Episode Summary
Feng Suige's plan to expose Jinxiu fails when his own sister, Feng Xiyang, agrees to the marriage, revealing she's in love with the enemy prince, Xia Jingshi. After a violent confrontation with the Emperor, a defeated Feng Suige gives his blessing. As he drinks his sorrows away with Fu Yixiao, he has a vivid flashback of her as his enemy on the battlefield.
Spoiler Alert
A Marriage Alliance in Chaos
Feng Suige's Public Statement
So, Lu Ke finally tracks down those three assassins from Jinxiu. They're dead. The problem is, their faces are completely destroyed. You can't tell who they were. The lead on the fire oil from the merchant ship also goes cold. The whole investigation just hit a brick wall.
But Feng Suige isn't worried. He has a new plan. He tells Lu Ke to hang the bodies from the city gate. He wants everyone to see them. The message is simple. Jinxiu tried to assassinate the Grand Prince of Susha and failed. He figures this public shame will be enough to kill the marriage alliance for good.
Feng Xiyang's Surprise Decision
While Feng Suige is plotting, his sister is making moves of her own. Feng Xiyang goes to see the Empress, Zhuang Jingyuan. The Empress clears the room to talk privately about the wedding. She probably expected Feng Xiyang to be against it.
But that's not what happens. Feng Xiyang says she is willing to marry into Jinxiu. She claims it's for the good of the country. She wants to secure peace between the two nations. It seems the princess has grown up and is thinking about her duty. Or so she says.
New Bonds and Bold Moves
A Sisterhood is Formed
Ling Xueying is not having a good time at the Grand Prince's mansion. She can't eat, she can't sleep. She decides she's going to buy a house in the capital, Yujing. She tells Fu Yixiao they can't keep tricking the kids forever. It's better to just stay in Yujing until Fu Yixiao finishes her mission. Then they can all go home together.
Ling Xueying also admits she's an only child. She always wanted siblings. She considers her handmaiden, Shiyi, a younger sister. Now she wants Fu Yixiao to be her older sister. She asks her to become sworn sisters. Fu Yixiao has seen how kind Ling Xueying is. She's gone from being suspicious to trusting her completely. She agrees. Just like that, Ling Xueying has an older sister, and Fu Yixiao has a younger one.
Buying a House on the Emperor's Tab
So Ling Xueying buys a house. And you will not believe who she sends the bill to. She puts the entire purchase on the account of the Susha Emperor himself, Feng Pingcheng. That is a gutsy move.
A Brother's Defeat
The Emperor Won't Budge
Back at the palace, a court official named Zhuang Shen isn't concerned. He knows that as long as Feng Xiyang agrees to the marriage, it will happen. He's right.
Feng Suige goes to see the Emperor. He presents his evidence and witness statements about the assassination attempt. It's not enough to convince anyone. The Emperor, Feng Pingcheng, tells him that Xia Jingshi is already on his way to Yujing. He's already sent a reply to Jinxiu. The marriage is happening.
Feng Suige gets desperate. He threatens to kill himself to stop it. This makes the Emperor furious. He grabs a teacup from the table and throws it, hitting Feng Suige in the head hard enough to draw blood.
The Real Reason for the Wedding
Just then, Feng Xiyang bursts in. She declares again that she is willing to marry Xia Jingshi. Feng Suige can't believe it. He pulls his sister outside to demand an explanation.
Here's the truth. It's not about politics for her. She met Xia Jingshi once and fell for him at first sight. That's the real reason she wants to marry him. Feng Suige is devastated and angry. To him, Xia Jingshi is the enemy. His hands are covered in the blood of Susha soldiers. He can't stand the thought of his own sister marrying that man. But Feng Xiyang begs and cries. Her tears break him. He gives up and agrees to let her have her way.
An Unlikely Comfort
Xia Jingshi Arrives
Feng Suige walks back to his mansion like a ghost. He finds Fu Yixiao and Ling Xueying about to leave with the three kids. He just looks at them and says, "Okay."
Fu Yixiao can tell something is very wrong. She doesn't leave. She stays behind to drink with him. At the exact same time, Xia Jingshi is finally arriving at the Susha border. He presents his travel documents and crosses into the country. His party has been riding hard for days. The horses are exhausted. He agrees to rest for the night at a post station.
A Drunken Sword Dance
Back at the mansion, a drunk Fu Yixiao starts reciting a poem she wrote back at the Jinxiu army camp. Then she starts performing a sword dance. Feng Suige just watches her. He's watching the former enemy general dance with a sword right in front of him.
The sight triggers something. He has a flashback to the battlefield. He sees Fu Yixiao, dressed in red, aiming a bow and arrow directly at him.
