Chapter Summaries

Song Qingshu and Dongfang Muxue discussed how to provoke the Three Feudatories into rebelling so the Qing court would make peace with the Golden Snake Camp. Dongfang Muxue proposed keeping Princess Roujia overnight in the imperial palace to enrage her devoted husband, Geng Jingzhong, and trigger the uprising.

• Dongfang Muxue explained that Wu Sangui and the other feudatories were considering rebellion after Song Qingshu’s victory over the Qing army, but had not yet committed.
• Song Qingshu agreed that the Three Feudatories’ rebellion would give the Golden Snake Camp time to grow and help the Qing court justify a truce.
• Dongfang Muxue revealed that Princess Roujia, Yue Le’s daughter and Geng Jingzhong’s wife, had arrived in the capital with the Prince of Jingnan’s envoys.
• Dongfang Muxue proposed keeping Princess Roujia overnight in the imperial palace when she came to plead for her father, believing Geng Jingzhong would rebel over the humiliation.
• Song Qingshu objected to Dongfang Muxue’s plan, but she argued that Geng Jingzhong’s rebellion would force Wu Sangui and Shang Kexi to join him.

Song Qingshu and Dongfang Muxue grew closer, though she stopped him before they went further and involved Qu Feiyan instead. The next morning, Dongfang Muxue impersonated the Kangxi Emperor at court while Song Qingshu listened in, where the Three Feudatories’ demands caused an uproar.

• Song Qingshu and Dongfang Muxue sparred before he kissed her, but she told him she was not ready to go further.
• Dongfang Muxue pulled Qu Feiyan back into the bedchamber, and the three spent the night together.
• Dongfang Muxue told Song Qingshu she would impersonate the Kangxi Emperor at morning court while he hid and listened.
• Song Qingshu learned that Zhong Ling and Lan Fenghuang remained at the Five Poisons Sect, where Zhong Ling was rapidly improving her poison skills.
• At court, ministers argued over Yue Le, while envoys of the Three Feudatories demanded nearly double military stipends and Wu Sangui’s envoy asked to let A'ke visit her family; their demands caused an uproar.

As the court argued over Wu Sangui’s request to take A'ke back from the capital, Song Qingshu wondered about Wu Sangui’s motives. After court, he and Dongfang Muxue planned to lure Princess Roujia to Little Empress Tong’s palace, then wagered over who could win Little Empress Tong in their true identity.

• Ministers argued over Wu Sangui’s request to bring A'ke back, while Song Qingshu questioned why Wu Sangui was risking so much for his daughter.
• Dongfang Muxue told Song Qingshu that the Three Feudatories were testing the court and said she was confident she could suppress them if they rebelled.
• Song Qingshu suggested Little Empress Tong’s palace as the place to lure Princess Roujia, and Dongfang Muxue agreed to arrange it.
• Dongfang Muxue revealed that she had secretly favored the Qing harem’s consorts using aphrodisiacs and props, leaving Song Qingshu astonished.
• Dongfang Muxue proposed a wager that neither of them would use force to get into Little Empress Tong’s bed, and Song Qingshu asked what the stake would be.

Song Qingshu and Dongfang Muxue went to Little Empress Tong’s chambers, where Dongfang Muxue recruited her by claiming she needed an heir to secure the throne. She ordered Little Empress Tong to conceive a son with Song Qingshu, leaving him alone with the distressed consort.

• Song Qingshu and Dongfang Muxue wagered over whether he could get her into Little Empress Tong’s bed, and Dongfang Muxue said she wanted to watch Song Qingshu’s wedding night with Ren Yingying.
• Dongfang Muxue disguised herself as Kangxi Emperor and introduced Song Qingshu to Little Empress Tong as an ally.
• Dongfang Muxue secretly told Song Qingshu that she planned to recruit Little Empress Tong to help them control the Forbidden City.
• Dongfang Muxue told Little Empress Tong that Prince Bao Hongli had poisoned Kangxi Emperor, leaving him unable to have children, and that she had secretly killed Hongli.
• Dongfang Muxue ordered Little Empress Tong to bear a son with Song Qingshu, promising the child would become Crown Prince and Little Empress Tong would become Empress and Empress Dowager.
• Little Empress Tong reluctantly agreed, and Dongfang Muxue left her alone with Song Qingshu.

Song Qingshu persuaded Little Empress Tong to accept him as the man who would father an imperial heir, using the Emperor’s decree and threats about her fate. After carrying her to bed, he was interrupted by a startled visitor outside the door.

• Dongfang Muxue told Song Qingshu to handle Little Empress Tong while she arranged for Princess Roujia to enter the palace.
• Song Qingshu approached Little Empress Tong, claimed he had immortal powers, and revealed intimate details about her body.
• Song Qingshu warned that the Emperor might replace him or punish Little Empress Tong if she failed to conceive, and she fell silent.
• Song Qingshu carried Little Empress Tong to bed, and she asked him to keep what happened secret.
• After an unknown time had passed, someone outside the door cried out in surprise at what they saw.

Song Qingshu was with Little Empress Tong when Princess Roujia entered Yikun Palace and discovered them, so he pretended to be Kangxi Emperor to conceal the affair. He left Princess Roujia believing she had met the Emperor and waiting at his side.

• Little Empress Tong wondered whether she had been with Song Qingshu before, and he teased her about their earlier encounters as palace guard and consort.
• Princess Roujia returned to the capital to seek help for her imprisoned father, Yue Le, and went to Yikun Palace after being advised to appeal to Little Empress Tong.
• A palace maid led Princess Roujia into the hall alone, where she found Song Qingshu and Little Empress Tong together.
• Song Qingshu reassured Little Empress Tong and, urged on by Dongfang Muxue, pretended to be Kangxi Emperor when Princess Roujia saw them.
• Princess Roujia mistook Song Qingshu for the Emperor, paid her respects to him and Little Empress Tong, and was told to kneel to the side.

Song Qingshu, disguised as Kangxi, kept Princess Roujia in Yikun Palace and used her concern for her father, Yue Le, to pressure her into accepting his advances. Little Empress Tong realized that involving Roujia was also a way to protect her own secret, while Roujia remained trapped in Song Qingshu’s grasp.

• Song Qingshu frightened Princess Roujia by making her kneel while he pretended to be intimate with Little Empress Tong, hoping to keep her from noticing his disguise.
• Princess Roujia suspected that her arrival at Yikun Palace had been arranged, then concealed that she had come to ask for help for Yue Le by claiming she wanted to present northern specialties.
• Song Qingshu hinted that the most precious northern specialty was Princess Roujia herself and offered to decide Yue Le’s fate in exchange for her compliance.
• Little Empress Tong objected when Song Qingshu targeted Roujia, but agreed to help after he warned that Roujia could expose their secret.
• Princess Roujia invoked Geng Jingzhong’s soldiers to resist, but Song Qingshu pulled her into his arms and promised to pardon Yue Le after one night while keeping the encounter secret.

Song Qingshu secured Princess Roujia’s outward agreement to return to court for imperial celebrations, then discussed his plans with Dongfang Muxue. He decided to travel to Yangzhou to try to win over Li Kexiu, while Dongfang Muxue remained in Yanjing to handle the Three Feudatories.

• Song Qingshu demanded that Princess Roujia visit the capital for imperial celebrations each year, and she agreed while secretly resolving never to return.
• Song Qingshu and Dongfang Muxue discussed his treatment of Princess Roujia, and Dongfang Muxue revealed she intended to impersonate the Kangxi Emperor and favor her afterward.
• Song Qingshu told Dongfang Muxue he planned to visit Li Kexiu in Yangzhou rather than stay to help pacify the Three Feudatories.
• Song Qingshu explained that winning Li Kexiu and his tens of thousands of troops would strengthen the Golden Snake Camp, and that he could arrange for Li Kexiu’s family to leave Yanjing.
• Dongfang Muxue doubted Li Kexiu would defect easily, but Song Qingshu said he would at least keep him from joining another faction.

Dongfang Muxue rejected the Three Feudatories' demands, set the court on a course to negotiate with the Golden Snake Camp, and appointed Suo'etu as envoy while Song Qingshu reorganized the Nian Gan Chu. On his journey south, Song Qingshu encountered Nalan Rongruo and Wuyunzhu, who were confronted by Qinghai Yixiao and Chu Hongliu.

• Dongfang Muxue won Prince Kang, Suo'etu, and Mingzhu's support for prioritizing the Three Feudatories, then assigned Suo'etu to negotiate with the Golden Snake Camp and placate Li Kexiu.
• Song Qingshu reorganized the Nian Gan Chu into seven divisions, appointed temporary leaders, and left the capital after more than half a month.
• Song Qingshu traveled south using his lightness skill and hid his identity with a silver mask when Nalan Rongruo and Wuyunzhu stopped beneath his tree.
• Wuyunzhu told Nalan Rongruo that she was traveling to meet the Golden Snake King, and he agreed to escort her despite his unrequited love for her.
• Qinghai Yixiao and Chu Hongliu approached the pair, identified them as possible children of Suo'etu, and prepared to capture them; Wuyunzhu revealed that she had deliberately drawn them away from her father.

Wuyunzhu and Nalan Rongruo confronted Qinghai Yixiao and Chu Hongliu, who intended to capture her. After Qinghai Yixiao defeated Nalan Rongruo and revealed his depraved plans, he advanced on Wuyunzhu while Song Qingshu watched from hiding.

• Wuyunzhu deliberately drew Qinghai Yixiao and Chu Hongliu away from her father, while Nalan Rongruo questioned her reckless plan.
• Wuyunzhu mocked Qinghai Yixiao by comparing his reputation with Song Qingshu's, then criticized Nalan Rongruo for downplaying his martial skill.
• Qinghai Yixiao attacked Nalan Rongruo without warning and eventually tapped his acupoints instead of killing him.
• Qinghai Yixiao told Chu Hongliu that he planned to violate Wuyunzhu in front of Nalan Rongruo, and Chu Hongliu eagerly agreed with his depraved outlook.
• Song Qingshu prepared to intervene, but Qinghai Yixiao advanced toward Wuyunzhu before he acted.

Song Qingshu rescued Wuyunzhu and Nalan Rongruo from Qinghai Yixiao and Chu Hongliu, then revealed himself when Wuyunzhu pretended to collapse. Wuyunzhu guessed that Song Qingshu knew the Golden Snake King and persuaded him to take her to meet him, while Nalan Rongruo was left restrained in the forest.

• Qinghai Yixiao attacked Wuyunzhu, but an unseen Song Qingshu guided her to throw her hairpin, which pierced Qinghai Yixiao's hand and heart.
• Song Qingshu killed Chu Hongliu with a pine needle and released Nalan Rongruo's sealed acupoints.
• Song Qingshu appeared when Wuyunzhu pretended her poison had taken effect, and she admitted she had feigned her collapse to draw him out.
• Wuyunzhu reasoned that Song Qingshu knew the Golden Snake King and questioned him about the man's appearance and martial arts.
• Wuyunzhu persuaded Song Qingshu to take her to meet the Golden Snake King, and Song Qingshu left with her while restraining Nalan Rongruo.

Song Qingshu rescued Wuyunzhu after she fell and took her through the forest to search for her father, Suo'etu. Their conversation ended when Wuyunzhu spotted her father lying in a pool of blood.

• Song Qingshu appeared behind the sobbing Wuyunzhu, helped her up with his internal energy, and teased her about calling him a man.
• Wuyunzhu dismissed Nalan Rongruo for losing to Qinghai Yixiao, and Song Qingshu explained that Qinghai Yixiao was a formidable fighter he had defeated.
• Wuyunzhu asked whether Song Qingshu could defeat the Golden Snake King, but he turned away and reminded her that Suo'etu was in danger.
• Song Qingshu took Wuyunzhu by the hand and sped through the forest while refusing to reveal his face, name, or age.
• Wuyunzhu saw a Qing court-robed man lying in a pool of blood and cried out, recognizing him as her father.

Song Qingshu and Wuyunzhu arrived as Ren Yingying protected Suo'etu from a group of black-clad men. The men taunted Ren Yingying about her rumored marriage to Song Qingshu and her love for Linghu Chong, and the chapter ended as their leader abruptly retreated before striking her.

• Song Qingshu found Suo'etu alive but surrounded by black-clad men, and stopped Wuyunzhu from calling out as they watched from a tree.
• Wuyunzhu tended Song Qingshu's bitten finger, and he teased her before they turned their attention back to the standoff.
• The black-clad men accused Ren Yingying of saving Suo'etu to advance her rumored marriage to Song Qingshu and mocked her feelings for Linghu Chong.
• Ren Yingying attacked the men with her short weapons and wounded several of them.
• The leader knocked Ren Yingying's weapon away and moved to strike her, but suddenly withdrew and leapt backward.

Song Qingshu rescued Suo'etu, Wuyunzhu, and Ren Yingying from a group of black-clad attackers, concealing his identity while overwhelming their fighters. When the leader tried to withdraw, Song Qingshu stopped him, leaving the two sides poised for another clash.

• Song Qingshu revealed himself by striking the ground with leaves and landed beside Wuyunzhu, who reunited with Suo'etu while Ren Yingying thanked him for saving her.
• Song Qingshu challenged the black-clad men for attacking Suo'etu and insulting Ren Yingying, then killed one attacker and wounded another with swift sword techniques.
• Song Qingshu captured the foul-mouthed white-haired attacker and handed him to Ren Yingying, who killed him with her short sword.
• Song Qingshu stepped in front of Ren Yingying and challenged the remaining attackers when they objected to their companion's death.
• The leader of the black-clad men ordered his companions to withdraw, but Song Qingshu refused to let them leave, and the leader confronted him with a grandmaster's aura.

Song Qingshu accepted the black-clad men’s challenge to three martial matches to protect Ren Yingying, Suo'etu, and Wuyunzhu. He crippled Ding Mian in the first match, and the group’s leader stepped forward to test internal strength.

• The leader of the men in black proposed three matches, and Song Qingshu agreed to face all three challengers himself.
• Ren Yingying offered to take one match, but the black-clad leader sent Ding Mian to fight Song Qingshu in palm techniques.
• Ren Yingying recognized Ding Mian as the Mount Song Sect’s Pagoda Hand, and Song Qingshu identified the group as Mount Song Sect members.
• Ding Mian attacked with full force, but Song Qingshu met his palm and shattered his arm.
• The leader of the men in black accused Song Qingshu of cruelty, then chose to face him in the internal-strength match.

Song Qingshu confronted Zuo Lengchan and overcame his Ice True Qi, but a sudden attack by You Tanzhi injured Ren Yingying and left her suffering from cold poison. The chapter ended with Song Qingshu sustaining her with his True Qi as enemies surrounded them and Ren Yingying urged him to avenge her.

• Ren Yingying identified Zuo Lengchan and challenged his claims about targeting the Qing envoy, while Wuyunzhu defended her father and Song Qingshu rebuked Zuo Lengchan.
• Fangzheng arrived and tested Song Qingshu, needing nineteen palm strikes to neutralize one of his attacks.
• Song Qingshu and Zuo Lengchan began an Internal Energy contest, but Song Qingshu's True Qi gradually overwhelmed Zuo Lengchan's Ice True Qi.
• You Tanzhi attacked Wuyunzhu, and Song Qingshu broke away from Zuo Lengchan to protect her while Ren Yingying tried to intercept the attacker.
• You Tanzhi struck Ren Yingying with his cold, poisonous Internal Energy, and Song Qingshu used his True Qi to keep her alive as Zuo Lengchan taunted him.
• Ren Yingying told Song Qingshu not to risk himself for her and asked him to kill their enemies.

Song Qingshu continued treating Ren Yingying while fighting off Zuo Lengchan and You Tanzhi, who A'zi had urged to kill him. As the cold poison threatened Ren Yingying and the attackers pressed harder, she suggested he hold her so he could move freely, and he drew her into his arms while continuing to suppress the poison.

• Song Qingshu refused to stop channeling true qi into Ren Yingying, despite her warning that saving her put him in danger.
• A'zi recognized that Song Qingshu was a threat and encouraged You Tanzhi to attack him alongside Zuo Lengchan.
• Song Qingshu held off Zuo Lengchan and You Tanzhi with one hand while using the other to keep Ren Yingying's cold poison under control.
• Zuo Lengchan noticed Song Qingshu slowing and redirected his attacks toward Ren Yingying, forcing Song Qingshu to shield her.
• Ren Yingying urged Song Qingshu to hold her so he could dodge more easily, and he pulled her into his embrace while continuing the treatment.

Song Qingshu fought Zuo Lengchan, You Tanzhi, and the black-clad men while carrying Ren Yingying and treating her with his inner energy. The battle grew more dangerous when A'zi took Wuyunzhu hostage, and You Tanzhi charged Song Qingshu to save her.

• Ren Yingying lent Song Qingshu her short sword, and he wounded Zuo Lengchan by cutting off two of his fingers.
• Song Qingshu named Ren Yingying’s nearly transparent sword Cheng Ying, then faced Zuo Lengchan and the black-clad men as they attacked together.
• A'zi seized Wuyunzhu and threatened to kill her unless Song Qingshu surrendered.
• Song Qingshu pointed his sword at A'zi and ordered her to release Wuyunzhu, but A'zi refused.
• You Tanzhi lunged at Song Qingshu in a rage after seeing A'zi threatened.

Song Qingshu subdued A'zi with Soul Transfer, freed Wuyunzhu from her hostage, and turned A'zi against Zuo Lengchan. You Tanzhi fought Zuo Lengchan, whose Ice True Qi failed to harm him, and the chapter ended as You Tanzhi's counterattack reached Zuo Lengchan's chest.

• Song Qingshu's sword strike drove You Tanzhi back and shattered his iron helmet, exposing his disfigured face.
• Suo'etu urged Song Qingshu to save Wuyunzhu, while Wuyunzhu asked Song Qingshu to remove his mask before she died.
• Song Qingshu used Soul Transfer to make A'zi obey him and release Wuyunzhu.
• A'zi told You Tanzhi that their grievances with Song Qingshu were settled, then denounced Zuo Lengchan and prompted You Tanzhi to attack him.
• You Tanzhi killed several black-clad fighters with his cold palm force, and Zuo Lengchan attacked him after abandoning his attempt to recruit him.
• Zuo Lengchan struck You Tanzhi repeatedly with Ice True Qi without harming him, then Master Fangzheng warned him as You Tanzhi's counterattack reached his chest.

You Tanzhi defeated Zuo Lengchan with his freezing Internal Energy, but Fangzheng intervened and recognized it as a result of the Muscle-Tendon Sutra and cold poison. A'zi tried to keep the booklet from Shaolin by disputing its identity, until Xuan Cheng arrived and challenged her claim that she knew Sanskrit.

• You Tanzhi struck Zuo Lengchan with freezing Internal Energy, and Fangzheng stopped him from pursuing the wounded Alliance Leader.
• Fangzheng recognized You Tanzhi's Internal Energy as the result of the Muscle-Tendon Sutra and cold poison, and You Tanzhi revealed the Sanskrit booklet he had found.
• You Tanzhi offered to return the booklet to Shaolin, but A'zi warned him that Fangzheng might be deceiving him.
• A'zi claimed the Sanskrit cover read 'Sutra of Divine Feet' and urged You Tanzhi to give her the booklet instead.
• Xuan Cheng arrived with Xu Zhu and challenged A'zi to translate a sentence into Sanskrit.