Episode Summary
Wei Yun is furious with the Emperor for trying to sabotage his relationship with Chu Yu. The Emperor retaliates by using Gu Chusheng to set a public trap, which Wei Yun and Chu Yu defy by declaring their love for each other. In a final power move, the Emperor offers Chu Yu a noble title that will politically bind her to the Wei family, trapping them in a gilded cage of his own making.
Spoiler Alert
A Quiet Moment and a Royal Warning
The episode starts on a surprisingly sweet note. Lu Qiba builds a special chair for Chu Linyang, who's still having trouble getting around. It's a really clever folding chair, called a "wooden ox and flowing horse," that makes it easy for him to move.
While they're all chatting, Wei Yun and Chu Yu slip away for some alone time. You can tell right away that Wei Yun is upset about something. He finally tells her that the Emperor brought her up during a meeting. It was a clear warning to back off.
Chu Yu tries to calm him down. She says the Emperor has his reasons and is probably just thinking about the stability of the Da Sui empire. She tells Wei Yun not to start a fight with the Emperor just for her. But Wei Yun is not happy. He wants to give Chu Yu a proper title and make their relationship official. He's determined to do it, even if she says she doesn't care about titles.
Scheming at Home and Abroad
A Party and a Punishment
The group gets together for drinks, but someone is missing from the party. Song Qingping got grounded by his father, the Duke of Hu. He's stuck at home as punishment for sneaking off to Fengling City. Bummer. Chu Jin does make it, though, and Song Wenchang scoots over to give her a seat. They all raise their glasses and make promises to each other.
The Game of Thrones in Bei Qi
At the same time, there's plenty of drama happening in the Bei Qi kingdom. Li Changming is sitting in front of a huge feast, but he hasn't touched a thing. He's actually smiling. He knows his rival Su Can is dead, but the throne isn't in Zhao Yue's hands yet. Li Changming figures Zhao Yue must be getting really anxious, and the thought of it makes him happy.
Zhao Yue goes to see his mother, the Grand Princess Yunyang. She gives him a cold dose of reality. She tells him that Bei Qi will belong to them, but only if he's willing to be completely ruthless. Zhao Yue doesn't get it. He asks why he can't rule the world and also be with the woman he loves. His mother shuts that down fast. She tells him becoming king is the only priority. Everything else is secondary.
The Public Showdown
An Awkward Matchmaking Session
Back in Da Sui, Xie Yun decides to take matters into her own hands. With the help of a matchmaker named Bao, she sets up a meeting for Chu Yu. She brings her to the Chunfenglou pavilion to meet a handpicked group of eligible bachelors. Song Shilan and Gu Chusheng are both in the lineup.
It's a total bust. Chu Yu isn't interested in any of them. She only wants Wei Yun, and she doesn't hide it. The matchmaker is mortified.
Gu Chusheng Makes His Move
Gu Chusheng sees Chu Yu across the room and comes over to their table. Then, he pulls a huge stunt. In front of everyone, he delivers a loud, public confession of his love for Chu Yu. He even claims he has rejected every other marriage proposal just to wait for her.
Wei Yun Crashes the Party
Right on cue, Wei Yun arrives. He sees the giant banner Gu Chusheng hung up with his dramatic confession. Wei Yun doesn't miss a beat. He doesn't care if this is a trap. He walks right up and announces to the entire crowd that he is the one who loves Chu Yu.
That's all the encouragement Chu Yu needs. She takes Wei Yun's hand and declares that he is the man she loves. Xie Yun is absolutely thrilled and immediately pulls Chu Yu away to start making plans. Gu Chusheng is left standing alone, looking completely crushed.
The Emperor's Real Plan
The Confession Was a Setup
Of course, there's a twist. We learn that Gu Chusheng's grand romantic gesture was all an act. He was following the Emperor's direct orders. The Emperor wants to control Wei Yun, and he sees Chu Yu as a dangerous distraction. Gu Chusheng was just the tool he used to spring the trap.
Even though he was just following orders, Gu Chusheng clearly feels bad about it. He knows he lured Wei Yun into this mess, and he also knows Wei Yun is walking into it on purpose.
Wei Yun's Defiance
Wei Yun is no fool. He knows exactly what the Emperor and Gu Chusheng are up to. He chose to make his relationship public to force the issue. The Emperor and his court see Chu Yu as Wei Yun's biggest weakness, a "stain" they need to remove. Their goal is to turn him into a perfect, heartless "God of Slaughter" who serves the empire without question.
What they didn't count on was Wei Yun's absolute refusal to be their puppet. This political battle, fought with words and schemes, is starting to look even tougher than the actual wars in Qingzhou and Fengling City.
The Emperor's Final Move
After court is dismissed, the Emperor tells Wei Yun to stay behind. Then, he summons Chu Yu to join them. The Emperor says he has decided how to reward Chu Yu for her service to the state.
He is going to grant her an official title. He will make her Lady Zhaohua, a "Gaoming" noble lady.
Wei Yun's face goes pale. He understands what this means instantly. If Chu Yu accepts this title, she will be officially known as Lady Wei forever. It's a move that ties her to his family in the eyes of the court, but not through a marriage of love. It's a political cage. The Emperor just played his trump card to control them both.
