Chapter Summaries

Zhao Ruxi inspected Egret Manor and Little Peach Manor, keeping the latter separate from her business operations to protect her plans and avoid exposing Grand Princess Shangde to unfavorable comparisons. After the painting class went on break, she met Xiao Lingyan to discuss the auction of a set of red jadeite hair ornaments.

• Zhao Ruxi arranged for Egret Manor to send prepared meat to the Earl of Suiping's Residence and distribute soup made from leftover bones to the manor households.
• Zhao Ruxi inspected Little Peach Manor and told Wang Qin to maintain its existing routines without joining her projects or expanding its income.
• Zhao Ruxi explained to Zhou Chun and Ma Sheng that she kept the two manors separate to prevent secrets from reaching Grand Princess Shangde.
• After Beining Women's Academy closed for the holiday, Xiao Lingyan met Zhao Ruxi and asked whether the jadeite ornaments would be auctioned the next day.
• Zhao Ruxi had Ge Wu and two other carvers make a set of red jadeite hair ornaments and entrusted them to Xiao Lingyan.

Zhao Ruxi and Xiao Lingyan discussed jadeite auctions, protecting her examination prospects, and expanding their workshops. They agreed to keep making money and secretly stockpiling supplies at the border, while deciding later when Zhao Ruxi should leave the capital.

• Xiao Lingyan agreed to auction the red jadeite the next day, while Zhao Ruxi planned to test the market for lavender and green jadeite sets.
• Xiao Lingyan promised to arrange examiners aligned with the Fourth Prince and his own faction to keep the Crown Prince's and Third Prince's people from obstructing Zhao Ruxi in the county and provincial examinations.
• Xiao Lingyan asked Zhao Ruxi for loom drawings so he could build looms locally in Jiangnan, and Zhao Ruxi suggested moving jadeite and clock production south as well.
• Xiao Lingyan proposed arranging an outside posting for Zhao Ruxi in Jiangnan after she passed the provincial examination, but she insisted on taking the metropolitan and palace examinations if possible.
• Zhao Ruxi and Xiao Lingyan agreed to keep earning money and secretly stockpile supplies at the border, and Zhao Ruxi reminded him to honor their agreement about her share of the rewards.

After the Old Madam feigned illness, the Earl of Suiping's Residence declined the many banquet invitations, leaving Zhao Yuanliang unable to find opportunities to arrange marriages for his children. Zhao Yuanxun refused to take the second branch’s children to banquets, and Zhao Rurui turned to Lady Zhu for help.

• The Old Madam and Lady Zhu stayed home and declined invitations, while Zhao Yuanliang brought his four children to visit the Old Madam and asked Zhao Yuanxun to take them to banquets.
• Zhao Yuanxun said the Old Madam had not recovered and refused to attend banquets, telling Zhao Yuanliang to ask someone else to take the children.
• Zhao Yuanliang pleaded for Zhao Jingli, saying the boy regarded Zhao Yuanxun as his father, but Zhao Yuanxun blamed Zhao Yuanliang and Lady Wei for their troubles.
• Zhao Yuanxun advised Zhao Yuanliang to find a newly successful jinshi for Zhao Rurui, but Zhao Yuanliang rejected the idea of marrying her to a poor family.
• Lady Zhu faced Zhao Ruyu and Zhao Rurui, and Zhao Rurui dropped to her knees when Lady Zhu refused to agree to her request.

Zhao Rurui and Zhao Ruyu tried to persuade Lady Zhu and Zhao Ruxi to attend year-end banquets, but both refused because the old madam was ill and Zhao Ruxi did not wish to discuss marriage. Zhao Ruxi urged Zhao Ruyu to enter the qin competition and build her own standing, leaving both young women without the banquet opportunity they wanted.

• Zhao Rurui begged Lady Zhu to take her to year-end banquets, but Lady Zhu refused and advised her to ask Zhao Yuanliang about a suitable examination graduate instead.
• Zhao Rurui snapped at Zhao Ruyu, then left to seek Zhao Ruxi's help at the Slender Bamboo Courtyard.
• Fushu reminded Zhao Ruyu that attending a banquet could help her win the Wife of the Marquis of Pingnan's favor, but Zhao Ruyu worried about gossip and being shunned at the academy.
• Zhao Rurui flattered Zhao Ruxi and asked for help, but Zhao Ruxi refused to attend banquets or discuss marriage while the old madam was ill.
• Zhao Ruxi advised Zhao Ruyu to enter the year-end qin competition and earn standing through her own abilities rather than rely on marriage.

Zhao Ruyu decided to enter the music competition to improve her marriage prospects, while Zhao Rurui grew anxious about her own lack of talents. Zhao Jingli later asked Zhao Ruxi about the sisters and learned that finding a suitable match for Zhao Ruyu would be difficult.

• Zhao Ruyu decided to enter the music competition after Zhao Ruxi encouraged her, hoping her talent would attract a better marriage prospect.
• Zhao Rurui worried that she had no talents or family standing to help her marry well.
• Zhao Jingli arrived at the Slender Bamboo Courtyard and asked Zhao Ruyu and Zhao Rurui to leave so he could discuss mathematics with Zhao Ruxi.
• Zhao Ruxi warned Zhao Jingli that Zhao Ruyu was anxious about marriage and might cause trouble if left unchecked.
• Zhao Jingli asked whether Lady Zhu could arrange a match for Zhao Ruyu, and Zhao Ruxi explained that her mother rarely attended social events and could not find the kind of established family Zhao Ruyu wanted.

Zhao Jingli asked Zhao Ruxi to help him meet Xu Chongwen, and she arranged a visit to the Xu Family. While they waited for word, Zhao Ruxi painted a new river scene that astonished the brothers, and Dianjiang returned from the Xu Family.

• Zhao Jingli discussed Zhao Ruxin’s engagement with Zhao Ruxi and asked to meet Xu Chongwen, hoping to make a friend.
• Zhao Ruxi agreed to take Zhao Jingli to the Xu Family and sent Dianjiang to ask whether a visit would be convenient.
• Zhao Jingli returned with Zhao Jing'an and Zhao Jingtai, and the brothers waited at the Slender Bamboo Courtyard.
• Zhao Ruxi painted a compact, forceful river scene that left Zhao Jingli and Zhao Jing'an amazed.
• Dianjiang returned, and Zhao Ruxi asked whether the Xu Family could receive them.

Zhao Jingli and Zhao Jing'an visited Zhao Ruxi and were struck by her paintings, while Zhao Jing'an regretted resenting her for his mother's wrongs. At the Xu home, the family discussed their thriving roasted-snack business and Zhao Ruxi advised them on keeping their reputation strong.

• Zhao Jingli and Zhao Jing'an viewed Zhao Ruxi's paintings and felt ashamed of how far they fell short of her.
• Zhao Jing'an reflected on the suffering his mother had caused Zhao Ruxi and regretted having resented her.
• Zhao Jingli persuaded Zhao Jing'an to visit the Xu family and learn from Xu Chongwen, while they left Zhao Ruxi's younger sister behind.
• Zhao Ruxi introduced Zhao Jingli and Zhao Jing'an to the Xu family, who warmly welcomed them.
• Xu Yongyi and Madam Xie told Zhao Ruxi that their roasted-snack shops were booming, and Zhao Ruxi advised them to maintain quality and keep building their reputation.

Zhao Ruxi showed Zhao Jingli and Zhao Jing'an the Xu family's honesty and demonstrated her skill in the classics by advising Xu Chongwen and Zhao Jing'an. The visit ended with Zhao Jingtai discovering Xu Xue's success as a storybook writer and asking her to teach him.

• Zhao Ruxi explained that the Xu family shared profits with her for the recipes she had suggested, dispelling Zhao Jingli and Zhao Jing'an's doubts about the arrangement.
• Zhao Ruxi answered Xu Chongwen's questions about his studies, and Xu Xue revealed that Zhao Ruxi had topped the academy's annual exams.
• Zhao Jing'an asked Zhao Ruxi for help with difficult passages and was impressed by her clear explanations.
• Zhao Jing'an admitted nothing when Xu Chongwen asked why he studied at home instead of attending a school.
• Xu Xue told Zhao Ruxi that she had sold another storybook and earned twenty-five taels from her first two books.
• Zhao Jingtai overheard that Xu Xue wrote storybooks, praised her, and asked her to teach him while Xu Xue blushed at her father's praise.

Zhao Jingli and Zhao Jing'an decided to attend the clan school, while Zhao Ruxi took part in an auction whose red jadeite jewelry set became the talk of the palace. The set brought the Second Prince and Noble Consort Cen prestige, prompting the Third Prince to seek rival jewelry and ultimately driving jadeite's popularity and the southern merchant's allegiance to the Second Prince.

• Zhao Jingli and Zhao Jing'an agreed to study at the clan school after discussing their plans and circumstances.
• Zhao Jingli told Zhao Yuanxun of their decision, and Zhao Yuanxun felt both sad and pleased.
• Zhao Ruxi attended an auction where three clocks sold for high prices and the Second Prince bought a red jadeite jewelry set for thirty-six thousand taels.
• Noble Consort Cen wore the jewelry at the palace banquet, winning praise for the Second Prince's filial devotion and outshining Consort Jin.
• The Third Prince ordered his subordinates to find more jadeite, and they eventually bought lavender jewelry for Consort Jin.
• The southern merchant opened a jadeite shop in the capital and joined the Second Prince, leaving the Third Prince furious.

The painting judges discovered a striking mountain painting that they recognized as the work of the unknown artist whose painting had been bought by the emperor at auction. Kang Shilin knew it was Zhao Ruxi’s work but insisted the judges keep the covered-name process fair, leaving her identity undisclosed.

• Fang Jingye announced that 363 paintings had been submitted and began the judging.
• Peng Guoan called the judges over to admire a majestic mountain painting.
• Kang Shilin, Liang Song, Zhou Wenbai, and Fang Jingye recognized the painting’s style as belonging to the artist whose work had been bought at the auction.
• Zhou Wenbai and Fang Jingye realized the artist was Zhao Ruxi and were astonished by her skill.
• Kang Shilin warned the judges not to reveal the artist’s identity or let personal feelings affect their scores, and Fang Jingye and Zhou Wenbai agreed to judge fairly.

Kang Shilin and the other judges gave Zhao Ruxi’s painting full marks, while she remained anxious about her ranking and prepared a second painting. Xiao Yuyue, still resentful of Zhao Ruxi, began plotting to damage her reputation by using the Jia Family and the crown prince.

• Kang Shilin stopped Peng Guoan from losing himself in Zhao Ruxi’s painting, and the judges resumed their work.
• The judges finished scoring the paintings, and Zhao Ruxi received full marks from all five and took first place.
• Kang Shilin returned home without telling Zhao Ruxi the results, while she worried that her painting might have embarrassed him.
• After passing the preliminary round, Zhao Ruxi submitted a carefully revised painting of a roaring river for the second round.
• Xiao Yuyue learned that Peng Guoan was connected to Zhao Ruxi through her sister Zhao Ruyu, but decided not to act herself.
• Xiao Yuyue planned to use the Jia Family and the crown prince, both hostile to Zhao Ruxi, to undermine her reputation.

Xiao Yuyue arranged for rumors about Zhao Ruxi’s painting and the competition judges to reach the crown prince and the Jia family, hoping they would challenge her victory. Jia Songlin warned Jia Junze not to act against Zhao Ruxi, and Jia Junze gave up on seeking revenge.

• Xiao Yuyue realized the crown prince and the Jia family did not know Zhao Ruxi had painted the work praised by the emperor, and planned to tell them the competition judges included people close to her.
• Xiao Yuyue sought Consort Jin’s approval, and Consort Jin agreed to let her spread the information through intermediaries while keeping her own involvement hidden.
• After Zhao Ruxi’s painting won the semifinal, rumors reached the crown prince and the Jia father and son.
• Jia Junze urged Jia Songlin to get the emperor to hear accusations against Zhao Ruxi and Kang Shilin, but Jia Songlin warned that the plan could expose them and bring punishment.
• Jia Junze decided to do nothing because he feared losing his comfortable life in the capital.

The crown prince reconsidered targeting Zhao Ruxi after an official exposed the scheme behind the rumors, while Xiao Yuyue waited for the finals to make her move. At the painting final, contestants learned that the first-place artist Zhiwei was likely Kang Shilin’s mysterious young disciple.

• An Office of the Grand Steward official told the crown prince that Consort Jin and Princess Pingyang had stirred him against Zhao Ruxi, and advised him that targeting her could cost him important support.
• The crown prince ordered Eunuch Deng investigated and agreed not to target Zhao Ruxi, though he remained wary of the people around him.
• Xiao Yuyue waited for the finals, planning to use Zhao Ruxi’s expected first-place ranking to accuse Kang Shilin and the others of favoritism.
• The talent competition finals began on Yongning Street, where contestants gathered at their assigned stations.
• Contestants discussing the painting final learned that Zhiwei, who had placed first in the earlier rounds, was believed to be Kang Shilin’s disciple, Zhao Ruxi.

Zhao Ruxi arrived at the painting competition after taking first place, while Zhang Xiuyan tried to cast doubt on the judging by pointing to the judges’ connections to her. She was left facing a crowd of contestants who had heard the rumors but greeted her politely when she appeared.

• Zhang Xiuyan, angered that Zhao Ruxi had won first place in both rounds, listened as a friend told him that several judges had ties to her and decided to damage her reputation.
• Zhang Xiuyan hinted to the other contestants that the judges might have favored Zhao Ruxi, while Zhong Lei openly questioned whether her work was better than Lin Yunshen’s.
• Lin Yunshen cautioned Zhong Lei against criticizing the judges, and a contestant announced Zhao Ruxi’s arrival.
• Zhao Ruxi entered in a red dress, took the first-place seat, and drew everyone’s attention.
• Zhang Xiuyan and Lin Yunshen introduced themselves to Zhao Ruxi, and the other contestants came over to greet her, while Zhong Lei stayed away.

Zhao Ruxi painted a large landscape in the final while Zhang Xiuyan hoped she would run out of time. When she finished, a crowd had gathered to watch her painting, and she began packing her supplies.

• Zhao Ruxi prepared herself and began painting a grand landscape after the final competition started.
• Zhang Xiuyan finished his painting and hoped Zhao Ruxi would exceed the time limit so his entry could beat hers.
• Zhang Xiuyan noticed onlookers gathering around Zhao Ruxi, though her loose robe obscured most of the landscape from his view.
• Zhao Ruxi finished her painting, judged it satisfactory, and put down her brush.
• Zhao Ruxi was startled by the crowd watching her, then composed herself and began packing her supplies.

Zhao Ruxi’s painting stunned Zhang Xiuyan, Lin Yunshen, and Zhong Lei, who recognized that it surpassed their own work. An official then claimed it was the anonymous painting that had sold at auction for twenty-five thousand taels, leaving Zhang Xiuyan and the others in disbelief as the official challenged him about his painting.

• Zhao Ruxi left the competition field after time was called, and Zhang Xiuyan, Lin Yunshen, and Zhong Lei stopped to stare at her painting in amazement.
• Zhang Xiuyan accepted that Zhao Ruxi’s painting was far better than his and realized he had no chance of taking first place.
• An old man identified Zhao Ruxi’s painting as the one His Majesty had bought at auction for twenty-five thousand taels of silver.
• Zhang Xiuyan and Lin Yunshen doubted that Zhao Ruxi could have painted such an expensive work, but the old man defended the painting’s value regardless of her age or experience.
• The old man recognized Zhang Xiuyan as Mei Zhongjun’s disciple and asked whether he thought his own painting was better than Zhao Ruxi’s.

Officials recognized Zhao Ruxi’s painting as the work of the same artist who had sold a painting at auction, stunning Zhang Xiuyan and the other contestants. The judges began scoring the finalists, and the chapter ended as Peng Guoan awarded Zhong Lei six points and Lin Yunshen six point three.

• Zhang Xiuyan argued that a fourteen- or fifteen-year-old girl could not paint at the level of Mister Kumu, but Qi Xugu confirmed Zhao Ruxi’s painting matched the auction work.
• Officials gathered around Zhao Ruxi’s painting and questioned Zhang Xiuyan, who reluctantly confirmed that he had watched Zhiwei paint it.
• Kang Shilin and the other judges began scoring the finalists, saving Zhao Ruxi’s painting for last.
• Peng Guoan gave Zhong Lei’s painting six points and Lin Yunshen’s painting six point three.

Peng Guoan scored the remaining paintings in the final and gave Zhao Ruxi a perfect ten for her landscape, which left the spectators debating the score. Zhang Xiuyan, angered by his own 6.7, resolved to expose what he believed were shady dealings.

• Lin Yunshen felt satisfied with Peng Guoan's score of 6.3, while Zhong Lei worried that his score of six would disappoint his master.
• Zhang Xiuyan watched Peng Guoan approach his painting and hoped for a high score that would support his case against the judges.
• Peng Guoan gave Zhang Xiuyan a score of 6.7, prompting Zhang Xiuyan to decide he would expose the alleged shady dealings and seek justice.
• Peng Guoan stood transfixed before Zhao Ruxi's landscape until his servant reminded him to give a score.
• Peng Guoan awarded Zhao Ruxi ten points, and the spectators began arguing over whether the perfect score was justified.

Kang Shilin judged the top paintings, giving Zhao Ruxi a perfect ten despite their plan to avoid accusations of favoritism. His score sparked debate among the crowd, while Zhang Xiuyan saw an opportunity to challenge the result.

• Kang Shilin gave Lin Yunshen a 6.5 and Zhang Xiuyan a 6.9 as he judged the paintings.
• Kang Shilin paused at Zhao Ruxi's painting and gave it a ten, despite their agreement that he would score her only slightly above second place.
• Zhao Ruxi watched from outside the competition grounds with Gong Cheng and Wu Zong, and Gong Cheng and Wu Zong concluded that Kang Shilin had been unable to deny her painting's quality.
• Onlookers questioned Kang Shilin's full marks for his disciple and compared his scoring with other judges' efforts to avoid suspicion.
• Zhang Xiuyan's anger faded, and he became delighted because Kang Shilin's ten gave him grounds to object.

Xiao Ge secretly attended the talent competition and became captivated by Zhao Ruxi’s painting, while Lin Yunshen warned her that Zhang Xiuyan and Mei Zhongjun might challenge the judging. As Zhao Ruxi’s senior brothers made their way through the crowd, Mei Zhongjun publicly accused several judges of having ties to her.

• Mei Zhongjun told Zhang Xiuyan to wait until all the judges had finished scoring.
• Xiao Ge arrived in disguise with Imperial Guards and attendants, spotted Zhao Ruxi’s painting, and decided he wanted it for his collection.
• Fang Jingye gave Zhao Ruxi’s painting ten points after awarding Zhang Xiuyan and Lin Yunshen scores above seven.
• Lin Yunshen warned Zhao Ruxi that Zhang Xiuyan and Mei Zhongjun might question the fairness of the competition, and Wu Zong explained Lin’s motives to her.
• Wu Zong, Gong Cheng, and Zhao Ruxi were blocked by disguised Imperial Guards before reaching the judges.
• Mei Zhongjun declared that the judging had been unfair because several judges were closely connected to Zhao Zhiwei.