Chapter Summaries

After the Poetry Gathering, Chen Yi returned home safely while his family and friends believed Pei Guanli’s cover story, and Liu Zhaoxue investigated the battle site before fleeing Shuzhou. Xiao Wan’er privately rewrote Chen Yi’s moonlit verse to place their gardens a mile apart, while Chen Yunfan began urgently training to challenge his younger brother.

• Chen Yunfan and Cui Qingwu reassured Xiao Wan'er that Chen Yi would return, and Pei Guanli arrived to explain that Chen Yi had gone home after falling into the river.
• Liu Zhaoxue found evidence of a fierce battle by the Chishui River, suspected the Five Poisons Sect had been defeated, and ordered her carriage back to Jingzhou that night.
• Chen Yi returned to Chunhe Garden, concealed his injuries and the battle’s traces, and greeted Xiao Wan'er and the others.
• Xiao Wan'er pondered Chen Yi’s verse, wrote a version saying they could share the moon’s beauty across one li, and sighed over his name.
• Chen Yi treated his wounds and vowed to deal with the Five Poisons Sect and Liu Zhaoxue, while Chen Yunfan began sword practice and sought a way to improve quickly so he could defeat Chen Yi.

After Master Juyi learned that Chen Yi had written a celebrated Mid-Autumn lyric and reached Perfection in the Way of Calligraphy, he questioned Sun Fu about Chen Yi’s past and left him worried about the Chen Family’s motives. Back in Shuzhou, Chen Yi reviewed the affairs surrounding the Xiao Family and learned that Xie Tingyun had brought 127 people from the Tianshan Sect.

• Students across Great Wei praised Chen Yi’s “Prelude to Water Melody: Mid-Autumn” as the finest Mid-Autumn lyric in generations.
• Master Juyi visited Sun Fu in Jinling, confirmed Chen Yi’s mastery of calligraphy, and discussed the mysterious circumstances behind Chen Yi’s withdrawal from the Chen Family and academy.
• Sun Fu showed Master Juyi Chen Yi’s Running Script copybook, whose golden artistic conception impressed the scholar, then wondered whether Chen Yi might be involved in a scheme against the Xiao Family.
• Chen Yi reflected on the quiet aftermath of the Tiebi Town affair, Xinglin Zhai’s competition, and the Xiao Family’s latest concerns while declining to take his annual Xiucai assessment.
• Xie Tingyun told Chen Yi that 127 people from the Tianshan Sect had arrived.

Chen Yi arranged lodging funds for Xie Tingyun’s Tianshan Sect disciples and agreed to help Xiao Wan’er find a site for the Medical Dao Academy. He broke through to Fifth Grade, then learned that a Hidden Guard would collect a Secret Letter at Lou Yuxue’s wonton stall.

• Chen Yi lent Xie Tingyun two thousand taels to settle the Tianshan Sect disciples, then learned she had brought 127 of them to Shuzhou without Shen Huatang’s knowledge.
• Chen Yi told Xiao Wan’er he would help her look for a site for the Medical Dao Academy in three days and agreed to consider attending the annual examination.
• Shen Huatang discovered the number of disciples Xie Tingyun had brought and threatened to report her to their master.
• Chen Yi cultivated at Chunhe Garden and broke through to the Fifth Grade, Lower Stage, strengthening the Four Symbols Technique and his martial arts.
• Chen Yi received intelligence that a Hidden Guard would collect a Secret Letter at a wonton stall on Kanning Street and recognized Lou Yuxue’s business as the likely meeting place.

Chen Yi weighed the Hidden Guard’s possible plans for Shuzhou and decided they could be used as an ally, then helped Xiao Wuge begin Martial Path training before heading to Hundred Herbs Hall. He noticed Cui Qingwu had opened Yunqing Tower across the street and, after reaching the residence on Chuanxi Street, ordered Wang Ji to summon Guard Liu.

• Chen Yi considered whether the Hidden Guard sought to plunge Shuzhou into chaos and placed them among the White Stones on his mental chessboard as potential allies he could use.
• Xiao Wuge told Chen Yi that Xiao Xuanshuo planned to teach him the Martial Path before he left for Jinling, and Chen Yi encouraged him to train diligently.
• Xiao Xuanshuo arrived at Chunhe Garden, confirmed Xiao Wuge would train at the Training Ground, and took him away with Wang Lixing.
• Chen Yi saw that Cui Qingwu had opened Cui's Yunqing Tower across from Hundred Herbs Hall, while Cui Qingwu sent Huan'er to invite Young Master Chen to sample Lang Wine.
• Chen Yi used Xiao Wan'er as an excuse to send Wang Ji and Zhang Dabao away from West Market, then went to the residence on Chuanxi Street and ordered Wang Ji to call Guard Liu.

Chen Yi arranged new staff and plans for Hundred Herbs Hall while secretly assigning Liu Lang to watch Liu Hong. After learning that grain merchants had raised prices to pressure the Xiao Family, Chen Yi suspected the Gold Master behind earlier grain schemes and began considering how to catch the culprits.

• Zhang Dabao told Chen Yi that Cui Qingwu had bought the tavern across from Hundred Herbs Hall for ten thousand taels, while Xinglin Zhai had been taking the hall’s customers.
• Chen Yi practiced the qin, then spent 11 Fortune to raise his Way of the Qin to minor accomplishment.
• Wang Ji told Chen Yi that Hundred Herbs Hall needed more herbs and craftsmen, and Chen Yi said 127 Tianshan Sect disciples would join as guards.
• Chen Yi sent Wang Ji and Zhang Dabao to the Xiao Family, then instructed Liu Lang to secretly record Liu Hong’s daily activities.
• Chen Yi overheard that grain merchants had raised prices, leaving the Xiao Family short of grain for the Three Towns Soldiers, and suspected the Gold Master behind the scheme.
• Chen Yi considered that the merchants might be seeking profit from wartime chaos and resolved to catch them all in one net.

Chen Yi visited Lou Yuxue's bustling wonton shop and persuaded her to consider joining him in a lucrative deal. After Chen Yi secretly read a White Tiger Guard message, someone arrived outside the room.

• Chen Yi left Chunhe Garden in disguise and found Lou Yuxue working at her busy wonton shop near Guiyun Academy.
• Lou Yuxue recognized Chen Yi and took him upstairs, where he dodged her attack and pinned her against the door.
• Chen Yi proposed a joint business venture, and Lou Yuxue became interested after he promised she could earn five hundred thousand taels of silver.
• A goshawk delivered a Secret Letter from the White Tiger Guard, and Chen Yi grabbed it and memorized its contents before Lou Yuxue could stop him.
• Chen Yi received a reward for witnessing the Secret Letter's delivery, then sensed someone approaching outside.

Chen Yi overheard General Star ordering Lou Yuxue to investigate whether he was the Fledgling and test his cultivation, while also learning that the White Tiger Guard was contacting King Landu. He misdirected Lou Yuxue and returned to the Xiao Family, realizing he would need to put on a show to escape the Pavilion Master's suspicions.

• General Star visited Lou Yuxue, read the Pavilion Master's Secret Letter, and ordered her to investigate the Fledgling and test Chen Yi's Martial Path cultivation.
• Lou Yuxue told General Star that Chen Yi had been near Liu Wu and Liu Lang on the night of the Burning of Three Towns' Summer Grain, prompting him to order a thorough investigation.
• General Star learned Lou Yuxue had contacted a Poshushuo Kingdom native on King Landu's behalf and said he would stay in West Market while helping with Shuzhou's affairs.
• After General Star left, Chen Yi revealed himself to Lou Yuxue and claimed the Five Poisons Sect had abducted Granny Shan's granddaughter and Chen Yi, while denying that he was the Fledgling.
• Chen Yi told Lou Yuxue that the Five Poisons Sect had appeared in Shuzhou because of Liu Zhaoxue and the Liu Family, then left for the Xiao Family after easing her suspicions.
• Chen Yi concluded that the Pavilion Master remained the real threat to his cover and decided he would have to put on a show.

Chen Yi assessed the threats surrounding the Xiao Family and received intelligence about a coming barbarian slave riot. At Jiaxing Garden, he discussed the family’s grain troubles and agreed to paint portraits for Xiao Wuge and Xiao Wan'er, prompting him to resolve to practice painting.

• Chen Yi reviewed the Hidden Guard’s plans, General Star’s purpose, and the Liu Family’s threat, then decided the Liu Family had to be dealt with first.
• Chen Yi received intelligence that barbarian slaves would riot at an East Market grain shop at the seventh quarter of Xu Hour, and decided to observe it.
• Xiao Wuge eagerly prepared to cultivate the Martial Path, while Chen Yi and Pei Guanli teased each other on the way to Jiaxing Garden.
• Xie Tingyun and Shen Huatang thanked Chen Yi for helping arrange work and pay for the Tianshan Sect disciples at Hundred Herbs Hall.
• Xiao Wan'er told Chen Yi that grain prices had risen and that the old master had ordered her to continue preparations for the Medical Dao Academy.
• Xiao Wan'er described a family portrait at the fief, and Xiao Wuge asked Chen Yi to paint portraits for him and Xiao Wan'er, leading Chen Yi to resolve to practice the Way of Painting.

Chen Yi investigated the forces behind Shuzhou’s rising grain prices while advising Mr. Yue Ming on how to avoid becoming entangled in the annual examination dispute. After visiting Jishi Pharmacy, he searched East Market for clues linking grain merchants to Barbarian slaves, but found only a suspicious group at a Poshushuo Kingdom stall.

• Chen Yi learned from Liu Si'er that grain prices had more than doubled, straining the Xiao Family’s finances, and suspected officials and merchants were conspiring against them.
• At Guiyun Academy, Chen Yi taught the Way of Calligraphy, then advised Mr. Yue Ming to involve Yang Ye rather than accept the deputy examiner post or meet privately with Ma Shuhan.
• Li Huaigu confirmed that floods had damaged crops in several counties and that Liu Hong and Yang Ye had secured grain-tax exemptions; Chen Yi suspected the grain-price crisis would still worsen.
• Chen Yi visited Jishi Pharmacy, rewarded its workers, and answered Ma Liangcai’s questions about the Medical Dao.
• Chen Yi searched East Market for grain shops connected to Barbarian slaves, found none, but noticed a weak young slave whom the others protected at a Poshushuo Kingdom stall.

Chen Yi completed his study of ink-wash painting and decided he had achieved something in all four arts before investigating a riot by escaped Barbarian slaves at East Market. He killed a Phantom Sound Sect accomplice, but the man died from a mysterious Kut before revealing everything, and Chen Yi searched for the missing slaves until Liu Lang confronted him.

• Chen Yi raised his Painting Dao to Minor Accomplishment and improved his ink-wash painting, completing his practice of the four arts.
• Chen Yi left Chunhe Garden at night and went to East Market, where escaped Barbarian slaves were burning grain warehouses and fighting guards.
• Chen Yi recognized that a Phantom Sound Sect practitioner was using a flute to manipulate the guards and followed the fleeing slaves.
• Chen Yi defeated the black-clad Phantom Sound Sect practitioner, who revealed that Bright Moon Tower had paid him to help the slaves escape before dying from a mysterious force identified by Chen Yi as possible Kut.
• Chen Yi failed to find the slaves and suspected they were hiding somewhere in the city when Liu Lang called to him from behind.

Chen Yi joined Liu Lang after killing a Phantom Sound Sect member and revealed his mastery of Blade Dao to him. Following Liu Lang’s lead, Chen Yi investigated Liu Taofang’s nighttime meeting and found Zhu Lingchuan among the men discussing corn prices, leaving him suspecting they were behind Shuzhou’s grain manipulation as he slipped into their residence.

• Chen Yi discovered Liu Lang had come to East Market, revealed his identity, and shocked him by admitting he had mastered Blade Dao.
• Chen Yi told Fang Hongxiu that the dead man belonged to the Phantom Sound Sect and explained that Poshushuo Kingdom agents had helped the Barbarian slaves escape; Fang sent her officers to investigate.
• Chen Yi learned that Liu Taofang had met someone that night and asked Liu Lang to lead him to the residence where the meeting had taken place.
• Chen Yi and Liu Lang watched Liu Taofang leave the residence with Zhu Lingchuan and heard them discuss selling corn at a good price.
• Chen Yi suspected Liu Taofang, Zhu Lingchuan, and the Lin Family were connected to the people controlling grain prices, then entered the residence to investigate.

Chen Yi infiltrated the Lin residence and learned that Liu Taofang and his allies had manipulated grain prices and burned the Three Towns' summer grain for profit, while Zhu Lingchuan's side arranged to sell ironware to horse bandits. He left with a letter for King Landu, and Liu Lang watched Liu Hong beat Liu Taofang for contacting Lin's Chamber of Commerce.

• Chen Yi sneaked into the Lin residence and overheard the Lin patriarch's wife ask whether her brother could help with the business discussed by Liu Taofang, Zhu Lingchuan, and Lord Ye.
• Chen Yi found the Lin patriarch poisoned and revived him long enough to question him about the grain scheme.
• The Lin patriarch admitted that Liu Taofang had hired him to manipulate grain prices and confirmed that the Three Towns' summer grain was burned for profit, but denied burning the East Market grain depot.
• The Lin patriarch revealed that Zhu Hao had entrusted him with selling ironware to King Landu, and Chen Yi took a letter written in Poshushuo Kingdom script.
• The Lin patriarch accused his wife and her family of poisoning him, while Chen Yi returned to Chunhe Garden and considered how to confront the powerful network behind the scheme.
• Liu Lang watched Liu Hong whip Liu Taofang for making contact with Lin's Chamber of Commerce, which Liu Hong said belonged to the Jizhou Trading Company.

Liu Hong beat his son Liu Taofang for conspiring with Lin Huai'an to burn the Three Towns' summer grain and manipulate grain prices, then explained how Lin and the Jizhou Trading Company had deceived him. Liu Hong ordered Liu Taofang to stay home and deny knowing Lin, while hinting that Lin would soon be killed; outside, Liu Lang listened and recognized why Chen Yi had sent him to watch the Provincial Governor.

• Liu Hong forced Liu Taofang to confess that he and Lin Huai'an had arranged the grain scheme, including the burning of the Three Towns' summer grain and the rise in prices.
• Liu Taofang revealed that Liu Lang had approached Bright Moon Tower with the same plan, and Liu Hong deduced that someone had manipulated the factions to help the Xiao Family.
• Liu Hong told Liu Taofang that the Old Marquis planned to borrow grain from Guangyue Prefecture and that Lin Huai'an had secretly prepared nearly a million shi of grain.
• Liu Hong explained that Lin Huai'an worked for the Jizhou Trading Company, which smuggled goods to the northern grasslands, and said Lin had tried to draw him into the scheme.
• Liu Hong ordered Liu Taofang to remain at home and deny knowing Lin Huai'an, then called Lin a dead man; Liu Lang listened outside and feared the Provincial Governor's ruthlessness.

Elder Master Xiao ordered Xiao Jing to investigate the grain merchants and prepare to borrow support as the Xiao Family faced growing pressure. As Chen Yi prepared to leave with Xiao Wan'er to inspect a site for the Medical Dao Academy, Pei Gan arrived with a letter from Xiao Jinghong and scrutinized him.

• Elder Master Xiao suspected the grain merchants might have staged the warehouse losses, but told Xiao Jing to investigate the people behind them and avoid acting rashly.
• Elder Master Xiao asked Xiao Jing to tell Xiao Jinghong to spend Silver Coins as needed and admitted to himself that he hoped to live a few more years.
• Chen Yi read an intelligence notice about Chen Yunfan sparring with Cui Qingwu, then considered using Liu Taofang and the Jingzhou Liu Family to weaken Liu Hong's position.
• Chen Yi asked Pei Guanli to teach Xiao Wuge the Meteor Butterfly Steps while he was away.
• Chen Yi met Xiao Wan'er after breakfast, and the two set out to inspect possible sites for the Medical Dao Academy.
• Pei Gan arrived and presented Xiao Wan'er with a letter from General Jinghong while eyeing Chen Yi with suspicion.

Chen Yi traveled with Xiao Wan'er to choose a site for the Medical Dao Academy, learned more about her family and health, and teased her out of her sadness. Meanwhile, Chen Yunfan sparred with Cui Qingwu as Chunying received word that Chen Yunfan could be contacted and that the Dragon's Roar, Tiger's Howl plan would be accelerated.

• Pei Gan arrived with many members of the Mountain Tribe, and Pei Guanli hurried off with him to see their family.
• Xiao Wan'er read Xiao Jinghong's letter, which reported progress at the Wushan Mutual Market and requested an inscription from Chen Yi.
• Xiao Wan'er said she wanted to hire workers to build the Medical Dao Academy, and Chen Yi agreed to bring Ma Liangcai to her.
• Xiao Wan'er told Chen Yi about her parents and her mother's ties to the Tianshan Sect, and Chen Yi lightened her mood with teasing.
• Chen Yunfan sparred with Cui Qingwu, striking her repeatedly while seeking a breakthrough in his swordsmanship.
• Chunying received a message saying Chen Yunfan could be contacted and that the Dragon's Roar, Tiger's Howl plan would be accelerated, so Chen Yunfan went to write a letter.

Chen Yi accompanied Xiao Wan'er to inspect sites in the Xiao Family fief for a Medical Dao Academy and helped choose a spot near Monkey Mountain. With dark clouds gathering and the city gates likely to be closed, Xiao Wan'er suggested they stay the night.

• Chen Yi learned that Chen Yunfan had defeated Cui Qingwu and traveled with Xiao Wan'er to Tonglin, where Kang Ming welcomed them.
• Xiao Wan'er and Chen Yi toured the fief, and Liu Si'er’s tampered horse reared; Shen Huatang stopped it, while Chen Yi pretended to be injured to conceal his strength.
• Xiao Wan'er invited Chen Yi to ride with her, and they inspected several possible academy sites together.
• Chen Yi recommended the location at the foot of Monkey Mountain, citing its nearby medicinal herbs, and Xiao Wan'er agreed to arrange a survey.
• Kang Ming warned that the city gates would likely be closed before they returned, and Xiao Wan'er suggested staying the night as rain began to fall.

Chen Yi and Xiao Wan'er discussed plans for the Medical Dao Academy during their rain-soaked return and later refined its design together. A midnight intelligence alert then revealed that Female Tiger would secretly meet someone from the Poshushuo Kingdom at Chunyu Tower.

• Chen Yi warmed Xiao Wan'er with True Essence as they rode through the rain, and she discussed the Medical Dao Academy with him.
• Chen Yi suggested inviting Medical Saint Hands to assess the academy and using Elder Master Xiao as a pretext to bring them in.
• Xiao Wan'er showed Chen Yi her academy sketch, and he revised it with plans for study halls, dormitories, waterways, and future expansion.
• Chen Yi and Xiao Wan'er viewed a painting of Xiao Fengchun and Fu Wanqing, and Xiao Wan'er asked him to make copies for her siblings.
• Chen Yi received intelligence that Female Tiger would meet a person from the Poshushuo Kingdom at Chunyu Tower in Fireworks Alley.

Chen Yi returned from the Xiao estate with Xiao Wan'er, who asked him to paint portraits of their family, and they met Chen Yunfan and Cui Qingwu on the way to Yunqing Tower. After Chen Yi declined to write to his father, a commotion broke out at Hundred Herbs Hall, leaving the group facing an unexpected disturbance.

• Chen Yi studied the unreadable letter intended for King Landu while Xiao Wan'er struggled with memories of her parents and asked Chen Yi to paint portraits of her family.
• Chen Yi woke from a dream in which Xiao Jinghong threatened him with her sword, then left with Xiao Wan'er and the others for Shu Prefecture City.
• Xiao Wan'er asked Chen Yi to paint a portrait of her, Xiao Jinghong, Xiao Wuge, their grandfather, and Chen Yi, and he agreed.
• Chen Yi and Xiao Wan'er met Chen Yunfan and Cui Qingwu, then joined them on their way to Yunqing Tower.
• Chen Yunfan asked Chen Yi to write to their father, but Chen Yi refused and said he had nothing to tell him.
• At Yunqing Tower, Chen Yi heard people at Hundred Herbs Hall arguing with Shopkeeper Wang.

Chen Yi learned about King Landu’s power and the unrest surrounding burned grain stores, then met Chen Yunfan, Cui Qingwu, and Xiao Wan'er at Yunqing Tower. Their meal ended with Chen Yunfan insisting that Chen Yi take the annual examination and beginning to explain why.

• Wang Ji changed his approach and brought Jia Yuzhi back inside to discuss the burned herbs after Chen Yi signaled him to do so.
• Chen Yi learned that grain prices had surged, Lin Huai'an had been murdered, the barbarian slaves were still missing, and King Landu ruled a powerful bandit force in the Poshushuo Kingdom.
• Chen Yi gave Wang Ji a letter addressed to King Landu and asked him to find someone trustworthy to translate it.
• Chen Yi joined Chen Yunfan, Cui Qingwu, and Xiao Wan'er at Yunqing Tower, where they reminisced, ate, and drank together.
• Chen Yunfan told Chen Yi he had to take the annual examination and began to explain that the education minister was involved.

Chen Yi agreed to attend Shuzhou’s annual examination as Ma Shuhan’s new rules threatened scholars’ credentials, while Xiao Wan’er wrote to Xiao Jinghong and Chen Yi sent his wife a letter and poem. That night, Chen Yi learned that a letter from Lin Huai’an to King Landu proposed a major arms transaction, including refined iron, horse armor, and sabers.

• Chen Yunfan warned Chen Yi that Ma Shuhan’s revised assessment rules could strip scholars of their credentials, and Chen Yi decided to attend the annual examination.
• Chen Yunfan suspected that the emperor had sent him and Li Huaigu to Shuzhou for a larger purpose, while a disguised man arranged a midnight meeting with Luanfeng.
• Xiao Wan’er wrote to Xiao Jinghong about family matters and Chen Yi’s Mid-Autumn poem, then went to consult the Old Master about the Medical Dao Academy and his illness.
• Chen Yi wrote Xiao Jinghong a family letter containing an autumn poem, reaffirmed their agreement, and resolved to protect the Xiao Family from those plotting in Shuzhou.
• Chen Yi left the Xiao estate at night and read a translated letter from Lin Huai’an to King Landu proposing a trade in refined iron, horse armor, and sabers.