Chapter Summaries

Xu Qi'an returned to the capital-bound delegation with the princess consort after the Prince Who Guards the North was killed, while Zheng Xinghuai and the others prepared to expose the massacre of Chu Prefecture City. The chapter ended as the delegation arrived in the capital, carrying news that Great Feng no longer had a Prince Who Guards the North.

• Xu Qi'an retrieved his Earth Book Fragment from the sleeping princess consort, told her the Prince Who Guards the North was dead, and agreed to take her with him after she lost her nerve at the city gate.
• Xu Qi'an brought the princess consort to Zheng Xinghuai's group and told them the Prince Who Guards the North had fallen; Li Miaozhen confirmed the news and described the battle in Chu Prefecture City.
• Zheng Xinghuai returned to the ruined Chu Prefecture City, mourned its victims, and agreed that Yang Yan would oversee the soldiers while he returned to the capital as a witness.
• Xu Qi'an consulted Li Miaozhen and Daoist Jinlian, learned the souls from the massacre had likely been refined into a Soul Pill for the Earth Sect's Daoist Leader, and relayed the explanation to Yang Yan.
• The delegation sailed back to the capital in early summer, determined to expose the crimes of the Prince Who Guards the North and Que Yongxiu.

The delegation returned to the capital with the Prince Who Guards the North’s corpse and exposed his massacre of Chu Prefecture City before Emperor Yuanjing, provoking the emperor’s grief and rage. Xu Qi'an then questioned Wei Yuan about how he had anticipated the attack, and Wei Yuan revealed that he had not been guessing about the Prince Who Guards the North.

• Zheng Xinghuai arranged for the delegation to return without sending advance notice so the court would be caught off guard.
• Zheng Xinghuai and the delegation presented memorials accusing the Prince Who Guards the North of massacring 380,000 people, and Xu Qi'an revealed that the prince had been executed.
• Emperor Yuanjing rushed to the coffin, saw his brother’s dismembered corpse, and erupted at Xu Qi'an when he pressed him to announce the prince’s crimes.
• Xu Qi'an returned to the Nightwatchers’ office and asked Wei Yuan whether he had known Chu Prefecture City was the site of the massacre.
• Wei Yuan said he had guessed the location, then clarified that he had not been guessing about the Prince Who Guards the North.

Xu Qi'an learned that Wei Yuan had manipulated the Chu Prefecture crisis to weaken or punish the Prince Who Guards the North, then left after Wei Yuan told him to stay out of the court case. Meanwhile, officials began gathering at Wang Zhenwen’s residence after learning that the prince had massacred Chu Prefecture City and been executed.

• Wei Yuan explained that he had leaked information to the barbarians and demons to make them fight the Prince Who Guards the North, while planning to use the prince against the Shaman God Cult if he survived.
• Wei Yuan revealed that he had deduced Xu Qi'an rescued Mu Nanzhi and told him to read Great Zhou Gleanings to learn who the princess consort was.
• Xu Qi'an said he wanted the Prince Who Guards the North convicted, but Wei Yuan told him to leave the matter alone.
• Constable Chen told Minister Sun that the Prince Who Guards the North had massacred Chu Prefecture City and been executed, then recounted the events.
• At lunch, Second Young Master Wang revealed that Wang Simu had been seeing Xu Xinnian, and Grand Secretary Wang reacted with grave restraint.
• Minister Sun, the Chief Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, and other powerful officials visited Wang Zhenwen to discuss the crisis in Chu Prefecture.

Grand Secretary Wang learned that the Prince Who Guards the North had massacred Chu Prefecture City, and the officials gathered at the palace to demand justice. Xu Erlang denounced the Prince for four hours, after which Emperor Yuanjing agreed to receive Grand Secretary Wang alone.

• Constable Chen told Grand Secretary Wang how Xu Qi'an had helped the delegation survive a barbarian ambush and described his suspicion that the mysterious expert was connected to someone at court.
• Grand Secretary Wang ordered an investigation and planned to join the officials in seeking an audience with Emperor Yuanjing over the massacre of 380,000 people.
• Officials led by Grand Secretary Wang were stopped at the palace gate, where they demanded that the Prince of Huai be punished.
• Xu Qi'an met Xu Erlang and confirmed that the massacre was true; Xu Erlang joined the officials and cursed the Prince of Huai for four hours.
• An old eunuch stopped Xu Erlang and announced that Emperor Yuanjing would receive only Grand Secretary Wang, ordering the other officials to leave.

Xu Qi'an and his allies faced growing pressure over the Prince Who Guards the North’s massacre as Emperor Yuanjing avoided the officials and began tracking their absences. With court factions mobilizing and public outrage spreading, Xu Qi'an was invited to meet Princess Huaiqing.

• Emperor Yuanjing refused to meet Grand Secretary Wang, then ordered the old eunuch to record which officials stayed away from the palace gates.
• Xu Qi'an reassured Zheng Xinghuai about his safety, discussed Xu Xinnian’s feelings for Wang Simu, and returned home with Xu Xinnian.
• Xu Qi'an told Xu Xinnian that Emperor Yuanjing had been involved in the Chu Prefecture massacre, and Xu Xinnian warned that the emperor had likely prepared for the delegation’s return.
• Yang Qianhuan praised the mysterious expert who killed the Prince Who Guards the North, unaware that the expert was Xu Qi'an.
• Officials continued protesting as news of the massacre spread among the common people, while Emperor Yuanjing learned that Wei Yuan and Wang Zhenwen had met privately.
• On the third day of protests, a guard from Princess Huaiqing’s residence invited Xu Qi'an to meet her.

Xu Qi'an learned from Huaiqing that Emperor Yuanjing was waiting for the court’s outrage to subside before confronting the officials over the Chu Prefecture massacre. As political maneuvering intensified, Zheng Xinghuai reaffirmed his promise to seek justice, while the emperor prepared to summon the court.

• Huaiqing told Xu Qi'an that Emperor Yuanjing was using the palace blockade to let public anger fade before facing the officials, and Xu Qi'an asked whether she knew the book Great Zhou Gleanings.
• Civil officials continued demanding an accounting for the Prince Who Guards the North’s massacre, while the crown prince survived an assassination attempt and the capital was searched for the assassin.
• Xu Qi'an visited Zheng Xinghuai, who said Duke Wei and Grand Secretary Wang had likely planned the assassination attempt, though he did not know why.
• Zheng Xinghuai thanked Xu Qi'an and said he would resign and return to his hometown after keeping his promise to seek justice for Chu Prefecture’s dead.
• Emperor Yuanjing ordered his men to contact those on a list and announced that he would summon the court officials the next day to discuss the Chu Prefecture case.

At court, Emperor Yuanjing tried to shield the Prince of Huai from punishment for the Chu Prefecture massacre, while officials and Wei Yuan pressed for accountability. After the Prince of Li defended the imperial family and Wei Yuan countered with the threat of Cloud Deer Academy’s histories, Emperor Yuanjing signaled Duke Cao to make his move.

• Zheng Xinghuai and Wang Zhenwen demanded that the Prince of Huai be stripped of his title and his head displayed for slaughtering 380,000 civilians in Chu Prefecture City.
• Emperor Yuanjing overturned his desk, mourned his brother, and argued that the Prince of Huai’s past service and death should spare his reputation, while Zheng Xinghuai insisted merit could not erase the crime.
• Yao Lin impeached Wang Zhenwen, and Zhang Xingying backed the charge; Emperor Yuanjing defended Wang, who remained necessary to balance Wei Yuan’s influence.
• Wei Yuan called for the Prince of Huai to be punished, but Yuan Xiong and the Prince of Li opposed conviction in the name of the imperial family’s dignity.
• Wei Yuan warned the Prince of Li that Cloud Deer Academy would record any attempt to shield the Prince of Huai, and the Prince of Li fell silent.
• Emperor Yuanjing glanced at Duke Cao, who stepped forward and announced that he had something to say.

At court, Duke Cao proposed recasting the fall of Chu Prefecture as a heroic defense by the dead Prince Who Guards the North, while Zheng Xinghuai warned that witnesses could not be silenced. Huaiqing explained Emperor Yuanjing’s political maneuvers to Xu Qi'an, who resolved not to stand aside, and Wei Yuan was summoned to the palace.

• Duke Cao urged the court to blame the Demon Race and Barbarian Race for Chu Prefecture’s destruction and honor the Prince Who Guards the North as a hero, but Zheng Xinghuai warned that many witnesses knew the truth.
• Emperor Yuanjing dismissed the court until the next day, leaving the lords divided over whether to accept Duke Cao’s version of events.
• Huaiqing explained to Xu Qi'an how Emperor Yuanjing had used staged grief, political attacks, appeals to imperial dignity, and Duke Cao’s proposal to weaken the opposition.
• Huaiqing predicted Emperor Yuanjing would offer the lords benefits, while Xu Qi'an doubted the truth could be buried and privately recalled that he had killed Jili Zhigu.
• A clerk told Wei Yuan that Emperor Yuanjing had summoned him, and Wei Yuan ordered a carriage prepared.

As Emperor Yuanjing moved to protect the Prince Who Guards the North’s legacy, Zheng Xinghuai tried to rally support and was arrested after Que Yongxiu returned with accusations against him. Xu Qi'an rushed to the Court of Judicial Review, but arrived after Que Yongxiu and Duke Cao had killed Zheng Xinghuai in prison.

• Emperor Yuanjing and Wei Yuan discussed the attack on the crown prince and the unrest surrounding the Prince Who Guards the North, while Wang Zhenwen received a visit from a palace eunuch.
• Zheng Xinghuai sought help from Wei Yuan and tried to persuade officials to oppose the effort to clear the Prince Who Guards the North, but found little support.
• Xu Qi'an and Xu Xinnian discussed the court’s shifting position, and Xu Xinnian argued that the massacre’s memory could eventually help overturn the verdict.
• Que Yongxiu returned to the capital and accused Zheng Xinghuai of colluding with demons and barbarians, prompting Emperor Yuanjing to order Zheng’s arrest and a joint trial.
• Duke Cao and Que Yongxiu entered Zheng Xinghuai’s cell to stage his death as a suicide, while an assistant magistrate ran to find Xu Qi'an.
• Xu Qi'an reached the prison and found Zheng Xinghuai’s body hanging from the cell bars.

After Zheng Xinghuai died in prison and the court blamed him for the Chu Prefecture massacre, Xu Qi'an defied the court and executed Duke Cao and Que Yongxiu before the people. He renounced his office as the crowd and Zheng Xinghuai’s allies recognized his actions as justice.

• Xu Qi'an found Zheng Xinghuai dead in his cell, paid his respects, and left despite the Court of Judicial Review minister’s threats.
• Emperor Yuanjing spread the claim that Zheng Xinghuai had killed himself from guilt, while Grand Secretary Wang and the other officials learned of his death and could only plan to save his life too late.
• Huaiqing comforted Lin'an by telling her that someone would stand up, as rumors accusing Zheng Xinghuai spread through the capital and Li Miaozhen worried about Xu Qi'an.
• At court, officials accepted Zheng Xinghuai’s guilt and the proposed punishment of his family; afterward Xu Qi'an blocked the Meridian Gate and seized Duke Cao and Que Yongxiu.
• Li Miaozhen, Chu Yuanzhen, and Hengyuan delayed the imperial guards while Xu Qi'an carried the two dukes to Caishikou, where Duke Cao confessed that the Prince of Huai and Que Yongxiu had massacred Chu Prefecture City with Emperor Yuanjing’s knowledge.
• Protected by the Confucian carving knife, Xu Qi'an publicly beheaded Duke Cao and Que Yongxiu, renounced his office, and received thanks from Li Han and the other righteous souls.

Xu Qi'an publicly beheaded Duke Cao and the Duke Who Protects the State, winning the commoners' support and provoking Emperor Yuanjing to retaliate. At court, most officials united to demand an edict of self-reproach, and Zhao Shou arrived to repeat their demand.

• Xu Qi'an declared that he had killed the dukes to clear Zheng Xinghuai's name, gathered their souls, and walked through the commoners' bows toward the Directorate of Astronomy.
• Emperor Yuanjing ordered Xu Qi'an's family arrested and a proclamation branding Xu Qi'an a Shaman God Cult spy, but his family had already fled and Grand Secretary Wang rejected the decree.
• Commoners beat rumor-spreaders who accused Xu Qi'an of being a spy, preventing Emperor Yuanjing's propaganda from spreading through the capital.
• At court, Emperor Yuanjing tried to sideline Grand Secretary Wang and ordered Wei Yuan to arrest Xu Qi'an, but Zhang Xingying demanded that the emperor issue an edict of self-reproach.
• Wei Yuan, Grand Secretary Wang, Minister Sun, and most of the civil officials joined Zhang Xingying in demanding an edict, while hundreds of officials knelt outside the hall.
• Emperor Yuanjing refused to admit fault, and Zhao Shou appeared before him and demanded an edict of self-reproach.

Zhao Shou confronted Emperor Yuanjing in the throne hall and, with the Superintendent’s support, forced him to agree to an edict of self-reproach and a decree clearing Xu Qi'an. Xu Qi'an planned his next steps after leaving office, and the chapter ended with the edict posted throughout the capital, stirring an uproar.

• Zhao Shou entered the throne hall with the Carving Knife, demanded an edict of self-reproach, and revealed that Xu Qi'an was his personal disciple.
• The Superintendent appeared and ordered Emperor Yuanjing to issue the edict, then Zhao Shou announced that he no longer deigned to serve at court.
• At the Star Observation Tower, Xu Qi'an discussed his allies and plans with Chu Caiwei while the Superintendent confirmed that Emperor Yuanjing had agreed to the edict.
• The Superintendent learned that Song wanted permission to join the Human Sect and study Daoist spells, while Chu Caiwei explained that Yang Qianhuan had been suppressed underground.
• Emperor Yuanjing learned that Wei Yuan and Wang Zhenwen would not end the court session until they saw the edict, then the edict was posted at all twelve gates of the capital.

After Emperor Yuanjing issued an edict of self-reproach, the people and scholars accepted Xu Qi'an's account of the Chu Prefecture massacre, and news spread that Zhao Shou had named him his personal disciple. Xu Qi'an questioned the newly dead Que Yongxiu and learned that Emperor Yuanjing and the Prince of Huai had planned the massacre to obtain a Soul Pill; he then asked where it was.

• Commoners read Emperor Yuanjing's edict of self-reproach and concluded that Xu Qi'an had told the truth about the Chu Prefecture massacre.
• Scholars at the Directorate of Education condemned the court, then celebrated after hearing that Zhao Shou had declared Xu Qi'an his personal disciple.
• Huaiqing and Lin'an discussed the emperor's loss of prestige and Lin'an's role in sheltering Li Miaozhen and Hengyuan; Huaiqing noticed the jade pendant Xu Qi'an had made for Lin'an.
• Xu Qi'an summoned Duke Cao and Que Yongxiu's ghosts, learning that Duke Cao had found out about the massacre only after it happened.
• Que Yongxiu told Xu Qi'an that Emperor Yuanjing and the Prince of Huai had planned the massacre to gather blood essence and that Emperor Yuanjing wanted to refine a Soul Pill.
• Xu Qi'an questioned why Emperor Yuanjing would risk so much for the Soul Pill and asked Que Yongxiu where it was.

Xu Qi'an learned that Emperor Yuanjing had obtained the Soul Pill and uncovered a possible role for Spirit Dragons in regulating a dynasty’s Fate. He picked up Zhong Li and Xu Lingyin, while Emperor Yuanjing secretly took Fate from the Spirit Dragon.

• Xu Qi'an questioned Que Yongxiu and Duke Cao’s souls, discovering that Emperor Yuanjing had received the Soul Pill and learning about Duke Cao’s hidden treasure residence.
• Chu Caiwei led Xu Qi'an and Li Miaozhen to the Star Observation Tower library, where Xu Qi'an read that Spirit Dragons could stabilize a dynasty’s Fate.
• That night, Emperor Yuanjing took some of the Fate he had stored with the Spirit Dragon, despite its resistance.
• Xu Qi'an collected Zhong Li and traveled with her, Li Miaozhen, and Chu Yuanzhen to Cloud Deer Academy to retrieve his family.
• Xu Qi'an found Xu Lingyin asleep near the academy, woke her, and carried her toward the summit as they argued over whether the word was “rump” or “wump.”

Xu Qi'an visited the Cloud Deer Academy, learned that the princess consort was connected to an ancient Flower Goddess legend, and gave the Great Confucians a poem that sparked a fight over its title. After returning home, he summoned Luo Yuheng with a talisman sword, and she appeared in his room.

• Xu Qi'an visited Dean Zhao Shou and borrowed Great Zhou Gleanings, discovering its account of a Flower Goddess whose story seemed connected to the princess consort.
• Xu Qi'an recited a poem praising bamboo, prompting Zhao Shou and the three Great Confucians to quarrel and fight over who could name it.
• Li Miaozhen and Chu Yuanzhen attempted to teach Xu Lingyin, but Xu Erlang warned them that she could not learn what she did not want to learn.
• Xu Qi'an returned to the Xu Residence with his family and contacted Luo Yuheng through the talisman sword to ask about the Soul Pill matter.
• Luo Yuheng appeared in Xu Qi'an's room, while Zhong Li fell from the roof after fate caused Luo Yuheng to overlook her.

Xu Qi'an and Li Miaozhen searched Duke Cao's hidden cellar and found secret letters linking Susu's father, Su Hang, to a factional purge. They told Susu they had found a lead on her father's execution, leaving her stunned and waiting for answers.

• Luo Yuheng explained that Emperor Yuanjing had weak Daoist aptitude and cautioned Xu Qi'an to guard against retaliation, giving him a talisman sword for emergencies.
• Xu Qi'an took Li Miaozhen and Zhong Li to Duke Cao's private residence, where Li Miaozhen's spirits found a cellar concealed beneath the study.
• The group discovered a trove of valuable antiques and secret letters recording Duke Cao's corruption, including a letter about Su Hang's execution.
• Xu Qi'an noticed that a faction's name had been erased from the letter and suggested investigating official records to learn more about Susu's father's death.
• Back at the Xu Residence, Li Miaozhen told Susu they had found a lead concerning her father's execution, and Susu asked if they had really found it.

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Xu Qi'an evaded the imperial guard commander's questions about the consort, then began investigating Susu's family case and Emperor Yuanjing's court diaries. Meanwhile, the abandoned consort grew lonely and despairing at the inn until someone knocked at her door.

• Susu read Xu Qi'an's letter about her family's case, and he teased her before officials arrived to question him about the consort's abduction.
• Xu Qi'an convinced the imperial guard commander that he had realized the real consort was disguised among the maidservants, and the commander left without finding her.
• Li Yuchun urged Xu Qi'an to leave the capital, while Song Tingfeng and Zhu Guangxiao warned that Emperor Yuanjing would not spare him; Li Yuchun accidentally kicked Zhong Li when she startled him.
• Xu Qi'an asked Xu Erlang to memorize Emperor Yuanjing's court diaries and arranged with Chief Constable Chen and the assistant minister of the Court of Judicial Review to read Su Hang's case files.
• The consort, feeling abandoned after watching a tragic play, wept at the inn and heard someone knock on her door.

Xu Qi'an settled Mu Nanzhi in a safe house in the capital as they prepared for his possible departure. Meanwhile, Daoist Jinlian’s Nine-Colored Jinlian neared maturity, drawing the attention of Heilian’s faction and the Heaven and Earth Society.

• Xu Qi'an took Mu Nanzhi to a furnished courtyard house, where she began learning to manage household chores and asked to leave the capital with him, but he refused.
• Daoist Jinlian watched the Nine-Colored Jinlian’s radiance announce that its seeds would ripen soon, and told Daoist Bailian that the Heaven and Earth Society’s members would help confront Heilian.
• Heilian’s followers planned to attack Jinlian’s group and seize the lotus seeds, but Heilian warned that the event might be a trap and spread news of the ripening to draw in the martial alliances and Great Feng’s emperor.
• Xu Qi'an received a message from Nine saying the Nine-Colored Lotus Seeds would ripen in half a month and asking whether everyone was ready.

Xu Qi'an learned that the Nine-Colored Lotus would soon mature and agreed to seek Wei Yuan's help protecting it in Jianzhou. While investigating Su Hang's execution, he uncovered signs that people’s memories and records of the former Grand Secretary had been mysteriously erased, and Emperor Yuanjing received news of the lotus seeds.

• Daoist Jinlian told the Heaven and Earth Society that the Nine-Colored Lotus would mature in half a month and that Heilian's Earth Sect might come to claim it.
• Xu Qi'an warned the group about Heilian's powerful avatar, and Daoist Jinlian asked him to recruit Wei Yuan while promising two lotus seeds in payment.
• Daoist Jinlian agreed to sever Xu Qi'an's bond with his Earth Book Fragment when he reached Jianzhou, and Xu Qi'an later asked Wei Yuan to help protect the lotus.
• Xu Qi'an asked Wei Yuan about Su Hang, then obtained court dossiers showing Su Hang had been a Grand Secretary of the Eastern Pavilion before being executed for corruption.
• Xu Qi'an realized that Wei Yuan, the assistant minister, and even Duke Cao could not remember Su Hang, and suspected someone had veiled heaven's secrets before he fell asleep and forgot his deduction.
• An old eunuch delivered Emperor Yuanjing news about the Nine-Colored Lotus seeds, and Emperor Yuanjing reacted with sudden interest.