Episode Summary
Su Muli captures and tortures Qiao'er and other servants to find Li Shuang and Su Muyang. This leads to a tragic confrontation where Qiao'er takes her own life to save others. In the chaos, Su Muli reveals that the Emperor wants Su Muyang dead, putting Li Shuang in an impossible position. In the end, Li Shuang is forced to send a hateful Su Muyang away to protect her family, while a grieving Ouyang Jun leaves the army.
Spoiler Alert
A Brutal Confrontation
Su Muli is done playing games. He corners Qiao'er and the other servants from the General's Mansion. He wants to know where Li Shuang and the Crown Prince went. He also demands to know the identity of the mysterious Xuan Yi Ke. They refuse to talk. So, Su Muli has his men tie them up and drag them all to his own mansion for a more forceful approach. Ouyang Jun shows up with snacks for Qiao'er, only to see her being taken away.
Jin An and Li Shuang get word that their people have been captured. Jin An decides to go rescue them alone. Li Shuang tells Mo Yin to watch over Lu Xin, promising she'll answer for what's about to happen.
A Vicious Interrogation
At Su Muli's mansion, things get ugly fast. Qiao'er and the others are brutally beaten. Su Muli, seeing Qiao'er's loyalty, decides to make an example of someone. He murders Ling'er right in front of her. Qiao'er remains defiant. She knew she might not make it out of this alive.
Ouyang Jun, frantic, tries to storm the mansion by himself to find Qiao'er. He's completely overwhelmed and stopped by Su Muli's guards.
Li Shuang goes to the secret room to check on the Crown Prince, Su Muyang. He's figured out he was just a pawn to be used against Su Muli. He feels completely disposable now. Li Shuang reassures him that she still sees him as the rightful Crown Prince. She tells him to stay put while she goes to Su Muli's mansion. She makes it clear this is personal. The Changfeng Army is not involved.
The Standoff
Jin An arrives at the mansion, dressed as Xuan Yi Ke. He finds a terrible scene. Su Muli is holding both Ouyang Jun and Qiao'er hostage with a blade. Jin An is trapped. He doesn't know what to do.
Qiao'er makes a devastating decision. She looks at Ouyang Jun one last time. Then, she takes her own life on Su Muli's knife. She refuses to be a burden. With her last breath, she tells Jin An to kill Su Muli and protect Li Shuang.
Jin An snaps. He lunges forward and grabs Su Muli by the throat. At the same time, Ouyang Jun crawls to Qiao'er's side, holding her as she dies in his arms.As Ouyang Jun sobs, Jin An's grip tightens.
Li Shuang bursts in to see Qiao'er dead on the floor. She is filled with rage. Su Muli starts talking. He reveals the Emperor's plan. The Emperor wants Su Muyang dead to supposedly ward off some kind of disaster. By protecting Su Muyang, Li Shuang is committing treason. Her entire family will be executed.
Li Shuang hesitates, her weapon pointed at Su Muli. Jin An knows she can't deliver the final blow. He pulls Su Muli over to Qiao'er's body. He stabs his hand straight through with a knife, forcing him to kneel and apologize to her. It's the only justice he can offer her spirit.
The Aftermath
Li Shuang sits alone in Qiao'er's room, remembering how she taught her to read and write. She finds a final letter Qiao'er wrote. In it, Qiao'er said that Jin An, despite his act of "playing the pig to eat the tiger," is a good man. She wanted him to have her most prized possessions if she died. Jin An looks at the sandbags she left behind. He understands it as a message to protect Li Shuang at all costs.
Ouyang Jun, consumed by hatred, leaves the Changfeng Army camp with Qiao'er's memorial tablet. He couldn't get revenge for her. On his way out, he sees a little girl performing on the street, just like Qiao'er used to. He decides to adopt her.
A Painful Goodbye
Su Muyang hears about Qiao'er and feels immense guilt. Li Shuang tells him to pack his things and prepare to leave. She finally tells him the truth. The Emperor wants him dead, and she cannot defy a direct order. Her family's lives are on the line.
Su Muyang gets on his knees and begs her for help. He reminds her that they grew up together, that he was her "Brother Yang." But Li Shuang can't save him. She has to think of Jin An and her own family. Su Muyang leaves, his heart now filled with hate.
