Chapter Summaries

Hu Xiaotian followed Wan Tingsheng and discovered that he and Cai Ping had plotted to drug and assault Le Yao. He stopped Wan Tingsheng and rescued Le Yao, who learned of Cai Ping’s betrayal and the Wan family’s schemes, but still resisted fleeing the estate.

• Hu Xiaotian waited until midnight, then went to the shed for the ladder Le Yao had arranged, but saw Wan Tingsheng disguise himself and enter Le Yao’s courtyard.
• Hu Xiaotian followed Wan Tingsheng and saw Cai Ping leave Le Yao’s door ajar before carrying a bundle toward the pond.
• Hu Xiaotian discovered Wan Tingsheng preparing to assault a drugged Le Yao, so he knocked him unconscious with a stick.
• Hu Xiaotian woke Le Yao with cold water and revealed that the masked intruder was Wan Tingsheng.
• Hu Xiaotian urged Le Yao to escape and explained the Wan family’s plot and Cai Ping’s betrayal, while Le Yao refused to leave.

Hu Xiaotian helped Le Yao evade Wan Tingsheng, then was arrested on his way back to the Good Fortune Inn and thrown into jail. There he met Zhou Batian and recognized that Jia Dewang seemed to have deliberately arranged to end up in prison with him.

• Hu Xiaotian and Le Yao carried Wan Tingsheng away and left him outside another courtyard before Hu climbed over the wall to escape.
• Le Yao learned Hu Xiaotian’s surname, found his dropped Coiled Dragon Jade Pendant, and stayed behind as he left.
• Two constables arrested Hu Xiaotian despite his claim that he was the newly appointed Azure Cloud County Deputy and locked him in jail.
• Four prisoners beat Hu Xiaotian until Zhou Batian ordered them to stop, then Zhou introduced himself.
• Jia Dewang mocked Hu Xiaotian from the neighboring cell, and Hu suspected Jia had deliberately provoked County Magistrate Xu Qinglian to get imprisoned with Zhou Batian.

Hu Xiaotian was bailed out after spending the night in Azure Cloud County jail, where he fought Wang Jingui and learned that Zhou Batian was also from Capital City. On the way back to the Good Fortune Inn with Murong Feiyan and Su Guangju, they saw servants from the Wan Family assault a physician.

• Hu Xiaotian argued with Wang Jingui, and Zhou Batian allowed them to settle their grievance one-on-one.
• Hu Xiaotian knocked Wang Jingui down with a punch before jailers arrived to release him on bail.
• Murong Feiyan and Su Guangju had pooled silver to bail Hu Xiaotian out, while keeping his identity secret.
• Hu Xiaotian left jail with Murong Feiyan and Su Guangju and headed back to the Good Fortune Inn.
• The group saw the Wan Family's servants drive out a physician and kick him down, spilling his medicine chest.

Hu Xiaotian returned to the Good Fortune Inn after escaping the Black Miao pursuers and being arrested, and he considered how he would use his coming County Deputy post to challenge Azure Cloud County’s corrupt authorities. The chapter left him speaking with Murong Feiyan while Liu Danggui asked Su Guangju to hide the fact that the Wan Family had beaten him.

• Su Guangju recognized the injured Liu Danggui outside the Wan Residence and brought him to the Good Fortune Inn, where Liu Danggui asked him to conceal the beating from Liu Kuohai.
• Liang Dazhuang welcomed Hu Xiaotian back, helped him wash and dress, and served him breakfast.
• Hu Xiaotian realized his jade pendant was missing and suspected he had lost it while fleeing the Black Miao pursuers.
• Murong Feiyan apologized for the previous day and asked Hu Xiaotian what had happened; he hid his time at the Wan Residence and claimed constables had arrested him after he returned to town.
• Hu Xiaotian privately resolved to topple County Magistrate Xu Qinglian after taking office, though he told Murong Feiyan he only wanted to enjoy his term.
• Liu Danggui asked Su Guangju to tell Liu Kuohai that his injuries came from an accidental fall.

Hu Xiaotian learned more about the Wan Family and pulled down their reward notice to treat Wan Tingsheng, whom he had injured the night before. He entered the Wan residence with Murong Feiyan but refused to answer steward Wan Changqing’s questions before being taken to the patient.

• Hu Xiaotian learned from Liu Danggui and Su Guangju that Wan Tingsheng was unconscious after an alleged fall, and heard about the Wan Family’s influence and Le Yao’s misfortunes.
• Liu Kuohai arrived at the Good Fortune Inn, believed his father’s account of his twisted ankle, and carried Liu Danggui home.
• Hu Xiaotian and Murong Feiyan saw the Wan Family offer one hundred taels of gold to anyone who could cure Wan Tingsheng, and Hu Xiaotian took down the reward notice.
• Hu Xiaotian agreed to examine Wan Tingsheng and went to the Wan residence with Murong Feiyan, despite her reminder that he had come to Azure Cloud to take up an official post.
• Wan Changqing questioned Hu Xiaotian about his background, but Hu Xiaotian demanded to be taken to the patient or allowed to leave.

Hu Xiaotian examined the comatose Wan Tingsheng and determined that he had a traumatic intracranial hematoma caused by someone striking his head. He declared that he could save him, leaving the skeptical Wan family wondering whether his confidence was justified.

• Wan Changqing brought Hu Xiaotian to the Wan residence, where Wan Boping and Wan Tingchang criticized his youth and questioned his ability.
• Murong Feiyan defended Hu Xiaotian, and Hu Xiaotian pretended to leave until Wan Boping begged him to stay and examine Wan Tingsheng.
• Hu Xiaotian examined Wan Tingsheng and found multiple bruises and a severe injury to his left temple, concluding that someone had beaten him rather than him merely falling.
• Wan Boping claimed Wan Tingsheng had fallen in the courtyard, but Hu Xiaotian challenged his account and said the injuries came from violent blows.
• Hu Xiaotian diagnosed an intracranial hematoma pressing on Wan Tingsheng's brain and confidently claimed that he could save him.

Hu Xiaotian demanded payment and a written agreement before attempting to treat Wan Tingsheng’s epidural hematoma, then began a risky craniotomy with crude tools. He opened Wan Tingsheng’s skull, but poor lighting left him unable to inspect the surgical site clearly.

• Hu Xiaotian negotiated a payment of two hundred taels of gold and required Wan Boping to sign an agreement accepting responsibility for any complications.
• Hu Xiaotian requested his surgical case and improvised equipment, while the Wan Family prepared supplies and Murong Feiyan helped anesthetize Wan Tingsheng.
• Hu Xiaotian shaved and disinfected Wan Tingsheng’s head, then cut through the scalp and controlled bleeding with heated iron chopsticks.
• Hu Xiaotian used a hammer and chisel to open Wan Tingsheng’s skull as Murong Feiyan and the family waited in fear.
• Hu Xiaotian asked Murong Feiyan to redirect a bronze mirror’s light into the fist-sized opening so he could examine the site.

Hu Xiaotian operated on Wan Tingsheng to remove a hematoma, then persuaded Wan Boping to pay for further treatment and a feng shui assessment. He declared the Wan residence ill-fated and began questioning the source of the family's repeated misfortunes.

• Murong Feiyan assisted Hu Xiaotian as he removed Wan Tingsheng's hematoma and sutured his head, and she fled outside feeling sick afterward.
• Hu Xiaotian told Wan Boping that Wan Tingsheng would recover, then claimed the exposed skull opening might let his souls escape and charged one hundred taels of gold to summon them back.
• Hu Xiaotian inspected the Wan residence and chose Green Bamboo Garden as the site for his supposed soul-summoning ritual.
• Hu Xiaotian persuaded Wan Boping to pay him for a feng shui assessment, then said the Wan residence was ill-fated and asked why misfortunes kept striking the family.

Hu Xiaotian convinced Wan Boping to trust him after Blackie’s body was found in the pond, then arranged to watch over the unconscious Wan Tingsheng while investigating the household. As night fell, Hu began his supposed soul-summoning ritual by searching the Wan Residence, leaving Wan Boping’s missing servants and the cause of Tingsheng’s injury unresolved.

• Hu Xiaotian pointed out that the Wan family’s recent misfortunes suggested trouble, and the discovery of Blackie’s drowned body convinced Wan Boping that Hu could detect a wronged spirit in the pond.
• Hu Xiaotian persuaded Wan Boping to let him focus on summoning Wan Tingsheng’s soul before discussing payment, while Wan Tingchang complained that Hu was interfering.
• Hu Xiaotian told Murong Feiyan that he suspected someone might want Wan Tingsheng dead, and arranged for Liang Dazhuang to watch at the bedside while Feiyan guarded him from the shadows.
• Wan Boping told Wan Tingchang to find a missing manservant and maid whom he suspected were connected to Tingsheng’s injury.
• Hu Xiaotian began his soul-summoning operation by checking Wan Tingsheng and searching the Wan Residence with the steward, Wan Changchun, accompanying him.

Hu Xiaotian used the pretext of summoning Wan Tingsheng's soul to enter Le Yao's courtyard, where he stopped her from drinking poison and learned she feared the Wan Family would punish her if Wan Tingsheng died. He reassured her that Wan Tingsheng would survive, leaving her fate unresolved.

• Hu Xiaotian ordered everyone to stay in their rooms and used his soul-summoning ritual as cover to search the Wan Residence.
• Hu Xiaotian confronted Madam Wan outside Le Yao's courtyard and warned her not to disturb Wan Tingsheng's soul.
• Hu Xiaotian sent Wan Changchun to guard the courtyard, then entered Le Yao's room and found her preparing to die by poison and hanging.
• Hu Xiaotian burst into the room, startling Le Yao and making her drop the poison, which burned through the floor.
• Hu Xiaotian urged Le Yao to live and learned she feared the Wan Family would blame her if Wan Tingsheng died.
• Hu Xiaotian told Le Yao that Wan Tingsheng would not die easily.

Hu Xiaotian comforted Le Yao and returned her Coiled Dragon Jade Pendant before staging a soul-summoning at Wan Tingchang’s quarters. Wan Tingsheng awakened, earning Hu Xiaotian the Wan Family’s trust, while Murong Feiyan alerted him to two suspicious servants and he hinted that he had discovered something strange about the Wan Family.

• Hu Xiaotian told Le Yao that Wan Tingsheng’s injuries were not his fault, reassured her, and gave her the Coiled Dragon Jade Pendant to keep.
• Hu Xiaotian pretended that Wan Tingsheng’s soul had entered Wan Tingchang’s room, provoking a confrontation with Wan Tingchang and prompting Wan Boping to slap his son.
• Hu Xiaotian blamed a stray cat for stealing Wan Tingsheng’s soul, and the Wan Family chased it until news arrived that Wan Tingsheng had awakened.
• Hu Xiaotian examined Wan Tingsheng and confirmed that his condition was stable, while Murong Feiyan pointed out two suspicious household servants for him to remember.
• Wan Boping asked Hu Xiaotian about the family’s feng shui, and Hu Xiaotian said he had discovered something strange while summoning Wan Tingsheng’s soul.

Hu Xiaotian treated Wan Tingsheng and used the Wan Family’s fears and secrets to secure payment while probing the suspicious injury. As he left, he warned Wan Boping to watch over his son carefully and began to address Le Yao’s courtyard.

• Hu Xiaotian told Wan Boping that a wronged male spirit lingered near Le Yao’s courtyard, then demanded his fee when Wan Boping concealed the truth about Wan Tingsheng’s injury.
• Hu Xiaotian and Murong Feiyan suspected Wan Tingsheng had been struck and noticed Wan Qing repeatedly sneaking toward his room.
• Hu Xiaotian checked Wan Tingsheng’s condition the next morning, taught his attendants basic nursing, and accepted three hundred taels of gold from Wan Boping.
• Hu Xiaotian refused to inspect the Wan Residence’s feng shui before leaving, but warned Wan Boping that Wan Tingsheng’s injury came from a blow and that his food and care needed close supervision.
• Hu Xiaotian told Wan Boping he also had something to say about the courtyard where Le Yao lived in widowhood.

Hu Xiaotian warned Wan Boping to leave Le Yao and her residence alone, then witnessed Liu Kuohai being arrested after attacking the Wan Family over his father’s injuries. Back at the inn, Murong Feiyan challenged Hu Xiaotian for not intervening and exposed that she had followed him to Le Yao’s door the previous night.

• Hu Xiaotian frightened Wan Boping with tales of a wronged spirit and warned him not to disturb Le Yao or her residence.
• Liu Kuohai stormed the Wan Residence to avenge his injured father, Liu Danggui, and fought the household servants until constables arrived.
• After Liu Danggui stopped his son from resisting arrest, Wan Tingchang kicked and punched the shackled Liu Kuohai, and Wan Boping ordered him to stop.
• The constables took Liu Kuohai away, while Wan Boping shut the gates on Liu Danggui’s plea for mercy; Hu Xiaotian escorted Liu Danggui back to Spring Return Hall.
• Murong Feiyan questioned Hu Xiaotian’s failure to intervene, and he learned that she had followed him to Le Yao’s residence the previous night.

After receiving three hundred taels of gold, Hu Xiaotian spent lavishly on clothes, horses, and a carriage, and gave Murong Feiyan silver jewelry. As the Wan Family sent him gifts and Liu Danggui worried over his imprisoned son, Hu Xiaotian looked forward to taking office as Azure Cloud County Deputy, but a polite visitor interrupted his dream.

• Murong Feiyan released Hu Xiaotian after he promised not to curse at her, and he predicted that Xu Qinglian would delay Liu Kuohai's public hearing to exploit both sides.
• Hu Xiaotian took Liang Dazhuang shopping, ordered clothes and medical supplies, bought two horses and a carriage, and secretly gave Murong Feiyan a pair of bracelets and a hairpin.
• The Wan Residence sent Hu Xiaotian fine silk as gifts, and he gave the two bolts meant for women to Murong Feiyan.
• Liu Danggui learned that Liu Kuohai was in prison and that the Wan Family intended to pursue the case, then tried and failed to enter the Wan Residence to apologize.
• Hu Xiaotian anticipated becoming Azure Cloud County Deputy the next day, but a knock interrupted his erotic dream about Le Yao, and a deferential voice answered him from outside.

Hu Xiaotian heard Liu Danggui’s plea for his imprisoned son, refused the gold Liu offered, and agreed to help if an opportunity arose. After arranging to rent a house in Azure Cloud, Hu went to the county yamen with Liang Dazhuang and Murong Feiyan to begin his new post as County Deputy.

• Liu Danggui asked Hu Xiaotian to plead with Wan Boping for Liu Kuohai, who had been arrested after fighting the Wan Family’s servants.
• Hu Xiaotian returned Liu Danggui’s twenty taels of gold and advised him to use the money to influence the yamen, but promised to help if he could.
• Hu Xiaotian told Liu Danggui and Su Guangju that he was a ghost catcher and hinted that the Wan Residence was haunted to spread rumors about the family.
• Hu Xiaotian asked Su Guangju to help him rent a house because he planned to stay in Azure Cloud for three to five years.
• Hu Xiaotian arrived at the Azure Cloud County Yamen with Liang Dazhuang and Murong Feiyan, and Liang Dazhuang announced him as Lord Hu.

Hu Xiaotian arrived at the Azure Cloud County Yamen and asserted his authority while County Magistrate Xu Qinglian was away. He took his seat in the main hall and gathered the remaining officials, preparing to address them.

• Liang Dazhuang announced Hu Xiaotian as the newly appointed County Deputy, and Li Er and Wang San bowed to him.
• Hu Xiaotian learned that Xu Qinglian was absent and declared that he would take charge of the yamen for the day.
• Guo Shouguang told Hu Xiaotian that no quarters or office had been arranged for him, and Hu Xiaotian sarcastically criticized Xu Qinglian for handling every matter himself.
• Hu Xiaotian ordered Guo Shouguang to summon the officials who remained at the yamen, then changed into his official robes.
• Hu Xiaotian sat in the main hall with his appointment documents and official seal displayed as Guo Shouguang reported that the remaining officials had assembled.

Hu Xiaotian began his first day as County Deputy by opening court and handling a complaint from Jia Dewang and Jia Liu. After discovering that the case was tied to their earlier staged goat dispute, he ordered Jia Dewang jailed and Jia Liu released, but learned the confiscated goat was gone.

• Hu Xiaotian showed the clerks his official seal and appointment document, then insisted on holding court despite Guo Shouguang’s claims that Azure Cloud County had no unresolved cases.
• After two hours without a complainant, Hu Xiaotian heard the court drum and summoned Jia Dewang and Jia Liu, who had returned with bruised faces.
• Jia Dewang recognized Hu Xiaotian from their time as cellmates and withdrew his complaint, while Jia Liu also tried to withdraw his.
• Hu Xiaotian stopped Guo Shouguang from taking over the hearing and questioned Jia Liu, who admitted striking Jia Dewang over their earlier goat dispute.
• Hu Xiaotian ordered Jia Dewang jailed and Jia Liu released with his goat returned, but Guo Shouguang whispered that the goat had disappeared.

Hu Xiaotian took charge of Wan Tingchang’s complaint against Liu Kuohai, while Guo Shouguang’s clerks resisted his authority. After Wan Tingchang presented injured servants and a club as evidence, Hu Xiaotian considered punishing him for contempt of court, and Murong Feiyan stated the penalty.

• Hu Xiaotian ordered two men beaten and removed from court before Wan Tingchang arrived to lodge a complaint.
• Wan Tingchang claimed his Scholar’s status exempted him from kneeling, then accused Liu Kuohai of attacking his household.
• Hu Xiaotian ordered Liu Kuohai brought to court despite Guo Shouguang’s warning that Xu Qinglian had reserved the case.
• The bailiffs waited for Guo Shouguang’s signal before bringing Liu Kuohai in, and Liu recognized Hu Xiaotian from the Good Fortune Inn.
• Wan Tingchang presented two injured servants and a wooden club as evidence, then defended his right to laugh in court.
• Hu Xiaotian asked how contempt of court was punished, and Murong Feiyan said it warranted an immediate beating with the staff.

Hu Xiaotian asserted his authority in court, punished Wan Tingchang’s servants, and began questioning them about Wan Tingsheng’s injury. The servants blamed Liu Kuohai, but Hu Xiaotian focused on uncovering who had first found Wan Tingsheng unconscious.

• Hu Xiaotian ordered Wan Tingchang’s two servants beaten for refusing to kneel, and Li Er and Wang San carried out the punishment.
• Wan Tingchang submitted a complaint blaming Liu Kuohai, but Hu Xiaotian questioned him and sent him aside after learning Liu had not struck him.
• Wan Tingchang recognized Hu Xiaotian as the traveling physician who had treated his brother and wondered how he had become County Deputy.
• The servants testified that Liu Kuohai had caused trouble at the Wan Residence, while Liu said he had come because they injured his father.
• Hu Xiaotian questioned the servants about Wan Tingsheng’s fall and demanded to know which of them had discovered him first.

Hu Xiaotian exposed Wan Tingchang’s role in Wan Tingsheng’s injury, but Wan Tingchang fled before he could be questioned. After court, Hu Xiaotian discussed using the servants’ statements to bargain with Wan Boping, then questioned Zhou Batian in jail.

• Hu Xiaotian threatened Guo Biao and Zhao Liang until Zhao Liang confessed that Wan Tingchang had ordered them to act, and Hu Xiaotian secured both servants’ statements.
• Hu Xiaotian summoned Wan Tingchang, but Wan Tingchang fled the county yamen after hearing that the hearing had turned against him.
• Hu Xiaotian dismissed court and told Liang Dazhuang he could stay in Azure Cloud and find work with him.
• Hu Xiaotian told Murong Feiyan that he planned to use the statements to persuade Wan Boping to pay, while keeping a lower profile in the county.
• Hu Xiaotian inspected the jail and questioned Zhou Batian, who recognized him as the fellow prisoner from his cell.