Episode Summary
Jin An and Li Shuang's trip to Ninglan starts with some sweet moments but is quickly ruined by the manipulative Jin Wujian, who plants seeds of doubt in Jin An's mind about Li Shuang's intentions. This mistrust comes to a head just as Li Zhangyi arrives to accuse Li Shuang of murder. To protect Jin An, Li Shuang falsely confesses, only for Jin An to then confess himself when he feels her pain from the punishment. Li Shuang ultimately saves them both by challenging Li Zhangyi's authority.
Spoiler Alert
A Nice Trip Gets Real Complicated
I’ll be honest, I was enjoying the quiet. Jin An and Li Shuang needed a break. But this show doesn't do breaks. They arrive in the town of Ninglan, and right away you see the difference between them. Li Shuang, ever the general, wants to save money on an inn. Jin An, however, takes the cash for the horses and wins big in a gamble. He comes back with a pile of fruit for her. It's a small thing, but it shows he just wants to give her nice things.
One Room, Two Awkward People
The inn is full. Of course it is. So they have to share a room. Jin An gets all tense and nervous. You can see him overthinking everything. Li Shuang, on the other hand, is completely unfazed. She’s a warrior who has seen it all, and she tells him to just go to sleep.
They have a quiet talk. Jin An admits he feels lost without his memory. He says the General's Mansion is the only home he knows now. For him, Li Shuang is the only person in the world he's connected to. He just wants her to be happy and live well. Li Shuang admits she doesn't really remember what "home" feels like. She's been on a battlefield since she was a kid. It’s a rare moment of vulnerability for both of them.
The next day, Jin An goes all out. He spends a lot of money on things for her quarters. He even buys a simple white jade hairpin. He knows she's always in armor, so anything else would look out of place. He puts it in her hair himself and tells her not to take it off. It’s the first gift he’s ever given anyone. Later, he tries to get her to a bookstore. He remembers she likes reading biographies, even mentioning Su Muyang. She denies it, but he knows she's just being stubborn and pulls her inside.
The Snake in the Bookstore
This is where things go south. Li Shuang leaves to meet with a man named Boss Cang. She's trying to secure a three-year supply contract for the Changfeng Army. Jin An is left alone in the bookstore. He stumbles upon a book, "The Legend of the King of Annan," which describes a king who was a genius at warfare.
Then, Jin Wujian shows up.
He gets right to work, telling Jin An about the secret mark on his back. He claims it's a form of magic and that Li Shuang is the mastermind behind it all. He says she's just using Jin An. At first, Jin An refuses to believe it. He tells Jin Wujian that he and Li Shuang have been through life-and-death situations together. He knows her character.
But Jin Wujian is good at this. He keeps pushing, twisting the facts. He says Li Shuang’s real reason for being in Ninglan is to investigate Jin An. To "prove" it, he shows Jin An a glimpse of Li Shuang meeting with Boss Cang. He frames her business deal as an investigation into Jin An's past. The poison is planted. Jin Wujian tells Jin An the only way to be free is to break this "blood contract," and he must bring Li Shuang to him in three days.
An Accusation and a Confession
Jin An returns to their room, his head full of doubt. Li Shuang is in a great mood. She successfully negotiated the deal with Boss Cang. Jin An immediately misreads the situation. He thinks her good mood is because she found out something about his past.
Before they can really fight about it, Li Zhangyi arrives.
Back at the military camp, things get serious. Li Zhangyi is here to "investigate" the death of Huo Du. It's obvious he just wants to pin the murder on Li Shuang. To protect Jin An, Li Shuang confesses. She says she killed Huo Du.
Li Zhangyi immediately orders her stripped of her armor to be punished with thirty lashes. But as the punishment begins, Jin An feels her pain because of their connection. He rushes in and stops it. He screams that he is the one who killed Huo Du.
Now it's Li Shuang's turn to protect him again. She stands up to Li Zhangyi, challenging his authority and demanding to see an imperial edict. Cornered and furious, Li Zhangyi has no choice but to leave.
