Chapter Summaries

Jiang Yingcheng learned from Lei Zhixin how Great Rui had justified past wars, alarming him with hints that she had learned a lesson. At the New Year's Banquet, she collected purses from guests and eyed the foreign envoys, leaving the ministers fearing she was about to put her knowledge to use.

• Jiang Yingcheng asked Lei Zhixin how Great Rui found reasons to attack other countries, and he described exploiting an enemy's wrongdoing or sending an envoy to provoke a fight.
• Jiang Yingcheng's thoughts about having learned a lesson filled Lei Zhixin with dread, and she left with Uncle Liaochen before he could find out what she planned.
• Jiang Yingcheng wore a pink gown to the New Year's Banquet and collected bulging purses from the ruler of the Jianggu Kingdom and other guests.
• Lei Zhixin, Kan Ruifeng, Jiao Hongmiao, and other ministers gathered at Cloudbrook Hall and worried that Jiang Yingcheng intended to act on what she had learned.
• Jiang Yingcheng handed her day's purses to Uncle Liaochen, looked toward the foreign envoys, and wondered whom she should start with.

Jiang Yingcheng learned that the ruler of Yanchu was a tyrant and tried to engineer an accident so she could attack him. Lei Zhixin intervened by faking an injury and accusing the ruler of tripping him.

• Jiang Yingcheng asked her System Bro to investigate the ruler of Yanchu and learned that he was a hypocritical tyrant.
• Jiang Yingcheng planned to hide near a pillar, a screen, or a table and make the ruler fall onto her.
• When the ruler of Yanchu began leaving, Jiang Yingcheng decided to charge straight at him.
• Lei Zhixin distracted Jiang Yi'an and deliberately fell as he passed the ruler of Yanchu.
• Lei Zhixin struck himself with internal energy, showed blood at his mouth, and accused the ruler of tripping him.

After Lei Zhixin pretended to be injured to frame the Ruler of Yanchu, Jiang Yingcheng helped the officials keep up the act while the ruler mistook Great Rui’s scheming for kindness. The officials learned Jiang Yingcheng had information on Yanchu, and she began plotting to use the same trick against other kingdoms.

• Lei Zhixin accused the Ruler of Yanchu, then pretended to collapse and cough blood after stepping on his foot.
• Jiang Yingcheng rushed to Lei Zhixin’s side, blamed the Ruler of Yanchu, and helped the officials maintain the deception until Lei Zhixin was carried away.
• Kan Ruifeng took Jiang Yingcheng aside, where she asked what Lei Zhixin had been trying to do.
• The Ruler of Yanchu overheard the officials’ conversation, mistook their act for compassion, and left reassured.
• The officials hinted at their plans to Jiang Yingcheng, who offered to write down Yanchu’s secrets and considered using Lei Zhixin’s method on other kingdoms.

Jiang Yingcheng’s military uncles dodged her request to stage an injury, then brought her treats while the officials heard her expose foreign rulers’ schemes and secrets. She revealed that Tiansheng Kingdom’s ruler was an impostor who had imprisoned the real ruler’s son, and Great Rui’s officials vowed to avenge the Crown Prince.

• Dong Kangsheng, Yan Yuebin, and Gao Siyuan made excuses to avoid Jiang Yingcheng’s request, while Kan Ruifeng remained with her.
• Jiang Yingcheng revealed that Danxia Kingdom’s ruler had planted Shao Xuan to poison Zhujin Kingdom’s ruler and frame Great Rui, and the generals and Lu Yao had already arranged to expose the plot.
• Jiang Yingcheng exposed Jianggu Kingdom’s ruler for pretending to be poor to get lavish gifts from Great Rui, outraging the officials.
• Jiang Yingcheng revealed that Tiansheng Kingdom’s ruler was the real ruler’s younger twin brother in disguise, and that he had imprisoned the real ruler’s son after the Crown Prince discovered the truth.
• Jiang Yingcheng and the officials vowed to avenge the imprisoned Crown Prince.

At the New Year’s banquet, Jiang Yingcheng learned that Prince Jing and Kou Qiwen had already made contact and were preparing to move against the Crown Prince. Before she could discover their plan, two children arrived and interrupted her.

• Jiang Yi'an took a walnut cookie from Jiang Yingcheng and tried to draw her into conversation while Kan Ruifeng kept her close.
• Jiang Yingcheng greeted Prince Jing with a New Year’s blessing and received his money pouch, then judged it too thin.
• Kan Ruifeng redirected the conversation to General Lei’s injuries, and Jiang Yingcheng remembered Prince Jing and Kou Qiwen.
• Jiang Yingcheng asked System Bro whether the two men had met and learned they had made contact and planned to target the Crown Prince.
• As Jiang Yingcheng began reading the details of their plan, two children called to her from the entrance of Cloudbrook Hall.

Jiang Yingcheng left Cloudbrook Hall to play with her friends and handed out New Year's gifts in Shaking Light Hall. When Jiang Qiuyu revealed that Noble Consort Rou had taken Luo Fuying aside, the children hurried off to see what was happening.

• Jiang Yingcheng got Kan Ruifeng's permission to leave Cloudbrook Hall and went to Shaking Light Hall with Qiao Yunbai, Sheng Shixu, and the others.
• Jiang Xingran met the group and pulled Jiang Yingcheng in front of him, asking why she was running around.
• Jiang Yingcheng gave Jiang Qiuyu, Jiang Xingran, and Lin Jinshu pouches filled with gold beans, but Jiang Xingran's homemade pastries made the group uneasy.
• Jiang Qiuyu said Luo Fuying and her Imperial Consort had followed Noble Consort Rou into Shaking Light Hall looking unhappy.
• Jiang Yingcheng and the others decided to go see what Noble Consort Rou was doing.

Jiang Yingcheng and the others secretly watched Noble Consort Rou confront Luo Fuying and her mother, the Imperial Consort, in Shaking Light Hall’s rear courtyard. The Imperial Consort agreed to help eliminate the Eleventh Princess in exchange for her daughter’s offenses being forgiven, but Qiao Yunbai’s cough exposed the eavesdroppers.

• Jiang Xingran led the group toward the rear courtyard, where they overheard Noble Consort Rou demanding that Luo Fuying and the Imperial Consort answer for offending the Pan Family.
• Jiang Yingcheng discovered that Yishui Kingdom’s ruler had coerced merchant families and felt conflicted about keeping the money he had given her.
• Noble Consort Rou offered the Imperial Consort a way out, and Luo Fuying begged her mother to accept so they could return home.
• The Imperial Consort agreed to help eliminate the Eleventh Princess if Noble Consort Rou promised not to pursue Luo Fuying’s offenses.
• Qiao Yunbai coughed, and someone in the courtyard called out, “Who’s there?!”

Jiang Yingcheng and the other children fled Chi Yimian’s ambush in Shaking Light Hall, but Chi Yimian cornered them with a sword while Noble Consort Rou denied ordering the attack. As Jiang Xingran and Sheng Shixu prepared to distract Chi Yimian so Jiang Xingran could reach Luo Fuying, Jiang Yingcheng discovered a hidden weapon box in her system.

• Sheng Shixu and Jiang Xingran rescued Jiang Yingcheng from the window blast and led the children toward the front courtyard.
• Chi Yimian intercepted them and drew her Flexible Sword, while Noble Consort Rou denied conspiring to kill Jiang Yingcheng.
• Jiang Qiuyu and Jiang Yingcheng screamed for help, but the noise from Shaking Light Hall made it unlikely anyone would hear them.
• Jiang Xingran signaled Sheng Shixu to distract Chi Yimian while he went to retrieve Luo Fuying.
• Jiang Yingcheng noticed the option to use a hidden weapon box and urged System Bro to give her one.

Jiang Yingcheng and the others fought Chi Yimian with hidden weapons as they tried to escape the hall. After Chi Yimian dodged their attacks, Jiang Yingcheng revealed that she still had many more cases, leaving Chi Yimian startled.

• Jiang Xingran tripped Sheng Shixu as he prepared to charge forward, and Jiang Yingcheng fired Poison Needles at Chi Yimian, who dodged them.
• System Bro filled Jiang Yingcheng’s pouches with hidden weapons and urged her to hand some out to the others.
• Jiang Yingcheng, Jiang Qiuyu, Lin Jinshu, and Qiao Yunbai fired volleys at Chi Yimian, who evaded the attacks and advanced toward them.
• Jiang Xingran considered targeting Noble Consort Rou, and Sheng Shixu mistook his glance toward Luo Fuying for a plan to attack her.
• Jiang Yingcheng pulled out several more Hidden Weapon Cases and announced that she still had plenty, shocking Chi Yimian.

Jiang Yingcheng and the other children overwhelmed Chi Yimian with hidden weapons as Noble Consort Rou tried to seize Luo Fuying. Chi Yimian took the poison needles meant for Luo Fuying, then saw Jiang Yingcheng’s dropped case strike another case and reacted in horror.

• Jiang Yingcheng produced numerous Hidden Weapon Cases, and Sheng Shixu, Lin Jinshu, and Jiang Xingran used them to drive Chi Yimian away from the rear courtyard.
• Noble Consort Rou ordered a palace maid to seize Luo Fuying, while Qiao Yunbai howled and Jiang Yingcheng searched the Merit Shop for help.
• Chi Yimian rushed to protect Luo Fuying, and Jiang Xingran and Sheng Shixu fired more Poison Needles at the palace maid and Chi Yimian.
• Chi Yimian tried to shield Luo Fuying, but Luo Fuying pulled away and left her mother exposed to the Poison Needles.
• Jiang Yingcheng dropped her last Hidden Weapon Case, which struck a discarded case, and Chi Yimian cried out in horror.

Jiang Yingcheng survived Noble Consort Rou and Chi Yimian’s attack with the help of her hidden weapons, and everyone involved was brought before Jiang Yanchuan in Wuyang Hall. As Noble Consort Rou and the ruler of Yishui Kingdom argued over what had happened, Jiang Yingcheng prepared to worsen the dispute.

• Poison Needles struck Chi Yimian, while some hit Luo Fuying when she failed to escape the hidden weapon’s range; Jiang Yingcheng learned the needles’ poison would kill its victims within seven days.
• Noble Consort Rou emerged from hiding after the attack and asked whether everyone was all right, but they stared at her without answering.
• Everyone involved in the Shaking Light Hall incident was summoned to Wuyang Hall, where their consort mothers examined the children and Fang Siwan angrily glared at Noble Consort Rou.
• Jiang Yanchuan called Jiang Yingcheng to him, and she pretended to limp before insisting that she felt fine while privately wanting the kneeling Noble Consort Rou and ruler of Yishui Kingdom to remain worried.
• Noble Consort Rou claimed Chi Yimian had wanted to kill the Eleventh Princess, while the ruler of Yishui Kingdom argued that Chi Yimian had planned to apologize; Jiang Yanchuan silenced them as Jiang Yingcheng prepared to add fuel to the argument.

Jiang Yingcheng helped the ruler of the Yishui Kingdom expose Noble Consort Rou’s role in the attempted assassination, and Emperor Mingze demoted Noble Consort Rou. Noble Consort Rou then challenged the emperor over the weapons Jiang Yingcheng carried.

• Jiang Yingcheng pretended to be injured and upset, while Sheng Shixu and Qiao Yunbai played along to pressure the ruler of the Yishui Kingdom.
• The ruler of the Yishui Kingdom accused Noble Consort Rou of ordering Chi Yimian to kill Jiang Yingcheng, but Noble Consort Rou denied it and blamed rumors and Luo Fuying’s troubles.
• Jiang Yingcheng prompted the ruler to question why Noble Consort Rou had left Luo Fuying behind if Chi Yimian had acted independently.
• Noble Consort Rou could not explain why she had not used Luo Fuying to stop Chi Yimian, and Emperor Mingze demoted her to Consort Shu and ordered her to leave Flowing Splendor Hall.
• Noble Consort Rou protested that Jiang Yingcheng had carried concealed weapons capable of taking a life.

Jiang Yanchuan claimed responsibility for the concealed weapons Jiang Yingcheng brought to the banquet, then punished the Yishui Kingdom’s ruler and Noble Consort Rou over the attempted assassination. Back at Cloudbrook Hall, Jiang Yingcheng began telling the visiting rulers what had happened, hinting at a future conflict with Yishui.

• When Noble Consort Rou questioned Jiang Yingcheng’s concealed weapons, Jiang Yanchuan said he had given them to his daughter for protection.
• Noble Consort Rou accused Jiang Yanchuan of favoring Jiang Yingcheng over Jiang Huai'an, and he ordered the Imperial Guards to drag her away.
• Jiang Yanchuan confronted Luo Xiuxian over Yishui’s role in nearly killing Jiang Yingcheng and two friendly nations’ royal heirs, then had guards remove him.
• Jiang Yingcheng returned to Cloudbrook Hall with Fang Siwan and told You Jin that Chi Yimian had tried to assassinate her and she had fought back.
• Jiang Yingcheng went around informing other rulers about the incident so they would not condemn Great Rui if it attacked Yishui later.

At the New Year's Banquet, Jiang Yingcheng uncovered plots against the ruler of Zhujin and the Crown Prince, while the court read political meaning into her closeness with Kan Nianzhen. Kan Nianzhen learned of Prince Jing and Kou Qiwen’s scheme against Jiang Tinghuai and resolved to confront the conspirators.

• Jiang Yanchuan and Kan Nianzhen brought Jiang Yingcheng to the Five-Tier Seats, and officials interpreted Kan Nianzhen’s public closeness with her as support for the Crown Prince’s faction.
• The New Year's Banquet began, and Jiang Yingcheng secretly received a pastry before the dishes had all been served.
• Jiang Yingcheng thought that Shao Xuan would try to poison the ruler of the Zhujin Kingdom and planned to expose the black mole on the Ruler of Danxia’s neck.
• Jiang Yingcheng thought Pan Jifeng would try to free his grandson by playing the victim, and officials prepared to oppose him.
• Jiang Yingcheng revealed that Prince Jing and Kou Qiwen planned to poison Jiang Tinghuai gradually, and Kan Nianzhen dropped the bowls and chopsticks in shock.
• Kan Nianzhen steadied herself and resolved to become an exorcist who would defeat the conspirators.

At the New Year's Banquet, Kan Nianzhen resolved to punish Jiang Yi'an and Kou Qiwen now that Jiang Tinghuai's life was secure. Pan Jifeng tried to use a painting celebrating family togetherness to press Emperor Mingze to help Jiang Huai'an, leaving the banquet guests to recognize his obvious intentions.

• Jiang Yingcheng gave Kan Nianzhen a pastry, and Kan Nianzhen felt reassured that Jiang Tinghuai could be saved while vowing not to forgive Jiang Yi'an and Kou Qiwen.
• Jiang Yanchuan opened the banquet, and Jiao Hongmiao repeatedly interrupted Pan Jifeng while chatting about pastries with Chu Jiaxu.
• Jiang Yingcheng enjoyed Pan Jifeng's frustration as Kan Nianzhen fed her a pastry.
• Pan Jifeng presented Emperor Mingze with a painting of a large family gathered around an elderly man and claimed it celebrated Great Rui's peace and prosperity.
• The officials recognized that Pan Jifeng's painting was an obvious attempt to advance his family interests, and someone chuckled at the silence.

At a banquet, Pan Jifeng used a painting of family harmony to press Emperor Mingze to release the Fourth Imperial Prince, while Sheng Wenli and Sheng Shixu mocked him with a display of fatherly affection. Jiang Yingcheng’s thoughts revealed that Chi Yimian had helped Noble Consort Rou plan an attempt on her life, and she noticed that Rou was absent as officials struggled to answer Pan’s pleas.

• Pan Jifeng presented a painting of familial bliss and asked Emperor Mingze to end the Fourth Imperial Prince’s house arrest.
• Sheng Shixu put meat in Sheng Wenli’s bowl, and their exaggeratedly affectionate exchange drew Jiang Yingcheng into clapping.
• Jiang Yingcheng’s thoughts revealed that Chi Yimian had approached Noble Consort Rou and agreed to help her get rid of Chengcheng.
• Lei Zhixin and Chu Jiaxu challenged Pan Jifeng’s request, but Pan’s appeals to family affection and his age left both officials speechless.
• Jiang Yingcheng realized Noble Consort Rou was absent and wondered how the officials could discuss family harmony without her.

At the New Year's Banquet, officials noticed that Noble Consort Rou and the Fourth Imperial Prince were absent, and Pan Jifeng realized his daughter had not even been given a seat. Jiang Yingcheng used the family's absence to needle him and revealed that Noble Consort Rou had been demoted to Consort Shu, then asked Emperor Mingze to let Pan Jifeng see her.

• Jiang Yingcheng praised Jiang Yanchuan as the family-minded father who loved her most, while officials spotted Noble Consort Rou and the Fourth Imperial Prince missing from the banquet.
• Pan Jifeng noticed that Noble Consort Rou had no seat and grew suspicious that she had fallen from favor.
• Duke Wang and Ran Hongyi mocked Pan Jifeng, and Sheng Wenli urged Emperor Mingze to give him a clear answer about seeing his grandson.
• Jiang Yingcheng revealed in her thoughts that Noble Consort Rou had been demoted to Consort Shu, and the Upright Officials reacted with surprise and approval of Emperor Mingze.
• Jiang Yingcheng asked Emperor Mingze to let Pan Jifeng see Consort Shu while privately hoping he would refuse.

At the New Year’s banquet, Pan Jifeng fainted after learning Jingwan was Consort Shu, and the Ruler of the Zhujin Kingdom challenged Great Rui with a supposedly royal sword dancer. Jiang Yingcheng exposed the dancer as a fake princess and volunteered to compete, leaving Jiang Yuexi’s response interrupted.

• Jiang Yanchuan told Pan Jifeng that Consort Shu was in Huayin Hall, and Pan Jifeng collapsed before the officials.
• The Ruler of the Zhujin Kingdom requested a sword-dance contest between his daughter and a Great Rui princess, and Jiang Yanchuan granted permission.
• Jiang Yingcheng’s thoughts revealed that the Zhujin Kingdom’s princess was a former Shadow Guard and that the Ruler planned to use her to gain influence and send her to marry the Crown Prince.
• Jiang Yingcheng’s thoughts revealed that Jiang Yuexi and the Crown Prince secretly admired one another despite appearances, while Jiang Yuexi prepared to accept the challenge.
• After Suxue finished her dance and challenged Great Rui’s princesses, Jiang Yingcheng announced that she would compete.

Jiang Yingcheng interrupted Xu Suxue’s staged sword contest, took the sword herself, and nearly lost control of it before Jiang Yuexi rescued her. After recovering, she revealed in her thoughts that Xu Suxue would be planted in the Crown Prince’s palace and help cause his and Jiang Yuexi’s deaths, then smugly declared Xu Suxue the winner.

• Jiang Yingcheng rushed forward to take the longsword from Xu Suxue, while the officials let her proceed and Jiang Yuexi rose in alarm.
• Jiang Yingcheng seized the sword from Xu Suxue and began swinging it wildly until Jiang Yuexi rushed over and caught her.
• Jiang Yuexi carried Jiang Yingcheng back to her seat and gave her fruit juice until she recovered from her dizziness.
• Jiang Yingcheng thought that Xu Suxue would be sent to the Crown Prince’s palace and use harmful tricks that led to his death and Jiang Yuexi’s sorrowful death.
• Jiang Yingcheng told Xu Suxue that she had won, while her smug manner and the officials’ reactions made clear that they did not consider the victory impressive.

At the New Year's Banquet, the ruler of Jianggu Kingdom argued that Jiang Yingcheng's playful sword performance deserved to win, and the Little Princess basked in the applause. Jiang Yuexi then learned from Jiang Yingcheng's thoughts that Consort Lan would be killed after discovering Xu Suxue poisoning the Crown Prince, leaving Jiang Yuexi determined to save her mother.

• The ruler of Jianggu Kingdom praised Jiang Yingcheng's performance as more entertaining and interactive than Xu Suxue's, and the guests reluctantly applauded.
• Jiang Yingcheng joined Jiang Yuexi, who fed her pastries and cherished her company despite Consort Lan's warning not to overfeed her.
• Jiang Yingcheng thought that Consort Lan loved her children and had not acted like the Pan Family, but wondered whether Consort Lan would die soon.
• Jiang Yuexi realized Jiang Yingcheng's thoughts might reveal how to protect Consort Lan and silently resolved to save her.
• Jiang Yingcheng discovered that Xu Suxue would poison the Crown Prince's food and kill Consort Lan after she found out, prompting Jiang Yuexi and the eavesdropping officials to stare at Xu Suxue.