Episode Summary
Wang Simu helps Xu Xinnian gain favor with her father, leading to a romantic development between them. Li Miaozhen and Chu Yuanzhen discover their rivalry and engage in a duel. Xu Qi'an investigates a mysterious figure from the past, uncovering a lost palace treasure. The episode ends with a foreboding vision, hinting at a significant upcoming event.
Spoiler Alert
In this episode, the tangled web of relationships and political intrigue in the Dafeng court continues to unravel. Wang Simu, deeply concerned for Xu Xinnian, visits her father, Wang Zhenwen, hoping to smooth things over. Wang Zhenwen, aware that the Xu family is employing a "bitter flesh" tactic (a strategy of self-inflicted suffering to gain sympathy), still feels a pang of guilt for his previous actions. He relents, gifting Wang Simu with a special trauma ointment for Xu Xinnian's injuries.
Wang Simu rushes to the Xu household, personally tending to Xu Xinnian's wounds. Her presence is a balm to his wounded pride, and the humiliation he suffered fades away. The two share a charged moment alone, the air thick with unspoken affection. Just as Xu Xinnian leans in, he's startled by his mother's presence. A flustered Wang Simu makes a hasty exit, but Xu Xinnian's mother presents her with a jade bracelet, declaring it a gift for her future daughter-in-law. Overjoyed, Wang Simu struggles to put on the slightly-too-small bracelet, a clear sign of her eagerness to accept the implied proposal.
Meanwhile, Li Miaozhen and Chu Yuanzhen share drinks at an inn, their conversation flowing easily. They discover a shared passion and decide to become sworn siblings. It's only during the oath-taking that they reveal their full names, realizing they are bitter rivals from the Tian Di Society (Heaven and Earth Society). Their online feud now spills into the real world, and they immediately clash, fulfilling their promise to fight it out in person.
Thanks to Wang Simu's intervention, Wang Zhenwen grants Xu Qi'an permission to examine the Ministry of Personnel's records. Originally, Li Miaozhen was supposed to join, but she's nowhere to be found. Xu Qi'an, accompanied by Su Su, delves into the rosters. Su Su discovers the fate of her father, Su Hang, who passed away over a decade ago. Xu Qi'an, on the other hand, finds a clue about the recurring masked figure in his visions. This mysterious individual participated in the Battle of Linyuan as a supervisory commander, but his name has been mysteriously erased. Xu Qi'an offers a bounty of ten taels of silver for any information leading to the identification of this person. Through extensive research, Xu Qi'an traces the man's career progression, but he disappears after the Battle of Linyuan.
Xu Qi'an questions Wang Zhenwen, who vaguely remembers the individual but can't recall his name. He does recall that a secret treasure was lost from the palace after the Battle of Linyuan. Wang Zhenwen emphasizes the sensitivity of the matter, warning that it's beyond his authority and should only be pursued if Wei Yuan, a powerful figure, brings it up.
Xu Xinnian and Wang Simu, now openly acknowledging their feelings, become inseparable. As Xu Xinnian escorts Wang Simu home late at night, they repeatedly find excuses to prolong their farewell, much to the exhaustion of Wang Simu's maid.
The duel between Li Miaozhen and Chu Yuanzhen reaches a stalemate, their skills evenly matched. Shangguan Xiao Rou, witnessing the rooftop fight, attempts to intervene with a red card warning, but she's injured in the process. She reports the incident to Wei Yuan, who, in his room, witnesses a vision of a Golden Buddha manifesting, indicating an impending major event.
