monarch and should be executed, and pleaded with the emperor to issue the execution order. The situation had reached a point of no return, and the emperor had no choice but to comply. Qiao Manman and Qiao Yuanzhi were imprisoned. Fu Chengjin personally delivered the poison wine. Qiao Yuanzhi calmly took the cup without any resentment. However, Qiao Manman repeatedly pleaded for mercy.

Qiao Yuanzhi drank the wine in one gulp and collapsed, bleeding. Fu Chengjin then handed the cup to Qiao Manman. Looking at his former lover, knowing they were about to be separated by death, Qiao Manman was in tears and speechless. She took the cup with tears and drank it all. Only then did Fu Yunnuo deeply regret it—his original intention was merely to have the emperor strip Qiao Manman of her title as consort to the heir.

He had never expected Fu Chengjin to directly ask the emperor to end her life. But it was Fu Yunnuo who had stirred all this trouble in the first place. Fu Chengjin carried the dying Qiao Manman away. Fu Yunnuo, overwhelmed by grief, couldn't help but question why Fu Chengjin was always surrounded by people from childhood, and now even the woman he loved most had died because of him.

Fu Chengjin handed over the household registry of the past few years to Fu Yunnuo and left without looking back. He had already given Fu Yunnuo too many chances. Who else could be blamed for today's outcome but Fu Yunnuo himself? In fact, Qiao Yuanzhi and Qiao Manman did not drink real poison. They were given a revival pill that Fu Chengjin had prepared earlier for himself and Qiao Manman.

Due to the sudden turn of events, he had to give it to Qiao Manman and her father first. After returning to the residence, Fu Chengjin immediately ordered his men to pack up. Fu Chengjin asked the emperor for permission to travel, and the emperor finally agreed. That very night, Fu Chengjin left the capital with Qiao Manman and Qiao Yuanzhi. It had been agonizing to live each day in disguise in the palace, but now they were finally free.

That evening, Qiao Manman chatted with A Li Ya and the maid. A Li Ya was very satisfied with her current life—she could see Ji Mo every day, have meals together, and be surrounded by liveliness, which made her feel content. Ji Mo now both hoped A Li Ya would regain her memory soon and feared that if she did, she might no longer love him.

Fu Chengjin had started a new life and needed to be self-reliant, no longer enjoying the comforts of palace life. He felt a sense of frustration and hoped to achieve independence through his own efforts.

Since Fu Chengjin's departure, Fu Yunnuo had completely descended into madness. The emperor summoned him to the palace to discuss who to send to the frontier to fight. Fu Yunnuo recommended someone, but the emperor did not believe this candidate was suitable. Fu Yunnuo lost control on the spot, claiming the emperor was always autocratic and never considered his feelings, never truly cared about him. This was the first time Fu Yunnuo had openly defied his father.

The imperial consort, standing by, kept signaling him to stop talking, but Fu Yunnuo ignored her completely. After leaving the palace, the imperial consort called Fu Yunnuo to her chambers and harshly reprimanded him, saying she had worked so hard planning everything for him and always endured before the emperor for his sake. Fu Yunnuo grew increasingly annoyed and directly ordered his men to confine the consort.

He believed she had been bewitched by Fu Chengjin, whom she had secretly met, and that the two had colluded to kill Qiao Manman. Though she claimed everything she did was for his benefit, in reality, she had only pushed him to succeed since childhood, never played with him, and only scolded or beat him. Since returning to a pastoral life, Fu Chengjin had been idle every day and felt frustrated.

Qiao Manman reminded him not to rush—life is long, and as long as he works hard with sincerity, everything will come in time. Fu Chengjin also wanted to formally remarry Qiao Manman using her true identity. While discussing this with Ji Mo, Qiao Manman overheard and suddenly felt nervous. Having lived under the name A Li Ya in the residence, she now felt overwhelmed about returning to her true self. Ji Mo had also been waiting silently.

Fu Chengjin suggested he propose to A Li Ya, but Ji Mo refused to take advantage of her amnesia. Now that A Li Ya had no memory or awareness of her real identity—and given the vast difference in their statuses—he didn’t think it was right. Fu Chengjin knew he couldn’t change Ji Mo’s mind, but he still had one more thing to do. Fu Chengjin met secretly with A Li Ya, who eagerly asked if Ji Mo intended to propose.

Upon hearing that Ji Mo was hesitant because of their status difference, she was troubled. She truly liked Ji Mo, but didn’t want this issue to hinder her marriage. A Li Ya decided to pretend she had regained her memory, so that Ji Mo would feel secure. The group planned an outing. Jiutian and Yue Tao also joined. The weather was beautiful—two fluffy, cotton-candy-like clouds floated in the blue sky. The scenery and mood were lovely.

Fu Chengjin picked many fresh flowers for Qiao Manman, and everyone was very happy. While Qiao Manman was speaking with Ji Mo, Fu Chengjin quickly demonstrated to A Li Ya how to fake bumping into a tree and then pretend to recover her memory. But A Li Ya actually fainted for real. According to Fu Chengjin’s plan, she was supposed to regain her memory shortly after and he would then propose to Qiao Manman.

But Ji Mo panicked upon seeing A Li Ya injured and immediately carried her back for treatment. Later, A Li Ya regained consciousness and deliberately declared that she had recovered her memory and was willing to marry Ji Mo. Ji Mo was thrilled and quickly gave her the family heirloom passed down from his mother. A Li Ya confided in Qiao Manman that she had faked her memory loss and urged her to take initiative as a woman. Since Fu Chengjin was so deeply in love with her, she should just go ahead and propose. The two embraced happily.

In the following days, Fu Chengjin began organizing the wedding with Jiufeng. Every day, they brought in bright red wedding drapes, lanterns, and candles. Qiao Manman worried Fu Chengjin would exhaust himself, but Fu Chengjin wanted to give her the wedding of her dreams. At this time, a eunuch secretly sent by the emperor arrived. Fu Chengjin invited him for tea and listened to the emperor’s message—he hoped Fu Chengjin would return and help manage state affairs.

But Fu Chengjin calmly replied that he was now a commoner. Although Fu Yunnuo could be impatient at times, he believed with guidance, he could manage the court. While the eunuch secretly sought out Fu Chengjin, Fu Yunnuo also sent spies to monitor every move between Fu Chengjin and the emperor. Fu Yunnuo’s subordinate discovered that Qiao Manman was still alive and that Fu Chengjin was preparing for the wedding.

Fearing that Fu Yunnuo might become distracted—since he had previously been indecisive due to love—the spy was silenced and killed to keep things quiet. When Fu Yunnuo learned that the emperor was still secretly in contact with Fu Chengjin, he wrote a letter instructing his men to kill any palace envoy seeking Fu Chengjin on sight. This completely cut off the emperor’s connection with Fu Chengjin.

Meanwhile, the emperor received memorials daily urging him to appoint a crown prince—clearly pushed by Fu Yunnuo’s supporters. The emperor summoned Fu Yunnuo and questioned him about secretly courting officials. Fu Yunnuo again suggested appointing his candidate as Grand General of the Northwest, but the emperor rejected it, saying the man was unreliable. Fu Yunnuo boldly claimed the man had already pacified rebels while in office. This decision had been made without the emperor’s approval.

Enraged, the emperor lashed out, but Fu Yunnuo coldly reminded him it was time to enjoy his twilight years and ordered the eunuch to take good care of the emperor. Fu Yunnuo’s ambition now knew no bounds. His past patience was gone. Even when locusts caused a disaster in the capital, he was indifferent.

Not only did he ignore the crisis, but he also had the leisure to play the guzheng and ordered his men not to report the matter to the emperor. If necessary, he permitted the use of force against the victims. In Fu Chengjin’s village, an influx of disaster victims had begun. If it continued, it would eventually burden the villagers.

After a discussion with the village chief, Fu Chengjin decided to requisition grain from local wealthy households—fifty dou of millet per family. He used the millet to make many steamed buns, broke them into pieces, and added them to porridge to help fill the victims’ stomachs and buy more time for relief. Fu Chengjin’s integrity and benevolence won much praise from former court officials.

Compared to Fu Yunnuo’s negligence and irresponsibility, Fu Chengjin’s actions seemed far more fitting for a monarch. When Fu Yunnuo heard of the praise Fu Chengjin was receiving, he burned with jealousy. He felt it was he who had granted Fu Chengjin his freedom. Since Fu Chengjin remained ungrateful, Fu Yunnuo resolved to show no more mercy. Upon confirming that Qiao Manman was indeed alive, Fu Yunnuo immediately ordered his guards from Gui Lake to head to the secluded village.

Other than sparing Qiao Manman’s life, they were to kill everyone else. While preparing her red bridal veil for the wedding, Qiao Manman’s veil was accidentally torn by Fu Chengjin. With the big day approaching, Yue Tao took the initiative to help, promising to mend it for her. As their two masters interacted more frequently, Yue Tao and Fu Chengjin’s personal guard Jiufeng also developed feelings for each other, and they, too, planned to spend their lives together.

With the wedding fast approaching, Ji Mo’s father quietly pulled him into the room and handed over his life’s savings. With this silver, his son would have no worries about food or clothing in the future, and at the very least, he wouldn’t have to live under others’ noses. Ji Mo had spent most of his time immersed in literature and had never earned a penny to support the family.

His father feared that he might be disliked by his wife for being unable to make money. Yue Tao helped her mistress mend the red bridal veil every day. Seeing how eager she was to save up for her dowry, Qiao Manman teased her, asking if her relationship with Jiufeng was heating up and whether the two of them should hold a joint wedding.

Now that Yue Tao had also found love, both Qiao Manman and A Li Ya were happy for her. The wedding day finally arrived. Ji Mo and his elder sister held their weddings on the same day. Many guests attended, applauding and offering blessings, wishing the two couples a sweet and happy life together until old age. At that moment, the assassins Fu Yunnuo had dispatched arrived at the village.

Once the banquet concluded and the guests, full of wine and food, were preparing to leave, they were ambushed. The attackers came with overwhelming force, leaving no one alive wherever they went. Ji Mo’s father was slashed and gravely injured. Normally carefree and lighthearted, he could no longer make jokes at the end of his life. Qiao Manman’s biological father was also killed in the attack.

In his final moments, he tightly held Fu Chengjin’s hand, asking him to keep his promise and ensure Qiao Manman’s lifelong happiness. To protect Jiufeng, Yue Tao used her own body to shield him from a sword strike. She later collapsed in a pool of blood. Jiufeng held her in his arms, overwhelmed with grief, crying and begging her to wake up.

He had already prepared the red bridal veil, planning to marry her in grand fashion after Fu Chengjin’s wedding. He never expected they'd be separated by death so soon. A Li Ya suffered a violent blow to the head, but upon waking, she miraculously regained her memory. On the very day of the wedding, she regained clarity. Ji Mo was consumed by the pain of losing his father.

As long as A Li Ya was safe, he had no other wish. After burying their loved ones, everyone was immersed in immense sorrow. Fu Chengjin recalled how Qiao Manman’s father, when he was still alive, had urged him to observe the political landscape, seize opportunities, and strike when necessary. The ruthless assassination attempt was clearly targeted at Fu Chengjin—it must have been orchestrated by his younger brother.

Not long ago, their father had sent a palace attendant with a message for Fu Chengjin, asking him to return, saying that there had been changes at court. Now it seemed clear that a great crisis was brewing. After waking up, A Li Ya realized how dangerous their situation was, and decided to return to Xilin Kingdom to request reinforcements.

Ji Mo, who usually acted timid and once suffered from “fear of women,” had finally grown brave with A Li Ya by his side. He quickly packed his belongings and accompanied his wife back to Xilin. Fu Yunnuo’s subordinate, Gui Hu, had originally been ordered to kill everyone except Qiao Manman and bring her back to him alive.

But Gui Hu feared that Fu Yunnuo would be bewitched by her beauty, so he threw several bombs into the courtyard, intending to blow them all up. Gui Hu later reported back, claiming that everyone had been killed in the explosion, including Qiao Manman.

Fu Chengjin returned to the palace and found that Fu Yunnuo had already taken control of the situation. The emperor and the noble consort were placed under house arrest. When the emperor was still in power, Fu Yunnuo would at least respect Fu Chengjin’s opinion. But now, having stripped the emperor of his authority, upon hearing that Fu Chengjin wanted to leave, Fu Yunnuo directly placed him under house arrest within the palace.

Qiao Manman and Jiufeng were still in the capital. Seeing that Fu Chengjin had gone in but not returned, Qiao Manman and Jiufeng began to devise countermeasures. There were many disaster victims in the capital, so Qiao Manman took out the money they carried along with some of the savings from Wanshitang to buy relief grain and distribute it directly to the victims.

Upon hearing that the emperor was gravely ill, the empress emerged from the deep palace and personally served by his side. The imperial physicians conducted a thorough diagnosis and found that the emperor's health was deteriorating rapidly, and he likely did not have long to live. The empress was very worried, and the physicians advised the emperor to avoid anger. However, Fu Yunnuo would visit every other day to provoke the emperor.

Even when barely able to speak, the emperor reminded Fu Yunnuo not to harm Fu Chengjin in the slightest upon hearing that Fu Chengjin had also been placed under house arrest and that Fu Yunnuo planned to eliminate him completely. Qiao Manman arranged a meeting with Fu Yunnuo and pleaded with him to open the granaries to aid the victims, urging him to be a wise prince who truly cared for the people.

But Fu Yunnuo felt that Qiao Manman did not understand him. Now, he was more determined than ever to prove himself to her through actions. Jiufeng secretly sneaked into the palace to meet the emperor and revealed Fu Chengjin's plan. The emperor was very pleased and, fumbling around, took out a token from his person and urgently handed it to Jiufeng, instructing him to deliver it to Fu Chengjin at all costs. The next day was the ancestral worship ceremony.

Fu Yunnuo sent the ceremonial attire and jewelry to Qiao Manman, hoping she would attend on time. Late at night, Jiufeng handed the emperor’s token to Fu Chengjin, and everything proceeded according to plan. Fu Chengjin wrote a note for Jiufeng to deliver to Qiao Manman, stating that they would act the next day and asking her to take care of herself. On the day of the ancestral worship, Fu Yunnuo confidently raised his wine cup.

Now, he was exercising imperial authority in the emperor’s stead. Many ministers knelt before him. A guard hurriedly arrived to report that the refugees had gathered at the palace gates, raising their arms and demanding justice from Fu Yunnuo. The ministers also joined in to persuade Fu Yunnuo to provide disaster relief and resettle the refugees. Fu Yunnuo ignored all advice, thoroughly chilling the hearts of the ministers.

With the country in the hands of someone like this, its days were numbered. At that moment, Fu Chengjin strode out with the imperial token, proclaiming the emperor's decree to depose Fu Yunnuo. With the token in hand, the ministers immediately rallied behind him and supported the removal of Fu Yunnuo’s title as heir. Moreover, A Li Ya had already brought troops to strongly support Fu Chengjin. Fu Yunnuo had no way to escape.

His men took Qiao Manman hostage and tried to force Fu Chengjin’s people to lay down their arms. But Jiufeng, with his precise archery, seized the opportunity and shot the person holding Qiao Manman. Fu Yunnuo, driven mad, attempted to flee. He grabbed Qiao Manman's hand and forced her to go with him. As their pursuers closed in, they reached a cliff with nowhere left to run.

Qiao Manman urged Fu Yunnuo to surrender, saying it was not too late to turn back. Realizing he was doomed, Fu Yunnuo couldn’t bear to drag Qiao Manman down with him. He drew his sword to take his own life, then turned and jumped off the cliff. Qiao Manman immediately grabbed his hand, trying to pull him up, but the stones under her feet gave way, and she fell with him. Fu Chengjin immediately ordered a search for Qiao Manman.

They searched the base of the cliff thoroughly but found no bodies. With the political situation now unstable, the emperor, before his last breath, passed the throne to Fu Chengjin and expressed his gratitude to Qiao Manman for walking such a long road with Fu Chengjin. With that, he passed away peacefully. Three years later, after Fu Chengjin had devoted himself to governing the nation, the people lived in peace and no longer faced displacement.

With the realm at peace, Fu Chengjin still couldn’t feel joy. At first, he had only wanted to live a quiet life, never coveting the throne. But now, though the people’s lives had improved, he still hadn’t seen Qiao Manman again, leaving a lasting regret in his heart. Another Lantern Festival arrived. Fu Chengjin remembered that he had met Qiao Manman during this very festival three years ago. He dismissed his attendants and returned alone to the same place.

A fortune teller invited him to draw a lot, and when Fu Chengjin drew a most auspicious one, the fortune teller praised his exceptional luck. Nearby, a couples' competition was being held, with the host encouraging everyone to participate, promising rich rewards. Fu Chengjin had once entered this contest with Qiao Manman. At that time, Qiao Manman had been overjoyed at the prospect of a prize and begged Fu Chengjin to pretend to be her partner.

Fu Chengjin rushed to the center of the stage and looked out at the crowd. Sure enough, he saw a familiar face—Qiao Manman. She was alive! At that same place, in that beautiful moment, Qiao Manman seemed to have lost her memory. Fu Chengjin invited her to join the competition and took out their token of affection. As it turned out, Qiao Manman had one too. Fu Chengjin’s eyes turned red.

He told Qiao Manman that the token she held was worth a fortune. Qiao Manman looked bewildered and, wary of deception, insisted he pay a deposit before making a purchase. Fu Chengjin smiled as he held her hand and asked her to come with him to retrieve it… The two of them were so happy. They ran forward with long strides, heading toward long-lost happiness together!