Reviews

The "Truth Pill" Interrogation

During the emergency inquiry, conservative Elder Zheng Yuan attempts to dismiss the embezzlement charges by claiming Fan Yun has gone missing. Just then, Jiang Shu aggressively steps up and threatens to feed Master Cai a highly toxic "truth pill" that guarantees a painful death if he lies. Panicking, Master Cai confesses his crime. Fan Yun and Tian Xing march into court with the physical ledger, completely breaking Master Cai’s defense.

Reviewing The Ritual Department Ledger

Fan Yun and Tian Xing are secretly giving a task to review the ledger of Ritual Dept. Reviewing the ledger, Fan Yun notices that while the financial totals seem flawless, the individual unit prices are heavily inflated. Her deductions lead her and Tian Xing to an abandoned, "haunted" house in the city outskirts, where they uncover a massive cache of embezzled treasure hidden directly beneath a heavy coffin

Fan Yun Enduring The Grunt Work

Fan Yun and Tian Xing remain tasked with grueling manual labor, diligently cleaning the latrines and scrubbing floors without a single complaint. Impressed by their unwavering resilience, the former bully Bo Qin steps up to defend them against other snobbish nobles. Watching Fan Yun exhaust herself with menial work deeply pains Qi Zheng. To maintain professional distance while she is on her trial period, he secretly leaves behind supportive snacks to look after her well-being.

The Delayed Sabotage

Fan Yun and Tian Xing proudly don their official court robes for the first time. Arriving for their first official day, Fan Yun and Tian Xing are immediately targeted by the aristocratic officials. The elite deliberately trap and delay them to make them miss their official reporting window, using the lateness as an excuse to strip them of actual administrative duties.

Far exceed my expectation!

It has unique plot and a nice break for me after those intense historical drama. I like how it's not all about romance, but also about chasing their dream and life hitting you with a bus. There're a lot of elements which give us a lot of things to look forward too. The student has depth and back story. The pacing is also excellent, episode 1 already give us the background story and hidden mystery.

The Royal Recommendation

Determined to not let the gender restriction crush her dreams, Qi Zheng uncovers an ancient bureaucratic precedent allowing highly respected officials to personally recommend exceptional candidates. Seizing this loophole, Jiang Shu boldly steps forward to officially nominate Fan Yun, successfully clearing her path to enter the government through a mandatory "trial service period".

The Shadow Slay League Raiding

The high-octane battle at the Huange Pavilion. The battle peaks as Qi Zheng fights aggressively to fend off the Shadow Slay League assassins. Terrified for Fan Yun’s safety during the chaos, he prioritizes shielding both her and the injured scholar, Tian Xing, ensuring their safe rescue.

Qi Zheng is Forced to Make a Political Compromise

Dragging his "ailing body" into the imperial court, Elder Zheng Yuan changes tactics to stall the reform. While he drops his total opposition to letting commoners take the selection exams, he draws an absolute, unyielding line: women are strictly banned from sitting for them. To prevent a complete government collapse, Qi Zheng is forced to make a strategic political compromise, leaving Fan Yun utterly devastated.

Qi Zheng’s High-Stakes Reform Pitch

The episode kicks off with Qi Zheng formally pitching his comprehensive national exam reform plan to the royal court. He masterfully presents the long-term benefits of injecting fresh talent into the Nine Cities and giving commoners a pathway to change their fates, leaving his detractors secretly impressed by his vision.

Fan Hui's Weakness is His Niece

The emotional core of the episode lies with Fan Hui. Despite his stubborn, "by-the-book" reputation as a loyal minister, his strict defenses completely crumble the moment Fan Yun calls him "Uncle." His stern exterior melts away, signaling a major shift in how the older elite view Fan Yun's radical political ambitions.

Disguised as a Man, Fan Yun Enters the Commerce Department

Taking advantage of a staffing shortage at the Commerce Department headed by Jiang Shu, Qi Zheng sneakily arranges for Fan Yun to step in and help. This gives her a rare, satisfying platform to showcase her immense administrative brilliance and political acumen ahead of the exams.

The Parting

The episode kicks off with Fan Yun "happily" packing her bags to leave the Qi estate. Qi Zheng quietly waits for her at the gate to say farewell. Fan Yun gives him a hand-embroidered handkerchief as a parting gift, and Qi Zheng sneakily steals a parting kiss.

The "Hidden Medical Condition" Rumor

To guarantee the court elders accept their sudden separation, Fan Yun and Qi Zheng stage an explosive public screaming match. Fan Yun drops a hilarious fabricated bombshell—claiming the City Lord suffers from a secret "hidden illness/impotence"—completely blind-siding the conservative aristocracy and leaving the elders utterly paralyzed on how to react.

The Beginning of Imperial Exam Reform

In the episode's defining moment, Qi Zheng unable to suppress his feelings, confesses to Fan Yun under a blooming phoenix tree. Crucially, he respects her ambition to enter politics—a path forbidden to women—and agrees to a staged, public divorce so she can freely sit for the upcoming imperial examinations.

The Assasination Arc Aftermath

Stepping away from his usual manipulative facade, Qi Zheng shows a softer, more grounded side. His dedicated care for Fan Yun following her emotional exhaustion cements their bond, shifting their dynamic from forced allies and guarded suspicion into unwavering mutual trust.