A Splendid Match resumo, enredo, sinopse

Sinopse de A Splendid Match

Gu Jinzhao, the eldest daughter of the Gu family, has lived with her grandmother's family since birth. Neglected by her biological parents but doted on by her grandmother, she grows up living life on her own terms.

After returning to the Gu family, Gu Jinchao keeps her claws out, dealing boldly with all kinds of people and situations, unlike typical young ladies of noble households. Her vibrant and powerful spirit strikes the heart of Chan Yanyun, a powerful cabinet official, and deeply attracts Prince Ye Xian as well as the upright gentleman Chen Xuanqing.

When it comes to marriage, Gu Jinzhao has her own views on love. After gradually seeing clearly where her heart lies, she firmly chooses Chen Yanyun—the man who respects her true nature and allows her to be herself. After their marriage, she grows into a worthy wife of a high-ranking official, helping Chen Yanyun rise step by step to the position of Grand Secretary. Together, they promote policies that benefit the people and ease their suffering, bringing about a peaceful and prosperous era.

Resumos de A Splendid Match

• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5
• 6
• 7
• 8
• 9
• 10
• 11
• 12
• 13
• 14
• 15
• 16
• 17
• 18
• 19
• 20
• 21
• 22
• 23
• 24
• 25
• 26
• 27
• 28
• 29
• 30
• 31
• 32
• 33
• 34
• 35
• 36
• 37
• 38
• 39
• 40

Gu Jinzhao overheard her father, Gu Dezhao, discussing her upcoming coming-of-age ceremony with her cousin, Ji Yao. Gu Dezhao heartlessly refused to contribute a single copper to the event, suggesting that since the Ji family enjoyed grand displays, they should also prepare the gifts for him to present to his own daughter. Overwhelmed by his cold calculation, Gu Jinzhao realized that parental love was a matter of fortune that could not be forced.

Encountering a man with a lantern outside, she snatched it and used the flame to incinerate the gift list and preparations her grandmother had made, vowing to never again expect love from those who did not offer it. Later, Madam Ji discussed the importance of the ceremony with Gu Jinzhao, explaining it was a vital rite for her future marriage prospects.

When Gu Jinzhao and Ji Yao began their usual bickering, Madam Ji jokingly suggested they should simply marry each other. Startled by the prospect, Gu Jinzhao quickly relented and agreed to the ceremony. As they left, they encountered the enigmatic Chen Yanyun. Ji Yao hurried Gu Jinzhao away, warning her that Chen was a dangerous man.

He explained that Chen was pushing a controversial New Tax Edict and had sought refuge at the Ji estate under the guise of illness to escape the wrath of powerful nobles who might hire assassins to stop him. Gu Jinzhao’s mood darkened further when she overheard servants gossiping about how her parents refused to host her ceremony, leaving her to rely on her maternal grandmother’s charity. Seeking solitude, she took a boat to the back hill, reflecting on her past.

When she was only a month old, a fortune teller claimed she would hinder her father’s career, leading Gu Dezhao to cast her away. Years later, when she tried to return home, he had barred her from the gates. Meanwhile, in the same secluded area, the heir of Prince Ruichang confronted Chen Yanyun, demanding he sign a petition to abolish the New Tax Edict.

When Chen refused, he revealed he had brought hidden soldiers and had the heir killed on the spot. Gu Jinzhao, who had fallen asleep on her boat after drinking, woke up just in time to witness the killing. Terrified, she fell into the water. When she regained consciousness at the Ji residence, Ji Yao informed her that Chen Xuanqing had saved her. Madam Ji thanked the young man, but after he left, Ji Yao voiced his suspicions.

He noted that Chen Xuanqing’s clothes were perfectly dry when he supposedly pulled her from the lake, suggesting the true savior was likely Chen Yanyun. Realizing Chen Yanyun must have used his nephew as a cover, Madam Ji ordered that they maintain the lie to avoid political complications, as long as Gu Jinzhao claimed she saw nothing.

Chen Yanyun eventually instructed his nephew, Chen Xuanqing, to deliver imperial medicinal wine to Gu Jinzhao to help her recover, reminding him to stay silent about the rescue. When Chen Xuanqing delivered the gift, Gu Jinzhao presented him with an ancient Duan inkstone and Xuanyuan ink as a token of gratitude. However, her suspicions remained. When she later encountered Chen Yanyun, his silhouette seemed hauntingly familiar.

He mentioned the incident with the lantern from the night she burned the gift list, confirming he was the man she had met at the door. Gu Jinzhao began to wonder if her memories of the back hill were real or merely shadows of a drunken night. Behind the scenes, Madam Ji revealed she was guarding 114 boxes of secret government files salvaged from the water, protected by mutes.

She assured Chen Yanyun that Gu Jinzhao was a carefree girl who hadn't seen anything. Chen Yanyun then informed her that his mother would act as the lead officiant for Gu Jinzhao’s ceremony—a great social honor—but insisted that once the rite was finished, Gu Jinzhao must be sent to the capital. Madam Ji, though hesitant, was forced to agree. On the day of the ceremony, Gu Jinzhao’s cousin arrived in Tongzhou accompanied by Ye Xian, the heir of Marquis Changxing.

During the event, an imperial decree arrived, promoting Chen Yanyun to Director of the Crown Prince's Household and Chief Revenue Censor. As guests flocked to congratulate him, Gu Jinzhao realized that Chen Yanyun had calculated this timing perfectly, using her debut ceremony as a stage for his own political triumph. The atmosphere grew tense when Gu Dezhao attempted to reclaim his daughter to take her back to the capital.

Madam Ji saw through him, knowing he only wanted to avoid being impeached for "abandoning his daughter" during the ongoing review of official conduct. To defy him, Gu Jinzhao intentionally approached Chen Yanyun and provoked her father, knowing he would never dare to discipline her in the presence of such a high-ranking official. Defeated, her father was forced to back down.

Before the day ended, Chen Yanyun sent word through a maid that he and Gu Jinzhao were now "even" for his intrusion on her ceremony. As she left, Gu Jinzhao ignored a greeting from Ye Xian, while Chen Yanyun dismissed the heir as a mere traveler.

Gu Jinzhao’s coming-of-age ceremony was a grand affair, overseen by Madam Chen, the mother of Chen Yanyun and a prestigious figure from the capital. Adorned in a gown crafted by imperial tailors and embroidered by Jiangnan's finest artisans, Jinzhao underwent the traditional three stages of hair-pinning. Madam Chen offered blessings for her to cast aside childhood, cultivate virtue, and enjoy long-lasting prosperity. The ceremony took a tense turn when Jinzhao was required to kowtow to her parents.

Gu Dezhao presented his gift, but Lady Song, his concubine, interrupted to present a gift on behalf of Jinzhao’s biological mother, claiming she was too ill to attend. This was a calculated attempt to force Jinzhao to kowtow to a concubine in front of the guests. Jinzhao remained calm, mockingly praising her father and the concubine for their "harmonious" relationship, suggesting that their three-way bliss was a story worth spreading far and wide.

This sharp wit drew a laugh from Ye Xian, the heir of Marquis Changxing. Not recognizing him, Gu Dezhao scolded the young man for his arrogance and demanded he kneel. Chen Yanyun quickly intervened to reveal Ye Xian’s true identity, explaining that the young lord had simply wished to avoid formalities. A horrified Gu Dezhao immediately apologized and dismissed Lady Song.

Jinzhao, however, took the opportunity to warn her father that such conduct could lead to his impeachment by any other superior. After the ceremony, Madam Ji introduced Jinzhao to Ye Xian. Ye Xian pointed out that since Jinzhao’s cousin, Xian-ge'er, was his nephew, Jinzhao should address him as "Uncle." Jinzhao played along and cheekily asked for a gift. Ye Xian handed her his personal dagger, casually mentioning it was poisoned.

Rather than being intimidated, Jinzhao welcomed the blade, noting that certain people would now have to be much more careful around her. The safety of the household became a major concern following four assassination attempts, including a poisoned well. Madam Ji and Chen Yanyun discussed the necessity of sending Jinzhao to the Gu residence in the capital. Chen Yanyun emphasized that Tongzhou was only the first step in the nationwide land equalization policy, and they could not afford to fail.

Meanwhile, at court, Prince Ruichang led a group of military nobles to petition against the tax reform. Among them was Chen Yanyun’s old friend, Nie Fengming, who accused Chen Yanyun and Fu Hailian of deceiving the Emperor. The Emperor, enraged by the nobles' greed and their claim of "ruling the realm together" with the imperial family, ordered Nie dragged out and declared that land equalization would be implemented nationwide within a year.

Jinzhao was reluctant to return to the capital, remembering how her father had heartlessly barred her from the house when she was only six. She suspected Chen Yanyun was pulling the strings behind her forced relocation. Before she left, Madam Ji assured her of her support and assigned Luo Yongping to accompany her. On the road, Jinzhao’s carriage fell behind, and she noticed her horse becoming strangely restless. Their journey was interrupted when they crossed paths with Ye Xian again.

Without warning, Ye Xian fired an arrow near the horse, causing it to bolt in terror. Jinzhao was forced to use her new dagger to kill the animal to prevent the carriage from crashing. When their steward, Ping, investigated, they discovered steel needles hidden in the horse's belly. The needles would have eventually driven the horse mad, causing it to plunge off a nearby cliff within half an hour.

Ye Xian’s arrow had actually saved their lives by forcing the horse to react sooner. Ping realized that assassins were targeting Jinzhao to pressure Madam Ji into stopping the land reform. Despite the danger, Ye Xian warned Jinzhao that returning now would only make her a more vulnerable target for her grandmother’s enemies. Upon reaching the capital, Gu Dezhao prepared to give his daughter an intimidating welcome to ensure she followed his rules.

However, he was humiliated when he opened the main gates to receive what he thought was the heir of Marquis Changxing, only to kneel before the carriage just as Jinzhao stepped out. Ye Xian mocked the sight of a father kneeling to his daughter. When Gu Dezhao tried to blame Jinzhao’s lack of upbringing for her behavior, Ye Xian pointedly mentioned the rumors that Gu Dezhao had abandoned his child. Inside the residence, the tension persisted.

Jinzhao’s mother was heartbroken when her daughter formally addressed her as "Madam" rather than "Mother." At dinner, Gu Dezhao ordered Jinzhao to accompany him to a birthday banquet for the wife of his mentor, Lin Xianzhong, purely to dispel rumors of his neglect. The evening soured further when Nanny Zhou, Lady Song’s attendant, intentionally stirred trouble by reporting that Lady Song had burned her hand while preparing medicine.

She then brought up Jinzhao’s arrival in a carriage with a man, causing Gu Dezhao to erupt in fury at his wife over their daughter’s supposed disgrace. Jinzhao, having overheard Lady Song and Nanny Zhou plotting to intimidate her, burst into the room to confront them, demanding to know who exactly was the true lady of the house.

Nanny Zhou suggests to Lady Song that they should intimidate Gu Jinzhao to establish who truly holds power in the household. However, Gu Jinzhao turns the tables by arriving under the pretext of learning how to brew medicine, noting that Lady Song supposedly performs this task for Lady Han every day. Forced into a corner by her own lies, Lady Song tries to brew the medicine but nearly starts a fire due to her incompetence.

Gu Dezhao arrives to find the chaotic scene, and Gu Jinzhao immediately exposes the deception, explaining that Nanny Zhou lied about Lady Song’s daily contributions, which resulted in the spilled medicine and the dangerous fire. Gu Jinzhao then brings up a painful memory from nine years ago. She reveals that she traveled alone to the capital at the age of six to see her parents, only to be refused entry and chased away.

She describes how Nanny Zhou pushed her and pinched her neck until it was swollen while Gu Dezhao watched. Fearing that his own role in abandoning his daughter would be exposed to Lady Han, Gu Dezhao feigns outrage at the "wicked servant" for defying her superiors. Although he initially orders ten strokes for Nanny Zhou, Gu Jinzhao insists on twenty, forcing him to play along with her performance to appease her grievance.

After the punishment, Gu Jinzhao tells her maid that her father only punished Nanny Zhou to silence her and protect his own reputation, as he was the one who originally ordered her exclusion from the manor. Meanwhile, Lady Song has Gu Lan apply ointment to Nanny Zhou’s wounds. Gu Lan criticizes them for their constant lying, but Nanny Zhou warns her that as a daughter of a concubine, her comfortable life depends on keeping the legitimate daughter, Gu Jinzhao, away.

She describes Gu Jinzhao as cunning and ruthless, urging Gu Lan to fight for her status before it is too late. At the Bureau of Justice, Chen Yanyun visits the imprisoned Nie Fengming. While Nie Fengming puts on a show of defiance for any onlookers, it is revealed through their history that they are secret allies. Chen reveals that the Emperor has officially launched the land equalization policy nationwide, starting with a trial in Tongzhou.

Despite their shared goal to save the dynasty, the Emperor sentences Nie Fengming to be flogged to death for his public insolence against the late emperor. Chen Yanyun watches in silence as his friend is led to his execution, hiding their connection to ensure their long-term plans do not fail. Chen Yanyun later meets with his allies to discuss the next steps.

They acknowledge that while Nie Fengming’s disruption helped launch the policy, the main obstacle remains Grand Secretary Fan Chuan. Chen Yanyun proposes targeting Fan Chuan’s right-hand man, the Vice Minister of Revenue, Lin Xianzhong. He plans to use the upcoming birthday banquet for Lin’s wife to execute his scheme.

During the banquet, Gu Jinzhao overhears guests whispering about the dangerous situation in Tongzhou, mentioning that her grandmother's home has been set on fire and that the elderly woman must test her food with silver needles to avoid poisoning. Worried, Gu Jinzhao follows Chen Yanyun to a secluded backyard. She witnesses him blackmailing Lin Xianzhong, revealing that the Bureau of Justice has captured Su Yuanhang, who confessed to purchasing 30,000 mu of land for Lin at a suspiciously low price.

Chen Yanyun also reveals he knows Lin has been secretly investigating Fan Chuan’s family for leverage. Chen Yanyun notices Gu Jinzhao and questions her presence. When she begs for her grandmother’s safety, Chen Yanyun tells her that the Tongzhou trial is the first step of the New Tax Edict and must succeed at any cost.

He emphasizes that the Ji family must show their resolve through sacrifice, and Gu Jinzhao realizes she is being used as a symbol of that commitment. Ye Xian interrupts the conversation, warning Gu Jinzhao to stay away from Chen Yanyun. He points out that since the Gu family belongs to Fan Chuan’s faction, they could be ruined if Lin Xianzhong falls. Gu Jinzhao decides to protect her father from being implicated.

During the banquet, she deliberately undermines and humiliates Gu Dezhao in front of the other guests, mocking his reliance on a concubine to manage his household and his extravagant spending on bird’s nests for his mistress. Ashamed and angry, Gu Dezhao leaves the banquet early, unknowingly avoiding the Bureau of Justice's raid. Later, Chen Yanyun captures Lin’s butler, Lin Wu, ensuring he has caught the Vice Minister red-handed. Back at the manor, Gu Jinzhao writes a letter to her grandmother.

Knowing Chen Yanyun will intercept it, she expresses her wariness of him and asks about any events involving him during her past coming-of-age ceremony. Chen Yanyun reads the letter and realizes she is signaling her cooperation and silence. Meanwhile, Gu Dezhao, relieved to have escaped the political fallout, instructs Lady Song to find a matchmaker for Gu Jinzhao. He intends to marry her to the son of Liu Siyu, believing Liu is destined to replace the fallen Lin Xianzhong as the next Vice Minister of Revenue.

Lady Song is initially conflicted about the marriage proposal for Gu Jinzhao. While she resents that such a prestigious match isn't for her own daughter, Gu Lan, Nanny Zhou warns her that the prospect is a trap. Young Lord Liu Xiancheng is a notorious lecher who has already bedded several maids at the age of eighteen and even keeps a mistress.

Despite Lady Song’s hesitation to act out of spite, Nanny Zhou convinces her that facilitating this marriage is the perfect way to gain permanent leverage over the headstrong Gu Jinzhao. Within the Gu mansion, Gu Lan informs Jinzhao that a matchmaker has arrived to propose an alliance with the Liu family, a noble clan whose patriarch, Liu Siyu, is set to become the Vice Minister of Revenue.

Jinzhao is immediately suspicious, arguing that the rush to exchange birth date cards makes her look desperate. A tense family discussion follows where Jinzhao insists that her grandmother, Madam Ji, must approve of the match. Her father, Gu Dezhao, dismisses this, citing that marital matters are governed by parental authority. He uses Jinzhao’s outspoken behavior at recent banquets to justify a hasty marriage, claiming her reputation is already failing.

When Jinzhao points out that her parents once ignored familial opposition to marry each other, her father erupts in anger and calls her unfilial. Gu Dezhao grounds Jinzhao to prevent further defiance, but Gu Lan helps her sneak out in disguise to witness the release of the Autumn Exam results at the Fuchun Teahouse. There, they observe Liu Xiancheng acting crudely and mocking the women gathered to see the candidates.

In contrast, Chen Xuanqing displays his gentlemanly nature by defending the ladies' reputations, arguing that a gentleman should never stain a woman’s name with idle chatter. As the results are posted, Chen Yanwen (the Fourth Master) is overjoyed to find he has passed in forty-ninth place.

Amidst the celebration, Chen Xuanqing reflects on the dark truth he discovered regarding his father’s death: it was Chen Yanwen who pushed him into the pond and pried his fingers from the bank to ensure he drowned. Shortly after, the crowd erupts as Chen Xuanqing is announced as the top scholar (Jieyuan) for his work on The Spring and Autumn Annals.

Chen Yanyun (the Third Master) is less than pleased with the news, worrying that Xuanqing’s success draws too much unwanted attention. He is also frustrated that Yanwen passed solely because examiners wanted to curry favor with the Chen family, fearing the harm such an unworthy man could do in the bureaucracy. When his carriage axle breaks near the marketplace, Yanyun encounters Gu Jinzhao.

She offers him a piece of jujube cake and, sensing his hidden displeasure, decides to change her congratulatory gifts to the Chen family from lavish silks to something far more ordinary to avoid standing out. Sensing the walls closing in, Jinzhao sends a letter to the Marquis of Changxing’s mansion to lure out a spy, successfully identifying their driver, Old Huang, as the informant.

Chen Yanyun realizes he was played by Jinzhao when he sees the unsealed letter and realizes she knew she was being watched, prompting him to withdraw his men. In the palace, Ye Xian serves as the Crown Prince’s study companion. To distract the Prince from his heavy workload, Ye Xian helps him tame a pet named Frosty using honey. When Chen Yanyun arrives and finds the Prince neglecting his studies, he orders punishment for the deception.

Ye Xian attempts to take the strikes for the Prince, and Yanyun sentences him to thirty strikes for failing to guide his charge. Yanyun later admits to Mr. Jiang that the beating was a calculated move to allow Ye Xian to leave the palace on medical leave so he can assist Gu Jinzhao. After his release, Ye Xian sneaks over the Gu mansion walls to visit the grounded Jinzhao.

He mocks her for her bad tea and her deteriorating reputation, but Jinzhao remains resolute. She declares that regardless of her father’s persistence, she will never marry into the Liu family and is prepared to cause a major scene to protect her life and her future.

To escape her arranged marriage to the Liu family, Gu Jinchao presents Ye Xian with a plan that avoids involving the power of the Marquis’s residence. She gives him her "nominal talisman", explaining that she has been under the protection of Taoist Priest Qingxu since infancy. Years ago, a single word from this priest convinced her father, Gu Dezhao, to send her away to Tongzhou.

Knowing the priest is motivated by money, Jinchao believes she can bribe him to help her just as her father once did. Before Ye Xian departs, Jinchao notices his hand injuries and learns he was punished by Chen Yanyun for helping her out of the palace. Ye Xian promises to send updates through Li Xianhuai. As Ye Xian scales the wall to leave, he is spotted by Gu Lan.

Consumed by jealousy, Gu Lan rants to her maid, Zi Ling, noting that Ye Xian—newly appointed as the Crown Prince’s study companion—has visited Jinchao four or five times in just over a month, whereas Gu Lan only sees the young Marquis once a year during New Year celebrations.

Meanwhile, Chen Yanyun receives a set of valuable gifts from Jinchao: a jade carving of a carriage and a set of "Four Gentlemen" (plum, orchid, bamboo, and chrysanthemum) jade paperweights—two green and two white. He perceives the carriage as a test regarding his previous surveillance of her, while the paperweights serve as a declaration of her innocence ("clear and white") and a subtle thank-you for releasing Ye Xian.

Chen Yanyun reflects that while Jinchao is exceptionally clever, she is ultimately a young girl living in constant fear. In the Xuanmiao Temple, Ye Xian uses the talisman to secure a deal with Taoist Priest Qingxu. Soon after, Gu Dezhao announces that the priest has found the horoscopes of Jinchao and Liu Xiancheng to be a terrible match, claiming Liu "clashes with his relatives."

To save face, Gu Dezhao tells the Liu family that Jinchao’s grandmother is simply too reluctant to let her marry so young. Jinchao seizes the moment to mention that someone has been spending money to ruin her reputation. This prompts Mother Zhao, a servant of Jinchao's mother (Lady Han), to reveal Liu Xiancheng’s depravity, exposing his numerous concubines and mistresses. The truth causes Lady Han to explode in anger at Song Myuhua (Song Myuhua), who had hidden the facts.

Although Lady Han orders Song Myuhua and Mother Zhou to be beaten and exiled to a farm, Song Myuhua successfully manipulates Gu Dezhao’s emotions. She reminds him that she was the daughter of a fourth-rank official who sacrificed her status and family to become his concubine. Gu Dezhao softens and cancels the exile.

Lady Han faints from the stress, and Song Myuhua follows up with a "bitter meat" tactic, returning the household management tablets and keys to Lady Han to make Gu Dezhao feel even more guilty for doubting her. Song Myuhua then urges Gu Lan to target Chen Xuanqing for marriage, believing the adopted scholar is a perfect match for a concubine's daughter.

The Chen family prepares for a celebration as Chen Xuanqing has become the "Jieyuan" (top scholar) and the Fourth Master, Chen Yanying, has also passed the exams. Chen Yanyun, wary of political scrutiny during his tax reforms, convinces his mother to turn the grand feast into a modest chrysanthemum-viewing party. However, the arrogant Fourth Master orders his servant, Yu Zhu, to invite all his failed classmates just to gloat.

When Yu Zhu tries to advise against such vanity, the Fourth Master beats him to death. An enraged Chen Yanyun confronts him, revealing he knows that the Fourth Master also murdered their younger brother, Xiao Wu, years ago out of jealousy. He gives Yanying a choice: withdraw from the imperial examinations permanently or be turned over to the authorities.

On the day of the party, the Crown Prince, feeling stifled in the palace, sneaks out with Ye Xian to the Chen residence. He adopts the alias "Wang Zhang," pretending to be Ye Xian’s cousin. Although Chen Yanyun immediately sees through the disguise, he is forced to play along to avoid a scene, assigning Chen Xuanqing to accompany them. During the festivities, the guests play a riddle game with high-stakes prizes.

Gu Jinchao offers a precious five-colored willow leaf vase, while Ye Xian shocks everyone by putting up a "Rumi" firearm. When Ye Xian playfully points the weapon at Chen Xuanqing, Jinchao quickly intervenes, reminding him that causing a scene would be an insult to the hostess, Old Madam Chen. Ye Xian backs down, though he continues to tease Jinchao about her fear of death. Observing from the shadows, Chen Yanyun orders extra security for the Prince.

To ensure Chen Xuanqing is not outshined during the game, Chen Yanyun sends over the same jade paperweights Jinchao gave him, realizing she had used the gift as an excuse to support the Chen family.

Gu Jinzhao is surprised to see the jade paperweights she previously gifted to Chen Yanyun being used as prizes in the riddle game. She realizes that by offering such an expensive item, Chen Yanyun is subtly signaling that the gift was too lavish. To maintain her reputation and ensure they both remain "crystal clear" from any suspicion of bribery or favoritism, she vows to win them back.

Meanwhile, the game continues as Ye Xian rewards a fellow student with a firelock for solving his puzzle. Gu Jinzhao eventually wins back her gift by solving Chen Xuanqing's riddle; she correctly identifies the answer as a "Pestle" (Chun) by cleverly connecting the wood radical with the earthly branch for "noon" (Wu). Later, the Crown Prince, still disguised as Lord Wang, wanders off and discovers a painting in a private room.

He is deeply impressed by the artwork and expresses a desire to own it. When asked for her opinion, Gu Jinzhao observes that the "Taige script" used in the inscription shows over a decade of disciplined practice, suggesting it was painted by a mature and respected scholar. While she acknowledges its majestic spirit, she critiques the work as feeling somewhat superficial, as if it lacked genuine emotion.

Chen Yanyun, who had been listening from behind the door, reveals himself as the artist. Gu Jinzhao is mortified to have criticized his work to his face and quickly begs for forgiveness, but Chen Yanyun is magnanimous. He gives the painting to the Crown Prince and then easily solves Gu Jinzhao’s own abacus riddle, which had previously stumped everyone else. On the Double Ninth Festival, Gu Jinzhao visits Baoxiang Temple to pray for her grandmother’s health.

There, she encounters Ye Xian, who has sneaked out for a mountain hike but suddenly suffers a flare-up of his chronic heart condition. Since it is a day off and his guards have no medicine on hand, the situation becomes dire. Gu Jinzhao takes decisive action, instructing her maid, Qingpu, to help her. While Qingpu applies pressure to Ye Xian's Danzhong acupoint, Gu Jinzhao uses her hairpin to stimulate his hand acupoints, successfully stabilizing him until he regains consciousness.

As Ye Xian is carried down the mountain for further care, Gu Jinzhao finds her own path blocked by guards who are clearing the way for a high-ranking noble. Impatient to return home, Gu Jinzhao searches for a shortcut and accidentally witnesses a group of assassins attempting to kill the Crown Prince. However, the attack was anticipated; Chen Yanyun and officials from the Bureau of Justice had leaked the Crown Prince's location as a trap to draw out the conspirators.

During the skirmish, Chen Yanyun rescues Gu Jinzhao. Terrified that she will be silenced for witnessing such a sensitive event, Gu Jinzhao pleads for her life. Chen Yanyun forces her to swallow a pill—which he describes as a way to ensure her silence—and promises that as long as the secret is kept, her family will remain safe.

The subsequent interrogation by Zhang Ling reveals that the assassins are led by a man surnamed Xiao, believed to be Xiao Qishan, a former advisor to the late Prince Chengqing. It becomes clear that Prince Ruichang has been employing the late prince's old followers, suggesting he still harbors deep resentment over Prince Chengqing’s death and is plotting against the current regime.

Chen Yanyun and Zhang Ling agree to cooperate closely under their mentor’s direction to handle the fallout of this attempted coup. On the way back, Gu Jinzhao admits to Chen Yanyun that she has finally remembered seeing him once before: the night she stole a lantern before her coming-of-age ceremony. As they speak, she confesses her dislike for the capital, finding its strict rules stifling compared to her childhood in Tongzhou.

She fondly recalls the vibrant docks, temple fairs, and the spectacular molten iron fireworks her grandmother used to arrange, which are forbidden in the capital. Chen Yanyun listens quietly, noting that his own ancestral home is also in Tongzhou and is currently managed by her grandmother. Soon after, Chen Yanyun asks Gu Jinzhao to help him with a private matter: settling the family of his late friend, Nie Fengming, a former Cloud Cavalry official.

Gu Jinzhao discovers that Madam Nie and her young daughter, Xiangyun, are being harassed in Fentiao Alley by greedy relatives who intend to seize the family assets. Gu Jinzhao's servants intervene just in time to stop the looters. She relocates the family to her silk shop for safety and provides them with string puppets and medicine.

When Gu Jinzhao asks Chen Yanyun to provide more permanent help for the widow and orphan, he refuses to be officially linked to them for political reasons. Undeterred, Gu Jinzhao decides she will take care of the Nie family herself, ensuring her actions do not jeopardize Chen Yanyun's position.

Determined to help the Nie family despite Chen Yanyun's cold exterior, Gu Jinzhao declared she would take matters into her own hands to ensure his reputation remained untarnished. Watching her leave, Chen Yanyun realized her outburst was a calculated move. He recognized that she had deliberately picked a fight to distance him from her actions, protecting him from political fallout while she pursued her plan to save Madam Nie and her daughter, Xiangyun.

Following through, Jinzhao instructed her household to never speak of Lord Nie’s situation again to avoid charges of deceiving the sovereign. Her butler, Ping, successfully arranged a refuge for Madam Nie. He located a former colleague of Lord Nie named Mr. Lv, who had established an embroidery business in the capital using a loan once provided by the Nie family.

Grateful for the past help, Mr. Lv agreed to hire Madam Nie as an instructor with a steady wage and housing. To ensure their safety, Ping planned to move them discreetly into the shop's backyard. Soon after, Jinzhao’s cousin, Ji Yao, arrived in the capital to begin his studies, bringing gifts from their grandmother, Madam Ji. The offerings included premium snacks, fermented tofu, and scholar’s tools for the Gu household, along with specially selected fabrics for Jinzhao.

When the two cousins met, Jinzhao was eager for news, but Ji Yao took a stern tone. Having reached the age of fifteen, he insisted they maintain a proper distance. Jinzhao found his sudden adherence to etiquette irritating, suspecting he was simply terrified their grandmother might try to arrange a marriage between them.

During a welcoming dinner, the family discussed Ji Yao’s future at the prestigious Cunshan Academy, which he entered thanks to a recommendation from Chen Xuanqing, the nephew of Chen Yanyun. Jinzhao offered to accompany him to the academy the next day.

This sparked gossip within the household; while Lady Song tried to push Gu Lan to join them to build a connection with Chen Xuanqing, Gu Lan refused, convinced that Jinzhao was the one who actually harbored feelings for the young scholar. Meanwhile, Ye Xian, the Heir of Longxing, sought out Jinzhao to show his gratitude for her help during his recent heart episode. Finding only Gu Lan at home, he learned Jinzhao had gone to the academy.

Though annoyed by the suggestion that she was seeking a marriage prospect at the school, he instructed his servant to send her an invitation for dinner later, unwilling to remain in her debt. At the same time, Ye Xian resisted his mother’s pleas to resign from his post at the Eastern Palace, despite the strictness of his tutor, Chen Yanyun. At Cunshan Academy, Jinzhao was captivated by the serene environment.

During a conversation with Chen Xuanqing, she learned of the headmaster’s interest in opening a school for women and asked to be kept informed. As they toured the grounds, she noticed Chen Xuanqing’s calligraphy and recognized the influence of Chen Yanyun’s style. They discussed the nuances of the Liu Gongquan technique, and Xuanqing revealed that while his uncle preferred the bold spirit of the Diamond Sutra copybook, he felt his own temperament was still too reserved.

That evening, Jinzhao reflected on her future with her maid, Qingpu. Realizing she could not rely on her father, Lord Gu, to protect her interests, she concluded she must take charge of her own marriage. When Qingpu asked if she had truly taken an interest in Chen Xuanqing, Jinzhao admitted he was a suitable candidate, though she remained mindful of the complexities within the Chen household.

Their conversation was interrupted by Nanny Zhao, who brought word that Madam Ji would arrive in the capital the next morning. The following day, Jinzhao went to meet her grandmother amidst a heavy downpour. The atmosphere turned grim when she saw several bodies being transported, evidence of a violent ambush on the road. Her anxiety peaked until a guard sent by Chen Yanyun arrived to reassure her that Madam Ji was safe and finishing her work.

The reunion was emotional, and Jinzhao was struck by how much the stress of the land equalization project in Tongzhou had aged her grandmother. At the palace, the Grand Chancellor, Lord Fu, reviewed the newly arrived land registration records (the "Yulin" charts). He was highly satisfied with the results, noting that these records were the foundation for the dynasty's stability and tax control. He praised Chen Yanyun and Madam Ji for their success. However, political tensions remained high.

In the Eastern Palace, a confrontation erupted when Prince Ruichang attempted to harm the Crown Prince’s dog, Frosty. Ye Xian intervened, mocking the Prince by bringing up the sudden death of his son. The incident raised suspicions about why the Prince had been loitering near the remote north gate of the Eastern Palace without an official announcement. Despite the political success, Jinzhao remained deeply concerned for her grandmother’s well-being.

She visited the Chen Mansion and begged Chen Yanyun to exempt Madam Ji from the upcoming land equalization efforts in Northern Zhili. Jinzhao even offered to take her grandmother’s place, insisting she could handle the travel and the calculations. Chen Yanyun treated her request coldly and had her escorted out. However, his subordinate later noted that he had already decided to let Madam Ji retire and simply record her experiences.

Chen Yanyun admitted he couldn't grant Jinzhao's plea on the spot to avoid the appearance of impropriety in state affairs. Before leaving the mansion, Jinzhao ran into Chen Xuanqing, who was returning to collect some books. He offered to lend her a book with a sharp, critical tone that Jinzhao found fascinating. As her grandmother prepared to return to Tongzhou with the news of her exemption, Jinzhao stayed up late into the night reading. She was determined to finish the book quickly so she could return it to Xuanqing, her mind finally finding peace now that her grandmother was safe from further danger.

As Madam Ji prepares to return to Tongzhou, she offers Gu Jinzhao a final warning, noting that life in the capital is far more taxing than in her hometown. She urges Jinzhao to remain sensible and never hesitate to send word if she faces hardships she cannot carry alone. Meanwhile, within the Gu household, Lady Song and Gu Lan are embittered by the budget for Gu Lan’s upcoming coming-of-age ceremony.

Despite Gu Lan’s maternal family holding a fourth-rank official status, the common treasury has only allotted two hundred taels for the event. Gu Lan is deeply resentful, knowing that Jinzhao’s own ceremony cost ten thousand taels, funded entirely by the wealthy Ji family. When a messenger from the Marquis of Changxing arrives to deliver an invitation for Jinzhao to dine at Linxia Zhai, Gu Lan intercepts and hides it, determined to thwart Jinzhao’s meeting with Ye Xian.

Unaware of the invitation, Jinzhao is called by Lady Han to receive three pairs of handmade, goose-down kneepads intended for the men of the family. While Jinzhao is happy to give pairs to Ji Yao and the soon-to-return Gu Jinrong, she is reluctant to do anything for her father. Lady Han advises her that regardless of his faults, maintaining a filial appearance is vital for her marriage prospects.

Jinzhao decides to head to Cunshan Academy immediately to deliver the kneepads to Ji Yao and return a borrowed book to Chen Xuanqing. At the same time, Ye Xian waits fruitlessly at the restaurant before learning that Jinzhao has gone to the academy instead. At the academy, Chen Xuanqing is occupied with a lecturer and asks Ji Yao to retrieve the book from Jinzhao. However, Ji Yao refuses, fearing his cousin's temper since she did not specifically ask for him.

They eventually send a scholar named Zhang to meet her. Just as Jinzhao hands over the book, Ye Xian arrives and mockingly accuses her of meeting a lover. He proceeds to bully Scholar Zhang, cruelly baiting him with a promise of a high-ranking position in the Marquis's household if he abandons his upcoming exams. When the desperate scholar agrees, Ye Xian reveals it was a mere joke to expose the man's "worthless" character.

The humiliation is so great that Zhang collapses, coughing up blood. The conflict escalates as Jinzhao scolds Ye Xian for his arrogance, calling him an idle noble who contributes nothing to society while others toil in the fields or study by candlelight. Enraged, Ye Xian strikes her with a whip, injuring her arm before Chen Xuanqing and Ji Yao can intervene. After Jinzhao is led away, Xuanqing finds the notes she dropped.

In them, she writes about the "stranger at home" and her humorous method of self-consolation: blaming others instead of questioning herself and eating lavishly at Linxia Zhai until her mind is too stuffed to feel sorrow. Gu Jinrong returns from the academy early, bringing gifts for his sisters. He presents Jinzhao with a jade bracelet worth five taels, privately hoping she will reciprocate with expensive antiques or paintings.

To Gu Lan, he gives a handmade ivory concentric ball, which she uses to taunt Jinzhao about the value of handmade gifts. Jinzhao, however, simply gives Jinrong the handmade kneepads. Disappointed by the lack of a valuable return gift, Jinrong complains to Gu Lan and later attempts to borrow money from her, revealing he is in undisclosed financial trouble. To appease him, Jinzhao eventually offers him some of her calligraphies and paintings.

The tension continues as Chen Xuanqing’s servant, Yunting, visits Jinzhao to invite her to celebrate his master’s birthday on the seventeenth at Yong'an Bridge. Gu Lan’s people overhear the plan and quickly report back. Meanwhile, at the Chen mansion, Old Lady Chen discusses Chen Xuanqing’s future, expressing her desire to betroth him to Yu Wanxue of the esteemed Yu family. She believes it is an excellent match and plans to exchange birth date cards after the Spring Festival.

Ye Xian’s reckless behavior finally catches up with him. After a night of heavy drinking where he nearly clashes with the Grand Secretary and Chen Yanyun at the restaurant, his mother informs him of a royal decree. The Emperor has dismissed him from his position as the Crown Prince’s study companion, using his heart condition as a public excuse. The announcement brings great shame to his father, the Marquis. To escape his father’s fury, Ye Xian is told to flee to his sister’s residence in Daxin to hide.

Ye Xian confronted Chen Yanyun, demanding to know if he or Fu Hailian was responsible for his removal as the Crown Prince’s study companion. Chen Yanyun admitted to making the suggestion to the Emperor, labeling Ye Xian a "man of despair" whose influence was unsuitable for the Prince.

Despite losing his formal position, Ye Xian managed to maintain his connection by sending toys to the Prince, who was so moved that he granted Ye Xian an imperial token for unrestricted access to the Eastern Palace. Chen Yanyun later explained to his aide, Chen Yi, that his true motive was to protect military nobles like the Marquis of Changxing.

With the Emperor’s suspicion toward the military intensifying after the assassination attempt on the Prince, Chen Yanyun believed that distancing Ye Xian from the palace would shield his family from a political purge, ensuring capable leaders remained available for the nation’s future needs. Meanwhile, Chen Xuanqing asked Chen Yanyun to postpone his marriage until after the Spring Exams.

In response, Chen Yanyun took him to the cenotaph of his biological father, Lin Zhengwei, and shattered Xuanqing’s belief that his father had died a hero. He revealed that Lin Zhengwei was a criminal executed for colluding with river bandits and causing the deaths of over a hundred soldiers. Chen Yanyun had only adopted him out of pity and a sense of debt.

He explained that the marriage to the Yu family was a strategic necessity to ensure Yu Kaiji’s silence regarding Xuanqing’s heritage, leaving Xuanqing to choose between the betrothal or public exposure. Gu Jinzhao, hoping to clarify Chen Xuanqing’s feelings, sent him a kite as a token of her affection. Gu Lan attempted to use this act to ruin Jinzhao’s reputation, but Gu Jinrong unexpectedly defended his sister, insisting that protecting the family's honor was more important than Gu Lan’s grievances.

Burdened by the truth of his birth, Xuanqing felt he could no longer face Jinzhao and returned her belongings, effectively rejecting her. Though saddened, Jinzhao found peace in knowing she had at least expressed her heart. As the New Year approached, the Grand Secretary praised the success of the land equalization policy in Tongzhou. To publicize these achievements, Chen Yanyun suggested reviving the grand Mount Ao lantern displays and inviting national troupes for molten iron fireworks and other festivities.

He emphasized that these celebrations should be held in the Emperor’s name to show his benevolence to the people, an idea the Grand Secretary highly approved. During the Gu household's New Year feast, Lady Han hid her bloody cough from the family to avoid ruining Jinzhao’s first New Year at home. However, it was revealed that her illness was being worsened by Nanny Zhou, who had been secretly lacing Lady Han’s medicine with rhubarb.

This was a calculated move to keep Lady Han bedridden, allowing Song Yiniang to maintain her grasp on the household affairs. At the lantern festival, Jinzhao was enchanted by the molten iron fireworks that reminded her of Tongzhou. While trying to get a better view, she lost her balance and fell into the freezing river. A masked man dove in and rescued her; when he spoke, Jinzhao recognized the voice of Chen Yanyun.

She realized he was the same person who had saved her in the mountains of Tongzhou, meaning he had now saved her life three times. Back at his residence, Chen Yanyun painted a portrait of Jinzhao, struck by her likeness, and briefly considered summoning her before deciding to let the matter rest for the night.

As the New Year approaches, the Gu family prepares for a significant journey to their ancestral home in Daxin to celebrate the grandmother’s sixtieth birthday. Gu Dezhao instructs that the gifts this year must be exceptionally generous, especially to honor the Fifth Lady, a noble daughter of the Marquis of Changxing who is currently pregnant. While the family readies for the trip, Gu Jinzhao’s mother remains behind, citing a worsening cough that has left her frail.

Nanny Zhao confides in Jinzhao that the mother’s absence is strategic; the ancestral family has long been eyeing her substantial dowry, and staying away prevents further pressure to move back. Jinzhao realizes that her father’s decision to establish his own household years ago was a calculated move to protect his wife’s assets from the financially struggling, yet outwardly grand, Gu elders.

Upon arriving at the ancestral manor, Jinzhao is struck by its immense scale and opulence, which even rivals the wealthy Ji family. She questions how her uncle, Gu Deyuan, can maintain such extravagance on his salary as a fourth-rank Assistant Censor-in-Chief, only to be told the wealth is inherited. Inside, the family gathers to pay their respects to the grandmother.

The atmosphere is soon thick with gossip as Gu Lian, prompted by letters from Gu Lan, interrogates Jinzhao about a rumored engagement to the Liu family and her frequent meetings with the young heir, Ye Xian. Jinzhao remains composed, sharply correcting the distinction between a marriage proposal and a formal engagement. she reminds her cousins that as a daughter of the Gu family, such rumors tarnish everyone's reputation, and firmly asserts her authority as the elder sister.

The arrival of the Fifth Aunt and the high-status Ye Xian momentarily shifts the focus. The family gathers for an opera performance by the Chuncao Troupe, where Ye Xian intentionally seats himself next to Jinzhao. He attempts to engage her in a discussion about the tactical errors of Cao Cao, but Jinzhao, wary of the surrounding eyes, ignores him and makes an excuse to leave.

While she is away, Gu Lian and Gu Lan continue to disparage her, mocking her merchant-class upbringing and her supposed lack of refinement. Ye Xian follows Jinzhao into the garden to return a handkerchief she dropped, but their encounter quickly turns into a heated argument. He teases her about the rescue at the City God Temple, revealing he saw the Third Master of Chen, Chen Yanyun, save her from the river.

Jinzhao is mortified by his boldness and refuses to reclaim the handkerchief when the Fifth Aunt appears, fearing the implications of a private exchange. Later, during a group embroidery session meant to please the grandmother, Jinzhao intentionally produces a crude, moth-like butterfly to hide her true skill and distance herself from the handkerchief Ye Xian still holds.

When Gu Lian mocks her upbringing, Jinzhao retaliates by accurately identifying Gu Lian’s Golden Cicada Ruyi hairpin as a gold-plated counterfeit from the Ji family’s own workshop, leaving her cousin humiliated. In a misguided attempt to help, Ye Xian gives Jinzhao’s exquisitely embroidered handkerchief to Gu Lan, who presents it to the grandmother to prove Jinzhao’s talent. Afterward, Jinzhao finds a wounded cat and attempts to help it, leading to a moment of truce with Ye Xian.

He assists her with medicine but remains cynical about interfering with fate. The tension breaks when Ye Xian confesses he was only angry because she had stood him up after he sent her an invitation. Jinzhao is stunned, realizing she never received any such message, which points toward Gu Lan’s interference. Jinzhao confronts Gu Lan that night, making it clear she knows about the hidden invitation.

Though she acknowledges Lan’s feelings of displacement since her return, Jinzhao warns her that being a legitimate daughter by birth does not make her an easy target. She advises Lan to consider the family's overall stability before causing more trouble. Meanwhile, the Fifth Aunt senses Ye Xian’s growing interest in Jinzhao and warns him that her status is far too low for the Marquis of Changxing’s household.

To prevent a scandal, she abruptly orders him to return to their own manor. Back at home, Jinzhao turns her attention to her brother, Gu Jinrong, whose behavior has become suspicious. She tricks him into signing a high-interest "nine-out-thirteen-return" loan agreement to confirm that his handwriting matches a pawn ticket she discovered. Jinrong eventually confesses that he pawned his mother’s jadeite ring to pay for a shattered Chenghua doucai teacup, but Jinzhao suspects more lies.

After having him followed, she discovers that Jinrong has been acting as a tout for a gambling house, luring others into debt to pay for a private room. Disturbed by his lack of integrity, she realizes she must find a permanent solution to his gambling associations. In the capital, Chen Yanyun receives news of his nephew’s academic success but remains cautious of the attention it brings.

He is soon presented with a collection of rare Western goods sent by Gu Jinzhao as a token of gratitude for saving her life. The gifts, which include a double-barreled spyglass and a pair of spectacles, are perfectly suited to his needs. Though he initially finds the precision of her choices unsettling and considers discarding them, he ultimately chooses to keep the items, reflecting on the girl who seems to understand him more than she lets on.

Old Madam Chen expressed her desire to find a new wife for Chen Yanyun, noting that since Chen Xuanqing had already passed the imperial exams and was preparing to marry, it was high time his uncle did the same. She questioned if he was still mourning his late wife, Lady Jiang, pointing out that they had only been married for two years and he had remained a widower far too long.

Chen Yanyun deflected the suggestion, claiming he was simply too preoccupied with other matters. When his servant arrived with urgent news regarding the Gu family, Chen Yanyun used the opportunity to excuse himself. The servant informed Chen Yanyun that the Bureau of Justice had been tracking a group of southwestern bandits and had compiled a list of their associates. Surprisingly, Gu Jinzhao’s younger brother, Gu Jinrong, was on that list.

It appeared that Jinrong had been renting out private rooms in a gambling house to these outlaws, though the officials believed he was unaware of their true identities. Lord Zhang intended to act quickly to resolve the case. Concerned, Chen Yanyun sent word to Gu Jinzhao, requesting an urgent meeting. During their meeting at a restaurant, Chen Yanyun warned Gu Jinzhao about the impending raid.

Jinzhao admitted she knew of her brother’s involvement in the gambling house but had hesitated to confront him because of their mother’s illness. She vouched for Gu Jinrong’s character, insisting he was merely motivated by profit and would never knowingly conspire with bandits. Before leaving, she returned the cloak Chen Yanyun had previously lent her. She explained that she had mended the tears with gold thread, and Chen Yanyun graciously accepted the gift.

Despite Gu Jinzhao’s efforts to keep an eye on him, Gu Jinrong was soon kidnapped in broad daylight. When Gu Dezhao learned of the situation, he was consumed by rage rather than concern, fearing the public disgrace of his son’s gambling habits. He strictly forbade reporting the matter to the authorities to keep the scandal quiet. Meanwhile, the news reached Lady Han through the gossip of two servants, causing her to collapse from the shock.

Gu Jinzhao suspected that the information had been intentionally leaked to harm her mother. After Gu Jinzhao’s maid spotted Ye Xian’s guard near the place where Gu Jinrong was being held, it became clear who was responsible for the disappearance. Soon after, Li Xianhuai returned the boy to the Gu residence. However, the relief was short-lived. Gu Dezhao, having been impeached by the censors because of the gambling den scandal, ordered his son to be beaten.

When Lady Han tried to intervene, Gu Dezhao turned his anger on her, blaming the Ji family’s obsession with wealth for his son’s lack of character. Gu Jinzhao stood her ground, retorting that the household only stayed afloat thanks to her mother’s dowry and the Ji family's resources. The heated argument caused Lady Han to cough up blood.

Later, while bedridden and filled with regret, Lady Han confessed to Gu Jinzhao that she had never forgiven herself for allowing Gu Dezhao to send Jinzhao away to Tongzhou as an infant based on a superstitious prophecy. She wept, telling her daughter that this was the greatest regret of her life. Determined to confront Ye Xian, Gu Jinzhao invited him to a restaurant under the guise of a thank-you dinner, only to trap him and demand the truth.

Ye Xian admitted he had staged the kidnapping to scare Gu Jinrong into changing his ways, believing it was a favor to her. Gu Jinzhao was incensed, pointing out that his "help" had nearly killed her mother. While Ye Xian argued that the fault lay with her brother’s actions, Jinzhao was finished with his interference.

In the search for the bandit leader, Mr. Jiang discovered that the man they were looking for, Xiao Qishan, was a divine healer with a distinctive lump by his left ear. Chen Yanyun and the Bureau of Justice traced him to Xuanmiao Temple. Using the pretext of retrieving a talisman for the Crown Prince, they questioned the monks and learned that a layperson fitting the description had just fled.

During the pursuit, Chen Yanyun and his men were caught in a smoke bomb ambush. Amidst the chaos at home, Gu Jinrong left a letter of apology and ran away, prompting Gu Jinzhao to lead a search for him. While traveling through a storm, her carriage broke down, forcing her to seek shelter in a roadside hut. There, she unexpectedly found the injured Chen Yanyun, who had managed to escape the ambush but was in desperate need of medical attention.

While tending to Chen Yanyun’s wounds, Gu Jinzhao noticed several old scars on his body. Chen Yanyun, concerned by the heavy rain, questioned why her family would allow a young lady to venture out alone in such weather to search for someone. Jinzhao explained that with her mother bedridden and her father occupied at the yamen, she had to take charge herself to ensure any critical decisions could be made immediately.

After she finished dressing his injuries, Chen Yanyun expressed his respect for her resolve. The next morning, Gu Jinrong was safely returned home. Gu Jinzhao learned that it was Chen Yanyun’s own guards who had tracked the boy to a village ten miles away. When Jinzhao offered her thanks, Chen Yanyun told her not to be so formal and assured her that she could always turn to him if she encountered trouble in the future.

Meanwhile, Ye Xian was nursing a hangover when his subordinate informed him that his master, the renowned Physician Xiao, had returned to the capital. Seeing an opportunity to help Jinzhao’s ailing mother, Ye Xian immediately brought his master to the Gu residence. Physician Xiao examined Lady Han’s pulse and reviewed her previous prescriptions. Although the formulas were correct, he was puzzled by her lack of improvement until he inspected the dregs of her medicine.

There, he discovered the presence of rhubarb. He explained that rhubarb is a potent herb used to purge heat, but because Lady Han was weak and suffering from a "cold" stomach, the herb’s properties were the exact opposite of what she needed. Long-term consumption of such a medicine would eventually prove fatal.

Realizing someone was tampering with the medicine, Jinzhao ordered Nanny Zhao to keep the discovery a secret, even from her father and brother, to avoid tipping off the culprit. Ye Xian offered the services of his men to investigate, but Jinzhao decided to find the perpetrator herself first. Her maids eventually caught Liuxiang and Luo Liu, servants from Concubine Song’s quarters, secretly adding the rhubarb to the decoction.

Jinzhao had the pair sent to Ye Xian for interrogation, where they quickly confessed. However, the Marquis of Changxing was furious to find his son, Ye Xian, conducting an unauthorized tribunal for what he considered a "low-class household" plagued by internal strife. Disappointed in his son’s choice of companions, the Marquis placed Ye Xian under house arrest. At the Chen residence, Old Madam Chen discussed a marriage proposal with Chen Yanyun.

Madam Mu had visited, explaining that her son, Mu Zhidi, had been smitten with the Gu family’s second daughter, Gu Lan, since a banquet the previous year. However, the Mu family deemed a concubine's daughter unsuitable and instead set their sights on the legitimate eldest daughter, Jinzhao. Chen Yanyun was visibly displeased by the suggestion, sharply telling his mother that the match was entirely inappropriate.

He instructed her not to mention the matter to the Gu family, leaving the Old Madam confused by his sudden anger. Back at the Gu house, Gu Dezhao was presented with the servants' confessions. Gu Lan, realizing the danger, warned her mother, Song Miaohua, to deny everything to protect their future. When the household was gathered, Nanny Zhou, the wet nurse, took the full weight of the blame, claiming she acted alone out of a personal grudge.

Although Jinzhao argued that the servants had no motive to kill without orders, Gu Dezhao chose to protect Concubine Song due to a lack of direct evidence. He sentenced Liuxiang and Luo Liu to forty strokes and hard labor, while Nanny Zhou was sentenced to sixty strokes and banished to a remote estate—a punishment that was likely a death sentence for a woman of her age.

Lady Han was devastated by the betrayal, realizing that Song Miaohua had truly intended to kill her. Jinzhao asked her mother if she had ever considered a divorce, suggesting they return to Tongzhou to live a peaceful life away from the rift in the Gu family. Lady Han, however, refused to consider it.

She feared the social stigma would ruin the marriage prospects for both Jinzhao and Jinrong, as no respectable family would want to marry into a household broken by divorce. Despite her own suffering, she insisted that they must endure for the sake of the children's futures. Chen Yanyun, having heard of the chaos at the Gu mansion, initially considered having Gu Dezhao impeached for failing to manage his household.

However, he hesitated, realizing that a public scandal would damage Jinzhao’s reputation and potentially worsen her mother’s illness. Instead, he visited the Gu residence in secret. He presented Jinzhao with a whistle, explaining that he had many skilled subordinates who could protect her. He told her that if she ever found herself in danger again, she only needed to blow the whistle and help would come. As he left, he mentioned that he would be visiting Baoxiang Temple for the upcoming Dragon Boat Festival.

At a family meal, Gu Dezhao informed Gu Lan of a marriage proposal from Vice Director Mu for his eldest son, Mu Zhidi. Gu Lan was horrified and rejected the match, complaining that Mu Zhidi was as unattractive as a "pillar." Her father rebuked her sharply, stating that as a legitimate eldest son from a scholarly family, Mu Zhidi was a superior match for a concubine-born daughter.

He ordered her to stop judging by appearances, reminding her that marriage was a decision for parents to make. Gu Lan turned to Lady Han, pleading for her to intervene. Lady Han admitted she had already spoken to the Master on Gu Lan's behalf, but he had flatly refused to listen. Gu Lan reacted with bitterness, accusing Lady Han of refusing to help out of a long-standing resentment toward her mother, Lady Song.

Later, Gu Lan visited Lady Song and found her in despair. Lady Song revealed that Nanny Zhou had died almost immediately after being sent to the farm, and Lady Han had even forbidden a proper burial, ordering her body to be thrown into a mass grave. Desperate for leverage, Gu Lan recalled a secret Nanny Zhou had shared and decided to find a woman named Yuping to expose a scandal from the past.

Meanwhile, Gu Jinzhao met with Chen Yanyun to discuss her mother’s worsening situation. Frustrated by her father’s constant support for Lady Song, Jinzhao expressed a wish for her mother to seek a divorce and return to her maternal Ji family in Tongzhou. Chen Yanyun took her to his private estate near Baoxiang Temple, suggesting it was the perfect place for Lady Han to recuperate away from the household's turmoil.

Jinzhao agreed to the plan but decided to tell Lady Han that the estate belonged to a friend of her brother, Gu Jinrong, to avoid any unease. Back at the residence, Lady Song bypassed her confinement to bring Yuping before the Master. Yuping, who had served Lady Yun years ago, claimed that Lady Han used to visit Lady Yun’s kitchen frequently.

She alleged that Lady Han had switched Lady Yun’s miscarriage-prevention medicine with labor-inducing soup, causing the woman to die during a premature birth. Furious, Gu Dezhao confronted Lady Han, accusing her of murdering Lady Yun out of jealousy. He even brought up how Lady Han had once taken Jinrong away because the boy had been too close to Lady Yun.

Lady Han was stunned to realize that her husband had harbored these suspicions for years, explaining his long-standing coldness toward her. Gu Jinzhao intervened to defend her mother, demanding evidence and pointing out that Lady Song was the one who benefited most from such slander. Despite the defense, the Master left in a rage. Jinzhao later confronted Gu Lan, correctly guessing her role in finding Yuping. Gu Lan admitted it, fueled by her anger over the Mu family marriage.

She argued that Lady Han had only ever cared about Jinzhao and Jinrong’s futures while ignoring her own. Jinzhao countered by asking if Gu Lan had ever truly acted like a daughter to Lady Han in return. Seeking the truth, Lady Han visited Lady Song. During their confrontation, Lady Song revealed a painful truth: the Master had never loved Lady Han.

She claimed he only married her because he was desperate for the Ji family’s status and support, and his only true affection had been reserved for the deceased Lady Yun. Exhausted and heartbroken, Lady Han coughed up blood, later telling her nanny that the release made her chest feel lighter. Determined to end the misery, she sat down and wrote a divorce agreement.

When Gu Dezhao received the letter, he mocked her, accusing her of faking illness and using the divorce as a tactic to force an apology. He called her a "jealous woman" who wore a mask of virtue. He revealed that he had drafted his own divorce papers to cast her off many times before but had burned them only to protect their children's marriage prospects. He warned her never to mention divorce again before leaving her alone in her grief.

Gu Dezhao remains adamant that he will never agree to a divorce, ordering Lady Han to stop mentioning the matter. Heartbroken, Lady Han questions whether his initial insistence on marrying her was born of genuine affection or merely a cold calculation to gain the Ji family's support. Dezhao dismisses her inquiry as a tiresome routine, leaving her alone with her grief.

A sense of melancholy hangs over the manor as Lady Han wanders outside to catch some air, mistaking the scent of magnolias for gardenias. Gu Jinzhao brings her mother black chicken soup brewed with dangshen and goji berries to nourish her frail health. They share a rare moment of peace as Gu Jinrong joins them, playfully defending himself against accusations of being too playful to visit by pointing out he had come several times while she was asleep.

However, the warmth is fleeting. Before they part for the night, Lady Han tentatively asks Jinzhao if she can finally call her "Mother." Haunted by past wounds, Jinzhao finds herself unable to utter the word, and a disappointed Lady Han tells her to go rest. Nanny Zhao tries to console her lady, reminding her that she still has her children and the support of Madam Ji, but the weight of her husband's indifference proves too heavy.

That night, Jinzhao dreams of her mother coming to fetch her, only to wake to the horrific news that Lady Han has hanged herself. Consumed by rage and grief, Jinzhao seizes a pair of scissors and attempts to kill Gu Dezhao, screaming that he is the one who murdered her mother. The arrival of Madam Ji and Ji Yao brings a halt to the chaos.

Facing the devastating loss of her daughter, Madam Ji slaps Dezhao twice, demanding to know how he could drive her daughter to such a tragic end. Madam Ji quickly turns her fury on Lady Song and Gu Lan, accusing them of using the fabricated testimonies of Yunxiang and Yuping to frame Lady Han. Seeing no escape, Lady Song confesses that she alone brought Yuping to the manor, shielding Gu Lan from the consequences of the scheme.

Madam Ji sentences the concubine to a lifetime of service at the Ji family temple, decreeing she shall never leave until the day she dies. Gu Dezhao, paralyzed by his own sense of guilt, refuses Gu Lan's pleas to save her mother. As she is dragged away, Lady Song imparts a final, bitter lesson to her daughter: it is better to be the wife of a humble man than a concubine in a grand mansion.

In the wake of the tragedy, Chen Yanyun orders his subordinates to investigate the true circumstances of the death, specifically instructing them to question those closest to Lady Han. Meanwhile, Madam Ji’s health fails under the weight of her sorrow, and Ji Yao prepares to honor his aunt’s wish to be buried in Tongzhou. Ji Yao also mentions that his grandmother wants him to stay and look after Jinzhao.

Despite the family’s grief, some opportunistic servants try to embezzle funds intended for the funeral rituals. Jinzhao, now managing the household, shows no mercy and orders the offenders to receive twenty strokes and be expelled. To support her, Chen Yanyun sends a group of capable servants to help stabilize the manor and later comes to pay his respects in person, dressed in mourning attire.

Ye Xian learns of the death from his sister, who hopes the three-year mourning period will finally make him give up on Jinzhao since she cannot marry during that time. Breaking his house arrest, Ye Xian goes to the Gu residence to pay his respects. Breaking all social protocol, he kneels and kowtows before the coffin, a gesture far beneath his status as the heir to a Marquis. He offers to avenge Lady Han, but Jinzhao remains silent.

Later, Physician Xiao reveals to a despondent Ye Xian that Lady Han likely committed suicide due to her long-standing depression. He warns Ye Xian that if he cannot stand firm and establish his own power, he will never be able to protect anyone or have a say in his own marriage. Refusing to believe in such a fate, Ye Xian vows to find a way to establish himself outside of traditional military merit.

Chen Yanyun offers comfort to Gu Jinzhao, informing her that he has dispatched men to locate Yuping and expects news shortly. He urges her to take care of herself, as staying healthy is the ultimate form of filial piety. Meanwhile, Gu Jinzhao overhears a confrontation between Gu Jinrong and Gu Lan. It is revealed that Gu Lan manipulated Jinrong by feigning a craving for sugar-roasted chestnuts from Li’s, a shop she knew was run by Yuping’s family.

By tricking him into revealing the location, Gu Lan successfully tracked down the missing maid. Gu Jinrong is devastated, realizing his sister used him to drive their mother to her death. Gu Lan attempts to deflect blame, claiming she never intended for their mother to commit suicide, but Jinrong refuses to accept her excuses. Gu Jinzhao intervenes, announcing her intention to sue Gu Dezhao at the Shuntian Prefecture for driving his wife to her death.

Gu Lan is horrified, reminding her that a child suing a father is a grave crime punishable by forty strokes of the cane. Undeterred, Gu Jinzhao seeks only justice. Overwhelmed by guilt for his role in the tragedy, Gu Jinrong offers to take the punishment himself, though Gu Jinzhao insists they both sign the petition. Gu Dezhao, listening from the shadows, is left in despair as he realizes his children are turning against him.

Soon after, Chen Yanyun’s guards successfully capture Yuping. Under questioning, Yuping confesses that as a former dowry maid, she had hoped to become Gu Dezhao’s concubine. When Lady Han chose Yunxiang instead and ordered Yuping to serve her, Yuping acted out of spite. She swapped Yunxiang’s pregnancy-preserving remedy for a labor-inducing tonic, which eventually led to Yunxiang's death.

Years later, Song Yiniang and Gu Lan found her and offered her two hundred taels of silver to return and falsely accuse Lady Han of the crime. Blinded by greed, she agreed to the scheme. When Chen Yanyun asks Gu Jinzhao how she wishes to proceed, she reaffirms her plan to expose the truth in court to ruin Gu Dezhao’s reputation. Chen Yanyun decides to support her.

He instructs Mr. Jiang to find legal precedents where children were spared the cane when suing an irredeemably evil father. He also arranges for censors to impeach Gu Dezhao for favoring a concubine over his wife, effectively paving the way for Jinzhao's lawsuit. In the political arena, Chen Yanyun meets with the Grand Secretary. While Lord Fan Chuan insists on river transport, Chen Yanyun and the Grand Secretary advocate for sea transport.

News arrives that the summer floods will likely occur early, which would choke the river canals with mud and render them unusable for years. This development removes the primary opposition to sea transport. Additionally, Chen Yanyun reports on weapon smuggling involving Prince Ruichang’s son. Suspecting the weapons are being moved toward the capital via water routes, Chen Yanyun suggests intercepting them at Tongzhou.

He uses the excuse of returning to his ancestral home to perform ancestor worship to travel there personally. Before the family departs for Tongzhou, Ji Yao stays by Gu Jinzhao’s side to ensure she eats. He consoles her regarding her mother's final wish to be called "mother," reminding her that she had affectionately called her "mummy" many times as a child. He encourages her not to punish herself with grief or hurt her own health while trying to penalize others.

Meanwhile, Gu Dezhao faces the fallout of his actions as rumors of his cruelty spread. Gu Dezhao’s elder brother informs him that numerous memorials have been filed against him, threatening his official rank and reputation. Consumed by guilt and fear, Gu Dezhao attempts to hang himself, but Gu Jinzhao saves him. She reveals that she has changed her mind about the lawsuit, believing that losing his job is too light a punishment.

Instead, she demands he agree to three conditions: he must obtain her approval for any future remarriage or concubines, he shall have no say in her or Jinrong’s marriages, and he must sign a divorce agreement. By divorcing him posthumously, her mother can be buried in the Ji family ancestral land in Tongzhou, freed from the Gu family forever. Trapped, Gu Dezhao signs the papers.

As Gu Jinzhao prepares to escort the coffin back to Tongzhou, Ye Xian arrives to see her off. Concerned about the increasing number of refugees and the potential for unrest, he insists that ten of his elite guards accompany her. He also entrusts her with the care of his cat, Baopu, asking her to look after it until she returns. During the journey, the group stops at a post house during a heavy storm.

Chen Yanyun and his mother are also staying there. Chen Yanyun’s mother admits it is better they didn't know they were traveling with a funeral procession beforehand, as the elderly are sensitive to such things. Chen Yanyun meets with Gu Jinzhao and arranges for his men to share rooms so that Ye Xian’s guards and the funeral staff are well-accommodated. Late that night, Gu Jinzhao talks with Chen Yanyun. She admits she has abandoned the idea of a lawsuit.

Reflecting on her return to the capital, she confesses that she was initially consumed by a desire for revenge, from punishing Nanny Zhou to publicly humiliating her father at Lord Lin's birthday and rejecting the Liu family’s proposal. She realizes now that her aggressive pursuit of the truth regarding the medicine may have backed her opponents into a corner, inadvertently leading to her mother’s death. Weighted with the thought that a quieter approach might have saved her mother’s life, she breaks down, blaming herself for the tragedy.

At a post house on the way back to Tongzhou, Gu Jinzhao is consumed by regret. She tells Chen Yanyun that she has decided to drop the lawsuit against her father, Gu Dezhao, wondering if her mother might still be alive had she not been so impulsive. Chen Yanyun, noticing her deep sorrow, tries to comfort her with music, remarking that post houses are never short of heartbroken souls.

Once they return to Tongzhou, Jinzhao buries herself in work at the Ji family granary to keep her mind occupied. The local situation is tense; the canal has silted up, forcing grain to be transported by land, which has caused prices to soar. Meanwhile, Chen Yanyun receives word that a grain convoy is approaching. He realizes that smugglers are exploiting his ties with the Ji family, betting that he would not dare expose a scandal involving his own relatives.

Ji Yao and Gu Jinrong also become suspicious of the porters. They stage a loud argument over grain prices, intentionally crashing into the porters' cargo. The collision reveals that the sacks are filled with sharpened swords and military-grade weapons rather than rice. Ji Yao realizes the Ji family is being used to smuggle weapons into the capital and instructs Jinrong to warn Jinzhao while he gathers men to surround the granary.

Chen Yanyun, monitoring from a distance, fears the commotion has alerted the outlaws and moves in to intervene. Before she can reach safety, Jinzhao is taken hostage by a bandit leader. She tries to negotiate, coolly informing her captor that as a mere servant to the Chen family, her life isn't worth a master's risk. Chen Yanyun arrives and proves her wrong, offering his own life in exchange for hers, stating that a high-ranking official is a more valuable prize.

During a struggle, both Chen Yanyun and Jinzhao tumble over a cliff. They survive the fall thanks to a thick layer of fallen leaves. While Chen Yanyun treats Jinzhao’s sprained ankle, he asks why she has been acquiring stakes in Shanxi exchange houses. Jinzhao admits she plans to become a "self-combed" woman, remaining unmarried to focus on business and caring for her grandmother. She explains that she sees no personal benefit in marriage and wishes to avoid its inherent risks.

Near the site of their fall, they discover the body of the kidnapper, who died after hitting a rock. Among his belongings, they find a letter. Jinzhao is stunned to recognize the handwriting as that of Physician Xiao (Xiao You), who is Ye Xian's master and the man who treated her mother. Chen Yanyun identifies the man's true identity as Xiao Qishan, the most formidable advisor to the late rebellious Prince Chengqing.

Years ago, it was the Marquis of Changxing who killed the prince, making Xiao Qishan a dangerous figure to have inside the Marquis's household. Chen Yanyun learns from captured bandits that the weapons were destined for an estate belonging to Prince Ruichang. To keep the masterminds from catching on, Chen Yanyun orders a secret delivery of the weapons to the estate, acting as if nothing happened. Despite his caution, Jinzhao decides she must warn Ye Xian.

She borrows horses from Ji Yao and rushes back to the capital overnight, keeping her departure a secret from her grandmother. In the capital, the Crown Prince meets with Ye Xian to discuss the growing unrest due to the Emperor's illness. Fearing that Prince Ruichang intends to seize the throne, the Crown Prince provides Ye Xian with a secret map of the palace passages. When Jinzhao finally meets Ye Xian, she reveals her discovery about his master.

Ye Xian is initially defensive, refusing to believe his mentor is a traitor, but he is privately shaken. Jinzhao returns to the Gu manor to find her father drowning his sorrows in alcohol while Gu Lan manages the household. Gu Lan approaches Jinzhao, seemingly apologetic, and asks for help with her future marriage. She knows Jinzhao successfully negotiated control over her own marital prospects from their father.

However, Jinzhao refuses to make a deal, telling Gu Lan she has no intention of meddling in her affairs. Ye Xian eventually sneaks out of the Gu manor through a discreet side gate to meet Chen Yanyun. They discuss the suspicious activities of Xiao You, who has been "helping" the Marquis monitor Prince Ruichang.

Chen Yanyun explains the trap: by letting the Marquis know of Prince Ruichang’s plot, Xiao You is baiting the Marquis into mobilizing his own troops for "protection." This unauthorized mobilization will then be used as definitive evidence of the Marquis's own rebellion. Chen Yanyun admits that while a solution exists to break this deadlock, it is incredibly dangerous.

Upon his return, Ye Xian was troubled to find that the Marquis of Changxing had already departed for the military camp. His attempt to leave again was thwarted by his mother, who was displeased by his persistent visits to Gu Jinzhao, whom she deemed ill-mannered. She ordered Ye Xian to remain confined to the manor to copy texts and tasked his master, Xiao You, with keeping a strict watch over him.

In the autumn of the 35th year of Jingning, the Emperor passed away, plunging the nation into mourning and the capital into a rigid curfew. While Ye Xian’s mother went to the palace and requested sick leave on his behalf to keep him trapped at home, Gu Jinzhao received word of his confinement. Suspecting that Chen Yanyun had already entered the palace to navigate the shifting political tides, she began to formulate a plan to assist the Ye family.

Within the palace, Chen Yanyun observed the suspicious movements of the Firearm Battalion. He realized his mentor, Grand Secretary Fu Hailian, was deliberately allowing Prince Ruichang’s impending rebellion to unfold as a trap to implicate the Marquis of Changxing in treason. Torn between his loyalty to his teacher and his duty to protect the Marquis—a vital general for the nation’s defense—Chen Yanyun resolved to find a way to save both the Marquisate and his own standing.

Fu Hailian, focused on political consolidation, commanded Chen Yanyun to protect the Crown Prince at all costs while the Firearm Battalion prepared to crush any "rebels." Gu Jinzhao managed to reach Ye Xian’s sister to warn her about Xiao You’s true identity. Xiao You was actually Xiao Qishan, a former advisor to the rebel Prince Chengqing who was now secretly working with Prince Ruichang.

To free Ye Xian, they orchestrated a distraction using the sudden high fever of the sister's young daughter, Hui. As Xiao You was drawn away to tend to the child, Ye Xian escaped the manor on Gu Jinzhao’s horse and raced toward the palace to warn his father and protect the throne. During the funeral rites, the Crown Prince appeared to collapse from grief.

Chen Yanyun and Ye Xian assisted him to a side hall, where Chen Yanyun persuaded Ye Xian to stand guard outside. As the rebellion erupted, the Marquis of Changxing arrived with his Black Armor Corps to defend the palace, only to be intercepted by the Firearm Battalion and accused of treason by Fu Hailian’s men. Simultaneously, Prince Ruichang launched an attack on the side hall.

Ye Xian fought valiantly, killing the Prince with a concealed weapon but sustaining injuries in the process. The "Crown Prince" Ye Xian had protected was actually a decoy, a strategy devised by Chen Yanyun to safeguard the real heir and expose the traitors. When Fu Hailian attempted to denounce the Marquis for leading troops into the palace without orders, the real Crown Prince and Empress Wu stepped forward.

The future Emperor dismissed the charges, noting that Ye Xian had risked his life to save him. This move successfully cleared the Ye family of rebellion charges, though the Marquis was left severely wounded. Following the turmoil, a devastated Ye Xian visited Gu Jinzhao. He revealed that he had personally killed Xiao You, the man he once considered a father figure.

Before his death, Xiao You admitted that he had never cared for Ye Xian and had merely used him as a pawn to maintain influence within the Marquisate. Finding solace in Gu Jinzhao’s loyalty, Ye Xian thanked her for risking her life to warn his family, acknowledging that she was the only person outside his bloodline who had truly fought for him.

When the Marquis was returned home, physicians warned that he would be bedridden for months and might never ride a horse again. Ye Xian later confronted Chen Yanyun, accusing him and Fu Hailian of orchestrating the events that led to his father's injuries. Chen Yanyun did not deny his knowledge of the plot but reminded Ye Xian that he was the one who provided the warning and the means to break the deadlock.

He urged Ye Xian to stop dwelling on the past and instead focus on how to restore his household's influence under the new regime. With the ascension of the new Emperor, the political order was restructured. Fu Hailian was promoted to Grand Secretary of Zhongji Hall, while Chen Yanyun was elevated to the Grand Secretariat as the Grand Secretary of the Eastern Pavilion. Ye Xian, rewarded for his bravery, was appointed as a Qianhu in the Bureau of Justice.

However, Fu Hailian privately cautioned Chen Yanyun that the Emperor’s trust in Ye Xian was a double-edged sword. He noted that the Bureau was being revived to consolidate imperial power and that the title of the Marquis of Changxing must eventually be discontinued to prevent the Ye family from becoming too powerful. Ye Xian quickly made a name for himself at the Bureau of Justice through his ruthless efficiency, which put him at odds with Commander Zhang.

He used his new position to settle scores, volunteering to raid the homes of those who had plotted against his father. Meanwhile, Chen Yanyun faced pressure from his mother to marry. She presented him with candidates from prominent noble families, insisting that a man of his new rank required a wife capable of high-level social networking. Ignoring the portraits of the well-born ladies, Chen Yanyun instructed his attendant to visit the Gu residence and inquire if Gu Jinzhao was available to meet.

At Baoxiang Temple, Chen Yanyun finds Gu Jinzhao standing in the cold to clear her head. Jinzhao admits she must remind herself that he is now a powerful Grand Secretary rather than just a friend. Chen Yanyun teases her for being overly formal and mentions his decision to keep her father in his position at the Ministry of Revenue; despite his moral failings, her father remained untainted by the recent rebellion.

He then questions why Jinzhao risked her life to help Ye Xian. When she describes Ye Xian as a true friend, Chen Yanyun asks if he holds the same status in her heart. He reveals that matchmakers have been swarming his home and asks if she would be willing to marry him. Jinzhao is stunned and firmly rejects him, stating she has no desire to marry and intends to focus on her business ventures in Shanxi.

Later, Gu Jinzhao confesses to her maid that while she likes Chen Yanyun, she fears losing her freedom in a grand household. Their conversation is overheard by Nanny Zhao, who brings out a wedding gown and a letter left by Jinzhao’s late mother. The letter reveals that the mother stitched the gown in secret to avoid upsetting Jinzhao. In her final words, she expressed deep regret for her own marriage and for sending Jinzhao away to Tongzhou.

She urged her daughter to be independent and strong, much like her maternal grandmother, rather than living a life of quiet suffering. At the Gu family ancestral manor in Daxin, the Old Lady (Madam Gu) and the Second Lady are troubled by growing financial deficits. With Gu Lian’s marriage to the prestigious Yao family approaching, they worry that a meager dowry will lead to her being mistreated.

Knowing that the Fourth Branch has thrived under the management of the Ji family, the Old Lady decides to bring Gu Jinzhao’s father and his children back to the ancestral home, using the excuse that a widower shouldn't be raising children alone. In Tongzhou, Ji Yao discovers that Gu Jinzhao has been secretly purchasing land and shops in Shanxi. She explains that the region is more welcoming to women in business.

Worried by her lack of interest in marriage, Ji Yao impulsively suggests she marry him to find safety. Their conversation is interrupted by Ji Yao’s mother, who treats Jinzhao with hostility. When the older woman makes a pointed remark about Jinzhao’s late mother to discourage a match, Jinzhao retorts that if she is continuously provoked, she might just change her mind and marry Ji Yao after all.

Chen Yanyun, fearing that Gu Jinzhao is fleeing to Shanxi, rushes to the Ji warehouse to stop her. He is relieved to find she is only seeing off her steward, Ping. Seizing the moment, he insists she return to the capital so he can keep a closer watch on her. During their time together, Nanny Zhao reports that while inventorying her late mistress’s belongings, she found a twenty-year-old promissory note.

It reveals that the Old Lady of the Gu family borrowed 20,000 taels of silver from Jinzhao's mother shortly after she married—a debt that was never settled. Upon learning that her father and sister have already moved back to the ancestral home, Gu Jinzhao decides to join them.

Her maternal grandmother supports the move, advising her to not only reclaim the silver but also the valuable furniture—specifically a set of Huanghuali wood pieces—that the Gu family had deviously swapped for cheaper wood years ago. When Jinzhao arrives at the ancestral manor, the Old Lady immediately criticizes her for a lack of propriety. Jinzhao remains composed, handing over the branch's accounts while subtly noting that their income is modest because her father focuses on his career.

The household is soon thrown into a panic by the arrival of Ye Xian, who now serves in the feared Bureau of Justice (Xingdaosi). He pulls Gu Jinzhao aside, his robes still stained with blood from catching fugitives. He explains that he has embraced this path of power because it is the only way to protect his household.

Before leaving, he gives her a bracelet from a confiscated hoard, telling her it is hers to keep if she does not find it too distasteful. Later, during a group embroidery session, Gu Lian intentionally trips Gu Lan and then demands to prick her with a needle as revenge for being bumped. Gu Jinzhao intervenes, exposing Gu Lian’s petty malice. She warns Gu Lian that if the cultured Yao family heard of her cruelty, they might reconsider the marriage.

The Old Lady stops the quarrel but attempts to punish Jinzhao’s sharp tongue by ordering her to massage her legs. Jinzhao complies with a smile, but as she works, she calmly asks the Old Lady when she intends to repay the 20,000 taels of silver she borrowed from Jinzhao's mother two decades ago.

Following Gu Jinzhao’s return to the ancestral home, Gu Old Lady schemed with the Second Lady to avoid repaying a long-standing debt. The Old Lady acknowledged the existence of a twenty-thousand-tael promissory note from twenty years ago but hoped it had been lost. Meanwhile, the Second Lady was distressed because the family’s financial state meant they could no longer afford the promised twenty thousand taels for Gu Lian’s dowry, a situation that would surely lead to public embarrassment.

Their planning was interrupted by the simultaneous arrival of the Yao family and Ji Yao. While the Old Lady’s son, the Second Master, handled the Yao family’s dowry inquiries, Ji Yao confronted the Old Lady directly. He produced the original promissory note found among the late Aunt Han’s belongings. Despite the Old Lady’s attempts to play dumb and even accuse him of forgery, Ji Yao remained firm, threatening to take the matter to Shuntian Prefecture.

Fearing a scandal, the Gu family finally relented and paid the debt. The financial blow forced the Second Master to slash Gu Lian’s dowry from twenty thousand taels to a mere two thousand. When Mrs. Yao saw the meager amount, she expressed her blatant disdain, noting she had never seen such a small dowry from a prominent family. Gu Lian was devastated and furious, blaming Jinzhao for the loss of her silver.

However, the Second Lady advised her to be patient, suggesting that she instead take valuable items from the Fourth House’s storage and make Jinzhao pay for her personal shopping and meals. Following this plan, Gu Lian went to Linxia Restaurant, which Jinzhao manages. While trying to snoop on a private banquet held by high-ranking officials on the second floor, Gu Lian was horrified to see her future father-in-law, Yao Ping, intimately entertaining a singing girl.

Terrified, she fled the restaurant immediately. As the proprietor, Jinzhao was called to toast the guests, including the Senior Grand Secretary, Wang Xuanfan. Despite Chen Yanyun’s attempts to shield her, the persistent officials forced Jinzhao to drink three penalty cups of wine for her perceived delay in greeting them. After the banquet, Chen Yanyun checked on Jinzhao, explaining that his mentor simply enjoyed the restaurant’s quiet atmosphere.

During their talk, Wang Xuanfan formally suggested that Chen Yanyun remarry and proposed Xue Qinglan, the niece of Lady Yuzhu. Soon after, invitations were sent for a spring outing at Xiuyan Mountain. Gu Lian received a post from Yao Wenxiu, while Jinzhao was invited by Sixth Lady Chen. Jinzhao decided to bring Gu Lan along to the event. At the spring outing, Jinzhao reunited with Yu Wanxue, who revealed her engagement to the Third Wrangler, Chen Xuanqing.

As the young ladies socialized, a horse suddenly broke loose and approached Jinzhao. Though the animal was spirited and difficult to handle, Jinzhao managed to calm and steady it, demonstrating impressive equestrian skills. This caught the attention of Xue Qinglan, a straightforward woman who preferred martial arts and riding over traditional feminine pursuits. Xue Qinglan challenged Jinzhao to a horseback willow-shooting competition.

Though Jinzhao was initially reluctant to compete for prizes like a fine blade or a rare horse, she proposed a different arrangement: the prizes should be converted into silver and donated to Charity Hall in the winner’s name. Impressed by her character, Xue Qinglan agreed. As they prepared, Sixth Lady Chen remarked to Jinzhao that a match was being sought between her brother, Chen Yanyun, and Xue Qinglan, noting that despite their different temperaments, the two seemed surprisingly well-suited.

At the spring outing, Chen Yanyun showcases his superior skills in the archery and riding contest, easily defeating Mrs. He and Yao Wenxiu. However, when facing Xue Qinglan—the woman his mentor, Lord Fu, intends for him to marry—he intentionally misses several targets to let her win. Rather than feeling flattered, Xue Qinglan is insulted by being patronized. She angrily forfeits the contest, throwing her bow to the ground.

Lord Fu and his wife, Madam Wang, observe the friction; while Madam Wang is perplexed by her niece’s temper, Lord Fu realizes Chen Yanyun has no interest in the match and decides not to force the union. Stepping in after Xue Qinglan leaves, Gu Jinzhao challenges Chen Yanyun. The two are evenly matched, resulting in ties for the first two rounds. As the excitement grows, noble ladies like Xue Qinglan and Madam Wang significantly increase the prize pool.

During a rest, Gu Jinzhao asks how Chen's horse, Yuhuacong, recognized her. He reveals that since their time in Tongzhou, he had his groom fume his clothes with osmanthus scent every day so the horse would become accustomed to her specific fragrance. Taking advantage of their private moment, Chen Yanyun asks if she has reconsidered his earlier proposal. Gu Jinzhao remains hesitant, noting that marrying a high-ranking official brings stifling social expectations.

Chen counters by explaining that marrying Lord Fu’s choice would officially tie him to the "Fu faction," a political commitment he wants to avoid. He expresses a desire for a wife independent of court factions—someone he can trust and truly likes. He even playfully suggests that she might already like him back. In the final round, Gu Jinzhao focuses and manages to defeat him. The festivities are abruptly interrupted by Ye Xian and the agents of the Bureau of Justice.

Acting under imperial orders, Ye Xian ruthlessly arrests Du Wangfa, a director from the Ministry of Justice. When Xue Qinglan tries to intervene, claiming his presence is inappropriate for a hosted event, Ye Xian coldly threatens to arrest her for harboring criminals, making it clear that his bureau only "apprehends or kills."

Watching from afar, Wang Zan, the arrogant son of the Minister of Court of Judicial Review, becomes intrigued by Gu Jinzhao’s skill and decides he wants to challenge her himself. Back at the Gu residence, the ladies gossip about the day's drama. The Gu matriarch mocks the Ji family’s history as mere businessmen, prompting Gu Jinzhao to retort that her grandmother’s investment in the Gu family was perhaps her only lapse in judgment.

The conversation turns to social standing, with the ladies criticizing Xue Qinglan’s status as a "widow-before-marriage" and claiming divorcees are social pariahs. Gu Jinzhao remains unmoved by their snobbery, asserting that living a fulfilling life is more important than maintaining a hollow reputation. Later, Ye Xian’s sister (Fifth Aunt) speaks privately with Gu Jinzhao.

She notes that while Ye Xian is fond of her, the political suppression of military nobles makes a marriage difficult, as Ye Xian is expected to marry into a powerful family to secure the Marquis household's future. Meanwhile, Yao Wenxiu secretly sends a hairpin to Gu Lan. Fearful of her sister Gu Lian's jealousy, Gu Lan hides the gift.

She later approaches Gu Jinzhao with eight thousand taels, hoping to invest in her sister's business to secure a dowry and eventually rescue her mother. Gu Jinzhao refuses, explaining that Gu Lan is too risk-averse for business. At the Chen household, the family discusses Chen Xuanqing’s future. Madam Gu suggests a wedding date at the end of the year, but Chen Xuanqing expresses a desire to join the diplomatic mission to negotiate with the Northern Barbarians.

He feels his work at the Hanlin Academy is too comfortable and fears losing his ambition. Chen Yanyun supports the decision, noting it is a faster path to meaningful service. Despite the rejection at the outing, Wang Zan pursues Gu Jinzhao on the street, attempting to harass her into a contest or a dinner. He is firmly intercepted by a protector, and Jinzhao rejects him.

Chen Yanyun later meets with Madam Wang, who realizes he intentionally provoked Xue Qinglan to sabotage the match. When Chen learns that Wang Zan is spreading rumors that Gu Jinzhao is "overbearing" to save face after her rejection, he realizes he must intervene to protect her reputation.

Madam Wang visits the Gu family accompanied by her grandson, Wang Zan. Madam Gu introduces her three granddaughters, and Wang Zan presents a gift to Gu Jinzhao, arrogantly suggesting she call him "Brother Wang" from now on. Noticing the grandmothers' approval of the match, Jinzhao remains cold, but Madam Gu insists that she take the young man for a stroll through the garden while the elders speak privately.

As they enter the garden, Gu Lian and Gu Lan make a quick excuse to leave, intentionally leaving Jinzhao alone with Wang Zan. Thinking he has already won her over, Wang Zan grows increasingly bold, admitting he brought his grandmother specifically to propose marriage. He tries to get physically close to her, but Jinzhao dodges his advances, causing him to lose his balance and tumble into a pond.

Seeing her father, Master Gu, approaching with Chen Yanyun, Jinzhao leads the drenched Wang Zan to the guest quarters to change. Once they are away from prying eyes, Jinzhao pulls a dagger on him, threatening to kill him if he ever dares to marry her. Terrified by her intensity, Wang Zan flees. Master Gu is anxious about hosting a high-ranking official like Chen Yanyun and asks Jinzhao to help receive him.

Jinzhao refuses to meet him directly in the front courtyard to maintain propriety but offers to oversee the meal from the kitchen instead. Recalling Chen Yanyun’s preferences for heavy flavors, she instructs the cooks to significantly increase the salt and oil in the dishes. The salty food forces the guests to consume jar after jar of Sangluo wine to quench their thirst.

As the night grows late, Master Gu offers to let a seemingly intoxicated Chen Yanyun stay over, and he is settled into the Cuizhu Residence. Hoping to avoid a late-night encounter with Chen Yanyun, Jinzhao takes a detour home but accidentally overhears a private conversation between Madam Gu and her second uncle, Gu Deyuan.

She is shocked to learn that Gu Deyuan once took a bribe of 20,000 taels from the Vice Minister of Works, and when the official was caught, Madam Gu had to borrow money from Jinzhao’s late mother to cover the embezzlement. When Gu Deyuan hears a noise and investigates, Jinzhao flees and inadvertently runs toward Chen Yanyun’s quarters. Chen Yanyun shields her from her uncle's pursuit and asks what she heard.

He explains the current political landscape, noting that her uncle has no hope of attaining the vacant position of Vice Minister of Personnel. Shifting to personal matters, he reveals he has officially ended the possibility of a match with Xue Qinglan. He asks Jinzhao to set aside the logic of advantages and simply tell him if she is willing to be with him.

He encourages her not to retreat from their difficulties but to face them together, and Jinzhao eventually agrees. However, Gu Lian happens to see Jinzhao leaving Chen Yanyun’s room in the middle of the night. She immediately informs her mother and Madam Gu, delighting in finally having leverage over her sister.

The Second Lady is horrified, fearing that Chen Yanyun intends to keep Jinzhao as a mistress rather than a legal wife, which would ruin the family's reputation and the other sisters' marriage prospects. Madam Gu forbids anyone from speaking a word of this to avoid the wrath of a Grand Secretary.

Disregarding the warning, a vengeful Gu Lian instructs her maid, Tang, to spread the rumor but replaces Chen Yanyun’s name with Wang Zan’s to protect the family from Chen's influence. The rumor spreads rapidly through the capital, claiming Jinzhao and Wang Zan had a secret affair and that he stayed the night at the Gu mansion. While visiting a shop, Jinzhao encounters a group of women gossiping about her.

She confronts them by citing the legal code, which punishes slanderers with one hundred strokes and exile. She bluffs about being so heartbroken that she might hang herself, which would upgrade the legal punishment for the gossips to beheading. The panicked women quickly blame Wang Zan, claiming he was the one who publicly admitted to the tryst at a nearby restaurant.

Before Jinzhao can confront him, she sees Ye Xian and suspects his involvement, but a steward from the Wang family soon arrives to offer a formal apology. A battered Wang Zan follows, publicly confessing that he fabricated the entire story out of resentment because Jinzhao had rejected his proposal. Back at the Gu residence, Madam Gu realizes Gu Lian was behind the modified rumors and slaps her for her stupidity.

Later, Chen Yanyun meets with Jinzhao and reveals how he forced the Wang family to clear her name. He holds leverage over Wang Zan's father regarding a bribe the man took years ago while serving as a magistrate in Wanping County. When Jinzhao asks how he uncovered such secrets, he remains mysterious, telling her he will explain another time.

Chen Yanyun visited Gu Jinzhao to discuss the rumors circulating about their relationship. Believing that everyone in the Gu household was already aware of their private meetings, he proposed that the most effective way to silence the gossip was for him to formally propose marriage. Gu Jinzhao, however, felt that such a move was far too sudden and insisted on having more time to think.

Despite his concern for her reputation, Chen Yanyun agreed to wait for her word before departing for the palace. Shortly after, a confrontation broke out when Gu Lian’s staff tried to forcibly take away a young maid named Xiao Tang, claiming she was being sent away to learn a lesson. They were stopped by Gu Jinzhao’s own staff.

Gu Lian remained defiant, telling her mother, the Second Lady, that she was seeking revenge because Gu Jinzhao had taken her money and she refused to cover up Gu Jinzhao's "ugly deeds." Gu Lian boasted that she did not fear Chen Yanyun because she had the support of her brother Wenxiu and the Yao family. The Second Lady attempted to persuade the family matriarch, Old Lady Gu, that a private apology would suffice.

However, the grandmother feared that the Second Master’s political future would be ruined by such reckless behavior. Gu Jinzhao then brought Xiao Tang before the family, where the maid confessed that Gu Lian had specifically ordered her to spread rumors about Gu Jinzhao and the scoundrel Wang Zan at the Baoxiang Temple.

In response, the grandmother sentenced Gu Lian to twenty strikes on the palm and three days of kneeling in the ancestral hall, while Xiao Tang was beaten and permanently exiled from the capital. Despite the punishment, Old Lady Gu took Gu Jinzhao aside and delivered an ultimatum. She argued that Gu Jinzhao’s reputation was beyond saving and that Chen Yanyun was likely only treating her as a mistress.

To protect the marriage prospects of the other children in the house, the grandmother insisted that Gu Jinzhao must marry Wang Zan. Gu Jinzhao refused, subtly hinting that she knew about the Second Master’s past bribery. Furious at being defied, the grandmother ordered Gu Jinzhao to be locked in the woodshed, though the guards were hesitant to act against her.

The tension was interrupted by the arrival of Ji Yao, who came with over ten carts of lavish gifts to propose to Gu Jinzhao. His offering of two thousand taels of gold and fifty thousand taels of silver greatly impressed the Fourth Master, Gu Dezhao. When Gu Jinzhao later questioned Ji Yao, he admitted he had come on his own initiative to protect her from Wang Zan.

Gu Jinzhao thanked him but turned him down, explaining that she wished to marry for a deep, sincere love that would make her heart race and keep her awake at night. Ji Yao was left pondering her words, realizing he did not yet understand such passion. Meanwhile, Chen Yanyun was informed of a crisis at the Daxin Granary. Two hundred thousand dan of relief grain intended for the drought-stricken Pingyang Prefecture had been replaced with worthless wheat bran.

The Granary Director, Sun Shitao, had disappeared, and the transport documents had been forged using Gu Dezhao’s official seal. Chen Yanyun had Gu Jinzhao brought to him secretly to explain the situation. He revealed that this was a trap set by Wang Xuanfan to topple the Cabinet official Fan Chuan by targeting his corrupt brother-in-law, Zhao Jichang. Because Chen Yanyun oversaw the Ministry of Revenue, he would likely face imprisonment once the scandal broke.

Chen Yanyun urged Gu Jinzhao to use her resources to buy up as much grain as possible from other regions to prevent a famine-induced riot, while also finding a way to delay the legal proceedings until Sun Shitao could be found. Gu Jinzhao immediately mobilized her agents, instructing them to buy grain from Shaanxi, Henan, and Jiangnan, and to prepare medical supplies and soup kitchens for the refugees.

As the political storm intensified, an official named Zhang Ling decided to settle a personal score. He ordered Ye Xian to lead agents to arrest every male member of the Gu family, not just Gu Dezhao. Ye Xian warned Gu Jinzhao of the situation, assuring her that he would look after her father and her brother, Gu Jinrong, while they were detained.

As the men were led away, Gu Jinzhao comforted her family, telling them to stay strong and remain calm. Back at the residence, the grandmother begged Gu Jinzhao to seek Chen Yanyun’s help. Gu Jinzhao explained that he was also being targeted and would soon be in custody. She realized that by saving her father, she was also helping Chen Yanyun.

She began gathering all of her father’s ledgers and correspondences, eventually finding a letter detailing a long-standing grudge Sun Shitao held against him dating back to the 35th year of Jingning. In court, Chen Yanyun refused to defend himself, admitting to an "oversight" regarding the grain swap to protect his own strategy. He was subsequently detained at the Bureau of Justice.

As Fan Chuan’s political faction began to crumble, word reached the Grand Secretary that Gu Dezhao’s daughter had filed a formal petition at the Shuntian Prefecture. They recognized her as the woman who had competed against Chen Yanyun in archery, realizing she was now fighting a legal battle to clear her father's name.

Inside the Bureau of Justice, Chen Yanyun remained confined, though the guards treated him with significant respect due to his status. A guard informed him that the male members of Gu Dezhao's family had been imprisoned and that Gu Jinzhao was currently appealing the case at the Shuntian Prefecture. At the prefecture, Gu Jinzhao argued with Shuntian Prefect Zheng Xiaoyou.

She pointed out the logistical impossibility of the charges, noting that her father, a mere official, could not have mustered the hundreds of large carts required to move 200,000 dan of grain. Zheng Xiaoyou dismissed her logic as mere speculation without evidence, but Jinzhao insisted that finding the missing official, Sun Shitao, would provide the necessary proof. Wang Xuanfan and his associates grew anxious over the missing Sun Shitao.

It was revealed that Sun Shitao had jumped into a river to escape and had been missing for half a month. Wang Xuanfan ordered his men to ensure the body was never found, especially by Gu Jinzhao. He noted that while Grand Secretary Fu Hailian had tacitly approved the scheme, the senior official was already feigning illness to distance himself. Wang feared that if the truth surfaced, Fu would be the first to sacrifice them to protect his own reputation.

Understanding that Zheng Xiaoyou was likely being manipulated to stall the case, Gu Jinzhao hoped to create a distraction to allow Ye Xian to return with evidence. Previously, Chen Yanyun had urged Ye Xian to go to Pingyang Prefecture to secure witnesses and ledgers. Chen had warned Ye that given Zhang Ling’s deep-seated hatred, the entire Gu family—including Ye Xian’s own sister—would be dragged down if the famine relief grain scandal wasn't resolved.

At the Gu residence, the atmosphere was thick with desperation. Madam Ye explained that her father, the Old Marquis, was unwilling to intervene due to the volatile political climate. This news enraged the Old Madam, who accused the Ye family of being ungrateful. Amidst the chaos, Gu Lian hysterically blamed the Fourth Branch for the family's ruin, labeling Gu Jinzhao a jinx.

Gu Jinzhao silenced her with a sharp slap, reminding her that they were facing charges of treason and that internal conflict would only hasten their downfall. Gu Jinzhao then proposed a high-stakes plan to the Old Madam: she would beat the grievance drum to bring the case directly to the Emperor. While beating the drum usually required receiving forty strokes of a rod first, there was a legal loophole.

If a censor approved the appeal, the physical punishment could be bypassed. Since Gu Deyuan was an Assistant Censor-in-Chief who had not yet been stripped of his duties despite being in custody, Gu Jinzhao needed the Old Madam to visit him in prison to secure his official permission. When Gu Jinzhao arrived at the Shuntian Prefecture to beat the grievance drum, Zheng Xiaoyou initially ordered her to be whipped.

However, she produced the written authorization from Gu Deyuan, forcing the Prefect to follow the law and hear her out without punishment. Jinzhao then announced that she had found Sun Shitao’s body in the Tongfu River. This shocked Wang Xuanfan, as his men had recovered what they thought was Sun's body the previous night. It was revealed that Jinzhao had used a decoy corpse to mislead those trying to steal evidence, allowing her to bring the real body to court.

She pointed out a deep ligature mark on Sun’s neck, proving he had been murdered rather than accidentally drowning. In an effort to prove her father’s lack of motive for embezzlement, Gu Jinzhao publicly pledged 50,000 taels of silver and 5,000 dan of grain to the refugees in Shanxi. The Emperor was intrigued by this massive donation and noted the involvement of the Ji family—Gu Jinzhao's maternal relatives—who had previously rendered great service through land equalization.

Realizing the Gu family had access to immense wealth through their in-laws, the Emperor concluded that Gu Dezhao had no reason to steal and suspected a conspiracy. In the dungeon, Chen Yanyun met with Fu Hailian. For the first time, Chen admitted his feelings for Gu Jinzhao, confessing that his concern for her family outweighed his worry for his own safety. He asked the Grand Secretary to protect the Gu family. Fu Hailian agreed, acknowledging Jinzhao's talent.

Subsequently, the Emperor decided on a swift but limited prosecution to avoid mass panic during the implementation of new tax laws. Top officials were executed, while Gu Dezhao was demoted to a Seventh-Rank Magistrate and ordered to serve in a poor county within Pingyang Prefecture. The situation turned decisively when Ye Xian returned from Pingyang Prefecture with a secret ledger.

The ledger documented years of bribery and illegal grain sales involving the Song family, specifically naming Zhao Jichang and Wang Xuanfan’s wife. As the evidence came to light, the Emperor ordered Wang Xuanfan to be arrested and sent to the Bureau of Justice dungeon. Zhang Ling was also stripped of his commandership for his role in the corruption, and Ye Xian was promoted to take his place as Commander. Following the resolution of the case, Gu Dezhao and the other Gu men were released from prison. Chen Yanyun was also exonerated and released, finally reuniting with Gu Jinzhao.

Following Chen Yanyun’s release from the Bureau of Justice dungeon, the Chen mansion was abuzz with preparations for his return. The Second Lady, Qin Xianlan, meticulously oversaw the arrangements, ordering osmanthus branches to be gathered for fragrance and wine to be warmed. However, the family soon learned that Yanyun had detoured to Baoxiang Temple to pray and cleanse himself of the perceived misfortune of his imprisonment before coming home.

Reflecting on the grain scandal, Yanyun felt a profound sense of disillusionment regarding his teacher, the Grand Secretary Lord Fu. He realized that to topple his rival Fan Chuan, Lord Fu had callously replaced 200,000 dan of relief grain with wheat bran, treating disaster victims as mere pawns. Yanyun concluded that a man of great talent becomes exponentially more dangerous when consumed by the pursuit of power.

He decided he could no longer walk the same political path as his teacher, despite the isolation this would likely bring in the imperial court. Yanyun met with Gu Jinzhao and presented her with an unconventional gift: a divorce letter he had drafted while in prison. He explained that because she cherished her freedom and his own future was fraught with political danger, he wanted her to have a guaranteed exit.

The letter was signed and sealed but left undated, allowing Jinzhao to leave him at any moment she felt threatened or simply wished to move on. Touched by his selfless consideration for her autonomy, Jinzhao accepted his unique proposal with a kiss. Meanwhile, the Gu family was embroiled in a bitter dispute. The Second Branch demanded 100,000 taels in compensation from Gu Dezhao’s family, blaming his negligence for the household's recent legal troubles.

Dezhao protested, noting he had been demoted to a lowly seventh-rank official and was financially ruined. The tension boiled over when Gu Lian tried to seize Gu Lan’s belongings, resulting in the destruction of a jade necklace left by Gu Lan’s late mother. Gu Jinzhao intervened, silencing the Second Branch by pointing out that they were essentially questioning the Emperor’s final verdict.

She noted that the Second Uncle’s failed promotion was actually due to his own relative, Yao Ping, competing for the same post. To settle the matter, Jinzhao offered to compensate each branch for their documented business losses. She also rewarded Gu Lan for her loyalty—specifically for using her own funds to look after their brother Rong-er in prison—by offering her a share in the renovated Linxia Restaurant.

Later, Ye Xian met with Yanyun to discuss his findings from the imperial archives. He discovered that while records for other officials remained intact, Lord Fu’s files had been systematically destroyed. Yanyun cautioned Ye Xian against moving against Lord Fu yet. With Fan Chuan gone, Lord Fu’s power was absolute, and any premature attack would result in certain defeat.

In a separate meeting, Yao Wenxiu told Gu Lan that he intended to break off his engagement to Gu Lian because he only had eyes for her. Gu Lan, however, saw through his flattery. She realized the Yao family was actually withdrawing because her uncle’s recent imprisonment had ruined his political prospects.

Disgusted by Wenxiu’s duplicity and his attempt to seduce her while her family was vulnerable, she decided to keep the news of the broken engagement secret to ensure Gu Lian would eventually face maximum humiliation. At the Chen mansion, Yanyun’s mother expressed her disapproval of his plan to marry Jinzhao, citing the Gu family's poor reputation and Jinzhao’s headstrong nature. Yanyun explained his strategic reasoning: marrying a woman without political ties was his best defense.

If he married a candidate favored by Lord Fu, like Xue Qinglan, he would be forced into a dangerous factional alliance. Marrying Jinzhao allowed him to maintain a neutral stance, protecting the Chen family if Lord Fu’s faction eventually fell. His mother ultimately relented and gave her blessing. Xue Qinglan made a bold appearance at the Bureau of Justice to declare her feelings for Ye Xian, but he remained cold.

He revealed that he had suffered from a chronic heart condition since childhood, caused by being poisoned under the guise of medical treatment. He warned her that his days were numbered and that pestering him would only lead to her becoming a widow. When she accused him of being in love with Gu Jinzhao, Ye Xian lost his patience and ordered her to leave.

Gu Jinzhao received word that Chen Yanyun had formally proposed to her maternal grandmother, Madam Ji, and that the proposal had been accepted. While her maid was delighted, Jinzhao felt a sense of unreality, as if she were in a dream. She immediately went to find Ye Xian to deliver the news personally out of respect for their friendship, but learned he was on duty in the palace and would not return for several days.

Although his guard, Li, offered to deliver a letter, Jinzhao declined, feeling that such a significant matter required a face-to-face conversation. Inside the palace, Ye Xian was tending to the Emperor’s dog, Frosty. The Emperor remarked on the animal’s unusual affection for Ye Xian, who admitted he had been wining the dog over with jerky brought from outside the palace. This led the Emperor to reflect on how everyone tires of routine and craves something fresh.

He noted a curious instance of favoritism: while he had to wait nearly an hour for pear soup to soothe his throat, the same dish was served instantly to his teacher, Lord Fu, because the kitchen kept it simmering specifically for him. Seizing the moment, Ye Xian mentioned his own discovery in the Archives—while the records of most officials were intact, the files regarding the Grand Secretary were mysteriously missing.

Shortly after, the Emperor issued a decree abolishing the post of Bureau of Justice Inspector, a move that signaled a shift in the political landscape and left the Grand Secretary’s faction unsettled. At the Gu residence, Gu Lian was initially triumphant, wrongly assuming the Yao family had arrived early to finalize her wedding date with Yao Wenxiu. She took the opportunity to mock Gu Jinzhao’s reputation and Gu Lan’s background, claiming they were both unmarriageable.

However, Gu Jinzhao countered by pointing out the bleak reality of Gu Lian’s future: as the youngest of four sons, Yao Wenxiu would inherit very little, and his lack of career progress meant Gu Lian would likely have to support them both with her own dowry. The situation took a sharp turn when Madam Yao announced her intention to call off the engagement entirely, citing the Gu family's recent legal troubles.

Gu Lian was humiliated and convinced that Gu Jinzhao had sabotaged her. However, the arrival of Mrs. He, the wife of Grand Secretary He Wenxin, changed everything. She had come to formally propose to Gu Jinzhao on behalf of Chen Yanyun. Realizing that the Gu family was about to be linked to one of the most powerful men in the court, Madam Yao immediately backpedaled, claiming her earlier impulse to break the engagement was a mistake.

The Gu grandmother, Madam Feng, insisted that if the Yao family truly wanted to proceed, they would need to prove their sincerity through their future actions. Gu Jinzhao later met with Chen Yanyun in the rain. She confessed that despite her happiness, she had been plagued by a sense of doubt and fear that her decision was impulsive. However, seeing him walk toward her made her realize she was willing to take a chance on their future together.

Chen Yanyun admitted he had also been anxious that she might back out, confessing that she had become his only weakness. In a tender moment, Jinzhao reaffirmed her feelings and told him clearly that she liked him. Following the grandmother's instructions, the Second Lady brought a reluctant Gu Lian to apologize to Gu Jinzhao. Jinzhao redirected the apology, stating that Gu Lan was the one who had truly suffered from Gu Lian's bullying.

Later, Gu Lan tried to warn Gu Lian to look more closely into Yao Wenxiu’s character before the wedding, but Gu Lian dismissed the advice as pure jealousy. Meanwhile, in Tongzhou, Madam Ji and Ji Yao discussed the marriage. Though they were initially worried about the social gap between their families and the Chen family's prestige, they were moved by the fact that Chen Yanyun had provided a signed divorce agreement as a guarantee of Jinzhao's future freedom.

Madam Ji gave Jinzhao a precious bracelet that had been her own engagement gift, and Ji Yao provided a substantial sum of money to secure her dowry. As the wedding neared, the Gu grandmother decided to return the full list of Jinzhao’s mother’s dowry to her. She realized that with Jinzhao set to become the wife of a high-ranking official, it was better to return the property graciously now than to be forced to do so later.

She urged the Second Lady to ensure Gu Lian remained on good terms with her sister to protect the family’s long-term interests. Amidst these preparations, Ye Xian’s sister expressed deep concern over how her brother would react to the news. Gu Jinzhao arrived to speak with her just as Ye Xian, still in the palace, finally received word that Jinzhao had been searching for him.

At the Xingdaosi office, Ye Xian is delighted to learn that Gu Jinchao has been seeking him out for a meeting. Eager to see her, he instructs his subordinate to remind him to bring a newly acquired headdress as a gift. However, his joy is short-lived when Xue Qinglan arrives.

After punishing the guard who let her in, Ye Xian is stunned by her revelation: Chen Yanyun has officially proposed to the Gu family, even securing the wife of Grand Secretary He as a matchmaker to ensure the news spreads throughout the capital. Refusing to believe it, Ye Xian rushes to the Gu residence.

Fearing for Jinchao’s reputation now that she is betrothed, Old Lady Gu orders the inner gates locked and sends her second son to intercept the young noble. Inside the courtyard, Ye Xian’s sister—who is married into the Gu family—asks Jinchao if she has feelings for Ye Xian. Jinchao clarifies that she has always viewed him only as a close confidant. Overhearing this, a heartbroken Ye Xian confronts her. Jinchao admits to the engagement and confesses her love for Chen Yanyun.

In a fit of rage and grief, Ye Xian draws his blade, nearly causing a tragedy before the Gu family manages to usher Jinchao away through the back door. Meanwhile, the Emperor summons Chen Yanyun. While Grand Secretary Fu Hailian objects to the meeting on legal grounds and leaves in protest, the Emperor reveals his true intent: he wishes to protect the Marquis of Changxing (Ye Xian’s father) from Fu’s attempt to prosecute him for lèse-majesté.

The Emperor tasks Chen with finding a way to save the Marquis without openly defying the Grand Secretary. Chen recognizes this as both a secret mission and a test of the growing rift between him and his mentor, Fu Hailian. Ye Xian later ambushes Chen Yanyun’s carriage, attempting to kill his rival.

Chen subdues him and coldly warns him that the Marquis of Changxing is facing total ruin; if Ye Xian continues to prioritize personal grievances over his family’s survival, he will lose everything. Following Chen’s subtle guidance, Ye Xian personally leads the arrest of his father but then voluntarily submits to imprisonment alongside him.

Chen instructs his associate, Mr. Jiang, to publicize Ye Xian’s "jealous" street brawl and his subsequent sacrifice for his father, creating a wave of public sympathy intended to give the Emperor a pretext for leniency. The scandal creates tension within the Gu family. Ye Xian’s sister begs Jinchao to intervene, but Old Lady Gu, terrified of being implicated in a capital crime, threatens the sister with a letter of divorce. Jinchao, however, stands firm.

She agrees to help, noting that the two families are already too entangled for a divorce to shield them. Meeting with Chen Yanyun, Jinchao learns that Ye Xian’s imprisonment is a calculated move to keep him alive. At the same time, Fu Hailian grows suspicious of Chen’s ties to Ye Xian following the events in Shanxi. To test Chen’s loyalty, Fu orders him to personally interrogate the Marquis. Chen realizes he is being watched and proceeds with the interrogation.

In the dungeon, the Marquis urges Ye Xian to find a way to escape and care for his mother and sister. When Chen arrives with a pre-written confession, the Marquis denounces him as a traitorous official. Driven to fury by Chen’s demand for a signature, the Marquis seizes a blade and attempts to strike him down.

Inside the prison, the Marquis of Changxing confronts Chen Yanyun with a blade, branding him a traitor. Unmoved, Yanyun remains composed, reminding the Marquis that his son, Ye Xian, is still held captive and that harming a court official would leave the Marquis’s household without an heir. The tense standoff is interrupted by news that Ye Xian has suddenly collapsed. While the Marquis is overcome with grief, the collapse is actually a calculated ruse.

During their earlier confrontation, Yanyun had managed to have Ye Xian ingest a pill that causes his blood and qi to surge, mimicking the symptoms of a severe heart attack to force a change in the political situation. Gu Jinzhao receives word that both the Marquis and Ye Xian have been released and sent back to their residence for treatment.

Realizing she no longer needs to visit the prison personally, she decides to send the necessary antidote through Fifth Aunt (Ye Xian’s sister, who is married into the Gu family). At the Gu residence, she finds Fifth Aunt embroiled in a heated dispute with the Gu Old Madam. Fearing the family will be dragged down by the Marquis’s downfall, the Old Madam forbids anyone from leaving the house.

Gu Jinzhao intervenes, pointing out that the Marquis still commands immense loyalty among the military and that war with the Northern barbarians is imminent. She argues that abandoning their kin now would only invite future retribution, eventually convincing the Old Madam to allow Fifth Aunt to return home. During the journey to the Marquis’s residence, Gu Jinzhao confides in Fifth Aunt, revealing that Ye Xian’s condition was intentionally induced to save the Marquis.

She explains that the Emperor wished to show mercy but needed a pretext that wouldn't openly defy his teacher, Lord Fu. By having the Marquis witness his son’s near-death experience, Yanyun hoped the stubborn general would finally yield and the Emperor would have a reason to intervene. Gu Jinzhao sternly warns Fifth Aunt to keep this secret from everyone, including her own parents, as any leak could endanger the entire household.

At the residence, the imperial physician confirms that Ye Xian is stable, though his health has been compromised by the ordeal. When Ye Xian wakes and desperately calls for Gu Jinzhao, his sister stops him with a slap, urging him to stop pestering her and to consider the survival of their ailing parents and the Marquis's house. In the imperial court, Chen Yanyun navigates the aftermath of the Marquis’s arrest.

The Marquis, broken by his son's illness, submits a memorial seeking retirement. While Lord Fu initially pushes for a strict application of the law, Yanyun presents a way to preserve the Marquis’s reputation while allowing him to step down. Reflecting on his early days under Lord Fu’s mentorship, Yanyun laments to Gu Jinzhao that his teacher seems to have lost the original noble heart he once possessed for the people.

Though the Marquis’s life and name are saved, Yanyun observes that the legendary general is physically failing and has little time left, signifying the end of an era for his prestigious household. As the wedding date approaches, Chen Yanyun meticulously prepares the betrothal gifts, using his personal fortune to supplement the list. His generosity surprises the Second Lady, who prepares her own contributions for the upcoming dowry ceremony.

During the celebration at the Gu residence, friends and family gather to offer their blessings. Gu Lan presents a handmade wedding quilt, earning praise for her exquisite craftsmanship. Sixth Lady Chen Yanying also arrives to deliver a jade ruyi from the Chen Old Madam, joined by Yu Wanxue, who brings fine fragrant powder and cosmetics. The atmosphere becomes playful as Chen Yanying teases Yu Wanxue about her future status.

Since Wanxue is engaged to Chen Xuanqing, she will soon have to address Gu Jinzhao as an "Aunt" rather than a sister. Though Wanxue is initially too shy to use the formal title, Gu Jinzhao suggests they simply maintain their current friendly terms. Despite the festivities, Wanxue feels a sense of uncertainty regarding her own upcoming marriage, especially given Xuanqing’s sudden departure for peace talks in the past and his apparent lack of enthusiasm.

Chen Xuanqing eventually returns from his mission in Shanxi, only to be devastated by the news of the impending wedding. Unable to accept that Gu Jinzhao is marrying his uncle, he falls into a state of melancholy. He eventually sends his attendant, Yunting, to deliver a private letter to Gu Jinzhao, seeking to know if she has any hidden grievances or regrets about the match. Gu Jinzhao, however, refuses to even open the letter.

To signal her resolve, she burns the message and asks the servant to tell Xuanqing that she has long since found peace with her choice, and he should do the same.

Madam Ji sat with Gu Jinzhao to discuss the intricacies of the Chen family, hoping to prepare her for her upcoming marriage. She explained that Chen Yanyun has two older half-brothers born to concubines. The eldest brother passed away at twenty from malaria, but the second brother, Lord Yanzhang, was raised by the family’s matriarch and is highly esteemed.

Currently serving as the Provincial Governor of Shaanxi, Yanzhang even submitted a special memorial to the Emperor to request leave for the wedding, a gesture highlighting the importance of this union. His wife, Lady Qin, comes from a noble background and took over household management immediately upon marriage. However, because Yanzhang is stationed far away, Lady Qin often travels between regions, meaning her role as the primary manager might not be permanent.

To Madam Ji's surprise, Jinzhao expressed a sincere hope that Lady Qin would continue managing the estate indefinitely. Jinzhao pragmatically noted that overseeing such a large household is a thankless, exhausting task that often requires the mistress to supplement the budget with her own funds. She preferred to focus her energy on managing her own business interests instead.

Madam Ji was heartened by this, feeling that her efforts in raising Jinzhao to look beyond petty domestic power struggles had been successful. They also discussed Yanyun’s younger brother, Yanwen, the Fourth Lord. Despite passing the provincial exams, he had withdrawn from public life to handle the family's internal affairs. Jinzhao revealed that Yanyun had already confided in her that Yanwen suffered from convulsions, which reassured Madam Ji that the couple shared a deep level of trust.

The evening before the wedding, the atmosphere turned tense when Ye Xian arrived at the Gu residence in a heavy downpour, insisting on delivering a dowry gift. Panicked by the potential scandal of an unrelated man visiting so late, the Gu family attempted to block him. Old Madam Gu confronted him, reminding him of the risk to Jinzhao’s reputation, but Ye Xian brushed her off, claiming he was visiting as her "uncle."

He brought a screen inscribed with the words "Jinzhao Liangchen" (Splendid Dawn, Golden Hour), a gift clearly heavy with romantic sentiment that did not go unnoticed by the family. Inside her room, Jinzhao refused to open her door but spoke to Ye Xian through the window, even offering him a cloak to ward off the cold. Ye Xian, desperate for answers, asked why she chose Chen Yanyun and wondered if she resented him for never formally asking for her hand.

Jinzhao clarified that while she would risk her life for him out of deep friendship and gratitude, it was not romantic love. She confessed that she saw herself in him—two people who were equally stubborn, defensive, and terrified of vulnerability. After years of feeling exhausted by her own pretenses, she could not bear to be with someone who was her own reflection.

While being with Yanyun might also be tiring, it was a path she chose willingly because he was a man who truly listened to her and respected her feelings. The confrontation was interrupted by Chen Yanyun, who arrived and struck Ye Xian, declaring he would only tolerate such disrespect once due to Ye Xian’s "youthful arrogance."

As that tumultuous night ended, tragedy struck the Marquis of Changxing’s mansion; the old Marquis passed away just as his wife went to check on him. The following morning, the mood at the Gu residence shifted to celebration. Chen Yanyun arrived with an impressive entourage of high-ranking officials, including Chancellor Chang, Minister Liang, and the Imperial Lecturer. The presence of such influential figures relieved the Gu family, signaling that the previous night's drama had not tarnished the wedding's prestige.

As she prepared, Jinzhao felt the presence of her late mother, vowing to live the harmonious life her mother had once hoped for. After the couple bid a formal farewell to her parents, Yanyun escorted her toward her new home. The wedding procession eventually crossed paths with the funeral of the Marquis of Changxing.

Recognizing the gravity of the loss, Jinzhao suggested they show respect and yield the road, but Ye Xian, leading the funeral party, ultimately ordered his group to clear the way for the bridal carriage. Jinzhao felt a pang of guilt for the coincidence, but the procession continued to the Chen residence, where the couple completed the traditional marriage rites. During the ceremony, an Imperial Decree arrived that stunned the guests.

The Emperor, citing Jinzhao’s merit and virtuous nature, bestowed upon her the title of Second Rank Imperial Lady on her wedding day. This unprecedented honor sparked gossip among the noblewomen, including the wives of the Grand Secretary and Wang Xuanfan. While some noted that such titles are usually earned through a husband's long-standing merit, the Grand Secretary’s wife acknowledged Yanyun’s diligence but wondered if Jinzhao would prove worthy of such a sudden rise in status.

In the quiet of the bridal chamber, Jinzhao finally removed her heavy phoenix crown, exhausted by the day's events. Sensing she might be hungry, Yanyun sent a spread of dishes to her room. Despite the festivities, Jinzhao remained uneasy, asking her maid if she had confirmed whose funeral they encountered, as she was certain she had heard Ye Xian’s voice.

Concerned about Yanyun’s well-being at the banquet, she sent her maid to the front hall with sobering soup to ensure he wasn't overwhelmed by the many toasts. At the banquet, the Grand Secretary discussed political shifts with Yanyun, noting the Emperor's intention to have Ye Xian inherit his father's title.

Though his peers viewed Ye Xian’s inheritance as a threat, Yanyun dismissed the young man's recent actions as the desperate struggles of a cornered beast, choosing not to let the rivalry overshadow his wedding night.

Following the wedding festivities, Chen Xuanqing, visibly unsettled and intoxicated, wandered near the bridal chamber. He was intercepted by Chen Yanyun and Yu Kaiji. When questioned, Xuanqing claimed he had simply lost his way while trying to return to his own courtyard. Recognizing his nephew’s state, Chen Yanyun advised him to rest immediately. Concerned, Yu Kaiji decided to see the young man safely to his quarters.

After the guests departed, Chen Yanyun returned to the chamber and watched over Gu Jinzhao as she slept. Later, the couple shared a moment of quiet intimacy. Gu Jinzhao noticed the numerous scars marking Chen Yanyun’s body and asked how a civil official could have encountered so much danger. Chen Yanyun explained that although the dynasty had stood for a century, it was now showing signs of instability.

He believed that in such times, civil officials must be prepared to risk their lives to save the nation. While he confessed that he hadn't prioritized his own safety in the past, Jinzhao firmly told him that since she was now his wife, he must promise to live well for her sake. Chen Yanyun then revealed that the Marquis of Changxing, Ye Guangsheng, had passed away the previous night.

The Emperor had bestowed gold and silver upon the family and permitted the wake to be held at Xuanmiao Temple. When Jinzhao asked if Ye Xian would inherit the title, Yanyun noted that survival was more important than a title at this precarious juncture. The couple soon visited Xuanmiao Temple to offer incense. They were met with hostility by Xue Qinglan, who doubted their intentions.

While Chen Yanyun requested a private word with Ye Xian, Jinzhao stepped outside with Xue Qinglan. Surprisingly, Xue Qinglan admitted she did not blame Jinzhao for her choice, acknowledging that Jinzhao truly cared for Ye Xian. She thanked Jinzhao for her past kindness but noted that if she ever "regained her sight"—referring to her own devotion—she might leave the Ye family without looking back. Inside the temple, Chen Yanyun delivered an imperial decree to Ye Xian.

The document officially revoked the Marquis of Changxing title, citing Ye Xian’s alleged illness. However, Yanyun also conveyed a secret oral decree: the Emperor was establishing the Xuanfeng Guard, an elite five-hundred-man unit of personal guards. Ye Xian was appointed its Commander and granted the power of surveillance and interrogation.

Yanyun later explained to Jinzhao that this was the Emperor’s strategic move to cultivate a loyal force under Ye Xian while appearing to yield to the Grand Secretary's political rivals, as the existing Bureau of Justice (Xingdaosi) was no longer trustworthy. Upon returning to the Chen mansion, Jinzhao was formally introduced to the extended family. She paid her respects to Mother Chen, the second brother, Chen Yanzhang, and his wife, Qin-shi.

Jinzhao presented gifts to the younger generation, including Chen Yanzhang’s sons, Xuansong and Xuanbo, and the fourth brother’s young son, Xuan'an. When it was Chen Xuanqing’s turn to receive his gift, he was so distracted that he accidentally spilled tea. Jinzhao quickly called for Sanhuang Ointment to treat a potential scald, though he insisted the tea was only warm. After the formalities, Mother Chen dismissed the men so the ladies could play mahjong.

In the study, the fourth brother, Chen Yanwen, expressed bitterness over being excluded from political discussions. He attempted to plant seeds of doubt in Xuanqing’s mind, suggesting the Ji family had offered Jinzhao to Chen Yanyun as a "beauty tribute" to secure favor during the land equalization crisis. Xuanqing firmly defended his uncle, stating that Yanyun and Jinzhao had never even met privately before the arrangement.

Suspicious of Yanwen’s motives, Xuanqing later ordered his attendant, Yunting, to keep a discreet watch on him. Meanwhile, Mother Chen expressed her dissatisfaction with Jinzhao for leaving the mansion so early on her first day as a bride. Chen Yanyun arrived and shielded his wife, claiming that her trip to offer incense was actually in accordance with the Emperor’s decree. He then used a fabricated report regarding news from Shanxi to whisk Jinzhao away.

Once alone, Yanyun apologized, admitting his mother was somewhat snobbish because she hadn't chosen this match herself. He assured Jinzhao that his position would prevent anyone from mistreating her, while Jinzhao joked about his "falsified" decree. The political situation intensified as Ye Xian interrogated Zhang Ling, the former Commander of the Bureau of Justice.

Under duress, Zhang Ling confessed to Wang Xuanfan’s extensive crimes, including his ties to Shandong bandits, the murder of a director named Sun, and secret collusion with Northern Barbarians. Following the interrogation, Ye Xian executed Zhang Ling on a secret imperial order, though the public report claimed Zhang had committed suicide out of guilt. This news made Wang Xuanfan deeply suspicious of the newly formed Xuanfeng Guard.

On the day of Jinzhao’s formal homecoming visit, she and Chen Yanyun decided to bypass the Gu mansion entirely and head straight to Tongzhou, her maternal home. At the Gu residence, the family waited in vain. Gu Lian was furious at the perceived snub, while Gu Jizhen, who was preparing to leave for his new post in Pingyang, felt ignored and demoralized as no one came to see him off.

Only Gu Lan seemed unfazed, noting that since Tongzhou was Jinzhao’s maternal home, it was natural for her to prioritize it. While traveling, Jinzhao explained to Yanyun that she kept their plans secret to avoid being pressured by her grandmother using "filial duty." As they neared Tongzhou, their carriage was blocked by scholars protesting that the land equalization was unfair.

Chen Yanyun stepped out to investigate and quickly discovered the protest was a provocation orchestrated by a servant from Wang Xuanfan’s household. However, the situation turned out to be a cover for an ambush. Amidst the ensuing chaos, the guards were overwhelmed, and Chen Yanyun realized with horror that Jinzhao had been seized.

Fourth Master Chen received confirmation from his associates that the plan to kidnap Gu Jinchao had succeeded. Driven by revenge for his ruined official career, he relished the prospect of making his third brother, Chen Yanyun, suffer the agony of losing his beloved. However, his servant Chen Zhong warned him that a man named Xie had been unable to smuggle Jinchao out of the capital and was currently hiding inside the city.

Chen Xuanqing, overhearing about the plot, deduced that Jinchao was the target and ordered his servants to keep a close watch on Chen Zhong. Upon learning that the kidnappers were still in the capital, Yanyun acted swiftly. He sent his associate Chen Yi to the Five-City Garrison with his personal seal, ordering a complete lockdown and a door-to-door search of the city.

Meanwhile, the kidnappers kept Jinchao and her maid locked up, planning to sell them to a human trafficker the next morning. In an attempt to buy time and secure water, Jinchao negotiated with her guard, offering her pink pearl bracelet—worth at least a hundred taels of silver. Xuanqing later spotted the unique pink pearl and recognized it as a rare dowry given to Jinchao by her grandmother.

Tracking down the human trafficker, Xuanqing tried to buy Jinchao back, offering his silver and a jade pendant to inspect her. However, just as he located the drugged Jinchao, Yanyun and the garrison forces raided the hideout and rescued Jinchao. Xuanqing fled in the chaos, but when a female associate of the trafficker tried to escape, he killed her with a stone to prevent her from identifying him. His companion, Yunting, promised to take the blame for the death.

Shortly after, Ye Xian ordered the kidnappers to be transferred to the Xuanfeng Guard for interrogation. Back at the Chen mansion, Old Lady Chen and Second Lady Chen anxiously awaited news, with the Second Lady gossiping about the scandal of Jinchao being missing overnight. To silence any rumors, Yanyun carried the injured Jinchao directly to her room and warned the household against gossiping.

He then confronted Fourth Master Chen, who was attempting to flee under the pretext of a business trip. Fourth Master Chen confessed to his deep-seated hatred, revealing he had drowned their fifth brother years ago and resented Yanyun for barring him from the imperial exams. Unmoved, Yanyun exiled him to Shaanxi to be dealt with by their second brother. Yanyun and Jinchao agreed to tell Old Lady Chen that Fourth Master Chen had left on business.

Although Yanyun suggested she rest, Jinchao insisted on managing the reopening of her pastry shop, Linxia Zhai, and facing the family openly. The next morning, she presented Old Lady Chen with sugar-free pastries sweetened with licorice and jujubes, specially prepared for her mother-in-law's diabetes. While Old Lady Chen was pleased, the Second Lady tried to humiliate Jinchao by bringing up the exclusive tea gathering of the cabinet wives. Her attempt backfired when an invitation from Madam Wang arrived for Jinchao.

Before departing, Jinchao encountered Xuanqing. When her earring fell, Xuanqing deliberately stepped on it and later ordered his servant to make an identical pair to give to her. Meanwhile, Yanyun warned Jinchao about Wang Xuanfan's hostility, explaining that Yanyun's land equalization policies had forced Wang to pay a fortune in taxes. To retaliate, Wang had incited scholars to protest, but the demonstration backfired, resulting in a public reprimand from the Chancellor.

To salvage her husband's pride, Madam Wang hosted the tea gathering, specifically inviting Jinchao to make her uncomfortable. At the gathering, Jinchao was criticized by Madam Fu for bringing gifts, which supposedly violated their anti-corruption rules. Jinchao gracefully defused the situation, shifting the blame to Madam Wang for failing to advise her beforehand, which forced Madam Wang to apologize for her oversight. While the ladies discussed political appointments in the garden, Ye Xian apprehended censor An Deyu at a city inn, arresting him for selling official posts and neglecting his duties.

Ye Xian, leading the Xuanfeng Guard, launched a series of swift arrests on the streets of the capital, targeting censors who had previously impeached the Marquis of Changxing. Though his subordinates urged him to rest due to his weak constitution, Ye Xian refused, determined to carry out his duties without pause. Meanwhile, Madam Wang hosted a tea gathering for the noble ladies of the capital, serving them luxurious red bird's nest soup.

The conversation soon turned to Ye Xian, with some ladies speculating that his sudden ferocity in handling cases stemmed from his heartbreak over losing his beloved, Gu Jinzhao. Madam Wang took the opportunity to needle Gu Jinzhao, questioning how the scholarly but modest Gu family had managed to capture the hearts of both Chen Yanyun and Ye Xian, even noting that Chen Yanyun had rejected Madam Fu's matchmaking attempt for her sake. Gu Jinzhao responded with calm grace.

She pointed out that since Madam Fu and Grand Secretary Fu had ultimately presided over their wedding, any past matchmaking discussions had clearly been laid to rest. She added that continuing to bring up the matter might make others think Madam Wang was trying to undermine Madam Fu's dignity. Madam Fu quickly defused the tension, dismissing it as a trivial matter she had long forgotten. Gu Jinzhao soon noticed something unusual about the red bird's nest being served.

Recognizing its exquisite appearance, she noted it looked exactly like the South Seas tribute she had seen before. When Madam Wang tried to claim it was merely loose bird's nest bought from a local shop, Gu Jinzhao revealed that traders had once tried to consign identical high-grade tribute surplus to her own shops, which she had refused out of caution.

Madam Fu immediately realized Madam Wang had pocketed tribute goods and sternly rebuked her, questioning if the imperial court had shortchanged the Wang family's salary. She ordered the ladies to keep the matter quiet to avoid further trouble. When Chen Yanyun arrived to take Gu Jinzhao home, she recounted the incident to him. She explained she had not intended to expose Madam Wang, but the woman had repeatedly targeted her.

Chen Yanyun was pleased by this development, noting that despite all his precautions, Wang Xuanfan had finally slipped up and handed them a perfect weakness. In the Wang residence, Wang Xuanfan was furious with his wife, calling her a fool for serving tribute red bird's nest to her guests.

When his wife argued that she did not expect anyone to recognize the cooked dish, Wang Xuanfan pointed out that Gu Jinzhao came from a wealthy merchant family and was well-versed in luxury goods. He ordered his wife to immediately cover their tracks and retrieve any remaining consigned tributes, while he prepared to visit the Fu residence to apologize.

Gu Jinzhao later discussed the tea gatherings with Chen Yanyun, explaining how surprised she was to find that the noble ladies spent their time discussing imperial court politics rather than domestic affairs. She jokingly referred to them as a Wives' Cabinet. Amused but cautious, Chen Yanyun warned her to be careful, as such rumors could easily provoke the censors. He admitted he was surprised that the cabinet officials had been using their wives to exchange intelligence for so many years.

Their conversation was interrupted when Chen Xuanqing arrived to speak with Chen Yanyun. He attempted to plead for the scholars who had blocked Yanyun's carriage, claiming they had acted out of righteous indignation. Yanyun dismissed his plea, arguing that the highly coordinated protest could not have been a spontaneous act. He advised Xuanqing to stop jumping to conclusions and instead focus on his upcoming marriage to Yu Wanxue, which her family had been pressing to finalize before the year's end.

Once Xuanqing left, Mr. Jiang arrived to deliver concrete evidence of Wang Xuanfan embezzling regional tributes. Yanyun decided to play a patient game, opting for a mild impeachment rather than a relentless pursuit to slowly erode Wang Xuanfan's standing. Wang Xuanfan was indeed severely rebuked by Grand Secretary Fu. Feeling humiliated, he complained to his subordinate, Ziliang, about how much money he had contributed to cover the deficits for land equalization, all for Fu's sake.

He realized that Chen Yanyun had been systematically targeting him ever since the relief grain scandal. Recalling that Gu Deyuan, Gu Jinzhao's second uncle, had previously been implicated in a corruption case, Wang Xuanfan suspected that with Yanyun now acting as his powerful backing, the man would surely take bribes again. He ordered Ziliang to keep a close watch on Gu Deyuan to uncover any dirt they could use.

Gu Lan visited Gu Jinzhao to express her desire to move back to Sili Alley. With her father posted away in Pingyang Prefecture and her brother Jinrong studying at the academy, she felt isolated in the ancestral home. Though Jinzhao warned her that an unmarried young lady living independently would invite gossip, Gu Lan insisted she valued her freedom above all else.

Jinzhao agreed to the move and offered to sell her own share of the Sili Alley property to Gu Lan as an investment. Jinzhao then brought up Young Lord Mu, noting that he was a decent man from a family of good values, and suggested a meeting. Gu Lan agreed, and Jinzhao promised to make the arrangements.

Meanwhile, after drinking heavily, Ye Xian suffered a severe relapse of his heart condition, prompting Xue Qinglan to bring Physician Zhou to treat him. The physician privately revealed that Ye Xian's condition was terminal, leaving him with at most three years to live. Upon waking, Ye Xian urged Xue Qinglan to keep his prognosis a secret, insisting on traveling to Zhending Prefecture for official business despite his frail state.

Xue Qinglan demanded to accompany him, threatening to reveal his secret if he refused to let her join him. Chen Yanyun returned home late after a long discussion regarding river works with his master. Sharing a quiet moment with Gu Jinzhao, he admitted that he had finally told his mother the truth about Fourth Brother, which was why she had fallen ill without calling for a doctor.

The grand matriarch had long suspected Fourth Brother was responsible for Xiaowu's death but had refused to believe it. Learning that he had also orchestrated Gu Jinzhao's kidnapping finally forced her to accept the reality. Yanyun comforted Jinzhao, assuring her that his mother's strong temperament would soon allow her to recover and resume her role. A few days later, Gu Jinzhao and Yu Wanxue attended Gu Lan's housewarming party at Sili Alley.

Jinzhao brought a gift on behalf of Yanying, who was recovering from a stomachache after eating too many cold treats. Soon, Mu Zhidi and Chen Xuanqing also arrived. To give Gu Lan and Mu Zhidi an opportunity to speak privately, Jinzhao, Wanxue, and Xuanqing went to explore the courtyard. Left alone with Mu Zhidi, Gu Lan candidly explained that she had only agreed to the meeting out of respect for her sister and had resolved to remain unmarried.

She shared her difficult family circumstances, including her father's demotion and her concubine mother's confinement, and explained her plan to focus on business so she could eventually rescue and care for her mother. Deeply moved, Mu Zhidi admitted he was not good with words but wanted to support her. He revealed he had brought craftsmen to build a koi pond in her courtyard, having learned from Jinrong that she had always envied the pond at Gu Jinzhao's residence.

Touched by his thoughtfulness, Gu Lan gladly invited the craftsmen inside. As they walked through the gardens, Yu Wanxue confided in Gu Jinzhao about her anxieties regarding her upcoming marriage to Chen Xuanqing. She admitted she was deeply unsettled by his coldness, sharing that since his return to the capital, he had only visited her home once to speak with her father, barely uttering two words to her before departing.

Following her sister Gu Lan's housewarming, Chen Xuanqing seeks out Yu Wanxue to make a shocking confession in the presence of Gu Jinzhao. Despite Jinzhao's warning for him to act with maturity, Xuanqing admits he loves another woman and suggests calling off their engagement. Devastated, Wanxue refuses to break the betrothal, pouring her heart out about her lifelong devotion to him. Touched and resigned, Xuanqing yields and agrees to proceed with their wedding plans as scheduled.

Unbeknownst to them, Chen Yanyun witnesses this tense encounter. Rather than investigating immediately, Yanyun decides to trust Jinzhao to tell him in her own time. After escorting her home, he immediately departs for the Wenyuan Pavilion, leaving Jinzhao feeling neglected. When he finally returns in the early hours of the morning, Jinzhao, concerned about his exhausting commute, suggests he simply lodge at Wenyuan Pavilion.

Mistaking her concern for coldness, Yanyun is momentarily defensive, but Jinzhao explains that she merely misses him, regretting that they have had no time to enjoy a simple stroll together since their wedding. Touched, Yanyun immediately takes her out for an impromptu morning walk. To avoid further complications, Jinzhao instructs her servants to bar Xuanqing from her courtyard and actively avoids him during meals and daily greetings, leaving Xuanqing frustrated.

Meanwhile, Jinzhao shifts her focus to the upcoming opening of Linxia Zhai. During a discussion with Gu Lan, Jinzhao agrees to receive the marriage proposal from Young Lord Mu at the Chen estate on Gu Lan's behalf, saving her sister from returning to their hostile ancestral home.

However, the grand opening of Linxia Zhai is quickly disrupted when Chief Steward Lai from Prince Ning'an’s mansion arrives with a band of men, accusing the establishment of harboring a runaway male opera actor named Xia Xiaohan. Gu Lan fiercely defends the business's policy of only employing and hosting women, demanding compensation if a search yields nothing. Officers from the Shuntian Prefecture swiftly intervene, sealing the premises under the guise of searching for a fugitive.

Recognizing the raid is a calculated strike, Jinzhao bribes a prefecture officer, who subtly hints that she should look into those her family has recently offended. Meanwhile, Yanyun's mother worries that Jinzhao's business ventures will ruin his reputation. Yanyun staunchly defends his wife, arguing that shutting down her shops would only show weakness to their enemies. Soon after, Yanyun's men uncover the mastermind behind the sabotage: Madam Wang.

Desperate to retaliate against Jinzhao for exposing her previous scandals, Madam Wang had used her illicit usury business to trap Prince Ning'an, who had pawned his imperial Iron Immunity Charter to her. By holding this dangerous secret over the prince and offering him the funds to redeem the charter, Madam Wang manipulated him into using his household guards and the Shuntian Prefecture to ruin Linxia Zhai's reputation.

Although Yanyun wishes to impeach Wang Xuanfan immediately, Jinzhao requests to handle the matter herself using her own tactics. She lures Madam Wang to a private meeting outside, pretending to repay a massive debt on behalf of her servants who supposedly took out usurious loans. Because illegal lending carries a brutal penalty of three hundred lashes, a terrified Madam Wang vehemently denies any connection to the loans.

Taking advantage of this denial, Jinzhao smugly declares she will keep the money and threatens to hand over any future debt collectors to the Shuntian Prefecture, leaving Madam Wang utterly outmaneuvered. With Madam Wang temporarily neutralized, Jinzhao tells her maid Qingpu that exposing the loans was merely a warning, and that revitalizing Linxia Zhai requires a powerful ally.

Meanwhile, Yanyun learns of a major scandal in the Armaments Office, where the Dai family—relatives of the Chief Grand Secretary's wife—supplied moldy cotton for winter robes destined for border soldiers. Seeking to aid his wife, Yanyun plans to leak this information to Jinzhao. However, before his plan is executed, her cousin Ji Yao arrives and informs Jinzhao about the winter robe crisis, presenting her with the perfect opportunity to secure a high-level alliance.

Madam Fu, the Grand Secretary's wife, furiously scolded her nephew from the Dai family for his utter incompetence. He had greedily taken on a massive court contract to supply winter robes to the soldiers of the Nine Garrisons but instead provided rotten, low-quality materials while pocketing the government funds.

She warned him that if a mutiny broke out due to the freezing conditions, the imperial court would trace the corruption back to the Dai family, and they would all face execution for deceiving the Emperor. Terrified, her nephew begged her to help him resolve the crisis, admitting he was at his wit's end trying to gather fifty thousand winter robes with only three days left before the deadline. Just then, Gu Jinzhao arrived to see Madam Fu.

Having caught wind of the shortage through her maternal family's previous interest in the military order, Jinzhao offered to help. She revealed that she had thirty-five thousand winter robes stored across her various warehouses and could mobilize her resources to secure more if needed. Deeply relieved by this timely rescue, Madam Fu insisted that the Dai family would purchase the robes from her at full price.

To show her gratitude and help Jinzhao in her ongoing conflict with Madam Wang, Madam Fu handed the organization of the upcoming tea gathering over to Jinzhao, advising her not to let the impatient Madam Wang bother her. Meanwhile, Chen Yanyun's subordinate reported that his own attempt to assist Jinzhao with the winter robes had been disrupted by the sudden arrival of Ji Yao.

Yanyun was not bothered, but his assistant, Chen Yi, asked why Yanyun did not simply tell his wife about his quiet efforts to support her businesses. Yanyun explained that Jinzhao valued her financial independence and her business highly as a secure path for her future. If he interfered too much, it would only make her feel uncomfortable.

Even so, Yanyun felt satisfied that by orchestrating the downfall of Shuntian Prefect Zheng Xiaoyou, he had successfully retaliated against those who targeted his wife. At the Wang residence, Madam Wang was throwing a temper tantrum over Jinzhao's growing influence, especially now that she had secured the tea gathering. Wang Xuanfan was deeply irritated by his wife's reckless actions, particularly her private usurious lending, which she had hidden from him.

He stopped her from smashing their expensive household items, urging her to calm down, and assured her that he had already set Zheng Xiaoyou to dig up dirt on Chen Yanyun so they could launch a devastating impeachment. However, their plotting was cut short when a servant rushed in with news that Zheng Xiaoyou had been arrested mid-trial by the Court of Judicial Review for bribery, selling offices, and violence.

Wang Xuanfan was left trembling with rage, knowing Yanyun was behind it. As the grand secretary and his wife enjoyed a quiet moment, Yanyun reassured Jinzhao that she no longer had to face difficulties alone. Jinzhao expressed how much she had come to rely on his quiet strength. Soon after, Jinzhao was tasked with managing Chen Xuanqing's upcoming wedding preparations.

When Xuanqing came to ask about the departure time to the Yu family for the formal setting of the wedding date, Jinzhao politely maintained her distance, setting the departure for the next morning. The following day, Jinzhao and Yanyun visited the Yu residence alongside Xuanqing. Old Madam Chen had chosen three auspicious dates for the wedding, which Lord and Lady Yu found highly suitable.

However, when Jinzhao suggested letting the bride, Yu Wanxue, make the final choice, Lady Yu mentioned that Wanxue had been melancholic and unable to sleep lately. Jinzhao offered to speak with her privately in her room. While Jinzhao went to see Wanxue, Xuanqing excused himself to retrieve a forgotten gift from his carriage. Instead, he cornered Jinzhao in the courtyard, dismissing the servants so they could speak alone.

He accused her of avoiding him and desperately tried to clarify a past misunderstanding, revealing that three years ago, he actually did go to Yong'an Bridge and saw the kite she flew for him. Jinzhao firmly cut him off, stating that their past was nothing but a distant memory she had long since forgotten. She urged him to appreciate Wanxue, who loved him dearly, and to stop causing unnecessary trouble. Unfortunately, Yanyun witnessed the encounter.

Furious, Yanyun confronted them and punched Xuanqing. Containing his anger for the sake of the Yu family's dignity, Yanyun ordered Xuanqing to immediately pack his things, move to the Hanlin Academy quarters, and stay there until further notice. Back at his study, Yanyun privately brooded over reports of Jinzhao and Xuanqing's past connection, feeling a bitter sting of resentment despite knowing his anger was somewhat irrational. At the Hanlin Academy, Xuanqing vented his bitter resentment to his servant, Yunting.

He felt suffocated by the Chen family's expectations and was furious at Yanyun, whom he viewed as a petty, vindictive hypocrite who had used his position to steal the woman he loved. Back at the Chen estate, Jinzhao grew increasingly anxious. Learning that Xuanqing had moved out, she realized Yanyun was actively avoiding her, having stayed overnight at the Wenyuan Pavilion for days.

Jinzhao tried to practice how she would confess her past youthful infatuation with Xuanqing to Yanyun, but found every draft sounding worse than the last. Frustrated, she confronted Mr. Jiang, threatening to wait outside the palace's Xihua Gate in the freezing cold if Yanyun did not return. Caught in a bind, Mr. Jiang finally admitted that Yanyun was currently meeting a guest at Baoxiang Temple.

Jinzhao immediately traveled to Baoxiang Temple, but the guards at the entrance barred her from entering. Inside, Yanyun was meeting with Lord Yao to finalize their moves against Wang Xuanfan. Lord Yao questioned whether Yanyun truly intended to abandon his uncle-in-law, Gu Deyuan, who was deeply implicated in corruption. Yanyun firmly stated that as a censor, Gu Deyuan had abused his power and deserved punishment. Lord Yao agreed to join him in prioritizing justice over family ties.

When an urgent imperial summons arrived for Yanyun, he had to leave the temple immediately. Outside, a freezing Jinzhao was devastated to learn from her maid that Yanyun had already departed without seeing her, mistakenly believing he was actively avoiding her. At court, a censor initiated the impeachment of Wang Xuanfan, detailing his treasonous ties to the late rebel Prince Chengqing.

When Wang Xuanfan vehemently denied the charges, Yanyun stepped forward with concrete evidence, exposing how Wang Xuanfan and another corrupt official had accepted bribes from the rebel prince years ago. Trapped, Wang Xuanfan launched a desperate counter-attack, accusing Yanyun of using his corrupt uncle-in-law, Gu Deyuan, to sell offices. To prevent a chaotic deadlock between the two grand secretaries, Grand Secretary Fu stepped in, recommending that both men step aside while the Three Judicial Offices conducted a thorough investigation.

The Emperor agreed. Following the court session, Gu Deyuan was arrested by the Court of Judicial Review. His mother, Gu Old Madam, lamented her failure to raise him right but urged the weeping family to save their tears for the Chen Mansion, as only Jinzhao had the power to save him now. Hearing of the arrest, Yanyun rushed back to his estate, knowing the Gu family would descend upon Jinzhao.

True to his fears, Gu Old Madam and her daughter-in-law cornered Jinzhao, demanding she ask Yanyun to use his grand secretary status to release Gu Deyuan. Jinzhao refused, pointing out the severity of his crimes and the undeniable evidence. A pregnant Gu Lian threw herself at Jinzhao's feet, begging for mercy. In the struggle, Gu Lian collapsed and began to bleed. Distressed, Jinzhao ordered a female physician to be brought discreetly.

Meanwhile, Old Madam Chen was in the middle of lecturing Xuanqing for neglecting his wedding preparations and staying at the Hanlin quarters when news of the emergency in Jinzhao's courtyard reached them. Xuanqing immediately rushed over. After the physician stabilized Gu Lian, an exhausted Jinzhao stepped outside to clear her head, only to find Xuanqing waiting for her. Xuanqing grabbed her hand, demanding to know why she was pushing him away.

Jinzhao struggled to free herself, but their tense interaction was abruptly cut short when Yanyun arrived. Yanyun's cold gaze fell upon them. Ordering his nephew to let go, Yanyun was met with bitter defiance. Xuanqing stood his ground and confronted Yanyun, shouting that Jinzhao had loved him first and accusing Yanyun of using his immense power to steal her away.

Gu Jinchao felt incredibly unwell, prompting Chen Xuanqing to suddenly scoop her up in his arms to carry her away. Shocked by his boldness, Jinchao struggled and demanded that he put her down immediately. At that moment, Chen Yanyun arrived, witnessing the scene, and delivered a swift, resounding slap to Xuanqing’s face. The blow only fueled Xuanqing's long-simmering rage. He lashed out, shouting that if Yanyun had not stolen Jinchao from him, they would have been together long ago.

Xuanqing accused his adoptive father of hypocrisy, claiming Yanyun only brought him into the Chen family to exploit his potential. He argued that Yanyun's attempt to control his life and arrange his marriage to the Yu family was nothing but a calculated plot to steal Jinchao under the guise of protecting his future. Xuanqing insisted that Jinchao had loved him first, bringing up the letters they had exchanged and the kite she had flown for him.

Yanyun, consumed by fury, drew his sword to silence Xuanqing once and for all. Jinchao quickly stepped between them, urging Yanyun to calm down and not make a scene since the grandmother and the others were nearby. Reluctantly, Yanyun ordered his servants to throw Xuanqing out.

Turning to her husband, Jinchao argued that she had done nothing wrong and that he had no right to take his anger out on her, warning him that if he walked away now, he should not bother coming back. However, a conflicted Yanyun simply walked away, asking for space to calm down. Meanwhile, Master Yao paid a visit to Wang Xuanfan, expressing his concerns that Yanyun had caught wind of their past crimes regarding Yanhong.

Xuanfan was baffled, confident that his execution of the woman years ago had been flawless and left no traces. When Madam Wang joined them, struggling to recall who Yanhong was, Xuanfan reminded her of the woman Prince Chengqing had gifted them. Growing anxious, Xuanfan ordered his men to dig up any dirt on Yanyun, while also investigating Xuanqing’s background in Xuzhou to see if he could link him to the canal bandits.

Sinking into deep sorrow over his rift with Jinchao, Yanyun turned to heavy drinking. Mr. Jiang arrived to counsel him, while Chen Yi defended Jinchao, pointing out that she had actively avoided Xuanqing for days and was entirely blameless. Jiang warned Yanyun that Xuanfan was already sending men to trail him and had made contact with highwaymen from Zhending Prefecture. Despite the danger, Yanyun insisted on proceeding with their original plan.

When Jiang mentioned that Jinchao’s maid, Qingpu, had pleaded for his return because Jinchao was waiting for him without eating or sleeping, Yanyun bitterly dismissed the claim, unable to believe she would lose sleep over him. Yanyun later confronted Xuanqing to deliver his ultimate judgment. He informed Xuanqing that his engagement to Yu Wanxue was officially canceled and that he was being sent to serve in the provinces.

Yanyun declared that Xuanqing’s selfish nature made him unfit for office in the capital, but if he managed to truly serve the local people well, perhaps Yanyun would respect him. When Xuanqing begged for mercy, citing his academic achievements and imperial favor, Yanyun countered that Xuanfan was already digging into his biological father’s past, and leaving the capital was the only way to save him. Hoping to settle matters, Jinchao summoned Yu Wanxue.

Wanxue was devastated and confused, explaining that her father refused to speak of the cancellation and Xuanqing had shut her out. Jinchao gently explained that they had weighed the situation and concluded that the marriage would not be a happy one. Wanxue admitted she had realized Xuanqing’s heart belonged to Jinchao, remembering how his eyes had been fixed on Jinchao even while speaking to her.

Although Wanxue claimed she did not mind, Jinchao insisted they could not stand by and watch her jump into a doomed marriage, advising her to forget him. With Yanyun refusing to return home for days, Jinchao signed a divorce letter and sent it to him, determined to see if he was truly willing to let her go. The letter left Yanyun deeply heartbroken.

In an effort to keep up appearances and promote her business, Jinchao hosted a tea gathering for the wives of the grand secretaries. Madam Wang deliberately tried to humiliate Jinchao after ruining her own fabric during a cutting demonstration. Jinchao elegantly defused the situation by suggesting they piece the ruined fabrics together to create a patchwork garment for charity, earning praise from the other ladies.

Green with envy, Madam Wang maliciously brought up Jinchao's childhood rumor, mocking her father’s demotion and her second uncle’s arrest as proof of her cursed fate. She warned Jinchao not to bring ruin upon Yanyun. Their sparring was abruptly cut short when a maid rushed in to report that Yanyun had been ambushed and severely injured near the Ding Mausoleum.

As Madam Wang smugly remarked that her warning had come true, an enraged Jinchao slapped her across the face, warning that if anything happened to Yanyun, she would hold Madam Wang personally responsible and make her pay with her life. Back at the Wang mansion, Xuanfan assured his terrified wife that he was not behind the ambush, knowing that a Grand Secretary orchestrating the assassination of another was unprecedented.

While he briefly wondered if the Grand Secretary (Lord Fu) was behind it to frame him, he quickly dismissed the idea, confident that Lord Fu still needed him and would protect him. Jinchao rushed back to care for the gravely wounded Yanyun, weeping over his unconscious body. When Yanyun finally awoke and asked why she was crying, Jinchao tearfully confessed that she had only written the divorce letter because of his coldness and refusal to return home.

Yanyun admitted he had been angry that she kept Xuanqing's pestering a secret, and equally furious at himself for not realizing his love for her sooner. Moved by his confession, Jinchao kissed him. Yanyun then explained that the assassination was a ruse; knowing Xuanfan’s men were tailing him, he had staged the ambush to trap his rival, though his physical injury was genuine because he had been too distracted by her divorce letter to properly dodge the arrow.

Shortly after, Lord Fu arrived at the estate. The imperial physician examined Yanyun, noting how close the arrow had come to his heart before leaving to write a prescription. Once they were alone, Lord Fu tried to plead for Xuanfan, suggesting they put the matter to rest. Yanyun revealed that Xuanfan’s captured spies had already confessed, and explained how he had provoked Xuanfan in court to force his hand.

When Lord Fu dismissed Yanyun's grievances as petty, Yanyun brought up the severe summer floods and the twenty-three breaches in the Huai River embankments, revealing that fifteen of those failures were due to corrupted materials. He coldly pointed out that six of the responsible officials were Xuanfan’s disciples, while the remaining nine were Lord Fu’s own.

Grand Secretary Fu Hailian visited the recovering Chen Yanyun, advising him to rest and leave the investigation of his assassination attempt to the authorities. He promised that if Wang Xuanfan were proven to be the mastermind, he would face full justice despite his high standing. Once Fu Hailian left, Gu Jinzhao entered the room. Chen Yanyun revealed to her that he had confronted his mentor about the severe waterway corruption involving six administrators who were Wang Xuanfan's disciples.

However, Fu Hailian had merely dismissed the corruption as a bit excessive. Realizing how deeply his mentor was entangled with Wang Xuanfan, Chen Yanyun knew they had to take precautions. Gu Jinzhao suggested they temporarily return to Tongzhou to regroup, while also keeping their businesses and family members safe. Back at his own residence, Fu Hailian was consumed by fury.

He ranted to his wife, Madam Fu, about Chen Yanyun's insolence, feeling threatened by his student's control over the Ministry of Revenue. Chen Yanyun had practically threatened him with a massive purge in the Huai region if Wang Xuanfan was not prosecuted, which would drag down half the court. Unable to stop Chen Yanyun if he acted, Fu Hailian sent his associate, Zhang Qi, to the Wang residence with a message.

He advised Wang Xuanfan to temporarily step down, return home to recuperate, and wait for the political storm to blow over before resuming office. Though bitter, Wang Xuanfan had no choice but to comply. Chen Yanyun and Gu Jinzhao traveled back to Tongzhou. There, Gu Jinzhao was surprised to find numerous crates filled with decade-old records from the Bureau of Justice.

Chen Yanyun explained that during the late Prince Chengqing's rebellion ten years ago, the prince had bribed the Bureau to compile compromising files on court officials. While working at the Water Transport Office, Chen Yanyun had intercepted these records. He believed that since Fu Hailian went to such lengths to protect Wang Xuanfan, Wang Xuanfan must possess significant leverage over him, and the answers lay within these files.

Going through the documents, Chen Yanyun pointed out a record from the Jingning era: Wang Xuanfan's steward, Wang Nian'en, had attended a ritual with Prince Chengqing's chief steward, Zhou Feng, hosted by Recluse Yuyang, Liu Heng. Afterward, Wang Nian'en had sent valuable gifts to Fu Hailian's residence. This prompted Chen Yanyun to ask Gu Jinzhao if she was familiar with the Chunyuan Cult. Meanwhile, back in the capital, someone threw a stone wrapped with a warning into Fu Hailian's residence.

Fu Hailian discussed the situation with Madam Fu, realizing that the Emperor had recalled Commander Ye Xian of the Xuanfeng Guard to lead the investigation into Chen Yanyun's attack. Fu Hailian knew that Ye Xian would not side with them. At the same time, Wang Xuanfan and Madam Wang were packed up and arguing bitterly, with Madam Wang blaming her husband's stubborn political feud for their sudden downfall. Before they could leave the capital, tragedy struck.

Ye Xian arrived at the Wang residence only to find Wang Xuanfan, Madam Wang, and their steward, Wang Nian'en, already dead. Chen Yanyun and Gu Jinzhao arrived at the crime scene shortly after. To test whether Chen Yanyun was faking his recovery, Ye Xian suddenly punched him in the chest, only to realize the wound was entirely real.

Turning their attention to the bodies, the investigator explained that Wang Xuanfan and his wife had succumbed to carbon monoxide poisoning from burning charcoal, while the steward had been strangled to death. Gu Jinzhao noticed a self-inflicted pinch wound on the steward's thumb. Ye Xian then demonstrated the bizarre hand gesture the steward's left hand had been frozen in when found. Chen Yanyun immediately recognized it as a signature gesture of the Chunyuan Cult.

In the imperial court, Fu Hailian seized the opportunity to accuse Chen Yanyun of the murders, arguing that Chen possessed the high-level martial skills and a strong motive to eliminate Wang Xuanfan. However, Chen Yanyun unexpectedly entered the hall, fully recovered and mocking those who questioned his health, such as Su. He confronted Fu Hailian in front of the Emperor, demanding to know why his mentor had protected Wang Xuanfan despite clear evidence of his massive corruption.

Chen Yanyun went as far as to reveal a drunken confession from Wang Xuanfan, who had claimed that the infamous bran-for-grain scheme was actually Fu Hailian's idea to bring down Fan Chuan, and that Wang Xuanfan's cuts were taken on Fu Hailian's behalf. Although Fu Hailian furiously dismissed the claims as drunken slander and ordered the Three Judicial Offices to arrest Chen Yanyun, Ye Xian suddenly burst into the court with critical evidence.

He revealed that the dead steward had the Chunyuan Cult's Fearless emblem tattooed on his back. Ye Xian explained that while the cult had been mostly eradicated after Prince Chengqing's failed rebellion, some remnants had fled to the Northern Barbarians to serve as scholars and advisors. Faced with a potential foreign conspiracy, Fu Hailian had to alter his stance. He recommended keeping the matter strictly confidential and suggested that Chen Yanyun be allowed to return home to recover.

Returning to his estate, Fu Hailian was left seething with frustration. Madam Fu pointed out a major flaw in the evidence, explaining that Chunyuan Cultists believed in the absolute purity of the body and would never defile themselves with a tattoo. Fu Hailian realized too late that they had fallen into a clever trap.

Outside the palace, Xue Qinglan tried to offer Ye Xian some fresh meat pastries, but the cold commander rejected her advances, claiming the Emperor had ordered him to stay. Undeterred, Xue Qinglan's maid, Ruixiang, praised her mistress's taste, while Xue Qinglan admitted she was hopelessly drawn to Ye Xian's aloof nature. Nearby, Gu Jinzhao waited patiently for Chen Yanyun, and the couple returned home together in relief.

Soon after, Ye Xian sent a secret message to Chen Yanyun, arranging a private audience with the Emperor at the Ji family silk shop. At the meeting, the Emperor expressed his gratitude to Chen Yanyun and Ye Xian, remarking on how remarkable it was that both men were willing to risk everything.

The Emperor revealed his plan to promote Chen Yanyun to Grand Secretary of Jianji Hall and Junior Preceptor to the Crown Prince, allowing him to directly rival Fu Hailian in the Grand Secretariat. Later, Chen Yanyun and Gu Jinzhao discussed their victory. Although they had successfully exposed the conflict, Gu Jinzhao knew Fu Hailian would not let them go easily.

To counter the threat, she proposed sending her highly skilled maid, Qingpu, to Shanxi under the guise of managing her local properties. Since Shanxi bordered the Northern Barbarians, Qingpu could safely gather crucial intelligence on the Chunyuan remnants. Some time later, Gu Jinzhao received a report from Qingpu. The maid had attended the Shicheng trade fairs and spotted a highly suspicious imperial interpreter working for a Northern Barbarian merchant, who secretly burned incense daily and evaded questions about his beliefs.

Meanwhile, Ye Xian met with Chen Yanyun, noting that the investigation into the steward's recommendation by Fu Hailian had yielded nothing. He pointed out that the Chunyuan Cult could not have evaded the Xuanfeng Guard for so long without powerful backing, prompting them to suspect Fu Hailian even further.

Ye Xian also teased Chen Yanyun about his suspiciously deep knowledge of cult emblems, such as the Wang Sheng and Fearless emblems, jokingly asking if Chen Yanyun himself was a cult remnant. Shortly after Chen Yanyun officially received his imperial decree, the political battle intensified in court. Fu Hailian proposed a drastic three-tenths cut to the military expenses of the Nine Garrisons to fund domestic shipyards and silk workshops. Chen Yanyun stood up and firmly objected to the proposal.

Discussing the matter with Ye Xian later, Chen Yanyun pointed out that the peace treaty with the Northern Barbarians had only lasted a year after two decades of war. He concluded that Fu Hailian's absolute confidence in cutting the border defense budget meant he must possess an independent, unauthorized spy network in the Northern Barbarians. As they parted, Chen Yanyun urged Ye Xian to select a safer location for their future meetings, and Ye Xian assured him that their actions would remain completely undetected.

Lord Fu is highly displeased with Chen Yanyun's rising defiance. Speaking with his associate Keqian, the Chancellor scoffs at the young Emperor's backing of Yanyun, noting that a green ruler is far too impatient and incapable of patching the endless leaks of the imperial court. Keqian fuels his anger, labeling Yanyun an ungrateful wolf who has led the Emperor astray. He then presents a new Hanlin Academy registry of alternate lecturers, pointing out that Chen Xuanqing's name is conspicuously missing.

Keqian explains that Yanyun personally intervened to exile his academically brilliant nephew to Anqing Prefecture. Recognizing the severe rift between the two, Lord Fu finds the situation highly intriguing and decides to exploit it, boasting that since he had the power to elevate Yanyun, he also has the power to destroy him. Meanwhile, Ji Yao meets with Gu Jinzhao and Chen Yanyun to deliver a crucial report.

Following Yanyun’s leads to the northern borders, Ji Yao successfully uncovered a network of Chunyuan Cult remnants disguised as ordinary citizens, ranging from poor laborers to wealthy merchants. Using the specific cult hand signs Yanyun taught him, Ji Yao tracked their movements but learned that their grand leader remains a mystery. However, he discovered that when Prince Chengqing's rebellion failed, a wealthy patron named Lady Weirui funded the cultists' escape to the Northern Wastes.

Yanyun admits he has never heard of this woman. Shortly after, Jinzhao receives a midnight invitation from Xue Qinglan, requesting an urgent meeting at a silk shop. At the silk shop, Xue Qinglan demands to know what they have uncovered about the Chunyuan Cult. When Yanyun asks why she did not consult Ye Xian, she admits that Ye Xian refused to share his findings.

Recognizing her desperation, Yanyun reveals he knows her mother was poisoned to death by a close associate connected to the cult over a decade ago. He explains that his status as a Grand Secretary grants him access to such secrets, which is also why he trusted her to remain by Ye Xian's side. Yanyun then shares his suspicion that the mastermind behind the Chunyuan Cult might be Qinglan's own uncle-in-law, Lord Fu.

Though stunned, Qinglan offers Yanyun a favor in gratitude. Yanyun politely declines, urging her as a subject of the realm to remember how to choose when faced with major decisions of right and wrong. Seeking to avoid his exile, Chen Xuanqing performs as a theatrical clown at Lord Fu's estate to secure his favor. Impressed by his quick intellect, the Chancellor asks why Xuanqing has not pleaded with his own uncle to stay in the capital.

Xuanqing bitterly confesses that he is only Yanyun's adopted son and that his uncle has suppressed him out of jealousy over his academic success. Seizing this opportunity, Lord Fu demands that Xuanqing formally accuse Yanyun of moral corruption and stealing his nephew's wife. When Xuanqing hesitates, fearing the legal punishment for a son accusing his father—which legally requires forty strokes of the cane first—Lord Fu reveals he has captured Xuanqing's servant, Yunting.

Out of terror, Yunting has confessed to Nanny Wang's murder and Xuanqing's past interactions with Jinzhao. Lord Fu mockingly reminds Xuanqing that as the secret son of a canal bandit, he has already committed the capital crime of deceiving the throne. With his career already ruined, Lord Fu urges him to gamble everything to ruin Yanyun and make a name for himself in court. Elsewhere, Yu Wanxue drowns her sorrows with Gu Lan, devastated by Chen Xuanqing's rejection.

Gu Lan tries to comfort her, insisting that Xuanqing is a heartless man unworthy of her affection, and prepares a carriage to take her home. As they step outside, Wanxue spots Xuanqing passing by and desperately cries out his name. Xuanqing coldly ignores her cries and walks away without a backward glance. Gu Lan pulls Wanxue away, telling her to stop wasting her breath on someone who clearly has no desire to see them.

The next day, Lord Fu manipulates the young Emperor into holding the imperial lecture at Huangji Hall so the assembled ministers can witness the proceedings. Chen Xuanqing unexpectedly appears as a substitute lecturer. Before the lessons can begin, Xuanqing steps forward to formally impeach Chen Yanyun. He falsely claims that he and Gu Jinzhao fell in love after he saved her life years ago, only for the Ji family to offer her to Yanyun to climb the ranks.

Xuanqing accuses his uncle of threatening his academic career with failure in the metropolitan exam, forcing him into a marriage with the Yu family, and forcibly wedding Jinzhao while he was away on a diplomatic mission, presenting a letter as evidence. Lord Fu immediately feigns outrage, lamenting Yanyun’s ruined virtue and asking the Emperor to punish his former student.

Unfazed by the theatrical display, Yanyun steps forward and questions how Xuanqing, who resigned from the Hanlin Academy a month ago, managed to enter the palace as a lecturer, demanding to know the mastermind behind this clear violation of court protocol. Lord Fu arrogantly confesses to bringing him in, claiming that compassion must override the law. Yanyun asks Xuanqing directly if he is acting out of his own free will or under coercion.

Remembering Lord Fu’s blackmail, Xuanqing firmly declares he does not regret his actions. Yanyun calmly tells the Emperor he has no further defense, stating that justice resides in people's hearts and that while Xuanqing has disgraced his family, he himself must still protect his loved ones. Outraged by the scandal, the Emperor abruptly dismisses the court and summons Yanyun to his private chambers.

Following the chaotic court session, Xuanqing revels in his perceived triumph, believing he has finally dismantled his uncle's reputation and secured Lord Fu's powerful backing. Meanwhile, Madame Fu discusses the scandal, noting that regardless of the accusation's validity, the stain of a grand secretary stealing his nephew's wife is too shameful for the Emperor to shield Yanyun. Though she pities Gu Jinzhao's misfortune, she believes it is simply her fate for aligning with Yanyun.

At the same time, Mr. Jiang frantically warns Gu Jinzhao that Xuanqing has aligned with Lord Fu to destroy Yanyun, warning that if the Chancellor discovers the classified Xingdaosi records hidden at the Ji residence, everyone will be ruined. Meanwhile, Xue Qinglan visits Madame Fu to share a troubling development.

She reveals that during her travels to Xuanfu with Ye Xian, she captured several Chunyuan Cultists, one of whom claimed to have seen Lord Fu and Madame Fu at a cult meeting before Prince Chengqing's rebellion. Madame Fu dismisses the claim as a ridiculous lie, and Qinglan reassures her that she has already executed the cultist to silence any baseless accusations. She adds that she is privately investigating to root out the cult's mastermind.

Sensing the danger of exposure, Madame Fu advises her to keep the investigation quiet to protect Lord Fu's reputation and demands that Qinglan report any new leads to her first. In the private chambers, the Emperor apologizes to Yanyun, admitting he was foolish to give Xuanqing a platform to show his face, only to have the ungrateful nephew turn against his benefactor. Yanyun assumes responsibility for his domestic troubles but reassures the Emperor that the situation remains within his calculations.

The Emperor expresses deep anxiety over Lord Fu’s attempts to slash border troops and military funding, fearing the Chancellor might be colluding with the Northern Barbarians to betray the realm. Yanyun advises that they must quietly investigate active cult remnants and secretly secure the support of military nobles like the Marquis of Jingyuan, keeping both actions completely hidden from Lord Fu.

Yanyun notes that his suspension from office actually serves as a perfect cover, allowing him to operate undetected in the shadows while the Emperor handles the court. Emboldened by his new alliance, Chen Xuanqing leads soldiers to raid the Ji family residence, taking the entire household hostage and ordering his men to ransack the property. Gu Jinzhao confronts Xuanqing, demanding that he release her family and threatening to kill him on the spot.

Xuanqing, entirely unhinged, laughs off her threats and declares he wants to see Yanyun kneel and beg for mercy. Yanyun arrives shortly after, ignoring the nervous soldiers who claim they are merely following orders. Xuanqing boasts that once his men uncover the secret Xingdaosi records hidden on the property, the entire Ji family will be executed unless Yanyun falls to his knees.

Yanyun looks at him with pity and calls him incredibly foolish, stating that Xuanqing's absolute ignorance of imperial politics was the exact reason he sought to exile him to the provinces.

Following the raid on the Ji family, Chen Yanyun took matters into his own hands, confronting his nephew, Chen Xuanqing. Citing the Yan Legal Code, which dictates forty strokes of a staff for a son accusing his father, Yanyun delivered forty harsh lashes to Xuanqing. Despite Xuanqing's betrayal, Yanyun spared his life, acknowledging that Xuanqing had secretly had someone notify him to come to Tongzhou. He ordered Xuanqing to leave the capital, declaring they no longer had any relation.

However, Xuanqing had already consumed poison before arriving. Realizing the gravity of the situation, Yanyun desperately called for a physician, but it was too late. Before dying, a remorseful Xuanqing confessed his deep admiration for Yanyun, admitting he had ruined his own career, love, and life in a misguided attempt to imitate his uncle. Gu Jinzhao soon found Chen Yanyun, who was deeply grieved by the tragedy.

Reflecting on Xuanqing's childhood and his striking resemblance to his biological father, who was a canal bandit, Yanyun shared that his mother wished to remove Xuanqing's name from the family register. He left the final decision to Jinzhao, who quietly told him to do as he saw fit. Meanwhile, Yanyun's servant, Chen Yi, delivered the news of Xuanqing's suicide to Lord Fu.

Realizing that Yanyun would inevitably pin the blame of the tragedy on him, Lord Fu cautioned his subordinates against immediately targeting Yanyun. Since Yanyun had recently won the Emperor's favor by surrendering a decade's worth of archives, Lord Fu knew that a relentless pursuit would only antagonize the aging Emperor, whom he wished to avoid crossing unless absolutely necessary.

To protect Gu Jinzhao's maternal family from the escalating political storm, Chen Yanyun and Jinzhao decided that the Ji family should temporarily relocate to Songjiang Prefecture. Although Ji Yao’s mother expressed deep concern over leaving their lucrative businesses in the north, Madam Ji firmly agreed to the move, recognizing Yanyun's protectiveness. Rong-er eagerly wished to stay in the capital with Jinzhao, but Jinzhao refused to let him take the risk.

Feeling immense guilt for placing the Ji family in such danger, Yanyun apologized to them, swearing to protect Jinzhao even at the cost of his own life. As the family began packing their belongings, Ji Yao privately assured Jinzhao that he would return to the capital to assist her once his family was safely settled.

Hoping to find solace, Chen Yanyun and Gu Jinzhao visited Baoxiang Temple, where Yanyun carried Jinzhao on his back and apologized for failing to shield her family as thoroughly as they had doted on her. Their peaceful moment was interrupted when a monk informed Yanyun of a distinguished guest's arrival. It was His Majesty, who had secretly traveled to the temple to discuss a crisis at the border.

The second prince of the Northern Wastes had assassinated his brother to seize power, causing chaos that injured many Yan citizens. Frustrated by Lord Fu’s suspicious inaction and suspecting him of colluding with the enemy, the Emperor proposed sending a trusted envoy to investigate under the guise of congratulating the new prince.

While Ye Xian eagerly volunteered, Chen Yanyun pointed out that his own lack of an official post made him the perfect candidate, as it would not arouse suspicion at court. However, Yanyun requested the Emperor’s permission to consult Jinzhao first, knowing the mission was fraught with peril. Rather than letting him worry, His Majesty summoned Jinzhao inside to convince her.

Understanding the danger, Jinzhao cleverly used her position as an ordinary woman to make an outrageous demand, asking the Emperor for three hundred newly developed muskets from the Weapon Bureau to take on the journey. Though both Jinzhao and Yanyun knew Lord Fu would set a deadly trap at the border, Yanyun remained resolute, preferring to trust his wife and his own wits rather than divine intervention.

On the day of the embassy's departure, Lord Fu and other officials gathered to see Chen Yanyun off. In a dramatic confrontation, Yanyun publicly addressed his former mentor, recalling their first meeting and the policy essay on reform. He reminded Lord Fu of the ideal that had once guided them—acting for the people's good, with no thought of cost—before bowing to him and cutting his own robe, symbolizing a complete severing of their master-disciple relationship.

Watching from a distance, Jinzhao was filled with worry, but Ye Xian comforted her, explaining that Yanyun's public display was a brilliant strategy; if Yanyun met with any misfortune at the border, Lord Fu would immediately be suspected of vengeful retaliation. Indeed, Lord Fu's wife soon confirmed that their traps were set, prompting Lord Fu to lament that Yanyun, whom he once wished to groom as his successor, now had to die to protect their secrets.

A month later, Ye Xian prepared to leave for the Western Hills and entrusted his plump cat, Baopu, to Gu Jinzhao's care. However, their brief moment of normalcy was shattered when a secret report arrived. The embassy had been brutally attacked in Shicheng, leaving only two censors, Lin Ruhui and Zhou Chudong, to return safely to the capital, while Chen Yanyun and the rest of the mission had vanished.

Recognizing the two surviving censors as Lord Fu's loyal henchmen, Jinzhao realized that Lord Fu intended to frame Yanyun for treason and destroy the entire Chen household. Determined to save her husband's family, Jinzhao immediately asked Ye Xian to arrange an audience with the Emperor. During their meeting, the Emperor revealed that the two returned censors had produced letters allegedly written by the Northern Wastes' second prince, pointing to Chen Yanyun's collusion.

In response, Gu Jinzhao presented the Emperor with the three hundred muskets along with the massive arsenal of small and large breech-loading cannons and Dafagong cannons Yanyun had previously purchased from Haojing. She pointed out that if Yanyun truly intended to rebel, he would have delivered these weapons to the Northern Wastes rather than gifting them to the Emperor.

Convinced by this logic, His Majesty agreed that Yanyun was innocent and ordered an investigation into the two suspicious censors instead of the Chen family. With the imperial court still unstable, Gu Jinzhao decided to personally travel to the Shanxi border to search for Chen Yanyun, utilizing her business networks and resources in Pingyang Prefecture. Before departing, she visited the Second Lady, who was caring for Yanyun's bedridden mother.

Jinzhao handed over the deeds to the sacrificial fields Yanyun had acquired over the years, ensuring the Chen family would remain provided for regardless of the political outcome. The Second Lady tearfully accepted them for safekeeping, promising to return them when Yanyun and Jinzhao safely returned. After bidding a final farewell to her younger sister, Jinzhao set off on her perilous journey, determined to find her husband.

Ye Xian was preparing to leave when Xue Qinglan came to find him, wanting to go along. He refused, having already notified the Xue family, who arrived to take her back. Meanwhile, Ji Yao and his group rushed to their destination. Despite the dangerous journey causing some of his companions to hesitate, Ji Yao kept them moving by promising to triple their pay and offer an additional bounty upon their return.

Along the way, Ye Xian and his men secretly cleared the path for Gu Jinzhao, taking out many bandits. When one of his men asked why he didn't just meet with her, Ye Xian explained that Gu Jinzhao would surely tell him to go back, so it was better to wait until they arrived. Meanwhile, Ji Yao's group looked for lodging, but the inn was fully booked.

However, once the innkeeper learned they were from the Ji family, he managed to find some vacant rooms for them. While Ye Xian and his men kept watch outside the inn, Gu Jinzhao cried out for help. Anxious, Ye Xian rushed to her aid, only to realize it was a trick to draw him out.

Gu Jinzhao urged him to return, warning him of the danger and stating she would search beyond the pass if she couldn't find Chen Yanyun here. Ye Xian refused to leave, claiming he hadn't come for her sake anyway. Suddenly, a troop of Northern barbarians approached. Since the local garrison commander was away on mourning leave and many commoners were left unprotected, Ye Xian ordered Gu Jinzhao and the others to flee while he stayed behind to defend the area.

During their escape, Gu Jinzhao was captured by a barbarian soldier. She stabbed him and blew the whistle Chen Yanyun had given her, prompting Chen Yanyun to rush over and rescue her. After reuniting with Ye Xian, they discovered a portrait of Lady Weirui, the Grand Secretary's wife.

Ye Xian deduced that the Grand Secretary had long been colluding with the Chunyuan Cult, intending to use the Northern barbarians, only to end up being manipulated by them instead—an act of pure treason. As a troop of eight hundred barbarians approached with military supplies, Gu Jinzhao distributed porridge to the soldiers and refugees. Overhearing the soldiers' despair about facing the barbarians, she informed Chen Yanyun.

Recognizing that many of these men were veterans who had fought alongside the old Marquis of Changxing, Chen Yanyun asked Ye Xian to let him use the Ye family's name to rally them. When Ye Xian appeared holding the Ye family flag, the thrilled veterans readily rejoined the ranks, eager to follow the legacy of the old Marquis.

Gu Jinzhao asked Chen Yanyun about Ye Xian's armor, and Chen Yanyun revealed it was a precious armor bestowed upon the old Marquis of Changxing by the late Emperor. Before setting off, Gu Jinzhao told Ji Yao to save himself if things went wrong, but Ji Yao firmly stated that despite being merchants, the Ji family was just as dedicated to protecting the country.

Soon after, Chen Yanyun discovered that the barbarian troop ahead carried no supplies, realizing they had split into two groups. Fearing they would be sandwiched, and with no time to change plans, he urgently sent word to Ye Xian. Upon receiving the news, a frantic Gu Jinzhao wanted to find Chen Yanyun, but Ji Yao stopped her, reminding her of the helpless commoners she would leave behind.

Forced to stay, Gu Jinzhao soon learned that Chen Yanyun's forces had run out of firearms and suffered heavy casualties. As a mere remnant force, they stood no chance in close combat against the barbarians. Meanwhile, during the intense battle, the barbarians ordered their archers to fire. To protect Ye Xian, one of his loyal men shielded him and was killed by a volley of arrows.

When Chen Yanyun and his men rushed over, they found that all of Ye Xian's followers had died, and Ye Xian himself had been pierced through the chest with a spear. Recalling his past memories with Ye Xian, Chen Yanyun brought his body back. Gu Jinzhao, who was waiting anxiously, felt a wave of relief upon seeing Chen Yanyun's return, only to be utterly shocked and devastated to find Ye Xian's lifeless body being carried back.

Chen Yanyun had sustained injuries, but after an examination, the doctor assured them it was not serious. While Ji Yao kept watch over Ye Xian, he saw Gu Jinzhao approach and asked about Chen Yanyun's condition. Gu Jinzhao replied that Chen Yanyun had regained consciousness and was doing fine. Ji Yao then left to give her some time alone with Ye Xian.

Weeping by his side, Gu Jinzhao noticed something in Ye Xian's bosom and pulled out several letters he had written. Gu Jinzhao opened the letter Ye Xian had addressed to her. In it, Ye Xian wrote that if she was reading this, it meant he was already gone. He expressed how happy he had been during his time there, revealing that a doctor had previously told him he only had three years left to live.

To die in battle was a worthy end with no regrets. He noted that by dying now, she would remember him forever, giving him one final victory over "Chen San" (Chen Yanyun). He also asked her to look after his beloved cat. Meanwhile, the reinforcements arrived, filled with regret that they had not come sooner to save the young lord. The reinforcements asked Chen Yanyun about their next steps, suggesting he return to the capital.

However, Chen Yanyun pointed out that if he returned alive, the Prime Minister's collusion with the Chunyuan Cult would be exposed prematurely, throwing the imperial court into chaos and jeopardizing any hope of sending reinforcements. He concluded that the only viable option was to fake his own death. Gu Jinzhao and the others returned to the city gate with a coffin.

Old Lady Chen and her family were already waiting there, with Second Lady Chen explaining that her mother insisted on coming despite everyone's attempts to stop her. Overcome with grief at the sight of the coffin, Old Lady Chen broke down. Gu Jinzhao urged them to return to the residence first, as the city gate was not a suitable place to talk.

Just then, the Prime Minister arrived with a group of officials, declaring that Chen Yanyun had died for his country and demanding his body be sent to Xuanmiao Temple so officials could pay their respects. Gu Jinzhao refused. Drawing a dagger and pointing it at herself, she warned the Prime Minister not to stop her from taking Chen Yanyun back to the residence.

She declared that with Chen Yanyun gone, she, as his widow, had nothing left to fear, including death. Reluctantly, the Prime Minister backed down. After they returned to the residence, Gu Lan and the others came to offer their comfort, and Xue Qinglan offered her condolences. Learning that the relatives from her ancestral home had not yet arrived, Gu Jinzhao sent someone to fetch them, insisting that Old Lady Gu and Fifth Aunt must come.

Gu Jinzhao then met with Old Lady Chen and revealed the truth that Chen Yanyun was still alive. Deeply moved, Old Lady Chen tearfully confessed her regrets, admitting she had pressured Chen Yanyun too much and apologized for failing him. Gu Jinzhao comforted her, suggesting she save these words to tell Chen Yanyun in person when he safely returned. Soon, Fifth Aunt arrived, confused as to why Gu Jinzhao had summoned her.

Gu Jinzhao met with her and delivered the tragic news of Ye Xian's death in battle. Fifth Aunt, who was actually Ye Xian's sister, was devastated by the news. Gu Jinzhao then presented the letters Ye Xian had left behind, including one written to his sister and another addressed to the Emperor.

Chen Yanyun and his men arrived at the battlefield only to find Ye Xian and his soldiers dead, with Ye Xian pierced through the chest by a spear. Devastated, they brought his body back. Gu Jinzhao grieved deeply and discovered several letters in Ye Xian's pocket.

In his letter to her, Ye Xian revealed that his doctor had given him only three years to live due to a heart condition, making his death on the battlefield a worthy and proud choice. To prevent the Grand Chancellor's collusion with the Chunyuan Cult from throwing the court into chaos and delaying reinforcements, Chen Yanyun decided to fake his death.

When Gu Jinzhao returned with his coffin, the Grand Chancellor insisted on taking it, but Gu Jinzhao threatened her own life with a dagger to force him to back down. After bringing the coffin home, she secretly assured the grieving Chen family that Chen Yanyun was still alive, before delivering Ye Xian's final letters to his sister and mother. Ye Xian’s sister read his letter, in which he urged her not to be sad and to care for their mother.

He expressed that he would rather die fighting on the border his father once guarded than live a short, meaningless life. Moved to action, Ye Xian's mother and sister took the late emperor's Iron Immunity Charter to the palace to petition the Emperor for border reinforcements.

When the Grand Chancellor questioned how they received news before the court did, Ye Xian's mother explained that Ye Xian had written to her directly because normal channels were blocked, leading other officials to suspect the Grand Chancellor of withholding mail. The Emperor, enraged upon seeing Ye Xian's blood-stained letter and token, ordered immediate reinforcements. However, despite being confined at home for his offenses, the Grand Chancellor's faction in court made excuses to stall the deployment for five days.

Hoping to keep the Chen family safe, Gu Jinzhao prepared to face the danger alone. She burned her maid's indenture contract, treating her like a sister, and instructed her to take the Chen family to Ji Yao. Xue Qinglan arrived and promised to protect the family so the maid could leave in peace. Armed with a sword, Gu Jinzhao confronted the Grand Chancellor, offering to take poison if he dispatched the troops.

Knowing Chen Yanyun was still alive, the Grand Chancellor agreed to the deal to keep her as leverage. However, after listening to an opera, he ultimately ordered his men to send her out, claiming he had no use for a woman's life. Chen Yanyun rushed to the scene to confront the Grand Chancellor, who showed him his years of records on land equalization, intending to let Gu Jinzhao go.

During their standoff, the Grand Chancellor's wife suddenly took Gu Jinzhao hostage, demanding Chen Yanyun release her husband. The Grand Chancellor was shocked, as he had already told her to flee. His wife then confessed that she was the true mastermind behind the Chunyuan Cult. Working in perfect unison, Chen Yanyun and Gu Jinzhao turned the tables; Chen Yanyun killed the wife and rescued Gu Jinzhao. As the Grand Chancellor's residence was engulfed in flames, Chen Yanyun and Gu Jinzhao escaped together, carrying the Grand Chancellor's valuable manuscript.