Episode Summary
In this episode, an assassination attempt on Chu Yu is stopped by Gu Chusheng and Wei Yun. This leads to the revelation that Gu Chusheng's marriage to Wang Linlang was forced upon him by her father. Wei Yun discovers that Yao Yong is illegally hoarding weapons. The episode ends with Wei Yun and a drunk Chu Yu sharing a quiet moment in the rain.
Spoiler Alert
An Attack and a Dramatic Rescue
The episode kicks off with a bang. Or rather, an arrow. An assassin aims right for Chu Yu. Out of nowhere, Gu Chusheng throws himself in front of her. He takes the arrow straight to the body. It’s a serious hero moment.
The assassins, who we learn are from Bei Qi, don't give up. They fire a second arrow. Chu Yu is ready this time and dodges it. But the move sends her stumbling backward. She nearly falls off the balcony. Gu Chusheng, bleeding and all, lunges to grab her hand. He can't hold on. Chu Yu starts to fall.
Then, right on cue, Wei Yun appears. He catches her mid-air. It’s the kind of dramatic save you live for in these shows. The Bei Qi assassins are captured. Song Shilan moves in to question them. But they bite their own tongues and die before he gets a single word. So we're back to square one on who sent them.
Aftermath and Shifting Alliances
New Admirers and Old Rivals
The whole rescue scene didn't go unnoticed. A group of noblewomen saw Wei Yun's impressive skills. They start gushing about him right in front of Chu Jin. You can practically see the steam coming out of her ears. She scoffs at them as soon as they walk away.
Later, Song Wenchang invites Chu Jin to his estate for a game of pitch-pot. She seems pretty happy about it and agrees to go.
A Princess's Offer
The Grand Princess, Li Changming, pulls Chu Yu aside for a private chat. She basically tells Chu Yu to stop with the complex schemes. If she needs help, she should just come to her directly. This is a pretty big offer of support.
As this is all happening, Wei Yun is taking Chu Yu home. The whole ordeal seems to have made something click for him. He has finally figured out his feelings for her.
A Marriage Built on Threats
The Duke's Vow
The news from Qinxigu Valley travels fast. It reaches Duke Ning, Wang Jingzhi. He asks his daughter, Wang Linlang, how Gu Chusheng got hurt. She actually defends Gu Chusheng's actions. Her father is not happy to hear this. He hates the situation. He promises Wang Linlang that he will make Chu Yu pay for all of this.
A Test of Loyalty
Li Changming is not messing around. Her people manage to find two assassins who escaped the initial capture. She has them killed. She does this right in front of her attendant, Xue Hanmei. This is a major power play, because Xue Hanmei is from Bei Qi. The message is clear. Xue Hanmei immediately drops to her knees. She swears her loyalty is to the princess and no one else.
The Truth Comes Out
Wang Linlang is stuck thinking about her past with Gu Chusheng. She remembers their wedding night. He never consummated the marriage. In fact, he has never touched her.
She finally confronts him about it. She asks if he's still in love with Chu Yu. She demands to know why he married her if he was never going to let his past go. Gu Chusheng is completely stone-faced. He tells her she already knows the answer. Her father, Duke Ning, gave him an ultimatum. He had two choices. The first was to marry Wang Linlang and have a prosperous life. The second was death. Gu Chusheng had no allies and no power back then. He married her simply to survive.
The Investigation and a Quiet Moment
A Hidden Arsenal
Wei Yun finally gets a chance to update Chu Yu on his own mission. He tells her that Yao Jue was the one who helped him and Wei Qiu escape from the Yao residence. He didn't find concrete proof that Yao Yong is colluding with Bei Qi. But he did find something just as bad. Yao Yong has a massive, private stash of illegal weapons.
Chu Yu is furious. Her family and others like them dedicate their lives to peace. Yet a traitor like Yao Yong keeps getting promotions and climbing the ranks.
A Brother's Concern
Chu Jin tells Chu Linyang what happened at the auction. He rushes over to the Wei residence. He's upset with Chu Yu for hiding the danger from him. She explains that she was only trying to protect him. She tells him that for her, nothing is more important than finding out how their father really died.
The whole situation with Yao Yong has Chu Yu in a dark mood. It starts to rain. She and Wei Yun are at a tavern, and she orders more wine. They drink together, listening to the rain. They make a toast to all the loyal soldiers who died for peace. Chu Yu claims she can drink anyone under the table. But the alcohol is clearly hitting her. Her cheeks are flushed, and she can barely keep her eyes open. Wei Yun just watches over her. A few times, her head lolls to the side, and he instinctively reaches out to steady her.
