Arc 17From the Capital to Dengzhou
Jin Shanyao and Meng Anzhi faced Shi Chong’s advances, helped expose Yan Shuan’s crimes, and answered Silla’s provocations at the palace. Jin Shanyao then left the capital with Fu Congzhao for Dengzhou, where the naval camp and local people were struggling after wokou attacks.
- Qing He returned to the capital, while Meng Anzhi reunited with Jin Shanyao and learned Shi Chong had become a military official, and Shi Chong visited her and tried to court her.
- At a palace banquet, Xiao Changchuan repeatedly tried to provoke Jin Shanyao, while Shi Chong watched Meng Anzhi and decided to seek her hand in marriage.
- Meng Anci investigated Yan Shuan’s secret land acquisitions, and Liu Kangjian testified that Yan Shuan had framed his father for Zither Master Wu’s murder, and an assassin then attacked the Liu family at Anzhi Hall.
- Meng Anci presented evidence against Yan Shuan, and the emperor ordered an investigation, and Jin Shanyao and Meng Anzhi briefly visited Qingzhou Prefecture before returning to the capital.
- Meng Anzhi repeatedly poisoned Shi Chong after he tried to abduct her, then celebrated her coming-of-age ceremony as Jin Shanyao gave her Anzhi Hall’s deeds and property.
- Jin Shanyao and Xu Pingwan beat the Silla delegation in an idiom contest, and Jin Shanyao bested Jin Xiaoji at archery, and Meng Anzhi and Meng Anci helped defeat the Silla team at polo.
- Jin Shanyao visited Jin Xiaoji and You Tuo in disguise, then reunited Fu Congxi with Old General Fu, after Old General Fu died, she agreed to travel with Fu Congzhao to help the dead at the frontier.
- Jin Shanyao left the capital with Fu Congzhao for Dengzhou, where Fu Zhenhai described the losses from wokou attacks and the hardship faced by local people, and Jin Shanyao treated a soldier and shared dinner with Fu Congzhao.