Si Jin Recap, Plot, Synopsis

Si Jin Synopsis

After Jiang Si, the fourth young lady of the Dongping Count’s manor, is killed by her beloved, Yu Jin, she is given a chance to restart her life. This time, she bravely annuls her engagement, outwits her malicious aunt, opens a fragrance shop, helps her friends, and investigates a series of murders targeting young girls, gradually rewriting her tragic fate.

Jiang Si crosses paths with the young general Yu Jin once again. Though both carry secrets in their hearts, they inevitably become entangled once more. Together, they change the fates of her elder brother, Jiang Zhan, who previously drowned, and her sister, Jiang Yi, who once hanged herself. They also prevent her father from being falsely accused and executed by the Grand Princess.

Overcoming countless obstacles side by side, Jiang Si's feelings toward Yu Jin gradually shift, and she becomes willing to love him again. Hand in hand, they protect the peace of the Great Zhou dynasty and ultimately find a lifetime of happiness together.

Si Jin Recap

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In the tenth year of Qingyan, the Grand Princess of Great Zhou held immense power, controlling the entire empire and stirring unrest. Taking advantage of the chaos, Nanwu led an army to invade Great Zhou, plunging the world into turmoil. Amidst the flames of war, Jiang Shi wielded her sword and slew her enemies. Just then, an arrow shot from behind, piercing through her body. When she turned around, she was shocked to see that the archer was Yu Qi.

Unwilling to accept her fate, she swore that if given another chance, she would never let this tragedy repeat. As she fell into the river, everything faded to darkness. When Jiang Shi opened her eyes again, she found herself lying on a bed. Outside, a peaceful and prosperous scene unfolded—there was no sign of war. At that moment, Yu Qi walked in. Seeing his face, Jiang Shi was stunned and angrily questioned why he had killed her.

Yu Qi’s subordinate, Long Dan, grew irritated and explained that Jiang Shi had fallen into the river, and it was Yu Qi who had saved her. Upon asking the year, Jiang Shi realized she had returned to ten years before her death, back to the twenty-third year of Jingming. She recalled that in her previous life, she had fallen into the river after a dispute with her fiancé, Ji Chongyi, who had pushed her in.

Now that her family was still alive, she was desperate to return home. After sending Jiang Shi away, Yu Qi confided in Long Dan, revealing that when he saved Jiang Shi, he had seen the flame pattern of Nanwu on her body. This made him suspect that she might be a spy from Nanwu. When Jiang Shi returned home, she discovered that her family was preparing for a funeral.

Fearing that her father and brother had once again met a tragic fate in this life, she rushed inside. The servants were shocked to see her, and she soon learned that the funeral had been arranged by Madam Xiao, the second wife of the Earl of Dongping. Jiang Shi overheard Xiao sneering at her, and when they finally met, Xiao was as sharp-tongued as ever.

Remembering how Xiao had constantly made things difficult for her, Jiang Shi could no longer endure it—she raised her hand and struck Xiao. Her maid, A’Man, was overjoyed when she heard that Jiang Shi had returned and rushed to find her. Together, they went to look for Jiang Shi’s father, Jiang Ancheng, and her brother, Jiang Zhan. The two men had been waiting by the lake, refusing to leave, insisting on retrieving Jiang Shi's body.

When Jiang Shi arrived at the lakeside and reunited with them, Jiang Ancheng and Jiang Zhan were overwhelmed with emotion. Fearing that history would repeat itself, Jiang Shi forbade her brother from going near the lake and told her father not to return to his post at the Four Heavens Office. Meanwhile, Yu Qi ordered Long Dan to investigate Jiang Shi’s background. Upon learning of her hardships, he gained a better understanding of her life.

Upon returning home, the first thing Jiang Shi did was demand to break off her engagement with Ji Chongyi. Xiao fiercely opposed the idea. In response, Jiang Shi suggested that Xiao's daughter, Jiang Pei, could take her place instead. Knowing Ji Chongyi’s true nature, Xiao didn’t want her own daughter to suffer and quickly changed the subject. However, no matter what she said, Jiang Shi remained firm in her decision not to marry Ji Chongyi.

Finally, Xiao resorted to involving the family matriarch. That night, as Jiang Shi returned to her familiar courtyard, countless emotions surged in her heart. To prevent Jiang Shi from successfully annulling the engagement, Xiao secretly hid all the betrothal gifts. Meanwhile, Jiang Shi had dinner with her father and brother. The next day was the once-in-three-years military examination at the training grounds.

Jiang Zhan planned to compete—if he succeeded, he could become an officer in the Capital Guard, which would allow him to take their father and Jiang Shi away from Xiao’s control. However, both Jiang Ancheng and Jiang Shi worried for his safety and tried to dissuade him. Despite their concerns, Jiang Zhan went to the examination. Jiang Shi, worried about her brother, went to find him. She was relieved to see that he fought well.

After some investigation, she learned from Jiang Zhan’s servant, A’Ji, that Jiang Zhan had bribed a few people to secure his victory. At the same time, Yu Qi arrived at the training grounds on official business—he was there to arrest an official named Zheng Ming. It turned out that Zheng Ming had framed his comrades and sold intelligence to the enemy just to gain military merit.

While interrogating Zheng Ming, Yu Qi inquired about Jiang Shi’s totem and learned that it was the mark of Nanwu’s Holy Maiden. Jiang Zhan was ultimately defeated in the competition, but he refused to admit defeat. He was nearly killed in a duel, but Jiang Shi rushed forward to protect him. At that moment, Yu Qi stepped in and saved her. In the end, Yu Qi was appointed as an officer in the Capital Guard. Seeing him again, Jiang Shi was filled with doubt—after her rebirth, many things had changed.

To help his daughter break off her engagement, Jiang Ancheng went to Xiao and requested to return the dowry. However, Xiao falsely claimed that the money had already been spent. With no other choice, Jiang Ancheng admitted his helplessness to his daughter, but Jiang Shi did not blame him. He suspected that Xiao had not actually spent the dowry but had hidden it instead.

To reclaim the betrothal gifts from the An Guogong Manor, Jiang Shi took out her mother’s luxurious jewelry. She sat in a pavilion, waiting for Jiang Pei. Since Jiang Pei was vain and materialistic, Jiang Shi planned to use this against her. As expected, when Jiang Pei saw the expensive jewelry on Jiang Shi, jealousy took hold of her. She ran to the place where Jiang Shi’s betrothal gifts were hidden, only to be caught in the act.

Jiang Shi had the gifts moved away immediately. When Xiao saw Jiang Shi retrieving the betrothal gifts, she stepped forward to stop her. However, Jiang Ancheng intervened, standing up for his daughter and taking back all the gifts. Meanwhile, Yu Qi officially started his position at the Capital Guard. The supervising judge personally handed him the official seal. Just as he assumed his post, someone came knocking on the drums, demanding a case be heard.

When Jiang Ancheng returned home, he found that all the betrothal gifts from An Guogong Manor had been sent back and were now in the courtyard. Yu Qi planned to purchase a house near Jiang Shi’s residence to keep an eye on her. According to Great Zhou’s customs, one must inquire about the neighbors before buying a property, so Yu Qi visited Jiang Shi’s home.

Upon learning that Yu Qi wanted to buy a house next to hers, Jiang Shi did not want any further entanglement with him. She deliberately expressed her interest in purchasing that very house. However, upon seeing the military dog beside Yu Qi, memories of her past life with him flooded back. At that moment, Lady Wei, the wife of An Guogong, arrived at the Earl of Dongping’s Manor with Ji Chongyi.

Lady Wei assured Jiang Shi that she would treat her like a biological daughter after she married into the An Guogong Manor. However, Jiang Shi recalled how, in her previous life, she had been mistreated by this very mother-in-law, living a miserable life. She firmly insisted on breaking off the engagement. Lady Wei refused to agree and even threatened to take the matter to court. Jiang Shi was unafraid—if they went to court, Ji Chongyi’s crimes would certainly be exposed.

The key issue was finding a witness. Just then, Yu Qi unexpectedly appeared and used the property dispute as leverage, offering to provide a witness. Jiang Shi had no choice but to agree to let Yu Qi buy the house. That night, as the rain poured, Jiang Shi felt frustrated over the lawsuit. She recalled that the woman Ji Chongyi had met in secret closely resembled someone she once knew.

Determined to uncover the truth, she ventured to Qiaoxiang Pavilion in the rain and questioned Qiao Niang. Qiao Niang did not hide the truth—she admitted that she had met Ji Chongyi on the bridge that day. She revealed that Ji Chongyi was not a good man; he only wanted to climb the social ladder and pay off his gambling debts. Coincidentally, she also wished to rise in status, so their relationship was mutually beneficial.

Jiang Shi did not want her sister figure to fall into a pit of fire. However, Qiao Niang had already become jaded by the ways of the world. She wanted to secure a good future for her child, so among all the possible misfortunes, she chose the most worthwhile one. As soon as Grand Madam Jiang returned to the manor, Xiao rushed to her to file a complaint.

Upon hearing that Jiang Shi had broken off her engagement and caused multiple disturbances, the Grand Madam was furious. She immediately summoned Jiang Shi. When she heard that Jiang Shi had not even gotten out of bed yet, she became enraged and personally led people into Jiang Shi’s quarters. The moment they met, the Grand Madam sought to establish her authority by punishing Jiang Shi, ordering her to kneel for an hour.

However, Jiang Shi became unexpectedly obedient and even agreed to the marriage. Jiang Shi’s maid, A’Man, was confused and asked her about it. Jiang Shi explained that she wanted to keep the Grand Madam from interfering too much, so she had to act in secret to avoid complications. Yu Qi took Jiang Shi to the place where she had fallen into the river.

Across the river, there was a group of merchants who must have seen her being pushed into the water. Seeing that there were so many potential witnesses, Jiang Shi felt hopeful that she could finally escape this marriage. She even imagined the good days that awaited her once she was free from Ji Chongyi. However, the next day, all the witnesses claimed they had not seen anything clearly.

It turned out that Ji Chongyi had already threatened and bribed them into giving false testimonies. Thinking he had secured victory, Ji Chongyi was smug. But to his surprise, Jiang Shi had another witness—Qiao Niang, the very woman he had met in secret.

Jiang Shi had planned for Qiao Niang to testify in court, ensuring that Ji Chongyi's affair with her would be exposed. This way, Qiao Niang could also successfully marry into the An Guogong Manor. Qiao Niang directly accused Ji Chongyi of pushing Jiang Shi into the river. The evidence was undeniable, and Ji Chongyi had no choice but to admit it. However, he remained arrogant even in court and was punished.

When Zhen Hang pressed further, asking Qiao Niang whether Ji Chongyi had done it deliberately, she suddenly fainted. That night, Ji Chongyi and Lady Wei went to confront Qiao Niang. Jiang Shi used Qiao Niang’s unborn child as leverage, forcing Ji Chongyi to marry her openly and honorably. However, Lady Wei refused, claiming that the child’s father was uncertain. Jiang Shi then brought up Ji Chongyi’s future prospects, threatening that his reputation would be ruined.

Fearing the consequences, Ji Chongyi persuaded his mother to agree to the marriage. After returning home, Jiang Shi was still unsettled. Without an official letter of annulment, there was always a risk of things changing. Just as she was anxiously waiting, Jiang Ancheng arrived with the annulment letter from An Guogong Manor. Seeing the letter, Jiang Shi was overjoyed—she had finally escaped a disastrous fate. She immediately withdrew the lawsuit.

Zhen Hang, noticing that Jiang Shi had inexplicably dropped the case, suspected that she had been threatened and wanted to continue the investigation. However, Jiang Shi had no interest in digging further. While organizing a tree stump in Jiang Shi’s courtyard, A’Man discovered a symbol engraved on it. Upon closer examination, Jiang Shi realized that the symbol was a sacred totem. This puzzled her deeply, and memories of her past life resurfaced.

She began to suspect that this totem was linked to her time living in Nanwu. Yu Qi and Zhen Hang visited Jiang Shi’s home as guests, where her family warmly welcomed them. That night, Yu Qi secretly sneaked into Jiang Shi’s courtyard and discovered one of her paintings—a landscape depicting the divine mountain of Nanwu. He was certain that Jiang Shi must have been to the mountain before to be able to paint it so vividly.

This made him even more determined to investigate further. The next morning, Jiang Shi woke up to find her painting missing. Thinking back, she recalled that Yu Qi had paid close attention to it when he visited, leading her to suspect that he was trying to investigate her identity as the sacred maiden. To test Jiang Shi’s family, Yu Qi invited Jiang Shi and her brother, Jiang Zhan, to visit his home.

However, Jiang Shi did not want to stay long and left after a brief appearance. Yu Qi deliberately showed the painting he took from Jiang Shi’s home to Jiang Zhan, but Jiang Zhan seemed unfamiliar with it. Summoned by her grandmother, Jiang Shi went to the manor. She did not want to make things too difficult for her father at home.

Upon arrival, she saw Jiang Qian happily chatting with the Grand Madam, which reminded her of how Jiang Qian had betrayed her in their past life. Jiang Shi could not understand why a woman would help her husband harm her own sister. She began to harbor resentment toward Jiang Qian and spoke to her coldly. Jiang Shi’s sharp words angered the Grand Madam, who scolded her.

Jiang Qian, noticing Jiang Shi’s hostility, decided it was best to leave and invited Jiang Shi to walk her out. As they walked alone, Jiang Qian extended an invitation for Jiang Shi to visit her home. Before leaving, Jiang Qian hesitated, looking at Jiang Shi with reluctance. It turned out that she was acting under duress—her husband, who was infatuated with Jiang Shi’s beauty, had ordered her to invite Jiang Shi over.

He had even physically abused Jiang Qian to force her compliance. Meanwhile, Jiang Yi, Jiang Shi’s eldest sister, sent a gift along with a letter to comfort her. Jiang Yi knew that Jiang Shi had broken off her engagement and assumed she must be feeling down. Reading the letter, Jiang Shi recalled how, in their past life, Jiang Yi had been abandoned after her own engagement was broken.

She had returned home, only to be neglected and left to die in sorrow. Determined to change her sister’s fate in this lifetime, Jiang Shi swore not to let history repeat itself. On a rainy day, Jiang Shi walked through the streets under an umbrella and came across a deranged woman, Xiu Niang, searching desperately for her daughter.

From the gossip around her, Jiang Shi learned that Xiu Niang had once been a tofu seller, but her daughter had suddenly gone missing. When she heard that the child had disappeared near the Changxing Marquis Manor, Jiang Shi’s suspicions deepened. She remembered that Jiang Qian’s husband had always lusted after her beauty. It was highly likely that he had kidnapped the girl because she resembled Jiang Shi. Determined to rescue the child, Jiang Shi decided to take action.

Jiang Zhan was wandering the streets when he ran into some of his long-time rivals. A fight was inevitable, so he lied about finding a secluded place for a proper duel. However, he used this as an excuse to escape, successfully outwitting them. Feeling triumphant, he boarded a boat and leisurely drifted across the lake. As he was lost in thought, a strikingly heroic young woman suddenly appeared on the bridge above him, immediately capturing his attention.

Her name was Lu Chuchu, and she had a passion for adventuring through the martial world. While shopping, Lu Chuchu realized that her money had been stolen. Mistakenly assuming that Jiang Zhan was working with the child who had taken her money, she deliberately struck up a conversation with him to distract him while another child attempted to steal from him. Jiang Zhan was baffled by Lu Chuchu’s actions and provoked her in response.

To his surprise, Lu Chuchu was highly skilled in martial arts—she leaped gracefully from the bridge and landed directly onto his boat. She took Jiang Zhan’s money and was about to leave when he accidentally fell into the river. Realizing that he could not swim, Lu Chuchu immediately jumped in and rescued him. Jiang Zhan remained unconscious after being pulled out of the water, leaving Lu Chuchu extremely worried. She anxiously tried to wake him up.

Just then, Jiang Shi arrived. The moment Jiang Zhan heard his sister’s voice, he suddenly regained consciousness—it turned out he had been pretending all along just to scare Lu Chuchu. Seeing her brother safe, Jiang Shi scolded him for wandering near the lake and expressed her concern, creating a warm scene that Lu Chuchu found touching. After learning what had happened, Jiang Shi returned Jiang Zhan’s money to Lu Chuchu. Through this encounter, the two women formed a friendship.

Back at home, Jiang Shi was preparing a sleeping-inducing incense, intending to bring it to the Changxing Marquis Manor as a precaution. A’Man, surprised that Jiang Shi knew such things, asked where she had learned it. Jiang Shi, unwilling to reveal that she had been taught these skills in her past life in Nanwu, simply claimed she had learned it from books.

Meanwhile, Yu Qi was still studying Jiang Shi’s paintings, but no matter how much he investigated, he found nothing suspicious about her. There were no clues at all. However, Yu Qi did not focus all his energy on investigating Jiang Shi. Instead, he prioritized the most urgent case—the disappearance of Xiu Niang’s daughter. Jiang Shi, accompanied by her third sister, went to the Changxing Marquis Manor. Jiang Qian personally received them.

Just as they were about to have a meal, Jiang Qian’s husband, Cao Xingxing, suddenly returned. Upon seeing Jiang Shi, he made no effort to hide his lecherous gaze. Jiang Shi, in turn, was reminded of the events from her past life. Her expression immediately turned cold. To find Xiu Niang’s daughter, Yu Qi secretly gathered information on all previous cases of missing girls.

He marked all the locations where they had disappeared and brought portraits of the missing girls to the marketplace to ask vendors for information. However, the vendors were reluctant to speak, their expressions shifty and evasive. Yu Qi quickly realized they were hiding something. Under pressure, they finally admitted that the missing girls were linked to the heir of the Changxing Marquis Manor. While strolling through the marquis manor’s garden, Jiang Shi suddenly caught a foul smell.

Searching further, she discovered a copper hairpin hidden among the flowers. A chilling suspicion formed in her mind—there might be corpses buried beneath the flowerbed. Jiang Qian deliberately separated Jiang Shi from the others, arranging for her to stay alone in a separate courtyard. Jiang Shi immediately recognized the ploy—someone intended to harm her. However, she decided to go along with it, determined to make the heir of the Changxing Marquis Manor pay.

In her past life, after she was defiled, her father had been furious and wanted to seek justice for her. However, the entire Jiang family had refused to support them, leaving her and her father utterly abandoned. Alone in her room, Jiang Shi heard movement outside. Though she had anticipated this, she still felt a trace of nervousness. To her relief, the person who entered was her third sister, Jiang Qiao.

Jiang Shi relaxed slightly as Jiang Qiao insisted on staying with her for the night. Jiang Shi was puzzled—Jiang Qiao had not come to her aid in the past life. She began to consider how to get Jiang Qiao to leave safely. As she was deep in thought, Cao Xingxing stealthily approached the bedside. Jiang Shi tensed, gripping a hidden wristband laced with sleeping powder. However, upon seeing Jiang Qiao, Cao Xingxing hesitated and left.

Jiang Qiao immediately sat up in alarm and called for help, clutching a hairpin tightly in her hand. It turned out she had already suspected Cao Xingxing’s ill intentions and had deliberately come to protect Jiang Shi. Jiang Shi then noticed a lifeless girl lying on the floor, her heart filled with sorrow. Just as she was overwhelmed with grief, someone tried to silence her permanently. At that critical moment, Yu Qi appeared and saved her.

Yu Qi wanted Jiang Shi to go home immediately so that he could bring people back to gather evidence. However, Jiang Shi was afraid that the evidence would be moved once she left, so she insisted on staying. Concerned for her safety, Yu Qi hesitated, but Jiang Shi suggested that they take this opportunity to work together and bring the criminals to justice. The next morning, Jiang Qian invited her younger sisters to have breakfast with the Marchioness of Changxing.

Just then, Cao Xingyu walked in. Upon seeing him, both Jiang Shi and Jiang Qiao looked at him with disdain, and Jiang Qiao even took the opportunity to mock him with her words. Meanwhile, Jiang Shi found someone who had participated in the attack against her the previous night—Fu Lu. She had noticed that he had a soft heart, so she used him as a breakthrough point.

Fu Lu led Jiang Shi to a secret location where Cao Xingyu imprisoned women. Inside the room, there were various torture devices, making Jiang Shi tremble in fear. When Yu Qi returned, he went to discuss the case with Zhen Hang, but their conversation was overheard by someone outside. Jiang Shi found Miss Chi, the missing daughter of the embroideress, locked in a cage, covered in wounds, and terrified from the beatings she had endured.

Meanwhile, Yu Qi and Zhen Hang gathered their men and went to the Changxing Marquis Manor to investigate, bringing along a military dog, Er Niu. The Marquis of Changxing received a message from the Capital Bureau stating that his residence would be searched, which puzzled him. Upon learning that the search was for missing women, the Marquis immediately suspected his son, Cao Xingyu.

To protect him, the Marquis tried to prevent the search, but Zhen Hang remained firm and argued his case logically, leaving the Marquis unable to refute. Ultimately, the Marquis had no choice but to allow Yu Qi and Zhen Hang to search the manor. However, despite a thorough search, they found nothing. Zhen Hang noticed that Cao Xingyu’s expression remained calm and felt that something was amiss.

At that moment, someone discovered a coffin, but when they opened it, it was filled with books. Since no solid evidence was found, Zhen Hang had no choice but to leave for the time being. However, Yu Qi insisted on continuing the search. He planned to use the military dog, Er Niu, to track scents, but the Marquis strongly opposed it. Seeing the Marquis's intense reaction, Zhen Hang fully supported Yu Qi’s decision.

Fearing that the truth would be uncovered, Cao Xingyu attempted to use force to stop them but was quickly subdued by Yu Qi. Er Niu successfully followed the scent and found a well where bodies were hidden. Even then, Cao Xingyu continued to deny everything and even ordered a servant named An Zi to take the blame. With no choice, An Zi admitted to all the murders.

As soon as An Zi confessed, the Marquis of Changxing immediately killed him with a blade. Zhen Hang wanted to hold the Marquis accountable, but Yu Qi stopped him. Later, when Cao Xingyu found out that Jiang Shi and the others had left, he took his anger out on his wife, Jiang Qian. Jiang Qian pleaded humbly, but Cao Xingyu refused to let her go and even considered killing her.

However, due to the recent chaos at home, he had to hold back. Seeing an opportunity, Jiang Qian’s maid, Cui’er, suggested that they escape, revealing that Jiang Shi had secretly left a sedan chair at the back gate. Jiang Qian finally decided that she would not sit and wait for her fate—she would go home.

That night, as Jiang Shi was removing her jewelry with Ah Man’s help, Jiang Pei suddenly rushed in, telling her that Jiang Qian had returned and was currently in Grandmother Jiang’s room. Grandmother Jiang blamed Jiang Qian for running back to her maiden home whenever something happened and ordered her to return and apologize to Cao Xingyu. Just then, Jiang Shi arrived with Jiang Qiao and Jiang Pei.

Unable to hold back her anger, Jiang Pei revealed that Cao Xingyu had harbored ill intentions toward Jiang Shi, but no one believed her. Encouraged by Jiang Shi, Jiang Qian finally found the courage to tell the truth and revealed the injuries on her body. Only then did everyone realize that she had been physically abused and suffered greatly at the Changxing Marquis Manor.

Madam Xiao, Jiang Qian’s mother, was heartbroken to see her daughter in such a miserable state and wanted to demand justice for her. When Jiang Ancheng returned, he also wanted to seek justice, but both he and Grandmother Jiang still considered the Marquis Manor’s reputation. They only wanted an explanation and did not wish for Jiang Qian and Cao Xingyu to separate. Hearing this, Jiang Qian laughed bitterly. No matter how much she suffered, no one was willing to stand up for her.

Madam Xiao sorrowfully tended to Jiang Qian’s wounds. Seeing her daughter endure so much suffering, she felt deep remorse. However, Jiang Qian’s father had gone to his concubine’s chamber instead of returning to check on his daughter. Jiang Qian couldn’t help but feel envious of Jiang Shi. Although Jiang Shi’s status in the family wasn’t as high as the second branch’s, Jiang Ancheng would do anything for her without hesitation as long as she refused to marry. In contrast, Jiang Qian’s father ignored her completely, caring only about his political career.

Madam Xiao swore that she would never let her daughter suffer again and refused to send Jiang Qian back to Cao Xingyu’s household. Jiang Shi suggested that Jiang Qian go to the Capital Bureau to file an official complaint. However, both Madam Xiao and Jiang Qian were hesitant, fearing retaliation. Jiang Qian, in particular, was terrified that if she reported Cao Xingyu, he would harm her. If she remained silent, at least she could survive.

Meanwhile, Yu Qi had all the female corpses retrieved from the Changxing Marquis Manor sent for autopsy. During the examination, they discovered that one victim had a different type of wound compared to the others. Upon closer inspection, they found a button embedded in the wound. The news of this button quickly reached Cao Xingyu. Since the button was expensive and not something an ordinary servant could afford, it was no longer feasible to blame An Zi. Realizing this, Cao Xingyu took the initiative to go to the Capital Bureau and falsely accused Jiang Qian of being the real murderer. He claimed that Jiang Qian had an affair with An Zi and, out of jealousy upon seeing him getting close to other women, she killed those women.

At home, when Jiang Qian learned that she was being framed, she panicked. Before being taken away, she hurriedly told her mother to summon Jiang Shi because she knew only Jiang Shi could save her. Jiang Shi rushed to the Capital Bureau and brought along Chi Ruiying. Initially, Cao Xingyu continued to deny everything, but the moment Chi Ruiying arrived, he became visibly flustered. He even considered silencing her permanently. Fortunately, Yu Qi arrived in time to stop him. However, while shielding Jiang Shi from a hidden weapon, Yu Qi was injured.

The hidden weapon was poisoned, causing Yu Qi to lose consciousness. Jiang Shi took it upon herself to stay and care for him. Yu Qi secretly enjoyed being looked after by Jiang Shi, but just then, Zhen Hang suddenly appeared and took over the responsibility. Zhen Hang got along well with Jiang Shi, which made Yu Qi somewhat jealous. He kept trying to interrupt their conversation, coming up with various ways to stop them from talking too much. After Jiang Shi left, Zhen Hang openly praised her in front of Yu Qi without hesitation.

The Marquis of Changxing, in order to help his son, ordered an insider at the Capital Bureau to assassinate Chi Ruiying. That night, the insider attempted to act while delivering a meal. However, Long Dan suddenly appeared outside and subdued the traitor. It turned out that Yu Qi had already anticipated that the Capital Bureau had a mole working for the Marquis, so he had set a trap to lure the spy out.

To express her gratitude, Jiang Shi personally prepared fish soup and brought it to Yu Qi. Jiang Zhan accompanied his sister to visit Yu Qi as well. After drinking the soup, Yu Qi insisted that Jiang Zhan try it too. He highly praised Jiang Shi’s cooking. Watching Yu Qi enjoy the soup she made, Jiang Shi suddenly recalled memories of her past life with Yu Qi. Back then, they had shared sweet moments, talking about making delicious food together. Yu Qi also thoroughly enjoyed Jiang Shi’s fish soup, drinking one bowl after another. Meanwhile, Jiang Shi’s mind kept replaying the affectionate memories of her previous life with Yu Qi.

Jiang Zhan was strolling through the marketplace when he overheard someone looking to buy a dagger like the one used by Nie Yinniang. Curious, he stepped forward to check and discovered that the buyer was none other than Lu Chuchu. Amused, Jiang Zhan decided to tease her. He deliberately asked the vendor about the product while pretending to be clueless. As expected, the vendor fell for it, and Lu Chuchu exposed him—he was a fraud.

Lu Chuchu was grateful for Yu Qi’s help, just as she had been the last time when he returned all the money she lost. Pleased, Jiang Zhan invited Lu Chuchu to a meal. However, her large appetite made him feel distressed about his money. Meanwhile, in the restaurant, a storyteller began recounting tales about the Seventh Prince, who was rumored to be an ominous figure. Lu Chuchu listened intently.

Lu Chuchu also came to see Yu Qi—it turned out that they were siblings. Upon hearing that Lu Chuchu had arrived, Yu Qi tried every possible way to avoid her, but in the end, he was still discovered. He pretended to be both surprised and flattered by her visit. From their conversation, Yu Qi quickly deduced that Lu Chuchu had run away to escape an arranged marriage.

As the two siblings were talking, Jiang Shi arrived with another bowl of soup she had made for Yu Qi. Seeing Jiang Shi, Lu Chuchu spoke freely, her simple and straightforward nature leaving nothing hidden. Without thinking, she blurted out the news that Yu Qi had established the Chiyu Cavalry. Yu Qi, realizing what had just happened, quickly lay back on the bed, pretending to be gravely injured.

Jiang Shi sat by the bedside, full of concern, wanting to personally feed him the soup. Seeing how her brother was taking advantage of Jiang Shi, Lu Chuchu surprisingly stepped in to speak on Jiang Shi’s behalf. Left with no choice, Yu Qi found an excuse to send Lu Chuchu away. ---At the Grand Princess’s residence, Princess Rongyang, dressed in luxurious robes, was discussing the affairs of the Changxing Marquis Manor with her daughter, Cui Mingyue.

The disgraceful actions of Cao Xingyu had brought shame to all women, and Cui Mingyue also despised him. Just then, the Marquis of Changxing requested an audience. Upon meeting, he immediately presented a rare and valuable treasure. Rongyang knew that he was here because of Cao Xingyu’s predicament, but she was in no rush to respond. She had the Marquis completely in her grasp.

---Yu Qi returned to the Capital Bureau for duty, but his injured hand had not yet fully recovered, making it difficult to exert much strength. Meanwhile, Long Dan conducted another search at the Changxing Marquis Manor and found a new piece of evidence—a bottle of aphrodisiac that Cao Xingyu had been using. Many of the ingredients in this drug were already banned, leading Yu Qi to conclude that Cao Xingyu must be guilty of even more serious crimes.

Just as Yu Qi was analyzing the case, Han Ran, the commander of the Jifeng Guards, personally led his men to the Capital Bureau. At the same time, the Marquis of Changxing received news from Rongyang, confirming that she would help find an influential figure to assist him. However, once Cao Xingyu was released, he would have to leave. Han Ran directly demanded the handover of Cao Xingyu.

Since Cao Xingyu was a recently captured major criminal of the Capital Bureau, both Zhen Hang and Yu Qi refused to comply. Moreover, the official document Han Ran presented was vague. Yu Qi firmly refused to hand him over. ---Jiang Shi visited the Capital Bureau to see Chi Ruiying, intending to help send a message to her family. However, Chi Ruiying only had an elder brother and sister-in-law, who cared solely about their own interests.

They had even sold Chi Ruiying to a brothel and were the ones who handed her over to Cao Xingyu. Cao Xingyu remained uncooperative in prison, refusing to say a word. Even when confronted with the illicit drugs found in his study, he flatly denied everything. Yu Qi had anticipated this. He showed Cao Xingyu the document brought by Han Ran and deliberately mentioned that the Jifeng Guards planned to charge him with treason.

As expected, the moment Cao Xingyu heard "Jifeng Guards," he could no longer remain calm. ---At the Nightingale Gate stronghold, due to the ongoing chaos involving the Changxing Marquis Manor and its ties to Nanwu, the Nightingale Gate’s leader, Poison Ear, summoned Sang Qi, who had been watching over the Changxing Marquis Manor, for questioning. Sang Qi reported on some of the absurd things Cao Xingyu had done but left behind clues regarding the Shenxian You matter.

---Back at the Capital Bureau, Yu Qi and Zhen Hang faced a dilemma. Cao Xingyu's status was special—if they released him, it would mean letting a man responsible for more than a dozen murders walk free, ultimately diminishing the authority of the Capital Bureau. However, if they executed him, it could provoke the Marquis of Changxing, who wielded significant military power, potentially leading to rebellion. Xiu Niang was also deeply saddened.

Despite all the evidence, there was still no verdict against Cao Xingyu, leaving her with no way to seek justice. To ensure that Cao Xingyu was rightfully punished, Jiang Shi proposed having the Emperor personally oversee the trial. Seizing an opportunity while the Emperor was secretly inspecting the city in disguise, Xiu Niang knelt before his palanquin and cried out for justice. Emperor Jingming personally stepped out and questioned Xiu Niang about her grievances.

When the Marquis of Changxing learned that the case had taken another turn, he once again sought Princess Rongyang’s help. However, with the Emperor himself now handling the trial, Rongyang had no intention of getting further involved. She decided to distance herself from the matter. Unwilling to accept this, the Marquis of Changxing persisted, but Rongyang presented evidence proving that Cao Xingyu had colluded with foreign forces. Left with no choice, the Marquis had to abandon Cao Xingyu for the sake of preserving his family and title.

Emperor Jingming quickly deduced that Xiu Niang’s plea for justice was orchestrated by Zhen Hang, so he summoned Zhen Hang for questioning. Zhen Hang did not shy away and openly praised Jiang Shi and Yu Qi. From this, Emperor Jingming became aware of both Yu Qi and Jiang Shi. Just as the matter with Cao Xingyu had been settled, a group of imperial princes suddenly came before the Emperor to admit their faults.

It turned out that they all had ties to the Changxing Marquis Manor and feared being implicated. Emperor Jingming did not punish them severely but simply offered a few words of consolation. However, he couldn't help but feel sentimental—among all the princes, one was missing: his most beloved Concubine Xian’s son, the Seventh Prince. Back when the Seventh Prince was born, the court officials deemed him an ill omen, claiming he would bring misfortune to the Great Zhou.

Concubine Xian knew that if her son remained entangled in court affairs, he would not survive. To protect his life, she pleaded with Emperor Jingming to send him away, believing that staying far from the imperial court was his best chance at survival. Eunuch Liu knew the Emperor missed the Seventh Prince and urged him to bring him back to the palace. However, Emperor Jingming refused.

The Nightingale Gate was still running rampant, and if the Seventh Prince returned, he could be drawn into endless political strife. Eunuch Liu tried to persuade him further, reminding him that the Seventh Prince had inherited Emperor Jingming’s bravery and military prowess. He had led the Chiyu Cavalry to many victories, proving he was not a harbinger of misfortune. The truth was finally revealed—Yu Qi was the Seventh Prince. Even so, Emperor Jingming could not make up his mind.

He was uncertain whether now was the right time to call the Seventh Prince back. Meanwhile, Yu Qi instructed Long Dan to investigate the Bureau of Astronomy. Long Dan was puzzled, as Yu Qi had always avoided digging into the past. But now, he had changed his mind—he wanted to find out who had falsely accused him back then. Jiang Shi took Chi Ruiying out to look for a shop, hoping to start a business.

She wanted Chi Ruiying to help manage it, providing her with a livelihood. However, Chi Ruiying felt she had already troubled Jiang Shi too much and only wanted to leave, return to her hometown, and open a school. When Jiang Shi’s father and brother, Jiang Ancheng and Jiang Zhan, learned of her plan to buy a shop and start a business, they were very supportive.

To help her, they sold their treasured book collection, using the money to fund her venture. Jiang Shi was deeply touched. Jiang Ancheng reminded Jiang Shi not to let their grandmother find out about her business plans. Their grandmother strongly opposed commerce, believing merchants were of lowly status. Jiang Shi’s shop successfully opened, but no one was willing to help her—no woman wanted to become a merchant’s wife.

Upon hearing that Jiang Shi was looking for people, Lu Chuchu brought Rou'er to assist. Rou'er, having previously run a rouge shop, was highly skilled in business. Lu Chuchu trusted her deeply, and Jiang Shi found herself gaining a capable partner. Yu Qi learned about Jiang Shi’s shop and carefully dressed up to celebrate her grand opening. As the shop officially opened, Zhen Hang arrived to congratulate Jiang Shi. Seeing Zhen Hang, Yu Qi became a little jealous.

After the ceremony, many people arrived with congratulatory gifts. When Yu Qi saw Zhen Hang presenting a gift, he hurriedly took out his own. Madam Zhen, Zhen Hang’s mother, visited the Capital Bureau, urging her son to get married. When she noticed the spices Zhen Hang had brought back from Jiang Shi’s shop, Yu Qi grew flustered, stumbling over his words. Madam Zhen mistakenly assumed Zhen Hang had bought them for some young lady.

Left with no choice, Zhen Hang mentioned Jiang Shi. Madam Zhen was well aware of the scandal surrounding Jiang Shi’s broken engagement, so she decided to visit Jiang Shi’s shop in person. After observing her, she found herself quite satisfied with Jiang Shi. On Grandmother Jiang’s birthday, Madam Zhen sought out Zhen Hang, hoping to accompany him to the Jiang family to celebrate. She saw this as an opportunity to strengthen their relationship.

As soon as they entered the Jiang residence, Zhen Hang unexpectedly bumped into Jiang Pei. Jiang Pei immediately developed a fondness for him. Jiang Yi and her husband, Zhu Ziyu, also returned home to celebrate Grandmother Jiang’s birthday.

Madam Zhen highly praised Jiang Shi in front of Grandmother Jiang. Both Grandmother Jiang and Madam Xiao understood the purpose of Madam Zhen’s visit. Initially, Madam Xiao had wanted to form a marriage alliance with Zhen Hang, but upon realizing that his heart was set on Jiang Shi, she deliberately pointed out that Jiang Shi had no mother, hoping to diminish her worth and change Madam Zhen’s perception of her. However, this backfired—rather than looking down on Jiang Shi, Madam Zhen felt even more sympathetic toward her.

During a break, Grandmother Jiang expressed her willingness to form a marriage connection with Zhen Hang. Although the Earl of Dongping’s manor appeared prestigious on the surface, it had already begun to decline. In contrast, despite Zhen Hang’s lack of deep roots in the capital, he was a favored figure by the Emperor and had a boundless future ahead. It was a promising match. Grandmother Jiang called Jiang Shi over, instructing her to take good care of Madam Zhen. She even went to great lengths to select jewelry and make new clothes for Jiang Shi.

Madam Xiao visited her daughter, Jiang Qian, who was drunk and acting wildly. The failure of her first marriage had dealt a severe blow to Jiang Qian, leaving her with no will to live properly. After much encouragement from Madam Xiao, Jiang Qian resolved to pick herself up and no longer wallow in despair. However, when she heard her mother’s biased remarks about Jiang Shi, she tried to explain in Jiang Shi’s defense. Yet, Madam Xiao remained unconvinced—she believed Jiang Shi was deeply scheming and a formidable opponent.

Having heard that Zhen Hang had the potential to become the Grand Chancellor, Madam Xiao was determined to prevent Jiang Shi from getting close to him. She used Jiang Pei’s naivety to set a trap for Jiang Shi, poisoning her utensils in an attempt to humiliate her in front of everyone, hoping this would make Zhen Hang lose interest in her.

The banquet officially began, and when Madam Xiao and Jiang Pei learned that Jiang Shi had already met with Madam Zhen, they were both taken aback. During the banquet, Madam Xiao deliberately suggested that Jiang Shi offer incense as a birthday blessing for Grandmother Jiang, intending to put her in the spotlight and make her the center of attention. As the drug took effect, Jiang Shi began to feel unwell. Yu Qi quickly noticed something was wrong and used the commotion as a cover to take Jiang Shi away.

Realizing that both Jiang Shi and Yu Qi were missing, Madam Xiao and Jiang Pei seized the opportunity to spread unfavorable rumors about Jiang Shi. Grandmother Jiang, eager to facilitate a match between Jiang Shi and Zhen Hang, ordered people to search for them immediately.

Yu Qi took Jiang Shi to a secluded courtyard to hide. Jiang Shi, in a dazed state, mistook Yu Qi for her husband and behaved intimately toward him, demanding affection. Realizing that Jiang Shi had been drugged with an aphrodisiac, Yu Qi made a small cut on her pinky finger and used his internal energy to force the drug out through the wound.

With Jiang Shi and Yu Qi missing, speculation ran wild. Sensing that something was amiss, Zhen Hang wanted to investigate the matter using his authority in the Capital Bureau, but Grandmother Jiang blocked him, citing it as a domestic affair. She had already deduced that Madam Xiao was behind it. As everyone argued, a sudden melody played, and Jiang Shi gracefully appeared, performing a dance to celebrate Grandmother Jiang’s birthday, successfully defusing the crisis.

Later, Yu Qi informed Long Dan that he no longer needed to keep an eye on Jiang Shi. This puzzled Long Dan, as the totems on Jiang Shi’s body and the paintings she created all had connections to Nanwu.

The next day, Jiang Pei, wanting to confirm whether Jiang Shi had actually been poisoned, secretly sneaked into Jiang Shi’s residence to check, only to be caught by Jiang Shi. Forced into a corner, Jiang Pei revealed the entire poisoning scheme.

When the Jiang family questioned Jiang Shi about her disappearance, Madam Xiao planned to use the opportunity to suppress her further. However, Jiang Shi secretly swapped the poisoned medicine Madam Xiao had given Jiang Pei into Madam Xiao’s teacup. Suddenly, the drug took effect, and Madam Xiao embarrassed herself publicly with improper behavior.

As a result, Madam Xiao lost her authority as the household manager. Grandmother Jiang decided to choose a new person for the role. Jiang Shi initially wanted to recommend Jiang Qian, but seeing Jiang Qian’s despondent expression, Grandmother Jiang deemed her unsuitable. Jiang Qiao was also eliminated from consideration due to her youthful inexperience. With no other candidates left, Jiang Qiao stepped forward to nominate Jiang Shi as the new household manager.

After returning from the Jiang family, Zhen Hang couldn’t stop thinking about Jiang Shi. When he recalled what Madam Xiao had said about Jiang Shi losing her mother at a young age, he felt even more sympathetic toward her. Madam Zhen came to bring food to her son and immediately noticed his absent-mindedness, realizing he was thinking about Jiang Shi. However, after seeing Jiang Shi and Yu Qi appearing quite close, she began inquiring about their relationship.

Zhen Hang explained that because Yu Qi had saved Jiang Shi’s older brother, the two of them had a closer bond. Still, Madam Zhen worried that things might not be that simple. Meanwhile, Jiang Shi was concerned about her eldest sister, Jiang Yi, and inquired about her situation at her in-laws' house, wanting to know if she was being mistreated. Madam Xiao, not wanting Jiang Shi to worry, spoke lightly of the matter and concealed her difficulties.

However, Jiang Shi picked up on the underlying meaning in Jiang Yi’s words and realized that Jiang Yi’s mother-in-law had been making things difficult for her due to Madam Xiao’s failure to bear a grandson. Yu Qi and Long Dan went to the black market to investigate buyers of "Immortal Wandering. " They found a suspicious vendor raising scorpions, but just as they were observing him, he noticed them.

Since Jiang Shi had been temporarily appointed by Grandmother Jiang to manage the household, she went to Madam Xiao to retrieve the account books. Unwilling to hand them over, Madam Xiao wanted to argue her case with Grandmother Jiang. However, since she had been placed under house arrest, she no longer had the chance. Jiang Shi successfully obtained the account books and officially took over the household management.

Jiang Qian was unhappy about her mother losing power and felt it was unfair. She went to Grandmother Jiang to argue on Madam Xiao’s behalf. Grandmother Jiang explained the banquet incident to Jiang Qian and pointed out that Madam Xiao only cared about securing the status of the second branch, neglecting the well-being of the entire Jiang family. She warned that Madam Xiao's reckless actions could cause serious trouble. After the birthday banquet, Jiang Yi had to leave.

The first branch of the family came out together to see her off. Jiang Shi was reluctant to part with her eldest sister and, overwhelmed with concern, teared up. Some of the older servants in the household did not respect Jiang Shi. When mealtime approached, they deliberately refused to prepare food, attempting to make things difficult for her. That evening, A’Man asked Jiang Shi if she had feelings for Zhen Hang.

Jiang Shi admitted that she admired him greatly but had no romantic interest in him. A’Man took the opportunity to suggest that Jiang Shi and Yu Qi were a better match. The comment made Jiang Shi realize that Yu Qi had not been watching her as closely as before, nor had he appeared around her recently. It seemed he had dropped his suspicions of her.

Though relieved that Yu Qi was no longer troubling her, she couldn’t help but think about everything that had happened between them. At breakfast the next morning, the food was bland and consisted of spoiled rice and stale bread—clearly, the servants were deliberately making things difficult for Jiang Shi. Her uncle seized the opportunity to cause trouble, trying to strip her of her authority. Jiang Ancheng defended Jiang Shi and ended up in a heated argument with their uncle.

Grandmother Jiang intervened, stopping the quarrel between her two sons. She asked Jiang Shi if managing the household was too difficult for her. Jiang Shi assured her grandmother that everything would be settled within three days. The older servants thought themselves clever, believing that Jiang Shi was too young to handle them. However, Jiang Shi did not punish them. Instead, she brought in a new head chef to replace them, which greatly alarmed the old staff.

Madam Xiao planned to marry off Jiang Qian, hoping to use her daughter’s marriage to establish ties with the powerful. Jiang Qian felt heartbroken, realizing that her mother saw her only as a tool for political gain. Disheartened, she no longer wished to stay in the Jiang family and decided to go find her older brother. Seeing that she could no longer rely on Jiang Qian, Madam Xiao set her sights on Jiang Pei.

Since Jiang Pei had betrayed her, Jiang Shi knew that once Madam Xiao was released from her house arrest, she would surely take revenge. To protect Jiang Pei, Jiang Shi went to great lengths to arrange a marriage for her. Jiang Pei’s mother was deeply moved upon hearing this. Thanks to Jiang Shi’s governance, the Jiang household underwent a remarkable transformation. The servants performed their duties properly and no longer tried to undermine her.

Everyone was pleased with the new order. Even though Madam Xiao still didn’t want Jiang Shi to manage the household, she had no choice but to follow family rules. Meanwhile, Yu Qi continued his investigation at the black market and successfully captured the suspicious vendor who had been raising scorpions.

Although they had captured the suspect, Yu Qi was unable to extract any useful information. He decided to use the Nightingale Talisman to test Jiang Shi. That night, he shot the talisman into Jiang Shi's room with an arrow. Seeing the Nightingale Talisman, Jiang Shi became suspicious—only Yu Qi knew that she bore the Saintess Totem. She quickly realized that Yu Qi might be deliberately testing her, so she planned to seek help from Liu Yan'er at Tianxiang Pavilion.

Early in the morning, Zhen Hang saw weapons in the courtyard and thought about practicing martial arts to protect Jiang Shi. However, as a frail scholar, he struggled to handle the heavy weapons. To win Jiang Shi’s favor, he even climbed a mountain to pick orchids for her, injuring himself in the process. Jiang Shi went to Tianxiang Pavilion to find Liu Yan'er, but was refused. With no other choice, she returned home to seek her brother Jiang Zhan’s help.

Together, Jiang Shi and Jiang Zhan went back to Tianxiang Pavilion. The owner of Tianxiang Pavilion recognized Jiang Shi’s identity and, not wanting to offend Jiang Zhan, reluctantly agreed to let her see Liu Yan'er. Just as Jiang Shi was about to succeed, Yu Qi suddenly appeared, insisting on joining them.

Using the pretext of discussing the art of fragrance with Liu Yan'er, Jiang Shi was permitted into the inner chamber, while Yu Qi and Jiang Zhan had to wait outside in the guest hall, watching through the screen. Liu Yan'er used a sedative incense to knock Yu Qi and Jiang Zhan unconscious and began questioning Jiang Shi about her true purpose.

Jiang Shi lied, claiming she was Zhao Yu from the Nightingale Sect and had discovered the Saintess Totem while carrying out a mission. She questioned why this woman, who had never left Northern Zhou, would bear the Saintess Totem and asked if there were any other ways to verify the Saintess’s identity. Liu Yan'er revealed that a true Saintess could predict the future and lead Nanwu to prosperity.

However, neither of them realized that Yu Qi had not actually fallen unconscious—he had only pretended to be. He overheard every word they said. As Jiang Shi and her brother Jiang Zhan walked down the street, the county princess Cui Mingyue galloped recklessly through the marketplace, killing several people. Jiang Zhan stepped forward to stop her and demanded that she apologize. Seeing Cui Mingyue, Jiang Shi was momentarily shaken—this exact scene had played out in her previous life.

Back then, Jiang Zhan had also stood up for justice and ended up offending Cui Mingyue, which ultimately led to his death. Desperate to prevent history from repeating itself, Jiang Shi rushed forward to stop her brother from confronting Cui Mingyue. She even humbled herself, kneeling to beg for forgiveness. The stark contrast between Cui Mingyue’s arrogance and Jiang Shi’s willingness to endure humiliation for her family angered the surrounding citizens, who began criticizing Cui Mingyue.

Enraged, Cui Mingyue attempted to trample Jiang Shi with her horse. At that moment, Yu Qi suddenly appeared, stopping Cui Mingyue and throwing her off her horse before taking her away. Meanwhile, Liu Yan'er began investigating Jiang Shi’s identity and tracked down the shop she owned. After examining the fragrance that Jiang Shi, disguised as Zhao Yu, had used, she found it remarkably similar to her own. This further fueled her suspicion that Jiang Shi might be the true Saintess.

Cui Mingyue, having overheard a conversation between her mother and father, was shocked to learn that Yu Qi was actually a prince. She also discovered her father’s connection to the Duke of Dongping’s estate. Curious, she asked Nanny Xu about the person her father truly cared about. Fearing that Cui Mingyue would retaliate against Jiang Shi, Jiang Shi ordered Jiang Zhan to stay indoors for a month for his own safety.

Initially, Jiang Zhan refused, but he eventually agreed for Jiang Shi’s sake. To help her brother protect himself, Jiang Shi sought out Master Qin Feng to teach Jiang Zhan martial arts. Through Madam Zhen’s matchmaking, Jiang Pei was introduced to an ideal husband. When the two met, they were mutually satisfied with each other. Seeing the successful match, Jiang Shi expressed her gratitude to Madam Zhen. Madam Zhen was highly impressed with Jiang Shi and openly admired her.

Seizing the opportunity, she brought up the possibility of a relationship between Jiang Shi and Zhen Hang. She even intentionally left them alone together, excusing herself. To bring them closer, Zhen Hang playfully asked Jiang Shi to change how she addressed him. Jiang Shi complied, calling him "Big Brother. "At the same time, Yu Qi arrived at the teahouse where Jiang Shi and Zhen Hang were meeting. By chance, he saw them alone together and overheard their conversation. Feeling a surge of jealousy, he couldn’t help but sulk.

Yu Qi suddenly appeared, interrupting the conversation between Jiang Shi and Zhen Hang. Madam Zhen, seeing Yu Qi trying to disrupt things, stepped in to support her son. Using official business at the Capital Office as an excuse, Yu Qi attempted to send Zhen Hang away, but Zhen Hang saw through his intentions. Before leaving, Zhen Hang took Yu Qi with him. Jiang Pei was officially married, with her aunt and Jiang Qiao offering their congratulations.

To ensure that Jiang Zhan stayed home peacefully and focused on his martial arts training, Jiang Shi even brought in Lu Chuchu. Jiang Zhan and Lu Chuchu chatted in the garden over tea, but their interaction was spotted by Madam Xiao. Misunderstanding the situation, Madam Xiao assumed that Jiang Shi was using her house arrest as an opportunity to insert her own people into the household, attempting to replace her.

Seizing the chance during a meeting with the Jiang Matriarch, Madam Xiao deliberately tried to sow discord between Jiang Zhan and Lu Chuchu, belittling Lu Chuchu as someone of no worth. Upon hearing this, the Jiang Matriarch naturally disapproved of her grandson associating with such a woman of the martial world and summoned Jiang Zhan, ordering him to stay away from Lu Chuchu.

However, upon learning that Lu Chuchu was the renowned daughter of General Huaihua and that she had generously spent all her wealth to aid the people, the Jiang Matriarch changed her stance and no longer opposed their association. Madam Xiao took the opportunity to file more complaints, only for Jiang Zhan to overhear everything. That night, Yu Qi sat alone in the courtyard, feeling frustrated. Long Dan approached him and suggested that he follow Zhen Hang’s example by gifting flowers.

The next day, Long Dan returned the crabapple flowers that Jiang Shi had given Yu Qi. Seeing this, A’Man became furious, grabbed the flowers, and stormed off, leaving Long Dan confused. Jiang Shi had originally planned to explain things to Zhen Hang and Madam Zhen at the teahouse, but her conversation was once again interrupted by Yu Qi. She was unsure when she would get another chance to talk.

Meanwhile, A’Man’s opinion of Zhen Hang changed—she now felt that Jiang Shi would be better off with him. Cao Xingxing sought out Cui Mingyue, encouraging her to go after Jiang Shi. He claimed that Jiang Shi’s shop had been extremely profitable and implied that she must have used underhanded means to acquire it. Cui Mingyue, eager for revenge, gathered a group of women and caused a scene at Jiang Shi’s store, falsely claiming that the products had ruined their faces.

They even began vandalizing the shop. Lu Chuchu stepped in to stop them, but the women twisted the story, accusing the shop of violently attacking customers. Jiang Shi arrived just in time to stop the commotion and exposed evidence proving that the women had been deliberately sent to frame her. She even used the opportunity to promote her store.

Realizing that their scheme had backfired, the women quickly fled, but Jiang Shi remained concerned—she was certain someone was pulling the strings behind the scenes. With her store damaged, Jiang Shi suffered significant losses and scrambled to find money to cover the deficit. However, she couldn’t gather enough funds in a short time. Just then, the military dog Er Niu suddenly appeared, carrying a bundle of banknotes. Jiang Shi immediately knew that Yu Qi had sent the money.

Yu Qi was searching for Er Niu when he discovered that Jiang Shi had crawled into his courtyard through a dog hole. Fearing that Yu Qi might have taken out a high-interest loan to help her, Jiang Shi tried to return the money. Yu Qi reassured her that the money was his own and that she could use it without worry. However, Jiang Shi still refused.

In the end, Yu Qi insisted, using the excuse that he was investing in her business. Ji Chongyi’s attempt to frame Jiang Shi had failed. To avoid angering Cui Mingyue, he publicly berated the woman who had carried out the scheme. However, Cui Mingyue was ruthless—she crippled the woman’s voice, leaving Cao Xingxing shaken by her cruelty. Cui Mingyue had never respected Ji Chongyi or Cao Xingxing and humiliated them both.

While Cao Xingxing didn’t seem to mind, he deliberately dragged the Capital Office into the matter and suggested that they target Jiang Zhan instead. Suddenly, Jiang Zhan went missing. Jiang Shi was extremely anxious, even alerting Yu Qi to help search for him. They eventually found Jiang Zhan unharmed, and Jiang Shi quickly took him home. Sensing Jiang Shi’s unusual behavior, Yu Qi asked Qin Feng about Jiang Shi’s recent actions.

Determined to take matters into his own hands, Yu Qi decided to personally train Jiang Zhan in martial arts. Meanwhile, Zhen Hang continued sending flowers to Jiang Shi. Upon hearing that Jiang Shi and Yu Qi had gone to the western suburbs’ horse ranch, he rushed there immediately. At the ranch, Jiang Shi watched as Yu Qi rode a horse, drew his bow, and fired arrows with striking precision. Captivated by his heroic and commanding presence, she found herself momentarily lost in admiration.

Yu Qi was eavesdropping on Jiang Shi and Zhen Hang’s conversation when Jiang Shi caught him. Feeling slightly awkward, Yu Qi was nevertheless pleased to hear that Jiang Shi had no romantic feelings for Zhen Hang. However, he was shocked to learn that the crabapple flowers Jiang Shi had gifted him for his housewarming had been returned. Suddenly, he realized that it was likely a mistake made by Long Dan.

Seizing the opportunity, Yu Qi took Jiang Shi’s hand, trying to draw them closer. He lied, saying the flowers were returned because he wanted Jiang Shi to check the soil, as it was a bit loose. Jiang Shi did not resist and let Yu Qi hold her hand.

Yu Qi admitted that he wasn’t actually taking a break today—his main purpose was to use the excuse of teaching Jiang Zhan horseback riding to ask Jiang Shi if she was facing any difficulties. He thought Jiang Shi’s belief in predicting the future through dreams was unrealistic, but Jiang Shi insisted her dreams felt very real.

Yu Qi believed that keeping Jiang Zhan locked up at home was not a solution; instead, it would only make Jiang Zhan more eager to sneak out. He suggested that they take turns following Jiang Zhan whenever he went out. Zhen Hang returned home and told his mother about Jiang Shi rejecting him. Upon hearing this, Madam Zhen felt it was a pity to give up on such a good girl and was unwilling to accept it.

Zhen Hang reassured his mother that he would not give up and would find a way to win Jiang Shi’s heart. That night, when Jiang Shi returned home, she enthusiastically tended to the crabapple flowers Yu Qi had brought back. As she worked, she unexpectedly found a rolled-up piece of paper hidden in the soil.

It turned out that when Long Dan delivered the flowers, he had intentionally placed a scroll inside, asking Yu Qi to write a poem before burying it in the soil. Upon reading the words on the scroll, Jiang Shi was deeply moved. Jiang Shi’s shop had been renovated, but no customers came to buy anything. Even when products were sold at half price, people still ignored them.

After some investigation, she discovered that an influential figure had spread word forbidding anyone from purchasing items from her store. Jiang Zhan wanted to ask his friends for help, but Jiang Shi firmly opposed the idea, believing that his so-called friends were useless. This led to a misunderstanding—Jiang Zhan thought his sister was looking down on him. While drinking alone, he ran into Zhang Sheng, one of his drinking buddies.

Zhang Sheng egged him on, urging him to do something astonishing to prove himself to Jiang Shi. Seeing that Jiang Zhan had taken the bait, Zhang Sheng rushed to find Ji Chongyi. It turned out that Ji Chongyi had orchestrated this entire scheme, using Zhang Sheng to manipulate Jiang Zhan.

Zhang Sheng then led Jiang Zhan to meet an important “client,” only to bring him straight to Cui Mingyue’s location, where Ji Chongyi and Cao Xingxing were also present on the boat. Cui Mingyue had three large jars of wine brought out and forced Jiang Zhan to drink them all, promising that if he finished, she would let Jiang Shi go. Realizing that Jiang Zhan was missing, Jiang Shi immediately sought out Yu Qi and searched for him everywhere.

Meanwhile, Cui Mingyue ordered her men to beat Jiang Zhan viciously. Her subordinates struck him with brutal force, even frightening Ji Chongyi and Cao Xingxing. Under the relentless abuse, Jiang Zhan eventually passed out. Seeing him lifeless, Cui Mingyue instructed her men to throw him into the river. Jiang Shi finally tracked down Cui Mingyue’s location and overheard the conversations, learning that her brother had been murdered. Overcome with grief and rage, she set the place on fire.

Yu Qi arrived just in time and found Jiang Shi. Guessing that she had set the fire, he proactively offered to testify on her behalf and arranged for them to stay together for the night. In the end, only Cui Mingyue and Ji Chongyi survived the fire. However, Cui Mingyue was left with permanent scars, and Ji Chongyi’s legs were beyond recovery.

At this moment, the Grand Princess sent people to fetch Ji Chongyi, but Qiao Niang, seeing through the Grand Princess’s intentions to use Ji Chongyi as a scapegoat, adamantly refused to let him go. The families of all the drowned children gathered by the river, searching for their loved ones, but there was still no sign of Jiang Zhan. Jiang Ancheng waited by the lake, anxiously hoping for news of his son.

As time passed with no updates, he became increasingly grief-stricken and remorseful, blaming himself for failing as a father. The entire household was devastated by their loss. Many people began pointing fingers at the Grand Princess, knowing that Cui Mingyue was responsible for their sons' deaths. Zhang Sheng’s father, who was a follower of Prince Qi, was heartbroken over his son’s unexplained death. Seeking justice, he turned to Prince Qi for help, hoping to file charges against the Grand Princess.

Because Zhang Sheng’s father filed a lawsuit through Prince Qi, the emperor ordered the Capital Tribunal to investigate the case. The Grand Princess kept Cui Mingyue confined at home, claiming that her injuries were severe, thus temporarily protecting her daughter. However, to completely absolve Cui Mingyue of any guilt, the Grand Princess had Ji Chongyi brought to the princess’s residence. Ji Chongyi’s father, fearing to offend the Grand Princess, did not put up much resistance.

Now that Ji Chongyi’s father had given up on him, his attention shifted entirely to the child in Qiao Niang’s womb, as that child was the true future of the Duke’s household. Upon arriving at the Grand Princess’s residence, Ji Chongyi was extremely anxious when he saw her. He realized that the Grand Princess intended to shift all the blame onto him.

In an attempt to escape the situation, he brought up Jiang Zhan, falsely claiming that Jiang Zhan had knocked over the candlestick, causing the fire. Meanwhile, the Jiang family was discussing Jiang Zhan’s situation. Jiang Shi was determined to find her brother, but the Jiang Matriarch blamed Jiang Shi, believing that Jiang Zhan’s death was directly related to her. She scolded Jiang Shi, saying that if she hadn’t always indulged Jiang Zhan, such a tragedy would not have happened.

Just then, the Grand Princess’s household guards, led by Shijiun, surrounded the Earl of Dongping’s residence, declaring that Jiang Zhan was a suspect in the arson case and forbidding anyone from leaving. Jiang Shi refused to comply, but Shijiun was ready to use force. At that moment, Yu Qi suddenly appeared and rescued the Jiang family. Seizing the opportunity, Madam Xiao brought up the previous marriage discussion with Zhen Hang.

At this moment, the Jiang Matriarch was focused solely on saving the family and even made a bold statement that as long as someone was willing, she would agree to marry Jiang Shi off to that person. Because of the Jiang family’s dire situation, the Matriarch felt that Jiang Shi was still too young and inexperienced, so she reinstated Madam Xiao as the household’s overseer. As the court trial approached, Jiang Shi sought out Qiao Niang to discuss their plan.

Ji Chongyi revealed the full truth to Qiao Niang, and upon meeting Jiang Shi, Qiao Niang told her everything as well. Jiang Shi was deeply saddened to learn of the inhumane torture her brother had endured and finally understood why Cui Mingyue harbored such resentment toward Jiang Zhan. Qiao Niang also informed Jiang Shi that the Grand Princess had taken Ji Chongyi into her residence and planned to have him formally accuse Jiang Zhan.

Even if Ji Chongyi failed to win the case, he would ultimately take the fall, leaving the Grand Princess unscathed. After learning the full picture, Jiang Shi formulated a plan. The next day, she went to the Capital Tribunal to accuse Ji Chongyi and the others of harming her brother, Jiang Zhan. Ji Chongyi continued to argue, but Jiang Shi countered each of his claims with evidence.

Ji Chongyi tried to shift the focus by stating that Jiang Zhan’s continued disappearance made him the prime suspect. Jiang Shi, however, falsely claimed that she had seen Jiang Zhan and that he had told her everything. Ji Chongyi, who had personally witnessed Jiang Zhan’s last breath, could not believe he was still alive and nearly let the truth slip.

Using the excuse of a dream visitation from her brother, Jiang Shi detailed the cruel torture Jiang Zhan had suffered and even presented critical evidence. Upon seeing this evidence, Ji Chongyi panicked. Under Jiang Shi’s deliberate pressure, he blurted out the truth. As Jiang Shi recounted each victim’s cause of death, all the details were verified one by one. However, the Grand Princess’s guard, Shijiun, kept interfering with the investigation.

Ji Chongyi, refusing to admit guilt, insisted that without solid proof, he would never confess. Just then, Jiang Zhan suddenly appeared, claiming he had come to drag Ji Chongyi to the underworld with him. Seeing Jiang Zhan, Ji Chongyi was utterly flustered and panicked, eventually fainting on the spot. Jiang Shi brought Jiang Zhan back home. Jiang Ancheng, who had been grieving ever since his son’s presumed death, had been drowning in sorrow.

Seeing Jiang Zhan alive reignited his hope, and he was overjoyed. Jiang Zhan then recounted the entire process of how he had survived. As it turned out, Jiang Zhan had deliberately feigned death. After being thrown into the river, he was rescued by Lu Chuchu. However, due to his severe injuries and the rough mountain roads, he could not return home immediately. Lu Chuchu took meticulous care of him, which deeply moved Jiang Zhan.

As a token of gratitude, he carved a wooden horse for her. Once he recovered, Jiang Zhan returned to Ling’an and learned that the Capital Tribunal was investigating the case. At that moment, he came up with the plan to stage his dramatic return.

To celebrate Jiang Zhan’s safe return home, Grand Madam Jiang specially hosted a family banquet and invited Yu Qi and Lu Chuchu. During the banquet, Madam Xiao originally intended to belittle Jiang Shi, but Grand Madam Jiang was very pleased with how Jiang Shi had remained composed and reasoned with the Princess Royal. Left with no choice, Madam Xiao changed the topic.

At this moment, Jiang Ancheng deliberately brought up the incident between Lu Chuchu and Jiang Zhan in the wilderness and insisted that his son take responsibility for Lu Chuchu. It turned out that Jiang Ancheng had taken a liking to Lu Chuchu and wanted her to be his daughter-in-law, making Lu Chuchu feel rather embarrassed. After this ordeal, Jiang Zhan had matured significantly, realizing that his past suffering was due to his lack of ability.

Determined to better himself, he vowed to work hard and bring honor to his family. Grand Madam Jiang was delighted to hear this, but the second branch of the Jiang family was unwilling to see Jiang Zhan become too successful. Yu Qi and Lu Chuchu, after hearing of Jiang Zhan’s determination, decided to personally train him in martial arts. However, Jiang Zhan had no interest in taking the imperial examinations and instead wished to join the Jinwu Guards.

When Jiang Shi and Lu Chuchu were alone, Jiang Shi sincerely expressed her gratitude. Lu Chuchu told Jiang Shi that everything had been arranged by Yu Qi and that Yu Qi had instructed her on what to do. Only then did Jiang Shi realize how much Yu Qi had done in silence, without ever seeking credit. She was deeply moved by this. True to his word, Jiang Zhan worked diligently, no longer slacking off.

He focused on martial arts, practiced archery and horseback riding, and made rapid progress. The Jiang family's story was even adapted by storytellers and spread throughout the city streets. Cui Mingyue was demoted from a commandery princess to a county princess and was even forced to leave Ling'an. Ji Chongyi was also severely punished and banned from taking the imperial examinations, effectively ruining his future.

Meanwhile, the Jiang family was heavily rewarded—Jiang Zhan was promoted to Jinwu Guard, and Jiang Ancheng was granted a noble title, which could be passed down for five generations. Grand Madam Jiang was overjoyed for Jiang Zhan, but Jiang Shi saw things differently. She knew that the emperor’s generosity was merely a way to pacify their family while protecting Cui Mingyue. However, Grand Madam Jiang’s attitude deeply hurt Jiang Zhan.

To her, the comfort of family didn’t seem to matter; she only saw the prestige that came from Jiang Zhan’s achievements. Feeling dejected, Jiang Zhan sat alone by the lake in frustration. Just then, Lu Chuchu found him. Since he had disappeared again, everyone was worried and searching for him. Jiang Zhan confided in Lu Chuchu about his feelings, and she shared her own experiences to comfort him. After their conversation, Jiang Zhan felt much better.

Cui Mingyue was forced to leave Ling'an. Thinking back to how Yu Qi had saved her when she fell into the water, she felt a strange emotion stir in her heart. Using the Jiang family as leverage, she demanded that Yu Qi escort her. Meanwhile, Jiang Shi decided to take everyone on a trip to celebrate. Jiang Zhan suggested they visit Lingshui—the very place Cui Mingyue had been banished to.

When Cui Mingyue saw Yu Qi, she greeted him warmly, but Yu Qi remained cold and distant, refusing to engage in idle conversation and turning to leave. Cui Mingyue revealed Yu Qi’s true identity in an attempt to threaten him. She also confessed her feelings and tried to tempt him with promises of a bright future, but Yu Qi remained unmoved.

Realizing that Jiang Shi was the reason for his indifference, Cui Mingyue then threatened him with Jiang Shi, but Yu Qi still did not waver. While walking through the streets, Lu Chuchu ran into A’Man and heard that Cui Mingyue would soon depart for Lingshui. She rushed ahead to a fork in the road and secretly switched the direction signs.

Meanwhile, Yu Qi discovered that the official who had submitted a memorial accusing him of being an ominous figure was also in Lingshui. Remembering Jiang Shi’s words—that those who frame others must pay the price—he decided to investigate. On the way, he happened to encounter Jiang Shi and her companions and realized they were headed in the same direction, so they decided to travel together.

As they passed by a small river, Yu Qi and Lu Chuchu went into the water to catch fish. Jiang Zhan wanted to join them, but because of his previous experience of falling into the lake, he was still afraid of water and hesitated. While catching fish, Lu Chuchu accidentally twisted her ankle. Overcoming his fear of water, Jiang Zhan rushed into the river and carried Lu Chuchu out.

Just as Jiang Zhan carried Lu Chuchu to the shore, thunder suddenly rumbled. Instinctively, Jiang Zhan covered Lu Chuchu's ears with both hands, and for a moment, the atmosphere between them turned slightly ambiguous. Soon after, it began to rain. On the other side, Jiang Shi and Yu Qi also took shelter under a tree. Taking advantage of the moment, Yu Qi grabbed Jiang Shi's hand.

Jiang Shi, feeling a bit shy, tried to withdraw her hand, but Yu Qi held on tightly. Meanwhile, Jiang Zhan tended to Lu Chuchu’s twisted ankle. Having often climbed walls in his childhood, Jiang Zhan had plenty of experience treating sprained ankles. As they continued their journey, the group passed by a centuries-old tree covered in wooden plaques tied with red strings.

An elderly man beneath the tree explained that many young men and women from the village would come here to make wishes. Inspired, everyone took a plaque and wrote down their wishes before hanging them on the tree. At the same time, Zhen Hang was escorting Sang Ya to the outskirts for execution. However, Nightingale Gate had caught wind of this and planned an ambush mid-journey to rescue Sang Ya.

Little did they know that this was a trap set by Zhen Hang. As a result, Nightingale Gate suffered heavy casualties, and the remaining members fled in panic. That night, the rain grew heavier. Jiang Shi and the others arrived at a place called Shan An Tang and decided to take shelter there. Madam Shen, the owner, was very warm and welcoming, allowing them to stay and even preparing food for them.

Late at night, Shen Xin'er sneaked into Jiang Shi's room while she was asleep and gently caressed her hand. However, Jiang Shi suddenly coughed uncomfortably, scaring Shen Xin'er into fleeing. Shen Xin'er then crept into Lu Chuchu's room, only to be startled when Lu Chuchu suddenly turned over in her sleep, causing Shen Xin'er to flee once again. The next day, Jiang Shi suddenly developed a fever.

Lu Chuchu found it odd, as she vaguely remembered seeing a figure at night. She asked Madam Shen if there was anything unclean in the place, but Madam Shen brushed it off, claiming she was skilled in medicine and could cure Jiang Shi with acupuncture. The group anxiously waited in the courtyard as Madam Shen treated Jiang Shi. Suddenly, Madam Shen ran out in a panic, claiming she needed medicinal herbs and asked everyone to split up and find them.

Yu Qi, sensing something amiss, left Long Dan behind to guard Jiang Shi. However, Madam Shen secretly added a laxative to Long Dan's water. Once Long Dan was forced to leave, Shen Xin'er sneaked back into Jiang Shi’s room and began touching her hand again. Jiang Shi suddenly woke up and discovered that Shen Xin'er was actually a man in disguise. When Jiang Shi tried to escape, Madam Shen drugged her unconscious.

Madam Shen had already arranged for someone to come and take Jiang Shi away. With Long Dan incapacitated and weak, he was unable to resist. When Yu Qi and Jiang Zhan returned, they sensed something was wrong. Without delay, Yu Qi and Jiang Zhan rushed to the county office to report the crime. However, the local officials were colluding with the kidnappers, deliberately delaying the process.

Realizing time was critical, Yu Qi abandoned the attempt to involve the officials and decided to investigate on his own. Shen Xin'er had developed an obsession with Jiang Shi due to her beauty and did not want to sell her. However, Madam Shen viewed Jiang Shi as a high-value commodity and insisted on selling her for a hefty profit.

As Yu Qi and Jiang Zhan exited the county office, they ran into Qin Feng, who looked extremely disheveled and was also there to report his wife's disappearance. It turned out that Qin Feng's wife, A’Rong, had gone missing under similar circumstances to Jiang Shi. Connecting the dots, Yu Qi deduced that Madam Shen was suspicious and led everyone back to Shan An Tang, only to find it deserted.

They discovered some M-drugs and a clue left behind by Jiang Shi, confirming their suspicions. Meanwhile, Jiang Shi had been taken to a mountain hideout, where she encountered A’Rong, who was also held captive. Jiang Shi managed to overpower a guard delivering their meals and attempted to escape with A’Rong. However, they were soon discovered. In a selfless act, A’Rong sacrificed herself to buy Jiang Shi time to escape.

Unfortunately, Jiang Shi was recaptured by Madam Shen, who then discovered that A’Rong was pregnant and intended to sell her off immediately. Refusing to endure such humiliation, A’Rong chose to end her own life. Jiang Shi was tightly bound in a room when Yu Qi suddenly arrived to rescue her. However, Jiang Shi insisted on saving everyone else as well.

Using reverse psychology, she provoked Shen Xin'er into threatening Madam Shen, prompting Shen Xin'er to accidentally reveal the location of the account book. Yu Qi seized the opportunity to take the account book and successfully rescued Jiang Shi. Armed with evidence, Yu Qi immediately contacted Zhen Hang, who led the capital patrol officers to apprehend all the criminals.

Qin Feng, devastated by the loss of his wife, decided to leave everything behind and seek refuge in a temple, becoming a monk. After bidding farewell to Jiang Shi, he departed with a heavy heart. Meanwhile, although the case of Shan An Tang was solved, Jiang Shi still appeared troubled. News of Shan An Tang's scandal had spread widely, and many women who had previously sought treatment there were now being mistreated by their in-laws.

Zhen Hang tried to comfort Jiang Shi, but just as they were talking, Yu Qi, feeling jealous, deliberately interrupted them. The group continued their journey and happened to pass by Baiyun Temple. As Baiyun Temple was known to attract many visitors yearly for making wishes, Jiang Shi and Yu Qi also decided to take a look.

At the same time, Jiang Shi's elder sister, Jiang Yi, who was not favored by her in-laws due to only giving birth to a daughter, also came to Baiyun Temple to pray for blessings. To show her sincerity, Jiang Yi climbed the temple stairs on her knees, bowing step by step as she prayed. However, Madam Zhu continued to humiliate her with harsh words. Overwhelmed with sadness and frailty, Jiang Yi eventually fainted.

Seeing his wife collapse, Zhu Ziyu felt heartbroken and rushed up the steps to carry her down. At that moment, Jiang Shi happened to arrive and witnessed the scene. Seeing the Jiang family, Madam Zhu showed obvious disdain and immediately called her son away. On their way back to the Zhu residence, the carriage carrying Jiang Yi and Jiang Shi suddenly veered off toward another path at a fork in the road.

The group realized something was wrong and quickly turned to give chase. Strangely, the coachman suddenly jumped off the carriage midway. Yu Qi, riding on horseback, sprinted after the carriage. However, the horses were already galloping toward the cliff's edge. With no time to spare, Yu Qi quickly drew his sword and slashed the harness rope, separating the carriage from the horses. Still, the carriage's momentum pushed it dangerously close to the cliff.

Just then, Xie Yinlou, the captain of Linshui County's guards, appeared and joined Yu Qi in stopping the carriage, preventing a fatal accident. After getting off the carriage, Jiang Shi recognized Xie Yinlou as someone she had met before. Realizing the situation was suspicious, Jiang Shi deduced that Madam Zhu might have deliberately arranged for Jiang Yi to ride that specific carriage, intending to harm her sister. If not for their timely arrival, Jiang Yi could have lost her life.

Determined to uncover the truth, Yu Qi agreed to investigate the matter with Jiang Shi. Back in Lin'an, Jiang Zhan was practicing martial arts in the courtyard of the Jinwu Guard camp. Xiao Shi, hoping to curry favor with him, approached with a warm attitude, but Jiang Zhan completely ignored her. Meanwhile, Zhen Hang, after returning to Lin'an, remained downcast as his mind was filled with thoughts of Jiang Shi.

On the other hand, Madam Zhu, enraged that her plot had failed, ordered the immediate slaughter of the horse to destroy evidence. However, Jiang Shi arrived just in time to stop her. Determined to investigate, Yu Qi visited the carriage stable and discovered that the coachman was a recent hire, indicating that the plan had been prearranged.

While investigating the accident, Yu Qi also took the opportunity to visit Lord Chu to gather more evidence about the false accusation that had once been made against him. Jiang Shi planned to accompany Jiang Yi to the ancestral tombs for a memorial ceremony. Worried about Jiang Shi's safety, Yu Qi personally volunteered to drive the carriage. Unexpectedly, Zhu Ziyu also insisted on accompanying them.

On the way, Jiang Yi noticed how protective Yu Qi was toward Jiang Shi and began to inquire about their relationship. Embarrassed, Jiang Shi quickly denied any romantic involvement, insisting they were just friends. As they traveled through the countryside, they came across three men harassing a young woman named Qing'er, who had sold herself into servitude to afford her father's burial. Jiang Yi, moved by compassion, offered to take Qing'er in.

However, Jiang Shi was suspicious of Qing'er and insisted on buying her contract, setting her free. Despite being freed, Qing'er claimed she had nowhere else to go and begged Jiang Yi to take her in, even offering to surrender her contract of servitude. Seeing Qing'er's desperate plea, Jiang Yi softened and agreed to take her in. However, Jiang Shi's suspicions deepened, and Yu Qi quietly sent someone to investigate Qing'er's background. Surprisingly, the information collected matched perfectly with Qing'er's story.

Still uneasy, Jiang Shi began to observe Qing'er closely and soon noticed subtle interactions between Zhu Ziyu and Qing'er, suspecting that the two might have some connection. Jiang Shi also believed that Qing'er's true intention was to replace Jiang Yi as Zhu Ziyu's wife. That evening, Zhu Ziyu casually asked Jiang Yi about Xie Yinlou.

He mentioned that rumors had spread about Xie Yinlou having taken a liking to a girl from the Jiang family during his earlier stay, which was why he had remained unmarried all these years. Jiang Yi realized Zhu Ziyu was probing into her past and quickly clarified that Xie Yinlou had remained single due to the loss of his parents. As the flood season began, Jiang Yi planned to take Jiang Shi sightseeing around the city. However, their plans were interrupted when Madam Zhu suddenly summoned Jiang Yi.

Madam Zhu deliberately summoned Jiang Yi to make things difficult for her. No matter how Jiang Yi explained, Madam Zhu refused to listen. Just then, Zhu Ziyu appeared and stood up for Jiang Yi, taking all the blame upon himself. Jiang Yi was deeply moved by his gesture. However, at that moment, news came that there was another problem with the Caiyun Troupe's performance.

The two leading performers, Yan Niang and Fei Niang, had gotten into a fight because Yan Niang's face had swollen after using a cosmetic gifted to Fei Niang. Yan Niang believed that Fei Niang had deliberately framed her. Jiang Shi asked Meng Nan if the rouge purchased from the shop was ever removed from sight during the performance. Meng Nan admitted that it had indeed been taken away briefly during the show.

Now that Yan Niang's face was swollen, making her unable to perform, Jiang Shi volunteered to take her place. That evening, the performance officially began. While watching the performance, the audience praised the Zhu family. However, Madam Zhu shamelessly claimed all the credit for herself. When someone pointed out that it was Jiang Yi who had organized everything, Madam Zhu's face turned stiff with embarrassment, and she fell silent.

Just as Jiang Yi was enjoying the moment, Qing'er suddenly came running to inform her that her daughter, Yan Yan, was missing. Jiang Yi panicked and rushed out to search for her daughter. At the same time, news arrived that Fei Niang had sprained her ankle and could no longer perform. The upcoming water sacrificial dance was the most crucial part of the performance, and without a replacement, the show would be ruined.

While everyone was in a state of panic, Qing'er suddenly stepped forward, claiming that she could perform the dance. During the performance, Qing'er's mesmerizing dance earned cheers and applause from the audience. However, Jiang Shi found the whole situation too coincidental — first, Yan Niang was incapacitated, then Fei Niang was injured, and now Qing'er conveniently stepped up and stole the spotlight.

Jiang Shi and Yu Qi deduced that Qing'er's real target from the beginning had been Fei Niang, and she had staged the whole thing to gain attention in front of everyone. While searching for her daughter, Jiang Yi suddenly disappeared. Jiang Shi finally spotted her sister on the other side of the river, still anxiously searching for her daughter.

This didn't sit right with Jiang Shi — if Qing'er had already achieved her goal, why would she still try to keep Jiang Yi away? Sensing that someone was deliberately trying to harm her sister, Jiang Shi hurried to find her. Jiang Yi, overwhelmed by exhaustion, fainted. When Jiang Shi finally found her, she witnessed Meng Nan attempting to violate Jiang Yi. Without hesitation, Jiang Shi knocked Meng Nan unconscious and hid him.

Shortly after, Madam Zhu and Zhu Ziyu arrived with people and discovered Meng Nan. Ignoring Jiang Yi’s explanation, Madam Zhu and Zhu Ziyu immediately assumed Jiang Yi had been having an affair with Meng Nan. Jiang Yi, flustered, tried to defend herself, but they refused to believe her. Just then, Fei Niang stepped forward and falsely claimed that she was the one who had secretly met with Jiang Yi to protect her.

Despite Fei Niang’s confession, Zhu Ziyu was unwilling to believe it. When Meng Nan regained consciousness, he confessed that he had indeed come to secretly meet Jiang Yi, seemingly solidifying Jiang Yi’s guilt. At this moment, Jiang Yi realized that Qing'er had set her up. However, when Qing'er was brought in for questioning, she turned the situation around and accused Jiang Yi of lying. She claimed she was busy dancing and couldn’t possibly have lured Jiang Yi away.

Jiang Shi, outraged, insisted on reporting Qing'er to the authorities. However, the Zhu family firmly refused. Zhu Ziyu still believed Jiang Yi had cheated and argued that since Qing'er was performing, she couldn't have orchestrated anything. Just then, Yu Qi appeared with Rain'er — Qing'er's twin sister who looked exactly like her. This proved that Qing'er had indeed been working with someone else to set up Jiang Yi.

Fei Niang then handed Jiang Shi some crucial evidence, revealing that she had also noticed everything was targeted toward herself from the start. This was why she deliberately stepped forward to protect Jiang Shi and expose the truth. Meng Nan was expelled from the Caiyun Troupe. Jiang Shi quickly realized that Zhu Ziyu was likely the mastermind behind this entire plot, intending to drive Jiang Yi out of the Zhu family to make room for someone else.

However, Jiang Yi, concerned for her daughter's well-being, chose to endure the humiliation silently rather than escalate the situation. Yu Qi’s investigation revealed that Zhu Ziyu had secretly been meeting with a noblewoman. Jiang Shi immediately deduced that Zhu Ziyu was attempting to align himself with a powerful family and needed to frame Jiang Yi to make space for his new marriage.

While everyone was still processing this information, more news came that Meng Nan had begun spreading rumors about his alleged affair with Jiang Yi, tarnishing her reputation. Jiang Shi suspected that Meng Nan was colluding with the noblewoman and decided to confront Qing'er to uncover more clues. However, during their conversation, Jiang Shi did not realize that someone had been eavesdropping the entire time. Meanwhile, Zhu Ziyu subtly tested his mother's reaction about divorcing Jiang Yi.

However, Madam Zhu, despite her prejudice, could not find any legitimate fault in Jiang Yi and refused to agree to the divorce.

Madam Zhu's hostility toward Jiang Yi stemmed from her jealousy of Zhu Ziyu’s bias toward Jiang Yi, rather than any genuine desire to drive her out of the family. Zhu Ziyu, however, was disheartened upon learning this. His initial plan was to maintain his good reputation while letting his mother handle the divorce.

Now, seeing his mother unwilling to go that far, Zhu Ziyu suggested that as long as Jiang Shi remained in the house, it would continue to affect his relationship with Jiang Yi. His true intention was to persuade his mother to drive Jiang Shi away since all his previous schemes had been foiled by Jiang Shi. Only by removing Jiang Shi could he successfully get rid of Jiang Yi.

Jiang Shi, after rescuing Qing'er, finally exposed Zhu Ziyu's true face to her. Realizing how she had been used, Qing'er no longer concealed the truth and decided to help Jiang Shi. Meanwhile, Zhu Ziyu instructed Yu'er to deliver a message to the noblewoman behind the scheme. However, through Qing'er, Jiang Shi intercepted the letter and learned about the secret meeting.

Jiang Shi then devised a plan to gather Zhu Ziyu and the noblewoman together while simultaneously spreading rumors through Meng Nan. Zhu Ziyu arrived at the meeting spot, only to find out that the woman behind everything was Cui Mingyue. During the meeting, Zhu Ziyu promised Cui Mingyue that he would find a way to divorce Jiang Yi but expressed his concern about Jiang Shi and Yu Qi making it difficult for him to act.

He also promised that once everything was settled, he would eliminate both Qing'er and Yu'er to cut off any loose ends. However, unbeknownst to him, Jiang Shi and her group overheard the entire conversation. Meng Nan led a group of people to surround the courtyard where Zhu Ziyu and Cui Mingyue were meeting. Realizing that something was wrong, Cui Mingyue attempted to escape with Zhu Ziyu through the back door, but they were quickly blocked.

Cui Mingyue covered her face with a veil, and Zhu Ziyu tried to protect her by falsely claiming that she was his wife, intending to take her away. At that moment, Jiang Shi and Jiang Yi appeared, immediately exposing Zhu Ziyu’s lies. Jiang Shi stepped forward and lifted Cui Mingyue’s veil, revealing her identity to everyone. Cui Mingyue was momentarily stunned, not knowing how to react. Just then, the Grand Princess suddenly arrived with her guards.

In a moment of panic, Cui Mingyue shifted all the blame onto Zhu Ziyu, claiming that she had only just arrived in Lingnan and was deceived by him. The Grand Princess seized the opportunity to take Cui Mingyue away, but Jiang Shi stepped forward to stop her. Unwilling to back down, the Grand Princess began to pressurize Jiang Shi.

Sensing Jiang Shi was in danger, Yu Qi immediately appeared and stood by her side, forcing the Grand Princess to leave without causing further trouble. By now, Jiang Yi had completely given up any hope for her marriage. Despite Zhu Ziyu’s later attempt to apologize, Jiang Yi insisted on separation. Zhu Ziyu's parents, still feeling guilty toward Jiang Yi, were reluctant to agree to the divorce.

However, Zhu Ziyu, concerned about his own reputation, heartlessly agreed to the divorce, even abandoning his own daughter. Seeing how ruthless his son had become, Zhu Ziyu’s father was furious and turned his anger toward Madam Zhu, blaming her for spoiling him. Jiang Shi then retrieved Yu'er’s deed of sale and returned it to her, granting her freedom.

Later that night, Yu Qi captured Zhu Ziyu in an alley and severely beat him, forcing him to hand over the incriminating letter. After obtaining the letter, Yu Qi left, but Zhu Ziyu was soon dragged away by Cui Mingyue’s men. At first, Zhu Ziyu was hopeful, believing that Cui Mingyue had come to rescue him out of affection.

However, she ruthlessly humiliated him and treated him like a dog, making it clear that he had always been a mere pawn in her scheme. Under Cui Mingyue’s coercion, Zhu Ziyu was forced to hand over the letter, realizing too late how his desire for power had destroyed his entire family. Jiang Shi, in an act of kindness, made arrangements for Qing'er and Yu'er to be taken in by the Caiyun Troupe and entrusted Fei Niang to look after them.

Before parting, Fei Niang handed Jiang Shi a portrait of her mother, revealing that Jiang Shi’s mother had once saved her life. This unexpected revelation brought tears to Jiang Shi’s eyes. Jiang Shi then escorted Jiang Yi and Yan Yan back to the Jiang family. Upon learning the entire story, the Jiang Matriarch scolded Jiang Shi for making such significant decisions without informing the family. That night, Jiang Shi sat alone in the courtyard, lost in thought.

Memories from her previous life flooded her mind. She remembered how, in her past life, she had fled to Nanwu, only to receive the devastating news that Yu Qi had been killed by the Grand Princess. Her entire family had also been destroyed under the Grand Princess's schemes. Filled with hatred and despair, Jiang Shi had once led the Nanwu army into the Da Zhou Palace, personally killing the Grand Princess to avenge her family and Yu Qi.

Jiang Yi returned home, feeling a deep sense of nostalgia as she looked around at the familiar surroundings. After being married for many years, nothing at home had changed. Jiang Shi and Jiang Yi had a heartfelt conversation as sisters. Jiang Yi did not regret the decision she had made back then; after all, she and Zhu Ziyu had once truly loved each other. Hearing this, Jiang Shi felt puzzled, as the outcome of the marriage was not ideal.

However, Jiang Yi expressed that the goodness of a relationship lay in the process, not the result. This sentiment deeply encouraged Jiang Shi, as she had been haunted by the tragedies of her past life and was afraid to take the first step. Jiang Yi also noticed that both Jiang Shi and Yu Qi had developed mutual admiration for each other.

Jiang Zhan officially joined the Jinwu Guard, and the newly appointed general, Cui Xu, gave an inspiring speech to the new recruits. Meanwhile, Jiang Pei returned home, bringing joy to her father. Jiang Qiao and Concubine Ruan were equally delighted to welcome Jiang Pei back. Jiang Pei had managed her relationship with her in-laws well, and her husband’s career was progressing smoothly.

At the same time, Lu Chuchu was busy working at her shop when two scoundrels came to cause trouble, attempting to extort money from her. Lu Chuchu angrily slapped one of them, and just as they were about to retaliate, Jiang Zhan suddenly appeared. Upon seeing Jiang Zhan in his Jinwu Guard armor, the two scoundrels immediately backed down and dared not cause further trouble.

Jiang Zhan returned home proudly wearing his Jinwu Guard armor, boasting about his achievements in front of everyone. Jiang’s matriarch repeatedly praised him, proud of his accomplishment. However, Jiang Ancheng found it a bit strange when he heard that the new Jinwu Guard general was Cui Xu. On the other hand, Jiang Anmou and Madam Xiao were envious, seeing how everything was going well for the main branch of the family.

Madam Xiao complained to Jiang Anmou, only to be scolded by him in return. Feeling frustrated, Jiang Anmou went to the courtyard to clear his mind. Seeing this, Concubine Ruan comforted him, reminding him that the prosperity of the main branch would benefit the entire Jiang family. Jiang Anmou, after hearing her words, gradually let go of his bitterness. However, Madam Xiao began to feel anxious upon seeing Jiang Zhan’s bright future.

She wanted to use Jiang Qiao’s marriage to curry favor with a military governor. Yet, Jiang Qiao was unwilling to marry a stranger. Concubine Ruan also realized that Madam Xiao would never find a good match for Jiang Qiao, so she quietly planned to find someone who truly matched Jiang Qiao.

That evening, the entire main branch of the Jiang family gathered at a tavern to celebrate Jiang Zhan’s admission into the Jinwu Guard, and they specially invited Yu Qi to join them. Meanwhile, in the second branch of the family, Jiang Anmou accompanied Concubine Ruan and their daughters for dinner. However, Jiang Qiao was visibly distressed and refused to eat.

Seeing her daughter like this, Concubine Ruan pleaded with Jiang Anmou to prevent Madam Xiao from marrying Jiang Qiao off to a sickly man. After repeated requests from mother and daughter, Jiang Anmou finally relented and promised not to let the marriage proceed. The next day, Jiang Anmou approached Madam Xiao, demanding that she abandon her plan to marry off Jiang Qiao. However, Madam Xiao, under the pretense of being the household’s matriarch, insisted on proceeding with the marriage.

Moreover, she had already prepared the betrothal letter, sealed it with the family’s official stamp, and sent it to the Xiao family. Meanwhile, Jiang Shi intended to send Yu Qi a letter to arrange a meeting, but unexpectedly, the letter was intercepted and stolen by someone from the Nightingale Sect before it could reach Yu Qi. The person who took the letter was Liu Yan’er, who previously had interactions with Jiang Shi.

Liu Yan’er began to suspect Jiang Shi's identity after Jiang Shi once inquired about the Saintess and even impersonated Zhao Yu. Moreover, Jiang Shi also knew Liu Yan’er’s secret incense formula, which further deepened her suspicions. She suspected that Jiang Shi either had a connection to the Saintess or was the Saintess herself. The Nightingale Sect began to suspect that Jiang Shi and Yu Qi were secretly in love and that their feelings could potentially lead to betrayal.

Meanwhile, Jiang Shi was preparing to meet Yu Qi and was carefully selecting an outfit with her maid, A Man. This moment reminded her of how she used to prepare for meetings with Yu Qi in her previous life. That same night, Long Dan discovered the letter that Jiang Shi intended to send to Yu Qi in Liu Yan’er’s room. Based on the letter’s contents, Long Dan deduced that the Nightingale Sect was planning a major operation that night.

Yu Qi, upon seeing the handwriting, immediately recognized it as Jiang Shi’s. Long Dan suspected that Jiang Shi was the Saintess from Nanwu, but Yu Qi believed that there was more to the story and that Jiang Shi had her reasons. Noticing Yu Qi’s concern for Jiang Shi, Long Dan directly asked Yu Qi what he would do if Jiang Shi truly turned out to be the Saintess.

At the same time, Madam Xiao, under the pretext of sending something to the Jiang Matriarch, secretly instructed her servant to steal a blank sheet of paper and imprint it with the family’s official seal, intending to use it for Jiang Qiao’s marriage arrangement.

Jiang Shi came to the meeting, but to her surprise, the person she met was Du Er. The moment she saw him, Jiang Shi intended to leave, but Du Er grabbed her arm to stop her. Long Dan, who was secretly watching, saw Jiang Shi making contact with someone from the Nightingale Sect and became convinced that Jiang Shi was the Saintess of Nanwu. Without hesitation, he drew his bow and aimed an arrow at Jiang Shi.

At the same time, Du Er noticed Long Dan's movement, and when Jiang Shi turned around and saw Yu Qi on the other side aiming a bow at her, memories of her past life surged back. It was also Yu Qi who had shot her with an arrow in her previous life. Overwhelmed with sorrow, Jiang Shi froze.

However, just as Long Dan was about to release the arrow, Yu Qi grabbed the injured arrow from Long Dan, forbidding him from harming Jiang Shi. Seizing the opportunity, Du Er knocked Jiang Shi unconscious and carried her away. Seeing this, Yu Qi immediately chased after them and instructed Long Dan to return to the Capital Command to summon reinforcements. When Jiang Shi woke up, she found herself alone with Du Er.

Du Er voluntarily revealed his surname was Du, hoping to gain Jiang Shi's trust and make her confess her identity. However, Jiang Shi immediately guessed Du Er's true identity, which greatly surprised him. He had never expected Jiang Shi to figure it out so quickly. Not wanting Du Er to risk his life, Jiang Shi offered a plan to rescue Sang Qi, who had been captured.

Meanwhile, Yu Qi had also infiltrated the inner courtyard and was engaged in a fierce battle with the Nightingale Sect's guards, suffering injuries in the process. Du Er noticed Yu Qi's presence and quickly put a knife to Jiang Shi's neck, threatening Yu Qi to surrender. During the scuffle, Du Er attempted to shoot Yu Qi with a crossbow, but Jiang Shi took the opportunity to break free.

She used her hairpin to subdue Du Er without hurting him and even urged him to escape before it was too late. Yu Qi was deeply concerned about Jiang Shi’s well-being. As he tried to take her away, he inadvertently discovered a hidden box beneath the floorboards. The box bore the emblem of the Nightingale Sect. Soon after, the Capital Command raided the Nightingale Sect’s stronghold, arresting everyone inside, including the court official, Assistant Minister of Rites, Zhou Yi.

Yu Qi later questioned Jiang Shi about why she was meeting with Du Er. Jiang Shi hesitated, unwilling to reveal too much, merely stating that Du Er intercepted her letter, prompting the meeting. Mistakenly believing that Jiang Shi had arranged a meeting with another man, Yu Qi became furious with jealousy. Unable to contain his anger, he shouted at Jiang Shi.

Hurt by his misunderstanding, Jiang Shi angrily confessed that the person she truly wanted to meet was none other than Yu Qi. Hearing this, Yu Qi finally understood, and the tension between them eased. They embraced each other, their affection undeniable. Outside the window, A Man and Long Dan witnessed the heartfelt reunion. On the other side, due to Madam Xiao’s manipulations, Jiang Anmou was left with no choice but to agree to marry Jiang Qiao off to the Xiao family.

Despite Jiang Qiao kneeling and begging her father, Jiang Anmou remained resolute. Devastated, Jiang Qiao fell into despair, refusing to eat or drink. Seizing the moment, Madam Xiao brought Jiang Pei over, hoping to use sweet words to persuade Jiang Pei to comfort Jiang Qiao. However, Jiang Pei, having long seen through Madam Xiao’s deceit, refused to comply. Yet, Madam Xiao’s maid, Madam Li, persistently followed Jiang Pei around, trying to explain on Madam Xiao’s behalf.

Coincidentally, Jiang Qiao witnessed this scene and mistakenly believed that Jiang Pei had sided with Madam Xiao, causing her to grow distant and cold toward her sister. Meanwhile, Yu Qi and Jiang Shi opened the hidden box they found in the Nightingale Sect’s base. It turned out to contain a pile of contract papers. These contracts were gambling debts owed to Du Er’s casino. The people who owed large sums were coerced into completing certain tasks to clear their debts.

Among them was a contract signed by Zhou Yi, the Assistant Minister of Rites. Additionally, they found a letter written in the Nanwu language, detailing a plan to cause turmoil during the Mid-Autumn hunting event. This letter led Yu Qi to suspect that the Nightingale Sect planned to assassinate someone during the hunt. Jiang Shi, recalling the past life, remembered that it was during the Mid-Autumn hunting event when the emperor suddenly died.

In her previous life, the official news stated that the emperor died of illness, but the truth seemed far darker. Jiang Shi then recalled that during the hunt, there was a moment of "Heaven's Dog Devouring the Sun," which matched the date mentioned in the letter. Desperate to escape her arranged marriage, Jiang Qiao attempted to run away from home. However, Madam Xiao had already anticipated this move and had her servants keep a close watch.

As soon as Jiang Qiao tried to escape, she was caught and brought before the entire family. Madam Xiao also gathered everyone, including the Jiang Matriarch and the second branch, to expose Jiang Qiao’s "rebellious behavior. " When Jiang Qiao confessed to trying to run away, she also brought up the issue of the family seal. The Jiang Matriarch immediately recalled that on the day Madam Xiao visited her, the family seal had gone missing.

It suddenly dawned on her that Madam Xiao must have stolen it to seal the marriage agreement without consent. Realizing this, the Jiang Matriarch, in an attempt to remove herself from the dispute, transferred the household’s authority to the second branch and withdrew from the matter entirely.

Zhen Hang and Yu Qi treated Zhou Yi very politely and even invited him to have a drink together. Zhou Yi, thinking they were trying to build connections with him, let down his guard and enjoyed the hospitality. During the meal, they intentionally took out the contract and placed it in front of Zhou Yi. Upon seeing the contract, Zhou Yi panicked and immediately confessed everything.

Once Zhou Yi admitted his involvement, Yu Qi left the room, while Jiang Shi, hiding in another room, carefully recorded everything they said. It turned out the entire scene was deliberately staged by them to lower Zhou Yi’s guard and make him reveal the truth. Yu Qi then drew his knife and pretended to be furious, acting as though he was about to kill Zhou Yi for signing a treasonous contract.

Meanwhile, Zhen Hang feigned concern, urging Zhou Yi to come clean about everything. Panicking, Zhou Yi admitted that the Nightingale Sect had only provided him with a batch of candles and instructed him to replace the original candles in the palace. Zhou Yi had originally assumed that since the emperor would return to the palace before nightfall, the candles would never be used, and thus no harm would occur.

Hearing this, Jiang Shi deduced that the candles were likely made in such a way that they couldn't be lit at all. The group continued pressuring Zhou Yi to provide more clues. Zhou Yi then revealed that a palace maid from the Imperial Food Bureau named A Ling had a brother who owed a large gambling debt to the casino, which was why A Ling was involved in their scheme.

Zhen Hang believed the matter was too severe to delay and wanted to submit a memorial to the emperor immediately. However, Jiang Shi strongly opposed it. She reasoned that if the Nightingale Sect realized their plan had been exposed, they might resort to even more desperate measures. Instead, Jiang Shi proposed using the opportunity to lure the Nightingale Sect into revealing themselves.

In a desperate attempt to avoid being married off, Jiang Qiao deliberately soaked herself in cold water to make herself fall ill. When Madam Xiao heard about Jiang Qiao's sudden illness, she immediately suspected that it was a scheme orchestrated by Concubine Ruan and insisted that Jiang Qiao still go to meet the Xiao family despite her illness. Concubine Ruan, also sensing something suspicious, questioned Jiang Qiao's maid and was heartbroken to learn that her daughter had intentionally harmed herself.

She scolded Jiang Qiao for not cherishing her health and blamed herself for being powerless to protect her daughter. Soon after, Madam Li brought over new clothes and jewelry, still insisting that Jiang Qiao must attend the meeting. Jiang Qiao, however, continued to resent Jiang Pei, believing that her sister was siding with Madam Xiao.

It wasn't until Madam Li accidentally revealed that Jiang Pei had actually refused to assist Madam Xiao that Jiang Qiao and Concubine Ruan realized they had misunderstood her. Both mother and daughter felt deeply remorseful for wrongly blaming Jiang Pei. On the day of the arranged meeting, the Xiao family and members of the second household gathered at the manor, waiting for Jiang Qiao all day. However, the Xiao family never arrived.

It turned out that Jiang Pei had anticipated this and secretly asked her husband to intercept the letter that was sent to the Xiao family. Without receiving a response from the Jiang family, the Xiao family naturally assumed that the marriage proposal was declined and thus did not send anyone. The next day was the Mid-Autumn Hunt, and if everything went smoothly for Yu Qi, they would finally be able to capture the Nightingale Sect.

However, Jiang Shi was still worried about her old acquaintances from the sect, especially Sang Qi, and wanted to find a way to protect him. As the others prepared for the hunt, Jiang Shi quietly made her way to the Capital Command to rescue Sang Qi. When she finally saw him, memories from her previous life flooded back — how Sang Qi had always treated her with kindness.

Pretending to interrogate him, Jiang Shi subtly opened the scorpion box he was locked in, hoping to give him a chance to escape. Sang Qi, though confused by her behavior, realized she was trying to help him. Meanwhile, Yu Qi and Zhen Hang deliberately orchestrated a plan to capture A Ling, ensuring that the emperor would not be poisoned. As the Mid-Autumn Hunt began, the foretold “Heaven's Dog Devouring the Sun” phenomenon also arrived.

However, unlike in the previous life, the solar eclipse occurred earlier than expected. Taking advantage of the ensuing chaos, an assassin attempted to assassinate the emperor. At the critical moment, Yu Qi stepped in and took a fatal blow meant for the emperor. The emperor immediately ordered the imperial physician to treat Yu Qi.

Initially, Yu Qi pretended not to know the emperor, but the emperor recognized him almost instantly — Yu Qi was, in fact, his seventh prince, Yu Jin. Over the years, the emperor had never forgotten his seventh son and would always request portraits to be sent back to the palace. Now that Yu Jin had appeared to save him, the emperor's emotions were deeply stirred. After stabilizing the situation, the emperor ordered a thorough investigation into the assassin.

Because only two forces — the Swift Wind Guards and the Jinwu Guards — were permitted to carry weapons at the hunting grounds, the emperor believed the assassin must have come from one of these groups. However, unwilling to allow the guards to investigate themselves, the emperor entrusted the matter entirely to Yu Qi. Yu Qi then requested Zhen Hang to assist him in the investigation.

During the pursuit, Yu Qi managed to leave a mark on the assassin's chest before he escaped. Knowing this, Yu Qi ordered all suspects to be doused in water, revealing the hidden mark and exposing the assassin.

Jiang Zhan was ecstatic after personally capturing the assassin, convinced that he would receive a royal reward. On the way back, he shared a carriage with Yu Qi and Zhen Hang. Throughout the journey, Jiang Zhan kept asking Zhen Hang about the possible reward, while Yu Qi, still injured, lay down resting. Suddenly, Jiang Zhan noticed that the sachet hanging on Yu Qi’s wrist was identical to the one his sister owned.

Suspecting that Yu Qi harbored inappropriate intentions toward his sister, Jiang Zhan attempted to hit him, but Zhen Hang quickly intervened to stop him. After returning to the city, Cui Xu conducted a thorough investigation of all Jinwu Guards, ensuring their background was clean to prevent any more assassination attempts. He also submitted the full list of participants from the hunting event to the emperor and handled the punishments accordingly.

Meanwhile, the emperor casually revealed that Yu Qi was his long-lost seventh son — Yu Jin. To avoid public criticism of Yu Jin returning to Ling’an, the emperor chose to let Yu Qi continue working at the Capital Command. Jiang Shi went to the market to buy some pastries when she overheard people discussing the assassination attempt. They mentioned that someone from the Capital Command had been gravely injured, barely surviving.

Jiang Shi's heart sank, fearing it might be Yu Qi. Distracted and anxious, she rushed home but ultimately decided to go find him. When they met, Jiang Shi carefully inquired about his injuries, but Yu Qi downplayed his condition, pretending it was nothing serious. This was unusual since Yu Qi had always exaggerated his injuries in the past, even for minor wounds.

His abnormal indifference only made Jiang Shi more worried, suspecting that his injury was far more severe than he let on. Meanwhile, Cui Mingyue had returned from Lingshui to Ling’an, causing chaos in her household daily, insisting that she would kill Jiang Shi. The Grand Princess, enraged by Cui Mingyue’s behavior, slapped her to calm her down. On the other hand, Lu Chuchu continued training Jiang Zhan in martial arts, easily overpowering him.

Unwilling to lose face, Jiang Zhan stubbornly declared that "a real man does not fight women. " Amused by his arrogance, Lu Chuchu intensified her moves, eventually knocking Jiang Zhan unconscious. At first, she was skeptical, but no matter how much she called him, he did not wake up. Fearing that she had injured him seriously, she burst into tears.

However, just as she was about to panic, Jiang Zhan suddenly opened his eyes — he had been pretending to faint just to tease her. After being bitten by his own scorpion, Sang Qi faked his death by feigning poisoning. Despite inviting several physicians, none could save him, resulting in the loss of a critical lead. Determined to continue the investigation, Yu Qi immediately ordered the raid of Tianxiang Pavilion to capture Liu Yan'er, but she had already escaped.

Meanwhile, Sang Qi, having survived the poisoning, crawled out from underground. Jiang Shi secretly sent her military dog, Er Niu, to deliver a letter to Sang Qi. Following the instructions in the letter, Sang Qi headed to an abandoned temple outside the west city gate, where Liu Yan'er and Du Er were already waiting per Jiang Shi’s arrangement. Liu Yan'er, still skeptical of Jiang Shi, suspected she was being deceived.

However, when Sang Qi handed over the letter bearing the Elder’s signature written on bamboo leaves, confirming it was a legitimate summons, they finally believed him and agreed to return to Nanwu. Later, Zhen Hang visited Yu Qi, still puzzled about Sang Qi’s bizarre death. He revealed that Jiang Shi had visited the prison cell on the day Sang Qi died and had used Yu Qi’s command token to gain access.

Yu Qi was stunned, realizing that Jiang Shi must have stolen his token earlier that day when she hung the sachet around his neck. Growing suspicious, Yu Qi approached Jiang Shi under the pretense of delivering food and subtly interrogated her. Jiang Shi did not deny it and admitted she had freed Sang Qi. Her reason was simple — she wished to prevent constant warfare between the two countries and hoped for a peaceful resolution.

In the palace, the emperor gazed at a portrait of his seventh son, Yu Jin. He regretted allowing Yu Jin to suffer outside while his other sons lived lavishly in Ling’an. Soon after, Yu Qi and Zhen Hang were summoned by the emperor. During the meeting, Yu Qi pointed out a major flaw in the assassination attempt.

On the day of the hunt, the Jinwu Guards and the Swift Wind Guards were both present, but none of them stepped forward to protect the emperor. This led Yu Qi to suspect internal collusion. The emperor praised his keen observation and handed over a letter confiscated from the Office of Celestial Observations, written in the banned Nanwu language.

Yu Qi instantly recognized it, prompting Zhen Hang to plead with the emperor not to blame Yu Qi for knowing the language. However, instead of being angry, the emperor requested to speak with Yu Qi privately. Yu Qi took the opportunity to advocate for peaceful relations between the two nations. Meanwhile, Liu Yan'er and the others returned to Nanwu, presenting the Elder with Jiang Shi's letter.

The Elder was visibly shocked and immediately deduced that Jiang Shi was likely the "Holy Maiden" foretold in their scriptures. Without hesitation, the Elder ordered Du Er and his men to capture Jiang Shi and bring her back to Nanwu. That evening, heavy rain poured over Ling’an. Zhen Hang, filled with concern for Yu Qi, unknowingly lost his way in the palace.

Seeking shelter from the rain, he happened to spot a blind and stunningly beautiful woman under the eaves, making him inexplicably drawn toward her.

Zhen Hang brought the blind woman under the eaves to take shelter from the rain. Upon hearing that Zhen Hang wanted to leave the palace, the blind woman curiously inquired about the fun things outside the palace. When the rain stopped, she offered to guide Zhen Hang out of the palace. Just as they were on their way out, the palace maids and eunuchs suddenly rushed over. Seeing the blind woman, they appeared concerned and even addressed her as "Princess.

" It turned out that the blind woman was actually Princess Fuqing. On Jiang Shi’s side, Aman learned that Ji Chongyi had suddenly died while drinking with courtesans and immediately informed Jiang Shi. Jiang Shi was shocked upon hearing the news and became very worried about Qiao Niang's situation.

Aman mentioned that the entire Duke An's Manor was now eagerly anticipating the birth of Qiao Niang’s child, which meant her position remained relatively stable and that she would be treated well. In the previous life, Ji Chongyi was supposed to have died much earlier. Although Jiang Shi had altered past events, she realized that Ji Chongyi's death was still inevitable. Yu Qi refused to eat at home, waiting for Jiang Shi to bring him fish soup.

However, the person who arrived was Cui Mingyue. Upon seeing her, Yu Qi grew impatient and wanted her to leave, but Cui Mingyue took the initiative to express her admiration for him. Yu Qi, however, showed complete disdain. In response, Cui Mingyue tried to threaten Yu Qi using Jiang Shi. No matter what tactics Cui Mingyue employed, Yu Qi remained indifferent. Cui Mingyue deduced that Jiang Shi was still unaware of Yu Qi’s identity as the Seventh Prince.

She was certain that once Jiang Shi found out, she would cut ties with him. While Cui Mingyue and Yu Qi were entangled in their conversation, Jiang Shi arrived to deliver the fish soup. Cui Mingyue originally intended to humiliate Jiang Shi but ended up being humiliated instead. Enraged, she attempted to strike Jiang Shi, only to be stopped by Yu Qi.

In frustration, Cui Mingyue deliberately revealed Yu Qi’s true identity as the Seventh Prince and issued a warning to Jiang Shi before leaving. Yu Qi quickly apologized to Jiang Shi, explaining that he never intended to hide the truth from her. However, upon learning his real identity, Jiang Shi became upset and left without looking back.

Prince Qi ordered his subordinates to investigate the Crown Prince’s movements and discovered that he had been secretly communicating with the Eldest Princess and was involved with numerous influential court officials. However, upon seeing that his subordinate was injured while reporting back, Prince Qi personally killed him to prevent any traces from leading back to himself. Meanwhile, Princess Qi, upon learning of Yu Qi’s return, prepared a gift on behalf of Prince Qi.

She believed that since Yu Qi and Prince Qi were full-blooded brothers, Yu Qi could be a valuable ally in the future. Prince Qi shared the same thoughts. After learning that Yu Qi was still unmarried, Princess Qi suggested hosting a family banquet at the manor to introduce a suitable noblewoman to Yu Qi and strengthen their alliances. Yu Qi carved a wooden puppet symbolizing his apology and had Er Niu deliver it to Jiang Shi.

Just as he was about to leave, he ran into Prince Qi. Prince Qi invited Yu Qi to visit his manor. Although Yu Qi was reluctant, Prince Qi insisted, leaving Yu Qi with no choice but to accept.

Jiang Ancheng and Jiang Zhan were playing with Yanyan, while Jiang Yi sat in the Lanting Pavilion, embroidering flowers, creating a warm and harmonious scene. Since Jiang Ancheng was slightly older, he strained his back while playing and intended to call Jiang Shi over to accompany Yanyan. However, upon hearing that Jiang Shi was not in the manor but had gone to Prince Qi’s residence, he became very worried.

Jiang Ancheng initially wanted to bring Jiang Shi back but hesitated because it was a prince’s residence, making it difficult to barge in directly. He did not want his daughter to marry into the imperial family; he only wished for her to live a peaceful and happy life. To ease Jiang Ancheng’s worries, Jiang Yi told him that Jiang Shi already had someone she liked.

Jiang Ancheng was shocked upon hearing this, while Jiang Zhan kept giving Jiang Yi meaningful glances, signaling her not to reveal more. However, Yanyan, being young and quick to speak, blurted out Yu Qi’s name. Upon learning that his daughter fancied Yu Qi, Jiang Ancheng became concerned. Yu Qi was handsome and held a high status, which would attract many admirers. Jiang Ancheng feared that his daughter might suffer in the future.

At the banquet, the Crown Prince deliberately had the screen removed to put Jiang Shi in a difficult position, seeking justice for Cui Mingyue. However, Jiang Shi was not one to back down and instead countered with sharp remarks, leaving the Crown Prince humiliated. Enraged, the Crown Prince stood up, intending to hurl a bowl at Jiang Shi. At that moment, Yu Qi rose and splashed wine from his cup onto the Crown Prince’s face.

Seeing this, Prince Qi was secretly pleased. The scuffle between the princes escalated, reaching the Emperor’s ears. Furious, the Emperor wanted to punish them all. However, the eunuch Bao Ping reminded him that Yu Qi was still unranked and not officially part of the royal family, making it impossible to discipline him by royal rules. Upon hearing this, the Emperor asked Bao Ping which noble title had not yet been conferred.

Seizing the opportunity, Bao Ping mentioned the title “Yan,” and thus, the Emperor granted Yu Qi the title of Prince Yan and punished him along with the other princes. Despite being granted a title, Yu Qi was not happy. He had no desire to be entangled in royal disputes and only wanted to live as he pleased.

The Emperor advised Yu Qi that in Ling’an, many people sought to align with power, and without a title, Yu Qi would struggle to protect himself. The Emperor was particularly pleased with how the situation unfolded, as it gave him the perfect excuse to bestow a title upon the Seventh Prince. Upon returning to the palace, Consort Xian was furious with Yu Qi. She also believed that her son was unlucky, bringing punishment upon her as soon as he returned.

Jiang Ancheng wanted to investigate Yu Qi’s background and approached Zhen Hang, knowing that Zhen Hang and Yu Qi were close colleagues and should have a good understanding of him. However, Zhen Hang was unsure how to explain things to Jiang Ancheng and Jiang Zhan. Seeing Zhen Hang’s hesitation, Jiang Ancheng assumed that Yu Qi’s background was problematic.

Believing that Zhen Hang was simply too embarrassed to say it, Jiang Ancheng reassured him that as long as Yu Qi had a clean identity and treated his daughter sincerely, he would not mind his family background. Eventually, Zhen Hang revealed to Jiang Ancheng and Jiang Zhan that Yu Qi was actually the Seventh Prince. Both Jiang Ancheng and Jiang Zhan were utterly shocked by Yu Qi’s identity. However, Jiang Ancheng was not pleased by this revelation.

Yu Qi’s status was far too high—if he ever mistreated Jiang Shi, there would not even be an opportunity for divorce. Meanwhile, Jiang Shi was also deeply worried after returning home. She was unsure what kind of punishment Yu Qi would face for offending the Crown Prince on her behalf. However, upon seeing Yu Qi return unscathed, she felt relieved but still acted a bit sulky, deliberately keeping her distance from him.

Jiang Zhan confronted Lu Chuchu, blaming her for not informing him about Yu Qi’s true identity and their sworn brotherhood. Hearing this, Lu Chuchu felt disappointed and angry. That night, Jiang Shi looked at the wooden puppet Yu Qi had given her and recalled their intertwined fates in the past life. She worried whether they could truly be together in this lifetime.

The next day, Yu Qi wanted to visit Jiang Shi, but he was stopped by the eunuch Bao Ping, who took him to see the newly prepared Prince Yan’s residence. Xie Yinlou resigned from his post as a captain in Lingshui, intending to settle in Ling’an and continue pursuing Jiang Yi. However, due to past experiences, Jiang Yi had lost all hope in romance and felt content with her current life.

Despite this, Xie Yinlou remained steadfast in his determination to wait for her. Prince Qi deliberately reminded the Jiang family of his invitation for Jiang Shi. Old Madam Jiang was pleased and wanted Jiang Shi to attend, but Jiang Ancheng was reluctant. He believed that noble families like Prince Qi’s would only bring suffering to his daughter if she married into them. That night, Yu Qi and Jiang Shi arranged to meet through messages delivered by Aman and Long Dan.

However, Long Dan misunderstood Yu Qi’s words, which led to Jiang Shi getting angry and storming off. Upon hearing of Yu Qi’s return, the Crown Prince immediately sought out the Eldest Princess to discuss countermeasures. Meanwhile, Cui Mingyue, upon learning that Prince Qi was hosting a banquet and planning to find Yu Qi a suitable match, also wanted to attend. The Eldest Princess realized that Cui Mingyue had taken a liking to Yu Qi and strongly opposed it.

However, the Crown Prince was willing to let Cui Mingyue pursue Yu Qi, hoping to use this to win him over. As Jiang Shi prepared to attend the banquet at Prince Qi’s residence, she encountered Ji Chongyi’s sister, Ji Fanghua, and the Prime Minister’s granddaughter, Kou Lingbo, at the entrance. The two intended to humiliate Jiang Shi but ended up being put in their place by her. The banquet officially began, and Prince Qi enthusiastically entertained the guests.

However, the Crown Prince unexpectedly arrived. Once there, he deliberately caused trouble during the banquet and attempted to make things difficult for Yu Qi, but Yu Qi managed to handle the situation effortlessly.

Yu Qi came to Jiang Shi’s house to see her, but Jiang Ancheng blocked him at the entrance. Due to Yu Qi’s sensitive status, Jiang Ancheng did not want his daughter to marry a prince and get entangled in royal disputes. Even though Yu Qi assured Jiang Ancheng that he would always protect Jiang Shi, Jiang Ancheng still found it hard to trust him, as those within the royal family often had no control over their own fate.

Meanwhile, Jiang Yi asked Jiang Shi about her feelings toward Yu Qi, and Jiang Shi openly admitted that she was fond of him. Jiang Zhan also questioned Lu Chuchu about why she was so determined to become a hero. Lu Chuchu explained that she had grown up in a military camp surrounded by men and had only ever seen women waiting for men to rescue them.

Her pride made her unwilling to accept such a fate—she did not want to be like other women, passively waiting for a man to save her. Instead, she wanted to be a hero who could save others. Seeing Lu Chuchu's confidence, Jiang Zhan did not feel any disdain; instead, he praised her. Yu Qi and Zhen Hang conducted a thorough investigation into the assassins and discovered that many people were involved, including those in high-ranking positions.

The emperor was also troubled by the matter because the Nightingale Sect had infiltrated the Astronomical Bureau, deliberately concealing celestial omens, which nearly allowed the assassination to succeed. As a result, the emperor could no longer trust the current officials in the bureau and needed to appoint a new person in charge. Taking the opportunity, Zhen Hang recommended Jiang Ancheng.

Zhen Hang specially made a kite with a flute for Princess Fuqing so that she could hear the kite’s sound while flying it, allowing her to sense its position through the sound. The empress was puzzled when Nanny Hua informed her that Princess Fuqing had gone to rest early due to exhaustion from flying kites during the day.

Nanny Hua explained that it was Zhen Hang who had made the kite for Princess Fuqing and that the flute on the kite allowed her to perceive its position through sound. The empress then asked how Princess Fuqing and Zhen Hang had met, and Nanny Hua took the opportunity to mention that Princess Fuqing had already reached marriageable age.

To keep her sister from feeling too stifled at home, Jiang Shi took Jiang Yi to her shop to help manage the business. Meanwhile, Cui Mingyue, seeking to win the emperor’s favor, colluded with the imperial physician to use her own blood as a medicinal ingredient for the emperor. When the emperor learned of her sacrifice, he was deeply moved. Cui Mingyue then pretended to be weak and nearly fainted before the emperor.

Seizing the opportunity, she expressed her desire to marry Yu Qi, and as a result, the emperor restored her title as a county princess. That night, Yu Qi, unable to suppress his longing for Jiang Shi, secretly went to see her. He told her that the palace was preparing a flower appreciation banquet to select brides for himself and the Sixth Prince. Yu Qi intended to use the banquet as an opportunity to publicly declare their relationship.

Yu Qi went to visit his birth mother, Consort Xian. Initially, Consort Xian was indifferent to Yu Qi, but since he could be useful to Prince Qi, she agreed to see him. During their meeting, Yu Qi revealed his intention to choose a consort. Seeing his sincerity, Consort Xian began to develop some affection for him. Invitation letters from the palace arrived at the Jiang residence, delighting the Jiang Matriarch.

Meanwhile, the Grand Princess also prepared a generous gift for Yu Qi and attempted to entice him into an alliance by promising to support him in becoming crown prince. However, Yu Qi refused. Madam Xiao, upon hearing that the palace had invited Jiang Shi for the selection of royal consorts, became envious. As the flower appreciation banquet approached, all the invited young women gathered at the palace.

Cui Mingyue encountered Jiang Shi and, upon noticing that they were wearing identical outfits, ordered someone to tear Jiang Shi’s dress. However, the Grand Princess intervened to stop Cui Mingyue, pointing out that if she continued making a scene, she would only harm herself. Before the banquet officially began, the invited ladies had to compete in a series of challenges. When Consort Xian saw Jiang Shi, she was unimpressed, finding her too outstanding and independent.

Additionally, Jiang Shi's reputation outside the palace was not ideal. Consort Xian wanted Yu Qi to choose an obedient princess consort—someone she could manipulate to her advantage.

The Sixth Prince and his mother, Consort Zhuang, were surprised to see Jiang Shi’s presence. Since Jiang Shi had previously been rejected in marriage, Consort Zhuang, who had heard rumors of Consort Xian mistreating Yu Qi, had initially doubted them. But now, seeing this situation, she believed them.

Consort Xian also felt that bringing Jiang Shi here was inappropriate, as her status was only fit for a secondary consort, and a secondary consort should not be selected alongside a primary consort. The Grand Princess, wanting to support her daughter, specifically sought out the emperor. Just as the emperor was reminiscing about his own consort selection in the past, Yang Nianzhi from the Astronomical Bureau arrived with a request.

Yang Nianzhi presented the emperor with the predicted marital matches for Prince Shu and Prince Yan, stating that Yu Qi’s fate was marked by misfortune and that he was inherently an ominous figure. He claimed that Yu Qi should not marry someone with a similarly solitary and ill-fated destiny, as it would bring disaster to both the nation and his family. However, the emperor dismissed this belief and insisted that Yu Qi should choose the woman he desired.

Nevertheless, he instructed Yang Nianzhi to investigate suitable matches for Yu Qi. The painting competition ended, and Jiang Shi, concerned that her artwork might be tampered with, had made a special mark on it. The examiners collected all the paintings and first presented Cui Mingyue’s artwork to the emperor. The emperor was very pleased with her painting and even rewarded her with a jade bracelet.

Cui Mingyue, feeling proud, showed off her painting to Jiang Shi, confidently declaring that she would be the winner. When it was Jiang Shi’s turn, her painting was unrolled, revealing a blank sheet of paper. She was summoned for questioning, puzzled as to why her painting had disappeared. She mentioned that she had previously seen an examiner in her kitchen, but the examiner adamantly denied it. Yu Qi immediately stood up to defend Jiang Shi.

Jiang Shi then detected the scent of traceless grass on the paper—a herb that, when mixed with ink, causes drawings to vanish. To prove her point, she poured a cup of water onto the paper, and her painting of a black peony reappeared. The Grand Princess attempted to use the black peony against Jiang Shi, but Jiang Shi’s explanation greatly satisfied the emperor. The emperor launched an investigation into the ink, but it had already been disposed of.

As a result, he ordered the arrest of the examiner. Jiang Shi’s composed demeanor and intelligence earned her Consort Zhuang’s admiration. The emperor then appointed Lan Xingwen as the new examiner. Throughout the following tests, Jiang Shi continued to impress with her remarkable actions, winning the emperor’s favor. During the flower-giving ceremony, Prince Shu unexpectedly presented his first flower to Jiang Shi, surprising everyone.

When it was Yu Qi’s turn, he shocked everyone by giving all six of his flowers to Jiang Shi. Consort Xian was stunned, as Jiang Shi was not the ideal choice for a princess consort in her mind. In fact, she harbored some dislike toward her. Consort Xian reproached Yu Qi for giving all his flowers to Jiang Shi. However, Yu Qi showed no regret and firmly declared that he had chosen Jiang Shi as his wife.

The emperor admired Yu Qi for his decisiveness, as he himself had once had a beloved but had not dared to give all six flowers to one person. Yu Qi, however, had done what the emperor could not. Upon returning home, Jiang Shi informed the Jiang Matriarch that she had received six flowers, all from Prince Yan. The Jiang Matriarch immediately became worried. Madam Xiao rushed in, spreading negative rumors about Jiang Shi.

The Jiang Matriarch feared that Jiang Shi’s high profile would offend many influential figures and put the entire Dongping Bo Manor at a disadvantage. Meanwhile, Cui Mingyue returned home and, still furious about Jiang Shi and her mother, argued with her parents. In her rage, she even burned the flowers in the courtyard and desperately pleaded with her mother to help her win Yu Qi. The palace sent an envoy to the Dongping Bo Manor to deliver an imperial decree.

Everyone was puzzled, especially the Jiang Matriarch, who was apprehensive. She feared that Jiang Shi’s prominence might not be a good thing. The eunuch delivering the decree announced that Jiang Shi was to be conferred the title of Princess Consort Yan. The entire household congratulated Jiang Shi, and the Jiang Matriarch was overjoyed. Now that Jiang Shi was officially part of the imperial family, the Dongping Bo Manor would finally gain prominence and respect.

Madam Xiao, on the other hand, was furious. Her own daughter was outstanding in every way, yet her marriage had been fraught with difficulties. Meanwhile, Jiang Shi, against all odds, had become the Princess Consort of Prince Yan.

After the imperial decree for the marriage was issued, Jiang Ancheng strongly opposed his daughter marrying Yu Qi. He was afraid that once she married into the imperial family, there would be no turning back, and he worried that she might suffer grievances. However, the entire Jiang family saw Jiang Shi's marriage to Yu Qi as a great honor and wholeheartedly supported it.

Upon hearing about the imperial decree, Cui Mingyue became despondent, realizing that once the decree was issued, Jiang Shi would officially become Princess Consort Yan, and she would never have the chance to marry Yu Qi in this lifetime. When Jiang Shi learned of her father's objections, she personally tried to persuade him, even expressing that she had feelings for Yu Qi.

Meanwhile, Yu Qi sat in the courtyard, contemplating everything Jiang Shi would need, while Longdan was busy tidying up and grumbling about how Yu Qi should hire more maids. The Yan Prince’s residence was too large, and cleaning it daily was an exhausting task. Jiang Ancheng hung up his late wife's portrait, eyes brimming with tears, as he confided in her about Jiang Shi’s upcoming marriage, reminiscing about their sweet moments together.

That night, while Jiang Shi was sleeping in her room, she suddenly coughed up blood. The next morning, A’Man reported Jiang Shi’s condition to Jiang Ancheng and the Jiang Matriarch, stating that her health had sharply declined after drinking the ginger soup sent by Madam Xiao. It turned out that the previous night, Nanny Li had drenched Jiang Shi with water, and Madam Xiao, feigning concern, had deliberately sent over a bowl of ginger soup.

Jiang Ancheng and Jiang Zhan angrily confronted Madam Xiao, demanding to know what kind of poison she had used. However, Madam Xiao vehemently denied any wrongdoing and, to prove her innocence, even drank the ginger soup herself. She then played the victim, seeking sympathy from the Jiang Matriarch, and took the opportunity to have A’Man arrested under false pretenses.

Although Jiang Ancheng and Jiang Zhan wanted to save A’Man, the Jiang Matriarch insisted on punishing her, believing that a mere maid had no right to slander her master. A physician was called to examine Jiang Shi, but he found no discernible illness. This made everyone recall how Jiang Shi’s mother had suffered from a similar unexplained condition, ultimately wasting away.

Madam Xiao falsely claimed that Jiang Shi had been born with this illness and even blamed A’Man for failing to care for her properly. Fearing that Jiang Shi was being framed, Jiang Zhan brought Lu Chuchu to watch over her, then went to find Yu Qi. Lu Chuchu meticulously inspected Jiang Shi’s room. When Jiang Shi felt unwell and tried to call for help, the household servants ignored her, and Nanny Li remained indifferent.

When Nanny Li mocked Lu Chuchu with biting sarcasm, Lu Chuchu drew a knife to intimidate her, forcing her to comply. Yu Qi arrived and was deeply alarmed by Jiang Shi’s condition. He wanted to summon an imperial physician, but Lu Chuchu warned him that the doctors sent so far were all incompetent and incapable of diagnosing the illness. At that moment, Yu Qi recalled his past vow to protect Jiang Shi.

Yet now, with her life hanging by a thread, he felt utterly helpless, filled with guilt. Just then, Jiang Shi woke up and realized that she had been poisoned. She urged Yu Qi to find Snake Addiction Grass immediately. Without hesitation, Yu Qi braved the stormy night, scaling a cliff to search for the herb. After Jiang Shi drank the medicine, her condition improved.

Yu Qi wanted to inform everyone of her recovery, but Jiang Shi suspected that Madam Xiao was behind the poisoning. To lure the culprit out, she decided to continue pretending to be gravely ill. Upon hearing that Yu Qi had found an antidote, Madam Xiao panicked and plotted to poison Jiang Shi again. She instructed Fangqin, Nanny Li’s niece, who served the Jiang Matriarch, to drug the Matriarch first.

Then, she led a group of people to Jiang Shi’s courtyard under the pretense of searching for a lost gold bracelet. Madam Xiao deliberately knocked over Jiang Shi’s medicine, but at that moment, Jiang Shi stepped out of her room. Once the truth was revealed, both Nanny Li and Fangqin were punished. The Jiang Matriarch rebuked Jiang Shi for using her own health to set a trap, causing unrest throughout the household.

Only then did Jiang Shi explain that she had been poisoned, not ill. Jiang Ancheng became even more furious and directly accused Madam Xiao, asking if she had used the same method to harm Jiang Shi’s mother years ago. The members of the main Jiang household were enraged upon learning this and condemned Madam Xiao, but she continued to deny everything.

After being exposed, Madam Xiao remained defiant, complaining that those around her were treating her unfairly. The main Jiang household was furious, yet Madam Xiao insisted that she had acted for the sake of the family and refused to admit any wrongdoing. After her initial outburst, she calmed down and claimed that she had been deceived in the past. She recounted that when Jiang Shi’s mother was pregnant, she had been entrusted with managing the household.

Wanting to extend her period of authority, she sought a medicine that would slow down Jiang Shi’s mother's recovery. However, she did not realize that the medicine was actually poison. She never suspected that Jiang Shi’s mother had fallen ill due to it until recently, when someone approached her, urging her to continue poisoning Jiang Shi. Only then did she realize that she had been manipulated all those years ago.

Upon learning that there was a mastermind behind it all, the children of the main Jiang household demanded to know the identity of the culprit so they could avenge their mother. Although the person in question had disguised themselves as a traveling merchant, Madam Xiao discerned that they were of royal descent. Just as Jiang Shi and the others were about to force Madam Xiao to reveal the person's identity, Jiang Ancheng suddenly intervened, stopping everyone from investigating further.

He shifted all the blame onto Madam Xiao, declaring that she alone was responsible for poisoning his wife and even pressured her to take her own life. Jiang Ancheng knew the true identity of the mastermind and feared that if his children pursued the matter further, they would be in danger. However, Jiang Shi was unwilling to let the matter go and vowed to uncover the real culprit.

Jiang Anmou went to Concubine Ruan’s room and confessed that sacrificing Madam Xiao was a necessity; otherwise, he would have no face left to face Jiang Ancheng or his late mother. Concubine Ruan, however, was filled with unease, fearing that one day she might become a scapegoat as well. Back in his room, Jiang Ancheng reminisced about his past with his wife and finally understood the true cause of her death.

Though he had identified the mastermind, the person was of royal blood, wielding immense power. Not wanting to endanger his entire family, he had no choice but to endure the injustice, feeling deeply guilty toward his wife. Jiang Anmou had originally intended to escort Jiang Ancheng on his final journey, but a servant reported that Jiang Ancheng had disappeared. Meanwhile, Jiang Shi remained determined to avenge her mother, despite Jiang Ancheng's repeated attempts to dissuade her.

Jiang Shi could not comprehend why, after identifying the mastermind, her father was so eager to let the matter rest. She even began to doubt whether his love for her mother had ever been real. Yu Qi tried to console her, explaining that Jiang Ancheng refused to seek revenge because he had a weakness—the very children he sought to protect.

Meanwhile, Nanny Xu’s nephew, who had been monitoring the situation, found her and informed her that the truth of the past had been exposed. Fearing that this revelation would tarnish her standing with the Grand Princess, Nanny Xu decided to handle the situation herself. She followed her nephew to meet with Madam Xiao, and upon seeing her, Nanny Xu openly discussed the poisoning. At that moment, Longdan burst through the door and captured her.

The Grand Princess, who had fallen ill again, required Nanny Xu’s massages to recover. However, when Nanny Xu was nowhere to be found, Cui Mingyue became furious and ordered people to search for her. Eventually, Nanny Xu was caught and confessed everything about the past. Only then did Jiang Shi learn that her mother had once been involved in a relationship with Cui Xu and that the Grand Princess had sought out a woman from the Southern U tribe.

Upon hearing of Nanny Xu’s capture, the Grand Princess led her people in forcefully storming the Yan Prince’s residence in an attempt to rescue her. Jiang Shi refused to let the Grand Princess leave so easily and even considered perishing alongside her, but she hesitated for fear of implicating her family. Just as tensions reached their peak, Cui Xu arrived to deliver an imperial edict summoning Yu Qi to the palace.

At that moment, Jiang Shi refused to allow the Grand Princess to take Nanny Xu away and publicly accused her of poisoning her mother. Upon hearing this, Cui Xu was furious. He questioned Jiang Shi about the details of her mother’s death, and after learning the truth, he returned home in a fit of rage. Overwhelmed with fury, he even prepared a poisoned meal, intending to die together with the Grand Princess.

For the safety of his children, Jiang Ancheng made them kneel before the ancestral tablets and swear not to seek revenge for their mother. Initially, all three refused. Under Jiang Ancheng’s persuasion, Jiang Yi had no choice but to agree, while Jiang Zhan remained adamant about avenging their mother. Jiang Ancheng then threatened to expel Jiang Zhan from the family records, forcing him to concede.

Only Jiang Shi remained resolute, insisting on avenging her mother, even if it meant being cast out from the family. The emperor sought out Yu Qi to discuss the matter. The Imperial Astronomer had predicted that if Yu Qi were to marry Jiang Shi, it would bring disaster upon the nation and their families. However, Cui Mingyue’s fate was said to counterbalance Jiang Shi’s, meaning that if Yu Qi married both of them, the calamity would be averted.

Yet, Yu Qi refused, insisting he would only marry Jiang Shi. Meanwhile, Nanny Xu, realizing she had erred, deliberately refused to eat or drink in hopes of earning the Grand Princess’s forgiveness. At that moment, the Grand Princess received news that Yu Qi had rejected the emperor’s bestowed marriage, insisting on marrying only Jiang Shi. Moreover, Yu Qi had left the palace overnight to seek out two officials from the Imperial Astronomer’s Office.

The Grand Princess offered Nanny Xu a cup of tea, leading her to believe it was poisoned. However, after drinking it, she realized it was not, serving only as a warning from the Grand Princess. Meanwhile, Yu Qi discovered that Jiang Shi’s father had also been aware of the conspiracy from twenty years ago. That night, Jiang Ancheng summoned Yu Qi and revealed the full truth about the false accusations against him.

It turned out that on the night of Yu Qi’s birth, Jiang Ancheng had been on duty and had calculated that the celestial signs indicated an auspicious event. However, someone had taken his place that night and recorded the event as an ominous omen instead. Just before leaving, Jiang Ancheng overheard a conversation between his two replacements, which led him to realize that Yu Qi’s birth had coincided with Cui Xu’s military defeat.

At the same time, Yu Qi’s birth mother, Consort Xian, was about to be promoted to Noble Consort Xian. To cover up Cui Xu’s defeat, the Grand Princess labeled Yu Qi as an ill-fated child, causing his mother to lose her chance at promotion. By chance, Jiang Shi also overheard this conversation, finally understanding why her father had tried to prevent her from being with Yu Qi.

The next day, both Yu Qi and Jiang Shi resolved to seek justice for themselves. However, Yu Qi’s insistence on marrying Jiang Shi became the talk of the entire harem, making him a laughingstock. His mother, Consort Xian, was furious, while Princess Qi took advantage of the situation to stir up discord.

Consort Xian initially intended to summon Jiang Shi to the palace for a lesson, but as luck would have it, Jiang Shi had already come to pay her respects. Meanwhile, Yu Qi went to the Imperial Astronomer’s Office to investigate, but the officials deliberately made things difficult for him. Yet, Yu Qi managed to counter every challenge they posed. In the palace, Jiang Shi was subjected to Consort Xian’s intentional torment during her visit.

However, she refused to yield and retorted sharply, further angering Consort Xian, who then had Jiang Shi beaten and humiliated. Jiang Shi, however, risked her own life to turn the situation around and even managed to gather palace intelligence, learning who in the palace was closest to the Grand Princess. At the same time, Jiang Qian found Madam Xiao and took her away.

Madam Xiao lamented that the person who hated her the most in the family was also the one who had given her a chance to live. Jiang Qian told Madam Xiao that if Jiang Shi ever found herself in danger in the future, she must step in to help. Jiang Shi, still refusing to back down, was not allowed to leave the palace.

Consort Xian made her copy the “Classic of Feminine Conduct” repeatedly, only permitting her release once she showed submission. Princess Qi deliberately approached Jiang Shi, pretending to be friendly. However, Jiang Shi saw through her act, knowing that Princess Qi secretly looked down on her. She did not bother to be polite. The conversation between the two was overheard by Nanny Lin, who served beside Consort Xian.

She reported everything to Consort Xian, further souring Consort Xian’s opinion of Princess Qi. Yet, what Jiang Shi had said happened to touch upon things that Princess Qi had secretly harbored for years, making Consort Xian unexpectedly view Jiang Shi in a different light. Yu Qi arrived at the palace to find Jiang Shi, just as Princess Qi was about to leave.

Seeing an opportunity, she tried to drive a wedge between Yu Qi and Consort Xian, even revealing that Jiang Shi had been beaten. Hearing this, Yu Qi grew worried and took revenge on Consort Xian by giving her a stern warning, leading to a conflict between mother and son. He then took Jiang Shi away.

Jiang Shi seized the chance to tell Yu Qi that the empress was very close to the Grand Princess, even having been recommended for her position by the Grand Princess. This meant that the Grand Princess had the ability to easily plant spies from the Southern U tribe within the palace. Meanwhile, Yu Qi had also confirmed that the celestial signs on the night of his birth were, in fact, auspicious.

Lord Yang from the Directorate of Astronomy reported to the Grand Princess that Yu Qi went to investigate a case but unexpectedly stopped midway to dig out a jar of wine under a tree. Even though Lord Yang had been in the Directorate of Astronomy for many years, he was unaware of any wine hidden there, worrying that the jar might contain crucial evidence.

However, the Grand Princess remained indifferent, believing that all testimonies and evidence from back then had already been destroyed, making it impossible to uncover anything. Meanwhile, Princess Fuqing was feeling anxious as her mother had arranged for a tutor for her, but she had no idea what kind of person this teacher would be or whether they would get along. When the person finally arrived, Fuqing was delighted to find that her tutor was none other than Zhen Hang.

Jiang Zhan, unable to avenge his mother, felt deeply troubled. To distract himself, he kept himself busy with various tasks. Lu Chuchu noticed his relentless work and that even his hands were injured, yet he refused to stop. Out of concern, she asked him about it, but since Jiang Zhan had promised his father not to speak of it, he remained silent. Lu Chuchu did not press further but instead took Jiang Zhan to the riverside to relax.

Finally, Jiang Zhan revealed to Lu Chuchu that his mother had been poisoned. Upon hearing this, Lu Chuchu expressed her willingness to help him, but Jiang Zhan did not want to drag her into danger. Yu Qi and Jiang Shi went together to pay respects to the Empress. Jiang Shi noticed that the flower basket beside the Empress was the same floral arrangement she had made at the flower appreciation banquet.

At that moment, Princess Fuqing arrived, and Jiang Shi realized that Fuqing had lost her sight. She inquired about the reason and seized the opportunity to request staying by the Empress’s side for three days to learn court etiquette. Fuqing firmly opposed this, fearing that as Yu Qi's future consort, Jiang Shi should be at Consort Xian’s palace instead. Since Consort Xian was known for her arrogance, conflicts could easily arise.

However, the Empress agreed to Jiang Shi’s request, willing to help her. After leaving, Yu Qi questioned Jiang Shi’s decision to act on her own. Jiang Shi explained that Princess Fuqing’s blindness was likely caused by Nanwu’s venomous insects and that she intended to use Fuqing’s condition to uncover hidden spies in the palace. Upon learning that Fuqing’s blindness was due to these insects, the Empress was deeply distressed.

She had never mistreated anyone or made enemies, and Fuqing, as a princess, had no involvement in political struggles. She could not understand why someone would harm her daughter. Jiang Shi proposed working together with the Empress to find the culprit. When the Grand Princess heard that Jiang Shi was staying in the Empress’s palace, she guessed that Jiang Shi was trying to seek the Empress’s protection but remained unfazed.

The Emperor specially summoned Zhen Hang to the palace, wanting to observe his attitude toward Fuqing. Although Zhen Hang greatly admired Princess Fuqing, it was not to the extent that satisfied the Emperor, who intended to betroth Fuqing to him. The Emperor wanted to see whether Zhen Hang harbored romantic feelings for Fuqing. At that moment, Fuqing almost fell while flying a kite, and Zhen Hang instinctively stepped in to help her.

The Emperor, noticing Zhen Hang’s concern, directly asked about his feelings for Fuqing. However, because Fuqing was a princess, Zhen Hang dared not overstep his bounds and could only suppress his true emotions. That night, Princess Fuqing had a nightmare and screamed in her sleep. Jiang Shi realized that Fuqing might have witnessed a secret related to the Grand Princess. Meanwhile, Yu Qi and Jiang Shi found the Empress’s attendant, Duo Momo, acting suspiciously.

Yu Qi used an excuse to bring Hua Momo to his residence but later discovered he had made a mistake—the real Nanwu spy was actually Duo Momo. Realizing her cover had been blown, Duo Momo attempted to kill Jiang Shi. However, Jiang Shi revealed the sacred maiden’s totem on her body and commanded Duo Momo, as a saintess, to remove the venomous insect from Fuqing.

Jiang Shi extracted the venomous insect from Princess Fuqing, but since it had been residing in her for many years, it recognized Fuqing as the ideal host and resisted removal. The process caused Fuqing immense, inhuman pain. Watching their daughter suffer so much, the Emperor and Empress were heartbroken. However, Fuqing endured the agony and finally expelled the venomous insect. The next day, when Fuqing’s vision was restored, the Emperor was overjoyed and wanted to reward Jiang Shi.

Jiang Shi inquired with Nanny Duo about the poisoning of her mother years ago and the specific poison used. She also learned the reason for Princess Fuqing's blindness and encouraged her to reveal the truth. It turned out that years ago, Princess Fuqing overheard the Eldest Princess plotting to poison the former Empress. When the Eldest Princess discovered this, she ordered Fuqing’s eyes to be blinded as a warning.

Out of fear that her mother would be implicated, Princess Fuqing never spoke of the incident. When the Empress learned that her position had come at the cost of her daughter’s eyesight, she was deeply remorseful. Yu Qi seized the opportunity to inform the Empress that he had been falsely accused as a bringer of calamity, with the Eldest Princess orchestrating the plot against him.

The Empress was shocked to learn that the Eldest Princess had been so audacious as to target even a prince. Following Jiang Shi’s plan, Nanny Duo deceived the Eldest Princess, claiming that her identity had not been exposed and that the method to remove the Gu worm was something Yu Qi had discovered in the Southern Borders. This successfully misled the Eldest Princess.

Yu Qi and Jiang Shi suggested that the Empress take this opportunity to expose the Eldest Princess, but the Empress hesitated. The Eldest Princess was highly regarded by the Emperor and had once rendered great service to the nation, making her difficult to bring down. She advised Yu Qi and Jiang Shi to distance themselves from the Eldest Princess after their marriage.

Cui Mingyue, upon hearing that Jiang Shi had found a remedy and restored Princess Fuqing’s eyesight, became worried that the Emperor would favor Jiang Shi even more. Afraid she would lose the chance to marry Yu Qi, she sought help from the Eldest Princess, begging her for assistance. Left with no other choice, the Eldest Princess agreed to plead her case on her birthday.

Jiang Shi realized that taking down the Eldest Princess would not be easy and that a long-term strategy was needed. Meanwhile, Yu Qi and Jiang Shi took the opportunity to discuss their impending marriage. The Crown Prince meticulously planned a grand celebration for the Eldest Princess’s birthday, knowing she was his strongest ally. Without her support, he feared being replaced by Consort Xian and her son, Prince Qi.

The Crown Princess felt disheartened watching the Crown Prince tirelessly prepare for the Eldest Princess’s birthday, as he had long forgotten the death anniversary of his own birth mother. On the Eldest Princess’s birthday, the Emperor arrived to find the residence desolate, with no guests present. The Eldest Princess sat alone in a pavilion, drinking.

Pretending to be drunk and sorrowful, she reminisced about the past to move the Emperor’s heart and used this moment to plead for a marriage decree. Now that Princess Fuqing’s eyesight had recovered, she longed to leave the palace and explore the world outside. The Empress, indulging her daughter for once, secretly allowed Nanny Duo to escort her out.

Overjoyed by the lively streets outside the palace, Princess Fuqing took the chance to slip away from Nanny Duo and enjoy the sights alone. Coincidentally, Zhen Hang passed by, and she recognized his voice. Zhen Hang was astonished to see that she could now see. Princess Fuqing asked Zhen Hang to take her around to see the world, and the two strolled along the lakeside until late at night, when Zhen Hang finally escorted her back to the palace.

Yu Qi came up with the idea of rehearsing the grand wedding ceremony with Jiang Shi in advance. Dressed in wedding robes, they happily played their roles. Suddenly, an imperial decree arrived—the Emperor had granted marriage, ordering both Cui Mingyue and Jiang Shi to marry Yu Qi. Unwilling to marry Cui Mingyue, Yu Qi took the risk of entering the Martial Hall without permission, kneeling before the Emperor to plead for the decree to be revoked.

However, the Emperor, still feeling guilty towards the Eldest Princess, rebuked Yu Qi and insisted he marry Cui Mingyue. Yu Qi refused and remained kneeling outside Tiande Hall despite a heavy downpour. The Eldest Princess arrived to persuade him and even threatened him, but Yu Qi confronted her with the truth about her past deeds. Yet, the Eldest Princess showed no fear.

Jiang Shi, knowing that Yu Qi was enduring the rain and suffering for her, felt helpless, unable to do anything. She could only wait outside the palace for him. The Jiang family, learning of Yu Qi and Jiang Shi’s predicament, was deeply concerned, unsure of how to resolve the situation. Yu Qi knelt outside the hall for a full day and night. Baoping, worried about his health, tried to persuade him to relent, but Yu Qi remained resolute. At the next morning’s court session, everyone remained silent—except for Zhen Hang, who stepped forward to speak.

Zhen Hang originally intended to plead for Yu Qi during the morning court session, but the emperor did not give him a chance to speak. Yu Qi remained kneeling outside the main hall, persistently pleading with the emperor to revoke the imperial decree of marriage, while Jiang Shi continued to stay outside the palace, enduring hunger alongside him.

Cui Mingyue, upon seeing the wedding attire, became furious upon realizing that Jiang Shi's was identical to hers and complained to her mother. The Eldest Princess, feeling helpless, could only appease her daughter by having imperial-bestowed gemstones embedded into Cui Mingyue's wedding attire, which finally satisfied her. The emperor also came to see Yu Qi, observing his extremely weakened state, yet he remained steadfast in his refusal to yield, insisting on marrying only Jiang Shi.

The emperor, recalling his own past love and defiance, felt sympathy for his son and stood before him to shield him from the sun. Even when Yu Qi collapsed from exhaustion, upon regaining consciousness, he insisted on continuing to kneel. Princess Fuqing, feeling distressed for Yu Qi, brought him water, but he steadfastly refused to drink.

Meanwhile, Cui Mingyue was delighted about her impending marriage to Yu Qi, dressing up meticulously at home and declaring that once she married Yu Qi, she would deal with Jiang Shi. Unaware that Yu Qi was kneeling outside the hall, she assumed that since the emperor had issued an imperial decree, Jiang Shi would not dare to resist. Zhen Hang, upon meeting Jiang Shi, expressed his admiration for her.

When he later saw Princess Fuqing, she too was heartbroken over Yu Qi and Jiang Shi’s predicament but was uncertain how to help. The empress summoned Hua Momo to invite Jiang Shi to meet her at the Imperial Garden, which was separated from Tiande Hall by only one wall—the closest location Jiang Shi could be to Yu Qi. Jiang Shi was deeply moved by the empress’s help.

Princess Fuqing also went to see Yu Qi and pointed towards the place where the kite was flying, telling him that Jiang Shi was right there. Through the kite, Yu Qi and Jiang Shi conveyed their feelings and encouragement to each other. Jiang Yi took her daughter out for a stroll, and Yanyan unexpectedly ran into Zhu Ziyu, who had now become a beggar.

However, Zhu Ziyu was too ashamed to acknowledge his daughter, and Jiang Yi pretended not to recognize him as she led Yanyan away. Later that night, when the streets were empty, Jiang Yi brought food to Yu Qi. Meanwhile, Zhu Ziyu still did not dare to face Jiang Yi, who then questioned how he had ended up in such a miserable state. It turned out that after his separation from Jiang Yi, his family was investigated and exiled.

However, even on the road to exile, the Eldest Princess had sent people to kill him. Out of his entire family of 83 members, Zhu Ziyu was the only survivor. Despite everything, Jiang Yi did not hold grudges and gave Zhu Ziyu some silver, telling him to dress properly and reunite with his daughter. Zhu Ziyu wept bitterly in regret, realizing the foolish mistakes of his past.

Meanwhile, Jiang Shi, unwilling to see Yu Qi suffer such consequences for her sake, took the initiative to request an audience with the emperor. After cleaning himself up, Zhu Ziyu went to see Jiang Yi. Yu Qi, having fainted again, was awakened by the empress, who told him that Jiang Shi had already agreed to the arrangement of two wives serving one husband.

Though Yu Qi still wished to continue pleading, after further persuasion from the empress, he no longer insisted. On the day of the grand wedding, Jiang Shi sat anxiously in her chamber, knowing that Zhu Ziyu held evidence that could turn the situation around, yet uncertain if it would succeed. Cui Mingyue and Jiang Shi’s bridal sedan chairs arrived at Yu Qi’s residence simultaneously.

At that moment, Yu Qi publicly renounced his status as a prince, declaring that he would only marry Jiang Shi. Cui Mingyue was heartbroken and reminded Yu Qi of their betrothal agreement. However, just then, Zhu Ziyu suddenly appeared, revealing that he and Cui Mingyue also had a marriage contract. The matter was brought before Tiande Hall, where Zhu Ziyu produced a contract personally written by Cui Mingyue, proving that the one she had previously burned was a fake.

When Cui Mingyue denied it, Zhen Hang proposed that she rewrite the contract on the spot for comparison. Upon examination, it was confirmed that both contracts were written by the same hand. The Eldest Princess attempted to defend her daughter, but in doing so, she accidentally revealed incriminating details. The emperor, citing the law, ordered Cui Mingyue to fulfill her contract with Zhu Ziyu. The Eldest Princess had no choice but to comply. Seizing the opportunity, the emperor arranged for Cui Mingyue and Zhu Ziyu’s wedding ceremony to be conducted immediately.

Cui Mingyue refused to marry Zhu Ziyu and cried out, begging her mother to plead with the emperor on her behalf. However, the current emperor no longer trusted the Grand Princess as much as before. The Grand Princess understood that the reputation she had carefully built over the years had been completely ruined by Cui Mingyue’s moment of recklessness. Even if she personally went to beg the emperor, forgiveness was impossible.

The only option left was to accept Cui Mingyue’s marriage to Zhu Ziyu. Cui Mingyue still refused, kneeling outside the princess’s residence and wailing, but the Grand Princess ordered the doors to be shut, shedding tears of sorrow. Just as Cui Mingyue was crying and pleading, Cui Xu arrived. After hearing that Cui Mingyue refused to marry Zhu Ziyu, he wanted to take her away. However, Cui Mingyue unexpectedly refused to leave, determined to stay and take revenge.

Upon entering the bridal chamber, Cui Mingyue humiliated Zhu Ziyu in every possible way, even threatening him using Jiang Yi and Yanyan. Meanwhile, as the Grand Princess was sleeping, she suddenly woke up with a sharp pain in her heart, fearing that something might happen to Cui Mingyue. Zhu Ziyu stabbed Cui Mingyue with a candlestick. With Cui Mingyue severely injured and unable to move, he set the room on fire, avenging his family.

The Grand Princess remained restless, worried about Cui Mingyue’s safety, so she sent Shijiu to check on the bridal chamber. Yu Qi and Jiang Shi finally fulfilled their wishes and successfully got married. On their wedding night, they spent their time together, while A’man and Long Dan kept watch outside the room, chatting happily. When the Grand Princess received news of Cui Mingyue’s death, she refused to believe it.

Even when the servants carried Cui Mingyue’s body, she still could not accept that the person in the coffin was her daughter. Eventually, she collapsed to the ground, crying until she fainted. The next morning, Yu Qi and Jiang Shi sat warmly together, looking into a bronze mirror. Yu Qi told Jiang Shi that she could always be herself and didn’t need to accommodate anyone else.

Jiang Shi wanted to visit her home and move all her belongings to Prince Yan’s residence, to which Yu Qi readily agreed. Jiang Shi also suggested visiting the emperor and empress, but due to the previous imperial decree regarding his marriage, Yu Qi still held some resentment toward the emperor and was unwilling to go. After Jiang Shi persuaded him, he reluctantly took her to the palace.

Yu Qi and Jiang Shi paid their respects to the empress and learned that Zhu Ziyu had killed Cui Mingyue and then set himself on fire. The empress reminded Yu Qi and Jiang Shi that the Grand Princess might hold a grudge against them for this and advised them to return to Nanjiang, where Yu Qi had his elite Red Feather Cavalry. However, Yu Qi and Jiang Shi were unafraid and decided to stay in Ling’an to face everything head-on.

For the empress’s safety, they intended to keep their distance from her. However, the empress was no longer afraid—if Yu Qi and Jiang Shi wanted to continue their fight, she would support them. She even intended to ask the emperor to formally recognize Yu Qi as his son. At that moment, Consort Xian suddenly arrived, attempting to stop the empress from acknowledging Yu Qi as her legitimate son.

The empress, however, remained firm and asked Yu Qi if he was willing to be her son. Yu Qi, having no affection for Consort Xian, willingly accepted the idea of being under the empress’s name. At that moment, Jiang Shi stepped in to mediate and ease the tense atmosphere.

On their way back, Jiang Shi reminded Yu Qi that if he officially became the empress’s son, others might suspect he had ambitions for the throne, making him a target for many. Concerned that the Grand Princess might retaliate, Yu Qi decided to strike first by presenting evidence of her collusion with foreign enemies to the emperor. Meanwhile, Consort Xian returned to the palace and met with the Princess Consort of Prince Qi.

She asked the Princess Consort what she would think if the empress were to recognize Prince Qi as her son and place him under her name. The Princess Consort was at a loss for words, but Consort Xian knew her well—if it were her husband, she would readily accept it and even persuade Prince Qi himself. Because Jiang Shi had stopped Yu Qi from being recognized as the empress’s son, she earned Consort Xian’s appreciation.

Consort Xian even decided to help Jiang Shi in her struggle against the Grand Princess. The emperor personally visited the princess’s residence to console the Grand Princess and posthumously conferred the title of princess upon Cui Mingyue, granting her burial in the imperial mausoleum. However, the Grand Princess did not appreciate the gesture. She secretly resented the emperor, believing that he should have granted Cui Mingyue the title while she was alive instead of waiting until her death.

Meanwhile, the Princess Consort of Prince Qi informed Prince Qi of the empress’s intention to adopt Yu Qi as her legitimate son. Upon hearing this, Prince Qi became concerned—if Yu Qi became the empress’s recognized son, he would become another competitor for the throne.

At night, Yu Qi and Jiang Shi bought gifts for their return visit. Yu Qi valued Jiang Shi greatly and bought many gifts, still feeling they were not enough. Jiang Shi was delighted, but she suddenly saw Du Er and found an excuse to send Yu Qi away so she could meet Du Er alone.

When they met, Du Er told Jiang Shi that he had uncovered her identity as the Holy Maiden and wanted to take her back to Nanwu. Jiang Shi refused to leave and urged Du Er to leave quickly. However, Du Er insisted on staying, waiting until Jiang Shi was willing to return to Nanwu with him. The next day, Yu Qi and Jiang Shi officially returned home, and the Jiang family treated them with great importance.

Jiang Shi, now a princess consort, was given newfound respect, especially from the Jiang Matriarch, whose attitude had changed significantly. Upon their return, everyone was happy, but as Aman packed Jiang Shi’s belongings to move them to the prince's residence, she couldn't help but feel sentimental. After all, Jiang Shi had lived in this house for over a decade, and suddenly moving out left her feeling nostalgic.

Jiang Shi reassured Aman that, even after leaving, her uncle’s home would always be hers, and she could return anytime if she missed it. Jiang Yi personally sewed a pair of mandarin duck-patterned quilts as a gift for Jiang Shi. Taking this opportunity, Jiang Shi told Jiang Yi about what had happened on Zhu Ziyu’s wedding night. Since the Grand Princess’s residence had sealed off all information, Jiang Yi was unaware of the events.

Upon hearing that Zhu Ziyu had killed Cui Mingyue and then set himself on fire, Jiang Yi couldn't help but feel sorrowful. She recalled when Zhu Ziyu had come to see the child, and she had warned him about Cui Mingyue’s intentions against the Jiang family. She now believed that Zhu Ziyu had ultimately sacrificed himself to eliminate Cui Mingyue in order to protect his child. That night, Yu Qi happily returned to the room.

Jiang Shi, looking at her surroundings, felt a little melancholic and told Yu Qi that she was reluctant to leave home so suddenly. Yu Qi understood her feelings well and promised that she could return home often. To cheer her up, he led Jiang Shi into the courtyard and surprised her with a romantic gesture.

Meanwhile, the Grand Princess learned that when Jiang Shi was treating Princess Fuqing’s eyes, it was Granny Duo who personally took her to the Imperial Pharmacy to collect the medicine. The Grand Princess found it strange and wondered what method Jiang Shi had used to win Granny Duo over. She ordered people to keep an eye on Granny Duo and waited for an opportunity to capture her.

She also began suspecting that Jiang Shi might have ties to Nanwu and instructed her trusted aide, Nineteen, to watch over Jiang Shi closely. While Yu Qi and Jiang Shi were strolling through the market, they noticed someone following them. Jiang Shi suspected that the Grand Princess was beginning to doubt her identity. Worried about Granny Duo and Madam Xiao’s safety, she wanted to send people to protect them.

Although Madam Xiao and Jiang Pei no longer lived as luxuriously as before, they had at least found peace. While they were happily organizing their clothes, imperial guards suddenly barged into Madam Xiao’s residence. Realizing that these men had likely been sent by the Grand Princess, Madam Xiao told Jiang Pei to flee while she stayed behind to hold them off. In the end, she sacrificed herself, holding out until reinforcements arrived.

Jiang Shi anxiously waited at home, but only Jiang Pei returned. Upon learning that Madam Xiao had been killed, Jiang Shi was heartbroken. Knowing that her identity would eventually be exposed, she decided that she had to take action. Since Jiang Anmou had been persistently begging Jiang Shi to have Yu Qi help him with a border matter, Jiang Shi used this as an excuse to sever ties with her family—her true intention being to protect them.

Granny Duo secretly left the palace to meet Du Er. Du Er proposed inciting chaos at the border, as Yu Qi, being the leader of the Chiyu Cavalry, would have to return, and Jiang Shi would surely follow. At that time, bringing Jiang Shi back to Nanwu would be much easier. On their journey back, the Grand Princess’s elite guards attempted to capture Granny Duo, but Du Er and Long Dan appeared simultaneously and rescued her.

Upon returning to the prince's residence, Jiang Yi and Jiang Zhan had already arrived. Since they shared deep bonds, they were unwilling to cut ties. However, to protect her family, Jiang Shi had no choice but to act ruthlessly. Meanwhile, the Grand Princess ordered a search for Granny Duo in the palace but found nothing.

Granny Duo sought out the Empress and Princess Fuqing and confessed that she was the one who had poisoned the late Empress and caused Princess Fuqing’s blindness. Following Jiang Shi’s plan, the Empress sent Granny Duo to the Crown Prince’s residence.

Hoping to find the Grand Princess, he wanted to tell her that Nanny Duo was hiding in the Crown Prince’s residence, using this as leverage to form an alliance with her. He sought the Grand Princess’s support to overthrow the Crown Prince and claim the throne for himself. Upon hearing this, the Grand Princess outwardly remained calm and indifferent, claiming that she had only supported the Crown Prince because he had lost his mother.

She further pointed out that if Prince Qi ascended the throne, Consort Xian would fight for the title of Empress Dowager. After hearing this, Prince Qi left without saying a word. Only after he was gone did the Grand Princess finally reveal her anger—she had no idea what Nanny Duo had already told the Crown Prince, but she knew there was no turning back now.

However, the Crown Prince did not believe Nanny Duo’s words and even blamed the Crown Princess for secretly harboring her in their residence. At this moment, the Crown Princess brought up the matter of Princess Fuqing’s blindness. Nanny Duo also revealed to the Crown Prince that it was not Consort Xian who had planted the crushed walnuts in his food back then, but rather the Grand Princess, who had orchestrated the entire scheme.

Upon hearing the truth, the Crown Prince was in complete disbelief and broke down entirely. The Grand Princess sent someone to summon the Crown Prince, but he refused to meet her. When she realized the Crown Prince had changed, she knew that Nanny Duo must have revealed everything. Determined, she decided to support Prince Qi. After bringing him to her side, she informed him that Jiang Shi was the Holy Maiden of Nanwu and urged him to report this information.

At first, Prince Qi refused, but the Grand Princess kept provoking him until he finally gave in. Meanwhile, Jiang Shi was working on developing a fragrance to mask the Holy Maiden’s totem on her body. She also told Consort Xian about the scheme to frame Yu Qi. When Consort Xian realized that it was the Grand Princess who had orchestrated everything back then, she was furious.

She summoned Prince Qi and exposed the entire matter, even declaring that she would report the Grand Princess’s crimes. Prince Qi tried to persuade Consort Xian to reconsider, but his cowardly hesitation only disappointed her further. She even stated that Prince Qi was no match for Yu Qi. After leaving, Prince Qi feared that he would be eliminated from the competition for the throne and once again considered exposing Jiang Shi’s identity as the Holy Maiden.

Once the Grand Princess had made all her preparations, she went to see the Emperor. Just as they were conversing warmly, Prince Qi suddenly requested an audience. At that time, Jiang Shi was practicing archery, which greatly surprised Yu Qi. In reality, Jiang Shi had learned archery from Yu Qi in her past life. Just as the two were sharing an intimate moment, Long Dan arrived with urgent news—the Grand Princess had entered the palace early that morning.

Both Yu Qi and Jiang Shi knew that this was not a simple visit. Yu Qi worried that the Grand Princess would expose Jiang Shi’s identity as the Holy Maiden of Nanwu and wanted her to flee immediately. Yu Qi was summoned to the palace. When the Grand Princess saw that he had come alone, she questioned Jiang Shi’s whereabouts. At that moment, Jiang Shi also arrived. Yu Qi was confused—Jiang Shi had never left.

In fact, she had only deceived him earlier, having already resolved to face everything head-on. Prince Qi proposed examining Jiang Shi’s body for the totem, but no mark was found. However, the Grand Princess pointed out that the Holy Maiden’s totem became more pronounced when exposed to heat, prompting the Emperor to order her to verify it personally. Just then, Princess Fuqing arrived outside the hall. Upon hearing that Jiang Shi was the Holy Maiden of Nanwu, she immediately left.

Shortly after, Zhen Hang also arrived at the hall. Jiang Shi quickly found a way to counter the accusations, but at that moment, the Grand Princess had Sang Qi brought forward as a witness. Seizing the opportunity, she accused not only Jiang Shi but Yu Qi as well. Zhen Hang stepped forward to clear Yu Qi’s name, so the Grand Princess shifted all her accusations toward Jiang Shi.

Yu Qi pleaded on Jiang Shi’s behalf, even crediting her for his past feat of saving the Emperor during the solar eclipse. The Grand Princess took advantage of this, accusing Yu Qi of being bewitched by Jiang Shi. Meanwhile, Princess Fuqing rushed to inform the Empress about the events unfolding in the main hall, hoping that her mother would intervene. Back in the hall, Yu Qi was doing everything he could to protect Jiang Shi.

However, fearing that Yu Qi would also be implicated, Jiang Shi took the initiative to confess that she was indeed the Holy Maiden and even severed ties with Yu Qi. At that moment, news arrived that Nanwu had mobilized its troops at the border, demanding that Great Zhou hand over the Holy Maiden. Jiang Shi was imprisoned in the imperial dungeon.

The Emperor told Yu Qi that since Nanwu had confirmed Jiang Shi’s identity as the Holy Maiden, it would be nearly impossible for the two of them to ever be together again.

Lord Changxing led his men to search Prince Yan’s residence. Zhen Hang also rushed over with his own men. One of Lord Changxing’s trusted aides secretly took out a pre-prepared letter, falsely claiming that it was found in Yu Qi’s residence and contained a list of spies. Zhen Hang took the list and questioned the soldier who allegedly found it, sensing something suspicious.

However, Lord Changxing disregarded his concerns and insisted on taking his men to the residence of Earl Dongping, planning to arrest Jiang Shi’s entire family. Long Dan, worried, asked Zhen Hang if he had any countermeasures. Since the laws dictated that Jiang Shi’s family should be detained, Zhen Hang had no choice but to let Lord Changxing proceed. However, he was certain that Lord Changqing would not dare to act recklessly at this time.

Walking down the street, the Princess Royal recalled memories of her daughter and felt heartbroken. Suddenly, she bumped into Yu Qi, and the two locked eyes, both filled with killing intent. Meanwhile, Zhen Hang took the letter containing the list of spies to the Changqing Paper Workshop. The owner examined the paper and noted that it was extremely expensive, something an ordinary person could not afford. Lord Changxing led his men to the Earl of Dongping’s residence and arrested everyone.

Jiang Yi, seeing the situation, quickly hid with her daughter, avoiding capture. Lord Changxing, pleased with himself, prepared to take everyone away when Jiang Yi suddenly appeared and presented the letter of severance between Jiang Shi and the Earl of Dongping’s household. Lord Changxing, upon seeing the document, tore it up, refusing to spare the household. However, the letter of severance had already been officially recorded, leaving him with no choice but to give up.

Nevertheless, he ordered guards to keep a close watch on the residence. At this moment, the Jiang family finally understood Jiang Shi’s true intentions—she had severed ties in anticipation of potential future trouble, ensuring her family would not be implicated. The Princess Royal deliberately tormented Jiang Shi. In prison, Jiang Shi had to catch water dripping from the roof with her hands to drink and was only allowed to eat half a steamed bun every three days.

Lord Changxing and Zhen Hang went to see the Empress, questioning whether Jiang Shi had used the secret arts of Nanwu to cure Princess Fuqing’s blindness. Both Princess Fuqing and the Empress adamantly denied it and even spoke in Jiang Shi’s defense. As they were leaving, Princess Fuqing privately confessed to Zhen Hang that she had overheard the Princess Royal’s secret plot and admitted that Jiang Shi did know the secret arts of Nanwu.

Meanwhile, Consort Xian presented testimony from Nanny Xu, accusing the Princess Royal of falsely incriminating Yu Qi years ago. However, instead of punishing the Princess Royal, the Emperor confined Consort Xian for a month, which she refused to accept. Princess Fuqing had kept Zhen Hang behind because she feared that making her knowledge public would harm her mother. Zhen Hang encouraged her to reveal the truth to the Emperor.

At that moment, Princess Fuqing also asked Zhen Hang why he had refused the Emperor’s arranged marriage. Prince Qi blamed Consort Xian for revealing evidence that helped Yu Qi but harmed him instead. However, Consort Xian was furious, as it was Prince Qi himself who exposed Yu Qi. She wanted the family to remain united, but Prince Qi, driven by his ambition for the throne, had betrayed his own brother. This led to a heated argument between mother and son.

Lord Changxing and Zhen Hang took the spy list to the Emperor. Lord Changxing proposed arresting everyone on the list. Initially, the Emperor agreed, but Zhen Hang firmly opposed it, arguing that if the names on the list were false, it would only help the real spies. To rescue Jiang Shi, Yu Qi sought out Du Er for a possible collaboration. Meanwhile, Lord Changxing hurried to inform the Princess Royal that the Emperor had pardoned those named in the letter.

Realizing the Emperor’s wavering stance, the Princess Royal decided to take matters into her own hands. Jiang Ancheng, upon learning that the Princess Royal was the one who accused his daughter, understood that even staying silent would not resolve the issue. He prepared to submit a petition to the Emperor himself. The Princess Royal personally interrogated Jiang Shi and subjected her to torture. She also sent assassins to kill Jiang Ancheng, but the attempt failed.

Princess Fuqing brought Nanny Duo before the Emperor and fully exposed the truth about past events. The Emperor summoned the Princess Royal to the grand hall and, through careful probing, finally confirmed her secret dealings with Nanwu. Realizing that her plans were about to be uncovered, the Princess Royal secretly instructed Lord Changxing to prepare for rebellion.

Lord Changxing led his troops into the palace and held the Emperor hostage. Meanwhile, the Princess Royal grew even more ambitious, planning to announce at the next morning’s court session that she would assume the power of regency. Jiang Shi was rescued from Tianwang by Du Er. Upon waking, she saw Jiang Zhan, Lu Chuchu, and A’Man. Yu Qi, upon learning that Jiang Shi had been saved, hurried to see her.

After their reunion, Yu Qi hoped the Emperor would severely punish the Princess Royal. However, Jiang Shi, wanting to prevent a war between the two nations, decided to go to Nanwu to seek out the Grand Elder. The Princess Royal was furious upon hearing that Jiang Shi had escaped and killed the guards responsible. She then issued a nationwide decree ordering Jiang Shi’s capture.

A’Man, upon learning that Jiang Shi was heading to Nanwu, wanted to accompany her, but Jiang Shi, fearing she might never return, refused to let A’Man take the risk and asked her to stay at home. Since Yu Qi was unable to leave at the moment, he asked Jiang Zhan and the others who would be willing to go with Jiang Shi. Both Jiang Zhan and Lu Chuchu volunteered.

The next morning at court, the Princess Royal led her troops into the hall, declaring that the Emperor was unwell and that she would assume regency. The ministers voiced their objections, and both the Crown Prince and Zhen Hang questioned her. Although Prince Qi also found the situation suspicious, he chose to protect himself and did not dare to speak out. Jiang Zhan insisted on seeing an imperial edict, but Lord Changxing, using force as intimidation, personally acknowledged the decree.

At this moment, Xi Wang also stepped forward in support of the Princess Royal. Seeing that Yu Qi had not appeared, the Princess Royal used the excuse that he had fled with Jiang Shi to order a nationwide manhunt for him. At that moment, Prince Yan unexpectedly arrived at the hall. Lord Changxing saw an opportunity to kill Yu Qi, but the Princess Royal stopped him.

After the court session, Princess Fuqing used a ruse to lure Zhen Hang over and revealed to him the Princess Royal’s plans for rebellion. Meanwhile, the Crown Prince and Prince Qi went to visit the Emperor, only to find that he was surrounded by Jifeng Guards and were denied access. The Crown Prince tried to persuade Prince Qi to join him in opposing the Princess Royal, but Prince Qi stubbornly refused.

At that moment, the Crown Prince realized that Prince Qi had fully sided with the Princess Royal. The Princess Royal also learned of the Crown Prince’s attempt to persuade Prince Qi, but she was confident that Prince Qi, valuing self-preservation, would not take the risk. However, she saw the Crown Prince as a threat and invited him to dine with her the next day.

To cover for Jiang Shi’s journey to the southern border, Jiang Zhan and Du Er created distractions by repeatedly breaking through checkpoints, while Lu Chuchu led Jiang Shi along a hidden path. Yu Qi and Johan devised strategies to deal with the Princess Royal, recognizing that only Cui Xu could be of assistance at the moment. Meanwhile, the Princess Royal, upon learning of Jiang Shi’s departure, deduced that she must be heading to the southern border.

She realized that if Jiang Shi reached Nanwu, Yu Qi would be able to mobilize the Chiyu Cavalry, and Cui Xu would likely support her. Furthermore, Jiang Shi, as the Saintess, could command Nanwu’s troops. To counter this, she planned to falsify an imperial decree, pitting Cui Xu and the Chiyu Cavalry against Nanwu. Yu Qi, along with Long Dan, hurried toward the southern border.

Meanwhile, the Crown Prince began his preparations, sending the Crown Princess and their child back to her family for safety. He also carefully selected a group of elite warriors, planning to assassinate the Princess Royal during their meal. However, the assassination attempt failed, and the Princess Royal killed the Crown Prince. The Emperor was shocked upon hearing the news. The Princess Royal, knowing that ministers were planning to impeach her, canceled the morning court session.

She then enlisted Prince Qi’s help in stabilizing the court officials and informed him that the Crown Prince had been executed for treason, intending to intimidate him. In order to secure the Princess Royal’s support and avoid the Crown Prince’s fate, Prince Qi agreed to help pacify the ministers. Yu Qi arrived at the southern border just in time to meet Jiang Shi and informed her of the Princess Royal’s actions.

Meanwhile, Zhen Hang sought an audience with Prince Qi, hoping to persuade him to help rescue the Emperor. Lord Changxing advised the Princess Royal to proclaim herself Empress. Realizing she could not afford to remain passive any longer, she began to consider the idea. She then approached the Emperor, demanding that he issue an edict of abdication in her favor. Jiang Shi was eager to reach Nanwu as soon as possible.

With the border under threat, Cui Xu could not abandon his post to rescue the Emperor. Only if Nanwu withdrew its troops would Cui Xu be able to lead his army elsewhere. Jiang Zhan also arrived at the southern border, but he was severely injured. Before succumbing to his wounds, he informed Jiang Shi that Du Er and A’Man had been killed.

Yu Qi and Jiang Shi faced another moment of separation. Jiang Shi needed to go to Nanwu to persuade them to withdraw their troops, while Yu Qi had to find Cui Xu and convince him to lead his army back to Ling'an to suppress the rebellion. The Emperor was also waiting for news from Yu Qi, as only Yu Qi had the power to contend with the Princess Royal.

Yu Qi successfully met with Cui Xu, but Cui Xu did not believe that the Princess Royal was plotting a rebellion and dared not mobilize his troops without imperial orders. With Nanwu’s forces pressing at the border, any withdrawal of troops could leave them vulnerable to an invasion. Yu Qi proposed that Jiang Shi could persuade Nanwu to retreat, but Cui Xu doubted that a woman could convince an entire nation.

Yu Qi then revealed that Jiang Shi was the Saintess, shocking Cui Xu. The Princess Royal had now developed ambitions of becoming Empress. Lord Changxing urged her to act swiftly, and she decided to eliminate her greatest obstacle—Zhen Hang. Jiang Shi and Lu Chuchu arrived at the Sacred Mountain of Nanwu and met with the Grand Elder. Everything felt exactly the same as in her previous life, even bringing a sense of familiarity.

Cui Xu received a falsified imperial decree from the Princess Royal, ordering him to attack Nanwu. Suspicious of the decree, he brought it to Yu Qi for confirmation. Jiang Shi successfully persuaded the Grand Elder to withdraw Nanwu’s troops. Initially, the Grand Elder was concerned that retreating would leave them vulnerable to attack, but in the end, he heeded Jiang Shi’s words. True to their agreement, Nanwu withdrew its forces.

At the same time, Yu Qi convinced Cui Xu to lead his troops back to Ling'an to quell the rebellion. However, upon seeing the Great Zhou army retreat, the Grand Elder contemplated launching an attack while they were weakened. Jiang Shi firmly opposed this idea.

The Grand Elder questioned her, arguing that Nanwu and the Great Zhou were in a state of constant competition, and if they did not seize this opportunity to strengthen themselves, they would be at a disadvantage once the Great Zhou regained its power. Jiang Shi told the Grand Elder that she had seen this war in a dream—many people would die, and neither side would truly benefit.

She assured him that she had a way to make Nanwu stronger without resorting to war. Zhen Hang and Princess Fuqing communicated through a wall, exchanging information. Princess Fuqing learned that preparations were being made in the palace for a grand ritual, leading Zhen Hang to suspect that the Princess Royal intended to seize the throne. He deduced that anyone who opposed her would not escape death.

The Princess Royal sent her trusted subordinate, Shiji, to eliminate all those who stood against her, leaving only Zhen Hang alive. Meanwhile, the Empress discovered a way to escape the palace, but it could only save Princess Fuqing. However, Princess Fuqing insisted on staying behind to share her mother’s fate. Yu Qi and Cui Xu disguised themselves as merchants in an attempt to infiltrate the city.

However, the gate guards grew suspicious of their group and insisted on conducting an inspection. Cui Xu, already prepared for such a situation, had his hand on his sword, ready to act. Just as they were about to be exposed, Prince Qi suddenly arrived and took them all away. The Princess Royal ordered Zhen Hang’s capture because he had hidden the members of the Earl of Dongping’s household.

She even vented her anger on Zhen Hang’s family, intending to eliminate them all. Zhen Hang was tortured in prison. Through the prison window, he saw a kite released by Princess Fuqing, but at this moment, Princess Fuqing was unaware that she would never be able to wait for Zhen Hang again. Prince Qi brought Yu Qi and his group to the Earl of Dongping’s residence and informed them about the situation in the palace.

Yu Qi then arranged for his men to infiltrate the palace in secret. His forces quietly replaced the Jifeng Guards who were originally loyal to the Princess Royal. The Princess Royal gathered the Empress, Consort Xian, and others, forcing the Emperor to write an edict of abdication. She threatened that if he refused, she would kill one person every incense stick’s time. At that moment, Prince Qi arrived with the Imperial Seal.

The Princess Royal, overjoyed, let her guard down and approached to take it. Just then, Yu Qi, disguised as a eunuch, took the Princess Royal hostage. From the surrounding rooftops, more of Yu Qi’s men descended, seizing control of the palace hall. The Princess Royal remained unfazed, believing her soldiers were still in control outside. However, when she looked out, she realized that Cui Xu’s troops had taken over.

She then placed her last hope in Lord Changxing, but he had already been captured. At this moment, the Princess Royal knew that the tides had turned and all her schemes had failed.

The Princess Royal refused to beg for mercy. She pulled out the hairpin from her head, intending to take her own life. However, everyone misunderstood her actions, thinking she was attempting to assassinate the Emperor. Cui Xu, standing behind her, immediately drew his sword and struck at the Princess Royal. She turned back, looking at the man she had once loved with an expression of disbelief.

Upon realizing that she had intended to take her own life, Cui Xu felt a hint of regret. In the end, the Emperor could not bring himself to be ruthless. To the public, he announced that Lord Changxing had rebelled and that the Princess Royal had protected him with great merit. He even posthumously honored her as a princess. Everyone involved received rewards, and the bloodstains in the palace were cleaned away.

Everything returned to normal, as if nothing had ever happened. Zhen Hang walked out of the imperial prison and saw the kite released by Princess Fuqing. This time, Princess Fuqing was not left waiting in vain—she finally saw Zhen Hang again. As they met, they exchanged a smile. This time, Zhen Hang had no more reservations and embraced Princess Fuqing, even confessing his love to her.

The Emperor acknowledged that Cui Xu's ability to bring troops back to save him was thanks to Jiang Shi’s efforts, and he praised Jiang Shi. Taking advantage of the moment, Yu Qi requested permission to go find Jiang Shi. However, the Emperor firmly refused. Given the current tensions between the two nations, it was not an appropriate time for a prince to visit Nanwu.

Instead, the Emperor decided to take Consort Xian on a trip for relaxation and entrusted the governance of the nation to Yu Qi. Jiang Shi noticed that Nanwu's spices were of excellent quality and suggested that the people engage in trade. The Grand Elder was puzzled by this idea, as Nanwu had only ever had farmers and soldiers—commerce had never been considered.

Jiang Shi explained that Nanwu’s spices were highly valued in Great Zhou and could be exchanged for necessary goods. With mutual trade, both sides could get what they needed, preventing future wars. To help Nanwu prosper quickly, Jiang Shi worked tirelessly to come up with solutions. She also sent Lu Chuchu back to Ling'an to assess the types of spices people needed and wrote a letter to Yu Qi.

When Yu Qi read Jiang Shi’s letter, he noticed that it was entirely focused on strategies for maintaining peace between the two nations and did not mention him at all—this made him feel a little jealous. Just as Yu Qi was sulking, Zhen Hang and Princess Fuqing requested an audience together. Seeing them arrive together, Yu Qi immediately sensed that something extraordinary was happening. Indeed, upon meeting, Zhen Hang directly requested Yu Qi’s permission to marry Princess Fuqing.

Yu Qi naturally agreed to their union and even joked with Zhen Hang. Jiang Shi soon prepared the first batch of spices for trade. Seeing the upcoming start of commerce between the two nations, she was delighted. To further help develop Nanwu’s agriculture, she wrote to Yu Qi, requesting him to send water management experts to assist with dam construction. Meanwhile, Yu Qi and Jiang Shi exchanged heartfelt letters through carrier pigeons.

Prince Qi was appointed as the Governor of the Northern Territory and was sent there to develop the region. Consort Xian was somewhat worried upon hearing the news but felt truly happy that her son had the opportunity to realize his ambitions. Jiang Zhan was appointed as the Special Envoy to the Southwest and was sent to Yangui.

Jiang Ancheng, worried about his son being alone in a distant land, was greatly relieved upon learning that Lu Chuchu would accompany Jiang Zhan. He even urged them to finalize their marriage soon. Jiang Zhan and Lu Chuchu met by the lake, where Lu Chuchu finally admitted her feelings for Jiang Zhan. Overjoyed by her confession, Jiang Zhan and Lu Chuchu’s relationship was finally solidified. A year later, all the Jiang family’s daughters who had been away returned home.

The Jiang Matriarch, seeing her entire family reunited with children and grandchildren surrounding her, was filled with joy. Xie Yinlou also visited, and the sisters took the opportunity to push her in front of Jiang Yi. This time, Jiang Yi no longer rejected her like before. Jiang Shi finally reunited with Yu Qi. From the Grand Elder, she learned that her mother was originally from Nanwu.

She also discovered that the reason she was able to live a second life was because, in her previous life, Yu Qi had deeply regretted killing her and had sacrificed his own life in exchange for hers. Understanding the sacrifice Yu Qi had made for her, Jiang Shi’s love for him deepened. The two were successfully married, and Jiang Shi became the Empress of Great Zhou.

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