Episode Summary
This episode saw Ling Cangcang's plan to gain power succeed, only for her entire world to collapse with the confirmation of her master's true identity. After a devastating confrontation with Xiao Huan, a failed assassination attempt, and a tragic suicide, the episode ends with a small, uncertain gesture of peace between the Emperor and Empress.
Spoiler Alert
Family Pressure and a Royal Mess
A Father's Warning
The episode kicks off with some serious family drama. Ling Cangcang’s father, Ling Xuefeng, is feeling the heat. He tells Luo Xianxue that the Emperor is cornering him at every turn. He needs to make a big move to win back support from the court officials. If he doesn't, he says their whole family could fall apart.
His big idea is to find the "Jade Saintess." He basically orders Luo Xianxue to get it done. Ling Xuefeng also reminds him that even though Cangcang is the Empress, her family is her only real backup. If they go down, her position as Empress becomes unstable. Luo Xianxue, ever loyal, promises he'll do whatever it takes.
The Concubine Selection Game
You know things are getting spicy when the Empress Dowager gets involved. She decides it's time for the Emperor to get some new concubines. Ling Cangcang hears about this and plays it incredibly smart. She pretends she thinks it's a great idea.
She goes straight to the Empress Dowager. She acts like she's totally on board with helping the Emperor "expand the family." She even takes the portraits of the potential concubines to Xiao Huan herself. Xiao Huan is not impressed. He thinks she's heartless for being so casual about him choosing another woman. You can see the jealousy bubbling under the surface.
So, to test her, he picks one. He chooses a woman named Xing Yiyi. Cangcang is definitely fuming on the inside, but she keeps a straight face. Xiao Huan knows her well, though. He sees her subtle reaction and seems pretty pleased that she actually cares.
A Plan Unravels
The Banquet Disaster
Cangcang tries to bow out of the whole affair. She tells the palace staff that she has a cold and can't manage household duties. Nice try. At a banquet, Xiao Huan puts her on the spot. He makes her watch Xing Yiyi dance and then asks for her opinion. Awkward.
The real chaos starts right after the dance. The Empress Dowager is ready to let Xing Yiyi stay in the palace. But then a man bursts in. He claims that he and Xing Yiyi are already promised to each other. Everyone is stunned. The court officials immediately start blaming the Empress Dowager for this massive scandal. They're furious she chose someone who brought an outside man into the mix. It's a huge embarrassment for the Emperor.
During all the confusion, Cangcang makes her move. She snatches the Phoenix Seal, the symbol of the Empress's power. The Empress Dowager is in serious trouble, and she tells Xing Yiyi to figure out a way to fix this mess.
An Assassination and a Suicide
With her new authority, Cangcang goes to search the inner treasury. She's clearly looking for something important. But she finds nothing. She gets the feeling Xiao Huan knew she was coming and moved everything. This is where she starts to doubt what she's been told. She questions whether her master, Li Lu, is really the Ghost King.
Things get even more intense. Xing Yiyi shows up and tries to kill Ling Cangcang. Cangcang is a quick thinker. She offers Xing Yiyi a deal. She tells her they can team up, and in return, she'll help Xing Yiyi escape the palace and live a happy life. For a second, it looks like Xing Yiyi might take the offer. But then she sees someone watching her from a distance. She knows she's trapped. With no way out, she kills herself. Cangcang is convinced someone was controlling her and vows to get justice for the poor girl.
The Truth Comes Out
The Ghost King Revealed
This was the moment I was waiting for. Cangcang finally confronts Xiao Huan directly. She asks him if her master, Li Lu, is the Ghost King. Xiao Huan can't really give her a straight answer with words. So he shows her. He takes her to see Li Lu's body.
Seeing her master's corpse, Ling Cangcang completely breaks down. The truth hits her hard. Her beloved master was the Ghost King all along.
A Total Betrayal
This revelation shatters her world. She immediately turns on Xiao Huan. She accuses him of using her from the very beginning. She believes he only got close to her because of her connection to Li Lu. In her eyes, their entire relationship was a lie. She feels like there is no one left in the world she can trust. Seeing her in so much pain, Xiao Huan clearly feels terrible.
Meanwhile, her father, Ling Xuefeng, wants to know how much she knows. He sends Luo Xianxue to test the waters. When Luo Xianxue sees how much Cangcang still trusts him, he's overwhelmed with guilt. He can't bring himself to manipulate her.
A Small Moment of Peace
Later, Cangcang hears Aunt Chan's voice and senses something is wrong. It seems like another setup. But Xiao Huan arrives just in time to clear her of a false accusation of meeting a man in private.
The episode ends on a quieter note. Xiao Huan takes Cangcang out into the street to buy candied fruit. He starts to tell her about his mother, something he says he's never told anyone. He admits that the cake she once gave him was sweeter than any memory. It's a fragile moment of connection after all the pain and betrayal.
