Chapter Summaries

Reborn nine years before the rebellion that destroyed her family, Zhao Huiluan realized that her father had ordered her mother’s death and resolved to hide what she knew. She left the chapter clinging to the Yongzhao Emperor as he promised to cherish her, while privately remembering how little family affection could protect anyone from power.

• Zhao Huiluan hid in a cabinet after learning that her mother had died, and Xichun urged her to come out and speak with the Yongzhao Emperor.
• Zhao Huiluan recalled her previous life, in which the Prince of Jin rebelled, her younger brother was imprisoned and died, and she killed herself after losing power and hope.
• Reborn in the thirty-fourth year of Yongzhao’s reign, Zhao Huiluan went to Yaoguang Hall intending to warn her father about the Prince of Jin.
• Zhao Huiluan overheard Wen Hong praise the Yongzhao Emperor’s order to kill the empress and keep her newborn son, fearing the Zhang Clan’s influence.
• The Yongzhao Emperor found Zhao Huiluan, and she embraced him and wept while concealing her knowledge and distrust.

Zhao Huiluan, reborn as a seven-year-old after a disastrous previous life, tried to hide what she knew while reconnecting with her younger brother and Consort Jing. She left Celestial Jade Palace uncertain whether Consort Jing knew she had overheard the emperor’s confidential discussion.

• The Yongzhao Emperor told Zhao Huiluan that her maternal grandfather and uncle would soon return for the empress’s funeral and asked her to comfort her grandfather.
• After the emperor left, Zhao Huiluan remembered how Xichun had died protecting her and her brother in their previous life, then resolved to visit Consort Jing.
• Zhao Huiluan and Xichun went to Celestial Jade Palace, where Consort Jing quietly watched over the sleeping crown prince.
• Zhao Huiluan bowed to Consort Jing and wondered whether she had revealed Zhao Huiluan’s earlier presence at Jade Light Hall.
• Zhao Huiluan gently touched her baby brother’s cheek and remembered the lively boy who had always called her Big Sister.

After mourning her mother, Zhao Huiluan resolved to protect her younger brother and prevent Marquis Jingwu’s family from meeting the same ruin as in her previous life. When her grandfather, uncle, and cousin returned to Yan Capital, she acted like a spoiled princess before the emperor and greeted them coolly, but her grandfather embraced her in grief.

• Zhao Huiluan remembered her younger brother’s death and vowed to protect him this time.
• Zhao Huiluan worried that her grandfather and uncle would be framed, while the Northern Garrison Army fell under Prince Jin’s faction.
• Zhao Huiluan fainted after keeping vigil, and the Yongzhao Emperor ordered her to rest in Consort Jing’s palace.
• Marquis Jingwu Zhang Tai, Zhang Yong, and Zhang Yunchi arrived in Yan Capital and went directly to see the Yongzhao Emperor.
• Zhao Huiluan delayed going to Jade Light Hall, then greeted the emperor and her relatives with studied reluctance.
• Zhang Tai recognized his daughter in Zhao Huiluan and swept his grieving granddaughter into his arms.

After the empress’s funeral rites, Zhao Huiluan used a jade pendant from her mother’s belongings to summon Tao Xuanzhi, an Imperial Astronomical Bureau official who had once promised to repay the empress’s kindness. Tao Xuanzhi recognized the pendant and awaited her orders, leaving Zhao with an ally as Marquis Jingwu’s Residence faced impending impeachment.

• Zhang Tai mourned Zhao Huiluan’s mother and embraced Zhao, who complained about his armor and smell.
• Zhao told Zhang Tai she was not to be pitied because she had the emperor and her younger brother’s love.
• The Yongzhao Emperor rebuked Zhao for disrespecting her maternal relatives, then sent her to Jade Balance Palace to reflect.
• Zhang Tai defended Zhao to his grandson, who remained angry about her rude remarks.
• After the empress’s funeral rites, Zhao summoned Tao Xuanzhi and showed him the jade pendant her mother had given him.
• Tao Xuanzhi recognized the pendant and declared that he awaited Zhao’s orders.

Zhao Huiluan persuaded Tao Xuanzhi to warn the Yongzhao Emperor of danger in the north, hoping to protect Marquis Jingwu's Residence from an imminent impeachment. The emperor kept the memorials without responding, but Zhao Huiluan's little brother began crying uncontrollably.

• Zhao Huiluan instructed Tao Xuanzhi to report an auspicious southern general's star and a dimming northern one, and Tao Xuanzhi agreed to deliver the warning to the emperor.
• Tao Xuanzhi submitted his astrological memorial and met Zhao Huiluan afterward, silently confirming that he had carried out her request.
• Zhao Huiluan asked Xichun to find out what was happening at court and told her to watch the Grand Secretariat for impeachment memorials against Marquis Jingwu's Residence.
• Three days later, the Yongzhao Emperor received the impeachment memorials but ordered them kept in the palace without a response.
• Xichun reported the emperor's inaction, and Zhao Huiluan visited her little brother in a rare good mood, but he suddenly began crying and could not be soothed.

Zhao Huiluan took Consort Jing’s advice to sacrifice what was expendable to protect what mattered, then encountered a youth from the ruined Xiao Family being abused by palace attendants. The chapter ended with her confronting the attendants and Eunuch Huang for claiming to act in Grand Secretary Wen’s name.

• Zhao Huiluan asked Consort Jing how to save herself and Marquis Jingwu’s Residence, and Consort Jing advised her to sacrifice the chariot and sever the tail.
• Zhao Huiluan left Celestial Jade Palace and realized she had reached the side hall where her brother had been imprisoned in her previous life.
• Zhao Huiluan and Xichun found palace attendants beating a youth from the Xiao Family and threatening to torture him.
• Xichun challenged the attendants, and Zhao Huiluan identified herself as Princess Zhenning of Jade Balance Palace.
• Zhao Huiluan accused the attendants of abusing the youth in Grand Secretary Wen’s name, and Eunuch Huang immediately admitted guilt.

Zhao Huiluan defended Xiao Qinglan after palace attendants accused the Xiao family of being unjustly convicted, then clashed with Zhang Yunchi over his criticism of her ignorance of the empire. The Yongzhao Emperor dismissed their quarrel, and Zhao Huiluan ended the chapter demanding that Zhang Yunchi’s family be sent back to the Northern Frontier.

• Zhao Huiluan punished palace attendants for disparaging Grand Secretary Wen and ordered Xichun to take them to the Department of Cautious Punishments.
• Zhao Huiluan asked Xiao Qinglan whether he resented her defense of Wen, and he silently revealed his bitterness as she left.
• Zhang Yunchi brought Zhao Huiluan Northern Frontier pastries and challenged her for knowing nothing about the empire’s landscapes.
• Zhao Huiluan punched Zhang Yunchi, then tripped over the fallen food box and scraped her knee.
• The Yongzhao Emperor and Consort Jing arrived; Zhang Yunchi accepted blame, and the emperor sent him home without punishment.
• Zhao Huiluan asked the Yongzhao Emperor to send Zhang Yunchi’s family back to the Northern Frontier, but he refused.

Zhao Huiluan visited the Marquis of Jingwu's residence after learning Zhang Yunchi had been punished for their fight, and she apologized to him. Zhang Yunchi was left stunned as the adults accepted her apology and praised her.

• Zhang Tai prepared to enter the palace, but the gatekeeper announced that Princess Zhenning's carriage had arrived.
• Zhang Yunchi panicked at the thought of Zhao Huiluan seeing him injured, then resigned himself when she entered his courtyard.
• Zhang Yong apologized to Zhao Huiluan for Zhang Yunchi's manners and told him to pay his respects despite his injuries.
• Zhao Huiluan said Zhang Yunchi did not need to pay his respects and apologized for hitting him.
• Zhang Yong returned Zhao Huiluan's bow on Zhang Yunchi's behalf, while Zhang Tai praised her for admitting fault.

Zhao Huiluan tried to keep Zhang Yunchi in Yan Capital by asking the Yongzhao Emperor to make him her archery instructor, while worrying that the Zhang family would suffer the same fate as in her previous life. After a night of anxious waiting, she learned that Minister Yang and Grand Secretary Wen were arguing over whether Wen had withheld news of a possible northern invasion.

• Zhao Huiluan praised Zhang Yunchi for taking the blame for her, then privately asked whether he could shoot a bow.
• Zhao Huiluan told Zhang Yunchi she planned to make him her follower so he could not return to the Northern Frontier, provoking his furious protest.
• Zhao Huiluan asked the Yongzhao Emperor to let Zhang Yunchi teach her archery, explaining that she wanted to keep him in Yan Capital.
• Zhao Huiluan worried that a secret report about the northern barbarians had been delayed and ordered Xichun to watch the Grand Secretariat.
• Xichun reported that Grand Secretary Wen had submitted more memorials impeaching the heir, leaving Zhao Huiluan afraid her efforts would fail.
• Xichun told Zhao Huiluan that Minister Yang and Grand Secretary Wen had argued outside Tianquan Palace over whether Wen had withheld news from the emperor.

Zhao Huiluan saw Zhang Tai and Zhang Yong off as they departed for the Northern Frontier, while Zhang Tai and Zhang Yong suspected she had deliberately provoked Zhang Yunchi to protect the marquis’s household. Back at the Jade Balance Palace, she began planting a wisteria sapling and recognized the attendant who offered her a spade as Xiao Qinglan.

• The Yongzhao Emperor ordered Marquis Jingwu and Zhang Yunchi to return to the Northern Frontier after the barbarian captives invaded.
• The Yongzhao Emperor told Zhao Huiluan to see her maternal grandfather and uncle off, and agreed that she could keep learning archery from Zhang Yunchi.
• Zhao Huiluan bid Zhang Tai, Zhang Yong, and Zhang Yunchi farewell as Zhang Tai and Zhang Yong rode toward the Northern Frontier.
• Zhang Yong wondered whether Zhao Huiluan had deliberately quarreled with Zhang Yunchi to distance herself from the marquis’s household, and Zhang Tai worried about her burdens.
• Zhao Huiluan persuaded the Yongzhao Emperor to have the Jade Balance Palace improved and chose a wisteria sapling to plant herself.
• Xiao Qinglan offered Zhao Huiluan a spade, and she recognized him as the eunuch who had been bullied in the side hall.

Six years after beginning archery lessons, Zhao Huiluan still struggled to hit the target and teased Zhang Yunchi while spending time with her younger brother. When Zhang Yunchi remembered the spring examination results were being posted, Zhao Huiluan persuaded him to take her to see them.

• Zhao Huiluan narrowly missed the target during archery practice, while her brother cheered and Zhang Yunchi complained about teaching her.
• Zhao Huiluan pointed her arrow at Zhang Yunchi, who fled until Nianxia and Fudong blocked his way.
• Zhao Huiluan and her brother rested beneath the wisteria as Zhang Yunchi described Wen Yan as Yan Capital's foremost young wastrel.
• Zhang Yunchi remembered that the spring examination results would be posted that day and hurried to leave the palace.
• Zhao Huiluan sent her brother back to the Celestial Jade Palace, changed clothes, and convinced Zhang Yunchi to take her to see the results.

Zhao Huiluan went out with Zhang Yunchi to watch the top candidates parade through the Capital, but their reserved room was challenged by Wen Nihe and Wen Yan. Zhao Huiluan refused to give it up, leaving Zhang Yunchi to close the door and ask whether she disliked Wen Nihe.

• Zhao Huiluan picked wisteria blossoms with Zhang Yunchi and passed Xiao Qinglan, whom Zhang warned her to avoid because of his reputation as a ruthless torturer.
• Zhao Huiluan and Zhang Yunchi arrived at Between Water and Clouds to watch the examination candidates’ parade, and Zhang kept her veiled in their private room.
• Wen Nihe demanded that Zhang surrender the reserved Heaven Room, while Wen Yan offered to pay for their refreshments.
• Zhao Huiluan refused to yield the room even if Wen Nihe’s grandfather came in person, and Zhang shut the door after another guest offered the Wen siblings a different room.
• Zhang Yunchi asked Zhao Huiluan whether she disliked Wen Nihe.

Zhao Huiluan watched Rong An’s champion procession and recalled meeting Wen Nihe in her previous life, while Zhang Yunchi revealed his ambition to become a scholar-general. After the siblings left the viewing room and wandered through the busy streets, five masked men blocked their way.

• Zhao Huiluan remembered how she had comforted Wen Nihe after the examination champion refused Wen Nihe’s marriage decree.
• Zhao Huiluan caught Rong An’s attention by tossing him a wisteria branch and recognized him from her previous life.
• Zhang Yunchi told Zhao Huiluan he intended to take the imperial examinations and become a scholar-general.
• Zhang Yunchi bought Zhao Huiluan candied hawthorns and let her wander the street while he followed with the carriage.
• Five masked men carrying short cudgels blocked Zhao Huiluan and Zhang Yunchi’s path.

After Wen Nihe arranged an attack on Zhao Huiluan and Zhang Yunchi, the Eastern Depot intervened, and Zhang later retaliated against the attackers before Xiao Qinglan killed them. Wen Nihe’s grandfather dismissed the danger and then learned she wanted to marry Rong An, whom he considered a possible asset.

• Zhang Yunchi confronted the men attacking Zhao Huiluan, while Wen Nihe watched from Between Water and Clouds and revealed that she had arranged the assault.
• Wen Yan realized Zhao Huiluan was the princess and urged Wen Nihe to recall her men; Xiao Qinglan arrived with the Eastern Depot and escorted Zhao Huiluan away with Zhang Yunchi.
• Zhao Huiluan asked Xiao Qinglan to let the matter rest, but Zhang Yunchi later found and beat the five attackers near the Wen residence.
• Xiao Qinglan appeared in the alley and killed the five men, whose bodies were found in the Wen family’s back garden the next morning.
• Wen Nihe told Wen Hong what had happened, and he reassured her that the princess would not pursue the matter.
• Wen Nihe told Wen Hong she wanted to marry Rong An, and he considered using her marriage to gain influence over the talented scholar.

Zhao Huiluan reflected on how Xiao Qinglan had become her ally after saving Zhao Jin'ang from a palace fire, and arranged for him to enter the Eastern Depot. As Xiao Qinglan identified Wang Quan as the force behind Between Water and Clouds, Zhao Huiluan wrote down three names connected to the scheme.

• Xiao Qinglan sent Zhao Huiluan a large Taihu rock, prompting her to recall how she had refused his request to become her trusted aide.
• When a fire trapped Zhao Jin'ang in a palace side hall, Xiao Qinglan carried him out and suffered severe burns.
• After Xiao Qinglan's rescue of the crown prince raised his standing, Zhao Huiluan arranged for him to enter the Eastern Depot despite Xichun's concerns about Wen Hong.
• Xiao Qinglan told Zhao Huiluan that Wang Quan, Wen Hong's adopted son and head of the Office of Transmission, ran Between Water and Clouds, which laundered dirty silver.
• Zhao Huiluan wrote three names on slips of paper as Xiao Qinglan explained Wang Wenhua's connection to his father's office.

Zhao Huiluan considered candidates for her own network at court and learned that top scholar Rong An had sold himself as a child to save his birth parents. Xiao Qinglan presented her with a poisoned hairpin, and she warned him against acting without her orders as she weighed how to recruit people outside the Wen Faction.

• Zhao Huiluan crossed Wang Wenhua and Wang He off her list after learning of their ties to Grand Secretary Wen and the Wen Faction.
• Xiao Qinglan revealed that Rong An was not the biological son of the Rong family and had sold himself to them at seven to support his famine-stricken parents.
• Zhao Huiluan learned that Rong An had visited Censor Xie's residence after his examination procession and then read through the night.
• Xiao Qinglan gave Zhao Huiluan a gold hairpin concealing five poisoned needles and admitted he had tested them on someone.
• Zhao Huiluan reprimanded Xiao Qinglan for acting without her command but forgave him and let him leave.
• Zhao Huiluan reflected that she needed her own people at court and that ambitious men like Wang He were likely to choose the Wen Faction.

Zhao Huiluan arranged a spring-viewing banquet to bring Wen Nihe into the open and alter the course of events she remembered from her previous life. The banquet began at Jinming Pool, where Wen Nihe arrived and greeted the princess.

• Zhao Huiluan remembered her past affection for Rong An and resolved that he should remain in the capital rather than be sent to Annan.
• Zhao Huiluan persuaded the Yongzhao Emperor to approve a spring-viewing banquet for the next day.
• Zhao Huiluan told Xichun to invite the young ladies of the capital, specifically including Wen Nihe.
• The young ladies gathered outside Xi'an Gate, and Wen Nihe arrived in her carriage despite her unease about Zhao Huiluan.
• At Jinming Pool, Zhao Huiluan approached Wen Nihe, who curtsied and greeted her; the princess welcomed the assembled ladies.

Zhao Huiluan confronted Wen Nihe over her earlier offense, then reunited with her childhood friend Shen Zhiyun and invited the ladies to watch the Qionglin Banquet. She left the group poised to cross over and see the poetry contest.

• Wen Nihe bluntly told Zhao Huiluan she wanted to see the Qionglin Banquet, and Zhao Huiluan walked away without answering.
• Wen Nihe followed Zhao Huiluan upstairs and apologized for competing over the private room, leaving out her other offense.
• Zhao Huiluan demanded that Wen Nihe apologize properly, and Wen Nihe knelt and bowed to the ground.
• Shen Zhiyun arrived, and Zhao Huiluan warmly linked arms with her and invited her to see the poetry contest.
• Zhao Huiluan spoke with the ladies about the top scholars' procession, then invited them all to the Qionglin Banquet across the way.

Zhao Huiluan brought Shen Zhiyun and the other young women to watch the palace poetry contest, where Rong An impressed the Yongzhao Emperor with two poems. Wen Hong then asked the emperor to find a husband for Wen Nihe, and the emperor agreed to revive an old custom of choosing a son-in-law.

• Zhao Huiluan led Shen Zhiyun and the other young women into Jade Grove Garden to watch the poetry contest.
• The Yongzhao Emperor praised Wang He’s winter poem and discussed the examination candidates’ qualifications.
• Rong An recited poems about spring and autumn that won praise from the Yongzhao Emperor and the assembled guests.
• Wen Nihe admired Rong An and anticipated that he would soon be hers.
• Wen Hong asked the Yongzhao Emperor to find a suitable match for Wen Nihe, and the emperor proposed reviving the custom of choosing a son-in-law beneath the examination results board.

Princess Zhenning Zhao Huiluan publicly declared her interest in top scholar Rong An and persuaded the Yongzhao Emperor to defer marriage discussions for two years. Her announcement disrupted Wen Hong’s plans for his granddaughter, and the chapter ended as the emperor suggested the third-ranked scholar as a match for Miss Wen.

• Zhao Huiluan arrived with the little crown prince Zhao Jin'ang and announced that she had set her sights on the top scholar.
• Zhao Huiluan told the Yongzhao Emperor she wanted to marry Rong An, and he agreed to revisit the matter in two years.
• Zhao Huiluan asked Wen Hong whom he intended to betroth Miss Wen to, leaving him unable to name Rong An as his choice.
• The Yongzhao Emperor suggested the third-ranked scholar as a possible match for Miss Wen, and Wen Hong froze.