Chapter Summaries

Key plot points and events

• Xiao Jinyi, Master Baili, Prince Jing, and Princess Huimin return to the palace and go straight to the Imperial Study.
• Xiao Jiayi kneels and cries, alarming Emperor Wu’an. She says a plot nearly cost her life and that she survived only because she encountered Shen Shixu, heard his thoughts, and received help from Xiao Jinyi and the others.
• Xiao Jinyi asks that Empress Lin and Consort Shu be present before the full account is given. Once they arrive, Jiayi recounts how the Li Family lured her out, her encounter with Zhouye, how she learned of the conspiracy, and how the group turned the scheme against its makers and gathered proof.
• Consort Shu faints from shock. After an imperial physician revives her, she breaks down in tears, and Empress Lin comforts her.

Character developments and interactions

• Xiao Jiayi shows how deeply the danger affected her, but also explains events clearly and acknowledges the people who helped her.
• Emperor Wu’an reacts first as a worried father, setting aside his imperial formality to comfort his daughter and demand to know who endangered her.
• Consort Shu is devastated to learn that her own family targeted Jiayi. Her grief hardens into fierce anger and resolve to protect her daughter.
• Empress Lin shows compassion toward both Jiayi and Consort Shu, arranging care for Jiayi’s swollen eyes and embracing Consort Shu despite the tears staining her robes.
• Xiao Jinyi and the others act together to bring the danger to the emperor’s attention and ensure Jiayi’s account is heard.

Significant themes

• Family loyalty and betrayal: The Li Family’s ambition leads it to endanger Consort Shu’s daughter, shattering any remaining trust.
• Parental protection: The emperor’s immediate concern and Consort Shu’s fierce reaction reveal the strength of their love for Jiayi.
• Solidarity and justice: The group’s cooperation helps expose the conspiracy, while the palace’s women support one another in the aftermath.

Key plot points and events

• Consort Shu begs Emperor Wu’an to punish the Li Family for deceiving and drugging Princess Jiayi. The emperor promptly writes an edict and sends Prince Jing, Xiao Jinyi, to deliver it.
• The Li Family mistakenly expects the edict to arrange a marriage between their daughter and the prince. Instead, it strips them of their posts and titles, confiscates their property and imperial gifts, and exiles the entire family to Coldwater City, never to return to the capital.
• The head of the Li Family desperately asks Xiao Jinyi to intercede, even offering his daughter as a concubine or servant. Xiao rejects him and orders the guards to carry out the decree.
• The Li Family is stripped of its possessions, shackled, and driven out of the capital. News of their punishment spreads, and people condemn their audacity in plotting against a princess.
• At the Shen residence, Shen Shixu hears the news without surprise. The chapter closes on a contrast between his comfortable meal of shredded chicken noodles and the Li Family’s harsh exile.

Character developments and interactions

• Consort Shu moves from grief to decisive action, appealing directly to the emperor for justice for Jiayi.
• Emperor Wu’an acts swiftly, affirming his authority and the seriousness of an attack on the imperial family.
• Xiao Jinyi firmly executes the emperor’s order, refuses the Li patriarch’s bargain, and shows no willingness to shield the family.
• The Li patriarch and his wife are exposed as arrogant and overconfident: they believed their elaborate drugging scheme would succeed and assumed the imperial edict would reward them. His desperate plea shows how quickly his confidence collapses.
• Shen Shixu remains composed when he hears of the punishment. Xiaoshi admires his unflappable manner, while the newly hired former Imperial Chef, Uncle Zhang, demonstrates thoughtfulness by anticipating Shen’s hunger.

Significant themes

• Justice and consequences: Scheming against a princess brings severe punishment for the whole family.
• Arrogance and miscalculation: The Li Family’s confidence in its supposedly flawless plan blinds it to the risk of exposure.
• Power and status: Rank and past service cannot protect the Li Family once the emperor acts.
• Contrast: The Shen household’s warmth and comfort are set against the Li Family’s humiliation and hardship.

Key plot points and events

• Guards beat and intimidate the Li Family after they protest their treatment, reminding them that they are now criminals with no power or protection. The family quickly falls silent and continues toward Coldwater City.
• Shen Shixu prepares a surprise test for his pupil, An Chengyu, who has completed the Three Character Classic.
• When An returns to the Shen Residence, Shen offers him a choice: take the prepared test immediately or face a harder one the next day. An reluctantly takes it at once.
• An does well on memorization and explaining the text’s meaning, but his handwriting remains poor, with errors. Shen discovers that An has neglected his handwriting practice.
• An admits fault and promises to improve. Shen nevertheless assigns him to copy selected pages from his copybooks ten times each before starting new lessons. An protests that the workload is overwhelming and pleads for a lighter punishment.

Character developments and interactions

• An Chengyu shows that he learns well when lessons are engaging, but struggles with repetitive work and has been careless about practicing handwriting. He apologizes readily, though Shen doubts that words alone will change his habits.
• Shen Shixu acts as a patient but firm teacher. He recognizes An’s strengths, identifies his lack of discipline, and uses a deliberately strict consequence to encourage greater effort.
• The guards and Li Family interact through intimidation: the guards assert their authority, while the Li Family’s bluster collapses once they are confronted with force.
• An and Shen’s warm, familiar relationship is evident in An’s eagerness to greet his master and his affectionate pleading, even as Shen maintains his authority.

Significant themes

• Power and vulnerability: The Li Family learns that its former status offers no protection once it becomes powerless.
• Discipline and responsibility: An’s academic ability is not enough; steady practice and attention to fundamentals matter.
• Teaching and learning: Shen adapts instruction to An’s interests but also insists that difficult, repetitive skills require persistence.
• Affection balanced with authority: Shen and An are close, yet their bond does not prevent Shen from enforcing consequences.

Plot points and events

• Shen Shixu gives An Chengyu a test and assigns him handwriting practice after seeing how poor his writing is. He explains that legible, elegant handwriting can influence how an examiner judges a scholar.
• To motivate An, Shen writes “Peace throughout the land” in his own graceful script. An compares it with his work, resolves to improve, and eagerly returns to practice.
• Jiang Bin brings Shen two carp he caught and visits An, where he praises the primer An is copying as evidence of Shen’s care. An takes the comment to heart and becomes even more determined to make his master proud.
• While Shen and Jiang share tea, system 011 reveals gossip about Jiang’s fishing companion, Fang Huaiyu: Fang enjoys dressing in women’s clothes and once disguised himself at the Lantern Festival. After Zhao Zihang confessed to him and refused to take no for an answer, Fang claimed he already loved someone—and named Jiang Bin.

Character developments

• An Chengyu shifts from resisting practice to embracing it, motivated both by Shen’s example and by the belief that his master put special thought into his lessons.
• Shen Shixu shows practical concern for An’s education and readily encourages his disciples; he also playfully imagines giving 011 a hamster body.
• Jiang Bin shows generosity by sharing his catch and quietly helps motivate An, without taking credit.
• Fang Huaiyu is introduced as a clever, graceful cross-dresser who enjoys feminine clothing but is not romantically interested in men. His quick lie unexpectedly entangles Jiang Bin in his problem.

Significant themes

• Education and self-discipline: skill and perseverance matter alongside talent.
• Appearance and judgment: handwriting serves as a scholar’s public face, while Fang’s disguise leads others to misread him.
• Care and encouragement: thoughtful teaching and peer support help An find motivation.
• Identity and deception: Fang’s clothing and fabricated romantic claim create a comic misunderstanding with potentially serious consequences.

Character interactions

• Shen uses candid advice and a demonstration of his calligraphy to persuade An to practice.
• Jiang’s praise reinforces An’s belief that Shen cares about him, though Jiang does not realize how strongly it will affect him.
• Shen and Jiang share a relaxed moment over tea, while 011 interrupts with gossip that leaves both Shen and Jiang apprehensive about Jiang’s safety.

Plot points and events

• Zhao Zihang, newly returned to the capital, had been looking for a chance to challenge Jiang Bin. Jiang is unnerved to learn this and doubts he can match Zhao’s upbringing and abilities.
• Jiang’s master, Shen Shixu, reveals how Jiang previously became involved in Fang Huaiyu’s attempt to hide his identity from Zhao. At that time, Jiang argued with Zhao about Fang Xiaoyu, then helped Huaiyu pose as her: Huaiyu acted as a money-minded, insulting woman until Zhao left in disgust.
• The deception worked, but with lasting consequences: Zhao turned away from romance, alarming his family. His relatives blamed Jiang and “Fang Xiaoyu,” and their complaints led to Princess Kangning being scolded.
• Jiang had initially considered using the same humiliation tactic again to protect Huaiyu, but Shen’s account makes him reconsider. He tells Huaiyu that Zhao may come after him and that the deception has caused serious harm.
• Huaiyu, alarmed, agrees that he may need to confess the truth. Jiang arranges for Zhao to meet them at the Heavenly Fragrance House. Zhao accepts, assuming Jiang wants to show off his success.

Character developments

• Jiang Bin is anxious about facing Zhao but also takes responsibility for helping his friend. He shifts from considering another deception to seeking a more honest solution.
• Fang Huaiyu realizes that his plan to avoid being exposed has hurt Zhao and involved others in trouble; he is frightened by the consequences and open to coming clean.
• Zhao Zihang is proud and sensitive to insult. His earlier humiliation has left him wary of romantic relationships, while he remains convinced Jiang wants to provoke or impress him.

Significant themes

• Friendship and loyalty: Jiang feels used as a shield, yet still helps Huaiyu.
• Deception and consequences: A scheme meant to conceal Huaiyu’s identity causes lasting emotional and family repercussions.
• Status and self-worth: Jiang measures himself against Zhao’s education and ability, while their earlier argument pits family privilege against personal merit.
• Honesty and accountability: The characters must decide whether to continue the lie or reveal the truth.

Character interactions

• Jiang and Zhao’s earlier exchange was a sharp contest of pride, with each attacking the other’s weaknesses.
• Jiang confronts Huaiyu over using him as a shield, then explains what Zhao’s family has suffered because of their deception.
• Huaiyu admits his original motive and considers confessing; Jiang takes the lead in arranging a meeting with Zhao.

Key plot points and events

• Zhao Zihang arrives at the Heavenly Fragrance House expecting dinner with Jiang Bin and Fang Xiaoyu, but finds Jiang Bin and Fang Huaiyu instead.
• Fang Huaiyu admits that “Fang Xiaoyu” was his disguise. He had pretended to be a woman who liked Jiang Bin to discourage Zhao’s pursuit.
• Zhao refuses to believe the confession, interpreting it as another attempt to mock him. Jiang Bin’s oath only makes things worse, because Zhao does not know Jiang’s master is real.
• Zhao leaves, while Jiang and Fang worry that the misunderstanding could make him give up on marriage and leave them burdened with guilt.
• Jiang decides Princess Qingyang, Zhao’s cousin, may be able to persuade him. He visits her in the palace and explains the whole story.
• Princess Qingyang agrees to visit their maternal grandmother’s family and seek help, though she warns that the older relatives may learn about Fang’s disguise. Jiang says Fang is willing to accept the embarrassment if it resolves the matter.

Character developments

• Zhao Zihang remains rigidly skeptical, trusting his own assumptions over other people’s explanations.
• Fang Huaiyu regrets ever dressing as a woman and meeting Zhao, but is willing to face public embarrassment to put things right.
• Jiang Bin shifts from trying to convince Zhao directly to finding someone Zhao is more likely to trust.
• Princess Qingyang responds practically, recognizing that she will need family support to reach her cousin.

Significant themes

• Truth and disbelief: Even an honest confession and a solemn oath fail when they conflict with what someone thinks they know.
• Misunderstandings and consequences: Fang’s disguise, meant to avoid awkwardness, has created a serious problem for Zhao and the others.
• Reputation versus conscience: Fang would rather risk gossip than let Zhao suffer lasting harm or carry guilt himself.

Character interactions

• Zhao confronts Jiang and Fang bluntly, then rejects their explanation and accuses them of making a fool of him.
• Jiang and Fang share an anxious, increasingly desperate effort to persuade Zhao, with Jiang taking the lead.
• Jiang turns to Princess Qingyang as a trusted family intermediary; she agrees to help, while insisting on involving relatives who may be better able to persuade Zhao.

Plot points and events

• Princess Qingyang asks Fang Huaiyu to appear as Fang Xiaoyu again so Zhao Zihang can see for himself that the woman he loves is Fang Huaiyu in disguise.
• Jiang Bin, eager to resolve the dispute, arranges for Fang to change and meet them at the Zhao residence.
• Fang’s transformation is so convincing that Jiang Bin is astonished and briefly checks that his friend is really a man. The disguise also leaves him unexpectedly flustered.
• At the Zhao residence, Fang introduces himself in his natural male voice. Zhao Zihang recognizes Fang Xiaoyu’s appearance but hears Fang Huaiyu’s voice, forcing him to confront the truth: Fang Xiaoyu never existed as a separate person.

Character developments

• Fang Huaiyu cooperates openly and confidently, presenting himself without disguising his voice.
• Jiang Bin is struck by how convincing Fang’s disguise is—and unsettled by his own attraction to his best friend’s feminine appearance.
• Princess Qingyang moves from curiosity to witnessing the revelation firsthand.
• Zhao Zihang shifts from stubborn certainty to shocked, painful doubt as the deception becomes undeniable.

Character interactions

• Qingyang persuades Fang to help convince Zhao Zihang.
• Jiang Bin and Fang share a comic, awkward moment when Jiang verifies Fang’s identity and struggles with his reaction.
• At the Zhao residence, the household scrutinizes Fang, while Zhao Zihang must reconcile the woman he adores with the man standing before him.

Significant themes

• Appearance and identity: Fang’s disguise challenges the distinction between who someone is and how they are perceived.
• Love and mistaken belief: Zhao’s feelings are thrown into crisis by the revelation that his beloved and Fang Huaiyu are the same person.
• Friendship and attraction: Jiang Bin’s involuntary response complicates his understanding of his long-standing friendship with Fang.
• Truth and denial: The family’s plan turns an argument into an undeniable, public confrontation.

Key plot points

• After Fang Huaiyu’s feminine appearance causes a stir, Countess Cheng’en compliments his makeup skills. To make up for earlier trouble, Fang teaches her—and soon other women in the family, including Princess Qingyang—some makeup techniques.
• Jiang Bin reminds Zhao Zihang that he mocked him for claiming to have a master. Zhao asks his cousin Zhao Zibai, who confirms that Jiang, the Prince of Anle, has become Lord Shen’s disciple and changed his dissolute ways. Jiang also learns that Shen’s first disciple is the young heir of Duke An.
• Zhao Zihang accepts that he was wrong, apologizes to Jiang, and offers him a pair of White-Glazed Orchid porcelain vases. Jiang accepts them, planning to give them to Shen Shixu.
• At the Shen Residence, An Chengyu eagerly welcomes Jiang and takes the candied hawthorns he brought. Jiang presents Shen with the vases.
• Shen gently tells both disciples that they need not give him every prized possession they acquire. He values their company and wants them to enjoy what they like themselves. The disciples agree to ease up on expensive gifts, though they still think bringing food is a suitable way to show affection.

Character developments and interactions

• Zhao Zihang shows integrity: though stubborn, he promptly admits his mistake and makes amends.
• Jiang Bin is playful and direct, but also thoughtful toward his master. His former reputation still makes Zhao Zibai wary, even after his reform.
• Fang Huaiyu responds to earlier inconvenience by generously teaching makeup skills, turning an awkward moment into a friendly gathering.
• Shen Shixu reveals a warm, modest approach to mentorship, reassuring his disciples that their presence matters more than costly gifts.
• An Chengyu and Jiang Bin show their devotion through gifts and treats; Shen’s words help them understand that affection need not be expressed through constant presents.

Significant themes

• Reform and reputation: Jiang’s changed conduct contrasts with the lingering fear his past inspires.
• Accountability and reconciliation: Zhao Zihang’s apology restores goodwill.
• Filial devotion and affection: The disciples express care through gifts, while Shen encourages simpler, more personal forms of closeness.
• Generosity and social bonding: Fang’s teaching and the shared exchanges of gifts and food bring characters together.

Plot points and events

• Shen Shixu’s study is filled with valuable gifts, including a Luminous Pearl and a large coral ornament. Though he has worried about theft, he leaves everything on display.
• The Luminous Pearl is stolen, and the thief leaves a taunting note claiming they will return for the coral ornament in three days. The note is signed “Grasshopper.”
• Shen Zexi questions the household staff. No one saw a stranger, so Shen Shixu announces a plan: the staff must watch the residence and help catch the thief when they return.
• Shen Shixu then slips out alone and visits Prince Jing’s Residence, asking to see Xiao Jinyi.
• A one-eyed gatekeeper recognizes Shen Shixu’s name and explains that Xiao Jinyi had ordered the household to admit him and direct him to trusted attendants if necessary.
• At the Listening Rain Pavilion, Xiao Jinyi is delighted to see Shen Shixu. After hearing about the theft, he offers to go to Shen’s residence himself and help catch the thief.

Character developments

• Shen Shixu shifts from irritation at the theft to taking practical action, setting a trap for the thief. The gatekeeper’s warm welcome and Xiao Jinyi’s readiness to help leave him feeling unexpectedly cared for and safe.
• Xiao Jinyi shows affection and concern for Shen Shixu, immediately assuming he may have been mistreated and volunteering to protect him.
• The gatekeeper demonstrates sound judgment and loyalty to Xiao Jinyi’s instructions, helping Shen Shixu without hesitation.

Character interactions

• Shen Shixu calmly reassures the household staff that they will not be punished and recruits them to watch for the thief.
• The gatekeeper welcomes Shen Shixu because Xiao Jinyi has specifically instructed that he be admitted.
• Xiao Jinyi greets Shen Shixu affectionately, notices his distraction, and offers to help. Shen Shixu initially tries to spare him the task, but Xiao Jinyi insists that protecting people—including catching thieves—is part of his duty.

Significant themes

• Trust and protection: Xiao Jinyi’s prior instructions and immediate offer of help make Shen Shixu feel valued and secure.
• Affection expressed through action: Xiao Jinyi’s concern is shown through his attentiveness and willingness to take on a seemingly minor task for Shen.
• Hubris and vulnerability: Shen Shixu’s confidence in the residence’s security proves misplaced when the thief boldly enters and leaves a challenge.

Key plot points and events

• Xiao Jinyi secretly follows Shen Shixu back to the Shen Residence and stays in his room.
• With only a bed and a small daybed available, Shen Shixu invites Xiao Jinyi to share his bed. Both lie awake at first, too self-conscious to look at one another.
• Shen Shixu sleeps restlessly, rolling toward the edge and flinging his arms and legs across Xiao Jinyi. Xiao Jinyi catches him, moves to the outer side of the bed, and eventually holds him still so he cannot fall.
• Shen Shixu wakes entangled in Xiao Jinyi’s arms and is mortified. He recalls that his childhood friend Shen Zexi once shared a bed with him and spent the next day bruised and exhausted.
• Shen Shixu stays still rather than wake Xiao Jinyi, then falls asleep again. Xiao Jinyi, who had been pretending to sleep, tenderly strokes his hair, tucks him in, and begins meditating.
• When Shen Shixu wakes later, he sees Xiao Jinyi cultivating and feels envious of his skill.

Character developments and interactions

• Xiao Jinyi shows quiet care and protectiveness: he prevents Shen Shixu from falling, puts up with being used as a pillow, and handles him gently the next morning. His private tenderness contrasts with his disciplined, reserved manner.
• Shen Shixu is embarrassed by their closeness but also comfortable enough in sleep to cling to Xiao Jinyi. He observes Xiao Jinyi with growing curiosity and admiration.
• Their intimacy deepens through small, largely unspoken gestures: sharing a bed, Xiao Jinyi watching over Shen Shixu, and Shen Shixu choosing not to disturb him.

Significant themes

• Growing intimacy and restrained affection: Both characters conceal their feelings behind modesty and silence, while their actions reveal their attachment.
• Vulnerability and trust: Shen Shixu’s unconscious closeness leaves him in Xiao Jinyi’s care, which Xiao Jinyi handles gently.
• Contrast between discipline and tenderness: Xiao Jinyi balances his cultivation routine and secret mission with a softer side that emerges around Shen Shixu.
• Admiration and aspiration: Shen Shixu’s envy of Xiao Jinyi’s cultivation hints at his awareness of the gap between them and his desire to improve.

Key plot points and events

• Shen Shixu takes great care not to disturb Xiao Jinyi’s meditation, but when Xiao wakes, he helps Shen dress, ties his sash, and arranges his hair.
• Shen instructs his trusted steward, Xiaoshi, to secretly bring Xiao Jinyi meals while the prince stays hidden in the residence to catch the thief.
• Over the next three days, Shen attends court as usual, concealing the situation. However, officials grow curious and gather near his home to watch. Crown Prince Xiao Yuanqi even rents a nearby courtyard, claiming he wants to assess the thief; other officials follow his lead.
• On the day the trap is expected to work, Shen Residence staff remain on alert. Xiaoshi is distracted after colliding with Little Fang, a beggar he once brought into the household and employed as a cleaner. Little Fang has brought soup, and Xiaoshi leaves him near the study while he goes to change—failing to notice that the normally timid boy is acting unusually.

Character developments and interactions

• Xiao Jinyi’s tenderness toward Shen becomes more apparent: he prolongs the intimate moment of tying Shen’s sash, dresses his hair, praises his appearance, and promises to smile more when they are together.
• Shen is embarrassed by Xiao’s closeness but responds with playful confidence. He also urges Xiao to be less cold, though he misses the romantic implication in Xiao’s reply.
• Shen’s trust in Xiaoshi is emphasized. He regards him as a younger brother rather than merely a servant and relies on his competence to keep Xiao’s presence secret.
• Xiaoshi’s compassion is shown through his earlier rescue of Little Fang, but his distraction leaves an opening at a crucial moment.
• Xiao Yuanqi’s curiosity—and perhaps his interest in seeing his brother court Shen—draws the officials into an unintended public spectacle.

Significant themes

• Growing intimacy: Domestic gestures and teasing reveal the deepening affection between Shen and Xiao.
• Trust and loyalty: Shen’s confidence in Xiaoshi reflects their shared history and close bond.
• Appearance versus reality: Officials disguise their curiosity as public-minded concern, while Xiao Jinyi’s outward coldness begins to soften in private.
• Suspense and comic irony: A secret plan to catch a thief becomes a citywide spectacle, and the chapter ends on a suspicious change in Little Fang’s behavior, suggesting the trap may be compromised.

Plot and key events

• Shen Shixu and Xiao Jinyi set a trap for the thief who has been stealing from Shen’s residence. Xiaoshi helps by leaving when asked, while Shen waits safely inside and watches Xiao Jinyi confront the intruder.
• Xiao Jinyi outpaces and captures the nimble thief, who mostly evades rather than fights back.
• Shen recognizes that the captive resembles Little Fang but is not him, noticing that the real Little Fang has poor eyesight and squints, while the impostor’s eyes are bright and clear.
• The thief reveals himself as Jiang Miaokong, a self-described deft-handed thief. He explains that he stole Shen’s belongings after assuming Shen had obtained his official position through corruption; learning of Shen’s reputation for intelligence changed his view.
• Jiang asks Shen, Vice Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, to investigate a grave miscarriage of justice: all 164 members of a household in Qu City were murdered, yet the eldest son was blamed. Shen agrees to hear the full account.

Character developments and interactions

• Shen Shixu shows caution and sound judgment, waiting to confirm the danger has passed before leaving the study. He also demonstrates perceptiveness by identifying Jiang’s disguise and responds seriously to the injustice allegation.
• Xiao Jinyi acts decisively, testing Jiang before capturing him. He lowers his sword when Jiang raises the case of wrongful conviction.
• Jiang Miaokong shifts from playful, unrepentant thief to earnest petitioner, while remaining cheeky and openly admiring Shen’s intelligence.
• Xiaoshi follows Shen’s instructions and leaves the scene without disrupting the trap.

Significant themes

• Justice and wrongful conviction: The reported mass murder raises the central question of whether the true culprit was overlooked and an innocent person condemned.
• Appearances and discernment: Jiang’s convincing disguise fails because Shen notices a small but revealing difference.
• Caution and responsibility: Shen avoids reckless intervention and uses his official role to address a potentially serious injustice.

Key plot points and events

• Jiang Miaokong reveals the case that brought him to the capital: the Song household in Qu City was massacred, leaving 164 people dead. Song Zhuoyang, the eldest son and famed “Sunlit Sword,” was arrested for the killings.
• Jiang insists Song Zhuoyang is innocent. He says the two were together in nearby Minglu City on the night of the massacre. Their presence there can be confirmed by stallholders whose stalls they damaged and an innkeeper where they stayed.
• Jiang and Song first met when Song caught him stealing. After a series of encounters—including a fall from a cliff and Song repeatedly stopping Jiang’s thefts—Song eventually kept Jiang close to discourage his stealing.
• On the night of the massacre, Jiang tried to escape by getting Song drunk. They both became intoxicated and spent the night together. Song then took Jiang home to meet his family, where they learned of the massacre and Song’s arrest.
• Officials investigated Jiang and Song’s alibi, which checked out, but all other evidence pointed to Song: the victims’ wounds matched his sword, and a witness claimed to have seen him leave the residence carrying it. Jiang suspects someone disguised as Song, but this lead produced no results.
• Shen Shixu agrees to investigate the case in Qu City himself, planning to bring Jiang Bin and Zhang Ming along.

Character developments and interactions

• Jiang Miaokong explains his connection to Song and admits that his past as a thief repeatedly brought them together. Though still irreverent, he is deeply concerned for Song and seeks help because he believes the case is unjust.
• Song Zhuoyang is portrayed through Jiang’s account as upright, stubborn, and protective: he pursues Jiang, lectures him about stealing, and once pleads to spare him punishment.
• Shen Shixu shifts from questioning Jiang’s claims to becoming intrigued by the contradictions in the evidence and taking personal responsibility for the investigation.
• Xiao Jinyi silently envies Jiang and Song’s intimacy, wishing for similar closeness with Shen Shixu.
• Jiang’s blunt account of his night with Song leaves the courtyard awkwardly silent, while also strengthening his certainty that Song could not have committed the massacre.

Significant themes

• Justice and wrongful accusation: Song’s innocence is supported by a credible alibi, yet circumstantial evidence makes him appear guilty.
• Deception and unreliable appearances: The evidence seems deliberately planted, and the possibility of disguise makes the case’s apparent facts suspect.
• Chance, attachment, and change: Repeated encounters draw Jiang and Song together, gradually turning an adversarial pursuit into a close relationship.
• Trust and proof: Jiang’s personal certainty is not enough; the case requires witnesses and investigation to establish the truth.

Plot points and events

• Jiang Miaokong thanks Shen Shixu for agreeing to investigate Song Zhuoyang’s imprisonment. Shen recruits Xiao Jinyi, who eagerly joins, and asks Xiao Yuanqi to prepare gifts for the Empress Dowager’s upcoming birthday while they are away.
• Shen also summons Jiang Bin and Zhang Ming. The group sets out immediately, and Jiang Miaokong resumes his true identity after Little Fang—whose place he had taken—is released and found not seriously injured.
• After seven days of nonstop travel, they reach Qu City exhausted. They sensibly rest for the night, then go to the County Office the next day.
• Shen presents his official token, prompting the local officials to greet him. The Prefect admits the case has baffled them and offers his cooperation.
• Shen asks for a complete account of the case and requests to examine the victims’ bodies, convinced they may hold overlooked evidence.

Character developments and interactions

• Shen Shixu takes charge decisively, balancing urgency with practical judgment: he insists on leaving at once but allows the group to recover after the punishing journey. His authority earns the local officials’ respect.
• Xiao Jinyi is eager to accompany Shen and stays attentive to his condition, recognizing that exhaustion would undermine the investigation.
• Jiang Miaokong is anxious to save Song Zhuoyang but accepts that rest is necessary for an effective investigation. His return to his real appearance makes his worry visible.
• Xiao Yuanqi supports the mission and agrees to handle the birthday gifts.
• Jiang Bin and Zhang Ming respond enthusiastically to being included; Zhang’s thoughtful packing contrasts with Jiang Bin’s reliance on money to buy supplies.
• The Prefect tries to establish a good relationship with Shen, while honestly acknowledging the limits of the local investigation.

Significant themes

• Urgency balanced with prudence: The group acts quickly but recognizes that rest is essential to doing the work well.
• Cooperation and responsibility: Personal obligations and official duties are coordinated so the investigation can proceed.
• Authority and competence: Shen’s official standing opens doors, but his questions and initiative demonstrate that effective investigation requires more than rank.
• The search for overlooked truth: Shen’s insistence on examining the bodies signals that the case may hinge on evidence others missed.

Key plot points and events

• Shen Shixu and Xiao Jinyi inspect four especially gruesome victims from the Song family massacre. The other servants and maids were killed with sword strikes after someone drugged the household’s well, allowing over a hundred people to be murdered quietly.
• The four victims suffered distinct deaths: Mr. Song was nearly cut in half; Mrs. Song’s abdomen was brutally mutilated; the family steward had his hands severed and the wounds repeatedly scalded; and young Song Xianghe, an ill child, died peacefully in his sleep from the drugs.
• Xu Guangyi and Wu Dazhi suspect revenge was the motive, but the Song family was known to have treated people kindly, and the killer’s resemblance to Song Zhuoyang makes the case baffling.
• Xu proposes that the killer might be Mrs. Song’s illegitimate son. Shen offers another theory: the killer and Song Zhuoyang may be twins, one of whom was secretly sent away. Their theory could explain the targeted cruelty toward the parents and steward, as well as the wider slaughter.
• Wu leaves to question Song Zhuoyang in prison, while Xu sets out to ask the family’s relatives and acquaintances whether Mrs. Song had ever given birth to twins.

Character developments and interactions

• Shen remains composed in the autopsy room and shows consideration for Jiang Bin and Zhang Ming, allowing them to leave when they cannot bear the corpses. His calm professionalism impresses Xu and Wu.
• Xu and Wu openly share their conclusions with Shen and Xiao, then work through Shen’s twin theory together. Their initial suspicion of an illegitimate child shifts toward a potentially stronger lead.
• Shen and Xu demonstrate complementary investigative instincts: both look for a connection between the killer’s identity and the unusual injuries inflicted on Mrs. Song.
• Wu and Xu respond decisively to the new theory, splitting up to pursue separate lines of inquiry.

Significant themes

• Revenge and family abandonment: The investigators imagine that a discarded twin might have grown up seeking vengeance against the parents and steward who abandoned him.
• The limits of evidence: The killer’s resemblance to Song Zhuoyang and the victims’ wounds suggest a story, but it remains speculation until corroborated.
• Professional composure and compassion: Shen’s steadiness at the scene is balanced by his sympathy for the murdered child and concern for his colleagues.

Key plot points

• Shen Shixu and Xiao Jinyi join the investigation, while Jiang Bin and Zhang Ming are left recovering from their nausea. Shen’s blunt remark that they are “useless” worsens their misery; Xiao Jinyi explains that Shen sounded like a stern father, making him laugh.
• The investigators examine whether Song Zhuoyang had a twin. Zhuoyang insists his parents had only two children: him and his younger brother, Xianghe.
• Xu Guangyi checks with a family friend and Doctor Yu’s old medical records. Both confirm that Madam Song’s pregnancy with Zhuoyang appeared small because she was weak and the baby was undernourished—not because she carried twins.
• Shen and Xiao hear the same account from a Song relative. Just as they are about to leave, the relative’s wife reveals a possible explanation: Zhuoyang’s mother had a twin aunt, whose daughter looked exactly like her. The girl was raised alongside her cousin, and people mistook them for twins.

Character developments and interactions

• Shen’s harsh, fatherly manner contrasts with Xiao’s affectionate teasing. Shen is briefly captivated by Xiao’s smile and admits he wants to see him smile, though not at his expense.
• Jiang Bin and Zhang Ming take Shen’s criticism hard. Zhang resolves to spend more time around autopsies to overcome his sensitivity.
• Second Madam Song silences her husband when he dismisses the old family story, then provides the detail that redirects the investigation.

Significant themes

• Appearances versus truth: Two cousins who looked identical were widely believed to be twins, suggesting that resemblance may have fueled the mistaken twin theory.
• Memory and evidence: Witness testimony and medical records challenge the investigators’ initial theory, while an overlooked family anecdote opens a new lead.
• Humor amid investigation: Teasing and the men’s misery provide comic relief alongside the case’s growing uncertainty.

Plot points and events

• While investigating the Song family massacre, Shen Shixu and Xiao Jinyi follow up on Second Madam Song’s recollection of an estranged cousin, Fang Keru, who looked like Madam Song.
• They visit Madam Song’s natal family. Fang Yue, whose father has been bedridden since hearing of the massacre and the false accusation against the surviving Song nephew, eagerly asks whether the case has been solved.
• Fang Yue knows of Fang Keru but has never met her. He finds a letter she sent to her parents: she said her husband’s family treated her well, she was pregnant, and she would visit when she could. The letter gave no address and arrived after her parents had died.
• As Shen and Xiao are leaving, Fang Yue’s father wakes and says Fang Keru likely lives in Guirong Town, near Qu City.
• Fang Father explains that Fang Keru eloped with a poor scholar despite the family’s objections. He believed the man had already fathered a child with a “child bride” and was seeking Fang Keru for her beauty and her family’s money. The family confined her, but she escaped through a window and over the wall.

Character developments and interactions

• Shen Shixu carefully pursues a new lead, asking about Fang Keru’s correspondence and whereabouts.
• Xiao Jinyi quietly shows jealousy when Fang Yue grabs Shen’s hand, pulling it away; Fang Yue notices his overfamiliarity and apologizes.
• Fang Yue is earnest and desperate for justice for his aunt, while remaining protective of his father’s fragile health.
• Fang Father, despite his illness and resentment toward Fang Keru’s husband, rises to help the investigation, hoping the case’s resolution will bring him peace.
• The family’s account reveals a painful rift: Fang Father and his parents tried to stop Fang Keru, while she chose love and independence over their judgment.

Significant themes

• Family estrangement and regret: Fang Keru’s letter arrived too late, and years of silence have separated her from her relatives.
• Trust and deception: The family’s suspicions about the scholar’s existing relationship complicate the story of Fang Keru’s elopement.
• Justice and hope: The Song family’s tragedy remains unresolved, but the search for Fang Keru offers a possible new lead.

Key plot points and events

• After tracing a letter sent by their cousin, Shen Shixu and Xiao Jinyi learn that Fang Keru once left home with her husband and has had no contact with her family since. Shen keeps their suspicions to himself, promising to share more once the case is solved.
• The pair travel to Guirong Town, joined on the road by Jiang Miaokong. At their inn, they see a waiter drive a disheveled woman outside and help her up.
• The woman appears mentally ill but is warmly dressed. She mistakes Shen Shixu for a handsome son and speaks of a brother and sister, prompting him to suspect she is the missing Fang Keru.
• The waiter recounts her history: she was allegedly deceived into marrying a poor scholar who already had a child bride. After Fang gave birth, her in-laws accused her of infidelity, beat her, and demanded money from her family. She later went mad. The scholar died in a well, the child bride fled with her daughter, and Fang’s child was apparently sold.
• A handsome visitor recently cared for Fang and paid neighbors to look after her. Shen suspects he was her son, but asks Jiang whether he or Song Zhuoyang could have visited. Jiang says neither knew the town. Shen proposes comparing a drawing of Song with the visitor’s description.

Character developments and interactions

• Shen Shixu moves from cautious investigation to recognizing Fang Keru and actively seeking to identify the man who visited her.
• Xiao Jinyi remains quietly at Shen’s side and helps him assist Fang.
• Jiang Miaokong’s sympathy for the vulnerable leads him to confront the waiter, then he cooperates with Shen’s investigation.
• Fang Keru’s cheerful, confused manner contrasts with the suffering revealed in the waiter’s account. The waiter, initially arguing with Jiang, becomes a source of key information after Shen pays him.
• The chapter connects Fang’s abandoned life to her brother, sister, husband, and presumed son, while leaving the visitor’s identity unresolved.

Significant themes

• Abuse and vulnerability: Fang is exploited by her husband’s family and left without protection.
• Class and deception: Her wealth and appearance make her a target for a poor scholar’s calculated courtship.
• Compassion and community: Strangers help Fang survive, while Jiang and Shen respond to her immediate mistreatment.
• Family bonds and unresolved identity: The search for Fang raises questions about her relatives and the mysterious visitor who may be her son.

Key events

• Shen Shixu agrees to help identify the man who visited the inn by drawing him from Jiang Miaokong’s description. His first, instinctive sketch is of Xiao Jinyi in imagined Silver Armor, sword bloodied amid a battlefield.
• Xiao Jinyi is moved by the portrait and asks to keep it; Shen gives it to him.
• Jiang describes Song Zhuoyang, and Shen produces a strikingly lifelike likeness.
• Shen encourages Jiang to learn painting and make amends for anything he has stolen. Jiang accepts the offer to become Shen’s student and explains that his thefts were few and temporary.
• The waiter recognizes the second portrait as nearly identical to the man he saw days earlier, but points out differences in the eyes and the absence of a mole. He wonders whether the two men are twins, though he knows of no report that their mother had twins.

Character developments and interactions

• Shen’s artistic ability surprises Jiang, who had assumed it might be useful only for official suspect portraits. Shen’s generosity extends beyond helping with the investigation: he offers Jiang a skill and a chance to change his life.
• Jiang, initially skeptical and unsure how to respond to kindness, opens up about his past. He says Song Xianghe befriended him and taught him to read, helping keep him from becoming a real thief.
• Xiao Jinyi’s affection for Shen is evident in how much he values both the painting and its creator.
• The waiter’s close comparison introduces a possible connection between Song Zhuoyang and the ominous visitor, while leaving their relationship unresolved.

Significant themes

• Compassion and second chances: Shen treats Jiang as someone capable of choosing a different future rather than defining him by his past.
• Art and perception: Shen’s paintings capture likenesses powerfully, yet subtle differences—especially in the eyes—may reveal character.
• Identity and resemblance: The near-match between the portrait and the visitor raises the possibility of twins or another hidden relationship.
• Affection and idealization: Shen imagines Xiao Jinyi as a heroic battlefield figure, and Xiao treasures the image as an expression of Shen’s regard.

Plot points and events

• At an inn, Jiang Miaokong learns that a man resembling Song Zhuoyang returned to Qu City—but unlike Song, he lacked the small mole beneath his lip. Shen Shixu gets the waiter’s signed statement, providing grounds to release the wrongly accused Song.
• Xiao Jinyi argues that the mastermind will keep trying to kill Song and ruin his reputation. He proposes using Song’s release to draw the culprit into acting so they can catch him.
• The group returns to Qu City at dawn and briefs officials Xu Guangyi and Wu Dazhi. Shen says the case has a promising lead, but the lookalike, the original eyewitness’s identification, the Sunlit Sword wounds, and the culprit’s motive still need investigation.
• With the Empress Dowager’s birthday banquet approaching and little time left in Qu City, Shen and Xiao must also prepare gifts and finish the case quickly.

Character developments and interactions

• Shen is practical and fair-minded: he recognizes the value of others’ work and refuses to take sole credit. He also sincerely praises Xu and Wu for their diligence and for refusing to convict Song without proof.
• Xu and Wu are moved by Shen’s respect. They respond with heartfelt advice: officials should keep their conscience, remember their duty to the people, and never sacrifice what matters for wealth or status.
• Xiao shows urgency about capturing the mastermind and care for Shen, urging him not to rush his meal and giving him water. His reminder about the birthday deadline prompts Shen to hurry.
• Jiang is relieved that Song may be released and eager to secure the waiter’s testimony. The group works together despite exhaustion.

Significant themes

• Justice and evidence: Song’s release depends on credible testimony, while the investigation remains open until the suspect, motive, and physical evidence are established.
• Integrity in public service: Xu and Wu’s refusal to bend under pressure earns Shen’s respect; their advice emphasizes conscience and responsibility to ordinary people.
• Shared effort and humility: Progress comes from combining Shen’s investigation with Xu’s deduction and Wu’s careful forensic work—not from one person alone.