Chapter Summaries

Verdant Green Maiden traveled toward Changlong County with Old Yellow Ox and helped Li Ke’s wife give birth when their carriage became stuck in the mud. The baby was born safely, and Verdant Green Maiden confirmed that the child carried the auspicious fortune she had sensed.

• Verdant Green Maiden and Old Yellow Ox continued along the rain-soaked road after leaving Tai Ping Daoist temple.
• A traveler told Verdant Green Maiden that Changlong County lay ahead, and she resumed her journey.
• Verdant Green Maiden came upon Li Ke’s household stranded in the mud and heard that his pregnant wife needed a doctor.
• Verdant Green Maiden treated Li Ke’s wife and delivered her child safely after two hours.
• Verdant Green Maiden examined the newborn and confirmed that he was the source of the auspicious fortune.

Verdant Green Maiden helped Li Ke and Madam Li settle in Changlong County after saving their newborn, Li Bai, and accepted their request to become his master. She gifted the infant an authentic work by Wang Xizhi, leaving his parents astonished by her remarkable connections.

• Li Ke named his son Li Bai, courtesy name Taibai, after his wife dreamed the Evening Star entered her embrace, and Verdant Green Maiden recognized the name with a deep sigh.
• After the muddy road cleared, Li Ke invited Verdant Green Maiden to accompany his family to their newly purchased residence in Changlong County.
• Once Madam Li recovered, she and Li Ke thanked Verdant Green Maiden and asked her to become Li Bai's godmother; Verdant Green Maiden instead offered to be his master and teach him.
• Madam Li formally presented Li Bai as Verdant Green Maiden's disciple, and Verdant Green Maiden gave him Wang Xizhi's authentic calligraphy as a greeting gift.
• Li Ke and Madam Li marveled at the valuable calligraphy and thanked Dian Qing, realizing her background was extraordinary.

Verdant Green Maiden disciplined the mischievous young Li Bai and told his family she was leaving for Chang'an on personal business. She departed the next day, leaving Li Bai and his family uncertain when she would return.

• Madam Li called Verdant Green Maiden after Li Bai climbed high into a tree, and Verdant Green Maiden made him climb down.
• Madam Li scolded Li Bai, who apologized after Verdant Green Maiden told him to do so.
• Verdant Green Maiden gave Li Bai several books and explained that she was going to Chang'an, though she did not know when she would return.
• Li Yueyuan asked Verdant Green Maiden to come back soon, and Verdant Green Maiden promised to try.
• Verdant Green Maiden said farewell to Li Ke and set out for Chang'an the next day.

Qing Nü visited the dying Wu Ruyi, who learned that Qing Nü had altered her and Li Shizhi’s fates. After Wu Ruyi died, Qing Nü questioned Heaven about who had revealed the truth, then left him and went to the Bad People's government office.

• Qing Nü entered Chang'an on foot with Old Yellow Ox after guards enforced Li Xiang’s ban on riding mounts because Crown Prince Li Shizhi was ill.
• Qing Nü visited the dying Wu Ruyi at the Temple of Inspired Karma and agreed that she had come to see her on her final journey.
• Wu Ruyi asked whether Qing Nü had changed her, Ninth Gentleman’s, and her child’s fates, and Qing Nü admitted that she had.
• Wu Ruyi warned Qing Nü that tampering with another’s fate would bring retribution, then died.
• Qing Nü summoned Heaven and asked who Wu Ruyi had seen, but he said that some matters were beyond his sight.
• Qing Nü walked through Chang'an with Heaven disguised as Zan Hua Shi Nü, declared she would confront the people above, and went to the Bad People's government office.

Verdant Green Maiden investigated Wu Ruyi, then traveled north and unexpectedly reunited with the retired Di Renjie in Bingzhou. Di Renjie invited her to his home for a meal, where she remarked on his modest residence.

• Verdant Green Maiden asked an elderly Bad Person to investigate Wu Ruyi and returned three days later for the results.
• The Bad Person reported that Wu Ruyi had met someone from Hebei half a month earlier, and Verdant Green Maiden told him not to record her inquiry.
• Verdant Green Maiden swept Xuanzang's grave and rode north on Old Yellow Ox instead of returning to Shu.
• In Bingzhou, Verdant Green Maiden recognized Di Renjie, who said he was seventy-five and had retired as Duke of Liang after serving as Zhongshu Ling.
• Di Renjie invited Verdant Green Maiden to his residence for a meal, and she questioned why the ducal residence was so shabby.

Verdant Green Maiden traveled to Yingzhou, where she discovered starving children and learned that the region had no infirmary. She arranged for one to be established with help from the Yong City Qin Clan, and by spring it was caring for people in need.

• Verdant Green Maiden paid for her meal and lodging at Duke of Liang's Residence before bidding farewell to Di Renjie and continuing north.
• In Yingzhou, Verdant Green Maiden gave silver and hot food to children begging in the streets and learned their families had lost their laborers.
• Verdant Green Maiden discovered the children did not know what an infirmary was and decided to establish one for the poor.
• Verdant Green Maiden asked the Yong City Qin Clan to oversee the infirmary, and its envoy pledged the clan's support.
• By spring, the infirmary had opened and nursed people back to health, and one child offered Verdant Green Maiden a bowl of hot soup.

Verdant Green Maiden supported the Qin Clan’s clinic and warned it to prepare for the decline of aristocratic families. She attended A Luoshan’s mother’s wedding, where the Turkic general renamed the boy An Lushan, leaving her stunned.

• Verdant Green Maiden promised to fund the clinic and told the Qin Clan to plan for the eventual decline of powerful families.
• Verdant Green Maiden spent several months at the clinic, befriended the children, and enjoyed fishing with Old Yellow Ox.
• A Luoshan told Verdant Green Maiden that his mother, Ashide Clan, would marry a Turkic general, and she agreed to attend for the meat.
• Verdant Green Maiden attended the wedding and listened as the general announced that A Luoshan would take his surname and become An Lushan.
• Verdant Green Maiden fell silent at the name and looked up at the boy beside the general.

Verdant Green Maiden considered killing the child An Lushan before he could lead a devastating rebellion, but Tian stopped her and warned that killing him would worsen the consequences. After Tian sent An Lushan and his family away, Verdant Green Maiden accepted that killing one person could not change the Major Trend, though she remained troubled by it.

• An Yanyan invited Verdant Green Maiden to visit a Turkic tribe, but she refused and congratulated An Lushan on gaining a father.
• Verdant Green Maiden followed An Lushan and his family with a blade, considering killing him before his future rebellion.
• Tian warned Verdant Green Maiden that killing An Lushan would bring even worse consequences, but she rushed at the group anyway.
• Tian blocked Verdant Green Maiden's strike and sent An Lushan, An Yanyan, and the Ashide clan woman away.
• Tian comforted Verdant Green Maiden and told her that killing one or two people could not change the Major Trend; she left still troubled.

After years away, Verdant Green Maiden returned to Shu and encountered Li Yueyuan, Li Ke’s daughter, while helping her find her family. She reunited with the Li family and revealed herself as Li Yueyuan’s Master.

• Verdant Green Maiden witnessed Li Shizhi’s coronation and later returned to Shu in the second year of Kaiyuan.
• Near Changlong County, Verdant Green Maiden found Old Yellow Ox with the lost Li Yueyuan and agreed to take her home.
• Li Yueyuan gave her name, and Verdant Green Maiden recognized her resemblance to someone as they headed to the Li residence.
• Verdant Green Maiden called for Li Ke, and Li Ke, Madam Li, and Li Bai rushed out to greet them.
• Li Bai called Verdant Green Maiden his Master, and she confirmed her identity to the astonished Li Yueyuan.

Verdant Green Maiden returned to the Li family after eight years away and spent half a month visiting them and testing Li Bai’s learning. Before she departed again, she promised Li Yueyuan they would meet someday and urged Li Bai to make his name resound beneath heaven, prompting him to seek swordsmanship at Crane Call Mountain.

• Verdant Green Maiden reunited with Li Yueyuan and Li Bai, gave them gifts, and told the family she had traveled as far north as Yingzhou.
• Madam Li introduced the youngest son, Li Sui, courtesy name Tian Shi, who respectfully addressed Verdant Green Maiden as Master.
• Verdant Green Maiden said she would leave again but stayed with the Li family for half a month and praised Li Bai’s essay before taking it to preserve for eternity.
• As Verdant Green Maiden departed, she told Li Bai she would await the day his name resounded beneath heaven and promised Li Yueyuan they would meet again.
• Li Bai vowed to make his name resound beneath heaven and asked Madam Li to let him go to Crane Call Mountain to learn swordsmanship.

Qing Nü reunited with Li Bai at Crane Call Mountain and saw him admitted to Tai Ping Temple to study the Dao. After giving him the Green Lotus Sword Song and leaving, she followed the Yangtze River east and encountered a strange night market.

• Qing Nü met Li Bai before Tai Ping Temple and learned that he had come to study the Dao so he could travel the world.
• Zhao Zhenxuan welcomed Qing Nü back as a True Person, then accepted Li Bai as a resident guest daoist at Tai Ping Temple.
• Qing Nü spent three nights compiling the Green Lotus Sword Song and gave it to Li Bai before leaving Crane Call Mountain.
• Qing Nü rode Old Yellow Ox east along the Yangtze River and noticed crows watching her as darkness fell.
• Qing Nü came upon a lantern-lit night market and asked a passerby why a market was being held at night.

Shao Dian Qing Nü explored the Ghost Market after paying Ning Lian to guide her, then revealed her power when evil ghosts tried to rob her. After she destroyed them with Rich Flower, Ning Lian returned to her, hoping to join her side.

• Shao Dian Qing Nü persuaded Ning Lian to guide her through the Ghost Market by giving him joss paper.
• Shao Dian Qing Nü concealed her living aura and browsed the market, attracting attention by spending generously.
• A group of evil ghosts blocked Shao Dian Qing Nü and demanded her money.
• Shao Dian Qing Nü ordered Old Yellow Ox to guard the area, then destroyed an evil ghost with one punch.
• The ghosts realized Shao Dian Qing Nü was human, so she brought out Rich Flower and wiped out the evil ghosts.
• Ning Lian returned after fleeing and admitted he had not expected Shao Dian Qing Nü to be so powerful.

Qing Nü visited the ghost market in Fengdu, where Ning Lian learned her identity and bid her farewell at dawn. She continued her journey along the Yangtze River to Dongting, recalling that Ying Zheng had dropped the Imperial Jade Seal into the lake.

• Qing Nü calmed the ghosts in the market and continued exploring with Ning Lian, who asked about her Blade Mountain Wood sword.
• Qing Nü revealed that she was Shao Dian Qing Nü, the Qing Xiao Jade Maiden and Goddess of Frost and Snow, and Ning Lian bowed in reverence.
• As dawn came, Ning Lian explained that the ghost market appeared in different places, then faded away with the other ghosts.
• Qing Nü left Fengdu with Old Yellow Ox and continued downstream along the Yangtze River.
• Qing Nü arrived at Dongting and recalled that Ying Zheng had dropped the Imperial Jade Seal into the lake.

At Dongting Lake, Verdant Green Maiden met an old woman who asked her to visit her granddaughter, Third Lady, in Jing River. Verdant Green Maiden accepted the task for payment and arrived at Jing River a little over ten days later.

• Verdant Green Maiden fished with Old Yellow Ox at Dongting Lake while they waited for the morning mist to clear.
• An old woman approached Verdant Green Maiden and asked her to visit her granddaughter, who had married into Jing River.
• Verdant Green Maiden recognized the situation as resembling The Tale of Liu Yi and agreed to carry out the visit for payment.
• The old woman named her granddaughter as Third Lady and offered payment, which Verdant Green Maiden deferred until she returned.
• Verdant Green Maiden set off with Old Yellow Ox and reached Jing River a little over ten days later.

Verdant Green Maiden found Third Lady while searching by the Jing River and learned that her husband’s family had forced her to herd sheep. Just as Third Lady gave Verdant Green Maiden a blood-written letter for her family, her husband arrived with a concubine and accused her of seducing someone.

• Verdant Green Maiden disguised herself as the scholar Shao Dian and approached Third Lady, who was tending sheep.
• Verdant Green Maiden told Third Lady that an Old Woman from Dongting Lake had sent her to find someone, and Third Lady revealed her identity.
• Third Lady explained that her husband’s family had cast her out to herd sheep because her husband favored his concubine.
• Third Lady wrote a letter in blood asking her father and grandmother to seek justice, and handed it to Verdant Green Maiden.
• Third Lady’s husband arrived with his concubine and accused her of seducing Verdant Green Maiden, so Third Lady urged Verdant Green Maiden to flee.

Verdant Green Maiden protected Sanniang from the Jing River Young Master and punished him for abusing his supposed authority as a water god. After stripping away his cultivation and returning him to catfish form, she warned his concubine not to harm anyone and left Third Lady unharmed.

• Sanniang revealed that she was Dongting Monarch's daughter and that Verdant Green Maiden was facing her husband, the Jing River Young Master.
• Verdant Green Maiden destroyed the Jing River Young Master's attacking subordinates and asked whether he had harmed people; Sanniang said he had only punished some.
• Verdant Green Maiden knocked the Jing River Young Master down, sealed the Jing River against him, and stripped away his three hundred years of cultivation.
• Verdant Green Maiden turned the Jing River Young Master into a catfish and tossed him into the river.
• The concubine denied harming people, and Verdant Green Maiden warned her not to commit evil before deciding not to punish her or Third Lady.

Verdant Green Maiden escorted Third Lady back to Dongting after rescuing her from Jing River, then revealed that she was the Yellow River Earl and a woman. When Third Lady's feelings for her became clear, Verdant Green Maiden encouraged her to look toward the future; at Dongting Lake, Third Lady's father ordered her returned to Jing River.

• Verdant Green Maiden promised the beautiful concubine a stable life in Jing River and took Third Lady toward Dongting.
• Third Lady learned that Verdant Green Maiden was the Yellow River Earl and bowed to apologize for her earlier discourtesy.
• Verdant Green Maiden listed several of her other identities, and Third Lady realized she was a woman and that she had developed feelings for her.
• Verdant Green Maiden acknowledged Third Lady's feelings and urged her not to lose herself in beauty or abandon her future.
• At Dongting Lake, Third Lady reunited with her grandmother, but Dongting Monarch rebuked her and ordered his Prime Minister to send her back to Jing River.

Verdant Green Maiden confronted the Dongting Lord over his treatment of Third Lady, then continued her journey south toward the Tang era’s Prosperous Age. The chapter left her arriving at Dragon Tiger Mountain, where the Heavenly Master welcomed her to stay.

• Verdant Green Maiden revealed her divine identities and dragon power, forcing the Dongting Lord and his fish-and-shrimp officials to submit.
• Third Lady returned to Dongting Lake, rejected her father’s control, and took charge of the lake’s affairs with Verdant Green Maiden’s support.
• Verdant Green Maiden collected her payment from the Old Woman and departed south, while Third Lady vowed to govern Dongting well until they met again.
• Verdant Green Maiden witnessed winter peach blossoms and a later failed harvest, then carried out disaster relief and received a living shrine from local people.
• At the end of Kaiyuan’s twenty-eighth year, Verdant Green Maiden climbed Dragon Tiger Mountain and met Zhang Tianshi, who welcomed her to Heavenly Master Mansion.

Qing Nü left Dragon Tiger Mountain after warning Zhang Tianshi that Great Tang’s prosperity was nearing collapse and asking the Daoists to protect the people if chaos came. In Tianbao’s first year, she reached Chang'an, where the crowded capital’s splendor seemed to her tinged with decline.

• Qing Nü stayed at the Heavenly Master Mansion through New Year, then punished Zhang Tianshi and the other Daoists for staring at her by making them kneel.
• Qing Nü saw an ominous red shooting star and learned from Zhang Tianshi that Emperor Li Shizhi had died; she agreed that the signs were unfavorable.
• Qing Nü received Hong Luan’s letter describing her life on Kunlun Mountain and asked Zhang Tianshi to have Dragon Tiger Mountain aid the common people if the realm fell into chaos.
• Qing Nü left Dragon Tiger Mountain on her old yellow ox, and Zhang Tianshi wondered whether the age was about to change.
• After Li Jiqing succeeded Li Shizhi and named the era Tianbao, Qing Nü arrived in Chang'an and sensed twilight beneath its bustling prosperity.

Verdant Green Maiden, introducing herself as Dian Qing, courtesy name Yu Se, met Yang Yuhuan in Chang'an and joined her to watch Li Bai arrive. After spending the day touring the city with Yang Yuhuan, Verdant Green Maiden watched her return to the Yang residence and wondered whether she had already drawn the imperial family's attention.

• Verdant Green Maiden met Yang Yuhuan after Yang accidentally bumped into her, and learned that the crowds had gathered to welcome Li Bai to Chang'an.
• Yang Yuhuan introduced herself and invited Verdant Green Maiden to watch Li Bai's arrival at Vermilion Bird Gate.
• Li Bai rode through the gate reciting poetry, and Verdant Green Maiden recognized him as her former disciple, noting how much he had aged since their meeting on Crane Call Mountain.
• Yang Yuhuan showed Verdant Green Maiden around Chang'an, then invited her to stay at her home, but Verdant Green Maiden declined.
• Verdant Green Maiden watched Yang Yuhuan enter the Yang residence and wondered whether the imperial family had noticed her, then turned her thoughts to finding food for herself and Brother Ox.