Episode Summary
Ruyan is forced to see Murong Yao's true colors after he tries to have her killed. Feng Suige captures a key assassin but learns he's about to be betrayed by another friend. In a rival kingdom, Prince Xia Jingshi brilliantly turns a public humiliation into a major victory against his emperor brother. The episode ends with a massive reveal: Emperor Feng Pingcheng has been secretly dying of an incurable disease for fifteen years, a secret only his physician knew until now.
Spoiler Alert
Ruyan's Rude Awakening
Fu Yixiao finally lets Ruyan go. He even gives her a bag of money. He tells her to get out of Yujing City and start a new life.
But Ruyan is completely broken. She just can't accept that Murong Yao would order her death. She wanders over to his mansion in a daze. There, she gets a serious reality check. She sees Murong Yao laughing with a bunch of other women. He clearly doesn't care that she's gone.
Later, Fu Yixiao finds Ruyan about to kill herself. He steps in and saves her. He tells her that her debt is settled. Murong Yao tried to have her killed, so they're even now. Fu Yixiao wants her to live for herself from now on. She doesn't owe Murong Yao anything.
A New Prisoner and an Old Wound
The Interrogation
Song Cheng successfully tracks down the assassin, Wuying. Feng Suige immediately surrounds the hut with his men. Wuying tries to kill himself to protect his secrets. Feng Suige is faster, though. He stops him and drags him back to the Wutong Courtyard for questioning.
During the interrogation, Wuying gets clever. He starts talking about Fu Yixiao's horrific childhood in the assassin camp. He's trying to make Feng Suige angry. He hopes the rage will create an opening for him to bite his own tongue and die. Feng Suige gets furious, but he keeps his head. He isn't about to let Wuying die that easily.
Another Betrayal Looms
At the same time, Yunfang reports on the other assassins they caught. The ones from Xia Jingshi's camp cracked pretty quickly. They confessed that a man named Meng Junran gave them their orders. Meng Junran is supposed to be Xia Jingshi's ally.
Fu Yixiao knows the truth about Meng Junran. She's struggling with what to do. She has to tell Feng Suige. But she also knows it will destroy him to learn that another one of his trusted friends has betrayed him.
A Prince's Humiliation
Feng Xiyang and Xia Jingshi are escorted to Shengjing City. For Xia Jingshi, the city is a minefield. For Feng Xiyang, it's just an unfamiliar foreign land. Empress Dowager Jing gives Xia Jingshi a light scolding but doesn't punish him.
His brother, Emperor Xia Jingyan, is a different story. The second he hears Xia Jingshi is back, he grabs a sword and charges. He tries to cut Xia Jingshi down right there. Feng Xiyang has to tackle the Emperor to save him.
After Xia Jingyan calms down, he has a new plan. He orders his head eunuch, Bai Shouzhuo, to take the two princes to Rongyang Hall. This hall is where palace eunuchs are sent to die. It's a massive insult meant to humiliate Xia Jingshi.
But Xia Jingshi is always one step ahead. We learn that he recruited Bai Shouzhuo years ago. The head eunuch is his man. Bai Shouzhuo personally delivers the Emperor's private daily journals to Xia Jingshi. Now, Xia Jingyan has no more secrets. Xia Jingshi holds all the cards.
The Emperor's Secret Comes Out
Back at the Su Sha palace, things are tense. The Minister of War is in a coma. Murong Yao is still playing the part of Feng Suige's loyal brother, and Feng Suige believes him. Fu Yixiao tries to get into the prince's residence to warn him about Meng Junran, but Murong Yao's guards won't let her pass.
Then, Feng Suige hears that Chancellor Zhuang Shen is cornering the royal physician, Ling Feng. He rushes over to Zichen Hall and pulls his sword on the Chancellor. The accusation is serious. The Emperor has been unconscious for days. Ling Feng's medicine was supposed to help, but the Imperial Hospital claims it's actually draining the Emperor's strength.
Ling Feng is furious at being framed. He's had enough. He blurts out the truth in front of everyone. The Emperor of Su Sha, Feng Pingcheng, has a terminal illness. Ling Feng says he's the only reason the Emperor is still alive. Without his help, Feng Pingcheng would have died years ago.
Feng Suige can't believe what he's hearing. He chases after Ling Feng, who confirms the story. The Emperor was diagnosed with the fatal illness fifteen years ago. Ling Feng only agreed to help because he made a promise to Feng Suige's mother.
He also clarifies a few things. The Fengyu Alliance, which was founded by Suige's mother, would never save the Emperor. After all, the Emperor is the reason she died. And even if they wanted to, it wouldn't matter. The Emperor's disease, "Qi Exhaustion Syndrome," is completely incurable.
