Chapter Summaries

Qing Mo persuaded Li Shimin and the court to fund railway construction by promising shared profits, and aristocratic families and officials rushed to invest. As Qing Mo prepared to leave, Li Shimin asked whether immortality existed, and Qing Mo confirmed that it did.

• Li Shimin ordered the guards to break up a fierce brawl among the officials, then scolded them before turning the discussion back to the railway project.
• Qing Mo offered the train technology and explained how investors could earn shares and profit from railway routes, transport fees, and commerce.
• Li Shimin indicated that merchants could invest if the aristocratic clans refused, prompting Zhangsun Wuji and other officials and clan representatives to pledge large sums.
• Li Shimin asked Qing Mo whether immortality existed, and Qing Mo calmly answered that it did.

Qing Mo revealed that he was an immortal from another world and offered Li Shimin a chance to preserve his memories and reincarnate in the Immortal Cultivation World. After demonstrating Liu San’s reincarnation, Qing Mo entrusted Li Shimin with a Reincarnation Disk and left him to decide who else could use it.

• Qing Mo told Li Shimin and the court that he had lived for more than 2,900 years, but immortality was impossible in their world and required planning for the next life.
• Qing Mo offered Li Shimin reincarnation with his memories intact and promised Li Chengqian a privileged birth in an imperial bloodline in the Immortal Cultivation World.
• Qing Mo used the Reincarnation Disk to record Liu San’s soul and memories, then declared that Liu San would be reborn as a boy born to Zhao Carpenter’s wife in half a month.
• Qing Mo warned the court to keep the secret and told them not to blame Liu San’s reincarnation for his past crimes.
• Qing Mo gave Li Shimin the Reincarnation Disk, which could accept blood from twenty-four more people, and left the hall with Li Chengqian.

Qing Mo guided the princes and officials as they advanced iron-wok cooking, railway construction, and steam-train development. When Li Chengqian, Li Tai, and Li Ke announced that their high-yield crops were ready, Li Shimin and the court went to the estate and joined the harvest, leaving Qing Mo with photographs of the Emperor working in the fields.

• Officials who saw Liu San's reincarnated infant's birthmarks began currying favor with Li Shimin in hopes of earning a better next life.
• Qing Mo advised Li Ke on reinforcing railway ground and expanding steel production, then gave Li Chengqian and Qin Huaidao suggestions for improving the steam train.
• Li Chengqian told Qing Mo that the potatoes and sweet potatoes were ready to harvest, and Qing Mo said they should show the crops to the Emperor and officials.
• At court, Li Chengqian, Li Tai, and Li Ke announced that the crops yielded several thousand jin per mu, prompting Li Shimin and the officials to rush to the estate.
• Li Shimin and the officials dug up potatoes and sweet potatoes themselves, marveling at the harvest as Qing Mo photographed them.

Li Shimin and the officials discovered that Qing Mo’s potatoes and sweet potatoes yielded thousands of jin per mu, then toured his other new crops and discussed how to promote them. Li Shimin led a muddy, shoulder-borne procession through Chang’an to show the harvest to the people, who cheered for him and the Tang Dynasty.

• Wei Zheng weighed the potatoes and sweet potatoes and announced yields of 4,573 jin and 8,362 jin per mu, astonishing Li Shimin and the officials.
• Qing Mo instructed the Court Diarist to record the harvest and its participants, then persuaded Li Shimin to carry the crops through Chang’an so the people could see them.
• Li Chengqian showed Li Shimin and the officials the estate’s colorful fruits and vegetables, and Li Shimin tasted a tomato before discussing how to cultivate and promote the crops.
• Li Junxian reported that the route was secured and the Empress had been informed, and Li Shimin chose to wear his mud-stained dragon robe during the procession.
• Li Shimin and the officials carried baskets of grain toward Chang’an, where crowds gathered, praised the harvest, and shouted for the emperor and the Tang Dynasty.

Foreign envoys explored Chang'an’s cement construction, orderly streets, and abundant food while scheming to obtain Tang knowledge and recruit Qing Mo. When Li Shimin summoned Qing Mo to meet them, Qing Mo flew into the Hall of the Supreme Ultimate, leaving the envoys stunned and even more eager to claim his abilities for their own countries.

• Foreign envoys inspected a cement construction site, but the foreman refused to reveal how cement was made because it was a Tang secret.
• The envoys entered Chang'an, admired its orderly roads and plentiful food, and resolved to take Tang innovations back to their homelands.
• At court, the Tibetan envoy congratulated Li Shimin and asked to meet the Immortal National Preceptor, while the envoys hoped to obtain high-yield grain and recruit Qing Mo.
• Qing Mo left the railway station in Li Chengqian and Li Tai’s charge, warning them that the foreign tribes wanted to steal Tang knowledge.
• Qing Mo flew into the Hall of the Supreme Ultimate, shocking the foreign envoys and intensifying their greed.

Qing Mo rebuked foreign envoys who demanded Tang Dynasty technology, then ordered the Japanese envoy Tanaka Inoue arrested after condemning Japan for future atrocities against China. Li Shimin vowed to seize Japanese people within Tang territory, and Qing Mo promised plans for a sea-crossing treasure ship for a later campaign against Japan.

• Qing Mo arrived at court by flying while carrying a frightened eunuch, then took a seat beside Li Shimin.
• The Tibetan and Turkic Khaganate envoys asked Qing Mo to share Tang techniques, and Qing Mo offered them Confucian books instead.
• The Turkic Khaganate envoy demanded Tang technologies, but Qing Mo rebuked him until he knelt and begged forgiveness.
• Tanaka Inoue asked Li Shimin to let Japanese students study in Chang'an, but Qing Mo ordered the Japanese envoys arrested and condemned Japan for future invasions and mass killings in China.
• Li Shimin ordered Japanese people within Tang territory arrested, and Qing Mo promised to provide plans for a sea-crossing treasure ship once Tang had developed further.

Qing Mo delayed the Tibetan Empire’s proposed marriage alliance and announced the Tang Dynasty’s first train would soon begin operating. Five days later, Li Shimin and Empress Zhangsun attended the railway’s opening ceremony, where Qing Mo named the first line the Gaoming Railway after Li Chengqian’s courtesy name.

• The Tibetan envoy proposed a marriage alliance, but Qing Mo urged Li Shimin to consult his ministers before deciding and scheduled an answer for a state banquet in three days.
• Qing Mo announced that the railway was nearly complete and invited the emperor, officials, clan elders, merchants, commoners, and foreign envoys to its opening in five days.
• The Tibetan envoy ordered his subordinates to investigate the train and steal its technology, while foreign envoys learned about the many innovations Qing Mo had brought to the Tang Dynasty.
• Li Shimin, Empress Zhangsun, the officials, and the foreign envoys gathered as a steam train arrived, and Li Shimin and Qing Mo joined Li Chengqian and his brothers in cutting the ribbon.
• Qing Mo named the first railway the Gaoming Railway after Li Chengqian’s courtesy name, leaving Li Chengqian delighted and Li Shimin envious.

Qing Mo oversaw the naming and maiden voyage of the Tang Dynasty’s first train, the Zhenguan, on the Gaoming Railway, impressing its passengers and foreign envoys. After the train reached Tong Pass, he took Li Chengqian to Chang’an in the thirteenth year of the Tianbao Era, where Li Chengqian realized they had arrived in Li Longji’s time before the lychee delivery for Consort Yang.

• Li Shimin named the Tang Dynasty’s first train Zhenguan and wrote the name on its carriage, while Li Chengqian planned a monument for the Gaoming Railway.
• Qing Mo brought the emperor, officials, princes, and foreign envoys aboard the train and sent it toward Tong Pass, where passengers marveled at its speed and the envoys feared the Tang Dynasty’s growing advantage.
• Cheng Chuliang sold tea and snacks aboard the train, and Li Tai asked whether the next railway could bear his name.
• The train reached Tong Pass in nearly two hours, where Li Ke, Qin Huaidao, Wei Yushu, and the others were waiting.
• Qing Mo took Li Chengqian to Chang’an in the thirteenth year of the Tianbao Era, and Li Chengqian recognized that Li Longji was emperor and that they had arrived before the lychee delivery for Consort Yang.

Qing Mo took Li Chengqian to the Tianbao Era to witness the common people's hardship and learn how imperial excess contributed to the Tang Dynasty's decline. He arranged for Li Chengqian, posing as Li Gan, to become Li Shande's student and accompany him on the future lychee journey, while Li Shimin waited in the Zhenguan Era for a chance to confront Li Longji.

• Qing Mo showed Li Chengqian the poverty-stricken quarters of Chang'an and explained that Li Longji would soon demand fresh lychees from Lingnan for Yang Guifei.
• Qing Mo told Li Chengqian that he would pose as Li Gan, apprentice to the official Li Shande, and travel with him to see the people's hardships firsthand.
• Li Shimin watched the events through a screen, raged at Li Longji's lychee demand, and asked Mo Yanyu and He Xi to take him to the Tianbao Era, but they told him to wait.
• Qing Mo introduced Li Gan to Li Shande and paid him fifty strings of cash to accept the boy as a student.
• Li Chengqian questioned whether the honest, rigid Li Shande could deliver the lychees, and Qing Mo told him to keep his disguise and endure any hardships until they brought reinforcements to save the Tang Dynasty.

Li Chengqian discovered that Li Shande had been tricked into accepting an impossible assignment to transport fresh Lingnan lychees to Chang'an. After seeing Li Shande’s colleagues reject his pleas, Li Chengqian discussed with Qing Mo how to protect the people and use the mission to pursue broader political change.

• Li Shande told Li Chengqian he had been appointed Lychee Envoy to procure lychee preserves, but Li Chengqian found a warrant ordering fresh lychees.
• Li Shande returned to the Shanglin Office, where Director Liu and the other officials denied responsibility and insisted he fulfill the order.
• Li Chengqian took Li Xiu'er home, then watched through Qing Mo’s light screen as Li Shande’s colleagues mocked and abandoned him.
• Li Chengqian grew angry at Li Longji and proposed bringing their allies from the Zhenguan Era to replace him, but Qing Mo said they would act secretly and seize corrupt officials’ wealth and clan lands.
• Qing Mo told Li Chengqian to continue studying with Li Shande, encourage him by mentioning Li Xiu'er, and accompany him south to transport the lychees.

Li Shande despaired over his impossible order to bring fresh lychees from Lingnan, but Li Chengqian encouraged him to keep fighting for his daughter, Li Xiu'er. After debt collectors threatened him and the Shanglin Office refused to fund the mission, Li Shande invoked the emperor’s authority to force both groups to back down and provide support.

• Li Chengqian met Li Shande outside the Shanglin Office and accompanied him to the palace, where Li Shande failed to resolve his lychee assignment.
• Li Shande reunited with Han Fourteen and Du Zimei, then told Li Chengqian he expected to die trying to fulfill the emperor’s order.
• Li Chengqian urged Li Shande to persevere for Li Xiu'er, and Li Shande resolved to search for ways to transport fresh fruit.
• Debt collectors from Pingkang Ward threatened Li Shande over his loan and old house, so he warned them that obstructing the imperial assignment would cost them their heads.
• Director Liu refused to fund Li Shande’s mission until Li Shande accused the Shanglin Office of obstructing the emperor’s business and forced him to provide money.
• Li Chengqian resolved to protect Li Shande and secretly promised that the Shanglin Office officials would not survive.

Li Shande and Li Chengqian set out for Lingnan to transport lychees, while Qing Mo arranged protection and entrusted Zheng Ping'an with helping them and pursuing the truth about his father. The chapter left Zheng Ping'an and Dog bound by Qing Mo’s orders as the journey to Lingnan began.

• Li Shande entrusted Li Xiu'er to Qing Mo, agreed to take Li Gan to Lingnan, and promised to protect him.
• Qing Mo gave Li Chengqian gold and sent Yinzi along to guard him as Li Shande and Li Chengqian departed for Lingnan.
• Qing Mo, Han Fourteen, and Du Zimei celebrated their departure, and Du Zimei composed a poem for Li Shande and Li Chengqian.
• Qing Mo visited Zheng Ping'an and Dog, revealed his immortal powers, and told Zheng Ping'an to continue to Lingnan while assisting Li Shande and Li Gan.
• Qing Mo ordered Zheng Ping'an to learn the truth about his father from the master of Empty Wave Ward, protect Li Gan, and keep his instructions secret.

Li Yuan learned that Li Chengqian had traveled to the future and heard how Li Longji’s later rule nearly destroyed the Tang Dynasty, then blamed Li Shimin in a furious family quarrel. Meanwhile, Li Chengqian and Li Shande reached Lingnan after helping villagers on the way, ready to arrange the lychee transport.

• Li Shimin and Empress Zhangsun told Li Yuan that Qing Mo had taken Li Chengqian to the Tang Dynasty a century in the future to transport lychees from Lingnan.
• Li Yuan questioned the danger and hardship of the journey, then asked how the future emperor had ruled; Empress Zhangsun explained Li Longji’s early prosperity and later failures, including the An Lushan Rebellion.
• Li Yuan fainted from anger, recovered, slapped Li Shimin, and chased him with a shoe while Empress Zhangsun watched their bickering.
• Li Chengqian and Li Shande traveled south, observed the people’s hardships, helped villagers reinforce their homes, and listened to their concerns.
• After more than a month, Li Chengqian and Li Shande arrived in Lingnan, and Li Chengqian urged his teacher to visit the governor at once to arrange cooperation.

Qing Mo cared for Li Xiu'er in Chang'an while Li Shande and Li Chengqian struggled to arrange the transport of lychees in Lingnan. Zheng Ping'an pledged his help and revealed Qing Mo had sent him to uncover his father's past and deal with Yang Guozhong, but the prefectural governor's office refused to provide practical assistance.

• Qing Mo took Li Xiu'er to school and reassured her that Li Shande would return from his mission.
• Li Chengqian learned that Qing Mo had sent Zheng Ping'an and Dog to help transport the lychees, and Dog pledged their support.
• Zheng Ping'an thanked Li Chengqian for ensuring Li Xiu'er was in Qing Mo's care and revealed Qing Mo had directed him to investigate his father's past and deal with Yang Guozhong.
• Clerk Zhao confirmed Li Shande's identity as Lychee Envoy but gave him only an official pass and a Lychee Office plaque instead of meaningful help.
• Li Chengqian told Li Shande that the prefectural governor's office would not help, and Li Shande returned to the post station to seek another way forward.

Qing Mo visited Lingnan and gave Li Chengqian clues to win over merchant association president Amita by exposing Governor He Youguang’s role in her father Sea Tiger’s betrayal and death. Zheng Ping'an investigated the evidence and confronted Amita, leaving her eager to hear what he knew.

• Yinzi led Li Chengqian to Qing Mo, who shared food made by Li Chengqian’s mother and heard his update on the lychee transport trials.
• Li Chengqian reported that the team had found a lychee orchard and a possible preservation urn, but lacked horses and faced obstruction from Governor He Youguang.
• Qing Mo told Li Chengqian that He Youguang had betrayed and killed Sea Tiger, and gave him clues and witnesses that could help prove it to Amita.
• Li Chengqian passed Qing Mo’s intelligence to Zheng Ping'an, who went to Empty Wave Ward and found the porter connected to the old incident.
• Zheng Ping'an approached Amita and raised the Whale-Riding Tower fire, Sea Tiger, and an unnamed porter, prompting her to invite him to discuss the matter privately.

Li Shande’s lychee transport experiments succeeded after repeated trials, while Li Chengqian grew more determined to punish Li Longji after working alongside Lingnan’s people. Zheng Ping’an and Li Chengqian uncovered Zhao Xinmin’s desire to leave He Youguang’s side, tested his abilities, and offered him a future in Chang’an after revealing Li Chengqian’s identity and Yinzi the dragon.

• Amita agreed to provide horses for Li Shande’s lychee transport experiments after Zheng Ping’an promised to arrange a meeting about her father’s death.
• Li Shande tested specially packed lychees on horseback routes, and Li Chengqian helped local people clear a rain-blocked road before the transport method achieved major success.
• Zhao Xinmin offered Zheng Ping’an Lan Yu and later asked him to recommend Zhao for a position in Chang’an, prompting Li Chengqian to suspect he wanted a way out from under He Youguang.
• Li Chengqian told Zheng Ping’an to uncover Zhao Xinmin’s intentions and then arranged to assess Zhao’s talent in a secluded forest.
• Yinzi appeared as a giant dragon, terrifying Zhao Xinmin, Zheng Ping’an, and Dog before Li Chengqian revealed that he had an immortal teacher.
• Zhao Xinmin impressed Li Chengqian in the assessment, accepted his offer to bring him and his family to Chang’an, and pledged to serve him.

Zheng Ping'an revealed his mission to Zhao Xinmin, and Li Shande and Li Chengqian returned from Lingnan to Chang'an, where Li Chengqian reunited with Li Xiu'er and received Qing Mo's detailed register of corrupt Tianbao officials. Li Shande then fell into Yu Chengen's schemes over the lychee transport plan, while Qing Mo and Li Chengqian watched without intervening so he could learn from the ordeal.

• Zheng Ping'an told Zhao Xinmin his true identity and ordered him to help Li Shande and Li Chengqian transport the lychees while keeping his cover intact.
• Zhao Xinmin secretly turned Amita against He Youguang, helped the lychee shipment proceed, and remained in Lingnan with Zheng Ping'an and A Li as Li Shande and Li Chengqian departed for Chang'an.
• Li Shande and Li Chengqian reached Chang'an and reunited with Li Xiu'er, who offered to mend Li Chengqian's clothes.
• Li Chengqian visited Qing Mo, sampled perilla drink, and received a register detailing Yang Guozhong's and other Tianbao officials' crimes and their marked fates.
• Li Shande sought official support for his transport plan, but Yu Chengen swindled it from him, framed him, and manipulated him into seeking help to transport the lychees.
• Han Hui warned Li Shande about Yu Chengen and taught him lessons about serving as an official, while Qing Mo and Li Chengqian let the schemes unfold to guide Li Shande.

Li Chengqian returned to Lingnan disguised as Li Gan, where he learned of tensions between Yu Chengen and He Youguang and reunited with Zheng Ping'an. The chapter ended with Li Chengqian revealing that he was the long-dead Crown Prince from the Zhenguan Era, stunning Zheng Ping'an, Zhao Xinmin, and Dog.

• Li Chengqian traveled to Lingnan with Li Shande and Yu Chengen, enduring Yu Chengen's insults and harassment while thinking of Yu's crimes.
• He Youguang and Zhao Xinmin welcomed Li Shande in Lingnan, while Li Chengqian reunited with Zheng Ping'an and reassured him that Li Xiu'er was well.
• Li Chengqian learned that Yu Chengen had rebuffed He Youguang and seemed to hold a grudge against him, then said he would let the two men fight.
• Yinzi called Li Chengqian by his true name, prompting Zhao Xinmin and Zheng Ping'an to connect it to the first Crown Prince of the Zhenguan Era.
• Li Chengqian confirmed that he was Li Shimin's son and the Crown Prince Li Chengqian, leaving Zheng Ping'an, Zhao Xinmin, and Dog shocked.

Li Chengqian revealed that he would take Zhao Xinmin to Chang'an in the Zhenguan Era and agreed to bring their families along. He tasked Zhao Xinmin with helping Yu Chengen bring down He Youguang and redirecting the seized wealth to benefit Lingnan, while Zheng Ping'an prepared to avoid exposing his false identity to Yu Chengen.

• Li Chengqian told Zheng Ping'an, Zhao Xinmin, and Dog that his teacher had changed the future and that he had traveled from the Zhenguan Era to the Tianbao Era.
• Li Chengqian promised Zhao Xinmin he could return with him to Zhenguan-era Chang'an and serve under Emperor Taizong; Zhao Xinmin prostrated himself in gratitude.
• Li Chengqian agreed to bring Zheng Ping'an, Sister Xiu'er, Dog, Teacher Li Shande, and Zhao Xinmin's wife to the Zhenguan Era, so Zheng Ping'an would not have to leave his family behind.
• Li Chengqian ordered Zhao Xinmin to watch He Youguang and Yu Chengen, help Yu Chengen defeat He Youguang, and use the resulting wealth to develop Lingnan and aid its people.
• Li Chengqian explained that Yu Chengen had become Yang Guozhong's close supporter, alarming Zheng Ping'an because his own identity as Yang Guozhong's envoy was false.
• Zhao Xinmin advised Zheng Ping'an to avoid Yu Chengen and He Youguang and warn Li Shande not to reveal his identity; Zheng Ping'an resolved to speak with Li Shande.

Su Liang lost his chance to profit from Li Shande’s lychee route, but Li Chengqian recruited him to sell laundry soap and scented soap instead. As the first day of the sixth month approached, Li Chengqian arranged for his allies to return to Chang'an and prepare to seize Yu Chengen’s wealth for Lingnan.

• Yu Chengen rejected Su Liang’s offer to fund post stations and offered to repay his earlier contributions, leaving Su Liang furious at Li Shande for failing to honor their plans.
• Li Chengqian and Zhao Xinmin approached Su Liang, and Li Chengqian persuaded him to partner in selling laundry soap and scented soap.
• Su Liang resumed supplying Li Shande with special jars for transporting lychees, while Yu Chengen killed He Youguang and placed the seized treasure in Zhao Xinmin’s care.
• Li Chengqian told Zheng Ping'an to return to Chang'an and ordered Zhao Xinmin to develop Lingnan with He Youguang’s treasure after Yu Chengen died on the first day of the sixth month.
• Li Chengqian instructed Zhao Xinmin to send Su Liang to Chang'an, then prepared to return there with Li Shande as Qing Mo made final preparations and Li Longji remained unaware of what awaited him on Yang Yuhuan’s birthday.