Li Yu awakens to find himself floating in freezing water, initially disoriented and confused.

He gradually realizes that he is surrounded by water and cannot swim, which terrifies him.

Li Yu discovers that his legs have transformed into a fish tail, making him a mermaid or something similar.

As he tries to understand his situation, he notices that his hands have turned into fins and his body is covered in fish scales.

Li Yu comes to the shocking realization that he has fully transformed into a carp, not just a mermaid.

In a state of panic, he tries to swim but starts sinking when he stops moving his tail.

Li Yu hears voices above the water, discussing the need for a live fish for a noble consort’s soup, and realizes he might be in danger.

A large hand reaches into the water and grabs Li Yu, who struggles in pain as he is lifted out.

Li Yu is held by a palace servant named Gao-gonggong, who plans to use him for fish soup, much to Li Yu's horror.

In a desperate attempt to escape being cooked, Li Yu struggles free from Gao-gonggong’s grip and flings himself into the air.

As Li Yu is about to hit the ground, a large white cat catches him in its mouth, further terrifying him.

The cat, which is recognized as belonging to the noble consort, runs off with Li Yu, while the servants chase after it, concerned that the cat might choke on his bones.

Li Yu, realizing the danger he is in, tries to escape the cat’s mouth but fails as the cat holds him firmly.

The chapter ends with the cat stopping abruptly, growling at a young man in luxurious robes who blocks its path.

Li Yu, now a fish, finds himself in the mouth of a large white cat, which tries to pounce on a young man standing in its way.

The cat’s attack is ineffective, and Li Yu manages to roll out of its mouth, landing on the floor with minimal impact.

The cat, undeterred, attempts to recapture Li Yu, but in his desperation to escape, Li Yu accidentally slaps the cat in the face with his tail.

Angered, the cat pins Li Yu down with its paw, causing him intense pain, but he continues to struggle, unwilling to accept his fate.

The young man, dressed in luxurious robes, approaches, and Li Yu notices the youth’s handsome and cold appearance.

As the cat prepares to recapture Li Yu, the young man suddenly lifts the cat by the scruff of its neck, saving Li Yu from further harm.

The young man, identified as Prince Jing, holds the cat without any regard for its status as the noble consort’s pet.

A palace servant, Xiaolinzi, rushes in and pleads for mercy on behalf of the cat, fearing repercussions from the noble consort.

Another servant, Wang Xi, arrives and sides with Prince Jing, dismissing the cat’s importance and berating Xiaolinzi for his concern.

Despite the cat’s pitiful meowing, Prince Jing remains indifferent, eventually tossing the cat back to Xiaolinzi.

Li Yu, now weak and barely able to move, hopes for someone to return him to water, but Prince Jing and Wang Xi initially leave without noticing him.

As Li Yu loses consciousness, Prince Jing suddenly returns, feeling a strange pull, and finds the injured fish on the ground.

Prince Jing gently picks up the fish, and Wang Xi, puzzled by his actions, offers to assist, but Prince Jing insists on holding the fish himself.

Prince Jing heads towards the nearest garden with Li Yu, who feels a sense of warmth and comfort, as if wrapped in blankets.

Li Yu hears the system announce the completion of the first part of the "Moe Pet System" quest, signaling his first meeting with the "tyrant."

Li Yu realizes he has not turned back into a human and discovers he has entered a system called the "Moe Pet System."

The system prompts Li Yu to choose between a main quest and side quests. Li Yu selects the main quest "Tyrant’s Priceless Pet Fish."

Li Yu learns that his main quest involves becoming the beloved pet fish of Prince Jing, who is revealed to be the tyrant mentioned in the quest.

The system informs Li Yu that Prince Jing, whose real name is Mu Tianchi, is the fifth son of the emperor and was born with a speech impediment.

Li Yu recognizes that he has transmigrated into a webnovel he had read, where Mu Tianchi is the male lead, known for his ruthless and cold demeanor.

Li Yu feels reluctant about the quest but realizes that he must complete it to have any chance of turning back into a human.

The system informs him that completing quests will offer rewards, such as increasing the strength of his fish tail and gaining an inventory.

After accepting his fate, Li Yu loses consciousness and wakes up to find himself in a blue and white porcelain tank filled with water.

Li Yu observes his surroundings, noting the clean and comfortable environment of the tank, which is a significant upgrade from the fish basket he was in earlier.

He tries to interact with the aquatic plants in the tank but struggles due to his fish form. Eventually, he uses his tail to knock a leaf down, covering himself with it as a makeshift blanket.

While resting, Li Yu hears someone enter the room and soon sees Prince Jing’s face appear above the tank.

Li Yu realizes that Prince Jing, the target of his quests, is the one who saved him and placed him in the tank.

Overjoyed by this development, Li Yu decides to act like a good pet fish and tries to please Prince Jing by blowing a bubble toward him, hoping to avoid any harm.

Li Yu is determined to win over Prince Jing, knowing that Mu Tianchi, the future tyrant, hasn't fully developed his ruthless nature yet.

He understands that now is the best time to influence Prince Jing’s character and prevent his eventual transformation into a feared dictator.

To gain Prince Jing’s favor, Li Yu tries to appear as a devoted pet fish by blowing bubbles, but his efforts are met with indifference from Prince Jing and confusion from Wang Xi.

Wang Xi misinterprets Li Yu's bubble-blowing as sneezing or choking, causing Li Yu to become frustrated, but Prince Jing eventually shows a faint smile.

Desperate to complete the second task of interacting with the tyrant, Li Yu attempts a "seaweed dance," but Wang Xi believes the fish has pulled a muscle.

The system finally provides a hint, revealing that "interaction" requires a back-and-forth exchange, making Li Yu realize he needs to elicit a response from Prince Jing.

As Li Yu ponders how to create this interaction, Wang Xi observes Prince Jing’s interest in the fish and suggests feeding it, believing that Prince Jing has taken a liking to the little carp.

Prince Jing agrees, and Wang Xi feeds Li Yu with red and green fish food, which Li Yu eagerly devours despite feeling embarrassed about eating like a fish in front of Prince Jing.

Li Yu discovers that the red fish food tastes better than the green, with a flavor reminiscent of fish-flavored shredded pork.

Hyperaware of Prince Jing’s scrutiny, Li Yu cautiously eats one piece of fish food at a time, making sure not to appear too human-like in his behavior.

Prince Jing, watching closely, briefly wonders if the fish’s movements seemed almost human, but dismisses the thought as it was too fleeting to be certain.

Wang Xi hands Prince Jing the boxes of fish food and encourages him to feed the fish, explaining the two types of feed: red (fish-flavored shredded pork) and green (mushroom and greens).

Mu Tianchi hesitates but eventually accepts the red-feed box and awkwardly throws a handful of pellets into the water, nearly overwhelming Li Yu with the sudden downpour.

Li Yu is surprised and excited that Prince Jing personally fed him, realizing that this was the "interaction" needed to complete the second part of his main quest.

After eating the food, Li Yu feels full and tries to nap on the white rocks in the tank, but Prince Jing taps the tank to wake him up.

Prince Jing then reaches into the tank and gently nudges Li Yu, causing him to swim around the tank. Initially frightened, Li Yu soon realizes the prince only intends to push him around, not harm him.

As Li Yu swims, his fin occasionally brushes against Prince Jing's finger, but the prince, who would have punished a person for such impudence, merely smirks.

After making several laps around the tank, Li Yu's bloated feeling subsides, and he realizes Prince Jing might have made him swim to help digest the food.

Prince Jing leaves the tank but doesn't immediately exit the room, puzzling Li Yu.

Li Yu, wanting to collect his system reward and confirm Prince Jing is gone, tests his tail, finding it has healed enough to leap into the air.

During his leap, Li Yu sees Prince Jing in a state of undress, startling both him and the prince. Embarrassed, Li Yu quickly dives back into the tank and hides under his leaf blanket.

Prince Jing, now dressed, approaches the tank, making Li Yu nervous. However, before the prince can act, Wang Xi announces that the emperor has sent someone, and Prince Jing leaves to receive the imperial edict.

With Prince Jing gone, Li Yu finally collects his reward from the system: a small inventory space about the size of an adult's palm.

Disappointed by the limited space, Li Yu learns that side quests can increase inventory slots. He notices one of his scales has turned jade-colored, marking the activation of his inventory slot.

The system informs Li Yu about using his inventory by tapping the jade scale three times and explains that anything within his field of vision can be stored if it fits.

Li Yu checks his main quest and discovers the third task: "Get Along with the Tyrant," with a three-day time limit. He realizes the timer has already started, forcing him to act quickly.

As he returns to the real world, Li Yu overhears Wang Xi discussing with Prince Jing the emperor’s sudden summons, hinting that it may have been influenced by the noble consort.

Prince Jing decides to attend the summons alone, without Wang Xi, despite the servant's concern for the prince’s safety.

Wang Xi retrieves a small jade bowl, preparing to take Li Yu with Prince Jing to see the emperor. Li Yu panics, knowing the risks of being taken out of his tank and exposed to potential dangers.

In a desperate move, Li Yu uses his inventory to store water from the tank, preparing for any emergencies.

Wang Xi hands the cramped jade bowl with Li Yu inside to Prince Jing. Seeing the fish's discomfort, Prince Jing insists on transferring Li Yu to a larger bowl, which is more comfortable for the fish.

Li Yu happily swims around in the larger bowl, feeling relieved and appreciating Prince Jing’s consideration.

Prince Jing feeds Li Yu some red fish pellets, ensuring the fish is content before their journey to the palace.

As Prince Jing carefully carries the large bowl, covering it to prevent Li Yu from jumping out, the warmth from his hand reassures the little carp.

Li Yu’s initial anxiety subsides as he relaxes into the rhythm of Prince Jing’s footsteps, feeling unexpectedly safe and cozy in the prince's care.

Prince Jing brings Li Yu, the little carp, to Qianqing Palace. On the way, the system offers Li Yu a side quest called "Clear, Bright Pearl," with a reward of temporary transformation into a human for two hours.

Despite his initial hesitation, Li Yu accepts the side quest, which requires him to obtain a luminous pearl.

As Prince Jing arrives at Qianqing Palace, Li Yu observes the opulent surroundings and deduces that this side quest might be connected to meeting the emperor.

Li Yu recalls the complicated relationship between the emperor and Prince Jing, rooted in the emperor’s love for Prince Jing’s late mother, Empress Xiaohui. The emperor’s distant behavior towards his son is out of a desire to protect him.

When Prince Jing enters the main hall, the emperor mistakes the large bowl for soup, thinking Prince Jing is bringing an offering to apologize. However, when the head eunuch, Luo Ruisheng, inspects the bowl, he discovers the lively little carp instead of soup.

Startled, Luo-gonggong nearly drops the bowl, and the emperor, curious about what Prince Jing brought, calls him over.

Prince Jing silently brings the bowl before the emperor, revealing the little carp swimming inside. The emperor, confused, asks for an explanation.

Prince Jing dips his hand into the water and plays with Li Yu in front of the emperor, who is surprised by his son's uncharacteristically gentle behavior.

The emperor, recalling that Prince Jing had never shown interest in pets before, is astonished to see him taking care of a fish.

After realizing that Prince Jing has decided to raise the little carp as a pet, the emperor acknowledges it, albeit with some amusement and confusion, since the fish is just a common carp.

Li Yu feels proud to be officially recognized as Prince Jing’s pet, but the system does not consider this as completing the main quest yet.

The meeting is interrupted by the arrival of the noble consort and the second prince, reminding the emperor of the original reason for summoning Prince Jing. The emperor permits them to enter as Prince Jing continues to play with his fish.

Li Yu, curious about Noble Consort Qiu, tries to get a view of her as she enters Qianqing Palace, but his position blocks his sight. Prince Jing moves the bowl, seemingly noticing Li Yu’s efforts and giving him a clear view of the entrance.

Noble Consort Qiu enters with her son, the second prince Mu Tianzhao, radiating confidence and beauty. Li Yu admires her appearance, understanding why she was favored by the emperor.

Noble Consort Qiu, now confident in her son’s future as the crown prince, subtly flaunts her position, sharing a knowing glance with her son. Prince Jing remains indifferent, focused only on Li Yu, playing with him in the bowl.

Li Yu, sensing Prince Jing’s frustration, tries to comfort him by nuzzling against his finger, enduring the prince’s rough handling.

The emperor observes Prince Jing’s unusual behavior of playing with a fish, finding it surprising and uncharacteristic.

Noble Consort Qiu, noticing the attention on Prince Jing and the fish, attempts to divert it by bringing in her white cat, Piaoxue. The cat, recognizing Li Yu, tries to pounce on him, but Prince Jing quickly intervenes, flinging the cat away.

Noble Consort Qiu feigns distress, scolding the cat and subtly implying that Prince Jing disrespects her as his shu mother. The second prince, Mu Tianzhao, supports her, painting Prince Jing’s actions as mischievous but harmless, subtly accusing him of wrongdoing.

Li Yu, angry at the noble consort and her son for manipulating the situation against Prince Jing, blows a large bubble and turns his tail in disdain toward Mu Tianzhao.

The emperor, recalling Noble Consort Qiu’s previous complaints, questions Prince Jing about the incident where he threw her cat on her birthday. The emperor is concerned about maintaining harmony between Prince Jing and the future crown prince.

Prince Jing, however, remains silent and dismissive, continuing to play with Li Yu. He notices that the little fish seems to be puffing its cheeks in anger, amused that the fish might be aware of the situation’s underlying tensions.

The emperor questions Prince Jing about the incident involving Noble Consort Qiu's cat. The second prince, Mu Tianzhao, tries to pressure Prince Jing into responding.

Prince Jing, unable to speak, writes "It deserved it" on paper, asserting his actions were justified. The emperor, trusting his son's honesty, orders an investigation into the event, causing Noble Consort Qiu to panic slightly.

Noble Consort Qiu had bribed a servant, Xiaolinzi, who falsely testifies against Prince Jing. The emperor, fatigued by the situation, asks Prince Jing for an explanation.

Prince Jing contemplates resorting to violence to get the truth from Xiaolinzi but hesitates, knowing it would play into Noble Consort Qiu's trap.

Li Yu, the fish, recalls seeing a bruise on Prince Jing's leg, possibly caused by the cat, which could serve as evidence. He decides to draw attention to this by splashing water on Prince Jing.

Li Yu executes his plan, drenching Prince Jing with water. Instead of retaliating, Prince Jing calmly excuses himself to change his clothes, buying time and bringing Wang Xi into the room to assist.

As Prince Jing leaves, Noble Consort Qiu and Mu Tianzhao mock Prince Jing's taste in pets, insulting the fish. Li Yu, feeling indignant, prepares to retaliate.

Li Yu notices a golden phoenix hairpin with a large pearl on Noble Consort Qiu's head and realizes this is the "luminous pearl" from his side quest. He decides to take action.

Li Yu plays dead by flipping belly-up in the water, causing panic in the second prince and Noble Consort Qiu. The noble consort, suspicious and paranoid, begins to believe Prince Jing might have set her up with this "dead" fish, fearing she would be blamed for its death.

Noble Consort Qiu panics at the thought of the emperor's anger and devises a plan to hide Prince Jing's "dead" fish and replace it with a live one to avoid repercussions.

As Noble Consort Qiu attempts to wrap Li Yu in her handkerchief, the fish begins to struggle and escapes her grasp.

Li Yu, with a powerful flip, lands on Noble Consort Qiu’s face, causing chaos and panic.

Li Yu’s tail repeatedly slaps Noble Consort Qiu’s face, sending her into a terrified frenzy, while the second prince, Mu Tianzhao, is too stunned to help.

During the chaos, Li Yu manages to slap the luminous pearl from Noble Consort Qiu's hairpin onto the floor.

Desperate to retrieve the pearl, Li Yu lunges for it but is interrupted when Prince Jing returns and picks him up.

Prince Jing notices the commotion, places Li Yu back in his bowl, and subtly conceals what happened.

Noble Consort Qiu tries to explain the bizarre situation to the emperor, but her claims that a fish attacked her seem absurd.

The emperor, confused by the situation, orders an investigation.

Wang Xi defends Prince Jing by revealing that the prince has a bruise, possibly caused by the noble consort’s cat, explaining why Prince Jing might have acted against the cat.

The emperor is convinced and orders an investigation into the events.

The investigation reveals the noble consort’s scheming, leading to her being confined to her palace, losing favor with the emperor.

While the palace is in chaos, Li Yu remembers his side quest to obtain the luminous pearl but is taken away by Wang Xi and Prince Jing before he can retrieve it.

Prince Jing notices Li Yu’s fixation on the pearl, orders a servant to retrieve it, and realizes that the fish seems interested in the jewel.

Prince Jing keeps the pearl hidden, smiling to himself as he still has unresolved issues with the little carp.

Li Yu follows Prince Jing and his servants back to Jingtai Hall, trying to get the prince’s attention, but Prince Jing ignores him, frustrating Li Yu.

Li Yu contemplates how to communicate his desire for the luminous pearl and attempts to mimic the shape of a pearl while swimming, but Prince Jing remains unresponsive.

Wang Xi notices Li Yu’s behavior and assumes the fish wants to stay with Prince Jing, commenting on the fish's intelligence and clinginess.

Despite Wang Xi’s attempts to help, Prince Jing takes the bowl and the fish to his private quarters, feeling possessive over the little carp.

Li Yu realizes he’s now in Prince Jing’s room, which is a privilege not granted to others, and tries to adapt to his new surroundings.

Wang Xi arranges for the porcelain fish tank to be brought to the room and ensures that everything is set up for Li Yu’s comfort.

Li Yu enters the system to check on his quests, feeling discouraged by his lack of progress and resolves to continue his efforts.

Upon exiting the system, Li Yu discovers he is being held in Prince Jing’s hand, and he panics, trying to act cute to gain favor.

Prince Jing, slightly annoyed by the fish’s behavior, taps its head, and Li Yu realizes the prince has the luminous pearl hidden in his sleeve.

Li Yu attempts to wriggle his way into Prince Jing’s sleeve to retrieve the pearl, managing to slip down the prince’s arm and into his sleeve with the help of water.

Inside the sleeve, Li Yu is embarrassed by the close contact with Prince Jing’s bare skin and struggles to move toward a glowing object he assumes to be the pearl.

Li Yu clamps down on what he believes to be the pearl, only to realize in horror that it’s not a pearl but something else entirely.

As Prince Jing removes his clothing to free himself from the fish’s struggle, Li Yu discovers he’s on the prince’s chest, having mistakenly bitten something inappropriate.

Wang Xi enters the room, shocked by the scene of a flushed Prince Jing holding the fish, and expresses his concern, misunderstanding the situation entirely.

The chapter ends with Li Yu feeling utterly humiliated by the series of events, wishing for the ground to swallow him whole.

Li Yu realizes he’s made a serious mistake by accidentally biting Prince Jing and causing trouble. He feels anxious and guilty, knowing the prince must be angry.

Unable to sleep, Li Yu tosses and turns all night, feeling humiliated and uncertain about how to make amends.

He decides to focus on completing the main quest instead of the side quest “Clear, Bright Pearl,” convinced there will be other opportunities to transform back into a human.

Li Yu starts avoiding Prince Jing, feeling uncomfortable around him due to the recent incident.

Wang Xi notices Li Yu’s behavior and tries to care for him, feeding him red-colored fish food and making him swim laps for better digestion.

Li Yu feels grateful but increasingly guilty as he realizes Prince Jing has been kind to him despite everything.

Determined to apologize, Li Yu struggles to find a way to show his sincerity. He decides to offer Prince Jing the pieces of fish food he’s been given, seeing it as the only thing he owns.

Li Yu waits eagerly for Prince Jing’s return to present the fish food as an apology, but the prince doesn’t come back that night, leaving him disappointed.

Prince Jing returns early the next morning and notices the fish food lined up in the tank. Li Yu wakes up and excitedly presents the food to him, trying to apologize.

Prince Jing is surprised by Li Yu’s gesture and contemplates whether the fish is trying to ask for forgiveness or something else.

Wang Xi informs Prince Jing that the luminous pearl has been sealed in a bottle as requested, ready to be placed in the tank as punishment for Li Yu.

Prince Jing hesitates and decides not to punish the fish. Instead, he opens the bottle and drops the pearl into the tank, surprising Li Yu.

Overjoyed, Li Yu catches the pearl, realizing that Prince Jing is willing to take care of him despite everything.

Li Yu successfully completes the “Clear, Bright Pearl” quest and receives a transformation medicine as a reward but decides to store it for later use, realizing he needs to plan its use carefully.

To maintain appearances, Li Yu pretends to enjoy playing with the luminous pearl in front of Prince Jing and Wang Xi, despite his mouth hurting from holding it.

Li Yu enters the system and decides to postpone accepting the transformation medicine, realizing he needs to plan how and when to use it without causing chaos or getting caught.

Li Yu returns to reality and notices the time left for the “getting along” main quest is running out. Determined to interact with Prince Jing, he devises a plan to grab the prince’s attention.

Li Yu tries jumping out of his tank to catch Prince Jing’s attention but struggles to stay on the tank’s edge. After several failed attempts, Prince Jing notices and lifts him out, placing him in a shallow tea bowl to observe his surroundings.

Li Yu is excited to see Prince Jing’s room, which is simple and cold, reflecting the prince’s personality. He tries to act cute and show his affection by curling his tail around Prince Jing’s finger.

Prince Jing starts drawing a portrait of the little carp, and Li Yu is thrilled to be the subject of the prince’s artwork. He poses in what he thinks is a majestic pose, feeling a sense of accomplishment.

Their quiet, shared moment is interrupted by Wang Xi, who announces that the emperor has sent gifts, including a pair of rare koi in a large crystal tank, as an attempt to comfort Prince Jing after the incident with Noble Consort Qiu.

Li Yu is shocked and feels threatened by the presence of the beautiful koi, fearing they might steal Prince Jing’s affection. He resolves to guard his position and prepare to “fight” for Prince Jing’s love.

To Li Yu’s relief, Prince Jing ultimately does not accept the koi and instead returns to his room with Li Yu, placing him in a new, larger crystal tank. Li Yu is delighted, feeling he has successfully maintained his place by Prince Jing’s side.

Li Yu moves into a new, larger crystal fish tank, which Prince Jing has prepared with care, adding his familiar white rock bed, water plants, an ornamental mountain, and various jewels to play with.

Li Yu doesn’t realize the value of the crystal and jewels, thinking they are just colorful regular rocks. He spends time playing with the jewels, pushing them around and creating piles.

As the deadline for the “getting along” quest approaches, Li Yu panics, realizing he has spent too much time playing instead of focusing on completing his quest.

Li Yu contemplates using the transformation medicine to say goodbye to Prince Jing as a human, but he hesitates, unsure of the consequences.

Prince Jing notices Li Yu lingering by the tank wall and attempts to play with him through the crystal, which cheers Li Yu up and distracts him from his earlier thoughts of revenge on society.

As the countdown for the quest ends, Li Yu enters the system, fearing he has failed, but is relieved to learn he has succeeded, earning the reward of heightened healing powers.

Li Yu returns to reality and finds himself in Prince Jing’s hand. Overwhelmed with gratitude for the prince’s care and love, he tries to express his emotions by nuzzling Prince Jing’s face.

Li Yu accidentally ends up rubbing his fish lips against Prince Jing’s lips, causing both surprise and embarrassment. Prince Jing is amused but remains calm.

Li Yu feels a deep sense of self-reflection after the incident, preparing another round of apology fish food for Prince Jing.

The system announces the next step of the main quest, “Share a Bed with the Tyrant,” leaving Li Yu bewildered and anxious about how to accomplish this as a fish.

Li Yu reflects on his past quests and concludes that while the system's titles are clickbaity, the tasks themselves are relatively straightforward. He assumes that the current quest, “Share a Bed with the Tyrant,” simply requires him to be in the same bed as Prince Jing, even if only briefly.

He begins practicing jumping out of his fish tank to reach Prince Jing’s bed, but finds it challenging due to the distance and the noise his tail makes on the floor. He considers using the transformation medicine to complete the task as a human, but hesitates, wanting to save it for a more meaningful moment.

Wang Xi notices puddles on the floor from Li Yu's practice jumps and informs Prince Jing. Instead of being angry, Prince Jing orders tea bowls filled with water to be placed around the room, allowing the fish to "take walks" without risk of drying out.

With the tea bowls strategically placed and a new water-absorbent carpet laid down, Li Yu prepares to complete his quest by sneaking into Prince Jing’s bed while he sleeps.

That night, Li Yu waits until Prince Jing is asleep and jumps onto the bed, landing on a cushion he placed to avoid wetting the pillow. However, the system doesn’t acknowledge his completion of the task.

As he tries to figure out why, Li Yu realizes the person in the bed is not Prince Jing, but a woman who is likely an assassin. She has a knife hidden under the blanket.

Prince Jing enters the room, sees the woman in his bed, and quickly realizes she has malicious intent. He approaches her, feigning interest, before suddenly choking her and stabbing her in the chest with a sword.

The woman, surprised by the sudden attack, reaches for the knife under the blanket but is bitten by Li Yu, who is hiding there. Distracted and unable to defend herself, she is killed by Prince Jing.

After the assassin is dead, Prince Jing flips over the blanket and finds Li Yu trembling inside. He reaches out to pick up the fish, but Li Yu, still in shock and fear, recoils from his touch.

Prince Jing attempts to reach out to the trembling Li Yu, but the fish flinches away, terrified by the violence he just witnessed. Despite knowing Prince Jing killed the assassin in self-defense, Li Yu is deeply shaken by the bloodshed and now fears the prince, wondering if he too might be killed when he turns back into a human.

Sensing Li Yu's fear, Prince Jing tries to comfort him, but the fish continues to avoid his touch. Realizing that the fish may be frightened by the scent of blood, Prince Jing washes up, changes into clean clothes, and even orders his bloodstained clothes to be burned.

Despite Prince Jing's efforts to cleanse himself of the blood, Li Yu remains fearful and hides in the ornamental mountain within his fish tank. This confuses and frustrates Prince Jing, who then scoops Li Yu out of the tank and places him in a flower petal-shaped tea bowl by his pillow.

Li Yu is shocked by Prince Jing’s actions, thinking he might be in danger, but he soon realizes that Prince Jing simply wants him nearby while he sleeps. Li Yu is torn between his fear and the desire to complete his quest.

Eventually, Li Yu touches the jade pillow, triggering the system’s notification that the “Share a Bed” quest is complete. Despite his success, he remains anxious, particularly when he accidentally bites Prince Jing’s finger.

Prince Jing, however, remains calm and even pushes the jade pillow closer to Li Yu before going to sleep, leaving the fish confused but somewhat comforted. Li Yu eventually reflects on his fear, realizing that Prince Jing’s ruthlessness and kindness are two sides of the same person. He resolves to trust Prince Jing and not let his fear overshadow the kindness the prince has shown him.

Exhausted, Li Yu falls asleep next to Prince Jing, feeling more at ease. The next morning, Prince Jing wakes up to find the little carp nuzzling his hand, which lifts his spirits.

Meanwhile, the emperor, enraged by the news of the assassin, orders a thorough investigation and commands Prince Jing to return to his manor outside the palace to rest. Prince Jing wastes no time in packing up, including arranging for his newly acquired crystal fish tank to be transported.

The spectacle of the eight servants carrying the extravagant fish tank with a small, grayish carp inside attracts the attention of many in the palace, leaving them stunned by the prince’s unusual attachment to the fish.

Li Yu wakes up in Prince Jing Manor, unconcerned about being judged by others. He feels comfortable in his new surroundings, especially since his tank is still in Prince Jing's bedroom. His fear of Prince Jing has dissipated, and he is back to being playful and trusting.

Li Yu reflects on his life as a fish, realizing that he’s been focused on his duties as a pet and completing quests, with little concern for the book’s original plot. However, Prince Jing’s recent assassination attempt brings the plot back to his mind.

The second prince, Mu Tianzhao, sends a letter inviting Prince Jing to a banquet, but Prince Jing dismisses it. Mu Tianzhao then persuades the emperor to intervene, leading to an imperial edict ordering Prince Jing to host the banquet at his manor. All the princes are expected to attend, with Prince Jing as the host.

Li Yu deduces that this banquet might be the same one from the book where Prince Jing meets the "delicate concubine," a key character who is destined to become his love interest. Li Yu worries that this means the plot is moving forward, potentially leading to Prince Jing’s romantic entanglement with the concubine.

Li Yu recalls how the book depicted Prince Jing’s deep but unreciprocated love for the concubine, causing the prince much suffering. Now, knowing Prince Jing as a real person, Li Yu feels protective and angry at the thought of him being tormented by love.

Feeling powerless as just a pet fish, Li Yu takes out his frustration on the jewels in his tank, contemplating the possibility of Prince Jing losing interest in him once the concubine enters the picture.

Li Yu decides that if the plot is inevitable and Prince Jing is going to follow it, he should take advantage of the upcoming banquet. With many visitors and distractions, he plans to transform into a human and act freely, avoiding the concubine and taking matters into his own hands.

Li Yu decides to use the transformation medicine on the day of the banquet held at Prince Jing’s manor. To avoid suspicion, he plans to use a fish plushie reward from a previous quest, which looks like a replica of his fish form, to take his place in the tank while he is transformed.

The next step in Li Yu’s quest is “Gain a Deep Understanding of the Tyrant,” but the system provides no clear instructions, leaving Li Yu to focus on his immediate plan of transforming into a human.

Li Yu meticulously plans his activities for the two hours he will have as a human. He wants to eat human food, explore Prince Jing’s manor, and enjoy the banquet’s entertainment without being noticed.

On the day of the banquet, Prince Jing and Wang Xi leave early to greet guests, and Li Yu positions the fish plushie in the tank, covering it with a leaf blanket to make it look like he is sleeping.

Li Yu then takes the transformation medicine, which causes him to lose consciousness temporarily.

Meanwhile, at the banquet, the third prince, Mu Tianming, tries to impress Prince Jing by offering a toast and arranging for a dance performance, but Prince Jing is not interested. The third prince’s attempts to win Prince Jing’s favor are thwarted by the second prince, Mu Tianzhao, who tries to reconcile with Prince Jing and asks for the return of a luminous pearl that belonged to his mother, Lady Qiu.

Prince Jing agrees to return the pearl, and Wang Xi leads Mu Tianzhao to the room where the crystal fish tank is located. Mu Tianzhao is horrified to find that the pearl is at the bottom of the tank, among many other jewels, and that he will have to retrieve it himself.

To make matters worse, Mu Tianzhao notices that Prince Jing’s beloved pet fish seems to be lying still, covered by a leaf, and he suspects the fish might be dead, which alarms him greatly.

The second prince, Mu Tianzhao, arrives at Prince Jing's room to retrieve the luminous pearl, but he becomes anxious when he notices Prince Jing's pet fish lying motionless in the tank. Knowing the fish's troublesome history, he fears it might be a trick.

Mu Tianzhao decides to leave, but Wang Xi insists that he stay until Prince Jing arrives, making the second prince increasingly nervous. A servant then notices that the fish isn't moving, raising suspicions.

Wang Xi leaves to fetch Prince Jing, leaving Mu Tianzhao in an uncomfortable situation, as he becomes the prime suspect in any mishap related to the fish. Prince Jing arrives and checks the fish tank, quickly realizing the fish is fake.

Prince Jing, now suspecting foul play, draws his sword and threatens the second prince, who vehemently denies any involvement. Wang Xi eventually confirms that the fish has been replaced with a fake one, and the window to the garden has been left open, suggesting the fish was stolen.

A thorough search of the room reveals that a set of Prince Jing’s inner robes and underwear are also missing, leaving Prince Jing puzzled and concerned about the motives behind the theft.

Meanwhile, Li Yu, who had used the transformation medicine, wakes up as a human in Prince Jing's room. To his shock, he realizes he is naked and quickly finds and wears a set of Prince Jing’s inner robes and underwear.

Li Yu prepares a tea bowl with water and fish food in case he needs to revert to his fish form quickly. He also positions the fish plushie in his place in the tank, hoping it will deceive anyone who checks on it.

Li Yu opens a window facing the garden as a decoy and then escapes through another window leading to an ornamental mountain, successfully avoiding detection while he explores the manor in his human form.

Li Yu, having transformed back into a human, finds it difficult to adjust to walking on legs but eventually gets used to it. Without suitable shoes, he walks barefoot through Prince Jing’s manor, drawing attention due to his unusual appearance.

A kind servant, Auntie Xu, notices him and, after a brief conversation, guides him to the kitchens, where Li Yu finally gets to enjoy human food. Auntie Xu, taking pity on him, gives him a set of clothes and shoes that belonged to her son.

After eating, Li Yu decides to explore the manor, avoiding the main banquet area where Prince Jing and the other guests are gathered. He plans to watch an opera performance but is stopped by guards who mistake him for a servant due to his attire.

Just as he turns to leave, Li Yu encounters Wang Xi, who, suspecting him to be the thief who stole Prince Jing’s fish and clothes, orders the guards to capture him. Li Yu, panicked and knowing his time as a human is limited, throws fish food to distract them and runs away, finding a room to hide in.

Prince Jing, informed of the situation, quickly joins Wang Xi and the guards to confront the intruder. They surround the room where Li Yu is hiding, but Li Yu, desperate and running out of time, yells a challenge to buy himself a few moments.

Prince Jing doesn’t hesitate and breaks down the door. He catches a glimpse of the fleeing Li Yu, noticing something oddly familiar about him. Despite his efforts, Prince Jing only manages to grab the corner of Li Yu’s robe as he jumps out of the window.

The guards, expecting to catch Li Yu outside, report that they haven’t seen anyone. Prince Jing finds only a pile of discarded clothes and a tea bowl with his fish inside, swimming happily.

Li Yu, having transformed back into a fish, realizes that his plan to make it seem like he escaped out the window was foiled by Prince Jing's quick actions. Prince Jing and his guards couldn't find any trace of the "thief" outside, and they were left puzzled by the pile of clothes and the fish left behind.

To distract Prince Jing from examining the clothes too closely, Li Yu starts swishing his tail in a way that seems like he's "selling himself" to gain the prince's attention. Prince Jing, initially angry, softens when Li Yu curls his tail around his finger and acts cute, temporarily forgetting the pile of clothes.

The guards theorize that the thief might have escaped by swimming away in a nearby pond, which Prince Jing considers but is interrupted by Li Yu's antics, preventing him from investigating further.

Wang Xi confirms that the clothes left behind include Prince Jing’s inner robes and underwear, along with a simple old robe and cloth shoes identified by Auntie Xu as belonging to the youth she helped. Auntie Xu feels guilty for unknowingly aiding a thief, but thanks to Li Yu's intervention, she's spared from being thrown out of the manor and only receives a light punishment.

Prince Jing is puzzled by the discovery of a silver scale on the thief’s sleeve, which indicates that the thief had touched the fish. He orders a thorough investigation but remains calm, holding Li Yu in a tea bowl as they return to Ninghui Hall where the banquet is still ongoing.

At the banquet, Li Yu finds himself the center of attention as guests praise the little carp. While Li Yu basks in the compliments, his attention is drawn to a beautiful young man in white dance robes, whom he recognizes as Chu Yanyu, the bottom protagonist of the original story.

Despite Chu Yanyu's alluring presence, Prince Jing remains indifferent and only gives a slight nod of approval to his dance performance, much to the surprise and disappointment of the third and sixth princes, who had orchestrated the entire performance.

Li Yu is confused by Prince Jing’s lack of interest in Chu Yanyu, wondering what happened to the love at first sight described in the original book. He feels a mix of relief and puzzlement as the night ends without the expected romantic development between Prince Jing and Chu Yanyu.

Prince Jing watches the dance performance without showing interest, leaving the third prince, Mu Tianming, disheartened. Despite offering Chu Yanyu as a gift to Prince Jing, the prince declines with a simple "no," confusing and frustrating the third prince.

Chu Yanyu, prideful and taken aback by Prince Jing’s indifference, questions the prince's lack of interest. Wang Xi, interpreting for Prince Jing, clarifies that it’s not a matter of Chu Yanyu’s worth but that it’s irrelevant to Prince Jing.

Li Yu, observing Prince Jing’s reaction, is relieved and pleased that the prince shows no romantic interest in Chu Yanyu, contrary to the original book’s plot.

Back in Prince Jing’s room, Li Yu notices that the plush fish decoy he had used is gone, but he’s confident that the prince hasn’t figured out his secret. When Prince Jing drops the plush back into the tank, Li Yu pretends to play with it, hoping to keep his cover.

Prince Jing starts painting again, but this time, instead of a fish, he paints a portrait of a youth in green robes, which Li Yu recognizes as his human form. Li Yu is puzzled by Prince Jing’s focus on this portrait.

Wang Xi arrives, and after a whispered conversation, it becomes clear that Prince Jing is intent on finding the person in the portrait, not realizing it’s actually Li Yu. Wang Xi is ordered to search the area around the pond for the mysterious youth.

After the banquet, the third prince, Mu Tianming, delivers Chu Yanyu and a female dancer to Prince Jing’s manor, despite the prince’s lack of interest. This gesture is noted by the emperor, who rewards the third prince with a tea set, signaling his approval of the third prince’s efforts to connect with Prince Jing.

The emperor’s actions cause tension among the other princes, particularly the second prince, who feels slighted. Meanwhile, the third prince and the sixth prince, Mu Tianxiao, see this as a sign to continue their strategy.

In response to the third prince’s gift, Wang Xi prepares to sequester Chu Yanyu and the female dancer in a courtyard where previous unwanted guests have been kept, understanding that Prince Jing has no intention of accepting them into his close circle.

Li Yu reflects on how Prince Jing's disinterest in Chu Yanyu might alter the original plot. The system assures him that as long as he completes his missions, the plot changes won't prevent Prince Jing from becoming emperor.

Li Yu wonders what "attaining a deep understanding of the tyrant" means, but the system goes silent. He recalls a saying about understanding someone by bathing with them and decides to try this with Prince Jing.

Li Yu acts excited and playful, leading Wang Xi to suggest to Prince Jing that the fish join him in his bath. Prince Jing agrees, and the fish is placed in a wooden ladle floating in the bath.

As Li Yu tries to get closer to Prince Jing, he accidentally tips over the ladle and falls into the tub, discovering the water is cool, not hot. Prince Jing had replaced the hot water to accommodate his fish.

Li Yu and Prince Jing play in the water, with Li Yu biting and splashing, making Prince Jing smile—a rare sight. After the bath, Li Yu is happy to receive an update on his mission progress.

Later, Li Yu tries out his mission reward, a skill that allows him to turn into a human for an hour each day. He is excited but disappointed that the skill is time-limited.

The next part of his mission involves "intimate contact with the tyrant," which Li Yu interprets as possibly involving a kiss. He attempts to kiss Prince Jing while he sleeps but fails as the prince wakes up and gently places him back in his bowl.

The next day, Ye Qinghuan, the heir of the House of Cheng’en and Prince Jing’s cousin, visits the manor with his pet dog. Ye Qinghuan hopes to bond with Prince Jing over their shared interest in pets.

Ye Qinghuan, Prince Jing’s cousin, excitedly visits the prince's manor to see the famed pet fish, without waiting for formalities. He brings along his large black dog, Xiongfeng, adorned with a gold collar.

Instead of his usual dismissive attitude, Prince Jing has the crystal fish tank brought out for Ye Qinghuan to see, flaunting the luxurious setup. Ye Qinghuan is stunned by the lavish display and feels overshadowed by the opulence of the fish tank compared to his dog’s collar.

Ye Qinghuan tries to provoke a response by showing off his dog’s tricks. To his surprise, the fish, Li Yu, jumps into Prince Jing’s palm on command, demonstrating a level of intelligence and connection that leaves Ye Qinghuan speechless.

Ye Qinghuan asks about the fish's name, and Prince Jing realizes he hasn’t named his pet yet. After some thought, he decides to name the fish "Xiaoyu," meaning "little fish." Li Yu is delighted with the name, as it coincides with a nickname he had in the modern world.

Ye Qinghuan’s dog, Xiongfeng, becomes curious about the fish and runs towards it. Li Yu panics, but Prince Jing intervenes, blocking the dog. Despite Ye Qinghuan’s assurances that Xiongfeng is friendly, Prince Jing remains cold and orders Wang Xi to remove Ye Qinghuan and his dog from the manor.

Li Yu recalls a plotline from the original book involving Ye Qinghuan and the political machinations of the princes. He realizes that if Prince Jing doesn’t align with Chu Yanyu, the course of events may change, potentially sparing Ye Qinghuan from his tragic fate.

The system activates a side quest titled "Impenetrable Defense," prompting Li Yu to protect Ye Qinghuan from his doomed fate. The mission requires him to prevent Ye Qinghuan's death within a certain time frame, and Li Yu is determined to succeed.

Li Yu decides to write a letter to warn Ye Qinghuan about the second prince’s plot. However, he struggles with writing in traditional Chinese characters and realizes he’ll need to copy from books in Prince Jing’s study.

Li Yu accompanies Prince Jing to the study, where he tries to peek at the prince's book to learn the characters. Prince Jing notices the fish’s odd behavior and moves the tea bowl closer, allowing Li Yu to see better. Despite his efforts, Li Yu eventually falls asleep on the book, missing the chance to practice writing.

While Prince Jing is out, Li Yu uses his transformation skill to turn into a young man. He quickly dresses in underclothes from the closet, as he has limited time in human form.

Li Yu finds suitable tools to write a letter, avoiding Prince Jing’s usual brush and ink to prevent leaving any trace. He improvises by using a tea bowl as an inkstone.

Li Yu writes several drafts of the letter to Ye Qinghuan, aiming to warn him about potential dangers. He eventually finalizes the letter, stores it in his inventory, and cleans up all evidence of his actions.

Prince Jing returns and immediately senses something is off. He notices the incense burner has been used, but the smell of incense is absent. Upon investigation, Wang Xi discovers a used brush, missing paper, and ink stains on Prince Jing's inner robe, leading them to suspect a thief.

Wang Xi also notices that Li Yu, the fish, has ink on his body, and a tea bowl filled with ink is found. This confuses Prince Jing, but he concludes that the fish was playing around.

Li Yu, realizing he made a mistake by leaving ink traces, tries to cover up his actions by jumping into the ink-filled tea bowl, pretending to be playful.

Prince Jing remains perplexed by the series of events but dismisses them as the fish’s playful behavior.

Li Yu decides to deliver the letter to Ye Qinghuan directly during one of his visits. He waits for the right moment to pass the letter discreetly.

Ye Qinghuan visits again, bringing his dog, Xiongfeng, and a golden ball. He tries to show off his dog’s tricks, but Prince Jing’s fish outshines the dog by skillfully stacking jewels and playing in the fish tank.

Xiongfeng becomes excited by the fish’s tricks, and Li Yu sees an opportunity. He secretly places the letter in Xiongfeng’s mouth, hoping the dog will deliver it to Ye Qinghuan.

When Ye Qinghuan returns, he finds Xiongfeng wet and holding a white envelope. Shocked, Ye Qinghuan retrieves the letter from his dog’s mouth.

Ye Qinghuan reads the mysterious letter and is visibly shocked by its contents. He shows the letter to Prince Jing, who is equally surprised.

The letter contains a warning that the second prince plans to frame Ye Qinghuan for the murder of the Princess of Jinjue and advises him not to trust the sixth prince.

The letter’s poor handwriting and alarming message make both Ye Qinghuan and Prince Jing skeptical, but they decide it's better to be cautious.

Prince Jing advises Ye Qinghuan to be prepared and to keep an eye on the second and sixth princes. They agree to stay vigilant and see what happens next.

Ye Qinghuan wonders who could have sent the letter, suspecting it might be someone familiar with his habits.

Prince Jing suspects the letter was written by the same person who had previously intruded into his room and stolen his clothes, recalling a frayed brush found recently.

Ye Qinghuan attempts to negotiate with Prince Jing, asking for the identity of the assassin who attacked him in exchange for finding out who sent the letter. However, Prince Jing rebuffs him.

Ye Qinghuan then reveals his plan to use his dog, Xiongfeng, to track down the letter’s sender, as Xiongfeng had delivered the letter.

Meanwhile, Li Yu, in his human form, had fed Xiongfeng some fish food and had given the letter to the dog to deliver. He stayed in the room, waiting for Xiongfeng’s return, and ended up eating peach blossom-shaped pastries from the table.

Li Yu rearranged the pastries to hide the missing ones he had eaten, but in the process, made the entire stack smaller.

Xiongfeng returns, leading Prince Jing and Ye Qinghuan to the room where Li Yu is hiding. Li Yu panics, realizing he's been caught again.

Li Yu, now able to transform into a human for an hour at a time, finds himself trapped in Prince Jing's room with nowhere to hide as Xiongfeng leads Prince Jing and Ye Qinghuan towards him.

Desperately trying to escape, Li Yu attempts to open the window, only to find it sealed shut. He realizes he's trapped with no way out.

As Xiongfeng changes direction and runs towards the bamboo forest, Li Yu is relieved, as it buys him time to revert to his fish form before Prince Jing arrives.

In the bamboo forest, Xiongfeng leads Prince Jing and Ye Qinghuan to Chu Yanyu, who attempts to use a trick to lure Xiongfeng to him. Chu Yanyu tries to impress Prince Jing with his calligraphy skills but is dismissed harshly, sent back to Qingxi Garden, and punished.

Back in the room, Li Yu manages to revert to his fish form just in time, though he worries about leaving traces of his human presence.

Prince Jing and Ye Qinghuan, led by Xiongfeng, return to the room, but find no sign of the intruder. Prince Jing inspects the room, discovering that the clothes in his closet have been disturbed, leading him to suspect the thief's continued presence.

Prince Jing notices Li Yu playing with his tail and is briefly distracted by the fish's antics. He then finds a piece of peach blossom pastry stuck to Li Yu, realizing someone has been eating the pastries.

Concluding that the fish might have jumped to the pastries, Prince Jing feeds Li Yu the leftover pastries, amused by the fish's antics.

Despite the increasing defenses, Prince Jing decides to carry Li Yu with him wherever he goes, using a specially designed crystal bottle with holes for air.

Ye Qinghuan, astonished by Prince Jing's decision, realizes that there's no point in asking for the fish, as Prince Jing plans to keep it close at all times. Prince Jing picks up the crystal bottle with Li Yu inside and leaves, determined to protect his unusual pet.

Prince Jing decided to keep Li Yu in a crystal bottle and carry him everywhere for safety, which made Li Yu feel both fortunate and trapped. While it allowed Li Yu to see the outside world, it also prevented him from transforming into a human or completing his missions.

At first, Li Yu enjoyed the attention and sights, but after a few days, he grew frustrated with being confined in the bottle. He realized that he needed to find a way to communicate his discomfort to Prince Jing.

Li Yu initially considered scaring Prince Jing by pretending to be sick, but when he saw how much effort Prince Jing put into carrying the bottle, he decided against it. Instead, he chose to act listless, hoping Prince Jing would notice.

Prince Jing, concerned for his fish, called a servant who had experience with pets. The servant suggested that the fish might be unhappy being confined in a small space. Understanding this, Prince Jing devised a solution: he placed fish tanks and larger tea bowls in various locations around his residence, allowing Li Yu to move out of the bottle when they arrived at their destination.

Li Yu, after only a couple of hours of pretending, was relieved to find himself in a fish tank again. He expressed his gratitude by swimming around joyfully, though he soon realized that being constantly with Prince Jing still prevented him from transforming.

Meanwhile, Prince Jing learned from Wang Xi that the House of Cheng’en had begun to monitor the second and sixth princes, indicating that Li Yu’s warning had been heeded. However, the side quest "Impenetrable Defense" was not yet completed, indicating more needed to be done to protect Ye Qinghuan.

Li Yu’s main concern was stopping Ye Qinghuan from entering the palace during the critical period around the Dragon Boat Festival, where the original book’s events placed him in danger. Despite Prince Jing’s warning, Ye Qinghuan refused to avoid the palace, citing his duty to obey imperial orders.

Prince Jing decided to accompany Ye Qinghuan to the palace, ensuring they could watch out for each other. Li Yu, still in fish form, planned to go along as well.

As the Dragon Boat Festival approached, the King of Jinjue arrived in the imperial city, accompanied by his youngest princess. Prince Jing and Ye Qinghuan, upon seeing the princess, realized the letter’s warning was coming true.

The emperor entrusted Ye Qinghuan with the safety of the King of Jinjue and the princess, causing Ye Qinghuan to feel a deep sense of unease.

During the banquet in Taihe Hall, Prince Jing brought out the crystal bottle containing Li Yu, much to the surprise of those around him. The second prince, Mu Tianzhao, turned pale upon seeing the fish, realizing that his plans might once again be thwarted by Li Yu.

During an imperial banquet, Prince Jing brought out his crystal bottle with Li Yu inside and transferred him to a small fish tank placed on the table. Prince Jing fed the fish a combination of fish food and a peach blossom pastry, causing surprise and confusion among the onlookers.

Prince Jing, noticing how much Li Yu enjoyed the peach blossom pastry but disliked another type of dessert, instructed Wang Xi not to prepare that dessert anymore, further baffling those around him.

The second prince, Mu Tianzhao, led the toasts to King Jinjue and attempted to impress the princess by offering her a butterfly pastry. However, the princess seemed more interested in watching Prince Jing feed his fish.

Mu Tianzhao, feeling frustrated by his recent setbacks and eager to secure his position, planned to marry the Princess of Jinjue to gain the support of her country. However, his plans were disrupted as the princess showed no interest in him and focused on the fish instead.

In an attempt to subtly express his frustration, Mu Tianzhao ordered carp soup, which drew attention from those around him, including his brother, Mu Tianming, who questioned the odd request. This led to an uncomfortable situation where everyone’s attention was drawn to Prince Jing’s fish.

The emperor noticed this and felt displeased with Mu Tianzhao’s behavior, as it appeared disrespectful to both Prince Jing and the princess.

The Princess of Jinjue, unimpressed with Mu Tianzhao's advances and his request for carp soup, stood up and publicly criticized him, further embarrassing him.

The emperor, observing the situation, realized that the princess had no interest in the second prince and decided to explore the idea of marrying her to Ye Qinghuan, whom he viewed as more suitable.

Mu Tianzhao, feeling humiliated and sensing that the emperor was now considering Ye Qinghuan for the marriage, became increasingly resentful and began to plan his next move.

Ye Qinghuan presented Prince Jing with a stack of secret reports. The reports confirmed that the second prince was plotting against Ye Qinghuan by framing him for the murder of the Princess of Jinjue, just as described in the mysterious letter.

The second prince planned to lure the princess to Yanyu Pavilion, kill her with Ye Qinghuan's sword, and then frame Ye Qinghuan by catching him at the scene.

Despite the letter's warning, Ye Qinghuan found no evidence of the sixth prince's involvement, making him skeptical of the letter’s complete accuracy. However, he and Prince Jing decided to keep an eye on the sixth prince just in case.

The second prince also secretly acquired arsenic, suggesting another plot to poison someone, though the target was unclear.

Ye Qinghuan's marriage to the Princess of Jinjue was decided by the emperor, but Ye Qinghuan was more focused on preventing the second prince's plot.

On the day Ye Qinghuan was due to enter the palace to thank the emperor for his engagement, Prince Jing prepared to accompany him, armed with both a sword and a concealed dagger, ready for a potential confrontation.

Li Yu, realizing he might not be taken along to the palace, made several attempts to get Prince Jing's attention by jumping from his tank and even onto Prince Jing's shoulder. His determination paid off when Prince Jing decided to bring him along in a crystal bottle.

Upon arriving at the palace, Ye Qinghuan brought his dog, Xiongfeng, intending for the pets to keep each other company. Prince Jing left Li Yu in a white-and-blue porcelain fish tank.

Prince Jing and Ye Qinghuan had preemptively warned the Princess of Jinjue about the plot against her through an anonymous letter. This led the King of Jinjue to heavily guard the princess, making the second prince’s plan difficult to execute.

As Prince Jing and Ye Qinghuan prepared to confront the second prince at Yanyu Pavilion, Li Yu remained in Jingtai Hall, concerned about the sixth prince’s potential involvement.

While waiting in the hall, a black-clad figure broke in, but Xiongfeng’s barking alerted Wang Xi and the guards, forcing the intruder to flee.

Wang Xi, relieved that both the fish and dog were unharmed, fed them as a reward. However, Li Yu, suspecting foul play, knocked over the fish food plate. Wang Xi tested the food with a silver needle and discovered it was poisoned, confirming an assassination attempt against Li Yu.

Wang Xi took immediate action, moving Li Yu and Xiongfeng to a secure room without windows and personally standing guard to ensure their safety.

Ye Qinghuan encountered the person sent by the second prince to lure him into Yanyu Pavilion, with Prince Jing and his aides following discreetly.

Upon arrival, they discovered a woman dressed in Jinjue attire, seemingly killed by Ye Qinghuan’s sword. The second prince and his imperial guards arrived shortly after, accusing Ye Qinghuan of murdering the princess.

The emperor, who had been informed by the second prince, arrived at the scene. The situation escalated as the second prince accused Ye Qinghuan of the crime, but when the body was examined, it was revealed to be a Jinjue servant, not the princess.

Ye Qinghuan presented his actual sword, showing that the sword found at the scene was a fake, part of the second prince’s plot to frame him.

The emperor, realizing the second prince’s deception, ordered Mu Tianzhao to be placed under house arrest. Although the emperor didn’t punish him further, the second prince’s plot had been thwarted.

Prince Jing, seeking justice for his mother and the House of Cheng’en, presented Empress Xiaohui’s memorial tablet to the emperor, urging him to take action against the second prince.

King Jinjue learned of the second prince’s plot and was furious. The emperor summoned Ye Qinghuan to manage the situation, while Prince Jing returned to Jingtai Hall.

On the way back, Prince Jing was attacked by a masked man, likely sent by the second prince for revenge. Despite being injured by a powder attack, Prince Jing managed to fend off the assailant.

Prince Jing returned to Jingtai Hall with his vision impaired by the powder. As he struggled to clean his eyes, Li Yu, realizing the danger of using water to wash away the lime powder, transformed into his human form and stopped him just in time.

Li Yu, still adjusting to his sudden transformation and nakedness, quickly wrapped himself in a curtain. He urged Prince Jing to allow him to help, aware that the situation required careful handling to avoid further harm to the prince’s eyes.

Li Yu, in his human form, tried to help Prince Jing with his eye injury caused by lime powder. Despite Prince Jing's initial hesitation, Li Yu managed to convince him to let him clean the powder from his eyes, saving him from further harm.

As Li Yu carefully removed the powder, he realized the danger of using water to wash it away, which could cause blindness. He worked quickly to ensure the prince's eyes were safe.

Prince Jing, curious about the young man who saved him, began questioning Li Yu, but Li Yu pretended not to understand or answer, fearing he might reveal too much.

Prince Jing became more intrigued by the mysterious young man, noting his peculiar attire and behavior. Despite his curiosity, he allowed the imperial physician to treat him while keeping an eye on Li Yu.

When the imperial physician arrived, Prince Jing stepped outside to receive treatment, but left the door ajar, signaling his intent to return quickly. Li Yu, realizing he was running out of time before his transformation ended, grew anxious.

Wang Xi informed Prince Jing that someone had tried to poison the fish food in Jingtai Hall. This news further angered the prince, as he realized the threat was likely from the second prince's men.

Prince Jing returned to the room, but Li Yu had already transformed back into his fish form, leaving no trace of the young man behind. The room appeared empty except for Xiongfeng and the fish tank.

Prince Jing noticed small details, such as wet footprints and a puddle of water under Xiongfeng, that hinted at the young man's recent presence. He recalled the strange occurrences and began piecing together the possibility that the young man and the fish might be connected.

Prince Jing found fish scales on the cloth left behind, reinforcing his suspicions. He began to realize the truth, that the mysterious young man and his fish might indeed be the same being.

Li Yu, feeling relieved after narrowly escaping exposure, slept peacefully in his tank, while Prince Jing spent the night piecing together clues about the mysterious young man and his fish, Xiaoyu.

Prince Jing realized that the young man and his fish might be the same being, a carp spirit or yao, based on the evidence of fish scales and the young man's mysterious appearances and disappearances.

Unsure of how to proceed, Prince Jing ordered a comparison of Xiaoyu with similar fish from the kitchen, confirming that Xiaoyu was indeed special, with a unique spirit.

Prince Jing struggled with the realization, considering how Xiaoyu had saved him and his relatives, and decided to keep observing Xiaoyu without revealing his suspicions.

Ye Qinghuan, exhausted from dealing with King Jinjue, visited Prince Jing and was startled by the prince's unusual demeanor and questions about yao. Prince Jing subtly inquired about raising a yao and learned that they could potentially drain a person’s essence, which worried him but also intrigued him.

Despite his concerns, Prince Jing decided to return to his manor with Xiaoyu, continuing to observe the fish spirit without revealing his knowledge.

On the way back, Li Yu noticed that he was losing scales and became anxious about the possibility of turning into a bald fish. Prince Jing, noticing the fallen scales, ordered Wang Xi to summon an imperial physician to check on Xiaoyu, further indicating his deep concern for the fish.

The chapter ends with Prince Jing determined to care for Xiaoyu, even if he was no longer just an ordinary fish, while Li Yu anxiously contemplates his situation.

Wang Xi, under Prince Jing's orders, summoned an imperial physician named Xu to examine Master Fish Xiaoyu, who had been losing scales. Despite the unusual request, Imperial Physician Xu remained calm.

Imperial Physician Xu examined Xiaoyu and concluded that the scale loss was likely due to external factors rather than illness, possibly from bumping into things in a small space.

Li Yu, while initially relieved that he wasn't sick, knew the physician's suggestion wasn't the real reason for his scale loss. He began to worry about the impact of losing his scales and whether it would affect his cuteness.

Prince Jing, who had realized Xiaoyu was a carp spirit, took Imperial Physician Xu's advice to heart and ordered a new, more spacious fish tank for Xiaoyu, hoping to prevent further scale loss.

Prince Jing became more hesitant in touching Xiaoyu, realizing that his fish was actually a carp spirit, which led to some awkwardness in their interactions.

Meanwhile, the emperor issued a series of decrees that demoted the second prince, promoted Ye Qinghuan, and further solidified the alliance between the House of Cheng’en and King Jinjue. This marked a significant shift in court politics.

Li Yu's "Impenetrable Defense" side quest was updated and completed, earning him a reward of new, stronger fish scales. He chose gold-colored scales, which began to grow in place of his old ones.

As his new scales started to come in, Li Yu became a mix of black and gold, a unique and distinguished look that Prince Jing accepted without suspicion. Prince Jing even ordered Wang Xi to ensure everyone in the residence believed Xiaoyu was descended from koi to prevent gossip.

Prince Jing began reading books about yao (spirits) and their interactions with humans, including stories about a white snake and a fox spirit. These stories involved the spirits absorbing the essence of humans, which intrigued Prince Jing but also made him curious and anxious about Xiaoyu’s intentions.

Li Yu, determined to complete his main quest, waited for Prince Jing to fall asleep before jumping onto the prince’s pillow and giving him a quick kiss on the lips in his fish form. Unbeknownst to Li Yu, Prince Jing was awake and fully aware of the kiss, which left the prince in a state of surprise and confusion, especially as he recalled the stories he had been reading about spirits and their interactions with humans.

Prince Jing, puzzled by the brief kiss and the lack of any further action from the carp spirit, was left wondering about Xiaoyu's true intentions and the significance of the kiss.

After Li Yu kissed Prince Jing’s lips, he realized the mission “Intimate Contact with the Tyrant” wasn’t marked as complete because the action had been repeated.

Frustrated with the fish-scamming system for not informing him earlier, Li Yu spent the night pondering how to achieve proper “intimate contact” that would count toward the mission.

The next morning, Ye Qinghuan arrived at Prince Jing’s residence with two jars of green plum wine brewed by his grandfather, one for Prince Jing and one for Empress Xiaohui.

Prince Jing accepted the wedding invitation and the wine, and Ye Qinghuan noticed construction work at Prince Jing’s residence. It was revealed that Prince Jing was building a new fish tank for Li Yu.

Li Yu was thrilled to learn about the new fish tank and expressed his happiness by interacting with Prince Jing. Prince Jing, realizing how much the fish enjoyed the attention, began to pet him again.

During their time together, Ye Qinghuan noticed that Li Yu’s scales had changed color to gold and was surprised, but Wang Xi explained it away, likening it to a dog shedding fur.

Over a meal, Ye Qinghuan drank too much and began rambling, expressing doubts about his upcoming marriage. Prince Jing decided to take care of him and had him sent back to Cheng’en Manor.

Prince Jing noticed Li Yu’s interest in the green plum wine and brought a plate of green plums back to his room. When he was called away, he left the plums behind, suspecting that Li Yu might transform into a human in his absence.

Li Yu, taking advantage of Prince Jing’s departure, transformed into a human and ate the green plums, getting drunk in the process.

Prince Jing returned to find Li Yu in his human form, drunk and holding a plate with only one plum left. Delighted that Li Yu had finally transformed, Prince Jing was unsure how to handle the situation.

Li Yu, in his drunken state, mistook Prince Jing for his master and tried to feed him the last plum. He nuzzled against Prince Jing, who gently held him.

As Li Yu grew sleepy, Prince Jing helped him to bed. Li Yu, still thinking he was a fish, demanded his “leaf blanket,” which Prince Jing replaced with a green brocade blanket.

Just as Li Yu was about to fall asleep, he suddenly remembered his mission and, in a drunken daze, kissed Prince Jing’s throat, surprising him completely.

Li Yu woke up in his fish tank, covered by his leaf blanket, and remembered his drunken escapade with the green plums. He was relieved to be back in his fish form and assumed he must have transformed back into a fish before Prince Jing saw him.

Despite his relief, Li Yu was still anxious about completing the “Intimate Contact” mission, but when he entered the system, he discovered that the mission was already completed. The system informed him that he had completed the mission while he was drunk, by nibbling on Prince Jing’s Adam’s apple.

Li Yu collected his reward, which doubled all of his stats, including his inventory space, transformation time, tail strength, and healing abilities. He was ecstatic about his newfound abilities and began playing around in his fish tank, only to realize that his body had also doubled in size, causing him to get stuck in a narrow cave within the tank.

Prince Jing woke up, noticed Li Yu was missing, and found him stuck in the cave. After ordering the servants to move the ornamental mountain and free Li Yu, Prince Jing examined the fish and noticed his sudden growth. He speculated that Li Yu might be going through some sort of tribulation.

Prince Jing ordered a remodel of the ornamental mountain and other items in the fish tank to accommodate Li Yu’s new size. He also ordered new clothes and accessories that were much smaller than his own size, leaving Wang Xi puzzled.

Wang Xi speculated that Prince Jing might be hiding a male concubine in the manor, as he had seen a disheveled young man with Prince Jing before and now noticed a red mark on Prince Jing’s throat. Wang Xi obediently followed Prince Jing’s orders, delivering the clothes to the designated wardrobe.

Li Yu noticed the red mark on Prince Jing’s throat and realized he had nibbled him while drunk. Feeling guilty, he offered Prince Jing a peach blossom pastry as an apology, but then ate it himself out of hunger.

Prince Jing continued to spoil Li Yu, leaving out snacks that Li Yu couldn’t resist. With his increased transformation time, Li Yu took advantage of Prince Jing’s absences to transform into a human, eat the snacks, and explore the room. He discovered new robes and enjoyed dressing up and eating snacks, unaware that Prince Jing was secretly watching him from the next room through a hidden mirror.

Prince Jing, now fully aware of Li Yu’s ability to transform, watched him with fascination but was torn about what to do next. He was drawn to the fish spirit but unsure of how to proceed, especially after Li Yu’s drunken nibbling.

Prince Jing reflected on his growing affection for Xiaoyu, realizing that despite only meeting in human form a few times, Xiaoyu's sincerity touched him deeply, both as a fish and a human. Prince Jing observed Xiaoyu’s behaviors and habits, noting that the fish could only transform into a human for about two hours each day.

Prince Jing decided to keep his knowledge of Xiaoyu’s true identity a secret for now, fearing that revealing it might cause Xiaoyu to run away. He began studying books on supernatural beings and Taoism, hoping to learn more about carp spirits and how to protect Xiaoyu.

Li Yu, noticing that Prince Jing was engrossed in reading, became curious and attempted to see what the prince was studying. Prince Jing indulged his curiosity by placing Li Yu’s lotus bowl closer to the book. However, when Li Yu realized Prince Jing was reading a book on cultivating immortality, he became worried that the prince might be considering this path.

Concerned that Prince Jing might abandon his emperor path for immortality, Li Yu splashed water on the book, hoping to deter him from such thoughts. In response, Prince Jing switched to a book on concocting pills of immortality, which prompted Li Yu to splash even more water to prevent him from considering dangerous alchemy.

Finally, Prince Jing pulled out a book on dual cultivation, which left Li Yu conflicted. He knew what dual cultivation meant and was both intrigued and embarrassed by the idea. Li Yu's reaction convinced Prince Jing that Xiaoyu might want to dual cultivate with him.

Just as the situation became more intense, Wang Xi interrupted, informing Prince Jing that there had been a fire in Zhongcui Palace, and Concubine Qiu was injured. The little carp quickly retreated back to his lotus bowl, leaving the situation unresolved.

Li Yu initially struggled to remember who Concubine Qiu was, but Prince Jing recognized her as the former Noble Consort Qiu, now demoted. Concubine Qiu was the mother of the second prince, now known as the Marquis of An, who had lost his chance at inheriting the throne. Despite her demotion, Concubine Qiu seemed unwilling to give up her ambitions.

Wang Xi explained that a fire had broken out in Zhongcui Palace, injuring Concubine Qiu, though the cause of the fire was unclear. Li Yu recalled a plot from the original book where Concubine Qiu had set herself on fire to gain the emperor's sympathy, but this time, the fire was more extensive, raising suspicions.

Prince Jing decided to visit the emperor after the incident. Li Yu, eager to go along, was placed in a large crystal bottle by Prince Jing, who filled it with snacks for the journey.

At Qianqing Palace, the emperor was reminded of Concubine Qiu's past beauty and her dedication to pleasing him, which made him momentarily sympathetic. However, when the results of the fire investigation revealed suspicious details, the emperor became wary of Concubine Qiu's intentions.

The emperor was informed that a servant named Huanhua, who lived in the room where the fire started, was missing, adding to the mystery. The emperor grew suspicious of Concubine Qiu, especially after Consort Qian hinted at the implausibility of Concubine Qiu's selective injury.

The emperor decided to visit Concubine Qiu in person, accompanied by the other concubines and princes. Upon arrival, the emperor noticed that Concubine Qiu had prepared herself to evoke his pity, which only increased his suspicion.

While waiting outside the room, Li Yu, aware of the plot's changes, tried to think of a way to inform Prince Jing of Concubine Qiu's deceit. Lost in thought, he accidentally flipped over his crystal bottle. Prince Jing quickly scooped him up, and Wang Xi covered the situation by announcing that Prince Jing needed to change.

Prince Jing carried Li Yu into a warm room within the side hall after the fish had accidentally tipped over the crystal bottle, soaking the prince's clothes. While Wang Xi prepared a change of clothes for Prince Jing, the prince asked him to stand guard outside, leaving them alone in the room.

Prince Jing placed Li Yu into another crystal bottle and began changing his clothes. He wondered if Li Yu was trying to tell him something, similar to a previous incident where the fish's actions had led him to leave and encounter Noble Consort Qiu and her son. However, Li Yu was simply anxious and unsure how to communicate as a fish.

When Prince Jing turned his back to change, Li Yu, out of curiosity, stopped swimming and stared at the prince, only to be caught in the act. Prince Jing playfully turned the fish around, making Li Yu feel both embarrassed and fascinated.

Li Yu realized he needed to transform into a human to warn Prince Jing about Concubine Qiu's plot. After Prince Jing left the room, ostensibly to drink tea, Li Yu transformed and quickly dressed in a servant's outfit he found in the room.

Stepping outside, Li Yu was startled to find Prince Jing waiting for him. He quickly tried to explain that Concubine Qiu had burned herself with a cypress branch to fake her injury and manipulate the emperor. Li Yu detailed the plot, including the location of the cypress branch and the key witness, Huanhua.

To prove his credibility, Li Yu recited the contents of the letter he had previously sent to Ye Qinghuan, which had helped the House of Cheng’en. This convinced Prince Jing of his identity.

Prince Jing, still holding onto Li Yu's arm, called Wang Xi and had Li Yu repeat the information to him. Prince Jing then decided to let the third prince handle the situation, avoiding direct involvement himself.

After Wang Xi left, Prince Jing sat down with Li Yu, asking him several questions about his identity and reasons for being there. Li Yu reluctantly answered, revealing his name, age, and his uncertainty about why he had turned into a fish.

Prince Jing records the carp spirit's name, "Li Yu," and reflects on how fitting it is. He notes that Li Yu, at eighteen, is much younger than spirits typically found in stories, making him suspect that the carp spirit's cultivation level is low.

Prince Jing inquires about why Li Yu saved him, leading Li Yu to mistakenly believe the prince is asking about the incident involving the House of Cheng’en. Li Yu downplays his role, attributing the success to Prince Jing and Ye Qinghuan's plans.

Prince Jing is pleased with Li Yu's modesty and grows more fond of him.

When asked about his current residence, Li Yu lies, claiming he has no fixed home and wanders about, to avoid suspicion.

Prince Jing, though suspicious of Li Yu's audacity, decides to protect him and invites him to stay at his manor, under the pretext of taking care of his fish.

Li Yu is both surprised and relieved by the offer, realizing it would allow him to stay close to Prince Jing without raising further suspicions.

As they discuss, Prince Jing is summoned by the emperor, who is inquiring after him. Before leaving, Prince Jing reassures Li Yu, who is touched by his kindness.

Outside, the emperor interacts with his concubines, including Concubine Qiu, who is uneasy when the emperor mentions Prince Jing's fish, recalling a past traumatic experience with it.

The emperor considers the fish auspicious, a sign of good fortune, and asks to see it, causing Prince Jing to delay, as he worries about Li Yu’s current state.

Prince Jing eventually brings the fish to the emperor, with Concubine Qiu forced to approach despite her deep-seated fear and hatred of the fish.

Li Yu, sensing an opportunity, deliberately spits out bubbles, causing a scene. Wang Xi explains to the emperor that the fish is sneezing due to a strong scent, deflecting any further suspicion.

Concubine Qiu becomes angry and defensive when the fish appears to sneeze in her presence, suspecting that it is mocking her.

Consort Qian seizes the opportunity to suggest that Concubine Qiu's injury be reexamined, leading the emperor to summon the imperial physician.

The imperial physician discovers the scent of cypress on Concubine Qiu's injury, raising suspicion since no cypress trees are found in her residence.

The third prince, Mu Tianming, reports that a servant named Huanhua has been found dead, and evidence points to Concubine Qiu being involved in a plot, including setting fire to Zhongcui Palace.

Concubine Qiu is accused of ordering the fire and trying to cover up her involvement, leading to her demotion to commoner status and banishment to the cold palace.

Prince Jing, who had orchestrated the exposure of Concubine Qiu’s crimes, quietly leaves the palace, knowing that his plan to remove her from power was successful.

After returning to his manor, Prince Jing reveals that a large, luxurious fish tank has been constructed for Li Yu. The tank is expansive, almost like a pond, with intricate details and jade carvings replicating scenes from the outside world.

Li Yu is deeply touched by Prince Jing's thoughtful gesture and eagerly explores his new home, finding joy in the meticulously crafted underwater world.

The chapter concludes with Li Yu feeling both grateful and emotionally moved by Prince Jing's gift, further deepening the bond between them.

Prince Jing waits by the fishpond, worried that Li Yu might prefer his new luxurious pond to staying with him. However, Li Yu returns to Prince Jing, showing that he still values their bond.

Prince Jing takes Li Yu back to his room, placing him in the fish tank, and feels reassured when Li Yu continues to stay close to him, signaling his affection and loyalty.

Li Yu, pretending to sleep, sneaks out of the tank and, after some humorous mishaps, gives Prince Jing a gentle "kiss" on the nose as a gesture of gratitude and affection before hurriedly returning to his tank.

The next day, Ye Qinghuan visits Prince Jing’s manor to see the new fishpond and brings his dog, Xiongfeng, along. Xiongfeng plays with Li Yu in the pond, and they have a playful interaction.

Ye Qinghuan is impressed by the size of the pond and teases Prince Jing about the possibility of losing the fish in such a large pond, but Prince Jing confidently dismisses the concern.

Later, the third prince, Mu Tianming, visits Prince Jing with the intention of buying the fish, offering large sums of gold and silver. He sees the fish as a good omen that could help him secure the position of crown prince.

Prince Jing, deeply angered by the offer, has Wang Xi reject the third prince’s proposal, emphasizing that the fish is his beloved pet and not for sale, no matter the price.

Li Yu is touched by Prince Jing’s refusal to sell him, feeling valued and cherished.

In response to the third prince’s attempt to buy the fish, Prince Jing orders the workers to replace Li Yu's bedding with rounded silver stones and a gold silk handkerchief, further demonstrating his affection and care for the fish.

The chapter ends with Li Yu overjoyed by the luxurious upgrades to his bed, feeling even more grateful and connected to Prince Jing.

Li Yu is informed by the system that his assessment for the main mission has been completed, allowing him to enter the next main mission called "Tyrant’s Pet Fish for Revitalizing the Family."

The first step of the new mission is "Indulge with the tyrant," which confuses Li Yu as he contemplates how to accomplish this task.

After unsuccessfully trying to negotiate the mission requirements with the system, Li Yu decides to go along with it, focusing on finding wine to fulfill the mission.

That night, thieves attempt to break into Prince Jing's manor, presumably sent by the third prince to steal Li Yu. The thieves are caught by the guards, and Prince Jing decides to handle the situation discreetly by sending them to the government office for interrogation.

Prince Jing learns that the third prince is planning to use the Imperial Astrological Bureau to claim that Li Yu is showing signs of transforming into a dragon, which would threaten the emperor's authority and put Prince Jing in danger.

Prince Jing takes precautions to protect Li Yu, anticipating the upcoming political storm.

Returning to his room, Prince Jing finds Li Yu in his human form, humming a tune and tidying the bed. Prince Jing is captivated by Li Yu’s appearance and demeanor.

Li Yu, nervous but trying to be obedient, prepares himself to answer Prince Jing's questions. Instead, Prince Jing hands him a brush and paper, asking him to grind ink and then teaching him how to write.

Prince Jing guides Li Yu closely, helping him write the character for "fish." Li Yu is flustered by the intimate proximity but focuses on learning.

Despite the close and somewhat awkward interaction, Li Yu becomes engrossed in the writing lesson, forgetting to ask for a reward, and later realizes that Prince Jing had subtly prevented him from completing his mission to "indulge" by keeping him occupied with writing.

The emperor summons Prince Jing to the palace, specifically asking him to bring his fish, Li Yu.

Li Yu is nervous about the summons but cooperates, jumping into the crystal bottle as Prince Jing prepares to enter the palace.

Upon arriving, they find the emperor with several officials, including the third and sixth princes, who seem to be plotting something.

The emperor reveals that the Imperial Astrological Bureau has confirmed that the fish’s golden scales are an auspicious sign for the empire.

The third prince, Mu Tianming, tries to undermine this by questioning the Imperial Astrological Bureau’s assessment, suggesting that an alternative reading might be necessary.

Director Sun Simiao of the Imperial Astrological Bureau defends the assessment, and the emperor scolds the third prince for his immaturity.

The sixth prince, Mu Tianxiao, then introduces a nursery rhyme that hints at a fish transforming into a dragon, a veiled accusation against Prince Jing.

The emperor becomes suspicious after reading the rhyme, but Prince Jing, through Wang Xi, suggests investigating when and where the rhyme first appeared.

The emperor orders an investigation into the nursery rhyme, but the third and sixth princes have already summoned monks to further implicate Prince Jing.

Li Yu recognizes that the monks might be impostors, as in the original novel, and observes one monk scratching his head, indicating an uncomfortable, freshly shaven scalp.

Li Yu decides to act, breaking out of the crystal bottle and knocking off the lead monk’s hat, revealing that the monk has no precept scars, proving he is a fake.

Prince Jing, realizing Li Yu’s intent, injures his hand with a crystal shard to create a diversion, allowing him to expose the fake monk.

The emperor, seeing the evidence and realizing the plot, orders the arrest of the fake monks and feels regret for doubting Prince Jing.

The chapter ends with the emperor ordering Prince Jing to receive medical attention, while the third and sixth princes are left to face the emperor’s wrath.

The imperial physicians arrive to treat Prince Jing’s injured hand, but he insists they check on the fish, Li Yu, first.

After confirming that the fish is unharmed, the physicians remove the crystal shards from Prince Jing’s hand and bandage the wound.

Wang Xi tries to take the crystal bottle away to prevent Prince Jing from playing with the fish, but Prince Jing orders him to leave and keeps the bottle close.

Li Yu feels guilty for causing Prince Jing’s injury and wishes he could thank him properly.

Prince Jing opens the crystal bottle, and Li Yu swims over to comfort him by rubbing against his fingers.

After confirming that Li Yu is fine, Prince Jing, weakened from blood loss, tries to rest but remains concerned about his fish.

Li Yu transforms into his human form, changes into clothes from his inventory, and checks on Prince Jing’s bandaged hand.

Worried about Prince Jing’s condition, Li Yu drapes a blanket over him and sits by his side.

Prince Jing, secretly waiting for Li Yu to transform, pretends to sleep to get closer to him.

Li Yu tries to comfort Prince Jing by offering him food and tending to his needs, but he is overcome with guilt and begins to cry.

Prince Jing, unable to communicate verbally due to his injury, hands Li Yu a cloth to wipe his tears and pats his hand to comfort him.

Li Yu, still worried, offers to fetch water, but Prince Jing pulls him back and rests his head on Li Yu’s thighs, pretending to be cold.

Li Yu, flustered but resigned, hugs Prince Jing to keep him warm, fulfilling the prince’s desire for closeness.

Prince Jing pretends to shiver again, hinting at a desire for more intimacy, but Li Yu innocently complies by hugging him tighter, unaware of the prince's true intentions.

Prince Jing falls asleep on Li Yu's lap after taking his medicine, leaving Li Yu worried about transforming back into a fish while Prince Jing is still lying on him.

Li Yu becomes concerned that if he transforms while Prince Jing is on his lap, he might be crushed or flattened.

Wang Xi enters the room, and Li Yu signals him for help.

Wang Xi, recognizing Li Yu as Li-gongzi, helps him gently move Prince Jing onto the daybed and covers him with a blanket.

Li Yu, aware that he’s about to transform back into a fish, quickly hides behind a cabinet where he had placed a crystal bottle beforehand.

After transforming back into a fish, Li Yu uses his tail to jump into the crystal bottle, completing his transformation unnoticed by Wang Xi.

Wang Xi, seeing the crystal bottle with the fish in it on the ground, places it in front of the bed for when Prince Jing wakes up.

Meanwhile, the emperor, angry at the third and sixth princes for bringing fake monks to the palace, orders an investigation into the suspicious nursery rhyme.

The fake monks are tortured and confess that they were bribed by the third prince, leading to the emperor scolding both the third and sixth princes.

The sixth prince quickly admits his mistakes, distancing himself from the third prince, who continues to argue that Prince Jing's fish is suspicious.

The emperor, remembering the third prince's previous attempt to buy Prince Jing's fish, becomes angry and orders the third prince to be relieved of his duties and punished.

The third and sixth princes are publicly punished with a beating of one hundred planks each in Qianqing Palace.

Li Yu, satisfied with the emperor's punishment, listens to the third prince's screams while floating in his crystal bottle.

Prince Jing wakes up to see Li Yu in his crystal bottle, but before he can reach out to pet him, Li Yu starts to "meditate."

Li Yu checks his system and discovers that the koi side mission has been updated, leaving him curious about the changes.

Li Yu checks the koi mission in the system and notices that the prompt has changed to: "To become a koi, one must experience being a koi first."

The system explains that when Li Yu becomes protective and risks his life for the tyrant, he exhibits the characteristics of a koi, which is about protection rather than just good fortune.

Li Yu is confused and nervous when the system prompts him to "experience being a koi" and find a target.

He finds himself in an illusion within the imperial palace and encounters two children: a taller, older prince, and a younger, chubbier prince.

The two children are fighting, and the older prince eventually runs away after the younger prince bites him.

Li Yu realizes that the chubby boy is a young Prince Jing, and the servant with him resembles Wang Xi.

Li Yu watches as the young Prince Jing is pushed into a pond by the older prince, who then runs away. Since no one else is around to help, Li Yu jumps into the pond to save Prince Jing.

In the water, Li Yu finds that he can interact with the boy and, after growing in size, manages to push him to safety.

The young Prince Jing is initially startled by the fish but soon begins to pet Li Yu under his guidance, smiling and enjoying the interaction.

Voices approach, and Li Yu hides among the aquatic plants in the pond as the emperor and imperial physicians arrive to check on Prince Jing.

The emperor, worried, orders the imperial physicians to treat the feverish Prince Jing immediately.

The system congratulates Li Yu on completing the "Becoming a Koi" mission, revealing that the mission was to make Li Yu experience the feeling of protecting someone.

Li Yu learns that the young Prince Jing recovers after a few days but decides to delay collecting the reward to avoid causing suspicion with another sudden scale change.

Li Yu exits the system and returns to reality, where he finds Prince Jing wrapping him in a golden blanket.

Despite knowing it was an illusion, Li Yu feels touched by meeting the chubby child version of Prince Jing.

Li Yu becomes anxious when he hears that Zen Master Liao Kong has been summoned to the palace. He worries that Prince Jing might want to become a monk or pursue cultivation seriously.

Head eunuch Luo arrives with a message from the emperor, asking Prince Jing to meet with Liao Kong. Li Yu decides to accompany Prince Jing to the palace, hiding in a crystal bottle.

At Qianqing Palace, Prince Jing meets the emperor and Liao Kong. Li Yu, hiding in the crystal bottle, feels nervous when Liao Kong notices him and glances at the bottle.

The emperor recounts how, as a child, Prince Jing had fallen into a pond and developed a high fever. Liao Kong had been called to help, and it was he who suggested changing Prince Jing's name from Tianjing to Tianchi.

Li Yu realizes that the illusion he experienced in the system may have been a real event from Prince Jing's past, and he reflects on the emperor’s story.

Liao Kong examines the fish in the crystal bottle and remarks that it is extraordinary, claiming it to be the descendant of a koi. He reassures the emperor that the fish is auspicious.

The emperor is relieved by Liao Kong's words, and Li Yu is pleased that he has been accepted as a koi by both the emperor and Prince Jing.

After the meeting, Prince Jing stays behind to speak privately with Liao Kong. He entrusts Wang Xi with taking the crystal bottle back to his room.

In their private conversation, it is revealed that Prince Jing had planned the meeting with Liao Kong to ensure the emperor’s doubts were dispelled. Liao Kong has a longstanding connection with Prince Jing’s family, having been a friend of Prince Jing’s grandfather, the former Duke of Cheng’en.

Liao Kong warns Prince Jing about the potential danger of keeping the fish around, but Prince Jing assures him that the fish would never harm him.

Liao Kong then reveals that, many years ago, when Prince Jing fell into the pond, he saw a black and gold fish that looked just like Li Yu. This fish had helped save Prince Jing by pushing him to the shore.

Prince Jing realizes that Li Yu might have been with him even back then, which deeply moves him. He reflects on how his instinct to save the fish when they first met was likely a remnant of their earlier connection.

After being confirmed as a koi by Zen Master Liao Kong in front of the emperor, Li Yu completes the koi mission but decides to delay accepting the reward to avoid drawing attention to his transformation.

Once Prince Jing recovers from his injury and returns to the manor, Li Yu picks a sunny day to accept the reward from the system.

Li Yu is given two options: choose a new scale color and receive increased luck for three random statistics. He chooses silver scales to look cool, and his luck increases in "slapping villains in the face," "well-fed and well-clothed," and "one-shot-and-done" stats.

After accepting the reward, Li Yu exits the system and is shocked to see that his entire fish body has turned silver with golden streaks, making him look like a true koi. He becomes worried about how Prince Jing will react to the drastic change.

Li Yu hides in his cave, only leaving his mouth visible, and plans to slowly reveal himself to Prince Jing. When Wang Xi comes to feed him, he notices something strange but doesn't investigate further.

When Prince Jing notices that Li Yu is hiding, he tries to pull him out but finds him stuck due to a growth spurt. Prince Jing orders his servants to move the ornamental mountain to free Li Yu, revealing his new silver appearance.

Prince Jing is initially surprised but quickly accepts the change, recognizing that this is still his beloved fish. He measures Li Yu's new size, realizing he's now as long as his forearm.

Prince Jing moves Li Yu to a larger tea bowl, which he had prepared in advance, and warns everyone in the manor that Li Yu will continue to change, reassuring them that it’s a natural koi transformation.

Three days later, Prince Jing writes to the emperor about the koi transformation, slightly altering the details to make it more believable.

With his koi mission completed, Li Yu focuses on his "Revitalizing the Family" mission, which requires him to indulge in wine.

Li Yu turns into a human and hides Prince Jing's cultivation books before seeking out Wang Xi to ask about wine.

Li Yu presents Wang Xi with a gift box containing his favorite desserts and asks for wine that’s not too strong. Wang Xi takes him to the wine cellar and gives him a jar of "Amber Light," a mild wine.

Prince Jing becomes concerned when he hears that Li Yu wants to drink wine, knowing his low alcohol tolerance, and decides to stay with him to prevent any accidents.

Prince Jing sees the handmade gift box Li Yu gave to Wang Xi and expressionlessly takes it, while Wang Xi holds the money Prince Jing gave him in exchange, feeling amused.

Li Yu receives the wine he wanted and plans to complete his "Indulge" mission by getting Prince Jing to drink a diluted version of it. He believes just a sip would suffice to complete the mission.

To ensure Prince Jing doesn’t get drunk due to his recent injury, Li Yu dilutes the wine significantly by mixing it with several cups of cooled tea.

Li Yu realizes that Prince Jing’s food is usually tested by a servant before serving, so he decides to serve the wine himself using his human form.

To create an opportunity to serve the wine, Li Yu decides to invite Prince Jing to dinner and cooks a simple cucumber and egg dish.

Li Yu attempts to cook but quickly realizes he is terrible at it, making a mess in the kitchen. He eventually decides to make a simple cucumber salad instead.

Auntie Xu, a kitchen staff member, suggests Li Yu make fish soup, but Li Yu is horrified at the idea and declines. He sticks to preparing the cucumber salad.

Prince Jing, aware that Li Yu is in the kitchen, watches him struggle and feels warm-hearted knowing that Li Yu is working hard to cook for him.

Li Yu brings the cucumber salad and the diluted wine to Prince Jing, inviting him to have a meal together. Prince Jing agrees, and Li Yu excitedly serves the wine and salad.

Prince Jing eats the overly seasoned cucumber salad without complaint and then drinks the diluted wine. However, Li Yu’s mission doesn’t update, leaving him confused and frustrated.

Prince Jing becomes silent after drinking the wine and appears to be affected by it, even though it was heavily diluted. Concerned, Li Yu tries to help him to bed but struggles due to the weight difference.

While attempting to assist Prince Jing, Li Yu ends up falling onto him. As he tries to make sense of the situation, Prince Jing unexpectedly opens his eyes.

Li Yu falls on top of Prince Jing accidentally, apologizing quickly, but Prince Jing doesn’t seem upset and instead stares at him intensely.

Prince Jing pulls Li Yu into his arms, making Li Yu uncomfortable. Despite Li Yu’s confusion, Prince Jing doesn’t let go and begins to touch him gently.

Li Yu tries to understand Prince Jing’s intentions, but Prince Jing, who can’t speak, doesn’t explain his actions.

Prince Jing, influenced by his belief that Li Yu, as a carp spirit, is destined to be his, decides to take the first step in claiming him, despite Li Yu’s resistance.

Li Yu, feeling increasingly uncomfortable and panicked, asks Prince Jing to let him go, but Prince Jing continues to hold and tease him.

As Prince Jing attempts to kiss him, Li Yu bites his tongue and struggles to escape, eventually managing to get free and accusing Prince Jing of having the wrong person.

Realizing Prince Jing wasn’t actually drunk, Li Yu feels betrayed and panicked, especially as the system warns him that he’s about to transform back into a fish.

Li Yu runs away, transforming into a fish just as Prince Jing catches up. Prince Jing, confused by Li Yu’s strong reaction, picks up the fish and returns it to the tank.

The upset fish hides in the tank, avoiding Prince Jing. Despite Prince Jing’s attempts to appease him with food, Li Yu refuses to come out, expressing his anger and betrayal.

Prince Jing, realizing the seriousness of the situation, becomes concerned as days pass and Li Yu continues to ignore him, refusing to transform or eat.

Li Yu stubbornly refuses to eat for two days, growing weaker and feeling like he might float to the surface.

Prince Jing, troubled by Li Yu’s behavior, asks Wang Xi for help. Wang Xi, unaware of Li Yu's true identity, believes both Li-gongzi and the fish are upset, not knowing they are the same.

Wang Xi suggests Prince Jing gather all of the fish's favorite foods near the ornamental mountain cave, hoping the fish might eat eventually.

Li Yu, starving and struggling with his pride, finally decides to eat when Prince Jing offers him food directly. He reluctantly accepts, realizing that starving himself won’t solve anything.

After eating, Li Yu’s anger fades, and he enters the Moe Pet System to understand why the mission was completed after Prince Jing’s advances, realizing the system had been pushing him towards a deeper relationship with Prince Jing.

The system reveals that Li Yu’s choices have shaped the relationship, and while he can reset his memory, it wouldn’t affect Prince Jing.

Li Yu, feeling defeated by both the system and Prince Jing, decides not to reset and accepts the fish plush reward, vowing to delay future missions.

As he tries to sleep, Li Yu overhears two voices discussing Prince Jing’s attempts to leave a message for Li-gongzi, which piques his curiosity.

Li Yu sees the message on the walls of Prince Jing’s manor: “There are no other lovers. I adore you.”

Li Yu is shocked and embarrassed by Prince Jing's public display of affection, writing "There are no other lovers. I adore you" on the walls of the manor.

He reflects on the significance of Prince Jing’s confession and realizes that Prince Jing’s feelings are genuine, but struggles with his own feelings, knowing he is just a fish and unable to reciprocate.

Li Yu decides not to give Prince Jing any hope and contemplates staying in his fish form to avoid further misunderstandings.

While Li Yu is pondering, he overhears servants discussing that Prince Jing had ordered the confession to be permanently carved into the wall, leaving Li Yu feeling more conflicted.

Li Yu’s internal struggle is interrupted by the unexpected arrival of Chu Yanyu, who sneaks into Prince Jing's room.

Chu Yanyu, a concubine from the original novel, is jealous of Li-gongzi’s position and wants to replace him by taking care of Prince Jing’s fish.

Chu Yanyu, determined to win Prince Jing’s favor, attempts to feed Li Yu but becomes frustrated when the fish refuses to eat.

Desperate to gain control, Chu Yanyu mixes a brown herbal powder into a tea bowl, intending to drug Prince Jing, unaware that the bowl is for Li Yu’s use and not for drinking.

Li Yu is confused and alarmed as he watches Chu Yanyu secretly drug all the tea bowls in Prince Jing’s room with a mysterious brown powder.

Chu Yanyu takes the final packet of the medicine himself, further alarming Li Yu, who suspects the medicine is an aphrodisiac.

Prince Jing enters the room, and Chu Yanyu pretends to feed the fish while nervously offering Prince Jing a cup of drugged tea.

Li Yu, realizing the danger, decides to transform into a human to stop Prince Jing from drinking the tea.

Just as Prince Jing is about to drink, Li Yu interrupts by jumping out of the fish tank and warning him about the drug.

Chu Yanyu is shocked and tries to maintain his composure, but Wang Xi and the guards arrive and arrest him after removing all the tea bowls.

It’s revealed that Prince Jing had known about Chu Yanyu’s plot all along and had used it to lure Li Yu out of hiding.

Li Yu, realizing that Prince Jing had deceived him again, becomes furious and accuses him of lying.

Overcome with anger and hurt, Li Yu punches Prince Jing in the chest and runs out of the room without looking back.

Li Yu rushes out of the room, angry and hurt by Prince Jing’s deception.

Wang Xi and the servants spot Li Yu, but Prince Jing gestures to let him go.

Prince Jing chases Li Yu to a garden, where Li Yu dives into a pond to escape, planning to stay hidden until he transforms back into a fish.

Prince Jing anxiously waits by another pool, hoping to find Li Yu, but he doesn't appear. Prince Jing realizes that Li Yu must be hiding in the water.

Li Yu eventually transforms back into a fish and hides at the bottom of the pool, avoiding Prince Jing.

Feeling frustrated and angry, Li Yu attempts to destroy the miniature buildings Prince Jing built for him underwater but can’t bring himself to do it.

Exhausted, Li Yu falls asleep on a statue of Prince Jing in the underwater model of the manor.

Worried about Li Yu’s prolonged absence, Prince Jing enters the pool alone to search for him, eventually finding him asleep on the statue.

Prince Jing gently retrieves the unconscious fish and returns to his quarters, where Wang Xi mistakenly assumes that Li-gongzi had left and that Prince Jing was searching for the fish all along.

Prince Jing places the fish back in the tank, but Li Yu doesn’t wake up, causing Prince Jing to worry.

Despite reassurances from the servants, Prince Jing fears something is wrong with Li Yu’s “cultivation” and decides to seek help from Liao Kong.

Li Yu, barely conscious, realizes he’s sick from staying in the water too long in his human form.

The Moe Pet System informs him that he is critically ill and should turn into a human to seek help.

Li Yu painfully transforms back into his human form and collapses on the floor, barely able to move.

Prince Jing, returning to fetch the fish, finds Li Yu in his human form, burning with fever.

Li Yu, weak and vulnerable, tearfully admits he feels terrible.

Prince Jing, realizing the severity of Li Yu's condition, rushes him to see the imperial physician.

Li Yu, weak and feverish, is carried by Prince Jing to see the imperial physician, feeling both touched and surprised by the care.

Despite being uncomfortable with the situation, Li Yu eventually relaxes and leans into Prince Jing's embrace, feeling reassured.

The imperial physician diagnoses Li Yu with a severe cold from staying in the water too long but assures them that his life isn’t in danger.

Prince Jing insists on carrying Li Yu back to his room, where he wraps him in a green quilt to keep him warm.

Wang Xi prepares the medicine, and Prince Jing personally feeds Li Yu, who reluctantly accepts the care, taking the bitter medicine and following it up with peach blossom pastry offered by Prince Jing.

As Prince Jing continues to care for him, Li Yu’s anger and resentment begin to dissipate. He starts reflecting on his emotions and realizes that he may have been too harsh and unfair toward Prince Jing.

Li Yu opens a note from Prince Jing that simply says, "Rest and recover well," which touches him deeply.

Li Yu asks Prince Jing to leave the room as his transformation time is nearing, but before Prince Jing leaves, Li Yu awkwardly asks him to come see him again the next day.

Prince Jing, pleased and surprised by Li Yu’s request, leaves the room with a smile, while Li Yu reflects on how he prefers getting along with Prince Jing rather than being angry.

After transforming back into a fish, Li Yu finds his fever has improved, and his mind is clearer. He notices that his fish plush has fallen from the silver rock bed, possibly due to his haste in transforming earlier. He realizes that Prince Jing might have noticed something off but reassures himself that it’s probably fine.

Li Yu becomes paranoid, wondering if Prince Jing has figured out that Li-gongzi and the fish are the same. He worries about the consequences if Prince Jing finds out, particularly about failing the Moe Pet System’s quests and losing his human form.

When Prince Jing enters the room, Li Yu tries to act as an energetic and lively fish to avoid suspicion. However, Prince Jing doesn’t pet him as usual, making Li Yu anxious. Instead, Prince Jing carefully places the fish on the silver stone bed and covers it with a leaf blanket, similar to how he had covered Li-gongzi earlier. This behavior increases Li Yu’s fear that Prince Jing might have discovered the truth.

Wang-gonggong informs Prince Jing that the carriage is ready to go to the palace, but Prince Jing decides not to go since Li Yu's condition has improved. Li Yu feels relieved, thinking that his act of greeting Prince Jing energetically has convinced him that the fish isn’t sick.

The next day, after transforming back into a human, Li Yu takes the bitter medicine without hesitation, impressing Prince Jing. He realizes that Prince Jing wanted to feed him the medicine, so he tries to make up for it by eating the peach blossom pastries that Prince Jing offers.

Prince Jing sits on the edge of the bed, making Li Yu uneasy due to their previous interactions. However, Prince Jing’s continued care and gentle demeanor slowly ease Li Yu’s discomfort. Prince Jing even presents him with a dish of smashed cucumber, a savory snack Li Yu had made before, which delights him.

Feeling sleepy after eating, Li Yu asks Prince Jing to wake him up after an hour. Prince Jing agrees without hesitation, further endearing himself to Li Yu.

While Li Yu sleeps, Wang Xi reports to Prince Jing that Chu Yanyu is awaiting punishment in Qingxi Garden. Prince Jing gives Wang Xi some medicine, which turns out to be an aphrodisiac.

Chu Yanyu, already beaten and humiliated, is forcefully given the aphrodisiac and left tied up, alone in his room to suffer. Wang Xi coldly informs him that this is Prince Jing’s punishment for his earlier actions.

Chu Yanyu is left in a state of unbearable suffering, with no one to help him, as Wang Xi leaves him to endure the effects of the aphrodisiac in the dark.

Li Yu quickly recovers from his cold and spends two hours daily with Prince Jing in his human form, drinking medicine, eating pastries, and observing the prince. He enjoys being taken care of and reflects on how Prince Jing has treated him kindly since they first met.

After being declared fully recovered by Imperial Physician Xu, Li Yu thanks Prince Jing for taking care of him. However, he feels a strange disappointment, knowing he will no longer need the prince's attention.

Li Yu inquires about Chu Yanyu's fate and learns from Wang-gonggong that Chu-gongzi made a big mistake and is reflecting on his actions in his room. Li Yu concludes that Prince Jing and Chu Yanyu’s relationship is likely over, and he feels relieved.

Wang-gonggong mentions a new market in the city, organized by the emperor and the King of Jinjue. Hearing about the market and the trinkets being sold there, Li Yu eagerly asks Prince Jing if he can go, and Prince Jing agrees.

As they prepare for the outing, Li Yu realizes that the clothes Prince Jing provided for him are not old but were specially made for him. He feels touched by Prince Jing's thoughtfulness.

On the day of the market visit, Li Yu wears a rose-red robe with silver lotuses, a string of pearls around his waist, and a gold chain attached to the crystal bottle containing the fish plush. Prince Jing wraps the gold chain around his own hand, further deepening Li Yu’s emotions.

The journey to the market is cramped, and Li Yu becomes flustered by the constant close contact with Prince Jing. Despite his embarrassment, he allows Prince Jing to help him down from the carriage.

At the market, Li Yu overhears the commoners gossiping about him, assuming he is either Prince Jing’s consort or concubine. Before Li Yu can clarify, Prince Jing signals Wang Xi, who speaks to the commoners, leading them to cheerfully greet Li Yu as the "consort."

Li Yu is taken aback by the misunderstanding but resigns himself to it, reflecting on how many times he’s had to comfort himself since becoming a fish.

After the crowd at the market began calling Li Yu “consort,” Prince Jing’s expression relaxed, and he did not correct the misunderstanding. Li Yu, although uncomfortable, could not bring himself to deny the title either.

Wang Xi had previously scouted the market and provided a simple map to Li Yu, who decided to explore the main road, stopping at a restaurant known for its Jinjue cuisine and acrobatic performances.

Prince Jing handed the map to Li Yu, allowing him to lead the way, and Wang Xi arranged for a private room at the restaurant and started the preparation of a whole lamb for their meal.

As they explored the market, Li Yu was fascinated by the various Jinjue goods, particularly the sparkly gold accessories. He stopped at a quieter stall selling bracelets and masks, where he tried on a thick gold bracelet.

The merchant, noticing Li Yu’s fine clothing, tried to force him into buying the bracelet, claiming that once it was worn, it was “fated” to the buyer. He demanded fifty taels, but Li Yu, realizing it was a scam, calmly refused.

Despite the merchant’s persistent attempts to haggle, Li Yu maintained that he had no money with him. The merchant grew increasingly frustrated but was deterred from causing a scene by the presence of Prince Jing, who had been watching from a distance.

Li Yu, unaware of Prince Jing’s observation, played along with the merchant’s “spirit” story, pretending to “recharge” the bracelet before returning it. The merchant, realizing he had lost the sale, begrudgingly let Li Yu go.

As Li Yu turned to leave, he was surprised to find Prince Jing standing right behind him. Embarrassed that the prince had seen his antics, Li Yu hesitated, but Prince Jing merely smiled and patted his head.

Prince Jing then presented Li Yu with a white jade hairpin shaped like a fish, carefully placing it in Li Yu’s hair. This gesture left Li Yu both touched and flustered, realizing the prince’s fondness for him.

Li Yu, pondering the significance of the fish-shaped hairpin, began to wonder if he should start paying more attention to his appearance, particularly how he wore his hair.

Li Yu’s enthusiasm for shopping waned after his encounter with a con artist merchant, but he remained curious as he continued exploring the market with Prince Jing.

When they arrived at the restaurant "Dream of a Spring Breeze," Li Yu was excited by the rich smell of barbecued lamb. Prince Jing, showing his affection, held Li Yu’s hand and guided him to the head seat in the private room.

Li Yu hesitated to sit beside Prince Jing, realizing that this position was typically reserved for a consort, but his hesitation faded when Prince Jing placed a leg of barbecued lamb in front of him.

Overwhelmed by the delicious smell, Li Yu quickly got lost in the food, mixing his own dipping sauce and enjoying the variety of flavors offered by the restaurant.

Noticing that Prince Jing hadn’t prepared any sauce for himself, Li Yu offered to help, carefully crafting a dipping sauce based on Prince Jing’s preferences.

As they were eating, Ye-shizi (Ye Qinghuan) arrived with a young, feminine-looking gongzi. Li Yu was puzzled by the presence of the young man, especially given Ye Qinghuan's engagement to the princess, but soon realized that the "gongzi" was the princess in disguise.

The Princess of Jinjue greeted them warmly, and though Li Yu tried to show respect by standing, Prince Jing held him in place. Ye Qinghuan hinted that they would soon be family.

The princess expressed her excitement about meeting Prince Jing’s fish again, but Wang Xi, following Prince Jing’s silent command, lied that the fish had not been brought along.

The princess, undeterred by Prince Jing’s cold demeanor, asked to see the fish next time, but Prince Jing firmly refused.

The meal continued with the princess and Ye Qinghuan joining in. The princess impressively devoured a lamb leg with speed and elegance, while Li Yu also enjoyed his food with great enthusiasm.

When Li Yu had sauce on his lips, Prince Jing leaned in to clean it off, leaving Li Yu blushing and his lips noticeably redder. Ye Qinghuan, observing this intimate moment, felt outmatched in terms of shamelessness by Prince Jing.

Li Yu was embarrassed and annoyed after Prince Jing unexpectedly kissed him during their meal, especially with Ye Qinghuan and the Princess of Jinjue present. He struggled to maintain his composure and not lash out, as he knew he was no match for Prince Jing physically.

To ease the tension, Ye Qinghuan asked Li Yu to introduce himself. Upon learning that Li Yu’s name literally meant "fish," Ye Qinghuan realized just how deep Prince Jing's fondness for fish went.

The Princess of Jinjue expressed her desire to see Prince Jing's fish, but Li Yu awkwardly dodged the request, not wanting to bring his true form to the princess’s manor.

The conversation shifted when the princess and Ye Qinghuan learned that Li Yu had encountered a con artist at the market. Angered, they insisted on taking revenge on the merchant. Despite Li Yu’s reluctance, the princess ordered her guards to teach the scammer a lesson.

The guards soon reported back, revealing that the merchant had already been severely beaten by someone else, leaving him unable to speak or scam others anymore. This news satisfied Ye Qinghuan, though the princess was confused about who had carried out the beating.

Li Yu felt embarrassed for having thanked the princess and Ye Qinghuan instead of Prince Jing, who had orchestrated the market trip. Prince Jing, showing his possessiveness, pulled Li Yu’s hands down when he thanked the others.

As they prepared to leave, the Princess of Jinjue invited Li Yu to her upcoming wedding with Ye Qinghuan. Li Yu agreed, but was reminded of the princess’s tragic fate in the original story, feeling proud that he might have altered it by being there.

On the carriage ride back, Li Yu decided to have a serious talk with Prince Jing about their relationship. He expressed his gratitude for Prince Jing's care but admitted that he needed more time to understand his own feelings.

Before Li Yu could finish, Prince Jing suddenly moved closer, pinning Li Yu against the carriage wall. However, instead of another kiss, Prince Jing gently kissed Li Yu’s forehead, leaving him confused and flustered.

In that intimate moment, Li Yu realized that his feelings for Prince Jing were growing stronger. When Prince Jing finally kissed him on the lips, Li Yu felt his heart flutter, acknowledging to himself that he might actually like the prince.

Li Yu and Prince Jing shared their longest kiss, during which Li Yu finally realized and accepted his feelings for Prince Jing. Despite initial hesitations, he couldn’t help but be drawn to Prince Jing’s happiness and warmth.

As the kiss ended, Prince Jing gently kissed Li Yu's fingers and embraced him, deepening their connection. However, the transformation countdown began, signaling that Li Yu needed to leave quickly.

Li Yu hastily pulled away from Prince Jing, using the excuse that he had something urgent to attend to. Prince Jing, understanding that Li Yu was about to transform, left the carriage, leaving the fish to Li Yu.

Li Yu quickly transformed back into a fish inside the crystal bottle, taking with him the hairpin that Prince Jing had gifted him. Reflecting on his feelings, Li Yu realized that despite his earlier doubts and fears, he truly liked Prince Jing.

Back in the crystal bottle, Li Yu pondered the implications of his feelings. He recognized that his initial concerns about their relationship being impossible due to their differences were just obstacles to his emotions. Despite the potential difficulties, the mutual affection they shared was enough to make him want to be with Prince Jing.

After transforming back into a fish, Li Yu reentered the Moe Pet System to check on his progress toward becoming human permanently. The system informed him that completing the “Revitalizing” quest line would allow him to remain human.

The system offered Li Yu a reward for completing the “Indulging” quest, which included learning one of Prince Jing’s secrets. Li Yu chose to learn a secret related to a familiar scene and was shown a memory of Prince Jing at the second prince’s residence.

Li Yu discovered that after they left the second prince’s place, Prince Jing had secretly ordered Wang Xi to push the second prince into a pond after getting him drunk, revealing a darker side of Prince Jing that Li Yu had been shielded from.

This revelation made Li Yu realize that while Prince Jing continued his ruthless ways, he had been careful to hide it from the fish, prioritizing its peace of mind. Li Yu felt conflicted, unsure whether to be angry or touched by Prince Jing’s actions.

Li Yu discovered the next step of the “Revitalize” quest: to be inseparable from the tyrant. He was frustrated and unsure how to proceed, especially since they weren’t officially dating yet. He decided to postpone this quest step for now.

Li Yu returned from the Moe Pet System to find Prince Jing back in the manor, holding the crystal bottle to feed the fish. Embarrassed by his newfound feelings, Li Yu’s heart fluttered, and he hid in the ornamental mountain inside the tank.

While hiding, Li Yu reflected on his deepening feelings for Prince Jing. Now that he recognized his love, he felt a strong desire to be with him, even though the path ahead seemed challenging. He decided that he needed to become human permanently to fully pursue a relationship with Prince Jing.

Li Yu began thinking about the boundaries he needed to set with Prince Jing until he could permanently transform into a human. He considered allowing hand-holding, dates, and kisses but decided against more intimate activities to avoid any awkward situations during his limited human time.

The emperor summoned Prince Jing to the palace. The emperor discovered that the third prince had been behind the nursery rhyme scandal and bribed officials. Furious, the emperor punished the third prince by demoting him further and moving or firing the officials involved.

The emperor, reflecting on the state of his sons, decided to give Prince Jing a position in the Ministry of Works. Despite Prince Jing’s mixed feelings about this new responsibility, he accepted the role.

Upon Prince Jing’s return, Li Yu greeted him excitedly, showing off the hairpin that Prince Jing had given him, symbolizing his acceptance of the prince’s feelings. Blushing, Li Yu asked Prince Jing to join him on the bed, but instead of intimacy, he pulled out a piece of paper, proposing that they lay down some rules for their relationship.

Li Yu confessed his feelings to Prince Jing, expressing that he liked him and wanted to be with him, but only if Prince Jing agreed to a few conditions. He presented these conditions on a carefully written page.

The conditions included: not asking Li Yu to stay the night, not asking where Li Yu was going, and not getting mad at Li Yu. Additionally, Li Yu requested that Prince Jing maintain his commitment to not having concubines.

Prince Jing agreed to all of Li Yu’s conditions without hesitation, and in response, wrote a poem to summarize the agreement, which further solidified their budding relationship.

The two shared a tender moment, exchanging a passionate kiss, and Prince Jing handed Li Yu the emperor’s decree assigning him a position in the Ministry of Works. Li Yu encouraged Prince Jing to take on this new responsibility, offering his support.

Prince Jing began his new role at the Ministry of Works, bringing with him a large lunch prepared by Li Yu and the crystal bottle containing his pet fish, Li Yu.

Deputy Minister Zheng Jing, curious about Prince Jing’s actions, asked about the large pack and the fish. Prince Jing proudly explained that the lunch was made by his “boyfriend” and that the fish was his pet.

Li Yu, in his fish form, realized that being with Prince Jing meant not only dating him in his human form but also accompanying him to work as a fish, making him question his initial enthusiasm for the relationship.

Prince Jing began his work at the Ministry of Works, starting with familiarizing himself with the rules and regulations. He needed to reference the blueprint for Zhongcui Palace, which Zheng Jing provided.

Prince Jing diligently studied the blueprint, making detailed notes. Li Yu, in his fish form, was curious and tried to look at the blueprint as well, but eventually lost interest and fell asleep.

Prince Jing absentmindedly petted the fish while working, which prompted Zheng Jing to awkwardly remind him that petting fish during work hours wasn’t appropriate. Prince Jing glared at Zheng Jing but continued his work without further interaction.

Zheng Jing initially doubted Prince Jing’s commitment to the job, suspecting he wasn’t taking it seriously. However, after seeing the thorough and perceptive questions Prince Jing wrote down, Zheng Jing was impressed by his dedication and reconsidered his initial judgment.

During lunch, Prince Jing brought out a large food pack prepared by Li Yu, which contained three bowls of food: burnt rice, blackened eggplant, and smashed cucumber. Despite the questionable appearance of the dishes, Prince Jing ate everything with satisfaction, leaving Li Yu believing his cooking had improved.

Zheng Jing, witnessing Prince Jing’s affection for his “boyfriend,” began to respect Prince Jing’s work ethic and personal life, although he remained puzzled by Prince Jing’s attachment to the fish.

Meanwhile, the third prince, Mu Tianming, grew increasingly restless upon learning that Prince Jing had been assigned a job by the emperor. Feeling neglected and frustrated by his own lack of responsibilities, he sought advice from the sixth prince, Mu Tianxiao.

The sixth prince advised Mu Tianming to remain patient and avoid making mistakes, reassuring him of his support. Mu Tianming, trusting his brother, handed over significant authority to him, unaware of Mu Tianxiao’s true intentions.

Mu Tianxiao, now in control of a large portion of the third prince’s people, felt confident that his time to rise to power was near.

Mu Tianxiao, now in possession of Mu Tianming’s token, began focusing on his own interests rather than helping the third prince. His injuries had healed, and he paid his respects to the emperor, enduring the emperor's cold treatment.

Mu Tianxiao sought the emperor's approval to give an extravagant gift to Prince Jing as an apology for the fake monk incident. The emperor, recalling similar actions by the second prince, allowed it but cautioned Mu Tianxiao not to disturb Prince Jing if he didn’t wish to see him.

Meanwhile, Li Yu was frustrated with the “inseparable” quest not progressing despite his deepening relationship with Prince Jing. The system informed him that simply being boyfriends wasn’t enough in ancient China, hinting that marriage might be required.

Li Yu reflected on the original novel, where Prince Jing was deeply in love with Chu Yanyu, who didn’t reciprocate his feelings until much later. He felt sympathy for Prince Jing’s loneliness in that story and resolved to ensure Prince Jing wouldn’t be alone in this world.

When Li Yu transformed to see Prince Jing, he was downcast, and Prince Jing quickly noticed. Prince Jing, always observant, tried to comfort Li Yu by holding him close.

Instead of the usual kiss, Prince Jing handed Li Yu a note he had prepared earlier, which simply said, “I like you.” This thoughtful gesture cheered Li Yu up, making him realize how much Prince Jing cared for him.

Curious, Li Yu discovered that Prince Jing had written many notes, each one expressing thoughts or feelings he hadn’t had the chance to convey. These notes reflected Prince Jing’s deep care and affection.

The final note, more tattered than the others, contained a simple yet intimate message: “I want to absorb essence.” This revelation left Li Yu both amused and touched by Prince Jing’s honesty.

Li Yu found a note written by Prince Jing that said, "I want to absorb essence," and questioned him about its meaning. Prince Jing, embarrassed and worried that Li Yu would figure out that he already knew his true identity as the carp spirit, denied knowing anything about it.

Despite Prince Jing's denial, Li Yu teased him about the note, hinting that he knew what "absorbing essence" meant in the context of yao and scholars from the novels they read together.

To divert Li Yu's attention, Prince Jing gave him a small golden fish he had designed himself, which Li Yu adored. However, Li Yu continued to press Prince Jing about the note's meaning.

Wang Xi interrupted to inform Prince Jing that the sixth prince had arrived from the palace to apologize. Relieved to avoid further questioning, Prince Jing prepared to meet the sixth prince.

Li Yu, recalling the sixth prince's treacherous nature from the original book, became anxious and warned Prince Jing to be careful of him. Prince Jing reassured Li Yu by pointing to the rules Li Yu had set, which stated that he wouldn't question anything Li Yu chose not to explain.

Prince Jing met the sixth prince, who tried to probe into Prince Jing's affection for his fish. Wang Xi dismissed the sixth prince's inquiries, stating the fish didn't visit irrelevant people. The sixth prince, realizing Prince Jing's cold attitude, quickly left without further probing.

As the sixth prince left, he was suddenly approached by a disheveled Chu Yanyu, who begged to be taken away from Prince Jing's manor. However, the sixth prince, fearing a trap set by Prince Jing, angrily pushed Chu Yanyu away, pretending they had no connection.

Prince Jing watched the interaction between the sixth prince and Chu Yanyu from a distance. Despite feeling a strange sense of satisfaction when Chu Yanyu was slapped, Prince Jing instructed Wang Xi to continue with his tasks.

Prince Jing returned to his room, expecting Li Yu to have transformed back into a fish, but was delighted to find Li Yu still awake, waiting for him. Li Yu, with a mix of shyness and playfulness, reminded Prince Jing that he still hadn't explained the meaning of "absorbing essence."

Prince Jing felt conflicted as Li Yu playfully teased him about the note mentioning "absorbing essence." Li Yu, noticing Prince Jing's hesitation, decided to push the boundaries by pulling him closer on the bed and showing him books that referenced "absorbing essence" in the context of yao and scholars.

Li Yu read out loud from the book, pointing out how the white snake spirit mentioned "absorbing essence" to Scholar Xu, using the opportunity to playfully tease Prince Jing about the concept. Despite Prince Jing's growing discomfort, he struggled to maintain composure.

Li Yu, determined to seduce Prince Jing, escalated the situation by suggesting they read the explicit parts of the novel together. However, Prince Jing, remembering their agreement, resisted and tried to put the book away.

Realizing that their agreement was hindering his attempts to get closer to Prince Jing, Li Yu reconsidered the terms. He decided that there were ways to be intimate without breaking the agreement, and he took the initiative to seduce Prince Jing further.

After some playful banter and intimate moments, Li Yu and Prince Jing shared a tender and affectionate time together, deepening their relationship. Li Yu expressed his happiness and suggested that Prince Jing should stop taking cold baths after their encounters.

Li Yu then entered the system to check the status of his quest. To his surprise, the quest had progressed, and he was given the option to choose another of Prince Jing's secrets as a reward. He chose a memory involving a woman in a dark palace room who was forced to take a mysterious powder, leaving Li Yu with more questions than answers.

With the "Inseparable" quest completed, Li Yu nervously anticipated the next quest, which was revealed to be "Stay with the Tyrant Through Thick and Thin."

Li Yu anticipated that the next quest, "Stay with the Tyrant Through Thick and Thin," would bring some challenges, but he was confident in his ability to complete it alongside Prince Jing. He exited the system and, after some internal reflection, managed to fall asleep, though not without some lingering embarrassment from their recent intimate moments.

As Ye Qinghuan's wedding approached, Li Yu decided to buy a thoughtful gift for the couple, choosing to bring Prince Jing along on a shopping trip. Despite Prince Jing's confusion over why Li Yu wanted to pick the gift himself, Li Yu insisted on choosing something personally to show sincerity.

The couple visited various antique stores, but Li Yu's inexperience led him to nearly purchase several fakes. Each time, Prince Jing discreetly intervened, revealing the true nature of the items, much to Li Yu's frustration. Eventually, after multiple failed attempts, Li Yu became disheartened by his poor luck in selecting genuine antiques.

To lift Li Yu's spirits, Prince Jing gifted him another little golden fish, similar to the ones he had given before, but in a different pose. This thoughtful gesture cheered Li Yu up, and he decided to follow Prince Jing to a more reputable jewelry store.

At the jewelry store, Li Yu chose several high-quality gifts, including a pair of silver vases, gold ruyi, and jade dolls. He also purchased an oval silver bead, which he strung on a red string and presented to Prince Jing as a token of appreciation.

Back at the manor, Prince Jing had the gift list rewritten to include both of their names together, implying that Li Yu was now considered part of his family, possibly even his consort. Although this realization made Li Yu blush, he did not object to the implication.

On the day of the wedding, Li Yu wore coral red robes that matched Prince Jing's black and crimson attire. They looked striking together, and Prince Jing reassured Li Yu with his presence, even as they prepared to attend the event.

During their journey to Cheng’en Manor, Li Yu noticed the carriage was much larger and more comfortable than before. Prince Jing fed him pastries and handed him a book to read, making the trip enjoyable.

Upon arrival at Cheng’en Manor, the couple was warmly welcomed by Ye-shizi and the Duke of Cheng’en, who was Prince Jing’s uncle. The Duchess of Cheng’en, noticing Li Yu with Prince Jing, sent a servant to give them a pair of jade butterflies, wishing them happiness together, which led Li Yu to realize that Prince Jing might have brought him to the wedding to introduce him to his family. This realization filled Li Yu with joy and excitement.

Ye Qinghuan and the Princess of Jinjue were married in a grand ceremony, with Li Yu feeling emotional and proud that he helped them break through the original plot of the novel. He made a wish for their happiness and glanced at Prince Jing, who was already looking at him, signaling their connection.

During the wedding, Prince Jing was summoned by an older servant, indicating an old acquaintance wanted to see him. Holding Li Yu's hand tightly, Prince Jing led him to the back garden, where they met the old Duke of Cheng’en, Ye Qinghuan’s grandfather and Prince Jing’s.

Li Yu was excited to meet the old Duke, realizing he was truly meeting Prince Jing’s family. The old Duke quickly recognized the bond between Li Yu and Prince Jing, approving of their relationship and offering his support to Prince Jing.

Prince Jing and the old Duke shared a silent agreement over drinks, while Li Yu, unaware of the details, playfully demanded his own share of wine, only for Prince Jing to drink it himself to prevent him from getting drunk.

The old Duke gifted Li Yu a jade pendant and offered to give him more gifts in the future, showing his approval. Li Yu felt a strong sense of responsibility to treat Prince Jing even better after this warm reception from his family.

Prince Jing, aware of the challenges ahead, realized he needed to protect Xiaoyu and would eventually ask the emperor for his hand. For now, they could only continue their relationship without officially confirming it.

Li Yu excused himself, transformed back into his fish form, and returned to the crystal bottle behind Prince Jing, ensuring his absence wouldn’t be noticed.

The old Duke suggested they play Go, and after a brief match, the emperor arrived unexpectedly at the wedding. Prince Jing, still carrying the crystal bottle, greeted the emperor alongside the old Duke. The emperor, surprised by the drastic change in the fish's appearance, remarked on its koi nature before being led to Empress Xiaohui’s old rooms.

In Empress Xiaohui’s room, Prince Jing and the emperor reminisced about her, with the emperor sharing stories while Li Yu, from his vantage point in the crystal bottle, noticed a cloth tiger that resembled one he had seen in a system memory.

Li Yu's discovery led him to realize that the secret he had seen in the system was connected to Empress Xiaohui and Changchun Palace, but he was left wondering what the true nature of this secret could be.

Li Yu tried to learn more about the secret related to Prince Jing, but the emperor only spoke about Empress Xiaohui's hobbies and interests. Realizing it wasn't the right time to uncover the secret, Li Yu decided to stay quiet and listen to the emperor's stories with Prince Jing, hoping it would strengthen their father-son relationship.

The emperor, lost in his memories, asked Prince Jing if he talked too much. Prince Jing, showing his care, patted the emperor's hand, comforting him. The emperor praised Prince Jing for his performance at the Ministry of Works.

The sixth prince, Mu Tianxiao, arrived late at the wedding, raising suspicions about his intentions. The emperor decided to ignore him, but Mu Tianxiao requested to escort the emperor back to the palace. The emperor agreed, taking Prince Jing along.

Li Yu noticed a veiled woman accompanying the sixth prince, suspecting she might be the beauty Mu Tianxiao intended to present to the emperor, just like in the original novel. Li Yu decided to mess up the sixth prince's plan.

Li Yu attempted to tilt himself in the crystal bottle to catch the emperor's attention, hoping to create a distraction. The emperor noticed the fish's unusual behavior and called for imperial physicians, interrupting the sixth prince's scheme.

The physicians determined that Li Yu was fine, just overfed. The emperor, irritated by the sixth prince's poorly timed attempt to present the beauty, used Li Yu's behavior as an excuse to avoid accepting the sixth prince's offer.

The emperor thanked Li Yu for the distraction, recognizing that it helped him evade an awkward situation. Li Yu realized that his luck as a koi, enhanced by the system, played a crucial role in thwarting the sixth prince's plan.

After escorting the emperor back to the palace, Prince Jing returned to Cheng’en Manor, where the sixth prince was still present. The sixth prince tried to engage Prince Jing in conversation, but Prince Jing ignored him, focusing on Li Yu instead.

Sensing the sixth prince's cold gaze, Li Yu hid behind Prince Jing's sleeve, only peeking out when the sixth prince turned away. Prince Jing then covered the crystal bottle, protecting Li Yu from the sixth prince's scrutiny.

Li Yu was concerned about the sixth prince, Mu Tianxiao, as a potential threat in the fight for the throne. He knew that being defensive wasn’t enough and felt the need to convince Prince Jing to take proactive steps against the sixth prince before he gained more power.

Li Yu struggled with how to convince Prince Jing to act, fearing that Prince Jing might think he had ulterior motives or was pushing him toward the throne. Li Yu decided to broach the subject carefully, knowing it would be difficult.

When Li Yu began to discuss the sixth prince with Prince Jing, the prince misunderstood and became jealous, thinking Li Yu was interested in the sixth prince. This led to an intense and rough moment between them, during which Prince Jing’s hidden fierceness surfaced.

After calming down, Prince Jing handed Li Yu a note that read, "Do not look at other men." Realizing the misunderstanding, Li Yu clarified that the sixth prince was an enemy, not a rival in love, and tried to convince Prince Jing to stop him from gaining the throne.

Li Yu decided to use a different tactic, offering himself to Prince Jing to persuade him. After some convincing, Prince Jing agreed to deal with the sixth prince, effectively committing to the fight for the throne.

Li Yu was relieved to have secured Prince Jing’s agreement but realized he needed a way to better manage his transformation time. He requested an hourglass from Wang Xi, who brought him one that matched his needs.

Li Yu also reflected on his poor luck and taste when shopping for gifts, only to learn from Wang Xi that the gems in the fish tank were real and extremely valuable. This revelation made Li Yu question his own judgment.

Unbeknownst to Li Yu, Prince Jing had the hourglass specially crafted by skilled palace artisans to be more accurate, with a small, discreet fish etching, showing Prince Jing’s care and attention to detail in everything related to Li Yu.

Ye Qinghuan and the Princess of Jinjue visited Prince Jing’s manor on their first rest day after the wedding, specifically choosing a day when Prince Jing was home so they could also see Li Yu. Li Yu, excited to see his friends, transformed into his human form just before their arrival.

The Princess of Jinjue was astonished by the grandeur of Prince Jing’s manor, particularly the confession carved into the wall and the interconnected ponds leading to a large fish tank. She was impressed by the luxurious surroundings, while Ye Qinghuan felt a bit self-conscious comparing himself to Prince Jing.

During the visit, the Princess of Jinjue brought a rose quartz fish tank filled with various koi, hoping to impress Li Yu. However, Li Yu teased Ye Qinghuan when he blushed, admitting he liked fish.

The princess expressed disappointment that her fish couldn’t compare to Prince Jing’s, leading her to request to see Prince Jing’s famous fish. However, since Li Yu couldn’t be both the fish and the human at the same time, Prince Jing subtly declined the request.

Li Yu excused himself to transform back into a fish, and Wang Xi brought him out in a newly crafted lapis lazuli tank. The princess was shocked to see how much Li Yu, as a fish, had changed since the last time she saw him.

When the two fish tanks were placed together, Li Yu realized he could communicate with the other fish. They responded to his movements and formed patterns in the water, surprising both the princess and Ye Qinghuan.

Inspired by the interaction, Li Yu devised a plan for the emperor’s upcoming birthday celebration. He suggested arranging the fish to form the word “longevity” as a unique and auspicious gift for the emperor, surpassing the sixth prince’s planned light projection.

Prince Jing, who had already planned his gift of calligraphy and a painting, was intrigued by Li Yu’s idea. However, Li Yu had to use all his charm, including acting spoiled and cute, to convince Prince Jing to let him try the idea.

After some persuasion, Prince Jing finally agreed to let Li Yu take on the responsibility of arranging the fish for the celebration. Li Yu felt triumphant but exhausted, knowing that the success of the plan now rested on his ability to execute it perfectly.

Li Yu decided to use only red carp for the emperor’s birthday celebration. He meticulously trained the fish to form the word “longevity,” closely replicating Prince Jing's calligraphy. Li Yu’s dedication surprised and deeply moved Prince Jing, who supported his efforts by feeding and caring for him.

A spy reported that the sixth prince was preparing a light show using paper lanterns, a plan aligned with the original plot of the book. Li Yu anticipated this and remained cautious, preparing contingency plans in case something went wrong.

On the emperor’s birthday, Li Yu disguised himself as a fish to accompany Prince Jing to the palace. Covered tanks with other fish were brought in as gifts, while the emperor hosted a lavish celebration with numerous priceless gifts from officials and aristocrats.

The second prince, Mu Tianzhao, and the third prince, Mu Tianming, presented their gifts. The emperor was melancholic over the second prince’s condition and unimpressed by the third prince’s relic. The seventh and eighth princes presented sutras, and the sixth prince revealed his light show, projecting the word “longevity” on the floor, which delighted the emperor.

Prince Jing presented his usual calligraphy and a painting by Tang Yin, which pleased the emperor greatly. He then led the emperor to Taiye Pool, where the red carp formed the word “longevity,” stunning the emperor and everyone present.

The sixth prince, feeling threatened, tried to disrupt the carp formation by feeding the fish, causing the word to dissipate. However, Li Yu, in his koi form, swam up with a lotus flower, performing an elegant display that captivated the emperor.

The emperor recognized Li Yu as Prince Jing’s pet fish and was thrilled by the performance. Despite the sixth prince's sabotage attempt, Li Yu's preparation and quick thinking ensured that Prince Jing’s gift remained the highlight of the celebration. Prince Jing felt immense pride and love for Li Yu.

The emperor was very pleased with Prince Jing's performance during the birthday celebration and summoned him for a private conversation after the banquet. Li Yu, who couldn't accompany Prince Jing, waited outside Qianqing Palace with Wang Xi.

While waiting, Wang Xi fed Li Yu, appreciating his efforts in making Prince Jing's gift a success. However, Li Yu's peace was disrupted when the sixth prince, Mu Tianxiao, appeared, showing interest in the fish. Wang Xi firmly protected Li Yu, preventing the sixth prince from getting close.

Prince Jing finally emerged from his meeting with the emperor, and despite Li Yu's initial excitement, he noticed that Prince Jing seemed solemn. They proceeded to Changchun Palace, where Prince Jing paid respects to Empress Xiaohui. Li Yu, as a fish, tried to participate in the ritual by mimicking Prince Jing’s movements.

Upon returning to the manor, Li Yu and Wang Xi learned that the emperor’s "reward" for Prince Jing was an order to leave the city and reside at the western border, a harsh and desolate region. Both were shocked and confused by this development.

Li Yu, feeling responsible for the situation, turned into his human form and apologized to Prince Jing, fearing that the emperor’s displeasure was his fault. However, Prince Jing reassured him that the emperor wasn’t angry. In fact, Prince Jing believed the emperor's decision to send him to the western border might be a test, indicating that the emperor still had hopes for him.

Realizing that the situation might not be as dire as it seemed, Li Yu was relieved and eager to support Prince Jing. Despite Prince Jing's intention to leave Li Yu behind in the city for safety, Li Yu insisted on going with him, determined to face whatever challenges lay ahead together.

Li Yu, determined to stay by Prince Jing's side through thick and thin, expresses his devotion by telling Prince Jing that "home is wherever Your Highness is." However, despite the touching sentiment, Prince Jing refuses to let Li Yu accompany him to the western border.

Desperate to convince Prince Jing, Li Yu pretends to be pregnant with Prince Jing's child. Shocked but not entirely dismissive due to Li Yu’s carp spirit nature, Prince Jing momentarily believes him and becomes concerned.

Li Yu quickly confesses that he was joking and isn’t actually pregnant, expressing his true desire to stay with Prince Jing. Touched by Li Yu's sincerity, Prince Jing finally agrees to let him come along, though he doesn’t confirm it outright.

The system notifies Li Yu that the "Through Thick and Thin" quest is in progress, reinforcing the importance of his journey to the western border with Prince Jing.

Meanwhile, the emperor, pleased with Prince Jing’s gift but wary of his ambition, decides to test him by sending him to the dangerous western border. The emperor reflects on Prince Jing’s potential and the possibility of him ascending to the throne, despite his muteness.

The emperor orders extra troops to secretly protect Prince Jing during his journey and contemplates the future of the throne.

Prince Jing prepares for the journey by making extensive arrangements for Li Yu, including ten crystal bottles and carts of fish food and tanks, ensuring Li Yu’s comfort.

Li Yu realizes the difficulty of maintaining his human form for long periods during the journey and becomes anxious about how to manage his transformations without revealing his true nature.

As the journey begins, Li Yu is surprised to find that Prince Jing has arranged for him to have the carriage to himself, citing concern for his "pregnancy." This arrangement allows Li Yu to avoid detection and maintain his secret, albeit with the humorous pretense of being "pregnant."

Li Yu and Prince Jing continue their journey, with Prince Jing often stopping in towns to let Li Yu rest and enjoy food and snacks.

Though travel rations grow dull, Li Yu finds comfort in his ability to transform into a fish and eat fish food.

They camp in the wilderness at times, where Li Yu becomes more open with Prince Jing, initiating intimacy in tents.

Li Yu discovers he's extremely lucky at finding food—wild vegetables, sweet potatoes, and fishing—due to his system buff.

He realizes his “Well-Fed and Well-Clothed” stat doesn't affect cooking but resource finding.

After two months, they reach Luofeng Village, Prince Jing’s new home on the emperor’s orders.

Their new home is modest and cramped, but Wang Xi buys nearby properties to expand the space for guards and staff.

Prince Jing gives Li Yu his own room, claiming it's too small to share, but really to protect Li Yu’s secret.

Prince Jing dismisses servants for the night and entrusts Li Yu with taking care of him.

Li Yu nervously begins to help Prince Jing wash up and offers to help bathe him.

During the bath, Prince Jing pulls Li Yu into the tub, making clear he wants more than just back scrubbing.

The two get intimate in the bath; afterward, Li Yu teases Prince Jing with wet feet, trying to seduce him.

Li Yu hatches a clever plan to split intimate activities between his transformations using an hourglass to time it.

Just when they’re about to take things further, assassins suddenly attack the compound.

Prince Jing shoves Li Yu behind a wardrobe to protect him and rushes out to battle with his sword.

Li Yu watches from the window, spots an archer, and runs out with a copper basin to warn and shield Prince Jing.

Prince Jing dodges the arrow and fights off the assassins with help from arriving reinforcements led by Wang Xi.

Li Yu realizes his strong desire to protect Prince Jing, completing his “Through Thick and Thin” system task.

Just as Li Yu is about to transform back, another arrow is shot at him.

Prince Jing dives to shield Li Yu, narrowly avoiding the arrow.

Right after they land inside, Li Yu transforms into a fish in Prince Jing’s arms—his secret exposed at the worst moment.

Li Yu accidentally transforms back into a fish in front of Prince Jing, exposing his secret.

Panicked, Li Yu considers absurd ways to cover it up, like knocking out Prince Jing.

An assassin in the room witnesses the transformation, stunned silent.

Prince Jing knocks the assassin unconscious, locks the door to keep others out, and carefully places Li Yu in his fish tank to keep him alive.

Li Yu, overwhelmed and anxious, expects to be grilled or abandoned now that his secret’s out.

Instead, Prince Jing handles him gently and protectively, confusing Li Yu.

Outside the door, Wang Xi calls out, concerned. Prince Jing exits with the unconscious assassin, kills him to protect Li Yu's secret, and ensures no one else finds out.

Prince Jing skillfully avoids arousing suspicion in Wang Xi, hinting that Li-gongzi just needs rest.

Listening from inside, Li Yu realizes Prince Jing didn’t tell anyone. This gives him hope that the prince might still care.

Prince Jing handles post-attack affairs swiftly and commands soldiers under the emperor’s orders.

Returning to the room, he finds a now hopeful Li Yu wagging his tail and responds affectionately.

Prince Jing shows a note that says, “Don’t be afraid,” which deeply moves Li Yu.

Li Yu gathers courage and transforms into a human again, intent on telling the truth.

Initially, he’s unsure how to explain transmigration and the system without sounding insane.

He quickly decides to pretend he’s a carp spirit (yao), which would make sense in this world.

He concocts a fantasy explanation that fits cultivation logic: a carp spirit cultivating with the help of a mysterious immortal (the system).

Prince Jing listens quietly and accepts the explanation without question, even opening his arms to embrace Li Yu.

Touched by his unconditional support, Li Yu reassures him that he would never hurt him.

They cuddle, Li Yu emotionally clinging to Prince Jing until he feels sleepy.

He asks to rest in Prince Jing’s arms, and the prince wraps him in a blanket.

When Li Yu turns back into a fish as the hourglass runs out, Prince Jing gently places him back in the tank.

The chapter ends with the fish happily asleep, wrapping his tail around Prince Jing’s finger.

Li Yu sleeps for a full day, his most restful sleep since transmigration.

He wakes up thinking it might be a dream, but Prince Jing’s note and snacks confirm reality.

Happy and relaxed, Li Yu transforms into human form to eat.

Prince Jing, upon hearing movement, orders Wang Xi to summon physicians.

Li Yu is puzzled by the need for a checkup but complies, reassured by Prince Jing’s presence.

Physicians, intrigued and cautious, examine Li Yu and find nothing wrong.

Prince Jing signals Li Yu to fake being unwell, and Li Yu pretends he’s still struggling.

Physicians prescribe rest; Wang Xi secretly sends news to the palace that Prince Jing was traumatized by an assassination attempt.

Emperor receives the message and is gravely concerned, sends reinforcements and starts a thorough investigation.

The emperor suspects political sabotage tied to the throne’s succession and suspects a prince might be involved.

Li Yu warns Prince Jing to beware of the sixth prince, using his "carp spirit foresight" as an excuse.

He subtly reveals parts of the original novel’s plot without disclosing the ending or that Prince Jing becomes emperor.

Prince Jing grows more suspicious of the sixth prince, recalling his past behavior.

Curious, Prince Jing asks if he can learn Li Yu’s “foresight technique,” but Li Yu dodges the question.

The prince emotionally asks how long Li Yu will stay; Li Yu honestly says he doesn’t know.

Prince Jing reacts intensely, pulls Li Yu into an embrace, and silently pleads for him not to leave.

Wang Xi interrupts to call Prince Jing to interrogate the captured assassins; Prince Jing entrusts Li Yu’s care to him.

Li Yu, alone, enters the system to check on completed quests and claims a reward for “Through Thick and Thin.”

He’s offered to choose another of Prince Jing’s secrets and requests to revisit one involving Changchun Palace.

In the secret memory, Li Yu now notices a baby (Prince Jing) hidden in swaddling, witnessing a violent scene.

Realizes the baby is Prince Jing himself, who had unconsciously witnessed his wet nurse being murdered.

This traumatic, forgotten memory is one of Prince Jing’s deepest secrets.

Li Yu emerges from the memory and the system notifies him that the “Revitalizing” quest has updated.

He is prompted to confirm his relationship status with Prince Jing—he chooses “lover.”

New quest unlocked: “Burn with Passion with the Tyrant.”

Li Yu reacts playfully to the system’s implication that it's time for romance to escalate.

Li Yu eagerly prepares for a romantic night, cleaning the room and laying out bright red bedding, jade pillows, and various ointments.

He uses his silver hourglass to time his transformation and wraps himself in blankets to wait for Prince Jing, hinting heavily at his intentions.

Prince Jing is delayed due to political and military concerns; Li Yu falls asleep waiting.

Waking up, Li Yu worries and goes to find Prince Jing, discovering him working late into the night with topographic maps and secret reports.

Prince Jing warmly welcomes Li Yu, holding his cold hands and explaining his plans.

The maps show strategic terrain near Luofeng Village, a choke point on the western border under threat from bandits.

A local noble, Squire Wu, is revealed through confession and investigation to be a front for the bandits, not the sixth prince as Li Yu initially assumed.

Squire Wu had funded an assassination attempt on Prince Jing, leading the prince to have him arrested.

When Wu refuses to confess, Prince Jing beats him and finds contraband weapons and treasures, exposing Wu’s true identity.

Wu is a plant by the bandits to help smuggle goods; the bandits underestimated Prince Jing.

Prince Jing executes Wu by hanging him at the village entrance and seizes his assets, openly declaring war on the bandits.

Li Yu admires Prince Jing’s strategic mind, feeling a mix of awe and romantic frustration.

Li Yu proposes a defense strategy: hiding villagers in expanded cellars to protect them and setting traps in the village and tunnels for ambushing the bandits.

Prince Jing is impressed and inspired by Li Yu’s ideas, but before they can talk more, Li Yu transforms back into a fish.

Prince Jing tenderly puts the fish back into its tank, notices the romantic setup (jade pillows and ointments), and realizes what he missed.

The village head panics, fearing that Prince Jing’s bold move will provoke a disastrous bandit retaliation.

As expected, the bandits attack at night—only to find the village empty and themselves trapped and ambushed by a well-planned counterattack.

Prince Jing’s strategy works perfectly, marking the first significant defeat of the powerful bandit group at the western border.

Li Yu walks through Luofeng Village with Wang Xi and guards, noticing the excitement and renewed spirit of the villagers after their victory over the bandits.

Wang Xi credits the uplifting mood to Prince Jing’s leadership in battle, his first real engagement against the bandits.

Prince Jing is hailed as a hero by villagers, having slain three bandits himself and used clever tactics involving hidden passageways and traps.

Villagers’ opinion of Prince Jing has transformed from fear to admiration; he's now seen as their protector.

The village head, once worried, is now endlessly praising Prince Jing, contrasting him with past ineffectual officials.

Li Yu is delighted that the prince is being recognized and reflects on his own small contribution—suggesting the use of tunnels.

Li Yu had insisted on watching the battle from a hidden spot instead of hiding; watching Prince Jing fight stirred deep emotions and admiration.

A touching moment occurs when an old woman stops Li Yu to give a handmade flower crown to Prince Jing, thanking him for saving her and her grandson during the chaos.

Li Yu, moved by the gesture and Prince Jing’s unexpected kindness, becomes even more proud and emotionally invested.

Back at their residence, Prince Jing is removing his armor when Li Yu excitedly touches it, appreciating that the blood was cleaned off for his sake.

Li Yu expresses his intent to fully accept every part of Prince Jing—including his violent past and scars—because love means accepting everything.

Touched, Prince Jing embraces and passionately kisses Li Yu.

Prince Jing then chooses a dazzling red and gold robe to change into and gives Li Yu matching garments—red silk robes embroidered with peonies and a lifelike fish, mirroring his fish form.

They dress each other, do each other's hair, and wear matching red outfits, looking like they’re getting married.

Prince Jing surprises Li Yu by pulling out a fish-shaped rock Li Yu had lost, followed by a jade figure from the fishpond.

Overjoyed, Li Yu plays with both in his hands, cherishing the memory and emotional connection.

Prince Jing then produces a jar of fragrant green plum wine and special jade cups etched with fish that fit together as a pair.

They clink arms and drink the wine together—symbolizing a wedding toast.

Prince Jing retrieved the wine from Duke of Cheng’en—it was originally meant to be their wedding wine.

Li Yu then gives Prince Jing the flower crown from the old woman and asks about the story; Prince Jing confirms it but doesn’t explain that he only acted out of concern for Li Yu’s wishes.

Prince Jing puts the flower crown on Li Yu instead, believing he’s the one who deserves the gratitude.

In return, Li Yu playfully picks a red bloom and places it on Prince Jing’s chest, teasing that he looks like a groom now.

Li Yu, flustered by the atmosphere and his own thoughts, awkwardly asks if Prince Jing is tired, to which the prince emphatically shakes his head.

Prince Jing pulls him in for another kiss, their lips tasting of wine.

He lifts Li Yu and takes him to a bed covered in red bedding—one Li Yu had secretly prepared.

Prince Jing gently undoes the hair bun he had styled for Li Yu.

As they prepare for their first night together, Li Yu tries to be flirtatious and references yao folklore about “absorbing essence,” but is immediately interrupted as Prince Jing pounces.

Li Yu, still affected by his human form intimacy, enjoys the aftereffects of passion with Prince Jing despite being a fish again.

The system bombards Li Yu with notifications, indicating the completion of the “Burn with Passion” quest.

Prince Jing pauses to ask Li Yu if it’s time for him to transform back, showing his love and understanding of Li Yu’s fish transformation.

Li Yu expresses he doesn’t want to leave and emotionally affirms Prince Jing would never judge him, reinforcing their bond.

As the transformation hour nears its end, Prince Jing helps Li Yu transition gently back into his fish form.

Surprisingly, Li Yu conjures water himself while in Prince Jing’s hands, displaying new magical abilities.

After the transformation ends, Li Yu joyfully returns to Prince Jing in human form and declares that their “act” is only halfway done.

The two indulge in more passionate intimacy through the night, reigniting their love with intensity.

Li Yu wakes up exhausted and sore in his fish tank, wrapped in his usual leaf blanket on his rock bed.

He realizes the physical aftermath of their actions impacts him even in fish form, particularly at his tail fin.

Li Yu now understands how intense mating as a fish can be, metaphorically likening it to being skewered by a steel fork—twice.

He laments Prince Jing’s earlier vague gesture about duration, realizing he endured much more than expected.

Hungry and immobile, Li Yu is rescued by Prince Jing, who notices something’s wrong and tenderly cares for him.

Prince Jing feeds Li Yu, who eats, showing he’s not critically injured. Prince Jing had already summoned physicians, but they couldn’t provide a definite answer.

Despite the discomfort, Li Yu reassures Prince Jing through affectionate gestures and system-assisted recovery.

He enters the system to check the quest progress and is shocked by the wave of notifications waiting.

The system confirms that the “Burn with Passion” quest is complete and that the next one has begun: “Spread Your Seeds with the Tyrant.”

Li Yu panics after reading the quest description: he has to give birth to Prince Jing’s children.

The system had repeatedly asked for his consent, but in his passion, Li Yu blindly accepted all notifications, unintentionally starting the pregnancy quest.

The default form for the quest was set to fish, as he didn’t choose, and now he’s to give birth in that form.

Li Yu demands an explanation—how can a male fish give birth?

The system reveals it can alter genes and that some male fish can get pregnant in this world.

Li Yu despairs further and questions the possibility of human-fish offspring; the system assures him it’s all doable with rewards awaiting.

As a reward, Li Yu would gain double transformation time and the ability to cancel transformations.

The kicker: thanks to a skill called “One-Shot-and-Done,” he is already pregnant from that one night.

Completely flustered, Li Yu is kicked out of the system before he can claim his rewards.

Back in the tank, Li Yu suspects his slightly swollen belly might mean he’s carrying fish roe.

Prince Jing watches Li Yu’s behavior with concern, touching his back, not knowing what’s causing his agitation.

Li Yu stares at him, now overwhelmed by the thought that his incredibly handsome lover has just turned him into a pregnant fish.

Li Yu is physically recovering well from his “skewering,” but emotionally spirals over being pregnant as a fish.

He’s horrified by the idea of laying eggs, especially so soon after losing his virginity.

Prince Jing notices his dejection and showers him with care and attention.

Li Yu eats the red fish food Prince Jing offers and begins to let go of his resentment, realizing Jing couldn’t have known pregnancy was a risk.

He recalls that he was the one who initiated intimacy, and the guilt softens him.

Despite warming up, Li Yu is still anxious and unconsciously protects his belly from being touched.

Prince Jing adds a stone rocking chair to the tank, which cheers Li Yu—until he panics, realizing pregnant fish probably shouldn’t rock.

He struggles with the idea of telling Prince Jing about the pregnancy, fearing disbelief or rejection.

Ultimately, he decides not to tell him yet but affirms that he won’t consider getting rid of the life growing inside him.

Li Yu notices his belly is slightly bloated but isn't sure if it’s from food or pregnancy.

Worried about transforming and exposing a giant belly, he delays turning back into human form.

Prince Jing grows increasingly confused and anxious as Li Yu avoids intimacy despite no visible health issues.

Eventually, Li Yu transforms into human form and confirms that his stomach is still flat.

As he checks himself, Prince Jing catches him and passionately kisses him, reestablishing dominance and closeness.

Li Yu reciprocates affection, feeling guilty and loving at once.

They end up doing it again, leading to another moment of regret from Li Yu about potentially being pregnant again.

Li Yu consults the system, which tells him the "One-and-Done" pregnancy mechanic has now expired, and his fertility is back to normal.

Frustrated that he never wanted children, Li Yu is shown a vision by the system.

The vision shows an older, lonely Emperor Prince Jing, ignored by Chu Yanyu (from the original plotline).

Chu Yanyu only falls for him later in life, when Prince Jing no longer cares.

Li Yu then sees that in the original timeline, Prince Jing does have children—but only through concubines.

The system reveals that due to Li Yu’s interference, Prince Jing would never have children unless Li Yu provides them.

Li Yu realizes Prince Jing was willing to give up heirs entirely out of love for him.

Moved, Li Yu still expresses fear but doesn’t reject the idea entirely, saying he’ll think about it.

He claims his reward for the last quest: a secret about Prince Jing.

The vision shows Prince Jing noticing a fish scale on his robe and questioning Ye Qinghuan, revealing he knew Li Yu’s identity as a yao/fish much earlier than expected.

Li Yu realizes Prince Jing had always known he was the fish and had been doting on him all along in secret.

Deeply moved, Li Yu asks the system if giving birth as a fish hurts. The system says no.

Li Yu decides to go through with the pregnancy.

Over the next couple of weeks, his human body stays unchanged, but in fish form, he gradually grows too large to fit in his favorite ornamental mountain.

Prince Jing notices he’s getting “chubby,” prompting indignant internal protests from Li Yu.

Li Yu, the fish spirit protagonist, discovers he's somehow pregnant despite previously stating he couldn’t be.

He assumes the pregnancy will last months and decides to hide it from Prince Jing for now.

To avoid suspicion, he tells Prince Jing he needs to focus on "cultivation" and can't transform into his human form for a while.

Prince Jing grows suspicious but chooses to respect Li Yu’s wishes.

Li Yu becomes increasingly lethargic during the fourth week, barely swimming or using energy.

One night, he wakes up to find his stomach shrunk—realizing he has laid eggs.

He finds four glowing, pearl-like fish eggs in his tank and confirms they came from him.

Despite being surprised, Li Yu accepts the eggs as his and Prince Jing’s children and wraps them in his blanket.

He consults the system, which congratulates him for completing a quest line and unlocks a new child-rearing quest.

The system explains the eggs will hatch in 4–5 days, then need 9 months of feeding before they can become human by completing quests.

Li Yu begins incubating the eggs himself, using his body to keep them warm under a blanket on the silver rock bed.

Prince Jing notices Li Yu is being unusually lazy and wrapped in the blanket all the time, growing worried.

When Prince Jing tries to check on him, Li Yu desperately clings to the bed, refusing to be moved.

Taking advantage of a distraction when Prince Jing turns to speak with Wang Xi, Li Yu hides the eggs in the decorative cave.

Prince Jing tries to take Li Yu out for a walk in his crystal bottle, but Li Yu refuses, choosing to stay behind to incubate the eggs.

After Prince Jing leaves, Li Yu retrieves the eggs and returns to incubate them, accidentally carrying one in his mouth and the rest on his back.

Just as he reaches the bed again, Prince Jing unexpectedly returns and catches sight of the egg in Li Yu’s mouth.

Li Yu panics but then decides to confess everything.

He transforms into his human form, explains that he laid four eggs, and apologizes for not telling Prince Jing earlier.

Prince Jing is stunned by the revelation but slowly realizes these are his and Li Yu’s children.

Li Yu nervously explains his plan to incubate and raise the eggs, including the system's involvement.

Prince Jing, regaining his composure, tells Li Yu with a warm, determined gaze that he’ll help him raise the children and won’t let him do it alone.

Li Yu has successfully laid fish eggs and is now incubating them.

Prince Jing offers to help and insists on warming the eggs with his palms, alternating hands to keep them at a constant temperature.

Li Yu is deeply moved by Prince Jing’s care and affection, feeling overwhelmed by emotion and secure in his presence.

Instead of sitting next to Prince Jing, Li Yu climbs into his lap and refuses to rest despite Prince Jing’s insistence.

Prince Jing dedicates himself to incubating the eggs for the full four days, handling all affairs one-handed while keeping the eggs warm.

Li Yu, now able to maintain human form for four hours, wants to help but Prince Jing insists on doing it himself.

On the fourth day, the eggs hatch while Li Yu is asleep; Prince Jing excitedly reveals the four baby fish, each about an inch long.

Li Yu is overjoyed. He can’t tell the baby fish apart, though Prince Jing claims they all resemble him.

Prince Jing puts the baby fish in a tea bowl so they’re easier to see and care for.

Li Yu transforms into a fish and swims with his babies, who excitedly respond to him.

They are transparent with small black eyes, but very lively.

Prince Jing feeds them a mixture of boiled egg yolk and soy milk per the system’s instructions.

A system notification announces “Team Mode,” meaning Li Yu can now go on quests with his baby fish.

Future pregnancies will be normal, but this one resulted in four babies—possibly hinting at even more children to come.

Prince Jing confirms all four babies are male and names them Kai, Xin, Wei, and Heng (with the “heart” radical as tradition).

Li Yu gives them placeholder nicknames: Dabao, Erbao, Sanbao, and Sibao.

Prince Jing hands Li Yu a thick stack of papers—plans for their children’s education and development, drafted during egg incubation.

Li Yu realizes Prince Jing is incredibly serious about raising the children properly.

While flipping through the documents, Li Yu finds a piece of red paper with a stamped message: “An Eternal Happy Union.”

Prince Jing formally proposes to Li Yu, completing the gesture with keepsakes from their earlier union.

Blushing and emotional, Li Yu realizes this is a marriage proposal and happily accepts.

Prince Jing had prepared the marriage contract long ago, planning to secure official status for Li Yu and their children.

Li Yu expresses surprise that he and Prince Jing are getting married so soon.

Prince Jing feels insecure because Li Yu never mentioned wanting marriage or a title.

Li Yu reassures him, signs the marriage contract, and uses a beautiful seal Prince Jing had custom-made for him.

The official ceremony hasn’t happened yet, but the contract symbolizes their commitment.

Prince Jing sends a letter to the emperor requesting his blessing and starts preparing a formal wedding.

Li Yu’s main mission becomes raising their fish babies, born from his merman form.

He names them Dabao, Erbao, Sanbao, and Sibao, learning to tell them apart by their unique traits.

Li Yu starts teaching the babies words like “eat” and “swim.” Most learn quickly except for Sibao, who is adorably slow and often confused.

To prevent them from getting lost, Li Yu teaches them to form a swimming chain by biting each other’s fins.

Sibao gets carried on Li Yu’s head due to his slowness, making the others jealous.

Li Yu rewards them with peach blossom pastries for trying to say “Daddy.” Dabao succeeds first, followed by Erbao and Sanbao.

Sibao struggles, nearly falls asleep, and sinks before barely managing to say “Daddy” with a pastry bribe.

Prince Jing watches this lovingly but can’t understand the fish language.

Li Yu tries to show off the babies' speaking skills using pastry, but the babies just associate "Dad" with food and rush toward it, confusing Prince Jing for their dad.

To cover for the sudden appearance of the fish babies, Prince Jing tells everyone they’re Xiaoyu’s children, avoiding suspicion.

Wang Xi, the loyal eunuch, is delighted and takes protecting the fish babies seriously, treating them as young masters.

Meanwhile in the capital, the emperor is worried for Prince Jing’s safety due to prior assassination attempts.

He’s overjoyed when he receives a report detailing Prince Jing’s victorious battle against bandits and his impressive tactics.

The emperor is impressed but cautious not to overly reward him, sending armor as a quiet recognition.

Prince Jing also credits Li Yu for his strategic help, requesting to reward him.

The emperor gives permission, expecting a small reward.

Over several letters, Prince Jing keeps hinting that any reward isn’t enough.

Finally, Prince Jing writes that he wants to marry Li Yu and give him the title of Consort.

The emperor is shocked upon learning that Prince Jing requested to marry Li Yu as a reward.

He realizes Prince Jing tricked him using vague wording and prior approval messages.

The emperor is furious, both for being tricked and because the consort in question is a man.

Though male concubines exist in the dynasty, having one as an official consort is scandalous, especially for a prince.

Allowing Li Yu to become the official consort could hinder future political marriages for Prince Jing.

The emperor decides not to respond directly to Prince Jing’s request to delay or quietly reject it.

He reflects that if Prince Jing had chosen a noblewoman, he would’ve supported the match wholeheartedly.

Angry and disappointed, the emperor sends Prince Jing to the western border and summons Ye Qian (Prince Jing’s grandfather).

Ye Qian gently defuses the emperor’s anger, suggesting that Prince Jing’s genuine affection means Li Yu is more than a whim.

The emperor remembers that noble young ladies have avoided Prince Jing due to his muteness; suitable options are few.

Ye Qian implies that Prince Jing has never asked for anything before, highlighting how serious he is about Li Yu.

Meanwhile, Prince Jing sends another letter (unaware he’s being ignored), including Li Yu’s suggestion about dealing with locusts on the western border.

The emperor, despite being annoyed, becomes curious about Li Yu’s ideas because of his past help with bandits.

The fish babies Li Yu gave birth to begin to show koi features after a month.

Dabao becomes gold-scaled; Erbao has gold with silver; Sanbao is all silver and the most beautiful.

Sibao initially shows no color change, worrying Li Yu.

Eventually, Sibao also changes—but into a black fish, unlike his brothers.

Sibao feels left out and downcast, but Li Yu reassures him that he is loved regardless of his appearance.

Li Yu and the babies visit Prince Jing, who is delighted by Sibao’s black fish form, as it reminds him of Li Yu’s original look.

Li Yu keeps falling asleep while reading ancient Chinese, rocking the bottle of fish babies in the process.

Prince Jing hushes the babies and wraps himself and Li Yu together in a robe, creating a cozy space.

He kisses the sleeping Li Yu, revealing he has already submitted the request for Li Yu to be officially recognized.

The fish babies watch curiously; Sibao imitates his brothers but glances back with extra interest.

Li Yu wakes up with sudden clarity, recalling the word he couldn’t recognize: “locust disaster.”

Alarmed, he asks if there’s a locust outbreak; Prince Jing shows him it’s far from their current location.

Li Yu clarifies he’s not afraid, but wants to help the villagers stop the infestation.

Prince Jing trusts Li Yu and is willing to let him handle the locust problem.

Li Yu reveals he has some knowledge from his previous life and suggests three solutions: deep plowing, crop selection, and a duck army.

Prince Jing is skeptical but open-minded. Li Yu assures him he won’t be participating directly—he's scared of bugs and fire.

Li Yu explains the methods: deep plowing exposes locust eggs to sunlight, crops can be chosen that locusts avoid, and ducks eat locusts directly.

Prince Jing tests the duck theory, and Wang Xi confirms that ducks eagerly eat locusts.

Excited by the results, Prince Jing uses personal funds to immediately buy ducks from nearby villages.

Li Yu suggests also buying ducklings and starting a duck farm for long-term locust control.

Locals are cooperative and donate ducks due to gratitude; surrounding counties also send ducks.

Bandits lose interest in robbing since they hope Prince Jing will fail with the locust issue.

Over 5,000 ducks and 1,000 ducklings are gathered.

Ducks are deployed in infested areas and prove very effective, with minimal losses.

As news spreads, merchants try to profiteer by hoarding ducks and reselling them at higher prices.

Prince Jing refuses to buy from scalpers. When they’re desperate to offload ducks later, Wang Xi buys them at a drastically reduced price.

A duck farm is established, and the ducklings grow fast thanks to the locust diet.

Ducks start laying eggs, which helps replenish the army.

Prince Jing and Wang Xi now manage duck and chicken logistics like pros.

Sibao, one of the fish babies, escapes the fish tank trying to see the ducklings and ends up flopping helplessly on the floor.

His three siblings follow to rescue him, resulting in all four fish babies out of water.

Li Yu wakes up, panics, and rescues them, learning that Sibao just wanted to see the ducklings.

Sibao is terrified by the full-grown ducks, realizing he prefers the ducklings.

Li Yu teases Dabao, who apologizes for not being strong enough to save Sibao. He declares he wants to grow up to protect his family.

Li Yu is touched but reminds Dabao to recognize his current limits and grow gradually.

With the duck army in full swing, the locust plague is under control.

Villagers adopt ducks as a locust-prevention method.

The new issue is storing the fat, well-fed duck army.

Li Yu, excited at the sight of so many ducks, suggests eating roast duck.

Prince Jing agrees, leading to the fictional opening of “Quanjude” (a famous roast duck brand) at the western border.

Prince Jing reports on the effective eradication of the locusts and includes a marriage contract with Li Yu in his letter to the emperor.

The emperor, although initially annoyed that Prince Jing acted without consultation, recognizes this as the first time Prince Jing is asking for something for himself.

The emperor sees Prince Jing's handwriting on the marriage contract and begins to realize Prince Jing is truly in love.

Despite reservations, the emperor respects Li Yu’s talent, particularly after his effective locust control strategies were validated by the Ministry of Works.

Prince Jing bypassed bureaucracy by spending his own money to control the locusts, which impressed and mildly infuriated the emperor.

The emperor reads county reports praising Prince Jing for using ducks to eliminate locusts, which paints a humorous and effective picture.

Though conflicted, the emperor is forced to acknowledge Prince Jing’s decisive competence and increasing influence.

The emperor is aware that everything in Prince Jing’s letter praises Li Yu, clearly aimed at legitimizing him as a suitable partner.

Court rumors spread about Prince Jing’s successes and the potential threat he poses, prompting the sixth prince, Mu Tianxiao, to scheme.

Mu Tianxiao is relieved when the emperor punishes him only mildly for the nursery rhyme incident and even awards him Prince Jing’s former Ministry of Works job.

He believes the remote western border will eliminate Prince Jing eventually without intervention.

However, Prince Jing gains further acclaim by wiping out local bandits, overshadowing Mu Tianxiao’s petty achievements.

Upon hearing that Prince Jing requested to marry a male youth, Mu Tianxiao is delighted, thinking this could ruin Prince Jing’s future.

Mu Tianxiao and his mother, Consort Zhang, manipulate the emperor by invoking memories of Empress Xiaohui and her wishes for Prince Jing’s happiness.

Moved by nostalgia and emotion, the emperor finally replies: Li Yu is worthy, but due to his gender and infertility, he can only be made a concubine.

Li Yu comforts Prince Jing, accepting the position happily and hoping future achievements might change the emperor’s mind.

Prince Jing is actually satisfied with the response, as it gives him the perfect opening for his next plan.

He had hesitated to reveal the fish babies’ existence, fearing rejection, but now that infertility is the only issue, he decides to announce the “pregnancy.”

Originally planning to invent a fake concubine as the mother, he now decides to credit Li Yu directly, claiming Li Yu’s unique nature allows him to bear children.

Prince Jing feels confident: once the fish babies transform into humans, he’ll have physical proof, and the emperor won’t be able to contradict his earlier logic.

He notes that life at the border offers secrecy and freedom — no one can verify a pregnancy — so he plans to pretend Li Yu is visibly pregnant using a pillow.

Prince Jing tells Li Yu to pretend to be pregnant as part of a plan, using pillows to simulate a belly.

Li Yu is shocked but agrees, rationalizing that the fish babies are his children either way.

Wang Xi, the head eunuch, learns of the "pregnancy" and is deeply moved, believing it's real. He even cries with joy.

Prince Jing instructs Wang Xi to prepare for the wedding, increasing Wang Xi’s excitement and effort.

Prince Jing arranges for physicians to “diagnose” Li Yu from behind a veil. A real pregnant woman stands in for Li Yu, and the physicians confirm he’s two months pregnant.

This diagnosis is sent to the emperor. The emperor is stunned but considers the possibility due to the supposed unique constitution of Li Yu.

Imperial physicians and a monk named Liao Kong are consulted. The monk cryptically states: “The world is vast and full of wonders,” suggesting it might be possible.

The emperor agrees: if Li Yu can truly bear children, he’ll be promoted to consort.

Meanwhile, Prince Jing parades Li Yu around the village as his “pregnant” partner, enjoying everyone's admiration.

Bandits try to attack during this time but are defeated due to advanced preparations like traps and tunnels.

Prince Jing is constantly by Li Yu’s side, doting on him and handling all responsibilities.

Li Yu is eventually not even allowed to hold the crystal bottle containing their fish babies; Wang Xi takes over that job.

The fish babies start to sense something odd with their “dad” being “pregnant.”

Dabao, the smartest of the fish babies, figures something out. Erbao and Sanbao innocently think a new sibling is coming. Sibao thinks Li Yu just ate too many pastries.

One day, while Li Yu is feeding the fish, Dabao suddenly transforms into a human baby—the first one to complete the “Growing Up” system quest.

Li Yu panics but quickly cares for human-Dabao. Luckily, the transformation didn’t happen in the fish tank.

Prince Jing, already prepared with baby clothes, helps bundle Dabao and gets emotional seeing his child as a human.

Dabao, curious and brave at first, tries to move but becomes scared and cries when he realizes he can’t swim or speak.

Prince Jing enters, emotional, and holds the baby. He and Li Yu both tear up from joy and wonder.

The three other fish babies—Erbao, Sanbao, and Sibao—are shocked and frightened upon seeing Dabao as a human.

Dabao, the eldest fish baby, unexpectedly transforms into a human baby.

Prince Jing tells the staff that Li Yu is in labor to cover up the transformation.

A trusted confidant with medical knowledge acts as the “midwife.”

Wang Xi is excited at the news and surprised to hear that Li Yu is supposedly having twins.

Dabao is declared healthy, though he's crying hard—which surprises Li Yu, since fish-Dabao never cried.

Prince Jing is relieved the baby isn’t mute like him, easing his hereditary worries.

The confidant leaves so Prince Jing and Li Yu can await the other transformations.

The couple expected all the babies to transform at once, but only Dabao does.

Time becomes a problem—they can’t wait too long or the “labor” cover story will seem suspicious.

Li Yu transforms into a fish to speak directly with the three untransformed fish babies.

Erbao, Sanbao, and Sibao are scared of turning into humans after watching Dabao transform and become immobile.

Li Yu begins "persuasion missions" on each one: 1. Sibao is bribed with a peach blossom pastry and momentarily distracted. 2. Erbao is tempted with food and duckling playtime. 3. Sanbao is swayed by the promise of pretty clothes and accessories.

Erbao and Sanbao agree and simultaneously transform into chubby human infants.

Prince Jing quickly picks them up. Li Yu observes that they look more like Prince Jing than himself.

Erbao and Sanbao cry, likely because they expected instant rewards.

Sibao remains resistant despite bribes—he claims he’s happy just being with his dads.

Li Yu plays along emotionally and asks if Sibao would help his dad by transforming.

Sibao agrees but fails to transform—he doesn’t know how.

After some confusion, Li Yu reminds him about the system and quests.

Sibao admits the system was annoying, so he ignored it.

Li Yu tells him to cooperate with the system.

Sibao finally follows the system’s guidance and transforms into a baby, appearing angelic and smiling.

The system announces the “Growing Up” quest is complete—babies are now part of the human world.

Li Yu feels bittersweet about not seeing his fish babies in their fish forms for seven years.

If the babies remember being fish at age seven, they can complete a new quest to transform again.

Prince Jing comforts Li Yu with gentle affection, reassuring him he’s never alone.

Li Yu recovers emotionally and joins Prince Jing in the crystal bottle to meet the children.

Prince Jing rings a jade bell, summoning Wang Xi, who is shocked to see four babies instead of two.

Wang Xi joyfully thanks the heavens.

A gynecological expert arrives to verify the unusual pregnancy and birth.

Due to Li Yu needing rest, the expert can only check his pulse behind a veil.

The emperor wants confirmation that the babies are Prince Jing’s.

Prince Jing provides his own blood for testing to avoid disturbing Li Yu.

The test confirms all four babies are biologically his, and none are mute.

The physician writes to the capital, sharing the extraordinary news.

The emperor is shocked and overjoyed to receive a letter stating Prince Jing now has four healthy sons, none mute.

Overcome with emotion, he issues an imperial edict: 1. Li Yu is officially named Prince Jing’s consort. 2. The oldest son is made shizi (heir). 3. The second son becomes a rank five Cloud Cavalry Commandant. 4. The third son becomes a rank seven Grace Cavalry Commandant. 5. Even the youngest receives a Grace Cavalry title.

Head Eunuch Luo notes the emperor’s hypocrisy—he had previously refused to give Li Yu the consort position.

The emperor, thrilled about grandsons he hasn't even met, decides to summon them in the future after they’re older.

He keeps the news secret, informing only Duke Cheng’en (Prince Jing’s grandfather), who celebrates privately.

The emperor officially agrees to Prince Jing and Li Yu's wedding and allows it to happen at the western border.

Prince Jing submits a list of nobles who had hoarded ducks during the locust crisis.

The emperor discovers this was a conspiracy involving the Marquis of Jinyi and Vice Director Qin—connected to the third prince.

The emperor punishes them: demoting the Marquis of Jinyi, and turning the third prince into the insignificant Marquis of Ping.

Mu Tianming (third prince) begs outside the palace for forgiveness but is ignored.

Sixth prince Mu Tianxiao offers comfort, but it’s a betrayal—he confesses to framing the third prince to eliminate him.

A shocked and furious Mu Tianming realizes his trust was broken; Mu Tianxiao walks away victorious and unbothered.

Mu Tianxiao believes Prince Jing marrying a man will ruin his political influence—until he hears Prince Jing has four di sons.

Panicked and jealous, Mu Tianxiao realizes Prince Jing’s muteness no longer matters and he’s once again a strong political rival.

He begins obsessing over finding flaws in Prince Jing to use against him.

Back at the western border, Prince Jing and Li Yu struggle with their new “children.”

The babies refuse to breastfeed from wet nurses, crying constantly unless Li Yu holds them.

It’s implied the fish-born children are too attached to their "fish dad."

Li Yu considers breastfeeding himself; Prince Jing is stunned and wonders if carp spirits can even do that.

Li Yu tries to feed baby Dabao with a spoon since there are no bottles in ancient times, but Dabao dislikes the bland milk.

Realizing the fish babies prefer sweet things, Li Yu tempts Dabao with peach blossom pastries, tricking him into drinking milk.

Prince Jing watches and misunderstands the situation at first, expecting something spicier, but is touched by Li Yu’s gentle parenting.

Prince Jing joins in, feeding Sibao, who enjoys it and clings to his father, happy to be held.

The other babies cry until each gets to be held and fed; eventually, Li Yu and Prince Jing each hold two babies.

At night, the babies refuse to sleep without their dads and cling tightly to Li Yu, who ends up surrounded and unable to move.

Prince Jing is left jealous and distant, but later joins Li Yu once the babies fall asleep.

The couple has a passionate essence-absorbing session, with Li Yu left weak and teary-eyed, suspecting revenge for biting Prince Jing before.

The next morning, Li Yu is sore and glares at Prince Jing, who teases him with a lick of his lips.

The babies slowly adapt to being human with Li Yu’s help.

An imperial edict arrives, officially naming Li Yu as Prince Jing’s consort, setting their marriage in stone.

Prince Jing immediately prepares the wedding, eager and impatient despite everything being ready.

Li Yu is moved by how seriously Prince Jing takes the wedding and how he still wants to go through the ceremony even after having children.

Wang Xi reveals Prince Jing had the consort robe specially made to suit Li Yu, including a koi fish motif rather than the standard phoenix.

Li Yu dresses in radiant red Yuehua brocade with gold-thread fish embroidery and a fish-themed headpiece, feeling radiant and grateful.

Prince Jing’s robes match in theme, with his belt styled like aquatic plants and the silver bead Li Yu once gave him attached.

They wear each other’s special keepsakes — Li Yu the jade figure, Prince Jing the fishy rock — symbolizing their bond.

Wang Xi tears up with emotion as the wedding begins.

Li Yu, without any family, is escorted by Prince Jing himself in a carriage through the village, feeling truly accepted.

Villagers cheer loudly, calling him "Consort," filling Li Yu with a deep sense of belonging.

Back home, the babies are left with the wet nurse. Sibao realizes it's the wedding day and tries to attend by rolling off the bed.

Erbao and Sanbao follow, but all three get stuck face-down.

Dabao watches in judgment, calling them stupid with a baby "Ahhh!"

Prince Jing keeps mental track of Li Yu’s fish transformation time during their wedding day.

The wedding procession is quick but mindful of not disturbing the couple; the driver is an old loyal servant who practiced for a month.

Prince Jing’s guards keep villagers at bay while returning to the residence.

The emperor, though absent, sends so many gifts that it takes over an hour to announce them all.

The wedding is intimate; Prince Jing invites village elders and close friends instead of nobles.

The emperor’s edict and Empress Xiaohui’s memorial tablet stand in for parents during the ceremony.

Ye Qinghuan arrives unexpectedly, exhausted from travel but happy to see Prince Jing getting married.

Prince Jing surprisingly welcomes Ye Qinghuan warmly and drinks marriage wine with him.

Ye Qinghuan reflects on how the House of Cheng’en supported Prince Jing silently while he endured hardship at the border.

Concerned about heirs, Ye Qinghuan offers his future son to Prince Jing to adopt, assuming Li Yu can’t bear children.

Prince Jing doesn’t need it; he already has children.

Wang Xi arrives with four crying babies—Dabao, Erbao, Sanbao, and Sibao—because they were inconsolable and wanted to attend the wedding.

The babies wear swaddles that match their fish forms (gold, silver, gold/silver mix, black).

Ye Qinghuan is completely shocked to learn that Li Yu gave birth to four children and even more stunned that a man can do so.

Wang Xi gives him a vague but true explanation; Ye Qinghuan has to believe it due to the resemblance between the babies and their parents.

Ye Qinghuan feels defeated—he thought Prince Jing had no children, but he’s already ahead of him with four sons.

Prince Jing starts the wedding ceremony at the auspicious time.

Li Yu is flustered by the heavy wedding regalia and nervous about stepping over the ceremonial brazier.

Prince Jing lifts Li Yu and carries him over the brazier, embarrassing him in front of guests.

The couple performs their wedding bows—to the heavens, ancestors, and each other.

Though already married by contract, the ceremony is a public declaration of their bond.

Prince Jing ensures Xiaoyu’s transformation timing is monitored even during the ceremony.

After the guests leave, he gifts Li Yu a painting showing their fish family: two large fish (him and Li Yu) and four small fish (the children).

Li Yu is touched, especially by the black fish representing Prince Jing.

They drink plum wine from the same jade cups they used on their consummation night.

Li Yu playfully feeds wine to Prince Jing with his mouth, and they begin to make love.

Just as things heat up, the babies start crying again in the next room.

Li Yu pleads with Prince Jing to check on them; Prince Jing reluctantly pauses their night to get the kids.

All four babies are crying, missing their fish dad.

Prince Jing picks them up and brings them to their marital room.

The babies only calm down once they see Li Yu and insist on sleeping with their parents.

Li Yu feels their wedding night is ruined but is reassured when Prince Jing pulls him close despite the babies' presence.

Li Yu lies on top of Prince Jing, worried about crushing him, but Prince Jing only cuddles him and kisses him silently.

They kiss sweetly while waiting for the children to fall asleep and for Li Yu to transform.

The chapter ends with a quiet moment of intimacy and the promise that, despite chaos, they’ll always find time for each other.

Prince Jing’s wedding night is supposed to be undisturbed, but Ye Qinghuan tries to sneak a peek.

Wang Xi intercepts him and suggests he go to the roast duck place Prince Jing opened in honor of his consort.

As Ye Qinghuan contemplates the duck, Prince Jing bursts out of the bedroom half-naked, clutching something hidden in clothes.

Ye Qinghuan sees a glimpse of a silver-gold fish tail—Prince Jing’s beloved pet fish.

Both Ye Qinghuan and Wang Xi are stunned; Ye starts questioning Prince Jing’s… “interests.”

Turns out, Li Yu transformed back into a fish during the wedding night, and there was no fish tank in the room.

Prince Jing had to rush Li Yu next door to the tank, running into the others in the process.

Li Yu hides in embarrassment, relieved no one knows the truth.

The couple ends up spending their wedding night in the next room due to the tank situation.

Next morning, Li Yu is exhausted, draped on his silver rock bed like a fish pancake.

Prince Jing tends to him lovingly before going to see their fish babies.

Ye Qinghuan, still disturbed by last night, confronts Prince Jing, worried he’s mistreating Li Yu.

Wang Xi also awkwardly advises Prince Jing to treat the consort well.

Prince Jing is baffled by both of them.

Li Yu finally logs into his system space, realizes it’s been quiet since the “Growing Up” quest.

Reflects on past quest rewards and how he’s come to accept the system despite its tricks.

A new main quest line appears: “Postpartum Care for Fish.”

Two steps—hatching and feeding fish babies—are already complete, and Li Yu can claim rewards (secrets about Prince Jing).

He learns the next quest is “Protect the Pet Fish,” the reward for which is a permanent human form.

This quest involves becoming a Merman or Manmer for three days, unable to move, and relying on Prince Jing’s protection.

Failure occurs if discovered; it’s a one-chance deal.

Li Yu learns the horror: a Merman is human upper-half, fish lower-half; a Manmer is the reverse (fish upper, human lower).

He’s horrified at the idea of turning into a Manmer.

Realizes the importance of planning and decides to warn Prince Jing first before accepting the quest.

The chapter ends with Li Yu quietly asking Prince Jing for help with a “tribulation,” setting the stage for the next quest.

Li Yu tells Prince Jing he must undergo a “tribulation” due to being a carp spirit, which will last three days.

He explains he’ll be in a half-human, half-fish state and asks Prince Jing to keep him safe and hidden.

Prince Jing listens attentively and promises to ensure Li Yu’s safety.

Li Yu is worried about how he’ll look and asks Prince Jing not to laugh or be frightened.

Internally, Li Yu laments the system’s demand for a humiliating transformation but knows he must go through with it to become fully human.

Prince Jing writes that he’ll make preparations and asks Li Yu to wait for a few days.

They decide to do it soon while still at the western border, where Prince Jing has full control and fewer prying eyes.

Prince Jing selects a secret residence connected to their main home via tunnel and gets it ready.

Prince Jing prepares large quantities of food and water and assigns Wang Xi and Ye Qinghuan to care for the children while he and Li Yu leave.

Li Yu suggests they pretend it’s a honeymoon to explain their absence.

Ye Qinghuan protests having to babysit but is outvoted; the couple leaves.

The fish babies react to being left behind. They’re comfortable with Wang Xi but wary of the unfamiliar Ye Qinghuan.

Dabao, Erbao, Sanbao, and Sibao all show unique personalities. Sibao bites Ye Qinghuan’s finger, causing him to howl.

Prince Jing and Li Yu arrive at the secret house with a pond specially dug for this purpose.

Prince Jing gives Li Yu a protective charm from his late mother, blessed and meant to keep him safe.

Li Yu feels guilty since there’s no real tribulation, but is still touched by Prince Jing’s sincerity.

Li Yu asks Prince Jing to turn around before starting the transformation.

He enters the system and begins the quest.

He finds himself in a horrifying half-transformed Manmer state: human legs, but fishy top half with fins instead of hands.

Unable to breathe, he flings himself into the pond with a cloth over his head to hide.

Prince Jing is confused and concerned, especially as Li Yu keeps avoiding him.

Li Yu tries to maintain distance while underwater, still wrapped in the cloth.

Prince Jing sees a fin and realizes Li Yu’s embarrassment.

Rather than approach directly, Prince Jing gently uses a bamboo stick with a piece of his sleeve to pat Li Yu’s head from afar, a familiar gesture of comfort.

Li Yu, now in his Manmer form, plays in the water as Prince Jing "fishes" for him with a bamboo pole.

He grabs the bamboo pole with his fin and ends up in Prince Jing’s arms.

Li Yu is worried Prince Jing might be scared of his form, but Prince Jing reassures him by treating him normally and kindly.

Li Yu hides under a cloth to avoid showing his face, and Prince Jing respects his privacy.

He spends the night sleeping in Prince Jing’s arms.

The next morning, Li Yu checks his hands and finds he’s no longer a Manmer—his fins are gone, and his human hands are back.

Excited, he removes the cloth, finds his face human, and confirms he’s in his Merman form this time.

He admires his appearance, especially his silver-gold tail, and experiments with his new form.

On land, he can’t walk properly with his tail, but he can jump around like a fishy pogo stick.

The tail dries out easily, but it's manageable—overall, being a Merman is a big upgrade over the awkward Manmer form.

He joyfully wakes Prince Jing while splashing around and hides his tail before being seen.

Prince Jing wakes and sees Li Yu's human upper half resting on the pool’s edge, then notices the shimmering tail in the water.

Amazed by Li Yu’s beautiful Merman form, Prince Jing is visibly stunned and enchanted.

Li Yu flirts and wraps his tail around Prince Jing seductively.

Feeling bold, Li Yu embraces Prince Jing and teases him, asking if he likes what he sees.

Prince Jing is clearly flustered but holds back due to Li Yu’s tribulation status.

Li Yu cheekily claims intimacy is part of his “love tribulation” and that carp spirits need to “absorb essence.”

Convinced (and tempted), Prince Jing agrees, lays out robes on the ground, and they consummate their relationship beside the pond.

They discover new, exciting aspects of Merman anatomy together.

After their romantic interlude, Prince Jing cleans and cares for Li Yu’s tail, noticing it’s a bit dry.

He gently wipes it with a wet cloth to help him sleep comfortably.

Later that night, loud drums and a commotion wake them.

Bandits attack Luofeng Village, thinking Prince Jing would be distracted by his wedding.

The village’s defenses are down due to the celebration, but Prince Jing had prepared in advance.

Prince Jing smiles coldly, ready to retaliate; Li Yu silently approves of the bandits’ impending doom.

Prince Jing gives Li Yu a secret report revealing the village ambush was a planned trap as part of Prince Jing’s “Wedding Leave Plan.”

The bandits planned to strike during the wedding, assuming lowered defenses, but Prince Jing had trained the locals and prepared secret countermeasures.

Luofeng Village appeared vulnerable, but was actually on high alert; Prince Jing wanted to eliminate the bandits quickly before leaving the border.

Li Yu feels reassured but worried when he hears children crying outside, thinking one might be his child, Dabao.

Prince Jing reassures him and tells him not to fall for the trick, as the crying is likely a lure.

Li Yu begs Prince Jing to check outside, promising to wait; Prince Jing agrees, gives him a protection token, and leaves.

Li Yu waits anxiously as time passes and the crying resumes, but Prince Jing doesn’t return.

Li Yu, now transformed from Merman to Manmer (with legs but unable to breathe air for long), decides to leave the secret residence.

He disguises himself with cloth and preps a fish tank full of water to carry with him.

Using the prince’s token, he convinces the guards to let him go and investigates the source of the crying.

He spots bandits with a baby in golden-hemmed cloth, assumes it's his child, and orders the guards to pursue them.

The bandits are caught, but the baby is not Dabao.

As he turns to leave, a smoke bomb explodes at his feet, and Li Yu faints.

Li Yu wakes up in water, still disguised, and overhears bandits discussing their failed attack and the plan to kidnap key figures.

The tactician among the bandits had instructed them to use fake babies to lure targets out; they succeeded in capturing Li Yu this way.

The bandits couldn’t remove his disguise, so they dumped him into a river near a temple.

Li Yu realizes he fell into a trap targeting him and possibly his children.

He reflects that his worry for the children made him act rashly and disobey Prince Jing’s plan.

Despite regretting his impulsiveness, he knows he would have made the same choice again out of paternal instinct.

Li Yu hides in a river after being captured by bandits but not yet recognized as Prince Jing's consort.

He confirms the bandits don’t have Dabao or know his identity, which gives him some relief.

When a bandit tries to pull him from the water, Li Yu kicks him, prompting the bandit to draw a knife.

Just as things get dangerous, Li Yu's body transforms from Manmer to Merman, regaining his tail.

He uses his tail to knock the bandit unconscious and hides the body behind a rock.

Realizing he can shift between forms based on intent (legs for escape, tail for combat), Li Yu experiments with transformations.

Attempting to turn into a human fails, but when he casually thinks about turning into a fish—he successfully does so.

Now a small fish, he hides in the river plants as the bandits panic over their missing hostage.

A scarred tactician searches the river but doesn’t find Li Yu. Before he can try again, chaos erupts—the bandits learn Prince Jing is approaching.

Prince Jing storms the temple, bloodied and furious, and quickly cuts down the bandits.

Only the tactician remains, who uses a smoke bomb and white powder to gain an advantage.

Despite appearing blinded, Prince Jing dodges the attack, then uses a hidden dagger to fatally stab the tactician.

Li Yu, now a Manmer again, rushes to help but finds Prince Jing already victorious.

Ashamed for leaving the secret residence, Li Yu apologizes profusely and fears Prince Jing’s anger.

Instead of scolding him, Prince Jing embraces Li Yu, giving back the charm that had fallen during the kidnapping.

They exchange emotional apologies—both confess to being driven by overwhelming worry over their children.

Prince Jing reassures Li Yu, taking responsibility for being late.

He reveals, without telling Li Yu directly, that he had also been misled into thinking Dabao was captured.

The couple reaffirm their trust in each other and promise to handle things better in the future.

Prince Jing wraps Li Yu in his robe and carries him out as guards finish off the remaining bandits.

Back at the residence, they see the children safe and playing with Ye Qinghuan.

Prince Jing shows Li Yu the kids are unharmed to ease his worries.

As a final "punishment," Prince Jing pats Li Yu’s head instead of scolding him, and they smile at each other.

The chapter ends with the couple reunited, ready to face the next tribulation together.

Li Yu isn’t sure if his mission is successful, but since the system hasn’t notified him of failure, he assumes he’s still good.

Prince Jing places the protective charm back on Li Yu and guards him, while Li Yu clings to him like an octopus, embarrassed yet relieved.

Li Yu suspects a mysterious tactician is targeting them, especially since the bandits used strategic child-related bait.

Prince Jing agrees, especially since the tactics used imply the tactician knew him well, including his habit of hiding a dagger in his boot.

Li Yu mentions the tactician has a scar on his hand resembling an animal bite.

Prince Jing recalls the same injury from a previous attacker in the palace, connecting the dots.

Li Yu remembers Xiongfeng, Ye Qinghuan’s dog, bit a masked man who tried to poison his fish food—also on the hand.

They both realize that the tactician may be the same person who poisoned the food and attacked Prince Jing earlier.

They suspect the second prince, but rule him out due to his mental breakdown and isolation.

The only logical suspect left: the sixth prince, Mu Tianxiao.

The sixth prince had used others (second and third prince) as shields while secretly orchestrating events.

Prince Jing finally confirms Mu Tianxiao as the real enemy and decides to retaliate.

A coded message—“Teach him a little lesson”—is sent to Prince Jing’s men in the capital.

His subordinates act swiftly, initiating an indirect political takedown.

Zheng Jing of the Ministry of Works reports that the sixth prince used inferior materials in royal renovations while charging for premium quality.

Evidence piles up, including pawned heirlooms and rosewood boxes tied to the sixth prince.

The emperor is furious, orders verification, and finds the accusations to be true.

The sixth prince denies everything, blaming a trusted aide, but the emperor doesn’t fully buy it.

Although the emperor spares him, he replaces all his attendants, signaling major distrust.

Meanwhile, Li Yu checks the mission status in the system.

“Protecting the Pet Fish” isn’t an automatic pass; it’s reassessed based on the tyrant’s actions.

Since two bandits saw Li Yu’s Merman form before dying, the outcome is ambiguous.

The system color-square spins and lands on yellow—neither a success nor a failure.

Li Yu suspects the system downgraded the result because he and Prince Jing were too horny during the mission.

The system reacts to Li Yu's assumptions and corrects him: a "yellow" grade means partial pass.

Li Yu reflects on how lenient the system is toward Prince Jing, suspecting he might’ve made it.

Li Yu receives a partial reward for the “Protecting the Pet Fish” mission.

The reward isn’t what he expected: he gains two new skills—“Turn into a Manmer” and “Turn into a Merman.”

His transformation duration extends to 24 hours once per day and can be canceled, giving him flexibility.

The transformations must be triggered by Li Yu himself using jade scales—others (like Prince Jing) can’t activate them.

A second set of rewards appears in the form of a “fish children status,” which lets him check on his baby fish.

Each child (Dabao, Sibao, Erbao, Sanbao) has a live view feature, like a magical baby monitor—usable 3 times a day per child.

Li Yu is overjoyed with this upgrade, finding it extremely helpful as a worried fish dad.

The system reveals that the main mission line isn’t complete; a new quest line will be added to earn remaining rewards.

Li Yu is mildly frustrated but feels okay since side quests won’t penalize him anymore.

He realizes he’s gotten used to the system, even appreciating it somewhat.

Back in the real world, Li Yu wakes up from the system interface in Merman form, in Prince Jing’s arms.

Due to his tail being dehydrated, he shifts into human form—but the transition causes an awkward position around Prince Jing.

Blushing, Li Yu repositions and tells Prince Jing that after one more tribulation, he can become human permanently.

Realizing his mistake in phrasing (implying he was human), he corrects himself to sound like a typical carp spirit.

Prince Jing promises to protect him during the next tribulation.

Li Yu expresses gratitude and affection, giving Prince Jing a light kiss on the cheek.

Prince Jing, with a teasing smile, hands Li Yu a note with his name “Tianchi” written on it.

Li Yu doesn’t understand at first and keeps calling him “Your Highness,” getting gently bitten every time.

Eventually, he realizes Prince Jing wants him to call him by name.

Li Yu tearfully and joyfully says “Tianchi,” and Prince Jing smiles, holding his hand.

Prince Jing hadn’t written more because he wanted Li Yu to figure it out on his own.

The chapter ends with a tender, romantic moment as Li Yu finally calls his beloved by name, symbolizing deeper intimacy.

Li Yu enjoys a peaceful life as Prince Jing’s consort, mainly raising the children and occasionally advising Prince Jing.

Thanks to Prince Jing’s efforts, threats on the western border (locusts and bandits) are neutralized, bringing stability.

The fish babies reach their 100-day milestone, prompting Prince Jing to throw an extravagant celebration.

Ye Qinghuan prepares to return to the capital, having helped during the crisis. Prince Jing entrusts him with a heartfelt letter of thanks for the emperor.

During the letter-writing, Li Yu and Wang Xi visit Prince Jing while carrying the four babies.

Dabao, the eldest, is frustrated by baby life, especially being unable to eat peach blossom pastries and having to drink milk.

Sibao, the youngest, is content and unbothered, often chewing on his own hands. Dabao resists copying him, but it’s a struggle.

Inspired by Prince Jing’s letter, Li Yu proposes the babies write a letter to the emperor—referred to as “Grandpa” to them.

Prince Jing supports the idea. Juice-based ink is prepared for the babies so they can safely “write.”

Dabao tries to write the character for “Da” (his name). His younger siblings imitate him, which frustrates him, prompting him to redirect them to write “Er” and “San.”

Erbao and Sanbao prefer copying “Da” instead, leading to squabbles. Li Yu separates them so they can each make unique contributions.

Sibao falls asleep mid-task, face down on the paper, leaving an accidental cheekprint covered in “ink.”

Each baby ends up contributing: Dabao writes “Da,” Erbao and Sanbao leave handprints, and Sibao unknowingly leaves a drool-marked faceprint.

Li Yu bundles their creations with Prince Jing’s formal letter and hands them to Ye Qinghuan.

Ye Qinghuan is surprised at the envelope’s thickness and touched by Li Yu’s gesture, especially when Li Yu calls him “cousin-in-law” after gifting a lucky charm made from the babies’ golden bracelets to the pregnant Princess of Jinjue.

Back in the capital, the emperor is deeply moved by the “letters,” especially the “Da” character he misreads as “Oa,” the handprints, and Sibao’s slobbery faceprint.

The emperor cherishes the pieces, considers framing the “Oa,” and becomes extremely fond of the babies despite never having met them.

Luo Ruisheng praises the children, especially Dabao, for their precociousness, further winning the emperor’s favor.

This admiration indirectly pressures the seventh and eighth princes, who are suddenly given more homework to catch up to their baby nephew’s “progress.”

The emperor also assigns top scholars from the Hanlin Academy to tutor Prince Jing’s children in the future.

Li Yu, upon hearing this, is amused by the emperor’s over-the-top doting.

Li Yu wonders what “Oa” meant, and Prince Jing doesn’t know either.

Dabao, disappointed, reflects on how he wrote “Da,” not “Oa,” and feels misunderstood.

Dabao becomes upset after realizing he misspelled a word he had carefully written.

Even his favorite peach blossom pastries can’t cheer him up.

Li Yu notices Dabao’s mood and gathers his fish brothers—Erbao, Sanbao, and Sibao—to comfort him.

The brothers, seeing Dabao sad, try to cheer him up with kisses ("kissies") as their fish dad does.

Sibao starts kissing Dabao, followed by Erbao and Sanbao.

Dabao is overwhelmed and protests, but eventually gives in and kisses Sibao back.

Li Yu laughs at the chaos and notes Sibao succeeded where Ye Qinghuan failed.

After the incident, Dabao becomes more lively and sociable with his brothers.

The boys become more affectionate and playful; Dabao tries to act annoyed, but secretly enjoys it.

Prince Jing observes the chaos but remains silent to keep Li Yu happy.

Meanwhile, Mu Tianxiao is impeached for corruption involving palace renovations.

Though he isn’t directly punished, the emperor removes all of his trusted subordinates.

Mu Tianxiao’s plan to win the support of the powerful Marquis of Dingbei through marriage backfires.

He had skimmed money using a fake wood supplier but was reported by Zheng Jing.

Mu Tianxiao realizes he’s isolated and powerless despite not being punished directly.

He resents the emperor and Zheng Jing but has no leverage.

His mother, Consort Zhang, tries to comfort him but doesn’t understand his political needs.

He reflects bitterly on the strength of Empress Xiaohui and her support for Prince Jing.

Mu Tianxiao suspects something about Prince Jing’s children and sends an agent west—who then vanishes.

While worrying about other princes gaining favor, he is approached by Chu Yanyu.

Chu Yanyu, his childhood friend and former lover, offers to help from within the harem.

Mu Tianxiao is surprised but accepts the offer, trusting Chu Yanyu’s loyalty and beauty.

Chu Yanyu offers to become an imperial concubine to gain power for Mu Tianxiao.

Mu Tianxiao is touched and optimistic, not seeing the slight smile Chu Yanyu hides.

With help from Consort Zhang’s tricks and timing, Chu Yanyu is introduced into the palace as "Noble Lord Chu."

Li Yu is shocked upon learning Chu Yanyu has become a male concubine to the emperor.

He’s confused about how Chu Yanyu went from Prince Jing’s manor to the imperial harem.

Li Yu realizes Chu Yanyu must’ve been given up by Prince Jing and returned to Mu Tianxiao.

Chu Yanyu ends up being offered to the emperor during a drunken night—echoing how Consort Zhang rose to power.

Li Yu worries this might affect Prince Jing’s view of the emperor, thinking he may feel the emperor betrayed Empress Xiaohui.

To comfort Prince Jing, Li Yu suggests trying something new (the "Merman"), and Prince Jing agrees.

As the weather turns colder, the family prepares to return to the capital.

The emperor, embarrassed by his drunken actions and having to accept Chu Yanyu, decides to summon Prince Jing back to the capital.

The emperor sends an edict for Prince Jing to return to the capital; his four children are now six months old.

The babies start refusing milk at six months, led by Dabao, and switch to rice mush despite the wet nurse’s protests.

The wet nurse feels rejected, but Li Yu reassures her, noting the children’s uniqueness while still preserving her job.

Prince Jing trusts Li Yu’s modern understanding of child-rearing and stops worrying about the early weaning.

With the border now peaceful and affairs handled, Prince Jing prepares for departure, leaving his trained soldiers and imperial guards with the village head.

The family has significantly more belongings than before, with extra carriages for baby supplies, caretakers, teachers, and doctors.

Li Yu grows emotional about leaving Luofeng Village, where he got married and had his children. He insists on taking sentimental items including fish plushies, the fish tank, and two pet ducks.

Wang Xi tries to dissuade Li Yu from bringing the ducks, but Prince Jing intervenes silently, backing Li Yu's wishes.

Wang Xi changes his stance and makes arrangements for transporting the ducks.

On departure day, Li Yu feels embarrassed seeing how much he packed, but Prince Jing reassures him, jokingly calling it his dowry.

They travel together with the children; Prince Jing even gives up his horse to ride with Li Yu and help with the babies.

The citizens of the western border kneel to send off Prince Jing’s family, offering baskets of gifts out of gratitude for his leadership.

Li Yu is touched by the farewell and keeps only a few items while returning the rest, not wanting to burden the people.

The villagers’ farewell delays their departure by two hours.

On the road, Prince Jing spoils Li Yu with local food and sightseeing, tightly holding his hand in unfamiliar towns.

Li Yu reflects on how deeply Prince Jing cherishes him even post-marriage.

As they reach the capital, Li Yu receives a new system mission: “Share the Country with the Tyrant”, indicating a main quest related to ruling beside Prince Jing.

The mission hints at Prince Jing’s impending ascension to the throne, and Li Yu wonders whether he’ll truly be part of ruling the empire with him.

Upon arrival at the palace, they’re immediately summoned to greet the emperor despite being tired.

Prince Jing and Li Yu each carry two children. Luo Ruisheng meets them at the palace entrance.

The emperor comes out personally, is struck by their appearance, and warmly welcomes Li Yu as his son-in-law.

Dabao shyly greets the emperor by mimicking adult greetings instead of speaking.

The emperor affectionately calls Dabao “Little Chubs,” revealing it was Prince Jing’s childhood nickname—shocking Prince Jing, who realizes Li Yu had teased him with this unknowingly before.

The emperor meets Prince Jing's children for the first time.

Dabao is shy and reserved, while Erbao and Sanbao are more carefree and drool as they try to greet the emperor.

Erbao mistakes the dragon embroidery on the emperor’s robe for a snake and points it out happily.

Sanbao loudly exclaims it's a centipede, making the emperor laugh.

Dabao feels embarrassed as he tries to say "Grandpa" but ends up drooling like the others.

Dabao finally manages to say “Gwam…pa?” which delights the emperor.

Li Yu explains they always called the emperor “Grandpa” on the western border, not the formal “Royal Grandfather.”

The emperor is overjoyed, holding Dabao and bonding with him.

Despite Dabao being heavy, the emperor enjoys holding him and doesn’t want to let go.

Li Yu brings over Erbao and Sanbao too, and the emperor insists they all sit on his lap.

He then asks about Sibao, who is sleeping in Prince Jing’s arms.

The emperor urges to hold Sibao as well, despite all of them being heavy.

Erbao and Sanbao wake up Sibao with excitement; Sibao greets the emperor cheerfully, drooling in the process.

The emperor is emotionally moved by how much the children resemble Li Yu, affirming his belief that they are truly Li Yu’s offspring.

He forgets all his intended conversations with Prince Jing because he’s so absorbed in playing with the children.

Luo Ruisheng has to remind the emperor about their formal visit, prompting the emperor to send them off to rest.

The emperor suggests they rest for three days, then return to offer incense for the late Empress Xiaohui.

The emperor is wistful, thinking about how wonderful it would be if Empress Xiaohui and the other princes were still alive to meet the children.

As they leave, Prince Jing reassures Li Yu not to take the emperor’s somber mood the wrong way.

Li Yu comforts Prince Jing, telling him not to be sad.

Back at their manor, all the children fall asleep.

Prince Jing notices Li Yu has fallen asleep without even taking off his shoes, so he quietly removes them and soaks his feet in warm water.

He gently massages Li Yu’s feet, caring for him deeply after the long journey.

Li Yu wakes up later, notices his feet no longer hurt, and realizes what Prince Jing did.

He lies down beside Prince Jing, touched by the gesture.

Prince Jing pretends to be asleep; they exchange soft words and affection.

Prince Jing reflects on Zen Master Liao Kong’s words and realizes Li Yu saved him from drowning as a child.

Prince Jing had been searching for a mysterious “Little Chubs” and finally realizes it was his childhood nickname, meaning Li Yu saved him back then.

He’s relieved that his past love rival turns out to be himself and decides not to tell Li Yu that he knows the truth.

Prince Jing kisses Li Yu, and they hold hands lovingly.

The next day, Li Yu walks stiffly—not from foot pain, but clearly from a romantic night.

Prince Jing and Li Yu return home and are visited by Ye Qinghuan, who announces that the princess of Jinjue has given birth to a daughter two months prior.

Ye Qinghuan is ecstatic about fatherhood and won't stop gushing about how adorable his baby girl is.

Li Yu becomes envious and wistful, thinking about having a daughter himself.

It’s been a year since Li Yu gave birth to their fish children, and although the one-time buff allowing pregnancy is gone, the system confirms he can still conceive—but it hasn't happened yet.

Li Yu reflects on their recent bedroom activities and wonders if Prince Jing’s extra effort might finally get him pregnant.

He looks expectantly at Prince Jing’s waist, imagining a second round of pregnancy.

Prince Jing kicks Ye Qinghuan out of the house with red envelopes after getting fed up with his babbling.

The emperor gives Ye Qinghuan’s daughter the title of Qinghe-junzhu, and Li Yu promises to bring his fish kids to her 100-day celebration.

Li Yu realizes managing kids, plushies, and transforming into a fish all at once will be chaotic and tries to ask Prince Jing for help—but gets ignored out of jealousy.

Luo-gonggong arrives with a long list of imperial gifts for the fish children, which even includes horses and classic texts.

Dabao receives slightly more prestigious gifts because he’s considered the heir, sparking concern in Li Yu about fairness and favoritism among the children.

Li Yu observes them and sees they don’t seem bothered—in fact, Dabao gets kissed all over by his siblings.

Suddenly, the children begin throwing tantrums. Li Yu is puzzled, especially since conditions in the capital are better.

He notices Sibao pointing at the pond—they miss swimming.

Since they can’t go outside, Li Yu improvises by creating a bath setup where the kids float with wooden boards in warm water.

The kids get sad realizing they don’t have tails anymore and can’t swim properly, so they start crying.

Li Yu gets in the tub to comfort them, but remembers he forgot to bring bubbles.

He runs out, half-covered, grabs bath beans, makes a bubble wand, and starts blowing bubbles.

The fish kids are overjoyed and immediately forget their sadness, playing with the bubbles.

Prince Jing returns home, peeks inside, and sees Li Yu running around in a towel—he promptly joins them in the tub.

Three days later, they are summoned back to the palace.

Li Yu dresses the children in festive red robes with bibs reflecting their original fish colors.

He and Prince Jing wear matching formal attire with fish motifs—clearly showing off their couple status.

On their way to greet the emperor, Head Eunuch Luo warns them that the sixth prince and his consort arrived early and are likely waiting to gain favor.

Li Yu thanks Luo on behalf of Prince Jing, and they head into the palace with their kids.

The sixth prince is awkwardly ignored while his consort is offered a seat; it’s clear the emperor is unimpressed.

Li Yu and Dabao’s arrival steals the show. Dabao adorably calls the emperor “Gwampa” and tries to write with a calligraphy brush, thrilling the emperor.

The emperor becomes completely enamored with Dabao, ignoring the sixth prince’s big news that his consort is pregnant.

The sixth prince tries to highlight this, but the emperor brushes it off coldly and continues doting on the fish kids.

The emperor finds the sixth prince's attempt to win favor distasteful, especially since he dragged his pregnant wife to court.

The chapter ends with the emperor lavishing attention on Dabao while the sixth prince fumes in frustration.

Mu Tianxiao, angry at the emperor’s coldness, drags his consort Liang Suyun out of the palace.

Liang Suyun hesitates because she wants to see Prince Jing’s children longer, believing it might help her conceive a son.

She later complains about Mu Tianxiao’s roughness, as he’s never treated her that way before, especially while she’s pregnant.

Mu Tianxiao quickly switches back to his gentle persona, apologizing and excusing his behavior as excitement.

He initially felt joyful about the pregnancy, hoping it would earn the emperor’s favor and attention.

But he becomes disillusioned when the emperor shows more affection to Prince Jing’s children, especially placing his grandson on his knee.

Mu Tianxiao realizes he and his child are still being sidelined, and resentment toward the emperor resurfaces.

He reflects on his mother’s low status in the palace and the emperor’s neglect throughout his life.

Although his visit didn’t achieve his goal, he’s glad he saw Prince Jing’s children firsthand.

He notices the children don’t resemble Prince Jing and suspects something is off.

He theorizes the children might not be Prince Jing’s biological children, since none appear mute like Prince Jing, and they don't resemble him.

He speculates they could be the male consort’s children with another woman, disguised as Prince Jing’s to secure a political advantage.

Mu Tianxiao plans to use this “secret” against Prince Jing, imagining the scandal it would cause if the emperor found out.

He calms down and pretends admiration for Prince Jing’s heir to his consort, hiding his scheming thoughts.

Meanwhile, Li Yu (the fish-turned-consort) visits Changchun Palace with Prince Jing and their children.

This is Li Yu’s first time there as a human, and he tries not to reveal familiarity from his fish days.

The family pays respects to the late Empress Xiaohui with incense and formal bows.

Li Yu recalls a hidden memory from Prince Jing’s childhood linked to this palace and decides to investigate more later.

Sibao (one of the children) excitedly points at a box on a shelf—inside is an old cloth tiger toy.

All four children want the toy and end up fighting over it; the toy gets ripped in the scuffle.

Sibao cries, heartbroken over the broken toy, and Li Yu comforts him.

Li Yu plans to sew it back together and notices “Pu Liu” stitched inside—possibly a maker’s name or label.

Prince Jing recognizes the toy and nods, confirming it’s from his childhood.

Li Yu probes about a mysterious wet nurse from Prince Jing’s infancy but gets no answers; Prince Jing doesn’t remember.

The other wet nurses and attendants also don’t match the one Li Yu remembers from his visions.

Li Yu considers asking Head Eunuch Luo for more information.

After calming Sibao, Li Yu teaches the other three children about kindness and sharing.

Dabao repents formally, while Erbao and Sanbao try to get each other spanked, providing comic relief.

Li Yu teaches his children (Dabao, Erbao, Sanbao, and Sibao) about brotherhood and not fighting over toys, emphasizing that what's theirs will come to them in time.

Prince Jing silently supports Li Yu’s method of parenting, showing respect for his approach despite royal norms.

Dabao mimics Li Yu’s kindness by gifting Sibao a beloved brush, and Erbao and Sanbao try to fix a broken toy but fail, instead gifting Sibao their favorite toys.

When Sibao wakes up, he's touched by the affection and forgets the original fight, enjoying time with his brothers.

Prince Jing is impressed with how Li Yu resolved the situation and compares it favorably to how royal families usually handle disputes.

The emperor, who had secretly followed them, overhears Li Yu’s teachings. Though he calls it “nonsense,” he smiles and clearly enjoys watching the interaction.

Li Yu discovers a name, “Pu Liu,” embroidered on the damaged toy and asks Wang Xi to investigate.

Personnel records from the palace are missing, especially the volume that would’ve identified Pu Liu, raising suspicion.

Li Yu remembers a sealed room from his childhood and wants to find it. When they explore, they notice an odd number of rooms—meaning one is hidden.

A servant reveals that the emperor sealed one room during Empress Xiaohui’s illness; it’s likely the one Li Yu remembers from his childhood.

Li Yu suspects this room and Pu Liu are linked to a deeper palace secret, possibly involving death or forbidden actions.

Prince Jing follows Li Yu with the children instead of leaving them behind, choosing to support and protect him directly.

Later, the emperor sends lavish gifts to the children and Li Yu, including zodiac toys, a tiny brush, a famous painting, and… oddly, flavored fish food.

The fish children (and Li Yu) have a visceral craving for the fish food due to their true nature but must resist in front of others.

Li Yu barely manages to suppress the children’s reactions, aided by Prince Jing distracting them with pastries.

Li Yu quietly asks Head Eunuch Luo about Pu Liu. Luo confirms she was a wet nurse once trusted by Empress Xiaohui but was cast out for a major mistake.

Her room was the one sealed by the emperor, strongly tying her to the mystery Li Yu is trying to unravel.

Li Yu confirms the sealed room is connected to a woman in his memories, suspected to be Pu Liu, Prince Jing's former wet nurse.

Head Eunuch Luo explains Pu Liu was expelled from the palace for negligently letting baby Prince Jing catch a cold by leaving a window open, worsening Empress Xiaohui’s already poor health.

Li Yu finds this explanation suspicious since Pu Liu seemed caring in his visions and was experienced, having raised other princes.

He questions the logic behind Prince Jing falling ill just because of a slightly open window and suspects something deeper is being covered up.

Li Yu notes that Pu Liu's name and records are completely missing from palace personnel logs, which is highly unusual and implies intentional erasure.

He considers locating Pu Liu to ask her directly but realizes it may be difficult to explain how he knows about her without revealing his secret visions.

Li Yu resolves to ask Head Eunuch Luo to help find Pu Liu’s hometown residence in case more clues surface.

Li Yu and Prince Jing return to the manor, where Li Yu begins instructing their children on the importance of keeping their fish origins secret.

He warns the fish children that humans will treat them badly if they find out they used to be fish, emphasizing the threat of imprisonment and separation.

The children are frightened and agree to keep the secret; even the slowest one, Sibao, is eventually drilled into remembering it.

For Qinghe-junzhu’s baby’s 100-day celebration, Li Yu plans to bring fish plushies but sees Prince Jing has found live fish lookalikes as decoys.

Prince Jing gives Li Yu a crystal bottle with a fish nearly identical to his fish form and four others mimicking the fish children.

The decoys are to help cover their tracks and reduce risk when appearing in public or at events.

Li Yu is impressed and touched by Prince Jing’s year-long effort to find fish doubles, realizing how carefully he has protected them.

However, Li Yu gets jealous, jokingly warning Prince Jing not to “have other fish,” even if they’re just substitutes.

Prince Jing doesn’t understand at first why Li Yu is upset about the substitute fish.

Li Yu gets jealous of the substitute koi but calms down after realizing it’s just a normal fish.

Feeling guilty, Li Yu decides to feed the substitute fish better.

The group arrives at Cheng’en Manor, welcomed by Ye Qinghuan and the Princess of Jinjue.

Li Yu introduces their four children—Dabao, Erbao, Sanbao, and Sibao—dressed festively like little immortals.

The Princess of Jinjue is amazed by the quadruplets, as even twins are rare.

She treats Li Yu warmly with nourishing red date tea.

Ye Qinghuan introduces his 100-day-old daughter, Qinghe-junzhu, to the group.

The fish children are amazed by the tiny baby and want to play with her.

Li Yu sternly instructs them to protect her instead, and they obediently listen.

The baby is placed in a cradle for the children to admire, sparking admiration and curiosity.

Ye Qinghuan jokes about his daughter eventually marrying out, which makes the princess emotional.

The Princess of Jinjue reflects on how well her husband and in-laws treat her, easing her concerns about having a daughter.

She secretly wishes for a son after seeing Li Yu’s lively boys.

Li Yu and the princess both express desire to have a daughter like Qinghe-junzhu.

Due to a recent illness, the baby is soon taken inside, as she can’t be out too long.

Li Yu learns about how the wet nurse consumes the medicine to pass it on through breast milk, which sparks a memory he can’t quite place.

To distract the kids, Ye Qinghuan brings in Xiongfeng, the dog.

The children, especially Sibao, warm up to Xiongfeng despite initial hesitation.

Sibao fearlessly pokes Xiongfeng’s nose, and even the dog is stunned but affectionate.

The princess asks about the fish, and Li Yu finally reveals the crystal bottle with the fish substitute and the baby fish.

She notices the fish doesn’t seem as charming, and Li Yu playfully says it’s because the fish is now a mature father.

Ye Qinghuan is surprised Prince Jing doesn’t rush to see the fish, noting his previously obsessive behavior toward it.

He speculates Prince Jing has matured emotionally, especially after seeing his affection for Li Yu and the children.

The group visits the former Duke of Cheng’en, Ye Qian, who’s deeply moved to see his great-grandchildren.

Each child becomes a favorite of different elders: Dabao (Emperor), Sibao (Prince Jing), Erbao & Sanbao (Ye Qian).

The Duke reminisces about his own children and bonds with Erbao and Sanbao.

They share stories from the west, and Ye Qian shows interest in the duck army and roast duck.

That night, a slightly drunk Li Yu is taken home and tucked into bed by Prince Jing.

Li Yu drunkenly insists Prince Jing stay, using his merman tail to physically pull him back when he tries to leave.

He whispers about wanting a daughter like Qinghe-junzhu and flirts while using his tail to keep Prince Jing close.

Prince Jing, unable to resist, carries Li Yu to the bathing pool designed for his merman form.

The chapter ends suggestively, with strong romantic and physical tension between the two, as Prince Jing gives in to Li Yu’s wishes.

Li Yu, wanting a daughter, repeatedly initiates intimacy with Prince Jing, hoping for a pregnancy notification from the system, but nothing happens.

Despite multiple attempts and exhausting themselves, the system doesn’t react, frustrating Li Yu.

After their vigorous night, Li Yu wakes in his fish form, placed gently in his tank by Prince Jing.

Curious about his husband's absence, he transforms back into human form to search for him.

He overhears Prince Jing discussing with a servant about taking medicine secretly and ensuring the consort (Li Yu) doesn’t find out.

Li Yu becomes suspicious and peeks through the door, witnessing Prince Jing drinking a dark liquid.

He fears Prince Jing might be using aphrodisiacs due to possible performance issues.

Li Yu contemplates the implications—concerned that Prince Jing might be using medicine to keep up with him and risking his health.

Determined to confront and support him, Li Yu tells Prince Jing he knows and tries to gently bring up seeing a physician.

Prince Jing, silently, hands Li Yu a note that says: "Because I was born mute."

Li Yu is confused by the note, not understanding the connection between muteness and medicine.

Thinking Prince Jing is hiding sexual dysfunction, Li Yu tries to reassure him that it’s not a big deal.

Prince Jing realizes the misunderstanding and writes an explanation.

The medicine was contraceptive, not for impotence.

Prince Jing had been secretly preventing pregnancy out of fear that their children might inherit his muteness.

Li Yu is devastated to learn this, realizing his repeated pregnancy attempts were futile due to the secret contraception.

Prince Jing explains that since muteness is congenital, future children could suffer like him, and he didn’t want to bring a child into the world who would endure such pain.

Li Yu, heartbroken, realizes how much Prince Jing has suffered in silence and feels guilty for not noticing sooner.

He’s moved by Prince Jing’s quiet anguish and stops him from writing further apologies.

They reconcile with deep emotion; Li Yu assures him that their four children are enough and his health matters more.

Li Yu scolds him gently, telling him not to take medicine like that anymore due to health risks.

Prince Jing agrees, willing to use alternative contraception methods.

Li Yu cheekily suggests a solution: “Just don’t come in in the future!”

The chapter ends on a bittersweet but intimate note, mixing humor, love, and deep emotional connection between the couple.

Prince Jing returned to the capital and earned increasing favor from the emperor due to military merit and family ties.

The sixth prince, previously rising in power, fell into disfavor due to a bribery scandal and laid low to avoid scrutiny.

Court officials began to waver in support of the sixth prince, seeing Prince Jing’s growing influence.

The sixth prince decided not to confront Prince Jing directly but sought out potential weaknesses to exploit later.

He suspected something was off and secretly sent a trusted assistant (connected through Consort Zhang) to investigate.

Madam Qin, the children’s wet nurse, was distracted and made several small errors due to her son’s financial troubles.

She begged not to be dismissed, explaining her son’s debt problem.

Li Yu, given full authority by Prince Jing, chose to help her with an interest-free loan from the manor instead of direct charity, maintaining both fairness and kindness.

Li Yu began embracing his role as consort, balancing authority with compassion.

He proposed reforming the manor’s punishment system: from thirty strokes to a gentler, escalating scale (first offense 15 strokes, next means dismissal), which Prince Jing agreed to.

Madam Qin was punished but also relieved by the support; she received the money and went to pay the debt.

The debt collector, however, had an ulterior motive: he asked Madam Qin to steal a drop of blood from the eldest prince’s son to make a protective amulet for someone.

Though she was tempted, Madam Qin ultimately refused, returning to the manor and reporting the plot.

Prince Jing, Li Yu, Wang Xi, and Madam Qin coordinated a counter-plan.

The debt collector was allowed into the manor under the guise of being a relative seeking a job.

He was thoroughly searched, and even attacked by two pet ducks, which amused and surprised him.

In a courtyard, he found “the child” asleep. After drugging the child with thorn apple pollen, he collected the drop of blood and stole a bracelet.

Unbeknownst to him, the child was actually a dwarf-sized adult guard in disguise.

Everyone watched from the next room; after he left, the team celebrated the successful ruse.

The real Dabao had been safely with Li Yu the whole time, who proudly watched the scheme unfold.

The disguised guard impressed Li Yu with his appearance-altering makeup, though he didn’t share the secret due to Prince Jing’s disapproval.

The plan was meant to feed the sixth prince false evidence of Prince Jing’s “secret,” leading him into a trap.

Prince Jing knew the sixth prince was cautious; a “too easy” discovery would seem real to him.

This deception was crafted to keep the sixth prince overconfident and eventually bring about his fall.

Let me know if you want the next chapter too!

Prince Jing checks on the children sleeping peacefully in a tent while Wang Xi stands guard outside.

He wraps the children in a quilt next to Li Yu and prepares to defend them, sensing possible danger.

Wang Xi returns with shocking news: a man snuck into Concubine Lu’s tent, assumed to be an assassin, but turned out to be an old acquaintance.

This raises suspicions of an affair, especially given how well-guarded the tents are—implying Concubine Lu may have helped him enter.

Li Yu wonders if Concubine Lu is cheating on the emperor or being framed.

Since an unfamiliar man was found in her tent, the emperor is likely furious, and Li Yu worries about the fallout.

Prince Jing decides not to visit the emperor directly to avoid making things worse.

Li Yu wakes Dabao, their son, and asks him to help cheer up the emperor.

Dabao, still sleepy but dutiful, agrees. Prince Jing and Li Yu take him to the emperor’s tent.

Head Eunuch Luo is relieved to see them, hoping the child might lift the emperor’s spirits.

Only Prince Jing’s family is let into the tent; the sixth prince is ignored.

The emperor is devastated, sitting alone in a wrecked tent, deeply hurt by Concubine Lu’s betrayal.

Dabao hugs and comforts the emperor, softening his mood significantly.

The emperor allows Dabao to stay and sends the others away.

By the next day, the emperor is in much better spirits. He quietly sends Concubine Lu back to the palace and resumes the hunting festival.

Before the second hunt begins, Prince Li from the Imperial Clan Court arrives urgently.

Prince Li demands the emperor test the eighth prince’s bloodline, casting doubt on his parentage due to Concubine Lu’s scandal.

He brings imperial physicians and a letter revealing two shocking claims: Concubine Lu’s affair and allegations that Prince Jing’s children aren’t biologically his.

The letter is suspiciously accurate about Concubine Lu’s affair, alarming the emperor.

Prince Li suggests testing Prince Jing’s children as well, citing that none of them inherited his muteness, which seems improbable.

The emperor reads the letter but keeps calm, telling Prince Li to stay quiet.

He then summons Prince Jing urgently.

Li Yu suspects the sixth prince orchestrated both the affair and the letter, and warns Prince Jing by writing “6” in his palm.

Prince Jing meets the emperor and is thrown the incriminating document.

He immediately recognizes the sixth prince’s scheme—using Concubine Lu’s affair as a distraction to cast doubt on Prince Jing’s children.

The emperor shocks him by saying: “Tianchi, someone wants to harm Dabao. Do you know who it is?”

This reveals the emperor is not fooled and intends to protect Dabao, seeing through the sixth prince’s manipulation.

The emperor is deeply suspicious but ultimately chooses to trust Prince Jing and his children over rumors and schemes.

A scandal involving Concubine Lu and her supposed affair becomes the center of a plot to question the legitimacy of Prince Jing’s children.

Prince Li somehow learns of the affair despite attempts to suppress the information, and it triggers a chain of events.

An incriminating letter and concerns about bloodline legitimacy raise the stakes; the emperor realizes it’s a setup to remove both the eighth prince and Prince Jing.

Prince Jing presents the emperor with a written explanation that the enemy is using Concubine Lu to frame both him and Dabao.

He recounts a prior incident where a thief tried to steal Dabao’s blood but failed.

The emperor understands the broader scheme and decides to secretly investigate, opting to mislead the enemy by keeping Prince Jing close.

Prince Jing signals his concern for Li Yu and the children, eventually convincing the emperor to let him bring them over in person.

Prince Jing disguises himself as a guard and takes a silver bead on a red string as a token to prove his identity.

Meanwhile, Li Yu is left in the tent with the children, feeling increasingly anxious as Prince Jing is delayed.

To distract the kids (and himself), Li Yu plays hide-and-seek with them, resulting in a heartwarming scene with the kids hiding hilariously.

Sibao hides under a quilt and eventually falls asleep waiting.

Li Yu, blindfolded, searches for the kids and discovers Prince Jing unexpectedly standing near the bed.

They share an emotional reunion with a kiss, which the children witness and react to with delight.

Li Yu notices Prince Jing is dressed as a guard and is touched when he realizes Jing came personally to ensure their safety.

As they prepare to leave, they discover Sibao is still asleep under the quilt.

On their way to the emperor’s tent, they encounter the sixth prince, who subtly tries to probe for information.

Li Yu pretends to be clueless, while Wang Xi covers for him, explaining they’re going to find out why Prince Jing hasn’t returned.

Dabao starts crying for his daddy, giving Li Yu the perfect excuse to leave quickly.

The group—including the disguised Prince Jing—manages to slip away without revealing anything to the suspicious sixth prince.

The sixth prince is pleased that Prince Jing hasn’t returned and feels confident in his plan, choosing not to make any moves that might expose it.

His consort, Lady Liang, is emotionally fragile due to her pregnancy and his recent neglect; she misses his affection, which he briefly shows out of good mood.

Li Yu, Prince Jing, Wang Xi, and the kids safely avoid the sixth prince thanks to Dabao's clever distraction.

Li Yu realizes Dabao cried earlier on purpose to protect him from the sixth prince, whom Dabao has sensed as dangerous due to past hostile looks.

Dabao, though still a baby, retains intelligence from his time as a fish and understands more than he lets on.

Li Yu praises Dabao with kisses, soon followed by the other three children demanding equal affection.

They all head to the emperor’s tent where the emperor jokes about Prince Jing’s earlier desperation and fawns over Dabao.

The emperor inwardly rages at those scheming against Prince Jing’s family and begins to prepare a plan that requires their cooperation.

The emperor asks Dabao for help and gently warns it might hurt; Dabao bravely agrees.

Dabao’s finger is pricked to draw blood for a secret verification test, and though it stings, he remains composed.

Li Yu is deeply affected and upset but tries to stay strong; Prince Jing silently supports him.

The emperor’s method uses marks instead of names on the blood samples to prevent tampering or bribery.

When asked if the other children should be tested, Dabao volunteers to give more blood himself to protect his brothers.

The emperor praises him and only uses Dabao’s pricked finger to collect additional blood.

The other babies blow on Dabao’s finger to help him feel better, showing their strong sibling bond.

The emperor calls for the eighth prince, who has been isolated since Concubine Lu’s scandal.

The eighth prince, despite being only seven, agrees to be tested to learn the truth about his bloodline.

The emperor summons key ministers, princes, and elders for the test but doesn’t say who is being tested.

The imperial physician uses coded blood samples with no names to maintain secrecy and avoid external influence.

The sixth prince is confident and believes the emperor is trying to prevent Prince Jing’s interference.

Li Yu plays his role as a worried consort, confusing the sixth prince further and lulling him into a false sense of victory.

The sixth prince’s ally, Imperial Physician Pan, is stunned when the blood results all show royal lineage—contradicting the test he was bribed to manipulate.

Pan realizes something went wrong and sneaks away under the pretense of feeling unwell to warn the sixth prince before the results are announced.

Imperial Physician Pan hides in secret and sends a message reporting that all the tested blood was royal, alarming the sixth prince.

The sixth prince assumes Prince Jing switched the blood and orders the physician to ruin all the test results.

Pan uses a secret medicine to tamper with the blood, which neutralizes the effect of dragon vine that confirms royal bloodline.

He contaminates all the blood samples to make them falsely show as non-royal, thinking no one saw him.

Unknown to him, someone had been watching and recorded everything.

The tampered tests now falsely show Prince Jing’s children and the eighth prince are not royal.

Everyone is shocked, especially Prince Li and the eighth prince, who starts trembling in fear.

The emperor remains calm and thanks the imperial physicians for rechecking, but his eyes betray fury.

The sixth prince watches Li Yu closely and interprets his trembling as guilt, convinced they’re exposed.

Suddenly, instead of arresting Li Yu or the children, the emperor has the guards seize Imperial Physician Pan.

The court is confused why the physician is targeted when he seemed unrelated.

Pan tries to play innocent, but the emperor has evidence, including the interfering medicine found in his kit.

Other physicians verify the medicine disrupts the test, confirming the falsified results.

Everyone realizes the earlier results were real and the second round was rigged.

The sixth prince's confidant is also caught—he was the one who contacted Pan to relay orders.

The emperor asks whose servant he is, putting pressure on the sixth prince who stays silent to avoid implication.

The emperor reveals a secret witness was watching Pan and that a pigeon was used to communicate the initial clean results to the sixth prince.

Before the emperor can name names, Dabao raises his hand and dramatically declares, “Grandpa, he’s bad!” identifying the confidant as the one who tried to poke him.

Dabao becomes a witness, charming everyone while confirming the bad guy snuck into his room before.

The emperor confirms Dabao’s testimony and reveals he himself overheard the sixth prince giving the order to falsify all the blood tests.

The emperor had been hiding nearby, waiting to catch the sixth prince red-handed.

When the emperor finally calls the sixth prince by name, Mu Tianxiao realizes he’s doomed and is left speechless, overtaken by despair.

Mu Tianxiao (the sixth prince) is arrested by the emperor and taken away; his punishment will be determined later at the palace.

Interrogation reveals the man who entered Concubine Lu’s tent was drunk and confused, not aware of how he got there.

The emperor finds it suspicious that a drunken civilian could enter the highly guarded hunting grounds and correctly find Concubine Lu’s tent.

Investigation shows the sixth prince’s sedan chair entered the grounds twice before the festival; Lady Liang, though pregnant, hadn’t left the grounds, meaning the sixth prince smuggled the man in.

A female servant of Concubine Lu is discovered to have helped; she used to serve Consort Li (seventh prince’s mother) and was gifted to Concubine Lu.

The servant confesses that the sixth prince blackmailed her into letting the man into the tent while Concubine Lu slept.

The emperor realizes the sixth prince intended to frame Prince Jing, the eighth prince, and also implicate the seventh prince by linking the incident to Consort Li.

The emperor now understands how far the sixth prince was willing to go to secure the throne and is horrified by his ambition and ruthlessness.

Much of the counter-plot was made possible by Li Yu’s idea to anonymize the blood samples and Prince Jing’s efforts to track Imperial Physician Pan.

The emperor reflects that the test for Prince Jing has been passed, and his decision about succession is clear now.

Li Yu worries about the emperor, who seems dazed, and the babies try to cheer him up.

Dabao brings him tea, and Sibao jumps in to sip-test it first, unintentionally mimicking the practice of testing for poison, which touches the emperor.

The emperor smiles and drinks the tea, heartened by their gesture of love and “filial piety.”

The emperor ends the hunting festival early and prepares to return to the palace.

Prince Jing and Li Yu, now at ease after surviving the plot, walk together under the moonlight, silently reaffirming their love and trust.

Lady Liang, the sixth prince’s pregnant consort, suddenly appears and begs Prince Jing and Li Yu for help in seeing her husband.

Despite how awkward and inappropriate the situation is, she insists she only wants to see the sixth prince once, as no one else will help her—not even her own family.

Li Yu is hesitant but sympathetic; seeing how she protects her unborn child and how she’s been abandoned by everyone, he wants to help.

Prince Jing silently supports Li Yu’s decision, trusting him to choose.

The system notifies Li Yu that helping Lady Liang activates the side mission “Heart of Compassion,” with the reward being an ancient medicine prescription.

Li Yu is surprised but accepts the mission, deciding to help her not for the reward but out of genuine kindness.

Li Yu decides to help Lady Liang and brings her with Prince Jing to request the emperor's permission for a visit.

The emperor is surprised but understands Li Yu’s kindness and agrees after confirming Prince Jing supports the request.

Lady Liang is escorted to the sixth prince’s prison tent with Prince Jing and Li Yu outside.

When Lady Liang tells Mu Tianxiao that Prince Jing and Li Yu helped her see him, he becomes furious and blames Prince Jing for his downfall.

The sixth prince begins cursing Prince Jing, Li Yu, and their children loudly; Prince Jing grows angry, but Li Yu stops him from reacting.

Li Yu privately suggests ways to retaliate later through other means, and Prince Jing is amused at the contrast between Li Yu’s kindness and cunning.

Lady Liang hopes to see her husband change and show remorse, but Mu Tianxiao only uses her as a bargaining chip, pretending to be affectionate to manipulate her.

Suddenly, he wraps his chains around Lady Liang’s neck and threatens to kill her unless the emperor comes to see him.

Guards rush in, and Prince Jing and Li Yu witness the hostage situation.

Li Yu calls out Mu Tianxiao for threatening his pregnant wife and unborn child, shocked by his heartlessness.

The emperor arrives, furious, and demands Mu Tianxiao release Lady Liang.

Mu Tianxiao tries to claim he was framed by Prince Jing and insists he’s innocent, but the emperor lists all his confirmed crimes.

Realizing he’s been outplayed from the beginning, Mu Tianxiao loses control and rants that he’s always been unloved by the emperor and targeted unfairly.

Just as a guard knocks Mu Tianxiao unconscious, he shouts for someone to act—triggering a secret assassin among the palace staff.

A palace servant lunges at the emperor with a dagger in the chaos.

Li Yu pushes the emperor aside but is too slow to escape the attack.

Prince Jing stabs the assassin through the chest just in time, saving Li Yu and the emperor.

Li Yu is shaken but unharmed, and Prince Jing embraces him tightly after the incident.

Mu Tianxiao watches as his last hope, Noble Lady Chu (Chu Yanyu), whom he placed in the palace as a pawn, coldly turns away without helping him.

The assassination attempt seals Mu Tianxiao’s fate; the emperor now intends to show no mercy.

Mu Tianxiao is dragged away, muttering to be killed, while Lady Liang sobs nearby.

Li Yu is still emotional after the near-death event and holds tightly to Prince Jing.

Suddenly, Prince Jing starts coughing and spits up black blood, alarming Li Yu and revealing something is seriously wrong with him.

The emperor is deeply alarmed after Prince Jing vomits blood and immediately calls for the imperial physicians while having him escorted back to his tent.

Li Yu is distraught and blames himself for not noticing any symptoms earlier, thinking he’s failed as a consort.

Despite being told to rest, Li Yu stays constantly at Prince Jing’s side, refusing to leave or sleep.

The children are handed over to Wang Xi, and Li Yu explains their father is sick, asking them to behave.

Prince Jing reassures Li Yu with gestures and smiles, seeming a bit better after vomiting blood.

The imperial physicians run many exams, but avoid telling Li Yu or the emperor the cause immediately, increasing everyone’s anxiety.

After discussion, an older physician begins questioning Prince Jing, who confirms past mild symptoms like chest pain and burning in the throat, dating back over a year.

Li Yu is shocked and guilt-ridden when he realizes it happened during a time when he and Prince Jing weren’t emotionally close, and he’d ignored his discomfort.

The emperor arrives in person and demands the truth from the physicians.

The imperial physician finally reveals Prince Jing has been slowly poisoned over decades, and the vomiting incident was caused by a surge in qi and blood due to emotional stress.

The poison is long-term and subtle, explaining why it had gone undetected until now.

It’s likely Prince Jing was poisoned as a baby, which shocks the emperor, who remembers his early frailty.

The poison has not affected the children; all four are confirmed healthy.

The emperor interrogates Wang Xi, who insists he never noticed any signs of poisoning in all his years caring for Prince Jing.

Li Yu begins speculating why the poison caused no obvious symptoms and wonders if it’s connected to Prince Jing’s muteness.

Remembering how Prince Jing is the only one in his entire lineage born mute, and recalling an image of his wet nurse taking medicine with tears in her eyes, Li Yu suspects the poison may have been passed through her milk.

He remembers that milk can transfer medicine and possibly poison, and realizes the poisoning might have occurred before Wang Xi was assigned to Prince Jing.

Li Yu concludes it’s possible Prince Jing was never born mute, but rendered mute by the poison.

He chooses not to tell Prince Jing yet, as there’s no proof and he doesn’t want to give him false hope.

Determined, Li Yu vows to find the truth and save him, overwhelmed by love and fear of losing him.

The imperial physician needs several days to identify the poison in Prince Jing’s body.

Li Yu remembers his side mission reward for helping Lady Liang was an ancient medicinal prescription and hopes it might be the antidote.

He can’t retrieve it in front of others due to the transformation risk, so he uses Prince Jing’s subtle signal and excuses himself to a nearby tent.

Inside the system, Li Yu collects the prescription but can’t understand it, so he plans to show it to the imperial physicians.

He also asks the system whether Prince Jing’s muteness is innate or curable, and its silence confirms to him that it’s likely not natural and can be treated.

After transforming into a fish and back, Li Yu returns and shows the prescription to the imperial physician, who says it’s only good for strengthening the body—not an antidote.

The poison’s type is still unknown and may take days, months, or even years to identify.

The emperor orders notices sent out across the empire to find famous physicians who might know more.

Li Yu wants to take matters into his own hands and decides to investigate Pu Liu, the wet nurse who might’ve administered the poison long ago.

He asks for access to Pu Liu’s sealed room in Changchun Palace and explains to the emperor that she had a suspicious history, recounting the broken cloth tiger incident.

The emperor agrees and assigns Eunuch Luo to find Pu Liu, who was exiled but likely still alive.

Prince Jing realizes Li Yu is serious and asks if Pu Liu was the one who poisoned him, but Li Yu deflects, saying he can’t reveal anything yet.

Prince Jing reflects on his mortality, fearing he might leave Li Yu and the children behind, and silently begins planning for that possibility.

He assigns Li Yu all his hidden men, stunning Li Yu, who realizes Prince Jing is preparing for the worst.

Li Yu, refusing to accept it, insists Prince Jing has to hold on and reminds him he’s a fish spirit—he’ll do anything to save him.

They return to the palace, and Li Yu brings Prince Jing with him to investigate Pu Liu’s room, despite his illness.

Inside the sealed, cobweb-covered room, Li Yu insists on doing a fresh search without disturbing the scene.

Prince Jing insists on doing the physical work to keep Li Yu safe.

Li Yu sits in Pu Liu’s spot and reenters the system, replaying a secret memory of her taking medicine before poisoning the infant Prince Jing.

He notices a detail he missed before—the piece of paper that held the medicinal powder fell under the table.

Li Yu jumps up, hopeful he’s just found the first real physical clue to uncover the truth and possibly the antidote.

Li Yu searches Pu Liu’s old room hoping to find the paper that once wrapped the mysterious powder, but doesn’t find it on the floor.

He realizes the room might’ve been cleaned before it was sealed and starts carefully comparing the memory from the system with the real room.

He checks Pu Liu’s sewing basket and finds a nearly complete cloth tiger, different from the one the children tore before.

As he inspects the cloth tiger, he feels something hard inside and cuts it open to reveal a hidden, dust-free piece of folded paper with powder inside.

Li Yu wraps the powder back in the paper and stores it in a porcelain bottle provided by Prince Jing.

They rush to the Imperial Academy of Medicine and give the powder to the elderly physician, who investigates it seriously.

The physician finds the powder strange and, after tasting a bit, runs off excitedly to test it further.

Li Yu and Prince Jing wait anxiously until dusk when the physician returns with a thick medical book, missing a shoe and clearly excited.

He reveals that the powder is mostly a nourishing tonic but contains xuewuzi, a rare fruit from snowy mountains, which is very good for the body unless mixed with female ginseng.

When combined with female ginseng, it becomes toxic—this was the case with the powder.

Li Yu shares his theory that the poison was passed to the newborn Prince Jing through Pu Liu’s milk after she ingested the concoction.

The physician agrees this is possible and says he can confirm it within half a month.

Li Yu suspects Pu Liu didn’t act alone, remembering a suspicious servant from the memory; the poisoning may have been part of a bigger conspiracy.

Li Yu and Prince Jing keep the discovery secret, fearing the real culprit might still be in the palace.

The emperor is grateful to Li Yu and agrees to keep it quiet. He reflects that if Pu Liu poisoned Prince Jing, the same might have happened to the other two princes she raised, both of whom died young.

Li Yu continues probing the system, which stays silent, reinforcing his belief that Prince Jing’s muteness is linked to the poison and possibly curable.

When Li Yu asks Prince Jing what he would say if he could speak, he writes that he would call out to his father, the children, and especially Li Yu by name.

After two weeks, Pu Liu is confirmed to have died en route to her hometown, further obscuring the investigation.

The physician concludes that the poison is indeed a mix of xuewuzi and female ginseng and suggests treating it with a second, milder poison to force it out, followed by an antidote.

Prince Jing agrees to the dangerous treatment and begins purging the poison, vomiting black blood and suffering through fever and pain.

Though the antidote is administered, he doesn’t wake up afterward, alarming Li Yu and the emperor.

Li Yu stays by Prince Jing’s bedside, talking to him daily about their children and trying to coax him back.

One day, while telling a story about the kids’ antics at school, Li Yu hears a hoarse voice say his name—“Xiaoyu.”

Stunned, Li Yu turns around to find Prince Jing awake and looking at him, finally speaking for the first time.

Prince Jing wakes up from his coma and shockingly speaks Li Yu’s name aloud, confirming his muteness has been cured.

Li Yu is overjoyed, hugs him tightly, and confirms with pain that he’s not dreaming; Prince Jing himself is stunned he can now make sounds.

Though hoarse and weak, Prince Jing manages to speak a few more sounds, overwhelmed by the realization.

Wang Xi is informed and reacts emotionally when he hears Prince Jing say his name.

The elderly imperial physician confirms Prince Jing’s poison has been fully cured and, unexpectedly, so has his muteness, revealing it was never congenital.

Li Yu confirms with the physician that Prince Jing won’t pass the muteness or poison to future children; he and Prince Jing exchange meaningful looks, both now wanting a daughter.

The physician prescribes more restorative medicine and leaves to report to the emperor, who is stunned and emotional when Prince Jing kneels and calls him “Royal Father.”

The emperor feels happiness and fury—grateful for the recovery, but angry over the deception of the past; he instructs Prince Jing to continue pretending to be mute for now until Pu Liu’s death and other matters are fully investigated.

The emperor visits with the children, who haven’t seen their father during his recovery and have been attending palace classes.

The children are ecstatic to be reunited with Prince Jing and cling to him, while Prince Jing affectionately holds all of them.

Sibao, the least talkative child, is delighted to find they now match, since Prince Jing also speaks slowly; he volunteers to teach Prince Jing to speak.

Li Yu quickly takes over as Prince Jing’s teacher, insisting that he’ll be the one tutoring him.

Teacher Yu begins lessons using pinyin (phonetic script from Li Yu’s world), creating a structured curriculum to help Prince Jing learn to speak fluently.

Li Yu dangles peach blossom pastries as rewards, using both motivation and light teasing to encourage Prince Jing’s progress.

Prince Jing learns quickly, especially words related to Li Yu like “husband” and “partner,” though he pretends not to notice Li Yu’s blushing.

While the children get rewards easily, Li Yu is stricter with Prince Jing, only giving treats when he’s in a particularly good mood.

Prince Jing doesn’t mind and plays along, cherishing every bite offered by Li Yu—even when his fingers “accidentally” end up in Prince Jing’s mouth.

Eventually, Li Yu jokingly suggests that they pause speech training and instead focus on having a daughter, blushing while making the proposal.

Prince Jing silently agrees with a warm smile, more than ready to fulfill that wish.

Li Yu reflects on the fact that Prince Jing was only able to recover in this world thanks to his intervention; in the original novel, the muteness likely lasted for life.

The “Heart of Compassion” side mission that Li Yu completed triggered events leading to the discovery and cure of Prince Jing’s poison, showing the system’s odd but rewarding logic.

After returning to the palace, the emperor has the sixth prince imprisoned for hostage-taking and attempted regicide; no one defends him.

Concubine Zhang isolates herself and avoids punishment due to her meekness; Lady Liang miscarries and quietly leaves the palace to live with her family.

Concubine Lu is exonerated and reunites with the eighth prince; the seventh and eighth princes learn they were nearly used in a plot and mature greatly from the experience.

The young princes now share the imperial study room with Prince Jing’s sons and act protectively as uncles; the emperor is pleased with the harmony, seeing it as a foundation for future unity.

Pu Liu’s corpse is found to contain the same poison as Prince Jing—xuewuzi and female ginseng—proving she was the source and administered it via breastfeeding.

The weakened transmission avoided fatality but left Prince Jing mute, which masked the attack as a natural condition and avoided triggering a deeper investigation.

The emperor suspects Pu Liu acted on someone else’s orders and learns her entire family is dead from a “plague,” and all others involved in Prince Jing’s birth have died in mysterious accidents.

The emperor suspects a cover-up and summons Prince Jing and Li Yu to help reason through the case, increasingly trusting Li Yu’s insight.

Li Yu proposes investigating xuewuzi itself since it’s so rare even the imperial physicians don’t have it, suggesting the culprit had specific medical knowledge and rare access.

He theorizes that xuewuzi may have come from a foreign land, possibly hinting at revenge from another country like Loulan, which was destroyed by the empire 30 years ago.

The emperor appears to know more but says little, and Li Yu speculates wildly—perhaps a foreign concubine secretly entered the harem and took revenge out of jealousy.

Prince Jing reveals that snowy mountains where xuewuzi grows are located in Loulan, a conquered land, possibly connecting the poison to a long-forgotten grudge.

After leaving the palace, Prince Jing takes Li Yu to Jingtai Hall, where they first met, under the pretense of retrieving something important.

Li Yu assumes this is about making a daughter and seduces Prince Jing the moment he turns around, determined to finally succeed despite multiple failed attempts so far.

Li Yu eagerly initiates intimacy with Prince Jing, excitedly activating the side mission “Warm Cotton Jacket,” which he realizes refers to having a daughter.

Just as things heat up, an assassin attacks outside their window, interrupting the moment; Prince Jing reacts quickly, blocks the strike, and confronts the intruder.

Prince Jing wraps Li Yu in a quilt for safety and joins his guards in battle; the assassin is strong, but they manage to subdue him.

Before they can interrogate him, the assassin commits suicide using a corrosive substance, dissolving into a puddle of sludge.

Li Yu is shaken by the gruesome scene but impressed by Prince Jing’s quick thinking and bravery.

Prince Jing reveals the assassin used the same kind of sword as a female assassin they had encountered earlier, marked with plum blossom designs.

Li Yu realizes these assassins are likely from the same group and possibly linked to Prince Jing’s childhood poisoning.

Prince Jing admits he was attacked by similar assassins when he was young but had no evidence to present the emperor due to the killers' self-destruction methods.

Li Yu insists on informing the emperor, but in his excitement forgets he’s naked; Prince Jing pulls him back, amused and flustered.

When they go to report to Qianqing Palace, they are turned away due to the late hour.

Back home, Li Yu suddenly remembers the mission and drags Prince Jing back to bed, muttering that “she” will leave—referring to their future daughter.

Prince Jing, confused and jealous, softens when Li Yu reveals who “she” is, and they resume their attempt to conceive.

As they begin again, the system reactivates the mission prompt, asking Li Yu to choose between human and fish form.

Li Yu, in a rush, accidentally chooses human form instead of fish form, which means the pregnancy will come with intense pain and swelling.

Horrified by the mistake, Li Yu tries to cancel the mission, but the system refuses.

Despite his panic, Prince Jing’s affection and the sensual atmosphere take over, and Li Yu forgets the pain in favor of the moment.

Prince Jing is gentle and passionate, supporting Li Yu both emotionally and physically, even offering his arm as a pillow after.

After falling asleep in his arms, Li Yu wakes up sore but hopeful—he feels sure their daughter has been successfully conceived.

As excitement gives way to nerves, Li Yu begins to worry about carrying the child in human form, knowing it’ll be painful, but resolves to endure it for the sake of their long-awaited daughter.

Li Yu asks the system about what childbirth will be like in human form and worries about the possibility of having multiple daughters at once.

The system reassures him that human-form pregnancies only result in one child at a time, easing his anxiety.

Though human pregnancy will be painful, Li Yu chooses it over fish form because it's safer while living in the capital and won’t raise suspicions.

The system confirms the child will be a normal human baby and not require fish-to-human transformation missions like the boys did.

Li Yu vows not to hide this pregnancy from Prince Jing like he did the last time and tells him first.

Prince Jing is overwhelmed with joy at the news but becomes emotional when realizing Li Yu chose the painful route for his and their family's safety.

He promises never to let Li Yu suffer like this again and immediately starts looking after him with extreme care.

A discreet servant trained in obstetrics is brought in to check Li Yu’s pulse daily; new attendants are assigned to protect him constantly.

The children are not informed yet to avoid accidental leaks, though Li Yu does subtly ask if they want a sister—each excitedly says yes.

Prince Jing investigates the assassin further, suspecting a link between them and his poisoning, and studies a book called The History of Loulan.

He finds that Loulan people were skilled in poison and warfare and once had a king named Chang’an-jun who surrendered by offering his daughter as a consort.

Li Yu reads the book with Prince Jing as a form of “prenatal education,” but it’s also to uncover hidden truths about palace history.

They speculate that the daughter, Consort Mei, might be the source of the assassins and poison, especially when they recall the plum blossom motif matching her title.

Prince Jing’s guards secretly abduct Lady Qiu from the cold palace to question her about Loulan and Consort Mei.

Lady Qiu confirms Consort Mei existed, tried to assassinate the emperor shortly after entering the palace, and was executed.

After this betrayal, the emperor enslaved the entire Loulan royal family and banned foreign concubines.

Before being returned to the cold palace, Lady Qiu makes one request—to discard her cat, Piaoxue, which had once hunted Li Yu in his fish form.

Li Yu is surprised but sympathetic to the abandoned cat, now unsure whether to adopt Piaoxue, who had previously caused him distress.

Li Yu wants to find a good home for Lady Qiu’s cat Piaoxue but assures Prince Jing he won’t raise it himself because of his pregnancy.

Despite her harsh words, Li Yu believes Lady Qiu still loved the cat and had only pretended to abandon it to save it.

Prince Jing agrees to help once he learns Li Yu won’t keep the cat himself.

Wang Xi finds a suitable, well-off family to adopt Piaoxue, and Li Yu sends food and supplies along to ensure its comfort.

The cat disappears that night, and a few days later it reappears in their courtyard being chased by Li Yu’s ducks and rabbit.

Piaoxue refuses food and keeps meowing, which Li Yu interprets as the cat wanting to return to Lady Qiu, who it sees as its true owner.

Prince Jing gives permission, and Piaoxue is sent back to the cold palace, visibly happy when it understands where it's going.

Before leaving, Piaoxue digs up and gifts Li Yu a dried fish, unintentionally insulting him since he's a fish spirit.

The system refreshes a new mission status: “Sharing a Country with the Tyrant,” which confuses Li Yu since he assumed it would only activate when Prince Jing ascended the throne.

The guard later reports that Lady Qiu was overjoyed to see Piaoxue again, having regretted giving it up, and that palace guards at the cold palace have been unusually relaxed.

Prince Jing finds this suspicious and sends a letter to his palace informants but gets no response overnight.

The next day, a new and unfamiliar servant arrives with a summons from the emperor for Prince Jing and Li Yu to come to the palace.

Wang Xi finds the unfamiliarity odd and tests the servant, but he presents an official edict with the imperial seal, so they cannot refuse.

Prince Jing offers to go alone, but Li Yu insists on coming despite his pregnancy, determined not to give the emperor reason to be displeased.

On the way, Li Yu prepares for danger by hiding a dagger in his inventory, then sneakily tucks it into Prince Jing’s boot under the guise of adjusting his clothes.

At the palace, instead of going to Qianqing Palace, they are led to Qianqiu Hall and surrounded by guards.

The servant claims the emperor is sick and has summoned Prince Jing alone, leaving Li Yu behind under guard, which both find deeply suspicious.

The inconsistencies in the servant’s answers and the strange guard deployments confirm to Li Yu and Prince Jing that something is very wrong.

After Prince Jing is taken to Qianqing Palace, Li Yu reflects on recent events, realizing the hidden enemy may have infiltrated the palace and possibly taken control of the emperor.

He suspects the emperor’s avoidance of the Loulan topic was not intentional but due to being manipulated or detained.

Head Eunuch Luo’s extended absence and the change in cold palace guards further confirm to Li Yu that something is seriously wrong.

Li Yu recalls that the original novel hinted at a greater enemy, and now that Prince Jing defeated the sixth prince more peacefully, that hidden force is re-emerging.

He concludes that the poisoner and assassins are likely linked to Loulan and Consort Mei, and that their agents are still within the palace, possibly as consorts.

A suspicious servant shows up claiming Dabao won’t stop crying and presents a silver bracelet as proof, saying the emperor summoned the child earlier.

Li Yu recognizes the bracelet as Dabao’s but grows suspicious, remembering one had gone missing during an earlier infiltration by the sixth prince’s confidant.

Meanwhile at Prince Jing’s manor, Wang Xi had been caring for the children when unfamiliar palace servants came claiming to summon Dabao.

The children refuse to go, sensing danger, and even the usually confused Sibao declares the stranger is a bad guy.

Wang Xi stands firm, refusing to hand over the child and decides to take all the children to the House of Cheng’en for safety.

Ye Qinghuan and the former Duke of Cheng’en receive them and determine that something serious has happened at the palace, especially since all its gates are sealed.

The Duke of Cheng’en prepares to seek help from Prince Li, the emperor’s younger brother and a high-ranking member of the Imperial Clan Court.

Back in Qianqiu Hall, Li Yu pretends not to recognize the bracelet and enters a side room to consult the system, using the “Fish Children Status” tab to check on them.

He sees that all four children are safe and currently with the House of Cheng’en and Qinghe-junzhu, bringing him relief and confirming the bracelet was part of a trap.

Li Yu deduces the enemy’s tactics are desperate and poorly coordinated and uses calm deception to demand they bring Dabao if he’s really crying, calling their bluff.

He suspects the faction that once worked with the sixth prince might now be acting independently or were never allied in the first place, further complicating matters.

Li Yu refuses to follow the suspicious servant who tries to lure him by claiming Dabao is crying; he recognizes it as a trap.

He deduces the enemy doesn't fully control the palace yet and is trying to separate him from Prince Jing’s guards to capture him.

The system informs Li Yu that due to the “Sharing the Country with the Tyrant” mission, his fish form now has double durability, offering him extra protection.

Li Yu devises a plan: he pretends he brought a pet fish (himself) and convinces the servant to deliver it to Dabao instead, buying time and creating an escape opportunity.

After transforming, Li Yu is placed into a crystal bottle and handed over to the servant, who has no idea the fish is actually him.

The servant tries to leave with the fish but is stopped by none other than the sixth prince, Mu Tianxiao, now suspiciously out of prison and free to roam the palace.

Mu Tianxiao takes the bottle himself and eyes the fish, but Li Yu pretends to be a normal, dumb fish, swimming around innocently to avoid suspicion.

Mu Tianxiao brings the fish to Qianqing Palace, where Prince Jing has been waiting and growing increasingly wary of the situation.

The emperor finally appears looking weak and sickly, propped up and tended to by Consort Zhang and Noble Lady Chu, who seem to have taken control.

Prince Jing realizes the emperor didn’t summon him and notices the increase in guards and Head Eunuch Luo’s absence, confirming something is very wrong.

Consort Zhang appears unusually dominant, leading Prince Jing to believe she’s controlling or threatening the emperor.

The emperor asks for the sixth prince to be summoned, but he arrives early on his own, appearing smug and powerful despite his previous imprisonment.

Mu Tianxiao mocks Prince Jing and presents him with a “gift” — the crystal bottle containing the koi, which is actually Li Yu.

Prince Jing is shocked, but Li Yu joyfully wags his tail and blows bubbles when he sees his husband, relieved they’re finally reunited in the same place again.

Prince Jing sees Li Yu trapped in the crystal bottle and realizes the sixth prince is using him as leverage.

Mu Tianxiao taunts Prince Jing, demanding he suffer prison humiliation in exchange for the fish.

Li Yu, furious and unwilling to let his husband be threatened, decides to take action himself.

The emperor weakly protests the sixth prince’s treatment of the fish, but Mu Tianxiao mocks him and doubles down.

Prince Jing pretends to kneel but prepares for an ambush, just as Mu Tianxiao tries to touch the fish tail to assert dominance.

Li Yu suddenly leaps from the crystal bottle and slaps the sixth prince across the face with his tail—twice—stunning everyone present.

The distraction gives Prince Jing the chance to pull a dagger from his boot and take the sixth prince hostage.

Li Yu had aimed to land on a blanket and, using his inventory system, summoned a fish tank filled with water to dive into for safety.

The eighth prince, impressed and wanting to help, sneaks over and grabs the fish tank, keeping Li Yu safe as Prince Jing handles the confrontation.

Prince Jing reveals he can speak, shocking everyone, and demands Consort Zhang release the emperor.

Mu Tianxiao, terrified, calls out to his mother for help, but Consort Zhang remains silent and unmoved.

She finally speaks and refuses the exchange, saying she holds the emperor and thus has no need for the sixth prince.

To everyone’s horror, Consort Zhang gives the order, and an archer shoots Mu Tianxiao in the chest, killing him instantly.

The emperor is devastated, and everyone in the hall is shaken that she would sacrifice her own son so ruthlessly.

Consort Zhang then reveals her true identity—she is not Consort Zhang at all, but Consort Mei, the supposedly dead Loulan princess.

She removes a fake skin mask, revealing her true face and proclaims herself as Princess Langya of Loulan, seeking revenge for her people and her ruined country.

Li Yu’s and Prince Jing’s past theories are confirmed—Consort Mei, thought to be dead, survived and orchestrated the poisonings and assassination attempts from within the palace all along.

Princess Langya reveals she didn’t impersonate Consort Zhang temporarily—she killed the real one long ago and assumed her identity permanently using disguise techniques.

She explains how she poisoned Prince Jing through his wet nurse Pu Liu by mixing female ginseng with xuewuzi, a Loulan herb that becomes toxic in combination.

She admits she also poisoned the fourth prince and was indirectly responsible for Empress Xiaohui’s downfall, pushing her to despair and death.

Pu Liu eventually discovered the plot and tried to resist, which led to her family being threatened, her exile, and death by poison.

Princess Langya faked her identity for decades to stay close to the emperor, and even manipulated him into believing they had a child together by drugging him.

The sixth prince wasn’t the emperor’s son at all but a Loulan child planted as a puppet to eventually claim the throne.

Her ultimate goal was to become empress herself and reclaim the empire for Loulan, avenging her homeland’s destruction.

Prince Jing realizes all of her previous schemes, poisonings, and assassinations were part of a long-term plan fueled by revenge, sacrificing even innocent lives to reach her goal.

With the sixth prince dead and her deception exposed, Princess Langya demands the emperor abdicate voluntarily to legitimize her rule, since impersonation wouldn’t pass scrutiny.

The emperor, overwhelmed with regret and guilt, confesses to Prince Jing how he fell for the trap when he tried to investigate Consort Mei and was subdued by her instead.

Prince Jing encourages the emperor not to despair and asks him to issue a secret rescue edict to summon troops from outside the palace to break the siege.

The emperor agrees and gives Prince Jing a hidden tiger tally—half of the command token needed to mobilize the army.

They decide that only someone undetectable can deliver the talisman, and both turn to Li Yu in fish form for the task.

Prince Jing gently strokes Li Yu and secures the talisman to him with satin, trusting him completely to carry out the mission.

The emperor is stunned by the idea but agrees when reminded of the fish’s intelligence and lucky reputation.

Li Yu swims into a palace waterway with the talisman in his inventory, fully committed to safely delivering it and saving his husband and the emperor.

Li Yu swims through palace waterways carrying the tiger talisman, evading guards by staying submerged and using aquatic plants as cover.

As he reaches the river near the palace gates, a group of off-duty guards loiters by the exit, making it risky to pass due to his distinctive koi appearance.

Suddenly, Piaoxue the white cat—previously helped by Li Yu—appears and causes a distraction by attacking and stealing from a guard, drawing them all away.

Grateful for Piaoxue’s timely help, Li Yu safely escapes the palace and heads toward the House of Cheng’en.

The palace river doesn't connect directly to the Cheng’en residence, so Li Yu has to leave the water and find another route.

Unable to transform again for the day and desperate, he uses his rarely-used "manmer" form—half-man, half-fish with legs—and runs on land.

After reaching the new river, he jumps back in and resumes swimming to the Cheng’en residence, eventually arriving in the lotus pond there.

Xiongfeng, Ye Qinghuan’s loyal dog, finds him and barks until Ye Qinghuan comes out to check, initially confused by the scene.

Li Yu transforms into a mermaid, startles Ye Qinghuan, and explains the situation, handing over the tiger talisman and relaying the urgent need to rescue the emperor and Prince Jing.

Ye Qinghuan promises immediate action and prepares to inform the former Duke of Cheng’en and the army.

Before leaving, Ye Qinghuan agrees to keep people away from the pond where Li Yu is resting, respecting his privacy.

Li Yu asks him to bring the children over; he misses them deeply and needs comfort after his exhausting journey.

Exhausted and pregnant, Li Yu accidentally falls asleep in the pond and wakes up to see the kids huddled by the water, watching over him.

The children worry quietly and lovingly for their sleeping father, melting Li Yu’s heart when he hears them.

Once the 24-hour cooldown resets, Li Yu transforms back into a human, hugs his children tightly, and prepares to act—knowing they still have to rescue his husband.

After transforming back into human form, Li Yu changes into dry clothes Ye Qinghuan had prepared and is taken to the former Duke of Cheng’en.

Prince Li arrives and is shown the tiger talisman; he confirms its authenticity by questioning Li Yu, who provides a shaky but semi-plausible story.

Ye Qinghuan defends Li Yu when Prince Li grows suspicious, reminding them that the priority is to rescue the emperor.

Prince Li and the Duke of Cheng’en take the talisman to mobilize the capital’s defense troops while Ye Qinghuan gathers support from the manor.

Li Yu entrusts the children to Wang Xi again; Dabao tries to volunteer to help save Grandpa with a slingshot, melting Li Yu’s heart.

Li Yu warns everyone about the Loulan assassins’ corrosive liquid weapon and urges them to use thick armor, cotton padding, or bandages as protection.

The defending troops suit up, including Ye Qinghuan and Li Yu who receive gold silk armor for the upcoming battle.

Ye Qinghuan’s wife tearfully sends him off with understanding and support, bolstering his morale.

With the emperor’s authority from the tiger talisman, the troops enter the palace without resistance; most palace guards remain loyal and stand down.

Since Li Yu can’t ride a horse, Ye Qinghuan gives him a donkey and assigns guards to protect him as he rides toward the palace.

During the battle, Ye Qinghuan deflects a Loulan assassin’s corrosive suicide attack thanks to Li Yu’s earlier warning.

The Loulan faction’s poison tactic fails, allowing the defenders to advance rapidly to Qianqing Palace.

Princess Langya, cornered, uses the emperor and princes as hostages and threatens to kill them if the defenders attack.

As the standoff intensifies, Princess Langya lunges at the emperor but is blocked by Prince Jing, who secretly retained a dagger Li Yu had given him.

With Princess Langya distracted, Ye Qinghuan shoots an arrow while Prince Jing strikes with his dagger in a coordinated move.

Princess Langya activates her final weapon—poison embedded in her body—but Prince Jing overturns a table and shields everyone from the spray.

She is killed by Prince Jing, disappearing into her own poison as she curses the emperor with her final breath.

The Loulan faction collapses as soldiers overwhelm Qianqing Palace and the emperor is rescued; Head Eunuch Luo is also saved.

Prince Jing searches the chaotic palace for Li Yu, eventually spotting him still riding a donkey that won’t stop moving.

Li Yu calls out for help, embarrassed and confused by the stubborn donkey, as Prince Jing approaches with a smile.

Li Yu struggles with a donkey that won’t stop circling, frustrated he can’t immediately run into Prince Jing’s arms after the battle ends.

As soon as Prince Jing approaches, the donkey inexplicably stops, seemingly recognizing his commanding aura.

Prince Jing climbs onto the donkey behind Li Yu, wraps his arms around him, and says “Let’s go home,” referring to his manor, now affectionately called “home” by both.

Li Yu is flustered by Prince Jing’s hoarse, sexy voice and physical closeness, which causes him to blush and squirm.

Despite embarrassment, Li Yu is overjoyed to be reunited and rides the donkey together with Prince Jing, drawing shocked reactions from Ye Qinghuan.

Ye Qinghuan reminds them about the children, which Li Yu had temporarily forgotten in his excitement; Prince Jing calmly suggests sending Wang Xi to bring them back.

Ye Qinghuan realizes, to his surprise, that Prince Jing is speaking aloud, revealing he’s recovered his voice and no longer needs to hide it.

Li Yu explains the poison’s connection to Princess Langya and how it was removed, completing the story for Ye Qinghuan.

Overjoyed, Ye Qinghuan runs to share the good news with his family and pick up the children.

On the way back, Li Yu complains to Prince Jing about how small the lotus pond at Cheng’en Manor was, prompting Prince Jing to have it renovated without telling him.

At home, Li Yu falls asleep in Prince Jing’s arms, thoroughly exhausted but peaceful and safe.

Prince Jing ensures Li Yu is comfortable and uninjured, feeling immense relief and guilt for having sent him on the dangerous talisman mission.

Li Yu wakes up in bed, realizes they’ve overcome another huge crisis, and kisses Prince Jing affectionately in his sleep.

Curious about mission progress, Li Yu checks the system but finds the “Share the Country” quest is still ongoing, likely to end only once Prince Jing ascends the throne.

Li Yu checks on the children, sees they’re happily playing hide-and-seek with Wang Xi, and feels comforted.

He notices his limbs had somehow ended up wrapped around Prince Jing again—only to realize it was Prince Jing who clung to him in his sleep.

After waking, Li Yu tries to sneakily kiss Prince Jing, but is caught and playfully pinned down with more kisses.

Li Yu, feeling the mood, flirts with Prince Jing, saying although he’s bad at riding donkeys, he’s still good at “riding.”

Blushing and nervous, Li Yu tries to initiate intimacy despite his pregnancy, assuring Prince Jing he can handle it gently.

Prince Jing, deeply moved and tempted, kisses him and agrees to “give it a try.”

After Princess Langya’s rebellion ends, the emperor punishes her faction; her body disintegrates from poison, and her father Chang’an-jun collapses in shame.

The Loulan royal family is spared but sent to guard the tombs of Empress Xiaohui and the fourth prince for generations as punishment.

Prince Jing’s wet nurse Pu Liu is honored posthumously for leaving behind clues that helped unravel the plot.

One of Princess Langya’s disguised martial-artist servants is suspected to be the same man who poisoned Pu Liu; the palace begins a thorough investigation into Loulan agents.

The emperor becomes overwhelmed with regret and guilt over past decisions, especially those involving Empress Xiaohui and his sons, and shuts down court for days.

Head Eunuch Luo turns to Prince Jing and Li Yu for help, believing that seeing the grandchildren will lift the emperor’s spirits.

Despite the potential political benefit, both Li Yu and Prince Jing agree to help the emperor out of genuine family loyalty, not ambition.

The four fish children cheerfully visit the emperor and offer him candy with the phrase “Eat candy, be happy,” melting his heart and bringing him to tears.

The emperor feels encouraged and starts to recover emotionally, vowing to resume his duties with new resolve.

Remembering the efforts of those who saved him, the emperor promises rewards for loyal subjects, including Prince Jing, Ye Qinghuan, and even Li Yu’s pet fish.

When asked about the fish, Prince Jing and Li Yu say it stayed at home, but the emperor nonetheless bestows it the title “Number One Fish in the World.”

Li Yu is mortified by the title, since it sounds like a label for a gourmet delicacy, but Prince Jing finds it both amusing and suggestive.

Prince Jing cheekily tells Li Yu that “fish really is delicious,” embarrassing him with the double entendre.

The emperor, tired but proud, asks Prince Jing to help with government affairs and jokes that if he completes all the paperwork, he’ll make him crown prince.

Unknown to Prince Jing, the emperor already planned to name him crown prince and is simply teasing him.

Li Yu starts sleeping more due to pregnancy and barely sees Prince Jing, who works late but always comes home to sleep beside him.

Prince Jing completes the emperor’s reports without complaint but never asks to be named crown prince, valuing family more than the title.

Touched by his son’s loyalty and Li Yu’s teachings, the emperor prepares to announce his successor but is overjoyed instead to learn Li Yu is pregnant again.

He immediately releases Prince Jing from duty and sends physicians to care for Li Yu, urging them to follow every command from the couple.

Back at home, Li Yu dozes in a chair while his kids play nearby, surrounded by peace and happiness—until he overhears Wang-gonggong talking about noble families wanting their daughters to become Prince Jing’s side consort.

Jolted awake, Li Yu is instantly alert and ready to defend his place in the family.

Li Yu wakes from a vivid dream where he heard Wang Xi talking about noble families trying to offer daughters to Prince Jing as side consorts.

Though it turns out to be a dream, Li Yu spirals into worry, thinking it’s likely now that Prince Jing is highly respected and being considered for the crown prince title.

He reflects on Prince Jing’s increasing popularity among officials and how some are trying to cozy up to him, though Prince Jing ignores most of them.

Wang Xi avoids mentioning the topic to Li Yu because of the consort’s sensitive pregnant state and out of loyalty to Prince Jing.

Li Yu, growing paranoid, starts imagining the emperor might try to arrange concubines for Prince Jing for political reasons.

As Prince Jing arrives home with imperial physicians to check on Li Yu’s pregnancy, Li Yu mistakenly assumes they are matchmakers or noble families’ envoys.

In a jealous rage, Li Yu accuses Prince Jing of bringing these women’s representatives home and lashes out dramatically.

The confused and elderly physicians clarify that their daughters are toddlers or already mothers and that they’re only there to check his pulse.

Embarrassed, Li Yu instantly switches gears and pretends he knew all along, smiling sweetly and offering his wrist for examination.

Prince Jing, highly amused, holds in his laughter and tells the doctors to proceed while secretly loving Li Yu’s jealous reaction.

The physicians confirm Li Yu is three months pregnant and healthy, and leave after updating the emperor.

Prince Jing prepares to tease Li Yu, who tries to hide behind their child Sibao for protection, but Wang Xi promptly lures the kids away with treats.

Left alone, Li Yu tries to retreat by pretending to nap, but Prince Jing holds him close and coaxes the truth out.

Li Yu admits his jealousy and reveals his dream, worried about the possibility of other wives.

Prince Jing reassures him sincerely—he never wanted anyone else and already rejected the emperor’s suggestion of other wives.

The emperor himself has no intention of forcing any concubines on Prince Jing, especially after being rejected by those same families in the past when Prince Jing was still mute.

Now that they want in, the emperor finds it insulting and brushes them off, thinking Li Yu is already the perfect consort.

Reassured by both Prince Jing and his trust in the emperor, Li Yu apologizes for his outburst, explaining his emotions have been overwhelming during pregnancy.

Prince Jing warmly accepts the apology, saying it’s only because Li Yu cares so much, and lovingly cuddles his jealous fish.

Meanwhile, the physicians report to the emperor confirming Li Yu’s pregnancy, and the emperor, overjoyed, decides there’s no reason to wait.

He summons the top officials and Prince Li to officially declare Prince Jing the crown prince—choosing to double the joy with both the pregnancy and succession announcement.

The emperor summons Prince Li and the Six Ministers to court and formally declares Prince Jing the crown prince despite their cautious, ritualistic protests.

Reflecting on his own aging, regrets, and recent vulnerability during Princess Langya’s rebellion, the emperor decides it's time to pass on power.

During the next court session, Prince Li reads the edict publicly, shocking Prince Jing, who hadn't been told in advance.

Though stunned, Prince Jing accepts the title and is officially appointed crown prince to the joy of the court.

The emperor instructs the Six Ministries to help Prince Jing learn and take on responsibilities, and preparations begin for a formal crown prince ceremony.

After court, the emperor praises Prince Jing and thanks him for his loyalty, recalling how Prince Jing could’ve let him die to claim the throne—but didn’t.

Moved by their growing father-son bond, the emperor expresses heartfelt appreciation and hints at holding a proper wedding for Prince Jing and Li Yu, since he missed their previous one on the western border.

Meanwhile, Li Yu teaches Dabao how to write but ends up embarrassing himself with worse handwriting than the toddler.

Dabao, disillusioned by his fish dad’s poor penmanship, refuses to be taught and tries to flee, leading to a playful chase and tickle fight.

Wang Xi bursts in to deliver the news that Prince Jing has been appointed crown prince, stunning Li Yu.

Li Yu is overwhelmed by the speed of the decision and starts tearing up with pride for his husband.

Wang Xi also shares that the emperor plans to host another wedding for Prince Jing and Li Yu following the ceremony, which horrifies Li Yu due to his current pregnancy.

When Prince Jing returns home, Li Yu greets him proudly, calling him “His Highness the Crown Prince” with affection and excitement.

Prince Jing explains that he turned down the emperor’s wedding suggestion—for now—due to Li Yu’s pregnancy but wants to hold the ceremony after the birth to give Li Yu everything he deserves.

Li Yu is flustered but agrees, planning to lose weight before the next wedding and deciding he’ll endure it if it makes his husband happy.

That night, Li Yu appears calm, but repeatedly wakes Prince Jing up just to confirm again that he’s truly the crown prince.

Prince Jing confirms each time and comforts his giddy, slow-to-react, pregnancy-brained fish, who internally screams with joy: “My husband is the crown prince ha ha ha!”

With Prince Jing officially crowned as the crown prince, Li Yu becomes the crown prince consort without opposition, despite having no family background.

Nobles who once rejected Prince Jing are now silent, unwilling to offend him or his consort, especially since he has no concubines and remains deeply loyal to Li Yu.

The emperor allows Prince Jing to continue living in his manor, renaming it the Crown Prince Manor, as relocating during Li Yu’s pregnancy would be inconvenient.

The emperor realizes Dabao lost his previous title after Prince Jing’s promotion and, after initially considering making Dabao a prince, settles on naming him “Commandant of Light Chariots,” a respectable rank-three title.

Li Yu, amused and slightly overwhelmed, feels Dabao is absurdly lucky and essentially the family’s real koi spirit.

Preparing to thank the emperor in person, Li Yu prepares for a palace visit, bringing the “Number One Fish in the World” body double in a crystal bottle as part of his gratitude.

Before Li Yu departs, Prince Jing unexpectedly returns to personally escort him to the palace, having taken leave from his court duties.

They ride in a carriage together, and Li Yu naps in Prince Jing’s arms on the way, deeply comforted by his husband’s attention and care.

At the palace gates, a servant had prepared a soft palanquin, but Prince Jing swaps it for one brought from home, more comfortable for Li Yu.

On the way to Qianqing Palace, Li Yu spots a white blur in the bushes and believes it might be Piaoxue, the cat that once helped him escape during the rebellion.

With Prince Jing’s approval, the palace servant retrieves the cat, who appears to be injured and wrapped in gauze with a bloody smell.

Upon closer inspection, Piaoxue has no injury; the blood came from cloth inside the gauze, revealing a wrapped-up ball of soaked red fabric.

Wang Xi identifies the substance as likely chicken or dog blood, commonly used in superstitious rituals to expose spirits or yao in disguise.

Prince Jing immediately realizes the implications—had Li Yu touched the cloth, it could have forced him to reveal his true fish form in public.

Horrified, Prince Jing deduces this was a deliberate trap set up to expose Li Yu as a yao, possibly by someone who has discovered his secret and aims to harm him.

While Li Yu remains unaware in the palanquin, Prince Jing and Wang Xi grow alert and begin preparing to quietly investigate who orchestrated the attempt.

Prince Jing orders everyone involved with the Piaoxue incident to keep silent and secretly disposes of the bloody fabric containing dog’s blood, which could expose Li Yu’s true form.

Li Yu, confused why Piaoxue wasn't brought over, accepts Prince Jing’s offer to stop at Jingtai Hall first, sensing something is up but trusting his husband.

A spy watches the couple leave for Jingtai Hall, but one of Prince Jing’s guards quietly follows in pursuit.

At Jingtai Hall, Prince Jing gently tells Li Yu about the blood-soaked fabric hidden on Piaoxue, explaining that it was dog’s blood, which can expose a yao’s true form.

Li Yu is shocked, realizing someone tried to force him to transform in public; he tries to act appropriately scared, remembering Prince Jing thinks he’s a carp spirit.

Prince Jing holds his hand and promises to protect him no matter what, deeply moved by Li Yu’s reaction.

They both deduce the person responsible must be in the palace and suspect a connection to the cold palace.

A palace guard confirms that a suspicious servant followed them earlier and returned to Yongfu Palace—where Princess Langya once lived.

Prince Jing identifies the suspect as Chu Yanyu, a low-ranked noble who had once been the sixth prince’s lover and was recommended to the palace by Princess Langya.

Though Chu Yanyu helped the emperor in small ways during the rebellion and avoided punishment, he remained in the side halls of Yongfu Palace.

Prince Jing suspects Chu Yanyu may have inherited Princess Langya’s grudge or is trying to rise in power again by targeting Li Yu.

Further investigation reveals one of Chu Yanyu’s servants was at the hunting grounds and reported seeing a “monster,” possibly witnessing Li Yu’s transformation.

Prince Jing and Li Yu realize that this servant must have seen Li Yu change in a neighboring tent while he was caring for his poisoned husband, which Chu Yanyu may have connected to the koi fish who slapped the sixth prince.

Rather than panic, Li Yu decides to get crafty—he proposes using the fish body double to lure out their enemy.

Prince Jing agrees without hesitation, saying he’ll handle everything afterward and protect Li Yu no matter what.

An hour later, a palace spy sees a palanquin leaving Jingtai Hall; inside is only a crystal bottle with a glimmering silver-and-gold koi—Li Yu’s body double, used as bait to draw out Chu Yanyu.

Chu Yanyu confirms that Li Yu is a fish yao after his spy sees only a koi in the consort’s palanquin; he reflects on past clues from others like Lady Qiu, Mu Tianxiao, and even the mad Marquis of An.

Remembering multiple suspicious incidents involving the koi, Chu Yanyu becomes convinced that the crown prince consort is not human.

He recalls the hunting ground incident when a servant claimed to see the consort transform, and he pieces everything together, including the koi’s unusual intelligence and timing.

Chu Yanyu also realizes Li Yu's name means "carp," which cements his belief.

Wanting proof, he uses dog blood, a folkloric method to force a yao to revert to its original form, and hides it in gauze on Piaoxue the cat’s leg.

He learns that Wang Xi often brings the cat treats from Li Yu, which gives him the opportunity to trap the cat and set up the exposure.

Chu Yanyu prepares Piaoxue and has the cat placed strategically in the imperial garden; he's delighted when the crown prince and Li Yu pick it up, believing his plan worked.

When his spy reports that the palanquin held only a fish, Chu Yanyu feels triumphant, confirming Li Yu is a yao.

Disillusioned with the emperor and the difficult, humiliating life of a low-ranking male consort, Chu Yanyu decides to target the crown prince instead, seeing him as the "rising sun."

He grows jealous of Li Yu’s easy happiness, love, and status, especially after witnessing the crown prince carrying a sleeping Li Yu away from a palace event.

Seeing Li Yu’s peaceful life and the crown prince’s devotion, Chu Yanyu becomes consumed with envy and resentment.

He sends a message to the crown prince, pretending to have crucial information, hoping it will bring Prince Jing to him.

Li Yu sees the message and instantly becomes a jealous fish, biting the crown prince in protest and demanding he refuse.

Prince Jing reassures Li Yu and tells him firmly that he won’t go, comforting his possessive consort.

Wang Xi rejects the messenger harshly, finding Chu Yanyu shameless for trying to summon the crown prince.

Chu Yanyu is furious and heartbroken when the crown prince doesn’t respond, smashing his mirror and declaring he’ll destroy what he can’t have.

He limps toward Qianqing Palace to make his move, now driven by spite and jealousy.

Li Yu, realizing the antagonist is finally moving into action, becomes excited and prepares to go undercover to expose Chu Yanyu’s plot.

He insists on dressing up to join in the fun, despite the fact that he only needs to sit in a palanquin.

Prince Jing chooses a disguise for Li Yu—a pregnant wet nurse—and even he finds himself stealing glances at how adorable and charming Li Yu looks in costume.

Chu Yanyu gets an audience with the emperor and plans to expose Li Yu as a fish yao.

He sees the crown prince’s children present and assumes they must also be yao, explaining their bond with the emperor.

The emperor calls for the crown prince and his consort to join them so the family can be together.

The children recognize that Chu Yanyu is acting cold and unfriendly, unlike before, and whisper that he’s “fickle,” amusing the emperor and embarrassing Chu Yanyu.

Chu Yanyu kneels and reports that the crown prince consort might not be human, based on the hunting ground sighting and the koi fish being in the palanquin instead of a person.

The emperor scolds Chu Yanyu and accuses him of slandering the crown prince consort, dismissing the idea as ridiculous.

Chu Yanyu desperately insists that Li Yu and the koi fish have never been seen together, even swearing he’s telling the truth and connecting Li Yu’s name “Yu” (carp) to the accusation.

The emperor, already frustrated, orders Head Eunuch Luo to send Chu Yanyu to the Office of Punishment.

Still desperate, Chu Yanyu insists they investigate the palanquin, saying Li Yu is in his fish form inside.

Coincidentally, the crown prince arrives, and the emperor lets him handle the matter.

Prince Jing appears calm and unbothered, even allowing Chu Yanyu to summon the palanquin.

Guards return with the crystal bottle containing a silver-and-gold koi, just as Chu Yanyu predicted.

Chu Yanyu accuses the fish of being the consort in yao form, expecting Li Yu to be unable to appear.

Suddenly, a veiled pregnant woman enters the hall, introduced as the children’s new wet nurse by Prince Jing.

The woman’s eyes and expressions are suspiciously familiar, and Head Eunuch Luo quickly realizes she is Li Yu in disguise but keeps quiet.

Dabao instantly recognizes the woman as his fish dad based on her affectionate behavior, as do the other children, though they remain silent.

Chu Yanyu is confused but insists that the fish is Li Yu and brings in a Daoist priest to expose the yao.

The priest performs rituals and uses talismans, but the fish shows no reaction and continues swimming.

The priest and Chu Yanyu then try to use black dog’s blood to force a transformation.

The wet nurse (Li Yu) finally speaks up, questioning the morality of harming a potentially ordinary fish.

Chu Yanyu insists that if he’s wrong, he’ll beg for forgiveness and let the crown prince punish him.

Just before Chu Yanyu pours the blood into the bottle, the veiled wet nurse announces, “You should look at who I am first,” and prepares to unveil her face—ending the chapter on a cliffhanger.

Li Yu removes his veil, revealing himself as the “wet nurse,” shocking Chu Yanyu, who cannot comprehend how Li Yu and the fish could be in the same room.

Li Yu dares Chu Yanyu to force him to transform if he truly believes he’s a fish yao.

Chu Yanyu realizes too late that he’s been completely played and publicly humiliated by the crown prince and Li Yu, who staged the whole act to trap him.

The emperor recognizes the manipulation and grows disgusted with Chu Yanyu, realizing his previous kindness and loyalty were an act.

Despite the setup being clearly false, the Daoist priest brought by Chu Yanyu rings his bell in an attempt to expose Li Yu as a yao.

Prince Jing, furious, kicks the priest into a pillar, knocking him out, and orders the guards to remove him.

Wang Xi brings in Hong-er, Chu Yanyu’s supposed witness, but she’s been driven mad and babbles nonsense about everyone being a fish, including the emperor.

With his only witness discredited, Chu Yanyu is left with no defense and is forced to kneel, begging for mercy.

Prince Jing coldly sentences him to two hundred strokes, removal of all titles, and banishment to the cold palace.

Chu Yanyu tries to appeal to the emperor, but the emperor, now fully disillusioned, ignores him and has the guards drag him away.

Li Yu feels no sympathy, recalling Chu Yanyu’s hateful gaze toward the children—his family was his bottom line.

The emperor starts to question the koi fish’s changed behavior, but dismisses his own suspicions and instead praises the fish, asking to see it more often.

Li Yu, still in disguise, flirts with Prince Jing, proud of how well his act fooled everyone.

Back home, Li Yu refuses to change out of the skirt, playing up his role as the “wet nurse” and teasing Prince Jing.

Prince Jing, initially confused by all the padding, later pins Li Yu against the screen, teasing him with, “Wet nurse?” and carries him to bed.

The two get intimate, with Li Yu embracing his role in jest until they’re interrupted by their children one by one.

Dabao arrives first, asking to sleep with the wet nurse; then the other three follow suit until all four kids are in bed between their parents.

Prince Jing accepts it with a soft swipe to Li Yu’s nose, letting the moment go.

The next morning, as life returns to normal, Prince Jing greets Li Yu with a mischievous “Wet nurse,” making Li Yu blush furiously and realize the nickname is here to stay.

Prince Jing refuses to let Li Yu touch Piaoxue the cat, even after it’s been thoroughly cleaned, because of the prior dog’s blood incident.

To compromise, Li Yu asks Prince Jing to hold the cat for him, saying that if couples are one, it’s the same as holding it himself.

Prince Jing reluctantly agrees and awkwardly holds Piaoxue, who is terrified and doesn’t dare move due to his intimidating aura.

After feeding Piaoxue a dried fish, Prince Jing quickly sets it down; the cat hides behind Wang Xi, traumatized.

Li Yu is greatly amused and can’t stop laughing, while Prince Jing declares he prefers holding a fish (Li Yu) instead.

Piaoxue stays at the manor for a few days, seemingly listless, but eventually leaves and returns to the cold palace.

Wang Xi confirms Piaoxue is much livelier back with Lady Qiu, despite being scolded and eating scraps; it clearly prefers her company.

When Wang Xi tells Lady Qiu that Chu Yanyu tried to use Piaoxue to harm Li Yu, she reacts coldly, declaring she wants no further connection to the crown prince’s household.

Li Yu reflects that Lady Qiu’s past warmth had likely ended when she remembered their families were enemies; he accepts the outcome without resentment.

Wang Xi tries to cheer up Li Yu by sharing gossip—he spotted Chu Yanyu at the cold palace, now unrecognizable and suffering from neglect and poverty.

Chu Yanyu, beaten, broke, and crippled, now lives in a half-collapsed hut and survives on cold leftovers, shunned even by other exiles.

One day, Lady Qiu visits Chu Yanyu and slaps him, yelling at him for harming her cat, then pours dog’s blood on him in revenge.

Chu Yanyu, humiliated, gains the new nickname “Walking Dog’s Blood” as the stench clings to him even after attempts to wash it off.

Li Yu laughs but also decides to stop receiving updates about Chu Yanyu, choosing instead to focus on his husband and kids.

Prince Jing has settled into his new roles at both the Ministry of Rites and now the Ministry of Revenue but always finds time to come home and be with Li Yu.

The children are doing well in the imperial study room and have recently begun learning to use chopsticks.

Bored, Li Yu decides to start cooking again and plans to make cute bento meals for Prince Jing and the children, confident he’ll do great.

Wang Xi is horrified, remembering the legendary awfulness of Li Yu’s past cooking and rushes off to warn Prince Jing before disaster strikes again.

Li Yu enthusiastically decides to cook for Prince Jing and the kids, starting with smashed cucumber, confident that it’s a simple and safe dish despite being pregnant.

He finds a jar of pepper that Auntie Xu explains is extremely rare and more valuable than gold, which shocks Li Yu given its common use in his previous world.

While sniffing it, Li Yu accidentally dumps too much pepper into the cucumber dish and decides to balance the flavors by adding more seasonings, including star anise and fennel.

Prince Jing, warned by Wang Xi, intercepts the lunchboxes meant for himself and the children and secretly swaps the kids’ box with one filled with snacks to spare them from Li Yu’s cooking.

The crown prince eats the original spiced cucumber dish himself in front of the Ministry of Rites officials without flinching, though they’re horrified by the strange smell.

Back home, everyone praises the meal. The kids say it was delicious, and Li Yu concludes the crown prince must love pepper and offers to cook daily.

Prince Jing smiles and agrees, even though he suffered through the meal, because he cherishes Li Yu’s affection.

During the conversation, Li Yu suddenly feels the baby kick for the first time and excitedly calls Prince Jing over.

At first, the baby stops moving every time Prince Jing touches Li Yu’s belly, but eventually starts kicking again, allowing them to share the moment together.

The four kids join in, happily shouting that “Meimei is moving,” confirming Li Yu’s pregnancy with a daughter.

Even Wang Xi tears up, emotionally affected by the experience, despite not understanding why this second pregnancy feels even more moving than the first.

The emperor hears about the baby kicking and becomes sentimental, remembering how he missed the birth of the first four children and now wants to be more involved with the fifth.

He sends a daily imperial physician to check on Li Yu and gifts a huge trove of items meant for “just a few gifts,” clearly overindulging.

Despite his growing belly and reduced mobility, Li Yu becomes increasingly anxious as the birth draws nearer, especially since this is his first human pregnancy.

He asks Princess Jinjue for advice and grows more nervous hearing about childbirth, leading to insomnia and emotional distress.

One night, Li Yu breaks down in tears while lying next to Prince Jing, overwhelmed by fear and uncertainty about the upcoming birth.

Prince Jing comforts him gently, telling him to cry if he needs to and offering his arm to bite for stress relief.

Li Yu bites him hard, and Prince Jing accepts it without flinching, saying he wishes he could take on the pain himself and promising to protect him.

Li Yu is deeply comforted by the love and support, realizing that even when fear feels overwhelming, love makes him strong enough to endure it.

The crown prince ceremony is scheduled for half a year later, a date that Prince Jing deliberately chose to ensure Li Yu wouldn’t have to attend it while heavily pregnant.

The emperor, pleased with Prince Jing’s choice, approves the delayed date, unaware that Prince Jing had secretly arranged it to spare Li Yu discomfort.

Wang Xi later reveals the truth to Li Yu, who is touched and grateful that Prince Jing put his comfort over political significance.

Li Yu grows braver about childbirth, deciding he’ll endure the pain and "take a few bites out of" Prince Jing afterward as revenge.

As the ninth month progresses, Li Yu becomes increasingly uncomfortable, unable to cook or sleep properly, and can barely walk.

One morning, after a sore back and exhaustion from walking, Li Yu realizes something is off; Xiaoluo checks his pulse and calls the doctor.

The imperial physicians and a live-in doctor confirm Li Yu is going into labor; Wang Xi rushes to fetch Prince Jing.

Li Yu is shocked and anxious, realizing Xiaomian’ao (his daughter) is on the way sooner than expected.

The crown prince, upon receiving the news, leaves court immediately without even notifying his ministers and rushes to Li Yu’s side.

Li Yu is mid-bite of a har gow dumpling when Prince Jing arrives and lifts him into his arms, visibly shaken and more nervous than Li Yu.

Despite the pain and pressure, Li Yu is comforted by Prince Jing’s presence and fed a bit more food to sustain his strength for labor.

As the contractions worsen, Prince Jing supports him physically and emotionally, even offering his arm to bite during the pain.

When Li Yu is told it’s time to move to the delivery room, he pouts for a goodbye kiss but is shocked when Prince Jing follows him inside—refusing to leave his side.

Against ancient norms, Prince Jing stays through the birth, holding Li Yu’s hand and offering constant support.

Li Yu, overwhelmed but strengthened by his husband’s presence, goes through labor while mentally preparing for the pain.

He passes out during the final stretch and finds himself in the system interface, where he learns he completed the “Warm Cotton Jacket” quest and successfully gave birth to his daughter.

The system reward—delayed but appreciated—reduces his postpartum pain and enhances healing.

Li Yu views his daughter through the system interface: a pink, chubby, rosy baby with a thick head of hair and bright eyes, seemingly looking right at him.

Overwhelmed with love, he smiles and accepts the system’s reward, joking that even late relief is better than none.

Upon waking, he’s weak and sore but no longer in extreme pain; Prince Jing is by his side, having never left him, and feeds him warm tea.

Physicians confirm Li Yu is healthy, and shortly after, Prince Jing presents their daughter to him—swaddled in pink and just as perfect as in the system.

Li Yu kisses his daughter and drifts back to sleep while Prince Jing tucks them both in.

Their four sons return from the imperial study room and excitedly crowd around their sleeping dad and new baby sister, promising to wait quietly for them to wake up.

Many court officials express disappointment that the crown prince’s newborn is a daughter rather than a son, believing a son would have had more political meaning.

Li Yu hears the sexist rumors but doesn’t care—he loves his daughter, Xiaomian’ao, deeply and sees her as incredibly precious.

Prince Jing adores Xiaomian’ao and takes over all her care duties to let Li Yu recover, often staring at her for long stretches and treating her like fragile treasure.

Though he had prepared many names, Prince Jing struggles to settle on one until Li Yu chooses the characters “Qiongxue,” inspired by her jade-like pale skin.

For her nickname, Li Yu continues his naming pattern and picks “Xuebao” instead of “Wubao” to show her off as their beautiful daughter.

Prince Jing and the kids love the nickname; the boys promise to take care of their little sister and bring her gifts she can’t use yet.

The emperor visits the manor in common clothes to meet his granddaughter in person—something he’s never done before.

He is unexpectedly moved and delighted, gifting Xuebao a piece of warm jade once worn by Empress Xiaohui.

Despite her age, Xuebao meets his gaze with her big eyes, melting the emperor instantly.

The emperor gives her the title of “Princess Wenhui,” surpassing standard ranks for crown prince daughters, ignoring all tradition and criticism.

Officials protest, but the emperor refuses to budge. Prince Jing also doesn’t reject the title, believing Xuebao and Li Yu both deserve it.

At her one-month celebration, the entire capital is invited. The emperor attends, and the scale of the event shuts down any mockery about her being “just a girl.”

Thanks to the system’s reward, Li Yu heals much faster than expected and only has to endure ancient postpartum customs like no bathing for a month.

Prince Jing enforces these rules strictly, even removing all water vessels to prevent Li Yu from sneaking a swim during his daily fish transformation.

To help, Prince Jing personally wipes him down each day, and Li Yu eventually gives in and lets him.

After the month ends, Li Yu celebrates with a long four-hour bath shared with Prince Jing.

At the party, the whole family wears coordinated outfits; the boys wear gold-embroidered robes with fish and the word “luck,” while Xuebao wears red plum blossoms and pigtails.

Visiting relatives, including Ye Qinghuan and Princess Jinjue with their daughter, admire Xuebao and comment on how well Li Yu is doing.

The children play adorably, crowning Xuebao and Qinghe-junzhu with flowers, and Prince Jing captures the moment in an unfinished painting labeled “for Xiaoyu.”

Li Yu also notices the family painting now includes a tiny red-dotted koi—clearly representing Xuebao as part of their fishy family.

Li Yu is overwhelmed with love and joy, only interrupted when Wang Xi informs him a gift has arrived from the Marquis of Dingbei.

The gift is a delicate silver protective bracelet from Lady Liang, Mu Tianxiao’s widow, given in secret to thank Li Yu for helping her when no one else did.

Lady Liang, still in mourning and secluded from society, couldn’t attend the party but wanted to offer a heartfelt blessing for Li Yu’s daughter.

Li Yu, touched by her kind gesture and painful circumstances, reflects on how cruel it is that someone so young must spend her life as a widow and wonders if there’s a way to help her find freedom from her past.

Li Yu asks Madam Qin about the lives of widows and learns that although remarrying isn’t illegal, widows who remarry are socially judged and often shunned.

Lady Liang’s case is more restrictive since she was married to the sixth prince by imperial order, and even though he’s dead and disowned, she’s still seen as tied to the royal family.

The emperor despises Mu Tianxiao and has ignored Lady Liang’s existence, but she can’t live openly with her family without inviting gossip, so she moved to the countryside to avoid scrutiny.

Madam Qin assumes Li Yu wants to find Lady Liang a new husband, as her own remarried sister is now living happily after facing similar scorn.

Li Yu clarifies that he doesn’t intend to matchmake; he simply wants Lady Liang to live freely, whether that means remarrying or staying single—her happiness is the goal.

He is frustrated by societal double standards: widowers can remarry freely, but widows are expected to remain loyal to dead husbands regardless of their circumstances.

Madam Qin agrees to sound out Lady Liang’s feelings, but Lady Liang declines any change, saying “people’s words are to be feared.”

Lady Liang feels it’s easier to remain in her current status than endure the lifelong criticism that would come with trying to live for herself.

Although disappointed, Li Yu respects her decision and decides not to involve Prince Jing for now.

However, he resolves to still speak with Prince Jing—not for Lady Liang specifically, but because the issue of widow remarriage is a societal problem that deserves change.

When Li Yu arrives at the study, he finds guards posted but is allowed through due to standing orders from the crown prince.

He overhears a private conversation between Prince Jing and Ye Qinghuan, who is asking whether Li Yu is human or yao.

Li Yu panics, realizing Ye Qinghuan might have connected the dots from the koi fish incident and the merman sighting during the talisman delivery.

Ye Qinghuan lists his suspicions: Li Yu’s sudden appearance in the pond, his refusal to leave the water, the manmer sighting by a civilian, and stories from Chu Yanyu.

Prince Jing stays calm and evasive, asking Ye Qinghuan what he would do with the truth.

Ye Qinghuan sincerely says he wouldn’t do anything—he just wants to understand and promises to never reveal it to anyone, even his wife.

Moved by Ye Qinghuan’s loyalty, Li Yu listens as Prince Jing confirms the truth: yes, Li Yu is not human.

Ye Qinghuan is shocked but quickly accepts it, acknowledging that Li Yu saved them all, healed the crown prince’s muteness, and gave him children.

Prince Jing explains that he and Li Yu are fated and meant to be married for a hundred lifetimes—this is just the first.

Li Yu is touched by the romantic line, realizing Prince Jing made it up to protect his secret while also publicly affirming their eternal bond.

Ye Qinghuan, flustered, blurts out that it explains the crown prince’s “thing for fish,” leaving Li Yu stunned and internally shouting that his husband has no such kink.

Ye Qinghuan questions why Li Yu doesn’t use his powers more openly, and Prince Jing explains that Li Yu has his own principles and cannot be forced.

Ye Qinghuan asks if the children are also yao; Prince Jing confirms they are not—Xuebao is fully human, and though the four sons were born as fish, they are now human and won’t transform until age seven.

Ye Qinghuan, relieved, asks how he should treat Li Yu now. Prince Jing tells him nothing has changed—Li Yu is to be respected as himself.

Ye Qinghuan nervously asks if Li Yu fears his dog, Xiongfeng, only to realize Li Yu has long since played with the dog comfortably.

Prince Jing warns Ye Qinghuan seriously that protecting Li Yu is the same as protecting him, cementing Li Yu’s status as his other half.

After leaving, Ye Qinghuan bumps into Li Yu and awkwardly greets him, flustered now that he knows Li Yu is a yao.

Li Yu teases him, fully aware of his discomfort, then goes to see Prince Jing.

Prince Jing admits he told Ye Qinghuan the truth because he trusted him and couldn’t hide it any longer.

Li Yu brings up the “hundred lifetimes” line Prince Jing used to justify their bond; Prince Jing shyly asks if it was too much, but Li Yu reassures him it was perfect.

Deeply touched by Prince Jing’s insecurities and need for reassurance, Li Yu doesn’t realize he’s been charmed into emotional submission again.

Li Yu brings up the issue of widow remarriage, asking if he can support women like Lady Liang who want a fresh start.

Prince Jing says it won’t be easy, especially for Lady Liang since she was married by imperial edict, but Li Yu clarifies he wants to help widows in general, not just her.

Inspired, Li Yu decides to gauge public opinion by conducting a “survey,” a modern concept foreign to the ancient world.

He creates questionnaires and instructs servants to distribute them, offering a copper coin reward per completed form to encourage participation.

Illiterate people can have the survey read aloud and respond verbally, making the survey accessible to all.

The questions ask first about general opinions on widow remarriage, then reframe it personally—what if it were your own relative?

The contrast forces people to consider their bias; while many initially oppose remarriage, their stance softens when asked to imagine a loved one in that situation.

Li Yu collects and analyzes the results: under 10% are opposed in both cases, under 10% support both, but the vast majority shift their views when the issue becomes personal.

He shows the results to Prince Jing, who praises his thoughtfulness and agrees to support him in advocating for change.

When Li Yu asks if it’s because “I am you,” referencing the phrase Prince Jing told Ye Qinghuan, Prince Jing replies tenderly that it’s because he’ll give Li Yu anything he asks for.

Finally, Li Yu reveals his growing ambition, asking Prince Jing: if you ever ascend the throne, and I wanted your country—what would you do?

Li Yu jokingly asks the crown prince what he would do if Li Yu wanted his country one day, prompting Mu Tianchi to panic, believing it might be part of Li Yu’s final tribulation and a sign he might leave.

Mu Tianchi deeply fears losing Li Yu and reflects on how everything good in his life—his voice, his title, his survival—was because of Li Yu.

He interprets the question as a test and, fearing an answer might push Li Yu away, says he’ll “think about it,” surprising Li Yu, who expected immediate support.

Li Yu feels foolish and guilty for asking something so extreme, thinking he overstepped and made things awkward, but still comforts himself with the idea that Tianchi didn’t outright refuse.

Mu Tianchi remains silent to keep Li Yu from leaving, even if it means making him a little sad for now.

Shifting focus, Li Yu throws himself into launching his women’s advocacy effort, dubbed the “Ladies’ Assistance Society,” inspired by a modern women’s federation.

With the emperor’s initial support secured, Li Yu begins organizing surveys to understand public sentiment toward widow remarriage.

Prince Jing advises him to gather opinions from officials, not just civilians, to better persuade the court and emperor.

Li Yu agrees and watches the crown prince summon all Six Ministries to their manor under the guise of a casual event so they can complete the survey without resistance.

Surprisingly, most officials support widow remarriage, having seen firsthand the suffering of widowed women; Li Yu compiles the results into a proposal.

Initially nervous, Li Yu presents the proposal himself to the emperor, who praises it and grants approval for the Ladies’ Assistance Society to be officially founded.

The emperor later issues a proclamation declaring widows are free to choose whether to remarry or remain single, recognizing it as a virtuous but voluntary act.

Li Yu’s organization quickly gains recognition and begins receiving petitions from women, including one who had been abused by her late husband’s family.

With support from Madam Qin, Xiaoluo, and palace influence, Li Yu successfully helps the woman gain freedom, realizing how much patience and diplomacy are required.

As requests grow, the emperor appoints trained female officials to assist with the growing workload, and Li Yu steps back into a supervisory and advisory role.

Eventually, Lady Liang herself visits the society seeking help, encouraged by its growing reputation and success.

Since Lady Liang had been married to the sixth prince by imperial edict, Li Yu fears she may not be allowed to move on without the emperor’s intervention.

Prince Jing boldly suggests the emperor permit Lady Liang to divorce the late Mu Tianxiao to regain her freedom.

The emperor, hating Mu Tianxiao and knowing Lady Liang’s marriage was political, agrees and issues the divorce, allowing her to begin a new life.

Lady Liang is deeply grateful and kowtows to the emperor, Prince Jing, and especially to Li Yu, recognizing him as the one who made her freedom possible.

Prince Jing deflects the credit onto Li Yu, who is both moved and slightly suspicious, once again bringing up their earlier conversation about “the country.”

Mu Tianchi immediately deflects again and runs off with a “Goodbye!”, avoiding the topic entirely.

Li Yu suspects the crown prince, Mu Tianchi, is hiding something from him and wonders why, especially since they now have five children together.

Remembering the system rewards he never checked, Li Yu enters the system to watch the “secrets” he earned through previous quests, hoping to uncover what’s being hidden.

Most secrets reveal how Tianchi subtly maneuvered behind the scenes to protect and support Li Yu, including securing his place as consort and helping him be accepted by the emperor.

One secret shocks Li Yu: he sees a memory of a young boy—clearly a young Mu Tianchi—being rescued from drowning by a black-and-gold fish, which Li Yu realizes was him before he transformed into a koi.

This means Li Yu was part of Tianchi’s life long before he knew it, and it was the fish’s golden shimmer in the pond that inspired the emperor to rename the boy “Tianchi.”

Li Yu is deeply shaken, realizing their fate was intertwined even before his transmigration, and questions whether the “illusion” of the past was actually real.

In another secret, Li Yu sees the current-day Tianchi writing a draft decree to name Li Yu as his empress—with the same authority as a prince regent, granting him political power.

However, Mu Tianchi burns the paper afterward, so the system doesn’t count it as fulfilling the “share the country” main quest since it was never stated aloud.

Li Yu is touched but confused—if Tianchi wants him to help rule, why won’t he say so?

Before he can confront him, Li Yu visits the nursery and finds all five children sleeping, including Dabao and Xuebao. He lovingly tends to them and lets Xiaoluo, the nursemaid, rest.

Suddenly, dark clouds roll in and a thunderstorm begins; lightning strikes near the crown prince’s manor.

Mu Tianchi, working at the Ministry of Revenue, sees the storm and panics, believing it to be Li Yu’s final heavenly tribulation, which would make him disappear if successful.

Fearing he’ll lose him forever, Tianchi abandons his post and rushes home on horseback through the storm.

Bursting into the manor drenched and breathless, he finds Li Yu simply standing by the window, trying to close it against the wind while Dabao cries from irritation.

Mistaking the moment for Li Yu’s ascension or departure, Tianchi throws himself at Li Yu and holds him tightly, pleading, “Don’t go.”

Li Yu realizes Tianchi completely believed his claim of being a carp spirit and misunderstood the thunderstorm as a heavenly sign.

Overcome with emotion, Li Yu hugs him back and reassures him: “I won’t go, nor will I leave you.”

After the thunderstorm, Li Yu reassures Dabao and sends the kids to another room, leaving him alone with the drenched crown prince.

Mu Tianchi clings to Li Yu, afraid that if he looks away, Li Yu might disappear due to a heavenly tribulation.

Li Yu scolds Tianchi for rushing through the storm without an umbrella, then gently helps him dry off and change clothes.

As they huddle together for warmth, Li Yu confronts Tianchi, asking if he once intended to name him empress regent.

Mu Tianchi lies and says no, refusing to admit it to protect Li Yu from political consequences.

Li Yu angrily insists he doesn’t want to ascend or leave—his tribulations aren’t about becoming immortal, they’re about becoming truly human so he can stay with Tianchi.

Tianchi is stunned that Li Yu would choose humanity over immortality and questions why; Li Yu affirms he only wants to be with Tianchi.

Moved, Tianchi says that even if Li Yu had ulterior motives or tried to take over the country, he wouldn’t mind.

He then reveals he remembered Li Yu saving him when he was a child—his long-lost memory of the koi with a golden tail finally returned when he was unconscious from poison.

Li Yu is overjoyed to learn their bond began long before they officially met; Tianchi confirms it was the silence of the fish’s tail that made him dive in to save it.

Realizing their fate was a time loop, Li Yu embraces it happily, knowing their bond transcends time.

Li Yu tells Tianchi he needs help completing his final tribulation or he’ll turn to fish bones and ash; Tianchi swears to support him.

During the official crown prince ceremony, Li Yu stands beside Tianchi in full formal regalia, a position never granted to a consort before.

Though nervous at first, Li Yu completes the complex offering rituals with Tianchi, gaining confidence in his role as future empress.

At the end of the ceremony, Tianchi holds Li Yu’s hand and says clearly, “I do want to share the country with you,” fulfilling the main quest.

In the system interface, Li Yu receives his final reward: he is now fully human by default and can transform freely between fish, manmer, and merman forms without restriction or cooldowns.

His inventory is also expanded again.

A glowing door appears, offering him the chance to return to the modern world forever, erasing his memories to ease the pain of leaving.

Li Yu refuses, unwilling to abandon his husband and children, choosing love and family over freedom.

The system converts the reward into a special trip: a two-day visit to the modern world (15 minutes in the current timeline).

Li Yu excitedly plans to take someone with him and decides he can’t bring all five kids—it would be chaos—so he asks, “System, can I take the tyrant?”

The system says yes, and Li Yu races off to ask Mu Tianchi if he wants to visit the “carp spirit’s nest” with him.

Li Yu chooses to use his system reward—a two-day trip back to the modern world—and decides to bring Mu Tianchi with him.

Mu Tianchi agrees without hesitation, thinking they’re visiting the mountain Li Yu (the "carp spirit") came from.

They leave the children behind in the manor under the care of Xiaoluo and Wang Xi and enter the system together.

Li Yu holds Tianchi’s arm and taps the button to travel, but loses consciousness in the process.

Li Yu wakes up alone in his modern apartment, realizing he’s back in his original world; his phone still has the webnovel open from before he transmigrated.

Panic sets in when Li Yu realizes Tianchi is missing and not in the room with him.

The system assures him Tianchi is also in this world and can be found, so Li Yu rushes out to search.

He checks around his small apartment complex, then tries the nearby park and supermarket with no luck.

Desperate, Li Yu has the supermarket announce: “Mu Tianchi, your father Li Yu is looking for you,” pretending he lost a child to reach him.

No one shows up, and Li Yu begins to worry the two-day time limit might expire before they’re reunited.

In the supermarket, Li Yu is approached by a suspicious man claiming to be a former neighbor, who starts acting overly friendly and even offers to drive him somewhere.

When the man gets handsy, a sudden black blur lashes out and starts slapping the stranger—first knocking off his wig, then repeatedly hitting him until he flees.

Li Yu discovers the attacker is a huge, glossy black fish—thick as a wrist and the length of an arm—that leapt from a nearby fish tank.

Recognizing its intelligent behavior, Li Yu suspects it might be Tianchi and asks it to respond by rubbing his hand.

The fish doesn’t move at first, but after some prompting, it leaps up and rubs against his face, then wraps its tail around his finger.

Li Yu is stunned to realize the black fish really is Mu Tianchi—who apparently transformed into a fish upon entering the modern world.

Tianchi, even as a fish, had leapt out to protect Li Yu from the creepy stranger, unable to watch him be harassed.

Li Yu is overwhelmed with disbelief and panic, realizing that what was supposed to be a peaceful two-day visit has turned into another absurd adventure—with his husband now a giant fish in a supermarket.

After slapping a harasser at the supermarket, the black fish (Mu Tianchi) is mistaken for a regular fish by the store staff, who ask Li Yu if he wants to purchase it.

Li Yu, flustered, agrees and quickly weighs the fish—Tianchi weighs eight pounds and six ounces—and rushes to pay, not caring about the cost.

The store employee offers to clean (butcher) the fish, horrifying Li Yu, who insists on keeping him as a pet instead.

The employee finds this strange, but backs off after sensing an eerie, cold aura from the fish glaring at him.

To avoid further suspicion, Li Yu buys an extra-large basin and fills it with water to safely carry Tianchi home.

Once home, he transfers Tianchi to the bathtub, since the basin is too small, and reassures him that he’ll find a way to change him back.

Li Yu offers fish food—checking that it’s non-toxic and natural—but Tianchi slaps it away, refusing to eat it.

Tianchi leaps from the tub and tries to crawl into Li Yu’s shirt, making Li Yu burst out laughing from the ticklish sensation.

Li Yu scolds the fish playfully, then consults the system to find out why Tianchi became a fish in the modern world.

The system explains that Tianchi doesn’t “exist” in this world, so he defaults to a fish form—just like Li Yu did when he first transmigrated.

A new side quest appears: “Tyrant Turning into Fish,” requiring three kisses from Li Yu to transform Tianchi back into a human.

Li Yu accepts the quest, kisses the fish, and Tianchi immediately transforms back into his human self, leading to a joyful reunion.

They fall into the tub together, soaking wet, and share a romantic moment before drying off and lying together on Li Yu’s small bed.

Li Yu finally tells Tianchi the full truth: he was never a yao, just a human who came from another world and turned into a fish upon arrival.

Tianchi listens quietly, accepts it without anger, and reveals he figured things out during his brief time in this world as a fish.

He admits he recognized Li Yu’s love through actions rather than titles and tribulations and doesn’t mind the past deception.

He teases Li Yu about the “three kisses” being a tribulation task, flustering Li Yu even more.

As they prepare to explore the modern world together, a problem arises—Tianchi doesn’t have clothes after transforming.

Li Yu tries to dress him in his oversized T-shirt and shorts, but the clothes fit too tightly on Tianchi’s much larger frame.

Li Yu blushes and yells at him not to wear his pants, realizing their first trip outside is going to be a lot more complicated than expected.

Li Yu dresses Mu Tianchi in modern clothes, starting with oversized beach shorts and a tight T-shirt, then takes him shopping for proper outfits.

They visit a menswear store, where Mu Tianchi attracts a lot of attention; Li Yu proudly thinks his husband could be a celebrity in the modern world.

Li Yu buys Mu Tianchi several stylish outfits and picks matching couple suits for both of them.

Mu Tianchi, confused by the fitting room, struggles until Li Yu joins him inside to help dress him—leading to half an hour of blushing, cuddling, and kissing.

They emerge wearing matching suits, with Li Yu’s lips slightly swollen, hinting at the affection inside the changing room.

Li Yu takes a photo of them together and sets it as his phone wallpaper; he teaches Mu Tianchi how to take pictures, which fascinates him.

Mu Tianchi becomes obsessed with the phone, taking pictures of everything, always including Li Yu.

They eat takoyaki together; Mu Tianchi is initially wary of seafood but relaxes when Li Yu assures him it's made from octopus, not fish.

They visit a history museum, where Mu Tianchi listens intently to ancient artifacts’ histories, visibly moved and thoughtful.

Li Yu then takes Mu Tianchi to an amusement park—a childhood dream he never got to experience due to poverty.

They ride a roller coaster, which terrifies Li Yu and baffles Mu Tianchi, who sees it as unnecessary suffering, but Li Yu insists it’s emotional release.

On the bumper cars, they scrunch into a small vehicle and hilariously spin in circles until other kids crash into them.

Mu Tianchi is enraged others are bumping Li Yu but calms down when Li Yu explains it’s how the game is played.

They play together and take photos on every ride, enjoying a carefree date; Li Yu feels emotional about soon leaving the modern world.

That evening, Li Yu makes their signature meal—spicy smashed cucumber and noodles—while Mu Tianchi suspiciously devours all the cucumbers first.

After dinner, they relax together with a fan blowing cool air, and just as they’re about to kiss and possibly do more, Mu Tianchi suddenly turns back into a fish.

The system informs Li Yu that Mu Tianchi’s human transformation has a once-per-day limit, just like Li Yu's used to.

Frustrated but determined to stay close, Li Yu transforms into his koi form using his newly unlocked ability and jumps into the bathtub with fish-form Mu Tianchi.

Mu Tianchi swims under Li Yu and lifts him gently on his back, supporting him like a moonlit wave beneath the stars.

The two fish float together in the bathtub under moonlight—one black, one silver—mirroring the night sky and symbolizing their unbreakable bond.

The day after returning from the modern world, Li Yu helps Mu Tianchi turn human again and continues showing him meaningful places before their time runs out.

Mu Tianchi, initially amazed by the modern world, becomes contemplative and expresses a desire to bring progressive ideas back to the ancient realm.

To aid in this, Li Yu decides to bring back useful items via his system inventory, including two e-readers loaded with ebooks, a solar charger, and a power bank.

He also buys essential medications and—after spotting a sale—multiple boxes of condoms, determined to improve their intimate life without risking another human-form pregnancy.

Prince Jing insists on keeping all the modern clothes Li Yu bought for him, even if they’ll just be keepsakes in the ancient world.

Although Li Yu wants to take Tianchi to see famous sights like skyscrapers or bullet trains, Tianchi only wants to visit places tied to Li Yu’s life.

Touched, Li Yu takes him to his elementary, middle, and high schools, sharing memories of his childhood, making Tianchi feel like he’s meeting young Xiaoyu for the first time.

Their final stop is a gravesite where Li Yu’s family is buried; he introduces Tianchi to his parents and grandparents and declares himself happy, no longer sad about being alone.

Mu Tianchi respectfully bows before Li Yu’s family grave, fully accepting his place in Li Yu’s life across both worlds.

After their two days end, they wake back in the crown prince manor, realizing it wasn’t a dream as the incense they lit still burns nearby.

Tianchi reveals a new scale-like mark on his hand, and the system confirms he completed the side quest “Tyrant Turning into a Fish.”

Tianchi can now transform into a fish once per day for up to two hours—not as part of a system quest, but simply for fun.

Contrary to Li Yu’s expectations, Tianchi grows fond of being a fish and frequently transforms to swim with Li Yu, enjoying their quiet, peaceful time together.

When their kids first see fish-form Tianchi, they’re terrified, but once they know it’s their dad, they want to become fish again to play together.

Xuebao, their daughter, is the only one who hasn’t been a fish yet, but Li Yu believes she may develop the ability someday too.

Li Yu gifts the children picture books from the modern world, filled with colorful images and childhood stories he once loved.

He also hands the e-reader to Tianchi and begins teaching him simplified Chinese, reversing their old teacher-student roles.

Sitting on Tianchi’s lap in their usual intimate position, Li Yu realizes the tables have turned—and predicts he’ll be “eaten” by the end of the lesson.

He jokes internally about finally testing the “ultra-thin and dynamic” condoms he bought, embracing this new phase of their life together.

Life in the manor settles into a blissful rhythm, with Tianchi studying modern knowledge and Li Yu ready to support him in building a brighter, reformed era for their world.

One month after returning from the modern world, the emperor personally hosts a grand wedding for the crown prince and Li Yu.

The emperor is pleased with Mu Tianchi’s development as a ruler, especially as he begins implementing original reform ideas.

A year later, the emperor officially abdicates and becomes the grand emperor, spending his days leisurely with his grandchildren.

On the day Mu Tianchi ascends the throne, a nationwide amnesty is declared.

Despite opposition, Mu Tianchi appoints Li Yu as his empress regent, breaking centuries of tradition.

From prince to crown prince to emperor, Mu Tianchi remains loyal to only one person—Li Yu—never taking another consort or concubine.

Empress Li Yu proves to be a capable, brilliant partner in governance, initiating sweeping reforms alongside the emperor.

Their partnership ushers in an unprecedented eight hundred years of peace and prosperity in historical records.

After ascending the throne, Mu Tianchi sets out to renovate the palace—not for grandeur, but to create a majestic aquatic environment.

He turns parts of the palace into a large water garden, building an underwater retreat called the Crystal Palace.

Inside the Crystal Palace lives the emperor’s treasured pet fish: a silver koi with gold flecks, frequently seen swimming with a large black fish.

Eventually, five smaller fish are seen swimming with them, symbolizing their five children.

Courtiers and palace staff say these seven fish resemble the emperor, the empress, and their royal children—clearly mirroring their true forms.

Thus, the love between a disabled prince and a pet koi—born of fate, devotion, and transformation—becomes immortalized in both myth and memory.