Recaps

Jiang Yingcheng staged a tearful act in the prison so Wu Leyong could reach Xie Jinrou, where he learned how she had used him and forced her to swallow poison. Afterward, Jiang Yingcheng discovered someone had given her a packet of pastries, and the surrounding guards fell silent at the giver’s quiet laugh.

• Jiang Yingcheng insisted on visiting the prison, and Lu Yao escorted her there while keeping a watchful eye on Wu Leyong and Zhong Chengwang.
• Jiang Yingcheng pretended to cry about her encounter with an assassin so the guards would gather around her and distract them from Wu Leyong.
• Wu Leyong slipped farther into the prison with Liaochen and his companions’ help and overheard Xie Jinrou call another man useless and compare his efforts unfavorably with Wu Leyong’s sacrifices.
• Wu Leyong confronted Xie Jinrou about her words, then forced her to swallow poison when she eagerly assumed he had come to rescue her.
• Jiang Yingcheng realized her Hibiscus Pastries were missing, accepted a packet from someone behind her, and heard a low voice say, “Heh,” as the guards fell silent.

Jiang Yanchuan caught Jiang Yingcheng planning another trip to the Heavenly Fragrance House and made her catch up on her missed schoolwork during court. When Zhang Ding'an opposed repairing the Moat embankments, Jiang Yingcheng recognized him as a corrupt official and turned her attention to exposing the Ministry of Works.

• Jiang Yanchuan appeared behind Jiang Yingcheng and stopped her from asking Liaochen to take her back to the Heavenly Fragrance House.
• Jiang Yanchuan replaced Jiang Yingcheng's couch at morning court with a desk and ordered her to complete her overdue schoolwork.
• Zhang Ding'an argued that repairing the Moat embankments would waste resources, prompting Jiang Yingcheng to recognize him as the official who had embezzled River Embankment funds.
• Jiang Yingcheng set aside her schoolwork to review System Bro's information and vowed to root out the villains who had schemed against her father.

Jiang Yingcheng exposed Zhang Ding'an’s corruption through her thoughts, and Lu Yao used the revelations to accuse him before the court. When Tao Yangqiu demanded evidence, Lu Yao waited for Jiang Yingcheng to help, but her next discovery was that Tao’s wife was secretly involved with Zhang Ding'an.

• Jiang Yingcheng recited the names of corrupt officials, while Lu Yao enlisted colleagues to help him remember them.
• Jiang Yingcheng revealed that Zhang Ding'an had stolen farmers’ topsoil for the Moat embankment and arranged for a complainant to be beaten to death.
• Jiang Yanchuan ordered Lu Yao to explain why the River Embankment needed repairs, and Lu Yao publicly accused Zhang Ding'an of the crimes.
• Zhang Ding'an denied the accusations, and Tao Yangqiu challenged Lu Yao to produce evidence.
• Jiang Yingcheng discovered that Tao Yangqiu’s wife had spent his ill-gotten money on Zhang Ding'an and met him in secret, leaving Lu Yao still waiting for evidence.

Lu Yao used Jiang Yingcheng’s thoughts to expose the officials’ private scandals in court, leaving Tao Yangqiu and several others humiliated. The chapter ended with Lu Yao shutting down Lei Zhixin when he tried to join in.

• Lu Yao accused Tao Yangqiu’s wife of spending his money on Zhang Ding'an and warned him to check his family storerooms.
• Tan Songsong and Xing Junchu recalled Zhang Ding'an wearing a hand-sewn cloak, leading Tao Yangqiu to realize his wife had made it for Zhang instead of him.
• Tao Yangqiu glared at Zhang Ding'an but held back from confronting him in court because they both had incriminating secrets.
• Lu Yao exposed Luo Chao’s infertility and the secret lives of his concubines, then revealed that one of his maids was a man disguised as a woman.
• Lu Yao told Lord Nie that his new concubine was the daughter he had lost years earlier, and then dismissed Lei Zhixin with a blunt order to get lost.

Lu Yao confronted the ministers over Zhang Ding'an's alleged crimes while Jiang Yingcheng uncovered the details of a murdered farmer's disposal. Lu Yao recited the contents of Zhang Ding'an's destroyed secret letter, leaving him terrified and collapsing to the floor.

• Lu Yao silenced the ministers' objections about the Embroidered Uniform Guard's intelligence work.
• Du Boshan challenged Lu Yao to produce evidence directly related to Zhang Ding'an's case, redirecting Jiang Yingcheng from gossip to business.
• Jiang Yingcheng discovered that Zhang Ding'an had a farmer beaten to death and his remains displayed to intimidate other households.
• Jiang Yingcheng proposed fabricating a replacement for Zhang Ding'an's burned secret letter, and several ministers hoped to help imitate his handwriting.
• Lu Yao recited the letter's contents aloud, and Zhang Ding'an collapsed as he recognized the words he had written.

Lu Yao began investigating the embezzlement of River Embankment repair funds after Jiang Yingcheng revealed evidence against numerous officials. The chapter ended with Lu Yao trying to recruit officials who had heard her thoughts to help him remember the leads.

• Lu Yao asked Emperor Mingze to order a thorough investigation into the embezzled repair funds, and Emperor Mingze invited him to share his leads.
• Jiang Yingcheng revealed that Tao Yangqiu's wife spent money beyond his salary, giving Lu Yao a way to find evidence of his embezzlement.
• Jiang Yingcheng revealed leads involving Luo Chao's wives and concubines and letters hidden in Miss Qin's jewelry box, along with evidence against other officials.
• After court, Emperor Mingze carried Jiang Yingcheng toward Wuyang Hall while Lu Yao rushed to question officials who had heard her thoughts.
• Lu Yao asked Lord Pei, General Gao, and Duke Wang to help supply the details he had failed to remember.

After Lu Yao reported to Emperor Mingze, they discussed how to handle the officials implicated by Jiang Yingcheng and placed Zhang Ding'an beside a closely watched prisoner. Jiang Yingcheng tried to uncover the identity of “that person,” but after her father reprimanded her for neglecting her schoolwork, she pressed Eunuch Changshun for the secret instead.

• Emperor Mingze told Lu Yao to let Tao Yangqiu, Luo Chao, and Du Boshan remain at large so their protectors could be exposed, and ordered Zhang Ding'an placed beside “that person.”
• Lu Yao tried to ask what Jiang Yingcheng was drawing, but she hastily covered her weapon blueprint and worried that he had discovered it.
• Emperor Mingze scolded Jiang Yingcheng for meddling in official business and asked how much of her overdue schoolwork she had completed.
• Jiang Yingcheng left with Eunuch Changshun for a walk and asked him who “that person” was.
• When Eunuch Changshun did not answer, Jiang Yingcheng threatened to make a fuss.

Jiang Yingcheng learned about Yu Xingmian and the Ink Rain Association, then goaded Liaochen into carrying her out of the palace. After returning to the Eastern Depot, she asked Lu Yao to accompany him while he interrogated Zhang Ding'an, hoping to see Yu Xingmian.

• Liaochen and Zhong Chengwang explained that Yu Xingmian had founded the Ink Rain Association, which the orthodox factions branded a Demon Cult, and that he had sacrificed his freedom to help it hide.
• Jiang Yingcheng teased Liaochen about Yu Xingmian's talent and whether he might lose his place among the Martial Arts Grandmasters, prompting Liaochen to scoop her up and flee the palace with Zhong Chengwang and Wu Leyong in pursuit.
• Outside the palace, Jiang Yingcheng asked Liaochen to buy pastries as a gift for her imperial father's intelligence organization's manager, then dodged his question about how she would explain leaving the palace.
• Lu Yao received word that Jiang Yingcheng had returned to the Eastern Depot and prepared to interrogate Zhang Ding'an, but Jiang Yingcheng asked to go with him because she wanted to see Yu Xingmian.

Jiang Yingcheng visited Zhang Ding'an in the Imperial Prison, where Yu Xingmian revealed how Zhang had risen through the ranks using cases discarded by Pan Chengbi. The chapter ended with Yu Xingmian pulling Zhang close and kicking him to the ground.

• Lu Yao led Jiang Yingcheng and the others through a hidden entrance to Zhang Ding'an's cell, where Zhang claimed he had never taken bribes and asked to plead his case before the Emperor.
• Jiang Yingcheng mocked Zhang for standing straight after the Imperial Guards had dragged him out of court like a heap of sludge, then offered him meat buns.
• Yu Xingmian spoke from the neighboring cell, delighting Jiang Yingcheng, and Lu Yao realized he had sneaked out again.
• Yu Xingmian recounted Zhang Ding'an's rise through the ranks and revealed that Pan Chengbi had discarded the cases Zhang used to earn promotions.
• Zhang lunged toward Yu Xingmian, who grabbed his arm, pulled him close, and kicked the back of his knee.

Jiang Yingcheng befriended Yu Xingmian in his cell, and the two exposed Zhang Ding'an’s corruption and crimes until he fainted. Lu Yao hoped to record more revelations, but Zhang collapsed before Jiang could finish.

• Jiang Yingcheng brought pastries to Yu Xingmian and tried unsuccessfully to squeeze through the cell bars.
• Yu Xingmian opened his cell door for Jiang Yingcheng, while Lu Yao was restrained from intervening.
• Zhang Ding'an recognized Yu Xingmian as the leader of the Ink Rain Association and threatened him.
• Yu Xingmian revealed that he possessed a ledger linking Zhang Ding'an’s bribery to the Pan Residence, and Jiang Yingcheng cited evidence of Zhang’s embezzlement.
• Yu Xingmian and Jiang Yingcheng exposed more crimes involving Zhang Ding'an and the Pan family, causing Zhang to faint before Jiang could finish.

Lu Yao tried to persuade Yu Xingmian to trade evidence for help, but Jiang Yingcheng’s thoughts revealed that the Ink Rain Association had been infiltrated by the Heavenly Secrets Pavilion’s master. After Lu Yao shared the details, Jiang Yingcheng offered Yu Xingmian an imperial salary.

• Lu Yao freed Jiang Yingcheng from Yu Xingmian’s cell and tried to learn where Yu Xingmian’s evidence was, but Yu Xingmian claimed he had been lying.
• Jiang Yingcheng’s thoughts revealed that the Ink Rain Association was being infiltrated by the master of the Heavenly Secrets Pavilion, who had spent months earning the deputy leader’s trust.
• Lu Yao struck Yu Xingmian’s muting acupoint so he could hear Jiang Yingcheng’s thoughts without interrupting.
• Lu Yao told Yu Xingmian what he had learned, and Yu Xingmian agreed to cooperate after the details matched his reports.
• Jiang Yingcheng covered Yu Xingmian’s hand and asked whether he would like to draw an imperial salary.

At court, Zhou Deyu challenged the appointment of martial-world guards, but Jiang Yanchuan ordered Yu Xingmian to prove his worth. Jiang Yingcheng’s investigation suggested Zhou was hiding worse misconduct, while Lu Yao was left disappointed when he lost his chance to expose it himself.

• Jiang Yingcheng admired Yu Xingmian and promised herself she would find Lu Yao two more corrupt officials as presents.
• An official objected that the Little Highness’s new guards had bypassed the usual selection process and taken coveted Imperial Guard posts.
• Jiang Yingcheng recognized Hu Hongyuan as one of her chosen targets and suspected Zhou Deyu feared Yu Xingmian would reveal his past abuses.
• Hu Hongyuan denied opposing the appointment, then returned to the ranks in anger at Zhou Deyu.
• As Lu Yao prepared to expose Zhou Deyu’s crimes, Jiang Yanchuan ordered Yu Xingmian to prove his worth, leaving Lu Yao disappointed.

Yu Xingmian exposed Zhou Deyu’s betrayal of his first wife and revealed that the abandoned woman had borne him a son. Jiang Yingcheng uncovered even worse secrets about Zhou, leaving Yu Xingmian’s gentle composure to crack as she prepared to reveal his crimes.

• Yu Xingmian confronted Zhou Deyu in court and exposed how he had tried to divorce his first wife and ruin her reputation with hired thugs.
• Yu Xingmian revealed that Madam Zhao had been pregnant when Zhou abandoned her and hinted that their son could prove his identity.
• Jiang Yingcheng’s thoughts revealed that Zhou’s son was in Yu Xingmian’s Ink Rain Association and that none of Zhou’s four children with Madam Pan were his.
• Jiang Yingcheng realized she could claim Yu Xingmian as the source of System Bro’s revelations and prepared to expose Zhou’s seizure of property and murder-for-hire.
• Yu Xingmian’s gentle smile disappeared as Jiang Yingcheng delightedly considered revealing Zhou’s further crimes.

Jiang Yingcheng restrained herself from exposing incriminating evidence too soon, then discovered information about the Kou Family that could support Yu Xingmian’s challenge to the court. The military generals reacted furiously to her revelation, while Lu Yao realized she had prepared the information for him and warned Yu Xingmian not to steal his credit.

• Jiang Yingcheng decided not to reveal every secret at court after System Bro warned her that doing so could cause trouble for Yu Xingmian.
• Jiang Yingcheng learned that the Pan Family had once pursued Top Scholar Sheng Sijiu before settling for Zhou Deyu, prompting the officials to compare the two men’s looks.
• Zhou Deyu angrily insisted his sons were well cared for, and Yu Xingmian advised him to watch over his prematurely born child’s health.
• Kou Xingyan challenged Yu Xingmian to prove his abilities, and Jiang Yingcheng revealed that Kou Xingyan’s eldest brother had tampered with military pay.
• Lu Yao realized Jiang Yingcheng had gathered the Kou Family’s information to prepare a gift for him, then warned Yu Xingmian not to take credit for it.

Jiang Yingcheng’s thoughts exposed Kou Xingyan’s scheme of impersonating his brother, Kou Qiwen, to deceive women and damage his reputation. Yu Xingmian finally challenged Kou Xingyan by claiming he had heard amorous anecdotes about Kou Qiwen, leaving Kou Qiwen to suspect his brother.

• Jiang Yingcheng discovered that Kou Xingyan imitated Kou Qiwen and used his identity to deceive women in the family’s rear courtyard.
• Jiang Yingcheng revealed that Kou Xingyan had a venereal disease and spent lavishly at brothels, including male brothels, under Kou Qiwen’s name.
• Kou Xingyan taunted Yu Xingmian, believing he had no evidence against him, while the ministers silently condemned him.
• Jiang Yingcheng struck the table and urged Yu Xingmian to stand up to Kou Xingyan, prompting Yu Xingmian to speak.
• Yu Xingmian told Kou Qiwen to visit the pleasure quarters and see how many supposed old acquaintances greeted him, and Kou Qiwen turned a suspicious gaze toward Kou Xingyan.

Kou Qiwen’s private scandals erupted in court after Jiang Yingcheng’s thoughts exposed his brother’s affairs and the illness passed to Kou Qiwen’s concubine and child. The confrontation was stopped by Pan Jifeng, and Jiang Yanchuan thanked Jiang Yingcheng for bringing Yu Xingmian back before a consort interrupted their walk.

• Courtiers spread gossip that Kou Qiwen frequented brothels for both women and men, while Kou Qiwen glared at Kou Xingyan.
• Jiang Yingcheng revealed in her thoughts that Kou Xingyan had passed a venereal disease to Kou Qiwen’s concubine and her child, and Dong Kangsheng and Gao Siyuan spread the rumor aloud.
• Kou Qiwen realized what the rumor implied and angrily confronted Kou Xingyan, but Pan Jifeng reprimanded him and Kou Qiwen returned to his place.
• Jiang Yingcheng asked Jiang Yanchuan to praise Yu Xingmian for helping him, and Jiang Yanchuan thanked her.
• Jiang Yingcheng asked Jiang Yanchuan to carry her to Wuyang Hall, but a consort arrived with a youth and paid her respects.

Consort Xuan brought Jiang Zhuolan to tell Jiang Yanchuan that he had overheard Consort Hui and a stranger plotting to poison a ruler at the New Year’s Banquet. Jiang Yingcheng’s thoughts identified the plot as a Zhujin Kingdom scheme targeting the Crown Prince, and Jiang Yanchuan began considering how to counter it.

• Consort Xuan brought Jiang Zhuolan to Wuyang Hall, where he reported hearing Consort Hui and a stranger discuss poisoning a ruler at the New Year’s Banquet.
• Jiang Yingcheng’s thoughts connected the plot to the Zhujin Kingdom and reminded Jiang Yanchuan that Zhu Jin had poisoned him before.
• Jiang Zhuolan recalled that the intended victim was Zhu Jin, and Jiang Yingcheng’s thoughts revealed that the Zhujin Kingdom planned to poison the Crown Prince with a slow-acting foreign poison.
• Jiang Yanchuan calmly considered the scheme and smiled faintly, suggesting he would not let the Zhujin Kingdom reap the reward.

Jiang Yingcheng persuaded Jiang Yanchuan to let her choose an apology gift from Noble Consort Rou, then arranged to take her out after dark. The carriage reached a brightly lit alley, where Noble Consort Rou froze at what she saw.

• The ministers heard Jiang Yingcheng's thoughts about Consort Hui plotting against Chengcheng and watched Jiang Yanchuan for a response.
• Pan Jifeng asked Jiang Yanchuan to let Noble Consort Rou apologize to Jiang Yingcheng, but Jiang Yanchuan rebuked him for defending her and warned he could punish her under palace law.
• Jiang Yingcheng asked whether she could choose something herself and decided Noble Consort Rou would be useful in exposing a scheme at the New Year's Banquet.
• After Noble Consort Rou was released from House Arrest, Jiang Yingcheng traveled with her under guard, keeping their destination secret.
• The carriage stopped in a brightly lit alley, and Noble Consort Rou stepped outside and froze at the sight before her.

Jiang Yingcheng tricked Pan Jingwan into taking her to the Heavenly Fragrance House for food, where the crowd mistook their outing for a cruel family drama. After Jiang Yingcheng’s performance made the diners condemn Pan Jingwan, Jiang Yingcheng defended her auntie despite recalling how Pan Jingwan had accused her of making a Witchcraft Doll of Daddy.

• Pan Jingwan brought Jiang Yingcheng to the Heavenly Fragrance House after Jiang Yingcheng claimed it sold delicious Hibiscus Pastries.
• Jiang Yingcheng ordered nearly every dish and ten servings of Hibiscus Pastries, then urged Pan Jingwan to eat with her.
• When Pan Jingwan questioned the amount of food, Jiang Yingcheng pretended to feel hurt, prompting the diners to accuse Pan Jingwan of mistreating her.
• Pan Jingwan tried to explain herself, but a diner accused her of bullying Jiang Yingcheng and demanded to know why she owed the child an apology.
• Jiang Yingcheng tearfully defended Pan Jingwan, saying that she still considered her a good auntie despite Pan Jingwan letting Big Brother bully them and accusing her of making a Witchcraft Doll of Daddy.

Jiang Yingcheng maneuvered Pan Jingwan into a private room at the Heavenly Fragrance House, then slipped into a room occupied by Jiang Yi'an. After Liaochen blocked Li Cheng from following her, Jiang Yi'an offered Chengcheng tea and told her to leave.

• Pan Jingwan demanded a private room after the hall condemned her for bringing Jiang Yingcheng to the Heavenly Fragrance House.
• Zhang Yuke led them upstairs, and Jiang Yingcheng pretended to stumble through the door of the fourth room on the left.
• Li Cheng stepped out and questioned Jiang Yingcheng, who distracted him while signaling Liaochen to intervene.
• Liaochen blocked Li Cheng as Jiang Yingcheng slipped behind the screen and came face to face with Jiang Yi'an.
• Jiang Yi'an poured Jiang Yingcheng tea and told her to drink up and be on her way.

Jiang Yingcheng provoked Jiang Yi'an after he ordered Li Cheng to kill everyone except her, and Liaochen arrived to protect her. When Jiang Yi'an’s Shadow Guards attacked, Jiang Yingcheng stayed with Zhong Chengwang to watch the fight, while Pan Jingwan called for Prince Jing outside the room.

• Jiang Yingcheng called Jiang Yi'an a sore loser for trying to hide that he had visited the Heavenly Fragrance House.
• Jiang Yi'an ordered Li Cheng to kill everyone except Jiang Yingcheng, but Liaochen rushed behind the screen and took her into his arms.
• Jiang Yingcheng taunted Jiang Yi'an and revealed in her thoughts that she suspected he had entered the capital to stir up trouble at the New Year's Banquet.
• Jiang Yingcheng’s guards arrived, and Liaochen handed her to Zhong Chengwang before preparing to fight Jiang Yi'an.
• Jiang Yi'an’s Shadow Guards burst into the room, and the two sides clashed while Zhong Chengwang dodged with Jiang Yingcheng in his arms.
• Pan Jingwan pounded on the door and called out to Prince Jing.

Pan Jingwan revealed Prince Jing’s identity during a fight at the Heavenly Fragrance House, exposing his secret arrival in the capital. Jiang Yingcheng then made the scandal public and asked why Prince Jing had tried to kill her, leaving him to regard her with suspicion.

• Pan Jingwan shouted that Jiang Yi'an was Prince Jing, causing his guards to stop fighting and revealing his identity.
• Jiang Yingcheng claimed to be the princess, and Jiang Yi'an questioned her about why she had come to the brothel.
• Jiang Yingcheng said Noble Consort Rou had brought her there, while the damaged room’s madam demanded compensation.
• Jiang Yingcheng emphasized Noble Consort Rou’s name, prompting people outside to spread the scandal that she had taken the princess to a brothel.
• Jiang Yi'an ordered Li Cheng to pay for the damage, then told Pan Jingwan that he had arrived in the capital that day.
• Jiang Yingcheng asked why Prince Jing had tried to kill her, and Jiang Yi'an studied her with suspicion.

Jiang Yingcheng uncovered the tangled past between Jiang Yi'an and Noble Consort Rou while everyone listened to her thoughts. Jiang Yi'an ended the evening by sending them back to the palace, leaving the guards to decide who would report the gossip to Emperor Mingze.

• Jiang Yi'an admitted he had been teasing Jiang Yingcheng and questioned why Noble Consort Rou had brought her to the Heavenly Fragrance House.
• Jiang Yingcheng learned that Noble Consort Rou had once wanted to marry Jiang Yi'an, but Lord Pan had discovered Jiang Yi'an's political motives and sent her into the palace instead.
• Jiang Yingcheng revealed that Jiang Mingze, not Jiang Yi'an, had helped Noble Consort Rou as a child, and Jiang Yi'an had claimed credit for the deed.
• Jiang Yingcheng revealed that Noble Consort Rou had named the Fourth Imperial Prince Huaian after her lingering feelings for Jiang Yi'an.
• Jiang Yi'an sent Jiang Yingcheng and Noble Consort Rou back to the palace and promised Jiang Yingcheng expensive treats.
• Liaochen and the other guards realized they had to report Jiang Yingcheng's gossip to Emperor Mingze and silently tried to make one another do it.

Jiang Yanchuan learned that Prince Jing’s spy, Yu Kaiji, had planted a memorial requesting permission to enter the capital, while Jiang Yingcheng secretly listened nearby. After she revealed the suspected contact’s name in her thoughts, Jiang Yanchuan approached her and discovered her hiding with pastries.

• Eunuch Changshun reported that Yu Kaiji had slipped Prince Jing’s memorial among the petitions of thanks, and Jiang Yanchuan ordered surveillance of him.
• Jiang Yanchuan asked whether Yu Kaiji’s contact had been identified, and Jiang Yingcheng’s thoughts revealed that the suspected contact was Ni Yingyi.
• Eunuch Changshun reported that a palace servant had seen Yu Kaiji meeting Ni Yingyi in the woods, and Jiang Yanchuan assigned the matter to Lu Yao.
• Jiang Yingcheng praised Jiang Yanchuan in her thoughts while hiding behind a door with a bundle of pastries.
• Jiang Yanchuan followed the sound of Jiang Yingcheng’s thoughts and found her hiding.

Jiang Yingcheng spent the night in Jiang Yanchuan’s bedchamber, shared warm Hibiscus Pastry with him, and told him about her outing and the danger Prince Jing had arranged. Jiang Yanchuan regretted not protecting her more carefully and offered to take her out again, but sent her to sleep before she could finish listing places she wanted to visit.

• Jiang Yanchuan carried Jiang Yingcheng into his bedchamber after she promised she had shared treats with the palace guards so they would not be punished.
• Jiang Yingcheng gave Jiang Yanchuan the warm Hibiscus Pastry she had saved for him, and he called it very sweet.
• Jiang Yingcheng told Jiang Yanchuan about her outing, while her inner thoughts revealed that Prince Jing had planned to kill her and that his expected accomplice never arrived.
• Jiang Yanchuan regretted not learning more about the danger she faced and asked where else she wanted to go.
• Jiang Yingcheng excitedly named several destinations and hoped to miss more Academy days, but Jiang Yanchuan covered her eyes and told her to sleep.