Episode Summary

A year after Zhao Feng delivers a cryptic item to Ye Ping’an, she manipulates salt smuggler Huang Yimin’s trust to infiltrate his trade. Wu Xian’er recklessly engages Ye in a high-stakes duel, triggering a trap-filled salt exchange at Qiyun Gorge. As alliances fracture, Yuan Shaocheng maneuvers against double agents, while Wu weaponizes the law to hunt Ye—unaware both women are playing deeper games.

Spoiler Alert

One year ago, Zhao Feng delivered a mysterious item to Ye Ping’an before her departure from Shengdu. That object now resurfaces with critical purpose. Ye reveals she gained salt smuggler Huang Yimin’s trust by curing his heart condition, using this connection to infiltrate his illegal operations. While Yuan Shaocheng doubts her story, Wu Xian’er seizes the opportunity—agreeing to Ye’s 800-tael commission demand despite Yuan’s warnings about partnering with a viper. Wu coldly reminds Yuan to focus on playing the "dutiful son-in-law" rather than questioning her schemes.

Their carriage gets intercepted en route by Vice Minister of Justice Zhao Feng, acting on an anonymous tip about hidden contraband. A salt bag discovery lands both Wu and Yuan in prison. Wu flexes hidden power when jail guards kneel before her, summoning General Xian of the Left Imperial Guard for extraction—though she pointedly abandons Yuan to his cell. Exploiting Xian’s lingering affection, Wu orders him to track Huang Yimin while informing her father Wu Youjing about Ye’s role as broker. The Wu patriarch plans alternate smuggling routes, but his daughter’s vendetta against Ye overrides caution.

Wu Xian’er doubles down by springing Huang’s nephew San’er from prison to confirm the smuggler’s identity. At a tense mountain rendezvous, Wu and Ye schedule a salt-for-silver exchange in Qiyun Gorge—neither inspecting the goods. Yuan, freed a day later, races to expose the trap he senses brewing. Meanwhile, Ye confides in confidante Gu Erniang about deliberately provoking Wu: "Even a calculated bait needs a hungry fish to bite."

The gorge showdown erupts when Zhao Feng ambushes the trade—only to find Wu’s silver matched against Ye’s alleged armor cache (a capital offense). Before arrests solidify, smoke bombs detonate as masked rescuers extract Ye. Yuan arrives expecting to capture Huang Yimin, but the unmasked prisoner reveals himself as an imposter. Wu weaponizes the state apparatus against Ye, flooding streets with wanted posters. Yuan interrogates the fake smuggler until poison incapacitates the captive, while double agent He Maoshan—playing both Yuan and Prince Kangping—gets manipulated into pursuing Huang’s true whereabouts.

Key Revelations:

  • Wu Xian’er’s prison extraction reveals deeper military connections through General Xian
  • Ye Ping’an orchestrates her own wanted status as part of a larger gambit
  • Yuan Shaocheng weaponizes He Maoshan’s greed to redirect Prince Kangping’s attention
  • The salt trade war escalates into open warfare between two master strategists