Recaps

Chen Caozhi overcomes resistance to the Kuaiji Tuduan and faces political attacks, while his bond with Lu Weiwei deepens and Xie Daoyun’s feelings remain unspoken. Huan Wen appoints Chen as an envoy to Di Qin, leaving Xie Daoyun’s possible role in the mission unresolved.

• Chen Caozhi warned Yu Yu about an approaching drought and epidemic, then met Dai Kui at the Xie estate and shared a birthday visit with Xie Daoyun.
• Yu Xiaofu and the Wei Clan surrendered hidden-household registers, while Lu Shu and He Zhu sought evidence to undermine Chen Caozhi and frame the Qiantang Chen Clan.
• Xie Daoyun investigated the Chen Clan’s records, returned Tenant Household Tang’s land, and exposed the He Clan’s plan to accuse Chen Caozhi of land violations.
• After Lu Shi had Chen Caozhi removed as Tuduan Commissioner, Chen secretly returned to confront the He Clan, seized its stewards, and obtained confessions that it concealed fifteen hundred households.
• The He Clan surrendered its hidden households, Ni Taibin and his fellow accusers were punished, and Chen Caozhi’s Tuduan uncovered thousands of households while launching waterworks around Jian Lake.
• Chen Caozhi returned to Chen Family Cove, where Ding Youwei questioned him about Zhu Yingtai and he admitted his love for Lu Weiwei while describing Xie Daoyun as a cherished friend.
• Chen Caozhi reunited with Lu Weiwei at Zhenqing Daoist Abbey and later shared a private meeting with her beneath the plum trees at Wulong Mountain, while Xie Daoyun encountered them and accepted his choice.
• Huan Wen asked Chen Caozhi to plan a Northern Expedition and then appointed him as an envoy to Di Qin, while Xie Xuan sought permission for Xie Daoyun to accompany him and Li Jingshu overheard their secrets.

Chen Caozhi privately married Lu Weiwei before departing as Jin's envoy to Di Qin, where he sought an alliance while trying to secure relief for Luoyang. His success among Qin's scholars prompted Fu Jian, Wang Meng, and Empress Dowager Gou to seek ways to keep him in Chang'an.

• Lu Weiwei learned of plans to send her into the palace and privately married Chen Caozhi before his departure.
• Emperor Sima Yi appointed Chen Caozhi Crown Prince's Attendant and envoy to Di Qin, and Chen Caozhi bid Lu Weiwei farewell.
• Chen Caozhi traveled north with Huan Wen's forces and urged Huan Wen to reinforce Luoyang before parting from Xie Daoyun.
• Chen Caozhi persuaded Su Daozhi to keep the Su Clan in Pingyu rather than move to Qin and defeated Dou Tao in a palindrome-poetry contest.
• Chen Caozhi requested relief troops and grain for Luoyang, reunited Shen Chiqian with Shen Jin, and sent Duan Zhao to Ye City to spread children's rhymes as omens.
• Chen Caozhi reached Chang'an, accepted Fu Jian's invitation to the Imperial Academy, and discussed learning and the arts with Wang Meng.
• Chen Caozhi answered challenges on the Five Classics and impressed Qin's students and ministers with his lectures.
• Chen Caozhi declined Fu Jian's offer of office, while Wang Meng proposed delaying negotiations and Empress Dowager Gou demanded that he remain in Chang'an.

Chen Caozhi’s diplomatic mission drew him into Yan’s succession crisis, where he used rumors and a prophecy to unsettle Murong Ke while seeking a way south. Back in Jiankang, Lu Weiwei faced pressure to enter the palace as reports of Chen’s capture and Xie Daoyun’s identity stirred conflict; the arc ended with Murong Chong riding out of Ye City with Chen.

• Chen Caozhi secured a border agreement with Fu Rong, then learned Murong Ke and Murong Chui were advancing on Luoyang and left the city with Xi Bao’s delegation.
• After Yan troops surrounded the party, Chen Caozhi met Murong Chui and Murong Ke, discussed Yan’s claim to Wood Virtue, and remained in their custody as Murong Ke returned to Ye City amid succession rumors.
• Wang Meng prepared Qin forces to exploit Yan’s turmoil, while Huan Wen considered a Northern Expedition and encouraged Lu Shi’s plan to send Lu Weiwei into the palace.
• Gu Kaizhi and Zhang Tongyun brought Lu Weiwei’s memorial to Empress Dowager Chu, but Sima Yi agreed to proceed after news spread that Chen Caozhi had been captured.
• Lu Weiwei cut her hair and declared she would marry no one but Chen Caozhi, while Li Jingshu revealed that Zhu Yingtai was Xie Daoyun and stirred doubts about Chen’s relationship with her.
• Chen Caozhi reached Ye City as an honored guest, where the prophecy appeared at the Shrine of Ximen Bao and Murong Ke kept it while ordering an investigation.
• Murong Ke relocated Chen Caozhi and his companions to Ice Well Terrace, while Xie Daoyun’s worsening illness led her to decide to return to Jiankang.
• Murong Chong’s guards forced their way past the gate soldiers, and he rode out of Ye City with Chen Caozhi before asking about Chen’s words on hearing and seeing.

Chen Caozhi secured his release from Yan, returned to Jin, and reunited with Lu Weiwei while Xie Daoyun’s hidden identity and worsening illness came to light. He began treating Xie Daoyun and confronted the men who had attacked Lu Weiwei’s companions.

• Chen Caozhi advised Murong Ping on estate revenues, navigated Yan’s court intrigues, and explored the palace garden to locate the hidden gold beneath Xuanguang Hall.
• Murong Ping and Kezuhun Yi offered Chen Caozhi high office and Princess Qinghe in marriage, but Chen refused and persuaded Murong Ke to let him return to Jiangdong.
• Murong Qinchen confronted Chen Caozhi as he left Ye, then let him go after he told her he loved a woman in Jiangdong.
• Xie Daoyun’s identity became public, and she traveled to Jiankang as her consumptive illness worsened, and Lu Weiwei visited her and affirmed that she was Chen Caozhi’s ideal match.
• Chen Caozhi returned with Huangfu Zhen, received command appointments for Duan Si and Ran Sheng, and privately told Huan Wen about Yan’s prophecies and Murong Ke’s likely early death.
• Chen Caozhi rescued Huang Xiaotong and a Western Headquarters soldier from Lu Song and Zhu Lingbao’s men, ordered the attackers detained, and reunited with Lu Weiwei.
• Chen Caozhi visited the gravely ill Xie Daoyun, diagnosed a treatable debility, and promised Xie Wan and Xie An that he would treat her regularly.