Summary
Highlights
The Emperor summons all princes to court, but the Sixth Prince, Ning Cangsheng, is absent, indulging in pleasures at the Red Sleeve Pavilion. This angers the Emperor and sparks criticism from his brothers. Meanwhile, Cangsheng activates a 'Playing it Off' system, granting him powerful allies and rewards, but also drawing him into power struggles.
The Northern Barbarian Kingdom proposes a marriage alliance for the Tenth Princess. The Second Prince and other officials support it for peace and economic reasons, but Ning Cangsheng vehemently opposes it, exposing it as a desperate ploy by the Northern Barbarians during winter. He suggests the court officials contribute to war provisions, exposing the Right Prime Minister's wealth and securing funds for the war.
Ning Cangsheng's mother and the Emperor discuss his recent actions. The Emperor suspects Cangsheng's hidden strength and the mysterious figures surrounding him, particularly a powerful female guard who easily defeats Commander Chengying. The Emperor assigns Cangsheng the task of receiving the Northern Barbarian delegation and secretly investigates his growing influence.
Shadow Guards discover two assassins, Youming and Yanluo from the Heavenly Fiend Tower, attempting to assassinate Ning Cangsheng. Though he wants to remain idle, Cangsheng realizes he must retaliate. The Emperor learns of the assassination of the Northern Barbarian envoy and is furious, accusing his sons of orchestrating the attack for selfish reasons. Cangsheng deftly deflects blame and implicates his Second Brother.
The Emperor, outraged by the attacks originating from martial arts sects, establishes the Martial Arts Supervision Bureau and places Ning Cangsheng in charge, tasking him with investigating the incident within half a month. The system grants Ning Cangsheng 500 elite Jinyiwei (Embroidered Uniform Guard) to aid in his mission. Later, he brings in Xie Lingchen as Deputy Commander, a former friend with significant martial arts prowess.
Three Imperial Guards are murdered by the Heavenly Fiend Tower's poison doctor, Ghost Hand. Ning Cangsheng, with the help of his strategist Kongming, turns this incident into an opportunity. He proposes rigorous training for the Imperial Guards and reassigns the Heavenly Fiend Tower investigation to Minister Cao, who had previously accused Cangsheng of treason, effectively putting him in a difficult position.
The Shadow Guards uncover a scandal at Hongye Temple involving missing girls, high-ranking officials, and influential individuals. Ning Cangsheng strategically leaks this information to Yue Song, the Prefect of the Capital, knowing he is an upright official. The Emperor, infuriated by the corruption, orders a thorough investigation, showcasing his determination to crack down on lawlessness, even establishing a new department under Cangsheng's command to monitor the capital.
Ning Cangsheng attends the Fourth Prince's birthday banquet, knowing it's a trap. Gu Tianheng, an exiled noble with a long-standing feud with the Fourth Prince, crashes the party and openly challenges Ning Cangsheng. Cangsheng, now revealing his true power, cripples Gu Tianheng, asserting his dominance and sending a clear message to his rivals. The Emperor acknowledges Cangsheng's growing power and awards his mother a higher imperial title.
Ning Cangsheng orders a thorough investigation of Gu Yunhe, Gu Tianheng's father, knowing he controls a lucrative salt business and is a thorn in the Emperor's side. With his mother's support, he confidently prepares to deal with the Gu family. Meanwhile, the imperial examination approaches, and Cangsheng plans to select new officials, having already identified promising candidates with clean backgrounds. He also visits his Fifth Brother in the Imperial Mausoleum, showcasing his care for family.
Cangsheng is tasked with presiding over the spring imperial examination. He consults Kongming, who advises inviting Qin Wanjun, a talented woman from the powerful Qin family, as chief examiner. Despite initial objections from the Qin family, Cangsheng's determination and commitment to fairness persuade them. The Emperor, observing Cangsheng's growth, officially appoints him as the host, giving him autonomy in selecting examiners.
Hongxiu Tianxiang Pavilion, partly owned by Cangsheng, is sealed off by the Jingzhao Prefecture on false charges of treason, a clear attempt to undermine him. Nangong and Kongming quickly relay the situation. Cangsheng confronts Wan Shanhong, the mastermind, and exposes his crimes, taking him into custody with the Embroidered Uniform Guard. The Emperor's unwavering support ensures Cangsheng's actions are unchallenged.
A new crisis arises with Great Wei seeking a marriage alliance, aiming to force Cangsheng to marry into their family and destabilize the Great Yan's western border. Cangsheng uncovers their true intentions: the King of Wei has died, and they plan an expedition. He proposes leading troops to the western border, with the Qin family's support, despite the objections of other princes and even his own Uncle Ming. The Emperor, seeing his resolve, appoints him as vanguard General, giving him 50,000 troops.