Recaps

Zhao Ruxi visited the Xu family and helped them prepare to leave for an invitation, while Xu Yongyi encouraged Xu Chongwen to focus on his studies. The chapter ended with Zhao Ruxi transforming Madam Xie’s appearance and teaching Xu Xue about dressing and grooming.

• Xu Yongyi praised Xu Xue’s sensible advice and urged Xu Chongwen to study hard at the Zhao Family School instead of trying to write storybooks.
• Zhao Ruxi arrived at the Xu family and overheard Xu Yongyi encouraging Xu Chongwen before she entered and greeted everyone.
• Xu Yongyi and Zhao Ruxi reunited emotionally, and Madam Xie hurried them along so they would not keep their hosts waiting.
• Zhao Ruxi decided Madam Xie’s bright outfit did not suit her and took her to choose darker clothes.
• Zhao Ruxi changed Madam Xie’s clothes, applied makeup, and selected simple jewelry, astonishing Madam Xie and Xu Xue.
• Zhao Ruxi taught Xu Xue that jewelry should be chosen for quality rather than worn in excess, and Xu Xue promised to remember.

Zhao Ruxi helped Xu Chongwen and the Xu family prepare to travel to the capital, then urged Madam Xie to accept a spacious, inexpensive house and expand their business there. Madam Xie remained worried about the cost and pointed out that Xu Xue still attended the Women's Academy in Beining.

• Madam Xie listened as Zhao Ruxi advised Xu Xue and felt grateful that the Xu family had treated Zhao Ruxi kindly.
• Zhao Ruxi quickly chose clothes and jewelry, and the Xu family set off for the capital in two carriages.
• Madam Xie questioned the unusually low rent for a two-courtyard house, and Zhao Ruxi did not reveal that Lady Zhu might be helping the Xu family.
• Zhao Ruxi urged Madam Xie to use the house to prepare more cold mixed vegetables, hire servants, and grow the family business in the capital, while Xu Xue supported her.
• Madam Xie hesitated over the expense and worried that Xu Xue could not be left in Beining or live alone in the capital.

Zhao Ruxi helped the Xu Family consider schooling arrangements and accompanied them to visit the Zhao residence, where they received thoughtful gifts and inspected a house to rent. The chapter left the Xu Family viewing the residence of Fourth Old Madam’s household.

• Zhao Ruxi suggested ways for Xu Xue to attend school and travel between Beining and the academy, while Xu Xue complained that only Madam Xie objected.
• Zhao Yuanxun and Lady Zhu welcomed the Xu Family, and the old madam gave Xu Chongwen study supplies and Xu Xue a jade hairpin and bracelets.
• Lady Zhu gave Xu Chongwen a chest of examination papers and Xu Xue a guzheng, which delighted the siblings and moved Madam Xie.
• After the meal, Zhao Yuanxun went with Xu Yongyi and Xu Chongwen to visit the clan-school teacher while Lady Zhu led the others to inspect a house.
• Tenth Madam Zhao welcomed Lady Zhu and the Xu Family into the clean, two-courtyard residence rented from Fourth Old Madam’s household.

Madam Xie accepted a nearby house for Xu Yongyi’s family after Lady Zhu arranged the rental, but she worried that the low rent was being subsidized. Xu Yongyi explained that the location would protect them from harassment and help their business, and Madam Xie agreed to stop dwelling on the cost.

• Lady Zhu brought Madam Xie to see a house beside the Zhao clan’s residence, and Tenth Madam Zhao offered it for one tael a month.
• Madam Xie refused to let Lady Zhu cover the rent, so Tenth Madam Zhao set the price at eight taels a month.
• Xu Yongyi approved of the house and signed a lease with Tenth Madam Zhao’s husband, with Zhao Yuanxun serving as intermediary.
• On the ride back to Beining, Xu Yongyi told Madam Xie that the house was worth more than eight taels and that the Earl of Suiping’s Residence was likely paying the difference.
• Xu Yongyi explained that the clan neighborhood would protect the family from trouble and that their business could cover the rent; Xu Xue offered to contribute earnings from her storybooks.
• Madam Xie laughed and said she would stop worrying about money and look forward to enjoying an easy life.

Xu Yongyi’s family planned for Xu Chongwen to stay in the capital and arrange meals with Tenth Madam Zhao’s household while he attended school. At the Earl of Suiping’s Residence, Zhao Ruxi learned of Lady Wei’s execution and heard that Zhao Yuankun was gaining influence, but she trusted her family to keep him in check.

• Xu Yongyi agreed that Xu Chongwen would stay in the capital and ask Tenth Madam Zhao’s family to provide meals while he attended school.
• Lady Zhu told Zhao Ruxi that Lady Wei had been executed, her remains had been buried in haste, and Jing'an’s fever had returned.
• Zhao Yuanxun told Zhao Ruxi that Zhao Yuankun had secured official posts for himself and Zhao Yuanliang and wanted to arrange a marriage for Zhao Yuanliang.
• Zhao Ruxi decided to leave Zhao Yuankun’s growing influence to the old madam and Zhao Yuanxun, trusting them to protect the family.

Zhao Ruxi learned that Zhao Ruxin had approached her hoping to build ties for the future, then worried that a shortage of trustworthy workers would prevent her from raising the money she needed. The next morning, after placing first in the academy, she went to see Madam Cui, who greeted her warmly.

• Zhao Ruxi met Zhao Ruxin, who asked for advice on an embroidery pattern, but Zhao Ruxi admitted she had never learned to embroider.
• Matron Yuan and Dianjiang explained that Concubine Meng had likely sent Zhao Ruxin to get closer to Zhao Ruxi because Zhao Ruxi's master might help Third Young Master's prospects.
• Zhao Ruxi considered her money, properties, and plans to support her family and Xiao Ke, but realized she lacked the trustworthy people needed to start her businesses.
• Zhao Ruxi refused Matron Yuan's suggestion that she learn needlework for a future husband, then went to bed without writing anything.
• Zhao Ruxi went to the academy the next morning, learned she had placed first, and visited Madam Cui, who warmly praised her result.

Zhao Ruxi joined Class A after placing first in the ten-day exam and told Madam Cui that an imperial edict required her to teach drawing, though she still planned to pursue the examinations. After sharing study advice with her new classmates, she went to the painting academy to begin teaching.

• Madam Cui explained that Class A had six students and took Zhao Ruxi to meet them.
• Zhao Ruxi told Madam Cui that she had been ordered to teach drawing to officials and asked for the academy's course plans so she could balance teaching with studying.
• Madam Cui accepted that Zhao Ruxi had to obey the imperial edict, and Zhao Ruxi promised to keep studying and prove herself on the next exam.
• Zhao Ruxi joined Class A, where her classmates asked about her exam success and she recommended practicing questions to find and fill gaps in their knowledge.
• After class, Zhao Ruxi spoke with Madam Cui, ate snacks with Xu Xue, and then went to the painting academy, where Kang Shilin and the students, including Gong Cheng, were already drawing.

Zhao Ruxi taught the painters a new subject before going with Wu Zong to register Wei Qiu’s estate. She learned that her master had arranged for the deed to be put in her name, giving her independent protection over the property despite her household registration remaining with the Earl of Suiping’s Residence.

• Zhao Ruxi demonstrated how to paint tangerines and a porcelain vase, then offered Kang Shilin and Wu Zong feedback while they worked.
• Wu Zong decided to accompany Zhao Ruxi to transfer the estate and told her he had arranged the trip as official business.
• Wang Guangyao and his clerks completed the estate transfer at the Beining County office.
• Zhao Ruxi discovered the land deed named her as owner and thanked her master and Wu Zong for protecting her property.

After Zhao Ruxi took ownership of the Green Pagoda Tree Estate, Wu Zong publicly backed her as its master and warned the estate servants to respect her. Zhao Ruxi surveyed the property and its river, while steward Qian Duoduo worried that his inexperienced new master might interfere with estate affairs.

• Wu Zong and Zhao Ruxi went to the Green Pagoda Tree Estate with its land deed and contracts for 235 estate servants.
• Steward Qian Duoduo greeted them, and Wu An introduced Zhao Ruxi as the estate’s new master; the servants knelt and kowtowed to her.
• Wu Zong led Zhao Ruxi through the estate, where she learned that the Egret River and the fields on one bank belonged to her.
• Qian Duoduo explained that the estate had boundary stones instead of walls, and he worried Zhao Ruxi might give reckless orders.
• Zhao Ruxi entered the clean, two-courtyard residence and found around twenty rooms in its rear section.

Zhao Ruxi named her new estate Egret Manor and asked Wu Zong to write its plaque. After admiring his calligraphy, she realized her system had been silent and coaxed it into speaking again.

• Zhao Ruxi learned that the Qin Family had built the estate before falling into ruin, then agreed to give it a new name.
• Zhao Ruxi named the estate Egret Manor and asked Wu Zong to write the plaque so his reputation would deter troublemakers.
• Wu Zong wrote the name in elegant calligraphy while Qian Duoduo realized Zhao Ruxi and Wu Zong were close.
• Zhao Ruxi discovered the system had been ignoring her and persuaded the angry system to answer by promising not to ignore it again.
• Wu Zong stamped the plaque with his seal, and Zhao Ruxi praised his calligraphy enthusiastically.

Zhao Ruxi visited the estate servants’ village and was shocked by the poverty in which they lived. After buying three baskets from Granny Li, she went to inspect Qian Duoduo’s home to learn how the servants’ households compared.

• Wu Zong gave his calligraphy to Wu An to have the estate’s new plaque made, while Zhao Ruxi arranged for Ma Sheng to accompany him and Qian Duoduo to remove the old plaque.
• Zhao Ruxi and Wu Zong walked through the servants’ village and saw the poor, cramped homes and the children living there.
• Zhao Ruxi entered Granny Li’s dark, bare home, learned she was weaving a basket, and paid her for three baskets.
• Zhao Ruxi sent Qingfeng to gather flowers and branches, then asked Qian Duoduo to show her his home.
• Qian Duoduo led Zhao Ruxi and Wu Zong to his house, which was slightly larger than Granny Li’s but just as dark and damp.

Zhao Ruxi inspected her estate and learned that its servants lived in poor conditions while its rice and timber brought in little income. She planned to improve the estate’s returns through ecological circular farming and made flower arrangements as gifts for Xiao Ruotong, Kang Shilin, and Wu Zong.

• Qian Duoduo showed Zhao Ruxi the estate’s cramped homes, rice fields, and wooded hills, and explained that it produced little beyond rice, trees, and livestock.
• Zhao Ruxi learned that Qian Duoduo could read and that he had taught a few characters to his sons and grandsons before she left with Wu Zong and the account books.
• Wu Zong explained why estate servants lived in mud-and-bamboo homes and struggled to afford better housing, leaving Zhao Ruxi determined to raise the estate’s income for everyone’s benefit.
• Zhao Ruxi decided to make flower arrangements for Xiao Ruotong, her master, and Wu Zong, then crafted them in the carriage on the way back.
• At the painting academy, Zhao Ruxi gave flower arrangements to Kang Shilin and Wu Zong.

Zhao Ruxi introduced flower arranging to the painters at Kang Shilin’s country residence, where her rustic designs delighted the artists. After receiving an imperial property deed, she visited the Prince of Zhennan’s Residence and was warmly welcomed by the Princess of Zhennan.

• Zhao Ruxi made rustic flower arrangements for Wu Zong and Kang Shilin, and the painters praised her designs.
• Cen Song asked about her bamboo baskets, and Zhao Ruxi demonstrated that flower arrangements could be made in vases and other containers.
• Kang Shilin claimed Zhao Ruxi’s vase arrangement and gave her the emperor’s welcoming gift: a deed to a two-story shop in the capital.
• Zhao Ruxi left for the Prince of Zhennan’s Residence with a flower arrangement for Xiao Ruotong, but a maid led her to the Princess of Zhennan.
• The Princess of Zhennan welcomed Zhao Ruxi warmly and invited her to sit beside her.

Zhao Ruxi learned that Xiao Ruotong had returned to the Duke of Ying’s Residence and left her a flower basket through the Princess of Zhennan, who invited Zhao Ruxi’s family to a birthday banquet. At home, Zhao Ruxi resisted her family’s expectations that she begin considering marriage and threatened to move out if they forced her into blind dates.

• The Princess of Zhennan told Zhao Ruxi that Xiao Ruotong had returned to the Duke of Ying’s Residence to try again with the Duke of Ying’s heir.
• Zhao Ruxi gave the princess a flower basket for Xiao Ruotong and received four invitations to the old princess consort’s birthday banquet.
• Zhao Ruxi brought the invitations home, where the old madam and Lady Zhu explained that the banquet could help her find a marriage prospect.
• Zhao Ruxi said she wanted to stay unmarried until she was seventeen or eighteen, and her family told her that was too late to begin looking.
• Zhao Ruxi declared that she did not want to marry and threatened to buy a house and move out if her family forced her to go on blind dates.

Zhao Ruxi stood firm about not marrying and reassured Lady Zhu that Xu Chongwen was settling in at the clan school. Back in her courtyard, she received a Jiangnan property deed and a twenty-thousand-tael IOU from Xiao Lingyan, kept the deed, and burned the pouch and IOU to conceal their connection.

• Zhao Ruxi told the old madam that she meant what she said about moving out and did not want to marry, prompting the old madam to send her and Lady Zhu away.
• Lady Zhu told Zhao Ruxi that Xu Chongwen had started at the clan school and was settling in well, with meals arranged at Tenth Madam Zhao's home.
• Matron Yuan confirmed that Xu Chongwen had settled in, and Zhao Ruxi was relieved.
• Qingfeng told Zhao Ruxi that a man had delivered a pouch from Fifth Master through Uncle Ma, containing a Jiangnan property deed and an IOU for twenty thousand taels.
• Zhao Ruxi put the deed in Kang Shilin's small box and burned the pouch and IOU so no one would see the palace-made pouch or Fifth Master's handwriting.

Zhao Ruxi met Xiao Lingyan in secret, where he proposed that they work together to develop the jadeite trade. She was tempted by his offer but they realized she lacked trusted people to buy and transport the rough stones.

• Zhao Ruxi burned Xiao Ke’s IOU and silk pouch, then told Qingfeng to keep any future gifts secret and decided to see whether Ma Sheng would stay quiet.
• Zhao Ruxi traveled to a residence in East Spring Lane and met Xiao Lingyan in private.
• Xiao Lingyan proposed using Zhao Ruxi’s public presence and his behind-the-scenes help to bring jadeite to market.
• Xiao Lingyan argued that Zhao Ruxi could not protect her family and allies simply by fleeing, and promised his support if Xiao Lingpu took the throne.
• Xiao Lingyan outlined a plan to buy mines, extract rough stones, and ship windowed stones to Zhao Ruxi, but they recognized that she had no suitable people to manage the purchases.

Zhao Ruxi and Xiao Lingyan planned how to build businesses while protecting their identities and trusted allies. They agreed to use Xiao Lingyan’s deathsworn, diversify their ventures, and prepare for jadeite mining as Xiao Lingyan entered the Ministry of Works.

• Zhao Ruxi rejected relying on Kang Shilin, Wu Zong, or the Earl of Suiping's Residence’s people, and Xiao Lingyan explained that Xiao Lingpu had arranged a loyal group of deathsworn for him.
• Zhao Ruxi warned that putting all the businesses under her name would expose the Earl of Suiping's Residence to risk, but Xiao Lingyan said she was the only person he trusted wholeheartedly.
• Zhao Ruxi agreed to handle the businesses while Xiao Lingyan supplied silver and investigated Empress Shengyao’s inventions and unexploited opportunities.
• Zhao Ruxi and Xiao Lingyan agreed to vary their meeting places and have messages delivered through Qingfeng.
• Xiao Lingyan planned to travel south and enter the Ministry of Works, while Zhao Ruxi prepared for jadeite mining and asked him to investigate steelmaking and rubber alternatives.

Zhao Ruxi and Xiao Lingyan bantered about women, marriage, and their shared intelligence before he revealed that Fu Yunkai wanted to ask for her hand. Zhao Ruxi was left astonished and confused about why Fu Yunkai had chosen her.

• Zhao Ruxi told Xiao Lingyan she wanted a noble title to prove women could achieve success beyond marriage alliances.
• Xiao Lingyan proposed that he and Zhao Ruxi marry, and she demanded an apology for his flirtation.
• Zhao Ruxi tested whether Xiao Lingyan was still himself by asking about his poor result in the 2018 iF Student Concept Design Competition.
• Xiao Lingyan stopped Zhao Ruxi from leaving and told her Fu Yunkai wanted to ask for her hand.
• Xiao Lingyan explained that Fu Yunkai admired Zhao Ruxi's talents and connections and thought her more suitable than noble or ordinary women.

Zhao Ruxi considered marrying Fu Yunkai because his early death could spare her the burdens of a long marriage, while Xiao Lingyan tried and failed to dissuade her. At the painting academy, Zhao Ruxi continued learning Kang Shilin’s method and impressed him with her talent.

• Xiao Lingyan warned Zhao Ruxi that her family might agree to a marriage proposal without consulting her, but Zhao Ruxi said she was seriously considering Fu Yunkai.
• Zhao Ruxi explained that Fu Yunkai’s expected early death could leave her free from concubines and pressure to remarry, while Xiao Lingyan warned her about the dangers of widowhood.
• Xiao Lingyan offered to marry Zhao Ruxi instead, but she rejected him because he was a prince and because she did not want to live with him.
• Xiao Lingyan left to find a woman for Fu Yunkai, while Zhao Ruxi went to the painting academy to teach, practice, and study Kang Shilin’s technique.
• Kang Shilin praised Zhao Ruxi’s rapid progress and said her talent surpassed that of his three previous disciples; Wu Zong overheard him.

Zhao Ruxi found a residence for her drawing students with Wu Zong’s help and discussed her money and need for capable servants with Kang Shilin. Wu Zong then told her that Sun Jiawang wanted to follow her once his family’s case was resolved, leaving Zhao Ruxi convinced he had chosen her because of her kind face.

• Kang Shilin criticized Wu Zong, but Wu Zong arranged for Zhao Ruxi to teach drawing students in his residence next door.
• Zhao Ruxi toured Wu Zong’s courtyard with Kang Shilin and Wu Zong after spending the afternoon at the painting academy.
• Kang Shilin urged Zhao Ruxi to protect her savings, and she told him she planned to open a jewelry shop and needed help finding capable servants.
• Wu Zong told Zhao Ruxi that Sun Jiawang wanted to follow her after his family’s case was resolved and the Court of Judicial Review sent him to a broker.
• Zhao Ruxi joked that Sun Jiawang must think she was kind, while the system mocked her claim that she had the face of a heartthrob.

Zhao Ruxi arranged to meet brokers about buying Sun Jiawang, then resisted Lady Zhu’s preparations for a banquet hosted by the Princess Consort of Zhennan. She insisted that her official painting class at the Court of Judicial Review took priority, leaving Lady Zhu to explain her absence to the Princess Consort.

• Zhao Ruxi asked Wu Zong to help her meet brokers in Beining and accepted the key to the residence.
• Lady Zhu brought outfits and attendants to prepare Zhao Ruxi for the next day’s banquet, but Zhao Ruxi asked not to attend.
• Lady Zhu insisted that Zhao Ruxi attend because the Princess Consort of Zhennan had invited her personally.
• After the women chose Zhao Ruxi’s outfit and jewelry, Lady Zhu ordered her to return from her classes in time for the banquet.
• Zhao Ruxi explained that the emperor’s decree and the Court of Judicial Review’s work made her painting class more important, and Lady Zhu conceded that she should tell the Princess Consort directly.

Zhao Ruxi persuaded Lady Zhu that her achievements and abilities mattered more than cultivating ties with noblewomen, and Zhao Yuanxun supported her. After he revealed that Fu Yunkai had invited him to dinner and apologized, Zhao Ruxi wondered whether Fu was trying to win over his future father-in-law to arrange their marriage without consulting her.

• Zhao Ruxi told Lady Zhu that her work and status as Mister Kumu's disciple meant she did not need to curry favor with noblewomen.
• Zhao Yuanxun arrived and praised Zhao Ruxi for pursuing her own achievements instead of being drawn into the inner quarters.
• Zhao Yuanxun revealed that Fu Yunkai had invited him to dinner, apologized for the estate purchase dispute, and expressed admiration for him.
• Zhao Yuanxun said he had no intention of taking a military post and was content to stay home and care for his health.
• Zhao Ruxi recalled Xiao Lingyan's warning and wondered if Fu Yunkai was courting her father to arrange their marriage without her consent.

Zhao Ruxi explained that she wanted to manage her own property and pursue business independently, and Zhao Yuanxun reassured her that her estate and earnings belonged to her. She asked her parents to let her use her abilities freely, promising to support herself and improve their lives.

• Zhao Ruxi asked Zhao Yuanxun and Lady Zhu to sit down so she could discuss her property and plans.
• Zhao Ruxi told them that Wu Zong had persuaded the emperor to give her a shop after the Marquis of Pingnan's Residence tried to seize her estate.
• Zhao Yuanxun explained that he had realized Zhao Ruxi's money and property had been secured for her by her master, and he would not claim control over them.
• Zhao Ruxi said she wanted to buy residences and servants, open a silver shop, and conduct other business without using the household's money or people.
• Zhao Ruxi asked Zhao Yuanxun and Lady Zhu to let her pursue her ambitions and promised to honor them with her earnings.

Zhao Ruxi told Zhao Yuanxun and Lady Zhu she planned to earn money, and they supported her. The next day, she met five brokers to find a residence and capable servants for her plans.

• Lady Zhu cried over Zhao Ruxi's worries about money, and Zhao Yuanxun reassured her that her parents would support her whether she profited or lost money.
• Zhao Ruxi attended the academy, then went to the Wu family's villa to meet the brokers Wu Zong had arranged.
• Ma Sheng reported that four brokers had arrived early and described their resources and areas of expertise.
• Zhao Ruxi asked Broker Li to find a residence in Beining near her master's and senior brother's homes, offering up to four thousand taels, with some flexibility.
• Zhao Ruxi asked Broker Wang and Broker Yu to look for suitable residences in the south or west of the city priced around three to five thousand taels.

Zhao Ruxi arranged to inspect houses in the southern and western districts and set requirements for the servants she planned to buy. She scheduled brokers from all five districts to bring suitable candidates the following day so she could choose among them.

• Zhao Ruxi arranged to view Broker Wang’s southern houses and Broker Yu’s western houses the next morning.
• Zhao Ruxi told the brokers she wanted workers aged fourteen to thirty, including managers and quick-witted servants, and emphasized good character.
• Broker Tong offered servants from convicted officials’ households, and Zhao Ruxi agreed to inspect his candidates first.
• Zhao Ruxi scheduled the brokers to bring suitable servants to her in district order during the following afternoon.