Chapter Summaries

Song Qingshu visited Nan Lan at the Tian Residence and told her that Tian Guinong was imprisoned in Prince Bao's residence, promising to help rescue him. He stayed with Nan Lan through the night, then resumed cultivating as she slept.

• Song Qingshu evaded suspicious watchers on his way to the Tian Residence.
• Song Qingshu told Nan Lan that Tian Guinong was being held in Prince Bao's residence and promised he had recruited helpers to rescue him.
• Song Qingshu persuaded Nan Lan to let him share her bed and used her Pure Yin Qi to improve his cultivation.
• Song Qingshu struck Tian Qingwen's Sleep Acupoint so she would not notice his presence, then returned to Nan Lan.
• Song Qingshu comforted Nan Lan until she fell asleep and resumed cultivating.

Song Qingshu persuaded Su Quan and the Divine Dragon Sect to help obtain Hongli's copy of the Forty-Two Chapters Scripture by trading information about Fuk'anggan's twin sons. He left the arrangement in place to distract Prince Bao's residence while he pursued his plan to rescue Tian Guinong.

• Song Qingshu found a notice seeking a physician for a sick woman in Prince Bao's residence and realized the illness could provide him an opportunity.
• Song Qingshu met Su Quan, who initially refused to help rescue Tian Guinong because the plan was too dangerous.
• Song Qingshu offered to help the Divine Dragon Sect trade Fuk'anggan's twin sons for Hongli's copy of the Forty-Two Chapters Scripture.
• Song Qingshu and Su Quan agreed that he would receive half the scripture while the sect handled the exchange, despite the risk of Hongli hunting them.
• After Song Qingshu left, Su Quan told Lu Gaoxuan she planned to keep the entire scripture.

Su Quan devised a way to search for Fuk'anggan's twin sons without relying on Song Qingshu, while Song Qingshu sought Zhu Meichuo's help with rescuing Xia Qingqing. After Zhu Meichuo urged him to trust his companions, he left, and the siblings he had mistaken for her discussed whether to change inns.

• Su Quan reasoned that Song Qingshu had hidden the twins outside Shengjing with a wet nurse and ordered Lu Gaoxuan and the others to search nearby farming households for recent births.
• Song Qingshu visited a private residence, then searched for Zhu Meichuo near Sifang Hall and accidentally broke into Yelü Nanxian's room.
• Yelü Nanxian and Yelü Qi confronted Song Qingshu until Zhu Meichuo arrived and explained that he had mistaken the room.
• Song Qingshu asked Zhu Meichuo to accompany him into the prince's residence to rescue Xia Qingqing, but withheld the details of his plan.
• Zhu Meichuo challenged Song Qingshu to trust his companions and said she would trust him; Song Qingshu then left after asking whether she would take an Imperial Son-in-Law.
• Su Yin warned Yelü Nanxian and Yelü Qi that Song Qingshu might suspect them, and decided they should change inns.

Song Qingshu returned to Li Yuanzhi and Luo Bing and told them he planned to rescue their loved ones from Prince Bao’s residence in a few days. While staying in their room to await news, he confronted Luo Bing about her past role in ruining his plans and threatened to keep their affair secret only if she continued to serve him.

• Su Yin decided to leave with Yelü Qi and Yelü Nanxian, while Zhu Meichuo watched them depart.
• Song Qingshu returned to Li Yuanzhi and Luo Bing, teased them, and said he would rescue Wen Tailai and Yu Yutong from Prince Bao’s residence in a few days.
• Song Qingshu said he would stay in the women’s room for the next few days while waiting for news, and Li Yuanzhi eventually fell asleep.
• Song Qingshu reminded Luo Bing that her words had nearly ruined his plans and blamed Wen Tailai for once severely injuring him.
• Song Qingshu threatened to reveal his affair with Luo Bing to Wen Tailai unless she behaved as he wanted, leaving her distraught.

Song Qingshu prepared to rescue the Red Flower Society members after learning the twins had been taken, while Li Yuanzhi and Luo Bing remained at Sifang Hall to conceal his absence. He infiltrated the house where he had been watching the twins and immobilized the couple inside.

• Li Yuanzhi woke before dawn beside Song Qingshu and Luo Bing, then recalled a shameful dream involving the two of them.
• Song Qingshu recovered his martial strength to its former level, and Zhang Kangnian reported that the twins had been taken away.
• Song Qingshu told Li Yuanzhi and Luo Bing that he was leaving to begin rescuing their allies, and arranged for them to make it seem he was still in his room.
• Li Yuanzhi urged Song Qingshu not to risk his life for Yu Yutong, while Luo Bing insisted he save Wen Tailai even if she died with him.
• Song Qingshu left Sifang Hall in disguise, entered the house he had watched, and sealed the acupoints of the couple inside.

Song Qingshu disguised himself as the bookmaker Old Liu and replaced Hongli’s real Forty-Two Chapters Scripture with a convincing fake. Confined in Prince Bao’s residence, he spotted a guarded cave and lured Manager Sai close by claiming he had discovered a secret in the scripture.

• Song Qingshu disguised himself as Old Liu and was summoned to Prince Bao’s residence to copy the Forty-Two Chapters Scripture for Hongli.
• While Hongli was away, Song Qingshu switched the real scripture for his prepared fake, then copied the book and reproduced Hongli’s secret marks.
• Hongli checked the marks on the scripture Song Qingshu identified as real, accepted it, and ordered Manager Sai to keep Song Qingshu confined in the residence.
• While being escorted to the latrine, Song Qingshu noticed a guarded cave entrance among artificial rocks and memorized its location.
• Song Qingshu claimed he had found something strange in the scripture, prompting Manager Sai to come question him.
• Song Qingshu lowered his voice as he began to tell Manager Sai what he had supposedly discovered.

Song Qingshu killed Manager Sai, took his identity, and used it to rescue the tortured Tian Guinong from the prince's residence. After arranging Tian Guinong's escape, Song Qingshu was blocked from entering the inner courtyard and left to pursue his original plan to find Xia Qingqing.

• Song Qingshu killed Manager Sai, exchanged masks and clothes with him, and used his identity to enter the prison.
• Song Qingshu gave Tian Guinong medicine and helped him recover enough strength to escape, then used Manager Sai's command token to take him out of the prince's residence.
• Song Qingshu directed Tian Guinong to take Nan Lan and Tian Qingwen to the Five Lakes Sect, where Sang Feihong would help them leave Shengjing for Yanjing.
• Song Qingshu returned to the prince's residence but found Bai Zhen guarding the inner courtyard and could not enter to look for Xia Qingqing.
• Song Qingshu left the residence, removed Manager Sai's uniform and mask in a secluded spot, and headed to the Dragon Gate Inn to meet someone waiting for him.

Song Qingshu and Zhu Meichuo disguised themselves as a wandering physician and his medicine boy to enter Prince Bao Manor and treat Ma Chunhua. After examining her, Song Qingshu said medicine could no longer cure her and hinted that the necessary treatment might be unacceptable to Fuk'anggan.

• Song Qingshu told Zhu Meichuo he suspected Ma Chunhua had a nursing-related illness, then prepared disguises for them both.
• Song Qingshu and Zhu Meichuo arrived at Prince Bao Manor, where Fuk'anggan agreed to take them to the patient after Song correctly guessed Ma Chunhua was nursing and had a fever.
• Song Qingshu recognized Ma Chunhua and pretended to examine her pulse before declaring that medicine could no longer cure her.
• Fuk'anggan begged Song Qingshu to save Ma Chunhua, and Song said another treatment was possible but might be hard for the marshal to accept.

Song Qingshu treated Ma Chunhua’s severe blocked milk ducts while Fuk'anggan struggled to tolerate the intimate procedure. The treatment began to work just as Fuk'anggan was summoned to prepare for an operation to recover Ma Chunhua’s twin sons.

• Song Qingshu explained Ma Chunhua’s illness and persuaded Fuk'anggan to let him treat her himself.
• Song Qingshu had servants bring scalding water and towels, then used them to soften Ma Chunhua’s blockages.
• Song Qingshu began clearing Ma Chunhua’s milk ducts, and she cried out from the pain as Fuk'anggan watched.
• Ma Chunhua and Fuk'anggan spoke of their missing twin sons, whom Prince Bao’s residence had been asked to exchange for The Forty-Two Chapters Scripture.
• A guard told Fuk'anggan that the Prince had ordered him to prepare to depart for the operation.

Yu Yutong reached Song Qingshu’s residence gravely wounded and revealed that the Old Helmsman had arranged for Qian Zhenhuan to be presented to Prince Yong. He left the Red Flower Society’s captives and the truth behind Hongli’s parentage hanging in the balance.

• Fuk'anggan left Ma Chunhua with Song Qingshu, secretly ordering his men to kill Song Qingshu and his master after the treatment.
• Yu Yutong arrived at Sifang Hall near death and asked to see Song Qingshu, prompting Li Yuanzhi and Luo Bing to have him brought inside.
• Luo Bing gave Yu Yutong a Snow Ginseng Jade Toad Pill, and he regained enough strength to explain how he had escaped Prince Bao’s residence.
• Yu Yutong told Luo Bing that he had overheard the Old Helmsman reveal that he had deliberately arranged for Qian Zhenhuan to be presented to Prince Yong.
• Yu Yutong revealed that Qian Zhenhuan was already pregnant with Yu Wanting’s child before Prince Yong favored her, making Hongli Prince Bao’s son.

Yu Yutong revealed Yu Wanting's betrayal and died after urging Luo Bing to leave Wen Tailai and Li Yuanzhi to find someone who could love her. Luo Bing and Li Yuanzhi set out to save Song Qingshu, while the chapter ended with Fuk'anggan's forces ambushing Su Quan at Wanhao Inn.

• Yu Yutong told Luo Bing that Yu Wanting had tried to kill him after he learned the Old Helmsman's plan, and he urged her to leave Wen Tailai for Song Qingshu.
• Yu Yutong rejected Li Yuanzhi's devotion, confessed that he loved Luo Bing, revealed the staged raid meant to lure Song Qingshu into a trap, and died after asking Luo Bing for a kiss.
• Li Yuanzhi sought revenge on Yu Wanting, but Luo Bing convinced her to help save Song Qingshu first; Zhang Kangnian and Zhao Qixian said Song had instructed them to find someone else if he was in danger.
• Fuk'anggan and the prince's experts stormed Wanhao Inn, where Su Quan grabbed the twins and the Divine Dragon Sect members fought to protect her.
• Zhang Zhaozhong and Yuzhenzi overwhelmed Fat Monk, and Yuzhenzi ran him through with his sword.

Thin Monk betrayed Su Quan, then killed Fuk'anggan in a revenge attack before dying himself. Song Qingshu escaped an ambush with Zhu Meichuo and reached the courtyard of the prince's manor’s new Princess Consort, where he mistook Youyou for Xia Qingqing.

• Hailan Bi killed Lu Gaoxuan, and Su Quan used Fuk'anggan’s twin sons to force the prince’s manor men to let the Divine Dragon Sect retreat.
• Thin Monk betrayed Su Quan, took the infants, and revealed he had sided against the Divine Dragon Sect to avoid the Cult Master’s wrath.
• Thin Monk threw the infants aside and punched Fuk'anggan to death, avenging his daughter before Yuzhenzi and Zhang Zhaozhong killed him.
• The prince’s manor men rushed at Su Quan, but a man in black defeated their fighters and carried her away.
• Song Qingshu and Zhu Meichuo killed the guards who tried to ambush him, then found the courtyard where Xia Qingqing was said to live.
• Song Qingshu saw a woman in the courtyard, called her Youyou, and approached her with a complicated expression.

Song Qingshu infiltrated Prince Bao’s residence with Zhu Meichuo to rescue Xia Qingqing, but she refused to abandon her plan to avenge Yuan Chengzhi. Hongli and the Red Flower Society’s allies confronted them, and Song Qingshu unleashed Li Jian Shu as the battle began.

• Song Qingshu revealed himself to Xia Qingqing and explained that Hongli had poisoned the dates and peaches she sent him, while Luo Bing’s warning had saved his life.
• Zhu Meichuo urged Xia Qingqing to leave and seek another way to avenge Yuan Chengzhi, but Xia Qingqing refused and insisted on acting alone.
• Hongli arrived with soldiers, and Song Qingshu and Zhu Meichuo attacked him, only to be stopped by the Yellow-browed Monk, Tianhong, and Tianjing.
• The Red Flower Society members entered, and Song Qingshu realized Yu Wanting had planned an ambush with Southern Shaolin experts after learning Luo Bing had asked him for help.
• Song Qingshu accused the Red Flower Society of using women for political advantage, provoking Yu Wanting, Wen Tailai, Chen Jialuo, and the others to attack.
• Song Qingshu summoned his wooden sword and shouted, “Li Jian Shu!”

Song Qingshu used his combined palm and sword techniques to defeat the Red Flower Society’s masters, but a powerful Ghost-faced Man interrupted the fight and Zhu Meichuo was gravely injured protecting him. With archers surrounding them, Song Qingshu took Xia Qingqing hostage and threatened Hongli to secure their escape.

• Song Qingshu controlled a wooden sword with his true qi while fighting the Red Flower Society masters with the Eighteen Dragon Subduing Palms, wounding Wen Tailai and Yellow-browed Monk.
• Song Qingshu killed Daoist Wuchen, thwarted Zhao Banshan’s concealed weapons, and dislocated Chen Jialuo’s arms.
• Song Qingshu continued fighting Tianhong, Tianjing, and Yu Wanting until a Ghost-faced Man ambushed him from behind.
• Zhu Meichuo stepped between Song Qingshu and the Ghost-faced Man, took a palm strike, and was caught by Song Qingshu as she fell.
• The Ghost-faced Man wounded Song Qingshu with his sword before leaving after a fireworks signal appeared over the city.
• When Hongli’s archers surrounded them, Xia Qingqing pretended to attack Song Qingshu, then let him take her hostage and threaten Hongli.

Song Qingshu used Yongyan and an Imperial Edict appointing him Prince Jiaqing to force Hongli to let his group leave the prince's residence. As Luo Bing prepared to go with Song Qingshu, Wen Tailai made one last appeal to his wife.

• Hongli learned Fuk'anggan was dead and confronted Song Qingshu, but Imperial Guards arrived with Yongyan as their hostage.
• Luo Bing and Li Yuanzhi protected Yongyan, while Yu Wanting blamed Yu Yutong for the mission and claimed he had killed him; Luo Bing urged Li Yuanzhi to keep their secret.
• Luo Bing asked Wen Tailai to trust her and escape with the group, but Yu Wanting slandered her, and Song Qingshu claimed she belonged to him because Wen Tailai had once sold her to him.
• Song Qingshu reassured the wounded Zhu Meichuo and revealed the Imperial Edict ordering Yongyan to represent the Qing Dynasty in Western Xia's marriage selection.
• Hongli accepted the edict as a reason to let Song Qingshu's group leave, despite Wen Tailai and Chen Jialuo demanding vengeance.
• Wen Tailai asked Luo Bing if she would really leave with Song Qingshu.

Song Qingshu released Xia Qingqing to Hongli in exchange for the captive Yongyan, while Su Quan learned that her father wanted her to contend for the Liao Empress’s position. After Zhu Meichuo’s injuries worsened at camp, Song Qingshu offered to save her with the Divine Light Scripture, but warned that using it had a difficulty.

• Xia Qingqing returned to Hongli, and Hongli accepted Yongyan’s transfer while vowing revenge on Divine Dragon Sect for Fuk'anggan’s death.
• The Ghost-faced Man revealed to Su Quan that he was her father, Su Yin, and urged her to pursue the Liao Empress’s position, but she refused to stay.
• Su Yin returned toward Shangjing with Yelü Qi and Yelü Nanxian, planning to keep Yongyan as a safeguard against Hongli.
• Song Qingshu warned his party that Hongli could conceal an attack on them, then ordered camp set up because Zhu Meichuo’s injuries were worsening.
• Song Qingshu told Zhu Meichuo that the Divine Light Scripture might save her, but cautioned that using it presented a difficulty.

Song Qingshu told Zhu Meichuo that dual cultivation with his Blissful Zen Qi was the only way to heal her severe internal injuries. She agreed, and after he treated her, she woke to discover that she had received half of his internal energy.

• Song Qingshu explained that he had lost the Divine Illumination True Qi and that dual cultivation was now the only way to heal Zhu Meichuo.
• Zhu Meichuo hesitated over the treatment but finally asked Song Qingshu to save her.
• Zhu Meichuo asked Song Qingshu to cover her eyes, and he used her sash as a blindfold before beginning the treatment.
• When Zhu Meichuo regained consciousness, Song Qingshu told her not to move while he finished treating her injuries.
• Zhu Meichuo discovered her internal energy had greatly increased, and Song Qingshu explained that she had received half of his internal energy.

Song Qingshu saved Zhu Meichuo through linked qi and intimacy, then let Luo Bing and Li Yuanzhi leave for Jiangnan while he pursued his own plans. In Shengjing, Hongli doubted whether the twins were truly Fuk'anggan's children.

• Zhu Meichuo believed Song Qingshu had completed a mission to ruin her chastity, but he convinced her he had only saved her and she accepted his explanation.
• Li Yuanzhi said she planned to return to Jiangnan with Luo Bing so they could clear up the rumors about Luo Bing and Wen Tailai; Song Qingshu agreed to let them go.
• Song Qingshu cultivated his qi and considered Zhu Meichuo's value as a Ming princess and Ming Cult Saintess, admitting to himself that he had hoped to win her over.
• Li Yuanzhi found a neatly cut hole in the bedsheets, and Luo Bing understood what it meant and urged her to change the sheets.
• At Prince Bao's residence, Hongli's subordinate questioned whether the twins were truly Fuk'anggan's children, and Hongli privately threatened the mother and infants if they were not.

Hongli tested whether Ma Chunhua’s twins were Fuk'anggan’s sons and confirmed they were his grandsons. He spared Ma Chunhua after sleeping with her while she was drunk, then confined her courtyard under guard.

• Hongli explained that Qian Zhenhuan had secretly told him Prince Yong was his father, and he used that secret to manipulate the Red Flower Society.
• Hongli tested his blood against the twins’ and learned they were Fuk'anggan’s sons.
• Hongli visited Ma Chunhua, who was grieving Fuk'anggan and drinking while mourning.
• Ma Chunhua mistook Hongli for Fuk'anggan while drunk and slept with him; the next morning, both agreed to pretend nothing had happened.
• Hongli decided not to kill Ma Chunhua, dealt with the maidservants who had heard them, and restricted access to her courtyard.

Ma Chunhua’s past revealed how she became Kangxi Emperor’s agent and why she seduced Hongli, who later threatened her and assaulted her. Song Qingshu returned to Kangxi Emperor, received orders to investigate Divine Dragon Island before the Western Xia marriage selection, and then argued with Sunflower Ancestor.

• Ma Chunhua recalled falling in love with Kangxi Emperor and agreeing to help him ensnare Fuk'anggan, then marrying Xu Zheng after becoming pregnant and following Kangxi Emperor’s orders.
• Ma Chunhua realized she had seduced Hongli to secure his protection, but Hongli threatened her children and assaulted her when he visited her room.
• Song Qingshu met Kangxi Emperor, who dismissed his role in the confrontation with Hongli and ordered him to investigate Divine Dragon Island after the Divine Dragon Sect killed Fuk'anggan.
• Kangxi Emperor told Song Qingshu that Yongyan would still attend the Western Xia marriage selection, though he had undisclosed plans for him.
• Sunflower Ancestor approached Song Qingshu, and Song Qingshu mocked him for being a eunuch.