Chapter Summaries

The Marquise revealed that Marquis Wuyang had destroyed her family and arranged her childhood sweetheart’s murder after she rejected his proposal. She accused him of colluding with bandits, but he denied it and appealed to Dantai Mo for justice.

• Jian Ruonan’s gossip about the Heir of Marquis Wuyang’s dried-food experiments distracted the crowd, and Marquis Wuyang tried to draw them away with a Sunflower Troupe performance.
• The onlookers returned to the Outer Study and Dantai Mo asked the Marquise why she had switched the drugged wine and given it to Marquis Wuyang and Gao Shan.
• The Marquise said Marquis Wuyang had falsely accused her father and brother after she rejected his proposal, then forced her to marry him by having them imprisoned.
• Jian Ruonan’s inner voice revealed that the Marquise’s childhood sweetheart, Zhong Ruifan, had been killed by bandits bribed by Marquis Wuyang.
• The Marquise accused Marquis Wuyang of arranging the false charges and colluding with bandits, while he denied her claims and pleaded with Dantai Mo to deliver justice.

Dantai Mo used Jian Ruonan’s inner thoughts to uncover the chain of intermediaries behind Marquis Wuyang’s crime and had the culprits arrested. After the Marquise confronted her husband, Jian later guessed that the Black Tortoise System was bound to Dantai Mo, setting her sights on catching it.

• Marquis Wuyang denied the Marquise’s accusations and demanded that Dantai Mo punish her for slander, but Jian Ruonan’s thoughts revealed that he had arranged the crime through several intermediaries.
• Jian Ruonan identified Li Heng and Yang Ming as surviving links in the scheme, and Dantai Mo sent the Embroidered Uniform Guard to arrest them.
• Li Heng confessed under pressure, and Dantai Mo ordered Marquis Wuyang and the others sent to the Ministry of Justice for trial.
• The Marquise told Marquis Wuyang that none of his three sons were his, prompting him to accuse her of corrupting the estate’s bloodline, while Jian Ruonan noticed that revenge had left the Marquise looking lost.
• Two days later, Jian Ruonan questioned Big System about the Black Tortoise System’s mission and guessed that it was bound to Dantai Mo.

Jian Ruonan learned that Black Tortoise had taken energy from her and planned to question it the next time it appeared. Meanwhile, the Third Prince continued his confinement and grew more suspicious about his mother's death, while Jian Chuxue tried to persuade him to rest.

• Jian Ruonan concluded that the Fourth Prince had used Black Tortoise to steal energy, and Big System clarified that Black Tortoise—not the Fourth Prince—had taken it.
• Jian Ruonan told Big System not to betray her for Black Tortoise and asked it to relay questions about the Fourth Prince and their connection.
• Big System said touching the Fourth Prince earned points, and Jian Ruonan decided to interrogate Black Tortoise when it next appeared.
• The Third Prince copied the Classic of Filial Piety while confined and brooded over his mother's death, which he suspected was not an ordinary stroke.
• Jian Chuxue urged the Third Prince to protect his health, and he briefly mistook her for the Fifth Miss before dismissing everyone for the night.

Jian Ruonan joined her family’s festival calligraphy custom and sent her father a memorial proposing more holidays for Great Xia. At the Third Prince’s Residence, two disguised short men arrived with a box and asked to see the prince.

• Jian Ruonan joined Min and the children in practicing calligraphy, wrote Teng the characters for “misery” and “auspicious,” and let him keep both sheets.
• Jian Ruonan showed Teng her memorial proposing longer holidays, including marriage leave, parental leave, and festival days off.
• Jian Ruonan had a servant deliver the memorial to her father so he could submit it to the emperor.
• Two short peddlers carrying flatbreads arrived at the mourning-decorated Third Prince’s Residence and bribed the gatekeeper to announce them.
• The mustached peddler gave the gatekeeper a rosewood box for the Third Prince, and the gatekeeper went inside with it.

The Third Prince received a token and a claim about Consort Xian’s death that left him locked away in shock. Meanwhile, Jian Ruonan learned how much Teng had spent to get her a bar of soap.

• Emperor Deyuan told the Third Prince to observe mourning and not overthink things, while Mister Ouyang urged him to prepare for his future by finding the Previous Dynasty Treasure.
• The Third Prince agreed to rely on Mister Ouyang and Mr. Snow as he planned to build his strength and gather troops.
• Two flatbread peddlers delivered the Third Prince his mother’s luan-bird gold hairpin and claimed they knew how Consort Xian died.
• White Headscarf gave the Third Prince a Golden Chrysanthemum and claimed he was a descendant of the Wa Royal Family, prompting him to smash objects and shut himself away.
• Teng showed Jian Ruonan a bar of soap he had bought for three taels of silver, and she questioned the expense and effort.

Jian Ruonan showed Teng her scented soap and hair-drying device, then helped Hou Lixie turn the soap into the luxury product Warm Jade. Its success drove Jian Chuxue’s soap business into losses, and she vowed to target Jian Ruonan after inventing a Gunpowder Gun.

• Jian Ruonan showed Teng how to wash with scented soap and shampoo, then demonstrated her handmade ceramic hair dryer.
• Teng urged Jian Ruonan to sell her scented soap, and she agreed to give him a share while asking him to fetch Hou Lixie.
• Hou Lixie, Teng, and Jian Ruonan planned to sell the scented soap as an expensive, scarce product called Warm Jade, with decorative designs and a ceramic hair dryer.
• Warm Jade launched within a week and became a coveted luxury among officials and nobles, while Jian Chuxue’s unsold soap caused heavy losses.
• Jian Chuxue blamed Jian Ruonan for competing against her and vowed to use her future Gunpowder Gun against her.

Jian Ruonan’s warm jade business brought her wealth and customers, while Commandery Princess Jiarou paid heavily for custom sets. As Jian Ruonan prepared to search for the Previous Dynasty Treasure, she discovered that the Third Prince had already begun digging and that rebellion might happen early.

• Min and Jian Zhang benefited from the warm jade trade, while Jian Ruonan sold it to relatives and kept the Old Madam quiet with a visit.
• Commandery Princess Jiarou commissioned a hundred custom warm jade sets, offering fifty thousand taels of gold for a rushed order, and Jian Ruonan agreed to make the first ten soon.
• Min praised soap as an affordable alternative, and Jian Ruonan realized Jian Chuxue had likely made it after leaving the Jinyang Marquis's Residence.
• Teng suggested opening a money house, and Jian Ruonan agreed to consult the Marquis's Brother-in-law.
• Teng asked about preparations to dig up the Previous Dynasty Treasure, and Jian Ruonan saw gossip that the Third Prince had started digging and that rebellion was coming early.

Jian Ruonan learned that the Third Prince’s treasure hunt involved a former dynasty royal seeking to betray him, then waited for the Black Tortoise System to show itself. When Dantai Mo and Black Tortoise sneaked toward the Jinyang Marquis’s Residence, Jian Ruonan caught the system before it could escape.

• Jian Ruonan discovered through Melon Patch that Mister Ouyang was a remnant of the previous dynasty’s royal house who planned to use the Third Prince to find the treasure, then seize it amid a bloody conflict.
• Jian Ruonan warned Teng that the March treasure dig might take several days, and Teng decided to stay behind and focus on his studies.
• After reading a popular novel, Jian Ruonan told Big System she would visit the Fourth Prince’s residence another day, preferring to wait until Black Tortoise came to her unprepared.
• At the Fourth Prince’s residence, Black Tortoise persuaded Dantai Mo to visit the Jinyang Marquis’s Residence under cover of darkness.
• Black Tortoise tried to contact Big System, but Jian Ruonan’s voice interrupted and she called out to the system as it tried to flee.

Jian Ruonan caught the Black Tortoise System stealing energy and bluffed that she knew he had exposed the Fourth Prince. She forced the system to promise to report everything the Fourth Prince did, while the Big System urged her to make him swear an oath.

• Jian Ruonan threatened to tell the Fourth Prince that the Black Tortoise System had blown his cover, and the system admitted it had been stealing energy.
• The Black Tortoise System claimed the Fourth Prince had forced him to steal and tried to flatter Jian Ruonan into believing he was innocent.
• Jian Ruonan threatened to confront the Fourth Prince, prompting the Black Tortoise System to admit he shared some blame.
• Jian Ruonan agreed not to tell the Fourth Prince if the Black Tortoise System reported everything he did, and he reluctantly agreed.
• The Big System told Jian Ruonan to make the Black Tortoise System swear that breaking his promise would corrupt his data and turn him to ash.

Jian Ruonan forced Black Tortoise to swear it would reveal everything about itself and the Fourth Prince, then learned that Big System had damaged Black Tortoise during their arrival in the plane. Black Tortoise revealed that the Fourth Prince was waiting outside the Jinyang Marquis's Residence, but its attempt to set a romantic mood with poetry left Jian Ruonan baffled.

• Jian Ruonan made Black Tortoise swear to disclose everything it knew about its and the Fourth Prince's actions whenever she asked.
• Black Tortoise explained that an impact after it crossed over had damaged its power supply, leaving it low on energy and leaking electricity.
• Jian Ruonan realized Big System might have collided with Black Tortoise, and Big System admitted it might have hit something when it arrived.
• Black Tortoise secretly resolved to get revenge on Big System and tried to charm Jian Ruonan into feeling sympathy for the Fourth Prince.
• Black Tortoise revealed that the Fourth Prince was waiting outside the Jinyang Marquis's Residence, alone and looking toward Jian Ruonan's courtyard, then recited an awkward poem that baffled her.

Jian Ruonan endured the Black Tortoise System’s poetry and learned its claim that Dantai Mo wanted to marry her, though she doubted its story. After the system sent Big System a novel about Skin Hunger Syndrome, Big System read the title aloud and left Jian Ruonan furious at Black Tortoise.

• Jian Ruonan refused to leave her warm bed to visit Dantai Mo, while the Black Tortoise System tried to coax her with poems about his suffering in the cold.
• Big System tried to avoid speaking with Black Tortoise, but the turtle revealed it could hear them and blurted out that Dantai Mo wanted to marry Jian Ruonan.
• Black Tortoise claimed Dantai Mo had prepared iron for Jian Ruonan and had obtained two pandas to make her happy, while Jian Ruonan questioned whether his mission was to win her over.
• Jian Ruonan made Black Tortoise promise not to tell Dantai Mo that she knew its secrets and asked about Skin Hunger Syndrome; Black Tortoise used energy from Big System to send over a novel.
• Black Tortoise privately ordered Big System to read the novel to Jian Ruonan and report what kinds of men she liked, but Big System read the title, "How to Make an Imperial Prince Dote on You for a Lifetime," making Jian Ruonan curse Black Tortoise.

Jian Ruonan’s proposal for an extended holiday was approved, while Dantai Mo received Black Tortoise’s advice on how to win her affection. At afternoon court, Emperor Deyuan announced a new anti-gambling appointment, leaving the officials scrambling to avoid the dangerous post.

• Black Tortoise told Dantai Mo that Jian Ruonan liked an “ATM Slave” and gave him a manual titled “One sentence to make a woman fall for me.”
• Emperor Deyuan examined Jian Ruonan’s Warm Jade and read her memorial proposing an extended Traditional Holiday Break.
• Emperor Deyuan approved Jian Ruonan’s request for 208 days off, astonishing the gathered ministers.
• Dantai Mo read the manual’s opening lines and decided to try begging Jian Ruonan to spend his money.
• Emperor Deyuan proposed a Gambling Ban and announced he would appoint a new Anti-Gambling Imperial Commissioner, prompting the officials to plot ways to avoid the post.

Emperor Deyuan tried to recruit an official to revive the gambling crackdown, which had been abandoned after two commissioners died while investigating powerful Princes of Fiefs. Jian Ruonan woke from a nap to read the officials’ gossip roster, and the chapter ended with her scrutinizing Minister of War Pei Junfei’s description.

• Emperor Deyuan recalled that two Anti-Gambling Imperial Commissioners had died after pursuing gambling dens, with their investigations implicating three powerful Princes of Fiefs.
• Emperor Deyuan asked the court officials to volunteer for the gambling crackdown, but no one stepped forward because they feared for their households.
• Jian Ruonan grew bored as the officials exchanged silent looks and fell asleep in her comfortable chair.
• Emperor Deyuan had a eunuch rearrange Jian Ruonan’s writing tools to wake her, and she opened the roster of officials and their personal details.
• Jian Ruonan recognized Minister of War Pei Junfei as her relative by marriage and decided to postpone gossip about him, then questioned how his buttocks could sag despite his military service.

Jian Ruonan’s thoughts about the officials’ appearance derailed court again, exposing Censor An’s unusual underwear and the Minister of War’s failed attempt to avoid being selected. The emperor returned to the state business of banning gambling and choosing an imperial commissioner, while the court eagerly awaited Jian Ruonan’s next revelation about the Minister of War.

• Emperor Deyuan admitted that he had written the note criticizing Minister of War Pei Junfei’s backside, and the officials teased Pei Junfei as they stared at him.
• Jian Ruonan wondered whether Emperor Deyuan had touched Pei Junfei’s backside, prompting more jokes before she moved on to inspecting the officials.
• Jian Ruonan revealed that Censor An wore a menstrual belt to avoid peeing his pants, and the court’s gossip interrupted its discussion of state affairs.
• Emperor Deyuan recalled that the court was discussing a gambling ban and choosing an imperial commissioner, then prepared to name someone himself.
• Minister of War Pei Junfei held a Concealment Talisman to avoid being called on, but Jian Ruonan’s thoughts exposed his plan and drew everyone’s attention to him.

Jian Ruonan exposed the superstitions and embarrassing family stories of the Minister of War and Minister Pang, leaving the court too wary to speak. When a newly promoted young eunuch refilled her tea, she sensed he had an unusual history and began probing his secrets.

• Jian Ruonan revealed that the Minister of War had used a dog as a stand-in and later bought talismans and another stand-in for it from Abbot Li.
• The Minister of War exposed Minister Pang's superstition, childhood nickname Fartborn, and story of being kicked by his grandson after trying to close the boy's mouth with a shoe insole.
• Minister Pang denied having anything to say when Emperor Deyuan called on him, and the officials fell silent to avoid having their secrets exposed.
• Jian Ruonan ran out of tea and snacks, so Emperor Deyuan signaled a newly promoted young eunuch to serve her.
• Jian Ruonan noticed the unfamiliar eunuch and decided to investigate his skills, discovering that he had long been a gossip magnet.

During court, the ministers learned that a little eunuch had repeatedly drugged Emperor Deyuan with aphrodisiacs because he loved him and wanted to be taken to bed. Jian Ruonan’s gossip then revealed more of the emperor’s drug-fueled antics, including his reaction to a dragon throne, but Emperor Deyuan interrupted before she could explain what happened next.

• The ministers recalled how Jian Zhang had uncovered aphrodisiacs hidden by a little eunuch, earning the title Detective Jian.
• Jian Ruonan’s inner voice revealed that the eunuch had drugged Emperor Deyuan out of devotion and had been promoted after pleasing him.
• The ministers speculated about Emperor Deyuan’s tastes, while the emperor ordered the little eunuch to leave the Golden Hall.
• Jian Ruonan recalled that Emperor Deyuan had returned to his tent and summoned Consort Yi after reacting to a snow-white fawn during a hunt.
• Jian Ruonan began to reveal that Emperor Deyuan had reacted to a newly crafted dragon throne, prompting him to shout for Minister Su before she could finish.

During court, Jian Ruonan’s inner voice exposed gossip about Consort Yi and Chief Minister Su, while Emperor Deyuan tried to steer the officials back to the Gambling Ban. Su volunteered for the task, then pleaded that he was too ill and busy before recommending Pei Junfei; Jian’s thoughts hinted that Su had a sinister reason for targeting him.

• Jian Ruonan’s inner voice revealed that Consort Yi had requested intimacy with Emperor Deyuan during late pregnancy, and she explained that hormonal changes could cause increased arousal.
• Chief Minister Su accepted responsibility for the Gambling Ban, prompting Jian Ruonan to recall that his supposed illness had only been dye rubbing off his underwear.
• After Emperor Deyuan praised Su for volunteering, Jian Ruonan predicted that Su would evade the task and pass it to a political enemy.
• Su claimed that lingering illness and the Ministry of Personnel’s workload prevented him from taking on the task.
• Su recommended Pei Junfei, Minister of War, arguing that the Ministry of War had time to spare and that Pei was suited to the responsibility.
• Jian Ruonan’s inner voice suggested that Su had acted with sinister intent, leaving the officials wondering why the two ministers had turned against each other.

The court debated who should lead the campaign against gambling, as Minister Pei tried to push the assignment onto Chief Minister Su and the other ministers. Shi Fan accepted the role of Anti-Gambling Imperial Commissioner after Jian Zhang’s inner voice exposed his broken household, while Emperor Deyuan’s supposed old age was undercut by a scandalous remark about his strength.

• Minister Pei praised Su Xuelin’s abilities while urging him to lead the anti-gambling campaign, and Su claimed he was unwell.
• Emperor Deyuan called on Hou Wenyao, who said the assignment belonged to Minister Wu, and Wu tried to redirect attention to Shi Fan.
• Jian Zhang’s inner voice revealed that Shi Fan’s sons had left with their mother and that his wife wanted a divorce, prompting the court to see him as suited for the dangerous post.
• Shi Fan volunteered to serve as Anti-Gambling Imperial Commissioner, and Emperor Deyuan appointed him.
• During a court break, Emperor Deyuan said he was old, and Su Xuelin suggested replacing the dragon throne before Jian Zhang’s inner voice made a bawdy remark about the emperor’s strength.

During a court recess, Dantai Mo struggled to find an excuse to give Jian Ruonan iron, so he asked for her advice on abolishing the fiefs. Jian Ruonan proposed an Order of Favorable Succession, and Dantai Mo granted her request for iron, earning her 50 points.

• The court’s ministers gossiped about scandals involving Emperor Deyuan, Censor An, and Yan Jingwei before the afternoon session recessed.
• The Black Tortoise System urged Dantai Mo to give Jian Ruonan iron, but he worried that doing so without a reason would look foolish.
• Dantai Mo approached Jian Ruonan and asked for her thoughts on the Abolition of the Fiefs.
• Jian Ruonan proposed an Order of Favorable Succession that would let every son inherit part of a vassal kingdom’s lands.
• Dantai Mo praised her plan and granted her request for iron, while Jian Ruonan received 50 points after his emotional fluctuations were detected.

Emperor Deyuan and his ministers discussed the gambling ban and the abolition of the fiefs, while Dantai Mo revealed Jian Ruonan’s plan to weaken the princes through the Order of Favorable Succession. The court praised Jian Ruonan and Emperor Deyuan promoted her to Grand Council Secretary and Attendant at the Imperial Court, leaving her horrified at the prospect of attending morning court.

• Shi Fan urged Emperor Deyuan to appoint Jian Ruonan Anti-Gambling Imperial Commissioner, but Emperor Deyuan instead promised she would assist Shi Fan and have the Embroidered Uniform Guard protect his family.
• Emperor Deyuan asked his ministers how to abolish the fiefs, and Dantai Mo presented Jian Ruonan’s Order of Favorable Succession as a way to divide the princes’ lands among their sons over time.
• Emperor Deyuan announced the Order of Favorable Succession, and the Black Tortoise System revealed to the court that Jian Ruonan had devised it.
• Emperor Deyuan promoted Jian Ruonan to Grand Council Secretary and Attendant at the Imperial Court, while Jian Ruonan dreaded the early mornings and daily court attendance the promotion would bring.