Episode Summary
Song Qingping and Song Wenchang pursue new romantic interests, while Chu Yu's ex, Gu Chusheng, reappears offering help with her father's case. The investigation into Wei Tongfeng's death leads to the Yao family, but they quickly shut down that line of inquiry. To get a lead from Gu Chusheng's clue, Chu Yu sneaks into the Princess's residence and has a strange encounter with her retainer, Xue Hanmei.
Spoiler Alert
New Romances and Old Flames
A Nickname and a Confession
It looks like Song Qingping is catching feelings for Chu Linyang. She gets pretty forward about it. She tells him to call her "Tuantuan" from now on. In return, she'll call him "Brother Linyang." This is her way of closing the distance between them. Her father, Song Shilan, notices she can't stop talking about him. He asks her to think hard. Does she just want to cure Chu Linyang's illness, or does she actually want to be with him?
Meanwhile, her brother Song Wenchang has it bad for Chu Jin. He’s been obsessed since he first saw her at the Wei Manor. He literally waits for her every single day at the Chunfenglou tavern. He finally spots her and just lays it all out. He tells her he likes her. Chu Jin is upset because her brother, Chu Linyang, doesn't understand her choices. Song Wenchang comforts her. He says a practical woman like her is both smart and brave.
The Ex Shows Up
Just when you thought things couldn't get more complicated, Gu Chusheng appears. He shows up at the Wei Manor uninvited. He knows Chu Yu won't agree to see him alone. So he asks for a meeting with both her and Wei Yun.
He dangles a clue about the Prince Qin treason case. That gets Chu Yu to agree to a private conversation. He admits he was wrong to betray her back then. But he insists the treason case is tied to all their families. The Wei family, the Chu family, and his own Gu family are all involved. He offers to help her find out how her father, Old General Chu, really died. He just wants her to trust him one more time. Wei Yun isn't having it. He stays right there, making sure to remind everyone what Gu Chusheng did in the past.
The Investigation Hits a Wall
A Late-Night Visit
Wei Yun gives Chu Linyang the mechanism for that Eight-sided Crossbow. He hopes Linyang can figure out how to counter the weapon. Later, Wei Yun is in Chu Yu's room late at night. They're talking strategy when his sister-in-law, Jiang Chun, shows up with Wang Lan.
Wei Yun completely panics. Being found in Chu Yu's room this late would look bad. Chu Yu thinks fast. She pretends she has a cold and refuses to let them bring medicine inside. It works. They leave, and Wei Yun can breathe again.
The Yao Family Closes Ranks
Once they're alone, they get back to business. The investigation into Wei Tongfeng's death has a new lead. Lu Qiba traced the evidence to a man named Yao Yong. Chu Yu remembers him. Yao Yong worked his way up through military service, just like her father.
The name Yao Yong makes Chu Yu think of Fourth Mistress Yao Jue. She is Yao Yong's cousin. Chu Yu writes a letter to Yao Jue, hoping for help. But just after Yao Jue reads the letter, her cousin Yao Yong pays her a visit. He threatens her with a bowl of soup. The threat is clear. She is terrified.
Yao Jue immediately sends a message back to Chu Yu. She declares she is cutting all ties with the Wei Manor. To be safe, she burns Chu Yu's letter. That lead is now a dead end.
A Princess, a Pearl, and a Plan
The Princess's Pricey Problem
The story also checks in with Princess Li Changming. She really wants a specific treasure called the Huna Pearl. The problem is her brother, the Emperor, is asking for 100,000 taels of silver. She wants the pearl badly but doesn't want to spend that much money. So she asks her retainers for ideas.
One of them, Xue Hanmei, has a suggestion. He proposes they get the noble families of Huajing City to "donate" money to the national treasury. The Princess loves this plan. The only remaining problem is how to make the rich and powerful willingly give up their cash.
A Sneaky Trip to the Princess's Place
The clue Gu Chusheng gave Chu Yu points to a place called Qinxigu Valley. It belongs to Princess Li Changming. That night, Chu Yu scales the wall of the princess's residence to investigate. She hides and watches Xue Hanmei deal with another one of the princess's retainers.
She thinks her hiding spot is perfect. But after Xue Hanmei gets rid of the other guy, he calls her out. He knows she's there. He assumes she’s there to see the princess. Chu Yu tells him if she wanted to see the princess, she wouldn't need to climb a wall. Then she grabs his hand. Her words and her actions completely throw him off. He definitely thinks she's there for a very different reason.
