Chapter Summaries

Shen Anlan and the Marquis of Shuoping learned that Shen Anxin’s disguise was known and protected by the imperial court, then hurried back toward the capital. At court, Shen Anxin’s thoughts about rewarding inventors inspired Emperor Hongyao to summon the woodblock-printing craftsman and his family for greater rewards.

• Shen Anlan and the Marquis of Shuoping discovered that Shen Anxin had posed as Shen Anlan and that her writings had made his name famous.
• Xiao Yanfeng and Xiao Yance met the Shen father and son with the Brocade Guard and explained that Emperor Hongyao and the officials knew of Shen Anxin’s disguise and valued her.
• Shen Anlan worried that Shen Anxin’s status as a lucky star might threaten her freedom and urged himself to return before she caused more trouble.
• At court, Shen Anxin learned that the minister of works had found a carpenter who had independently devised woodblock printing.
• After Chacha explained that inventors lacked recognition and protection, Shen Anxin thought about how proper rewards could encourage innovation.
• Emperor Hongyao ordered the carpenter and his entire family brought to the palace to receive rewards.

Emperor Hongyao established a system to reward and record people whose inventions or discoveries helped Great Qi, and the woodblock-printing artisan received lavish honors as its first entrant. As the new decree began inspiring people across the realm, Marquis Chengping presented a papermaking improvement, but Chacha revealed that the technique had actually come from his wife’s niece, not his son.

• Emperor Hongyao announced generous graded rewards for useful inventions, and Xiao Yanchen argued that the system should encourage useful knowledge across all professions while supporting farmers.
• The court agreed to establish a reward system and search among the people, then honored the woodblock-printing artisan with an earl’s title, wealth, land, and the first entry in the Welfare Chronicle.
• The decree spread through Great Qi, prompting a farmer to submit an improved plow, a blacksmith to submit a superior dagger, and a woman from Southern Xia to bring her medical discoveries to Great Qi.
• A young woman who had returned to the capital with Marquis Chengping brought her deceased parents’ books to him, and the next day he presented a papermaking technique that could cut production costs more than tenfold.
• When Marquis Chengping claimed his son had devised the method, Chacha revealed that his wife’s niece had actually brought it to him.

Marquis Chengping was exposed for claiming Yan Xuetong’s improved papermaking method as his son’s and arranging a supposed betrothal without her knowledge. Emperor Hongyao summoned his household and Yan Xuetong to the palace, while revelations about Marquis Chengping’s past with her mother, Su Lingyu, left the court stunned.

• Marquis Chengping claimed Yan Xuetong had willingly given the papermaking method to his son, but Xiao Yanchen asked whether she had consented to the credit being transferred.
• Chacha revealed that Yan Xuetong knew nothing of the supposed betrothal and that Marquis Chengping and his mother had privately discussed giving her credit to his son.
• Emperor Hongyao ordered the old madam, the marchioness, the eldest legitimate son, and Yan Xuetong brought to the palace for questioning.
• Marquis Chengping defended his actions by claiming Su Lingyu would have approved, prompting ministers to recall an old affair.
• Chacha revealed that Marquis Chengping had once been betrothed to Su Lingyu but married her younger sister, Su Xue'er, after she became pregnant.

Yan Xuetong was summoned to the palace with the Marquis of Chengping’s family over her parents’ improved papermaking method, while the old madam tried to claim its credit for Zhuo Lingqi. As Emperor Hongyao questioned Yan Xuetong, Chacha revealed that Su Xue’er had arranged the old betrothal change to help her sister escape the Marquis, whom she hated.

• The old madam warned Yan Xuetong to stay silent in the palace and revealed her plan to give Zhuo Lingqi credit for the papermaking method, but Su Xue'er and Zhuo Lingqi opposed her.
• The Marquis of Chengping insisted that he and Su Lingyu had shared an understanding, but Chacha revealed that Su Lingyu had never loved him and had not mourned their canceled betrothal.
• Emperor Hongyao asked Yan Xuetong whether her parents had developed the method, whether she had brought it, whether she was betrothed, and whether she had promised credit to Zhuo Lingqi; she confirmed the method was hers to present and denied the other claims.
• Emperor Hongyao promised that the improved method would be admitted to the Welfare Pavilion once verified, while Shen Anxin worried about Yan Xuetong being exploited by her relatives.
• Chacha revealed that Su Xue'er cared most about Yan Xuetong, loved her sister Su Lingyu above all, and had schemed over the betrothal to help Su Lingyu avoid marrying the Marquis of Chengping.

Chacha revealed how Su Xue'er had sacrificed herself to free her sister Su Lingyu from her engagement to Marquis Chengping, after he broke a promise and kept a mistress from Tiny Grass Hall. Su Xue'er admitted she had never loved the marquis, and Shen Anxin realized her pregnancy had been fabricated, leaving Zhuo Lingqi’s parentage in question.

• Chacha explained that Old Marquis Chengping had secured Su Lingyu’s marriage to his son through an imperial decree, believing she would benefit the household.
• Su Xue'er told Marquis Chengping she had only pretended to love him and asked to leave with Yan Xuetong and Lingqi.
• Su Xue'er revealed that she had initially resented anyone who would marry her sister, but changed her plans after Marquis Chengping broke his promise to Su Lingyu.
• Chacha explained that Marquis Chengping had kept a mistress from Tiny Grass Hall, where Su Lingyu taught and helped disadvantaged women.
• Chacha said Su Xue'er had falsely claimed to be pregnant to take her sister’s place in the engagement, and Shen Anxin realized the pregnancy was fake and questioned Zhuo Lingqi’s parentage.

Su Xue'er revealed that Zhuo Lingqi was not Marquis Chengping’s biological son and explained how she had deceived the marquis to protect her sister, Su Lingyu, from his pursuit. She left Marquis Chengping confronted with the truth that Su Lingyu had never loved him and had built a happy life with someone who respected her.

• Chacha confirmed that Zhuo Lingqi was not Marquis Chengping’s son, and Zhuo Lingqi bowed before the marquis in guilty silence.
• Su Xue'er admitted that she had taken revenge on Marquis Chengping for betraying Su Lingyu and humiliating her over his mistress.
• Zhuo Lingqi explained that Su Xue'er had brought him home and that he had kept the truth secret because she had saved his life.
• Su Xue'er revealed that she had lied about her pregnancy and staged a difficult birth to stop Marquis Chengping from pursuing Su Lingyu.
• Su Xue'er told Marquis Chengping that Su Lingyu had married a man who respected her, offered her security, and kept his promises.

Su Xue'er and Yan Xuetong rejected Marquis Chengping’s claims and honored Su Lingyu’s work to make books affordable through improved papermaking. Emperor Hongyao granted Su Xue'er and Marquis Chengping a mutual divorce, and Zhuo Lingqi chose to leave with his mother; the chapter ended with Chacha revealing that, in the original future, the papermaking method was destroyed and Yan Xuetong, Su Xue'er, and Zhuo Lingqi were assassinated.

• Marquis Chengping tried to make Su Xue'er doubt her decision by claiming Su Lingyu would have been better off as his co-wife, but Shen Anxin explained the vulnerability of concubines and Su Xue'er regained her resolve.
• Yan Xuetong told Marquis Chengping she would never have agreed to become his concubine or trade her parents’ contributions for status, and she affirmed that Su Lingyu had been happy with her family and work.
• Su Xue'er described Su Lingyu’s ambition to lower paper prices so everyone could afford books, and Chacha revealed that Su Lingyu had developed the improved papermaking method through years of work.
• Yan Xuetong offered the improved method to Emperor Hongyao in exchange for her aunt and cousin’s safety, and the emperor issued a decree granting Marquis Chengping and Su Xue'er a mutual divorce without pursuing past matters.
• Marquis Chengping asked Zhuo Lingqi to remain as his adopted son, but Zhuo Lingqi chose to follow Su Xue'er and help run the Tiny Grass Hall.
• Chacha revealed that in the original future the papermaking method was destroyed and Yan Xuetong, Su Xue'er, and Zhuo Lingqi were assassinated after returning to the capital.

Yan Xuetong learned that the three great papermaking workshops in Huai City had conspired to murder her parents and destroy their improved papermaking method. She accused them before Emperor Hongyao, who ordered the Court of Judicial Review to investigate and bring everyone involved to justice.

• Chacha explained that Yan Xuetong, Su Xue'er, and Zhuo Lingqi had been killed while testing the improved method, and that Yan Xuetong's caution had given their enemies a chance to strike.
• Yan Xuetong asked Emperor Hongyao to investigate her parents' deaths, and Chacha confirmed that they had been murdered.
• Yan Xuetong revealed that her mother had entrusted her with the improved method and warned her to keep it secret, prompting Su Xue'er to grieve over her sister's murder.
• Emperor Hongyao ordered the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review to investigate and apprehend everyone involved.
• Chacha identified the three great papermaking workshops in Huai City as the conspirators, and Yan Xuetong accused them of murdering her parents to protect their paper monopoly.

Shen Anxin and the court learned that the forces behind the three major papermaking workshops had suppressed Su Lingyu’s improved paper to preserve their power and profits. Emperor Hongyao ordered a full investigation and the arrest of everyone involved, including Prince Huai.

• Chacha revealed that the Pei and Xiang Clans had helped suppress cheap books to preserve their influence and smuggle paper to their main families in Southern Xia.
• Chacha confirmed that the clans were deliberately holding Great Qi back and identified Prince Huai as the third power behind the workshops.
• Chacha explained that Prince Huai had tried to buy Su Lingyu’s method, then helped the other conspirators arrange her family’s murder and cover up the capital assassination.
• Emperor Hongyao ordered the Brocade Guard to assist the Court of Judicial Review, arrest everyone connected to the workshops, and bring them to justice without exception.

The Prince of Huai, the Pei family head, and the Xiang family head were arrested for their roles in Su Lingyu and her husband’s murder. Meanwhile, Emperor Hongyao and his ministers visited the Welfare Pavilion’s new workshops after Yan Xuetong successfully produced a trial batch of bamboo paper, while Shen Anxin worried about Shen Anlan’s career.

• The Prince of Huai reassured the Pei and Xiang family heads that he would protect them, but the Brocade Guard arrived with Emperor Hongyao’s order to arrest the suspects.
• The chief justice and Brocade Guard deputy commander interrogated the accused; the other suspects’ aides confessed, and the group was escorted to the capital.
• Yan Xuetong successfully produced a trial batch of bamboo paper at the Welfare Pavilion’s papermaking workshop.
• Emperor Hongyao and his ministers visited the production complex, where Shen Anxin was impressed by the court’s progress and the ministers’ hard work.
• Shen Anxin worried that Shen Anlan might be stuck in an easy post instead of gaining important duties and promotions, while Xiao Yanchen amusedly anticipated his reaction.