Episode Summary
Rumors about Zang Hai being Zhuang Lu Yin's illegitimate son, spread by Xiang An Tu via Eighth Master, threaten his revenge plans. Zang Hai apologizes to Xiang An Tu, who agrees to stop the rumors. We learn Xiang An Tu is actually the captive Princess of Dong Xia. Zang Hai decides to manipulate Zhuang Zhi Xing, Zhuang Lu Yin's overlooked son, to get information. He encourages Zhuang Zhi Xing to aim for the heir position. However, Zhuang Zhi Xing cleverly uses medicinal wine to reveal Zang Hai's old scars, deducing Zang Hai is Zhi Nu, back for revenge. Zhuang Zhi Xing, torn by loyalty to his father, gives Zang Hai an ultimatum to leave. Zang Hai considers killing Zhuang Zhi Xing, who is visiting his mother's grave.
Spoiler Alert
So, Xiang An Tu, the enigmatic owner of the Pillow Tower, basically wants Zang Hai to be her VIP, her special guest, if you will. But Zang Hai, ever the lone wolf, flat-out refuses. This doesn't sit well with Xiang An Tu. She's worried he's going to help Zhuang Lu Yin expand his territory, and she's fiercely protective of her people, not wanting them to suffer the horrors of war. In a fit of pique, she gets Eighth Master to spread some juicy rumors about Zang Hai – even going as far as to say he's Zhuang Lu Yin's illegitimate son! Naturally, this gossip spreads like wildfire through The Capital, and Zang Hai, sharp as ever, figures Xiang An Tu is behind it. He knows these rumors could derail his entire revenge plot.
Damage control mode activated! Zang Hai heads to the Pillow Tower, gifts in hand, to smooth things over with Xiang An Tu. On his way in, he bumps into a rather striking and spirited young woman, who he soon learns is the famous Eighth Master. When Zang Hai finally gets to Xiang An Tu, she's all sarcastic and frosty. He apologizes profusely for his earlier attitude and begs her to get Eighth Master to shut down the rumor mill. Xiang An Tu is still suspicious about his motives for getting close to Zhuang Lu Yin, but Zang Hai plays the pity card hard without revealing too much. It works, and she agrees to squash the rumors.
As a little aside, Xiang An Tu points out a merchant selling trinkets below – a man from Dong Xia who's fallen on hard times and started a small business to survive. Zang Hai picks up a small pouch before he leaves. Then, it's straight to Gao Ming to strategize. Zang Hai needs to find out who the third murderer is from someone deep in Zhuang Lu Yin's confidence. Gao Ming wracks his brain and initially dismisses Zhuang Zhi Xing as unreliable and disliked by his father. But Zang Hai sees an opportunity. He figures if he can help Zhuang Zhi Xing gain his father's favor and become the heir to the Marquisate, Zhuang Zhi Xing can then dig up Zhuang Lu Yin's secrets without raising suspicion.
Now, here’s a major reveal: Xiang An Tu is actually a Junzhu (Princess) from Dong Xia! Years ago, Zhuang Lu Yin conquered Dong Xia and brought the young princess back to Da Yong as a hostage. The Emperor named her Princess Rou Yuan. From that day on, Xiang An Tu studied etiquette and history with a female historian, Ge Nü Shi, and became close friends with a young palace maid. They often snuck out to explore together.
Fast forward a decade, Xiang An Tu and the maid are grown up. Neither of them enjoys the restrictive palace life. Eighth Master, it turns out, loves storytelling, and Xiang An Tu has no desire to be a Da Yong princess; her only wish is for the people of Dong Xia to live well. Eighth Master encourages her to be patient and vows to help her achieve her dream. Soon after, Xiang An Tu bought the struggling Pillow Tower on the cheap, renovated it, and even built a grand stage specifically for Eighth Master.
Meanwhile, Zhuang Zhi Xing is having a soak when he overhears people badmouthing him. Zang Hai steps in, defends him, and lays on the compliments. Zhuang Zhi Xing, pleased, warms up to Zang Hai. Zang Hai encourages him not to sell himself short, insisting he could be the master of the Marquisate. Zhuang Zhi Xing claims he's only interested in fun and games. But Zang Hai pulls out the household account books kept by the Marquis's wife, which detail all of Zhuang Zhi Xing's expenses, with a charming note at the bottom: "taken by the pig." Zhuang Zhi Xing is, understandably, furious.
Zang Hai pushes Zhuang Zhi Xing to step up and compete with Zhuang Zhi Fu, arguing that Zhuang Zhi Fu isn't that capable but just has a good advisor in Jiang Xiang. Zang Hai then deliberately turns, allowing Zhuang Zhi Xing to see whip scars on his back, which look disturbingly familiar to Zhuang Zhi Xing. Later, Zhuang Zhi Xing plies Zang Hai with a special medicinal wine, reminiscing about the time Zhi Nu (that's Zang Hai's childhood name, remember?) locked him in a tunnel. The wine makes Zang Hai's scars more prominent. The penny drops for Zhuang Zhi Xing: he suspects Zang Hai is Zhi Nu, back for revenge against the Marquisate. Zang Hai tries to deflect, but Zhuang Zhi Xing is convinced, especially considering how Yang Zhen and Qu Jiao met their ends through Zang Hai's machinations. Zang Hai finally admits the truth.
Memories flood back for Zhuang Zhi Xing. He recalls escaping from Zhi Nu's home and waiting for Zhuang Lu Yin, who returned late with Yang Zhen. He later heard from servants that Kuai Duo's entire family had been massacred, and he suspected his father was responsible. Despite everything, Zhuang Zhi Xing can't bear the thought of Zang Hai killing Zhuang Lu Yin, his only remaining family. He gives Zang Hai an ultimatum: leave The Capital, leave the Marquisate, and never return, giving him one day to decide.
Zang Hai immediately confers with Gao Ming. Zhuang Zhi Xing is smarter than they anticipated, using the wine to reveal the scars. Gao Ming mentions that Zhuang Lu Yin is taking his family for ancestral worship the next day and suggests having Guan Feng and Shi Lei kill Zhuang Zhi Xing to silence him. Zang Hai, however, is hesitant and wants to play it by ear. That night, Zhuang Zhi Xing goes to visit his mother's grave. Zang Hai secretly follows him, a mechanical box in hand, intending to kill him.
