Episode Summary
Du Yangxi plans to propose to Kang Ning, but her feelings for Chai An resurface. A confrontation between Kang Ning and Chai An leads to their final separation. Du Yangxi excels in the examinations, and the Li and Du families prepare for the wedding. Chai An, heartbroken, decides to leave the country. Chai An's mother tries to reconcile with Lady Li, but is rejected.
Spoiler Alert
The episode opens with Du Yangxi returning from a visit to find his mother has been taken in by the Li family. He rushes to thank Lady Li, who is delighted to see the mother and son reunited. She adds some extra dishes to their meal, showing her hospitality. Du's mother reminds him to be grateful and not to become arrogant, thinking he can climb the social ladder once he achieves success. Du Yangxi understands and declares he will personally propose marriage the next day.
Meanwhile, Shou Hua, Kang Ning's older sister, notices Kang Ning seems troubled. She has Qiong'nu, a servant, falsely claim that Chai An is injured. Kang Ning's immediate, panicked reaction confirms Shou Hua's suspicion that Kang Ning still harbors feelings for Chai An. Shou Hua advises her to be true to her heart before the Li and Du families finalize the engagement.
At that moment, Chai An unexpectedly arrives. Kang Ning is overjoyed and intends to confess her feelings. However, Chai An makes several disparaging remarks about the Li family. This infuriates Kang Ning. She retorts that Chai An claims he doesn't look down on them, yet his words are full of disdain. She declares she won't tolerate anyone insulting her family, and even if she never finds a husband, she'd rather stay with the Li family forever than ever step foot in the Chai household again.
The two part on bad terms, and Kang Ning's engagement to Du Yangxi is formalized. Chai An drowns his sorrows at a tavern. Fan Lianghan rushes in to inform him of the engagement, scolding him for saying hurtful things when he intended to marry Kang Ning. He believes Kang Ning was ready to reconcile, needing only a few kind words, but now their relationship is beyond repair.
Chai An, however, doesn't care. He resents Lady Li for treating the marriage like a transaction, believing the Li family is cold and calculating. Fan Lianghan then reveals the Li family's difficult past: how they were bullied by their clan after becoming orphaned and widowed, losing all their possessions. Lady Li had to become fierce and tough to protect her five daughters. Chai An is filled with guilt and regret. When his mother pressures him about his own marriage, he tells her that Li the third sister is about to be married, achieving her goal.
On the first day of the provincial examinations, Lady Li wakes Kang Ning early. Kang Ning, accompanied by her older sister, reluctantly prepares a box of "dingsheng gao" (a type of cake symbolizing success) for Du Yangxi. Before the exam results are released, the Emperor makes a public appearance, and many people lose belongings in the crowd. Hao De and Le Shan, Kang Ning's younger sisters, convince her to go "street sweeping" (looking for lost items) with them.
During their outing, Kang Ning finds a comb identical to the one she broke earlier. Suspecting it was intentionally left there by Chai An, she takes it back to her room. The next morning, news breaks that a precious item was lost from the palace. Kang Ning becomes anxious, confiding in Qiong'nu. They suspect the comb might be the missing item belonging to the Empress.
Realizing the severity of the situation, Qiong'nu and Kang Ning plot to return the comb discreetly. They plan to place it back on the street under the cover of darkness. However, Chai An suddenly appears, claiming he gave the comb to Kang Ning as a gift, reminiscing about their bittersweet, confrontational past. Kang Ning acknowledges his feelings but refuses to accept his gift, resolving to end their relationship for good.
Soon after, Du Yangxi achieves the top score in the provincial examination. Lady Li is ecstatic, confirming her belief in him as a good son-in-law. The two families begin wedding preparations. Upon learning of Kang Ning's impending marriage, Chai An requests to travel to Dashi (the Arab world) with foreign merchants on a sea vessel. His mother is shocked and desperately tries to dissuade him. Chai An remarks that the second day of the second lunar month was supposed to be his wedding day, leaving his mother filled with remorse.
Desperate to keep her son from leaving, Chai An's mother visits Lady Li, begging for forgiveness and even kneeling in apology. However, Lady Li rebuffs her, reminding her that the third sister is already promised to the Du family. The betrothal will take place in three days, leaving no room for change.
