Chapter Summaries

Su Ziji arranged for the grand secretaries to teach him about memorial drafting in exchange for one of his paintings each month. Cui Zhaoqian accepted the deal and brought the painting to the Grand Secretariat, where the secretaries were busy reviewing memorials.

• Su Ziji invited Cui Zhaoqian aside and asked him to teach him about government affairs.
• Su Ziji proposed that each grand secretary teach him one instance of memorial drafting per day, offering a painting each month in return.
• Cui Zhaoqian admired Su Ziji’s painting and poem and agreed to the arrangement.
• Su Ziji left to look around and said he would return in an hour to pay his respects to the grand secretaries.
• Cui Zhaoqian carried the painting to the Grand Secretariat, where several secretaries were reviewing memorials.

Cui Zhaoqian showed the grand secretaries a painting and poem attributed to the Duke of Dai, then invited them to join a business proposition. Su Ziji arrived at the Grand Secretariat to begin learning from the grand secretaries, who received him courteously.

• Cui Zhaoqian showed the grand secretaries an unrecognized painting, poem, and calligraphy, and Zhao Xu wondered whether the Duke of Dai had created them.
• Cui Zhaoqian explained Su Ziji's proposal and asked the grand secretaries whether they would take part.
• A eunuch guided Su Ziji around the Imperial City and explained the rules and services for officials working there.
• Su Ziji reached the Grand Secretariat, where Cui Zhaoqian signaled that the matter had been settled.
• Zhao Xulin, Xie Zhi, He Yuduan, and Qian Wei greeted Su Ziji, and he asked them to correct him as he learned to draft memorials.

Summary of “The Grassroots of Insight”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Su Ziji begins work in the Grand Secretariat under the supervision of five Grand Secretaries, including the experienced Xie Zhi.
• Rather than merely observing, Su is assigned the humble task of pasting endorsement slips onto memorials after the Grand Secretaries review them.
• By watching the Secretariat’s orderly process, Su gains a clearer understanding of how the imperial government functions. He realizes that the Grand Secretariat, Six Ministries, and other bureaucratic institutions can keep the state running even if the Emperor is inattentive.
• His supernatural ability, represented by the Rosewood Pendant, rewards him with a major increase in [Way of Governance], granting him 3,000 experience and raising his understanding of state administration.
• A memorial reports that bandits have seized Weian and Yaoya Counties in the Southern Border. This resembles an event from Su’s prophetic dream, making him question whether the dream’s other details may also be trustworthy.
• Su recalls that, according to the dream, the attack was actually connected to famine in Ning Kingdom and Prince Shu’s refusal to provide aid. He decides to investigate the matter after leaving the Secretariat.
• Su observes privileged descendants of meritorious nobles and ministers serving as low-ranking attendants in the Secretariat. Instead of simply condemning hereditary privilege, he analyzes its political purpose.
• He concludes that Great Wei’s system successfully balanced three sources of official power: the Imperial Examinations, imperial-clan participation in education and government, and hereditary privileges for meritorious families. He believes Great Zheng weakened this balance by eliminating one of these paths.
• Su asks Xie Zhi for guidance on a waterworks memorial. Xie provides two useful insights, triggering another supernatural reward: Su gains 1,200 experience in [Way of Governance] and immediately understands the deeper meaning of Xie’s endorsement.

Character Development

• Su Ziji demonstrates rapid intellectual growth. His time in the Grand Secretariat allows him to see the “veins and arteries” of the entire nation and understand how power operates at the center of government.
• He becomes more politically sophisticated, moving beyond simple resentment of inherited privilege. He recognizes that seemingly unfair institutions may serve the broader purpose of preventing any single faction from monopolizing the state.
• Su also shows humility and social intelligence by performing menial work without complaint and addressing Xie Zhi respectfully as “Master Xie.”
• His prophetic dream becomes increasingly important. The real-world report concerning the Southern Border strengthens his suspicion that the dream contains genuine warnings.
• Xie Zhi is portrayed as an experienced and pragmatic senior official. He treats Su favorably, offers him instruction, and passes on valuable administrative knowledge.

Significant Themes

• The value of perspective and position: Access to the center of power reveals truths unavailable to officials and ordinary people at lower levels.
• Systems versus individuals: A mature bureaucracy can preserve national stability even when the ruler is negligent.
• Balanced sources of power: The chapter argues that a stable state requires multiple avenues into government so that neither the examination system, hereditary clans, nor imperial authority becomes overwhelmingly dominant.
• The political usefulness of privilege: Hereditary appointments are presented not only as corruption but also as a mechanism for maintaining factional balance and tying powerful families to the state.
• Learning through humility: Su’s menial role and willingness to ask for instruction allow him to absorb knowledge unavailable through books alone.
• Prophecy and political opportunity: The dream’s apparent fulfillment suggests that supernatural knowledge may help Su anticipate major crises and exploit them politically.

Character Interactions

• Xie Zhi initially welcomes Su with polite respect, and Su responds with careful deference.
• Su observes the five Grand Secretaries working as a coordinated team, each contributing according to his expertise.
• The privileged attendants interact indirectly with the Secretaries, reflecting the chapter’s discussion of rank, access, and political connections.
• Su later approaches Xie during a break and asks for clarification about a waterworks memorial. Xie’s willingness to teach him deepens their relationship and directly advances Su’s understanding.

Chapter Summary: “Duan Qin Died”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Su Ziji continues studying at the Grand Secretariat by presenting a memorial about waterworks and asking the four Grand Secretaries for guidance. Their comments grant him a large amount of experience, raising his [Way of Governance] to Level 12.
• He deliberately maintains a cautious, modest image. The Grand Secretaries recognize that he is careful but worry that his timidity may prevent him from learning the Secretariat’s deeper methods.
• Su Ziji returns home around noon and finds Ye Buhui escorting away the wife of an assistant minister. The visitor had likely come to invite Ye Buhui to a plum-blossom gathering.
• Over lunch, Su Ziji and Ye Buhui discuss how people who ignored them during difficult times have suddenly become friendly after Su Ziji’s promotion. Ye Buhui wisely refuses to become too close to such opportunistic acquaintances.
• Su Ziji reassures her that, if she wishes to admire the plum blossoms, he will accompany her himself.
• Reflecting on his recent elevation to the rank of Duke of Dai, Su Ziji realizes that it has created a Seed of Humanity, which he can use to strengthen his cultivation.
• He absorbs the Seed of Humanity through the Coiling Dragon Heart Method, gaining 12,000 experience and advancing from Level 15 to Level 16. The breakthrough causes a mysterious rumble of thunder despite the winter weather.
• Wild Daoist arrives and reports the shocking news: Duan Qin has died in the Ministry of Justice Jail, only moments earlier. The chapter ends with Su Ziji questioning how the death occurred and whether their informants can uncover more information.

Character Developments

• Su Ziji: Demonstrates strategic patience and humility at the Grand Secretariat, using even limited advice to gain substantial knowledge. He also grows stronger through his new noble status and remains alert to the political implications of Duan Qin’s death.
• Ye Buhui: Shows increasing social awareness and political sensitivity. She recognizes the insincerity of people who only approach her after Su Ziji’s rise and chooses to keep them at a distance.
• Grand Secretaries: See Su Ziji as excessively cautious. Though they acknowledge his careful conduct, they doubt whether he will learn the Secretariat’s true workings quickly.
• Wild Daoist: Continues serving as Su Ziji’s informant and messenger, bringing him urgent intelligence about Duan Qin’s unexpected death.

Significant Themes

• Strategic humility: Su Ziji’s cautious behavior conceals his ability to learn rapidly and exploit opportunities others underestimate.
• Political opportunism and social hypocrisy: Ye Buhui’s former acquaintances reappear only after the couple gains status, revealing how relationships in elite society are shaped by power.
• Growth through status and cultivation: Su Ziji’s title is not merely political; it directly contributes to his supernatural advancement through the Seed of Humanity.
• Hidden danger and uncertainty: The unexplained thunder and sudden death of Duan Qin suggest that unseen forces or political schemes are moving beneath ordinary events.
• Marriage and mutual trust: Su Ziji and Ye Buhui share increasing warmth and intimacy, supporting one another while navigating their changing position.

Character Interactions

• Su Ziji respectfully questions the Grand Secretaries, gaining their guidance while concealing how valuable their advice is to him.
• He and Ye Buhui speak affectionately over lunch, discussing social invitations, false friendships, and the possibility of attending a plum-blossom gathering together.
• Wild Daoist interrupts their meal to deliver the urgent report of Duan Qin’s death, shifting the atmosphere from domestic warmth to political alarm.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Wild Daoist tells Su Ziji that Duan Qin died under the horrifying Face-Pasting Torture, in which layers of wet mulberry-bark paper suffocate the victim.
• After Duan Qin’s death, strange incidents occur in the Grand Prison, including the deaths of prisoners in nearby cells. An informant reports that the disturbances may be supernatural.
• Su Ziji immediately abandons lunch and travels with Wild Daoist to investigate. They rent a private room in a restaurant overlooking the Grand Prison.
• From the restaurant, Su Ziji senses an unnatural, deeply chilling aura emanating from the prison. Even ordinary people instinctively avoid the area.
• Armored soldiers surround the prison, but Su Ziji realizes they are not merely frightened: yin energy has entered their bodies, demonstrating the ghost’s unusual power.
• Daoist True Person Liu Zhan arrives to deal with the disturbance. Although the ghost appears powerful enough to trouble the Grand Prison, Liu Zhan destroys it almost instantly.
• The disappearance of the aura and Liu Zhan’s puzzled reaction create a mystery: how could such a seemingly formidable evil ghost be so easily defeated?
• Su Ziji concludes that Duan Qin’s transformation into an evil ghost confirms the prophetic dream he experienced. He begins searching for information about the deeper crisis.
• While reading an unofficial history, Su Ziji finds an account of the “Seven-Aperture Exquisite Heart,” supposedly a human heart belonging to someone who had entered the Dao and was used as an alchemical ingredient by a former emperor.
• The chapter ends with Su Ziji asking who in the Capital is most skilled at refining elixirs, signaling that the ghost incident may be connected to an older conspiracy involving Daoist cultivation and human sacrifice.

Character Developments

• Su Ziji remains calm, observant, and strategically minded. He is less concerned with Duan Qin personally than with what the ghost’s appearance reveals about the larger danger facing the Capital.
• His confidence and insight are emphasized when he quickly identifies the soldiers’ condition and understands the contradiction surrounding the ghost’s strength.
• Su Ziji’s investigation becomes more urgent after he recognizes that his dream has been validated. He shifts from observing events to actively seeking the source of the crisis.
• Wild Daoist acts as Su Ziji’s informant and assistant. Though frightened by the torture and supernatural implications, he follows Su Ziji’s orders and helps gather information.
• Ye Buhui demonstrates trust and understanding by allowing Su Ziji to leave without protest when he explains that urgent business has arisen.
• Liu Zhan is established as a powerful Daoist True Person. He effortlessly destroys the evil ghost, yet his puzzled expression shows that even he cannot explain the strange situation.

Significant Themes

• The hidden supernatural beneath political order: The Capital is supposed to suppress all evil, making the appearance of an evil ghost in the Grand Prison deeply abnormal.
• Mystery and contradiction: The ghost is powerful enough to affect soldiers and disrupt the prison, yet weak enough to be destroyed instantly by Liu Zhan. This contradiction suggests deliberate manipulation or a larger hidden force.
• Dreams as prophecy: Su Ziji’s earlier dream is confirmed by real events, increasing the importance of supernatural foresight and implying that further dangers are approaching.
• The cost of power: The tale of the Seven-Aperture Exquisite Heart introduces the idea that cultivation and imperial alchemy may depend on horrific human sacrifices.
• Appearance versus reality: The terrifying disturbance may not be the true threat; Duan Qin’s ghost could be only a surface symptom of a deeper plot.

Character Interactions

• Wild Daoist reports the prison disturbances to Su Ziji and persuades him of their urgency.
• Su Ziji informs Ye Buhui that he must leave, and she responds with quiet support.
• Su Ziji and Wild Daoist observe the Grand Prison together, with Su Ziji guiding Wild Daoist’s interpretation of the soldiers and the yin energy.
• Su Ziji recognizes Liu Zhan’s arrival and evaluates the Daoist’s ability, viewing the exorcism as excessive force for the apparent threat.
• Liu Zhan notices Su Ziji after leaving the prison, but their interaction remains distant because of Su Ziji’s elevated noble status.
• The chapter closes with Su Ziji turning to Wild Daoist for knowledge about alchemy specialists, beginning the next stage of his investigation.

Liu Zhan and Yu Qianzhi investigated a malevolent ghost whose lingering resentment seemed protected by the dragon aura, and suspected that a returning spirit tide was changing the world. They entered the emperor’s court, where Huo Wuyong reported making three Lesser Restoration Elixirs, but the emperor demanded progress on the Great Restoration Elixir as its lesser counterpart was losing its effect.

• Liu Zhan told Yu Qianzhi that the dead steward of the Duan Residence had become a malevolent ghost in the prison and seemed to receive lenient treatment from the dragon aura.
• Liu Zhan and Yu Qianzhi connected the ghost’s unusual protection and recent weather to the growing power of Daoist arts, and wondered whether the spirit tide was returning.
• Liu Zhan and Yu Qianzhi agreed they could not abandon the Great Restoration Elixir task because the emperor would punish them.
• Liu Zhan and Yu Qianzhi entered the side hall, where the emperor heard Huo Wuyong report that he had refined three Lesser Restoration Elixirs.
• The emperor pressed Huo Wuyong for progress on the Great Restoration Elixir because the Lesser Restoration Elixir was becoming less effective.

Chapter Summary: “For Them to Become Medicine for Me Is Their Honor”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Liu Zhan reveals to the Emperor that the Daoist Sect has deciphered the former Long’an Emperor’s prescription for the Great Restoration Elixir. The formula’s final ingredient is a Seven-Aperture Exquisite Heart.
• Huo Wuyong explains that this refers to the heart of a human who has Entered the Dao within the past year. Such people may come from many fields—Daoism, music, calligraphy, martial arts, and other pursuits—not merely the Daoist Sect.
• Although Huo Wuyong, Liu Zhan, and Yu Qianzhi had previously concealed the formula because of its horrifying requirement, Liu Zhan now presents it under pressure to save the Emperor.
• The Emperor immediately decides that finding suitable victims will be easy due to his authority and resources. He declares that those whose hearts are used as medicine should consider it an honor, revealing his complete disregard for their consent.
• Meanwhile, Su Ziji and Wild Daoist travel to Red Leaf Abbey, Huo Wuyong’s secluded residence outside the capital, intending to wait for him while he remains in the Imperial Palace.
• They are admitted by a young Daoist attendant, who recognizes Su Ziji as the Duke of Dai and courteously escorts them to a guest room. Su Ziji observes the abbey’s refined, secluded atmosphere and Huo Wuyong’s recluse-like character.

Character Developments

• The Emperor becomes increasingly ruthless. His desire to prolong his life overrides moral concerns, and he treats the deaths of talented Dao-entry individuals as an acceptable sacrifice.
• Huo Wuyong is placed in a difficult moral position. Though cold and solitary, he has a firm boundary against killing people, and he feels guilt and misery as the Emperor’s demand moves toward human sacrifice.
• Liu Zhan demonstrates political calculation by presenting the prescription, temporarily easing the Emperor’s suspicion but effectively exposing the fatal ingredient. His silence afterward suggests he is avoiding responsibility for explaining the consequences.
• Yu Qianzhi likewise remains silent, allowing Huo Wuyong to bear the burden of telling the Emperor the truth.
• Su Ziji is shown as observant and composed. He appreciates the abbey’s design and immediately recognizes the cultivated, secluded personality reflected in it.
• Wild Daoist acts as Su Ziji’s capable and approachable attendant, handling introductions and putting the young Daoist at ease.

Significant Themes

• Power versus morality: The Emperor’s authority allows him to redefine murder as imperial privilege and transform human lives into resources.
• The corruption of immortality and longevity: The pursuit of extended life leads directly to increasingly horrific sacrifices.
• Moral responsibility and complicity: Huo Wuyong, Liu Zhan, and Yu Qianzhi all know the prescription is monstrous, but their different responses show varying degrees of resistance, fear, and political self-preservation.
• Class and imperial entitlement: The Emperor believes subjects exist for his benefit, while those sacrificed are expected to feel honored.
• Seclusion and inner character: Red Leaf Abbey’s hidden, elegant setting reflects Huo Wuyong’s independent and withdrawn nature, contrasting with the oppressive atmosphere of the Imperial Palace.

Character Interactions

• The Emperor interrogates Liu Zhan, Yu Qianzhi, and Huo Wuyong about the prescription, ultimately forcing Huo Wuyong to explain its human ingredient.
• Liu Zhan and Yu Qianzhi avoid answering, leaving Huo Wuyong exposed and resentful of their evasiveness.
• The Emperor’s reaction to Huo Wuyong’s explanation shifts from curiosity to eager determination.
• Su Ziji and Wild Daoist discuss Huo Wuyong’s abbey and infer aspects of his personality from its secluded design.
• The young Daoist initially refuses visitors but becomes respectful after learning Su Ziji’s identity, illustrating the influence of rank and appearance.

Huo Wuyong returned to Red Leaf Abbey and met with Su Ziji, who asked him to teach him basic alchemy. After receiving the Qi-Nourishing Alchemy Canon, Su Ziji revealed that he already knew much of its contents, leaving Huo Wuyong astonished and curious about how he had learned it.

• A young Daoist boy told his fellow disciple that the Duke of Dai was more intimidating than Prince Lu.
• Huo Wuyong returned to Red Leaf Abbey, worried about Liu Zhan's intentions, and learned that Su Ziji had come to see him.
• Huo Wuyong noticed that Su Ziji's physiognomy had changed since their earlier meeting and greeted him respectfully.
• Su Ziji asked Huo Wuyong to teach him basic alchemy, so Huo Wuyong gave him the Qi-Nourishing Alchemy Canon.
• Su Ziji received alchemy knowledge from the canon and claimed that he had already studied most of it.
• Su Ziji correctly explained how to distinguish saltpeter from mirabilite, convincing Huo Wuyong that he knew the fundamentals.

Su Ziji learned the True Dao Alchemical Canon from Huo Wuyong and gained enough alchemical knowledge to reach level 5. After discovering that the Daoist Sect’s formulas involved the dangerous seven-aperture exquisite heart, he resolved to conceal its aura and ordered an alchemy furnace and ingredients for his manor.

• Huo Wuyong gave Su Ziji the True Dao Alchemical Canon, and Su Ziji absorbed its teachings and advanced his Star-Point External Alchemy.
• Huo Wuyong concluded that Su Ziji could already refine elixirs for minor ailments and ended their instruction before revealing the sect’s core secrets.
• After leaving Red Leaf Abbey, Su Ziji learned that the seven-aperture exquisite heart referred to the heart of someone who had entered the Dao within the past year, and he worried about Ye Buhui and Zhou Yao.
• Su Ziji realized that certain ingredients could conceal the heart’s aura and fluctuations, and he told Wild Daoist to obtain an alchemy furnace and gather medicinal ingredients.
• Wild Daoist agreed to assist as Su Ziji prepared to try refining elixirs at the manor.

Chapter Summary: “Little Fox Returns”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Su Ziji gives Wild Daoist a list of ordinary ingredients for pill refining, concealing the true purpose of his preparations. He plans to make pills and objects that can disguise his aura, while secretly investigating the Lesser Restoration Elixir and its Monster Core ingredient.
• Jian Qu reports that Ning Kingdom has invaded the Southern Border and plundered three counties. Su Ziji recognizes this as another event that matches his prophetic dream and orders Jian Qu to continue monitoring the situation.
• Su Ziji reflects on Zhou Yao’s apparent death from illness in the dream. He suspects that the Emperor may have secretly taken her heart because of her connection to the Dao, forcing her father to conceal the truth. Determined to prevent this fate, he resolves to protect her.
• Wild Daoist quickly gathers the pill furnace and materials. Su Ziji establishes a pill-refining room in an unused courtyard and orders that he not be disturbed except in an emergency.
• Ye Buhui hears that Su Ziji is refining pills and understands the danger, recalling how excessive pill use caused the Taixing Emperor’s death. Although concerned, she hesitates to oppose her husband because he has never acted recklessly or unjustly.
• Little Fox suddenly returns after being missing for several days. Ye Buhui is relieved and affectionate despite scolding it for worrying her. She feeds Little Fox and Big Fox, gives them fresh clothing and warm food, and watches them rest together.
• Little Fox appears proud of something it has accomplished, but before explaining, it catches a scent and abruptly rushes outside again, leaving Big Fox confused.

Character Developments

• Su Ziji becomes increasingly proactive in changing the future revealed by his dreams. He is especially determined to save Ye Buhui and Zhou Yao from the tragedies he remembers, while cautiously concealing his true plans from others.
• Ye Buhui shows both practical judgment and emotional trust. She recognizes the dangers of pill refining but ultimately does not interfere, reflecting her confidence in Su Ziji and her growing independence in evaluating political and historical matters.
• Wild Daoist demonstrates loyalty and efficiency by obeying Su Ziji’s instructions without question and immediately procuring the necessary materials.
• Little Fox returns with a smug, self-satisfied attitude, suggesting it has been engaged in some important or secret activity. Its sudden departure hints that its actions are not yet complete.
• Big Fox remains affectionate and dependent on Little Fox, eagerly listening to its account but becoming bewildered when it unexpectedly leaves.

Significant Themes

• Changing fate: Su Ziji’s memories of the dream-world drive him to intervene before tragedies occur, especially Zhou Yao’s suspected murder and the Southern Border crisis.
• Hidden truths and political power: The chapter emphasizes how rulers can disguise violent acts as divine favor or natural death, forcing subjects to accept false explanations.
• Dangerous pursuit of immortality or power: Pill refining is associated with the “Outer Dao,” official suspicion, and the death of the Taixing Emperor, creating tension around Su Ziji’s preparations.
• Loyalty and protection: Su Ziji’s plans are motivated by his determination to shield those close to him, while Wild Daoist and Ye Buhui support him in different ways.
• Domestic warmth amid larger dangers: The affectionate reunion with Little Fox and the shared meal provide a comforting contrast to invasion, court intrigue, prophetic disasters, and secret experimentation.

Character Interactions

• Su Ziji gives Wild Daoist guarded instructions, trusting him to assist without demanding explanations.
• Jian Qu acts as Su Ziji’s intelligence source, promptly reporting the invasion and accepting orders to keep watch.
• Su Ziji privately connects Zhou Yao’s fate with Ye Buhui’s and resolves to protect both women.
• Ye Buhui’s servants relay concerns about the pill refining, while Ye Buhui weighs those concerns against her trust in Su Ziji.
• Ye Buhui affectionately scolds Little Fox, then cares for both foxes by providing clean clothing, warmth, and food.
• Little Fox and Big Fox share a playful reunion, but Little Fox’s sudden departure leaves Big Fox—and the reader—with unanswered questions about what it has discovered or accomplished.

Chapter Summary: “Unusual Fragrance from the Pill”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Little Fox suddenly races into the courtyard, followed by Big Fox, just as Su Ziji opens the pill furnace.
• The furnace releases an invisible-to-humans red mist filled with spiritual energy. The two foxes eagerly inhale it and discover two Golden Olives hidden within the vapor.
• Each fox claims and eats one Golden Olive, ignoring Su Ziji’s amused questions and offer of extra chicken legs.
• Su Ziji removes five successfully formed Lingering Fragrance Pills from the furnace. Their pleasant scent refreshes ordinary people, but the foxes reject them after realizing they are inferior to the earlier red mist and Golden Olives.
• Su Ziji explains that the pills are basic medicinal items capable mainly of curing minor illnesses and repelling insects. He plans to infuse their aura into two Blackwood Bracelets.
• The bracelets, carved with plum-blossom and chrysanthemum formations, will conceal spiritual fluctuations for at least a year. Su Ziji intends them for Ye Buhui and Zhou Yao, allowing them to wear protective items without attracting attention.
• Su Ziji leaves the pill room and heads toward the main courtyard as Zhou Yao arrives at the Duke of Dai’s Residence.

Character Developments

• Su Ziji: Demonstrates growing ingenuity as a pill refiner by inventing a method to transfer pill aura into wooden bracelets. He is pleased with his innovation and increasingly focused on discreetly protecting those close to him.
• Little Fox and Big Fox: Their reactions reveal their refined tastes and access to superior spiritual food. They eagerly pursue the Golden Olives but disdain the ordinary pills, showing that their priorities differ from those of humans.
• Zhou Yao: Her visit is motivated by concern for Su Ziji. She worries that his interest in pill refinement may lead him toward the dangerous “Outer Dao,” though she is also being pressured by a mysterious voice to consider becoming his wife.
• Mysterious Voice: Continues trying to persuade Zhou Yao to marry Su Ziji, emphasizing his noble destiny and potential to contend for imperial power.

Significant Themes

• Appearance versus true value: The refined pills look and smell impressive to humans, but the foxes recognize that the spiritual mist and Golden Olives are far more valuable.
• Innovation and adaptation: Su Ziji combines pill refinement, formations, and Blackwood’s properties to create a discreet defensive and concealing artifact.
• Human and supernatural perspectives: Ordinary people cannot perceive the red mist or understand the foxes’ behavior, highlighting the gap between human knowledge and the supernatural world.
• Duty and concern: Zhou Yao’s visit reflects the responsibility she feels toward Su Ziji, even as she struggles against outside influence and unwanted romantic suggestions.
• Destiny and ambition: The mysterious voice frames Su Ziji as someone with the potential to claim supreme power, introducing the possibility of political and imperial conflict.

Character Interactions

• Little Fox responds impatiently to Big Fox’s questions and later refuses Su Ziji’s pills.
• Su Ziji treats the foxes affectionately, joking about their behavior and offering Little Fox extra chicken legs for completing her task.
• Big Fox investigates the pills more cautiously but ultimately agrees with Little Fox that they are not worth eating.
• The mysterious voice repeatedly teases and pressures Zhou Yao about marrying Su Ziji and bearing a child who might one day contend for the throne. Zhou Yao resists the suggestion but has come specifically to see Su Ziji, partly because of concern over his new path in pill refinement.

Zhou Yao warned Su Ziji against making elixir refinement a daily pursuit, and he thanked her by giving her and Ye Buhui matching Blackwood Bracelets. Zhou Yao accepted hers after the mysterious voice urged her to, and the bracelet immediately eased her unexplained unease.

• Ye Buhui welcomed Zhou Yao to Su Ziji's reception hall, where Zhou Yao asked whether he planned to refine elixirs.
• Zhou Yao warned Su Ziji that focusing on elixir refinement could waste his time and harm his duties to the nation.
• Su Ziji thanked Zhou Yao for her concern and gave Ye Buhui a Blackwood Bracelet he had made himself.
• Su Ziji offered a second Blackwood Bracelet to Zhou Yao, and the mysterious voice sternly told her to accept it.
• Zhou Yao took the bracelet, felt her unease lift, and realized it was no ordinary object.
• Ye Buhui watched Zhou Yao accept the gift and wondered what had happened between them.

Ye Buhui worried that Su Ziji might be attracted to Zhou Yao, but his explanation reassured her and he insisted that both women wear their protective Blackwood Bracelets for a year. On the way home, Zhou Yao’s mysterious companion realized the bracelets were important amid recent elixir refining and warned her to conceal her zither skill, suggesting danger was approaching.

• Ye Buhui saw Zhou Yao off, then asked Su Ziji whether he found Zhou Yao lovely and admitted her jealousy.
• Su Ziji explained that he had given Zhou Yao the Blackwood Bracelet to repay her and said it would protect both women for the next year.
• Ye Buhui agreed to keep her bracelet on and to tell Zhou Yao to do the same.
• Zhou Yao questioned her mysterious companion about why it had insisted she accept the bracelet.
• After hearing that nobles and the emperor had been refining elixirs, Zhou Yao’s companion ordered her to wear the bracelet and conceal some of her zither skill.

Chapter Summary: “The Student Has Learned”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Zhou Yao examines the Blackwood Bracelet given to her by Su Ziji and wonders whether it contributed to her recent breakthrough in the Music Path.
• The mysterious voice confirms that the bracelet is extraordinary and remarks that Ji Zizong—or Su Ziji, as implied by the context—must have gone to great lengths to obtain it.
• Zhou Yao considers why Su Ziji gave identical bracelets to both her and Ye Buhui. She rejects the idea that his actions stem from romantic feelings, noting his consistently respectful behavior.
• After studying the bracelet’s unusual patterns, faint fragrance, and warm texture, Zhou Yao decides to wear it, though she conceals her remaining suspicions.
• The scene shifts to the Imperial City, where Su Ziji arrives at the Grand Secretariat after a clear but bitterly windy morning.
• Su Ziji reflects on his steadily increasing cultivation and political authority, worrying about how these forces will continue to grow.
• At the Grand Secretariat, he meets Grand Secretaries Xie Zhi, Zhao Xulin, and Cui Zhaoqian. They praise his diligence, humility, intelligence, and willingness to handle even insignificant tasks.
• The three officials question him about refining pills. Although they disapprove of Daoist practices and regard pill refinement as a dangerous “Outer Dao,” they warn him out of genuine concern for his reputation and future.
• Su Ziji responds humbly, accepting their advice with the words, “This student has truly been taught.” His respectful attitude greatly improves their impression of him.

Character Developments

• Zhou Yao: Becomes more accepting of the Blackwood Bracelet despite her uncertainty about its purpose. Her intuition and analytical nature remain strong, but she chooses to observe quietly rather than confront the mystery directly.
• Su Ziji: Continues to build both cultivation and political influence. He demonstrates emotional restraint, strategic humility, and an ability to win over influential officials without openly revealing his deeper ambitions.
• Ye Buhui: Though absent from the immediate events, her exceptional Chess Path talent and connection to the bracelet deepen the mystery surrounding Su Ziji’s gifts.
• The Grand Secretaries: Their attitude toward Su Ziji shifts from formal observation to cautious goodwill. Their advice shows that they increasingly regard him as a promising imperial figure rather than merely a young noble.

Significant Themes

• Hidden power and unexplained connections: The bracelets appear linked to breakthroughs in the Music and Chess Paths, suggesting a deeper purpose behind Su Ziji’s gifts.
• Political perception and reputation: Su Ziji must balance his private cultivation and experimentation with the public expectations placed upon a top scholar and imperial relative.
• Humility as strategy: His deferential response to the Grand Secretaries allows him to gain their trust and respect while concealing his true capabilities.
• The legacy of the previous dynasty: The ministers’ hostility toward pill refinement reflects lingering fear of emperors influenced by Daoists, eunuchs, and supernatural practices.
• Growing influence: Su Ziji’s status as a possible Crown Prince increasingly shapes how others treat him, even when no explicit promotion or command is mentioned.

Character Interactions

• Zhou Yao and the mysterious voice: The voice validates her suspicions about the bracelet but withholds further explanation, leaving Zhou Yao to interpret its significance herself.
• Zhou Yao and Su Ziji: Though Su Ziji is absent, Zhou Yao’s thoughts reveal growing respect and curiosity toward him. She recognizes his propriety and cannot reduce his actions to romantic motives.
• Su Ziji and the Grand Secretaries: Xie Zhi, Zhao Xulin, and Cui Zhaoqian jointly caution him against excessive involvement with Daoist pill refinement. Their criticism is softened by their genuine concern for his future.
• Su Ziji and Cui Zhaoqian: Their former grievances remain in the background, but their present interaction reflects increased mutual understanding and professional respect.
• Su Ziji and the guards and officials: His increasingly dignified presence inspires admiration, even as his apparent composure in the harsh weather makes others feel inferior or intimidated.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• The Grand Secretaries discuss Su Ziji, the Duke of Dai, and express relief that his interest in alchemy is merely curiosity rather than a serious attempt to pursue “Outer Dao” techniques.
• They contrast Su Ziji with the reigning emperor and other imperial princes, emphasizing that an intelligent, capable, humble ruler is far preferable to an incompetent sovereign whose careless words can undo the officials’ work.
• Cui Zhaoqian observes how dramatically the Grand Secretariat’s attitude toward Su Ziji has changed in only half a month. Initially, the officials treated him formally and distantly, but his diligence, humility, and competence have earned their genuine respect.
• Cui compares Su Ziji with the three adult princes:
  • Prince Shu is courteous but lacks genuine humility and patience.
  • Prince Qi is impulsive, violent, and dislikes menial administrative work, though military support makes him the leading succession candidate.
  • Prince Lu is pleasant but mediocre and avoids responsibility.
• Cui deeply regrets having once considered sacrificing Su Ziji during the southwestern crisis. He now realizes that Su Ziji is an exceptional talent and could become a pillar of the court, regardless of his imperial identity.
• Su Ziji is granted greater responsibility in the Grand Secretariat. Rather than merely observing, he now sorts incoming memorials by importance, allowing the Grand Secretaries to prioritize urgent matters.
• He efficiently categorizes reports, including allegations of corruption in Northern Yu Commandery as significant and a supposed divine turtle in West River Prefecture as likely fabricated and unimportant.
• At the end of the chapter, Su Ziji notices the phantom image of half a Rosewood Pendant in his vision, hinting at an important supernatural or plot-related development.

Character Developments

• Su Ziji: His reputation and influence continue to grow. He demonstrates sound judgment, administrative skill, humility, and reliability. His promotion to sorting memorials shows that the Grand Secretaries now trust him with sensitive political work. His lighthearted thought that his handsome appearance contributes to his popularity reveals his confidence and humor.
• Cui Zhaoqian: He undergoes a major shift in perception. He moves from fear and political calculation regarding Su Ziji to admiration, remorse, and even guilt over nearly sacrificing him. He recognizes Su Ziji’s qualities as genuine rather than merely the result of imperial status.
• The Grand Secretaries: They become increasingly supportive of Su Ziji, offering him instruction and treating him as a promising imperial descendant. Their approval reflects his growing political legitimacy.
• The Other Princes: Their shortcomings are highlighted in contrast to Su Ziji, strengthening his position as an unusually capable and well-rounded candidate for future influence.

Significant Themes

• Merit versus birth: Although Su Ziji benefits from being an imperial grandson, his influence is primarily attributed to his conduct, competence, and character.
• The qualities of good leadership: The chapter praises intelligence, humility, diligence, responsibility, and willingness to learn, while criticizing arrogance, impulsiveness, laziness, and incompetence.
• Political perception and reputation: A person’s identity and setting affect how others judge them, but sustained behavior can reshape political opinions quickly.
• Trust and gradual advancement: Su Ziji’s authority grows through dependable work rather than dramatic displays of ambition. Even a seemingly minor administrative task signifies significant institutional trust.
• Regret and moral judgment: Cui Zhaoqian reassesses his earlier political choices and fears that sacrificing Su Ziji would have made him a traitor to the state.
• Appearance and influence: The chapter humorously suggests that Su Ziji’s attractiveness and refined bearing help inspire loyalty and goodwill.

Character Interactions

• The Grand Secretaries reassure Su Ziji that his interest in alchemy is harmless and encourage his intellectual curiosity while subtly warning him against dangerous practices.
• Cui Zhaoqian silently compares Su Ziji with the other princes and reflects on how Su Ziji has won over officials who were initially indifferent to him.
• The junior officials now treat Su Ziji with conspicuous respect, presenting memorials carefully and behaving deferentially.
• Su Ziji works directly within the Grand Secretariat, sorting reports for the Grand Secretaries and demonstrating his ability to distinguish genuine political crises from fabricated omens.

Su Ziji announced that he would impeach Prince Shu for abusing the Ning Kingdom’s princess and driving the kingdom to rebel. Prince Shu learned of the planned impeachment and demanded a full account of the charges.

• Su Ziji told the Grand Secretariat that the Ning Kingdom had seized three counties and said he would impeach Prince Shu.
• Su Ziji explained that Prince Shu had taken the Ning Kingdom’s princess, whipped and expelled its envoy, and left the starving kingdom with no aid, prompting its rebellion.
• Cui Zhaoqian and Xie Zhi read Su Ziji’s memorial and reacted with shock and dismay at Prince Shu’s conduct.
• Prince Shu spent the afternoon with the Ning Kingdom’s princess while the women in his household mocked her and dismissed his interest as temporary.
• An adviser informed Prince Shu that Su Ziji planned to impeach him, and Prince Shu ordered the adviser to explain the accusations in detail.

Prince Shu learned that the Duke of Dai planned to impeach him over his treatment of Ning Kingdom’s princess and envoys, and ordered an investigation into the duke’s allies. Prince Qi welcomed the dispute and told Sun Bolan to have his faction join the impeachment, leaving both sides preparing for the next court assembly.

• Prince Shu erupted in anger after learning the Duke of Dai planned to impeach him at the next court assembly.
• Prince Shu ordered his adviser to find damaging information about the Duke of Dai and his subordinates.
• Sun Bolan told Prince Qi that the Duke of Dai planned to impeach Prince Shu.
• Sun Bolan revealed that Prince Shu had detained the Ning Kingdom’s princess, violated his obligations, and had its envoys whipped and driven away.
• Prince Qi ordered his followers to support the impeachment and help deal Prince Shu a crushing blow.

Su Ziji decided to impeach Prince Shu over unrest on the border, despite his advisers’ concerns about provoking a powerful enemy. Wild Daoist explained that targeting Prince Shu was a calculated move that avoided turning Prince Qi’s more serious offense into an irreconcilable fight with the emperor.

• Su Ziji showed Wild Daoist and Jian Qu his memorial against Prince Shu, and Jian Qu supported exposing the prince’s role in the border unrest.
• Su Ziji settled on submitting the impeachment memorial and said his small organization would be difficult for Prince Shu to strike decisively.
• Cen Rubai returned and warned Su Ziji that impeaching Prince Shu could create another powerful enemy before their position was secure.
• Su Ziji gave Cen Rubai a letter to deliver personally to Wei Shiming, then left for court.
• Cen Rubai questioned why Su Ziji was targeting Prince Shu instead of Prince Qi, and Wild Daoist explained that Prince Qi’s ties to the Imperial Guards could provoke a fight the emperor might not wish to pursue.

Su Ziji brought a memorial against Prince Shu before the emperor and the court, accusing him of detaining Princess Ningguo and provoking the Ning Kingdom into rebellion. After reading the charges, the emperor asked Su Ziji how the matter should be handled.

• Wild Daoist advised Cen Rubai to impeach Prince Shu without forcing the emperor into an unwanted choice, and Cen Rubai understood the political reasoning behind the advice.
• Su Ziji arrived at court, where Prince Qi, Prince Lu, Prince Shu, and the gathered ministers watched him closely.
• The emperor asked whether anyone had another memorial, and Su Ziji stepped forward to impeach Prince Shu.
• Prince Shu angrily denounced Su Ziji, but Su Ziji presented his memorial to Eunuch Zhao and explained the events behind the accusations.
• The emperor read the memorial and asked Su Ziji how the case should be dealt with.

Chapter Summary: “Who Should Be Commander”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Su Ziji proposes a restrained response to Ning Kingdom’s invasion: Prince Shu should take Ning’s princess as a secondary consort, personally write a conciliatory letter, and order Ning Kingdom to withdraw. If Ning refuses, Great Zheng would then have clear justification for war.
• His proposal causes unrest in court because many officials believe the invasion deserves a much harsher response.
• Prince Qi uses the opportunity to undermine Prince Shu. At his signal, Censor Li Guozhi condemns Su Ziji’s conciliatory approach and argues that Ning Kingdom must be destroyed to preserve Great Zheng’s authority.
• Prince Qi’s supporters endorse sending a large army against Ning Kingdom. Their goal is not merely national defense: they hope to make Prince Shu bear responsibility for an expensive military campaign and allow Prince Qi’s faction to gain influence over military affairs.
• The Emperor observes the conflict with satisfaction, recognizing that the rivalry between his sons helps him maintain control over both factions.
• The Emperor asks Prince Qi who should command the campaign. Prince Qi nominates General He Wei, revealing an important military connection between his faction and the He family.
• Su Ziji immediately recognizes Prince Qi’s mistake: by naming He Wei before the Emperor has even decided on war, Prince Qi exposes one of his faction’s military assets and possible ties.
• The Emperor then asks Su Ziji to recommend a commander, placing him under another political test.

Character Developments

• Su Ziji: Demonstrates political caution, moderation, and an ability to distinguish between advancing and retreating. He deliberately avoids destroying Prince Shu completely and refuses to become entangled in military appointments. He understands that recommending a general could make the Emperor suspect him of forming an illicit alliance.
• Prince Shu: Initially resentful toward Su Ziji, he becomes somewhat relieved when Su proposes leniency. His relief turns to anger when Prince Qi’s faction pushes for a full-scale invasion that could result in severe punishment for him.
• Prince Qi: Reveals himself to be ambitious but impatient. He tries to exploit the crisis to damage Prince Shu and seize influence over the military, but his decision to name He Wei exposes his faction’s connections too early.
• The Emperor: Appears calm and unreadable while deliberately manipulating the rivalry between his sons. He values Su Ziji’s political judgment and sees clever, controlled figures as useful instruments of imperial power.
• Censor Li Guozhi and Prince Qi’s supporters: Present themselves as loyal defenders of national dignity, but their arguments serve Prince Qi’s political interests by advocating an aggressive war.

Significant Themes

• Political maneuvering and factional rivalry: The debate over Ning Kingdom is primarily a struggle for influence between Prince Shu and Prince Qi.
• Military power as political power: Command of the campaign would allow Prince Qi’s faction to expand its influence within the army.
• The danger of revealing one’s hand: Prince Qi’s premature nomination of He Wei exposes his connections and makes his intentions easier for others to detect.
• Moderation versus aggression: Su Ziji favors diplomacy first, while Prince Qi’s faction advocates overwhelming force. The chapter suggests that both moral arguments and military policy can be used as political weapons.
• Imperial balance of power: The Emperor intentionally allows his sons to compete so that neither becomes powerful enough to threaten his authority.
• Knowing when to advance or retreat: Su Ziji’s strength lies in restraint. Unlike Prince Qi, he avoids acting simply because an opportunity appears.

Character Interactions

• Su Ziji and Prince Shu: Su’s proposal reduces Prince Shu’s immediate danger, despite their earlier confrontation, showing that Su is willing to cooperate indirectly when it serves his broader strategy.
• Su Ziji and Prince Qi: Their rivalry is mostly expressed through court actions and political positioning. Prince Qi tries to use Su’s moderation against Prince Shu, while Su recognizes Prince Qi’s strategic blunder.
• Prince Qi and his followers: Prince Qi communicates through subtle signals, prompting his allied censor and ministers to attack Su’s recommendation without making his own involvement too obvious.
• The Emperor and his sons: The Emperor questions Prince Qi and then Su Ziji, testing their judgment while encouraging competition between the princes.
• The Emperor and Su Ziji: The Emperor’s favorable assessment of Su grows because Su knows how to choose his battles and avoids appearing connected to military factions.