Episode 1: Gu Yan and Xi Huazhi meet for the first time on the street

On a stormy night, Hua Yi, the old man of the Censor Hua family, was writing a letter on the boat. Suddenly, a strong wind blew and the water flooded the boat. In this critical moment, the sails needed to be lowered immediately, but the hired servants went on strike because of their wages.

Seeing this, the young Hua Zhi did not hesitate to pick up the dagger on the ground, climbed up the mast, cut the canvas and saved everyone.

The Shen family was coming to pay the betrothal gift the next day, but Hua Zhi was not in a hurry, while her maid Bao Xia was. Hua Zhi told Bao Xia that even after getting married, they must insist on doing their own things.

Hua Zhi looked at the walls of the houses around her and felt as if she was in a cage. At this time, Yingchun, another maid of Hua Zhi, came and told Hua Zhi that everyone was waiting in Cheng Garden for the palace to bestow peach charms.

Hua Zhi was very excited after hearing this, and took Bao Xia and Yingchun to the west corner gate. Uncle Zhong had been waiting there for a long time in a carriage. Hua Zhi told Yingchun to guard the corner gate, and she and Bao Xia got on the carriage and went out.

Chengyuan was bustling with activity. In the room opposite the stage, Xia Jin’e, the third wife of the Hua family, was asking the servants to report the bill. Suddenly, she felt that the charcoal basins in front of her were too dense, so she asked the servants to move the charcoal basins and placed them in front of Qi Huilan, the second wife of the Hua family, and Zhu Yingzhen, the first wife of the Hua family.

Although Zhu Yingzhen wanted to go out for some fresh air, Qi Huilan mentioned the old lady, so she gave up the idea instantly. Qi Huilan turned around and asked the fourth wife Wu Yu Niang. Wu Yu Niang said it was a bit hot, so Qi Huilan asked the maid Zhe Gui to open the window.

Seeing this, Xia Jin’e simply asked people to open all the windows. Because the peach charms arrived at night, Lin Wan, the old wife of the Hua family, watched the show and waited with everyone.

Qisuwei Chen Qing led the patrol to search the streets, and after discovering Huazhi’s drawings in the copper shop, they stopped the carriage that Huazhi was riding in. Women in the boudoir should not be exposed in public, but Chen Qing pressed forward step by step.

Shen Qi, the eldest son of the Shen family, was aggrieved, but He was forcibly thrown aside by the patrolman. Shen Qi refused to accept it, and Chen Qing drew his sword. At the critical moment, Gu Yanxi protected Shen Qi behind him. He saw that the drawing showed Xiangfeng Tongwu, but Shen Qi suspected Gu Yanxi’s identity and wanted to take him back to Qisusi.

Hua Zhi knew very well how powerful Qisu Si was and hurriedly jumped out of the carriage to defend Gu Yanxi. After revealing his identity, Chen Qing apologized to Huazhi again and again. Hua Zhi envied Gu Yanxi for coming from the north, and lamented that she had never seen Luoxue again in the four years since she came to the imperial capital.

The emperor summoned Hua Yizheng and his eldest son Hua Pingyu to the palace late at night. Hua Yizheng and his eldest son Hua Pingyu put on their official uniforms and went. In Chengyuan, the ladies were still enjoying the acrobatic performance.

Xia Jin’e reported to Lin Wan about Hua Zhi’s engagement, and took the opportunity to mock Hua Zhi. Lin Wan then realized that Hua Zhi was not in the room. A servant reminded her that Hua Zhi had gone out, and Lin Wan was furious.

Emperor Gu Chengtao of Daqing summoned Prince Ling Gu Yanxi late at night and told him that there was something he could listen to tonight. In the hall, Gu Chengtao talked about the establishment of the crown prince and the private casting case investigated by the Seven Stars Division.

This time, Hua Yizheng, who always dared to give advice, was uncharacteristically silent on both matters. Gu Chengtao was curious, and Hua Yizheng said frankly that this was your majesty’s private matter, and it didn’t matter whether he gave advice or not. Gu Chengtao was displeased.

The Seven Stars Division was founded by him, and Prince Hui Gu Yanrui and Prince Xian Gu Yangong were his own sons. It was not an exaggeration to say that they were private matters. The atmosphere gradually became tense, but Hua Yizheng was not afraid at all.

He frankly said that the Seven Stars Division disregarded the national law, executed people indiscriminately, and the position of the crown prince had not been decided yet. The princes were fighting endlessly. For the sake of the country, it should be decided as soon as possible. In this way, these two matters were matters of the world and not the emperor’s private affairs.

Gu Chengtao was furious and dismissed Hua Yizheng and his three clans from their official positions on the grounds that Hua Yizheng incited scholars all over the country. His entire family was exiled to the north and would never be employed again.

Gu Chengtao summoned Qi Ruhai, the historian of the Seven Stars, to the palace. Qi Ruhai said that Gu Yanxi was the mastermind behind the illegal casting case.