Chapter Summaries

Su Ziji received two messages from the empress: the emperor’s intentions toward him might involve the Great Restoration Elixir, and the empress still had potential allies stationed throughout the palace. After Zhou Zhong left, Su Ziji sent Little Fox to oversee surveillance of the Sun Silk Clothing Shop and the Marquis of Pacifying the South’s Residence, then went to Ye Buhui’s quarters.

• Su Ziji met Zhou Zhong in his secret chamber, where the eunuch delivered the empress’s warning about the Great Restoration Elixir and her information about palace personnel.
• Su Ziji asked the empress to prepare a list of potentially reliable palace allies and learned that Zhang Gui was a key target because he connected the palace to the outside world.
• Zhou Zhong warned that targeting Ma Shunde could be a diversion and that killing Zhang Gui might let the empress install someone to aid Su Ziji.
• Su Ziji reflected that the empress had once prepared for the crown prince to stage a palace coup, but her plans had now fallen into his hands.
• Su Ziji instructed Little Fox to oversee the surveillance of the Sun Silk Clothing Shop and the Marquis of Pacifying the South’s Residence without approaching the residence.
• Su Ziji left the secret chamber and entered Ye Buhui’s quarters, where the palace maids in the courtyard knelt before him.

Su Ziji accompanied Ye Buhui to the Lantern Festival palace banquet and reassured her about the possibility of him taking secondary wives. After the couple joined the imperial gathering, the empress separated them for the inner and outer banquets, and Ye Buhui sensed that the empress and Su Ziji shared a dangerous understanding.

• Su Ziji comforted the nervous Ye Buhui as she dressed for the palace banquet, then traveled with her to the palace.
• Ye Buhui told Su Ziji that Lady Qian Xu had warned her the imperial family might arrange for him to take more women, and he promised not to betray her.
• Su Ziji and Ye Buhui entered the palace, greeted the emperor and empress, and attended the formal reception with the titled ladies and imperial consorts.
• Ye Buhui noticed an exceptionally beautiful imperial concubine among the women at the banquet.
• The empress asked Ye Buhui to remain for the inner banquet while Su Ziji went to the outer hall, and Ye Buhui recognized killing intent in his gaze.

Chapter Summary: “This Man Could No Longer Be Used”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Su Ziji entrusts Ye Buhui to the Empress’s protection during the inner banquet, openly expressing his trust in the Empress.
• The Empress warmly accepts Ye Buhui, and the two appear so harmonious that others compare their bearing and appearance, suggesting a resemblance to the “Phoenix Aura.”
• Su Ziji asks the Emperor for permission to tour the Imperial Palace. Although he technically should have lived there as heir apparent, he has been kept in a separate residence, making his request politically significant.
• The Emperor agrees, and the Empress has Chief Eunuch Yu Han accompany him.
• In a secluded corridor, Yu Han discreetly identifies more than thirty palace personnel who may still be loyal to the Empress. Su Ziji memorizes their identities and asks to meet them indirectly during his tour.
• Yu Han arranges for Eunuch Ji to guide Su Ziji through the palace. Su Ziji uses the tour to observe the palace layout, its occupants, and the people connected to the Empress.
• At Virtue-Holding Court, the residence of Consort Zhao, Su Ziji encounters Eunuch Wei Gui. He asks only a harmless question about the palace’s layout before moving on.
• Su Ziji reveals internally that Wei Gui has been maintaining ties with Prince Qi. Since Wei Gui failed to change allegiance after Su Ziji’s return, Su Ziji concludes that he is no longer trustworthy or useful to the Empress.

Character Developments

• Su Ziji: Demonstrates political intelligence, exceptional memory, and careful restraint. He disguises an investigation as a casual palace tour, gathers information without alarming the Emperor, and evaluates palace personnel based on their loyalties.
• Ye Buhui: Grows closer to the Empress and appears comfortable under her protection. Her relationship with the Empress begins to resemble that of grandmother and granddaughter.
• The Empress: Shows genuine affection toward Ye Buhui and renewed cooperation with Su Ziji. Though she lost direct control over palace affairs decades earlier, she still retains a hidden network of possible allies.
• Yu Han: Acts as Su Ziji’s discreet informant and intermediary, conveying the identities of potential allies without leaving written evidence.
• Wei Gui: Appears respectful and obedient but is exposed as politically compromised because of his dealings with Prince Qi.
• The Emperor: Grants Su Ziji’s request but remains a potentially watchful and suspicious authority whose vigilance must be avoided.

Significant Themes

• Political surveillance and hidden loyalties: Palace interactions are layered with coded messages, concealed alliances, and tests of allegiance.
• Appearance versus reality: Su Ziji’s tour looks like harmless sightseeing, but it is actually an investigation. Wei Gui’s respectful behavior hides his betrayal.
• Trust and betrayal: The Empress’s remaining supporters are valuable only if they remain loyal; continued contact with Prince Qi marks Wei Gui as unusable.
• Power concealed through retreat: The Empress’s withdrawal from palace affairs may have been both grief-driven and a strategic way to preserve her life and influence.
• Memory and control: Su Ziji’s flawless memory gives him an advantage in navigating the palace’s personnel and geography.

Character Interactions

• Su Ziji speaks warmly with the Empress, strengthening their mutual trust.
• The Empress publicly embraces Ye Buhui and symbolically incorporates her into the imperial family.
• Su Ziji and Yu Han communicate privately through coded conversation and small gestures.
• Yu Han transfers responsibility for the tour to Eunuch Ji, allowing Su Ziji to continue his investigation without attracting suspicion.
• Su Ziji questions Wei Gui in a seemingly casual manner, while internally judging him as a traitor. His brief interaction exposes the gap between formal obedience and genuine loyalty.

Chapter Summary

1. Key Plot Points and Events

• At a grand imperial banquet, Prince Qi arrives after recovering from a serious injury and being released by the Emperor following a confession. Court officials speculate about his survival and possible ambitions, irritating him.
• Prince Qi learns that Prince Dai is inspecting the Imperial Palace. Though the inspection appears casual, the news unsettles him because the Imperial Guard Corps and palace gates are strategically important.
• Su Ziji continues touring the palace with Eunuch Ji. He deliberately questions servants and guards in a natural, scattered manner so that no one suspects he is investigating or recruiting them.
• Su Ziji discovers that more than half of the thirty-plus palace personnel recommended by the Empress and Yu Han are no longer useful. Many have abandoned the weakened Empress and shifted their loyalty to the Emperor or other powerful figures.
• In a remote, abandoned section of the palace, Su Ziji reaches Diligent Splendor Hall, near the Cold Palace and Scarlet Smoke Courtyard. He encounters a seemingly ordinary eunuch named Meng Lin.
• Through his supernatural perception, Su Ziji discovers that Meng Lin is a powerful practitioner of the Crimson Palace True Inscription Elixir Method and a direct disciple of Yin Guandao.
• Su Ziji also senses that a mysterious treasure called a Dragon Pearl, apparently part of a Nine-Dragon Instrument, is hidden within the hall. He suspects it may be connected to the Emperor’s Great Restoration Elixir and larger immortality or imperial-power schemes.
• Realizing the area is likely heavily guarded and that his discovery may have been noticed, Su Ziji maintains a calm facade, asks no further questions, and leaves.
• Meng Lin is left wondering why Su Ziji happened to visit the hall, raising the possibility that the encounter resulted from a mysterious “Heavenly Secret resonance.”

2. Character Developments

• Prince Qi: Although publicly restored to favor and physically recovered, he remains anxious and suspicious. His concern over Su Ziji’s palace inspection reveals his fear that hidden plans or alliances may be exposed.
• Su Ziji: Becomes increasingly strategic and cautious. He uses subtle questioning to investigate the palace without revealing his intentions and recognizes how weak his political foundation is compared with established imperial factions. His discovery of the Dragon Pearl greatly raises the stakes.
• Meng Lin: Is revealed to be far more important and capable than he appears. As Yin Guandao’s disciple and an undercover palace eunuch, he represents a hidden faction operating within the Emperor’s court.
• The Empress’s faction: Its decline becomes clear. Former supporters have largely defected because the Empress can no longer reward or protect them.

3. Significant Themes

• Political instability and shifting loyalties: Palace servants and officials follow power rather than principle, abandoning the Empress once her influence fades.
• The difficulty of overturning established power: Su Ziji reflects that rightful status, long-built networks, and influential family backing are essential to political success.
• Hidden power beneath appearances: An abandoned hall, an ordinary eunuch, and a routine palace tour all conceal major secrets.
• Surveillance and mutual suspicion: Su Ziji investigates others while knowing he himself is being watched by the Emperor and possibly by hidden experts.
• Fate and supernatural intervention: The discovery of the Dragon Pearl and the possibility of a “Heavenly Secret resonance” suggest that Su Ziji’s encounter may be guided by forces beyond ordinary political calculation.

4. Character Interactions

• Court officials gossip about Prince Qi’s recovery and possible ambitions, provoking his restrained anger.
• Prince Qi consults a eunuch informant about Prince Dai’s movements and orders him to continue monitoring Su Ziji.
• Su Ziji works with Eunuch Ji, who believes the inspection is innocent and does not realize Su Ziji is conducting a covert investigation.
• Su Ziji questions Meng Lin about Diligent Splendor Hall, while concealing his recognition of Meng Lin’s cultivation and allegiance.
• After Su Ziji leaves, Meng Lin discusses the encounter with another hidden associate and speculates that Su Ziji’s arrival may have been caused by a supernatural connection to the treasure.

Chapter Summary: “A Man of Use”

1. Key Plot Points and Events

• Su Ziji and Eunuch Ji finish inspecting the eunuchs listed for possible recruitment and head toward the outer court.
• Su Ziji reflects that only five eunuchs are definitely useful, with several others potentially persuadable. This is far fewer than he needs, especially since most hold low-ranking or strategically unimportant positions.
• They rest briefly in an unused palace hall, where a steward serves Su Ziji a rare tribute tea called Green Spring.
• During the conversation, Su Ziji realizes that the steward, Yang Weishi, is not on his list but appears to be someone he can use. He quietly takes note of him without revealing his interest.
• The group continues inspecting palace gates and restricted areas, eventually reaching Vermilion Bird Gate, where the Imperial Guard Corps is stationed.
• Su Ziji speaks with Thousand-Household Commander Jin Zexiang, discovering through his ability to sense people’s thoughts that Jin is absolutely loyal to the Emperor and therefore unusable—possibly a future enemy.
• He then questions Deputy Thousand-Household Commander Ge Shiming, who was originally promoted by the Empress. Su Ziji discovers that Ge is loyal to the Empress and willing to sacrifice himself for her and Su Ziji.
• Su Ziji leaves without showing excitement, but internally regards Ge’s allegiance as a major breakthrough. Having an ally within the Imperial Guard Corps gives his larger plan a real chance of succeeding.

2. Character Developments

• Su Ziji remains outwardly calm and observant, carefully concealing his thoughts while evaluating everyone around him. His frustration over having too few allies turns into renewed confidence after discovering Yang Weishi and, especially, Ge Shiming.
• His ability to read fragments of people’s thoughts proves crucial in distinguishing genuine loyalty from mere obedience.
• Eunuch Ji acts as Su Ziji’s guide and intermediary, explaining palace systems and personnel, though he becomes physically exhausted from the long walk.
• Yang Weishi is introduced as a surprisingly capable and personable eunuch whose conversational skill and apparent usefulness attract Su Ziji’s attention.
• Jin Zexiang is established as a rigidly loyal Imperial commander who would oppose Su Ziji if their interests eventually conflict.
• Ge Shiming is revealed to possess deep loyalty to the Empress and Su Ziji, making him a strategically valuable hidden ally.

3. Significant Themes

• The difficulty of building power: Su Ziji needs trustworthy people, but useful allies are rare, and time is running out.
• Loyalty versus appearance: Rank, politeness, and outward behavior do not reveal where someone’s true allegiance lies. Su Ziji must look beneath the surface.
• The importance of hidden influence: A relatively low-ranking deputy commander may be more valuable than a powerful official if he controls access to critical forces.
• Patience and concealment: Su Ziji carefully hides his reactions, understanding that revealing his discoveries could endanger his plans.
• The unpredictability of human loyalty: Despite repeated favors, Su Ziji cannot assume people will remember or repay them; genuine allegiance often comes from motives he cannot foresee.

4. Character Interactions

• Eunuch Ji advises Su Ziji throughout the inspection and explains the organization of the palace and its guards.
• The palace steward Yang Weishi engages Su Ziji in conversation over tea, unintentionally revealing himself as a potential ally.
• Su Ziji questions Jin Zexiang about guard rotations and recognizes that the commander’s loyalty lies entirely with the Emperor.
• He then questions Ge Shiming about meals and alcohol regulations, using the seemingly casual exchange to assess his allegiance.
• Although Su Ziji shows no outward preference, he internally identifies Ge as one of the most valuable allies he has found.

Chapter Summary: “My Enemy”

1. Key Plot Points and Events

• The aging Emperor prepares to attend the Lantern Festival banquet, reflecting on his worsening health and the likelihood that he has only a year or two left to live.
• A eunuch reports that the Imperial Grandson, Su Ziji, has inspected the palace gates and questioned guards without making suspicious contacts. The Emperor is reassured by Su Ziji’s apparent obedience but remains wary of him.
• At Literary Brilliance Hall, the Emperor is greeted by Su Ziji and the assembled nobles, civil officials, and military officers. Su Ziji behaves with impeccable courtesy, kneeling and refusing to act presumptuously.
• The Emperor delivers a formal speech praising the Founding Emperor, defending his own twenty years of rule, and acknowledging floods, droughts, rebellion, and other signs that the empire is not yet completely secure.
• The banquet begins, though the food is cold and the officials must maintain cheerful expressions out of fear of displeasing the Emperor.
• Su Ziji privately evaluates the political situation. He recognizes the Emperor’s immense authority and achievements but believes the Emperor’s old age creates his own opportunity. He concludes that the planned Xuanwu Gate Incident, including the Emperor’s assassination, must proceed before his fate can be decided by imperial whim.
• Su Ziji also worries about the mysterious Nine-Dragon Pearl and whether it is monitoring or might obstruct him.
• When snow begins to fall, a eunuch presents it as an auspicious omen. The Emperor then turns his attention to Su Ziji, praising his literary reputation and challenging him to compose a Book of Songs piece about the snow.
• The Emperor escalates the challenge by requiring Su Ziji to compose it within seven steps, invoking the ominous tradition of the Seven-Step Poem, associated with a brother threatening or plotting against another brother.
• The court immediately recognizes the danger in the Emperor’s request. Senior ministers become alarmed, while Princes Qi and Shu show renewed interest, suggesting they perceive a possible opening against Su Ziji.

2. Character Developments

• The Emperor: His physical decline is obvious, but his political authority remains formidable. He is calculating, suspicious, and capable of using ceremony and public pressure to test or undermine Su Ziji. His praise of Su Ziji masks a potentially hostile intention.
• Su Ziji: He demonstrates disciplined courtesy and political maturity, understanding that respectful obedience prevents the Emperor from exploiting minor breaches of etiquette. Internally, he remains resolute and ruthless: despite recognizing the Emperor’s legitimate accomplishments, he has decided that assassination is necessary for his own survival and ambitions.
• The Eunuchs: They function as the Emperor’s surveillance network, carefully monitoring Su Ziji’s movements and reporting them through independently verified accounts. They also reinforce courtly interpretations, such as presenting the snowfall as a favorable omen.
• Prince Qi and Prince Shu: Their initial disappointment at Su Ziji’s establishment as Imperial Grandson gives way to excitement when the Emperor creates a possible political crisis. Their reactions reveal their eagerness to exploit any weakness.
• The Senior Ministers: Their alarm shows that they understand the historical and political implications of the Emperor’s “seven-step” demand and fear that it could provoke factional conflict.

3. Significant Themes

• Power versus mortality: The Emperor is physically near death, yet his authority remains strong enough to threaten the political order. Su Ziji must act before the Emperor’s declining life removes his own opportunity.
• Public ceremony and hidden hostility: Every gesture of courtesy conceals suspicion and strategic calculation. The banquet’s formal harmony contrasts with the dangerous political struggle beneath it.
• Legitimacy and political necessity: Su Ziji acknowledges the Emperor’s successful governance and prestige, but believes those achievements make him more dangerous, not less. His planned rebellion is framed as a necessary defense against arbitrary imperial power.
• The weight of precedent and symbolism: The Seven-Step Poem carries ominous historical associations. The Emperor’s literary request is therefore not a harmless test but a possible allusion to fraternal conflict, succession, and political violence.
• The changing tide of history: Su Ziji sees the support gathering around him—the aging Emperor, sympathetic officials, and usable allies—as evidence that broader historical forces are shifting in his favor.
• Appearance versus reality: The banquet is presented as an auspicious celebration, yet it is actually a stage for surveillance, intimidation, and political maneuvering.

4. Character Interactions

• The Emperor and the eunuch exchange information about Su Ziji’s palace inspection, showing the Emperor’s close surveillance and mistrust.
• The Emperor publicly treats Su Ziji with warmth, inviting him into the hall and granting him a seat, while privately considering how to test or constrain him.
• Su Ziji responds to the Emperor with perfect deference, using ritual obedience as a shield against political attacks.
• The Emperor’s speech addresses the ministers collectively but also indirectly reinforces his own legitimacy and authority over Su Ziji.
• After the snow falls, the Emperor singles Su Ziji out before the entire court, first praising him and then placing him under intense public pressure with the seven-step composition challenge.
• The ministers silently recognize the threat in the exchange, while Princes Qi and Shu react with renewed hope that the Emperor may have created an opportunity to weaken the Imperial Grandson.

At the Lantern Festival banquet, Su Ziji answered the emperor’s attempt to undermine him with a celebrated poem, winning support from the officials and exposing the emperor’s fading influence. The banquet ended in an uneasy chill, leaving the officials to discuss the shifting court situation after the emperor and Su Ziji departed.

• The emperor set Su Ziji a poetry challenge, hoping to blunt the Imperial Grandson’s growing support, and Su Ziji calmly recited a poem about snow and spring.
• A fifth-rank official praised the poem, and Luo Pei led the officials in congratulating Su Ziji and the emperor on the Lantern Festival.
• Zhao Xu and Qian Wei redirected the gathering toward verses praising the emperor, prompting the officials to join in while the emperor recognized that his authority and influence were waning.
• The emperor’s cool expression made the banquet increasingly awkward, and Prince Shu and Prince Qi appeared displeased as the gathering ended.
• Su Ziji and the officials saw the emperor off; Prince Qi left in a huff, and the officials began discussing the banquet as the chief ministers walked away gravely.

After the emperor’s behavior at the banquet alarmed the Grand Secretariat, Su Ziji understood that the officials supported him because he represented the system’s future, not because of personal merit. He left the palace with Ye Buhui, unaware that she suspected he had written a poem for Princess Xinping.

• Xie Zhi, Cui Zhaoqian, He Yuduan, Qian Wei, and Zhao Xu discussed the emperor’s actions and agreed that the imperial family’s harmony and the greater order had to be protected.
• Su Ziji reflected that the emperor and the greater order were distinct, recognized why the officials supported him, and gained 8000 points in Way of Governance.
• Su Ziji reunited with Ye Buhui, gave Yu Han seven names to use, and learned that the emperor had summoned Luo Pei.
• Princess Xinping watched Su Ziji and Ye Buhui leave together, then told her attendant to remain silent and withdrew her gaze.
• In their carriage, Ye Buhui asked whether Consort Chen was beautiful; Su Ziji reassured her, but she concealed her suspicions about his poem for Princess Xinping and felt distressed.

Chapter Summary: “A Night of Fish and Dragon Dances”

Key Plot Points and Events

• After the palace banquet, Su Ziji asks a loyal maidservant whether Ye Buhui was mistreated. He learns that she was not troubled, but ate very little.
• Using his information-gathering divine ability, Su Ziji realizes that Princess Xinping displayed the Book of Songs he had written for her. Ye Buhui, aware of his special relationship with Xinping, became jealous and withdrawn.
• Su Ziji reflects on the limits of his ability: it works accurately on people below Seventh Rank, becomes less reliable against stronger figures, and can reveal only goodwill or hostility toward those above Third Rank.
• As the ox-cart passes through the commoners’ lantern festival, Su Ziji hears a strange cry and decides to stop. He invites Ye Buhui to walk through the festival with him.
• He carries Ye Buhui down from the cart, and the lively public celebration quickly dispels her sadness. They walk hand in hand among the crowds, admiring flower lanterns shaped like dragons and phoenixes.
• A white fox suddenly appears, placing a note in Su Ziji’s hand while leaping into Ye Buhui’s arms. The note suggests that the Marquis of Pacifying the South’s handwriting was actually produced by his heir, who may have been possessed by a Great Demon. Su Ziji notices the information but does not dwell on it publicly.
• To deepen the romantic atmosphere, Su Ziji recites a famous-style lyric describing the lantern festival, ending with the image of finding one’s beloved among the crowd. Fireworks rise as he finishes, leaving Ye Buhui entranced.
• The scene then shifts to the Imperial Palace, where servants admire the lanterns cautiously rather than joyfully. The palace’s grandeur contrasts with the freer, warmer festival outside.
• The Emperor returns to the hall and asks Luo Pei whether he has finished reading the examination questions, beginning a new political thread.

Character Developments

• Su Ziji: Demonstrates emotional attentiveness and strategic intelligence. He accurately interprets Ye Buhui’s jealousy, reassures her through affection rather than confrontation, and uses the festival to restore her good mood. He also remains alert to the fox’s warning about demonic possession.
• Ye Buhui: Initially feels neglected and jealous after the banquet, but her sadness fades when Su Ziji takes her out among ordinary festival-goers. Her lively, youthful personality reemerges, revealing a more playful side beneath her carefully composed role as a dignified consort.
• The white fox: Acts independently and mysteriously, locating the couple in the crowd and delivering a potentially dangerous message. Its intelligence and supernatural abilities are emphasized.
• The Emperor and Luo Pei: Their brief appearance establishes a more formal and politically charged atmosphere. Luo Pei is positioned as someone involved in examination or state affairs.

Significant Themes

• Affection expressed through action: Su Ziji comforts Ye Buhui not with an apology or explanation, but by taking her out, holding her hand, and sharing poetry with her.
• Public celebration versus palace constraint: The commoners’ festival is lively, intimate, and spontaneous, while the palace celebration is beautiful but rigid and oppressive.
• Marriage and emotional intimacy: The chapter highlights the quiet understanding between Su Ziji and Ye Buhui, including his ability to notice and gently respond to her jealousy.
• Appearance and hidden danger: Beneath the joyful festival lies a troubling supernatural revelation involving a possible Great Demon and possession.
• Power and information: Su Ziji’s divine ability provides valuable intelligence but is limited by the target’s rank, reinforcing the importance of status and hidden power.
• Light amid political darkness: Lanterns, fireworks, poetry, and romance create a moment of warmth before the narrative returns to palace politics and looming threats.

Important Character Interactions

• Su Ziji privately questions the maidservant to learn about Ye Buhui’s behavior at the banquet.
• He interprets Ye Buhui’s jealousy toward Princess Xinping with amusement and tenderness.
• He stops the cart, carries Ye Buhui down, and leads her through the festival by the hand.
• Ye Buhui’s mood improves as she experiences the lanterns and crowds with her husband.
• The fox interrupts their romantic moment by delivering the mysterious note, but Su Ziji quickly restores the atmosphere by reciting poetry.
• The chapter ends with the Emperor calmly questioning Luo Pei, contrasting the couple’s private warmth with the palace’s formal political environment.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• The Emperor appoints Luo Pei as chief examiner for the Spring Examinations, despite Luo’s attempt to decline the responsibility. He emphasizes that integrity and loyalty matter more than scholarly rank.
• The Emperor seals the examination questions and sternly warns Luo not to leak them or use his position for private gain. He invokes the historical execution of corrupt examiners, making clear that Luo’s past military achievements will not protect him from punishment.
• Luo accepts the decree in fear and leaves after expressing concern for the Emperor’s health. His departure suggests that he may be carrying out a dangerous or politically sensitive task connected to the Imperial Grandson’s prior letter.
• After Luo leaves, the Emperor suffers a severe coughing fit, revealing that his health is rapidly deteriorating. Zhao Eunuch worries that the Emperor may not survive long enough for the Imperial Grandson to inherit peacefully.
• A lyric poem written by the Imperial Grandson is delivered to the Emperor. The poem celebrates the Lantern Festival and expresses deep affection for the Imperial Grandson’s consort.
• The poem reminds the Emperor of his own former love for the Empress, causing emotional pain and a physical attack. Zhao Eunuch briefly considers giving him medicine, but the Emperor refuses.
• Zhao Eunuch realizes that the Imperial Grandson recently met several former allies of the Empress. He debates whether to report this, knowing that doing so could weaken the Imperial Grandson’s faction but remaining silent could endanger the Emperor.
• The Emperor summons Ma Shunde and dismisses Zhao Eunuch, leaving Zhao uncertain about what the Emperor knows and what he intends to do next.

Character Developments

• Luo Pei: Displays caution and political awareness. Though he initially claims he is unqualified, his reluctance appears motivated by the Imperial Grandson’s warning rather than modesty. He ultimately obeys, visibly shaken by the Emperor’s threat and the memory of past executions.
• The Emperor: Appears outwardly composed, gracious, and politically astute, but his declining health is increasingly obvious. He values loyal remonstrance and impartial governance, yet his warnings and secretive actions suggest growing suspicion and anxiety about succession.
• Zhao Eunuch: Emerges as a conflicted and highly informed political figure. He remains loyal to the Emperor while retaining old loyalty toward the Empress and the former Crown Prince’s line. His fear of the Emperor’s worsening condition and the potential consequences of court secrets reveals his vulnerability.
• The Imperial Grandson: Although absent, he is characterized as loving, politically active, and deeply devoted to his consort. His contacts with people linked to the Empress indicate that he is also building or maintaining a political network.
• Ma Shunde: His summons by the Emperor suggests that he may be gaining increasing importance or authority, especially after taking control of the Imperial City Office from Zhao Eunuch.

Significant Themes

• Loyalty versus self-preservation: Luo Pei and Zhao Eunuch must navigate competing obligations while protecting themselves from political danger.
• The corruption and fragility of power: The Spring Examinations symbolize the state’s dependence on honest officials, while the Emperor’s illness shows how unstable the political order has become.
• Succession and hidden threats: The Emperor’s declining health creates uncertainty over whether the Imperial Grandson will inherit peacefully or face a violent struggle.
• Memory and grief: The Imperial Grandson’s poem awakens the Emperor’s memories of the Empress, linking present political tensions to unresolved personal loss.
• Public appearances versus private realities: Luo appears to be a dutiful official, the Emperor a confident ruler, and Zhao a loyal servant, but each conceals fear, doubt, or conflicting motives.

Character Interactions

• The Emperor and Luo Pei engage in a formal but psychologically tense exchange: the Emperor praises Luo’s loyalty, then reinforces obedience through a terrifying warning.
• Luo’s respectful concern for the Emperor’s health contrasts with the possibility that he is involved in actions threatening the existing order.
• Zhao Eunuch cares for the Emperor during his coughing fit, demonstrating his close personal service while privately fearing the political consequences of the Emperor’s illness.
• The Emperor’s reaction to the Imperial Grandson’s poem creates an indirect emotional connection between them, as the poem evokes both the Grandson’s marriage and the Emperor’s lost relationship with the Empress.
• Zhao Eunuch silently weighs whether to betray the Imperial Grandson’s contacts to the Emperor, highlighting the divided loyalties at the heart of the court.
• The Emperor’s decision to summon Ma Shunde and dismiss Zhao Eunuch changes the balance of access and trust around him, leaving Zhao concerned that he may be losing influence—or being deliberately excluded.

Chapter Summary: Forget It

Key Plot Points and Events

• Zhao Eunuch leaves the Emperor’s presence and realizes that, despite being restored to service, he is no longer trusted as he once was. His encounter with Ma Shunde reinforces his sense that he has lost status and is being quietly mocked.
• Alone in his quarters during the fireworks, Zhao Eunuch feels isolated and mourns the loss of his former closeness with the Emperor. He compares their damaged relationship to a broken mirror that can be repaired but never made flawless again.
• The Empress watches the fireworks and reflects on her uncertain political influence. Although she has regained some authority after more than a decade, she doubts whether it can ever return to its former strength.
• She worries about the Imperial Grandson’s urgency and about the loyalty of more than thirty Yu people involved in an important matter.
• Wei Ji reports that the Imperial Grandson and his consort walked among the lanterns and that he wrote her a romantic poem. The Empress reads the famous lines about finding a beloved woman among the lanterns and is deeply impressed.
• The poem reassures the Empress that the Imperial Grandson and his consort have genuine affection for each other, reducing the danger of his being entangled with Princess Xinping. Such a scandal could give the Emperor legitimate grounds to depose him.
• However, the Empress then worries that the Imperial Grandson may be too devoted to his consort and considers arranging additional concubines for him. Remembering Ye Buhui’s innocent and appealing nature, she unexpectedly abandons the idea, saying, “Forget it.”
• Yu Han reports that the Imperial Grandson has identified seven people as trustworthy, despite meeting them only once. The Empress neither fully accepts nor rejects his judgment, instead ordering that both supposedly disloyal and loyal individuals be tested.
• Finally, she orders Yu Han to investigate Zhao Bingzhong and the Emperor, recognizing that their relationship has changed. Her command reveals that her former political decisiveness and strategic influence are returning.

Character Developments

• Zhao Eunuch: Becomes aware that his restoration is incomplete. He remains near the Emperor but understands that trust has been permanently damaged, leaving him lonely and resentful.
• Ma Shunde: Appears confident and possibly mocking toward Zhao Eunuch, suggesting a shift in power or rivalry between the palace eunuchs.
• The Empress: Shows herself to be politically cautious, perceptive, and protective of the Imperial Grandson. She balances affection with ruthless pragmatism, even considering sacrificing Xinping if necessary. Her hesitation over arranging concubines reveals unexpected sympathy for Ye Buhui, while her final orders show her old authority returning.
• The Imperial Grandson: Though absent from most of the chapter, he is portrayed as romantic, devoted to his consort, perceptive about people’s loyalties, and increasingly impatient to act.
• Ye Buhui: Does not appear directly, but the Empress’s inability to order concubines after thinking of her suggests that she has earned the Empress’s affection and protection.
• Wei Ji and Yu Han: Serve as reliable informants and agents of the Empress, reinforcing her network of surveillance and political control.

Significant Themes

• Broken trust: Zhao Eunuch’s relationship with the Emperor illustrates how betrayal or suspicion can permanently damage loyalty, even after reconciliation.
• Political power and manipulation: The Empress evaluates relationships, scandals, and loyalty as tools in the struggle over succession.
• Love versus political duty: The Imperial Grandson’s devotion to his consort is emotionally admirable but may create political risks, especially for an heir.
• Surveillance and uncertainty: Information gathered by eunuchs allows the palace’s leaders to test loyalties and anticipate threats, but even the Empress must act cautiously because certainty is difficult.
• A return to former strength: The Empress is gradually reclaiming the authority and strategic confidence she possessed in the past.

Character Interactions

• Zhao Eunuch and Ma Shunde pass each other without speaking, but their expressions convey rivalry and changed status.
• The Empress and Wei Ji discuss the Imperial Grandson’s romantic poem, with the Empress interpreting it both emotionally and politically.
• The Empress’s thoughts about the Imperial Grandson, Xinping, and Ye Buhui reveal how personal relationships influence her political decisions.
• The Empress and Yu Han discuss the Imperial Grandson’s assessment of the seven trustworthy people. She instructs Yu Han to verify his judgment and later directs him to investigate Zhao Bingzhong and the Emperor, reestablishing herself as a major political strategist.

Ma Shunde received the emperor’s order to investigate a possible leak of the Spring Examinations questions, while Little Fox discovered a candidate buying questions in High Bay Ward. She reported that the scheme involved the Crown Grandson’s laundry shop and people sewing slips into clothes, leaving Su Ziji to investigate the conspiracy implicating his residence and friends.

• Ma Shunde left the great hall uneasy about the emperor’s unusual command to investigate the suspected examination leak, then resolved to carry it out carefully.
• Little Fox used a spell to go unnoticed in High Bay Ward and overheard a candidate pay a cloaked man four hundred and fifty taels for the examination questions.
• Little Fox returned to the Crown Grandson’s Residence, where Su Ziji asked her to check a list of provincial graduates.
• Little Fox told Su Ziji that Sun and Cui’er had refused to betray their employer, but that others were sewing slips into clothes at the laundry shop and buying questions through his friends.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• With the Spring Examination approaching, Su Ziji decides to act against those involved in selling examination questions.
• Little Fox recruits five other foxes to help. Su Ziji gives each fox a five-tael silver ingot and orders them to deliver the silver to selected targets, making it appear that the targets accepted payment for the examination questions.
• Su Ziji emphasizes three people who must definitely receive the silver: Eunuch Wang Jinzhong, Huang Hao—the Marquis of Pacifying the South’s steward—and Zhang Modong, a former fellow student who previously schemed against him.
• Su Ziji summons Wen Xunpeng and authorizes him to proceed with the larger plan. Wen immediately understands and begins carrying it out.
• At the Imperial City Office, Ma Shunde’s subordinates report that examination questions are being sold at several inns and towers. They ask whether they should arrest the suspects immediately.
• Ma Shunde hesitates because the Emperor previously ordered him to “ruthlessly purge the atmosphere in the examination halls,” suggesting that the culprits should be caught during the examinations rather than arrested beforehand.
• While reviewing the list of people connected to the leaked questions, Ma Shunde notices two familiar names from Linhua County. He learns that they are old acquaintances of Su Ziji.
• Further questioning reveals that a silk-shop owner connected to the scheme is Sun, the protected concubine of the late Southwestern General Qian Zhidong, who is now under the protection of the Crown Grandson’s Residence.
• Ma Shunde suddenly realizes that the apparent examination scandal may be part of Su Ziji’s deliberate plot to ensnare his enemies and possibly expose a broader conspiracy against him.
• Believing that Su Ziji may not survive the year or ultimately inherit the throne, Ma Shunde orders the Imperial City Office not to arrest anyone yet, but instead to continue expanding the investigation and “laying the net.”

Character Developments

• Su Ziji demonstrates careful planning, ruthlessness, and strategic patience. He uses the foxes to plant convincing evidence while maintaining distance from the operation.
• Little Fox becomes increasingly useful and confident. Her improved cultivation and knowledge of the capital allow her to organize the other foxes and guarantee their ability to complete the mission.
• The fox group is portrayed humorously but also as an effective covert force. Their playful misunderstanding of the silver as “life-taking silver” contrasts with the seriousness of Su Ziji’s plot.
• Wen Xunpeng shows strong loyalty and understanding of Su Ziji’s intentions. A brief order from his lord is enough for him to grasp the plan.
• Ma Shunde undergoes the chapter’s major realization. Initially confused by the Emperor’s intentions, he finally understands that the investigation may be designed to catch a much larger network—and perhaps to eliminate Su Ziji’s enemies.
• Wang Jinzhong appears especially perceptive. He seems to understand the truth before Ma Shunde does and quietly takes satisfaction in seeing the Eunuch Overseer finally reach the correct conclusion.

Significant Themes

• Political maneuvering and preemptive strategy: Su Ziji attacks his enemies indirectly, creating evidence and controlling the timing of the investigation.
• Appearance versus reality: The silver deliveries make innocent or targeted people appear guilty, while the apparent examination scandal conceals a deeper political struggle.
• Information and interpretation: Ma Shunde’s authority depends on correctly reading incomplete reports and understanding the Emperor’s hidden intentions.
• Power and survival: Ma Shunde’s fear of Su Ziji’s future retaliation shapes his interpretation of events; once he imagines Su Ziji might die or lose power, his attitude changes from caution to excitement.
• Loyalty and revenge: Su Ziji targets people connected to those who plotted against him, particularly Zhang Modong and the Marquis of Pacifying the South.
• Humor amid political danger: The foxes’ lively behavior and their comic interpretation of the silver provide levity within an otherwise tense conspiracy.

Character Interactions

• Su Ziji communicates warmly with Little Fox, accepting her offer to help and trusting her judgment about the other foxes’ abilities.
• He gives the foxes explicit assignments, showing his commanding relationship with them while treating them as reliable agents.
• His exchange with Wen Xunpeng relies on silent mutual understanding: Su Ziji’s simple command, “Carry it out,” is enough to activate the next stage of the plan.
• Ma Shunde interrogates his subordinates about the investigation, while they respond cautiously because of his intimidating position.
• Wang Jinzhong provides key information about the suspects’ connections to Su Ziji, subtly guiding Ma Shunde toward the truth.
• The chapter ends with Wang Jinzhong privately amused and relieved that Ma Shunde has finally understood the larger political scheme.

Chapter Summary: “Unwilling to Accept It”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Before dawn on the day of the examination, Luo Pei awakens and prepares to leave for the Examination Compound, where he is scheduled to preside over the proceedings.
• A messenger informs Luo Pei that “His Highness” has arranged everything and expects him not only to oversee the examination but also to participate in a larger operation yet to unfold.
• At an inn in Mao’er Lane, Provincial Graduate Zhang Modong prepares to attend the examination but is tormented by a dangerous secret.
• Zhang has been coerced by a powerful official into accusing Yu Lü and Fang Xi of purchasing the examination questions. He is instructed to report them only after the candidates enter the examination hall, making his accusation appear credible and ensuring that he is rewarded rather than punished.
• Zhang understands that the accusation could lead to Yu Lü and Fang Xi’s deaths, the punishment of their families, and possible repercussions for the Imperial Grandson, Su Ziji.
• Despite his guilt and fear, Zhang ultimately decides to proceed, believing he has no alternative. A mysterious knock—or impact—at his inn-room door is followed by the discovery of a five-tael silver ingot outside, suggesting that someone is monitoring, rewarding, or manipulating him.

Character Developments

• Luo Pei: Demonstrates discipline, authority, and unquestioning commitment to the plan arranged by a powerful patron. His swift departure signals that the examination will be connected to a major political event.
• Zhang Modong: Emerges as a deeply conflicted and resentful figure. Once resigned to his limited prospects, he becomes increasingly embittered after comparing his stagnant career with Su Ziji’s extraordinary rise. His desire to escape the fate predicted for him drives him toward betrayal.
• Su Ziji: Does not appear directly, but his transformation from poor student to Top Scorer and Imperial Grandson is central to Zhang’s jealousy and sense of injustice.
• The unnamed powerful lord and “His Highness”: Remain hidden, but their influence is clear. They manipulate both Luo Pei and Zhang Modong as part of a coordinated scheme.

Significant Themes

• Fate versus personal ambition: Zhang struggles against the Dragon Lord’s prophecy that he will never advance beyond Provincial Graduate status.
• Resentment and social comparison: Su Ziji’s success intensifies Zhang’s dissatisfaction with his own life, turning latent frustration into dangerous action.
• Coercion and moral compromise: Zhang’s choice is presented as technically voluntary but shaped by threats against his family and promises of advancement.
• Political conspiracy: The examination is being used as a tool in a broader conflict involving officials, candidates, and the Imperial Grandson.
• Self-justification: Zhang convinces himself that betrayal is unavoidable, repeatedly blaming fate rather than accepting full responsibility.

Character Interactions

• Luo Pei receives instructions from a messenger representing “His Highness” and immediately orders his household to prepare for the examination.
• Zhang’s most important interaction is a remembered confrontation with the unnamed lord, who threatens his family and lineage while offering him a guaranteed future success.
• Zhang mentally compares himself with Su Ziji and indirectly connects his own fate to Su’s rise.
• The unexplained knock and silver ingot create a final interaction between Zhang and the unseen forces controlling the conspiracy, leaving it unclear whether the money is payment, pressure, or a warning.

Zhang Modong accepted silver and agreed to implicate Yu Lü and Fang Xi in an examination-cheating conspiracy. As the candidates prepared to enter the examination grounds, Tan Ping and examiner Liang Yuyin arrived with the Shuntian Prefecture Patrol Battalion, leaving the inn surrounded and the candidates alarmed.

• Zhang Modong picked up a five-tael silver ingot, took the examination questions slip with him, and decided to go through with the scheme against Yu Lü and Fang Xi.
• Zhang Modong spoke politely with Yu Lü and Fang Xi over breakfast, while they privately revealed they had been monitoring him and suspected his betrayal.
• Ma Shunde waited outside the inn with Imperial City Office soldiers and planned to arrest Yu Lü and Fang Xi after they entered the Examination Compound.
• Tan Ping and Liang Yuyin arrived at the inn with bailiffs, and the Shuntian Prefecture Patrol Battalion surrounded the building.
• The bailiffs entered the inn, and the candidates became uneasy when they recognized Tan Ping as the prefect and Liang Yuyin as an examiner.

Tan Ping and Liang Yuyin investigated a report that examination questions were being sold, and Yu Lü and Fang Xi accused Zhang Modong of carrying the questions. The constables seized Zhang Modong and searched him as the Provincial Graduates watched in alarm.

• Liang Yuyin and Tan Ping arrived with yamen runners and asked who had reported the sale of examination questions.
• Zhang Modong prepared to step forward, but Yu Lü declared that he and Fang Xi had made the report.
• Liang Yuyin warned Yu Lü and Fang Xi of the consequences of making a false or incomplete accusation, and both insisted their claims were true.
• Yu Lü pointed to Zhang Modong and said he had this year's Spring Examination questions on him.
• Tan Ping ordered the constables to seize and search Zhang Modong, while the Provincial Graduates reacted with shock and fear.

Tan Ping and Liang Yuyin found a written slip on Zhang Modong that might contain the leaked Spring Examination questions, so they took him into custody and headed to the Chief Grand Secretary’s residence. Ma Shunde recognized Yu Lü and Fang Xi among the officials and sent someone to report the incident to the emperor as the party arrived at the residence and pounded on its gate.

• Constables found a written slip on Zhang Modong, and Liang Yuyin recognized its contents as possibly matching the examination questions.
• Liang Yuyin urged Tan Ping to consult the Chief Grand Secretary, and Tan Ping ordered Zhang Modong arrested and the inn guarded.
• Tan Ping brought Yu Lü and Fang Xi along to the Chief Grand Secretary’s residence.
• Ma Shunde saw the party leave the inn with Zhang Modong in bonds, recognized Yu Lü and Fang Xi, and sent someone to report to the emperor.
• Tan Ping and Liang Yuyin arrived at the Chief Grand Secretary’s residence, where a head constable loudly knocked on the gate.

Chapter Summary: “Liu Shiquan of the Ministry of Personnel”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Magistrate Tan Ping and Liang Yuyin arrive at Senior Grand Secretary Zhao Xu’s residence before dawn with hundreds of constables and soldiers from the Patrol Battalion, effectively surrounding the estate.
• Liang presents Zhao with a recovered slip of paper containing the questions for the upcoming spring examinations.
• Zhao immediately recognizes the questions as genuine because he had heard them finalized in the imperial court.
• Liang explains that provincial graduates Yu Lü and Fang Xi reported that examination questions were being sold. Investigation revealed that:
  • The questions were being sold for an unusually high price of five hundred taels.
  • Around three hundred candidates had allegedly purchased them.
  • The total fraud involved more than 150,000 taels of silver.
• Liang and Luo investigated the case, arrested the suspected seller, Zhang Modong, and recovered the written questions from him.
• Rather than handling the matter secretly, Liang deliberately announces the entire affair publicly before Zhao and the assembled crowd. He believes public knowledge will protect him from being silenced or made a scapegoat.
• Zhao criticizes Liang for failing to report the matter earlier, but Liang defends the delay by arguing that they needed firm evidence and had no time left before the examination began.
• Zhang Modong is brought before Zhao. Hoping to avoid responsibility, he initially intends to deny everything.
• Under Zhao’s intimidating questioning, however, Zhang unexpectedly blurts out that Vice Minister Liu Shiquan of the Ministry of Personnel ordered him to sell the questions and frame Yu Lü and Fang Xi.

Character Developments

• Liang Yuyin demonstrates political caution and survival instinct. Although he understands that exposing the scandal publicly may anger Zhao, he chooses openness because secrecy could result in his death or allow powerful officials to suppress the case.
• Zhao Xu shifts from calm authority to shock and anger upon recognizing the authentic examination questions. His reaction shows the threat the scandal poses to the court and his own position.
• Tan Ping remains largely silent and allows Liang to speak, suggesting caution and a willingness to avoid becoming the primary target of Zhao’s anger.
• Zhang Modong is portrayed as frightened but calculating. He initially plans to deny involvement and rely on powerful backers, but pressure causes him to lose control and reveal a far more important figure behind the scheme.
• Liu Shiquan, though absent, emerges as the central suspected conspirator. His alleged plan involved both leaking the examination questions and planting false blame on the two informants.

Significant Themes

• Political survival versus loyalty to justice: Liang prioritizes his own safety and the court’s public accountability over discreet handling of the case.
• Corruption and manipulation of imperial examinations: The sale of examination questions threatens the fairness of the civil-service system and the legitimacy of government officials.
• Power and intimidation: Zhao’s authority is so great that even a suspected criminal is psychologically overwhelmed in his presence.
• Public exposure as protection: Liang believes that making the scandal known to hundreds of witnesses will prevent powerful officials from secretly eliminating evidence or witnesses.
• Scapegoating and factional struggle: Zhang’s confession reveals that the fraud may be part of a larger political plot designed to frame Yu Lü and Fang Xi while protecting the real organizers.

Character Interactions

• Liang and Zhao: Liang speaks respectfully but firmly, defending his actions despite realizing that Zhao is displeased with him. Their exchange reflects tension between bureaucratic caution and political accountability.
• Zhao and Zhang: Zhao’s cold interrogation places Zhang under immense pressure, unintentionally provoking his sudden confession.
• Liang and Tan: Liang takes the lead while Tan remains silent, indicating that Liang is managing the public presentation of the case and pushing responsibility toward the larger political network.
• Zhang and the hidden conspirators: Zhang’s accusation of Liu Shiquan suggests that he was used as an expendable intermediary in a plot involving bribery, examination fraud, and the framing of innocent candidates.

After Zhang Modong accused Vice Minister Liu Shiquan of leaking the spring examination questions, Zhao Xu ordered the Examination Compound sealed and sent officers to arrest him. As the officers rushed to the compound, Wang Jinzhong waited inside to disrupt the examinations and picked up a silver ingot, unaware of the approaching crisis.

• Zhang Modong named Vice Minister Liu Shiquan as the official who had arranged the question leak, then tried to retract his accusation.
• Zhao Xu ordered the Examination Compound sealed, Liu Shiquan arrested, and an audience with His Majesty requested.
• Tan Ping and Liang Yuyin sent constables with Zhao Xu’s Imperial Order token to seal the compound and arrest Liu Shiquan.
• Constables reached the Examination Compound as Provincial Graduates waited to enter, and the Thousand-Household Commander admitted them after inspecting the token.
• Wang Jinzhong waited inside, planning to intervene once Zhang Modong acted, and pocketed a silver ingot he found in the courtyard.

At the Examination Compound, Liu Shiquan was caught with the leaked examination questions, and Wang Jinzhong was also restrained as the inquiry widened. Zhao Xu hurried to the Imperial Palace to report the crisis but could not get through the gates without an imperial decree.

• Luo Pei noticed Liang Yuyin was absent and threatened to hold him accountable for neglecting his duties.
• Bailiffs entered the hall on Grand Secretary Zhao's order and seized Liu Shiquan.
• A clerk struck Liu Shiquan before he could swallow a paper ball, and Luo Pei found the examination questions inside it.
• Clerks restrained Wang Jinzhong, while Luo Pei ordered the compound sealed and Liu Shiquan and Wang Jinzhong's quarters searched.
• Zhao Xu rushed to the Imperial Palace, but the guards refused to open the gates without an imperial decree.