Chapter Summaries

Qing Nü forced An Lushan to agree to treat the people well, then followed Li Jiqing’s flight toward Shu as Tang collapsed. At Mawei Slope, Verdant Green Maiden told Yang Yuhuan that she would be killed there, but did not know whether she would receive a grave.

• Qing Nü subdued An Lushan and made him accept her terms, then left without answering his question about Yingzhou.
• Qing Nü followed Li Jiqing’s party through Tong Pass toward Shu and found no Crown Prince heading north to Shuofang.
• The Imperial Guard discovered Li Jiqing was fleeing Chang'an and mutinied at Mawei Slope.
• Verdant Green Maiden met Yang Yuhuan in a ruined temple and acknowledged that Yang bore some responsibility for the realm’s turmoil.
• Verdant Green Maiden told Yang Yuhuan that Li Jiqing would blame and kill her at Mawei Slope, but could not say whether she would be buried.

Verdant Green Maiden listened as Yang Yuhuan recounted her past, then witnessed Li Jiqing poison her and leave her buried beneath a tree. In Shu, she visited Bai Susu at the Temple of the Illustrious True Lord and waited for Yang Jian so she could share the reason for her visit.

• Yang Yuhuan began telling Verdant Green Maiden her own account of the past ten years, but stopped when Li Jiqing arrived.
• Li Jiqing told Yang Yuhuan that Yang Guozhong and the rest of the Yang Family had been killed, then professed his love before giving her poisoned wine.
• Verdant Green Maiden watched Yang Yuhuan be buried beneath a tree, then went ahead to Shu.
• Verdant Green Maiden visited the Temple of the Illustrious True Lord in Guan County and met Bai Susu, who explained that she and Yang Jian guarded Dujiangyan and Shu's waterways.
• Verdant Green Maiden asked Bai Susu to wait for Yang Jian's return before she explained why she had come.

Verdant Green Maiden warned Yang Jian and Bai Susu not to get involved in the rebellion, then promised to protect the people of Tai Ping Temple when Zhao Zhenxuan feared they would be forced to obey the emperor. After An Lushan captured Chang'an and proclaimed Great Yan, midsummer snow halted the rebels’ looting, and he demanded that the Astronomical Bureau explain the strange weather.

• Yang Jian returned to find Bai Susu and Verdant Green Maiden together, then shared a meal with Bai Susu before discussing the rebellion with his master.
• Verdant Green Maiden warned Yang Jian and Bai Susu that Li Jiqing would enter Shu and advised them to stay out of the conflict.
• Zhao Zhenxuan told Verdant Green Maiden that Tai Ping Daoist temple could not refuse an imperial order, and she promised to protect its people.
• The rebel army captured Chang'an, where Qing Xiao Jade Maiden Temple and Shunde Heavenly Maiden Temple opened their doors to refugees.
• Snow fell over Chang'an in July, and rebels who went out to commit evil died mysteriously, forcing the army to stay in its camps.
• An Lushan demanded that the Astronomical Bureau explain the midsummer snow, but its officials feared telling him that it signaled Heaven’s displeasure.

An Lushan held a ritual at the Qing Xiao Jade Maiden Temple to stop the snow, where he recognized Verdant Green Maiden and collapsed as the snow ceased. Gravely ill and abandoned, he later confronted her about saving him as a child and trying to kill him now.

• An Lushan had the Astronomical Bureau officials beheaded after they suggested a ritual, then ordered one held when the snow continued to fall.
• An Qingxu read an edict at the Qing Xiao Jade Maiden Temple while Verdant Green Maiden watched from the crowd.
• An Lushan saw Verdant Green Maiden and heard her tell him not to speak, then entered the temple and collapsed after recognizing the statue.
• The snow stopped when An Lushan fell, and after he became gravely ill, he handed military and political affairs to An Qingxu.
• An Lushan spoke with Verdant Green Maiden in the palace and asked why she had saved him as a child and later wanted to kill him; she said she had saved him before knowing who he was.

Qing Nü revealed that she had once wanted to kill An Lushan to prevent his future crimes, but An Qingxu murdered him and ordered the palace inhabitants slaughtered. Meanwhile, Li Heng rose to power in the northwest, and Li Jiqing angrily considered him a rebel as well.

• Qing Nü told An Lushan she had tried to kill him because she foresaw the calamity he would cause, and An Lushan asked whether she had come to see his miserable end.
• An Qingxu entered with his men, ordered An Lushan killed, and then commanded the soldiers to slaughter everyone in the palace.
• Li Heng gained victories with the Shuofang Army, built a force of nearly a hundred thousand, and took control of several northwest prefectures and commanderies.
• Li Jiqing learned of Li Heng's growing power and rumored Li Tang ancestry, called him a rebel, and ordered his extermination.
• The officials warned Li Jiqing that Great Tang could not afford another enemy while it fought An and Shi's forces, and Li Jiqing conceded that Li Heng might indeed be a descendant of Li Tang.

Li Jiqing considered how to win Li Heng over and decided to grant him the title of Prince Jin, then sent the Commander of the Bad People to deliver the decree. In Han Zhong, Qing Nü received the edict and reassured the Commander that he would be safe as he continued north.

• The Commander of the Bad People told Li Jiqing that Li Heng might descend from Prince Jin Li Zhi, whose son Li Hong had disappeared.
• Li Jiqing's officials urged him to recognize Li Heng as imperial kin and grant him a princely title so they could try to win his support.
• Li Jiqing ordered an investigation into the Commander of the Bad People, then decided to grant Li Heng the title of Prince Jin when the investigation found nothing.
• Li Jiqing appointed the Commander of the Bad People to carry the imperial decree to Li Heng, and he left Chengdu for the north.
• In Han Zhong, Qing Nü read the decree and told the Commander of the Bad People that he would travel safely after helping her.

Li Heng received imperial titles and the Shuofang military governorship, while the Bad People commander urged him to expand his strength before rushing to retake the capitals. Meanwhile, the Verdant Green Maiden intercepted the Pacified West Army as it marched to reinforce Guanzhong and confronted its commander, Wei Boyu.

• The Bad People commander proclaimed an imperial decree naming Li Heng Grand Protector-General of Anbei, Protector-General of the Chanyu, Military Governor of the Shuofang Army, and Prince Jin.
• The Bad People commander privately advised Li Heng to focus on expanding his strength because the Son of Heaven’s return to Chang’an was uncertain, then arranged for Bad People in Shuofang to contact him.
• The Verdant Green Maiden traveled west along the Hexi Corridor and watched the Pacified West Army, which Li Jiqing had summoned back from the Western Regions, approach.
• The Verdant Green Maiden stopped a scout’s horse and asked to meet the army’s commander.
• Wei Boyu identified himself as Military Governor of Anxi and ordered the Verdant Green Maiden to move aside while his army hurried to reinforce Guanzhong.

The Verdant Green Maiden tried to stop Wei Boyu from taking the Pacified West Army away from the Western Regions, warning that the region and its protectorate must endure. She used an Imperial Edict left by Emperor Taizong to convince Wei Boyu, who agreed to halt in Hexi and asked her to explain the matter to the Grand Protector-General.

• The Verdant Green Maiden questioned Wei Boyu about the Pacified West Army’s strength and the defenses he had left in the Western Regions.
• She ordered Wei Boyu to return with his army to the Western Regions and warned him never to abandon its protectorate or allied kingdoms.
• Wei Boyu refused and formed ranks, but the Verdant Green Maiden revealed an Imperial Edict bearing Emperor Taizong’s seal.
• Wei Boyu recognized the edict as genuine, bowed to the Verdant Green Maiden, and agreed to make camp in Hexi while asking her to accompany him to the Grand Protector-General.

Verdant Green Maiden used Taizong’s edict and the support of Kucha and the Heavenly Mountain Kingdom to stop Li Gong from withdrawing the Pacified West Army. After Li Gong refused, she had him removed and made Wei Boyu the new Pacified West Grand Protector.

• Wei Boyu and Verdant Green Maiden returned to Kucha and presented Li Gong with Taizong’s edict ordering the Pacified West garrison not to abandon the region.
• Li Gong doubted the edict and ordered Verdant Green Maiden seized, but Kucha soldiers entered the hall and the King of Kucha and an envoy from the Heavenly Mountain Kingdom declared their support for her.
• The King of Kucha urged Li Gong to keep the army in the Western Regions, while Verdant Green Maiden warned that the times would not offer another chance.
• Li Gong refused to stay, so Verdant Green Maiden appointed Wei Boyu as Pacified West Grand Protector and had the soldiers take Li Gong away safely.
• Wei Boyu bowed to Verdant Green Maiden and apologized for failing to recognize her status.

Verdant Green Maiden secured the Pacified West Army’s withdrawal and urged Kucha and Heavenly Mountain to cooperate with the protectorate before agreeing to visit Heavenly Mountain. Meanwhile, Li Jiqing’s court lost influence as Li Heng strengthened his position in Hebei, leaving the chapter with an official fearing Great Tang’s collapse.

• Verdant Green Maiden accepted Wei Boyu’s explanation of her supposed backstory, and Wei Boyu assumed the duties of Pacified West Grand Protector and ordered the Pacified West Army to withdraw.
• Verdant Green Maiden told the King of Kucha and the Heavenly Mountain envoy to cooperate with the Pacified West Grand Protectorate, then agreed to visit Heavenly Mountain Kingdom.
• Li Jiqing learned that the Pacified West Army would not return and ordered messengers to deliver an edict threatening it with treason, but Verdant Green Maiden prevented the messengers from reaching the Western Regions.
• Li Heng continued to honor the Tang Court outwardly while his Shuofang Army expanded into Hebei, and he delayed Li Jiqing’s calls to recover the Two Capitals.
• Li Jiqing ordered Li Heng to recover the Two Capitals within half a year or lose his title, and an old court official lamented that Great Tang’s days were numbered.

Li Heng rejected Li Jiqing’s decree, declared himself Emperor under the era name Perfect Virtue, and led campaigns that reclaimed the two capitals and defeated the An-Shi Rebels. After receiving Ye Xian’s offer to join forces against the southern rebellions, he prepared to march south, while his envoys reached Chengdu to bring Li Jiqing back to Chang'an.

• The Bad People Commander warned Cui Huan that his reckless words could get him killed, and Cui Huan left in anger.
• After Li Jiqing’s envoy delivered the imperial decree, Li Heng had him seized and announced that he would ascend the throne as Emperor.
• On the fifteenth day of the third month, Li Heng sacrificed to Heaven, took the throne, named his era Perfect Virtue, and honored Li Jiqing as the Holy Duke.
• Li Jiqing spat blood and collapsed when he heard the news, while Li Heng’s forces recaptured Luoyang and Chang'an and wiped out the An-Shi Rebels in the Hexi Corridor.
• Li Heng received Ye Xian’s offer to help pacify the southern rebellions, appointed her Queen of the Hundred Yue, and agreed to march south with her forces.
• Li Heng’s army and envoys arrived beneath Chengdu and called on Li Jiqing to return to Chang'an.

Li Jiqing was killed by a storm while being escorted toward Chang'an, and his former officials claimed he had chosen to die while seeking forgiveness from Emperor Taizong. Verdant Green Maiden revealed that she had conjured the storm and rode off with Old Yellow Ox.

• Li Jiqing learned that Li Heng had sent Lu Yuanyu to take over in Shu and agreed to return to Chang'an with his former officials.
• As Li Jiqing's convoy crossed the Han River, Verdant Green Maiden's storm drove his carriage into him and crushed him to death.
• The Bad Commander persuaded the officials to say Li Jiqing had gone to plead guilty before Emperor Taizong, and they quickly accepted the explanation.
• In Qin Ling, Verdant Green Maiden admitted she had summoned the storm to kill Li Jiqing and wondered whether the Book of Fate or the Heavenly People objected.
• Verdant Green Maiden fell onto Old Yellow Ox's back and asked him to carry her down.

Li Bai was pardoned while in exile and traveled east with Verdant Green Maiden. As they continued their journey, Li Bai sensed that his death was near and asked her to visit his grave thousands of years later.

• Verdant Green Maiden met the aged Li Bai in White Emperor City and explained that Heaven had punished her for changing the Tang dynasty’s fate.
• A messenger arrived with the Son of Heaven’s order pardoning Li Bai, and the soldiers departed for Chang’an.
• Li Bai invited Verdant Green Maiden to travel east with him, and they sailed downstream to Jianling before continuing toward Jiangxia.
• Verdant Green Maiden paid for their journey as Li Bai said he felt his death was near and asked her to visit his grave thousands of years later.

Qing Nü watched Li Bai die, arranged his funeral, and later visited Du Fu, who declined to read Li Bai’s unpublished poems until the end of his own life. Eight years later, Qing Nü learned that Heaven had helped bring about Li Heng’s death and intended the new Great Tang to resemble the Eastern Han.

• Li Bai fell gravely ill, entrusted his poems to Qing Nü, recited a final poem, and died with her at his side.
• Qing Nü asked Li Yangbing to attend Li Bai’s funeral, then buried Li Bai in Dangtu; his children arrived and wondered why he had not returned home for burial.
• Qing Nü visited Du Fu and told him Li Bai had died, offering to show him the poems Li Bai had left behind.
• Du Fu declined to read Li Bai’s poems until he neared the end of his own life and asked Qing Nü to appraise his poems then.
• Eight years later, Qing Nü confronted Heaven about Li Heng’s death, and Heaven explained that it intended the new Great Tang to enjoy decades of peace like the Eastern Han.

Verdant Green Maiden accompanied Du Fu on his final journey to visit Li Bai’s grave, where Du Fu paid tribute to his friend despite his failing health. Before his death, Du Fu asked about Great Tang’s future, and Verdant Green Maiden told him it would enjoy decades of recovery but would not regain the splendor of the Kaiyuan Prosperous Age.

• Verdant Green Maiden accepted Du Fu’s poems and showed him Li Bai’s poetry, and Du Fu said he wanted to visit Brother Taibai.
• Verdant Green Maiden agreed to accompany Du Fu, and they traveled by boat from the Three Gorges toward Dangtu despite his worsening illness.
• Du Fu paid tribute at Li Bai’s grave and stayed in Dangtu for half a month as his health declined.
• Du Fu asked Verdant Green Maiden how Great Tang would fare, and she predicted decades of peace and recovery but no return to its former glory.
• Verdant Green Maiden wished Du Zimei a peaceful final journey as he lay bedridden.

Verdant Green Maiden reunited with Autumn Maiden and accompanied her as she played for Bai Juyi, the Sima of Jiangzhou, who gifted her the handwritten draft of Pipa Song. Verdant Green Maiden revealed her ageless nature by promising to reclaim the manuscript if Autumn Maiden’s descendants could no longer protect it, then vanished.

• Verdant Green Maiden praised Autumn Maiden’s pipa playing and encouraged her to meet the men who had heard the music.
• Bai Juyi introduced himself as the Sima of Jiangzhou and apologized for calling out while drunk.
• Verdant Green Maiden accepted silver from Bai Juyi, and Autumn Maiden played for him and his companions.
• Bai Juyi wrote and gave Autumn Maiden the Original Manuscript of Pipa Song.
• Verdant Green Maiden said Autumn Maiden could keep the manuscript and that she would take it from her descendants if they could no longer protect it.
• Autumn Maiden realized Verdant Green Maiden had answered her question about her enduring beauty, bowed, and found that Verdant Green Maiden had vanished.

Qing Si stayed with Duan Chengshi and helped him complete Miscellaneous Morsels from Youyang before settling at a convent in Chang'an. There she met the young Yu Xuanji, who discovered that Qing Si had written the convent’s scriptures.

• Duan Chengshi accepted Qing Si’s payment and hosted her, recording the stories she told him over the next half year.
• Duan Chengshi completed Miscellaneous Morsels from Youyang and gifted Qing Si the original manuscript, explaining that he would investigate Ye Xian’s story in Lingnan before adding it to a sequel.
• Duan Chengshi departed for Lingnan, and Qing Si later heard that he seemed to have died on the journey.
• Qing Si noticed the influence of the Tai Ping Daoist temple in Chang'an and moved into a convent for female Daoists.
• Yu Xuanji arrived at the convent to renounce the secular world, and Qing Si gently welcomed her without demanding an explanation.
• Yu Xuanji learned that Qing Si had written the convent’s scriptures and asked Qing Si whether she had authored one of them; Qing Si confirmed that she had.

Verdant Green Maiden returned to Chang'an eighteen years after leaving Fish Xuanji and found the city devastated by Huang Chao's rebels. After spending a few days with Fish Xuanji, she continued her journey and reflected on the destruction of the great families as she stood on Qin Ling beneath the boundless sky.

• Verdant Green Maiden told Fish Xuanji to let go of love and decide whether her maid would join the Daoist sect or leave.
• Eighteen years later, Verdant Green Maiden returned to famine-stricken Chang'an and found Fish Xuanji guarding the nearly deserted Xianyi Temple.
• Fish Xuanji said she had stayed to preserve the temple and help the people, and told Verdant Green Maiden that her own heart had led her to follow her example.
• Verdant Green Maiden stayed at Xianyi Temple for three to five days, then left despite Fish Xuanji's wish that she remain.
• Verdant Green Maiden visited Wan Nian County and reflected that the Huang Chao Army had uprooted the great families across the realm.
• Verdant Green Maiden stood on Qin Ling beneath the blue sky and said that the Middle Ages had passed.

As Later Tang fell to the Liao invasion, Li Congke burned himself and his imperial family in Luoyang. Verdant Green Maiden took the Imperial Jade Seal, promised to drive out the Liao troops, and told Feng Dao she would find a Son of Heaven to end the chaos.

• With Liao troops surrounding Luoyang, Li Congke ordered the court officials to flee and summoned his imperial clan to die with him.
• Li Congke had the imperial family locked inside Black Tortoise Tower, then set it ablaze and perished in the fire.
• Verdant Green Maiden met Feng Dao outside the burning tower, where he asked when a Prosperous Age would arrive.
• Verdant Green Maiden took the Imperial Jade Seal and told Feng Dao he would not live to see a true Prosperous Age, which was still over a thousand years away.
• Verdant Green Maiden promised to clear the Liao troops from outside Luoyang and find a Son of Heaven to end the age of chaos, then vanished.

Verdant Green Maiden saved Luoyang by slaughtering nearly ten thousand Liao soldiers, then left and washed her bloodstained hair with Heaven, who warned her about the backlash from changing history. Years later, Guo Rong grew up admiring the legendary sword immortal and became interested in a sword manual being sold in Taiyuan.

• Verdant Green Maiden opened Luoyang's gates, charged the Liao Army, and drove it north after killing nearly ten thousand soldiers.
• Feng Dao recognized Miss Qing as she departed, while Heaven washed her hair and warned her that her actions would bring severe backlash.
• News of the female sword immortal spread, and Shi Jingtang established Great Jin as the Liao Army withdrew behind the passes.
• Guo Rong told Guo Wei that he hoped to become like the sword immortal, then followed him to Hedong after Liu Zhiyuan's transfer.
• Years later in Taiyuan, Guo Rong stopped to inspect a vendor's Green Lotus Sword Song manual, said to have belonged to Li Bai.