Episode Summary
He Shenwei and Hua Miao's plot to take over the Qiao family winery is exposed. Luo Shu helps Qiao Ruolan fake her death to escape the White Ants gang. Qiao Ruolan returns to reveal He Shenwei's forgery and poisoning, orchestrated by Hua Miao. He Shenwei confesses, and all the conspirators are apprehended. Qi Menglin leaves town, heartbroken, believing Luo Shu doesn't care for him.
Spoiler Alert
The episode opens with Qi Menglin trying again to win over Luo Shu. He brings her ginger soup and chicken soup, only to find she's already drinking ginger soup made by Han Muzhi. In a fit of jealousy, Qi Menglin grabs the soup and spills it. He then boasts about spending 501 taels of silver to "book" her for a night at the brothel (referring to her former life as "Jinnang," a name she wants to forget). Luo Shu is furious, thinking he's mocking her past, and throws him out.
Meanwhile, the sinister plot involving the Jinrui wine recipe thickens. Hua Miao, who is secretly the second-in-command ("White Paper Fan") of a gang called the "White Ants," orders his men to kidnap Qiao Ruolan to get the secret recipe. Luo Shu intervenes, helping Qiao Ruolan escape by jumping into a river. Han Muzhi and the constables arrive, arresting two of the White Ants. The surviving gang member delivers a (fake) recipe to Hua Miao, who informs He Shenwei.
He Shenwei is ecstatic, believing Qiao Ruolan is dead and he can finally take over the Qiao family winery. Hua Miao slaps him back to reality, reminding him that Qiao Ruohui's will only grants him operational control, not ownership.
Han Muzhi interrogates the captured kidnappers, learning they were ordered by the "White Paper Fan," but they don't know his true identity. Han Muzhi learns from Chen Meiqing that the White Ants are a notorious gang that has terrorized Linfen for years, even assaulting a governor who tried to stop them. Chen Meiqing warns Han Muzhi to stay away, but he refuses.
Qi Menglin, still trying to impress Luo Shu, gets upset that his efforts are unappreciated. He dramatically declares he's leaving Linfen for Taiyuan, expecting Luo Shu to beg him to stay. She doesn't, and he's further enraged.
Constable Cai and his men search for Qiao Ruolan along the river, finding nothing. Qi Menglin waits all day for Luo Shu, but only Cai Baozi, Xu (the coroner), and Chen Meiqing come to say goodbye. He leaves, dejected, realizing Luo Shu doesn't like him. Luo Shu intentionally avoids saying goodbye, hoping Qi Menglin will return home safely. Luo Shu and Constable Cai visit He Shenwei, who is feigning grief over Qiao Ruolan's supposed death.
A maid finds another letter among Qiao Ruohui's belongings, supposedly containing the Jinrui wine recipe. He Shenwei is overjoyed. This is all part of Hua Miao's plan to make it look like He Shenwei legitimately obtained the recipe. Hua Miao urges He Shenwei to brew the wine and bring Qiu Niang (He Shenwei's mistress) to the Qiao estate. He Shenwei does so, showering Qiu Niang with gifts.
He Shenwei takes over the winery and tries to brew Jinrui wine, but the result is terrible. Angry customers demand refunds, and He Shenwei realizes the recipe was fake. Hua Miao suggests selling the winery, but He Shenwei can't. Hua Miao promises to help, but He Shenwei complains that Hua Miao's schemes have ruined everything.
That night, Qiu Niang tries to steal valuables from the study. Granny Wang (a servant) catches her, and Luo Shu arrives with constables to arrest her. It turns out Luo Shu had people watching the Qiao estate and, with Granny Wang's help, set a trap for Qiu Niang.
Han Muzhi interrogates Qiu Niang and He Shenwei. Hua Miao is also captured. He Shenwei realizes Hua Miao and Qiu Niang were plotting to steal the Qiao family's wealth. He Shenwei admits to having an affair with Qiu Niang and getting her pregnant, but denies killing Qiao Ruohui.
Hua Miao claims Qiao Ruohui died of illness. Luo Shu reveals that He Shenwei forged Qiao Ruohui's handwriting and presents letters between Qiao Ruolan and Qiao Ruohui. It turns out the later letters, after Qiao Ruohui's miscarriage, were all written by He Shenwei, including the will. He Shenwei tries to deny it, but then Luo Shu brings in Qiao Ruolan, who is alive and well!
Luo Shu explains that she helped Qiao Ruolan escape and diverted the White Ants. After being rescued by Han Muzhi, Luo Shu went back to find Qiao Ruolan and had Han Muzhi spread the false news of her death. Qiao Ruolan exposes He Shenwei's crimes. Hua Miao tries to distance himself, blaming everything on He Shenwei. Luo Shu urges He Shenwei to confess and reveals Hua Miao and Qiu Niang's plot.
He Shenwei finally confesses. He reveals that Hua Miao approached him after he married into the Qiao family. After Qiao Ruohui's miscarriage, Hua Miao encouraged him to have a child with Qiu Niang. Hua Miao then pressured He Shenwei to kill Qiao Ruohui to give Qiu Niang a legitimate status.
Hua Miao had given Qiao Ruohui a prescription containing a slow-acting poison. He Shenwei fed the medicine to Qiao Ruohui. When Qiao Ruohui noticed money missing and found a woman's handkerchief on He Shenwei, she wrote to Qiao Ruolan. He Shenwei intercepted the letters and forged replies. Fearing exposure, Hua Miao gave Qiao Ruohui a fatal dose of poison.
