Recaps

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.

Jin Shanyao sent battlefield dead onward, then helped Meng Anci and Zhao Zhiyuan confront corrupt officials and a looming flood in Jianghe County. As the crisis ended and Zhao Zhiyuan and Meng Anzhi grew closer, Taishang Laojun warned Jin Shanyao to return to Heaven after Meng Anci’s fifteenth birthday.

• Jin Shanyao opened a ghost gate so soldiers and villagers could bid farewell to their dead, earning Merit that strengthened her Spiritual Power.
• Jin Shanyao returned to the capital, where Meng Anci and Zhao Zhiyuan were assigned to investigate Jianghe County’s recurring dike failures.
• Jin Shanyao, Meng Anci, and Zhao Zhiyuan inspected the river, and Zhao Zhiyuan and Yuan Shanjian arranged to divert floodwaters into Yuhe County.
• Cui Xiang reversed his agreement and rallied Yuhe County’s residents against the diversion, while the river in Jianghe County rose dangerously high.
• Meng Anci stopped Xiong Wanli from opening the gates and ordered the dam at Zhao Household Gully blown up, sacrificing its fields to lower the river and protect lives.
• Xiao Yuan rewarded Meng Anci, Zhao Zhiyuan, and Yuan Shanjian, while Jin Shanyao learned the villagers credited her Divine Tree Goddess with warning them of the flood.
• Meng Anci impeached Chang Yi over stolen relief and dike funds, while Zhao Zhiyuan and Meng Anzhi reunited and began preparing for marriage.
• Taishang Laojun ordered Jin Shanyao to return to Heaven, and she agreed to ascend after Meng Anci’s fifteenth birthday.
• Meng Anzhi and Zhao Zhiyuan slept together after she refused his request for proper status, and she agreed to see him again the next evening.