Chapter Summaries

Song Qingshu explained that he had killed Kangxi and was preparing to seize control of the Golden Snake Camp, offering his plans as a betrothal gift to Zhu Meichuo. After Xia Qingqing fought her way through the Wangwu Sect’s men to find him, Song Qingshu went out to meet her and prepared to reveal who was inside.

• Song Qingshu realized Situ Bolei had arranged for Zeng Rou to marry him at Zhu Meichuo’s prompting, then teased Zhu Meichuo by asking for her own betrothal gift.
• Zhu Meichuo said her greatest wish was to overthrow the Qing and restore the Great Ming, and Song Qingshu revealed that he had killed Kangxi.
• Song Qingshu tested Zhu Meichuo’s trust with a kiss before explaining his plan to exploit Kangxi’s death, campaign in Shandong, and take control of the Golden Snake Camp.
• Zhu Meichuo accepted Song Qingshu’s ambitions as an ample betrothal gift, but he stopped their intimacy when he remembered Xia Qingqing was waiting outside.
• Xia Qingqing fought through Situ Bolei’s men to investigate Song Qingshu’s absence, and Zhu Meichuo allowed her into the courtyard.
• Song Qingshu rushed out to reassure Xia Qingqing, who had come looking for him despite the danger, and told her she knew the mysterious person inside.

Xia Qingqing and Zhu Meichuo reunited and learned that they were both involved with Song Qingshu. They reconciled and agreed to treat each other as sisters, while Xia Qingqing insisted on keeping her relationship with Song secret to honor Yuan Chengzhi.

• Xia Qingqing followed Song Qingshu into the room and recognized Zhu Meichuo as Ajiu.
• Song Qingshu explained how Xia Qingqing had risked her life trying to avenge Yuan Chengzhi, and Zhu Meichuo praised her devotion.
• Zhu Meichuo acknowledged that she and Xia Qingqing both loved Song Qingshu, but Xia Qingqing said she would remain Madam Yuan and keep their affair private.
• Zhu Meichuo accepted Xia Qingqing's choice, and the two women took each other's hands and reconciled as sisters.
• Song Qingshu joked about stripping and throwing them into bed together if they fought, prompting Zhu Meichuo to sweep her sleeve at him.

Song Qingshu teased Zhu Meichuo and Xia Qingqing before discussing support for his bid to become the new Golden Snake King. Xia Qingqing left to contact Jiao Wan'er, while she and Song Qingshu agreed that Zhu Meichuo needed time to adjust to their relationship.

• Zhu Meichuo and Xia Qingqing drew their weapons against Song Qingshu, but both stopped their swords before they could hurt him.
• Song Qingshu seized the moment to disable the two women and carry them to the bed, where he said he only wanted to discuss choosing the new Golden Snake King.
• Xia Qingqing offered to secure support from the Golden Dragon Gang, while Zhu Meichuo said she had the Green Bamboo Gang's backing and planned to seek Shui Jian's support.
• Song Qingshu joked that he could win another faction's support, and both women rebuked him for being shameless.
• Xia Qingqing left to contact Jiao Wan'er and advised Song Qingshu to give Zhu Meichuo time; she said she would accept intimacy with A Jiu but no one else.

Song Qingshu and Zhu Meichuo settled their relationship as he helped her relax by discussing her favorite incense. The chapter ended with Zhu Meichuo moved by his promise to have the palace make her perfume.

• Xia Qingqing left after telling Song Qingshu to keep Zhu Meichuo company.
• Zhu Meichuo explained that she had waited for Song Qingshu before asking the stronghold leaders to support him.
• Song Qingshu kissed Zhu Meichuo and began undressing her, while she gradually relaxed as she recalled their past intimacy in Shengjing.
• Song Qingshu asked Zhu Meichuo about her Lady Huirui's Perfume, and she described its ingredients and preparation.
• Song Qingshu promised to have people in the palace make the perfume for Zhu Meichuo, and she stroked his cheek and called him Song Lang.

Zhu Meichuo and Song Qingshu grew closer, then headed to Shui Jian’s mountain camp. On the way, Zhu Meichuo worried about her standing with Song Qingshu’s wife, Zhou Zhiruo, and decided to distinguish herself from Zhou by distancing herself from Zhang Wuji and the Ming Cult.

• Zhu Meichuo confronted Song Qingshu about testing her doubts through their intimacy, and the two reconciled affectionately.
• Song Qingshu and Zhu Meichuo continued toward Shui Jian’s mountain camp, teasing each other as they walked.
• Zhu Meichuo asked how she should address Zhou Zhiruo and worried about her status as Song Qingshu’s lover, since he was already married.
• Zhu Meichuo recalled that Zhou Zhiruo was rumored to love Zhang Wuji and resolved to separate herself from Zhang Wuji and the Ming Cult.

Song Qingshu promised Zhu Meichuo that their child would inherit part of the former Great Ming territory if he united the realm. When they reached Shui Jian’s camp, they learned that the Blood Saber Ancestor had abducted Miss Shui and Shui Jian had gone after him.

• Song Qingshu told Zhu Meichuo he would treat all his women as wives, and she asked him to grant their future child a fief from the former Great Ming territory if he united the realm.
• Song Qingshu solemnly promised Zhu Meichuo, then teased her about how he had saved her and she playfully chided him over Zhao Min.
• Song Qingshu and Zhu Meichuo arrived at Shui Jian’s mountain camp, where a guard said Shui Jian would not see them.
• The guard explained that Shui Jian’s distant cousin had visited with his daughter, Miss Shui, and the Blood Saber Ancestor had abducted her while Shui Jian and his men were off guard.

Song Qingshu hurried to rescue Shui Sheng from Blood Saber Ancestor and found her with Hua Tiegan in a snowy valley. As Blood Saber Ancestor moved to attack a green-robed shepherd girl, Song Qingshu swept in and carried her out of reach.

• After learning that Blood Saber Ancestor had abducted Shui Sheng, Song Qingshu sent Zhu Meichuo back and set off to find the pursuers.
• Song Qingshu tracked Blood Saber Ancestor's group to a valley, where Shui Sheng was captive and Hua Tiegan urged her to submit.
• Hua Tiegan agreed with Blood Saber Ancestor's promise of rank and power in the Great Mongol State, while Shui Sheng condemned him as a coward.
• A green-robed girl appeared and angrily demanded to know why Blood Saber Ancestor had killed her sheep.
• When Blood Saber Ancestor attacked the girl, Song Qingshu rushed over, wrapped an arm around her waist, and carried her several zhang away.

Song Qingshu confronted Blood Saber Ancestor, who held Shui Sheng hostage, and rescued a green-clad girl from his attack. Song Qingshu admitted he wanted to save Shui Sheng, and Blood Saber Ancestor demanded safe passage in exchange for releasing her.

• Song Qingshu abandoned his plan to attack Blood Saber Ancestor and pulled the green-clad girl out of danger.
• Blood Saber Ancestor seized Shui Sheng and held his blood saber to her neck, forcing Song Qingshu to approach cautiously.
• Shui Sheng begged Song Qingshu to kill Blood Saber Ancestor, while Blood Saber Ancestor mocked her and the green-clad girl chatted with Song Qingshu.
• Song Qingshu pretended he did not care about Shui Sheng, but Blood Saber Ancestor saw through his ploy and recognized that Song feared harming her.
• Song Qingshu asked what Blood Saber Ancestor wanted in exchange for Shui Sheng, and Blood Saber Ancestor demanded safe passage.

Song Qingshu confronted Blood Saber Ancestor, who tried to escape with Shui Sheng after bargaining for his life. A green-clad girl’s demand for a life for her sheep distracted him, allowing Song Qingshu to rescue Shui Sheng and kill him.

• Blood Saber Ancestor sealed Shui Sheng’s acupoint and began retreating with her after Song Qingshu refused his offer of friendship.
• Blood Saber Ancestor persuaded Hua Tiegan to accompany him to the Mongol Empire while secretly planning to silence him.
• A green-clad girl demanded that Blood Saber Ancestor pay with his life for killing her sheep.
• Blood Saber Ancestor hurled a silver ingot at the girl, and Song Qingshu knocked it aside, freed Shui Sheng, and killed Blood Saber Ancestor with his wooden sword.

After Song Qingshu killed the Blood Saber Ancestor, he helped Shui Sheng cope with her father's death and prepared to return to camp. He left Hua Tiegan to keep vigil over the bodies while the green-robed girl remained with them.

• Shui Sheng hacked at the Blood Saber Ancestor's corpse, then broke down sobbing in Song Qingshu's arms.
• Song Qingshu arranged to cover the dead with stones until their remains could be taken back to Jiangnan, and spared Hua Tiegan.
• Song Qingshu buried the roasted sheep for the green-robed girl, then shattered a boulder with sword qi to make burial stones.
• Song Qingshu asked Hua Tiegan to help bury Shui Dai, Lu Tianshu, Liu Chengfeng, and the others before he and Shui Sheng planned to return to camp.
• Hua Tiegan volunteered to stay and keep vigil, secretly scheming to win Shui Sheng's favor and benefit from her connection to Song Qingshu.
• Song Qingshu asked the green-robed girl where she lived and offered to take her home.

Song Qingshu rode Shui Sheng back toward the Golden Snake Camp while teasing her about her cousin, Wang Xiaofeng. Behind them, A Qing revealed her extraordinary sword skill and killed Hua Tiegan, while Song Qingshu and Shui Sheng were suddenly attacked by an unknown assailant.

• Shui Sheng let Song Qingshu ride Zhaoye Bai with her, and they set off for the Golden Snake Camp.
• Hua Tiegan threatened the green-clad girl, who revealed herself as Yue Maiden A Qing and killed him with a flash of sword Qi.
• Song Qingshu teased Shui Sheng about Wang Xiaofeng, and she insisted that she had always regarded her cousin as an older brother.
• An angry voice called Song Qingshu a lecherous fiend, and a powerful blast of Gang Qi struck at him and Shui Sheng.

Song Qingshu reunited Shui Sheng with her uncle Shui Jian and Xiao Banhe after killing the Blood Saber Ancestor, and gained Shui Jian’s support for his bid to become Golden Snake King. He hurried back to camp and found Xia Qingqing and another woman looking troubled, leaving him worried that something had happened.

• Song Qingshu clashed briefly with Xiao Banhe, then learned from Shui Sheng that the man was her uncle and that he had rescued her from the Blood Saber Ancestor.
• Shui Jian arrived, learned that the Blood Saber Ancestor had killed Shui Sheng’s father, and thanked Song Qingshu for avenging him.
• Song Qingshu explained that he had come to save Shui Sheng and was Old Hero Situ’s candidate for Golden Snake King, and Shui Jian promised to support him.
• Xiao Banhe acknowledged Song Qingshu’s strength and privately regarded him as someone to watch, while Song Qingshu and Shui Sheng exchanged farewells and he declined her offer of Zhaoye Bai.
• Song Qingshu rushed back to camp, found Xia Qingqing and another woman looking troubled, and asked what had happened.

Song Qingshu investigated why the Golden Dragon Gang had refused to support his candidacy for Golden Snake King and overheard Jiao Wan'er negotiating to return her gang to Jinling. He discovered Murong Fu was also at the headquarters, backed by Jia Sidao for the election.

• Song Qingshu told Zhu Meichuo and Xia Qingqing that Shui Jian had agreed to support him, but learned the Golden Dragon Gang had rejected his candidacy.
• Xia Qingqing suspected her past conflict with Jiao Wan'er had caused the refusal, and Zhu Meichuo urged Song Qingshu to investigate.
• Song Qingshu secretly entered the Golden Dragon Gang headquarters and overheard Jiao Wan'er asking Mr. Bei to arrange the gang's return to Jinling.
• Murong Fu offered to use the Murong Family's connections to help Jiao Wan'er, and Song Qingshu recognized him.
• Song Qingshu learned Murong Fu had come to pursue the Golden Snake King position after Murong Bo redirected him and Jia Sidao pledged support.

Jia Sidao backed Murong Fu’s bid to become the Golden Snake King, but Song Qingshu overheard Murong Fu plotting to keep him out of the election. After Murong Fu left Wang Yuyan in tears, Song Qingshu appeared beside her and suggested she find another man to love.

• Jia Sidao sent Bei Haishi to help Murong Fu win the Golden Snake King election, and Bei Haishi secured Jiao Wan'er’s agreement to nominate him.
• Song Qingshu followed Murong Fu and Wang Yuyan, hoping to persuade Murong Fu to change Jiao Wan'er’s mind about supporting him.
• Wang Yuyan asked Murong Fu why he opposed Song Qingshu, and Murong Fu admitted he saw Song Qingshu as his greatest rival for the title.
• Murong Fu insulted Wang Yuyan and left after she condemned his scheming, leaving her sobbing beside the steps.
• Song Qingshu sat beside Wang Yuyan and asked whether she had considered finding another man to like.

Song Qingshu comforted Wang Yuyan after Murong Fu left her behind, then urged her to examine her feelings for Murong Fu and Duan Yu. He revealed that he knew Murong Fu’s secret ambition to restore Great Yan and promised not to expose it.

• Song Qingshu told Wang Yuyan he understood why Murong Fu had chosen his ambitions over her and said he did not blame him.
• Song Qingshu asked Wang Yuyan about Duan Yu’s devotion, then offered to be her male confidant.
• Song Qingshu advised Wang Yuyan to choose between Murong Fu and Duan Yu instead of keeping both relationships uncertain.
• Wang Yuyan asked Song Qingshu whom she should choose, and he said Murong Fu was consumed by his dream of restoring Great Yan.
• Song Qingshu promised Wang Yuyan that he would neither reveal Murong Fu’s secret nor use it against him.

Song Qingshu urged Wang Yuyan to reconsider Murong Fu and Duan Yu, warning her about their ambitions and the dangers facing Dali. After leaving her, he followed a zither melody and encountered Zhao Min in a pine grove, where she dismissed the Xuanming Elders to speak with him alone.

• Song Qingshu argued that Murong Fu might sacrifice Wang Yuyan for his goal of restoring Yan State, while Duan Yu could offer her a better life as Dali's heir.
• Song Qingshu warned Wang Yuyan that Dali might fall to the Mongols, and she suspected he wanted her to choose him; he denied it and departed.
• Wang Yuyan called Song Qingshu her male confidant, and he overheard her as he left the Golden Dragon Gang territory.
• Song Qingshu followed a mournful zither melody into a pine grove and found Zhao Min guarded by the Xuanming Elders.
• Zhao Min sent the Xuanming Elders away so she could speak privately with Song Qingshu, then challenged his remark that he had feared she might be a demon or female ghost.

Song Qingshu met Zhao Min, who offered to secure the stronghold support he needed to qualify as a candidate for Golden Snake King. In exchange, she asked him to accompany her to meet Zhang Wuji, hoping to resolve doubts about their relationship.

• Zhao Min explained that Song Qingshu needed two more stronghold leaders to support his candidacy and offered to help him gain their backing.
• Zhao Min said she wanted the Golden Snake Camp to survive as a force that would distract and drain the Qing, and that her original plan to cultivate Yang Miaozhen had failed after the Red Tunic Army allied with the Sun Moon Holy Cult.
• Zhao Min asked Song Qingshu to accompany her to meet Zhang Wuji, saying she wanted a companion for safety and had matters she did not want her subordinates to know.
• Song Qingshu agreed to go with Zhao Min, and she left her zither behind before telling him she did not understand what had happened between her and Zhang Wuji.

Song Qingshu and Zhao Min traded barbs as they discussed his possible fight with Zhang Wuji, then secretly entered Zhang Wuji’s courtyard to investigate. They found Zhang Wuji with Zhou Zhiruo in a pavilion, and Song Qingshu and Zhao Min accidentally kissed while exchanging taunts.

• Song Qingshu deduced that Zhao Min opposed supporting the Red Tunic Army because it had allied with the Sun Moon Holy Cult.
• Zhao Min told Song Qingshu to prepare for a possible fight with Zhang Wuji, and they teased each other about whose defeat she wanted.
• Song Qingshu considered Zhang Wuji’s formidable Nine Yang Divine Skill and Heaven and Earth Great Shift as they approached his courtyard.
• Zhao Min asked Song Qingshu to take her inside secretly, and he carried her over the wall and concealed them in a tree.
• Song Qingshu and Zhao Min saw Zhang Wuji meeting Zhou Zhiruo in a pavilion, then accidentally pressed their lips together while trading barbs.

Song Qingshu secretly kissed and teased Zhao Min while they listened to Zhang Wuji confront Zhou Zhiruo about their past and her marriage. Zhou Zhiruo claimed Song Qingshu had wronged her, and Zhang Wuji offered to start over with her.

• Song Qingshu restrained Zhao Min and kissed her, then joked with her while she tried to keep quiet so Zhang Wuji and Zhou Zhiruo would not notice them.
• Zhao Min and Song Qingshu overheard Zhou Zhiruo tell Zhang Wuji that their past relationship was over and deny that Song Qingshu was the reason.
• Zhang Wuji noticed Zhou Zhiruo was no longer a virgin and accused Song Qingshu of using a despicable method to make her his wife.
• Zhou Zhiruo said she was Song Qingshu's wife and insisted that she would kill him herself if he deserved it.
• Zhang Wuji told Zhou Zhiruo he would not mind what had happened and asked whether they could start over.

Zhang Wuji tried to win Zhou Zhiruo back and questioned Song Qingshu’s transformation, but Zhou Zhiruo rejected his advances. Zhao Min emerged from hiding and prepared to question Zhang Wuji about their relationship, with Zhou Zhiruo asked to stay and listen.

• Zhang Wuji told Zhou Zhiruo that he had fallen out with Zhao Min for her sake and proposed keeping all the women he loved instead of choosing one.
• Zhou Zhiruo rejected Zhang Wuji, questioned how much he had changed, and defended Song Qingshu when Zhang Wuji criticized his character and womanizing.
• Zhou Zhiruo tried to leave after drawing a clear boundary, but Zhang Wuji reached for her and recognized her mastery of the Nine Yin Manual.
• Zhao Min came out of hiding and confronted Zhang Wuji, while Zhou Zhiruo noticed the strained atmosphere between them.
• Zhao Min said she had three questions for Zhang Wuji and asked Zhou Zhiruo whether he had always spoken so glibly.