Episode Summary
In this episode, Hongyao confesses to murder to protect Meng Buyi, but Su Wuming exposes their real, tragic plan. The actual cause of death is revealed to be suffocation, but Hongyao still faces punishment for mutilating the body. She chooses facial branding over prison to be with Meng Buyi sooner. He then tattoos a flower over her scar, and they start a new life together. Meanwhile, Su Wuming expands his spy network, and we are introduced to a new potential threat: a legendary assassin in white.
Spoiler Alert
Hongyao's Confession
Her Side of the Story
The episode kicks off right in the courtroom. Hongyao is on the stand, confessing to the murder of Zhang San. She lays out her reason for it. Years ago, she watched Zhang San kill one of her friends from the brothel, a girl named Qing Qing. Someone reported it to the authorities back then. But there wasn't enough evidence. The guy just walked free.
So, Hongyao decided to get her own revenge. She needed money to hire an assassin. That's why she put up with Qian Zheng. She took his money in exchange for her company.
On the night of the murder, she had Yan Junxian over. She was trying to figure out who Mingshi really was. Then Zhang San showed up, demanding silver. Hongyao was about to just pay him to get him to leave. But then Meng Buyi came home. In a panic, she shoved Zhang San into the wardrobe. After that, she says she killed him with a pair of scissors.
Su Wuming Unravels the Real Plan
Su Wuming is listening to all of this. He isn't buying her story. He knows something is missing. He stands up and breaks down what really happened.
The whole thing started when Qian Zheng hired "Old Cat" to investigate Hongyao. That's when Meng Buyi learned everything about her past. He was in love with her. He was willing to do anything for her. Her revenge became his revenge.
So, Meng Buyi put a poisonous snake in the wardrobe beforehand. His target was Yan Junxian. He thought Yan Junxian was the enemy Hongyao wanted dead. But then Yan Junxian told his own story about being a house slave. Hongyao felt sorry for him. She hid him under the bed instead.
Meng Buyi got held up by an old clerk going on about snake demons. He didn't get home on time. By the time he arrived, Yan Junxian was under the bed and Zhang San was in the wardrobe. Hongyao didn't want to get Meng Buyi involved. She pretended to be furious with him. She yelled at him and tearfully threw him out of the house. He understood what she was doing. He looked back at her with tears in his eyes and left.
A Love Story's Aftermath
The Verdict and a Sacrifice
Hongyao admits to her crimes. She and Meng Buyi kneel and say their goodbyes. They hold hands, crying, and promise to find each other in the next life. It's a heavy scene. Everyone in the courtroom is moved by it.
A little later, Su Wuming finds Meng Buyi. He has some news. Multiple coroners examined the body. Zhang San actually died from suffocation. He wasn't killed by the scissors.
But Hongyao did mutilate a corpse. That's still a crime. According to a new law from the Emperor, the punishment is three years in prison or facial branding. Meng Buyi can't stand the thought of her face being scarred. He sends a message through Pei Xijun. He tells Hongyao he will wait for her for three years. Hongyao has other plans. She chooses the branding so she can be with him sooner.
A New Life at "Su House"
Meng Buyi is there for her when she gets out. He uses his life savings to buy a house for them. He names it "Su House," because he learned her childhood nickname was A-Su. Inside, he sets up an altar for her father's spirit.
He tells her he quit his official job. He's just a minor clerk now. He'll spend his days writing books and catching snakes to make a living. They can live a quiet, simple life together. To hide the brand on her forehead, Meng Buyi learned how to tattoo. He covers the scar with a beautiful peony flower. He even tells her the story of Shangguan Wan'er, who had a similar experience, to cheer her up. Hongyao is deeply touched.
Loose Ends and New Beginnings
The Gang Moves On
Lu Lingfeng and the rest of the crew get invited to the new "Su House." They see the peony on Hongyao's forehead. They are all amazed by how deep Meng Buyi's love for her is. The moment also makes Pei Xijun and Lu Lingfeng open up about their own feelings for each other.
The sushan dessert shop is a huge success. It's making a lot of money. Pei Xijun gives Master Fei a fancy silver wine pot as a gift. The Princess also gives Master Fei a gold medal that names him the "Great Tang's Chicken Master." He is absolutely thrilled.
Pei Xijun gives most of the shop's profits to Su Wuming. He uses the money to build out his spy network. He plants eyes and ears everywhere. He has informants in rice shops, among the dancers in Pingkang Ward, and in the Ghost Market. A wealthy jewelry merchant even joins the network and funds his own operations.
A New Threat Emerges
We get a glimpse of a new mystery. A traveling music troupe is in the woods. They find a blind woman dressed in white. She's trying to hang herself from a tree. Some of the men in the group say nasty things to her. Others try to talk her down gently. The woman just stays silent.
This connects to something Su Wuming tells Lu Lingfeng. He talks about an old assassin group called "Blood Drop." They had a top-tier killer known as "Ink Shadow and Nether Flame." This person was as famous as Beacon Fire Across the City, but way more ruthless. They would kill every single witness. No one knows what this assassin looks like. The only clue is that they always wear white.
The episode ends with Manager Hou from Ruan's Restaurant. He shows up at the sushan shop. He wants to buy out the entire shop for a day for two famous poets. Master Fei flatly refuses. He won't bend for the rich and powerful. Just as the staff are about to kick the manager out, Su Wuming and Pei Xijun appear. They stop them and promise to have the sushan ready for the poets the next day.
