Chapter Summaries

Jia Huan received imperial recognition and was promoted to Thousand-Household Commander after his achievements, including solving the Left Chief Censor's corruption case. He celebrated his long-sought success, then set his sights on climbing even higher.

• The Embroidered Uniform Guard's bell rang to announce Jia Huan's promotion, drawing envy and admiration from his colleagues.
• Thousand-Household Commander Yue and Cold-Blooded Chasing Life reacted with resentment as they considered Jia Huan's rapid rise.
• Emperor Jingde arrived at the Ping'an Division, praised Jia Huan, and presented him with a meteoric-iron saber and a golden waist token.
• Jia Huan accepted his credentials, official seal, and new red Flying Fish Uniform from the officials who congratulated him.
• Alone in the corridor, Jia Huan laughed with joy, then composed himself and resolved to keep climbing toward the summit.

Jia Huan celebrated his new rank as Thousand-Household Commander and vowed to rise further while strengthening his followers. At Rongguo Mansion, his family learned of his promotion and received an imperial procession honoring him as he rode home through the snow.

• Jia Huan changed into his red robe, vowed to pursue the Purple Python Robe, gave his trusted men cultivation manuals, and sent them home for the New Year holiday.
• Jia Zheng revealed that Hanlin Shen had been jailed after questioning by the Three Judicial Offices and rebuked Madam Wang for insulting Jia Huan.
• Jia Zheng told the family that Jia Huan had become a Thousand-Household Commander and urged Jia Mu to open the gates for the royal procession.
• Jia Mu ordered the gates opened, while Jia Baoyu seethed with jealousy and Madam Wang stood humiliated.
• An imperial procession delivered a plaque and lavish gifts to Rongguo Mansion, and Concubine Zhao received congratulations from Lin Daiyu, Xue Baochai, and Wang Xifeng.
• Lin Daiyu spotted Jia Huan riding home through the falling snow, and Wang Xifeng watched him in fascination.

Jia Huan moved into his new residence, promised Lin Daiyu he would cure her illness, and obtained a treatment plan from the Misty Rain Tower. As the chapter ended, Daiyu shyly rested her head on his shoulder in the carriage.

• Jia Huan welcomed Lin Daiyu’s flowers at his new residence and promised to take her for treatment that night.
• Wang Xifeng met Jia Huan to review his accounts, and she reluctantly agreed to indulge one of his requests once.
• Jia Huan brought Lin Daiyu to the Misty Rain Tower, where a physician diagnosed her heart obstruction syndrome and promised a cure through medicine from the Medicine King Valley.
• The Misty Rain Tower’s old man asked Jia Huan to preside over the upcoming Martial Arts Tournament, but Jia Huan refused to commit.
• After receiving Heart-Nourishing Pills, Lin Daiyu thanked Jia Huan by resting her head on his shoulder in the carriage.

Concubine Zhao and Wang Xifeng attended a New Year gathering at the Prince of Eastern Peace's Mansion, where the Princess Consort deliberately humiliated Concubine Zhao by leaving her without a seat. Wang Xifeng stood beside her despite the Princess Consort's rebuke, while Madam Wang used the occasion to slander Jia Huan and promised the Princess Consort support through Wang Ziteng's connections.

• Concubine Zhao received the third sedan chair on the way to the palace, while Madam Wang took the last one and vowed to claim a better place next year.
• Jia Huan told Jia Zheng to refuse New Year visits before returning to his residence after the ancestral rites.
• At the Prince of Eastern Peace's Mansion, Concubine Zhao told Wang Xifeng that Jia Huan would not seal a back gate in his new residence and that matchmakers were seeking him.
• The Princess Consort left Concubine Zhao standing without a seat, then offered her own seat in a feigned apology as the gathered noblewomen watched.
• Wang Xifeng left her place to stand beside Concubine Zhao, but the Princess Consort rebuked her and ordered her to sit back down.
• The Princess Consort invited Madam Wang beside her, encouraged her to disparage Jia Huan, and received Madam Wang's promise to secure the Nine Gates Commander's help for her brother.

After the Princess Consort humiliated Concubine Zhao and Wang Xifeng at her banquet, Jia Huan mobilized his Embroidered Uniform Guard brothers and went to confront the officials involved. Dai Quan tried to divert him with an invitation to the Prince of Eastern Peace's apology banquet, but Jia Huan destroyed it and left determined to retaliate.

• The Princess Consort forced Concubine Zhao and Wang Xifeng to endure a long banquet and threatened Wang Xifeng when she tried to leave.
• The Prince of Eastern Peace berated the Princess Consort for provoking Jia Huan and hurried to seek help from his connections.
• After Concubine Zhao told Jia Huan what had happened, he changed into his Flying Fish Uniform and vowed to make the Princess Consort beg for mercy.
• Jia Huan ordered Fathead Fish to summon the Qian'an Household Thousand-Household Commander Garrison and waited at the government office.
• Dai Quan kept Jia Huan waiting at the Directorate of Ceremonial before giving him a New Year payment letter and an invitation to the Prince of Eastern Peace's apology banquet.
• Jia Huan destroyed the invitation and left the Directorate of Ceremonial still intent on attacking the Prince of Eastern Peace.

Jia Huan executed the Princess Consort of Eastern Peace’s brothers for their crimes and publicly delivered their bodies to the Prince of Eastern Peace’s New Year gathering, provoking the prince and his consort. He then divided nearly a thousand Embroidered Uniform Guards among investigations in the capital, Jiangling, and Shandong as he moved to pursue the prince’s hidden crimes.

• Jia Huan ordered his men to investigate the Prince of Eastern Peace and his relatives, and Iron Palm uncovered evidence of Yao Changsheng’s and Yao Changning’s crimes.
• Jia Huan promoted Iron Palm, arrested Yao Changsheng and Yao Changning, and executed both brothers after reviewing their case files.
• Jia Huan brought the brothers’ bodies to the Prince of Eastern Peace’s New Year gathering, where the princess consort collapsed in grief and the prince vowed revenge.
• Jia Huan gathered nearly a thousand Embroidered Uniform Guards outside the city and promised promotions for those who earned merit.
• Jia Huan assigned Scholar to hold the capital and investigate the prince in secret, sent Twin Whips, Drunkard, and Skinny Monkey to investigate the Yao Family in Jiangling, and led the remaining guards toward Shandong.

Commissioner Ouyang defended Jia Huan’s investigation of the Prince of Eastern Peace as an effort to clear his name, while the Prince’s Consort’s attempt to have Lady Zhao and Jia Wangshi arrested was blocked by the Embroidered Uniform Guard. In Dengzhou, Jia Huan found no evidence against the Prince of Eastern Peace and ordered the investigation to continue.

• The Prince of Eastern Peace and Dai Quan demanded that Jia Huan be recalled and punished for investigating without authorization, but Scholar explained that Jia Huan had gone to Jiangnan to clear the Prince’s name from accusations of White Lotus Cult rebellion.
• The Princess Consort held a public funeral outside Rongguo Mansion and demanded that two women come out, while Jia Zheng slapped Jia Baoyu for complaining about the spectacle.
• A Shenjing Prefectural Court official tried to seize Lady Zhao and Jia Wangshi, but Explosive Charcoal and Iron Palm presented the Embroidered Uniform Guard’s authorization and drove the court soldiers away.
• Iron Palm kicked down the mourning hall and funeral canopy, declaring that the Embroidered Uniform Guard needed an unobstructed view of the suspects.
• In Dengzhou, Jia Huan learned that two days of searches had uncovered no wrongdoing by the Prince of Eastern Peace or his family.
• Fathead Fish reported that his searches in Laizhou had found no trace of misconduct by the Prince, and Jia Huan ordered him to keep investigating.

Jia Huan investigated a seven-year-old massacre at the Prince of Eastern Peace's mansion and identified a powerful pirate as the suspected killer. He arranged to use the Misty Rain Tower to lure Chao Xiong into an ambush.

• Needle in Cotton told Jia Huan that a maid had escaped the mansion after witnessing someone eat the other maids' livers, and Jia Huan ordered him to find her.
• The escaped maid described a scarred man with glowing palms, and a portrait artist drew his likeness.
• A blue-robed elder identified the suspect as Chao Xiong, a third-layer Profound Insight Realm pirate from Laizhou.
• Jia Huan persuaded the Misty Rain Tower to arrange a meeting with Chao Xiong, offering three martial arts manuals and invoking the Tower's duty to oppose him.

Jia Huan captured Chao Xiong and learned that the pirate chief and the Prince of Eastern Peace had trafficked in military weapons. After Chao Xiong revealed evidence and implicated an Arsenal officer, Jia Huan arrested Officer Chen, who agreed to confess.

• Jia Huan led the Embroidered Uniform Guard to Wangjiang Tower, where he pursued Chao Xiong and defeated him with Phoenix Nirvana.
• Chao Xiong's captured subordinates confessed that he had murdered countless women and kept a pirate lair in Laizhou; Jia Huan sent Fathead Fish with three hundred mounted men to raid it.
• Jia Huan questioned Chao Xiong, who disclosed that the Prince of Eastern Peace had sold Arsenal weapons to Japanese pirates and foreign states for 150,000 taels of silver.
• Chao Xiong identified a trusted officer surnamed Chen as the Arsenal's guard and said his son held accounts and weapon serial numbers as evidence.
• Jia Huan surrounded Chen Mansion and accused Officer Chen of helping sell military arms; Officer Chen denied the charge at first, then agreed to confess.

Jia Huan returned to the Divine Capital with evidence of treason and enemy collaboration, then invited the Prince of Eastern Peace and the capital’s noble families to a banquet. The Prince agreed to attend and accept Jia Huan’s apology, while the Princess Consort swallowed her fury and continued to plot revenge.

• Jia Huan met Scholar and Twin Whips outside the city, confirmed he had strong evidence, and ordered them to report that the crisis was under control.
• Jia Huan returned to the Rongguo Mansion, reassured Concubine Zhao and Wang Xifeng, and asked Jia Mu to invite the noble ladies to a banquet.
• Jia Huan delivered an invitation to the Prince of Eastern Peace’s Mansion and rode away without answering the Prince’s accusations.
• The Prince of Eastern Peace decided to attend the banquet and accept Jia Huan’s apology to protect his own position.
• The Princess Consort protested that Changsheng and Changning had died for nothing, but the Prince ordered her to attend and she resolved to seek revenge later.

Jia Huan used a banquet to make the Prince of Eastern Peace’s household lower its guard while he secured signed confessions and imperial authorization. He led six hundred Embroidered Uniform Guards to arrest the prince for trafficking arms and colluding with the enemy, leaving the prince dragged toward the Imperial Prison.

• The Princess Consort arrived at the Rongguo Mansion and demanded that Concubine Zhao and Wang Xifeng beg forgiveness and that Jia Huan keep vigil in her brothers’ mourning hall.
• Jia Huan learned that Fathead Fish and Needle in Cotton had brought back Chao the Vicious Fiend and Old Dog Chen, who were held in the Imperial Prison.
• Jia Huan gave Commissioner Ouyang signed confessions alleging that the Prince of Eastern Peace had sold arms to pirates and aided Japan and southeastern states.
• Commissioner Ouyang agreed to accompany the Associate Commissioner into the palace to seek an imperial decree.
• Jia Huan led six hundred Embroidered Uniform Guards to surround the Prince of Eastern Peace’s Mansion and presented an Imperial Seal approval for the arrest.
• Jia Huan ordered the prince taken to the Imperial Prison and the mansion searched as the prince protested that Jia Huan was settling a private grudge.

Jia Huan arrived at the banquet after the Prince of Eastern Peace’s Mansion was confiscated, turning the Princess Consort’s humiliation of Concubine Zhao and Wang Xifeng back on her. He later executed the Princess Consort, the Prince of Eastern Peace, and Chao Xiong in prison, then gained a powerful cultivation reward.

• The Princess Consort demanded that Concubine Zhao and Wang Xifeng kneel, but the noblewomen learned that the Prince of Eastern Peace had been arrested and his mansion confiscated.
• Jia Huan arrived at Rongguo Mansion and displayed the imperial authorization, prompting Wang Xifeng to make the Princess Consort kneel and eat food from the floor.
• Jia Huan ordered the Embroidered Uniform Guards to take the Princess Consort away, then left the banquet as the noblewomen looked at Concubine Zhao with new respect.
• In the Northern Commandant Office’s Imperial Prison, Jia Huan killed the Princess Consort, the Prince of Eastern Peace, and Chao Xiong.
• Jia Huan received the Dragon Elephant Prajna Skill at peak mastery and raised his inner qi to the lower stage of the second level of the Profound Insight Realm.

Jia Huan received promotions and rewards for his subordinates after the investigation into the Prince of Eastern Peace, and arranged a secret inquiry into Wang Ziteng. Wang Xifeng received an eighth-rank investiture, while Madam Wang vowed to have her removed from the Wang Family Genealogy; the eunuch then asked to see Lady Zhao.

• Jia Huan received official documents confirming Li Jiu's promotion to Hundred-Household Commander and the promotions or transfers of Fathead Fish, Needle in Cotton, and Explosive Charcoal.
• Jia Huan ordered Scholar Twin Whips to send trusted men to Northern Liang to investigate the connection between Wang Ziteng and the Beiliang Governor-General.
• Ping'er summoned Wang Xifeng to receive a court decree, and the Edict-Proclaiming Eunuch granted her the title of eighth-rank Imperially Invested Lady and gifts for reporting crimes.
• Concubine Zhao and the other women congratulated Wang Xifeng, while Madam Wang angrily vowed to have her struck from the Wang Family Genealogy.
• The Edict-Proclaiming Eunuch asked where Lady Zhao, the holder of a fifth-rank imperial title, was.

Concubine Zhao received a fourth-rank title and an embroidered handkerchief from the Empress, while Madam Wang was consumed by envy. After Jia Huan celebrated with Concubine Zhao and Wang Xifeng, Concubine Zhao proposed hiring Qin Shi as a household instructor to protect the Qin Family from the Eastern Mansion.

• An imperial decree raised Concubine Zhao to Lady of the Fourth Rank for reporting corruption, and the Empress sent her a hand-embroidered handkerchief and gifts.
• Madam Wang left in humiliation and resentment as the women compared Concubine Zhao's new rank with her own demotion.
• Jia Huan returned home and congratulated Concubine Zhao, then ate with her and Wang Xifeng.
• Concubine Zhao and Wang Xifeng explained that Construction Director Qin had broken off Qin Shi's engagement to protect her from the Eastern Mansion's feud with Jia Huan.
• Concubine Zhao proposed hiring Qin Shi to teach her weaving and embroidery, and Jia Huan agreed.
• Late at night, Jia Huan met Wang Xifeng in the rear courtyard and took out illustrated booklets.

Lin Daiyu visited Jia Huan, revealed that her health had recovered, and shared a tender first kiss with him. Wang Xifeng chose to sever ties with the Wang Family after they expelled her, but Jia Huan’s evening ended with news that the Directorate of Ceremonial had taken Scholar into custody.

• Lin Daiyu gave Jia Huan a handmade sachet and jade pendant, then kissed him after he teased her about a reward for admiring magnolias together.
• Wang Ziteng gave Wang Xifeng the choice to renounce her title or be expelled from the Wang Family, and she chose to sever ties.
• Wang Xifeng accepted the court-sealed expulsion document and traded angry insults with Madam Wang before leaving.
• Concubine Zhao told Jia Huan about Wang Xifeng’s expulsion, and he set out to comfort her.
• Twin Whips told Jia Huan that the Directorate of Ceremonial had taken Scholar into custody, so Jia Huan mounted his horse and demanded details.

Jia Huan learned that Dai Quan had framed Scholar for usurping authority and murdering junior eunuchs, but the Embroidered Uniform Guard could not intervene. Dai Quan tortured Scholar for evidence against Jia Huan, yet Scholar refused to betray his commander.

• Jia Huan hurried to Commissioner Ouyang, who told him that Scholar had been arrested and was being held in the inner palace.
• Commissioner Ouyang refused Jia Huan's request for the Embroidered Uniform Guard to intervene, warning that the accusation of usurping authority barred them from the case.
• Dai Quan offered to make Scholar his adopted son and secure his future if he exposed Jia Huan, but Scholar declared his loyalty to Jia Huan.
• Dai Quan ordered Scholar poisoned and demanded that he confess, but Scholar endured the agony without saying a word.
• Dai Quan left Scholar to suffer and said he would return after midnight.

Jia Huan rushed to the Imperial City to rescue Scholar from Dai Quan’s torture, with Pacification Commissioner Xu’s help. Scholar was recovered, and Xu warned Jia Huan against taking revenge while reminding him of his promise to compete in the upcoming Martial Arts Tournament.

• Dai Quan ordered the palace expert to keep drugging Scholar when Scholar refused to confess and implicate Jia Huan.
• Jia Huan rode toward the Imperial City with his men, but Commissioner Ouyang persuaded him to seek help from Pacification Commissioner Xu instead of rushing in alone.
• Xu agreed to intervene after Jia Huan promised to represent the Embroidered Uniform Guard at the Awakening of Insects Martial Arts Tournament.
• Xu confronted Dai Quan in the inner court and asserted his authority to take Scholar to the Imperial Prison for questioning.
• Jia Huan freed Scholar and made the palace expert provide the antidote, then carried the unconscious Scholar out.
• Xu warned Jia Huan not to assassinate Dai Quan for revenge and reminded him to keep his promise about the tournament.

Jia Huan used public pressure and an investigation to target Dai Quan after Dai’s poison nearly killed Scholar, then tortured and executed thirteen eunuchs without finding evidence against Dai. Dai arrived at the Imperial Prison furious, confronting Jia Huan.

• Jia Huan agreed to represent Misty Rain Tower in the Martial Arts Tournament, then promised Scholar he would investigate Dai Quan and kill him if the law failed.
• Jia Huan ordered Jia Yucun and Sun Yu to impeach Dai Quan for colluding with the Tatar invaders, using the memorials to make their feud public and attract Dai’s political rivals.
• Twin Whips investigated Dai Quan’s attendants, and the Embroidered Uniform Guard arrested eight eunuchs at the Firewood Directorate.
• Twin Whips brought five more eunuchs to the Imperial Prison, where Jia Huan had all thirteen tortured until they confessed to various crimes.
• Jia Huan personally beheaded the thirteen eunuchs, gained nearly a thousand sin value, and faced Dai Quan when the furious eunuch arrived with a procession of followers.

After Dai Quan and Jia Huan clashed in the Imperial Prison, Jia Huan followed a lead about two White Deer Grotto Academy students who had died in prison. He uncovered the crimes of instructor Yan Zizhan and learned Yan was Dai Quan’s biological grandson, giving him a way to strike at Dai Quan.

• Dai Quan threatened Jia Huan after finding his subordinates’ heads in the Imperial Prison, while Commissioner Ouyang warned Jia Huan not to escalate the conflict.
• Wang Ziteng rejected Jia Yucun’s plea for help and predicted that Jia Huan would lose his fight against Dai Quan.
• An anonymous eunuch told Jia Huan that Dai Quan had intervened in the prison deaths of Jing Shu and Wang Jiegui, both students from White Deer Grotto Academy.
• Jia Huan sent his men to investigate the two students and learned that instructor Yan Zizhan had abused Jing Shu’s wife and crippled Wang Jiegui.
• Jia Huan confronted Yan Zizhan at night, and Yan revealed that Dai Quan was his grandfather and that his original surname was Dai.

Jia Huan interrogated Yan Zizhan and uncovered how the Yan family and No-Killing Temple were tied to a deadly epidemic and Fortune and Prosperity Zen Temple. He learned that the Jiangxi governor had helped protect the temple and planned to use the evidence to bring down the governor, the Yan family, and Eunuch Dai.

• Jia Huan learned from Yan Zizhan that No-Killing Temple had delivered gold and valuables to the Yan family four years earlier.
• Jia Huan led two hundred Embroidered Uniform Guards to surround No-Killing Temple and capture its abbot and monks.
• Jia Huan tortured the abbot, who revealed that Fortune and Prosperity Zen Temple had ordered the gifts to the Yan family during an investigation into a deadly epidemic.
• The abbot confessed that Fortune and Prosperity Zen Temple's abbot had poisoned the river through reckless Poison Cultivation, killing thousands and infecting tens of thousands.
• The abbot revealed that the Jiangxi governor had protected Fortune and Prosperity Zen Temple in exchange for abducting women and providing aphrodisiacs.
• Jia Huan concluded that the governor, the Yan family, and Eunuch Dai were connected and planned to gather evidence against them.