Chapter Summaries

Zhao Ruxi learned how to audit accounts from Gan Lun before returning to the capital. Zhao Ruyu met Fu Yunlang after receiving his letter and confronted him about his engagement, but his declaration of affection prompted her to change her approach.

• Zhao Ruxi asked Gan Lun to teach her how to audit accounts, and he agreed to give her lessons at Beining Women's Academy.
• Zhao Ruxi studied Gan Lun's accounting methods and practiced with his account books, impressing him with her ability.
• Gan Lun resolved to visit Zhao Zhiwei when she took up her post and teach her the accounting knowledge he had not yet shared.
• Zhao Ruyu received Fu Yunlang's letter asking her to meet, then disguised her appearance with makeup and went to the teahouse.
• Zhao Ruyu told Fu Yunlang to stop contacting her because he was engaged, but he insisted that she was the only one in his heart.
• Zhao Ruyu changed her cold expression to one of sorrow as Fu Yunlang professed his affection.

Zhao Ruyu rejected Fu Yunlang’s attempt to reclaim her, then agreed to become his concubine after he swore he would treat her well. She set conditions for entering his household quietly, and Fu Yunlang eagerly accepted.

• Zhao Ruyu tried to leave, but Fushu blocked Fu Yunlang when he moved to stop her.
• Fu Yunlang blamed his mother for his betrothal and asked Zhao Ruyu to become his concubine, claiming she was the only one he loved.
• Zhao Ruyu reflected on how her changed circumstances and Fu Yunlang’s selfishness had shattered her hopes of marrying him as his principal wife.
• Fu Yunlang swore an oath to treat Zhao Ruyu well, and she agreed to become his concubine.
• Zhao Ruyu required Fu Yunlang to bring her to his residence in a small sedan chair at night without a public fuss, and he agreed.

Zhao Ruyu agreed to become Fu Yunlang’s concubine after his wedding, insisting that he bring her away within two months and keep their arrangement secret. Back at the Zhao residence, she endured Zhao Rurui’s insults and reassured Fushu that she would take care of her.

• Zhao Ruyu told Fu Yunlang she would be married off soon and demanded that he take her as a concubine within two months.
• Fu Yunlang agreed, and Zhao Ruyu told him to hide their arrangement and send for her a month after his wedding to Miss Cen.
• Fushu worried that Zhao Ruyu was giving up the chance to marry well, but Zhao Ruyu insisted she had her own plans.
• Zhao Rurui mocked Zhao Ruyu for dressing up to attract men, and Zhao Ruyu ignored her and returned to her courtyard.
• Fushu asked why Zhao Ruyu did not report Zhao Rurui’s bullying, and Zhao Ruyu explained that it would only make things worse.
• Zhao Ruyu promised Fushu that she would ensure she had a good life.

Zhao Ruxi appointed Shi Chao to oversee her capital properties while she was away, and told him to ease inspections so disloyal managers would reveal themselves. She then hosted banquets to thank the male elders and teachers who had supported her, with a gathering for female guests planned for the following evening.

• Zhao Ruxi asked Zhou Chun to recommend someone to manage her capital properties, and he suggested Shao Zhengping and Shi Chao.
• Zhao Ruxi chose Shi Chao as steward, promoted his deputy to head the safe shop, and instructed Shi Chao not to intensify audits or inspections so disloyal people might expose themselves.
• Shi Chao accepted his appointment and pledged to oversee Zhao Ruxi's properties while she was away.
• Zhao Ruxi hosted a banquet at Taibai Tower for Kang Shilin, her senior brothers, teachers, clan elders, and other male supporters, offering each table a toast of thanks.
• Zhao Ruxi planned a home banquet for Grand Princess Shangde, Madam Cui, female teachers, noblewomen, clan elders, and others close to or helpful to her household.

Before Zhao Ruxi left for Nanyang, Xiao Lingyan gave her a detailed report on local officials and offered to arrange guards, while she urged him to take care of his health. The chapter left them preparing to part, with Zhao Ruxi carrying his warnings and concern about the illness that had killed his original self.

• At the banquets, the old madam and Lady Zhu declined farewell feasts, and Grand Princess Shangde promised to welcome them when they returned.
• On the night before Zhao Ruxi's departure, Xiao Lingyan gave her records on Nanyang's officials and warned her about Cai Yaozong and clerk Chen Kang.
• Xiao Lingyan offered to send Zhao Ruxi two expert guards, and she agreed that she needed more protection for her posting.
• Zhao Ruxi thanked Xiao Lingyan for supporting her and told him to report any illness immediately, reminding him that the original owner had died of illness.

Zhao Ruxi left the capital for Gusu Prefecture with her family and Xiao Lingyan’s guards, then reunited with Zhao Yuanxun at their new residence. As Lord Zhang arrived to pay his respects to the old madam, Zhao Ruxi noticed that her father seemed more assertive with his superior than before.

• Xiao Lingyan promised Zhao Ruxi he would take care of his health and contact her if he became unwell, and they agreed they would marry and never part once the situation settled.
• Zhao Ruxi departed the capital with the old madam, Lady Zhu, servants, and three guards introduced as manor slaves from Little Peach Manor.
• After five days of travel, Zhao Ruxi’s party reached Gusu City, where Zhao Yuanxun welcomed the old madam and reassured her about the journey.
• The old madam questioned the price of the Zhao Residence, and Zhao Ruxi explained that Wu Zong had helped her buy the property for ten thousand taels of silver.
• A servant reported that Lord Zhang had sent a calling card, and Zhao Yuanxun agreed to receive him after the old madam and Lady Zhu urged him not to slight his superior.

Zhang Shun visited the Zhao Family with his nephew, Zhang Zhaode, and tried to learn where Zhao Ruxi had been appointed. When she revealed her post was not on the list Zhang Shun had given Zhao Yuanxun, she firmly defended the emperor’s authority over appointments and left Zhang Shun impressed by her political instincts.

• Zhang Shun brought Zhang Zhaode to the Zhao residence, prompting the old madam to warn that Zhao Ruxi would not offer private study guidance that could harm her reputation.
• Zhang Shun asked whether Zhao Ruxi had stayed at the Hanlin Academy, and she said she had requested an appointment outside the capital.
• Zhao Ruxi told Zhang Shun and Zhao Yuanxun that she would serve as assistant prefect of Nanyang Prefecture in Linjiang Prefecture, Anzhou Province.
• Zhao Yuanxun revealed that Zhang Shun had given him a list of officials who could look after Zhao Ruxi, then worried that her appointment was not among the listed places.
• Zhao Ruxi explained that appointments belonged to the emperor, and Zhang Shun quickly clarified that his list had only been intended to comfort Zhao Yuanxun.
• Zhang Shun recognized Zhao Ruxi’s political skill and judged his nephew to be far beneath her.

Zhao Ruxi left Gusu with Lady Zhu and arrived in Nanyang, where she discovered her mother had bought her a much larger residence than she wanted. After settling in, she summoned Zhou Chun to hear the results of his independent inquiries about the region.

• Zhao Yuanxun returned to the office, while Zhao Ruxi decided against learning from him or dealing with Zhang Shun and instead explored the area with Ma Sheng.
• Zhao Ruxi asked to leave Gusu early, and after five days there, she and Lady Zhu set out for Nanyang.
• Zhou Chun and Madam Sun met Zhao Ruxi's party at Nanyang's city gate and guided the carriages into the city.
• Zhao Ruxi learned that Lady Zhu had bought her a four-courtyard residence to accommodate family and guests.
• After settling in, Zhao Ruxi summoned Zhou Chun and asked what he had learned about Nanyang.

Zhao Ruxi assessed Cai Yaozong’s growing influence and learned that Chen Kang’s family had few prospects beyond serving as clerks. She considered using Chen Kang’s concern for his grandsons to weaken Cai Yaozong’s control of Nanyang’s salt and grain affairs.

• Zhou Chun told Zhao Ruxi that Lord Liu was yielding to Cai Yaozong, who was expected to succeed him and was profiting from salt and grain for the crown prince.
• Zhao Ruxi asked about Cai Yaozong’s weaknesses and Chen Kang’s family, and Zhou Chun admitted he had found little beyond surface details.
• Zhou Chun reported that Chen Kang’s son was a revenue office clerk and that Chen Kang had three grandsons, the eldest sixteen and the youngest seven.
• Zhao Ruxi explained that Chen Kang’s descendants were barred from the examinations and might lose their standing once he could no longer protect them.
• Zhao Ruxi reasoned that training Chen Kang’s grandsons in practical skills could appeal to his concern for their futures and potentially draw him away from Cai Yaozong.

Zhao Ruxi advised Zhou Chun to assess Chen Kang’s loyalty before offering to educate his descendants, then reviewed the rice noodle shops she had established to gather and spread information. After several days observing Nanyang, she reported for duty as an assistant prefect and met Prefect Liu, Cai Yaozong, and Li Li.

• Zhao Ruxi explained to Zhou Chun that Chen Kang’s family needed descendants with useful official skills, and warned him to determine Chen Kang’s allegiance to Cai Yaozong before approaching him.
• Zhou Chun reported that the rice noodle shops were thriving, while Zhao Ruxi reflected that the absent system would have made gathering information easier.
• Zhao Ruxi spent several days exploring Nanyang in men’s official robes before reporting to the yamen with Zhou Chun.
• The gate runner recognized Zhao Ruxi as the new assistant prefect and brought her to Prefect Liu, who welcomed her.
• Zhao Ruxi greeted Assistant Prefect Cai Yaozong and Assistant Prefect Li Li, noting that Cai’s pleasant appearance concealed the threat described in Xiao Lingyan’s information.

Zhao Ruxi met Liu Hongyu, Cai Yaozong, and Li Li at the yamen, where Cai tried to keep her away from meaningful duties. She turned his proposal to let her learn the local affairs against him by asking to inspect the records, leaving Cai trapped by his own words.

• Zhao Ruxi greeted Liu Hongyu, Cai Yaozong, and Li Li before they entered Liu Hongyu's room and took their seats by rank and seniority.
• Cai Yaozong praised Zhao Ruxi, then suggested she spend time learning about the prefecture before receiving any responsibilities.
• Zhao Ruxi agreed that learning the situation made sense, then asked whether she could read the salt, grain, waterworks, coastal defense, and thief-catching records.
• Liu Hongyu asked Cai Yaozong what he thought of Zhao Ruxi's request, while Li Li stayed silent.
• Cai Yaozong's smile froze as he realized Zhao Ruxi had used his own proposal to demand access to the records he controlled.

Zhao Ruxi challenged Cai Yaozong's refusal to show her the salt and grain accounts and threatened to report Nanyang's affairs directly to His Majesty. Liu Hongyu ordered Cai to cooperate and assigned Zhao an office and staff, while Li Li helped ease the confrontation.

• Cai Yaozong claimed Zhao Ruxi could not inspect the salt and grain accounts, and Liu Hongyu reluctantly agreed.
• Zhao Ruxi accused Liu Hongyu of letting Cai control Nanyang and warned that she would report both officials' conduct truthfully to His Majesty.
• Liu Hongyu ordered Cai to provide Zhao with the accounts and other records, and Cai reluctantly agreed.
• When Cai tried to delay moving the records, Zhao threatened to report his refusal, prompting Liu Hongyu to order him to gather them within two days.
• Liu Hongyu told Zhao her office was beside Cai's and assigned Guan Jian'an and Qin Wang to serve under her.
• Li Li offered to show Zhao her office and bring her clerks and yamen runners, and Zhao left after exchanging formal courtesies.

Zhao Ruxi settled into her new office and spoke with Li Li, who decided to join her political camp after realizing she would face opposition regardless. She began assigning staff and questioned Guan Jian'an about his role at the yamen.

• Li Li offered to request additional furnishings for Zhao Ruxi, but she declined to spend public funds.
• Li Li asked whether Zhao Ruxi feared retaliation from Liu Hongyu and Cai Yaozong, and her reply made him recognize that she would face their hostility either way.
• Li Li decided to stand in the same political camp as Zhao Ruxi.
• Guan Jian'an and Qin Wang arrived, and Zhao Ruxi told them they would work under her.
• Zhao Ruxi learned that Guan Jian'an had served at the yamen for ten years, doing odd jobs because of his poor health.

Zhao Ruxi questioned Guan Jian'an and Qin Wang about their backgrounds, then secured their agreement to work for her and ordered them to retrieve Nanyang’s salt and grain records from Lord Cai. After warning Qin Wang about the danger of getting caught in official rivalries, Guan Jian'an agreed to guide him through the task.

• Zhao Ruxi learned how Guan Jian'an inherited his father’s yamen post and heard that his family was now doing well.
• Qin Wang told Zhao Ruxi about his family and explained that he had only recently begun working as a runner.
• Zhao Ruxi offered both men the choice to leave her service or obey her orders, and Guan Jian'an and Qin Wang agreed to follow her.
• Zhao Ruxi ordered Guan Jian'an and Qin Wang to obtain the salt and grain files and accounts from Lord Cai, while Guan Jian'an warned that Lord Cai might withhold important documents.
• After they left, Guan Jian'an cautioned Qin Wang about the officials’ struggle, then agreed to work with him since he had already accepted Zhao Ruxi’s assignment.

Guan Jian'an sought Chen Kang’s advice about following Zhao Ruxi, while Zhao Ruxi formed a cautious alliance with Li Li and arranged for Zhou Chun to help her at the yamen. The chapter left Zhao Ruxi preparing to rely on Lady Luo rather than Xiao Lingyan’s unfamiliar female guard when traveling.

• Guan Jian'an told Chen Kang that Zhao Ruxi had assigned him to approach Wang Yongshou, and asked what he should do.
• Chen Kang advised Guan Jian'an to keep his promise to Zhao Ruxi but avoid confronting other yamen officials, and to report Wang Yongshou’s response to her.
• Li Li explained the yamen’s attendance hours and offered to help Zhao Ruxi with unfamiliar matters, and the two established a discreet alliance.
• Zhao Ruxi asked Zhou Chun to take extra care of yamen affairs.
• Zhao Ruxi decided to leave Qingfeng at home and bring Lady Luo with her when going out, despite having been given three guards by Xiao Lingyan.

Zhao Ruxi settled into her new role at the yamen while Zhou Chun and Xiang Ming gathered information and made themselves useful. Xiang Ming reported that Guan Jian'an had visited the personnel office before taking Qin Wang to the revenue office, leaving Zhao Ruxi curious about his purpose.

• Zhao Ruxi chose Xiang Ming to accompany her and sent Zhou Chun to gather information and hurry Guan Jian'an and Qin Wang along.
• Xiang Ming decided to take an active role in serving Zhao Ruxi, who let him investigate while Lady Luo cleaned her office.
• Xiang Ming reported that Guan Jian'an had spent time in the personnel office before leading Qin Wang to the room on its left.
• Zhao Ruxi realized Guan Jian'an had visited the personnel office rather than the revenue office, where the salt and grain accounts were kept, and wondered if he sought Chen Kang's help.
• Zhou Chun returned after visiting the works office and arranged to drink with Chief Clerk Hu at noon, earning Zhao Ruxi's approval.

Zhao Ruxi confronted Guan Jian'an over the delay in obtaining the revenue office’s salt and grain files, then went to Liu Hongyu to raise the same delay with Lord Cai. The chapter left Liu hearing her pointed comparison with the well-organized offices in the capital.

• Guan Jian'an told Zhao Ruxi that the revenue office needed three to five days to find the files and accounts, and suggested she inspect the works office’s records instead.
• Zhao Ruxi challenged Guan Jian'an to give her a deadline or admit he could not carry out her instructions; Guan Jian'an blamed Administrative Clerk Wang and Lord Cai for obstructing him.
• Zhao Ruxi said Guan Jian'an could leave the matter alone and departed, leaving him stunned while Qin Wang was secretly pleased.
• Cai Yaozong heard Qin Wang’s account and smugly told his steward to inform Lord Liu that Zhao Ruxi had failed to secure the records.
• Zhao Ruxi returned to the yamen and told Liu Hongyu that Lord Cai had claimed the records were disorganized, suggesting she report for duty five days later and contrasting the delay with the orderly capital offices.

Zhao Ruxi left Liu Hongyu after refusing further yamen staff, forcing him to reconsider his attempt to stay neutral in her conflict with Cai Yaozong. Zhong Liang advised Liu Hongyu that Zhao Ruxi’s powerful royalist connections made opposing her dangerous, while her aggressive conduct might conceal a deeper purpose.

• Zhao Ruxi criticized the disorder in the yamen, then left after telling Liu Hongyu she would use her own servants instead of the assigned clerks and runners.
• Liu Hongyu worried that Zhao Ruxi was forcing him to choose between her and Cai Yaozong, and asked Zhong Liang to assess her backing.
• Zhong Liang listed Zhao Ruxi’s royalist master, senior brothers, and noble family connections, contrasting them with Cai Yaozong’s ties to the crown prince.
• Zhong Liang suggested Zhao Ruxi’s immediate confrontation with Liu Hongyu and Cai Yaozong might have a deeper purpose.
• Zhong Liang warned Liu Hongyu that continuing to defend Cai Yaozong would make others regard him as part of the crown prince’s faction.

Liu Hongyu decided to break with Cai Yaozong and give Zhao Ruxi access to the files and accounts, while Cai and Chen Kang moved to protect their illicit salt and grain dealings. The chapter ended with Chen Kang proposing a secret counterplan.

• Liu Hongyu ordered Cai Yaozong to prepare the files and accounts for Zhao Ruxi after realizing he could not risk appearing to obstruct her.
• Cai Yaozong argued that Zhao Ruxi was bluffing, but Liu Hongyu held firm and told him to arrange the records for her to take over.
• Cai Yaozong told Chen Kang that Liu Hongyu had switched sides, and Chen Kang concluded that Zhao Ruxi had powerful backing and ability.
• Cai Yaozong told Chen Kang to have Wang Yongshou deliver the four-year-old salt and grain files and to review the recent accounts for problems.
• Cai Yaozong warned Chen Kang that Zhao Ruxi might take control of salt or grain, prompting Chen Kang to propose secretly crossing at Chencang while openly repairing the plank road.

Zhao Ruxi abandoned her attempt to work with Chen Kang and waited for the yamen to choose whether to follow her. The system returned after upgrading, but its newly displayed goods carried much higher prices.

• Chen Kang proposed working together, and Cai Yaozong agreed to his plan.
• Zhao Ruxi told Zhou Chun to recruit anyone at the yamen who wanted to follow her and stopped contacting Chen Kang.
• Lady Zhu worried about Zhao Ruxi being mistreated, while Zhao Ruxi reassured her and discussed Kang Shilin's expected visit.
• Zhao Ruxi heard that the system upgrade had succeeded and rushed back to her courtyard to speak with it.
• The system showed Zhao Ruxi its expanded product list, and she complained that the prices had risen sharply.