Episode Summary
He Yan and Xiao Jue's bond deepens through small, personal moments. The truth behind the army's betrayal is revealed by Chai Anxi, who confesses He Rufei's involvement before being assassinated. Chu Zhao is revealed to be playing a double game, secretly leaving clues for Xiao Jue while maintaining his cover. As He Yan and Xiao Jue depart for Yezhou, they head towards a new mystery involving an old friend in Chonghuai.
Spoiler Alert
Following the battle, He Yan's status among the noble ladies of Jiyang City skyrockets, making her the second most admired, right after Mu Hongjin. As she becomes more popular, she tries her hand at feminine arts like embroidery, though it's clearly not her strong suit. When a girl named Min'er offers to teach her how to cook, He Yan prepares a bowl of noodles specifically for Xiao Jue. Despite her adding far too much salt, Xiao Jue forces himself to eat the entire bowl, not wanting to hurt her confidence.
Wanting to do more for him, He Yan offers to mend his clothes, but finds none of them are damaged. Just as she is about to leave, Xiao Jue secretly tears his own sleeve, creating an excuse for her to stay and fix it. He Yan sees right through his little trick but plays along, delighting in the moment as she moves to help him take off the garment. Their intimate moment is interrupted when Fei Nu bursts in to report that Chai Anxi has awoken, causing the startled guard to trip and fall.
They rush to see Chai Anxi, where Xiao Jue confronts him about his betrayal of General Xiao Zhongwu and the Great Wei dynasty. An emotional Chai Anxi insists he never meant to betray the Great Wei; he only wanted revenge on Xiao Zhongwu. He reveals that during the Battle of Yanshan years ago, his son, Chai Qian, was sent to the front lines in place of Xiao Jue and never returned. Xiao Jue explains the hidden truth behind that battle, presenting a petition from the soldiers of the Xiao Family Army. Crushed with guilt, Chai Anxi finally understands that he was blinded by hatred and his actions led to Xiao Zhongwu's death.
Chai Anxi confesses that it was He Rufei who instructed him to withhold the letter calling for reinforcements. Although he only had contact with He Rufei, he mentions that a high-ranking official in the capital was also involved. This news weighs heavily on He Yan. She suspects this must have been the real He Rufei, who was already colluding with Xu Jingfu. She questions why he would want to destroy the Xiao Family Army and wonders if her own "death" was connected. It also dawns on her that Xiao Jue's sudden change in attitude towards her on the Mingshui battlefield was likely because he had just learned of this conspiracy.
Later, Xiao Jue asks Mu Hongjin to keep He Yan's identity as a woman a secret. Chu Zhao also assures He Yan that he will not reveal her secret when he reports back to the capital, expressing his admiration for her uniqueness and offering to help forge a new path for her. However, He Yan doesn't want someone to create a path for her; she wants a partner to create one with her.
The situation takes a dark turn when Chai Anxi is assassinated, with a Wutuo lion tattoo totem left at the scene. Xiao Jue initially suspects Chu Zhao but knows he lacks the authority to mobilize Wutuo forces. In a twist, it's revealed that Chu Zhao intentionally left the totem as a clue for Xiao Jue. He had created a perfect alibi for himself by meeting with the Mengji Princess during the assassination. He accepts the risk of Xu Jingfu suspecting him as a necessary sacrifice.
As Xiao Jue and He Yan prepare to return to Yezhou, Cui Yuezhi sees them off, expressing his deep gratitude for their role in saving Jiyang City. Their journey will take them through Chonghuai, where they can see the famous Wangjiang Tower. The conversation turns to Yaojing's most famous brothel, the Ruyun Brothel, which makes He Yan uncomfortable as she recalls a time she, Xiao Jue, and others skipped their studies to go there. They also learn that the magistrate of Chonghuai, Yang Mingzhi, is the son of the Minister of War and a former close friend of Xiao Jue. However, there seems to be a misunderstanding between them, with Yang Mingzhi referring to himself as a "faithless villain."
