Ashes to Crown Recap, Plot, Synopsis

Ashes to Crown Synopsis

Chu Zhao, a general's daughter, is determined not to become a sacrifice for Xiao Xun's rise to power. She discovers that taking the initiative is the only way to change her fate. In her difficult struggle against destiny, she meets Xie Yanlai, the neglected son of the Xie family. She brings light into his dark and gloomy life, helping him break free from fate's chains and climb step by step from a royal soldier to the great general who protects the nation.

Together, Chu Zhao and Xie Yanlai successfully stop Xiao Xun's ambitions and plans. On her way to escape the troubled land, she sees the suffering of ordinary people caught in the war. She resolutely returns to the city and helps the young royal grandson Xiao Yu ascend the throne, staying until he can govern himself.

However, Xiao Xun brings foreign enemies to invade, willing to plunge millions into disaster for power and greed. Chu Zhao joins hands with Xie Yanlai, leads the army in bloody battle, and finally frees the Chu kingdom from internal and external crises.

In the end, Chu Zhao not only changes her own fate but also spares countless ordinary people in Chu from the suffering of war and displacement.

Ashes to Crown Recaps

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On a day when blood stained the crimson palace walls, Chu Zhao finally realized that there is no room for true affection within the cold depths of the imperial court. Granted a miraculous chance at rebirth, she looks back at how she was systematically led astray, taking steps that brought her family to the brink of absolute ruin. Chu Zhao grew up in the desert of Yunzhong Prefecture under the care of her father, Chu Cen, a legendary border general.

Having lost her mother at a young age, she lived a comfortable life but always felt a deep sense of regret over her mother's early passing. One day, she sneaked away from her father to visit the bustling streets of Chudu, the capital, hoping to find some traces of her mother's past. Her brief visit took a dramatic turn in a crowded market corner when she stumbled upon an angry mob lynching a young servant.

The locals claimed the man had set fire to Wei Village, killing forty-six people, and deserved a painful death. Refusing to stand by, Chu Zhao intervened and snatched the whip, arguing that under the laws of the realm, taking justice into one's own hands was no different from murder.

Before she could do more, her father's deputy general, Zhong Changrong, caught up with her and forcibly dragged her back to the desert, warning her to stay out of the dangerous affairs of influential clans. Back home, Chu Cen was furious, pointing out the immense dangers along the road. Chu Zhao, however, accused him of keeping her trapped. She tearfully explained that she only wanted to connect with her mother's memory in Chudu.

When she confronted him for prioritizing his military fame over her emotional needs, Chu Cen was deeply moved. To make amends, he arranged for her to move into a grand mansion in Chudu, hoping she could live as a proper noble lady. Struggling to fit into the strict etiquette of high society, Chu Zhao felt like an outcast until she met Xiao Xun, the heir of the Lord of Xiaonan.

His gentle care and affection gave her a sense of belonging. A year later, the two traveled to Yunzhong to ask for her father's hand in marriage. During their journey through the desert, their carriage was ambushed by bandits. Fortunately, Fu Jiu, a skilled guard sent by General Chu Cen, intervened and effortlessly neutralized the threat. When the bandit leader used a maid as a hostage, Fu Jiu ruthlessly shot an arrow that killed both.

While Xiao Xun pitied the girl, Chu Zhao noticed the maid wore jewelry matching the bandits' and had only recently joined their household, deducing she was actually an insider. At the general's residence, Xiao Xun presented his formal proposal. Chu Cen flatly refused, stating that a general's daughter was no match for a prominent noble family. Chu Zhao argued bitterly against her father's interference, reminding him of how her mother had wasted her life in the desert.

Seeking to ease the general's doubts about his political motives, Xiao Xun explained his precarious position as a hostage in the capital and declared his unwavering love, even offering his own life to prove his sincerity. Unmoved, Chu Cen dismissed him. Undeterred, Chu Zhao chose to return to Chudu with Xiao Xun, firmly declaring she would never regret her choice or return to Yunzhong. Back in Chudu, Chu Zhao routinely sent her father monthly sand-jujube cakes to ease her guilt.

Two years later, after the Lord of Xiaonan achieved significant military success, the Emperor officially bestowed a marriage between Xiao Xun and Chu Zhao. Right before the wedding, her maid Ale did a promising divination, and Fu Jiu arrived with a grand dowry as a sign of her father's silent support. However, their wedding night was shattered by a rebellion led by the Third Prince, who reportedly murdered the Crown Prince.

Xiao Xun ordered his men to protect Chu Zhao at the Chu Garden while he went to quell the uprising. By successfully eliminating the Third Prince, and with the Crown Prince, the Emperor, and the imperial grandson Xiao Yu all deceased, Xiao Xun ascended the throne as the new Emperor, initiating the Anping era. General Chu Cen returned to Chudu briefly to pay his respects and requested Xiao Xun to treat his daughter well.

Although Xiao Xun invited him to stay, the general chose to return to the border to protect the realm, ordering Fu Jiu to remain behind to guard Chu Zhao. As the new Empress, Chu Zhao enjoyed what seemed to be a perfect marriage. Xiao Xun frequently consulted her on state affairs, even implementing her suggestion to lower textile taxes. Believing her life was secure, she continued to send her father sweet treats monthly, despite never receiving a reply.

On her twenty-second birthday, Xiao Xun surprised her by inviting Chu Cen back to Chudu, promising to build a grand estate for him. To honor his daughter, the general ordered his guards to disarm before entering the palace. But as Chu Zhao happily greeted her father, a shocking imperial decree was read aloud, accusing Chu Cen of treasonous collusion with northern enemies and his brother of poisoning the imperial grandson in the first year of Anping.

Despite her desperate pleas, Chu Cen was executed on the spot. Xiao Xun finally dropped his gentle facade, explaining that he had orchestrated everything to seize control of her father's two hundred thousand frontier troops, which had always threatened his hold on the throne. He coldly admitted that he used her birthday invitation to lure the general into a trap and had been slowly poisoning the monthly sand-jujube cakes she sent to Yunzhong for years.

Xiao Xun then personally strangled Chu Zhao to death, fabricating a story that she had hanged herself out of grief. Immediately after her death, Fu Jiu broke through the guards and stabbed the treacherous Emperor to death with his sword. Suddenly, Chu Zhao finds herself back in the courtyard of her Chudu mansion.

It is the fourteenth day of the seventh month in the nineteenth year of Tianshu—three years prior to her tragic death, on the day the Emperor had just bestowed their marriage. Disoriented and desperate to confirm she is alive, she grabs a passerby to ask for the date. Her maid, Ale, is deeply concerned by her frantic behavior and tries to take her inside, believing she has been possessed.

When Xiao Xun arrives to discuss their upcoming wedding, the sight of him triggers an uncontrollable rage in Chu Zhao. She lunges at him, screaming that she will kill him to avenge her father. Fu Jiu, who is there delivering the dowry, helps handle the situation. Xiao Xun secretly begins to suspect she might have uncovered his true intentions, though others assume she was just startled.

Back in her room, Ale leaves to prepare some calming soup to soothe her mistress. Alone, Chu Zhao looks into a mirror, only to see her reflection dressed in her future empress attire. The reflection, a manifestation of her accumulated hatred and resentment from her past life, encourages her to use this second chance for vengeance.

Realizing she has a rare opportunity to rewrite history, Chu Zhao vows to play her cards carefully, protect her father, and make Xiao Xun pay dearly for the destruction of the Chu clan.

Determined to alter her tragic destiny, Chu Zhao wandered the bustling streets of the Capital, her mind consumed by the impending disaster. She calculated that in her previous life, the Anping Rebellion had broken out on her wedding day, twenty-five days from now. If she could somehow stop the grand ceremony, the tragic deaths of the Crown Prince and the Third Prince, Xiao Zhu, might be prevented, and the devastating rebellion could be averted entirely.

As she pondered her next move, Chu Zhao spotted Fu Jiu among the crowd. Knowing his true identity as Xie Yanlai, she approached him and asked why he had not yet returned to Yunzhong Prefecture. Fu Jiu explained that he was acting under General Chu Ling’s orders to escort her bridal dowry and would depart only after the wedding. Seizing the opportunity, Chu Zhao pleaded with him to take her away immediately.

However, Fu Jiu strictly adhered to his military duty, stating he only obeyed her father's commands. Sensing the watchful eyes of Xiao Xun’s spies stationed all around them, Chu Zhao realized that any reckless attempt to flee would only arouse suspicion. When Fu Jiu asked if she was in trouble, she quietly deflected his concern, and he informed her that he was staying at the local guesthouse if she ever needed him.

Returning to her residence, Chu Zhao was questioned by her maid, A'Le, who could not comprehend why she wanted to call off the wedding with the seemingly devoted Xiao Xun. Chu Zhao, however, remained resolute, knowing she had to find a way to escape the Capital and prevent the impending slaughter of her family. At the Prime Minister's residence, Xie Yanfang received word that his younger brother, Xie Yanlai, had infiltrated the Capital under the alias of Fu Jiu.

Xie Yanfang’s subordinate dismissed General Chu Ling as a mere frontier commander compared to their prestigious Gaoyang Xie clan, earning a sharp rebuke from Xie Yanfang for speaking so carelessly. Xie Yanfang explained that his own retreat to Gaoyang five years ago on the pretext of illness was a calculated move to soothe the Emperor's suspicions while biding his time. Knowing his brother had spent too much time away, Xie Yanfang resolved to tame him upon his return.

Intrigued by the brewing political storm, he decided to attend Xiao Xun's upcoming wedding to witness the events unfold. Meanwhile, Xiao Xun was kept well-informed of Xie Yanfang's movements. He recognized that Xie Yanfang was merely waiting nearby, hoping to exploit the rivalry between the Crown Prince and the Third Prince to seize power for himself. Xiao Xun's thoughts then drifted back to Chu Zhao’s sudden coldness toward him.

Suspecting that someone had leaked his secrets to her, he decided he could no longer afford to wait. He ordered his trusted lieutenant, Tie Ying, to execute their plan the very next day, using the Third Prince to assassinate the Crown Prince and then staging a counter-coup to paint himself as the savior of the empire. The conflict erupted exactly as it had in the past, but much sooner than expected.

Chu Zhao found herself confined to her courtyard under the guise of protection, with guards strictly forbidding her from leaving. A'Le rushed in with the news that the Third Prince had rebelled and assassinated the Crown Prince. Realizing the timeline had shifted, Chu Zhao quickly composed herself.

She ordered A'Le to slip away to the guesthouse to fetch Fu Jiu, while she set off to rescue the young imperial grandson, Xiao Yu, before her uncle, Chu Lan, could carry out Xiao Xun's orders to poison him. Chu Zhao intercepted her uncle Chu Lan on his way to murder the young prince and knocked him unconscious from behind. This confirmed her deepest fears: Chu Lan had indeed been bought off by Xiao Xun.

With the Crown Prince dead and the imperial grandson targeted, Chu Zhao realized that Xiao Xun was the true mastermind behind the entire Anping Rebellion. At the same time, Xiao Xun sent death-sworn assassins to slaughter everyone in the Eastern Palace. However, upon inspecting the bodies, Xiao Xun realized that the child they had killed was a decoy, and he immediately ordered a city-wide manhunt for the real imperial grandson.

Chu Zhao located Xiao Yu hiding inside the ancestral temple, fiercely guarded by Grand Attendant Qi. Though the eunuch was initially suspicious of Chu Zhao due to her betrothal to Xiao Xun, she convinced him of her family’s unwavering loyalty to the crown. Pointing out that staying in the temple meant certain death, Chu Zhao urged them to flee with her toward Yunzhong Prefecture to seek her father's protection.

As they fled, they were cornered by Tie Ying and his guards. Chu Zhao attempted to stall by claiming she was merely trying to find Xiao Xun amidst the chaos, but Tie Ying demanded she hand over the imperial grandson immediately. Just as danger escalated, Fu Jiu arrived, having been alerted by A'Le. He swiftly dispatched the attackers.

Adhering strictly to his orders, Fu Jiu insisted on taking only Chu Zhao back to Yunzhong Prefecture, refusing to protect the young prince. To force his hand, Chu Zhao held a blade to her own throat, declaring that she would die if the imperial grandson was abandoned. Faced with the threat of failing his military command, Fu Jiu reluctantly turned back to save the boy.

Heavily outnumbered by the advancing rebel forces, Fu Jiu decided to mobilize the Longwei Army using the Flame Decree, a secret force entrusted to him by General Chu Ling before he entered the Capital. As the formidable reinforcements arrived, Chu Zhao realized the depth of her father's secret power. Armed with this new advantage, she insisted on returning to the imperial palace to stop Xiao Xun from seizing the throne.

Fu Jiu ordered his soldiers to hold the palace gates to the death, allowing Chu Zhao and Xiao Yu to press forward. Meanwhile, Xie Yanfang, disgusted by Xiao Xun’s ruthless massacre of the Eastern Palace, rallied his private army, along with Du Qi, to march on the Capital, determined to prevent Xiao Xun from claiming the throne.

At the inner palace gates, the imperial guard commander, Deng Yi, who had already been bribed by Xiao Xun, blocked Chu Zhao and the young prince from entering. Recognizing him, Chu Zhao reminded Deng Yi of his future role as a historian. She warned him that a tyrant like Xiao Xun would never allow an accomplice to live and record his treacherous deeds. Instead, she urged him to align with the legitimate heir, securing his legacy as a founding minister.

Swayed by her reasoning, Deng Yi escorted them into the imperial chamber. Inside, the Emperor, who had already consumed poison and knew he would not survive the night, had prepared a decree to yield the throne to Xiao Xun, believing the young imperial grandson was too weak to rule. He even intended to execute Chu Zhao to eliminate the potential threat of her father’s two-hundred-thousand-strong border army. Fu Jiu drew his sword to protect her, defying the Emperor’s guards.

Chu Zhao quickly intervened to prevent bloodshed. She knelt before the Emperor and proposed a compromise: if she were named the Grand Princess of the State, her father, General Chu Ling—who was already the Emperor's sworn brother—would become imperial kin rather than a threatening subject. This alliance would secure the loyalty of both the border troops and the Longwei Army to protect the young heir.

To ease the Emperor's remaining doubts, Chu Zhao swore a solemn oath to never marry, never bear children, and never allow her power to be passed down, promising to devote her life entirely to defending the realm. Deeply moved, the dying Emperor accepted her terms. Xiao Xun eventually entered the palace, fully expecting to receive the decree of succession.

To his utter shock, the imperial decree declared that the rebellious Third Prince, Xiao Zhu, had been stripped of his titles, while praising Xiao Xun only for his defense of the capital. The throne was passed to the imperial grandson, Xiao Yu, and Chu Zhao was appointed as the Grand Princess of the State, officially dissolving her betrothal to Xiao Xun. Xiao Xun was forced to suppress his fury and accept the decree. Outside, Xie Yanfang arrived with his troops, witnessing the total collapse of his rival's grand ambitions.

With the passing of the Emperor, the Anping Rebellion finally came to a tense end. Chu Zhao stood in the quiet aftermath, reflecting on how she had successfully dismantled Xiao Xun's path to the throne in this lifetime. Yet, she knew that their deadly game of survival and vengeance was only just beginning. Deng Yi, newly appointed as the Grand Mentor, offered his congratulations to the young princess on securing her desires.

Chu Zhao returned the sentiment, noting that he, too, had obtained the wealth and status he had long coveted. With the former Imperial Guard Commander executed for treason, Deng Yi questioned who would be entrusted with the vital task of safeguarding the palace. Without hesitation, Chu Zhao handed the commander's tally to her loyal retainer, Fu Jiu, urging him not to make her regret this choice.

Meanwhile, on the distant frontier, General Chu Cen received an urgent dispatch from the capital. He was stunned to learn of the Emperor's death and his daughter's sudden elevation to the position of Grand Princess of the State. Though relieved that she was safe for the moment, he worried deeply about the treacherous court dynamics, knowing that the subtle backstabbing of the capital was far more perilous than open warfare on the border.

Before he could dwell on his worries, an enemy raid forced him to rally his troops and ride out. Back in the capital, the day of Xiao Yu's coronation arrived. Terrified by the heavy atmosphere and the icy glare of Xiao Xun, the young boy wept and refused to board the imperial carriage unless Chu Zhao accompanied him. Several ministers protested, claiming that allowing a woman to interfere with the court would bring ruin to the state.

However, Xie Yanlai stepped forward to silence the dissent, reminding the Chamberlain of how Dowager Empress Xie had once ruled behind the curtain. Defeated, the court watched as Chu Zhao walked alongside the young Emperor to receive the kneeling homage of the state. Following the ceremony, Xie Yanfang met with Chu Zhao to offer his gratitude on behalf of the Xie clan for saving Xiao Yu and preserving his throne.

Recognizing their shared interests, Chu Zhao suggested they discard rigid formalities in private, offering to refer to him simply as the Third Young Master. She subtly probed into the nature of the illness that had forced him to retreat to his ancestral home in Gaoyang for so long. Xie Yanfang politely brushed her query aside, attributing it to a lingering chronic ailment.

Chu Zhao did not push further, knowing from her past life that the Third Young Master was a master of disguise. He had feigned weakness to disarm Xiao Xun while quietly amassing a formidable private army outside the capital. Turning to current matters, she asked for his guidance regarding Xiao Xun, who had insolently refused to mourn the late Emperor or pay respects to the new ruler.

Xie Yanfang explained that while they could not strike first without a just cause, he harbored a mortal hatred for Xiao Xun, who had orchestrated the murder of his eldest sister, the former Crown Princess. He vowed to execute Xiao Xun with his own hands one day, a sentiment Chu Zhao realized she could exploit to her own advantage. Shortly after, Xie Yanfang met with his brother, Xie Yanlai.

Commenting on the guard commander's tally, the Third Young Master warned Yanlai that the Grand Princess was far more cunning than she appeared. Yanlai, however, pointed out that Xiao Xun's original target was never Chu Zhao herself, but her father's control of the two hundred thousand frontier troops.

Observing his brother's protective stance, Yanfang compared Chu Zhao to a wild wolf cub raised in the desert, warning Yanlai that she would bite through his neck if he let his guard down. Yanlai calmly retorted that a dangerous wolf was far more interesting than a fawning dog. He then warned his brother not to play with fire before walking away. Left with his thoughts, Xie Yanlai could not help but recall his painful childhood.

He remembered when he had burned down the ancestral hall and was whipped mercilessly by the clan elders. Back then, it was Xie Yanfang who had stepped in to save his life. While everyone else in the Xie family despised him and his mother for her lowly status, Yanfang had treated him like real family. This memory left Yanlai deeply conflicted, unable to truly fathom his brother's current intentions. This encounter did not escape Deng Yi's notice.

The Grand Mentor warned Chu Zhao of the immense danger of giving the imperial guard tally to Xie Yanlai, revealing his true identity as the ninth son of the Xie family. Chu Zhao calmly replied that she had always known who he was, noting that his five years of service under her father had not been without exposure.

To secure Deng Yi's loyalty, she promised him even greater rewards, transferring several lucrative shops in Yongfeng Alley to his name and sending rare treasures to his estate. Knowing Deng Yi's deep filial piety, she had also arranged for fine millet from his hometown to be delivered to his mother, effectively binding the greedy mentor to her will. That night, Chu Zhao visited Xie Yanlai's quarters to personally deliver a velvet cloak.

Still recovering from his injuries, Xie Yanlai tried to reject the gift, claiming he was only comfortable in simple cloth. Chu Zhao countered that simple cloth was far too soft to protect him from the covert daggers of the court, addressing him by his real name.

When he questioned why she believed he would choose her over his own influential clan, she promised to prove that she was far more worthy of his loyalty than Xie Yanfang, leaving the cloak behind as an invitation. On her way back to her chambers, Chu Zhao was haunted by a vision of her past self—the version of her that had been strangled to death.

The apparition mocked her current status, reminding her that she was a Grand Princess in name only, powerless against the entrenched influence of Xiao Xun, Deng Yi, and the Xie family. Chu Zhao fiercely rejected the vision's taunts. She resolved that her goal was not merely a bloody revenge, but the acquisition of true power to ensure that she and her father would survive this lifetime, steering their destinies away from tragedy.

The next morning, Chu Zhao took her place behind the curtain to oversee state affairs, instantly provoking murmurs of discontent from the assembly. Commander Qin spoke out, accusing her of overstepping her bounds and comparing her actions to the controversial rule of Dowager Empress Xie. Chu Zhao quickly silenced his protests by reminding the court of Commander Qin's own recent military failures, which had only been pardoned through her leniency.

When other ministers continued to grumble, Chu Zhao summoned Xie Yanlai, whose cold, imposing presence immediately silenced the room. Xiao Xun's son, the Heir of Xianan, then stepped forward to report that the late Emperor had appeared in his dream, weeping blood and demanding a grand sacrifice at the ancestral temple. The young Emperor innocently chimed in, claiming his grandfather had also visited him, but Chu Zhao quietly instructed the boy to remain silent.

When the Heir asked for her decree, Chu Zhao directed Deng Yi and Xie Yanfang to jointly oversee the preparations for the temple sacrifice, choosing to play along with the obvious trap. After court, Xie Yanfang visited Xiao Yu in his private quarters. Seeking to bond with his nephew, he identified himself as the boy's uncle, but the terrified child ignored him and ran straight to Xie Yanlai's side. The cold rejection left Xie Yanfang deeply embarrassed.

Chu Zhao stepped in, formally introducing the Third Young Master and explaining that the young Emperor was simply overwhelmed by recent losses. Once they were alone, Xie Yanlai accused Chu Zhao of intentionally showing him favor in front of his suspicious brother to force him to take her side. He warned her that Xiao Xun's sudden demand for a temple sacrifice was undoubtedly a setup. Chu Zhao agreed, but maintained her composure, stating that panic would change nothing and that it was better to wait and see how their adversary intended to play his hand.

Xiao Xun sits before a half-finished chess game, contemplating his recent setback. He realizes that despite his careful calculations, his plan was disrupted by the one he held dearest. Chu Zhao, once a crying little girl, has unexpectedly stepped up as the Grand Princess to play her own hand in this chaotic court. Though vexed, he takes it as a lesson that even the most perfect strategy cannot withstand an unforeseen variable.

He resolves not to make the same mistake twice. The day of the ancestral sacrifice arrives. While Deng Yi and Xie Yanfang oversee the rituals, Xiao Xun has secretly plotted to have a poisoned herb wreath placed near the young emperor, Xiao Yu, hoping to end Chu Zhao's reign. During the ceremony, Chu Zhao places the wreath on Xiao Yu, who promptly collapses after inhaling the toxic smoke.

Seizing the opportunity, the shaman loudly proclaims that Chu Zhao's horoscope clashes with the Emperor's star, labeling her a jinx and demanding her immediate arrest. Xie Yanlai draws his blade to shield Chu Zhao, warning anyone who approaches that they will face his sword, while Deng Yi quickly intervenes to call for the imperial physician and orders the palace gates sealed.

The imperial physician examines Xiao Yu and notes that his symptoms match those of the deceased Crown Prince, though the exact toxin remains unverified. When Chu Zhao rushes to see the unconscious emperor, she is barred from entering by Deng Yi and Xie Yanfang, who cite imperial law regarding suspects. Xiao Xun arrives, using the shaman's divination to slander Chu Zhao as a jinx who should be kept away from the court to preserve the realm.

Xie Yanfang suggests that Chu Zhao remain in her chambers to avoid suspicion until the truth is revealed. Overwhelmed by anger, Chu Zhao clenches her fists, but Xie Yanlai holds her back and escorts her away. That night, with Xie Yanlai guarding the door, Chu Zhao sneaks back into Xiao Yu's bedchamber. She wakes the young emperor, who reveals he was merely pretending to be unconscious to fool the physician.

After feeding him some pastries, Chu Zhao instructs Xiao Yu to continue his act. She plans to leak the news of his recovery to luring the real culprit into making their next move. Xiao Yu readily agrees, trusting her completely. Soon, word of the Emperor's recovery reaches Xiao Xun. He is highly skeptical, knowing that his Golden Finch Venom has no antidote.

Suspecting that the palace news is a trap, he reasons that since the Crown Prince's body was never autopsied after the coup, Chu Zhao is bluffing. To turn her trap against her, Xiao Xun has the imperial physician prepare a harmless calming soup, intending to catch Chu Zhao in her own lie. Xiao Xun arrives at the imperial chamber under the pretense of visiting his nephew.

When the guards block him, Xie Yanfang intervenes and lets him in, ignoring Deng Yi's restrictions. Once inside, Xiao Xun approaches the bed, lamenting the boy's frail condition. Xie Yanfang purposefully steps aside to let him proceed. With Xie Yanlai hiding in the shadows, Xiao Xun pours his calming soup into the medicinal bowl, intending to feed it to Xiao Yu. Xie Yanlai immediately springs from the dark, catching Xiao Xun red-handed.

Chu Zhao rushes into the room, holding the safe and sound Xiao Yu. Xiao Xun is brought before the imperial court to face charges of regicide. Unfazed, he demands proof of the poison. When the imperial physician tests the soup and declares it completely non-toxic, the trap backfires on Chu Zhao. Xiao Xun smugly reveals his counter-strategy, explaining that he knew the news of Xiao Yu's recovery was a bluff.

He accuses Chu Zhao of using the young emperor as bait, recklessly endangering his life just to frame him. The ministers, swayed by his arguments, begin condemning Chu Zhao for her ruthless ambition. Chu Zhao, however, remains composed. She presents a palace maid who confesses to poisoning the emperor's Chenshui incense under Xiao Xun's orders. Chu Zhao explains that when Xiao Yu suffered from persistent nightmares, they discovered the incense was laced with Golden Finch Venom.

Rather than raising an alarm, she had the incense replaced with a safe blend of Fuling and Yuanzhi, using the ritual as a staged event to draw Xiao Xun out. To seal her case, Chu Zhao brings in a fake attendant from the Office of the Great Supplicator, whom Xie Yanlai had caught carrying poison before the ritual. Confronted with the witness, Chu Zhao demands to know who ordered him to alter the herb wreath.

Trapped, the attendant suddenly draws a concealed weapon and lunges at Chu Zhao. Xie Yanlai blocks the blow, and Chu Zhao quickly snatches the weapon, stabbing the assassin to death on the spot. With the key witness dead, Xiao Xun aggressively points the finger at Chu Zhao, accusing her of executing a witness to cover up her manipulation of the court and the young sovereign. The other ministers loudly demand her execution for treason.

Just as Chu Zhao faces condemnation, Xiao Yu silences the court with a loud shout. The young emperor firmly defends Chu Zhao, stating that feigning the poisoning was his own plan to root out the traitors. He orders Xiao Xun to be confined to his estate, stripping him of his court duties. He then decrees that any future acts of treason will be met with immediate execution, a move swiftly supported by Deng Yi and Xie Yanfang.

Safely back in her chambers, Chu Zhao leans against the door, still trembling from the narrow escape. Xie Yanlai visits her, thanking her for saving him during the scuffle with the assassin. Chu Zhao deflects, noting that he had protected her first. Xie Yanlai promises that from now on, he will handle the dangerous blade work so she does not have to risk her life. Chu Zhao explains that her ruthless actions are solely for their survival.

Hearing this, Xie Yanlai recalls his past under General Chu Cen, who had once lectured him on the necessity of discipline and fighting to let others live. He realizes that father and daughter are remarkably alike—boring yet pragmatic. Chu Zhao regrets not taking her father's self-defense lessons seriously when she was younger, as she was too eager to seek her fortune in the Capital. Xie Yanlai offers to tutor her. They practice several sword movements together, working up a sweat.

When Chu Zhao tries to wipe the sweat from his brow, Xie Yanlai gently stops her hand. Instead, he wraps her cloak around her shoulders, warning her not to catch a cold, leaving Chu Zhao to wonder if he still dislikes the garment.

Grand Mentor Deng sat across from his old friend Wangyou, the two of them engrossed in a game of chess. Wangyou offered his congratulations on Deng Yi's recent promotion but questioned his decision to align with Chu Zhao, especially at the cost of abandoning his previous alliance with Xiao Xun. Deng Yi was unbothered, explaining that he was merely securing his own prosperous future.

When Wangyou warned him of the hidden dangers in what seemed like a simple game, pointing out how ruthlessly Chu Zhao had used the young emperor, Xiao Yu, as bait despite knowing the threat of poison, Deng Yi remained indifferent. To him, the identity of the emperor mattered little, so long as he maintained his high standing and was able to advance or retreat at will.

Back in the palace, Chu Zhao approached Xiao Yu with a heavy heart, apologizing for using him as bait and putting him in such grave danger. Xiao Yu quickly reassured his sister, reminding her that it was their joint plan to catch the traitorous Xiao Xun, and he was happy to have protected her. He treasured the handwoven Longevity Thread she had made for him, noting that each knot was meant to lock in good fortune.

Soon after, Xie Yanlai arrived, bringing some pastries for the young emperor. Before long, he turned to Chu Zhao and bluntly demanded the return of his cloak. Amused by his sudden possessiveness over an item she thought he disliked, Chu Zhao returned it with a sly remark. Xiao Yu then eagerly reminded them of a promise to build a swing. Though Xie Yanlai grumbled about the task, he set to work preparing the wooden board.

Chu Zhao confidently tied one side of the rope with a knot, disregarding Xie Yanlai's warning that her knot would slip. When she sat on the swing to test it, the rope immediately gave way, sending her falling directly into Xie Yanlai's arms. After catching her, Xie Yanlai tied a secure military knot to ensure no further accidents would happen. The three of them played happily until late into the night.

Once Xiao Yu fell asleep, they carried him back to his bedchamber. In his half-conscious state, the young emperor murmured a plea for Chu Zhao to let Xiao Xun return to Xiaonan and to end their bitter struggle. Xie Yanlai agreed with the child's sentiment, warning that continuing to fight Xiao Xun within the capital would only result in mutual destruction.

He questioned the depth of her hatred, recalling how Xiao Xun had once traveled to propose to her with seemingly genuine affection. Chu Zhao dismissed her past feelings with disgust, calling it her greatest foolishness. She then asked Xie Yanlai if he believed in rebirth, revealing that in her past life, she had married Xiao Xun only for him to destroy her family and strangle her to death.

Sensing her pain, Xie Yanlai did not mock her tale, stating that everyone must live with their choices. When Chu Zhao asked if he would assist her with her next plan to eliminate Xiao Xun, Xie Yanlai, remembering how she had once risked herself to save him from his own clan, promised to stand by her side. At the next court session, Grand Mentor Deng formally proposed releasing Xiao Xun back to Xiaonan to maintain stability.

Xie Yanlai immediately opposed the idea, arguing that keeping the prince in the capital was the late emperor's wish and served as a vital check on his father's powerful forces. Seeking a resolution, the court turned to Chu Zhao. Drawing on her authority, Chu Zhao announced that she had recently received a highly confidential report regarding unusual troop movements in the Northern Desert and suspicious figures gathering in the capital.

Though Grand Mentor Deng asked to examine the document, Chu Zhao refused, stating she needed to verify its authenticity first. She argued that if the report of collusion with the Northern Desert proved true, Xiao Xun could not be allowed to leave the capital, especially since his father had already shown signs of defiance by failing to attend the coronation.

Following the assembly, Xie Yanlai confronted Chu Zhao, having recognized that the forged report was written with the Pine Soot Ink exclusive to the Xie family. Chu Zhao did not deny her actions, explaining that she deliberately left this clue to force the influential Xie family into a tight alliance, knowing they could not afford to let Xiao Xun return to Xiaonan either.

Though Xie Yanlai warned her of the immense danger of trying to outsmart his brother, Xie Yanfang, Chu Zhao remained resolute. She asked Xie Yanlai, who had spent years on the frontier, to describe the appearance and habits of Northern Desert soldiers. Xie Yanlai realized her brilliant, yet ruthless strategy: by using the forged report to threaten Xiao Xun with execution, she would trigger his deep paranoia and force him to escape.

Along his path back to Xiaonan, Chu Zhao intended to plant weapons and deploy men disguised as Northern Desert soldiers, ensuring Xiao Xun would be shot dead for armed treason the moment he attempted to cross the border. When word of the secret report reached Xiao Xun, he grew increasingly anxious. He was baffled by how Chu Zhao could have uncovered his family's actual, clandestine ties with the Northern Desert despite his utmost vigilance.

He understood the trap she had laid: staying in the capital meant facing public execution, while fleeing would brand him a traitor and lead to his death at the border. Realizing that Chu Zhao held all the initiative, Xiao Xun decided to abandon his original route and implement a desperate third option to secure his escape and turn the tables. Meanwhile, Grand Mentor Deng’s elderly mother wandered off and became lost.

Chu Zhao found her foraging for discarded vegetable leaves in the West Market and personally escorted her back to the Deng residence. Deeply grateful, Deng Yi welcomed them. Chu Zhao expressed her admiration for his journey, noting how a man of such humble origins had risen to the rank of Grand Mentor through sheer diligence. She then presented him with a Longevity Thread, symbolizing locked-in fortune.

Recognizing that the gift carried a price, Deng Yi asked what she desired in exchange. Chu Zhao demanded that he stand aside and allow her to eliminate Xiao Xun, offering him all of the prince's accumulated wealth and forces in the capital once the deed was done. She even added a chilling warning that if he interfered, those very riches would be used to end his own life.

Enticed by the offer and recognizing her resolve, Deng Yi agreed to the deal. It was late when Chu Zhao returned to the palace, finding Xie Yanlai waiting for her outside Qiwu Palace under the bleak moonlight. He informed her that Xiao Xun was prepared to make his escape the following day.

To ensure the prince fell into their trap, Xie Yanlai explained his plan to deploy naval forces to blockade the docks under the guise of searching for smuggled salt. With the waterways closed, Xiao Xun would be forced onto the official land road passing through Woniu Ridge, where a contingent of crossbowmen lay in wait. Xie Yanlai promised to lead the operation personally to ensure nothing went wrong.

The next morning, Chu Zhao received word that Xiao Xun's mansion was empty, but he had not taken the official road. Instead, he had outsmarted their blockade by boarding a merchant ship that sailed hours ahead of schedule. Realizing they had been tricked, Xie Yanlai immediately led his men in hot pursuit. When he finally caught up with the escaping prince on the water, Xiao Xun mocked him, questioning if Chu Zhao truly wanted him dead.

To throw Xie Yanlai off balance, Xiao Xun brought up a painful memory from the past, asking if the young boy named Xiang, the sole survivor of the tragedy at Wei Village, had ever returned to seek vengeance. The mention of this name severely shook Xie Yanlai's composure. Seizing the moment of distraction, one of Xiao Xun's guards stabbed Xie Yanlai in the chest, plunging him into the rushing river.

Xie Yanlai was rescued and brought back to the palace, where the imperial physician treated his severe wounds. Although he had suffered massive blood loss and a high fever, his life was no longer in danger. Sitting by his bedside, Chu Zhao was consumed with guilt, blaming herself for dragging him into her dangerous schemes. Her despair deepened when news arrived that Xiao Xun had successfully crossed into Xiaonan, making any future attempt on his life infinitely more difficult.

Determined to uncover how Xiao Xun had managed to bypass the waterways, Chu Zhao ordered an investigation into the ship's clearance. She soon discovered that the pass had been issued by Fang Du, the Sima of Vessels who was also a known disciple of Grand Mentor Deng. Furious at Deng Yi’s blatant double-dealing, Chu Zhao decided to send a clear message. She had a massive coffin crafted from precious golden-thread nanmu delivered directly to Deng Yi's courtyard.

Confronting the grand mentor, she claimed the luxurious wood was a fitting reward for his great service and ordered that it remain in his yard for him to look at every day. Knowing he had been caught red-handed, Deng Yi offered no excuses and quietly accepted the grim warning. Before leaving, Chu Zhao coldly remarked that if he found the Longevity Thread she had given him to be too long, she would gladly offer him a much shorter one.

Deng Yi stands in his courtyard, staring at the longevity lock sent to him by Chu Zhao. Despite the terrifying nature of this warning, as well as the grand golden-thread nanmu coffin placed in his courtyard to intimidate him, he reassures himself that the princess still needs his presence to balance the growing influence of the Xie clan and Xiao Xun, meaning he is safe for now.

His mind drifts back to the previous night, when he had secretly slipped into Xiao Xun’s deserted mansion. Recognizing that the cornered prince was desperate, Deng Yi had presented him with a forged imperial edict from the late Emperor naming Xiao Xun as the rightful heir. Deng Yi explained that he was shifting his allegiance because Chu Zhao had broken her promise by handing the Imperial Guard Tally to an obscure member of the Xie family.

Eager to reclaim his path to power, Xiao Xun accepted the alliance, promising Deng Yi the prestigious position of Grand Mentor once he claimed the throne. Back in the present, Xie Yanfang arrives at Deng Yi’s estate. Looking at the coffin, Xie Yanfang dryly remarks that Deng Yi has at least saved the imperial court the expense of his own funeral. During their conversation, Xie Yanfang inquires about Xiao Xun’s sudden escape. Deng Yi boldly admits his direct involvement.

Xie Yanfang warns him that playing such a dangerous game without the backing of a powerful clan is an immense gamble that could easily lead to ruin. Meanwhile, at the military camp in Yunzhong Prefecture, General Chu Cen faces a critical situation. Realizing that the Shuomo forces possess intimate knowledge of their defensive layouts and hidden sentries, he suspects a traitor within his ranks.

Just then, an urgent dispatch from the Capital arrives, reporting that Chu Zhao is facing impeachment and Xiao Xun has fled, while Imperial Guard Commander Fu Jiu (Xie Yanlai) has been seriously injured but is now out of danger. Relieved that his daughter is safe, Chu Cen refocuses on the enemy. He commands his forces to redeploy to Langya Valley and orders an ambush at Yingzui Cliff to trap the invaders.

Despite his deteriorating health and coughing up blood, the general firmly declares that he will personally lead the charge the next day. In the Capital, Chu Zhao remains by Xie Yanlai’s side as he recovers. Her maid gently reminds her of the gossip that might arise from keeping a young man in her private quarters for three days, but Chu Zhao dismisses the concerns, stating that Xie Yanlai is the one person she trusts implicitly.

Their conversation is interrupted by an urgent report: Shuomo has launched a real attack on Yunzhong Prefecture. Chu Zhao is stunned, knowing she had only forged a military report of an incursion to corner Xiao Xun, never expecting a real invasion to materialize. At Deng Yi’s residence, Xie Yanfang’s Weiqi match with Deng Yi continues.

Xie Yanfang subtly reveals his hand, explaining that since Chu Zhao tried to drag the Xie family into her schemes using forged evidence, he decided to provide her with a real war to handle. As he secures a decisive victory on the board, Xie Yanfang warns Deng Yi that an overcrowded board leaves no room for survival, hinting that Deng Yi's shifting loyalties may ultimately block his own path. Xie Yanlai finally regains consciousness.

Chu Zhao, sitting by his bed, notices him laughing and crying in his nightmare and asks what he dreamed about. Xie Yanlai secretly recalls being rescued by a young girl when the ancestral temple burned down, as well as his regret over failing to save another boy from the fire, but he keeps these memories to himself. Deeply feeling her guilt for his injuries, Chu Zhao offers to grant him any wish to repay her debt of gratitude.

Xie Yanlai, claiming he has no worldly desires, only asks for some red bean cakes. Chu Zhao enthusiastically agrees to make them herself, and after several failed attempts, they finally manage to prepare a perfect batch. As they eat, the taste of the pastries triggers Chu Zhao’s memories of her home.

She laments that she has been away from Yunzhong for so long that she nearly forgot the recipe, expressing deep remorse over the harsh argument she had with her father before leaving. She had accused him of being an arrogant commander who only cared about his reputation rather than his daughter’s feelings. Xie Yanlai comforts her, sharing that during his five years with the general, he witnessed how much the old man cherished her.

Her father would often collect Western spices and plant beautiful flowers in her old courtyard, keeping it immaculate for her eventual return. Moved by his words, Chu Zhao enjoys the moment as Xie Yanlai gently pushes her on a swing, making her feel as if her father were right beside her.

However, their peace is shattered when a messenger arrives with devastating news: Shuomo forces suddenly retreated just as the army assembled to fight, but General Chu Cen, who had already been unwell, spat blood and fell into a coma on his way back to camp. Meanwhile, Xiao Xun safely arrives in Xiaonan and reunites with his father, Xiao Hong. Nursing his injuries, Xiao Xun expresses his burning rage toward Chu Zhao for trying to eliminate him.

He notes that the power dynamics in the Capital are shifting rapidly and suggests they take action. However, Xiao Hong advises his son to remain patient, comparing their struggle to the precise art of alchemy where opening the cauldron too early leads to failure. He urges Xiao Xun to rest and bide his time. At the imperial court, several officials seize on Shuomo's invasion to impeach Chu Cen for negligence.

Chu Zhao argues that the invasion did not cause significant harm, and points out the highly suspicious timing of the invasion occurring right after Xiao Xun’s escape, suggesting internal collusion. Xie Yanfang supports her, subtly mocking Deng Yi’s past eagerness to pardon Xiao Xun. In response, Deng Yi tries to deflect by pointing out that Xie Yanfang has seized Xiao Xun’s former estate. Xie Yanfang smoothly retorts that the residence was a gift from the Emperor.

Seeing the bickering, the young Emperor grows weary and dismisses the court. Returning to his mansion, Deng Yi fumes over Xie Yanfang’s arrogance. Realizing that the Xie clan is becoming an existential threat, he decides he can no longer remain passive. He instructs his butler, Shao You, to immediately send operatives to Gaoyang to dig up any hidden secrets or incriminating evidence regarding the Xie family's loyalty.

Meanwhile, Xie Yanfang oversees the renovation of Xiao Xun’s former residence, which now proudly bears the plaque of the Xie family. He remains unconcerned about the political fallout of the invasion, confident that Chu Cen’s massive victory at Xinggu Pass will protect the general’s reputation. With the new manor complete, Xie Yanfang instructs his butler to summon Xie Yanlai back to the family estate.

He muses that he is curious to see if a dog that has been away from its master for five years still knows how to be obedient. To secure her own standing in the Capital, Chu Zhao meets with her elder cousin, Chu Tang. Recognizing that her position as Grand Princess brings immense danger to the entire family, Chu Zhao urges her cousin to prepare for the worst.

Chu Tang reassures her, pledging that the Chu family will stand by her through any triumph or disaster. Grateful for her loyalty, Chu Zhao proposes that they work in tandem—she will handle the political battles in the open, while Chu Tang acts as her eyes and ears in the shadows, securing their hold over the empire.

Xie Yanlai returned to the Xie clan residence, where several clan members grumbled about having to wait for him. Resentful of his sudden rise to power as the newly appointed Imperial Guard Commander, they mocked his background as the son of a courtesan. Xie Yanlai quickly silenced them with his blade and aggressive demeanor. Fearing he might use his new authority to avenge childhood grievances, the relatives backed down.

A servant then arrived to lead Xie Yanlai to a separate courtyard that Xie Yanfang had prepared for him. Meanwhile, Chu Zhao was plagued by nightmares of her father, Chu Cen, covered in blood. Worried about his true condition in Yunzhong Prefecture, she felt she must have missed some crucial detail, as her father had not fallen ill this early in her past life.

To ease her worries, Le performed a divination, interpreting a crack in the oracle bone pointing east as a sign of turning misfortune into fortune. Determined to see her father and resolve her regrets, Chu Zhao decided to sneak back to Yunzhong Prefecture. She sent Le to deliver a letter to Chu Tang and summon Xie Yanlai to the palace. When Xie Yanlai arrived, Chu Zhao revealed her plan to leave the capital under the guise of falling gravely ill.

Taking a Taoist prescription to mimic a high fever, she intended to have the young Emperor, Xiao Yu, forbid any visitors. This move would also appease the court officials who were critical of her regency. Xie Yanlai warned her of the extreme danger, noting that both Deng Yi and Xie Yanfang would be highly suspicious, and that Xiao Xun would never let her reach the border alive.

However, Chu Zhao insisted she could not live with the regret of not knowing her father's condition, prompting Xie Yanlai to agree to help her. Xie Yanlai escorted Chu Zhao out of the capital. After they had traveled over thirty li, Chu Zhao teased him for being overprotective. Their journey was suddenly interrupted when a frantic brothel madam blocked their carriage, mistaking it for the one her runaway courtesan had used to elope with a scholar.

Xie Yanlai threatened her, demanding to know who sent her, but Chu Zhao realized the woman was telling the truth and urged him to let her go. Before parting ways, Chu Zhao entrusted Xie Yanlai with the Grand Princess Token, asking him to guard Xiao Yu and watch over the capital in her absence. Two days later, Xiao Xun received word of Chu Zhao's sudden illness.

Connecting it to the reports of Chu Cen's failing health in Yunzhong Prefecture, he deduced that she was secretly heading home. Knowing she would have to pass through Wuyang Town, Xiao Xun ordered Tie Ying to ambush her there. Anticipating Xiao Xun's move, Chu Zhao left her carriage ten li outside of Wuyang Town, instructing her driver to continue along the northwest road to draw attention away. Walking into the town, she observed Tie Ying's guards thoroughly searching travelers.

Back in the capital, Deng Yi attempted to force his way into Chu Zhao's chambers under the guise of royal duty, but Xie Yanlai drew his sword and blocked him. Xie Yanfang arrived shortly after, warning Xie Yanlai that Xiao Xun had already dispatched Tie Ying to Wuyang Town. He added that even if Chu Zhao somehow survived the ambush, the road ahead was plagued by lethal bandits, leaving her with little chance of reaching the border alive.

In Wuyang Town, Tie Ying divided his forces into three paths after finding conflicting clues, including a discarded cloth embroidered with Chu Zhao's name. Seizing an opportunity, Chu Zhao paid the brothel madam a hefty sum of silver to help her slip into the Beicao Post House. There, they encountered dispatch riders from the Wangcheng Camp. Pretending to be a poor girl named Fu, Chu Zhao claimed her father was Yang Dachun from the Saishang Outpost in Daqing Mountain Camp.

Thanks to her familiar knowledge of the military camp and the madam’s convincing performance as her dying mother, the soldiers agreed to let Chu Zhao travel with them. Before they set off, Chu Zhao also mentioned to the madam that she had discovered a secret about these dispatch riders. Desperate to protect Chu Zhao, Xie Yanlai approached Xie Yanfang for help leaving the capital.

Xie Yanfang agreed to assist on the condition that Xie Yanlai temporarily hand over the Grand Princess Token, and Xie Yanlai promised to owe him a major favor in return. The next day, Xie Yanlai staged a confrontation in the Imperial Study, catching Xiao Yu playing with crickets instead of studying. During the scuffle, Xie Yanlai pushed the Emperor, resulting in his immediate suspension for disrespect.

In court, Xie Yanfang feigned a defense for his brother, prompting Deng Yi to eagerly step in and demand control over the Imperial Guards. Deng Yi later realized he had been manipulated by Xie Yanfang to facilitate Xie Yanlai's departure. Meanwhile, Xie Yanfang's associate reported that Xie Yanlai had left the city riding the Wu Zhui horse, which Xie Yanfang had intentionally sabotaged. Xie Yanfang mused that Xie Yanlai's growing affection for Chu Zhao made him difficult to control.

Comparing his brother to a wolf cub, Xie Yanfang believed that letting him think he had broken free of his collar would only make the gold thread bind him tighter, exposing his ultimate weakness. He finally acknowledged Chu Zhao's cleverness in capturing his brother's heart.

While traveling near Wuyang Town, Xie Yanlai noticed a discarded dispatch rider's tally on the side of the road. Hearing faint rustling nearby, he investigated and discovered three bound, stripped dispatch riders from Wangcheng. After untying them, the men hurriedly explained that bandits had ambushed them, stolen their uniforms, and ridden toward the Beicao Town post house, a route that led directly to Yunzhong Prefecture. Meanwhile, Chu Zhao was traveling with the disguised bandits.

Sitting around a campfire, the female leader of the bandits, disguised in a soldier's uniform, studied Chu Zhao’s elegant demeanor and questioned how such a refined lady had ended up on this desolate road. Chu Zhao fabricated a story about her doting mother wanting her to look respectable for a future marriage, but she quickly turned the tables, noting that their precious military dispatches would make them far greater targets for outlaws than she would ever be.

When the bandit leader tried to intimidate her, Chu Zhao began pointing out the physical flaws in her disguise: her voice lacked a prominent Adam's apple, her shoulder armor sat too low, and she instinctively walked on her toes to keep her hem out of the dirt. Chu Zhao, having grown up in military camps, knew the habits of soldiers too well.

Realizing she had been exposed, the bandit leader grew hostile, but before she could threaten Chu Zhao, Xie Yanlai slipped in from the shadows and held his blade to her throat, demanding they drop their weapons. With their cover blown, the woman admitted they were actually from Cangmu Stronghold. They suspected someone at court was leaking military dispatches to Shuomo, threatening Yunzhong Prefecture, and had posed as dispatch riders to intercept the traitor.

When Chu Zhao asked why they would protect her father, General Chu Ling, who had killed their former leader Mu Mianhong, the woman declared that they understood the country must come before private vendettas. Touched by their patriotism, Chu Zhao revealed her true identity as Chu Ling’s daughter, explaining she was rushing to her ailing father's side but had encountered trouble. Recognizing her, the bandit leader, Madam Ge, offered both Chu Zhao and Xie Yanlai safe haven in their stronghold.

At the same time, the ruthless Tie Ying arrived in Wuyang Town, hot on Chu Zhao's trail. He questioned a local innkeeper, who recalled a young woman who had recently stayed at the inn before departing with some dispatch riders. The innkeeper added that her mother had rented a carriage to return to the countryside. Tie Ying tracked down the hired procuress who had posed as the mother.

Under his severe threats, the terrified woman confessed that Chu Zhao had paid her to act and had indeed headed toward Yunzhong Prefecture. Intent on delivering Chu Zhao's head to Xiao Xun, Tie Ying ordered his troops to march into Cangmu Forest and eliminate anyone in their path. Madam Ge guided the travelers deep into the dense, trap-laden Cangmu Forest.

Though Xie Yanlai remained deeply skeptical of their hosts, Chu Zhao pointed out that Madam Ge's account matched her father's past, making the stronghold their best option to hide and assess the situation. She playfully teased that she only dared to gamble because she had him to rely on. Upon arrival, Madam Ge introduced them to her brother, Ge Laosan, the leader of Cangmu Stronghold, who was initially hesitant about the newcomers.

To maintain a low profile, they introduced themselves as Ah Fu and Ah Jiu. Ge Laosan eventually welcomed them, and Madam Ge reassured them that the natural barriers of the forest would keep them safe before instructing a steward named Xiaoman to show them to their quarters. Instead of resting, Chu Zhao led Xie Yanlai to slip out and investigate the stronghold's armory.

There, Xie Yanlai discovered rows of modified crossbows featuring a unique seven-point mechanism that increased range while reducing recoil—weapons he had personally modified for General Chu Ling back in the army. Furthermore, he realized that the distinct knots used to bind the dispatch riders earlier were standard frontier troop rigging. This suggested that Chu Ling's past campaign against the stronghold was far more complicated than public rumors suggested, and that the stronghold shared a hidden connection with the frontier army.

Hearing footsteps approaching, the two hurriedly hid in a dark corner, pressed tightly against one another, their breath catching as they avoided each other's eyes in the intimate silence. Later that evening, Chu Zhao tended to Xie Yanlai’s injuries, gently scolding him for abandoning his post in the Capital.

Xie Yanlai admitted his concern for her safety had driven him to leave, noting that while his brother Xie Yanfang would protect the young Emperor Xiao Yu, he had been forced to hand over the Grand Princess Token to keep Deng Yi in check. Chu Zhao understood that Xie Yanfang was a calculating man, but trusted that Deng Yi's presence would keep him from overstepping.

Knowing how badly injured Xie Yanlai was, Chu Zhao had deliberately requested only one room so she could keep watch over him. As the night grew cold, she quietly draped an extra blanket over him to keep him warm. Back in the imperial capital, reports of the dispatch riders being ambushed by Cangmu Stronghold reached the court.

When some officials criticized Chu Ling for failing to eradicate the bandits years ago, Xie Yanfang defended the general, explaining that sparing the innocent women and children after Mu Mianhong's death was a display of imperial benevolence, not a crime. However, Deng Yi presented an urgent dispatch revealing that Shuomo had sent an envoy to Yunzhong, whom Chu Ling had promptly executed.

Deng Yi argued that because the envoy had sneaked into the general's tent with a secret letter, espionage was likely occurring. Suggesting that Chu Ling's advanced age made him unfit to guard the borders, Deng Yi proposed selecting a younger, more capable commander to take over Yunzhong Prefecture, a move Xie Yanfang found difficult to oppose despite knowing Deng Yi's underlying motives.

At the stronghold, the haunting sound of a Sand Fox Whistle—the frontier troop alert for a cavalry raid—shattered the night. Chu Zhao and Xie Yanlai rushed outside to find Ge Laosan interrogating a captured spy who stubbornly refused to speak. Recognizing the threat, Xie Yanlai dragged the man into a room.

After a brief, agonizing interrogation, the spy confessed that Tie Ying’s men had breached the forest and mapped out the stronghold's location, with the main force set to arrive by nightfall. Chu Zhao asked if Xie Yanlai had learned such brutal methods in her father's camp.

He replied that her father always treated captives humanely and urged her to look away from such violence, but Chu Zhao resolutely stated that in order to survive and protect her father, she could not afford to fear the shedding of blood. Deeply moved, Xie Yanlai promised that he would do the killing for her.

The following day, Madam Ge prepared a meal for them and formally addressed Chu Zhao as the Grand Princess, startling Ge Laosan, who jokingly wondered if they had eloped. Chu Zhao explained that Xiao Xun had deceived her in his quest to seize her father’s two hundred thousand frontier troops. Seizing the moment of absolute honesty, Chu Zhao asked Madam Ge for the truth behind her father's past campaign.

Madam Ge confessed that after Mu Mianhong’s death, Chu Ling realized the stronghold's raids were a misunderstanding. Plagued by guilt, he had quietly resettled the survivors and left behind frontier soldiers and weapons to protect them. Reflecting on the explanation later, Xie Yanlai pointed out that the story seemed somewhat embellished, though Chu Zhao believed her father's protective intent was genuine.

Xie Yanlai reassured her that once they dealt with Xiao Xun’s pursuers and passed Wangcheng, they would safely reach Yunzhong Prefecture. Chu Zhao stared out, noting how familiar the road felt; it was the very path she had once taken to flee from her father and everything she loved, leading to her past tragic demise. She asked Xie Yanlai if a second chance at life could truly alter fate.

While Xie Yanlai remembered his own bitter past and mused that a second chance might not change his own station, he admitted things were already different because of her. Chu Zhao then shared her recurring dream, revealing that at the end of her past life, it was Xie Yanlai who had killed Xiao Xun to avenge her family. She vowed that this time, she would face her fears and stand by her father's side, determined to ensure they both survived. Deeply moved by her resolve, Xie Yanlai held her close, promising to face whatever lay ahead together.

Xie Yanlai and Chu Zhao prepare their defense against Tie Ying's impending assault. Xie Yanlai explains that Tie Ying's elite force is notorious for successful night attacks, having devastated Wuyang Pass, Panying Pass, and the Qingshi Stronghold. Noting that their success relies on their exceptional hearing, he suggests setting traps in the bamboo forest to catch them off guard before ambushing them with arrows. Madam Ge gives Xie Yanlai a code whistle to coordinate the stronghold's defenses.

When night falls, Tie Ying's men indeed raid the forest, only to trigger a barrage of hidden mechanisms. Although the invaders suffer heavy casualties, a fierce battle ensues, and Chu Zhao sustains an injury to her arm. In the safety of the stronghold, Xie Yanlai tends to Chu Zhao's wound. His hands shake, prompting Chu Zhao to tease that he is steady when killing but unsteady when applying medicine.

Xie Yanlai blames himself for failing to protect her, admitting that while safeguarding her began as a duty, it has now become his willing devotion. Madam Ge arrives with medicine, reporting that Tie Ying has retreated but warning that Xiaonan Prefecture will surely send more troops. She advises them to leave quickly. To repay the stronghold's sacrifices, Chu Zhao leaves her father's jade pendant, promising they can present it in the Capital to request rewards.

Both Chu Zhao and Xie Yanlai notice Madam Ge's unusually tender gaze, though they sense no ill intent. Before they depart, Chu Zhao presses Madam Ge for the truth about her father's past bandit suppression and Mu Mianhong's death. Madam Ge instead asks what Chu Zhao thinks of her father. Chu Zhao confesses that while the world views him as a hero, she only ever wanted a normal father to carve wooden dolls, watch fireworks, and braid her hair.

Asked about her mother, Chu Zhao describes her as an elegant noblewoman from the Capital, though she has no memory or portrait of her. Looking at her own rough hands, Madam Ge remains silent about her identity but reassures Chu Zhao of her parents' profound love. Outside, Xie Yanlai comforts Chu Zhao, reminding her that her father's willingness to let his guard down for her letter proves his devotion.

Meanwhile, Tie Ying reports the disastrous raid to Xiao Xun, admitting they lost half their men to the traps. Realizing Chu Zhao must pass through Wangcheng to reach Yunzhong Prefecture, Xiao Xun decides to lay an ambush there. He sends word to the Northern Desert King, proposing an alliance where three thousand Northern Desert cavalry will bypass Xiaonan Prefecture to seize Wangcheng, trapping the Yunzhong forces in a pincer movement.

In the Capital, the young Emperor Xiao Yu plays weiqi and frets over Chu Zhao, though his attendant A'Le reassures him that the signs point to her safety. Late at night, Xie Yanfang visits the Emperor, warning that the ailing General Chu Ling may not survive the winter. Xiao Yu suggests appointing Xie Yanlai to command the frontier troops.

Xie Yanfang urges him to prepare the imperial decree, but Deng Yi arrives to halt the process, accusing Xie Yanfang of nepotism. In the Northern Desert camp, the King receives Xiao Xun's message. Recognizing Wangcheng as the weakly guarded rear of Yunzhong Prefecture, he agrees to the swift cavalry strike. In Xiaonan, Xiao Hong expresses concern over his son's dangerous alliance with the Northern Desert.

Xiao Xun insists that Chu Ling's failing health makes this the perfect moment to use the Northern Desert's blade to clear their path, and his father eventually relents. In the Capital, Deng Yi's attempts to replace the Yunzhong generals are thwarted by Xie Yanfang, who intercepts the order. Confronting Deng Yi, Xie Yanfang presents the Grand Princess Token to veto the command, pointing out that Chu Zhao must remain alive to preserve the court's stability.

He also taunts Deng Yi for moving the golden-thread nanmu coffin Chu Zhao had previously bestowed. In the Capital's teahouses, gossip runs wild. Chu Tang overhears noble ladies criticizing her uncle's military leadership. Furious, she defends him, lecturing them on the immense scale and complexity of the frontier before storming out.

She runs into Deng Yi, who remarks that her outspoken nature is bold, especially since she has the Grand Princess to back her up even if her uncle is convicted. Chu Tang retorts sharply but later regrets her impulsiveness, fearing the consequences of offending the Grand Tutor and praying for her uncle's victory and Chu Zhao's swift return. On the road to Wangcheng, Chu Zhao and Xie Yanlai decide to get captured by local patrols to bypass Xiao Xun's spies.

They are stopped by two guards, one of whom Chu Zhao recognizes as Liang Qiang—a brilliant vanguard in her past life who is currently just a low-ranking soldier. Knowing his family's downfall following the Third Prince's rebellion, Chu Zhao offers him a chance at military merit if he escorts them into the city as captured bandits. Liang Qiang agrees but warns them against any tricks.

As they approach Wangcheng, Xie Yanlai notices deeply grooved tracks left by straw-hauling carts, deducing that heavy weapons and equipment have been smuggled in disguised as military supplies. He warns Chu Zhao that Wangcheng is being compromised from within. Upon entering Wangcheng, Liang Qiang presents his captives, but the arrogant local commander immediately orders the bandits executed.

Chu Zhao warns him of the smuggled weapons and the imminent Northern Desert invasion, but the commander accuses her of inciting panic and orders the execution to proceed. Just as the guards move in, Zhong Changrong arrives with his troops, revealing Chu Zhao's identity as the Grand Princess. The terrified commander begs for mercy, and Chu Zhao orders him to secure the city gates and root out the hidden weapons.

Zhong Changrong explains that Xie Yanlai had secretly sent a message to the military, and the anxious General Chu Ling immediately dispatched him to intercept and protect her. Their reunion is cut short when a scout rushes in with dire news: three thousand Northern Desert cavalry have been spotted just fifty li from the city.

The Northern Desert army has surrounded Wangcheng. The local general reports that the enemy has deployed fifteen hundred troops at the North Gate and five hundred at each of the other three gates. Confronted with three thousand elite enemy soldiers and only five hundred garrison troops of their own, the defenders are highly anxious. However, Zhong Changrong points out that their three hundred Chu family soldiers are far from useless, confidently asserting they can defeat the invaders.

They suspect Xiao Xun orchestrated this sudden invasion, opening the borders to foreign forces in a bid to pincer Yunzhong Prefecture and seize the throne. Despite the danger, Chu Zhao refuses to escape, determined to protect the citizens of Wangcheng and thwart Xiao Xun's conspiracy. Madam Ge soon arrives with the men of Cangmu Stronghold to offer their assistance. Although Zhong Changrong and Madam Ge are too shy to greet each other, they quickly join the council in the yamen.

The defenders learn that several Northern Desert spies have already been captured inside the city, indicating the enemy is desperate for a swift victory. Xie Yanlai analyzes the terrain, noting the enemy's water supply comes from a stream to the east, while their provisions are stored to the west. Madam Ge suggests using bone whistles to signal her comrades outside to divert the waterway overnight. Recalling an old, abandoned secret passage at the West Gate, Chu Zhao devises a plan.

She orders the citizens to remain indoors and commands that all defense resources and provisions be moved to the South Gate to serve as a diversion. To convince the Northern Desert forces to focus on the South Gate, Chu Zhao decides to send someone to pretend to defect with their defense map. When the local commander proves too terrified to act, Liang Qiang volunteers.

Chu Zhao promises him a promotion if he succeeds and returns alive, giving him the real map to ensure the lie is indistinguishable from the truth. Escorted into the enemy camp, Liang Qiang presents the map, claiming he betrayed his country because his clan was unjustly exiled. Though the Northern Desert general is initially suspicious, scouts confirm that Wangcheng's provisions are indeed being moved to the South Gate.

Convinced, the general diverts half of his forces from the other gates to launch an immediate assault on the South Gate. That night, a fierce battle erupts at the South Gate. Under the cover of darkness, Xie Yanlai and the Cangmu bandits sneak through the secret passage to the enemy's granary and set it on fire.

Seeing his supplies go up in flames, the Northern Desert general realizes he has been outsmarted, but can only order his men to fight desperately. By morning, the invaders are thoroughly routed, leaving behind two thousand dead while the defenders suffer three hundred casualties. Distressed by the news that Xie Yanlai is missing, Chu Zhao rushes out of the city gates, desperately searching through the bodies.

When Xie Yanlai appears before her, bloodied but alive, he reminds her of his promise to return safely, and Chu Zhao throws herself into his embrace. Word of the stunning victory quickly reaches the capital, elevating Chu Tang's standing among the noble ladies. She proudly defends Guard General Chu Ling's honor and celebrates Chu Zhao's battlefield triumph, organizing a grand banquet to silence those who previously slandered her family.

Meanwhile, the imperial court is in an uproar over the Grand Princess secretly traveling to the frontier while supposedly recovering from an illness. While some ministers criticize her for violating palace decrees, Deng Yi argues that her actions in defending the nation were entirely appropriate.

Emperor Xiao Yu puts an end to the debate by declaring that Chu Zhao went to the border at his personal request, and he orders Deng Yi to have the Ministry of War investigate how the enemy bypassed their defenses. Hoping to mend relations with Deng Yi after her previous rudeness, Chu Tang visits his residence under the pretext of bringing herbal medicine for his mother's persistent cough.

However, Deng Yi's elderly mother, whose eyesight and mind are failing, mistakes Chu Tang for Chu Zhao, whom she fondly remembers for sending millet in the past. The elderly woman warmly encourages Deng Yi not to let such a good match slip away, leaving Chu Tang deeply embarrassed. Deng Yi quickly apologizes for his mother's confusion, and Chu Tang politely takes her leave. In his palace, Xiao Xun is enraged to find his plans thwarted by Chu Zhao once again.

Fearing that the Emperor's investigation will expose his treason, he orders Tie Ying to slaughter all the surviving Northern Desert soldiers fleeing through Xiaonan Prefecture, ensuring that no living witness can implicate him. Back in Wangcheng, Chu Zhao grieves for the three hundred soldiers who perished in the battle. Xie Yanlai comforts her, explaining that their sacrifice saved tens of thousands of lives.

He then reveals that she was the one who had saved him years ago when his own clan tried to beat him to death, inspiring him to survive and follow her path. Chu Zhao is deeply moved to finally realize that the desperate youth she rescued was Xie Yanlai, who now pledges his life entirely to her. Soon after, Liang Qiang delivers three captured Northern Desert maps, one of which features a prominent mark on Wei Village.

The name sounds familiar to Chu Zhao, while Xie Yanlai is instantly reminded of a past fire from which he rescued people. Before returning to Cangmu Stronghold, Madam Ge quietly asks Zhong Changrong about Chu Ling's well-being. Upon hearing that he is still alive, she instructs Zhong to let her know if anything ever happens to him.

Chu Zhao runs up to invite Madam Ge to accompany them to Yunzhong Prefecture, but Madam Ge gently declines, stating she has been away from her stronghold for too long. Meanwhile, in Yunzhong Prefecture, Guard General Chu Ling receives the glorious report of the victory at Wangcheng. He proudly boasts to his officers that the hero returning is not just the Grand Princess, but his beloved daughter.

However, as the officers withdraw, Chu Ling's vision suddenly fails, and he collapses to the ground in total blindness, unable to fulfill his wish of seeing his daughter with his own eyes.