Episode Summary
Gu Chusheng surrenders Qingzhou to buy time for Wei Yun, who plots to assassinate the Bei Qi king. Chu Yu infiltrates Zhao Yue's villa, confirms he is the mastermind, and gets captured intentionally. We learn Zhao Yue is royalty and wants to make Li Changming his empress. With a final battle looming, an injured Chu Linyang takes a special drug to lead a suicide mission against enemy war chariots.
Spoiler Alert
A Humiliating Surrender
The episode kicks off in Qingzhou. Gu Chusheng makes a tough call to buy Wei Yun more time. He orders his men to open the city gates. They throw down their swords and surrender to the Bei Qi army.
But Shen You wants more than just the city. He demands that Gu Chusheng kneel and act as a mounting block for his horse. Gu Chusheng hesitates for a second. That hesitation costs two of his soldiers their lives. So, he kneels. He endures the humiliation as Shen You and two other generals step on his back to dismount. They ride into Qingzhou.
The news travels fast. Word of Qingzhou's fall reaches the capital, Huajing. Everyone knows Fengling is now in grave danger.
The Plots Thicken
A lot of secret plans are in motion. People are making moves everywhere.
Wei Yun's Undercover Mission
Wei Yun meets with an informant. This spy was planted in Bei Qi by his father. Wei Yun needs a new identity. He wants to get inside the Bei Qi royal court. His goal is to assassinate their king, Su Can.
He knows this is a dangerous mission. He might not make it back alive. So, he sits down and writes a personal letter to Chu Yu.
Later, Wei Yun puts another plan into action. He fakes his own death to fool King Su Can. The king completely falls for it. Thinking his main rival is gone, Su Can gets arrogant. He announces he will personally lead the final charge. This is exactly what Wei Yun wanted to happen.
Zhao Yue's True Identity
Over at the hot spring villa, things get intense. Li Changming finally decides to engage with Zhao Yue. She pretends to be playful and covers his eyes. Then she grabs his hairpin and tries to stab him. But Zhao Yue is quicker. He grabs her hand and stops the attack.
This is when he drops a huge bombshell. We learn Zhao Yue's real identity. He is the son of the late Grand Princess and Prince Qin. He tells Li Changming his grand plan. Once Bei Qi conquers the Da Sui empire, he will take her away. He wants to make her the Empress of Bei Qi. She tells him he's dreaming and that she will never marry him.
Chu Yu's Gambit
Zhao Yue is planning a big sacrificial ceremony at the villa. Chu Yu sees an opportunity. She disguises herself as a maid to get close to him. Her real goal is to create a distraction. This gives Lu Qiba and the others a chance to sabotage the ceremony.
The plan works, but with a twist. Chu Yu lets herself get caught. This is a deliberate move to buy her friends more time. While captured, she talks with Zhao Yue, stalling him even longer. During their conversation, she confirms what she suspected. Zhao Yue is the true mastermind behind all the conspiracies. He then has her locked up, telling Li Changming to take a good look at her when she wakes up.
Preparing for the Last Stand
The final battle is coming. Everyone is getting ready for a fight to the death.
Chu Linyang's Desperate Plan
Scouts report that Bei Qi is preparing for an all-out attack. Chu Linyang knows their only hope is to get close and destroy the Bei Qi war chariots. Chu Shan is worried. Chu Linyang's leg injury still hasn't healed.
Chu Linyang turns to Song Qingping for help. He needs to get back on the battlefield. She knows this is basically a suicide mission. But she also understands his duty to his country and knows she can't talk him out of it. She agrees to make a special medicine for him. The drug will numb all his pain for exactly one hour. It will let him ride and fight like he isn't injured at all. For Chu Linyang, one hour is enough.
A Suicide Mission
Chu Linyang takes the medicine. He feels completely normal again. He immediately gathers his officers. He explains the power of the enemy's Eight-sided Crossbow chariots. He makes it clear that attacking them is incredibly dangerous. It's a mission they might not return from.
Hearing this, the old veterans who served under his grandfather, Old General Chu, step forward. They volunteer for the mission. They swear an oath to destroy the chariots and defend Fengling City.
A Rescue in the Making
Song Wenchang hears about Gu Chusheng's surrender. He gets emotional and wants to rush to Qingzhou immediately. Song Shilan tries to stop him, but he won't listen. Then Chu Jin appears. She slaps Song Wenchang across the face. She tells him to calm down and think clearly about what he can actually do.
The slap works. The Song brothers come up with a real plan. They will take a small team through a secret passage into Qingzhou. They hope to find Gu Chusheng and get information from him. Chu Jin tells them to go. She and Wanyue will stay behind to protect the women, children, and elderly.
