Episode Summary
Emperor Jingming discovers Yu Qi is his seventh son but hesitates to recall him due to ongoing threats. Yu Qi starts investigating his past framing. Jiang Si opens a shop with family support and help from Lu Chuchu's acquaintance, Rou'er. Yu Qi and Zhen Heng both show interest in Jiang Si. Zhen Heng's mother arrives, approves of Jiang Si, and attends the Grand Dowager's birthday, where Jiang Pei becomes interested in Zhen Heng.
Spoiler Alert
Emperor Jingming suspects that the embroiderer's appeal to the throne was Zhen Heng's doing, and he summons Zhen Heng for questioning. Zhen Heng openly praises Jiang Si and Yu Qi, leading the Emperor to become aware of their involvement. Just as the Cao Xingyu matter concludes, the princes rush to the Emperor, admitting their connections to the Changxing Marquis' Residence, fearing repercussions. Emperor Jingming reassures them, but he's privately saddened that one prince is missing: his beloved seventh son, born to Consort Xian.
Flashbacks reveal that court officials deemed the seventh prince an omen of misfortune for the Great Zhou Dynasty at birth. Consort Xian, fearing for her son's life, begged Jingming to send him away. Eunuch Liu suggests bringing the seventh prince back, noting his military prowess in leading the Red Feather Riders to numerous victories, proving he's not a detriment to the nation. It's revealed that Yu Qi is the seventh prince. However, Jingming hesitates, unsure if it's the right time, given the continued threat of the Nightingales, a rebel group.
Meanwhile, Yu Qi instructs Long Dan to investigate the Imperial Observatory, a surprising move as he'd previously avoided revisiting the past. He's now determined to uncover who framed him. Jiang Si, venturing into business, seeks a shop with Chi Ruiying's help. Chi Ruiying wants to return home and open a school, feeling indebted to Jiang Si. Jiang Si's father, Jiang Ancheng, and brother, Jiang Zhan, wholeheartedly support her business, even selling prized books to raise funds. Jiang Ancheng cautions Jiang Si to keep it from her grandmother, who despises merchants.
Jiang Si's shop opens, but finding staff is difficult as women are unwilling to be associated with trade. Lu Chuchu brings Rou'er, a former rouge shop owner and a trusted, skilled businesswoman, to help. Yu Qi, learning of the opening, dresses up to celebrate. Zhen Heng also attends, causing Yu Qi some jealousy. After the ceremony, gifts pour in, and Yu Qi makes sure to present his own after seeing Zhen Heng's.
Zhen Heng's mother, Lady Zhen, arrives in the Capital City, urging her son to marry. She notices the fragrance from Jiang Si's shop on Zhen Heng, mistaking it for a gift for a lady. Zhen Heng reveals it's from Jiang Si, who Lady Zhen remembers from the broken engagement scandal. Intrigued, Lady Zhen visits Jiang Si's shop and is impressed.
During the Grand Dowager's birthday, Lady Zhen brings Zhen Heng to the Jiang residence, hoping to foster a connection. A chance encounter with Jiang Pei sparks an interest in Zhen Heng. Jiang Yi and her husband, Zhu Ziyu, also return for the celebration.
