Episode Summary
Lu Yun's investigation interrupts his Flower God Festival preparations, but he gifts Luo Lingyu a bracelet. Lingyu faces sabotage when Lady Chen performs her custom dance. Lingyu improvises with a stunning "Koi Dance," enhanced by a light trick with her bracelet. Injured Lu Yun arrives to support her after a dangerous encounter.
Spoiler Alert
Lu Yun is meticulously preparing for the Flower God Festival competition, even picking out his clothes and accessories with great care. However, just before he's about to leave, Yinchuan rushes in with news: Wang Yangming has been found on the outskirts of Yue Prefecture. Knowing the urgency of finding Wang Yangming, Lu Yun immediately sets off to investigate, prioritizing the case. Before leaving, he visits Luo Lingyu, unsure if he'll make it back in time for the festival. Lingyu, far from being upset, encourages him to focus on the case, assuring him she can succeed even without his vote. Lu Yun gifts her a beautiful glass bracelet, which she admires in the sunlight, clearly delighted.
Lingyu, accompanied by her sister and Lingxi, arrives at the competition venue. She's impressed by the elegance of the place. Prince Hengyang also arrives to show his support. Noticing that many people are betting on Lady Chen, he publicly places a bet of fifty taels on Lingyu. Prince Hengyang personally inspects Lingyu's dressing room, finding it inadequate, and has it immediately upgraded to a spacious and bright one, complete with exquisite pastries and fruits. Even Lingyu's sister notices Prince Hengyang's special treatment of her. Lingyu, touching the glass bracelet on her wrist, is lost in thought.
Liu Tang, as Princess Ningping, also enters the competition. Although she chooses a very short dance, it's a brave step for the usually timid and cautious Liu Tang.
Next up is Lady Chen's chessboard dance. Lingyu and Lingxi are shocked to see that Lady Qi has taught Lady Chen the dance she originally designed for Lingyu, even down to the identical costume. Moreover, Lady Chen is performing before Lingyu. If Lingyu performs the same dance afterward, she'll surely receive a low score. In the audience, Lu Yun has not yet arrived, and Lingxi anxiously asks Lingyu what they should do. Lingyu, remaining calm and collected, decides to proceed. Suspecting that Lady Qi might have changed her plans, she had already ordered another set of dance costumes. She sends for Zhou Yangling to help.
Meanwhile, Lu Yun and Zhao Yuan, on their way to find Wang Yangming, are ambushed. Lu Yun is injured by a volley of arrows, his chest soaked in blood. Fortunately, Wang Yangming manages to relay crucial information to him. Gao Yuan heroically rescues Lu Yun, but Lu Yun's vision is impaired due to poisonous fumes. Despite his critical condition and the need for medical attention, Lu Yun insists that Gao Yuan take him to the Flower God competition immediately.
Because the chessboard dance has already been performed, Lingyu is forced to use her backup plan. She changes the title of her dance to "Koi Dance" and asks her friend to dim some of the lights in the hall and open a window. She hangs her glass bracelet in the center of the window, so that the sunlight refracting through it creates a rainbow effect on the stage, making the audience feel as if they are immersed in shimmering water. The stage effect is stunning.
Zhou Yangling begins to play the chime bells. Lingyu, initially veiled behind a layer of gauze to create a sense of mystery, then gracefully appears, as if in a dream. Her dance is on par with Lady Chen's, but the unique stage effects and choreography are refreshingly innovative. It's clear to any discerning eye who the superior performer is. Prince Hengyang excitedly tells his father, the Emperor, that he's certain to win the bet.
Despite Lingyu's outstanding performance, the judges initially give her a low score. Lingyu bravely explains the process of creating the dance and the touching story behind it, hoping to persuade the judges to be fair. At this moment, Lu Yun, barely able to see, stumbles onto the stage and begins to rally support for Lingyu.
