Episode Summary
Feng Suige's backstory is revealed, explaining his ruthless nature. He and Fu Yixiao form a tense, violent alliance to uncover the truth about their pasts. Meanwhile, plots for revenge and a political marriage begin to take shape around them.
Spoiler Alert
The Royal Family's Messy Dynamics
The Empress vs. Her Sons
So, the political dust from last episode is settling. Zhuang Shen basically admits his adopted son was a spy. This gives Feng Suige a clean win. You love to see it.
Afterward, the younger prince, Feng Chengyang, goes to see his mom, Empress Zhuang Jingyuan. He’s not interested in politics at all. He just wants to be a great general like his big brother Suige. The Empress is not having it. She practically begs him to keep his distance from Suige. She reminds him they aren't full-blooded brothers. She insists that Suige is a deep, manipulative person. The nicer Suige acts, the more dangerous he is. But Chengyang is a sweet summer child. He just doesn't believe his brother is a bad guy and blows off his mom's warning.
The Emperor's Quiet Regret
The Emperor, Feng Pingcheng, pulls Suige aside for a private chat. He tries to scold Suige for making a bloody mess at the ceremony. Suige lays out his reasoning, and it's solid. The Emperor has to drop it.
Suige then refuses to attend the evening banquet. He tells the Emperor it's the anniversary of his mother's death. This is where we get some major backstory. Years ago, Suige's mother was framed as a spy for the rival Jinxiu nation. She died because of it. The Emperor then gave a young Suige and his sister to the current Empress to raise. But Suige was old enough to remember everything. That hatred grew inside him. It turned him into the cold, ruthless guy we see today.
An Alliance Is Born
Fu Yixiao's Big Decision
Fu Yixiao is stuck. Her hand is badly hurt and her memory is gone. She starts thinking Suige might have a point. Maybe someone from her own country really does want her dead. She realizes that if she wants to find out the truth, teaming up with Suige is her only move.
Suige is one step ahead. He tells his man, Lu Ke, to treat Yixiao with respect. She's not the enemy. He knows her cooperation is the key to exposing what really happened at the Battle of Pingling.
A Very Violent Negotiation
Yixiao gets some of her strength back. The moment Suige walks in, she chucks a teapot at his head. He isn't worried, though. He knows she's smart. She has already figured out that working with him is her best and only path forward.
They sit down with some wine to make their partnership official. They toast. Then Yixiao smashes her cup. She grabs a shard and holds it to Suige's throat. She forces him to drive a carriage out of the mansion. Suige is sharp, though. He sees her exchange a look with someone on the street. He knows this isn't just about escaping. She has another plan.
She takes him to a secluded spot and ties him up. She whips him 47 times. That's the same number of lashes she took. Suige gets it. This isn't just about revenge. She's trying to draw out the people who are tailing them. He points out that this is his turf. His spies are everywhere, so her enemies won't dare to make a move here.
She finally agrees to the partnership for real. He accepts all her conditions. She lets him down. But they aren't even yet. Suige never forgot she bit him on the neck. So he bites her back. Now they're square.
The B-Plots Are Brewing
A Father's Vow for Revenge
Zhuang Shen took a huge hit with the death of his adopted son. He keeps his cool in public. He doesn't confront Suige at court. But back at his home, it's a different story. He stands before his son's memorial and swears he will make Feng Suige pay in blood.
A Princess's Fate
We also meet Suige's sister, Princess Feng Xiyang. She sneaks out of the palace and runs right into her brother. She acts cheerful, but you can tell she's got a lot on her mind. Being a princess in the Susha nation isn't easy. It gets worse. Zhuang Shen tells the Empress to start preparing for Xiyang's wedding. A marriage proposal from the enemy, Jinxiu, is on its way.
The Apprentices Arrive
Three kids dressed as beggars show up at Zhengnian Villa. They're looking for a woman in red. Ling Xueying figures out they are Fu Yixiao's apprentices. She tells them Yixiao is in the capital city, Yujing. Since they have no money, she has her subordinate, Shiyi, give them some food for the road.
