Chapter Summaries

Zhao Ruxi visited Kang Shilin and watched her senior brothers receive criticism and praise for their paintings. She then asked Wu Zong whether he would marry Xiao Ruotong, and he refused, saying he did not intend to marry again; Zhao Ruxi was left worrying that Xiao Ruotong might blame herself for being unable to bear children.

• Kang Shilin praised Gong Cheng and Wu Zong's improved paintings, then scolded Wu Huaisi for arriving without a painting.
• Zhao Ruxi pulled Wu Zong outside and asked Qingfeng to give them privacy.
• Zhao Ruxi told Wu Zong that Xiao Ruotong had asked her to sound him out about marriage.
• Wu Zong said he and Xiao Ruotong were not suited and that he did not intend to marry again, taking the blame upon himself.
• Zhao Ruxi worried Xiao Ruotong would think Wu Zong rejected her because she could not bear children.

Zhao Ruxi concealed from Gong Cheng the real reason Wu Zong was upset, claiming he had gone to deal with trouble at her father’s workplace. The chapter ended with Wu Huaisi asking where Zhao Ruxi wanted to serve as an official if she passed the metropolitan examination.

• Wu Zong told Zhao Ruxi to end the matter with Xiao Ruotong and left, while Zhao Ruxi wondered why he was so unhappy.
• Wu Zong returned to the studio in low spirits and soon left, prompting Gong Cheng to ask Zhao Ruxi what had upset him.
• Zhao Ruxi used the past trouble at Zhao Yuanxun’s office as a cover, and Gong Cheng urged her to seek help from her senior brothers when needed.
• Wu Huaisi joined them and offered Zhao Ruxi his support if she faced difficulties.
• Wu Huaisi asked Zhao Ruxi where she wanted to serve as an official after passing the metropolitan examination and offered to put in a word with His Majesty.

Zhao Ruxi told Xiao Ruotong that Wu Zong had no plans to remarry, then learned that Wu Zong’s late wife had loved the crown prince. Xiao Ruotong doubted Wu Zong’s reason for refusing marriage, while Zhao Ruxi left the possibility of a match between them to fate.

• Zhao Ruxi told Wu Huaisi she wanted to go to Jiangnan, and he encouraged her to do well in the spring examination.
• Zhao Ruxi returned home instead of taking Wu Zong’s refusal to Xiao Ruotong immediately, then relayed it when Xiao Ruotong visited the next day.
• Xiao Ruotong explained that Wu Zong’s late wife, Lin, had loved a man before marrying Wu Zong, and Zhao Ruxi learned that the man was the crown prince.
• Xiao Ruotong told Zhao Ruxi that the crown prince was thirty-one and that the late empress had prevented other women in the palace from bearing children while securing her position.
• Xiao Ruotong suggested Wu Zong’s claim that he would not remarry because of his late wife was an excuse, while Zhao Ruxi decided not to interfere with either of their choices.

As the year-end banquets approached, Zhao Ruxi struggled to decide which invitations to accept, then learned that the border army’s grain and supplies had been destroyed and aid messengers were under attack. The news made the banquets irrelevant, while the fifth prince’s secret supplies remained safe.

• Lady Zhu brought Zhao Ruxi a stack of invitations and warned her that she needed a new excuse if she declined them.
• Zhao Ruxi hesitated over whether to attend the Prince of Zhennan's Residence banquet, since refusing the Prince of Jingping's Estate afterward could cause offense.
• Zhao Ruxi asked the system for an update on the border and practiced calligraphy while it gathered information.
• The system told Zhao Ruxi that the border army’s supplies and nearby cities’ grain reserves had been burned, and that the Fu Family’s messengers seeking aid had been ambushed.
• Zhao Ruxi learned that the fifth prince’s grain, supplies, and winter clothing were still hidden and safe, then warned the system not to overcharge her for information.

News spread that the frontier’s provisions had been burned, and the Zhao family wondered how Zhao Ruxi had anticipated the disaster. Zhao Ruyu struggled over whether to spend her saved points to learn what happened, but chose to save them for a Beauty Pill.

• Zhao Yuanxun told the Zhao family that the frontier’s provisions had been burned and soldiers had come to the capital seeking aid.
• The old madam and Lady Zhu marveled at Zhao Ruxi’s earlier concern, and Zhao Ruxi let them think she might have had a premonition.
• Zhao Jingtai asked Zhao Ruxi to predict his exam results, and her warning left him facing his parents’ scolding.
• Zhao Ruyu learned that Fu Yunlang had missed their meeting and discovered that the frontier was in crisis.
• The system offered to investigate the frontier for six thousand points, but Zhao Ruyu decided to keep her points for a Beauty Pill.

Zhao Ruyu rejected the system’s offer and tried to meet Fu Yunlang, who was consumed by fear for his family and refused her. Meanwhile, Xiao Ge learned from Fu Dayong’s secret letter that several generals at the border might have worked against him, leaving the emperor to suspect rival princes’ factions.

• Zhao Ruyu rejected the system’s proposal, then sent an errand boy to ask Fu Yunlang to meet her so she could learn about the border without spending points.
• Fu Yunlang refused to see Zhao Ruyu because he was focused on protecting his father and brother and organizing ministers to support the Fu Family.
• Zhao Ruyu grew angry at Fu Yunlang’s rejection and went to the music room to play the qin and earn points.
• Xiao Ge finished meeting with ministers and reviewed Fu Dayong’s secretly delivered letter, which described the border crisis and named four suspicious generals.
• Xiao Ge investigated the generals’ connections and suspected that rival princes’ factions had helped sabotage the border, while he ruled out Xiao Lingpu and Xiao Lingyan.

Xiao Lingyan earned Xiao Ge’s trust by massaging him, and the emperor began considering him as a possible successor because he seemed unambitious and good-hearted. After court, Xiao Lingyan explained that he wanted the border supplies delivered safely and the border affair investigated, then recommended Zhang Changshen for the mission.

• Xiao Lingyan visited Xiao Ge and offered to massage his head, helping the exhausted emperor fall asleep.
• Xiao Ge woke refreshed and reflected on his sons’ ambitions, deciding that Little Five might be a suitable successor if necessary.
• Xiao Ge considered removing any princes implicated in using the border crisis for political gain, and resolved to weaken the Cen Family if it threatened Xiao Lingyan.
• After court, Xiao Ge asked Xiao Lingyan why he had requested an audience the previous night.
• Xiao Lingyan said he wanted the border supplies delivered safely and the border affair investigated, then recommended Zhang Changshen to go to the border.

Xiao Lingyan persuaded Xiao Ge to send Zhang Changshen to the border and put Wu Zong in charge of the Court of Judicial Review. The princes grew anxious that Zhang Changshen would uncover their schemes, while the crown prince’s advisers turned against each other.

• Xiao Lingyan urged Xiao Ge to appoint Zhang Changshen as the impartial leader of the border supply mission and argued that Wu Zong could manage the Court of Judicial Review.
• Xiao Lingyan proposed transferring Tang Guanming and promoting Wu Zong, and Xiao Ge agreed to consider the arrangement.
• Xiao Ge appointed Zhang Changshen imperial envoy to deliver provisions and investigate the border, transferred Tang Guanming to the Ministry of Rites, and put Wu Zong temporarily in charge of the court.
• The princes worried Zhang Changshen would expose their actions, and two of the crown prince’s advisers argued over whether he should be killed.
• The crown prince ordered both advisers to leave, and they departed in anger.

After Xiao Ge sent Zhang Changshen to investigate the border provisions, Xiao Lingpu, Xiao Lingyan, and Fu Yunlang arranged guards and local guides to protect him. The Third Prince chose to continue his plan to disrupt the supply shipment, and officials discovered that provisions were missing as the carts were being loaded.

• The crown prince ordered two people expelled from the Eastern Palace, while Xiao Ge summoned Zhang Changshen and assigned Imperial Guards and shadow guards to protect him on his journey.
• Xiao Lingpu, Xiao Lingyan, and Fu Yunlang met Zhang Changshen at the palace gates and each provided guards, deathsworn, or soldiers familiar with the border.
• Xiao Ge learned that the princes and Fu Yunlang had protected Zhang Changshen, then asked an Imperial Guard to report how the other princes reacted.
• The Third Prince consulted his advisers and agreed to proceed with a plan to disrupt the provisions and shift blame onto the crown prince.
• Ministry officials found that the provisions weighed too little, leaving eight Ministry of War carts empty as the loading began.

Xiao Ge investigated an eight-cartload shortfall in provisions meant for the border and ordered emergency grain collection and transfers. Guo Jitong insisted his calculations were correct, but Xiao Ge found a discrepancy between the figures Guo wrote and the Ministry of Revenue's memorial and demanded an explanation.

• Xiao Ge learned from Qi Xugu that the capital was eight cartloads short and that the northern cities and prefectures could not safely surrender more grain.
• Xiao Ge ordered Eunuch Zhang to collect grain from wealthy households in the capital and directed Qi Xugu to send the available provisions first, then arrange additional grain transfers from the south.
• Xiao Ge summoned Guo Jitong and accused him of miscalculating the provisions, but Guo Jitong claimed his figures had been correct and suggested the grain totals or records might have been altered.
• Guo Jitong wrote down the figures he remembered while Xiao Ge had Eunuch Zhang retrieve the Ministry of Revenue's memorial.
• Xiao Ge compared Guo Jitong's figures with the memorial, found that they did not match, and demanded to know whether Guo was certain his figures were correct.

Xiao Ge investigated a discrepancy in the grain transport figures, as Zhou Zhao accused Guo Jitong of miscalculating the provisions. Unwilling to trust either man without verification, Xiao Ge asked Qi Xugu to find someone in Great Jin who could quickly check the arithmetic.

• Xiao Ge compared the Ministry of Revenue and Ministry of Works memorials with Guo Jitong's figures and summoned Qi Xugu to explain the mismatch.
• Qi Xugu said he had based his memorial on Guo Jitong's calculations, and Guo Jitong blamed Zhou Zhao for altering the figures.
• Xiao Ge ordered Zhou Zhao and Gu Shanyue brought in and questioned; Zhou Zhao said he had changed the figures because he believed Guo Jitong was wrong.
• Guo Jitong insisted his calculations were correct, while Zhou Zhao defended his decision to take the matter to Xiao Ge.
• Xiao Ge worried that the grain shortfall could endanger soldiers at the border and asked Qi Xugu who could quickly verify the figures.

Xiao Ge ordered Guo Jitong, Gu Shanyue, and Zhou Zhao sent to the Court of Judicial Review after Guo denied tampering with the grain and fodder calculations. With the border supplies urgent, Xiao Ge summoned Gan Lun and the student he had praised to calculate the figures.

• Qi Xugu said he knew of a skilled mathematician but had never met him, and worried about entrusting confidential supply figures to a stranger.
• Xiao Ge challenged Guo Jitong to confess, warning that the correct figures could expose his tampering and endanger his household.
• Guo Jitong denied wrongdoing and claimed he had used his usual method, while Gu Shanyue and Zhou Zhao were also taken into custody.
• Xiao Ge ordered the three men escorted to the Court of Judicial Review for Lord Wu Zong to try the case.
• Qi Xugu explained how Gan Lun had boasted about his student, and Xiao Ge ordered Gan Lun to bring the student to court.

Zhao Ruxi was summoned to the palace to recalculate the grain and fodder figures tied to a border supply plot, and her results exposed a massive discrepancy in Guo Jitong’s calculations. After the emperor ordered an investigation into the people behind the scheme, Zhao Ruxi was sent to Noble Consort Cen’s quarters for protection, where she unexpectedly met Xiao Lingyan’s mother.

• Eunuch Xie summoned Zhao Ruxi to the palace after Gan Lun reported her mathematical ability to the emperor.
• Xiao Ge instructed Gan Lun and Qi Xugu to prepare the factors for Zhao Ruxi’s calculations, while Xiao Lingyan sent ten more hidden guards to protect her.
• Zhao Ruxi worked with Gan Lun and Qi Xugu until the hour of the dog and produced figures matching the Ministry of War’s memorial.
• Xiao Ge learned that Guo Jitong’s figures understated the grain and fodder supplies and ordered the imperial guards to investigate the people connected to him.
• Eunuch Xie arranged for Zhao Ruxi to stay with Noble Consort Cen overnight, and Zhao Ruxi was surprised to meet Xiao Lingyan’s mother.

Zhao Ruxi stayed in Noble Consort Cen’s palace after helping calculate figures, and the two women grew close while they waited for the emperor. Xiao Lingyan arrived to bid his mother farewell after volunteering to deliver grain to the troubled border.

• Noble Consort Cen welcomed Zhao Ruxi, arranged food and lodging for her, and explained that she would need to wait until after morning court to leave.
• Zhao Ruxi declined a palace tour and spent the morning chatting with Noble Consort Cen, who gave her jewelry and fabric.
• Xiao Lingyan arrived and told Noble Consort Cen that he had volunteered to deliver grain to the border, leaving the next day.
• Noble Consort Cen worried about the danger, and Xiao Lingyan explained that he wanted to protect his family’s position and had chosen to go himself.

Xiao Lingyan volunteered to go to the border in place of Xiao Lingpu, and Noble Consort Cen began preparing for his dangerous journey. Zhao Ruxi secretly gave Xiao Lingyan two pills before he left, hoping they would help protect him.

• Noble Consort Cen realized the other princes were using public pressure to force Xiao Lingpu toward danger at the border, and Xiao Lingyan offered to go in his place.
• Zhao Ruxi urged Noble Consort Cen to arrange trusted physicians, medicine, warm clothing, supplies, and guards for Xiao Lingyan.
• After Noble Consort Cen went to prepare, Zhao Ruxi wondered whether she and Xiao Ke could return to the modern world if they died in Great Jin, but the system could not answer.
• Zhao Ruxi bought an Agility Pill and a Great Strength Pill with her points and asked Zhixue to bring Xiao Lingyan to her privately.
• Xiao Lingyan came to see Zhao Ruxi, and she secretly fed him both pills.

Zhao Ruxi prepared Xiao Lingyan for his dangerous journey to the border and promised to wait for his return. After he left her, she learned that Xiao Ge cared about his safety and began considering how to gather information to help him survive.

• Zhao Ruxi gave Xiao Lingyan an Agility Pill and a Great Strength Pill, reviewed his preparations, and urged him to keep in contact and retreat if danger became overwhelming.
• Xiao Lingyan promised to return alive and marry Zhao Ruxi, then hid behind the bed curtains when Zhixue announced that the emperor had summoned her.
• Xiao Ge blamed the crown prince and the third prince's factions for forcing Xiao Lingyan toward the border and worried that sending Xiao Lingpu would leave Xiao Lingyan more vulnerable.
• Xiao Ge briefly praised Zhao Ruxi and gave her gifts, while she overheard him asking Xiao Lingpu whether another general should command the troops.
• Zhao Ruxi recalled that the original book offered little detail about the coup, then resolved to earn more system points and gather information for Xiao Lingyan's journey.

Zhao Ruxi waited anxiously for news of Xiao Lingyan at the frontier while farming points and sending him occasional letters through Xiao Lingpu. After learning the letters could not be traced back to her, she asked Wu Wei whether she could secretly warn Xiao Lingpu if he were in danger.

• Zhao Ruxi returned home after working through the night, then spent the following days farming points instead of attending banquets.
• Xiao Lingyan and Zhang Changshen left the capital with grain, fodder, and other supplies for the frontier.
• The system reported several failed attempts to harm Xiao Lingyan and told Zhao Ruxi that his weapons had helped Fu Yunkai win a major victory without casualties.
• Zhao Ruxi sent occasional letters to Xiao Lingyan through Xiao Lingpu and learned Xiao Lingyan had told him a young lady he admired would write.
• Wu Wei assured Zhao Ruxi that intermediaries kept her letters and any warnings she sent from being traced back to her.

Zhao Ruxi warned Xiao Lingpu of a plot to poison him, and he survived the attempt while Xiao Ge ordered an investigation. After the New Year, Xiao Lingyan returned victorious from the border and was named Prince of Qi, while Xiao Ge’s new edicts weakened the factions of the crown prince, Third Prince, and Fourth Prince.

• Zhao Ruxi arranged for Wu Wei to warn Xiao Lingpu that someone would drug his food at the New Year banquet, then spent the year-end settling accounts and agreed to celebrate New Year with the second and third branches.
• Xiao Lingpu turned the poisoning scheme against its maker, but the culprit killed himself before questioning; Xiao Ge ordered a thorough investigation, and Xiao Lingpu retained evidence.
• Zhao Ruxi asked the system whether Xiao Lingpu was alive, learned that he had survived, and paid fifty points for the answer.
• Xiao Lingyan helped secure victory at the border by improving weapons and capturing enemy provisions, and Xiao Ge bestowed on him the title Prince of Qi and a residence.
• Zhang Changshen presented Xiao Ge with his investigation results, after which Xiao Ge summoned Wu Huaisi and issued edicts that reassigned officials and dismissed or executed border generals.
• The crown prince and Third Prince smashed cups in anger over Xiao Ge’s actions, while the Fourth Prince became even less visible at court.

Xiao Lingyan returned from the border and reunited with Zhao Ruxi, telling her about his experiences and discussing the political dangers ahead. He persuaded her not to remain in the capital, but agreed to arrange for her to live closer so she could pass him information.

• Qingfeng led Zhao Ruxi to the message room, where Xiao Lingyan appeared and embraced and kissed her.
• Xiao Lingyan told Zhao Ruxi about his dangerous experiences at the border and credited her with helping him survive.
• Xiao Lingyan predicted that the emperor would maintain the political status quo and that another coup would likely happen next winter.
• Xiao Lingyan said he would arrange an official post outside the capital for Zhao Ruxi’s father after the spring examinations.
• Zhao Ruxi asked to stay in the capital to help Xiao Lingyan, but he argued that she would be vulnerable and expose their relationship.
• Xiao Lingyan agreed to arrange for Zhao Ruxi to live somewhere closer to the capital so she could pass him information.

Zhao Ruxi refused the County Princess title offered in recognition of her contribution, explaining that she wanted to earn an official position through her own ability. She asked Kang Shilin to request a suitable local post for her father, Zhao Yuanxun, and Kang agreed to present her wishes to Xiao Ge.

• Kang Shilin told Zhao Ruxi that Xiao Ge wanted to grant her the title of County Princess for her service.
• Zhao Ruxi declined the title, saying it could make others think her future office came from imperial favor rather than her ability.
• Zhao Ruxi asked Kang Shilin to request a local appointment for Zhao Yuanxun if the emperor judged him capable, preferably in Jiangnan.
• Kang Shilin agreed to convey her request and later presented it to Xiao Ge, describing Zhao Ruxi as modest and filial.