(In October, updates come every other day at the beginning and end of the month, and every two days in the middle of the month. Updates through Chapter 26.)
1/. Su Jin, daughter of a high-ranking official
When she was young, her family feared she would bring disaster upon them, so her father, Su Yu, secretly sent her to her maternal grandparents' home in Jiangnan.
In September, Su Jin changes her name to Jiang Jin and disguises herself as a boy to study at Songshan Academy, where she meets Pei Yan.
Pei Yan is the legitimate son of the Northern Frontier Marquis's household, meticulous and considerate.
Pei Yan: "My younger sister is still young. Don't get any ideas you shouldn't have."
Su Jin: "You think I'm putting on airs?"
After the incident where she fell into the lotus pond, everything finally made sense.
Pei Yan: "So she's a woman."
2/. The enemy in the north is making a move, and the Northern Frontier Marquis's household sends a letter ordering Pei Yan to join the army and train at the military camp.
The Jiang family's tea becomes famous throughout the land, and they establish themselves as a tea-trading family in Da Jing.
Su Jin travels west with her uncle to trade tea, taking charge of transporting medicinal herbs. She studies medicine under Zhou Yongchun, the master of the Medicine King Valley.
One event after another in the western frontier leaves them increasingly lost in a maze, as if they have stumbled into a scheme.
Chong Lou? Seven-leaf flower?
Amid the turmoil in the western frontier, Su Jin flees and ventures into the forest.
Where is this place?
A masked figure takes Su Jin to a hidden tower.
The tower master: "From today on, you are Jing Mei, one of the Twelve Flower Hairpin Assassins."
3/. A banquet is held at the Lu residence.
Su Jin receives a mission: disguise herself as a dancer and infiltrate the banquet to gather information.
That tea shipment back then must have had something to do with the Lu family.
Fire! There's a fire!
Su Jin sets the Lu residence ablaze.
Whoosh!
Su Jin mounts her horse and tries to leave, but an arrow flies down from a distant tower.
Pei Yan?
Jiang Jin?
4/. The hidden tower provokes the forces of Prince Jinxiang and is wiped out overnight.
By chance, Su Jin is not inside and escapes unharmed.
A local: "Have you heard? A masked miracle doctor has appeared in Jiangnan."
Pei Yan: "My lady, should I call you Jing Mei the assassin, or Su Jin the masked miracle doctor?"
Su Jin: "An assassin kills, a doctor saves lives. Young Master Pei, why don't you guess whether I'll kill you or save you?"
5/. The court is growing more and more shrouded in mystery.
So many people died here before?
Whose grave is this unmarked tomb? Why isn't there a single blade of grass or flower around it?
Su Jin: "Wait, this stone marker is hollow."
Pei Yan: "Miss Su, be careful."
Theme: No matter what you go through, resilience is what matters most.
