Episode Summary
Li Shuang is captured and brutally tortured by the Empress Dowager's eunuch, Bai Kun, in an attempt to force her to surrender. Jin An rescues her, punishing Bai Kun and revealing a protective side. He moves her to a private courtyard to recover. While a side plot shows Mo Yin and Lu Xin researching a cure on Wuling Mountain, the Empress Dowager gives Li Shuang a poison, urging her to use it on Jin An. The episode ends with Jin An seemingly giving her the perfect opportunity to do so.
Spoiler Alert
Li Shuang Hits Rock Bottom
Okay, so Li Shuang is now a prisoner of war. She’s been taken back to Da Yao and thrown in a dungeon. It’s not pretty. Jin An has her tied up and is torturing her. He wants her to write a formal letter of surrender. To really twist the knife, he brings up her old flame, Su Muyang. That completely shatters her.
Meanwhile, the Empress Dowager is freaking out. She never expected Jin An to actually win the battle. She knows the old ministers in court will flock to whoever is strongest. This puts her son’s throne at risk. So, in her mind, Duan Aodeng has to die. But she also knows Jin An and Li Shuang have a complicated history. She decides to use Li Shuang to get rid of Jin An.
The Empress Dowager's Cruel Plan
The Empress Dowager sends her head eunuch, Bai Kun, to the dungeon. He shows up pretending to be acting on orders from the King of Annan. Li Shuang refuses to cooperate. So, Bai Kun brings in two captured soldiers from her Changfeng Army. He has them killed right in front of her. Still, she won't write the surrender letter. His response is to torture her again.
Jin An's real reason for keeping Li Shuang is to threaten Tai Jin and lure out Li Wei for revenge. When he hears Bai Kun is at the camp, he knows it's bad. He knows how ruthless the eunuch is.
Back in the dungeon, things get even worse. Bai Kun is furious that Li Shuang won't break. He orders his soldiers to assault her. She’s completely devastated, believing Jin An ordered all of this. But just then, Jin An himself bursts in. He is furious. He brutally punishes the men for breaking military law and abusing a prisoner. Then he gently picks up Li Shuang and carries her out. As for Bai Kun, Jin An isn't scared of the Empress Dowager. He makes it clear that private torture is a capital offense in the military.
As he carries her away, a delirious Li Shuang keeps mumbling his name. This is the first time Duan Aodeng, the man inside Jin An's body, has ever heard the name "Jin An."
A Fragile Truce
Jin An takes Li Shuang to a quiet, secluded courtyard to recover. When she wakes up, she’s immediately hostile and on guard. He just tells her to rest and promises nothing like what happened in the dungeon will ever happen again.
Later, Jin An confronts the Empress Dowager. He throws Bai Kun at her feet. He coldly warns her that military law is absolute and no one gets to interfere. She’s left fuming.
Li Shuang is still a wreck. She tries to eat but throws it up. The doctor says it’s due to emotional distress. Jin An comes to her and explains that Bai Kun was not acting on his orders. He says he would never do something so vile. He gives her a few pieces of candy, which seems to get through to her. She makes him promise not to harm any of the Changfeng Army soldiers. He agrees, and only then does she agree to eat.
Side Plots and New Poisons
While all this is going on, Mo Yin and Lu Xin are living happily on Wuling Mountain. Lu Xin is researching the Jade Exquisite.She’s trying to find a way to stop the backlash between a Blood Master and their Shadow Puppet.
The peace in the courtyard doesn't last long. The Empress Dowager shows up to see Li Shuang. She gives her a poison called "Brain-Eating Powder" and offers to "help" her use it.
Jin An hears about the Empress Dowager's visit. He brings food to Li Shuang's room, almost like he's deliberately giving her the chance to poison him.
