Chapter Summaries

Prince An and the city lord arranged an ambush to kill Lin Taichu and the imperial envoy before they could reach the palace. Trapped in Black Wind Valley, Lin Taichu and Wang Xiaohu fought the assassins as the envoy’s group battled the soldiers, and Lin Taichu searched for a way out.

• Prince An ordered the city lord to kill Lin Taichu, the envoy, and their attendants, making the attack look like a bandit robbery.
• On the journey to the palace, Mark explained the Empress Dowager’s recurring unconsciousness and headaches, and Lin Taichu suspected poison.
• At Black Wind Valley, assassins and soldiers trapped Lin Taichu, Wang Xiaohu, Mark, and the attendants with falling rocks.
• Lin Taichu and Wang Xiaohu fought the assassins while Mark and his attendants faced the city lord’s soldiers, and one attendant was wounded.
• Lin Taichu spotted a lower pile of rocks by the valley exit and told Wang Xiaohu to charge toward it.

Lin Taichu and Wang Xiaohu fled the city lord and his assassins through Black Wind Valley, but Lin Taichu was badly wounded and forced to escape alone by river. Realizing Prince An and the city lord had conspired against him, Lin Taichu set out to find Wang Xiaohu and encountered an unfamiliar young man.

• Lin Taichu and Wang Xiaohu fought off the assassins, but Mark and his attendant fell while Lin Taichu and Wang Xiaohu escaped with serious injuries.
• Lin Taichu used Anesthetic Powder to slow the city lord and the assassins, then carried the injured Wang Xiaohu into a cave and drew their pursuers away.
• Lin Taichu led the pursuers through the cave and forest before escaping downstream in a river, leaving the city lord and assassins on the bank.
• Lin Taichu realized Prince An and the city lord had been allies and feared they would frame him for the king's envoy's death.
• Lin Taichu headed back toward the cave to find Wang Xiaohu, then hid when he heard footsteps and saw a young man carrying a basket approach.

Lin Taichu and Wang Xiaohu escaped to a hidden cave, then recovered at Batu’s home while learning that the City Lord had framed them and imprisoned the Old Doctor and Amu. As Lin Taichu weighed ways to fight back, Batu revealed a detail about the City Lord’s daily vegetable purchases that gave him an idea.

• Amu found Lin Taichu, brought him food, and helped him reunite with Wang Xiaohu in Black Wind Valley.
• Amu led Lin Taichu and Wang Xiaohu to a hidden cave, where the Old Doctor treated their wounds and explained that the City Lord and Prince An wanted Lin Taichu dead for undermining their medicinal herb profits.
• The Old Doctor arranged for them to escape through the western pass, and Batu sheltered them while Lin Taichu recovered.
• Batu told Lin Taichu that the City Lord had framed him and Wang Xiaohu, sealed the clinic, and imprisoned the Old Doctor and Amu.
• After a month of recovery and unsuccessful attempts to reach the King or rescue the prisoners, Lin Taichu seized on Batu’s account of the City Lord’s daily vegetable purchases from the east.

Lin Taichu poisoned the City Lord and his family to force the release of the Old Doctor and Amu and to secure an end to the City Lord’s abuses. After treating them, he left to reunite with the Old Doctor and Amu.

• Lin Taichu prepared two harmless powders that became deadly poison when mixed with water and cooked.
• Lin Taichu and Wang Xiaohu secretly sprinkled the powders on Li San’s vegetables and pork as he bought groceries for the City Lord’s Mansion.
• After the City Lord, his wife, and children fell ill, Lin Taichu demanded the release of the Old Doctor and Amu and the revocation of the wanted notices in exchange for treatment.
• The City Lord’s steward agreed to the demands, and Lin Taichu treated the City Lord and his family with an antidote.
• Lin Taichu made the City Lord promise to stop monopolizing medicinal herbs and oppressing the people, and to return the clinic to the Old Doctor.
• Lin Taichu told Wang Xiaohu they would go pick up the Old Doctor and Amu.

Lin Taichu secretly stayed in the city to watch over the clinic after leaving, but returned when Old Doctor suddenly showed symptoms of poisoning. He began investigating what Old Doctor had eaten as the chapter ended.

• Lin Taichu told Old Doctor and Wang Xiaohu that he planned to leave Rice Country, then departed at dawn with their farewells and Old Doctor's supplies.
• Lin Taichu hid in a ruined courtyard and secretly monitored the City Lord, the clinic, and the townspeople for a month.
• Lin Taichu heard the City Lord warn his steward not to raise herb prices because Lin Taichu might still be watching.
• Amu found Lin Taichu at the market and begged him to save Old Doctor, who had collapsed with foam at his mouth and convulsions.
• Lin Taichu examined Old Doctor at the clinic and asked Wang Xiaohu what Old Doctor had eaten or received that day.

Lin Taichu discovered that someone had poisoned the Old Doctor with a substance designed to resemble his Anesthetic Powder and framed him to provoke a conflict with Prince An. He saved the Old Doctor and resolved to investigate the hidden enemy, while the Old Doctor awoke the next morning.

• Lin Taichu realized the Old Doctor's symptoms had been deliberately made to resemble his earlier poisoning of the City Lord, apparently to incite him against Prince An.
• Lin Taichu found fine white powder in the dregs of the Old Doctor's restorative medicine and identified it as the source of the poison.
• Lin Taichu hid the poisoning from outsiders and treated the Old Doctor with medicine prepared from herbs he had stored.
• The Old Doctor's condition stabilized, and Lin Taichu suspected that other nobles or their informants were behind the poisoning.
• The next morning, the Old Doctor awoke and thanked Lin Taichu for saving his life.

Lin Taichu learned that Marquis Jing'an and his poison-savvy strategist Zhang Ce had likely poisoned Old Doctor to frame the City Lord and provoke a clash with Prince An. He arranged for Old Doctor to spread hints that the poison was an imitation, and Marquis Jing'an grew suspicious that Lin Taichu had seen through the plot.

• Lin Taichu asked Old Doctor about powerful enemies of the City Lord and learned that Marquis Jing'an had lost money from the medicinal herb monopoly and wanted to become City Lord.
• Old Doctor told Lin Taichu that Marquis Jing'an's strategist, Zhang Ce, was a former traveling doctor who knew about poisoning, and that Marquis Jing'an had been recruiting troops and courting court officials.
• Lin Taichu concluded Marquis Jing'an had poisoned Old Doctor to frame the City Lord and set Lin Taichu against the City Lord and Prince An.
• Lin Taichu told Old Doctor to resume seeing patients and hint that his poison resembled the City Lord's but had been deliberately copied.
• The City Lord sent people to watch the clinic, while Marquis Jing'an questioned Zhang Ce about Lin Taichu's suspicions.

Lin Taichu exposed Marquis Jing'an’s plot to frame the city lord and persuaded the city lord to cooperate in setting a trap. Marquis Jing'an and Zhang Ce tried to destroy the evidence as the city lord’s soldiers arrived to search the residence.

• Marquis Jing'an ordered Zhang Ce to spread rumors blaming the city lord for poisoning the old doctor, hoping to provoke Lin Taichu into revenge.
• Lin Taichu told Wang Xiaohu that Marquis Jing'an had planted the rumors and took him to the City Lord's Mansion to propose an alliance.
• Lin Taichu presented the poison found in the old doctor's medicine, and an old pharmacist identified it as a poison associated with Zhang Ce.
• The city lord agreed to publicly announce an investigation so Zhang Ce would try to destroy the evidence and expose himself.
• Marquis Jing'an and Zhang Ce hurried to burn the poison and formula drafts, but soldiers began battering down the residence gate.

Lin Taichu and the city lord confronted Marquis Jing'an over the poisoning plot, but Zhang Ce trapped them in a courtyard filled with deadly poisonous mist. Lin Taichu defeated Zhang Ce and stopped him from intensifying the poison, then scattered pale yellow powder into the air.

• Zhang Ce burned the hidden manuscripts as the city lord arrived to accuse Marquis Jing'an of poisoning the old doctor and conspiring to seize power.
• Lin Taichu identified Zhang Ce as the poisoner, and Zhang Ce revealed a barrier that concealed lethal poisonous mist around the courtyard.
• Marquis Jing'an sent his poisoned-weapon Death Warriors to attack, while the city lord, Lin Taichu, and Wang Xiaohu fought back.
• Zhang Ce intensified the poisonous mist, causing Soldiers to collapse and the city lord to struggle to breathe.
• Lin Taichu dodged Zhang Ce's poison needles, struck his dantian to disrupt his inner force, and scattered pale yellow powder into the air.

Lin Taichu helped the city lord defeat Marquis Jing'an’s plot, and Prince An ordered Marquis Jing'an and Zhang Ce imprisoned. Lin Taichu agreed to treat the Empress Dowager after the old doctor recovered, then left with Wang Xiaohu, who warned that the imperial palace could be dangerous.

• Lin Taichu used antidote powder to neutralize the poisonous mist and helped the city lord defeat or capture Marquis Jing'an’s remaining experts.
• Prince An arrived, heard how Marquis Jing'an had poisoned the old doctor and framed others, and ordered Marquis Jing'an and Zhang Ce taken to prison.
• Zhang Ce admitted Marquis Jing'an had ordered the poisoning and accused Prince An and the city lord of oppressing the people.
• Prince An praised Lin Taichu, apologized for their earlier conflict, and asked him to treat the Empress Dowager; Lin Taichu agreed to go once the old doctor recovered.
• Lin Taichu told the city lord they had merely used each other, then left with Wang Xiaohu to return to the old doctor.
• Wang Xiaohu asked whether Lin Taichu would truly treat the Empress Dowager, warning that Prince An might have set a trap in the imperial palace.

Lin Taichu entered the imperial palace to treat the Empress Dowager and discovered she had been poisoned by a concealed chronic toxin. After Prince An’s ally accused him of poisoning her, Lin Taichu challenged the accusation by pointing to his previous efforts to help Rice Country.

• Lin Taichu told Wang Xiaohu he would go to the palace, and Old Doctor warned him about Prince An’s influence there.
• Lin Taichu recovered at the clinic while the City Lord compensated them and Prince An’s men pressed him to visit the palace.
• Lin Taichu prepared Wang Xiaohu, Old Doctor, and Amu to watch the clinic, then left for the palace the next morning.
• Lin Taichu examined the Empress Dowager and diagnosed a concealed chronic poison more vicious than the toxins found in Princess and Old Doctor.
• Prince An called for an investigation, and an official accused Lin Taichu of poisoning the Empress Dowager as a Central Plains spy.
• Lin Taichu rebutted the accusation by citing his treatment of Princess and his help in capturing Marquis Jing'an.

Lin Taichu found poison in the Empress Dowager’s calming tea and traced it to Granny Li, who accused Minister of Revenue Wang Qinian of ordering the poisoning. His Majesty assigned Lin Taichu to investigate further, leaving Wang suspended and Granny Li under guard.

• Lin Taichu searched the Empress Dowager’s belongings and the imperial kitchen, then learned that Granny Li prepared her daily calming tea.
• Lin Taichu detained Granny Li and found poison among the herbs used for the tea.
• Granny Li accused Wang Qinian of paying her to poison the Empress Dowager and claimed he wanted Prince An suspected so he could rise to power.
• Wang Qinian denied the accusation, and Lin Taichu advised His Majesty that the evidence required further investigation.
• His Majesty suspended Wang Qinian, placed Granny Li under guard, and ordered Lin Taichu to investigate the case.
• Lin Taichu began gathering information about Wang Qinian and checking whether he had paid or met Granny Li.

Lin Taichu’s investigation found evidence that made Wang Qinian highly suspicious, but he concealed his findings and reported no progress so Prince An and Wang Qinian would underestimate him. Prince An and Wang Qinian both reacted cautiously, and the chapter ended with Wang Qinian deciding to wait for the investigation to continue.

• Lin Taichu investigated Granny Li’s testimony and found that Wang Qinian had recently spent money, his steward had been seen near her home, and a relative could obtain the rare herbs used in the poison.
• Lin Taichu confirmed that Wang Qinian and Prince An were bitter enemies and decided not to reveal his findings, hoping to make both men lower their guard.
• Lin Taichu locked away the investigation materials and told Your Majesty and Prince An that he had made no progress and needed more time.
• Prince An mocked Lin Taichu’s investigative ability and planned to wait for Wang Qinian’s reaction before using the accusation against him.
• Wang Qinian grew furious and considered contacting Lin Taichu, but his steward warned him against it, so Wang Qinian decided to wait for further clues.

Lin Taichu secretly gathered evidence of Prince An and Wang Qinian’s crimes while pretending his investigation had stalled. With proof in hand, he planned to expose them at Rice Country’s upcoming Ancestral Worship Ceremony.

• Lin Taichu slowed the palace investigation and secretly enlisted Batu to investigate Prince An and Wang Qinian.
• Lin Taichu questioned Granny Li, who repeated that Wang Qinian had ordered her to act, then dismissed a demand from Prince An to produce results.
• Batu’s men reported that Prince An monopolized the medicinal herbs trade, colluded with bandits, and stored weapons and armor at his residence.
• Batu’s men uncovered Wang Qinian’s embezzlement, bribery, faction-building, and suspected collaboration with neighboring countries.
• Lin Taichu decided to present the evidence to Your Majesty during the upcoming Ancestral Worship Ceremony.

At the Ancestral Worship Ceremony, Lin Taichu exposed Prince An and Wang Qinian’s crimes to Your Majesty, prompting their arrest. Prince An launched a rebellion, and Wang Qinian sent his own soldiers to defend Your Majesty, turning the ceremony into a battle.

• Lin Taichu presented evidence against Prince An and Wang Qinian, including proof implicating them in the Empress Dowager’s poisoning and other crimes.
• Your Majesty ordered the two men seized and condemned them to execution, but Prince An summoned his private soldiers and declared his rebellion.
• Prince An’s soldiers attacked the Ancestral Temple, overwhelming the Guards and scattering the officials.
• Wang Qinian decided to protect Your Majesty rather than join Prince An and called out his own private soldiers to fight the rebels.

Prince An’s attack at the Ancestral Temple failed after Wang Qinian’s soldiers defended Your Majesty, but Prince An escaped. Lin Taichu warned that Prince An remained a grave threat, and Your Majesty ordered a citywide search and stronger defenses.

• Wang Qinian’s private soldiers fought Prince An’s forces while Wang protected Your Majesty, and Lin Taichu watched as his plan unfolded.
• After more than an hour of heavy losses, Prince An fled down a path behind the Ancestral Temple, escaping despite Wang Qinian’s pursuit.
• Your Majesty pardoned and promised to reward Wang Qinian, then praised Lin Taichu for exposing Prince An’s plot and anticipating the attack.
• Lin Taichu urged Your Majesty to seal the capital, hunt Prince An’s remaining followers, and strengthen defenses, and Your Majesty issued the orders.
• Wang Qinian questioned Lin Taichu’s plan, and Lin Taichu explained why he had exposed the conspiracy at the Ancestral Worship Ceremony.
• Your Majesty agreed that Prince An remained a grave threat and ordered an investigation into his followers, funds for military supplies, and stronger defenses.

Lin Taichu rejected a court post and reward, asking instead for reforms to the medicinal herb market, then returned to his clinic as Prince An’s followers were hunted down. After learning Prince An was rebuilding his forces at the mass graves, Lin Taichu planned to lure him out and ambush him, with Wang Xiaohu agreeing to accompany him.

• Lin Taichu declined appointment as Vice Director of the Imperial Hospital and Baron, and asked His Majesty to restore order to the medicinal herb market.
• His Majesty ordered a crackdown on Prince An’s followers and the regulation of herb prices, which fell as the capital’s people rejoiced.
• Lin Taichu returned to his clinic and told Wang Xiaohu, the Old Doctor, and Amu that Prince An remained a threat.
• Batu reported that Prince An had fled to the mass graves, where he was gathering private soldiers and stockpiling supplies.
• Lin Taichu proposed luring Prince An out so Wang Qinian’s men could help ambush him, and Wang Xiaohu agreed to go with Lin Taichu and follow his orders.

Lin Taichu lured Prince An into an ambush at Luoma Slope, where Wang Qinian’s soldiers and Batu’s men defeated his forces. Prince An was captured and taken to the Heavenly Prison, and Wang Qinian went to report the victory to the Emperor.

• Lin Taichu arranged for Batu’s men to lure Prince An from the mass graves while Wang Qinian’s soldiers prepared an ambush at Luoma Slope.
• Lin Taichu and Wang Xiaohu drew Prince An’s men into pursuit, leading them toward the ambush as Batu’s men engaged the first pursuers.
• Wang Qinian’s soldiers and Batu’s men surrounded Prince An’s forces at Luoma Slope and fought them for more than two hours.
• Prince An tried to escape through a weak point, but Lin Taichu wounded him and Wang Xiaohu and Wang Qinian’s soldiers helped capture him.
• Wang Qinian had Prince An bound and taken to the capital, where he placed him in the Heavenly Prison before reporting to the Emperor.

After Prince An was sentenced to death, Wang Qinian gave up his rewards in Lin Taichu’s favor. Lin Taichu asked the emperor for martial arts instruction instead of wealth, and after half a month of training under Zhao Lie, he had built a foundation in internal cultivation.

• The court sentenced Prince An to death, purged his followers, and confiscated his family property.
• Wang Qinian credited Lin Taichu with making Prince An’s capture possible and asked the emperor to transfer his rewards to him.
• The emperor appointed Lin Taichu Vice Director of the Imperial Hospital, made him a marquis, and offered him gold and land, but Lin Taichu asked to learn martial arts instead.
• The emperor ordered Zhao Lie, the palace’s foremost expert, to teach Lin Taichu how to protect himself.
• Zhao Lie began Lin Taichu’s training at the Training Ground, and Lin Taichu quickly learned the Internal Cultivation Method and basic moves.
• After half a month of diligent practice, Lin Taichu had developed a foundation in internal energy, impressing Zhao Lie with his rapid progress.

Lin Taichu mastered the Profound Iron Sword Technique and returned to his clinic, where he treated a farmer poisoned after eating at a village tavern. Suspecting a pattern of deliberate poisonings linked to Prince An’s remaining followers, Lin Taichu sent Wang Xiaohu to investigate two villages.

• Lin Taichu demonstrated his progress with the Profound Iron Sword Technique and earned Zhao Lie’s praise for becoming capable of defending himself.
• Lin Taichu returned to the clinic and showed Wang Xiaohu, the old doctor, and Amu the sword technique he had learned.
• Lin Taichu treated Li Laoshi, a farmer from Li Family Village who had fallen ill after eating noodles at a tavern.
• The old doctor told Lin Taichu that a patient from Zhang Family Village had suffered similar poisoning after eating at a village tavern.
• Lin Taichu suspected the poisonings might be deliberate and ordered Wang Xiaohu to investigate the taverns and look for other victims.