Episode Summary
In this episode, the Marquis of Wu'an's rebellion is thwarted by Lu Chi and the Emperor, leading to the Marquis's suicide. Lu Chi and Shi Fake are finally and emotionally reunited, and with his true identity revealed, he successfully proposes marriage. As their friends also find closure and happiness, a new problem arises when Yan Qiyue is captured by her father's men to force her into a political marriage, prompting Shi Fake and Lu Chi to intervene.
Spoiler Alert
The episode kicks off with the ultimate confrontation in the palace. Lu Chi leads his troops in, swiftly taking control of the Marquis of Wu'an's soldiers. Inside, the Marquis is still gloating in front of the Emperor, arrogantly claiming that the throne should have been his and that the Emperor was merely lucky. He reveals his cruel plan: he left Shi Fake alive specifically so she would have to marry a foreign prince in a political alliance, a miserable fate intended to secure the kingdom.
Just as the Marquis moves to strike the Emperor down, Lu Chi appears and blocks the fatal blow. The Marquis is utterly shocked to see him, the realization dawning that he has walked right into the Emperor's meticulously planned trap. Seeing their leader defeated, the Marquis's soldiers surrender without a fight. His ambitions shattered, the Marquis of Wu'an takes a poison he had prepared and dies. Grieving for his royal brother despite the betrayal, the Emperor orders that he be given a proper, honorable burial. The Emperor then acknowledges the difficult choices Lu Chi had to make, urging him to go and find Shi Fake immediately.
A desperate Lu Chi races to the prison, only to find her cell empty. He breaks down, believing she has been killed. In that moment of despair, Shi Fake appears behind him. It turns out He Kexian had already rescued her and kept her safe, waiting for Lu Chi's return. They fall into a deep, emotional embrace, a powerful reunion after being torn apart by what seemed like certain death. Shi Fake shows him the seal he carved for her, which she kept as a symbol of her unwavering belief that he was still alive.
Later, they follow He Kexian to his shop, "He's Bakery," only to find it has been renamed "Jiangshan Bakery." He Kexian explains that to earn the Marquis of Wu'an's trust, he had to make the immense sacrifice of giving his beloved bakery away. Shi Fake is deeply moved and feels a sense of guilt for the hardship he endured.
With the political turmoil settled, life begins to return to normal. Shi Fake has a joyful reunion with her anxious family. Lu Chi is promoted to Imperial Censor of the Capital, in charge of investigating the Marquis's conspiracy and overseeing the city's security. Shi Fake's mother is reinstated as the head of the Official Matchmaking Hall, and He Kexian and He Ketian get their bakery back.
Lu Chi goes to Shi Fake's home to formally ask for her hand in marriage. His previous rejection was due to his supposed identity as a bandit. Now that everyone knows he is a loyal official, and after seeing his unwavering devotion to Shi Fake through every crisis, her family gives the loving couple their wholehearted blessing.
Elsewhere, Zhu Yanyan is mourning with her grandfather's glasses in hand, despairing that his killer would never be caught. Lu Zhuxi arrives with the news that the murderer has met his end. Zhu Yanyan cries tears of joy and relief, knowing her grandfather can finally rest in peace.
As wedding preparations begin, it's established that Shi Fake can only marry Lu Chi after her two older brothers are wed. While her friends are all finding their partners, Yan Qiyue feels dejected, wondering if she'll ever find her own prince charming. She confides in Shi Fake, admitting she is torn between her fondness for Mr. Huang and a persistent attachment to Mr. Linyuan. Shi Fake vows to help her discover her true feelings.
Walking the streets alone, Yan Qiyue is so lost in thought she starts mistaking strangers for Mr. Huang. Suddenly, her father's soldiers appear, seize her, and place her under house arrest, determined to prevent her from escaping the planned political marriage to the Emperor. Unwilling to marry a man she's never met, especially now that her heart belongs to someone else, Yan Qiyue plots her escape. She pretends to agree to the marriage, using it as an excuse to send a message to Shi Fake. When Shi Fake learns her friend has vanished, she immediately seeks Lu Chi's help to find her.
