Episode Summary
Zhang Huaiyu rescued Ming Tan and Bai Minmin, leading to a spark between him and Bai Minmin. Ming Tan initially misunderstood Jiang Xu's risky plan to help Jiu Rou and her mother, who were eventually pardoned. Romantic tension built between Ming Tan and Jiang Xu, especially after an awkward shared bath situation was implied. Politically, Jiangyang Hou was appointed Jingzhao Yin, a move Su Wenqun hoped to leverage. The Empress Dowager plotted to marry Feng Zhao to Gao Chen. A refugee crisis from flood-stricken Lizhou emerged, prompting Ming Tan to organize aid and Jiang Xu to report it to the Emperor. Su Wenqun suggested Ming Tingyuan for the relief efforts. Bai Minmin proposed writing Ming Tan and Jiang Xu's story. The episode ended with Ming Tingyuan's departure for Lizhou.
Spoiler Alert
The episode kicked off with some serious action! Zhang Huaiyu, ever the hero, swooped in just in time to save Ming Tan, Bai Minmin, and the gang. He didn't escape unscathed, though, sporting a nasty gash on his arm for his troubles. And let me tell you, the way Bai Minmin started looking at Zhang Huaiyu after that? Definitely not just friendly concern anymore! Later, she boldly barged into his carriage, ointment in hand, only to find him shirtless and struggling to patch himself up. He scrambled to cover up, but Bai Minmin, clearly not one to fuss over old-fashioned propriety, took charge and tended to his wound. Looks like a new ship might be sailing!
Meanwhile, Ming Tan was absolutely livid with Jiang Xu. She believed he’d recklessly used Jiu Rou as bait to lure out their enemy, pointing out that if Zhang Huaiyu hadn't shown up, they’d all have been goners. Jiang Xu tried to explain, but Jiu Rou quickly jumped to his defense. She insisted Jiang Xu's plan was actually pretty solid, complete with secret guards for backup; it was her who went off-script. Jiu Rou then dropped the real reason behind Jiang Xu's risky move: he was trying to give her a chance to earn major brownie points with the Emperor. The goal? To plead for mercy for her and her mother, hoping to save them from being punished by association. Realizing she'd totally misjudged the situation, Ming Tan had a major foot-in-mouth moment and quickly made an excuse to beat a hasty retreat. Awkward!
The romantic tension didn't stop there. With his arm injured, Zhang Huaiyu was having a tough time eating. Shui Ying, ever so helpful, started feeding him. And guess who walked in at that exact moment? Yep, Bai Minmin, armed with some black chicken soup she’d made herself. Seeing Shui Ying playing nurse, Bai Minmin was instantly hit with a wave of jealousy and was about to storm off with her soup. Thinking fast, Zhang Huaiyu urged her to stay, had Shui Ying clear the other dishes, and declared he only wanted Bai Minmin's soup. He took a sip… and it was a tad salty. He hemmed and hawed, trying to be diplomatic, while Bai Minmin’s intense stare practically burned a hole through him. Oh, the drama!
On the political front, Su Wenqun was getting antsy about the vacant Jingzhao Yin (Capital Governor) position. Jiangyang Hou was the top candidate, but his stubbornly upright nature meant he wouldn't be easily controlled. However, word got out that Jiangyang Hou’s eldest son, Gao Chen, was recently widowed and eager to remarry. Su Wenqun saw an opportunity: a marriage alliance could be the perfect way to get Jiangyang Hou on their side.
Back to our main couple, Ming Tan had also injured her hand. Jiang Xu, in a surprisingly tender moment, carefully cleaned and bandaged her wounds. Seeing the cuts, his usual stern expression softened, making Ming Tan wonder if this gentle, considerate guy was really him. She instinctively pulled her hand away, muttering about needing a bath and some rest. Jiang Xu, ever the dutiful husband, ordered the servants to prepare the water. Here’s where it gets steamy (literally!): Lu E and Su Xin, clearly hoping for some romantic developments, only prepared one bathtub, assuming it was for a shared soak.
Ming Tan was understandably dumbfounded when she saw the single tub. She quickly made an excuse about her wound needing to stay dry. Jiang Xu, unfazed, just started undressing for his bath. Ming Tan bolted, but curiosity (or something else?) got the better of her, and she snuck back for a peek from behind a screen. One look at Jiang Xu's rather impressive physique, and she was a blushing, flustered mess, fidgeting on the bed. When Jiang Xu emerged from his bath, looking like a jade statue and exuding charm, Ming Tan didn't know where to look. He then took her hand, saying they needed to talk. Mr. Smooth proceeded to tell her that he was perfectly healthy and, while he might have kept his distance from women before, he was as "normal" as could be when it came to marital duties. Ming Tan was practically radiating heat by this point. Then, as he loosened his robe, her mind just went… well, you can imagine.
The next day, the Emperor officially appointed Jiangyang Hou as the new Jingzhao Yin. However, some officials voiced concerns that the alliance between Jiang Xu and Ming Tingyuan was becoming too powerful, especially with their combined military strength, and suggested Ming Tingyuan should be reassigned. Ming Tingyuan, ever the pragmatist, had anticipated this and gracefully asked the Emperor to find someone else for his current post, though others suggested a transfer to the Bureau of Military Affairs. Meanwhile, Jiang Xu's investigation into Liu Mo revealed something suspicious: Liu Mo did indeed leave the city on the eve of his wedding, and his official records only began when he arrived in the capital at age twelve, with very little information prior to that. Definitely shady. On a happier note, Jiu Rou and her mother received their pardon and were allowed to leave the capital. Ming Tan made sure to see them off, and Jiu Rou expressed her deep gratitude to both Ming Tan and Jiang Xu.
More courtly scheming followed: the Empress Dowager decided that Feng Zhao should marry the recently widowed Gao Chen as a replacement wife. Feng Zhao, naturally, wasn't keen, especially since Gao Chen wasn't exactly a prize catch. It turned out this was a plan hatched by the Empress Dowager and Su Wenqun.
Ming Tan, perhaps feeling a bit guilty or just generous, went on a shopping spree for Jiang Xu. With Jiang Xu having cleared up some "misunderstandings" (we assume about his past or intentions), Bai Minmin was feeling much more at ease. Word was that Bai Minmin's parents were busy arranging potential suitors for her, but she wasn't in any hurry. She and Ming Tan were on their way to Wentao Pavilion to enjoy some music when a young beggar accidentally bumped into Ming Tan. Seeing how pitiful the child looked, Ming Tan immediately had Su Xin give him some money. It was then that they looked around and realized the capital had, almost overnight, filled with refugees. Ming Tan rushed home and immediately started organizing a collection of unused belongings to donate. Jiang Xu, hearing about her efforts, went to assess the situation. The refugees, it turned out, were all from Lizhou, where devastating floods had left them with nothing. To make matters worse, the local officials had tried to cover up the disaster. These desperate people had begged their way to the capital seeking justice.
Jiang Xu wasted no time in reporting the Lizhou crisis to the Emperor. Su Wenqun, always looking for an angle, suggested sending Ming Tingyuan to Lizhou to manage the disaster relief. Jiang Xu suspected Su Wenqun had ulterior motives but couldn't prevent the appointment. Ming Tan and Bai Minmin, meanwhile, were brainstorming a more long-term solution to help the refugees. Bai Minmin, who had a talent for writing, came up with the idea of writing down Ming Tan and Jiang Xu’s story – a move that could also help polish Jiang Xu's public image.
That evening at dinner, Jiang Xu noticed Ming Tan seemed worried and distracted. In a sweet gesture, he placed a piece of fish in her bowl, gently reminding her to eat. Ming Tingyuan was due to depart for Lizhou that very night, and Jiang Xu was going to see him off. Ming Tan decided not to go but sent Su Xin with a pair of knee pads, hoping Jiang Xu would give them to Ming Tingyuan for his arduous journey.
