Episode Summary
Following Ming Tingyuan's death, Ming Tan distances herself from Jiang Xu, who struggles to comfort her. Jiang Xu tightens security around his residence due to threats from Haiyoumen, while Su Wenchun remains suspicious of his motives. Shu Jingran's encounters with Yun Yi lead to a misunderstanding and his eventual heartbreak upon learning her status. Ming Tan, suspecting a smuggling ring connected to Ming Tingyuan's case after finding suspicious hairpins, enlists Lu Ting's help to investigate. The investigation points towards Lingzhou as a key location. When Zhang Huaiyu goes missing, Jiang Xu decides to travel to Lingzhou to find him. Ming Tan, still grieving but determined, insists on accompanying Jiang Xu, though she requests a much simpler travel arrangement than he initially planned.
Spoiler Alert
Following the death of Ming Tingyuan, Ming Tan struggles to face Jiang Xu, even refusing to share meals with him. Whenever Jiang Xu approaches, Ming Tan turns away. Members of the Haiyoumen group have been spotted lingering outside the Prince Dingbei residence. Jiang Xu has ordered security to be tightened but cautioned his men not to alert the lurkers, as Su Wenchun is known for his cautious and suspicious nature; he needs to see things clearly with his own eyes to be convinced. Jiang Xu longs to tell Ming Tan the truth, knowing it might offer her temporary relief from her pain, but the matter is connected to Ming Tingyuan, and he absolutely cannot gamble with Ming Tan's safety.
Su Wenchun continues to have Prince Dingbei's residence watched, but his men have found nothing, which only deepens Su Wenchun's unease about Jiang Xu's true intentions. Meanwhile, Shu Jingran once again bumps into Yun Yi on the street. His eyes widened, he follows her, only for Yun Yi to mistake him for an assassin and nearly throw him into the water. When Yun Yi demands to know why he's following her, Shu Jingran explains that they are somewhat acquainted, reminding her they met at the relief shelter. Yun Yi pays him no mind, preoccupied with buying Ming Tan's favorite foods, as Ming Tan has barely eaten for three days since Ming Tingyuan's passing. Eager to prolong their conversation, Shu Jingran recommends several famous food stalls in Shangjing. Yun Yi buys a little of everything she can and presents it to Ming Tan. Still lacking an appetite, Ming Tan listens as Yun Yi shares her own story of growing up an orphan. Yun Yi explains that she later understood that the light within a person's heart will always reignite. It doesn't matter if Ming Tan's light has dimmed for now, she assures her, because at least she has her friends by her side.
Shu Jingran's family has arranged a matchmaking meeting for him, but he is unwilling to go and sends Lu Ting in his stead. Jiang Xu has summoned both Lu Ting and Shu Jingran to seek their advice on how to win back Ming Tan. Their collective wisdom boils down to one thing: be wholeheartedly willing to do anything and everything for her. Returning to his residence, Jiang Xu finds Ming Tan pruning bonsai. He picks up a pair of shears and begins to prune haphazardly, looking as if he's on a destructive rampage. Suxin and Lü'e, unable to watch, quickly take the shears from him. Defeated, Jiang Xu has to ask for Bai Minmin's help, even calling her "cousin," hoping she can lift Ming Tan's spirits. Bai Minmin, armed with money from Jiang Xu, offers to cover all of Ming Tan's expenses for the day. Yun Yi, eager for some roast chicken, happily takes the money from Bai Minmin and dashes off, taking Shu Jingran's heart with her.
Yun Yi, joyfully carrying her roast chicken, turns around and runs straight into Shu Jingran. Thinking he must also be a fan of roast chicken, she generously offers him a drumstick. However, Shu Jingran's world crumbles when he learns that Yun Yi is a concubine, and his heart shatters. Elsewhere, Bai Minmin and Ming Tan come across a stall selling hairpins. The totems adorning the pins don't resemble anything from the Daxian empire. Ming Tan finds this suspicious. She decides to buy all of them and also asks for the stall owner's address. Bai Minmin assumes Ming Tan is interested in a business partnership, but Ming Tan suspects the items are smuggled goods. Ming Tingyuan's case involved smuggling, and she wonders if these two incidents might be connected. The Daxian empire has only one maritime trade route, which passes through Lingzhou.
Two men, claiming to be former subordinates of Ming Tingyuan, request an audience with Jiang Xu. They explain they were pushed out by Guo Bingmao and had both participated in the disaster relief efforts in Lizhou. Jiang Xu allows them to stay in his camp and orders a thorough background check on them. Ming Tan, meanwhile, enlists Lu Ting's help to stage a scene. Lu Ting apprehends the hairpin stall owner, interrogating him about the source of the smuggled items. The owner quickly reveals his supplier. Suddenly, news arrives that Zhang Huaiyu has gone missing. The Emperor and Empress summon Jiang Xu to the palace; the Empress is beside herself with worry. Jiang Xu decides he must personally travel to Lingzhou to bring Zhang Huaiyu back.
Jiang Xu is troubled by his impending journey to Lingzhou, unsure whether he should bring Ming Tan along. When Ming Tan returns to their residence, Jiang Xu informs her of his trip, urging her to be extra cautious while remaining in the capital. Bai Minmin is deeply concerned for Zhang Huaiyu's safety, wondering if he will return unharmed. However, Ming Tan has already packed her bags, having decided to accompany Jiang Xu to Lingzhou. Bai Minmin advises her to use the trip as a chance to unwind, noting that even after all this time, Ming Tan is still unwilling to reconcile with Jiang Xu. Jiang Xu usually traveled light, but with Ming Tan joining him, he prepares a grand procession of ten carriages. The luggage is meticulously sorted and categorized, and he has even included an empty carriage specifically for Ming Tan to use for shopping in Lingzhou. Bai Minmin and Shu Jingran are quick to praise his thoroughness, but Ming Tan, unimpressed, requests that he significantly reduce the number of carriages, stating that one for her and one for Jiang Xu will be more than sufficient.
