Episode Summary
At an auction, Mu Jianhui connects with the wealthy Zhao Youlin, unsettling Hua Nan Wang, who warns Mu against social climbing. Hua Nan Wang's attempt to involve Mu in robbing Song dynasty tombs is rebuffed by Mu, who deems Song porcelain less valuable. Meanwhile, Fang Kun investigates a mysterious river pebble linked to Zan Maochang's diary, while he and Luo Qing also navigate their professional relationship and mentor an intern, Xiao Bai. An official, Yang Qingshi, orders a crackdown on stolen Song porcelain. Mu Jianhui visits Zhao Youlin's museum, which turns out to be his ancestral home, but is dismissed by Zhao's assistant, Wen Yuhe, reinforcing his perceived low status. He advises caution regarding Song artifacts due to the ongoing investigation. Later, Fang Kun and Luo Qing share a moment, with Luo Qing expressing her love for her work in Qinchuan. In contrast, Liu Shusheng recklessly loots Song porcelain from Miao Guangyi's tomb, bringing nine Ru Kiln pieces to Mu Jianhui for appraisal. Mu cleverly deflects him to Hua Nan Wang, who then tells Liu the items are fakes, leaving Liu utterly confused by Mu's manipulation.
Spoiler Alert
Right off the bat, we see Mu Jianhui at an auction, and he's got his eyes glued on this guy, Zhao Youlin. This Zhao Youlin is basically making it rain, snapping up every single item he bids on, no matter the price tag. Thanks to a mutual friend, Mu Jianhui manages to snag an introduction, and as they're swapping business cards, you can just feel the daggers from Hua Nan Wang's stare in the background – that man’s mood was all over the place.
Hua Nan Wang is still trying to push Mu Jianhui into raiding tombs for Song dynasty artifacts, but Mu Jianhui? Totally not feeling it. He knows his stuff: Song porcelain was mass-produced, there's a ton of it still around, so the market value is kinda meh. Plus, people rarely used Song pieces as burial goods. Mu Jianhui tries to show Hua Nan Wang photos of some other relics he's looking to move, but Hua Nan Wang hits him with a super lowball offer. Clearly, he's salty about Mu Jianhui cozying up to Zhao Youlin. Hua Nan Wang throws out a cold warning, basically telling Mu Jianhui not to forget his place and not to get any bright ideas about climbing the social ladder with these high-society types, because, let's be real, those big shots aren't touching shady, looted goods with a ten-foot pole.
Meanwhile, our resident academic, Fang Kun, is deep-diving into Zan Maochang's old archaeological diary. He stumbles upon a drawing of a river pebble that’s a dead ringer for the one he’s been carrying around. This, of course, just makes him even more obsessed with figuring out what that pebble is all about. He and Luo Qing decide to split up: he’ll focus on the pebble, and Luo Qing, along with the intern Xiao Bai, will hit the pavement for some field investigation. For a hot minute, Fang Kun actually thinks Xiao Bai has a crush on Luo Qing, but after some awkward probing, it turns out it’s just a classic teacher-student vibe. Interestingly, Fang Kun seems way more chill with Xiao Bai than Luo Qing, who’s pretty strict with her intern.
Over in the official world, Yang Qingshi calls an emergency meeting. The hot topic? A recent string of thefts at Song porcelain kiln sites. He orders the inspection team to go full throttle on the investigation and make sure no illegal traders are flipping these Song dynasty ceramics.
At the same time, Mu Jianhui steps into Zhao Youlin's Mingde Museum, and BAM! Plot twist: the place, a stunning Qing dynasty mansion with all the ornate carvings and grandeur, is actually Mu Jianhui's ancestral home. Talk about a trip down memory lane. He starts recalling his father’s stories about the Mu family's glorious, super-rich past, and how his dad urged him to study hard and restore their family's honor. It’s a heavy moment.
But reality bites hard. Zhao Youlin's assistant, Wen Yuhe, is the one to meet Mu Jianhui. She gives him the polite brush-off, saying Zhao Youlin is too busy. Mu Jianhui gets the message loud and clear: in their eyes, he's a nobody. Wen Yuhe glances at the photos of artifacts Mu Jianhui brought, flatly states the museum doesn't accept items with questionable origins, and then has him shown out the back door. Ouch. Back at his antique shop, Mu Jianhui learns the inspection team is cracking down hard on Song porcelain deals. His subordinate wonders if they should jump into the Song artifact game while things are hot, but Mu Jianhui, ever the strategist, thinks it's time to lay low and not make any rash moves.
Later that night, we find Fang Kun still hunched over in a pit, examining that mysterious river pebble. Luo Qing quietly joins him, perching on the edge of the pit for a chat. She opens up about how lost she felt when she first came to Qinchuan, but now, she’s completely fallen in love with the place. Working at a site that holds such a significant place in world civilization makes her incredibly proud. Fang Kun, listening to her, actually looks a bit touched. Aww.
But the scheming never stops! Liu Shusheng, completely ignoring any sense of caution, is dead set on digging up Song porcelain. He leads a team under the cover of darkness to the tomb of Miao Guangyi, a founding general of the Northern Song Dynasty. They make off with nine Ru Kiln porcelain pieces, selling them on the cheap for a mere five hundred thousand. The next morning, Liu Shusheng, all puffed up with pride, rushes over to Mu Jianhui for an appraisal. Mu Jianhui gives the pieces a quick once-over, then plays coy, asking if they might be Ru Kiln. Liu Shusheng practically bursts with glee.
Liu Shusheng then asks Mu Jianhui for a valuation. Mu Jianhui, smooth as ever, claims he doesn't bother with deals under seven figures (yeah, right) and suggests Liu Shusheng try his luck with Hua Nan Wang. So, off Liu Shusheng trots. But the moment Hua Nan Wang sees the items, he declares them mere handicrafts, basically laughing in Liu Shusheng’s face and implying Mu Jianhui totally played him. Liu Shusheng is left completely baffled, with no idea what just happened or how he got caught in the middle of these mind games.
