Chapter Summaries

Su Qiao defended herself before Magistrate Guo and revealed that someone had tried to poison her, asking him to investigate the attempted silencing. The crowd began debating her strength and her handsome husband when a witness pointed out a veiled figure who supposedly looked like him.

• The old woman attacked Su Qiao in court, but Magistrate Guo threatened her with thirty strokes and let Su Qiao speak.
• Su Qiao argued that she had only taught the old woman's daughter a lesson for molesting her husband, and Magistrate Guo agreed that her reasoning made sense.
• Su Qiao showed Magistrate Guo poisoned food sent to her the night before and asked him to investigate who had tried to kill her.
• The townspeople questioned whether Su Qiao could have killed the victim and traded stories about her strength and her husband's looks.
• A witness spotted a tall figure in a veiled hat and said he looked about the same as Su Qiao's husband.

Su Qiao cleared her name after the court confirmed the victim had died from poison, not the beating she had been accused of causing. As she left the yamen, Guo Jue approached her with admiring words, and she invoked her husband to deflect him.

• Su Qiao asked Magistrate Guo to have the coroner examine the corpse, and the coroner confirmed that poisoning had caused the death.
• Magistrate Guo ordered an investigation into the poisoning and cleared Su Qiao of the crime.
• Su Qiao left the yamen after spending one night in prison, while Qi Jinghe silently endured the crowd's scrutiny in court.
• Guo Jue introduced himself to Su Qiao and praised her intelligence, and she replied that her husband might stop liking her if she became too impressive.

Su Qiao rejected Guo Jue’s advances and hurried back to the inn, where she found Qi Jinghe sulking. After the system explained that he had waited for her at the yamen and left in anger when he saw her talking with Guo Jue, Su Qiao denied knowing anything about him.

• Su Qiao tactfully refused Guo Jue and left, saying she had to return to her husband.
• Guo Jue defended Su Qiao when Xiao Yuan criticized her and admitted his admiration for her.
• Su Qiao returned to Peace Inn and found Qi Jinghe drinking tea with a gloomy expression.
• Old Man Liu took Xiao Yue outside so Su Qiao and Qi Jinghe could talk.
• Qi Jinghe told Su Qiao to figure out why he was upset, and the system revealed he had waited for her at the yamen before leaving in anger after seeing her with Guo Jue.

Su Qiao and Qi Jinghe decided it was safe to return home after the Sheng Family’s eldest daughter left, and they reunited with Yue'er and Old Man Liu at the inn. Before heading home, the family went shopping in town, where Su Qiao changed into a colorful outfit.

• Su Qiao told Qi Jinghe that the Sheng Family’s eldest daughter had left, and they decided to return home while staying cautious.
• Su Qiao reunited with Yue'er and promised to teach him reading and martial arts at home.
• Su Qiao invited Yue'er to explore town and shop with the family, and Qi Jinghe agreed.
• Qi Jinghe noticed Su Qiao’s dirty clothes, so Old Man Liu suggested buying her a fresh outfit.
• Su Qiao changed into a plum-red top and green skirt, then asked Yue'er what he thought; he hesitantly said it looked good.

Su Qiao bought matching new outfits for her family, then took them home so they could rest after a tiring night. She went to cook while the village stirred at their return.

• Su Qiao asked Qi Jinghe if she looked good, then ordered matching clothes for the whole family.
• Su Qiao made Little Yue'er, Old Man Liu, and Qi Jinghe change into the outfits, and teased Qi Jinghe about his refined appearance.
• Old Man Liu suggested returning home because Little Yue'er and Qi Jinghe looked tired, and Su Qiao found an ox cart.
• The family returned to the village, where their arrival caused a commotion, while Su Qiao sent the others to rest and went to the kitchen.

Su Qiao reassured Qi Jinghe that she was prepared for trouble after her survival became known, then teased him about being jealous of Young Master Guo. Their relationship grew more affectionate as Qi Jinghe pulled her into his arms.

• Su Qiao spent the day caring for the household, teaching Qi Jinghe and his father, and preparing for the possibility that news of her survival would spread.
• Qi Jinghe went to Su Qiao's room to warn her that her survival might not remain secret.
• Su Qiao told Qi Jinghe she had hired someone to watch Sheng Ling and teased him about being jealous of Young Master Guo.
• Su Qiao assured Qi Jinghe that she had no interest in Guo and embraced him, and he eventually relaxed and pulled her close.
• Su Qiao joked that frail-looking people were her type, then clarified that she meant people like Qi Jinghe.

Su Qiao and Qi Jinghe grew closer while she helped their family learn and grow stronger. Their peaceful month ended when Su Qiao learned Sheng Ling had silenced the female constable and was heading back toward them.

• Qi Jinghe questioned whether Su Qiao would marry other handsome men, and she explained that calling him like Pan An had been a compliment about an ancient man.
• Su Qiao spent the following weeks teaching Little Yue'er and Old Man Liu to read, practice martial arts, and use medicinal herbs and defensive powders.
• Qi Jinghe devoted himself to cultivating his internal energy and swordsmanship, while Su Qiao's care strengthened Old Man Liu.
• 444 told Su Qiao that Sheng Ling had learned she was alive, turned back from near the capital, and silenced the female constable.
• Su Qiao asked 444 to watch Sheng Ling's movements and began preparing for her arrival in about a month.

Su Qiao learned that Sheng Ling had arranged for Da Jin’s troops to raid her village, so she prepared gunpowder weapons to protect her family. She demonstrated a buried landmine to Qi Jinghe, leaving him stunned by its power.

• Su Qiao taught Qi Jinghe and Yue'er to recognize poisonous herbs and took Qi Jinghe into the Dense Forest to fight wild beasts.
• 444 told Su Qiao that the Sheng Family had allied with Da Jin, offering ten cities in exchange for support and asking Prince Lie to raid her village.
• Su Qiao decided to make gunpowder and used System Space Points to buy hollow iron balls for landmines.
• Su Qiao buried a landmine in the mountains and triggered it by throwing a stone, startling Qi Jinghe with the explosion.
• Qi Jinghe saw the enormous crater and marveled at the weapon as Su Qiao mentioned that she had also made bows and arrows.

Su Qiao showed Qi Jinghe her rocket arrows and explained that five thousand elite soldiers had entered the territory, far more than the two thousand Sheng Ling had negotiated for. They prepared to face the force, but Su Qiao worried about the nearby villagers.

• Qi Jinghe admired Su Qiao's rocket arrows and teased her before she urged him to focus on business.
• Su Qiao told Qi Jinghe that five thousand elite soldiers had entered the territory instead of the expected two thousand.
• Qi Jinghe said that the rocket arrows and Poison Powder could defeat the soldiers, while Su Qiao worried about the people in nearby villages.

Su Qiao and Qi Jinghe prepared the village for an imminent enemy attack, moving residents into an air-raid shelter and laying a trap along the invasion route. After reassuring Qi Jinghe about her devotion to him, Su Qiao helped plan how to use landmines and wild creatures against the attackers.

• Qi Jinghe convinced the village chief to lead villagers from nearby settlements into an underground air-raid shelter.
• Su Qiao and Qi Jinghe sent the old man and Little Yue'er to safety, then went to retrieve the hidden landmines and rockets.
• Qi Jinghe expressed jealousy about Su Qiao possibly taking other husbands, and she assured him that she would marry no one else.
• Su Qiao and Qi Jinghe carried baskets down the mountain and buried landmines at planned points along the enemy's route.
• Qi Jinghe proposed burning Beast-Luring Grass at a fork in the road to draw wild animals and venomous creatures toward the attackers.

Su Qiao and Qi Jinghe ambushed Great Jin’s elite soldiers, leaving only a few hundred to flee. Afterward, Su Qiao set out to secretly retrieve evidence against the Sheng Family, while Qi Jinghe worried over her safety.

• Su Qiao and Qi Jinghe chose a cliffside ambush point and prepared fire arrows and Poison Powder.
• That night, explosions, flames, and beasts terrorized the path near Xiaohe Village as the ambush devastated Great Jin’s forces.
• Su Qiao tried to pursue the fleeing soldiers, but Qi Jinghe stopped her so they could carry word back to Great Jin.
• Su Qiao said she needed the letters between the Sheng Family and the King at Great Jin’s border to destroy the Sheng Family.
• Qi Jinghe gave Su Qiao the remaining fire arrows and warned her not to take risks, and she kissed him before leaving to retrieve the evidence.

Su Qiao returned from Great Jin’s camp with letters linking the Sheng Family to Prince Lie, only to discover that Qi Jinghe and the others had disappeared. The villagers suspected Liu Jianfang was involved, while officials from town arrived to question the village chief.

• Su Qiao kissed Qi Jinghe goodbye, then chased the fleeing intruders into Great Jin’s camp.
• Su Qiao stole letters exchanged between the Sheng Family and Prince Lie, fought Prince Lie, injured soldiers, and escaped amid explosions from her firepowder arrows.
• Su Qiao returned to the village and learned from Wang Guixiang that Qi Jinghe, the old master, and Little Yue were missing.
• Wang Guixiang said villagers had seen Liu Jianfang near Su Qiao’s home, and Su Qiao asked Little Four to locate her.
• Wang Guixiang asked Su Qiao what to tell the town officials who had come to investigate the night’s explosions and screams.

Su Qiao found Liu Jianfang in town and tortured him for information about the Sheng Family and Sheng Ling. She revealed her imperial identity and warned him that helping the Sheng Family could not protect him, leaving Liu Jianfang stunned.

• Su Qiao ordered the villagers to say the Great Jin troops had been defeated by beasts in the mountains, then hurried to town to search for Liu Jianfang.
• Su Qiao found Liu Jianfang at the Spring Fragrance Pavilion with two young male prostitutes and drove them out.
• Su Qiao grabbed Liu Jianfang and demanded to know where he had taken the Sheng Family and Sheng Ling, then crushed his wrist and broke his leg when he refused to answer.
• Liu Jianfang threatened Su Qiao and claimed a powerful figure would take revenge, but Su Qiao dismissed him as a petty thug and said the Sheng Family could not rival the Imperial Family.
• Su Qiao revealed that her mother was the Empress's younger sister and that she was the court's only Imperial Daughter, leaving Liu Jianfang stunned.

Su Qiao learned that Sheng Ling had taken Qi Jinghe and his family to the capital, then pursued them despite repeated ambushes. She reached the city and learned they were being held in the Sheng Family dungeon, where Sheng Ling was waiting with a trap.

• Su Qiao forced Liu Jianfang to reveal that Sheng Ling had taken Qi Jinghe and his family to the capital, then injured her and silenced her.
• Little Four reported that the captives were traveling along the official road, and Su Qiao left to pursue them.
• Su Qiao fought off four groups of attackers and disguised herself before continuing toward the capital.
• After ten more days, Su Qiao reached the capital and learned that Qi Jinghe and his family were in the Sheng Family dungeon.
• Su Qiao entered the city and asked Little Four to map the Sheng Family estate and locate Sheng Ling's room.

Su Qiao infiltrated the Sheng Family residence and Imperial Palace, then revealed herself to the Empress as Su Ying’s daughter. The chapter ended with Su Qiao identifying herself and her mother to the Empress.

• Su Qiao slipped into Sheng Ling’s room, scattered Poison Powder on the bedding and personal items, and stole silver notes.
• Su Qiao decided to seek help from the Empress and planned to enter the palace that night.
• Su Qiao entered the palace and went to Sheng Fengjun’s palace to give him a few gifts before heading to the Imperial Bedchamber.
• Su Qiao fought off the Empress’s hidden guard and asked the Empress to send the young Lord away.
• Su Qiao removed her face covering, and the Empress recognized her resemblance to Su Ying.
• Su Qiao told the Empress that she was Su Ying’s daughter and gave her name as Su Qiao.

Su Qiao revealed that her mother, Su Ying, had died and challenged Empress Su Lan over the Sheng Family’s plots against her. She warned that the family’s ambitions threatened both Su Lan’s throne and the Great Su Dynasty’s rule by women, then hinted that someone was spreading rumors about the dynasty’s fate.

• Su Qiao showed Su Lan the sword her mother had used, and Su Lan recognized her as Su Ying’s daughter.
• Su Qiao told Su Lan that Su Ying had died after her old injuries flared and a wolf mauled her on the mountain.
• Su Lan said she had not blamed Su Ying for the past and had stopped searching for her after she disappeared with Su Qiao.
• Su Qiao accused Sheng Ling of persecuting her, but Su Lan denied sending the Sheng Family and grew angry at their actions.
• Su Qiao warned that the Sheng Family might seek to replace the Great Su Dynasty and establish rule by men.
• Su Qiao asked who had spread rumors that the Empress’s lack of a daughter meant Heaven had forsaken the Great Su Dynasty.

Su Qiao showed the Empress letters proving the Sheng Family had colluded with Prince Lie of Great Jin, then asked to borrow imperial guards to rescue her captured family. The Empress agreed on the condition that Su Qiao remain in the capital, while Su Qiao tried to hide how much she knew by claiming she could not read.

• Su Qiao gave the Empress letters showing that the Sheng Family had conspired with Prince Lie of Great Jin.
• Su Qiao explained that Sheng Ling had led five thousand elite soldiers to attack her village and that she had found the letters at the enemy camp.
• Su Qiao asked the Empress for imperial guards to rescue her husband, son, and father-in-law from the Sheng Family's Private Prison.
• The Empress agreed to lend Su Qiao soldiers and horses if she stayed in the capital, and Su Qiao accepted.
• Su Qiao claimed she was illiterate and had learned the letters' contents by torturing Prince Lie, but the Empress suspected she was being cunning.

Su Qiao persuaded the Empress to send troops under the Little Prince’s orders, while Qi Jinghe and his family waited in the Sheng Family dungeon, trusting that Su Qiao would rescue them. The chapter left them still imprisoned and hungry as they shared their last piece of steamed bun.

• The Empress questioned how Su Qiao had entered the Imperial Palace and Da Jin’s main tent undetected, and Su Qiao claimed she had simply been lucky.
• The Empress ordered Su Yi to lead a squad and follow the Little Prince’s orders.
• In the Sheng Family dungeon, Qi Jinghe reassured Yue'er that Su Qiao would come to save them.
• Qi Jinghe recalled that Liu Jianfang had lured him to the mountain’s foot by claiming Su Qiao was injured, where attackers had knocked him and his family unconscious.
• Yue'er offered their half steamed bun to Qi Jinghe and his grandfather, so Qi Jinghe divided it between Yue'er and Old Man Liu.

Qi Jinghe reassured Yue'er that he would not run away from home and wondered whether he had been too harsh toward Su Qiao. When someone approached the prison, he prepared for danger, while Old Man Liu and Yue'er hoped the visitor was Su Qiao; the chapter then showed Su Qiao slipping into the Sheng Family and heading northeast.

• Qi Jinghe shared a steamed bun with Yue'er and kept the two medicine packets Yue'er had brought.
• Yue'er repeated Su Qiao's advice to hide and wait for an opportunity when enemies were too strong.
• Yue'er worried that Qi Jinghe might run away from home and urged him not to be so fierce to Su Qiao.
• Qi Jinghe questioned whether he had treated Su Qiao too harshly.
• Hearing someone approach the prison, Qi Jinghe told Old Man Liu to hide with Yue'er and readied the medicine packets.
• Su Qiao quietly entered the Sheng Family with her hidden guards and headed northeast.

Su Qiao rescued Qi Jinghe, Little Yue'er, and Old Man Liu from the dungeon and brought them to a courtyard in Xiangcheng. She planned to stay nearby until the Empress had dealt with the Sheng Family.

• Su Qiao and the shadow guards silently killed the dungeon guards and freed Qi Jinghe, Little Yue'er, and Old Man Liu.
• Su Qiao led the three out of the city, then sent Su Yi back with word that she would remain in a nearby town.
• The next morning, Su Qiao brought her family to a courtyard she had bought in Xiangcheng and said they could not return to the village until the Empress handled the Sheng Family.
• Su Qiao gave Qi Jinghe banknotes she had taken from a prince of the Jin Kingdom and the Sheng Family, while Old Man Liu eagerly explored the large courtyard.