Episode Summary
Xu Qi'an investigates a memory alteration conspiracy, discovers the Princess Consort's generosity, learns about Duke of Zhenbei's true motives involving a "Blood Massacre of Three Thousand Miles," and travels to meet an informant who reveals the massacre happened in Zheng Xinghuai's jurisdiction. Zheng Xinghuai shares a memory of Huguogong slaughtering his city's population, revealing a massive cover-up.
Spoiler Alert
Xu Qi'an inquires with a Blue Attendant about the lifting of the lockdown in Xikou County, but the attendant is clueless, raising Xu Qi'an's suspicions. He realizes that many people's memories in this place seem to be subject to alteration.
Back at his lodging, Xu Qi'an finds that Duke of Zhenbeifei (Princess Consort of Zhenbei) is missing. Assuming she's wandered off again, he begins to use a minor spell to locate her. He discovers her behind the building, giving alms to a couple of beggars. Xu Qi'an, having previously instructed the Princess Consort to be "discreet" with her generosity, is surprised to see her give the beggars all the golden melon seeds from her purse.
The beggars are stunned, their hands trembling. Xu Qi'an informs the Princess Consort that these golden melon seeds are incredibly rare, essentially giving the pair the equivalent of hundreds of thousands of taels of silver. The Princess Consort seems unaware of the value of her gift, only understanding its impact when Xu Qi'an explains that it's enough to ensure the well-being of even their great-grandchildren.
Later, Xu Qi'an encounters a member of the Mei Clan. Seeking crucial clues, he first helps the Mei Clan member capture two runaway servants. Then, he uses the Princess Consort as bait, hoping to learn the meaning of "Blood Massacre of Three Thousand Miles." The Mei Clan member, realizing he's no match for Xu Qi'an, reveals that Duke of Zhenbei (Prince of Zhenbei) doesn't care about the Princess Consort herself, but rather the Lingyun (spiritual essence) within her. Absorbing this Lingyun would allow him to ascend to the second rank of immortality. However, in the absence of Lingyun, absorbing the vital essence of a large number of second-rank sorcerers would suffice. The Mei Clan member advises Xu Qi'an to "know when to yield," suggesting he offer the Princess Consort to Duke of Zhenbei for future wealth and titles. Xu Qi'an dismisses the suggestion.
That night, Xu Qi'an deliberately returns late, only to find the Princess Consort still in the room. He openly states that he now understands the truth and that she's free to leave at any time. His sincerity is evident, but the Princess Consort laments that she's always been treated like a commodity, passed from her parents to the Emperor, and then from the Emperor to Duke of Zhenbei. Even if the cage door is open, she has nowhere to go. Xu Qi'an prepares some porridge for her. Just then, he receives a signal from his jade mirror, indicating that Li Miaozhen has captured a key suspect. The suspect insists on revealing the truth only to Xu Qi'an.
Leaving the Princess Consort settled, Xu Qi'an rides day and night for three days straight, finally reaching Li Miaozhen's inn, exhausted and immediately falling asleep. In the evening, the person Li Miaozhen contacted arrives as promised. He confesses that the "Blood Massacre of Three Thousand Miles" occurred within the jurisdiction of Buzhengshi (Provincial Governor) Zheng Xinghuai.
Xu Qi'an and Li Miaozhen are shocked, as they believed Zheng Xinghuai was serving in the palace. The informant explains that the one in the palace is a fake, and the real Zheng Xinghuai is hiding in a cave on a nearby cliff. The informant leads them to the cave, where they find Zheng Xinghuai in rags, with a disheveled beard and hair. Li Miaozhen urges him to remain calm as he recounts the events. She then uses a spell to allow Xu Qi'an and Zheng Xinghuai to share the experience, reliving the scene together.
On that fateful day, Zheng Xinghuai was having a normal meal with his family when a guard rushed in, reporting that Huguogong (Duke Protector of the Nation) had gathered the city's population at the city gate. Zheng Xinghuai, puzzled, rushed to the scene and questioned Huguogong's intentions. Huguogong then unleashed a massacre, slaughtering all the unarmed civilians in the city. The scene was a horrific bloodbath. Huguogong, having secretly defected to the Witch God Sect, drew his sword to kill Zheng Xinghuai, but Zheng Xinghuai's son sacrificed himself to save his father. Overwhelmed by the memory of his son's death, Zheng Xinghuai breaks down, ending the shared experience.
With the truth revealed, Xu Qi'an is deeply affected. He realizes the case is far more complex than he imagined, with a massive number of casualties and a cover-up so powerful that it even erased the memories of many, including possibly Wei Yuan, a powerful figure, himself. The force behind this is clearly formidable.
