Chapter Summaries

Zhou Wanwan slept while Old Scholar Tree and its subordinates emptied the Shen residence of its treasures, and the next morning Shen Congrong blamed her for the theft. He moved his family to a vast mountain estate and posted hundreds of guards, but Madam Shen was awakened by another scream the next day.

• Old Scholar Tree’s subordinates uncovered a treasure chest and a lacquered chest of valuables, including a mysterious token, and carried the contents away.
• Lord Shen and Madam Shen woke in a cowshed, and Shen Congrong accused Zhou Wanwan of having both of his residences stolen.
• Zhou Wanwan denied knowing anything and asked Shen Congrong to take her to Jiangnan, but he refused and ordered her locked in the woodshed again.
• Shen Congrong moved his family to a sprawling mountain estate and stationed hundreds of soldiers and constables there to catch the thieves.
• Madam Shen worried that the estate would be wiped out, but Shen Congrong reassured her before they went to sleep; the next morning, a scream woke her.

Shen Congrong moved his household and Zhou Wanwan to a military camp after discovering that his estate had been mysteriously stripped of its trees and wheat. He believed the camp would keep the thieves out, but Madam Shen learned that Zhou Wanwan had been left without food and water and demanded that Shen Congrong bring her over.

• Madam Shen and Shen Congrong found themselves in a chicken coop, while the steward reported that the estate’s fruit trees and wheat had vanished overnight.
• A guard told Shen Congrong that the men on patrol had likely been drugged, and Shen Congrong refused to return to Jiangnan before catching the thieves.
• Shen Congrong visited Zhou Wanwan, ordered guards to watch her, and moved his household to his second son’s military camp.
• Shen Congrong arranged for Zhou Wanwan to stay in a heavily guarded tent, confident that no thieves could reach her there.
• Madam Shen discovered that Shen Congrong had not fed Zhou Wanwan since bringing her back, slapped him, and ordered him to bring the child to her.
• A little tree repeated Madam Shen’s words to Zhou Wanwan, who laughed at Shen Congrong’s fear of his wife.

Madam Shen took Zhou Wanwan under her protection after Shen Congrong accused the six-year-old of being a mountain bandit and stealing from the Shen family. She spoiled Zhou Wanwan with food and new clothes, while Shen Congrong remained convinced the girl was dangerous.

• Madam Shen scolded Shen Congrong for mistreating Zhou Wanwan and welcomed the girl into her care.
• Zhou Wanwan told Madam Shen about her home and family in Yunxi County while eating dinner.
• Shen Yunshu arrived and invited Zhou Wanwan to visit Madam Shen's estate and catch wild rabbits.
• Madam Shen dismissed Shen Congrong's accusations and comforted Zhou Wanwan when the girl pretended to cry.
• Madam Shen prepared new outfits and an elaborate breakfast for Zhou Wanwan, while Shen Congrong continued to suspect her of stealing.

Madam Shen took Zhou Wanwan to her estate, where Zhou Wanwan out-fished Shen Congrong and Shen Wanjun revealed the truth about their bet. Shen Congrong then wagered a jeweled bracelet that Zhou Wanwan could tame the estate’s dogs, but the chapter ended when the dogs—many of them fierce Tibetan mastiffs—arrived and Madam Shen tried to stop the bet.

• Madam Shen took Zhou Wanwan to her estate, where Shen Congrong threatened to break the child’s legs and Madam Shen scolded him.
• Zhou Wanwan caught more than ten fish while Shen Yunshu caught two, and Shen Congrong fell into the river after a powerful fish pulled him off the boat.
• Shen Congrong accused Zhou Wanwan of being vicious for winning more than a hundred million taels from Shen Wanjun, but Shen Wanjun admitted the bet had been his fault and showed their contract.
• Zhou Wanwan explained that the animals had followed her because she promised to feed them, and Shen Wanjun confirmed that they obeyed her.
• Shen Congrong wagered a jeweled gold bracelet that Zhou Wanwan could tame the estate’s dogs, but Madam Shen tried to call off the bet after dozens of dogs, including Tibetan mastiffs, arrived.

Zhou Wanwan won Shen Congrong’s gold bracelet by calming his vicious dogs and then gave it to Shen Yunshu, who offered her a place in the Shen household. At dinner, Zhou Wanwan discovered the estate’s unwanted crayfish and arranged to take them back to Black Wind Stronghold to raise in the rice paddies.

• Zhou Wanwan approached the vicious dogs, which cowered and obediently shook hands with her.
• When Shen Congrong doubted the dogs were fierce, they charged after him until Zhou Wanwan told them to stop, and he handed her the bracelet.
• Zhou Wanwan gave Shen Yunshu the bracelet and a jeweled yingluo necklace, while Shen Congrong refused to let her move in with the family.
• At dinner, Zhou Wanwan spotted crayfish in the estate’s ponds and asked the estate manager for five buckets and as many more as he could find.
• Zhou Wanwan said she would keep the crayfish in water and take them to Black Wind Stronghold to raise in the rice paddies.

Zhou Wanwan took Shen Yunshu and Shen Wanjun into the mountains, gathered spices and mushrooms, and returned with a haul of live game for Madam Shen. She planned a feast of game and two kinds of crayfish, while also promising to examine Shen Yunshu’s maternal grandfather’s crippled legs.

• Zhou Wanwan found spices in the mountains and learned from Shen Yunshu how her maternal grandfather’s legs had been crushed on the orders of a treacherous consort.
• Zhou Wanwan offered to examine Shen Yunshu’s grandfather and asked what game Shen Yunshu and Shen Wanjun wanted to eat.
• Shen Wanjun stopped Shen Yunshu from following Zhou Wanwan into the forest, and Zhou Wanwan soon returned with numerous live animals, spices, and mushrooms.
• Madam Shen and Shen Congrong saw Zhou Wanwan bring the game home, and Zhou Wanwan offered to have it prepared for dinner.
• Zhou Wanwan told the cook to make spicy, numbing crayfish and minced-garlic crayfish, while Shen Congrong refused to eat them.

At dinner, Zhou Wanwan offered to cure Old Master Xie's leg in exchange for his loyalty, and he agreed after she made him laugh. When Shen Congrong accused her of causing trouble and threatened her, Old Master Xie defended her and demanded evidence.

• Zhou Wanwan challenged Old Master Xie to let her treat his leg, and he promised to serve her if she cured it; they sealed their agreement by linking pinkies and thumbs.
• Old Master Xie laughed at Zhou Wanwan's blunt remarks, then insisted on tasting the lobster despite Shen Congrong's warnings.
• Shen Congrong repeatedly ate the lobster while claiming he was testing it for poison, and the others joined in after finding it delicious.
• Shen Congrong threatened Zhou Wanwan over supposed theft, so she told Old Master Xie that he had locked her in the woodshed without food or water and accused her upon her release.
• Old Master Xie ordered Shen Congrong to kneel and demanded proof of his accusations, but Shen Congrong could provide none.

As Dongshan Prefecture faced drought and grain shortages, Shen Yu'an urged officials to plant Zhou Wanwan's drought-resistant, high-yield sweet potatoes. Zhou Wanwan defended the crop before the officials, then challenged a Jiangnan Surveillance Commissioner who demanded her arrest.

• Shen Yu'an told Prefect Fang and the officials that Zhou Wanwan had given him sweet potato vines and claimed they could yield thousands of jin per mu.
• Shen Congrong dismissed Zhou Wanwan's claims and demanded that she be brought in for questioning.
• A yamen runner summoned Zhou Wanwan to discuss sweet potatoes, and she went to the county yamen.
• Shen Congrong accused Zhou Wanwan of making up the crop's yield, while Jiangnan officials questioned whether it could be grown.
• A Jiangnan Surveillance Commissioner demanded that Prefect Fang arrest Zhou Wanwan and her family, and Zhou challenged him to explain why he had come to Dongshan Prefecture.

Nie Shi'an threatened to imprison Zhou Wanwan over her claim that sweet potatoes could yield thousands of jin per mu, but agreed to wait until she treated Shen Congrong's father-in-law. Zhou returned to Madam Shen's estate, where Madam Shen welcomed her with pastries.

• Nie Shi'an said he had been transferred to Dongshan Prefecture and would punish Zhou Wanwan for deception if her sweet potatoes failed to produce several thousand jin per mu.
• Shen Congrong warned Nie Shi'an that Zhou Wanwan still needed to treat his father-in-law, and Nie Shi'an agreed to let her do so before taking her to his residence.
• Prefect Fang declined to protect Zhou Wanwan, and she refused to give him sweet potato vines after the officials failed to speak up for her.
• Zhou Wanwan returned to Madam Shen's estate, where Madam Shen picked her up and said she had been waiting with pastries.

Zhou Wanwan healed Old Master Xie's legs, but the next morning Nie Shi'an arrived to arrest her over her claims about crop yields. As Nie Shi'an confronted Shen Congrong, Madam Shen secretly arranged for Zhou Wanwan to escape through the back gate and hide in the mountains.

• Zhou Wanwan shared a lavish dinner with the Shen Clan and said Nie Shi'an intended to imprison her for claiming a crop could yield several thousand jin per mu.
• Zhou Wanwan treated Old Master Xie's crushed legs with more than a hundred medicinal herbs, and he regained the ability to stand and walk.
• Old Master Xie thanked Zhou Wanwan and said he wanted to leave the imperial court behind and live peacefully with the Shen Clan.
• Nie Shi'an arrived with his men and accused Zhou Wanwan of misleading the people into planting sweet potatoes, warning that failed crops could endanger Dongshan Prefecture.
• Shen Congrong argued with Nie Shi'an, while Zhou Wanwan eagerly asked when they would leave for prison.
• Madam Shen carried Zhou Wanwan into the military camp and told her to escape through the back gate with soldiers, then hide in the mountains.

Zhou Wanwan went with Nie Shi'an to the Nie residence and pretended to be his daughter, angering Madam Nie and getting herself locked in the family cell. As Old Scholar Tree made the cell comfortable for her, Nie Shi'an and Madam Nie arrived and argued over Zhou Wanwan's claims.

• Madam Shen told Zhou Wanwan about the Nie Family's immense wealth, and Zhou set off eagerly with pastries and milk tea.
• At the Nie residence, Zhou called Nie Shi'an her daddy and suggested Madam Nie was her mother, causing Madam Nie to faint in anger.
• Nie Shi'an ordered Zhou taken to the cell, where Zhou continued pretending he had promised her mother the Nie Family's property.
• Old Scholar Tree cleaned and furnished Zhou's cell, brought her books and fruit, and made her a comfortable bed.
• Nie Shi'an and Madam Nie argued outside the cell as he insisted Zhou was a bandit framing him.

Zhou Wanwan angered Nie Shi'an and Madam Nie with the lavish comforts in her cell, then discovered that her neighbor Xiao Che was a long-imprisoned investigator. She made him pledge his service and used her power and precious herbs to restore his failing body.

• Madam Nie found Zhou Wanwan living in a richly furnished cell and accused Nie Shi'an of favoring his supposed daughter.
• Zhou Wanwan pretended that Nie Shi'an had promised her the Nie family's property, deepening Madam Nie's suspicions before she left in anger.
• Nie Shi'an warned Zhou Wanwan to behave, but she dismissed his concern after he left.
• Xiao Che told Zhou Wanwan that he had been imprisoned for seven years after investigating the Nie Family's corruption for the emperor.
• Zhou Wanwan accepted Xiao Che's pledge of service and infused his body with medicinal herbs and her power, repairing his damaged organs.

Zhou Wanwan saved Xiao Che, fed him an extravagant meal, and explored the Nie Family compound with Old Scholar Tree. She overheard Madam Nie confess to killing Nie Shi'an’s former lover and threaten to get rid of her.

• Zhou Wanwan revived Xiao Che, who agreed to obey her because she had saved his life.
• Old Scholar Tree brought Zhou Wanwan and Xiao Che more than a dozen dishes from the Nie Family’s feast, and Zhou Wanwan judged the food only passable.
• Old Scholar Tree opened the prison’s iron door, then carried Zhou Wanwan around the heavily guarded Nie Family compound unseen.
• Zhou Wanwan admired the Nie Family estate and planned to move it to one of the mountains owned by Black Wind Stronghold.
• Madam Nie admitted to Nie Shi'an that she had caused his former lover Huiniang to drown, and she threatened to get rid of Zhou Wanwan.

Zhou Wanwan watched the Nie household turn against one another, while Old Scholar Tree secretly carried off the residence and its treasures overnight. Nie Shi'an moved Zhou Wanwan to a worse cell and threatened her family if her promised sweet potato harvest failed.

• Nie Shi'an blamed Madam Nie and Zhou Wanwan for his troubles, then ordered his manservant to teach Zhou Wanwan a lesson.
• Madam Nie ordered a maid to give the prisoners laxative-laced sweet soup, but Old Scholar Tree forced the soup on the maid and Madam Nie instead.
• Old Scholar Tree directed more than ten thousand trees to carry away the Nie residence and its storerooms while Zhou Wanwan slept.
• Nie Shi'an and Madam Nie discovered their home was gone, searched unsuccessfully for clues, and decided to stay at another courtyard house.
• Nie Shi'an moved Zhou Wanwan into a dark cell and threatened her family if her sweet potatoes did not yield several thousand jin per mu within half a year.
• Old Scholar Tree furnished Zhou Wanwan's new cell after Nie Shi'an left.

Zhou Wanwan remained in the Nie residence after being locked in a dark room, while Madam Nie defended the family’s treatment of her at a lotus-viewing banquet. Madam Shen arrived with other guests, and Zhou Wanwan appealed to her for help as the dispute over her imprisonment continued.

• Madam Shen and Shen Congrong discussed Zhou Wanwan’s new crops and wondered whether she was suffering at the Nie residence.
• At the Nie Family’s lotus-viewing banquet, Shen Wanjun, Cheng Xiao, and Gu Sinian challenged Nie Feng and Lu Lan over Zhou Wanwan’s imprisonment.
• Madam Shen explained the dispute to the gathered madams, while Madam Nie claimed Zhou Wanwan had spread harmful lies and was being treated well.
• Madam Nie had Zhou Wanwan brought from the dark room to a grand courtyard before the guests arrived.
• Zhou Wanwan clung to Madam Shen and said she had been frightened in the dark room and wanted to go home.
• Madam Shen rebuked Madam Nie for humiliating Zhou Wanwan, who had come as a guest and was a xiucai.

Zhou Wanwan challenged Lord Nie to a wager over whether she could grow a crop yielding two or three thousand jin per mu, securing her release from prison and permission to take Xiao Che. At the Nie Residence gathering, she introduced Shen Yunshu to her brothers, and Zhou Qingchen shyly began speaking with her.

• Madam Nie accused Zhou Wanwan of lying, but Zhou Wanwan's brothers and Gu Sinian demanded that she be allowed to go home.
• Zhou Wanwan asked Lord Nie to wager on the crop yield, and they signed a contract promising riches and an apology if she succeeded, or triple compensation if she failed.
• Zhou Wanwan asked Lord Nie not to imprison her again and to let Xiao Che leave with her; Lord Nie agreed to arrange her lodging and allow Xiao Che to go.
• Madam Nie invited the guests to a meal and tried to bring Shen Yunshu and Nie Feng together, but Shen Yunshu said she did not know him well.
• Zhou Wanwan introduced Shen Yunshu to her brothers and teased Gu Sinian about marriage; he told her not to arrange an engagement for him.
• Zhou Qingchen stood beside Shen Yunshu and shyly asked what she liked to do.

Shen Yunshu rejected Nie Feng and his family’s claim that she was promised to him, while Madam Nie tried to shame her into marrying Nie Feng. Zhou Wanwan proposed her brother Zhou Qingchen as Shen Yunshu’s husband, and Madam Shen approved, leaving the match opposed by Madam Nie and Lord Shen.

• Nie Feng mocked Zhou Qingchen and claimed Shen Yunshu was his fiancée, but Shen Yunshu said their marriage arrangement had been called off and condemned Nie Feng’s mistreatment of servants and affairs with other women.
• Madam Shen stated that the families had never made a binding agreement and that Shen Yunshu did not want to marry Nie Feng; Madam Nie insulted the Shen family and threatened Shen Yunshu’s reputation.
• Zhou Wanwan asked Madam Shen whether she would accept Zhou Qingchen as Shen Yunshu’s husband, prompting Madam Nie and other women to ridicule the idea because Zhou Qingchen was a poor xiucai.
• Lord Shen objected to the proposed match because Zhou Wanwan’s family had once cleaned out his house, but Madam Shen said she was willing to consider Zhou Qingchen, who promised to treat Shen Yunshu well.
• Madam Nie warned that the match would ruin Shen Yunshu’s life, and Madam Shen replied that her daughter must marry a good person.

Madam Nie and Nie Feng mocked Zhou Qingchen, but Zhou Wanwan backed her brother and offered the legendary Sky-Splitting Dagger as a prize for a contest. As the competition against Nie Feng’s group was about to begin, Zhou Wanwan also gave Shen Yunshu an even more ornate dagger and casually teased Madam Nie by calling her Mother.

• Madam Nie praised Nie Feng and insulted Zhou Qingchen, while Madam Shen and Shen Congrong defended the Zhou family and criticized the Nie family.
• Zhou Qingchen said he would treat Shen Yunshu well and never take a concubine, and Shen Congrong approved of him.
• Nie Feng challenged Zhou Qingchen to compete in martial arts, cuju, and archery, and Zhou Wanwan offered the Sky-Splitting Dagger as the prize.
• Zheng Xing'an revealed the dagger, and the gathered young masters recognized it as a legendary weapon worth five thousand taels of gold.
• Shen Yunshu worried that Zhou Qingchen and his brothers could not defeat Nie Feng’s group, while Zhou Wanwan gave her a jeweled dagger and said she had many at home.
• Zhou Wanwan complained about the refreshments and called Madam Nie Mother, prompting Madam Nie to angrily deny any kinship.

Zhou Wanwan confronted Madam Nie over her mother Huiniang while the Zhou brothers prepared to fight Nie Feng and his companions. As the crowd wagered on the match, Madam Nie brought out chests of treasure, and Zhou Wanwan invited her side to place their stakes.

• Zhou Wanwan told Madam Nie that her mother's name was Huiniang, and Madam Nie reacted in shock because she believed Huiniang had died.
• Nie Feng and his three companions insulted the Zhou brothers, who dismissed their taunts as empty talk.
• Lu Lan, Shangguan Wan'er, and other onlookers wagered valuables on Nie Feng's victory, while Zhou Wanwan mocked their confidence.
• Madam Nie opened ten chests filled with gold, jade, and other treasures and challenged Zhou Wanwan to match the stake.
• Cheng Chao and Fang Zhiyuan bet one million and one hundred thousand taels of silver on Zhou Wanwan, prompting their fathers to complain about their sons.

Zhou Wanwan’s side overwhelmed Nie Feng’s team in the fight, but the next contest was cuju, where Nie Feng gathered a dozen martial artists. Zhou Qingyan asked if the women in their family could play, leaving the crowd laughing at Zhou Wanwan’s team.

• Shen Wanjun and Madam Shen brought out money and valuables to support Zhou Wanwan’s bet, and Zhou Wanwan’s chests of treasures eclipsed Madam Nie’s display.
• Zhou Wanwan’s supporters questioned their chances, while Fang Zhiyuan said he believed Gu Sinian would win.
• The four Zhou brothers swiftly defeated Nie Feng and his three companions in combat, and Zhou Qingchen warned Nie Feng to stay away from his wife.
• Shen Congrong praised his son-in-law after the victory, while Madam Nie was furious at her son’s defeat.
• Nie Feng assembled eleven cuju players, and Zhou Qingyan asked whether the women in their family could join as the crowd mocked them.