Chapter Summaries

Verdant Green Maiden helped Zu Chongzhi revise the Great Ming Calendar by showing him the celestial and seasonal patterns of thousands of years. After nearly half a year of work, Zu Chongzhi completed the calendar but feared the chaotic realm would prevent its adoption, and then he collapsed after coughing up blood.

• Zu Chongzhi told Verdant Green Maiden he had come to Dragon Tiger Mountain to seek Zhang Tianshi's help with the Great Ming Calendar.
• Verdant Green Maiden offered to help and showed Zu Chongzhi the workings of Heaven and Earth across several thousand years.
• Zu Chongzhi studied the celestial patterns and spent nearly half a year revising the Great Ming Calendar.
• Zu Chongzhi presented the revised calendar to Verdant Green Maiden, who assured him it was exceptionally accurate.
• Zu Chongzhi said the realm's chaos might keep the calendar from being used and feared he would not live to see it adopted.
• Zu Chongzhi spat out blood and turned pale.

Zu Chongzhi died after completing the Great Ming Calendar, and Verdant Green Maiden promised to ensure people could use it. Heaven then asked her to protect Tao Hongjing, whose future work on the True Spirit Hierarchy Diagram carried great karma; she agreed and eventually found him at Juqu Mountain, also known as Maoshan.

• Zu Chongzhi fell ill after finishing the Great Ming Calendar, and Verdant Green Maiden promised to pass it on to future generations.
• Zu Chongzhi died, and Verdant Green Maiden reflected on how briefly they had known each other before putting away his books.
• Heaven asked Verdant Green Maiden to protect Tao Hongjing because he carried the Mandate of Heaven and would create the True Spirit Hierarchy Diagram.
• Verdant Green Maiden agreed to protect Tao Hongjing after Heaven explained the great karma and benefits involved.
• Verdant Green Maiden searched for Tao Hongjing and found his place of seclusion at Juqu Mountain, known as Maoshan.

Verdant Green Maiden arrived at Huayang Pavilion and convinced Tao Hongjing to let her stay, claiming she had come to protect him. She left the reason unexplained, and soon found Tao Hongjing’s relentless questions about Daoist Magic were testing her patience.

• Verdant Green Maiden dressed as a Shangqing Daoist and announced her visit to Huayang Pavilion, where the gathered visitors doubted she was a True Person.
• Tao Hongjing recognized Verdant Green Maiden as an honored guest, apologized for his disciples’ disrespect, and invited her inside.
• Verdant Green Maiden sent Old Yellow Ox to wander in the woods while she met privately with Tao Hongjing.
• Verdant Green Maiden told Tao Hongjing she planned to stay at Huayang Pavilion to protect him, and he agreed to host her.
• Tao Hongjing kept her awake through the night with questions about Daoist Magic, and Verdant Green Maiden began to regret how easily she had trusted him.

Verdant Green Maiden’s reputation spread across the Daoist world, and she agreed to help Tao Hongjing bring the sects together to compile a register of the gods. As invitations went out, an emissary from Xiao Yan arrived at Maoshan to recruit Tao Hongjing for official service.

• Xu Buyan of Tai Ping Daoist temple recognized Verdant Green Maiden and reported that Tai Tai and Ping Ping had died, while their descendants still lived around Crane Call Mountain.
• Verdant Green Maiden praised Tai Ping Daoist temple for following her instructions, then grew tired of the crowds seeking her guidance and began sending visitors away.
• Tao Hongjing asked Verdant Green Maiden to help organize the Daoist sects to compile a common register of the gods, and she agreed to summon them to Maoshan.
• The Daoist sects received Verdant Green Maiden’s invitations and sent eminent representatives to Maoshan.
• An emissary representing Xiao Yan arrived at Maoshan to ask Tao Hongjing to enter official service.

Verdant Green Maiden agreed to visit Xiao Yan after Tao Hongjing refused to leave seclusion, intending to discuss Zu Chongzhi’s Great Ming Calendar rather than serve as an official. She presented the calendar to Xiao Yan, who questioned its accuracy, and she warned him not to mistake her offer for a threat he could dismiss.

• An envoy invited Tao Hongjing and Verdant Green Maiden to serve Xiao Yan, and Verdant Green Maiden agreed to go while Tao Hongjing refused.
• Verdant Green Maiden told Tao Hongjing she planned to discuss the Great Ming Calendar with Xiao Yan and would return before the Daoist sects’ assembly.
• Xiao Yan welcomed Verdant Green Maiden to Jiankang with a grand procession and banquet, then offered her an official post and noble title.
• Verdant Green Maiden declined the appointment and explained that she had come to deliver the Great Ming Calendar.
• Xiao Yan questioned the calendar’s accuracy because the Former Qi had rejected it, and Verdant Green Maiden warned that she could destroy his state without resorting to it.

Verdant Green Maiden’s calendar proved accurate, earning Xiao Yan’s gratitude, while she returned to Maoshan to help Daoist groups compile a register of the Deities. When hostile private troops attacked Huayang Pavilion, she destroyed them with thunderbolts.

• Verdant Green Maiden challenged Xiao Yan to verify the Great Ming Calendar, and he later confirmed its extraordinary accuracy and ordered it promulgated.
• Xiao Yan rewarded Verdant Green Maiden and arranged honors for Zu Chongzhi, but she refused to remain in Jiankang and left after visiting Zu Chongzhi’s grave.
• Verdant Green Maiden gathered Daoist leaders at Maoshan to compile the True Spirit Karma Array Diagram and establish ranks for the Deities.
• Xiao Yan continued seeking advice from Tao Hongjing and Verdant Green Maiden, prompting ministers to resent their influence and send disguised private troops to attack Huayang Pavilion.
• Verdant Green Maiden extinguished the attackers’ torches and killed every private soldier with thunderbolts.

Verdant Green Maiden completed the True Spirit Karma Array Diagram with the Daoist sects, then left Maoshan after Heaven explained why she received only one golden lotus. Years later, she arrived in Jiankang as Xiao Yan lay dying in captivity and begged her to save him.

• Verdant Green Maiden finished the True Spirit Karma Array Diagram with Tao Hongjing and the Daoist masters, and Maoshan received a shower of golden lotuses.
• Verdant Green Maiden took the original diagram, left copies with the Daoist sects, and rode Old Yellow Ox away from Maoshan.
• Heaven told Verdant Green Maiden that adding herself as a Main God had redirected her merit toward paying her debts, leaving her with one golden lotus.
• Verdant Green Maiden traveled north as Tao Hongjing died and Maoshan grew into a sacred cultivation site and the Maoshan Sect rose to prominence.
• Verdant Green Maiden arrived in Jiankang after Hou Jing captured the city and imprisoned Xiao Yan, who begged her to save him and Da Liang.
• Verdant Green Maiden asked the starving Xiao Yan how long he had gone without food.

Verdant Green Maiden learned why Xiao Yan had turned from Daoism to Buddhism and told him that he would die forgotten in Tai City while Da Liang’s emperors became puppets. After Xiao Yan died, she wounded Hou Jing, accepted Heaven’s warning not to kill him, and traveled north to Ye City.

• Verdant Green Maiden asked Xiao Yan why he had devoted himself to Daoism and Buddhism, and he explained that he had turned to Buddhism after Daoist leaders failed to help him quell unrest and his Northern Expedition failed.
• Verdant Green Maiden told Xiao Yan that he would starve to death in Tai City and that Da Liang’s emperors would mostly become puppets; Xiao Yan then died.
• Verdant Green Maiden went to Dragon Treasure Garden and broke Hou Jing’s ribs, but Heaven stopped her from killing him and urged her to go north.
• Verdant Green Maiden slashed Hou Jing once, leaving him gravely wounded, then agreed to head north as Chen Baxian and other loyalist armies advanced on Jiankang.
• Chen Baxian later captured Jiankang, killed Hou Jing, and found Xiao Yan’s rotted remains; meanwhile, Verdant Green Maiden crossed the Yangtze and reached Ye City.

In Ye City, Verdant Green Maiden met Wei Bodhisattva and followed him home, where his grandmother recognized her as the goddess in an old family portrait. She learned the Wei Clan had fallen from prominence over the centuries.

• Verdant Green Maiden tricked Wei Bodhisattva into paying her after he bumped into her, then insisted they travel together.
• Wei Bodhisattva brought Verdant Green Maiden to his humble home and introduced her to his grandmother.
• Grandmother Wei found a childhood portrait drawn by Wei Qing and recognized Verdant Green Maiden as the figure depicted.
• Grandmother Wei and Wei Bodhisattva bowed to Verdant Green Maiden as the Wei Clan's goddess.
• Grandmother Wei explained that the Wei Clan had declined after Liu Che's madness, the fall of the Great Han, and later generations backing the wrong side.

Verdant Green Maiden accepted Wei Bodhisattva as her disciple and trained him in spear technique and military strategy. After visiting Wei Qing’s grave to seek his approval, she gave the boy the name Wei Jue and found that he had excelled in his studies and training.

• Verdant Green Maiden accepted Wei Bodhisattva as her disciple in exchange for the meal at the Wei Family home.
• Wei Bodhisattva trained diligently and told Verdant Green Maiden that he wanted to make something of himself while his grandmother was alive.
• After hearing that Wei Bodhisattva had never received a proper name, Verdant Green Maiden traveled to Chang'an and visited Wei Qing’s grave to ask about naming him.
• Verdant Green Maiden returned to Ye City and named Wei Bodhisattva Wei Jue, with the courtesy name Mingda.
• Verdant Green Maiden checked Wei Jue’s martial arts and studies, found that he had surpassed her expectations, and told him it was time to graduate.

Verdant Green Maiden encouraged Wei Jue to join the army, where he became a Squad Leader before Grandmother Wei died. After saying goodbye to him, she traveled to Shouchun and found a tofu pudding shop whose family had served the city for generations.

• Verdant Green Maiden urged Wei Jue to make his own mark by joining the army, and he agreed.
• Wei Jue joined the Northern Qi Army, distinguished himself in battle, and became a Squad Leader before Grandmother Wei passed away.
• At Grandmother Wei's mourning hall, Verdant Green Maiden comforted Wei Jue, accepted his promise to repay the funeral expenses, and left him.
• Verdant Green Maiden traveled to Shouchun, ordered spicy tofu pudding, and heard the shopkeeper describe his family's six-hundred-year history.
• Verdant Green Maiden ate two bowls, asked the shopkeeper to pass her preference for spicy tofu pudding down to his descendants, and departed.

Verdant Green Maiden met Gao Changgong and his cavalry on the road to Luoyang, then joined them at an abandoned village. She revealed a jug of exceptionally fragrant wine and claimed it had been brewed by the First Emperor, leaving Gao Changgong amused and intrigued.

• Verdant Green Maiden demanded compensation after Gao Changgong's cavalry splashed mud on her, and Gao Changgong gave her his thumb ring.
• Verdant Green Maiden recognized Gao Changgong as the Lanling King when she found his troop resting in an abandoned village.
• Gao Changgong asked Verdant Green Maiden her name and origin, and she introduced herself as Shao Dian Qing Nü from Mount Tai.
• Verdant Green Maiden offered Gao Changgong a jug of hundred-year-old wine and said the First Emperor had brewed it.
• Gao Changgong praised the wine's fragrance but declined to drink it because they had only just met.

Verdant Green Maiden met Gao Changgong and offered to tell his fortune, predicting that he would not live long. After demonstrating her strength, she persuaded him to let her travel with his cavalry to Luoyang to find her disciple, Wei Jue.

• Gao Changgong questioned Verdant Green Maiden about her plans to enter war-torn Luoyang, and she said she was going to find Wei Jue, her disciple and a Qi Army general defending Jinyong City.
• Verdant Green Maiden identified herself as Wei Jue's master and offered Gao Changgong a free fortune reading.
• Verdant Green Maiden's hexagram warned Gao Changgong that he would die young, but he said he would not entrust his life to a reading.
• When a soldier tried to stop Verdant Green Maiden from approaching, she gently sent him flying ten zhang without injuring him.
• Verdant Green Maiden asked to accompany Gao Changgong to Luoyang, and he agreed after she said Old Yellow Ox could keep pace with the cavalry.

Gao Changgong rushed to Jinyong City, where Verdant Green Maiden’s battle song helped his five hundred cavalry break through the besieging Northern Zhou and Turkic forces. The allied armies retreated, Verdant Green Maiden disappeared, and Gao Changgong recognized the name of the garrison officer Wei Jue.

• Gao Changgong ordered his troops to reach Luoyang within five days because the Duke of Wei was in danger of capture.
• Verdant Green Maiden rode Old Yellow Ox alongside the cavalry as they hurried to Jinyong City.
• At Jinyong City, Verdant Green Maiden played her zither and urged Gao Changgong to charge when he heard the music.
• Gao Changgong and his five hundred cavalry broke through the enemy ranks, revealed his identity as the Lanling King, and led the defenders into battle.
• The Northern Zhou and Turkic forces retreated by dusk, and Verdant Green Maiden and Old Yellow Ox vanished.
• Gao Changgong learned that the garrison officer who fought beside him was named Wei Jue and said they would talk inside the city.

Wei Jue reunited with Verdant Green Maiden after she secretly tested him, and she arranged for him to meet Gao Changgong. When Gao Changgong asked her for the score of her zither piece, she offered it in exchange for his taking Wei Jue under his wing.

• Wei Jue fought an unseen attacker in his quarters until he recognized Verdant Green Maiden as his master.
• Wei Jue told Verdant Green Maiden about his rise to general, and she repaired his shattered door with a gesture.
• Verdant Green Maiden prepared to leave when Gao Changgong arrived, then encouraged Wei Jue to invite him inside.
• Gao Changgong asked Verdant Green Maiden for the score of her zither piece from the charge.
• Verdant Green Maiden offered Gao Changgong the score if he would take Wei Jue under his wing.

Verdant Green Maiden reunited with Gao Changgong after he was imprisoned, and he asked whether becoming emperor could still save Northern Qi. She challenged him to explain how he could seize the throne.

• Gao Changgong accepted Verdant Green Maiden’s proposal to reward Wei Jue and refused to rebel against Gao Zhan despite her warning about his fate.
• Verdant Green Maiden departed Luoyang after visiting Wei Jue and choosing not to enter Duke Wei’s Manor.
• Wei Jue was promoted to Grand Governor, while Gao Zhan abdicated to Gao Wei and later died from his excesses.
• Gao Wei grew suspicious of Gao Changgong, stripped him of command, imprisoned him, and executed Hulü Guang and many of his allies.
• Verdant Green Maiden appeared privately to Gao Changgong in the fourth year of Wuping and told him Northern Qi’s defeat was nearly certain.
• Gao Changgong asked if becoming emperor could save Northern Qi, and Verdant Green Maiden asked how he would take the throne.

Verdant Green Maiden urged Gao Changgong to surrender to Zhou to save Northern Qi’s people, leaving him to decide. She then found Wei Jue preparing to storm Ye City and rescue Gao Changgong, but told him the choice rested with Gao Changgong.

• Gao Changgong asked Verdant Green Maiden to help rebuild the Great Qi Army, but she questioned why he wanted her help.
• Verdant Green Maiden argued that Northern Qi could not be saved, though its people could, and urged Gao Changgong to surrender to Zhou.
• Gao Changgong struggled with the choice, while Verdant Green Maiden warned that Wei Jue’s planned rescue would fail and cost him his life.
• Verdant Green Maiden left Gao Changgong under guard and went to Wei Jue, who planned to take Ye City by force with the men he could gather.
• Wei Jue insisted he would attempt the rescue even with only eighty soldiers, and Verdant Green Maiden told him she had left the decision to Gao Changgong.

Verdant Green Maiden watched Gao Changgong drink Gao Wei’s poison, then used Blade Mountain Wood to make him appear dead so she could save him. After his burial, she revived him and announced that she was taking him to Northern Zhou.

• Verdant Green Maiden refused to reveal her conversation with Gao Changgong and warned Wei Jue that his plan to intervene was too risky without an heir.
• Gao Wei sent an envoy to Lanling King’s Manor with poison and an imperial edict ordering Gao Changgong to die.
• Gao Changgong drank the poison, and Verdant Green Maiden used Blade Mountain Wood to suppress his life force and make him appear dead.
• The envoy reported Gao Changgong’s death to Gao Wei, who celebrated, while Lu Lingxuan publicly arranged posthumous honors to maintain appearances.
• Wei Jue mourned at Gao Changgong’s grave, and Verdant Green Maiden dug him up and revived him with the Rich Flower.
• Verdant Green Maiden told Wei Jue she was taking Gao Changgong to Northern Zhou.

Verdant Green Maiden and Gao Changgong traveled from Great Qi to Chang'an, where she revealed her ties to the Han era and led him toward Yuwen Yong. The chapter left Yuwen Yong offering sacrifices to Liu Bei and declaring his resolve to defeat Northern Qi.

• Verdant Green Maiden agreed to take Gao Changgong to Northern Zhou, while Wei Jue chose to remain in Great Qi and bid them farewell.
• Verdant Green Maiden and Gao Changgong reached Chang'an, where she recalled its transformation and explained that she had known Liu Bang and was the Qing Xiao Jade Maiden.
• Verdant Green Maiden and Gao Changgong spotted Yuwen Yong's procession heading to the Central Temple and followed it.
• Yuwen Yong offered sacrifices to Liu Bei and declared that, though he was not Han, he had become no different from the Han people.

Verdant Green Maiden brought the resurrected Gao Changgong to Yuwen Yong as the Famous General she had promised. Gao Changgong agreed to serve Yuwen Yong in his campaign to unify the world, and Yuwen Yong appointed him Duke of Qi.

• Yuwen Yong declared that Great Zhou would unify the world, and Verdant Green Maiden appeared inside the Central Temple to offer him a Famous General.
• Verdant Green Maiden returned with Gao Changgong, whom Yuwen Yong recognized as the Lanling King who had been sentenced to death by Gao Wei.
• Yuwen Yong asked whether Gao Changgong would obey him, and Gao Changgong agreed to serve if Yuwen Yong sought to unify the world and save the common people.
• Yuwen Yong and Gao Changgong clasped hands, and Yuwen Yong promised to make him Duke of Qi and entrust him with the Qi State Ancestral Temple rites.
• Verdant Green Maiden prepared to leave, but Yuwen Yong called after her to wait.