Episode Summary
Ling Xuefeng's rebellion is crushed by his own son, Ling Jueding. To protect herself, Du Tingxin kills her accomplice Lu Qi and orchestrates an assassination attempt that kills Luo Xianxue and mortally wounds Ling Xuefeng. Xiao Huan realizes a hidden enemy remains and sets a trap, while risking his own health to cure his sister's madness.
Spoiler Alert
The Rebellion Crumbles
Ling Xuefeng finally realizes the jig is up. He decides to go down swinging. He launches a final, desperate attack on the Emperor. His rebels clash with the royal guards. The scene is total chaos. Du Tingxin stands right next to Xiao Huan during the brawl. She watches the violence with wide eyes. Secretly, she hopes Ling Xuefeng wins. Xiao Qianqing jumps in to protect his brother. But Ling Jueding beats him to it. He returns just in time to crush the rebellion. He takes down the insurgents himself. Ling Xuefeng stares at his own son standing on the Emperor's side. That father-son bond is officially dead.
A Son's Betrayal and a Lover's End
Ling Xuefeng never expected Xiao Huan to bring Ling Jueding back to the capital in secret. It was the fatal blow to his plan. He tells his son to turn back. Then he looks at Xiao Huan. He admits defeat. He says the student has outgrown the master. He accepts his fate. Xiao Qianqing starts grilling him about the plot to use Xiao Ying as an assassin. Lu Qi starts sweating. He is terrified Ling Xuefeng will rat out Du Tingxin. He tries to rush Ling Xuefeng to silence him. The guards stop him cold. He hesitates to kill himself because he loves Du Tingxin too much. Du Tingxin sees the panic in his eyes. She grabs a blade and kills Lu Qi herself. She plays the victim perfectly.
Assassins in the Shadows
The Emperor still doesn't suspect Du Tingxin at all. Ling Cangcang visits her father in the temple prison. She knows he can't turn back now. Du Tingxin starts seeing visions of dead Lu Qi. She decides everyone must pay. Ling Xuefeng finally shows some regret to his daughter. He hates that he dragged her into this mess. It is a touching moment. Then assassins strike. Luo Xianxue jumps in to save them and dies for it. Ling Cangcang tries to help her father out of the chaos. A hidden archer shoots Ling Xuefeng. Du Tingxin is behind the scenes pulling strings. She wants everyone to feel the pain of losing a loved one.
The Cure and the Trap
Imperial Physician Li delivers bad news. Ling Xuefeng is on his deathbed. Xiao Huan tells Cangcang the real mastermind is still out there. He has a plan to bait them out. Meanwhile, Xiao Ying is still out of her mind. She hugs a flower pot all day. Xiao Qianqing reveals his true motives to his brother. He tried to take the throne so Xiao Huan could be free to roam the world. Zhong Lin finds a rare herb for the princess. Xiao Huan hurts his own body to make the medicine work. The treatment looks painful. Xiao Qianqing wants to stop it and take her away. Cangcang steps in. She argues that a painful cure is better than living in a fog forever.
