Chapter Summaries

Qiqi assigned Wen Chenghuan to repair Great Kang’s relations with neighboring states and persuade Li Tianheng to surrender, then discussed gradual reforms and grain purchases with Zhou Ruiyuan, promising to solve the funding problem. Meanwhile, Hu Xiaotian and Huo Shengnan traveled through Peak Forest Gorge to avoid Zhao Dengyun’s pursuers and spotted an exhausted rider approaching.

• Qiqi tasked Wen Chenghuan with restoring relations with neighboring countries and drafting an edict urging Li Tianheng to surrender.
• After Wen Chenghuan left, Qiqi thanked Zhou Ruiyuan for his past help and discussed patient reform, public morale, famine, and the empty treasury with him.
• Qiqi told Zhou Ruiyuan to find ways to buy grain and promised to solve Great Kang’s money problem.
• Hu Xiaotian and Huo Shengnan avoided the main roads and entered Peak Forest Gorge while fleeing Zhao Dengyun’s pursuers.
• Hu Xiaotian guided them through the gorge using the erosion lines on the yellow-earth pillars, and they stopped to rest at noon.
• Hu Xiaotian and Huo Shengnan heard horse bells and saw an exhausted rider on a black horse approaching.

Hu Xiaotian and Huo Shengnan encountered Jin Yulin in Peak Forest Gorge and agreed to travel with him, but Huo Shengnan noticed signs that he was hiding a recent fight. Jin Yulin revealed that he suspected them of serving Falling Cherry Palace and attacked Hu Xiaotian, while Huo Shengnan loosed a decisive arrow at him.

• Jin Yulin asked Hu Xiaotian and Huo Shengnan for water and permission to travel with them, and Hu Xiaotian introduced them under false names.
• Huo Shengnan spotted fresh blood on Jin Yulin's saddle, and Hu Xiaotian noticed Jin Yulin's alarm when a falcon appeared overhead.
• Hu Xiaotian and Huo Shengnan moved behind a loess pillar, where Jin Yulin aimed his bow at Hu Xiaotian and accused them of luring him there for Falling Cherry Palace.
• Huo Shengnan intercepted Jin Yulin's arrow as Hu Xiaotian charged him with Hidden Edge, and the two men clashed on horseback.
• Huo Shengnan fired three arrows at Jin Yulin's horse, then loosed a fourth arrow toward his throat while he deflected the first three.

Hu Xiaotian and Huo Shengnan were caught up in Tang Jingyu’s pursuit of Lin Jinyu, who had stolen the Falling Cherry Palace’s Sun-Shooting Scripture. Tang Jingyu turned on the pair, and Hu Xiaotian knocked aside his arrow with his bare hand.

• Huo Shengnan spared Jin Yulin after defeating him, and Hu Xiaotian agreed not to shoot down the circling falcon.
• Hu Xiaotian and Huo Shengnan hid as Tang Jingyu and about twenty white-clad women rode past, then watched them turn back in pursuit of Jin Yulin.
• Wounded and chased by the riders, Jin Yulin rode toward Hu Xiaotian and Huo Shengnan begging for help, but his horse collapsed after an arrow struck its leg.
• Tang Jingyu identified Jin Yulin as Lin Jinyu, accused him of killing his brother and stealing the Falling Cherry Palace’s Sun-Shooting Scripture, and shot him repeatedly after the scripture was not found.
• Tang Jingyu ordered his women to search Hu Xiaotian and Huo Shengnan’s baggage, then fired at Hu Xiaotian; Hu knocked the arrow aside with his bare hand.

Hu Xiaotian and Huo Shengnan fought Tang Jingyu until Liang Yinghao and the Peak Forest Gorge bandits rescued them through an underground ambush. Tang Jingyu was left furious as his surviving followers and their horses vanished into the caves.

• Tang Jingyu caught Huo Shengnan’s arrow and offered to spare her if she joined the Falling Cherry Palace as his favored concubine.
• Hu Xiaotian accepted Tang Jingyu’s challenge and struck with External Sword Qi, killing Tang Jingyu’s Night-Illuminating Jade Lion and two White-Clad Women.
• Tang Jingyu fired a barrage at Hu Xiaotian, who blocked three arrows and narrowly dodged two more, while Huo Shengnan tried to cover him.
• Tang Jingyu climbed a loess pillar, but an explosion at its base filled the area with dust as Liang Yinghao appeared and called Hu Xiaotian to follow him.
• Tang Jingyu shot Hu Xiaotian in the arm as Liang Yinghao and Huo Shengnan led him into the Loess Cave.
• The Peak Forest Gorge bandits rescued Hu Xiaotian and Huo Shengnan and dragged Tang Jingyu’s surviving followers, their horses, and the badly wounded Lin Jinyu into underground caves.

Hu Xiaotian treated Lin Jinyu’s wounds and learned why the Falling Cherry Palace was pursuing him, then demanded the Sun-Shooting Scripture in exchange for helping him escape Peak Forest Gorge. After Lin Jinyu handed over the hidden manual, Hu Xiaotian went to Huo Shengnan’s quarters.

• Huo Shengnan removed the arrowhead from Hu Xiaotian’s arm, and Liang Yinghao restrained the bandits from harassing their seventeen captured women.
• Hu Xiaotian beat Lin Jinyu for leading Tang Jingyu to them, then stopped and asked him to explain his feud with the Falling Cherry Palace.
• Lin Jinyu explained that he had killed Tang Jingfei and his lover after they murdered Lin Jinyu’s brother and nephew.
• Hu Xiaotian suspected Tang Jingyu also wanted the Sun-Shooting Scripture and agreed to help Lin Jinyu escape in return for it.
• Lin Jinyu extracted a wax pill containing the Sun-Shooting Scripture from his thigh and gave it to Hu Xiaotian.
• Hu Xiaotian went to Huo Shengnan’s quarters and knocked while she was bathing.

Hu Xiaotian and Huo Shengnan learned about the Falling Cherry Palace's formidable archery and persuaded Liang Yinghao to leave the gang's hideout with his men. Hu Xiaotian gave Huo Shengnan the wax pill he had taken from Lin Jinyu, but it contained erotic pictures instead of the Sun-Shooting Scripture, and she punched him.

• Huo Shengnan finished bathing and joined Hu Xiaotian and Liang Yinghao as they discussed the Falling Cherry Palace and its Heart Arrow Technique.
• Huo Shengnan explained Tang Jingyu's Qi-Driven Arrow Control, and Hu Xiaotian realized how dangerous the archer was.
• Huo Shengnan urged Liang Yinghao to release the captured women, and Hu Xiaotian warned the gang to leave before the Falling Cherry Palace retaliated.
• Liang Yinghao pledged that his men would follow Hu Xiaotian, who agreed to take them toward Kang Capital.
• Hu Xiaotian handed Huo Shengnan the wax pill taken from Lin Jinyu, and she found erotic pictures inside instead of the Sun-Shooting Scripture and punched him.

Hu Xiaotian confronted Lin Jinyu over the erotic drawing mistaken for the Sun-Shooting Scripture, then prepared to leave Peak Forest Gorge as Tang Jingyu’s forces threatened to return. As Hu Xiaotian and Huo Shengnan traveled toward the Kang Capital, Long Xuan'en resumed control of Great Kang while rumors spread about his failing health.

• Huo Shengnan punched Hu Xiaotian after mistaking the drawing for a deliberate insult, and Hu Xiaotian realized Lin Jinyu had fooled him with the supposed Sun-Shooting Scripture.
• Hu Xiaotian struck Lin Jinyu, who revealed that he had buried stolen valuables beneath the Old Pagoda Tree near the Ten-Mile Pavilion and had never opened the wax pellet.
• Liang Yinghao told Hu Xiaotian that Tang Jingyu had left Peak Forest Gorge with help from a falcon, and Hu Xiaotian ordered the group to depart and the Falling Cherry Palace women to be released.
• Hu Xiaotian asked Liang Yinghao to retrieve Lin Jinyu’s buried valuables and inform Zhou Mo that he would not meet them in Haizhou; by dawn, Hu Xiaotian and Huo Shengnan had left the gorge.
• Long Xuan'en reclaimed the government after Long Yelin’s death, but left the court’s officials in place and secluded himself, prompting rumors that his health was failing.
• Long Xuan'en stood among the ruins of the Spirit Firmament Palace with Qiao Beimo and asked whether Great Kang would someday suffer the same fate.

Hong Beimo discussed the missing Ji Feihua and Long Xuan'en's uncertain future before Hu Xiaotian returned to Kang Capital and learned how the court had changed. Xiao Tianmu revealed that King Yongyang, who now governed in Long Xuan'en's place, was a woman.

• Hong Beimo told Long Xuan'en that Ji Feihua's body had not been found, while Long Xuan'en decided never to rebuild the Spirit Firmament Palace.
• Hu Xiaotian and Huo Shengnan returned to Kang Capital, and Hu went to Treasure Abundance Hall to reunite with Xiao Tianmu.
• Xiao Tianmu told Hu that Long Xuan'en had regained the throne but kept officials in their posts and let bygones be bygones.
• Hu told Xiao Tianmu that Xue Shengkang had given Eastern Liang Commandery to Great Kang, and Xiao warned that it would be difficult to hold.
• Xiao Tianmu told Hu that King Yongyang governed in Long Xuan'en's place and revealed that the king was a woman.

After returning to Great Kang, Hu Xiaotian learned that Qiqi had become King Yongyang and sought Shi Xuedong’s help to meet her in secret. He reached the Palace Gardens Bureau and prepared to use a sealed passage to reach her, but Shi Xuedong could take him no farther.

• Hu Xiaotian discussed Qiqi’s appointment as King Yongyang with Xiao Tianmu and asked him to keep searching for Feiyan.
• Hu Xiaotian reunited with Shi Xuedong and learned about the palace’s recent changes and the stricter security.
• Hu Xiaotian told Shi Xuedong he needed to meet King Yongyang before the court learned he had returned, and Shi agreed to help him enter the palace.
• Hu Xiaotian learned that Qiqi lived in Purple Orchid Palace, which had a secret passage from the Palace Gardens Bureau’s Wine Cellar.
• Shi Xuedong smuggled Hu Xiaotian into the palace in a fruit cart, but told him the Wine Cellar was sealed and he had no key.

Hu Xiaotian sneaked into the Purple Orchid Palace through the secret passage beneath the Wine Cellar to see Qiqi, now King Yongyang. Qiqi recognized how he had entered and warned that the breach would expose the palace guards to punishment, leaving Hu Xiaotian trying to calm her and avoid explaining his route.

• Hu Xiaotian cut the Wine Cellar's lock and traveled through its secret passage to the well in the Purple Orchid Palace.
• He overheard Li Yan order eunuchs to inspect the area and stand guard while Qiqi stayed inside.
• After waiting for the guards to leave, Hu Xiaotian climbed out of the well and found Qiqi working alone in the Study.
• Qiqi made Hu Xiaotian kneel, questioned his secret return, and correctly deduced that he had entered through the passage beneath the Wine Cellar.
• Qiqi said the breach revealed flaws in palace security and threatened to hold the responsible guards accountable, while Hu Xiaotian tried to calm her.

Qiqi confronted Hu Xiaotian about his secret return to the palace and his actions in Great Yong, including treating Xue Shengkang and his ties to Ji Feihua. Their argument ended with Qiqi ordering the guards to make Hu Xiaotian a eunuch through and through.

• Qiqi deduced that Hu Xiaotian had entered the palace through the Palace Gardens Bureau, and he admitted it.
• Hu Xiaotian blamed Worthy Consort Dong and Xue Daoming for Princess Anping’s murder, then gave Qiqi Xue Shengkang’s letter offering Eastern Liang Commandery as compensation.
• Qiqi and Hu Xiaotian agreed that Great Yong’s offer was a show, but Qiqi decided Great Kang should accept it; Hu Xiaotian also admitted he had helped bring about Wanyan Chixiong’s death.
• Qiqi accused Hu Xiaotian of secretly treating Xue Shengkang and questioned his connection to Ji Feihua’s Faction.
• Hu Xiaotian refused to kneel and challenged Qiqi to summon her guards, so Qiqi ordered them to make him a eunuch through and through.

Qiqi restored Hu Xiaotian’s status as a normal man and asked him to help her manage Great Kang’s affairs. Hu Xiaotian agreed, though he suspected she was using him, and the chapter ended with him considering her motives.

• Qiqi had Quan Dean explain that Hu Xiaotian had infiltrated Ji Feihua’s circle to gather evidence, and she cleared Hu Xiaotian of his eunuch status.
• Quan Dean warned Hu Xiaotian not to wrong Qiqi, then told him he had supported the pardon only because Qiqi insisted.
• Qiqi explained that the Retired Emperor had resumed governing after Ji Feihua’s downfall and that Great Kang needed to recover from the crisis.
• Qiqi said she had been entrusted with court affairs but lacked trustworthy allies, while eunuchs were barred from participating in governance.
• Qiqi asked Hu Xiaotian to help her, and he pledged his service while privately suspecting she wanted to use him.

Qiqi appointed Hu Xiaotian deputy commander of the imperial guards and tasked him with recruiting talent for Great Kang, while promising to restore his family’s name and property. Hu Xiaotian left with a new gold plaque and Qiqi’s promise to spare his life twice, but had to exit through the secret passage.

• Qiqi explained that she and the emperor intended to clear Hu Xiaotian’s family name and restore his father as Minister of Revenue, but said they would proceed gradually.
• Qiqi and Hu Xiaotian discussed the danger of Hong Beimo holding unchecked authority over the Heavenly Secrets Bureau, and Qiqi tasked Hu with recruiting worthy and talented people.
• Qiqi appointed Hu deputy commander of the imperial guards, gave him a Five-Colored Coiling Dragon Gold Plaque, and promised to spare his life twice.
• Hu gave Qiqi the Jade Pixiu from Great Yong’s Prince of Yan, and Qiqi accepted it after learning it could predict the weather.
• Qiqi told Hu to help reorganize the Ministry of Revenue, reclaim his family’s residence and confiscated belongings, and take up his new post the next day.
• Hu tried to leave by the front door, but Qiqi ordered him to use the secret passage he had entered through.

Hu Xiaotian returned from the Wine Cellar and received an imperial edict restoring his identity and appointing him Deputy Imperial Bodyguard Commander. After he took up his new position, he promised Shi Xuedong he would help clear their fathers’ names.

• Hu Xiaotian explored the other secret passages, then emerged from the Wine Cellar with two jars of wine as Shi Xuedong anxiously tried to keep his return quiet.
• Quan Dean arrived at the Palace Gardens Bureau and read an edict praising Hu Xiaotian’s service, restoring his identity, and appointing him Deputy Imperial Bodyguard Commander.
• Quan Dean assigned Hu Xiaotian’s former duties to Shi Xuedong, while Hu Xiaotian accepted his uniform and Five-Colored Coiling Dragon Gold Plaque.
• Hu Xiaotian bathed and changed into his new uniform as Shi Xuedong expressed envy and asked him to make his first son Shi Xuedong’s godson.
• Hu Xiaotian promised to find a way to help Shi Xuedong and said their fathers’ names would be cleared and their injustices redressed.

Hu Xiaotian took up his new post as Deputy Imperial Bodyguard Commander and tried to learn where Murong Feiyan was, but Murong Zhan refused to tell him and warned him to stay away from her. Hu Xiaotian then visited the injured Li Yuncong, hoping to learn palace secrets, and the chapter left him watching the old eunuch cough after drinking wine.

• Qi Danai summoned Hu Xiaotian to meet Murong Zhan, who had an important task for him.
• Murong Zhan challenged Hu Xiaotian about concealing that he was not a eunuch and warned him against seeing Murong Feiyan.
• Hu Xiaotian learned only that Murong Feiyan was outside the Capital City, and Murong Zhan granted him two days before he had to return for an assignment.
• Hu Xiaotian brought two jars of wine to Li Yuncong at the Buddhist Sutra Pavilion and was shocked by the old eunuch's injuries and aged appearance.
• Li Yuncong eagerly drank the wine, then began coughing as Hu Xiaotian watched anxiously.

Hu Xiaotian learned how Ji Feihua lost power and heard Li Yuncong’s concerns about King Yongyang’s growing authority. Li Yuncong revealed that Ji Feihua might still be alive, leaving Hu Xiaotian secretly relieved.

• Hu Xiaotian reunited with Li Yuncong, who explained that Ji Feihua had injured him during the battle on Misty Peak and that Murong Zhan and Hong Beimo had also suffered severe injuries.
• Li Yuncong described how Hong Beimo quietly weakened Ji Feihua’s hold over the Imperial Guards while the bureau’s true elites remained hidden.
• Li Yuncong told Hu Xiaotian that Qiqi had ordered the executions of Empress Jian and the First Prince and had been granted power as King Yongyang.
• Li Yuncong warned that the emperor’s decision to entrust King Yongyang with power could create hidden troubles, while Hu Xiaotian defended her ability to rule.
• Li Yuncong revealed that Ji Feihua’s body had never been found after he leaped from the waterfall, and Hu Xiaotian concealed his relief at the possibility that Ji Feihua survived.

Li Yuncong told Hu Xiaotian that Ji Feihua might be hiding at Heavenly Dragon Temple after stealing the Heart Sutra, and asked Hu to find the scripture in exchange for teaching him the Tribulation-Transcending Method. The chapter left Hu weighing the dangerous mission and Li’s secret reasons for keeping his suspicions from the court.

• Li Yuncong told Hu Xiaotian that Ji Feihua had likely returned to the Library Pavilion and stolen the Heart Sutra, possibly to win help from Heavenly Dragon Temple’s Innate-realm master.
• Li Yuncong explained that the Formless Divine Skill required nine life-and-death ordeals and revealed that he wanted Hu to infiltrate Heavenly Dragon Temple and find Ji Feihua.
• Li Yuncong said the emperor would visit Heavenly Dragon Temple, and offered to teach Hu the Tribulation-Transcending Method if he found the Heart Sutra.
• Hu Xiaotian demanded Baobao and information about Murong Feiyan in return; Li Yuncong agreed to find Baobao and learn Murong Feiyan’s whereabouts but refused to interfere with her family.
• Li Yuncong warned Hu that Ji Feihua’s possible presence at Heavenly Dragon Temple must remain secret, since Hong Beimo could use the information to bring disaster upon the temple.

Hu Xiaotian returned openly to the Kang Capital and reunited with his father, Hu Buwei, who had been confined after Ji Feihua’s fall. Their conversation revealed that Great Kang faced a severe grain shortage and that Li Tianheng’s independence was unlikely to be reversed.

• Hu Xiaotian left the palace with his new authority and traveled to Shuijing'er Alley to visit his parents.
• Hu Xiaotian found Chancellor Zhou Ruiyuan visiting Hu Buwei and respectfully greeted him before Zhou took his leave.
• Hu Xiaotian knelt to apologize for his long absence, and Hu Buwei welcomed him home and told him their family was no longer under surveillance.
• Hu Xiaotian recounted his journey and showed Hu Buwei the Five-Colored Coiling Dragon Gold Plaque, then explained Princess Yongyang’s promises about restoring their family property and his father’s position.
• Hu Buwei revealed that the Retired Emperor had wanted to borrow grain from the Xu Family because Great Kang’s harvests and granaries were depleted.
• Hu Buwei explained that Li Tianheng had planned to declare himself king regardless of the palace coup.

Hu Buwei told Hu Xiaotian how the Old Emperor had used pressure on the Hu Family to try to secure the Xu Family of Jinling’s overseas trade route and wealth. Hu Xiaotian and his father agreed to protect their family and wait for Hu Xiaotian’s mother to return before deciding what to do.

• Hu Buwei explained that the Old Emperor’s request to borrow grain was a scheme to pull the Xu Family into Great Kang’s financial crisis and claim its resources.
• Hu Buwei said the emperor’s favor toward the Hu Family was meant to influence the Xu Family, and warned that their safety depended on remaining useful to the court.
• Hu Buwei argued that kingship and social rank were not ordained by birth, and condemned the imperial family for squandering Great Kang’s wealth.
• Hu Xiaotian suggested rebellion, but Hu Buwei warned him to keep such thoughts unspoken until the time was right.
• Hu Buwei said he had lost faith in Great Kang after Long Yelin ordered Hu Xiaotian’s castration, and resolved to make the Long family pay.
• Hu Buwei told Hu Xiaotian to stay alive and help keep the Hu Family safe, and Hu Xiaotian promised to take on his father’s burdens.

Hu Xiaotian returned to the Hu Residence after his promotion and began reclaiming his family’s property, while Huo Shengnan stayed by his side. Comparing the Ministry of Justice’s register with the Hu family’s old accounts revealed that most of their possessions were missing, and Hu Xiaotian vowed to make the officials responsible repay everything.

• Hu Xiaotian told Huo Shengnan that the emperor had restored his freedom and appointed him Deputy Imperial Bodyguard Commander.
• Hu Xiaotian delivered Princess Anping’s ashes to the palace and signed the paperwork to reclaim the Hu family’s confiscated property, learning that Xu Zhengying had overseen the inventory.
• Hu Xiaotian and Huo Shengnan opened the sealed Hu Residence, where Hu Xiaotian urged her to stay and former servants arrived to help restore the household.
• Hu Xiaotian asked Hu Fo and Liang Dazhuang to compare the Ministry of Justice’s register with the family’s old inventory.
• Hu Xiaotian discovered that the returned property amounted to less than a third of the family’s former assets and vowed to make the officials who took them repay him with interest.