Episode Summary
Bai Yimei falls for the rebel Li Cheng and breaks her engagement with Gu Pingyuan. Gu tries to protect the village from corrupt Qing soldiers but gets arrested before escaping. Yimei runs away to find Li Cheng, is saved by Su Zixuan, and eventually reunites with her rebel lover. A heartbroken Gu Pingyuan returns home and helps his brother open a new shop.
Spoiler Alert
The Love Triangle Finally Explodes
Things are getting messy in the romance department. Bai Yimei spends way too much time patching up Li Cheng at the rebel camp. Naturally, Li Cheng catches feelings. The problem is that Yimei is already engaged to Gu Pingyuan. Li Cheng walks her back to the village entrance after he heals up. Of course, people talk. Rumors start flying around the village immediately.
Gu Pingyuan is a saint. He hears the gossip but chooses to trust Yimei anyway. He actually wants to rush the wedding just to shut everyone up. But Yimei is already gone mentally. She gave Li Cheng her mother’s jade pendant. That is a serious move. She is torn between her duty to Gu and her feelings for the rebel. Her father sees right through it and gives her a massive scolding.
Shakedowns and Arrests
The war comes knocking at Shanjian Village. Qing soldiers show up and demand fifty men to dig trenches. They also want grain and money. The soldiers pressure the village chief to squeeze the local rich families. The chief is terrified and agrees to everything.
Mr. Bai gets so angry about the situation that he collapses. Gu Pingyuan rushes over. He sends his brother, Gu Pingwen, to find a doctor. The village chief has no other options. He begs the unconscious Mr. Bai for money. Gu Pingyuan decides to handle it himself. He goes with the chief to see General Qiao.
Gu tries to reason with the General. He explains the tea gardens are destroyed and the people are broke. General Qiao does not care. He gets a war report and prepares to leave. Instead of listening, he has Gu Pingyuan arrested. He plans to deal with him after the battle.
The Breakup
Mr. Bai wakes up thanks to the doctor. Yimei needs to go to town for medicine. Gu Pingwen drops some bad news. He says the Qing army attacked Huizhou and killed the rebel leaders. Yimei thinks Li Cheng is dead. She breaks down completely.
Two days pass. Gu Pingyuan manages to escape the Qing camp. He runs straight to the Bai house. He tells them to pack up and run. The soldiers will come back for them. Yimei makes her choice here. She gives the betrothal note back to Gu Pingyuan. Mr. Bai agrees. He cancels the marriage to stop Gu from getting dragged into their mess.
Chasing Ghosts
Yimei can’t let it go. She sneaks out before dawn to find Li Cheng. She leaves a silent goodbye at her father's door. Mr. Bai wakes up and panics. He runs to Gu Pingyuan for help. Gu doesn't hesitate. He goes after her.
Yimei reaches Liuhu Town. The place is destroyed. She hears the rebels moved to Hefei. She tries to go there but runs into a group of Qing soldiers. They surround her. It looks bad. Su Zixuan shows up just in time and saves her. Yimei insists on finding Li Cheng. Su Zixuan lets her go.
Gu Pingyuan arrives in Liuhu Town later. He misses Yimei but finds Su Zixuan. She shows him Yimei’s bracelet. She tells him to give up. Yimei is with the rebels now. Gu tries to deny it. Su Zixuan tells him plainly that Yimei went to find Li Cheng.
A New Business Venture
Yimei makes it to Hefei. She finds Li Cheng alive. They hug. They confess their love. It’s official.
Gu Pingyuan goes home heartbroken. His mother yells at him to go get his fiancée back. He tells her the truth. Yimei chose the other guy. His mother finally drops it. Gu decides to focus on work. He buys a shop in the city for his brother. He names it "Ping Ji." He hires staff and gives his brother money to get started. Romance is over. It is time for business.
