Episode Summary
Kunwu secretly meets his sister, the Saintess, in the palace, but they are interrupted by the State Preceptor. Jiang Wenhuan helps Kunwu escape, but becomes suspicious after finding a familiar token. Kunwu confesses his true identity, shattering his friendship with Jiang Wenhuan. Finally, Kunwu reveals his family's tragic history of betrayal and murder at the hands of the State Preceptor.
Spoiler Alert
The Truth Is Finally Out
You knew this was coming. The whole "E Shun" identity was hanging on by a thread.This episode, it finally snapped. And it was just as messy as you'd expect.
A Secret Reunion
It all starts with Jiang Wenhuan. He's got a gut feeling that his friend "E Shun" is up to something shady. He's not wrong. He follows him right to the palace.
Inside, E Shun slips a family token to the Saintess. Her name is Qingqing. She plays it cool. She drinks some medicine the State Preceptor gave her, then pretends to feel sick. This clears the room of her attendants. The moment she's alone, E Shun appears.
They're brother and sister. It's a tearful reunion. Qingqing says she knew it was him the first time she saw him in the palace. She gives him an important item from their grandfather. E Shun is actually Kunwu. Seeing his sister and the medicine, he realizes how much she's suffered. He silently swears he's going to get her out of there.
A Messy Escape
Their family moment doesn't last long. The State Preceptor shows up. He knows someone is in the room and orders them to be captured.
Kunwu makes a break for it. He dives out a window. Guards are everywhere. Luckily, Jiang Wenhuan is there and helps him fight them off. During the chaos, Kunwu drops a small bronze token. Jiang Wenhuan recognizes it. It's the same token the little slave he rescued once had. The pieces start to click into place.
The Confession
Once they're safe, Kunwu knows he can't hide it anymore. He comes clean to Jiang Wenhuan. He admits he's not E Shun. He's Kunwu, the slave Jiang Wenhuan saved that day.
A Friendship Shattered
Jiang Wenhuan is furious. He feels completely betrayed. He patches up Kunwu's wounds, but his words are sharp. He tells Kunwu that a slave is not worthy of being his brother.
Kunwu is grateful that Jiang Wenhuan saved his life. He kneels and begs for forgiveness. This just makes Jiang Wenhuan angrier. Being tricked by someone he trusted has cut him deep. Kunwu tries to explain. He says he never meant to lie. He's just burdened by a family tragedy and a promise to a friend. Jiang Wenhuan yells at him to live for himself for once.
Just then, Chongyi Biao walks in. He hears everything. Now he knows the fake E Shun has a whole other secret identity.
Kunwu's Tragic Past
With everyone listening, Kunwu finally tells his story.
He's from a place called Zhongli. On New Year's Eve, his father went to welcome the sovereign. But the sovereign never showed. The State Preceptor did. He stripped Kunwu's father of his military command. His mother, sensing danger, sent a message to her family by pigeon. She told her children to remember their duties. She especially reminded Qingqing, the Saintess, to never betray her mission.
Then, his mother was ambushed and captured while trying to find his father. His father went to rescue her alone. Soldiers who escaped later told a horrifying story. They said his father beheaded his mother. Kunwu refuses to believe it. He says his parents were deeply in love.
After that, their family's soldiers went insane and started killing everyone. In a final moment of clarity, his father hid Kunwu and Qingqing in a large iron box. The family estate became a slaughterhouse. The State Preceptor personally killed his father.
The next day, the State Preceptor's men came to search the property. To save his sister, Kunwu created a diversion. He ran for the forest, luring the soldiers away from her hiding spot. He ended up trapped at a river and had to jump in to escape with his life.
