Chapter Summaries

Xu Jin inspected the neglected fire road mounds with Xie Yuan, saw that Yang Zhengshan had already addressed several of their problems, and revised his poor impression of him. The chapter ended with Xu Jin agreeing to seek grain and fodder for Yang Zhengshan, and the two officials becoming friendly over a meal.

• Xie Yuan accompanied Xu Jin to distant Dongyan Mound, where Xu Jin checked the fields and confirmed that grain seed had been planted.
• A soldier told Xu Jin that Yang Zhengshan had executed the former squad leader for selling the grain seed and that no replacement had been appointed.
• Xu Jin spent two days spot-checking fire road mounds and signal fire towers, finding old problems but learning about Yang Zhengshan’s inspections and plans.
• Xu Jin asked Yang Zhengshan whether he needed help, and Yang Zhengshan explained that he lacked grain and fodder for training troops and repairing fortresses.
• Xu Jin agreed to try to obtain supplies, and Yang Zhengshan hosted him for a meal where they grew friendly.

As Yang Zhengshan’s wedding to Yu Qingyi approached, relatives and in-laws arrived in Anyuan City, and he hosted them while preparing for the ceremony. His conversations with Lu Zhaoqi and Lu Wenyuan eased some family awkwardness, while Wang reunited with her father and learned that her parents’ household was doing well.

• Xu Jin supervised the Garrison Commander's Office, secured Yang Zhengshan one hundred dan of grain and fodder, and helped keep the office’s staff and outlying officials in line.
• Yang Zhengshan began training the first batch of five hundred soldiers at Chengguan Fortress while dividing the recruits into four monthly groups.
• With five days remaining before his wedding to Yu Qingyi, Yang Zhengshan welcomed relatives from the Yang, Wang, Li, Jiang, and Lu families and hosted them at his residence.
• Yang Zhengshan spoke with Lu Zhaoqi and Lu Wenyuan about their family, and learned that Lu Wenyuan’s father planned to delay his marriage until after the next Autumn Examination.
• Yang Mingcheng brought Old Man Wang to visit Wang and her family, and Old Man Wang told her that he had divided land between her second brother and the sisters-in-law who treated him well.

Yang Zhengshan welcomed relatives and friends arriving for his wedding, including the Li Family, the Lu Family, and representatives from Yinghe Fortress. Zhao Yuan delivered Zhou Xu’s congratulatory gift, a valuable Jade Buddha, leaving Yang Zhengshan puzzled about its meaning.

• Yang Minghao welcomed Old Man Li, Li Han, and Li Dashi and arranged their lodging while they waited for Li Dahua.
• Second Master Lu and Lu Qi arrived with a generous wedding gift, and Luo Jin sent his private secretary with another congratulatory gift.
• Yang Mingzhi arrived with Zhao Yuan and Yang Qinwu, who brought gifts and an account book showing Yinghe Fortress had earned more than two thousand taels in recent months.
• Yang Zhengshan learned from Zhao Yuan that Zhou Lan had been in a bad mood because Zhou Xu had urged her to marry after hearing Yang Zhengshan was getting married.
• Zhao Yuan gave Yang Zhengshan a wooden box from Zhou Xu, and Yang Zhengshan found a valuable Jade Buddha inside.

Yu Qingyi prepared to marry a military official in Anyuan City, while guests from across the jianghu gathered for the wedding. After stepping down as sect leader, she dressed as a bride and awaited the arrival of the wedding party.

• The Azure Sky Sword Sect hosted a crowd of jianghu guests at the residence bought as part of Yu Qingyi's dowry, while Garrison Battalion soldiers patrolled the city to prevent fights.
• Ji Hai and Ning Qingqing of Hengdao Sect arrived to offer congratulations, and Cao De and Hua Jinqiu welcomed them.
• Ning Qingqing visited Yu Qingyi in the tea hall, then insulted the women there as she left, prompting Yu Qingyi to calm her angry friends.
• Yu Qingyi saw off the guests and smiled as she thought about her wedding the next day.
• On the wedding day, Yu Qingyi's maids dressed her in red bridal clothes and lowered her veil as she waited for the wedding party.

Yang Zhengshan and Yu Qingyi completed their wedding rites and entered the bridal chamber. The chapter ended with the newlyweds sharing their first night together.

• Yang Zhengshan and Yu Qingyi bid farewell to the Azure Sky Sword Sect's elders, and Yu Qingyi tearfully thanked them for raising and teaching her.
• Yang Zhengshan led Yu Qingyi through Anyuan City in a wedding procession, then glared at Ning Qingqing after she called him a little old man.
• Yang Zhengshan and Yu Qingyi completed the wedding ceremonies at the Yang Family residence, including the bows, shared meal, nuptial cups, and binding their locks of hair together.
• Yang Zhengshan and Yu Qingyi ate and drank in the bridal chamber before embracing as husband and wife.

After their wedding, Yang Zhengshan and Yu Qingyi completed the family tea ceremony, and Yu Qingyi was formally welcomed as the Yang family's mother and mistress. Yang Zhengshan assigned her responsibility for the family's outside assets while Wang continued managing the household interior, and Yu Qingyi prepared to meet the guests and learn more about the family.

• Yang Zhengshan and Yu Qingyi dressed for the morning ceremony, with their servants attending them in the main courtyard.
• Yang Mingcheng and the other sons served Yu Qingyi tea and received martial arts techniques, while the daughters and Yang Zhengshan's disciples also paid their respects and received gifts.
• Yang Zhengshan asked Yu Qingyi whether she wanted to manage the household, then decided that she would oversee outside assets while Wang continued managing the interior.
• Yang Zhengshan gave Yu Qingyi a little over two thousand taels to buy shops and farmland, while Eldest continued managing the Horse Farm.
• Yang Zhengshan explained the Yang family's relatives and clan to Yu Qingyi, and she agreed to meet the guests with Wang.

Yang Zhengshan comforted Third Master Liang over the Jing'an Liang Family’s execution and caught up on military and family affairs after his wedding guests began to leave. As the chapter ended, Lu Wenhua prepared to move out while Yang Zhengshan promised to help the Lu Family prosper.

• Yang Zhengshan reminded Third Master Liang that the Ning Prefecture Liang Family remained and encouraged him to focus on Zhen'er and Xiu'er rather than mourn the condemned Jing'an Liang Family.
• Yang Qinwu reported that Yinghe Fortress was doing well, Tianhe Fortress had overcome its initial problems, and Liu Yuanfu was expected to return to court.
• Yang Zhengshan saw Yang Mingzhi off and noted how much he had matured while serving in Jianning Guard under Zhou Lan.
• Yang Mingcheng told Yang Zhengshan that the horse farm was finished and planned to buy foals with Ma San.
• Lu Wenhua told Yang Zhengshan he had bought a courtyard and planned to move out; Yang Zhengshan offered to help and promised to recommend him for an official post once he reached the Postnatal Realm.

Yang Zhengshan's peaceful married life with Yu Qingyi ended when capital officials arrived in Anyuan to take over the collusion case and confiscate property. After clashing with Ministry of Revenue Director Li Chunhui, Yang Zhengshan left the handover to the Secret Martial Guard, while Xu Jin also rebuffed Li.

• Yu Qingyi managed the Yang household with care, making Yang Zhengshan's married life comfortable and sweet.
• Yang Zhengshan welcomed a large delegation of capital officials arriving to conclude the Anyuan collusion case and take charge of its confiscations.
• Li Chunhui accused Yang Zhengshan of possibly tampering with the official documents, and Yang Zhengshan refused to indulge him.
• Yang Zhengshan told Ding San to handle any further business and rode back to camp with his troops.
• Li Chunhui took control of the Prefecture Magistrate Office and other properties, then Xu Jin drove him away from the Military Defense Circuit Office's front yamen.

Xu Jin defended Yang Zhengshan against Li Chunhui’s accusation that he had embezzled dirty silver, then warned Yang that Li was likely acting on someone else’s orders. Yang ordered Ding Qiu to watch the visiting officials and sent a letter to Wang Bin to investigate who might be targeting him.

• Li Chunhui accused Yang Zhengshan of embezzling dirty silver, but Xu Jin challenged him and warned him not to make an accusation without evidence.
• Xu Jin told Yang Zhengshan that Li Chunhui had tried to frame him and suspected someone had instructed Li to target him.
• Yang Zhengshan considered who might hold a grudge against him, but could not identify anyone.
• Yang Zhengshan ordered Ding Qiu to watch the visiting officials, especially Li Chunhui, and report any movement.
• Yang Zhengshan sent a letter to the Assistant Regional Commander, Wang Bin, asking for help investigating the source of the threat.

Yang Zhengshan considered the Yang Family’s finances, the fate of Yulu, and a possible promotion to Songzhou Guard Commander after learning that the vacant post was behind the attempt to target him. He chose not to pursue the promotion for now, but resolved to find the person responsible and make trouble for them.

• Yu Qingyi calculated that the Yang Family earned less than three hundred taels of silver annually apart from the horse farm, and Yang Zhengshan asked her to prepare night-travel clothes so he could inspect the underground space beneath the Prefecture Magistrate Office’s artificial hill.
• Yu Qingyi asked what Yang Zhengshan would do about Yulu, and he promised to release her if the Secret Martial Guard found no connection to Sha Pingchuan’s case.
• Wei Cen reported that Yulu had not been involved in Sha Pingchuan’s treason, so Yang Zhengshan left her fate to Yu Qingyi.
• Wang Bin sent Yang Zhengshan a letter identifying the vacant Songzhou Guard Commander post as the reason someone had targeted him.
• Yang Zhengshan decided against seeking the promotion because it would attract attention and require too many favors, but vowed to make trouble for whoever had targeted him.

Li Chunhui tried to use a shortfall in the confiscated Lin Family assets to direct suspicion toward Yang Zhengshan, but Zheng Xiao saw through his scheme. Yang Zhengshan then sought Wang Bin and Wei Cen’s help to make Tan Jingtai the Songzhou Guard Commander, and waited to learn whether Wei Cen could persuade Chongshan Pass.

• Li Chunhui claimed that more than twenty thousand taels were missing from the Lin Family’s confiscated assets and hinted that someone had hidden them.
• Zheng Xiao pointed out that the courtyard’s flowers and recent expansions could account for the shortfall, thwarting Li Chunhui’s attempt to implicate Yang Zhengshan.
• Zheng Xiao told Eunuch Yu that Li Chunhui was targeting Yang Zhengshan, then left to inspect the Military Defense Circuit Office.
• Yang Zhengshan sent three letters to counter the scheme against him, and Wang Bin agreed to help in exchange for a favor.
• Yang Zhengshan revealed that his plan was to help Tan Jingtai become Songzhou Guard Commander and hoped Wei Cen could influence Chongshan Pass.

Wei Cen used Lü Hua’s token to order the Shadow Lu Shou to help Tan Jingtai become Songzhou Guard Commander. Lu Shou persuaded Liang Chu to approve Tan Jingtai over Wang Zheng, and Tan Jingtai received a mysterious letter that left him stunned.

• Wei Cen ordered Lu Shou to help Tan Jingtai win promotion, using Lü Hua’s token to authorize the request.
• Liang Chu asked Lu Shou about Tan Jingtai after Wang Bin recommended him for Songzhou Guard Commander.
• Lu Shou praised Tan Jingtai’s experience and urged Liang Chu to reject Wang Zheng, whom the young duke of Duke Chang Mansion had recommended.
• Liang Chu approved Tan Jingtai’s promotion and ordered the paperwork sent to the Regional Military Commission.
• Tan Jingtai received an unidentified letter and was left baffled and astonished after reading it.

Tan Jingtai decided to act on Yang Zhengshan’s offer and went to the Assistant Regional Commander’s Mansion. Meanwhile, Yang Zhengshan managed the garrison’s shortages, sought help training scouts, and received an unexpected visitor identified only as Young Master Wang.

• After receiving Yang Zhengshan’s letter, Tan Jingtai resolved to compete for his grandson’s future and set out for the Assistant Regional Commander’s Mansion.
• Zhou Ren told Yang Zhengshan that the first soldiers had completed basic training and Shuiquan Fortress needed money and grain; Yang Zhengshan agreed to inspect the next training batch and told Lord Wu to continue repairs for now.
• Ding Qiu reported that his surveillance of Li Chunhui had yielded nothing, so Yang Zhengshan asked Ding San whether the Secret Martial Guard had any retired agents.
• Ding San explained that agents served only until death and offered his father, Zhu Shanghe, a former scout wounded at Heiyun Mountain, as an instructor; Yang Zhengshan promised to provide for him.
• Han Fei reported that a well-guarded Young Master Wang was seeking an audience, and Yang Zhengshan ordered him admitted.

Wang Zheng of Duke Shou Mansion tried to pressure Yang Zhengshan into yielding the Songzhou Guard Commander post, admitting he had used Li Chunhui to cause Yang trouble. Yang revealed that he had already arranged for Tan Jingtai to receive the appointment, leaving Wang regretting his needless interference and facing Yang’s confidence in Zhou Lan’s backing.

• Wang Zheng visited Yang Zhengshan and bluntly demanded that he give up the Songzhou Guard Commander position.
• Yang learned that Wang had instructed Li Chunhui to make trouble for him, while Wang claimed he had only meant to cause minor difficulties.
• Yang told Wang that he had never intended to seek the post and had planned to remain in Anyuan City for several years.
• Yang revealed that he had secured the appointment for Tan Jingtai through the Regional Military Commission, leaving Wang shocked and angry.
• Yang mocked Wang for his unnecessary interference and reminded him of Yang’s close ties to Zhou Lan.

Yang Zhengshan intimidated Wang Zheng into leaving Anyuan City, warning him against using Duke Shou Mansion’s influence in Chongshan Town. Back at home, Yang Zhengshan agreed to let Yu Qingyi keep Yulu and her attendants, and learned that Yulu was a talented Post-Heaven Martial Artist whose indenture contract still needed to be secured.

• Yang Zhengshan described his love of battle and threatened Wang Zheng with the prospect of experiencing a spear through the chest, frightening Wang Zheng and his attendants.
• Wang Zheng refused to spar with Yang Zhengshan, and Yang Zhengshan had Han Fei escort him out.
• Wang Zheng reasoned that Duke Shou Mansion could not easily interfere in Chongshan Town because Duke of Ning and Liang Chu stood above it.
• Yang Zhengshan returned home and found Yu Qingyi with Yulu and four other servants, whom Yu Qingyi wanted to keep.
• Yu Qingyi revealed that Yulu was a Post-Heaven Martial Artist under twenty, and Yang Zhengshan agreed to let her stay.
• Yu Qingyi asked Yang Zhengshan to help obtain the servants’ indenture contracts, which remained with Sha Pingchuan.

Yang Zhengshan welcomed Zheng Xiao, a student of Liu Yuanfu, and Tan Jingtai, his newly appointed superior, at the Garrison Commander's Office. Tan Jingtai promised to arrange money and grain for Yang Zhengshan before leaving with his gifts, while Yang Zhengshan postponed his visit to Chengguan Fortress until the next day.

• Yang Zhengshan agreed to buy back the slave contracts for Yulu and her companions, then also agreed to bring their families into the Yang Family and have them learn its rules.
• Yang Zhengshan sent Han Fei to Jia City, then received Zheng Xiao, who explained that Liu Yuanfu was his teacher and thanked Yang Zhengshan for looking after him.
• Zheng Xiao left Yang Zhengshan a set of brush, ink, paper, and inkstone before taking his leave.
• Tan Jingtai visited Yang Zhengshan, and the two chatted about family life and educating their grandchildren before sharing a meal and drinks.
• Tan Jingtai promised to arrange money and grain for Yang Zhengshan, then left gifts at the office; Yang Zhengshan told Zhou Ren to have Wu Hai arrange them.

After the Capital officials left Anyuan City, Yang Zhengshan secretly searched the underground space beneath the Prefecture Magistrate Office’s rockery and found a trove of valuables. He stored the goods in his Spirit Spring Space, while suspecting that Yi Shan and his associates had concealed their full connections and motives.

• The Capital officials left Anyuan City after confiscating the targeted households, and Yang Zhengshan saw them off, especially hoping to see Zheng Xiao.
• Yang Zhengshan went out at night to inspect the underground space beneath the Prefecture Magistrate Office’s rockery while the bailiffs slept.
• Yang Zhengshan found twelve chests containing gold, silver, jade, and jewels, including two thousand taels of gold and eight thousand taels of silver.
• Yang Zhengshan wondered whether Sha Pingchuan and the others had hidden their ties to Prince Qing Mansion, then decided to keep the privately cast treasure and withdraw it gradually.
• Yang Zhengshan stored the treasure in his Spirit Spring Space and discovered additional furs, medicinal herbs, silk, iron ingots, weapons, and armor in the underground storehouse.

Yang Zhengshan took the valuables from an underground storehouse but triggered an alarm and was chased by its guards. After killing four pursuers and hiding their bodies, he returned through the passage to investigate the room where they had been keeping watch.

• Yang Zhengshan found gold, silver, precious medicines, and other goods in the underground space, but left behind three hundred sets of armor and weapons before storing the rest in his Spirit Spring Space.
• Yang Zhengshan followed a passage and heard two men talking, but a bronze gong sounded when he approached their room, forcing him to flee.
• Yang Zhengshan realized the guards might identify him by his copper-coin technique and turned to kill the two men chasing him, then killed two more with a thrown spear.
• Yang Zhengshan hid the four bodies in his Spirit Spring Space and returned underground while constables gathered outside the shattered rockery.
• Yang Zhengshan reached the guards’ room and found a table and plank beds, realizing they had been unable to move the goods out of Anyuan City because of strict inspections.

Yang Zhengshan buried four mysterious martial artists he had killed and returned home safely, then resumed his domestic routine with Yu Qingyi. He also arranged for Luo Feiyu to seek a post in the Reinforcement Battalion and advised him on surviving and earning merit in war.

• Yang Zhengshan found that the four martial artists he had killed had no identifying clues, buried them in the Spirit Spring Space, and returned home to Yu Qingyi.
• Yang Zhengshan reassured Yu Qingyi, and the two spent the night together; the next morning, he trained while she slept and served her nourishing soup at breakfast.
• Yang Zhengshan learned that Luo Feiyu had completed his military training and promised to recommend him for an official post.
• Yang Zhengshan refused Luo Feiyu's request to stay in the Garrison Battalion and chose the Reinforcement Battalion as a more suitable posting.
• Yang Zhengshan wrote Luo Feiyu a letter to General Wang and advised him to study military strategy, preserve his life, and seek merit on the battlefield.

Yang Zhengshan denied any knowledge of the weapons and armor discovered beneath the Prefecture Magistrate Office and avoided further involvement in the Secret Martial Guard’s investigation. Later, Luo Feiyu took up a post in Wang Bin’s Reinforcement Battalion, and Yang Zhengshan welcomed Zhu Shanghe and his family to Anyuan City.

• Wei Cen told Yang Zhengshan that officials had found an underground space containing three hundred sets of Great Ling Dynasty armor and weapons, but Yang Zhengshan feigned surprise and denied knowing about it.
• Yang Zhengshan concluded that someone beyond the Liang Family must have been behind the arms, while Wei Cen said the Secret Martial Guard would continue investigating without Yang Zhengshan’s help.
• Wei Cen and his men left Anyuan City for Chongshan Pass to question Yi Shan, Liang Rong, and the others again.
• At the end of June, Luo Feiyu joined Wang Bin’s Reinforcement Battalion as a Vice Thousand-Man Commander and Bazong.
• Zhu Shanghe arrived in Anyuan City with Zhu Wang and Zhu Yu, and Yang Zhengshan warmly welcomed them and arranged for their stay.