Episode Summary
The Three-Judge Tribunal reopens the Censor Case, exposing decades of corruption tied to trafficking, bribery, and salt monopolies. Hai Yiping confesses to betraying idealistic ally Yu Qian to hide his own crimes, while Yuan Shaocheng navigates political minefields to deliver partial justice. Key conspirators face consequences—Hai dies in jail, Li Zongxu’s salt racket ignites military scandal—but systemic rot persists. Emotional fallout hits Ye Ping’an, while exiled courtesan Ni Chang returns as new power alliances form.
Spoiler Alert
The capital buzzes as the Three-Judge Tribunal reopens the infamous Censor Case. Hai Yiping delivers a meticulous confession in court, unraveling a decades-old conspiracy. Du Liang—a petty county official hungry for power—colluded with advisor Zheng Yuan and merchant Qi Junshan to kidnap women, using his estate as a pleasure den for corrupt elites. What began as a trafficking ring doubled as a pay-to-play scheme for promotions, exploiting the flawed "recommendation system" meant to elevate worthy candidates.
Hai Yiping’s past sins come to light: As a mid-ranking Ministry of Officials clerk, he discovered Du Liang’s financial fraud during a routine audit. Du trapped him by exposing other officials assaulting captives and bribing Hai in front of them. When idealistic investigator Yu Qian vowed to expose the ring, Hai panicked—his own corruption would be exposed. He forged a death warrant using Yu’s calligraphy gifts, sealing his friend’s fate.
The trial takes a darker turn as Li Zongxu (notorious for torturing women) is exposed for monopolizing the capital’s salt trade through bribes. Ye Ping’an accuses Li of inflating salt prices to "higher than meat," while military veteran Wu Ankang links Li’s salt-blocking schemes to the Jin Yuan Massacre where starved troops were slaughtered. Wu further implicates three corrupt officials—all recommended by Hai Yiping. Chief Judge Yuan Shaocheng forces Hai to name every bribe-taker, exposing rot across factions.
Political tensions flare as Yuan clashes with conservative minister Zhang Quan over how deeply to purge the system. Visiting Hai in prison, they debate reform: Hai argues suppressing noble clans will only create new corrupt dynasties ("After Li-Wu-Wang-Xie families fall, Sun-Yang-Zhao-Yuan will rise"), while Yuan insists even temporary justice matters: "If I can protect ten years of peace, I’ll guard those ten years." The Emperor ultimately clears Yu Qian’s name and initiates merit-based reforms—but avoids systemic punishment.
Subplots simmer: Exiled courtesan Ni Chang returns to the capital upon hearing the verdict. A grieving Ye Ping’an burns offerings for victims Lian and Lu Danxin, haunted by closure she never expected. Yuan faces royal censure—stripped of salt case authority and barred from court—while Hai’s family flees the capital after his jailhouse suicide.
In a chess-like political epilogue, Yuan visits Prince Kangping to discuss rebuilding the Heavenly Tower. Ministers Wu Youjing and Mei Bowen size him up as marriage material for Wu’s daughter Xian’er, laying groundwork for future power plays. Meanwhile, Ye—adrift without her crusade—tentatively reenters civilian life under Ni Chang and Xian’er’s guidance. But with Mei Bowen maneuvering to install a flawed rival (Xu Ling) as Right Chancellor, Yuan’s reformist ambitions face new hurdles... and the salt crisis remains unresolved.
Key Takeaways:
- Hai’s confession exposes systemic corruption but dies with him
- Yuan’s reformist zeal clashes with royal pragmatism
- Salt monopoly subplot teases Season 2 stakes
- Ye Ping’an’s PTSD arc begins
- Noble families already regrouping via marriage politics
