Recaps

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.

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.