Episode Summary
Cao Jing Xian's attempt to recruit Zang Hai backfires when his adopted son, Lu Jin, investigates Zang Hai but finds nothing due to a fabricated past. Lu Jin falsely reports issues, gets intercepted, and Zang Hai then frames him for defecting to Zhuang Lu Yin, leading to Lu Jin's murder, which Cao Jing Xian blames on Zhuang Lu Yin. Zang Hai uses this to deepen the rift between the two and secure Zhuang Lu Yin's protection, aiming for a position in the Qin Tian Jian to find a hidden treasure. Amidst this, Zang Hai and Xiang An Tu share a meaningful Zhong Yuan Festival, where she confesses her feelings, but he remains guarded. Zang Hai predicts a major flood in Zhongzhou, contradicting the official forecast by Chu Huai Ming. He publicizes his prediction, enraging Chu Huai Ming and leading Zhuang Lu Yin to imprison Zang Hai, stating he'll be executed if wrong. Zang Hai's goal is to use the potential disaster to oust both Zhuang Lu Yin and Chu Huai Ming.
Spoiler Alert
It kicks off with Cao Jing Xian seriously impressed by our man Zang Hai and wanting to recruit him. This, understandably, doesn't sit well with Zhuang Lu Yin, who's grown rather fond of having Zang Hai around. Piqued, Cao Jing Xian tasks his adopted son, Lu Jin, with digging into Zang Hai's past. Thanks to Master Xing Dou, who not only gave Zang Hai his new face but also a rock-solid fabricated backstory, Lu Jin comes up empty. Worried about facing Cao Jing Xian with nothing, Lu Jin sends a carrier pigeon message, falsely claiming Zang Hai's identity is suspicious. However, this message gets intercepted by a group of martial artists who take out all of Cao Jing Xian's guards. Lu Jin, being a skilled fighter, barely manages to escape with his life.
Zang Hai, ever the strategist, isn't about to let Lu Jin off the hook. He enlists Xiang An Tu to help him with a "kill two birds with one stone" plan. Zang Hai and Xiang An Tu disguise themselves as Lu Jin and Zhuang Lu Yin, respectively, and stage a secret, all-night meeting in the study. This elaborate charade fools Cao Jing Xian into believing Lu Jin has defected to Zhuang Lu Yin's side. Furious, Cao Jing Xian storms over to Zhuang Lu Yin's residence demanding answers. Meanwhile, Zang Hai has Zhuang Zhi Xing lure the real Zhuang Lu Yin away, plants a forged suicide note from Lu Jin, and then has his men dump the actual Lu Jin into the river.
When Cao Jing Xian finds the "suicide note" on Lu Jin's body, he's led to believe Lu Jin faked allegiance to Zhuang Lu Yin, only to be silenced when he supposedly uncovered Zang Hai's secret. Cao Jing Xian now firmly believes Zhuang Lu Yin killed Lu Jin to cover things up. He instructs Lu Yan to give her brother, Lu Jin, a proper burial and then summons her other brother, Lu Ran.
Zhuang Lu Yin wakes up the next morning completely baffled to learn Cao Jing Xian had come looking for a fight. Zang Hai seizes this opportunity to further poison Zhuang Lu Yin's relationship with Cao Jing Xian. He plays the victim, asking Zhuang Lu Yin for protection from Cao Jing Xian, who he claims might come after him. Zhuang Lu Yin promises to keep Zang Hai safe and even considers getting him an official position. Zang Hai is, of course, thrilled, as his ultimate goal is to get into the Qin Tian Jian (Imperial Astronomical Bureau) to uncover what treasure Zhuang Lu Yin and Cao Jing Xian are so desperately seeking.
On a softer note, Zang Hai gifts Xiang An Tu a hairpin he made himself as a thank you for her considerable help. She, in turn, asks him to accompany her for the Zhong Yuan Festival (Ghost Festival), and he readily agrees. Fast forward to the festival on the fifteenth day of the seventh lunar month. The sky is dotted with a few white clouds, which Jiang Xiang remarks look like auspicious rabbits. When Zhuang Lu Yin asks Zang Hai for his opinion, Zang Hai skillfully sidesteps the question.
That night, Zang Hai meets Xiang An Tu as promised. She’s prepared exquisite snacks and takes him on a boat trip to enjoy the riverside scenery. Xiang An Tu has her attendants release ten thousand lanterns to commemorate the departed. She shares her dream of building thousands of "Pillow Towers" to shelter more homeless people, a sentiment that clearly impresses Zang Hai. Seizing the moment, Xiang An Tu confesses her feelings for Zang Hai. He, however, deflects, clearly burdened by unspoken things. Xiang An Tu then asks him to write the names of his deceased relatives on a lantern to send his thoughts to them. Zang Hai is visibly pained; he can't bring himself to write their names, as he hasn't yet avenged his parents and sister. Xiang An Tu, sensing his distress, doesn't press him.
Later, as they sit on the boat watching the stars, Zang Hai tells her the names and stories behind various constellations, much to her fascination. The atmosphere makes Xiang An Tu think of her own lost loved ones, believing they’ve become stars in the sky. Zang Hai notices her melancholy but doesn't pry, and the two find themselves connecting on a deeper level, chatting about everything under the sun.
Meanwhile, at the Qin Tian Jian, Chu Huai Ming predicts, based on astronomical observations, that the long-drought-stricken Zhongzhou region will soon receive rain. He eagerly has his colleagues report this good news to the court, and the common folk rejoice. Zang Hai, however, observes a "white rainbow piercing the sun" phenomenon over Zhongzhou, indicating a major flood is imminent. He urges Zhuang Lu Yin to report this to the Emperor, advise him to reinforce the dikes, and evacuate the local population. But Zhuang Lu Yin, not wanting to spoil the Emperor's mood or get involved in extra trouble, keeps this information to himself.
Zhongzhou is under the jurisdiction of Governor Tan Zhi Song. If a major flood occurs, Zhuang Lu Yin sees an opportunity to take control of the region. Zang Hai also uncovers that the reinforcement of Zhongzhou's dams was overseen by Zhuang Zhi Fu, who cut corners and embezzled funds. Zang Hai plans to use the Zhongzhou flood to bring down both Zhuang Lu Yin and Chu Huai Ming, hoping to then replace Chu Huai Ming as the head of the Qin Tian Jian.
Zang Hai goes to the entrance of the Qin Tian Jian and tells the public about the impending flood in Zhongzhou, openly contradicting Chu Huai Ming's prediction. When the people learn he is the same Zang Hai who successfully repaired the imperial tombs, they believe him without question. News of the impending heavy rain in Zhongzhou spreads like wildfire. When Chu Huai Ming hears about this, he’s absolutely livid with Zang Hai.
Chu Huai Ming complains to Zhuang Lu Yin, who then severely reprimands Zang Hai. Zang Hai insists he’s only looking out for Zhuang Lu Yin's best interests, arguing that if Chu Huai Ming's prediction is wrong, the Emperor's wrath will fall upon Zhuang Lu Yin. Zang Hai adamantly states that not only will Zhongzhou experience a great flood, but a high-ranking general will also meet with disaster there. He even offers to shield Zhuang Lu Yin from any resulting misfortune. Zhuang Lu Yin, however, orders Zang Hai to be locked up, warning him that if his prediction proves false, he will be executed without question.
