Recaps

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.

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.