Episode Summary
Fu Yixiao fakes her escape from the city to set a trap for the masked man's accomplice, Ruyan. The trap works, but the big breakthrough comes when Fu Yixiao follows a trail to the Murong Residence and confirms that Meng Junran is the villain, Murong Yao. He threatens to kill the Emperor if she exposes him. Meanwhile, Feng Suige saves the Minister of War from an assassination attempt and sends him to Zhengnian Villa for safety.
Spoiler Alert
A Not-So-Secret Getaway
So, Feng Suige is getting nervous. His father, the Emperor, is sick. The whole capital city is on edge. He decides the best thing to do is get Fu Yixiao and the kids out of town. He tells her that Zhuang Shen is about to take over, and he’s worried the guy will come after her.
Fu Yixiao agrees immediately. She starts packing without a second thought. Feng Suige arranges for Yunfang to escort them, but he doesn't go himself to say goodbye. Of course, you and I both know Fu Yixiao isn't just going to run away. Partway through the journey, she slips away from the carriage.
Yunfang reports back to Feng Suige, who doesn't seem surprised at all. He basically says, "I knew it." He tells his men to stick to one story. If anyone asks, Fu Yixiao and Ling Xueying are safely on their way to Zhengnian Villa. He's covering for her while she goes off to do her own thing.
Fu Yixiao's Real Plan
Fu Yixiao has been doing her own homework. She’s not one to sit around and wait for things to happen.
Cornering the Accomplice
First, she figures out the woman connected to that mysterious carriage is named Ruyan. She finds Ruyan's room in a dance studio, which has a perfect view of the street below. This confirms her suspicion. Wuying must have been waiting for a maid from that studio.
Fu Yixiao then goes to a blacksmith and gets a copy of the masked man's mask. She sneaks into Ruyan's room and leaves it there. Just as she expected, Ruyan sees the mask and completely panics. Fu Yixiao then knocks her out and kidnaps her.
She makes a bet with a terrified Ruyan. Fu Yixiao is sure the masked man will send assassins to silence her for good. If he doesn't, she promises to let Ruyan go. It's a bold move.
The Trap Works
Things play out exactly as Fu Yixiao predicted. The masked man uses a token he got from Xia Jingshi to order his "Death Squad" to kill Ruyan. While this is happening, Fu Yixiao almost gets caught by the city guards. But Feng Suige had her back. He sent Lu Ke to run interference and keep her safe.
Even after seeing that her boss wants her dead, Ruyan refuses to betray the masked man. Fu Yixiao isn't worried, though. She says she has another plan up her sleeve.
The Mask Finally Drops
This is the part we've all been waiting for. The identity of the masked man is finally out in the open.
Following the Clues
While Fu Yixiao is dealing with Ruyan, Feng Suige's men are also busy. Song Cheng from the Feng Camp finds a lead on the Death Squad. They figure out the assassins' next target is Hou Jing, the Minister of War.
At the same time, Fu Yixiao uses a dog to track a scent. The trail leads her straight to the Murong Residence. It all clicks into place for her in that moment. Meng Junran, the man who has been hanging around, is actually Murong Yao.
A Villain's Ultimatum
Fu Yixiao confronts Murong Yao. He doesn't even bother to deny it anymore. He drops the act and lays everything out on the table.
He gives her a chilling threat. If she tells Feng Suige his real identity, his people inside the palace will kill the Emperor. Feng Suige would lose his father and his entire position in one blow. Murong Yao is incredibly smug about it. He tells her a signal will sound when the Emperor is dead. Fu Yixiao is trapped. She knows she can't act rashly, or everything will fall apart.
A Race Against Time
While Fu Yixiao is in a standoff with Murong Yao, his assassination plot is already in motion. Wuying and the Death Squad attack Hou Jing.
Feng Suige arrives just in time to stop them. In the chaos, someone helps Wuying escape. Feng Suige doesn't send his men to chase him. He's smarter than that. He already had Song Cheng hiding nearby to follow Wuying secretly.
Unfortunately, Hou Jing was hit by a poisoned arrow and is now unconscious. Feng Suige immediately orders his men to take Hou Jing to Zhengnian Villa. He believes Ling Xueying and the children are already there, making it a safe place for the minister to recover.
