Episode Summary
Feng Suige escapes an ambush, where Lu Ke kills Murong Jie for revenge. He then returns to the Feng Camp and rallies his loyal soldiers. Murong Zhong walks into a trap at the camp and is killed, but not before revealing that Zhuang Jingyuan murdered the old emperor. In the palace, Zhuang Jingyuan seizes power from Feng Chengyang, while Xia Jingshi prepares to enact a major plan.
Spoiler Alert
A Desperate Escape and a Brutal Revenge
The Chase Begins
The episode kicks off right where we left off. Old Song’s warning bells start ringing outside the cottage. That means the Imperial Guard is here. Feng Suige is smart. He knows they are seriously outnumbered. He isn't about to get into a pointless brawl. Instead, he and Old Song slip out the back door.
Murong Yao arrives with his guards. He finds the place totally empty. But his brother, Murong Jie, manages to cut off Feng Suige's group in the mountains. This is where the fight finally happens.
Lu Ke Gets His Payback
The two groups clash. During the chaos, Fu Yixiao spots a soldier trying to run for reinforcements. He takes the guy out with a single arrow. No witnesses.
The real focus here is Lu Ke. He is filled with pure hatred for Murong Jie. He corners him. Lu Ke kills Murong Jie, getting revenge for Gu Yu, Shen Gou, and all his other brothers who died. It’s brutal and personal. After taking care of Murong Jie, Feng Suige’s crew doesn't waste any time. They get out of there fast. Murong Yao eventually finds his brother's body. He looks grim and orders his men to continue the chase.
The Palace is a Mess
The Adults Are Fighting
Back in the palace, Zhuang Jingyuan and Murong Zhong find out Feng Suige is still alive. They immediately start arguing. They throw threats at each other. It’s a good reminder that the Zhuang and Murong families are not real allies. They just need each other to survive.
Murong Zhong says he will handle Feng Suige. He plans to go to the Feng Camp himself. He tells Zhuang Jingyuan she needs to control things inside the palace. Then he drops a bomb on her. We learn that Feng Chengyang snuck out of the palace last night. He went to meet Feng Suige.
The Emperor Makes a Power Play (and Fails)
Feng Chengyang had actually promised to help Feng Suige. He was going to strip Murong Yao of his command over the Imperial Guard. But Zhuang Jingyuan gets to him first. She finds out before he can even write the official order. She basically puts him on house arrest. She tells him to stay in the palace and "reflect." She will be handling all government matters for him now.
Murong Zhong feels pretty confident about his plan. He thinks his son Murong Yao has the palace locked down with the Imperial Guard. He believes Feng Suige can't cause any real trouble. At the same time, the other emperor, Xia Jingyan, has a sudden, brilliant idea. He wants to name himself Grand Marshal. He thinks he can just take back all military power, attack Su Sha, and kill Murong Zhong and his son for Feng Xiyang. Feng Xiyang tries to explain that it's not that simple. But the emperor isn't listening to reason.
Homecoming and a Deadly Trap
Feng Suige Rallies His Men
Feng Suige makes it back to the Feng Camp. The soldiers on guard immediately let him through the gates. The Murong family may have officially taken over the camp. But the men’s loyalty is still with Feng Suige.
A cook named Old Cao is the first to prove it. He gets on his knees and pledges his loyalty. That one act starts a chain reaction. All the other soldiers kneel, too. They don't hesitate for a second. Feng Suige has a heart-to-heart with his men. He also introduces Fu Yixiao to everyone. He announces that Fu Yixiao is now part of their family at the Feng Camp.
The Rat in the Trap
Murong Zhong arrives at the Feng Camp with just a few guards. He walks right in. Then the main gates slam shut behind him. He is completely trapped.
Before he dies, Murong Zhong finally explains his motivations. He holds a deep grudge from years ago. He says Feng Suige refused to help him save Murong Yao. The old emperor, Feng Pingcheng, also showed no mercy. This is what pushed him to betray the throne. But we learn he never knew the whole truth. The old emperor never actually planned to kill Murong Yao. He was going to pardon him during a general amnesty when Feng Suige became emperor. He was killed before he ever got the chance to say so.
A Final, Shocking Revelation
Murong Zhong tries to pull one last trick. But Fu Yixiao shoots him with an arrow, stopping him cold. As Murong Zhong is dying, Feng Suige tells him the truth. He explains that his father, Feng Pingcheng, never wanted to kill him or his son.
With his last breath, Murong Zhong reveals one more secret. He tells Feng Suige that Zhuang Jingyuan was the one who killed Feng Pingcheng.
Loose Ends and Lingering Threats
The Prince's Grand Plan
While all this is happening, Xia Jingshi has a poison attack. The Empress Dowager shows up unexpectedly. Xiao Weiran has to lie quickly to cover for him. He stops her from discovering that Xia Jingshi hasn't been taking his antidote.
The Empress Dowager is worried about Xia Jingshi's unstable behavior. She arranges for him to move to a private villa outside the palace. She thinks he might actually try to kill the emperor, Xia Jingyan. Earlier, Xia Jingshi said he couldn't use his saved-up antidote until his "grand plan" began. Now, he decides the plan is starting. He swallows all the doses he had been saving.
The Emperor's Tantrum
Xia Jingshi is let out of the palace. This makes Emperor Xia Jingyan furious. He starts taking out his anger on his servants. Empress Dowager Jing arrives. He turns on her and blames her for the entire situation.
