Chapter Summaries

Helian Zhaoyue’s ambush forced the Elder Princess to flee with Tang Ningshuang, while Jiang Xiaobai was captured after using his Desert Eagle. He woke in Helian Zhaoyue’s bed just as intruders burst in, leaving her staged scandal about to be discovered.

• The Elder Princess escaped with Tang Ningshuang after Jiang Xiaobai distracted their pursuers with the Desert Eagle, and Helian Zhaoyue ordered the old man to take Jiang Xiaobai to the Court of Diplomatic Relations.
• Helian Zhaoyue told Teng Zixiu that they still had time before the Elder Princess could reach the Northern Guardian Marquis's Estate, and Teng Zixiu realized Jiang Xiaobai had used the gun to kill his household guard.
• The Elder Princess recovered from the Drunken Immortal Incense in a remote alley, then carried Tang Ningshuang toward the Northern Guardian Marquis's Estate to warn them.
• Jiang Xiaobai woke beside Helian Zhaoyue, who revealed she had staged a scene to make it appear that he had secret ties with Northern Yu and claimed his estate was finished.
• Several figures broke into the room, and Helian Zhaoyue screamed and pulled the blanket over herself while asking Jiang Xiaobai to drive them out.

Jiang Xiaobai and Helian Zhaoyue were taken to the Imperial Palace after the Shadowguard Bureau accused them of conspiring with Northern Yu. As officials gathered for an unusual emergency court session, the Elder Princess hurried toward the palace and Li Bingzhang grew uneasy about Meng Xiutang.

• The Shadowguard Bureau entered Jiang Xiaobai and Helian Zhaoyue's room, gave Jiang Xiaobai an antidote, and ordered both of them to come to the palace over suspected collusion with Northern Yu.
• Helian Zhaoyue insisted that she and Jiang Xiaobai were innocent and that nothing had happened between them, making the accusation seem more suspicious.
• The Elder Princess arrived at the Northern Guardian Marquis's Estate too late to stop Jiang Jingcheng's sedan chair from heading to the Imperial Palace, left Tang Ningshuang safely inside, and rushed after him.
• Dozens of officials gathered at the Imperial Court before dawn after an urgent summons, but Li Bingzhang and Meng Xiutang both said they knew nothing.
• Meng Xiutang gave Li Bingzhang a faint smile before walking to the front of the court, leaving Li Bingzhang uneasy about the situation.

Jiang Xiaobai and Helian Zhaoyue were brought before Xiao Jinxuan on suspicion of colluding with Northern Yu. Jiang Xiaobai said Helian had drugged him and asked the court to wait for Tang Ningshuang, while Helian admitted to framing him.

• Jiang Jingcheng and Tang Kui wondered why Jiang Xiaobai and Tang Ningshuang were absent as officials gathered in the Imperial Court.
• Xiao Jinxuan announced that someone had secretly colluded with Northern Yu and ordered Jiang Xiaobai and Helian Zhaoyue brought before the court.
• The Shadowguard Bureau reported finding Jiang Xiaobai and Helian in the same bed, and Helian denied having any connection with him.
• Jiang Xiaobai claimed Helian had drugged him and said Tang Ningshuang had also been poisoned but could testify once she woke.
• Helian admitted that she had poisoned Jiang Xiaobai and tied him to the bed to frame him, then asked Xiao Jinxuan to wait for Tang Ningshuang.

Jiang Jingxuan appeared alive in court and accused his elder brother Jiang Jingcheng of betraying him and colluding with Northern Yu. Secret letters bearing handwriting like Jiang Jingcheng’s were presented as evidence, leaving him under suspicion as officials condemned him.

• Xiao Jinxuan summoned Jiang Jingxuan, whose survival after being presumed dead for ten years shocked the officials.
• Jiang Jingxuan claimed Jiang Jingcheng had sold him out on the Northern Frontier, forcing him to flee into Northern Yu and secretly gather intelligence for Great Hua.
• Jiang Jingxuan produced letters that he said proved Jiang Jingcheng’s secret correspondence with Northern Yu, and Helian Zhaoyue tried to seize them before the Shadowguard Bureau stopped her.
• Xiao Jinxuan examined the letters and challenged Jiang Jingcheng over their contents and handwriting, while Jiang Jingcheng noticed the writing closely resembled his own.
• Meng Xiutang accused Jiang Jingcheng of secretly dealing with Northern Yu and linked the alleged collusion to the Northern Frontier’s lack of silver.

Jiang Jingcheng and Jiang Xiaobai were imprisoned while Jiang Jingxuan was appointed to take charge of the Northern Guardian Marquis's Estate, as the court investigated claims of treason. In prison, Jiang Xiaobai revealed that he had a backup plan.

• Helian Zhaoyue denied that Northern Yu had exchanged secret letters with the Northern Guardian Marquis's Estate, while Li Bingzhang called for an investigation and defended the Jiang Family.
• Xiao Jinxuan ordered the Court of Judicial Review to investigate, sent Jiang Jingcheng and Jiang Xiaobai to prison, and placed Jiang Jingxuan in charge of the Marquis's Estate.
• Jiang Jingcheng forced the Imperial Guards back but agreed to leave, then insulted Jiang Jingxuan; Jiang Xiaobai warned Helian Zhaoyue and taunted his uncle before departing.
• Xiao Jinxuan detained Helian Zhaoyue at the Court of Diplomatic Relations until the investigation was complete.
• Li Bingzhang told Tang Kui to protect Madam Jiang and the marquis's trusted followers, then went to meet the Elder Princess.
• In prison, Jiang Jingcheng explained that Xiao Jinxuan could use Jiang Jingxuan to weaken his influence over the Northern Guardian Army, and Jiang Xiaobai said he had a backup plan.

Jiang Xiaobai dismissed rebellion as an option but privately considered replacing Xiao Jinxuan with the Elder Princess. At her residence, the Elder Princess urged Li Bingzhang to free Jiang Xiaobai and Jiang Jingcheng, and he left to investigate the forged letters.

• Jiang Xiaobai reassured Jiang Jingcheng that he knew his limits, while privately thinking the Elder Princess could replace Xiao Jinxuan as ruler.
• The Elder Princess asked Li Bingzhang about Jiang Jingcheng and Jiang Xiaobai's imprisonment, and he recounted the court's accusations and evidence.
• Li Bingzhang said he believed the secret letters were forged and that finding the forger could resolve the case.
• The Elder Princess connected the forgery to Zeng Qingchi, and Li Bingzhang suspected Zeng Qingchi's grandfather, Zeng Lu, could have imitated Jiang Jingcheng's handwriting.
• The Elder Princess asked Li Bingzhang to get Jiang Xiaobai and his father out of prison, and he promised to do everything he could before leaving to investigate.

Tang Ningshuang learned that Jiang Xiaobai had been imprisoned despite Helian Zhaoyue admitting to poisoning him, while Jiang Jingxuan returned to claim control of the Northern Guardian Marquis's Estate. Zhang Xinnian pretended to obey Jiang Jingxuan as he secretly planned to gather the estate's officers to beat him.

• Tang Kui told Shen Yun that Jiang Jingcheng and Jiang Xiaobai were being held for investigation, and Tang Ningshuang woke and tried to rush off to rescue Jiang Xiaobai.
• Tang Kui explained that Helian Zhaoyue's admission had made the accusations seem more convincing, and Tang Ningshuang angrily vowed to kill her.
• Jiang Jingxuan arrived at the Northern Guardian Marquis's Estate with an Imperial Writ and declared that the estate would belong to him.
• Zhang Xinnian feigned respect for Jiang Jingxuan, then secretly resolved to gather the estate's officers and have them beat him.

Jiang Jingxuan took charge of the Northern Guardian Marquis's Estate and announced that Jiang Jingcheng had been imprisoned, while Jiang Xiaobai and his father remained in jail. The chapter ended with Jiang Xiaobai sensing that a woman had visited their cell.

• Jiang Jingxuan arrived at Jiang Jingcheng's courtyard and mistook the cannon for an extravagant tea-brewing device.
• More than thirty former Northern Guardian Army commanders beat Jiang Jingxuan, then recognized him as the Third Master after he showed them the Imperial Writ.
• Jiang Jingxuan announced that he would temporarily manage the estate and inspect the Jiang Family's army camp within two days.
• In prison, Jiang Xiaobai stopped Jiang Jingcheng from eating the meals, suspecting they might be poisoned.
• Jiang Xiaobai smelled a woman's scent outside the cell and told Jiang Jingcheng that a woman had come to see them.

Jiang Xiaobai reassured Jiang Jingcheng that an unseen expert could help the Jiang Family and hinted they would be freed once Jiang Jingxuan made his move. The Elder Princess met her senior sister, who visited the prison and then handed her two sheets of paper, leaving her astonished.

• Jiang Xiaobai used Jiang Jingcheng's waist token and a written note to get the attention of the hidden expert outside the prison.
• The woman in white embedded strands of hair in the cell wall to warn Jiang Jingcheng and Jiang Xiaobai not to press her identity.
• Jiang Xiaobai told Jiang Jingcheng that their release depended on Jiang Jingxuan making his move, not on finding evidence.
• The Elder Princess worried that proving the secret letters were forged would be difficult and said Chancellor Li was investigating Zeng Lu.
• The woman in white told the Elder Princess that Jiang Xiaobai and Marquis Jiang were unharmed, then gave her two sheets of paper that startled her.

The Elder Princess and the White-Dressed Woman agreed to carry out Jiang Xiaobai’s dangerous plan, trusting him to keep it under control. Meanwhile, Jiang Jingxuan prepared to seize the military camp and arranged for Jiang Jingcheng and his son to die that night.

• The White-Dressed Woman showed the Elder Princess two sheets from Jiang Xiaobai, and they agreed to trust him and act on his plan.
• The White-Dressed Woman left to carry out the plan before nightfall.
• Jiang Jingxuan drank wine at the Northern Guardian Marquis's Estate while Zhang Xinnian and the other servants concealed their resentment.
• The old man accompanying Helian Zhaoyue urged Jiang Jingxuan to take control of the military camp before the emperor of Great Hua could claim it.
• Jiang Jingxuan said he would go to the camp the next morning and learned that Lord Zhao of the Ministry of Justice Chief Office had arranged for Jiang Jingcheng and his son to die that night.

Jiang Xiaobai and Jiang Jingcheng foiled an attempted prison break orchestrated by Zhao Bintian, and Jiang Xiaobai anticipated another move from the Jiang Family’s Third Master the next day.

• Jiang Jingcheng refused to escape with seven black-clad men who claimed the Emperor had ordered his and Jiang Xiaobai’s secret execution.
• Jiang Xiaobai shouted for help, and Jiang Jingcheng fought the attackers after realizing they had expected the poison in the food to weaken him.
• Zhang Mu turned against the attackers and helped Jiang Jingcheng and the arriving Imperial Guards defeat them.
• Jiang Xiaobai told Zhang Mu to stall during questioning until the next day, promising he would keep him safe.
• Jiang Xiaobai told Jiang Jingcheng that Zhao Bintian had likely colluded with the enemy and predicted the Jiang Family’s Third Master would act the next day.

Jiang Xiaobai told Jiang Jingcheng that his two older brothers might have survived the battle, giving him renewed hope, while Li Bingzhang’s efforts to investigate the secret letter stalled. An envoy from the Elder Princess told Li Bingzhang to stop investigating and promised he would understand why the next day.

• Jiang Xiaobai teased Jiang Jingcheng with a recitation of dishes, then told him that Jiang Yunce and Jiang Linquan might still be alive because Northern Yu had not found their bodies.
• Jiang Jingcheng agreed that they needed to investigate his sons’ disappearance but asked Jiang Xiaobai not to tell Shen Yun until they had proof.
• Li Bingzhang returned from meeting Zeng Lu, who denied writing the secret letter, and decided to find Zeng Qingchi to learn why Zeng Lu would not speak.
• An envoy of the Elder Princess told Li Bingzhang that he no longer needed to investigate the secret letter and said he would understand the next day.

Jiang Jingxuan went to the Jiang Family Military Camp expecting to take command of its 30,000 troops and secure his family’s power. After the soldiers pledged loyalty to him, Zhang Xinnian abruptly claimed Jiang Jingxuan had decided to rebel and urged them to acclaim him emperor, leaving Jiang Jingxuan stunned as the troops joined the call.

• Jiang Jingxuan traveled to the military camp with Zhang Xinnian, anticipating that his second brother and nephew were dead and that he could seize control of the Jiang Family’s forces.
• Zhang Xinnian secretly read a slip of paper during the journey and drove the carriage faster while Jiang Jingxuan fantasized about commanding 30,000 troops and eventually extending his power to the Northern Frontier army.
• At the camp, Jiang Jingxuan addressed the assembled soldiers, promising to safeguard the Jiang Family and support his imprisoned second brother until his name was cleared.
• The 30,000 soldiers shouted that they pledged their lives in loyalty to Jiang Jingxuan, and he believed his speech had secured their support.
• Zhang Xinnian proposed that the troops rebel and make Jiang Jingxuan emperor, then declared to the soldiers that the Third Master had decided to rise in rebellion.
• The soldiers began chanting for Jiang Jingxuan to be acclaimed emperor while he stared at Zhang Xinnian in shock.

Jiang Jingxuan accepted Zhang Xinnian’s urging to seize the throne and led thirty thousand troops out of their camp toward the Imperial Palace. At court, Xiao Jinxuan learned that Jiang Jingxuan had raised an army in rebellion.

• Zhang Xinnian urged Jiang Jingxuan to proclaim himself emperor, and the thirty thousand soldiers called for him to take the throne.
• Jiang Jingxuan mounted a horse and rode out with the army, deciding to attack the Imperial Palace before the court could strip him of command.
• At court, Xiao Jinxuan questioned Li Bingzhang and ordered Court Minister Zhou to investigate the Marquis of Northern Suppression’s alleged collusion with the enemy.
• Meng Xiutang argued that the charges against the Marquis should be finalized, while Li Bingzhang warned that keeping him imprisoned could unsettle the soldiers.
• An Imperial Guards commander rushed into court and reported that Jiang Jingxuan had raised an army in rebellion.

After Jiang Jingxuan led 30,000 armored troops toward the Imperial Palace, Li Bingzhang used the crisis to argue that Jiang Jingcheng had been framed and must be freed to stop the rebellion. Jiang Xiaobai remained confident in prison, and Eunuch Gao arrived to escort him and Jiang Jingcheng to the main hall.

• An Imperial Guards commander reported that Jiang Jingxuan was leading 30,000 armored troops toward the Imperial Palace.
• Li Bingzhang accused Jiang Jingxuan of forging the secret letter and urged Xiao Jinxuan to release Jiang Jingcheng so he could suppress the uprising.
• Xiao Jinxuan ordered Eunuch Gao to bring Jiang Jingcheng and Jiang Xiaobai out of prison.
• Jiang Xiaobai assured Jiang Jingcheng that they would get out, while Jiang Jingcheng doubted him and rejected his offer to perform another rapid-fire monologue.
• Eunuch Gao reached the prison and ordered the jailer to open their cell so he could take Jiang Jingcheng and Jiang Xiaobai to the main hall.

Jiang Xiaobai refused to leave prison without the Emperor’s personal confirmation, while Helian Zhaoyue learned that Jiang Jingxuan had marched 30,000 troops toward the Imperial Palace. She realized Jiang Xiaobai had used the rebellion to discredit Jiang Jingxuan’s testimony and implicate Northern Yu’s scheme.

• Jiang Xiaobai insisted that Eunuch Gao bring the Emperor to the prison before he and Jiang Jingcheng would leave.
• Jiang Xiaobai told Jiang Jingcheng that he intended to make the Emperor bow his head for repeatedly targeting their estate.
• Helian Zhaoyue and Teng Zixiu discussed returning to Northern Yu once Jiang Jingxuan controlled the Northern Guardian Marquis's Estate and Jiang Jingcheng and Jiang Xiaobai were convicted.
• An Elder reported that Jiang Jingxuan had led 30,000 Armored Troops toward the Imperial Palace.
• Helian Zhaoyue realized Jiang Jingxuan’s rebellion would make his earlier testimony against Northern Yu and the Marquis of Northern Suppression look like a lie, and she blamed Jiang Xiaobai for the trap.

Jiang Jingxuan led the Northern Guardian Marquis's Estate's troops into the Imperial Palace and demanded the throne, while the White-Dressed Woman forced Xiao Jinxuan to go to the prison. Jiang Jingxuan discovered that his soldiers would acclaim him emperor but would not obey his order to kill Xiao Jinxuan.

• The White-Dressed Woman left the Elder Princess's Residence after learning that Jiang Jingxuan had brought 30,000 armored troops into the palace, while the Elder Princess rejected the suggestion that the Northern Guardian Marquis's Estate was rebelling.
• Eunuch Gao told Xiao Jinxuan that Jiang Xiaobai would only release Jiang Jingcheng if the emperor came to the prison himself.
• Jiang Jingxuan entered the court with his troops, demanded that Xiao Jinxuan surrender the throne, and admitted that he had arranged for Zeng Lu to forge the treasonous letter.
• The White-Dressed Woman held her sword to Jiang Jingxuan's neck and gave Xiao Jinxuan half an hour to go to the prison; Xiao Jinxuan stood, and Jiang Jingxuan realized Jiang Jingcheng might still be alive.
• Jiang Jingxuan ordered his soldiers to kill Xiao Jinxuan, but they ignored him and continued chanting that they acclaimed Jiang Jingxuan emperor.

Jiang Xiaobai secured his and Jiang Jingcheng’s release from the Prison and negotiated a promotion for the Northern Guardian Marquis’s Estate in exchange for quelling Jiang Jingxuan’s rebellion. At the Imperial Court, Jiang Jingxuan accused Jiang Jingcheng of tricking him into rebelling, while Jiang Jingcheng remained bewildered.

• Jiang Xiaobai assured Jiang Jingcheng that Xiao Jinxuan would come to the Prison, and the emperor soon arrived to release them.
• Jiang Xiaobai asked whether the forged charges had been cleared, and Xiao Jinxuan said Jiang Jingxuan had admitted forging the Secret Letters and rebelling.
• Jiang Xiaobai stopped Jiang Jingcheng from immediately agreeing to suppress the rebellion and demanded recognition for his father’s sacrifice in putting down his own brother.
• Xiao Jinxuan promised to elevate the Northern Guardian Marquis’s Estate to the Duke of the State’s Estate if Jiang Jingcheng quelled the rebellion.
• At the Imperial Court, Jiang Jingxuan accused Jiang Jingcheng of turning his forged charges into a trap that led him to rebel.

Jiang Xiaobai exposed Jiang Jingxuan’s failed rebellion as a performance in which the Northern Guardian Marquis’s troops had never truly obeyed him. Xiao Jinxuan imprisoned Jiang Jingxuan and elevated Jiang Jingcheng to Duke of the State, while Meng Xiutang realized Jiang Xiaobai’s scheme had protected the emperor’s prestige.

• Jiang Xiaobai pretended ignorance as Li Bingzhang explained that Jiang Jingxuan had rebelled with thirty thousand armored troops.
• A soldier revealed that the troops had followed Jiang Jingxuan only under the imperial writ and had merely shouted along when he claimed the throne.
• Jiang Jingxuan realized the soldiers had never genuinely obeyed him, spat blood, and fainted; the White-Dressed Woman then withdrew.
• Jiang Xiaobai took the imperial writ from Jiang Jingxuan, and Jiang Jingcheng used it to order the troops to sheathe their weapons and withdraw.
• Xiao Jinxuan ordered Jiang Jingxuan sent to the imperial dungeon and promoted Jiang Jingcheng to Duke of the State.
• Meng Xiutang began to question Jiang Jingcheng’s merit, then fell silent after realizing that doing so could expose the emperor’s lack of control and damage his prestige.

Jiang Xiaobai exposed Zhao Bintian’s plot to frame and kill him and Jiang Jingcheng, prompting Xiao Jinxuan to order Zhao’s arrest and Shi Ning’s execution. After court, Jiang Xiaobai explained that the staged rebellion accusation would have worked even if Jiang Jingxuan had denied it, because thirty thousand people could testify against him.

• Jiang Xiaobai asked Xiao Jinxuan to question Zhang Mu, who identified Director Zhao as the man behind the prison break and attempted murder.
• Jiang Xiaobai revealed Zhang Mu was his informant, and Zhang Mu named Shi Ning as the official who poisoned the prison meals.
• Shi Ning confessed that Zhao Bintian ordered the poisoning, and Xiao Jinxuan ordered Shi Ning beheaded and Zhao arrested.
• Jiang Xiaobai received permission to continue inspections with the Northern Yu delegation and urged Xiao Jinxuan to finish the Hall of Martyrs.
• After court, Jiang Xiaobai told Li Bingzhang that thirty thousand people could make the rebellion accusation stick even if Jiang Jingxuan denied it.