Chapter Summaries

Key Plot Points and Events

• The harvest season arrives, and the fields are abundant with millet.
• Yue Qiu and Verdant Green Maiden discuss the need for diversified income and skills.
• The next day, they harvest the millet, which brings Old Li to tears, grateful for their help.
• Yue Qiu decides to stay longer to care for Old Li, and they plan to sell extra millet for profit.
• Old Li, despite his age and injuries, insists on helping with chores, showing his independence.
• Verdant Green Maiden and Yue Qiu realize they don't know Old Li's birthday and decide to celebrate it.

Character Developments

• Yue Qiu continues to show responsibility and care for Old Li, deciding to stay longer to support him.
• Verdant Green Maiden demonstrates her concern and respect for Old Li's independence and well-being.
• Old Li shows his gratitude, emotional depth, and determination to maintain his independence despite his age and health issues.

Significant Themes

• Responsibility and Care: Yue Qiu and Verdant Green Maiden show their commitment to caring for Old Li, highlighting the importance of responsibility and compassion.
• Independence and Dignity: Old Li's insistence on helping with chores and maintaining his independence underscores the theme of dignity and self-respect in old age.
• Family and Belonging: The characters' growing bond and shared history emphasize the importance of found family and belonging.

Character Interactions

• Yue Qiu and Verdant Green Maiden work together to support Old Li, showing mutual respect and understanding.
• Verdant Green Maiden and Yue Qiu share a moment of realization about not knowing Old Li's birthday, leading to a decision to celebrate it.
• Old Li interacts with Yue Qiu and Verdant Green Maiden, expressing his gratitude and determination to maintain his independence.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Old Li, a humble farmer, is embarrassed when Yue Qiu and Verdant Green Maiden suggest celebrating his birthday, as he doesn't remember the date.
• Yue Qiu and Verdant Green Maiden decide to celebrate Old Li's birthday using the day their fields had their first harvest three years ago.
• A grand birthday celebration is held for Old Li, attended by nearby villagers. Old Li is deeply moved by the event.

Character Developments

• Old Li: He is shown to be humble, embarrassed about celebrating his birthday, and has a difficult past. The birthday celebration helps him reconnect with his community and find joy again.
• Verdant Green Maiden: She takes the initiative to organize Old Li's birthday celebration, demonstrating her kindness, thoughtfulness, and leadership.
• Yue Qiu: He supports Verdant Green Maiden's idea to celebrate Old Li's birthday and helps with the preparations, showing his willingness to contribute to the community.

Significant Themes

• Community and Belonging: The villagers come together to celebrate Old Li's birthday, highlighting the importance of community and belonging in their lives.
• Aging and Loneliness: Old Li's emotional reaction to the celebration underscores the theme of aging and loneliness, and how community can help alleviate these feelings.
• Memory and Identity: Old Li's inability to remember his birthday raises questions about memory and personal identity.

Character Interactions

• Old Li and Verdant Green Maiden: Their interaction shows Verdant Green Maiden's caring nature and Old Li's vulnerability and need for connection.
• Old Li and Yue Qiu: Their interaction demonstrates Yue Qiu's willingness to support and participate in community events.
• Villagers: The villagers' interactions with each other show their closeness, shared history, and willingness to celebrate together.

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Key Plot Points and Events

• Yue Qiu's wedding with Liu Cailian is successfully arranged, and the ceremony is held in Lantian County.
• Verdant Green Maiden acts as the wedding witness and blesses the couple with peace and joy.
• Yue Qiu and Liu Cailian visit two temples to pray for peace and prosperity.
• Verdant Green Maiden reveals that she knew Liu Cailian's ancestors, hinting at her ancient past.

Character Developments

• Yue Qiu: Realizes his feelings for Liu Cailian and decides to be a better husband, acknowledging his unworthiness but committing to share her burdens.
• Verdant Green Maiden: Shows her caring and nurturing side, ensuring the wedding goes smoothly and providing guidance to Yue Qiu and Liu Cailian.
• Liu Cailian: Gains confidence in her marriage to Yue Qiu and expresses her willingness to share his burdens.

Significant Themes

• Marriage and Family: The chapter focuses on the wedding ceremony, highlighting the importance of marriage and family in Chinese culture.
• Respect and Love: Yue Qiu struggles with feeling unworthy of Liu Cailian, but ultimately decides to respect and love her as his wife.
• Ancient Past and Present: Verdant Green Maiden's revelation about knowing Liu Cailian's ancestors hints at her long history and the connection between past and present.

Character Interactions

• Yue Qiu and Liu Cailian: They express their commitment to each other, with Yue Qiu acknowledging his feelings and Liu Cailian reciprocating.
• Verdant Green Maiden and Yue Qiu: Verdant Green Maiden guides Yue Qiu, offering advice and ensuring the wedding goes well.
• Verdant Green Maiden and Old Li: They work together to arrange the wedding, with Old Li showing curiosity about Verdant Green Maiden's past.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Verdant Green Maiden decides to leave Lantian for about a year.
• She reassures Yue Qiu and Old Li that she will return and take care of the household affairs.
• Verdant Green Maiden visits the former sites of Emperor Gao and Emperor Zhaowu's temples in Chang'an, now replaced by houses.
• She burns incense at Liu Bang's and Liu Bei's tombs in Xianyang Plain, updating them about their descendants' survival.
• Verdant Green Maiden visits Zhuge Liang's tomb and spends the night talking to him.

Character Developments

• Verdant Green Maiden demonstrates her independence and capability by embarking on a journey alone.
• Yue Qiu shows growth in managing the household affairs and expresses concern for Verdant Green Maiden's well-being.
• Liu Cailian, though new to the family, displays respect for tradition and proper conduct.

Significant Themes

• The passage of time and the impermanence of human achievements, as seen in the destruction of the Han temples and the spread of Liu Bei's descendants.
• The importance of family and lineage, emphasized by Verdant Green Maiden's updates to Liu Bang and Liu Bei about their descendants.

Character Interactions

• Verdant Green Maiden interacts with Yue Qiu and Old Li, reassuring them of her return and entrusting them with household responsibilities.
• Verdant Green Maiden has one-sided conversations with Liu Bang, Liu Bei, and Zhuge Liang, updating them about their descendants and expressing her thoughts.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Verdant Green Maiden visits Liu Shan's Jian Mausoleum in Jiangnan, offering flowers and expressing her understanding of Liu Shan's actions.
• She encounters locals who criticize Liu Shan for moving the capital to Jiangnan, leading to Verdant Green Maiden's introspection.
• Verdant Green Maiden visits the Han Residence in Jinling, where she is recognized and greeted enthusiastically by the servants.

Character Developments

• Verdant Green Maiden: She reflects on Liu Shan's actions and shows empathy for him, indicating her growth in understanding and compassion. She also displays a sense of nostalgia and uncertainty when visiting the Han Residence.
• Liu Shan: His reputation is still criticized by the locals, but Verdant Green Maiden defends him, showing a change in her perspective since their last meeting.

Significant Themes

• The legacy of Liu Shan and the Han Dynasty: The locals' criticism and Verdant Green Maiden's defense highlight the enduring impact of Liu Shan's decisions and the Han Dynasty's fall.
• Nostalgia and change: Verdant Green Maiden's visit to the Han Residence underscores the passage of time and the changes that have occurred since her last visit.

Character Interactions

• Verdant Green Maiden and the locals at Liu Shan's mausoleum: Their conversation reveals the enduring criticism of Liu Shan's actions and Verdant Green Maiden's defense of him.
• Verdant Green Maiden and the Han Residence servants: Their enthusiastic greeting suggests that Verdant Green Maiden's presence holds significant meaning for them, hinting at a shared history or connection.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Han Kang, the head of the Han Family, seeks Verdant Green Maiden's help to save his mother, who is unconscious and near death.
• Verdant Green Maiden agrees to see the Old Woman of the Han Family but questions Han Kang's true intentions.
• It's revealed that Han Kang's grandson is also unconscious, and the family feared Verdant Green Maiden would not save him, so they used the Old Woman's name to beg for medicine.
• Verdant Green Maiden stimulates the Old Woman to wake up briefly before she passes away, fulfilling her wish to see her old friend through her final journey.

Character Developments

• Verdant Green Maiden: Shows compassion and willingness to help her old friend, but also disdain for those who try to deceive her. She possesses advanced medical skills and understands the true nature of the Han Family's request.
• Han Kang: Initially desperate and deceitful, he eventually reveals the truth about his grandson's condition. He is willing to do anything to save his family, including offering wealth and building a temple.
• The Old Woman of the Han Family: Near death and unconscious, she is Verdant Green Maiden's old friend. She wakes up briefly to see Verdant Green Maiden before passing away.

Significant Themes

• Deception vs. Honesty: Han Kang's initial deception contrasts with Verdant Green Maiden's honesty, highlighting the consequences of dishonesty.
• Compassion and Empathy: Verdant Green Maiden's willingness to help her old friend, despite the Han Family's deception, shows her compassion and empathy.
• The Inevitability of Death: The Old Woman's impending death serves as a reminder of the inevitability of death and the importance of seeing loved ones through their final journey.

Character Interactions

• Verdant Green Maiden and Han Kang: Their interaction is tense and revealing, as Verdant Green Maiden uncovers Han Kang's true intentions and rebukes him for his deception.
• Verdant Green Maiden and the Old Woman: Their brief reunion is emotional and poignant, as Verdant Green Maiden fulfills her wish to see her old friend through her final journey.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Qing Nü refuses to save Old Woman Han due to Han Kang's deception, leaving a note with He Qiong's information.
• Qing Nü decides to travel north and joins a merchant caravan led by Ye Sanqi.
• Qing Nü arrives at the caravan, finding the members worried and reluctant to leave.

Character Developments

• Qing Nü: Stands firm in her principles, refusing to save Old Woman Han due to Han Kang's deception. She shows compassion by leaving He Qiong's information but lets fate decide their fortune.
• Han Kang: Realizes his mistake in deceiving Qing Nü and regrets not being honest.

Significant Themes

• Honesty and Deception: Qing Nü's refusal to save Old Woman Han serves as a consequence for Han Kang's deception, highlighting the importance of honesty.
• Fate and Destiny: Qing Nü believes in letting fate decide the outcome, showing a sense of fatalism.

Character Interactions

• Qing Nü and Han Kang: Qing Nü's refusal to save Old Woman Han leads to a tense interaction with Han Kang, who regrets his actions.
• Qing Nü and Ye Sanqi: Qing Nü meets Ye Sanqi, the leader of the merchant caravan, and they agree to travel north together.

Key events

• Verdant Green Maiden learns that Ye Sanqi was arrested after his horse accidentally trampled a few empty patches of a wealthy family’s field. Although he offered compensation, the household used its influence with the authorities to imprison him.
• Feeling responsible, she refuses to leave with another caravan and sets out to find him.
• She confronts Han Sui, Sheng Prefecture’s newly appointed prefect, at his residence. Recognizing her as the formidable Marquis of Chang’an, Han realizes she could have killed him but has come to negotiate.
• Verdant Green Maiden demands Ye’s immediate release. Han explains that simply freeing him may provoke the powerful clan and suggests using the incident to challenge the local elite’s influence and restore order.
• She agrees to consider helping, but asks what she will gain in return.

Character developments and interactions

• Verdant Green Maiden takes responsibility for Ye’s predicament and shows loyalty by staying with the caravan rather than continuing north. Though intimidating, she initially seeks a lawful solution to protect Ye’s future livelihood.
• Han Sui proves cautious but capable: he recognizes her, treats her respectfully, and sees the arrest as an opportunity to rein in the powerful families. His nervousness around her—and his reluctance to speak disrespectfully of the emperor—adds a note of humor.
• Their meeting shifts from a tense confrontation to a tentative negotiation, with Han seeking the Marquis’s help and her demanding a reason to get involved.

Significant themes

• Power and injustice: A wealthy household can manipulate local authorities to punish someone over minor damage.
• Law versus influence: Han invokes the Great Song Code, but the deeper problem is the powerful clan’s ability to bend the system.
• Responsibility and loyalty: Verdant Green Maiden feels accountable for Ye’s situation and refuses to abandon him.
• Authority and fear: Han’s deference reflects both her reputation and the political caution surrounding the emperor.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Han Sui, the new prefectural governor, seeks Verdant Green Maiden's help to control the powerful Great Families of Sheng Prefecture.
• Verdant Green Maiden agrees to help after Han Sui promises to treat her to a meal.
• Han Sui invites the prominent households of Jinling City to a meeting at the prefectural governor's residence.
• Verdant Green Maiden visits Ye Sanqi in prison and arranges for Han Sui to meet him.
• Han Sui offers to bear Ye Sanqi's expenses and facilitate his trade in exchange for his cooperation as a witness against the Great Families.
• Verdant Green Maiden reveals her identity as the Marquis of Chang'an to Ye Sanqi, causing Han Sui to panic and apologize.
• Verdant Green Maiden warns Han Sui against playing tricks and demonstrates her power by cracking a brick wall with a pebble.
• The Great Families of Jinling City attend Han Sui's meeting, wary of the court's displeasure.

Character Developments

• Han Sui: Shows political acumen by seeking Verdant Green Maiden's help and inviting the Great Families to a meeting. He demonstrates respect for Verdant Green Maiden's power and apologizes when he reveals her identity.
• Verdant Green Maiden: Reveals her identity as the Marquis of Chang'an, showing her influence and power. She warns Han Sui against underestimating her and demonstrates her martial prowess.
• Ye Sanqi: Initially hesitant to cooperate with Han Sui, he agrees after learning about the benefits and the Marquis of Chang'an's involvement.

Significant Themes

• Power dynamics between the court and the Great Families.
• The influence and respect commanded by the Marquis of Chang'an.
• The use of force and manipulation in political maneuvering.

Character Interactions

• Han Sui and Verdant Green Maiden: Han Sui seeks Verdant Green Maiden's help, and she agrees on the condition of a meal. Their interaction shows Han Sui's respect for her power and her warning against underestimating her.
• Verdant Green Maiden and Ye Sanqi: Verdant Green Maiden visits Ye Sanqi in prison and arranges for Han Sui to meet him. She reveals her identity as the Marquis of Chang'an, influencing Ye Sanqi's decision to cooperate.
• Han Sui and the Great Families: Han Sui invites the Great Families to a meeting, showing his intention to control them. The Great Families attend warily, aware of the court's displeasure.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Verdant Green Maiden (Imperial Tutor) arrives at the prefectural governor's residence, causing curiosity among the attendees.
• Han Sui, the governor, treats her with deference, hinting at her high status.
• Han Sui reveals that a household among the attendees has imprisoned someone without going through proper channels, violating the Great Song Code.
• Verdant Green Maiden arrives and accuses the Great Families of Sheng Prefecture of missing the days of Southern Tang and not accepting Great Song's rule.
• Han Sui reveals that Verdant Green Maiden is the Marquis of Chang'an, personally enfeoffed by the Great Ancestor, shocking the attendees.

Character Developments

• Verdant Green Maiden: Establishes her authority and intimidates the Great Families with her status as a marquis.
• Han Sui: Shows deference to Verdant Green Maiden, indicating his loyalty and support for her.
• Han Kang: Realizes Verdant Green Maiden's high status and becomes uneasy, possibly due to guilt or fear.

Significant Themes

• Power dynamics and the use of status to intimidate and control.
• Loyalty and resistance to the central authority (Great Song).
• The tension between the old (Southern Tang) and the new (Great Song) regimes.

Character Interactions

• Han Sui and Verdant Green Maiden: They work together to intimidate the Great Families, with Han Sui showing deference to her and supporting her actions.
• Verdant Green Maiden and the Great Families: She confronts them, accusing them of disloyalty and disregarding the Great Song Code.
• Han Kang and Verdant Green Maiden: Han Kang seems to recognize her, possibly due to guilt or fear, but their interaction is minimal in this chapter.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Han Sui, the new Prefect of Sheng Prefecture, convenes a meeting with the heads of the Great Families to discuss landholding registration and taxation.
• Han Sui presents draft regulations for governing Sheng Prefecture, including land registration, taxation based on fertility, and back taxes for the recently pacified Jiangnan region.
• Han Sui threatens to investigate the Great Families' compliance with the Great Song Code, implying he might uncover illegal activities by their younger family members.
• Han Sui invites the Great Families to stay at his prefectural residence, effectively placing them under house arrest to ensure cooperation in the land survey.

Character Developments

• Han Sui demonstrates his political acumen and ruthlessness in dealing with the Great Families, using threats and manipulation to secure their cooperation.
• Verdant Green Maiden, the Marquis of Chang'an, shows support for Han Sui's actions and acknowledges his methods, indicating her trust in him.
• Han Kang, head of the Han Family, is revealed to have romantic feelings for Verdant Green Maiden, which could potentially be exploited by Han Sui.

Significant Themes

• Power dynamics and manipulation: Han Sui uses his authority and knowledge of the Great Families' potential misdeeds to control them and achieve his goals.
• The burden of history: The Great Families' past actions and transgressions are used as leverage against them, highlighting the long-term consequences of their behavior.
• Trust and alliances: Verdant Green Maiden's support for Han Sui demonstrates the importance of trust and alliances in maintaining power and achieving objectives.

Character Interactions

• Han Sui and the Great Families: Han Sui manipulates and threatens the Great Families to secure their cooperation in the land survey and taxation process.
• Han Sui and Verdant Green Maiden: They work together to address the issues in Jiangnan, with Verdant Green Maiden acknowledging Han Sui's methods and supporting his actions.
• Han Kang and Verdant Green Maiden: Han Kang's feelings for Verdant Green Maiden are revealed, which could potentially be used by Han Sui to further his goals.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Ye Sanqi finally addresses Verdant Green Maiden as 'Miss' after realizing her true identity as a Marquis.
• Verdant Green Maiden threatens Ye Sanqi to keep her identity a secret.
• The caravan members are overjoyed to see Ye Sanqi's safe return and thank Verdant Green Maiden.
• Verdant Green Maiden treats the caravan to a meal, paid for by Han Sui.
• The next day, Verdant Green Maiden arrives to find the caravan's carriages replaced, a gift from the Han Family. She instructs Ye Sanqi to accept them.

Character Developments

• Ye Sanqi: Realizes Verdant Green Maiden's true identity and is fearful of her power. He becomes more cautious and respectful in her presence. He also shows concern for the caravan members' safety and well-being.
• Verdant Green Maiden: Shows kindness and generosity by treating the caravan to a meal and instructing Ye Sanqi to accept the new carriages. She also displays a level of maturity and understanding by not engaging with Han Kang.

Significant Themes

• Power dynamics: Verdant Green Maiden's true identity as a Marquis highlights the power imbalance between her and Ye Sanqi. Ye Sanqi's fear and respect for her reflect this dynamic.
• Kindness and generosity: Verdant Green Maiden's actions, such as treating the caravan to a meal and instructing Ye Sanqi to accept the new carriages, show her kindness and generosity.
• Avoidance: Verdant Green Maiden's avoidance of Han Kang suggests that she wishes to distance herself from him or his family.

Character Interactions

• Ye Sanqi and Verdant Green Maiden: Ye Sanqi is fearful and respectful of Verdant Green Maiden, while she treats him kindly and generously.
• Verdant Green Maiden and Han Kang: Verdant Green Maiden avoids interacting with Han Kang, suggesting tension or discomfort between them.
• Ye Sanqi and the caravan members: Ye Sanqi shows concern for the caravan members' safety and well-being, while they are overjoyed to see his safe return and thank Verdant Green Maiden for her help.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Han Kang leaves to join Ye Sanqi's caravan to the north, feeling he owes Verdant Green Maiden a debt.
• Verdant Green Maiden joins them, riding a horse at the front with Ye Sanqi.
• The caravan travels north, with Verdant Green Maiden asking about their earnings and treating the group kindly.
• They stop at a ruined temple for the night, where Verdant Green Maiden cooks for the group, impressing them with her culinary skills.
• The next day, they approach a mountain where bandits are waiting in ambush.

Character Developments

• Han Kang shows determination to repay Verdant Green Maiden's favor.
• Verdant Green Maiden displays kindness and humility, earning respect from the caravan members.
• Ye Sanqi becomes increasingly curious about Verdant Green Maiden's past.

Significant Themes

• Kindness and humility among common folk.
• The curiosity and respect that Verdant Green Maiden's mysterious past and skills evoke.

Character Interactions

• Verdant Green Maiden and Ye Sanqi ride together at the front, with Verdant Green Maiden asking about the caravan's earnings.
• Verdant Green Maiden cooks for the group, impressing them and fostering a sense of camaraderie.
• Ye Sanqi and the caravan members express their amazement at Verdant Green Maiden's cooking skills.

Key Plot Points and Events

• The merchant caravan approaches a mountain range known for bandit activity.
• Ye Sanqi expresses concern for Qing Nu's safety, suggesting they detour, but Qing Nu insists on continuing.
• Bandits, led by a chief and his second-in-command, lie in ambush, planning to rob the caravan and abduct Qing Nu.
• Qing Nu senses the bandits' presence and instructs the caravan to continue as if nothing is amiss.
• The bandits attack, surrounding the caravan, and demand payment and Qing Nu's surrender.
• Qing Nu dismounts and approaches the bandits, incapacitating their chief with a single kick.

Character Developments

• Qing Nu demonstrates exceptional martial arts skills and confidence, revealing herself to be a formidable fighter.
• Ye Sanqi shows concern for Qing Nu's safety and respects her decisions, despite his initial reservations.

Significant Themes

• The theme of appearance versus reality is highlighted as Qing Nu, who appears to be a young woman, is revealed to be a skilled fighter.
• The power dynamics between the caravan and the bandits, and within the bandit group, are explored.

Character Interactions

• Qing Nu and Ye Sanqi's interaction shows Qing Nu's assertiveness and Ye Sanqi's deference to her judgment.
• The bandit chief and his second-in-command's interaction displays their dynamic, with the chief making decisions and the second-in-command offering suggestions and carrying out orders.
• Qing Nu's interaction with the bandits showcases her martial prowess and lack of fear in the face of danger.

Chapter Error 536 Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

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• Readers are encouraged to read the next chapter instead.

Character Developments

• No character developments are mentioned due to the unavailability of the chapter.

Significant Themes

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Character Interactions

• No character interactions are described due to the chapter's unavailability.
  Note: This summary is based on the provided information and may not reflect the actual content of the chapter due to its unavailability.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Verdant Green Maiden removes the knife from Xu Su's calf, revealing she has medical knowledge.
• Xu Su and the bandits are tied together and placed on a cart to be delivered to the authorities.
• The merchant caravan arrives in Xiayi County, drawing attention and praise from the commoners.
• The Xiayi County magistrate invites the group to rest in the county, treating them hospitably.
• The bandit leader is killed in prison by the county magistrate's order.
• A jailer is sent to Zhengzhou with a letter from the county magistrate, describing Ye Sanqi and Verdant Green Maiden's group.

Character Developments

• Xu Su shows cowardice and lack of leadership when injured.
• Verdant Green Maiden demonstrates medical skills and maintains her mysterious and formidable aura.
• Ye Sanqi shows trust in Verdant Green Maiden's abilities and seeks her protection.
• The Xiayi County magistrate reveals his corruption and involvement with the bandits.

Significant Themes

• Trust and deception: Verdant Green Maiden warns Ye Sanqi not to trust officials too easily, and the county magistrate's hospitality is revealed to be deceitful.
• Power dynamics: The county magistrate's actions show the abuse of power and corruption within the government.
• The struggle against banditry: The merchant caravan's actions against the bandits highlight the common people's desire for safety and justice.

Character Interactions

• Verdant Green Maiden and Xu Su: Verdant Green Maiden shows no mercy towards Xu Su, treating his injury callously.
• Ye Sanqi and Verdant Green Maiden: Ye Sanqi expresses his trust in Verdant Green Maiden's abilities and seeks her protection.
• The Xiayi County magistrate and the bandit leader: The magistrate shows his corruption by killing the bandit leader and sending a letter to his superior.
• The commoners and the merchant caravan: The commoners praise the merchant caravan for capturing the bandits, showing their support and gratitude.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Verdant Green Maiden (VGM) reunites with Ye Sanqi and his merchant caravan in Bianjing.
• VGM instructs the caravan to deliver goods and purchase new ones, then parts ways with them.
• VGM visits the Wu Duke's Residence, where she meets Li Yu and his family after a decade.
• VGM decides to stay at the residence for a few days and takes Li Yu's original ci poetry manuscripts.

Character Developments

• Verdant Green Maiden: Shows her influence and power, protecting the Li family and taking Li Yu's poetry manuscripts.
• Li Yu: Maintains his humility and respect for VGM, shares his poetry with her, and shows gratitude for her protection.
• Ye Sanqi: Shows deference to VGM and follows her instructions.

Significant Themes

• Power Dynamics: VGM's influence and Li Yu's dependence on her highlight the power imbalance between them.
• Loyalty and Gratitude: Li Yu's loyalty to VGM and his gratitude for her protection are emphasized.
• Art and Legacy: Li Yu's ci poetry represents his emotional journey and his desire to preserve his legacy.

Character Interactions

• VGM and Ye Sanqi: VGM maintains her authority, while Ye Sanqi shows respect and follows her instructions.
• VGM and Li Yu: They reunite after a decade, with Li Yu showing deference and gratitude, and VGM showing her power and influence.
• Li Yu and his family: They welcome VGM warmly, showing their dependence on her protection.

Key plot points and events

• Zhao Guangyi learns that Shao Dian Qing Nü—whom Li Yu’s household calls Verdant Green Maiden—is the Great Virtue Imperial Tutor. He promptly goes to the Wu Duke’s residence without giving advance notice.
• At dinner, Li Zhongyu introduces his young son, Li Zhengyan, to Verdant Green Maiden as his grand-aunt. She dislikes the title and asks the boy to call her “Teacher,” then gives him a greeting gift.
• Zhao Guangyi arrives during the meal. He addresses Verdant Green Maiden respectfully, but she rebukes him for interrupting dinner and tells him to stop posturing. Though displeased, he yields to her authority. He claims to have come to dine but never eats.
• After the banquet, Zhao Guangyi asks to speak privately. In the garden, he asks how he became emperor. He explains that his elder brother, Zhao Kuangyin, passed the throne to him. Verdant Green Maiden says she will not investigate the succession but insists that he treat Zhao Kuangyin’s descendants well.
• Zhao Guangyi then asks her to teach him a cultivation method to prolong his life, reasoning that her appearance has not changed in decades.

Character developments and interactions

• Verdant Green Maiden remains blunt and self-possessed, refusing to defer to Zhao Guangyi despite his imperial status. She shows warmth toward Li Zhengyan by accepting him as a student and giving him a gift.
• Zhao Guangyi is curious about her immortality and seeks both private access and greater dignity in her presence. His fear of her power restrains his irritation; beneath his imperial composure, he is also anxious about the legitimacy of his accession.
• Li Yu tries to host the unexpected visitor courteously, though he privately resents Zhao Guangyi’s arrival and his takeover of the gathering.
• The encounter establishes a contrast between Verdant Green Maiden’s independence and the emperor’s rank: he may rule the empire, but she sets the terms of their interaction.

Significant themes

• Power and authority: Imperial status does not command Verdant Green Maiden’s respect; personal power and confidence outweigh formal rank.
• Legitimacy and responsibility: The succession question remains unresolved, but Verdant Green Maiden makes Zhao Guangyi’s duty to Zhao Kuangyin’s descendants explicit.
• Mortality and immortality: Zhao Guangyi’s request to extend his life highlights the emperor’s anxiety about aging and his fascination with Verdant Green Maiden’s agelessness.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Emperor Zhao Guangyi visits Verdant Green Maiden to request the Art of Longevity.
• Verdant Green Maiden refuses, explaining that longevity is not granted for personal gain but for aiding the common people and the world.
• Zhao Guangyi leaves disappointed but asks Li Yu, the Duke of Wu, about his age before departing.
• Verdant Green Maiden asks Li Yu if he desires longevity, and he confesses that while longevity is tempting, he finds a hundred years sufficient.

Character Developments

• Zhao Guangyi: The emperor's desire for longevity is revealed, showing his ambition and fear of death. His disappointment after Verdant Green Maiden's refusal hints at his growing desperation.
• Verdant Green Maiden: She demonstrates her wisdom and understanding of the world's workings, refusing to grant longevity for selfish purposes. Her conversation with Li Yu shows her ability to read people's hearts.
• Li Yu: Li Yu's acceptance of his mortality and contentment with his life's journey indicate his personal growth and enlightenment.

Significant Themes

• Longevity and Mortality: The chapter explores the human desire for longevity and the reality of mortality, with Verdant Green Maiden emphasizing the importance of using longevity to help others rather than oneself.
• Ambition and Acceptance: Zhao Guangyi's ambition is juxtaposed with Li Yu's acceptance of his life's limitations, highlighting the different paths one can take in the face of mortality.
• Wisdom and Understanding: Verdant Green Maiden's wisdom and understanding of the world's complexities contrast with Zhao Guangyi's single-minded pursuit of longevity.

Character Interactions

• Zhao Guangyi and Verdant Green Maiden: Their interaction reveals the emperor's desperation for longevity and the tutor's refusal to grant it without a selfless purpose.
• Zhao Guangyi and Li Yu: Zhao Guangyi's sudden question about Li Yu's age hints at his growing obsession with longevity, while Li Yu's honest response about his contentment with life's journey shows his personal growth.
• Verdant Green Maiden and Li Yu: Their conversation about longevity allows Li Yu to express his acceptance of mortality and demonstrates Verdant Green Maiden's ability to read people's hearts.