Chapter Summaries

After Zhao Ruxi ranked second in the county examination, she predicted that Prefect Zhang Li’s correction would provoke a challenge. The posted examination papers won public praise for her work, while Xiao Ge’s investigation linked Zhang Li to both the crown prince’s retainer and a third-prince official.

• Zhang Li rewrote and posted the examination results, ranking Zhao Ruxi second, and she received six hundred system points.
• Zhao Ruxi told Zhao Yuanxun that someone might encourage examinees to challenge her ranking, so he sent a servant to watch the prefectural office.
• An examinee demanded to see the examination papers, and Wu Huaisi ordered Zhang Li to post them.
• Onlookers praised Zhao Ruxi’s essays but disputed whether her seventh-place result in the third round justified second place overall.
• Xiao Ge learned that Zhang Li often visited a crown-prince retainer and that Madam Zhang was close to the wife of Chen Yunnan, a third-prince ally.

Xiao Ge and Xiao Lingyan investigated Zhang Li to uncover who was behind the schemes surrounding him. As Zhang Li realized his past misconduct had come under scrutiny, he secretly sought help, and the investigation pointed toward the Fourth Prince.

• Xiao Ge ordered the imperial guards to investigate Zhang Li’s past and find the true mastermind, while Xiao Lingyan began his own investigation.
• Zhang Li heard someone outside his house at night, then found a faint mark on the high courtyard wall and suspected an expert had been watching him.
• Zhang Li and his guard felt watched, and Madam Zhang also grew uneasy about the surveillance.
• A letter from Xianquan County warned Zhang Li that someone was investigating his past, including the false cases he had manufactured for money.
• Zhang Li secretly wrote to seek help, and reports delivered to Xiao Ge and Xiao Lingyan named the Fourth Prince.

Xiao Ge learned that the fourth prince might be behind Zhang Li, while Xiao Lingyan exposed Zhang Li’s misconduct in Xianquan County and Zhao Ruxi set the matter aside to focus on her exams. Zhao Yuanxun resumed official service by imperial decree, shocking the Zhao clan, while Zhao Yuankun sank further into despair after losing his post.

• Xiao Ge learned that the third prince’s men had investigated Zhang Li and questioned whether Wang Dingwu’s ties to the fourth prince were genuine.
• Xiao Ge ordered the imperial guards to keep investigating, but Xiao Lingyan stopped his own men’s pursuit and exposed Zhang Li’s actions in Xianquan County.
• Xiao Ge dismissed Zhang Li and imprisoned him, then sent Ministry of Justice officials to investigate.
• Zhao Ruxi replied to Xiao Lingyan with thanks and continued preparing for the prefectural examination at Beining Women’s Academy.
• Zhao Yuanxun reported for work as a sixth-rank deputy director at the Court of Judicial Review and informed the Zhao clan head of his appointment.
• Zhao Yuankun remained bitter over losing his post and continued taking his anger out on Lady Su and the servants.

Zhao Yuankun learned that his eldest brother Zhao Yuanxun had become a sixth-rank official and reacted with violent fury. Lady Su feared his worsening cruelty and began to suspect he might take another wife or even kill her for her dowry.

• Zhao Yuankun heard that Zhao Yuanxun had taken a post at the Court of Judicial Review and kicked the servant who brought him the news.
• Zhao Yuankun ordered his servants to investigate further, frightening them with his violent temper.
• Lady Su learned that Zhao Yuanxun had become an official and worried about how Zhao Yuankun would react.
• Lady Su asked Nanny Sun whether she could take Zhao Jingning and Miss Shan back to the Su Family, but Nanny Sun warned that her family could not protect her from Zhao Yuankun.
• Nanny Sun feared Zhao Yuankun might seek another wife and possibly murder Lady Su for her dowry.

Lady Su accepted Nanny Sun’s advice to seek protection from her family, while Zhao Yuanliang celebrated Zhao Yuanxun’s new official post and prepared to visit the first branch. Zhao Jingli joined him, but Zhao Jing’an’s refusal and disappointment over Zhao Ruxi’s examination results complicated the second branch’s plans.

• Nanny Sun urged Lady Su to ask her parents for guards and martial women, and Lady Su sent her to the Su Family for help.
• Zhao Yuanliang ordered his family to prepare a gift and visit Zhao Yuanxun to congratulate him on his official post.
• Concubine Wang questioned Zhao Yuanliang’s enthusiasm, and he said he hoped his elder brother would help him in the future.
• Zhao Jingli recalled that Zhao Yuanliang had previously abandoned his own official post and returned the two hundred taels to Zhao Yuankun.
• Zhao Jingli told Zhao Yuanliang that Zhao Jing’an had refused to go, but he had insisted; Zhao Jing’an was struggling with Zhao Ruxi’s strong examination results.

Zhao Ruxi advised Zhao Jing'an on how to improve his exam results and persuaded Zhao Jingtai to study harder. After leaving the earl's residence, Zhao Jing'an criticized Zhao Ruyu for not visiting Zhao Ruxi.

• Zhao Jingli brought Zhao Jing'an to Zhao Ruxi and asked her to advise him after he did poorly in the county examination.
• Zhao Ruxi gave Zhao Jing'an past examination papers and explained how to identify weak areas, review, and improve his essays through comparison and practice.
• Zhao Jingtai complained that Zhao Ruxi had not shared those study methods with him, so she challenged him to take the county examination and outperform Zhao Jing'an.
• Zhao Ruxi encouraged Zhao Jingtai by comparing his prospects with Zhao Jing'an's, and he vowed to earn a tongsheng title next year.
• As they left the earl's residence, Zhao Jing'an scolded Zhao Ruyu for not visiting Zhao Ruxi.

Zhao Ruyu worried that Zhao Ruxi’s growing influence could change her future and began considering whether to give up on Fu Yunlang. As the prefectural exam began, Zhao Ruxi focused on her papers and once again finished first.

• Zhao Ruyu feared that Zhao Ruxi might alter the political future and ruin her prospects of becoming Fu Yunlang’s marchioness, so she considered seeking another husband.
• Zhao Rurui rejected Zhao Jingli’s proposed match, comparing the candidate’s modest prospects to the hardship faced by the Zhao Family’s Little Aunt, and Zhao Jingli stopped trying to persuade her.
• Zhao Ruxi devoted herself to studying and teaching painting as she prepared to earn a high rank in the examinations.
• At the prefectural exam, the two Capital Women’s Academy students greeted Zhao Ruxi warmly after hearing about her first place in the county exam and Zhang Li’s dismissal.
• Zhao Ruxi completed her prefectural exam paper faster than the other candidates and submitted it early.

Zhao Ruxi recovered from the strain of the prefectural examination and learned that she had placed second. She also learned that Xu Chongwen had passed as a child scholar, while the two candidates from the Capital Women's Academy had apparently failed.

• Lady Zhu worried about the hardship of future examinations, but Zhao Yuanxun said Zhao Ruxi should pursue her own aims.
• A servant reported that Zhao Ruxi had placed second in the prefectural examination and brought home the rankings and essays.
• Lady Zhu ordered a reward for the servant and sent a congratulatory gift to the Xu Family after learning Xu Chongwen placed thirty-first and became a child scholar.
• Zhao Ruxi read the rankings, was pleased that Xu Chongwen had passed, and told Qingfeng she had not seen the two candidates from the Capital Women's Academy on the list.

After hearing about a safe forced open and stolen jewelry, Zhao Ruxi questioned Shi Chao about the safe buyers and learned of two suspicious households. She sent him to alert the authorities, while also agreeing to consider a livelihood for the servants at Little Peach Manor.

• Zhou Chun told Zhao Ruxi that a safe had been forced open and its jewelry stolen, and that the steward of Little Peach Manor wanted a way to increase the servants' income.
• Zhao Ruxi asked Shi Chao whether the safe shop had recorded and verified buyers' identities and addresses.
• Shi Chao described two poor households that had bought expensive safes, including one buyer who had refused delivery at first and another man who appeared to lead street thugs.
• Zhao Ruxi instructed Shi Chao to tell the head constable about the two households and request an investigation.

Zhao Ruxi ordered Shi Chao to publicize that thieves had been caught after breaking into safes, and the news reassured Liu Longcheng’s family that their own valuables were not in immediate danger. The chapter ended as Liu Longcheng began explaining why Baoning Pavilion had delayed delivering their safe.

• Zhou Chun told Zhao Ruxi and Shi Chao that Lü Yi’s gang had been caught after robbing two households and that Lü Yi had learned to pick a safe lock.
• Shi Chao worried that the robberies could damage Baoning Pavilion’s reputation, but Zhao Ruxi ordered him to spread the news.
• After hearing that Wang Fugui’s safe had been robbed, Liu Longcheng rushed out to investigate and returned home urging his family to post more guards.
• Old Master Liu stayed home to watch the family safe, while Old Madam Liu worried that the family had lost the security the safe once provided.
• Liu Longcheng told his parents that the authorities had caught Lü Yi’s gang with help from Baoning Pavilion and recovered Wang Fugui’s stolen property.
• Liu Longcheng began telling his parents that Baoning Pavilion had insisted their safe was out of stock and delivered it the next day.

After Lü Yi’s theft exposed vulnerabilities in Baoning Pavilion’s safes, Zhao Ruxi’s new locks and follow-up sales sparked another buying boom and earned the shareholders a large dividend. She then expanded her preserved-fruit plans and wrote to Xiao Lingyan about the clock-grown leeks.

• Liu Longcheng explained that Baoning Pavilion was selling two stronger locks and sending its own workers to install them, and Old Master Liu ordered the more expensive one.
• After the lock was installed, Old Master Liu decided to buy another safe fitted with a new lock, while families across the capital rushed to upgrade and buy safes.
• Shi Chao asked Zhao Ruxi when she had made the new locks, and she said she had commissioned them while safe sales were strong.
• Xiao Ge heard Eunuch Xie’s account of Lü Yi’s theft and Zhao Ruxi’s response, then said he would offer her an official post if she passed the provincial examination.
• Zhao Ruxi instructed Zhou Chun to prepare glass jars and set up a preserved-fruit workshop at Little Peach Manor, giving him the recipe.
• Zhao Ruxi wrote to Xiao Lingyan that the second crop of leeks grown with the clocks was ready to harvest.

Zhao Ruxi met with Madam Cui, agreed to resume studying for the academy exam, and discussed the newspaper’s disappointing sales. The chapter ended with Madam Cui explaining that the second issue had sold only a little over 180 copies.

• Madam Cui visited Zhao Ruxi and Lady Zhu, who urged Zhao Ruxi to rest after her exams and teaching duties.
• Zhao Ruxi said she would return to Beining Women's Academy after two days and take the academy exam at the end of the fifth month.
• Lady Zhu encouraged Zhao Ruxi to complete her exams this year, and Zhao Ruxi said she planned to take the provincial exam in the eighth month if she passed the academy exam.
• Madam Cui agreed to gather past academy exam papers for Zhao Ruxi to practice.
• Zhao Ruxi asked Madam Cui about the newspaper, and Madam Cui reported that the publication had shifted to monthly issues and that the second issue sold only a little over 180 copies.

Zhao Ruxi advised Madam Cui on how to expand the newspaper’s readership and make it sustainable. Madam Cui eagerly took notes and planned to share the proposals with Grand Princess Shangde.

• Madam Cui told Zhao Ruxi that newspaper sales had stalled because issues were too short, came out only monthly, and were inconvenient to buy.
• Zhao Ruxi proposed broadening the newspaper to appeal to both men and women, while asking Grand Princess Shangde to seek the emperor’s approval.
• Zhao Ruxi suggested renaming the paper, doubling its pages, publishing more frequently, offering subscriptions, and selling copies through bookshops.
• Madam Cui worried that lowering the price would cause losses, but Zhao Ruxi explained that advertising could provide the newspaper’s profits.
• Madam Cui was excited by the advertising idea and said she would tell Grand Princess Shangde about Zhao Ruxi’s proposals.

Zhao Ruxi helped Madam Cui devise ways to fund and grow the newspaper, then offered Lady Zhu the chance to start a business of her own. The chapter ended with Zhao Ruxi proposing canned goods made from Little Peach Manor’s yellow peaches as Lady Zhu’s venture.

• Madam Cui realized that newspaper advertisements could cover costs, and Zhao Ruxi suggested prize drawings, crossword puzzles, and serialized mysteries to increase readership.
• Lady Zhu was surprised by Zhao Ruxi’s business ideas, and Zhao Ruxi offered to help her start a business if she wanted one.
• Lady Zhu said she preferred a small business like the rice noodle shop or roasted-goods business, rather than ventures tied to powerful families or the imperial court.
• Zhao Ruxi proposed canned goods and explained that Little Peach Manor had begun testing a recipe for preserving yellow peaches.
• Lady Zhu hesitated because Zhao Ruxi had already started the project, but Zhao Ruxi said she was too busy to expand it herself and would let Lady Zhu take it over if the recipe worked.

Zhao Ruxi helped her mother begin a preserves business while the Qiming Ten-Day Gazette grew into a successful newspaper that supported women. As the academy examination arrived at the end of the fifth month, Zhao Ruxi remained focused on her studies.

• Zhao Ruxi persuaded Lady Zhu to take charge of making and selling preserves, and Lady Zhu sent a steward and Ma Sheng to learn the process.
• Zhao Ruxi proposed other possible businesses to Lady Zhu, then devoted the next month to studying while Qingfeng checked on the newspaper.
• Grand Princess Shangde secured the emperor’s approval for a newspaper aimed at men and women, and the Qiming Ten-Day Gazette expanded to eight pages and sold more than five thousand copies by its fifth issue.
• Advertisements in the newspaper more than doubled the monthly turnover of Wang Printing House, Grand Princess Shangde’s silk shop, and Xiao Ruotong’s Gathered Treasures Studio silver shop.
• He Yuqi thanked Zhao Ruxi and told her the newspaper and the grand princess’s textile factory had helped women gain work, avoid unwanted marriages, and improve their standing with their in-laws.
• Zhao Ruxi continued studying at Beining Women’s Academy until the academy examination arrived at the end of the fifth month.

Zhao Ruxi placed sixth in the prefectural examination and decided to save her points rather than buy a limited Recovery Pill. She persuaded the resentful system to postpone its upgrade until she reached Jiangnan, where it could still help her during the expected winter coup.

• Zhao Ruxi took the prefectural examination with four examiners supervising her and placed sixth when the results were posted.
• Lady Zhu comforted Zhao Ruxi about her rank, and Zhao Ruxi accepted that the capital had many talented candidates and that her own studies had been brief.
• Zhao Ruxi considered spending her hundred thousand points on a Recovery Pill but chose to save them for future emergencies.
• The system warned Zhao Ruxi that it wanted to upgrade and would be unable to provide information while it slept.
• Zhao Ruxi reminded the system that they were bound together and that the winter coup made its help important, persuading it to wait until she reached Jiangnan before upgrading.

After Zhao Ruxi placed sixth in the academy examination, Emperor Xiao Ge praised her essay and offered to arrange guidance from Peng Guoan for her provincial examination preparations. Kang Shilin and Zhao Ruxi visited Peng Guoan, who welcomed her as a student and scheduled a day to assess her work.

• Xiao Ge read Zhao Ruxi's essay, praised her writing, and wrote to Kang Shilin offering Peng Guoan's guidance.
• Kang Shilin received Xiao Ge's letter, and Zhao Ruxi eagerly agreed to seek instruction from Peng Guoan.
• Kang Shilin and Zhao Ruxi brought gifts to the Peng Residence and asked Peng Guoan to review her essays.
• Peng Guoan agreed to coach Zhao Ruxi on a ten-day rest day and told her to call him Uncle Peng.
• Kang Shilin and Peng Guoan praised each other's ability to recognize talent while Zhao Ruxi listened in exasperation.

Zhao Ruxi visited her sister Zhao Ruyu at the Peng Residence after Peng Guoan agreed to guide her essays for the autumn examination. To honor the emperor’s instruction, Peng Guoan arranged for several Imperial Academy scholars to tutor her at the academy’s exhibition courtyard.

• Peng Guoan told Zhao Ruxi to visit Zhao Ruyu after agreeing to meet her on rest days and guide her studies.
• Zhao Ruxi and Zhao Ruyu chatted about their family, and Zhao Ruyu reassured her that she was living well at the Peng Residence.
• Zhao Ruxi left to study at home after learning Kang Shilin had already departed.
• Kang Shilin sent word to Xiao Ge, who asked Peng Guoan to give Zhao Ruxi proper guidance.
• Peng Guoan asked several great scholars to tutor Zhao Ruxi and arranged daily lessons for her at the Imperial Academy’s exhibition courtyard.

Zhao Ruxi won over the Imperial Academy scholars assigned to tutor her by giving them gifts and impressing them with her intelligence. She then presented Peng Guoan with a novel pocket-sized clock, leaving him astonished.

• Zhao Ruxi asked Xiao Lingyan to find out what the great scholars liked, then sent Ma Sheng to buy suitable gifts.
• Zhao Ruxi gave a scholar chicken-blood stone before her lesson, and he became impressed by her skill and offered to arrange more lessons.
• The other scholars also changed their minds about tutoring Zhao Ruxi after she gave them gifts and demonstrated her ability.
• Peng Guoan praised Zhao Ruxi to Peng Jinrui and looked forward to receiving a gift from her.
• Zhao Ruxi gave Peng Guoan a small golden clock, and he recognized it with surprise.

Zhao Ruxi gave Peng Guoan a pocket watch, which he accepted after she explained how much she valued his guidance. As her lessons with the Imperial Academy scholars grew more demanding, she refused Lady Zhu’s suggestion to hold a coming-of-age banquet, calling it an invitation for people to arrange her marriage.

• Zhao Ruxi gave Peng Guoan a pocket watch, and he accepted it after she insisted it was a token of gratitude for his teaching.
• Peng Guoan decided to give Zhao Ruxi a fine inkstone and good ink at their final lesson as a blessing for her provincial examination.
• Zhao Ruxi continued attending lessons with the great scholars, whose added classes left her exhausted and struggling to keep up with her studies.
• Lady Zhu asked Zhao Ruxi whether she wanted a banquet for her coming-of-age ceremony, but Zhao Ruxi refused because she dreaded the expense and social obligations.
• Lady Zhu insisted that the ceremony mattered, and Zhao Ruxi joked that it was an announcement that she was ready to be married; Lady Zhu smacked her forehead.