Episode Summary
Following Prince Rui's suspicious death, which the Emperor attributes to the enemy, Yan Chi and Qin Wan conduct a secret autopsy and discover it was an inside job by the Shuo Xi Army. Amidst political turmoil and family drama—including Qin Xiang becoming Prince Cheng's concubine and being disowned—Yan Chi and Qin Wan receive the Empress Dowager's blessing to marry quickly. Yan Chi receives his late father's cherished belongings, confirming their deep bond. Meanwhile, an investigation into Song Xiwen's death implicates the Empress, but her servant, Wan Xi, refuses to confess under torture, leading Qin Wan to devise a new plan involving his godson.
Spoiler Alert
The episode opens with a stunning imperial decree: Prince Rui is to be buried the next day without the customary mourning period. The Emperor claims that since the prince fell to the hostile Rong Di tribe, a grand ceremony would be a loss of face for the empire. This absurd explanation leaves Qin Wan reeling.
Seizing the few hours they have left, Yan Chi implores Qin Wan to perform an autopsy on his father. He cannot accept the official story and needs to know if Prince Rui truly died at the hands of the Rong Di. Their examination quickly reveals suspicious details. Qin Wan notes that the arrow wound is unlike any she's seen before. More damningly, why would an enemy, who had already managed to bind the prince's hands and feet, bother to finish him with an arrow? They conclude that the scene was staged to frame the Rong Di, and the most likely culprits are traitors from within Prince Rui's own Shuo Xi Army. A conversation with an officer named Fan Xin, who arrived at the scene just after the assassins fled, solidifies Yan Chi's devastating belief: his father was murdered by his own men.
Meanwhile, the ailing Empress Dowager insists on seeing her son's body. The Emperor rushes to stop her, justifying his cold actions as necessary for the stability of the nation. But the Empress Dowager is not fooled; she knows Prince Rui was unfailingly loyal, yet the Emperor always saw him as a threat. She laments his cruelty, questioning what kind of emperor and brother would deny his own kin basic funeral rites. Cornered, the Emperor lashes out, painfully asking his mother if she only has room in her heart for Prince Rui, reminding her that he, too,is her son.
In a separate investigation, a body is identified as Song Xiwen, and the Emperor hands the case to the Dali Temple, with Prince Cheng taking the lead.
After settling his father's funeral affairs, Yan Chi rushes back to the capital. The political situation is precarious, and he can't afford to be away. In a tender moment, he asks Qin Wan if she would still marry him if he were to lose his official post and his title. Without hesitation, she replies that she would simply open her own medical clinic, which would be more than enough to support him. Unwilling to wait any longer, Qin Wan decides they should seek a blessing from the Empress Dowager. They find her grieving deeply for Prince Rui. They make their request: to marry quickly, during the mourning period, to fulfill what they know was Prince Rui's heartfelt wish. Fearing it would be unfair to Qin Wan, the Empress Dowager hesitates, but when Qin Wan confirms it is her wish as well, she gives her consent.
The political maneuvering continues as Prince Cheng sends his men to the Marquis of Zhongyong's estate, announcing his intention to take Qin Xiang as a concubine. The Marquis refuses, citing a family rule that forbids daughters of the main line from becoming concubines. However, Qin Xiang herself steps forward and eagerly agrees, shamelessly admitting she has already been intimate with the prince. Her mother, Mrs. Feng, is furious, pointing out the disgrace this brings upon the family, especially with her sister Qin Zhaoyu about to marry the Crown Prince. Enraged by her daughter's dishonor, the Marquis of Zhongyong banishes Qin Xiang from the family. As she leaves, she vows to return one day and exact revenge. In the fallout, the Ministry of War seizes control of the Shuo Xi Army, allowing the Crown Prince and Prince Cheng to install their own loyalists.
Later, one of Prince Rui's attendants delivers his most treasured possessions to Yan Chi. Inside a box is a portrait of Yan Chi's late mother, the hairband Yan Chi wore when he first went to the Shuo Xi territory at age eight, and a journal. The journal details Yan Chi's entire life, revealing that Prince Rui had never neglected his son and was always aware of the Emperor's suspicion towards him. He trusted Yan Chi's pure heart completely. Overwhelmed by these tangible proofs of his father's love, Yan Chi breaks down in tears as Qin Wan quietly closes the door to give him space to grieve.
The mystery of Song Xiwen's death deepens. It is revealed that the Empress was the one who let him go, putting the Crown Prince in a panic. Prince Cheng's investigation leads him to Wan Xi, one of the Empress's most trusted servants. The Empress, however, has already secured Wan Xi's silence by threatening his family, and he is prepared to die. Prince Cheng's interrogation, which includes brutal torture, yields nothing until Li Muyun intervenes.
The episode concludes with Qin Wan visiting the Empress Dowager, who is playing chess with the Grand Princess and Yan Ze. She has questions about the Song Xiwen case. They learn that years ago, Wan Xi took on a godson in the imperial guard named Wang Han. A new plan is hatched: they will use the godson to finally break Wan Xi's silence.
