Episode Summary
We learn Ming Yi stole her identity after her real self, Ming Xian, escaped from Yaoguang Mountain. In the present, Princess Tianji poisons herself to test Yan Xiao's skills. The court is thrown into chaos when Hou Zhao confesses to making poisons, implicating Mu Qibai. To save herself, Ming Yi joins Hou Zhao's daughter, Ruoshui, in accusing him. The situation escalates until Mu Qibai incapacitates his own brother to shut down the investigation and sentence Hou Zhao to death. Finally, Ming Yi is forced to use her powers, and her secret is witnessed by Situ Ling.
Spoiler Alert
A Stolen Identity
So, we finally get the real story behind Ming Yi. Her name isn't actually Ming Yi. It's Ming Xian.
Years ago, she escaped from Yaoguang Mountain with someone called Twenty-Seven. They fell into a deep valley during their escape. She was alone and had nowhere to go. Then she stumbled upon a dead couple. They were herb collectors who had been poisoned. Their daughter, also named Ming Yi, was dead too.
Ming Xian saw an opportunity. She decided to take the dead girl's name. This was her ticket to hiding out in a place called Jixing Yuan. It was the perfect way to disappear.
A Princess's Crazy Test
Back in the present, Ji Bozai is causing trouble again. He insists on wearing Ming Yi's hairpin in his own hair. Princess Tianji is not having it. She tells him if he takes the hairpin off, she'll let Ming Yi watch the big competition. Tianji then storms off to her room. Meng Yangqiu and Yan Xiao run after her.
Tianji actually wanted both of them to compete. Jixing Yuan is short on talent. But Yan Xiao turns her down. He says he doesn't have any spiritual powers.
Then things get wild. Princess Tianji just collapses. Everyone thinks she's been poisoned. Meng Yangqiu is losing his mind with guilt. Yan Xiao is frantic. The only person not freaking out is Ji Bozai. He just sits there. He leans over to Ming Yi and says something cold. He tells her that even a clever fox becomes prey if it gets soft-hearted.
Yan Xiao's first suspects are Mu Qibai and Ji Bozai. But he quickly figures out the truth. Princess Tianji poisoned herself. It was a twisted test to see if Yan Xiao could save her. She used seven different kinds of poison. While the other healers were useless, Yan Xiao quickly mixed an antidote.
The Results Are In
Once Tianji is okay, she gets right back to business. She announces the people who passed the selection for the competition. Ji Bozai, Yan Xiao, and Meng Yangqiu all made the cut.
The Whole Court Explodes
Just then, Mu Qibai walks in. He's helping the recovering Lord Mu Yuanfeng. As soon as they arrive, another man named Hou Zhao steps forward. He confesses to a massive crime. He says he used a place called The Abyss. He worked with prisoners there to create deadly poisons. He made one called "Heaven of Parting Sorrow." He was also trying to make another called "Fleeting Dream," but the recipe was incomplete.
This immediately puts Mu Qibai in the hot seat. He's the one in charge of The Abyss. Mu Yuanfeng starts questioning him. Mu Qibai thinks Ji Bozai framed him. He tries to pressure Hou Zhao into admitting he was working for someone else. But Hou Zhao is being threatened by both sides. He takes all the blame himself. He doesn't say a word about Mu Qibai.
A Daughter's Betrayal
Mu Yuanfeng is ready to drag Hou Zhao to the Celestial Prison. But then a woman named Ruoshui walks in. She announces she is Hou Zhao's illegitimate daughter. She also drops another bomb. She says Ming Yi's past is tied to the poison-making at The Abyss.
Ming Yi is stunned. She looks at Ji Bozai. She thought she was playing him this whole time. Now she realizes she's just a piece in his much larger game. To protect her real identity, she has no choice. She steps forward with Ruoshui. They both formally accuse Hou Zhao.
Mu Qibai Shuts It Down
Ji Bozai uses the chaos to his advantage. He points out that Hou Zhao couldn't have done all this alone. He heavily implies Mu Qibai was the real mastermind. The court goes into an uproar. Mu Yuanfeng seems to understand. Tianji also demands the full truth from Hou Zhao.
But Mu Qibai had a plan for this. He secretly signals Yan Xiao. Yan Xiao uses a magical device that makes Mu Yuanfeng collapse right there in the hall. This blackmails Yan Xiao into stopping the investigation. The only thing they can do is haul Hou Zhao off to prison.
With his brother out of commission, Mu Qibai takes charge. He strips Hou Zhao of his title. He sentences him to death by celestial lightning.
An Unlikely Alliance and a Big Secret
Because Ming Yi and Ruoshui accused a superior, they have to be punished. The law says they must be suspended in the air. Mu Qibai finds an excuse to send Ji Bozai away before it happens.
Later, Ming Yi complains to Ruoshui about Ji Bozai's scheming. Ruoshui actually defends him. She also explains that his relationship with the girls at the Hua Yue Ye brothel is purely professional.
Their conversation is cut short. A beast attacks them. Ming Yi has to use her powers to save Ruoshui. The effort causes a petal from the Sorrow Flower inside her to fall away. And of course, someone saw the whole thing. A man named Situ Ling was passing by and witnessed everything.
