Chapter Summaries

Jiang Xingran and Cheng Yunmeng tried to take Consort Rou’s punishment upon themselves while Jiang Yingcheng planned to stage an accident before Jiang Yanchuan arrived. The plan left Jiang Yingcheng rolling across the floor until Jiang Yanchuan stopped her at the doorway.

• Jiang Xingran knelt and begged Consort Rou to punish him, and Cheng Yunmeng knelt to shield him.
• Jiang Yingcheng realized Jiang Yanchuan was almost at Flowing Splendor Hall, prompting Cheng Yunmeng to reassure Jiang Xingran that his father would soon arrive.
• Jiang Huai'an taunted Jiang Xingran and urged Xiwu to slap Consort Lan, while Noble Consort Qing tried to intervene.
• Jiang Yingcheng rolled toward the doorway as Xiwu stood frozen with her foot raised, making it unclear whether the maid had kicked her.
• Jiang Yanchuan stopped Jiang Yingcheng midway across the floor, and she burst into tears from the pain.

Jiang Yanchuan confronted Pan Jingwan and punished her son, Jiang Huai'an, by ordering him to live with Consort Yan. Jiang Yingcheng's thoughts then warned him that Jiang Huai'an would soon endanger Jiang Qiuyu, leaving Jiang Yanchuan's attention sharply focused on the palace's plots.

• Jiang Yanchuan carried the injured Jiang Yingcheng into the hall and confronted Pan Jingwan about defying his judgment.
• Pan Jingwan claimed she had acted out of concern for Jiang Huai'an, while Jiang Huai'an kept his head bowed and offered no support.
• Jiang Yanchuan ordered Jiang Huai'an to be sent to Consort Yan, alarming both him and Pan Jingwan.
• Jiang Huai'an and Pan Jingwan pleaded against the order until Jiang Yingcheng covered Jiang Yanchuan's ears and called them noisy.
• Jiang Yingcheng's thoughts revealed that Jiang Huai'an would push Jiang Qiuyu into a pond and prevent the guards from rescuing him, darkening Jiang Yanchuan's expression.

Jiang Yanchuan punished Zitang, questioned Consort Fang about Jiang Yingcheng’s inner voice, and promoted her after hearing about merit points. The chapter ended with Jiang Yingcheng meeting officials on her way to see her father, while they heard her candid thoughts about them.

• Jiang Yanchuan sent Jiang Huai'an to Consort Yan's residence and ordered Zitang flogged, then carried Jiang Yingcheng out while Noble Consort Rou fainted.
• Jiang Yanchuan asked Consort Fang whether Jiang Yingcheng's inner voice had revealed important information, and Consort Fang told him about the system's merit points.
• After speaking with Consort Fang for nearly two hours, Jiang Yanchuan promoted her to Consort Wan of the Principal Third Rank.
• Jiang Yingcheng woke to learn her mother had been promoted and that they were moving to Starfrost Hall, then fell asleep after running around and eating pastries.
• The next morning, Jiang Yingcheng set off with Eunuch Changshun to see Jiang Yanchuan and silently labeled passing officials good or corrupt, leaving them startled by what they heard.

Jiang Yingcheng went to Wuyang Hall with Eunuch Changshun, exposing corrupt officials through her thoughts as Yuan Liangping listened in. Outside the hall, she learned that the proposed tutor Weng Zizhen was actually the Northern Frontier's second prince in disguise, but she could not figure out how to tell Emperor Mingze.

• Jiang Yingcheng's private thoughts revealed officials' embarrassing secrets, and Yuan Liangping realized he could hear them.
• Yuan Liangping joined Jiang Yingcheng and Eunuch Changshun on their walk, prompting her to expose several officials as corrupt or dishonest.
• Jiang Yingcheng and Eunuch Changshun reached Wuyang Hall, while Yuan Liangping waited outside, confident Emperor Mingze would summon him.
• From around the corner, Jiang Yingcheng overheard officials discussing candidates to tutor her.
• 007 told Jiang Yingcheng that Weng Zizhen was the Northern Frontier's second prince, who had stolen the identity of the real scholar after bandits killed him.
• Jiang Yingcheng worried that she had no way to explain Weng Zizhen's identity to Emperor Mingze, though Eunuch Changshun knew the emperor already knew.

Jiang Yingcheng’s thoughts led Lu Yao to suspect that Weng Zizhen was the Northern Frontier’s second prince, Su Hongzhen, in disguise. Jiang Yanchuan approved Lu Yao’s plan to investigate the top scholar’s hometown, while Lu Yao left convinced that the other officials could hear the princess’s thoughts too.

• Jiang Yanchuan dismissed the ministers and summoned Lu Yao after Jiang Yingcheng remained distracted by Weng Zizhen’s identity.
• Jiang Yingcheng’s inner voice revealed that Weng Zizhen was the Northern Frontier’s second prince in disguise, and Lu Yao cautiously voiced the suspicion to Jiang Yanchuan.
• Jiang Yingcheng recalled that eyewitnesses in Kangyang County had seen Weng Zizhen’s chest birthmark before he entered the capital.
• Lu Yao proposed sending men to Weng Zizhen’s hometown to find those witnesses, and Jiang Yanchuan approved the plan.
• Lu Yao left the hall and suspected that the waiting officials could hear Jiang Yingcheng’s thoughts as well.

Jiang Yingcheng worried about Great Rui’s future as Emperor Mingze arranged for the ministers to be separated and discreetly removed from his gathering. After the garden tour left only Jiang Yingcheng and Eunuch Changshun with one eunuch, she wondered whether the emperor’s frail ministers could shoulder state affairs.

• Jiang Yingcheng confirmed with 007 that the Embroidered Uniform Guard was reliable, while 007 attributed the investigation to a butterfly effect.
• Jiang Yanchuan sent Jiang Yingcheng outside to walk, then summoned the officials waiting beyond Wuyang Hall.
• A hidden guard ordered the ministers in the Imperial Garden to separate and stop gathering together.
• When Jiao Hongmiao approached Eunuch Changshun, a pebble struck his knee and he fell; Jiang Yingcheng worried that someone might scam him.
• Jiang Yingcheng and Eunuch Changshun continued through the garden as Ran Hongyi, Chu Jiaxu, and other ministers suffered mishaps and were escorted away.
• With only one young eunuch remaining, Jiang Yingcheng worried that her father’s ministers were too frail to help him govern Great Rui.

Jiang Yingcheng discovered that her merit points had increased as Eunuch Changshun carried her back to the palace. In Starfrost Hall, Qingbi confirmed that Fang Yiwan had told Jinshu the truth about his birth mother, and Fang Siwan resolved to protect Jiang Yingcheng and set things right.

• 007 showed Jiang Yingcheng that her merit points had risen, and Eunuch Changshun carried her toward Xianyang Palace.
• Court officials gathered outside Wuyang Hall and were summoned inside after a dazed group of lower-ranking officials emerged.
• Qingbi told Fang Siwan that Fang Yiwan had left the Pei Residence with Jinshu, who called her “Aunt.”
• Fang Siwan realized Fang Yiwan had betrayed her and might be plotting to make Jinshu emperor.
• Qingbi stopped Fang Siwan from injuring herself, and Fang Siwan vowed to put things right and keep Jiang Yingcheng.

Jiang Yingcheng spent her Merit Points on a Poison-Removing Pill for Noble Consort Qing and gave Jiang Yanchuan a leftover tonic pill. Noble Consort Qing recognized the gift as a possible cure for her poisoning and gratefully accepted it.

• Jiang Yingcheng waited hungry for Jiang Yanchuan and browsed the Merit Shop, discovering she had enough Merit Points to buy a Poison-Removing Pill for Noble Consort Qing.
• Jiang Yanchuan returned, accepted Jiang Yingcheng's leftover Great Tonic Pill, and hurried back to his state affairs after lunch.
• Eunuch Changshun escorted Jiang Yingcheng to Anqin Hall, where Noble Consort Qing warmly welcomed her.
• Jiang Yingcheng gave Noble Consort Qing the Poison-Removing Pill, and Noble Consort Qing realized it might counteract Noble Consort Rou's poison.
• Noble Consort Qing clasped Jiang Yingcheng's hand and tearfully told her that she loved the gift.

Jiang Yingcheng visited Noble Consort Qing, who had taken the Poison-Removing Pill and was throwing away Noble Consort Rou’s gifts. At the Fragrant Pavilion, Jiang Yingcheng discovered that Zuilan was one of Noble Consort Rou’s planted maids and learned she was meant to frame Cheng Yunmeng and Jiang Xingran with a treasonous poem.

• Jiang Yingcheng asked Noble Consort Qing why her hall was being cleared, and Noble Consort Qing said she was discarding everything Noble Consort Rou had given her.
• Noble Consort Qing sent Jiang Yingcheng off with boxes of sweets, and Jiang Yingcheng went to the Fragrant Pavilion to share them with Cheng Yunmeng and Jiang Xingran.
• Jiang Yingcheng found Zuilan bullying Jiang Xingran and knocking his food onto the floor, so she charged into Zuilan and dumped the remaining dishes on her.
• Jiang Yingcheng recognized Zuilan as one of Noble Consort Rou’s planted maids and remembered that Zuilan was ordered to hide a treasonous poem in Cheng Yunmeng’s room.
• Cheng Yunmeng realized that Noble Consort Rou planned to frame her and Jiang Xingran and felt relieved that Jiang Yingcheng had uncovered the plot.

Jiang Yingcheng exposed Zuilan’s abuse of Cheng Yunmeng and Jiang Xingran, drawing Eunuch Changshun to the Fragrant Pavilion. While revealing more of the courtyard’s mistreatment in her thoughts, she discovered that another palace maid was hiding an assassin.

• Jiang Yingcheng planned to provoke Zuilan into openly insulting her, but Cheng Yunmeng suddenly accused Zuilan of pushing the child.
• Jiang Yingcheng sat on cleaner ground and cried that Zuilan had bullied her, while Zuilan angrily admitted she would teach the child a lesson.
• Zuilan tried to silence Jiang Yingcheng, and Jiang Xingran charged into her to protect the girl.
• Eunuch Changshun arrived and Zuilan fell to her knees; Jiang Yingcheng cried to him while thinking about the abuse and stolen goods in the courtyard.
• Jiang Yingcheng discovered that another palace maid was hiding an assassin in the courtyard.

Jiang Yingcheng exposed Zuilan for hiding the assassin who had attacked Emperor Mingze, and Eunuch Changshun ordered the maid taken away. After Zuilan fainted and was dragged off, Jiang Yingcheng got directions from 007 and prepared to hunt for the wounded assassin.

• Jiang Yingcheng revealed through her thoughts that Zuilan was hiding the assassin who had tried to kill Emperor Mingze.
• Cheng Yunmeng and Eunuch Changshun realized they could earn credit by capturing the assassin before anyone else.
• Eunuch Changshun ordered Zuilan dragged away, and the terrified maid fainted before the eunuchs carried her out.
• Jiang Yingcheng asked 007 for a clearer map, then accepted its directions and set off to find the assassin.

Jiang Yingcheng and her companions uncovered palace maid Xun Tao secretly helping the wounded Xiangyang, who was actually the assassin who had attacked Emperor Mingze. As the hidden guards fought him, Xun Tao took Jiang Xingran hostage to help Xiangyang escape the palace.

• Jiang Yingcheng led the others to a room in the Fragrant Pavilion, where they overheard Xun Tao promising to steal Consort Lan’s jeweled hairpin to buy medicine for Xiangyang.
• Xiangyang revealed himself as the assassin who had attacked His Majesty and fought the hidden guards after Eunuch Changshun called for his capture.
• Xiangyang targeted Jiang Xingran as a hostage, but Jiang Xingran grabbed Xun Tao and threatened to kill her.
• Xiangyang told Jiang Xingran to kill Xun Tao, prompting her to seize Jiang Xingran’s dagger and take him hostage instead.
• Xun Tao declared that she and Xiangyang could use the Seventh Prince to escape the palace, leaving Jiang Yingcheng stunned.

Jiang Yingcheng distracted Ji Xiangyang long enough for Jiang Xingran and Xun Tao to stab him, while an unseen archer struck him with an arrow. After the danger passed, Jiang Xingran noticed the archer was gone and saw a furtive figure emerge, leaving him stunned by the person’s identity.

• Jiang Yingcheng tried to distract Ji Xiangyang by offering herself in exchange for Xun Tao’s death, while 007 told her to stall until Ji Xiangyang’s secret technique wore off.
• Jiang Xingran prepared to attack Ji Xiangyang as he approached Xun Tao, but Jiang Yingcheng’s cry that Emperor Mingze had arrived made Ji Xiangyang turn away.
• Jiang Xingran and Xun Tao drove a knife into Ji Xiangyang’s back, and an unseen archer shot him in the chest as his secret technique expired.
• The shadow guards restrained Xun Tao, while Jiang Xingran helped Cheng Yunmeng inside and confirmed he was unharmed.
• Jiang Xingran searched for the archer, found no one on the opposite roof, and then saw a furtive figure emerge from around the corner.

Lu Yao brought Jiang Yingcheng to the Court of Judicial Review, hoping her system could help clear Duke Wang Jinglun, who had been imprisoned for treason. They found Wang in surprisingly vigorous condition, and Lu Yao angrily questioned whether he had really been falsely accused.

• Lu Yao admitted that he had shot the arrow that struck the assassin, and Jiang Yingcheng helped credit Jiang Xingran with the feat by giving him the bow.
• Emperor Mingze assigned Lu Yao guards to protect Jiang Yingcheng, and Lu Yao escorted her and Eunuch Changshun out of the palace.
• Lu Yao explained that Duke Wang Jinglun had been accused of colluding with the enemy and asked Jiang Yingcheng to help secure his release while they searched for evidence.
• Jiang Yingcheng, Lu Yao, and Eunuch Changshun arrived at Wang Jinglun's cell and found him doing push-ups instead of suffering from frailty.
• Lu Yao snapped at Wang Jinglun and asked whether he had really been falsely accused.

Jiang Yingcheng revealed that Wang Jinglun had been framed by Gu Yurou, who had planted enemy letters in his study and killed a maid who saw her. Lu Yao left to investigate the missing maid, while Wang Jinglun was left reeling over the revelations.

• Wang Jinglun teased Jiang Yingcheng with sweets, then learned she was Jiang Yanchuan's daughter and panicked.
• Jiang Yingcheng's thoughts revealed that Gu Yurou had planted enemy letters in Wang Jinglun's study to frame him.
• Lu Yao admitted he had investigated Gu Yurou but found no suspicious activity, then learned the letters had been on her before she entered Wang Jinglun's residence.
• Jiang Yingcheng's thoughts revealed that a maid named Yun Ying had witnessed Gu Yurou in the study, been attacked, and possibly survived after someone rescued her.
• Lu Yao left to widen the search for the missing maid, while Eunuch Changshun took Jiang Yingcheng with him.
• Wang Jinglun realized Yun Ying might be the maid and was left alone, distressed by the revelations.

After surviving the danger in Cheng Yunmeng’s courtyard, Jiang Xingran returned Jiang Yingcheng’s pouch and discovered it held a gift of gold beans meant for him. The next morning, Jiang Yingcheng was woken early because Emperor Mingze had sent for her.

• Cheng Yunmeng and Jiang Xingran ate the pastries Jiang Yingcheng had left behind, and Jiang Xingran found her pink pouch among the food boxes.
• Jiang Xingran visited Starfrost Hall to return the pouch, but Fang Siwan told him Jiang Yingcheng had chosen it to wrap a present for him.
• Jiang Xingran waited until Jiang Yingcheng fell asleep, then opened the pouch and found a dozen gold beans inside.
• Jiang Yingcheng woke in a dark room and was frightened until Qingbi lit the lamps.
• Fang Siwan told Jiang Yingcheng that Eunuch Changshun had come to take her to Emperor Mingze, who wanted to see her.

At court, Lu Yao reported evidence linking Gu Yurou to treason, while Jiang Yingcheng’s thoughts revealed that she was Xie Chengxuan’s daughter and carried half of Eastern Li’s tiger tally. The ministers argued over whether to arrest her, and Jiang Yanchuan silenced them before the court could decide what to do.

• Emperor Mingze brought Jiang Yingcheng to court and seated her behind a pink screen.
• Lu Yao reported that Yun Ying had seen Gu Yurou hide the treason letters and that Gu Yurou had tried to harm her.
• Jiang Yingcheng’s thoughts revealed Gu Yurou’s real identity and the tiger tally in her luggage, prompting ministers to push for her arrest.
• General Mingwei argued for detaining Gu Yurou, while Jing Yongnian objected that there was no proof.
• Jiang Yanchuan ordered the ministers to be silent, leaving Jiang Yingcheng disappointed that their argument had ended.

Jiang Yingcheng’s thoughts helped settle court proceedings, but Deputy Censor-in-Chief Bi Honglang’s complaint about her attending court revealed his hidden family secrets. The officials learned that Bi had deceived his wife with a supposed infertility remedy, and the chapter ended with Jiang Yingcheng wondering whether he realized he was infertile.

• Jiang Yanchuan surrounded the duke’s estate with soldiers after the factions failed to agree, and Jiang Yingcheng’s thought about stealing the tiger tally prompted the martial officials to stop arguing.
• Eunuch Changshun’s sweets kept Jiang Yingcheng entertained, and the court’s business proceeded smoothly as Jiang Yanchuan approved or rejected proposals.
• Bi Honglang objected to a princess attending court, while Jiang Yingcheng worried that he disliked her.
• Jiang Yingcheng’s thoughts exposed that Bi had borrowed neighbors’ twins and passed them off as his own children.
• Jiang Yingcheng revealed that Bi secretly put a boy’s urine in his wife’s medicine as an infertility cure, then complained about her to his father-in-law after she kicked him out.

Jiang Yingcheng accompanied Jiang Yanchuan to court, where her thoughts exposed Ran Hongyi’s secret marriage arrangement and revealed a dangerous connection to the Prince of Nanyang. The chapter left Qian Pengyi under suspicion after the officials learned that his nephew was the Prince’s hidden heir.

• Emperor Mingze brought Jiang Yingcheng to court, and Jiang Yanchuan carried her into Wuyang Hall for the inner court session.
• Jiang Yingcheng’s thoughts revealed that Ran Hongyi had married a young woman to protect her from a powerful nephew who had threatened her family.
• Jiang Yingcheng explained that Ran Hongyi and the woman had arranged a fake marriage and planned to divorce after a few months.
• Jiang Yingcheng asked 007 to find evidence against the nephew and discovered that he was the Prince of Nanyang’s hidden heir.
• The officials turned their attention to Qian Pengyi, the Deputy Chief Councillor, after hearing about his nephew’s identity.

At court, Pu Mingxu’s mistaken accusation of rebellion led to Qian Pengyi’s dismissal after Jiang Yingcheng revealed the Prince of Nanyang’s heir had merely sought favors. Jiang Yanchuan then brought Jiang Yingcheng to meet the children being considered as study companions, where she recognized Lin Jinshu as the male lead.

• Jiang Yingcheng’s thoughts revealed that the Prince of Nanyang’s heir had come to the capital to enjoy himself and seek better funding, not to plot rebellion.
• Pu Mingxu changed his report to accuse Qian Pengyi of covering up his nephew’s abuses, and Qian Pengyi confessed and lost his post.
• Jiang Yanchuan carried a sleepy Jiang Yingcheng to meet Fang Siwan and the children assembled as potential study companions.
• Lin Jinshu glared at Jiang Yingcheng, prompting the adults and tutor to judge him poorly and Fang Siwan to blame Fang Yiwan for his behavior.
• Jiang Yingcheng recognized Lin Jinshu as the male lead and leaned closer to inspect him.