Episode Summary
In this episode, Ming Yi discovers her friend Zhang Tai's soul has been stolen by her new husband, Xun Ming. To save her, Ming Yi enters a dreamscape and learns Xun Ming is obsessed with his dead first wife, Mu Xinliu. To lure Xun Ming into a trap, Ming Yi proposes a fake wedding to Ji Bozai that will replicate Xun Ming's original ceremony.
Spoiler Alert
A Friend in Trouble
The Puppet Bride
We get a little flashback at the start. It shows us why Ming Yi is so loyal to Zhang Tai. When Ming Yi first arrived in the capital, she was a mess. She was raised as a boy. She had no idea how to dance like the other girls at Hua Yue Ye.
She practiced one dance hundreds of times and still couldn't get it. Fu Yue got furious and was about to punish her. But Zhang Tai stepped in and defended her. That's how they became such good friends. So, when Ming Yi hears Zhang Tai is getting married so suddenly, she knows something is wrong.
Ming Yi goes to see Zhang Tai. She immediately senses that this isn't right. She says a few things to test her. The person in front of her is stiff and lifeless. It's not the Zhang Tai she knows. Ji Bozai finds a puppet mark on the back of her neck. He confirms this is just a body double.
We learn that Zhang Tai's soul has been ripped from her body. If they don't get it back within fifteen days, she will die for real.
A Desperate Plea
The other girls from Hua Yue Ye are heartbroken. They all beg Ming Yi to save her. Ming Yi remembers how Zhang Tai stood up for her. She feels a deep sense of grief and asks Ji Bozai for his help.
He gives her a serious warning. To save Zhang Tai, they have to face a very powerful fox demon from Jixing Yuan. This demon is ancient and hard to track. Even with his full protection, Ji Bozai can't guarantee her safety. Ming Yi isn't scared. She just thanks him sincerely. To her, this friendship is worth any risk. She'd walk through fire for Zhang Tai.
The Rescue Mission Begins
Dinner and a Diversion
Ji Bozai takes Ming Yi to Xun Ming's home, the Dengxian Cave, to "visit" Zhang Tai. Of course, Xun Ming tries to stop them from seeing her.
So, they switch tactics. They pretend to be starving and get him to let them stay for dinner. While Xun Ming is distracted, Ji Bozai secretly lights a bit of demon fire. This creates chaos and draws Xun Ming away. The plan is working.
A Trip into the Dreamscape
Xun Ming has already separated and imprisoned Zhang Tai's soul. So, Ji Bozai uses a secret technique. He helps Ming Yi's spirit leave her body. She enters a dreamscape to find and talk to the real Zhang Tai.
The only way to find the true entrance to the illusion where her soul is trapped is to learn Xun Ming's most precious memory. And only Zhang Tai can tell her what that is.
Ming Yi finds Zhang Tai in the dangerous illusion. Zhang Tai tells her everything. Xun Ming has a bizarre obsession. After they married, he forced her to reenact their fox tribe wedding ceremony over and over. He even changed her name to "Mu Xinliu." One day, she couldn't take it anymore and refused. The next thing she knew, she was trapped here.
Zhang Tai also hears the terrified screams of other women. She suspects they were all Xun Ming's past wives. They probably all ended up with their souls scattered. Ming Yi is horrified and promises she will get her out.
The incense that helps with the spirit journey is about to burn out. Ji Bozai pulls Ming Yi back to her body just in time. They pretend they've had a nice meal and leave. Xun Ming has no idea what they were really doing.
The Truth Comes Out
The Secret of Mu Xinliu
Ming Yi now has a clue. She and Ji Bozai go to the Si Pan Hall to look through the royal family records. Just then, Situ Ling returns. Ming Yi quickly shoves Ji Bozai into hiding and deals with Situ Ling herself.
With Situ Ling's help, Ming Yi finds a record of "Mu Xinliu." We learn she was Mu Qibai's sister. She married Xun Ming years ago and is now dead. Ming Yi puts it all together. Xun Ming's most precious memory must be his wedding to the real Mu Xinliu.
A Jealous Protector
Ji Bozai is still hiding in the corner. He hears Situ Ling call Ming Yi "sister" in a very warm, friendly tone. He gets instantly jealous.
He steps right out of the shadows. He walks over, pulls Ming Yi into his arms, and basically claims her. He tells Situ Ling that if he really wants to be family, he should call him "brother-in-law." It's a bold move.
The Ultimate Bait
A Surprise Proposal
Later, Situ Ling finds Fu Yue. He is furious when he learns she has been secretly investigating Ming Xian. He's so harsh with her that Fu Yue is left completely crushed.
On the other hand, Ming Yi is trying to calm down a jealous Ji Bozai. To solve everything, she just proposes to him.
Her plan is to stage a wedding in Luosheng Forest. She will perfectly recreate Xun Ming's original wedding ceremony to lure him out. This is exactly what Ji Bozai wanted, though he doesn't show it. Ming Yi thinks he'll say no. She promises that after it's all over, she won't bother him again. He can leave if he wants. That promise actually stings him, but he agrees to the wedding anyway.
The bait is set. Luosheng Forest is where Xun Ming and Mu Xinliu first fell in love. When news of the wedding reaches Xun Ming, he is enraged. Mu Qibai sees right through their plan. He knows they're trying to lure the snake from its hole. He warns Xun Ming to keep his cool if he decides to go.
