Chapter Summaries

Wanyan Ping tried to break Song Yuanqiao, Zhang Songxi, and Yin Liting’s resolve with threats and accusations while Song Qingshu considered how to rescue them. The Wudang men remained trapped and weakened by her poison when news arrived that a powerful assassin had entered the imperial palace.

• Wanyan Ping threatened to place the Wudang men with captured Song princesses after drugging them, and Song Yuanqiao, Zhang Songxi, and Yin Liting resisted her demands.
• The three Wudang men tried to kill themselves, but Wanyan Ping revealed that Rouge Intoxication had left them too weak to use their internal power.
• Song Qingshu realized he could not safely rescue all three men while they were poisoned and debated how to fulfill his promise to Zhang Sanfeng.
• Wanyan Ping mocked the Wudang men and argued that their refusal to cooperate proved they coveted the princesses, further weakening their resolve.
• A subordinate reported to Wanyan Ping that a formidable assassin had broken into the imperial palace.

Song Qingshu discovered the imprisoned Three Heroes of Wudang and learned that Wanyan Ping had poisoned them with Rouge Intoxication. He promised to obtain the antidote and rescue all three, but after saying goodbye, he realized he had no way out of the prison.

• Wanyan Ping learned that Puchá Ahudie had been on duty and decided to investigate the palace commotion herself.
• Song Yuanqiao, Zhang Songxi, and Yin Liting feared Wanyan Ping would force them to reveal Wudang's ultimate arts.
• Song Qingshu emerged from hiding, reunited with the Three Heroes of Wudang, and explained how he had come to the Jin Dynasty looking for them.
• The three told Song Qingshu that Rouge Intoxication had left them too weak to escape without an antidote.
• Song Qingshu promised to get the antidote from Wanyan Ping and rescue all three, then found himself unable to open the prison doors.

Song Qingshu escaped the prison by making the eunuch believe he was the palace assassin, then disguised himself as Xiao Xingguo to leave unnoticed. As he passed a rockery, a woman with a sword confronted him, and he recognized her voice as familiar.

• Song Qingshu slipped out of the prison while the guards watched the eunuch, then pretended to be an assassin fleeing through the courtyard.
• Song Qingshu misled the eunuch into sealing the palace gates to pursue the supposed assassin, keeping suspicion away from the prison.
• Song Qingshu found Xiao Xingguo dead with his neck snapped, disguised himself as him, and dissolved the corpse with Corpse Dissolving Powder.
• Song Qingshu walked through the palace among the guards but sensed someone hiding by a rockery and continued past without reacting.
• A woman pressed a sword against Song Qingshu’s back and threatened to kill him if he moved or shouted.

Song Qingshu, disguised as Xiao Xingguo, encountered a female assassin who forced him to lead her to his residence. After guards warned them about the assassin, he persuaded them to escort him, using their familiarity with Xiao Xingguo to discover where he lived.

• The female assassin held Song Qingshu at swordpoint and demanded that he take her to his residence, though he did not know where Xiao Xingguo lived.
• Two guards recognized Song Qingshu as Eunuch Xing and warned him that a formidable female assassin had attacked the palace and been wounded by the Grand Steward.
• Song Qingshu called the guards back and asked them to escort him, giving him an excuse to have them lead the way to Xiao Xingguo's residence.
• The female assassin agreed to follow behind Song Qingshu and threatened him not to try anything, while he planned to investigate Xiao Xingguo's identity.

Song Qingshu escorted the wounded female assassin to Xiao Xingguo’s residence while concealing his identity and abilities. After she struck his supposed fatal acupoints, she ordered him to fetch supplies to treat her wound, leaving him looking for a chance to uncover who she was.

• Song Qingshu arrived at Xiao Xingguo’s courtyard after the guards left, but the female assassin remained hidden until he entered the side room.
• The veiled assassin confronted Song Qingshu, warned him not to betray her, and threatened him when she caught him staring.
• Song Qingshu praised her as a righteous heroine, but she doubted his claim that he was an insignificant eunuch and struck several of his acupoints.
• Song Qingshu pretended to beg for help and grabbed her hand, while secretly using his blood-shifting technique to avoid the attack’s effects.
• The assassin ordered Song Qingshu to bring clean water and gauze so she could treat her wound, and he fetched them while considering how to remove her veil.

Song Qingshu treated the wounded Yellow-robed Woman in Xiao Xingguo’s room and realized she had come to the Jin Imperial Palace to assassinate someone. Their tense conversation was interrupted when two eunuchs arrived to summon him to the Empress.

• The Yellow-robed Woman ordered Song Qingshu out, but after she fainted from blood loss and internal injuries, he carried her to bed and treated her wound.
• Song Qingshu recognized the woman as the Yellow-robed Woman and questioned the motives behind her earlier information about Song Yuanqiao.
• The Yellow-robed Woman woke, teased out Song Qingshu’s admiration, and then claimed his room for herself while she recovered.
• When someone knocked, the Yellow-robed Woman threatened Song Qingshu and told him to hide her presence as he answered the door.
• Two young eunuchs found Song Qingshu and hurriedly dragged him away, saying the Empress had been waiting for him.

Song Qingshu, disguised as the eunuch Xiao Xingguo, was summoned to Empress Peiman’s bedchamber and carefully learned how to imitate his role. He found the Empress lonely and estranged from the Jin Emperor, and she ordered him to massage her shoulders.

• Two young eunuchs escorted Song Qingshu to Empress Peiman after he left the wounded female assassin behind.
• Song Qingshu learned from the eunuchs that the Chief Eunuch had wounded the assassin and gathered clues about Xiao Xingguo’s habits.
• A palace maid led Song Qingshu into Empress Peiman’s bedchamber and left him alone with her.
• Song Qingshu flattered Empress Peiman by comparing her beauty to a rose, and she revealed her loneliness.
• Empress Peiman told Song Qingshu to massage her shoulders.

Song Qingshu, disguised as Xiao Xingzi, massaged Empress Peiman while trying to learn about the palace assassin and protect his cover. He discovered that Peiman was secretly teaching Xiao Xingzi the emperor’s etiquette, suggesting she might be plotting to seize the throne, and claimed he had learned it to avoid being killed.

• Song Qingshu realized his massage skills could help him impersonate Xiao Xingzi and massaged Empress Peiman.
• Song Qingshu told Peiman that palace martial law had delayed him, but she showed little interest in the assassin.
• Peiman asked Song Qingshu whether he remembered the lessons she had taught Xiao Xingzi and grew angry when he hesitated.
• Peiman explained that she was teaching him in secret and demonstrated the words and actions expected of an emperor.
• Song Qingshu recognized the etiquette and suspected Peiman planned to usurp the throne, then claimed he had learned it.

Song Qingshu gained Empress Peiman’s confidence while learning that she was secretly plotting with Xiao Xingguo, then returned to find the Yellow-robed Woman gone. He slipped back to Tang Kuo Manor and shared a bed with Wanyan Ge Bi, who woke and affectionately called him her husband.

• Song Qingshu demonstrated the imperial rites for Empress Peiman, who rewarded him with gold and ordered him to visit secretly every three days.
• Empress Peiman told Song Qingshu to stay in his room and practice, offering to arrange someone else to handle his Imperial Wardrobe Bureau duties.
• Song Qingshu returned to Xiao Xingguo’s residence and found that the Yellow-robed Woman had left, leaving bloodstained cloth behind.
• Song Qingshu changed clothes and quietly slipped out of the palace, then returned to Tang Kuo Manor while Wanyan Ge Bi slept.
• Song Qingshu climbed into bed beside Wanyan Ge Bi, who woke, kissed his cheek, and called him her husband.

Song Qingshu tried to keep Wanyan Ge Bi at a distance so he could protect his disguise, but his harsh treatment hurt her deeply. Wanyan Ping arrived at the Tang residence, learned that her sister had been upset by her husband, and rushed to confront him.

• Song Qingshu woke beside Wanyan Ge Bi, resolved to avoid intimacy with her so his Tang Kuobian disguise would not be exposed before he rescued Song Yuanqiao and the others.
• When Wanyan Ge Bi tried to wash and dress him, Song Qingshu shoved her away, causing her to fall; she left in tears but later returned with chicken porridge.
• Song Qingshu rebuked Wanyan Ge Bi for suspecting Wanyan Liang and insisted she stop speaking ill of him, driving her out in tears.
• Wanyan Ping arrived at the Tang residence, saw Wanyan Ge Bi crying, and hurried toward Tang Kuobian's bedroom to punish him.

Song Qingshu tried to get close to Wanyan Ping in hopes of finding the antidote needed to rescue Song Yuanqiao and the others, while Wanyan Ping grew increasingly attached to him. After days of keeping his distance from Wanyan Ge Bi, Song Qingshu was invited by Wanyan Ping to go hunting as he recovered.

• Wanyan Ping argued with Wanyan Ge Bi about Song Qingshu’s behavior, and Wanyan Ge Bi asked her to comfort him.
• Song Qingshu realized he needed an antidote to Rouge Intoxication to rescue Song Yuanqiao and the others, and suspected Wanyan Ping could help.
• Wanyan Ping visited Song Qingshu, questioned him about his trip to Kaifeng, and revealed she had volunteered to clarify the events for the Emperor.
• Song Qingshu deliberately gave Wanyan Ping incomplete answers to encourage more visits, while Wanyan Ping mistook his attention for an effort to grow closer to her.
• Over the following days, Song Qingshu grew distant from Wanyan Ge Bi and spent more time with Wanyan Ping, who invited him to go hunting in the eastern outskirts.

Song Qingshu accepted Wanyan Ping’s invitation to go hunting and used the chance to grow closer to her while hiding his identity and investigating Rouge Intoxication. Wanyan Ge Bi saw him tending to her sister’s foot and left believing they were having an intimate affair, while Song Qingshu and Wanyan Ping prepared to set out together.

• Wanyan Ping invited Song Qingshu hunting, and he agreed despite his lack of skill with horses and archery.
• Wanyan Ping brought Song Qingshu his hunting clothes, and he persuaded her to help him dress.
• Wanyan Ping injured her foot when Song Qingshu’s protective qi struck back, and he treated it while Wanyan Ge Bi watched from the window.
• Wanyan Ge Bi mistook the scene for an intimate moment between her husband and sister and silently left in tears.
• Song Qingshu persuaded Wanyan Ping to set off without visiting her sister, and she helped him finish dressing.

Song Qingshu chased Wanyan Ping out of the capital on horseback, seeing her shift from a shy young woman around him to a ruthless princess with others. Wanyan Ping left him far behind and waited in frustration when he failed to catch up.

• Wanyan Ping blushed, hurried out after helping Song Qingshu dress, and teased him to catch her on horseback.
• Song Qingshu followed Wanyan Ping through the city, gradually closing the gap because the crowded streets limited her riding.
• Wanyan Ping struck a guard who tried to stop them and galloped out of the city, while her companion warned the injured soldier that she was Princess of Qi and Song Qingshu was her powerful brother-in-law.
• Two soldiers gossiped crudely about Wanyan Ping and Song Qingshu after the pair rode away.
• Wanyan Ping rode ahead once they were outside the city, then stopped, saw that Song Qingshu had not caught up, and called him an idiot brother-in-law.

Song Qingshu joined Wanyan Ping on a hunt, using their time together to draw closer while hiding his poor archery skills. He claimed to have mastered the Realm of No Arrows and proved it by killing several sparrows with a bowstring alone, leaving Wanyan Ping amazed and eager to know how he did it.

• Wanyan Ping found Song Qingshu resting on a boulder and scolded him for making her search, but he teased her about caring for him.
• The two rode into the mountains to hunt, where Wanyan Ping impressed Song Qingshu with her mounted archery.
• Wanyan Ping recalled how Tang Kuobian had once killed an eagle with one arrow and caught her as she fell, an event that inspired her to learn archery.
• Wanyan Ping asked Song Qingshu to show her his legendary archery, and he boasted that he had reached the Realm of No Arrows.
• Song Qingshu drew an empty bow, and several sparrows fell dead without visible wounds; Wanyan Ping rushed to ask how he had done it.

Song Qingshu secretly used sword qi to fake an archery feat, while Wanyan Ping blurted out that she would marry him before chasing a sika deer into danger. When a venomous snake made her fall into a ravine, Song Qingshu caught her and tumbled down with her.

• Song Qingshu concealed how he had knocked a sparrow from a tree, and Wanyan Ping begged him to reveal his secret technique.
• Wanyan Ping impulsively said she would be Song Qingshu's wife, then fled ahead in embarrassment.
• Wanyan Ping chased a sika deer through the forest, and Song Qingshu abandoned his horse to follow and protect her.
• Wanyan Ping cornered the deer near a ravine but was bitten by a small snake and fell toward the drop.
• Song Qingshu grabbed Wanyan Ping in midair and held her as they rolled down the ravine together.

After Song Qingshu and Wanyan Ping rolled down a ravine, he discovered she had been bitten by a venomous snake and treated her before nightfall. They were left stranded at the bottom, and Song Qingshu considered how to get them out without revealing his abilities.

• Song Qingshu protected Wanyan Ping as they rolled down the ravine, leaving himself badly injured while she escaped with only minor scrapes.
• Wanyan Ping confessed that she wanted to stay with Song Qingshu, but he noticed signs of snake venom and learned she had been bitten on the calf.
• Song Qingshu sealed Wanyan Ping's acupoints and sucked the venom from her wound until the blood ran bright red again.
• Song Qingshu applied a chewed herb to the bite and bandaged it with a piece of silk Wanyan Ping gave him.
• Song Qingshu found that they were stranded in the dark ravine and weighed climbing out against revealing his lightness skill to Wanyan Ping.

Song Qingshu and Wanyan Ping took shelter in a cave after falling into a valley, where he used an injury check to discover that she carried the antidote to Rouge Intoxication. As Wanyan Ping treated his wounds, they exchanged affectionate banter, ending with her biting his shoulder after his answer to a choice between saving her or her sister.

• Song Qingshu carried the dizzy Wanyan Ping through the valley and found a cave where they could spend the night.
• Wanyan Ping noticed Song Qingshu's torn clothes and insisted on checking his injuries with her medicine.
• Song Qingshu sniffed a packet of Rouge Intoxication, pretended to faint, and watched Wanyan Ping give him its antidote.
• Song Qingshu memorized the antidote packet's appearance but abandoned his attempts to steal it while Wanyan Ping treated his wounds.
• Wanyan Ping asked whom Song Qingshu would save if she and her sister fell from a cliff, and she bit his shoulder after he said he would save neither.

Wanyan Ping confessed her long-hidden love for Song Qingshu and kissed him, while he took advantage of the moment to obtain the antidote to Rouge Intoxication. The two gave in to their desire, leaving Song Qingshu with the antidote and Wanyan Ping committed to him despite her sister.

• Wanyan Ping teased Song Qingshu about his bite wound, then admitted she had loved him since he saved her as a child.
• Wanyan Ping said she had buried her feelings because her sister loved Song Qingshu and was betrothed to him.
• Wanyan Ping kissed Song Qingshu, and he used their embrace to take the antidote to Rouge Intoxication.
• Song Qingshu and Wanyan Ping surrendered to their desire, and Wanyan Ping told him she wanted him to keep taking advantage of her.

Song Qingshu and Wanyan Ping returned to Daxing Prefecture after spending the night together, keeping their relationship secret from Wanyan Ge Bi. They encountered a drunken Yang Guo, whose identity as Wanyan Bingde and disputed family history left Song Qingshu questioning what he knew.

• Wanyan Ping asked Song Qingshu to keep their night together secret from her sister, and he agreed.
• Song Qingshu and Wanyan Ping found a way out of the valley, recovered Little Red Horse, and rode back toward Daxing Prefecture.
• At the city gate, two soldiers gossiped about Song Qingshu and Wanyan Ping after seeing their disheveled clothes and affectionate behavior.
• Song Qingshu met a drunken Yang Guo, who mistook Wanyan Ping for his aunt before recognizing she was not Xiaolongnü.
• Wanyan Ping explained that Yang Guo had been brought back as Wanyan Kang's posthumous son, named Wanyan Bingde, and said Wanyan Kang was Prince Zhao's biological son.

Song Qingshu learned from Wanyan Ping that Yang Guo was secretly a Jin royal descendant, then returned to Tang Kuo Manor with her. Wanyan Ge Bi recognized that Song Qingshu and Wanyan Ping had spent the night together and reproached him for it.

• Wanyan Ping explained how Wanyan Honglie’s son became Yang Kang and how Yang Guo was revealed to be a Jin royal descendant named Wanyan Bingde.
• Wanyan Ping described the Jin court’s succession struggles and the factions competing for power.
• Song Qingshu and Wanyan Ping bickered and played together on their way back to Tang Kuo Manor.
• Wanyan Ge Bi waited at the manor entrance, and Wanyan Ping hurried away after seeing her.
• Song Qingshu claimed that he and Wanyan Ping had spent the night escaping a valley, but Wanyan Ge Bi reproached him for tormenting her younger sister.