Chapter Summaries

Jiang Yingcheng tried to keep Lin Jinshu close by choosing him as a companion, but Jiang Yanchuan arranged for her to begin studying instead. After a day of protests and lessons, Jiang Yanchuan supervised Jiang Yingcheng and two other children until evening.

• Jiang Yanchuan suspected Lin Jinshu might be the boy destined to seize the throne after Fang Siwan suggested him as a study companion for Jiang Yingcheng.
• Jiang Yingcheng grabbed Lin Jinshu's hand and declared that she liked him, then protested when Fang Siwan explained he would be her study companion.
• Jiang Yanchuan agreed to postpone the lessons when Jiang Yingcheng objected, but she soon claimed she liked studying and was made to begin that day.
• Jiang Yingcheng completed the schooling ceremony with Liu Hongfei, then delayed the lesson with demands for food, a nap, and her seventh brother's company.
• Jiang Yanchuan ordered Changshun to bring his memorials so he could supervise Jiang Yingcheng and the two other children studying, and ended the chaotic day at dusk.

Fang Siwan reconciled with Lin Jinshu and shared a dinner with Jiang Yingcheng, Jiang Xingran, and Cheng Yunmeng. Later that night, a sudden fire broke out at Duke Wang's estate, and Gu Yurou returned to her room to find something that stunned her.

• Jiang Yingcheng arranged a dinner so Fang Siwan could spend time with Lin Jinshu, then led Jiang Xingran to fetch Cheng Yunmeng.
• Fang Siwan embraced Lin Jinshu and wept as she realized how deeply Fang Yiwan had turned him against his mother.
• At dinner, Jiang Yingcheng encouraged Cheng Yunmeng to have Jiang Xingran look after her, while Fang Siwan gently changed the subject when the little girl asked him to do her homework and help her cheat.
• Fang Siwan sent Jiang Yingcheng to bathe and sleep, despite the girl's protests.
• A fire erupted in the southwestern corner of Duke Wang's estate and took two hours to extinguish.
• Gu Yurou returned to her room, recoiled at what she saw, then went inside again after rubbing her eyes.

Gu Yurou discovered that thieves had stripped her room and the rest of Duke Wang's estate, while a group of bungling searchers secretly sorted their stolen goods. After returning home, Duke Wang went to court and accused Lu Yao of sending thieves to search his estate.

• Gu Yurou found her room emptied and realized thieves had robbed the entire duke's estate, leaving her without a quilt.
• A dozen men in black who had searched Gu Yurou's room met in an alley and rummaged through their bundles for the tiger tally.
• Duke Wang returned home after being released without charge, saw the aftermath of the thefts, and suspected Lu Yao was responsible.
• Duke Wang arrived at court, where Jiang Yingcheng recognized him as the muscular grandfather she had met in prison.
• Duke Wang claimed poetic inspiration and recited a verse accusing the village children of bullying him and playing thieves before his eyes.

Duke Wang recognized the stolen jewelry from his estate on several military officers, while they waited for Jiang Yingcheng to identify whether any item was the Tiger Tally. After Qu Kaiyu proposed raising taxes, Gao Siyuan argued against burdening the people and accidentally repeated Jiang Yingcheng’s angry accusation about officials embezzling.

• Duke Wang noticed jewelry from Gu Yurou among the accessories worn by Gao Siyuan, Dong Kangsheng, and Lei Zhixin, confirming his suspicion that they had plundered his estate.
• The military officers hoped Jiang Yingcheng would identify a Tiger Tally among the stolen items, but she wondered why they had taken jewelry instead.
• Qu Kaiyu challenged Gao Siyuan over his apparent disdain for a proposal to raise taxes for military supplies.
• Gao Siyuan argued that protecting the people at home had to come before expanding the territory, earning Jiang Yingcheng’s praise.
• After Jiang Yingcheng condemned officials for embezzling, Gao Siyuan blurted out her words in court: “Embezzle a little less-that would do more good than anything!”

At court, Gao Siyuan exposed Qu Kaiyu’s corruption by repeating details from Jiang Yingcheng’s thoughts and revealed where the stolen government silver was hidden. After Qu Kaiyu was taken away, Jiang Yingcheng lost interest in the case and revisited the fire at Duke Wang’s residence, leaving Gao Siyuan facing the duke’s furious stare.

• Jiang Yanchuan questioned Gao Siyuan after he blurted out Jiang Yingcheng’s thought, while Qu Kaiyu protested his innocence.
• Jiang Yingcheng recalled Qu Kaiyu’s bribes, and Gao Siyuan cited several specific sums to expose him.
• Jiang Yingcheng revealed that Qu Kaiyu had hidden government silver in his younger brother’s house outside the capital, and Gao Siyuan confronted him with the information.
• The Imperial Guards escorted Qu Kaiyu away, and Jiang Yingcheng returned to discussing the fire at Duke Wang’s residence with 007.
• Duke Wang glared at Gao Siyuan after realizing he had sent Qu Kaiyu to prison before the government silver was dug up.

At court, Jiang Yingcheng revealed that the military officials had found half of the tiger tally in the white jade ball they took from Duke Wang’s burned courtyard. After court, Eunuch Changshun escorted her to school, where she arrived just as children began arguing inside.

• Jiang Yingcheng wondered why the military officials had worn stolen items from Gu Yurou’s room to court instead of taking the tiger tally.
• She revealed that the strange white jade ball was half of a tiger tally, and Duke Wang realized she was the daughter of an enemy general.
• After court, Duke Wang chased the military officials, patted Jiang Yingcheng’s head, and gave her sweets before disappearing.
• Eunuch Changshun took Jiang Yingcheng toward school, refusing her attempts to delay the trip with hunger, sleepiness, and excuses.
• Jiang Yingcheng agreed to attend after learning the Seventh Prince and her study companion were waiting, and she asked to bring treats.
• Jiang Yingcheng reached the school with Eunuch Changshun just as children inside began arguing.

Jiang Yingcheng intervened when Jiang Yunjian and Jiang Monian bullied Jiang Xingran over the pastries his mother had made. After stuffing a crushed pastry into Jiang Yunjian’s mouth, she fell to the ground and accused him of hitting her with his lower back, leaving Eunuch Changshun and the onlookers stunned.

• Jiang Yunjian and Jiang Monian mocked Jiang Xingran and Jiang Yunjian trampled the Pineapple Cakes his mother had made for him.
• Jiang Xingran grew furious, but Jiang Qiuyu tried to keep him from confronting Jiang Yunjian.
• Jiang Yingcheng charged into Jiang Yunjian, picked up a crushed Pineapple Cake, and stuffed it into his mouth.
• Jiang Yingcheng sat down and wailed that Jiang Yunjian had hit her head with his lower back.
• Eunuch Changshun rushed in as planned, but Jiang Yingcheng’s accusation left him and the princes bewildered.

Jiang Yingcheng turned the schoolroom confrontation with Jiang Yunjian to her advantage, winning support from her brothers and earning Jiang Xingran’s gratitude. As class began, she discovered that Jiang Yunjian had gambling debts and resolved to tell Emperor Mingze.

• Jiang Yingcheng claimed she had accidentally run into Jiang Yunjian, and Jiang Xingran, Jiang Qiuyu, and Jiang Monian confirmed her account.
• Jiang Yunjian picked up the scattered pastries and promised to eat them, but Jiang Xingran took the box back as the confrontation ended.
• After Eunuch Changshun left, Jiang Xingran set a desk beside his own for Jiang Yingcheng, who hugged him before taking her seat.
• Jiang Yingcheng recognized Yuan Liangping as the teaching assistant assigned to report her revelations to Emperor Mingze.
• During the lesson, Jiang Yingcheng told 007 that Jiang Yunjian had gambling debts and decided to report him to Emperor Mingze.

Jiang Yingcheng uncovered evidence of Jiang Yingcheng's fourth brother's schemes while trying to find a way to protect Jiang Xingran from the Sixth Prince. After a nervous moment in class, Jiang Xingran returned to find Jiang Yingcheng's stuffed-doll charms covering his shabby bag.

• Jiang Yingcheng decided to investigate her fourth brother after learning that punishing the Sixth Prince would not stop him from troubling Jiang Xingran.
• Jiang Yingcheng discovered that her fourth brother had stolen Noble Consort Rou's jewelry and that Noble Consort Rou had framed the shopkeeper and punished the maid and the shopkeeper's household.
• Jiang Yingcheng found that the Pan Family had brought Gu Yurou into the capital, astonishing Yuan Liangping.
• The teacher called on Jiang Yingcheng to answer a question, and Jiang Xingran secretly showed her a written answer before 007 supplied the correct response.
• Jiang Xingran stayed after class to ask the teacher questions, then returned to find his bag covered in stuffed-doll charms while Jiang Yingcheng's backpack had gone flat.

Jiang Yingcheng brought Jiang Xingran and Jiang Qiuyu to Starfrost Hall for lunch with Fang Siwan and Lin Jinshu. Jiang Qiuyu unexpectedly heard Jiang Yingcheng’s thoughts about his grim future and fled in terror to check his bedding.

• Jiang Yingcheng stopped Jiang Xingran from removing the dolls on his bag and persuaded him to come to Starfrost Hall for lunch.
• Jiang Qiuyu joined them in the sedan chair, and Jiang Yingcheng gave him a doll charm so he could come along as her loving brother.
• At Starfrost Hall, Fang Siwan warmly welcomed Jiang Yingcheng and led Lin Jinshu inside by the hand.
• Jiang Yingcheng and Jiang Qiuyu competed over lunch until Jiang Yingcheng gave up, and Jiang Qiuyu began hearing her unspoken thoughts.
• Jiang Yingcheng’s thoughts warned that Jiang Huai'an would torment Jiang Qiuyu, poison him, and leave him with a painful life ending in his thirties.
• Jiang Qiuyu dropped his bowl, burst into tears, and ran away to check whether there were needles in his quilt.

Cheng Yunmeng learned from Jiang Yingcheng’s inner thoughts that Jiang Xingran would face even worse abuse from the Fourth Prince and that clearing up a misunderstanding with Emperor Mingze might improve their lives. The chapter ended with Jiang Yingcheng deciding to find evidence for Cheng Yunmeng that night.

• Fang Siwan chased after Jiang Qiuyu while Cheng Yunmeng stayed behind, troubled by what Jiang Yingcheng had revealed about Jiang Xingran.
• Jiang Yingcheng’s inner thoughts described the Fourth Prince’s future plans to torment Jiang Xingran, and Cheng Yunmeng struck the table in alarm.
• Jiang Yingcheng comforted Cheng Yunmeng’s injured wrist, while Cheng Yunmeng hid her distress and tried to learn more about her son’s future.
• Jiang Yingcheng realized that clearing up Emperor Mingze’s misunderstanding about Cheng Yunmeng could improve their lives.
• Jiang Yingcheng decided to search for evidence for Cheng Yunmeng that night.

Jiang Yingcheng overheard Cheng Yunmeng and Fang Siwan discuss Cheng Yunmeng’s past and revealed that the evidence against her was in a dry well in the Cold Palace. Consort Wan and Consort Lan then requested an imperial audience with Emperor Mingze.

• Jiang Yingcheng woke from her nap and searched the courtyard for her new playmates.
• Jiang Yingcheng overheard Cheng Yunmeng and Fang Siwan discussing Cheng Yunmeng’s lack of evidence and the hardship she and Xingran had endured.
• Jiang Yingcheng’s thoughts revealed that the evidence was in a dry well in the Cold Palace and that she planned to retrieve it that night.
• Nanny Zhang took Jiang Yingcheng to the schoolroom, while Fang Siwan and Cheng Yunmeng hurried to Xianyang Palace.
• Yuan Liangping confirmed Jiang Yingcheng’s revelations to Emperor Mingze, and a eunuch reported that Consort Wan and Consort Lan requested an imperial audience.

Fang Siwan and Cheng Yunmeng brought Cheng Yunmeng’s grievance before Jiang Yanchuan, who searched the Cold Palace well and found a letter that moved Cheng Yunmeng to tears. After a startled palace maid cried out about a ghost, Jiang Yingcheng arranged to be left behind so she could visit the Cold Palace.

• Cheng Yunmeng told Jiang Yanchuan she had been wronged, and Fang Siwan explained what they had learned from Jiang Yingcheng’s thoughts.
• Jiang Yanchuan ordered a search of the Cold Palace’s dry well, where servants found several skeletons.
• A palace maid discovered a brittle letter among the remains, and Jiang Yanchuan passed it to Fang Siwan and Cheng Yunmeng to read.
• Cheng Yunmeng wept with relief that Jiang Xingran would no longer have to suffer because of her, while a palace maid screamed after seeing a frightened figure in the corner.
• After lessons, Jiang Yingcheng told Eunuch Changshun she felt too full to ride with Jiang Xingran and Lin Jinshu, and asked him to take them to Starfrost Hall while she went for a stroll.

Jiang Yingcheng went to the Cold Palace with Eunuch Changshun, hoping to uncover evidence about what happened to Cheng Yunmeng. There, she found Jiang Yanchuan, Cheng Yunmeng, and Fang Siwan amid the turmoil, and her thoughts revealed that the woman everyone believed mad might have been pretending.

• Eunuch Changshun chose to take Jiang Yingcheng to the Cold Palace despite Emperor Mingze's orders to escort the princes back to their lessons.
• Jiang Xingran and Lin Jinshu went to Starfrost Hall, while Jiang Qiuyu refused to attend his lessons.
• Jiang Yingcheng and Eunuch Changshun reached the Cold Palace and discovered that Jiang Yanchuan, Cheng Yunmeng, and Fang Siwan were there.
• Jiang Yanchuan told Jiang Yingcheng that Cheng Yunmeng and Consort Lan had found a Blood Letter, but the woman in the tree had snatched it away.
• Jiang Yingcheng thought that the woman was not mad and wondered whether she mistook the paper for a lost Treasure Map.

Ye Sangning’s years of pretending to be mad ended after Jiang Yingcheng’s thoughts exposed her secret treasure map. Hearing that Jiang Yingcheng and 007 could locate the treasure, Ye Sangning offered Emperor Mingze the knowledge of its mechanisms in exchange for avenging Linyue Kingdom.

• Jiang Yingcheng’s thoughts revealed that Ye Sangning had a treasure map, and Ye Sangning pulled it from her sleeve before realizing she had exposed her sanity.
• Emperor Mingze ordered Ye Sangning down from the tree, and she knelt before him and presented the map.
• Jiang Yingcheng’s thoughts praised Ye Sangning for protecting Linyue Kingdom’s last hope, then alarmed the court by imagining her own country being destroyed.
• 007 told Jiang Yingcheng that the treasure held weapons and cultivation techniques and hinted that it knew the treasure’s exact location.
• Jiang Yingcheng asked 007 to draw a more detailed map for her imperial father, and Ye Sangning offered her knowledge of the treasure’s mechanisms in exchange for Emperor Mingze avenging Linyue Kingdom.

Jiang Yingcheng helped Ye Sangning identify Fu Liu as the thief who stole her treasure map, then returned to Starfrost Hall and endured a lesson and test. At dinner, her gossip revealed that Jiang Xingran had been shoved into stone steps, and she realized her Seventh Brother was the culprit.

• Ye Sangning claimed that Fu Liu had stolen her treasure map, and Jiang Yanchuan ordered the group back to Starfrost Hall.
• Fang Siwan took Cheng Yunmeng inside to rest and sent Jiang Yingcheng to Teacher Liu, asking Qingbi to keep the good news from Jiang Xingran.
• Jiang Yingcheng found Lin Jinshu with Teacher Liu, learned Jiang Xingran was absent, and tried to escape a test when he returned.
• Teacher Liu finished teaching after dark, and Fang Siwan kept everyone for dinner while Jiang Yingcheng lamented her exhausting studies.
• Jiang Yingcheng's inner voice revealed that someone had shoved the Fourth Prince into stone steps, and she recognized Jiang Xingran as the culprit.

Lin Jinshu remained distant from Fang Siwan despite her attempt to explain their separation, while Jiang Yingcheng was coaxed into attending court. There, her thoughts about Beiming’s half of a treasure map changed the court’s debate over whether to send troops.

• Jiang Yingcheng offered Jiang Xingran a piece of braised pork, and he ate it despite disliking greasy food.
• Fang Siwan walked Lin Jinshu to the palace gates, asked about his life at the Lin residence, and told him Jiang Yingcheng had arranged for him to study in the palace.
• On the third morning, Fang Siwan tricked the sleepy Jiang Yingcheng into getting ready by saying Jiang Xingran was waiting for her at school.
• At court, Jiang Yanchuan signaled for an official to propose sending troops against Beiming, prompting officials to argue against another war.
• Jiang Yingcheng thought that Beiming had seized half of a treasure map from Linyue, and an official abruptly declared support for attacking Beiming.

Jiang Yingcheng’s thoughts helped turn the court in favor of war against Beiming, and the decision was quickly finalized. At school, she shared pastries with Jiang Qiuyu and Jiang Xingran, but Jiang Huai’an arrived with Jiang Yunjian and Jiang Monian, looking ready to start trouble.

• Jiang Yingcheng’s thoughts about the treasure and weapons prompted generals and high-ranking officials to support a war against Beiming, and Jiang Yanchuan approved the decision.
• Jiang Yanchuan’s court finalized the war preparations, and Eunuch Changshun escorted Jiang Yingcheng to school with pastries from the emperor.
• Jiang Yingcheng invited her classmates to share the pastries, and Jiang Qiuyu and Jiang Xingran joined her.
• Jiang Xingran watched Jiang Yingcheng as he tasted the pastries, then she went to invite Lin Jinshu and another boy.
• Jiang Huai’an kicked open the classroom door with Jiang Yunjian and Jiang Monian beside him and asked if everyone was having a bite.

Jiang Huai'an accused Jiang Yingcheng of knowing who had pushed him and had eunuchs seize Lin Jinshu to force her to talk. Jiang Yingcheng defended Lin Jinshu and bit Jiang Huai'an, leaving the confrontation poised to escalate.

• Jiang Huai'an noticed Jiang Qiuyu hiding behind Jiang Xingran, mocked him for eating meat, and ordered Jiang Yunjian and Jiang Monian to take the pastries.
• Jiang Huai'an confronted Jiang Yingcheng about the incidents involving her and him, then had eunuchs seize Lin Jinshu.
• Jiang Yingcheng tried to free Lin Jinshu, biting a eunuch as Jiang Xingran and Jiang Qiuyu rushed to help her.
• Jiang Huai'an ordered a eunuch to bring out Finger-Crushing Sticks, and Jiang Xingran started to confess that he had pushed Jiang Huai'an.
• Jiang Yingcheng interrupted Jiang Xingran, bit Jiang Huai'an's hand, and was pulled away by her hair as he erupted in anger.

Jiang Yanchuan arrived as Jiang Huai'an and his brothers confronted Jiang Yingcheng and Lin Jinshu, then carried Yingcheng while she tattled on them. After questioning the princes, he sentenced Jiang Huai'an to three months of house arrest and Jiang Yunjian and Jiang Monian to one month, then left with Yingcheng.

• Jiang Yanchuan burst into the room and found Jiang Huai'an and his companions surrounding Jiang Yingcheng and Lin Jinshu.
• Jiang Yingcheng cried in Jiang Yanchuan's arms and accused Jiang Huai'an of threatening her little brother and pulling her hair, Jiang Yunjian and Jiang Monian of stealing her pastries, and the eunuchs of attacking her and threatening Lin Jinshu.
• Jiang Yanchuan questioned Jiang Huai'an about confronting Yingcheng without solid evidence, while Jiang Xingran realized she was trying to protect him.
• Jiang Yanchuan placed Jiang Huai'an under house arrest for three months and Jiang Yunjian and Jiang Monian under house arrest for one month.
• Jiang Yanchuan left carrying Jiang Yingcheng, who secretly celebrated getting to skip lessons.