Rebirth resumo, enredo, sinopse

Sinopse de Rebirth

Chu Qiao, a slave girl who is rescued by Yan Xun, the heir of Yanbei. The two form a deep bond, and Chu Qiao dedicates herself to assisting Yan Xun. However, Yan Xun betrays her by using her as bait to ambush and kill Zhuge Yue, the noble son of the Da Xia aristocracy. Chu Qiao and Zhuge Yue both fall into an icy lake during the incident. Chu Qiao is later rescued and vows revenge against Yan Xun for Zhuge Yue's sake.

After fleeing back to Yanbei, Yan Xun becomes consumed by his ambition to overthrow Da Xia. The once idealistic young man transforms into a ruthless oppressor, driven by hatred and an obsession with making Chu Qiao submit to his will. Meanwhile, Chu Qiao struggles against Yan Xun and begins to suspect that Zhuge Yue, who fell into the icy lake with her, might still be alive. Determined to uncover the truth, she searches for him.

During her efforts to help Bian Tang quell an internal rebellion, Chu Qiao is repeatedly saved by a mysterious man who feels strangely familiar to her. It is eventually revealed that he is Zhuge Yue. In the end, Chu Qiao works to bring peace to the warring states, standing side by side with soldiers and civilians to protect their homeland and build a better future.

Resumos de Rebirth

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Zhuge Yue, the fourth son of the prominent Zhuge clan and chief of Qingshan Court, leads a desperate struggle against his former friend, Yan Xun. While Zhuge Yue’s family has long served the Yong Emperor to eliminate political rivals, Yan Xun, the heir to the Yan family of Yanbei, has become a bitter enemy following the destruction of his kin. Amidst a relentless snowstorm, Yan Xun’s forces decimate Zhuge Yue’s troops, leaving a mountain of corpses.

Despite being surrounded and standing alone atop the fallen, Zhuge Yue refuses to surrender. As Yan Xun prepares to deliver a final blow, Zhuge Yue’s subordinate, Yue Qi, rushes forward to act as a human shield. The tension is interrupted by the arrival of Chu Qiao, who pleads with Yan Xun to spare Zhuge Yue’s life. She stands defiantly between the two men, but Yan Xun is consumed by his goal.

He lures Zhuge Yue onto the frozen Qianzhang Lake and continues his assault until the ice shatters. As Zhuge Yue sinks into the freezing depths, a distraught Chu Qiao dives into the water to save him, intending to die by his side if necessary. Seeing this, Yan Xun immediately orders his men to pull her from the lake. Three months pass before Chu Qiao wakes in the Yanbei camp, her mind clouded by amnesia and haunted by nightmares of drowning.

Yan Xun visits her, referring to her as his "Queen" and the "hero of Yanbei." He deceptively claims they were betrothed and were about to be married before an ambush by Yong forces at Ximin Mountain forced her into the lake. He shows her a wedding dress he had prepared, asserting that they have faced life and death together.

Although Chu Qiao is confused and instinctively pulls her hand away from his touch, Yan Xun promises to wait for her to regain her memories. The narrative shifts back four years to the tragic Jiuyou Terrace in Zhenhuang City. Zhuge Huai, acting on the Yong Emperor's orders, declares the Yan family traitors. Yan Xun is forced to endure the ultimate humiliation: identifying the severed heads of his father, Yan Shicheng, and his brother, Yan Ting.

Though Zhuge Yue had successfully implored the Emperor to spare Yan Xun’s life, the young heir is pushed to the brink of madness. He refuses to cooperate with the identification and vows to kill Zhuge Huai, even as he is restrained and beaten by the guards. To save her son from further suffering, Yan Xun’s mother, Madame Yan, steps forward to identify the bodies herself.

She identifies her husband and children one by one, recounting their past loyalty and service to Yong. Knowing the Emperor intended to keep her as a hostage to control her son, Madame Yan urges Yan Xun to live on, even if the path is filled with agony. She takes her own life before his eyes to ensure he is no longer shackled by her safety. This trauma fueled Yan Xun’s transformation and his eventual rebellion against the empire.

In the present, Yan Xun’s generals present Chu Qiao with a body they claim belongs to Zhuge Yue, along with his Poyue Sword. They lie to her, claiming that Zhuge Yue was her greatest enemy who murdered her siblings—Linxi, Qi, and Ba—while she was a slave in Qingshan Court. They further claim he repeatedly oppressed her and tried to prevent her return to Yanbei.

Believing their account and feeling a strange, inexplicable sadness when seeing the sword, Chu Qiao orders the body to be burned to appease the spirits of the fallen. Yan Xun declares her the one and only Queen of Yanbei and orders the remains to be sent back to the Zhuge family. Unknown to them, Zhuge Yue has survived. He was swept by the undercurrents of the lake toward the Ximeng territory.

The King of Ximeng is informed that the man found near Ximin Mountain is indeed the prominent Yong general. Despite Zhuge Yue’s grave injuries and severe cold affliction, the King refuses to let him die, believing such a figure is more useful alive than dead. He orders his subjects to use the Bone-Piercing Herb to sustain him, keeping him as a high-value prisoner in the dark cells of Ximeng.

Cheng Yuan remains deeply skeptical of Chu Qiao's amnesia. Despite staging a failed assassination attempt using men disguised as Moon Guards and a decoy of Zhuge Yue’s corpse, he is frustrated that she showed no reaction. He warns Yan Xun that if her memory returns, especially after becoming Queen, it would be a catastrophe for Yanbei. He suggests killing her to eliminate the risk, but Yan Xun sternly orders him to drop the matter.

Yan Xun then instructs the maid, Su, to ensure Chu Qiao hears nothing that might trigger her past memories. Undeterred, Cheng Yuan meets with Helian Ling, a female official of the Helian tribe, under the cover of night. He reminds her that if Chu Qiao remembers how he betrayed Yanbei and sacrificed the Southwest Xiuli Army, his life would be over. Since the Helian tribe wants Helian Ling to become the Queen, they share a common goal.

Cheng Yuan asks her to handle matters he cannot personally oversee within the military to remove Chu Qiao. Meanwhile, at Meilin Pass, the tribal elders of the Gelin, Lanchuan, and Hongchuan tribes refuse to send reinforcements to Yan Xun. They argue their soldiers are meant to protect the people of Yan, not to fuel the Yan family’s personal blood feuds. Despite the threat of General Huan and the Black Eagle Army being wiped out, the elders remain firm.

However, Yan Xun reveals he has a secret plan already in motion to ambush the Yong army's grain supplies at Yunbi. Yan Xun successfully burns the Yong granaries, trapping the Seventh Prince, Zhao Che. During the confrontation, Zhao Che mocks Yan Xun for his past betrayals, mentioning the death of Zhuge Yue.

Yan Xun counters by exposing the internal sabotage within the Yong royal family, revealing that Zhao Che was abandoned by the Thirteenth Prince, Zhao Yang, who delayed provisions to steal military credit. Instead of killing Zhao Che, Yan Xun lets him return to Yong, believing that internal strife between the princes will be more destructive than Zhao Che's death. As Chu Qiao recovers, her doubts grow.

Su attempts to praise Yan Xun, but Chu Qiao finds it hard to reconcile her supposed lowly status as a slave with her mastery of martial arts and her pivotal role in saving Yan Xun and reuniting the Yanbei tribes. Sensing her suspicion, Cheng Yuan issues a secret order to have her transferred to the temporary palace in Yandu, citing the need for better medical care.

During the journey, a sandstorm provides cover for a group from the Datong Guild to intercept her carriage. The leader of the group, Zhong Yu, claims that Chu Qiao sent a letter asking for rescue to avoid the marriage.

Though Chu Qiao has no memory of this, Zhong Yu reveals the darker side of Yan Xun’s rise: his purge of the Datong Guild and the annihilation of the Southwest Xiuli Army at Meilin Pass, which led to the death of He Xiao. Most devastatingly, she explains that Yan Xun used Chu Qiao as bait to ambush Zhuge Yue, leading to his fall into the frozen lake.

Before they can escape, Cheng Yuan’s soldiers arrive to "rescue" Chu Qiao and capture Zhong Yu. Elsewhere, the former Princess Zhao Chun'er lives in squalid misery, drowning her sorrows in wine while being mocked by guards. Her obsession with Yan Xun remains, evidenced by her tattered wedding dress. Helian Ling visits her and delivers a wedding invitation for Yan Xun and Chu Qiao.

She deliberately provokes the princess, reminding her that a lowly slave is about to take the place that was once hers. Consumed by hatred, Chun'er vows to make Chu Qiao suffer. Chu Qiao eventually confronts Yan Xun, demanding to see the frozen lake and questioning why he has imprisoned Zhong Yu. She admits her dreams are haunted by the lake and suspects he is hiding the truth.

Yan Xun tries to deflect by claiming Zhong Yu is a dangerous enemy, but Chu Qiao openly questions if he is the one she should truly fear. Their tension is cut short when an assassin disguised as a beggar drugs them both and spirits them away. They awaken in a dilapidated hut, bound in heavy chains meant for slaves.

Chun'er, wearing her repaired wedding dress, confronts them with the trauma of her own wedding day—the day Yan Xun wore armor beneath his robes and trampled her heart. She prepares a red-hot iron to brand the word "slave" onto Chu Qiao. Yan Xun pleads for Chu Qiao’s life, offering his own instead. To save her, he agrees to Chun'er's demand that he marry her instead of Chu Qiao. On the day of the planned wedding, Chun'er betrays the agreement.

She sends a message to Yan Xun, declaring she only desires Chu Qiao's death. She has Chu Qiao taken to the remains of a Yong granary, intending to drown her in a large water vat meant for fire protection. Two guards repeatedly force Chu Qiao’s head into the water as Chun'er mocks her.

However, Chu Qiao manages to taunt Chun'er back, telling the princess she is not smart enough to see that the chains meant for slaves look no different when bound to a "noble" princess. Far away in Ximeng, Zhuge Yue remains in a deep coma. He has been treated with Bone-Piercing Grass for several days, but the cold poison from the frozen lake has settled deep within his vital organs. His physicians warn that his survival is no longer a matter of medicine, but of fate.

As Chu Qiao is repeatedly forced into a vat of water by Zhao Chun'er’s guards, the terrifying sensation of drowning triggers a flood of suppressed memories. She recalls a time when she was taught how to survive underwater by holding her breath, and suddenly, her past returns to her in full. With her skills and memories restored, she breaks free from the guards just as Yan Xun arrives on horseback to rescue her.

Their escape is blocked by Zhao Che, the Seventh Prince of Yong, who surrounds them with his troops. Zhao Chun'er desperately urges her brother to kill Chu Qiao, reminding him that the Emperor would surely reward such an act. However, Zhao Che remembers that Yan Xun had once spared his life when their roles were reversed.

Choosing honor over political gain, the Prince orders his men to stand down and allows the pair to ride away, much to Zhao Chun'er's fury. Back at the Yanbei camp, Chu Qiao tends to the numerous wounds on Yan Xun’s back—scars earned while protecting her during their escape from the capital and at the granary. Yan Xun reminisces about the Jiuyou Terrace and the massacre of his clan, reaffirming his vow to protect her.

He remains determined to make her the Queen of Yanbei, yet he secretly uses Shackle Grass—a military drug intended to dull the will—in her medicine to keep her past memories buried and ensure she stays by his side. The proposed marriage faces fierce opposition. Cheng Yuan, Yan Xun’s general, insists that marrying a woman with complicated ties to their enemies will destabilize the tribes.

Sensing Cheng Yuan's secret maneuvers to harm Chu Qiao, Yan Xun warns him by plunging a dagger into his shoulder, yet he spares his life due to their years of service. Undeterred, Cheng Yuan conspires with the female official Helian Ling to involve General Huan of the Xueyu Tribe, portraying Chu Qiao as a "calamity" who has led Yan Xun to neglect state affairs. General Huan, a straightforward warrior, eventually confronts Chu Qiao while she is practicing.

After a brief but intense spar, the two women develop a mutual respect. Recognizing Huan's integrity, Chu Qiao entrusts her with a secret request: should anything happen during the wedding, she asks Huan to fulfill her final wish by taking her body back to the frozen lake, claiming her lost memories lie there. As the wedding day arrives, the atmosphere is tense.

Elder Gelin, the most vocal opponent of the marriage, is found murdered on his way to the city, a move orchestrated to clear the path for the ceremony. Yan Xun is filled with joy, wearing a belt Chu Qiao bought for him at a local shop. He is unaware that the shop was actually a secret stronghold for the Datong Guild and that the belt served as a signal to coordinate a strike.

During the wedding preparations, a sudden assassination attempt by rebels throws the palace into chaos. Yan Xun rushes to find Chu Qiao, only to discover her seemingly lifeless body with blood staining her wedding silks. Heartbroken, he refuses to accept her death and strikes down a physician who tells him to grieve. Amidst the confusion, General Huan honors her promise and carries Chu Qiao’s "body" away to the frozen lake.

Yan Xun pursues them to the desolate, icy expanse, where he finds Chu Qiao lying on the ice. To his shock, she "wakes" from her fake death—a state achieved through silver needles used to seal her acupoints. The warmth is gone from her eyes as she holds a cold dagger to Yan Xun’s neck, declaring her intent to avenge Zhuge Yue and the Xiuli Army.

She reveals that she remembered everything the moment he took a blow for her at the granary, and her apparent devotion was merely a ruse to lure him into this trap. As Datong Guild assassins emerge, Yan Xun confesses that he suspected she was lying all along but chose to gamble his life on the hope that she still loved him.

Despite his pleas to start over, Chu Qiao is consumed by her lack of will to live and attempts to sink into the frozen lake. Refusing to let her go, Yan Xun desperately tries to pull her back from the icy depths, even as his Black Eagle Army moves in to eliminate the remaining rebels.

Following the tragedy at the frozen lake, both Yan Xun and Chu Qiao were rescued, but their situations remained dire. General Huan and his soldiers eventually found Yan Xun, who was suffering from a life-threatening cold affliction after the frigid waters invaded his internal organs. While Yan Xun lay comatose, the ambitious Cheng Yuan seized the opportunity to lock down the palace.

He blocked other court officials like Lord Tumu and Lord Huosang from seeing the King, using Yan Xun's imperial seal to authorize a brutal purge of the Datong Guild and Chu Qiao’s followers. Meanwhile, Zhuge Yue had carried an unconscious Chu Qiao to a remote cave on the border. To obtain the rare medicine needed to treat her severe cold poisoning, Zhuge Yue kidnapped the Queen of Lingyue to negotiate with the King of Ximeng.

Unmoved by the Queen's fate, the King demanded Zhuge Yue’s service in exchange for the cure. To ensure his return, Zhuge Yue was forced to ingest a lethal poison known as "Snow Blood," which gave him only ten days to live unless he returned to Ximeng for the antidote. He spent the next few days nursing Chu Qiao back to health, keeping the cave warm and feeding her medicine until her condition stabilized.

While unconscious, Chu Qiao drifted through a long dream of her past at Qingshan Court. She remembered Zhuge Yue saving her from villains, treating her wounds, and giving her the name Xing'er. When she finally woke up, Zhuge Yue was gone, having left to fulfill his promise to the King of Ximeng. She found herself covered by his heavy cloak and clutching his familiar jade pendant.

Realizing he was her savior, she ventured out, only to find Yanbei in a state of terror. A local shopkeeper revealed that Cheng Yuan had used the King's illness as a pretext to slaughter the Datong Guild and all allied forces. Devastated, Chu Qiao witnessed the gruesome aftermath of the purge, seeing her comrades' bodies publicly displayed. She visited her former camp, only to find it filled with the corpses of her friends and clansmen.

That night, she attempted a rescue mission but fell into an ambush orchestrated by Cheng Yuan, who knew her loyalty would bring her back. During the desperate escape, Chu Qiao and her comrade Zhong Yu were cornered at a cliff. Zhong Yu sacrificed her life to protect Chu Qiao from Cheng Yuan's blade, and Chu Qiao plummeted into the water below. Though she survived, she suffered severe injuries to her arm and her vision began to fail.

Disguised as a beggar, Chu Qiao struggled to reach a city gate, but her failing sight made her vulnerable to the guards. Before they could expose her, she was intercepted by Li Ce, the Crown Prince of Biantang. Dressed in flamboyant silks and smelling of makeup, Li Ce created a theatrical scene, accusing the "filthy beggar" of ruining his expensive clothes to distract the guards.

He used his royal status to whisk her away to a safe inn, where a physician delivered a grim diagnosis: the tendons in Chu Qiao’s arm were badly damaged, and she was on the verge of permanent blindness. Her only hope was "Huotu Water," a top-secret medicine that required seven days of fresh application. Despite her condition, Chu Qiao refused to leave for Biantang, insisting on staying to wait for Zhuge Yue.

Unknown to her, Zhuge Yue had been secretly delivering the Huotu Water to her room every night under the cover of darkness. During one visit, the blind Chu Qiao mistook his silent presence for Li Ce and asked for water, wondering why he was so quiet. Outside the room, Li Ce confronted the lingering Zhuge Yue, pointing out that Chu Qiao likely already sensed he was alive. He urged Zhuge Yue to face her, reminding him that only a few days remained before the Snow Blood poison would claim his life.

Late at night, Zhuge Yue quietly entered the room where Chu Qiao was staying. Heartbroken by the wounds on her face, he gently applied a soothing ointment and placed the remaining medicine by her pillow. As he prepared to leave, he stopped when he heard her murmur that she was thirsty. He silently poured a cup of water and handed it to her.

Chu Qiao, whose vision had not yet returned, found the visitor's silence strange, noting that if it were the talkative Li Ce, he would not be so quiet. The next morning, a physician examined the medicine and identified it as "Huotu Water," a rare substance used to treat eye injuries. He noted that the dose was exactly for one day and that her sight could be restored if used for seven consecutive days.

Having lived in Qingshan Court, Chu Qiao knew this specific formula was a secret of the Zhuge family. When she questioned Li Ce about whether he had visited her room the previous night, his denial confirmed her suspicion: the visitor was definitely Zhuge Yue. Li Ce, suspicious himself, kept watch that night and intercepted Zhuge Yue in the shadows.

He marveled at the General’s survival, noting that despite being trapped under a frozen lake and hunted by the Black Eagle Army for three months, Zhuge Yue was still alive. Li Ce urged him to see Chu Qiao openly, but Zhuge Yue refused. He revealed that to save Chu Qiao, he had consumed a poison from the King of the Western Regions that was now taking a toll on his body.

Fearing he did not have long to live, he chose to remain hidden rather than burden her with more grief. Meanwhile, Yan Bei fell into deeper chaos. With Yan Xun still unconscious, Cheng Yuan continued to suppress all news, leading tribal leaders to believe the King would never wake. Katuo, the leader of the Jinhui Tribe, seized the opportunity to incite a rebellion, denouncing the Yan family and leading his men toward the Yan Bei camp.

In response, General Huan, a relative of the Yan house, invoked her tribe’s loyalty and her military prestige to take command of the armies, hoping to prevent a total civil war. At the same time, Yan Xun’s guards were ordered to escort Princess Chun'er back to the Great Yong for her safety. By the sixth day of her treatment, Chu Qiao’s vision began to improve, allowing her to see vague shapes.

Li Ce pressured her to leave for Biantang, arguing that Yan Bei was no longer safe and that the world believed Zhuge Yue had died at the frozen lake. Desperate to keep her safe, Li Ce even plotted with his subordinate, Song Cheng, to "kidnap" her if necessary, using silk ropes and fine incense to knock her out gently while making sure to bring her favorite snacks for the journey. That night, Zhuge Yue returned once more.

Sensing a familiar footstep, Chu Qiao rushed to the door and caught hold of his sleeve. She desperately asked who he was, wondering if he was Yue Qi and if he had been rendered mute by injuries at the lake. Zhuge Yue remained silent. Instead of speaking, he took her hand and wrote "Yue Qi" in her palm, followed by the message that Zhuge Yue was dead.

Refusing to believe it, Chu Qiao remembered that Zhuge Yue had a distinct crescent-shaped scar on his left hand. She grabbed his hand to confirm his identity, but to her horror, his palm was perfectly smooth. She did not know that the poison he had taken had the side effect of healing all old scars. Overwhelmed by this "proof" that the man before her was not Zhuge Yue, Chu Qiao collapsed in tears, finally accepting that he was gone.

With her last hope extinguished, Chu Qiao agreed to accompany Li Ce to Biantang. During their journey, they passed through a town celebrating a lantern festival. Li Ce tried to cheer her up, insisting that someone as cunning as Zhuge Yue couldn't possibly die so easily and was likely just hiding to keep her out of danger. At the festival, Chu Qiao saw a rabbit lantern that reminded her of the one Zhuge Yue had once bought for her. Unknown to her, Zhuge Yue was watching from a distance, protecting her one last time as she moved toward a new life.

In the capital of Biantang, Emperor Li Jiao is consumed by a life of debauchery, his health rapidly declining due to his excessive indulgence in wine and women. While the Empress maintains a front of maternal devotion, instructing imperial physicians to treat his ailments with medicinal diets, her true loyalty lies with her consort, Zhan Ziyu.

To ensure the Emperor remains distracted and powerless to interfere with her influence, she tasks Zhan Ziyu with continuously bringing new beauties into the palace. The political atmosphere shifts when Crown Prince Li Ce returns from the north with a mysterious woman, Chu Qiao. Zhan Ziyu immediately informs the Empress and heads to the Crown Prince’s residence, Boque Palace, to investigate.

Aware that his mansion is crawling with his mother's spies, Li Ce tries to disguise Chu Qiao’s identity by giving her elaborate, revealing dresses he brought from his travels. However, Zhan Ziyu arrives before she can change, using the delivery of imperial gifts as a pretext to enter. He immediately brands Chu Qiao an assassin and orders his men to seize her. Chu Qiao fights back with sharp reflexes, and the situation is only defused when Li Ce returns.

He spins a calculated lie, claiming she is Lady Fu, the long-lost daughter of the Prince of Pingnan, and challenges Zhan Ziyu to verify the story with the Empress. The tension at the mansion is further complicated by the arrival of Li Ce’s sprawling harem. These women, sent by the Empress to spy on the Crown Prince, swarm him with feigned affection while turning their hostility toward Chu Qiao.

Branding her a "vixen," they try to push her into a nearby pond, but a maid intervenes to save her. Chu Qiao remains stoic through the chaos, later telling the head maid, Ming Lu, that she has no interest in the mansion’s luxuries or vanities. Meanwhile, in the Black Mountain range of Yanbei, a miracle occurs. General Cheng and his men witness a massive flock of crows circling over the lifeless Yan Xun.

Following a ritual on the Pyre Platform, the gods of Yanbei seem to answer their prayers as Yan Xun miraculously awakens from his deathly slumber. Back in Biantang, the Empress reveals to Zhan Ziyu that the real Lady Fu died seven years ago after she had the Prince of Pingnan sent to his death at the border. Suspecting a hidden agenda, she orders Zhan Ziyu to keep a close watch on the mansion.

That night, Li Ce visits Chu Qiao and drops his mask of incompetence, confessing that his playboy persona is merely a survival tactic to evade his mother's control. Their conversation is violently interrupted by a poisoned Cold Sand Dart, a signature weapon of the Muhe clan from Yong. Determined to confront the threat, Chu Qiao lulls the culprits into a trap the following day but finds herself overwhelmed by Zhao Kuo and his men.

Her body is still weak from old wounds, and she is nearly killed until a familiar figure rescues her. As her vision finally clears—restored by the rare Fire Weed Water she had been using for fourteen days—she realizes her savior is Zhuge Yue. She reveals that she had sensed his presence protecting her and Li Ce throughout their journey to Biantang.

Despite the heavy losses they have both suffered, including the destruction of the Xiuli Army and the death of Miss Yu, Chu Qiao finally looks at the man she cares for most and asks him to stay. Chu Qiao looked into Zhuge Yue’s eyes, pleading with him to stay. She reminded him that since his army had been destroyed, they were now the only family each other had left. Just as he had encouraged her during her darkest moments, she wanted to be the one to protect and support him now.

While waiting at Lvwan Bridge, the peaceful atmosphere and the snacks on the table led Chu Qiao to reminisce about her first encounter with Zhuge Yue. Years ago, she was a mere slave at Hongshan Court, subject to the whims of the cruel Zhuge Huai, who delighted in forcing slaves to walk on red-hot coals for his amusement. Zhuge Yue had intervened, challenging his cousin’s mismanagement and taking the "useless" slave girls away to Qingshan Court.

Instead of keeping them captive, Zhuge Yue had released Chu Qiao’s people, providing them with money to flee the city. Despite her deep-seated hatred for the Zhuge family, Chu Qiao found herself no match for him when she tried to attack. Zhuge Yue gave her a choice: flee with her family and likely perish in the chaos, or learn how to survive in a lawless world.

Choosing the path of the warrior, Chu Qiao remained at Qingshan Court, undergoing rigorous training under his protection until she was strong enough to stand on her own. In Yanbei, Yan Xun returned with Cheng Yuan to find General Huan leading the local forces. While he publicly praised her for stabilizing the region and accepted the return of the military seal, his gratitude was a front.

As General Huan traveled back to her post, she was ambushed by assassins from the Black Eagle Army. Though she fought desperately and managed to escape, she was severely wounded. To solidify his image as a divinely protected ruler, Yan Xun ruthlessly killed the witch who had saved his life, using her body as a substitute for General Huan. He ordered the corpse to be publicly displayed as a warning to anyone who might question his absolute authority.

Meanwhile, Zhuge Yue’s survival had come at a heavy price. Suffering from the agonizing Snow Blood poison, he was confronted by the King of Ximeng. The King was impressed that Zhuge Yue had survived so long without an antidote and offered a deal. In exchange for ten days of medicine at a time, Zhuge Yue was forced to become the King's "shadow"—a secret, elite slave tasked with carrying out dangerous missions.

In another part of the region, Zhao Chun'er had found sanctuary after her attempted suicide. She had been saved from drowning by Li Yan, also known as Prince Luo. Unaware of her royal identity, he comforted her and encouraged her to move past the shadows of her lost love. Eventually, she followed him back to Tangjing as his mourning period for his late father ended.

Back at the Crown Prince’s residence, Chu Qiao detected an intruder who had searched her room and discovered the Xiuli Army banner. She warned Li Ce that the intruder’s martial arts style felt strangely familiar. Before they could investigate further, the Empress summoned them to the palace. The Empress was suspicious, noting that while the girl bore a resemblance to the missing Princess Fu, she also looked like the famous fugitive slave Chu Qiao.

However, using information Yan Xun had previously shared with her about the Prince Pingnan’s family, Chu Qiao was able to answer the Empress’s probing questions about her childhood with perfect accuracy. Unconvinced, the Empress summoned Li Yan to the palace, knowing he was Princess Fu’s childhood fiancé. At a subsequent banquet, Li Yan realized at once that the woman before him was not his true betrothed.

During a private moment, Chu Qiao confronted him, explaining that she was a slave from Daqiong whom Li Ce had rescued. She urged him to maintain the lie, not just for her sake, but to protect Li Ce from the Empress’s wrath. Moved by the risk Li Ce had taken, Li Yan returned to the Empress and confirmed that Chu Qiao was indeed the real Princess Fu. He successfully requested to postpone the wedding, citing their long separation.

Later, Li Ce confessed to Chu Qiao that the Empress, despite being his biological mother, was a cold woman who prioritized power over everything. He explained that his "wastrel" persona was merely a mask to keep her from viewing him as a threat. Touched by his honesty, Chu Qiao promised that once her hand injury healed, she would stand by him and help him secure his rightful position.

In the depths of Qifeng Palace, the Empress remained trapped in a recurring nightmare. In her dreams, the spirit of her late husband violently accosted her, demanding to know why she failed to protect their only son, Xu, and accusing her of betraying his memory by climbing into the bed of the man who killed the boy—Li Jiao. The memory of Xu’s death at the hands of the current Emperor, Li Jiao, fueled a silent, simmering rage within her.

To cope with her grief, she spent her private hours carving a memorial tablet for her living husband, Li Jiao, nursing a cold vow for vengeance. Her confidant, Zhan Ziyu, watched her with concern, but the Empress remained focused on her suspicion that the Crown Prince, Li Ce, was conspiring against her using the woman posing as Princess Fu. Meanwhile, Zhao Chun'er’s world was upended when she discovered Li Yan's true identity as Prince Luo of Biantang.

Feeling deceived by yet another royal, she prepared to leave, but Li Yan desperately tried to stop her. He explained that he was merely a puppet prince, mourning his father in seclusion and living under the Emperor's suspicion. To prove his sincerity and distance himself from the typical excesses of the nobility, Li Yan gathered all the maids in his manor and freed them from their servant status, providing them with silver to start new lives.

While most left, a maid named Chunxing begged to stay and serve him for life. Li Yan’s subordinate, Mozhan, who harbored feelings for Chunxing, also pledged his loyalty. Despite Li Yan’s genuine care, Zhao Chun'er remained haunted by her love for Yan Xun, and Li Yan's kindness only served as a painful reminder of her past. In Yanbei, Yan Xun continued his relentless search for Chu Qiao.

His investigation led him to a shopkeeper from the Datong Guild, whom he interrogated regarding her whereabouts. The shopkeeper met Yan Xun with contempt, calling him an ungrateful wretch who had destroyed the very organization that saved him. Through this confrontation, Yan Xun finally learned the grim truth: Cheng Yuan had murdered Zhong Yu in prison and used her death as a trap to lure Chu Qiao out. Horrified by the realization of this betrayal, Yan Xun confronted Cheng Yuan.

Although Cheng Yuan claimed he acted only to remove Chu Qiao as a distraction to Yan Xun’s revenge, the King of Yanbei was unmoved. He banished Cheng Yuan, warning him never to appear before him again. Back at the Mihe Residence, Chu Qiao was busy fortifying Li Ce’s quarters. She installed a system of "Mystic Bells" designed to emit a penetrating sound that would alert them to any intruders.

Li Ce watched her with a mixture of amusement and gratitude, feeling a new sense of security in her presence. Understanding that Li Ce lacked martial skills, Chu Qiao taught him three specific self-defense moves: "Twin Dragons Playing with Pearl" to strike an attacker’s eyes, "Dragon Swings Its Tail" to counter an ambush from behind, and a final maneuver she called "Running Fast." She urged him to practice these relentlessly, emphasizing that survival was the ultimate goal.

Li Yan later visited Li Ce, bringing with him a rare portrait of the original Princess Fu. He explained that this was the only likeness of the princess kept in the palace; by giving it to Li Ce, they could deprive the Empress of a tool to expose Chu Qiao. Li Yan revealed that his desire to help was rooted in deep regret.

Years ago, he had been too afraid of the Empress to ask for Fu’s hand in marriage before she was sent to war. He believed that if he had been braver, she might still be alive. By protecting Chu Qiao, he hoped to prevent a similar tragedy from befalling someone who carried Fu's mantle. The threat against Chu Qiao, however, was already escalating.

Zhan Ziyu, determined to eliminate the woman he believed was leading Li Ce astray, dispatched two assassins to infiltrate her residence. Though Chu Qiao’s sharp instincts allowed her to fend off the initial attempt, Zhan Ziyu prepared a more ruthless scheme. He knew that while a person might be alert in normal circumstances, their guard often dropped during a crisis. In the Western Regions, Zhuge Yue found himself in a desperate struggle for survival.

He had been sent by the King of Xiyu to act as a double during the capture of Li'an City, but the plan was a trap. An assistant cut the ropes to the gates, sealing Zhuge Yue's only path of retreat and leaving him surrounded by hostile soldiers. Exhausted and on the verge of collapse, he heard Chu Qiao’s voice in his mind, reminding him that those who are not defeated can be reborn.

This mental image gave him a final surge of strength, allowing him to cut his way through the forces and escape. Back in Biantang, the palace’s tranquility was shattered by a cry for help. A maid appeared to have fallen into the water, and Chu Qiao immediately dove in to save her. However, it was a calculated trap orchestrated by Zhan Ziyu.

The maid, an expert swimmer, grabbed Chu Qiao and dragged her deep beneath the surface, pinning her neck with lethal intent. Struggling against the water and the assassin's grip, Chu Qiao felt her consciousness begin to fade.

After escaping the heavily guarded Li'an City, Zhuge Yue immediately confronted the King of Ximeng. He demanded the true antidote for the Snow Blood toxin in his veins, realizing that the medicine he had been given previously only offered temporary relief while actually worsening the poison. Though the King was held at swordpoint, he remained cunning, reminding Zhuge Yue that only he possessed the cure.

Acknowledging that the King had saved him at Ximin Mountain, Zhuge Yue agreed to a new deal: he would perform three tasks in exchange for the antidote and his freedom. With the battle of Li'an completed as the first task, the King accepted the arrangement, though he secretly ordered his subordinates to ensure Zhuge Yue did not survive once the remaining two missions were finished.

At the Crown Prince’s mansion, Chu Qiao managed to recover and escape the trap set for her. She soon confronted the maid, Ming Lu, who had attempted to drown her. Ming Lu revealed her true identity as the daughter of Mu Zheng, a former Imperial Guard commander in Zhenhuang City. She confessed that her family had been executed because of the rebellion led by Chu Qiao and Yan Xun, fueling her deep hatred for the Xiuli Army.

Despite the girl’s vow to kill her again, Chu Qiao released her, feeling responsible for the collateral damage of her past actions. Li Ce expressed concern about leaving such a threat alive, but Chu Qiao remained firm, even as she struggled with the lingering effects of her old injuries from the frozen lake.

As they discussed how Chu Qiao’s identity as the real Lady Fu had been leaked to the Empress, Chu Qiao realized that the Yong envoy, Zhao Kuo, was the most likely informant. Zhao Kuo had encountered her multiple times and was a primary enemy of the Xiuli Army. Suspecting he was preparing to flee Biantang to report to Muhe Xifeng, Chu Qiao set out to eliminate him. Meanwhile, to protect her, Li Ce devised a clever ruse.

He used a double to pose as Lady Fu and staged a scene where she had been poisoned by her pastries, even going so far as to forcibly enter the Empress’s chambers at night to demand justice and deflect suspicion away from the mansion's activities. While Chu Qiao hunted Zhao Kuo, the Empress sent her confidant, Zhan Ziyu, along with an imperial physician to the Crown Prince’s mansion to investigate the poisoning.

Li Ce did everything in his power to stall for time, feigning outrage and blocking access to the bedroom. Zhao Kuo, cornered by Chu Qiao, tried to bargain for his life by revealing a shocking secret: He Xiao, the deputy commander of the Xiuli Army, had not died at Meilin Pass but was currently a slave and prisoner in Yong.

Chu Qiao eventually finished the task, and with the help of Ming Lu—who had followed her to avenge her own father against Zhao Kuo—Chu Qiao managed to sneak back into her room just as Zhan Ziyu was about to break in. To make the deception convincing, Chu Qiao swallowed Gelsemium elegans, a potent poison she had carried since her time at Qingshan Court. When Zhan Ziyu and the physician finally entered, they found her unconscious and coughing up dark blood.

The physician confirmed the presence of the poison, noting its unusual and fierce nature. Although Zhan Ziyu remained suspicious, he had no choice but to withdraw. Later that night, the Empress received word that Zhao Kuo had been assassinated outside the city. She immediately suspected that Li Ce’s dramatic display at the palace was a cover for the murder, realizing her son was far more calculating than he appeared.

The following day, the Empress summoned Li Ce to question him about the chaos. Sensing her growing distrust, Li Ce played the part of a talentless, devoted son. He claimed he had expelled his concubines only to please Lady Fu and confessed his lack of merit in governing. He went as far as offering to resign from his position as Regent, asking the Empress to continue shouldering the heavy responsibility of the state.

Pleased by his apparent submission and his willingness to hand over power, the Empress’s immediate suspicions were eased, though she continued to monitor the mansion’s residents. Free from immediate palace scrutiny, Li Ce took Chu Qiao to a quiet summit overlooking the land. He revealed his true ambition: he could no longer afford to be a wastrel and needed to protect himself and those he cared for.

He proposed a secret partnership where he would provide the funding and resources for Chu Qiao to train a private, elite fighting force loyal only to him. In return, he promised to use his influence to locate He Xiao in Yong and help Chu Qiao rescue him. Chu Qiao, recognizing the necessity of having her own army and wanting to bring her comrade home, accepted the deal.

Since recovering, Yan Xun has been consumed by a frantic search for Chu Qiao, spending his days in the hunting grounds drowning his sorrows in alcohol. He has lost the ambition he once possessed, even remaining indifferent when his generals bring urgent intelligence regarding the Yong army. Despite reports that Xintai Pass is currently vulnerable and the Yanbei army has sufficient supplies for an eastern expedition, Yan Xun ignores his military duties entirely.

During an evening of revelry, a dancer performs a Yanbei war dance with movements so strikingly similar to Chu Qiao’s that Yan Xun is moved to tears. Mistaking his longing for interest, the dancer later sneaks into his tent to seduce him. However, Yan Xun is not fooled; he knows no woman can compare to Chu Qiao. He violently seizes her by the neck, questioning how a lowly performer could afford such expensive jewelry.

He quickly deduces she is the niece of Elder Pale, sent by the Pale Tribe to secure a royal heir and a path to the throne. After a chilling warning that she will not leave alive if they attempt such a scheme again, the terrified woman is cast out. Meanwhile, Zhuge Yue has taken on his second task for the King of Ximeng to earn the medicine he needs.

Disguised behind the King’s mask and accompanied by the Queen of Lingyue, he travels to Biantang. Upon his arrival at the palace in Tangjing, Chu Qiao—acting as "Princess Fu"—is among those greeting the delegation. Despite the mask, she recognizes his familiar stride and posture immediately, her hands trembling at the sight of the man she has thought of every day and night. At the welcoming banquet, the Empress of Biantang is intentionally hostile.

Citing local etiquette, she demands that the King of Ximeng remove his mask. When he refuses, citing facial disfigurement from war, the Empress threatens to beat a maid to death for every moment he remains masked. To prevent bloodshed, Chu Qiao intervenes, suggesting that only someone of equal status, like Crown Prince Li Ce, should view the King’s face privately.

Behind a screen, Zhuge Yue reveals himself to Li Ce, who already knows him and has received his help in the past. To protect Zhuge Yue’s identity, Li Ce runs out feigning terror, claiming the King’s face is too horrifying to behold, which convinces the court to drop the matter. Still seeking to provoke the visitors, the Empress organizes a martial arts demonstration.

After first mocking the physical weakness of Ximeng’s soldiers, she pits the Queen of Lingyue against Chu Qiao. The Queen of Lingyue fights with lethal intent, while Chu Qiao, hampered by unhealed injuries and barely able to wield a weapon with one hand, struggles to keep up. When the Queen nearly throws Chu Qiao from a great height, Zhuge Yue leaps forward to catch her. After setting her down safely, he sternly commands the Queen of Lingyue to stand down.

The Empress notes the strange connection between the King, the Prince, and Chu Qiao, sensing a history they are not disclosing. Later, as Li Ce and Chu Qiao travel in a carriage, Li Ce wonders aloud how Zhuge Yue became the King of Ximeng. Chu Qiao, equally curious about why a man who once sought a quiet life is now embroiled in tribal politics, decides she needs answers and slips away that night to infiltrate Zhuge Yue’s residence.

In the Ximeng camp, a fire breaks out in the stables as a distraction. During the commotion, the Queen of Lingyue confronts Zhuge Yue, revealing her resentment over him using the rare Bone-Piercing Herb to treat Chu Qiao. It is revealed that she was the former Queen of the Lingyue Tribe who betrayed her own people to follow the King of Ximeng after he slaughtered her husband.

Zhuge Yue warns her that if she ever threatens Chu Qiao again, he will ensure neither of them leaves Tangjing alive, indifferent to the success of their mission or his own life. In another part of Tangjing, Yuan Chun lives in a state of quiet despair, still haunted by thoughts of Yan Xun. Wei Shuye tries to comfort her, even winning a rabbit from an archery stall to keep her company.

However, Yuan Chun’s trauma has left her volatile; in a fit of self-loathing, she kills the rabbit, declaring that she is cruel and that all men are liars who will eventually hurt her. Wei Shuye holds her, promising to protect her for the rest of her life. Back at the palace, the Empress continues to brood over Zhuge Yue’s arrival, certain his presence signals a much larger plot.

In Yanbei, Helian Chuan, the Chief of the Helian tribe, attempted to force his sister into a marriage with Elder Tubu of the Hongchuan tribe. Despite her protests that Tubu was over seventy years old with multiple wives, Chuan was swayed by the lavish dowry, including twenty boxes of jewelry, five hundred horses, and two hundred acres of pastureland.

When his sister—the same dancer Yan Xun had nearly strangled previously—mocked Chuan as a useless failure, he grew livid, threatening to deliver her corpse to the Hongchuan tribe if she did not comply. The disgraced General Cheng Yuan saw an opportunity in the girl's desperation. He approached Lady Helian, claiming that despite his fall from power, he remained the one who knew Yan Xun best.

He promised to help her become the Queen of Yanbei if she followed his lead, and the ambitious girl agreed to his terms. Later, a black eagle bearing a white silk ribbon—a symbol of the herdsmen’s wishes—caught Yan Xun’s eye. Believing the bird was leading him back to Chu Qiao, he pursued it only to find Lady Helian practicing her riding. She claimed she was learning so she could help search for the missing Queen.

Seeing a reflection of Chu Qiao in her movements, a drunken Yan Xun later mistook her for his lost love and took her to his bed. By the following morning, he officially proclaimed her the Secondary Consort of Yanbei. In Biantang, the Empress sought an audience with the Emperor to expose Li Ce’s secrets. She revealed that the "Lady Fu" Li Ce was harboring was actually Chu Qiao, the general of the Xiuli Army and a wanted slave.

To her frustration, the Emperor remained unbothered, viewing Chu Qiao’s intelligence and skill as assets for his son. He dismissed the Empress’s concerns with a gift of her favorite Milky Poria Pastry, leaving her to seethe in silence. The Empress’s resentment was fueled by deeper tragedies. News arrived that her son, Young Lord Xu—born from her previous marriage to Crown Prince Maocheng—had died of a plague.

She was convinced the Emperor had orchestrated the boy's death to eliminate a rival claimant to the throne. Witnessing her grief, her loyal subordinate Lord Zhan Ziyu accepted a sentence of forty lashes, enduring the physical pain as a testament to his devotion to her cause. Aware of the growing threats, Chu Qiao and Li Ce began recruiting a specialized team. Chu Qiao studied prison rosters provided by Li Ce, selecting individuals with unique talents.

Among them were Wang Shi'er, a master tomb robber proficient in construction and the Eight Trigrams, and Xiao Ran, a cynical physician who experimented with deadly poisonous herbs. Chu Qiao also sought to secure the loyalty of Ming Lu, whose father had been executed. She explained that it was the Muhe Clan’s negligence and the cruelty of the Emperor that had led to the garrison's downfall, using common soldiers as scapegoats.

She offered Ming Lu a choice: to continue a cycle of futile revenge or to join her in creating a new world where the lives of commoners and slaves would no longer be disposable. Li Ce eventually gathered the recruits at a dilapidated inn.

While his guard Song Cheng grumbled that the Prince had been cheated by a female swindler, Li Ce used his royal token and the distinct palace scents on his person to prove his identity to the skeptical prisoners. Chu Qiao addressed the group, offering them new identities and a chance for a fresh start in exchange for their absolute loyalty. One evening, while passing through the crowded lantern festival on Tianque Street, Chu Qiao glimpsed a familiar figure—Zhuge Yue.

She leaped from her carriage to find him, but he vanished into the crowd. From a high vantage point, Zhuge Yue watched her from the shadows, his eyes brimming with silent tears as they remained separated by their circumstances. To support Chu Qiao’s efforts, Li Ce presented her with a specially designed carriage equipped with a tea station, a resting area, and a small ice chest.

Chu Qiao thanked him but warned him to be wary of the King of Ximeng. Unaware that the masked king was actually Zhuge Yue, she suspected he had a hidden agenda for his visit to Biantang. Meanwhile, Zhuge Yue continued his strategic tour of the capital, insisting on inspecting every one of the city's one hundred and thirty watchtowers.

Zhuge Yue has been wandering through the various pavilions of Biantang. Acting under the secret orders of the King of Ximeng, he has meticulously studied the city’s defense maps and identified an obscure, well-guarded location that he believes hides his true objective. Zhuge Yue led the Queen of Lingyue on a nighttime mission to infiltrate this secret site. Upon entering a hidden chamber, they triggered a series of traps, resulting in a hail of arrows.

Alerted by the commotion, guards swarmed the area. The Queen of Lingyue sustained a leg injury, and to ensure her escape, Zhuge Yue drew the guards’ attention and led them away. Chu Qiao, who had been tailing Zhuge Yue from the shadows, intervened to neutralize the guards, ensuring his safety before turning to leave. Zhuge Yue stopped her, and though she asked no questions, he was visibly conflicted.

The weight of his hidden burden—a poisoning that left his life hanging in the balance—prevented him from explaining his true intentions. Sensing an unspoken distance between them, Chu Qiao left in distress. Later, back at home, Zhuge Yue performed a lighthearted shadow puppet show in the courtyard to cheer her up, playfully depicting himself being punished by Chu Qiao's sword.

That evening, as cherry blossoms fell, the two shared a drink, and Chu Qiao reflected on the lingering, inseparable bond she felt toward him. Under the moonlight, a slightly intoxicated Chu Qiao asked Li Ce if he had ever experienced the pain of unrequited love. Li Ce admitted that while he was surrounded by beautiful companions, he had always viewed them with the detached eye of an art connoisseur until he met someone who changed everything.

He then embraced Chu Qiao, and she realized that she was the one he truly cherished. Zhuge Yue subsequently approached Li Ce to negotiate. He revealed that his presence in Biantang was to track down a man named Zhang Qingzhao, who possessed a rare map capable of unlocking the extraction of Black Gold Mine.

Li Ce, frustrated by his own powerless status as a figurehead Crown Prince, was initially offended by the request, but Zhuge Yue promised him a share of the profits. When Li Ce mentioned that his recent confession to Chu Qiao had been rejected, Zhuge Yue reacted with amusement, finding the Prince’s indecisive nature both pathetic and entertaining. Chu Qiao meanwhile began investigating the Empress's spies within the Prince’s residence.

Her suspicions fell upon a maid named Lady Ziming, who frequently delivered messages by exchanging handkerchiefs. When confronted, Ziming spun a tragic tale of being a survivor of the former dynasty, successfully gaining Chu Qiao’s sympathy. However, as Li Ce shared his alliance with Zhuge Yue, Chu Qiao joined their mission to locate Zhang Qingzhao, while maintaining a growing unease regarding Ziming’s true loyalties.

Through a series of observations at a wonton stall and intelligence gathered by Wang Shi'er, the group eventually deduced that Clerk Zhang had moved his operations to the Manufacturing Bureau. Zhuge Yue and Li Ce finalized their plans to infiltrate the site, with Li Ce agreeing to use his status as Crown Prince to gain access, while Zhuge Yue remained in the shadows.

Before the operation, Li Ce gave Chu Qiao the deeds to numerous shops and properties, urging her to escape and secure her future should the mission turn fatal. Meanwhile, the internal power struggles of the Helian tribe escalated. The new Consort Helian asserted her dominance over the tribal leader, Helian Chuan, mocking him for his cowardice and reminding him that his position relied entirely on her influence.

As the mission to infiltrate the Manufacturing Bureau loomed, Chu Qiao discovered that the rare Hong River fish meant for the Crown Prince had been redirected to the Zhan residence, leading her to realize that Lady Ziming was in league with the Empress. The episode ends with the tension mounting: the Consort Helian demanding peace for Yanbei through her marriage, and the others preparing for a dangerous infiltration that would determine their fates.

Years ago, a young Zhan Ziyu and his sister, Zhan Ziming, witnessed the brutal destruction of their village and the death of their parents. In the ruins of their home, Ziming gave her only scrap of food to her brother, forging a bond of absolute loyalty. In the present, Ziming has become the most deeply embedded spy in the mansion of the Crown Prince of Biantang, Li Ce, serving both her brother and the Empress.

Although Chu Qiao had previously suspected her, she was temporarily swayed by Ziming’s fabricated story of being a struggling orphan of a former dynasty. Late one night, Li Ce takes Zhuge Yue to visit Zhang Sizheng, the author of the legendary Creation Manual. This classified Biantang archive contains five volumes—Metal, Wood, Water, Fire, and Earth—covering everything from metallurgy and city defense to topography.

Li Ce attempts to borrow the manual, suggesting that as the future king, his request is not overstepping. However, the man claiming to be Zhang Sizheng remains evasive, insisting on a formal decree from the Emperor. Zhuge Yue quickly realizes the man is an impostor and that they have walked into a trap set by the Empress. As they attempt to leave, the mechanism of the residence is triggered, and a barrage of arrows rains down.

Zhuge Yue pulls a cloth to mask Li Ce’s face, knowing that the Crown Prince cannot be officially identified at the scene of a secret break-in. Outside, Zhan Ziyu has surrounded the residence with heavy troops, ordering his men to capture the intruders alive. Despite Zhuge Yue’s martial prowess, the overwhelming number of soldiers makes escape difficult until Chu Qiao arrives to help them retreat.

She leads them through an abandoned flood control channel that connects to the Tianyuan Bridge in Rong Ward. While Chu Qiao ensures Li Ce’s safety, Zhuge Yue separates from the group to recover the real Creation Manual from the Tianji Pavilion. He successfully secures the document, but the physical strain causes his chronic Cold Poison to flare up. He collapses and coughs up blood, but is found and moved to safety by the Queen of Lingyue.

The Queen urges him to return to Ximeng immediately, as they have already missed the deadline for his antidote, Snow-on-Blood. Zhuge Yue refuses, using the incomplete manual as leverage. He strikes a deal: he will return to Ximeng if the Queen helps him stay in Tangjing for twenty more days, as he is determined to help Chu Qiao find He Xiao, the leader of the Xiuli Army. The Empress is furious when Zhan Ziyu returns empty-handed.

Since Li Ce was masked, none of the soldiers can testify to seeing the Crown Prince, leaving the Empress with no evidence of treason. In her rage, she orders the execution of all the soldiers involved in the failed operation. Zhan Ziyu consoles her by revealing that Ziming is pregnant with Li Ce’s child, a pawn they can use to control the succession.

The Empress’s anger turns to delight, and she orders Ziming to be moved to a secure location to care for the pregnancy. When Li Ce returns home and discovers Ziming’s betrayal, he is devastated. Having truly believed she was different from the other spies in his life, he orders all her belongings to be burned. In the bustling market, Zhao Chun'er is out clearing her head when a thief snatches her jade pendant.

Chu Qiao, who is staying in Tangjing under the identity of County Princess Fu, intercepts the thief and returns the jewelry. Although Zhao Chun'er wears a hat to hide her face, she recognizes Chu Qiao instantly. This encounter hardens her resolve. She returns to the residence of Li Yan, the Prince of Luo, and confronts him about his knowledge of her past.

When Li Yan explains he only wanted to protect her from her painful memories, she makes a sudden decision. She tells Li Yan that if he truly loves her, he must marry her and make her the Princess Consort of Luo. In Yanbei, Yan Xun has been preparing for a massive prisoner exchange with the Yong Empire.

His advisors, including the Elder of Lanchuan, protest the move, arguing that the lives of Yanbei soldiers are being risked to escort a few prisoners. Yan Xun remains cold and dismissive, hiding his true motive: he knows He Xiao is among the captives and intends to use him as bait to draw Chu Qiao back to Yanbei. During a visit to the stables, Yan Xun encounters the disgraced Cheng Yuan, who has been working as a stable hand.

Moved by Cheng Yuan’s declaration of loyalty to the Black Eagle Army, Yan Xun reinstates him as a general. Zhuge Yue’s agents eventually confirm that He Xiao’s name is on the exchange list. He meets with Chu Qiao and informs her that the exchange will take place in ten days at Lin City, near Baichuan.

He points out that the journey from Tangjing would normally take fifteen days, making it impossible for her to reach the city before Yanbei takes custody of He Xiao. He proposes a plan: they will travel using the Biantang official roads and then switch to water at Qingluan Pass. To bypass the checkpoints, they will travel under the guise of a Ximeng delegation accompanied by Crown Prince Li Ce. Chu Qiao agrees, ready to set out on the dangerous mission to rescue the man who remains her final link to the Xiuli Army.

Li Ce successfully obtained the passport for the King of Ximeng by leveraging his position as the reception envoy. He planned a swift departure, intending to travel thirty li east before switching to a water route, which would allow them to reach Qingluan Pass within five days.

According to his secret arrangement with Chu Qiao and Zhuge Yue, once they reached the pass, Chu Qiao and the King would head toward Lin City while the rest of the envoy group diverted south to Qiongzhou. However, their plans were interrupted by the arrival of Zhan Ziyu, the guide envoy sent by the Empress. Zhan Ziyu arrived with the official travel documents from the Ministry of Rites and questioned why the Prince was in such a hurry.

He expressed suspicion over their choice of destination, noting that Qiongzhou was a remote and barren region with no notable scenery. Li Ce, maintaining his facade as a frivolous and puppet-like prince, complained that the King of Ximeng had an eccentric temper and insisted on the trip, leaving him no choice but to follow.

Despite Li Ce's attempts to decline his company, Zhan Ziyu insisted on joining them, citing the Empress's decree to ensure the Prince did not bring shame to Biantang. Upon reaching Qingluan Pass, the group faced a choice between the rugged eastern path and the western official road. When Li Ce initially suggested the eastern route to save time, Zhan Ziyu pointed out its dangers and questioned if there were hidden intentions.

Li Ce quickly pivoted, claiming he only wanted to visit Yingchuan for its famous wine and beautiful women. To avoid further suspicion, he yielded to Zhan Ziyu’s suggestion of taking the western road. That night, while resting at the official post at Tianshui Ferry, Zhuge Yue summoned Chu Qiao under the guise of an attendant to fetch a blanket.

He whispered that they must travel under the cover of night to reach their destination before the upcoming prisoner exchange between Yong and Yanbei. Meanwhile, a suspicious Zhan Ziyu ordered his men to keep a close watch on the King's personal guards. The tension escalated when the group reached the Pingcheng Official Post. While Zhan Ziyu’s men feasted on lavish delicacies, the soldiers from Ximeng were given only dry rations and scraps.

Friction turned into violence when several Biantang soldiers began rummaging through Ximeng's luggage and discovered that one of the soldiers, a disguised Chu Qiao, was actually a woman. Before they could expose her identity further, Li Ce intervened, using the martial arts moves Chu Qiao had previously taught him to kill the two guards. Zhan Ziyu was stunned to see the Prince display such skill.

He insulted Li Ce, calling him nothing more than a male consort of the Empress, and demanded that the female soldier be seized for questioning. Zhuge Yue stepped out from his room as the King of Ximeng, calmly asserting that since the soldier was under his command, he would be the one to administer punishment according to military law. Silenced by Zhuge Yue’s logic, Zhan Ziyu could only watch as Chu Qiao was led away.

Later that night, Li Ce provided Chu Qiao with the necessary maps and the passport. He warned her that Lin City was a vital stronghold for the Yong military and that rescuing He Xiao would be perilous. He also confessed that his relationship with the Empress had been a facade for over a decade and that he was prepared for the fallout of his recent actions.

Chu Qiao set out for Lin City, while Zhuge Yue followed her from a distance. Back in the capital, Zhao Chun'er and Li Yan, the Prince of Luo, sought an audience with the Emperor to request permission for their marriage. However, the Emperor ignored them, choosing instead to spend his time with Lady Han. Head Eunuch Fang further humiliated the couple, forcing them to stand in the rain.

Realizing the Emperor would not see them, Zhao Chun'er convinced Li Yan to seek out the Empress instead. She used a precious ice jadeite pendant, originally a gift from Biantang to the Noble Consort Wei, to secure an audience. In the Empress's chambers, Zhao Chun'er presented a calculated proposal. She argued that while she was currently a deposed princess, her brother Zhao Che now held significant power in Yong.

She promised that if the Empress granted the marriage, she would write to her brother to restore her status. Zhao Chun'er convinced the Empress that a living alliance through marriage was far more valuable to Biantang than a dead, disgraced princess. Swayed by the potential political gain, the Empress granted the marriage and set the date for the following month.

Chu Qiao reached an inn near Lin City, only to find that Zhuge Yue had already arrived and made arrangements for her. While resting, they overheard rumors from the other travelers. The locals spoke of the constant warfare and the news that Yan Xun, the King of Yan, was exchanging prisoners specifically to lure out Chu Qiao.

The travelers also gossiped about the tragic deaths of Chu Qiao and Zhuge Yue in the frozen lake, unaware that both were sitting right beside them. Chu Qiao and her companions, Xiao Ran and Fang Miaomiao, located the prison camp where He Xiao was held. They planned to set a fire to force the guards to transfer the prisoners, creating an opportunity for a rescue. However, Cheng Yuan of the Black Eagle Army had anticipated her arrival.

He warned Warden Liu that the fire was a trick and instructed him to move the prisoners into reinforced wooden cells instead. When Chu Qiao infiltrated the prison, she was led into a trap where a fake He Xiao awaited her. Cheng Yuan surrounded the area with flammable materials and set it ablaze. Just as the fire threatened to consume her, Zhuge Yue rushed into the burning cell and saved Chu Qiao.

As they attempted to flee, the poison in Zhuge Yue’s system flared up, causing him to collapse. Chu Qiao refused to abandon him, promising that they would face life and death together. Chased by Cheng Yuan’s soldiers, they were cornered at the edge of a high cliff and jumped into the abyss. Below, Cheng Yuan murdered Warden Liu to ensure that his interference in the prisoner exchange remained a secret, leaving no witnesses to the night's events.

Chu Qiao successfully evades her pursuers and brings the unconscious Zhuge Yue to a secluded inn. Looking at his pale form, she is struck by a wave of guilt, realizing she has misjudged him during his long absence. Fang Miaomiao examines him and finds a bizarre poison called "Snow Blood" snaking through his veins.

Unable to extract the toxin, she uses needles to seal his acupoints to protect his vital organs, warning Chu Qiao that his survival now depends on his own inner strength. Despite the danger, the time for the prisoner exchange at Lin City arrives. Chu Qiao heads to the city to rescue He Xiao, planning to intercept him when the prisoners are transferred to the Black Eagle Army.

At the gates, Yan Xun has prepared a trap to draw her out, ordering his men to fire upon the Yanbei prisoners. Seeing He Xiao’s face among the victims, Chu Qiao charges into the chaos, striking down enemies and cutting his shackles. As she covers the retreat, an arrow fired by Yan Xun knocks away her mask. Seeing her face, Yan Xun halts the attack and pleads with her to return to Yanbei. The confrontation is cold and resolute.

Chu Qiao tells Yan Xun that their bond is over, reminding him that while she once fought to free slaves, he has succumbed to a path of mindless slaughter. Yan Xun argues that the world is governed by the law of the jungle and that justice died with his family at Jiuyou Terrace. He tries to force her to stay, claiming she cannot escape with so few men. However, Zhuge Yue arrives with his own archers to reinforce her.

Together, they break through Yan Xun’s lines and escape. While the Yanbei army successfully captures Lin City from the soldiers of Yong, Yan Xun is consumed by the bitterness of losing Chu Qiao again. He coldly instructs Cheng Yuan that if they encounter her in the future, she must be brought back to him, whether she is alive or dead.

Following the escape, Chu Qiao discovers that Zhuge Yue took a "Huiyuan Pill" to temporarily restore his vitality for the rescue, a desperate move that significantly shortens his lifespan. She is furious at his recklessness, but he insists he had to save her. In a moment of quiet, Zhuge Yue reveals the truth about his survival after falling into the frozen lake.

He explains how he was saved by the King of Ximeng and forced to become his "shadow," bound by the Snow Blood poison. Chu Qiao is moved by the suffering he endured and scolds him for not telling her sooner, eventually finding comfort in his embrace. Meanwhile, Li Ce uses a double to impersonate the King of Ximeng as they make their way back to Tangjing.

He notices that Zhan Ziyu has become distant, seemingly avoiding the convoy since their last clash, which leaves Li Ce suspicious. The capital sees the wedding of Zhao Chun'er and Li Yan (Luo Wang). Now the Princess Consort, Zhao Chun'er is deeply miserable, knowing she is merely a substitute for "Fu Junzhu"—the identity Chu Qiao used in the palace.

On her wedding night, she burns her ceremonial fan and walks barefoot across broken porcelain, her physical injuries mirroring her shattered heart. Li Yan finds her in a drunken state and carries her to bed, promising to wait patiently until she can truly accept him as her husband. Seeking an audience with the Empress, Zhao Chun'er accidentally witnesses an intimate encounter between her and Zhan Ziyu, leaving her stunned by their betrayal of the Emperor.

Zhan Ziyu and the Empress continue to plot, aiming to frame the Crown Prince for treason to ensure their grand plan succeeds. It is the day of Great Heat, a time when the Emperor traditionally travels to Tianlong Temple to pray for the late Crown Prince Maocheng. However, Lady Hu, seeking to retaliate against the Empress, informs the Emperor of his wife’s infidelity. Consumed by rage, the Emperor abandons his journey and storms the palace.

He bursts into the bathing hall with his guards, expecting to find the Empress with a lover. Instead, he finds only the Empress and Zhao Chun'er together in the water, the two women having managed to hide Zhan Ziyu just in time. As the tension in the palace simmers, Zhuge Yue and Chu Qiao watch sky lanterns together, reflecting on their shared past and the uncertain journey ahead.

Inside the Empress's quarters, the atmosphere was tense. The Emperor had burst in, expecting to find the Empress with a lover after a report from Lady Hu. To his surprise, he found only the Empress and Zhao Chun'er together. The Empress calmly explained that they were simply bathing. Furious at being misled, the Emperor turned his rage on Lady Hu. When the maid Qinxiang was pressured to testify, she trembled and denied ever seeing a man.

Realizing he had been played, the Emperor grew livid and ordered Lady Hu and the maid to be dragged out and executed by beating. The Empress later confronted Zhao Chun'er, threatening her for knowing her secrets. However, Zhao Chun'er pleaded for her life, claiming she could not die until she saw Chu Qiao in hell.

She revealed that she had overheard the Empress's plans with Master Zhan and shared her own grievances, explaining how Chu Qiao and Yan Xun had ruined her life. Zhao Chun'er informed the Empress that Chu Qiao was currently in Lin City, attempting to rescue her former deputy, He Xiao. She noted that Yan Xun's scouts were already searching for Chu Qiao under the guise of "Lady Fu."

The Empress, realizing Zhao Chun'er could be a useful ally, spared her, concluding that Crown Prince Li Ce’s recent actions were likely a diversion to cover Chu Qiao’s rescue mission. On the outskirts, Zhuge Yue prepared a signal for his hidden subordinates. He used specialized sky lanterns from Qingshan Court, made with silk-screen paper that could fly higher and farther than ordinary ones. These lanterns served as a message to his Moon Guards that he was still alive.

When he met with his heart Moon Guards the following day, they were overjoyed. Zhuge Yue instructed them to keep his survival a secret from the court and his family. His primary mission for them was to locate the surviving remnants of the Xiuli Army. In Biantang, a conspiracy unfolded against the Crown Prince. An assassin infiltrated the Emperor's palace and, upon being caught, claimed Li Ce had sent him before taking his own life.

Following this, Li Ce was imprisoned, and his residence was surrounded. The fake King of Ximeng and the Queen of Lingyue were also taken into custody as accomplices. General Sun, however, grew suspicious while inspecting the assassin’s body. He noticed a tattoo associated with the Nanxi Tribe, a group Biantang had supposedly wiped out fifteen years ago. Realizing that the assassin could not have been working for the Crown Prince, Sun understood this was a dangerous imperial family matter.

He advised his colleagues to feign illness and stay away from the court to avoid the "muddy water." As the Emperor lay unconscious, his physicians informed the Empress that his condition was grave. Years of overindulgence, chronic stress, and the Empress's own calculated efforts to undermine his health had taken their toll. Even if he survived, he would never be the man he once was. Watching him on his sickbed, the Empress reflected on the past twenty-two years.

She recalled the day the current Emperor—then a rebellious prince—had murdered his own brother, the former Emperor, to seize the throne. Having lived through that tragedy as the former Emperor’s wife, she felt her long-held desire for revenge was finally coming to fruition. Near Lin City, Zhuge Yue’s Moon Guards successfully located several members of the Xiuli Army, including Li Ben, Xia Qingjiang, He Shao, and Lang Li.

When they were brought to Chu Qiao, she was deeply moved to see them alive alongside He Xiao. She expressed her regret for not saving them sooner, but the soldiers blamed the betrayal of Chen Yuan instead. They visited a cenotaph where the meager belongings of their fallen brothers were buried. The soldiers offered tributes, like hometown peaches and storybooks, for those who had died.

Chu Qiao stood before the memorial, promising to eventually bring all five thousand two hundred soldiers home, whether living or dead. Zhuge Yue comforted Chu Qiao after the memorial, telling her she could cry if she needed to. Though she initially resisted, she quietly thanked him for his help. Soon after, they received urgent news from Tangjing: Li Ce had been arrested for regicide, and their tavern had been shut down.

Chu Qiao and Zhuge Yue immediately set out for the capital. Zhuge Yue, drawing on his strategic knowledge of the terrain, planned a high-speed route through the mountains to reach Tangjing as quickly as possible. The situation in the capital escalated when a box arrived containing the severed hand of General Li Qi. It was a message from Yan Xun, who had discovered Chu Qiao's location.

He demanded the return of his "Yanbei Princess Consort," threatening to breach Biantang’s northern border with his Black Eagle Army if his demands were not met. The Empress was hesitant; handing over Chu Qiao would be an admission of harboring her, which would damage Biantang’s international standing. Zhao Chun'er approached the Empress with a solution: a marriage alliance.

By officially marrying off "Lady Fu" to Yan Xun, the Empress could remove Chu Qiao, satisfy Yan Xun, and demand territory and gold in return. The Empress was delighted with the plan and appointed Li Yan, Prince Luo, as the new Minister of Rites to lead the negotiations. Li Yan was shocked by his sudden promotion and confronted Zhao Chun'er about her frequent visits to the palace.

She mockingly told him that she had orchestrated everything, from leaking Chu Qiao’s location to suggesting the marriage. When Li Yan asked why she would do such a thing, she lashed out at his perceived weakness and cowardice. She told him that she would never love a man who was too afraid to fight for what he wanted.

The Empress's decree was soon delivered to Chu Qiao’s residence, bestowing the title of "virtuous and wise" upon Lady Fu and ordering her to marry the King of Yanbei to secure peace. Shortly after, Yan Xun met with the Biantang envoy. He was surprised to see Zhao Chun'er accompanying her husband, Li Yan. Zhao Chun'er urged him to accept the alliance and put aside past grievances. Yan Xun, focused entirely on reclaiming Chu Qiao, agreed to the terms, noting that the marriage was his foremost priority.

Upon learning of Li Ce’s imprisonment, Chu Qiao rushes to the palace to seek an audience with the Empress, hoping to uncover the truth behind the accusations. However, she is intercepted by Zhao Chun'er, who now mockingly identifies herself as Princess Consort Luo. Chun'er reveals that she has been waiting for Chu Qiao to congratulate her on her upcoming role as the Queen of Yanbei. She informs Chu Qiao that Yan Xun has requested a marriage alliance and the Empress has already granted it, noting that the plan to send Chu Qiao away was her own idea.

Chu Qiao confronts Chun'er about her descent into vengeance, pointing out that although Chun'er was born a high-ranking princess, she has chosen to use her beauty and status for destruction. She warns Chun'er that by obsessing over the past and lashing out at everyone—including herself—she is only inviting more misery. Despite the provocation, Chu Qiao leaves the palace, now fully aware of the trap set for her.

Meanwhile, Zhuge Yue follows a familiar messenger pigeon to find the Queen of Lingyue, who has been evading the Empress’s guards for days. She had remained hidden without food or water to wait for him. After informing him that the diplomatic mission was captured and only she and Ba Ze escaped, she faints from exhaustion and old injuries. Seeking a safe haven, Zhuge Yue brings her to the residence Li Ce previously bought for Chu Qiao.

Yan Xun later visits Chu Qiao, dressed in the robes he wore years ago when he was a prince in Zhenhuang City. He attempts to appeal to their shared history, asking Chu Qiao to briefly set aside their current roles and return to the identities they held when they were first trapped together. He takes her to an ancient wishing tree to hang prayer ribbons, a custom from Yanbei’s Huihui Mountain. He pleads with her to forget their pain and return to Yanbei, claiming that losing her felt like losing his entire world.

Chu Qiao remains unmoved, eventually drawing a dagger and placing it against his neck. She calls his supposed affection a mere obsession with conquest and reminds him of the many allies who have died by his hand. However, Yan Xun has anticipated her resistance and uses a power-scattering incense to weaken her. As she loses her strength, he warns her not to test his patience, declaring that she must appear as his Queen in three days; otherwise, he will systematically destroy everyone she cares for.

In the midst of the crisis, He Lian arrives in Biantang after riding for days to reach Yan Xun. She faints at the city gates and is eventually brought to his temporary palace. Fearing she will be cast aside, she pathetically shows her injuries from the journey and begs Yan Xun for mercy, claiming she only wants to stay and serve him and his new Queen. Yan Xun remains cold and indifferent to her presence, merely instructing his subordinate, Cheng Yuan, to find maids to tend to her.

Determined to save Li Ce, Chu Qiao and Zhuge Yue attempt to find evidence to overturn the assassination charges. They head to a mass burial ground to find the assassin’s body, where they encounter General Sun. They discover that the Empress and Zhan Ziyu’s agents have moved faster, having the bodies charred to prevent identification.

Despite the lack of physical evidence, General Sun shares a vital secret. He identifies a tattoo he saw on the assassin which matches a pattern from the Nanxi tribe, a group he was ordered to exterminate by the Empress fifteen years ago. The tribe had been wiped out after General Sun was forced to set fire to their villages, and their sudden reappearance to frame the Crown Prince points directly to the Empress’s orchestration. Recognizing their shared goal of saving Li Ce, General Sun gives Chu Qiao a token, promising to assist her in uncovering the conspiracy.

Zhao Chun'er, consumed by bitterness over Yan Xun abandoning her at their wedding, directed her pain toward Chu Qiao. She had captured many soldiers of the Xiuli Army, imprisoning and torturing them. She summoned Chu Qiao to the dungeon to witness their suffering firsthand. Chu Qiao tried to stop Zhao Chun'er from harming the innocent, but Zhao Chun'er pressed a red-hot branding iron against a soldier. Unable to bear it, Chu Qiao kicked over a nearby brazier.

As guards rushed to extinguish the flames, she seized a sword and held it to Zhao Chun'er's throat, forcing her to stop. Li Yan soon arrived and separated the two women. The Queen of Lingyue, having recovered from her injuries, obtained the atlas requested by the King of Ximeng and prepared to depart. Zhuge Yue suggested she wait until fully healed, but the Queen had received orders to eliminate him.

Zhuge Yue grasped her sword hilt, reminding her that her mission was incomplete and she couldn't die yet. He then suffered a toxic relapse, vomiting blood. Chu Qiao arrived in time to protect him. Knowing Zhuge Yue wouldn't survive long without the antidote, the Queen of Lingyue left. Chu Qiao, now in possession of evidence proving Li Ce did not assassinate the emperor, went to see the Empress.

She wanted to understand what kind of woman would sacrifice her own son for power. The Empress recounted her past: two brothers fought for the throne, the elder killing the younger. The younger brother's lover was pregnant and submitted to the new emperor to save her child. He promised the child would live, but it died mysteriously soon after birth. The woman hated the emperor for breaking his word and mourned the infant's death.

Later, she bore the new emperor's child but despised it, viewing it as a disgrace. The Empress proposed a deal: if Chu Qiao agreed to a political marriage, she would release Li Ce. As a temporary measure, Chu Qiao agreed, promising not to go back on her word. Before the wedding, she requested to see Li Ce, which the Empress allowed.

In the prison, Li Ce was initially happy to see Chu Qiao, but noticing the Empress's spies behind her, his expression darkened. He urged her to leave. Knowing he worried for her safety, Chu Qiao calmly told him she would become the Princess of Yanbei the next day. Hearing the Empress used the marriage as leverage, Li Ce was heartbroken.

Chu Qiao whispered that the money he had given her was stored at the small courtyard, enough for him to live comfortably. She secretly slipped him a shadow puppet piece. Soon after Chu Qiao departed for her wedding, Li Ce was exiled to a remote region. Clutching the item she gave him, he held it as dearly as his own life. After a long, bumpy journey, his subordinate noticed the route had deviated.

They stepped out of the carriage to find all their escorts gone. Zhan Ziyu and his men surrounded them. Acting on the Empress's orders, Zhan Ziyu was there to end Li Ce's life. Learning it was his mother's decision, Li Ce felt a deep chill, reflecting that even a tiger does not eat its cubs, yet he had such a mother. Zhuge Yue arrived swiftly, helped Li Ce escape, and captured Zhan Ziyu.

Cheng Yuan, who had never approved of Chu Qiao, secretly helped her escape during the return journey from the wedding procession. Yan Xun, hearing Consort Helian was missing, went to search for her. Upon returning, he learned Chu Qiao had fled. Feeling abandoned once again by the one he loved, Yan Xun was on the verge of collapse.

He glared fiercely at Consort Helian, placed the red wedding veil Chu Qiao had discarded onto her head, and made her sit in the bridal sedan Chu Qiao had used. As if nothing had happened, he sent the wedding procession onward to Yanbei.

On his wedding night, Yan Xun dragged Helian into the bridal chamber originally prepared for Chu Qiao. Fueled by a manic obsession, he treated the terrified Helian as if she were Chu Qiao, even attempting to gently comb her hair and draw her eyebrows. When Helian desperately urged him to look at her reflection in the mirror, Yan Xun’s tender facade shattered into a murderous rage.

He nearly strangled her until she swore her sincerity, even placing a hairpin against her own throat to vow that she only wished for him and Chu Qiao to be together. Unmoved, Yan Xun guided the sharp point toward her neck, leaving a bloody gash before letting her flee in terror. Outside, Cheng Yuan found the injured Helian limping through the camp.

Feeling a rare sense of pity for the consort, he listened as she lamented her fate as a daughter of the tiny Helian Tribe—a woman used as a pawn by her own brother to trade for horses and land. Acknowledging that her title was merely a tool to silence gossip, Cheng Yuan eventually carried her back to her tent.

In Biantang, as the day of prayer arrived, the Emperor remained bedridden and the deposed Li Ce was absent, leaving the Empress to lead the ancestral rites at Xiangtian Hall. Her composure broke when she opened a ceremonial box to find Zhan Ziyu’s blood-stained jade pendant inside—a grim sign that her co-conspirator had been compromised. Suddenly, Chu Qiao, who had infiltrated the ceremony disguised as a maid, held a dagger to the Empress’s throat.

She demanded the Empress clear Li Ce’s name, suggesting they pin the blame for the recent assassinations and the framing of the Crown Prince on the "dead" Zhan Ziyu. During the confrontation, Chu Qiao exposed the Empress’s dark past regarding the Nanxi Tribe. Years ago, the Empress had orchestrated a fire that annihilated the entire tribe to win the Emperor’s favor. The Empress remained defiant, admitting to her meticulous plan while challenging Chu Qiao to produce actual evidence.

The situation shifted when Ming Lu led out Zhan Ziyu, who was very much alive. Hearing the Empress admit to the massacre, Zhan Ziyu finally realized that the woman he had served for fifteen years as his "light" was the very person who had murdered his parents. Despite this betrayal, Zhan Ziyu confessed his eternal devotion to her before the gathered ministers. Fearing his testimony, the Empress acted quickly, plunging a sharp hairpin into his neck.

As he died, she immediately ordered the guards to seize Chu Qiao for conspiracy. The tide turned when it was revealed that Zhuge Yue had already taken control of the Emperor’s quarters at Zhengyuan Hall. He pressured the Empress to confess her crimes to ensure the Emperor’s safety. Knowing that a confession would mean total ruin, the Empress approached the bedridden Emperor as if to protect him, only to draw a blade for a final assassination attempt.

However, the Emperor anticipated her move and turned the dagger back into her own chest, ending her life. Following the Empress’s death, the Emperor’s health continued to decline, and Li Ce finally ascended the throne. Honoring her complicated legacy, Li Ce buried his mother in a separate mausoleum away from the Emperor. Standing before her grave with her favorite qingtuan (green rice balls), Li Ce reflected on a lifetime of maternal hatred.

He admitted that despite her cruelty, he still spent his nights dreaming of being held by her, wishing to fall asleep to her songs and never wake again. In the aftermath, Li Yan, the Prince of Luo, was promoted for his calculated loyalties. He confronted Zhao Chun’er, who was outraged to learn he had facilitated Chu Qiao’s entry into the palace.

When she attempted to flee back to Great Yong, Li Yan stopped her, coldly noting that as a deposed princess and a "useless" prince, they were a perfect match. He ordered her confined to the mansion, determined to keep her by his side. Meanwhile, Chu Qiao found Ming Lu—who was actually Zhan Ziyu’s sister, Zhen—attempting to take her own life. Chu Qiao stopped her, reminding her that while her brother was gone, she was now carrying Li Ce’s child.

She urged Zhen to live for the sake of the only family she had left. While peace returned to Biantang for the moment, the threat from the north loomed. Yan Xun, fueled by vengeance, rallied the tribes of Yanbei, preparing his armies to march south and crush Biantang once and for all.

Yan Xun stood before his assembled Black Eagle Army, his voice echoing across the grasslands. He declared that Biantang had trampled on the honor of Yanbei by failing to return his queen, Chu Qiao. With a roar for vengeance, he ordered his iron cavalry to crush Biantang, marking the beginning of a brutal invasion. In the capital of Biantang, the news reached the palace swiftly.

Urgent reports detailed that Yan Xun had already captured the cities of Yun, Xi, and Qiang, and his forces were now bearing down on Longyin Pass. General Li Qi was barely holding the line. Li Ce, having only recently ascended the throne, found himself in a precarious position. His court was filled with senior generals who were either pacifists or too arrogant to follow the new Emperor's lead.

When the suggestion arose to inform Chu Qiao, Li Ce refused, wanting her to rest while he dealt with the threat himself. Zhuge Yue approached Li Ce with a cold assessment of the situation. He recognized that Li Ce lacked trustworthy commanders and offered a deal: he would win the war against Yanbei in exchange for a military force of his own after the victory. Zhuge Yue also promised Li Ce a thirty percent share of a black gold mine.

Though Li Ce mocked Zhuge Yue for being a puppet stand-in for the King of Ximeng, the desperate situation forced his hand. He agreed to the trade, and the two prepared for the coming conflict. Meanwhile, Chu Qiao found herself practically a prisoner in her own residence. Every time she tried to head to the military camp, her attendants and the imperial guards blocked her path with absurd excuses about "inauspicious weather" and impending storms, despite the clear, sunny skies.

Even as Li Ce sent gifts and officially renamed the Crown Prince’s mansion as the Xiuli General’s mansion, Chu Qiao sensed something was being hidden from her. Eventually, she broke through the guards and entered the city, only to find it overflowing with refugees fleeing the fallen northern cities. The sight of the suffering commoners was heart-wrenching.

When Chu Qiao tried to stop soldiers from beating a starving man who had stolen a steamed bun, she used her own funds to buy grain for the crowd. However, the gratitude was short-lived. Once the people realized she was Chu Qiao, the woman Yan Xun used as a pretext for war, their desperation turned to fury. They blamed her for their lost homes and families, branding her a temptress and a curse upon Biantang.

Inside the imperial court, the ministers were unified in their cowardice, petitioning Li Ce to hand Chu Qiao over to Yanbei to appease Yan Xun’s wrath. They argued that the life of one woman was a small price for the safety of the nation. Chu Qiao entered the hall and silenced them with a calculated display. She presented a collection of hairpins and jewelry belonging to the ministers’ wives, claiming she had kidnapped them.

As the ministers erupted in outrage, Chu Qiao pointed out their hypocrisy. If they would not change their political stance for the safety of their own wives, why did they believe a conqueror like Yan Xun would abandon his lifelong ambition and a war he was winning just for one woman? Chu Qiao’s logic and resolve swayed the court.

Li Ce appointed her as the commanding general, and she vowed to repel the Yanbei army within a month or leave Biantang forever. To support her, Li Ce entrusted her with three thousand of his elite Imperial Guards, the finest soldiers in the kingdom. In contrast, the vengeful minister Xu Su attempted to sabotage her by providing twenty thousand "elite" troops who were actually untrained recruits and disabled veterans.

Before departing, Zhuge Yue presented Chu Qiao with a meaningful gift: the Sun and Moon Swords. He had spent months retrieving the fragments of their old weapons, the Sunset Sword and the Moonlight Sword, and forged them together. He promised that these blades, and he himself, would stand by her at Longyin Pass. However, Zhuge Yue harbored a secret. Knowing his body was still weakened by poison, he sought out the physician Mr. Xiao and demanded Huiyuan Pills.

These pills could temporarily boost his combat strength but were essentially a death sentence if taken in excess. He accepted four pills, promising the doctor his body for research if he did not survive, determined to live just long enough to see Chu Qiao through the war. At the front lines of Longyin Pass, the situation was dire. The stalemate had lasted over a month, and the bitter cold was taking its toll on the Biantang soldiers.

Chu Qiao personally tended to the wounded, but she soon discovered a more pressing crisis: food. The supply convoy was ten days late. When the grain finally arrived, Chu Qiao discovered that Xu Su had sent bags filled with sand instead of rice.

To keep the army and the nearby refugees from starving, Zhuge Yue dispatched his subordinate, Yue Shiyi, to the Qilin Bank in Yong to use his life savings and land deeds to purchase emergency supplies at high prices. In the Yanbei camp, Yan Xun monitored the stalemate. He knew Chu Qiao was a defensive specialist and would not easily be lured out.

To break her spirit, he ordered his men to spread a rumor among the refugees at Longyin Pass: if Chu Qiao surrendered herself to Yanbei, the war would end immediately and no more blood would be shed. The psychological tactic worked. A mob of desperate, starving refugees gathered outside the military camp, weeping and kowtowing to Chu Qiao, begging her to sacrifice herself for their sake.

Some, fueled by agitators, even tried to seize her by force, forcing the Xiuli Army to draw their weapons against the very people they were sworn to protect. Far from the battlefield, another shadow moved within Biantang. Prince Li Yan visited the tomb of the late Empress and recalled his father, Prince Chang, revealing the truth of his birth.

Twenty-one years ago, during a period of intense power struggle, the Empress had swapped her own son with the child of Prince Chang to protect him from the Emperor’s reach. Li Yan realized he was the biological son the Empress had always ignored in favor of Li Ce. Armed with this secret and seeing the elite guards moved to the front lines, Li Yan sensed that his moment to seize the throne had finally arrived.

One night outside the military camp, Zhuge Yue approached Chu Qiao with freshly heated wine and a box of water chestnut and lily bulb pastry. The sight of the sweets brought back bitter memories of the years she and Yan Xun spent in Yingge Courtyard. During those desperate times, they lived in constant fear, testing every meal for poison with live rats. In the scorching summers, they often had nothing to eat but spoiled food.

Chu Qiao recalled how Princess Zhao Chun'er would occasionally send treats to Yan Xun. On one occasion, Yan Xun was poisoned by those very pastries and nearly died; Chu Qiao had to beg and search desperately for medicine to pull him back from the brink. Though it was unclear who had poisoned the food, Yan Xun never told the Princess.

He would continue to wolf down the pastries in front of her to hide his suspicion, even though he had grown to despise them. Chu Qiao realized then that Yan Xun’s capacity for endurance and hidden hatred was what allowed his army to survive this long. Hoping to protect Zhuge Yue, Chu Qiao urged him to return to Yong and reclaim his identity as the noble heir of the Zhuge family, arguing that their paths were fundamentally different.

Zhuge Yue refused to leave her side, but while he slept, Chu Qiao left a final message asking him to forget her and return to his former life. She then went to Yan Xun’s camp alone, hoping to hold him to his promise of withdrawing his troops. Yan Xun was delighted by her return but immediately had her confined in a specially designed iron cage.

He presented her with extravagant robes and jewelry tailored for the Queen of Yanbei, promising to conquer the world for her. Chu Qiao remained unmoved, reminding him that the winter was harsh and both armies were suffering. She demanded he honor his word and retreat. Yan Xun insisted he would prove his methods were right and refused to withdraw until his victory was complete. Meanwhile, Zhuge Yue traveled to the capital of Yong to meet Prince Zhao Che.

Disguised under a wide hat, he warned the Prince that if Biantang fell, Yanbei’s Black Eagle Army would move south and threaten the very heart of the Yong Empire. Recognizing the strategic threat, Zhao Che agreed to provide fifty thousand dan of grain for emergency relief, though he suspected the mysterious envoy was an old friend he once fought alongside. In the Yanbei camp, Consort Helian Ling visited Chu Qiao to deliver food.

Chu Qiao deliberately played on the Consort’s insecurities, pointing out that her tribe’s status depended on Yanbei’s stability, which would be shattered if Yan Xun brought a rival queen back. Seeing Chu Qiao attempting to pick the lock of her cage with a hairpin, Helian Ling reported the escape plan to Yan Xun. However, Yan Xun saw through the scheme and decided to use it as a "plan within a plan" to lure his enemies out.

The conflict escalated as Zhuge Yue led an elite squad of the Xiuli Army to intercept a Yanbei grain convoy, only to discover the bags were filled with sand. Realizing he had fallen into a trap, Zhuge Yue quickly adjusted his strategy. While Yan Xun rushed his main force toward Longyin Pass, believing the city was leaderless, he walked directly into a massive ambush prepared by Zhuge Yue in a treacherous valley.

As fire consumed the Yanbei granaries and the Black Eagle Army found their retreat blocked by the Biantang forces, Cheng Yuan urged Yan Xun to flee through the dangerous swamps of Rong Pass. Zhuge Yue anticipated this move, knowing Yan Xun would take the risky path to survive. Chu Qiao, having escaped during the chaos at the camp, intercepted Yan Xun at Rong Pass.

She stood before his horse and presented him with the relics of his family members who were slaughtered at Jiuyou Terrace—items she had asked Zhao Song to help her collect years ago. She confronted him with the names of his kin, accusing him of betraying his father Yan Shicheng’s legacy of loyalty by bringing misery to the people of Yanbei.

Chu Qiao offered Yan Xun a final choice: either they would fight to the death on that road, or he must swear a solemn oath. Heartbroken by the sight of his family’s remains, Yan Xun chose the latter. He swore upon the souls of those who died at Jiuyou Terrace that Yanbei would not set foot in Biantang for ten years. Only then did Chu Qiao allow him to pass. Back in the Biantang capital, the internal power struggle intensified.

Following the news of the military crisis, Li Yan seized the opportunity to strike. He accused the official Sun Di of high treason for stealing a military tally, signaling that the unrest within the court was far from over.

After reaching a peace agreement with Yan Xun, Chu Qiao and the Yan North army went their separate ways. On her journey back, she found Zhuge Yue waiting for her; he had been standing guard, ready to be the first to assist her should any trouble arise. News of the victory at Longyin Pass reached the palace via an express dispatch, sending Li Ce into a state of pure excitement.

He took the opportunity to mock the ministers who had previously advocated for peace, asking if they felt any shame now that Chu Qiao had achieved such an astonishing feat. Proud of her success, Li Ce considered appointing her as either the Left or Right Cavalry General. When informed those posts were already held by Sun Di and Li Qi, he resolved to create an even more impressive and resonant title to honor her for safeguarding the Biantang empire.

However, a conspiracy was unfolding in the shadows. Li Yan, acting as Prince Luo, met with his co-conspirators Xu Su and Pei Jian. Revealed to be the hidden descendant of the late Crown Prince Maocheng, Li Yan had spent years undercover, waiting for the right moment to reclaim what he believed was rightfully his. They had already begun spreading rumors about the Xuri Palace incident and the truth behind Maocheng’s murder to stir unrest in Tangjing.

With Chu Qiao’s elite forces still away, Li Yan decided to strike before Li Ce could further solidify his rule. Unaware of the impending betrayal, Li Ce stood at the highest point in Tangjing, looking north so he could be the first to see Chu Qiao return. Li Yan joined him, maintaining his facade of a mild-mannered scholar.

As Li Ce spoke of bestowing a magnificent title on Chu Qiao to thank her for saving the kingdom—admitting he didn't want to bind her with his own feelings—Li Yan drew a concealed dagger. He told the stunned Emperor that while he hadn't initially wanted to kill him, their destinies left no other choice. Li Yan stabbed Li Ce repeatedly and pushed him off the high city wall.

As snow began to fall over the capital, Li Ce lay dying on the freezing ground, abandoned by guards who had been bribed into silence. In his final moments, he reminisced about his time with Chu Qiao, lamenting that he could no longer protect her or wait for her return.

Li Yan seized the throne and immediately initiated a purge, ordering the execution of the Minister of Revenue, Li Lin, and his entire family to eliminate any remaining opposition to his new regime. Zhuge Yue and Chu Qiao returned to find Tangjing completely changed, with loyalists being slaughtered and the city under new, hostile guards. To counter the usurper, Zhuge Yue acted swiftly, infiltrating the Ministry of War to steal back the tiger tally for the Southeast Guard Army.

Meanwhile, Sun Di had been locked away by his father-in-law, who feared for the family's safety after his son had surrendered the tiger tally to Li Yan. Once Zhuge Yue secured the military authority and coordinated with loyalist commanders, they began the effort to reclaim the palace. Inside the palace, Zhao Chun'er was horrified by the man Li Yan had become. She refused to wear the Empress’s robes or attend ceremonies, realizing she had never truly known him.

Li Yan, having dropped his scholar's persona for one of cold ambition, showed no tenderness toward her. He told her that if she didn't want the title, he wouldn't force it on her, and warned her to stay in the palace to rest while he dealt with the chaos of the transition. Chu Qiao eventually fought her way into the heart of the palace and confronted Li Yan.

Even as she held a sword to his neck, the usurper tried to negotiate, offering her the same support Li Ce had promised. He claimed he could help her rebuild the Xiuli Army and offered her the title of Xiuli Queen or even Empress, arguing that in the royal family, benefits were far more reliable than meager affection. Chu Qiao, however, refused to treat her friend's life as a bargaining chip.

When Li Yan attempted a final treacherous move, Chu Qiao struck him down, ending his life on the throne he had stolen. In the aftermath, Xu Su tried to rally the guards to execute Chu Qiao for regicide, but Zhuge Yue arrived with the army and exposed Xu Su’s own role in the betrayal. With the rebels neutralized and the innocent guards pardoned, the immediate threat to Biantang ended.

Chu Qiao retreated to the Mihe Residence to mourn Li Ce, feeling the weight of the promises she hadn't been able to keep. Zhuge Yue remained by her side, offering comfort and reminding her that the vengeance was complete and that she could finally let the pain of the past go.

Following the death of Li Yan and the ensuing chaos in the palace, a palace maid urgently persuaded Zhao Chun'er to flee. The maid revealed that Li Yan had entrusted her with an imperial token days prior, anticipating instability in Biantang and wanting to ensure Chun'er’s safety.

As Chun'er sat in the carriage clutching the token, she recalled Li Yan’s promises—how he had once called a deposed princess and a "useless prince" a perfect match and vowed to fulfill every promise made to her. Realizing too late that he was the one who had truly cared for her, she wept bitterly, calling him a liar for leaving her to make her own decisions.

Elsewhere, the Yanbei Consort Helian Ling struggled to return home with the remains of the Black Eagle Army. Her guards, weary of the endless wars against Yong and the crushing taxes in Yanbei, refused to continue. They argued that returning to a destitute home was pointless and expressed a desire to seek a better life in Biantang.

When Helian Ling tried to convince them by promising ranks and wealth, two of the guards plotted to kill her to hide their desertion. Fortunately, General Huan arrived just in time to dispatch the traitors. Despite Huan's past grievances with Yan Xun, she saved the princess out of a sense of solidarity between women. Helian Ling’s health was severely depleted by her ordeal.

General Huan brought a local physician to treat her, who complained lengthily about how physical labor and overthinking were ruining the princess’s vital energy. After a humorous exchange involving payment—where the physician rejected a blacksmith's hammer and a knife as fees—Helian Ling offered a pure gold hairpin to cover the costs. Later, Helian Ling prepared a traditional meal of Yanbei stone pot chicken and mare's milk cake to thank General Huan.

She finally requested to borrow General Huan’s horse to return to Yan Xun’s side. General Huan agreed, noting that the horse, originally from the Yanbei plains, likely wished to return home as well. In Tangjing, a palace official presented Chu Qiao with a half-finished imperial decree left by Li Ce. The late emperor had never established a harem, as he was waiting for Chu Qiao’s return to ask her to be his Empress.

Fearing she might decline, he had also prepared a draft to make her a grand general so she could marry the man she truly loved with honor. Chu Qiao was overwhelmed with grief upon seeing the decree and a puppet depicting a fierce general. That night, as she struggled with her pain and a desire for vengeance, Zhuge Yue held her, comforting her and reminding her that her duty to stabilize Biantang was now paramount.

The political situation in Biantang remained precarious, with various princes eyeing the vacant throne. While some suggested the sickly Prince Jing and others favored the military-backed Prince An, Chu Qiao intervened to prevent further division. She decided to complete Li Ce’s unfinished decree and appeared at court with the infant Prince Xiuyi.

Declaring the child as the late emperor’s rightful heir, she announced that she would adopt him and serve as the Empress Dowager and regent until he came of age. With the support of high officials like Grand Tutor Liu, who helped orchestrate the transition, Chu Qiao successfully stabilized the court. Meanwhile, Prince Yang of Yong, while returning to his kingdom, stopped at a roadside tavern for a meal.

He happened to dine near General Huan, though they did not interact at first. After a group of beggars stole his purse and his horse, the prince was forced to ask General Huan for help. Finding it ironic that everyone seemed to be borrowing horses that day, General Huan told him her last horse was gone, leaving only a donkey used for the mill.

Left with no other choice, the prince took the donkey and left a note promising to repay her kindness tenfold. In Tangjing, Zhuge Yue encountered the severely injured Ba Ze. From a leather message found on the messenger, he realized that the Ximeng envoy had met with disaster and that the Queen of Lingyue was in grave danger. Realizing he had to depart for Ximeng immediately, he began making arrangements.

Chu Qiao visited him to share her decision to remain as the regent of Biantang. Knowing his own body was still struggling with the Snow Blood poison and wishing only for her success, Zhuge Yue supported her choice. He promised that no matter the distance or the political storms, they would one day walk hand in hand again. As a parting gift, Zhuge Yue personally crafted Star-Moon Lanterns to adorn Chu Qiao’s carriage.

On the day of her official coronation, as Chu Qiao rode through the streets of Tangjing in her empress robes, she saw the beautiful lanterns and remembered the letter Zhuge Yue had left for her. He had bequeathed her the five hundred guards Li Ce once promised him and left a blood pigeon to help her find him in Ximeng if she ever needed him. Encouraged by his silent protection and deep affection, Chu Qiao moved forward with renewed determination to safeguard Biantang, even as she announced the abolition of slavery.

As the Xiuli Empress Dowager, Chu Qiao begins her reign in Biantang by implementing a series of radical reforms aimed at social justice. She issues a formal decree to abolish the slave system and ban the slave trade, ordering the unconditional release of all slaves held in prisons. To ensure these women have a future, she establishes Yuequn Hall in Tangjing, a dedicated institution where freed female slaves can learn martial arts, tea ceremonies, and various survival skills.

This initiative aims to provide them with a sustainable livelihood independent of their former masters. However, these changes met immediate and fierce resistance from the nobility. Princes and officials at court submit multiple memorials daily, protesting the loss of their property and interests. Chu Qiao remains steadfast, observing that the very ceremonial robes she wears were once the product of agonizing labor by female slaves.

She realizes that while Biantang appears prosperous on the surface, its foundation was built on human exploitation, a cycle she is determined to break. During a low-profile excursion through the streets, Chu Qiao notices a suspicious woman wearing a bamboo hat. The woman, identified as Linlang, approaches under the guise of selling flowers before lunging at Chu Qiao with a concealed dagger. Chu Qiao easily disarms and captures her.

Linlang reveals she was a spy trained by Zhan Ziyu and had served as an informant in the Crown Prince's mansion. She blames Chu Qiao for the death of her master, which left her and her fellow female spies with no purpose and no home, fearing they will wither away without the ability to marry or support themselves. Chu Qiao follows Linlang to a residence housing other displaced women.

When offered roles as instructors at Yuequn Hall, the women are skeptical, believing that their only value lies in their beauty and that marrying into wealth is their only path to security. To address this, Chu Qiao gathers portraits of eligible noble bachelors in Tangjing. However, after filtering out those who are abusive, disabled, or addicted to gambling and alcohol, only thirty-five remain.

Dismayed by the unappealing options, the women realize that relying on men is a gamble they might lose. Chu Qiao then presents them with the deed to a tavern once owned by Li Ce, promising them that if they manage the business well, the profits will belong to them. Empowered by the chance to be their own bosses, the women eagerly accept.

In Ximeng, the King’s tyranny reaches new heights as he forces laborers to mine black gold in the freezing mountains. When horses die from the cold, he cold-bloodedly orders the use of more slaves, claiming that fifteen human lives are worth a single horse. He reprimands the Queen of Lingyue for the slow progress and her failure to provide Zhuge Yue’s corpse.

To break her spirit, the King brings out the former King of Lingyue, who has been reduced to a madman groveling for food. The Queen is forced to confront the devastating reality that her previous surrender to Ximeng failed to protect her tribe, as they are now being used as expendable labor in the mines. Public resentment in Ximeng is redirected toward the Queen of Lingyue, who is branded a sorceress and a traitor.

As she is pelted with stones by a mob and prepares to accept her death, Zhuge Yue intervenes. Despite being severely weakened by Snow Blood poison, he fights off the soldiers and rescues her. They retreat to a hidden sanctuary in the woods, where Zhuge Yue frequently collapses and coughs up blood. The Queen of Lingyue, recognizing his sacrifice, tends to him, though she knows the poison is terminal without an antidote from the King of Ximeng.

Back in Biantang, Chu Qiao grows restless as twenty-three days pass without news of Zhuge Yue. She seeks out the physician Fang Miaomiao, who uses a turtle shell divination to confirm her fears: Zhuge Yue is dying. Realizing she must act, Chu Qiao entrusts the affairs of Biantang to Grand Tutor Liu and General Sun. She meets with He Xiao, dividing the Xiuli Army’s tally between them to ensure the military remains loyal during her absence.

She instructs them to watch over the court and protect the young Emperor while she departs for Ximeng. Following the guidance of a blood pigeon and accompanied by the physician Ba Ze, Chu Qiao arrives in Ximeng and locates the hidden courtyard where the Queen of Lingyue is hiding. She initially misunderstands the Queen's actions when she sees her using a knife on Zhuge Yue, but she soon learns it was an attempt to bleed out the poison.

The courtyard, once a hunting lodge for the Queen and the former King of Lingyue, is marked with the green-eyed bird carvings of their tribe. Chu Qiao confronts the Queen, demanding to know the King of Ximeng’s weaknesses. Although the Queen of Lingyue reacts with hostility and warns Chu Qiao to stay quiet, Chu Qiao remains focused on securing the antidote to save both Zhuge Yue and the imprisoned King of Lingyue.

The doctor uses acupuncture to temporarily stabilize Zhuge Yue's qi and blood, preventing the poison from reaching his heart. However, he warns Chu Qiao that this is only a temporary measure. Because the toxin has been in his system for too long, Zhuge Yue has ten days to a month at most to live. Without a genuine antidote, even the most skilled physician will be unable to save him.

While Zhuge Yue fights for his life, Yanbei is gripped by a devastating drought that has left the fields barren. Yan Xun summons the tribal leaders to discuss disaster relief, but the elders of the affluent Hongchuan and Pale tribes are conspicuously absent. Elder Tubu of the Hongchuan tribe claims a recurring leg ailment due to imaginary rain, while the Pale tribe’s leader excuses himself by claiming he broke his leg in a hunting accident.

Cheng Yuan denounces these excuses as transparent lies meant to protect their surplus grain. Other tribal leaders remind Yan Xun that years of war with Biantang have exhausted their resources, leaving only the elderly and the weak to tend the starving land. Deeply troubled, Yan Xun rides through the streets of Yandu, where he witnesses the true extent of the famine. The roads are lined with the dying and the hungry.

A mentally unstable elderly woman, who lost her only son in the war, stumbles toward Yan Xun’s horse. She has come to believe that the sound of horse bells signifies her son’s return. Overcome with grief for his people, Yan Xun personally removes the bell from his horse’s reins and gives it to her as a final, small comfort. As Zhuge Yue’s time runs out, Chu Qiao prepares a daring mission to infiltrate the Ximeng Palace.

After studying the palace blueprints and observing the daily routines, she notices that a carriage of female slaves is delivered to the King of Ximeng every day. Meeting with Yue Shiyi, she learns that Zhuge Yue is currently recovering under the care of the Queen of Lingyue, but his condition remains critical.

Chu Qiao decides to disguise herself as a slave to enter the inner palace, memorizing the complex, octagonal layout of the mountain fortress to ensure she can find the antidote and escape. Inside the palace, the King of Ximeng employs a sinister trap. He uses toxic incense that blinds the incoming slaves, claiming they will no longer need their eyes once they enter a life of luxury.

Chu Qiao realizes the incense is poisoned and tries to protect herself, but she is eventually cornered. The King uses a double to confuse her, and when she is finally captured, he reveals he knows her history as a rebel who abolished slavery in Biantang. To mock her ideals, he brands her with a plum blossom mark and throws her into the slave pit, a place filled with desperate, starving prisoners.

He offers extra food to any slave who can kill her, forcing Chu Qiao to use her remaining strength to fend off the mob. Zhuge Yue eventually regains consciousness and storms the Ximeng fortress to save Chu Qiao. In a fierce confrontation, he shatters the King’s mask, revealing him to be Su Gulin. Zhuge Yue exposes Su Gulin’s past: thirty years ago, he was a slave who led a failed rebellion.

After being betrayed by his fellow slaves and branded with the character for "slave" on his face, Su Gulin transformed into a monster who hates his own kind more than anyone. Su Gulin tries to justify his cruelty, arguing that slaves are subhuman and foolish, but Zhuge Yue remains focused on finding Chu Qiao. The situation turns bloody when Su Gulin reveals he has beaten Ba Ze to death to punish the Queen of Lingyue for her perceived disloyalty.

Devastated by the loss of her companion, the Queen of Lingyue finally rebels and stabs Su Gulin. However, Su Gulin retaliates with a hidden dagger, mortally wounding her. As she lies dying in Zhuge Yue’s arms, she tells him that Chu Qiao is trapped in the slave pit and begs him to protect her people. Zhuge Yue promises to fulfill her final wish as she passes away, leaving him to face the final struggle to rescue Chu Qiao from the darkness of the pit.

Su Gulin met his end in bitterness, cursing his followers to perish with him. As his reign crumbled, his sole remaining commander, weary of Su Gulin's cruelty, accepted an antidote for castor toxin offered by Zhuge Yue. To stabilize the palace, Zhuge Yue donned Su Gulin’s mask and assumed the identity of the new King of Western Meng.

He successfully deceived the guards by claiming an assassin had been killed after triggering the bird alarm, ordering all troops to retreat and guard the inner palace's perimeter. Zhuge Yue’s immediate priority was rescuing Chu Qiao. Though he arrived in time, she remained unconscious due to extreme exhaustion. While she recovered, a physician discovered a strange medicine in Su Gulin’s quarters.

Its primary ingredient was Wolf Vine, a deadly poison that, through the principle of "fighting poison with poison," could potentially cure the Snow Blood toxin in Zhuge Yue’s system. The physician warned that the treatment would cause a violent fever for seven days; survival would mean a full recovery, but failure would be fatal.

Fearing he might not be there when Chu Qiao woke, Zhuge Yue wanted to delay the treatment, but the physician and Ming Lu tricked him into drinking the decoction. He soon fell into a deep coma. When Chu Qiao finally regained consciousness, she stayed by Zhuge Yue’s side day and night. As his fever reached a life-threatening level, the physician suggested that only immersion in ice water could suppress the heat.

Chu Qiao personally prepared the bath and held the unconscious Zhuge Yue as they entered the freezing water together. Recalling how he had once saved her from an icy lake years ago, she prayed for his recovery and promised to protect him just as he had always protected her. After seven days, Zhuge Yue finally opened his eyes.

Finding a moment of peace, Zhuge Yue joked that since he was no longer a noble of the Zhuge family, he would have to marry into Chu Qiao’s family and rely on her. Meanwhile, Yanbei was fracturing under internal dissent. Several tribes, disillusioned with Yan Xun’s leadership, called for a vote to strip him of his military power. Helian Ling returned to the capital and informed Yan Xun that General Huan was alive.

Years prior, General Huan had managed Yanbei with great skill while Yan Xun was incapacitated, yet he had repaid her loyalty by attempting to have her killed. Despite this betrayal, the resilient general survived and later saved Helian Ling. Realizing his grave errors, Yan Xun sought out General Huan at her secluded home. He arrived with a horse he claimed was Shanxue, the favorite mount of his late father.

Although Huan revealed the true Shanxue had died years ago protecting her from a mountain cat, Yan Xun used the moment to admit he had "lost" the essence of Yanbei and pleaded for her help to restore it. Huan agreed to return to Yanbei, but she made it clear her "blind loyalty" was over. She demanded full command of five thousand soldiers from the Black Eagle Army, ensuring they would answer only to her.

The elders of the twelve tribes gathered to decide whether to secede from Yanbei, using feathered arrows to cast their votes. Just as the secession seemed certain, General Huan entered the hall. She reminded the leaders of the late King’s many kindnesses, such as mediating trade conflicts, finding fertile lands during migrations, and digging canals to bring water to their people. Using an arrow crafted by her father, she cast her vote for Yan Xun.

She argued that while she would no longer serve him with foolish devotion, the thirteen tribes had to remain united to survive the approaching winter. Following her lead, her brother An Luo and the other elders reconsidered their stance.

Nine years ago, a young Chu Qiao fled through the labyrinthine Zhuge residence, desperate to escape guards who threatened to flay her alive for trespassing. In her moment of peril, she was saved by Yunniang, a woman of grace and hidden strength. Yunniang not only protected her but also began teaching her self-defense and the philosophy of survival.

She explained to the young girl that there are two kinds of slaves: those born into their status by fate, and those who are true slaves because they willingly accept their own inferiority. Yunniang urged her to never stop fighting, for hope only exists as long as one refuses to surrender to their circumstances.

Before they parted, Yunniang gave Chu Qiao a green jade bracelet, explaining that she was leaving for a place where no hierarchy existed and people lived as equals. She warned the girl to hide the gift from the cruel steward Zhu Shun and reminded her that only by surviving could she ever reach the life she desired.

However, a few days later, Chu Qiao learned the devastating news that Yunniang had been beaten to death after a failed attempt to assassinate the Third Master, Zhuge Xi. Chu Qiao secretly visited the hunting grounds one last time to see her mentor, finding the once-elegant woman covered in blood and filth, a sight she would never forget.

In the present day, Zhuge Yue has recovered and assumed his role as the King of Ximeng, working alongside Chu Qiao to reform the land. As they moved into the Chu Residence, Zhuge Yue playfully suggested he was now a noble who had married into her family. Their peace was interrupted when a crowd of citizens gathered outside the palace.

To show their gratitude for the new king’s kindness, the parents had tied up their daughters to offer them as servants. Zhuge Yue was appalled, immediately ordering them to take their children home. He declared that he had no need for slaves and issued a firm decree: no parent would be allowed to trade or sell their children for any price.

To ensure the citizens understood that no more women were needed in the palace, Chu Qiao suggested they announce a royal wedding. The city soon erupted in celebration for their new King and Queen. Streets were filled with "Queen pastries," and vendors sold "phoenix tassels," pairs of ornaments strung on a single thread to represent an unbreakable bond.

On their wedding night, Zhuge Yue prepared fine wine and incense, and the two shared a moment of levity as Chu Qiao jokingly called him a handsome liar. Following the festivities, the royal couple focused on building a new society. Chu Qiao addressed the people, revealing her own history as a nameless slave and promising that Ximeng would be a place where no one was bound by status.

She declared the palace gates, once a place of forced separation, were now an open channel for any citizen to seek help. Meanwhile, Zhuge Yue utilized his knowledge from farming manuals to help the people manage their land and irrigation. He personally oversaw the distribution of millet seeds and land, ensuring that every family could sustain themselves.

In the kingdom of Yong, the Seventh Prince Zhao Che returned toward Zhenhuang City, accompanied by a donkey he had borrowed from a fierce owner whom he claimed no one dared to offend. His return was cut short when he was met by Muhe, who presented a decree from the Thirteenth Prince, Zhao Yang. Accused of treason and private mobilization of troops, Zhao Che chose not to resist, surrendering his military tally and thirty-four command tokens to avoid unnecessary bloodshed.

While Zhao Yang gloated, the Emperor ultimately decided to be lenient due to Zhao Che’s compliance, ordering him to be stationed at Yanming Pass to redeem himself through service. In Yanbei, Consort Helian Ling lived in constant anxiety. Although she had recently aided Yan Xun, she knew her brother, Helian Chuan, had been colluding with the Hongchuan and Pale tribes, who were increasingly hostile toward Yan Xun's rule.

Her brother soon arrived at the palace, dismissing the gifts Yan Xun had sent her as mere trifles and pressuring her to attend a banquet hosted by Elder Tubu. He claimed the meeting was necessary to mediate tensions and protect the Helian tribe’s grazing rights, though in reality, he had accepted numerous bribes and was acting as a pawn for the other tribes. The banquet proved to be a trap.

Elder Tubu insulted the Consort, boasting that her brother had once offered to sell her to him for five hundred horses. He then unveiled a rare painting called "Taming the Queen," depicting the humiliation of a former kingdom's consort to show how a conqueror could trample a rival's dignity. Tubu brazenly declared his intent to humiliate Yan Xun by assaulting Helian Ling right then and there. As the other guests were distracted by drink, Tubu pinned her down.

Just as the situation turned dire, Cheng Yuan arrived and intervened, holding a sword to the Elder's throat. In the ensuing chaos, Helian Ling seized a blade and stabbed Tubu through the heart. As the horrified onlookers fled, Cheng Yuan pulled the trembling Consort into his arms to comfort her.

Cheng Yuan went to Yan Xun to take full responsibility for the death of Elder Tubu, claiming he had killed the man in a fit of rage after the elder insulted the Queen, Helian Ling. While Helian Ling stood nearby weeping and quietly observing the King's reaction, Yan Xun surprised everyone by declaring that Tubu deserved to die and that he had long harbored the desire to kill the elder himself.

To stabilize the situation, Yan Xun pardoned Cheng Yuan and issued a decree: except for the offending Hongchuan Tribe and other rebellious factions, all tribes would be exempt from taxes and military service for the remainder of the year. He knew the opportunistic tribal leaders would prioritize these benefits over the risks of joining a revolt. That evening, Yan Xun visited Helian Ling’s quarters. He spoke bluntly about her position, noting that many believed she was merely a figurehead.

Helian Ling honestly confessed that she had used desperate means to approach him because her tribe was weak and struggling to survive. Yan Xun expressed satisfaction with her candor, revealing he had chosen her specifically because the Helian tribe posed no threat to his authority. While he stayed the night to show the court they were a true couple, he spent the entire time at a desk focused on his official scrolls, never sharing her bed.

In the capital of Yong, the pregnant Zhao Chun'er returned after escaping her previous hardships. Seeking a way to defeat Bian Tang, she targeted a prince named Zhuge Huai. During her journey, she was approached by a shaman named Jia Meng, who used hallucinogenic incense to make her see a vision of her deceased lover, Li Yan.

Though she realized it was a trick, Chun'er was drawn to Jia Meng’s influence when he promised that the "Faceless God" could grant her deepest wishes. To manipulate Zhuge Huai, Chun'er took him to a shrine where a clever optical illusion on a statue made him see his own reflection. Convinced he was the "Son of the Faceless God," the prince’s ambition was fueled by Chun'er’s promise that he was destined to rule the world.

In Ximeng, General Qiu Lin returned from the border, incensed to find that his slaves had been freed and his authority undermined by the new administration. Suspecting the current King of Ximeng was an impostor, he plotted to expose the truth during the Fire God festival. During the rites, Qiu Lin fired an arrow at the masked King, only to discover the man was a decoy. Zhuge Yue soon appeared with his own guards to confront the traitor.

Qiu Lin argued that Zhuge Yue was too young to be the real King and brought forth the mentally unstable King of Lingyue to identify him. The confused King of Lingyue, lured by the promise of food, initially claimed Zhuge Yue was not the man he knew. However, Chu Qiao arrived to point out the king’s madness, while Zhuge Yue presented a "Green-eyed Bird" token that once belonged to the late Queen of Lingyue.

The sight of the memento triggered the mad king’s grief, causing him to weep and mistake Zhuge Yue for the lost Queen. With the rebellion quelled, Zhuge Yue solidified his rule by promising the tribes self-governance and reduced tributes, provided that slavery remained abolished forever. As the situation in Ximeng settled, Zhuge Yue and Chu Qiao shared a quiet moment discussing the legend of the Green-eyed Bird, which was said to test a lover’s sincerity.

They played a game of questions where Zhuge Yue admitted he had loved three women: a slave named Xing'er, a general named Chu Qiao, and his current queen—all of whom were actually her. Chu Qiao teased him in return, claiming she had once admired Yan Xun and the late Li Ce before finally losing her heart to a "cold block of ice" like him.

Back in Yanbei, Helian Ling met with Cheng Yuan to return a cloak, but the atmosphere between them had grown formal and distant. Hearing that Yan Xun had stayed the night in her quarters, Cheng Yuan believed they were now a real couple and treated her with strict, distant respect. He warned her to remain within the safety of the palace, reminding her that any harm to her would be a loss for the King. Realizing that he now viewed her only as a royal consort, Helian Ling left the cloak behind and retreated back into her lonely life in the palace.

In Yanbei, Cheng Yuan discovers that a rare material known as Black Gold Mine has begun circulating heavily in local markets. This rare resource is being used as a medium of trade among the common people, signaling that Ximeng's mineral output has reached staggering levels. This discovery comes at a difficult time for Yanbei; due to recent tax cuts, the military is facing a severe shortage of supplies and pay.

As winter approaches, Yan Xun orders heating expenses to be halved and plans for the soldiers to begin farming and herding in the spring to bolster their income. Meanwhile, Zhuge Muqing arrives in Ximeng City to see his grandson. Zhuge Yue is shocked to find that his grandfather’s martial arts have been completely destroyed.

Muqing explains that the Emperor, suspicious of the Zhuge family after the defeat at Meilin Pass, forced him to take a crippling poison to prove his loyalty. The family has been under immense pressure from the rival Muhe family, who are eager to replace Qingshan Court. To protect the clan and quell the Emperor's suspicion, Muqing had even desecrated a body to fake Zhuge Yue’s death.

He now urges Zhuge Yue to return to Great Yong, believing his status as the King of Ximeng could restore the family's power. Zhuge Yue, however, refuses to serve Great Yong any longer and asks his grandfather to forget him. He insists that his life as a member of Qingshan Court ended at the frozen lake and that he only wishes to live in peace with Chu Qiao.

Muqing grows angry, accusing his grandson of abandoning his duty for a slave. He reminds Zhuge Yue that as the former head of Qingshan Court, he is responsible for the blood of countless innocents and can never truly wash the stain from his hands. During the celebrations in Ximeng City, a woman named Jing Ba arrives at the palace claiming to be Chu Qiao’s sister.

Chu Qiao is overjoyed, having searched for her since they were separated during their escape from the Zhuge family years ago. However, Jing Ba is no longer the girl she once was. As she looks at the luxurious palace, her eyes are filled with envy and resentment. While Chu Qiao reflects on their past struggles, Jing Ba remains cold, feeling that her sister is living in luxury while she suffered as a beggar.

Jing Ba soon orchestrates a plan for revenge. She sneaks into Zhuge Yue’s bedchamber and attempts to frame him for a violation to turn Chu Qiao against him. When Chu Qiao rushes in, she immediately sees through the lie, knowing Zhuge Yue would never commit such an act. Jing Ba then drops the facade, declaring her hatred for Zhuge Yue and Qingshan Court, which she blames for the deaths of their siblings.

Despite the betrayal, Chu Qiao cannot bring herself to harm her sister and instead provides her with a horse, silver, and rations to start a new life. Suspicious of the situation, Zhuge Yue follows Jing Ba as she leaves. He notices that the dagger she carries is made of glazed iron, a weapon specific to Qingshan Court. He soon discovers that his grandfather was the one who saved Jing Ba and sent her to assassinate him as a warning.

Muqing uses Jing Ba’s life as leverage, demanding that Zhuge Yue return to Qingshan Court within five days. He further threatens that if Zhuge Yue does not reclaim his position, a new head will be appointed who will execute all of Zhuge Yue’s former subordinates and their families. Zhuge Yue remains undeterred and reveals that he has already captured the heads of four Qingshan Court outposts within Ximeng.

He warns his grandfather that with his knowledge of the organization, he can dismantle every hidden agent in Yanbei and Biantang within ten days, rendering years of Muqing’s work useless. Realizing that his grandson’s resolve is unshakeable, Zhuge Muqing finally admits defeat. He acknowledges that he cannot force Zhuge Yue’s hand and warns him that he must rely only on himself to survive the political storms ahead. As Muqing departs, a bitter Jing Ba also leaves, still swearing she will one day have her revenge.

In the capital of Yong, Zhao Chun'er has aligned herself with the ambitious Seventeenth Prince, Prince Yang. Aware of the growing friction between the Emperor and Zhao Che, and knowing Prince Yang’s deep-seated jealousy of his brother’s military prestige, Chun'er maintains a cold distance from Zhao Che. When a messenger arrives with gifts from the frontier—specialties like Red Vine Fruit and Mulberry Mistletoe intended to aid her pregnancy—she flatly refuses them.

Claiming her physician warned against foods of unknown origin, she orders the items returned, making it clear that she has drawn a definitive line to favor Prince Yang. Prince Yang, fueled by a desire for the throne and a hatred for Zhao Che’s successes, spends his time praying to the Faceless Deity for his brother’s death. He sees Zhao Che as a thorn in his side that must be removed.

Meanwhile, Chun'er often lights a specific hallucinogenic incense that allows her to see visions of Li Yan, easing her grief. Caught in these delusions and the promise of power, she envisions a future where Prince Yang becomes the Emperor, granting her the esteemed title of Guardian Princess and making everyone prostrate at her feet. In Ximeng, Zhuge Yue receives a somber report from Qingshan Court.

His grandfather, furious over Zhuge Yue’s refusal to return and serve the Emperor of Yong, has begun executing the loyal Moon Guards who remained behind. As Zhuge Yue mourns the names on the list, Chu Qiao approaches. To spare her from the dark reality of his grandfather’s vengeance, the subordinate Yue Shiyi quickly fabricates a story, claiming the list contains names Zhuge Yue was considering for their future children.

Zhuge Yue plays along, though the names like Yueyong and Yuezeng are bittersweet reminders of the men he lost. Later, they visit a Yuegui tree in the courtyard, which Zhuge Yue explains he named for its fragrance, hoping it will one day shade their peaceful life together. A strange epidemic soon strikes the orchards of Ximeng, leaving the fruit trees rotten and the produce bitter.

Chu Qiao notices the soil near the water sources has taken on an unnatural greenish tint, and she discovers that the river has been poisoned. Amidst the crisis, a mysterious "Holy Maiden" of the Faceless Deity Cult appears, distributing "Holy Water" to desperate farmers. Chu Qiao suspects a plot when she realizes the Holy Water is actually a common antidote used to neutralize the very poison contaminating the river.

Despite the cult's growing influence, the Maiden’s face remains hidden, leaving Chu Qiao with a sense of unease. Zhuge Yue’s investigation reveals that this cult originated in Yong and is likely a tool for infiltration. The political landscape shifts further when Yan Xun arrives in Ximeng under the guise of forming an alliance. He brings lavish gifts for Chu Qiao, including dark jade from Huihui Mountain, rare white fox fur, gold-weave armor, and Blood Ganoderma.

Most notably, he presents fifty Firethunder Horses. When Zhuge Yue watches Yan Xun interact with Chu Qiao at the stables, his jealousy flares. He asserts his presence by carrying Chu Qiao away, reminding Yan Xun that she is his Queen. In a private conversation, Chu Qiao confronts Yan Xun about the dire state of Yanbei. She knows that the losses at Longyin Pass have left his people starving and his tribal elders restless.

While Yan Xun tries to appeal to their shared past, even pulling her into a forceful hug and promising to protect her, Chu Qiao remains composed. She reminds him that while she once saw Yanbei as her home, he must now focus on being a good ruler for his people instead of wasting time on her. Unbeknownst to her, Yan Xun’s true motive is the Black Gold Mine near Heihe Mountain.

His spies have already mapped out hunter trails through Ximeng territory, and he orders two thousand Black Eagle soldiers to infiltrate the area and seize the mines while Ximeng is distracted. Tragedy strikes when a massive explosion rocks an abandoned burial ground where followers of the Faceless Deity had gathered to see the Holy Maiden. Seventeen people are killed, leaving only one survivor—a delirious girl who believes the blast was a "divine punishment" to screen out false believers.

She claims she was chosen by the deity and refuses to provide rational details. Zhuge Yue, suspicious of the timing, orders his guards to monitor the survivor in secret. As tensions mount, Zhuge Yue delivers the final alliance documents to Yan Xun’s quarters. He finds Yan Xun waiting with a pot of pheasant soup, seemingly expecting the visit.

While they sit together, the atmosphere is thick with unspoken rivalry and the knowledge that both sides are playing a dangerous game of shadows over the future of Ximeng and the Black Gold Mines.

Zhuge Yue exposes Yan Xun’s secret operation to mine black gold in Heihe Valley, shattering the facade of their alliance. Yan Xun, fueled by years of resentment over the massacre of his family at Jiuyou Terrace, confronts Zhuge Yue with a bowl of pheasant stew. Recalling their youth at Qingshan Court, Yan Xun uses the meal as a test, but Zhuge Yue realizes the soup is laced with mirabilite and pinellia, substances designed to trigger his chronic cold affliction.

As tensions peak, Yan Xun demands to know if Zhuge Yue was responsible for his family's downfall. A flashback reveals that the Emperor of Yong, fearing the hundred thousand-strong Black Eagle Army, used Qingshan Court to orchestrate Yan Shicheng's death. Despite Zhuge Yue’s warnings that the evidence against Yan Shicheng was forged and would destabilize the north, he was forced to comply to save the hundreds of lives within his own household.

However, Zhuge Yue successfully negotiated to spare Yan Xun’s life. In the present, Yan Xun declares their friendship dead and prepares to rendezvous with the Black Eagle Army at Heihe Valley. Chu Qiao continues her hunt for the Faceless Deity. Guided by Ming Lu, she enters a suspicious hideout but is incapacitated by hallucinogenic incense.

In a drug-induced stupor, a masked figure claiming to be her "true self" taunts her, accusing her of craving the power of a Queen rather than truly seeking freedom for others. A massive explosion soon devastates the city. Chu Qiao regains consciousness to find herself dressed in the robes of the Faceless Deity. Believing she is the "witch" who caused the carnage, the angry citizens attack her with stones, accusing her of deceiving the King and bringing ruin upon them.

At the border, a dispute arises between Yanbei and Yong soldiers over a stray sheep. General Huan of Yanbei refuses to yield, leading to a standoff until the Yong commander, Zhao Che, arrives. Huan recognizes him as the man who once "borrowed" her donkey without returning it. Zhao Che claims the donkey is thriving in Zhenhuang City and has even sired foals, but Huan is unimpressed and keeps the sheep as interest for the debt.

She later learns that Zhao Che is the Seventh Prince of Yong and a formidable commander who has frequently clashed with Yanbei. The political situation in Ximeng escalates when an envoy from the Thirteenth Prince, Zhao Yang, delivers a decree claiming Chu Qiao is the Emperor's long-lost daughter. This is a strategic trap to annex Ximeng under the guise of "protecting" the princess. Yong forces have already blocked the Luo and Shuangfeng Rivers to cut off trade with Biantang.

Riots erupt at the Slave Freeing Wall as flyers circulate, convincing the public that Chu Qiao is a Yong spy and the anti-slavery movement was a scam. He Xiao and the Xiuli Army arrive from Biantang to provide support, but the city remains in chaos. Yue Shiyi presents Zhuge Yue with the deeds to secret estates, urging him to take Chu Qiao and flee the impending war.

He reminds Zhuge Yue that the men of Qingshan Court are victims of the Emperor’s tyranny and that Zhuge Yue deserves to live for himself. Moved, Zhuge Yue finds Chu Qiao in the snow and describes a peaceful future where they live as an ordinary couple, traveling through Biantang or opening a small teahouse in a land without oppression.

Chu Qiao, who has known only slavery and battle since childhood, is captivated by the vision of a true home where justice exists. However, realizing he cannot abandon his responsibilities while Ximeng is being strangled by the Yong military, Zhuge Yue makes a final decision. He orders his servants to stop packing their belongings and prepares to head to Ximeng Pass to personally confront the trap laid by the Yong army.

Zhuge Yue went to meet Chu Qiao, only to find that she was already preparing to seek him out. As their eyes met, Chu Qiao spoke with firm resolve, confessing that she could not leave with him to lead a quiet, secluded life. Having spent time in Ximeng, she realized that she and the people shared a mutual need for one another.

She envisioned a world of harmony where people like her—those once treated as "worthless as weeds"—could finally have a place to call home. To be true to her ideals, she chose to remain as General Chu of the Xiuli Army. Understanding her heart, Zhuge Yue did not try to stop her; instead, he presented her with a set of battle armor he had specially prepared and vowed to accompany her to Ximeng Pass to face the Yong army.

Standing before her gathered troops, Chu Qiao delivered a stirring speech to boost morale. She revealed her painful past as a slave in the Qingshan Court of Yong, where survival was a luxury and her siblings were discarded like dust. She explained that she had come to Ximeng to build a land where justice prevailed regardless of one's birth.

Warning the soldiers that the Yong army sought to crush their newfound autonomy, she called upon the Xiuli Army and the Ximeng forces to join her the following day to defend their freedom. Moved by her sincerity, her followers pledged their eternal loyalty. Meanwhile, Yan Xun had been watching the Black Gold Mine closely, planning a move.

When his scouts reported that Ximeng was shifting its border guards toward Ximeng Pass to resist the Yong presence, his advisor suggested it was the perfect time to strike the vulnerable mine. However, Yan Xun hesitated and ordered his troops to change direction toward Ximeng Pass instead. He recognized that Yanbei and Ximeng shared a symbiotic relationship; if Ximeng fell, Yanbei would be the next target. Knowing he lacked sufficient regular troops, Yan Xun turned to Helian Ling.

He revealed his knowledge of the private armies kept by various tribal elders and tasked her with using her status as his Consort to "borrow" these twenty thousand men, effectively intimidating the ambitious chiefs into compliance. In a lighter moment amidst the tension, Prince Zhao Che attempted to settle a debt with General Huan. He presented her with a black donkey, claiming it was the one he had previously borrowed.

General Huan saw through the deception immediately, noting that her original donkey was a unique crossbreed with a gray underbelly, while the one Zhao Che brought was not only the wrong breed but also the wrong gender. Despite Zhao Che’s excuses about the animal suffering from travel sickness, the General remained unimpressed by the "stupid donkey" and insisted on the return of her specific stallion.

The situation at Ximeng Pass grew dire as the Yong army, led by the elder Zhuge Muqing, captured innocent Ximeng civilians, labeling them as bandits and executing a group each day to draw Chu Qiao out. Determined to save the people, Chu Qiao entered the Yong camp with Ming Lu to negotiate. Zhuge Muqing presented an imperial decree claiming Chu Qiao was a long-lost princess of Yong, a title used to justify annexing Ximeng.

Chu Qiao played along until the hostages were released, but once they were safe, she defiantly declared that Ximeng would remain autonomous and threw the decree into a fire. A brutal skirmish broke out as she and Ming Lu fought to break through the encirclement, with Ming Lu sustaining serious injuries. Hearing of the trap, Zhuge Yue rushed to the camp to intervene.

Facing his grandfather, he stood his ground with a cold threat, detailing his intimate knowledge of Yong’s military vulnerabilities at Ping’an, Linyuan, and Qinglong Passes. He warned that with just three thousand men, he could collapse Yong's entire defensive line by dawn. Furthermore, he pointed out that while Zhuge Muqing’s troops were merely borrowed from General Meng, the Ximeng soldiers were fighting for their homes and would surely prevail in a desperate struggle.

Caught between his duty and his grandson's leverage, Zhuge Muqing was forced to release them. The confrontation proved too much for the elderly Zhuge Muqing. Overcome by agitation and his recurring illness, he collapsed and passed away shortly after the negotiation. As a descendant of the Qingshan Court, Zhuge Yue was duty-bound to stay and manage his grandfather’s affairs, preventing him from following Chu Qiao immediately.

Elsewhere, a wounded Chu Qiao and Ming Lu struggled toward safety until they were intercepted and rescued by Yan Xun and his Black Eagle Army. As Ming Lu was taken for treatment, a fading Chu Qiao urged Yan Xun to return to the Yong camp to save Zhuge Yue.

The unexpected death of Zhuge Muqing left Qingshan Court without a leader. Having lost his martial powers to the Emperor of Yong’s poison, the old lord finally succumbed to a fatal fit of rage. Zhuge Yue stood before his grandfather’s memorial, where he was met by his loyal Moon Guards.

While Yue Da and Yue Liu urged him to leave and follow his own path, Yue Ming warned that his departure would leave them at the mercy of the Zhuge family's cruel Third Branch. Knowing that Chu Qiao had killed their former patriarch, Zhuge Xi, the guards feared they would be tortured to death once Prince Zhao Yang and the Third Branch took control.

After intervening to save Yue Ming from execution for attempting to flee, Zhuge Yue resolved to return to Zhenhuang City with the official Zhan Fu. He vowed to protect the court and hopefully persuade the Emperor to stop the offensive against Ximeng. Meanwhile, in the Ximeng military camp, Chu Qiao remained unconscious after losing a significant amount of blood.

He Xiao attempted to bar Yan Xun from entering, but the King of Yanbei remained steadfast by her side, refusing to leave until she woke. Under the cover of night, Zhuge Yue secretly visited the camp to check on Chu Qiao. He recognized that her wounds were caused by "glazed iron" from Qingshan Court, a specialized weapon whose injuries were notoriously difficult to heal.

He instructed Yan Xun to treat her with a medicinal wine made from Silver Viper blood and Huaying Grass, predicting she would wake in two days. Before leaving, Zhuge Yue placed a letter under her pillow and asked Yan Xun to protect her until his return, choosing to trust his childhood friend one last time. However, after Zhuge Yue left, Yan Xun read and burned the letter before taking up a solitary vigil by Chu Qiao’s bed.

When Chu Qiao finally regained consciousness days later, she was met with the heartbreaking news that Ming Lu had succumbed to her injuries just as they reached the camp gates. Overwhelmed by grief, Chu Qiao sought answers about Zhuge Yue. Yan Xun manipulated the truth to drive a wedge between them, claiming that Zhuge Yue had already surrendered to Dayong and chosen to draw a clear line between himself and Chu Qiao.

He argued that a man born into the powerful Zhuge clan could never truly walk away from his heritage and family. To further sow doubt, he reminded her that Zhuge Yue had once stood by the Emperor while the Yan family was slaughtered. Despite Yan Xun’s insistence, Chu Qiao refused to believe Zhuge Yue would abandon her so easily. In Yanbei, unrest flared as the Lanchuan Tribe rose in rebellion while Yan Xun was away.

Driven by the heavy burden of the war, the tribal elders seized the opportunity to attack Yandu. Helian Ling was forced to flee the city as the rebels closed in, witnessing the death of her maid who sacrificed herself to protect her. She was eventually rescued by Cheng Yuan and General Huan, who arrived to suppress the uprising. The investigation into the rebellion revealed a shocking betrayal; soldiers from the Helian Tribe were found among the captured rebels.

Helian Ling’s own brother, the Elder of the Helian clan, had conspired with the Lanchuan Tribe. Facing his sister, the Elder showed no remorse and tried to blame her for the clan's loss of status. Helian Ling, prioritizing the laws of Yanbei over blood ties, refused to save him. As he was led away to be executed for treason, her brother cursed her as a traitor who would bear the blood of her own kin.

Back in the capital of Dayong, Zhuge Yue faced the Emperor and returned the ring that served as his token of authority. He confessed to having lived as a puppet after being poisoned by the Ximeng people and requested that the Emperor dissolve Qingshan Court, allowing its spies to retire in peace. The Emperor, still harboring resentment over Zhuge Yue’s faked death, refused to let anyone leave the court alive.

The situation escalated when Prince Zhao Yang arrived, bringing with him the captured Moon Guard, Yue Shiyi. The prince presented a sadistic choice: Zhuge Yue could drink a lethal, agonizing poison, or Yue Shiyi could do it in his master's stead. Before Zhuge Yue could act, Yue Shiyi seized the cup and drank the poison, wishing to save his master and his fellow guards.

As the poison took its toll, the Emperor finally pardoned Zhuge Yue’s past offenses but warned that any further disobedience would result in the total annihilation of every person in Qingshan Court. Zhuge Yue returned to Qingshan Court carrying the body of the devoted Yue Shiyi, only to find more tragedy waiting. He was presented with the identification tags of three other guards—Yue Sheng, Yue Bo, and Yue Shijiu—who had been interrogated by the Muhe family.

To avoid betraying their master, all three had committed suicide. The weight of these losses was compounded when Zhuge Yue discovered that the official Zhan Fu had already seized the personal files of the deceased guards. Because they were branded as criminals for their "treasonous" silence, their families had already been executed as well. Surrounded by the tokens of his fallen soldiers and the knowledge of their families' deaths, Zhuge Yue's resolve only hardened in his grief and indignation.

Under Yan Xun's attentive care, Chu Qiao’s injuries began to heal. During a ride near the border of Ximeng and Yong, they looked toward Xin City, a strategic stronghold. Yan Xun suggested a plan to set fires along the border to destroy the enemy's supplies and force the Yong troops to withdraw. Chu Qiao immediately rejected the idea, refusing to adopt a strategy that would harm innocent civilians.

Their disagreement was interrupted by General Huan, who arrived with news of a rebellion by the Lanchuan Tribe. Yan Xun was shocked to learn that the Lanchuan Elder had secretly colluded with Yong, trading the counties of Yun and Ji for ten thousand troops. While Yan Xun discussed the crisis with the general, Chu Qiao consumed fruit that had been laced with muscle-softening powder. She quickly lost consciousness and collapsed.

General Huan revealed his intention to hand Chu Qiao over to Yong in exchange for the return of the lost counties, a portion of the black gold mines, and a cessation of hostilities. He argued that the Yong Emperor, Prince Zhao Yang, and Princess Chun'er all wanted her. Though Yan Xun was furious, General Huan held a sword to his throat, reminding him of his duty to the people of Yanbei and the legacy of the former king.

Yan Xun eventually relented, rationalizing that he could use the trade to force a retreat and then find a way to rescue Chu Qiao later. Meanwhile, Zhuge Yue returned to Qingshan Court to handle the funeral arrangements for his grandfather, Zhuge Muqing. Upon entering the study, he discovered that the coffin was empty.

His grandfather appeared, revealing that he had faked his death to lure Yue back to the capital, where the Emperor had already issued a decree for Yue to take command of Qingshan Court. Yue’s first instinct was to return to Chu Qiao, but his grandfather warned him that he could never truly leave.

Yue was shocked to see his grandfather stand up from his wheelchair, as the old man had found a cure for the poison that had previously crippled him. A fierce struggle ensued as Muqing taunted Yue for his soft heart and repeated failures. In a moment of desperation, Yue stabbed his grandfather. As he lay dying, Muqing thanked Yue for killing him, declaring that Yue’s heart would now be forever bound to Qingshan Court in atonement for his "sin."

Overwhelmed with grief, Yue encountered Zhao Che, who had secretly entered the capital. Zhao Che had been falsely accused by Prince Zhao Yang of conspiring with Yanbei, leading to the execution of twenty-five of his officers. He lamented that despite his loyalty, the Emperor’s suspicion and Zhao Yang’s cruelty had left him no choice but to rebel. He asked Yue to join forces with him, as they had both reached a point of no return.

During the journey toward the negotiations, Consort Helian spoke with General Cheng, who had saved her life during the rebellion. She reflected on her past as a tool for her clan's ambition and expressed a desire to find a place where she could live a simple, free life away from the conflicts of the great clans. Despite her plea, General Cheng remained steadfast in his devotion to Yanbei and Yan Xun.

General Huan eventually brought Yan Xun and the captive Chu Qiao to meet Prince Zhao Yang. The Prince was distracted by his obsession with Princess Chun'er and had not even read the negotiation documents. Chun'er intervened, refusing to allow any portion of the black gold mines to be shared with Yanbei. To secure peace, General Huan agreed to forgo the mines if the truce was extended to ten years.

Later that night, Yan Xun killed the guards at Chu Qiao’s door to rescue her, only to find the room empty. General Huan informed him that Chu Qiao had already been handed over to Princess Chun'er. In a dark cell, Chun'er confronted the weakened Chu Qiao, mocking her for being abandoned by Yanbei and taking pleasure in seeing the once-mighty general reduced to a helpless prisoner.

Yan Xun realizes that to save Chu Qiao, he must deal with Zhao Chun'er, who has gained significant influence in the Yong Empire and has the ear of Prince Zhao Yang. Knowing her volatile nature, Yan Xun approaches the Princess Manor, presenting himself as a discarded pawn willing to do anything to reclaim his status in Yanbei.

Zhao Chun'er, bitter over his past betrayal, toys with him, ordering him to kneel outside for twelve hours before "joking" and granting him entry after only two. Inside the manor, Zhao Chun'er's instability is on full display. She forces Yan Xun to change into the clothes of Li Yan, her lost love.

Caught in a spiral of grief and madness, she hallucinates that Yan Xun is Li Yan, weeping for him before lashing out and biting Yan Xun in a fit of rage. Determined to find Chu Qiao, Yan Xun endures her torment and offers her false warmth to gain her trust. Once she falls asleep, he corners her maid at knifepoint and learns that Chu Qiao is being held in Zhao Yang's dog kennel.

He manages to infiltrate the location and leaves an antidote for the muscle-softening powder next to her. The next morning, Yan Xun continues his charade by bringing Zhao Chun'er lotus dew soup, making her believe he has regained his feelings for her. However, she remains cruel, leading him to the Jiuyou Terrace to witness the execution of Chu Qiao.

Before a gathered crowd, Chu Qiao is accused of being a criminal slave who rebelled against the Yong and impersonated the "Faceless Saintess." As Zhao Yang orders the pyre to be lit, the antidote takes effect. Chu Qiao breaks her bonds, leaps from the platform, and takes Zhao Yang hostage, publicly denouncing Zhao Chun'er and Zhao Yang for using the Faceless Deity Cult to poison the people and steal the resources of Ximeng.

In the ensuing chaos, Yan Xun seizes Zhao Chun'er to hold back the army. Panicked and selfish, Zhao Yang shoves Zhao Chun'er toward Yan Xun to create a distraction, causing Yan Xun’s sword to accidentally pierce her body. As Zhao Chun'er collapses in a pool of blood, Yan Xun prepares to kill the cowardly Zhao Yang, but an arrow knocks the sword from his hand.

Zhuge Yue appears, declaring his role as the Head of Qingshan Court and protector of the Yong royals. To drive Chu Qiao away and protect her from further involvement with him, Zhuge Yue lies, claiming he was the one who orchestrated the downfall of the Yan clan by providing false evidence. Heartbroken by his apparent betrayal, Chu Qiao weeps as Zhuge Yue orders their arrest. The standoff is interrupted by a royal decree.

Because envoys from Biantang have arrived to negotiate for the release of their Empress Dowager—revealed to be Chu Qiao’s status there—the Emperor orders the immediate release of both Chu Qiao and Yan Xun. Zhuge Yue watches with hidden relief as Yan Xun leads Chu Qiao away. Shortly after the release, Zhao Yang suddenly vomits black blood and dies, having been poisoned. Zhao Che enters the palace to confront his grieving father.

He confesses to the poisoning, driven by years of the Emperor’s suspicion and his brother’s incompetence despite his own military sacrifices for the empire. Realizing he has no other choice, the Emperor signs a decree naming Zhao Che the Crown Prince. In a final attempt to secure a future peace, Zhao Che meets with General Huan and gives her his royal ring as a token of his feelings, hoping Yanbei and Yong can coexist.

They spend a night together, but by morning, General Huan has departed. She leaves a letter stating that as a daughter of Yanbei, she must put her people first. She warns him that if they meet on the battlefield again, they must forget their night together and show no mercy.

Yan Xun takes Chu Qiao back to the Yingge Courtyard, the place where they were once imprisoned. Amidst the ruins, Yan Xun finds a jade pendant left by his grandmother to his mother. He explains that he had intended to give it to her years ago but hesitated. He asks Chu Qiao to forget the past and start over with him, but Chu Qiao, focused on the chaotic state of the world and the distance between them, declines his feelings.

Meanwhile, Cheng Yuan and Helian Ling, who have developed deep feelings for each other, consider a peaceful life in Yunzhou, a bustling trade hub at the border of Da Yong, Yanbei, and Bian Tang. However, while stopping at a noodle shop, they overhear travelers discussing the dire situation: a Bian Tang messenger has been killed, and Yan Xun and Chu Qiao are reportedly trapped in Da Yong.

Realizing that Yanbei is in danger of falling into chaos without its king, Cheng Yuan decides he must return to save Yan Xun. Helian Ling supports his sense of duty and prepares supplies for him, and the two promise to meet again in Yunzhou once the mission is complete. In Da Yong's capital, Zhenhuang, a mysterious cult centered on the Faceless God rises to power. The High Priestess Jia Meng proclaims three prophecies.

The first prophecy targets four "sinful" individuals whose deaths will cleanse the world. Following the executions of the heads of the Muhe and Wei families, as well as the mysterious death of General Meng, Yan Xun and Chu Qiao realize that Zhao Che is using the cult to eliminate political rivals. They identify General Xing Le, who holds half of Da Yong's external military power, as the final target.

Chu Qiao convinces Yan Xun to save Xing Le, arguing that if Zhao Che consolidates power, he will inevitably attack Xi Meng and Yanbei. During the night, Zhuge Yue meets with Mu Shen to discuss the transition of military power. He later encounters Chu Qiao in the city and warns her to leave, claiming his former compassionate self is dead.

However, when Mu Shen’s guards arrive to kill her, Zhuge Yue intervenes under the guise of wanting the credit himself, ultimately allowing Chu Qiao to escape. Subsequently, Yan Xun and Chu Qiao rescue General Xing Le from an assassination attempt and capture the deceptive Mu Shen. In gratitude, Xing Le gives Yan Xun a command token for his loyal troops to help them escape Da Yong.

As the political tension escalates, Jia Meng delivers a second prophecy: a flood will cleanse a "sinful land." This coincides with heavy rains in Xi Meng, giving Zhao Che a divine excuse to invade the region and seize its valuable black gold mines. To protect Xi Meng and prepare for the coming war, Yan Xun decides to return to Yanbei immediately to mobilize his forces.

However, during his retreat, Yan Xun is ambushed by Zhuge Yue and the spies of Qingshan Court. In the heat of battle, Zhuge Yue wounds Yan Xun’s leg with a "Snow Arrow." Cheng Yuan arrives just in time to rescue the injured prince and hide him in a cave. Yan Xun, knowing his injury makes escape difficult, orders Cheng Yuan to take the Black Eagle command token back to Yanbei to assist Chu Qiao.

He promises to officiate a marriage for Cheng Yuan and Helian Ling once the war is won. Instead of leaving, Cheng Yuan knocks Yan Xun unconscious to keep him safe and disguises himself in Yan Xun’s robes to lead the pursuers away. Zhao Che, believing he has cornered the prince, orders his men to fire, and Cheng Yuan falls from a cliff under a hail of arrows.

To prevent further search parties from finding the real Yan Xun, Zhuge Yue falsely reports that Yan Xun has perished. When Yan Xun awakens and finds only blood and Cheng Yuan's sword at the cliffside, he is devastated by the loss of his most loyal brother. A Red Eagle, sent by Cheng Yuan as a final guide, appears to lead him home. Grieving but resolute, Yan Xun begins his journey back to Yanbei, vowing to honor Cheng Yuan’s sacrifice and care for Helian Ling.

News of an ambush outside Zhenhuang spread quickly, with rumors claiming the Qingshan Court had intercepted the King of Yanbei and that Yan Xun had died at the hands of Zhuge Yue. When the reports reached Chu Qiao and General Huan, they immediately sought confirmation. While the city was in a frenzy with Qingshan Court spies, Chu Qiao refused to believe the news without seeing a body.

Her suspicions were partly confirmed when Yong soldiers returned with the body of General Cheng Yuan but offered no sign of Yan Xun. Despite their past rivalries, Chu Qiao respected Cheng Yuan’s loyalty to Yanbei and could not bear to see his remains desecrated. That night, she and General Huan successfully retrieved his body and gave him a proper burial.

Standing before the grave, General Huan offered a final salute, hoping that if they were reborn in Yanbei, they could serve as colleagues and protect their homeland together. Meanwhile, Zhuge Yue observed the shifting tides of power within the Yong capital. He noted that the Crown Prince, Zhao Che, was no longer the friend he once knew, but a calculating heir distancing himself from old allies to consolidate military strength.

Amidst these cold political realities, Chu Qiao’s memories drifted back to her training under Zhuge Yue. He had once tested her knowledge of lethal poisons like castor seeds, Qianji Grass, and Antiaris (Upas tree), teaching her that survival in a ruthless world required any means necessary. Back in Ximeng, General Huan interrogated the captured Mu Shen. Faced with the threat of death, Mu Shen confessed to Zhao Che’s grand conspiracy.

He revealed that the Faceless God cult was a tool for the Crown Prince to eliminate his enemies. Zhao Che planned to use "holy fire" to burn the Emperor alive during his upcoming birthday celebration. To ensure success, Mu Shen had smuggled large quantities of self-igniting flint powder into a hidden chamber in the ancestral temple, and the palace guards had been replaced with Zhao Che’s loyalists.

Realizing that the current Emperor’s stability was preferable to the chaos Zhao Che would bring, Chu Qiao devised a plan to buy time for Ximeng. Accompanied by General Xing Le—who had recently survived an assassination attempt—Chu Qiao appeared before the Emperor and Zhao Che. To the court's shock, she did not come as an enemy but as the Emperor’s "lost daughter."

Claiming to regret her previous refusal of the princess title, she offered to surrender Ximeng’s military power and territory in exchange for official recognition and a place in the imperial genealogy. In Ximeng, the Xiuli Army faced a crisis of conscience. While some soldiers feared for their families and were weary of bloodshed, General He reminded them of their debt to Chu Qiao.

Ultimately, the spirit of the Xiuli Army prevailed; the soldiers chose to follow General He and march toward the capital, unwilling to let their leader face the giants of Yong alone. The Emperor, intrigued by the possibility of a bloodless conquest, questioned Chu Qiao’s sincerity. Chu Qiao argued that seeking protection was a pragmatic choice for the barren land of Ximeng.

She struck a bargain: she would sign the treaty and hand over the imperial seal and military tallies in three days at the Tianyuan Palace, provided she was immediately allowed to worship in the ancestral temple and have her name recorded in the genealogy. Despite Zhao Che’s fierce opposition, the Emperor accepted her terms. Late that night, a heavily armed Zhao Che entered the Emperor’s bedchamber, intending to seize the throne early. However, the Emperor remained unnervingly calm.

He directed Zhao Che to a hidden compartment containing an edict he claimed to have written long ago—one that officially named Zhao Che as the successor. The Emperor explained that his perceived coldness was merely a means to harden his heir for the throne. Touched by this facade of paternal love, Zhao Che withdrew. Once he was gone, the Emperor collapsed in exhaustion, remarking that his son was even more ruthless than he had been in his youth.

Meanwhile, Yan Xun returned to Yanbei, carrying the heavy news of Cheng Yuan’s sacrifice. He met with Helian Ling and returned Cheng Yuan’s red jade pendant, a personal belonging the general had carried to his death. Grief-stricken, Helian Ling’s resolve was strengthened by the loss. To secure Yanbei’s survival, Yan Xun appointed Helian Ling as his Queen and formalized alliances by marrying the daughters of other tribal leaders.

By gathering the hidden forces of the Baichuan and Pale tribes, along with the elite riders of the Helian and Hongchuan tribes, Yan Xun successfully mustered a formidable force of 30,000 cavalry. In the Yong capital, an official decree was read, formally bestowing the title of Princess of Ximeng upon Chu Qiao. Following the ceremony, she met with Zhuge Yue one last time.

Refusing to be a pawn in the ongoing power struggle, she returned the sword he had once given her, signaling a clean break from their past. As she walked away, she made it clear that their paths were now separate and warned him not to interfere with her mission again. With the Xiuli Army on the move and the Yanbei tribes mobilized, the stage was set for a confrontation that would decide the fate of the empire.

The grand ceremony to crown the Queen of Yanbei was held in a heavy atmosphere. Standing atop the platform, Yan Xun watched the daughters of various tribal leaders receive their new titles. He named Helian Ling the Queen of Yanbei, while the daughters of the Baichuan and Pale tribes were appointed as side consorts, granted the fiefs of Linchuan, Shazhou, and Jiuhe to secure their families' loyalty. Despite the royal splendor, Yan Xun’s heart remained with Chu Qiao.

He viewed these political marriages as a necessary sacrifice to gather the military strength needed to protect Yanbei and eventually rescue the woman he truly loved, promising to one day take her to ride the horses of Huihui Mountain. On the wedding night, Yan Xun sat with Helian Ling. She spoke candidly, admitting she had long dreamed of becoming his consort not for love, but to bring glory to the Helian tribe and escape the mistreatment of her brother.

Seeking to be a useful ally, she presented Yan Xun with the sword of the fallen General Cheng Yuan, urging him to carry it into battle to protect Yanbei. Yan Xun accepted the weapon, vowing to return safely. With the combined forces of the tribal armies and his own Black Eagle units, a total of 52,000 troops were mobilized to move toward the borders of Yong.

Meanwhile, at the ancestral temple in the Yong capital, Chu Qiao arrived to surrender her military authority. As she formally presented the West Alliance’s imperial seal and tally to the Emperor, the ritual banners suddenly burst into flames. Zhao Che immediately denounced Chu Qiao as a sorceress whose presence had incited "heavenly fire" from the Faceless God to anger the ancestors. He ordered his guards to seize her at once, but Chu Qiao was prepared.

She drew a concealed dagger and took the Emperor hostage to hold the guards at bay. In front of the assembled ministers, Chu Qiao exposed Zhao Che’s treachery. She explained that the fire was not divine but the result of flint powder—a self-igniting substance—placed on the banners by Zhao Che’s orders.

She revealed that the same trick had been used during the tragedy at Jiuyou Terrace and that Zhao Che was using the Faceless God cult to eliminate rivals like Mu He Lie, Wei Guang, and General Meng. When the Emperor ordered a search, General Xing Le confirmed that the temple’s hidden tunnels were filled with flint powder. As the standoff intensified, an urgent report arrived: Yanbei and West Alliance forces were advancing on the borders.

Zhao Che pressured the Emperor, asking him to choose between a "slave girl" and his own heir during a national crisis. Suddenly, an arrow whistled through the air and pierced the Emperor’s throat. The shot came from Zhuge Yue of the Qing Shan Court. With the Emperor dead, Zhao Che was immediately proclaimed the new ruler of Yong. In the ensuing chaos, General Huan intervened to save Chu Qiao.

She took Zhao Che hostage at knifepoint, forcing him to allow Chu Qiao and General Xing Le to escape the palace. Once they were safe, Huan appealed to Zhao Che’s better nature, reminding him of their shared past in Yanbei and begging him to stop the war. Zhao Che feigned agreement, but as soon as Huan lowered her guard, he ruthlessly stabbed her.

As she died, he coldly remarked that she was far too naive for the world they lived in. Regrouping at Shili Slope, Chu Qiao and Xing Le assessed the dire situation. Yanbei forces had breached the southwest border, and the Biantang army, led by General Sun Di with 50,000 men, had joined the invasion. The Yong army was forced to retreat toward the Yuan River, leaving their northwestern defenses thin.

Amidst the panic, it was revealed that a princess had been stabbed in the abdomen; while she survived, her unborn child was lost. In the wake of this tragedy, Princess Zhao Chun'er proposed a desperate solution: a marriage alliance with the Quanrong tribe. She offered to marry their chief in exchange for 100,000 fierce warriors to stabilize the empire. Zhuge Yue later confronted Zhao Che, warning him that the Quanrong were bloodthirsty savages who could not be trusted.

Zhao Che, however, remained suspicious of Zhuge Yue’s motives, questioning if he was trying to protect Chu Qiao or his own position. He also demanded to know why Zhuge Yue had killed the late Emperor. Zhuge Yue maintained that he had acted to save Zhao Che, claiming the Emperor had only feigned trust and was planning a counter-move to eliminate the Prince. Unswayed by the risks, Zhao Che ordered the Quanrong alliance to proceed, preparing for a final war.

Seeing that the new Emperor Zhao Che has become consumed by a thirst for power and war, Zhuge Yue visits General Meng, whom he has secretly hidden away as an honored guest. Although Zhao Che had ordered the general’s execution to seize control of the Southwest Army, Zhuge Yue convinces Meng to help him "correct the chaos" for the sake of the suffering people rather than the imperial family.

Zhuge Yue admits the empire is a decaying shell and expresses his intent to uproot the corrupt four great clans to change the realm forever. Meanwhile, as Zhao Che prepares for a grand sacrifice at the Faceless Deity Temple, rumors spread among the citizens that the capital is under siege and the Emperor intends to summon the savage Quanrong tribes for aid. Chu Qiao coordinates her allied forces to surround the temple from four directions.

During the ritual, the statue of the Faceless God suddenly erupts in flames and collapses. In the ensuing chaos, Zhuge Yue confronts Zhao Che, revealing that the guards present are actually Qingshan Court spies who refuse to serve a tyrant. Zhao Che hopes for rescue from Prince Jing, but Zhuge Yue reveals that General Meng is alive and has already intercepted the loyalist reinforcements.

Chu Qiao eventually breaches the temple and engages Zhuge Yue in a duel, believing he is protecting Zhao Che. However, Zhuge Yue intentionally allows himself to be struck, collapsing and coughing up blood. As Chu Qiao catches him, he reveals the truth: he has been dying from the effects of "Snow on Blood" poison and the Huiyuan Pill.

He chose to spend his final days dismantling the four great clans and Zhao Che’s power base to help Chu Qiao realize her dream of ending slavery and war. He urges her not to grieve or linger for him, but to continue the difficult path toward a peaceful era.

A subordinate later confirms the full extent of Zhuge Yue’s sacrifice, explaining that he only orchestrated the pursuit of Chu Qiao and the King of Yanbei to keep them safe from Zhao Che’s reach until the political foundations of the empire could be uprooted. Just as this truth sinks in, news arrives that the marriage alliance with the Quanrong was a disaster.

The Quanrong have used the opportunity to invade the northwest gates and are now slaughtering civilians across the country. In the midst of the carnage, Zhao Chun'er, dressed in her wedding robes, walks through the battlefield and commits suicide by jumping from the city wall. In her final moments, she hallucinates Li Yan coming to take her home on a white horse, thanking him for his kindness.

With the Quanrong threat endangering Ximeng, Yanbei, and Biantang, Chu Qiao prepares for a final campaign to defend their shared homeland. Before departing, she visits Zhao Che in his cell and reminds him of the upright general he used to be—the man who once fought for tax relief and cared for his wounded soldiers. Stricken with remorse, Zhao Che begs for a chance at redemption, asking to serve as an ordinary soldier on the front lines.

Recognizing his sincerity, Chu Qiao allows him to join the cause. Standing before her unified army, Chu Qiao leads He Xiao, Zhao Che, and tens of thousands of troops into battle to drive back the invaders.

The war against the Quanrong reached a brutal climax. In the heart of the chaos, the brave warrior Fang Miaomiao, a guard of Li Ce, fell heroically on the front lines. As her comrades Xiao Ran, Wang Shi'er, and Lin Mu rushed to her side, she asked if her time had come. With a final, weary smile, she told them she could no longer stay to play before passing away.

Her sacrifice, along with the bravery of other female officers leading the charge, fueled the resolve of the remaining soldiers to press on. Zhao Che fought with desperate fury, slaying many invaders before being overwhelmed. In his final moments, the image of General Huan—the resolute and beautiful woman who had loved him unconditionally—appeared before him. He was filled with remorse, remembering how he had personally killed the one who loved him most.

As he drifted away, he smiled, finally finding peace and redemption. With his last breath, he made a pact with his brother-in-arms to be brothers again in their next life. After days of grueling combat, Chu Qiao defeated the Quanrong commander with her last ounce of strength and collapsed, exhausted and soaked in blood. Through her blurred vision, she saw a familiar figure galloping toward her. It was Zhuge Yue, finally recovered and standing before her.

He held her close, calling her "Xing'er," and apologized for being late as he promised to take her home. Years later, peace finally returned to Yanbei and Ximeng. Yan Xun and his consort, Helian Ling, traveled to Ximeng to visit old friends. On the road, they encountered two clever children, Zhuge Yunzhou and Zhuge Yunsheng. Though the children were initially wary of the "shifty-eyed" strangers, Yan Xun charmed them by praising their good looks.

The children agreed to lead the way to Leping Lane but were soon distracted by a popular shadow play. The performance recounted the legendary alliance between Chu Qiao and Yan Xun, describing them as allies who fought for a world free of oppression and slavery.

The play also told of how Chu Qiao was nearly killed in the final battle against the Quanrong and how Zhuge Yue searched for every possible physician, eventually saving her life using a divine medicine provided by Xiao Ran. The children’s father, Zhuge Yue, soon arrived to call them home, jokingly warning them they would get a spanking for staying out late. Yan Xun followed them to a peaceful courtyard where he finally saw Chu Qiao.

She looked gentle and radiant, the years of peace having softened her warrior spirit. Recognizing Yan Xun, she greeted him with a warm smile and invited him and Helian Ling to join the family for a meal. Thirty-six years later, an elderly Yan Xun woke from a dream of General Chu Qiao. He was frail and momentarily forgot that Consort Helian had passed away ten years prior.

His attendant reminded him of the passage of time, noting that Li Ce had been gone for forty-six years. Despite the loss of old friends, the world remained at peace. Every few years, Biantang sent a state letter to renew their friendship, and General Helian Tu presented a new trade agreement to further their mutual prosperity. In Ximeng, Zhuge Yue continued to rule, though he lived a life of service rather than royal luxury.

During a public suggestion day, he settled a dispute between neighbors regarding damaged crops and land requisitioned for roads. He explained the new "Mutual Market Law," noting that the profits from the sea buckthorn trade with Biantang would provide subsidies for those whose fields were used for public infrastructure. During the proceedings, a spirited young woman rushed forward, pleading for help.

She explained that she was being forced into a marriage because her father had accepted a bride price, which she viewed as no different from slavery. She revealed she had renamed herself "Chu Qiao" because she dreamed of becoming a female general like the legend. Impressed by her fire, Zhuge Yue gave her a military permit, encouraging her to earn enough as a centurion to pay back the debt and reclaim her freedom.

On Chu Qiao’s birthday, Yan Xun rode alone to the frozen lake where their fates had once shifted. He found Zhuge Yue already there, the two old men standing together in the falling snow. As their hot pot began to boil, memories of the past flooded back—thoughts of Li Ce’s humor, Zhao Chun’er’s brief moments of happiness, and the sacrifices of friends like Cheng Yuan, Helian Ling, Zhao Che, and General Huan. Despite a lifetime of war, they stood proud, knowing they had fulfilled their beliefs and created a lasting peace for the world.