Episode Summary
Li Shuang and Jin An deal with the awkward aftermath of their night together, with Jin An getting questionable romantic advice. Meanwhile, the emperor plots to sacrifice Crown Prince Su Muyang in Lu City under the guise of a military inspection. The Crown Princess is furious, knowing he's going to see his old love, Li Shuang. After a hostage situation in the prison, Li Shuang tries and fails to set Lu Xin up with an old flame. The episode ends as Su Muyang heads to Lu City, leaving Jin An to wonder what his title is in Li Shuang's life.
Spoiler Alert
The Morning After
An Awkward Awakening
The episode kicks off with Li Shuang and Jin An waking up. You can feel the regret from both of them after their late-night drinking.Li Shuang is annoyed with herself for being so forward. Jin An is also kicking himself, thinking he should have been the one to make a move.It's a classic "what did we do?" moment.
Li Shuang deals with it by going straight to the military camp. She even orders all the wine to be removed. Her reasoning is that drinking gets in the way of work. Jin An, feeling pretty down, goes to Lu Xin for advice.
Bad Advice and a Punching Bag
Lu Xin figures out exactly what’s going on between them. She can see that Li Shuang has feelings for Jin An. Lu Xin gives her approval but has a theory about Li Shuang's avoidance. She tells Jin An that even though Li Shuang is a general, she's still a woman. She probably wants a real confession with some sense of ceremony.
So, Jin An goes back to the General's Mansion to figure out how to confess. He ends up practicing his lines on a scarecrow. This doesn't go over well with Qiao'er. She punches the scarecrow, yelling that it's her personal punching bag and Jin An is disrespecting it.
Royal Drama Heats Up
A Sacrificial Prince
The plot thickens at the palace. The emperor is sick and obsessed with becoming immortal. He decides to sacrifice his own son, Crown Prince Su Muyang, to save himself. The chosen location for this ritual is Lu City.
The emperor sends Su Muyang to Lu City. The official reason is to reward the troops for their service. Su Muyang is happy to go, completely unaware of the dark plan.
The Furious Princess
The Crown Princess, Ji Tianjiao, is not happy about the trip. She knows Su Muyang is really going to see his old flame, Li Shuang. Ji Tianjiao is the daughter of the Prime Minister, and she feels publicly humiliated. She storms into Su Muyang's study and throws a fit, smashing things.
Her father, the Prime Minister, tells her to get a grip. He says it doesn't matter who Su Muyang sees on the side. As long as she holds her position as the Crown Princess, that's all that matters. We also learn that another prince, Su Muli, is aware of the emperor's plan to sacrifice Su Muyang.
Trouble in the Prison
A Hostage Situation
Lu Xin rushes to the prison to treat an inmate having a seizure. Once he recovers, the prisoner grabs her and holds her hostage. Mo Yin is just sitting nearby, casually playing with crickets. He waits until the last second before stepping in to stop the man.
Li Shuang arrives and kills the hostage-taker. Lu Xin is terrified. She also recognizes the dead man as someone she had a pleasant conversation with earlier. Mo Yin shows his official papers and is allowed to leave.
A Misguided Matchmaking Attempt
After the incident, Li Shuang talks to Lu Xin. She asks how much of a dowry Lu Xin has saved. Li Shuang offers to make up the difference and arrange a marriage to Ji Ran for her. She thinks Lu Xin will be safer with Ji Ran to protect her.
Lu Xin quickly shuts it down. She says her relationship with Ji Ran is in the past. He doesn't want to marry her, and she doesn't want to marry him. Li Shuang respects her decision. But she does order Lu Xin to start physical training with her at the mansion the next day.
The Crown Prince Comes to Town
Old Flames and New Worries
News of the Crown Prince's visit makes the army nervous. They worry the court is really coming to deal with the Xuan Yi Ke. Li Shuang orders her soldiers not to spread rumors.
Before Su Muyang leaves for Lu City, Li Shuang's brother, Li Ting, comes to see him off. He brings some things for Li Shuang. Ji Tianjiao also sends "gifts." They are fancy things she claims she doesn't want anymore, clearly meant as a jab at Li Shuang.
We get a little backstory here. Li Shuang was an orphan who was often bullied. Su Muyang had a disability and was also picked on. She was a good fighter and could protect them both, so they grew up together. Su Muyang believes the emperor has finally given his blessing for them to be together. He plans to give her a hairpin he's been holding onto.
The Big Question
Li Shuang tells Jin An that Su Muyang is on his way. She feels uneasy. She's worried about what will happen if the court believes that whoever controls the Xuan Yi Ke can rule the world. Jin An isn't concerned with politics. He has a more pressing question. He wants to know how she plans to introduce him.
