Recaps

Madam Shen arrived at Black Wind Stronghold expecting danger, but she and her children found a well-equipped community with a cafeteria, spacious courtyards, and a free school. The family remained astonished by how different the stronghold was from the rumors they had heard.

• Madam Shen woke at Black Wind Stronghold, panicked about her children, and learned from Zhou Wanwan that the stronghold did not eat people.
• A guide took Madam Shen to the cafeteria, where she saw the food options and learned residents earned vouchers through work.
• Madam Shen ate duck blood vermicelli soup, and the three Shen children told her they had enjoyed their meals.
• Yinyue showed Madam Shen two spacious courtyards prepared for her family and explained that the rooms had new clothes and quilts.
• Yinyue told Madam Shen about the stronghold's free school and said she would show it to her the next day.
• The Shen children wondered whether their comfortable welcome was real and worried that the stronghold might be fattening them up to kill them.

Madam Shen discovered that Black Wind Stronghold was far more comfortable than she had expected, while Shen Yu'an worried about the prefect's grain demand. Zhou Wanwan arranged grain for Shen Yu'an to deliver, and the chapter ended with the prefect accusing him after learning that the yamen's grain had vanished.

• Madam Shen toured the well-furnished rooms and learned from Shen Yu'an that Zhou Wanwan was the six-year-old stronghold chief and their master.
• Shen Yu'an told Madam Shen that Zhou Wanwan had promised the grain matter would be settled, but he remained anxious about the deadline and his family.
• Zhou Wanwan instructed Old Scholar Tree to find the prefectural yamen's grain stores and exchange grain so Shen Yu'an could make his delivery.
• Zhou Wanwan presented Shen Yu'an with carriages of mid-grade grain, explaining that the prefectural yamen's top-grade grain had been stolen separately.
• Shen Yu'an delivered the grain, and the prefect accused him of stealing from the yamen warehouse before discovering that his sacks contained no top-grade rice.

As the prefect and Cheng Xiao plotted to capture the Black Wind Stronghold leaders by inviting them to the prefectural yamen after the exams, Zhou Wanwan and the others took the county examination and received meals from the Old Scholar Tree. Gu Sinian faced taunts from Gu Erdan about his mother, leaving him questioning whether he still had one.

• The prefect suspected Shen Yu'an was allied with the Black Wind Stronghold and ordered Cheng Xiao to keep the bandits off the xiucai list or lure them to the yamen after they passed.
• During the second examination session, Zhou Wanwan received a hot meal through the Old Scholar Tree, and Zhou Fusheng and the others were given identical food.
• Qian Jinbao drooled onto his exam paper while watching Zhou Fusheng eat, ruining it, and Gu Erdan complained when Gu Sinian ate in the examination hall.
• The next day, constables jabbed through Qian Jinbao's and Gu Erdan's elaborate food, ruining their meals.
• Gu Erdan threatened Gu Sinian and said his mother was looking for him, but Gu Sinian remembered her abandoning him and his father.

After finishing his exam, Gu Sinian was confronted by Chen Dongmei, who demanded that he acknowledge her and rescue her from Su Peng. Gu Sinian rejected her, and as Zhou Wanwan led him away, the people of Gu Family Village arrived and challenged Gu Chaoyang.

• Gu Sinian ignored Gu Erdan’s taunts, finished his meal, and continued working on his examination paper.
• After the exam, Chen Dongmei claimed Gu Sinian as her son, but he denied her and reminded her that she had left him and taken the family’s money.
• Gu Chaoyang and Zheng Chunhe arrived, and Zheng Chunhe invited Gu Sinian home while Chen Dongmei demanded help from Gu Chaoyang.
• Su Peng struck and kicked Chen Dongmei, while Gu Erdan mocked Gu Sinian and urged him to save her.
• Gu Sinian reminded Chen Dongmei that she had once watched others bully him, and Zhou Wanwan took his hand and led him away.
• The people of Gu Family Village arrived, and the village chief criticized Gu Chaoyang for leaving and asked whether the village had wronged him.

Gu Chaoyang confronted the Gu Family Village elders and his stepmother over their past cruelty and their demands for support. Zhou Wanwan turned their attempt to move into the family’s home against them, and Old Madam Gu was thrown outside after threatening Gu Sinian’s imperial examinations.

• Gu Chaoyang blamed the clan for trying to seize his earnings and for failing to protect Gu Sinian, who revealed that Gu Erdan had smashed his head with a brick.
• Zhou Wanwan arranged for Old Uncle Scholar Tree to follow Su Peng after he dragged the battered Chen Dongmei away.
• The village chief brought Gu Chaoyang’s stepmother, who demanded support and threatened to stop Gu Sinian from taking the imperial examinations.
• Zhou Wanwan agreed to support the old woman if Gu Chaoming signed a document, and Zheng Chunhe invited them to the family’s residence.
• At the courtyard house, Old Madam Gu picked the latrine as her room, then demanded Zheng Chunhe’s room and threatened Gu Sinian again.
• Something bound Old Madam Gu and sent her flying outside.

Gu Chaoyang and his companions trapped the Gu family visitors in a grove, while Zhou Wanwan also had Su Peng left stranded in a tree. After Zhou Fusheng and everyone from Black Wind Mountain Stronghold passed the county exam, Zhou Wanwan confronted Lu Lan and Wen Zhiyu at a teahouse, where Lu Lan had accused her of cheating.

• Gu Chaoming, Old Madam Gu, and the village chief were caught by tree roots after confronting Gu Chaoyang and were released the next day with no memory of what happened.
• Zhou Wanwan sent trees to deal with Su Peng, who woke naked high in a tree outside the government office and later told the prefect that Zhou Wanwan was a demoness.
• The county exam results came out, and Zhou Fusheng and all thirty-eight candidates from Black Wind Mountain Stronghold passed.
• Zhou Wanwan learned that Lu Lan and Wen Zhiyu were at a teahouse and took her brothers there to celebrate.
• Zhou Wanwan overheard Lu Lan and Wen Zhiyu accuse her of cheating, then mocked Lu Lan for failing the exam.
• Lu Lan confronted Zhou Wanwan but stopped when she saw Gu Sinian beside her, and Zhou Wanwan continued taunting her.

Zhou Wanwan accepted Lu Lan's invitation to a birthday banquet that was also a matchmaking gathering, while her maternal uncles returned with gifts for her and news of Liu Suyun's cold treatment of them. Liu Su'e and her brothers went to visit Liu Sufen, where they found her being abused by her mother-in-law for failing to bear a child.

• Lu Lan challenged Zhou Wanwan to attend her birthday banquet, and Zhou Wanwan agreed after learning it would be a gathering for prominent families and a chance for her brothers to meet potential matches.
• Liu Su'e's six brothers arrived with lavish gifts for Zhou Wanwan, while Zhou Qingchen, Zhou Qinghe, and Zhou Qingyan teased them for bringing nothing for the nephews.
• The uncles told Liu Su'e that Liu Suyun had rejected them, insulted them as poor, and given them ten copper coins to keep them away.
• Liu Su'e and her brothers set out with food and supplies to visit Liu Sufen in Falling Rosy Clouds Village.
• At Liu Sufen's home, her mother-in-law berated her for a poorly cooked meal and for not having children.

Zhou Wanwan and Liu Su'e rescued Liu Sufen from the abusive Wu family, but Liu Sufen lost her pregnancy and feared returning home. The chapter ended with Liu Sufen begging her sister to release the Wu family so they would not send An'an into the mountains.

• Liu Sufen begged Old Madam Wu not to abandon An'an, then Wu Dazhi struck and shoved her when she asked to rest.
• Zhou Wanwan warned Liu Su'e and her uncles that Liu Sufen was in danger, and they rushed into the Wu home to find her bleeding and unconscious.
• Zhou Wanwan treated Liu Sufen with precious herbs, and Liu Sufen woke after more than two hours.
• Liu Sufen recognized Liu Su'e and wept as she described how much she missed her family and feared the Wu family would kill her if she left.
• Old Madam Wu threatened Liu Sufen from outside, and Liu Sufen begged Liu Su'e to release the family so they would not send An'an into the mountains.

Liu Sufen left Wu Dazhi with Liu Su'e, and tree spirits terrorized Wu Dazhi and Old Madam Wu until he agreed to seek a mutual-consent divorce. At the county yamen, Liu Sufen asked Shen Yu'an for a divorce and justice for Wu Dazhi's abuse, while Wu Dazhi admitted he had beaten her.

• Liu Dalang carried Liu Sufen out of the Wu home, and Liu Su'e told Wu Dazhi to complete the divorce formalities the next day.
• Old Scholar Tree and the other trees tied up Wu Dazhi and whipped him all night, then the little pine tree stuffed manure into Old Madam Wu's mouth and forced Wu Dazhi to promise to seek a divorce.
• Wu Dazhi and Old Madam Wu went to the county yamen and accused Liu Sufen's family of assault and theft, prompting Shen Yu'an to summon Liu Su'e and Liu Sufen.
• Liu Sufen arrived at the yamen in new clothes and asked Shen Yu'an for a divorce, saying Wu Dazhi had beaten her until she miscarried and abused her regularly.
• Wu Dazhi threatened Liu Sufen and admitted to Shen Yu'an that he had beaten her because he believed disobedient women deserved it.

Liu Su'e helped Liu Sufen divorce Wu Dazhi and brought her to the Zhou Family's grand residence in Yunxi County, where she promised to help her seek revenge. Wu Dazhi was stunned by the family's wealth and Zhou Fusheng's transformation, then asked to see Sufen without realizing they had divorced.

• Shen Yu'an granted Liu Sufen's divorce from Wu Dazhi, who mocked her and boasted that he would find another wife.
• Liu Su'e and her family left in a luxurious carriage, and Zhou Wanwan taunted Wu Dazhi before a guard slapped him.
• Liu Su'e comforted Liu Sufen and promised to avenge her as the carriage carried them to their residence in Yunxi County.
• Wu Dazhi and Old Madam Wu followed the carriage and learned from neighbors that the mansion belonged to the wealthy Zhou Family.
• Wu Dazhi learned Zhou Fusheng had recovered his leg and was taking the xiucai exam, then gaped at his refined appearance.
• Zhou Fusheng initially ignored Wu Dazhi, who blocked his way and begged to visit Sufen; Zhou Fusheng allowed him in and urged him to make amends.

Wu Dazhi and Old Madam Wu visited Liu Sufen, hoping to persuade her to return after seeing her comfortable new life, but she rejected them and had them thrown out. That evening, the two climbed into the courtyard, intent on sneaking in and taking its valuables.

• Zhou Fusheng brought Wu Dazhi and Old Madam Wu to Liu Sufen’s courtyard, where they gaped at its grandeur and the maids attending her.
• Wu Dazhi apologized to Liu Sufen and begged her and An'an to return to the Wu family, but An'an refused and Liu Sufen accused him of wanting her newfound comforts.
• Old Madam Wu coveted An'an’s gold collar and Zhou Wanwan’s jewelry, while Liu Su'e ordered the visitors to leave.
• Wu Dazhi claimed he might pass the xiucai exam and promised Liu Sufen a better life, but Liu Sufen refused and had him and Old Madam Wu thrown out.
• Wu Dazhi and Old Madam Wu decided to claim the courtyard as their home and returned that evening by climbing over the wall, hoping to steal valuables.

Wu Dazhi and Old Madam Wu were frightened by a ghostly illusion and nearly missed the prefectural examination, while Zhou Wanwan finished her exam and visited her successful shops in the Jianghu Alliance. The chapter leaves Zhou Wanwan checking on her thriving businesses.

• Wu Dazhi and Old Madam Wu wandered through the woods, encountered a terrifying ghostly figure, and fainted.
• Wu Dazhi woke naked with Old Madam Wu in a street market, feared he had missed the examination, then borrowed clothes and reached the examination hall in time.
• Wu Dazhi blamed Zhou Fusheng and threatened him, while Zhou Fusheng ignored him and began the prefectural examination.
• Zhou Wanwan ate an elaborate breakfast, completed the examination quickly, and slept until Old Scholar Tree woke her before the papers were collected.
• During the ten-day break before the academy examination, Old Scholar Tree took Zhou Wanwan into the Jianghu Alliance, where she found her shops crowded with customers.

Zhao Lili had her followers smash Zhou Wanwan’s restaurant and later sent men to attack Yun Duo, but Old Scholar Tree captured them. Zhou Wanwan then went with Old Scholar Tree to the Earth Ranking Courtyard, where its people were knocked unconscious, and Lingbao reported that the first batch of ginseng was ready to sell.

• Zhao Lili demanded special treatment at Zhou Wanwan’s restaurant, insulted Yun Duo, and ordered her followers to smash the place before threatening Yun Duo with her family’s influence.
• Zhao Lili and her companions ate across the street, where they plotted to take revenge on Yun Duo that night.
• A group of men sneaked into the restaurant, but Old Scholar Tree trapped them with roots and punished them after their leader tried to attack Zhou Wanwan.
• Old Scholar Tree took Zhou Wanwan to the Earth Ranking Courtyard at night, where its people were knocked unconscious.
• Lingbao told Zhou Wanwan that its spiritual rootlets and the ginseng they produced had grown quickly, and that the first batch was ready to sell.

Zhou Wanwan watched as Old Scholar Tree and the other trees dismantled and carried away the entire Earth Ranking Courtyard. The Jianghu Alliance discovered the loss, blamed steward Zhao Lili, and launched an investigation, while Zhou Wanwan learned that a reward of one hundred thousand taels of gold had been offered for the mastermind.

• Old Scholar Tree led the trees in carrying away all forty-five main buildings and thirty warehouses from the Earth Ranking Courtyard, despite Zhou Wanwan’s objections.
• The next morning, Earth Ranking experts found the courtyard gone, and Zhao Lili woke among the ruins and panicked over the missing treasures.
• Chief Steward Zhao and other Jianghu Alliance stewards arrived, mocked Zhao Lili, and removed her from her duties while ordering a thorough investigation.
• Zhou Wanwan heard that the Jianghu Alliance had offered one hundred thousand taels of gold for the mastermind, and Iron Crutch Li warned that they had gone too far.

Zhou Wanwan explored the Earth Ranking Courtyard's treasure-filled warehouse, revived fresh medicinal herbs, and tended to Lingbao before completing the academy examination. As everyone waited for the results, the chief examiner was surprised by how strong the Yunxi County examinees' papers were.

• Zhou Wanwan discovered that the Earth Ranking Courtyard warehouse held vast stores of herbs, weapons, books, money, and other supplies, then revived many freshly dug medicinal herbs.
• Zhou Wanwan trimmed Lingbao's fast-growing rootlets for cultivation and let Lingbao and other herbs bathe in medicinal water.
• Zhou Wanwan, Gu Sinian, Zhou Fusheng, Zhou Qinghe, Zhou Qingchen, and the other examinees completed three days of difficult academy examinations.
• Zhou Wanwan returned home and waited for the results while tending to ginseng in the courtyard.
• The chief examiner reviewed the papers and remarked that the Yunxi County examinees were far more outstanding than those from other counties.

Yunxi County produced an unusually large number of xiucai, including many from Black Wind Stronghold, while Zhou Wanwan’s family waited nervously for the results. When Xie Cheng'en and his companions mocked them, Zhou Wanwan had Old Scholar Tree bombard the alley with firecrackers and taunted Xie Cheng'en through the smoke.

• The examiners finalized a list of forty xiucai from Yunxi County, and the prefect wondered how Black Wind Stronghold had produced so many successful candidates.
• Zhou Wanwan’s family prepared to celebrate the results while neighbors mocked them for expecting anyone in their family to pass.
• Cheng Chao arrived with firecrackers, and Xie Cheng'en and his companions insulted him and the Zhou family.
• Zhou Wanwan called Xie Cheng'en’s companions dogs and signaled Old Scholar Tree to unleash hundreds of powerful firecrackers in the alley.
• Xie Cheng'en and his companions were blasted with soot and smoke, and Zhou Wanwan taunted Xie Cheng'en as he shouted her name.

Zhou Wanwan celebrated as her household’s scholars received their results, while Xie Cheng'en and his followers received no good news. The next day, Zhou Wanwan went to the prefect’s banquet, where Cheng Chao defended Qingxi County against other scholars’ insults.

• Firecrackers blasted Xie Cheng'en’s followers, and Zhou Wanwan mocked them as an early celebration of her brother’s success.
• An official runner announced that twenty-six scholars from Zhou Wanwan’s household had passed, and the names revealed Gu Sinian in first place, Zhou Wanwan in second, Zhou Qingyan in third, and Zhou Fusheng among those who passed.
• Xie Cheng'en and his followers received no notices, while Zhou Wanwan’s family celebrated their results with hot pot.
• Shen Yu'an told Zhou Wanwan that the prefect had invited the scholars to a banquet, and Old Scholar Tree sent trees to scout the prefect’s residence before she went.
• At the prefectural yamen, Cheng Chao challenged scholars who disparaged Qingxi County and explained that he had come to attend his master, Zhou Wanwan.

Zhou Wanwan and the Black Wind Stronghold avoided the prefect’s poisoned banquet, while the prefect, Xie Cheng'en, and other scholars suffered severe diarrhea. After the prefect blamed Zhou Wanwan, he and Cheng Xiao planned to stop the stronghold from reaching the capital and sought Cheng Chao’s help.

• The prefect hosted a lavish banquet and gave each newly qualified scholar ten taels, but the trees warned Zhou Wanwan that the food was poisoned and said they had prepared for it.
• Several banquet tables of scholars, including the prefect and Xie Cheng'en, were struck by stomach cramps, while Zhou Wanwan and the Black Wind Stronghold carried their food aside and finished eating.
• Zhou Wanwan watched the chaos and mocked Xie Cheng'en as he was carried out, while the prefect accused her and ordered her group to leave.
• After suffering diarrhea for half the night, the prefect told Cheng Xiao what had happened and proposed recruiting Cheng Chao to prevent the Black Wind Stronghold from reaching the capital.
• Cheng Xiao visited Cheng Chao, complained about his son’s loyalty to Zhou Wanwan, and asked to speak with him inside his large residence.

Cheng Chao rejected his father’s demand to help with Zhou Wanwan and declared his loyalty to her. Zhou Wanwan attended Lu Lan’s banquet, where the supposed capital noblewomen mocked her, but the trees revealed that their claims of status were false.

• Cheng Chao told Cheng Xiao that Zhou Wanwan was his master and that she would decide his marriage, prompting Cheng Xiao to storm out.
• Zhou Wanwan decided to attend Lu Lan’s invitation despite suspecting a plot, and Feng Yueyao joined her.
• Lu Lan and Wen Zhiyu led Zhou Wanwan into the garden, where a county princess and other young ladies accused her of cheating and mocked her clothes and jewelry.
• Zhou Wanwan and Feng Yueyao defended their clothing and jewelry, while nearby trees revealed that the supposed capital guests were impostors or had fallen from status.

Zhou Wanwan clashed with Lu Lan, Lu Xuening, and Shangguan Wan’er’s capital companions over her expensive hairpin, then traded insults with Xie Cheng'en at a garden gathering. The chapter ended as Xie Cheng'en ordered the young men with him to bring Zhou Wanwan over and teach her a lesson.

• Lu Lan introduced Lu Xuening as County Princess Anning and presented the capital noblewomen, who mocked Zhou Wanwan for taking the xiucai examination.
• A noblewoman demanded Zhou Wanwan’s butterfly hairpin, and Zhou Wanwan refused to give it away despite threats from the woman’s maid.
• Zhou Mei revealed that Zhou Wanwan’s family had a mountain stronghold, while Shangguan Wan’er and Lu Xuening estimated the immense value of Zhou Wanwan’s clothes and accessories.
• Zhou Wanwan and Feng Yueyao sat on swings and complained that banquets encouraged tedious comparisons.
• Xie Cheng'en scolded Zhou Wanwan for sitting among unrelated men, and she mocked him about once pooping his pants.
• Xie Cheng'en ordered the young men accompanying him to bring Zhou Wanwan over and teach her a lesson.

At the Lu family banquet, Xie Cheng'en tried to punish Zhou Wanwan and Feng Yueyao by throwing them into the river, but Zhou Wanwan turned the tables and secretly took him onto a fishing boat. The children returned safely, while Xie Cheng'en came back soaked and terrified.

• Gu Sinian and Zhou Qingyan confronted Xie Cheng'en, but his shadow guards overpowered them and seized Zhou Wanwan and Feng Yueyao.
• Xie Cheng'en ordered the guards to throw the two girls into the river, but the guards and Xie Cheng'en were pulled into the water as well.
• Gu Sinian saw Lingbao and hid it in his pocket, while Zhou Wanwan and Feng Yueyao escaped on a fishing boat with Xie Cheng'en.
• Zhou Wanwan had Old Scholar Tree repeatedly dunk Xie Cheng'en in the river while she fished and grilled fish, until he begged to be released.
• Old Scholar Tree returned Zhou Wanwan and Feng Yueyao to shore, and Xie Cheng'en soon appeared in a sorry state as his mother rushed to him.

At the Lu Family feast, Zhou Wanwan was mocked for eating freely and boasting that her family had better river delicacies. She wagered jewelry with Shangguan Wan'er, revealed three valuable pieces that stunned the guests, and the dispute ended with Shangguan Wan'er calling for an appraiser.

• Xie Cheng'en told his mother he wanted to go home, and she took him home.
• At the Lu Family feast, Lu Lan, Shangguan Wan'er, and others mocked Zhou Wanwan for eating too much and dismissed her claim that her family had plenty of river delicacies.
• Zhou Wanwan challenged Shangguan Wan'er to a jewelry bet, and they had a contract written stating the loser would forfeit her jewelry.
• Zheng Xing'an opened Zhou Wanwan's battered box and showed a crimson-flame phoenix hairpin, a creamy mutton-fat white jade pendant, and a gold-inlaid sapphire armband.
• The guests were stunned by Zhou Wanwan's jewelry, but Lu Lan claimed it was fake, so Shangguan Wan'er called for an appraiser.

Zhou Wanwan proved her jewelry was genuine by revealing that the palace jade carver Su Liangjiang was present, winning Shangguan Wan’er's jewelry and ruining her marriage prospects. The Marchioness of Loyalty and Valor then asked Zhou Wanwan for a favor involving her medical skills.

• Appraisers declared Zhou Wanwan's jewelry fake, but she challenged them to identify the supposed work of Su Liangjiang.
• Zhou Wanwan summoned Su Liangjiang, and a woman who had met him confirmed his identity, proving the jewelry was genuine.
• The Marchioness of Loyalty and Valor withdrew her family's marriage proposal after Shangguan Wan'er insulted her, leaving Shangguan Wan'er distraught.
• Zhou Wanwan won three pieces of Shangguan Wan'er's jewelry and dismissed her threat to take revenge.
• The Marchioness of Loyalty and Valor asked Zhou Wanwan for help because of her medical skills.

Zhou Wanwan examined the Marquis of Loyalty and Valor’s household’s heir and diagnosed his poor health as the cause of his infertility, but he blamed his wife and threatened Zhou. She then learned the household’s hidden family history as Ji Yunzheng brought in his pregnant mistress and revealed that the marchioness was not his birth mother.

• The marchioness asked Zhou Wanwan to examine her eldest son and his wife, and Zhou found the wife healthy but diagnosed the son with depleted kidney qi from excessive indulgence.
• Zhou prescribed the eldest young master a course of medicine, but he blamed his wife, refused to share her bed, and stormed out.
• Ji Yunzheng ordered his men to slap Zhou, but the marchioness stopped them and apologized to her.
• Zhou overheard household plants reveal that Yuan Xue was the marchioness’s birth daughter and that Ji Yunzheng was adopted.
• Ji Yunzheng returned with his pregnant mistress Manniang, argued with the marchioness, and threatened to expose that she had switched her newborn daughter for him to gain favor with his father.

Zhou Wanwan escaped Ji Yunzheng’s attempt to kill her, gave her contest winnings to Feng Yueyao, and faced a new talent competition proposed by Shangguan Wan’er. After Zhou Wanwan refused to compete without a prize, Xie Cheng’en offered one.

• Yuan Xue told Ji Yunzheng she wanted a divorce, and he left with Manniang after threatening Zhou Wanwan.
• The Marchioness of Loyalty and Valor apologized to Zhou Wanwan, who declined protection and suggested she could have a grandchild without relying on Ji Yunzheng.
• Ji Yunzheng sent more than a dozen guards after Zhou Wanwan, but Old Scholar Tree swiftly drove them off.
• Zhou Wanwan gave the jewelry she had won to Feng Yueyao and rejected Zhou Mei’s claim to it.
• Shangguan Wan’er proposed a competition in poetry, music, archery, and horsemanship, while capital guests disparaged Yunxi County’s talents.
• Zhou Wanwan refused to compete without a prize, and Xie Cheng’en offered to provide one.