Chapter Summaries

Su Ziji considered the strange phenomena spreading across the country and dismissed the danger Prince Qi posed to him. At Prince Qi's Residence, Prince Qi learned that his own hired men had supposedly killed Sun Bolan, and demanded that Zhao Shou explain what to do next.

• Su Ziji reflected on Master Hui Dao's prediction, the Dao entries of Princess Xinping and Zhou Yao, and reports of supernatural incidents across the country.
• Su Ziji decided that Bo Yan's confession and accusations against Zheng Huai and Pang Si did not matter and went to sleep, confident he no longer feared Prince Qi.
• Prince Qi examined Sun Bolan's headless corpse and raged over the killing of his trusted adviser.
• Zhao Shou interrogated the restaurant owner and staff, who maintained that martial-world men had killed Sun Bolan and that they knew nothing more.
• Zhao Shou presented their testimony, and Prince Qi angrily challenged the claim that men hired by his residence had turned against them and killed Sun Bolan.

Chapter Summary: “A Single Tree Cannot Hold Up a House”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Prince Qi is furious after a failed assassination attempt against Prince Dai. His assassins were won over by Prince Dai and killed Mister Sun and two guards instead, leaving Prince Qi unable to expose the incident without revealing his own involvement.
• Zhao Shou suggests using the assassinations to accuse Prince Dai, but Prince Qi rejects the idea as disastrous and threatens those responsible.
• A messenger announces that someone bearing Prince Hening’s token has arrived with a letter. The letter contains only a painting of a tree broken by the wind.
• The visitor is Gui Junxi, Prince Hening’s former adviser, who is wanted by the Imperial City Office and has been ordered executed.
• Gui claims that Prince Hening’s sudden downfall—including his mother’s death and his demotion—was suspiciously swift. Since Prince Dai is the only person who clearly benefited, Gui implies that Prince Dai was responsible.
• Gui urges Prince Qi to unite with Prince Shu and absorb Prince Hening’s former supporters, arguing that several princes must combine their strength to oppose Prince Dai.
• Prince Qi interprets the painting as meaning that one tree cannot support a house: a coalition of princes is needed, but one powerful prince must lead it. He realizes the letter is effectively Prince Hening’s submission and permission for Prince Qi to recruit his former faction.
• Prince Qi burns the letter, accepts the offer, and allows Gui to leave.
• Outside, Gui reveals to an accompanying woman that the letter was forged. He deliberately risked his life to persuade Prince Qi to take in Prince Hening’s scattered forces and eventually use them against Prince Dai.

Character Developments

• Prince Qi: His anger and fear over the failed assassination reveal his insecurity and political vulnerability. However, he quickly recognizes the strategic value of Prince Hening’s weakened faction and becomes more calculating, abandoning his intent to kill Gui.
• Gui Junxi: He is shown as desperate, loyal, and extremely bold. Despite illness and the threat of execution, he gambles his life on a deception to preserve Prince Hening’s influence and prepare revenge against Prince Dai.
• Prince Hening: Though absent, he is portrayed as politically ruined but still capable of influencing events through his former adviser and supporters. His faction’s survival now depends on attachment to Prince Qi.
• Prince Dai: He never appears, but his growing power dominates the chapter. His success has made him the common threat around whom rival princes may unite.
• Zhao Shou and Prince Qi’s attendants: Their fear emphasizes Prince Qi’s volatile temperament and the danger surrounding political failure.

Significant Themes

• Political alliance and survival: Weakened factions must attach themselves to stronger powers, while ambitious princes seek to consolidate supporters.
• Deception and calculated risk: Gui’s forged letter demonstrates how political survival may depend on manipulating appearances rather than proving facts.
• Suspicion versus evidence: Gui admits there is no proof against Prince Dai, but argues that benefiting from a disaster is enough to make him a target of suspicion.
• Loyalty and repayment: Gui risks death because he feels indebted to Prince Hening and wants to preserve his master’s chance of recovering power.
• Power as collective strength: The title’s metaphor suggests that a single individual cannot withstand overwhelming opposition; strength comes from gathering many supporters under a central leader.

Character Interactions

• Prince Qi harshly confronts Zhao Shou, demonstrating his anger and intolerance for weak advice.
• Prince Qi cautiously interrogates Gui Junxi, initially threatening to kill him because of the imperial warrant against him.
• Gui appeals to Prince Qi’s ambition by suggesting that Prince Dai engineered Prince Hening’s downfall and that their former forces could strengthen Prince Qi.
• Prince Qi and Gui reach an unspoken political agreement: Gui presents Prince Hening’s submission, while Prince Qi agrees to absorb his faction.
• Afterward, Gui privately explains his deception to a mysterious woman, revealing that the alliance is based on manipulation but also on his genuine loyalty to Prince Hening.

Chapter Summary: “Gone Without a Trace”

Key Plot Points and Events

• In the fourth watch of the night, a frantic young servant races through the dark streets of the Capital toward Prince Dai’s Residence. He collides with a drunken man but ignores the man’s curses and continues running.
• The servant appears desperate and dangerous, suggesting that he is carrying news of great urgency. He reaches the residence and urgently demands to see Prince Dai.
• Inside, Su Ziji awakens from a nightmare in which his wife, Ye Buhui, suffers a terrible fate and their unborn child is lost.
• Relieved to find Buhui safe beside him, Su Ziji nevertheless remains deeply disturbed by the dream. He leaves the bedroom without waking her and reflects on how to prevent the calamity he foresaw.
• He concludes that he can no longer remain passive. Directly confronting or killing the Emperor is currently impossible, so he must eliminate the underlying danger threatening Buhui.
• The central danger is Buhui’s Dao-Entry Spiritual Spark, whose existence could expose her to the Emperor’s murderous pursuit. Su Ziji rejects the idea of crippling or forcibly removing it because Buhui is pregnant and such an attempt could kill both her and the child.
• Instead, he decides that Buhui’s Spiritual Spark must be digested in advance through an External Elixir, allowing her to remain safe even if her nature is discovered.
• Su Ziji refuses to involve the Buddhist or Daoist factions, fearing they might betray him to the Emperor in exchange for favor. He resolves to refine the elixir himself.
• His current External Alchemy is only at the eleventh level, insufficient for the task. He determines that he must reach at least the fifteenth level—the beginning of the grandmaster rank—before attempting the refinement.
• The chapter ends as Su Ziji calls for someone, immediately after the urgent servant arrives at the residence.

Character Developments

• Su Ziji becomes more decisive and ruthless. His nightmare convinces him that previous attempts to alter fate have been too passive, and he begins planning a direct solution to the threat against Buhui.
• His remaining affection for the Emperor appears to disappear completely; Su Ziji now views him primarily as a dangerous obstacle capable of sacrificing family for longevity.
• Su Ziji also reveals his caution and distrust. Despite having used the Buddhist and Daoist factions before, he refuses to trust them with Buhui’s secret.
• Ye Buhui remains unaware and peacefully asleep, but her pregnancy and Dao-Entry Spiritual Spark make her the center of the chapter’s conflict. Her safety motivates Su Ziji’s increasingly dangerous plans.
• The mysterious servant is introduced as an urgent messenger whose arrival signals that another crisis may be unfolding.

Significant Themes

• Fate versus agency: Su Ziji’s prophetic nightmare suggests that fate has not changed despite his efforts, forcing him to seek a more proactive method.
• Protection and sacrifice: His determination to save Buhui and their unborn child contrasts with the Emperor’s willingness to kill relatives for immortality.
• Trust and betrayal: Political and religious allies may become enemies when power and longevity are at stake, leaving Su Ziji to rely only on himself.
• The dangers of power: Buhui’s rare Spiritual Spark is both a precious opportunity and a deadly vulnerability.
• Fear beneath composure: Although Su Ziji appears calm, the nightmare reveals his deep anxiety and emotional attachment to his family.

Character Interactions

• The drunken man briefly confronts the fleeing servant, but the servant’s urgency prevents any meaningful exchange.
• Su Ziji observes Ye Buhui sleeping and silently reassures himself that she is still alive and safe, revealing both tenderness and fear.
• His thoughts involve Zhou Yao, whose unusual cultivation suggests that digesting the Spiritual Spark through cultivation is impractical for Buhui.
• The chapter concludes with Su Ziji summoning his household in response to the servant’s urgent request, setting up the next development.

Chapter Summary: “Young Marquis Fang Seeks Aid”

Plot and Key Events

• Su Ziji receives a visit from one of his newly trained inner-court maids, demonstrating that his network of discreet servants and agents is beginning to take shape.
• Wild Daoist arrives with a list of ancestral shrines, Daoist temples, and Buddhist temples supplied by the Daoist and Buddhist Schools. The list is intended to provide public justification for Su Ziji’s future actions while allowing those schools to avoid responsibility if anything goes wrong.
• Su Ziji studies the list but realizes that many of the religious sites have powerful foundations. His subordinate, Shi Chengyan, may be unable to seal them even after promotion, revealing the limitations of Su Ziji’s current influence and manpower.
• A servant from Young Marquis Fang Zhen arrives at dawn, urgently begging Su Ziji to save his master. Fang is seriously ill, has apparently been left without protection, and may be in danger.
• The servant explains that people who had been assisting Fang suddenly disappeared, while the Marquis of Huifeng removed the remaining attendants around him. Though the servant was ordered away, he remembered Fang’s instruction to seek Su Ziji’s help in an emergency.
• Su Ziji immediately agrees to go to Fang Zhen’s residence, orders guards and transportation prepared, and has food given to the distressed servant.
• Wild Daoist warns that leaving before understanding the situation could be risky. Su Ziji responds that daylight will soon come and that he does not expect an attack, but he nevertheless orders Wild Daoist to investigate the matter independently.

Character Developments

• Su Ziji: Shows careful leadership and compassion. He recognizes the political danger surrounding Fang Zhen but does not hesitate to help. At the same time, he remains cautious, arranging an investigation so he will not act blindly. His frustration over his limited influence becomes clear as he considers the difficulty of dealing with the religious institutions.
• Wild Daoist: Acts as a practical and attentive adviser. He notices that Su Ziji has not eaten, arranges breakfast, questions the wisdom of rushing into danger, and accepts responsibility for gathering intelligence.
• Fang Zhen: Though absent, his earlier relationship with Su Ziji is reinforced. His instruction that his servant seek Su Ziji in an emergency shows that he trusts Su Ziji as a reliable ally.
• Fang Zhen’s servant: Demonstrates loyalty and courage by escaping the residence and traveling overnight to seek help. His desperation emphasizes the seriousness of Fang’s predicament.
• The inner-court maids: Their developing training indicates that Su Ziji’s private organization is becoming more capable, though he deliberately keeps them at a moderate level to avoid dangerous consequences.

Significant Themes

• Political vulnerability and shifting power: Fang Zhen’s loss of imperial favor and physical injury leave him exposed to retaliation and intrigue.
• Trust and alliance: Fang’s servant turns to Su Ziji because of Fang’s prior confidence in him, while Su Ziji responds with immediate assistance.
• Caution versus decisive action: Su Ziji acts quickly but also orders an investigation, balancing compassion and urgency with strategic prudence.
• Limited influence and the need for support: Su Ziji’s difficulty dealing with powerful religious institutions reveals the weakness of his current foundations and his dependence on allies, intelligence networks, and trained subordinates.
• Indirect power and plausible deniability: The Daoist and Buddhist Schools’ list is designed to help Su Ziji while preserving their ability to deny responsibility.

Important Character Interactions

• Su Ziji gives orders to the newly trained maid, displaying his authority over his inner network.
• Wild Daoist provides practical care by ensuring Su Ziji eats and later challenges his decision to proceed without sufficient information.
• Fang Zhen’s servant appeals directly to Su Ziji, and Su Ziji reassures him rather than reprimanding him for the improper early visit.
• Su Ziji and Wild Daoist work together: Su Ziji will travel to Fang’s residence, while Wild Daoist investigates the hidden circumstances behind Fang’s illness and isolation.

Chapter Summary: “I Understand”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Prince Dai (Su Ziji) arrives unexpectedly at the Marquis of Huifeng’s Residence in an ox cart, escorted by armed guards.
• Although protocol requires a prince to announce his visit, Su Ziji orders the gatekeeper to open the gates without informing the Marquis. The intimidated gatekeeper complies.
• Su Ziji goes directly to see Fang Zhen, whose servant had recently sought his help. He suspects Fang Zhen is facing a serious crisis and that the problem may be connected to him.
• Su Ziji reflects on the growing political tension in the capital, the silence of the Grand Secretariat ministers, and the possibility that the aging Emperor is nearing death. He anticipates violent political upheaval.
• He considers bringing Zeng Nianzhen and several hundred warriors into the capital for protection, but concludes that such a force could remain hidden for only seven days and should not be moved unless absolutely necessary.
• Meanwhile, the Marquis of Huifeng sits sleepless and exhausted in his study, deeply distressed over his son Fang Zhen’s condition.
• He summons Doctor Huang and asks whether Fang Zhen’s injured leg can truly be healed.
• Doctor Huang answers honestly that, despite his considerable medical skill, he is powerless to cure the injury. The Marquis accepts the answer with quiet despair and dismisses him, giving him ten taels of silver.

Character Developments

• Su Ziji: Displays confidence, authority, and impatience with formalities. His decision to enter the residence directly suggests urgency and a willingness to challenge convention. He remains highly observant and politically calculating, connecting Fang Zhen’s request for help to the larger imperial succession crisis.
• Fang Zhen: Although he does not appear directly, his decision to seek Su Ziji’s aid reveals that he has been pushed into a desperate position. Asking Su Ziji for help may publicly align him with Prince Dai, a dangerous political choice.
• Marquis of Huifeng: Shown as emotionally devastated and physically exhausted by concern for his son. His inability to eat or sleep emphasizes his helplessness, while his restrained response to Doctor Huang’s verdict reveals grief and resignation.
• Doctor Huang: Demonstrates professional integrity by refusing to offer false hope. His long-standing connection to the Marquis’s household makes the diagnosis especially painful.
• Fang Zhong: The Marquis’s elderly steward acts as a concerned and loyal attendant, attempting to care for his master while respectfully carrying out his orders.

Significant Themes

• Political danger and impending upheaval: Su Ziji senses that the Emperor’s declining health may trigger a violent struggle for power.
• Helplessness versus authority: Su Ziji can command gates and guards, yet even the Marquis, despite his status, cannot save his son’s leg.
• The cost of seeking protection: Fang Zhen’s appeal to Su Ziji may offer security but also forces him to take a dangerous political side.
• Truth and resignation: Doctor Huang’s honesty contrasts with the Marquis’s desperate hope. The repeated acceptance of painful facts—especially in the Marquis’s “I understand”—underscores the chapter’s atmosphere of subdued despair.
• Formal rules versus urgent necessity: Su Ziji ignores protocol because the circumstances appear too serious for conventional courtesy, highlighting the chapter’s sense that ordinary order is beginning to collapse.

Important Character Interactions

• Su Ziji and the gatekeeper: Su Ziji’s guards pressure the gatekeeper into allowing entry without notification, establishing his authority and the tense atmosphere surrounding his visit.
• Su Ziji and Fang Zhen: Though they do not meet within the excerpt, Fang Zhen’s servant’s request and Su Ziji’s immediate arrival reveal a relationship based on mutual political significance and carefully calculated trust.
• Marquis of Huifeng and Doctor Huang: The Marquis seeks a definitive answer about his son’s recovery, while Doctor Huang delivers the painful truth with professional honesty.
• Marquis of Huifeng and Fang Zhong: Fang Zhong shows concern for the Marquis’s failing health, while the Marquis relies on him to manage the practical consequences of his grief.

Su Ziji arrived at the Marquis of Huifeng's Residence as the marquis resigned himself to leaving Fang Zhen at Eunuch Ma's mercy. He rescued Fang Zhen from an Imperial City Office officer and asserted that only an imperial decree could authorize questioning the marquis's heir.

• Physician Huang told the Marquis of Huifeng that Fang Zhen's injured leg would never fully recover, and the marquis rewarded him before he left.
• Steward Fang Zhong begged the Marquis of Huifeng to save Fang Zhen, but the marquis said Fang Zhen's fate depended on whether he cooperated with Eunuch Ma.
• A servant announced that Prince Dai had entered the residence, easing the marquis's fears that Fang Zhen would be left without help.
• An Imperial City Office Hundred-Household Officer threatened Fang Zhen and invoked Eunuch Ma's authority to question him.
• Su Ziji entered, ordered his men to carry Fang Zhen to the Prince's Residence, slapped the officer, and insisted that Fang Zhen could only be questioned by imperial decree.

Chapter Summary

Plot Points and Events

• Prince Dai, Su Ziji, confronts the Imperial City Office while they are detaining Fang Zhen. He forces the Hundred-Household Officer to admit wrongdoing and declares that Fang Zhen is seriously ill and will be taken to the Prince’s Residence for treatment.
• The officer is ordered to report to Eunuch Ma that official business should be brought to Prince Dai directly. Although the Imperial City Office is reluctant, no one dares challenge a prince, especially after Su Ziji’s recent violent reputation.
• Su Ziji successfully removes Fang Zhen from the Marquis of Huifeng’s Residence in broad daylight. The marquis’s household makes no attempt to intervene, revealing that they have abandoned Fang Zhen to avoid conflict with Eunuch Ma.
• At the residence gate, Wild Daoist gives Su Ziji the results of his investigation. Su Ziji postpones reading and discussing them until they return home.
• Fang Zhen’s loyal servant, Lu Xiabu, thanks Su Ziji and helps carry Fang Zhen onto the ox cart. Su Ziji, Fang Zhen, and their attendants then leave for Prince Dai’s Residence.
• During the journey, Su Ziji asks why Eunuch Ma targeted Fang Zhen. Fang Zhen explains that Zhao Eunuch has recently lost favor, while Ma Shunde has risen in influence and is attempting to replace him.
• Because Fang Zhen previously cooperated with Zhao Eunuch and was formerly connected to the Imperial City Office, Ma Shunde regards him as part of Zhao’s faction. Ma has stripped Fang Zhen of authority and is using him to uncover information about the smuggling case involving Rúbao Trading House.
• However, Ma’s interrogation focused on the much more dangerous matter of Double-Hanging Powder. Fang Zhen believes that, without Su Ziji’s intervention, he might have been tortured into confessing to crimes carrying a death sentence.

Character Developments

• Su Ziji demonstrates political authority, confidence, and strategic ruthlessness. He openly humiliates the Hundred-Household Officer, assumes responsibility for taking Fang Zhen, and uses his status as a prince to intimidate the Imperial City Office.
• Fang Zhen is shown as vulnerable but perceptive. His forced smile and bitterness reveal how deeply his family’s abandonment has affected him. He recognizes the seriousness of Ma Shunde’s intentions and understands that Su Ziji likely saved him from torture and execution.
• Lu Xiabu proves his loyalty to Fang Zhen. His willingness to seek help, express gratitude, and personally care for Fang Zhen confirms the strength of their bond.
• Wild Daoist continues to serve as Su Ziji’s investigator and intelligence source, providing important information about the case.
• Eunuch Ma Shunde emerges as an ambitious and dangerous political rival, exploiting the decline of Zhao Eunuch’s influence to eliminate former members of Zhao’s faction.
• The Marquis of Huifeng’s household is portrayed as cowardly and self-protective for abandoning Fang Zhen in his moment of danger.

Significant Themes

• Political power and intimidation: Social rank determines who can act with impunity. The Imperial City Office can threaten Fang Zhen but becomes powerless before Su Ziji.
• Factional struggle: The conflict between Zhao Eunuch and Ma Shunde reflects the brutal competition within the imperial court, where former allies become targets when power shifts.
• Betrayal and abandonment: Fang Zhen’s family refuses to protect him, making Su Ziji’s intervention especially significant.
• Loyalty and gratitude: Lu Xiabu’s devotion contrasts with the Marquis’s cowardice and highlights the value of personal loyalty over family status.
• Torture and coerced confession: The chapter emphasizes how investigations can be manipulated to produce evidence, particularly when political enemies are seeking a pretext to destroy someone.
• Appearance versus reality: Officially, Fang Zhen is being taken away for treatment, but the true situation is a political rescue from unlawful detention and possible torture.

Character Interactions

• Su Ziji dominates his exchange with the Hundred-Household Officer, forcing him to accept responsibility and withdraw.
• Su Ziji offers Fang Zhen protection while allowing him to retain dignity by presenting the rescue as a formal medical summons.
• Fang Zhen’s servant openly expresses gratitude to Su Ziji, showing the contrast between his personal loyalty and his family’s silence.
• In the ox cart, Su Ziji questions Fang Zhen calmly and sympathetically, drawing out the political background behind Ma Shunde’s actions.
• Fang Zhen’s account deepens the alliance between the two men: Su Ziji has rescued him, while Fang Zhen provides information about the dangerous struggle within the palace.

Su Ziji realized Ma Shunde might be using Fang Zhen to implicate him and Eunuch Zhao in factional collusion, so he sheltered Fang Zhen but refused to openly support Zhao. He decided Prince Dai's Residence would stay out of Zhao's troubles for now, leaving the eunuch's fate unresolved.

• Su Ziji suspected Ma Shunde was targeting Eunuch Zhao and him by using Fang Zhen as evidence of their collusion.
• Su Ziji promised to protect Fang Zhen and offered him work managing the Divine Shrine's affairs while he recovered.
• Su Ziji told the Wild Daoist that Ma Shunde had come with ill intent and explained Fang Zhen's account.
• The Wild Daoist suggested winning Eunuch Zhao over, but Su Ziji argued that doing so would make him look guilty and risk drawing the emperor's wrath.
• Su Ziji decided Prince Dai's Residence would watch from the sidelines until Eunuch Zhao was truly cornered.

Summary

1. Key Plot Points and Events

• Wild Daoist realizes that the struggle over the succession is full of hidden dangers. He understands that Zhao Eunuch is not acting alone and volunteers to investigate both Zhao Eunuch and the person who devised the deadly scheme.
• Su Ziji orders him to identify and eliminate the mastermind behind the plot. He also warns that the increasingly powerful Princes of Qi and Shu may join forces to destroy him before he grows stronger.
• The scene shifts to Golden Feather Shrine, a temple dedicated to the former-dynasty general Qi Lue, who was revered for commanding two powerful eagles and was later worshiped as a deity associated with birds.
• Although the shrine appears religious, it has secretly become involved in illicit activities and maintains connections with powerful figures and criminal elements in the capital.
• Acting under Prince Dai’s orders, Constable Shi Chengyan leads armed yamen runners to surround the shrine. He has personal motives for targeting it because several past cases connect him to the shrine’s crimes.
• Inside, the shrine’s members panic and debate whether to resist or surrender. Most fear the fate of Water Cloud Shrine, which was destroyed and whose members’ families were punished after resisting the authorities.
• Fang Zhen directs the operation from an ox cart bearing Prince Dai’s insignia. He orders the shrine to be given one opportunity to surrender. If it resists, everyone is to be killed and the shrine demolished; if it surrenders, the building and statues are to be preserved pending a court ruling.
• Fang Zhen specifically commands that all copies of the Book of Documents found inside be sealed and transferred to Prince Dai’s residence.
• Shi Chengyan announces the ultimatum: surrender immediately and live, or resist and be killed without exception.

2. Character Developments

• Su Ziji demonstrates increasing political awareness and caution. He recognizes that the succession struggle involves layered conspiracies and anticipates a possible alliance between the Princes of Qi and Shu.
• Wild Daoist shifts from confusion to understanding, showing loyalty and eagerness to prove his usefulness by taking responsibility for the investigation.
• Shi Chengyan is revealed as both ambitious and vindictive. He has long suspected Golden Feather Shrine and sees the imperial order as an opportunity to settle old scores while advancing his position.
• Fang Zhen appears decisive, calculating, and disciplined. He avoids unnecessary destruction but is prepared to use extreme violence if the shrine resists. His interest in preserving the shrine and confiscating the Book of Documents suggests that the operation has political or strategic goals beyond ordinary law enforcement.
• The abbot is introduced as a seemingly compassionate elder who raised many of the shrine’s members. His appearance temporarily restores order, implying that he holds moral and emotional authority over the frightened group.

3. Significant Themes

• Political intrigue and survival: Power struggles are portrayed as dangerous contests in which a single misstep can lead to death.
• Hidden corruption beneath respectable institutions: Golden Feather Shrine’s religious appearance conceals criminal activities and ties to influential people.
• Fear of state power: The example of Water Cloud Shrine demonstrates the severe consequences of resisting the authorities.
• Loyalty versus self-preservation: The shrine’s members must choose between standing together, defending their beliefs, and saving their own lives.
• Controlled violence and political legitimacy: Fang Zhen frames the assault as a lawful ultimatum, allowing the authorities to claim justice while retaining the power to destroy the shrine.
• Information as power: The order to seize every copy of the Book of Documents indicates that knowledge and records may be as politically valuable as money or military force.

4. Character Interactions

• Su Ziji and Wild Daoist discuss the conspiracy surrounding the succession, with Su Ziji directing the investigation and warning him about potential enemies.
• Shi Chengyan works under Fang Zhen’s authority, receiving and carrying out orders concerning the shrine’s surrender or destruction.
• The shrine’s members argue among themselves, with some advocating resistance and others warning that resistance would lead to mass punishment.
• The abbot’s arrival silences the quarrel because of the respect and authority he commands among those he raised.
• Fang Zhen and Shi Chengyan interact as commander and subordinate: Fang Zhen makes the strategic decisions, while Shi Chengyan manages the enforcement and public proclamation.
• The final exchange between the authorities and the shrine establishes the central conflict of the chapter: surrender and possible survival versus resistance and certain destruction.

Shi Chengyan captured the people of the Golden Feather Shrine without casualties and sent its books and valuables for registration. In hiding, Gui Junxi received intelligence about Eunuch Zhao and Prince Dai and prepared another plan, suspecting an unknown prince was helping him exploit the turmoil in Capital City.

• Shi Chengyan ordered his constables to storm the Golden Feather Shrine, and the shrine master surrendered with his followers to prevent bloodshed.
• Shi Chengyan had the shrine's people bound and ordered its remaining occupants, valuables, and books searched, inventoried, and registered.
• Shi Chengyan reported to Fang Zhen that the raid had ended without casualties and that the requested books had been crated.
• Gui Junxi learned that several Divine Shrines had been destroyed and, despite his ally's fears, resolved to keep hiding and continue opposing Prince Dai.
• A young man brought Gui Junxi intelligence about Eunuch Zhao and Prince Dai, and Gui Junxi said his plan depended on startling Prince Dai into action.
• Gui Junxi sensed a king aura behind the young man and suspected that a prince from an outlying fief was helping him fish in Capital City's troubled waters.

At Prince Dai's Residence, Su Ziji examined scriptures confiscated from the Golden Feather Shrine and gained valuable Daoist Arts and alchemy experience. A Provincial Graduate named Bai Lekang arrived with an ancient book and asked the gatekeeper to announce his arrival.

• Gui Junxi accepted that he no longer had the standing to pursue who backed the young man and wondered whether his pawn had reached Prince Dai's Residence.
• Jian Qu received the Golden Feather Shrine's confiscated collection of 307 books and began sorting them for Prince Dai.
• Su Ziji ordered his steward to find a way to seal ceramic pipe joints and promised thirty taels of silver for a successful solution.
• Su Ziji found three scriptures that increased his Daoist Arts and alchemy experience, especially welcoming the alchemy gains he needed to refine elixirs for Ye Buhui.
• Bai Lekang, a Provincial Graduate from Yanzhou City, arrived at Prince Dai's Residence with an ancient book and asked the gatekeeper to announce him.

Provincial Graduate Bai Lekang visited Su Ziji and presented an impressive plan for bringing the gods under court authority, but Su Ziji discovered that Bai’s apparent talent had been coached. Su Ziji suspected the visit was part of a scheme and warned that acting on Bai’s proposal could put him in greater danger than Prince Lu.

• Jian Qu met Bai Lekang, was impressed by his manner and learning, and brought him to meet Su Ziji.
• Bai Lekang presented eleven articles proposing that the gods swear covenants and enter the court’s sacrificial register.
• Su Ziji and Wen Xunpeng praised the articles, but Su Ziji’s [Way of Governance] gained only +5, leading him to conclude Bai’s expertise had been borrowed.
• Su Ziji questioned Bai further, realized his own learning was ordinary, and invited him to stay at the residence while they considered the proposal.
• After Bai left, Wen Xunpeng warned that the pledge might not be sincere, and Su Ziji agreed that acting on the scheme could provoke the emperor.

Chapter Summary: “Not Easily Manipated by Petty Men”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Jian Qu and Wen Xunpeng examine eleven strategies proposed by Bai Lekang for resolving the Divine Shrine crisis.
• Jian Qu initially sees no flaw, but Wen Xunpeng recognizes a hidden danger: the strategies would allow Prince Dai to claim excessive credit and authority.
• By successfully implementing the plan, Prince Dai could appear to have accomplished something only the Emperor had the authority to decide. Such overwhelming merit could provoke the Emperor’s suspicion and eventual retaliation.
• Wen Xunpeng describes this as “killing through praise”—a seemingly beneficial plan that could destroy Prince Dai by making his achievements appear threatening.
• Jian Qu is horrified because he originally introduced Bai Lekang, but Su Ziji reassures him that he is not to blame. Wen Xunpeng suggests Bai may not have understood the consequences, though he privately suspects Bai’s intentions were deliberate.
• Su Ziji decides to adopt only selected portions of the plan while avoiding any appearance of monopolizing imperial authority.
• He orders Jian Qu to attend a scholarly gathering and investigate how scholars view the Divine Shrine issue. Jian Qu identifies a literary gathering at Thousand Chess Lake that very evening.
• Su Ziji reflects on the importance of reputation and public legitimacy, realizing that effective political action requires not only a good strategy but also the authority and prestige to make others accept it.
• True Person Hui Dao suddenly arrives in great haste. He explains that he sensed Bai Lekang’s aura as a source of calamity for Prince Dai and hurried to warn him.
• After examining Su Ziji, Hui Dao finds that his fortune and vitality remain unaffected, concluding that Prince Dai possesses unusually deep blessings and cannot easily be harmed by lesser individuals.
• Su Ziji becomes more interested in Hui Dao’s abilities and apparent goodwill, deciding to test him further.

Character Developments

• Su Ziji: Gains a deeper understanding of political power and the relationship between status, merit, and danger. He becomes more cautious and strategic, planning to build a strong reputation before taking decisive action. His political insight increases significantly.
• Wen Xunpeng: Demonstrates his experience with court intrigue by immediately identifying the hidden threat in Bai Lekang’s proposal. He understands that success can be dangerous if it gives a prince more credit than the Emperor can tolerate.
• Jian Qu: Moves from innocent admiration of Bai Lekang’s intelligence to fear and self-reproach after realizing he may have introduced a dangerous man. Though less politically perceptive than Wen Xunpeng, he remains useful in gathering scholarly opinion.
• Bai Lekang: Remains absent, but his eleven strategies portray him as either extremely calculating or dangerously unaware of political consequences. His true intentions remain uncertain.
• True Person Hui Dao: Reveals that he possesses unusual abilities of perception and fate-reading. His concern for Su Ziji appears genuine, increasing Su’s interest in him.

Significant Themes

• Merit versus political safety: A great achievement can become a source of danger when it gives a subordinate more glory than the ruler can tolerate.
• The importance of status: The same strategy may be sound advice for an emperor but a fatal trap for a prince. Political actions cannot be judged apart from the actor’s rank.
• Hidden manipulation: Praise and seemingly beneficial schemes can function as weapons.
• Reputation and legitimacy: Su Ziji recognizes that solving a crisis requires public trust and authority, not merely clever planning.
• Preparation and caution: Su Ziji intends to prepare for possible opposition before the situation worsens.
• Loyalty and suspicion: Hui Dao’s warning suggests genuine concern, but Su Ziji remains cautious and wants to test whether the Daoist can be trusted.

Important Character Interactions

• Jian Qu and Wen Xunpeng: Wen Xunpeng educates Jian Qu about the dangers of excessive merit and hidden political motives.
• Wen Xunpeng and Su Ziji: They reach an understanding that the eleven strategies should be selectively used while avoiding any challenge to imperial authority.
• Su Ziji and Jian Qu: Su reassures Jian Qu and gives him the task of gathering scholarly opinions at the literary assembly.
• Su Ziji and Hui Dao: Hui Dao warns that Bai Lekang may bring calamity, while Su Ziji interprets the warning as evidence of Hui Dao’s abilities and possible loyalty.

Chapter Summary: “Are Gods Awakening?”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Su Ziji reviews eleven proposals brought by Bai Lekang. Although the plans are practical and potentially profitable, both Su Ziji and True Person Hui Dao sense that they are “auspicious without and ominous within.” The proposals may benefit Prince Dai temporarily but could ultimately damage his position because they do not suit An’s proper path of governance.
• Hui Dao examines Su Ziji’s alchemy scripture and identifies it as a flawed, incomplete version of the Verdant Forest Scripture, mistakenly labeled the Golden Feather Alchemy Scripture. He explains its obscure passages and missing elements.
• Hui Dao’s instruction causes Su Ziji’s External Alchemy skill to rise dramatically, confirming that Hui Dao possesses extensive and valuable knowledge. Su Ziji privately decides that Hui Dao could serve as an “alchemy experience package.”
• Su Ziji invites Hui Dao to remain at the Prince’s Residence as a trusted retainer responsible for inspecting Divine Shrines and managing the copying, recording, and organization of religious texts. Hui Dao accepts, now comfortable with serving Prince Dai.
• Reflecting on Bai Lekang’s proposals, Su Ziji realizes that the restoration of Spiritual Revival makes spiritual energy a valuable resource. A covenant between gods could produce enormous merit, but he believes he cannot arrange it directly.
• He considers involving the Dragon Palace and specifically the Young Dragon. Concerned that even the Fox might not be trustworthy enough for such a sensitive matter, he destroys the written note bearing the words “Dragon Palace.”
• Su Ziji then uses his mysterious spiritual connection to travel directly to the Dragon Palace. He observes that it has recovered from its former ruin: its defenses, soldiers, order, and prosperity have all increased, though it remains smaller than during the era of the previous Dragon King.
• A mysterious bell, Zhong, rings through the palace. A golden mark briefly appears on the Young Dragon’s forehead, suggesting a supernatural change or awakening. After the bell stops, the Young Dragon asks the Shell Maiden whether any gods have awakened near the Dragon Palace.

Character Developments

• Su Ziji continues to demonstrate political caution and strategic intelligence. He recognizes that apparently beneficial policies may conceal long-term dangers and refuses to act simply because a plan appears profitable.
• His interest in alchemy deepens, but he approaches it pragmatically, valuing Hui Dao not only as a spiritual guide but also as a source of accumulated knowledge and skill advancement.
• Su Ziji becomes increasingly secretive and careful regarding matters involving gods, spiritual energy, and the Dragon Palace. His destruction of the note shows his awareness that even trusted allies may not be safe to involve.
• True Person Hui Dao shifts from an outside observer to a committed ally. Impressed by Su Ziji’s destiny and wisdom, he accepts a formal role at the Prince’s Residence.
• The Young Dragon appears to be undergoing an unexplained supernatural transformation. The bell and temporary golden mark imply that she may be connected to a larger awakening among divine beings.
• The Shell Maiden remains attentive and protective toward the Young Dragon, quickly responding when she wakes and checking on her condition.

Significant Themes

• Hidden danger beneath apparent benefit: Bai Lekang’s proposals seem sound, but both divination and political judgment suggest that short-term success could produce long-term harm.
• Destiny and kingly aura: Hui Dao recognizes Su Ziji as someone possessing the aura of a true ruler, reinforcing the idea that destiny shapes political legitimacy and supernatural influence.
• Knowledge as power: Hui Dao’s alchemical expertise is treated as a resource of immense value. Learning can be accumulated, transferred, and used strategically.
• Trust and secrecy: Su Ziji’s hesitation to involve even the Fox emphasizes the danger of leaking information about gods, spiritual energy, and the Dragon Palace.
• Spiritual Revival and divine politics: The restoration of spiritual energy creates new opportunities for alliances and covenants between human rulers and gods, while also raising the possibility that dormant deities are beginning to awaken.
• Renewal and restoration: The Dragon Palace’s recovery from ruin mirrors the broader return of supernatural power and suggests that ancient forces are reemerging.

Character Interactions

• Su Ziji and Hui Dao: Their discussion combines political judgment and alchemical instruction. Su Ziji respects Hui Dao’s knowledge, while Hui Dao becomes increasingly impressed by Su Ziji’s destiny and insight.
• Su Ziji and Bai Lekang: Though Bai Lekang does not appear directly, his proposals prompt Su Ziji’s political reflection and lead him to consider a larger plan involving the Dragon Palace.
• Su Ziji and the Dragon Palace: Su Ziji deliberately travels there to speak with the Young Dragon about a matter too important to delegate.
• Young Dragon and Shell Maiden: The Shell Maiden checks on the Young Dragon after the bell awakens her. The Young Dragon then raises the crucial question of whether gods near the Dragon Palace have begun to awaken, ending the chapter on a supernatural mystery.

Chapter Summary: The Young Dragon Rises Up

Key Plot Points and Events

• The Young Dragon Lord suddenly decides that she must live up to her position and force all the Water Gods to submit to her authority. She declares that she will “beat every Water God into submission” and unify the waters.
• The Shell Maiden is surprised by this sudden ambition. She suspects the idea may have come from the Young Dragon’s older brother, Prince Dai, though there is no sign that he has actually visited.
• The Young Dragon explains that she may have heard her brother encouraging her in a dream. Despite her uncertainty, she embraces the plan and leaves the responsibility for carrying it out to the Shell Maiden.
• Her determination is repeatedly interrupted by her laziness and hunger. After waking from a long sleep, she immediately becomes drowsy again and pauses her grand declaration to demand food.
• The Water Demons prepare a meal of oysters, shrimp, and venison. Once transformed into her true dragon form, the Young Dragon eats enthusiastically without using chopsticks.
• The scene then shifts to the Zhou Residence, where a shipment of scarce watermelons arrives. Because of the extreme heat and high demand, the fruit has become difficult to obtain, and even heatstroke deaths have occurred.
• While the household rests, a young woman dreams of happier days with her childhood companion and fiancé, Shao. They revisit a pear tree they planted together and a swing he built for her.
• The dream gradually becomes unsettling. The sunlight fades unnaturally quickly, the courtyard falls into darkness, and Shao’s expression changes from gentle to sorrowful. The young woman senses that something is wrong and reaches toward him.

Character Developments

• The Young Dragon Lord: Shows the beginnings of political ambition and responsibility. She recognizes that, as Dragon Lord, she must assert authority over the Water Gods. However, her childishness remains evident through her yawning, hunger, impatience, and reliance on others to handle practical matters.
• The Shell Maiden: Continues to act as the Young Dragon’s practical aide and observer. She supports the Dragon Lord’s plan but remains puzzled by its sudden origin and carefully analyzes the Young Dragon’s behavior.
• Prince Dai / the Young Dragon’s brother: Does not appear directly, but his influence is strongly implied. The Young Dragon believes the idea may have come from something he said in a dream.
• The young woman in the Zhou Residence: Reveals a tender, youthful side in her dream, contrasting with her usual composed demeanor. Her growing fear suggests unresolved grief or an impending emotional revelation.
• Shao: Appears in the dream as a loving childhood companion, but his silence and sorrow hint at separation, loss, or tragedy.

Significant Themes

• Growing into authority: The Young Dragon struggles between her immature habits and the serious responsibilities of being Dragon Lord.
• Influence and memory: Even absent figures can shape decisions through remembered words, dreams, and emotional bonds.
• Contrast between comedy and seriousness: The Young Dragon’s grand political ambitions are undercut by her sleepiness and appetite, while the later dream scene shifts into an atmosphere of melancholy.
• Nostalgia and loss: The pear tree, swing, and childhood memories represent a happier past that is beginning to slip away.
• The fragility of happiness: The bright dream gradually darkens, suggesting that cherished relationships and peaceful moments may not last.

Character Interactions

• The Young Dragon and the Shell Maiden discuss the Water Gods, with the Shell Maiden encouraging the Dragon Lord’s claim to authority while questioning what inspired it.
• The Shell Maiden serves the Young Dragon food and watches over her, reinforcing their relationship as ruler and dependable attendant.
• At the Zhou Residence, Steward Li and the melon seller Old Tian discuss the shortage and value of watermelons, while also showing the strict social hierarchy of the household.
• In the dream, the young woman interacts affectionately with Shao, recalling their shared childhood and asking him to push her on the swing. His increasingly sorrowful behavior creates emotional tension and foreshadows a painful revelation.

Zhou Yao woke from a troubling dream in which her deceased fiancé, Shao, warned that her family would rise to extraordinary status and that they would never meet again. At Prince Dai’s Residence, Su Ziji learned that Bai Lekang was linked to suspicious visitors who might be agents from the Kingdom of Ying.

• Zhou Yao dreamed that Shao said their bond had to end because he was dead and her family’s future would place them beyond reunion.
• Zhou Yao woke in tears and wondered whether Shao’s warning referred to her family or to another legacy, then resolved to take the initiative and investigate the Mulberry Maidens of the southwest.
• Su Ziji woke from a hazy dream of visiting the Dragon Palace and decided to continue his original plan of dealing with the Divine Shrines one by one.
• The Wild Daoist reported that his investigation of Bai Lekang led to the Moon-Worship Shrine, where suspicious visitors might be people from the Kingdom of Ying.
• Su Ziji considered the Kingdom of Ying’s recent expansion and wondered whether it also intended to intervene in the upheaval.

Chapter Summary: “The Sharp Curse”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Su Ziji orders a deeper investigation into the Moon-Worship Shrine, now connected to the Kingdom of Ying. He instructs Wild Daoist and Shi Chengyan to rely on ordinary citizens rather than officials, allowing them to gather information without alarming hidden enemies.
• Regarding Bai Lekang, Su Ziji decides not to punish him immediately. Instead, he plans to offer Bai money and favorable treatment, using him as bait to expose a larger conspiracy. However, Su emphasizes that Prince Dai’s residence must not appear weak and authorizes decisive action when necessary.
• Su Ziji learns about the literary gathering at Thousand Chess Lake, where over a hundred Provincial Graduates will attend. He decides to attend personally in disguise to observe the scholars and better understand the influence of his “Literary Heart Carving Dragon.”
• He disguises himself as an ordinary Provincial Graduate, wearing the robes he used when he first arrived in the capital. Wild Daoist accompanies him, along with Bo Yan, who is assigned to protect him. Jian Qu remains behind to manage other matters.
• Their departure is secretly observed by a seemingly ordinary young man near Prince Dai’s residence. The man reports their movements to an unknown organization.
• In a hidden chamber, Gui Junxi performs a ritual involving incense. Dark shadows gather in the smoke and erupt into furious curses against Prince Dai, threatening his life and the destruction of his entire household.

Character Developments

• Su Ziji demonstrates strategic patience and political ruthlessness. He balances caution with aggression: he avoids prematurely exposing Bai Lekang while making clear that Prince Dai’s faction must command respect during the coming succession crisis.
• Su also reveals a stronger sense of urgency. The possible intervention of the Kingdom of Ying convinces him that the struggle for the throne may involve outside powers, not merely the imperial princes.
• His decision to travel incognito shows both courage and curiosity. He wants firsthand knowledge of public opinion and the literary world, recognizing that reputation will be crucial in the contest for imperial succession.
• Wild Daoist displays deep loyalty and trust in Su Ziji. He accepts responsibility for the shrine investigation and volunteers to accompany Su despite recognizing the dangers.
• Jian Qu remains dutiful but anxious. He worries about Su’s safety and about the difficulty of gathering honest information when Su is present as a prince.
• Bo Yan is thrilled by the trust placed in him when he is chosen as Su’s sole bodyguard. His admiration for Su grows as he sees the prince’s refined bearing and confidence.
• Gui Junxi is shown participating in a dark, hostile ritual, suggesting that he is connected to the forces plotting against Su Ziji.

Significant Themes

• Political power and reputation: Su recognizes that a prince’s public image is nearly as important as imperial favor, especially as the succession struggle intensifies.
• Hidden enemies and conspiracy: The Moon-Worship Shrine, the Kingdom of Ying, Bai Lekang, the surveillance near the residence, and Gui Junxi’s ritual all suggest a broad, coordinated threat.
• Strength versus perceived weakness: Su understands that enemies target Prince Dai because his political foundations are still developing. He therefore intends to appear fair but formidable.
• Disguise and observation: By attending the gathering as a Provincial Graduate, Su can experience public opinion more honestly and study the forces shaping the capital.
• Loyalty and trust: Wild Daoist’s vow of service and Bo Yan’s gratitude at being selected emphasize Su’s ability to inspire personal loyalty.
• Religious hatred and supernatural hostility: The ritualistic curses portray the opposition as driven not only by political motives but also by intense spiritual or ideological hatred.

Character Interactions

• Su gives Wild Daoist clear instructions regarding the shrine investigation and Bai Lekang, establishing their relationship as one of strategic cooperation and mutual trust.
• Wild Daoist responds with a declaration of loyalty, saying he will repay Su as a state-worthy talent.
• Jian Qu and Wild Daoist both object to Su attending the gathering because of the danger, revealing their concern for him and their willingness to challenge his decisions.
• Su reassures them by explaining his larger purpose and persuades them through strategic reasoning rather than authority alone.
• Wild Daoist agrees to accompany him, while Bo Yan accepts the responsibility of protecting him and interprets the assignment as a sign of personal trust.
• The chapter closes by contrasting Su’s calm preparations with the violent hatred of his unseen enemies, making clear that his movements are already being monitored and that retaliation may be imminent.

Chapter Summary: “My Fate Is Mine, Not Heaven’s”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Gui Junxi listens to the weakened divine beings imprisoned or hidden in his secret chamber. They curse Prince Dai and demand that Gui arrange his assassination.
• A messenger reports that Prince Dai has secretly left his residence disguised as a Provincial Graduate, accompanied by only two people. Gui immediately recognizes this as a rare opportunity and decides to follow him.
• Gui orders his agents to spread the news of Prince Dai’s movements to Prince Shu, Prince Qi, and the Kingdom of Ying, hoping to provoke others into acting against Prince Dai.
• The divine shadows’ pressure worsens Gui’s existing injuries. He coughs blood but conceals his weakness to maintain authority over his followers.
• At Prince Qi’s residence, Prince Qi learns that Prince Dai will attend a literary gathering at Thousand Chess Lake in disguise.
• Zhu Yinxiang suggests taking advantage of Prince Dai’s limited escort and attacking him. Prince Qi angrily rejects the idea, pointing out the danger of openly harming another prince under the Emperor’s rule.
• After Zhu leaves, Prince Qi privately considers more ruthless methods. He doubts that Prince Dai’s success is merely political skill and suspects he may possess Heaven’s Mandate. Prince Qi resolves that his own destiny belongs to him, not Heaven, and hints at an extreme plan involving the former Crown Prince.

Character Developments

• Gui Junxi appears increasingly calculating and ruthless. He exploits the divine beings’ intelligence network while secretly borrowing their influence to maintain control over the remnants of Prince Lu’s faction.
• Gui’s physical condition is deteriorating: the divine voices injure him, and he coughs blood. Nevertheless, he hides his weakness and continues manipulating events.
• Prince Qi becomes more suspicious, frustrated, and ambitious. Prince Lu’s demotion has reminded him that even an imperial prince can lose everything, making him wary of acting openly.
• Prince Qi also grows increasingly obsessed with Prince Dai’s unexplained success. He refuses to accept that Dai is simply favored by fate or Heaven and begins contemplating murder as a final solution.
• Zhu Yinxiang is shown to be impulsive and eager to gain favor. His suggestion of an immediate attack is impractical and earns Prince Qi’s rebuke.
• Prince Dai, though absent from the chapter, is portrayed as mysterious and bold for traveling in disguise despite the many enemies created by his recent actions.

Significant Themes

• Fate versus personal will: Prince Qi rejects the idea that Prince Dai is protected by Heaven and declares that his own fate is his to control.
• Political manipulation and indirect conflict: Gui spreads information among rival princes and foreign forces, attempting to make them fight or act on his behalf rather than attacking directly.
• The fragility of power: Prince Lu’s fall demonstrates that royal status offers no permanent protection. The princes are forced to fear the Emperor, their rivals, and the consequences of political failure.
• Hidden weakness behind authority: Both Gui Junxi and Prince Qi conceal fear and uncertainty beneath outward control. Gui hides his illness, while Qi disguises his anxiety about Prince Dai’s growing influence.
• The danger of supernatural power: The fallen gods are weakened but remain capable of exerting psychological and spiritual pressure, making them both useful allies and dangerous burdens.

Character Interactions

• Gui Junxi confronts the messenger and uses the report about Prince Dai to launch a wider scheme.
• The divine shadows repeatedly pressure Gui, demanding that he kill Prince Dai and blaming him for their suffering. Their influence physically harms him, creating tension between their alliance and his ability to control them.
• Gui instructs his subordinate to notify Prince Qi, Prince Shu, and the Kingdom of Ying, deliberately drawing multiple factions toward the same target.
• Prince Qi discusses the report with Zhu Yinxiang and his advisers. Zhu urges immediate action, but Prince Qi sharply rejects him, emphasizing the political risks.
• Afterward, Prince Qi reflects privately on Prince Dai, Prince Ninghe, and the possibility of using a deadly plan to eliminate his rival permanently.

Cao Yiyan, newly established as ruler of the Kingdom of Ying, visited his trusted subordinate Liu Da in Capital City to learn what had changed in Great Zheng. Hearing of Su Ziji’s rapid rise to Prince Dai, Cao Yiyan wondered whether he was one of the twin stars foretold by the Heavenly Secret.

• Cao Yiyan arrived at Liu Da’s residence in disguise and was recognized by Liu Da, who knelt and addressed him as Your Majesty.
• Cao Yiyan told Liu Da that he had annexed two neighboring states and come to Capital City to find his Heavenly Secret.
• Liu Da reported that Su Ziji had risen from Marquis of Dai to Duke of Dai and then Prince Dai in just one year.
• Liu Da recounted Prince Lu’s demotion and the rumors that he might not be the emperor’s son.
• Cao Yiyan reflected on Su Ziji’s rapid rise and wondered whether he was one of the twin stars.

Cao Yiyan sought to understand Prince Dai’s rapid rise and the upheaval around Prince Ninghe, then learned that Prince Dai had gone incognito to a literary gathering at Thousand Chess Lake. Seeing a chance to destabilize Great Zheng, Cao Yiyan ordered a staged attack and decided to observe Prince Dai himself.

• Cao Yiyan asked Zhong Cui to assess Prince Ninghe’s fall and the meaning of the stars’ movement.
• Liu Da reported that Gui Junxi had sent word of Prince Dai’s incognito visit to Thousand Chess Lake with two attendants.
• Cao Yiyan and Zhong Cui discussed how Prince Qi and Prince Shu would avoid breaking the rules of the succession struggle.
• Cao Yiyan ordered Liu Da to stage an attack on Prince Dai at the gathering to fuel suspicion within Great Zheng.
• Cao Yiyan told Liu Da he would go to Thousand Chess Lake to see Prince Dai’s bearing for himself.