Episode Summary
Luo Shu investigates Hua Miao's connection to the Qiao family and discovers discrepancies in his story. A pregnant woman, Qiu Niang, is revealed to be carrying He Shenwei's child, and Hua Miao suggests getting rid of Qiao Ruolan to solve their problems. Luo Shu is later attacked while protecting Qiao Ruolan, and Qi Menglin rescues her, finally learning her secret identity as the courtesan Jinnang. Han Muzhi shows concern for Luo Shu, while Qiao Ruolan's fate remains uncertain. Qi Menglin is shocked to learn the truth about Luo Shu.
Spoiler Alert
The episode kicks off with Luo Shu, accompanied by Qi Menglin, visiting Hua Miao to get some answers. They walk in on Hua Miao arguing with a pregnant woman dressed in fancy clothes. The woman quickly leaves after seeing Luo Shu and Qi Menglin, leaving Luo Shu curious. Luo Shu questions Hua Miao about when he started treating the Qiao family. Hua Miao claims he and He Shenwei were neighbors, and he conveniently had a family recipe for fertility. He gave it to He Shenwei, and Qiao Ruhui did indeed become pregnant, but she later miscarried. Hua Miao's answers are airtight, but Luo Shu casually asks about the pregnant woman who just left. Hua Miao states she's his cousin, Qiu Niang, who came to borrow money due to a family emergency. Luo Shu doesn't press further, and she and Qi Menglin depart.
Qi Menglin is convinced that Qiao Ruolan is framing He Shenwei. Luo Shu, however, finds Hua Miao suspicious, doubting the pregnant woman was his cousin or that she was there for a loan. Qi Menglin sticks to his belief. They then visit Qiao Ruolan, finding her crying while reading a letter. Qi Menglin taunts her.
Luo Shu presents Qiao Ruhui's letters and sends Qi Menglin away, forbidding him from reading them. He goes to chat with He Shenwei. Luo Shu notices a difference between the letters Qiao Ruhui wrote before and after her miscarriage. Qiao Ruhui wasn't highly educated; she could manage accounts but couldn't write poetry. Yet, her suicide note is remarkably poetic. Luo Shu goes to He Shenwei to ask for Qiao Ruolan's letters to Qiao Ruhui, finding Qi Menglin chatting with him. He Shenwei sees Luo Shu dressed as a woman and realizes she's a female constable, complimenting her beauty.
He Shenwei produces the letters from Qiao Ruolan to Qiao Ruhui, but Luo Shu discovers they are only about business, not personal correspondence between the sisters. He Shenwei claims he hasn't had time to organize them. Qiao Ruolan, uneasy, rushes to find Luo Shu. Just as Luo Shu is about to leave with Qiao Ruolan, Qiu Niang suddenly appears, looking for He Shenwei. Hua Miao follows closely behind. Qiao Ruolan intensely questions Qiu Niang about her reason for visiting He Shenwei. Hua Miao repeatedly explains that Qiu Niang came to borrow money from him, even asking Luo Shu and Qi Menglin to vouch for him.
With much difficulty, Hua Miao persuades Qiu Niang to leave. Qiao Ruolan senses something is amiss and insists on a confrontation between Qiu Niang and He Shenwei. Qi Menglin, annoyed by Qiao Ruolan's domineering attitude, scolds her and advises Luo Shu to stop helping her, threatening to end their friendship if she continues. Luo Shu ignores him.
Luo Shu dispatches Constable Cai to investigate the temple, confirming that He Shenwei donated fifty taels of silver, not the two hundred he claimed. Hua Miao, having sent Qiu Niang away, goes to He Shenwei to strategize, urging him to quickly obtain the secret recipe for Jinrui wine. It turns out that the child Qiu Niang is carrying is He Shenwei's. He Shenwei has been giving Qiu Niang money monthly through Hua Miao. With Qiu Niang nearing her due date, she wants more money. He Shenwei fears Qiao Ruolan will discover the truth and dares not take money from the winery. He considers pawning Qiao Ruhui's jewelry but fears Qiao Ruolan will find out. He Shenwei is desperate, unsure of what to do. Hua Miao suggests getting rid of Qiao Ruolan, which would solve everything.
Qi Menglin angered Luo Shu and try to explain, Luo Shu refuses to let him in, Qi Menglin goes to the window and talks with her. He boasts about his extravagant feat of spending 501 taels of silver on the shulong night of Jinnang, the top courtesan of Mingke Brothel. Luo Shu is furious, gritting her teeth, because this is the most humiliating thing in her life. She is the courtesan named Jinnang. Qi Menglin is completely unaware of this and continues to brag about his one-time encounter with Jinnang. Luo Shu angrily slams the window shut. Qi Menglin, still excited, knocks on the door and continues to tell Luo Shu about his righteous deeds at Mingke Brothel. Luo Shu asks Qi Menglin to invite Jinnang out for a carriage ride.
Luo Shu goes to Qiao Ruolan early in the morning and learns that someone impersonated her and lured Qiao Ruolan to the river. Luo Shu realizes Qiao Ruolan is in danger and immediately rushes to the river. She sees two thugs about to ambush Qiao Ruolan, she shouts to stop them, and pulls Qiao Ruolan to run away. Someone shoots arrows at them. Luo Shu is shot while protecting Qiao Ruolan. The thugs rush up and capture Luo Shu and Qiao Ruolan on a boat.
Qi Menglin invites the fake Jinnang out from Mingke Brothel, and they take a boat trip on the river. Luo Shu is late. Qi Menglin is disappointed. The fake Jinnang sees that he is worried and admits that she is a fake. Qi Menglin learns that the real Jinnang has already escaped from Mingke Brothel and does not ask any more questions. The thugs force Qiao Ruolan to write down the secret recipe of Jinrui wine, threatening Luo Shu's life. Qiao Ruolan has no choice but to comply.
Luo Shu seizes an opportunity to cut the ropes, stabs one of the thugs, and pulls Qiao Ruolan to jump into the river to escape. The thugs, unwilling to give up, shoot arrows at them. Qi Menglin sees two girls falling into the water from a distance and asks the boatman to speed up to save them. Qi Menglin recognizes Luo Shu and jumps into the river to rescue her. Luo Shu gradually loses strength and begins to sink. Fortunately, Qi Menglin arrives in time to save her.
Luo Shu wakes up in a daze and urges Qi Menglin to rescue Qiao Ruolan as soon as possible. Jin Lian gets off the boat and recognizes Luo Shu. Han Muzhi arrives with constables. He carries Luo Shu back to the carriage. Luo Shu is worried about Qiao Ruolan. Han Muzhi sends people to rescue Qiao Ruolan. Qi Menglin sees Han Muzhi carrying Luo Shu away and feels sour. Qi Menglin learns from Jin Lian that Luo Shu is Jinnang, and he is stunned.
Xu, the coroner, bandages Luo Shu's wound. Han Muzhi visits Luo Shu, showing care and concern, and brings her ginger soup. Xu tactfully leaves, closing the door behind him. Han Muzhi regrets letting Luo Shu stay in the county office and tells her not to risk her life in the future. Constable Cai reports to Han Muzhi that Qiao Ruolan has not been found. Han Muzhi settles Luo Shu and leaves.
Qi Menglin spends a lot of money to buy chicken soup and ginger soup for Luo Shu. Luo Shu thanks him for saving her life. Qi Menglin asks Luo Shu to drink the ginger soup he brought, but Luo Shu politely declines. The two of them tug and pull, spilling the ginger soup all over the floor.
