Episode Summary
Lu Xin decides to stay on Wuling Mountain with Mo Yin to study medicine, while Li Shuang and Jin An are forced back to the capital by Su Muyang's men. At a tense banquet, Su Muyang announces his intention to make Li Shuang his concubine after the Dayao envoy demands her army be disbanded. Jin An is recognized as the missing King of Annan, and the Chancellor threatens the emperor over the marriage announcement, prompting Su Muyang to plot murder. The episode closes with Jin An asking Li Shuang's father for her hand in marriage.
Spoiler Alert
Goodbyes and Grand Entrances
Okay, let's get into it. This episode was a mix of quiet moments and huge political bombs. Some people are saying goodbye. Others are making a grand, unwelcome entrance back into the capital.
Departures and Decisions
The episode starts with Lu Xin and Mo Yin. She asks him why he helped her, Li Shuang, and Jin An. He says he was just moved by their bond. It’s a sweet moment. She even fixes his hair ribbon for him.
Lu Xin lays her cards on the table. She can't join Wuling Mountain. She knows she can't abandon her friends. And she tells him that "friends" now includes him. Mo Yin is clearly surprised by this.
So, the time comes for Li Shuang, Jin An, and Lu Xin to leave the mountain. Mo Yin doesn't come to see them off. He just sends some medicine. Lu Xin makes it clear to the others that there's nothing romantic going on between them.
But then, we get a twist. Lu Xin actually sent Li Shuang and Jin An off alone. She shows up behind Mo Yin. She’s decided to stay after all. She wants to study medicine on the mountain and help people. Mo Yin is obviously thrilled. He gives her back a bead she had given him, saying he doesn't take back gifts. I guess with him around, Li Shuang feels okay leaving her friend behind.
An Unwelcome Homecoming
Li Shuang and Jin An get down the mountain. They immediately realize something is wrong. Ji Ran and their other companions are gone.
It turns out Su Muyang's men were waiting. They kidnapped everyone to force Li Shuang back to the capital. The plan works. Li Shuang and Jin An are escorted back. Su Muyang is now emperor. He learns that Jin An has lost his special strength. This makes him even more contemptuous of Jin An.
Then, a political problem lands on his desk. The kingdom of Dayao wants to talk peace. Su Muyang is suspicious. He thinks they're just trying to gather intelligence. He agrees to a banquet and orders Li Shuang and Jin An to be there.
The Emperor's Trap
At the banquet, the Dayao envoy, Bai Kun, makes his big demand. He says they'll agree to peace if the Changfeng Army is disbanded. This is exactly what Su Muyang wants to hear. It's his excuse to get Li Shuang out of the military and into his palace as a concubine.
During all this, Jin An makes eye contact with the envoy. Bai Kun is stunned. He recognizes Jin An as the long-lost King of Annan.
Jin An tries to beat Su Muyang to the punch. He stands up to ask for permission to marry Li Shuang. But Su Muyang is faster. He announces that Li Shuang will be stripped of her military post. She will enter the palace to serve him.
On the way home, Li Shuang is worried about Jin An. He tells her not to be. He understands she's doing all of this to protect him. He says she will always be his wife, no matter what. Back at the Li family home, she introduces Jin An to her father, Li Wei. Her brother, Li Ting, is happy to see her, but Jin An doesn't remember him.
A Dangerous Confrontation
The news of the emperor's plan spreads. The Chancellor's daughter, Ji Tianjiao, is furious and storms the palace. She was supposed to be the one marrying Su Muyang.
Her father, the Chancellor, stops her. He confronts Su Muyang himself. He reminds the new emperor that he's the one who put him on the throne. He can just as easily pull him down. Su Muyang acts respectful to his face. But you can see he's already planning to kill the Chancellor.
The episode ends with Jin An doing something bold. He goes directly to Li Wei, Li Shuang's father. He formally asks for her hand in marriage.
