Recaps

Hu Xiaotian escorted the Prince of Zhou and the Shajia Delegation to Xiezhou, where the Five Immortals Cult’s attacks and Huo Ge’s hidden identity complicated the journey. In Xiezhou, a rebellion revealed Emperor Long Xuan'en’s abdication, and Hu Xiaotian was held under guard while weighing how to escape.

• Hu Xiaotian arrested Xu Qinglian and other county officials, then placated Long Yefang as the Shajia delegation arrived and Mosheli presented Visa.
• Hu Xiaotian brought Visa home, learned her story, and set out for Xiezhou with Long Yefang, Qin Yutong disguised as Shi Qing, and the delegation.
• Xi Yan joined the procession, and Hu Xiaotian and Qin Yutong exposed her as a member of the Five Immortals Cult, though Long Yefang allowed her to travel with them.
• The Five Immortals Cult sent venomous snakes into the camp, and Xi Yan used her Silver Whistle to make them retreat before the party resumed its journey.
• Hu Xiaotian and Long Yefang uncovered Huo Ge’s identity as the Shajia Kingdom’s twelfth prince, and Huo Ge and Hu Xiaotian swore brotherhood.
• After soldiers fell ill and Xi Yan appeared to die, a bee swarm struck the camps, but Xi Yan’s body disappeared, leading Hu Xiaotian to conclude she had staged her death.
• In Xiezhou, Li Honghan’s men surrounded Long Yefang and Hu Xiaotian, and Li Honghan took the prince away while inviting Hu Xiaotian to meet his father’s allies.
• Li Honghan and Huo Ge revealed Emperor Long Xuan'en had abdicated for Long Yelin and sought Hu Xiaotian’s support, while Hu Xiaotian avoided choosing a side and later prepared the Rainstorm Pear Blossom Needles as guards watched him.

Hu Xiaotian escaped Xiezhou and returned to the capital to save his parents, agreeing to enter the palace as a eunuch in exchange for the Hu Family’s survival. He entered the Cattle and Sheep Office, reunited with Shi Xuedong, and quickly established himself among the new eunuchs.

• Hu Xiaotian escaped Xiezhou after killing Yan Zhou, then met Xi Yan, joined Gao Yuan on the road, and learned that the Hu Family had been arrested and charged with rebellion.
• Hu Xiaotian sought help from Xu Zhengying, then found An Dequan at the Chengen Residence and learned that Long Yelin had long hated Hu Buwei.
• An Dequan offered to save the Hu Family if Hu Xiaotian entered the palace, and Hu Xiaotian agreed to serve in exchange for his parents and friends being spared.
• Quan Dean revealed Hu Xiaotian’s sacrifice to Long Yelin, who stripped Hu Buwei and other officials of their offices and property but pardoned them and ordered their sons into palace service.
• Hu Xiaotian said farewell to Murong Feiyan and Zhan Peng, asking Zhan Peng to watch over his parents, then entered the palace with Fu Gui.
• Zhang Fuquan assigned Hu Xiaotian to the Cattle and Sheep Office, where he reunited with Shi Xuedong and impressed the other eunuchs by carrying a heavy half-ox.
• Hu Xiaotian and Shi Xuedong faced Lin Bingqing and his men in their sleeping quarters, and Hu Xiaotian subdued them with bricks before gaining support from Xiao Zhuozi and the others.

Hu Xiaotian navigated palace intrigue, concealed several deaths, and uncovered a secret passage while maintaining ties with Murong Feiyan and Zhan Peng. After Tang Tiehan confronted him over the horse-market dispute, Fan Zongxi intervened, and Liu Yuzhang advised Hu to repay him with wine.

• Quan Dean transferred Hu Xiaotian to the Palace Gardens Bureau, taught him to control his internal power, and ordered him to recruit Murong Feiyan and Zhan Peng for the Divine Strategy Office.
• Hu Xiaotian met Murong Feiyan, who confessed her love, and later survived an ambush arranged by Wang Desheng before Quan Dean helped him conceal the attackers’ deaths.
• Hu Xiaotian discovered that Wang Desheng had died in the wine cellar, found a map and secret passage, and overheard Baobao and Lin Wan discussing their search for the palace’s hidden routes.
• Qiqi captured Hu Xiaotian at Xinning Palace, and he later concealed Wang Desheng’s death from Wang Decai while telling Quan Dean about the passage.
• Hu Xiaotian and Qiqi killed Wei Hualin and his attendant in the wine cellar, then dissolved the bodies, but Ji Feihua searched the bureau and demonstrated strength close to Quan Dean’s.
• Hu Xiaotian met Murong Feiyan and Zhan Peng, learned that his parents were safe, and asked Gao Yuan to watch over them.
• Hu Xiaotian and Gao Yuan intervened when a horse dealer mistreated a young horse, then Tang Tiehan pursued Hu Xiaotian until Fan Zongxi stopped the Tang brothers.
• Liu Yuzhang offered to warn the Tang Family and advised Hu Xiaotian to give Fan Zongxi wine from the cellar, whose damaged stock Hu Xiaotian lamented.

Hu Xiaotian investigated the palace’s underground passages while becoming entangled in conflicts involving Qiqi, Long Xiyue, Quan Dean, and Ji Feihua. The arc left him with new martial skills and a borrowed volume of the Great Kang Annals as he continued probing the Library Pavilion’s secrets.

• Baobao confronted Hu Xiaotian in the Wine Cellar, and after learning they both sought secrets beneath the palace, they agreed to cooperate.
• Hu Xiaotian pursued Qiqi with Princess Anping, survived an attack by masked warriors, and rescued Long Xiyue from the valley.
• Liu Yuzhang gave Hu Xiaotian the Black Tiger Whip, and Hu Xiaotian and Baobao explored the hidden passage and found a corpse with a Library Pavilion token.
• Hu Xiaotian overheard officials discussing the Great Kang Annals and the Heart Sutra, then escaped Empress Jian’s accusations with Qiqi’s help.
• Hu Xiaotian mapped the passages for Quan Dean, learned the Golden Spider Eight Steps, and heard from Zhou Mo about Li Tianheng’s takeover of Western Sichuan.
• Ji Feihua pressured Hu Xiaotian to spy on Liu Yuzhang and Quan Dean, while Hu Xiaotian warned Baobao to stay away from the Wine Cellar.
• Long Xiyue protected Hu Xiaotian’s secret from Qiqi, and Hu Xiaotian arranged to meet Long Xiyue beside the old well.
• Hu Xiaotian visited the Library Pavilion, borrowed a volume of the Great Kang Annals, and surveyed the third floor for the place where he had previously peered inside.