Episode Summary
Qin Zhaoyu helps the Crown Prince escape confinement by starting a fire, a plan that implicates her entire family. Meanwhile, Yan Ze asks Qin Wan to perform an autopsy on his long-deceased mother, Princess Xin, revealing she was poisoned. This connects to the similarly timed death of Yan Chi's mother, suggesting a deeper conspiracy. The Emperor reveals he intentionally let the Crown Prince escape to justify killing him, leading to a violent confrontation with the Empress, whom he punishes by condemning her to darkness.
Spoiler Alert
The episode kicks off with Qin Zhaoyu returning to the Marquis of Zhongyong's residence. She carries a letter from the Empress, urging the Marquis to deliver it to her brother immediately. Their priority is clear: ensure the Crown Prince's survival above all else. Showing her unwavering loyalty and genuine affection, Qin Zhaoyu resolves to join the Crown Prince in his confinement at the Zongzheng Temple.
Meanwhile, a different mystery unfolds. Yan Ze summons Qin Wan and Yan Chi to his home, asking Qin Wan to bring her coroner's kit. He reveals a long-held secret: for years, he has preserved the body of his mother, Princess Xin. He needs Qin Wan to perform an autopsy to uncover the true cause of her death. Yan Ze recounts that on the day she died, his mother had gone to the palace to deliver medicine to the Empress. She returned late, locked herself in her room, and was gone by the next morning. While the imperial doctor ruled out poison, Yan Ze's own eyesight began to deteriorate shortly after, fueling his suspicions. Qin Wan proceeds with the autopsy and confirms his fears: Princess Xin was indeed poisoned.
This discovery opens up a web of intrigue. Yan Ze points out the suspicious timing of another death—that of Princess Rui, Yan Chi's mother. A close friend of Princess Xin, she died just seven days later from complications in childbirth. He also brings up the old rumors that Yan Chi was not Prince Rui's biological son, which drove the Prince back to Shuoxi. Yan Ze believes these events were deliberately orchestrated and, as a powerless noble, asks for their help.
As Qin Wan and Yan Chi head home, they theorize about the culprit. Since Princess Xin delivered medicine that may have saved the critically injured Emperor's life, the poisoner could be either the Empress or the Emperor himself.
Back at the Zongzheng Temple, Qin Zhaoyu puts a desperate plan into motion. Under the cover of night, she wakes the Crown Prince, telling him that his uncle's men have arrived to help him escape. She insists on staying behind, claiming her lack of martial arts skills would only slow him down. After the Crown Prince leaves, Qin Zhaoyu sets a fire. She is rescued unharmed, but the Emperor uses the Crown Prince's disappearance to his advantage. He orders Yan Ze and Qin Wan to investigate the fire scene while secretly dispatching Prince Cheng to "intercept" the Crown Prince, who is heading towards his uncle's forces. The Emperor's true intention is to have the Crown Prince killed.
At the fire scene, Qin Wan and Yan Chi note the suspicious lack of guards, concluding the Emperor likely intended for the Prince to escape. An arrogant Prince Cheng arrives to interrogate Qin Zhaoyu, but Yan Chi stops him, holding a sword to his throat. Later, Qin Wan confronts Qin Zhaoyu, who confesses she acted out of love and was prepared to die. Qin Wan warns her that the entire Marquis of Zhongyong's family is now in danger. While she promises to protect Qin Zhaoyu and Mrs. Feng, she fears the Marquis and his son are too deeply entangled to be saved.
In a fleeting moment, Yan Chi notices something odd: Yan Ze, who has been visually impaired for years, instinctively sidesteps a stone in his path, suggesting his sight has returned.
The episode culminates in a chilling confrontation between the Emperor and the Empress. He reveals his horrifying plan: he allowed the Crown Prince to escape precisely to create a pretext to kill him. Enraged and betrayed, the Empress attempts to stab the Emperor. As punishment, he orders that her residence, Fengyi Palace, be stripped of all candles, condemning her to live in perpetual darkness.
