Recaps

Shen Tang marched on Qiu Cheng with a twenty-thousand-strong army, defeated his forces, and captured Linshan County while pursuing Qiu Wenyan. The retreat led her toward Xiaocheng, where Gongxi Chou awaited her and Qiu Cheng prepared for a final showdown.

• Shen Tang borrowed ten thousand troops from Chu Jie and set out with twenty thousand to seize neighboring land and settle Longwu Commandery’s growing population.
• Kang Shi’s detachment ambushed a supply convoy, destroying most of its grain, before Shen Tang’s main army confronted its Heavy Shield Warrior escort and forced it to retreat with heavy losses.
• Shen Tang’s army reached Linshan County, where Lü Jue killed one challenger and Shen Tang defeated another before Qiu Cheng’s forces could stop the assault.
• Shen Tang ordered the attack, and her army broke through Linshan County’s defenses while Qiu Cheng withdrew and Xun Zhen fought his son Xun Ding.
• Shen Tang’s soldiers raised the [Shen] flag over Linshan County, treated its residents without plundering, and helped repair the damaged streets.
• Xun Zhen brought the captured Xun Ding to Shen Tang, who learned that he served Gongxi Chou and that the decisive battle would likely take place at Xiaocheng.
• Qiu Cheng’s officers urged him to regroup, while Miao Shu proposed asking the Dragon Slaying Bureau to probe Shen Tang’s defenses in Longwu Commandery.
• Gongxi Chou welcomed news of Shen Tang’s advance, and Qiu Cheng led his forces back into Xiaocheng as the opposing sides prepared for a showdown.

Shen Tang’s forces defeated Qian Yong and captured Xiaocheng after Shen Tang fought Gongxi Chou and her hidden soldiers struck from inside the city. After settling prisoners and recruiting allies, Shen Tang prepared to join the fight against Zheng Qiao, while Qi Shan’s return brought his past into the open.

• Yu Zi’s medicine weakened Qian Yong’s troops, and Kang Shi’s forces raided their camp, burned supplies, and drove them back.
• Shen Tang challenged Gongxi Chou to a duel, and after a fierce battle she defeated him while Liao Jia rescued them from concealed arrows.
• Shen Tang revealed that 5,000 soldiers had entered Xiaocheng through a tunnel, and they helped her troops defeat Qiu Cheng’s forces and take the city.
• Gongxi Lai reunited with Gongxi Chou, while Shen Tang captured Miao Shu and ordered her execution after confronting her over the Miao Family’s crimes.
• Shen Tang arranged redemption contracts for Qiu Cheng’s prisoners and agreed to attend an alliance meeting against Zheng Qiao after spring plowing.
• Lord Yang reunited with his daughter Yang Ying, and Gongxi Chou agreed to fight for Shen Tang if she proved to be the Gongxi Clan’s Sacred Object.
• Qi Shan returned to Xiaocheng and revealed that he had faked his death and escaped, shocking Xun Ding as Shen Tang learned Qian Yong had been defeated.

After Qiu Cheng’s suicide, Shen Tang’s government developed cotton cultivation and prepared its territory for war while her forces joined the campaign against Zheng Qiao. At Xingyang Road, old divisions among the allies resurfaced, and Gu Chi confronted the loss of his family and the woman once betrothed to him.

• Qiu Cheng learned that his family had paid his ransom and, fearing his elder brother’s vengeance, killed himself, and Shen Tang arranged his funeral and sent Gongcheng to escort his family home.
• Lin Feng found Bai Die Zi seeds, and with Luan Xin’s help she cultivated cotton, and Shen Zhi awakened her plant-growing ability and joined them in improving the crop.
• Shen Tang held New Year celebrations, then punished soldiers who had brawled outside a brothel and ordered Gu Chi to expel the offenders from the army.
• Luan Xin confronted Gu Chi over Duke Wen Yan’s death, and Gu Chi admitted he had pushed him toward suicide, and Shen Tang promised to protect Gu Chi as her officials prepared for war.
• Shen Tang organized the home front, led thirty thousand troops to Xingyang Road, and proposed that Wu Xian withdraw after a defeat to pressure the Dragon Slaying Alliance into fighting Zheng Qiao.
• At the alliance meeting, Shen Tang argued with Tao Yan over the vanguard assignment and learned that her forces would take the left flank, and Gu Chi revealed Tao Yan’s role in his family’s destruction.
• Feng returned Gu Chi’s family jade pendant and told him that her sister, his former fiancée, had died during a desperate defense against Zheng Qiao’s forces, and Gu Chi told Bai Su that his blood feud remained unresolved.

Shen Tang survived intrigue within the Alliance Army and fought Jiang Ao outside Chaoli Pass while Chu Yao worked to turn Wei Shou against Zheng Qiao. After learning how the Hundred Schools might reunite her divided selves, Shen Tang resisted Zheng Qiao’s envoy and backed another attempt to force Wei Shou to rebel.

• Gu Chi suspected Tao Yan’s wife of deception, and Old Military Advisor Li’s headless corpse appeared in Bai Su’s tent after his test of Gu Chi.
• Shen Tang’s forces repelled a night raid, and Shen Tang, Wu Xian, and Gu Ren threatened withdrawal before Huang Lie secured their return.
• Chu Yao brought Rui Ji out of Chaoli Pass and arranged a forged treason letter that prompted Zheng Qiao to appoint Jiang Ao over Wei Shou.
• Shen Tang and Shao Chong fought Jiang Ao, and Shen Tang awakened in a childlike state after suffering a severe wound and took the head of Jiang Ao’s double.
• Chu Jie destroyed the powerful incarnation attacking Shen Tang, who then collapsed and slept for three days and nights.
• Shen Tang described meeting other versions of herself and learned that reviving the Hundred Schools could make her whole, but opening the Sacred Hall required enormous National Fortune.
• Zheng Qiao sent Li He to recruit Shen Tang, while Chu Yao urged the Alliance Army to wait for Zheng Qiao to recall Wei Shou.
• Shen Tang resisted Li He’s persuasion, and Chu Yao volunteered to visit Chaoli Pass with Chu Jie to help force Wei Shou to rebel.