Chapter Summaries

Chapter Summary: Offend Heaven

Key Plot Points and Events

• Xie Hongdao infiltrates an official’s residence using a spell that makes him almost impossible for ordinary people to notice. Servants and even the official’s wife pass by without perceiving him.
• He reaches the Book of Documents room, where the official, Li Hong, is privately brooding over his recent demotion.
• Xie Hongdao’s concealment spell fails inside the room, likely because Li Hong possesses an unusual level of awareness or authority, but Li Hong remains too absorbed in thought to notice him.
• Xie examines a letter Li Hong received from his father-in-law. The letter advises Li Hong to remain quiet, endure his current setback, and rely on “An” rather than taking any action that might attract the emperor’s attention.
• The letter reveals that Li Hong was implicated in an Imperial Examination cheating scandal. Although the cheating did not ultimately succeed, Li was demoted from Principal Fourth Rank to Subordinate Fifth Rank.
• Li Hong realizes that the demotion is not the worst consequence. His involvement has damaged his reputation, ended his chances of serving as an examination examiner, weakened his ability to build a political faction, and possibly destroyed his future hope of entering the Grand Secretariat.
• He and other senior officials have understood that the emperor deliberately created a trap and manipulated the examination scandal to eliminate or control political opponents.
• The chapter ends with Li Hong recognizing that he has effectively offended the emperor—“Heaven”—and must lie low to survive.

Character Developments

• Xie Hongdao demonstrates increased caution and skill in infiltration. Although confident enough to enter the residence, he avoids looking directly at Li Hong’s wife because his spell is particularly dangerous when confronting nobility.
• He also shows strong observational and analytical abilities, quickly inferring the identity and purpose of the letter and reconstructing the political circumstances surrounding Li Hong’s punishment.
• Li Hong is portrayed as ambitious, capable, and deeply frustrated. Having risen from a poor background to Principal Fourth Rank through talent and perseverance, he is devastated not merely by the loss of rank but by the permanent political stigma attached to the scandal.
• Li Hong’s resilience remains evident: he could accept rebuilding his career after a demotion, but he fears that the emperor’s suspicion has irreparably closed off his future.
• Li Hong’s wife appears distressed by her husband’s downfall, while her family attempts to protect him through indirect advice and political connections.
• Li Hong’s father-in-law and relatives reveal their caution and political sophistication by advising submission rather than resistance.

Significant Themes

• Political survival under imperial power: The emperor’s authority is so overwhelming that even senior officials can be manipulated like chess pieces.
• The danger of attracting imperial suspicion: A minor punishment can conceal much greater long-term consequences when the emperor has taken notice of someone.
• Reputation and political networks: For civil officials, examination credentials, teaching relationships, and the ability to serve as examiners are essential to building influence. Li Hong’s damaged reputation threatens his entire political future.
• Class mobility and fragile success: Li Hong’s rise from an ordinary family makes his achievements especially meaningful, but the chapter shows how decades of effort can be undone by a single political crisis.
• Endurance versus action: The advice to remain silent and wait reflects the necessity of patience in a dangerous political environment, even when inaction feels humiliating.
• Heaven as a metaphor for the emperor: “Offending Heaven” refers to provoking the emperor, whose displeasure appears nearly impossible to escape.

Character Interactions

• Xie Hongdao observes servants and overhears their discussion of Li Hong’s demotion and his wife’s grief.
• He briefly encounters Li Hong’s wife but deliberately avoids direct contact or scrutiny.
• Xie then silently watches Li Hong read and reconsider his father-in-law’s letter, gaining insight into Li Hong’s thoughts without revealing himself.
• The letter represents indirect interaction between Li Hong and his extended political family: they cannot openly intervene, so they counsel him through coded warnings and emphasize reliance on “An.”
• The broader political interaction is between Li Hong and the emperor. Though they never meet in the chapter, the emperor’s trap, punishment, and suspicion dominate Li Hong’s thoughts and determine his future.

Li Hong feared the consequences of landing on the emperor’s blacklist when Xie Hongdao mysteriously appeared and challenged him to a game of go. After Li Hong lost, Xie Hongdao revealed that he had come to request the Rising Sun Painting.

• Li Hong considered how the emperor’s death might free him from the blacklist, then recoiled at the thought of disloyalty.
• Xie Hongdao appeared in Li Hong’s study and claimed he had come to seek instruction in go.
• Li Hong and Xie Hongdao played go while debating whether aggressive or defensive play was superior.
• Li Hong tried to use his servant’s arrival as an opportunity, but the servant left without seeing Xie Hongdao.
• Xie Hongdao declared that Li Hong had already lost, and Li Hong confirmed his defeat after studying the board.
• Li Hong asked what had been at stake, and Xie Hongdao requested the Rising Sun Painting.

Li Hong signed and sealed a Rising Sun Painting for the Imperial Grandson’s faction after Xie Hongdao pressured him, leaving him anxious about the risks of taking sides. At the ox cart, Xie Hongdao saw through a demon’s Mind-Bewitching Technique, killed it, and then turned his saber on the ox.

• Li Hong realized Xie Hongdao’s request tied him to a contest between the imperial grandfather and the Imperial Grandson.
• Li Hong painted a rising sun over a landscape, then signed and sealed it despite fearing the political consequences.
• Xie Hongdao accepted the painting and left Li Hong’s residence, where guards had gathered outside the study.
• Xie Hongdao returned to the ox cart and found Hui Dao and Shi Chengyan waiting inside.
• Xie Hongdao recognized that the apparent Hui Dao was a demon using Mind-Bewitching Technique, stabbed it, and killed it.
• Xie Hongdao explained how he had detected the deception, then thrust his saber toward the ox pulling the cart.

Chapter Summary: “A Familiar Voice”

1. Key Plot Points and Events

• Xie Hongdao confronts a group of disguised monsters, initially led by a Bull Demon and a Wolf Demon. The monsters attempt to surround and ambush him within a thick fog.
• Before they can attack, Xie reveals that he anticipated their trap. A hidden Apprehension Battalion launches a coordinated crossbow attack, using the fog to turn the monsters’ own concealment against them.
• The first volley kills or wounds many monsters. The Bull Demon realizes that Xie has alerted the authorities and accuses him of betraying the monsters’ “lord.” Xie mocks the accusation, reminding him that he is human and is merely reporting criminals to the authorities.
• The Bull Demon reveals that the monsters anticipated a possible trap and arranged a second force to attack from within the fog. More than a hundred additional monsters emerge and engage the Apprehension Battalion in close combat.
• The soldiers initially lose sight of one another, but Hui Dao’s Shared Formation Talisman allows them to sense their allies’ positions. Under Shi Chengyan’s command, they regroup and fight back despite the fog.
• Xie does not remain in the main battle. Instead, he pretends to flee, drawing the strongest surviving monsters away from the battlefield.
• The Bull Demon and three other powerful monsters corner Xie in an alley and attack him, believing they have finally trapped him.
• Xie’s apparent escape was another part of the plan. Heavy chains from a prearranged formation burst from the fog and bind all four monsters.
• Hui Dao emerges, confirming that the operation has proceeded according to their calculations. However, an unexpected, familiar, and gentle voice speaks from behind Xie, implying that a hidden enemy—or someone from Xie’s past—has arrived and was not included in his plans.

2. Character Developments

• Xie Hongdao demonstrates considerable growth in strategy, composure, and battlefield deception. He remains calm even when surrounded and successfully uses himself as bait to lure the strongest monsters into a formation.
• The Bull Demon shifts from confident hunter to enraged and suspicious survivor. He recognizes Xie’s intelligence but remains determined to kill him because of the losses among his comrades and the promised rewards from their lord.
• Shi Chengyan shows leadership under pressure. Although the fog disrupts the Battalion’s formation, he quickly adapts and commands the soldiers to rely on the talisman and fight collectively.
• Hui Dao is revealed as a crucial planner and ally. His formation talisman and trap are essential to the ambush’s success, and he appears confident that the operation has gone according to plan.
• The monsters are shown to be organized, strategic, and capable of counterambushes rather than merely acting as a disorganized mob.
• The final voice causes Xie to freeze in shock, suggesting a deeply significant connection and introducing a major new threat or emotional complication.

3. Significant Themes

• Hunter and hunted: The monsters believe they are ambushing Xie, but the fog reverses the situation, making them the prey. This reversal continues when Xie appears to flee but instead draws them into a trap.
• Strategy over brute force: The chapter emphasizes preparation, deception, formations, coordinated attacks, and battlefield awareness. Both sides use intelligence, but Xie and his allies ultimately maintain the advantage.
• Trust and betrayal: The Bull Demon views Xie as a traitor, while Xie rejects the assumption that he belongs with the monsters. His human identity and loyalty to the authorities are reinforced.
• Visibility and perception: The fog physically obscures the battlefield and symbolizes uncertainty. The soldiers overcome it through the Shared Formation Talisman, while the monsters’ confidence is undermined by their inability to see the real danger.
• Hidden calculations and unforeseen threats: Xie’s careful plan succeeds against the monsters, but the familiar voice reveals that even his elaborate calculations have limits.

4. Character Interactions

• Xie and the Bull Demon engage in a tense exchange over Xie’s supposed betrayal, with Xie answering the accusation sarcastically.
• The Bull Demon and the other monsters coordinate their counterattack, revealing their loyalty to their unseen lord and their desire for the rewards promised for killing Xie.
• Shi Chengyan commands the Apprehension Battalion through the fog, while the soldiers rely on Hui Dao’s talisman to maintain their formation.
• Xie and Hui Dao briefly confirm that the trap has worked as planned.
• The chapter ends with Xie reacting to a familiar voice behind him. His stunned response suggests that the speaker is someone important from his past and likely more dangerous or emotionally significant than the monsters he has just defeated.

Chapter Summary: “Heaven-One Heavy Water”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Xie Zhenqing emerges from the fog in his true, terrifying Monster form, radiating such overwhelming presence that Xie Hongdao is paralyzed by instinctive fear.
• Xie Zhenqing reveals that he has been observing Xie Hongdao’s recent plan: using himself as bait, cooperating with the authorities, and attempting to destroy the Demon Race in one operation.
• Hui Dao tries to reach Xie Hongdao, but Xie Zhenqing’s demonic technique creates an invisible barrier that prevents him from approaching.
• The four captured Monsters rejoice at their lord’s arrival, believing Xie Zhenqing will rescue them and kill the humans. However, one glance from him silences them in terror.
• Xie Zhenqing explains, with false sympathy, that Xie Hongdao should not have betrayed or fled from him. Xie Hongdao realizes that his fear is caused by a pre-planted “Nightmare Seed” and the Nightmare Suppression art.
• Xie Hongdao understands that Xie Zhenqing intends to kill him now that his false identity has been exposed and he is no longer useful. Because Xie Hongdao knows too much about Xie Zhenqing, he has become a potential threat.
• Xie Zhenqing approaches and prepares to strike Xie Hongdao. Xie Hongdao eventually stops resisting and faces death with dignity as the heir of the Marquis of Pacifying the South.
• Just before the killing blow, a piercing eagle cry disrupts the fog and Xie Zhenqing’s technique. An azure mote of Heaven-One Heavy Water, an immensely destructive substance refined by the Dragon Lord, arrives hidden within the sound.
• Xie Zhenqing recognizes the danger and retreats instantly. The four chained Monsters are not so fortunate: the Heaven-One Heavy Water strikes them, causing their bodies to expand and explode violently.

Character Developments

• Xie Zhenqing fully abandons his former disguise as a refined and harmless heir apparent, revealing himself as a ruthless and immensely powerful Monster. His careful preparation, psychological control, and immediate decision to eliminate Xie Hongdao highlight his paranoia and strategic nature.
• Xie Hongdao demonstrates deep knowledge of Xie Zhenqing’s personality and abilities. Though initially overwhelmed by supernatural fear, he regains composure at the moment of death and accepts his fate with pride and resolve.
• The four Monsters shift rapidly from confidence and anticipation to terror and helplessness. Their dependence on Xie Zhenqing is exposed when he ultimately abandons them to save himself.
• Hui Dao remains separated from Xie Hongdao by Xie Zhenqing’s technique, but the incoming attack breaks through the obstruction and changes the situation.

Significant Themes

• Fear and domination: Xie Zhenqing’s power operates not only through physical force but also through psychological suppression and implanted fear.
• Betrayal and expendability: Xie Hongdao’s usefulness determines his survival, while the four Monsters discover that even loyal servants can be sacrificed without hesitation.
• Identity and transformation: Xie Zhenqing’s change from seemingly gentle heir apparent to openly monstrous figure reflects the collapse of his public disguise.
• Dignity in the face of death: Xie Hongdao’s decision to stop struggling and maintain his composure contrasts with the panic and cruelty surrounding him.
• Power and preparedness: The concealed Nightmare Seed and the sudden appearance of Heaven-One Heavy Water show how battles are shaped by hidden preparations and countermeasures.

Character Interactions

• Xie Zhenqing taunts and evaluates Xie Hongdao, praising his recent strategy while making clear that betrayal has doomed him.
• Xie Hongdao silently interprets Xie Zhenqing’s expressions and intentions, recognizing that the apparent gentleness masks certain death.
• The four Monsters plead for Xie Zhenqing’s help, but his glance alone frightens them into silence, emphasizing the unequal master-servant relationship.
• Xie Zhenqing attempts to kill Xie Hongdao but is forced to retreat when the Heaven-One Heavy Water appears, leaving the captured Monsters to die in his place.

Chapter Summary: “The Aura of a Dragon”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Xie Hongdao narrowly survives the monsters’ ambush when the terrifying fog technique suddenly breaks apart.
• A giant eagle flies overhead carrying a mysterious, ethereal young woman. She appears to command the eagle while pursuing a powerful Demon King. Her arrival seems to cause four demons to explode, saving Xie Hongdao indirectly.
• Xie is captivated by the woman’s beauty and presence, though he recognizes that she is far beyond his current strength and does not attempt to follow her.
• Hui Dao emerges from the dissipating fog and reflects on how dangerous the fog technique was. Although he witnessed Xie’s predicament, an invisible separation prevented him from reaching him in time.
• Shi Chengyan and the Apprehension Battalion finish clearing the battlefield. Forty-one monsters are confirmed dead, twenty Yu escape, fourteen soldiers are killed, and two more are mortally wounded.
• Hui Dao realizes that the mysterious woman possessed the aura of a dragon and reports this to Su Ziji at the Crown Grandson’s Residence.
• Su Ziji questions Hui Dao and Xie Hongdao about the woman. Both claim they did not clearly see her face, although Xie secretly remembers her appearance.
• Su Ziji rewards the surviving soldiers and constables, promising official recognition, generous pensions, additional personal compensation, job inheritance for the families of the dead, and lighter work for the disabled.
• After the officials leave, Su Ziji suspects that Xie Hongdao is concealing part of what he knows, though he cannot read the deeper thoughts of powerful individuals. He then summons people waiting outside.

Character Developments

• Xie Hongdao: Survives a deadly crisis and gains a lasting fascination with the mysterious woman who saved him. He demonstrates caution by refusing to pursue someone far stronger than himself, but he also begins concealing information from Su Ziji.
• Hui Dao: Becomes more aware of the gap between his abilities and those of the powerful beings involved. Though skilled in talismanry and divination, he feels inadequate in direct combat and recognizes the significance of the woman’s dragon-like aura.
• Shi Chengyan: Suffers heavy losses among his troops but successfully completes the battlefield cleanup. His grim attitude reflects the cost of the victory.
• Su Ziji: Shows practical compassion and political intelligence by providing meaningful support to the soldiers’ families rather than offering only symbolic rewards. He also demonstrates perceptiveness by noticing Xie Hongdao’s concealed thoughts.
• The mysterious woman: Remains unidentified, but her power, supernatural beauty, and apparent pursuit of a Demon King establish her as an important and potentially formidable figure.

Significant Themes

• Survival and powerlessness: Xie’s survival emphasizes the vast difference between ordinary cultivators and the mysterious high-level beings moving through the capital.
• Hidden forces and uncertainty: The woman’s identity, the escaped demons, and the mention of a Demon King suggest that larger conflicts remain concealed beneath the apparent victory.
• The cost of victory: Although the demonic forces are largely destroyed, the Apprehension Battalion pays heavily in lives and injuries, making the victory a painful one.
• Benevolence and governance: Su Ziji’s rewards show that effective leadership involves practical care for soldiers and their families, not merely praise or empty promises.
• Secrets and mistrust: Xie hides what he knows, while Su Ziji recognizes the concealment. This creates tension between loyalty, self-interest, and political surveillance.
• Beauty and transcendence: Xie’s description of the woman as almost celestial reflects how extraordinary beings inspire awe and emotional attachment in those who encounter them.

Character Interactions

• Xie and the mysterious woman do not speak, but her intervention saves him and leaves a powerful emotional impression.
• Hui Dao reunites with Xie after the fog clears and discusses the danger of the technique.
• Shi Chengyan reports the battle’s casualties and cooperates with Hui Dao in assessing the aftermath.
• Hui Dao reports the mysterious woman and her possible dragon aura to Su Ziji.
• Su Ziji questions Hui Dao and Xie, accepts their incomplete accounts, and then rewards the Apprehension Battalion.
• Su Ziji’s final reflection reveals his suspicion of Xie and his growing awareness that several characters are withholding information.

Chapter Summary: “A Lone Lamp Shone Bright on the Riverboat”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Su Ziji and his advisers discuss the Emperor’s plan to place him in charge of investigating corruption and losses in the state granaries.
• Wen Xunpeng warns that granary investigations are historically dangerous. Officials who pursued such cases in the past either exposed powerful enemies and were later destroyed, or were punished and sidelined despite acting honorably.
• The Wild Daoist points out that refusing the assignment would be equally dangerous: the Emperor could accuse Su Ziji of colluding with the corrupt officials.
• Su Ziji decides not to act prematurely and will wait for the Emperor’s next move.
• Intelligence arrives confirming Su Ziji’s prediction. The Emperor has become enraged after reviewing the grain reports and has summoned Chai Kejing, Prefect of Yulin, whose prefecture has reported that fifty thousand shi of grain have gone moldy.
• Su Ziji learns that the Empress and Princess Xinping have secretly supported him by sending warnings and buying him time.
• He orders Cen Rubai to investigate the grain supplies. Cen accepts eagerly, seeing the assignment as an opportunity to regain importance within the Crown Grandson’s faction.
• After the others leave, Su Ziji reflects on the political struggle and recites a poem about spring rain, darkness, and a lone lamp shining on a riverboat.
• He recognizes that the granary investigation is both a genuine crisis and a strategic diversion—a public “repairing of the plank road” while he secretly advances another plan.

Character Developments

• Su Ziji demonstrates calm, strategic intelligence. He understands that both accepting and refusing the investigation carry deadly political risks, yet he remains composed and chooses to wait for the Emperor to reveal his intentions.
• His ambition becomes increasingly evident. Although he experiences some fear and uncertainty, another side of him thrives on danger and political competition.
• Su Ziji also reveals a practical willingness to solve the granary problem, not merely use it politically. He hopes to expose a long-standing national issue while furthering his larger struggle for power.
• Wen Xunpeng acts as a cautious adviser, emphasizing historical precedent and warning Su Ziji not to underestimate the trap.
• The Wild Daoist provides the counterargument, showing that inaction could itself become grounds for accusation.
• Cen Rubai feels overshadowed by the faction’s other strategists and eagerly volunteers for the investigation, seeking to reassert his value.
• The Empress and Princess Xinping emerge as important political allies, quietly protecting Su Ziji and helping him prepare before the Emperor’s formal move.
• The Emperor is portrayed as increasingly impatient and ruthless, willing to manipulate the granary crisis to target Su Ziji.

Significant Themes

• Political danger and impossible choices: Su Ziji is trapped between two equally hazardous options: investigate and provoke powerful enemies, or refuse and appear complicit.
• Power as both attractive and terrifying: Su Ziji reflects that imperial power inspires desire while also producing fear, betrayal, and destruction.
• Historical cycles of corruption: Repeated granary scandals show that the problem has survived across dynasties because officials understand its symptoms but cannot—or will not—address its deeper causes.
• Public action and hidden strategy: The granary investigation may serve as a visible political task masking Su Ziji’s true objective, echoing the strategy of distracting enemies while advancing secretly.
• Courage under pressure: The crisis reveals character, especially Su Ziji’s transformation from a cautious political player into someone energized by danger and ambition.
• Heaven’s will versus human effort: Su Ziji believes he has arranged everything within his power, but he accepts that the final outcome will depend on forces beyond his control.

Character Interactions

• Su Ziji listens to Wen Xunpeng and the Wild Daoist debate the risks before calmly settling the discussion.
• The advisers look to Su Ziji for direction, reinforcing his authority as the central strategist of the group.
• The intelligence report confirms Su Ziji’s insight, causing the others to view him with renewed admiration and confidence.
• Su Ziji acknowledges the Empress and Princess Xinping’s support and credits their intervention with giving him time to prepare.
• Cen Rubai directly requests the assignment from Su Ziji, and Su Ziji grants it, strengthening Cen’s role within the faction.
• The chapter ends with Su Ziji alone, reflecting on his allies, his enemies, and the uncertain struggle for the throne.

Chapter Summary: “Time Is Running Out”

Key Plot Points and Events

• At night in the capital, Zhou Yao hunts monsters through deserted streets while watchmen and residents avoid witnessing the violence.
• She kills a grotesque monster and discovers several others hiding nearby. After sensing a surviving Civet Cat, she captures it with invisible force and interrogates it.
• Tasting blood from the Civet Cat’s wound, Zhou Yao realizes it contains the Dragon Lord’s blood. This shocks her because the blood should have been divided between herself and her daughter.
• Zhou Yao suspects that someone has stolen or misused her dragon blood. The person responsible has escaped, leaving her with no immediate answers.
• While flying over the Crown Grandson’s Residence, Zhou Yao suddenly senses a concealed force of murderous intent and realizes that the residence is connected to the rise of Great Zheng.
• She then suspects that Prince Qi’s Residence may also be linked to the Dragon Lord, the Demon Race, and the stolen dragon blood. Concerned that something may have happened to her daughter, she decides to investigate Coiling Dragon Lake via the capital’s canal.
• The chapter ends by revealing that Xie Zhenqing survived Zhou Yao’s attack. Seriously wounded, he admits that unexpected developments—including Zhou Yao’s awakening and her daughter’s growth—have disrupted his plans. Fearing that time is running out, he resolves to accelerate his scheme.

Character Developments

• Zhou Yao: Demonstrates overwhelming power, composure, and ruthlessness while hunting monsters. The discovery of her blood in the Civet Cat awakens deeper memories and insight into her former identity as the Dragon Lord of Great Wei. She shifts from simply pursuing Xie Zhenqing to investigating a much larger conspiracy involving the imperial factions and the Demon Race.
• Xie Zhenqing: Is revealed to be badly injured and increasingly desperate. His calculations have failed because Zhou Yao awakened sooner than expected and her daughter became stronger. His fear of further backlash forces him to abandon caution and speed up his plans.
• The Civet Cat: Acts as a frightened, submissive survivor, attempting to deceive and placate Zhou Yao. Its body unexpectedly serves as evidence of the stolen Dragon Lord blood.
• Zhou Yao’s daughter: Does not appear directly, but her survival and unexpected flourishing are identified as major factors disrupting Xie Zhenqing’s scheme.

Significant Themes

• Time and urgency: Both Zhou Yao and Xie Zhenqing recognize that events are accelerating. Xie explicitly feels he has little time left, while Zhou Yao realizes she must investigate before the conspiracy advances.
• Awakening and recovered identity: The Dragon Lord’s blood restores Zhou Yao’s perception, allowing her to see truths previously hidden from her.
• Hidden political and supernatural connections: The chapter suggests that Great Zheng’s rise, the Demon Race, the Crown Grandson, Prince Qi, and the Dragon Lord are all connected through concealed forces and stolen blood.
• Power and fear: Zhou Yao’s effortless slaughter of monsters contrasts with the terror she inspires. Even the Civet Cat’s attempts at deception fail against her overwhelming authority.
• Unintended consequences and failed plans: Xie Zhenqing’s carefully arranged scheme is unraveling because events have developed beyond his expectations.

Character Interactions

• Zhou Yao and the monsters: She treats the monsters coldly and efficiently, killing many and capturing the Civet Cat without being moved by its pleas.
• Zhou Yao and the Civet Cat: The Civet Cat begs for mercy and tries to appear harmless, but Zhou Yao tests its wound and extracts the crucial clue about the Dragon Lord’s blood.
• Zhou Yao and Xie Zhenqing: Though they do not directly speak, their confrontation shapes the chapter. Zhou Yao wounds and pursues him, while Xie escapes and recognizes that her awakening has endangered his entire plan.
• Zhou Yao and her daughter: Their relationship is indirect but central to Zhou Yao’s motivation. Her fear that something has happened to her daughter pushes her toward Coiling Dragon Lake and a deeper investigation.

Chapter Summary: “You Still Dare to Come Here Openly”

1. Key Plot Points and Events

• The chapter opens in Capital City, a prosperous metropolis whose canals and trade routes have recently been restored. However, the city has become unusually quiet because monsters have been causing disturbances and attacking civilians.
• At a late-night food stall, commoners discuss the Spring Examinations, the promising Tang brothers, and the recent monster crisis. They express fear and anxiety, though many take comfort in the belief that the Imperial Grandson and the Apprehension Battalion will restore order.
• The Imperial Grandson’s reputation is emphasized: although his methods are ruthless and he has been criticized for excessive killing during the Divine Shrine affair, ordinary people trust his forcefulness during times of danger.
• Xie Zhenqing passes the stall while seriously injured. A spell conceals his wounds, but he coughs blood and moves with difficulty. He notices that the elderly stall owner possesses unusual potential, though it is too late for him to cultivate effectively.
• Xie takes a healing pill, temporarily restoring his complexion and speed, and proceeds to Prince Qi’s Residence.
• At the residence, he delivers a mysterious letter to a retainer, refusing to identify himself and insisting that Prince Qi will understand his identity once he reads it.
• Xie waits outside, appearing calm and arrogant despite the servants’ growing suspicion.
• A military detachment suddenly emerges from the residence: a Hundred-Household Officer, eight soldiers, and four crossbowmen. They accuse Xie of being a monster and confront him with drawn weapons.

2. Character Developments

• Xie Zhenqing: Revealed to be gravely wounded yet still capable of concealing his condition and pursuing his objective. His calm, confident behavior suggests considerable power and determination. He also demonstrates perceptiveness by recognizing the latent potential of the food-stall owner.
• The commoners: Their confidence in the Capital City and its authorities has weakened. They are frightened by the monster attacks and the authorities’ oppressive atmosphere, but they rely on the Imperial Grandson as a symbol of protection.
• The Imperial Grandson: Though he does not appear directly, his reputation develops through public discussion. He is viewed as ruthless but dependable, especially in crises.
• The Prince Qi residence staff: The retainer initially treats Xie cautiously because of his noble appearance, while the servants become increasingly uneasy and suspicious of him. Their behavior suggests that the residence has been prepared to respond to an expected threat.

3. Significant Themes

• Fear beneath prosperity: Capital City remains outwardly prosperous, but the monster attacks have created an atmosphere of tension, bloodshed, and insecurity.
• Authority and security: The people are willing to tolerate harsh rulers and violent methods when those methods promise protection from chaos.
• Hidden identities and deception: Xie’s injuries are concealed by magic, and his identity remains unstated. The food-stall owner’s temporary perception of him hints that appearances can be misleading.
• Power and vulnerability: Despite Xie’s elegant appearance and apparent composure, he is badly injured. His confrontation with an armed detachment underscores the danger surrounding him.
• Changing social confidence: The citizens’ former boldness has been replaced by caution, showing how repeated violence can transform a society’s attitude toward authority and danger.

4. Character Interactions

• The food-stall patrons joke about the Tang family and Shen San’s romantic interest before falling silent when the subject turns to monsters and casualties.
• The commoners discuss the Imperial Grandson with a mixture of fear, admiration, and gratitude, revealing their dependence on powerful authorities.
• Xie briefly interacts indirectly with the food-stall owner, who momentarily sees through his concealment because of Xie’s injuries.
• At Prince Qi’s Residence, Xie interacts with the retainer by silently handing over a letter and commanding him to deliver it. The retainer obeys despite finding Xie’s conduct suspicious and arrogant.
• The chapter ends with the military officer confronting Xie, accusing him of being a monster who has dared to appear openly at the residence, setting up an imminent conflict.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Xie Zhenqing arrives at Prince Qi’s residence and is met by a heavily armed force of soldiers, archers, and crossbowmen. Although the guards intend to intimidate or contain him, he remains calm and even mocks their show of strength.
• He is escorted to a lakeside pavilion, where Prince Qi meets him alongside his advisers, Zhao Buwei and Zhang Bolai.
• Prince Qi instinctively feels both familiarity and hostility toward Xie Zhenqing, confirming his suspicion that Xie was sent by the mysterious Dragon Head from his dream.
• Xie kneels before Prince Qi, demonstrating his understanding of mortal etiquette, but immediately warns that the prince is facing imminent danger.
• He points out that Prince Qi is overly confident because he believes the Emperor’s attitude toward the succession has changed. Xie then reveals that the Emperor recently coughed up blood, suggesting that the Emperor’s health is rapidly deteriorating.
• Xie argues that even if the Emperor wishes to favor Prince Qi, removing the Imperial Grandson would be difficult, and Prince Qi is not guaranteed to become heir afterward.
• He presents evidence that Prince Shu has allied with the Kingdom of Ying and could call upon an army of one hundred thousand troops. This revelation shocks Prince Qi and exposes how far behind he is in the struggle for succession.
• Prince Qi abandons his initial hostility, recognizes the seriousness of the situation, and apologizes for his earlier neglect, inviting Xie inside for further discussion.

Character Developments

• Xie Zhenqing: Displays extraordinary composure, political insight, and confidence. He understands both court etiquette and the balance of power among the imperial princes. Rather than being intimidated, he deliberately provokes Prince Qi to force him to confront reality.
• Prince Qi: Begins arrogant and suspicious, surrounded by overwhelming military protection. His confidence collapses when confronted with the Emperor’s failing health and Prince Shu’s foreign alliance. He becomes more pragmatic and respectful toward Xie.
• Zhao Buwei and Zhang Bolai: Act as Prince Qi’s advisers and initially defend his position. Their confidence is shaken by Xie’s information, though Zhao still questions whether Prince Shu’s alliance has the Emperor’s approval.
• The guards and servant: Their fear of Xie highlights his reputation as the wanted “fake prince,” while the massive military presence reflects Prince Qi’s caution and distrust.

Significant Themes

• Power and succession: The chapter emphasizes that imperial succession depends not merely on birthright or the Emperor’s favor, but also on political support, military power, and preparation.
• Appearance versus reality: Prince Qi appears secure within his residence and believes himself favored, yet Xie reveals that he is strategically vulnerable.
• Knowledge as power: Xie’s access to secret information gives him influence over Prince Qi and allows him to reshape the prince’s understanding of the political situation.
• Etiquette and survival: Xie’s willingness to kneel demonstrates that adapting to social customs is essential for navigating the mortal world.
• Urgency and impending crisis: The Emperor’s worsening health and the princes’ competing alliances suggest that the succession struggle is approaching a decisive stage.

Character Interactions

• Xie confronts the guards with calm mockery, establishing his fearlessness.
• Prince Qi questions Xie’s identity and challenges his refusal to kneel; Xie complies but immediately asserts intellectual dominance through his warning.
• Xie speaks bluntly about Prince Qi’s ambitions, surprising and irritating him.
• Zhao Buwei and Zhang Bolai attempt to defend Prince Qi’s position, but Xie counters their objections with increasingly serious evidence.
• The relationship between Xie and Prince Qi shifts from suspicion and hostility to wary respect, ending with Prince Qi treating Xie as a valuable political informant.

Chapter Summary: “A Force to Offer the King”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Prince Qi’s unexpectedly restrained and courteous treatment of Xie Zhenqing shocks his attendants, Zhao Buwei and Zhang Bolai. Prince Qi was formerly notorious for punishing scholars who acted arrogantly or spoke too boldly.
• Prince Qi invites Xie into his inner study and introduces him to Zhao and Zhang as trusted advisers, displaying unusual sincerity and respect.
• Zhao realizes that Prince Qi has changed. The prince now appears more capable, disciplined, and willing to recognize talent, suggesting he has begun to understand the danger surrounding the succession struggle.
• Zhao and Zhang, who compete subtly for the position of chief strategist, both recognize that Xie is likely to become their most formidable rival. Zhao is especially wary because Xie’s influence seems disproportionate to his ordinary-sounding words.
• Prince Qi directly asks Xie what strategy he can offer. Xie replies that he has no strategy, but does have “force” to offer.
• This statement immediately captures Prince Qi’s attention. He becomes eager to learn where this force comes from.
• Xie refers to Taizu’s legendary Divine Strategy Army, an elite force responsible for many of the dynasty’s founding victories. Though the army played a decisive role in Taizu’s conquest, it later disappeared from official military records, leaving its fate mysterious.

Character Developments

• Prince Qi: Shows significant growth in self-control, political awareness, and respect for capable people. His transformation surprises those closest to him and suggests he may now be a serious contender for power. His intense reaction to the mention of military strength reveals that he values tangible power more than abstract political advice.
• Zhao Buwei: Becomes increasingly cautious and perceptive. He recognizes both Prince Qi’s transformation and the threat Xie poses to his own position. His outward friendliness toward Xie masks deep suspicion and anxiety.
• Zhang Bolai: Remains ambitious and competitive, but is genuinely moved by Prince Qi’s declaration of trust. He and Zhao continue to maintain a careful balance, knowing that open conflict would harm both of them.
• Xie Zhenqing: Displays remarkable composure and confidence. He remains calm despite being surrounded by powerful men and deliberately withholds his true offer until Prince Qi is fully attentive. His reference to the Divine Strategy Army suggests he possesses access to extraordinary military resources or knowledge.

Significant Themes

• Transformation and hidden potential: Prince Qi’s behavioral change challenges everyone’s assumptions about him and suggests that pressure can awaken latent ability.
• Power versus strategy: The chapter distinguishes between intellectual plans and actual force. Xie’s offer implies that military strength may matter more than clever schemes in the struggle for succession.
• Political competition and mistrust: Zhao and Zhang cooperate only because rivalry is useful to both of them. Their relationship reflects the fragile alliances within Prince Qi’s faction.
• Recognition of talent: Prince Qi’s willingness to treat Xie respectfully marks a departure from his former brutality and demonstrates the political importance of attracting capable allies.
• Historical mystery: The disappearance of the Divine Strategy Army hints at suppressed history, hidden power, and possibly a military force that still exists outside official records.

Character Interactions

• Zhao and Zhang silently assess both Prince Qi and Xie, each measuring how the newcomer will affect their standing.
• Prince Qi publicly affirms his trust in Zhao and Zhang while simultaneously extending unusual courtesy to Xie, creating both pride and unease among his existing advisers.
• Xie’s calm refusal to offer an immediate strategy frustrates and intrigues Prince Qi. His mention of the Divine Strategy Army shifts the conversation from political advice to the possibility of acquiring overwhelming military power.

Xie Zhenqing revealed that the Divine Strategy Army’s officers had been children of unions between demons and outsiders, then offered Prince Qi the chance to raise a similar force. Prince Qi accepted the offer, and Xie Zhenqing left to gather the officers within a month.

• Xie Zhenqing explained that eighteen armored warriors had helped the founding emperor kill Hu Mingzhi and formed the core of the Divine Strategy Army.
• Xie Zhenqing revealed that the army’s Ten-Household and Hundred-Household Officers were children born of unions between demons and outsiders.
• Zhao Buwei urged Prince Qi to retrace the founding emperor’s path, while Zhang Bolai reacted with alarm.
• Prince Qi agreed to accept the demons’ support and asked when the officers would be available.
• Xie Zhenqing said he could gather the officers within a month, then left to make arrangements.

Chapter Summary: “The Way of Advising the Ruler”

Key Plot Points and Events

• After Xie Zhenqing leaves, Prince Qi’s residence remains heavily guarded, with soldiers stationed at close intervals. This underscores the tense and dangerous political situation.
• Zhao Buwei reflects on whether to continue supporting the Imperial Grandson and Prince Shu or switch allegiance to Prince Qi. His uncertainty is intensified by Prince Qi’s growing brilliance and, most importantly, his potential control of the Divine Strategy Army.
• Zhang Bolai kneels and urgently warns Prince Qi against accepting the Demon Race’s Divine Strategy Army. He argues that the Grand Progenitor previously went to great lengths to destroy the army and that the Demon Race will not be deceived by the same strategy twice.
• Prince Qi calmly explains that although he recognizes the future dangers of using the army, refusing it could result in his own death, along with that of his consort and heirs. Faced with immediate survival or possible future disaster, he makes clear that he must accept the risk.
• Zhang Bolai realizes too late that his remonstrance effectively demanded that Prince Qi sacrifice himself for an abstract principle. Prince Qi leaves, and Zhang understands that he has likely lost the prince’s trust—and possibly placed his own life in danger.
• Zhao Buwei follows Prince Qi and concludes that Zhang Bolai has failed to understand the proper role of a strategist: a retainer must protect and advance the ruler’s interests above all else, even if that requires ruthless actions.
• Although Zhao Buwei has helped provide Prince Qi with a politically acceptable justification for using the Divine Strategy Army, he remains personally undecided about whether to commit himself fully. He chooses to wait and observe.
• Near the end of the chapter, government messengers pass by beating gongs. Zhao Buwei realizes that he had forgotten that the day of the Court Examination has arrived, signaling a likely shift to another important political development.

Character Developments

• Prince Qi demonstrates political realism and survival instinct. He understands the dangers of relying on the Divine Strategy Army but recognizes that refusing immediate aid could mean certain death. His restrained response to Zhang Bolai also reveals hidden ruthlessness and a willingness to eliminate obstacles.
• Zhao Buwei emerges as a sophisticated strategist who prioritizes his master’s survival over conventional morality or broad political ideals. However, he is still not fully loyal to Prince Qi and remains caught between competing factions. His decision to delay committing himself shows caution and intellectual uncertainty.
• Zhang Bolai is portrayed as loyal, compassionate, and genuinely concerned for the people and the long-term welfare of the realm. However, his rigid idealism causes him to misjudge Prince Qi’s circumstances. His failure to recognize the prince’s desperation may cost him his position or life.
• The Demon Race and Divine Strategy Army remain largely offstage but become increasingly important as a powerful and dangerous political force. Their involvement could reshape the struggle for the throne.

Significant Themes

• Survival versus principle: Prince Qi must choose between an immediate threat to his life and the possible future dangers of accepting demonic assistance.
• The proper role of a strategist: The chapter argues that a strategist’s first duty is to protect and advance the ruler, not demand that the ruler sacrifice himself for abstract justice or the greater good.
• Power as the foundation of politics: Zhao Buwei believes that strength ultimately outweighs schemes, morality, and political reputation. Possessing the Divine Strategy Army could compensate for Prince Qi’s disadvantages.
• Short-term necessity and long-term consequences: Using the army may save Prince Qi now while creating enormous dangers later, reflecting the difficult calculations required in political struggles.
• The limits of loyalty and idealism: Zhang Bolai’s loyalty is sincere, but loyalty without practical judgment becomes harmful. The chapter contrasts his moral conviction with Zhao Buwei’s pragmatic approach.
• Political uncertainty: Alliances remain unstable, and a single decision could determine the fate of Prince Qi, his household, and the wider succession struggle.

Character Interactions

• Zhang Bolai and Prince Qi: Zhang passionately opposes accepting the Divine Strategy Army, while Prince Qi responds with controlled but threatening calm. Their exchange exposes the gap between idealistic counsel and the ruler’s immediate reality.
• Zhao Buwei and Prince Qi: Zhao supports Prince Qi indirectly by giving him a justification for accepting the army. Their relationship is based on strategic usefulness, though Zhao has not yet fully chosen to become Prince Qi’s loyal follower.
• Zhao Buwei and Zhang Bolai: Zhao internally judges Zhang’s advice as fundamentally misguided. He believes Zhang has mistaken loyalty to the realm for loyalty to his master and has therefore endangered himself.
• Prince Qi and his political rivals: Though they do not appear directly, Prince Dai, Prince Shu, the Imperial Grandson, and the Demon Race shape Prince Qi’s decisions. Their hostility leaves him with few safe options.
  The chapter ends by introducing the Court Examination as the next major event, suggesting that Zhao Buwei’s political calculations will soon intersect with a broader public and imperial development.

Zhao Buwei reflected on his failed ambition and the political uncertainty surrounding Prince Qi and the Imperial Grandson as the Court Examination began. In the Hall of Grand Letters, the emperor seated the Imperial Grandson beside him and urged the five hundred Tribute Scholars to write candidly, leaving the examination about to begin.

• Zhao Buwei watched the procession heading to the Imperial City and recalled how he had failed the examinations and become a chief adviser at Prince Qi's Residence.
• Zhao Buwei wondered whether the emperor had changed his mind and asked himself what the Imperial Grandson would decide, since Prince Qi had already chosen his course.
• Yu Lü and Fang Xi entered the Hall of Grand Letters with the Tribute Scholars, and Fang Xi worried that his low ranking would lead to his elimination.
• The emperor arrived with the Imperial Grandson and granted him the only seat beside the dragon throne.
• The emperor addressed the scholars and instructed them to set down their observations and counsel without fear or concealment.

Chapter Summary

Key plot points and events

• The palace examination begins with the examinees formally receiving the imperial command and taking their assigned seats according to their previous rankings.
• Yu Lü, seated inside the hall, initially feels nervous and physically stiff, but he steadies himself by recalling the Imperial Grandson’s advice about viewing problems from an official’s broader perspective.
• Once he begins writing, Yu Lü enters a state of complete concentration. His essay flows naturally, praising the Emperor’s concern for the suffering of the people and addressing the imperial examination question with confidence.
• The Emperor enters the examination hall and inspects the candidates, briefly looking at Yu Lü. His presence makes most examinees nervous, but Yu Lü remains unaware and continues writing.
• The Imperial Grandson, Su Ziji, recognizes that Yu Lü has achieved an ideal state of concentration and quietly leaves with the Emperor and the officials.
• At midday, the examinees receive flatbreads and tea. Yu Lü realizes he has completed his draft, eats quickly, and carefully copies the essay onto the official answer sheet.
• As evening approaches, rain begins to fall. Yu Lü checks his work three times, waits cautiously until many candidates have submitted their papers, and then has his scroll sealed.
• Outside the palace gates, Yu Lü reunites with Fang Xi. Before they can leave, eunuchs arrive with an urgent message: the Emperor wants the examination papers read immediately.

Character developments

• Yu Lü grows from nervous uncertainty into calm confidence. Su Ziji’s instruction helps him understand how to approach the examination from a broader political and administrative perspective.
• His successful composition demonstrates that he has internalized Su Ziji’s teachings and possesses genuine talent. Completing the essay relieves the pressure he had been carrying.
• Su Ziji shows confidence in Yu Lü’s abilities and recognizes his exceptional focus. At the same time, he remains suspicious of the Emperor, believing that the Emperor’s apparently uneventful behavior may conceal another plan.
• The Emperor appears physically fatigued but remains observant and politically unreadable. His decision to have the papers reviewed immediately suggests that he may be preparing to act quickly.
• Fang Xi serves as Yu Lü’s fellow examinee and companion, reappearing after the examination concludes.

Significant themes

• Preparation and mentorship: Yu Lü’s performance reflects the importance of Su Ziji’s guidance in expanding his political understanding.
• Perspective and governance: The chapter emphasizes that scholars and officials view issues differently, and that higher-ranking officials must consider the larger situation rather than narrow details.
• Composure under pressure: Yu Lü succeeds because he maintains concentration despite the Emperor’s inspection, the formal setting, and the approaching storm.
• Political uncertainty: Although the examination seems to proceed normally, Su Ziji senses that the Emperor may still be planning something. The final order to review the papers immediately reinforces this tension.
• Merit and hierarchy: The seating arrangements reflect the candidates’ rankings, reinforcing the examination system’s emphasis on measurable achievement and social order.

Character interactions

• Yu Lü’s internal recollection of Su Ziji’s teachings directly shapes his approach to the examination.
• The Emperor and Su Ziji both observe Yu Lü while he writes, though Yu Lü does not notice them. Su Ziji interprets Yu Lü’s uninterrupted writing as evidence that he has entered a highly productive state.
• The Emperor’s presence unsettles the other examinees, contrasting with Yu Lü’s absorbed concentration.
• Yu Lü later waits for Fang Xi outside the palace gates, and their reunion is interrupted by the eunuchs’ announcement that the Emperor demands an immediate review of the papers.

Fang Xi admitted that he had written a defiant essay in the Court Examination despite the advice Yu Lü followed, while examiners rushed to review the papers under imperial pressure. They selected an essay they admired, and the emperor began reading the paper ranked first.

• Yu Lü recited passages from his policy essay to Fang Xi and asked how Fang Xi had written his answer.
• Fang Xi revealed that he had kept to his uncompromising arguments, and Yu Lü realized he might have ruined his chances of entering the Golden List.
• Examiners hurried through the papers at the Examination Review Office, under orders to finish within three hours.
• A thin examiner found an essay he admired, and the other examiners agreed it deserved a place among the leaders.
• The chief examiner ordered the completed rankings sent in, and the emperor began reading the paper ranked first.

Chapter Summary

• The Emperor rereads the leading examination essay and is deeply impressed, praising its clarity and saying it “comforts” him. When the anonymous name is revealed, he discovers that the essay was written by Yu Lü, a classmate and friend of the Imperial Grandson, Su Ziji.
• Su Ziji reads Yu Lü’s essay and immediately recognizes its quality. He realizes Yu Lü followed his earlier advice about securing a passing position and has transformed it into an exceptionally polished response. Su cautiously declares that Yu Lü deserves to become a Presented Scholar.
• The Emperor considers Su’s judgment too modest and announces that Linhua County may produce two top scorers, effectively establishing Yu Lü as the examination’s leading candidate.
• The Emperor then asks about another of Su Ziji’s former classmates, Fang Xi, and demands to see his essay. Although examination rules require the papers to remain anonymous until rankings are finalized, the chief examiner, Qian Wei, has Fang Xi’s rejected essay retrieved.
• Fang Xi’s essay proves highly unconventional and radical. Su Ziji is disappointed because Fang Xi ignored—or rejected—the guidance Su had previously offered. Su therefore gives an impartial assessment, saying Fang Xi lacks sufficient maturity and should study for several more years.
• The Emperor agrees that Fang Xi is inexperienced, but while rereading the essay, he notices something that pleases or intrigues him. Declaring that he is the “Master of Destiny,” he personally circles Fang Xi’s essay, selecting him despite the examiners’ original rejection.
• The Emperor’s decision creates the prospect of three successful scholars from humble backgrounds, with Yu Lü positioned as the top scorer and Fang Xi unexpectedly elevated through imperial favor.

Character Developments and Interactions

• Su Ziji remains outwardly calm and politically cautious, carefully praising Yu Lü without appearing to influence the selection. His treatment of Fang Xi shows both disappointment and integrity: he refuses to recommend his friend merely out of personal loyalty.
• The Emperor is shown as powerful, unpredictable, and increasingly sensitive. He personally overturns the examination process, emphasizing that rankings ultimately depend on his will.
• Yu Lü demonstrates intelligence, discipline, and literary talent by applying Su Ziji’s advice effectively and producing an outstanding essay.
• Fang Xi emerges as independent-minded and stubborn. His refusal to follow Su’s recommendations results in a radical essay, but that same boldness ultimately attracts the Emperor’s attention.
• Qian Wei and the younger examiner are anxious because any conflict between the Emperor and Imperial Grandson—or any procedural mistake—could bring severe punishment. Their fear highlights the dangerous political atmosphere surrounding the examination.

Significant Themes

• Talent versus political judgment: Literary merit matters, but final success depends on imperial preference and political circumstance.
• Caution and self-preservation: Su Ziji’s careful language and the examiners’ nervous conduct reflect the need to navigate an unpredictable ruler.
• Mentorship and independence: Yu Lü succeeds by following Su’s advice, while Fang Xi’s refusal to conform nearly ruins his prospects but also gives his work distinctive appeal.
• Fate and imperial authority: The Emperor’s declaration that he is the “Master of Destiny” reinforces the theme that the ruler can redefine merit and overturn established rules at will.
• The dangers of ambition and unconventional thought: Fang Xi’s radical ideas are treated as immaturity by the examiners, yet they ultimately distinguish him in the Emperor’s eyes.

Chapter Summary: “Swear to Investigate the Granaries to the End”

Key Plot Points and Events

• The imperial examination rankings are finalized. Yu Lü is named the top scholar, while Fang Xi unexpectedly enters the Second Class as a Presented Scholar, despite his unconventional and radical essay. His connection to the Imperial Grandson, Su Ziji, is suspected of influencing the result.
• The Emperor personally reviews the examination papers and discusses the difficulty of judging talent fairly. Su Ziji argues that examiners cannot ensure every worthy scholar is recognized, since ability, circumstances, and fate differ.
• Yu Lü and Fang Xi are summoned before the Emperor and informed of their success. Yu Lü is praised for his deep understanding of the classics.
• Fang Xi is asked why the Emperor selected him despite Su Ziji’s criticism that his writing lacked refinement. The Emperor explains that Fang Xi’s essay displayed sincere loyalty and concern for the people, valuing his moral purpose over literary polish.
• The Emperor entrusts Yu Lü and Fang Xi with a major investigation: 1,500 dan of grain in Yulin Prefecture mysteriously rotted despite favorable weather.
• The missing grain prevented relief from reaching roughly 20,000 households suffering from drought and famine across neighboring prefectures, suggesting corruption, embezzlement, or illegal sale of state grain.
• Since Prefect Chai Kejing has failed to uncover the truth, the Emperor orders Su Ziji to investigate personally, assisted by Censor Zhang Dai, Yu Lü, and Fang Xi.
• Fang Xi enthusiastically vows to investigate the granaries to the very end and punish those responsible. Su Ziji accepts the imperial decree, though his reaction suggests concern about the dangers ahead.

Character Developments

• Fang Xi: Receives unexpected recognition despite his rough literary style. The Emperor’s praise deeply affects him, strengthening his loyalty and willingness to serve. His passionate response to the grain scandal reveals his idealism, anger at injustice, and eagerness to prove himself.
• Yu Lü: Confirmed as the top scholar and shown to be composed, capable, and respectful. His measured acceptance contrasts with Fang Xi’s emotional enthusiasm.
• Su Ziji: Demonstrates political maturity and restraint during the examination review, refusing to interfere openly. He is entrusted with a sensitive investigation, but his brief pause upon seeing Fang Xi’s reaction indicates apprehension about Fang Xi’s impulsiveness and the perilous political implications of the case.
• The Emperor: Presents himself as a patron of scholarship and a ruler concerned with the people’s welfare. He deliberately rewards Fang Xi’s sincerity and uses the investigation to test and employ the newly successful scholars.
• Qian Wei and the examiner: Their reactions emphasize doubts about Fang Xi’s promotion and the role of imperial favor in the examination system.

Significant Themes

• Merit versus connections: Fang Xi’s success raises questions about whether achievement or political relationships determine advancement.
• Talent, fate, and fairness: The Emperor and Su Ziji acknowledge that examinations cannot perfectly identify every capable person, since circumstances and fate shape outcomes.
• Moral intent over polished ability: Fang Xi is rewarded not for elegant writing but for his genuine concern for ordinary people.
• Corruption and responsibility: The spoiled grain symbolizes abuse of power and the consequences of officials neglecting their duty during famine.
• Loyalty and political service: Fang Xi’s fervent oath reflects the ideal of serving the Emperor and protecting the people, while the investigation tests whether such ideals can survive political obstruction.
• The burden of imperial trust: The new scholars’ success immediately brings them into a dangerous state affair, showing that honor and responsibility arrive together.

Character Interactions

• The Emperor and Su Ziji discuss the limits of examination judgments, revealing mutual respect and the Emperor’s interest in Su Ziji’s political thinking.
• The Emperor personally encourages Yu Lü and Fang Xi, praising Yu Lü’s scholarship and explaining to Fang Xi why his sincerity earned imperial approval.
• Fang Xi’s passionate declaration to investigate corruption satisfies the Emperor, who appears to value his uncompromising loyalty.
• Su Ziji observes Yu Lü and Fang Xi closely, especially Fang Xi’s emotional response, foreshadowing tension between Fang Xi’s idealism and the cautious political approach required by the investigation.

Su Ziji accepted the emperor’s order to investigate all Seven Granaries in Yulin Prefecture, despite suspecting the emperor was rushing him for an unknown reason. The emperor granted him the Royal Command Token and Imperial Executioner’s Sword, and Su Ziji left the palace with Yu Lü and Fang Xi to prepare for the investigation.

• The emperor urged Su Ziji to leave swiftly for Yulin Prefecture and investigate the granaries, prompting Su Ziji to question his unusual haste.
• Su Ziji asked whether he was to investigate the Prosperity and Peace Granary or all Seven Granaries, and the emperor ordered him to investigate them all.
• Su Ziji knelt and asked the emperor to appoint someone else to lead, offering to assist because the Seven Granaries involved vital supplies and high-ranking officials.
• The emperor praised Su Ziji’s abilities and granted him the Royal Command Token and Imperial Executioner’s Sword, authorizing him to execute first and report afterward.
• Su Ziji accepted the decree, and the emperor dismissed him, Yu Lü, and Fang Xi to prepare and set out as soon as possible.
• After leaving the great hall, Su Ziji led Yu Lü and Fang Xi back before the palace gates were locked.

Su Ziji left the palace with Yu Lü and Fang Xi after receiving the imperial assignment to investigate the Seven Granaries, while the emperor’s worsening illness made him more desperate to act. On the ride home, Su Ziji feared that his righteous new deputies would drag him into a dangerous struggle with powerful officials.

• Su Ziji walked out of the palace with Yu Lü and Fang Xi, weighing the risks of the Seven Granaries investigation and the emperor’s conditional support.
• After everyone left the hall, the emperor suffered a severe coughing fit, took a Lesser Restoration Elixir, and resolved that he had to move faster because he had little time left.
• Su Ziji sensed the emperor’s urgency as he passed through the palace gate and offered Yu Lü and Fang Xi a ride home.
• In the ox carriage, Fang Xi and Yu Lü vowed to investigate the granaries and cleanse corruption, despite Su Ziji’s warning that powerful offices and officials were involved.
• Su Ziji privately worried that the upright Yu Lü and Fang Xi would pull him into the mire and endanger his life and his undertaking.