Episode Summary
Li Jun uncovers Prince Kangping’s underground weapons stash but is betrayed by his subordinate San Dao. Rescued by Ye Ping’an and allies, he exposes the rebellion plot. As Prince Kangping’s coup collapses, Wu Xian’er attempts to blow up the palace, but Ye Ping’an and Yuan Shaocheng escape. Ye fakes her death to escape imperial control, while Yuan pushes for salt reform, reshaping the dynasty’s future.
Spoiler Alert
The Salt Cellar Shuffle
As Lantern Festival prep hits Qianqiu Pavilion, Wu Xian’er’s scheming with Xian Guangping gets eavesdropped on—classic. Meanwhile, our favorite grumpy investigator Li Jun tails Wu Youjing to Fengrao Salt Shop, where obviously there’s a secret tunnel under the salt sacks. Li Jun sends lackey San Dao to grab backup but goes full action-hero solo into the tunnel. Surprise! Prince Kangping’s down there stockpiling sulfur and casually recruiting Li Jun for treason. Li Jun, ever the loyalist, refuses… just as San Dao stabs him in the back (literally). Rude!
Plot Twist Pool Party
San Dao drags Li Jun’s "corpse" to dump in a pond, but psych—Li Jun zombie-revsives and kills him first. Enter Yuan Hesheng and Ni Chang, who rescue injured Li Jun and Ye Ping’an (who’s still weirdly chill about healing the guy who probably tortured people last week). Li Jun spills the tea: Prince Kangping’s hoarding weapons to blow up the Emperor. The crew races to warn Guo Siqing, but gets ambushed. Li Jun, bleeding out but still extra, holds off assassins so Ye Ping’an and Ni Chang can escape.
Palace Party Gone Wild
At Qianqiu Pavilion, Wu Xian’er’s smug after "capturing" Ye Ping’an—until Xian Guangping storms the palace with "loyalist" troops. Joke’s on him: Emperor’s swapped the real guards with undercover Mangou villagers. Prince Kangping’s shocked when his supposed ally General Xu Zhao shows up to arrest him. Even worse? His backup general Wu Ankang nopes out of the rebellion and mails his army seal to the Emperor. Defeated, Prince Kangping pulls a dramatic seppuku exit.
Fireworks & Freudian Slips
Wu Xian’er, thinking her dad’s winning, goes full Macbeth when Ye Ping’an hypnotizes her with a pipa lullaby. In her dream, Wu Xian’er monologues about craving the throne while Ye Ping’an smirks like, "Gotcha." Waking up humiliated, Wu Xian’er yeets a lit fuse at the throne. Yuan Shaocheng tackles Ye Ping’an into a pond seconds before the pavilion explodes.
Epilogue: Ghosting the Emperor 101
Post-explosion, Ye Ping’an forces Yuan Shaocheng to tell the Emperor she’s "dead"—because living as the royal mind-control puppet (aka Zhangxinshi) sucks. The Emperor, amused, plays along. Yuan Shaocheng rejects a promotion to Right Chancellor, nominates Ji Qingtian instead, and gets salt monopolies abolished (the people cheer).
Where Are They Now?
• Ye Ping’an: Fake-dies, dips into freedom, leaves the drama group chat.
• Yuan Shaocheng: Becomes chaotic-good policy wonk, still side-eyeing the system.
• Wu Xian’er: Achieved zero life goals, got roasted by her own subconscious.
• Li Jun: Survives stab wounds, remains the Emperor’s grumpy attack dog.
• Lu Danxin: RIP. Jumped off a tower after poisoning herself—yikes.
Final Takeaway: Never trust a salt merchant, always check your tunnels for sulfur, and if you’re gonna rebel… maybe don’t monologue about it in a dream.
Mic drop. Series finale curtains close.
