Chapter Summaries

Chi Jingyang struggled with guilt over harming the men in the tunnel, but Jiang Yingcheng comforted him and helped him regain his resolve. As she considered trading for medicine to treat Lu Jingchu, Chi Jingyang became eager to help her take the valley’s treasures and leave with everyone.

• Chi Jingyang felt guilty about triggering the tunnel mechanism, and Jiang Yingcheng soothed him by explaining that he had wanted to protect the people in the valley.
• Jiang Yingcheng reassured Chi Jingyang that the falling gate and hidden arrows had not seriously harmed anyone, and he laughed before taking her to visit Lu Jingchu.
• Lu Jingchu thanked Jiang Yingcheng for bringing snow congealing grass, then lost his strength and fell asleep again.
• Jiang Yingcheng worried that Lu Jingchu was too weak to leave the valley and considered exchanging for more medicine to treat him.
• Chi Jingyang decided he would help take Lu Jingchu away, then eagerly approved Jiang Yingcheng’s plan after hearing her consider exchanging for several rare pills.

Jiang Yingcheng gave Chi Jingyang medicine balls that quickly helped Lu Jingchu recover, then set out to share them with others in Spring Renewal Valley. When she offered Chang Yuan a Ganoderma Pill, her thoughts revealed the deception that had ruined his life, and he realized he had been framed.

• Jiang Yingcheng gave Chi Jingyang several medicine balls and fed one to the unconscious Lu Jingchu.
• Chi Jingyang heard Jiang Yingcheng think she could redeem the pills’ formulas for him, and he eagerly asked when they would return to Great Rui.
• After Chi Jingyang assured her Lu Jingchu would soon wake, Jiang Yingcheng went out to distribute medicine balls and offered Chang Yuan a Ganoderma Pill.
• Chang Yuan realized he could hear Jiang Yingcheng’s thoughts and recalled Emperor Mingze’s warning not to expose anything strange about her.
• Jiang Yingcheng’s thoughts revealed that a wealthy heir had framed Chang Yuan with fake relatives and a staged accusation, and Chang Yuan clenched his fist in anger.

Jiang Yanchuan tried to persuade Liang Qilüe and Spring Renewal Valley’s residents to leave for Great Rui, but Chang Yuan and Yu Fan unexpectedly agreed after speaking with him. The chapter left Liang Qilüe suspicious and furious as Jiang rushed to send Yu Fan away before he could discover what the little girl had done.

• Chang Yuan walked deeper into Spring Renewal Valley after receiving a Medicine Ball from the little girl.
• Jiang Yanchuan promised Liang Qilüe that the valley’s residents would lead peaceful lives in Great Rui, but Liang remained unconvinced.
• Chang Yuan arrived to confirm Jiang Yanchuan’s identity and then agreed to leave with him.
• Jiang Yanchuan assured Liang Qilüe that he would protect the valley’s residents, making the general begin to waver.
• Yu Fan agreed to go with Jiang Yanchuan on the condition that he could fight the enemy, and Jiang sent him off to pack.
• Liang Qilüe glared at Jiang Yanchuan, suspecting that something had happened behind his back.

Jiang Yingcheng’s efforts to persuade the valley residents to return to Great Rui baffled Liang Qilüe, who discovered that the emperor’s new appointments let them hear her thoughts. The chapter left Liang Qilüe realizing Chengcheng planned to persuade him by revealing what happened to the Wei Clan.

• Liang Qilüe followed Jiang Yanchuan to the dining hall and found Jiang Yingcheng distributing Medicine Balls to the valley residents.
• Han Jing asked Jiang Yanchuan to appoint Liang Qilüe to a Great Rui post, and Jiang Yanchuan named him General Chong’an.
• Jiang Yingcheng hugged Liang Qilüe and joined the others for dinner, while Liang questioned why the valley residents had suddenly changed their behavior.
• Liang Qilüe heard Jiang Yingcheng think that the Wei Clan’s misfortune might persuade him to return to Great Rui.
• Liang Qilüe realized Jiang Yingcheng had been thinking rather than speaking, then choked when she thought she would explain after swallowing her pastries.

Jiang Yingcheng and Jiang Yanchuan persuaded Liang Qilüe to leave Beiming and join Great Rui, revealing that his old friends from the Wei Clan had escaped there. Liang Qilüe agreed, encouraged by the thought of reuniting with old friends and making a new home near Jiang Yingcheng.

• Liang Qilüe rejected Jiang Yanchuan’s request, and Jiang Yingcheng thought he disliked her until she realized he had been speaking to the Emperor.
• Jiang Yingcheng cried and asked Liang Qilüe to come with her, while Jiang Yanchuan argued that he could help free Beiming’s people from oppressive rule.
• You Xi and several others announced they intended to leave the valley with Jiang Yanchuan, and Jiang Yingcheng urged Liang Qilüe to think of his old friends.
• Jiang Yanchuan told Liang Qilüe that the Beiming Imperial House had framed the Wei Clan and burned their ancestral home, but most of the clan had settled in Great Rui.
• Jiang Yanchuan offered to let Liang Qilüe meet Wei Clan members at the camp, while Jiang Yingcheng imagined a nearby residence for him and the other uncles.
• Liang Qilüe considered Jiang Yingcheng’s hopes and agreed to go.

Jiang Yingcheng worried that she would soon be separated from Jiang Yanchuan, but after hearing something from System Bro, she eagerly took him to visit You Xi. There, Jiang Yanchuan reassured her that he loved her even though she was a fake princess.

• Jiang Yingcheng realized she would soon have to part from Jiang Yanchuan and grew sad.
• Jiang Yanchuan sent Liaochen and Gao Siyuan away and sat down with Jiang Yingcheng to talk.
• Jiang Yingcheng suddenly cheered up and led Jiang Yanchuan to You Xi's courtyard.
• Jiang Yingcheng pretended to browse You Xi's crafts while Jiang Yanchuan recognized a colorful vase as an imitation from the Zhaoming era.
• Jiang Yanchuan told Jiang Yingcheng that he loved her very much even though she was a fake princess.

Jiang Yanchuan comforted Jiang Yingcheng after revealing that he knew she was not his biological daughter, and she feared he would stop loving her. He reassured her that she and Jinshu would both have him as their father, then explained that Chengcheng was the first person to see him as her daddy.

• Jiang Yingcheng burst into tears, fearing that Jiang Yanchuan would no longer love her as his daughter.
• Jiang Yanchuan carried Chengcheng away to the mountain woods, while Liaochen and Gao Siyuan kept You Xi from learning she had cried.
• Jiang Yanchuan told Chengcheng that Consort Wan had revealed the truth to protect her from being accused of deceiving the emperor.
• Chengcheng worried that Consort Wan had suffered and that Jinshu had grown up without a father, then confessed she had known the secret without telling Jiang Yanchuan.
• Jiang Yanchuan assured Chengcheng that he would always be her father and give her love, explaining that she was the first person to approach him as her daddy rather than as a cold emperor.

Jiang Yanchuan reassured Jiang Yingcheng that he would keep loving her and helped her prepare to leave Spring Renewal Valley. After the group arrived at the Military Camp and reunited with old allies, Jiang Yanchuan ordered the camp to seal off all news and prepare to march on Danyang City in three days.

• Jiang Yanchuan comforted Jiang Yingcheng about her identity and promised to treat her as before, while she stayed close by his side.
• Jiang Yanchuan offered to help Jiang Yingcheng pack her many gifts, and Lu Jingchu's health improved after she supplied more Medicine Balls.
• Jiang Yanchuan and the others traveled to the Military Camp, where General Kan welcomed them alongside Lei Zhixin and the army.
• Liang Qilüe reunited with Wei Jiany un and the Wei Clan, while You Xi and the Spring Renewal Valley experts bonded with people at the camp.
• Jiang Yanchuan ordered General Kan to seal off all news and announced that they would march on Danyang City in three days.

Jiang Yanchuan prepared to attack Danyang City while Jiang Yingcheng stayed in camp, missing him and trying to comfort Fang Siwan. When Jiang Yingcheng hoped Yu Xingmian could find news to cheer Fang Siwan, she learned that the Lin Residence had burned down overnight.

• Jiang Yanchuan combined intelligence from Prince Xin’s planted soldier with Jiang Yingcheng’s inner voice, sent Zhong Chengwang to deliver secret orders to Jiang Tinghuai, and planned four routes to attack the capital.
• After three days of preparation, Jiang Yanchuan left for Danyang City and entrusted Liaochen and others with protecting Jiang Yingcheng, Fang Siwan, and Lin Jinshu.
• Jiang Yingcheng grew dispirited while waiting for her Imperial Father, and Fang Siwan made her feel guilty about sneaking away by telling her how much she had worried and missed her.
• Jiang Yingcheng decided Yu Xingmian might have news to cheer Fang Siwan, and she learned that the Lin Residence had burned to the ground overnight.

Jiang Yingcheng learned that the Lin Residence had burned but its occupants survived, then was distracted from telling Fang Siwan about it. After she awoke and rushed out to welcome the returning generals, she discovered that Jiang Yanchuan had gone missing again.

• Prince Xin’s men burned the Lin Residence, but the Lin family escaped through a secret passage, and the fire helped Fang Yiwan uncover more evidence.
• Fang Siwan comforted Jiang Yingcheng through dinner until the girl forgot to tell her about the Lin Residence and fell asleep.
• Jiang Yingcheng fell out of bed during the night, and Liaochen tried to explain Fang Siwan’s absence by saying she had gone out to forage.
• After hearing that the generals had returned, Jiang Yingcheng took Lin Jinshu outside to welcome Jiang Yanchuan.
• Jiang Yingcheng heard that Jiang Yanchuan had gone missing and froze in shock.

Jiang Yingcheng learned that Emperor Mingze had vanished after Beiming's counterattack and decided to find him herself. She tricked the adults guarding her tent, leaving them asleep as she prepared to escape.

• Jiang Yingcheng overheard that Emperor Mingze had disappeared after Beiming trapped the vanguard, and Grandpa Kan's panicked shouts confirmed the danger.
• Jiang Yingcheng ran to Kan Ruifeng and insisted on searching for her Imperial Father, but he persuaded Yu Xingmian to take her back to her tent.
• Jiang Yingcheng pretended to fall asleep while secretly asking System Bro to locate Emperor Mingze and planning to use Potent Knockout Powder on her uncles.
• Liaochen left the tent with Pei Muchen and arranged for Yu Xingmian and Wu to stay behind, then Jiang Yingcheng peeked out and decided it was her chance to escape.

Jiang Yingcheng sneaked out of camp to draw out a hidden pursuer, while Liaochen and the others followed her in secret. Jiang Yanchuan caught her before she could go farther, but her sudden tears stopped him from scolding her.

• Jiang Yingcheng scattered medicinal powder over Yu Xingmian and Wu Leyong, then slipped out of their tent.
• Liaochen and the others secretly followed Jiang Yingcheng as she left camp, while a furtive man pursued her into the forest and Lord Xu's men followed him.
• Jiang Yingcheng hid from the patrols and asked System Bro for help finding her Imperial Father, but System Bro went silent after detecting something wrong.
• Jiang Yanchuan lifted Jiang Yingcheng into his arms and learned from Liaochen that Lord Xu had pursued the man who left camp by another route.
• Jiang Yanchuan began to reprimand Jiang Yingcheng for breaking their agreement, but stopped when she started crying.

Wang Hui informed a masked conspirator that Emperor Mingze had gone missing in Danyang City and that the Eleventh Princess had gone after him. Jiang Yanchuan returned safely with Jiang Yingcheng, reconciled with her, and ordered the army to march on Beiming’s capital after a day’s rest.

• Wang Hui secretly told a masked man that Emperor Mingze had disappeared in Danyang City and that General Kan and the Eleventh Princess had entered the city to search for him.
• The masked man praised Wang Hui and hurried away to report the news, while Wang Hui imagined the rewards and promotion he would receive.
• Jiang Yanchuan soothed the crying Jiang Yingcheng, then suggested she had been distracted during the preparations for the Battle of Danyang City.
• System Bro reminded Jiang Yingcheng that she had spent the preparation days playing and collecting gossip, and she guiltily stopped Jiang Yanchuan from saying more.
• Jiang Yanchuan returned to camp with Jiang Yingcheng, ordered the officers and soldiers to rise, and commanded the army to march on Beiming’s capital after one day of rest.

Jiang Yanchuan marched to Jiayu City while Jiang Yingcheng secretly traveled with Liaochen and the others, hoping to reach Beiming Capital. After Beiming's prince surrendered the city, Jiang Yingcheng exposed the fleeing King of Beiming's real route and treasure stashes, but her group was caught on the gate tower as someone imposing arrived behind them.

• Jiang Yanchuan left Jiang Yingcheng, Fang Siwan, Lin Jinshu, Liaochen, and the other masters in camp before leading the army toward Jiayu City.
• A young Beiming prince surrendered Jiayu City by presenting the Imperial Jade Seal, and Jiang Yanchuan ordered his commanders to pursue the fleeing King of Beiming.
• Jiang Yingcheng secretly joined Liaochen and the others atop the gate tower and revealed through her thoughts that the King of Beiming was escaping south, not east or west.
• Jiang Yingcheng uncovered the King's hidden treasures and eagerly planned how to distribute or sell them, while Liaochen tried to distract her with a staged cry after someone stepped on his foot.
• Jiang Yingcheng urged Yu Xingmian to take her back to camp, but an imposing newcomer arrived behind them and stopped the group in place.

Jiang Yanchuan caught Jiang Yingcheng trying to flee and stopped her from being punished when she showed him a map of Jiayu City. After he took the map into account and entered the city, Jiang Yingcheng asked to play with the surrendered prince, Guan Zhili.

• Jiang Yingcheng urged Yu Xingmian and the others to run, but Jiang Yanchuan caught her and took her into his arms.
• Jiang Yingcheng howled that Jiang Yanchuan had hit her, then fell silent when he reminded her that thousands of soldiers could hear.
• Jiang Yingcheng showed Jiang Yanchuan a map marked with red dots and treasure-like shapes, and he sent Xu Jiu to deliver it to General Kan.
• Jiang Yanchuan left the city gates with Jiang Yingcheng and identified the kneeling prince of Beiming as Guan Zhili.
• Jiang Yingcheng asked to play with Guan Zhili, and Jiang Yanchuan agreed; she introduced herself and gave him a meeting gift.

Jiang Yingcheng, Jiang Yanchuan, and Guan Zhili explored Jiayu City and stopped at a candy shop, where Jiang Yingcheng coaxed Guan Zhili into choosing sweets. The chapter ended with her paying a Gold Bean for the candy after Jiang Yanchuan counted their selections.

• Jiang Yanchuan and Jiang Yingcheng walked through Jiayu City with Guan Zhili as Great Rui's soldiers searched the city.
• Jiang Yingcheng bargained with Jiang Yanchuan for candy and revealed that Liaochen had given her four pieces a day.
• Jiang Yanchuan agreed to buy Jiang Yingcheng sixty pieces and Guan Zhili one hundred pieces of candy.
• Jiang Yingcheng led Guan Zhili around the shop and filled his tray with candy, though he had chosen only two pieces himself.
• After Jiang Yanchuan counted their candy, Jiang Yingcheng defended Guan Zhili's seventy-nine pieces and paid a Gold Bean into the cash box.

Jiang Yingcheng won over Jiayu City's abandoned commoners by helping them and arranging searches for wealthy families’ hidden treasure vaults. Their fear of Emperor Mingze turned into cheers for him, leaving Chengcheng proudly convinced she had conquered the empire for her Imperial Father.

• A commoner told Emperor Mingze’s group that the Wang Family had an underground treasure store, and Jiang Yingcheng eagerly asked whether the family was wealthy.
• Jiang Yingcheng helped the man to his feet, and Jiang Yanchuan sent guards with him to search the vault.
• More commoners volunteered the locations of hidden stores belonging to wealthy households, and Jiang Yanchuan dispatched men to investigate them.
• Jiang Yingcheng helped the remaining commoners up and reassured them that her Imperial Father would treat Great Rui’s people well.
• The Beiming commoners cheered, “Long live Emperor Mingze,” while Jiang Yingcheng proudly imagined she had conquered the empire for her father.

Jiang Yanchuan, Jiang Yingcheng, and Guan Zhili entered Beiming Palace after Great Rui captured Jiayu City, and Jiang Yingcheng tried to comfort the abandoned prince. As they headed for the King of Beiming’s quarters, Jiang Yingcheng revealed in her thoughts that Guan Zhili was not the King’s biological son but the child of Prince Xin.

• Kan Ruifeng settled the people, prisoners, and remaining dangers in Jiayu City before Jiang Yanchuan led Jiang Yingcheng and Guan Zhili toward Beiming Palace.
• Jiang Yingcheng talked with Guan Zhili about candies in front of Jiang Yanchuan, while Guan Zhili admitted he had never visited his Imperial Father’s sleeping quarters.
• Jiang Yingcheng stopped to swing with Guan Zhili in a shabby courtyard, and Jiang Yanchuan summoned a Shadow Guard to guide them onward.
• Jiang Yingcheng worried that Guan Zhili knew nothing about the palace and regretted not preparing information about its secret passages, traps, and treasures.
• Jiang Yingcheng thought that Guan Zhili was not the King of Beiming’s biological son but Prince Xin’s child, and Jiang Yanchuan reacted with a deep, unreadable gaze.

Jiang Yingcheng learned that Guan Zhili was Emperor Mingze’s son and resolved to protect and comfort him. She turned a visit to Beiming Palace into a playful court session, where Great Rui’s forces began exposing the people who had mistreated him.

• Jiang Yingcheng sympathized with Guan Zhili’s lonely childhood and promised herself she would treat him well.
• Jiang Yingcheng urged Guan Zhili to play on the Dragon Throne, and Emperor Mingze changed course to join them in the hall.
• Jiang Yingcheng gathered captured palace servants and others to pretend to be ministers, then played at ruling as a regent.
• Jiang Yingcheng’s thoughts identified an eunuch who had abused Guan Zhili, and Wei Jiany un accused him of bullying others and selling state secrets.

Jiang Yingcheng held a mock court to punish the Beiming servants who had bullied Guan Zhili, giving him a glimpse of kindness and camaraderie he had never known. As she shared candy with her new companions, someone arrived calling Guan Zhili “Imperial Brother,” and Jiang Yingcheng insisted he was her big brother instead.

• Guan Zhili recognized Gao Yi, remembered how he had bullied him, and held back his anger as Gao Yi begged the mock emperor for mercy.
• Jiang Yingcheng sentenced Gao Yi to thirty strokes, and Guan Zhili watched him lose consciousness before the guards dragged him back into the hall.
• Using information from System Bro, Jiang Yingcheng punished the other Beiming servants who had bullied Guan Zhili, assigning harsher or lighter strokes according to their actions.
• Jiang Yingcheng praised the adults who had joined the court performance and offered them candy, while Guan Zhili watched their affectionate teasing with envy.
• When a voice at the doorway called Guan Zhili “Imperial Brother,” Jiang Yingcheng said he was her big brother, leaving Guan Zhili bewildered.