Episode Summary
Jin Xiu attempts to cook for Mu Xian and introduces her to his supportive aunt and uncle, revealing his parents were killed by a yao (demon) in his childhood. Mu Xian, however, privately harbors a deep desire for revenge. A mysterious dark energy infiltrates Prince Xian's mansion, causing widespread aggression and violence among the staff, including an attack on Kunlun by his Second Aunt. Mu Xian suspects a Nine-Tailed Fox's charm spell. Jin Xiu leaves to investigate murders outside the city, while the possessed Prince Xian kills his dancers. Bai Cha confronts Mu Xian, reminding her of her painful past and reinforcing her vow to make Jin Xiu and his family pay for her suffering. Kunlun, though grieving, takes charge of the chaotic situation in the mansion.
Spoiler Alert
The episode kicks off with some surprisingly sweet domesticity. Jin Xiu, bless his heart, tries his hand at cooking for Mu Xian. His culinary skills are, let's say, a work in progress. Mu Xian’s face is a hilarious mix of "Aww, you tried" and "Is this edible?" Jin Xiu, ever the optimist, compares her expression to how his mom used to look at his dad's early kitchen disasters, confident he'll get better. It's pretty adorable.
During their heart-to-heart, Mu Xian gently asks about Jin Xiu's parents, as she hasn't seen them around. Jin Xiu shares the sad news that they passed away when he was little, and he was raised by his doting uncle (Jiu Jiu) and aunt (Jiu Mu). These two are now super eager to see him happily married. When Mu Xian mentions the Su family's eldest daughter (a potential setup, perhaps?), Jin Xiu makes it clear he’s not interested. He dreams of a love like his parents had – "one true love for a lifetime." And then, in a bold move, he asks Mu Xian if she’d be willing to meet his uncle and aunt. Talk about taking things to the next level!
The family intro goes swimmingly! Jiu Jiu and Jiu Mu are practically bursting with joy, welcoming Mu Xian with open arms, a feast, and plenty of praise for their "excellent" Jin Xiu finally finding someone special. It's all very heartwarming until Mu Xian later asks how Jin Xiu's parents died. And here’s where the mood takes a somber turn: they were tragically killed by a yao (demon or monster) when Jin Xiu was just a child.
Naturally, Mu Xian wonders if Jin Xiu ever sought revenge. He explains that he was too young and powerless back then, and by the time he was older, the yao had vanished. Plus, he’s come to realize that yao aren't all bad, and he genuinely believes his parents would want him to live a happy, peaceful life, not one consumed by a quest for vengeance. Mu Xian’s reaction? Let's just say she has a very different philosophy. If it were her, she declares, she’d hunt her enemies to the ends of the earth. (Hmm, keep that in mind, folks, it’s important!)
Just when you think things are settling, the atmosphere in the manor takes a sharp, creepy turn. A sinister black aura snakes its way into Prince Xian's (Xian Wang) residence and seems to possess the Prince himself. Suddenly, it's fight club in the courtyard! Kunlun tries to break up a scuffle between two servants only to get dragged into the fray himself, needing Lu Yao to step in. Moments later, two maids go from bickering to brawling. Kunlun’s just standing there, probably thinking, "What in the actual heck is going on?!" The weirdness even hits Jin Xiu; mid-conversation with Mu Xian, he abruptly leans in and kisses her, then snaps out of it, looking as bewildered as she is.
Mu Xian quickly puts two and two together and confides in Lu Yao: she suspects a powerful charm spell is at play. The only creature she knows capable of such magic? A Nine-Tailed Fox. Lu Yao, cool as a cucumber, basically says, "Oh, so you do know I'm a Nine-Tailed Fox." Apparently, only Hong Ning was privy to her true form before this. Mu Xian plays coy, claiming it was just a wild guess. Riiight.
The chaos escalates. More servants become aggressive and violent. In a shocking moment, Jin Xiu's Second Aunt (Er Yi Niang), who had called Kunlun over, suddenly grabs him and tries to strangle him! Lu Yao intervenes yet again, subduing the Second Aunt. As if things weren't frantic enough, Lu Jiu rushes in with grim news for Jin Xiu: seven civilians have been found murdered outside the city. Jin Xiu, ever the responsible one, has to leave to investigate, telling the others to alert him if the situation at home spirals completely out of control. And speaking of out of control, Prince Xian, clearly under that dark influence, orders his dancing girls to perform, then has the doors locked and has them all brutally killed. Seriously, major yikes.
Now, for the part that had me screaming at my screen. Mu Xian returns to her room, only to find Bai Cha waiting for her. He’s not there for a friendly chat; he’s checking up on her "revenge plan." And then he drops the question we were all dreading: "You're not getting soft on Jin Xiu, are you?" Bai Cha then cruelly reminds her of the unimaginable pain she endured – how her current body was painstakingly pieced back together from the fragments of her original self, using something called "Golden Lotus Dew." He warns her never to forget that agony.
And Mu Xian's response? Chilling. She assures Bai Cha she needs no reminders of her suffering. She will make Jin Xiu pay in blood. She vows to kill him and his entire family, to make Jin Xiu experience the same torment she did. Well, that escalated faster than a yao in a china shop! So, her sweetness towards Jin Xiu? All an act?
The episode winds down with Lu Yao comforting a devastated Kunlun. He’s heartbroken over Second Aunt's actions, especially since she raised him and he believed she could never intentionally harm him. Lu Yao gently tries to explain that it wasn't her true self acting. Despite his grief, Kunlun pulls it together like a boss. He orders the afflicted servants to be confined, strictly forbidding any word of the day's horrors from leaking out. For those too shaken to stay, he arranges for them to collect severance pay and leave.
