Wei Nisheng used his learning and resolve to challenge the mistreatment he faced in the Wei household, then won public acclaim at Wei Shouzheng’s apprenticeship banquet. After approaching Lord Feng…
Wei Nisheng broke away from Wei Mingde’s branch, reclaimed the Eldest Branch Estate, and began building a household of his own. With Feng Yan’s backing and health failing, both men began considering…
Wei Nisheng became Feng Yan’s disciple and faced Shen Duan’s attacks by defending his adoptive lineage and winning the emperor’s support. With imperial favor secured, he began studying governance at…
Wei Nisheng won first place in the provincial examination, then faced public attacks for honoring Wei An with the rites of an elder. After Jiang Yu destroyed Wei An’s spirit tablet, Wei Nisheng killed…
Wei Nisheng survived the court’s judgment for killing Jiang Yu, then returned to his studies with Feng Yan’s support and promised to marry Fu Niang after passing the examination. As the Spring…
Wei Nisheng won first place in the Provincial Examination, faced accusations that his success depended on Feng Yan’s influence, and defended his work before his fellow candidates. He entered the…
Wei Nisheng became the top Palace Examination scholar, entered the Hanlin Academy, and learned to navigate the dangers of Court politics. He and Wang Kan submitted evidence of stolen granary stores…
Wei Nisheng’s memorial exposed the missing grain and the suppression of earlier warnings, forcing Emperor Jing of Zhou to investigate Shen Duan’s Ministry of Revenue. The inquiry ended without proving…
Wei Nisheng entered the Ministry of Revenue, uncovered discrepancies in its accounts, and was appointed to investigate tax arrears in Suzhou. As he prepared to face Shen Duan’s allies, Emperor Jing of…
Wei Nisheng secured an imperial betrothal to Fu Niang and assembled allies for his mission to investigate Suzhou’s unpaid taxes. He left the capital with the emperor’s authority after Wang Kan…
Wei Nisheng secured imperial authority to investigate Suzhou and began unsettling its powerful officials through patience and calculated restraint. Xie Lin and Li Jin resisted his approach, while He…
Wei Nisheng used the investigation of Suzhou’s temples to gain authority and expose their abuses, while the court debated whether to send in the Hangzhou Guard. The emperor approved a limited troop…
Wei Nisheng brought Suzhou’s temple abuses and He Yanming’s corruption into the open, while Zhang Zai acted against those who had hidden behind their reputations. Wei then turned toward Li Jin and the…
Wei Nisheng brought the Suzhou investigation to a close, returned the recovered silver to the emperor’s control, and came home to Feng Yan and Fu Niang. As court factions maneuvered over the silver…
Wei Nisheng secured an alliance with Shen Duan and won appointment as Vice Director of the Ministry of Personnel’s Bureau of Selecting Officials. Emperor Jing of Zhou then entrusted Wei with the…
Wei Nisheng secured a divided allocation of the Suzhou silver and used appointments and bargains to extend his influence over officials and the northwest. As Khitan and Tangut envoys arrived seeking…
Jiang Heng began observing state affairs and faced a tense court debate over foreign threats, frontier defenses, and the factions seeking influence in his household. Wei Nisheng became Jiang Heng’s…
Wei Nisheng and Feng Shu married, joined their families, and began married life together. The Emperor then appointed Wei Nisheng to advise the Crown Prince, leaving him to guide Jiang Heng through…
Wei Nisheng pushed for military farmland reform and maneuvered Shen Duan and Kou Yuan into supporting Zhou Quan’s command of Ningxia. As the court prepared to negotiate with the Tanguts, Wei Shouzheng…
Wei Nisheng maneuvered through court struggles as Feng Yan’s final days brought the emperor and his former allies together in grief. After Feng Yan’s death, Wei Nisheng began returning to public…