Episode Summary
Meng Xizhou and Huo Xiao discover Xuanxu Jiaoniang's lip rouge secret and her connection to the Sea Barbarians. Huo Xiao is killed. Meng Xizhou uncovers a plot involving the Empress and the lip rouge. A wedding procession leads to a confrontation, where Huo Ting also dies. Nan Fengyi, under the Empress's orders, executes captured Sea Barbarians, including Fifth Uncle. Meng Xizhou's demon form is revealed, and she is sealed away in the Shan Hai Tu by Nan Fengyi.
Spoiler Alert
The episode opens with Meng Xizhou and Huo Xiao infiltrating Xuanxu Jiaoniang's lair, which they discover is where she crafts her infamous lip rouge. Xuanxu Jiaoniang appears and confronts them. Meng Xizhou, attempting to maintain their cover, claims she's a customer who quickly used up the previous, beautiful shade she purchased. Xuanxu Jiaoniang, seemingly buying the ruse, offers to retrieve more, only to unleash a magical attack, revealing she knows their true intentions. A fight ensues, and Xuanxu Jiaoniang summons a terrifying Sea Barbarian monster (Haimanyao).
Tragically, Huo Xiao is killed by the monster. Nan Fengyi arrives just in time to save Meng Xizhou, but the loss of Huo Xiao devastates her. She attends his funeral, only to be banished by a grieving and furious Huo Ting. Consumed by guilt, Meng Xizhou regrets investigating the Sea Barbarian case. Adding to the turmoil, the Crown Prince summons them, revealing that the Empress has vanished.
Meng Xizhou, Nan Fengyi, and Du Yuelian arrive at the palace. Inside the Empress's chambers, Meng Xizhou uncovers the secret of the purple smoke and connects it to the ingredients of Xuanxu Jiaoniang’s lip rouge. She suspects a connection between the Empress and Xuanxu Jiaoniang, but the Crown Prince dismisses the idea, arguing that the Empress is confined to the palace.
Nan Fengyi stops Meng Xizhou from speaking further, warning her about the dangers of speaking too freely within the palace walls. They deduce that Xuanxu Jiaoniang must be near the graveyard. Du Yuelian suggests they disguise themselves as mourners to avoid detection. During their journey, Meng Xizhou notices a strange wedding procession passing by, heading towards the graveyard.
Suddenly, everyone except Meng Xizhou is frozen in place. Nan Fengyi arrives, and Meng Xizhou explains that a red smoke likely caused the paralysis. She questions why she's unaffected, and Nan Fengyi reveals it's because she's a demon. They reach the graveyard and find the wedding palanquin, with the Empress inside. Nan Fengyi and Meng Xizhou instruct the Empress to stay put while they confront Xuanxu Jiaoniang, who accuses them of disrupting her master's wedding. They initially believe she's referring to Situ Hanshan, but it's revealed that the "master" is, in fact, the Empress.
Xuanxu Jiaoniang summons a gigantic Sea Barbarian monster. Huo Ting arrives to help but is killed by the monster. Before dying, Huo Ting blames Meng Xizhou, claiming her investigation led to this tragedy. Overwhelmed, Meng Xizhou cries, declaring she'll stop investigating, and faints. In a dream, she sees Renguang, who tells her that people will always be prejudiced against demons, no matter her efforts. Meng Xizhou repeats her vow to give up, but Renguang urges her to persevere, hinting that someone important to her might be among the Sea Barbarians.
Meng Xizhou awakens to Nan Sixu offering her medicine. She learns Nan Fengyi has gone to the Celestial Master's Mansion to execute the Sea Barbarians. She rushes to her Fifth Uncle's house, only to find him absent and discover he's been kissed by a woman wearing Xuanxu Jiaoniang's lip rouge. At the Celestial Master's Mansion, Du Yuelian researches the Shan Hai Tu (a classic Chinese text on mythical creatures). The Empress orders Nan Fengyi to execute the Sea Barbarians, goading him by asking if he doesn't want revenge for his brother.
Nan Fengyi carries out the executions, including Fifth Uncle, despite Meng Xizhou's desperate pleas. Guo Ji exposes Meng Xizhou's true form, revealing her as a demon. The Empress orders Nan Fengyi to seal Meng Xizhou in the Shan Hai Tu. Nan Fengyi, seemingly hardened, says he shouldn't have been soft on her, and Meng Xizhou is sealed away.
