Episode Summary
Chang Yuer rescues Gu Pingyuan from the Canal Gang with a violent outburst and a display of archery skills. Li Wantang warns Gu Pingyuan that Ruilin is using him, but Gu refuses to quit the salt business. The conflict culminates at a religious ceremony where Gu's mother recognizes Li Wantang. She reveals he is actually Gu Wanzhang, Gu Pingyuan's biological father who abandoned them.
Spoiler Alert
Love, Jealousy, and Sharp Objects
Things look bad at the Canal Gang headquarters. The leader refuses to release Gu Pingyuan. Chang Yuer decides she has heard enough. She pulls a hairpin and stabs the leader. It catches everyone off guard. The leader is furious. He claims his thousands of brothers will hunt her down. Gu Pingyuan steps in to protect her. Chang Si tries to calm the angry mob.
The tension shifts to a domestic dispute. Yuer remembers Gu Pingyuan sent Heizi to find Su Zixuan. She is furious. Gu Pingyuan tries to explain himself. She refuses to listen. The Canal Gang leader gets sick of their arguing. He tells them to get out.
Su Zixuan shows up right on time. She claims Ruilin sent her to collect Gu Pingyuan. She flashes the Viceroy's private seal as proof. The gang leader releases everyone. Yuer feels competitive. She doesn't want to lose face to Su Zixuan. She draws a bow and snuffs out a candle with a single arrow. The crowd is impressed. Gu Pingyuan is just terrified.
A Pawn in the Game
Li Wantang tries to talk sense into Li Qin. He warns him not to fight Gu Pingyuan. Even if Li Qin wins the battle, he cannot beat the imperial court.
Gu Pingyuan manages to calm Yuer down. He admits she is jealous. He explains everything until she relaxes. He goes to thank Su Zixuan. She deflects the credit to Ruilin.
Li Wantang summons Gu Pingyuan for a chat. Yuer wants to tag along. Gu insists on going alone. Wantang gives him a harsh reality check. He warns Gu against a price war with Li Qin. He says Ruilin is just using Gu as a pawn. Once the salt fields are settled, Ruilin will discard him. Gu might end up exiled to Ningguta again. Wantang tells him to take his family back to Anhui.
Gu Pingyuan asks why Wantang cares. Wantang says they are both ambitious men. He claims he doesn't want to see Gu get hurt. Gu refuses to leave. He wants to help the common people. Wantang gets angry at Gu's stubbornness. Gu leaves. Wantang still helps him. He orders his butler to silence the Canal Gang members about the salt boat robbery.
The Mother of All Twists
Gu Pingyuan rushes home to check on his mother. Li Qin stops by with gifts. He wants a truce. Gu refuses. He wants the salt fields. Li Qin gets angry. He demands a donation for a religious ceremony. Gu pays up but keeps pushing for the salt fields. Li Qin refuses. He has already sold his shops. The salt fields are all he has left.
Gu visits Ruilin to say thanks. Ruilin offers official boats for salt transport. He supports Gu's business. Gu takes his mother and Yuer to the religious ceremony. They run into Li Wantang and Li Qin.
Gu's mother stares at Li Wantang. She recognizes him. She drops a massive bomb on the crowd. Li Wantang is actually Gu Wanzhang. He is Gu Pingyuan's biological father. She screams at him for being heartless. She blames him for all of Gu Pingyuan's suffering.
Sins of the Father
The revelation stuns everyone. Li Qin cannot believe it. Gu Pingyuan is in shock. The man who caused his exile is his own father. Wantang claims he only wanted to protect Gu. Gu refuses to believe it. He gently takes his mother away.
Gu's mother calms down at home. She decides to let the past go. She tells Gu to leave Wantang alone. Gu goes to confront him anyway. He delivers his mother's message. Wantang explains his history. He faced death on his way to the capital exams. Li Qin's mother saved him. He changed his name to survive. Now he plans to stay at the temple and pray.
