Chapter Summaries

As the flooding worsened, Jin Shanyao warned Meng Anci about the painful choices and public blame that lay ahead. Zhao Zhiyuan and Yuan Shanjian secured Cui Xiang’s agreement to evacuate Yuhe County and release the floodwaters, with both men signing to accept responsibility.

• Jin Shanyao inspected the riverbank and found that silt had clogged the riverbed as the water rose.
• Jin Shanyao posed a moral dilemma to Meng Anci and warned him that people would condemn whoever made a hard choice.
• Zhao Zhiyuan and Yuan Shanjian rode to Dingchuan Prefecture, where Chang Yi gave them a letter agreeing to release the floodwaters while directing them to Cui Xiang.
• Yuan Shanjian and Zhao Zhiyuan argued with Cui Xiang, who refused to risk opening the gates without protection from blame.
• Yuan Shanjian and Zhao Zhiyuan signed a statement accepting responsibility and promising compensation, and Cui Xiang agreed to evacuate Yuhe County.

Yuan Shanjian and Zhao Zhiyuan tried to divert the flood through Yuhe County, but Cui Xiang reversed his agreement and returned the evacuated people. As the gates in Jianghe County were about to open, Yuhe’s residents blocked the embankment while Xiong Wanli prepared to release the floodwaters.

• Meng Anci suspected the smooth negotiations with Cui Xiang and sent Jin Shanyao to prepare for the possible flooding of Zhao Household Gully.
• Xiong Wanli rejected Meng Anci’s proposals to reinforce the embankment and clear silt, while Meng repeatedly asked downstream officials about evacuation preparations.
• Cui Xiang called Yuhe County’s evacuated residents home and refused Zhao Zhiyuan’s demand to divert the floodwaters there.
• After learning the gates would open at the hai hour, Yuan Shanjian dragged Cui Xiang into the street and ordered Yuhe’s residents to evacuate.
• Cui Xiang rallied the residents against the diversion, and they blocked the embankment as Zhao Zhiyuan failed to persuade them.
• The river in Jianghe County rose to one inch below the embankment’s top, and Xiong Wanli prepared to open the gates.

Five days before the flood, the villagers of Zhao Household Gully all dreamed of a ginkgo tree warning them that a flood was coming, so Village Head Zhao led them to flee to Gao Household Slope. On the day the floodwaters were to be released, Xiong Wanli tried to open the gates despite Meng Anci's objections, and someone grabbed Xiong Wanli's wrist.

• Village Head Zhao, his family, and Old Man Gu discovered that their household members had dreamed of the same ginkgo tree warning of a flood.
• Village Head Zhao rang the gong and urged the villagers to pack and flee to Gao Household Slope.
• The villagers of Zhao Household Gully left with their families and livestock, and people from other villages joined them.
• Xiong Wanli demanded that Meng Anci let him open the gates, but Meng Anci refused until they received word from Lord Zhao.
• Xiong Wanli read a bamboo-tube message, hid it, and ordered the gates opened, claiming the upstream situation was critical.
• Meng Anci demanded to see Lord Zhao's letter, and someone seized Xiong Wanli's wrist as he resisted.

Meng Anci forced Xiong Wanli to order the dam at Zhao Household Gully blown up, diverting the flood and saving Jianghe County while the downstream officials feared disaster. Zhao Zhiyuan and Yuan Shanjian returned to find the dam destroyed, then joined Meng Anci in writing memorials accepting responsibility.

• Meng Anci threatened Xiong Wanli with a dagger and forced him to order the dam at Zhao Household Gully blown up.
• The water rushed into Zhao Household Gully, flooding its fields as the river level fell.
• Zhao Zhiyuan noticed the water level had not risen in Yujiang County and realized Meng Anci must have acted without authorization.
• Zhao Zhiyuan and Yuan Shanjian returned to Jianghe County and found Zhao Household Gully flooded and its people evacuated.
• Meng Anci admitted to threatening Xiong Wanli and destroying the dam, then told Yuan Shanjian to keep the villagers evacuated until flood season ended.
• Yuan Shanjian and Zhao Zhiyuan began writing memorials to share responsibility with Meng Anci, while Xiong Wanli left to treat his neck.

Xiao Yuan defended Meng Anci’s decision to breach the dike and issued rewards for those who helped save the downstream people, while punishing the officials who obstructed or mishandled the flood response. In Zhao Household Gully, the villagers built a temple for the ginkgo tree they believed had warned them of the flood, leaving Jin Shanyao listening to their embellished stories about Lady Tree God.

• Xiao Yuan rejected Chancellor Cai’s call to punish Meng Anci and argued that his actions had saved people from a far greater disaster.
• The imperial edict rewarded Meng Anci, Zhao Zhiyuan, and Yuan Shanjian, while stripping Xiong Wanli and Cui Xiang of their posts and ordering them imprisoned pending trial.
• Yuan Shanjian realized he had spent the prefectural treasury on emergency relief and worried about paying the taxes.
• In Zhao Household Gully, Meng Anci learned that the villagers were building a temple and planting a ginkgo tree in gratitude to the deity they believed had warned them about the flood.
• Jin Shanyao listened as the villagers described their dream of Lady Tree God, while a boy apologized to the newly planted tree for criticizing her.

Meng Anci returned from Jianghe County promoted to supervising censor, while Jin Shanyao and he left Zhao Household Gully under the villagers’ protection of the Divine Tree Goddess. Back in the capital, Meng Anzhi and Jin Shanyao searched for a husband for her, though Meng Anzhi remained concerned about Zhao Zhiyuan in Jianghe County.

• The village head agreed to repair Zhao Household Gully’s embankment despite the villagers’ faith in the Divine Tree Goddess, and Jin Shanyao told Meng Anci she had used divination to help them.
• Meng Anci learned that the imperial edict had promoted him to supervising censor, while Zhao Zhiyuan and Yuan Shanjian stayed in Jianghe County to manage the flood recovery.
• Before leaving for the capital, Meng Anci warned Zhao Zhiyuan that trouble in Dingchuan Prefecture was likely connected to Cui Xiang’s reversal and urged him to investigate.
• Jin Shanyao saw the villagers worshipping her clay likeness at the temple, and the incense brought her a halo of Merit.
• At Anzhi Hall, Jin Shanyao, Meng Anzhi, and Meng Anci examined portraits of potential husbands for Meng Anzhi, who asked whether Zhao Zhiyuan was doing well in Jianghe County.

After receiving Meng Anci’s letter, Zhao Zhiyuan arranged for portraits of himself to be painted and sent five of them, along with his birth details, to Meng Anzhi. Months later, he returned to the capital and found Meng Anzhi waiting for someone; their reunion ended with him being pulled into her study.

• Meng Anci wrote to Zhao Zhiyuan, and he asked Yuan Shanjian to summon the city’s skilled painters to make color portraits of him.
• Zhao Zhiyuan selected five portraits, sent them with a letter containing his birth date and hour to Meng Anzhi, and asked his granduncle to investigate officials in Dingchuan Prefecture.
• Meng Anzhi laughed at Zhao Zhiyuan’s portraits, then sent a reply through Agui while continuing to consider other candidates.
• Months later, Zhao Zhiyuan returned to the capital and found Meng Anzhi outside a brothel; she said she was waiting for someone.
• After reporting to the palace, Zhao Zhiyuan went to Anzhi Hall, where Meng Anzhi teased him about whether he had come to see her or Meng Anci.
• As Zhao Zhiyuan and Meng Anzhi stood outside her study, a powerful force suddenly pulled him inside.

Meng Anci and Zhao Zhiyuan helped the emperor launch an investigation into corruption in Dingchuan Prefecture, provoking Chancellor Cai. Meanwhile, Jin Shanyao planted a pear tree, teased Tu Geng about marriage, and updated booklets about Meng Anzhi and Meng Anci before learning Meng Anzhi had gone to see the autumn leaves.

• Meng Anci impeached Chang Yi for embezzling disaster relief and dike-repair funds, and Xiao Yuan ordered Fang Shu to investigate the officials involved in Dingzhou Prefecture.
• Zhao Zhiyuan told Meng Anci that they were being used as knives, while Chancellor Cai resolved to deal with them after learning Zhao Zhiyuan had gathered the evidence.
• Jin Shanyao carried a pear tree into the city, teased Tu Geng about his rejected marriage proposal, and turned down his hint that he might suit her.
• Jin Shanyao planted the pear tree at Anzhi Hall and wrote new observations about Meng Anzhi and Meng Anci in their booklets.
• Qing He told Jin Shanyao that Meng Anzhi had gone to see the red maple leaves, and Meng Anci realized Zhao Zhiyuan had planned the outing in advance.

Zhao Zhiyuan and Meng Anzhi grew closer while Jin Shanyao prepared a gift and faced pressure from Taishang Laojun to ascend. The chapter left Jin Shanyao set to ascend after Meng Anci’s fifteenth birthday, while Meng Anci realized Zhao Zhiyuan had fallen into his sister’s trap.

• Zhao Zhiyuan met Meng Anzhi in the maple grove, and she admitted she had missed him and wanted to spend more time together before marriage.
• Jin Shanyao ruined several pieces of cloth while learning to sew and continued making a man’s garment after Qing He went to bed.
• Taishang Laojun confronted Jin Shanyao and demanded she return to Heaven, warning that her accumulated merit and growing worship could expose her.
• Jin Shanyao agreed to ascend after Meng Anci’s fifteenth birthday, and Taishang Laojun promised to come for her then.
• Zhao Zhiyuan hurried off to have dinner with Meng Anzhi, and Meng Anci realized his sister had been drawing him into a trap.

Meng Anzhi and Zhao Zhiyuan shared a meal at her private residence, where she got him drunk and tried to undress him. After they kissed and slept together, Zhao Zhiyuan asked to have a proper status, but Meng Anzhi refused; he still asked to see her again the next evening.

• Meng Anzhi welcomed Zhao Zhiyuan to her private residence, and he spoke of staying with her during the court recess and preparing the residence for their marriage.
• Meng Anzhi poured Zhao Zhiyuan several cups of strong wine and helped him into the inner room, where he caught her hand as she reached for his belt.
• Zhao Zhiyuan told Meng Anzhi he wanted a proper status, and she refused before kissing him.
• Meng Anzhi and Zhao Zhiyuan slept together, and he asked whether they could eat together again the next evening.
• Meng Anzhi agreed to arrange their next meal, while Zhao Zhiyuan worried she might later deny what had happened.

Zhao Zhiyuan sought Meng Anci’s advice on marrying Meng Anzhi, while Jin Shanyao prepared New Year gifts and spoke with Qing He about her future. Jin Shanyao gave Qing He and her sister dowry money and bracelets, and Qing He promised to stay with the family after her contract ended.

• Meng Anci offered Zhao Zhiyuan advice for winning Meng Anzhi, but Zhao Zhiyuan realized the plan was dangerous and took back his five taels.
• Meng Anzhi told Jin Shanyao that she might be home late over the next few days, and the two discussed New Year clothes and possible names for a child.
• After Meng Anzhi left to see a patient, Jin Shanyao recorded care instructions for Meng Anzhi and Meng Anci in a booklet for Qing He.
• Jin Shanyao gave Qing He six hundred taels for dowries and tied a red cord bracelet around her wrist for protection.
• Jin Shanyao asked Qing He to stay with the family after her indenture ended, and Qing He gladly agreed to remain by her side.

Jin Shanyao dug up grapevines and an orange tree in the middle of the night, then planted them with Meng Anzhi in the courtyard. The next morning, Meng Anci saw that Lu Chi and Su Wenqian had matching red cords from Jin Shanyao and learned that Zhao Zhiyuan expected Meng Anzhi to give him one.

• At dinner, Meng Anci asked Jin Shanyao what she wanted for the New Year, and she hugged him after he offered to buy her a gift.
• After finishing a red padded jacket, Jin Shanyao went up the mountain at night and dug up grapevines and an orange tree for Meng Anzhi and Meng Anci.
• Jin Shanyao and Meng Anzhi planted the orange tree in the frozen courtyard, and Meng Anzhi said her monthly flow had not come that month.
• The next morning, Meng Anci spotted matching red cord bracelets on Lu Chi and Su Wenqian, who said Jin Shanyao had braided them for them.
• Meng Anci asked Zhao Zhiyuan if Jin Shanyao had given him a red cord, and Zhao Zhiyuan said he expected Meng Anzhi to give him one.

Meng Anci believed his family had forgotten his birthday, but Meng Anzhi and Jin Shanyao surprised him with a residence as his fifteenth-birthday gift. The chapter left him remembering his childhood dream as he explored the courtyard.

• On the fifteenth day of the twelfth month, Meng Anci worried that Jin Shanyao and Meng Anzhi had forgotten his birthday while Dahuang and Xiaoli kept close watch on him.
• Jin Shanyao and Meng Anzhi returned from buying New Year goods, and Meng Anci grew upset when they did not mention his birthday.
• On his birthday, Meng Anci dressed in red and waited for Meng Anzhi, who had gone to the private residence; Jin Shanyao eventually offered him birthday wishes and took him to find his sister.
• Meng Anzhi revealed that the residence was Meng Anci's birthday present and led him into the decorated courtyard.
• Meng Anzhi recalled how Meng Anci had once dreamed of building a residence larger than the Zhao Household's, and Meng Anci remembered how enormous it had seemed when he was four.

Meng Anzhi and Jin Shanyao celebrated Meng Anci’s birthday at his new house and Anzhi Hall, while Jin Shanyao made unusual preparations for the household. The chapter ended with Spiritual Power putting Qing He to sleep after she found a booklet recording the siblings’ daily habits.

• Meng Anci worried that his new house meant Meng Anzhi was sending him away, but she reassured him that the family could live together.
• The siblings and Jin Shanyao shared a meal at the new house, and Jin Shanyao repeatedly offered to take them out before saying she had something for Meng Anci.
• At Anzhi Hall, Jin Shanyao helped Qin Baitang with a window and tied a red cord around his wrist, telling him he was a good man.
• The household celebrated Meng Anci’s birthday with a lavish dinner, and Jin Shanyao invited Qing He to join them.
• Qing He found a booklet about the siblings’ daily habits and resolved to serve Meng Anzhi more attentively, but Spiritual Power made her fall asleep.

Jin Shanyao told Meng Anzhi and Meng Anci that she had fulfilled her promise to raise them and was leaving to ascend as a god. She vanished before their eyes, leaving the siblings grieving in the courtyard.

• Jin Shanyao revealed that Meng Anzhi was pregnant, and Meng Anzhi rejoiced that the child would spare her from the consort selection.
• Jin Shanyao gave Meng Anzhi and Meng Anci booklets reminding them of their bond and important details about each other, then told them she was leaving.
• Jin Shanyao explained that she had fulfilled her promise to their mother and had become a high god through her Merit, while Meng Anzhi and Meng Anci begged her to stay.
• Laojun announced that it was time for Jin Shanyao to ascend and be invested as a god.
• Jin Shanyao vanished in golden dust, and Laojun rose into the sky with Dahuang and Xiaoli as the siblings watched and wept.

Jin Shanyao ascended to the Nine Heavens and was appointed the Mysterious Clarity Divine Lord of the Ginkgo, ruler of the Azure Nether Realm. She moved into the Hall of Serenity and persuaded Taishang Laojun to furnish her new home with treasures.

• Taishang Laojun brought Jin Shanyao to the Nine Heavens, where she learned to shield herself from the cold with Spiritual Power.
• At the Southern Heavenly Gate, a heavenly proclamation praised Jin Shanyao's merits and summoned her to the Hall of Soaring Clouds.
• Yuanshi Tianzun bestowed on Jin Shanyao the title of Mysterious Clarity Divine Lord of the Ginkgo and assigned her to guard the Azure Nether Realm.
• Jin Shanyao went with Taishang Laojun to the Hall of Serenity, where an attendant named Jinling prepared her immortal abode.
• Taishang Laojun showed Jin Shanyao the Azure Nether Realm, and she thanked him before asking him for treasures.
• Jin Shanyao persuaded Taishang Laojun to send fine things to her abode on his azure ox, making the other immortals envious.