Episode Summary
Wrongly imprisoned, Xu Qi'an bribes a guard to seek help from Caiwei. His message reaches the alchemist Song Qing, who, along with Xu Qi'an's scholarly connections, secures his release. Caiwei reveals that Zhou Xianping, Zhou Li's father, is behind the tax silver theft and Xu Qi'an's imprisonment. Xu Qi'an plans to expose Zhou Xianping's weakness, while also assisting Song Qing with his experiments.
Spoiler Alert
The heat is on! After landing in jail, Xu Qi'an, fearing the worst, bribes a guard to deliver a message – and a mysterious book – to Caiwei at the Si Tian Jian. He's betting on Caiwei recognizing the book's value and coming to his rescue, promising the guard a hefty bonus from her if she does.
The guard, lured by the promise of riches, races to the Si Tian Jian. He presents the book, hoping to see Caiwei. Instead, it falls into the hands of Song Qing, a dedicated (and slightly explosion-prone) alchemist. Song Qing, his face bearing the marks of countless failed experiments, is instantly captivated by the book's advanced chemical knowledge. When he reaches a crucial point, only to find the content cut off, he realizes Xu Qi'an's clever ploy.
Meanwhile, Xu Qi'an's uncle, Xu Pingzhi, hears of his nephew's plight and dramatically blocks the path of the guards escorting him, sword drawn. Outnumbered, he's quickly arrested and thrown into jail alongside Xu Qi'an. Before being captured, Xu Pingzhi urgently instructs his wife to seek help from their son, Xu Xinnian, who is now a student of two renowned Confucian scholars at the prestigious Yunlu Academy.
Xu Xinnian, upon receiving his mother's desperate plea, immediately informs his mentors. The scholars, recognizing Xu Qi'an as the author of a celebrated poem, rush to the local Shangshu (Minister) to intervene.
In a twist of fate, Song Qing and the two Confucian scholars arrive at the Shangshu's residence almost simultaneously. These influential figures, all favorites of the Emperor, are not to be trifled with. The Shangshu, hearing the name of the person they're trying to save, demands an explanation from his subordinates. The officer in charge, under the Shangshu's intense scrutiny, spills the beans about the entire case, revealing that Xu Qi'an was wrongly imprisoned. Xu Qi'an is released, and he vents his anger by landing a few punches on Zhou Li before leaving.
The day ends with a joyous family reunion dinner. Later that evening, Caiwei arrives, having heard of Xu Qi'an's troubles. She shares a crucial secret: the investigation into the missing tax silver has uncovered the culprits – Zheng Xinhe and Lu Changzhi – and their powerful backer, Zhou Xianping, who is Zhou Li's father. This revelation confirms that Xu Qi'an's recent imprisonment wasn't just about Zhou Li's misconduct, but a deliberate act of revenge by the Zhou family for Xu Qi'an's discovery of the silver's theft.
It's clear the Xu family is deeply entangled in the tax silver case. They are exposed, while the cunning Zhou Xianping, a high-ranking official, operates from the shadows. Caiwei asks Xu Qi'an for a plan. They have evidence, but Zhou Xianping has a vast network of allies in the court. A hasty arrest could destabilize the entire government, so the Emperor has tasked Caiwei with finding a way to bring the true mastermind to justice discreetly. Xu Qi'an realizes they can't take on a fourth-rank official directly. He believes that Zhou Xianping, during this period of imperial inspection, urgently needs money to cover his tracks. The key is to find Zhou Xianping's weakness, a trigger that will expose the truth about the tax silver.
Xu Qi'an tasks his uncle and Xu Xinnian with investigating Zhou Xianping's vulnerabilities. He, in the meantime, heads to the Si Tian Jian to assist Song Qing with his chemical experiments. Using his "modern" knowledge, Xu Qi'an easily helps Song Qing achieve breakthroughs, earning the alchemist's admiration and a precious sword as a gift from the Directorate.
