Episode Summary
Madam Yu reveals Shopkeeper Li's true role and his murder of Fifth Madam. Luo Shu learns Qin Yi orchestrated everything. Mulan is groomed as Luo Shu's replacement. Jin Miaocui is killed after her knowledge is discovered. Luo Shu mourns Jin Miaocui and collapses. Two months later, a locust plague hits Linfen, and the villagers blame Jin Miaocui, attempting to sacrifice Luo Shu. Han Muzhi saves Luo Shu and begins locust control efforts, with Qi Menglin's help.
Spoiler Alert
The episode opens with Madam Yu revealing a shocking truth: Shopkeeper Li is the real boss of Mingke Brothel, and he's the one who murdered Fifth Madam. Luo Shu realizes that Shopkeeper Li is actually working for Qin Yi. Madam Yu explains the whole backstory. Qin Yi had sent Luo Shu to Mingke Brothel to "toughen her up," but Luo Shu ran away and hid in the County Government. Shopkeeper Li blamed Madam Yu for this, and she was terrified of going to the County Government to retrieve Luo Shu, so she just apologized profusely.
Later, Madam Yu sees Mulan walking by and, under pressure, Mulan insists she didn't overhear Madam Yu's conversation with Shopkeeper Li. However, Shopkeeper Li notices Mulan's striking resemblance to Luo Shu. He suggests that Madam Yu groom Mulan, hoping it might appease Qin Yi. Madam Yu is visibly frightened by this proposition.
The plot thickens when Madam Yu discovers that Mulan is close to Jin Miaocui. Jin Miaocui even wrote a letter to Constable Cai at the County Government, delivered by Xiao Mian'ao. Madam Yu intercepts the letter and learns that Jin Miaocui overheard her conversation with Shopkeeper Li. Fearing exposure, Shopkeeper Li wants Jin Miaocui silenced. Madam Yu, not wanting to lose her "cash cow," moves Jin Miaocui to a secluded courtyard. When Luo Shu comes looking for Jin Miaocui, and Jin Miaocui tries to send another message via a deliveryman, Madam Yu feels cornered and orders Que Si'er to kill Jin Miaocui.
Madam Yu begs Luo Shu for mercy, claiming she'll be killed by Qin Yi if she doesn't obey. Luo Shu is heartbroken to discover that Qin Yi orchestrated everything. Constable Cai's search for Que Si'er proves fruitless. Luo Shu decides to prioritize giving Jin Miaocui a proper funeral, but Chen Meiqing and Han Muzhi advise caution. Qi Menglin offers to hold the funeral in his name.
Luo Shu mourns Jin Miaocui, remembering their time together. She finally understands that Jin Miaocui's insistence on returning to Mingke Brothel was to help uncover the mastermind behind the schemes. During the grand funeral, Luo Shu, holding Jin Miaocui's memorial tablet, collapses and coughs up blood from grief, overwhelmed by the public's harsh judgment of her and Jin Miaocui.
Two months pass, and Luo Shu slowly recovers under Qi Menglin's care. Meanwhile, a locust plague devastates Linfen, destroying crops. Han Muzhi focuses on combating the plague, but the locals believe the locusts are divine beings ("Locust Gods") and blame Jin Miaocui for the disaster, even digging up her grave. Han Muzhi intervenes to stop them.
Qi Menglin suggests Luo Shu return to Taiyuan, but Luo Shu wants to visit Jin Miaocui's grave first. Han Muzhi posts notices in Linfen, clarifying that locusts are not gods and providing methods to control them, but the people remain skeptical, insisting on ritual sacrifices. Frustrated, Han Muzhi orders Chen Meiqing to recruit a dedicated locust control team.
Qiao Ruolan visits Luo Shu and informs her about the locust plague. Suddenly, villagers storm in, seize Luo Shu, claiming she angered the Locust Gods by holding Jin Miaocui's funeral, and intend to sacrifice her. Han Muzhi arrives in time to rescue Luo Shu and arrests the ringleaders. Luo Shu, concerned about the villagers' impending starvation, considers self-harm, but Han Muzhi stops her.
Qi Menglin then rallies the villagers, urging them to fight the locusts and offering to exchange dead locusts for food at the army camp. The villagers are hesitant, but Han Muzhi assures them the promise will be honored. The villagers express their gratitude to Han Muzhi. Liu Wan, hearing about the plague, seeks help from her father, Liu Yiqing. The Shanxi Provincial Officer, Lord Zheng, also visits Liu Yiqing, who reassures Liu Wan not to worry.
