Chapter Summaries

Jiang Xiaobai reported what he had brought from the Mysterious Dragon Gate to Xiao Jinxuan, concealing the true contents of the Succession Edict. He then asked the Emperor to punish officials who had slandered the Jiang Family.

• Jiang Xiaobai confirmed that he had found the Former Emperor's Spirit Coffin and given the Nation-Guarding Sword to Tang Ningshuang, which Xiao Jinxuan verified and returned to her.
• Jiang Xiaobai told Xiao Jinxuan that he had brought out the Green History Seal and planned to deliver it to the Azure Robe Society in Su City.
• Jiang Xiaobai claimed the Iron Box contained an edict allowing officials to be executed for neglecting their duties and rulers to be deposed for losing their virtue.
• Jiang Xiaobai said the Hidden Edge Sect had kept the Succession Edict and that he had brought back only the empty box; Xiao Jinxuan accepted his account and relaxed.
• Jiang Xiaobai declined a reward unless Xiao Jinxuan had Meng Chief Grand Secretary and Lord Chen beaten to death for slandering the Jiang Family.

At court, Xiao Yunshu questioned Jiang Xiaobai about what he had taken from the Mysterious Dragon Gate and acted disappointed when he revealed the Succession Edict’s contents. Xiao Jinxuan proposed introducing her to a potential husband at the Empress’s birthday banquet, while Jiang Xiaobai suspected the emperor wanted to keep his sister from threatening the throne.

• Jiang Xiaobai provoked Meng Xiutang and Chen Zhanqiu, and Xiao Jinxuan punished them by docking half a month’s salary each.
• Xiao Yunshu arrived at court and asked Jiang Xiaobai what he had brought out of the Mysterious Dragon Gate.
• Xiao Yunshu ordered Jiang Xiaobai to massage her shoulders while he described the Nation-Guarding Sword, the Green History Seal, and the Iron Box.
• Jiang Xiaobai revealed that the Iron Box had contained a Succession Edict, which the Hidden Edge Sect kept, and Xiao Yunshu appeared disappointed by its contents.
• Xiao Jinxuan told Xiao Yunshu that their father had wished her a peaceful life and suggested she meet his sister-in-law’s unmarried younger brother at the Empress’s birthday banquet.
• After court was dismissed, Jiang Xiaobai suspected Xiao Jinxuan wanted to marry Xiao Yunshu off and decided he was on her side.

Jiang Xiaobai learned that the Succession Edict named Xiao Yunshu as heir and decided to keep the Green History Seal until he could win the Azure Robe Society’s recognition. On the way to the Chancellor’s Residence, he heard that the Seventh Prince’s son had been pursuing Zhiwei, and vowed to confront him.

• Jiang Jingcheng warned Jiang Xiaobai not to get too close to the Elder Princess, while Li Bingzhang joined them after court.
• In the carriage, Jiang Xiaobai told Li Bingzhang that the Succession Edict named the Elder Princess as heir and was now in her hands.
• Li Bingzhang explained the rumors that the Former Emperor’s Succession Edict had been buried inside the Mysterious Dragon Gate.
• Jiang Xiaobai refused to return the Green History Seal to the Azure Robe Society and said he would claim it at their headquarters in Su City.
• Li Bingzhang told Jiang Xiaobai that the Seventh Prince’s eldest son had returned to the capital and had been visiting the Chancellor’s Residence to pursue Zhiwei.
• Jiang Xiaobai grew angry and vowed to beat the Seventh Prince’s son.

Jiang Xiaobai arrived at the Chancellor's Residence with Li Bingzhang and learned more about Xiao Qingshu, the Seventh Prince's talented eldest son. Gu Xuanying threatened to have Jiang Xiaobai's engagement to Li Zhiwei canceled, but Li Bingzhang and Xu Yuehua stood up for him and left her behind.

• Li Bingzhang warned Jiang Xiaobai that the Seventh Prince fiercely defended his dignity and described Xiao Qingshu's accomplishments at the Southern Pass.
• Jiang Xiaobai arrived at the Chancellor's Residence, saw the Seventh Prince's lavish three-horse carriage, and asked Tang Ningshuang whether she would defend him in a conflict.
• Jiang Xiaobai encountered Xu Yuehua and Gu Xuanying, who declared that she opposed his marriage to Li Zhiwei and had informed the Seventh Prince.
• Li Bingzhang rebuked Gu Xuanying for interfering in his family affairs, and Xu Yuehua told her master to stop meddling.
• Jiang Xiaobai and Li Bingzhang went to the Main Hall, while Xu Yuehua followed them and left Gu Xuanying furious.

Jiang Xiaobai reunited with Li Zhiwei at her family home and openly teased Xiao Qingshu, the Seventh Prince’s eldest legitimate son. The chapter ended with Jiang Xiaobai implying that Xiao Qingshu was leaving before he had even sat down.

• Li Bingzhang urged Jiang Xiaobai to keep his temper in check before Xiao Qingshu arrived, and Jiang Xiaobai said he was not angry.
• Li Zhiwei hurried into the Main Hall and embraced Jiang Xiaobai, while Xiao Yi, Li Bingzhang, and Xu Yuehua watched happily.
• Xiao Qingshu arrived with Gu Xuanying, and Jiang Xiaobai introduced himself as Li Zhiwei’s fiancé, provoking Xiao Qingshu.
• Jiang Xiaobai wiped Li Zhiwei’s tears, kissed her cheek through her veil, and invited her to sit in his lap.
• Li Bingzhang stopped Li Zhiwei from sitting on Jiang Xiaobai’s lap, and Jiang Xiaobai then asked Xiao Qingshu whether he was about to leave.

Jiang Xiaobai deliberately distracted Xiao Qingshu with affectionate behavior toward Li Zhiwei until Xiao Qingshu left the Chancellor's Residence in anger. Afterward, Xiao Qingshu ordered Gu Xuanying to arrange a lesson for Jiang Xiaobai, while a messenger arrived with a letter from the Princess of Northern Yu addressed to him.

• Jiang Xiaobai repeatedly interrupted Xiao Qingshu's conversation by holding Li Zhiwei's hand and speaking affectionately to her.
• Xiao Qingshu lost his patience and left the Chancellor's Residence with Gu Xuanying.
• Xiao Yi told Jiang Xiaobai that Li Zhiwei had always refused to see Xiao Qingshu when he visited.
• Xiao Qingshu ordered Gu Xuanying to have Jiang Xiaobai taught a lesson and brought to the prince's residence.
• A Court of Diplomatic Relations Guard General delivered Li Bingzhang a letter from the Princess of Northern Yu addressed to Jiang Xiaobai.

Jiang Xiaobai accepted Helian Zhaoyue’s invitation to a banquet at the Court of Diplomatic Relations, intending to uncover her plans and the identity of the person conspiring with Northern Yu. After leaving the Chancellor’s Residence with Tang Ningshuang, he sensed someone following their carriage.

• Li Bingzhang gave Jiang Xiaobai a letter from Helian Zhaoyue inviting him to a banquet the next evening at the Court of Diplomatic Relations.
• Jiang Xiaobai decided to attend the banquet to question Helian Zhaoyue about the Hidden Edge Sect’s Succession Edict and her Great Hua contact.
• Jiang Xiaobai spent the day with Li Zhiwei at the Chancellor’s Residence, then departed with Tang Ningshuang after Li Bingzhang warned him not to provoke Xiao Qingshu.
• Jiang Xiaobai noticed that someone was following their carriage on the way back.

Jiang Xiaobai arranged to let Xiao Qingshu’s men capture him so he could turn their attack into a high-stakes confrontation. After Tang Ningshuang escaped, the men tied Jiang Xiaobai up and set off for the Seventh Prince’s Residence, where he eagerly anticipated meeting their Young Prince.

• Jiang Xiaobai detected three pursuers and told Tang Ningshuang that they had likely been sent by Xiao Qingshu.
• Jiang Xiaobai told Tang Ningshuang to escape while he let the pursuers capture him, confident he could defend himself if they tried to kill him.
• The pursuers attacked the carriage, and Tang Ningshuang fled while Jiang Xiaobai ran in the opposite direction, shouting for help.
• Two men caught up with Jiang Xiaobai, and he confirmed that they came from the Seventh Prince’s Residence before offering to be tied up.
• The third man returned after failing to catch Tang Ningshuang, and the group headed for the Seventh Prince’s Residence with Jiang Xiaobai bound and eager to meet the Young Prince.

At a gathering in the Seventh Prince's Residence, Xiao Qingshu learned that Li Zhiwei was betrothed to Jiang Xiaobai and declared that he would not yield to him. Xiao Qingshu revealed that he had sent men to seize Jiang Xiaobai, while Zhao Sheng and Zhou Chaomian left in alarm and Jiang's arrival remained imminent.

• Xiao Qingshu hosted Du Chong, Xiao Qingxiu, Zhao Sheng, Zhou Chaomian, and others at a banquet in the Seventh Prince's Residence.
• Xiao Qingxiu told Xiao Qingshu that Li Zhiwei was betrothed to Jiang Xiaobai and had grown close to him.
• Du Chong disparaged Jiang Xiaobai, and Xiao Qingshu declared that Jiang was unworthy to compete for Li Zhiwei.
• Xiao Qingshu said he had sent men to seize Jiang Xiaobai and planned to teach him a lesson before having Jiang Jingcheng take him away.
• Zhao Sheng warned Xiao Qingshu about Jiang Xiaobai's boldness and recalled how Jiang had surrounded the Ministry of Justice with thirty thousand troops.
• Zhao Sheng and Zhou Chaomian left the banquet, while Xiao Qingshu resumed drinking and waited for Jiang Xiaobai to be brought in.

Tang Ningshuang told Jiang Jingcheng that Jiang Xiaobai had deliberately let the Seventh Prince’s Residence kidnap him so he could teach them a lesson. Jiang Jingcheng sent Zhang Xinnian with cannons to confront them, while Xiao Yunshu set out for the residence after learning what happened.

• Tang Ningshuang rushed to the Duke’s Estate and told Jiang Jingcheng and Shen Yun that Jiang Xiaobai had been taken by people from the Seventh Prince’s Residence.
• Jiang Jingcheng learned that Jiang Xiaobai had allowed himself to be captured as bait and decided to confront the Seventh Prince’s Residence despite the risks.
• Jiang Jingcheng ordered Zhang Xinnian to bring cannons and find a physician, while Zhang Xinnian interpreted his words as an order to blast the residence.
• Xiao Yunshu arrived, learned Jiang Xiaobai had been taken, and headed for the Seventh Prince’s Residence after announcing she would switch identities.
• Tang Ningshuang chased after Xiao Yunshu, then spotted a figure in a white dress turning away beneath the eaves.

At the Seventh Prince's Residence, Jiang Xiaobai was brought before Xiao Qingshu, who threatened to cripple him unless he composed a poem. Jiang Xiaobai mocked the assembled guests in verse, then used a hidden technique to immobilize them and confronted Xiao Qingshu over the consequences of harming him.

• Xiao Qingshu celebrated his poem with Du Chong and others, then ordered his men to bring in the captured Jiang Xiaobai.
• Jiang Xiaobai taunted Du Chong and Xiao Qingxiu, and Xiao Qingshu challenged him to compose a poem or lose a leg.
• Jiang Xiaobai recited a poem insulting the gathering, prompting Xiao Qingshu to order his arms and legs crippled.
• Jiang Xiaobai broke free and immobilized the three guards with a concealed martial technique.
• Jiang Xiaobai immobilized Xiao Qingshu, Du Chong, Xiao Qingxiu, and the other guests, then warned Xiao Qingshu to consider what his residence would face if Jiang Xiaobai were harmed.

Jiang Xiaobai beat Xiao Qingshu and Xiao Qingxiu inside the Seventh Prince's Residence, but the arrival of the Jiang Family's people and Gu Xuanying's sudden attack shifted the danger onto him. A woman in white dropped through the roof to intercept Gu Xuanying's palm strike.

• Jiang Xiaobai slapped Xiao Qingshu repeatedly until he looked away, then kicked Xiao Qingxiu into a wall when he tried to reason with him.
• A thunderous explosion shook the hall, and Jiang Xiaobai realized the Jiang Family's people had arrived.
• Xiao Qingshu told Jiang Xiaobai he believed Jiang Xiaobai would be the one to suffer next.
• Gu Xuanying appeared behind Jiang Xiaobai and launched a close-range palm strike at him.
• A woman in white crashed through the roof and raised her hand to meet Gu Xuanying's attack.

Chu Qingci protected Jiang Xiaobai from Gu Xuanying and the Prince's Residence Experts, while Jiang Xiaobai moved to fight the remaining three. Outside the Seventh Prince's Residence, Zhang Xinnian threatened Xiao Jinrong with cannons over the Seventh Young Prince's abduction of their Heir Apparent.

• Chu Qingci arrived and blocked Gu Xuanying's attack on Jiang Xiaobai, then freed the immobilized guests with help from Jiang Xiaobai's Needle Force.
• Chu Qingci kicked Xiao Qingshu aside and sent Gu Xuanying crashing into a pillar with a burst of internal energy.
• Jiang Xiaobai challenged the three Prince's Residence Experts and charged at them using hidden edge force.
• Zhang Xinnian and his soldiers used ten cannons to destroy the Seventh Prince's Residence gates and walls, then demanded the return of their Heir Apparent.
• Xiao Jinrong sent a Household Guard to search the residence and objected to the attack, but Zhang Xinnian aimed a lit cannon at him.

Zhang Xinnian used cannons to force Xiao Jinrong to let Jiang Xiaobai leave the Seventh Prince’s Residence. Jiang Xiaobai departed with Chu Qingci, while Gu Xuanying expected the prince’s retaliation to bring ruin upon the Duke of the State’s Estate.

• Zhang Xinnian fired a cannonball that destroyed a house, then aimed his cannons at Xiao Jinrong when he threatened him.
• Jiang Xiaobai used the Ethereal Cloud Palm, which Chu Qingci had taught him, to defeat three Prince’s Residence Experts and taunted Gu Xuanying.
• Xiao Qingshu called for the household guard to seize Jiang Xiaobai, but the guard recognized the danger of confronting the Duke of the State’s Estate’s forces and escorted Jiang Xiaobai out instead.
• Xiao Qingshu, Xiao Qingxiu, Du Chong, the two Green-Robed Disciples, and Gu Xuanying followed Jiang Xiaobai from the hall.
• Gu Xuanying believed Xiao Jinrong would retaliate and that Jiang Xiaobai’s actions could bring disaster upon the Duke of the State’s Estate.

Jiang Xiaobai arrived at the ruined Seventh Prince's Residence and accused Xiao Qingshu of beating him, though Xiao Qingshu's swollen face told a different story. The Elder Princess arrived and heard both sides begin to trade accusations.

• Jiang Xiaobai arrived with Chu Qingci at the Seventh Prince's Residence, where Zhang Xinnian and Xiao Jinrong saw him unharmed.
• Xiao Qingshu emerged with a badly swollen face, and Jiang Xiaobai claimed Xiao Qingshu had beaten him and asked Xiao Jinrong to discipline him.
• Gu Xuanying privately told Xiao Jinrong what had happened in the hall, darkening his expression toward Jiang Xiaobai.
• The Elder Princess arrived in a Phoenix Carriage, and Xiao Yunshu asked Xiao Jinrong what had happened after checking that Jiang Xiaobai was uninjured.
• Jiang Xiaobai accused Xiao Qingshu of abducting and beating him, while Xiao Qingshu insisted Jiang Xiaobai had beaten him.

Xiao Yunshu protected Jiang Xiaobai after Xiao Qingshu admitted abducting him, while Zhang Xinnian's cannons reduced the Seventh Prince's Residence to ruins. Jiang Xiaobai demanded that Xiao Qingshu serve as a servant for three days, and Zhang Xinnian aimed the cannons at Xiao Jinrong when he questioned the demand.

• Xiao Yunshu slapped Xiao Qingxiu and forced him to admit he had not clearly seen what happened between Xiao Qingshu and Jiang Xiaobai.
• Xiao Qingshu admitted abducting Jiang Xiaobai, and Xiao Yunshu rebuked him for bullying the Duke of the State's Heir Apparent.
• Xiao Jinrong demanded an explanation for the damage to his residence, so Zhang Xinnian ordered ten cannons to destroy its remaining buildings.
• Jiang Xiaobai asked Xiao Jinrong for an explanation and demanded that Xiao Qingshu serve at the Duke of the State's Estate for three days.
• Xiao Jinrong asked what would happen if he refused, and Zhang Xinnian aimed the cannons at him and threatened to fire.

After Jiang Xiaobai forced Xiao Jinrong to send Xiao Qingshu to serve at the Duke of the State's Estate for three days, he made Xiao Qingshu drive his carriage. Xiao Jinrong stayed among the ruins of his residence and vowed to impeach Jiang Jingcheng before the Imperial Court the next morning.

• Xiao Jinrong accepted Xiao Yunshu's judgment and ordered Xiao Qingshu to serve at the Duke of the State's Estate, while Xiao Yunshu warned him that choosing the right side mattered.
• Jiang Xiaobai left with Chu Qingci and made Xiao Qingshu drive the carriage, ordering Zhang Xinnian to teach him and whip him if he could not learn.
• Xiao Jinrong rejected Gu Xuanying's call for revenge against Jiang Xiaobai and blamed Xiao Qingshu for bringing the trouble on himself.
• Xiao Jinrong ordered an officer to prepare a carriage and declared that he would impeach Jiang Jingcheng before the Imperial Court the next morning.

Jiang Xiaobai returned to the Duke of the State's Estate after the clash at the Seventh Prince's Residence, where Xiao Yunshu gave him a painful massage and promised to remain his maid. The next morning, with Xiao Jinrong at the Imperial Court and a summons expected, Jiang Xiaobai declared that he would demand an execution, leaving Xiao Yunshu asking whom he meant to execute.

• Jiang Xiaobai had Zhang Xinnian take Xiao Qingshu to the estate and bring him to Jiang Xiaobai the next morning.
• Chu Qingci admitted that he had gone specifically to save Jiang Xiaobai, then left, while Xiao Yunshu chased Jiang Xiaobai into the estate after he dodged her offer of a massage.
• Xiao Yunshu gave Jiang Xiaobai a painful massage and reaffirmed her promise to serve as his maid for life.
• The next morning, Jiang Xiaobai found Xiao Qingshu sweeping his courtyard and made him greet him as the Heir Apparent.
• Xiao Yunshu told Jiang Xiaobai that Xiao Jinrong had gone to the Imperial Court and that the palace would likely summon him.
• Jiang Xiaobai said he would demand an execution, and Xiao Yunshu asked whom he planned to execute.

Jiang Xiaobai brought Xiao Qingshu to meet Jiang Jingcheng and revealed that Zhang Xinnian had destroyed the Seventh Prince's Residence with ten cannons. He proposed offering someone up to be beheaded to resolve the fallout, leaving Jiang Jingcheng suspecting that his son meant to sacrifice him.

• Jiang Xiaobai led Tang Ningshuang, Xiao Yunshu, and Xiao Qingshu to Jiang Jingcheng's courtyard, where Jiang Jingcheng sparred with Chen Jian and praised his martial arts.
• Chen Jian mistook Jiang Xiaobai's visit for a chance to compliment him by suggesting Jiang Jingcheng was not his real father.
• Jiang Xiaobai introduced Xiao Qingshu as his new servant, and Xiao Qingshu revealed that he was the son of the Seventh Prince, Xiao Jinrong.
• Jiang Jingcheng pulled Jiang Xiaobai aside and scolded him for bringing the Seventh Prince's son to the estate as a servant.
• Jiang Xiaobai told Jiang Jingcheng that Zhang Xinnian had used ten cannons to destroy the Seventh Prince's Residence, then claimed he intended to win the Seventh Prince over.
• Jiang Xiaobai proposed having someone beheaded to take responsibility, and Jiang Jingcheng realized his son might be planning to put him forward.

Jiang Xiaobai and Jiang Jingcheng were summoned to the Imperial Court over the destruction of the Seventh Prince’s residence. Jiang Xiaobai shocked the court by admitting his father’s actions and demanding that the emperor behead him, leaving the accusation unresolved.

• A palace messenger ordered Jiang Jingcheng and Jiang Xiaobai to appear before the emperor, and Jiang Xiaobai invited Xiao Qingshu to come along.
• Zhang Xinnian forced Xiao Qingshu to drive the carriage, and Jiang Xiaobai later left him outside the palace with Zhang Xinnian.
• Jiang Jingcheng and Jiang Xiaobai entered the court hall, where Xiao Jinrong waited angrily over the previous night’s humiliation.
• Before Xiao Jinxuan could question him, Jiang Xiaobai admitted that Jiang Jingcheng had attacked the Seventh Prince’s residence and asked for his father to be beheaded.
• Jiang Jingcheng also declared himself guilty and asked Xiao Jinxuan to behead him, prompting Jiang Xiaobai to repeat his demand.