The Story of Pearl Girl Recap, Plot, Synopsis

The Story of Pearl Girl Synopsis

In Hepu, a pearl-harvesting slave named Duanwu escapes from the human-devouring pearl field during the Dragon Boat Festival, overcoming countless obstacles. She crosses paths with a Western merchant, Yan Zijin, and the gentle scholar, Zhang Jinran. Joining Yan’s caravan, she pushes forward, reaching closer to the dazzling world of gemstones.

However, on the journey through the northwest, Duanwu uncovers the secrets of her own origins and becomes entangled in Yan Zijin’s mysterious vendetta. Loved ones perish, and her beloved departs. Renaming herself Su Muzhe, she ventures into Yangzhou, determined to seek the truth even if it costs her everything. Yet, with a heart as clear as a mirror, she refuses to let hatred consume her, establishing the “Mirror Platform” and working alongside Zhang Jinran to bring justice to old grievances.

Yan Zijin, who had once resolved to bear all his burdens alone, eventually lets go of his own vengeance, standing beside her against the storm. With everything settled, Su Muzhe achieves new heights at the gem fair, inspiring many other women once bound by fate to pursue lives of renewed purpose.

The Story of Pearl Girl Recap

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The ocean is vast and boundless, and in the dark corners of the reefs, a group of pearl divers lives quietly. During the Tang Dynasty, the Cui family in Yangzhou established a pearl field in Hepu, supplying South Sea pearls each year. Although the pearls are invaluable, the life of the pearl slaves is bleak.

The overseers who monitor the divers are brutal, and those who are weak and unable to dive are condemned to a lifetime of slavery, while the women are imprisoned in breeding pens. Duan Wu is one of these pearl slaves. Although diving for pearls is arduous, it is also the most freeing moment for her. Orphaned since childhood, she is not afraid of the man-eating sharks beneath the waves.

Instead, it is the shameless cruelty of people on land that she cannot forgive. However, having been imprisoned from a young age, Duan Wu can only live carefully. One day, a man in Hepu had long coveted the beautiful Duan Wu. He seized the opportunity to force her, but Duan Wu is not a helpless victim; she carries a sharp dagger to pry open the shells. With the dagger in hand, her opponent dares not to dream of overpowering her.

The supervisor Cui wanted to buy five-inch pearls and spread the word that anyone who could find a large pearl would be handsomely rewarded. Finding a large pearl requires diving into Duan Wang Pool, where sharks and whales are plentiful, making it extremely dangerous. However, upon hearing of the generous reward, Duan Wu immediately signed up, even promising to provide her slave contract.

A girl close to Duan Wu hesitated at the edge of the deep blue sea, afraid to dive in. To leave the pearl field sooner, Duan Wu tied sandbags around her waist and jumped into the water without hesitation. On the surface, a magnificent ship was docked, carrying merchants from the Western Regions. They had gold and silver, and would spend lavishly on anything that caught their eye.

On the deck, a merchant was caught trying to pass off inferior goods as quality products. When exposed, he faced the punishment of having his eyes gouged out and his tongue cut out. As the man begged for mercy, Zhang Jinran stepped forward and condemned the brutal methods. According to Tang law, counterfeit goods warranted only fifty lashes. In business, especially on the deck, Tang law was nearly meaningless.

Zhang Jinran offered to replace the merchant's punishment with his family's heirloom pearls. When the Western merchant saw the pearls in Zhang Jinran's box, he sneered. The pearls, treasured for generations, were merely under two inches, unaware that they had seen larger pearls before. Zhang Jinran remained unconvinced. The Western merchant Yan Zijing offered to show Zhang Jinran more significant treasures, promising that if they found a larger pearl, his would be given to them for free.

Zhang Jinran readily agreed. His subordinates tugged at his clothing, worried that the Western merchants could truly find more valuable pearls. However, Zhang Jinran was unconcerned about losing some wealth. He had come with a mission: in recent years, the maritime tax had been reduced, but the quality of tribute pearls had declined sharply. He aimed to investigate undercover and uncover the truth. After great difficulty, Duan Wu finally found a massive pearl, but her companions intercepted her.

Fortunately, Duan Wu was an excellent swimmer and managed to escape with the pearl from the seabed. Obtaining the pearl was no easy feat, but the matron at the site swapped Duan Wu’s pearl and ultimately gave the slave release document to another diver. Duan Wu cried bitterly, pleading for an investigation into the swap, insisting that her pearl had indeed been replaced. The old matron, knowing she was at fault, suggested that Duan Wu become a pearl maiden.

A pearl maiden sells pearls, and the matron secretly advised her that leaving this place was only possible if she no longer breathed, but becoming a pearl maiden was Duan Wu's only path to rebirth. Supervisor Cui asked who could buy the massive pearl for five hundred thousand coins and promised a great reward. Duan Wu eagerly signed up, hoping Supervisor Cui would grant her two release documents. Supervisor Cui, unwilling to haggle, proposed that selling it for seven million coins would fulfill Duan Wu's request.

As a pearl maiden, Duan Wu wanted to sell her pearls for the highest price, so she needed to shine as brightly as the pearls themselves. Among a group of dancers, she seemed inconspicuous, surrounded by graceful beauties. Since there had been no prior rehearsals, Duan Wu struggled to perform the dance smoothly. Realizing she was starting to embarrass herself, she focused on finding a solution and noticed the drummer in the band nearby.

Duan Wu had once observed a dancer who moved beautifully to the rhythm of the drums. Inspired, she gracefully approached the drummer and took up a small drum, beginning to play. Her dance was innovative and captivating, quickly drawing attention. The other women, realizing they couldn't compete, quietly withdrew. After the dance, the pearl maiden began selling pearls.

Duan Wu was determined to fetch a high price for her pearls, even dropping a drop of her own blood onto one, calling it a "blood pearl. " This type of blood pearl was highly valued for its supposed ability to ward off evil—one pearl, one life. Yan Zijing offered six million for the pearl, but Duan Wu knelt on the ground, unwilling to hand it over.

She had made a blood oath with her supervisor: if she couldn't sell it for seven million, she would face a brutal death. For the sake of herself and her close friends, she had to take this risk. Zhang Jinran had overheard Duan Wu's conversation with her supervisor and, seeing the tears in her eyes, felt compassion. He immediately agreed to buy the pearl for seven million.

The crowd gasped in surprise, and Zhang Jinran instructed his subordinates to give the owner a gold leaf, concluding the transaction. Duan Wu approached Zhang Jinran to thank him. He invited her to walk around with him. One was a noble scion, while the other was a lowly pearl slave. Their perspectives were naturally worlds apart. Duan Wu was captivated by Zhang Jinran's description of the bustling Chang'an, which held all the world's treasures.

He told her of an ancient wishing tree in Chang'an: if one sincerely made a wish and hung it on the tree, it would come true. Duan Wu had never heard such a wonderful thing. When Zhang Jinran learned that her greatest wish was for "freedom," he couldn't help but sigh.

He helped her write her wish on a card, hang it on the tree, and blessed her: may her heart be like a clear mirror, and all her wishes come true. Meanwhile, Yan Zijing quietly met with Cui Wu. During the auction, Cui Wu had received a gold leaf. Although he knew the pearl was worth a fortune, he couldn't sleep well, uncertain of Zhang Jinran's background.

Yan Zijing informed him that the person who bought the pearl was a sworn brother of the King of Ying, trusted by the authorities. He had recently left the capital for the south, apparently on a mission, and there was a fierce conflict between the King of Ying and the King of Tan. Given the current situation, the King of Ying had the upper hand.

To protect himself, Cui Wu had no choice but to agree to sell all the pearls from the auction to Yan Zijing at a low price. Meanwhile, Duan Wu and La La were sent to Cui Wu's room. Faced with this villain, Duan Wu stood her ground. However, Cui Wu was armed with a knife. Fortunately, the matron arrived just in time. Cui Wu ordered the matron to kill Duan Wu, but unexpectedly, the matron ended his life instead.

With Cui Wu dead, the matron desperately pulled Duan Wu to escape. However, pursuers chased them relentlessly. The matron sacrificed her life to push Duan Wu onto a boat, telling her that she was her mother and had wanted to save her for years. Now, even in death, she could finally close her eyes. Duan Wu gained her freedom but lost her mother at the same time. Overwhelmed with despair, the boat drifted until it collided with a larger vessel. Fortunately, the people on board were Zhang Jinran, and Duan Wu and her brother were saved.

In the capital, Cui Shijiu was sent to urge for the tribute pearls. Cui Wu reported that a large fire had recently occurred, destroying not only the pearls but also the account books. Despite this, there was no leniency from the other party. Cui Shijiu reminded Cui Wu that according to the terms, not a single pearl could be missing. Knowing the seriousness of the situation, Cui Ding decided to escape with a small treasury overnight.

When Duan Wu woke up, she was out of danger. She went up to the deck and expressed her gratitude once again to Zhang Jinran for saving her. Zhang Jinran spoke of the many beautiful sights he had seen since leaving the capital, particularly marveling at the pearl divers who jumped back and forth between the ship and the sea.

However, for Duan Wu, the beauty in Zhang Jinran's words was bittersweet; the divers jumped into the sea only to survive, perhaps fleeing from sharks or fighting among themselves. As the ship reached the dock, Duan Wu recalled dropping the blood pearl her mother had given her when she had separated from her. It had been picked up by Cui Ding.

Spotting him now, she reminded her brother to stay put at the dock while she went to retrieve her mother's relic. Before the Pearl Tower was burned down, Cui Ding had sold all the pearls to Yan Zijing, but later learned from his subordinates that the gold was fake. This realization filled Cui Ding with deep resentment towards Yan Zijing.

However, Yan Zijing's people were keeping a close watch on him, and as soon as they saw him escape to shore, they blocked his path. Fueled by rage against her mother's murderer, Duan Wu grabbed a large wooden stick and furiously struck at Cui Ding. Yan Zijing did not intervene until Duan Wu had vented her anger.

As Duan Wu saw the blood pearl roll away, she bent down to pick it up, but Yan Zijing cruelly stepped on her hand, keeping it out of reach. The people on the ship assumed Duan Wu was stealing. Despite her insistence that the pearl was hers, she could not escape punishment. Yan Zijing ordered his men to tie her up with ropes and secure her beneath the deck.

Clinging tightly to the ropes, Duan Wu used her tenacity to be pulled back up to the deck. That night, Duan Wu didn't rest for a moment. She ran to the cargo area of the ship, where she had already found the blood pearl, but was caught again by Yan Zijing's men. Yan Zijing warned her that she wouldn't be able to obtain the pearl, as she was too weak.

He told her that only when she became stronger would she be able to reclaim it. Duan Wu asked Yan Zijing to name a price. Initially, she wanted to negotiate, but each time she stated a price, Yan Zijing increased it by another million. They eventually settled on a price of three million.

Duan Wu needed to find a way to earn money to buy back the pearl and requested some time from Yan Zijing, promising that once the ship docked, she would have a chance. Yan Zijing's subordinate, Kang Ju, took an interest in Duan Wu. Bored from drifting at sea for so long, he found her clever and brave. He suggested to Yan Zijing that they keep her around. Yan Zijing refused and advised Kang Ju to find some work instead of having thoughts about Duan Wu.

Duan Wu and her brother Xiao Xiami stayed temporarily on the ship. Since the ship did not keep idle people, the siblings began working like the other servants. Duan Wu reminded her brother to quickly familiarize himself with the situation and the crew members so they could escape when the opportunity arose. Despite his young age, Xiao Xiami soon gathered information about everyone on the ship.

Duan Wu listened intently when Xiao Xiami mentioned that there was a warrior named Kang Ju, who often accompanied Yan Zijing. She noted that this could be useful in the future. On the deck, there was a person named Cao Tou, who spoke very gently and frequently helped the servants buy things. Everyone liked his manner, and during payday, they entrusted him with their wages to buy supplies.

However, when Xiao Xiami heard Cao Tou's prices, he immediately told Duan Wu that Cao Tou charged double the market price, revealing his unscrupulous nature. Duan Wu instructed Xiao Xiami not to share this information, emphasizing that they were living under someone else's roof and could face danger at any time; caution was essential. Duan Wu learned that the ship would dock the next day. She sought out Yan Zijing, specifically requesting permission to go ashore.

She argued that working in the ship's hold for a lifetime wouldn’t allow her to buy back the pearls. Yan Zijing agreed to her request but emphasized that as long as she could clean the entire deck before dawn, he would let her and her brother go. Cui Ding, unable to withstand the beatings, bit his tongue and took his own life, declaring before he died that Yan Zijing's sister was in Shaozhou.

With this information, Yan Zijing planned to dock in Shaozhou to host a pearl poetry gathering, inviting noble participants. To further his plans, he instructed his subordinates to announce that the winner would be rewarded with ten taels of pearls. Duan Wu had originally pleaded with Zhang Jinran to let her go ashore to trade and earn money. To her surprise, while he permitted her to disembark, he required her to work instead.

When Duan Wu and Xiao Xiami were forced to scrub the deck with rags, her unwillingness was palpable when she saw Yan Zijing again. Participants arrived continuously for the poetry gathering. When Cui Shijiu spotted Duan Wu, he mocked her, claiming that a lowly servant like her could not stand on the stage. Duan Wu recognized Cui Shijiu; he was the one who demanded large quantities of pearls every year, leading to the deaths of countless pearl divers.

Without flinching, Duan Wu warned Cui Shijiu not to be too proud, reminding him that each pearl from the Cui family was stained with blood and they would not receive a good return. Cui Shijiu and Duan Wu got into a scuffle. Although Duan Wu resisted, she was pinned to the ground by Cui Shijiu and was unable to move. Fortunately, Zhang Jinran happened to pass by, prompting Cui Shijiu to release Duan Wu.

At the poetry gathering, Zhang Jinran spontaneously recited a poem about the hardships of the pearl divers, earning loud applause. When he wrote of pearls filled with the tears of mermaids, Duan Wu felt grateful and wept, recalling how she had once asked Zhang Jinran to write about the hardships of pearl divers. Now, her wish had come true, providing a small comfort to the unnoticed divers who had suffered. This poetry gathering brought Cui Shijiu and Zhang Jinran together again.

Zhang Jinran's men had discovered Cui Ding's corpse, and the coroner reported that Cui Ding had been brutally tortured before his death. Zhang Jinran suspected that Yan Zijing had killed Cui Ding, asserting that a life for a life. Yan Zijing countered that he had never even met Cui Ding and asked Duan Wu to testify on his behalf. When Duan Wu saw Yan Zijing’s eyes, she immediately understood how to respond.

She also claimed that she had been on Yan Zijing's ship the whole time and had not seen Cui Ding. Zhang Jinran had always viewed Duan Wu as honest. Now hearing her cover for Yan Zijing, he could not help but warn her that protecting a criminal would lead to punishment. Unmoved, Duan Wu requested a reward from Yan Zijing after Zhang Jinran left.

Duan Wu was determined to find a way to leave the ship sooner. After some strategic persuasion, Yan Zijing agreed to let her go. But now that she was getting off the ship, what business should she pursue? Duan Wu pondered endlessly, knowing only that she could sell scrap materials.

In the past, Cao Tou sold them at eighteen coins per jin, but Duan Wu thought she could refine the scraps, with some even being sellable to pharmacies, which would yield extra profit. To gather enough scrap material, Duan Wu gathered her courage and approached Wei Yan at the guards' association, sharing her calculated profits with him. Since Duan Wu was willing to put in the effort and Wei Yan could make extra money, she agreed to help.

She led Duan Wu to the person in charge of producing the scrap, and Duan Wu managed to secure a total of two hundred jin of material. Duan Wu had no intention of keeping all the profits for herself. She shared the materials with her fellow slaves who worked in the ship's hold, and they were all delighted to help. They began diligently refining the scraps together.

When the day to disembark finally came, Duan Wu struggled to pull her cart full of goods, while Xiao Xiami could only see her off to the dock. He reminded her to move to the next buyer if her first negotiation didn’t work out. In her first business venture, Duan Wu lacked experience and faced many rejections.

The pharmacy owners, seeing her as a stranger and a non-resident, worried they wouldn’t have recourse if the medicinal materials were of poor quality, so they refused to do business with her. Meanwhile, after the fire at the He Pu Pearl Factory, Cui Shiqi realized he couldn’t fulfill the imperial order, so he secretly instructed his men to retrieve the required pearls for the court, regardless of the cost.

As Yan Zijing’s ship neared Guangzhou, he considered the importance of future business there and decided to go ashore to meet the local alliance leader. Yan Zijing had countless colorful gems from the Western regions in his cabin, and by presenting just a few as gifts, the local alliance leader would see him as a friend and agree to help him sell the pearls, as long as Yan Zijing adhered to the profit-sharing rules.

After much effort, Duan Wu finally found a buyer willing to take her goods. He gave her a silver note and directed her to a nearby bank to collect the money. But upon presenting the note, she was told that the stamp on it was fake. Panic-stricken, Duan Wu rushed back to confront the buyer at the pharmacy, only to encounter Cao Tou. He claimed that her delivery was short and immediately tried to drag her to Yan Zijing.

Yan Zijing was very surprised, but when Cao Tou mentioned two hundred and ten jin of goods, Duan Wu realized the truth. When weighing the materials earlier, only she and the swindler were present, so how could Cao Tou know the exact amount? Clearly, he had been in on the scheme from the start. Duan Wu was tied to the deck and punished with twenty lashes. Yan Zijing then ordered her to return to the hold as a slave.

Duan Wu pleaded with Yan Zijing for one more chance, promising to retrieve the lost goods. Yan Zijing, seeing her tear-filled eyes and recognizing a spirit similar to his own past struggles, granted her request. That night, Duan Wu quietly sneaked into Cao Tou's quarters. Pressing a dagger to his throat, she demanded the location of the swindler’s hideout. To save his life, Cao Tou disclosed the details, and Duan Wu ventured there immediately, successfully retrieving the money.

After submitting the required amount, Duan Wu kept her rightful share. Yan Zijing, however, was not pleased with her actions and insisted on punishing her for her negligence. Confused, Duan Wu didn’t understand why, after retrieving the money, she still faced such harsh treatment. Yan Zijing reminded her that selling scrap materials had encroached on Cao Tou’s business, so naturally, she would encounter obstacles. Duan Wu wondered why Yan Zijing continued to protect Cao Tou, despite his constant schemes.

Yan Zijing explained that as long as Cao Tou could accomplish tasks he assigned, he was valuable and wouldn’t be discarded. Determined, Duan Wu resolved to become someone valuable to Yan Zijing.

Cui Shijiu spent a large amount of silver but received only poor-quality goods. Staring at the small, uneven pearls filling half a box, she was furious. At the same time that Cui Shijiu was purchasing pearls, Yan Zijing was also buying up high-quality pearls at exorbitant prices. When Cui Shijiu received a report from her subordinates, she realized that Zhang Jinran had used a tactic to undercut her efforts. Cui Shijiu went to see Yan Zijing herself.

She initially intended to bluff Zhang Jinran, claiming that the court had grievances against him and suggesting that he present pearls to show his loyalty. Yan Zijing, however, was not so easily deceived. He replied that he was a law-abiding businessman with no need to prove loyalty to the court. Yan Zijing then had his men bring out the gems, and upon seeing the full box of dazzling pearls, Cui Shijiu’s interest was piqued.

With the tribute date approaching, she urgently needed these items and was willing to pay a high price to obtain them. Yan Zijing's arrogance greatly angered Cui Shiqi. When he learned of the fire in He Pu and how Yan Zijing had deceived the local steward with fake gold, he quickly reported it to his brother. Xu Nanying, who had recently faced court reprimands, dared not associate with Yan Zijing any further.

Duan Wu and her sisters finally had the chance to go ashore. At the market, one of the young women admired a red hairpin, and Duan Wu noticed that the flowers on the hairpin were made from scrap material. Remembering the scrap left on the ship, Duan Wu spent the night drawing designs, crafting a plum blossom pattern, and specifically called Xiao Xiami to ask which wood would be suitable for the hairpin.

Xiao Xiami suggested old ship wood, explaining that its exposure to wind and rain had made it as sturdy as iron. Once, when Xiao Xiami was with Cao Tou, he saw him sell coral beads to the most famous jewelry store in town. New to the area, Duan Wu had to think of ways to approach this shop. Learning that the shopkeeper’s favorite daughter was Pan Family’s Jiu Niangzi, Duan Wu hurriedly made a pearl hairpin for her overnight.

Jiu Niangzi of the Pan Family was truly unfortunate; both of her fiancés had died one after another, and people rumored that she brought misfortune to her husbands. Because of this, she spent her days in tears, always veiled. Hearing that Jiu Niangzi would be visiting the temple soon, Duan Wu deliberately went as well, crying and kneeling before the statue, claiming that she, too, was a bringer of misfortune to her husband.

Fortunately, the deity had blessed her, and she was given a coral hairpin, finally turning her luck around. Duan Wu spoke persuasively, and Jiu Niangzi, upon hearing that Duan Wu shared her misfortune, felt a kinship and asked her about the coral hairpin. Just as Duan Wu was about to sell the coral hairpin, Zhang Jinran unexpectedly appeared and exposed her scheme in front of everyone. Jiu Niangzi was furious and walked off immediately.

Zhang Jinran reminded Duan Wu that she shouldn’t be blinded by greed. Although boarding Yan Zijing's merchant ship had taught her some tricks of deception, such tactics were not sustainable. Business required trust, he explained. If Jiu Niangzi had taken Duan Wu’s hairpin but failed to see her luck change, she would hold a grudge, and there would be no long-term relationship between them.

Although Duan Wu felt that the difference between her and Zhang Jinran was like heaven and earth, she realized he made a valid point. She decided to apologize to Jiu Niangzi in person and even rented a dress for the occasion. Duan Wu took Jiu Niangzi to see a fortune-teller, pretending to be Pan Family’s daughter. The fortune-teller immediately made up a story, saying her facial features brought misfortune and that her birth sign was bad.

Duan Wu exposed her scheme on the spot, questioning how her appearance could reveal anything as she wasn’t even married. The fortune-teller had no choice but to admit that she was speaking nonsense. Jiu Niangzi finally realized that her supposed "fate" was all fabricated and that a random, deceitful matchmaker could not reveal her destiny. Duan Wu advised Jiu Niangzi to have confidence in herself, reminding her that as long as she didn’t falter, no one could look down on her. Moved by Duan Wu’s support, Jiu Niangzi immediately signed an order, marking Duan Wu’s very first business transaction.

Cui Shijiu organized a "Mermaid Treasure Hunt" specifically to undermine Yan Zijing, presenting him with a declaration of participation. If Yan Zijing failed to succeed in the treasure hunt, he would lose his qualification to purchase pearls in Guangzhou. When Yan Zijing asked who would join the competition, everyone knew it was exceptionally dangerous, and no one volunteered. Cao Tou then devised a method for everyone to draw lots.

He had Duan Wu draw first, and when she picked a bamboo stick, it was red-tipped. She overturned the bamboo container and discovered that all the sticks were red. Yan Zijing agreed to allow a re-draw, but seeing her friends around her trembling with fear, Duan Wu, who had grown up in the water, volunteered for the task.

As the competition approached, Yan Zijing gave Duan Wu a gold-threaded vest to wear for protection, saying it could save her life if necessary. Duan Wu was grateful for Yan Zijing’s gift. Even though she could opt out of the competition, she was determined to acquire the red pearl to find her father, willing to face any danger to achieve her goal. When the competition began, it was revealed that they were supposed to dive into the sea to retrieve treasures.

However, the officials in charge abruptly changed the rules to require them to hunt for treasures on land. As a woman, Duan Wu had little chance of winning in such a contest. Yan Zijing was aware that something was off about the competition, but since they were already on the ship, they had to abide by the rules. Using her cleverness and bravery, Duan Wu managed to grab a treasure.

However, she encountered Cheng Yaojin along the way, while competitors were closing in behind her. Duan Wu was secretly injured; someone stabbed her in the waist with a dagger. Fortunately, the golden vest from Yan Zijing prevented the blade from hitting a vital area. Seeing Duan Wu about to fall from a height, Yan Zijing leaped over and caught her securely. With no time left in the competition, Yan Zijing supported Duan Wu while continuing to retrieve treasures.

Noticing that the competitors were armed, he fought fiercely without holding back, finally putting his regular practice to good use. Yan Zijing struck down the pearls from Cui Shijiu’s subordinates, causing them to shatter. Despite this, Duan Wu still lost the competition, as the pearls ended up in the hands of Cui Shijiu’s team. The officials judging the event had been bribed by Cui Shijiu, and without consideration, they declared her team the winners.

Duan Wu was severely injured and, upon hearing the results, coughed up blood in distress. Zhang Jinran, who was present, immediately carried her to see a doctor. With the loss in the competition, Yan Zijing also lost the right to purchase pearls in Guangzhou. After drinking the medicine prescribed by the doctor, Duan Wu slowly regained consciousness.

Zhang Jinran advised her not to take further risks with Yan Zijing, offering her a token to find someone in the city who would give her a job. Duan Wu declined Zhang Jinran’s kindness, explaining that she couldn't leave without obtaining the red pearl. Zhang Jinran insisted on providing her with another safety net, but she refused, knowing she couldn’t repay his generosity.

Zhang Jinran took Duan Wu to the dock, where Yan Zijing watched the two say their goodbyes from the deck. Duan Wu approached Yan Zijing to accept her punishment. Yan Zijing presented her with two options: one was to leave the ship and serve him as a personal maid, never to bring up joining the merchant group again; the other was to return to the hold and receive twenty lashes, then continue to work hard.

Duan Wu chose the second option without hesitation. As for the lashes, Duan Wu argued that even though the merchant group lost the competition, everyone had seen their strength and the business they had brought, balancing out their faults and merits. Understanding that the merchant group had lost the right to purchase pearls in Guangzhou, Duan Wu suggested to Yan Zijing that they could collect pearls through other jewelers.

She was familiar with Pan Family’s Jiu Niangzi, whose jewelry store was well-known in the area. Yan Zijing did not oppose Duan Wu’s suggestion but reminded her not to be deceived like she was when selling scrap material the first time. Duan Wu received her payment and moved onto the ship with her brother, Xiao Xiami, finally escaping the damp hold. Xiao Xiami was overjoyed.

Cao Da usually dealt in scrap materials, and Duan Wu’s involvement deprived him of a chance to make money. To bribe his superiors, he brought fine wine. Now that Duan Wu was shining in front of Yan Zijing, many were waiting to see her fail. Duan Wu made some exquisite hairpins to send to Feng Shi. The handmade hairpins sold very well in Feng Shi’s jewelry shop.

During this visit, Duan Wu shared her thoughts on purchasing pearls, mentioning the uproar around the Mermaid Treasure Hunt. Feng Shi confirmed that Duan Wu had been caught up in the turmoil and, as a good sister, agreed to lend her support. Feng Shi invited Duan Wu out for tea, and they happened to run into Zhang Jinran, who had been expelled from the inn.

Having received help from Zhang Jinran before, Duan Wu invited him to join them for tea. During their conversation, Zhang Jinran explained that he had been schemed against and no inn would accept him, mentioning that he was considering staying with Yan Zijing. Duan Wu merely facilitated the introduction. When Yan Zijing met Zhang Jinran, he was far from friendly, mocking him before surprisingly agreeing to let him stay.

After Zhang Jinran left, Yan Zijing told his servant that Xu Nanying feared Zhang Jinran might have something on him and had already begun to act. Given that Xu Nanying was an official, he was now investigating the substantial reduction in the pearl tribute. Yan Zijing instructed his subordinates to be cautious during their operations. Late at night, Yan Zijing privately met with Zhang Jinran.

Zhang Jinran was well aware of Yan Zijing’s activities in Guangzhou and couldn’t help but suspect Yan Zijing’s motives against the Cui family. First, he burned down the Pearl Pavilion, then purchased pearls at high prices, making it impossible for Cui Shijiu to buy even one. Zhang Jinran asked what grudges Yan Zijing held against Cui Shijiu, but Yan Zijing deflected with a casual excuse. Staying at Yan Zijing’s place was undoubtedly the safest option for Zhang Jinran.

Yan Zijing’s merchant ship was filled with skilled people and heavily guarded. They had already found the ledger, and once they secured testimony from someone with insider knowledge, they could decisively move to capture the culprits. Yan Zijing opened a hidden room in his quarters and invited Duan Wu inside. It was her first time in such a secretive place, and she was amazed by the countless rare treasures, all of which were the finest goods from the southern regions.

Duan Wu couldn’t help but question Yan Zijing’s true intentions. Yan Zijing casually picked up a jade hairpin and gave it to her, reminding her that she would represent the merchant group at the upcoming bidding event for pearls. He insisted she dress appropriately and assured her that he intended to acquire all the pearls at the exhibition. For years, Xu Nanying had been secretly colluding with the Cui family to line his own pockets.

Now that Zhang Jinran had evidence against him, and news spread that Zhang had sent the ledger to the palace overnight, Xu Nanying feared for his safety. Upon hearing this news, he became tense and decided to eliminate this “obstacle” by sending someone to assassinate Zhang Jinran. Zhang Jinran, having learned some skills and being quick-witted, managed to escape the ambush. His subordinates secretly followed the assassin and discovered he was heading to Xu Nanying’s place.

Upon hearing that Zhang Jinran was injured, Duan Wu rushed to visit him, bringing medicine. Zhang Jinran warned her that Yan Zijing was cunning and ruthless, advising her not to continue following the merchant group. Duan Wu confessed that being here gave her hope. Zhang Jinran remarked that Yan Zijing thrived in a survival-of-the-fittest environment. Duan Wu agreed but noted that someone in her position lived each day on the edge.

Yan Zijing heard news that his sister might really be in Shaozhou, and that Guangzhou was no longer safe. Duan Wu urged her subordinates to finish their tasks quickly and head to Shaozhou. Cao Da, upon learning that Duan Wu was going out with Wei Si today, found an excuse to tie Xiao Xiami up in the hold and subjected him to severe punishment.

Duan Wu rode in a carriage with Wei Si Hui to purchase treasures. It was her first time riding in a carriage, and she found it very novel. Suddenly, Wei Si Hui claimed to have a stomach ache, prompting Duan Wu to go negotiate business alone. She mentioned that the box she carried was filled with gold bars, enough to buy the other party’s jewels. Finally meeting the jewel merchant, Duan Wu offered to buy all the jewels.

However, when she opened the box to show the deposit, she discovered it was filled with pebbles. Duan Wu broke out in a cold sweat, her mind racing. She immediately approached the N Hai merchant Shi Nawai to propose a collaboration. They could create the most exquisite hairpins, adorned with N Hai merchant’s pearls, which would double their price. Merchants valued profit above all else, and the price of pearl hairpins far exceeded the cost of raw materials.

Shi Nawai agreed to bring the finished hairpins the next day, promising that if he was satisfied, all the pearls would be handed over to Yan Zijing. When Duan Wu returned to the fleet, she found Wei Si Hui tied to a wooden pillar, being severely tortured. Yan Zijing had discovered evidence of Wei Si Hui’s secret dealings with Cui Shijiu, including numerous property deeds and land contracts given to him.

Yan Zijing publicly announced that Wei Si Hui would be executed. Duan Wu stepped in front of Wei Si Hui, pleading for his life, but Zhang Jinran also reminded Yan Zijing that he should not handle matters privately. Relenting, Yan Zijing decided to throw Wei Si Hui into the sea instead. As the crowd dispersed, Duan Wu held the box filled with pebbles, asking Yan Zijing if this was the outcome he had anticipated.

Yan Zijing nodded in confirmation, and Duan Wu’s eyes filled with tears. She had once felt fortunate to be with the right people, but now realized they were merely pawns in a larger game. Duan Wu's brother, Xiao Xiami, bore numerous scars from the severe beatings he had endured and was unable to move.

Seeing her brother’s injuries caused Duan Wu great pain, but Xiao Xiami comforted her, urging her not to hold a grudge against Cao Da and the others, as they were too powerful for people like them to contend with. The next day, Duan Wu presented her handmade hairpins to Shi Nawai, who was very pleased.

He had originally planned to do business with Yan Zijing, but Cui Shijiu also brought several jewelry designs, as he was an official merchant who supplied the palace with exquisite goods. The craftsmanship of Cui Shijiu's jewelry far surpassed what Duan Wu had made. To secure the pearls, Cui Shijiu raised his offer by twenty percent and put down a deposit of five hundred gold. Such a high price was beyond Yan Zijing's means, prompting Duan Wu to decisively withdraw.

Before leaving, she quietly warned Cui Shijiu to be careful, as he might not sell them for that price and risk losing everything. That night, Wei Si Hui had just crawled ashore when Yan Zijing slit his throat with a sword. Yan Zijing acted swiftly, but still allowed someone in the shadows to witness the act.

The next day, Wei Si Hui’s body was found on the ship, and Xu Nanying offered a hefty reward for information, leading to Yan Zijing being bound and taken away by Xu Nanying's men. The plot twisted rapidly, leaving Duan Wu feeling bewildered. Yan Zijing was always meticulous; how could he leave behind evidence? And now that he had been captured by the officials, what would happen next?

Yan Zijing’s confidant, Kang Ju, called Duan Wu to a room and handed her a blood pearl, urging her to leave while she could. Duan Wu was surprised that Yan Zijing had provided this blood pearl after just being captured, and she still owed him the three hundred gold they had agreed upon. Kang Ju insisted that Duan Wu take what she had and leave, cautioning her not to get involved in this conflict, but Duan Wu hesitated to depart.

As the officials searched the merchant fleet, they began hauling box after box of jewels out. Duan Wu devised a plan, intentionally letting Pang Congshi overhear that there were still treasures in Yan Zijing’s room. Later that night, Pang Congshi, along with Cao Da, attempted to steal the treasures but was caught red-handed by Kang Ju. Internal theft was a serious offense, and Kang Ju tied them up on the deck. Duan Wu personally took the whip to punish them. Watching Duan Wu, who seemed delicate, wield the whip, Zhang Jinran couldn’t help but reflect on how she had become as cold-blooded as Yan Zijing.

Zhang Jinran came from a prestigious family, well-versed in literature and ethics since childhood. Naturally, he couldn’t bear to witness such a scene. In contrast, Duan Wu had grown up in an environment filled with deception and survival of the fittest, so she was more aware of the harsh realities of life.

With less than ten days left before the tribute pearls were to be presented, Cui Shijiu was willing to go to any lengths to buy the jewels that Yan Zijing had acquired from the officials. Duan Wu took Zhao Guan Shi into the secret room of the fleet, where she was greeted by a sight of rare treasures. Zhao Guan Shi realized that if they pawned these jewels, they could participate in the official auction.

Duan Wu recalled Yan Zijing’s instructions to buy all the pearls, leaving none for the Cui family. Late at night, Kang Ju reported to Yan Zijing about Duan Wu's intention to participate in the jewel purchase and asked if he wanted to intervene. Yan Zijing waved his hand, expressing interest in seeing how Duan Wu would choose. He believed in playing his moves without regrets; many things had been meticulously planned in advance.

Even if Duan Wu didn’t meet his expectations, he had the capability to deal with the aftermath. At the auction, Duan Wu invited Zhuo Bao Zhai to participate, and Cui Shijiu was also present. All the auctioned jewels were sealed, and nobody knew what was inside the large boxes; it was a blind auction. Initially, Zhuo Bao Zhai and Duan Wu competed to raise the price, while Cui Shijiu's grandfather was unwilling to fall behind.

Cui Shijiu anxiously urged her grandfather to be extremely careful, warning that Yan Zijing was cunning and they were no match for him. However, Cui Shijiu's father had always looked down on her and paid no heed to her words. Kang Ju had learned that Cui Shijiu brought two thousand six hundred taels of silver to the auction. The bidding price soared as Duan Wu pushed it to two thousand five hundred fifty taels.

Fearing to fall behind, Cui Shijiu's father finally bid two million six hundred thousand taels of silver, securing the auction for Cui Shijiu. The officials instructed Cui Shijiu to sign the auction documents, and once that was done, they began opening the sealed boxes. Cui Shijiu’s father was dismayed to find that the boxes contained worthless trinkets, leading to a sudden fainting spell from the shock. Duan Wu felt her heart leap into her throat.

Fortunately, Cui Shijiu had successfully bid; if he had withdrawn, she would have been left with nothing but trash! At that moment, Yan Zijing emerged with Wei Si Hui in full view of everyone—Wei Si Hui was alive! The initial arrest of Yan Zijing had been due to murder, but now that Wei Si Hui was unharmed, Yan Zijing's charges were rendered baseless. Cui Shijiu realized she had been fooled again, this time losing everything the Cui family had accumulated.

After the successful auction, Yan Zijing hosted a celebration banquet on the deck. Duan Wu voluntarily assisted Zhao Guan Shi in requesting rewards. Yan Zijing happily agreed and asked Zhao Guan Shi what reward he desired. Zhao Guan Shi candidly expressed his wish to return home to farm, given his old age.

Yan Zijing, understanding Zhao Guan Shi’s diligent service over the years and his numerous efforts during critical times, not only gave him a generous reward but also gifted him a shop in Yangzhou. Zhao Guan Shi was deeply touched, and seeing their leader's generosity, everyone became more willing to serve Yan Zijing. Cui Shijiu blamed the consequences of the auction on Cui Shijiu, who had never been one to quietly accept a subordinate role.

Learning that Xu Nanying had already prepared the lotus platform for tribute, she secretly sought out Xu Nanying, hoping for a few more days to negotiate. She believed that with just a little breathing room, they could overcome their difficulties. Xu Nanying, never one to make unprofitable deals, started to relent upon hearing that Cui Shijiu could help eliminate Zhang Jinran. Cui Shijiu sought out Cui Jia to plot Zhang Jinran's elimination but unexpectedly found Duan Wu present as well.

Zhang Jinran was about to leave Guangzhou and planned to take Duan Wu to explore the Hu people’s market. However, they soon encountered pursuers. Duan Wu recognized that the pursuer was Cui Jia. Angered, she picked up a large stick and charged at him, but Cui Jia managed to escape.

During the day, Zhang Jinran was attacked, and in the evening, Yan Zijing hosted a banquet for him to calm his nerves. As they drank and chatted, Zhang Jinran reflected on Yan Zijing's methods. Recently, Yan Zijing had been relentlessly pressuring the Cui family, destroying the Pearl Tower and devising a plan at the auction that left Cui Shijiu's assets completely depleted—clearly, there was a deep grudge.

Yan Zijing didn’t give him a direct answer but provided a clue: Cui Shijiu had agreed to give another person dozens of tribute pearls annually, suggesting there was another party involved in this case. Zhang Jinran had found a sheepskin scroll at the Pearl Tower, with some details about Ba Niang. When Duan Wu saw the scroll, she noticed a Yan family hairpin and the name of a mysterious person, Yu Shi.

Duan Wu wondered if this Yu Shi could be her father. In her free time, she shared her suspicions with Yan Zijing. Yan Zijing didn’t deny the matter of the hairpin but pointed out that the Cui family mentioned on the scroll was entirely wiped out. Yan Zijing once saw Yu Shi tortured to death but chose to avoid worrying Duan Wu, saying instead that Yu Shi's whereabouts were unknown.

With the tribute pearls delayed, Cui Shijiu’s father would inevitably face punishment from the emperor. Unwilling to see her father punished, Cui Shijiu volunteered to take responsibility. Her father, knowing how to handle such matters, explained that he’d kept her out of the business because she was, after all, a woman. Kneeling before him, Cui Shijiu reminded him that years ago, Prince Tan had shown interest in her.

If she agreed to become his concubine, the family’s troubles could be resolved. Cui Shijiu’s father agreed, willing to sacrifice his daughter’s happiness to save the family. Cui Shijiu set out with the lotus platform to meet Prince Tan. Along the way, she noticed blooming dandelions and lamented that her fate was as insignificant as a weed, completely beyond her control. Just then, Zheng Zhiheng approached and greeted her.

The two had once been engaged, and he’d heard some of the Cui family’s recent troubles. Pretending to offer help, he struck Cui Shijiu when she was off guard and stole the lotus platform. Now, with the precious platform gone, Cui Shijiu was plunged into utter despair. The fleet continued toward Shaozhou, and Zhang Jinran, thinking of investigating the Yue family, also directed his men toward Shaozhou.

After many monotonous days at sea, Yan Zijing announced a competition: whoever won would get the whole table of venison. Hearing that Xiao Xiami had never tasted venison, Duan Wu boldly joined the competition, asking Yan Zijing if she could distribute the meat among all the slaves if she won. Yan Zijing agreed. Yan Zijing performed admirably, using his agility and clever moves to secure victory.

Impressed by Duan Wu’s skills, especially her proficiency with short swords, Yan Zijing instructed his men to give her a short sword. Duan Wu was thrilled with the gift, thinking it a kind gesture, and immediately crafted a wrist-mounted crossbow as a return gift. Recently, she’d been studying the writing on the sheepskin scroll and, recalling that Yan Zijing claimed he could read it, she went to him for guidance.

Yan Zijing couldn’t recognize the exotic script on the parchment, but he had a drawing of an identical piece of jewelry. When he showed it to Duan Wu, she was quite surprised to finally see the jewelry depicted in the painting. When they arrived in Shaozhou, Yan Zijing heard from his men about a famous local jewelry engraver called the Jade Guanyin, whose real name was Yue Yunxiu.

The pieces carved by Yue Yunxiu were known for their lifelike precision and extraordinary craftsmanship. After disembarking, Yan Zijing personally visited her residence. That day, the Yue household was bustling with visitors—it turned out they were hosting a groom-selection event. Yan Zijing, intrigued, joined the excitement by claiming he had come to propose. Inside the hall, many men stared intently at the woman seated in the center, calmly working on her carving.

This woman had delicate features, smooth skin, and a face like a peach blossom; not only was she stunning, but her skill was also remarkable. Despite the crowd’s distractions, she remained fully focused. Yan Zijing, who had traveled far and met countless people, immediately noticed her belt accessory, and his expression changed.

The string of fish beads was a gift he’d carved himself as a birthday present for his sister years ago, but she had been missing for a long time. Now, seeing someone who resembled her so closely, Yan Zijing was determined not to let this chance slip by. During the gathering, some men began offering prices to buy the item in the Jade Guanyin’s hands. Yan Zijing understood this was essentially a competition for her hand in marriage.

Without hesitation, he made a high offer, stating he was willing to exhaust his entire fortune to marry the Jade Guanyin. Seeing Yan Zijing’s eagerness to marry this remarkably skilled woman in mere minutes, Duan Wu found it uncharacteristic—especially for someone as cautious as Yan Zijing. Curious, she tried to ask him about it, but Yan Zijing gave nothing away and instead urged her to arrange the proposal promptly.

The next day, Duan Wu visited the Jade Guanyin and saw that her focus was solely on her jade carvings. In Yue Yunxiu’s room, Duan Wu noticed a statue of a flying deity, which she had seen on the sheepskin scroll before. Along with this statue, there were also many completed works based on designs from the paintings. Upon returning, Duan Wu reported to Yan Zijing that Yue Yunxiu had a strong preference for white jade.

Yan Zijing immediately ordered his men to deliver all the white jade from the ship to Yue Yunxiu. During a subsequent visit, Duan Wu discovered an issue with the milk Yue Yunxiu was using to soak her hands. Yue Yunxiu explained that her father had brought her the milk, but after soaking her hands in it for several days, she experienced weakness and pain in her hands.

Although Yue Yunxiu was reluctant to use the milk, she felt pressured by her father. Before leaving, Duan Wu secretly took a sample of the milk to a medical clinic, where a doctor confirmed it was poisoned. Duan Wu boldly speculated that Yue Yunxiu’s father feared that if his daughter married, the value of her jade carvings would drop.

To ensure these items became rare, he devised a cruel plan: if something tragic happened to the Jade Guanyin, her works would immediately increase in worth. Around this time, Zhang Jinran also arrived in Shaozhou and happened to spot Duan Wu near the Yue residence. Reunited, Zhang Jinran shared with her the clues he’d uncovered there.

Seeing the statue of the flying deity had already raised Duan Wu’s suspicions about Yan Zijing’s true identity, and now she learned from Zhang Jinran that the Yan family of Yangzhou had once owned the famous He Pu territory. The Yan family had been a prominent treasure-trading family in Yangzhou, known for their iconic court gifts—the lotus platform with a flying deity statue.

Had it been presented to the imperial court, it would have secured their place as the foremost jewelry merchants in the country. However, during a palace banquet, the national treasure suddenly shattered, and palace attendants discovered all the jewelry pieces were fakes. Just as the emperor prepared to punish the Yan family and investigate, the entire family was wiped out, and the case was left unresolved.

The perceptive Duan Wu pieced everything together and realized that Yan Zijing’s true identity was likely that of the Yan family. The woman he was so willing to give up his fortune to marry must be his long-lost sister.

Yan Zijing returned to Old Yue and confronted him about the jade he previously asked the Zhang family to purchase for him, which later turned out to be fake. Zhang claimed that Old Yue was behind it all and directed Yan Zijing to confront him. Trembling, Old Yue explained that Zhang had known all along the jade was fake. Yan Zijing then prepared to report him to the authorities.

Afraid of being arrested, Old Yue quickly proposed a deal: he could arrange for Yue Yunxiu to marry Yan Zijing, and they could negotiate a price. Yan Zijing, enraged, struck him with a whip, declaring that Yue Yunxiu was his own sister and didn’t need Old Yue’s approval. Surprised, Old Yue explained that Yue Yunxiu was the illegitimate daughter of his older brother and a concubine named Xiaoniang.

After his brother passed away, Xiaoniang left her daughter to be raised by Old Yue. He added that the string of beads Yan Zijing mentioned had merely been something he’d found. According to Old Yue, Yan Zijing's sister—the one who wore the beads—had died in a horse-riding accident years ago. Yan Zijing trembled with anger, feeling the pain of learning that the sister he had searched for all these years had already passed away.

Furious, he was about to draw his sword to kill Old Yue, but his servants and Duan Wu held him back. Seeing Yan Zijing's deep sorrow, Duan Wu empathized, recalling the day she left Pearl Tower and witnessed her own mother sacrificing her life to protect her. Having lost the only family member she had, Duan Wu understood the pain of feeling severed from the world.

To help Yan Zijing through his grief, Duan Wu stayed by his side that night, drinking with him. They shared their stories of losing their sisters and the warmth they once received from their mothers, finding solace in each other's company. Duan Wu reminded Yan Zijing to always look up for hope, and at that moment, her words brought him genuine warmth. Meanwhile, Cui Shijiu, having lost her last bargaining chip—the lotus platform—was left with no options.

Seated in her palanquin, she resolved to make a final, desperate attempt. She remembered that the Cui family once ran a pearl business in Wuzhi, though Cui Bagong had been exiled there after coveting the family head position and being expelled by their father. Wuzhi’s business was now reportedly thriving, and Cui Bagong, with his extensive network, likely still had pearls. When she arrived in Wuzhi, despite its reputation for wealth, she found it desolate, with starving people everywhere.

A mother, near death from hunger, desperately begged Cui Shijiu to take her starving child and save her life. Moved, Cui Shijiu ordered her servants to give the impoverished woman some money. Cui Bagong was surprised to see Cui Shijiu. With a silver tongue, she convinced him that their father had finally let go of his resentment and was willing to reinstate him in the family register.

Having built up some wealth over the years, Cui Bagong was tempted by the prospect of an official return to the family, so he decided to trust her for now. He secretly instructed his men to monitor her, warning that if she didn’t display the family seal at the evening banquet, they should take further action. Under Yan Zijing’s control and unable to withstand further torture, Old Yue confessed that Cui Bagong was also involved in the jade forgery scheme.

Originally, Cui Bagong had cooperated with the Cui family, but after open and hidden conflicts with Cui Shijiu’s father, he was exiled to Wuling. Old Yue revealed that Cui Bagong and the vicious gang Li Longdao had ruthlessly slaughtered the Yan family. Just as Old Yue finished confessing, the authorities arrived. Yan Zijing brought the flying deity statue he’d taken from the Yue residence and placed it before Duan Wu.

He asked her to bring out the blood bead and place it in the hand of the deity statue. Instantly, the two pieces fit perfectly together—the blood bead and the statue were part of the same whole. Duan Wu realized that the craftsman behind the statue was Yu Shi, her father, and excitedly asked Yan Zijing if they would find him in the Western Regions.

Looking at her eager face, Yan Zijing hesitated before admitting that Yu Shi was indeed her father and the chief craftsman of Yan Prefecture. Ba Niang, once a maid, was the one who betrayed him, and Yu Shi ultimately met his end because of the Yan family. Duan Wu urgently wanted to understand why the tribute had become counterfeit and asked which stage of the process had failed.

Yan Zijing explained that the royal tribute delivery was handled by Li Longdao. That night, Duan Wu cried bitterly. She had held onto the hope of finding her father, her only remaining family, yet now she learned that both her parents were gone, leaving her utterly alone in the world. At the banquet, Cui Shijiu unexpectedly took out the family head’s seal, publicly announcing that their father had decided to put her in charge of Wuling’s mineral assets. The crowd was stunned, and Cui Bagong, upon hearing the news, fainted on the spot.

After Cui Bagong fainted, he suddenly began having seizures, lying on the bed, gasping for breath with difficulty. His personal guards called many doctors, but none could help. Cui Shijiu was not surprised by Cui Bagong's sudden collapse. She prepared a herbal remedy and carefully gave it to him, which finally brought him around. Suspicious of the medicine, Cui Bagong's guard questioned her.

Cui Shijiu explained that all Cui family members suffer from a peculiar illness, which she herself experiences, so she always keeps a remedy on hand. The guard remained silent; regardless of whether her explanation was true, Cui Bagong now needed the cure she had. When her maid asked if she truly had the illness, Cui Shijiu recalled that her father once mentioned that horse chestnut could relieve Cui Bagong’s allergic reactions. This was only a temporary measure.

Yan Zijing planned to continue heading to the Western Regions to pursue Li Longdao. Duan Wu, seeking revenge for her father, pleaded with Yan Zijing to let her accompany him. The recently rescued Yue Yunxiu, temporarily homeless, also joined them as they left Guangzhou together. During the long journey, Yan Zijing, to pass the time, encouraged Duan Wu to learn how to brew tea.

Carefully following the steps, Duan Wu tried her hand at making tea for the first time, although she was unaccustomed to it and muttered that she came to learn business skills from Yan Zijing, not trivial tasks. Zhang Jinran, playfully mysterious, reminded her to focus on brewing tea first, promising that everything else would be negotiable. However, Duan Wu wasn’t so easily fooled, continuing to refill Yan Zijing's tea to curry favor.

Seeing her intentions, Yan Zijing teased her before starting to teach her how to recognize Nanyang gemstones. Duan Wu thought Yan Zijing’s character was like an emerald gem, while Zhang Jinran and Cui Shijiu were more like moonstones. Jokingly, she said that the emerald and moonstone made a fitting pair together. Yan Zijing, however, disagreed with her pairing, saying that pearls and gemstones together are even more dazzling. The convoy decided to rest, where they coincidentally encountered Zhang Jinran’s group.

Yue Yunxiu’s father, now a convicted criminal, was bound tightly to a cart, exposed to the elements. Zhang Jinran and Yan Zijing had a competition shooting at chickens. Yan Zijing, decisive and skilled, quickly hit his target, while Zhang Jinran, reluctant to kill, hesitated due to his compassion. Duan Wu asked Yan Zijing to teach her archery, which stirred jealousy in Zhang Jinran as he watched Yan Zijing and Duan Wu standing so close.

While resting, Zhang Jinran chatted with Duan Wu, telling her a story about a merman and a scholar. The two fell in love, but since the merman couldn’t come on land and the scholar couldn’t go to the sea, he traveled far and wide seeking a cure for the merman’s condition. Zhang Jinran found the story tragic, but Duan Wu didn’t see it that way.

She said that meeting each other was already a blessing, and people from different worlds shouldn’t force a connection. Zhang Jinran took the opportunity to confess to Duan Wu, but she responded graciously, remarking that real life isn’t like a legend and that many things ultimately succumb to cold reality. As Yan Zijing’s caravan continued on, they encountered Cao Da, a man who had once tried to steal treasures from the convoy when Yan Zijing was imprisoned.

After being expelled from the team, he wandered aimlessly. Seeing Yan Zijing again, Cao Da was overjoyed and asked to rejoin the convoy. Yan Zijing let Duan Wu decide, and she, letting go of past grudges, agreed to let Cao Da return. The convoy finally reached Wuling, where Yan Zijing observed many people praying and distributing congee. He guessed that someone important in the city was gravely ill. Zhang Jinran questioned Yan Zijing’s intentions in coming here.

Yan Zijing brushed it off, saying it was merely business, while Zhang Jinran reminded him that his own mission was to investigate by imperial order, and that he certainly wouldn’t be staying in the Octagonal Tower tonight.

Old Yue and Cui Bagong had a longstanding acquaintance, allowing them to settle temporarily at the Octagonal Tower. Observing the high levels of miasma in Wuling, Duan Wu immediately instructed her subordinates to prepare some herbal repellents and to strengthen the guards. Any suspicious activity was to be reported immediately.

Cao Tou gathered information, learning that the people of Wuling had been impoverished until about half a month ago, when someone suddenly started distributing porridge, somewhat alleviating the hardship for the poor. Old Yue took Yan Zijing to meet Cui Bagong. Meanwhile, Cui Shijiu had already noticed Yan Zijing's caravan’s arrival and felt a secret thrill; she had been worried about finding a chance for revenge, and now the opportunity had come to her.

Cui Shijiu arranged for someone to disguise themselves as Cui Bagong, drawing the curtains around the room to prevent outsiders from seeing Cui Bagong’s true appearance. Yan Zijing stated his purpose, requesting Cui Bagong to help Old Yue repay his jewelry debt. Following Cui Shijiu’s instructions, the impersonator promptly promised that the ten thousand coins would be repaid within the next few days. Then he ordered his men to pour wine for Yan Zijing.

Though Yan Zijing found this strange, he noticed the green tint in his wine, hesitated briefly, but drank it. Kang Ju, observing Yan Zijing’s vomit, discovered that the poison originated from Li Longdao’s group, suggesting that the Cui family had been closely linked with them over the years. The poison severely weakened Yan Zijing, prompting Kang Ju to blame him for taking such a reckless risk.

Yan Zijing, however, had no choice; ever since arriving at the Octagonal Tower, he had sensed something eerie. It was now clear that not only was Li Longdao’s group involved but also another force. Gaining the enemy's trust was the only way to uncover the truth. Yan Zijing instructed Kang Ju to immediately hide the caravan’s jewels, as their adversaries were likely after their valuables and wouldn’t hesitate to poison them to seize them.

When Duan Wu heard Cao Tou’s report that the caravan’s jewels had vanished, her suspicions deepened, and she went to Yan Zijing for answers. Yan Zijing, pale-faced yet calm, hinted at Kang Ju’s efforts to hide the jewels, prompting Duan Wu to discreetly lead the caravan members out of the Octagonal Tower. Duan Wu then asked Old Yue to investigate the situation, but he, being as cunning as an old fox, had no desire to get involved.

Left with no other option, Duan Wu bluffed, claiming he had just been poisoned and could only survive with her antidote. She convinced him to fully comply with her orders if he wanted to stay alive. Reluctantly, Old Yue went to negotiate with Hei Shan, Cui Bagong’s bodyguard. Upon learning that Old Yue knew the location of Yan Zijing’s buried treasure, Cui Shiqi immediately sent people to dig it up.

Although Cui Shijiu had been monitoring Cui Bagong’s medication daily, believing him to be in a state of perpetual coma, in reality, Cui Bagong had long since regained consciousness and instructed his maid to change the prescription. For days, he pretended to be comatose, using this as a strategy.

Upon hearing that Cui Shiqi had excavated Yan Zijing’s buried jewels, he immediately ordered his men to release poisonous gas, knocking out Duan Wu, Kang Ju, and even Cui Shijiu, and then locked them in a prison cell. Duan Wu and Cui Shiqi were now reduced to Cui Bagong’s slaves, confined in a dark, underground passage where they were forced into grueling labor, mining and breaking rocks. Before her imprisonment, Duan Wu had noticed Yan Zijing’s disappearance.

Now locked away, Duan Wu and Kang Ju secretly agreed to pretend to submit for the time being and immediately work to find out where Yan Zijing had been taken.

Duan Wu and Cui Shiqi had been performing hard labor for several days, pushing their strength to the limit. Realizing they couldn’t go on like this, Duan Wu seized an opportunity and struck the overseer with a rock. Cui Shijiu’s men quickly finished the job. With few overseers left, they managed to subdue the guards and open the door, urging the other laborers to escape. The miners, oppressed by Cui Bagong for years, hesitated, fearing capture and punishment if they fled.

They believed staying might offer a better chance of survival. Despite Duan Wu’s repeated urgings, they wouldn’t move. Over the past days, Cui Shijiu had lived among the miners and understood their suffering. She took out the Cui family’s command token, reassuring everyone that seeing the token meant they could escape without fear of punishment. Finally, a large group of miners began to flee. Meanwhile, Zhang Jinran and his guards surrounded the Octagonal Tower.

Cui Bagong feigned ignorance and denied harboring miners there. After ensuring the miners escaped safely, Duan Wu went deeper into the prison to find Yan Zijing. As she expected, he was confined in a prison cell, bound and floating at the center of a poisonous water pool. When Duan Wu moved to save him, Yan Zijing shook his head, urging her to leave, warning that the water was toxic and stepping into it would poison her.

But Duan Wu couldn’t ignore him; she quickly ran to his side, untied him, just as the pursuers arrived. Both prepared for the worst, thinking they might not escape, when Kang Ju arrived just in time. Zhang Jinran had uncovered Cui Bagong’s abuse and secret exploitation of the miners, handing him over to the authorities for trial. Previously unaware of Cui Bagong’s hidden operation, Cui Shijiu now agreed to testify. To ensure fairness, Zhang Jinran personally participated in the investigation.

Duan Wu’s selfless rescue of Yan Zijing strengthened their bond. Later, Duan Wu asked if Yan Zijing had planned everything. Without his poisoning and capture, the hidden miners might never have been found. Yan Zijing nodded; his poisoning and subsequent danger had been part of his plan to trace Li Longdao’s kidnapped victims. He admitted feeling uneasy—if not for Duan Wu rescuing him first, things could have taken a dark turn.

Usually known for his fearless and ruthless exterior, Yan Zijing secretly longed for a warm embrace during vulnerable times. Duan Wu reminded him never to disregard his own life, as someone would always worry for him. When Yan Zijing nodded, his eyes were already red with emotion. Zhang Jinran later met with Yan Zijing, now aware of Cui Bagong’s connection with Li Longdao’s treasure smuggling.

He learned that years ago, a tribute crafted by the Yan family was intercepted by Li Longdao, who swapped it with a fake on its way to the imperial palace. Zhang Jinran planned to investigate further and asked for Yan Zijing’s help. Having lost his family to the enemies, Yan Zijing agreed to join Zhang Jinran in seeking justice. They decided to continue their collaboration. After Yan Zijing recovered, he brought out a wealth of jewels.

He informed his caravan that they would soon journey to Hexi, a long road ahead, and offered a year’s wages to anyone who wished to return home instead. To his surprise, not a single member, including the reformed Cao Da, chose to leave. Yue Yunxiu’s hand injury had worsened, and Zhang Jinran, knowing a skilled imperial physician, offered to take her for treatment. Thus, Yue Yunxiu left the caravan, traveling with Zhang Jinran by carriage.

Meanwhile, the romance between Duan Wu and Yan Zijing became evident to everyone in the caravan. Yan Zijing, no longer hiding his feelings, openly acknowledged their relationship.

Under the clear moonlight, after dinner, Yan Zijing took Duan Wu for a walk around the market to relax. Earlier, he had noticed Duan Wu’s fascination with the flowers there, so he generously bought every flower at the market. Surrounded by a sea of blooms, the air filled with their fragrance, it was just the two of them. Yan Zijing felt a bit nervous, and Duan Wu sensed the romantic atmosphere.

Finally, Yan Zijing mustered the courage to embrace and kiss Duan Wu, bringing them closer to happiness than ever. The caravan eventually reached Hexi, where the vast desert stretched endlessly, barren and empty, with constant winds blowing each day. Duan Wu, with a scarf over her face, nestled against Yan Zijing. Now, the two were inseparable, spending every moment together. At night, the caravan would set up camp to rest.

Yan Zijing often brought Duan Wu along to gaze at the desert stars, which appeared different from those on the plains. “Reaching for the stars” seemed to perfectly describe the unique beauty of the night sky here. When they finally arrived at their target, Langhuanwu, Yan Zijing brought Duan Wu to meet his elder brother, Yuchi. Upon seeing Duan Wu, Yuchi found her somewhat familiar. Yan Zijing explained that she was Ba Niang’s daughter.

Yuchi then led Duan Wu and Zhang Jinran to visit the room where the late Yu Shi once lived. Seeing the neatly arranged tools in the room, Duan Wu couldn’t help feeling emotional. Yan Zijing told her that Yu Shi had been a refined and gentle person deeply in love with Ba Niang. Yan Zijing then visited the best doctor in the area, who had good news for him.

Previously, the antidote could only reduce the likelihood of poison attacks, but years of research had now revealed a cure. Yan Zijing was overjoyed. Now that he had Duan Wu, he cherished his life even more, instructing his men to give the doctor a generous reward. With the caravan preparing to enter dangerous territory, Duan Wu learned that the place ahead was extremely perilous.

To ensure Xiao Xiami’s safety, Yan Zijing agreed to leave him in Langhuanwu, confident that his elder brother would take good care of him. Duan Wu was relieved when she saw Yuchi personally teaching Xiao Xiami to write. As Duan Wu and Zhang Jinran prepared for their mission, Zhang Jinran advised her to stay in a safe place. However, Duan Wu couldn’t bear the thought of letting Yan Zijing face danger alone, insisting on joining him.

To avoid worrying Xiao Xiami, she decided to keep this plan a secret. Zhang Jinran had also brought Yue Yunxiu to Hexi. He visited the border army station, requesting troops from the commander to help eliminate Li Longdao. The commander, hearing of Zhang Jinran’s intent to eradicate the elusive bandits, couldn’t help but shiver. Li Longdao’s gang was notorious for their ability to disappear without a trace.

Zhang Jinran, well-prepared, assured the commander that the plan was solid and that their victory would bring credit to all. He also requested the best imperial physician from the army camp to treat Yue Yunxiu’s hand ailment. That night, Yan Zijing asked Duan Wu to entrust the Blood Pearl to him. With so many forces eyeing it, carrying it would only endanger her.

Duan Wu didn’t understand the pearl’s significance, so Yan Zijing explained that it contained a map of Gulisidan. Once opened, it would reveal the location of a long-lost treasure that both the common folk and the palace had been coveting.

Yan Zijing returned to his room but couldn’t find Duan Wu. The maids nearby hadn’t seen her either, and everyone quickly sensed that something was wrong, so they all went out to search. Duan Wu awoke to find herself tied up in a woodshed. She overheard her captors reporting that they hadn’t found the Blood Pearl on her, and she finally understood that they were after that pearl.

Luckily, Yan Zijing had previously asked her to give it to him for safekeeping, as the pearl contained a treasure map. The captors took a bracelet from Duan Wu’s wrist and wrote a letter to be sent to Yan Zijing. When Yan Zijing saw the bracelet, he understood that Duan Wu was signaling she was being held near Zijin Lake. Without delay, he gathered his men and set off to search the area around the lake.

Duan Wu, tied to a post without food or water for two days and nights, was fortunately rescued by Yan Zijing just as her captors were about to kill her. Yan Zijing had only just freed Duan Wu when she fainted, her face pale and lifeless, with cracked, chapped lips. Seeing her in such a pitiable state, Yan Zijing was overcome with rage. In a blind fury, he killed the captor leader with a single strike.

After dealing with the kidnappers, Yan Zijing immediately carried Duan Wu back to rest and recover. However, upon returning, he discovered that the doctor who had been working on his antidote had been murdered. This doctor had been instrumental in keeping the poison in Yan Zijing’s body under control, and only recently had he promised to fully cure him.

Yan Zijing, who had felt a renewed hope for the future, was crushed to find the doctor killed by bandits, with an arrowhead left by Li Longdao at the scene, indicating they were the ones targeting him. Zhang Jinran decided to lead his troops personally to join forces with Yan Zijing. His subordinates, knowing the dangers of this mission, tried to dissuade him multiple times, but Zhang Jinran was unwavering in his decision.

Yue Yunxiu wanted to accompany Zhang Jinran on the expedition, but he dissuaded her, as a man heading into battle does not wish to expose his beloved to danger. Li Longdao’s men had disguised themselves as members of Yan Zijing’s caravan, launching a surprise attack that left many of Yan Zijing’s people dead or injured. Cao Da and Xiang Sheng sacrificed their lives to save Xiao Xiami and their families.

Duan Wu awoke from a nightmare to find no one beside her. Remembering Yan Zijing’s strange words the night before, she quickly got up. Outside the tent, she saw flames illuminating the sky and bodies strewn across the ground. When Xiao Xiami saw Duan Wu, he ran over, urging her to escape quickly. Just then, a cold arrow shot straight at Xiao Xiami, piercing his body and causing him to collapse in front of her.

Duan Wu froze, watching helplessly as blood flowed from her brother’s chest, unable to do anything. She clutched him, heartbroken, and wept bitterly. Yan Zijing, with an injured leg, saw her grieving over Xiao Xiami and felt her pain. Suddenly, he noticed someone aiming an arrow at Duan Wu from a distance. He shouted to warn her, but she couldn’t hear him.

Yan Zijing quickly drew his bow, trying to intercept the arrow, but it missed slightly, and Duan Wu was struck in the chest, collapsing as she coughed up blood. Heartbroken, Yan Zijing crawled over to her. At that moment, the wooden beams above her began to collapse from the fire, and most of Yan Zijing’s caravan was wiped out.

As dawn broke over the desert, Kang Ju, using tree branches to make a crude stretcher, desperately dragged an unconscious Yan Zijing forward, murmuring that they had to stay strong and survive. Neither Kang Ju nor Yan Zijing could remember how many times they had narrowly escaped death. They had once been prisoners of Li Longdao, subjected to inhumane treatment and used as playthings, constantly struggling at the edge of death.

Once, one of Li Longdao’s men had tied a rope around Yan Zijing’s neck and dragged him behind a horse, nearly choking him to death. It was Kang Ju who ultimately defied everything, rushing over to cut the rope from Yan Zijing’s neck. The two fought desperately to escape, even as Li Longdao’s men pursued them on horseback, shooting through Kang Ju’s foot, leaving him with a permanent limp.

Kang Ju dragged a near-death Yan Zijing away. At dawn, Duan Wu crawled out of the ruins and, still in great pain, saw Xiao Xiami lying motionless beside her. Nearby lay the bodies of Xiang Zai and Cao Da, her comrades. In one night, everything had changed. Duan Wu moved her family and friends’ bodies aside and personally set fire to a straw pile.

Seeing so many friends perish, yet not finding Kang Ju and Yan Zijing among them, she was confused about what had truly happened. The troops led by Zhang Jinran heard that Li Longdao hadn’t followed the expected plan and instead ambushed Langhuanwu. Zhang Jinran hurried over and learned that everyone in Yan Zijing’s caravan had died in battle, with both Duan Wu and Yan Zijing missing. He immediately ordered reinforcements and set out to search the area himself.

Alone, Duan Wu stumbled out of the desert, fainting along the way but eventually being saved by nomads. After learning of her situation, Kang Ju worried that his presence would attract Li Longdao’s attention, so he returned to report to Yan Zijing. Yan Zijing was in an even worse condition than Duan Wu. Hearing she had been saved, he finally felt relieved.

Though he wanted to see her immediately, he hesitated; with the Blood Pearl still in his possession and Li Longdao’s men searching for him, bringing her would surely endanger her. With a heavy heart, he turned back. Yan Zijing felt his life ticking away, with no hope of an antidote after the witch doctor’s death. Even if Duan Wu misunderstood him, as long as she could live a healthy life, he would be content.

Yan Zijing instructed Kang Ju to spread the word that the Blood Pearl was with him, ensuring Duan Wu’s safety. When Duan Wu regained consciousness, she found a lively crowd outside the tent. Remembering her recently lost brother and friends, she couldn’t hold back her tears. Once her strength had somewhat returned, she placed her only piece of jewelry on the bed as payment for the nomads’ kindness, took some food, and set off alone.

Yue Yunxiu was plagued by nightmares, fearing that Duan Wu was in danger. With Zhang Jinran still on his mission, she grew anxious and decided to head to the desert alone with only some water. Duan Wu traveled through wind and snow, enduring hardship with a single thought in mind: to find Yan Zijing and ask him what truly happened that night. Along the way, she changed her name to "Su Muzhe.

" After a long journey, she arrived at a remote inn in the wilderness. The inn was desolate and disordered. Sensing something was amiss when the innkeeper gave her a suspicious look, she kept her guard up. That night, she heard the innkeeper return, bringing a burlap sack containing a person. In the middle of the night, Duan Wu heard cries for help from a room downstairs.

Summoning her courage, she took a dagger and went to investigate, unexpectedly rescuing Yue Yunxiu. Both were overwhelmed with emotion upon seeing each other. Yue Yunxiu, crying, asked Duan Wu where she had been all this time. After tying up the innkeeper, Duan Wu quickly moved them to a safer place. Meanwhile, Zhang Jinran’s team arrived at the inn, realizing it was a den of bandits and finding one of Duan Wu’s custom arrowheads.

Overjoyed, he searched around but found no sign of her. He rode into the nearby town to continue the search, but still missed both Duan Wu and Yue Yunxiu. Duan Wu settled Yue Yunxiu in a safe place, paying the inn generously for their stay. Hearing of Xiao Xiami’s passing and Duan Wu’s current solitude, Yue Yunxiu, who owed her life to Duan Wu, insisted on staying by her side. Together, the sisters set off for Hangzhou.

The imperial court had been summoning Zhang Jinran back urgently. With no choice, he returned to the palace. His older brother, Prince Ying, who had always supported him, couldn’t bear to see him work so hard and advised him to find a capable assistant if he wanted to reopen the old case, rather than handling everything himself. Zhang Jinran bowed in apology, saying the matter was too significant, and he wanted to investigate it personally.

In the early morning, Zhang Jinran awoke to find a letter on his table. Prince Ying had sensed the gravity of Zhang Jinran's investigation and, fearing involvement, planned to detain him in the palace. Zhang Jinran carefully surveyed his surroundings, then wrote a letter to the court, sincerely expressing his lifelong aspiration to uncover the truth for the imperial court. Halfway to the capital, Cui Shijiu escaped from the prisoner cart.

She was supposed to be escorted to the Ministry of Justice for punishment, but her maid risked everything to help her flee. Cui Shijiu eventually made her way back to the Cui household, only to see her elderly father, Cui Jingchu, climbing into a carriage with a hunched back, looking both desolate and humble. Afraid of showing him her current plight, she turned away in tears.

Cui Jingchu was heading to the merchant guild, where he had been trying to raise funds. Over the past days, he had borrowed from almost every silver shop he could to cover the fines imposed by the imperial court. Yan Zijing returned to Hangzhou, and the shopkeeper presented him with the IOUs that Cui Jingchu had signed over the years—eighteen pawned shops, all pledged to the guild by Cui Jingchu.

Now stripped of his position as head of the guild, Cui Jingchu had dismissed all his servants. Once surrounded by admirers, he now sat alone, his wife and children having left him to return to her family. Yan Zijing arrived at the Cui residence with Kang Ju, holding all the IOUs. At this, Cui Jingchu finally understood the enemy he had been fighting against. Once he had slaughtered the entire Yan family, and now karma had come full circle.

Yan Zijing took out a box containing the debt notes and land deeds for all eighteen shops and reminded Cui Jingchu that it wasn’t over; another family would soon meet the same fate. In despair, Cui Jingchu hanged himself. Reduced to a beggar, Cui Shijiu was ridiculed by everyone and nearly assaulted by a group of vagrants. Hearing of her father’s death, she cried uncontrollably, wanting to see him one last time, but was dragged away by other beggars.

Duan Wu, hearing the commotion, looked over and saw that it was indeed Cui Shijiu. Remembering how she had helped save the miners at the mines, Duan Wu, still believing there was a trace of goodness in her, chased away the beggars and rescued her. Cui Shijiu, freezing and weak, fainted in the street but was luckily spotted and saved by a nobleman. With his support, she naturally began to plot her revenge for her father.

In Hangzhou, Duan Wu met the courtesan Bai Xiaoshu, who played the pipa beautifully. As they walked, passersby admired Bai Xiaoshu’s headpiece and clothing with envy. Though Duan Wu and Yue Yunxiu had seen luxury before, they noted that her jewelry was not particularly innovative. However, the townspeople found it dazzling, and many saved up their money just to buy accessories from the famed Bai Caoshu, where Bai Xiaoshu shopped.

A decree was issued: Zhang Jinran was appointed the Imperial Inspector of Huainan Dao, giving him the authority to investigate further in Yangzhou. Now with higher rank, he could come and go freely. He went to bid farewell to Prince Ying, who advised him to seek help from the Zheng family if he encountered trouble in Yangzhou. Duan Wu eventually found Yan Zijing in Yangzhou.

In the pouring rain, she arrived at his merchant guild and asked why he had fled that day. Yan Zijing, hearing her voice, felt a mix of surprise and joy, but, realizing his illness was worsening with little time left, he steeled himself and harshly told her to leave Yangzhou and stay far away from him. Duan Wu, holding a dagger, wanted to avenge Xiao Xiami, but Yan Zijing’s guard blocked her.

Yan Zijing disarmed her himself and told her to leave. Finally estranged from Yan Zijing, Duan Wu felt that any remaining kindness between them had been exhausted. She turned her focus toward planning with Yue Yunxiu how to establish themselves in Hangzhou. Since both knew jewelry-making techniques, Duan Wu decided to replicate Bai Caoshu’s approach. They would find a courtesan and use her influence to promote their shop’s reputation.

Duan Wu heard that among the high society of Hangzhou, the most famous figure was Yu Xiaoniang. If she could get Yu Xiaoniang to endorse her jewelry, it would be ideal. After finding out Yu Xiaoniang’s residence, Duan Wu and Yue Yunxiu set up a small stall nearby to sell their jewelry. Their chance soon arrived when Yu Xiaoniang accidentally broke a jade bracelet and asked her maid to take it outside to be repaired.

When the maid saw them selling jewelry outside the house, she naturally tried to drive them away. Duan Wu offered a small bribe and assured her they would repair the bracelet with care. The maid, whose pay was limited, was pleased with the fine jewelry they offered and readily handed over the bracelet for repair. Duan Wu personally designed a new look for the bracelet, while Yue Yunxiu carefully carved the piece according to the design.

In no time, the bracelet was beautifully restored, even more radiant than before. Duan Wu gave the maid some additional agate bracelets, asking her to introduce them to her mistress and hinting that if she could introduce some contestants for the courtesan competition, there would be more rewards. The maid presented the repaired bracelet to Yu Xiaoniang, who admired the craftsmanship and considered hiring these artisans for her own jewelry shop, foreseeing more business opportunities.

Meanwhile, her son, Zheng Zhiheng, had recently met Cui Shijiu and hadn’t returned home for days. Yu Xiaoniang, aware that her son and the artisans had sided with Zheng Zhiheng, grew anxious, fearing her son had fallen for a cunning woman. Zheng Zhiheng bought back Cui Shijiu’s two former maids, A-Tong and A-Tan, who tearfully reunited with her. Cui Shijiu, having felt isolated these days, was moved by Zheng Zhiheng’s support in finding her two trusted maids.

The Cui family business had been sold off, leaving her alone. Determined to make a comeback, she returned to wearing women's attire and, late at night, knocked on Zheng Zhiheng’s door, using her charm to deepen his affection for her. Yu Xiaoniang warned Zheng Zhiheng not to be bewitched by Cui Shijiu. The Cui family once had wealth and status, but now their business was bankrupt, making her no longer worth pursuing.

Yu Xiaoniang, who was the second wife in the Zheng household and constantly oppressed by the main wife, naturally sought advantages everywhere. After advising her son to consider a wealthier match, she recommended Duan Wu as a craftsman for the jewelry shop. Zheng Zhiheng went to meet Duan Wu personally. Now going by a new name, Duan Wu knew that the Zheng family had been involved in the Yan family’s massacre.

Learning that Zheng Zhiheng was Yu Xiaoniang’s son, Duan Wu naturally harbored no goodwill toward Yu Xiaoniang. Many beautiful women prepared meticulously for the Qionghua Festival. Duan Wu and Yue Yunxiu attended to promote their jewelry, but Bai Caotang’s fame was overwhelming, and most women were fixated on its brand, leaving little interest for other options.

Duan Wu initially hoped to partner with past winners, but Yan Zijing’s Zhen Lang Pavilion got to them first, so she decided to find someone else. She learned about Huan Lang, a renowned pipa player. Although she had failed to place in the competition the year before last and didn’t participate last year, Huan Lang was nominated this year, though she had yet to appear. After investigating, Duan Wu found Huan Lang intriguing and decided to invite her personally.

She saw Huan Lang pacing by a bridge, one foot dangling over the edge, her body trembling and almost falling into the water. Recognizing the signs of heartbreak, Duan Wu approached her and spoke some comforting words. Huan Lang was indeed sensitive; she cared little for fame or wealth, her heart belonging to someone she could never attain. Duan Wu encouraged her to seek her own path, warning that a man’s affection could fade, leaving one as strangers.

If Huan Lang would heed her advice, Duan Wu promised to assist her on the path to victory. Attracted by this wise and open-minded woman, Huan Lang, with nothing else to do, agreed to join forces with Duan Wu in the competition.

Yan Zijing heard that Duan Wu had extended an invitation to Huan Lang. Confident in his new establishment, Zhen Lang Pavilion, and determined to secure the courtesan title, he sent Kang Ju to offer Huan Lang thirty million to withdraw from the competition. However, Huan Lang rejected the offer without hesitation, leaving Kang Ju disheartened and empty-handed.

When he reported back to Yan Zijing, Yan Zijing decided not to raise the price further, reasoning that since the competition hadn’t yet started, nothing was certain. At the beginning of the competition, people gathered at the Hangzhou assembly and quietly exchanged names of their bets. Many believed Bai Xiaoshu, Yan Zijing’s chosen candidate, was destined to win. Duan Wu gifted Huan Lang some jewelry to help her shine at the Qionghua Festival.

Just then, she overheard Huan Lang’s maid grumbling about her mistress’s refusal of Yan Zijing’s generous offer. With that much money, the maid felt there was no need to participate in the festival. Huan Lang, however, was displeased that the maid had taken her jewelry back to her family, who were inclined to accept Yan Zijing’s terms, reclaiming all the jewelry and putting Huan Lang in an awkward position.

Huan Lang dismissed the maid, and Duan Wu personally sketched designs for the jewelry Huan Lang would wear in the competition. Soon after, Huan Lang received a letter—a breakup letter from her beloved. Originally, Huan Lang had pinned her hopes on winning at the Qionghua Festival to win back her beloved's heart, but this letter crushed her hopes, leading her to abandon the competition, feeling all was lost.

Seeing Huan Lang devastated, Duan Wu held her tightly and urged her not to give up. On the streets, many were promoting the various noblewomen and songstresses they supported. Yan Zijing openly escorted Bai Xiaoshu to gather votes. Duan Wu looked on, disheartened, watching her former lover flaunt his closeness with another woman. Realizing that she and Yue Yunxiu alone were not enough to secure victory, Duan Wu thought of Zheng Zhiheng, the fifth young master of the Zheng family.

Zheng Zhiheng, an illegitimate child, had long been a target of Yu Xiaoniang’s ambitions, who tirelessly sought to elevate his status within the Zheng household, despite constant suppression by the main branch of the family. Now, she hoped to use this opportunity to make the Zheng family take notice of him. Since the Qionghua Festival hadn’t yet begun, Duan Wu secretly went to see Zheng Zhiheng, hoping he would support Huan Lang.

Although the Zheng family was backing Xue Liniang, if Zheng Zhiheng could bet on Huan Lang and she won, his name would surely gain recognition in Hangzhou. Duan Wu’s words struck a chord with Zheng Zhiheng, and he gave her a box of gold. Still harboring resentment over Duan Wu’s previous rejection of his invitation, he poured hot tea over her hand in a fit of spite. With the gold, Duan Wu was able to create jewelry for Huan Lang.

As she focused on preparing Huan Lang for the competition, Yan Zijing continued his schemes. Aware that Bai Xiaoshu’s age was a disadvantage compared to other songstresses, he posted public notices revealing embarrassing stories about the other songstresses, causing many to switch their votes to Bai Xiaoshu. With the Qionghua Festival fast approaching, the songstresses were busily preparing backstage. Suddenly, Xue Liniang, one of the songstresses, cried out—her shoes had been swapped.

Many songstresses around her laughed at her predicament, but Duan Wu produced an extra pair of shoes she had prepared and gave them to Xue Liniang, who was deeply grateful. Bai Xiaoshu feigned gratitude on her behalf, thanking Duan Wu, but Duan Wu coldly withdrew her hand. Everyone around understood who was behind the mysterious shoe incident.

At the Qionghua Festival, the many songstresses displayed their talents, vying for the audience's admiration. Cheers echoed through the venue, while those with weaker backgrounds or less polished dance skills faced mockery from the crowd. Bai Xiaoshu, despite her exquisite pipa performance, had stolen Duan Wu’s inlaid shell accessory design. Originally a sample that Duan Wu hadn’t sold, Bai Xiaoshu had greedily taken it.

Unaware that the inlay was crafted from delicate bamboo, Bai Xiaoshu broke a fingernail mid-performance, unable to continue. Duan Wu didn’t place her bets solely on Huan Lang; she also assisted Xue Liniang. First, she provided her with dance shoes, then suggested a strategic partnership with Huan Lang—Huan Lang’s expert pipa skills and Xue Liniang’s graceful dance would make them a formidable duo with a higher chance of success.

Although Xue Liniang was hesitant, she couldn’t refuse after receiving the shoes. In the end, Xue Liniang placed second, while Huan Lang claimed the top spot. During her acceptance speech, Huan Lang publicly announced that all her jewelry came from Mingjing Pavilion and that she would no longer compete in future festivals. Duan Wu emerged as the festival’s greatest winner—Mingjing Pavilion's reputation soared, allowing her to establish her own shop in Hangzhou.

Duan Wu went to the bridge Yan Zijing crossed daily. Now that she had her own jewelry shop, they stood on equal footing; Duan Wu no longer had to look up to Yan Zijing. Calmly, she declared that she would continue to make her mark in Yangzhou and expand her jewelry business with great fanfare. After the festival, Duan Wu held a celebration banquet, inviting all the songstresses to join in.

Since Bai Xiaoshu hadn’t won, there was less resentment among the attendees. Besides, many knew they would need to buy jewelry from Mingjing Pavilion in the future and thus flattered Duan Wu. As they drank and sang, someone remarked on the difficult fate of songstresses, who, despite their efforts, remained playthings for the wealthy and often met with tragic endings. Duan Wu disagreed, urging them to be independent and not to pin their hopes on fickle men.

Only by relying on their own hard work could they secure their future. Inspired by Duan Wu’s words, many songstresses decided to join Mingjing Pavilion as jewelry ambassadors. Duan Wu suddenly had a strong support team, with a skilled promotion crew and talented artisans, ensuring a bright future. Zheng Zhiheng presented Duan Wu with a contract for her to sign. Smiling, she picked up a brush and covered the contract with strokes, rendering it unreadable.

She firmly reminded Zheng Zhiheng that now, the Zheng family was only a shareholder of Mingjing Pavilion. The profits would be more than enough to support Zheng Zhiheng and his mother, with no need to rely on others. Recognizing Duan Wu's value, Zheng Zhiheng realized he couldn’t assert control over her. Returning from Zheng Zhiheng, Duan Wu felt a newfound sense of freedom.

She had escaped from the Pearl Tower, later found refuge with Yan Zijing’s fleet, and now was no longer a slave at anyone’s mercy. She would have her own jewelry shop and control her own destiny. That night, Duan Wu dreamed again of Xiao Xiami, Cao Da, Meng Sihui, and the brothers Xiang Sheng. Although she had finally achieved success, her favorite people were no longer by her side.

On Mingjing Pavilion’s grand opening, Duan Wu stood out in a red celebratory gown, energetically attracting customers as business boomed. Since Bai Xiaoshu’s loss, her popularity had dwindled. She visited Zhen Lang Pavilion multiple times, attempting to get close to Yan Zijing, only to be turned away by Kang Ju. Kang Ju, who disliked her heavy makeup and demeanor, coldly reminded her that a person without any value was unworthy of associating with his master.

After the opening of Mingjing Pavilion, Duan Wu’s business flourished. Many women flocked to the pavilion to purchase jewelry. Bai Xiaoshu, noticing that the other songstresses who had participated in the competition were now helping out at Mingjing Pavilion, purposely reminded them that Mingjing Pavilion lacked support from powerful backers and might not last long. However, the songstresses were undeterred.

With the Zheng family now holding shares in the pavilion, they knew the Zheng family would not allow the business to fail. Bai Xiaoshu was left speechless. Cui Shijiu saw that Duan Wu had established herself in Yangzhou, so she quietly went to meet her. She asked if Duan Wu would be willing to join forces to take revenge on Yan Zijing, reminding her that Xiao Xiami and a few members of the merchant fleet were harmed by Yan Zijing.

Duan Wu, understanding Cui Shijiu's intentions, directly rejected her, saying that they were on different paths and had no common goal. Meanwhile, Yan Zijing was not only running his business but also investigating the whereabouts of the Li Long bandits. The bandits were preparing to sell a batch of tribute goods in secret.

These goods were meant to pass through King Ying’s hands, and Yan Zijing learned that King Ying had arranged for a precious gift for the Empress Dowager—a red leaf crown. This information was incredibly valuable, so Yan Zijing instructed Kang Ju to find a way to acquire this treasure. Late at night, while a convoy from the jewelry shop was transporting the red leaf crown, they were suddenly ambushed by a group of bandits.

These bandits didn’t harm anyone; instead, they threw the crown on the ground and stomped it into pieces. The convoy rushed to report this to Master Zheng, who was shocked. This was a tribute gift for the Empress Dowager, inlaid with rare treasures like the precious Hongya Gu, and if it couldn’t be delivered on time, the consequences would be dire. Master Zheng immediately ordered his men to retrieve the materials and recreate the crown.

While the gold for the crown was easy to obtain, the jewels inlaid in it were much harder to find—only Yan Zijing had them. Although Zheng’s merchant company typically looked down on foreign jewels, in this urgent situation, they had no choice but to approach Yan Zijing. Yan Zijing didn’t simply agree to help. He raised the price and said that the Hongya Gu had already been promised to a customer.

He told Zheng’s family that if they could raise 8,000 gold within a day, he might consider letting them take it. Zheng’s family couldn’t possibly gather such a large sum so quickly, and Master Zheng grew anxious. Someone secretly informed Master Zheng about the financial support Zheng San Gongzi had provided to Mingjing Pavilion. Enraged, Master Zheng immediately bribed some local ruffians to vandalize Mingjing Pavilion’s signboard. When the ruffians came to destroy the shop, Yue Yunxiu argued with them.

Not wanting to escalate the situation, the ruffians whispered to her, asking her to hand over any worthless items for them to destroy instead. After the first incident of vandalism, the ruffians returned to Mingjing Pavilion. This time, one of them became infatuated with the shop assistant, a plump woman named Ying Tao. The two immediately hit it off.

The ruffian was now too hesitant to damage the store, and instead, he only took some superficial items to show to his employer. Duan Wu didn’t have much capital, so to produce more jewelry, she suggested refurbishing old jewelry to attract business. Songstresses, who didn’t have much money but wanted to frequently update their jewelry, found this service useful. The cost of depreciation and the refashioning fees helped solve their problems.

At the time, Zheng Silang had already written a breakup letter to Huan Lang. However, upon seeing Huan Lang make a comeback and become a shareholder in Mingjing Pavilion, Zheng Silang was eager to help his father sell the tribute goods that had been stolen by the Li Long bandits. Hearing that Mingjing Pavilion was purchasing jewelry raw materials, he came up with a plan.

He sought out Huan Lang again, tearfully claiming that his father had forced him to write the breakup letter. He promised that he would bring Huan Lang into the family once again and, after receiving Huan Lang's forgiveness, he asked for her help in secretly selling the jewelry dowry that his mother had been saving up. Late at night, Duan Wu was still drawing jewelry designs under the lamp.

In the quiet hours, she often thought back to the moments she shared with Yan Zijing. Before confronting the Li Long bandits, their relationship had been sweet. She couldn’t understand what had happened afterward. Now, whenever she saw Yan Zijing in Hangzhou, she felt a sense of familiarity, but Yan Zijing always seemed hesitant to speak. She suspected there was a reason behind it. Meanwhile, Yan Zijing was plotting to completely eliminate the Li Long bandits.

Recently, without a cure for his condition, he had started coughing up blood. His subordinates took great care of him, but they were also concerned that his body couldn’t withstand the strain. During the day, Yan Zijing went to Mingjing Pavilion and reminded Duan Wu that, since she had opened a shop, she should avoid provoking the Zheng family. Having them become shareholders was like inviting wolves into the house, but Duan Wu did not believe him.

Zheng Silang took Huan Lang to see the so-called "dowry. " Inside the room were several large wooden chests, filled with exotic jewels. Huan Lang began to feel suspicious. Zheng Silang's mother’s family wasn’t a wealthy one, so how could they have so many jewels? Huan Lang realized he had been deceived and did not agree with Zheng Silang’s plan to trick Duan Wu into taking the bait.

Zheng Silang had originally intended for Mingjing Pavilion to buy these jewels, and he couldn’t afford to lose such an important informant. So, he had Huan Lang locked up. Zheng Silang then sent someone to deceive Yue Yunxiu into coming. Yue Yunxiu was in a hurry because they were out of raw materials for the shop, and now, suddenly finding so many gems available, she was about to sign the agreement to purchase them.

But just as she was about to sign, she overheard Huan Lang’s voice from the next room. Surprised, she put down her pen and was about to go check, but before she could, she was knocked unconscious with a wooden stick. Huan Lang couldn’t bear to see his good friend deceived and firmly refused to help Zheng Silang with his scheme.

In response, Zheng Silang grabbed Huan Lang by the neck, pushed him to the ground, and slammed the back of his head against a bookshelf. Huan Lang died instantly. Seeing that someone had been killed, Zheng Silang immediately fled the scene. Duan Wu waited for a long time for Yue Yunxiu to return, but when her sister didn’t come back, she decided to go out and look for her with the shop assistants.

Yan Zijing, upon hearing from his subordinates that Zheng Silang had taken both Huan Lang and Yue Yunxiu, worried that Duan Wu might be in danger, and immediately led his men to search for them. At the same time, Zhang Jinran received a report about a death at a nearby farmhouse. He rushed there with his guards.

Luckily, Duan Wu and the shop assistants had managed to escape in time, and as they fled, they also rescued the unconscious Yue Yunxiu. Yan Zijing, upon seeing that Zhang Jinran's guards had failed to capture Duan Wu, finally breathed a sigh of relief. Zhang Jinran found a handkerchief under Huan Lang’s clothes. It was stained with blood, and the fabric was incredibly soft—only wealthy families could afford such high-quality material.

The cloth shop owner confirmed that the handkerchief was made of the same fabric that only Zheng Zhiheng could obtain. Zhang Jinran quickly surrounded the Zheng residence, and although Master Zheng vehemently denied that his fifth son was involved, everyone knew that Zheng Silang and Huan Lang were close and couldn’t be easily separated from the case. Zhang Jinran decided to personally interrogate the Zheng family.

Xu Nanying was in Hangzhou when he saw that Zhang Jinran had surrounded the Zheng residence and was planning to personally handle the case. He secretly went to meet Zhang Jinran, intentionally claiming that he had a close relationship with the King of Ying, and urged him not to let the death of a dancer ruin the peace. Zhang Jinran understood his meaning and immediately reminded him that this case wasn’t just about one dancer’s life.

He had been investigating the jewelry stolen by the Li Long bandits and had already found clues. He was preparing to make an arrest when suddenly, a death occurred. Zhang Jinran was now a prominent official close to the imperial family, and Xu Nanying naturally didn’t underestimate him. Xu Nanying had once met the King of Ying and was familiar with the events surrounding the Li Long bandits.

He also knew that the destruction of the Yan family had some connection to the King of Ying. Xu Nanying began to think of ways to shift the blame. Bai Xiaoshu, acting on someone's instructions, immediately went to the authorities and reported that he and his servant had personally seen Duan Wu and the shop assistants go to a street near the river. He even wrote a blood letter to back up his claims.

With this witness testimony, Zhang Jinran immediately went to Mingjing Pavilion. To his surprise, he found Yue Yunxiu there and realized that the famous Su Muzhe of Hangzhou was actually Duan Wu! Zhang Jinran naturally didn’t believe that Duan Wu would kill for treasure. Yue Yunxiu told Zhang Jinran everything that had happened. Zhang Jinran advised Yue Yunxiu to keep a close watch on Duan Wu, as it wasn’t safe outside.

He promised to do his best to track down the person who had framed her. Yan Zijing was also at Mingjing Pavilion at the time. He urged Duan Wu to leave with him, as Huan Lang’s matters had not been settled and the truth had not yet been uncovered. However, Duan Wu refused to back down and insisted on staying at Mingjing Pavilion.

She noticed that Yan Zijing’s eyes still showed concern for her, though she wasn’t sure what danger might lie ahead. Duan Wu handed Yan Zijing the note she had pulled from Huan Lang’s hairpin. The note contained some addresses and locations, which were likely the hiding places of the Li Long bandits’ treasures.

Yan Zijing reminded Duan Wu that she could place suspicion on the Zheng family, as they had been involved in selling the Li Long bandits' stolen goods in the past. Duan Wu thought of Zheng Zhiheng. At the moment, the authorities had only found a handkerchief at the crime scene with Zheng Zhiheng's initials. This suggested that Zheng Zhiheng might also be a victim.

Duan Wu quickly realized that Zheng Silang was the one who had a motive to harm him. She had once seen the breakup letter Zheng Silang wrote to Huan Lang, which had his signature on it. Late at night, Duan Wu sneaked into Zheng Zhiheng’s residence and told him that she had a way to prove his innocence, but only if he agreed to work with her to gather evidence and help her deal with Zheng Silang.

Zheng Zhiheng had no other choice; he was being framed, and if they didn’t get the evidence, he would be the scapegoat. Zheng Zhiheng followed Duan Wu’s advice and deliberately leaked the information to Zheng Silang, saying that someone was going to auction off Zheng Silang’s jewels and some of Huan Lang’s letters and paintings. Zheng Silang was very surprised, as he frequently wrote to Huan Lang, and if anyone found out, their secret affair would be exposed.

Zheng Silang went to Huan Lang’s house and saw that someone was displaying Huan Lang’s artwork. There was talk about who the man in the painting was. Realizing that the suspicion was starting to fall on the Zheng family, Zheng Silang rushed forward, pretending to be emotional. He claimed that he and Huan Lang had shared a deep love, and now that Huan Lang had passed, he was heartbroken.

He promised to give Huan Lang a grand funeral and buy all of his paintings and jewelry. Once everyone left, Zheng Silang breathed a sigh of relief and cursed Huan Lang for leaving him with a hidden disaster. His words were overheard by Duan Wu, who finally understood who had caused Huan Lang’s death. She drew a knife and held it to Zheng Silang’s neck, demanding to know why he had done it.

Zheng Silang trembled and begged for mercy, his neck still under the knife. He pleaded with Duan Wu not to waste her time trying to find evidence for a lowly dancer. After all, she was the owner of Mingjing Pavilion. He promised that after returning home, he would find a way to prove that Duan Wu wasn’t the murderer. Duan Wu was enraged by his cowardice.

She felt sorry for Huan Lang, whose pure heart had been deceived by someone like Zheng Silang, a cultured scoundrel. Soon, Zhang Jinran arrived with his men. With the witness and physical evidence in hand, Zheng Silang was arrested. However, Xu Nanying deliberately had his subordinates also arrest Duan Wu, claiming that Duan Wu had not yet cleared her name.

Zhang Jinran wanted to speak up for Duan Wu, but Duan Wu thanked him and said she believed the truth would come to light on its own. She was willing to go to the court and face Zheng Silang.

Late at night, Zhang Jinran visited Duan Wu in prison. Yue Yunxiu had already told him everything that had happened, but Duan Wu did not want Zhang Jinran to show favoritism. Zhang Jinran understood it was because Duan Wu didn’t want to implicate him. Duan Wu pleaded with Zhang Jinran to clear Huan Lang’s name and, if possible, hold a public trial. To her, Huan Lang’s life had been full of hardship, and she wanted justice for him.

That night turned out to be a nightmare for many. Zheng Zhiheng visited the prison to bring food to his fourth brother, Zheng Zhixing. It dawned on Zheng Zhixing that he had made a grave mistake by admitting at Huan Lang’s home that he was Huan Lang’s lover. This slip of the tongue had given others leverage against him, but it was too late to regret it now.

Trapped in prison, he knew it would be difficult to escape his predicament. The head of the Zheng family, concerned about his legitimate son, went to seek help from Xu Nanying. Xu Nanying advised him to act decisively. Cui Shijiu also arrived, reminding Zheng’s father that if he didn’t sacrifice one to save the rest, the Zheng family in Hangzhou would face the same fate as the Cui family in Guangzhou. Zheng’s father was alarmed.

Everyone knew of Yan Zijing’s methods, and with all eyes on Huan Lang’s murder, any revelations about the Li Long bandits' stolen goods could lead to disastrous consequences. Meanwhile, Yan Zijing had captured Bai Xiaoshu’s younger brother. Since Bai Xiaoshu had falsely accused Duan Wu, leading to her imprisonment, Yan Zijing used this as leverage. Bai Xiaoshu, who had only one brother, saw his life in Yan Zijing’s hands and quickly confessed.

He admitted that the blood letter and evidence had been handed to him by Zheng Zhixing. Yan Zijing didn’t fully trust Bai Xiaoshu and demanded that he testify in court the next day. Only then would his brother be released. In court, Xu Nanying deliberately showed bias, but Bai Xiaoshu’s unexpected reversal of his previous testimony caught him off guard. Duan Wu was equally shocked by Bai Xiaoshu’s change of heart.

Glancing at the audience, she spotted Yan Zijing among them, realizing that his intervention had influenced Bai Xiaoshu’s actions. Evidence had been found at the scene of Huan Lang’s death implicating Zheng Zhiheng, making him a suspect. However, Cui Shijiu testified that Zheng Zhiheng had been with her at the time of the incident, leaving him with no opportunity to commit the crime. Before the trial, Zheng Zhixing had been instructed on what to say.

To protect the Zheng family’s reputation, Zheng Zhixing claimed that the stolen goods from the Li Long bandits had been secretly sent to him by the Cui family to help with laundering. Cui Shijiu was stunned by the accusation, realizing that her family was being falsely blamed. Meanwhile, Zheng Zhiheng remained silent. The trial concluded with Xu Nanying announcing that Zheng Zhixing had accidentally caused someone’s death and was sentenced to execution in the autumn.

Duan Wu was declared innocent and released. Zhang Jinran cleared Huan Lang’s name and commended Duan Wu for her resourcefulness and courage. Friends from Mingjing Pavilion waited outside the courthouse to welcome Duan Wu back. To ward off bad luck, they had prepared a fire basin for her to step over. Zhang Jinran personally escorted Duan Wu back to Mingjing Pavilion.

With Yan Zijing supporting her from the shadows and Zhang Jinran’s help, Duan Wu felt that she might finally find peace in this life. Zheng’s father summoned Zheng Zhiheng and, with a softened attitude, instructed him to immediately seek out Yan Zijing. He was to pay a large sum to have Hong Yagu quickly repair the empress dowager’s red-leaf crown.

Zheng Zhixing was imprisoned, and his birth mother was punished by being sent to a nunnery for failing to properly raise her child. Zheng Zhiheng’s mother, Yu Xiaoniang, was delighted by the turn of events. She smugly sent off the main branch of the family, but the main wife reminded her not to celebrate too soon.

She warned that the Zheng family, willing to sacrifice its legitimate son for its interests, would not hesitate to turn on Zheng Zhiheng in the future. Duan Wu sought out Yan Zijing to thank him for arranging for Bai Xiaoshu to testify. However, Yan Zijing maintained his arrogant demeanor, intentionally provoking Duan Wu. He reminded her not to be greedy, as business at Mingjing Pavilion was in decline, and managing her affairs should be her top priority.

Angered, Duan Wu was equally blunt in her response to him. Kang Ju couldn’t understand why Yan Zijing didn’t tell Duan Wu the whole truth. Yan Zijing admitted that if Duan Wu knew that Xiao Xiami and many others in the caravan had been killed by the Li Long bandits, she wouldn’t be able to live peacefully. Moreover, the Li Long bandits were a formidable force, and he didn’t want Duan Wu constantly thinking about revenge.

Yan Zijing preferred to shoulder the danger himself so Duan Wu could focus on running Mingjing Pavilion. Not long after, Zhang Jinran attempted to re-interrogate Zheng Zhixing and Zheng Yuqing, only to find them already dead in prison. Zhang Jinran confronted Xu Nanying, who claimed that the two had committed suicide out of guilt. He warned Zhang Jinran not to dwell on old cases, lest he bring trouble upon himself.

On the anniversary of Huan Lang's death, a group of sisters went to pay their respects and burn offerings. However, they discovered someone dressed entirely in mourning white in the courtyard. Frightened, they couldn’t tell if it was a person or a ghost. Summoning their courage, they approached and realized it was Bai Xiaoshu. Feigning sincerity, Bai Xiaoshu claimed that with Huan Lang gone, their spiritual support was no longer there.

Furthermore, since Mingjing Pavilion had offended the Zheng family, and with the recent sudden death of the Zheng family's eldest son, Mingjing Pavilion was bound to become a "thorn in their side. " Bai Xiaoshu advised them to make plans early. Initially, the songstresses hadn’t grasped the severity of the situation, but Bai Xiaoshu’s warning left them uneasy. Their modest fortunes were all tied up in Mingjing Pavilion, and if it collapsed, they would lose everything.

This realization made them even more anxious. Bai Xiaoshu’s malicious actions stemmed from her own declining fame. Bai Cao Jingshe’s fortunes had significantly dwindled, and she couldn’t tolerate Mingjing Pavilion turning the tables during such a critical time. During the day, Huan Lang's brother caused a commotion outside Mingjing Pavilion, demanding that Duan Wu return all the money Huan Lang had invested.

Duan Wu, aware that Huan Lang had despised his own family and their mistreatment of her, was infuriated by the brother’s behavior. Seeing him lying on the ground playing the rascal, she grabbed an axe and approached him. Frightened, he dusted himself off and left. Yan Zijing witnessed this farce but refrained from intervening, believing it was a minor issue Duan Wu could handle herself.

However, after this incident, several songstresses demanded that Duan Wu return their shares within ten days. Duan Wu was disheartened, realizing that what she thought was solidarity quickly unraveled into betrayal. As business at Mingjing Pavilion continued to decline and financial losses mounted, Duan Wu became visibly distressed. Yue Yunxiu, noticing her despair, suggested a visit to the jade market. Yue Yunxiu carved a piece of jade into the shape of a phoenix crown.

Watching Yue Yunxiu’s focused expression as she worked, Duan Wu was struck by the realization that she had been too scattered lately. From trying to build Mingjing Pavilion's reputation in Hangzhou to rushing to open the shop and gather investors, she had moved too quickly without establishing a solid foundation. She resolved to calm herself, analyze the root of the issues, and address them one by one.

To repair the Red Leaf Crown, Zheng Zhiheng spent 80 million to purchase jewels from Yan Zijing. Once the crown was completed, Zheng Zhiheng presented it to his father, sharing his doubts about Yan Zijing’s exorbitant demand for 80 million. Suspecting there was more to the story, his father shared events from years ago. The Yan family had once possessed a vast collection of treasures from the Western Regions, reaching the pinnacle of success.

Their wealth, however, drew the envy of two influential figures in the capital. These figures didn’t act directly but instead conspired with two merchants to switch out the Yan family’s treasured pearl. On the day the empress dowager admired the pearl, a flaw was exposed. Before the Yan family could be summoned to the capital for questioning, the Li Long bandits annihilated them.

Zheng’s father admitted that while the Zheng and Cui families had once thrived, ever since they were involved in that incident, it was as if they had been cursed. The Cui family had already fallen, leaving only the Zhengs. Zheng Zhiheng speculated that Yan Zijing might be a surviving member of the Yan family. His father advised caution, urging him to probe the matter but to avoid escalating it to the point of bloodshed.

Duan Wu realized that their shop lacked high-quality works because they were short on jewels. To obtain more raw materials, she entrusted all the shop’s remaining funds to Ying Tao and Gao Shou, sending them to Guangzhou to visit her cousin. Her cousin had a collection of valuable treasures, and if they could borrow some, it might help Mingjing Pavilion weather its current crisis.

Zheng Zhiheng shared the confirmed information he had gathered with Cui Shijiu, confirming that Yan Zijing was indeed a member of the Yan family. Understanding the truth, Zheng Zhiheng felt sympathy for Yan Zijing, seeing him as an innocent victim. He asked Cui Shijiu about her plans. Cui Shijiu, being a ruthless person, warned him that the Zheng family would share the same fate as the Cui family if Yan Zijing wasn’t eliminated. Her words hardened Zheng Zhiheng’s resolve.

Initially, Duan Wu had promised Zheng Zhiheng six million in gold for his investment. However, she could only provide five million. Zheng Zhiheng immediately became hostile, demanding she secure the full amount at any cost. Duan Wu stood firm, stating five million was all she had and that she wouldn’t provide a cent more. Frustrated, Zheng Zhiheng reluctantly backed down but left with a sharp warning not to cross him again.

Late at night, Duan Wu reviewed various jewelry-making techniques and called Yue Yunxiu to share her idea of producing colored glass. Since few in the market could make high-quality colored glass, introducing it could solve Mingjing Pavilion’s supply issues. Yue Yunxiu finally understood Duan Wu’s earlier statements to Zheng Zhiheng about temporarily pausing their business—it was a cover to buy time for researching colored glass production and to sever ties with the Zheng family completely.

Determined to eliminate Yan Zijing, Zheng Zhiheng devised a trap. Yan Zijing and Kang Ju, who were already seeking revenge, intended to use the opportunity to eradicate the Li Long bandits. However, the plan backfired, and they were ambushed instead. Yan Zijing and Kang Ju were locked inside a straw hut, which was soon set ablaze. Just as the two were about to be consumed by the flames, Yan Zijing’s contingency plan came into play.

His men attacked from the rear, enabling Kang Ju to carry the severely injured Yan Zijing to safety, narrowly escaping death. With the Li Long bandits surrounding Zhenlang Pavilion, Kang Ju had no choice but to take the wounded Yan Zijing to the neighboring Mingjing Pavilion. It was there that Duan Wu learned from Kang Ju about the events of that fateful night in the desert. The Li Long bandits had infiltrated the merchant caravan and launched a night raid.

Yan Zijing, aware of the bandits’ terrifying power, had deliberately distanced himself from Duan Wu to protect her. He didn’t want her to face such a formidable enemy, preferring that she live her life peacefully, even if it meant she would resent him. Realizing the truth, Duan Wu was both heartbroken and moved. It became clear that Yan Zijing had always cared deeply for her. Understanding his selfless intentions, Duan Wu felt more determined than ever in her choices.

Severely injured, Yan Zijing was weak after removing remnants of arrows from his body. Upon seeing Duan Wu’s expression, he immediately guessed that Kang Ju must have revealed everything to her. Yan Zijing reproached Kang Ju for acting without consulting him, but he acknowledged that Zhang Jinran had already uncovered the truth about the Li Long bandits infiltrating the caravan, making its exposure inevitable. Cui Shijiu urged Zheng Zhiheng to continue the pursuit.

Zheng Zhiheng, willing to escalate matters, even sought official intervention and enlisted Xu Nanying’s help. Xu Nanying led a group of guards to raid Mingjing Pavilion, but Zhang Jinran, dressed in sleepwear and appearing groggy, casually opened the door and asked why they were conducting a mission at his residence. Realizing the implications, Xu Nanying quickly retreated with his men in embarrassment. Zheng Zhiheng’s father was furious when he learned of the incident.

He slapped Zheng Zhiheng and scolded him for his recklessness. He warned that if Yan Zijing were to become their enemy, such open hostility would only worsen the situation. He reminded Zheng Zhiheng to handle matters discreetly and to avoid implicating the Zheng family in his actions. Disillusioned, Zheng Zhiheng realized that, like his late brother, he was merely a pawn for the family, with the Zheng family’s safety always taking precedence.

When Zheng Zhiheng met with Cui Shijiu and expressed his intention to retreat for now, Cui Shijiu exploded in anger, calling him incompetent. At that moment, Zheng Zhiheng realized that Cui Shijiu’s pretense of being a woman and her closeness to him were solely for the purpose of seeking revenge.

Yan Zijing was recuperating at Duan Wu’s Mingjing Pavilion. He was deeply saddened by the loss of several brothers during their recent breakout. To honor their sacrifice, he held a private memorial. Kang Ju encouraged him not to be too hard on himself, reminding him that their deaths were caused by the Li Long bandits. Kang Ju advised him to look forward, as time would heal many wounds.

Duan Wu took great care of Yan Zijing, diligently preparing medicine and personally cooking meals for him. One day, she made egg noodle soup. Watching Duan Wu busy in the kitchen, Yan Zijing felt touched. Besides Kang Ju, no woman had ever treated him with such warmth. Exhausted from constantly strategizing against the Li Long bandits, he cherished these rare peaceful moments. Yet, his frequent poison flare-ups reminded him that his time might be running out.

When the fragrant soup was served, Yan Zijing quickly devoured it. Duan Wu then suggested that if Yan Zijing were to disappear from Hangzhou, it might disrupt the Li Long bandits' operations. Now that she knew the truth, she expressed her willingness to become his ally. Zheng Zhiheng’s failure to kill Yan Zijing greatly disappointed Cui Shijiu. Her usual gentle demeanor vanished, leaving Zheng Zhiheng to see her true colors—she had been using him all along.

Disillusioned, Zheng Zhiheng became increasingly resentful. Meanwhile, Bai Niao brought her younger brother to meet Zheng Zhiheng, hoping he would help them reclaim their previous glory as renowned courtesans. However, Zheng Zhiheng dismissed them coldly and walked away. A group of courtesans later came to Mingjing Pavilion to withdraw their shares, as the repayment deadline had passed and the shop had no cash reserves. Duan Wu wrote promissory notes for each of them, promising monthly interest payments.

Seeing Duan Wu’s dire situation, they reluctantly accepted the notes. Just as they were leaving, Ying Tao and Gao Shou returned with several crates of raw gemstone materials. Overjoyed, they announced to Duan Wu that they now had plenty of resources for new products. Duan Wu’s close friend, Feng Wuniang, learned of her struggles and generously refused any repayment. Instead, she sent a letter filled with encouragement, urging Duan Wu to persevere and to seek her help if needed.

The courtesans who had received the promissory notes regretted their earlier actions. However, having acted so harshly and opportunistically before, they now lacked the face to go back on their demands. Duan Wu explained that business was inherently risky, with no guarantees of success, and declined to accept new investments. Determined to master the art of colored glassmaking, Duan Wu tasked Ying Tao and Gao Shou with finding the old craftsman who had previously worked for the Zheng family.

After they located him, Duan Wu personally visited and offered a large sum of money for his secret recipe. Initially, the drunken craftsman dismissed her capabilities. It wasn’t until she placed real gold before him that he began to take her seriously. Cui Shijiu orchestrated a smear campaign against Zhenlang Pavilion, accusing it of selling counterfeit goods. Crowds gathered on the streets, gossiping and watching as the pavilion’s hard-earned reputation crumbled.

Zheng Zhiheng and Cui Shijiu then sought Xu Nanying’s assistance. Cui Shijiu promised to give Xu Nanying all the remaining jewelry from the Cui family as a reward. Tempted by the offer, Xu Nanying agreed to help. That evening, Cui Shijiu presented Zhenlang Pavilion’s property deed to Cui Shijiu. Overjoyed, she was thrilled to reclaim the pavilion, which had originally belonged to her family before her father sold it to Yan Zijing. However, her excitement was short-lived.

Cui Shijiu quickly realized that the ease with which the property was returned seemed suspiciously deliberate. Yan Zijing had seemingly vanished—neither alive nor dead. Zheng Zhiheng reassured her, insisting there was no need to overthink, as no one in Hangzhou could challenge the Zheng family’s dominance now. Bai Niao, always seeking a stronger backer, turned to Xu Nanying. Ruthless and cunning, Xu Nanying soon developed an ambiguous relationship with her, further entangling her ambitions.

Qin Mu, Bai Niao’s younger brother, had always held the title of Bencao Jingshe’s owner, though it was his elder sister Bai Niao who truly supported the business. Now that Bai Niao had fallen out of favor, Qin Mu began scheming to climb higher by currying favor with the Zheng family. However, Zheng Zhiheng paid him little attention, leaving him frustrated.

When Zheng Zhiheng’s father learned that his son had handed Zhenlang Pavilion over to Cui Shijiu, he was full of complaints. Zheng Zhiheng, however, defended himself by claiming it was a strategic move to redirect trouble elsewhere. He explained that many of the jewels in Zhenlang Pavilion still belonged to Yan Zijing, and if the Zheng family kept them, they risked incurring his wrath. Since Cui Shijiu was skilled in managing jewelry, the Zheng family wouldn’t suffer any losses.

Hearing this, Zheng Zhiheng’s father, a man who valued profit above all, was appeased and even smiled at the prospect of gains. Under Duan Wu’s careful planning and with Yue Yunxiu personally crafting the designs, the launch of Mingjing Pavilion’s glass jewelry was a massive success. The shop was crowded with eager customers on the first day, drawn by the jewelry’s crystal-clear quality, unique designs, and prices that were less than half of what Zhenlang Pavilion charged.

Seeing the thriving business, Yan Zijing was genuinely happy for Duan Wu. Ying Tao and Gao Shou were busy attending to customers, and Ying Tao, now a shareholder in Mingjing Pavilion, flaunted a glass hairpin in her hair, making the courtesans envious. Ying Tao assured them that once the business stabilized, they could invest too. Excited, the courtesans asked Ying Tao to purchase jewelry on their behalf, with each ordering a set.

Zheng Zhiheng informed his father about Mingjing Pavilion’s new line of glass jewelry. Xu Nanying, who was present at the time, was instructed to help drive Duan Wu out of Yangzhou. Meanwhile, Duan Wu had already purchased the deed for Mingjing Pavilion but hadn’t expected the Zheng family to act so quickly. Qin Mu, aiming to sabotage Mingjing Pavilion, secretly poisoned his courtesan, causing painful red welts to appear on her face.

He then transported her by carriage to Mingjing Pavilion’s entrance, loudly accusing the shop of selling toxic glass jewelry. A crowd gathered, debating whether the jewelry was truly harmful. Among the crowd were courtesans who also wore Mingjing Pavilion’s jewelry but had suffered no ill effects. They confronted Qin Mu, demanding proof for his accusations. Xu Nanying, pretending to pass by, tried to use the incident as an excuse to seal off Mingjing Pavilion on the grounds of attempted murder.

Duan Wu observed the situation calmly from the backyard before stepping forward. She firmly explained that hundreds of pieces of jewelry had been sold on the opening day, yet only Qin Mu’s case claimed poisoning. It was clearly a setup. At the same time, Zhang Jinran led a team to raid Bencao Jingshe. There, they discovered not only poisonous flower pollen but also a large cache of tribute jewelry—clearly items from the imperial palace.

Bai Niao was arrested as a result. Grateful for the support of her sisters, Duan Wu chose to forgive past grievances over the withdrawal of shares. She proposed forming the "Floating Fragrance Society," a mutual aid group that would allocate 10% of Mingjing Pavilion’s annual profits to a fund for assisting sisters in need. Her proposal was warmly received and endorsed by everyone. During the court trial, many courtesans attended as spectators, including the poisoned courtesan.

Qin Mu attempted to shift the blame onto his sister, Bai Niao, who was heartbroken but willing to take the fall for him. However, Zhang Jinran produced a witness: the merchant who had sold the poisonous flower pollen, who testified that it was Qin Mu who had purchased it. The courtesans warned Bai Niao not to spoil her brother excessively, as it would only bring ruin upon them both.

In court, Bai Niao’s younger brother shifted all the blame onto his sister. He even went as far as accusing her of having an illicit relationship with Xu Nanying, claiming they had been secretly involved for years. Facing Bai Niao, he declared that her actions had brought shame to their family name. Bai Niao was heartbroken by her brother’s treachery. Although she protested her innocence, she accepted her punishment.

However, Zhang Jinran, guided by evidence, convicted her brother, who was ultimately imprisoned. Zhang Jinran quickly ordered Cui Shijiu to be brought in. At Bencao Jingshe, investigators found many pearls, which turned out to be tribute pearls. Zhang Jinran questioned Cui Shijiu, asking if she acknowledged her guilt. Cui Shijiu was baffled, insisting she had only taken over an empty store out of goodwill. Just then, Zheng Zhiheng appeared to testify, stating that Zhenlang Pavilion originally housed many jewels.

However, Xu Nanying had embezzled them, claiming he needed to hand over the jewels to reclaim the shop. Now, with Xu Nanying imprisoned for corruption, Bai Niao’s brother, Qin Mu, was released from jail. Immediately, he looted all the remaining gold and valuables, attempting to flee. Bai Niao, driven mad by her recent experiences, was fortunately sheltered by some courtesans.

Duan Wu allocated profits from her store to cover Bai Niao’s expenses, with the Piaoping Society ensuring her needs were met. Outraged by Qin Mu’s actions, the courtesans confronted him in the streets, gave him a sound beating, and reclaimed the stolen assets. Zheng Zhiheng publicly testified on behalf of Cui Shijiu, infuriating his father. Furious, Zheng’s father summoned both of them, scolded Zheng Zhiheng, and punished him with forty strokes.

Through this ordeal, Cui Shijiu came to see Zheng Zhiheng’s genuine feelings for her. Even in prison, Xu Nanying continued his scheming. Zhang Jinran visited him, trying to uncover the mastermind behind Xu Nanying’s actions, but Xu deflected the questions. Confident in the influence of his secret backers, Xu refused to cooperate. Zhang Jinran, unwilling to waste more time, petitioned the Dali Court to take over the case for direct oversight.

Meanwhile, Xu Nanying secretly wrote a blood-stained letter, hoping the prison guards would deliver it to Prince Ying. Zhang Jinran intercepted the letter and discovered that Xu Nanying had hidden a trusted aide, Xu Lin, outside the city during his posting to Hangzhou. This aide was a contingency plan, ready to approach Prince Ying at the right moment. Realizing the implications, Zhang Jinran acted swiftly. He composed an impeachment memorial and dispatched it to Chang’an with express urgency.

Cui Shijiu successfully reopened Zhenlang Pavilion, and Zheng Zhiheng attended the opening to offer his congratulations. After everything they had been through, Cui Shijiu finally accepted Zheng Zhiheng’s feelings and brought him back to Zhenlang Pavilion to recover from his injuries. Duan Wu personally visited Qin Aweng three times to seek his help. Moved by her sincerity, Qin Aweng finally agreed and drafted blueprints for a furnace to refine glass for Mingjing Pavilion.

During the furnace’s construction, Kang Ju and Yan Zijing provided significant assistance. Their teamwork brought everyone closer, and for the first time, Kang Ju and Yan Zijing felt a sense of family. Officials from the Dali Court arrived to escort Xu Nanying to the capital, but they found him gravely ill and unable to move. After their departure, Zhang Jinran questioned the doctor, who confirmed that Xu Nanying had been poisoned and would require extensive rest and care.

Recognizing that someone was acting quickly to silence Xu Nanying, Zhang Jinran realized Prince Ying might have caught wind of the investigation.

Under the guidance of Qin Aweng and Duan Wu, the furnace for crafting glass was finally completed. They began producing their first batch, and after a tense wait, the glass was successfully fired! Duan Wu was overwhelmed with joy, shedding tears of happiness. At last, they could produce their own glass and were no longer constrained by the scarcity of raw materials. Yan Zijing began noticing slight tremors in his hands.

He recalled the shaman’s earlier warning that tremors and temporary blindness were signs of worsening poisoning. When Zhang Jinran visited Mingjing Pavilion to inquire if Yan Zijing knew about Xu Nanying’s poisoning, Yan Zijing laughed. He admitted to orchestrating the poisoning, explaining that keeping Xu Nanying healthy would only cause more trouble. Zhang Jinran was secretly amazed, realizing that Yan Zijing surpassed him in both intelligence and daring.

These days, Zhang Jinran had observed the strong rapport between Duan Wu and Yan Zijing. Though he had tried hard to grow closer to Duan Wu, his feelings were unrequited. Accepting this, Zhang Jinran encouraged Yan Zijing to make more effort, but Yan Zijing, wishing for Duan Wu to have a brighter future, chose to maintain a respectful distance from her. Recently, Prince Kang arrived in Yangzhou to purchase jewelry.

News of his visit caused a stir among local jewelers, who eagerly promoted their products. Coming from the Western Regions and known for his wealth, Prince Kang sought only the finest treasures. Zheng Zhiheng used his connections to invite the prince to visit Zhenlang Pavilion. As a man of the world, Prince Kang could easily discern the authenticity of gems. Duan Wu, unwilling to miss this opportunity, waited outside Zhenlang Pavilion.

When she saw Prince Kang exit, she greeted him warmly and presented jewelry crafted from Mingjing Pavilion’s glass. Zheng Zhiheng, displeased by her boldness, deliberately reminded Duan Wu that Prince Kang had come to Yangzhou seeking high-quality serpentine jade, worth as much as ten acres of fertile land per piece. Duan Wu was momentarily speechless.

Her store indeed had no serpentine jade, and Prince Kang merely smiled dismissively at the glass jewelry, remarking that top-quality glass should rival jade in brilliance and clarity. Yan Zijing advised Duan Wu to focus solely on glassmaking if she truly wanted to excel, warning against being distracted by other concerns. Duan Wu didn’t fully grasp his meaning, believing that if Prince Kang accepted Mingjing Pavilion’s products, it would ensure a steady stream of orders in the future.

Zheng Zhiheng also understood the significance of Prince Kang’s visit. His father urged him to ensure that Prince Kang took items from Zhenlang Pavilion back to the Western Regions. Many of the items in Zhenlang Pavilion were stolen goods from the Li Long thieves, including tribute pearls intended for the court. Selling them locally posed risks, but exporting them to the Western Regions would be ideal.

Following his father’s advice, Zheng Zhiheng arranged a banquet to strengthen his relationship with Prince Kang. Meanwhile, Zheng Zhiheng’s mother, Yu Xiaoniang, stormed into Cui Shijiu’s room and threw all her belongings out, yelling at her to leave the Zheng family immediately. Cui Shijiu dismissed the outburst, but when Yu Xiaoniang began berating her mother, Cui Shijiu could no longer tolerate it. She shoved Yu Xiaoniang to the ground.

At Zheng Zhiheng’s banquet for Prince Kang, Duan Wu and Yan Zijing arrived uninvited. Since Yan Zijing was also from the Western Regions, Prince Kang was delighted to meet a fellow countryman. He enthusiastically invited Yan Zijing to sit beside him, and the two shared drinks, leaving Zheng Zhiheng and the other merchants sidelined. Prince Kang cheerfully declared that he would ensure fair competition, promising to buy from whoever had the best goods.

On the day of the treasure appraisal, Duan Wu presented meticulously designed jewelry from Mingjing Pavilion, which earned Prince Kang’s approval. However, when Cui Shijiu showcased her jewelry, Prince Kang was full of praise, calling it a true masterpiece. He commented that no intricate design could surpass the brilliance of superior materials. Yan Zijing immediately recognized the jewelry as part of the stolen treasures from his Yan family during his youth.

Kang Ming took a liking to the serpentine jade presented by Cui Shijiu and decided to collaborate with Zhenlang Pavilion. Duan Wu noticed Yan Zijing’s reaction to the jade and sensed there was a deeper story behind it. On their way back, Yan Zijing admitted that the jade Cui Shijiu presented belonged to his Yan family.

It was the only one of its kind in the world, and he lamented how Cui Shijiu had ruined such exquisite material by altering it into jewelry, calling it a waste of a treasure. The Zheng family began purchasing serpentine jade in large quantities. With the news that Kang Ming was willing to pay a hefty price, the local jade market skyrocketed.

Yan Zijing secretly met with Kang Ming, and the two addressed each other as uncle and nephew, revealing their close relationship. This was all part of Yan Zijing’s plan. He had previously used the same tactics to manipulate the Cui family and now, with more experience, was employing them against the Zheng family. Kang Ming asked about Yan Zijing’s relationship with Duan Wu, noting that Yan Zijing’s gaze toward her was unusual.

Yan Zijing admitted that involving Duan Wu was intentional to ensure the Zheng family didn’t suspect anything. Duan Wu’s actions, while disruptive, pushed the Zheng family to act more decisively. Originally, Yan Zijing intended to gather more information on Kang Ming, but the Zheng family’s eagerness to collaborate with Kang Ming made them act hastily. To meet Kang Ming’s demands, the Zheng family desperately scrambled to buy more serpentine jade.

Local suppliers, aware of the situation, inflated their prices and claimed limited stock. Zheng Zhiheng, despite traveling far to procure jade, found only small quantities. Frustrated, he sought advice from his father, who was equally at a loss. Duan Wu took the initiative to visit the Zheng family, claiming to have a large supply of raw materials. Left with no choice, Zheng Zhiheng agreed to meet her.

Duan Wu offered her jade at a high price, knowing the Zheng family was in a dire situation. Her confident demeanor matched the Zheng family’s desperation. After her departure, Zheng Zhiheng’s father flew into a rage. The cost of acquiring jade now was ten times the market price, yet failing to meet the order was not an option. Cui Shijiu began dismantling the stolen jewelry from the Li Long thieves to retrieve gems.

Zheng Zhiheng rushed in and warned her to be prepared. His father had advised him to quietly eliminate Cui Shijiu after completing the deal. Zheng Zhiheng, who genuinely cared for Cui Shijiu, didn’t want to become another disposable pawn in his father’s schemes. He didn’t desire wealth or status but longed for a peaceful life with his mother and Cui Shijiu. Secretly, he stole the seal of the jewelry store, preparing to flee with her.

As they spoke, government guards suddenly surrounded Zhenlang Pavilion. Beside Cui Shijiu’s table lay a trove of tribute pearls intended for the imperial court. If the stolen items were discovered, execution would be inevitable. Zheng Zhiheng urged Cui Shijiu to escape, hiding the remaining pearls and other jewels before fleeing himself. Cui Shijiu waited for him outside the wall, and when she finally saw Zheng Zhiheng climb over, they escaped together. Zhang Jinran decisively ordered the city to be sealed off.

For three days, the entire city was under lockdown, with a massive effort to capture Zheng Zhiheng and Cui Shijiu. Yu Xiaoniang wept endlessly at home, pleading with Zheng Shiyuan to intervene. She reminded him that Zheng Zhiheng was the family’s only heir. Although Zheng Shiyuan was distressed, he had no solution. Most of their wealth had already gone into purchasing jade, and the evidence against Zheng Zhiheng made it nearly impossible for him to escape punishment.

Zheng Zhiheng and Cui Shijiu hid in an abandoned thatched hut. Each time they heard the soldiers searching outside, they lay on the straw piles, holding their breath. Seeing Zheng Zhiheng’s dirt-covered face, Cui Shijiu couldn’t help but laugh, teasing him about how the once idle and spoiled young master had now fallen so low.

Embarrassed, Zheng Zhiheng replied that if it hadn’t been for a certain someone capturing his heart from a young age, he wouldn’t have given up his fortune to run away with her.

Zheng Zhiheng and Cui Shijiu had been hiding in the thatched hut for two days, their stomachs growling with hunger. Zheng Zhiheng pawned his ring and secretly bought two steamed buns for Cui Shijiu. When Cui Shijiu woke up and didn’t see Zheng Zhiheng nearby, she thought he had abandoned her. But he soon returned and gave her both buns, not keeping any for himself.

Zhang Jinran received a report that the Zheng family had dispatched two sedan chairs overnight, suspecting someone had located Zheng Zhiheng. He prepared to gather his men to make an arrest. However, just then, officials from the Ministry of Justice arrived, demanding to take Xu Nanying into custody immediately. Zhang Jinran blocked their way, even as they waved an imperial edict, claiming the emperor’s orders.

Zhang Jinran understood the importance of Xu Nanying to his case and refused to let him go. A tense standoff ensued, but it was broken when an imperial decree arrived. The emperor directly supported Zhang Jinran, commanding him to conduct a fair investigation and to interrogate Xu Nanying on the spot. Faced with this decree, the Ministry of Justice officials had no choice but to retreat. Zheng Shiyuan, Zheng Zhiheng’s father, was the first to find their hiding place.

He tied up Cui Shijiu and forced Zheng Zhiheng to return home with him. Zheng Shiyuan tried to convince his son to shift all the blame onto Cui Shijiu, promising that he could still inherit the family’s jewelry business. However, Zheng Zhiheng, deeply in love with Cui Shijiu, could never bring himself to harm her or let her bear all the blame.

When Zheng Shiyuan attempted to drag him away, Zheng Zhiheng pulled out a dagger and wounded his father, warning him never to harm Cui Shijiu. Zheng Shiyuan was stunned by his son’s actions. Suddenly, a spear flew through the air and pierced Zheng Zhiheng’s chest. Zheng Shiyuan froze in shock. Though he had often been ruthless, watching his only son die before his eyes was something he couldn’t accept.

Turning around, he saw a figure in black disappearing into the distance, finally realizing who was behind this attack. Overcome with rage and grief, he ordered his men to set the thatched hut on fire, intending to bury Cui Shijiu alongside Zheng Zhiheng. After Zheng Shiyuan left, Zheng Zhiheng faintly regained consciousness. Knowing he couldn’t let Cui Shijiu perish in the flames, he tried to remove the spear from his chest but lacked the strength.

With sheer determination, he pulled his body away from the spear, freeing himself. Cui Shijiu, her mouth gagged, watched him struggle in agony. Zheng Zhiheng used a knife to cut the ropes binding her and urged her to escape while she could. Flames engulfed the hut as Cui Shijiu supported Zheng Zhiheng in their escape. But as they made their way out, a burning beam fell.

With his last ounce of strength, Zheng Zhiheng pushed Cui Shijiu to safety before succumbing to his injuries. Zhang Jinran apprehended Zheng Shiyuan and interrogated him about the source of the stolen goods. Zheng Shiyuan, without hesitation, shifted all the blame onto his late son, Zheng Zhiheng. Zhang Jinran then summoned Cui Shijiu as a witness. Unexpectedly, she confirmed Zheng Shiyuan’s version of events, stating that all he said was true.

Cui Shijiu, understanding Zheng Zhiheng’s devotion to his father, knew he would have wanted his father to stay safe. After returning home, Zheng Shiyuan mobilized all his household staff and offered a large reward for anyone who could kill Duan Wu and Yan Zijing. However, not a single person dared to take on the task.

The master of Yuchi Fort arrived as a guest at Mingjing Terrace. Duan Wu, Zhang Jinran, Yan Zijing, and the shop assistants came out to welcome him warmly. Yan Zijing and Duan Wu had once taken refuge at Langhuan Fort and received great hospitality there, so they were eager to return the kindness. The master explained that he was no longer the fort master, as government guards frequently disturbed Langhuan Fort.

To avoid trouble, he decided to move away and travel the world for the time being. To celebrate the honored guest’s arrival, Duan Wu gave all the shop staff a day off and then took the master to explore Hangzhou. While strolling, they saw people playing chess. The chess pieces, made from materials that felt warm in winter and cool in summer, were so comfortable to handle that players couldn’t resist playing more games.

This inspired Duan Wu to create a set of glazed chess pieces. She asked Yue Yunxiu and Master Qin to collaborate on the project. When the glazed chess pieces were finished, they became an instant sensation. Each piece was smooth, translucent, and glittered beautifully in the sunlight, making them irresistible to chess enthusiasts. Mingjing Terrace’s business thrived as customers flocked in, eager to purchase these exquisite pieces.

Zheng Shiyuan, consumed by the grief of losing his son, sank deeper into despair every day. Unable to cope with the pain, he conspired with the prince’s henchmen, proposing that eliminating Duan Wu might ease their shared hatred. The others silently agreed. Kang Ming, having heard about the glazed chess pieces, personally visited Mingjing Terrace to appraise them. He immediately ordered 1,000 sets.

Duan Wu calculated that fulfilling such an order would take over three months and asked if they could deliver it later; otherwise, they couldn’t accept the deal. Unlike most merchants who eagerly jumped at large orders, Duan Wu had become more cautious. She prioritized maintaining the shop’s reputation and trustworthiness. Kang Ming appreciated her adherence to integrity and signed the order. Since Zheng Zhiheng’s death, Cui Shijiu had been overcome with sorrow, crying every day.

She clung to Zheng Zhiheng’s clothes, haunted by regret. Many nights, she dreamed of him gently stroking her hair, encouraging her to move forward, only to wake up to an empty room. Meanwhile, Zhenlang Pavilion had fallen into disrepair. A few thieves tried to loot it but were unsuccessful. Hearing a commotion from the neighboring building, Duan Wu rushed over. She confronted the rowdy troublemakers, who left cursing, and then found Cui Shijiu in the inner room, despondent and lifeless.

Duan Wu encouraged her to pull herself together. Duan Wu invited an artist to draw a group portrait of the shop’s staff. Mingjing Terrace had expanded, with five branch stores successfully established. She hoped to make it a tradition to commission a group portrait every year. Yan Zijing, however, felt bittersweet, knowing his own health was failing and unsure how much longer he could hold on. Unexpectedly, Master Qin, who specialized in making glazed pieces, disappeared.

Gao Shou went to Master Qin’s residence to look for him but found nothing. Sensing something was wrong, Duan Wu sent Ying Tao to fetch Zhang Jinran and set off with Gao Shou to search for Master Qin herself. While traveling along a mountain path, Gao Shou heard cries nearby and went to investigate, leaving Duan Wu waiting. When Gao Shou didn’t return after a long time, Duan Wu got out of the carriage to search for him.

Passing through the trees, she discovered Gao Shou tied up and unconscious, but before she could react, she was struck on the back of her head. When Duan Wu regained consciousness, she found herself face-to-face with Zheng Shiyuan. He had brought her to his sons’ graves and demanded to know if she felt guilty for their deaths. He accused her of being the reason they had died and were denied entry into the family records.

Duan Wu sneered and retorted that it was Zheng Shiyuan himself who had treated his sons as mere pawns to protect his own interests. The tragedies were simply his karmic retribution. Furious, Zheng Shiyuan had Duan Wu placed into a coffin and buried alive. Meanwhile, Yan Zijing, unable to find Duan Wu anywhere, suspected she had met with danger. He quickly joined Zhang Jinran to search for her.

At the same time, Zheng Shiyuan had taken a blood pearl from Duan Wu and planned to keep it for himself. However, the prince’s henchmen demanded the blood pearl, insisting that only by handing it over could Zheng Shiyuan gain an audience with the prince.

Yue Yunxiu and Ying Tao anxiously waited at the entrance of Mingjing Terrace. Cui Shijiu, having gathered her composure, stepped outside and noticed the weather had changed dramatically. Seeing Yue Yunxiu distraught and at a loss, Cui Shijiu immediately approached her, urging her to find Zheng Shiyuan. Though Zheng Shiyuan appeared to be a mere business guild leader, he was, in truth, ruthless and had been colluding with the notorious Li Long bandits for years.

Zhang Jinran went straight to Zheng Shiyuan’s residence, demanding to know Duan Wu’s whereabouts. Zheng Shiyuan remained tight-lipped. Furious, Zhang Jinran tried to take him away, but just then, the prince’s men arrived, blocking his path. They reminded Zhang Jinran to remain calm, pointing out that the authorities were preparing to hold a jewelry conference in Hangzhou, for which Zheng Shiyuan’s involvement was essential. Reluctantly, Zhang Jinran had no choice but to let him go.

Yan Zijing, however, refused to give up. Right after Zheng Shiyuan was released, Yan Zijing abducted him, subjecting him to severe torture until he finally revealed Duan Wu’s location. Meanwhile, Zhang Jinran gathered all of Zheng Shiyuan’s household staff in the courtyard and interrogated them one by one. Those who were uncooperative were punished until one servant, unable to endure further, confessed the location where Duan Wu had been buried alive.

Late at night, two groups of people raced to the site where Duan Wu was buried. With no tools available, they used their bare hands to dig the soil. Together, Yan Zijing, Zhang Jinran, and the others managed to unearth the coffin and lift its lid. Inside, Duan Wu lay motionless. Enraged, Yan Zijing lost all restraint. He had once felt pity for Zheng Zhiheng’s tragic death, but now that his woman had been buried alive, all mercy vanished.

That very night, he set out to confront Zheng Shiyuan, but Zheng Shiyuan was already taken by Li Long bandit leader Li Kui. Unbeknownst to others, Yuchi Wuyi had delivered Zheng Shiyuan to the prince. Over the years, Zheng Shiyuan had helped the prince launder his privately hoarded treasures. Duan Wu’s ordeal also pushed Zhang Jinran to his limits. The next day, Zhang Jinran issued a public notice announcing that Xu Nanying would soon be executed.

Hearing the news, Xu Nanying was devastated. Once a prestigious scholar admired at court, he now found himself a condemned prisoner. Xu Nanying held too many of the prince’s secrets. If he were to be killed, the evidence in his possession would quietly be sent to the imperial palace. The prince ordered Yuchi Wuyi to handle the situation. Torn, Yuchi Wuyi knew that Yan Zijing had become uncontrollable in his rage.

Rescuing Xu Nanying from prison would be extremely dangerous, and exposure would mean he could no longer survive. However, the prince’s orders could not be disobeyed. Yuchi Wuyi successfully rescued Xu Nanying but was intercepted by Yan Zijing. Using Xu Nanying as a hostage, Yuchi Wuyi tried to negotiate, but Yan Zijing remained indifferent. The two fought fiercely, and Yan Zijing, familiar with Yuchi Wuyi’s combat style, realized he was Li Kui, the man responsible for annihilating his entire clan.

In desperation, Yan Zijing tore off Yuchi Wuyi’s mask, revealing a face that left him in shock—it was Yuchi Wuyi, the very man who had supported him throughout the years. The realization hit Yan Zijing like a cruel joke. The man he had regarded as an elder brother all this time was actually his mortal enemy. Even the midnight ambush on the caravan that nearly wiped out his group had been orchestrated by Yuchi Wuyi.

Yan Zijing was filled with bitter irony; despite his caution, the most dangerous person had been by his side all along. Yuchi Wuyi claimed he had the antidote to Yan Zijing’s condition. If Yan Zijing agreed to help him find Gulisidan’s long-lost treasure, he promised to hand it over. Yan Zijing, consumed with hatred, called out to Kang Ju to kill Yuchi Wuyi. However, Kang Ju, determined to secure the antidote for Yan Zijing, hesitated, allowing Yuchi Wuyi to escape.

At Mingjing Terrace, the jewelry shops were draped in white mourning banners, a sight that filled Cui Shijiu with grief. She had witnessed Duan Wu’s transformation from a lowly pearl diver to a successful merchant in Hangzhou. The journey had been fraught with hardship. Yet, Cui Shijiu had a more pressing task: she intended to have Zheng Zhiheng posthumously recognized in the family records. With Zheng Zhiheng’s ancestral tablet in hand, she approached the Zheng family, seeking their acknowledgment.

With Cui Shijiu's persistent efforts, Zheng Zhiheng was finally included in the Zheng family genealogy. Cui Shijiu carefully placed his ancestral tablet in its rightful spot, setting her mind at ease. Now, she was determined to make Zheng Shiyuan pay for his misdeeds. Tearfully, she pleaded with the second and third Zheng brothers to take charge of the jewelry pavilion. Although they did not openly agree, they both coveted the lucrative business.

Upon hearing that Cui Shijiu planned to relocate Yu Xiaoniang to a secluded life, the two brothers readily consented. When Cui Shijiu arrived at Yu Xiaoniang’s quarters, she found Yu Xiaoniang attempting to hang herself. Luckily, Cui Shijiu arrived in time to stop her. Before his death, Zheng Zhiheng had entrusted Cui Shijiu with taking care of his mother, and she was determined to honor this wish.

To keep Yu Xiaoniang out of harm's way, Cui Shijiu took her to live in the tranquil Zhenlang Pavilion. To motivate Yu Xiaoniang to regain her will to live, Cui Shijiu deliberately provoked her, claiming that Zhenlang Pavilion now belonged solely to her and would serve as her dowry if she ever remarried. Outraged, Yu Xiaoniang declared that she would rather die than let Cui Shijiu have her way. Fueled by indignation, she regained her resolve.

Meanwhile, Zheng Shiyuan was hiding in the prince's residence, refusing to step outside. To lure him out, Yan Zijing spread a rumor that he would destroy the Blood Pearl if Zheng Shiyuan didn’t appear. The prince, unwilling to risk any harm to the Blood Pearl, forced Zheng Shiyuan to go to Mingjing Terrace with Yuchi Wuyi. Though Zheng Shiyuan was fully aware of the danger, he had no choice. The prince had no tolerance left for him.

Upon arriving at Mingjing Terrace, Duan Wu had already set her trap. With substantial evidence of Zheng Shiyuan’s crimes, she exposed his true nature in front of the crowd. As Duan Wu listed Zheng Shiyuan’s oppressive and corrupt actions, murmurs of outrage filled the air. The tipping point came when Duan Wu revealed how Zheng Shiyuan had embezzled guild dues for years. Furious, the merchants were livid, realizing that their hard-earned money had been stolen.

Zheng Shiyuan accused Duan Wu of slandering him and claimed that the accounts she presented were falsified. Cui Shijiu stepped forward to testify. She confirmed that over the past three years, Zheng Shiyuan had been misappropriating guild funds, engaging in bribery, and even offering gifts to the prince. Cui Shijiu detailed the dates and incidents with precision. Furthermore, she revealed that the jewelry guild had always maintained two sets of account books, one of which was identical to Duan Wu’s.

Zheng Shiyuan, cornered by the overwhelming evidence and witnesses, had no defense. Zhang Jinran immediately ordered his imprisonment. Duan Wu was deeply grateful to Cui Shijiu, knowing the ledger she held had been provided by Cui. That evening, the two shared a drink, setting aside their past grievances and reconciling. The prince attempted to intervene, fearing that Zheng Shiyuan would reveal their illicit dealings. However, Zhang Jinran, no longer his subordinate, refused to comply.

With an imperial decree supporting him, Zhang Jinran was untouchable. Realizing the prince's underhanded actions, Zhang Jinran severed ties with him, declaring an end to their brotherhood. Late into the night, Zhang Jinran interrogated Zheng Shiyuan, but the latter refused to confess. To break the deadlock, Zhang Jinran devised a ploy. He released Zheng Shiyuan from prison and spread a rumor that Zheng Shiyuan had already confessed.

When Cui Shijiu heard that Zheng Shiyuan had been freed, she was stunned and prepared to recapture him immediately. However, she quickly realized this might be part of Zhang Jinran's strategy to catch Zheng Shiyuan off guard. Relieved, she instructed her men to infiltrate the Zheng family residence and monitor their every move. As Cui Shijiu briefed her subordinates, Yu Xiaoniang overheard the plans.

Taking advantage of an unguarded moment, she slipped into the Zheng family home to seek vengeance against Zheng Shiyuan. Unfortunately, Yu Xiaoniang was no match for him. Zheng Shiyuan disarmed her, seizing the dagger from her hands. At that critical moment, Cui Shijiu arrived.

Cui Shijiu was gravely injured by Zheng Shiyuan. The Zheng residence was already surrounded by Zhang Jinran’s guards, leaving Zheng Shiyuan with no way out. Despite this, he took Cui Shijiu hostage in a desperate attempt to escape. Yan Zijing deliberately distracted Zheng Shiyuan, giving Duan Wu the opportunity to shoot an arrow through Zheng Shiyuan’s arm. Cui Shijiu seized the moment, retrieved the dagger, and stabbed Zheng Shiyuan in the neck, killing him on the spot.

From Zheng Shiyuan’s inner pocket, Zhang Jinran found a ledger documenting years of collusion between the prince, the Zheng family, and the Cui family, along with their involvement in numerous crimes alongside the Li Long bandits. Yuchi Wuyi, as the leader of the Li Long bandits, was undeniably guilty. Zhang Jinran and Yan Zijing discussed their next steps and decided to go to the prince's residence at dawn to arrest Yuchi Wuyi.

Fearing exposure of his crimes, the prince poisoned Yuchi Wuyi. Despite Yuchi Wuyi’s caution, he fell victim to the poison, rendering his arms and legs completely powerless. The prince demanded that Yuchi Wuyi hand over the Blood Pearl and reveal the treasure’s location. Yuchi Wuyi knew that once he complied, he would lose all value and face immediate death. When Zhang Jinran arrived with evidence to arrest Yuchi Wuyi, Kang Ju desperately pleaded with him to obtain the antidote first.

Yan Zijing was experiencing intermittent blindness, and without the antidote, it would be too late to save him. In the prison cell, Yuchi Wuyi negotiated with Zhang Jinran, offering the antidote in exchange for his release. Zhang Jinran hesitated, but Yan Zijing stepped forward, firmly warning against releasing Yuchi Wuyi. He argued that Yuchi Wuyi’s heinous crimes and countless murders made him deserving of death. Letting him go would be akin to unleashing a tiger back into the wild.

Kang Ju was devastated. He knew Yuchi Wuyi held the antidote, but Yan Zijing remained resolute, unwilling to compromise. Yan Zijing reassured Kang Ju, stating that every day he had lived was dedicated to avenging his Yan clan. Now that his goal was achieved, he could die without regrets. As the Laba Festival approached, Duan Wu and her sisters from Mingjing Terrace began cooking beans to prepare Laba porridge. Kang Ju suggested renaming this year’s porridge to “Longevity Porridge.

” Duan Wu gazed up at the night sky, where the moon was obscured by dark clouds, sensing that something significant might happen. Whenever she looked at Yan Zijing, she felt there were secrets he was withholding, but out of understanding, she chose not to press him. Yuchi Wuyi had confessed, and Zhang Jinran led the effort to arrest the prince, bringing him back to the capital for trial.

Before leaving, Zhang Jinran visited Mingjing Terrace to bid farewell to Yan Zijing. At the time, Laba porridge was being distributed. Zhang Jinran vowed to seek justice for the Yan clan in the capital, then clasped his hands in a respectful gesture, wishing Yan Zijing health and happiness. Yan Zijing nodded in silent acknowledgment. Having gone through so much together, Zhang Jinran and Yan Zijing had become allies, bound by mutual admiration.

Cui Shijiu’s injuries began to heal, and she also came to Mingjing Terrace to enjoy some Laba porridge. Now that Zheng Zhiheng’s death had been avenged, Cui Shijiu reflected on the value of life. She and Duan Wu started discussing their visions for the future. Cui Shijiu expressed her desire to become the head of a jewelry guild.

Ever since she was a child, she had proven herself the equal of any man, and now she wanted to demonstrate her abilities and advocate for gender equality. Duan Wu, on the other hand, dreamed of delving deeper into jewelry design and development. She aspired to expand the business, open up international trade routes, and let more people worldwide know about Mingjing Terrace.

Yan Zijing’s health was deteriorating. Kang Ju was deeply pained by this and knew that Yan Zijing, with his proud and solitary nature, would not want Duan Wu to see him in his weakened state. Kang Ju suggested leaving earlier than planned, and Yan Zijing agreed. He had already entrusted all his jewelry to a reliable person, intending for it to be left to Duan Wu after his passing. Duan Wu made a belt for Yan Zijing.

Now that Ying Tao and Gao Shou had opened a branch store in the southern part of the city, she planned to finish her work soon so she could travel the land with Yan Zijing. It was a long-cherished dream of hers. As Yan Zijing raised his arm to let Duan Wu measure his waist, an idea struck him—they could use colored glass to create a ruler. Such a unique piece would undoubtedly stand out at the Treasure Appraisal Conference.

Duan Wu agreed, and the two began designing the ruler together. That evening, Yan Zijing took Duan Wu to explore the vibrant Hangzhou night market. In this time of peace and prosperity, the streets were filled with laughter and joy. Among the lively crowd, Yan Zijing and Duan Wu received many blessings: some wished them lifelong happiness, others hoped they would soon have children. Yan Zijing was elated, pulling Duan Wu into a dance amidst the crowd.

Under the clear moonlit sky, the two embraced and shared a peaceful night together. Finally, Zhang Jinran returned. An imperial decree had been issued: the emperor, having learned the truth, bestowed a hundred bolts of fine silk as a reward and officially restored the honor of the Yan family. Yan Zijing’s lifelong goal was finally realized. After reading the decree, Zhang Jinran pulled Yan Zijing aside to apologize. He had been unable to obtain the antidote from Yuchi Wuyi.

Zhang Jinran also revealed that Duan Wu had already discovered Yan Zijing’s condition and had spared no effort in seeking out the best physicians in the capital, though her efforts were ultimately in vain. Even the imperial doctors could not provide a cure. That night, Duan Wu prepared porridge for Yan Zijing. Listening to him carefully remind her to take care of herself and not let anything hold her back, she felt a deep ache in her heart.

She understood the implication of his words. Once, she was just a lowly pearl diver, but now, as the head of Mingjing Terrace, she was living a life beyond her wildest dreams. She was deeply content. Leaning against Yan Zijing, she tried to suppress her sorrow and pleaded with him not to leave. Yan Zijing held her hand, feeling a storm brewing in his heart.

At the end of his life, he had found someone he cared for, someone who made the world seem beautiful. For the first time, he felt reluctant to leave it. At the Treasure Appraisal Conference, Duan Wu presented the "Tai Ping Ruler" she had designed with Yan Zijing. Crafted from lustrous colored glass and adorned with vibrant hues, the ruler featured a depiction of the nation's magnificent landscapes, making it a breathtaking masterpiece.

Cui Shijiu also showcased a jewelry set as her entry. Zhang Jinran personally presided over the event, and after a vote, the Tai Ping Ruler was unanimously chosen as the champion. As per tradition, the attendees began nominating the head of the Yangzhou Treasure Guild. Cui Shijiu nominated Duan Wu, citing her transparent pricing and fair dealings at Mingjing Terrace over the years. The crowd unanimously supported the nomination. Zhang Jinran invited Duan Wu to the stage to speak.

Grateful for everyone’s trust, Duan Wu expressed her detachment from fame and fortune. She passed the position of guild head to Cui Shijiu, having witnessed her growth over the years. She encouraged Cui Shijiu to prioritize integrity and fairness in her business practices. Duan Wu then continued following in Yan Zijing’s footsteps, leading her trading caravans across the land. For her, a merchant’s role went beyond the pursuit of profit.

Under Duan Wu’s adherence to principles of honesty and fairness, her caravan's business flourished, earning greater success with each journey.

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