Chapter Summaries

Jia Huan received an imperial plaque, a reward, and a promotion to the fifth Golden Thread, then punished Fathead Fish for failing an assignment and executed Gu Sihui and other corrupt officials. Their deaths raised Jia Huan to the eighth level of the Innate Realm, and he left the Imperial Prison resolved not to grow arrogant.

• Concubine Zhao celebrated the demotions of two officials, and Li Wan apologized to Jia Huan for doubting him.
• Eunuchs and Embroidered Uniform Guard officials presented Jia Huan with an imperial plaque, twenty Gold Sycees, a five-Golden-Thread Flying Fish Uniform, and a Command Token.
• Jia Huan shared the reward money with the women of the household, while Jia Baoyu and Madam Wang lamented that her Imperial Mandate had not been raised.
• Jia Huan reprimanded Fathead Fish for returning without witnesses or evidence and requested his demotion from General Banner to Small Banner.
• Jia Huan brought food to Gu Sihui in the Imperial Prison, then executed him and more than a dozen other corrupt criminals.
• Jia Huan gained the Phoenix Dance Across the Nine Heavens blade art and reached the eighth level of the Innate Realm before leaving the prison.

Jia Huan assigned more than a hundred and fifty Embroidered Uniform Guards to investigate cases, then learned that Qin Ye worried about his daughter marrying into Ningguo Mansion amid Jia Huan’s feud with it. He visited the ill Wang Xifeng and personally fed her medicine, leaving her recovered but flustered by his attention.

• Jia Huan dispatched Embroidered Uniform Guards to investigate sixty cases and promised rewards to those who distinguished themselves.
• Qin Ye asked Jia Huan about his feud with Ningguo Mansion and left troubled about Ke Qing’s upcoming marriage there.
• Jia Huan inspected the new residence and learned from Qiao Ping'er that Wang Xifeng was sick with a chill.
• Jia Huan returned with medicine and fed it to Wang Xifeng, who quickly regained her strength.
• Wang Xifeng warned Ping'er to keep quiet about Jia Huan tending to her and hid her bashfulness behind a stern threat.

After Yelü Xueye defeated Flower Devotee in Guangling, Jia Huan was asked by the Misty Rain Tower to challenge him in exchange for information about an old case. Cold-Blooded Chasing Life claimed the court’s Imperial Secret Art instead, while Jia Huan returned home with medicine for Wang Xifeng and bluntly reaffirmed his desire for her.

• Scholar told Jia Huan that Yelü Xueye had beaten Flower Devotee in two exchanges and insulted the Embroidered Uniform Guard.
• The Misty Rain Tower asked Jia Huan to defeat Yelü Xueye, offering intelligence about an old case in return, and Jia Huan agreed to bring the Tatar to the Capital.
• At the Southern Commandant Office, Cold-Blooded Chasing Life volunteered to learn an Imperial Secret Art and was ordered to defeat Yelü Xueye if he came to the Capital.
• Jia Huan told the Misty Rain Tower that Cold-Blooded Chasing Life had taken the challenge, then traded a martial arts manual for medicines and remedies.
• Jia Huan explained the medicines to Wang Xifeng and told her that what happened between them the previous day was something he had long wanted; she angrily ordered him to leave.

Yelü Xueye defeated Cold-Blooded Chasing Life in a public duel, deepening the Central Plains martial world’s humiliation. When the Misty Rain Tower called for Lord Jia to fight, Yelü agreed to wait, while the eunuch in the python robe watched coldly.

• Cold-Blooded Chasing Life declared victory was assured, and the eunuch in the python robe warned him to avoid women for two years after using a secret technique.
• Yelü Xueye arrived and taunted the Central Plains martial artists before facing Cold-Blooded Chasing Life.
• Yelü Xueye defeated Cold-Blooded Chasing Life, shattering his shoulder and sending him flying despite his powerful punch.
• Yelü Xueye challenged the gathered martial artists to name his next opponent, and the crowd remained silent.
• A youth from the Misty Rain Tower urged Yelü Xueye to wait half an hour for Lord Jia, and Yelü agreed to fight him.

Jia Huan killed Yelü Xueye with one slash, restoring the Embroidered Uniform Guard’s prestige and earning admiration from the Jianghu. At Misty Rain Tower, he collected on their promise and learned of a five-year-old murder case involving a slain Hundred-Household Commander and his wife.

• Jia Huan drew his saber and killed Yelü Xueye with a single slash as the gathered Jianghu warriors watched in shock.
• Duanmu Ping and the other Jianghu women admired Jia Huan’s saberplay, while Cold-Blooded Chasing Life seethed over his repeated humiliations.
• Jia Huan returned through the city gates with his subordinates, then went alone to Misty Rain Tower after discovering his reward for Yelü Xueye’s death.
• The stooped old man praised Jia Huan and led him to a hidden building to honor their verbal agreement.
• The stooped old man told Jia Huan about a case from five years earlier in which a Hundred-Household Commander was killed and his wife was tortured and murdered.

Jia Huan investigated the murder of Commander Shen Jing'an and traced the lead to Cai Fengshi, an officer in the Capital Camp’s Five Army Camp. He prepared to arrest Cai the next morning, suspecting him of being only a pawn in a larger conspiracy.

• Jia Huan searched Shen Jing'an’s case files and ordered his subordinates to find connections among the cases Shen had closed.
• Scholar discovered that Shi Jing, Shen’s former subordinate, had signed nine case files, so Jia Huan traveled to Tianjin to question him.
• Shi Jing revealed that Shen had been investigating the Capital Camp shortly before his death, and Jia Huan brought him back to the Capital.
• Jia Huan sent Scholar and Twin Whips to examine Capital Camp records, and they identified Cai Fengshi by the black birthmark around his eye.
• Jia Huan decided to take Cai Fengshi into custody the following morning.

Jia Huan’s attempt to arrest Cai Fengshi at the Five Army Camp erupted into a deadly clash, and Cai Fengshi was later found hanged. The inquiry into a five-year-old case stalled, leaving Jia Huan to pursue the military men who had been close to Cai Fengshi.

• Jia Huan tried to take Cai Fengshi in for questioning, but a soldier fired a crossbow bolt at a guardsman and Jia Huan killed the attacker as fighting broke out.
• Officer Fu confirmed Jia Huan had acted within the rules and ordered the Northern Commandant Office to return to the Five Army Camp with force.
• Jia Huan and the Embroidered Uniform Guard found Cai Fengshi hanged in his office, with a note claiming responsibility for his subordinates’ attack.
• Jia Huan ordered Cai Fengshi’s home searched and his trusted subordinates and clansmen arrested for interrogation.
• Cai Fengshi’s associates confessed to other crimes but knew nothing of the case from five years earlier, so Jia Huan ordered them asked who Cai Fengshi had been close to then.

Wang Ziteng confronted Jia Huan over his investigation of the Capital Camp and demanded that he stop, but Jia Huan refused to submit. Wang Ziteng left threatening to bar Jia Huan from the camps, while Jia Zheng urged his son to apologize and Jia Huan stood by his actions.

• Wang Ziteng waited at Rongguo Mansion to confront Jia Huan about investigating the Capital Camp without informing him.
• Wang Ziteng demanded that Jia Huan drop the investigation and threatened to turn against him, but Jia Huan said he acted under the Embroidered Uniform Guard's imperial authority.
• Wang Ziteng declared Jia Huan was no longer family to him and left, while Wang Xifeng and Jia Mu reacted with concern and dismay.
• Jia Zheng privately explained how Jia Huan had undermined Wang Ziteng's authority and urged him to apologize to the Wang Family.
• Jia Huan refused to apologize, said his conscience was clear, and returned to his courtyard.

Wang Xifeng pledged to support Jia Huan and seek information, while Jia Huan assured her he could handle Wang Ziteng. After the Ministry of War barred Jia Huan and his garrison from entering the Capital’s Three Great Camps, he chose to pursue another lead in the case.

• Wang Xifeng told Jia Huan she was on his side and offered to gather information from the Wang Family, but he urged her not to risk her family ties.
• Jia Huan kissed Wang Xifeng, who scolded him and warned him not to take liberties again.
• Jia Huan reviewed the stalled investigation into Cai Fengshi’s suicide and suspected the mastermind held a high position.
• Officer Fu delivered an order barring Jia Huan and the Celestial Pivot Office Garrison from entering the Capital’s Three Great Camps.
• Jia Huan’s five trusted men refused to give up the case, and Jia Huan asked Explosive Charcoal to take him to Hundred-Household Commander Shen’s old residence.

Jia Huan pursued leads in the murder of Hundred-Household Commander Shen, discovering that Lady Shen’s maid Lan’er might know what happened and that Xie Tong may have helped kill Shen. He returned to the Capital with Lan’er’s address and ordered his subordinates to investigate both leads without alerting their targets.

• Explosive Charcoal told Jia Huan that someone had recently cleared weeds from Hundred-Household Commander Shen and Lady Shen’s graves, prompting Jia Huan to investigate Lady Shen’s background at the Misty Rain Tower.
• The stooped old man revealed that Lady Shen had been Chen Ruyi, the daughter of the Chen Family Estate’s master in Hedong Prefecture.
• Jia Huan visited Estate Master Chen, who said no one from the family had visited Chen Ruyi’s grave in the Capital, but recalled that her maid Lan’er had once returned to the estate and lived in Anyi Ward.
• After Jia Huan returned to the Capital, Twin Whips reported that Cai Fengshi’s statements pointed to Xie Tong, a Sixth Rank military officer who may have helped kill Hundred-Household Commander Shen; Jia Huan ordered the team not to arrest him yet.
• Jia Huan sent Scholar to find Lan’er without revealing his Embroidered Uniform Guard identity, and Scholar returned with her precise address.

Jia Yucun and Sun Yu informed Jia Zheng that the court would demote Concubine Zhao, prompting Jia Zheng to condemn Yucun for betraying him and Huan'er. After the edict reduced Concubine Zhao to a Seventh-Rank Lady, Madam Wang celebrated, but Zhao remained proud of Huan'er, while Jia Baoyu looked forward to celebrating the setback.

• Jia Yucun told Jia Zheng that the Tongzhengsi had impeached Concubine Zhao and that Sun Yu had submitted a memorial to reduce her rank, following Wang Ziteng's hint.
• Jia Zheng angrily accused Jia Yucun of ingratitude and defended Huan'er, while Yucun insisted he was fulfilling his official duties and left with Sun Yu.
• Madam Wang heard from Lai Da that Jia Zheng had smashed a teacup, then went to the reception hall after Zhou Rui reported that a court edict had arrived.
• The eunuch delivered an edict reducing Concubine Zhao from fifth rank to Seventh-Rank Lady, and Madam Wang mocked her for losing her former privileges.
• Concubine Zhao answered that she remained happy with Huan'er as her son and left calmly, while Jia Baoyu arrived eager to celebrate the demotion.

Jia Huan uncovered evidence that Marquis Anyuan had embezzled military pay and sold off grain, then used it to pursue a possible accomplice in Shen Jing'an’s murder. He summoned Xie Tong from the Capital Camp and waited at the Xie residence, preparing to use the evidence against Marquis Anyuan.

• Jia Huan questioned Lan'er, Shen Jing'an's former personal maid, and she gave him a fox-fur cloak containing five booklets and signed witness statements.
• Jia Huan and Scholar discovered records showing Marquis Anyuan had emptied coastal granaries and embezzled military pay, then arranged Shen Jing'an and his wife’s murder after Shen investigated.
• Jia Huan ordered Scholar to retrieve the Gold and Silver Gu and find Xie Tong’s residence while he searched Marquis Anyuan’s estate that night.
• Jia Huan used the Gold and Silver Gu to locate a secret chamber containing nearly sixty thousand taels of gold and searched the ingots for identifying marks.
• Jia Huan raided the Xie residence and ordered Madam Xie to bring Xie Tong back from the Capital Camp alone, warning that the family’s safety depended on his cooperation.

Jia Huan forced Xie Tong to confess that Marquis Anyuan Liu Guangda ordered Shen Jing'an’s murder and to provide evidence of Liu’s embezzlement. After defeating Liu’s assassins, Jia decided to carry a coffin into the Imperial City and publicly stake his life on accusing him.

• Jia Huan threatened Xie Tong until he confessed to taking part in Shen Jing'an’s murder on Liu Guangda’s orders and recorded the other killers’ names.
• Xie Tong agreed to provide evidence of Liu Guangda’s embezzlement in exchange for Jia Huan protecting his family.
• Nearly twenty masked warriors ambushed Jia Huan and his men outside Xie Tong’s estate, but Jia Huan killed them all despite being wounded.
• Jia Huan ordered his subordinates to carry a coffin into the Imperial City so he could publicly remonstrate against Liu Guangda and prevent the court from concealing the charges.

Jia Huan brought a coffin to Donghua Gate and risked death to accuse Liu Guangda of selling state grain, embezzling military pay, and plotting murder. The emperor authorized Jia Huan to enforce the law, and he rode toward Desheng Gate with more than ten thousand imperial troops behind him.

• Liu Guangda told Wang Ziteng that Jia Huan had uncovered evidence against him, and Wang Ziteng warned him to protect his command of the Five Army Camp.
• Liu Guangda learned that Jia Huan had carried a coffin into the Imperial City, while Wang Ziteng smashed his teacup in fury.
• Jia Huan stood at Donghua Gate with the coffin and publicly accused Liu Guangda, demanding that the emperor order his execution.
• Jia Huan presented his evidence to officials from the Grand Secretariat and Directorate of Ceremonial, who went into the palace to seek the emperor's judgment.
• The emperor authorized Jia Huan to enforce the law, awarded him a fine horse, and sent more than ten thousand imperial troops to follow him toward Desheng Gate.

Jia Huan used the emperor’s authority to arrest Liu Guangda and the officers involved in Shen Jing'an’s murder, then executed Liu and gained a major breakthrough in strength. He learned that Wang Ziteng knew about the grain theft and accepted a bribe, leaving him with a lead to investigate while ordering the remaining suspects tortured.

• Jia Huan presented the imperial documents and edict to Wang Ziteng, entered the Five Army Camp, and ordered the arrests of Liu Guangda and the officers on his list.
• Jia Huan confronted Liu Guangda about his crimes and extracted the confession that Wang Ziteng knew about the grain theft and had accepted a bribe from the Beiliang Governor-General.
• Jia Huan brought Liu Guangda to the Imperial Prison and killed him before officials, while the court promised posthumous honors for Shen Jing'an.
• Jia Huan received the Nine Yang True Scripture and broke through into the Profound Insight Realm, reaching the first layer.
• Jia Huan ordered his subordinates to torture the imprisoned officers involved in Shen Jing'an’s murder, sparing only Xie Tong.

Jia Huan was promoted to deputy thousand-household commander and took charge of the Ping'an Garrison. At Rongguo Mansion, Jia Yucun came to apologize for seeking to lower Concubine Zhao’s title, and the family waited for Jia Huan’s return.

• After Jia Huan tortured the Vicious Fiends to death, officials promoted him to deputy thousand-household commander and gave him a saber, armor, and new uniform.
• Officer Fu told Jia Huan that his promotion had faced no objections and that the Embroidered Uniform Guard Office would support him if he obeyed its laws.
• Jia Huan’s men celebrated his promotion, and Scholar announced that he commanded the Ping'an Garrison and its five hundred and fifty-five warriors.
• Jia Huan entered the rain-soaked training ground, where more than five hundred warriors greeted him as their deputy thousand-household commander.
• At Rongxi Hall, Jia Zheng rebuked Jia Yucun for his memorial against Concubine Zhao, while Wang Ziteng urged the family to let the matter pass.
• Jia Mu asked Concubine Zhao to persuade Jia Huan not to seek revenge against Jia Yucun, and Xue Pan announced that Jia Huan had returned.

Jia Huan confronted Jia Yucun and Wang Ziteng over the demotion of Concubine Zhao’s imperial title, forcing Jia Yucun to kneel and demanding that Madam Wang’s title be demoted as well. After Jia Yucun agreed to impeach Madam Wang, Lai Da announced that an imperial edict rewarding someone had arrived, leaving the family uncertain about its contents.

• Jia Huan ordered Jia Yucun to kneel to Concubine Zhao, and Jia Yucun complied under threat of investigation and imprisonment.
• Jia Huan demanded that Madam Wang’s imperial title also be demoted, citing the deaths of two maids and warning Wang Ziteng about his ties to Liu Guangda’s crimes.
• Jia Yucun asked whether the maids had truly been beaten to death, and Jia Huan said the Three Judicial Offices could investigate the mansion.
• Jia Yucun declared that Madam Wang should be impeached and stripped of her title, while Wang Ziteng left vowing to retaliate after the crisis passed.
• Lai Da entered Rongxi Hall and announced that an imperial edict announcing a reward had arrived, alarming Madam Wang and the others.

Jia Huan’s promotion brought Concubine Zhao imperial favor and restored her fifth-rank title, while Madam Wang was demoted to seventh rank. Concubine Zhao confronted Madam Wang over years of mistreatment, and Madam Wang collapsed from fury as Jia Mu insisted Baoyu would restore the family’s fortunes.

• Madam Wang defended her treatment of Jia Huan’s maids, but Jia Zheng blamed her for provoking Wang Ziteng and bringing trouble on the family.
• Concubine Zhao returned with news that Jia Huan had become a Deputy Thousand-Household Commander and that the Empress Dowager had summoned her.
• Jia Mu coached Concubine Zhao on palace etiquette, while Wang Xifeng and Aunt Xue recognized Jia Huan’s rising status and Aunt Xue regretted rejecting him as a son-in-law.
• Concubine Zhao told Jia Huan that the Empress Dowager had praised him, and he later embraced Qingwen in his room.
• The eunuch announced Madam Wang’s demotion from fifth-rank titled lady to seventh-rank lady, and Concubine Zhao warned her against wearing clothing above her station.
• Concubine Zhao rebuked Madam Wang for years of mistreating Jia Huan, and Madam Wang collapsed unconscious as Jia Mu urged her to trust that Baoyu would regain her rank.

Wang Ziteng and his adviser arranged a rule-compliant transfer to send Jia Huan to Northern Liang, where they expected him to be isolated and vulnerable. Jia Huan received the order and insisted that he wanted to remain in the Capital, though he had no authority to refuse.

• Jia Baoyu told Wang Ziteng that his mother wanted him to demote the concubine again, but Wang Ziteng said the court would not allow it.
• Wang Ziteng's adviser proposed transferring Jia Huan to Northern Liang, where rival officials and Liu Guangda's former subordinates could make trouble for him.
• Wang Ziteng decided to seek Grand Secretary Cui's approval for the transfer and promised Jia Baoyu that Jia Huan would leave the Capital.
• Jia Huan told Scholar that he planned to find more cases in the Experiences Office's Case File Archive.
• The Southern Office delivered Jia Huan's transfer order and explained that the Grand Secretariat had specifically named him to oversee matters in Northern Liang.
• Jia Huan objected to leaving the Capital and declared that he wished to remain, despite being told he had no right to refuse.

Jia Huan faced a transfer to Northern Liang and said goodbye to his family and acquaintances, but the Embroidered Uniform Guard Office gave him a chance to avoid it by investigating a major silk theft in Jiangnan. After learning he would go to Jiangnan instead, Wang Xifeng realized Jia Huan had misled her about leaving, while Jia Baoyu learned that the slap he suffered had not secured his rival’s exile.

• Jia Huan failed to persuade the Southern Office to cancel his transfer to Northern Liang and told Concubine Zhao he would likely have to leave.
• Jia Huan said farewell to the household, gave Wang Xifeng a private visit, and slapped Jia Baoyu when Baoyu mocked his transfer.
• Officer Fu told Jia Huan that the Southern Office had assigned him to investigate the theft of 150,000 bolts of silk from the Jiangnan Imperial Textile Bureau, which could help overturn the transfer order.
• Concubine Zhao told Wang Xifeng that Jia Huan would investigate a case in Jiangnan instead of going to Northern Liang, and Wang Xifeng suspected he had tricked her into giving in to him.
• Xiren told Jia Baoyu about Jia Huan’s Jiangnan assignment, and Baoyu was furious that his slap had accomplished nothing.