Episode Summary
Lin Yan reveals his identity to a new, powerful ally, Cao Rong. They uncover their first real lead: the comatose official Xiao Wulang. Lin Yan then successfully gets close to Xiao Wulang's wife, the Grand Princess, securing her favor and a way to investigate further. Meanwhile, the Shen family deals with the chaos of Shaojie's newfound fame and worries about Lin Yan's rising status.
Spoiler Alert
Lin Yan's Curfew Plan Pays Off
The episode kicks off with court officials complaining about Lin Yan. They're upset he keeps extending the city's curfew. The emperor calls him in to ask what's going on.
Lin Yan lays it all out. He says Yong'an City is becoming more prosperous. People want to enjoy their lives. A strict curfew just pushes everyone into illegal night markets. That actually makes the city lesssafe. The emperor gets it. He agrees to officially relax the curfew a bit.
After the meeting, Pei Pei tells Lin Yan he was sweating bullets for him. But he notices Lin Yan wasn't worried at all. It seems Lin Yan wanted someone to challenge him. This was his plan to get the emperor's approval all along. Smart.
A Powerful New Ally
Just as they're talking, Cao Rong from the Ministry of Justice pulls Lin Yan aside. He insists Lin Yan come to his house for a private chat.
The Big Reveal
At his home, Cao Rong shows Lin Yan some old calligraphy. He then drops a bombshell. He says he was best friends with Cui Rangzhi seventeen years ago. That's Lin Yan's real father. They were sworn brothers.
Cao Rong explains that after the Cui family was framed and his friend died in prison, he tried to fight for them. But he had no power. He was demoted and sent far away. It took him years to work his way back to the capital and into the Ministry of Justice.
Lin Yan is still cautious. He tests Cao Rong. He asks if Cao Rong would be willing to help clear the Cui family's name if there was solid evidence. Cao Rong immediately wants to drag Lin Yan to see the emperor right then and there. That's all the proof Lin Yan needs. He sees the loyalty is real. So, he finally admits who he is. He's the son of Cui Rangzhi.
The First Real Clue
Cao Rong is overjoyed to see his old friend's son alive. He asks how Lin Yan survived. Lin Yan explains that his father used to exchange letters with the Prince of Zhao. When the Cui family fell, the Prince's own eldest son, Li Sheng, had just died. The Prince secretly took Lin Yan in and passed him off as his own son to save him.
Lin Yan feels guilty that he hasn't found any clues about the case. But Cao Rong tells him he's also been investigating in secret. He only has one lead. The official who handled the case back then was a man named Xiao Wulang. He was mysteriously injured right after, fell into a coma, and has never woken up.
Operation Win Over the Princess
Back at the Jingzhao Prefecture, Lin Yan gets a letter from his adoptive father, the Prince of Zhao. The Prince wants him to find out who is being considered for some vacant jobs in the Ministry of War.
Lin Yan sees an opportunity. Xiao Wulang, the man in the coma, is married to the Grand Princess. This is his chance to get close to her. He knows she's a fan of the Shen siblings, so he goes to Shen Shaoguang for help. He asks her to make a special food gift he can use to visit the Grand Princess.
Mooncakes and Secrets
The Mid-Autumn Festival just passed. Shen Shaoguang suggests making "cloud leg mooncakes." They can say the ham needed a long time to cure, which is why the gift is late. The Grand Princess probably won't mind.
The next day, Lin Yan is about to leave when he overhears Shen Shaoguang talking to A-Yuan. She's talking about him. She says that even though he's young, he's worldly and has a lot of depth. Hearing this makes him secretly happy.
That night, they pack the gift box together. Lin Yan suddenly asks Shen Shaoguang if she's ever had to hide things from her family. She lists off a bunch of times she has. She guesses he has secrets, too. She tells him that sometimes, a lie told for a good reason is understandable.
An Audience with the Grand Princess
Lin Yan takes the beautifully packed mooncakes to the Grand Princess. She absolutely loves them. She's sharp and guesses he's there for more than just dropping off a gift.
She gets straight to the point. She tells him about her and Xiao Wulang. Their marriage was arranged. There was never any love between them. A few years ago, Xiao Wulang, who was terrible at riding, suddenly decided to go on a long horseback ride. He fell off a cliff and has been in a coma ever since. She says it's honestly been peaceful for her.
She also mentions the emperor suspected she might have arranged the "accident." Lin Yan jumps to her defense. He says she's too direct and honest to plot something like that in secret. The princess is impressed that he seems to understand her so well.
She gives him the names for the Ministry of War positions. As he leaves, she gives him a fish-shaped pendant. It's a token that will grant him free entry to her residence anytime. Then, she sends him home in her personal palanquin, a huge sign of favor.
New Problems Arise
Shen Shaojie's poetry reading has made him a local celebrity. The restaurant is now swarmed every day by noblewomen who are obsessed with him. It's gotten so bad they can barely open for business.
While this is happening, Shen Jianshe sees Lin Yan returning home in the Grand Princess's fancy palanquin. He immediately rushes to tell the family. He's worried the princess is going to make Lin Yan her new consort. That would definitely change things for everyone.
