Chapter Summaries

Wang Lao'er received a message from a gray pigeon and ferried Su Ziji, Bo Yan, and the Wild Daoist to the Thousand Chess Lake literary gathering. Su Ziji arrived at the lavish pleasure barge, where the Wild Daoist began scouting while Bo Yan stayed close to him.

• A gray pigeon delivered Wang Lao'er a note ordering him to turn back and wait for someone on shore.
• Wang Lao'er recognized Su Ziji and his companions as important guests and ferried them across Thousand Chess Lake.
• Su Ziji admired the rainy evening scenery and reflected on governance and the power of Literary Heart Carving Dragon.
• The Wild Daoist tipped Wang Lao'er as Su Ziji, Bo Yan, and he boarded the largest pleasure barge.
• The Wild Daoist went to look around while Bo Yan remained beside Su Ziji among the Provincial Graduates.

Chapter Summary: “Five Years of Building Reputation”

1. Key Plot Points and Events

• Su Ziji arrives at a literary gathering at Thousand Chess Lake and overhears Provincial Graduates discussing Mistress Qin, the famous courtesan of the Ten Thousand Flowers Pavilion.
• He uses the topic to introduce himself and becomes acquainted with Provincial Graduate Chen, who warmly invites him upstairs.
• Su Ziji joins more than a dozen scholars debating Prince Dai’s recent campaign against licentious temples in the Capital City.
• The scholars hold mixed opinions:
  • Some praise Prince Dai’s decisive and forceful methods.
  • Others criticize his harsh punishments, executions, and confiscations, arguing that more moderate measures would have sufficed.
• Su Ziji realizes that his reputation as Prince Dai has already spread widely. Even people who have never met him largely regard him favorably.
• He unexpectedly encounters Cao Yiyan, an old acquaintance who does not recognize that Su Ziji has become Prince Dai. They exchange friendly jokes, though Cao’s adviser appears suspicious of Su Ziji.
• Cao Yiyan leaves after his adviser whispers something to him, and Wild Daoist later reports that Su Ziji’s reputation is generally praised throughout the Capital City.
• The chapter ends as a seemingly drunk Provincial Graduate approaches Su Ziji, suggesting that another significant interaction is about to occur.

2. Character Developments

• Su Ziji: Demonstrates social adaptability and restraint. He feigns interest in Mistress Qin to gather information and willingly enters the scholarly debate to learn public opinion about Prince Dai. He is pleased to discover that his carefully cultivated reputation is becoming established.
• Provincial Graduate Chen: Quickly takes a liking to Su Ziji and treats him warmly, introducing him to the gathering and helping him integrate into the group.
• Provincial Graduate Liu and the other scholars: Reveal the divided but largely favorable public perception of Prince Dai. Their arguments show that his actions have sparked serious political and moral discussion.
• Cao Yiyan: Reappears as a changed and more mature-looking figure. His casual friendliness toward Su Ziji suggests that their old connection remains, though his adviser’s suspicion introduces possible tension.
• Wild Daoist: Continues acting as Su Ziji’s observer and informant, gathering reports about public sentiment.
• Bo Yan: Remains below as a vigilant protector and takes pride in hearing that Prince Dai’s reputation is flourishing.

3. Significant Themes

• Reputation and political influence: Su Ziji’s actions have begun to shape public opinion, proving that reputation can become a powerful political force.
• The morality of harsh justice: The debate over Prince Dai examines whether severe measures are justified when confronting deeply entrenched corruption.
• Public perception versus private identity: Su Ziji listens to others discuss Prince Dai without revealing that he is the prince himself, emphasizing the contrast between a public image and the hidden individual behind it.
• Social mobility and recognition: Su Ziji’s appearance, status, and reputation allow him to gain acceptance quickly among scholars, while Cao Yiyan’s failure to recognize him shows how dramatically his identity and circumstances have changed.
• Information gathering through social interaction: The literary gathering functions not merely as entertainment but as a source of political intelligence.

4. Character Interactions

• Su Ziji befriends Provincial Graduate Chen through a polite conversation about Mistress Qin.
• Chen introduces Su Ziji to the scholars upstairs, where Su listens to and briefly joins the debate over Prince Dai.
• Su Ziji and Cao Yiyan share a warm, joking exchange based on their past acquaintance, while Cao’s adviser watches him cautiously.
• Wild Daoist privately reports the Capital City’s favorable view of Su Ziji’s reputation.
• The chapter closes with Su Ziji facing an approaching intoxicated Provincial Graduate, setting up the next development.

Su Ziji sensed an assassin approaching while he was incognito on a pleasure boat and used the gathering to discuss tax policy with Provincial Graduates Liu Shilian and Gao Yu. As the suspected assassin closed in, a watcher from Prince Qi’s Residence recognized the danger but hesitated over whether to warn Su Ziji.

• Su Ziji sensed killing intent directed at him and suspected someone had discovered his secret outing.
• Su Ziji praised Gao Yu’s proposal to standardize the meltage surcharge and considered how standardized silver and gold coins could eliminate repeated smelting losses.
• The Wild Daoist noticed Su Ziji’s subtle movement and signaled Bo Yan to approach him.
• The suspected assassin waited for two armed guards to pass, then resumed closing in on Su Ziji.
• A martial-skilled watcher from Prince Qi’s Residence identified the approaching man as a possible assassin and wondered whether to warn Su Ziji.

Cao Yiyan’s staged assassination of Prince Dai failed when a guard intervened, but his agents planted evidence implicating Prince Qi’s Residence before escaping. Back at his lodging, Cao Yiyan learned the authorities had quickly captured the assassin and surrounded the pleasure boat, setting up a political crisis for the imperial family.

• An assassin sent by Cao Yiyan attacked Prince Dai, but a gray-clad guard parried the blade before it could strike his neck.
• Cao Yiyan ordered Zhong Cui and his companions to escape and leave behind evidence implicating Prince Qi’s Residence.
• A disguised agent collided with a man from Prince Qi’s Residence and left a token behind as the crowd fled the pleasure boat.
• Cao Yiyan escaped by boat and ox cart, then watched cavalry rush past his lodging and remarked on False Zheng’s forces’ speed.
• A messenger reported that Shuntian Prefecture had captured the assassin and found a token from Prince Qi’s Residence aboard the pleasure boat.
• Cao Yiyan welcomed the accusations against the imperial family and anticipated how they would respond.

Chapter Summary: “Prince Qi’s Assassin (I)” — Dock

Key Plot Points and Events

• At dusk, the Capital City’s dock is placed under heavy guard after an assassination attempt aboard a pleasure boat at Thousand Chess Lake.
• Rumors spread that a noble person has been attacked and several people killed, heightening public anxiety in a city already unsettled by recent disasters, political upheaval, and conflicts involving the Divine Shrines.
• Tan Ping, Prefect of Shuntian Prefecture, arrives with officials to investigate. He learns that the victim was indeed Prince Dai, though Prince Dai escaped unharmed.
• The assassin was captured at the scene. However, the incident becomes politically explosive when another suspect is identified as a household servant from Prince Qi’s Residence.
• The suspect had attempted to disguise himself as a Cultivated Talent and jump into the lake. He was exposed when a token bearing evidence of his connection to Prince Qi’s household fell from him and was recognized.
• Tan Ping realizes that the affair may implicate him in the rivalry between Prince Qi and Prince Dai. He fears punishment or political retaliation regardless of which side he appears to favor.
• As the pleasure boat approaches the dock, Prince Dai—revealed to be Su Ziji—remains calm and uninjured. Surrounded by Bo Yan and the Wild Daoist, he asks Mr. Lu for his assessment of Prince Qi’s alleged attempt to assassinate him.

Character Developments

• Tan Ping: Revealed as a cautious, politically aware official whose main goal is survival and a peaceful retirement. The assassination deeply troubles him because it threatens to pull him into the princes’ factional struggle and destroy the secure career he has built.
• Ding Taiping: Demonstrates competence and loyalty by investigating the boat and reporting the facts to Tan Ping. His information confirms both Prince Dai’s safety and the involvement of someone from Prince Qi’s household.
• Prince Dai/Su Ziji: Remains composed after the attack, showing confidence and control. Rather than appearing frightened, he immediately begins analyzing the political implications and seeks Mr. Lu’s interpretation.
• Prince Qi: Does not appear directly, but is placed under suspicion because one of his household servants was present and apparently attempted to conceal his identity.
• Bo Yan and the Wild Daoist: Act as Prince Dai’s nearby protectors after the attack, reinforcing his importance and vulnerability.

Significant Themes

• Political factionalism and court intrigue: The assassination is not merely a criminal act; the possible involvement of Prince Qi turns it into a struggle between powerful royal factions.
• Fear and instability beneath apparent peace: Although Great Zheng is officially stable, the Capital City remains haunted by recent violence and upheaval. The military presence and public rumors reveal how fragile that peace is.
• Survival in bureaucracy: Tan Ping’s thoughts emphasize the dangers faced by officials caught between powerful figures. Remaining neutral may be impossible when political conflicts reach the public sphere.
• Appearance versus reality: The assassin’s disguise as a Cultivated Talent, Prince Dai’s choice to travel without a conspicuous guard, and the hidden identities aboard the boat all highlight the importance of deception.
• Coincidence and fate: The servant’s token accidentally falling exposes his identity, while Tan Ping views the entire incident as another example of his disastrous luck.

Character Interactions

• Tan Ping and Ding Taiping: Tan urgently questions Ding about the attack. Ding reassures him that Prince Dai is safe but then reveals the far more dangerous connection to Prince Qi’s Residence.
• Tan Ping and the political crisis: Tan internally weighs the risks of offending either prince, illustrating his anxiety and lack of control over events.
• Su Ziji and his protectors: Bo Yan and the Wild Daoist remain close while the other guards withdraw, creating a tense but controlled environment around Prince Dai.
• Su Ziji and Mr. Lu: Su calmly asks Mr. Lu to interpret the assassination attempt, signaling that the next stage will involve determining whether Prince Qi truly ordered the attack—or whether someone is manipulating the situation to implicate him.

Summary of “Prince Qi’s Assassin (Part 2)”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Wild Daoist argues that the assassin was probably not sent by Prince Qi. Prince Qi would gain nothing from publicly attempting to kill Prince Dai, since doing so would violate political rules, anger the Emperor, and give rival factions an opportunity to benefit.
• The assassin’s mediocre martial skills also make Prince Qi’s involvement unlikely. A powerful prince would presumably employ a far more capable killer.
• Su Ziji agrees that the assassination appears to be a deliberate attempt to frame Prince Qi and provoke open conflict between him and Prince Dai.
• They consider whether Prince Shu might be manipulating events. An assassination would transform ordinary political rivalry into apparent mortal enmity, forcing both factions into conflict whether they wanted it or not.
• The ship docks, and official Tan Ping boards to apologize and ensure Su Ziji’s safety. He orders the captured men taken to Shuntian Prefecture.
• Su Ziji stops him, choosing to question the prisoners personally.
• He interrogates a servant from Prince Qi’s Residence, asking whether he brought or assisted the assassin. The servant vehemently denies involvement and argues that he would not have carried his identifying token if he had planned the attack.
• Su Ziji uses Wei Ce’s intelligence ability to read fragments of the man’s thoughts. He discovers that the servant is an important member of Prince Qi’s organization, but also confirms that the man genuinely had no role in the assassination.
• Su Ziji then turns to question the captured assassin, asking whether he knows the servant from Prince Qi’s Residence.

Character Developments

• Su Ziji becomes increasingly cautious and politically perceptive. Rather than accepting the obvious explanation that Prince Qi ordered the attack, he recognizes the assassination as a calculated conspiracy designed to manipulate public opinion.
• He also demonstrates growing mastery of Wei Ce’s intelligence ability, using it not merely to gather information but to distinguish lies from genuine thoughts.
• Wild Daoist continues to act as Su Ziji’s analytical adviser, offering practical martial and political reasoning.
• Tan Ping is shown as a cautious official caught between powerful princes. He must apologize and act decisively while fearing the political consequences of every choice.
• The servant from Prince Qi’s Residence appears frightened but intelligent. He understands the danger of possessing incriminating evidence and tries to preserve a plausible explanation that could protect both himself and his master.
• Su Ziji’s calm demeanor contrasts with the seriousness of the situation, revealing his increasing composure and intimidating authority.

Significant Themes

• Political manipulation and false framing: The assassination is likely intended to create the appearance of hostility between Prince Qi and Prince Dai.
• The danger of perception: Even without proof, public belief may force political factions into irreversible conflict.
• Power and restraint: Open political rivalry can still allow reconciliation, but assassination destroys that flexibility and turns competition into a struggle for survival.
• Truth beneath appearances: The obvious suspect may be innocent, while the real mastermind remains hidden.
• The precarious nature of royal politics: The Emperor still controls the realm firmly, meaning reckless action by any prince could lead to catastrophic punishment.

Character Interactions

• Wild Daoist and Su Ziji discuss the inconsistencies in the assassination and jointly conclude that Prince Qi is probably being framed.
• Su Ziji and Tan Ping interact formally but with underlying political tension; Tan Ping is relieved that Su Ziji was unharmed and remains composed.
• Su Ziji overrules Tan Ping’s decision to send the prisoners away, asserting authority over the investigation.
• During questioning, Su Ziji pressures Prince Qi’s servant while the man desperately denies involvement.
• Su Ziji’s supernatural intelligence insight confirms the servant’s innocence, after which he shifts his attention to the actual assassin, setting up the next stage of the investigation.

Chapter Summary: “Investigating Cao Yiyan”

Key Plot Points and Events

• The captured assassin claims he knows nothing about Prince Qi’s Residence but reveals that Wei Ce once saved him from starvation and later gave him a token, promising to collect the debt. Wei Ce allegedly told him that Prince Dai, Su Ziji, had committed many crimes and ordered the assassination as an act of “Heaven’s justice.”
• Su Ziji challenges the assassin’s accusation, pointing out that his reputation is not that of a notorious criminal. The assassin refuses to explain further and attempts suicide by biting off his tongue. Constable Ding Taiping prevents him from dying, though the assassin seriously injures his tongue.
• The assassin’s words cause those present to suspect that Prince Qi, Wei Ce, secretly commands dead warriors. Wei Ce vehemently denies the charge but cannot immediately disprove it.
• After the assassin and Wei Ce’s associate are taken away, Su Ziji realizes that the interrogation produced a hidden clue. The assassin’s evasive answers and references to his “master” point toward Cao Yiyan.
• Su Ziji suspects Cao Yiyan may be connected to Prince Shu, though he doubts Cao is merely an ordinary retainer. Cao’s apparent rank, mysterious arrival in the capital, sinister presence, and unexplained disappearance make him especially suspicious.
• Su Ziji orders Wild Daoist to investigate Cao Yiyan. Wild Daoist agrees, having also sensed something unusual about him.
• Wild Daoist warns that news of the assassination attempt will rapidly spread throughout the capital because the attack occurred publicly at the literary gathering. Su Ziji concludes that Cao Yiyan may be deliberately stirring up chaos, though it remains unclear whether Prince Shu is behind him.
• On returning home, Su Ziji is met by his pregnant wife, Ye Buhui. She anxiously checks that he is unharmed. Their affectionate exchange briefly eases the tension before Su Ziji goes to meet with his advisers.

Character Developments

• Su Ziji: Demonstrates sharp investigative instincts by extracting meaning from the assassin’s incomplete answers. He identifies Cao Yiyan as the likely mastermind and recognizes that a hidden enemy has now exposed himself. Although troubled by the political consequences, he views the revelation as potentially advantageous because an enemy in the open is easier to confront.
• The assassin: Is portrayed as a loyal “dead warrior” bound by gratitude rather than personal hatred. His willingness to die rather than reveal more information confirms his training and devotion to his mysterious master.
• Wei Ce: Becomes politically vulnerable when the assassin accuses him of giving the order and token. Though he denies the charge, the public nature of the accusation damages his position and fuels suspicion against Prince Qi.
• Wild Daoist: Shows perceptiveness and caution. He independently distrusts Cao Yiyan and understands the danger posed by rumors spreading through the capital.
• Ye Buhui: Displays deep concern for Su Ziji and growing domestic warmth. Her pregnancy has softened her outward demeanor, while her playful remarks and concern provide an emotional contrast to the political danger surrounding her husband.
• Tan Ping and Ding Taiping: Tan Ping acts cautiously to end the dangerous interrogation and avoid further complications, while Ding Taiping’s vigilance prevents the assassin from killing himself before the authorities can secure him.

Significant Themes

• Hidden loyalties and political manipulation: The assassin’s testimony suggests that personal gratitude, secret tokens, and concealed masters can be used to manipulate individuals into political violence.
• Truth beneath appearances: The public appears to learn that Wei Ce is responsible, but Su Ziji looks beyond the obvious accusation and detects Cao Yiyan’s deeper involvement.
• Chaos as strategy: Cao Yiyan may be attempting to “muddy the waters” of the capital by provoking an assassination, implicating Prince Qi, and spreading uncertainty among rival powers.
• Enemies emerging from the shadows: Su Ziji reflects that a previously hidden enemy has now revealed himself. Though dangerous, an exposed opponent is easier to investigate and counter than an unknown one.
• Public reputation and rumor: Because the attack occurred before many witnesses, political information will spread rapidly, showing how rumor can become a weapon in court struggles.
• Loyalty, debt, and moral ambiguity: The assassin believes repaying a life-saving debt justifies murder, raising questions about whether loyalty can excuse wrongdoing.

Character Interactions

• Su Ziji and the assassin: Su Ziji interrogates him skeptically, testing the logic of his accusation and trying to uncover the true source of the order.
• The assassin and Wei Ce: The assassin directly implicates Wei Ce as the giver of the token and alleged instigator, while Wei Ce responds with panic and denial.
• Su Ziji and Wild Daoist: Su Ziji entrusts Wild Daoist with investigating Cao Yiyan. Their conversation shows mutual confidence and agreement about Cao’s suspicious nature.
• Su Ziji and Ye Buhui: Their reunion reveals strong marital affection. Ye Buhui worries over his safety, while Su Ziji fusses over her pregnancy and reprimands her gently for waiting in the cold rain.
• Tan Ping and Su Ziji: Tan Ping is visibly relieved to escort Su Ziji home safely, reflecting both respect for the prince and anxiety over the political consequences of the attack.

After an assassin attacked Prince Dai, Su Ziji and his advisers chose to respond as an ordinary aggrieved victim rather than expose the plot to sow discord between him and Prince Qi. He sent a memorial to the emperor and, after dispatching Little White on a secret errand, went to inspect the texts in the Library Pavilion.

• The Wild Daoist recounted the assassination attempt, and Jian Qu blamed Prince Qi while Cen Rubai suspected someone was trying to provoke conflict between the princes.
• Wen Xunpeng warned that publicly identifying the plot could make the emperor wary of Su Ziji, so the advisers recommended pursuing the case normally and expressing anger without pressing his suspicions too deeply.
• Su Ziji ordered Jian Qu to draft a memorial and approved it, intending to send it directly to the emperor as a family grievance.
• Cen Rubai agreed to press Shuntian Prefecture to investigate, and the Wild Daoist reported that the Divine Shrine arrangements and transfer of texts were proceeding smoothly.
• Su Ziji quietly gave Little White instructions, then headed to the Library Pavilion, remarking that the spies in his residence finally had a use.

Ma Shunde enjoyed his new authority as chief eunuch while plotting to prevent Eunuch Zhao from regaining power. When Prince Dai’s memorials arrived, Ma Shunde suspected they concerned the assassination attempt and secretly opened one to read it.

• Ma Shunde entered the palace to the deference of the eunuchs and palace maids, savoring his rise to chief eunuch.
• Ma Shunde resolved to consolidate his influence and seek a chance to bring down Eunuch Zhao, though Fang Zhen had not contacted him.
• A young eunuch who had served Eunuch Zhao flattered Ma Shunde and offered him two memorials submitted by Prince Dai.
• Ma Shunde recognized Prince Dai’s name on both memorials and suspected they concerned the assassination attempt.
• Ma Shunde went somewhere secluded, checked that no one was nearby, and opened one memorial to read it.

Chapter Summary

Key plot points and events

• Ma Shunde reviews two memorials submitted by Prince Dai:
  1. A request for rewards for the monks and Daoist priests who helped him deal with sixteen Divine Shrines.
  2. A report detailing an assassination attempt against him.
• The assassination memorial states that Prince Qi’s men were present at the scene and left behind a token from Prince Qi’s residence, but it stops short of directly accusing Prince Qi. Instead, it emphasizes the possibility that enemies from the illicit shrines staged the attack or provoked conflict.
• A young eunuch suggests delaying the memorials, but Ma Shunde rejects the idea, explaining that Prince Dai is under the Emperor’s close watch and that withholding his reports would be dangerous. He privately resolves to have the careless eunuch punished.
• Ma Shunde places Prince Dai’s memorials among the Grand Secretariat’s submissions and presents them to the Emperor.
• The Emperor reads Prince Dai’s assassination report alongside a more neutral report from the Prefect of Shuntian Prefecture. He orders Ma Shunde to read and compare all three documents.
• Ma Shunde recognizes that Prince Dai’s memorial is carefully written: emotional enough to appear naturally aggrieved, yet restrained enough to avoid openly attacking Prince Qi or provoking the Emperor.
• After Ma Shunde recommends a full investigation, the Emperor agrees and then asks how many Divine Shrines and temples Prince Dai has already destroyed.

Character developments

• Ma Shunde demonstrates his political caution, knowledge of court procedure, and ability to evaluate hidden motives. He realizes that Prince Dai’s memorial has been crafted with exceptional skill and that the assassination could have major political consequences.
• Prince Dai emerges as strategically intelligent and politically restrained. His report protects his interests while avoiding a reckless direct accusation against Prince Qi. His request to reward religious allies also reveals an effort to cultivate useful support.
• The Emperor appears observant and suspicious. He already knows about the assassination and recognizes the importance of comparing Prince Dai’s account with the official report. His final question suggests that Prince Dai’s campaign against the Divine Shrines may be connected to the attack.
• The young eunuch is shown to be inexperienced and politically foolish for suggesting that Prince Dai’s memorials be withheld.

Significant themes

• Political maneuvering and controlled language: Prince Dai’s memorial shows how carefully worded testimony can influence imperial judgment without making an explicit accusation.
• Court protocol and danger: Even minor violations of memorial procedures can become matters of life and death, especially when imperial relatives are involved.
• Power, loyalty, and recruitment: Prince Dai’s attempts to reward monks and Daoist priests suggest that religious institutions are also political resources.
• Suspicion and ambiguity: The assassination implicates Prince Qi, but the evidence is deliberately inconclusive, leaving room for competing interpretations and political manipulation.
• The reach of imperial authority: The Emperor’s decision to investigate reinforces the court’s responsibility to defend royal dignity and punish threats within the capital.

Character interactions

• Ma Shunde rebukes the young eunuch’s suggestion to suppress the memorials, explaining the risks of violating procedure.
• He carefully manages the presentation of Prince Dai’s reports, placing them where the Emperor will see them.
• The Emperor questions Ma Shunde about the memorials and forces him to examine the documents openly.
• Ma Shunde cautiously supports the Emperor’s authority by recommending a thorough investigation, after which the Emperor shifts the discussion toward Prince Dai’s destruction of the Divine Shrines.

The emperor approved Prince Dai’s requested rewards for the Clear Garden Temple and the Yin Temple Sect, while ordering an investigation into the assassination attempt against him. Eunuch Zhao worried that Prince Dai’s campaign against sixteen Divine Shrines had made him enemies, then burned two memorials as he awaited the emperor’s decision.

• Ma Shunde told the emperor that Prince Dai had dealt with sixteen Divine Shrines, and the emperor praised Prince Dai’s willingness to shoulder responsibility.
• The emperor decreed that Bianxuan’s former offenses be cleared and that he receive the title of Chan Master, while the Yin Temple Sect would receive an additional plaque.
• The emperor ordered the decree completed and instructed Shuntian Prefecture to investigate the assassination attempt on Prince Dai.
• Ma Shunde warned his godson not to speculate about the emperor’s intentions and left the palace with the decree.
• Eunuch Zhao worried that Prince Dai’s actions had earned him many enemies and burned two memorials as he awaited the emperor’s decision.

Chapter Summary: “Awards”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Su Ziji wakes late at Prince Dai’s Residence after a restful night, while his pregnant consort, Ye Buhui, continues sleeping.
• He meets with Cen Rubai and Wen Xunpeng during a light autumn rain. They discuss the memorial Su Ziji and Jian drafted concerning the Divine Shrines.
• Wen Xunpeng suggests slowing the campaign against the shrines. Su Ziji agrees to consider it, since he has already targeted sixteen shrines and affected roughly a million believers.
• Su Ziji privately reveals that the shrine campaign was partly deliberate political strategy. By taking responsibility for an unpopular task, he has reduced his apparent momentum in the Emperor’s eyes while simultaneously building a strong reputation among scholars and officials.
• He also benefits from the confiscated books, which improve his cultivation and pill-refining abilities.
• An imperial envoy arrives to proclaim an edict. The envoy is Ma Shunde, whose increased influence is evident from his confident and deferential manner.
• Ma Shunde orders that Liu Zhan and Bianxuan be summoned because the edict concerns them. Ye Buhui initially appears for the ceremony, but Su Ziji sends her away to rest because of her pregnancy.
• The imperial edict rewards all three men:
  • Su Ziji receives five hundred taels of gold, one thousand bolts of silk, and fifteen days of leave for his service regarding the Divine Shrines.
  • Liu Zhan receives the additional title “Mystic Sincerity,” a new plaque, and a tax exemption for his temple.
  • Bianxuan is cleared of his former charges, granted the title “Faith-Examining Zen Master,” and appointed abbot of Clear Garden Temple.
• The chapter ends with the recipients accepting their honors and Bianxuan being restored to his religious position.

Character Developments

• Su Ziji: Demonstrates increasing political sophistication. He understands that his apparent losses and unpopular actions can strengthen his reputation and future political position. He is also becoming more confident in manipulating the Emperor’s expectations while advancing his own cultivation.
• Ye Buhui: Her pregnancy remains an important part of her condition and daily life. Su Ziji shows consideration for her health by shielding her from discomfort and allowing her to rest during the edict ceremony.
• Wen Xunpeng: Displays concern over the political consequences of the Divine Shrine campaign, though his stated worry about the memorial itself is merely a pretext for offering strategic advice.
• Ma Shunde: Appears to have successfully defeated or surpassed Zhao Eunuch in the palace struggle. His cordial but highly deferential behavior toward Su Ziji suggests he recognizes Su’s growing importance.
• Liu Zhan: Gains a more prestigious religious title and increased institutional influence through the new plaque and tax exemption.
• Bianxuan: Moves from suspected criminal and disgraced monk to officially pardoned and honored religious leader. His restoration as abbot marks a major reversal in his fortunes.

Significant Themes

• Political reputation and long-term strategy: Su Ziji deliberately turns an unpopular assignment into a means of building legitimacy among officials and scholars.
• Balancing imperial power: The Emperor rewards Su Ziji but also subtly limits his momentum by granting him leave, reflecting the need to maintain equilibrium among the princes.
• Public merit versus hidden motives: Su Ziji’s actions appear to serve the throne, but he is also pursuing personal political and cultivation goals.
• Restoration and official recognition: The edict transforms previous suspicion and hardship into honor, especially for Bianxuan.
• Religious institutions and state authority: Titles, plaques, tax exemptions, and appointments show how the imperial court controls and legitimizes religious figures and organizations.
• Preparation for future conflict: Su Ziji’s comparison to Li Shimin indicates that he is preparing both a political reputation and a moral foundation for possible future struggles over succession.

Character Interactions

• Su Ziji and Wen Xunpeng discuss the consequences of attacking the Divine Shrines, with Su Ziji reassuring him that the memorial is sound while concealing his broader strategy.
• Su Ziji and Ma Shunde exchange formal but friendly courtesies, revealing Ma’s respect and his desire to maintain a favorable relationship with Prince Dai.
• Su Ziji protects Ye Buhui from unnecessary strain by dismissing her from the ceremony.
• Ma Shunde formally recognizes Liu Zhan and Bianxuan’s new statuses, personally congratulating both men.
• The ceremony brings Su Ziji, Liu Zhan, and Bianxuan together as beneficiaries of the Emperor’s decision, linking their futures more closely to Prince Dai’s political rise.

Chapter Summary: “A Cartload of Books”

Plot Points and Events

• Ma Shunde arrives at Prince Dai’s residence with imperial rewards for Su Ziji, praising him for his service to the emperor.
• The rewards consist of three thousand ten-tael gold ingots and silks. Su Ziji politely accepts them and asks whether the gold is Palace Reserve Gold minted by the Ministry of Revenue in the eighteenth year of Chengshou.
• His question unexpectedly grants him a small increase in the “Way of Governance” and reveals that Ma Shunde harbors hostility toward him, as well as something unusual about Ma himself.
• Su Ziji gives Ma Shunde five gold ingots as “tea money,” then orders the remaining gifts stored away.
• Liu Zhan, feeling indebted to Su Ziji, decides to repay him with the monastery’s collection of alchemy books rather than money. This establishes that a transfer of books is about to take place.
• After leaving, Ma Shunde orders his men to monitor Bianxuan, suspecting that the monk may resent the imperial court because he lost an eye as punishment. He plans to use any evidence of Bianxuan’s discontent against both Bianxuan and Su Ziji, who recommended him.
• Ma Shunde’s convoy encounters several carts connected with Prince Dai’s residence. He notices that Young Marquis Fang Zhen appears to be working with Su Ziji, which frustrates Ma’s attempt to provoke Zhao Eunuch into making a politically dangerous move.
• The carts are eventually revealed to contain only copies of the Book of Documents, seized during another search of the nearby Five Phoenix Shrine and transported to Prince Dai’s residence.
• Ma Shunde is puzzled by Su Ziji’s unusually open handling of the books but concludes that Su Ziji is acting so publicly because he has nothing to hide.

Character Developments

• Su Ziji: Demonstrates political composure, courtesy, and careful observation. He accepts the imperial reward without surprise, subtly tests Ma Shunde by identifying the gold’s origin, and notices Ma’s concealed malice. His willingness to store large quantities of seized texts also suggests a deliberate scholarly or political purpose.
• Ma Shunde: Appears outwardly respectful but is revealed to be calculating and hostile. He attempts to create a case against Bianxuan and Su Ziji, monitors Fang Zhen, and seeks evidence that Prince Dai is forming improper alliances.
• Bianxuan: His past as a celebrated figure and his punishment by the court make him vulnerable to suspicion. Although he says nothing directly, Ma Shunde treats him as a possible source of anti-court resentment.
• Liu Zhan: Becomes more personally loyal to Su Ziji after receiving benefits from him. He decides to offer his valuable alchemy texts as a return gift, showing both gratitude and an awareness of Su Ziji’s interests.
• Fang Zhen: His continued association with Prince Dai suggests that he has genuinely shifted allegiance rather than merely acting under pressure.
• The young eunuch: Shows eagerness to learn from Ma Shunde and faithfully carries out his orders, reinforcing Ma’s influence over his subordinates.

Significant Themes

• Political surveillance and manipulation: Ma Shunde treats people and events as pieces on a chessboard, seeking to manufacture evidence against rivals.
• Outward courtesy versus hidden hostility: The formal exchange of congratulations and gifts conceals suspicion, strategic probing, and resentment.
• Knowledge as power: The Book of Documents, alchemy texts, and Su Ziji’s interest in official seals and records all suggest that books and learning carry political as well as intellectual value.
• Public transparency as protection: Su Ziji’s open movement of the books makes it difficult for Ma Shunde to accuse him of secrecy or conspiracy.
• Loyalty and reciprocal obligation: Liu Zhan’s decision to give away the monastery’s alchemy books reflects the importance of repaying favors, while Fang Zhen’s apparent allegiance creates wider political consequences.

Character Interactions

• Su Ziji and Ma Shunde: Their polite conversation is a subtle contest. Su Ziji accepts the reward respectfully but probes Ma’s knowledge and intentions, while Ma masks his suspicion behind imperial authority.
• Su Ziji and Liu Zhan: Liu Zhan’s gratitude deepens into practical loyalty, prompting him to offer Su Ziji the monastery’s alchemical collection.
• Ma Shunde and Bianxuan: Though they do not directly interact in the chapter, Ma Shunde positions Bianxuan as a potential political liability and orders him watched.
• Ma Shunde and the young eunuch: Ma acts as a mentor and manipulator, explaining his schemes while encouraging the eunuch’s dependence and admiration.
• Ma Shunde and Fang Zhen: Fang Zhen’s apparent alliance with Prince Dai frustrates Ma’s attempt to use him against Zhao Eunuch, prompting increased surveillance.
• Prince Dai’s household and the Five Phoenix Shrine: The shrine’s confiscated books are redirected into Su Ziji’s residence, linking the prince to a growing collection of politically significant texts.

Bai Lekang asked Hui Dao about his submitted memorial, then learned his fortunes had turned toward death after he lost his composure and chose a fatal path. He left Prince Dai’s Residence, spent the evening at a brothel, and entered a hidden underground passage.

• Hui Dao told his attendant that Bianxuan of Clear Garden Temple and Liu True Person had received imperial recognition, and the attendant envied the Yin Temple Sect’s growing privileges.
• Bai Lekang borrowed a book and asked Hui Dao whether his memorial followed his proposal, but Hui Dao said he did not know its contents.
• Hui Dao’s attendant judged that Bai Lekang’s aura of distinction had diminished and that he now bore signs of death; Hui Dao said Bai Lekang had only himself to blame.
• Bai Lekang left Prince Dai’s Residence, picked up dropped silver, and went to the Hundred Flowers Pavilion for the evening.
• After nightfall, Bai Lekang reached a house, opened a concealed door, and descended into a dark passage.

Chapter Summary: “What a Demonic Daoist”

Plot Points and Events

• Bai Lekang descends into a secret underground chamber to meet Gui Junxi, a former strategist of Prince Lu who is now wanted by the imperial court.
• Gui Junxi questions Bai Lekang about whether he was followed. Although Bai Lekang senses the chamber’s supernatural danger, he claims that his mission has succeeded.
• Bai Lekang had infiltrated Prince Dai’s residence under Gui Junxi’s instructions, hoping to gain Prince Dai’s trust and secure an official appointment through Hereditary Office Privilege. In reality, Prince Dai had shown him little attention, and the mission was far from complete.
• Gui Junxi’s unseen supernatural entities immediately expose Bai Lekang’s lie. Despite this, Gui Junxi pretends to accept his report when Bai Lekang demands his promised reward.
• When Gui Junxi mentions giving Bai Lekang his “retribution,” Bai Lekang realizes he has been deceived and attempts to flee.
• A shadow-like entity attacks and consumes him. As Bai Lekang dies, supernatural faces denounce his hidden crimes: abusing his sister-in-law and niece, abandoning them after his wrongdoing drove them to suicide, and betraying others for the sake of official advancement.
• A hidden observer emerges after witnessing the execution. He had doubted Gui Junxi’s mystical abilities, but now recognizes that Gui Junxi truly commands terrifying Daoist powers.
• Gui Junxi explains that Bai Lekang’s death is not simply his own doing but a consequence of Prince Dai’s actions. Prince Dai has destroyed seventeen Divine Shrines, angering millions of believers and provoking both human resentment and divine wrath.
• Gui Junxi warns that Prince Dai will soon face a great calamity and sends the observer back to report this message to his master.

Character Developments

• Bai Lekang is revealed as cowardly, deceitful, and morally corrupt. Though he once valued propriety and integrity, his desperation for an official position has led him to abandon all principles. His attempt to lie his way into a reward ultimately results in supernatural punishment.
• Gui Junxi appears calm, calculating, and utterly ruthless. He sees through Bai Lekang’s deception, allows him to believe he is safe, and shows no emotion while Bai Lekang is killed. His command over supernatural forces establishes him as a genuinely dangerous Daoist figure.
• The hidden observer changes from skepticism to fear and respect. After witnessing Gui Junxi’s powers, he concludes that Gui Junxi may be valuable to his master, though he also privately labels him a “demonic Daoist.”
• Prince Dai is characterized indirectly as aggressive and sacrilegious. His campaign against Divine Shrines has created widespread resentment and placed him under supernatural judgment.

Significant Themes

• Retribution and moral consequence: Bai Lekang’s concealed crimes return to punish him, reinforcing the idea that wrongdoing cannot remain hidden.
• Hypocrisy and corruption: Bai Lekang presents himself as respectable while pursuing advancement through deception and betrayal.
• Human action and divine judgment: Gui Junxi suggests that Prince Dai’s persecution of religious institutions has accumulated enough resentment and divine anger to bring about catastrophe.
• Power and fear: Supernatural authority is presented as more effective and terrifying than conventional law. Gui Junxi’s power forces even skeptics to acknowledge him.
• Appearance versus reality: Bai Lekang’s claims of success, Gui Junxi’s apparent acceptance of them, and the observer’s initial disbelief all conceal deeper truths that are eventually exposed.

Character Interactions

• Bai Lekang and Gui Junxi: Their meeting is built on mistrust and manipulation. Bai Lekang lies about his success to obtain a promised appointment, while Gui Junxi knowingly allows the deception to continue before condemning him.
• Bai Lekang and the supernatural entities: The entities expose his lies and reveal his past crimes, acting as instruments of judgment.
• Gui Junxi and the observer: The observer arrives to test or investigate Gui Junxi, but witnessing Bai Lekang’s death reverses the power dynamic. Gui Junxi dismisses personal credit and instead frames the event as the inevitable result of Prince Dai’s actions.
• Gui Junxi and Prince Dai: Though Prince Dai is absent, Gui Junxi directly threatens him through prophecy, declaring that his actions against the Divine Shrines will soon bring disaster.

Little Fox discovered that the Old Vice Minister's Residence in Kuiqiao Ward was protected by spirits and gods, then warned Su Ziji that Bai Lekang had gone there and might have died. Su Ziji considered how to handle the new threat while continuing to work toward a pill that could conceal Bu Hui.

• Gui Junxi worried that someone had followed Bai Lekang to his secret chamber and sent a shadow to search the rear garden.
• Little Fox hid from the shadow, escaped the garden, and hurried to Prince Dai's Residence.
• Su Ziji reassured Fang Zhen that he would stop after dealing with seventeen Divine Shrine establishments.
• After Fang Zhen left, Little Fox told Su Ziji that the Old Vice Minister's Residence in Kuiqiao Ward was full of spirits and gods and protected by a formation.
• Su Ziji saw that his External Alchemy skill had reached level 14 and considered turning the Divine Shrine affair to his advantage.

Su Ziji decided to investigate Kuiqiao Ward and summoned Master Hui Dao, who joined him on a discreet nighttime trip. Hui Dao studied Su Ziji’s uncertain fortune during the journey, which ended at a stone bridge.

• Su Ziji thanked Little Fox for her help and said he would visit Kuiqiao Ward to investigate someone who had remained hidden in the Capital City.
• Master Hui Dao finished copying secret manuals from the Capital City Divine Shrine and reflected on the court’s power and his own school’s place in it.
• Luo Jiang arrived at Prince Dai’s Residence and told Master Hui Dao that His Highness had summoned him.
• Master Hui Dao accompanied Prince Dai in an ox cart, studying his fortune and finding his future difficult to read.
• The ox cart stopped, and Master Hui Dao followed Prince Dai out beside a stone bridge.

Su Ziji brought Hui Dao to the Old Vice Minister's Residence, where ghosts and spirits from the destroyed Divine Shrines were hiding behind a secret formation. Hui Dao outlined what they would need to defeat them, and Su Ziji agreed to handle the preparations.

• Su Ziji asked Hui Dao whether the Old Vice Minister's Residence in Locust Bridge Ward posed any danger to him.
• After Su Ziji spoke, Hui Dao perceived the residence's fierce baleful energy and the ghostly stone lions guarding it.
• Hui Dao identified the ghosts and spirits of the destroyed Divine Shrines as the likely occupants, and Su Ziji confirmed his suspicion.
• Hui Dao explained that they needed an official decree, would have to confront the shrines' many believers, and required cooperation between both faiths.
• Su Ziji agreed to handle the preparations if Hui Dao could provide a method to defeat the ghosts and spirits.

Prince Dai personally questioned people in Shuntian Prefecture about the attempt on his life, summoning witnesses and bystanders in large numbers. Ge Sheng, a secret agent working for Cao Yiyan, concealed his anxiety and entered the hall for questioning.

• Prince Dai continued questioning the people summoned to Shuntian Prefecture, while officials and witnesses speculated about his investigation.
• Ge Sheng suspected Prince Dai might have noticed something about the assassination plot, but reassured himself that his identity had remained hidden for ten years.
• Bo Ningyun emerged from the hall and told Ge Sheng that Prince Dai was only asking a few questions.
• A bailiff summoned Ge Sheng, and he entered the hall pretending to be calm and innocent.

Su Ziji questioned Ge Sheng and other witnesses, uncovering signs of a conspiracy involving Cao Yiyan and the Kingdom of Ying. As he returned to Prince Dai's Residence, an infant's cry and a sudden pulse of spiritual energy made him unleash a terrifying aura.

• Su Ziji questioned Ge Sheng about his background and the gathering, while Ge Sheng mistook the seemingly simple interrogation for incompetence.
• After Ge Sheng left, Su Ziji pieced together clues pointing to Cao Yiyan and the Kingdom of Ying's influence in the Capital City.
• Su Ziji thanked Tan Ping and left the Shuntian Prefecture Office, where Hui Dao reported that Locust Bridge Ward had gathered the ghosts and spirits of seventeen households.
• Hui Dao said Perfected Master Mystic Sincerity and the Faith-Examining Zen Master had agreed to help resolve the haunting.
• As Su Ziji neared his residence, an infant's cry pierced his head, a pulse of spiritual energy flashed inside, and he released a terrifying aura.