Chapter Summaries

Chapter Summary

Key plot points and events

Verdant Green Maiden discovers that Jingang was struck by Heavenly Lightning after rescuing survivors of the Heavenly Mountain Kingdom. She realizes that his intervention helped save them from the Tibetans, but also contributed to the kingdom’s destruction and his own fatal injury. Despite using all her medical knowledge, she cannot stop Jingang’s life force from fading. Before dying, Jingang urges her never to submit to the Book of Fate. After burying him in Heavenly Mountain, Verdant Green Maiden leads the displaced people of the Heavenly Mountain Kingdom back toward their homeland, promising to restore it to them.
More than ten days later, she attacks the Tibetan-occupied capital alone. She effortlessly defeats the defenders and massacres those who refuse to surrender. She declares the city property of the Heavenly Mountain Saintess, renames it Saintess City, and announces that it will be ruled by a princess of the Great Song imperial clan. She also abolishes slavery and the system of slave ownership.

Character developments

• Verdant Green Maiden shifts from grief and suppressed anger to decisive action. Jingang’s death confirms her rejection of passive obedience to fate and strengthens her determination to reclaim the Heavenly Mountain Kingdom. Her compassion toward the displaced people contrasts sharply with her merciless destruction of their oppressors.
• Jingang is revealed as deeply loyal and self-sacrificing. Though he believes his death is inevitable, he remains concerned with Verdant Green Maiden’s principles and begs her not to obey the Book of Fate. His final words reinforce his devotion and moral courage.
• Zhao Qingyu witnesses both Jingang’s death and Verdant Green Maiden’s overwhelming power. Her questions about her master’s identity and the coming battle show her growing awareness of Verdant Green Maiden’s history and true status.
• The survivors of the Heavenly Mountain Kingdom move from confusion and hopelessness to renewed faith when Verdant Green Maiden promises to take them “home.”

Significant themes

• Defiance of fate: Jingang’s warning and Verdant Green Maiden’s actions challenge the idea that people must obey the Book of Fate, especially when doing so permits suffering and injustice.
• The cost of compassion: Jingang is punished for saving lives, highlighting the cruel conflict between heavenly law and moral responsibility.
• Home and restoration: The survivors’ repeated cries of “Home” represent the recovery of identity, belonging, and hope after decades of displacement.
• Justice versus vengeance: Verdant Green Maiden’s destruction of the Tibetan occupation is both retaliation for Jingang and an attempt to establish a new order free from slavery.
• Power and responsibility: Her immense strength is used not merely for conquest but to reclaim territory, protect the oppressed, and impose social reform.

Character interactions

Verdant Green Maiden tenderly treats Jingang’s wounds, while he apologizes for failing her and insists that serving her was his blessing. Their final exchange reveals mutual loyalty and affection, with Jingang asking her to resist fate and her promising that she will not submit. Verdant Green Maiden and Zhao Qingyu share a brief but important master-student moment as Zhao questions her identity; Verdant Green Maiden reassures her by taking sole responsibility for the battle. Her repeated promise to lead the survivors home inspires them to follow her, transforming their uncertainty into collective hope.

Chapter Summary: “Ordeal”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Saintess City is restored to the control of the Heavenly Mountain Kingdom after Verdant Green Maiden defeats the final Heavenly Mountain Khan and his forces.
• The remaining Tibetan people, once aristocratic slave owners, are spared and allowed to remain as ordinary citizens. The Khan’s head is solemnly buried, while the other corpses are burned.
• Verdant Green Maiden and Zhao Qingyu discuss whether Zhao Qingyu and Binghong fear her because of the massacre. Zhao reassures her that they understand her motives and admire her actions.
• Verdant Green Maiden spends several days reorganizing Saintess City. With Jingang’s former refugees and loyalists available, she establishes a temporary system of guards and administrators.
• She then leaves the city and enters Heavenly Mountain while ominous thunderclouds gather overhead, implying that she is undergoing Heavenly Punishment or another dangerous ordeal.
• Zhao Qingyu worries intensely during Verdant Green Maiden’s absence. After the thunder ceases, Verdant Green Maiden returns several days later, visibly pale and secretly covered in severe lightning wounds.
• Despite her injuries, Verdant Green Maiden immediately resumes governing and gives Zhao Qingyu a manual containing thousands of years of administrative experience. She advises Zhao to adapt its principles to the Western Regions rather than follow it blindly.
• After secretly discovering the extent of her master’s injuries, Zhao Qingyu resolves to contribute more. She insists on personally applying medicine to Verdant Green Maiden’s wounds.

Character Developments

• Verdant Green Maiden: Demonstrates mercy by sparing the ordinary Tibetan population, responsibility by rebuilding the city, and self-sacrifice by enduring the lightning ordeal for the kingdom’s sake. Although powerful and composed, she reveals that she is vulnerable to pain and uncomfortable showing weakness.
• Zhao Qingyu: Grows from a dependent disciple into someone determined to take responsibility for governing Saintess City. Her admiration and concern for Verdant Green Maiden deepen, and she actively seeks ways to support her.
• Binghong: Initially admits to being frightened by Verdant Green Maiden’s violence but remains loyal. She comforts Zhao Qingyu and encourages her not to view herself as helpless.
• Jingang’s followers/refugees: Their discipline allows them to become the foundation of the city’s temporary administration and security.

Significant Themes

• Mercy amid violence: Verdant Green Maiden uses force against the ruling oppressors but distinguishes them from the ordinary people, choosing not to massacre the entire population.
• Sacrifice and responsibility: Her willingness to endure Heavenly Punishment and serious injuries highlights the burdens she accepts to protect and stabilize the kingdom.
• Growth through service: Zhao Qingyu learns that even without her master’s strength, she can help through governance and care.
• Trust and admiration: Zhao and Binghong’s acceptance shows that Verdant Green Maiden’s actions are judged by their purpose, not merely by their brutality.
• Teacher-student affection: Their relationship becomes warmer and more intimate as Zhao Qingyu tends to her injured master.

Important Character Interactions

• Verdant Green Maiden asks Zhao Qingyu and Binghong whether they fear her; Zhao reassures her that they understand and admire her.
• Zhao Qingyu worries about Verdant Green Maiden during her disappearance, reflecting her deep trust and emotional attachment.
• Verdant Green Maiden instructs Zhao in governance, emphasizing practical adaptation rather than rigidly following tradition.
• Binghong comforts Zhao Qingyu when she feels weak, helping her recognize that she too has meaningful responsibilities.
• Zhao Qingyu confronts Verdant Green Maiden and insists on treating her wounds. Their awkward but affectionate exchange reveals mutual care and allows Verdant Green Maiden to show vulnerability.

Chapter Summary: Mobilizing Troops and Appointing Generals

Key Plot Points and Events

• Verdant Green Maiden nearly completes her recovery after half a month, astonishing Zhao Qingyu and Binghong with her speed despite complaining that she is “old.”
• Binghong confirms that the letter Verdant Green Maiden ordered him to send to Kucha City has been dispatched, though a reply will take time because of the distance.
• Verdant Green Maiden visits Jingang’s grave with Zhao Qingyu and Binghong, bringing fruit and speaking to him for an entire afternoon.
• Mourning Jingang and recalling the attacks she endured from the Book of Fate, Verdant Green Maiden vows to avenge him and make the responsible parties pay.
• Back in Saintess City, she begins preparing for the next stage of her plans. She has already sent a request to Bianjing for thirty thousand Imperial Guard troops.
• Emperor Zhao Guangyi hesitates over the request because Great Song is still engaged in war with the Khitan and must maintain defenses in You Yan and the Hexi Corridor.
• Zhao Guangyi summons retired veteran generals Cao Bin and Pan Mei to discuss the request. Both initially assume the summons concerns the Khitan war and immediately offer to return to battle.
• After learning that the matter concerns the Western Regions, the two generals agree that thirty thousand troops can be assembled by combining forces from the Hexi Corridor, Guanzhong, Bianjing, and Jiangnan.
• Pan Mei volunteers to command the expedition, but Zhao Guangyi rejects him because of his advanced age and instead appoints Cao Bin.
• Cao Bin enthusiastically accepts command, while Pan Mei regrets that he is too old to participate. Zhao Guangyi orders the Privy Council to prepare the troop deployment.

Character Developments

• Verdant Green Maiden: Recovers rapidly but remains emotionally burdened by Jingang’s death. Her graveside vow transforms her grief into determination to pursue revenge and continue the campaign in the Western Regions.
• Zhao Qingyu: Shows loyalty and affection toward her master, defending Verdant Green Maiden’s claim that she is not old. She also recognizes the loneliness beneath her master’s strength.
• Binghong: Continues to serve Verdant Green Maiden faithfully, handling correspondence and accompanying her to Jingang’s grave.
• Zhao Guangyi: Demonstrates caution and responsibility by weighing the military needs of the entire empire before approving the troop request. He also shows sound judgment in selecting Cao Bin over Pan Mei.
• Cao Bin: Reveals his continued patriotism and eagerness for military service despite retirement and age. He accepts the opportunity to command the Western expedition.
• Pan Mei: Remains bold and battle-ready, immediately volunteering to lead the army. His regret at being rejected highlights his lingering ambition and dedication.

Significant Themes

• Grief transformed into resolve: Verdant Green Maiden’s mourning for Jingang becomes a vow of vengeance and renewed purpose.
• Loyalty and remembrance: The extended visit to Jingang’s grave emphasizes the lasting bonds between comrades and the importance of honoring the dead.
• Duty versus age: Pan Mei and Cao Bin’s desire to serve contrasts with Zhao Guangyi’s practical concern over their physical limits.
• Imperial responsibility and strategic balance: The emperor must support the Western Regions without weakening defenses against the Khitan or neglecting other vital territories.
• Reclaiming and defending the Western Regions: The planned expedition is presented as a major patriotic campaign that could produce legendary generals and restore Han influence.

Character Interactions

• Zhao Qingyu reassures Verdant Green Maiden that she is not old, while Binghong silently reacts to the vast difference between immortal and mortal lifespans.
• Verdant Green Maiden shares an intimate farewell with Jingang at his grave, while Zhao Qingyu and Binghong respectfully give her space to grieve.
• Cao Bin and Pan Mei meet outside the palace and speculate together about why Zhao Guangyi summoned them.
• Both generals express immediate willingness to fight, demonstrating their shared military spirit.
• During the audience, they cooperate in explaining how the requested thirty thousand troops can be assembled.
• Zhao Guangyi praises their loyalty but chooses Cao Bin to lead, creating a moment of disappointment for Pan Mei and excitement for Cao Bin.

Chapter Summary: “A King Must Put the People First”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Zhao Guangyi orders the mobilization of troops for a campaign into the Western Regions.
• The Imperial Court strongly opposes the decision. Many officials argue that the Western Regions are too distant, costly to conquer, and of little practical benefit to Great Song.
• Prime Minister Lü Mengzheng presents the central objection: a king should prioritize the people’s welfare. Since Great Song has already endured years of warfare and recently achieved peace and territorial gains, Lü urges Zhao Guangyi to end military campaigns and focus on restoring prosperity.
• Zhao Guangyi challenges the ministers’ reasoning by asking whether the people living in the Pacified West Protectorate are less deserving of protection than those in the Central Plains.
• He argues that Great Song, as the rightful successor to the Tang and Five Dynasties, should reclaim the former Tang territories. He also emphasizes the economic importance of the Han-Tang Trade Route through the Western Regions.
• Zhao defeats the officials rhetorically, comparing their cautious calculations to a failure of the ambition that allowed Great Song’s founders to establish the dynasty.
• He orders the Ministry of War to prepare provisions, weapons, and logistical support. Supplies will initially come from Guanzhong and Jiangnan, with later support sent through Hexi to reduce transportation costs.
• The ministers request that civil military supervisors be appointed to oversee the expedition, but Zhao refuses, citing the presence of his daughter Zhao Qingyu, the Imperial Tutor Verdant Green Maiden, and the Marquis of Lantian in the Western Regions.
• Zhao assigns Duke of Lu, Cao Bin, command of the expedition. Cao vows to carry Great Song’s banner into the Western Regions.
• In Saintess City, Verdant Green Maiden sneezes, seemingly sensing that she is being discussed. Zhao Qingyu warmly cares for her and brings her indoors against the cold.
• Cao Bin later travels to Jiangnan to requisition the Imperial Guard. Combined with troops from Guanzhong and the Hexi Corridor, a force of 30,000 soldiers begins the westward campaign.

Character Developments

• Zhao Guangyi: Demonstrates political sharpness, forceful imperial authority, and strategic vision. He dismisses the ministers’ immediate concerns in favor of long-term territorial, economic, and dynastic ambitions. His arguments also reveal a willingness to use imperial pressure to silence opposition.
• Lü Mengzheng: Acts as the leading voice of caution and civilian governance. He sincerely advocates peace and concern for the people, but is unable to answer Zhao’s challenge about the Western Regions’ inhabitants and is politically outmaneuvered.
• Cao Bin: Shows loyalty and confidence by accepting command of the expedition and promising success.
• Zhao Qingyu: Displays deep affection and concern for her master, treating Verdant Green Maiden with tenderness and protectiveness.
• Verdant Green Maiden: Appears physically vulnerable despite her powerful status, but is emotionally moved by Zhao Qingyu’s care. Her role in the campaign is indirectly confirmed as important to Zhao Guangyi’s decision.

Significant Themes

• The ruler’s duty to all subjects: The chapter questions whether “putting the people first” applies only to the Central Plains or to people living in distant territories as well.
• Peace versus expansion: Civil officials prioritize stability and economic recovery, while Zhao Guangyi argues that strategic expansion can secure long-term prosperity.
• Short-term caution versus long-term vision: The ministers focus on immediate costs, whereas Zhao Guangyi emphasizes trade, historical inheritance, and future national strength.
• Imperial power and political maneuvering: Zhao Guangyi defeats opposition not only through policy arguments but also through rhetorical traps and his authority as emperor.
• Military conquest and economic integration: The campaign is presented not merely as territorial expansion but as a means of reopening the profitable Han-Tang Trade Route.
• Tenderness amid political conflict: The intimate exchange between Zhao Qingyu and Verdant Green Maiden contrasts with the harsh debate and militarization at court.

Important Character Interactions

• Zhao Guangyi and Lü Mengzheng: Their debate forms the chapter’s central conflict. Lü appeals to humane governance and fiscal restraint, while Zhao Guangyi counters with universal responsibility, historical legitimacy, and economic strategy.
• Zhao Guangyi and the court officials: Zhao repeatedly forces the ministers into silence, rejecting their demand for military supervisors and asserting confidence in his daughter and the Imperial Tutor.
• Zhao Guangyi and Cao Bin: The emperor entrusts Cao Bin with the expedition, and Cao responds with a firm pledge of loyalty.
• Zhao Qingyu and Verdant Green Maiden: Zhao Qingyu lovingly comforts and protects her master, revealing a close, affectionate relationship and Verdant Green Maiden’s softer emotional side.

Summary of “Mission to Gaochang”

Key Plot Points and Events

• One year later in Kucha City, a messenger delivers a letter from the Imperial Tutor announcing that Great Song has mobilized 30,000 Imperial Guard troops under the Duke of Lu to reclaim the Western Regions.
• Wei Qingping, Yue Qiu, and the people of Kucha are overwhelmed with joy. The descendants of the old Pacified West Army celebrate the arrival of long-awaited hope and vow to avenge their ancestors and restore Han control.
• Wei Qingping decides to lead an envoy to Gaochang, the most powerful state in the northeastern Western Regions. Yue Qiu volunteers to accompany him.
• Wang Yande worries that leaving Kucha undefended will endanger the city, but Wei Qingping and Yue Qiu entrust its defense to him. Though reluctant, Wang accepts and promises to defend Kucha to the death.
• The delegation does not travel directly to Gaochang. Since they must cross the Heavenly Mountain, they detour to Saintess City to consult Verdant Green Maiden.
• Verdant Green Maiden approves the mission and assigns her companion, the Old Yellow Ox—called “Brother Ox”—to accompany them. Though the ox may not protect them directly, he can carry messages and summon her if they are endangered.
• The delegation travels for half a month and finally reaches Western Prefecture, the capital of Gaochang.

Character Developments

• Wei Qingping transforms from a long-suffering defender of Kucha into a determined leader ready to take bold action now that outside military support has arrived. His emotional reaction shows how deeply he carries the hopes of his people.
• Yue Qiu demonstrates courage and loyalty by joining Wei Qingping despite the danger. He supports the mission wholeheartedly and has great confidence in Verdant Green Maiden and the Old Yellow Ox.
• Wang Yande begins cautiously, concerned about abandoning Kucha, but ultimately accepts responsibility and commits himself to defending the city. His hesitation suggests practical judgment rather than cowardice.
• Verdant Green Maiden acts as a calm, supportive ally. She neither obstructs the plan nor underestimates its risks, instead providing a reliable messenger and promising personal rescue if necessary.
• Old Yellow Ox is presented humorously as a “Divine Ox.” He appears unimpressed by human ideas of merit and glory, implying that he possesses unusual status or abilities.

Significant Themes

• Hope after generations of struggle: The arrival of Great Song’s army revives a cause that had seemed hopeless for over a century.
• Duty to one’s ancestors: The people of Kucha see the campaign as a chance to repay the sacrifices and avenge the humiliation of earlier generations.
• Courage and risk-taking: Wei Qingping and Yue Qiu recognize that reclaiming the Western Regions requires bold action rather than passive defense.
• Sacrifice versus preservation: The characters debate whether to cling to Kucha or risk leaving it for a greater strategic objective. The principle that preserving the people matters more than preserving territory guides their decision.
• Trust and responsibility: Wei Qingping and Yue Qiu place Kucha in Wang Yande’s hands, while Verdant Green Maiden entrusts the delegation’s safety to the seemingly ordinary but supernatural Old Yellow Ox.
• Unity between humans and divine forces: The mission combines military and political efforts from Great Song with the assistance of Verdant Green Maiden and her mystical companion.

Character Interactions

• Wei Qingping, Yue Qiu, and Wang Yande share the Imperial Tutor’s news, allowing their private hopes to become a collective mission.
• Wei Qingping and Yue Qiu encourage and pressure Wang Yande into accepting command of Kucha, reinforcing both their trust in him and the hierarchy between them.
• Wei Qingping and Yue Qiu pledge themselves to the mission with mutual emotional support.
• Verdant Green Maiden questions Wei Qingping about the purpose of the journey, then accepts his strategic reasoning and offers assistance.
• Yue Qiu reacts with particular excitement to the involvement of the Old Yellow Ox, suggesting he understands the ox’s extraordinary nature better than Wei Qingping.
• Wei Qingping treats the ox as a divine ally, while the ox privately regards human praise and promises of recognition with disdain.

Chapter Summary: Gaochang King

Key Plot Points and Events

• At Gaochang, Cao Bin oversees 30,000 Imperial Guards preparing to march into the Western Regions. He studies outdated maps and worries about the lack of reliable information regarding the region.
• Xu Su, still dressed as a convict, arrives with a letter and a new sheepskin map from Verdant Green Maiden. Because of his connection to her and his previous assistance, he is granted an audience with Cao Bin.
• After verifying the letter and Zhao Qingyu’s seal, Cao Bin waives the remaining half year of Xu Su’s sentence. Xu Su is permitted to leave Yumen Pass with the army and earn merit through service.
• The Imperial Guards depart through Yumen Pass. The pass commander reminds Cao Bin that Zhao Guangyi has arranged for the Hexi Imperial Guard to provide reinforcements if the expedition encounters danger.
• In Saintess City, Verdant Green Maiden confronts the strange, turbulent weather—or possibly the supernatural force behind it—and orders it to stop. The clouds abruptly disappear.
• Zhao Qingyu discusses her plan to record local seasons and weather patterns in order to revise an agricultural calendar. Verdant Green Maiden advises her to consider not only the heavens but also water sources, flood seasons, soil quality, and crop varieties.
• In Gaochang’s royal palace, Wei Qingping urges King Ashilan Han to cooperate with the Pacified West Grand Protectorate and help Great Song reclaim the Western Regions.
• Ashilan Han expresses deep hesitation. Though he has Han ancestry and understands the value of cooperation, he fears that Great Song—like previous dynasties—may eventually withdraw, leaving Gaochang exposed to hostile powers.

Character Developments

• Cao Bin is shown as conscientious and pragmatic. He recognizes the limitations of his outdated information but willingly follows Imperial orders and appreciates Zhao Guangyi’s defensive preparations.
• Xu Su demonstrates loyalty and initiative by delivering Verdant Green Maiden’s message despite his convict status. His sentence is reduced, marking the beginning of his opportunity to redeem himself through military service.
• Verdant Green Maiden continues to act as both strategist and protector. She ensures Xu Su’s advancement, controls or challenges the strange weather, and plans for the long-term cultural and agricultural development of the Western Regions.
• Zhao Qingyu begins adapting to her new environment by applying modern knowledge to agriculture and recordkeeping. Her confidence is balanced by Verdant Green Maiden’s practical guidance.
• Ashilan Han is revealed as cautious and politically experienced. His reluctance does not stem from hostility toward Han culture or Great Song, but from historical trauma and fear of abandonment.

Significant Themes

• Trust and betrayal in imperial politics: Gaochang’s rulers have repeatedly supported outside dynasties only to be abandoned when those powers withdrew.
• The burden of history: Ashilan Han’s decision is shaped by the experiences of Great Han, Great Tang, the Black Khanate, and now Great Song.
• Redemption through service: Xu Su’s release shows how loyalty and useful action can overcome a criminal past.
• Knowledge versus uncertainty: Cao Bin’s outdated maps and Zhao Qingyu’s agricultural project emphasize the importance of accurate information in governing and conquering unfamiliar lands.
• Building lasting foundations: Verdant Green Maiden seeks more than military control; she hopes to establish agriculture, culture, and Han influence that can endure in the Western Regions.
• Supernatural or environmental instability: The abnormal weather hints at a larger unseen threat or conflict surrounding the expedition.

Character Interactions

• Xu Su and Cao Bin: Xu Su respectfully delivers Verdant Green Maiden’s documents, while Cao Bin rewards his loyalty by ending his sentence and bringing him on campaign.
• Cao Bin and the Yumen Pass commander: Their exchange highlights the danger of the expedition and Zhao Guangyi’s careful contingency planning.
• Verdant Green Maiden and Zhao Qingyu: Their conversation combines mentorship and strategic planning, with Verdant Green Maiden refining Zhao Qingyu’s agricultural ambitions.
• Wei Qingping and Ashilan Han: Wei argues for immediate cooperation, while Ashilan responds with skepticism, forcing the Pacified West Grand Protectorate to confront Gaochang’s fear that Great Song may repeat the abandonment of earlier empires.

Chapter Summary: “Recapturing Ting Prefecture”

Key Plot Points and Events

• King Ashilan Han of Gaochang refuses to fully ally with Great Song against the Black Khanate. Although he trusts the Heavenly Mountain Saintess, he does not trust Great Song to retain control of the Western Regions after reclaiming them.
• Wei Qingping argues that the Saintess’s return and the establishment of Saintess City guarantee the Western Regions’ security. Yue Qiu further appeals to Great Song’s sacrifices, emphasizing the campaigns and lives lost to reopen the route westward.
• Ashilan Han remains unconvinced, though he expresses personal trust in Yue Qiu. He ends the meeting and has Wei Qingping and Yue Qiu escorted away.
• After crossing Yumen Pass, Cao Bin receives orders from Verdant Green Maiden: “First attack Ting Prefecture, then take Yanqi.”
• Cao Bin orders his army to rest briefly before marching on Ting Prefecture, promising rewards for the soldier who captures it.
• The Great Song Imperial Guard reaches Ting Prefecture and launches an assault. Despite heavy arrow fire, its superior training, armor, discipline, and siege equipment overwhelm the defenders.
• Ting Prefecture’s gates are breached by dusk on the first day, far sooner than Cao Bin’s planned three-day timetable.
• Cao Bin reiterates strict orders to protect civilians, prohibit looting and abuse, and execute anyone who violates these rules.
• After securing the city, Cao Bin speaks through an interpreter with a local resident who mistakes the army for troops of the former Great Tang. Cao Bin clarifies that they are Great Song soldiers sent to reclaim the Western Regions and protect its people.

Character Developments

• Ashilan Han is portrayed as a cautious and responsible young ruler. His hesitation comes from concern for Gaochang’s long-term survival rather than cowardice or hostility. He trusts individual figures such as the Heavenly Mountain Saintess and Yue Qiu but remains deeply skeptical of Great Song’s political reliability.
• Wei Qingping remains loyal to Great Song’s cause and attempts to reassure Ashilan Han that the Saintess’s presence will prevent another collapse in the Western Regions.
• Yue Qiu passionately defends Great Song, citing its sacrifices and military commitment. His missing arm highlights his personal devotion and the cost of the campaign.
• Cao Bin demonstrates decisive leadership, confidence in his troops, and strict concern for civilian welfare. He also presents Great Song not merely as a conqueror but as a force restoring order and protecting the population.
• Verdant Green Maiden influences events indirectly through concise military instructions, which Cao Bin trusts and follows without hesitation.

Significant Themes

• Trust versus political caution: Ashilan Han distinguishes between trusting individuals and trusting a state, reflecting the uncertainty of alliances in a volatile region.
• Responsibility to the people: Ashilan’s refusal to risk Gaochang’s destruction and Cao Bin’s protection of civilians both emphasize that rulers and armies must consider ordinary people.
• Restoration and legitimacy: Great Song frames its campaign as the recovery of lands historically connected to the Han and as a restoration of stability rather than simple conquest.
• Military superiority and discipline: The Imperial Guard’s training, equipment, morale, and organization allow it to defeat a larger or entrenched opposition with remarkable speed.
• Historical memory: The people of Ting Prefecture remember the former Great Tang and react emotionally to the return of Han forces, showing how past empires continue to shape present identities.

Character Interactions

• Ashilan Han and Wei Qingping: Wei Qingping urges cooperation by invoking the Heavenly Mountain Saintess, but Ashilan maintains his distrust of Great Song.
• Ashilan Han and Yue Qiu: Ashilan acknowledges Yue Qiu’s sincerity and sacrifice but still separates his trust in Yue Qiu from his political doubts about Great Song.
• Cao Bin and Verdant Green Maiden: Cao Bin receives and follows her brief strategic directive, demonstrating confidence in her judgment.
• Cao Bin and the citizens of Ting Prefecture: Through an interpreter, Cao Bin reassures a local resident that the arriving army represents Great Song, not the ancient Great Tang, and claims the mission of reclaiming the region and safeguarding its people.

Chapter Summary: “Follow the Han Envoy”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Great Song’s Imperial Guard, led by Cao Bin, successfully recaptures Ting Prefecture in the Western Regions.
• The local population, descended from residents of the former Northern Court Protectorate, enthusiastically welcomes the Han soldiers. Their reaction reveals the lasting cultural and historical connection between the people and the former Han administration.
• Cao Bin discovers that the Turks and Uyghurs destroyed all remaining traces of the Northern Court Protectorate. He orders the army to rest, regroup, inspect the defenses, and prepare for possible counterattacks.
• News of Ting Prefecture’s fall spreads throughout Gaochang, reaching Saintess City and the Gaochang court.
• Verdant Green Maiden advises Zhao Qingyu to take no immediate action, choosing instead to observe how Yue Qiu and the others respond to the changing political situation.
• In Western Prefecture, Gaochang officials begin treating the Great Song envoys with greater respect after hearing of the Imperial Guard’s victory.
• Yue Qiu proposes imitating the famous Han Envoy of history by acting boldly and provocatively while claiming to represent the authority and benevolence of the Chinese emperor.
• Wei Qingping agrees, and the two devise a plan to use calculated confrontation to improve Great Song’s diplomatic position.
• Yue Qiu deliberately confronts the Gaochang agents following him, accusing them of restricting or threatening the envoy delegation. The Prime Minister is summoned and rushes to calm the situation.

Character Developments

• Cao Bin demonstrates both military authority and sensitivity to historical identity. He recognizes the emotional importance of the locals’ Han heritage and formally acknowledges them.
• The local inhabitants shift from fear to enthusiasm when they realize the arriving army represents the restoration of their ancestral political order.
• Zhao Qingyu remains impressed but uncertain about Great Song’s military strength. Her doubts show that she has not yet fully abandoned the modern belief that Song armies were weak.
• Verdant Green Maiden appears confident and strategically patient. Rather than intervene, she allows events to unfold so that Great Song’s military success can strengthen its diplomatic position.
• Wei Qingping gains confidence from the Imperial Guard’s victory and recognizes that military achievements directly affect diplomatic respect.
• Yue Qiu displays initiative, historical knowledge, and a willingness to take risks. He deliberately creates a political incident to force Gaochang to treat the envoys seriously.

Significant Themes

• Restoration of historical identity: The people’s joy at seeing Han soldiers emphasizes how cultural memory survives despite the destruction of institutions and territory.
• Military power and diplomatic respect: Great Song’s successful capture of Ting Prefecture immediately changes the Gaochang court’s attitude toward its envoys.
• Boldness in diplomacy: Yue Qiu believes that dangerous situations can create opportunities, reflecting the principle of seeking success amid risk.
• Symbolic authority: The envoys rely not only on military strength but also on the image of bringing the emperor’s civilizing influence and benevolence.
• History as a political model: Yue Qiu and Wei Qingping consciously imitate the ancient Han Envoy, using historical precedent to guide modern diplomacy.

Character Interactions

• Cao Bin respectfully exchanges greetings with the descendants of the former Northern Court Protectorate, creating an emotional connection between the army and the local people.
• Zhao Qingyu questions Verdant Green Maiden about Great Song’s military strength, while Verdant Green Maiden responds with amused confidence and urges patience.
• Wei Qingping and Yue Qiu collaborate closely, with Yue Qiu providing the risky strategy and Wei Qingping readily supporting it.
• Yue Qiu confronts the Gaochang watchers and escalates the situation by accusing them of hostile intentions.
• The Gaochang agents panic and summon the Prime Minister, who arrives to appease Yue Qiu and prevent the incident from becoming a diplomatic crisis.

Chapter Summary: “Invite You into the Urn”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Yue Qiu confronts Gaochang’s Prime Minister about the guards secretly monitoring the Song envoy group. He accuses Gaochang of intending to use the envoys as hostages to resist the Great Song Army, especially after Song forces rapidly recapture Ting Prefecture.
• The Prime Minister denies that the King of Gaochang ordered any hostile action. He claims the additional guards were his own decision, supposedly intended to protect the envoys and prevent Gaochang from being blamed if anything happened to them.
• Yue Qiu repeatedly pressures him to reveal the full number of guards. At first, the Prime Minister admits only a few, but Yue Qiu’s pointed questioning forces him to call out all the hidden watchers.
• Once eighty-four guards are assembled, Yue Qiu invites them and the Prime Minister into the inn for tea, pretending to ease tensions and help everyone “get to know” one another.
• The tea gathering is a trap. While the guards are distracted by drinking, the Song envoys launch a sudden attack and kill them. Yue Qiu restrains the Prime Minister with a sword while Wei Qingping leads the assault.
• After the massacre, Yue Qiu and Wei Qingping acknowledge that their cooperation was necessary because the guards’ numbers were close to those of the envoy group.

Character Developments

• Yue Qiu demonstrates sharp political instincts, intimidation, and battlefield cunning. He uses accusations, sarcasm, and calculated pressure to expose the true scale of Gaochang’s surveillance force.
• He also reveals a ruthless willingness to kill when necessary, disguising the ambush as a polite invitation before striking.
• The Prime Minister appears increasingly nervous and helpless. Although he tries to protect Gaochang by claiming responsibility for the guards’ deployment, his evasive answers expose his fear and weaken his position.
• Wei Qingping displays exceptional speed and combat ability, immediately taking charge of the attack and eliminating dozens of guards before they can respond.
• The relationship between Yue Qiu and Wei Qingping develops as a practical military partnership: Yue Qiu creates the opportunity, while Wei Qingping executes the assault.

Significant Themes

• Power and intimidation: Although Gaochang is formally an independent kingdom, its weakness compared with Great Song leaves its officials fearful and defensive.
• Political maneuvering and deception: Yue Qiu turns the Prime Minister’s own secrecy against him, forcing him to reveal the guards and then using apparent hospitality as a weapon.
• Military strength as diplomacy: The swift capture of Ting Prefecture has made Gaochang cautious, showing that battlefield victories directly influence political negotiations.
• Trust and suspicion: Neither side trusts the other. Gaochang fears Song retaliation, while Yue Qiu assumes any hidden guards may be preparing hostile action.
• The vulnerability of weaker nations: The Prime Minister recognizes that Gaochang cannot compete with stronger neighboring powers or openly challenge Great Song, leaving it caught between fear and submission.

Character Interactions

• Yue Qiu dominates the conversation with the Prime Minister, interrupting him, challenging his explanations, and forcing him to disclose the hidden guards.
• The Prime Minister attempts to maintain diplomatic composure but repeatedly gives in under Yue Qiu’s pressure.
• Yue Qiu’s seemingly friendly invitation creates a false sense of security, while his cold tone and drawn sword reveal the threat beneath the politeness.
• Wei Qingping and Yue Qiu cooperate seamlessly during the ambush, each recognizing the other’s contribution after the attack.

Chapter Summary: “Han Troops Are Approaching”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Wei Qingping and Yue Qiu reveal that their delegation has seized control of the inn. Their eighty-person group, disguised as Gaochang guards, has overpowered the approximately one hundred people sent to monitor them.
• The operation succeeded because the Gaochang forces were caught off guard while drinking tea, and the inn’s single entrance was easily blocked. The delegation’s plan depended on preventing anyone from escaping and reporting what had happened.
• The Prime Minister recognizes how reckless the delegation’s attack was and compares their boldness to the fearsome Han envoy of legend.
• Yue Qiu promises that Great Song will compensate the families of the Gaochang men killed in the confrontation and insists that Great Song does not massacre innocents.
• The delegation forces the Prime Minister to lead them to King Ashilan Han. They change into the bloodstained clothes of Gaochang guards to conceal their identities.
• The Prime Minister agrees to cooperate only after Wei Qingping promises that the King will not be harmed.
• Ashilan Han is reviewing intelligence about Great Song and remains hesitant about sending troops to support its campaign in the Western Regions.
• Wei Qingping formally requests military aid, but Ashilan Han postpones giving an answer. Yue Qiu then produces a concealed knife—despite having surrendered his visible weapons—and holds it to the King’s throat.
• When the Prime Minister protests that Wei Qingping promised not to harm the King, Wei Qingping points out that Yue Qiu made no such promise.
• Yue Qiu threatens the court by announcing that Han troops are approaching and warning that resistance will bring about the destruction of Gaochang.

Character Developments

• Yue Qiu is shown to be audacious, calculating, and ruthless. He takes charge of the negotiation, uses intimidation freely, and reveals that he planned around the weapons inspection.
• Wei Qingping appears more controlled and diplomatic, but he is fully complicit in the coercive strategy. His technical distinction—that he promised not to harm the King, while Yue Qiu did not—reveals his cleverness and willingness to exploit loopholes.
• The Prime Minister shifts from a political intermediary to a helpless hostage. He understands the danger of the delegation’s actions and tries to protect Ashilan Han, but is ultimately forced to guide them.
• Ashilan Han is cautious and politically hesitant. His reluctance to commit troops leaves him vulnerable to the delegation’s sudden escalation.
• The delegation demonstrates strong discipline and unity, quickly disguising themselves and following their leaders’ orders without hesitation.

Significant Themes

• Strategic deception and surprise: The delegation succeeds through preparation, disguise, timing, and exploiting the enemy’s lack of suspicion.
• Diplomacy backed by force: Great Song’s request for cooperation is presented as diplomacy, but it is enforced through hostage-taking and military intimidation.
• The expansion of imperial power: Yue Qiu declares that the Western Regions will inevitably come under Han rule, presenting conquest as a path toward order and prosperity.
• Moral ambiguity: The delegation claims it will not slaughter innocents and promises compensation, yet it kills Gaochang guards and threatens the King. The chapter questions whether benevolent intentions can justify coercive methods.
• Powerlessness before overwhelming force: The Prime Minister and Ashilan Han are placed in situations where negotiation is nearly impossible because the delegation controls the immediate military advantage.

Important Character Interactions

• Yue Qiu and the Prime Minister: Yue Qiu alternates between reassurance and threats, promising compensation while using his sword to force the Prime Minister’s cooperation.
• Wei Qingping and Yue Qiu: Their silent signals and coordinated actions show deep trust and a shared willingness to take risks.
• The Prime Minister and Wei Qingping: The Prime Minister relies on Wei’s promise not to harm Ashilan Han, only to discover that Yue Qiu’s separate actions undermine that assurance.
• Yue Qiu and Ashilan Han: Their formal diplomatic exchange quickly becomes a direct threat when Yue Qiu presses a knife to the King’s throat.
• The Prime Minister and Ashilan Han: The Prime Minister attempts to protect the King, but his inability to control the delegation leaves him anxious and effectively powerless.

Chapter Summary: “Cooperation Reached”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Yue Qiu confronts Ashilan Han, the King of Gaochang, with a dagger at his throat and pressures him to cooperate with Great Song.
• He argues that Gaochang and the Western Regions owe much of their prosperity to the Han Protectorate and that cooperation with Great Song is an opportunity for Gaochang.
• Yue Qiu warns Ashilan Han that Great Song’s Imperial Guard is stationed nearby in Ting Prefecture and could reach Gaochang’s capital, Western Prefecture, within a day.
• Ashilan Han reluctantly agrees to cooperate and is forced to write a formal state letter confirming the arrangement.
• Gaochang agrees to provide auxiliary troops, provisions, fodder, baggage, and guidance, while Great Song’s Imperial Guard will supply the main military force.
• The next day, Yue Qiu travels to Ting Prefecture to inform General Cao Bin of the agreement.
• Cao Bin is delighted by the news, praises Yue Qiu’s achievement, and decides to lead the expedition personally.
• He orders most of the Song army to march to Western Prefecture, leaving 1,500 soldiers behind to defend Ting Prefecture.
• Verdant Green Maiden learns of the successful negotiations through the Turtle Shell and approves of Yue Qiu’s actions.

Character Developments

• Yue Qiu demonstrates boldness, ruthlessness, and political confidence. He is willing to threaten a king directly to secure Great Song’s interests, yet remains calm and composed even when Gaochang guards surround him.
• Ashilan Han is forced to suppress his anger and pride. Though humiliated, he recognizes that Gaochang cannot oppose Great Song’s military power and pragmatically accepts cooperation.
• Cao Bin shows respect for Yue Qiu because of his connections to Verdant Green Maiden and Zhao Qingyu. He responds enthusiastically to the news and commits himself and most of his army to the campaign.
• Verdant Green Maiden appears pleased with the outcome, suggesting that Yue Qiu’s actions align with her broader plans or expectations.
• Wei Qingping participates in the negotiations and helps establish the practical terms of Gaochang’s military support.

Significant Themes

• Power and coercion: The agreement is achieved not through equal diplomacy but through Yue Qiu’s immediate threat of violence and Great Song’s overwhelming military presence.
• Pragmatism over pride: Ashilan Han chooses submission and cooperation rather than risking Gaochang’s destruction, emphasizing the pressure rulers face when circumstances outweigh personal honor.
• Political and military leverage: Great Song’s control of the Hexi Corridor and its nearby Imperial Guard give it decisive influence over Gaochang.
• Alliance and expansion: The cooperation strengthens Great Song’s position in the Western Regions and prepares for further military action, particularly against Yanqi.
• Humiliation and authority: Yue Qiu’s treatment of Ashilan Han reverses the traditional hierarchy between a king and a subordinate envoy, showing how military strength determines actual power.

Character Interactions

• Yue Qiu and Ashilan Han have the chapter’s central confrontation: Yue Qiu threatens him, demands a state letter, and later negotiates the details of military cooperation.
• Gaochang’s guards attempt to protect Ashilan Han after the agreement is signed, but Ashilan Han orders them to stand down and acknowledges that resistance is futile.
• Yue Qiu and Wei Qingping present Gaochang’s terms to Ashilan Han and agree that Great Song must provide the main force.
• Yue Qiu and Cao Bin meet in Ting Prefecture, where Cao Bin warmly receives him, praises his accomplishment, and assumes command of the upcoming march.
• Verdant Green Maiden and Zhao Qingyu discuss the news indirectly, with Verdant Green Maiden expressing approval of the successful cooperation.

Chapter Summary: “An Amicable Exchange of Views”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Verdant Green Maiden confirms that Yue Qiu’s negotiations with the Gaochang Kingdom have succeeded. Zhao Qingyu is delighted because Gaochang’s support will make reclaiming the Western Regions easier.
• Despite the success, Verdant Green Maiden worries about leaving Saintess City. She doubts whether Zhao Qingyu and Binghong can govern it without her supervision.
• Zhao Qingyu admits she cannot guarantee perfection but promises to do her utmost. She points out that Saintess City regards her and Binghong as its two “Earth Goddesses,” second only to Verdant Green Maiden, reflecting the people’s trust in them.
• Convinced by Zhao Qingyu’s determination, Verdant Green Maiden entrusts Saintess City to her and departs for Western Prefecture.
• Outside Western Prefecture, the massive Great Song Imperial Guard arrives and camps before the city. Gaochang’s rulers are stunned by the army’s size and equipment, far beyond what Gaochang can field.
• Cao Bin and Yue Qiu approach the city walls. Cao Bin identifies himself as the Duke of Lu and commander of the Imperial Guard, demonstrating Great Song’s sincerity and confidence in the alliance.
• Ashilan Han welcomes Cao Bin into the city. Great Song and Gaochang hold negotiations, agreeing on most aspects of cooperation, although Great Song remains dissatisfied with Gaochang’s reluctance to commit too many resources.
• Verdant Green Maiden later arrives at the Gaochang palace, claiming her identity as Great Song’s Imperial Tutor. Her arrival astonishes Yue Qiu, Cao Bin, and Wei Qingping.
• Old Yellow Ox recognizes her immediately and rushes out to meet her, surprising Cao Bin, who had not realized the ox’s unusual connection to the Imperial Tutor.
• In the royal hall, Verdant Green Maiden speaks with Ashilan Han. He questions her about her origins, life on Heavenly Mountain, and whether she heard Gaochang’s prayers. She confirms his questions, while the damaged stone pillar outside serves as proof of her supernatural identity.

Character Developments

• Zhao Qingyu demonstrates growing confidence and maturity. Though she recognizes her limitations, she accepts responsibility for Saintess City and vows to govern it diligently.
• Verdant Green Maiden shows both caution and trust. She is concerned about the city’s stability but ultimately recognizes Zhao Qingyu’s development enough to leave it in her hands.
• Cao Bin is characterized as bold and self-assured. By personally entering Gaochang as the Imperial Guard’s commander, he offers a powerful display of Great Song’s sincerity.
• Ashilan Han remains cautious and politically astute. Even while welcoming Cao Bin and acknowledging the Saintess, he continues to probe their intentions and protect Gaochang’s interests.
• Old Yellow Ox reveals its special bond with Verdant Green Maiden through its immediate and enthusiastic reaction to her arrival.

Significant Themes

• Trust and responsibility: Verdant Green Maiden must trust Zhao Qingyu to manage Saintess City independently, marking a transition from supervision to delegated leadership.
• Political alliance and mutual interests: Great Song and Gaochang cooperate against common enemies, but their differing willingness to sacrifice resources creates underlying tension.
• Power and legitimacy: Great Song’s enormous army and Verdant Green Maiden’s supernatural abilities both establish authority, while Gaochang’s leaders carefully evaluate whether that power can be trusted.
• Faith versus political judgment: Ashilan Han reveres the Saintess but still questions her like a ruler, showing that religious awe does not erase practical concerns.
• Growth and succession: Zhao Qingyu and Binghong’s status as “Earth Goddesses” suggests that Verdant Green Maiden’s influence is gradually being shared with the next generation.

Important Character Interactions

• Verdant Green Maiden and Zhao Qingyu: Their conversation centers on whether Zhao Qingyu is ready to govern alone, ending with Verdant Green Maiden granting her responsibility.
• Cao Bin, Yue Qiu, and Ashilan Han: Their meeting establishes the formal military and political cooperation between Great Song and Gaochang.
• Cao Bin and Wei Qingping: They react with surprise and admiration to Old Yellow Ox, emphasizing the extraordinary reputation surrounding Verdant Green Maiden.
• Verdant Green Maiden and Ashilan Han: Their exchange combines religious reverence with political questioning, as Ashilan Han seeks confirmation of her identity and motives.

Chapter Summary: “Sudden Change”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Ashilan Han asks Verdant Green Maiden why she insists on helping the Han people despite also being worshiped in the Western Regions. She explains that she was originally the god of the Han people and only later became a god of the Western Regions.
• Ashilan accepts her position and promises that Gaochang will help Great Song recover the Western Regions, while emphasizing that he must still protect Gaochang’s own interests. Verdant Green Maiden accepts this limitation, explaining that Saintess City was created to govern according to local circumstances.
• Old Yellow Ox suddenly enters the Grand Hall and rushes to Verdant Green Maiden, revealing that he has missed her after being left alone in the Western Regions. Their affectionate, humorous reunion lightens the serious political discussion.
• Cao Bin, Yue Qiu, and another official arrive. Ashilan informs them that he and Verdant Green Maiden have reached more favorable cooperation terms than previously expected. The agreement is formally confirmed.
• Gaochang commits 30,000 troops to the Western campaign, though many lack proper weapons and combat training. Great Song strengthens its own forces by adding 5,000 cavalrymen to the Imperial Guard, supported by newly raised warhorses from the Hexi Corridor.
• The allied forces reestablish the Pacified West Grand Protectorate, capture Yanqi, and recover the central-northern and eastern Western Regions within five years. Their borders once again reach the Black Khanate and Khotan Kingdom.
• The campaign suddenly stops when news arrives that Emperor Zhao Guangyi has died. The Western expedition leaders fear that the new emperor may withdraw imperial support and cut off supplies.
• Cao Bin, the Gaochang Prime Minister, Wei Qingping, and others become deeply anxious. Gaochang in particular cannot safely withdraw because it has become an enemy of the Black Khanate and Khotan after cooperating with Great Song.
• Binghong emerges from the inner room, and the officials immediately surround her, urgently asking what Verdant Green Maiden has said about the crisis.

Character Developments

• Ashilan Han demonstrates both honesty and political prudence. He accepts Verdant Green Maiden’s religious loyalty to the Han people but makes clear that Gaochang’s survival and prosperity remain his foremost responsibility.
• Verdant Green Maiden reveals her personal and religious commitment to the Han people while showing diplomatic flexibility toward Gaochang. Her willingness to accept Ashilan’s limits helps secure the alliance.
• Old Yellow Ox displays a strong emotional attachment to Verdant Green Maiden. His dramatic arrival emphasizes their close bond and adds comic relief to the political negotiations.
• Cao Bin shifts from confidence over the military alliance to intense anxiety following the emperor’s death. He recognizes that the Western campaign and the region’s stability depend heavily on imperial support.
• The Gaochang Prime Minister becomes especially desperate because Gaochang’s security is tied directly to the continued presence of Great Song’s army.
• Binghong is treated as an important intermediary, suggesting that she may know Verdant Green Maiden’s response or possess information crucial to the unfolding political crisis.

Significant Themes

• Loyalty and divided allegiance: Verdant Green Maiden’s identity as both a Han deity and a god of the Western Regions creates tension between broader spiritual responsibility and ancestral loyalty.
• Pragmatic diplomacy: The alliance succeeds because both sides acknowledge their own interests rather than demanding absolute obedience.
• Consequences of military expansion: Great Song’s victories reshape the Western Regions, but the newly created political order remains dependent on military protection and supply lines.
• Uncertainty caused by succession: The death of Zhao Guangyi demonstrates how quickly political changes at the center can endanger distant military campaigns and allied states.
• Interdependence: Great Song needs Gaochang’s troops and local cooperation, while Gaochang depends on Great Song’s army for protection against powerful regional enemies.

Character Interactions

• Ashilan and Verdant Green Maiden engage in a candid but respectful discussion about faith, loyalty, and military cooperation.
• Verdant Green Maiden and Old Yellow Ox share a warm, almost familial reunion, with her teasing him about his new status as a “Divine Ox.”
• Ashilan presents the finalized terms to Cao Bin, Yue Qiu, and the other officials, who respond with surprise and gratitude.
• Cao Bin and the others later share their fears about the new emperor, while trying to calm one another.
• Binghong becomes the focus of the group’s concern when the political crisis intensifies, and everyone looks to her for guidance.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Cao Bin and the Western Regions commanders worry about urgent orders from Bianjing, particularly possible instructions to withdraw their troops or call a truce.
• Zhao Qingyu, acting under Verdant Green Maiden’s guidance, orders them to ignore any such imperial decree. She declares that obeying would sacrifice the Western Regions, while defying the decree could either be rebellion or earn them great merit if they succeed.
• Xu Su, now serving as the group’s strategist and diviner, reassures Cao Bin that the situation is “greatly auspicious.”
• Verdant Green Maiden deliberately gives Zhao Qingyu responsibility for handling the commanders, showing that she is preparing her disciple to inherit greater authority.
• The next day, Verdant Green Maiden and Zhao Qingyu travel toward Bianjing. Near Yang Pass, they encounter an envoy mission carrying an imperial decree.
• Verdant Green Maiden disguises the encounter as a bandit robbery and confronts the mission’s leader, Lü Mengzheng, a former Chancellor and current Privy Council Commissioner.
• Lü Mengzheng explains that he has been sent by the emperor to deliver an order to Cao Bin, the Marquis of Lantian, and the other Western Regions commanders.
• When Lü refuses to let Verdant Green Maiden inspect the decree, she reminds him of her extraordinary status, claiming she could even drag Great Ancestor Zhao Kuangyin from his grave and beat him.
• Realizing that Verdant Green Maiden served as Imperial Tutor during Zhao Kuangyin’s reign as well as later reigns, Lü is shocked by her apparent agelessness.
• Verdant Green Maiden defeats the guards, seizes the decree, discovers that it orders Cao Bin to withdraw his troops, and tears it apart.
• Zhao Qingyu emerges and condemns the court’s shortsightedness, arguing that opening the Silk Road and strengthening trade with the Western Regions would benefit the empire. Lü then asks who she is.

Character Developments

• Zhao Qingyu demonstrates increasing political confidence and independence. She takes command of the Western Regions forces and openly accepts the risks of defying the imperial court.
• Verdant Green Maiden continues transitioning from direct leader to mentor. She deliberately allows Zhao Qingyu to manage important matters while remaining ready to intervene decisively.
• Xu Su has become a trusted strategist and diviner, serving as Zhao Qingyu’s principal adviser in Verdant Green Maiden’s absence.
• Cao Bin is cautious and concerned about the consequences of rebellion, but ultimately follows Zhao Qingyu’s command.
• Lü Mengzheng appears as a dutiful but rigid representative of the imperial court. His confidence collapses when confronted with Verdant Green Maiden’s authority and power.
• Verdant Green Maiden’s youthful appearance despite her gray hair is emphasized, suggesting supernatural longevity and reminding others that her influence extends across multiple imperial reigns.

Significant Themes

• Loyalty versus obedience: The commanders must choose between blindly following an imperial order and remaining loyal to what they believe protects the empire’s long-term interests.
• Political shortsightedness: The court prioritizes immediate control and factional interests over the economic and strategic benefits of the Silk Road.
• Succession and mentorship: Verdant Green Maiden is gradually preparing Zhao Qingyu to assume leadership and act independently.
• Authority beyond institutions: Verdant Green Maiden’s personal power and historical status outweigh formal bureaucratic rules, allowing her to challenge even imperial authority.
• Tradition versus progress: The court’s order threatens expansion and trade, while Zhao Qingyu and her allies support developing relations with the Western Regions.

Character Interactions

• Zhao Qingyu reassures and commands Cao Bin, Yue Qiu, Wei Qingping, and the other commanders, persuading them to resist any withdrawal order.
• Cao Bin consults Xu Su about the danger, and Xu Su responds with confidence in Verdant Green Maiden’s plan.
• Verdant Green Maiden and Zhao Qingyu discuss the departure and the responsibilities Zhao Qingyu must gradually assume.
• Verdant Green Maiden confronts Lü Mengzheng over access to the imperial decree, escalating from verbal intimidation to physical action.
• After destroying the decree, Zhao Qingyu joins Verdant Green Maiden in condemning the imperial court, leaving Lü Mengzheng confused about her identity.

Plot points and events

• Lü Mengzheng identifies Zhao Qingyu as the Defender of the State Grand Princess and asks her to persuade the Imperial Tutor to prevent further war. Zhao refuses, saying they disagree too fundamentally.
• Verdant Green Maiden advises Lü to wait in Dunhuang rather than travel west, and says she and Zhao will go to Bianjing to speak with the emperor. Lü ignores the warning and continues to Saintess City, trusting that his authority—and the emperor’s—will be respected.
• At Saintess City, Lü demands that Cao Bin withdraw the Western Regions Imperial Guard. Cao asks to see the Imperial Edict; Lü admits the Imperial Tutor tore it up. Cao refuses to obey an order without the document, and his silence makes clear he would not necessarily comply even if one existed.
• Lü and his delegation are lodged separately and kept under watch, effectively placed under house arrest.
• Wei Qingping proposes killing the delegation and blaming the deaths on Tibetan tribes. Cao Bin and Yue Qiu reject the plan, warning that murder would constitute rebellion. Wei then suggests taking the visitors sightseeing, but the others distrust his motives. Yue Qiu pulls him away and urges him to trust the Imperial Tutor and seek the least costly solution.

Character developments and interactions

• Zhao Qingyu openly stands by her master’s position, refusing to use her royal status to influence the Imperial Tutor.
• Lü Mengzheng remains convinced that rank and imperial authority will prevail, even after Verdant Green Maiden’s warning. His confidence falters when Cao Bin refuses his demand and he is confined.
• Cao Bin and Yue Qiu obey the Imperial Tutor’s instructions while drawing a clear line against murder, distinguishing lawful defiance from outright rebellion.
• Wei Qingping is fiercely protective of the Western Regions’ gains and quick to consider violence, but ultimately backs down when challenged. Yue Qiu acts as the practical restraint on his impulses.

Significant themes

• Authority versus proof: Cao Bin treats a physical Imperial Edict as essential, while Lü relies on his verbal account and official status.
• Obedience and conscience: The chapter’s title is reflected in the Western commanders’ refusal to follow orders they consider unsupported, while they also refuse to cross into murder.
• Political pragmatism and restraint: Characters weigh the consequences of their actions and prefer a less costly resolution over escalation.
• Fate and foreknowledge: Zhao and Verdant Green Maiden interpret their encounter with Lü as part of an inevitable chain of events.

Chapter Summary: “Rumors Rising Everywhere”

Key Plot Points and Events

• In the Western Regions, Wei Qingping and Yue Qiu worry about the Imperial envoy delegation. Although eliminating the delegation would be easy, they fear that doing so would make the Imperial Court suspect the Western Regions of rebellion.
• Their political position remains delicate: they do not seek complete independence and still acknowledge the authority of Great Song’s Imperial Court. Any unexplained disappearance of the delegation would create lasting distrust.
• Verdant Green Maiden and Zhao Qingyu enter Guanzhong after passing Dasan Pass, but detour to Lantian County to visit Liu Cailian and Yue Huan.
• Verdant Green Maiden reassures Liu Cailian that Yue Qiu is safe and will return alive. She explains that she and Zhao Qingyu are traveling to Bianjing to meet the new emperor.
• Liu Cailian reports widespread rumors claiming that the new emperor plans to withdraw the Imperial Guard from the Western Regions. The rumors portray the Western Regions as dangerous, destructive, and harmful to Great Song.
• Verdant Green Maiden realizes the rumors are likely being deliberately spread by officials opposed to retaining the Western Regions. She condemns them for focusing only on immediate costs while ignoring the Silk Road’s economic and strategic value.
• Verdant Green Maiden asks Liu Cailian to calm the people of Lantian County while prioritizing her own safety.
• The next day, Verdant Green Maiden and Zhao Qingyu visit the county yamen. The arrogant magistrate attempts to threaten and arrest them, but Zhao Qingyu reveals a handkerchief bearing the seal of the Defender of the State Grand Princess, causing him to recognize their authority.

Character Developments

• Yue Qiu: Shown as cautious and politically responsible. Though he might prefer to destroy the threatening delegation, he understands the long-term consequences and refuses to act rashly.
• Wei Qingping: Shares Yue Qiu’s anxiety and recognizes that their survival depends on the Goddess’s actions.
• Verdant Green Maiden: Demonstrates political awareness, compassion, and leadership. She reassures Liu Cailian, recognizes the danger of misinformation, and takes steps to protect both the local population and Yue Qiu’s family.
• Liu Cailian: Revealed as sensible, loyal, and capable. Despite missing her husband, she does not blame Verdant Green Maiden and manages her household and social responsibilities with dignity.
• Zhao Qingyu: Displays confidence and contempt for incompetent officials, openly challenging the county magistrate.
• County Magistrate: Presented as pompous and overbearing, but his confidence collapses once confronted with the Grand Princess’s seal.

Significant Themes

• Political trust and suspicion: The Western Regions must avoid actions that could make the Imperial Court suspect treason, even when provoked.
• The danger of rumors and propaganda: Ordinary people accept false claims because they cannot distinguish truth from manipulation, showing how public opinion can be shaped by powerful interests.
• Short-term profit versus long-term strategy: Opponents of the Western Regions focus on its immediate costs while ignoring its economic, military, and historical importance.
• Duty versus family: Yue Qiu’s service keeps him separated from Liu Cailian and Yue Huan, highlighting the personal sacrifices demanded by political responsibility.
• Authority and appearances: The magistrate relies on official posturing, but genuine authority is demonstrated through the Grand Princess’s seal rather than bluster.

Character Interactions

• Wei Qingping and Yue Qiu discuss the risks of attacking the envoy delegation and agree that the situation depends on Verdant Green Maiden.
• Verdant Green Maiden and Liu Cailian share a compassionate conversation about Yue Qiu’s safety and the rumors threatening the Western Regions.
• Verdant Green Maiden instructs Liu Cailian to calm the local population while protecting herself until Yue Qiu returns.
• Verdant Green Maiden and Zhao Qingyu confront the Lantian magistrate together, with Zhao acting as the more openly aggressive defender of their authority.
• Zhao Qingyu and the magistrate clash when he attempts to assert control, but his arrogance disappears when shown the seal of the Defender of the State Grand Princess.

Chapter Summary: “Lantian County Magistrate”

Key Plot Points and Events

• The Lantian County Magistrate is shocked when he realizes that the two women before him are Verdant Green Maiden, the Great Virtue Imperial Tutor, and Zhao Qingyu, the Defender of the State Grand Princess.
• After one of his bailiffs casually insults the women, the magistrate kicks him and desperately apologizes to the Imperial Tutor and Grand Princess for failing to recognize them.
• The bailiffs panic when they realize they nearly arrested two figures of immense rank. They kneel and beg for forgiveness, but Verdant Green Maiden dismisses the incident as trivial.
• When asked why they have come, the magistrate realizes that the visit concerns the rumors circulating about the horrors of the Western Regions and the campaign to persuade the Emperor to withdraw the troops.
• Verdant Green Maiden threatens to bury him if he cannot provide a satisfactory explanation in three sentences. Under extreme pressure, the magistrate confesses that the rumors were ordered by officials in the Imperial Court.
• He specifically names Chancellor Lü, Chancellor Wang, and other court officials, claiming they instructed him to spread rumors throughout Lantian County in order to influence public opinion and sway the Emperor against the military campaign.
• Verdant Green Maiden orders him to write down every person involved. The magistrate produces a list beginning with Lü Mengzheng and containing many officials from across the Imperial Court.
• She promises to protect his life, though not necessarily his position, provided he has not committed crimes that harmed innocent people. The magistrate admits that he is merely corrupt and greedy, but denies causing deaths.
• Having obtained the list, Verdant Green Maiden and Zhao Qingyu leave without lingering.

Character Developments

• Verdant Green Maiden is established as immensely powerful and intimidating. She treats high-ranking officials—including dukes, chancellors, and even the Emperor—as beneath her notice. Despite her threats, she also demonstrates measured judgment by distinguishing ordinary corruption from crimes that harm lives.
• Zhao Qingyu remains largely silent but is presented as an equally important and intimidating authority through her title as the Defender of the State Grand Princess.
• The Lantian County Magistrate is shown to be cowardly, corrupt, and highly pragmatic. He immediately abandons his loyalty to the court conspirators when threatened, attempting to save himself by exposing them. He is also shrewd enough to understand that a written list gives him leverage and a chance of survival.
• The bailiffs shift rapidly from arrogance to terror once they recognize the women’s identities, highlighting their ignorance and fear of imperial authority.

Significant Themes

• Power and hierarchy: The chapter emphasizes the enormous authority wielded by Verdant Green Maiden and Zhao Qingyu, whose presence instantly overwhelms local officials.
• Political conspiracy: The rumors about the Western Regions are revealed to be deliberate propaganda organized by court officials attempting to undermine the war effort.
• Fear and self-preservation: The magistrate’s confession shows how quickly officials abandon one another when faced with mortal danger.
• Justice versus corruption: Although the magistrate is guilty of greed and political manipulation, Verdant Green Maiden distinguishes between lesser corruption and truly destructive crimes.
• Manipulation of public opinion: The court faction uses rumors to “bewitch people’s hearts” and pressure the Emperor into withdrawing troops, revealing the broader political struggle behind the rumors.

Character Interactions

• The magistrate humiliates and punishes a bailiff who insults the visiting women, demonstrating his immediate submission to them.
• The bailiffs beg forgiveness from Verdant Green Maiden and Zhao Qingyu after discovering their identities; Verdant Green Maiden orders them to stop groveling and rise.
• Verdant Green Maiden interrogates the magistrate under threat of execution, forcing him to reveal the court officials behind the rumor campaign.
• She challenges his credibility and warns him not to falsify the list, while the magistrate desperately assures her of his honesty.
• Their final exchange establishes a conditional understanding: the magistrate provides evidence against the conspirators, and Verdant Green Maiden guarantees his life unless further investigation reveals more serious crimes.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Verdant Green Maiden and Zhao Qingyu leave Lantian County. Before departing, Verdant Green Maiden orders the Lantian County magistrate to obey Liu Cailian, the Marchioness of Lantian, and help her manage the rumors spreading through the county.
• The magistrate, relieved to avoid immediate punishment but aware that he will likely lose his office, quickly prepares gifts and visits Liu Cailian. He claims to have no involvement in the rumors and asks Liu Cailian to “take charge of the overall situation.”
• Liu Cailian understands that Verdant Green Maiden has intervened and agrees to work with the magistrate to suppress the rumors, which could damage the Marquis of Lantian and the broader situation in the Western Regions.
• Verdant Green Maiden and Zhao Qingyu travel through Tong Pass to Bianjing, the capital of Great Song. Zhao Qingyu is deeply impressed by the city’s prosperity and spends much of their time shopping for gifts for Binghong, Wei Qingping, Yue Qiu, and others.
• Verdant Green Maiden teasingly assumes Zhao Qingyu is indulging in shopping because she is a young girl, prompting a humorous exchange about the Dao Scripture and whether Zhao Qingyu is buying things for herself.
• On the way to the Imperial Palace, they pass the Wu Duke’s Residence, which is decorated with mourning streamers. They realize that Li Yu, the former ruler of Southern Tang and a famous lyric poet, has died.
• Zhao Qingyu jokes about attending the funeral feast, easing the somber mood. Verdant Green Maiden refuses to enter, explaining that their karmic connection with the Wu Duke’s Household has ended and that another visit would only create unnecessary karma.

Character Developments

• Verdant Green Maiden demonstrates her authority and political practicality. Rather than personally handling every consequence of the rumors, she places the Lantian magistrate under Liu Cailian’s control. She also shows emotional restraint regarding Li Yu’s death, choosing not to interfere with a relationship she considers finished.
• The Lantian County magistrate shifts from obsequious fear to active self-preservation. Although he insists he had no role in spreading the rumors, he immediately follows Verdant Green Maiden’s instructions and seeks Liu Cailian’s protection. His behavior shows both cowardice and practical adaptability.
• Liu Cailian is entrusted with greater responsibility. She recognizes the political danger posed by the rumors and accepts the task of suppressing them.
• Zhao Qingyu appears lively, perceptive, and affectionate. She enjoys exploring Bianjing, buys gifts for her companions, and playfully challenges her master. Her jokes also reveal growing ease and familiarity in her relationship with Verdant Green Maiden.
• Li Yu, though absent, is remembered as a deceased ruler and celebrated poet whose death marks the end of another historical and karmic connection.

Significant Themes

• Political survival and opportunism: The magistrate’s immediate change in behavior illustrates how officials adapt when threatened by powerful figures.
• Authority and delegation: Verdant Green Maiden maintains control by assigning responsibilities to others rather than acting directly.
• Karma and the acceptance of endings: Her refusal to visit Li Yu’s household reflects the belief that once a karmic connection ends, revisiting it may cause unnecessary complications.
• Prosperity and national strength: Bianjing’s bustling markets symbolize Great Song’s rapid rise and the prosperity achieved under a unified dynasty.
• Humor amid serious events: Zhao Qingyu’s shopping and jokes provide warmth and comic relief amid political tension, death, and questions of karma.

Important Character Interactions

• Verdant Green Maiden intimidates and commands the Lantian magistrate, while he responds with exaggerated submission.
• Liu Cailian and the magistrate form a temporary alliance to control the rumors, with the magistrate relying on her authority and protection.
• Zhao Qingyu and Verdant Green Maiden share playful but familiar banter about shopping, youth, and the Dao Scripture.
• Their discussion of Li Yu’s funeral reveals their contrasting responses: Zhao Qingyu uses humor to lighten the moment, while Verdant Green Maiden takes a detached, philosophical view of their past connection.

Chapter Summary: “Why Won’t You Let Us Go?”

1. Key Plot Points and Events

• Zhao Qingyu and her master, Verdant Green Maiden, secretly enter Bianjing’s Imperial City by climbing the walls rather than using the gates.
• Zhao Qingyu asks to visit Noble Consort Zang, who raised her, but the two first go to the Imperial Study to confront Emperor Zhao Heng.
• Zhao Heng is preparing peace negotiations with the Khitan and Dali and intends to withdraw the Imperial Guard from the Western Regions. He believes this will bring peace throughout the realm and establish him as a sage ruler.
• He also dreams of performing the Feng Shan Ritual on Mount Tai and gaining the prestige associated with immortals and past emperors.
• When Zhao Qingyu and Verdant Green Maiden appear, Zhao Heng initially mistakes them for palace infiltrators. Zhao Qingyu reveals her identity, and Verdant Green Maiden identifies herself as the Imperial Tutor.
• Verdant Green Maiden questions Zhao Heng about who ordered the withdrawal from the Western Regions and challenges his claim that he speaks for “us.”
• Zhao Heng argues that continued warfare will exhaust the people, drain the treasury, and create powerful generals who could threaten the dynasty, citing the fall of the Former Tang as a warning.
• Verdant Green Maiden insists that the Western Regions, Liaodong, and the Southern Frontier must not be abandoned. The chapter ends with her asking whether Zhao Heng would accept even a tiny realm, as long as the Zhao family remained in power while foreign peoples spread across the land.

2. Character Developments

• Zhao Qingyu shows filial feeling and loyalty by wanting to visit the Imperial Concubine who raised her. She is also openly disdainful of Zhao Heng and acts as a confident intermediary between him and her master.
• Verdant Green Maiden is revealed to be less invincible and self-assured than her legendary reputation suggests. She dislikes political involvement and recognizes the personal cost of her interventions, yet remains determined to defend the empire’s frontier territories.
• Zhao Heng is portrayed as an ambitious but anxious ruler. He genuinely wants peace and fears the economic and political consequences of prolonged war, but his priorities are increasingly exposed as dynastic rather than national.
• The relationship between Zhao Heng and Verdant Green Maiden is marked by long-standing authority and tension. Though he is emperor, he remains intimidated by and deferential toward her.
• The chapter highlights the contrast between Zhao Qingyu’s personal attachment to her family and her contempt for Zhao Heng’s political choices.

3. Significant Themes

• Peace versus security: Ending wars may spare lives and resources, but abandoning strategic territories could leave the people vulnerable and diminish the realm.
• Dynastic interest versus the common good: Zhao Heng equates the survival of the Zhao dynasty with the survival of the country, while Verdant Green Maiden distinguishes the imperial family’s interests from those of ordinary people.
• The burdens of power and intervention: Verdant Green Maiden never sought political authority, yet her abilities and past decisions have drawn her into shaping the fate of the realm.
• Historical lessons: Zhao Heng fears a repetition of the Former Tang’s collapse through the rise of powerful military governors, while Verdant Green Maiden emphasizes the danger of territorial retreat and foreign expansion.
• The meaning of rulership: The confrontation questions whether a ruler should prioritize preserving a dynasty or maintaining the broader strength, dignity, and living space of the people.

4. Character Interactions

• Zhao Qingyu and Verdant Green Maiden share a familiar master-disciple relationship, with Qingyu teasingly warning Zhao Heng about her master’s temper.
• Zhao Qingyu confronts Zhao Heng as both his younger sister and a critic of his policies.
• Verdant Green Maiden dominates the conversation with Zhao Heng, questioning his motives and forcing him to confront whether he truly represents the people.
• Zhao Heng responds respectfully but bitterly, defending his policy of peace through concerns about taxation, casualties, military power, and dynastic stability.
• Their exchange remains unresolved, ending on Verdant Green Maiden’s pointed challenge about whether Zhao Heng values the Zhao family’s throne above the survival and strength of the realm.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Zhao Heng summons Privy Council Commissioner Li Hang and Chancellor Wang Qinruo to discuss the court’s decision to withdraw troops from the Western Regions.
• Verdant Green Maiden directly questions who ordered the withdrawal and challenges the officials’ claim that it was done “for the sake of the people.”
• Li Hang argues that restraint in warfare makes Zhao Heng a sage ruler, while Wang Qinruo enthusiastically praises him. Verdant Green Maiden exposes their likely political motive: civil officials prefer avoiding expansion that might strengthen the military and threaten their influence.
• She warns that abandoning the Western Regions, Liaodong, and Dali would leave Great Song strategically vulnerable. The Central Plains cannot remain secure if powerful foreign states are allowed to develop unchecked nearby.
• Verdant Green Maiden presents an economic argument for expansion: controlling the Western Regions and reopening the Silk Road would bring immense wealth into Great Song. Combined with maritime trade, this could dramatically increase commercial-tax revenue and allow the court to reduce grain taxes on the people.
• Li Hang and Wang Qinruo reject the idea, insisting that grain taxes—not money—are the foundation of the state. They argue that commercial taxes cannot replace grain.
• Zhao Heng initially sides with Li Hang, but Zhao Qingyu points out that the government could use commercial revenue to buy grain directly from ordinary farmers.
• The chapter ends with the officials stunned by the proposal to replace compulsory grain taxation with government purchases from the people, eliminating exploitative grain merchants and giving farmers greater incentive to produce.

Character Developments

• Zhao Heng: Revealed as politically impressionable and uncertain. He initially supports the officials’ conventional arguments but becomes confused when Verdant Green Maiden offers a compelling alternative economic vision.
• Verdant Green Maiden: Demonstrates strategic, economic, and political insight. She shifts the debate from moral ideals to practical benefits, arguing that territorial expansion and trade can strengthen both national security and the welfare of the people.
• Zhao Qingyu: Shows unexpected practical intelligence and confidence. Her simple suggestion—buying grain directly from farmers with commercial-tax revenue—undermines the officials’ assumptions.
• Li Hang: Defends the withdrawal and the traditional grain-tax system. He presents himself as concerned for the people but becomes unsettled when Verdant Green Maiden challenges the political interests behind his position.
• Wang Qinruo: Acts as Li Hang’s eager supporter, praising Zhao Heng and quickly rejecting unfamiliar ideas. His nervousness suggests he may be particularly concerned about the political implications of Verdant Green Maiden’s criticism.

Significant Themes

• Tradition versus innovation: The officials rely on historical precedent, while Verdant Green Maiden and Zhao Qingyu propose new systems of taxation, trade, and state finance.
• Military expansion and national security: The chapter argues that defensive security may require outward expansion and control of strategic regions.
• Trade as national power: The Silk Road and maritime routes are presented as sources of wealth capable of funding the state and reducing the burden on farmers.
• Political self-interest: The officials’ public concern for the people may conceal a desire to preserve civil officials’ dominance over military affairs.
• Taxation and the people’s welfare: The discussion questions whether grain should be taken as tax or purchased from farmers, suggesting that direct compensation could encourage agricultural production and weaken exploitative middlemen.

Character Interactions

• Verdant Green Maiden dominates the discussion, questioning Zhao Heng and forcing Li Hang and Wang Qinruo to defend their policies.
• Zhao Heng repeatedly struggles between the officials’ conventional arguments and the Imperial Tutor’s broader vision.
• Li Hang and Wang Qinruo present a united front in support of grain taxation and troop withdrawal.
• Zhao Qingyu unexpectedly joins the debate and, with a straightforward question, exposes a possible alternative to the traditional tax system.
• The chapter closes with the officials unable to immediately answer Zhao Qingyu’s proposal, signaling a challenge to the established political and economic order.