Chapter Summaries

Xiao Ge offered Zhao Ruxi a nominal court post, and she asked to wait until Xiao Lingyan’s condition improved. Later, Cen Peixuan witnessed Noble Consort Cen confront Consort Xian and the new palace consorts over their complaint about Zhao Ruxi receiving palace brocade.

• Xiao Ge asked Eunuch Xie to offer Zhao Ruxi a nominal post in either the Ministry of Works or the Ministry of Revenue, and Zhao Ruxi asked to think it over while Xiao Lingyan remained unwell.
• Noble Consort Cen praised Zhao Ruxi’s consideration for Xiao Lingyan and ordered Auntie Yu to send her favored Jiangnan brocade.
• Noble Consort Cen told the heavily pregnant Cen Peixuan to leave the palace and warned that Xiao Lingpu should visit her instead; Cen Peixuan left feeling isolated and bored with her quiet life at home.
• Cen Peixuan saw Consort Xian lead several new consorts to challenge Noble Consort Cen for choosing brocade for Zhao Ruxi before the others received theirs.
• Noble Consort Cen defended Zhao Ruxi’s farming implements and accused Consort Xian of inciting the consorts to undermine her and protect the sixth prince’s position.

Cen Peixuan witnessed Noble Consort Cen shut down Consort Xian’s attempt to assert herself, then returned to the Prince of An’s Residence, where Xiao Lingpu discussed the palace intrigue with his retainers. At the Prince of Qi’s Residence, Zhao Ruxi urged Xiao Lingyan to recover and guessed he was staying ill to delay her pregnancy.

• Noble Consort Cen ordered a eunuch to report Consort Xian’s scheme to His Majesty, and Consort Xian begged her to let the matter go.
• Cen Peixuan left the palace in distress, while Nanny Chen reassured her that Noble Consort Cen had Consort Xian under control.
• At the Prince of An’s Residence, Lu Fei and Liu Tingrun discussed Consort Xian’s impatience, and Xiao Lingpu said Xiao Lingyan’s illness did not seem feigned.
• After hearing Nanny Chen’s report, Xiao Lingpu told her to warn Cen Peixuan about palace secrets and keep her away from the palace, then went to visit Xiao Lingyan.
• Zhao Ruxi returned to Xiao Lingyan after Xiao Lingpu left, urged him to get better soon, and asked if he was avoiding recovery because he did not want her to become pregnant yet.

Zhao Ruxi helped Xiao Lingyan plan a gradual recovery and studied medical books while keeping watch over political threats. After reading dozens of books, she produced a prescription that astonished the imperial physicians, leaving hope that Xiao Lingyan could recover.

• Zhao Ruxi confronted Xiao Lingyan about making himself paralyzed to avoid having children, and he agreed to recover.
• Xiao Lingyan asked Zhao Ruxi to study medicine so the imperial physicians would not receive credit for his recovery, and she agreed to keep her role discreet.
• Zhao Ruxi took time away from her duties to read medical books and earn points for Great Jin's development.
• Zhao Ruxi asked the system about threats from the Prince of An and the sixth prince, and the system said neither posed an immediate danger to Xiao Lingyan.
• After reading thirty or forty medical books, Zhao Ruxi presented a prescription from a modern physician, and the imperial physicians declared it brilliant.

After Zhao Ruxi helped Xiao Lingyan recover, Noble Consort Cen asked her to delay consummating their marriage for his health. Zhao Ruxi took a nominal post at the Ministry of Works and began working with its craftsmen on new designs.

• Five days after Zhao Ruxi’s treatment began, Xiao Lingyan regained sensation, moved his fingers, and gradually learned to sit, eat, and walk with support.
• Noble Consort Cen thanked Zhao Ruxi for helping Xiao Lingyan and asked her to delay consummating their marriage for six months; Zhao Ruxi agreed and realized Xiao Lingyan had arranged the request for her sake.
• Zhao Ruxi told Xiao Lingyan she planned to work at the Ministry of Works, and he warned her not to overwork herself.
• Qi Xugu asked Xiao Lingyan to persuade Zhao Ruxi to join the Ministry of Revenue, but Xiao Lingyan refused because Zhao Jingli was already working there.
• Gong Cheng asked Zhao Ruxi to take a post at the Ministry of Works, and she agreed; Xiao Ge appointed her to a nominal Principal Sixth Rank position.
• Zhao Ruxi visited the Ministry of Works, discussed farming implements with its craftsmen, and gave them drawings to build.

Zhao Ruxi tested a new harvester before Ministry of Works officials and imperial representatives, with thirty strong farmhands harvesting rice by hand in a parallel trial. The machine overtook the workers in less than a quarter of an hour, and the test was still underway.

• Xiao Ge felt reassured when Zhao Ruxi joined the Ministry of Works and hoped she would help Great Jin by developing new machinery.
• Zhao Ruxi told Gong Cheng that she had built a harvester and invited him to watch its test; Xiao Ge sent Eunuch Xie to represent him.
• Zhao Ruxi arranged a comparison between the harvester and thirty experienced farmhands, while Qi Xugu, Zhao Jingli, and other officials came to observe.
• At Eunuch Xie's signal, the farmhands began cutting rice by hand as Zhao Ruxi's team set the horse-drawn machine in motion.
• The harvester gathered and separated the rice, then moved ahead of the farmhands in less than a quarter of an hour.

Zhao Ruxi’s harvester decisively outperformed thirty men in a rice-harvesting trial, impressing the officials and Xiao Ge. When Xiao Lingyan asked what reward she wanted, Zhao Ruxi said she wanted nothing, though he teased her about her reputation for loving money.

• Zhao Ruxi explained to Qi Xugu that the horse-drawn harvester cost about eight taels, saved substantial labor, and could be adapted into models pulled by oxen or mules.
• The harvester cut and threshed rice far faster than the thirty men, who had harvested only a little over half their area when it finished.
• Eunuch Xie reported the successful trial to Xiao Ge, who celebrated and asked what reward Zhao Ruxi should receive.
• Eunuch Xie suggested that Xiao Ge ask the Prince of Qi what Zhao Ruxi wanted, rather than promoting her father again.
• Zhao Ruxi told Xiao Lingyan she wanted no reward because serving Great Jin was her duty, and he teased her about her reputation as a lover of money.

Zhao Ruxi proposed partnering with Xiao Ge to sell her sealed-jar wine, while refusing to profit from farm tools meant to help ordinary farmers. After Xiao Lingyan recovered, Madam Tao requested a visit with Noble Consort Cen.

• Xiao Lingyan sent Xiao Liuzi to tell Xiao Ge that Zhao Ruxi wanted to discuss a business deal, and Eunuch Xie clarified that she was not seeking to profit from harvesters.
• Zhao Ruxi served Eunuch Xie her Nanyang wine, and he praised its quality and potential health benefits.
• Zhao Ruxi proposed partnering with Xiao Ge in the sealed-jar wine business and said she would present the wine to him before anyone else.
• Eunuch Xie reported Zhao Ruxi's proposal and her refusal to profit from farm tools, moving Xiao Ge and strengthening his resolve to pass the throne to Xiao Lingyan.
• Xiao Ge ordered farm tools to be manufactured and sold at uniform prices, then rewarded Zhao Ruxi with an estate and a shop instead of a share of the profits.
• After Xiao Lingyan fully recovered, a palace maid told Noble Consort Cen that Madam Tao had sent a calling card requesting a visit.

Noble Consort Cen considered whether Tao Tao might become Xiao Lingyan’s secondary consort, hoping to secure the Tao family’s support while balancing Zhao Ruxi’s interests. When she raised the proposal with Xiao Lingyan, he refused and reaffirmed that he would not take a concubine.

• Madam Tao brought Tao Tao to visit Noble Consort Cen, who liked the girl but received no direct marriage proposal from her.
• Noble Consort Cen considered Tao Tao as a possible secondary consort for Xiao Lingyan, while Auntie Yu warned that a disruptive concubine could distract Zhao Ruxi from her work.
• Noble Consort Cen summoned Xiao Lingyan after court and told him she thought he could consider Tao Tao after consummating his marriage with Zhao Ruxi.
• Xiao Lingyan coldly reminded Noble Consort Cen that he had promised not to take a concubine and told her to reject all such proposals.

Xiao Lingyan refused to take concubines, telling Xiao Ge he would rather give up the throne than risk a divided household and another bloody succession struggle. Xiao Ge agreed not to force him to take concubines if Zhao Zhiwei bore a son, while the birth of Xiao Lingpu and Cen Peixuan’s daughter gave Xiao Lingyan and Zhao Ruxi more time in peace.

• Xiao Lingyan left Noble Consort Cen and told Xiao Ge that he would not take concubines, citing the previous winter’s fratricidal conflict and his wish to build a harmonious family with Zhao Zhiwei.
• Xiao Ge asked what Xiao Lingyan would do if Zhao Zhiwei could not bear a son or if a son were required for him to become Crown Prince, and Xiao Lingyan said Xiao Ge should choose someone else.
• Xiao Ge agreed not to force Xiao Lingyan to take concubines as long as Zhao Zhiwei could bear a son.
• Xiao Lingyan told Zhao Ruxi what had happened, and they agreed they could live freely without pursuing the throne if they had no son.
• The system told Zhao Ruxi that Cen Peixuan had given birth to a daughter, and Xiao Lingyan noted that Xiao Ge could not use a son of Xiao Lingpu’s to pressure him.
• Xiao Ge waited until the New Year for Xiao Lingyan to reconsider, but Xiao Lingyan showed no sign of changing his mind, and ministers gradually stopped urging the emperor to name a Crown Prince.

Xiao Lingyan convinced Xiao Lingpu that the throne brought burdens rather than happiness, then discussed with Zhao Ruxi how they might turn Great Jin into a constitutional monarchy. They planned to use an industrial revolution to build the forces needed for reform.

• Xiao Lingpu visited Xiao Lingyan and urged him not to give up the throne, but Xiao Lingyan listed the dangers and hardships of being emperor and argued that the Cen Family wanted power for its own benefit.
• Xiao Lingpu left the Prince of Qi's Residence shaken by Xiao Lingyan's arguments about the life of a prince without imperial duties.
• Zhao Ruxi teased Xiao Lingyan for misleading his brother, and Xiao Lingyan admitted that he regretted the struggle for power and wanted a simpler life.
• Zhao Ruxi proposed establishing a constitutional monarchy, and Xiao Lingyan welcomed the idea but worried that it would face resistance.
• Zhao Ruxi suggested an industrial revolution could create capitalists strong enough to challenge the great clans, and Xiao Lingyan asked her to gather information so they could prepare for reform.

Zhao Ruxi and Xiao Lingyan discussed political reform and industrial development, while Xiao Lingyan delayed consummating their marriage to protect her from pressure to bear an heir. After Imperial Physician Shao declared him too weak to do so, Xiao Lingyan returned to the residence, where Zhao Ruxi learned he had arranged the diagnosis and thanked him for enduring the delay.

• Zhao Ruxi wrote down the materials she had received, and Xiao Lingyan read and destroyed them over more than half a month.
• Xiao Lingyan explained that the conditions were not right for constitutional monarchy and said they would slowly introduce steam power and agricultural machinery.
• Noble Consort Cen summoned Xiao Lingyan to the palace and urged him to consummate his marriage with Zhao Ruxi and have a son.
• Imperial Physician Shao examined Xiao Lingyan and told Noble Consort Cen that he remained too weak and needed more time to recover.
• Xiao Lingyan returned to the Prince of Qi's Residence, admitted to Zhao Ruxi that he had arranged the diagnosis, and she thanked him for shielding her from pressure to bear children.

Zhao Ruxi enjoyed a quiet New Year while Grand Princess Shangde and the Princess of Zhennan discussed her refusal to entertain political maneuvering around her. When Prince Jingping’s household asked whether Zhao Ruyu should be elevated to principal wife, Zhao Ruxi left the choice entirely to them, and Grand Princess Shangde delivered her answer.

• Zhao Ruxi spent the days before New Year practicing calligraphy, painting for points, and sharing her composting method, which helped winter wheat grow around the capital.
• Xiao Ge avoided a grand palace New Year celebration, while Zhao Ruxi kept away from most social gatherings and the titled ladies who wanted to criticize her.
• The Princess of Zhennan asked Grand Princess Shangde about the Consort of Prince of Jingping’s request to elevate Zhao Ruyu, and Grand Princess Shangde explained Zhao Ruyu’s history with Zhao Ruxi.
• Grand Princess Shangde visited Zhao Ruxi, who said Prince Jingping’s household could decide for itself whether Zhao Ruyu deserved to become the heir’s principal wife.
• Grand Princess Shangde relayed Zhao Ruxi’s answer to the Consort of Prince of Jingping, who remained unsure what it meant.

The Prince and Princess of Jingping agreed to wait until Zhao Ruyu gave birth before deciding whether to raise her to principal wife, recognizing her connection to the Consort of the Prince of Qi could benefit their family. Meanwhile, Zhao Ruxi’s Nanyang liquor was declared tribute wine and prepared for sale at a high price, and a calling card arrived from Madam Tao.

• The Princess of Jingping told the Prince of Jingping that she disliked Zhao Ruyu and opposed making her Xiao Sijie’s principal wife.
• Xiao Sijie revealed that Zhao Ruyu was pregnant and asked his parents to raise her to principal wife, citing her cousin’s status as Consort of the Prince of Qi.
• The Prince of Jingping explained how Zhao Ruyu’s family connection could benefit their future, and he and the Princess of Jingping agreed to wait for the birth and judge her conduct before deciding.
• Zhao Ruxi’s Nanyang liquor was praised by Xiao Ge and Eunuch Xie and formally declared tribute wine.
• Zhao Ruxi showed Grand Princess Shangde the liquor, priced each small bottle at twenty taels, and Qingfeng delivered a calling card from Madam Tao of the Minister of War’s residence.

Grand Princess Shangde warned Zhao Ruxi that Madam Tao had previously tried to arrange for Tao Tao to become the Prince of Qi’s secondary consort. When Madam Tao visited, she offered to sell the Yu Clan’s glutinous rice to Zhao Ruxi at a discount, but Zhao Ruxi declined, explaining that her own estates supplied all the rice she needed.

• Grand Princess Shangde cautioned Zhao Ruxi about Madam Tao’s earlier attempt to place Tao Tao in the Prince of Qi’s household, and Zhao Ruxi assured her she knew about it.
• Madam Tao visited Zhao Ruxi without Tao Tao and tested her by making polite conversation until Zhao Ruxi directly asked why she had come.
• Madam Tao explained that the Nanyang Yu Clan, through her elder sister, wanted to sell Zhao Ruxi glutinous rice at a twenty percent discount for her sealed-jar wine.
• Zhao Ruxi refused the offer, saying her estates produced enough rice and she did not intend to expand wine production.
• Madam Tao realized her research had led her to misjudge Zhao Ruxi’s need for rice, despite having persuaded the Yu Clan to agree to the deal.

Zhao Ruxi rejected Madam Tao’s attempt to curry favor and discussed consummating her marriage with Xiao Lingyan, whose health had improved. Xiao Ge ordered the imperial physicians to check Xiao Lingyan and prepare to name him crown prince, while Zhao Ruxi and Xiao Lingyan agreed they could no longer delay consummation.

• Madam Tao offered to supply Zhao Ruxi with glutinous rice, but Zhao Ruxi declined and sent her away.
• Xiao Lingyan heard about Madam Tao’s visit, and Zhao Ruxi explained that Madam Tao had been trying to make amends and gain access to the Prince of Qi’s residence.
• News of Zhao Ruxi’s refusal spread, discouraging titled ladies from seeking her favor or sending daughters to become Xiao Lingyan’s secondary consorts.
• Xiao Ge reflected that refusing all factions and desires could keep an emperor free from political pressure, then ordered an imperial physician to examine Xiao Lingyan and asked the Directorate of Astronomy to choose a day for the couple to consummate their marriage.
• Zhao Ruxi urged Xiao Lingyan to consummate their marriage because his health had recovered and the physicians could not keep covering for him; Xiao Lingyan reassured her that cesarean sections had saved more than a dozen women, with a reported seventy-percent success rate.

Xiao Lingyan agreed to consummate his marriage with Zhao Ruxi despite his fears about childbirth, and the couple spent their wedding night together. The next morning, Noble Consort Cen sent Nanny Yan to check on them, but Xiao Lingyan turned the visit into an opportunity to send her mother a gift.

• Zhao Ruxi insisted that she wanted to become a mother, and Xiao Lingyan accepted that they would have children despite the risks.
• After an imperial physician confirmed Xiao Lingyan had recovered, Xiao Ge and Noble Consort Cen arranged an auspicious day and gave Zhao Ruxi a shop and an estate.
• Xiao Lingyan and Zhao Ruxi shared a celebratory meal and consummated their marriage that night.
• The next morning, Zhao Ruxi woke sore while Xiao Lingyan went out to practice martial arts.
• Noble Consort Cen sent Nanny Yan with palace pastries to pay her respects, and Xiao Lingyan asked her to take Zhao Ruxi's canned yellow peaches back to the palace.

Xiao Lingyan allowed Nanny Yan to stay at the Prince of Qi's Residence but set boundaries to protect Zhao Ruxi's independence. Two months after their marriage was consummated, Zhao Ruxi was confirmed pregnant, and Xiao Ge agreed to summon Wu Huaisi back to the capital so his wife could visit her.

• Zhao Ruxi accepted Nanny Yan's help, and Xiao Lingyan let her stay in a separate courtyard while forbidding her from interfering in the couple's decisions.
• Nanny Yan later assured Noble Consort Cen that Xiao Lingyan and Zhao Ruxi were healthy and that Zhao Ruxi would likely become pregnant soon.
• When Zhao Ruxi planned to visit the Ministry of Works, Nanny Yan advised her to have her pulse checked, and imperial physicians confirmed she was less than a month pregnant.
• Xiao Lingyan hurried back after hearing the news, while Xiao Ge and Noble Consort Cen sent Zhao Ruxi gifts.
• Noble Consort Cen asked Xiao Ge to bring Zhao Ruxi's mother back to the capital, and Xiao Ge agreed to summon Wu Huaisi and find him a post.

Xiao Ge and Wu Huaisi arranged a future official post for Zhao Yuanxun, prompting his family to prepare to move from Gusu to the capital. Zhao Ruxi welcomed her mother and grandmother back, then learned that Xiao Lingyan had found her a Go master to ease her confinement during pregnancy.

• Xiao Ge and Wu Huaisi chose an assistant director post in the Armory Bureau for Zhao Yuanxun, to be arranged after the year-end evaluation.
• Noble Consort Cen sent word to Lady Zhu that Zhao Ruxi was pregnant and Zhao Yuanxun was being promoted, so Lady Zhu planned the family's move to the capital.
• Lady Zhu and the old madam departed Gusu with their belongings, while Zhang Shun predicted his own transfer and urged Madam Zhang to value daughters as well as sons.
• Zhao Ruxi welcomed Lady Zhu and the old madam to the Prince of Qi's Residence and spent half the day talking with them.
• Xiao Lingyan told Zhao Ruxi he had found a Go master to teach her, and she eagerly welcomed the chance to resume studying Go.

Zhao Ruxi spent her pregnancy in comfort while Cai Wenzhong struggled to keep up with her growing skill at Go, and she gave birth to a son, Xiao Shaoduo. After her confinement, she learned that Xiao Lingyan had rejected every woman who tried to approach him and had refused Noble Consort Cen’s offer of palace maids.

• Cai Wenzhong lamented that Zhao Ruxi had surpassed him at Go, while Gan Lun encouraged him to endure until she gave birth.
• Zhao Ruxi kept her pregnancy peaceful and relied on her own trusted attendants to care for her and the child.
• Zhao Ruxi gave birth to a son in autumn, and Xiao Ge granted a general amnesty and named Xiao Lingyan Crown Prince when the baby turned one month old.
• After her confinement, Zhao Ruxi asked the system about Xiao Lingyan’s romantic entanglements during her pregnancy.
• The system told Zhao Ruxi that Xiao Lingyan rejected every woman who approached him and refused Noble Consort Cen’s offer to provide palace maids.

Zhao Ruxi and the system discussed Zhao Ruyu’s miscarriage and her lost hope of becoming the principal wife of Prince Jingping’s heir. Zhao Ruxi then asked how Mu Qingqiang was faring in the Fu Family after Mu visited to celebrate Little Duo'er’s first month.

• Zhao Ruxi asked the system whether Zhao Ruyu had given birth and learned that she had miscarried a six-month-old boy and could not have children for several years.
• The system explained that Xiao Sijie’s other concubines and noble families’ daughters had conspired against Zhao Ruyu, while the Consort of Prince of Jingping had not protected her.
• The system said Xiao Sijie planned to marry a noble family’s daughter instead, leaving Zhao Ruyu’s chance of becoming the heir’s wife almost gone.
• Zhao Ruxi judged that Zhao Ruyu had chosen the easily swayed Xiao Sijie poorly and might have fared better with Fu Yunlang.
• Zhao Ruxi asked how Mu Qingqiang was doing in the Fu Family and recalled that Mu had recently visited Little Duo'er’s one-month celebration with gold ornaments.