Episode Summary
Jiang Zhan mistakenly believes Yu Qi has feelings for his sister. Cui Xu investigates the Jinwu Guard. Jiang Si worries about Yu Qi's injuries. Cui Mingyue throws a tantrum. Jiang Zhan fakes fainting to tease Lu Chuchu. Sang Qi fakes his death and receives a message from Jiang Si, leading him to meet Du Er and Liu Yan'er. Yu Qi discovers Jiang Si's involvement in Sang Qi's escape. The Emperor reveals his knowledge of the Imperial Observatory's treachery and speaks privately with Yu Qi about peace. The Grand Elder identifies Jiang Si as the Saintess. Zhen Heng encounters a blind woman while lost in the rain.
Spoiler Alert
The episode opens with Jiang Zhan, brimming with pride after capturing the assassin, riding back with Yu Qi and Zhen Heng. Jiang Zhan, expecting a significant reward, pesters Zhen Heng with questions. Yu Qi, meanwhile, is resting due to his injuries. A sudden realization hits Jiang Zhan: Yu Qi's sachet is identical to his own. He jumps to the conclusion that Yu Qi has designs on his sister and tries to attack him, but Zhen Heng intervenes.
Meanwhile, Cui Xu thoroughly investigates the Jinwu Guard to root out any potential threats, ensuring everyone's background is clean. He presents the hunting party list to the Emperor, who metes out punishments. The Emperor also reveals Yu Qi's true identity as the seventh prince, but to avoid controversy, he keeps Yu Qi stationed at the Capital City post.
Jiang Si, worried after hearing rumors of a severely injured Capital City officer during the assassination attempt, becomes distracted. Fearing for Yu Qi, she decides to seek him out. When they meet, Yu Qi downplays his injuries. His uncharacteristic nonchalance, however, makes Jiang Si even more concerned, as he usually exaggerates even minor wounds.
Back in Ling'an, Cui Mingyue throws a tantrum after returning from Ling Shui, demanding Jiang Si's death. The Grand Princess, enraged, strikes Cui Mingyue to calm her down. Lu Chuchu continues to train Jiang Zhan in martial arts, easily subduing him. Jiang Zhan, too proud to admit defeat, claims he doesn't fight women. Lu Chuchu, seeing through his bravado, tightens her grip, causing him to faint. Initially, she believes she's seriously hurt him and starts to cry, but Jiang Zhan opens his eyes, revealing he was only pretending to tease her.
Sang Qi, after being bitten by his own scorpion, fakes his death. All leads seem lost, prompting Yu Qi to order a raid on Tianxiang Pavilion to capture Liu Yan'er, but she has already fled. Sang Qi then emerges from the ground, having received a message from Jiang Si via her trained dog, Er Niu. Following Jiang Si's instructions, Sang Qi goes to a ruined temple outside the West City Gate. There, Du Er and Liu Yan'er are waiting, as instructed. Liu Yan'er is suspicious of Jiang Si's motives, believing it's a trick, but Sang Qi arrives as planned. He delivers Jiang Si's message to Du Er: a bamboo leaf letter from the Grand Elder, summoning them back to Southern Wu. Du Er, coincidentally, also wants to return to Southern Wu to seek answers.
Zhen Heng visits Yu Qi, troubled by the strangeness of Sang Qi's death. He also informs Yu Qi that Jiang Si visited the prison on the same day, using Yu Qi's token. Yu Qi realizes his token is missing, recalling that Jiang Si likely took it when she put the sachet on him on the morning of the hunt. Yu Qi visits Jiang Si under the guise of delivering food, subtly questioning her. Jiang Si doesn't deny her actions, admitting she released Sang Qi to promote peace between the two nations.
The Emperor, gazing at a portrait of the seventh prince, laments that all his other sons live in luxury while this one has suffered. Yu Qi and Zhen Heng meet with the Emperor. Yu Qi questions why, during the assassination attempt, none of the elite Jinwu Guard or Swift Wind Guard, nor Generals Cui Xu and Han Ran, protected the Emperor. He even suggests the Imperial Observatory is complicit. The Emperor, pleased with Yu Qi's analysis, shows them a letter found in the Observatory, written in the forbidden Southern Wu language. Yu Qi immediately recognizes it. Zhen Heng quickly pleads for leniency on Yu Qi's behalf, but the Emperor isn't angry, instead requesting a private audience with Yu Qi. Yu Qi seizes the opportunity to advocate for peaceful coexistence between the two countries.
Liu Yan'er returns to Southern Wu. The Grand Elder is surprised by her return. She presents the bamboo leaf letter and explains what happened. The Grand Elder deduces that Jiang Si is the Saintess and orders Du Er and the others to bring her back.
Zhen Heng, worried about the protagonist in the palace, gets lost. A sudden downpour forces him to take shelter under an eave, where he encounters a beautiful, blind woman.
