Chapter Summaries

Zhou Liang fled the prince's residence after hearing that His Highness had ordered him beaten to death, while Su Ziji attended a farewell banquet in Shuntian Prefecture and composed a poem celebrating the examination. The chapter ended as drums sounded outside the hall.

• Zhou Liang saw a torch-bearing crowd approaching his quarters and feared that the prince had discovered his deception.
• After hearing Zhang Wang announce the order to capture him, Zhou Liang escaped through a small gate.
• At a farewell banquet for Luo Pei, the officials examined a painting by Wu Jianian depicting their success in the examinations.
• Su Ziji praised the painting's detached style, while Luo Pei reflected on the thirty years since their examination and his departure for the southwest.
• Su Ziji wrote a poem titled “Celebrating Passing the Examination,” and three loud drumbeats sounded outside the hall.

At a farewell banquet in the Shuntian Prefecture Office, Su Ziji wrote a poem just as Zhou Liang arrived to beat the court drum and seek protection from Prince Lu. Tan Ping, Su Ziji, Prince Dai, Luo Pei, and the other ministers went to hear the nighttime complaint.

• Su Ziji wrote a poem that impressed the banquet guests, while Luo Pei reflected on Prince Shu's betrayal and Prince Dai's loyalty.
• Zhou Liang fled Prince Lu's Residence, fearing that Prince Lu would have him killed, and decided to seek refuge at a government office.
• Zhou Liang reached the Shuntian Prefecture Office and beat its court drum, hoping to alert Prefect Tan Ping and expose Zhang Wang.
• Tan Ping left the banquet to convene court after the drum sounded.
• Cui Zhaoqian, Luo Pei, the chief minister, and Su Ziji joined Tan Ping to see who had come to cry injustice.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Dozens of Shuntian Prefecture yamen runners are summoned in the middle of the night after someone beats the grievance drum. Despite their annoyance, they immediately become formal when the officials arrive.
• Prefect Tan Ping presides over an emergency nighttime court session. Su Ziji, the Chief Minister, Prince Dai, and other high-ranking officials are present, giving the proceedings unusual political weight.
• The person who beat the drum is brought in and immediately cries, “Prince Lu wants to kill me!” He claims that the events at Water Cloud Shrine have nothing to do with him.
• His statement shocks everyone because Water Cloud Shrine has recently been exposed as a place of sexual debauchery disguised as a fertility shrine. The revelation has already threatened the reputations of wealthy and official families.
• The accuser identifies himself as Zhou Liang, steward of Prince Lu’s Residence, and formally reports Water Cloud Shrine.
• Zhou Liang realizes too late that he has exposed both the shrine’s scandal and Prince Lu’s connection to it. He fears Prince Lu will kill him for betraying him, but he has already entered a legal proceeding from which he cannot retreat.
• Su Ziji silently recognizes that his scheme has worked. The mysterious power of Literary Heart Carving Dragon, rather than direct coercion, brought Zhou Liang to court without leaving obvious traces.
• Su Ziji concludes that Prince Lu can no longer remain hidden or claim innocence. Prince Lu attacked first by targeting innocent women connected to the shrine, and Su Ziji now intends to retaliate publicly and politically.

Character Developments

• Su Ziji remains outwardly calm and controlled, but internally reveals himself as the mastermind behind Zhou Liang’s appearance. He carefully calculates the political consequences and sees the accusation as the opening move in a larger confrontation with Prince Lu.
• Zhou Liang shifts from panic to desperate determination. Though he initially regrets beating the drum and exposing the scandal, fear for his life forces him to continue accusing Water Cloud Shrine. His cowardice and instinct for self-preservation make it unlikely that he will retract his testimony.
• Prince Dai is portrayed as composed and dignified, quietly observing the proceedings. His presence makes the case more serious and prevents local officials from suppressing it.
• Prefect Tan Ping becomes visibly terrified. He realizes that the case involves both a powerful prince and a controversial shrine, placing him in an extremely dangerous political position.
• Prince Lu does not appear directly, but his influence dominates the scene. He is presented as someone who tried to eliminate a witness and suppress the truth, yet is now vulnerable because his own steward has implicated him.

Significant Themes

• Political maneuvering and retaliation: Su Ziji turns Prince Lu’s hidden attack into a public scandal, demonstrating that court conflicts are fought through reputation, testimony, and legal procedure as much as force.
• Truth versus control: Once Zhou Liang speaks publicly, the authorities can no longer easily suppress the Water Cloud Shrine scandal. Public accusation makes the truth politically dangerous to conceal.
• Fear and self-preservation: Zhou Liang’s actions are driven less by justice than by terror of being killed. His desperation nevertheless makes him an effective witness.
• Power and divine legitimacy: Water Cloud Shrine’s supposed miracle gives it authority and protection, while its exposure as a den of debauchery threatens both religious credibility and the reputations of elite families.
• The consequences of hidden wrongdoing: Prince Lu attempted to operate behind the scenes, but his connection to the shrine is dragged into the open, showing that covert schemes can collapse when witnesses and public institutions become involved.

Character Interactions

• The yamen runners move from casual resentment to disciplined obedience once the officials arrive, emphasizing the authority of the court.
• Prefect Tan Ping controls the proceedings but is visibly shaken by Zhou Liang’s accusation, showing the tension between official duty and political danger.
• Zhou Liang directly appeals to the assembled ministers for protection, placing Prince Lu under suspicion before powerful witnesses.
• Prince Dai and the Chief Minister silently assess the implications of the accusation, recognizing that it coincides with Prince Dai’s pending inspection of the capital’s divine shrines.
• Su Ziji observes everyone while concealing his own involvement. His inner thoughts reveal that Zhou Liang’s testimony is part of a deliberate counterattack against Prince Lu.
• The chapter ends with Su Ziji confident that the political storm has only begun and that Prince Lu can no longer escape into the shadows.

Chapter Summary: “Cut Away by More Than Half”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Several of Prince Lu’s Selected Attendants are brought before him after being suspected of having visited Water Cloud Shrine, which has been exposed as a place associated with illicit behavior.
• The women, especially Selected Attendant Yuan, insist that they are innocent. Yuan bears a swollen handprint and a bleeding lip, while one of her maids has been beaten to death during the investigation.
• Their collective weeping overwhelms Prince Lu. Although suspicious and troubled, he lacks conclusive evidence and cannot bring himself to execute women who have served him for years.
• Prince Lu dismisses the concubines and decides that the matter must be suppressed rather than publicly exposed. Removing all of his concubines would imply that he had been cuckolded, creating a humiliating scandal.
• Gui Junxi advises Prince Lu to treat the incident cautiously. Water Cloud Shrine has implicated many powerful households, and Prince Dai—officially responsible for dealing with the shrine—has yet to act.
• Prince Lu resolves to have someone comfort the frightened Selected Attendants in a few days, revealing his continued concern for their welfare.
• While observing Prince Lu, Gui Junxi suddenly senses that more than half of the prince’s noble aura has vanished. He cannot determine what event caused such a dramatic change and suspects that something significant may have happened outside the residence, possibly involving Water Cloud Shrine.

Character Developments

• Prince Lu: Shown to be impulsive but fundamentally compassionate. He initially reacts harshly to the rumors, yet his reluctance to kill the women demonstrates that he values personal loyalty and human feeling. He is also politically aware enough to understand the danger of allowing the scandal to become public.
• Selected Attendant Yuan: Presented as the most visibly victimized of the concubines. Her injuries, grief, and carefully controlled display of innocence make her appear both vulnerable and potentially manipulative.
• Selected Attendant Chen and the other concubines: Their coordinated crying shows their fear and their awareness of how to appeal to Prince Lu’s emotions. Their behavior suggests both genuine terror and the performative nature of palace survival.
• Gui Junxi: Acts as Prince Lu’s calm political adviser. He understands the broader implications of the scandal and admires Prince Lu’s benevolence, though he also worries that excessive sentiment may be a weakness.
• Prince Qi and Prince Shu: Though absent, they are used as contrasts to Prince Lu—Prince Qi would respond brutally, while Prince Shu would be outwardly merciful but secretly ruthless.

Significant Themes

• Mercy versus political ruthlessness: Prince Lu’s compassion distinguishes him from other princes but may also leave him vulnerable in a world where suspicion is often enough to justify execution.
• Reputation and public perception: The fear of being labeled a “Blue-Hat Prince” is nearly as serious as the underlying scandal. Political power depends heavily on appearances.
• Gender, loyalty, and control: The concubines’ lives depend entirely on Prince Lu’s judgment, while their tears function as both emotional appeals and survival strategies.
• The danger of rumor: With no clear proof, suspicion alone has already led to torture, death, and widespread fear.
• Hidden political consequences: The sudden reduction in Prince Lu’s noble aura suggests that unseen forces or events may be affecting his political destiny.

Character Interactions

• The Selected Attendants plead with Prince Lu, using tears and displays of suffering to persuade him of their innocence.
• Prince Lu loses patience with their crying but ultimately spares them and orders them to withdraw.
• Gui Junxi counsels Prince Lu to suppress the scandal and delay any further action, emphasizing the political risks of public exposure.
• Prince Lu agrees with Gui Junxi but insists that the concubines should be comforted, leading Gui Junxi to reflect on the prince’s benevolence.
• Gui Junxi then experiences a sudden, ominous realization: Prince Lu’s noble aura has been drastically diminished, hinting at an important off-page development.

Prince Lu learned that Zhou Liang had accused him and the Water Cloud Shrine before Shuntian Prefecture, then panicked as the testimony implicated Consort Wei. The chief minister halted the hearing and ordered Zhou Liang imprisoned, leaving the scandal to be reported to the emperor.

• Steward Zhang told Prince Lu that Zhou Liang had accused the Water Cloud Shrine and claimed Prince Lu wanted him dead, prompting Prince Lu to ready his sword before Gui Junxi urged caution.
• Prince Lu sent Steward Zhang to learn how the hearing was proceeding, hoping the prefect of Shuntian would contain the matter before it reached the emperor.
• At the hearing, Zhou Liang testified that Consort Wei had repeatedly visited the Water Cloud Shrine and that Prince Lu had beaten a maid to death while questioning people about the matter.
• Zhou Liang insisted his accusations were true, while Luo Pei and the chief minister reconsidered their support for Prince Dai as the officials feared a palace scandal.
• The chief minister said the matter should not be examined too closely and should be reported to the emperor, so Tan Ping ordered Zhou Liang taken to prison and barred visitors.

After returning from a farewell banquet, Luo Pei warned Luo Zhengqi to watch Prince Dai and prepare for trouble in the capital. He planned to take his wife and younger son to the southwest, leaving Luo Zhengqi behind as an official.

• Luo Pei returned to the quiet Luo Residence, where Mo and Luo Zhengqi had waited anxiously for him.
• Luo Pei reassured Mo that they would soon leave the capital for the southwest, then went to his study to think over what he had learned at the banquet.
• Luo Zhengqi asked whether Prince Dai had made any progress on the Divine Shrine matter, but Luo Pei told him to watch and remain loyal to his chosen path.
• Luo Pei reflected that doubts about Prince Lu's bloodline could ruin his claim to the throne and create a rift between him and the emperor.
• Luo Pei told Luo Zhengqi that Mo and his younger brother would accompany him to the southwest, while Luo Zhengqi would remain in the capital and seek help from Prince Dai's Residence if needed.

Chapter Summary: “Stripped of His Princely Title”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Late at night, the Emperor is interrupted by Zhao Eunuch, who arrives sweating and visibly terrified.
• Zhao Eunuch presents a written confession concerning Water Cloud Shrine. The confession reveals that the shrine has become a place of sexual corruption and implicates several members of the imperial family.
• The Emperor initially mocks Prince Dai’s apparent “luck,” since the scandal provides an excuse to investigate or purge the Divine Shrine.
• His mood darkens when he learns that women from Prince Lu’s household were involved with Water Cloud Shrine. His anger intensifies dramatically when the confession implicates Consort Wei.
• The confession states that Consort Wei repeatedly visited Water Cloud Shrine before giving birth to Prince Lu, causing the Emperor to suspect that Prince Lu may not be his biological son.
• The Emperor connects this possibility to the prophecy that the Ji dynasty will perish within three generations. If Prince Lu is illegitimate and inherits the throne, the prophecy could be fulfilled by the realm passing to an outsider.
• Overcome with rage and anxiety, the Emperor suffers a physical episode and nearly collapses. Zhao Eunuch gives him a Lesser Restoration Elixir, though he worries that the medicine is becoming less effective.
• After regaining composure, the Emperor orders Consort Wei stripped of her rank and Prince Lu stripped of his princely title. Both are to be confined to their residences pending an investigation and bloodline test.
• He insists that he still trusts Prince Lu and claims the punishment is a precaution intended to eliminate hidden dangers. If Prince Lu is proven innocent, his title will be restored.

Character Developments

• The Emperor: Revealed as deeply anxious about succession, prophecy, dynastic legitimacy, and the possibility of losing control. His initial confidence gives way to rage, physical weakness, and fear. Though he claims to trust Prince Lu, he is willing to strip him of rank based on suspicion alone.
• Prince Lu: Does not appear directly, but his status changes drastically. He goes from being a favored potential successor, recently praised by the Emperor, to a disgraced and confined prince suspected of having illegitimate blood.
• Consort Wei: Her past visits to Water Cloud Shrine cast doubt on Prince Lu’s parentage and lead to the loss of her rank.
• Zhao Eunuch: Demonstrates loyalty, caution, and awareness of the Emperor’s dangerous health. He fears both the contents of the confession and the Emperor’s violent reaction, trying to calm him and protect him from further strain.
• Prince Dai: Remains absent, but the scandal initially appears to benefit him by giving the Emperor a reason to attack the Divine Shrine. The Emperor also notes that Prince Dai’s uncertain parentage and past history make him less favored.
• Prince Qi and Prince Shu: Their earlier failures and political limitations influence the Emperor’s succession concerns, making Prince Lu seem increasingly important—until the bloodline suspicion arises.

Significant Themes

• Dynastic legitimacy and bloodline: The chapter centers on whether Prince Lu truly belongs to the imperial family and whether biological descent determines his right to rule.
• Prophecy and political fear: The prophecy of the dynasty ending in three generations drives the Emperor’s suspicions and causes him to interpret personal scandals as signs of national catastrophe.
• Power and paranoia: The Emperor’s authority allows him to punish Prince Lu immediately, even without proof. His fear of hidden threats outweighs his previous trust.
• Aging and mortality: The Emperor’s failing health makes him increasingly desperate to secure the succession and remove potential dangers before he dies.
• Appearance versus truth: Public praise, imperial trust, and outward respectability collapse when the confession suggests hidden corruption within the palace and royal family.
• Institutional corruption: Water Cloud Shrine is portrayed as a corrupt religious institution whose scandal may provide justification for a broader political purge.

Important Character Interactions

• Emperor and Zhao Eunuch: Their exchange shows a long-standing relationship built on familiarity but governed by strict hierarchy. Zhao Eunuch’s hesitation emphasizes the seriousness of the confession, while his efforts to calm and medicate the Emperor reveal his concern for the ruler’s health.
• Emperor and Prince Lu: Although Prince Lu is absent, the Emperor’s thoughts reveal a conflicted relationship. He feels genuine paternal affection and has considered evaluating Lu as a successor, yet immediately turns against him when his legitimacy is questioned.
• Emperor and Consort Wei: Consort Wei’s alleged conduct is treated as both a personal betrayal and a threat to the imperial succession. Her actions indirectly place Prince Lu’s identity and future in doubt.
• Emperor and the wider imperial family: The Emperor compares the princes’ abilities and shortcomings while trying to determine who can preserve the dynasty. The scandal forces him to reconsider the entire succession.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• The Emperor abruptly recalls Zhao Eunuch and orders him to deliver a verbal decree to Prince Dai, demanding an explanation for his delay in completing an assignment. He also commands that Luo Pei immediately take over the relevant post.
• Zhao Eunuch leaves the Emperor’s hall and, after changing attendants and making inquiries, heads toward the Empress’s quarters.
• A young eunuch who overhears Zhao Eunuch’s destination secretly runs toward Consort Wei’s palace, apparently intending to report the information. He is intercepted by Hong Eunuch’s men and brutally beaten to death for violating palace rules.
• Consort Wei hears what may be the sound of the execution but suppresses her unease and continues to the Empress’s residence, having been summoned unexpectedly.
• On the way, Consort Wei reflects on the Empress’s tragic past: the Crown Prince’s death and the destruction of his entire household. She wonders how such suffering has changed the Empress.
• Consort Wei arrives at the Empress’s newly decorated temporary palace and is formally received. She is struck by the residence’s magnificence, which reflects the Emperor’s special regard for his lawful wife.
• Upon meeting the Empress, Consort Wei discovers that she remains calm, dignified, gentle, and composed rather than bitter or unstable.

Character Developments

• The Emperor appears increasingly impatient and suspicious. His dark mood and insistence on immediate action suggest that the delayed assignment is politically important.
• Zhao Eunuch demonstrates caution and experience, carefully changing attendants and gathering information before proceeding. His warning to the young eunuch reflects his awareness of the palace’s dangers.
• The young eunuch is shown as inexperienced and careless. His attempt to carry information outside the proper channels leads directly to his death.
• Hong Eunuch embodies the palace’s ruthless enforcement of hierarchy and secrecy, ordering the eunuch’s execution without hesitation.
• Consort Wei is anxious and politically cautious. She worries about the Empress’s intentions but also reveals jealousy and admiration when she sees the Empress’s status and composure.
• The Empress is presented as emotionally resilient and magnanimous. Despite years of grief and loss, she retains gentleness, dignity, and self-control, reinforcing her authority as the imperial mother.

Significant Themes

• Palace intrigue and the danger of information: Even overhearing a private conversation can be fatal, and survival depends on knowing when to remain silent.
• Power and hierarchy: The Emperor’s command, the Empress’s elevated treatment, and the eunuchs’ ability to punish subordinates all emphasize the rigid structure of court life.
• The cost of political violence: The Crown Prince’s death and the execution of his household continue to shape the emotions and relationships of those who remain.
• Appearance versus inner character: Consort Wei expects grief to have made the Empress harsh or unstable, but instead finds someone serene and compassionate.
• Jealousy and admiration: Consort Wei simultaneously envies the Empress’s status and respects her strength, creating tension beneath their formal politeness.
• Silence as survival: The chapter repeatedly shows that speaking, listening, or carrying information carelessly can have deadly consequences.

Character Interactions

• The Emperor commands Zhao Eunuch to confront Prince Dai and install Luo Pei, revealing the court’s urgency and internal pressure.
• Zhao Eunuch sharply rebukes the young eunuch for speaking too freely, but the young eunuch fails to heed the warning and is subsequently killed.
• Hong Eunuch and his men enforce palace discipline through violence, demonstrating how authority operates among palace servants.
• Consort Wei relies on her trusted female official for reassurance before meeting the Empress.
• The Empress receives Consort Wei with courtesy, offering her a seat rather than humiliating her. Their first meeting is outwardly respectful but emotionally layered, with Consort Wei assessing the Empress’s character and power.

Chapter Summary: “Strict Discipline”

Key Plot Points and Events

• The Empress summons Consort Wei late at night and engages her in seemingly harmless conversation about her health and the dangers of indulging in cool air.
• Consort Wei senses that the meeting is unusual, especially when the Emperor’s chief eunuch, Zhao Eunuch, arrives.
• Zhao Eunuch delivers the Emperor’s verbal decree:
  • Consort Wei is stripped of her rank for supposedly having extravagant expenditures and exceeding her station.
  • The Empress is ordered to place her under strict discipline.
• The stated reason is clearly a pretext. The Empress immediately suspects that the real issue concerns Consort Wei’s son, Prince Lu.
• Zhao Eunuch reveals that Prince Lu has also been stripped of his princely title and reduced to commoner status.
• Consort Wei collapses upon hearing the news.
• The Empress orders that Consort Wei be treated with dignity despite her demotion, granting her the allowances and treatment of an imperial concubine until her final rank is clarified.
• After Zhao Eunuch leaves to proclaim the formal edict at Prince Lu’s residence, the Empress reflects on the seriousness of the Emperor’s actions and orders an investigation.

Character Developments

• The Empress: Demonstrates her composure, political intelligence, and ability to act with both pragmatism and benevolence. She quickly recognizes that Consort Wei’s alleged extravagance is merely a cover for a much more serious offense. She also worries that the incident may affect Prince Dai and resolves to uncover the truth.
• Consort Wei: Reveals her deep insecurity despite her long experience and elevated rank. Her fear is confirmed when she is abruptly demoted, and she faints after learning that her son has been made a commoner.
• Zhao Eunuch: Acts as the Emperor’s detached and authoritative representative. His calm delivery emphasizes the severity and finality of the imperial decree.
• Prince Lu: Though absent, he becomes central to the chapter. His sudden loss of title suggests that he has committed—or been accused of committing—a major offense.
• Prince Dai: His position becomes a concern for the Empress, who suspects that the Emperor’s actions may form part of a larger political development.

Significant Themes

• Political intrigue and hidden motives: The official reason for Consort Wei’s punishment is implausible, showing how imperial authority can use fabricated charges to conceal deeper political conflicts.
• The unpredictability of imperial power: Even a cautious and long-established consort can be ruined instantly, while a prince can lose his title without warning.
• Maternal loyalty and vulnerability: Consort Wei’s collapse reflects how closely her fate is tied to her son’s.
• The burden of the past: The Empress’s memories of the earlier massacre of the former Crown Prince’s household make her fear that the Emperor may be preparing another ruthless purge.
• Benevolence as political strategy: The Empress’s decision to preserve Consort Wei’s living standards is both compassionate and politically calculated, allowing her to appear merciful while technically obeying the decree.

Important Character Interactions

• The Empress and Consort Wei exchange polite but tense remarks, with their former hierarchy and political distance shaping the conversation.
• Zhao Eunuch’s arrival abruptly transforms the meeting from restrained social conversation into a formal political crisis.
• The Empress attempts to question Zhao Eunuch for more information, but he only confirms that Prince Lu has been stripped of his title.
• After Consort Wei collapses, the Empress takes responsibility for her care and protects her from immediate mistreatment.
• The chapter ends with the Empress directing her attendants to investigate Prince Lu’s offense, signaling that she intends to understand the crisis before it threatens Prince Dai.

Chapter Summary: “Silverware Goes Unnoticed”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Granny Jia arrives at Prince Dai’s residence carrying a basket of peaches. She tells the guards that Prince Dai ordered her to watch over the Princess Consort and buy peaches for her pregnancy, using this plausible explanation to enter the inner courtyard.
• Inside, she sees Luo Jiang kneeling as punishment for leaving the residence without permission and taking a horse. The servants debate whether Luo Jiang’s actions were justified because she had left to attend to her dying mother, but most criticize her for violating the residence’s rules.
• A steward disperses the gossiping servants, emphasizing that Prince Dai’s lenient punishment is unusual compared with the harsher penalties in other princely residences.
• Granny Jia secretly carries a thumb-sized magical artifact concealed in her clothing. She has been ordered to bring it within three meters of the Princess Consort so that it will cause a pregnancy complication without appearing to be a direct attack.
• Though frightened of being discovered, Granny Jia convinces herself that the artifact’s effects will be mistaken for a natural fetal disturbance and that suspicion will fall on the kitchen or other harmless causes.
• She continues into the Princess Consort’s quarters, charming a maid by promising her some peaches. The maid allows her to enter without suspicion.
• Granny Jia discovers that the Princess Consort is not alone: Prince Dai, Mr. Lu, and Steward Jiang are all present, creating an unexpected and potentially dangerous situation just as she is about to approach her target.

Character Developments

• Granny Jia is revealed as a conspirator rather than a loyal servant. She is motivated by promised silver and land, but her fear of punishment shows that she is not truly confident or committed. She relies on deception, flattery, and the ordinary appearance of the peaches to conceal her mission.
• Luo Jiang is presented as impulsive but possibly morally justified. Her willingness to accept punishment after returning suggests responsibility and loyalty, even though her decision to leave without permission has damaged her standing among the servants.
• The servants reveal the rigid hierarchy and harsh expectations within the residence. Many resent Luo Jiang’s privileged treatment and use her punishment as an opportunity to criticize her.
• The steward demonstrates the residence’s strict discipline and acts to preserve order, stopping the servants from turning Luo Jiang’s punishment into idle entertainment.
• The Princess Consort and Prince Dai do not yet act directly, but their presence raises the stakes of Granny Jia’s scheme and may prevent her from carrying it out unnoticed.

Significant Themes

• Loyalty versus personal duty: Luo Jiang’s decision to return to her mother conflicts with her obligations to the Prince’s Residence, reflecting the tension between filial piety and service.
• Power and hierarchy: The chapter emphasizes the severe rules governing servants and the privileges granted to people close to the royal household.
• Deception beneath ordinary appearances: The innocent-looking peaches conceal a deadly magical artifact, illustrating how danger can be hidden within everyday objects and gestures.
• Fear and self-preservation: Granny Jia’s actions are driven by greed but tempered by fear of punishment. Her internal reasoning shows how conspirators rationalize betrayal.
• Surveillance and vulnerability: The residence appears heavily guarded and rule-bound, yet Granny Jia exploits familiarity and trust to penetrate its inner quarters.

Character Interactions

• Granny Jia gains passage through the guards by invoking Prince Dai’s concern for the Princess Consort and the unborn child.
• She questions the servants about Luo Jiang and joins in criticizing her, using public gossip to maintain the appearance of an ordinary, loyal maid.
• The steward confronts the assembled servants and forces them to return to work, reinforcing the residence’s authority.
• Granny Jia flatters and reassures the young maid at the Princess Consort’s door, offering peaches to secure her cooperation.
• The chapter ends with Granny Jia entering the Princess Consort’s chamber and finding Prince Dai and his close attendants present, placing her covert mission in immediate jeopardy.

Chapter Summary: “I Was Framed!”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Wild Daoist reports that preparations for action against Water Cloud Shrine are complete. Yamen runners from Shuntian Prefecture will lead the operation, while Imperial Feather Guards will remain on standby as a precaution.
• Su Ziji emphasizes that Water Cloud Shrine is a civil matter, not a rebellion, and warns that deploying the Imperial Feather Guards could give political opponents ammunition against them.
• Jiang Yi reports on Luo Jiang’s situation: Luo Jiang’s mother died after being injured during an earthquake and left unattended. Upon hearing the news, Luo Jiang abandoned An, seized a horse, buried her mother, and returned to seek forgiveness.
• Jiang Yi suggests that Luo Jiang’s filial motives and difficult circumstances may justify leniency. Su Ziji appears surprised but considers the matter.
• Granny Jia arrives carrying a basket of fuzzy peaches, intending to use them to approach Ye Buhui and activate a harmful ritual artifact.
• Su Ziji speaks to Granny Jia in seemingly ordinary but pointed terms, stressing that servants must not deceive their masters and that those with merit are rewarded while those with faults are punished.
• Granny Jia becomes increasingly suspicious that Su Ziji knows of her betrayal. However, she reassures herself that if he truly knew she meant to harm Ye Buhui and the unborn heir, he would have confronted her directly.
• When Granny Jia tries to move toward Ye Buhui, Wild Daoist and Mr. Lu prevent her from approaching, forcing her to wait.
• Bo Yan arrives and reports that Granny Jia has mysteriously acquired an additional one thousand taels and one hundred mu of fertile land, all registered in her name.
• Faced with the evidence, Granny Jia turns pale and immediately denies the accusation, crying that she has been framed.

Character Developments

• Su Ziji demonstrates strategic caution and political awareness. He plans carefully regarding Water Cloud Shrine and avoids unnecessary use of military force. His cryptic comments to Granny Jia reveal that he likely knows—or strongly suspects—her treachery.
• Ye Buhui is visibly pregnant, and her maternal appearance highlights the stakes of Granny Jia’s intended attack. She recognizes the hidden meaning in Su Ziji’s words and wisely remains silent rather than interfering with his handling of the situation.
• Granny Jia becomes increasingly anxious and paranoid. Her guilty conscience makes her interpret Su Ziji’s remarks as possible warnings, while her attempt to approach Ye Buhui is thwarted. The financial evidence exposes her vulnerability.
• Jiang Yi shows compassion toward Luo Jiang, arguing that her actions arose from filial duty and deserve leniency. He is also allowed to remain and hear the accusation against Granny Jia.
• Bo Yan reveals his loyalty to Ye Buhui and Su Ziji’s household. Although he once infiltrated the residence as an assassin, he despises Granny Jia’s betrayal and reports her suspicious wealth without hesitation.
• Wild Daoist and Mr. Lu act as discreet protectors, controlling Granny Jia’s movements and preventing her from reaching Ye Buhui.

Significant Themes

• Betrayal and loyalty: Granny Jia’s treachery contrasts sharply with the loyalty of the household’s retainers, including Bo Yan, Wild Daoist, and Mr. Lu.
• Justice and accountability: Su Ziji’s statement that merit must be rewarded and faults punished foreshadows Granny Jia’s exposure.
• Deception and hidden meaning: Su Ziji uses indirect language to test and unsettle Granny Jia without openly accusing her.
• Political restraint: The discussion of Water Cloud Shrine emphasizes the importance of proportional action and avoiding decisions that could create political liability.
• Filial duty versus legal punishment: Luo Jiang’s actions raise the question of whether personal loyalty and grief should mitigate formal punishment.
• Evidence versus denial: Granny Jia’s immediate claim that she was framed sets up a conflict between her desperate defense and the material evidence of her unexplained wealth.

Character Interactions

• Su Ziji and Wild Daoist discuss the planned operation against Water Cloud Shrine, revealing their coordinated military and political strategy.
• Su Ziji questions Jiang Yi about Luo Jiang, while Jiang Yi carefully advocates leniency.
• Su Ziji subtly warns Granny Jia through remarks about honesty, rewards, and punishment; Ye Buhui notices the hidden threat but does not intervene.
• Wild Daoist and Mr. Lu block Granny Jia from approaching Ye Buhui, demonstrating that the household is already suspicious and protecting the princess consort.
• Bo Yan publicly accuses Granny Jia of possessing illicit wealth, forcing her betrayal into the open before Su Ziji, Ye Buhui, Jiang Yi, and the others.

Chapter Summary: “Still Daring to Bite at Random”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Granny Jia is confronted over suddenly acquiring one thousand taels of silver and one hundred mu of fertile land, despite previously coming from poverty.
• When questioned, she first denies wrongdoing, then accidentally reveals her guilt by mentioning “betraying” her master before anyone had accused her of it.
• Bo Yan methodically exposes the impossibility of her explanation that relatives gave her the wealth. Granny Jia is unable to provide names or details and is clearly revealed to have accepted bribes.
• Prince Dai orders Granny Jia seized. Guards find three hundred additional taels of silver and a mysterious silver object on her.
• Wild Daoist identifies the object as a Void-Purging Pattern, an artifact capable of harming pregnant women and their unborn children. This reveals that Granny Jia’s betrayal was not merely financial but involved a direct threat to the imperial heir.
• Enraged, Prince Dai orders Granny Jia taken away and commands Jiang Yi and Steward Zhou to investigate who bribed her, how she communicated with outsiders, whether other servants are traitors, and who supports her family.
• As she is dragged away, Granny Jia desperately implicates Jiang Yi, claiming to have seen him secretly meeting outsiders. Her accusation is suppressed before she can explain, and Jiang Yi angrily dismisses it as a desperate attempt to “bite at random.”

Character Developments

• Prince Dai/Su Ziji reveals his severe protective instincts toward his consort and unborn child. His anger is partly strategic but largely genuine, and he responds to betrayal with swift, ruthless authority.
• Ye Buhui, the consort, hesitates at first because of Granny Jia’s long service, but ultimately trusts her husband over the servant, showing the strength of their marital loyalty.
• Bo Yan proves himself as a sharp and relentless investigator. He carefully dismantles Granny Jia’s lies and is determined to win Prince Dai’s confidence by completing his assignment thoroughly.
• Granny Jia shifts from pleading innocence to panic, fear, and venomous resentment. Her collapse and final accusations show both her guilt and desperation to escape punishment by dragging others down.
• Wild Daoist demonstrates specialized knowledge of dangerous artifacts and exposes the true seriousness of the silver object.
• Jiang Yi becomes anxious that his failure to supervise the residence may make him responsible. He accepts the investigation order, then reacts harshly when Granny Jia accuses him of collusion.

Significant Themes

• Betrayal and corruption: A trusted servant has sold out her master for wealth, revealing that loyalty within the household cannot be assumed.
• Protection of family and heirs: The Void-Purging Artifact turns the crime into an attack on both the consort and the unborn child, intensifying the stakes.
• Justice and accountability: Prince Dai demands a full investigation extending beyond Granny Jia to her relatives, contacts, and possible accomplices.
• Power and intimidation: Bo Yan’s interrogation and Prince Dai’s authority demonstrate how political influence and fear expose hidden wrongdoing.
• Desperation and scapegoating: Granny Jia’s final attempt to accuse Jiang Yi reflects the instinct of a condemned person to spread suspicion rather than accept responsibility.

Character Interactions

• Bo Yan and Granny Jia: Bo Yan dominates the interrogation, using her own words and financial evidence to force her into contradictions.
• Su Ziji and Granny Jia: Prince Dai moves from cold judgment to murderous anger once he learns she possessed an artifact capable of harming his consort and child.
• Ye Buhui and Su Ziji: Her hesitation gives way to trust, reinforcing their alignment as a couple.
• Wild Daoist and Su Ziji: Wild Daoist’s explanation of the artifact transforms the case from ordinary bribery into a potentially lethal conspiracy.
• Jiang Yi and Granny Jia: After being ordered to investigate, Jiang Yi rejects her last-minute accusation and has her silenced and taken away.

Su Ziji reassured Ye Buhui after Granny Jia’s betrayal and set plans in motion to use Jiang Yi and Bo Yan to investigate suspected spies. The chapter ended with Luo Jiang, after kneeling for hours, being summoned to meet Su Ziji.

• Su Ziji comforted Ye Buhui and agreed to spare Granny Jia’s innocent relatives, but warned that anyone involved would be punished.
• Bo Yan refused a reward and asked Su Ziji to forgive Luo Jiang; Su Ziji awarded him a hundred taels and ordered him to investigate Jiang Yi and his background.
• Su Ziji told the Wild Daoist to let Jiang Yi discover that a suspect belonged to Prince Lu, then have Bo Yan assassinate the man and compensate his family.
• The Wild Daoist confirmed that Luo Jiang’s mother had been brought to a small courtyard, and Su Ziji explained that he planned to exploit spies before eliminating them.
• After Luo Jiang had knelt for more than two hours, Su Ziji sent the Wild Daoist to bring her inside for an audience.

Chapter Summary: “What Brings Him to the Residence”

Key plot points and events

• After her mother’s apparent death, Luo Jiang enters Su Ziji’s study in despair and kneels, acknowledging that she knows she has committed a crime.
• Rather than punishing her immediately, Su Ziji leads her to a secluded courtyard within the residence.
• Luo Jiang hears the voice of her supposedly dead mother, Luo Yiyu, speaking with an elderly doctor. She learns that her mother is alive, though physically weak and recovering from an injury.
• Overwhelmed, Luo Jiang hesitates to enter, fearing that the reunion may be an illusion. Su Ziji urges her to face her closest relative.
• Luo Jiang confesses that she was born into the Moonshadow Sect, a covert-guard organization. She became a covert guard at thirteen to protect her mother, endured brutal training in which most of her companions died, and was ordered by the Imperial City Office to spy on Su Ziji.
• Su Ziji acknowledges that her actions were motivated by filial devotion. He forgives her death sentence but orders her to protect the pregnant Princess Consort at close quarters and continue serving as a steward, treating this duty as atonement.
• Before allowing her to enter the courtyard, Su Ziji asks whether one of her surviving companions was Bo Yan. Luo Jiang confirms it and explains that Bo Yan defected from the Moonshadow Sect, survived several assassination attempts, and now wanders the martial world.
• Luo Jiang remains uncertain why Bo Yan has come to the residence. She then enters the courtyard and tearfully reunites with her mother.

Character developments

• Luo Jiang is shown to be deeply filial rather than inherently treacherous. Her spying was compelled by her desire to protect her mother, and she willingly confesses everything once she realizes her mother is safe. Her despair gives way to relief and emotional release.
• Su Ziji demonstrates both political insight and compassion. Although he recognizes Luo Jiang’s espionage as a serious offense, he distinguishes between malicious betrayal and filial duty, offering her a chance to redeem herself through service.
• Luo Yiyu is revealed to be alive and recovering from chronic illness and an injury to her forehead. Her longing to see her daughter emphasizes the emotional bond between mother and child.
• Bo Yan is established as a mysterious surviving member of Luo Jiang’s covert-guard cohort, with a history of defection and conflict with the Moonshadow Sect.

Significant themes

• Filial piety and moral complexity: Luo Jiang’s crimes are framed within the traditional value of devotion to one’s parents. Su Ziji accepts that her motives complicate the question of guilt.
• Mercy and redemption: Punishment is not avoided entirely, but Luo Jiang is given a constructive path to atone and regain trust.
• Truth and emotional courage: Luo Jiang must confront both her hidden past and the possibility that her mother is alive. Her confession marks a turning point in her relationship with Su Ziji.
• Hidden identities and concealed motives: The chapter reveals that several characters’ apparent circumstances are not what they seem, particularly Luo Yiyu’s survival and Bo Yan’s connection to the residence.
• Family as vulnerability and strength: Luo Jiang’s love for her mother has driven her actions, while Su Ziji uses that bond to understand and ultimately control the situation.

Character interactions

• Su Ziji initially confronts Luo Jiang with authority but gradually softens after hearing her explanation.
• Luo Jiang and Su Ziji’s relationship shifts from that of suspected spy and superior to one based on conditional trust and obligation.
• Luo Jiang’s reunion with Luo Yiyu, ending with her crying “Mother!”, provides the chapter’s emotional climax.
• Su Ziji’s questioning about Bo Yan hints at a larger mystery surrounding the man’s presence at the residence.

Chapter Summary

• Su Ziji and Wild Daoist discuss the Brahma Family’s influence. Wild Daoist congratulates Su Ziji on potentially winning a woman’s affection, then reports that rumors surrounding Water Cloud Shrine have spread widely. Su reflects on how deeply the Brahma Family’s two branches—represented by Clear Garden Temple and other influential households—are rooted among ordinary people.
• The Brahma Family’s popular appeal is contrasted with the Yin Temple Sect. Su explains that the Yin Temple Sect serves elites through demon-slaying and exorcism, while the Brahma Family offers common people an inexpensive and accessible promise of salvation: burning incense and reciting a sacred name in exchange for rebirth. Immortality cultivation, by contrast, is prohibitively expensive and has ruined wealthy families.
• Eunuch Zhao delivers the emperor’s verbal rebuke. A palace guard announces Zhao Eunuch’s arrival. Though an imperial decree is visibly carried by Zhao’s attendant, Zhao clarifies that he has only come to deliver a verbal edict. The emperor criticizes Su Ziji for delaying action on the Divine Shrine matter, which Su attributes to caution over its effect on public sentiment. Zhao soon softens the reprimand, explaining that the emperor is merely urging him to proceed and has no intention of punishing him severely.
• The emperor’s visit to Prince Lu’s Residence becomes a political clue. Zhao immediately leaves to deliver an actual edict to Prince Lu. Su and Wild Daoist infer that Prince Lu is likely facing serious consequences after being accused of violating his teacher, with Consort Wei implicated in a matter affecting the imperial succession.
• Su Ziji plans to exploit the conflict between the emperor and Prince Lu. Wild Daoist explains that the imperial family may test the child’s bloodline. If the bloodline is false, Prince Lu and his family may be quietly eliminated under the guise of illness. If it is genuine, the emperor may punish Prince Lu but ultimately feel guilty and compensate him, preserving their father-son bond. To prevent reconciliation, Wild Daoist proposes enlarging the existing rift by exploiting Prince Lu’s resentment toward the emperor. Su approves and assigns him the task.
• A mysterious supernatural reaction returns. After deciding on this strategy, Su again feels a strange coolness passing through his mind, as though his actions have stirred something unseen. He looks toward the stars but finds no visible explanation.
• The rescued monks continue their religious practice. The monks sheltered by Su Ziji’s residence have largely recovered from torture and interrogation. Although they recognize that Su rescued them partly for his own purposes—and that he does not regard them as indispensable now that he also employs Daoist allies—they continue their evening sutra recitation.
• The chapter ends with an old monk reflecting on their situation. After dismissing the monks, the elderly monk says they have done all they can and cannot interfere further now that Prince Lu has become involved. He then asks Bianxuan for his opinion, leaving the monks’ next decision unresolved.

Character Developments and Interactions

• Su Ziji demonstrates political caution, strategic intelligence, and growing confidence. He accepts the emperor’s reprimand without resistance, then turns it into an opportunity to assess the imperial balance of power.
• Wild Daoist functions as Su’s political strategist and loyal operative. He quickly interprets the emperor’s intentions and volunteers to manipulate Prince Lu’s resentment.
• Eunuch Zhao acts as the emperor’s controlled intermediary: initially severe, then reassuring once the rebuke has been delivered.
• Prince Lu, though absent, becomes central to the political maneuvering. His suspected resentment toward the emperor may be exploited to deepen a family and succession crisis.
• The monks remain grateful but cautious toward Su Ziji. Their continued chanting shows that they preserve their religious identity even while dependent on a politically ambitious prince.
• The old monk and Bianxuan represent the religious faction’s internal deliberation as it decides how far it can safely become involved.

Significant Themes

• Popular religion versus elite religion: The chapter emphasizes that religious influence depends on accessibility and audience, not simply doctrine or institutional prestige.
• Political balance and imperial control: The emperor deliberately restrains his princes and uses reprimands, punishments, and indirect pressure to prevent any one faction from becoming too powerful.
• Manipulation of family conflict: Personal resentment—especially between father and son—can be transformed into a major political weapon.
• Pragmatism versus belief: Su uses religious groups for political ends, while the groups themselves continue to pursue their own spiritual or institutional survival.
• Unseen forces and destiny: Su’s recurring sensation suggests that his political decisions may be affecting hidden supernatural currents beyond ordinary human perception.

Chapter Summary: “No Hatred, No Resentment”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Bianxuan and the Brahma Sect’s surviving monks discuss their next move after being imprisoned, tortured, and losing fellow disciples to execution. The old monk believes Prince Dai will cooperate with their proposal because the Brahma Sect still retains considerable influence.
• The old monk worries that the trauma has created deep resentment and possibly a Heart Demon within Bianxuan. Bianxuan, however, calmly insists that he harbors neither hatred nor resentment.
• Bianxuan explains that the imprisonment changed his understanding of the world. He once believed that spreading Brahma Dharma would bring peace and salvation to everyone, but now recognizes that imperial authority and religious teachings are separate powers: “the king’s law belongs to the king’s law, and Brahma Dharma belongs to Brahma Dharma.”
• A sudden and violent storm erupts, transforming the clear night into one of dark clouds, lightning, and torrential rain.
• Near Prince Dai, Wild Daoist Lu Fengyun witnesses an extraordinary phenomenon. Prince Dai stands motionless at the center of the gale, appearing to command or embody the forces of nature. Wen Xunpeng arrives and is similarly stunned, wondering whether Prince Dai has achieved “Unity of Heaven and Man.”
• Meanwhile, Zhao Eunuch arrives at Prince Lu’s residence with an imperial decree, accompanied by a young eunuch and armed soldiers. He has been ordered to strip Prince Lu of his princely title.
• The storm and Zhao Eunuch’s intimidating arrival alarm everyone in the residence. Prince Lu immediately fears the worst, while Gui Junxi attempts to reassure him and prevent him from reacting rashly.
• Prince Lu prepares himself and goes out to receive the decree, despite Gui Junxi’s private fear that the prince’s downfall has finally arrived.

Character Developments

• Bianxuan: Becomes more detached, composed, and politically perceptive after his suffering. His claim to feel no hatred suggests either genuine spiritual transformation or a potentially dangerous suppression of resentment. He now understands that religious ideals cannot override political authority.
• The old monk: Reveals concern for Bianxuan’s emotional and spiritual condition. Although he urges Bianxuan to confront his resentment, he is unsettled by the young monk’s unnatural calm.
• Prince Dai: Is portrayed as possessing immense presence and possibly a supernatural connection to Heaven. His stillness in the storm makes him appear like the center of the world rather than a man merely enduring the weather.
• Wild Daoist/Lu Fengyun: Moves from observing Prince Dai as a strategist to recognizing something extraordinary and possibly cosmic in his lord.
• Wen Xunpeng: Demonstrates loyalty by rushing to Prince Dai after hearing of the Emperor’s rebuke. His shock at Prince Dai’s state deepens the sense that Prince Dai’s power is beyond ordinary human ability.
• Prince Lu: Shows immediate anxiety and insecurity when confronted with the imperial envoy. His confidence and noble bearing have weakened, and he is dependent on Gui Junxi’s guidance.
• Gui Junxi: Acts as Prince Lu’s stabilizing adviser, concealing his own fear so that Prince Lu will not panic or make the situation worse.
• Zhao Eunuch: Appears stern, arrogant, and authoritative, treating the delivery of the decree as a formal assertion of imperial power rather than a courtesy visit.

Significant Themes

• Hatred, resentment, and spiritual trauma: The chapter questions whether suffering can truly be overcome through calmness or religious discipline, especially after torture and executions.
• The limits of idealism: Bianxuan’s realization that Brahma Dharma cannot replace the king’s law marks a shift from spiritual idealism to political realism.
• Heaven and political legitimacy: The storm appears connected to the fortunes of the imperial princes, suggesting that natural phenomena reflect or influence the struggle for power.
• Power and authority: The chapter contrasts religious authority, imperial law, and the mysterious power surrounding Prince Dai.
• Transformation through suffering: Both Bianxuan and Prince Dai appear changed by recent events—Bianxuan inwardly hardened and enlightened, Prince Dai outwardly elevated into an almost mythic presence.
• Approaching political collapse: Prince Lu’s impending demotion signals a major reversal in the political balance and creates a sharp contrast with Prince Dai’s rising aura.

Character Interactions

• Bianxuan and the old monk debate the Brahma Sect’s political future and Bianxuan’s emotional state.
• The old monk attempts to draw out Bianxuan’s buried resentment, but Bianxuan responds with unsettling serenity and philosophical insight.
• Wild Daoist witnesses Prince Dai’s transformation during the storm and silently struggles to understand it.
• Wen Xunpeng arrives out of loyalty to Prince Dai and shares Wild Daoist’s astonishment at the supernatural scene.
• Zhao Eunuch confronts the guards of Prince Lu’s residence with imperial authority, bypassing normal protocol.
• Prince Lu turns to Gui Junxi for reassurance, while Gui Junxi privately recognizes that the imperial decree may mark the prince’s political ruin.

Chapter Summary: “A Mouthful of Heart’s Blood”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Three cannon shots announce the arrival of Imperial Envoy Zhao Eunuch at Prince Lu’s residence.
• Prince Lu performs the formal rites and kneels to receive the Emperor’s decree, already sensing that something is seriously wrong.
• The decree strips him of his princely title, reduces him to a commoner, and confines him to his estate without permission to leave.
• Prince Lu is shocked and unable to understand why he has been accused of having “improper character,” especially since Prince Qi has committed far worse offenses without suffering similar punishment.
• Zhao Eunuch, though sympathetic, cannot explain the decision and is forced to supervise its execution.
• Soldiers remove Prince Lu’s Nine-Tassel Crown, a powerful symbol of his royal status.
• Gui Junxi secretly watches from another courtyard. The removal of the crown devastates him so profoundly that he spits blood.
• At a Daoist temple, Yu Qianzhi attempts to persuade Liu Zhan and the Yin Temple Sect to abandon Prince Dai and return to supporting Prince Lu.
• Yu argues that Prince Dai has lost the Emperor’s favor and is using others to handle the dangerous Divine Shrine affair. He warns that continued involvement will bind the Yin Temple Sect to Prince Dai’s political downfall.
• Liu Zhan refuses to be easily swayed, believing Prince Dai is a Hidden Dragon with the greatest chance of eventually claiming the throne.
• A sudden supernatural storm erupts during their discussion. Lightning strikes a tea tree, and Yu Qianzhi suffers a severe backlash, coughing up a mouthful of blood.
• Liu Zhan identifies the phenomenon as a reaction from the Heavenly Secret rather than ordinary Heavenly Retribution. He realizes that something catastrophic may have happened to Prince Lu.
• The backlash costs Yu Qianzhi ten years of cultivation, showing how deeply he and those behind him are karmically connected to Prince Lu.

Character Developments

• Prince Lu: His political position collapses completely. His confusion and sense of injustice reveal how unprepared he was for the Emperor’s sudden decision. He is reduced from a prince to a confined commoner.
• Gui Junxi: His intense emotional and possibly mystical connection to Prince Lu becomes evident. He reacts physically to Prince Lu’s humiliation, suggesting that the crown’s removal has injured him through shared fate or deep attachment.
• Zhao Eunuch: Though outwardly cold and obedient, he privately pities Prince Lu and appears aware that the decree may be connected to deeper palace events involving Consort Wei and doubts about Prince Lu’s bloodline.
• Yu Qianzhi: He becomes increasingly desperate to protect Prince Lu’s faction and detach the Yin Temple Sect from Prince Dai. His cultivation suffers a devastating backlash, confirming the seriousness of his commitment.
• Liu Zhan: He remains cautious and politically perceptive. Although he recognizes Prince Lu’s advantages as a low-profile contender, he continues to believe Prince Dai has the strongest destiny and refuses to abandon that judgment without stronger evidence.

Significant Themes

• Political injustice and royal power: Prince Lu’s punishment appears arbitrary, emphasizing the Emperor’s absolute authority and the instability of succession politics.
• Hidden motives and bloodline suspicion: The decree likely stems from palace events involving Consort Wei and questions about Prince Lu’s parentage, though Prince Lu himself remains unaware.
• Destiny versus strategy: Characters debate whether Prince Lu’s low profile or Prince Dai’s status as a Hidden Dragon will ultimately determine the succession.
• Karmic consequences: Supporting a potential heir creates spiritual and political entanglements. When a candidate falls, those linked to him may suffer immediate backlash.
• Symbols of status and identity: The removal of the Nine-Tassel Crown represents Prince Lu’s loss of rank, dignity, and place within the imperial family.
• The Heavenly Secret: Supernatural signs reflect political and dynastic changes, suggesting that the struggle for succession is governed not only by human decisions but also by cosmic forces.

Character Interactions

• Prince Lu and Zhao Eunuch: Zhao delivers the decree with official detachment, while Prince Lu receives it in disbelief. Their exchange highlights the gulf between imperial authority and the powerless subject.
• Prince Lu and Gui Junxi: Though they do not speak directly, Gui Junxi’s hidden observation and violent reaction demonstrate a powerful bond between them.
• Yu Qianzhi and Liu Zhan: Their conversation is a political and ideological debate. Yu urges withdrawal from Prince Dai and renewed support for Prince Lu, while Liu Zhan relies on his own reading of destiny and refuses to change sides.
• Yu Qianzhi and Prince Lu: Even in Prince Lu’s absence, Yu acts as his advocate. The Heavenly backlash reveals that his connection to Prince Lu is much deeper than ordinary political support.

A storm struck the Marquis of Pacifying the South's Residence as Xie Zhenqing coughed up blood and lost consciousness, while a lightning bolt split the tree believed to foretell the household's fortunes. At Mount Tong Temple, Perfected Master Hui Dao returned to find it in decline before a sudden flash of lightning and thunder stunned him.

• A maid admired Xie Zhenqing from afar, and Nanny Li scolded her for dreaming of the heir.
• Lightning split the residence's ancient tree, and servants shouted that Xie Zhenqing had coughed up blood and lost consciousness.
• The maid feared the tree's damage meant misfortune for the household.
• Perfected Master Hui Dao and his attendant returned to Mount Tong Temple and found it neglected and nearly empty.
• Rain began as Perfected Master Hui Dao reflected on the temple's decline, then lightning and thunder left him stunned.

Adept Hui Dao rushed from Mount Tong Temple to the Su Shrine near Little Yu Mountain after sensing something was wrong. He found that the shrine’s deceased master held a princely title in the realm of the dead and set out to investigate the Yu Residence next.

• Adept Hui Dao abruptly borrowed two horses and rode out of Mount Tong Temple with his attendant.
• Adept Hui Dao rode from Linhua County into Jinggao County and stopped near Little Yu Mountain.
• Adept Hui Dao examined the Su Shrine and said its deceased master had been honored with a princely title despite being only a Cultivated Talent in life.
• Adept Hui Dao mounted his horse and headed for the Yu Residence to see whether the same unusual situation had occurred there.

During a summer study session at the Yu Residence, Perfected Hui Dao arrived late at night to congratulate Yu Lü, Zhang Sheng, and Fang Xi on their coming good fortune. He predicted that Yu Lü would pass the capital examination next spring and might even place in the First Class.

• Yu Lü, Zhang Sheng, and Fang Xi studied together in a lakeside pavilion, then shared poems during a break.
• A servant announced that Perfected Hui Dao had arrived at the Yu Residence after nightfall.
• Yu Lü, Zhang Sheng, and Fang Xi welcomed Perfected Hui Dao and asked why he had come so late.
• Perfected Hui Dao said he had sensed that great fortune was coming for all three men.
• Perfected Hui Dao predicted Yu Lü would become a Presented Scholar at the examination next spring and might enter the First Class.