Chapter Summaries

Yang You accepted Li Yuan's succession after Li Shimin arrived, and Verdant Green Maiden reunited with her former disciples, who learned that Li Yuan had falsely led them to believe she was dead. Verdant Green Maiden then proposed enfeoffing Yang You alone from the former imperial clan, leaving Li Yuan to consider the idea.

• Yang You learned Li Shimin had arrived to investigate the Abdication Edict and told Verdant Green Maiden to receive him.
• Li Shimin recognized Verdant Green Maiden as his teacher and revealed that Li Yuan had told him she was dead.
• Yang You confirmed he had issued the Abdication Edict, and Li Shimin chose to focus on placating Verdant Green Maiden rather than discussing the throne.
• Li Yuan arrived with Li Jiancheng and Li Xiu Ning, who also expressed surprise that Verdant Green Maiden was alive and blamed Li Yuan for the misunderstanding.
• Yang You accepted Li Yuan as the new emperor, and Li Yuan promised him supreme honor and lifelong safety.
• Verdant Green Maiden suggested that Yang You alone be enfeoffed from the former imperial clan, while Li Yuan considered whether to grant more titles.

Yang You announced his abdication in favor of Li Yuan, who prepared to become emperor while Verdant Green Maiden cautioned that his fawning ministers could imperil the Tang Dynasty. As the abdication ceremony began, Li Yuan stood ready to depart for the Sacrifice to Heaven.

• Li Yuan agreed to enfeoff only one person, then Yang You announced at court that he would abdicate in Li Yuan’s favor.
• The ministers flocked to Li Yuan after court, and Yang You and Verdant Green Maiden discussed the danger of his trusting their flattery.
• Li Yuan and Yang You remained in their respective residences as the palace prepared the robes and rites for the abdication.
• Li Xiu Ning introduced Chai Shao and their children to Verdant Green Maiden, while Li Shimin brought Changsun Wugou and received a Mermaid’s Tear Pearl for her.
• On the day of the Sacrifice to Heaven, Li Yuan inspected his ceremonial robes and prepared to leave Prince of Tang’s Mansion.

Li Yuan completed his accession as emperor, while Dou Shi became Empress and soon fell gravely ill. As Sun Simiao traveled to treat her, Verdant Green Maiden agreed to examine Dou Shi herself while the Li siblings waited anxiously.

• Li Yuan traveled to Taiji Hall, where Yang You handed him the Imperial Seal Ribbon and surrendered the throne.
• Li Yuan appointed Li Jiancheng Crown Prince, named Li Shimin King of Qin, made Li Xiu Ning Princess Pingyang, and granted Yang You the title of Anle Gong.
• Dou Shi moved into the palace as Empress, but fell seriously ill the next day, prompting Li Yuan to seek skilled physicians.
• Li Xiu Ning asked Verdant Green Maiden to summon Chunyu Tiying, who sent her apprentice Sun Simiao to treat Dou Shi.
• Hong Luan reported that Sun Simiao would arrive in a little under half a month, and Verdant Green Maiden agreed to examine Dou Shi in the meantime.

Verdant Green Maiden heard Dou Shi’s two dreams of her sons’ bloody future and of Li Yuanji, and promised to prevent the family from turning against one another. Half a month later, Sun Simiao arrived in Chang'an and summoned her by worshiping her statue in the western market.

• Verdant Green Maiden used Stars Shift to bring Dou Shi’s three sons and herself to Lizheng Hall, then asked everyone to leave so she could speak privately with Dou Shi.
• Dou Shi told Verdant Green Maiden that one dream showed her death and her sons fighting in a future Great Tang, while the other concerned San Hu, Li Yuanji, and left her worried something might happen to him.
• Verdant Green Maiden reassured Dou Shi that her sons were her disciples and promised to watch over Li Yuanji as Dou Shi focused on recovering.
• Half a month later, Sun Simiao arrived from Liaodong, got lost in Chang'an, and worshiped Verdant Green Maiden’s statue in the western market to summon her.
• Verdant Green Maiden found Sun Simiao at his altar, and he explained that he had not gone to the Qing Xiao Jade Maiden Temple because he did not know the way.

Verdant Green Maiden brought Sun Simiao to examine Dou Shi, whose mysterious weakness remained under observation. Meanwhile, Li Yuanji proclaimed himself the Great Han Heavenly King in Shu, prompting Li Yuan to send Li Shimin to reclaim the region and bring him back alive; Li Shimin then sought Verdant Green Maiden's explanation of Li Yuanji's past.

• Verdant Green Maiden praised the agarwood statue Sun Simiao said Chunyu Tiying had carved, then led him to Lizheng Hall to examine Dou Shi.
• Sun Simiao found Dou Shi extremely weak but not in immediate danger, and Li Yuan arranged for him to stay in Taiji Palace and treat her.
• Li Yuan learned that Li Yuanji had seized Chengdu, proclaimed himself the Great Han Heavenly King, allied with Xiao Xi, and driven Tang forces back to Han Zhong.
• Li Yuan ordered Li Shimin to lead fifty thousand troops with Li Jing to retake Shu and bring Li Yuanji back alive.
• Li Jiancheng warned Li Shimin not to let family ties interfere with the campaign, and Li Xiu Ning asked whether Li Yuanji was their younger brother San Hu.
• Li Shimin visited Verdant Green Maiden and asked whether she had arranged for Li Yuanji to be sent to Shu, and she asked why he had brought him up.

Verdant Green Maiden decided to investigate how Li Yuanji had seized Shu and declared himself the Great Han Heavenly King, suspecting the Book of Fate was involved. She traveled with Hong Luan through Han Zhong and encountered a mysterious person waiting on the mountain road into Shu.

• Li Shimin told Verdant Green Maiden about the situation in Shu and the advice Li Yuan and Li Jiancheng had given him, and she urged him to preserve his bond with his elder brother.
• Verdant Green Maiden resolved to go to Shu herself, dismissed Li Shimin's concerns about danger, and agreed he and Li Jing could investigate separately.
• Verdant Green Maiden questioned Hong Luan and Damn Heaven about Li Yuanji's rise; Damn Heaven said she would have to see for herself, and she suspected the Book of Fate was behind it.
• Verdant Green Maiden and Hong Luan traveled to Han Zhong, where they observed tens of thousands of Tang troops and wondered how Li Yuanji had defeated them while leaving them alone.
• As Verdant Green Maiden and Hong Luan approached Shu, a man appeared beneath a tree and bowed; Verdant Green Maiden sent Hong Luan into the sky and walked toward him.

Verdant Green Maiden met Yuan Tiangang, who had spent ten years calculating when he could find her, and questioned his role in Li Yuanji’s uprising in Shu. Yuan Tiangang warned that Li Yuanji had been brought to Shu by Verdant Green Maiden, and she continued toward Shu to discover why he had raised an army.

• Yuan Tiangang introduced himself as a former student of Tai Ping Daoist temple and said he had waited ten years to meet Verdant Green Maiden.
• Verdant Green Maiden asked whether Yuan Tiangang had been involved in what happened in Shu, and he explained that he had prophesied Li Yuanji would enjoy wealth and glory but die without a grave.
• Verdant Green Maiden said she was traveling to Shu to find out why Li Yuanji had raised an army, while Yuan Tiangang admitted he did not know.
• Yuan Tiangang warned Verdant Green Maiden that changing fate could carry a heavy price and reminded her that she had brought Li Yuanji to Shu.
• Verdant Green Maiden called Yuan Tiangang annoying and continued on her way.

Verdant Green Maiden and Hong Luan went to Tai Ping Daoist temple on Crane Call Mountain, where the Daoists mistook them for monsters. An older Daoist arrived and drew Verdant Green Maiden’s solemn attention.

• Verdant Green Maiden sent Yuan Tiangang to Chang'an, and the chart he had used to divine her whereabouts burned to ashes.
• Verdant Green Maiden and Hong Luan traveled to Crane Call Mountain and discussed the temple’s late morning schedule.
• A young Daoist told Verdant Green Maiden that Tai Ping Daoist temple was closed while its members awaited a True Person from generations ago.
• Verdant Green Maiden revealed Hong Luan’s human form, but the young Daoist mistook them for monsters and raised the alarm.
• The Daoists rushed to the gate with weapons and talismans, then an older Daoist stepped forward and caught Verdant Green Maiden’s solemn attention.

Verdant Green Maiden met Min Shu, the abbot of Tai Ping Daoist temple, and learned that he had used the Book of Fate’s guidance to find her and warn her not to interfere with Great Tang’s fate. She refused to abandon her plans, visited the pandas descended from Tai Tai and Ping Ping, and left the temple with Hong Luan.

• Min Shu identified Verdant Green Maiden as the temple’s True Person and privately confirmed he had arranged for Yuan Tiangang to seek her out.
• Min Shu explained that prophetic dreams had revealed the Mandate of Heaven and warned Verdant Green Maiden that Li Yuanji’s removal from his destined role as Prince of Qi would not prevent upheaval in Great Tang.
• Verdant Green Maiden rejected Min Shu’s request to stand aside and said she had important business to attend to.
• Min Shu led Verdant Green Maiden and Hong Luan to the back mountain, where she saw the descendants of Tai Tai and Ping Ping living comfortably.
• After Verdant Green Maiden and Hong Luan left, Min Shu explained to his disciples that she was an Immortal and that he called her Goddess out of respect.

Verdant Green Maiden and Hong Luan went to Chengdu to find out who was helping Li Yuanji build power in Shu. After seeing Li Yuanji’s cruelty toward the people, Verdant Green Maiden attacked him in the street, and his attendants rushed to kill her.

• Verdant Green Maiden accused the heavens and immortals of trying to force another Xuanwu Gate Incident through the Book of Fate, and Hong Luan warned her that the book was difficult for the immortals to control.
• Verdant Green Maiden and Hong Luan entered Chengdu and wandered through its food shops before reaching Li Yuanji’s palace.
• Verdant Green Maiden found Li Yuanji indulging in luxury among sycophants, then left with Hong Luan to spend the night at the Marquis Wu Temple.
• The next day, Verdant Green Maiden saw Li Yuanji’s horse trample ordinary people and stepped into the street to stop him.
• Verdant Green Maiden pulled Li Yuanji from his horse and broke his bones and tendons, prompting his attendants to surround her and obey his order to kill her.

Verdant Green Maiden subdued Li Yuanji and confronted Chen Shan Yi, who recognized her and took her back to the palace. There, Verdant Green Maiden sent Chen Shan Yi to summon the Lame Old Daoist, who was preparing to flee.

• Verdant Green Maiden struck Li Yuanji with the Rich Flower, knocking him unconscious and stopping his followers from approaching.
• Hong Luan joined Verdant Green Maiden, and the two wore masks because Verdant Green Maiden said they looked cool.
• Chen Shan Yi arrived and recognized Verdant Green Maiden, then knelt and addressed her as the True Person.
• Verdant Green Maiden ordered Li Yuanji carried back to the palace and took Chen Shan Yi with her and Hong Luan.
• At the palace, Verdant Green Maiden told Chen Shan Yi to summon someone, while the Lame Old Daoist sensed danger and prepared to leave.
• Chen Shan Yi entered the side hall and questioned the Lame Old Daoist about what he was doing.

Verdant Green Maiden confronted Iron Crutch Li about the Immortals’ efforts to preserve the Book of Fate and the Xuanwu Gate Incident. She killed Li Yuanji to defy that fate, and Iron Crutch Li stopped her as she left to ask a favor.

• Chen Shan Yi brought the Lame Old Daoist to meet Verdant Green Maiden, who recognized him as Iron Crutch Li.
• Iron Crutch Li explained that the Immortals followed the Book of Fate to preserve the sequence of dynasties and the Xuanwu Gate Incident.
• Verdant Green Maiden threatened to kill Li Yuanji, and Hong Luan killed him at her command.
• Iron Crutch Li warned Verdant Green Maiden about the consequences of defying fate, but she said she could bear the price.
• Iron Crutch Li called after Verdant Green Maiden as she left and said he needed to ask her a favor.

Iron Crutch Li asked Verdant Green Maiden to guide He Qiong toward becoming an Immortal, and she challenged his claims about fate and the Heavenly Rules. After leaving, Verdant Green Maiden ordered Chen Shan Yi and the palace’s associates to return its wealth to the people and move out.

• Iron Crutch Li told Verdant Green Maiden that He Qiong had lost her chance to become He Xiangu in a past life and asked the Goddess to help her awaken in this one.
• Verdant Green Maiden agreed, then questioned Iron Crutch Li about how mortals could be destined to become Immortals if Immortals were forbidden to interfere in Mortal Realm affairs.
• Iron Crutch Li explained that White Water Fairy had descended with Heaven’s permission because Verdant Green Maiden was the Nine Heavens Mystic Maiden, and Verdant Green Maiden rejected his appeals to the Book of Fate and Heavenly Rules.
• Verdant Green Maiden asked how many Immortals had descended and where they were, but Iron Crutch Li said he did not know; she then left with Hong Luan.
• Chen Shan Yi and her people found Li Yuanji dead in the hall, and Verdant Green Maiden ordered them to return the palace’s wealth to the people within three days and leave without taking anything.
• Chen Shan Yi asked Iron Crutch Li what they should do.

Verdant Green Maiden reclaimed Li Yuanji’s stolen wealth and restored order in Chengdu before traveling north to Han Zhong, where she found Li Shimin with the Tang Army. The chapter ended with Li Shimin recognizing her as his master.

• Iron Crutch Li told Chen Shan Yi to return the wealth to the people and warned her that Heaven Has Dragon Eyes was watching.
• Verdant Green Maiden intercepted Li Yuanji’s fleeing subordinates, killed them when they refused to surrender the palace treasures, and took the wealth back to Chengdu.
• Verdant Green Maiden gave Hong Luan money to recruit temporary officials and distributed the treasures among Chengdu’s people, helping restore order.
• Verdant Green Maiden traveled through Han Zhong and sensed the powerful Dragon Qi of Li Shimin among the Tang Army.
• Verdant Green Maiden entered Li Shimin’s tent, where Li Jing challenged her and Li Shimin recognized her as his master.

Verdant Green Maiden told Li Shimin that she had killed Li Yuanji, then pushed him to continue the campaign in Shu despite Li Yuan's displeasure. As Li Shimin and Li Jing crushed resistance across Shu, she stayed in Chengdu with Hong Luan and learned that Iron Crutch Li was traveling through the region.

• Verdant Green Maiden told Li Shimin and Li Jing that she had killed Li Yuanji, and Li Shimin decided to report the news to Li Yuan.
• After Li Yuan sent a letter expressing dissatisfaction, Verdant Green Maiden added a defiant message and urged Li Shimin to fight without worrying about the emperor's orders.
• Li Shimin led Li Jing and the Tang Army into Shu, while Verdant Green Maiden stayed behind because she had other matters to attend to.
• Verdant Green Maiden returned to Hong Luan, who told her that Iron Crutch Li had left Chengdu and might rally separatist forces.
• After Verdant Green Maiden sent Li Shimin another letter, he accelerated the campaign, and the Tang Army crushed resistance across Bashu, including Xiao Xi of Jianling.

Verdant Green Maiden and Hong Luan discovered that the Book of Fate had caused an earthquake and flood at Dujiangyan, where Yang Jian and Bai Susu stopped the disaster. Verdant Green Maiden left Yang Jian and Bai Susu to face the grateful crowd, including an old man who recognized Yang Jian’s name.

• Verdant Green Maiden and Hong Luan flew to Dujiangyan after an earthquake split the mountains and sent the Min River surging toward Guan County.
• Yang Jian and Bai Susu contained the flood with a Great Conch and raised ridges of earth to block the water.
• Verdant Green Maiden reunited with Yang Jian and Bai Susu and blamed the Book of Fate for directing retribution at ordinary people.
• Yang Jian offered to stay with Bai Susu in Guan County in case the Book of Fate struck again, and Verdant Green Maiden agreed before leaving with Hong Luan.
• The people of Guan County surrounded Yang Jian and Bai Susu to worship them, and an old man reacted in shock when Yang Jian gave his name.

Yang Jian acknowledged that he was the Second Young Master who had repaired Dujiangyan four hundred years earlier and agreed to return to Guan County. Verdant Green Maiden and Hong Luan dealt with rumors blaming Li Yuanji’s expulsion for the earthquake, and the chapter ended with Li Shimin entering Chengdu and greeting Verdant Green Maiden as his master.

• A Guan County records official recognized Yang Jian as the man who had repaired Dujiangyan, and Yang Jian admitted his identity before agreeing to return with the locals.
• Verdant Green Maiden ordered Hong Luan to stop rumors claiming Heaven had caused the earthquake as punishment for driving Li Yuanji away.
• Hong Luan captured the rumor spreaders, and their leader said they had all dreamed the same message; Verdant Green Maiden warned them that dreams were false and let them go.
• Verdant Green Maiden learned that Hong Luan had been placed on Kunlun Mountain to await her, then persuaded Hong Luan to treat her to a meal.
• Three days later, Li Shimin and Li Jing entered Chengdu with the Tang Army and kept Verdant Green Maiden and Hong Luan’s security officers in their posts.
• Li Shimin found Verdant Green Maiden and respectfully addressed her as his master.

Li Shimin asked Verdant Green Maiden to save a youth who had helped the Tang army but was tortured by bandits. Verdant Green Maiden recognized him as possibly Nezha and prepared to treat him, while Hong Luan suspected he had not descended from Heaven.

• Li Shimin found Verdant Green Maiden and asked her to save the youth who had supplied intelligence during the attack on Rongzhou.
• Verdant Green Maiden examined the dying youth, noticed the treasure ring around his neck, and learned that he was called Nezha.
• Li Shimin said he was responsible for protecting someone who had served Great Tang, and Verdant Green Maiden agreed to save Nezha if he gathered the items on her list.
• Li Shimin and Li Jing found that the list contained herbs and ordinary lotus root, and Li Shimin said he trusted Verdant Green Maiden's abilities.
• Verdant Green Maiden asked Hong Luan whether Nezha had come from Heaven, and Hong Luan said she could not sense anything extraordinary about him.

Qing Nü treated Nezha’s injuries with a treasured lotus root, but his mortal body could not withstand its powerful Dragon Qi. She fed him her blood to help him endure the treatment, leaving his recovery underway.

• Hong Luan confirmed Nezha was an ordinary mortal and that the ring around his neck was a mortal object, so Qing Nü decided he could be useful to her.
• Li Shimin delivered the requested herbs but could not find fresh lotus root, so Qing Nü used a small piece from her treasured lotus flower instead.
• Qing Nü placed the centuries-old lotus root over Nezha’s heart, and his severed tendons began to regrow before he writhed in pain.
• Hong Luan warned that Nezha’s frail mortal body could not withstand the lotus root’s potent essence and Qing Nü’s Dragon Qi.
• Qing Nü cut her palm with a bronze dagger once used by the Yellow Emperor and dripped her blood into Nezha’s mouth.

After Verdant Green Maiden healed Nezha, he awoke in Chengdu and learned that she had saved him. Nezha revealed his Indian ancestry and the deaths of his adoptive family, and Verdant Green Maiden suggested Li Jing adopt him.

• Verdant Green Maiden left Nezha to recover and told Li Shimin to give him medicine when he awoke.
• Nezha woke at dusk, recognized Li Shimin, and learned that Verdant Green Maiden had restored his body.
• Li Jing arrived and was astonished when Li Shimin said Nezha was now exceptionally strong.
• Nezha explained that his parents had come from India by way of Persia and that bandits had killed his adoptive family.
• Verdant Green Maiden arrived, said Nezha's family would be blessed in their next lives, and suggested Li Jing take Nezha as his adopted son.