Recaps

On a rainy day, Xiao Huaijin visited Xiao Yu and the two grew closer through lessons, lunch, and play, while Shen Mingzhu watched with conflicted feelings. The next morning, Shen Boyong received her secret letter and ordered a second plan to remove the Crown Prince.

• Xiao Huaijin braved the rain to visit Xiao Yu at the Palace of Nurtured Elegance and taught him to write his name.
• Shen Mingzhu watched the boys grow closer and ordered ginger soup for Xiao Huaijin, then let them play together after the rain stopped.
• Xiao Yu showed Xiao Huaijin a wooden horse from his uncle, and Xiao Huaijin said he had an uncle he had never met.
• Xiao Huaijin invited Xiao Yu to visit the Eastern Palace the following afternoon before leaving for home.
• Shen Mingzhu sent a secret letter to Shen Boyong, who ordered his adviser to prepare a second plan to remove the Crown Prince.

As the children grew closer through lessons, visits, and Xiao Lan’s birthday celebration, Shen Mingzhu continued plotting against the crown prince while Xiao Lin delayed a crackdown on the Shen Clan until he could expose its entire military-funding network. The chapter ended with the children wishing beneath the moon as Consort Jing insisted they would keep growing up together.

• Xiao Huaijin offered to teach Xiao Yue to recognize characters, and Xiao Lan shared her sketchbook with Xiao Huaijin and Xiao Yu, who noticed that she had drawn him too short.
• Shen Mingzhu burned a message from Shen Boyong and instructed her maid to tell her father to wait until winter before acting against the crown prince.
• Sun Jingtang reported further military-fund transfers to a nonexistent Hejian Prefecture firm, but Xiao Lin told him to wait while he gathered evidence against the Shen Clan’s network in the Ministry of War.
• At Xiao Lan’s birthday feast, Xiao Huaijin, Xiao Yu, and Xiao Yue gave her gifts, including drawing supplies, a clay rabbit, and red bean cake.
• Xiao Huaijin brought out his bow and invited the children to make wishes beneath the moon, while Consort Jing assured Consort Xian that the children would keep growing up together.

Consort Xian brought Xiao Rui out of isolation, and Xiao Huaijin and Xiao Lan welcomed her into their circle, encouraging her talent for drawing dragons. As the women of the harem began reconnecting and their children gathered at the Eastern Palace, Shen Mingzhu sensed the shift while Xiao Lin received a secret report linking her family to a military official and suspicious transfers of silver.

• Concubine Li received only two baskets of charcoal, and Xiao Rui continued spending her days quietly in the Jade Essence Pavilion.
• Consort Xian noticed Xiao Rui drawing a dragon, invited her to visit, and later brought Xiao Yue to meet her.
• Xiao Huaijin invited Xiao Rui to the Eastern Palace and promised to bring Xiao Lan, who eagerly befriended her over drawing.
• Consort Jing hosted Consort Xian, Concubine Li, and Consort De; Consort Xian praised Xiao Rui, and Consort De later saw Xiao Huaijin and recalled Empress Xiaoyi's kindness.
• Concubine Li brought Xiao Rui to the Eastern Palace, where Xiao Huaijin and Xiao Lan praised her detailed dragon drawing and Xiao Rui joined their playful conversation.
• Shen Mingzhu learned that the harem's women and children were drawing closer, while Xiao Lin received a report that Shen Boyong had met Cui Shen and that silver had been moved from Hejian Prefecture.

When the wet nurse fell gravely ill, Xiao Lin remembered her murder in his previous life and tried to protect her, but she died three days later. Xiao Huaijin grieved in his father’s arms, and Xiao Lin decided to bring him to live beside him in the Hall of Mental Cultivation.

• Xiao Huaijin stayed in the Eastern Palace to care for his ill wet nurse, and Xiao Lin ordered the director of the Imperial Medical Academy to treat her.
• The wet nurse told Xiao Lin that Xiao Huaijin was lonely and asked him to look after the child; Xiao Lin promised to keep him by his side.
• The wet nurse died while Xiao Huaijin waited with the ginger soup he had made for her.
• Xiao Huaijin continued his writing lesson until Xiao Lin comforted him, and he finally broke down and cried over the wet nurse’s death.
• Xiao Lin stayed beside Xiao Huaijin through the night and ordered Liu An to prepare a warm chamber in the Hall of Mental Cultivation for the crown prince.

Xiao Huaijin adjusted to living in the Hall of Mental Cultivation after his nanny left, while Xiao Lin tried to comfort and care for him. At court, Xiao Lin questioned Shen Boyong about Hejian Prefecture’s tax silver, and Shen Boyong warned Cui Shen that the accounts were being watched.

• The court learned that Xiao Huaijin had moved into the Hall of Mental Cultivation, and Shen Mingzhu ordered warm clothes prepared for the second prince.
• Xiao Huaijin told Xiao Lin that his nanny had left without drinking the ginger soup he made, and Xiao Lin promised to bring him osmanthus cakes.
• Xiao Huaijin found his belongings arranged in the side hall, then waited beside Xiao Lin’s desk and fell asleep as Xiao Lin reviewed memorials.
• Xiao Lin carried Xiao Huaijin to bed and ordered a low table and cushioned couch prepared for him in the main hall.
• Xiao Lin questioned Shen Boyong about Hejian Prefecture’s tax silver, and Sun Jingtang noticed the figure covered shortfalls connected to the Hengtai Firm.
• Shen Boyong told his attendant to warn Cui Shen not to alter the accounts because someone in the Ministry of Revenue was watching.

Xiao Lin stayed close to Xiao Huaijin through several nights of grief and nightmares, and their growing trust helped Xiao Huaijin sleep more peacefully. Xiao Yu visited to practice writing with his brother, while Xiao Lin continued investigating the Hengtai Firm; the chapter ended with Xiao Huaijin unconsciously holding Xiao Lin’s sleeve as they rested together.

• Xiao Lin found Xiao Huaijin awake and frightened on the second night, and stayed beside him until he fell asleep.
• On the third night, Xiao Huaijin cried over a dream about Nanny, and Xiao Lin held him and comforted him.
• Xiao Lin sat beside Xiao Huaijin and held his hand through the fourth night, then Xiao Huaijin urged him to drink fresh tea and eat breakfast the next morning.
• Xiao Yu brought Xiao Huaijin his handwriting practice, and the brothers practiced characters together at the low table.
• Xiao Huaijin asked Xiao Lin about dragons and the character Shen, then fell asleep without crying.
• Xiao Huaijin caught Xiao Lin’s sleeve in his sleep, and Xiao Lin sat beside him instead of letting go.

At court, Zhang Qian was accused of embezzling tax silver, but Sun Jingtang and Xiao Lin uncovered that forged evidence and a threat against Zhang Qian’s son had been used to frame him. Zhang Qian was cleared, while Shen Mingzhu watched Xiao Yu grow close to Xiao Huaijin and decided to remain for her son a little longer.

• He Minzhong accused Zhang Qian of embezzling three thousand taels, and Sun Jingtang defended Zhang Qian while Shen Boyong remained silent.
• Sun Jingtang showed Xiao Lin that the tax records contradicted the receipt, and Xiao Lin ordered him to investigate who had handled Zhang Qian’s seal.
• Kong Wu reported that Zhang Qian’s son had been kidnapped, and Xiao Lin ordered him found.
• Kong Wu rescued Zhang Qian’s son, while Sun Jingtang traced the borrowed seal to an administrative officer surnamed Cui, a younger cousin of Cui Shen’s clan.
• Xiao Lin cleared Zhang Qian and restored him to his post; He Minzhong requested punishment for his mistake, and Sun Jingtang transferred Officer Cui to Lingnan.
• Shen Mingzhu watched Xiao Yu in the courtyard and decided to stay until her son no longer needed her.

Xiao Huaijin warmed Xiao Lin’s hands with an old copper hand warmer, while Xiao Yu and Xiao Lan brought him gloves and hot soup. As Xiao Lin watched the children grow closer, he ordered Kong Wu to keep investigating Zhao Bao, Shen Boyong, and the people around Shen Mingzhu.

• Xiao Huaijin noticed Xiao Lin’s cold hand and brought him a copper hand warmer filled with hot water.
• Xiao Yu delivered rabbit-fur gloves made by the Noble Consort, and Xiao Lan brought red bean soup with glutinous rice balls for the children and Xiao Lin.
• Kong Wu reported Zhao Bao’s visits to the chancellor’s residence and Cui Shen’s withdrawal from social engagements, and Xiao Lin ordered closer surveillance of the Shen Clan and the Palace of Nurtured Elegance.
• Xiao Huaijin fell asleep after asking whether Xiao Lin had eaten the soup and whether the hand warmer was still hot.
• Xiao Lin refilled the hand warmer, tucked the quilt around Xiao Huaijin, and returned to reviewing memorials.

Xiao Huaijin and Xiao Lin spent the winter solstice sharing dumplings, gifts, and a banquet with the imperial family. Xiao Lin promised Xiao Huaijin they would celebrate together every year, leaving him content as the long winter night began.

• Xiao Huaijin made lamb-and-carrot dumplings for Xiao Lin, who praised them and explained why the emperor offered sacrifices on the winter solstice.
• Xiao Huaijin arranged gifts from the palace consorts and princes, and Xiao Yu gave him a rabbit-fur muff made by Shen Mingzhu.
• Xiao Lin invited the harem consorts and the princes and princesses to the winter solstice banquet alongside the officials and imperial clansmen.
• Xiao Yue ran up to Xiao Lin with a dumpling from Consort Xian and urged him to eat it so his ears would not freeze; Xiao Lin accepted it and praised it.
• Xiao Huaijin told Xiao Lin he was happy not to be alone for the winter solstice, and Xiao Lin promised they would celebrate together every year.

After the Shen Clan was exposed for treasonous schemes, Shen Mingzhu poisoned herself and died, leaving her young son Xiao Yu in the care of the imperial family. Crown Prince Xiao Huaijin comforted Xiao Yu at Consort Jing’s palace and promised to stay by him.

• A palace maid told Shen Mingzhu that the Imperial Guards had arrested Shen Boyong and others, uncovered evidence of a plot against the crown prince, and received an order to execute the Shen Clan.
• Shen Mingzhu gave her mother’s gold bracelets to the maid for Xiao Yu and drank poisoned wine before he returned from the courtyard.
• Xiao Yu found Shen Mingzhu dying, begged her not to leave, and heard her tell him to follow Xiao Huaijin and not carry her guilt.
• Shen Mingzhu died after Liu An carried Xiao Yu away, and Xiao Lin sent Xiao Huaijin to comfort his younger brother.
• Xiao Huaijin brought warm osmanthus cakes to Consort Jing’s palace, sat with Xiao Yu, and told him to remember that his mother had been good to him.

After the Shen Clan’s downfall, Xiao Huaijin helped Xiao Yu recover from grief and promised never to abandon him, while Xiao Lin guided his son’s lessons in rulership and personal responsibility. The chapter ended with Xiao Lin watching over the sleeping Xiao Huaijin and hoping that all the children would be safe.

• Xiao Huaijin visited Xiao Yu with Spring Festival couplets and osmanthus cakes, then promised to keep teaching him and never stop speaking to him; Xiao Yu smiled and sealed their promise with a thumbprint.
• Xiao Lin tested Xiao Huaijin’s understanding of virtue and power, then gave him a memorial about a prefect in Hejian to investigate; Xiao Huaijin connected the candidate to old tax receipts.
• Xiao Yu began lessons with Xiao Huaijin, and the two princes built a snowman with Xiao Lan and Xiao Rui.
• Xiao Huaijin asked whether Xiao Yu might be blamed for his mother’s wrongdoing, and Xiao Lin told him that each person chose his own path.
• Xiao Lin tucked in the sleeping Xiao Huaijin, moved the brazier closer, and murmured that he wanted all the children to be well.

Xiao Huaijin and his siblings joined Xiao Lin for the spring hunt, where they practiced riding and archery and shared a lively evening by the bonfire. The chapter ended with Xiao Yu thinking about his late mother and hoping to shoot a rabbit during the hunt’s final half day.

• Xiao Lin told Xiao Huaijin that he and his siblings would attend the spring hunt, and Xiao Huaijin praised Xiao Yu’s improving handwriting.
• At the Northern Park Hunting Grounds, Xiao Huaijin rode with his siblings as Xiao Lin started the hunt.
• Xiao Huaijin missed a pheasant with his first shot, while Xiao Yu caught a gray rabbit and nearly fell before his brother caught him.
• Xiao Lin shot a roe deer, and Xiao Huaijin showed him the pheasant he had later managed to shoot.
• The children gathered by the bonfire, where Xiao Yu and Xiao Yue tried and failed to draw Xiao Lin’s iron-backed bow.
• That night, Xiao Yu held his late mother’s bracelet and fell asleep hoping to shoot a rabbit the next day.

Xiao Lin promoted Consort Jing and Consort Xian to share responsibility for the six palaces, while also elevating Consort Li and Consort De. As Xiao Lin reflected on his son’s future and the mistakes of his past life, he considered arranging for Xiao Huaijin to attend the coming summer-welcoming ceremony.

• Xiao Lin asked Zhou Rucheng and Sun Jingtang for advice before deciding how to fill the vacant harem leadership role.
• Xiao Lin issued an investiture decree promoting Consort Jing to Noble Consort Jing, Consort Xian to Noble Consort Xian, Concubine Li to Consort Li, and Consort De to Consort Xiande.
• Noble Consort Jing recognized that Xiao Lin had elevated Noble Consort Xian alongside her to keep her from standing alone as a target, while Noble Consort Xian invited her to tea.
• Consort Li welcomed the move to the warmer main hall of the Palace of Great Brilliance, and Consort De sent Xiao Lin a Heart Sutra she had copied for Xiao Huaijin.
• Xiao Huaijin praised Xiao Lin as a better emperor than Emperor Xuan of Han, and Xiao Lin told him that a ruler’s greatest mistake was refusing to admit and correct his errors.
• After tucking Xiao Huaijin into bed, Xiao Lin read about the upcoming summer-welcoming ceremony and remembered that Huaijin had never attended one before age ten in his previous life.

Xiao Huaijin took part in the Start of Summer ceremony as the crown prince’s second offering, but discovered he had left his invocation behind. He recited it from memory without panicking, and Xiao Lin praised him on the journey back to the palace.

• Xiao Huaijin prepared for the ceremony and traveled with Xiao Lin to the southern outskirts, where he asked whether he could harvest the ceremonial millet in autumn.
• Xiao Lin performed the first offering, and Xiao Huaijin approached Zhurong’s spirit tablet for the second offering.
• Xiao Huaijin realized his invocation was missing, steadied himself, and recited every line from memory.
• Xiao Huaijin completed the offering, and Xiao Lin quietly stroked his hair as he returned to his side.
• Xiao Lin praised Xiao Huaijin for remaining calm and revealed that he had also lost his invocation during his first second offering.
• Xiao Huaijin leaned against Xiao Lin and told him he had been amazing too, while silently memorizing the invocation again.

Xiao Huaijin studied the state salt-and-iron monopoly and proposed regulating illicit salt sales rather than relying on ineffective bans. Xiao Lin ordered officials to develop salt-price reforms and began training his son to handle state affairs.

• Xiao Huaijin argued to Zhou Rucheng that salt-and-iron policy could benefit both the state and the people if officials managed it properly.
• Xiao Huaijin examined Hejian Prefecture’s declining salt-tax revenues with Xiao Lin and proposed registering illicit salt dealers, taxing them, and allowing sales in designated places.
• Xiao Huaijin suggested initially keeping the tax low and sharing revenue with local authorities, and Xiao Lin helped him develop the reform plan.
• Xiao Yu quietly left mung bean cakes for Xiao Huaijin and distracted Xiao Yue so the crown prince could continue studying.
• Xiao Lin assigned Sun Jingtang and Kong Wu to teach Xiao Huaijin to read revenue ledgers and defense maps, and Xiao Huaijin studied late into the night.
• Xiao Lin ordered the Ministry of Revenue and the Salt and Iron Office to devise fairer salt prices and regulations within three months.

Xiao Lin recounted his childhood in the Cold Palace, his rise to crown prince, and his struggle against the late emperor and Xiao Xu. After defeating Xiao Xu’s coup and refusing the late emperor’s final request, Xiao Lin ascended the throne and began the Jianxi era.

• Xiao Lin’s mother died when he was six, and the late emperor brought him out of the Cold Palace the following year and named him crown prince.
• Zhou Rucheng taught Xiao Lin for ten years and persuaded him to fight for what he had been given.
• Xiao Lin survived the late emperor’s attempt to kill him on the northern border and returned victorious, winning public support.
• Xiao Xu plotted against Xiao Lin, who trapped his forces at the North Mountain Hunting Grounds and had him stripped of his status and confined.
• Xiao Lin rejected the dying late emperor’s plea to release Xiao Xu, and the late emperor died that night.
• Xiao Lin ascended the throne at twenty-two and changed the era name to Jianxi the following year.

On the Double Seventh Festival, Xiao Huaijin and Xiao Yu sneaked out of the palace to explore the East Market, but Xiao Lin knew about their excursion and confronted them when they returned. He punished them with extra lessons and a policy essay, then promised to arrange a guarded visit outside the palace next time.

• Xiao Huaijin told Xiao Yu about his plan to slip out through the south corner gate, and Xiao Yu agreed to go with him.
• Xiao Huaijin and Xiao Yu passed through the gate during the guard shift change and explored the East Market, watching a sword-swallowing act and buying treats.
• Finding the gate guarded when they returned, Xiao Yu climbed a scholar tree and crossed the wall, tearing his robe, while Xiao Huaijin landed in mud.
• Xiao Lin revealed that Kong Wu's men had followed the boys, then assigned them extra lessons and ordered Xiao Huaijin to write an essay about the night market.
• Xiao Lin told Xiao Huaijin to ask next time and promised to arrange a guarded outing through the West Glorious Gate.

Xiao Lin taught Xiao Huaijin about the Northern Di threat and discussed strengthening Great Liang’s northern defenses through military farming and cavalry. After studying Shuofang City’s report, Xiao Huaijin revised his policy essay with proposals for beacon towers and scouts, and Xiao Lin agreed to pursue the feasible measures.

• Xiao Lin explained Shuofang City’s exposed position and proposed using military farming to save provisions and fund cavalry.
• Xiao Huaijin drafted a military-farming policy essay, and Xiao Lin encouraged him to revise it using Shuofang City’s military report.
• Kong Wu delivered a report that Northern Di scouts had raided near Shuofang and warned that a larger force might follow.
• Xiao Huaijin revised his essay to propose beacon towers between Shuofang and Yunzhong and spies to locate the Northern Di main camp.
• Xiao Lin approved discussing the beacon towers at court, explained that Kong Wu’s scouts were already gathering intelligence, and deferred military farming until after the autumn defenses.

After waking from a nightmare about the deaths in his previous life, Xiao Lin found comfort in Xiao Huaijin, who reassured him and stayed by his side. The two fell asleep together, with Xiao Lin beginning to share how unfamiliar affection was to him.

• A storm woke Xiao Huaijin, who found Xiao Lin shaken and sweating after knocking over his medicine bowl.
• Xiao Lin pulled Xiao Huaijin into his arms, relieved that his son was alive, and told him he had dreamed of war and many deaths.
• Xiao Huaijin shared how he had grieved for Nanny and asked whether Xiao Lin blamed himself for failing to protect someone.
• Xiao Huaijin reminded Xiao Lin of the people he protected and offered to protect him, then promised to keep him company whenever he was unhappy.
• Xiao Lin admitted that his lonely childhood had left him unsure how to be affectionate, and Xiao Huaijin encouraged him to hold him more.
• Xiao Lin and Xiao Huaijin fell asleep side by side, and Liu An quietly closed the door after seeing them together.

Xiao Huaijin woke beside Xiao Lin and learned that he could sleep in his father’s quarters from now on. The two spent the day together, and Xiao Huaijin fell asleep beside Xiao Lin again that night.

• Liu An saw Xiao Lin and Xiao Huaijin sleeping peacefully together and chose not to wake Xiao Lin for morning court.
• Xiao Lin let Xiao Huaijin sleep longer, then gave him permission to bring his pillow and sleep in his quarters from then on.
• At breakfast, Xiao Huaijin promised to hug Xiao Lin every day, and Xiao Lin responded by peeling an egg for him.
• Xiao Huaijin told Zhou Rucheng that he would sleep in Xiao Lin’s quarters from now on, then showed Xiao Lin his policy essay on autumn defenses.
• Xiao Huaijin drank his milk and went to bed beside Xiao Lin, falling asleep while reciting a lesson from the Book of Rites.

Xiao Lin took Xiao Huaijin out of the palace to harvest the grain they had planted in spring, then explored the East Market with him. Xiao Huaijin fell asleep back at the Hall of Mental Cultivation, while Xiao Lin kept the dough figurine his son had made for him.

• Xiao Lin changed into plain clothes and took Xiao Huaijin through the West Glorious Gate to harvest his grain at the ritual farmland.
• Xiao Huaijin harvested the rice with Xiao Lin's help and gathered a small bag of grain to take back to the palace.
• Xiao Lin took Xiao Huaijin to the East Market, where they ate wontons, bought figurines, and listened to a storyteller recount Taizu's battle at Wild Goose Return Valley.
• Xiao Huaijin gave Xiao Lin a crowned dough figurine and fell asleep after they returned to the Hall of Mental Cultivation.
• Xiao Lin carried Xiao Huaijin to the couch, then set the dough figurine on his desk and resumed reading memorials.

Xiao Lin appointed Lu Ming to command a new cavalry camp in Shuofang, while Xiao Huaijin watched him leave with a sense that he would matter to Great Liang. On Shen Mingzhu’s birthday, Noble Consort Jing comforted Xiao Yu as he grieved for his mother and feared forgetting her face.

• Xiao Lin selected Lu Ming to command a new Shuofang cavalry camp after hearing his plans for fighting the Northern Di.
• The Ministry of War appointed Lu Ming commander of the camp, assigned eight hundred elite cavalrymen to it, and arranged funds and canal surveys.
• Lu Ming left the capital, and Xiao Huaijin watched him depart, telling Kong Wu that he felt Lu Ming would become important to Great Liang.
• Xiao Yu spent Shen Mingzhu’s birthday holding her gold bracelet and grieving that he could no longer remember her face clearly.
• Noble Consort Jing comforted Xiao Yu, promised to remember Shen Mingzhu with him each year, and assured him she would stay by his side.

When Xiao Huaijin developed a high fever, Xiao Lin stayed by his side through the night and cared for him. By morning, the fever had eased, but Xiao Lin ordered him to keep taking medicine until he recovered.

• Xiao Lin discovered that Xiao Huaijin had a high fever and summoned the director of the Imperial Medical Academy.
• The director diagnosed Xiao Huaijin with a wind-cold that had entered his lungs and prescribed medicine, which Xiao Lin coaxed him into drinking.
• Xiao Lin stayed awake beside Xiao Huaijin, changed his sweat-soaked sleeping robe, and comforted him when he murmured for his nanny.
• Xiao Lin recalled staying with Xiao Huaijin during a fever in their previous life and realized he had cared deeply for him even then.
• Xiao Huaijin's fever eased by morning, and Xiao Lin ordered him to continue his medicine and drink ginger soup until he recovered.

While Xiao Huaijin recovered from his fever, Xiao Yu, Xiao Lan, Xiao Yue, and Xiao Rui visited with treats and gifts, and Xiao Lin allowed him to return to lessons the next day. After Xiao Huaijin fell asleep, Xiao Lin read a secret memorial reporting that Lu Ming had begun training in Shuofang City.

• Xiao Lin tested Xiao Huaijin’s strength and continued making him rest after his fever broke.
• Xiao Yu and Xiao Lan visited Xiao Huaijin with sugar-frosted hawthorns, tea, and food, and Xiao Yue brought him a pinwheel he had drawn.
• Xiao Rui gave Xiao Huaijin a painting of him riding a dragon, and the children gathered around him to chat.
• Xiao Lin praised Xiao Yu’s progress in riding and archery and promised him a larger horse after two more months of practice.
• Xiao Lin let Xiao Huaijin return to the imperial schoolroom the next day but kept him from riding and archery until he fully recovered.
• Xiao Lin read a secret memorial saying Lu Ming had begun training in Shuofang City.

After recovering from his fever, Xiao Huaijin returned to the Imperial Study for a half-day of lessons, then fell asleep back at the Hall of Mental Cultivation. Xiao Lin received Lu Ming’s report exposing discrepancies in Shuofang’s military supplies and ordered Sun Jingtang summoned for an investigation.

• Xiao Lin allowed Xiao Huaijin to attend class for half a day after the Imperial Medical Academy director confirmed his fever had subsided but warned that he remained weak.
• Xiao Huaijin returned to the Imperial Study, where Xiao Yu, Xiao Lan, and Xiao Rui welcomed him, and he recited and discussed a passage from Commentary on the Water Classic for Zhou Rucheng.
• When Xiao Huaijin’s wrist began to ache during calligraphy, Zhou Rucheng ended the lesson early, and Xiao Huaijin returned to the Hall of Mental Cultivation before noon and fell asleep.
• Liu An brought Xiao Lin a secret memorial from Lu Ming describing mismatched Shuofang cavalry supplies and records at three relay stations.
• Xiao Lin ordered Sun Jingtang summoned to the palace the next day while Xiao Huaijin slept nearby.