Chapter Summaries

After returning to Chang'an, Nezha visited the Li family with Sun Huo Wang and Yang Jian before the three traveled to Mount Tai to reunite with their companions. At the palace, they were welcomed by Chunyu Tiying and the others as they awaited the Goddess’s important announcement.

• Li Deqian greeted Nezha and invited him, Sun Huo Wang, and Yang Jian to the Duke of Wei’s Residence, and they accepted.
• After staying in Chang'an for another day or two, the three set out for Mount Tai and passed Han Xin’s grave.
• Jingang waited at the palace entrance and told the arrivals that the Goddess had summoned them and that Little Tiying had returned.
• Sun Huo Wang reunited with Chunyu Tiying, Yang Chan, Bai Susu, and the others inside the palace.
• Chunyu Tiying stopped Sun Huo Wang from teasing Jingang and served the group health-preserving tea.

Verdant Green Maiden used the True Spirit Hierarchy Diagram to invest Sun Huo Wang, Yang Jian, Nezha, and the others with Divine Positions, then warned them that gods must serve humanity. When Heaven’s lightning struck Mount Tai, Qing Nü challenged Heaven, who appeared before her.

• Chunyu Tiying stopped Sun Huo Wang from leaving and led him into the Grand Hall after Hong Luan told her to teach him a lesson.
• Verdant Green Maiden revealed the True Spirit Hierarchy Diagram and explained that she had summoned everyone to bolster their spirits before going against Heaven.
• Verdant Green Maiden invested Sun Huo Wang as the Great Sage Equal to Heaven and Yang Jian and Nezha with their Divine Positions.
• Verdant Green Maiden granted Divine Positions to Yang Chan, Bai Susu, Hong Luan, Chunyu Tiying, Jingang, and the others, reminding them that gods must serve humanity.
• As thunder and darkness gathered over Mount Tai, Qing Nü taunted Heaven and used Rich Flower and Blade Mountain Wood to draw down the lightning.
• Heaven appeared atop Rich Flower and glared furiously at Qing Nü.

Verdant Green Maiden persuaded Heaven not to interfere with her plans, then went with him to Taiji Palace to see her dying disciple, Li Shimin. They reached his bedside unseen, where the emperor lay surrounded by his family, physicians, officials, and foreign dignitaries.

• Verdant Green Maiden told Heaven she would protect living beings and refused to let others dictate her choices, and Heaven agreed not to interfere.
• Heaven told Verdant Green Maiden that Li Shimin was about to die, so she decided to visit him while Hong Luan and Saro stayed behind.
• Verdant Green Maiden reassured Saro that she would not involve her in the conflict, then left with Heaven for Chang'an.
• Verdant Green Maiden and Heaven concealed themselves and entered Taiji Palace without being noticed.
• Verdant Green Maiden and Heaven reached Li Shimin's bedside as his breathing grew faint, with Li Chengqian, other Princes, physicians, officials, and foreign representatives gathered nearby.

As Li Shimin died with his family gathered around him, Qing Nü reflected on the altered Tang succession and asked Heaven about the Heavenly Court and Great Tang’s future. Heaven refused to reveal what the Book of Fate planned, leaving Qing Nü demanding an answer.

• Heaven explained that Li Shimin’s happy family and strong empire, as well as the Journey to the West pilgrimage, had contributed to his extra years of life.
• Li Shimin coughed, and the imperial physicians declared him beyond saving; he urged Li Chengqian not to blame them and entrusted Great Tang to him before dying.
• Qing Nü watched a strand of Purple Qi leave Li Shimin’s body, and Heaven told her it would return to the Heavenly Court.
• Qing Nü asked whether flying upward could reach the Heavenly Court, and Heaven confirmed that it could not and refused to explain further.
• Qing Nü asked whether the female emperor would still appear and how the Book of Fate would plan Great Tang’s destiny without the old conflicts and the An Lushan Rebellion.
• Heaven warned Qing Nü that she should not ask about those matters, and she insisted on knowing.

Verdant Green Maiden promised the Sky God she would keep trying to spare the people from mortal calamities despite the Book of Fate’s backlash. After Li Shimin died, Li Chengqian ascended the throne and vowed to preserve the Zhenguan Prosperous Age, while Verdant Green Maiden promised Xuanzang she would visit him when he died.

• Verdant Green Maiden told the Sky God she would endure the consequences of resisting fate to save the people, and he returned to the heavens.
• Li Shimin died, and Li Chengqian buried him at Zhaoling Mausoleum amid mourning from across the realm.
• Li Chengqian ascended the throne, named Li Xiang Crown Prince, and pledged to uphold Li Shimin’s legacy with the aid of his ministers.
• Li Chengqian decided to visit Xuanzang in person at Great Ci'en Temple.
• Xuanzang asked Qing Nü whether she would visit him after his death, and she promised to see off all her old friends.

Verdant Green Maiden met Li Chengqian and agreed to stay in Chang'an before visiting two temples, where she encountered Wu Ruyi praying for a child for her elder brother. Learning that Wu Ruyi's brother had no children, Verdant Green Maiden wondered whether the Book of Fate had changed.

• Li Chengqian arrived at Great Ci'en Temple, greeted Verdant Green Maiden, and persuaded her to stay in Chang'an while he spoke with Xuanzang.
• Verdant Green Maiden visited Qing Xiao Jade Maiden Temple and Shunde Heavenly Maiden Temple and heard people praying for many different wishes.
• Verdant Green Maiden pretended to collide with Wu Ruyi, who kindly helped her up and invited her to a tea house.
• Wu Ruyi told Verdant Green Maiden that she had come to pray for a child for her elder brother, who had been childless for years.
• Verdant Green Maiden recognized Wu Ruyi's name and wondered whether history and the Book of Fate had changed.

Verdant Green Maiden met Wu Ruyi in a teahouse, and Wu Ruyi suspected that Yu Se had ties to the royal family because she stayed at Great Ci'en Temple. Verdant Green Maiden later visited Qing Xiao Jade Maiden Temple, where she froze after recognizing a woman praying for her master to return.

• Cui'er defended Wu Ruyi when Verdant Green Maiden sized her up, and Verdant Green Maiden challenged Cui'er's assumptions about their status.
• Verdant Green Maiden told Wu Ruyi that she was not from Chang'an and invited her to meet at Great Ci'en Temple the next day.
• Wu Ruyi explained to Cui'er that Great Ci'en Temple admitted guests only with royal permission, so Yu Se might be connected to the royal family or using a false name.
• Verdant Green Maiden returned to Qing Xiao Jade Maiden Temple and heard a woman pray for her master to return.
• Verdant Green Maiden recognized the praying woman and froze.

Verdant Green Maiden recognized Li Qi’s disciple He Qiong at the Qing Xiao Jade Maiden Temple and learned she had traveled from Lingnan to find her missing master. After He Qiong left, Xuanzang told Verdant Green Maiden that Li Chengqian wanted him to stay in Chang’an as an adviser.

• Verdant Green Maiden pretended to faint so she could meet He Qiong, who helped her rest and brought her tea and pastries.
• Verdant Green Maiden learned that He Qiong had come from Lingnan to search for someone and was praying for help finding them.
• He Qiong accompanied Verdant Green Maiden to Great Ci'en Temple and vowed to search across the world if she could not find the person she sought.
• Xuanzang welcomed Verdant Green Maiden back, led her to her room, and explained that Li Chengqian wanted him to remain in Chang’an and advise him.

Xuanzang told Verdant Green Maiden he had refused an offer and planned to go to Mount Tai after passing down the Mahayana Buddhist Law, but she said she had something to entrust to him without needing him to make the journey. The next morning, a maid named Cui'er arrived at Great Ci'en Temple seeking Dian Qing, and Verdant Green Maiden decided to meet her because she was curious about Cui'er's mistress.

• Xuanzang told Verdant Green Maiden he had refused an offer and intended to go to Mount Tai after passing down the Mahayana Buddhist Law, but she said she would entrust him with something once he finished his current task.
• Verdant Green Maiden gazed at the moon alone that night and wondered whether Chang'e Fairy truly lived there.
• Cui'er arrived at Great Ci'en Temple seeking a woman named Dian Qing, and Xuanzang recognized that she meant Verdant Green Maiden.
• Xuanzang told Verdant Green Maiden that Cui'er appeared to serve a powerful official family, but Verdant Green Maiden chose to meet her because she was curious about her mistress.

Qing Nü left Great Ci'en Temple with Cui'er and visited Wu Ruyi, Prince Jin's Consort, at Prince Jin's Manor. Wu Ruyi asked about Qing Nü's identity and ties to the temple, and Qing Nü revealed that her surname was Ying and that she belonged to the Yong City Qin Clan.

• Qing Nü assured Xuanzang she would help if needed, then left Great Ci'en Temple and met Cui'er.
• Cui'er told Qing Nü that her mistress was Wu Ruyi, Prince Jin's Consort, and led her to Prince Jin's Manor.
• Wu Ruyi welcomed Qing Nü and walked with her through the garden, introducing the flowers she had chosen.
• Wu Ruyi asked Qing Nü about her real name and her connection to Great Ci'en Temple.
• Qing Nü said Dian Yu Se was not her real name, revealed her surname was Ying, and identified her family as the Yong City Qin Clan.
• Wu Ruyi agreed to keep Qing Nü's family background secret.

Wu Ruyi courted Verdant Green Maiden after learning she belonged to the Yong City Qin Clan, hoping to gain its support for Li Zhi. Li Zhi resolved to act against Li Chengqian for the sake of his son Li Hong, while Verdant Green Maiden was stopped by Bad People during the night curfew.

• Wu Ruyi learned that Verdant Green Maiden belonged to the Yong City Qin Clan and invited her to dine and discuss poetry at Prince Jin's Manor.
• After Verdant Green Maiden left, Wu Ruyi and Li Zhi discussed whether they could win her and the Qin Clan as allies.
• Li Zhi revealed his belief that Li Chengqian had stolen the Mandate of Heaven meant for him and Li Hong, and resolved to take it back.
• Verdant Green Maiden wandered through Chang'an's night markets and was stopped by Bad People, who offered to escort her back to her ward.

Verdant Green Maiden escaped the Bad People who tried to take her in, then visited their headquarters and recruited their superior, Gao De, to investigate Prince Jin Li Zhi. Gao De fainted at the request and, after waking, begged her to assign them a safer target.

• Verdant Green Maiden refused to go with the Bad People, offered them silver, then escaped and taunted them as she ran.
• The Bad People reported losing her to their superior, who ordered them to search for her, but Verdant Green Maiden appeared at their main door before they could leave.
• The superior recognized Verdant Green Maiden from an encounter years earlier and welcomed her inside, and she learned his name was Gao De and that he knew Chang'an's terrain well.
• Verdant Green Maiden asked Gao De to investigate Prince Jin Li Zhi, and he fainted when he heard the target's name.
• After the Bad People revived Gao De, he bowed to Verdant Green Maiden and pleaded for a different assignment because investigating the imperial clan was too dangerous.

Verdant Green Maiden recruited Gao De for a dangerous task involving Prince Jin, Li Zhi, then summoned Li Chengqian to Great Ci'en Temple. Li Chengqian arrived early and waited anxiously for her to wake so she could explain what she wanted.

• Verdant Green Maiden asked Gao De to come to Great Ci'en Temple the next day if he accepted her task, and Gao De ordered his men to keep their meeting secret.
• Verdant Green Maiden returned to Great Ci'en Temple, gave Xuanzang snacks, and asked him to invite Li Chengqian for a meeting.
• Xuanzang sent word to Li Chengqian, who spent a restless night wondering why Verdant Green Maiden wanted to see him.
• Li Chengqian arrived at Great Ci'en Temple early, learned that Verdant Green Maiden was still asleep, and decided to wait.
• Verdant Green Maiden woke late in the morning, expecting her visitors and preparing to handle business.

Qing Nü secured Gao De the post of Bad People Commander and tasked him with investigating Prince Jin’s connections. Gao De uncovered an elusive Old Daoist Priest who had treated Li Hong, but the priest’s whereabouts remained unknown.

• Qing Nü told Li Chengqian to be confident in his rule and explained that she wanted Gao De appointed Bad People Commander.
• Li Chengqian agreed to make things convenient for Gao De, and Qing Nü invited both men to dine with her.
• After receiving his new position, Gao De investigated the Sixteen Residences and used the Bad People's network throughout Chang'an City.
• Gao De reported that an unknown Old Daoist Priest had treated Li Hong, Prince Jin's Heir Apparent, a month earlier and had since disappeared from Chang'an.
• Qing Nü praised Gao De for his discovery while he continued searching for the Old Daoist Priest.

Verdant Green Maiden learned that Wu Yuanqing was meeting with the Dou family of Xia and asked Gao De to keep monitoring them. Xuanzang promised that he would remain her disciple despite his connection to Buddha, and Verdant Green Maiden agreed to meet Wu Ruyi outside Chang'an for an outing.

• Gao De told Verdant Green Maiden that Wu Yuanqing had been associating with the Dou family of Xia, now led by Dou Qingcai, and she ordered him to keep watching them and Prince Jin's Manor.
• Xuanzang told Verdant Green Maiden that he had finished translating the Mahayana Buddhist Law and agreed to become a Buddha if she required it.
• Xuanzang guessed that his previous life was connected to Buddha and promised that he would remain Verdant Green Maiden's disciple even if he forgot and had to remember again.
• Wu Ruyi invited Verdant Green Maiden to admire flowers outside Chang'an, and Verdant Green Maiden accepted, telling Cui'er to have the princess consort wait for her outside the city.

Verdant Green Maiden confronted Wu Ruyi and Li Zhi after discovering that Li Zhi was hiding in their carriage. The couple explained that they were secretly rebelling to save Hong'er, while Verdant Green Maiden pretended to consider helping them.

• Verdant Green Maiden summoned Gao De and ordered him to accompany her outside Chang'an.
• Wu Ruyi and Cui'er arrived at the flower fields with Li Zhi hidden in a carriage.
• Verdant Green Maiden recognized Li Zhi, and Gao De drew his sword toward the carriage.
• Li Zhi and Wu Ruyi admitted they had concealed Li Zhi and claimed their rebellion was necessary to save Hong'er.
• Verdant Green Maiden acted hurt by their deception, then appeared conflicted as the couple pleaded for her help.

Qing Nü persuaded Li Zhi and Wu Ruyi that she would help them, then arranged for Gao De to investigate Li Xuan and contact the Yong City Qin Clan. Before leaving Chang'an, she met He Qiong, who planned to travel west in search of someone.

• Qing Nü agreed to help Li Zhi and Wu Ruyi after hearing their account of the old conspiracy involving Li Xuan.
• Qing Nü told Gao De to search Shu for Li Xuan and ask the Yong City Qin Clan Head to cooperate.
• Qing Nü returned to Great Ci'en Temple, told Xuanzang she was leaving, and warned him not to mislead people about Mahayana Buddhist Law.
• Qing Nü departed Chang'an and met He Qiong at the city gate.
• He Qiong told Qing Nü she was going west beyond the pass to seek help from a miraculous Bodhisattva in finding the person she sought.

Verdant Green Maiden met He Qiong, who was searching for her missing Master, and offered to take her to Lingnan in exchange for He Qiong guiding her. As they neared the mountains marking Lingnan’s boundary, Verdant Green Maiden learned about He Qiong’s devotion to her Master and secretly helped sustain her along the journey.

• He Qiong tearfully told Verdant Green Maiden that she had tried many ways to find her missing Master without success.
• Verdant Green Maiden offered to help He Qiong search for her Master if He Qiong guided her to Lingnan, and gave her travel money.
• Verdant Green Maiden summoned Old Yellow Ox and persuaded He Qiong to lead it as they set out for Lingnan.
• During the journey, Verdant Green Maiden learned that He Qiong owed her Master a new life and was determined to find her, while secretly nourishing her with precious medicinal herbs.
• He Qiong pointed out the mountain ranges ahead and said that crossing them would bring them to Lingnan.

He Qiong brought Qing Niangzi to the coastal village where she and Li Qi had lived, and Qing Niangzi learned from the villagers about their good deeds. After returning from a stroll, Qing Niangzi asked He Qiong what Li Qi had taught her, leaving He Qiong wondering why she wanted to know.

• The villagers warmly welcomed He Qiong home and gave her fish and other gifts.
• He Qiong showed Qing Niangzi the house she and Li Qi had built and prepared a simple seafood meal.
• Qing Niangzi went out alone and asked the townsfolk about He Qiong and Li Qi.
• Qing Niangzi returned to find He Qiong feeding Old Yellow Ox, then asked what she and Li Qi had learned.
• He Qiong said Li Qi had taught her medicine, martial arts, and basic breathing and health practices, and asked Qing Niangzi why she wanted to know.

Verdant Green Maiden revealed to He Qiong that Li Qi was only a wisp of an Immortal’s soul and no longer existed, leaving He Qiong struggling with the loss. He Qiong accepted Verdant Green Maiden as her Martial Aunt and traveled with her to Chang'an, where Verdant Green Maiden summoned Gao De to learn whether he had found any trace of Li Xuan.

• Verdant Green Maiden told He Qiong the truth about Li Qi, and He Qiong withdrew to grieve.
• He Qiong avoided Verdant Green Maiden for weeks until Verdant Green Maiden insisted she accompany her on a trip.
• He Qiong brought Verdant Green Maiden soup and said Li Qi remained her Master, asking to call Verdant Green Maiden her Martial Aunt.
• Verdant Green Maiden refused to let He Qiong stay behind, and He Qiong agreed to travel with her.
• Verdant Green Maiden and He Qiong returned to Chang'an after nearly four months on the road.
• Verdant Green Maiden summoned Gao De at Great Ci'en Temple, and he hurried to see her.