Chapter Summaries

Li Zhiwei visited Jiang Xiaobai and invited him to the Imperial College, where the Elder Princess was expected to appear after his essay caused a stir. Jiang Xiaobai agreed on the condition that Li Zhiwei act along with him, and they set out while Shen Yun warmly encouraged their pairing.

• Shen Yun welcomed Li Zhiwei and praised her, while Jiang Xiaobai noticed the jade bracelet Li Zhiwei had given her.
• Jiang Xiaobai teased Li Zhiwei about missing him, and she insisted she had come on serious business.
• Li Zhiwei explained that Jiang Xiaobai's essay had stirred discussion at the Imperial College and that the Elder Princess might visit, then invited him to go with her.
• Jiang Xiaobai agreed to visit the Imperial College but told Li Zhiwei she would have to act along with him, leaving her uneasy about his plan.
• Shen Yun made Jiang Xiaobai change into tidier clothes, urged him not to bully Li Zhiwei, and watched them leave the Marquis's Residence with delight.

Jiang Xiaobai entered the Imperial College after Li Zhiwei arranged for him to get past the guards and planned to maintain his arrogant reputation. Inside, an attendant deliberately collided with him and accused him of breaking a tray, while Zhang Xinnian mistook a snort and a brief saber draw for overwhelming displays of power.

• Li Zhiwei brought Jiang Xiaobai to the Imperial College to meet last year's top graduate and help him prepare for his audience with the emperor.
• Jiang Xiaobai asked Zhang Xinnian to act as if he were invincible under heaven so they would preserve his established reputation.
• Li Zhiwei spoke to the guards, and Jiang Xiaobai entered the Imperial College without being stopped.
• A young attendant collided with Jiang Xiaobai, then blamed him for a shattered wooden tray.
• Zhang Xinnian claimed the attendant had withstood his thunderous shout and terrifying saber intent after merely snorting and drawing his saber slightly.

Jiang Xiaobai and Zhang Xinnian clashed with an Imperial College page over a broken counting tray, then left after Zhang crushed it and threatened the college staff. The teaching assistant vowed to report them to the instructor.

• The page accused Zhang Xinnian and Jiang Xiaobai of breaking the counting tray and insulting him, while Zhang pretended his aura had shattered it.
• A teaching assistant arrived, ordered Jiang Xiaobai to apologize, and demanded compensation for the tray.
• Jiang Xiaobai questioned whether the tray had already been broken, but the page demanded proof.
• Jiang Xiaobai said they could simply claim he had broken it, and Zhang stamped the tray into splinters.
• Zhang pulled Jiang Xiaobai away and warned the page and teaching assistant not to trouble his young lord.
• The teaching assistant promised to explain the incident to the instructor and report Jiang Xiaobai and Zhang for causing trouble.

Jiang Xiaobai visited the Imperial College and found his essay, “On the Teacher,” ranked first on the public board. After a woman he had angered warned him that their business was not over, Zhou Chaomian revealed she might be the essay’s author and advised Jiang Xiaobai to leave before he could no longer do so.

• Jiang Xiaobai told Zhang Xinnian not to act on his own without permission.
• Jiang Xiaobai and Zhang Xinnian reached a lake where Imperial College students had gathered around a board discussing essays.
• Zhang Xinnian pointed out that Jiang Xiaobai’s “On the Teacher” held the top spot on the board.
• Jiang Xiaobai encountered Zhou Chaomian, whom he had met at the Poetry Gathering at the Chancellor's Residence, and forgot his name.
• The woman Zhang Xinnian had angered warned Jiang Xiaobai that their business was not over, then walked away.
• Zhou Chaomian advised Jiang Xiaobai to leave the Imperial College and suggested that the woman had written “On the Teacher.”

At the Imperial College, Jiang Xiaobai learned that Lin Qinrou, Elder Lin’s granddaughter, had written “On the Teacher,” while Zhou Chaomian used the essay to belittle him. Jiang Xiaobai then staged a public scene in which Li Zhiwei pretended to confess her love for him, ending with her grabbing his clothes as he protested that he was a respectable man.

• Zhou Chaomian told Jiang Xiaobai that Lin Qinrou, Elder Lin’s granddaughter, had written “On the Teacher” and praised prose over poetry.
• Zhou Chaomian warned Jiang Xiaobai that Li Zhiwei would not fall for him over a few poems, but Jiang Xiaobai walked away to approach her.
• Jiang Xiaobai accused Li Zhiwei of following him because she liked him, drawing the attention of the surrounding students.
• Li Zhiwei joined Jiang Xiaobai’s act by declaring that she liked him and would follow him wherever he went.
• Jiang Xiaobai pretended to flee, and Li Zhiwei grabbed his clothes as he protested that she was making things difficult for a respectable man.

Jiang Xiaobai staged a public scene with Li Zhiwei to keep his talents from drawing too much attention before his imperial audience. After explaining his plan, he learned that the former Top Graduate Li Zhiwei wanted him to meet was Lin Qinrou, whom he had already clashed with, and Li insisted he follow her.

• Jiang Xiaobai recoiled from Li Zhiwei in public, then left with her while Zhou Chaomian and the onlookers reacted with shock and jealousy.
• Li Zhiwei confronted Jiang Xiaobai in a secluded corridor and demanded an explanation for his embarrassing performance and his sudden dodge.
• Jiang Xiaobai explained that the scene would make people assume Li Zhiwei had coached him, drawing less attention to his abilities at the imperial audience.
• Li Zhiwei told Jiang Xiaobai that the Elder Princess had taken his essay and praised its author, then revealed that the former Top Graduate was Lin Qinrou.
• Jiang Xiaobai tried to avoid meeting Lin Qinrou, but Li Zhiwei insisted and said she had a way to get him there.

Jiang Xiaobai impressed Master Song by instantly calculating a complex set of accounts at the Imperial College. Master Song tested him with a second calculation, and Jiang Xiaobai began giving its total.

• Li Zhiwei brought Jiang Xiaobai to meet Master Song, an arithmetic teacher who also oversaw the state treasury.
• Jiang Xiaobai glanced at Master Song’s calculations and announced that the total was 3,763.
• Master Song finished calculating and confirmed that Jiang Xiaobai’s answer was correct, astonishing both him and Li Zhiwei.
• Master Song invited Jiang Xiaobai to calculate a new set of figures, and Jiang Xiaobai said its total was 2,800.

Jiang Xiaobai impressed Master Song by correctly calculating two results and teaching him Arabic numerals and basic arithmetic. Master Song offered to recommend him to the Ministry of Revenue, but Jiang Xiaobai refused, and the chapter ended with Lin Qinrou calling Master Song to his lesson.

• Jiang Xiaobai correctly calculated 2,800, leaving Li Zhiwei, Zhang Xinnian, and Master Song astonished.
• Jiang Xiaobai introduced Arabic numerals and basic arithmetic, and Master Song quickly recognized their usefulness.
• Master Song asked whether Jiang Xiaobai had developed the methods himself, and Jiang Xiaobai claimed he had worked them out in his spare time.
• Master Song praised Jiang Xiaobai as a genius and offered to recommend him to the Ministry of Revenue, but Jiang Xiaobai refused and revealed that Jiang Jingcheng was his father.
• Lin Qinrou knocked and told Master Song that it was time for his lesson, and Jiang Xiaobai recognized her voice.

Jiang Xiaobai asked Master Song to conceal his revolutionary Numerical Arts methods until the next morning’s court, then admitted he had broken Master Song’s Numerical Disc. Master Song left without reprimanding him, leaving Lin Qinrou bewildered by his unusual reaction.

• Jiang Xiaobai asked Master Song to keep his Numerical Arts methods secret, hinting that their significance would become clear at morning court.
• Master Song agreed to keep the methods under wraps and invited Lin Qinrou to stay with Jiang Xiaobai and Li Zhiwei while he taught his lesson.
• Lin Qinrou entered and told Master Song that his Numerical Disc had been broken.
• Jiang Xiaobai admitted that he had accidentally broken the Numerical Disc.
• Master Song accepted Jiang Xiaobai’s admission without questioning or scolding him, and Lin Qinrou was astonished by his reaction.

Li Zhiwei told Lin Qinrou that she and Jiang Xiaobai were pretending to be together, but Jiang Xiaobai revealed they were already betrothed. The pair asked Lin Qinrou to explain the imperial audience etiquette before Jiang Xiaobai met His Majesty, and he shocked her by claiming he had placed first as Top Graduate—then admitted he had bought it.

• Li Zhiwei told Lin Qinrou that she and Jiang Xiaobai were only putting on an act, easing Lin Qinrou’s concern about Li Zhiwei’s feelings.
• Jiang Xiaobai revealed that he and Li Zhiwei were already betrothed, leaving Lin Qinrou stunned.
• Li Zhiwei asked Lin Qinrou to explain the circumstances and etiquette of her audience with His Majesty so Jiang Xiaobai could prepare for his own audience the next day.
• Jiang Xiaobai told Lin Qinrou that he had made the list as Top Graduate, astonishing her.
• Jiang Xiaobai admitted that he had bought his place as Top Graduate.

Lin Qinrou condemned Jiang Xiaobai for supposedly buying his Top Graduate title, but Li Zhiwei revealed he had written “On the Teacher” and become her grandfather’s disciple. Still uncertain, Lin Qinrou challenged Jiang Xiaobai to write another essay on the spot.

• Lin Qinrou accused Jiang Xiaobai of buying his examination title and denounced him as a threat to the imperial examinations.
• Li Zhiwei defended Jiang Xiaobai and revealed that he had written “On the Teacher.”
• Li Zhiwei explained that Lin Qinrou’s grandfather had accepted Jiang Xiaobai as a disciple after reading his essay.
• Lin Qinrou questioned how her grandfather could have taken another disciple, since he had said he would accept no more.
• Lin Qinrou proposed verifying Jiang Xiaobai’s talent by asking him to write another essay immediately and suggested he would not dare.

Jiang Xiaobai agreed to write an essay for Lin Qinrou in exchange for one request, then quickly completed a piece about horses. Lin Qinrou received the paper and saw its title, “On the Horse.”

• Lin Qinrou challenged Jiang Xiaobai to write another essay, but he refused to do so without a wager.
• Lin Qinrou offered to grant Jiang Xiaobai one request if his essay satisfied her, and he accepted.
• Jiang Xiaobai asked Lin Qinrou what she thought of horses, then began writing while she and Li Zhiwei watched.
• Jiang Xiaobai finished the essay quickly and handed it to Lin Qinrou.
• Lin Qinrou accepted the paper and read its title, “On the Horse.”

Jiang Xiaobai impressed Lin Qinrou and Li Zhiwei with his essay "On the Horse," dispelling Lin Qinrou’s doubts about his talent. After admitting she had misjudged him, Lin Qinrou offered to grant him a favor, and Jiang Xiaobai asked to flick her forehead.

• Li Zhiwei and Lin Qinrou read Jiang Xiaobai’s essay "On the Horse" and were astonished by its skill.
• Lin Qinrou reread the essay, admitted it was fine, and acknowledged that she had been shallow to doubt Jiang Xiaobai.
• Lin Qinrou offered to agree to a reasonable request from Jiang Xiaobai.
• Jiang Xiaobai asked Lin Qinrou to come closer so he could flick her forehead.
• Lin Qinrou nervously stepped up, closed her eyes, and told Jiang Xiaobai to go ahead.

Jiang Xiaobai’s gentle treatment of Lin Qinrou softened her hostility and led her to write down the rules for an audience with the emperor. When Li Zhiwei returned with the paper, Jiang Xiaobai read it and reacted with disbelief.

• Jiang Xiaobai gave Lin Qinrou a gentle tap on the forehead instead of the hard flick he had threatened, then urged her to open her heart.
• Lin Qinrou reconsidered her view of Jiang Xiaobai and wondered whether he had been concealing his abilities.
• Lin Qinrou stopped Li Zhiwei and offered to write down the rules for an audience with the emperor.
• Jiang Xiaobai waited in the carriage with Zhang Xinnian, then received Li Zhiwei after an hour.
• Li Zhiwei handed Jiang Xiaobai Lin Qinrou’s note, and he asked whether she had really written it.

Jiang Xiaobai studied Lin Qinrou’s detailed advice for his audience with His Majesty and learned he might face the Martial Top Graduate in a contest. As the carriage passed the market district, Zhang Xinnian exposed Jiang Xiaobai’s past visits to the Spring Moon Tower, leaving him scrambling to deny it in front of Li Zhiwei.

• Li Zhiwei explained that Lin Qinrou disliked returning home because Lin Fengshuo made her practice her handwriting.
• Jiang Xiaobai read Lin Qinrou’s advice for appearing before His Majesty, including a warning that he might be tested against the Martial Top Graduate.
• Li Zhiwei warned Jiang Xiaobai that past Martial Top Graduates had high cultivation, but Jiang Xiaobai said he looked forward to the audience.
• Jiang Xiaobai spotted the Spring Moon Tower from the carriage and claimed he had never been there.
• Zhang Xinnian said Jiang Xiaobai used to visit the Spring Moon Tower often and request a dozen or more girls, prompting Jiang Xiaobai to tell him to shut up.

Jiang Xiaobai returned to the Marquis's Residence after discussing his upcoming meeting with the emperor and reflecting on his deceased elder brothers. There he discovered General Tang Kui had arrived and was laughing at a story about Jiang Xiaobai buying the title of Top Graduate.

• Jiang Xiaobai told Zhang Xinnian that he was a little nervous about meeting the emperor but mostly found the prospect fun.
• Zhang Xinnian recalled Jiang Xiaobai's deceased elder brothers, prompting Jiang Xiaobai to resolve to uncover the truth about their deaths.
• Jiang Xiaobai and Zhang Xinnian arrived at the Marquis's Residence and found soldiers in armor resembling General Tang's guards.
• Zhang Xinnian explained that Tang Kui was a renowned general who had fought alongside the Marquis and had recently returned from the Southern Pass.
• Jiang Xiaobai reached the main hall and heard Tang Kui laughing about the claim that Jiang Xiaobai had bought the title of Top Graduate.

Jiang Xiaobai met General Tang Kui and his daughter Tang Ningshuang at the Northern Guardian Marquis's Estate, where they discussed his upcoming audience with His Majesty over the purchased Top Graduate title. He revealed that he had arranged a marriage alliance with Miss Li of the Chancellor's Residence as his first preparation.

• Tang Kui laughed at Jiang Jingcheng over Jiang Xiaobai buying the title of Top Graduate and asked how they would handle the audience with His Majesty.
• Jiang Xiaobai entered the hall with Zhang Xinnian, greeted his father, and was introduced to Tang Kui and Tang Ningshuang.
• Tang Ningshuang refused to return Jiang Xiaobai's greeting, and Tang Kui apologized for her blunt behavior.
• Tang Kui asked Jiang Xiaobai what he had prepared for his audience with His Majesty the next day.
• Jiang Xiaobai said he had arranged a marriage alliance with Miss Li of the Chancellor's Residence as his first step.

Jiang Xiaobai revealed that Chancellor Li had agreed to let him marry into the Li family and that Lin Fengshuo had accepted him as a student. Tang Kui was stunned but thought the two connections might help Jiang Xiaobai at his imperial audience the next day, while Jiang Xiaobai attributed it to his talent.

• Tang Kui and Tang Ningshuang doubted Jiang Xiaobai’s claim that he would marry Chancellor Li’s daughter, but Jiang Jingcheng confirmed the alliance.
• Jiang Jingcheng revealed that Jiang Xiaobai would marry into the Li family, prompting Tang Kui to laugh before questioning why Li Bingzhang had agreed.
• Jiang Xiaobai announced that Lin Fengshuo had also taken him as a student, leaving Tang Kui incredulous and Tang Ningshuang skeptical.
• Tang Kui reasoned that Chancellor Li’s influence and Lin Fengshuo’s favor might help Jiang Xiaobai at his imperial audience the next day.
• When Tang Kui asked why Li Bingzhang had agreed to the marriage, Jiang Xiaobai bashfully suggested it was because he was too talented.

Jiang Xiaobai told Jiang Jingcheng to stay home instead of attending court, while Tang Kui left convinced that Jiang Xiaobai’s claims might be true. On the ride home, Tang Ningshuang announced that she had earned the Martial Top Graduate title and intended to ask His Majesty for permission to enlist.

• Tang Kui promised Jiang Jingcheng he would support Jiang Xiaobai at court, then left with Tang Ningshuang.
• Jiang Xiaobai urged Jiang Jingcheng to feign illness and skip court, and Jiang Jingcheng agreed to consider it.
• Tang Ningshuang dismissed Jiang Xiaobai as a braggart, but Tang Kui said Jiang Jingcheng’s support made his claims credible.
• Tang Kui asked Tang Ningshuang about her good news, and she said she intended to enlist.
• Tang Ningshuang revealed that she had earned the Martial Top Graduate title and planned to request permission to enlist from His Majesty.

Jiang Xiaobai learned that he had officially placed first in the Imperial Civil Service Examination, though scholars gathered outside his home accusing him of buying the title. Eunuch Gao delivered the emperor’s decree naming him Top Graduate and ordering him to the palace for an audience, leaving Jiang Xiaobai to prepare to meet His Majesty.

• Zhang Xinnian told Jiang Xiaobai that the examination results named him Top Graduate and that angry scholars were cursing him outside the Marquis’s Estate.
• Jiang Xiaobai dismissed Zhang Xinnian’s offer to drive the scholars away and continued eating breakfast.
• A servant summoned Jiang Xiaobai to the main hall, where Eunuch Gao had arrived from the Imperial Palace.
• Eunuch Gao read the imperial decree naming Jiang Xiaobai Top Graduate and ordering him to attend an immediate audience with the emperor.
• Jiang Xiaobai accepted the decree and agreed to prepare to accompany Eunuch Gao to the palace.