Festival of Lights · Diwali
Xu Xi refused to return to the Marquis of Suiping's Residence without proof of her identity and pursued admission to Beining Women's Academy with Xu Xue. Lady Wei then claimed Xu Xue as her daughter, leaving the old madam demanding evidence and Zhao Ruyu alone with her.
Xu Xi confirmed her identity, secured the freedom to study at the Women's Academy and remain connected to the Xu Family, then returned to the Marquis of Suiping's Residence. Her homecoming ended with Lady Wei trying to discipline her by force, while Xu Xi's assigned servants stepped in to protect her.
Xu Xi left Lady Wei’s household and secured a place in the marquis’s residence on the condition that she could choose her own marriage. After entering the academy, she sold her jewelry designs and invested her earnings in a food business with the Xu Family.
Xu Xi settled into academy life while resisting pressure to compete with Zhao Ruyu or pursue the imperial examinations. As she investigated whether Zhao Jingli had been switched at birth, the first madam became convinced the suspicion might be true and began watching the second branch.
Xu Xi used her portrait skills to help the First Madam search for the midwife while pursuing the imperial examinations and developing her jewelry partnership. After Lady Zhu found the midwife, Xu Xi persuaded the Old Madam to accept a family division if the investigation confirmed the Second Madam’s interference.
Xu Xi and the first madam use the family’s conflicts to protect Xu Xi while Lady Zhu pursues evidence about the child switch. As the marquis returns and signed confessions reach Zhao Yuanxun, Matron Li turns toward the first madam for her family’s safety.
Lady Wei’s attempt to control the Marquis of Suiping’s household exposed her role in the child-switching and a murder, bringing ruin on the Wei Family and upheaval to the Zhao family. After the imperial punishments and the decision to divide the household, Xu Xi began helping the First Madam assess the family’s finances.
The Zhao Family divided its household, and Xu Xi became Zhao Ruxi and Kang Shilin’s disciple. Zhao Ruxi confronted Zhao Ruyu about their past lives, while Zhao Yuankun drew Zhao Yuanliang into his plans and Fu Yunlang sought help to preserve his marriage to Zhao Ruyu.
Zhao Ruxi resumed her studies and helped Xu Xue launch her writing career while supporting her family and friends. After winning first place in the North Academy exam, she used her drawing skills to create a portrait of a Yangzhou murderer and negotiated for the court to fund training in her method.
Zhao Ruxi’s painting brought her into the Court of Judicial Review’s affairs and drew the attention of Fu Yunkai, while her reunion with Xiao Lingyan led her to reveal the novel’s coming disasters. The arc left Xiao Lingyan preparing to enter government service and Zhao Ruxi’s family gathering for a banquet with their fortunes improving.
Zhao Ruxi helped the Xu family settle in the capital, took control of Egret Manor, and began planning businesses with Xiao Lingyan’s support. She defended her independence to her family and ended the stretch arranging residences and trustworthy workers for her plans.
Zhao Ruxi bought residences, recruited and trained servants, and began planning how to improve her estate and family businesses. As Zhao Jingli agreed to take responsibility for the second branch, Fu Yunkai resolved to marry Zhao Ruxi and formally raised the proposal with Zhao Yuanxun, leaving the family to consider his intentions.
Zhao Ruxi rejected Fu Yunkai’s proposal, began developing new ventures, and built a network of craftsmen and workers. After she defied Jia Junze to protect Ge Wu, Kang Shilin’s public intervention forced the Earl of Zhongqin’s Residence to respond, while Zhao Ruxi’s family prepared to defend itself and contain the gossip.
Zhao Ruxi’s new painting technique earns her recognition while her maneuvering in court brings Zhao Yuankun’s downfall and turns the third branch against her. After a public confrontation, Zhao Yuanxun and Zhao Yuankun sever their ties, leaving Zhao Ruyu convinced that Zhao Ruxi has returned for revenge.
Zhao Ruxi expanded her workshops by launching iron safes and rice noodle shops while managing a training class and resisting the crown prince’s schemes. The safe business took off with imperial backing, and Zhao Ruxi began planning to use her growing wealth to move her family to Jiangnan.
Zhao Ruxi expanded her businesses, supported her family and village, and worked with Xiao Lingyan on crossbows and an auction house. The auction drew powerful guests and high bids, ending with Zhao Ruxi’s anonymous waterfall painting on display.
Zhao Ruxi’s painting won acclaim, while pressure from the Capital Women’s Academy and Princess Pingyang forced her to seek the emperor’s protection and stay with Kang Shilin. She expanded her plans for women’s work and her family’s estates, then encouraged Zhao Ruyu to pursue the music competition as marriage tensions grew.
Zhao Ruxi won the capital’s painting competition, but Mei Zhongjun’s accusations prompted her and Kang Shilin to withdraw before the results were settled. The emperor later restored her first place and acquired her painting, while Zhao Ruxi turned her attention back to the imperial examinations and Xiao Yuyue faced growing troubles.
Zhao Ruxi rejected marriage proposals, helped Grand Princess Shangde expand newspaper printing, and topped the county examination’s first session before ending in seventh place. She then proposed a women’s textile workshop and technical academy, and the emperor’s palace received her spinning machine for inspection.
Zhao Ruxi’s inventions and business ideas brought new opportunities to her family and other women while she advanced through the examinations. With leading scholars now tutoring her, she prepared for the provincial exam and faced plans for her coming-of-age ceremony.