Chapter Summaries

Jin Shanyao arranged Ghost One’s reincarnation after Boss Zheng died, then encountered Silla envoys in town and saw one harassing a girl. Shopkeeper Wang warned her not to provoke the envoy and handed her a rag and a forked pole.

• Meng Anzhi told Jin Shanyao that Boss Zheng had been beaten, had broken legs, and was claiming Chen Maimiao’s child was his.
• Ghost One and Tang Qiao visited Boss Zheng, whose soul left his body before Tang Qiao kicked it back; Boss Zheng later died.
• Jin Shanyao offered Ghost One a chance to be reincarnated into a well-off family, but Ghost One abandoned Tang Qiao when she learned they might be reborn as animals.
• Tang Qiao revealed that Ghost One, whose real name was Tian Yingying, had used Jin Shanyao’s name to pursue handsome male ghosts, and Ghost One dragged him away.
• Jin Shanyao learned that Silla envoys were passing through town and stepped toward a girl being harassed by one of them.
• Shopkeeper Wang warned Jin Shanyao that provoking the envoy could cause an international conflict, then gave her a rag to cover her face and a forked pole.

Jin Shanyao intervened when Silla envoys harassed a young woman, beat the men involved, and escaped before Constable Wang could arrest her. After the witnesses blamed Jin Xiaoji for molesting the woman, Constable Wang warned Jin Shanyao to keep out of trouble while the envoys stayed in Qingzhou Prefecture.

• Jin Shanyao groped Jin Xiaoji and grabbed him when he drew a dagger, then cut his belt and humiliated him.
• Jin Shanyao slapped You Tuo and fought off the Silla men before smashing You Tuo and Jin Xiaoji's heads together.
• Jin Shanyao fled when Constable Wang arrived, and You Tuo demanded that he punish the attacker.
• The bystanders claimed Jin Xiaoji had molested a young woman, and You Tuo left for the embassy after Constable Wang rebuked him.
• Constable Wang told Jin Shanyao to change her clothes and avoid trouble for three days, so she returned to Anzhi Hall before setting out with Zhou Xiaosi.

After the Silla envoy’s street harassment, Su Wenqian invited Jin Shanyao and other locals to the envoy’s welcoming banquet to show that Sheng Dynasty’s people could not be insulted. Jin Shanyao brought Meng Anzhi and Meng Anci to the banquet in riding clothes, prepared for trouble.

• You Tuo rebuked Jin Xiaoji for losing a fight and said they would test Su Wenqian and other prefectures at the welcoming banquet.
• Su Wenqian invited Jin Shanyao to the banquet so she could stand before the Silla envoy and represent the people he had insulted.
• Jin Shanyao accepted the invitation and told Meng Anzhi to wear practical riding clothes in case the Silla guests touched her.
• Meng Anci decided to skip going with the other students so he could attend the banquet with Meng Anzhi and Jin Shanyao.
• Jin Shanyao arrived at the crowded guesthouse with Meng Anzhi and Meng Anci dressed in riding clothes, and Old Medicine Zhou warned her not to cause trouble.

At a banquet welcoming Silla’s young prince You Tuo, Jin Shanyao embarrassed Jin Xiaoji by teasing him in front of the guests. The banquet continued with You Tuo presenting a three-hundred-year-old Jade Snow Ginseng King for the merchants to appraise.

• Jin Shanyao sat with Meng Anzhi and Meng Anci as Shi Chang'an greeted her and tried to discuss renewing their escort agency contract.
• Su Wenqian welcomed You Tuo and announced that Silla intended to establish trade with Qingzhou Prefecture.
• You Tuo recognized Jin Shanyao as the person who had humiliated Jin Xiaoji, but Su Wenqian covered for her by saying she was a woman.
• Jin Shanyao challenged Jin Xiaoji to a staring contest, declared that he had blinked, and startled him by feinting toward his crotch, provoking laughter from the banquet guests.
• You Tuo introduced a three-hundred-year-old Jade Snow Ginseng King, and Jin Shanyao saw the wild ginseng clearly as the shopkeepers prepared to inspect it.

At a banquet, Jin Shanyao and Meng Anzhi exposed the Silla envoy You Tuo’s supposedly three-hundred-year-old ginseng as roughly a hundred years old, and Su Wenqian used the exchange to promote Anzhi Hall. You Tuo then challenged Qingzhou’s newly qualified scholars to explain a map, but just as he was about to insult them, Zhao Zhiyuan and Meng Anci stood up to answer.

• Jin Shanyao mocked You Tuo’s boast about his ginseng and sent Meng Anzhi to appraise it.
• Meng Anzhi judged the ginseng to be about a hundred years old, and Su Wenqian highlighted her knowledge and Anzhi Hall’s medicinal herbs.
• You Tuo presented a Map of the Nine Border Regions and asked Qingzhou’s students to explain it as a test of the Sheng Dynasty’s future officials.
• You Tuo specifically challenged the newly qualified xiucai, leaving the students under pressure and reluctant to volunteer.
• As You Tuo began to disparage the students, Zhao Zhiyuan and Meng Anci stood up to respond.

At a banquet, You Tuo mocked the Sheng Dynasty scholars, but Meng Anci and Jin Shanyao answered his taunts and embarrassed him. You Tuo then questioned Meng Anci about Silla merchant ships being plundered, leaving Jin Shanyao silent as he awaited an explanation.

• Meng Anci introduced himself as a young examination passer, and You Tuo mocked his age until Jin Shanyao pointed out his fifth-place result.
• You Tuo ordered Jin Xiaoji to cover Jin Shanyao's mouth, but Jin Xiaoji feared she would grab his crotch and revealed that she was a woman.
• You Tuo asked Meng Anci and Zhao Zhiyuan about their ages and examination results, and Meng Anci mocked You Tuo for not understanding the map he carried.
• Jin Shanyao argued with You Tuo over his repeated demands that she be quiet, then joked that her silence might be blamed for a war between Silla and the Sheng Dynasty.
• You Tuo asked Meng Anci whether Silla merchant ships were being plundered because of failed suppression of bandits or another hidden cause, and ordered Jin Shanyao to stay quiet when she tried to speak.

At the welcome banquet, You Tuo tried to question Meng Anci about the Sheng Dynasty’s military response to Silla’s bandits, but Jin Shanyao and Zhang Jiuwei repeatedly forced wine on him. You Tuo collapsed after drinking, leaving Jin Xiaoji to fear that the Sheng Dynasty had killed the young prince.

• Su Wenqian tried to warn Meng Anci when You Tuo asked about military deployments, but You Tuo forced wine down Su Wenqian’s throat.
• Jin Shanyao crowded You Tuo and kept interrupting his questioning by pouring wine into his mouth.
• Meng Anci suggested the bandits robbing Silla’s ships might not come from the Sheng Dynasty, and You Tuo asked what he meant.
• You Tuo challenged Jin Shanyao to a drinking contest, but she refused and mocked his height before Su Wenqian sent Zhang Jiuwei to pour his wine.
• Zhang Jiuwei kept serving You Tuo until he became incoherent and fell to the floor, and Jin Xiaoji dropped beside him in alarm.

Jin Shanyao discovered Zhang Jiuwei had switched You Tuo’s wine and helped the children leave the banquet. On the way back, she misunderstood Zhang Jiuwei’s compliments as courtship, kicked her off the cart, and reassured Meng Anzhi and Meng Anci that she liked them best.

• Jin Shanyao confirmed You Tuo was only drunk, and Su Wenqian arranged for him to rest while Jin Shanyao criticized Su Wenqian for letting himself be bullied.
• Zhang Jiuwei reminded Jin Shanyao that she had once helped her avoid a marriage swindle and revealed that she had switched You Tuo’s wine to get him drunk.
• Jin Shanyao mistook Zhang Jiuwei’s offer of wine and compliment about her looks for courtship, then kicked her off the ox cart.
• Meng Anzhi and Meng Anci questioned Jin Shanyao about kicking Zhang Jiuwei, and Jin Shanyao said she liked neither women nor men but liked mountains.
• Meng Anzhi and Meng Anci playfully competed for Jin Shanyao’s affection until she gathered them both in her arms and said she liked them best.

You Tuo recovered from a drunken spell and continued toward Jing'an Prefecture, while Qing He and Qing Yang prepared Anzhi Hall for the New Year. Jin Shanyao and the children enjoyed the festive street, where a monkey show drew their attention.

• You Tuo woke after sleeping for two and a half days and told Jin Xiaoji to find someone easy to bully for information in Jing'an Prefecture.
• Qing He stopped Shopkeeper Wang from pouring water onto the icy street, then gave him and Xiaohua's mother ointment from Anzhi.
• Shopkeeper Wang gave Qing He six jars of rouge to share with the people at Anzhi Hall.
• Qing Yang told Qing He that Master and the others had not returned for the young master's birthday, and Qing He invited her to play leaf cards after lunch.
• Jin Shanyao bought Dahuang a wooden dog carving while he and the children explored the New Year's market.
• Jin Shanyao and the children heard a monkey-show performance announced and went to watch.

Jin Shanyao and the Meng children watched a monkey act, where Monkey Treasure’s desperate response to Jin Shanyao revealed its fear and misery under its owner. They left without buying the monkey, then celebrated Meng Anci’s birthday at the Top Scholar Tower and urged him to build his knowledge before taking the provincial examination.

• Jin Shanyao watched a performer make Monkey Treasure bow, dress, and tumble for the crowd while spectators and the Meng children tossed it coins.
• Monkey Treasure recognized Jin Shanyao, dropped its tip tray, and repeatedly kowtowed until its forehead bled, while Xiaoli stopped it from reaching Jin Shanyao’s clothes.
• The performer dragged Monkey Treasure back and made it apologize, and Jin Shanyao left with Meng Anzhi and Meng Anci.
• Meng Anci asked the performer how much he would sell Monkey Treasure for, but Meng Anzhi stopped him from naming a price as they left the crowd.
• At the Top Scholar Tower, Jin Shanyao and Meng Anzhi celebrated Meng Anci’s birthday and advised him to spend two years strengthening his studies before the provincial examination.

Jin Shanyao witnessed Feng Shun pressure Tao Yunshan to join a scheme to steal medicinal herbs, then watched Monkey Treasure escape its abusive owner and reach Anzhi Hall. The owner came to the courtyard the next morning claiming the monkey was missing.

• Feng Shun threatened Tao Yunshan and urged him to let the manor workers steal herbs, while the others backed Feng Shun’s plan.
• Jin Shanyao saw Monkey Treasure’s owner threaten it after killing a chicken, then watched the monkey escape through a window.
• Monkey Treasure followed its chain marks to Anzhi Hall, where it hid beside the kitchen hearth until Nanny Chen found it.
• Xiaoli caught Monkey Treasure and brought it to Jin Shanyao, and the monkey showed Meng Anzhi its chain and injuries to signal that it had escaped.
• Zhou Xiaosi answered a knock from Monkey Treasure’s owner, who asked the residents to help find his missing monkey.

Jin Shanyao bought Monkey Treasure, freed him from his chain, and had Meng Anzhi and Meng Anci treat his injuries. She then sent Qing Yang to First Manor to deliver a plan for dealing with Feng Shun and the other servants who had aided outsiders, leaving the final choice to Tao Yunshan.

• Jin Shanyao bought Monkey Treasure from his owner for twenty taels and had him sign a contract.
• Jin Shanyao bent Monkey Treasure's iron collar open and warned him not to touch anyone at Anzhi Hall, while Meng Anzhi and Meng Anci treated his wounds.
• Meng Anzhi told Monkey Treasure she would take him to the mountains and set him free once he had healed.
• Jin Shanyao told Meng Anzhi and Meng Anci that Feng Shun had helped outsiders at First Manor and had to be sold after a public punishment.
• Jin Shanyao sent Qing Yang to deliver the siblings' proposed responses to Tao Yunshan, secure the servants' indentures, sell off those Tao Yunshan divided, and offer the remaining workers jobs at Anzhi Hall.

Jin Shanyao taught Meng Anzhi and Meng Anci about informants, then mistook Zhang Jiuwei’s business visit for a romantic confession and rejected her. Zhang Jiuwei left determined to secure a partnership with Anzhi Hall and planned to return the next day.

• Jin Shanyao explained to Meng Anzhi and Meng Anci that informants should be discreet and that they needed to learn to identify them for themselves.
• Zhang Jiuwei visited Jin Shanyao with wine and braised trotters, intending to discuss a business partnership with Anzhi Hall.
• Jin Shanyao assumed Zhang Jiuwei was pursuing her romantically and rejected her, while Zhang Jiuwei struggled to understand the misunderstanding.
• After Zhang Jiuwei left, Qing He asked why Jin Shanyao had refused the partnership, and Jin Shanyao still believed Zhang Jiuwei had confessed her feelings.
• Zhang Jiuwei realized Jin Shanyao might have mistaken her gifts of wine and meat for a romantic gesture, but decided to return the next day and pursue a deal through the children.

Jin Shanyao mistook Zhang Jiuwei’s apology and gift for a romantic advance, only to discover Zhang had come to discuss a business partnership. After an embarrassing misunderstanding, Jin agreed to supply Jade Flask Spring with medicinal herbs.

• Jin Shanyao reread her romance novel and concluded she needed to be wary of Zhang Jiuwei’s apparent affection.
• Zhang Jiuwei visited Jin Shanyao to apologize and presented her with a jade Bodhisattva.
• Jin Shanyao mistook the gift and Zhang’s compliments for romantic interest, then confronted her in a ceremonial robe with a copper coin sword.
• Zhang Jiuwei clarified that she wanted to buy medicinal herbs from Anzhi Hall and explained that she liked Jin as a friend.
• Jin Shanyao agreed to work with Jade Flask Spring, while Zhang Jiuwei laughed at the misunderstanding.

Jin Shanyao made Qing Yang’s successful investigation of Feng Shun part of Anzhi Hall’s growing work, then forced Meng Anzhi and Meng Anci to annotate storybooks. Zhang Jiuwei returned with Baili Ce and a child, negotiated a herb purchase with Meng Anzhi, and arranged to collect the goods in three days.

• Jin Shanyao sent Zhang Jiuwei away with her jade Bodhisattva and annotated Flowers Pinned into the Embrace with her observations.
• Qing Yang reported that she and Magistrate Yang had caught Feng Shun’s younger brother selling counterfeit medicine under Anzhi Hall’s name, and Jin Shanyao rewarded her.
• Jin Shanyao made Meng Anci and Meng Anzhi read and annotate storybooks, and Meng Anzhi wrote a warning against letting emotions sway business decisions.
• Zhang Jiuwei visited Anzhi Hall with Baili Ce and a child, then asked Meng Anzhi to sell her medicinal herbs.
• Meng Anzhi agreed to provide a third of Zhang Jiuwei’s requested herbs, and they signed an agreement to collect the goods from the estate three days later.

Jin Shanyao mocked Baili Ce while treating his pulse, then prepared to advertise her services as the first snow began to fall. She warned Meng Anzhi that the scant winter snowfall could mean a drought next year and told her to arrange supplies.

• Baili Ce complained theatrically to Meng Anzhi about his longing for Zhang Jiuwei, and Jin Shanyao challenged him over an eye roll before taking his pulse.
• Jin Shanyao teased Baili Ce about his sideways glances, while Zhang Jiuwei hurriedly took him outside.
• Jin Shanyao wrote an advertisement for her services, but abandoned her plan to beat a gong in the freezing street.
• Qing He dressed Monkey Treasure like Zhou Xiaosi, and Jin Shanyao promised to take Monkey Treasure to choose a mountain home in spring.
• When snow began to fall, Jin Shanyao told Meng Anzhi to warn Tao Yunshan to grow drought-resistant herbs and stock a year's worth of grain.
• Meng Anzhi agreed to write the letter after Jin Shanyao predicted a drought next year.

Jin Shanyao learned that Su Wenqian had been promoted and would soon leave Qingzhou, prompting her to visit his family and worry about Meng Anci. As Su Wenqian prepared to depart, he gave Jin Shanyao advice about the incoming prefect, but her teasing ended in a quarrel.

• Constable Wang delivered Jin Shanyao a hundred-tael imperial reward for her role in embarrassing the Silla envoys and told her Su Wenqian had been transferred to the Ministry of Revenue.
• Jin Shanyao visited the prefectural office, where Madam Su gave her records about Qingzhou’s prominent ladies to help her and Meng Anci avoid social trouble.
• Su Wenqian warned Jin Shanyao to be careful with the incoming prefect, Zhu, and asked her to send Meng Anci to see him before he left.
• Jin Shanyao joked that Su Wenqian was carrying on with a bookshop owner, then offered to take Madam Su out for food and wine if he colluded with her.
• Su Wenqian angrily threw a teacup at Jin Shanyao, who caught it and teased him for missing.

Jin Shanyao warned Su Wenqian about the coming drought as he prepared to leave Qingzhou, then decided to make him a farewell gift. With Meng Anzhi and Meng Anci’s help, she carved a jade ring and strengthened it with Spiritual Power.

• Jin Shanyao teased Su Wenqian about colluding with officials, and he warned her not to antagonize the incoming prefect, Zhu Huaizhang.
• Jin Shanyao told Su Wenqian that a drought was coming and urged him to have people plant drought-resistant crops, so he posted a notice.
• Old Medicine Zhou worried that Su Wenqian’s transfer would bring higher taxes, and Jin Shanyao briefly considered keeping him in Qingzhou before deciding to prepare a farewell gift.
• Jin Shanyao began carving a jade qilin, but Meng Anzhi and Meng Anci persuaded her to make Su Wenqian a more discreet jade ring instead.
• After Jin Shanyao accidentally broke the jade, Meng Anzhi shaped the remaining piece into a small ring, which Jin Shanyao tied with a red cord and coated with Spiritual Power.

As Su Wenqian prepared to leave Qingzhou Prefecture, its people flooded the yamen with gifts to thank him for his kindness. Jin Shanyao and the Meng siblings arrived and witnessed how deeply the people loved him.

• An old man brought fish to the yamen, while Xiao Huzi slipped inside and tied a bundle of homespun cloth to Su Wenqian's ankle as a gift.
• Wu Zhuangzi tried to stop the people from entering, but the crowd rushed past him whenever he fell, and Jin Shanyao realized he was letting them through without openly defying Su Wenqian's order.
• Jin Shanyao, Meng Anzhi, and Meng Anci entered the yamen and found Su Wenqian overwhelmed by people offering gifts and kowtowing to him.
• Jin Shanyao and the Meng siblings saw how beloved Su Wenqian was by the people of Qingzhou Prefecture.

Meng Anci saw Su Wenqian’s sincere care for the commoners and reconsidered what it meant to become an official. As Su Wenqian prepared to leave Qingzhou for the capital, his family and students gave him gifts and medicines for the journey.

• Meng Anci watched Su Wenqian help the commoners and realized that an official’s place was among the people, not above them.
• Madam Su persuaded the commoners to let her accept a little of their gifts and secretly returned silver to their bundles.
• Meng Anci gave Su Wenqian a book recording his accomplishments in Qingzhou Prefecture, and Su Wenqian encouraged him to prepare for the provincial examination.
• Jin Shanyao presented Su Wenqian with a jade ring and gave Madam Su two Truth Talismans.
• Meng Anzhi gave the couple a medicine chest, and Madam Su placed the jade ring against Su Wenqian’s chest.