Episode Summary
In this episode, Feng Xiyang learns of her family's death and makes a dangerous deal with Xia Jingyan to find the killers. Meanwhile, Fu Yixiao takes an unconscious Feng Suige to the Fengyu Alliance for help, only to find they want him dead due to a bitter old grudge. She must try to change their minds by reminding them of their forgotten purpose.
Spoiler Alert
A Brutal Awakening
The episode kicks off with Xia Jingyan. He tells Feng Xiyang that her father and brother are dead. At first, she doesn't believe him. You can't blame her. He's always playing cruel games. But this time, it's real. He shows her the intelligence report.
The news completely shatters her. She keeps trying to stand, to go back to Su Sha, but she just collapses over and over. Xia Jingyan watches her pain. He even says a few things to make it worse. He seems genuinely excited that there's another person in the world who hates Xia Jingshi. It's twisted. Feng Xiyang isn't totally broken, though. When he makes a joke about her dead family, she bites his finger. Hard. It was a small moment, but a good one.
The official story from Su Sha is that Feng Suige killed his father for the throne. Then, Murong Yao killed Feng Suige as punishment. The Murong family is now in control. Xia Jingyan hears this and immediately calls it a lie. He knew Feng Suige. He says there's no way he would commit patricide. Xia Jingyan quickly deduces the Murongs are the real murderers. While all this is happening, Xia Jingshi is planning to meet with his own spies in Jinxiu. The political games are definitely heating up.
A Sanctuary of Hate
Fu Yixiao's group finally reaches its destination. Ling Feng leads them to the Fengyu Alliance's headquarters on Five Peaks Mountain. The place is beautiful and completely isolated from the world. People there live simple lives.
Ning Fei is there, still recovering emotionally. Ling Xueying arrives to try and help him. They go to greet Fu Yixiao. Then, disaster strikes. Ning Fei lets Feng Suige's name slip. Elder Zhang Dongshi overhears it. He realizes the unconscious man they're carrying is a member of the Feng family.
The elder wants to kill Feng Suige right there. We learn the Alliance has a deep-seated hatred for the Fengs. They believe Feng Pingcheng ordered the attack years ago that killed their founder, Wei Qingyu.
Fu Yixiao desperately tries to intervene. She explains that Zhuang Shen was the real killer. She also suggests the soldiers who attacked them might not have been sent by Feng Pingcheng. Her words aren't enough, though. Most of the elders refuse to listen.
An Appeal to the Past
One elder, the head of the "Reading Branch," seems to consider her words. He later sneaks her a Sifang Pill. The medicine will keep Feng Suige alive for a few more days. He warns her that two of the other elders lost children in that old attack. They will never agree to save a Feng.
Fu Yixiao learns more about the Alliance's history from Lord Ling. The founder, Wei Qingyu, started it as a sanctuary after his own near-death experience. He wanted to give hope to the hopeless. Fu Yixiao realizes the Alliance has become the opposite of its original purpose. It's now driven by hatred.
She decides to confront one of the grieving elders, Lei Lie. She talks to him about Wei Qingyu's original vision. As she speaks, he's struck by how much she reminds him of their founder. For the first time, you can see his anger waver. She might be getting through to him.
A New Deal
Feng Xiyang is done crying. She marches to Shengfu Hall and puts a knife to Xia Jingyan's throat. She presses the blade just enough to draw blood. She tells him this is payback for his insults. He seems more amused than scared. He likes her nerve.
She then makes him an offer. If he helps her find out who really killed her father and brother, she'll agree to any condition he sets. She's desperate, and she's playing his game now.
Later, Xia Jingshi finds her and offers his help. He tries to be the good guy. The old Feng Xiyang might have fallen for it. The new Feng Xiyang is not interested. She rejects him cold. Even Empress Dowager Jing tries to get her to make peace with Xia Jingshi. Feng Xiyang refuses.
The episode ends with an update on Feng Suige. Ling Feng and the helpful elder saved his life. But he was in a coma for too long. He hasn't woken up yet.
