Episode Summary
Du Yuelian kills Situ Hanshan, fulfilling Du Fenglei's last wish, but he disappears. Guo Ji accuses Nan Fengyi of being Bai Zeyi and conspiring against the empire. Nan Fengyi initially denies it, then admits to being Bai Zeyi's page boy. Meng Xizhou and Du Yuelian arrive, proving Situ Hanshan's death. Du Yuelian exposes Guo Ji's corruption. Nan Fengyi admits his true identity, resigns, and Du Yuelian becomes the new Fuzhun of Tianshi Fu, removing Guo Ji.
Spoiler Alert
The episode opens with a shocking act of violence fueled by betrayal. Du Yuelian, spurred on by Meng Xizhou, stabs her dagger where Du Fenglei's foot was. The act seemingly confirms the death of Situ Hanshan. As Du Yuelian cries out for Du Fenglei, his voice echoes around her. She finds him nearby, but he reveals that he's been dead all along. His lingering presence is due to an unresolved obsession, now seemingly satisfied as he's witnessed Du Yuelian kill Situ Hanshan. He asks Du Yuelian to call him "A'ye" (father), but she refuses, desperately wanting his spirit to remain. Du Fenglei laments that he won't be able to see her get married, and Du Yuelian cries out, who is she going to present at the cerimony. He begins to fade, telling her it doesn't hurt, he just feels "light." Du Yuelian is left alone, heartbroken, her cries for her father unanswered.
Meanwhile, Guo Ji, accompanied by Nan Fengyi, arrives at the Imperial Palace. The Emperor is immediately suspicious, questioning their urgent arrival. Guo Ji reveals that he has proof that Nan Fengyi, the head of the Ministry of Justice, is actually Bai Zeyi, a descendant of the rebellious Bai Ze clan. He further alleges that Nan Fengyi is conspiring with the demon Meng Xizhou and the (now deceased) Situ Hanshan to overthrow the empire.
The Emperor dismisses these claims as nonsense, demanding evidence. Guo Ji explains his months of investigation, revealing that Nan Fengyi is not the biological son of Nan Sixu. His adoption coincided with the Bai Ze clan's extermination, and no body was ever found. As further proof, Guo Ji presents Nan Fengyi's white-hair brush, a known artifact of the Bai Ze clan.
The Emperor turns to Nan Fengyi, who, remembering his adoptive father's plea to master the Beidou Yuan Formation and clear his family's name, and the Emperor's order to master the formation to recapture the demons. Also, he remembers the Emperor's words of being unable to help him if his true identity was ever discovered. He makes a shocking "confession": he admits to being a former page boy of Bai Zeyi, stunning the court and causing the Emperor to break out in a cold sweat. He claims he merely found the white-hair brush.
Guo Ji continues his accusations, mentioning a secret passage in Nan Fengyi's home. Nan Fengyi, aware that this passage leads to the Imperial Hall, is desperate to keep it secret. The Emperor, seemingly playing along, dismisses the idea of a secret passage.
At this point, Meng Xizhou and Du Yuelian arrive, announcing Situ Hanshan's death and presenting his body as proof. However, Guo Ji attempts to expose Meng Xizhou as a demon using a revealing spell, but it has no effect. Du Yuelian vouches for Meng Xizhou, revealing that her father, Du Fenglei, is dead, and his identity had been stolen by Situ Hanshan during the Crown Prince's ceremony.
Du Yuelian then presents evidence of Guo Ji's corruption and collusion with Situ Hanshan. Guo Ji continues to deny the accusations, claiming he has a witness who can prove Nan Fengyi's true identity: a former stableman of the Bai Ze clan. The stableman confirms that Nan Sixu took Bai Zeyi.
Nan Fengyi finally admits his true identity as Bai Zeyi. The Emperor points out he was only a child at the time and knew nothing. Guo Ji cries out that this is treason, but Nan Fengyi simply resigns from his post. Guo Ji then asks the Emperor to appoint a new Fuzhun (head) of the Tianshi Fu. The Emperor appoints Du Yuelian. She promptly removes Guo Ji from the Tianshi Fu, declaring she could never like such a treacherous person, and as long as she is Fuzhun, he will never be.
