Chapter Summaries

Ye Qingyun arrived at the Hanlin Academy poetry gathering and answered Lu Zhibai's mockery with a pointed retort. As the judges and guests assembled, Su Yao entered despite fearing that Ye Qingyun might raise their old agreement in public.

• Gu Moran declined to intervene personally at the gathering, while the system reported that Ye Qingyun's fortune had peaked and his highlight moment was near.
• Ye Qingyun arrived with Shuhe, checked in, and said that the crowd's initial contempt would make it easier to impress them.
• Lu Zhibai mocked Ye Qingyun's dusty journey and plain clothes, but Ye Qingyun countered that traveling a thousand miles made him fit to take the stage.
• Zhou Wenyuan greeted Ye Qingyun and urged him to write well, changing how the surrounding scholars viewed him.
• Xie Wanqing and Shen Ling'er took their seats, and Shen Ling'er guessed that Gu Moran had given Xie Wanqing a note telling her to answer her critics.
• Su Yao arrived at the gathering with Biyu, choosing to attend despite worrying that Ye Qingyun would bring up their old agreement in public.

Su Yao attended the Hanlin Academy poetry gathering despite the risk of humiliation, while Ye Qingyun mistook her glance for attention and prepared to face Gu Moran. Gu Moran arrived, reassured Xie Wanqing, exchanged remarks with Su Yao, and the gathering was about to begin with Ye Qingyun still holding his poems.

• Su Yao entered the gathering and sat with Xie Wanqing and Shen Ling'er in the women's seating area.
• Murong Xue and Lin Qingdai watched from the teahouse as they waited for Gu Moran and the contest to begin.
• Xie Huai'an and the other judges took their seats, while Ye Qingyun prepared his manuscripts and mistook Su Yao's glance toward the platform as a look at him.
• Gu Moran arrived late with half a cake, surveyed the gathering, and greeted Shen Ling'er, Su Yao, and Xie Wanqing before taking his seat.
• Zhou Wenyuan announced that the poetry gathering would judge participants only by their poetry, and Ye Qingyun kept his manuscripts clenched in his sleeve.

At the poetry gathering, Ye Qingyun impressed the judges with his first poem, “Entering the Capital,” and began reciting a second poem that alluded to hardship and closed doors. His pointed glance toward the women’s seats drew attention to Su Yao, while Gu Moran watched her closely.

• The judges opened the gathering’s three rounds, and the first two contestants recited poems that earned polite, measured praise.
• Ye Qingyun took the stage and recited “Entering the Capital,” winning applause and praise from the judges for its backbone and strong lines.
• Gu Moran’s system reported that Ye Qingyun’s luck value had risen by two percent and that a node resonance had activated.
• Shen Ling’er and Xie Wanqing acknowledged Ye Qingyun’s skill, while Su Yao said that poetic ability and good character were different things.
• Ye Qingyun began his second poem, “Unbending,” describing poverty and rejection, and looked toward Su Yao as Gu Moran watched her reaction.

Ye Qingyun publicly returned his family's old betrothal to the Su Clan and won the crowd over with a third poem. As the gathering moved to its second round, Gu Moran signaled Xie Wanqing to answer Ye Qingyun's challenge.

• Ye Qingyun's poem about burning ambition earned praise, while Gu Moran decided to let him continue until his own words gave the authorities grounds to act.
• Ye Qingyun announced that he would settle an old matter, then publicly returned his family's betrothal document to the Su Clan.
• Ye Qingyun recited his poem "Azure Clouds," drawing cheers from scholars and angering Su Yao's attendants.
• Xie Wanqing promised to restore Su Yao's dignity with an argument grounded in propriety.
• The judges announced a timed spring-themed couplet round, and Gu Moran signaled Xie Wanqing to rise as Ye Qingyun picked up his brush.

Xie Wanqing defied objections and joined the Hanlin Academy poetry gathering, where she and Ye Qingyun wrote poems on the theme of spring. After the judges praised Ye Qingyun’s poem, Qian Muzhi began reading Xie Wanqing’s, leaving its reception unresolved.

• Shen Ling'er gave Xie Wanqing candy and encouragement before she walked to the poetry platform.
• Xie Wanqing asked to compete, and Qian Muzhi overruled objections that women could not take part.
• Xie Wanqing and Ye Qingyun completed their poems within the allotted time.
• Qian Muzhi and the other judges reacted strongly to Xie Wanqing’s poem, while Ye Qingyun’s confidence began to falter.
• Qian Muzhi read Ye Qingyun’s poem aloud to the crowd, drawing applause and praise.
• Qian Muzhi unfolded Xie Wanqing’s poem and began reciting its first line.

Xie Wanqing’s poem about the imperial court won the poetry gathering and was accepted for the Hanlin Academy’s collection, but Zhou Wenyuan and Ye Qingyun questioned whether she had written it herself. She defended her learning and challenged Ye Qingyun to admit whether he simply could not accept being beaten by a woman.

• Qian Muzhi recited Xie Wanqing’s poem, and the judges, scholars, and spectators applauded its grandeur as Ye Qingyun’s own poem seemed diminished beside it.
• Qian Muzhi accepted Xie Wanqing’s poem for the Hanlin Academy’s collection, while Zhou Wenyuan questioned whether the topic had been leaked and accused the judges of possible favoritism.
• Xie Wanqing rejected Zhou Wenyuan’s insinuations and told him to provide evidence, and the judges defended the fairness of the gathering.
• Ye Qingyun praised the poem but questioned whether Xie Wanqing could have written about court life without an accomplished man guiding her.
• Xie Wanqing explained that her reading and education had taught her about the world, then asked Ye Qingyun whether he was questioning her poem or unable to accept that a woman had beaten him.

Xie Wanqing answered Ye Qingyun’s challenge with two poems that won over the Hanlin scholars and the crowd, while Gu Moran’s support changed Xie Huai'an’s view of Prince Yi. The chapter ended as Qian Muzhi hesitated over Xie Wanqing’s third poem.

• Ye Qingyun acknowledged only half of his doubts were resolved and challenged Xie Wanqing to another contest in poetry.
• Xie Wanqing presented Qian Muzhi with three poems, and the first, ending with the call to climb one more flight of stairs, drew applause and praise.
• Qian Muzhi read Xie Wanqing’s second poem, whose encouragement to those seeking kindred spirits moved the scholars and left Ye Qingyun speechless.
• Gu Mochen remarked that he had underestimated Gu Moran, while Su Yao recognized that Gu Moran had given Xie Wanqing poems and the chance to stand onstage herself.
• Xie Huai'an admitted to Han Heting that his prejudice against Prince Yi had run too deep.
• Xie Wanqing handed Qian Muzhi her third poem, and he studied it without passing it to Han Heting.

Xie Wanqing’s poem about Mount Tai earned praise and secured her victory over Ye Qingyun in the spring-themed second round. Ye Qingyun insisted on a final paired-verse contest, where Xie Wanqing kept turning his challenges back on him and held a slight advantage.

• Qian Muzhi read Xie Wanqing’s poem about Mount Tai, whose final couplet declared that she would one day ascend its highest peak and see all mountains small beneath her.
• Qian Muzhi entered Xie Wanqing’s three poems in the Hanlin Academy’s poetry collection, and the judges awarded her the spring-themed second round over Ye Qingyun.
• Ye Qingyun admitted defeat in the second round but challenged Xie Wanqing to compete in a final paired-verse contest, and she accepted.
• Ye Qingyun offered lines about hardship, humble origins, and an old pledge, while Xie Wanqing answered with lines about renewal, later judgment, and a light that would shine forever.
• Xie Wanqing challenged Ye Qingyun by asking how verse could be written for a private grudge; Ye Qingyun replied that fame and rank also arose from injustice, but Qian Muzhi judged her line sharper by half an inch.

At a poetry gathering, Xu Wenli and Zhou Wenyuan accused Xie Wanqing of receiving hints and challenged the fairness of her contest with Ye Qingyun. Gu Moran countered their accusations and defended Xie Wanqing, leaving Ye Qingyun’s motives under public scrutiny.

• Xu Wenli accused Xie Wanqing of glancing toward Prince Yi’s seat for hints, and Zhou Wenyuan supported his suspicion.
• Xie Wanqing denied receiving help and challenged Xu Wenli to answer verses within five breaths, while Ye Qingyun asked whether someone was behind her.
• Gu Moran intervened and asked Zhou Wenyuan whether visiting someone’s inn before the contest counted as passing hints.
• Gu Moran told Ye Qingyun that he was shamelessly riding Xie Wanqing’s coattails and warned scholars against using women’s reputations to build their own.
• Gu Moran challenged Ye Qingyun for choosing the poetry gathering to seek an explanation and holding up his marriage contract like a soul-summoning banner.

Xie Wanqing defeated Ye Qingyun in the poetry contest, earning recognition while Gu Moran gained sixth-rank martial strength. Ye Qingyun returned Su Yao’s marriage contract, though he still suspected Gu Moran was secretly behind his defeat.

• Xie Wanqing won the third round with the line “May prose open an age of peace,” and Qian Muzhi entered both her and Ye Qingyun’s poetry in the Hanlin Academy’s records.
• Qian Muzhi and Han Heting advised Ye Qingyun to look beyond personal grievances, while Ye Qingyun admitted defeat to Xie Wanqing.
• Gu Mochen watched Xie Wanqing and Gu Moran from the second prince’s table, while Gu Moran’s system announced his sixth-rank advancement and increased Xie Wanqing’s affection.
• Ye Qingyun suspected Gu Moran had arranged events behind the scenes, then told Su Yao he was returning their marriage contract and would stop using their engagement to gain fame.

After Su Yao thanked Xie Wanqing for reclaiming the marriage contract, Ye Qingyun tried to blame his loss on an expert from Prince Yi's Residence. Gu Moran turned the accusation into a joke, leaving Ye Qingyun unable to respond before Qian Muzhi called for order.

• Su Yao thanked Xie Wanqing for recovering the marriage contract and said she owed her one.
• Ye Qingyun conceded defeat but claimed he had lost to an expert from Prince Yi's Residence.
• Gu Moran mocked Ye Qingyun by pretending the accusation referred to him and joking about his literary talent.
• Ye Qingyun clarified that he had not meant Gu Moran, but Gu Moran dismissed him as a sore loser who had lost to his wife.
• Qian Muzhi stopped the laughter and began addressing the gathering.

Qian Muzhi judged Xie Wanqing the clear winner of the poetry contest and rebuked Ye Qingyun for questioning her talent, while Gu Moran learned that the Heavenly Dao’s correction force had grown more active. Ye Qingyun refused to leave the capital and turned to the mysterious bamboo slips, whose final line he read as the chapter ended.

• Qian Muzhi praised Xie Wanqing’s improvised verses, chastised Ye Qingyun for accusing her of cheating, and declared that literature had no first place but that she had shown greater grace.
• Gu Moran saw the system report Ye Qingyun’s failed highlight event and increased Heavenly Dao Correction Force activity, then arranged drinks for Xie Wanqing, Su Yao, and Shen Ling'er.
• Ye Qingyun returned the marriage contract to Su Wenyuan, said he would reclaim the Ye Clan’s dignity himself, and left after arguing about the Su Clan’s treatment of him.
• Gu Moran bet five hundred taels that Ye Qingyun would not make literary headlines, while predicting that he would appear in other headlines.
• Ye Qingyun told Shuhe he would stay in the capital, opened the bamboo tube, and examined the mysterious slips, focusing on the final line.

After Xie Wanqing won the poetry gathering against Ye Qingyun, the women of Prince Yi’s Residence reflected on her victory and Gu Moran’s role in putting her onstage. Xie Wanqing burned Gu Moran’s poems and chose to write in her own hand, while Lin Qingdai began reconsidering her view of His Highness.

• In the carriage, Shen Ling'er encouraged Xie Wanqing to accept her victory, and Xie admitted her linked verses were her own.
• Su Yao told Biyu that Ye Qingyun had chosen the poetry gathering to demand dignity and had lost more than his reputation as a poet.
• Xie Wanqing burned Gu Moran’s drafts and decided to write new poetry herself.
• Su Yao wrote “May my writing usher in an age of peace” and considered how Gu Moran had pushed Xie Wanqing onto the stage.
• Murong Xue admired how Xie Wanqing had silenced the crowd with verse, while Lin Qingdai condemned Ye Qingyun for using a woman’s past to raise his reputation.
• Lin Qingdai recalled Gu Moran’s warning to scholars and admitted she had once viewed His Highness as a wastrel who deserved a beating.

Liu Ruyan reflected on Gu Moran’s role in the poetry gathering, while Uncle Fu revealed that he had long seen through Gu Moran’s feigned drunkenness and remained loyal to him. Gu Moran received invitations from both the Crown Prince and his second brother for the same day and recognized that they now considered him a political wild card.

• Liu Ruyan declined to congratulate Xie Wanqing and concluded that Gu Moran was intriguing but dangerous.
• Uncle Fu described signs that several guests at the poetry gathering had betrayed their feelings through small gestures.
• Uncle Fu admitted that he knew Gu Moran was pretending to be drunk, and Gu Moran learned that Uncle Fu guarded his interests despite serving his mother consort.
• Gu Moran remembered Uncle Fu’s future death defending Prince Yi’s Residence and told him, “I trust you.”
• Gu Moran received same-day invitations from the Crown Prince’s Residence and the Second Prince’s Residence and called himself the capital’s wild card.

Gu Moran arranged to visit both the crown prince and the second prince, then received Su Yao at his bedchamber after she came with sweet soup and confronted him about secretly helping her. Their conversation turned intimate, and the chapter ended with Gu Moran carrying her to the couch and promising to reveal who wrote the poem the next morning.

• Gu Moran decided to visit the Eastern Palace first and go to the second prince's residence if the crown prince did not keep him for a meal.
• Su Yao knocked on Gu Moran's door late at night with a bowl of sweet soup and brought up the poetry gathering.
• Su Yao accused Gu Moran of arranging for Xie Wanqing to oppose Ye Qingyun and identified him as the author of the annotations in Strategies for Governing the State.
• Su Yao told Gu Moran she judged people by their hearts, citing his efforts on her behalf, and challenged him to push her away.
• Gu Moran drew Su Yao into his embrace, carried her to the couch, and said he would tell her who wrote the poem if she could still ask him the next morning.

After spending the night together, Gu Moran helped Su Yao return to Clear Frost Courtyard without being seen. He then learned that the Second Prince was using Zhou Wenyuan’s memorial to win Ye Qingyun’s goodwill, and concluded that the plan would not revive the ghostwriting accusation against Xie Wanqing.

• Su Yao woke sore beside Gu Moran, and the two traded teasing remarks as he helped her dress and leave by the west corridor.
• Gu Moran returned to his study, where Uncle Fu reported that Clear Frost Courtyard had requested hot water and medicine for sore throats and swelling.
• Uncle Fu gave Gu Moran a report that Zhou Wenyuan had written a memorial questioning the poetry gathering’s fairness, Xu Wenli’s page had entered the Second Prince’s residence, and Ye Qingyun’s bookboy Shuhe had visited an abandoned martial arts school.
• Gu Moran burned the report and explained that the Second Prince’s memorial would not stir up the ghostwriting issue because the censors would question Zhou Wenyuan’s grounds for challenging the Hanlin Academy’s judgment.
• Gu Moran told Uncle Fu that the Second Prince was seeking Ye Qingyun’s goodwill by appearing to defend him after his defeat, while Ye Qingyun already held a grudge against Gu Moran.

Gu Moran prepared for the crown prince to test his ambitions, then met Gu Moyuan in the Eastern Palace, where Gu Moyuan questioned the purpose of his six marriages. Gu Moran was asked to tell the truth, but the chapter ended before he answered.

• Gu Moran told Uncle Fu that Ye Qingyun would borrow the second prince’s influence, and he ordered him to watch Shuhe without interfering with Ye Qingyun.
• Gu Moran learned that Boss Zhao’s full name was Zhao Si and confirmed that Uncle Fu had already changed their code signals.
• Gu Moran went to the Eastern Palace and discussed Xie Wanqing’s poetry with Crown Prince Gu Moyuan, who suspected that someone had helped her.
• Gu Moyuan listed the six powerful connections tied to Gu Moran’s wives and asked why he had married them.
• Gu Moran hesitated, then asked whether Gu Moyuan truly wanted to hear the truth.

Gu Moran concealed his growing martial strength from Gu Moyuan by portraying himself as a carefree prince weakened by his wives’ medicinal tonics. Gu Moyuan’s suspicions eased, but Gu Moran’s system panel showed that the crown prince remained wary as Gu Moran left the Eastern Palace.

• Gu Moran told Gu Moyuan that marriage gave him powerful relatives, then complained that Shen Ling'er made him take bitter medicine three times a day.
• Gu Moyuan warned Gu Moran that others suspected his six marriages were part of a scheme and promised to protect him, while Gu Moran professed harmless ambitions and joked about drinking and watching geese.
• After Gu Moran left, Gu Moyuan asked Han Zheng what he had noticed, and Han Zheng reported that Gu Moran’s qi and blood had surged despite no signs of hard training.
• Gu Moyuan concluded that Shen Ling'er's medicines had strengthened Gu Moran and sent two tiger penises to Prince Yi's Residence as supplements.
• Gu Moran's smile vanished in his carriage, and his system panel showed Gu Moyuan's wariness at 59%, goodwill at 23%, and probing at 18%.

Gu Moran countered Zhou Wenyuan’s proposed poetry-gathering rules at a feast in the Second Prince’s Residence, then warned Gu Mochen that he would not tolerate Ye Qingyun using his wife. After learning Ye Qingyun was training and nearing a breakthrough, Gu Moran ordered an investigation into the martial arts schools and possible allies around him, as well as the Grand Commandant’s residence.

• Gu Moran rejected Zhou Wenyuan’s proposal to scrutinize poetry for ghostwriting by arguing that officials’ memorials should face the same scrutiny, and Feng Shouzheng ended the dispute.
• Gu Mochen privately urged Gu Moran not to push Ye Qingyun too hard, and Gu Moran replied that he was petty when someone used his wife as a stepping stone.
• The system reported that Ye Qingyun had left the Azure Cloud Inn, visited an abandoned martial arts school, reached the third level of cultivation, and could approach the sixth rank after a breakthrough.
• Uncle Fu told Gu Moran that Ye Qingyun had rented a courtyard in Shun'an Lane, was short of money, and was looking for a martial arts school.
• Gu Moran ordered Uncle Fu to watch Shun'an Lane, investigate southern martial arts schools and their financial or political connections, and look into the Grand Commandant’s residence.

Gu Moran prepared for the danger ahead by seeking out combat training and learned that Madam Lin and Murong Xue were skilled fighters. At the wives’ victory banquet, Liu Ruyan joined the others, and Murong Xue and Lin Qingdai nearly fought over the pork knuckle.

• Gu Moran asked Uncle Fu for brutal fighting techniques and sixth-rank death warriors, but learned that the strongest available fighters were already claimed or in the imperial palace.
• Uncle Fu advised Gu Moran to seek help from Madam Lin and Murong Xue, and told him Shen Ling'er was preparing a victory banquet for Xie Wanqing.
• Shen Ling'er arranged the feast and insisted the kitchen prepare Gu Moran’s favorite pork knuckle.
• Gu Moran gathered his wives for dinner; Lin Qingdai came despite claiming she was not hungry, and he sent for Liu Ruyan with the promise of crab roe tofu.
• Murong Xue drew her dagger to cut the pork knuckle, but Lin Qingdai blocked her with chopsticks, and the two argued over whether fighting over meat was proper.