Chapter Summaries

Xiao Lingyan learned that Xu Xi was the switched Zhao daughter and arranged to find her at the Court of Judicial Review. Zhao Ruxi received an imperial edict to teach drawing, went to the court the next morning, and encountered a young man arriving at her courtyard.

• Xiao Lingyan learned from Wang Tong that Fifth Miss Zhao had been raised as Xu Xi and ordered him to watch the Earl of Suiping's Residence and report where she would draw.
• Zhao Yuanxun and the old madam celebrated the imperial edict appointing Zhao Ruxi to teach officials drawing, while she explained Zhang Changshen's plans and agreed to teach Zhao Jingtai.
• Zhao Ruxi arrived at the Court of Judicial Review, where Zhong Shengrong had arranged a safe place for her to draw.
• Zhao Ruxi finished a portrait and began another as a young man in a blue brocade robe stepped into the courtyard.

Zhao Ruxi discovered that Fifth Highness Xiao Lingyan was Xiao Ke, her former-life academic rival who had also died in the car accident that brought them both to this world. They argued over their past and the blind date that had led to the accident, leaving their old rivalry unresolved.

• Zhong Shengrong warned Xiao Lingyan that the courtyard was near the prison, but Xiao Lingyan had his attendants remove everyone except Zhao Ruxi, Qingfeng, and Ma Sheng.
• Xiao Lingyan quietly told Zhao Ruxi that he was Xiao Ke, and Zhao Ruxi sent Qingfeng and Ma Sheng outside so they could speak alone.
• Xiao Lingyan explained that he had come because Zhao Ruxi’s portrait had drawn attention, and the two traded insults about their temperaments and appearances.
• Xiao Lingyan recalled that he and Zhao Ruxi had both been hit by a car, prompting Zhao Ruxi to accuse him of arranging their blind date and getting her killed.
• Zhao Ruxi remembered that Xiao Ke had been her academic rival and that she had stormed away from their blind date before being struck by a car.

Zhao Ruxi told Xiao Lingyan that they had transmigrated into a romance novel and that he was doomed cannon fodder, then arranged to meet him in Beining. She finished Noble Consort Cen’s portrait and went to Beining, where she had business to discuss with Xiao Lingyan before taking the Xu Family to a meal.

• Zhao Ruxi teased Xiao Lingyan about their transmigration and revealed that he was a short-lived cannon fodder in the novel, offering to share more if he paid her.
• When Zhang Changshen and the others entered, Xiao Lingyan claimed he had come to ask Zhao Ruxi about her painting and told her to prepare in case the Empress Dowager summoned her.
• Zhang Changshen asked Zhao Ruxi to plan painting classes for the Court of Judicial Review, and she proposed teaching three groups in a large residence over about a month.
• Zhao Ruxi finished Noble Consort Cen’s portrait and handed it to Zhong Shengrong.
• Zhao Ruxi traveled to Beining with Qingfeng, planning to meet Xiao Lingyan and then collect the Xu Family for the Earl of Suiping’s meal.

Zhao Ruxi welcomed Xiao Lingyan as the scapegoat who could take on the looming military crisis and went to meet him at Gathered Treasures Studio. Their conversation ended with Zhao Ruxi mocking his prospects for survival.

• Zhao Ruxi resolved to pass the information about the future supply disaster and war to Xiao Lingyan so she could avoid shouldering the crisis herself.
• Zhao Ruxi arrived at Gathered Treasures Studio, where Shopkeeper Wang told her that a veiled man called Fifth Master had bought two of her jewelry designs.
• Zhao Ruxi confirmed that she knew the man and asked Shopkeeper Wang and her attendants to keep others from disturbing them.
• Xiao Lingyan uncovered himself after Zhao Ruxi entered the room, and he complained about the trouble he had gone to for her.
• Zhao Ruxi denied that Xiao Lingyan’s disguise was for her and teased him for being cannon fodder who would not survive past the third episode.

Zhao Ruxi negotiated with Xiao Lingyan for a shop and twenty thousand taels in exchange for helping him, then revealed the plot of the romance novel they had entered. Xiao Lingyan learned that several princes, including himself, were fated to die and began considering the danger.

• Xiao Lingyan asked Zhao Ruxi what had happened, and she used his hidden Jiangnan assets as leverage for her help.
• After Zhao Ruxi threatened to leave, Xiao Lingyan agreed to give her one shop and twenty thousand taels, and promised her two favors if he survived the disaster.
• Zhao Ruxi told Xiao Lingyan the plot she knew, including that Fu Yunlang was the male lead and Zhao Ruyu was the heroine.
• Xiao Lingyan learned that he, Xiao Lingpu, Fu Yunkai, the crown prince, and the fourth prince were all supposed to die.
• Xiao Lingyan suspected the third prince was behind the deaths, while Zhao Ruxi told him to investigate his own family.

Zhao Ruxi warned Xiao Lingyan about future political disasters and refused to let their connection be known publicly. After she left, Xiao Lingyan ordered Liu Mian to investigate why Fu Yunkai’s men were asking questions in Beining.

• Zhao Ruxi told Xiao Lingyan that she could protect herself and her family from the dangers he feared, and she planned to send her master and senior brother south.
• Zhao Ruxi reminded Xiao Lingyan that she only remembered the major events from the romance novel, then told him to arrange the Jiangnan property deed and keep their acquaintance secret.
• Zhao Ruxi left the Gathered Treasures Studio and told Shopkeeper Wang she would continue designing jewelry when she had time, asking him to send gems the next morning.
• Xiao Lingyan left the studio in disguise, and Liu Mian reported that Fu Yunkai’s men were asking questions in Beining.
• Worried that Fu Yunkai might be investigating something connected to the political disasters, Xiao Lingyan ordered Liu Mian to find out what his men were asking without alerting them.

Xiao Lingyan learned that Fu Yunkai planned to propose to Zhao Ruxi and worried the match would not benefit their faction. He persuaded Xiao Lingpu to consider Eighth Miss Mu instead, while Fu Yunkai continued preparing his proposal without telling the Marchioness of Pingnan.

• Liu Mian told Xiao Lingyan that Fu Yunkai was investigating Xu Xi and Zhao Ruxi, and Xiao Lingyan realized Fu Yunkai was interested in Zhao Ruxi.
• Xiao Lingyan returned to the capital and told Xiao Lingpu that Fu Yunkai planned to propose to Fifth Miss Zhao.
• Xiao Lingyan argued that Zhao Ruxi was too young and that Fu Yunkai should marry Eighth Miss Mu; Xiao Lingpu agreed to summon Fu Yunkai.
• Fu Yunkai sent people to investigate Zhao Ruxi and asked his steward to find a reputable matchmaker.
• Fu Yunkai's steward warned him that proposing without first telling the Marchioness of Pingnan might be improper.

Fu Yunkai informed his mother that he intended to marry Zhao Ruxi, then left to answer Xiao Lingpu’s summons. Xiao Lingyan instead asked Xiao Ge to let him begin learning official duties in a government office.

• The steward warned Fu Yunkai that his mother’s opposition could jeopardize his marriage to Zhao Ruxi, so Fu Yunkai decided to tell her first.
• Lady He objected to Fu Yunkai marrying a woman from the lower-ranked Earl of Suiping’s family, but he insisted the decision was his and left after she backed down.
• Fu Yunkai heard Fu Yunlang protest that he also wanted to marry a girl from the Earl of Suiping’s Residence, and instructed the steward to watch the rear courtyard before answering Xiao Lingpu’s summons.
• Xiao Lingyan had already left the Cloud-Gazing Pavilion after arranging to trouble Fu Yunkai, and returned to the palace to seek an audience with Xiao Ge.
• Xiao Lingyan told Xiao Ge that, at sixteen, he wanted to learn official duties in a government office, and Xiao Ge asked which office he wanted to join.

Xiao Lingyan negotiated with Xiao Ge over which ministry he could join, using his apparent reluctance and interest in business to secure a large sum of money. He agreed to enter the Ministry of Works after Xiao Ge offered him five hundred taels of gold.

• Xiao Ge considered the princes’ abilities and decided he would not let Xiao Lingyan enter an important ministry that might threaten Xiao Lingheng’s prospects.
• Xiao Lingyan asked to join the Ministry of Personnel or the Ministry of War, but Xiao Ge refused and directed him toward the Ministry of Justice or the Ministry of Works.
• Xiao Lingyan pretended to be tempted by a shop and then rejected Xiao Ge’s offers, asking instead to enter the Ministry of Revenue.
• Xiao Ge offered Xiao Lingyan five hundred taels of gold, and Xiao Lingyan agreed to join the Ministry of Works.

Xiao Lingyan secured the Ministry of Works and began planning to develop weapons there, while Xu Xi returned home to find her family preparing for a banquet. Xu Xue encouraged Xu Chongwen to study so he could protect the family from future threats.

• Xiao Lingyan thanked Xiao Ge for the deed and gold, then planned to use the Ministry of Works’ craftsmen to secretly develop weapons for the coming war.
• Xu Yongyi, Madam Xie, Xu Xue, and Xu Chongwen dressed in new clothes for the banquet, and Xu Yongyi praised Xu Xue’s growing confidence and judgment.
• Xu Yongyi urged Madam Xie to spend more freely now that the family had money, but she insisted their children’s needs came first.
• Xu Xue told her parents that she could earn money from her storybooks, and they proudly praised her success.
• Xu Xue noticed Xu Chongwen’s shame about depending on the family and reminded him that studying for an examination degree was his duty and the family’s best protection.

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.