Recaps

Zhao Ruxi navigated family danger, discovered Zhao Ruyu’s new system, and earned first place in the provincial examination. As her family considered marriage proposals, she and Xiao Lingyan discussed the coming war and the political crisis ahead.

• Zhao Ruxi held a modest coming-of-age ceremony, and Lady Su later told Lady Zhu that Zhao Yuankun had tried to kill her for her dowry.
• Lady Su poisoned Zhao Yuankun and arranged Concubine Wu’s death, then the family concealed the circumstances and buried them.
• Zhao Ruxi used her system to uncover the counterfeit pencil scheme and learned that Zhao Ruyu had an unrestricted system of her own.
• Zhao Ruxi sat the provincial examination while Zhao Ruyu began practicing the qin to earn system points and tested whether Zhao Ruxi had a system.
• The Mu sisters visited Zhao Ruxi, and she recognized that their invitations were meant to introduce a possible match with Mu Qingqiang’s juren cousin.
• Xiaole discovered that Zhao Ruxi had placed first in the provincial examination, and officials confirmed her result as Zhao Zhiwei.
• Lady Zhu and the old madam received marriage proposals for Zhao Ruxi but agreed that she should choose whether and whom to marry.
• Xiao Lingyan told Zhao Ruxi that military supplies had been sent to the border, and they discussed surviving the coming crisis and striking first afterward.

Zhao Ruxi and Xiao Lingyan secretly became engaged while she prepared for the metropolitan examination and tried to protect him with a pill. As the border crisis escalated, Xiao Ge sent Zhang Changshen to investigate, then discovered that the recorded grain figures did not match Guo Jitong’s account.

• Xiao Lingyan confessed his feelings to Zhao Ruxi, and they agreed to become engaged while keeping their relationship secret until the following year.
• Zhao Ruxi gave Xiao Lingyan a Taste Discerning Pill and tested his enhanced senses, then sparred with him and learned how capable her own skills had become.
• Zhao Ruxi devoted the autumn to studying Great Jin’s policies and current affairs, while Xiao Lingyan arranged for her to receive essays and court documents.
• After the system reported that the border supplies and nearby grain reserves had been burned, Zhao Ruxi warned her family, while Xiao Ge investigated the sabotage and ruled out Xiao Lingpu and Xiao Lingyan.
• Xiao Lingyan persuaded Xiao Ge to appoint Zhang Changshen as imperial envoy, and Xiao Lingpu, Xiao Lingyan, and Fu Yunlang supplied protection for his journey.
• The Third Prince agreed with his advisers to disrupt the relief provisions and blame the crown prince, but officials discovered that the shipment was eight carts short.
• Xiao Ge ordered grain gathered from wealthy households and additional supplies sent from the south, then compared Guo Jitong’s remembered figures with the Ministry of Revenue’s memorial and questioned the discrepancy.

Zhao Ruxi helped Xiao Lingyan survive the border campaign and arranged for her family to leave the capital as the princes’ struggle grew more dangerous. Xiao Lingyan rejected a politically useful marriage and chose to marry only for love, while Zhao Ruyu and Qi Xuan reacted to the changing marriage arrangements.

• Xiao Ge uncovered that Guo Jitong had understated the grain and fodder supplies, and Zhao Ruxi’s calculations confirmed the correct figures before Xiao Lingyan departed for the border.
• Zhao Ruxi secretly gave Xiao Lingyan pills to strengthen and speed him, then sent him letters and warnings as he helped secure a victory and received the title Prince of Qi.
• After returning to the capital, Xiao Lingyan told Zhao Ruxi that another coup might occur and agreed to help her stay close enough to pass him information.
• Zhao Ruxi declined a County Princess title and requested a Jiangnan appointment for Zhao Yuanxun, prompting her family to prepare to leave the capital while she stayed for the spring examination.
• Fu Yunlang accepted Lady He’s plan to marry Tenth Miss Cen instead of Zhao Ruyu, while Fu Yunkai and Xiao Lingyan offered to help him marry the woman he wanted.
• Noble Consort Cen urged Xiao Lingyan to marry Miss Qi Xuan for political support, but he refused and assured his mother that he had no desire for the throne and would choose his own bride.
• Xiao Lingyan secretly visited Zhao Ruxi and told her he wanted to marry for love, and she supported his choice while warning him to be cautious about the throne and the gunpowder he had kept in reserve.
• After Fu Yunlang’s engagement became public, Zhao Ruyu left the academy, while Qi Xuan investigated Xiao Lingyan’s rejection of her and her family wondered why he had refused a bedchamber maid.

Zhao Ruxi passed the metropolitan examination in second place and rejected a capital ministry position in favor of serving in Anzhou Province. As she prepared to leave the capital, she gained Wu Zong’s support, while Xiao Lingyan reported the fallout from the examination sabotage and Zhao Yuanxun celebrated her success in Gusu.

• Qi Xuan failed to win Xiao Lingyan’s attention, while Zhao Ruyu also tried to approach him and was rejected.
• Zhao Ruxi completed the metropolitan examination after a plot to drug her food was foiled, and Xiao Ge ordered punishments for those involved.
• Zhao Ruxi told Xiao Ruotong and Mu Qingqiang about her plans to serve outside the capital, while Mu Qingqiang resolved to protect her independence in marriage.
• Zhao Ruxi declined Qi Xugu’s request to help the Ministry of Revenue and told Gan Lun she wanted an outside posting.
• Zhao Ruxi passed the metropolitan examination in second place, and she and her family chose to wait for the emperor’s appointment rather than seek favors.
• Zhao Ruxi told Kang Shilin she wanted to serve in nearby Anzhou Province, and he agreed to convey her wishes to the emperor.
• Zhao Ruxi persuaded Wu Zong to take a provincial post with her, while Xiao Lingyan explained that Song Qinghe had been struck from the examination list and promised to avenge her when the time was right.
• Zhao Yuanxun learned of Zhao Ruxi’s result and invited his colleagues to celebrate, surprising them when they discovered he lived in Ningxi Lane.