| Year
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Date
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Main events
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Births
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Deaths
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| 1621
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| 1643
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| 1644
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| 1645
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May
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| 1646
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- Southern Ming resistance is crushed by Qing forces.
- Koxinga leads the Ming remnants to resist the Qing.
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| 1647
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- Tao Hongying's grand-teacher dies after sustaining severe wounds from a fight with the Thin Monk of the Mystic Dragon Cult.
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| c. 1648
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| c. 1650
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- Mao Dongzhu of the Mystic Dragon Cult impersonates the empress dowager after imprisoning the latter.
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| 1652
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| 1654
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| 1655
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- Princess Jianning[2]
- A'ke
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| 1656
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| 1657
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| 1659
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| 1660
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| 1661
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| 1662
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| 1663
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- History of Ming incident:
- Wu Zhirong spots a fault in the book History of Ming and reports it to the authorities, hoping to be rewarded.[4][LuDing Ch.1]
- The compilers of the book, including male members of the Zhuang family of Huzhou and their friends, are massacred. Shopowners and customers are not spared.[5]
- The female members of the Zhuang family are saved from exile by He Tishou, who teaches them martial arts for self-defence.
- Wu Liuqi of the Heaven and Earth Society saves Zha Yihuang[6]'s life.
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| 1666
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- The Fat and Thin monks exchange their appearances under the influence of Hong Antong's drugs.[LuDing Ch.20]
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| 1669 [7]
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May
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| c. July
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- Wei Xiaobao is abducted into the palace by the eunuch Hai Dafu.
- Wei impersonates a younger eunuch called Xiaoguizi after killing the latter and blinding Hai.
- Mao Shiba is injured and is later taken in the care of the Heaven and Earth Society.
- Wei Xiaobao befriends several eunuchs in the imperial palace.
- "Xiaoguizi" (Wei Xiaobao) meets "Xiaoxuanzi" (Kangxi Emperor) and they become friends.[8][LuDing Ch.5]
- Wei Xiaobao tells Hai Dafu about his brawls with Xiaoxuanzi.
- Hai Dafu realises that Wei Xiaobao is actually a fake "Xiaoguizi". He does not expose Wei yet and secretly adds a slow-acting poison to Wei's food everyday.
- Hai Dafu teaches Wei Xiaobao simple Shaolin martial arts.
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| c. September
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- Oboi has Suksaha executed for allegedly committing a list of 24 crimes.[9]
- Wei Xiaobao discovers "Xiaoxuanzi" 's true identity.[LuDing Ch.4]
- The Kangxi Emperor captures Oboi, removes him from power and imprisons him with the combined help of Wei Xiaobao and 12 young eunuchs.
- Hai Dafu is killed in a fight with the empress dowager.[LuDing Ch.6]
- Wei is appointed as the deputy supervising eunuch of the Imperial Kitchen upon Hai Dafu's death.
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- Oboi is killed by Wei Xiaobao.
- Wei Xiaobao is captured by members of the Heaven and Earth Society and taken to their headquarters.
- Wei becomes one of the society's lodge masters after agreeing to be the society's "mole" in the palace.
- Wei acknowledges Chen Jinnan as his martial arts teacher.
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| Winter
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- Chen Jinnan purges the poison in Wei Xiaobao's body.
- Xu Tianchuan of the Heaven and Earth Society kills Bai Hanfeng of the Mu Prince Residence unintentionally. He is captured.[LuDing Ch.9]
- Qian Laoben of the Heaven and Earth Society retaliates by kidnapping Mu Jianping and smuggling her into the palace.
- Qi Yuankai, a palace guard, steals the Plain Red Banner's copy of the Sutra of Forty-two Chapters from Prince Kang and hides it.[LuDing Ch.29][10]
- Wei Xiaobao discovers Qi's actions and takes the sutra along with him.
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| 1670
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- Fang Yi and a group of assassins from the Mu Prince Residence impersonate the subordinates of Wu Sangui. They enter the palace and fight with Rui Dong and other imperial guards.[LuDing Ch.11]
- Wei Xiaobao evades interrogation from the empress dowager.
- Wei kills Liu Yan[11][LuDing Ch.14] with the help of Fang Yi.
- Wei sneaks into the empress dowager's room and steals the three Sutra of Forty-two Chapters.
- Wei witnesses a fight between Tao Hongying and Deng Bingchun. He kills the latter and helps Tao escape.
- Wei acknowledges Tao as his aunt.
- Wei Xiaobao helps Mu Jianping, Fang Yi and three assassins from the Mu Prince Residence to escape from the palace.
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- Rui Dong
- Liu Yan
- Deng Bingchun
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| November[12]
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- Wei Xiaobao is accompanied by friends from the Heaven and Earth Society. They depart for Mount Wutai.
- Wei and his friends are cornered by pugilists of the Mystic Dragon Cult led by Zhang Laosan in Huzhou.
- Wei is saved by the widows of the Zhuang family. He tells them about his adventures and the murder of Oboi.
- The matriarch asks the servant girl Shuang'er to accompany Wei to express their gratitude to Wei for helping them kill Oboi.
- Wei Xiaobao encounters several fake lamas on Mount Wutai and defeats them with the help of the monks in the monastery[13]
- Wei finds the Shunzhi Emperor on Mount Wutai, who requests him to advise the Kangxi Emperor never to raise taxes.
- Wei Xiaobao meets the Fat Monk from Mystic Dragon Cult and reveals his identity by accident.
- Wei tricks the Fat Monk in believing that the secret of the Sutra of Forty-two Chapters is carved on a stone outside the monastery.
- Wei evades capture by the Fat Monk with help from the Mount Wutai monks.
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| 1671
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- Wei Xiaobao is tricked by Fang Yi and taken to Divine Dragon Island.
- Lu Gaoxuan of the sect discovers the truth about the "secret" from Wei and is forced to make up a story about it.
- Wei becomes the sect's White Dragon Marshal by flattering its leader Hong Antong.[LuDing Ch.20]
- Wei is taught simple defending skills by Hong Antong and his wife Su Quan. He set his eyes on the latter.
- Wei is given orders to retrieve the eight books of the Sutra.
- Wei Xiaobao returns to Kangxi's side and tells him about Shunzhi. Kangxi is moved to tears.
- Wei is cornered by pugilists of Wangwu Sect.[LuDing Ch.22]
- Wei lies his way out and falls in love with one of his would-be assassins, Zeng Rou.
- Wei Xiaobao becomes a high-ranking monk in Shaolin under the title "Reverend Huiming".
- Wei is attracted to A'ke when she visits the Shaolin Monastery. He is despised by many of his fellow monks.[LuDing Ch.22]
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| Late summer-autumn
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- Wei Xiaobao takes Kangxi's orders to take over Qingliang Monastery and protect Xingchi and other monks.
- Wei defends Qingliang from the Tibetan lamas and saves Xingchi from capture.
- Kangxi visits Qingliang and is reunited with his father.[14][LuDing Ch.25]
- Wei protects Kangxi from assassination by Jiunan and is held captive by the latter.
- Wei tells Jiunan about himself and gains Jiunan's trust.
- Jiunan enter the palace with Wei and interrogates the fake empress dowager, who admits her true identity.[LuDing Ch.25]
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- Wei Xiaobao and Jiunan head in search for Jiunan's disciple A'qi, accompanied by A'ke, Zheng Keshuang and servants of the Zheng family.
- Wei acknowledges Jiunan as his martial arts teacher just to be able to get near A'ke.[LuDing Ch.27]
- The Tortoise-killing Meeting takes place.
- Wei plots his "wedding" with A'ke.
- The Thin Monk of Mystic Dragon Cult hides the Bordered Blue Banner's copy of Sutra of Forty-two Chapters in the empress dowager's room.[LuDing Ch.28]
- Kangxi and Wei Xiaobao enter the empress dowager's room.
- The Thin Monk escapes with Mao Dongzhu, allowing Kangxi and Wei to free the imprisoned empress dowager.
- Wei Xiaobao gets the sutra. He passes two of his own to his subbordinates from Mystic Dragon Cult after removing the map pieces concealed within them.
- Chen Jinnan is involved in a fight with Zheng Keshuang and Feng Xifan.
- Wei Xiaobao saves Chen and is reunited with the Heaven and Earth Society.
- Feng Xifan kills Guan Anji of the Heaven and Earth Society in retaliation before escaping with Zheng Keshuang.
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- Hubayin (and other 11 Lamas)
- Guan Anji
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| 1672
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- Wei Xiaobao is appointed as the Imperial Marriage Ambassador to oversee the marriage of Princess Jianning to Wu Yingxiong in Yunnan.
- Jianning shoots Wu in the genitals with a pistol and accuses Wu of molesting her.
- Wei has numerous illicit affairs with the princess.
- Wu Yingxiong is taken back to Beijing as a hostage.
- Wei takes Wu Sangui's volume of the Sutra of Forty-two Chapters.[LuDing Ch.30]
- Meeting in Chen Yuanyuan's room:[LuDing Ch.32]
- Chen Yuanyuan tells Wei Xiaobao about herself and her daughter A'ke.
- Li Zicheng is reunited with Chen Yuanyuan.
- Jiunan reveals her true identity and instigates a fight between Wu Sangui and Li Zicheng.
- A'ke's true parentage is revealed.
- A'ke leaves Jiunan in anguish.
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- Wu Liuqi befriends Wei Xiaobao.
- Shuang'er collects the map pieces from the eight Sutras and puts them together to form one single map.
- Wei Xiaobao and Shuang'er memorise the locations on the map before burning the map.
- Kangxi tests the cannons given by the Europeans.
- Wei Xiaobao takes orders from Kangxi to lead the imperial army and attack the Mystic Dragon Cult.[16]
- Wei is lured by Fang Yi and captured by the leaders of the sect.
- Wei attempts to push the blame on the other marshals, but fails and is imprisoned.
- Wei is saved by Shuang'er. They escape to Siberia.
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| 1673
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Winter
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| Summer
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- Sophia Alekseyevna is imprisoned by the Tsarina.
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- Wu Yingxiong attempts to escape from the capital.
- Wei Xiaobao feeds Wu's horses with badou and slows Wu down.[19]
- Wu is recaptured.
- Wei becomes sworn brothers with generals Zhang Yong, Zhao Liangdong, Wang Jinbao and Sun Sike.[LuDing Ch.38]
- Balangxing, a guard under Wu Sangui, murders Situ Bolei, leader of the Wangwu Sect. He is later overpowered and killed.
- Zeng Rou follows Wei Xiaobao on his travels.
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| 1674
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Spring
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- Wei Xiaobao returns home to Yangzhou.
- Wei is reunited with his mother Wei Chunfang in Lichun Brothel.[20]
- Wei eavesdrops on a discussion between A'ke and Zheng Keshuang in the brothel and adds drugs in their beverages to knock them out.
- Wei is cornered by Prince Galdan, Tibetan Lama Sangjie and A'qi.
- Wei talks his way out and successfully persuades Galdan and Sangjie to pledge allegiance to the Qing government.
- Wei becomes sworn brothers with Galdan and Sangjie.
- Seven members of the Mystic Dragon Cult enter Wei Xiaobao's room in disguise.[21][LuDing Ch.39]
- Wei knocks everyone in the room out by secretly adding drugs in their drinks.
- Wei brings his six love interests[22] and Mao Dongzhu together on a large bed in the brothel and has non-consensual sex with each of them.[LuDing Ch.39]
- Wei Xiaobao meets Wu Zhirong, the governor of Yangzhou.
- Wu Zhirong tells Wei about his attempted framing of Gu Yanwu and Zha Yihuang.
- Wei warns Zha Yihuang and his friends about the attempt.
- Zha helps Wei write a letter to frame Wu Zhirong for aiding Wu Sangui.
- Wei arrests Wu Zhirong and has him bound and sent to Huzhou to be killed by the Zhuang family widows.[LuDing Ch.40]
- Wu Sangui starts a rebellion in Yunnan.[LuDing Ch.40]
- Wei Xiaobao and his group meet the Gui family.[LuDing Ch.41]
- Gui Xinshu and his family are tricked by Wu Sangui and kill Wu Liuqi by mistake.
- A fight ensues between the Heaven and Earth Society and the Gui family.
- Wei is saved by He Tishou and given the device Hansha Sheying.
- Gui Xinshu and his family vow to kill Wu Sangui and Kangxi to pay for their mistake.
- Wei provides information about the imperial palace to the Gui family.
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- Feng Jizhong of the Heaven and Earth Society betrays Wei Xiaobao and passes information secretly to the Kangxi Emperor.
- Kangxi captures Mao Dongzhu and sends her to the real empress dowager.
- Wei Xiaobao undermines an assassination attempt on the Kangxi Emperor.[23][LuDing Ch.42]
- Kangxi exposes Wei Xiaobao's role in anti-Qing organisations with Feng Jizhong's information and "imprisons" Wei.[LuDing Ch.43]
- Wei escapes with the help of Princess Jianning.
- Wei leads the members of the Heaven and Earth Society to safety.
- Zhao Liangdong and Wang Jinbao are ordered to capture Wei Xiaobao.[LuDing Ch.44]
- Zhao and Wang let Wei off on account of their friendship.
- Wei is captured by Hong Antong and his men and taken onto Divine Dragon Island.
- Wei escapes from the island with his friends after an internal conflict erupts within the Mystic Dragon Cult. The sect is destroyed.
- Su Quan, pregnant with Wei Xiaobao's child, decides to follow Wei.
- Wei leads his wives to Tongchi Island.
- Zheng Keshuang falls out with A'ke.
- Zheng Keshuang and his group[24] are driven onto Tongchi Island by Shi Lang's forces.[LuDing Ch.44]
- Zheng Keshuang kills Chen Jinnan.
- Wei Xiaobao makes deals with Zheng.
- Feng Jizhong exposes his true identity as a spy in the Heaven and Earth Society.
- Wang Jinbao is given orders by Kangxi to search for Wei Xiaobao.
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- Wu Yingxiong
- Mao Dongzhu
- Thin Monk
- Gui Xinshu
- Gui Erniang
- Gui Zhong
- Mystic Dragon Cult members
- Yin Jin
- Lu Gaoxuan
- Fat Monk
- Taoist Wugen
- Xu Xueting
- Zhang Danyue
- Hong Antong
- Chen Jinnan
- Feng Jizhong
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| Winter
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- Wang Jinbao finds Wei Xiaobao on Tongchi Island.
- Wang brings food and supplies for Wei and his wives on the island.
- Wen Youfang, a eunuch who followed Wang on his journey, brings the message from Kangxi that "Xiaoxuanzi" has forgiven "Xiaoguizi" for all his past misdeeds.[LuDing Ch.45]
- Wei is appointed Tongchi Duke of the Second Order.
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- Wei Hutou
- Wei Tongchui
- Wei Shuangshuang
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| 1678
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- Wu Sangui is defeated by generals Zhang Yong, Zhao Liangdong, Wang Jinbao and Sun Sike.
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| c. 1681[26]
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c. February
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- Zheng Jing
- Zheng Kezang
- Wu Shifan
- Xia Guoxiang
- Ma Bao
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| c. July
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- Qing forces capture Albazino in the war between China and Russia. [26]
- Wei Xiaobao is appointed as Duke of Mount Deer Cauldron.
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- China and Russia sign the Treaty of Nerchinsk.[26]
- The Kangxi Emperor issues an imperial decree and names Wei Xiaobao as the one who killed Chen Jinnan, forcing Wei to choose between serving him and the Heaven and Earth Society.[LuDing Ch.49]
- Mao Shiba curses Wei Xiaobao and Kangxi in public and is arrested and sentenced to death.[LuDing Ch.49]
- Wei visits Mao Shiba on the execution ground and secretly replaces him with Feng Xifan, who is executed in Mao's place.
- Wei gets into trouble with the Heaven and Earth Society for allegedly killing Chen Jinnan.
- Shuang'er[LuDing Ch.49] and Gu Yanwu[LuDing Ch.50] save Wei's life and reputation by explaining his deeds and clarifying the truth with the Heaven and Earth Society members.
- Wei escapes with his family to Dali in Yunnan and they lead reclusive lives there.[27][LuDing Ch.50]
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Citations
- ^ Zheng Keshuang's birth year is exaggerated to match the plot of the novel.
- ^ The Princess Jianning featured in the novel is a fictional character. The real Princess Jianning is actually the sister of the Shunzhi Emperor and aunt of the Kangxi Emperor. In the story, Jianning has no biological relations with Kangxi as she gets her "princess" title because she is the daughter of the fake empress dowager.
- ^ According to official historical records, Shunzhi died in 1661 of smallpox. In the novel, however, Shunzhi abdicated upon the death of his favourite concubine and becomes a monk on Mount Wutai by the name of "Xingchi". This may be taken from rumours of Shunzhi's reported death in folktales.
- ^ The book contains a timeline which adheres to the year calculation from Ming dynasty era, which is considered taboo by the Qing government.
- ^ Oboi is deemed as the mastermind in the massacre for introducing the policy of literary inquisition.
- ^ Zha Yihuang is the ancestor of the author Louis Cha, whose pinyin name is "Zha Liangyong".[citation needed]
- ^ The timeline is based on Kangxi's age when he meets Wei Xiaobao and also on Oboi's death.
- ^ The 14-year-old Kangxi Emperor longs for a friend whom he can talk to and play on equal terms. He is delighted to meet Wei Xiaobao, who is a fake eunuch about his age and is unable to identify him as the emperor. They strike up a friendship after engaging in some fun brawls. Kangxi, known as "Xiaoxuanzi" to Wei Xiaobao, is careful not to reveal his true identity in the fear of losing the friendship with Wei.
- ^ Historical sources indicate that Suksaha died in 1667. It is moved to this date to fit with the plot better.
- ^ Later in the novel, Prince Kang is summoned by Kangxi to hand in his copy of the Sutra. While the prince is troubled by the loss of the Sutra, Wei Xiaobao lends a hand to him by giving him the Bordered White Banner's copy of the Sutra after removing the map pieces concealed within the book.
- ^ Liu Yan and Deng Bingchun are members of the Mystic Dragon Cult and are sent to the palace in disguise as palace maids to spy on the Kangxi Emperor.
- ^ In Chapter 16 and 17, it is revealed that Wei Xiaobao has served in the palace for about a year and it is already the tenth month in the lunar calendar.
- ^ The lamas attempt to kidnap the abdicated Shunzhi Emperor.
- ^ Shunzhi gives Kangxi the Plain Yellow Banner's copy of Sutra of Forty-two Chapters. The book ends up in Mao Dongzhu's possession later and eventually in Wei Xiaobao's.
- ^ After killing six of the Lamas during a fight between the lamas and Jiunan, Wei Xiaobao lures the remaining lamas and throws to them a copy of the Sutra of Forty-two Chapters after adding poison to its cover. All other lamas touched the book and are poisoned to death; only their leader Sangjie, who cut off his fingers to prevent the poison from the book from spreading throughout his body, is saved by his quick actions.
- ^ Chapter 34
- ^ The strategies Wei Xiaobao used are actually from the stage plays he watched during his childhood in Yangzhou.
- ^ Historical sources state that the Moscow Uprising happened in 1682. The dates are exaggerated to fit in with the plot of the novel.
- ^ This tactic, which Wei Xiaobao introduced to the Kangxi Emperor, later backfires on him when Kangxi does the same to Wei's horses as Wei tries to escape. See Chapter 43.
- ^ Wei Xiaobao's mother is known as Wei Chunhua in earlier versions of the novel.
- ^ The sect members include Fat Monk, Thin Monk, Lu Gaoxuan, Su Quan, Fang Yi, Mu Jianping and Mao Dongzhu.
- ^ They are the six future wives of Wei Xiaobao, with Princess Jianning excluded.
- ^ Gui Xinshu and his family attempt to assassinate Kangxi, but are misled by Wei Xiaobao and they kill Mao Dongzhu and Thin Monk instead. They are captured by palace guards later and put to death.
- ^ The group includes Zheng Keshuang and his subjects, A'ke, Feng Xifan, Chen Jinnan, Feng Jizhong, Shuang'er and minor Heaven and Earth Society members.
- ^ While Feng Jizhong attempts to capture Wei Xiaobao as a hostage, he is shot by Shuang'er with the pistol that she received from Wu Liuqi as a present.
- ^ a b c d The dates of several events differ from history; they are compacted into a single year to fit in with the plot of the novel.
- ^ According to Jin Yong, the disappearance of Wei Xiaobao is one of the main reasons why Kangxi had later gone on many inspection tours to Yangzhou.
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