Episode Summary
Liao Tingyan attempts to escape Sima Jiao's mansion with Feng Qi but is attacked by the Demon Domain's State Preceptor; Sima Jiao, who was secretly protecting her, saves her. While recovering, Liao Tingyan enters her own mindscape and recovers crucial memories, including the truth about Shi Zhenxu's death and the fact that she bought a proposal ring for Sima Jiao. The Demon Domain tries and fails to recruit Shi Qianlv and Feng Qi for a new plot against her. In a subplot, Nian Jiu finds the reincarnated Hong Luo, who no longer remembers him.
Spoiler Alert
The Great Escape (That Wasn't)
So, Liao Tingyan is still crashing at Sima Jiao's place. She's trying to get her head straight. The memories of her aunt feel wrong, but she also clearly remembers Shi Qianlv saving her. It's a mess. She can't figure out who to trust.Her main goal is just to get out of there.
Finally, she sees an opening. Feng Qi shows up, and together they grab Ye Ruling and make a break for it. You'd think Sima Jiao would have the place on lockdown, but he doesn't. He knows she wants to go, so he just lets it happen.
Sima Jiao's Bloody Devotion
Sima Jiao isn't stopping her because he's a little busy. He's been using his own blood to create an antidote for her cold poison. He's obsessed with getting it perfect. If the medicine is even a tiny bit bitter, he makes the doctor start all over. He's completely ignoring his own health in the process.
The escape, of course, goes wrong. The State Preceptor from the Demon Domain has been hunting Liao Tingyan. He wants her "cold fish" body to boost his own powers. He uses the escape as a chance to attack under the cover of darkness.
It was a terrible plan. Sima Jiao was watching her the whole time. He swoops in and deals with the assassins easily. Now he knows there's another major player after Liao Tingyan, and he's on high alert.
A New Demonic Plot
Remember that fancy ankle bracelet Sima Jiao gave her? It wasn't just jewelry. He poured a ton of his own power into it, turning it into a protective magical artifact.
The Demon Domain folks know they can't beat Sima Jiao in a straight fight. So they decide to get clever. They approach Shi Qianlv for help. Their idea is to use his Soul-Washing technique to mess with Liao Tingyan's memories again. This time, they want to turn her into a weapon to kill Sima Jiao.
Shi Qianlv pretty much laughs in their faces. He's tried that multiple times and it never sticks. But the State Preceptor claims they have leverage. They can use Feng Qi as bait to lure Liao Tingyan into a trap.
The Truth Comes Out
Liao Tingyan wakes up the next morning to her favorite foods, courtesy of Yue Qing. Being back with Sima Jiao makes her feel safe. She decides she's done waiting for answers and is going to find them herself.
She focuses and manages to enter her own Shenfu, or mindscape. It works. She finally sees the real story behind the death of Shi Qianlv's son, Shi Zhenxu. It turns out Shi Zhenxu had cursed both her and Sima Jiao to die horrible deaths.That pushed Sima Jiao over the edge. He grabbed Liao Tingyan's hand and used it to kill Shi Zhenxu.
Everything clicks for Liao Tingyan. Shi Zhenxu was the one lying to her all along. While in her Shenfu, she also recovers a bunch of other memories. She remembers her favorite food is roast chicken. She also remembers buying a proposal ring for Sima Jiao.
Sima Jiao notices she's in a daze after taking a pill and gets worried. He follows her into her mindscape and sees the ring she bought for him. He's ecstatic. She tries to deny it, but he puts the ring on and it fits perfectly. There's no arguing with that.
Loyalty and Lost Love
The Demon Domain's "Ghost Master" tries to recruit Feng Qi. He wants Feng Qi to trick Sima Jiao into removing the protective ankle bracelet from Liao Tingyan. Feng Qi gives him a hard no. Even though he knows she doesn't love him, he refuses to do anything that would put her in danger.
On a sadder note, Nian Jiu goes to see the reincarnated Hong Luo. He's full of hope. But she has no memory of him or their past together. She even asks him to stop calling her by her old name, Ye Ruling. Nian Jiu is crushed, but Sima Jiao had warned him this might happen. Ye Ruling's spirit was too damaged.
The episode ends with Liao Tingyan back at the mansion. Sima Jiao is in full supportive mode, trying to cheer her up. He sees she wants to take a bath, so he casually turns the water in a freezing cold pond into a warm, comfortable spring.
