Chapter Summaries

Prince Charlie secured a vast amount of assets from Edgar, then learned his sister Princess Mary Dajia had secretly worked for Great Xia for seven years. She advised him to give half the assets to Count Augusta for Qin's approaching wedding, and Charlie submitted an enormous gift list to the Imperial Household Department.

• Edgar agreed to Prince Charlie's demands after consulting the homeland, and the transfer of assets took several days.
• Edgar watched Prince Charlie leave and went to visit Knight Mihal, while Charlie returned home with new political capital.
• Princess Mary Dajia revealed she had worked for Great Xia for about seven years and offered to help Charlie compete against their mother.
• Princess Mary Dajia advised Charlie to give half his newly acquired assets as a wedding gift for Count Augusta, and Charlie agreed.
• Prince Charlie prepared a gift list and submitted it to the Imperial Household Department, whose official was astonished by its value.

Ambassador Edgar recruited Baron Mihail to help him recover assets he claimed Prince Charlie had taken, expecting Mihail’s status to pressure the authorities. Mihail instead treated the list as a record of his family’s seized shops and dragged Edgar along to reclaim them.

• Edgar visited Davide and Baron Mihail, offering them one hundred thousand Gold Coins and asking Mihail to help him retaliate against Prince Charlie.
• Edgar claimed Prince Charlie had taken at least ten million in assets and promised Mihail the assets if he helped.
• Baron Mihail agreed, then ordered Davide to gather men and weapons to reclaim the family’s shops.
• Davide searched Edgar and found the prepared list, and Baron Mihail and Davide dragged Edgar away to join their raid.

Baron Mihail and Davide seized a property intended as a wedding gift for Prince Charlie, driving out the Imperial Household Department officials. Qin learned of the takeover and was left stunned by his relatives’ actions.

• Baron Mihail led the Perez Family knights into Pulan City to claim a valuable property, while Davide ordered its occupants to leave.
• Davide struck an Imperial Household Department official who said the tower belonged to his master, then declared it Perez Family property.
• The officials withdrew and decided to report the seizure to Qin without mentioning their personal humiliation.
• Qin heard that Baron Mihail and Davide had entered the city, then was stunned when an official reported that they had seized Prince Charlie’s property.

Qin ordered Albert and the Public Security Bureau to arrest Davide and Baron Mihail after they caused trouble while inspecting sealed properties. The incident ended with Davide being whipped before Qin ordered the punishment stopped, while Franz hurried to see his father and grandfather.

• Qin sent Albert to help Old Tom arrest Davide and Baron Mihail, then ordered that his grandfather be spared but his eldest uncle be made to suffer.
• Davide pointed an unloaded machine gun at Old Tom, but Albert ordered the Perez Family knights to stand down and the Public Security officers arrested Davide and Baron Mihail.
• At the bureau, Old Tom had Davide whipped until Qin's second messenger relayed the order to stop.
• Albert reported the arrests to Qin, who reviewed the gathered information and decided to frighten the two men without stripping his grandfather of his title.
• Franz heard what his father and grandfather had done and chose to visit them before asking Qin for help.

Franz visited his father and grandfather in custody before seeking out Qin, while Derek explained that the two men had provoked Qin to help him establish authority and protect Franz. Qin understood that they had chosen to earn a favor through sacrifice rather than accept charity, though he remained frustrated that they had not told him directly.

• Franz visited his father, Baron David, and saw that his wounds were being treated, then checked that Baron Mihail was unharmed before leaving without speaking to either of them.
• Franz went to Qin's residence, learned Qin was at the palace and had ordered him to visit his grandfather, and then returned to see Qin.
• Qin reported Albert's observations to Derek, who explained that Baron Mihail and his son had deliberately maintained their appearances of foolishness to protect the Perez Family's succession.
• Derek told Qin that the two men had caused trouble to give him a chance to establish authority and protect Franz from future mistakes.
• Derek explained that they wanted to earn a favor through their sacrifice rather than accept charity from Qin, and Qin understood their reasoning.

Qin stripped Sir Mihal and Davide of their titles and fiefs to uphold the Crown Prince’s authority, then granted Franz a barony and his grandfather’s fief. The family reconciled over a meal, while nobles in the Imperial Capital interpreted the decrees as confirmation that the eldest legitimate son remained the favored heir.

• Qin drafted decrees stripping Sir Mihal and Davide of their titles and fiefs, and sent Davide home with clothes and a Knight’s Sword.
• Derek added a decree granting Franz the title of Baron and transferring Sir Mihal’s fief to him.
• Franz received the decrees, and Sir Mihal stopped feigning illness and called for Davide and Franz.
• Franz brought wine and food to his father and grandfather, while Davide scolded and struck him and Sir Mihal defended him.
• Sir Mihal’s and Davide’s actions spread through the Imperial Capital, and the nobles concluded that the royal family still favored the eldest legitimate son.

As Great Xia prepared for Prince Charlie’s New Year wedding, Edgar worried over the damage to his family’s standing. Dagu attended a gathering at Silver Mansion, where the Reformist Faction assembled to strengthen its ties as the empire prepared to expand reforms.

• Edgar lamented that he had paid for Prince Charlie’s efforts to win favor and still needed to prepare a lavish wedding gift for Count Augusta.
• Residents voluntarily cleared the area around Smith’s family home, while nobles from across the empire traveled to the Imperial Capital for the Imperial Prince’s wedding.
• The chapter described Dagu’s completed reforms as mayor and the coming nationwide changes intended to centralize power and limit unchecked noble influence.
• Dagu welcomed Guli and other military, Barbarian, and local leaders to the Reformist Faction’s gathering at Silver Mansion.
• Baronet Good served the lavish dishes, dismissed the attendants, and shut the banquet room door.

At a gathering of reformist leaders, Dagu learned how his allies planned to honor Qin’s wedding and announced that he would become Governor of Saint Myra Province. The group pledged support and began preparing for the resistance their reforms would face.

• Dagu hosted a feast where the nobles discussed practical gifts for Qin’s wedding, and Good proposed giving a ten-year contract to distribute Times Magazine in the New Continent.
• Dagu announced that after the new year he expected to serve concurrently as Governor of Saint Myra Province.
• Guli and the military knights pledged their support for Dagu and his reforms.
• Dagu and the reformists discussed how to enact their plans and withstand opposition from the traditional bureaucratic class.

On his wedding day, Qin received Archbishop John’s counsel to carry on Derek’s path and rode through the Imperial Capital in a grand procession. The people’s spontaneous cheers of “Long live the Empire!” greeted him as the wedding procession continued.

• Archbishop John urged Qin to inherit Derek’s compassion and serve the people, and Qin pledged to follow the path of the saints.
• Albert brought Qin an armored warhorse, and Qin joined the royal procession in Half Plate Armor beneath the Two-Headed Dragon Banner.
• The procession departed the Imperial Palace under heavy guard as crowds filled the streets to watch.
• Derek and Tiona watched from the palace gate tower, and Derek told Tiona he chose the Two-Headed Dragon because it looked cooler.
• The crowds’ scattered shouts united into a deafening cry of “Long live the Empire!” as Qin rode through the city.

As the Empire prepared for Qin and Claire’s wedding, the public’s loyalty impressed Ambassador Edgar and strengthened Dagu’s confidence in his reforms. The ceremony proceeded smoothly, and Claire’s heirloom jewelry signaled the royal family’s approval as she joined Qin for the wedding procession.

• Ambassador Edgar was shaken by the crowd’s cries of “Long live the Empire,” while Dagu took the Empire’s popular support as a sign that his reforms could succeed.
• Count Little Jefferies remained wary of reforms that might strip nobles of too much power, though he accepted that opposing the Emperor’s will was futile.
• Davide worried that Qin might later blame his family for their past scheme, but Mihail dismissed his fears and joked that Franz could take the blame.
• Franz drove Qin and the wedding party to the Smith residence, where they received Claire without incident.
• Claire wore the historical jewelry set once worn by the Empress, and observers took it as evidence that the royal family welcomed her marriage to Qin.

Claire married Qin in a grand palace wedding, where the Empress named her Countess Augusta. At the banquet, Prince Charlie learned that the Lionheart royal family might move against him overseas, but he chose to face the threat rather than panic, while Frank suspected he had uncovered a major story.

• The Empress placed a coronet on Claire and granted her the title Countess Augusta as Archbishop John officiated her wedding to Qin.
• Frank attended the palace banquet and struggled to navigate the gathering of nobles and officials.
• Prince Charlie taunted Ambassador Edgar, who warned that the royal family could target him outside Great Xia.
• Prince Charlie sought Princess Mary Dajia's advice, and they decided to test their overseas strength rather than abandon the colony at once.
• Frank overheard their conversation, investigated their identities, and suspected the Lionheart Kingdom's royal family had a bombshell.

Raiders attempted to assault Prince Charlie’s arms factory in the Lionheart Kingdom Overseas Colony, but a naval patrol discovered them and triggered a firefight. Councilor Joey sent reinforcements as a Lionheart warship aimed its guns toward shore.

• Councilor Joey ordered doubled patrols and guards around Prince Charlie’s arms factory after it received new weapons.
• A group of raiders avoided Sanger’s private troops and hid near the arsenal, planning to attack during the latter half of the night.
• Councilor Joey’s last-minute patrol change brought naval patrolmen close to the raiders’ hiding place.
• The patrol and raiders spotted each other, and a gunfight alerted the arsenal and fleet.
• Councilor Joey dispatched reinforcements, then saw a Lionheart Kingdom warship turn its guns toward the shore.

After Prince Charlie survived an attempt to destroy his foothold in the Lionheart Kingdom’s Overseas Colony, he decided to go there and keep control of his guns and men. Meanwhile, Claire learned to manage the royal family’s wealth, and Qin began discussing how to support his relatives.

• Councilor Joey ordered his warships to turn their guns on a traitorous ship, while the arsenal’s defenders survived the bombardment with limited damage.
• Prince Charlie weathered the attacks, established a foothold in the colony, and decided to go there in person.
• Claire adapted to married life, helped oversee Gwen and Hans, and learned to manage the royal family’s private assets.
• Claire assessed the couple’s holdings at around thirty million and agreed to grant Qin’s maternal uncle a small estate in Northern Province.
• Qin told Claire he wanted to distribute some assets to his younger brothers and sisters.

Claire helped Qin arrange support for his siblings born outside the family, then gave Gwen an estate and Hans an apartment building. She asked Hans to visit their maternal uncle in the Northern Province and explained why she planned to reward him despite his poor reputation.

• Claire persuaded Qin not to interfere directly in their father's affairs and offered to handle arrangements for his siblings born outside the family.
• Claire arranged for unrelated factories to place profitable orders with those siblings' businesses, providing them with a source of income.
• Claire took Gwen and Hans to an estate outside Pulan City and gave it to Gwen as a gift and future dowry.
• Claire gave Hans an apartment building and its rental income as spending money, and he accepted the gift.
• Claire asked Hans to visit their maternal uncle in the Northern Province and explained the complications behind her plan to reward him with an estate.

Hans traveled to Northern Province on a task from his sister-in-law, visiting the Ferrera Family and then his grandfather Mihail and maternal uncle Davide. His meeting with the wary Marquis Borg ended awkwardly, and the chapter left Hans enjoying Davide’s unusual train-roof barbecue while arguing that money was useful.

• Hans accepted his sister-in-law’s task, took leave from university, and traveled to Northern Province with royal guards.
• Hans visited the Ferrera Family before heading to the Perez Family’s Fief, where Marquis Borg panicked and ordered the family’s women to hide.
• Hans asked Borg about Mihail and Davide, but Borg claimed not to know how they were doing and gave an unconvincing explanation for the absence of women.
• Hans went to Mihail’s residence and found his grandfather racing horses while Davide showed off his railway and homemade barbecue sauces.
• Hans praised Davide’s sauces and suggested he could make money from a restaurant, but Davide dismissed the value of earning more money.
• Hans argued that money paid for daily needs and attracted people willing to serve, while Davide listened to his point.

Hans visited Davide in the Fief to persuade him to stop hiding his abilities and return to the Imperial Capital, while Davide and Mihail mistook his words and Claire’s estate gift for a plot to draw them into rebellion. Hans brought Davide back and confessed his mistake to Claire, who explained that her message had been meant for Hans as well: he needed to stop living in fear and make something of himself.

• Hans urged Davide to pursue a career, but Davide feared Hans was trying to involve him in rebellion and fled to Mihail.
• Davide warned Mihail that Hans meant them harm, but Hans caught up and explained that Claire had chosen an estate as a gift for the family.
• Hans told Mihail that Claire, his mother, and Franz knew the family had been pretending, and Mihail agreed that Davide should go to the Imperial Capital.
• Hans persuaded Davide to leave the Fief with him, and they reached the Imperial Capital after several days of travel.
• Hans admitted his mistake to Claire, who told him that her message was also meant to encourage him to stop being afraid and go out into the world.

Claire gave Hans a new goal, while Davide visited Franz in the Imperial Capital and discovered that his son’s supposed hardships had been a life of luxury. Hans arrived at Franz’s rooftop party and found Davide and Franz surrounded by women.

• Claire encouraged Hans to help his brother shoulder more responsibility and sent him off with a new task.
• Davide learned Franz’s address from a royal guard and drove to his home in the Imperial Capital.
• Davide was stopped at the elevator but used a key to reach the private thirty-second floor.
• Davide found Franz partying on a vast rooftop terrace and kicked him into the swimming pool before whipping him.
• Hans arrived at Franz’s home and found Davide and Franz surrounded by women.

Hans brought his uncle Davide into a business venture, but revealed that their partners would include groups opposed to the Empire. Davide reluctantly agreed to help, then grew frightened of Hans’s schemes and planned to report him.

• Hans caught Davide and Franz indulging in wine and women, and scolded Davide before taking him to discuss business.
• Davide suggested starting a construction company and using their status to secure government contracts.
• Hans said he would take Davide to meet partners that included his siblings, the Baiyue people, Locke Kingdom remnants, and godchildren of the Primitive Faction of the Church.
• When Davide objected to dealing with opposition forces, Hans clarified that Qin and Gwen were not the partners he meant and pressured Davide to join.
• Davide agreed after Hans threatened to have one of his brothers visit the Perez Family, then decided to report Hans to his brother-in-law.

Qin tested whether Davide would report Hans’s plans to him, and Davide secretly did so while pretending to remain loyal to Hans. Hans learned that appearances could be deceptive, though Qin warned him not to trust Davide too readily.

• Qin and Claire decided Hans could serve as bait to expose anyone plotting against Qin and as a way to contact his brothers abroad.
• Hans told Qin that Davide had seemed to cave under pressure, and Qin explained that Davide might be pretending before inviting him to dinner.
• Davide accepted Qin’s invitation and secretly reported Hans’s attempt to recruit him, warning Qin to beware of his brother.
• Qin asked Davide to remain near Hans and send him information, and Davide agreed to help.
• After Davide left, Hans was astonished to learn he had been acting, while Qin cautioned that Davide might still be manipulating them.

Hans showed Davide his secret arms factory and tasked him with approaching the Peace Trading Company to draw out the person behind it. Davide believed Hans was preparing a rebellion and reluctantly agreed to help, while Hans wanted the company to cooperate willingly.

• Hans brought Davide to a secluded factory and introduced himself as Solonsen, with Benjamin as the person overseeing his assets.
• Benjamin mistook Davide for the factory's owner before Hans corrected him and praised Benjamin's work.
• Davide saw rifles, machine guns, and Infantry Cannons being manufactured and concluded that Hans had stockpiled weapons for a bid for the throne.
• Hans told Davide to use money to befriend the Peace Trading Company and bring its backer forward for a meeting.
• Davide accepted the task after reading a dossier on List von Palmer, and Hans instructed him to make the company willing to cooperate of its own accord.