Episode Summary
Wei Shao confronts Xiao Qiao, exposing her family's plot but sparing her life due to a "Yinxin" (seal), and orders her to leave. After being publicly humiliated and attacked, Xiao Qiao decides to go to Panyi. She's "rescued" by Liu Yan, who she manipulates into an alliance against Wei Shao, and they take control of Panyi. Wei Shao, enraged by this and Xiao Qiao's alleged affair with Liu Yan, prepares to attack. Liu Yan plans to marry Xiao Qiao quickly and also plots to use sulfur to destroy the Yongning Canal dam and flood Xindu, Wei Shao's city. Xiao Qiao, horrified by his ruthlessness towards civilians, tries to warn Wei Shao by setting fire to the sulfur-filled granaries in Panyi. As Wei Shao attacks the now chaotic Panyi, Liu Yan flees but tries to find Xiao Qiao. Wei Shao learns of Xiao Qiao's actions from Xiao Tao and Yang Feng. Xiao Qiao, emerging from hiding, is confronted by Wei Xiao, who aims an arrow at her, seeking revenge for his family.
Spoiler Alert
First off, if you thought Wei Shao was about to play nice, think again. He confronts Xiao Qiao, and for a hot second, it looks like he might actually call off the wedding. But nope, he’s not letting her or her family off that easily. He basically tells her he knows the Qiao family is scheming, and while he won’t kill her (thanks to some important "Yinxin" or seal she has – keep an eye on that, it seems significant), she better run back and tell her folks to "wash their necks" because he's coming for them. Xiao Qiao is left staring daggers, clearly realizing she had this guy all wrong.
Next thing you know, Wei Shao’s generals, Wei Liang and Wei Qu, are kicking Xiao Qiao’s attendant, Xiao Tao, and the rest of her entourage to the curb. Everyone’s in shock, wondering how they’ll face their master back home. Even Wei Shao’s advisor, Gongsun Yang, tries to talk some sense into him, pointing out that the Qiao family did hand over the city of Panyi. But Wei Shao’s convinced it’s all a ploy to force his hand into the marriage, and if he doesn't act decisively, they'll just keep pushing. Gongsun Yang gently reminds him that Xiao Qiao, at the end of the day, is just a young woman.
But the humiliation doesn't stop there. As Xiao Qiao’s carriage tries to leave, the whole town is out, pelting it with whatever they can find. The envoy with her is having a major meltdown, lamenting that they ever let a woman call the shots and that if they hadn't listened to Xiao Qiao (though it's a bit murky what specific decision of hers he's referring to), they wouldn't be in this mess. Through all this chaos, Xiao Qiao decides her next move: head to Panyi and prepare to face Wei Shao.
Out in the woods, surprise, surprise, her carriage gets ambushed! But then, Liu Yan swoops in with his men for a dramatic "rescue." Xiao Qiao, quick on her feet, plays the damsel in distress, tearfully thanking him, regretting breaking some past promise to him, and worrying that Wei Shao is hot on her heels. She proposes they team up against Wei Shao, and Liu Yan, who seems pretty smitten, immediately agrees to go with her to Panyi. His associate, Liu Shan, isn't impressed, basically calling Xiao Qiao a "cast-off," but Liu Yan insists she's a treasure. Liu Shan, however, makes sure to remind Liu Yan not to forget their own "important matters" and, crucially, not to trust anyone from the Qiao family.
Word gets back to the Qiao family – specifically Qiao Gui and others – that Xiao Qiao is Panyi-bound, and they're naturally freaking out about her safety. Her younger brother, Qiao Ci, is blaming himself for not being able to protect his sisters.
Meanwhile, we check in with Da Qiao, Xiao Qiao’s sister, who’s been on the run. She’s eaten up with guilt, thinking her escape is what landed Xiao Qiao in this mess. Her companion, Bi Zhi, is ready to stick by her but can't stand seeing her so miserable. He tells her about Xiao Qiao being kicked out and suggests they either find her or he can help Da Qiao reunite with her family. Da Qiao decides Panyi is the place to go to find her sister.
Back to Xiao Qiao. She and Liu Yan roll into Panyi and pretty much take over. When Wei Shao gets news of this, he’s livid. He publicly accuses Xiao Qiao of having an affair with Liu Yan (ouch!) and declares he’s going to capture them both and execute them. The stress gets to Xiao Qiao, who has a terrifying nightmare about Wei Shao slaughtering her family. She wakes up determined to stop that from ever happening.
Then, Liu Yan decides it's the perfect time to talk marriage. Xiao Qiao deflects, saying she needs her elders' approval. Liu Shan, ever the pragmatist, gets Yang Feng, the local magistrate of Panyi, to agree to accept the betrothal gifts on behalf of her family, just to speed things along. Xiao Qiao goes along with it but voices her (very valid) fear that Wei Shao is coming for revenge.
And speak of the devil, Yang Feng rushes in (after Liu Yan tries to keep him out) to report that Wei Shao’s forces are indeed on their way. Liu Shan’s brilliant idea? Get Liu Yan to rally the common folk of Panyi to act as a human shield and keep Wei Shao outside the city walls.
As Wei Shao and his army approach Panyi, the town is buzzing. Some are terrified he’s going to massacre everyone, while others are pinning their hopes on Liu Yan to defend them, already calling him the better match for Xiao Qiao. Xiao Qiao sees right through it – Liu Yan’s spreading these rumors to manipulate the people. She then spots Yang Feng with a cart full of sulfur and quietly tells him that if there’s any risk to the civilians, they should call off any attack planned against Wei Shao.
Xiao Qiao confronts Liu Yan, warning him not to let his sulfur-based plans harm the citizens. But plot twist! Liu Yan isn’t just planning a little fiery defense; he’s aiming to use that sulfur to destroy the Yongning Canal dam and flood Xindu, which is presumably Wei Shao’s main city. Xiao Qiao is horrified. She realizes Liu Yan’s "love for the people" only extends to his people; he couldn't care less about the citizens of Xindu.
Sensing her disapproval (and probably that she’s too principled for his ruthless schemes), Liu Yan puts Xiao Qiao under house arrest. Her loyal maid, Xiao Tao, gets nabbed by Liu Shan’s men too. Trapped, Xiao Tao can't help but snipe that Liu Yan is actually worse than Wei Shao; at least Wei Shao, for all his ferocity, never resorted to tying them up. It becomes clear Liu Yan just used Xiao Qiao to get the gates of Panyi open for him.
The battle for Panyi begins. Wei Shao attacks, arrows rain down, and Panyi’s defenders start falling. Liu Yan, however, is chilling. He’s confident Panyi’s strategic location can hold Wei Shao off for two days – just enough time for his sulfur-dam-destruction plan to come together and drown Xindu.
But he underestimates Xiao Qiao. She figures out he’s stalling for time. Using a candle, she cleverly burns through the ropes binding her hands, determined to get a message to Wei Shao. She’s seriously regretting her impulsive decisions now. She creates a diversion by knocking over some bamboo slips, slips out a window, grabs a boat, and makes a beeline for the granaries. And what does she find? Some are packed to the brim with sulfur.
Wei Shao, meanwhile, was initially just testing the defenses, but he’s taken aback by how fiercely the Panyi citizens are fighting for their city. He then spots traces of sulfur and realizes his enemy is planning a massive fire attack, thinking Liu Yan is even more brutal than some other baddie named Li Su. Just then, as if on cue, the granaries inside Panyi erupt in flames! Wei Shao sees this as a gift from the heavens (or just Liu Yan’s plan backfiring spectacularly) and orders an all-out assault. Liu Yan, seeing his plan go up in smoke (literally), decides to cut his losses and flee Panyi. But, in a surprising moment, he can’t bring himself to just abandon Xiao Qiao and sends his men to find her.
Wei Shao storms into the city but Xiao Qiao is nowhere to be found. He orders his men to search everywhere. They run into Xiao Tao and Yang Feng, who spill the beans about how Xiao Qiao actually tried to help Wei Shao by exposing the sulfur plot and setting the fire. But still, no sign of our girl.
Then, the cliffhanger! Xiao Qiao, looking like a drowned rat, climbs out of a large water vat. Her relief is short-lived. She looks up and sees Wei Xiao (note: this is Wei Xiao, not Wei Shao – different guy!). This Wei Xiao draws his bow, aiming straight at her, snarling about avenging his father and brother(s). Xiao Qiao, terrified, bolts, but Wei Xiao lets the arrow fly.
