Episode Summary
He Yan cleverly uses a rumor started by Xiao Jue to become his personal guard, moving into his tent and getting closer to him. She grows more certain that a conspiracy orchestrated by Xu Jingfu was behind the tragic Battle of Mingshui. In the capital, Chu Zhao uncovers Xu Jingfu's corruption and, under Xu's influence, begins to plot against Xiao Jue, just as Xiao Jue leads his troops into a potential trap on a mission to Litao County.
Spoiler Alert
The web of intrigue tightens as the imposter He Rufei continues his relentless and vicious attempts to eliminate Xiao Jue, employing both poison and assassins. He Yan theorizes that the root of this animosity is the historic Battle of Mingshui. She recalls that in her past life as the true General He Rufei, she rushed to provide aid as soon as the call for reinforcements arrived. This makes her question why Xiao Jue accused her of being late, leading her to suspect the entire battle was a conspiracy targeting Xiao Jue's father, Xiao Zhongwu, and the Xiao Family Army. She reasons that the perpetually resentful Xu Jingfu, who was often publicly rebuked by Xiao Zhongwu in court, is the likely mastermind.
He Yan also concludes the current He Rufei wants Xiao Jue dead to prevent his true identity from being exposed by his former classmate. Determined, she vows to stop the imposter from committing any more evil deeds under the He Rufei name. Meanwhile, Xiao Jue, now certain that He Yan is not in league with his enemy, still has Shen Han keep a close watch on her. He is left stunned upon learning that as soon as He Yan returned, her boisterous comrades, led by Wang Ba, tried to drag her to the hot springs.
Forced to protect her identity as a woman, He Yan refuses, using her unhealed wounds as an excuse. When her friends, Zheng Xuan and Xiao Mai, try to physically pull her along, Xiao Jue makes a dramatic entrance. He forbids them from ever forcing He Yan to the hot springs again, declaring that she is "physically weak." This declaration quickly spreads through the barracks, turning into gossip. In a touching show of camaraderie, Xiao Mai and the others begin preparing nourishing foods to help her recover her strength. Song Taotao also comes to comfort He Yan, earnestly telling her that she doesn't mind her "condition."
Seeing an opportunity, He Yan confronts Xiao Jue, demanding he compensate her for ruining her reputation. At her insistence, he agrees to make her his personal guard, giving her a private room within his own tent. She moves in that very night, and though Xiao Jue doesn't respond, she speaks her mind to him through the partition, feeling a sense of victory.
In the capital, Chu Zhao delivers Sun Chuanfu's account books to Xu Jingfu. Though the ledgers are incomplete, Xu Jingfu shows no displeasure. The imposter He Rufei visits Xu Jingfu to apologize for the failed assassination attempt on Xiao Jue, assuring him that the missing operative, Ding Yi, will not become a liability. Back at the He residence, He Rufei's father expresses his disapproval of his son's dangerous alliance with Xu Jingfu, but He Rufei understands that Xu Jingfu will never let the He family escape his grasp. Unbeknownst to them, Chu Zhao has secretly kept the complete ledgers, discovering that Xu Jingfu has been embezzling massive amounts of military funds and rations.
Trouble brews on the border as Litao County requests aid from the Yezhou Guard against harassment from the Wutuo people. Xiao Jue decides to lead the Jiuqi Camp to handle the threat but resolves to leave He Yan behind. Later, seeing He Yan struggle to apply medicine to a wound on her back, Xiao Jue unexpectedly steps in to help her. The next morning, He Yan wakes to find he has already departed. Meanwhile, a worried Song Taotao brews more strength-enhancing medicine for He Yan and braves a snowstorm to find more herbs on a mountain, where she stumbles upon an injured person.
Xiao Jue's journey to Litao is slowed by treacherous, muddy roads. When a soldier claims to know a shortcut, Xiao Jue agrees but secretly gives private instructions to his trusted guard, Fei Nu. Back in the capital, Chu Zhao visits Xu Jingfu and meets his daughter, Xu Pinting, who appears graceful but is cruelly abusive to her servants. Xu Jingfu pointedly remarks to Chu Zhao that life for Xiao Jue in Yezhou has been far too smooth since Chu Zhao's return. Understanding the hint, Chu Zhao agrees, stating, "It's time for the winds to rise in Yezhou Guard."
