Episode Summary
In this episode, a political marriage plot becomes a test of loyalty for Feng Suige. Fu Yixiao tries to send her children away for their safety, but one is captured and used as bait. This leads to a fiery showdown on a ship where Feng Suige saves the child but nearly dies, only to be rescued by Fu Yixiao. The event forges a new, fragile trust between them while their respective enemies regroup.
Spoiler Alert
A Royal Test and a Dangerous Secret
The Marriage Plot Thickens
So, Feng Suige finally tells his sister, Feng Xiyang, about the political marriage. He thinks she doesn't want to go through with it. He immediately promises her he won't let her marry Xia Jingshi. You know, the Prince of Zhennan and his sworn enemy. A classic older brother move.
But here's the twist. The emperor, Feng Pingcheng, knows exactly how much Suige treasures his sister. He understands that sending Xiyang away would make Suige hate him forever. And he's okay with that. He thinks that kind of hatred will toughen Suige up. He sees this whole mess as a test. If Feng Suige can't handle this, he's not fit to inherit the throne. That’s some pretty intense parenting.
Fu Yixiao's Desperate Move
Fu Yixiao is dealing with her own problems. The birthmarks on the kids trigger a memory for her. She realizes she can't protect them. She's already a target in Yujing. Keeping the kids with her is just putting them in the line of fire.
She asks Ling Xueying to get the children out of the city. While Feng Suige is away, Ling Xueying uses "buying medicine" as an excuse. She loads the three kids onto a carriage. But as they're about to leave the city, Shunzi gets a bad feeling. He knows something is wrong. He jumps from the carriage and runs one way. Ah Fang runs the other. Fu Yixiao also feels that something is off. She follows them and finds Shunzi and Xiao Jiu, but Ah Fang is missing.
The Trap on the Wei River
A Rescue Gone Wrong
Ah Fang didn't get far. He was captured by the same people trying to kill Fu Yixiao. They use him as bait. They lure Fu Yixiao to a merchant ship on the Wei River. She gets there and immediately recognizes their daggers. They belong to the Zhennan Army. But she still can't figure out who actually wants her dead.
She could easily take these guys on. But they have Ah Fang. They hold a knife to him, and she's forced to drop her weapon. She closes her eyes, ready for the end. Just then, Feng Suige shows up and saves her life. But the ship is already drenched in oil. The attackers set it on fire. Fu Yixiao is frantic about Ah Fang. Feng Suige just shoves her into the river. Then he runs into the burning ship to save the boy himself.
Trapped in the Flames
The kidnapper holding Ah Fang is shocked. He was expecting Fu Yixiao, not a prince. Feng Suige gives Ah Fang a signal. The kid stabs the man in the leg. In that split second, Suige grabs Ah Fang and kills the attacker.
Their escape is blocked by fire. The ship's cabin explodes, and water starts flooding in. Feng Suige puts Ah Fang into a large wooden box and shoves it out to safety. But then he gets tangled in a net. He struggles but can't break free. He runs out of air and passes out. Down in the water, Fu Yixiao sees the box with Ah Fang inside. She learns Suige is still trapped on the ship and dives back in to save him.
Aftermath and Shifting Alliances
An Awkward Awakening
Before he completely lost consciousness, Feng Suige thought Fu Yixiao was giving him air. You know, mouth-to-mouth. He later learns it was actually Ah Fang. The look on his face is priceless. He's so embarrassed. Fu Yixiao just laughs at him.
Elsewhere, the plan has failed. Zhuang Ming is panicking because his scheme to use the Jinxiu people to kill Feng Suige blew up in his face. Zhuang Shen tells him to get out of town and lay low until he's needed again.
And what about Xia Jingshi? He's been a total wreck without Fu Yixiao. He agreed to the political marriage but refuses to set a wedding date. The second he gets news about her, he snaps out of it. He decides he's going to Yujing immediately. He doesn't care about the consequences. Xiao Weiran is left to go explain things to the emperor.
A Fragile Truce
Lu Ke and his men are searching the river for Feng Suige. They hear a distress signal from the Feng Camp and head toward the sound. Back with our group, Fu Yixiao is genuinely grateful. She saw Feng Suige risk his life for Ah Fang. She promises to repay the favor. He leans in and whispers what he needs from her.
On the carriage ride back to the city, Fu Yixiao falls asleep holding Ah Fang. Feng Suige watches her. He mutters to himself about how she could possibly fall asleep next to him. Does she not think he's a threat? Then, he falls asleep too. She catches him, and he gets all defensive, claiming he was just "resting his eyes." After everything they just went through, the ice between them is finally starting to break. They are slowly letting go of their suspicion and distrust.
