Recaps

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 persuaded her family to reject Fu Yunkai’s proposal by warning that the match could entangle them in the princes’ succession struggle.
• Zhao Ruxi met Xiao Lingyan to discuss steel, clocks, printing, and jadeite, then began recruiting craftsmen for her ventures.
• Zhao Ruxi hired Ge Wu after learning that Jia Junze had coerced him, and she refused Jia Junze’s demand to take the craftsman back.
• Zhao Ruxi organized three workshops, assigned managers and bookkeepers, and arranged training for the new staff.
• Kang Shilin rallied the painting academy members to support Zhao Ruxi and sent Kang An to confront the Earl of Zhongqin about Jia Junze’s threats.
• Jia Songlin disavowed his son’s conduct and ordered Jia Junze beaten, while Zhao Ruxi warned her family that household gossip could bring trouble.
• Zhao Ruxi’s elders agreed to defend her and planned to seek the Duke of Wei’s Residence’s support with a suitable gift.

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 secured confidential workshops for her craftsmen, exchanged notes with Xiao Lingyan, and learned that the crown prince was watching Zhao Yuankun.
• Censor Pan impeached Jia Songlin over Jia Junze’s treatment of Ge Wu’s family and threats against Zhao Ruxi, and Xiao Lingyan stripped Jia Songlin of his post and rank.
• Jia Songlin brought his injured son to apologize, but Zhao Ruxi exposed Jia Junze’s resentful glare and Kang Shilin threw them out.
• Zhao Ruxi unveiled a sweeping landscape that Kang Shilin and the painters recognized as a new technique, earning praise and 2,000 Wisdom Points.
• Xiao Lingyan’s scheme led Xiao Lingheng to target the right vice minister of personnel, while the crown prince blamed Zhao Yuankun and ordered him beaten and dismissed.
• Zhao Ruxi told her elders she had arranged Zhao Yuankun’s punishment, then warned them to expect the third branch to accuse them.
• Lady Su gathered a crowd to confront Zhao Ruxi, but Lady Zhu defended her and turned the onlookers against Lady Su, prompting Zhao Yuanxun to seek a formal severance of ties.
• Zhao Yuankun signed the severance document, and Zhao Jingli warned Zhao Jing'an and Zhao Ruyu not to blame Zhao Ruxi without proof.

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 assembled a secure iron safe and set her craftsmen to work while starting classes for trainees, dismissing Liu Zongyao after he challenged her authority.
• Zhao Ruxi and Xiao Lingyan suspected the crown prince was targeting her through Liu Zongyao and marriage proposals, while Xiao Lingyan arranged for the crown prince to be sent away.
• Zhao Ruxi helped the Xu Family sell roasted chestnuts, developed dried rice noodles and shops, and recruited experienced shopkeepers to guide her managers.
• Zhao Ruxi arranged for the Court of Judicial Review to display the safes and offer five hundred taels to anyone who could open one, while Wu Zong secured support from Lord Zhang and the emperor.
• Lü Yi failed to pick the Court’s safe, while Xiao Lingyan began investigating Guo Jitong and suspected corruption tied to delayed border provisions.
• Customers rapidly bought Zhao Ruxi’s safes, and the emperor supplied twenty blacksmiths so she could increase production without revealing the business’s secrets.
• After ten days, Zhao Ruxi counted 152 safes sold, set aside ninety thousand taels for profit distribution, and raised Xiao Ge’s share to thirty percent.

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 paid her investors generous dividends, while Ma Sheng returned with jadeite and Zhou Chun arranged its transport to the capital.
• Zhao Ruxi bought a workshop house in Beining, rewarded the travelers, and helped Qian Duoduo improve village homes and establish a school.
• Xiao Lingyan arranged for Fu Yunlang’s Western clocks to be auctioned, while Zhao Ruxi agreed to discreetly make crossbow components and urged Xiao Lingyan to expand his auction business.
• Zhao Ruxi helped organize the Northern Painting School and arranged for Gan Lun to teach Zhao Jingli after proving her mathematical skill to him.
• Gan Lun shared Zhao Ruxi’s solution to a Ministry of Revenue problem with Qi Xugu while keeping her identity secret, and Qi Xugu asked him to bring more problems to her.
• Xiao Lingyan’s auction opened with anonymous bidding and a promise to devote most of its profits to a home for homeless children, and the revolving vase sold for 8,500 taels.
• An unidentified Zuo Qiusheng painting sold for 16,700 taels, and Fu Yunlang’s Western clock fetched 22,000 taels as Fu Yunkai warned him to conceal its connection to the Fu Family.
• Eunuch Qin presented Zhao Ruxi’s waterfall painting, which impressed Fu Yunkai and the other guests while its painter remained unidentified.