Episode Summary
Xia Jingshi kills his brother and poisons his mother, but his victory is short-lived. He sets a trap for Feng Suige, leading to a final confrontation. The "Jinxiu Three" alliance tragically shatters when Xiao Weiran dies at the hands of Ning Fei and Fu Yixiao. In the end, Fu Yixiao helps Feng Suige defeat and kill Xia Jingshi. With the war over, Feng Suige and Fu Yixiao plan their future together, while Xiyang is appointed regent of Su Sha.
Spoiler Alert
A Body in a Bag
The episode kicks off right where we left off. Empress Dowager Jing thinks the body in the bag is Princess Xiyang. She even has a little smirk on her face as she opens it. That smirk disappears fast.
Inside is the bloody face of her son, Xia Jingyan. The shock hits her hard. She just collapses, holding his body and crying. It’s a brutal scene. Standing over her is Xia Jingshi. He looks completely satisfied with himself. His plan worked perfectly.
While this is happening, Fu Yixiao and Ning Fei are searching for them. They spot a signal flare from the Jinxiu Imperial Guard. They know those are only used in extreme emergencies. Yixiao immediately figures out Xia Jingshi must be behind it. They race to the location.
The Mad Prince's Victory Lap
Jingshi's Big Speech
By the time Fu Yixiao arrives, the scene is a nightmare. The Empress Dowager is on the ground, crawling and spitting up blood. Xia Jingshi poisoned her after showing her Jingyan's body. Yixiao fires an arrow at Jingshi. His guards jump in front of him with massive shields, creating a wall.
Jingshi is actually happy to see Fu Yixiao. He's completely unhinged. He invites her to watch what he calls the most important moment of his life. He goes on a rant. He claims the Empress Dowager and his brother stole the throne from him. He also says she poisoned him years ago. He had to go to her every month, begging like a dog for the antidote. His revenge is complete, and he’s loving every second of it.
A Line is Crossed
Fu Yixiao tells him that wanting revenge isn't the problem. The problem is that he became a prisoner to his obsession. He killed so many innocent people to get what he wanted. Jingshi doesn't care at all. He believes his path to the throne had to be built on a mountain of bodies.
He doesn't think Fu Yixiao has it in her to actually kill him. She proves him wrong by firing another arrow straight at him. Xiao Weiran grabs Jingshi and gets him out of there. The plan is for Jingshi to retreat to Pingling City. He'll gather the Zhennan Army and return to the capital to take the throne.
The Last Stand
Setting the Trap
Fu Yixiao predicted Jingshi would fall back. But Feng Suige has a different read on the situation. He knows Jingshi is obsessed with revenge. He thinks Jingshi will stay in the city to try and kill him first. Suige is right. Jingshi is convinced that killing Feng Suige will somehow win Fu Yixiao back. Xiao Weiran literally gets on his knees and begs him to stick to the plan. Jingshi is just one step away from the throne. But he won't listen.
Feng Suige's spies deliver some intel. The next day, Xia Jingshi will be at the Royal Ancestral Residence. He plans to perform a ritual as the late emperor's eldest son. This is a bold and controversial move. It doesn't seem like his style. Fu Yixiao is sure it's a trap. Even so, Feng Suige gathers every spy he has in the city. They're going to ambush Jingshi.
The End of the Jinxiu Three
Of course, it's a trap. Feng Suige walks into the ancestral residence and is immediately surrounded by Jingshi's men.
Fu Yixiao tries to go in to help, but Xiao Weiran blocks her path. He is willing to kill Fu Yixiao to protect Jingshi. They fight, and Yixiao gets hurt. Seeing this, Ning Fei comes up from behind and stabs Xiao Weiran through the back. In that same moment, Fu Yixiao fires an arrow into Xiao Weiran's throat to save her own life. And just like that, the three former friends from Jinxiu destroy each other. Their different loyalties led them to a bloody, tragic end.
Suige vs. Jingshi
Inside, Feng Suige is a one-man army. He fights off dozens of soldiers while also dodging crossbow bolts from Xia Jingshi. He eventually kills every single one of Jingshi's men. Then it's just him and Jingshi, one on one.
They are surprisingly evenly matched. The duel is a stalemate until Fu Yixiao bursts in. She sees Jingshi aiming his crossbow at Feng Suige. She fires an arrow that knocks the crossbow right out of his hands. That gives Feng Suige the opening he needs. He moves in and kills Xia Jingshi with his sword. As he dies, Jingshi's last thought is regret. He regrets shooting that arrow at Fu Yixiao all those years ago.
Tying Up Loose Ends
With Jingshi dead, the story wraps up quickly.
Feng Xiyang survives her injuries. She can no longer have children, but she's alive. Feng Suige and Fu Yixiao head back to Su Sha.
Feng Chengyang sends a message to Zhuang Jingyuan. He tells him that Feng Suige is returning to Yujing to become emperor. He orders Zhuang Jingyuan to pack his things and go guard the imperial tombs. Zhuang Jingyuan refuses the demotion. He chooses to take his own life instead.
Feng Suige and Fu Yixiao are hailed as heroes for ending the war between the two nations. They will observe a three-year mourning period. After that, Feng Suige will decide who gets the throne. For now, Xiyang will act as regent. He says if she enjoys the job and is good at it, she can become the Empress of Su Sha.
As for Fu Yixiao, Feng Suige still owes her a wedding. He promises to make it up to her after the mourning period is over. He also gives her a gift. It's a one-of-a-kind weapon called the Zhuixia Bow.
