Episode Summary
Zhuang Zhi Xing's late-night visit to his mother's grave leads to a shocking discovery by Zang Hai: the grave is covered in Du Ling Nan Xing, a rare poisonous plant. Zang Hai suggests Zhuang Zhi Xing's mother was poisoned. Though initially resistant, Zhuang Zhi Xing's suspicions grow, especially after his father, Zhuang Lu Yin, and stepmother, Jiang Xiang, act strangely when confronted with the plant. Zhuang Zhi Xing and Zang Hai exhume his mother's coffin, finding her deformed fingers, a symptom of Du Ling Nan Xing poisoning. It's revealed Jiang Xiang spread rumors about Zhuang Zhi Xing's mother and a physician years ago, which Zhuang Lu Yin believed due to political pressure. Zhuang Zhi Xing, now convinced his father knew about the murder, vows revenge. He allies with Zang Hai, who promises to help him gain his father's trust in exchange for identifying Zang Hai's third enemy. Zang Hai plans to approach Cao Jing Xian at an upcoming Bu Da Qiu tournament and starts Zhuang Zhi Xing's transformation with martial arts training.
Spoiler Alert
This episode, "The Poison in the Past," kicked off with Zhuang Zhi Xing making a late-night trip to his mother's grave. Our boy Zang Hai, never one to miss an opportunity (or a bit of stealthy stalking), was tailing him, seemingly with a not-so-friendly gadget ready to take Zhuang Zhi Xing out. But things took a sharp turn when Zang Hai noticed something peculiar: the grave was absolutely covered in Du Ling Nan Xing, a super toxic plant native to Nan Zhao Zhou. What’s weirder? No other graves had it. Only Madam Shen's.
Zang Hai, putting his assassination plans on pause, pointed this out to Zhuang Zhi Xing. He argued that since this plant isn't found in the Capital, someone must have intentionally planted it on the grave, or, more chillingly, the seeds were on his mother's body when she was buried – meaning she was poisoned. Zhuang Zhi Xing, understandably, didn't want to hear it and, after a heated exchange and a bit of a scuffle, sent Zang Hai packing.
But Zang Hai's words clearly got under Zhuang Zhi Xing's skin. He couldn't sleep, his mind racing back to how his father, Zhuang Lu Yin, was doting before his mother's death and how cold he became afterward. The next morning, Zhuang Zhi Xing tried to hitch a ride with his father to the ancestral rites, hoping to subtly ask about Du Ling Nan Xing. However, Jiang Xiang, ever the pleasant one, was impatient, and Zhuang Zhi Fu conveniently needed to discuss "road matters" with their father, shunting Zhuang Zhi Xing to another carriage. Smooth.
At the ancestral tombs, Zhuang Zhi Xing made a bold move: he placed a bouquet of Du Ling Nan Xing in a vase. Jiang Xiang’s reaction? Let's just say her face went white. Later, when Zhuang Lu Yin reached for some snacks, Jiang Xiang, spotting a petal from the poisonous plant on the plate, quickly stopped him, claiming they were dusty. Zhuang Lu Yin, oblivious, just moved on.
Jiang Xiang, now thoroughly spooked, grilled the maids about where the Du Ling Nan Xing came from, but no one knew. She ordered it thrown out. When Zhuang Zhi Xing asked Zhuang Lu Yin to pay respects at his mother's grave, his father brushed him off, saying he was taking Zhuang Zhi Fu hunting. Undeterred, Zhuang Zhi Xing followed them. Surprised to see him, Zhuang Lu Yin let him join.
Seizing his chance, Zhuang Zhi Xing lured his father to his mother's grave under the pretext of spotting a deer. He then presented Zhuang Lu Yin with a stalk of Du Ling Nan Xing. His father’s reaction was explosive – he threw it to the ground and berated Zhuang Zhi Xing. Heartbroken but now more determined than ever, Zhuang Zhi Xing decided he needed to see for himself and started digging up his mother's grave. Zang Hai, who had apparently been lurking nearby (again!), showed up and lent a hand.
Together, they unearthed Madam Shen’s coffin. It was badly decayed, a painful sight for Zhuang Zhi Xing. When Zang Hai opened it, they found Madam Shen's fingers were deformed – a classic symptom of Du Ling Nan Xing poisoning. Zhuang Zhi Xing recalled his mother often feeling weak before her death. Zang Hai theorized that someone close to her was the poisoner. Zhuang Zhi Xing remembered his mother only fell ill a year after arriving in the Capital, and he had been by her side until she passed.
Meanwhile, Jiang Xiang suspected Zhuang Zhi Xing brought the Du Ling Nan Xing but dismissed the idea, thinking him too inept. Zang Hai, doing some digging of his own (pun intended), found out from former servants that Zhuang Zhi Xing's mother, Shen Shi, was once close to a physician. This was when Zhuang Lu Yin began to ignore her, even skipping her funeral. Zhuang Zhi Xing vehemently defended his mother's honor. Zang Hai, with Gao Ming's help, tracked down a maid who had been kicked out of the manor back then. The truth? The rumors about Shen Shi and the physician were spread by none other than Jiang Xiang.
It turns out that back then, Zhuang Lu Yin had his military power revoked by the Emperor and desperately needed the help of Jiang Xiang's father, Jiang Jin, the Minister of Rites. He believed Jiang Xiang's slanderous tales about his wife without any investigation. Zhuang Zhi Xing, seeing his father's reaction at the grave, became convinced Zhuang Lu Yin knew his mother was murdered. Filled with rage, he vowed revenge.
This is where things get really interesting. Zang Hai encouraged Zhuang Zhi Xing to pull himself together, offering to help him win back Zhuang Lu Yin's trust and favor. The catch? Zhuang Zhi Xing had to find out from his father the identity of Zang Hai's third enemy. They struck a deal, with Zhuang Zhi Xing agreeing to keep Zang Hai's true motives secret.
Zang Hai laid out his plan to Gao Ming, who was a bit skeptical about Zhuang Zhi Xing's ability to get the info. Gao Ming suggested targeting Cao Jing Xian, but she’s a homebody, only venturing out for palace visits. However, Gao Ming discovered that in two months, Cao Jing Xian would attend the imperial Bu Da Qiu tournament (think ancient polo) to present an award for the Emperor. Zang Hai decided this would be his chance to get close to her.
To kickstart Zhuang Zhi Xing's transformation, Zang Hai brought him to Guan Feng and Shi Lei for some serious martial arts training. Shi Lei didn't go easy on him, but Zhuang Zhi Xing was all in.
Oh, and in a little side-plot, Chu Huai Ming tried to badmouth Zang Hai to Cao Jing Xian, showing up with lavish gifts, but Cao Jing Xian wasn't having it and had a eunuch send him away.
