Recaps

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.

Yang Yunxue challenged Liang Jinyan to a martial arts match at the Marquis Mansion and defeated him with a single spear strike. She then accepted Liang Chu's invitation to spar, showing off the Yang Family Spear Technique as their fight began.

• Yang Yunxue admired the peonies but declined Liang Jinyan's offer to give her one, then told him he was too weak.
• Yang Yunxue challenged Liang Jinyan to a match and led him to the Martial Arts Training Ground, where the Marchioness, Lady Han, and Yu Qingyi watched.
• Yang Yunxue disarmed Liang Jinyan with one spear strike, revealing that she had reached the Strength Refining level.
• Liang Chu praised Yang Yunxue's skill, scolded Liang Jinyan, and invited her to spar with him.
• Yang Yunxue eagerly fought Liang Chu, using the Yang Family Spear Technique as she dodged and counterattacked.

Yang Yunxue impressed the Marquis Mansion with her martial skill, while Su Shanyu learned his assassination attempt had failed and prepared to leave Chongshan Town. Yang Zhengshan followed him to a post station and began a covert approach, intending to kill him.

• Yang Yunxue sparred with Liang Chu, impressing him, the Marchioness, and Lady Han, while Liang Jinyan worried about marrying someone stronger than himself.
• Su Shanyu learned Su Bai and his men had been killed, then ordered his attendants to return to the capital and collect Su Shansi from Anyuan City.
• Ding Qiu told Yang Zhengshan that Su Shanyu was staying at Guangju Pavilion, and Yang Zhengshan ordered him to watch for Su Shanyu leaving town.
• Su Shanyu rode out of Chongshan Town with more than twenty attendants, and Yang Zhengshan followed alone on Red Cloud.
• Liang Chu learned Yang Zhengshan had left alone and ordered his people to act as if they had not seen him.
• Yang Zhengshan followed Su Shanyu to Panshan Post Station, left Red Cloud outside, concealed his identity, and crept into the courtyard at night.

Yang Zhengshan assassinated Su Shanyu at Panshan Post Station and returned safely to Chongshan Pass. He warned his family to beware of Jingyuan Marquis Mansion’s retaliation, then learned Yang Yunxue was willing to leave her marriage to Liang Jinyan to her parents.

• Yang Zhengshan broke into Su Shanyu’s room, killed one attendant with a thrown short sword, and snapped Su Shanyu’s neck before escaping.
• Yang Zhengshan rode back to Chongshan Pass before dawn and entered the city after the gates opened.
• Yang Zhengshan and Yu Qingyi discussed possible retaliation by Jingyuan Marquis Mansion, and Yang Zhengshan sent Zhou Lan a warning about his family’s safety.
• Yu Qingyi told Yang Zhengshan that Yang Yunxue’s only concern about Liang Jinyan was his weak martial strength.
• Yang Yunxue agreed to leave the decision about marrying Liang Jinyan to Yang Zhengshan and Yu Qingyi.

After Su Shanyu's murder, Liang Chu and Zhou Lan judged that the Crown Prince would not intervene, while Yang Zhengshan returned to Anyuan City and gathered resources for the coming campaign. The chapter ended with Yang Zhengshan punishing a stableman who had leaked information about his family.

• Liang Chu decided to send men to check the murder case, intending to help Yang Zhengshan cover any loose ends rather than investigate against him.
• Zhou Lan reassured Yang Mingzhi that the Crown Prince would not risk provoking Emperor Chengping over Su Shanyu.
• Yang Zhengshan asked Wang Bin for warhorses and silver, securing 150 horses and 3,000 taels, then received 500 dan of grain and fodder from Tan Jingtai.
• Yang Minghao and Yang Mingcheng told Yang Zhengshan that a stableman had taken 100 taels to leak news of his family.
• Yang Zhengshan ordered the stableman disposed of and his family sold, and Yang Minghao carried out the orders.

Yang Zhengshan prepared Anyuan City's defenses while Yuan Qing, a trusted subordinate of Marquis Jingyuan, investigated Su Shanyu's murder and confronted him. After Yuan Qing drew his saber on Yang Zhengshan, Yang Zhengshan kicked him out of the study and ordered his guards to surround the Imperial Guards, leaving the confrontation poised to escalate.

• Yang Zhengshan strengthened the Garrison Battalion and arranged for troops from the outer tun fortresses to learn Anyuan City's defenses while Xie Yuan familiarized himself with the office's affairs.
• Yuan Qing examined the scene of Su Shanyu's murder at Panshan Post Station, questioned an attendant, and went to Anyuan City to investigate Yang Zhengshan.
• Yuan Qing challenged Yang Zhengshan about Su Shanyu's death, and Yang Zhengshan criticized the Jingyuan Marquis Mansion and its unauthorized mobilization of Fenwu Battalion soldiers.
• Yuan Qing drew his saber and stopped it above Yang Zhengshan's head, but Yang Zhengshan pushed it aside and denounced him for threatening a frontier official.
• Yang Zhengshan kicked Yuan Qing through a window and ordered his guards to seize the Imperial Guards, surrounding Yuan Qing's men with soldiers.

Yang Zhengshan turned Yuan Qing’s armed attack in the Garrison Commander’s Office into a case against the Jingyuan Marquis Mansion and sought support to bring it before the court. Zheng Xiao’s impeachment memorial reached Emperor Chengping, who recognized Yang Zhengshan’s name from an earlier case.

• Yang Zhengshan had Yuan Qing and his men arrested, reported the incident to General Wang Bin, and sent a letter to Liu Yuanfu asking him to impeach the Jingyuan Marquis.
• Xu Jin heard Yang Zhengshan’s account and declared that he would impeach the Marquis of Jingyuan, then accused Yang Zhengshan of manipulating him.
• Liu Yuanfu inferred that Yang Zhengshan had killed the Jingyuan Marquis’s second son and ordered a memorial drafted for his student Zheng Xiao to submit.
• After early court, Emperor Chengping read Zheng Xiao’s impeachment memorial and asked Eunuch Chen where he had heard of Yang Zhengshan.
• Eunuch Chen reminded Emperor Chengping that Yang Zhengshan had helped resolve the Songzhou Guard treason case more than two years earlier.

Emperor Chengping punished Marquis Jingyuan for secretly sending Imperial Guard troops out of the capital and rewarded Marquis Changping, while reprimanding the Crown Prince for trying to arrange a marriage alliance. In Anyuan City, Yang Zhengshan welcomed Liang Hui and Liang Jinyan, whose visit advanced the marriage discussions with Yang Yunxue.

• Emperor Chengping summoned the Crown Prince and condemned him for arranging a marriage alliance between the Marquis Changping Mansion and Qing'an Earl Mansion.
• Emperor Chengping ordered the Crown Prince confined for one month and demoted Marquis Jingyuan by one rank, fined him three years' salary, and removed him from command of Fenwu Battalion.
• Emperor Chengping rewarded Marquis Changping with one thousand taels of silver and hereditary favor for one son as an Imperial Guard Thousand-Man Commander.
• Yang Zhengshan waited in Anyuan City for news about the memorial against Marquis Jingyuan and focused on Yang Yunxue's marriage.
• Yang Zhengshan welcomed Liang Hui and Liang Jinyan to the city, and Liang Hui showed his approval of the marriage as he spoke warmly with Yang Zhengshan.

Yang Zhengshan set firm conditions for Liang Jinyan’s marriage to Yang Yunxue, then learned that the Jingyuan Marquis had been punished by the emperor. As the marriage arrangements advanced, Marquis Changping Mansion sent the Yang Family a rare innate cultivation method, which Yang Zhengshan and Yu Qingyi decided to study together.

• Yang Zhengshan required Liang Jinyan to take no concubine before thirty and never repudiate Yang Yunxue, demonstrating his strength to make the conditions clear.
• Liang Hui and Liang Jinyan stayed in Anyuan City for three days, and Liang Jinyan and Yang Yunxue grew more comfortable with each other before the visitors departed.
• Yang Zhengshan received word that the Jingyuan Marquis had been fined, dismissed, and demoted, while the Crown Prince had been confined to his residence.
• The Yang Family and Marquis Changping Mansion completed the marriage rites, and the marquis mansion sent more than a hundred carts of betrothal gifts, including the Yi Wood Everlasting Technique.
• Yang Zhengshan and Yu Qingyi decided to keep the innate cultivation method and began studying it together.

Yang Zhengshan and Yu Qingyi studied the Yi Wood Everlasting Technique and began planning to open their meridians, while their family prepared for the coming year. At a New Year gathering, Wang Bin confirmed that a campaign was expected next year and discussed Songzhou Guard’s role in supplying his forces.

• Yang Zhengshan and Yu Qingyi learned that the Yi Wood Everlasting Technique could restore youth, and they resolved to work toward opening their meridians.
• Liang Hui and Lady Han brought Liang Jinyan to Anyuan City, where the families set Yang Yunxue and Liang Jinyan’s wedding for the eighth day of the tenth month next year.
• Yang Mingcheng, Jiang He, and Yang Yunyan returned to Anning County with New Year gifts, while Yang Mingzhi visited Jianning Guard and Yang Zhengshan delivered gifts to his superiors and the Marquis Mansion.
• Yang Zhengshan visited Wang Bin, and the two invited Tan Jingtai to join them for a New Year meal.
• Tan Jingtai asked whether the army would campaign next year, and Wang Bin confirmed it was expected, assigning Tan Jingtai responsibility for preparing Songzhou Guard’s logistical support.

Yang Zhengshan welcomed relatives and clan members during the New Year, reflecting on the Yang Clan’s growing influence and celebrating several family milestones. After the Spring Festival, Chongshan Town began preparing for a major campaign against the Great Ling Dynasty, whose goal was to destroy the East Sea Hu Tribe’s power at its roots.

• Yang Zhengshan read letters from Yang Mingwu and Yang Chengze, and Yu Qingyi praised the rising younger generation of the Yang Clan.
• Yang Minghui visited as the Yang Clan’s new leader, and Yang Zhengshan sent medicinal wine for Yang Zhengxiang; Lu Qi also visited and promised to deliver a jar to Second Master Lu.
• Yang Zhengshan’s family celebrated Wang’s new daughter, Liang’s pregnancy, Yu Qingyi’s pregnancy, Yang Yunxue’s settled marriage, and Li’s return for the New Year.
• After the Spring Festival, Chongshan Town’s forces began mobilizing for a campaign against the Great Ling Dynasty.
• The Governor’s Office and Regional Commander’s Mansion summoned assistant regional commanders to Chongshan Pass to discuss the expedition, which aimed to destroy the East Sea Hu Tribe’s major tribes as well as take Fushan City.

Wang Bin gathered the officials under his command and ordered them to prepare to march at any time. Yang Zhengshan revealed Anyuan City's unusually well-equipped garrison, impressing Wang Bin as the preparations for an expedition began.

• Yang Zhengshan joined the officials at Wang Bin's shogunate and spoke with Tan Jingtai and Nian Luyao.
• Wang Bin ordered everyone to be ready to march and warned that anyone who slackened would face military law.
• The garrison commanders reported their troops and supplies, but most said they could spare only five or six hundred men.
• Wang Bin asked Yang Zhengshan about Anyuan City's garrison, and Yang reported 1,112 battle-ready soldiers, including 300 leather-armored cavalry and 200 iron-armored infantry.
• Wang Bin approved of Anyuan City's strength and assigned preparations and supply arrangements while keeping the expedition plan undisclosed.

Yang Zhengshan balanced campaign preparations with spring plowing while arranging Wang Yunqiao’s marriage to Song Hao. The military order for the campaign arrived with an unexpected plan that delighted him.

• Yang Zhengshan inspected the Garrison Battalion’s training and discussed Wang Yunqiao’s marriage with Song Dashan, who failed to understand his meaning.
• Song Li realized Yang Zhengshan intended Wang Yunqiao to marry Song Hao and brought Song Hao to meet Yu Qingyi; the families quickly agreed to the match, with the wedding to wait until Wang Yunqiao turned sixteen.
• Cavalry from Jia City delivered the military order for Chongshan Town’s campaign against the East Sea Hu Tribe to Yang Zhengshan.
• Yang Zhengshan read the campaign plan drawn up by Lu Chongde and Liang Chu and reacted with excitement at its unexpected approach.

Yang Zhengshan received orders to lead the Anyuan City Garrison Battalion on an expedition against the East Sea Hu Tribe and arranged for the city and military farmland to be managed in his absence. After saying goodbye to Yu Qingyi and naming their unborn son Yang Mingzhao, he marched north with his troops, hoping to win merit and seize spoils.

• Yang Zhengshan summoned his officers and assigned Xie Yuan to oversee the Garrison Commander's Office, Yang Minghao to defend Anyuan City, and Wu Chongzhe to manage military farmland and spring plowing.
• Yang Zhengshan gave the soldiers a day to visit their families and comforted the anxious Yu Qingyi, promising to return safely from the campaign.
• Yang Zhengshan and Yu Qingyi chose Yang Yunmeng for a daughter and Yang Mingzhao for a son.
• On April twelfth, Yang Zhengshan led more than a thousand soldiers and over a hundred carts out of Anyuan City after receiving farewells from Xu Jin and Lin Shoude.
• Yang Zhengshan's column marched north with supplies and carts prepared for camp defenses and for carrying captured spoils.

Yang Zhengshan chose the Songyuan River and its branches as the likeliest place to find East Sea Hu Tribe settlements, then sent Yang Mingzhen to scout the area. Yang Mingzhen found Hu cavalry and evidence of a nearby settlement, but enemy sentries spotted his party and forced them to retreat.

• Wang Bin learned that the garrison battalions had left the border and ordered scouts to go out first.
• Yang Zhengshan ruled out the coast, Heiyun Mountain, the area around Fushan City, and the distant west, then chose the Songyuan River region for scouting.
• Yang Mingzhen led several dozen riders to search the upper Songyuan River while Yang Zhengshan marched north with the remaining soldiers.
• The Great Ling capital warned the tribes of the approaching war, and Hu tribes began hiding and searching for garrison battalions.
• Yang Mingzhen found over ten Hu cavalry resting near the river and concluded that a Hu Tribe settlement was nearby.
• Hu sentries spotted Yang Mingzhen's small party, so he retreated rather than risk a fight against the larger force.

Yang Zhengshan’s Garrison Battalion discovered Hu cavalry while searching beyond the border, and the Tumege chief Zhayan led more than a thousand riders to attack them. The chapter ended with Yang Zhengshan’s cavalry formed on a hill and his infantry prepared to defend the camp as the Tumege force arrived.

• Yang Mingzhen found traces of Hu cavalry near the Songyuan River and set out with over a hundred riders to investigate.
• Zhayan learned that Rong troops were nearby and led more than a thousand Tumege cavalry southeast to seize what he believed were easy spoils.
• Yang Mingzhen encountered Hu cavalry, then fled when a much larger force appeared and reported the threat to Yang Zhengshan.
• Yang Zhengshan ordered his cavalry out and his infantry to defend the camp, and the Garrison Battalion quickly formed an orderly battle line.
• Zhayan’s cavalry reached the western hill as Yang Zhengshan watched from the eastern hill with his cavalry assembled.