Recaps

Jian Ruonan discovered that Gao Shou’s blades could never hit him and decided to turn his immunity into a performance for the Longevity Celebration. Gao Shou planned to enter the palace with Teng as an attendant, while Shang Er and Zi Azha prepared to act against Emperor Deyuan.

• Jian Ruonan and the others threw knives at Gao Shou, but the blades veered around him and landed at his feet.
• Jian Ruonan devised a blindfolded flying-dagger performance using Gao Shou as her target for the Longevity Celebration.
• Gao Shou pretended Teng had thrown the knives and persuaded him to let Gao Shou enter the palace disguised as his attendant.
• Gao Shou told Shang Er he could enter the palace, and Shang Er planned to coordinate an attack from inside and outside once Emperor Deyuan died.
• Jian Ruonan sent the palace formal notice that she would perform Blindfolded Flying-Dagger Throwing at the Longevity Celebration.

As the Jinyang Marquis's family traveled to Emperor Deyuan's Longevity Celebration, Teng shared gossip that drew officials and their families into a roadside gathering. Jian Ruonan then revealed scandalous details about a Lord Qu, leaving every Lord Qu nearby stiff with alarm.

• Old Madam declined Shang Er's wife's invitation to enter the palace together, while Shang Er's wife planned to use Teng to lure Jian Ruonan.
• On the crowded road to the palace, Teng told Min that Wang Defa and Commandery Princess Jiarou had become a couple, prompting the surrounding passengers to gather and listen.
• Jian Ruonan woke when she heard Madam Qu and Madam Lu mentioned and asked Min to secure an invitation to the Qu family's wedding.
• Jian Ruonan revealed through her inner voice that Lord Qu had been intimate with his older brother seven times and planned another rendezvous.
• The Lord Qus stiffened in alarm, and Chief Censor Lord Qu cramped his toes as everyone turned to look at him.

Jian Ruonan called Qu Huacan back and exposed his scandalous encounter with Lu Yuanying, while Qu Huacan’s mother and Madam Lu traded barbs over their sons. The chapter ended with both families learning that Qu Huacan and Lu Yuanying were involved, and the gossip watchers realizing the families were about to become in-laws.

• Jian Ruonan called Qu Huacan back, and he admitted he had left during Xu Hour while hiding his embarrassment over his night with Sister Ruan.
• Madam Lu mocked Qu Huacan for apparently planning to flee his wedding, and Madam Qu retaliated by bringing up the missing Lu family's fourth young master.
• Jian Ruonan’s thoughts revealed that Lu Yuanying was hiding in a brothel as its star courtesan, prompting Madam Lu to worry about his actions and her brothel.
• Jian Ruonan’s thoughts revealed that Lu Yuanying was the man involved with Qu Huacan, shocking both families and the gossip watchers.
• Madam Lu tore her handkerchief and Madam Qu snapped her bracelet as Jian Ruonan silently mocked their sons.

Emperor Deyuan waited for birthday greetings while officials stopped to share gossip, and Jian Ruonan arrived at the palace after a leisurely breakfast and wash. At the Golden Hall, Northern Kingdom envoy Yuwen Shu mistook Gao Shou for General Jian before Jian Ruonan revealed herself, leaving him stunned.

• Emperor Deyuan learned that officials were delayed by gossip about Lu Yuanying and Qu Huacan, then ordered them to enter the palace before the auspicious hour.
• Wei Liren personally managed traffic as Jian Ruonan washed, ate breakfast, and had her hair done in her carriage; Min and her children reacted to her pampered routine.
• Dantai Mo waited at the palace gates and heard that several families were interested in Jian Ruonan despite the Black Tortoise System calling her lazy.
• Jian Ruonan entered the palace with her family and Gao Shou, while Teng and the others concealed their plan to bring Gao Shou past the guards without a search.
• Yuwen Shu mistook Gao Shou for General Jian, and Jian Ruonan stepped forward to identify herself, shocking the Northern Kingdom envoy.

Jian Ruonan exposed Yuwen Shu’s family secrets and accepted a mounted-archery contest against the Northern Kingdom’s warrior, wagering ten thousand horses against a princess’s marriage alliance. She set the contest’s rules and had Gao Shou tied to one of the spinning targets, leaving the Northern Kingdom to provide its own volunteer.

• Yuwen Shu and the Northern Kingdom envoys doubted Jian Ruonan’s reputation until she publicly revealed Yuwen Shu’s family relationships and his inherited wives and concubines.
• Warrior Lan challenged Jian Ruonan to a mounted-archery contest, and she agreed after he boasted of his skill.
• Jian Ruonan proposed wagering ten thousand fine horses against a princess marrying into the Northern Kingdom, and Yuwen Shu agreed to the terms.
• Emperor Deyuan had the agreement drawn up and signed after Jian Ruonan claimed she was certain to win.
• Jian Ruonan introduced spinning targets and rules that penalized hitting a person, then Jian Huayuan knocked Gao Shou unconscious and tied him to a wheel as their volunteer.

Jian Ruonan turned the archery contest against the Northern Kingdom into a showcase of her skill, while Warrior Lan schemed to gain an advantage. The chapter ended as he began shooting at the slowing wheel after Yuwen Shu’s urine forced its operators to dodge.

• Jian Ruonan exposed Gao Shou’s failed sneak attack and persuaded Yuwen Shu to volunteer for the Northern Kingdom.
• Jian Ruonan mounted Little White Horse and used her Zhuge Repeating Crossbow to score ten points, placing all ten arrows around Gao Shou without hitting him.
• Warrior Lan dismissed Jian Ruonan’s skill and told Yuwen Shu he could beat her, then waited for the wheel to spin.
• Warrior Lan’s plan to frighten Yuwen Shu made the strongmen operating the wheel dodge his flying urine, slowing the wheel as Warrior Lan began shooting.

Jian Ruonan humiliated the Northern Kingdom envoys during the spinning-wheel archery contest, while Warrior Lan’s second-round shots wounded Yuwen Shu and left him unconscious. Yuwen Shu woke to find himself choking, and his last thought was a plea to Great-Grandma.

• Yuwen Shu used his urine to slow the wheel, tying the first round with Warrior Lan as Jian Ruonan photographed and scolded him.
• The officials dried the wheel, and Warrior Lan stalled during the second round until Yuwen Shu became sick from spinning.
• Warrior Lan shot Yuwen Shu several times, earning one point but losing forty-five points after his arrows struck Yuwen Shu’s body and crotch.
• Jian Ruonan blindfolded herself and had Warrior Lan cover Yuwen Shu’s eyes, waking him with her taunts.
• Yuwen Shu began choking and called out to Great-Grandma in his thoughts.

Jian Ruonan recovered Yuwen Shu with Talk Therapy, then won the archery contest as Warrior Lan surrendered and Yuwen Shu died. After the Northern Kingdom forfeited ten thousand steeds, Jian Ruonan revealed Gao Shou was a spy with a special ability, and Emperor Deyuan returned to use him for archery practice.

• Jian Ruonan used Talk Therapy to redirect Yuwen Shu's murderous intent toward Warrior Lan, reviving him.
• Jian Ruonan scored thirty points with blindfolded archery, while Warrior Lan tried to make Yuwen Shu shoot in his place.
• Yuwen Shu's murderous thoughts triggered another throat-locking attack, and he died; Warrior Lan surrendered, forfeiting ten thousand steeds to Great Xia.
• Jian Ruonan told Emperor Deyuan that Gao Shou was a spy with a special ability and suggested watching him to catch other infiltrators.
• Emperor Deyuan returned to the Hall of Martial Valor and ordered a hundred arrows so he could practice archery on Gao Shou.

Jian Ruonan turned the Hall of Martial Valor into a paid archery game for the palace children, then asked the Eldest Princess to help promote her new Parentage Testing Center. The Eldest Princess initially refused but snatched up Jian Ruonan’s flyers after hearing her juicy thoughts about the palace guests.

• Emperor Deyuan left the Hall of Martial Valor after enjoying archery, while Jian Ruonan reunited with the Ninth Prince, Teng, Princess Funing, Commandery Princess Jiarou, and Jia Shan.
• Jian Ruonan charged the children gold to shoot arrows at Gao Shou, and Commandery Princess Jiarou outbid Princess Funing for her place in line.
• The Ninth Prince summoned the other young masters and mistresses, and Jian Ruonan collected money as the children played while Gao Shou endured being spun repeatedly.
• Jian Ruonan changed clothes with Commandery Princess Jiarou, and the Eldest Princess came to fetch her for the emperor’s banquet and checked in with Jia Shan.
• Jian Ruonan asked the Eldest Princess to distribute flyers for her Parentage Testing Center, but the Eldest Princess rejected the request until Jian Ruonan’s thoughts about palace gossip changed her mind.

Jian Ruonan and the Eldest Princess distributed flyers advertising her pregnancy services, while the Eldest Princess uncovered Commandery Princess Jiarou's feelings for Wang Defa. At the Imperial Garden, Jian Ruonan met the Prince of the Southeast's heir apparent's pregnant consort as other ladies questioned her propriety.

• The Eldest Princess and Wang Defa agreed to distribute Jian Ruonan's flyers among titled ladies and officials.
• The Eldest Princess teased Commandery Princess Jiarou about Wang Defa and asked why she had stopped adoring the imprisoned Third Prince.
• Jian Ruonan focused on the banquet food while Wang Defa watched over the Scavenger Group.
• A lady asked Jian Ruonan whether she could determine her pregnant sister's baby's sex, and Jian Ruonan confidently agreed.
• Madam Li brought her younger sister, the Prince of the Southeast's heir apparent's consort, to meet the Eldest Princess and Jian Ruonan.
• Several ladies whispered that Jian Ruonan was being improper, and Jian Ruonan heard their remarks.

Jian Ruonan confronted officials’ wives who mocked her decision not to marry by exposing Madam Wu’s husband’s betrayals and asking whether she was happy in her marriage. Madam Wu refused a divorce, and Jian Ruonan prepared to reveal more.

• The Prince of the Southeast's Heir Apparent's Consort and her companions criticized Jian Ruonan for refusing to marry, while Jian Xilu and Min watched.
• Jian Ruonan asked Madam Wu whether she was happy in her marriage, and Madam Wu claimed she was blessed and had never quarreled with her husband.
• Jian Ruonan revealed that Lord Wu had neglected Madam Wu during a dangerous childbirth, stolen her dowry, and used it to support his affairs.
• Jian Ruonan exposed Madam Wu’s close friend wearing a pearl stolen from her dowry and said Madam Wu’s senior maid was pregnant by Lord Wu and had stolen more of her belongings.
• Jian Ruonan asked Madam Wu whether she wanted a divorce; Madam Wu said no, so Jian Ruonan continued.

Jian Ruonan exposed how Madam Wu’s husband and his family exploited and deceived her, leaving Madam Wu devastated and eager to divorce him. The chapter ended with Jian Ruonan pressing her to reconsider whether marriage was worth it.

• Jian Ruonan listed the ways Madam Wu had sacrificed for her husband’s family while her husband frequented brothels, and Wang Defa showed evidence on a Light Screen.
• Madam Wu nearly fainted, but Jian Ruonan and the young eunuchs revived her as the officials’ wives praised Jian Ruonan’s kindness.
• Jian Ruonan revealed that Madam Wu’s husband, Wu the Whoring Bug, and his childhood sweetheart Li Chenchen planned to take Madam Wu’s dowry and children after her death.
• Jian Ruonan explained that Madam Wu’s children resented her and that her family and senior maid Yanque knew about the affair while keeping Madam Wu in the dark.
• Madam Wu fainted again, was revived with Jian Ruonan’s help, and finally wanted to go home and divorce Wu the Whoring Bug.

Jian Ruonan persuaded Madam Wu to return home and seek a Divorce by Mutual Agreement, then confronted the gathered women about marriage. The chapter ended as the crowd prepared to learn whether the Prince of the Southeast's Heir Apparent's Consort was carrying a son or daughter.

• Jian Ruonan comforted Madam Wu by arguing that an unmarried woman could be happier and freer, and Madam Wu decided to return home for a Divorce by Mutual Agreement.
• Jian Ruonan escorted Madam Wu to the palace gates, where Madam Wu rode off toward the southeast to face the Wu Family.
• Jian Ruonan asked Wang Defa to arrange help for Madam Wu in the Southeast, and he agreed to find relatives who could assist her.
• At the Empress's tea gathering, Jian Ruonan challenged women who had praised marriage, but they quickly denied their earlier views.
• Jian Ruonan remembered that the main event was checking the Prince of the Southeast's Heir Apparent's Consort's pulse to determine whether she carried a son or daughter.

Jian Ruonan stopped the Prince of the Southeast's Heir Apparent's Consort from leaving by claiming she had divined the sex and paternity of her unborn child. She revealed that the child was the Prince of the Southeast's son, leaving the Empress unsure how to respond without proof.

• The Prince of the Southeast's Heir Apparent's Consort tried to leave rather than let Jian Ruonan examine her pulse, but Jian Ruonan said she was carrying a son and persuaded her to sit back down.
• Jian Ruonan claimed she had divined the baby's sex, then announced that the Prince of the Southeast's Heir Apparent's Consort's son was not the heir apparent's child.
• The Prince of the Southeast's Heir Apparent's Consort accused Jian Ruonan of slander and appealed to the Empress for justice.
• Jian Ruonan declared that the unborn child was the Prince of the Southeast's son and the heir apparent's younger brother.
• The Prince of the Southeast's Heir Apparent's Consort demanded that the Empress defend her, but the Empress had no evidence to prove or disprove Jian Ruonan's claim.

Jian Ruonan staged a thunder god’s descent to expose the Prince of the Southeast’s Heir Apparent’s Consort as a liar about her pregnancy. The consort became terrified and agreed to confess, leaving the truth about the child’s father about to come out.

• The Heir Apparent’s Consort challenged Jian Ruonan to summon a deity, wagering that she could decide Jian Ruonan’s marriage if no deity appeared.
• Jian Ruonan accepted, and Chen Pozi helped her set up a mist-filled hall and a Tesla Coil for the performance.
• Jian Ruonan declared herself Gulnara, Dark Electricity God, and called the consort by her maiden name, Ji Nanzhen, while displaying artificial lightning.
• Jian Ruonan ordered Ji Nanzhen to kneel and asked who fathered her unborn child; Ji Nanzhen claimed it was the heir apparent.
• Jian Ruonan staged a lightning strike with Chen Pozi’s help, frightening Ji Nanzhen until she agreed to confess everything.

The Prince of the Southeast's Heir Apparent's Consort confessed that her unborn child belonged to the Prince of the Southeast after Jian Ruonan's Light Screen exposed their affair. The Prince of the Southeast's Heir arrived at the Side Hall believing his child was in danger, but he still did not know the truth as he erupted in rage.

• The Prince of the Southeast's Heir Apparent's Consort pretended to faint, but Jian Ruonan's Light Screen revealed her repeated affairs with the Prince of the Southeast.
• The Prince of the Southeast's Heir Apparent's Consort confessed that the child in her womb belonged to the Prince of the Southeast, and Top Graduate Hou summoned the Prince of the Southeast's Heir.
• The Prince of the Southeast's Heir met with the Heir of the Prince of the Southwest and Zi Azha, who discussed their plan to find Gao Shou and keep Jian Ruonan in check.
• A servant told the Prince of the Southeast's Heir that his consort had urgently called for him over a matter concerning his offspring, so he left the banquet and hurried to the Side Hall.
• The Prince of the Southeast's Heir found his consort crying and assumed she had lost the child, then shouted that he would exterminate the clan of whoever had harmed it.

Jian Ruonan exposed the Prince of the Southeast’s heir as a cuckold before the Golden Guards arrested him and the other fief heirs. She then headed for the Southeast, hoping Madam Wu’s changed fate would earn her the heartfelt blessing she needed to give Black Tortoise physical form.

• Jian Ruonan used talk therapy to revive the Prince of the Southeast’s heir, then revealed that his unborn child was fathered by his own father.
• Zi Azha and the Heir of the Prince of the Southwest found Gao Shou bound to a spinning wheel, but Golden Guards surrounded them before they could rescue him.
• The Golden Guards arrested the three heirs of the Princes of a Fief, while Jian Ruonan decided to travel incognito to the Southeast and seek Madam Wu’s blessing.
• After returning to the Southeast, Madam Wu rested for seven days and observed how the Wu Residence mistreated and exploited her.
• Madam Wu received a visiting card from her younger female cousin and eagerly asked for her to be shown in.

Jian Ruonan visited Madam Wu in disguise as her sickly, impoverished cousin, hoping to enjoy the household intrigue. She helped inspire Madam Wu to expose and dismiss Yanque, who revealed she was pregnant with the master’s child.

• Jian Ruonan arrived at Madam Wu’s residence disguised as her distant cousin Little Jian and explained that she had come to sponge off her.
• Madam Wu arranged new clothes and furnishings for Jian Ruonan, who settled beside her and eagerly listened as Yanque criticized the household.
• Madam Wu realized Yanque was trying to stir conflict and ordered her nursemaid to strike Yanque for slandering the old madam.
• Madam Wu ordered Yanque sold, but Yanque confessed that she was pregnant with the master’s child.
• Jian Ruonan questioned why Madam Wu had waited to deal with Yanque, and Madam Wu said Little Jian had given her the confidence to act.

Madam Wu followed Jian Ruonan's advice and made Yanque a concubine, placing her next to Li Chenchen's courtyard. When Yanque discovered Wu Li openly embracing Li Chenchen, she complained to Madam Wu, but Jian Ruonan reminded her that the Old Madam's niece was beyond Madam Wu's authority.

• Jian Ruonan advised Madam Wu to make pregnant Yanque a concubine and place her beside Li Chenchen rather than sell her.
• Madam Wu made Yanque a concubine, gave her new clothes, jewelry, and maids, and assigned her a courtyard next to Li Chenchen's.
• Li Chenchen stirred Wu Xinxin's resentment over her sister-in-law's spending and dowry, prompting Wu Xinxin to go confront the Old Madam.
• Wu Li greeted Yanque but did not visit her courtyard, instead spending several nights with Li Chenchen.
• Yanque overheard servants say Wu Li preferred secret affairs, then peeked through a hole in the wall and saw him embracing Li Chenchen.
• Yanque complained to Madam Wu, and Jian Ruonan said Li Chenchen was the Old Madam's niece and outside Madam Wu's authority.

Jian Ruonan confronted the Wu family over their treatment of Li Chenchen and their use of her cousin’s dowry. She exposed their hypocrisy, forced Old Madam to order Li Chenchen’s belongings returned, and ended by declaring herself the legendary Crouching Dragon and Young Phoenix.

• Yanque celebrated Madam Wu’s rewards by loudly insulting Li Chenchen, who endured the harassment while Wu Li stayed away.
• Li Chenchen complained to Old Madam and Wu Xinxin, prompting Old Madam to order Madam Wu to throw out the poor relative’s belongings.
• Jian Ruonan arrived reclining on a carrying chair, and Madam Wu revealed that the belongings being thrown out belonged to Li Chenchen, not Jian Ruonan.
• Jian Ruonan argued that the Wu family lived off her cousin Zeng-shi’s dowry and threatened to spread the story through hired storytellers.
• After Jian Ruonan traded insults with Wu Xinxin and Old Madam, Old Madam ordered Li Chenchen’s belongings returned.
• Jian Ruonan mocked the Wu family for mistaking her for the poor relative and called herself the legendary Crouching Dragon and Young Phoenix.

Madam Wu and Jian Ruonan thwarted the old madam’s attempt to take shops from Madam Wu’s dowry, and Madam Wu secretly moved her wealth out of the Wu residence. Li Chenchen tried to secure her place by pursuing Wu Li, but Wu-shi’s children caught her behaving in a way that shattered their idealized image of her.

• Jian Ruonan exposed the old madam’s demand for shops from Madam Wu’s dowry, and Madam Wu proposed using the eight hundred taels of annual tuition to fund Wu Xinxin instead.
• The old madam agreed to let Li Chenchen stay five more days, and Madam Wu reclaimed the deed to the oil shop.
• Madam Wu and Jian Ruonan transferred most of her dowry out of the Wu residence and changed the merchants’ payment schedule to monthly settlements.
• Li Chenchen tried to summon Wu Li but learned he had gone to Yanque’s courtyard, where Yanque later flaunted Madam Wu’s gifts and planned to expand her courtyard.
• Li Chenchen intercepted Wu Li and spent the night with him, so Yanque sent Wu-shi’s son and daughter to witness Li Chenchen clinging to their father and speaking obscenely.

Madam Wu and Jian Ruonan arranged for Li Chenchen to be exposed as Wu Li’s lover, while Madam Wu’s children gradually turned away from their former teacher. After Madam Wu left for the Farm Estate, Lady Li’s extravagant spending left Wu Residence unable to pay its merchants, and Wu Li borrowed from usurers as he waited for Madam Wu to recover.

• Madam Wu agreed to let her children discover Li Chenchen’s affair so they might choose to leave with her in an unconventional divorce.
• Li Chenchen became Wu Li’s concubine after Concubine Yan brought people to catch them together, and Madam Wu pretended to know nothing.
• Madam Wu’s children grew disappointed in Li Chenchen and became more sympathetic toward their mother.
• Madam Wu left for the Farm Estate to recuperate, leaving Lady Li in charge of Wu Residence’s domestic affairs.
• Lady Li lavished expensive goods on the household, but merchants demanded payment for more than ten thousand taels in outstanding bills.
• Wu Li borrowed from usurers to pay the merchants, expecting Madam Wu to repay the debt if she recovered.

Madam Wu sold off her dowry and moved away with Master Zeng, leaving the Wu Family to collapse under debt and blame Li-shi. After receiving Zeng-shi’s blessing, Jian Ruonan returned to capture Black Tortoise and found him in the form of a frightened boy.

• Jian Ruonan persuaded Master Zeng to leave with Madam Wu by promising him a son and a chance to return honorably later.
• Wu Li discovered that Zeng-shi had sold her properties and left a divorce agreement, then learned that the entire Zeng Family had moved away.
• Wu Li forced the family to return its purchases and sell its property to repay debts, while the Wu Family blamed and mistreated Li-shi.
• Jian Ruonan returned from the Southeast and waited near Prince Rui’s residence to capture Black Tortoise.
• Dantai Mo saw Jian Ruonan visit briefly and realized Black Tortoise had gone unusually quiet.
• Jian Ruonan confronted Black Tortoise, who appeared as a small boy wearing a turtle shell and called for Xiaosi to save him.

Jian Ruonan confronted the Black Tortoise System and learned that the small boy had been pretending to be Black Tortoise. He revealed that he was Xuan Xiaowu, Black Tortoise’s younger brother, and had borrowed his identity to play.

• Jian Ruonan mocked the Black Tortoise System’s childlike appearance and confronted him for bad-mouthing her.
• Jian Ruonan summoned the Hou System, which confirmed that it had surpassed Black Tortoise in level.
• Black Tortoise broke down in tears over being surpassed, while the Hou System doubted that he was the real Black Tortoise.
• Jian Ruonan revealed that she knew his identity was false and threatened him with a backscratcher.
• The boy confessed that he was Xuan Xiaowu, Black Tortoise’s younger brother, and had borrowed his identity to come out and play.

Jian Ruonan caught Xuan Xiaowu, a young Black Tortoise who had stolen his brother’s identity, and punished him while Dantai Mo confessed that Black Tortoise had helped him spy on her and steal her energy. After Xuan Xiaowu exposed Dantai Mo’s role, the trio headed to the Jinyang Marquis’s Residence, where Xuan Xiaowu tried to secure his future by calling Dantai Mo “Daddy” and Jian Ruonan “Mommy.”

• Jian Ruonan learned that eight-year-old Xuan Xiaowu had stolen his brother’s identity to take a mission, then spanked him when he tried to charm his way out of punishment.
• Dantai Mo asked Jian Ruonan’s forgiveness and confessed that Black Tortoise had helped heal his legs and let him overhear her conversations with the Hou System.
• Xuan Xiaowu accused Dantai Mo of stealing energy and ordering him to spy on Jian Ruonan, prompting her to reveal Xuan Xiaowu to Dantai Mo.
• Jian Ruonan invited Dantai Mo to the Jinyang Marquis’s Residence to discuss the matter, while Xuan Xiaowu worried that he could not return inside Dantai Mo’s head.
• Xuan Xiaowu clung to Dantai Mo’s leg and called him “Daddy,” offering to take the blame and help him win Jian Ruonan over before calling Jian Ruonan “Mommy.”