Episode Summary
Zhuang Hanyan humiliates Yang Ping by exposing his childhood abuse after he tries to slander her. Zhou Ruyin’s stolen exam scheme backfires when her son Zhuang Yuchi is exposed for plagiarism, leading to his lifetime ban from imperial exams. Fu Yunxi clashes with Hanyan while investigating Chai Jing, uncovering a secret tied to Pei Dafu’s heir. The Zhuang family crumbles under scandal as karma delivers brutal consequences.
Spoiler Alert
Spoilers ahead! Grab your jade bangles and a bucket of popcorn.
Yang Ping’s Petty Revenge Backfires Spectacularly
The episode kicks off with Yang Ping—still salty about losing part of his ear to Zhuang Hanyan as a kid—publicly shaming her at a fancy banquet. He even drags her brother Zhuang Yuchi into the mess, accusing Hanyan of being a childhood bully. But plot twist: Hanyan owns the story. She calmly exposes Yang Ping’s years of tormenting her, turning the crowd against him. The man storms off looking like a kicked puppy, while Zhou Ruyin—the resident scheming stepmom—sulks in the corner when her "ruin Hanyan" plan flops harder than a soggy dumpling.
Secret Snacks and Stolen Exams
Hanyan sneaks food to her ally Chai Jing (seriously, where is this secret hideout?), warning him about Yang Ping’s murderous grudge. Meanwhile, Zhou Ruyin pulls a Mission: Impossible to steal exam questions for her dimwit son Zhuang Yuchi. She even recruits the smitten Young Master He (who’s crushing hard on Hanyan) to tutor the kid. But here’s the kicker: The next day’s exam uses the exact stolen question! Young Master He nopes out of the test to avoid suspicion, while Yuchi’s "brilliant" answers shock everyone… including his own dad, Zhuang Shiyang, who knows his son couldn’t outsmart a teapot.
Drunken Disasters and Forced Marriages
Yuchi’s "success" goes to his head faster than you can say "hubris." At a boozy post-exam hangout, he brags about his "genius" but can’t even quote the classics properly. When scholars call him out, he nearly starts a brawl. Worse yet? This dumpster fire unfolds in front of Hanyan and the brooding investigator Fu Yunxi, who’s casually solving crimes downstairs. Yuchi then tries to pimp out Hanyan to some rando named Young Master You, slurring about "wedding nights." Fu Yunxi—low-key seething—sends guards to rescue her… but really, he’s just baiting Chai Jing. Classic Fu.
Knives, Secrets, and Awkward Hideouts
Fu confronts Hanyan about Chai Jing, threatening her until Chai bursts in for a poorly planned hero moment. Hanyan pulls a dagger on Fu (queen behavior!), letting Chai escape. The tension? Thicker than imperial court soup. Later, while hiding from officials in a literal closet, Hanyan and Fu overhear a bombshell: The fugitive Pei Dafu’s adopted son is in the capital. Their bickering gets so intense that Fu’s guards joke they look like "a married couple." (We ship it.)
Karma Serves Iced Tea
The episode ends with sweet, sweet justice. Yuchi’s plagiarized exam essay reaches the emperor, who demands to meet this "prodigy." But when officials confront Zhuang family about the identical 20-year-old essay they "copied," the house of cards collapses. Yuchi gets banned from exams for life + public shaming, Dad loses six months’ salary, and scheming Zhou Ruyin watches her golden boy crash harder than a dynasty. Hanyan? She just smirks and sips her tea.
Final Thoughts
This episode had everything: academic fraud, drunken idiots, and Hanyan weaponizing trauma like a boss. Fu Yunxi’s growing obsession with our girl? Chef’s kiss. Meanwhile, the Zhuang family’s downfall proves karma always collects—preferably with a side of palace intrigue.
