Chapter Summaries

Cao Yiyan learned that Prince Shu had agreed to protect some of their bases, but he remained uneasy about the Imperial Feather Guards’ enthusiasm for stories about the Imperial Grandson. Meanwhile, Zhang Modong invited Yu Lü and Fang Xi to a New Year’s feast, where he feared his meager destiny would keep him from passing the examinations.

• Liu Danai told Cao Yiyan that Prince Shu had agreed to protect their partly exposed bases, while their most secret bases remained undisclosed.
• Cao Yiyan heard Imperial Feather Guards praising tales of the Imperial Grandson and continued to suspect something was wrong.
• After several days of heavy snow, Yu Lü and Fang Xi welcomed Zhang Modong, who invited them to Qingfeng Tower for a New Year’s feast.
• At the feast, Zhang Modong recalled earning his Provincial Graduate degree but failing the capital examinations, and he worried that the Dragon Lord’s prediction of his meager destiny would come true.

Chapter Summary: “Let It Be a Loan to Me”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Zhang Modong emotionally recounts the hardships of pursuing the Imperial Examinations. Although his family is relatively wealthy, his studies have placed a heavy burden on his wife and family.
• He recalls a fellow Provincial Graduate, Qian, who became gravely ill while traveling to the examinations and died—or was near death—despite his talent and determination. Zhang fears suffering the same fate after repeated failures.
• Fang Xi and Yu Lü comfort Zhang and encourage him to drink, recognizing the physical and emotional dangers faced by older candidates traveling vast distances for an examination with very few successful candidates.
• An eccentric fortune-teller arrives, claiming he can predict their examination rankings. He demands an astonishing five hundred taels for a reading.
• The fortune-teller offers Zhang a folding fan for one hundred taels. Written on it are the words: “What is an unmatched pillar of the realm?” Zhang appears intrigued rather than disappointed and asks to purchase the rest of the prediction.
• The fortune-teller demands another four hundred taels, proposing that the three men buy it together and promising they can reclaim their money if his prediction proves false.
• Yu Lü and Fang Xi become suspicious, particularly because the Imperial Grandson had previously warned them about unusual or supernatural disturbances. They refuse to treat the fortune-teller’s claims as genuine.
• Zhang asks them to lend him the remaining four hundred taels, assuring them that he will repay them after they return. The chapter ends with the two considering the request.

Character Developments

• Zhang Modong is shown as deeply worn down by years of examination struggles. His grief, fear of dying before achieving success, and eagerness to interpret the fan suggest he is vulnerable to hope and perhaps desperation.
• Fang Xi remains impulsive and outspoken, initially treating the fortune-teller as a joke. However, he has become more restrained and socially aware, refraining from embarrassing Zhang in front of the others.
• Yu Lü continues to act as the calm and responsible member of the group. He comforts Zhang but decisively rejects the fortune-teller’s outrageous claims once he senses danger.
• The fortune-teller presents himself as mysterious and confident, using an exorbitant price and cryptic wording to create the impression that his abilities are extraordinary.

Significant Themes

• The human cost of ambition: The examination system demands years of sacrifice, financial hardship, physical danger, and emotional endurance.
• Hope versus skepticism: Zhang’s longing for success makes him receptive to the fortune-teller, while Yu Lü and Fang Xi remain cautious.
• Fate and uncertainty: The characters debate whether examination success is determined by talent, effort, luck, or Heaven’s will.
• Friendship and trust: Zhang relies on his companions not only for emotional support but also for financial assistance.
• Possible supernatural danger: The fortune-teller’s strange behavior and the earlier warning from the Imperial Grandson create an atmosphere of suspicion and impending trouble.

Character Interactions

• Zhang’s confession draws sympathy from Yu Lü and Fang Xi, who understand the risks and sacrifices he has endured.
• Fang Xi’s playful challenge to the fortune-teller contrasts with Yu Lü’s more direct rejection of him.
• Zhang’s sudden interest in the folding fan creates tension between him and his companions.
• Yu Lü and Fang Xi silently recognize the possibility that the fortune-teller’s appearance is connected to supernatural events, but they avoid openly accusing him.
• Zhang attempts to overcome their reluctance by reframing the payment as a loan, placing their loyalty and judgment in conflict.

Summary of “White Dragon in Fish Garb”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Zhang Modong asks Yu Lü and Fang Xi to lend him money, claiming an opportunity that they immediately recognize as suspicious. Fang Xi refuses bluntly, warning Zhang that he is being deceived.
• The two men leave the banquet and return home by ox cart. Yu Lü avoids mentioning the Crown Grandson’s Residence, remembering Su Ziji’s warning to remain cautious.
• At their inn, Yu Lü secretly leaves a coded note on the windowsill, apparently intended for the Crown Grandson’s people. He then behaves normally to avoid arousing suspicion, ordering hot water, food, and New Year’s refreshments.
• While speaking with a servant, Yu Lü learns that several people visited Zhang Modong, including a mysterious fortune-teller whom Zhang addressed as “my lord.” This suggests that the fortune-teller is likely an official or someone of high status.
• Yu Lü gives money to help pay for the medical treatment of another impoverished Provincial Graduate, both as an act of kindness and to maintain the appearance of normalcy.
• After the coded note disappears, Yu Lü and Fang Xi stay awake through the night, pretending to celebrate the New Year while anxiously waiting for a response.
• Su Ziji secretly appears in their room dressed in black and disguised—“a white dragon in fish garb.” He has entered through a secret passage because it was difficult to send agents during the New Year.
• Yu Lü recounts Zhang’s suspicious behavior, the fortune-teller, the fan bearing ominous words, and their decision to leave.
• Su Ziji becomes serious and tells them they acted correctly. He orders them to cut ties with Zhang, remain at home, and focus on their studies while he investigates the matter himself.
• After Su Ziji departs, Yu Lü and Fang Xi speculate that the incident may have been a test or an attempt to use them in a plot against the Imperial Grandson.

Character Developments

• Yu Lü demonstrates increasing caution, intelligence, and political awareness. He recognizes the danger surrounding Zhang, sends a discreet warning, gathers information without exposing himself, and maintains a convincing façade of normality.
• Fang Xi remains direct and practical, immediately identifying Zhang’s request as fraudulent. He supports Yu Lü and shares his growing concern about the deeper political implications.
• Zhang Modong is revealed as increasingly suspicious. His sudden familiarity with Yu Lü and Fang Xi, his request for money, and his association with powerful visitors suggest that he may be acting as bait or as part of a larger scheme.
• Su Ziji shows his willingness to take personal risks. He secretly visits Yu Lü and Fang Xi in disguise, personally evaluates the situation, and assumes responsibility for handling the threat.
• Yu Lü’s charitable treatment of the sick Provincial Graduate also highlights his moral character and his ability to balance compassion with political prudence.

Significant Themes

• Deception and hidden identities: Zhang’s apparent financial opportunity, the fortune-teller’s concealed status, and Su Ziji’s disguise all emphasize that appearances cannot be trusted.
• Political intrigue and danger: Ordinary scholarly and social interactions conceal possible plots involving officials and the Imperial Grandson.
• Caution and discretion: Yu Lü and Fang Xi survive the situation by refusing to act rashly, speaking carefully, and maintaining ordinary behavior.
• Loyalty and trust: Yu Lü’s loyalty to Su Ziji is shown through his warning and careful reporting, while Su Ziji trusts Yu Lü’s judgment.
• The depth of the capital’s power struggles: The final reflection that the “waters of this Capital City” are too deep expresses the characters’ realization that they are caught in a complicated and dangerous political world.

Character Interactions

• Fang Xi firmly rejects Zhang Modong’s request and tries to prevent Yu Lü from becoming involved.
• Yu Lü and Fang Xi cooperate closely, using coded communication and careful observation to protect themselves.
• Yu Lü questions the inn servant discreetly, extracting information about Zhang without revealing his suspicions.
• Yu Lü and Fang Xi’s interaction with Su Ziji shifts from surprise and concern to formal reporting and obedience. Su Ziji reassures them that they acted correctly while ordering them to withdraw.
• After Su Ziji leaves, Yu Lü and Fang Xi discuss whether they were tested or deliberately positioned as tools in a conspiracy against him.

Chapter Summary: “Peerless Pillar of the Nation”

Key Plot Points and Events

• On New Year’s Eve, after a grand family feast at the Crown Grandson’s Residence, Su Ziji rewards the household staff for their work.
• He privately summons Wen Xunpeng and explains that the Emperor is preparing to frame him for leaking the Spring Examination questions, likely using the incident to destroy his reputation and political position.
• Wen Xunpeng analyzes the scheme and concludes that the trap must be sprung while the examinations are underway, when evidence could be seized and used to implicate Su Ziji decisively.
• Rather than merely defending himself, Wen proposes turning the crisis into a political counterattack:
  • Spread the leaked questions widely among candidates so the scandal becomes too serious to suppress.
  • Force the chief examiner and other examiners, along with the political factions behind them, into a desperate position.
  • Recruit them as allies by offering protection, while allowing those who refuse to perish.
  • Report the cheating case before the examinations begin, seizing the initiative and making Su Ziji appear to expose the crime rather than cause it.
  • Involve the Chief Grand Secretary, thereby forcing him to choose between Su Ziji and the Emperor and potentially driving a wedge between them.
• Su Ziji adds that rumors should blame eunuchs for colluding with the examiners. This would give the Empress an opportunity to eliminate rival eunuchs and install her own people.
• Wen leaves immediately to carry out the plan, pledging to return even if it costs him his life.
• Su Ziji then reveals that Yu Han has been listening in. Yu Han promises to report the entire scheme to the Empress and recognizes that the plot will strengthen her position within the palace.
• The chapter closes with Su Ziji reflecting on his ruthless, emotionally detached approach to power while New Year celebrations erupt throughout the capital.

Character Developments

• Su Ziji demonstrates exceptional foresight and political ruthlessness. He refuses to remain on the defensive and transforms the Emperor’s attempt to frame him into a chance to gather allies, weaken the court, and formally align with the Empress.
• Wen Xunpeng proves himself to be an exceptionally capable strategist. He moves beyond apology and immediately grasps the larger political implications, proposing a plan that turns a personal threat into a court-wide crisis. Su Ziji recognizes him as a “peerless pillar of the nation,” even more capable than Wild Daoist.
• Yu Han becomes increasingly wary and impressed by Su Ziji. He realizes that the seemingly harmonious relationship between Emperor and Imperial Grandson masks a dangerous struggle for power.
• The Empress is positioned as a potential ally. Although absent from the direct conversation, her faction stands to benefit from the purge of eunuchs and the political realignment Su Ziji is engineering.
• Su Ziji contrasts himself with the former Crown Prince, emphasizing that his lack of emotional loyalty to the imperial family allows him to act more decisively and without hesitation.

Significant Themes

• Political strategy and initiative: The chapter stresses that survival alone is passive; true power comes from seizing the initiative and turning an enemy’s attack into an opportunity.
• Betrayal and shifting alliances: The examination scandal is designed not only to frame Su Ziji but also to force officials and factions to choose sides.
• Manipulation of institutions: The examinations, the Chief Grand Secretary, the eunuchs, and the Empress’s influence are all treated as political instruments in a larger power struggle.
• Ruthlessness versus loyalty: Su Ziji’s willingness to sacrifice reputation, officials, and established relationships reflects his lack of attachment to the imperial family or the state.
• Foresight and governance: Su Ziji’s supernatural intuition and mastery of the “Way of Governance” allow him to anticipate schemes and reshape the political landscape before his enemies can act.
• Public celebration versus hidden conflict: The joy and fireworks of New Year’s Eve contrast sharply with the secret conspiracies unfolding beneath the court’s appearance of harmony.

Character Interactions

• Su Ziji and Wen Xunpeng: Their private discussion becomes a test of Wen’s loyalty and ability. Su Ziji presents the threat, while Wen develops the counterstrategy; their exchange establishes a stronger relationship of trust and political cooperation.
• Su Ziji and Yu Han: Su Ziji deliberately allows Yu Han to overhear the plan, using him as a channel to inform and commit the Empress. Yu Han understands that this is also a calculated move to force the Empress fully into Su Ziji’s camp.
• Su Ziji and the Emperor: Though they appeared cordial at the New Year banquet, the chapter reveals that they are engaged in a covert struggle. The Emperor seeks to destroy Su Ziji through the examination scandal, while Su Ziji plans to expose the Emperor’s scheme and divide his support.
• Su Ziji and the Empress: Their alliance is not yet openly declared, but Su Ziji’s plan is designed to compel her cooperation and give her faction greater power within the palace.
• Su Ziji and the Chief Grand Secretary: Su Ziji intends to draw him into the scandal, forcing him to act because of his office and thereby damaging his relationship with the Emperor.

Chapter Summary: “Borrowing Three Hundred Liang of Silver”

Key Plot Points and Events

• At Ferry Crossing Post Station, Governor Luo Pei encounters Chai Kejing, a fellow examination graduate and current prefect, angrily demanding charcoal. The postmaster explains that new regulations prohibit officials traveling for personal reasons from using public provisions.
• Luo Pei defuses the dispute by offering half of his own charcoal allocation. During dinner, Chai reveals that fifty thousand shi of grain in Yulin Prefecture’s granaries have mysteriously rotted. He believes the grain was secretly stolen or consumed, yet he has been made the scapegoat and reprimanded by the court.
• Luo Pei recognizes the incident as evidence of serious corruption and fears that the dynasty’s grain reserves are deteriorating, repeating the failures of the previous dynasty. He resolves to submit a memorial urging the court to investigate and reform the problem.
• While Luo Pei sleeps, someone throws a paper parcel through his window. The message is written in the Imperial Grandson’s distinctive script. After reading it, Luo Pei is visibly shocked and realizes that a major crisis has occurred. He burns the message to destroy the evidence and spends the remainder of the night in stunned silence.
• In the capital, impoverished scholar Xing Ye visits an inn reputed to house the “Iron-Mouth Divine Diviner.” He pays five liang of silver to request a divination about his examination prospects.
• Xing Ye carries fifteen liang in loose silver and five hundred liang in notes, money assembled through his family’s sacrifice and a loan. He has borrowed three hundred liang from the Hometown Lodge after hearing that examination questions could supposedly be purchased for five hundred liang.
• Although initially skeptical, Xing Ye has become convinced that corruption or hidden manipulation—not lack of talent—may explain his repeated examination failures. He now seeks supernatural or secret confirmation before deciding what to do.

Character Developments

• Luo Pei is shown as pragmatic, composed, and concerned with public welfare. He resolves the charcoal dispute without abusing his authority, but the grain scandal awakens a stronger sense of urgency. His thoughts also reveal his political ambitions and loyalty to the newly established Imperial Grandson.
• Chai Kejing appears frustrated and politically vulnerable. Though he insists he has not profited from the missing grain, he has been forced to bear responsibility for corruption outside his direct control.
• Xing Ye is revealed as poor, anxious, and deeply uncertain. His family has invested heavily in his success, and repeated failures have made him susceptible to rumors of purchased examination questions and occult guidance. Borrowing money has placed him under significant pressure.

Significant Themes

• Official corruption and institutional decay: The rotting grain may actually represent theft, but the bureaucracy allows responsibility to fall on an easily blamed official.
• Moral responsibility versus self-preservation: Luo Pei considers whether to expose corruption despite the political danger, while Chai focuses on clearing his own name.
• Political transition and looming crisis: Luo Pei’s thoughts about the Imperial Grandson suggest that the court is entering a fragile period of succession and power realignment.
• Examination anxiety and social inequality: Xing Ye’s poverty contrasts with the enormous sums allegedly required to obtain success, suggesting that merit may be undermined by wealth and corruption.
• Faith, rumor, and desperation: Xing Ye turns to divination because he cannot determine whether his failures arise from personal shortcomings or a rigged system.

Character Interactions

• Luo Pei and Chai Kejing’s meeting begins with Luo Pei mediating Chai’s dispute with the postmaster, establishing Luo Pei as more restrained and influential.
• Their private conversation about the ruined grain exposes shared concerns about corruption but also highlights their helplessness within the official system.
• The secret message from the Imperial Grandson creates an unseen but powerful interaction with Luo Pei, abruptly shifting the chapter from administrative concerns to a potentially major political emergency.
• Xing Ye’s exchange with the diviner’s intermediary shows how desperation and money govern access to supposed knowledge, while his reliance on the Hometown Lodge links his examination hopes to a broader network of financial and possibly fraudulent dealings.

Xing Ye paid five hundred taels for three supposed examination divinations, while Wen Xunpeng revealed that the scheme had collected a fortune and confronted Liang Yuyin with news of the emperor’s deadly plans. Liang Yuyin realized he needed Grand Secretary Xie Zhi’s support to escape the impending disaster.

• Xing Ye bought three folding fans bearing examination questions from the fortune-teller’s servant and returned to his inn worried about the gamble.
• Wen Xunpeng learned that roughly two hundred people had paid for the divinations, then went to Liang Yuyin’s residence on Pilgrimage Lane.
• Wen Xunpeng warned Liang Yuyin that the emperor intended to punish him with execution and confiscation, then showed him the three fans.
• Liang Yuyin broke down as he considered how his promising career had collapsed and doubted that his father-in-law, Qian Wei, would protect him.
• Liang Yuyin decided he would have to seek help from Grand Secretary Xie Zhi, whose son was a deputy chief examiner.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Liang Yuyin is terrified after Wen Xunpeng implies that the Emperor may be connected to the leak of the Spring Examination questions. Wen explains that, as an examiner, Liang could be punished regardless of his innocence.
• They travel secretly before dawn to the residence of Xie Zhi, Liang’s former teacher and a powerful cabinet elder. Wen advises Liang to present the matter clearly and conceal the Imperial Grandson’s more sensitive suspicions about the Emperor.
• Liang reports that candidates Yu Lü and Fang Xi discovered someone selling the examination questions. The Imperial Grandson investigated and learned that the leak had already spread widely, possibly involving one or two hundred people.
• The danger is emphasized through a past precedent: when examination questions were leaked during the Founder’s reign, all examiners were executed or severely punished, while their families and the involved candidates were exiled or confiscated.
• Xie Zhi initially reacts with shock, realizing that his son, the deputy chief examiner, and possibly Xie himself could be ruined. Wen assures him that the Imperial Grandson intends to expose the leak before the examinations, preventing it from becoming a capital crime.
• Wen then proposes a secret investigation to identify the culprits and gather the main evidence without alerting the wider network. Xie Zhi agrees, effectively aligning himself with the Imperial Grandson.
• Liang Yuyin is assigned to help Wen handle the practical investigation. Though relieved to escape immediate danger, he recognizes that he has now permanently joined the Imperial Grandson’s faction.
• After Liang leaves, Wen gives Xie Zhi a personal letter from the Imperial Grandson. The letter appears to contain only a polite greeting and a request for advice about re-registering unpurged Divine Shrines. Xie Zhi replies cautiously, ensuring the correspondence would appear innocent even if seen by the Emperor.
• As Wen and Liang depart, Xie Zhi watches them leave and silently laments the Imperial Grandson’s dangerous political situation, asking, “Your Majesty, how could you bear it?”

Character Developments

• Liang Yuyin: Changes from a proud, hopeful examiner into a frightened man desperate to protect his family. He understands that innocence will not shield him from collective punishment and reluctantly accepts dependence on the Imperial Grandson.
• Wen Xunpeng: Demonstrates composure, strategic intelligence, and political ruthlessness. He carefully manipulates both Liang and Xie Zhi while presenting the Imperial Grandson’s plan as lawful and morally upright.
• Xie Zhi: Initially shaken by the threat to his family and son, he quickly recognizes the political implications of the visit. His agreement marks a major shift toward the Imperial Grandson’s camp, though he remains cautious and suspicious.
• The Imperial Grandson: Emerges as a careful political strategist. He uses the examination scandal to rescue potential allies, expose corruption, and recruit Xie Zhi without making an overt demand for allegiance.

Significant Themes

• Political survival and factional loyalty: The crisis forces officials to choose sides. Liang realizes that accepting the Imperial Grandson’s protection means becoming part of his faction.
• Collective punishment and institutional injustice: The examination system treats examiners as responsible for the entire scandal, regardless of individual guilt, creating fear and making political alliances essential.
• Hidden meanings and coded communication: The innocuous letter to Xie Zhi serves as a safe political contact, allowing the Imperial Grandson to communicate without leaving obvious evidence of recruitment.
• Power concealed beneath righteousness: Wen’s proposed investigation is officially framed as protecting the state and honest scholars, but it also provides the Imperial Grandson with a means to eliminate enemies and consolidate support.
• The burden of imperial politics: The closing line suggests that Xie Zhi understands the Emperor’s difficult and possibly humiliating position, caught between the scandal, the Imperial Grandson’s maneuvering, and the consequences of the Emperor’s own actions.

Important Character Interactions

• Wen frightens Liang by hinting at the Emperor’s involvement, then steadies him and directs him on what to say.
• Liang appeals to Xie Zhi as a former student seeking protection, while Wen controls the conversation and presents the Imperial Grandson’s plan.
• Xie Zhi and Wen negotiate indirectly: Xie’s agreement to the secret investigation signifies political allegiance, while Wen makes clear that he and Liang will handle the dangerous practical work.
• The Imperial Grandson communicates with Xie through a seemingly mundane letter, and Xie responds cautiously, preserving plausible deniability for both sides.

Chapter Summary: A Wolf’s Heart, a Beast’s Mind

Key Plot Points and Events

• After leaving the Xie Residence, Wen Xunpeng sends Liang Yuyin back to Pilgrimage Lane before returning to the Crown Grandson’s Residence at dawn.
• Upon arriving, he discovers that the Imperial Grandson, Su Ziji, is questioning approximately ten Imperial Feather Guard Hundred-Household Officers about military matters.
• The officers discuss:
  • The decline of chariots as weapons because modern warfare favors forests, hills, and unconventional tactics.
  • The selection and construction of bows.
  • The importance of physical training, weapons, and military formations, with Xu Chan arguing that discipline and obedience to commands are most important.
• Wen Xunpeng waits in a side room rather than interrupting the meeting. He is puzzled by Su Ziji’s repeated interest in seemingly minor technical details about weapons and military organization.
• After the officers leave, Su Ziji privately checks his progress in military strategy and discovers that his skill has advanced from Level 7 to Level 8.
• He reflects that although military strategy is not his most important ability, he must understand it well enough to command armies, avoid being deceived, and prepare for a possible conflict with the Emperor.
• Su Ziji evaluates the officers based on his hidden testing ability. He realizes that Wu Fengtian, despite appearing honest and loyal, is actually treacherous and dangerous.
• He writes down three names and orders that Xu Chan be placed in the “red file,” marking him for special attention or trust.

Character Developments

• Wen Xunpeng: Continues to rise in status and feels satisfied that many of his ambitions have been fulfilled through Su Ziji’s growing position. He remains observant and politically cautious, though he cannot fully understand Su Ziji’s motives.
• Su Ziji: Demonstrates strategic patience and a methodical approach to power. He deliberately questions military officers to improve his own abilities while secretly testing their loyalty and character. His suspicions toward Wu Fengtian reveal increasing political discernment.
• Wu Fengtian: Initially appears honest, enthusiastic, and knowledgeable, but Su Ziji’s test exposes him as deceitful and potentially hostile—“honey on his lips and a dagger in his belly.”
• Xu Chan: Despite his sickly, unattractive appearance and unpleasant voice, he gives a thoughtful answer emphasizing military discipline. Su Ziji considers him significant enough to place in the red file, suggesting he may be trustworthy or strategically valuable.

Significant Themes

• Appearance versus reality: Wu Fengtian looks sincere but is inwardly treacherous, while Xu Chan’s unattractive appearance conceals strength and competence.
• The value of knowledge: Su Ziji treats military understanding as essential preparation for future rule, even if he will not personally lead every battle.
• Loyalty and deception: Political advancement depends on identifying hidden motives and distinguishing genuine allegiance from false submission.
• Learning from others: The hanging maxim about learning from everyone reflects Su Ziji’s willingness to gather knowledge from ordinary officers, not merely renowned experts.
• Preparation for conflict: The chapter hints that peaceful political schemes may eventually fail, forcing Su Ziji to rely on military power.

Character Interactions

• Wen Xunpeng observes the respectful relationship between the Crown Grandson’s servants and himself, reflecting his elevated status.
• Su Ziji questions the officers directly, encouraging them to reveal both their knowledge and their character.
• Wu Fengtian eagerly responds when Su Ziji remembers his name, showing his desire for recognition.
• Xu Chan offers a more principled and disciplined view of military organization.
• After the meeting, Su Ziji and Wen Xunpeng share the same space, though Su Ziji’s private thoughts and testing methods remain unknown to Wen Xunpeng.

Chapter Summary: “Half Are Undercover Agents”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Su Ziji finalizes his classification of several officials into three files:
  • Red File: People who can currently be used.
  • White-Red File: People who cannot yet be used but may be won over.
  • White File: People considered neither useful nor worth recruiting.
• He places Xu Chan in the Red File, while Wu Fengtian—despite appearing sincere and admiring—is placed in the White File. Two others, including Xie Zhi, are assigned to the White-Red File.
• Wen Xunpeng reports that Liang Yuyin has been frightened into submission and that Xie Zhi is willing to cooperate to protect himself and his son, though Xie appears cautious and suspicious.
• After reading Xie Zhi’s letter, Su Ziji confirms that Xie belongs in the White-Red File: he is not openly loyal, but genuinely wants to help resolve the examination fraud case.
• Su Ziji explains that his classifications come from his supernatural ability to gain fragments of a person’s innate disposition through “seeking instruction.” This lets him perceive motives that outward behavior conceals.
• He reveals that among the Imperial Feather Guards, only one Thousand-Household Commander can potentially be won over and only six Hundred-Household Officers are currently usable. The rest are wavering or secretly loyal to the Emperor.
• The chapter concludes with Su Ziji recognizing how dangerous hidden agents are, since they can imitate genuine supporters and even perform helpful actions while secretly serving the Emperor.

Character Developments

• Su Ziji demonstrates increasing political sophistication and confidence. He relies less on ordinary experience and more on his ability to penetrate people’s true intentions.
• He also shows growing awareness of the precariousness of his position as Imperial Grandson. Rather than trusting appearances, he assumes that apparent loyalty may be a trap.
• Wen Xunpeng remains intelligent and observant but is unable to understand Su Ziji’s judgment. His initial preference for Wu Fengtian over Xu Chan highlights the limits of conventional assessment.
• Wild Daoist acts as Su Ziji’s efficient and unquestioning aide, recording the classifications without challenging them.
• Xie Zhi emerges as cautious but pragmatically cooperative. He is not ready to submit, yet his desire to resolve the fraud case makes him a possible future ally.
• Wu Fengtian is revealed to be far more suspicious than his honest, loyal appearance suggests.

Significant Themes

• Appearance versus true loyalty: The chapter emphasizes that expressions of respect, enthusiasm, and cooperation can conceal treachery.
• Political paranoia and survival: Su Ziji must assume that many apparent allies may actually be informants or agents of the Emperor.
• The difficulty of judging character: Even long friendships may not reveal a person’s true motives; Su Ziji’s supernatural ability gives him an advantage ordinary people lack.
• Legitimacy and imperial authority: The Emperor’s political legitimacy is so powerful that many officials support him out of duty to the state, even when they appear to favor Su Ziji.
• Pragmatic recruitment: Loyalty is not treated as absolute. People’s positions can change, so the files are temporary assessments rather than permanent judgments.

Character Interactions

• Su Ziji and Wen Xunpeng: Wen reports on Liang Yuyin and Xie Zhi, while privately struggling to understand Su Ziji’s methods. Su responds calmly and explains none of his supernatural reasoning directly.
• Su Ziji and Wild Daoist: Their exchange shows a smooth, trusting working relationship. Wild Daoist accepts Su’s decisions and handles the practical organization of the files.
• Su Ziji and Xie Zhi: Although they do not meet directly in the scene, Xie’s letter reveals a cautious willingness to cooperate. Su interprets this as genuine but limited potential.
• Su Ziji and Wu Fengtian/Xu Chan: Their earlier encounters demonstrate the difference between outward behavior and inner intent: Xu Chan’s plain demeanor conceals sincere trust, while Wu Fengtian’s visible admiration conceals unknowable motives.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Su Ziji accepts that only a small number of the newly recruited officials are truly loyal. Wild Daoist reassures him that having one Thousand-Household Commander and six Hundred-Household Officers he can trust is already an excellent result.
• Su Ziji orders Wen Xunpeng to reward these loyal men and decides to personally respond to the many guests who sent congratulatory gifts and letters.
• In the Book of Documents study, Su Ziji retrieves a drawer containing more than a hundred personal letters. He instructs Wild Daoist to distribute them for delivery.
• Wild Daoist brings the letters to Wen Xunpeng, Jian Qu, and Cen Rubai, allowing them to read them freely because Su Ziji has nothing to conceal.
• Wen Xunpeng discovers that the letters follow a suspiciously consistent structure: identical formal greetings followed by an apparently casual, recipient-specific question.
• He realizes the questions may be deliberate clues or part of a coded communication system rather than ordinary conversation.
• Jian Qu and Cen Rubai leave to deliver their assigned letters. Wild Daoist takes Wen Xunpeng for a walk, apparently intending to show him something.
• They follow a servant carrying a food box to a secluded, heavily guarded courtyard. Wen Xunpeng realizes that the courtyard is the Crown Grandson’s Residence’s private prison.

Character Developments

• Su Ziji: Demonstrates strategic caution and political sophistication. He recognizes that not every recruited official is dependable and uses rewards, correspondence, and possibly coded messages to cultivate loyalty and communicate discreetly.
• Wild Daoist: Continues to act as Su Ziji’s trusted aide and intermediary. He manages the letter distribution and deliberately exposes Wen Xunpeng to a hidden aspect of Su Ziji’s organization.
• Wen Xunpeng: Becomes increasingly perceptive and suspicious. He notices the repeated structure in Su Ziji’s letters and begins to suspect a hidden code or message. His curiosity and analytical instincts draw him closer to Su Ziji’s inner circle.
• Jian Qu and Cen Rubai: Function as reliable agents who accept their assignments without hesitation and leave to deliver the letters.
• The recruited military officials: Though many may be spies or infiltrators, a select few appear trustworthy enough to receive Su Ziji’s favor.

Significant Themes

• Trust and political loyalty: Absolute loyalty is rare in a court filled with spies and competing interests. Effective rulers must identify and cultivate a small circle of dependable allies.
• Communication and secrecy: Ordinary correspondence can conceal political instructions, coded messages, or strategic hints.
• Power and surveillance: The imperial court operates through networks of informants, infiltrators, and carefully controlled information.
• Initiation into hidden power: Wen Xunpeng’s discovery of the private prison suggests that understanding Su Ziji’s true power requires access to secrets concealed from ordinary officials.

Character Interactions

• Su Ziji and Wild Daoist discuss the limited but valuable loyalty of the recruited officers, showing their mutual understanding and trust.
• Su Ziji delegates the rewarding of loyal men to Wen Xunpeng and personally handles communication with influential guests.
• Wild Daoist, Wen Xunpeng, Jian Qu, and Cen Rubai interact while sorting the letters. Wild Daoist’s casual manner contrasts with Wen Xunpeng’s growing unease.
• Wen Xunpeng silently hopes Wild Daoist will explain the letters’ hidden meaning, but Wild Daoist instead leads him to the private prison, creating suspense and suggesting that a more important revelation is about to follow.

Chapter Summary

1. Key Plot Points and Events

• Wen Xunpeng accompanies Wild Daoist to inspect the Crown Grandson’s private prison, a heavily guarded courtyard reserved for serious offenders.
• Wild Daoist explains the status of Qin Min, the young son of Captain Qin Ying, who has been rewarded with authority after proving his loyalty during a previous crisis.
• They visit Xiao Qin, a steward imprisoned for accepting bribes from a grain merchant. Although Xiao Qin initially claims to have taken only five taels, Wild Daoist exposes that he accepted thirty taels and became involved with outsiders.
• Xiao Qin admits he was seduced and manipulated by the merchant’s wife, but insists he never knowingly tampered with the grain. Wild Daoist nevertheless condemns him for betraying his master and creating a potential security threat.
• Xiao Qin is sentenced to the “Snow-Sealing Execution.” Because his father died serving the residence, the authorities promise to protect his elderly mother and wife, while reporting his death as sudden.
• Further inside, Wen sees several imprisoned monks, suggesting that the residence is conducting a broader purge involving unauthorized spiritual practices.
• They visit Bianxuan, a former prisoner who had been rescued and retained as a guest adviser by the Imperial Grandson. Bianxuan is accused of using the Nightmare Suppression Technique—or a related form of Brahma Dharma—at the Assistant Minister’s Residence without authorization.
• Bianxuan denies intending to harm the Imperial Grandson, but refuses to confess. Wild Daoist leaves him imprisoned and warns that continued defiance may eventually result in execution.
• As they depart, Wild Daoist tells Wen that Bianxuan is “a pity” and explains that the Imperial Grandson is skilled at judging people. Wen realizes the inspection was also meant to warn him not to pry into the residence’s secrets.

2. Character Developments

• Wen Xunpeng: Becomes increasingly aware of the Imperial Grandson’s hidden power, strict methods, and dangerous political circumstances. He recognizes that his curiosity has crossed a boundary and resolves to remain more cautious.
• Wild Daoist/Lu: Demonstrates ruthless loyalty and administrative authority. He is harsh toward traitors but also reveals a pragmatic understanding of mercy, punishment, and political control.
• Qin Min: Though young, he acts with discipline and severity, carrying out the execution without hesitation. His appointment reflects the Imperial Grandson’s trust in his family.
• Xiao Qin: Revealed as greedy, weak-willed, and easily manipulated. His failure to disclose his accomplices transforms a minor corruption offense into suspected betrayal.
• Bianxuan: Remains calm and introspective despite imprisonment. He appears convinced that his actions were not malicious, but his refusal to acknowledge the offense places him in increasing danger.
• The Imperial Grandson: Though absent, he emerges as perceptive, politically cautious, generous when useful, and uncompromising toward threats or disobedience.

3. Significant Themes

• Loyalty versus betrayal: Xiao Qin’s acceptance of bribes becomes treasonous because it compromises the residence’s food supply and security.
• The danger of small transgressions: Wild Daoist compares Xiao Qin’s conduct to an ant hole undermining a thousand-mile embankment, emphasizing how minor corruption can lead to larger conspiracies.
• Authority and obedience: Unauthorized action is treated as a serious crime, even when the result may have been beneficial. Good intentions cannot excuse disobedience.
• Mercy and severity: The Imperial Grandson’s limited mercy—protecting Xiao Qin’s family and sparing Bianxuan for the time being—exists alongside brutal punishment.
• Secrets and political boundaries: Wen learns that proximity to power does not grant permission to investigate everything. Curiosity can itself become dangerous.
• Appearances versus hidden motives: Bianxuan’s spiritual act may have produced an auspicious result, but its hidden purpose and lack of authorization make it politically threatening.

4. Character Interactions

• Wen and Wild Daoist: Wild Daoist guides Wen through the prison not merely to show him its operation but to correct his growing curiosity. His final warning makes clear that Wen is being observed and evaluated.
• Wild Daoist and Xiao Qin: Their exchange is an interrogation in which Wild Daoist dismantles Xiao Qin’s excuses and forces him to confront the seriousness of his betrayal.
• Qin Min and Xiao Qin: Qin Min’s execution of Xiao Qin illustrates the residence’s strict institutional loyalty overriding personal sympathy.
• Wild Daoist and Bianxuan: Their interaction is tense and ideological. Wild Daoist demands submission and confession, while Bianxuan maintains that his intentions were harmless.
• Wen and Bianxuan: Wen observes Bianxuan with pity and curiosity, recognizing that the monk may not have intended harm. His uncertainty about Bianxuan’s fate deepens his understanding of the Imperial Grandson’s complicated judgment.

Zhou Licheng received return gifts and a handwritten letter from the Imperial Grandson, which Zhou Yao examined and recognized as bearing Cloud Aura. At the Marquis of Pacifying the South’s Residence, Xie Zhenqing read Su Ziji’s letter and was asked to write the Marquis’s reply.

• Zhou Licheng received the Imperial Grandson’s return gifts and letter, then sent a reply with the messenger.
• Zhou Yao asked to read the letter and sensed Cloud Aura on it, concluding that the Imperial Grandson was the person she recognized.
• Zhou Yao sensed a familiar yet repulsive presence and decided to investigate the place where she felt it.
• The Marquis of Pacifying the South summoned Xie Zhenqing after receiving Su Ziji’s return gifts and letter.
• Xie Zhenqing advised that the Marquis’s reply should be brief, and the Marquis asked him to write it.

Xie Zhenqing secured his father’s support and recognized Cloud Aura surrounding the Imperial Grandson’s letter. He brought Hong Dao to a hidden shrine and began a ritual to uncover what lay within the aura.

• Xie Zhenqing wrote a reply to the Imperial Grandson, and the Marquis of Pacifying the South sent it with ten taels of gold for the envoy.
• The Marquis of Pacifying the South explained that he had cultivated a bond with the Imperial Grandson to protect Xie Zhenqing’s future, while Xie Zhenqing grew wary of Hong Dao’s apparent awakening.
• Xie Zhenqing sensed something unusual in the Imperial Grandson’s letter and asked to take it back to study the calligraphy.
• Xie Zhenqing checked that Hong Dao had completed the preparations, then led him through a concealed passage to an underground shrine.
• Hong Dao dripped his blood at the shrine’s center while Xie Zhenqing recited an incantation over the letter, revealing its Cloud Aura.
• Xie Zhenqing sprayed essence blood onto the Cloud Aura to try to see what lay within it.

Xie Zhenqing discovered that Su Ziji’s fortune had taken the form of a Flood Dragon and plotted to keep Hong Dao unconscious. At the Crown Grandson’s Residence, Little Fox revealed that her power was growing rapidly and sensed that someone else was benefiting from the same source, someone she loathed.

• A vision of a Flood Dragon appeared in the cloud aura before the letter burned, and the backlash knocked Hong Dao unconscious and injured Xie Zhenqing.
• Xie Zhenqing secretly gave Hong Dao medicine to keep him asleep and wondered who had supported Su Ziji’s transformation into a Flood Dragon.
• At the Crown Grandson’s Residence, Little Fox rested in the sunlight while Su Ziji visited and told her to enjoy a few more days of rest.
• Little Fox manifested a powerful Dharma Body in daylight, startling Big Fox with its strength and marquis’s ceremonial robes.
• Little Fox told Big Fox that power had been flowing into her and that she sensed someone else was benefiting, someone she loathed.

Chapter Summary: “Let Brahma Deity Lead the First Charge”

Key Plot Points and Events

• In the Dragon Palace, the Young Dragon’s Divine Path Body has grown dramatically, approaching half the strength once possessed by the Dragon Lord.
• The Shell Maiden attributes this rapid growth primarily to Incense Offerings and explains that the Young Dragon can now begin fulfilling its heavenly duties by controlling clouds and rain.
• She reveals that the Dragon Lord’s former residence, Coiling Dragon Lake, was only a hidden starting point. The Dragon Lord eventually traveled to Moon Zither Lake, a vast and important territory where the ultimate Dragon Palace stands and from which the Demon Race can be governed.
• Having inherited part of the Dragon Lord’s power, the Young Dragon decides to follow the same path and travel to Moon Zither Lake after the spring thunder rises.
• In the Capital City, Liu Zhan True Person remains secluded in his Daoist temple, avoiding the political and supernatural turmoil surrounding the Imperial Grandson’s rise.
• A senior monk from the Brahma Sect visits Liu Zhan. The monk possesses a faint golden radiance, suggesting that the Brahma Sect—and possibly the Brahma Deity—has begun to manifest genuine supernatural power.
• The monk asks Liu Zhan to show mercy toward Bianxuan, who is his martial nephew and has apparently fallen into trouble after acting independently in matters connected to the Imperial Grandson.
• The monk identifies the Imperial Grandson as the “Human Flood Dragon,” implying that the young heir possesses extraordinary draconic authority and may be tied to Heaven’s Will.
• Liu Zhan questions whether the flood dragon seen entering the Imperial Grandson’s arms was actually real. Though skeptical, he recognizes that the Brahma Sect would not make such a claim without evidence.
• He ultimately chooses not to interfere, deciding to let the Brahma Sect make the first move: “Let Brahma Deity lead the first charge.”

Character Developments

• The Young Dragon: Its power and Divine Path Body are rapidly maturing. Although still innocent and uncertain, it shows growing awareness of its destiny and accepts the responsibility of advancing along the Dragon Ascension Path.
• The Shell Maiden: She has become more powerful and dignified, acting as both the Young Dragon’s guide and political adviser. Her explanation gives the Young Dragon a clearer understanding of its inheritance and future obligations.
• Liu Zhan True Person: He becomes increasingly cautious and politically perceptive. Rather than confronting the Brahma Sect directly, he retreats, analyzes the situation, and decides to allow others to expose their strength first.
• The Brahma Sect Monk: He is revealed as a powerful and influential figure, calm enough to ignore Liu Zhan’s hostility. His loyalty to Bianxuan demonstrates personal compassion, while his recognition of the Imperial Grandson’s status reveals the Brahma Sect’s deep involvement in the political struggle.
• Bianxuan: Though absent, he is shown to have acted independently in support of the Imperial Grandson and is now in a vulnerable position, requiring intervention from his martial uncle.

Significant Themes

• Power, authority, and divine legitimacy: The Young Dragon’s growth is linked to Incense Offerings, public worship, and the ability to fulfill divine duties. Power is shown to depend not only on cultivation but also on recognition and authority.
• Inheritance and destiny: The Young Dragon follows the path of the former Dragon Lord, suggesting that inherited power brings both opportunity and an expected role.
• Religion becoming supernatural power: The Brahma Sect, previously limited by the absence of miracles, now appears capable of manifesting divine power. This threatens the balance between the Brahma and Daoist sects.
• Political uncertainty and Heaven’s Will: The Imperial Grandson’s possible transformation into a “Human Flood Dragon” suggests that his rise may be part of a larger heavenly design.
• Caution versus direct action: Liu Zhan chooses observation and restraint instead of immediate confrontation, allowing the Brahma Sect to reveal its intentions and bear the risks of acting first.

Character Interactions

• The Shell Maiden encourages and instructs the Young Dragon, explaining its powers, destiny, and the significance of Moon Zither Lake.
• The Young Dragon listens obediently but retains a vague intuition that its rapid growth is connected not only to worship but also to an unnamed person who repeatedly helped it survive past crises.
• Liu Zhan and the Brahma Sect monk engage in a polite but tense discussion. Beneath their courteous exchange lies mutual suspicion and the threat of conflict between their sects.
• The monk appeals to Liu Zhan for Bianxuan’s sake, while Liu Zhan uses the conversation to investigate the Brahma Sect’s power and the Imperial Grandson’s mysterious status.
• After the monk leaves, Liu Zhan privately reassesses the situation and resolves to let the Brahma Deity act first rather than expose the Daoist Sect prematurely.

Chapter Summary: “Another Arhat Has Appeared”

Key Plot Points and Events

• After leaving a Daoist temple, the monk Wenru travels to the Crown Grandson’s Residence. Though he appears composed, he is inwardly shaken by the Daoist Sect’s terrifying killing intent and realizes that Brahma faces possible destruction.
• Wenru concludes that he must secure powerful support before the Daoist Sect unites against Brahma. He therefore seeks an audience with Su Ziji, the Imperial Grandson, hoping to save his martial nephew Bianxuan.
• At the residence, Wenru observes the powerful Dragon Aura surrounding the estate and recognizes that several apparently ordinary attendants and officials are actually formidable experts.
• Su Ziji receives Wenru after finishing his official duties. He immediately identifies the purpose of the visit and asks whether Wenru has come because of Bianxuan.
• Su Ziji accuses Bianxuan of using the sorcerous Nightmare Suppression Technique against him, an act equivalent to plotting rebellion and deserving the destruction of Bianxuan’s entire clan.
• Rather than defend Bianxuan or make excuses, Wenru humbly acknowledges the offense and offers Su Ziji a precious Brahma Scripture as partial compensation.
• The scripture visibly affects Su Ziji, softening his anger. He orders Wild Daoist to take Wenru to see Bianxuan, then unexpectedly decides to accompany them himself.
• At the private prison, the guards report that Bianxuan has spent his time chanting scriptures and eating very little. Wenru enters alone to meet him.
• Wenru sees that Bianxuan has become even thinner and more detached from worldly concerns. He interprets Bianxuan’s suffering and spiritual composure as evidence of a breakthrough, exclaiming that another enlightened Arhat has appeared.

Character Developments

• Wenru is revealed to be cautious, politically perceptive, and deeply concerned about Brahma’s survival. Despite his religious status, he understands the danger posed by the Daoist Sect and seeks practical alliances. His humility and willingness to sacrifice a valuable scripture demonstrate both wisdom and devotion to Bianxuan.
• Su Ziji remains cold, authoritative, and politically dangerous, but he is not unreasonable. Wenru’s refusal to make excuses and the value of the scripture lessen his anger. His decision to visit Bianxuan personally suggests growing curiosity or concern.
• Bianxuan has deteriorated physically but advanced spiritually. His imprisonment, reduced appetite, constant chanting, and detachment from worldly affairs suggest that suffering has brought him closer to enlightenment.
• Wild Daoist continues to serve Su Ziji loyally and perceptively. He recognizes that the Brahma Scripture has influenced Su Ziji even before Su Ziji explains his decision.
• The unnamed female official and palace guards reinforce the impression that the Crown Grandson’s household contains hidden experts and formidable military strength.

Significant Themes

• Power and survival: Wenru recognizes that spiritual conviction alone cannot protect Brahma; political backing is necessary when facing the powerful Daoist Sect.
• Humility versus defiance: Wenru succeeds because he does not challenge Su Ziji’s authority or excuse Bianxuan’s actions. His respectful approach contrasts with the deadly consequences of opposing rulers directly.
• Spiritual growth through suffering: Bianxuan’s imprisonment and physical decline appear to have severed his worldly attachments, transforming tribulation into a path toward enlightenment.
• Religion and political authority: The chapter explores the tension between monks who reject worldly rulers in principle and the practical need to respect or negotiate with them.
• Hidden strength and perception: Wenru constantly assesses the spiritual and martial power around him, while Su Ziji and the Daoist Sect likewise perceive threats beneath outward appearances.

Important Character Interactions

• Wenru and Su Ziji: Their meeting is a tense negotiation. Su Ziji tests Wenru’s respect and confronts him about Bianxuan, while Wenru responds with humility and an invaluable offering.
• Su Ziji and Wild Daoist: Wild Daoist acts as a trusted subordinate, handling the scripture and accompanying Su Ziji without questioning his decisions.
• Wenru and Bianxuan: Their reunion is not yet shown in dialogue, but Wenru’s immediate recognition of Bianxuan’s spiritual transformation establishes the significance of their relationship.
• Su Ziji and Bianxuan: Though Su Ziji does not enter the cell, his decision to accompany Wenru indicates that Bianxuan remains important to him, whether as a threat, a former ally, or a potentially valuable spiritual figure.

Su Ziji learned that rulers who seek the Daoist or Brahma paths cannot escape the Dragon Aura Blessed Land after death, and he weighed that truth against the burden of governing. After Wenru confirmed the secret message on the burned slip, Su Ziji released Bianxuan and the other monks, while the Brahma Sect prepared to place its vajra warriors at his disposal.

• Su Ziji dispersed the Brahma Leaf Scripture's transmission, gained insights into the Crimson Palace True Inscription Elixir Method, and explained to the Wild Daoist why the cauldron's weight prevented rulers from entering the Brahma Realm Dao Heaven.
• Wenru and Bianxuan emerged from the room and knelt before Su Ziji, who asked Wenru whether the message on the slip of paper was true.
• Wenru affirmed the message, and Su Ziji signaled his agreement by sending Bianxuan and all the imprisoned monks away with him.
• On the journey to Clear Garden Temple, Wenru explained that the Brahma Sect would offer its three hundred vajra warriors to Su Ziji to secure the ruler's support while continuing to spread its teachings among the people.
• At Clear Garden Temple, Bianxuan struck the great bell as the monks began chanting together.

On Lantern Festival morning, Su Ziji read Princess Xinping’s reply and learned through his divine ability how deeply she cared for him and how she had secretly gathered information on his behalf. Feeling ashamed of having used her affection, he wrote her a thoughtful response and poem; meanwhile, Bianxuan arrived with about ten unfamiliar monks whose presence made Wild Daoist wary.

• Su Ziji discussed his unease about the celebrations and the burdens of being the heir apparent with Wild Daoist.
• Su Ziji read Princess Xinping’s letter and discovered she had stayed up all night researching his question and had planted palace informants to gather information for him.
• Su Ziji felt ashamed of exploiting Princess Xinping’s feelings and wrote her a heartfelt reply with a Lantern Festival poem.
• Su Ziji gave the letter to Wild Daoist to send to Princess Xinping.
• Wild Daoist saw Bianxuan arrive with around ten unfamiliar monks and wondered what made them seem unusual.

Su Ziji received Bianxuan and ten Brahma Sect monks into his household guard while confirming that the emperor’s spies had intercepted his letter to Princess Xinping. After reading the letter and a list of the Imperial Grandson’s connections, the emperor resolved to disrupt Su Ziji’s growing influence and summoned Ma Shunde.

• Su Ziji welcomed Bianxuan and ten skilled monks, assigned them to the household guards, and ordered that Bianxuan receive a squad captain’s pay and benefits.
• Su Ziji sensed that his letter to Princess Xinping had been diverted to the Imperial Palace and concluded that the emperor’s men were monitoring him.
• The emperor read Su Ziji’s letter to Xinping and reviewed a list of people who had replied to him and maintained dealings with him.
• The emperor recognized that support for Su Ziji was growing like a rolling snowball, though he believed it remained mostly a matter of courtesy.
• The emperor noticed that Luo Pei had returned to the capital and summoned Ma Shunde, deciding to break Su Ziji’s momentum.

Chapter Summary: “Shocked Beyond Measure”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Su Ziji realizes that the Emperor personally inspected at least some of the letters entering the Imperial Palace. The Emperor erased the aura Su Ziji had attached to his correspondence, confirming both his suspicion and his growing vigilance.
• Su Ziji is troubled by how quickly the Emperor has turned against him. Although he expected eventual conflict, he believed he would have more time to consolidate his position as Imperial Grandson.
• Governor-General Luo Pei arrives in the capital but sends his trusted servant, Luo Ba, to meet Su Ziji instead of coming personally. Luo Pei must first attend to his imperial summons, most likely connected to the Spring Examinations.
• Through Luo Ba’s carefully worded message, Luo Pei signals that he supports Su Ziji and will cooperate with his plans once he completes his official duties.
• Luo Ba recounts Luo Pei’s military success in the Southwestern Province. Luo Pei had reformed the system of native chieftains, suppressed the rebellious Yang Yingde with 24,000 troops, and pacified the region in only eleven days.
• Su Ziji rewards Luo Ba and recognizes Luo Pei’s arrival as an important addition to his growing political strength. However, he acknowledges that his influence is developing too slowly to withstand the Emperor’s immediate pressure.
• While examining a letter from the Marquis of Pacifying the South, Su Ziji unexpectedly extracts a vast amount of cultivation experience. The letter contains fragments of extremely dangerous secrets involving the Demon Race, Prince Qi, the Great Restoration Elixir, and the Emperor’s hidden schemes.
• Su Ziji infers that the Marquis’s household may have supported both the founding emperor and Prince Qi, suggesting that it has quietly manipulated major political changes for generations. He is enraged to discover that even he may have been used or deceived by this hidden power.
• The chapter ends when Little Fox urgently reports that palace agents have arrived, supposedly representing an imperial princess.

Character Developments

• Su Ziji: Becomes increasingly wary, pressured, and emotionally strained. He recognizes that his political network is expanding, but also that the Emperor is moving against him much sooner than expected. His shock at the Marquis’s secrets reveals both his vulnerability and his determination to uncover the truth.
• The Emperor: Emerges as highly suspicious and personally involved in monitoring Su Ziji’s correspondence. His willingness to erase Su Ziji’s aura and inspect letters indicates that he is already taking direct precautions against him.
• Luo Pei: Is established as a capable military and political ally. His decisive suppression of Yang Yingde demonstrates his authority, while his indirect message confirms his loyalty to Su Ziji.
• Luo Ba: Proves himself a trustworthy and disciplined messenger. His precise explanation of Luo Pei’s position reassures Su Ziji that he is not an imperial spy.
• The Marquis of Pacifying the South: Is revealed as far more significant and dangerous than Su Ziji previously believed, possessing links to imperial succession struggles, Prince Qi, and powerful elixir-related schemes.
• Little Fox: Continues to serve as Su Ziji’s unusual communication partner, using written characters to convey urgent information.

Significant Themes

• Political suspicion and betrayal: The Emperor’s surveillance and the Marquis’s concealed influence show that political alliances are unstable and that apparent supporters may have hidden agendas.
• The race for power and time: Su Ziji’s influence is steadily gathering, but he fears the Emperor will not allow him enough time to become fully established.
• Hidden forces shaping history: The Marquis’s household may have influenced both the founding of the dynasty and the current struggle surrounding Prince Qi, suggesting that major historical events have been manipulated from the shadows.
• The cost of knowledge: Learning the truth gives Su Ziji a strategic advantage but also places him under immense mental and emotional pressure.
• Accumulation versus immediate conflict: Su Ziji has been patiently building strength through alliances, yet circumstances are forcing him into confrontation before his preparations are complete.

Important Character Interactions

• Su Ziji and the Emperor: Their conflict remains indirect but intensifies through the Emperor’s inspection of letters and suppression of Su Ziji’s spiritual imprint.
• Su Ziji and Luo Ba: Su Ziji tests Luo Ba’s reliability by questioning Luo Pei’s actions and background. Luo Ba’s answers convince him that Luo Pei is genuinely supportive.
• Su Ziji and Luo Pei: Although they do not meet directly, Luo Pei communicates loyalty through Luo Ba and agrees to cooperate with Su Ziji in the Spring Examinations.
• Su Ziji and the Marquis of Pacifying the South: Their relationship is transformed by the revelations in the letter. Su Ziji now views the Marquis’s residence not as a minor or passive noble household, but as a hidden power that may have been manipulating him.
• Su Ziji and Little Fox: Little Fox interrupts his reflections with an urgent report, shifting the focus from his discovery about the Marquis to a new possible imperial development.