Youthful Glory Recap, Plot, Synopsis, Total Episodes

Youthful Glory Synopsis

In the eleventh year of the Chengkang reign, Jiang Xu, who has been guarding the border for eight years, returns to the Da Xian dynasty to investigate the embezzlement of military funds in the Dingbei Army. Unexpectedly, the case of embezzlement involves a vast conspiracy, and to uncover the real culprit and purge the court, Jiang Xu voluntarily marries Ming Tan, a noblewoman from another military family, to protect the Ming family from being used as a pawn.

As the conspiracy gradually unravels, Jiang Xu realizes that the embezzlement case is tied to the economic lifeline of the entire Da Xian dynasty. He must root out all those involved in the plot. However, due to Jiang Xu's thorough investigation, the Ming family is framed, resulting in the destruction of their household. Jiang Xu fights to prove the Ming family's innocence.

Amidst trials and tribulations, he and Ming Tan gradually develop genuine affection for each other. Together, they vow to dismantle the enemy forces, uncover the truth, and bring the culprits to justice. In the end, they protect the safety of the common people while finding love.

Youthful Glory Recap

Episode 1 Recap

The news of the marriage alliance between the Duke Ling's Residence and the Marquis Jing'an's Residence spread throughout the streets and alleys. Miss Ming of the Ming family was the most distinguished lady in the capital, and the betrothal gifts sent by the Duke Ling's Residence became the talk of the town. When Miss Ming, Ming Tan, learned that Madam Li Lingyi from the Duke Ling's Residence had entered the household, she did not rush but calmly dressed herself.

The Liang family had ill intentions in arranging this marriage—they were clearly after the military power of the Marquis's Residence. Moreover, Liang Zixuan had long been privately involved with his cousin. How could she possibly agree to such a marriage? Li Lingyi began to grow impatient. When she saw Ming Tan arrive, she quickly put on a smile, eager to welcome her into the residence immediately.

However, when Ming Tan saw the betrothal gifts brought by Li Lingyi, she pointed out that the matchmaker had mixed in inferior items. It wasn’t that she was being picky, but the betrothal gifts had their own significance. To outsiders, it might seem as though she was trying to climb above her station. Upon hearing this, Li Lingyi hurriedly held her hand and promised to send new betrothal gifts and not let her suffer any grievance.

But now that the whole city had seen the betrothal ceremony, if it were to fall through, it would not look good. As Li Lingyi handed her the marriage contract, Ming Tan signaled to her maid, who deliberately knocked over a screen. Taking the incident as an ill omen, Nanny Li used it as a reason to temporarily reject the marriage.

Hearing that Liang Zixuan was taking his cousin Zhu'er to pray for blessings, Ming Tan quickly ordered her servants to prepare a carriage. On his way back to the capital, the General of Dingbei, Jiang Xu, was ambushed by assassins. He suspected they were sent by the Liang family. Due to injuries sustained in battle, Jiang Xu was unable to fight back and had to flee in haste to Hanyan Temple.

Liang Zixuan arrived at the temple with his cousin Zhu'er. Zhu'er was already pregnant with his child and feared that life would become unbearable for her and the baby once Ming Tan entered the household, causing Liang Zixuan to feel deeply distressed. Ming Tan watched secretly and resolved to obtain the wooden prayer plaque they had used together, as it would have their names on it and could serve as proof should they deny the affair during the engagement annulment.

Ming Tan had her maid stand guard outside while she waited for them to leave and entered the main hall to search for the wooden plaque. Jiang Xu happened to be in the corner of the hall and, seeing her nearly fall from a chair, rushed over to save her. When Ming Tan noticed that her silk stocking was torn, she quickly freed herself from his arms and thanked him.

At that moment, sounds came from outside—the county constable had arrived to arrest thieves. The maid hurriedly presented a token to stop them from entering. Ming Tan suspected Jiang Xu had led them there. To protect both their reputations, she loudly threatened the constables and forced them to leave, fearing the power of the Marquis Jing'an's Residence. After Ming Tan left, Jiang Xu picked up a jade pendant she had dropped.

He intended to return it but, upon encountering a group of soldiers searching the area, quietly hid on the roof of Ming Tan's carriage. On the way, before Ming Tan even realized what was happening, a flying dagger suddenly struck. Jiang Xu told her to leave quickly, but the frightened coachman had already fled. Jiang Xu killed all the assassins and returned to ask for a ride into the city.

However, Ming Tan refused, saying it would be inappropriate for a man and woman to share a carriage, especially since they were strangers and she didn’t even know who he was. Jiang Xu, clutching his wound, looked angrily at the water pouch and medicine that had fallen from her carriage. Bai Minmin, upon hearing that Ming Tan had encountered assassins at Hanyan Temple, hurried over.

Only then did Ming Tan realize the prayer plaque she had taken was missing—now she had no evidence. Bai Minmin suggested they infiltrate the residence to find proof of Liang Zixuan's affair with his cousin. Ming Tan went to see her adoptive parents, the Left Chancellor Su Wenchun and Zhang Yunru, hoping that Zhang Yunru would accompany her to the Duke Ling's Residence to offer an apology.

While Zhang Yunru conversed with Li Lingyi, Ming Tan made an excuse to go find Miss Rong'er and left. She dismissed her maid and quietly entered the study. After an unsuccessful search, she stumbled into a hidden room. Suddenly, a sword was pressed to her neck—it turned out to be Jiang Xu from that day. Ming Tan mistook Jiang Xu for a thief and suggested they each take what they needed and part ways.

When Li Lingyi heard that Ming Tan had disappeared, she quickly instructed Zhu'er to stay put and not cause any trouble. In the secret chamber, Jiang Xu found a large amount of government silver. Ming Tan tried to take a silver ingot as evidence but was knocked unconscious by Jiang Xu. She later woke up in the residence, confused. Bai Minmin was extremely worried.

Ming Tan realized that if the engagement wasn’t annulled, the Ming family would be dragged into a disaster! Back at the Liang Residence, Liang Qiwei discovered that all the silver in the secret room had vanished. The General of Dingbei, Jiang Xu, had left a letter accusing him of embezzling military funds and claiming that what he found was just the tip of the iceberg.

During the Lantern Festival banquet at the palace, Li Lingyi smiled and greeted Ming Tan enthusiastically, trying to bring up the marriage between the two families. But Ming Tan deliberately ignored her. Suddenly, the General of Dingbei returned to the capital and appeared at the banquet, stirring up a wave of discussion among the guests.

Episode 2 Recap

At the banquet, Jiang Xu held a memorial for the soldiers who had died in the chaos of war, which made Liang Qiwei look even more embarrassed. Trying to steal the spotlight, Liang Ronger stood up to perform, but Jiang Xu didn’t show her any kindness and told her not to make a fool of herself. Liang Qiwei quickly stood up to apologize, but Jiang Xu embarrassed him as well.

Feng Zhao, who had always harbored ill intentions toward Ming Tan, then stood up and mentioned that the capital’s top zither artist was also at the banquet. Ming Tan, known throughout the capital as the foremost talent in zither playing, should perform a piece for Jiang Xu. Ming Tan said she didn’t bring her instrument, so Feng Zhao offered to send someone to the Empress Dowager’s palace to fetch it.

Jiang Xu couldn’t help but interject, saying he hadn’t returned to the capital to listen to such indulgent music. Jiang Xu then said he had brought someone back with him for the emperor to see. A guard carried in a corpse, shocking Ming Tan and Bai Minmin—they hadn’t expected the legendary General of Dingbei to be so violent and rude, just as the rumors said. Seeing this, the Empress led the ladies away from the banquet.

Liang Ronger cried nonstop along the way, and Li Lingyi comforted her by saying the General of Dingbei was just using this as a pretext to cause trouble. Ming Tan deliberately asked why the General of Dingbei was targeting the Duke’s manor—could something have happened? Li Lingyi quickly distanced herself from the issue. In the grand hall, Jiang Xu lifted the white cloth covering the corpse—it was the county constable who had tried to search Hanshan Temple that day.

Jiang Xu explained that he had returned to the capital to investigate collusion between some officials and mountain bandits, but this constable obstructed him in every way. When Jiang Xu went to arrest him, he was already silenced. The real perpetrator behind it had accepted bribes and committed injustice, disregarding the lives of tens of thousands of soldiers of the Dingbei army.

Jiang Xu fixed his gaze on the Duke Ling and Marquis Cheng'en; the two were so frightened they began to stammer. After the banquet, Shu Jingran and Lu Ting hurried to catch up with Jiang Xu to reconnect—they had been his longtime friends. Jiang Xu asked Lu Ting to lend him some men; his target was Duke Ling. Su Wenchun, upon learning that the illicit silver had fallen into Jiang Xu’s hands, lost his calm demeanor and became anxious.

Jiang Xu was a man who never gave up until his goal was achieved. Liang Qiwei worried that Su Wenchun might abandon him because of this, but Su Wenchun reassured him otherwise, as he had left him the Marquis Jing’an’s manor as a life-saving trump card. Therefore, the marriage between Liang Zixuan and Ming Tan must not go wrong. Li Lingyi feared that Ming Tan might become suspicious and discover the truth about Zhu'er.

Liang Qiwei considered Zhu'er a liability that had to be eliminated as soon as possible. In a restaurant, Ming Tan and Bai Minmin were discussing the marriage with the Liang family, while in the next private room, Jiang Xu, Shu Jingran, Lu Ting, and Zhang Huaiyu silently listened in. Ming Tan was certain that the Liang family was rushing the engagement to drag the Ming family into the mess.

If she could leverage the power of the General of Dingbei, maybe breaking off the engagement wasn’t impossible. Jiang Xu hadn’t expected the matter to involve the Ming family either, and it was precisely because the Ming family hadn’t retaliated against the Liangs that he refrained as well—after all, a broken engagement could damage a woman's reputation.

Ming Tan said that if she could successfully break off the engagement, she would choose her husband herself and not allow others to interfere again. Bai Minmin thought there were few in the capital who could match her—Shu Jingran, for example, had both status and looks. But after hearing all of Ming Tan’s criteria, Bai Minmin concluded that only one man matched them: the General of Dingbei.

However, Ming Tan thought the General’s conduct was too violent and reckless, his character questionable—he even publicly embarrassed Liang Ronger and implicated innocent family members, though she did find it quite satisfying. In short, the General of Dingbei was not an ideal husband for her. Shu Jingran and the others tried to defend Jiang Xu, but Jiang Xu said that not being Ming Tan’s ideal match was actually his good fortune.

When Zhang Huaiyu heard that Ming Tan and Bai Minmin were going to visit the flower street parade, he said he wanted to go take a look, but immediately set eyes on Bai Minmin, who was laughing and talking. Upon learning of their plan to go lantern viewing, Liang Qiwei and Li Lingyi decided to take some actions to make the engagement irreversible. Over the years, Jiang Xu had brought back many orphans and handed them over to Zhang Huaiyu.

Zhang had taken care of them without complaint, but now he wanted to stop. On the road, Ming Tan and Bai Minmin ran into Liang Zixuan, who called them “sisters” repeatedly. Bai Minmin quickly pulled Ming Tan away. Suddenly chaos erupted in the street, and Ming Tan was pushed into the water by Liang Zixuan’s men. To solidify the engagement, Liang Zixuan jumped in to “rescue” her.

Bai Minmin realized something was wrong and shouted for several swimmers to dive in—they must not let Liang Zixuan get close to Ming Tan, and under no circumstances could people know it was Ming Tan who had fallen into the water. Jiang Xu had just finished capturing someone when he saw a woman calling for help in the water. He pulled her out and discovered it was Ming Tan again. Jiang Xu sent Ming Tan to Zhang Huaiyu’s restaurant.

Zhang told Jiang Xu about the Liang family’s plans, and Jiang naturally would not allow the marriage to go through. Jiang Xu ordered someone to send Ming Tan’s hairpin to the Ming residence as a cover, claiming she had returned home, and sent someone to the pier to cover the situation. Bai Minmin was anxiously searching for her when Lü'e suddenly told her that Ming Tan was waiting at the residence.

Bai Minmin quickly caught on, and together they successfully smoothed over the incident. When Ming Tan woke up, she saw Zhang Huaiyu telling Jiang Xu that he was the one who saved her, and she looked very displeased. No matter why Jiang Xu saved her today, they would both pretend nothing had happened. Seeing their tense exchange, Zhang Huaiyu was curious about what had occurred between them.

Just as Ming Tan was about to leave, she saw men and women outside the door and quickly shut it—it turned out they were at Zhang Huaiyu’s Huayu House. Unable to leave, Zhang Huaiyu had Shui Ying stay to take care of her. Someone came to report to Jiang Xu that there was movement at the Liang residence. Ming Tan immediately perked up her ears. Bai Minmin came to Huayu House to find Ming Tan.

Zhang Huaiyu eagerly tried to impress her but got punched by Bai Minmin. He took her to Ming Tan’s room, but Ming Tan was no longer there. She had overheard that Liang Qiwei had sent Zhu’er out of the capital overnight. Ming Tan questioned Jiang Xu about why he was investigating the Liang residence. Regardless of his reason, they were now in the same boat. Jiang Xu refused to let her come along, citing concerns about her reputation.

Su Wenchun hadn’t expected Liang Qiwei to have such sinister thoughts. Luckily, Ming Tan was unharmed—otherwise, their whole family would have to be buried with her. Liang Qiwei didn’t understand why Su Wenchun was so anxious. Only then did Liang Qiwei reveal what had happened between Liang Zixuan and Zhu’er. To avoid further trouble, Su Wenchun told him to silence Zhu’er.

Episode 3 Recap

Su Wenchun ordered Liang Qiwei to silence Zhu’er and make her disappear. Bai Minmin stared at Zhang Huaiyu all night, insisting on seeing Ming Tan in person. Zhang Huaiyu’s eyes turned red from exhaustion. Hearing that the household was in chaos due to Bai Minmin’s disappearance, Bai Minmin, however, showed no fear and even asked her maid to summon the Duke, wanting to see if Zhang Huaiyu could give an explanation in front of him.

Zhu’er was arranged to temporarily stay in the countryside. Along the way, she didn’t get a single bite of meat, feeling extremely wronged. By chance, she saw a diner grab a ginseng root and offered money to buy it, but it was snatched by Ming Chu, the third young lady of Marquis Jing’an’s household. Dissatisfied, Zhu’er was nearly frightened into falling by Ming Chu’s whip, but was rescued by Jiang Xu.

Ming Chu quickly distanced herself and instantly fell in love with Jiang Xu at first sight. A concubine in the Marquis Jing’an household warned her that returning to the capital wasn’t easy, and she must restrain her temperament. That night, Ming Tan came to the inn to take Zhu’er back to the capital but happened to encounter an assassin sent to kill Zhu’er. To protect her evidence, Ming Tan nearly got hurt.

Jiang Xu appeared again and saved both of them. Zhu’er still didn’t understand what was going on, and Jiang Xu bluntly exposed the truth: those people were sent to kill her, and Li Lingyi had promised her to Lizhou as a concubine. The Liang family never intended to let her return. Amidst Jiang Xu and Ming Tan’s quarrel, Zhu’er went into premature labor, and they urgently summoned a midwife.

Upon hearing that Zhu’er was about to give birth, Ming Chu rushed to deliver ginseng to curry favor with Jiang Xu. Ming Tan, assisting with the delivery inside the room, found Ming Chu’s name strange but, in order to save Zhu’er’s life, quickly grabbed the ginseng from her hand and shouted to Jiang Xu outside to pay for it quickly. Zhu’er gave birth to a boy.

Ming Tan urged her to return to the capital to fight for what she rightfully deserved, and she didn’t want to marry Liang Zixuan. As soon as the child was born, Jiang Xu had him taken away. Zhu’er’s father would arrive in the capital tomorrow. Whether the child would live a good life with Zhu’er or not, she knew in her heart. Realizing Jiang Xu was right, Zhu’er decided to return to the capital with Ming Tan.

Zhang Huaiyu tried to sneak away when Bai Minmin finally fell asleep, only to find a rope tied to his foot. A maid reported that Ming Tan had not returned yet, and with Marquis Jing’an about to arrive, they didn’t know how to explain the situation. Ming Tan woke up early to find that Zhu’er had already been taken away by Jiang Xu.

Ming Chu and Liu Shi had left even earlier, but Jiang Xu had left a carriage for Ming Tan. Ming Chu and Liu Shi returned to the Marquis Jing’an residence, but their carriage stopped at a side gate. Dissatisfied, Ming Chu insisted on entering through the main gate. On the road, Lu’e encountered Ming Chu and Liu Shi and was terrified. Years ago, she had offended Liu Shi and was saved by Ming Tan.

Seeing her again, Ming Chu threw a tantrum and even tripped her. During the family banquet that day, Ming Tan was preparing when she received word that Lu’e had been punished by Liu Shi and Ming Chu. She rushed to intervene. Liu Shi and Ming Chu remained arrogant upon seeing Ming Tan. After years on the border, they returned to the capital eager to suppress her.

The court didn’t want Jiang Xu involved in the case and hoped he would return to the frontier, but for once, the two ministers agreed on leaving him in the capital to continue investigating. To appease the ministers, the emperor ordered Jiang Xu to be punished with twenty military canes. Marquis Jing’an returned to the capital today, and Jiang Xu decided to act against Liang Qiwei today.

Ming Tingyuan returned home, and Ming Chu immediately ran up to him coquettishly, complaining about the lack of welcome. Ming Tan was busy preparing the banquet with Bai Minmin by her side. Hearing that she had gone to find Zhu’er, Bai Minmin was very worried. Ming Tan was overjoyed to see Ming Tingyuan but still greeted him respectfully — they hadn’t seen each other in five years.

The Bai family uncle and aunt also came, and everyone sat down for a reunion dinner. Suddenly, Ming Chu threw her chopsticks, saying there was nothing she wanted to eat, and lost her temper in front of everyone. The next moment, Ming Tan had the dish brought out, explaining that the kitchen had just put out the fire, hence the delay.

Ming Tan handled everything with composure and grace, even having her mother’s usual bowls and chopsticks brought out to express her longing. Ming Chu and her mother looked displeased. Liu Shi quickly stood up, saying that the customs in the capital differed from the border, and she shouldn’t have attended the banquet. Ming Chu was unconvinced, but after Ming Tan's reasoning, she had nothing to say.

With Ming Tingyuan’s return, countless eyes were on the Marquis’ household; they needed to be extra careful and considerate. Ming Tan received a letter from the manager of Wentao Pavilion, stating that Chen Si — the one who had pushed her into the water on Lantern Festival night — was in a private room. Ming Tingyuan and Bai Jingyuan hurried to check it out with Ming Tan.

Upon hearing about her fall into the water that night, both were deeply worried. Ming Tingyuan beat up Chen Si after learning that Liang Zixuan was having an affair with his cousin and even planned to marry her. Ming Tingyuan and Bai Jingyuan immediately took people to the Liang family to annul the engagement.

Episode 4 Recap

Ming Tingyuan and Bai Jingyuan went to the Liang family to withdraw the engagement. Naturally, the Liang family was unwilling to let go of this marriage, but unexpectedly, Zhu'er came forward crying and complaining. This was exactly Jiang Xu's arrangement—he would never let the Liang family get their way. With this turn of events, the Liang family had nothing left to say, and the engagement was finally over.

After returning to the residence, Ming Tingyuan spoke to his late wife's memorial tablet, vowing to find a suitable husband for Ming Tan. Shu Jingran curiously asked if Jiang Xu had arranged a better match for the Ming family lady. Jiang Xu stared at him relentlessly. The Empress would definitely arrange a marriage for Zhang Huaiyu, and Lu Ting was too sentimental—thus, Shu Jingran was the best candidate. Shu Jingran was indignant, questioning why Jiang Xu wouldn’t marry her himself.

At this point, Ming Tan was devastated and tearless—after such a commotion today, who would still be willing to marry her in the future? The Emperor decided to bestow a marriage on the Ming family before the Empress Dowager could. Jiang Xu rejected all of the Emperor’s proposed candidates one by one, claiming that those civil officials would never be able to control Ming Tan. The Emperor then began to worry about Jiang Xu's own marriage.

After all, both he and the Marquis Jing'an held heavy military power, and the Su family would not sit idly by. Jiang Xu put on a righteous front and proposed marrying Ming Tan himself, speaking of sacrifice for the country and duty above all—naturally, the Emperor was delighted, thinking this was an excellent solution.

Liu Mo reported to Su Wenchun that the entire Liang family had been exiled, but Jiang Xu insisted on thoroughly investigating the corruption case, being the type to never stop until he achieved his goal. Jiang Xu heard that Su Wenchun and his wife had visited the Marquis Jing'an and Ming Tan for a small gathering, and both sides seemed to be getting along well. Jiang Xu grew concerned that Su Wenchun's visit was for the purpose of discussing marriage.

Because of the marriage matter, Ming Tingyuan was very displeased with Su Wenchun, but Ming Tan quickly intervened, saying that she was grateful to her adoptive parents for taking care of her during his absence from the capital. Su Wenchun decided to take Ming Tan to the palace to have the Empress Dowager grant the marriage, but Ming Tan said she wanted to pray for blessings at Hanyan Temple for forty-nine days.

That night, Ming Tan took five carriages and set off for Hanyan Temple. If she left during the day, Ming Chu would surely lash out verbally—rather than endure humiliation, it was better to leave early. Hanyan Temple was austere and peaceful. Ming Tan changed into plain monastic garments. There were rumors that the vegetarian meals at Hanyan Temple were delicious, but the food had nothing to do with “delicious.

” She couldn’t eat much and was invited by a young monk to the Buddha Hall for self-reflection. There were too many Buddha Halls, and Ming Tan didn't know where to go, so she randomly picked one—unexpectedly, the Emperor and Jiang Xu were playing chess there. This was the spot they used to play at in childhood during their leisure time.

Hearing Ming Tan’s prayers to find a suitable husband and her many wishes, Jiang Xu couldn't help but smile, while the Emperor teased her for having such high standards, thankful that Jiang Xu had claimed her. Jiang Xu lost interest in the chess game and left in a hurry. Gu Jinzhong’s son was a major problem.

Shen Yu, deputy general of the Dingbei Army, was ordered to escort Zhu'er and her child out of the capital, a task that should’ve only taken a day, but was suddenly delayed. Just as Jiang Xu was wondering why, he heard Shen Yu calling out for Ming Tan not far away. Shen Yu was Ming Tan's cousin. He had long harbored feelings for her and rushed over to propose upon hearing she had withdrawn from the Liang engagement.

Ming Tan was so startled she repeatedly declined. Everything she said and did now had to be extremely cautious. Shen Yu should have known the proper proposal etiquette—if he had shown even a modicum of formality, he wouldn’t have come today. Jiang Xu, enraged, ordered Shen Yu to return to camp immediately and come see him. Ming Chu, hearing that Shen Yu had returned to the residence, hurried to find him.

She knew Shen Yu had always admired Ming Tan and urged him to talk to Jiang Xu, thinking perhaps Jiang Xu would bestow the marriage. She didn’t know that Jiang Xu was already aware of Shen Yu's intentions and had sent him to the stables to clean horse manure. Su Wenchun and the Empress Dowager were discussing the marriage between Jiang Xu and Ming Tan. The imperial decree had to come quickly—at least faster than the Emperor’s.

Bai Minmin came to visit Ming Tan. Ming Tan guessed that her father and adoptive father would still try to find her a husband, so she wanted to choose one first. Bai Minmin had already found out that tomorrow’s horse parade would include Shu Jingran, the third-place scholar in the imperial exam, along with the top scorer and the second-place scholar—perhaps Ming Tan's future husband was among them. But Ming Tan wasn’t interested in going.

Bai Jingyuan worried that Ming Tan would become despondent and become a nun. Recently, the Empress Dowager and the Emperor had frequently summoned Ming Tingyuan to the palace to discuss the engagement, but they had yet to settle on a candidate. At this moment, the Emperor summoned them again, claiming it was extremely urgent. Ming Tan said she didn’t want to go but still came along with Bai Minmin.

Bai Minmin was deeply smitten with Shu Jingran, and so was Princess Fengzhao. Bai Minmin was chatting about what kind of wife Shu Jingran might marry in the future when suddenly someone spoke up from the next private room. Bai Minmin and Ming Tan lifted the curtain and saw—it was Jiang Xu and Zhang Huaiyu again.

Episode 5 Recap

When they saw Jiang Xu and Zhang Huaiyu, both Ming Tan and Bai Minmin’s faces dropped. The emperor urgently summoned Ming Tingyuan into the palace, saying he had chosen a husband for Ming Tan. The one chosen by the Empress Dowager could not compare with the one chosen by the emperor. But when Ming Tingyuan saw Jiang Xu's name, it was as if he had received a hot potato and wanted to throw it away immediately.

However, the emperor said that the Empress Dowager had already issued an edict to force the marriage, and the decree had already arrived at the Marquis Jing'an’s residence. Since the edict had yet to be announced and Ming Tan was not home, Ming Tingyuan knew a knife was at his throat and had no choice but to accept Jiang Xu as his son-in-law.

After Shu Jingran finished his horseback parade through the streets, he did not leave but returned to the restaurant. Seeing this, Feng Zhao became excited. Shu Jingran met Ming Tan and Bai Minmin, and Feng Zhao couldn’t resist stepping out to make snide remarks. Zhang Huaiyu quickly tried to smooth things over. Not to be outdone, Ming Tan deliberately brought up the Empress Dowager’s plan to bestow a marriage between Feng Zhao and the General of Dingbei.

Bai Minmin added fuel to the fire by speaking of the General’s bloodshed on the battlefield. Jiang Xu, who was behind the screen, couldn’t help but laugh when he overheard. Just as Ming Tan was about to leave, the matchmaker arrived and bestowed Ming Tan’s marriage to the General of Dingbei, Jiang Xu. Ming Tan stood stunned for a long time before fainting on the spot. Back at home, Ming Tingyuan told Ming Tan what had happened.

He knew the Empress Dowager valued tradition, so when Ming Tan was not at home that day, he informed the emperor that she had been at Wentao Pavilion, which publicly locked in the marriage. Ming Tan and Bai Minmin were utterly dismayed—this marriage was even more troubling than the one with the Liang family. The General of Dingbei was a brute, and his appearance surely unsightly. This marriage must be called off!

The next morning, Ming Tan and Bai Minmin pestered Ming Tingyuan about breaking off the engagement and subtly inquired about Jiang Xu’s character. Ming Tingyuan spoke of his great military accomplishments on the battlefield, saying that to receive such a fine son-in-law was the fortune of the Marquis Jing’an’s household. Furthermore, although a general, this suitor was handsome and not inferior to the ranking scholar parading the streets the previous day.

After thinking it over, Ming Tan decided she had to meet Jiang Xu. If he really was as rumored, she would insist on rejecting the marriage—even if it was imperial. To meet Jiang Xu without being recognized, Ming Tan and Bai Minmin dressed as maids and used the excuse of delivering food to Bai Yu to sneak into the General’s camp.

When Jiang Xu saw Ming Tan in a maid’s outfit, he understood immediately and deliberately turned his back so she could get a good look at his figure. But when Ming Tan saw Jiang Xu’s face clearly, she was shocked—him again? Ming Tan hadn’t expected that the man she kept running into was actually the General of Dingbei. She couldn’t understand why Jiang Xu wanted to marry her.

Jiang Xu listed all the wishes she made before Buddha, saying that he was the only one in the world who could meet her standards. Ming Tan replied that even so, it didn’t mean she had to marry him. They had no emotional bond, and if they wed, their home would not be peaceful. But Jiang Xu told her that only by becoming the General of Dingbei’s consort could she have the best possible outcome in the current political climate.

Ming Tan, however, misunderstood his words, thinking he meant it was a contractual marriage. Bai Minmin anxiously waited for Ming Tan to come out. When she did, she felt overwhelmed by the unexpected developments and needed time to think. The officials around the General of Dingbei, upon hearing that Ming Tan was the one chosen for the marriage, praised it highly. Among the capital’s noblewomen, Ming Tan was exceptional—virtuous, gentle, and kind.

Jiang Xu couldn’t help but react when he heard this. Fushu added that a few years ago, when there was a shortfall in military funds, Ming Tan frequently came by with reasons to donate, and that this was a match made in heaven. Ming Tan was restless over the marriage. Ming Tingyuan reassured her that Jiang Xu was a good man.

Back during the late emperor’s reign, it was Jiang Xu who fought through enemy lines to save the current emperor. Everything Jiang Xu did had its reasons. Ming Tan worried that Su Wenchun would be hard to explain things to, but Ming Tingyuan wasn’t concerned. The Ming family had his support, and both she and Ming Chu only needed to choose the one they truly liked.

In the entire Da Xian, aside from the emperor, if even Jiang Xu couldn’t protect her, then no one could. Shu Jingran thought Jiang Xu wasn’t sincerely pursuing the marriage and was concerned the emperor might have misgivings, but Jiang Xu had already made up his mind to protect Ming Tan for life. Ming Tan went to the ancestral hall to speak to her mother.

She said Jiang Xu matched her well in family background, looks, and talent, and seemed worthy of trust. However, she knew very little about him and wasn’t sure if he was truly as Ming Tingyuan described. She asked her mother if she approved of the marriage. Ming Tan also brought up how she and Ming Tingyuan had grown distant after years apart. Hearing this outside the door, Ming Tingyuan felt deeply guilty.

Episode 6 Recap

Ming Chu was angry because Ming Tan had been granted in marriage to the General of Dingbei. Madam Liu knew her daughter's marriage couldn't compare to Ming Tan's. If Ming Chu had been born to the main wife, she would have been the one marrying the General of Dingbei. Since Ming Chu was the elder sister, her wedding had to be held before Ming Tan's.

Ming Tingyuan had been busy arranging matches lately, and Madam Liu even suggested bringing Ming Tan along so that no one would look down on Ming Chu. When Ming Chu saw her own shabby carriage, she was furious. The man she was meeting turned out to be Lu Ting. Lu Ting was extremely nervous—Shu Jingran had spent a long time encouraging him before he dared come.

Under the matchmaker's introduction, Lu Ting and Ming Chu met, but Lu Ting, due to his nerves, spoke clumsily. Ming Chu had no desire to marry and took the opportunity to criticize Lu Ting's background, claiming he had no future and that his official career was already at its peak. Compared to other highborn sons, Lu Ting’s conditions were poor. He didn’t even have a residence—what confidence did he have to seek a match?

Lu Ting could no longer stay silent. He hadn’t prepared a residence because he wanted his future wife to make the decisions. In the past, His Majesty had granted him a three-courtyard residence. Upon hearing this, Ming Chu’s expression changed, but Lu Ting said that since they couldn’t get along, there was no need to continue the conversation. Shu Jingran had accompanied Lu Ting to the matchmaking event and was swarmed by a group of noble ladies.

Lu Ting arrived just in time to rescue him, prompting Shu Jingran to praise his powerful presence. Jiang Xu and Zhang Huaiyu were also offering incense there. As Ming Chu passed by, she recognized Jiang Xu as the handsome man she had seen on the road and quickly followed him. At the temple, Bai Minmin received a sachet for warding off misfortune, but accidentally collided with a passerby, and they exchanged sachets by mistake. Ming Tan was playing the guqin.

Zhang Huaiyu immediately recognized the artistry as hers, though she hit a wrong note at the end. He told Jiang Xu to go meet his future princess. Bai Minmin, seeing Zhang Huaiyu from afar, took the opportunity to deliver something. When Ming Tan saw Bai Minmin coming out, she walked over and greeted Jiang Xu, at which point Bai Minmin realized that he was the General of Dingbei.

Ming Chu followed after Jiang Xu, clearly valuing appearances, unaware that he was Ming Tan’s betrothed. Coincidentally, Lu Ting and Shu Jingran also arrived. Since Ming Chu and Lu Ting were clearly not meant to be, Lu Ting bluntly stated that she had looked down on him. Jiang Xu invited Ming Tan to enjoy tea and music.

Seeing this, Ming Chu was upset and loudly claimed that Ming Tan had fallen into the water during the Lantern Festival and was now flaunting herself despite being engaged. Bai Minmin quickly covered her mouth—on that day, she hadn’t even returned to the capital and hadn’t seen anything herself! Ming Chu, unwilling to let it go, claimed they had disguised themselves that night just to catch a glimpse of the General of Dingbei.

Seeing her reputation ruined in front of Jiang Xu, Ming Tan fainted on the spot. When Ming Chu wouldn’t stop talking, Jiang Xu tapped her pressure point to shut her up. Back in her room, Ming Tan paced anxiously. She had been publicly humiliated and didn’t know what Jiang Xu would think. Bai Minmin could tell that she wanted to marry Jiang Xu, and noted that he didn’t seem as cold and unapproachable as rumors suggested.

Seeing everyone agree that Jiang Xu was a fine match, Ming Tan cried in frustration, saying she had been disgraced. Zhang Huaiyu took out a protective charm that Bai Minmin had dropped during the scuffle. Bai Minmin quickly said she had specially requested it for Zhang Huaiyu, but he misunderstood her intentions, believing she liked him. His heart was stirred.

On the way back to the capital, Ming Tan was still full of regret, but they were suddenly ambushed by mountain bandits clearly targeting them. Ming Chu recalled Madam Liu’s words to prioritize her own safety and deliberately revealed Ming Tan’s whereabouts, letting the bandits take her away. Jiang Xu arrived in time to rescue her again, and Ming Tan instinctively called out “husband.

” The bandits were taken away under Jiang Xu’s command, and Ming Tan resolved in her heart that Jiang Xu was indeed someone she could entrust her life to. Jiang Xu also promised not to report today’s incident to the authorities. On the side, Ming Chu saw Ming Tan’s ring and remembered that the hand that had taken her ginseng at the inn had also worn this ring. Her thoughts turned malicious.

Zhang Huaiyu tied the charm Bai Minmin had given him to his fan. A woman at the tower noticed and remarked it was a token from Hanshan Temple. Zhang Huaiyu grinned broadly and even began offering it incense, declaring he would personally sweep and clean as a gesture of sincerity.

After today’s incident, where both Ming Tan and Ming Chu were in danger, Ming Tingyuan punished Ming Chu for failing to protect her sister and ordered her to kneel at the ancestral hall. Ming Chu was indignant, crying and yelling that they treated her like a bodyguard. Ming Tan, who had remained silent until now, finally asked: when the bandits tried to take her, why did Ming Chu deliberately block the guards? Ming Chu was at a loss for words.

Ming Tingyuan, furious, ordered her to be taken to the ancestral hall. In a desperate move, Ming Chu exposed that Ming Tan had been secretly meeting a man, claiming that they had seen her acting intimately with someone during their return to the capital. Madam Liu added fuel to the fire. Ming Tingyuan, enraged, questioned Ming Tan about the man’s identity. Ming Tan hesitated, unsure of what to say—just then, Jiang Xu walked in to defend her.

That man was him. Jiang Xu also revealed the results of his investigation: the person behind today’s ambush was Madam Liu. Ming Tingyuan was confused—how could harming Ming Tan benefit Ming Chu at all? Jiang Xu made him see the truth. The marriage alliance between the two families had to happen. If Ming Tan lost her reputation, then no one would be more suitable than Ming Chu.

Ming Tingyuan then decided to seek a lower-status husband for Ming Chu, preferably someone outside the capital. Jiang Xu had already chosen someone—the third son of General Xuanwei. Ming Tingyuan was very satisfied.

Episode 7 Recap

Jiang Xu selected a husband for Ming Chu. As for Liu-shi, Ming Tingyuan had originally intended to deal with her leniently, but Jiang Xu insisted on giving Ming Tan a proper explanation. Only then did Ming Tingyuan agree to send her away to Mei’an. When Ming Tan heard that after Jiang Xu left, Ming Tingyuan had swiftly resolved three matters, she repeatedly exclaimed how clever it was.

Upon hearing that the Feng family upheld strict family values and that the young General Feng was upright and resolute, she thought that Ming Chu marrying into the Feng family might help temper her personality. When she learned Liu-shi had been sent away, Ming Tan was surprised and quickly suspected that Liu-shi might have colluded with the bandits. Ming Tingyuan might not have been so thorough on his own—it must have been Jiang Xu’s guidance.

With this marriage alliance, the Ming family could rest easy. The wedding date between Jiang Xu and Ming Tan was fast approaching. Liu-shi had been sent away, and Ming Chu also left the Ming household alone to marry into the Feng family. Gu Wenyan had assaulted an examinee and was caught cheating in the imperial examination. The Marquis of Cheng'en was exposed for accepting bribes and embezzling military funds.

Su Wenchun was extremely displeased, especially about Ming Tan and Jiang Xu’s marriage—he was determined not to let it happen. As Ming Tan was busy preparing for her wedding, Bai Minmin invited her to Bieyulou to join in the excitement and to have a musical exchange with Shui Ying. Although Ming Tan felt that it wasn't proper for young ladies to go to such a place, she was persuaded by Bai Minmin and agreed.

Ming Tan and Bai Minmin, wearing bamboo hats, arrived at Bieyulou under Bai Haoyu’s guidance. Shui Ying seemed to recognize Ming Tan and invited her to her room for a short chat. Ming Tan stated her intention—to seek advice on playing the qin. Bai Minmin, meanwhile, ran into Zhang Huaiyu again. Today, Zhang Huaiyu was unusually courteous. Not only did he have imperial wine served, but also laid out a sumptuous feast. He continuously tried to please Bai Minmin.

Bai Minmin couldn’t help but ask what had gotten into him today—had he been possessed? Zhang Huaiyu became shy—they both knew the unspoken truth. Bai Minmin thought hard about it and concluded that with such wine and food, he must have had some ulterior motive. She only wished that they would go their separate ways and never have anything to do with each other again.

In a fit of anger, Zhang Huaiyu pulled out the peach blossom charm and asked her what she meant by it. Bai Minmin, unaware it was a peach blossom charm, left in a huff. When Jiang Xu heard that Ming Tan had gone to Bieyulou, he immediately got up to find her. With the wedding drawing near and undercurrents stirring, Bieyulou, filled with all sorts of people, was too dangerous for her.

When Ming Tan saw that it was Jiang Xu, she was so startled that she covered the picture book on the table. In the scuffle, she accidentally fell into Jiang Xu’s arms. Jiang Xu insisted on escorting her back to the residence. Ming Tan walked behind him all the way back, grumbling that the mighty General of Dingbei couldn’t even provide a carriage.

Ming Tan asked why Jiang Xu visited Bieyulou so often, and why he had entered her room just now without knocking. Jiang Xu explained frankly that Bieyulou was one of his covert guard stations and that Shui Ying was one of his agents. Ming Tan, believing they were in a contract marriage, invited Jiang Xu into the residence to sign an agreement. She wrote down all her conditions.

Though Jiang Xu found it both amusing and exasperating, he still placed his handprint on it. The next day was the wedding. Ming Tan looked at her bridal robe, feeling as though it were all a dream. But once she married, the vast marquis’ residence would be left with only her father. That night, she needed to try on her wedding attire, and she even had the Eastern pearls gifted by the General of Dingbei brought out to try on.

As she was about to marry, Ming Tan decided to wear the hairpin her mother had loved most when she was alive. Suddenly, there was a disturbance in the room, and Ming Tan vanished. Ming Tingyuan searched the residence thoroughly but couldn’t find her. He quickly sent someone to consult with Jiang Xu. Ming Tingyuan knew that someone must not want the wedding to take place.

Jiang Xu received word that the Haiyoumen were stirring up trouble and suspected that their target was him. He asked Ming Tingyuan to stay and oversee the big day while keeping Ming Tan’s disappearance a secret. When Ming Tan awoke, she found herself bound in a carriage, and the driver completely ignored her cries for help.

Episode 8 Recap

Ming Tan, helpless in the carriage, could only pray that Jiang Xu would appear soon. She didn’t want to die young with her beauty unfulfilled. On the day of the wedding, there was still no word from Jiang Xu. Ming Tingyuan had no choice but to settle the female guests in the courtyard for tea.

Su Wenchun and his wife also arrived, and Ming Tingyuan hurried to welcome them, afraid they would find out that Ming Tan wasn’t in the residence. Still, he couldn’t stop Lady Su from going to visit Ming Tan. Lvyue said that Ming Tan had a headache and didn’t want to see anyone, suggesting she go to the back garden first. However, Lady Su insisted on entering the room.

Fortunately, the maid had dressed in the wedding gown to impersonate Ming Tan and temporarily fooled Lady Su. Bai Minmin came to help with Ming Tan’s bridal makeup, but when she saw the room was empty, she was stunned. Lady Su discovered that Ming Tan wasn’t in the residence and immediately sent word to Su Wenchun. Ming Tingyuan forced himself to remain calm.

When the auspicious hour arrived and the bride was to bid farewell to her parents, Lady Su deliberately stepped forward to talk with her, wanting to see her adopted daughter. Bai Minmin quickly rushed forward to stop Lady Su from removing the bridal shoe, warning that it would be a bad omen. Su Wenchun and Lady Su insisted on seeing Ming Tan.

Just then, Jiang Xu arrived personally to escort the bride and asked her to receive the bridal shoe herself. Fortunately, the one in the wedding gown was not Lvyue, but Ming Tan. Last night, Jiang Xu had followed the trail left by Ming Tan’s fallen hairpin and successfully brought her back. Ming Tingyuan finally breathed a sigh of relief when he saw her.

Ming Tan, wearing the bracelet gifted by Lady Su, came to bid farewell to the couple, though her tone had grown more distant. As she was leaving the residence, Ming Tan twisted her ankle due to nerves. Jiang Xu simply lifted her into the bridal sedan chair. Through the curtain, Ming Tan looked at the handsome and elegant Jiang Xu—this man was now her husband. Zhang Huaiyu, Lu Ting, and Shu Jingran stood by watching the lively scene.

They had thought Jiang Xu, with his cold personality, would be the last among them to marry. Unexpectedly, he was the first—and had married such a dignified, graceful, and delightfully witty woman. Bai Minmin also joined the festivities and cheekily asked the group for lots of wedding money. At the General of Dingbei’s residence, Ming Tan was officially conferred the title of Princess Consort of Dingbei, and the wedding rites continued.

Jiang Xu originally wanted to skip the tedious formalities so that Ming Tan could rest earlier, but the steward insisted that proper rites must be observed. Jiang Xu wrote a poem for the first time; Ming Tan, pretending to be unwilling, refused the fan. Jiang Xu had to write another poem. Ming Tan was moved—he even remembered that they first met at Hanshan Temple. Still, she held on to the fan until she heard his second poem.

Everything she had hoped and longed for—Jiang Xu remembered it all. After the ceremony, Jiang Xu and Ming Tan sat awkwardly on the wedding bed. Jiang Xu summoned Lvyue and another maid to help remove Ming Tan’s phoenix crown, then went to the outer hall to host the banquet. Ming Tan, though uneasy, also felt sweetness in her heart. With how Jiang Xu acted, he must truly care for her.

Among the guests, Jiang Xu noticed a pair of eyes that looked strikingly similar to those from the previous night. He recognized Liu Mo as the one who had kidnapped Ming Tan. Zhang Huaiyu, Lu Ting, and Shu Jingran deliberately called Jiang Xu over to advise him on how to get along with his wife, worried he wouldn’t win her favor. Ming Tan sat alone in the room for a long time, finally waiting for Jiang Xu’s return.

Jiang Xu admitted that she had been abducted last night because of him, but Ming Tan wished she could offer herself in return. Jiang Xu turned to prepare the bedding, saying that they hadn’t slept the whole night and should rest early. Ming Tan was startled—were they sleeping already? She clenched her hands.

Jiang Xu took a pillow and quilt from the bed and went to sleep on the side, but accidentally knocked over an erotic painting left by the servants. Ming Tan nervously explained that it wasn’t placed there by her, inwardly regretting the contract they signed, afraid Jiang Xu would think she was being coy—saying one thing but meaning another. Ming Tingyuan and Su Wenchun were drinking. Ming Tingyuan, feeling uneasy, brought up how Ming Tan had been kidnapped by Hai Youmen the night before.

Episode 9 Recap

Ming Tingyuan asked what Madam Su meant by insisting on lifting Ming Tan’s wedding shoe during the bridal send-off. When Su Wenchun heard this, he claimed they regarded Ming Tan as a treasured daughter and simply couldn’t bear to part with her. They didn’t want Ming Tan to marry the General of Dingbei and end up entrusting her life to the wrong person. Seeing Ming Tingyuan pressing further, Su Wenchun pretended to be drunk and slumped over the table, unmoving.

Late at night, Jiang Xu received word that Gu Wenyan had been kidnapped and was now missing. Ming Tan woke early and found that Jiang Xu was not at the residence. According to custom, she was supposed to enter the palace today to express gratitude.

Lü’e and Suxin were upset on her behalf because Jiang Xu had left her alone on their wedding night, but Ming Tan said he was the General of Dingbei, and as his princess consort, she should be understanding. All the servants at Jiang Xu’s residence were men.

Uncle Fu explained that the residence had previously only employed male staff, but Jiang Xu had specifically ordered him to select some maidservants to make it easier for Ming Tan to move about the inner courtyard. Jiang Xu had already sent word to the palace, saying he had matters to attend to today and would express gratitude tomorrow instead. Ming Tan saw a swing in the courtyard.

Uncle Fu said it was specially made by Jiang Xu for her, so she could feel more at ease here. Uncle Fu handed over all the detailed financial records of the residence to Ming Tan, but she said that Uncle Fu had managed the estate extremely well and should continue to do so. However, since Uncle Fu had no talent for business, he asked Ming Tan to help manage two shops.

He even had Chai Gui share some of Jiang Xu’s preferences with her. Jiang Xu was interrogating the Marquis of Cheng'en, who insisted on seeing his daughter. He promised that once he saw her, he would speak without reservation. Ming Tan went out with Lü’e and Suxin to shop and even bought some of Jiang Xu’s favorite cheese for him. He had saved her several times, yet she had never clearly expressed her feelings.

Although their marriage was arranged by contract, she still needed to fulfill her duties as a wife. The Marquis of Cheng'en’s daughter, Jiu Rou, specially came to see Ming Tan. Ever since the Cheng'en Residence fell into trouble, only Ming Tan had visited and even given them some silver. But now that the Marquis wanted to see her, Jiu Rou felt uneasy because she had never been favored.

She had no choice but to ask Ming Tan to accompany her, and Ming Tan agreed without hesitation. Ming Tan went to the military camp to distribute food. Bai Yu was also there. When Jiang Xu saw him coughing several times, Bai Yu was so startled he immediately backed off and left, not even taking the food Ming Tan brought. Ming Tan brought the extra portion to Jiang Xu. Jiang Xu told her to come here less often.

Ming Tan feigned grievance, saying that if she didn’t show up, people outside would make up all sorts of rumors. Now that they were married, she wanted to help improve Jiang Xu’s reputation. Someone came to report, and Ming Tan quickly put on a loving display, feeding Jiang Xu. But while she spoke of marital affection, Jiang Xu spoke of the spirit of their contract.

Ming Tan brought up accompanying Jiu Rou to see the Marquis of Cheng'en, saying that Jiu Rou was her close friend and she was only going along as company, not to interfere, though she truly wanted to know whether Jiu Rou would be implicated. Before leaving, Ming Tan blinked and asked whether he wouldn’t see her off. After some thought, Jiang Xu still got up to walk her out.

After marrying Jiang Xu, Ming Tan had fallen completely in love with him. Yet she found herself trapped in the constraints of the marriage contract, not knowing when Jiang Xu would finally understand her heart. No one had ever taught her how to manage a relationship between husband and wife. At night, Ming Tan carefully decorated their room and changed into clothes she had specially prepared. But when Jiang Xu returned, he went straight to the study.

Ming Tan took the initiative to visit him in the study, bringing bird’s nest porridge she had personally made. But Jiang Xu had official business to handle and planned to sleep in the study that night. Ming Tan immediately brought up her dignity—official duties were important, but so was her dignity. Even if he didn’t want to come back, he had to!

Jiang Xu saw how Ming Tan had decorated the room and assumed she liked it more refined, then began sorting through his documents. Ming Tan sat on the bed, complaining that the candlelight was too bright. Jiang Xu deliberately approached to lower the bed curtain for her. Still unwilling to give up, Ming Tan said she wanted to keep him company and relieve his fatigue, but she soon fell asleep herself.

Jiang Xu saw she was fast asleep and carried her back to the bed. Ming Tan grabbed his hand and wouldn’t let go. Jiang Xu, being oblivious, tucked her hand back under the covers and even wrapped her in the quilt. Ming Tan was completely defeated and began to wonder whether Jiang Xu might have a hidden illness.

Today, they needed to enter the palace to express gratitude, but Jiang Xu had left again before dawn, saying it was for military affairs. Still, he hurried back in time to accompany her into the palace. Speaking of the Marquis of Cheng'en’s case, Ming Tan explained that Jiu Rou and her mother had never been favored and that the Marquis’s actions had nothing to do with them.

Ming Tan hoped Jiang Xu would explain this to the Emperor to spare them from exile. Ming Tan went to meet the Empress Dowager with Feng Zhao and was surprised to find the Empress also present. She quickly offered her greetings. She suspected that the Empress Dowager was displeased over the imperial marriage decree and, thinking Ming Tan didn’t recognize the Empress, was trying to set her up to make a mistake.

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