Episode Summary
In episode 23, Li Shuang's plan to get Su Muyang safely out of the city backfires when he is kidnapped by a mysterious third party, Jin Wujian. Jin Wujian tries to make a deal with Su Muyang, offering him power in exchange for Jin An. After being rescued, Su Muyang lies and blames his brother, Su Muli. Meanwhile, Li Shuang confronts Mo Yin, who reveals his true purpose for being at the mansion and his own connection to the silver needle assassin. The episode concludes with Jin Wujian proposing a new, dangerous alliance with Su Muli.
Spoiler Alert
A Botched Escape Plan
The Old Switcheroo Fails
So, Li Shuang has this big plan to get Su Muyang, the Crown Prince, out of Lu City. She and Su Muyang have a very public, very fake falling out. The idea is to make everyone think she’s cutting him loose to save her own skin. He gets in a carriage, looking all heartbroken, and heads out of town. He totally believes she's abandoning him.
Of course, it's a trick. Li Shuang pulls a switch. When her rival, Su Muli, sends his goons to intercept the carriage, they don't find the prince. They just find Jin An sitting there, looking smug. The real Su Muyang is supposed to be in another carriage, on a safe route out of the city.
But the plan completely falls apart. Su Muyang's carriage never makes it to the meeting point. He has just vanished.
A New Player Enters the Game
We find out Su Muyang and his guard, Huai En, were kidnapped. The man behind it is Jin Wujian.Su Muyang immediately assumes he works for Su Muli, but Jin Wujian has his own agenda. He tells the prince he wants to help him. He claims he can give Su Muyang a path to real power. All he wants in return is something from the General's Mansion.
And what does he want? He wants Xuan Yi Ke, the Shadow Knight.He wants Jin An.
Secrets and Silver Needles
The Search for the Prince
Li Shuang is obviously freaking out. She feels responsible for Su Muyang getting snatched, since he was her only friend as a kid. She decides to go find him herself, and a worried Jin An follows right behind her. Near the abandoned carriage, they find a silver needle. It looks familiar. They try to follow some tracks, but the trail goes cold.
Li Shuang is confused. The person using these needles was after Jin An. Why would they suddenly grab the Crown Prince? While she's spiraling, Jin An pulls her aside to treat a cut on her arm. It's a quiet moment. He gets that she's torn up inside. He reminds her that even though she's a general to everyone else, to him, she's someone worth protecting.
They eventually hear cries for help and find Su Muyang and Huai En knocked out in a cave.
Mo Yin's Confession
They get the prince back to the mansion. Mo Yin, the doctor, checks him out. He notices that Huai En's injuries look like they were made by someone using Wuling Mountain fighting techniques, but he keeps this to himself. Su Muyang wakes up and immediately blames Su Muli for the kidnapping.
Li Shuang knows Mo Yin is hiding something.She corners him by asking him to help with her wound. When he tries to dodge her questions, she pulls out the silver needle they found. That gets his attention.
Forced into a corner, Mo Yin finally spills. He admits he came to the mansion for Jin An, the Xuan Yi Ke.He explains the whole "Jade Exquisite" situation, saying it has to be removed to save not just Jin An and Li Shuang, but everyone.Li Shuang isn't surprised; she already knew.
Then he clarifies something important. He's not working with the person who uses the silver needles. His own adoptive father was killed by one just like it. Li Shuang shows him a drawing of Jin Wujian, and Mo Yin panics. He says he needs to check on something and warns her to be careful.
Shifting Alliances
Goodbyes and New Deals
While all this is happening, Lu Xin is still grieving for Nan Xing. She asks Mo Yin to help her make paper figures of a family for his grave. She wants revenge one day, and this makes Mo Yin think about his own father's murder, possibly by Jin Wujian. Mo Yin is planning to leave, so he gives Lu Xin a pearl to help her rebuild her medical clinic.
He goes to Jin An, ready to leave together as they had agreed. Jin An says yes, but not yet. He can't leave Li Shuang while Lu City is in chaos. Mo Yin, surprisingly, understands and agrees to stay a bit longer.
The episode ends with Jin Wujian going back to Su Muli. He offers him a new deal. If Su Muli wants the Crown Prince dead, all he has to do is attack the General's Mansion. Jin Wujian promises that on that day, Xuan Yi Ke will be nowhere to be found.
