Chapter Summaries

Zhu Shanghe began training the Yang Family's guards in concealment and lightness skill, and Yang Zhengshan asked to learn from him. The two became sworn brothers, and Yang Zhengshan started receiving daily guidance to improve his lightness skill.

• Zhu Shanghe began training the Yang Family's guards, drawing on the surveillance and tracking methods passed down through his family.
• Yang Zhengshan asked Zhu Shanghe to formally take him as a master and teach him lightness skill, but Zhu Shanghe declined the formal relationship because of their difference in status.
• Zhu Shanghe agreed to teach Yang Zhengshan and the guards his family's methods, and Yang Zhengshan asked him to call him by name.
• Yang Zhengshan joined the guards' training and set aside half an hour each morning for Zhu Shanghe's guidance, quickly deepening his understanding of lightness skill.
• The author said lower back pain prevented further writing that day and that updates might resume normally or be delayed.

New prefect Lin Shoude asked Yang Zhengshan to use military households to repair Anyuan City's southern road, but Yang suggested paying commoners instead. After Lin Shoude agreed to sell confiscated property, Yang arranged for the Luo Family to pursue city shops and gave Yu Qingyi silver to buy an estate, revealing that he had acquired about fifty thousand taels by robbing robbers.

• Lin Shoude arrived in Anyuan City and asked Yang Zhengshan to dispatch military households to repair the road south.
• Yang Zhengshan refused to divert military households from defense and livelihoods, then suggested hiring commoners with silver from the Prefecture Magistrate Office.
• Lin Shoude said the office could sell its shops and fields, so Yang told Jiang He to alert Luo Zhen about the coming shop sale.
• Yang asked Yu Qingyi to look for an estate among the fields to be sold and brought her a chest of silver.
• Yu Qingyi worried about the silver's source, and Yang told her he had obtained about fifty thousand taels by robbing robbers.

Over two years, Lin Shoude used the proceeds from confiscated officials’ assets to fund public works, while the Luo Family expanded its businesses and Yang Zhengshan’s plans progressed. Yang Zhengshan took Yang Qingwan to Jinxiu Workshop, where a shop assistant from Dongyan Mound recognized him as the garrison commander.

• Lin Shoude sold the criminal officials’ assets, and Luo Zhen and Yu Qingyi used the money to acquire shops and farmland for their ventures.
• Luo Zhen reported the Luo Family’s business plans to Yang Zhengshan, who asked Luo Shang to buy him an estate in Jing'an Prefecture.
• Yang Zhengshan reviewed his military and family affairs, noting that the hidden force behind the enemy-collusion case might be Prince Qing Mansion and that the Secret Martial Guard had not contacted him.
• Lin Shoude launched public works across Anyuan City, paying commoners for construction labor and helping the city’s trade grow.
• Two years later, Yang Zhengshan took six-year-old Yang Qingwan into Jinxiu Workshop, where an assistant from Dongyan Mound greeted him as the garrison commander.

Yang Zhengshan took Yang Qingwan to Jinxiu Workshop, where a young nobleman’s attendants caused a violent disturbance. He ordered the son of Jingyuan Marquis to be taken away, while Ning Qing of Qing'an Earl Mansion’s presence left the reason for their visit unclear.

• Yang Zhengshan let Yang Qingwan browse Jinxiu Workshop while he stayed upstairs and reflected on Anyuan City’s growing prosperity.
• The seventh young master of Jingyuan Marquis Mansion and his attendants wrecked goods in the shop, struck the shopkeeper, and confronted Yang Qingwan.
• Yang Zhengshan came downstairs and identified himself as Anyuan City’s Garrison Commander; Ning Qing introduced herself as a young miss of Qing'an Earl Mansion.
• The young master demanded that Yang Zhengshan help smash the workshop, but Yang Zhengshan ordered Han Fei to take him and his attendants to the construction site to move bricks.

Yang Zhengshan punished the young master of the Jing'an Marquis Mansion for wrecking a shop, then ordered Yang Qingwan to study etiquette. After learning that the Yang Family would attend Lady Changping’s birthday banquet, he inferred that Liang Chu was signaling Chongshan Town’s readiness to campaign against the Great Ling Dynasty next year.

• Yang Zhengshan had Han Fei seize the Jing'an Marquis Mansion attendants and send their young master to carry bricks as a lesson.
• Yang Zhengshan scolded Yang Qingwan for causing a public scene and ordered her to begin etiquette lessons with Nanny Li.
• Yang Zhengshan reassured Ning Qing that he would not harm her companion and that she need not worry about him.
• Back at home, Yang Zhengshan reviewed the birthday gifts for Lady Changping and told Yu Qingyi to cut the gift list in half.
• Yang Zhengshan explained that Liang Chu’s grand birthday banquet signaled his control over Chongshan Town and predicted a campaign against the Great Ling Dynasty next year.

Yang Zhengshan learned that a campaign against the East Sea Hu Tribe was likely next year and began preparing his Garrison Battalion, especially by arranging to buy warhorses. He sent Yu Qingyi and other family members to Chongshan Pass for the marchioness’s birthday banquet, while Liang remained home during her pregnancy and Yu Qingyi continued to worry about not conceiving.

• Yang Zhengshan teased Yang Yunxue about finding a husband, and Yu Qingyi promised to help choose a suitable match for her.
• Yang Mingcheng brought Yang Zhengshan a letter from Yang Mingzhi, who planned to send Li and their children back to Chongshan Pass; Yang Zhengshan told Wu Hai to arrange for their return.
• Yang Zhengshan learned that Jianning Guard was preparing for a campaign and concluded that the army would likely set out next year.
• Yang Zhengshan discussed preparations with Yang Mingcheng and arranged for the family horse farm to gather one hundred warhorses for sale to the Garrison Commander's Office by next March.
• Yang Zhengshan sent Yu Qingyi, Yang Yunyan, Yang Yunxue, and their attendants and guards out of the city for Chongshan Pass, while Wang stayed home after giving birth and Liang remained home during her pregnancy.

Yang Zhengshan saw Yu Qingyi and her party off, then Lin Shoude upheld his decision to make Su Shansi and his attendants perform hard labor. Ning Qing left for Chongshan Pass, intending to seek support from Marquis Changping Mansion for Qing'an Earl Mansion.

• Yang Zhengshan warned Yu Qingyi and Ding Qiu to stay safe on their journey, and watched their convoy depart.
• Su Shansi demanded that the bailiffs release him and summon the prefect, but Lin Shoude ordered him and his attendants to work for three months.
• Lin Shoude threatened to have Garrison Battalion soldiers punish anyone who resisted, and Su Shansi reluctantly went to work.
• Ning Qing refused to intervene for Su Shansi and left for Chongshan Pass to attend Lady Changping's birthday banquet and pursue her family's proper business.

Yu Qingyi arrived in Chongshan Pass with the Yang family and met Madam Luo Zhang and Luo Qian, learning rumors about a campaign against the Hu Bandits. She invited Luo Qian to accompany her and Yang Yunxue to the Marquis Mansion’s birthday banquet, where guests began arriving the next morning.

• Yu Qingyi arrived at the Yang family’s courtyard in Chongshan Pass and arranged lodgings for her household.
• Madam Luo Zhang and Luo Qian visited Yu Qingyi, and Madam Luo Zhang shared local information, including a rumor that troops would campaign against the Hu Bandits next year.
• Yu Qingyi gave Luo Qian jade bracelets and invited her to attend the Marquis Mansion’s birthday banquet with her and Yang Yunxue.
• The next morning, crowds of officials’ wives and nobles gathered outside the Regional Commander’s Mansion for the Marchioness’s birthday banquet.
• Lady Han and Lady Fan received guests at the mansion’s gate as servants recorded their gifts.

Yu Qingyi and the Yang family attended the Marchioness’s fiftieth-birthday celebration at the Marquis Changping Mansion. The Marchioness praised Yang Zhengshan and showed interest in Yang Yunxue, then defended her against a guest’s insult about her humble birth.

• Yu Qingyi, Yang Yunyan, Yang Yunxue, and Luo Qian waited in a long carriage line before entering the Marquis’s mansion.
• Yu Qingyi greeted Lady Liang Han and Lady Liang Fan, then followed a maid into the mansion’s garden and main hall.
• The Marchioness invited Yu Qingyi to sit and asked after Yang Zhengshan, saying the Marquis admired his military and governing abilities.
• The Marchioness recognized Yang Yunxue and praised her appearance, drawing the other guests’ attention.
• A madam from Zhengyang Earl Mansion disparaged Yang Yunxue’s humble birth, and the Marchioness rebuked her by pointing out her own family’s farming origins.

At the Marquis Changping Mansion’s birthday banquet, the Marchioness introduced Yu Qingyi to Third Young Master Liang, leaving Yu Qingyi to suspect a possible marriage proposal for Yang Yunxue. After returning to their courtyard, Yu Qingyi reunited with Li and her children, and the family gathered warmly.

• Yu Qingyi noticed Ning Qing watching her with hostility, while the Marchioness kept Yu Qingyi nearby during the banquet.
• Yu Qingyi observed the young men at the birthday banquet as potential marriage prospects for Yang Yunxue and saw Zhou Lan at the front yamen.
• The Marchioness privately introduced her sixteen-year-old third son, Liang Jinyan, to Yu Qingyi and Yang Yunxue.
• Yang Yunyan asked whether the Marchioness was interested in Yang Yunxue, but Yu Qingyi told her not to speculate before the matter was clear.
• Li arrived at the courtyard with Yang Chengmou, Yang Chengxian, and Yang Wanting, and Yu Qingyi welcomed them before the family spent time together.

Yu Qingyi prepared to return to Anyuan City with the three children while carrying a letter from Marquis Changping for Yang Zhengshan. In Anyuan City, Yang Zhengshan tended his Spirit Spring Space, shared its fruit with the household, and rode Red Cloud through the city.

• Yu Qingyi received a letter from Marquis Changping for Yang Zhengshan and chose not to open it before setting out for Anyuan City.
• Yang Zhengshan inspected the expanded Spirit Spring Space, its tea trees, medicinal herbs, fruit trees, and stored wine.
• Yang Zhengshan harvested fruit and brewed several vats of fruit wine, then sent a basket of peaches and other fruit to the household, attributing it to the Luo Family.
• Yang Zhengshan fed two peaches to Red Cloud and rode out of the Yang residence with ten personal attendants following him.
• The people of Anyuan City moved aside and greeted Yang Zhengshan respectfully as he rode through the streets.

Yang Zhengshan reflected on how much he depended on Yu Qingyi while waiting for her return, then bid farewell to Wang Sheng as he prepared to leave for Jia City. The chapter ended with Yu Qingyi arriving home and Yang Zhengshan hurrying to greet her.

• Yang Zhengshan promised Red Cloud a run at the Horse Farm and returned to the city, missing Yu Qingyi while she was away.
• Wang Sheng told Yang Zhengshan that Wang Bin had ordered him back to Jia City, though he wanted to join the campaign and earn merit.
• Yang Zhengshan advised Wang Sheng to return and raise his son before pursuing the battlefield, while Yang Mingcheng asked about joining a future campaign.
• Wang Sheng thanked Yang Zhengshan for two years of teaching, knelt to kowtow to him, and then departed for Jia City the next day.
• Wu Hai announced that Yu Qingyi had returned, and Yang Zhengshan hurried to the rear courtyard to meet her.

Yang Zhengshan welcomed Li and the children home, then learned that Marquis Changping Mansion wanted Third Young Master Liang to marry Yang Yunxue. Unsure why the marquis had chosen the Yang Family, he ordered an investigation and left the proposal unresolved.

• Yang Zhengshan reunited with Li and the children, and the family shared a warm meal together.
• Yu Qingyi told Yang Zhengshan that the Marchioness had introduced Third Young Master Liang as a possible husband for Yang Yunxue.
• Yang Zhengshan read Liang Chu's letter and decided to investigate Marquis Changping Mansion and Third Young Master Liang before considering the marriage proposal.
• Yang Zhengshan sent Wu Zheng toward the Capital with letters for Liu Yuanfu and Zhou Lan, while Ding Qiu arranged an investigation at Chongshan Pass.

Yang Zhengshan investigated Third Young Master Liang as a possible match for his daughter while worrying that the marriage might entangle the family in the imperial succession struggle. Yu Qingyi discovered she was pregnant, and Yang Zhengshan devoted himself to caring for her, leaving her reassured and happy.

• Yang Zhengshan read Zhou Lan's warning that the Capital's succession struggle might be behind Liang Chu's search for a bride within Chongshan Town.
• Ding Qiu reported that Third Young Master Liang had a good reputation and talent in both letters and martial arts, so Yang Zhengshan ordered him to investigate Liang's female companions and the Liang family's concubines.
• Yang Zhengshan reassured Yu Qingyi that he would not take concubines, and they began to flirt before Yu Qingyi suddenly ran out to retch.
• Nanny Song examined Yu Qingyi and confirmed she was pregnant, prompting Yang Zhengshan to reward the manor staff and the Yang Family to celebrate.
• Yang Zhengshan fussed over Yu Qingyi during her early pregnancy, and she felt happy that he wanted another child.

Yang Zhengshan rejected Su Bai’s demand to release and apologize for Su Shansi, then read Liu Yuanfu’s letter explaining the politics behind the proposed marriage alliance with the Marquis Changping Mansion. He decided to ask Yang Yunxue what she wanted before agreeing to the match and tasked Wu Zheng with gathering information in the Capital.

• Su Bai asked Yang Zhengshan to release Su Shansi and apologize, but Yang Zhengshan refused and had him escorted out.
• Wu Zheng returned from the Capital, and Yang Zhengshan read Liu Yuanfu’s account of the Crown Prince’s attempt to draw Marquis Changping into his faction through a marriage alliance.
• Yang Zhengshan praised Liu Yuanfu’s concern for the Yang Family and asked Wu Zheng to remain in the Capital to gather information while avoiding the Secret Martial Guard.
• Yang Zhengshan considered the proposed marriage between Yang Yunxue and Third Young Master Liang, then decided to ask Yang Yunxue for her opinion.

Yang Zhengshan and Yu Qingyi discussed Yang Yunxue’s possible marriage to the Third Young Master Liang of Marquis Changping Mansion and considered a match for Wang Yunqiao. Yang Yunxue did not dislike Liang, so Yang Zhengshan decided they should meet again before he gave Liang Chu an answer.

• Yu Qingyi told Yang Zhengshan that Marquis Changping Mansion seemed well-run and suitable for Yang Yunxue, while Yang Zhengshan agreed it was not a bad choice.
• Yu Qingyi suggested Song Hao as a possible husband for Wang Yunqiao, and Yang Zhengshan said they should first ask Wang Yunqiao what she thought.
• Yang Zhengshan called Yang Yunxue and Wang Yunqiao over and asked Yang Yunxue about the Third Young Master Liang.
• Yang Yunxue said the Third Young Master Liang seemed very weak but admitted she did not dislike him.
• Yang Zhengshan decided Yang Yunxue and the Third Young Master Liang should meet a few more times before he settled the matter with Liang Chu.

Yang Zhengshan arranged Wang Yunqiao’s marriage to Song Hao and discussed dowries for her and Yang Yunxue. After Liang Chu explained why he had chosen the Yang Family for a marriage alliance, Yang Zhengshan agreed that Yu Qingyi could take Yunxue to Chongshan Pass to meet Third Young Master Liang.

• Yang Zhengshan asked Wang Yunqiao about her marriage preferences, learned she was satisfied with Song Hao, and promised to discuss the match with Uncle Song.
• Yang Zhengshan and Yu Qingyi planned Wang Yunqiao’s dowry and decided to add a residence and estates near the capital to Yang Yunxue’s dowry.
• Yang Zhengshan sent Liang Chu a reply asking for the young couple to meet more before settling the marriage, and Liang Chu explained that he had chosen the Yang Family for its simple background and potential.
• Yang Zhengshan, concerned about Yu Qingyi’s pregnancy, hesitated over sending her to Chongshan Pass with Yunxue, but Yu Qingyi reassured him and he agreed to let them go.

Su Shanyu ordered Su Bai to stop the Yang Family’s marriage alliance with Marquis Changping Mansion by killing Yang Yunxue. Su Bai ambushed Yu Qingyi’s traveling party on the road to Chongshan Pass, where Wu Zhan noticed the danger just before arrows struck the carriage.

• Su Shanyu learned that Marquis Changping Mansion planned to form a marriage alliance with the Yang Family and ordered Su Bai to kill Yang Yunxue.
• Yang Zhengshan sent Yu Qingyi and Yang Yunxue toward Chongshan Pass despite warning them that wind and snow were coming.
• Su Bai and more than ten Jingyuan Marquis Mansion fighters hid beside the road and waited for the Yang Family’s party.
• Wu Zhan noticed disturbed snow in the woods, stopped the convoy, and warned the guards that trouble might be ahead.
• Yu Qingyi woke and looked toward the hillside, then caught one of the sleeve arrows as attackers began firing at the carriage.

Yu Qingyi’s party was ambushed on the road, but she and the Yang Family guards defeated the attackers and killed their leader, Su Bai. After learning of the attack, Yang Zhengshan rode out to investigate and recognized Su Bai’s corpse, linking the ambush to Jingyuan Marquis Mansion.

• Yu Qingyi protected Yang Yunxue from an arrow and fought off Su Bai and two other attackers, killing several assailants and forcing the rest into defeat.
• Yu Qingyi killed Su Bai as he tried to flee, then returned to the carriage and reassured Yang Yunxue and Wang Yunqiao.
• Wu Zhan reported that the attackers were deathsworn and had poisoned themselves after being captured, so Yu Qingyi continued toward Chongshan Pass and sent two guards back to report.
• After hearing of the ambush, Yang Zhengshan rode through the night with twenty attendants to inspect the scene.
• Yang Zhengshan examined the corpses and recognized Su Bai, identifying Jingyuan Marquis Mansion as the likely force behind the attack.

After learning that Yu Qingyi and Yang Yunxue had survived an ambush, Yang Zhengshan arrived at Chongshan Pass and began seeking the Jingyuan Marquis Mansion’s agents and the family traitor who had leaked their route. Liang Chu chose not to intervene, while Yu Qingyi visited Marquis Changping Mansion and Yang Yunxue was left alone with Third Young Master Liang in the flower house.

• Yang Zhengshan reunited with Yu Qingyi, Yang Yunxue, and Wang Yunqiao, then ordered Wu Zhan to tell Ding Qiu that the ambushers came from Jingyuan Marquis Mansion and to have Third Brother find the family traitor.
• Su Shanyu grew worried when Su Bai failed to return and sent an attendant to search for him and his men.
• Liang Chu learned that Yang Zhengshan had arrived, decided not to stop him, and ordered his people to withdraw from both the Yang Family and Su Shanyu’s side.
• Yu Qingyi visited Marquis Changping Mansion, where the Marchioness and Lady Han welcomed her and Yang Yunxue met Third Young Master Liang again.
• Third Young Master Liang took Yang Yunxue to the flower house and asked what flowers she liked, while she privately wished she could whip the blossoms off their stems.