Chapter Summaries

Jiang Yingcheng and Liaochen brought captured bandits to their forest lair, where the bandits attacked after Jiang mistook the shabby hideout for their palace. After Liaochen’s group subdued them again, Jiang dictated a letter that began with a polite greeting and then declared that someone’s daughter was in her hands.

• Jiang Yingcheng asked a captured bandit whether he could write and had the group lead them to the bandits’ hideout.
• Liaochen carried the sleeping Jiang to the lair, where she woke and mistook its shabby appearance for a sign that her family had fallen into poverty.
• The bandit leader rallied his men to attack after Jiang’s complaints about the hideout, but Liaochen and the others quickly defeated them again.
• Jiang had the writing bandit begin a letter with a polite greeting, then dictated, “Your daughter is in my hands.”

Jiang Yingcheng forced a bandit to write a threatening letter to her imperial father, using her Uncles to beat him when persuasion failed. When the bandit revealed he had studied poetry and classics for over ten years, Jiang Yingcheng sensed there was gossip behind his ugly handwriting and began investigating.

• Jiang Yingcheng tried to persuade a bandit to write a letter claiming his daughter was in her hands, but he refused because he feared her powerful family.
• Jiang Yingcheng ordered Uncle Liaochen to beat the bandit, and the black-eyed bandit agreed to write the letter.
• Jiang Yingcheng dictated threats for the letter, while the bandit worried she might stay and refuse to return his daughter.
• The bandit became furious when Jiang Yingcheng called his handwriting ugly and said he had studied poetry and classics for over ten years.
• The bandit leader silenced the writer, and Jiang Yingcheng realized the bandits had a story and turned her attention to their gossip.

Jiang Yingcheng discovered that the bandits were refugees from Beiming who belonged to a prominent weapons-forging family, and she proposed putting them to work helping Emperor Mingze. Xu Jiu recognized their potential as allies but realized they would first need to uncover a traitor among them.

• The bandits tried to calm their frightened writer, while Jiang Yingcheng praised him and reassured him.
• Jiang Yingcheng revealed in her thoughts that the bandits had fled Beiming with their families, making Zhong Chengwang, Liaochen, and Xu Jiu react in alarm.
• Jiang Yingcheng excused the group’s first robbery as an act of desperation and suggested punishing them by having them guide Emperor Mingze through Beiming’s dangers.
• Xu Jiu realized the former members of a major forging family could aid Emperor Mingze and began asking whether they would enter imperial service.
• Jiang Yingcheng’s thoughts warned that a traitor among the bandits had to be rooted out first, and Xu Jiu bit his tongue before finishing his offer.

Jiang Yingcheng helped the Wei Clan bandits write a threatening letter while realizing one of them had betrayed their clan and passed information to Beiming and Great Rui. When Wei Xing tried to send her away, she offered Gold Beans, and he agreed to clean his own room so she could stay.

• Jiang Yingcheng learned that a bandit had stolen the Wei Clan's mechanism blueprints, framed the clan, and continued sending information to Beiming.
• Jiang Yingcheng made Wei Xing write a threatening letter and threatened him when he said he could not write.
• Jiang Yingcheng tucked away the finished letter and pretended to fall asleep when Wei Xing asked her to leave.
• Wei Xing insisted the bandits had no spare rooms and would not let Jiang Yingcheng stay.
• Jiang Yingcheng tossed Gold Beans onto the desk, and Wei Xing gathered them up and began cleaning his room for her.

Wei Jiany un learned that soldiers had surrounded the mountain, while Jiang Yanchuan arrived to retrieve Jiang Yingcheng. After the Wei Clan discovered that Jiang Yingcheng was a princess, she tried to avoid her father's anger by pretending she had been terrified by the bandits.

• Wei Jiany un woke to news that several hundred soldiers had surrounded the mountain and prepared to attack.
• Jiang Yingcheng fell asleep in Liaochen's arms, then woke to find Jiang Yanchuan holding her.
• Jiang Yanchuan confronted Jiang Yingcheng, and the Wei Clan realized she was a princess.
• Jiang Yingcheng claimed the Wei Clan members were frightening bandits and pleaded with Jiang Yanchuan for sympathy.

Jiang Yingcheng framed the Wei clan bandits while hiding their threatening letter, but Jiang Yanchuan found it and confronted her about its contents. At Changning Palace, she continued acting pitiful as the Empress Dowager defended her, and Jiang Yanchuan offered to reveal more of the letter.

• Jiang Yingcheng accused Wei Jiany un and the Wei clan of writing the threatening letter and taking her Gold Beans, prompting Jiang Yanchuan to order them searched.
• Jiang Yanchuan discovered the letter hidden in Jiang Yingcheng's cuff and began reading it aloud, then stopped and gave a cold snort.
• Jiang Yanchuan brought the tearful Jiang Yingcheng to Changning Palace, where the Empress Dowager and Lin Jinshu came to greet her.
• The Empress Dowager blamed Jiang Yanchuan for hitting Jiang Yingcheng, while he revealed that she had written him a threatening letter.
• Jiang Yanchuan quoted the letter's threats against Jiang Yingcheng and asked whether the Empress Dowager wanted to hear the rest.

Jiang Yingcheng repeatedly failed to sneak out of Changning Palace to rescue the Wei Clan, until Emperor Mingze released them and assigned them to watch her. Wei Jiany un and Wei Xing encountered the little princess and discovered that she spoke to a mysterious System, while Jiang Yingcheng learned that the Wei Clan’s traitor had also been freed.

• For five days, the Empress Dowager distracted Jiang Yingcheng with prayers, caregiving, and copying scriptures, stopping her from leaving Changning Palace.
• On the sixth day, Jiang Yingcheng tried to escape to rescue the bandit uncles but ran into Wei Jiany un and Wei Xing, who had been released from prison and assigned to guard her.
• Wei Jiany un and Wei Xing recalled Emperor Mingze’s warning not to make a fuss about anything beyond the ordinary, then realized it referred to Jiang Yingcheng.
• Jiang Yingcheng asked the System to look something up, frightening the two men when she seemed to focus on empty space and react to its replies.
• Jiang Yingcheng learned that Emperor Mingze had released the whole Wei Clan, including the traitor who had brought it to ruin.

Jiang Yingcheng tried to rescue Wei Jiany un and Wei Xing from prison, while her inner thoughts revealed how a traitor had betrayed the Wei Clan to the Beiming Imperial House. The two men learned the truth and burned with fury as Jiang Yingcheng realized how to make the traitor expose himself.

• Wei Jiany un and Wei Xing overheard Jiang Yingcheng reveal that a traitor had turned the Wei Clan into traitors, and they were shocked that she knew their secret.
• Jiang Yingcheng saw the men’s pale, furious expressions, panicked, and tried to crawl back through the hole.
• Wei Jiany un and Wei Xing asked whether Jiang Yingcheng had been trying to free them, and she proudly said it was her sixth day trying to crawl through holes.
• Jiang Yingcheng’s thoughts revealed that a man had stolen the Wei Clan’s blueprints, sold them to a neighboring country, and reported on the family for the Beiming Imperial House.
• Wei Jiany un and Wei Xing realized that greed and betrayal had ruined their clan, and Jiang Yingcheng figured out how to make the traitor expose himself.

Wei Jiany un and Wei Xing lied to the Wei Clan about the little one and Ye Sangning, while a resentful clansman secretly sent a message to Beiming. The carrier pigeon was shot down, and someone confronted the traitor, Wei Yuan.

• Wei Jiany un and Wei Xing told their clansmen that the little one had apologized and that Ye Sangning was pretending to be mad to seek Emperor Mingze's help in avenging Linyue.
• The Wei Clan elder questioned whether their story was true, and the two men insisted it was.
• Wei Yuan sneaked out after midnight and sent a letter by carrier pigeon toward Beiming.
• An unseen person shot down the pigeon and approached Wei Yuan, calling his name.

Jiang Yingcheng shared food with Wei Jiany un and Wei Xing, then revealed through her thoughts that Beiming faced a devastating plague and planned to forcibly conscript civilians. Learning that Beiming’s Imperial Family had abandoned sick soldiers and concealed the outbreak, the two men decided to help launch a swift attack.

• Jiang Yingcheng shared pastries and fruit with Wei Jiany un and Wei Xing, and Wei Jiany un declared her his little sister.
• Wei Xing and Wei Jiany un choked when Jiang Yingcheng thought about sneaking into the army to attack Beiming with her Imperial Father.
• Jiang Yingcheng explained in her thoughts that Beiming’s Imperial Family had refused treatment for sick soldiers, concealed the plague, and slaughtered those trapped in a military camp.
• Jiang Yingcheng worried that her Uncles’ relatives and friends could be forcibly conscripted, and hoped her Imperial Father would attack sooner.
• Wei Jiany un and Wei Xing sprang up, fired with anger, and prepared to help strike Beiming swiftly.

Jiang Yanchuan discovered Jiang Yingcheng hiding in a supply wagon as the army prepared to depart and ordered her returned to Changning Palace. When she begged to go with him, she blurted out a panicked question that made him freeze.

• Jiang Yanchuan inspected the expedition wagons while searching for Jiang Yingcheng, who had gone missing from Changning Palace.
• Jiang Yingcheng woke inside a wagon after hiding there all night, and Jiang Yanchuan ordered the supplies unloaded when he heard her.
• Jiang Yanchuan found Jiang Yingcheng concealed inside hollowed-out provision stacks and carried her out of the wagon.
• Jiang Yanchuan handed Jiang Yingcheng to Eunuch Changshun and ordered him to take her back to Changning Palace.
• Jiang Yingcheng begged to accompany Jiang Yanchuan, then asked whether he had another kid out there, making him freeze.

Jiang Yingcheng begged Jiang Yanchuan to take her to Beiming, but he refused because of the plague and his duty to lead the army. Before he departed, she gave him supplies from the Merit Shop, and he promised to return safely.

• Jiang Yanchuan left Jiang Yingcheng behind despite her cries to go with him.
• Jiang Yanchuan returned to comfort Jiang Yingcheng and explained that Beiming was too dangerous for her.
• Jiang Yingcheng ran after Jiang Yanchuan, told him she loved him, and asked him to come back soon.
• Jiang Yingcheng gave Jiang Yanchuan lifesaving items from the Merit Shop and promised to explain how to use them.
• Jiang Yanchuan embraced Jiang Yingcheng and promised to return.

After Emperor Mingze left for Beiming, Jiang Yingcheng decided to chase after him, but the Crown Prince brought her to morning court before she could escape. The officials tried to distract her with court gossip.

• Jiang Yingcheng dictated a letter to Emperor Mingze, including a claim that Consort Shu and the Fourth Imperial Prince were bullying her, and Yuan Liangping wrote it down.
• Jiang Yingcheng concluded that she should go to Beiming to help her father and resolved to sneak out the next morning.
• The Crown Prince arrived to take Jiang Yingcheng to morning court, ruining her plan to slip away.
• At court, Ke Shaohui reported that Lei Zhixin's youngest son had repeatedly forced his way into Ke Shaohui's residence, hoping to distract Jiang Yingcheng with gossip.

Jiang Yingcheng’s thoughts distracted the court from the dispute over the Lei family and drew attention to a proposed marriage between Wang Bingxu and Tan Zhining. Her revelations about Tan Zhining’s family left Tan Wenhan embarrassed and ended with Jiang Yingcheng discovering that he had expelled the troublemakers but still provided them with a house.

• Jiang Tinghuai promised to reprimand Lei Mincai and turned the court’s attention toward a new distraction.
• Wang Jinglun proposed a marriage between Wang Bingxu and Tan Zhining, and Jiang Yingcheng recognized Zhining as the Crown Princess from the original storyline.
• Jiang Tinghuai asked whether Tan Zhining had agreed, and Wang Jinglun said she had accepted the proposal.
• Jiang Yingcheng praised Wang Bingxu’s future prospects, then revealed that Tan Yueze had driven Tan Zhining toward depression.
• Jiang Yingcheng discovered that Tan Wenhan had expelled the three troublemakers from the Tan Residence but provided them with a house, and wondered if he still had feelings for them.

Tan Wenhan discovered that the people he had stationed to watch his former concubine had betrayed him and planned to spread damaging rumors, so he rushed to deal with them. After Morning Court, Jiang Tinghuai took Jiang Yingcheng to the final night of the Lantern Festival, where an unseen girl offered her a portion of food.

• Jiang Yingcheng's thoughts revealed that Tan Wenhan's watchers had stolen treasures and planned to spread rumors that he had discarded his concubine for growing old.
• Tan Wenhan praised Wang Bingxu at court and hurriedly pushed to end Morning Court so he could stop the scheme and protect his reputation.
• Jiang Tinghuai kept Jiang Yingcheng from rushing back to Changning Palace by inviting her to the Lantern Festival.
• Jiang Yingcheng spotted a tempting food stall, but its first batch had sold out before she could order.
• A sweet-voiced girl behind Jiang Yingcheng offered to give her portion to the little girl.

Jiang Tinghuai and Jiang Yingcheng encountered Fang Yiwan at the lantern festival, and he agreed to let her show them around to uncover her intentions. At the Heavenly Fragrance House, Fang Yiwan asked him to help bring her son Jinshu out of the palace, but Jiang Yingcheng warned that he had no power to do so, and Jiang Tinghuai grew wary of her scheme.

• Fang Yiwan introduced herself as Consort Wan's eldest sister and offered Jiang Yingcheng pastries, which Jiang Yingcheng initially refused.
• Jiang Tinghuai accepted Fang Yiwan's offer to guide them around the festival, and Jiang Yingcheng reluctantly asked for the pastries after all.
• At the Heavenly Fragrance House, Jiang Tinghuai asked Fang Yiwan what she wanted, and she began pleading to see her youngest son, Jinshu.
• Jiang Yingcheng claimed that Jiang Tinghuai could not ask Great-Grandmother to release Jinshu from the palace, and Jiang Tinghuai's gaze darkened as he recognized Fang Yiwan's scheme.

At the Lantern Festival, Jiang Yingcheng’s dramatic defense of Jiang Tinghuai forced Fang Yiwan to abandon her request to see Lin Jinshu. After discovering that Ding Can had leaked news of their outing, Jiang Yingcheng realized he belonged to Prince Jing and suspected Prince Jing and Fang Yiwan had joined forces.

• Someone in the palace informed Fang Yiwan that Jiang Tinghuai and Jiang Yingcheng were going to the Lantern Festival, and Fang Yiwan arrived to ask that Lin Jinshu be allowed to see her.
• Jiang Yingcheng interrupted Fang Yiwan, then pretended to sob and listed hardships Jiang Tinghuai had endured, making Fang Yiwan kneel and apologize.
• After Fang Yiwan left, Jiang Yingcheng ordered food and Jiang Tinghuai considered how someone had leaked their plans.
• Jiang Yingcheng identified Ding Can as the likely informant, then realized he served Prince Jing and wondered whether Prince Jing and Fang Yiwan had joined forces.

Jiang Yingcheng and Jiang Tinghuai went to the Heavenly Fragrance House to meet a lovesick man rumored to be throwing money around. They discovered he was devoted to Yue'er and violently rejected anyone who insulted her.

• Jiang Tinghuai distracted Jiang Yingcheng from investigating the Lin Residence and sent her to find Zhang Yuke.
• Jiang Yingcheng met Guan Xi while Jiang Tinghuai secretly ordered Shadow Guards to investigate how much Prince Jing knew about her.
• Jiang Yingcheng persuaded Jiang Tinghuai to visit the Heavenly Fragrance House after learning a lovesick young man was scattering money there.
• Jiang Yingcheng and Jiang Tinghuai found the young man, who punched a spectator for insulting Yue'er and declared her the most special woman in the world.

Jiang Yingcheng used a money-scattering spree at the Heavenly Fragrance House to strike a bargain with Liang Ling, then discovered that the lovesick drunk downstairs was Prince Jingyuan, a former hostage prince in Great Rui. The chapter left Jiang Tinghuai and Jiang Yingcheng realizing Prince Jingyuan had likely recognized Jiang Tinghuai just as someone knocked on their door.

• A furious man tried to stop the crowd from grabbing the scattered banknotes, but joined in collecting them when the money fell.
• Jiang Yingcheng asked Liang Ling to leave his banknotes with her while he grabbed silver ingots, promising to split the silver with him fifty-fifty.
• Jiang Yingcheng hurried Jiang Tinghuai upstairs and watched through a hole in the lattice window as people fought over the money.
• Jiang Yingcheng read that Sister Yuexi liked the lovesick man, that he had once been a hostage prince in Great Rui, and that their visit to the Heavenly Fragrance House was planned together.
• Jiang Yingcheng learned the man was Prince Jingyuan, known for drinking a thousand cups without getting drunk, and she and Jiang Tinghuai realized he must have recognized Jiang Tinghuai.
• Someone knocked three times at the private-room door, making Jiang Yingcheng and Jiang Tinghuai stiffen.

Jiang Tinghuai met Prince Jingyuan, who revealed that he and Yuexi had devised a scheme to derail a marriage alliance by spreading rumors linking him to Yuexi. The plan left Jiang Tinghuai weighing its effectiveness and unfairness to his sister, while Jiang Yingcheng abruptly rejected Prince Jingyuan’s expensive gift.

• Prince Jingyuan removed his disguise and greeted Jiang Tinghuai, while Jiang Yingcheng initially suspected he had staged a scandal to damage Yuexi’s reputation.
• Prince Jingyuan offered Jiang Yingcheng a pouch of valuable gems, and she quickly reconsidered her suspicions before Jiang Tinghuai refused his offer of a jade bracelet.
• Jiang Yingcheng’s thoughts revealed that Yuexi had led a plan to spread a fabricated love story and rumors connecting her to Prince Jingyuan to avoid a marriage alliance with Qiguang.
• Prince Jingyuan explained that he sought Jiang Tinghuai’s help because he did not want Yuexi caught in public gossip, and Jiang Tinghuai recognized the plan as effective despite its cost to her reputation.
• Jiang Yingcheng pushed the pouch back toward Prince Jingyuan and angrily told him she did not want his things.