Episode Summary
He Yan brilliantly outmaneuvers He Rufei, using an empty puzzle box to sow distrust between him and the paranoid Xu Jingfu. While this psychological trap is sprung, other schemes fall into place: Sun Ling prepares to expose Xu Jingfu's corruption from prison, and the Emperor begins to resist Xu's influence at court. Cornered from all sides, a desperate Xu Jingfu decides to take a dangerous gamble.
Spoiler Alert
Legend of the Female General Ep 31: The Empty Box Ploy
So, things get intense right away in this episode. He Rufei confronts He Yan, putting a sword to her neck and boasting that since he could kill her once, he can do it again. But He Yan is on another level. Without even breaking a sweat—or needing her own sword—she completely turns the tables on him, disarming him and holding his own sword to his neck. Their father, watching from the side, is totally stunned. This just proves He Yan never saw He Rufei as a real threat, which is why she walked into his house alone and unarmed.
Her mission isn't just to show him who's boss. Using a drug from Song Taotao, she knocks out both He Rufei and his father, ties them up, and sneaks into the study. She's looking for a special puzzle box, the "Linglong Box," which she finds in another room.Just as she's hiding from guards, someone pops up out of nowhere and gives her a scare. Turns out, it's Mrs. He, her mother, who is the only person in that family who ever cared about her. She helps He Yan escape, and He Yan gets the box to Xiao Jue's guard, Fei Nu.
Meanwhile, Xiao Jue is busy putting the squeeze on Xu Jingfu, telling him he has proof of his treason. Xu Jingfu scoffs, but then Fei Nu shows up with the Linglong Box. Xu Jingfu instantly recognizes it as belonging to General Feihong (He Yan's former identity) and panics, thinking He Rufei might have hidden their secret letters inside. He angrily kicks them out.
Here’s the brilliant part: the box is empty. He Yan knew He Rufei wouldn't be dumb enough to hide the evidence in there. Her real plan was to play mind games and create a rift between the two villains. Xu Jingfu is naturally paranoid and won't trust He Rufei even if he swears the box was empty. And He Rufei would never hand over the real letters—his only piece of leverage against Xu Jingfu—for inspection. It's a perfect checkmate.
Later, He Yan and Xiao Jue run into Mrs. He on the street. It's a touching moment, as we learn she had set up a memorial for He Yan, thinking she was dead, and prayed for her every day.They can't talk for long, but the connection is clear.
The drama then moves to the royal court. Xu Jingfu proposes a peace treaty and trade markets with the rival Wutuo state. Xiao Jue and He Yan lead the military officials in strongly opposing it. Xiao Jue's words make the Emperor furious, and he's put under house arrest.But the plan isn't approved, and Xu Jingfu realizes the Emperor is no longer his puppet.
Everything starts coming together to trap Xu Jingfu. Sun Ling, who was set to be executed, gets a hidden account book from Chu Zhao and is now ready to expose Xu Jingfu's corruption.The owner of a key teahouse is arrested for colluding with the Wutuo.When Chu Zhao "casually" mentions this to Xu Jingfu, the usually calm man's hand trembles. The final nail in the coffin is the Emperor officially rejecting the trade markets with the Wutuo. Pressured by both the court and the Wutuo envoy, Maningbu, Xu Jingfu decides it's time for a desperate, high-risk move.
