New Life Begins Recap, Plot, Synopsis

New Life Begins Synopsis

A marriage election brings girls from all over the world together in Xin Chuan.

Yin Zheng, the sixth young master of Xin Chuan, and Li Wei, who only wants to work hard to lose the election and live comfortably in her hometown, accidentally meet and start a new and interesting life together with many problems.

As Yin Zheng sets up his own house and enters the court, they gradually develop a mutual understanding, and spend lives together, growing up with other siblings of different personalities and destinies, writing together the warm daily life of the Xin Chuan family.

New Life Begins Recap

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The world is divided into nine regions, each with its own customs and traditions. In the north, Mochuan boasts a strong military and nomadic peoples. In the northwest, Cangchuan is dry and barren, with scarce resources. The central region, Daichuan, is crisscrossed by mountain ranges and rich in minerals. In the south, Yanchuan is small and poor but abundant in flowers and fruits. The southeast region, Yingchuan, receives plentiful rainfall and remains green throughout the year.

In most of the nine regions, men are revered. However, in the southwest, Jichuan practices monogamy and equality between men and women. Everyone in Danchuan loves spicy food, and women are the heads of households. These women are bold and forthright, often marrying into their husbands’ homes. In the east, Jinchuan, located along the coast, thrives on trade. Generations engage in business and chase profits, with the wealthy held in highest esteem.

Xinchuan, the leader of the nine regions, places great importance on lineage, with a strict distinction between legitimate and concubine-born children and an emphasis on male superiority. After years of warfare among the nine regions, Xinchuan emerged victorious and established a century-long peace alliance. Each region was required to send an eligible girl to marry the Prince of Xinchuan as a symbol of the alliance, and none were allowed to defy this arrangement.

Today is the day when the eligible girls from each region are to be sent to Xinchuan. The streets of Xinchuan are bustling with excitement, and Li Wenbi’s family from Jichuan is among the crowd. His daughter Li Wei is naturally lively, and her greatest joy is eating. The Li family is reluctant to send Li Wei to Xinchuan, but since Li Wenbi holds a low official rank, they had no choice but to push her forward.

While the whole family was sighing in despair, the donkey cart suddenly stopped. With night falling, Li Wei had no choice but to bid her family farewell and lure the donkey toward the palace with a piece of flatbread. According to palace rules, nothing brought from outside is allowed to be taken in. Even though Li Wei had hidden her snacks well, a sharp-eyed nanny still spotted them.

Just as the nanny was about to make a fuss, Hao Jia, a Girl for selection from Yanchuan, walked over slowly and helped Li Wei out of the predicament. Seeing Hao Jia, Li Wei was delighted—at least she now had someone familiar in this strange palace. There are eleven Princes in Xinchuan. The eighth Prince died young, and the first four Princes have already married and moved outside the palace to open their own residences after joining court affairs.

The remaining six Princes live within the palace. The fifth Prince, Yin Qi, is simple and honest. The seventh Prince, Yin An, is quiet but kind. The other three Princes are still too young to marry. None of these six Princes have yet been granted the right to establish their own households or attend court. Hao Jia wishes to marry the Legitimate Eldest Prince, Yin Song, so that she and her mother could have someone to depend on.

In order to get close to Yin Song, she and Li Wei secretly visit the Princes’ private garden. The garden is full of birdsong and blooming flowers, but under the surface, tensions are brewing. Yin Zheng is sitting in the pavilion fiddling with a chessboard. When he sees Yin Song and the others approaching, he quietly messes up the game board.

Yin Qi realizes that the game belongs to Yin Song and, worried that Yin Song might get angry at his younger brother, quickly drags him away. But after a few steps, he spots Hao Jia walking toward them. Yin Qi is instantly captivated and stays behind to chat with her. Pretending to pass by the pavilion, Hao Jia comments on the chessboard. The move works—Yin Song even personally escorts her out.

Meanwhile, Li Wei has waited a long time without seeing Hao Jia. Her stomach growls with hunger, so she sneaks into the kitchen for food. Yin Zheng, holding his stomach, returns to his residence and hurriedly asks the steward to bring food. But the dishes brought to him are either incomplete or a total mess. Feeling puzzled, Yin Zheng goes to the kitchen to investigate and finds a strange young woman stealing food in his kitchen.

Li Wei panics upon seeing Yin Zheng and tries to sneak away, but accidentally knocks him over. Seeing him rolling on the ground in pain, she quickly helps him to the Imperial Medical Department. After learning about the incident, Hao Jia tries her best to comfort Li Wei, but bad news soon arrives. With a sinister smile, the nanny finds Li Wei and informs her that she is to become the concubine of the sixth Prince. Li Wei is completely confused and tries to escape, but unable to shake off the nanny, she is pushed into a bridal sedan.

Under the persistent urging of the nanny, Li Wei inexplicably becomes the concubine of the sixth Prince, Yin Zheng. After the wedding ceremony at the ancestral hall, she still cannot accept this reality and sits in her room daydreaming. Only when the maids Yu Ping and Yu Zhan greet her loudly does Li Wei come back to her senses. According to the two maids, an hour ago, Yin Zheng voluntarily requested the marriage from the Lord.

The Lord had no choice but to agree, and thus Li Wei became Yin Zheng’s concubine. Li Wei accidentally overhears that Yin Zheng only has half a month to live. After thinking it through, she finally understands why he would ask to marry her—it’s to ward off misfortune. Feeling a bit sentimental, she also realizes that not having to act like a proper wife to a stranger is actually not so bad.

She starts decorating her new home and plans to return to her family in glory after Yin Zheng’s death. She quickly writes a letter to her parents detailing her plans. That night, Li Wei goes to the bedchamber to greet Yin Zheng, but despite calling him for a long time, there’s no response from behind the curtain. She notices a large bowl of red medicinal soup nearby and assumes that Yin Zheng has passed away, panicking and shouting loudly.

Just then, Yin Zheng walks in from the backyard. Seeing her flustered state, he bursts out laughing. Li Wei finally meets her husband, only to realize he’s the same man she ran into in the kitchen. Terrified by Yin Zheng, Li Wei can only follow his instructions. Seeing her dazed look, Yin Zheng can’t help but laugh. But when he turns his head, he catches her strange expression.

At that moment, Li Wei recalls how her grandfather acted the same way before he died—pretending to be fine despite being seriously ill, just to avoid worrying others. She can’t help but feel sorry for Yin Zheng’s premature fate and promises to treat him well. Shangguan Jing, the Princess of Danchuan, has practiced martial arts since childhood and is known for her bold and forthright nature—a true heroine.

Ironically, she is matched with the simple and honest fifth Prince, Yin Qi. Yin Qi has feelings for Hao Jia and refuses to consummate the marriage, so the nanny and others tie him up and force him into the bridal chamber. As soon as they meet, Shangguan Jing brandishes her red-tasseled spear and swings it at Yin Qi, scaring him into screaming.

After his ropes are cut, he tries to compose himself and put on a tough front, but as soon as he sees her spear again, he backs down. Neither is willing to yield to the other, so they decide to duel on their wedding night. Yin Qi, full of confidence, believes he’ll win, but underestimates the strength of the Princess of Danchuan. After a few rounds, he is defeated and ends the night howling at the moon in sorrow.

Hao Jia fulfills her wish and marries into the residence of the Legitimate Eldest Prince, Yin Song. That night, she brings tea to greet the official wife, Zhao Fangru. Zhao Fangru’s face betrays no emotion, but Hao Jia knows she is not someone to be trifled with.

With a mere glance from Zhao Fangru, her maid walks over with the teapot and pours scalding hot water into the tea cup in Hao Jia’s hands, seemingly unaware that her hands are trembling. Though her hands burn with pain, Hao Jia knows she must neither scream nor resist. Soon after, Yin Song arrives. Hao Jia mentions that she would like to taste some tea from Daichuan, and Yin Song agrees.

But just as Hao Jia takes the tea cup, Zhao Fangru smacks it out of her hands and says she’s not worthy of drinking her tea. Yin Song helps Hao Jia up and subtly warns Zhao Fangru to watch herself. With Zhao Fangru glaring in fury, Yin Song walks off holding Hao Jia’s hand. All the new wives of the Princes must attend etiquette lessons in the inner court’s study hall.

But Li Wei can’t pay attention at all and ends up napping on the desk. Back at the residence, it’s mealtime, but she remembers the nanny’s rule: the husband must eat first. Li Wei suppresses her eager hands and stares longingly at Yin Zheng. Understanding the situation, Yin Zheng quickly sets down his book and picks up his chopsticks. Li Wei can sense that although she and Yin Zheng aren’t truly husband and wife, he treats her fairly well.

Not wanting to freeload, she decides to help fulfill his final wishes. But Yin Zheng refuses to say much, so she starts investigating on her own and tries to figure out what he likes. One day, she prepares many yellow chrysanthemums for Yin Zheng and even hangs his portrait before the flowers. Looking at the scene before him, Yin Zheng feels a headache coming on. However, Li Wei finally gets something right—Yin Zheng likes puppies.

Lately, Li Wei has been so attentive that Yin Zheng starts to wonder if she has feelings for him. After talking with Hao Jia, Li Wei learns of a strange rule in Xinchuan: concubines are not allowed to send letters home. This means all the letters she wrote ended up in the hands of Yin Zheng, who was supposedly dying. Only after reading them does Yin Zheng finally understand the reasons behind Li Wei’s recent actions.

Day after day passed like this. Li Wei was still scolded daily by the Nanny and had her monthly allowance deducted. What changed was that Yin Zheng suddenly became much more indifferent toward her. In a flash, half a month had gone by, and today was the day of Yin Zheng’s “big trial. ” The steward had a solemn expression and told Li Wei to prepare well, as today was an important day for Yin Zheng.

Li Wei couldn’t help but feel a bit sentimental—turns out the last time she delivered medicine was their final meeting. The scholarly exam began. Yin Zheng presented his views on governing the country in front of the Grand Tutor and His Majesty. The Emperor’s face revealed no emotion; he only gave a heavy “hmm. ” When Yin Zheng returned to the manor, night had fallen, with thunder and lightning roaring.

He saw Li Wei kneeling before the “ancestral hall,” murmuring to herself. As he slowly approached her, he truly gave her quite a scare. Upon hearing that Yin Zheng had ranked first in the scholarly exam, Li Wei quickly congratulated him. Strangely, however, there wasn’t the slightest trace of joy on Yin Zheng’s face. People around him always tried to please him and avoided saying unpleasant truths, but Yin Zheng wanted to hear some honest words from Li Wei.

Cautiously, Li Wei told him that she did think he was the weakest among all the Princes. Once she finished, she was so frightened she collapsed to the ground. But Yin Zheng only let out a long sigh and walked away, leaving her with just a “Do as you see fit.

” Before Li Wei could recover from the fright of the previous night, the Lady of the River suddenly gave an order—she was to consummate her marriage with Yin Zheng that very night. Li Wei felt completely lost and helpless, and couldn’t hold back her tears. Two maids came forward to comfort her and reminded her that if she couldn’t “gain favor through bearing a child” soon, she might end up being sent home.

Hearing this, Li Wei immediately perked up and began to plot something mischievous. As the moon quietly rose over the mountains, Yin Zheng entered the bridal chamber surrounded by his brothers. Seeing Li Wei’s lips swollen like two sausages and a plate of spicy lamb ribs gnawed to a mess on the table, Yin Zheng instantly understood. He couldn’t help but chuckle and gave a light cough to compose himself.

Using sudden stomach pain as an excuse, Yin Zheng left the room. However, he accidentally dropped a “spring palace” picture from his sleeve, filling the room with awkward tension. Recently, the Lady of the River had fallen ill. The wives of the Princes went to the palace to visit her. At Yin Song’s request, Zhao Fangru reluctantly brought Hao Jia along.

Hao Jia claimed that the Lady of the River was angered into sickness by the unruly and unrestrained Third Prince. Hearing this, Li Wei couldn’t help but hope the Third Prince would stir up more trouble so that she could go serve the Lady in the palace and avoid consummating her marriage. But things didn’t go as she wished.

Regardless of what the Third Prince did, the Lady of the River simply did not want Li Wei to be the one to care for her. Back at the manor, Li Wei encountered Song Wu, who was causing a commotion in her room. According to Yu Zhan, Song Wu was the adopted daughter of Yin Zheng’s birth mother and his wife when they were alive.

Li Wei seemed to think of something and asked Song Wu to stay in her room, hoping to avoid Yin Zheng coming to consummate the marriage. And so, Li Wei and Song Wu ended up sharing a bed. In the middle of the night, Li Wei, starving, talked in her sleep and couldn’t stay still. Song Wu was woken up by her and, frustrated, turned to shake her awake.

Unexpectedly, Li Wei didn’t wake up and even bit Song Wu’s arm as if it were a pig’s trotter. After such a night, Song Wu no longer wanted to stay in the room. To make her stay, Li Wei had no choice but to promise to be her maid. That morning at court, the Third Prince was still absent. The Emperor grew frustrated, hoping his sons would convince their third brother to return.

But whether they were close to him or not, none of them wanted to take on the task. Yin Zheng proposed that if the Third Prince could return to the palace of his own accord, there would be no need for an imperial decree. And just like that, he volunteered to take responsibility. After serving Song Wu for a while, Li Wei grew exhausted and hungry, so she faked fainting.

At the moment she collapsed, a pair of large hands caught her waist and held her up. When she glimpsed that it was Yin Zheng, she decided to continue pretending to be unconscious, letting him carry her into the carriage. Upon learning the purpose of the trip, Li Wei became very interested. Rumor had it the Third Prince named his beloved ladies after the solar terms and was said to be extremely handsome.

Li Wei was quite eager to meet this mysterious prince. But upon seeing Yin An in person, Li Wei found the rumors to be quite unreliable. Still, the trip was not in vain—led by Third Princess Dong Haitang, she met the legendary solar-term girls.

Although Xinchuan ranked first among the nine regions, superior to the other eight in military and political matters, its treasury revenue was slightly inferior. At this critical time, Yin An, a financial genius who understood business well, was exactly who was needed. Yin Zheng also knew that His Majesty used this opportunity for impeachment as an excuse to call his third brother back, actually hoping he would return to service. Hearing this, Yin An wavered slightly.

But soon after, he reverted to his unruly and carefree manner, excused himself to celebrate Bai Lu’s birthday, and quickly left. Contrary to Li Wei’s expectation that the women in the inner courtyard would be filled with jealousy and rivalry, the girls got along very harmoniously. With her physical strength, Li Wei successfully joined their cheerful circle. It had been a long time since she had tasted such delicious food; she was so happy she could barely contain herself.

But she found it strange that the birthday girl, Bai Lu, showed no joy and even seemed troubled. It turned out that Bai Lu was anxious that Yin An might visit her room that night and couldn’t think of a way to avoid it. Once the other girls heard this, they all started offering ideas. Li Wei quickly took out paper and pen to jot down all their suggestions.

Li Wei told the girls that if Yin An returned to the palace, perhaps none of them would need to worry about such things anymore. The girls suddenly saw the light and thought Li Wei had come up with a great idea. Just as everyone was cheering, Yin An walked in at the worst possible moment. He sat down, handed the noodles to Shuangjiang, and wished her a happy birthday.

The real birthday girl, Bai Lu, shot him a deadly glare, and the atmosphere turned tense. To persuade Yin An to return, Dong Haitang spoke with him personally. After much thought, Yin An decided to go back to the palace. However, he couldn't help but shed tears when thinking about the girls in his courtyard. Since the girls didn’t have palace records, he could only take four of them with him.

He thought the others would be sad and reluctant, but unexpectedly, none of them wanted to go back with him. The sisters worked together to avoid being selected. But to their surprise, Yin An named four girls himself to take back to the palace. That night, only Li Wei and Yin Zheng were in the room. Yin Zheng simply wanted to know what Li Wei had said to Dong Haitang to make Yin An agree to return.

But as he approached her, Li Wei backed away in fear. Knowing what she was afraid of, Yin Zheng assured her that he wouldn’t force her to consummate their marriage. Li Wei was overjoyed and promised to help him in the future. She also asked Yin Zheng if she could return to her hometown if he became an official.

Though he had no reason to refuse, Yin Zheng couldn’t help feeling disappointed and was at a loss for how to face Li Wei. The Seventh Prince's wife was naturally slow-witted. Seeing her dazed, the Nanny scolded her loudly. Shangguan Jing stepped in to help and resolved the situation. Li Wei and Hao Jia thus became friends with them.

Hearing that Li Wei had recently only been eating plain dishes, the group gave her advice—she should start with the people around her. That day, Li Wei went to the kitchen and happened to see the chef troubled by some moldy tofu. Li Wei suggested that perhaps there was another way to cook it. With no other ingredients in the kitchen, Liu Baoquan decided to take a gamble and follow Li Wei’s instructions.

But when Yin Zheng picked up a piece of tofu, Liu Baoquan panicked and confessed everything. Su Shen and Song Wu scolded Liu Baoquan, but fortunately, Li Wei arrived in time and smoothed things over. She persuaded Yin Zheng to try the new dish, but Song Wu worried it might upset his stomach. As the two argued, the tofu fell to the ground.

Seeing Li Wei looking a little disappointed, Yin Zheng slowly picked up a piece and put it into his mouth. In this way, Li Wei successfully won over Liu Baoquan and gained the right to decide the menu. While the girls were enjoying their meal together, danger crept in. The disciplinary Nanny quietly entered the inner courtyard and loudly scolded everyone for breaking the rules, even speaking rudely. Unable to tolerate it, Li Wei stepped forward to argue back. Unexpectedly, the Nanny flew into a rage and tried to strike Li Wei. At the crucial moment, Hao Jia stood in front of her.

The nanny ordered Li Wei and Shangguan Jing to be tied up and had them severely beaten. After the twenty strokes were delivered, Yin Zheng and Yin Qi rushed over. The nanny attempted to denounce Li Wei in front of Yin Zheng, but unexpectedly, Yin Zheng looked stern and rebuked her for deliberately making things difficult. After saying this, he walked straight to Li Wei, picked her up, and left the inner courtyard.

Back at the residence, Li Wei felt extremely wronged. Even though she knew the family letter couldn’t be sent, she still wanted to write. As she was writing, Yin Zheng came in. When she heard that Yin Zheng had been fined a month's allowance and made to kneel at the ancestral hall because of her, Li Wei felt deeply guilty. However, Yin Zheng didn’t mind and said directly that it wasn’t her fault.

Li Wei couldn't help but recall her childhood, when she climbed trees to pick locust flowers during private school and her mother had to be called in. But her mother had told the teacher not to stifle a child's interests. Yin Zheng took off Li Wei’s shoes and socks, placed her feet on his lap, opened a bottle of medicine, and carefully applied it for her.

Li Wei was moved; she remembered how her mother had done the same when she fell from a locust tree as a child. Watching Yin Zheng gently apply the medicine, Li Wei couldn’t help but say that he really resembled her mother. Yin Zheng found her words odd and knocked gently on her forehead. After learning of the incident, Yin Song didn’t seem to care much but reminded Hao Jia not to get too close to the Sixth Prince’s people.

When Yin Song called Li Wei improper, Hao Jia immediately wanted to defend her but was sternly interrupted. Seeing this, Zhao Fangru quickly offered some fresh tea and invited Yin Song to her room that night. Yin Song agreed. Hao Jia suddenly realized that all along, she had seen herself as a working servant, but in truth, she was merely a pet in Yin Song’s hand.

The flood disaster in Danchuan affected the people's livelihood and was a major concern for the Lord. If Yin Zheng could resolve this urgent issue, it would be a great step in his career. The Grand Tutor saw a puppy and couldn’t help but remind Yin Zheng not to be swayed by romantic feelings. Yin Zheng disagreed, saying that protecting a wife others didn’t think much of was even more interesting.

Meanwhile, Li Wei, concerned about Yin Zheng’s stomach problems, had developed many stomach-friendly recipes for him. One day, she overheard talk about the Danchuan flood and shared her thoughts based on her years in the countryside, which gave Yin Zheng some inspiration. The Lord was very pleased with Yin Zheng’s proposal but raised a new question—he wanted to transport supplies to Danchuan via the waterway.

Yin Zheng felt the plan was flawed but didn’t know how to point out the Lord’s mistake. When Li Wei heard about it, she encouraged Yin Zheng to be open, since the Lord was not only his ruler but also his family. After considering, Yin Zheng decided to follow her advice. Before he left that day, Li Wei, seeing he was still nervous, handed him a piece of candy.

Yin Zheng instinctively leaned forward and ate it right out of her hand. The atmosphere turned intimate, but with others nearby, it became awkward. After returning to the residence, Yin Zheng locked himself in his room. Li Wei was worried he had been scolded by the Lord. As she felt guilty, Yin Zheng came out and told everyone the Lord was very pleased with what he had said.

The gloom on Li Wei’s face vanished instantly, and she began thinking about preparations for the Mid-Autumn Festival. A few days later, there was a family banquet in the palace. Li Wei locked herself in the kitchen, busy making pastries for the banquet.

At the banquet, Li Wei teamed up with several new wives to prepare delicacies from their hometowns. The Lord was very pleased and promised her a reward. Li Wei showed no interest in gold or jewels, only asking to be allowed to reunite with her family after the Mid-Autumn Festival. The Lord, being open-minded, agreed. As the banquet officially began, each prince and their wives offered toasts to the Lord and Lady of the region.

But Yin Zheng seemed distracted and a little downcast. Seeing that he kept glancing toward Lady He, Li Wei suggested they go toast her together. Yin Zheng felt even more sorrowful, knowing that his mother would not want him to approach. As the moon quietly climbed over the mountain, the family banquet concluded. Back in her hometown, Li Wei would always prepare a barbecue after such feasts.

Even though she was now in Xinchuan, she wanted to keep up the tradition. After the palace banquet, she took Yuping and Yuzhan to the courtyard to grill meat. Unexpectedly, the fire grew out of control, and it took a long struggle to extinguish the flames. Just as they thought the danger was over, Lady He appeared, looking stern and intense, as if she would devour someone alive.

In the hall, Song Wu fanned the flames and hinted at punishing Li Wei. Only then did Li Wei realize that Song Wu was the one causing trouble behind the scenes. The two argued in front of Lady He, giving her a splitting headache. In the end, Lady He ordered Li Wei to be punished. As the paddle was about to fall, Lady of the region suddenly entered and stopped it.

Although she spared Li Wei the punishment, she also revoked the Lord’s reward. This meant Li Wei could not reunite with her family. When she tried to plead with the Lady, she was stopped by Lady He, and even Yin Zheng almost got punished because of her. Li Wei returned to the residence in despair, locked herself in her room, and cried silently. Yin Zheng came to comfort her and brought a bowl of longevity noodles.

If not for Su Shen, Li Wei wouldn’t have known the noodles were actually prepared for Yin Zheng himself—Mid-Autumn was his birthday. The next day, Li Wei personally went to the kitchen and prepared a large feast to belatedly celebrate his birthday. To her surprise, the birthday boy had also prepared a big gift for her. Seeing her parents and younger brother, Li Wei was so happy she almost jumped with joy. At night, the family sat together, endlessly chatting.

Though she had endured a lot in Xinchuan, seeing her family brought her tears of joy. But she didn’t want them to worry and only shared happy stories. To avoid suspicion, she had to share a room with Yin Zheng. Perhaps that night, something subtly shifted in both of their hearts. Meanwhile, Yin Qi had specially prepared spicy mooncakes for Shangguan Jing, making her beam with joy.

But unexpectedly, Yin Qi brought up the idea of taking a concubine, which enraged Shangguan Jing enough to return to her parents’ home. When the Lord heard about it, he flew into a rage and ordered Yin Qi to go to Danchuan personally to bring her back. Knowing Yin Qi might fail, he instructed Yin Zheng to go along and inspect the flood situation in Danchuan. After days of travel, the group finally arrived in Danchuan.

The streets were bustling, and both men and women seemed free and lively. Li Wei admired the customs, but Yin Qi was terrified. At the inn, he was overwhelmed by the spiciness of the food and shocked by women loudly scolding their husbands in the street. As he tried to escape, a commanding “Stop! ” came from behind. It was Danchuan’s Palace Attendant, Situ Jin, there to welcome them.

Lord Daichuan, Shangguan Yan, had always disapproved of the Alliance of the Nine Regions. She believed it was merely a means to sacrifice women to maintain diplomatic ties. She immediately decided that in three years, no women from Daichuan would participate in the selection. But now that Xinchuan had sent two princes over, Shangguan Jing felt the situation was serious. If she still refused to return, she feared it would implicate her sister.

Shangguan Yan, full of dominance, told her younger sister that even if Lord Xinchuan personally came, she would still be able to protect her. At the banquet, Shangguan Yan deliberately made things difficult for Yin Qi, preparing a table full of spicy dishes for him and even bringing out pig offal to mock him for being fickle and failing Shangguan Jing.

Under pressure, Yin Qi had no choice but to eat the pig eyeballs with his eyes closed, but when he saw pig brains, he couldn’t hold it in and vomited uncontrollably. Though the sky had already turned dark, the streets of Daichuan remained brightly lit and bustling. Yin Zheng invited Li Wei to stroll around, but unexpectedly, Yin Qi, satisfied with his own social awareness, insisted on joining them.

While Yin Qi went to the latrine, Li Wei and Yin Zheng sat down to eat some fruit. Li Wei instinctively handed a peeled orange to Yin Zheng, only to be mocked by a man at the next table. That man skillfully carved fruits with a knife and arranged them into a stunningly beautiful fruit platter for his wife. Yin Zheng couldn’t stop snickering as Li Wei pulled him away.

In order to see Shangguan Jing, Yin Qi agreed to participate in Daichuan’s husband selection exam. What he never expected was that the first round was playing mahjong. After a few rounds, Yin Qi either took back his tiles or gave others the win, leaving a terrible impression on Situ Jin. Yin Zheng, unable to bear watching anymore, had to give him a few pointers. In the second round, ear cleaning, Yin Qi did terribly again.

The third round was to make chili oil that Shangguan Jing would choose. Yin Qi complained bitterly, but to appease Shangguan Jing, he had no choice but to roll up his sleeves and work. Situ Jin couldn't help but sneer, bluntly saying that Yin Qi really didn’t understand anything. Li Wei pondered over Situ Jin's words and suddenly realized that Yin Qi wasn’t trying to calm Shangguan Jing’s anger, but to win her back.

In the end, the clever Shangguan Jing chose the chili oil made by Yin Qi. But Shangguan Yan still refused to let the two meet, even bluntly stating she wanted them to divorce. After much thought, the group finally came up with a plan. The next day, Yin Zheng requested an audience with Shangguan Yan and promised her that if he ever had the power to speak, he would reform this unreasonable marriage alliance system.

Shangguan Yan found it amusing, and his words happened to align with her thoughts. She finally agreed to let Shangguan Jing meet with Yin Qi. As soon as Yin Qi saw Shangguan Jing, he rushed over to beg for her forgiveness. Unexpectedly, Shangguan Yan ordered her men to shoot a hidden arrow at Yin Qi, but Shangguan Jing noticed in time and caught the arrow with her bare hands.

Seeing blood gushing from Shangguan Jing’s hand, Yin Qi quickly tore his own clothes to bandage her wound. Shangguan Yan pressed hard and demanded that Yin Qi participate in her test. Yin Qi, who didn’t know how to ride or shoot, naturally didn’t dare accept the challenge. Yin Zheng had to volunteer to take his place. Shangguan Yan blindfolded herself and skillfully hit the target on the lake.

Yin Zheng also blindfolded himself and relied solely on sound to determine direction. As the wind blew the bells on the river, ringing nonstop, Li Wei and Yin Qi held their breath in suspense. Yin Zheng, composed and confident, raised his bow and shot the arrow. To everyone's surprise, he hit the center of the jade pendant.

A decree came from Lord Daichuan, reminding Yin Qi that if the alliance between the two regions was sealed with a marriage, then the sixth prince of Xinchuan should marry into Daichuan as a husband to its lord. Everyone was stunned by this news and couldn't believe their ears. Li Wei momentarily lost focus, her heart tightening as she didn’t know what to do.

Shangguan Yan actually wanted him to marry into Daichuan. Yin Zheng, after much thought, still couldn’t understand her intentions, so he claimed that he was already engaged. But Shangguan Yan already knew the engagement between Yin Zheng and Li Wei was merely a formality, with no real marital affection between them. Hearing this, Yin Zheng suddenly felt lost, staring blankly at Li Wei. Li Wei didn’t know how to face Yin Zheng and could only lower her head in silence.

Yin Zheng let out a heavy sigh, then took Li Wei’s hand and walked to the front, publicly declaring that he liked Li Wei and begged Shangguan Yan not to force them. Li Wei quickly echoed him, saying she was willing to continue being with Yin Zheng and pleaded with Shangguan Yan for mercy. Shangguan Jing walked in from outside, breaking the slightly awkward atmosphere. She told her sister that she was willing to return to Xinchuan with Yin Qi.

But Shangguan Yan was still worried that Shangguan Jing was only returning for Daichuan’s sake, not for her own. After some thought, Shangguan Yan gave Yin Qi one last test: if he could make Shangguan Jing laugh, she would allow them to return. On the way back, Yin Qi was puzzled about how to bring back Shangguan Jing’s smile. He turned around hoping to get some insight from Yin Zheng, only to see that they were still holding hands.

Li Wei belatedly realized and quickly let go, explaining that she had acted out of desperation and knew that what Yin Zheng said back then was just a stopgap measure. Hearing this, Yin Zheng was both angry and anxious, but didn’t know what to say. For this final test, Yin Qi lost his appetite and went out to seek advice from Daichuan men.

But after only a short time learning face-changing from a master, he was already complaining and trying to flee. Yin Zheng defended him verbally but closed the door with his hands, ensuring Yin Qi couldn’t escape. That day, Jade Bottle and Jade Cup brought Shangguan Jing to the hall, wanting her to watch Yin Qi’s face-changing performance. Clumsy as ever, Yin Qi didn’t win any applause from Shangguan Jing.

Left with no choice, he stepped forward and held her hand, saying he remembered every word she had ever said. Shangguan Jing was touched and couldn’t help but smile. Shangguan Yan held a banquet to bid farewell to everyone, but to her surprise, Yin Zheng got thoroughly drunk. The night was quiet, with moonlight dancing on the water. Li Wei and Yin Zheng sat side by side on the bed, seemingly deep in conversation.

To Li Wei, their marriage had indeed been forced from the beginning, and now she couldn’t quite explain her feelings. She always felt that Yin Zheng was just her employer. Yin Zheng, flushed from the alcohol, looked a bit unhappy, thinking Li Wei disliked him. Li Wei quickly explained that she had never disliked him. Yin Zheng turned his head, gazing at Li Wei, and asked if she might like him, even just a little.

He looked at her full of hope, but all he heard in return was, “I’m not sure. ” Perhaps it was the hazy night or the wine, but Yin Zheng couldn’t help leaning in to kiss Li Wei. The next morning, Li Wei felt extremely awkward upon seeing Yin Zheng, but to her surprise, Yin Zheng had completely forgotten what had happened the night before. Li Wei began to doubt whether it had all been a dream.

After returning to Xinchuan, Li Wei couldn’t help but recall that night. She was dazed all day, unable to figure out if it had really happened or was just a dream. Maybe the memory of that night was too vivid. Every time she saw Yin Zheng, she felt uneasy and tried her best to avoid him.

Lord Jinchuan urged repayment of a loan, but the tax silver had all been sent to Daichuan for disaster relief, leaving the treasury empty for the time being. After some thought, Yin Zheng figured they might be able to recover some old debts. Meanwhile, Yin Song thought of Zhao Fangru’s family property and even considered making a move without informing the lord in advance.

Jinchuan is lacking in mineral resources, while Zhao Fangru’s natal family controls half of the mines in Daichuan. Therefore, on the court, Yin Song proposed that the Zhao family supply coal to Jinchuan as a way to negotiate a delay in repaying the silver debt. However, Lord Xinchuan seemed to disagree with this idea. He believed that while Xinchuan is Daichuan’s largest buyer and indeed holds leverage, Xinchuan should not act in such a manner.

The court was in an uproar, and Yin Song was also startled. Just as he was about to say more, Lord Xinchuan interrupted him. Lord Xinchuan was upset over this matter. As he happened to pass by the academy, he decided to go in and see what Mr. Dai was teaching today. That day, the academy was discussing the matter of the silver debt. Mr.

Dai questioned several princes one by one, but they just giggled and had nothing in their heads. Among them, Yin Zheng stood out like a lotus rising unstained from the mud, offering his own thoughts. Hearing his words, Lord Xinchuan was greatly pleased and decided to summon Yin Zheng for a discussion. After being embarrassed at the palace, Yin Song was furious and took out his anger on Hao Jia, forbidding her from eating.

The next day at school, Hao Jia looked spiritless and listless. Seeing this, Li Wei couldn't help but feel a bit worried. Hao Jia confided in Li Wei that due to the palace cutting expenses recently, her household had been making things like stinky tofu and snail noodles, which she naturally disliked. When Li Wei heard there was tasty food involved, her eyes lit up and she eagerly asked Hao Jia to let her try these new things.

That day, Hao Jia brought Li Wei a bowl of snail noodles. Just as Li Wei was happily eating, Zhao Fangru suddenly showed up. Seeing that Li Wei had finished the bowl of snail noodles cleanly, Zhao Fangru was pleasantly surprised and did not punish them. In response to Lord Xinchuan’s call to cut expenses, the households of the various princes all showcased their own methods. The third prince withheld all his wives’ monthly allowances.

The fifth prince pawned off all his family’s writing tools and weapons. As for Li Wei, she began growing vegetables at home. But Yin Zheng was still troubled—recovering the silver debt was no easy task. Li Wei thought back to her own experience at home: if the debtor is shameless, then the collector must be even more shameless. Yin Zheng had a sudden realization and immediately went to ask the most shameless person in the palace for help—Yin An.

But getting Yin An to act wasn’t easy. Li Wei specially brought the other 24 Solar Term Girls to Yin An’s residence, making him suddenly realize he was short on money. Sure enough, in order to support these girls, Yin An took the initiative to seek out Yin Zheng. Just like that, the two of them teamed up and went door to door to collect the debts.

Yin Zheng handled the task quite well and might be able to establish his own residence and attend court as early as next year. Li Wei was very happy. If that happened, she could return home sooner. But she was also a bit melancholic—if she returned home as a concubine, she would surely be criticized. Yin Zheng asked Su Shen whether Xinchuan had ever made a concubine into the official wife.

Su Shen couldn’t help but praise Yin Zheng for his wisdom—this was indeed a good way to keep Li Wei. But to Su Shen’s surprise, Yin Zheng let out a long sigh. It turned out that he only hoped Li Wei could leave him as the official wife, because he didn’t want to force her. He wanted Li Wei to return home with dignity. Su Shen felt a bit disheartened.

He told Yin Zheng that the thirteenth prince had indeed once promoted a concubine. The records in the Household Affairs Hall noted that the thirteenth prince first had the concubine win first place in the Inner Court examination, then used the excuse of needing a female steward when establishing his household to make her his official wife. Yin Zheng shared this plan with Li Wei and hoped she could win first place in the next exam.

Li Wei felt dizzy—this was quite difficult for her. Fortunately, Yin Zheng stayed by her side day and night, personally tutoring her. As time passed, Li Wei’s vegetables flourished, and she even shared some with her sisters.

That day, the academy matron asked everyone to write an essay on “the virtues of women. ” Shangguan Jing wrote a piece titled Biographies of Exemplary Women and Disfavored Favorites, arguing that a woman’s virtue lies in uprightness, moral righteousness, and standing up for justice. Li Wei wrote Long Live Women, stating that men and women should be treated equally. The matron flew into a rage upon reading it and threatened to keep them in detention.

In fact, the matron knew everyone wanted Li Wei to take first place, so she hid the fact that Song Wu also participated in the exam, and then announced that Song Wu had won first place. The matron reported this to her superiors, which ended up implicating the various princes. Seeing Yin Zheng being scolded by his mother, Li Wei felt deeply guilty and quickly apologized, promising to win first place next time.

But to her surprise, Yin Zheng wasn’t angry at all. Instead, he told her he would protect her no matter what. That night, while helping Li Wei review her lessons, Yin Zheng accidentally discovered that she had put on makeup. Her girlish intentions were exposed on the spot, and Li Wei was a bit embarrassed, quickly getting up to leave.

Yin Zheng gently tugged her sleeve and told her that in a few days, he and the third prince would be traveling to Jinchuan, and reminded her to be careful while alone. Li Wei couldn’t stop smiling and readily promised she would strive to win first place. After Yin Zheng finished speaking, Li Wei covered her chest and left—but the little deer in her heart still seemed to be lingering before Yin Zheng.

Watching Li Wei walk away, Yin Zheng felt a mix of emotions. After saying farewell to their wives, Yin Zheng and Yin An mounted their steeds and headed toward Jinchuan. The sun soon set, and the two had to rest temporarily in the forest. Unexpectedly, they encountered bandits. What surprised Yin An even more was that the usually gentle Yin Zheng displayed formidable martial arts skills and swiftly subdued the bandits.

With the bandits leading the way, the two soon arrived in Jinchuan. The Jinchuan palace was splendid and imposing. Yin Zheng and Yin An entered the palace and met Lord Jinchuan. Yin An tried to use their distant familial connection to get closer, but Lord Jinchuan didn’t buy it at all and urged them to quickly pay back the silver debt. Yin Zheng promised Lord Jinchuan that Xinchuan would repay the debt, but just needed a bit more time.

To show Xinchuan’s sincerity, Yin Zheng offered to pay extra interest. However, the wealthy and arrogant Lord Jinchuan had no regard for the interest and publicly embarrassed the two princes. Yin Zheng’s mind raced. He recalled the bandits they had encountered the previous night and boldly guessed that Jinchuan’s urgency in demanding repayment was due to rampant banditry. Sure enough, this was exactly what was troubling Lord Jinchuan.

Sensing a possible compromise, Yin Zheng promised that Xinchuan would assist Jinchuan in eliminating the bandits. Lord Jinchuan was quite satisfied and immediately agreed to postpone the repayment of the silver debt. Before they knew it, the day of Yin Zheng’s return arrived. Despite the cold weather, Li Wei insisted on waiting outside the courtyard for Yin Zheng’s return. The bright moon hung high, seemingly also waiting for Yin Zheng to come home. Soon, Yin Zheng returned gracefully.

Seeing everyone looking glum, he thought Li Wei had done poorly on the exam. But then Li Wei’s expression changed, and she happily told him the good news that she had taken first place. Due to his major contributions in the Jinchuan affair, Lord Xinchuan decided to let Yin Zheng establish his residence ahead of schedule. Yin Zheng seized the opportunity to request that Li Wei be made his official wife.

In the eyes of Lord Xinchuan, Li Wei was a mere country girl, unworthy of status. But upon hearing that she had won first place in the exam, he agreed to his son’s request. After returning, Yin Zheng took Li Wei to see their new home. Though Li Wei had always talked about wanting to go home, upon seeing the new house, she couldn’t help but imagine a future there.

She had only been speaking casually, but Yin Zheng had actually renovated the house according to her ideas. Seeing that Li Wei still didn’t understand his intentions, Su Shen on the side was nearly driven mad with frustration. That day, Li Wei finally couldn’t help but ask Yin Zheng why he insisted on her getting first place. Yin Zheng took the chance to confess his feelings to her.

Faced with Yin Zheng's confession, Li Wei was caught off guard. In truth, she wanted to agree to stay with Yin Zheng, but didn’t know how to say it. After Yin Zheng left, she held her chest tightly, afraid that the little deer thumping inside would leap out. Song Wu was always picking on Li Wei, so much so that even the maids couldn't help but wonder if she liked Li Wei.

Li Wei, who overheard, teased Song Wu about it. But Song Wu didn’t get angry. Instead, she started talking to Li Wei about what it really meant to like someone. Liking a person was different from liking an object. If it’s an object, you don’t care about its feelings—you just take it when you're happy. But if it's a person, you care whether they’re happy, you respect them, and your heart and eyes hold only them.

Listening to Song Wu speak so earnestly, Li Wei fell into deep thought. Before they knew it, New Year's Eve arrived. According to custom, the princes had to attend the palace banquet. Worried that Li Wei wouldn’t feel at ease, Yin Zheng specially asked for leave and took her out to stroll through the streets. Unexpectedly, they ran into Yin Qi and Shangguan Jing at a restaurant.

The four of them decided to eat hot pot together, and the atmosphere was very harmonious. In contrast, things were rather quiet on Hao Jia’s side. She didn’t mind much, but she was curious why Zhao Fangru, after being married for so many years, still hadn’t gotten pregnant. Her maid told her that six years ago, during the nine regions’ selection of girls for marriage, Zhao Fangru stood out the most.

But later, when Yin Song wanted to set her aside and remarry, Zhao Fangru cut ties with the outside world and spent her days quietly in the inner residence with Yin Song. The sisters gathered and chatted about their respective households. They all agreed that among the brothers, Yin Zheng was the most outstanding. That night, Li Wei quietly had a heart-to-heart with Hao Jia. From the beginning, she had intended to leave, but now her heart was wavering.

When Hao Jia heard that Yin Zheng wanted to make Li Wei his official wife, she was shocked and delighted. For Li Wei, such things didn’t mean much, but in Xinchuan, elevating a concubine to official wife was a major affair. Yin Zheng’s willingness to break the rules for Li Wei showed just how sincere his love for her was. After the matter in Jinchuan was resolved, Xinchuan’s treasury finally got some relief.

Yin Qi also secretly redeemed the sword he had once pawned and surprised Shangguan Jing with it. Shangguan Jing was overjoyed and deeply moved. To avoid being too sentimental, she gently gave Yin Qi a few playful punches as thanks. Lately, the sisters had all been on diets. Haitang even fainted from hunger because of it. It turned out Yin An had demanded that everyone be slim as cicada wings.

Shangguan Jing and Li Wei spoke up for Haitang, insisting that women should lose weight for themselves, not to meet some man’s harsh standards. To put this belief into action, Li Wei had her clothes let out after returning home. Unexpectedly, Yin Zheng appeared and personally helped her alter the clothes. The atmosphere became subtly intimate. Su Shen, with a good sense of timing, dismissed the two maids, leaving Li Wei and Yin Zheng alone together.

Li Wei gently called his name and pulled the red thread from his hand. Li Wei, blushing, told Yin Zheng she had decided to stay and be the wife of the Sixth Prince. Upon hearing this, Yin Zheng was both surprised and happy, and the hand holding the red thread twitched involuntarily. He eagerly asked Li Wei if she truly meant it. When he saw her nod gently, he finally felt at ease.

But Xinchuan was different from Jichuan—Li Wei hoped Yin Zheng understood that she would have no other husband in this life but him. Yin Zheng, of course, understood. He promised her that she would be his only wife for the rest of his life. Under the bright moonlight, the two embraced, confirming their love for each other. On the day of Yin Zheng’s first court session, Li Wei got up early to see him off and cheer him on.

Although Yin Zheng couldn’t clearly hear her words, he still loudly responded. However, he didn’t have a smooth time at court. When he stepped forward to speak, the ministers ignored him and instead supported Yin Song’s views. Feeling defeated, Yin Zheng left the hall, only to be summoned back by the Lord. The Lord told him that he had chosen an excellent wife for him—Yuan Ying, the legitimate daughter of Lord Jinchuan. Yin Zheng felt like lightning had struck and immediately refused.

The Lord didn’t seem to care about Yin Zheng’s refusal and insisted on the marriage with Yuan Ying. Suddenly irritated, Yin Zheng questioned the Lord, reminding him that he had once promised to make Li Wei his wife. Why now go back on his word? His words enraged Lord Xinchuan, but the Lady of the house arrived in time to help defuse the situation. With her guidance, Yin Zheng calmed down and saw the stakes.

If he openly defied the Lord, his future would be over. Helpless, Yin Zheng fell silent. Li Wei had prepared a grand meal to celebrate Yin Zheng’s return, but instead received terrible news. The night was quiet, the wind gently blowing, yet it felt as if it could bring tears to one’s eyes. Li Wei sat blankly in the courtyard, her eyes red. She suddenly wondered if the new wife coming into the courtyard she had decorated would like it.

Time flew, and soon it was the day of Yin Zheng’s marriage to Yuan Ying. That side was filled with festivity, while Li Wei’s world was shrouded in gloom. It seemed she had come to terms with it—if this was Yin Zheng’s choice, then she would simply go home. Just as she was grieving, Hao Jia and Shangguan Jing walked in. Seeing her close friends, Li Wei’s bottled-up sorrow burst forth like a dam, pouring out with her tears.

On their wedding night, Yin Zheng and Yuan Ying sat side by side, but showed none of the warmth of newlyweds. Yuan Ying was cold, treating the whole situation like a business deal. She told Yin Zheng that their marriage was nothing more than a political trade between two regions and that she wasn’t willing to marry him. But since neither of them had the power to change fate, she would play the role of the Prince’s wife.

She also admitted that she knew Yin Zheng’s political career wasn’t yet stable, and she could be a good supportive wife. Once he had influence, she would be able to leave with dignity. Yin Zheng, quite pleased, accepted the arrangement with Yuan Ying. He happily drank the wedding wine, but unexpectedly became so drunk that he nearly lost control.

Passing by Li Wei’s room, he recklessly barged in, only to see Lao Jiu carrying the equally drunk and unconscious Li Wei back. Yin Zheng immediately sobered up, hurriedly took Li Wei from Lao Jiu, and brought her back to her room. Hearing Li Wei murmuring in her sleep, he felt very unsettled. Although Yuan Ying was the princess of Jinchuan, the nannies in the residence didn’t fear her much because the central authority was far away.

On her first day as head of the household, they tried to give her a hard time. But they had underestimated the new wife—she quickly brought them into line. Later, she also revamped the opening banquet plans, replacing unsuitable dishes and rituals. Meanwhile, after waking up, Li Wei began packing her things, ready to return to her home in Jichuan. Seeing Yin Zheng approaching, she hurried to shut the door, unwilling to talk to him.

But once he left, her heart filled with sorrow. Just as she was about to leave, Yuan Ying summoned her. Faced with the poised and confident Yuan Ying, Li Wei couldn’t help but feel nervous, sitting timidly on the bench. Yuan Ying asked if she could read ledgers or had ever managed Yin Zheng’s accounts. Li Wei blanked out for a moment, then answered no. Yuan Ying shook her head and marked an X on the paper.

Then, she posed several more questions to Li Wei, none of whose answers satisfied her, earning more Xs. Unable to sit still any longer, Li Wei made an excuse to leave, but Yuan Ying stopped her. She wanted Li Wei to go see Yin Zheng with her. She told Li Wei that people have mouths to clear up misunderstandings and ears to hear explanations. One shouldn’t avoid problems out of pride or fear.

Finally, Li Wei learned the truth about the deal between Yin Zheng and Yuan Ying, and her heart swelled with complex emotions. But one thing was undeniable—at that moment, her heart was full of joy.

To help Yin Zheng train Li Wei, Yuan Ying specially compiled a document. But Song Wu thought it was a divorce letter and tore it up without a word. Yuan Ying wasn’t angry. Instead, she gently asked Song Wu to piece the document back together. Faced with the gentle yet imposing Yuan Ying, Song Wu lost her usual willfulness and aggressiveness, obediently picked up the fragments, and prepared to paste them back together.

Although Yuan Ying was strict with herself, Li Wei understood that she truly wanted to nurture her. To Li Wei, Yuan Ying was a wise and reasonable superior. Hao Jia couldn’t help but sigh, whether it was working or getting married, it seemed difficult to find someone worthy of entrusting one’s life to—especially as a concubine, one would suffer even more grievances.

But Li Wei didn’t quite understand why the Prince must always be pleased, or why women in Xinchuan could only rely on their husbands and live by their moods. She actually felt that someone like Yuan Ying, if not confined by the deep inner residence, would have already made great achievements. Although Yuan Ying had no hostility toward Li Wei, her maid Pomegranate had selfish intentions.

While Li Wei and Hao Jia were having a heartfelt conversation, she was eavesdropping nearby, only to be caught by Jade Vase. After Yuan Ying learned of this, she reasoned with Pomegranate and moved her with emotion, finally making her realize her mistake. Just as Yuan Ying was about to take Pomegranate to apologize to Li Wei, she unexpectedly ran into her bringing Jade Vase. Both sides were sincere and offered their apologies.

Yuan Ying managed all household affairs, even the meals of Li Wei and Yin Zheng. That night, Yin Zheng was so hungry that he quietly went to the kitchen to find something to eat, only to run into Li Wei. Li Wei slid the pastries beside her toward Yin Zheng, signaling for him to have some too. Yin Zheng felt a bit embarrassed and carefully pushed the plate back, suggesting Li Wei eat more.

The two pushed back and forth, and the atmosphere gradually became subtle. Just then, a noise came from outside, and the two hurriedly hid behind a cabinet. Sure enough, it was Yuan Ying who came in, and the two shrank into a corner in fright. Smart as she was, Yuan Ying clearly knew they were there, but she said nothing, only smiled knowingly and left. Seeing Yuan Ying walk away, Yin Zheng and Li Wei finally relaxed.

But they soon realized that in their rush to hide, they were now extremely close—so close they could clearly feel each other’s warm breath. Although the matter in Jinchuan had been resolved, the urgent task at hand was still to raise the remaining silver debt. To this end, Yin Zheng proposed on the court to promote commerce to stimulate the economy.

The court was in an uproar, but Lord Xinchuan thought it was a viable approach and ordered Yin Zheng to draft a proposal. Loyal as always, Yin Zheng even pulled Yin An into the matter, allowing him to return home and live there. Opening the night market was a major event and couldn’t be done hastily. Yin Zheng and Li Wei went to the streets to gather merchants’ opinions. Unexpectedly, they ran into Yin Song.

Yin Song stopped his carriage and mocked Yin Zheng. Li Wei couldn’t stand it and retorted. Indeed, Yuan Ying was a great teacher—though Li Wei wasn’t well-educated, she didn’t back down when faced with Yin Song’s provocation, instead reasoning with him until he left. Yin Zheng looked at her with new admiration and gave her a thumbs-up. Yin Zheng sent invitations to all his brothers, inviting them to his housewarming banquet.

To give him a hard time, Yin Song refused to attend and hinted that other ministers should not associate with Yin Zheng. Soon, the day of the banquet arrived. The new residence was lively, but no guests showed up even after a long wait. In fact, the sisters all wanted to come, but the Princes were afraid of Yin Song.

The evening breeze was gentle, and the carefully prepared dishes had already gone cold. Song Wu, famished, urged everyone to start eating since no guests were likely to come anyway. Unexpectedly, just as she finished speaking, Shangguan Jing arrived with a jar of fine wine, and the sisters from the Third Prince’s household came in merrily. Everyone was overjoyed. Even Yin Qi limped in shortly after, followed by several brothers who also showed up to celebrate.

Hao Jia came late, but her sincerity was clear. After enjoying the spectacular fireworks, everyone moved indoors to enjoy the feast. They raised their glasses to the moon and congratulated Yin Zheng on his successful housewarming. But an unexpected incident occurred—Yin Qi suddenly foamed at the mouth and collapsed. The imperial physician diagnosed that Yin Qi had been poisoned. Yin Zheng couldn’t understand—everyone had eaten and drunk the same food, so why was Yin Qi the only one poisoned?

Li Wei investigated the evening’s dishes and found that the lettuce on the menu had been replaced with amaranth. Amaranth conflicts with soft-shelled turtle meat and the two should not be eaten together, or it will cause poisoning. A flash of insight struck Li Wei and she immediately went to the kitchen. To counteract this food incompatibility, Yin Qi had to drink a large amount of water spinach juice.

This method worked—after drinking a bowl, Yin Qi felt much better, and everyone was finally relieved. After the fright, Yin Zheng had a lot on his mind. Though he said he didn’t care, the incident clearly upset him. Li Wei found him and encouraged him to talk about his unhappiness. Yin Zheng was deeply moved and picked up a wine cup to pour himself a drink.

Li Wei swiftly snatched the rice wine from his hand, reminding him that he couldn’t drink due to his weak stomach. Yin Zheng protested innocently that his stomach had recovered. But Li Wei, in the tone of a managing wife, firmly refused to let him drink. Yin Zheng couldn’t help grumbling that although his alcohol tolerance wasn’t great, he wouldn’t do anything outrageous—why not let him drink? Hearing this, Li Wei retorted, asking how he could say such a thing.

She reminded him of what happened in Danchuan and sat down angrily, waiting for his explanation. As she spoke, memories of that night suddenly flashed through Yin Zheng’s mind, and he finally realized what he had done. He wanted to say something but found himself speechless. The old officials in the Household Affairs Bureau were conservative and their subordinates even more so—afraid of responsibility and quick to escalate problems. One night, a fire was started by two merchants.

The matter reached the court, and Lord Xinchuan publicly reprimanded Yin Zheng, ordering him to pacify the old officials and calm public anger. Yin Zheng was willing to accept punishment but refused to admit wrongdoing or give up the night market reform. His words angered Lord Xinchuan, and the entire Sixth Prince’s residence was placed under house arrest. In truth, Lord Xinchuan knew Yin Zheng wasn’t at fault. But reform was difficult.

To continue breaking the old marketplace system, the old officials had to be appeased. Besides, Lord Xinchuan understood Yin Zheng’s personality. If he didn’t use this time to calm him down, Yin Zheng’s unyielding nature would only create more political enemies. Li Wei, worried that Yin Zheng would be upset alone, went to his room to check on him. But seeing the composed Yin Zheng made her emotional instead.

An ordinary child would be comforted when wronged, but Yin Zheng’s grievances came from his parents. Li Wei wiped away her tears and took out the pastries freshly made by Liu Baoquan, asking Yin Zheng to enjoy them. But the next day brought new problems. Due to the housewarming preparations, the household had already spent quite a bit, and now, with the residence under lockdown, they were running a serious deficit.

Everyone tightened their belts and even started growing vegetables themselves, but life was still hard. Regarding the Fifth and Seventh Princes opening their residences, Lady Chuan was puzzled. Previously, the Sixth Prince opened his residence early because he had achieved great merit. But the Fifth and Seventh Princes had no such accomplishments—why were they allowed to open their residences? Yet Lord Xinchuan understood: among rulers and brothers, the worry was not scarcity, but inequality.

Seeing Hao Jia waiting alone outside the door, Zhao Fangru couldn’t help but step forward to chat with her. After all, both of them served under the same man, and if they gave up so easily, how could they survive until old age? As she spoke, she pulled Hao Jia into the room. Seeing the desk full of memorials, Zhao Fangru scolded the servant nearby and told him to tidy them up quickly.

Unexpectedly, they were all written by Yin Song himself and had just been rejected by the Lord. Hearing this, Zhao Fangru felt a bit awkward. Noticing this, Hao Jia quickly praised Yin Song and stepped forward to grind ink for him. Yin Song was in high spirits, and the hearts of the two women were finally at ease. Yin Zheng's whole family was under house arrest, and everyone knew Yin Song was the one pushing things behind the scenes.

As someone from Yin Song's residence, Hao Jia inevitably felt uneasy. She secretly sent a letter to Li Wei to express her apology. This was originally a private matter between Li Wei and Hao Jia, but Li Wei openly read the letter in front of Yin Zheng, truly treating him as one of her own. Naturally, Yin Zheng could feel Li Wei’s affection, and he was overjoyed.

The Fifth and the Seventh Princes were opening their residences and attending court for the first time. As per tradition, an inaugural banquet should be held. But since Yin Zheng and Li Wei were under house arrest, they were in no mood to celebrate. The Seventh Prince and his wife were thoughtful and sent food to everyone. Li Wei, delighted by the fine dishes, was in high spirits.

But the days of confinement were truly boring, so she decided to gather everyone to play mahjong. After a whole afternoon, Yin Zheng won a huge pile of money. The others, having lost and grown bored, had to find other ways to kill time. Everyone brought out the jars and pots from the room and made rings out of bamboo strips. Whatever one could ring, one could take.

Unexpectedly, Liu Baoquan hit every target with precision and took away all the displayed items. Everything that could be taken was gone, except for the items in Yuan Ying’s room. Just as they were discussing this, Li Wei suddenly felt a chill down her spine. As soon as the words were out, Yuan Ying came over with a fierce aura, glaring at them with murderous eyes.

During today’s court session, the Lord publicly announced that the Third and Fifth Princes would assist Yin Song in managing the market. In fact, this was all part of Yin Zheng’s plan. The Lord deeply understood that the real problem wasn’t scarcity, but inequality. To quell the dissatisfaction of Yin Song and the court elders, he had Yin Zheng take the blame.

This way, if the Lord wanted to use Yin Zheng again, others would no longer be able to accuse him of favoritism. The group suddenly understood after hearing Li Wei explain the reasoning. Upon hearing that Yin Zheng intended to allow women to do business, Song Wu found it very interesting, and Yuan Ying became fully attentive, as if preparing for future ventures.

Although Xinchuan was the head of the nine regions and the strongest, most people were conservative and stagnant, unlike Jinchuan and Danchuan. Now that the Lord supported the parallel development of agriculture, commerce, and industry, Xinchuan’s economy would surely flourish. Yet even such a highly profitable strategy was met with much skepticism. Though the night market system had been a huge success, it only broke the time constraint. To develop further, the regional limitations must also be broken.

Business should not be confined to the traditional East and West Markets but extended into residential areas. Furthermore, a new currency could be introduced to facilitate transactions. Yuan Ying was so exhausted that she fell ill, but the gate was still heavily guarded. Li Wei and Song Wu had no choice but to create a diversion and push out a train. Fortunately, Yin Zheng returned in time and announced that the Lord had lifted the ban.

After being treated, Yuan Ying slowly regained consciousness. But the first thing she wanted to do upon waking was to finish reading the remaining account books. Even after persistent persuasion by the two maids, she wouldn't stop. Li Wei had no choice but to calm her down and volunteered to read the books on her behalf. After this incident, Yuan Ying finally learned to relax and felt the care others had for her.

That day, the Eleventh Prince came to the residence to play, and Yuan Ying paused her work to sit and play with him. Song Wu came in, making a lively scene, and the group sat together chatting and laughing. Their joyful voices reached the study, and Yin Zheng felt that this moment was truly blissful.

Yuan Ying, in her capacity as the Prince’s consort, sent an invitation to Hao Jia. Since Yin Song was not at the residence, Hao Jia planned to sneak out. Unexpectedly, she was caught by Zhao Fangru. Zhao Fangru didn’t stop her but couldn’t understand why Hao Jia, who should have known better, would take such a risk. Zhao Fangru let out a deep sigh. Ever since Yin Song laid hands on Hao Jia, her heart had grown cold.

Zhao Fangru used to love going out too; people in the palace praised her wit, and she was once as popular as the current Princess of Jinchuan. But later, Yin Song caught her in a mistake and confined her to this secluded chamber. The sisters hadn’t gathered in a long time, and now that they had, they had endless things to say. They drank several rounds and all got so drunk they couldn’t tell directions.

Li Wei overheard a storyteller speaking about men and women, and angered by his prejudice against women, she stormed up and took his place, voicing her own thoughts. The women in the audience cheered and applauded, while the men grew restless and started arguing with her. Li Wei spoke eloquently, finally defeating the storyteller and winning universal praise. Later, each Prince came to the tavern to take their lady home.

Zhao Fangru brought Hao Jia a bowl of noodles but spoke unpleasant words. Hao Jia, always clever, naturally sensed her goodwill. In truth, the two had no real grievances. It was just that a problematic man stood between them. It was better to make peace. But Zhao Fangru gave no answer, and Hao Jia could only shrug. Lady Chuan urged Haitang to have children, but Haitang unexpectedly proposed that she should make the decision to dismiss him.

The Third Prince stumbled in from outside, grabbed Haitang’s hand, and apologized to Lady Chuan. Then he took Haitang and the seasonal girls to seek medical help. But he never expected that the physician would not prescribe medicine for the women, but instead for himself. With progress in the market reform, the Lord greatly praised the effort in court. However, the issue of Mochuan still needed to be addressed.

Several noblewomen had to be sent for a political marriage, yet there were very few eligible women in the palace. Yin Song wickedly set his sights on pushing the sisters of other Princes. But those Princesses were still too young and unsuitable. After much thought, Lady Chuan came up with Song Wu. Summoned into the palace by Lord and Lady Chuan, Song Wu was pleased with herself. But once inside, she received a devastating piece of news.

Suddenly, a storm broke out, with thunder and lightning striking fear into everyone. Song Wu returned dazed and drenched. Upon seeing Su Shen, she could no longer hold herself together and collapsed. Yin Zheng, deeply worried, quickly helped her to a seat and called for a blanket. Song Wu sat on the bed, soaking wet, her face streaked with either rain or tears, which flowed down as her body trembled.

Yin Zheng, both distressed and confused, quickly asked what had happened. Trying hard to stay calm, Song Wu told everyone that she was to be conferred the title of Princess Kening… but before she finished, she began to cry again. Yin Zheng grew increasingly anxious, not understanding what had happened. Fortunately, Li Wei, listening on the side, heard clearly and explained that Song Wu was to be married to Mochuan as Princess Kening.

Unable to hold back, Song Wu wailed toward the heavens, cursing those who had lost all conscience. Yin Zheng quickly covered her mouth and gently patted her back to calm her. Due to the special relationship between Xinchuan and Mochuan, a political marriage was needed to bring peace. But Li Wei couldn’t understand why the happiness of women must always be sacrificed for the greater good.

In order to help Song Wu escape the marriage, Li Wei put on a “sick makeup” for her and told her to pretend to be ill. But the imperial physician was too skilled and immediately saw through the act. Left with no other option, they decided to use pressure and threatened the physician to spread the news that Song Wu was gravely ill. Given the situation, the Lord had no choice but to let the legitimate princess marry.

However, Princess Shuyu was Lady Chuan’s beloved daughter, and she couldn’t bear to send her precious girl to such a harsh land. Lady Chuan then proposed that the eldest daughter of the First Prince, Princess Ping’an, marry instead. Soon, the news reached the residence of the First Prince. The First Princess Consort Jiang Yue fell gravely ill from the shock. Ping’an was unwilling but still had to comfort her heartbroken mother. Unexpectedly, the First Prince Yin Kun strongly opposed his daughter marrying over.

Eldest Sister-in-law Jiang Yue brought an imperial physician to visit Song Wu, startling everyone, who quickly stepped in to defuse the situation. Yin Zheng hurried back and told Jiang Yue that the palace was already taking Lady Ping'an’s measurements. Jiang Yue didn’t care what the physician said and quickly took her leave. Su Shen, holding a bag of money, dismissed the physicians.

Yin Zheng couldn’t help but wonder—if the marriage alliance were canceled, would Princess Ping'an not have to marry off after all? Hearing this, Li Wei instantly understood what he was trying to do. She apologized to Yin Zheng, admitting she had wrongly blamed him before because of this matter.   In the court, Yin Kun suddenly appeared, earnestly pleading with the Lord to retract his decree and cancel the marriage.

The Lord flew into a rage, and Yin Zheng rushed forward to mediate. He proposed that he had a way to break off the engagement without affecting peace between the two regions. He asked the Lord to let him try. With no better options, Lord Xinchuan had to give it a shot and agreed to Yin Zheng's request. However, he only granted Yin Zheng three days.

If there was no progress by then, he would issue the order for Princess Ping'an to marry into Mochuan, and both Yin Zheng and Yin Kun would be punished. The people of Mochuan are rugged; rather than trusting documents, they believe more in marriage alliances. If another method could be found to reassure them, Lord Mochuan naturally wouldn’t insist on a distant marriage. Mochuan relies on herding rather than agriculture, and over time, its resources have dwindled, lagging behind Xinchuan.

But how to help them develop agriculture? For a moment, no one could think of a solution. Li Wei suddenly thought they might be able to persuade the Mochuan lady envoy, thus buying time.   At the welcome banquet, Yin Zheng, Li Wei, and Yuan Ying worked together and finally convinced the Mochuan lady envoy that if Xinchuan could help Mochuan develop its economy, marriage alliances would no longer be necessary.

Mochuan is located in the far north, a frigid land draped in snow and silver. Yin Zheng and his wife, Yin Qi and his wife, and Yin An traveled together to Mochuan. Knowing the people of Mochuan love to drink, Li Wei, anticipating that Yin Zheng might overindulge, thoughtfully brought a basket of termite mushrooms known to alleviate alcohol effects. Yin Kun and Jiang Yue were already waiting outside, eagerly anticipating the arrival of their brothers.

As soon as they entered, Yin Kun ordered camel milk to be served to warm everyone up. Jiang Yue, concerned they were tired and hungry from the journey, had snacks brought in. Yin Qi couldn’t help but mutter—could snacks really fill them up? But when he saw the enormous "snacks," he couldn't help but cry out in surprise. Unlike Xinchuan, Mochuan people prefer settling things at the wine table rather than through reason and logic.

So Yin Kun had already arranged a meeting with Qiao-ge, the most respected herdsman in Mochuan. Nearly all farming households listen to him; if he could be persuaded to change his mindset, promoting agriculture would become much easier. As the saying goes, hearing is nothing compared to seeing—Qiao-ge was even bolder and rougher than expected, downing three bowls of wine upon arrival. Half a day passed with no business discussed, but the roomful of people was completely drunk.

Among them, the Fifth Brother drank the most. When he returned to his room, he dressed Shangguan Jing’s prized swords in clothes, treating them like children. Hearing his drunken ramblings, Shangguan Jing felt a warmth in her heart—he had cared about her all along.   Li Wei and Yin Zheng pondered all night—if drinking didn’t work, perhaps tea would. Sure enough, Qiao-ge couldn’t handle cup after cup of tea and had to get down to business. Yin Zheng used both kindness and authority in hopes of persuading Qiao-ge to support agricultural development.

The brothers chimed in one after another, leaving Qiao-ge dumbfounded. All that tea now surged like a sudden flood, making Qiao-ge urgently need the outhouse. Finally, he nodded repeatedly, promising to help them. Things were going smoothly, but Yin Qi felt uneasy. Despite the seamless cooperation among the brothers today, all the polite talk left him feeling drained. His mother had said he lacked a certain knack since childhood.

Now, though he attended court, the Lord still hadn’t assigned him a post. Yin Qi suddenly felt that this might be all there was to his life. Shangguan Jing comforted him, saying if he didn’t feel comfortable, there was no need to force himself. There’s more than one way to live a life. If anyone tried to bully Yin Qi, she would be the first to protect him. Hearing this, Yin Qi was deeply moved.

His gloom lifted, and he smiled foolishly at Shangguan Jing like before. For hundreds of years, Mochuan had relied on herding, which led to depleted lands. Yet the region is vast and sparsely populated, with long sunlight hours. With proper planning and fertile fields, farming could thrive one day. The group went to the fields, working the land themselves to better understand local customs.

After returning, Li Wei even designed a tool to help Mochuan farmers work more efficiently based on her experiences. With close cooperation from everyone, Lord Mochuan finally agreed to promote agriculture. Henceforth, the two regions would no longer need to rely on marriage alliances to maintain relations. The group gathered to celebrate the victory. Yin Kun warmly invited everyone to stay a few more days.

It happened that Li Wei had not seen her grandfather, who lived in Mochuan, for a long time, so they all went to visit him. They thought they’d be spared from more drinking—but before the words left their lips, Grandfather brought out several jars of fine wine. Unable to refuse his hospitality, they braced themselves and drank.   That night, Li Wei and her grandfather sat by the bonfire and chatted about life.

She told him that although Xinchuan had many rules, she had slowly adapted. Her grandfather could see how much Yin Zheng cared for her and hoped the couple would continue to support each other. He then brought out a jade bracelet and asked her to wear it. With tears in her eyes, Li Wei accepted the bracelet and leaned on his shoulder, feeling the warmth of family. Yin Zheng was dead drunk, his face flushed.

Li Wei gently wiped his face to help him feel better. They were so close, it seemed they could feel each other’s breath. With keen eyes, Yin Zheng noticed she had been crying. Embarrassed, Li Wei explained that she missed home. Instantly sobered, Yin Zheng took her hand and promised that whenever she missed home, he would take her back. Tears welled up in Li Wei’s eyes again, but she held them back and nodded with a smile.

Seeing Yin Zheng smirk, she scolded him—if he couldn’t hold his liquor, why drink so much? She was afraid he’d do something foolish again. But before she could finish, Yin Zheng suddenly leaned in and kissed her. Upon returning from Mochuan, the Lord appointed Yin Zheng to assist with affairs of the Nine Regions. Although it wasn’t exactly what he had hoped for, at this stage, Yin Zheng felt that serving anywhere was fine, so he accepted the role.

After everything that had happened, Song Wu gradually came to understand her own heart. What she felt for Yin Zheng was mostly admiration—she didn’t truly want to marry him. She just wanted to spend her life with someone she loved who also loved her. But Her Ladyship was very anxious about her marriage and had sent several potential match lists over the past few days. Encouraged by Li Wei, Song Wu finally mustered the courage to speak her mind.

Surprisingly, Her Ladyship was not shocked at all—instead, she fully supported Song Wu in pursuing her own happiness. However, after meeting several eligible bachelors, Song Wu only felt more stressed.

Li Wei consoled Song Wu, saying perhaps her true love was just around the corner. As she said that, Li Wei spotted some mushrooms and rushed to the stall to buy some. Song Wu was still distracted and only realized after walking a long while that she had lost Li Wei. She searched for a long time but didn’t find her—what she did find was a little girl crying.

Song Wu knelt before the girl and kindly asked why she was crying. The girl said she was waiting for Song Wu. This puzzled Song Wu—she didn’t seem to know the child. Meanwhile, the real Song Wu was also searching the streets for his little sister, and in doing so, encountered Li Wei, who was also looking for Song Wu. Soon enough, the two "Song Wu" (Wu) crossed paths.

Since returning from Mochuan, the Third Brother had been diligently taking his prescribed medicines. But these tonics were too strong—taking too many had done more harm than good. Eventually, he collapsed. After diagnosing him, the physician gave surprising news—he was indeed capable of fathering children. The Third Brother was even more confused—why had he never had a child all these years?

The sisters gathered and teased about his condition, but unexpectedly, the Third Brother suddenly walked in with a very dark expression. It turned out he had discovered their secret—they had all been secretly taking contraceptives. Furious and humiliated, the Third Brother threatened to punish them using household rules. Li Wei and Yuan Ying arrived in time to defuse the situation.

With the truth out, the women no longer held back and stepped forward to denounce the Third Brother for the hurt he had caused them.   The Third Brother told the women that from now on, he would cut off their monthly allowances—to make them understand just how good he had been to them. But Shuangjiang couldn’t take it anymore and declared that in that case, she had no reason to stay.

The other sisters agreed, saying they had wanted to leave for a long time. The Third Brother was stunned, unable to believe what he heard. As the reality hit him, he clenched his jaw and warned them—if they left today, they might starve tomorrow. Holding her pride, Shuangjiang was the first to walk out. One by one, the others followed, leaving the household. What the Third Brother never expected was that even Haitang followed them out.

Now that they were out, the women needed a way to make a living. Li Wei and Yuan Ying remembered Yin Zheng once said that once the market system stabilized, women might be allowed to run businesses. Everyone was thrilled and decided to pool funds to open a shop. Li Wei wanted to tell Song Wu about it, but her mind was already on the scholar Song Wu.

She couldn’t stop thinking about him and wanted him to be just as devoted to her. So she asked Li Wei for advice. Li Wei didn’t have much experience in this area, but she shared how her parents met, hoping it would inspire Song Wu. Acting on it immediately, Song Wu planned to stage a "hero saves beauty" scene, just like Li Wei’s parents. But no one expected Song Wu to see right through it.

The stunt ended up damaging Song Wu’s bookstore, and Song Wu felt very sorry, worried he’d hold a grudge. But she wasn’t one to be shy—she called out to Song Wu and confessed her feelings. Actually, Song Wu’s heart had already raced that night—they both liked each other, even his little sister could tell. But he felt unworthy of Princess Song Wu. Encouraged by his sister, Song Wu finally mustered the courage to confess.

Seeing the pink bubbles around the two, Li Wei grinned from afar. But as a sister-in-law, she couldn’t help but worry Song Wu might get hurt. So she asked Yin Zheng to test Song Wu. Yin Zheng offered him a job so he wouldn’t have to struggle to earn his rank. Song Wu firmly refused, saying he wouldn’t waste years of reading sacred texts. Hearing Song Wu's words, Yin Zheng smiled with great satisfaction.

Yin Zheng handled the Mochuan matter very brilliantly. He boldly requested the lord’s approval to allow Song Wu and Song Wu to be together. Upon learning that Song Wu was merely a poor scholar, the lord’s smile immediately faded. Song Wu, anxious at the side and disregarding formalities, quickly stepped forward and voluntarily relinquished her title as the princess. Seeing Song Wu’s determined gaze, the lord reluctantly agreed. Song Wu hurriedly conveyed the news to Song Wu.

At first, Song Wu was surprised by this development. But after composing himself, he was deeply moved and tightly embraced Song Wu. Without her princess status, Song Wu naturally could no longer live at Yin Zheng’s residence. That day, the lively and active Song Wu became serious, toasting and bidding farewell one by one to Yin Zheng, Yuan Ying, and Li Wei.

Yuan Ying suddenly felt a bit envious of Song Wu at this moment—once outside this door, the sea is wide enough for fish to leap freely, the sky is high enough for birds to fly at will; to stay or leave is up to one’s heart. Now that Yin Zheng officially took office at the Nine Regions Affairs Office, according to previous rules, he had to hold a Renbin Banquet.

The other eight regions would send envoys, stationed at Xinchuan permanently for communication convenience. Whenever the head of the Nine Regions Affairs Office assumed office, a banquet would be held to entertain the envoys from the other eight regions. This time, Yuan Ying no longer took on the big responsibility but instead guided Li Wei from the side. Li Wei was quite capable, and all her ideas pleased Yuan Ying.

Yuan Ying couldn’t help but praise Li Wei, saying that once she herself leaves, Li Wei will definitely be a good wife. Finally, on the day of the Renbin Banquet, Li Wei got up early to dress and prepare, excitedly following Yuan Ying out the door. But at the entrance, Su Shen informed her that this time only one wife from the Chuannan family was allowed to attend—and that was Yuan Ying alone.

Li Wei felt indescribably disappointed but didn’t want others to worry, so she lied that she was staying behind to take care of Laifu. However, once no one was around, Li Wei finally let go of the burden in her heart and, encouraged by the alcohol, loudly cursed these ridiculous rules in Xinchuan. Yin Zheng noticed something was wrong with Li Wei and told her not to keep anything bottled up inside.

Li Wei, unable to hold back, expressed her frustration. Yin Zheng shared his own troubles. She knew that neither she, Yin Zheng, nor Yuan Ying was at fault today, yet no one was happy. Li Wei had long been dissatisfied with these restrictive rules in Xinchuan, and Yuan Ying was no different.

On the surface, Yuan Ying appeared to follow all the rules, but who knew she was just trying hard to adapt, hoping one day to change these outdated regulations. After the sisters went out, they needed to find a way to make a living. They had planned to open a shop together, but no shop owner was willing to rent to them.

The owners even said there was no precedent in Xinchuan for renting shops to women, and it would be considered very inauspicious. Bai Lu was infuriated and retorted that perhaps the shop owner was also born a woman. Unexpectedly, the owner flew into a rage and accused Bai Lu and her group of causing trouble.

Li Wei suddenly appeared, holding a book of laws to back up the sisters, bluntly stating that the Xinchuan laws never stipulated women could not open shops. If this path was blocked, there must be another way. But the strange thing about Xinchuan was that it seemed no path was left for women. At present, with no shop rented, the sisters’ money was almost used up. Just as everyone was worried, Ruan Sisi came in carrying a golden qilin.

Funding was no longer a concern, but the first step to opening the shop—how to rent a place—still had to be figured out. For this, Li Wei, Yuan Ying, and Shangguan Jing approached a shop owner who was preparing to rent out a shop. After applying a combination of kindness and firmness and negotiating, they finally rented a suitable shop. Shangguan Jing had been inside for a long time. Yin Qi waited anxiously outside, wanting to go in to help.

But Yin Zheng felt some things should be resolved by the women themselves. When the three women came out smiling from the shop, Yin Zheng and Yin Qi finally relaxed.

After the girls left, the third young master felt bored and simply sat in the courtyard drinking heartily, drowning his sorrows in alcohol. But even now, he still couldn’t distinguish each of the girls. The servant who washed the inkstone couldn’t help but say that the girls were not freeloading at the mansion. Every big and small matter inside the mansion was managed by them. Seeing the third young master’s indifferent face, the servant dared to speak his mind.

The third young master brought back one girl, that was one thing, but he had brought back so many. Where did the girls live? How much food costing how many taels of silver did they consume each day? What about their clothes? With more than twenty people in the courtyard and each with a maid, that’s at least over forty people—every detail needed careful budgeting, yet the third young master seemed not to have thought about any of this.

He only cared about his own eating, drinking, and entertainment. Feeling like he had been pricked by needles, the third young master grew angry and shameful, chasing the servant around the courtyard beating him. The sisters each stamped the contract, and the Nine Regions Gourmet Gathering was halfway established. Then everyone began renovating the restaurant and researching the menu. Everyone took their respective roles seriously and were busy, yet each person’s face beamed with satisfaction and joy.

Yin Zheng did not forget to quietly help, reminding Li Wei of the dietary customs of each region. A few days later was the grand opening of the restaurant, but everyone was troubled. Many people heard that the restaurant was run by women and were naturally curious. Yet if the girls appeared, there would inevitably be criticism. However, Shangguan Jing was unfazed. In Danchuan, such things were no big deal: whatever men could do, women could too.

Because of this, Yuan Ying and Shangguan Jing had differing opinions, creating an awkward atmosphere. Fortunately, Li Wei stepped in to mediate, and everyone finally agreed—not to appear on opening day. Yin Zheng told Li Wei that one day he would change Xinchuan’s backward system, allowing women to be themselves with dignity. But he also knew this path was difficult and the court’s affairs ever-changing.

He promised Li Wei that if anything happened to him one day, he would ensure she was safely sent back to Jichuan. Before he could finish, Li Wei said she wanted to stay. Li Wei knew how tough the road was but believed Yin Zheng could accomplish it. Once the restaurant opened, it attracted many guests, and the large restaurant became somewhat crowded. Outside, rumors spread that this was a restaurant run by women.

These guests were likely curious to see for themselves. Yuan Ying, while happy, realized they had to seize the moment of this lively period and find ways to satisfy the customers’ tastes. This would make the restaurant a success. But no one expected the Household Registration Office staff to suddenly visit. Yin An came in aggressively, publicly announcing that someone had reported the restaurant for indecent conduct. The manager hurried forward to respond but was slapped harshly by Yin An.

The girls couldn’t stand it and came downstairs to deal with Yin An together. Haitang did not come down but couldn’t help but speak out against the third young master. Li Wei took the opportunity to remind Yin An that he had no official documentation to support his actions. Yin An’s face turned blue with anger but he was helpless.

Thanks to the girls’ efforts, the restaurant soon returned to normal, and the diners temporarily set aside their prejudices and began enjoying the food. The entire day, the restaurant lost money instead of making any. But Yuan Ying wasn’t worried; she believed the money would soon be recovered. Just then, the fifth young master came urging Shangguan Jing to go home. Seeing their state, the sisters guessed that the fifth young master was courting Shangguan Jing.

That day, the tenth young master came to the restaurant to find a match. Seeing Shangguan Jing wandering there, he couldn’t help but scold her for embarrassing the fifth young master. Hearing this, the fifth young master came from behind and severely beat the tenth young master. Shangguan Jing’s heart suddenly pounded fast, finally believing that the fifth young master was indeed pursuing her.

Yin Zheng hosted a banquet at the Nine Regions Gourmet Gathering, attempting to persuade the envoys from Jinchuan and Daichuan to sign a contract and implement a new currency. The two envoys were initially reluctant to discuss this matter, but after hearing Yin Zheng’s words, they suddenly understood the benefits and promised to report the matter to their respective lords. After the talks, Yin Zheng specially kept the two colleagues to carefully savor the lavish dishes.

Li Wei prepared the restaurant’s signature dishes and personally delivered them to the room. Yin Zheng introduced Li Wei to his colleagues, mentioning that she was also a co-owner of the restaurant. Li Wei felt a bit embarrassed and was about to leave, but Yin Zheng held her hand and gestured for her to sit.

Yin Zheng continued to explain that the previous Renbin Banquet was managed behind the scenes by Li Wei and that today’s Nine Regions Gourmet Gathering was an extension of that banquet. The colleagues were surprised and raised their glasses to toast Li Wei. Li Wei was very thoughtful, specially preparing dishes from their hometowns. Over the meal, everyone talked very harmoniously. Meanwhile, the tenth young master cried and complained to Yin Song.

Yin Song was angry, worried that the sixth young master would eventually step on him. Unexpectedly, Hao Jia came over to persuade Yin Song to calm down. Whether from anger or drunkenness, Yin Song took his frustration out on Hao Jia and harshly pushed her to the ground. Zhao Fangru saw the situation was bad and quickly intervened to stop him, so Hao Jia was not seriously harmed.

Hao Jia was finally able to go out but had to do as Yin Song instructed and go to the restaurant to gather information. Hao Jia sincerely regarded everyone as friends and openly revealed the reason for her visit. The sisters didn’t mind and let Hao Jia freely taste the food. Hao Jia couldn’t help but have tears well up in her eyes. At that moment, she truly understood what genuine affection was.

Before, she thought it was enough to rely on a man to live, but now she realized how ridiculous those thoughts had been. Li Wei accidentally noticed the scars on Hao Jia’s hand and worried about her situation at Yin Song’s residence. The sisters were outraged and stood up to confront Yin Song. Hao Jia hurriedly stopped them, unwilling to put her sisters at risk. Everyone sat down to discuss and decided to help Hao Jia escape.

But no one expected Hao Jia to be pregnant. Upon learning of Hao Jia’s pregnancy, Yin Song’s face showed great joy. But his happiness was not because he had a love child with Hao Jia; rather, he was hoping Hao Jia would bear him a legitimate eldest son. Hao Jia was very clear about this. However, she never expected Yin Song to plan that once the child was born, he would hand the child over to another concubine to raise.

Hao Jia’s heart grew even colder, as if falling into a frozen wasteland, the chill pressing from her heart all the way down her spine. To sabotage the girls’ business, Yin An even opened a rival shop across the street and tried to poach staff from the Gourmet Gathering. Fortunately, the girls had prepared for this and did not let him succeed. Haitang couldn’t help but ask Yin An where his blind confidence came from.

Yin An was furious, gritting his teeth and storming out. Thus, the couple quarreled over the price of dishes, with Yin An finally winning by offering a 30% price. Yuan Ying was unfazed upon hearing this, having already thought of a countermeasure. To attract customers, the girls planned to start with the dishes and designed many new dishes. Many diners came by reputation, and the Gourmet Gathering quickly became packed and lively.

Yin An was annoyed and went outside to argue with the girls. At that moment, Yue Heng, the Marquis of Wanxiang from the Household Registration Office, suddenly visited and announced that the Gourmet Gathering would be under his control from now on. The girls were displeased and confused but had no immediate solution. After announcing the new arrangements to the girls, Yue Heng did not idle but went to mediate between the third young master and Haitang.

Yue Heng pulled the third young master aside and talked about how to get along with his wife and how to manage the restaurant. The third young master listened, dazed. After Yue Heng left, he finally came to his senses, realizing how annoying he had been before.

Shangguan Jing couldn’t understand what benefit suspending business and reorganizing would bring to Yue Heng. Li Wei, on the other hand, understood clearly. This Lord Yue hadn’t come to manage the restaurant at all—he was obviously acting under Yin Song’s orders to stir up trouble. In fact, what Yue Heng wanted didn’t matter. The key was figuring out what Yin Song was after.

At present, it was best to remain still and respond to changes as they came, to see what Yin Song was really up to. Just as they were speaking, Yue Heng walked in and spoke rudely to them. Shangguan Jing was so angry that she snapped the pen in her hand. Meanwhile, the third and fifth brothers requested an audience with the Lord to impeach Yue Heng.

Soon after, Yin Zheng arrived—not about the restaurant matter, but concerning the new currency. Although the new currency didn’t fall under the jurisdiction of the Nine Regions Affairs Office, Yin Zheng intended to circulate it throughout the nine regions. With the Household Affairs Office short on manpower, Yin Zheng felt that the Nine Regions Affairs Office had an inescapable responsibility.

It took the fifth brother a while to realize that Yin Zheng’s move was actually meant to divert the Lord’s attention. Yue Heng told the ladies that although the fifth and sixth brothers indulged them, he had to consider Xinchuan’s reputation. With that, he got up to leave, not allowing the women to object. But at that moment, Yin Zheng rushed in and stopped Yue Heng.

He publicly announced that the Lord of Xinchuan had issued an order: the restaurant would no longer be under the supervision of the Household Affairs Office and could reopen. Whether it was promoting marketplace reform or allowing women to work outside, it was all for the future of Xinchuan. Although Yue Heng had deep prejudices against women doing business, the restaurant had flourished under their management, performing hundreds of times better than before.

From this, it was evident that what men could do, women could also achieve. Yue Heng still wanted to speak, but Yin Zheng hurriedly interrupted him and listed the losses incurred during the Household Affairs Office's management. Yin Zheng spoke firmly and showed no mercy. Yue Heng seized on this and accused Yin Zheng of disrespecting his elders.

Knowing Yue Heng’s high status, Yin Zheng realized that if he didn’t let Yue Heng vent his anger today, there would be trouble in the future. So he had no choice but to raise his cup and drink repeatedly. Seeing Yin Zheng’s disheveled state, Yue Heng finally felt satisfied and left. The matter was handled almost perfectly, and the third and fifth brothers gathered with Yin Zheng to celebrate.

During the banquet, Yin Zheng kept subtly flaunting his affection in front of the third brother, and even the fifth brother joined in. The third brother could tell his two younger brothers were trying to send him a message. Enraged and embarrassed, he urged them to start eating. Yet deep down, he was touched. He immediately set down his chopsticks and rushed to the food gathering event, only to be shut out at the door.

That night, the sisters gathered together. The restaurant had earned a lot that day, and everyone was happy. It had started raining at some point, and Song Wu was already waiting outside. Seeing her husband arrive, Song Wu jumped for joy. Soon after, Yin Zheng and Yin Qi also came to pick up their wives. Yin Qi arrived a bit late and was covered in mud, but in Shangguan Jing’s eyes, he looked particularly handsome at that moment.

The new year arrived, and everyone exchanged gifts. Yuan Ying handed the household jade pendant to Li Wei, signifying that she believed Li Wei was capable of managing the entire household. Yin Zheng was more practical and gave Li Wei a stack of silver notes. On the other side, to let Shangguan Jing see snow, Yin Qi had specially prepared goose feathers to surprise her. In contrast, Hao Jia appeared much more solemn and distant.

Fortunately, she received a letter from home, which rekindled some hope for the future. Yet, she couldn't help feeling sorrowful again, her heart growing heavier. The maid, worried about Hao Jia, suggested inviting the other concubines to keep her company. But Hao Jia, not wanting to affect the others’ business, chose to endure her loneliness alone.

To reassure her sisters, Hao Jia deliberately sent them gifts and claimed that all was well at the residence. But Shangguan Jing felt something was off. She had sent visiting cards to the Second Prince’s residence over the past few days, but all were rejected. Li Wei was unwilling to think negatively—after all, Yin Song needed this child very much. She was just a bit worried: if the child was born, what would happen to Hao Jia?

The sisters chatted happily, and they thought that once the political climate improved, they might even start a women’s business association and invite Hao Jia to join. At this moment, the third brother suddenly stood up and said he wanted to join too. Dong Haitang knew he was trying to make peace and decided to give him a chance.

The sisters decided to treat him the same way he had treated others, putting him through a comprehensive test of moral, intellectual, physical, aesthetic, and labor qualities. The third brother wailed in protest but had no choice but to comply. To ensure that Hao Jia would give birth to a boy, Yin Song specially invited a shamaness to the residence to perform a ritual. The smoke choked Hao Jia, making her feel miserable, yet Yin Song paid no attention.

The shamaness solemnly told Yin Song that Hao Jia was carrying a girl. Zhao Fangru quickly stepped in to smooth things over, but Yin Song seemed to only believe the shamaness and left angrily. With Yin Zheng’s help, Li Wei managed to enter the Second Prince’s residence and saw Hao Jia. Hao Jia was lying on the bed, her face pale and bloodless. Even so, she forced a smile and told Li Wei not to worry.

But how could Li Wei not worry? After returning, she immediately told Yin Zheng everything. Yin Zheng fully supported her and found a way to quietly bring a royal physician into Hao Jia’s room. After examining her, the physician concluded that her blood and energy were stagnant and her mind troubled. Looking around, he noted the thick smoke in the room, which was clearly unsuitable for a pregnant woman.

After returning, Li Wei quickly told her sisters about the situation, and they discussed how to help Hao Jia. Helping her escape wouldn’t be hard—the problem lay in what to do afterward. If Hao Jia disappeared, Yin Song would definitely suspect the sisters. If he questioned them, Yuan Ying and Li Wei could probably handle it. But if he sent people to search, they would start with Li Wei’s family.

So the most urgent task was to find a suitable place to ensure Hao Jia’s safety. Li Wei confessed to Yin Zheng that she wanted to help Hao Jia escape. Since marrying into the Second Prince’s residence, Hao Jia had gone from being a bright and cheerful person to who she was now. Li Wei felt terrible and couldn’t bear to watch her continue like this. But secretly releasing a girl for selection was a serious crime.

Li Wei didn’t want to implicate Yin Zheng, so she asked him to write her a letter of divorce. Yin Zheng shook his head but picked up a brush and began writing. Li Wei watched as Yin Zheng’s hand moved across the paper, slowly writing the character “divorce,” and her heart ached—she turned her head away. But in just a moment, Yin Zheng raised the paper, and it read two bold characters: “Don’t even think about it.

” That day, Li Wei and Hao Jia quietly left the Second Prince’s residence, and Hao Jia’s mother was already waiting outside. On the way, her mother’s brow remained furrowed, clearly burdened by many worries. She advised Hao Jia that many of their family’s privileges depended on Yin Song. Her leaving might not seem like a big deal now, but if Yin Song decided to hold them accountable, the entire Hao family of Yanchuan would be in trouble.

Hearing her mother’s words, Hao Jia felt increasingly suffocated. Tears welled up in her eyes, and her heart slowly turned cold. That night, Yin Song came to look for Hao Jia. The maid panicked—but to everyone’s surprise, Hao Jia had actually come back. Days passed, and Hao Jia’s baby was due. She was in great pain, almost to the point of fainting, while Yin Song was still thinking about how to deal with Yin Zheng.

Zhao Fangru rushed over upon hearing the news, her heart in knots. Outside the courtyard, Li Wei and Yuan Ying had also arrived, but the guards stopped them. It wasn’t until nightfall that news came: both mother and child were safe.

Hao Jia awoke from a nightmare and immediately heard the baby's cries. A maid came running with the child so that Hao Jia could breastfeed. But Hao Jia was distraught—she had just dreamt of blood flowing from her belly and had no mind to nurse. She tearfully begged the maid to take the baby away. Hao Jia was tormented by nightmares and in utter despair, while Yin Song leisurely practiced calligraphy.

Upon hearing that Hao Jia had been crying every day recently, Yin Song, despite her being a new mother, decided to send her to live in the side room. At that moment, the baby's cries rang out, and Yin Song, losing interest, crumpled his paper and declared he would send the newborn daughter to the palace.

Zhao Fangru quickly tried to stop him, saying she was willing to raise the child and ensure she would be married off with dignity as the legitimate eldest daughter. Hearing this, Yin Song sneered, muttering that the two of them could never have a child together. Zhao Fangru overheard this and, recalling many past incidents, began to suspect that perhaps her years of infertility had been secretly orchestrated by Yin Song.

Upon returning, Zhao Fangru immediately instructed her maid to investigate. As it turned out, just as she had suspected, Yin Song had been secretly putting contraceptive herbs in her soup for years. Zhao Fangru laughed and cried at once, realizing that Yin Song’s sweet words were merely sugar-coated poison. She felt utterly foolish for being kept in the dark all these years and for blaming herself for not bearing him a child.

Her hands trembling, she drank the soup in one gulp. Li Wei was deeply worried when she learned Hao Jia had been put under confinement. After much thought, she went to plead with Lady He for help. Seeing Li Wei speaking up for Hao Jia, Lady He couldn’t help but feel emotional. If she had once had such a sister by her side, perhaps she wouldn't be estranged from her own son today.

Though she gave no verbal response to Li Wei, she had already decided to help them. Yin Zheng had been waiting outside the door. When he saw Li Wei come out with a dejected expression, he wasn’t surprised. For as long as he could remember, his mother had always treated him with a cold face, as if he were an enemy.

Li Wei took Yin Zheng's hand and comforted him, suggesting perhaps Lady He had suffered from the same illness as Hao Jia. Just then, the nanny by Lady He’s side arrived, saying she would accompany them to the Second Prince’s residence. Upon arriving, the nanny immediately questioned Yin Song about why Hao Jia was under confinement. Yin Song seemed prepared and immediately ordered someone to bring Hao Jia over. Hao Jia slowly walked in.

Aside from her pale face, she looked the same as usual. She reassured her sisters that she was fine and told them not to visit again. Once everyone had left, Hao Jia finally exploded with pent-up frustration and exposed Yin Song's emotional wounds. She said he only tortured her to gain a sense of control because he was powerless in court. Enraged, Yin Song grabbed Hao Jia by the neck and mocked that she still relied on him to survive.

Hao Jia collapsed to the floor, her body feeling light and soft, as if it might float away with the wind. On the way back, Li Wei felt that something was wrong with Hao Jia. After much deliberation, she decided to return to check on her. As she reached the door, she heard the maid scream that Hao Jia had attempted suicide. Li Wei rushed in without hesitation and saved her.

The doctor examined Hao Jia and said she had been in the water too long and likely wouldn't make it. Li Wei, in tears, begged the doctor to save her. The doctor quickly helped her up and told her to find Imperial Physician Xu. But Xu was a royal physician, and it seemed inappropriate to seek him out at that time.

Still, with a life at stake, Li Wei couldn’t afford to worry about propriety and ran to seek an audience with the Lord. Meanwhile, the Fifth Prince had already taken a spear to the imperial medical bureau and brought Physician Xu. The group brought him to the Second Prince’s residence but was blocked by Yin Song. He shouted for someone to take Physician Xu back to the palace.

At the same time, several guards stood before Yin Song with swords, blocking everyone else. To everyone’s surprise, the usually meek Yin Qi suddenly mustered strength and rebuked the guards, ordering them to leave. In desperation, Li Wei pleaded with Yin Song to let her save Hao Jia. Unexpectedly, Yin Song became even angrier, declaring that Hao Jia was his and only he could decide whether she lived or died.

Hearing this, Li Wei disregarded all propriety and loudly retorted that Hao Jia was a living person, not one of his possessions. Yin Song stepped forward to insult Hao Jia, causing Li Wei to flush with rage and slap him across the face. As Yin Song raised his hand to retaliate, Yin Zheng arrived just in time to restrain him. Only then could Physician Xu enter the residence.

Inside the room, Zhao Fangru stayed by Hao Jia’s side, trying to scold her awake. But Physician Xu shook his head, signaling her efforts were in vain. Zhao Fangru looked at the baby in the swaddling cloth, her heart aching. Just then, Hao Jia slowly regained consciousness. Everyone was overjoyed and rushed in to care for her. After a long night, the sun slowly rose, illuminating the land—and warming Hao Jia’s heart.

Hao Jia awoke from a nightmare and immediately heard the baby's cries. A maid came running with the child so that Hao Jia could breastfeed. But Hao Jia was distraught—she had just dreamt of blood flowing from her belly and had no mind to nurse. She tearfully begged the maid to take the baby away. Hao Jia was tormented by nightmares and in utter despair, while Yin Song leisurely practiced calligraphy.

Upon hearing that Hao Jia had been crying every day recently, Yin Song, despite her being a new mother, decided to send her to live in the side room. At that moment, the baby's cries rang out, and Yin Song, losing interest, crumpled his paper and declared he would send the newborn daughter to the palace.

Zhao Fangru quickly tried to stop him, saying she was willing to raise the child and ensure she would be married off with dignity as the legitimate eldest daughter. Hearing this, Yin Song sneered, muttering that the two of them could never have a child together. Zhao Fangru overheard this and, recalling many past incidents, began to suspect that perhaps her years of infertility had been secretly orchestrated by Yin Song.

Upon returning, Zhao Fangru immediately instructed her maid to investigate. As it turned out, just as she had suspected, Yin Song had been secretly putting contraceptive herbs in her soup for years. Zhao Fangru laughed and cried at once, realizing that Yin Song’s sweet words were merely sugar-coated poison. She felt utterly foolish for being kept in the dark all these years and for blaming herself for not bearing him a child.

Her hands trembling, she drank the soup in one gulp. Li Wei was deeply worried when she learned Hao Jia had been put under confinement. After much thought, she went to plead with Lady He for help. Seeing Li Wei speaking up for Hao Jia, Lady He couldn’t help but feel emotional. If she had once had such a sister by her side, perhaps she wouldn't be estranged from her own son today.

Though she gave no verbal response to Li Wei, she had already decided to help them. Yin Zheng had been waiting outside the door. When he saw Li Wei come out with a dejected expression, he wasn’t surprised. For as long as he could remember, his mother had always treated him with a cold face, as if he were an enemy.

Li Wei took Yin Zheng's hand and comforted him, suggesting perhaps Lady He had suffered from the same illness as Hao Jia. Just then, the nanny by Lady He’s side arrived, saying she would accompany them to the Second Prince’s residence. Upon arriving, the nanny immediately questioned Yin Song about why Hao Jia was under confinement. Yin Song seemed prepared and immediately ordered someone to bring Hao Jia over. Hao Jia slowly walked in.

Aside from her pale face, she looked the same as usual. She reassured her sisters that she was fine and told them not to visit again. Once everyone had left, Hao Jia finally exploded with pent-up frustration and exposed Yin Song's emotional wounds. She said he only tortured her to gain a sense of control because he was powerless in court. Enraged, Yin Song grabbed Hao Jia by the neck and mocked that she still relied on him to survive.

Hao Jia collapsed to the floor, her body feeling light and soft, as if it might float away with the wind. On the way back, Li Wei felt that something was wrong with Hao Jia. After much deliberation, she decided to return to check on her. As she reached the door, she heard the maid scream that Hao Jia had attempted suicide. Li Wei rushed in without hesitation and saved her.

The doctor examined Hao Jia and said she had been in the water too long and likely wouldn't make it. Li Wei, in tears, begged the doctor to save her. The doctor quickly helped her up and told her to find Imperial Physician Xu. But Xu was a royal physician, and it seemed inappropriate to seek him out at that time.

Still, with a life at stake, Li Wei couldn’t afford to worry about propriety and ran to seek an audience with the Lord. Meanwhile, the Fifth Prince had already taken a spear to the imperial medical bureau and brought Physician Xu. The group brought him to the Second Prince’s residence but was blocked by Yin Song. He shouted for someone to take Physician Xu back to the palace.

At the same time, several guards stood before Yin Song with swords, blocking everyone else. To everyone’s surprise, the usually meek Yin Qi suddenly mustered strength and rebuked the guards, ordering them to leave. In desperation, Li Wei pleaded with Yin Song to let her save Hao Jia. Unexpectedly, Yin Song became even angrier, declaring that Hao Jia was his and only he could decide whether she lived or died.

Hearing this, Li Wei disregarded all propriety and loudly retorted that Hao Jia was a living person, not one of his possessions. Yin Song stepped forward to insult Hao Jia, causing Li Wei to flush with rage and slap him across the face. As Yin Song raised his hand to retaliate, Yin Zheng arrived just in time to restrain him. Only then could Physician Xu enter the residence.

Inside the room, Zhao Fangru stayed by Hao Jia’s side, trying to scold her awake. But Physician Xu shook his head, signaling her efforts were in vain. Zhao Fangru looked at the baby in the swaddling cloth, her heart aching. Just then, Hao Jia slowly regained consciousness. Everyone was overjoyed and rushed in to care for her. After a long night, the sun slowly rose, illuminating the land—and warming Hao Jia’s heart.

\----------------------26-------------------- Although Hao Jia was safe for now, Yin Song would definitely not let her go easily. Li Wei and the others began to plan for Hao Jia’s future, hoping she could escape her suffering. The key to this was Lady Chuan. According to the rules of the nine regions' selection process, even if Yin Song refused, as long as Lady Chuan issued an edict, Hao Jia could still leave the residence.

The other Princes weren’t idle either and went to the palace to speak up for Hao Jia. The Fifth Prince was the first to plead her case before the Lord, but was misunderstood to be romantically involved with Hao Jia. Coupled with the incident from the night before, the Lord flew into a rage and ordered the Fifth Prince to be flogged twenty times.

In the past, he would have cried out for Lady Chun to save him before the first strike. But this time, he remained silent through all twenty blows. The Lord couldn’t help but sigh. Meanwhile, the Third Prince thought of winning over Lady Chuan and indirectly brought up the matter of visiting the Second Prince’s residence.

Lady Chuan, aware of his intentions, was displeased and directly stated that although she was a mother, matters of the Second Prince's residence were not hers to interfere with. The Third Prince suggested it would be better to let Hao Jia leave, to avoid public criticism. Just then, Lady He sent over a hairpin—a gift from Lady Chuan to her back when they entered the palace and were still friends.

But after Lady He gained favor and bore a son, their relationship had grown distant. In truth, bearing a child at a young age wasn’t Lady He’s wish, and after giving birth to Yin Zheng, she developed depression and became like a different person. The Lord began to grow distant from her, which secretly pleased Lady Chuan. But later, when Lady He nearly took her own life, Lady Chuan was deeply shaken.

Suddenly understanding everything, Lady Chuan issued an edict allowing Hao Jia to leave. Yin Zheng also investigated the shamaness and found that her entire family was deceitful. Haitang and the Third Prince "invited" her over, promising to care for her family in exchange for her speaking favorably of them in front of Yin Song.

Haitang thought the Third Prince had developed a merciful heart and truly intended to support the family, but it turned out he meant to send the whole bunch of frauds to prison. Yin Song had no choice but to let Hao Jia go. However, he couldn't let go of his anger and demanded that Hao Jia remove her residence clothing in front of everyone. Shocked, Hao Jia refused to engage further and decisively removed her outer garments.

Yin Song still wasn’t satisfied and tried to take off her inner garments as well. Though Hao Jia struggled to avoid him, she was no match for his strength. Fortunately, Zhao Fangru arrived just in time to help Hao Jia and told her to leave quickly. For the first time, Hao Jia smiled, thanked Zhao Fangru, and walked toward the door.

Yin Song shouted at her to stop, but Zhao Fangru looked him in the eyes and firmly signaled Hao Jia to go. After Hao Jia left, Zhao Fangru confronted Yin Song, revealing she knew all about his schemes. Enraged, Yin Song was nearly beside himself, but he had to admit he still needed Zhao Fangru’s family’s support.

Hearing that the Gourmet Guild was promoting postpartum meals and inviting storytellers to educate people about postpartum depression, Lady He summoned Li Wei to the palace. Li Wei thought she would be harshly scolded, but Lady He only reminded her to act cautiously and avoid escalating the matter to the Lord. Li Wei, gathering her courage, asked about Lady He’s past.

It was the first time in years that anyone had asked, and Lady He’s eyes brimmed with tears as she began to tell Li Wei everything. Yin Zheng, upon learning Lady He had summoned Li Wei, rushed to the palace and overheard their conversation. The two spoke at length, gradually resolving their long-held misunderstandings. Li Wei and Yin Zheng went to a restaurant and unexpectedly discovered a large amount of counterfeit currency. To prevent its spread, everyone devised a plan to exchange counterfeit coins for restaurant vouchers, encouraging citizens to collect and turn them in on their own.

Yin An visited late at night, as expected, to ask Yin Zheng for help in investigating the counterfeit currency case. The Grand Tutor originally didn’t want Yin Zheng to get involved, because even if the counterfeit currency case was solved, Yin Zheng wouldn’t be appointed to the Household Administration Department, and all the credit would go to Yin An in the end.

But Yin Zheng believed that implementing new currency would benefit the country and the people; if everything was done for personal gain, then history would be reduced to mere accounting records. As soon as Yin Zheng took charge, he uncovered many clues. However, Yin Song, who was in charge of the matter, made no progress at all, prompting a harsh scolding from Lord Xinchuan.

After returning, instead of reflecting on himself, Yin Song even began scheming to catch Yin Zheng in a mistake. The fourth prince's wife, An Xiyuan, was waiting outside the second prince's residence. When she saw the fourth prince hurrying out, she slowly lowered the curtain of her sedan. On the way back, An Xiyuan tried to persuade the fourth prince not to get involved.

The fourth prince admitted that although he wanted to curry favor with Yin Song, he knew what should and shouldn’t be done. At present, the mastermind behind the counterfeit currency was becoming clear, and everything would come to light once Chen Xi was captured. However, no one expected that Yin Song knew Chen Xi and that the two shared an unspeakable secret.

Although Yin Song secretly helped Chen Xi escape, Yin Zheng and his team had already discovered that the counterfeit case was deeply tied to Daichuan. In court, Yin Song pretended to uphold justice and voluntarily proposed to punish Daichuan. Yin Zheng believed punishing Daichuan might implicate Danchuan and thought it would be inappropriate. But before he could speak, the fourth prince rushed to recommend Yin Zheng to Lord Xinchuan to handle the matter in Daichuan.

Yin Zheng and Yin Qi traveled day and night to the border between Danchuan and Daichuan, where they met with the two regional lords. Lord Xinchuan had originally only intended to block the official roads to Daichuan to prevent spies from entering Xinchuan. But upon arriving in Danchuan, they received news that Lord Xinchuan had ordered the roads in Danchuan to be sealed off instead.

At this time, Danchuan was experiencing a boom in commerce, and closing the roads would seriously affect people's livelihoods. After some discussion, the two brothers decided to allow passage through Danchuan. This matter quickly reached the court of Xinchuan. The ministers were in heated discussion, while Lord Xinchuan’s expression remained unreadable, revealing none of his thoughts. That day, Lord Xinchuan summoned Yin Zheng and Yin Qi to the palace and questioned them repeatedly.

He plainly stated that he had intentionally ordered the closure of Danchuan’s roads before the Tea and Horse Festival to prevent Daichuan spies from infiltrating Xinchuan. The lord believed Yin Zheng was fully capable of understanding this, but he couldn’t tell whether Yin Zheng was being obstinate or deliberately disobedient. Just as Yin Zheng was about to explain, Yin Song interrupted.

He shifted all the blame onto Yin Zheng, saying that Yin Zheng should have dealt with the Lord of Daichuan directly, as that was the responsibility of the Department of Nine Regions Affairs. Now that Yin Zheng had failed in his duty, he had no choice but to negotiate with Daichuan himself. As he spoke, Yin Song even presented a reply letter from Daichuan.

Yin Song, assuming the posture of an elder brother, chastised Yin Zheng, reminding him that he was the prince of Xinchuan, not of Danchuan. His mission to Tong'an Mountain was to protect the mines. The lord sighed and asked Yin Zheng if he acknowledged his wrongdoing. Seeing Yin Zheng remain silent for a long time, Lord Xinchuan grew even more furious and immediately decided to remove him from his post.

Yin Qi, standing nearby, became anxious and admitted that the idea had been his. But instead of clearing Yin Zheng’s name, his admission only added fuel to the fire, making the lord even angrier. Yin Qi took all the blame and was thrown into prison. When Shangguan Jing heard the news, she rushed to the palace but was stopped by the nanny. If she barged in at that moment, Yin Qi might face even harsher punishment.

Helpless, Shangguan Jing had no choice but to discuss with the other ladies. Meanwhile, Yin Zheng knelt outside the grand hall, letting the rain wash over his wounds, firmly determined to plead for Yin Qi. The lord knew very well that the fifth prince would never act alone. But now the number of impeachment memorials was increasing, and he had to give the ministers an explanation.

Li Wei and Yuan Ying entered the palace to seek an audience with Madam He and Madam Chun to discuss what should be done. Unexpectedly, news came from outside that Shangguan Jing had broken into the detention chamber without permission.

Shangguan Jing learned of Yin Qi’s sentencing from An Xiyuan. That night, she snuck into the detention chamber and was nearly held accountable. Fortunately, Li Wei and the others arrived in time to prevent disaster. After calming down, Shangguan Jing realized she had probably fallen into An Xiyuan’s trap. Madam Chun, dressed in plain clothes, knelt outside the grand hall for a long time before being allowed to see the lord.

Seeing that he had no intention of pardoning the fifth prince, Madam Chun offered a compromise: if punishment was necessary, then strip Yin Qi of his noble status and banish him as a commoner, never to return to court. This would ensure he could never hold office or become crown prince. For a prince, this was a devastating blow, but to Madam Chun, keeping her son alive mattered more than anything.

When Shangguan Jing learned of this, she hurried to the prison and gently comforted Yin Qi. At first, he was shocked by the news, but he didn’t show any sadness, instead laughing and joking as usual, afraid Shangguan Jing would worry about him. But how could Shangguan Jing not see that he was forcing a smile? She took out a few candies and handed them to him, hoping to bring him a bit of sweetness.

Time passed unknowingly until the jailer entered, urging her to leave. The two parted reluctantly, their eyes never leaving each other. The lord personally came to the prison gate to fetch the fifth prince and asked what he had reflected on during his time inside. The fifth prince seemed to have genuinely figured things out and declared he had done nothing wrong. Yin Qi clearly understood that the lord merely saw him as a disposable piece.

But what he couldn’t comprehend was how a father could treat his own son this way. The lord was furious and left in a rage. The next morning, the lord ordered the closure of the Gourmet Society. The ladies were both angry and worried, but could only bide their time and wait for a chance. However, troubles came one after another—just after Yin Qi was stripped of his title, he was expelled from the prince’s residence.

The tenth prince, emboldened by his backers, came to Yin Qi’s residence, bossing people around. Shangguan Jing couldn’t tolerate it any longer; she grabbed her long spear and knocked him to the ground. Unexpectedly, the tenth prince wouldn’t let it go and claimed that Yin Qi still had feelings for Hao Jia. Shangguan Jing was furious and hurled the spear at him. Terrified, the tenth prince fled, rolling and crawling while screaming for his mother.

With the Gourmet Society shut down, the ladies’ savings would only last for two months. Seeing Yin Zheng and Yuan Ying looking distressed, Li Wei smiled and tried to comfort them, saying everything would be fine. But once she returned to her room, she shed her cheerful facade and quietly bore the burden. Yin Zheng and Yuan Ying were well aware of what Li Wei was feeling.

They specially asked Su Shen and Liu Baoquan to bring her calming incense and a late-night snack. Li Wei was overjoyed and her smile returned. Yin An also knew that Yin Song didn’t dare to orchestrate the counterfeit case himself; he was merely profiting from it. But Yin Zheng was determined to reclaim justice from Yin Song and make him take responsibility for his actions. However, he worried that he might end up like the fifth prince.

The only thing he couldn’t let go of was Li Wei. Yin Zheng told Li Wei that even if he captured the culprit through his private investigation, he could still be punished and demoted to a commoner. Li Wei didn’t mind. To her, that wasn’t a bad outcome. She even reassured Yin Zheng that she could support him. Hearing that, Yin Zheng couldn’t help but smile.

Li Wei, slightly annoyed, asked what he was laughing at and proudly declared that her family had a mu and a half of farmland. As she listed her family's property, Yin Zheng couldn’t help but laugh and said he’d follow her lead. But soon, their expressions grew heavy. As Yin Zheng was about to leave, Li Wei called out to him, telling him to come back no matter what—she would be waiting for him at home. They held each other tightly, unwilling to let go.

In a secluded room, Chen Xi was drinking and playing cards with a few others. Someone couldn’t help but ask why they were staying in such a rundown place when they had returned to seek refuge with the Second Prince. Chen Xi's expression turned serious. He stared closely at the man and warned him that the Legitimate Eldest Prince was not someone he could speak about so casually.

He reminded everyone that as long as they remained loyal to the Legitimate Eldest Prince, they would surely have a bright future. Just then, a disturbance was heard outside. Everyone quickly stopped what they were doing, grabbed their weapons, and rushed out to investigate. Before they could react, Yin Zheng had already surrounded the group with his men. Yin Zheng ordered them all to be captured, but demanded some be kept alive.

Chen Xi was quite loyal to Yin Song and refused to confess anything, even under Yin Zheng’s severe interrogation. He still wouldn’t admit to knowing Yin Song. However, he underestimated Yin Zheng’s capabilities—the latter already had evidence against him. After the interrogation, the soldiers prepared to escort Chen Xi and the others back to the criminal bureau. Under the cover of night, countless arrows rained from the sky like a downpour from the heavens, nearly engulfing everyone.

Amid the chaos, Chen Xi broke free from his ropes and managed to escape. Li Wei sat beneath the moonlight, waiting for Yin Zheng’s return. Seeing him come back with the evidence, Li Wei was overjoyed and rushed forward to embrace him. Although they had obtained the evidence to bring down Yin Song, Yin Zheng couldn't bring himself to feel happy. He sighed, lamenting that perhaps those who stood at the top also had little choice in life.

Li Wei comforted him, saying that if he ever strayed from the right path, she would be the one to scold him back to his senses. That day, Yin Zheng knelt outside the palace for a long time before finally presenting Yin Song’s list of crimes to the Lord. The Lord had already guessed the purpose of Yin Zheng’s visit, but had yet to decide what to do.

The Lord of Xinchuan had once been just a son born of a concubine. Only he knew the hardships he had endured to reach his current position. Back then, he had resolved to raise his Legitimate Eldest Prince well, so that he might live a smooth life and not suffer as he had. But in the end, things rarely go as one wishes. The Lord summoned Yin Song to the study and reminisced about the past with him.

Yin Song sensed something strange about his father that day and asked if he had any final instructions. The Lord didn’t answer but instead asked whether Yin Song had anything he wished to say. Yin Song had a foreboding feeling but, after some thought, still chose not to reveal his secret. The Lord sighed heavily, his eyes filled with disappointment and helplessness. When he learned he had been dismissed and exiled, Yin Song refused to believe it.

He rushed to the Lord to confirm the news, only to receive a definite answer. In an instant, Yin Song became like a trapped beast, wildly resisting. He questioned the Lord of Xinchuan, asking whether he had always been nothing but a pawn, if everything had merely been part of a grand scheme. The Lord was so infuriated that he nearly suffered a heart attack and ordered him to be dragged out.

To Yin Song, everyone always said he was the Legitimate Eldest Prince, that he had to shoulder the responsibility of the nine regions. But it seemed that no matter what he did, his father was never satisfied. So he feared that his brothers would surpass him, feared his father's disappointment. Hearing this, Yin Zheng’s throat tightened. He reminded Yin Song that those who stand tall must also be prepared for a hard fall.

Just as Yin Zheng was leaving, someone came in behind him with a cup of wine, claiming it was a gift from the Lord of Xinchuan. Disheartened, Yin Song raised the cup to drink it all, but Yin Zheng suddenly rushed in and knocked it over. When Yin Song saw clearly, he realized the servant delivering the wine was actually Chen Xi.

After hearing about this, the Lord of Xinchuan personally went to the Sixth Prince’s residence to ask Yin Zheng why he had saved Yin Song. Upon hearing Yin Zheng’s answer, the Lord of Xinchuan felt deeply ashamed. He hadn’t expected that, in his son’s eyes, he wasn’t entirely irredeemable. Meanwhile, Yin Qi looked around his now-empty house and felt a deep emptiness inside. Worried that Shangguan Jing would suffer alongside him, he decided to send her away.

To drive Shangguan Jing away, Yin Qi claimed that he had always held Hao Jia in his heart. Furious, Shangguan Jing slapped him hard. What Yin Qi didn’t realize was that Shangguan Jing didn’t hit him because of his words about Hao Jia, but because he refused to tell the truth and face reality. With no other choice, Shangguan Jing left a letter of divorce and returned to Danchuan.

When Li Wei heard about this, she was both angry and anxious, urging Yin Qi to hurry to Danchuan and bring Shangguan Jing back. But Yin Qi, feeling too ashamed to face her, stubbornly refused to go. Meanwhile, the Lord of Danchuan planned to choose a good husband for Shangguan Jing so that she might forget Yin Qi soon. But Shangguan Jing remained cold and refused to accept any suitors.

Seeing Yin Qi in such a miserable state, Yin Zheng felt deeply upset, blaming himself for not protecting his brother well. Yin Qi, however, was more open-minded. Now that the person who had started everything had been punished, Yin Zheng had essentially avenged him. As for whether he could return to the Prince’s residence, he knew that once the Lord issued a decree, it wouldn’t be revoked.

Still, he sighed that he had never had great ambitions and wasn’t suited for court life anyway—perhaps now he was finally free. Yin Zheng wrote to the Lord of Danchuan, explaining the reason for Yin Qi and Shangguan Jing’s separation. The Lord of Danchuan responded quickly with a straightforward reply. After much hesitation, Yin Qi opened the letter, and just as he expected, it was full of scolding.

Brokenhearted, Yin Qi sat on the bed in despair, unable to eat or drink, tears streaming down his face. The Third and Sixth Princes were worried he might collapse, so they dragged him to the dining table by force. Yin Qi poured an entire bottle of chili powder into his food, but no matter how he ate, it wasn’t Shangguan Jing’s flavor. Enraged, he flung his chopsticks and sat to the side angrily.

Su Shen rushed in with an official document, insisting that Yin Qi open it. When he learned that the Lord of Danchuan was seeking a husband for Shangguan Jing, Yin Qi immediately leapt up and raced to Danchuan on horseback. Yin Qi barged his way to the gates of the Danchuan Palace and knelt outside the main hall, requesting to see Shangguan Jing. The Lord of Danchuan, upon learning this, didn’t drive him away.

Instead, he deliberately let the male candidates for the selection walk past him. Yin Qi knelt for a full day and night. When he finally stood up, his vision went dark, but he still declared resolutely that he would participate in the selection himself. After several rounds, Yin Qi made it to the final stage with his skills. However, Situ Jin announced that no one had been selected this time.

Situ Jin also told Yin Qi that Shangguan Jing wasn’t in Danchuan but was likely at Lake Danxia. Yin Qi expressed his gratitude and hurried off toward Lake Danxia. To avoid burdening her sisters, Hao Jia disguised herself as a man and sold cosmetics on the street. That day, Zhao Fangru came to find her and chatted at length. Zhao Fangru was confused as to why Changle called Yin Zheng her adoptive father rather than uncle.

Hao Jia explained that since the child didn’t have a biological father, she naturally called Yin Zheng her adoptive father. Zhao Fangru suddenly understood and couldn't stop smiling. At that moment, Changle was crying and fussing in Li Wei’s arms. She only settled down and fell asleep after Yin Zheng arrived. Yin Zheng and Li Wei carefully dressed Changle, finally letting out a sigh of relief.

Li Wei was surprised and asked how Yin Zheng had managed to soothe the crying child. Yin Zheng said he had read it in a medical book—it noted that infants often had stomachaches after eating at night, and a gentle massage would help. Li Wei couldn’t help but praise him, saying that whether it was an eighty-year-old elder or a swaddled infant, he could handle them all. Embarrassed, Yin Zheng touched her forehead.

Yuan Ying happened to pass by the room and saw Yin Zheng and Li Wei laughing as they cared for Changle. A look of contentment appeared on her face, and she couldn’t help but glance at them a few more times before quietly leaving. After the Third Prince took over the household registry office, the Gourmet Festival was able to reopen. Zhao Fangru and Hao Jia discussed and finally decided to visit Yin Song. Seeing them, Yin Song felt a bit happy. But to his surprise, their purpose for coming was to deliver the letter of divorce.

Yin Song went to the palace to bid farewell to his mother—perhaps this goodbye would be forever. Lady Chuan felt deep sorrow for her son and said she would send him some money later. But Yin Song refused. Now a commoner, he wanted to make a living with his own hands. The Tenth Prince stood by, unable to hold back his tears.

Yin Song urged him not to follow his own path again and to stay in line while taking good care of their mother. Seeing Yin Song walk farther away, Lady Chuan could no longer care about appearances and hurried after him, calling, "Song'er! " Yin Song turned and knelt in salute to her. The Lord had someone deliver a bundle to Yin Song, but he did not accept it.

Upon hearing this, the Lord felt a mix of emotions—sad that their father-son bond was gone, but also comforted by Yin Song's upright character. Now the situation in court had shifted. Those who once clamored to impeach Yin Zheng now praised him for his virtue. Once a negligible presence in the palace of the Princes, Yin Zheng had become someone everyone noticed overnight. Some even said he was fit to be the heir.

Lord Xinchuan acknowledged that Yin Zheng was a good son, but in the palace, there were too few moments for a father to show kindness and a son to show filial piety. The maid found Yuan Ying very strange that day. Though she was always ambitious, she hadn't slept the entire previous night. Early in the morning, she had walked through the garden, cleaned the entire residence, and given everyone many instructions.

Li Wei immediately sensed something was wrong and rushed to find Yuan Ying. At that moment, Yuan Ying was at the restaurant, carefully arranging everything. Li Wei, eyes red, rushed in from outside, but seeing Yuan Ying, she suddenly didn't know what to do. Yuan Ying was not surprised to see her and urged her to come help tidy up. Only then did Li Wei ask if Yuan Ying was leaving.

Yuan Ying admitted that now that the situation had stabilized, she wanted to live her own life. At the palace, Yin Zheng and Lord Xinchuan were playing chess. Upon hearing that Yin Zheng intended to divorce Yuan Ying, Lord Xinchuan was furious and baffled, but had no choice but to agree. The next step was to convince Lord Jinchuan. Yuan Ying had six younger brothers—five illegitimate and all unruly. Yuan Xu was the legitimate eldest, but also the most troublesome.

Yuan Ying's mother always cared for her, but was soft-spoken and had no voice in front of Lord Jinchuan, who was forceful and conservative, especially regarding the marriage of his children—he would be the hardest to persuade. Yin Zheng suddenly thought that since Jinchuan valued profit, perhaps they could persuade Lord Jinchuan by offering to reduce taxes. In Jinchuan Palace, Yuan Xu had ministers implementing reforms. But Yuan Ying suddenly appeared and scolded him harshly.

In the main hall, Yuan Ying was about to propose divorce, but was interrupted by Lady Jinchuan. Later, Yin Zheng had to negotiate with Lord Jinchuan alone. Unexpectedly, Lord Jinchuan was furious and outright refused to allow the divorce. Yuan Ying tried to speak further but was placed under house arrest by Lord Jinchuan. Li Wei prepared many delicious dishes to send to Yuan Ying but was stopped by the guards.

Fortunately, Lady Jinchuan passed by and delivered them for her. At that time, Yuan Ying was drafting a memorial. When her mother entered, she hurriedly hid the document. Sensing something unusual, Lady Jinchuan took the draft. She admired Yuan Ying’s talent but still advised her to temper her sharpness. Yuan Ying was emotional and pleaded with her mother to help her this time. At the Danchuan border, Shangguan Jing heard a woman's cry for help and followed the voice.

Seeing injustice, she rescued a woman being beaten by her husband. But suddenly, several burly men with weapons rushed out. In no time, Shangguan Jing subdued them all, only to run into Yin Qi, who had arrived with soldiers.

Yuan Xu advised Lord Jinchuan that Jinchuan's commerce had always been more developed than Xinchuan's. Now that Xinchuan proposed mutual tax reductions, it would be a loss for Jinchuan. Thus, he suggested not only rejecting the proposal but also increasing taxes. Lord Jinchuan slammed his brush down and called him a fool. Xinchuan was no longer what it used to be. In the past, Jinchuan dominated trade, but now, the other seven regions were closer to Xinchuan in business.

Raising taxes would be self-defeating. Lady Jinchuan suddenly thought of Yuan Ying’s memorial and suggested that tax reductions could show Jinchuan’s people how others do business and might even promote reforms. Lord Jinchuan and Yuan Xu were both surprised—when had Lady Jinchuan taken interest in politics? After thinking for a moment, Lord Jinchuan agreed she made sense. Encouraged by the praise, Lady Jinchuan boldly spoke further. Lord Jinchuan was pleased and sat down to take notes.

Lady Jinchuan then revealed the truth—these ideas were all Yuan Ying’s. She handed him the memorial. Noticing Lord Jinchuan’s changing attitude, Yuan Xu grew uneasy and summoned close ministers to the hall. Sitting on the dais, he warned them with veiled threats, saying only by siding with him could they enjoy future prosperity. At that moment, Yuan Ying and Yin Zheng entered from outside, interrupting him.

Surprised to see his sister unharmed, Yuan Xu was stunned but could only turn his hostility toward Yin Zheng. He asked why Jinchuan’s affairs now involved an outsider. Yin Zheng calmly replied that he worked for Xinchuan’s Bureau of Nine Regions Affairs and had every right to discuss tax reduction. After much deliberation, Lord Jinchuan finally acknowledged Yuan Ying's political talent. But when it came to divorce, he remained firmly opposed.

He believed that divorce was too grave a matter for a woman. Hearing this, Li Wei immediately understood—Lord Jinchuan wasn’t worried about relations between the regions, but about Yuan Ying’s future. Taking the opportunity, Li Wei told him about Yuan Ying’s serious illness in Xinchuan. Though concerned, Lord Jinchuan still didn’t relent. That night, Lord Jinchuan brought food to Yuan Ying and told her he agreed to the divorce.

He said he had planned everything for her to ensure she would live a safe and smooth life. Hearing these words from her father for the first time in so many years, Yuan Ying was deeply moved, tears streaming down her face. The next day, Yuan Ying, Li Wei, Yin Zheng, and others gathered at the restaurant to celebrate the outcome. Later, Li Wei sent Yuan Ying to the government office to congratulate her on becoming Jinchuan’s first female official.

Yuan Ying carefully picked up her ceremonial hat and gently stroked it—her wish had finally come true. But it also meant she and Li Wei would eventually part ways. After returning, Yin Zheng gave Lord Xinchuan the letter of approval from Lord Jinchuan. Lord Xinchuan didn’t ask much—he seemed to know the reason. Unlike before, he agreed to Yin Zheng’s request and approved elevating Li Wei to principal wife. Just then, the Third and Fourth Princes arrived.

Lord Xinchuan announced that the Fourth would assist the Third at the Household Affairs Office. The smiles disappeared from the faces of the Third and Sixth, but they could only nod in agreement. Elsewhere, Shangguan Jing told Yin Qi that although she did have feelings for him, they weren’t suitable for each other. Yin Qi agreed on the surface but still secretly followed her. Shangguan Jing had no choice but to let him sit by the campfire.

Li Wei planned to expand the Meishihui Restaurant across all nine regions, which meant hiring new chefs. After days of searching, she still hadn’t found the right person. Coincidentally, the Ninth Prince knew an excellent chef—Xiao Yang. Xiao Yang demonstrated his cooking skills, impressing everyone. Both Li Wei and Xiao Yang were from Jichuan and shared an interest in mushrooms and similar ingredients. Li Wei invited Xiao Yang to visit her kitchen and introduced him to her home-grown vegetables.

Yin Zheng and Su Shen were walking through the courtyard when they saw Li Wei and a man approaching. Li Wei was introducing Xiao Yang to her garden and even offered to let him pick some vegetables to take back for the Ninth Prince. Xiao Yang was surprised that vegetables could grow in the courtyard and praised Li Wei’s excellent choices. The two chatted happily, but Yin Zheng couldn't stand it any longer and rushed over to interrupt.

Li Wei introduced Xiao Yang and praised his delicious cooking. Jealous, Yin Zheng tried to join the conversation but embarrassed himself by mistaking chili peppers for goji berries. Not only was Xiao Yang a great chef, but he was also quite handsome. Upon arriving at the restaurant, he attracted many female patrons. Li Wei and Haitang sat nearby observing and couldn't stop admiring him.

Upstairs, Yin Zheng and Yin An watched with growing anxiety, afraid Xiao Yang would steal their wives. Though still early, Yin Zheng waited outside the restaurant to take Li Wei home. To his surprise, she invited Xiao Yang to come along. Li Wei wanted to learn cooking from Xiao Yang, but upon arriving home, she found the kitchen utensils missing. Xiao Yang somehow brought gifts and delighted everyone, giving Li Wei a chance to continue her lessons.

As night fell, everyone presented their dishes to Yin Zheng for tasting. But Yin Zheng had no appetite and left for the study under everyone’s puzzled gazes. The Fourth Prince invited Yin An to discuss state affairs. Though usually quiet, the Fourth Prince proved highly capable, accomplishing things Yin An couldn’t. Pretending to be friendly, Yin An quickly reported everything to Yin Zheng.

While talking, Yin An suddenly felt hungry and realized Li Wei had gone to the restaurant to learn cooking from Xiao Yang. Alarmed, he dragged Yin Zheng along to check. Meanwhile, Shangguan Jing got up early and found Yin Qi busy by the fire. She took the corn he offered, but it was already burnt. Losing her appetite, she set it down and began packing. Yin Qi quickly tried to stop her and offered to pack instead.

But no matter how hard he tried, he kept messing things up. Shangguan Jing sighed and told him to go back. Disheartened, Yin Qi forced a smile and said he had memorized the map of the Nine Regions—wherever she wanted to go, he could guide her. With that, they set off on horseback, following Yin Qi’s direction, but eventually reached a dead end. Along the way, Yin Qi continued to mess up, driving Shangguan Jing to near fury.

Seemingly realizing the truth, Yin Qi offered to leave and let her travel alone. Zhao Fangru planned to return to Daichuan to manage the mining business. Before leaving, she went to say goodbye to Hao Jia. Though she had several older brothers, Zhao Fangru’s skill and strategy would soon help her reclaim the mines.

Lately, Yin Zheng had been acting strangely. Li Wei, of course, could guess why, but she didn’t want to entertain his childishness. That night, Su Shen came rushing over, saying that Yin Zheng had suddenly fallen ill with stomach pain and was in great discomfort. Li Wei hurried over, only to find Yin Zheng clutching his stomach, lying by the lake.

Anxious to the point of seeing stars, Li Wei was startled when Yin Zheng told her to look at the water first. Li Wei turned her head and saw floating candle lanterns drifting on the lake, twinkling like stars in the night sky. She instantly understood Yin Zheng’s little scheme and became angry. Yin Zheng quickly sat up and admitted that he was jealous.

Li Wei told him that she learned cooking from Xiao Yang because she wanted to cook for him herself. Yin Zheng confessed he was simply worried, seeing how she and Xiao Yang were from the same hometown and got along well, and that he was a good cook. Knowing that Yin Zheng was jealous, Li Wei couldn’t help but laugh. Li Wei rested her head on Yin Zheng’s shoulder and said she only wanted to go home with him.

Hearing this, Yin Zheng finally smiled. Li Wei continued explaining that she and Xiao Yang only shared the bond of being from the same hometown, and since he was a good friend of the Ninth Prince, as his sister-in-law, she naturally should look after him. As she spoke, she didn’t forget to praise Yin Zheng’s brilliance and courage. Overjoyed, Yin Zheng beamed with happiness. Li Wei cupped Yin Zheng’s face and gently kissed him.

At first surprised, Yin Zheng quickly responded with a passionate kiss. The Fourth Prince was rallying supporters everywhere, and the threat he posed was no less than Yin Song's. Yin Zheng wasn’t worried, as he had long been prepared. In court, the Lord and the Princes discussed the issue of taxes. The Fourth Prince eagerly presented himself, requesting full control over tax matters. Sensing something, Yin Zheng stepped forward to offer his opinion.

After a moment of thought, the Lord decided to let the Fourth Prince and Yin Zheng handle the matter together. Lady He went to visit relatives in Nanzhou, leaving Little Eleven alone at the residence. Little Eleven insisted on staying with his brother and sister-in-law, so Li Wei and Yin Zheng, left with no choice, agreed. Little Eleven had endless questions and was very picky about food, causing Li Wei and Yin Zheng considerable headaches.

Eventually, they had no choice but to send him to school. Unexpectedly, he stirred up such chaos at school that even the teacher was overwhelmed. It wasn’t until another little tyrant, Song Wu, arrived that someone could handle him. In the past, Song Wu had lived under Lady He’s care. After Little Eleven was born, Song Wu felt she might lose favor. As Little Eleven grew up, he often acted arrogant in front of Song Wu.

Upset, Song Wu moved to live in Yin Zheng’s courtyard. Little Eleven, feeling threatened, constantly opposed her, worried she would steal his mother’s affection. After learning about their conflict, Li Wei and Yin Zheng invited them to a meal at a restaurant. The two reconciled publicly, enjoying the warm moment. In the woods, Yin Qi and Shangguan Jing were about to part ways, but unexpectedly both tumbled off a cliff.

Yin Qi woke first and quickly checked Shangguan Jing for injuries, ignoring his own wounds. Touched by Yin Qi’s concern, Shangguan Jing decided to let him follow her and travel the world together. Overjoyed, Yin Qi embraced Shangguan Jing tightly. The New Year soon arrived. Yin Qi and Shangguan Jing went to a restaurant and enjoyed hot pot. Outside, snow was falling heavily. Shangguan Jing cheerfully ran out to watch the snow.

The two couldn’t help but think of everyone in Xinchuan, wondering what they were doing at that moment. The falling snow added a romantic atmosphere. Yin Qi solemnly held Shangguan Jing’s hand and told her that he would follow her for the rest of his life. Seeing her nod slightly, Yin Qi grinned and suddenly hugged her.

The wives of several Princes dined with the two Madams. An Xiyuan arrived late and announced her pregnancy. Lady He was delighted and immediately ordered the greasy dishes removed and replaced with lighter fare. Li Wei, though happy, also felt a little guilty, not knowing An Xiyuan was pregnant and having prepared strong-flavored dishes.   A sudden cold disaster struck the New Cang border. In court, Lord Xinchuan asked the ministers to speak freely and come up with a solution.

The Fourth Prince was the first to step forward, saying that the priority should be avoiding casualties and that the Household Department had prepared the funds. However, transporting supplies from the capital might take too long due to the mountainous terrain, so nearby aid was needed. Since northern Mochuan had experience dealing with the cold, he suggested seeking their help. Looking down at his memorial, Yin Zheng realized the Fourth Prince had voiced exactly what he had written.

He quickly spoke up, saying he had already written to Mochuan and secured their support.   Lord Xinchuan pondered over his sons. Since taking charge of the Household Department, the Fourth Prince had shown signs of his former ambition. Though the Sixth Prince seemed sincere, at times he felt unfathomable. After a moment’s thought, he decided to send both sons to the northwest for disaster relief.

He gave them a strict military order: if anyone froze to death, they were not to return.   As their husbands prepared to leave for a distant journey, their wives naturally worried. Each Princess prepared luggage for her husband, hoping for his safe return. The next day, the Fourth and Sixth Princes set off with their troops. After traveling for some time, they paused to rest in the mountains.

Yin Zheng thought they should hurry and asked the Fourth Prince for permission to proceed. But the Fourth Prince, not in a rush, wanted the soldiers to rest longer. Yin Zheng had no choice but to salute and take his leave, stating he would go ahead.   At the border town of Canghe in New Cang, snow blanketed everything. Yin Zheng arrived with his troops through the wind and snow, seeing the townspeople in a miserable state.

His heart ached at the sight. Village chief Du stumbled over and saluted Yin Zheng. Not wanting to attract attention, Yin Zheng ordered the soldiers to distribute supplies right away.   While checking on the people, Yin Zheng was stopped by a blind old woman. Her husband had passed away early, and her son was no longer around. She lived with her granddaughter, but they were starving and the windows had been blown out by the wind.

Her granddaughter was crying from the cold. Desperate, she came to beg Yin Zheng for help. Yin Zheng comforted her and ordered supplies to be sent to her home. He even took off his own cloak and gave it to her. The old woman wept and knelt in gratitude, but Yin Zheng quickly had her helped up and sent her home.   Meanwhile, at Wuxiang County, also near New Cang, things were peaceful and lively.

Magistrate Chu led the Fourth Prince through the streets, reporting the county’s situation. Soon, the Fourth Prince received a letter from Yin Zheng detailing the situation in Canghe Town and requesting support. Upon reading it, the Fourth Prince immediately ordered supplies sent to Canghe.   That night, the soldiers returning from Wuxiang with supplies arrived, but all had injuries on their faces. It turned out they had encountered mountain bandits on the road and lost many supplies.

Yin Zheng did not blame them; instead, he thanked them for their efforts.   Yin Zheng had been away for many days, yet no letter arrived at home. For Li Wei, the days dragged by in worry. Unbeknownst to her, Yin Zheng had sent letters, but they had been intercepted by the Fourth Prince. Meanwhile, An Xiyuan went to Prince Liu’s residence and falsely claimed Yin Zheng had met with misfortune. Anxious, Li Wei hurried with Su Shen and others to Canghe, but Su Shen took the wrong road, leaving them lost in the mountains.

Before they could find a way forward, Li Wei and her group encountered mountain bandits. They abandoned their carriage and hid in the bushes. The bandits found a bag of treasure on the carriage and excitedly prepared to leave. Unexpectedly, Jade Bottle sneezed, alerting the bandits. In desperation, Li Wei threw chili powder in their faces. In the chaos, she became separated from the others. Upon hearing this, Yin Zheng was both furious and anxious.

He shouted at everyone and sternly ordered the Fourth Prince to send more men to search the mountain. Meanwhile, Li Wei escaped to a forest and, seeing candlelight in the distance, rushed over for help—only to find she had walked into the bandits’ lair. Soon, Yin Zheng tracked down the house but found no sign of Li Wei. Learning that she had escaped, he rushed out to search. Elsewhere, Li Wei stumbled in panic, and her firestarter was barely burning.

The sounds of wild animals echoed from the woods. Overwhelmed, she finally broke down in tears. Just as she thought her end had come, a blazing torch appeared in the distance. Yin Zheng emerged from the light and carried Li Wei home. After returning, the couple pieced everything together and suspected the Fourth Prince’s family was behind it. As they discussed this, the Fourth Prince arrived. Yin Zheng, face dark with anger, was ready to beat him.

Li Wei held his hand to calm him. Swallowing his fury, Yin Zheng asked the Fourth Prince to speak outside. He warned him not to drag the inner court into political disputes or he wouldn’t let it go. Meanwhile, Yin An, upon receiving Yin Zheng’s letter, decided to offer his help. While Lord Xinchuan inspected the relief efforts, Yin An took the opportunity to speak well of Yin Zheng.

That day, Lady He summoned An Xiyuan to the palace to copy scriptures. An Xiyuan declined, citing her pregnancy, but Lady He had already arranged four imperial physicians. Realizing she couldn’t refuse, An Xiyuan sat down to copy. After returning, she flew into a rage and threw her hairpin to the ground. She then wrote to the Fourth Prince, informing him of the incident. The Fourth Prince immediately decided to return to the palace.

Before leaving, he heard that Yin Zheng was gravely ill and schemed to have Magistrate Chu detain all the doctors. The local doctors in town were unreliable, and no reply had come from the palace. As Yin Zheng’s condition worsened, Li Wei grew more anxious and had to rely on folk remedies from her hometown. Upon hearing of this, the townspeople brought fruits, vegetables, and medicinal herbs to help.

Perhaps their prayers were heard, as Yin Zheng finally woke up after days of unconsciousness. Back at the palace, rumors spread that Lord Xinchuan had abandoned Yin Zheng. Lady He tearfully requested an audience to ask him directly. Upon hearing this, Lord Xinchuan was furious and ordered an immediate investigation. Lady He then pleaded with him to send imperial physicians to Canghe, revealing that Yin Zheng was gravely ill with no one to treat him.

Lord Xinchuan was shocked and quickly realized the truth. He closed his eyes tightly, struggling to contain his fury. But when he opened his eyes again, the pent-up energy suddenly burst out all at once, making him extremely uncomfortable. Things are finally moving in a positive direction. The common people are free from the cold disaster, and Yin Zheng's condition has improved. The white snow now looks very beautiful.

Lord Xinchuan praised Yin Zheng in front of everyone and hinted to the fourth prince that it is the greatest virtue to be able to correct one's mistakes. The fourth prince was immediately thrown into a panic upon hearing the underlying meaning of the Lord Xinchuan's words.

The Fourth Prince had already sensed that the Lord was dissatisfied with him. Panic surged in his heart, and he began to retreat, wanting to live a stable life with his wife. However, An Xiyuan was unwilling to give up. They had finally gained the Lord’s favor—how could they give up due to a minor setback? For the sake of the child in her belly, they had to grit their teeth and endure.

Recently, the He Madam frequently inquired about Yin Zheng's preferences from the palace elders, which surprised Yin Zheng. Sensing the awkward atmosphere, Li Wei stepped in to ease the tension. The He Madam, pleased, subtly hinted that Li Wei should start calling her "Mother. " Li Wei hesitantly called out "Mother," making the He Madam beam with joy as she loudly responded. The family sat together drinking mutton soup, the atmosphere warm and joyful.

That night, after Li Wei prepared the bed, she called Yin Zheng to rest. Yin Zheng was overjoyed inside but pretended to be shy on the surface. As they lay on the bed, they drew closer and eventually embraced. Li Wei couldn’t help but recall the time in Canghe Town—when Yin Zheng was gravely ill, she wondered whether, if he died under her care, she would be executed according to Xinchuan law.

She didn’t know whether to follow him in death or await her execution. But the more she thought about it, the less afraid she became. As long as she could stay by Yin Zheng’s side, it seemed like she could accept anything. Yin Zheng also remembered how, when Li Wei first arrived in Xinchuan, she constantly declared she wanted to become a widow. He teased her, saying if he really died, wouldn’t that fulfill her wish?

Unexpectedly, Li Wei suddenly sat up and kissed him, reminding him not to speak such unlucky words again. Once dry wood is ignited, it blazes uncontrollably. In the haze of emotions, the two became true husband and wife. Yin Zheng and Yin Qi went to the palace to see the Lord and immediately saw the Fourth Prince, who had been standing there for a long time. The two merely exchanged glances without speaking and walked straight past him.

Upon seeing his sons enter, the Lord finally smiled and reminded Yin Zheng to take care of his health. Outside the hall, Yin An couldn’t help but rebuke the Fourth Prince. He had always thought the Fourth Prince was merely shrewd but never expected such ill intentions. The Lord also reminded the Fourth Prince that no matter what, one should never harm his brothers. After a few words of advice, the Lord finally collapsed.

Upon hearing the news, Madam Chuan wasn’t flustered at all but instead mocked the Lord, saying that after a lifetime of scheming, this was his end. As the Lord hadn’t appeared for days, there were heated discussions in court. Officials from the Ministry of Rites cautiously asked the palace attendants whether a crown prince should be designated. The Fourth Prince chimed in. Upon hearing this, Yin Zheng quickly stepped forward to interrupt and warned them not to act rashly.

Aside from fearing someone might seize the opportunity, Yin Zheng also felt disheartened—it seemed that among all, only the Third and Seventh Princes truly cared about the Lord. Li Wei originally wanted to prepare some nutritious food for the Lord, but he refused to see anyone. Seeing Yin Zheng sigh, Li Wei comforted him, saying that the Lord must have his own reasons for not meeting people, but perhaps there was one person he did want to see.

Meanwhile, Yin Qi had rushed back and insisted on seeing the Lord despite the guards’ obstruction. At that moment, a palace attendant came out and allowed Yin Qi to enter the hall. Yin Qi finally entered the hall but could only speak to his father through a screen. Just as he was about to leave in disappointment, he suddenly heard a heavy cough from inside. Yin Qi disregarded all formalities—he just wanted to see his father.

Seeing his father no longer the dignified figure he once was, lying pale as snow on the bed, Yin Qi felt deeply grieved. He knew his father had hidden his illness to avoid political scheming, but he also wanted him to know that someone truly cared for him. Moved by Yin Qi’s heartfelt words, the Lord was brought to tears. That day, the Lord dressed properly and held a family banquet in the palace.

The family gathered, chatting and laughing—a lively scene. Only the Fourth Prince’s family sat at home plotting the succession. That day, news of An Xiyuan giving birth to a son reached the palace, and the Lord smiled. But unexpectedly, the Fourth Prince rushed in carrying the child, wanting the Lord to name him. The Lord's expression darkened, and he signaled the Fourth Prince to leave.

The Lord personally went to the Fourth Prince's residence and directly asked whether he was willing to join him on a patrol around the regions. The Fourth Prince gave a set of grand-sounding pleasantries, but when it came to actually going, his expression darkened. The Lord knew what he was thinking and spoke frankly. The Fourth Prince was an excellent subject, but he now had too many distractions.

If he wanted to become a capable warrior, he needed to cultivate his character. The Lord actually knew very well that the Fourth Prince had always been mild-tempered, and the schemes behind the scenes all came from his wife, An Xiyuan. Moreover, the Lord had already found out that An Xiyuan had induced labor. So, he planned to replace the Fourth Prince’s wife.

Upon hearing this, the Fourth Prince suddenly knelt down, taking all the blame himself and begging the Lord to forgive An Xiyuan. Seeing his persistence, the Lord could not bear to separate the couple and instead reminded him to channel this sincerity into the right path. The Lord summoned Yin Zheng to the palace and asked what he would do if the Lord toured Xinchuan next month.

Yin Zheng had already prepared for both outcomes—if the Lord wanted him to accompany him, he had his bags ready; if he was to stay behind, he would help manage the nine regions’ affairs. But the Lord asked directly—what if he wanted Yin Zheng to take charge of court affairs? Calmly, Yin Zheng laid out his plans. The Lord was pleased and handed over the Xinchuan seal to Yin Zheng.

Before heading out on the tour, the Lord of Xinchuan wished to personally witness Yin Zheng and Li Wei’s grand wedding. Yin Zheng understood his intent, but he still had to follow tradition and visit his father-in-law in Jichuan. After a long journey, Li Wei and Yin Zheng arrived in Jichuan. Seeing their long-lost daughter, Li Wei’s parents and younger brother rushed to greet her, their faces full of joy.

The four of them embraced tightly, savoring the rare moment of happiness. Father Li was the first to notice Yin Zheng but didn’t seem pleased with his arrival. Sensing the awkwardness, Li Wei quickly pulled Yin Zheng inside. When he learned that Yin Zheng came to officially marry Li Wei, Father Li’s expression remained unreadable. He merely reminded Yin Zheng that according to Jichuan's customs, a man must have only one wife.

Yin Zheng firmly nodded, stating he understood and promised to abide by it. But Father Li’s expression changed as he stated his disapproval. The others all voiced their support for Yin Zheng and Li Wei’s marriage, but Li Wenbi remained unmoved and refused to consent. To test Yin Zheng, Li Wenbi assigned him all kinds of chores around the house. Unexpectedly, Yin Zheng completed them all excellently.

Left with no choice, Li Wenbi played his final card—sending Yin Zheng to Wolf Hunt Mountain to collect locust flowers for Li Wei. Not only was the mountain steep and hard to reach, but it was also inhabited by wild wolves. By nightfall, Yin Zheng still hadn’t returned. Li Wei was extremely anxious, staring out the door. After a long wait, Yin Zheng finally returned, wounded.

Not only did he return safely, but he also saved two villagers from a wolf attack. Li Wenbi, filled with both guilt and admiration, finally accepted Yin Zheng as his son-in-law. Yin Zheng and Li Wei visited the Yue Lao Temple, intending for Yue Lao to witness their union. When Li Wei prepared to kneel and make an oath, Yin Zheng suddenly stopped her.

He solemnly asked Li Wei: now that he had accepted the Lord’s seal, the road ahead would only grow more difficult—was she willing to stay with him in Xinchuan? Before Yin Zheng could finish, Li Wei loudly answered that she was. She knelt first and vowed before Yue Lao that she would stay by Yin Zheng’s side. Yin Zheng then knelt beside her and made the same vow.

Under the moonlight, the family gathered to enjoy a meal together. To test his son-in-law's character, Li Wenbi deliberately made Yin Zheng drink a lot of alcohol. But in the end, even Li Wenbi forgot his original intent and ended up drinking with Yin Zheng until they lost all sense of direction. The two men clung tightly to each other, speaking from the heart. Riding the effects of the alcohol, Li Wenbi expressed his dissatisfaction.

Back when Yin Zheng was set to marry Yuan Ying, if Li Wei hadn’t written to explain the situation, he might really have rushed to Xinchuan to confront Yin Zheng. Yin Zheng hurried to explain and promised that he would cherish Li Wei. Satisfied, Li Wenbi passed out drunk. Li Cang was called to take care of Yin Zheng, but Li Wei suddenly remembered that Yin Zheng tends to kiss people when he’s drunk.

In a panic, she rushed to the room to “rescue” Li Cang. Although Li Cang didn’t understand why his sister was so anxious, he obediently left. Seeing the tipsy Yin Zheng, Li Wei found him incredibly adorable and couldn’t help but kiss him. Worried he might catch a cold sitting there, she quickly helped him to rest. Unexpectedly, Yin Zheng turned the tables and pinned Li Wei against the table, leaning down to kiss her.

Early the next morning, Li Wei was awakened by Yu Ping and Yu Zhan, and suddenly remembered—today was her wedding day. The entire Sixth Prince’s residence was adorned with red decorations, filled with a festive atmosphere. Everyone stood in two lines, gazing outside the door. Lord Xinchuan and his wife sat high above, awaiting the arrival of the newlyweds. Amid the lively cheers, Li Wei and Yin Zheng slowly approached.

They knelt to receive the decree, and from that moment on, Li Wei officially became the mistress of the Sixth Prince’s residence. Everyone applauded and cheered, sincerely wishing the couple happiness. Although they were already like an old married couple, Li Wei still insisted on going through all the wedding rites, including drinking the nuptial wine with Yin Zheng. After a whole day of busy preparations, both of them were a little hungry.

But no dessert could be sweeter than the loving atmosphere and the affectionate partner before them. Under the bright moonlight and gentle breeze, the two shared a passionate kiss, blew out the candles, and consummated their marriage. Li Wei felt that many women nowadays were willing to go out, work, engage in business, and make a living. They were knowledgeable and experienced, yet were confined to the Northern Garden study hall, learning how to be good wives and mothers.

So, she thought it would be better for the study hall to teach them livelihood skills instead, giving women more freedom. However, this step couldn’t be taken too hastily and needed careful planning. The Madam agreed with Li Wei’s idea and asked her to write a memorial. Although Li Wei had many ideas, she was still a bit troubled when it came time to actually write it. Burning the midnight oil, Li Wei finally completed the memorial.

After reading it, the Madam was very approving. But the nanny scolded Li Wei harshly, accusing her of being rebellious. Li Wei didn’t get angry, as she already had a plan. That day, the sisters surrounded the nanny, persuading her to taste the dishes from the food fair. With just one bite, the nanny began to see them in a new light. In fact, the nanny wasn’t someone rigid and unchanging.

It was just that in her youth, girls like Li Wei and the others were shunned by society after leaving the palace. She taught the girls in hopes they could live well. Hao Jia reminded the nanny that endless endurance doesn’t necessarily lead to happiness—happiness must be created by oneself. After much thought, the nanny expressed her support. During this inspection tour, the Lord discovered an interesting phenomenon.

The farther south he went, the more women he saw engaging in business, and those areas also had higher tax revenue. Although Xinchuan was the head of the nine regions, women’s commerce hadn’t developed. Yin Zheng wanted to present his thoughts, but to his surprise, the Lord handed the matter to him and announced that he would continue to act as regent. The fourth prince, after this journey, also had many thoughts and sincerely apologized to Yin Zheng.

Yin Zheng was busy handling government affairs in the palace and could not return home to stay with Li Wei. So the two communicated through the food sent back and forth. One day, Yin Zheng took Li Wei to a cliffside, imagining that after their bones had turned to dust, they would be buried together there.

Yin Zheng presented his idea to the Lord: perhaps Xinchuan could abolish the marriage alliance system and stop forcing women to marry into Xinchuan. Although this year’s selection had already begun, they could choose talented individuals instead of girls for marriage. The selection could be transformed into choosing capable women to serve in government positions. In this way, not only would the peace among the nine regions be maintained, but women could also pursue the lives they wanted.

As soon as the Lord heard this, he guessed it was Li Wei’s idea. He also thought it was a good proposal, and since Yin Zheng was the Crown Prince, he entrusted him with the matter. As the selection date approached, Yin An began thinking about buying property to use as inns and collect rent. But he was scolded by Haitang, who accused him of making dirty money.

Only then did Yin An learn that the selection had changed from choosing girls for marriage to recruiting female officials. Profiting from it would indeed be wrong. Encouraged by his attendant, he eagerly ran off to find Haitang and explain everything. The recruitment of female officials was in full swing, but the Tenth Prince was still picking out a pretty wife for himself and even giving the girls scores.

The Eleventh Prince couldn’t stand it and bluntly told him it was very rude. Just then, the Ninth Prince was sneaking away with a backpack. It turned out he was afraid the Lord would choose a wife for him and was trying to escape. The Madam and Lady Chun told the two brothers that the selection of girls for marriage had been canceled.

Upon hearing this, the Ninth Prince was overjoyed, while the Tenth Prince wailed in despair and refused to accept it. As time passed, some things seemed to repeat themselves. For example, during this selection, the girls were as varied as ever: some were lively and energetic like Li Wei, some were gentle and virtuous like Hao Jia, and others were bold and carefree like Shangguan Jing. They bonded quickly upon meeting and enthusiastically talked about the days to come.

When they learned they could become female officials, they all cheered with joy. Seeing these young, spirited girls, Li Wei couldn’t help but think of her past self. As for when Yin Zheng fell for Li Wei, even he couldn’t say. But in these ever-repeating days, no one else could enter his heart. Such a plain life was no longer boring because of Li Wei. Days passed one by one, and many things changed.

Only Yin An still couldn’t recognize the girls of the twenty-four solar terms. Every time he was tested, he couldn’t avoid getting smacked by them. In the blink of an eye, it was Mid-Autumn Festival again. This time, Li Wei was in charge of organizing the banquet. What made her happy was that Yuan Ying would also come to Xinchuan to give lectures to the newly appointed female officials.

Li Wei would be very busy the next day, running errands all day long. Yin Zheng was helpless but couldn’t hide his disappointment. In fact, Li Wei never forgot Yin Zheng’s birthday. She simply wanted to give him a surprise the next day. That day, while Li Wei was out doing business, her carriage broke down on the way back. Meanwhile, the palace’s Mid-Autumn banquet was about to begin. Everyone gathered joyfully.

As time went by and Li Wei still hadn’t returned, Yin Zheng grew even more disappointed. Throughout the meal, he was visibly distracted. Finally, Li Wei arrived. She brought a bowl of longevity noodles and placed it directly in front of Yin Zheng. Everyone raised their cups to celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival and Yin Zheng’s birthday. Then, Li Wei gave Yin Zheng another surprise—she was pregnant. After the meal, everyone climbed up to the rooftop, leaned against each other, admired the brilliant fireworks, and enjoyed the peaceful and prosperous times together.

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