Episode Summary
In this episode, both Xiao Jue and He Yan independently investigate He Rufei, confirming his conspiracy with Xu Jingfu. He Rufei, suspecting He Yan's true identity, plots her assassination while also scheming against Xiao Jue with the help of a newly allied Chu Zhao. Despite the growing distance between them, Xiao Jue secretly shows his concern for He Yan after she is injured. The political and military stakes are raised as Chu Zhao is promoted and new threats emerge from the Wutuo forces.
Spoiler Alert
Xiao Jue dispatches Fei Nu to the capital, Yaojing, with a dual mission: to dig into He Rufei's past and to keep a close watch on his every move. Meanwhile, He Yan, knowing that Jiang Jiao has extensive connections within the courier world, asks him to investigate who has visited the eldest daughter of the He family during her convalescence at Yuhua Temple in recent years. She reasons that before the Battle of Mingshui, He Rufei was at the temple. If he was in contact with Xu Jingfu, it must have been there. Confident that Xiao Jue's own investigation will lead to the same conclusion, she resolves to focus on her training and bide her time.
In Yaojing, He Rufei learns that a female general has emerged from the Yezhou Guard, single-handedly slaying the Wutuo commander Huyate during the battle at Jiyang. He has a strong intuition that this new hero might be He Yan. Back at the Yezhou Guard, He Yan pushes herself relentlessly, increasing the intensity of her training to a degree that her comrades, including Wang Ba, notice that something is weighing on her mind.
Chu Zhao pays a visit to Xu Jingfu. Aware that Chu Zhao already knows his secrets, Xu Jingfu has assassins hidden in the room, ready to silence him permanently. However, the cunning Chu Zhao chooses to be completely transparent, earning Xu Jingfu's trust. He proposes a plan to deal with Xiao Jue: first, they will inform He Rufei that Xiao Jue is aware of their secrets. Then, they will use Xiao Jue's unauthorized leave of absence as a pretext to attack his reputation. By promoting another young officer under Xiao Jue's command, they can stir dissent within the Xiao Family Army and have the Emperor charge Xiao Jue with failure to manage his subordinates. After Chu Zhao swears his loyalty, Xu Jingfu calls off the assassins.
Later, a panicked He Rufei rushes to Xu Jingfu's residence, alarmed by news of Xiao Jue's latest military victory. Xu Jingfu remains unfazed, simply warning He Rufei to be cautious and not give Xiao Jue any leverage. He Rufei suggests using the same old trick to frame Xiao Jue as they once did to his father, Xiao Zhongwu. Xu Jingfu's silence is taken as approval, and He Rufei leaves with a plan in mind. He decides not to tell Xu Jingfu about his suspicions concerning He Yan, fearing he might be used as a scapegoat. Instead, he plots to use one of the "Eight Tiger Generals" of the Fuyue Army—with whom He Yan shares a deep bond—to lure her to the city of Rundo and assassinate her there.
Elsewhere, Cheng Lisu tries to ask Xiao Jue about the tension between him and He Yan, but the reserved Xiao Jue refuses to talk about it. Back with He Yan, Jiang Jiao reports his findings: only Xu Jingfu had ever visited the eldest Miss He at Yuhua Temple. This confirms He Yan's suspicion that He Rufei and Xu Jingfu have been colluding. Furious, she channels her anger into her training, striking a wooden dummy so hard that a splinter flies off and cuts her face. She ignores the injury, but Xiao Jue witnesses the entire scene from a balcony above.
That night, while He Yan sleeps, Xiao Jue quietly enters her room. He places a bottle of golden wound medicine by her side and gently tucks her in. Though he acts cold and distant to her during the day, he cares for her deeply. The next morning, He Yan discovers the medicine and knows it was him.
Following his new alliance, Chu Zhao is promoted to a high-ranking position in the Ministry of War. The Emperor also commands Yan He to accompany him to the Yezhou Guard. This promotion came after Chu Zhao strategically mentioned to the Emperor the bravery of a young general under Xiao Jue's command who killed Huyate, arguing that such a soldier deserved a higher position.
The episode concludes as urgent military intelligence arrives from Huayuan. He Yan suspects the Wutuo's recent movements are a probe, signaling their intent to start another war. She is then shocked to hear that He Rufei has been assigned to defend Huayuan.
