Notable Actors/Actresses
Chinese Title
與君歌
Rianya: I’ll try to keep my random thoughts to a minimum - no promises.
Qi Yan – Current Emperor
Cheng Ruoyu – Swordbearer for Emperor Qi Yan
Cheng Xi – Cheng Ruoyu’s aunt, Eunuch Huai Zhi’s younger sister, and leader of Ziyi Bureau
Huai Zhi – Emperor Qi Yan’s chief eunuch, Cheng Xi’s older brother, Cheng Ruoyu’s uncle.
Qui Ziliang – Duke Chu, most powerful eunuch, Qi Yan’s Godfather, Qui Yanzhi’s Godfather, supreme leader of Jiangqi Camp
Qui Yanzhi – Qui Ziliang’s goddaughter, Camp Leader of Jiangqi
Yan Xiu – Deputy officer of Jiangqi Camp and Qui Yanzhi’s aide
Qi Chen – Prince Guang, Qi Yan’s Uncle
[Ep1] (This is ridiculously long but there’s a lot of set-up in the first episode that is important later. Many episodes are like that, actually.)
Narrator: In the 9th year of Taian, the Xin dynasty is on the verge of collapse. In order to escape the control of the eunuchs, the Emperor Wen of Xin plans to take his power back.
Images: Rain falling, soldiers hustling down streets in formation, two young girls painting in a quiet room, Qi Yan (currently prince but later Emperor) firing arrows at people.
A man bursts into a room with an old man (Chancellor Wang Yang) and two young girls (his granddaughters Ruo Qing and Ruo Ling) – the man warns them to run as Eunuch Qiu Zilang’s men approach. Yang and his granddaughters are helped down an escape tunnel by a soldier. He is later shot in the eye but pulls the arrow out and yells. Meanwhile, Eunuch Ziliang is waiting at the other end of the tunnel as Yang and the girls emerge.
Yang declares that eunuchs have never managed to keep power after they’ve stolen it and Ziliang takes a bow and shoots him dead. As the girls run Prince Qi Yan takes aim with his own bow…
It’s night and there are bodies everywhere in the wilderness. (I think that this is supposed to be a mass gravesite.) Prince Guang is covering the face of an old man. His aide calls out that there’s a survivor. It’s the younger of the two granddaughters.
Narrator: On January 4th Emperor Wen of Xing passed away. His brother, Qi Yan, succeeded him.
It’s morning. Palace maids kneel with various articles of clothing on trays. Emperor Qi Yan arrives and shows interest in a set of black robes. Eunuch Ziliang shows up. Qi Yan bows and gives his Godfather respect. Ziliang notes that Qi Yan likes the black robes but says only the purple will do Qi Yan justice. Qi Yan immediately agrees. Ziliang says that he can wear the black after all.
It’s night. Cheng Ruoyu is walking through the woods calling for “Wu”. She wonders where everyone is since they agreed to meet here but decides it’s fine because she can enjoy the beautiful moon. Soldiers trot along a path and Ruoyu hides. She watches with admiration as the Emperor takes aim with his bow but he suddenly turns and fires the arrow at her.
Ruoyu avoids the arrow and ignores the soldiers with swords pointed at her to bow and pay her respects to the Emperor. When he questions how she knew him she points out the soldiers and the fact that everyone knows the Emperor hunts foxes at night. The Emperor tells the soldiers to kill her but she protests that she’s a member of the Ziyi Bureau and his new swordbearer, not an assassin. The Emperor says she looks stupid and tells her to get lost. She thinks (to herself) that he looks familiar and wonders where she’s seen him before. He rides away.
Morning at the palace – Cheng Xi and Cheng Ruoyu are summoned to the Emperor’s presence. Ruoyu is officially declared the 23rd swordbearer for the Emperor and he personally hands her the Sword of Light. She vows to protect him and the Xing dynasty with the sword and her life.
As Ruoyu leaves the hall, she meets Qiu Yanzhi on the steps. Ruoyu flashes back to the memory of Yanzhi giving her a ride into the city the night before. She offered Yanzhi a candied fruit, which was ignored, and then cheerfully (but not on purpose) spoiled the book Yanzhi is reading by telling her the end. (The look of bland irritation Yanzhi gives her when Ruoyu spoils the book is perfect.) In the present Yanzhi congratulates her on her new appointment. They introduce themselves by name and Ruoyu declares she must repay Yanzhi with a meal. Eunuch Ziliang interrupts them as he heads down the stairs himself. While Ruoyu is bowing to Ziliang, Yanzhi vanishes.
Ziliang sends Yanzhi with a “pill of freedom” for the Emperor. She sits around with him for an hour before Ruoyu shows up. Then, before Ruoyu enters the room, she suddenly decides to dissolve the pill in water and force Qi Yan to take it. Qi Yan complains that he’s done everything Ziliang asks – why is he still doing this to him? Ruoyu pretends to have put out a fire and is very thirsty. She drinks the pill water and faints.
In her room Ruoyu is unconscious on her bed while her uncle frets. He asks if they should get a doctor for Ruoyu but Qi Yan just tells her to stop faking it. Ruoyu opens one eye and grins. She hops out of bed and reassures her uncle that she didn’t drink the water. She spit it onto her sleeve while pretending to wipe her face. She’s very proud of herself and asks the emperor if she made a great contribution. To her surprise, he’s very unhappy with her. Aunt Cheng Xi is also unhappy with her. Ruoyu pouts and doesn’t know what she did wrong. Qi Yan says she “exposed her weakness”. (I never figured out what that “weakness” was supposed to be. She’s suicidal? Foolish? Bad at acting?)
Outside Ruoyu’s room Cheng Xi swears she and Ruoyu are loyal to Qi Yan and advises him to strike at Ziliang first. She returns to Ruoyu and gives her a pill that blocks her martial arts because she’s supposed to be recovering from the poison she didn’t take. Qi Yan’s aide reports to him that there’s no evidence that Ruoyu has bad intentions but the emperor doesn’t believe anyone can be as innocent as Ruoyu. Elsewhere Ziliang absolves Yanzhi of blame for the failure to give the pill because Ruoyu is now supposedly recovering and unable to use her martial arts. He is also wondering if Ruoyu could possibly be that naïve.
[Ep2] Qi Yan polishes his bow while thinking about Cheng Xi’s advice (to strike at Ziliang). Huai Xiu comes in with food that Qi Yan isn’t interested in. Huai Xiu shares that the Dowager Empress (DE from here on out) is unhappy with Ruoyu’s appointment as swordbearer because she’s Huai Xiu’s niece. Huai Xiu swears neither he nor his sister were responsible for Ruoyu’s appointment as swordbearer. Qi Yan goes to a cabinet against the wall. It has a lot of doors and drawers. He pulls out a small-ish box and reveals a calligraphy brush. It was apparently his teacher’s brush. His teacher told him “The eunuch’s powers come from Imperial power.” Then Qi Yan discusses the Zhaolu Incident. (This happened 8 years ago and is when all the people were being killed by Qiu Ziliang and Qi Yan.) Qi Yan says that Ziliang was vicious but that part of the reason the incident happened was the greed and corruption of his brother’s people. He says Emperor Wen had incompetent people and asks Huai Xiu if he should really trust him and his sister. Huai Xiu swears his loyalty to Qi Yan. Qi Yan tells Huai Xiu to tell Cheng Xi that he’ll need more time to think about her suggestion.
Ruoyu dreams that she is running through the forest. Qi Yan is chasing her on his white horse. She falls against a tree, exhausted from running, and turns to face Qi Yan - who shoots her with an arrow. She wakes up gasping. When she tries to sit up she’s dizzy and weak and she wonders what was in the pill her aunt gave her. She has a flashback to Qi Yan telling her that she didn’t see the whole situation (after the pill incident).
Yanzhi enters Qi Yan’s room and congratulates him on avoiding the pill. Then she asks if he’ll be able to handle Ziliang’s anger. Qi Yan asks Yanzhi what she and Ziliang plan next and she says “a beauty scheme”. She suggests they go hunting together to boost his spirits. Huai Xiu comes in to tell the emperor it’s time for morning court. Qi Yan says he’ll go hunting instead and tells Huai Xiu to inform Ruoyu to get ready. Ruoyu is still dizzy and weak but she gets ready anyway.
Yanzhi is waiting for Ruoyu when she comes out while Qi Yan has gone on ahead. She jabs at Ruoyu that it’s pointless for her to join them when her martial arts are disabled. Ruoyu proposes they compete fairly since Yanzhi can’t use martial arts either. The competition is for who gets the most prey. If Ruoyu wins then Yanzhi has to go back to Jiangqi Camp and never bother the emperor again. If Yanzhi wins Ruoyu has to do something for her.
Ruoyu is setting up hunting snares when Qi Yan arrives. He tells her she didn’t see the whole picture - again. Later Ruoyu shows up with a bag of prey - just as Yanzhi’s men throw a few more birds down on her pile. Ruoyu is angry and accuses Yanzhi of cheating but Yanzhi says she can get her people to help too. Of course Ruoyu doesn’t have any people with her at the moment. Yanzhi tells her to start remembering that she has people backing her. (She’s giving her advice on being a good leader.) Then she says it looks like Ruoyu is going to lose. (Not with Qi Yan around!) Qi Yan helps Ruoyu to shoot a fox and says that since this is a fox hunt only fox count as prey. So Yanzhi trades in her other prey with a merchant for foxes and Ruoyu loses. Yanzhi asks Ruoyu to embroider something. (Ruoyu expected to be told to leave the emperor alone.) Ruoyu remembers Yanzhi’s advice and gets a friend from the Ziyi Bureau to do it. Cheng Xi is disturbed by Yanzhi’s request because it isn’t Yanzhi’s usual style. Qi Yan also feels this isn’t Yanzhi’s usual style and asks her what her real goal is. Yanzhi claims to be trying to help the emperor be a wise emperor who will help the people thrive and restore the Xing dynasty. Qi Yan is not convinced.
Li Rong (Cheng Xi’s aide) reports back on their investigation of Yanzhi. She appeared eight years ago at the Ecstasy House and Ziliang chose her to be one of his people. She defeated 80 some-odd people to become Ziliang’s goddaughter. She has no martial arts because she has a heart condition. Li Rong speculates that because she is so smart she must not have come from a common family. There are no records of her existence before eight years ago.
Qi Yan greets his grandmother the Dowager Empress. She scolds him for avoiding his state duties and asks him if he only wanted the title of Emperor (but not the duties). Qi Yan’s face remains bland but his hands are fisted. DE tells him to use his skills to lift up the people and not on his brothers before ordering him to leave. He bows politely and exits.
Ruoyu gives Yanzhi the embroidery (a handkerchief, I think) and is disappointed that Yanzhi already knows she got someone else to do the work. Qi Yan arrives and Ruoyu asks him why he is avoiding morning court again. Qi Yan tells Huai Xhi to teach his niece how to speak properly. Huai Xhi hisses at Ruoyu and she protests that they can’t let Qi Yan just make bad choices, can they?
Qi Yan, Yanzhi, and Ruoyu go hunting again. Qi Yan has Ruoyu join him on his horse with the pretext of teaching her archery. (Why they need to share a horse for this is a mystery to me.) An arrow flies at them and Ruoyu saves the Emperor by pulling them both off of the horse. She lands on top of the Emperor and there is some gazing into each other’s eyes. Then Ruoyu asks Qi Yan if he’s hurt. He says he’s hurt by her crushing him so she gets up.
Back at the palace Qi Yan reveals the arrowhead to Ruoyu. They examine it and Qi Yan leads Ruoyu step by step to realize all the clues point to Yanzhi. Then Qi Yan points out that it’s all too obvious so it can’t be the truth. Someone is trying to frame Yanzhi.
The next day the emperor again avoids morning court. Yanzhi suggests they walk in the city. Ruoyu suggests they have some biáng biáng noodles. At court Ziliang gleefully accepts the heavy burden of leadership again. He and his faction walk out of the hall with a pile of memorandums to the throne.
Ruoyu shows up at the archives. Yanzhi and Yan Xiu are there already. Yanzhi says they’re too late - someone already cleared out the records. The books were flawlessly altered too. Ruoyu notices that both Wu and her records were written in different ink, though. She checks with her aunt and is told that both books were recopied after tea was spilled on them. Cheng Xi warns Ruoyu not to get too close to Yanzhi and Ruoyu assures her aunt that she knows her “line” (not to cross). After Ruoyu leaves Li Rong says it was fortunate they made preparations for a day like this. Cheng Xi wonders at the coincidence that the record they also damaged to make Ruoyu’s record alteration less obvious just happened to be Wu’s. Li Rong is worrying about Ruoyu - Cheng Xi is worrying about Yanzhi. She’s a “little fox raised by an old fox”.
Yanzhi realizes that the Ziyi Bureau is missing hundreds of people. The prior Emperor allowed 1000 recruits but Ziyi has only 36 members right now. Also the Emperor’s hunting trips cost enough to maintain a second camp like Jiangqi. Yanzhi also wonders why Qi Yan has kept Cheng Xi and Huai Zhi next to him when they were both the prior emperor’s people and presumably not loyal to Qi Yan. (In fact many people believe Qi Yan killed his brother, the prior emperor, for the throne.)
Yanzhi is playing chess with Ziliang now - and they are discussing the assassination attempts. Yanzhi feels they are deliberate provocations. Ziyi has been hiding its power and a third party realized that. This third party wants to pit Ziyi against Jiangqi.
Ruoyu reports to the Emperor that the altered records were due to an accident, not fraud. The Emperor accuses her of wanting to keep investigating with Qiu Yanzhi. Ruoyu wants to keep investigating but not with Yanzhi. Qi Yan kicks over a small bookcase and repeats that the case is closed. Ruoyu says “No. It’s not closed.” (Anyone else getting Wei Yingluo vibes? Only not as smart as her?)
Uncle Huai drops to his knees and puts his head to the floor, shaking. Ruoyu continues her argument: If she doesn’t figure out this case she won’t know who to protect the Emperor from. Qi Yan says she’s no longer swordbearer then. He starts to leave but she grabs his sleeve. It was apparently very poorly made because the entire bottom half of his sleeve rips off in her hand. Qi Yan tells Uncle Huai to take his decree: Ruoyu is no longer swordbearer and is now a commoner. She must leave the palace and never return. Ruoyu throws down the half of his sleeve she’s holding and says: “Who cares?” before striding away.
As Ruoyu packs Li Rong tries to convince her to wait and let Aunt Cheng Xi convince the Emperor. Ruoyu is sad that she has failed them all but she’s determined. She tells Aunt Cheng Xi that she never wanted to be the swordbearer anyway - she just wanted to be close to her aunt. Ruoyu also says with her abilities she’ll be fine. Cheng Xi gives her the antidote to unlock her martial abilities (again) and suggests she go stay at Aunt Cai’s tavern for now. Ruoyu thinks this is a fine idea because now she can have biáng biáng noodles every day. She asks her aunt to return the Sword of Light (Qingguang) to the Emperor but her aunt says he hasn’t asked for it so she should keep it for now.
Qi Yan looks at his Shifu’s brush again and thinks that when the Heavens give a man a big task they will first make him suffer to learn perseverance and any other abilities he might need. (It’s my impression that these might be words his Shifu told him but it’s not clear.) Qi Yan then says he doesn’t need help or to know. He doesn’t trust anyone. “So… just go.” (Ruoyu isn’t there but this seems to be directed at her.)
Yan Xhi reports to Ziliang that Ruoyu was expelled by Qi Yan. Ziliang says that the enemy’s moves are out of Yanzhi’s control. Yanzhi says that Qi Yan concealing Ziyi’s strength requires them to protect Ruoyu. Ziliang wonders; if Yanzhi’s speculation is correct, why did Qi Yan close Wu’s case so quickly? Yanzhi: “To prevent clues about how she got into the palace.” Ziliang says they need evidence.
It’s night and Ruoyu is visiting the Zheng manor - Wu’s childhood home. Qi Yan is there dressed in black with a black scarf over his lower face. Ruoyu senses his presence and uses her magic Ziyi purple ribbon to grab his ankle and pull him out of hiding. They fight and he comes out on top. He tells her the Sword of Light is like scrap iron in her hands. (That man and his sweet talking…) Ruoyu fights with him again, a bit more forcefully but he’s winning again when someone else arrives. He covers her mouth, has a sword to her neck, and pulls them both into hiding. The men are looking for her but don’t see her - they leave. She starts to move out but he pulls her back against him. The men return and this time they believe she isn’t there.
Qi Yan criticizes her kung fu again and she hits him with her head (but there’s no force behind it.) He pushes her away from him. They won’t meet again, he says, because people like her get killed quickly. She bets that she’ll live long enough for them to meet again and says she’ll beat him that time. He throws her sword at her and she catches it in her scabbard.
The next morning Eunuch Gao notices and secretes some purple thread from Qi Yan’s boot. Qi Yan asks Eunuch Huai what his niece is doing. He tells the Emperor she’s selling liquor at Aunt Cai’s.
Yanzhi receives the threads and instantly knows it’s Ruoyu’s. (Swordbearers have FIVE silver threads in their ribbons.) She knows Qi Yan and Ruoyu met at the Zhang house. (My impression is that she thinks it was a rendezvous, not an accidental meeting.)
Aunt Cai goes shopping for vegetables and asks Ruoyu to mind the tavern. One of the Jiangqi spies (they’re keeping tabs on Ruoyu) starts to lure her from the tavern but the Emperor arrives (by himself, no bodyguards) before she gets through the front door. He says he’s there for biáng biáng noodles. Ruoyu tells him Aunt Cai is out and he should leave. He asks for alcohol instead.
Ruoyu brings a jug and he waits for her to test it for him. She says she isn’t his swordbearer anymore so why should she? He waits silently until she gives in. She says she’s doing it because he’s a guest and she’s the shopowner. She spits the wine out and runs to get another jug. This one is nasty too. He tries this one and gets up to inform the officials that Cai’s is selling watered wine. Ruoyu says it was an accident - the rain got into it. No, wait… it was her. She’s naughty and she likes watered wine. He asks her if she really wants to commit the crime of lying to the Emperor.
Ruoyu asks him if he wants to kick her out of Heng’an now that he’s kicked her out of the palace. Yes he does - she disobeyed his order. He was kind enough to let her go. She tells him to kill her then because she’s just going to keep investigating.
“Cheng Ruoyu, do you really think I won’t kill you?”
“Pity that I’m not afraid to die. Knowing that a friend is suffering and I’m not able to save her, knowing that injustice killed a friend and I’m unable to make an appeal, knowing that your Majesty is inhumane and I’m unable to discourage you, all these are more terrible than death.”
They do a littledancing fighting - assassins come over the rooftops.
Yan Xiu reports to Ziliang and Yanzhi that the Emperor went to Cai’s tavern to see Ruoyu and they’re being attacked by assassins. Yanzhi says they’ll know soon now if Qi Yan is disloyal.
Ruoyu runs out of the front of the tavern but stops in the street. She argues with herself that she’s not his swordbearer anymore and he deserves to die anyway. Besides, he insulted her kungfu. She decides she doesn’t want him hurt anyway and returns. Qi Yan has already defeated the assassins but she does kick one trying to flee back into the courtyard. She starts to interrogate the assassin but more assassins on the rooftop kill the ones in the courtyard with poisoned needles. Ruoyu gives chase but the Emperor just sits there waiting.
Yan Xiu reports that all the assassins were killed and the killers vanished without a trace. Ziliang talks about blunders (in chess) being due to incompetence and then declares “checkmate”. (This is too cryptic for me - I’m just a blundering American.)
Ruoyu returns to the Emperor and he mocks her for losing the killers. She pouts. They argue - again - he leaves. She asks what to do about the bodies and he tells her to report it to the officials.
Yanzhi and Yan Xiu examine the bodies of the assassins in the morgue. They discover poisoned silver acupuncture needles. Yanzhi thinks this is a great clue because very few poisons kill that fast. She also notes this is the weapon used by Zheng Wu. (Except it was a sword so I don’t even know what to make of this bit.)
Qi Yan is looking at his souvenirs again. He says; “It’s you, isn’t it?” Then he remembers Ruoyu in the tavern and concludes that she knows nothing about the things with the Ziyi Bureau. He says he wants her out of the capital before she spoils things.
Three days later Ruoyu is outside the government office. She wants answers about the assassins. The official says she’s just a commoner who isn’t entitled to answers. She stomps away grumbling about corrupt officials and stupid emperors. She has a mini-flashback of the Emperor at the tavern. Behind her a crowd is forming at the doors to the government office but she walks off without seeming to notice the protesters. She does, however, notice the man tailing her.
Uncle Huai brings an old eunuch to the Emperor. He says that Prince An was picked up by Ziliang’s men.
Ruoyu heads down a dead end, luring the spy. She captures the spy but doesn’t seem to notice that a person threw a silver needle through the spy’s leg.
Qi Yan tells Uncle Huai that Ziliang’s actions are to warn him that if he doesn’t behave he’ll be replaced.
Someone cleans up all traces of the needle.
Ruoyu gets the spy drunk (which takes a lot because Aunt Cai waters her booze) and then sets him free.
[Ep5] The drunk spy wobbles his way to a manor house Ruoyu doesn’t recognize. She follows him over the wall and realizes it must be Jiangqi Camp. She sees a eunuch carrying something to a side room and is instantly diverted from her drunk spy. Up on the roof to investigate she sees that man in black from the night before. He runs from her and she hits him with a thrown dart - but it’s just his arm and she’s more interested in investigating the room. She lifts a roof tile and sees the eunuch forcing Prince An to drink poison. The poison causes An pain. She starts to leave (presumably to report this to someone) but An is crying out in pain and she decides she can’t wait to save him.
Prince An is weak and slows her down. Yanzhi catches them but escorts them to a secret entrance (that looks exactly like the one Chancellor Wang and his granddaughters fled through). Yanzhi says this will lead them out but that only one can leave. Either Ruoyu kills her and escapes with Prince An (proving her loyalty to the Emperor but being ungrateful to Yanzhi) or she leaves Prince An and pretends nothing happened (showing her gratitude to Yanzhi). Ruoyu protests that if she stays behind they’ll be able to recapture Prince An easily - which makes the whole thing pointless. (I was tickled by how completely she missed Yanzhi’s set up.) Yanzhi lets them both go.
Yan Xiu has investigated and found that the poisoned needles that killed the assassins were Zheng Lu’s. Yanzhi senses a frame up.
Ruoyu takes Prince An to Aunt Cheng Xi. Cheng Xi wonders if it’s a trap. She takes Prince An to Prince Guang. He is also known as Qi Chen and he is An’s uncle. He lives in seclusion and is good with medicine. Cheng Xi apologizes for putting Guang at risk but Guang thanks her for saving his nephew. A pigeon brings Ziliang the news that Prince Guang and Cheng Xi have helped Prince An. Moments later a messenger arrives with a note from Prince Guang saying that Prince An was accidentally poisoned and he’s helping him. Ziliang summons Yanzhi.
Ziliang has her recite the three groups he told her to never dispose of: Princes, cliques, and Prince Guang. Yanzhi wants to know if he’s angry that Prince Guang is involved with this. She tells Ziliang that she let Prince An go to see what Cheng Xi did. If she went to Qi Yan then they’d know he was disloyal but if she hid Prince An they’d follow her. She never expected Cheng Xi to take Prince An to Guang. She wants to know why Guang is not disposable.
Eunuch Gao is reading memorandums to Qi Yan. One says that Governor Lu Cong has died. Lu Cong was his Aunt Ninghe’s husband. Qi Yan orders that his condolences be sent to his aunt and that all her requests must be agreed to. Qi Yan receives a message from Guang saying that Prince An had been accidentally poisoned and he was being treated at Guang’s residence.
Ziliang tells Yanzhi about his childhood with the former Emperor and how he helped him with everything but then the Emperor neglected him. The Emperor even wanted to get rid of him! (During this monologue he’s acting very, very strange.) Ziliang then explains that the former Emperor wrote a secret edict making Guang crown prince. But, he goes on, he didn’t want to kill Emperor Wen - he wanted him to suffer. That’s why he didn’t die until just the past year (so - eight years later). Before he died Ziliang tried to force him to change the edict but Emperor Wen killed himself rather than make the change. The edict was lost during the massacres 8 years ago so Ziliang keep Guang hostage and in his grip in case the edict is ever found. Yanzhi notes that it also keeps Qi Yan helpless. Ziliang tells her that her “fishing for bigger fish” was used by the enemy.
Qi Yan arrives at Guang’s place to check on his brother (Cheng Xi and Ruoyu are still there). Prince An is unconscious but Qi Yan sits by his side and brushes a stray hair from his face. He thanks Guang for saving An but Guang says he should thank Ruoyu because she saved An. Qi Yan doesn’t look thankful. Cheng Xi immediately kneels and apologizes. After a second, Ruoyu kneels too. Cheng Xi tells her to apologize and Ruoyu mutters that she’s not guilty. Guang hurries to reassure Qi Yan that he’s already apologized to Ziliang and it should be okay. Qi Yan says Ziliang might have accepted the apology on the surface but there’s more going on behind the scenes. After all, didn’t Ziliang cause his injury? (I have no idea what injury Guang is supposed to have.)
Ruoyu apologizes. She says she was right to save Prince An but wrong to cause so much trouble. Qi Yan sends Cheng Xi and Ruoyu away. Guang tells Qi Yan that Ruoyu is too simple to see his kindness. Qi Yan says he’s not being kind but Guang says his mouth is hard but his heart is soft. Guang knows he wants her out of harm’s way. As they talk Qi Yan brings up the edict but Guang says it never existed. Qi Yan doesn’t seem happy with that response. Then they talk about Ruoyu and Guang says that people with a chivalrous heart, like Ruoyu, are the ones who will die for you in a critical moment.
Yanzhi finds a link between the missing Ziyi women and Cai’s Tavern. She sends Yan Xiu to arrest Aunt Cai. Yan Xiu arrests her (in front of Ruoyu) for not paying her alcohol tax and (after taking a mouthful of wine) for selling fake wine. Ruoyu sneaks into the palace to report this to Aunt Cheng Xi - Qi Yan happens to notice her and changes into his black suit to follow her. Li Rong has already been informed of Cai’s arrest and she and Cheng Xi discuss that. Cheng Xi says Aunt Cai needs to follow her husband (in death). They talk about their 300 “forged swords” as Ruoyu pauses just outside the room. Qi Yan is a little behind her and tries to stop her when she starts to enter the room. They spar for a moment before a purple ribbon wraps around Ruoyu’s ankle and pulls her down. Qi Yan flees.
Cheng Xi and Li Rong are relieved to learn that Ruoyu didn’t hear their conversation. Qi Yan now suspects that the Ziyi Bureau is hiding people from him. Aunt Cai is killed - Yan Xiu was watching and follows the killer to the Pure Jade House. Yanzhi wants to use Ruoyu to pull the third party into the light.
[Ep6] Yanzhi enters Cai’s Tavern to tell Ruoyu that Cai is dead. Ruoyu asks her why she killed Aunt Cai. Yanzhi said she hasn’t learned what she wanted to know so how could she be the killer. Ruoyu asks Yanzhi how Cai died and is told “poison”. Yanzhi gives her a ledger from Pure Jade House and Ruoyu asks her why would she give such an important clue? (Finally learning some caution?) Yanzhi says Ruoyu still owes her a favor and she wants Ruoyu to find the assassin.
Qi Yan isshowing off practicing his amazing archery. Cheng Xi compliments him but he feels he isn’t improving. He decides that he will use the ladies from the Ziyi Bureau as live targets from now on since he says they should be able to avoid his arrows. Cheng Xi knows now that Qi Yan was the man in black and suspects he knows about her 300 “swords”. She tells Li Rong to have them evacuate and erase all traces.
In his room Qi Yan examines the household accounts and is surprised at how much he spends on wine during his fox hunts. Eunuch Huai begins to sob.
Ruoyu grumbles about Yanzhi’s assignment but she’s going anyway. Qi Yan follows her as she leaves the tavern. (It amused me when she resealed the government tape blocking the doors after she left. The girl is not good with rules.)
Huai meets with his sister Cheng Xi, worried because the Emperor is missing from his bed. He also tells her that Qi Yan noticed the wine bill and begs his sister to tell him she’s not the cause of this.
Ruoyu sneaks into the Pure Jade House. Qi Yan speculates that this is where those missing swords are. He now feels that Ruoyu conspired with Cheng Xi to deceive him. Cheng Xi gets a message that two people have snuck into Pure Jade House. They aren’t all gone, Li Rong tells her (because they only had six hours) and Cheng Xi is concerned. Pure Jade House has an automatic “kill all intruders” mandate. Yan Xiu meets up with Yanzhi and says their plan against Cheng Xi is now active.
Ruoyu is exploring the vacant building. There are clothes and instruments but no people. She’s in a kind of hallway that extends around an open hexagonal space. There are openings to this space at intervals in the hallway. Qi Yan is watching her from hiding.
Ruoyu wonders if this is an opera troup and decides to use her special power (of troublemaking). She makes noise on the instruments and starts telling whoever is hiding to come out and face her. Qi Yan is confused since he thought she knew what this place was. She steps into the open area but notices Qi Yan - they race around the hallway until they finally meet and she attacks him. They end up in the center of the open space and activate a trap. Their fight is suspended while they try to avoid the many (many, many) darts flying at them. Qi Yan saves Ruoyu from one by throwing his sword.
An alarm sounds and Yanzhi’s men rush into the building. Qi Yan and Ruoyu luckily step on the mechanism to stop the trap and stand in the very center of the room. A trapdoor opens and drops them into a room just as Yanzhi’s men race into the room. Ruoyu is suddenly afflicted with a terrible headache. (They’re connected to her amnesia somehow.) She remembers her dream of Qi Yan shooting her and demands to know “who are you?”. He pulls down his mask and her headache intensifies. He tells her she can’t get sick right now and when that doesn’t help gives her a liquid he just happens to be carrying with him. In the room above Yanzhi’s people activate the trap. Qi Yan asks her if she’s feeling better. She puts her hand between his eyes and her face (not touching him) and cries. Up above, Yanzhi’s men are dropping like flies.
Qi Yan has a dart in his leg from the trap above. Ruoyu pulls it out and binds up his leg with a cloth she ripped from her robe. They search for an exit from the room. Yanzhi is trying to figure out how to stop the mechanism. Qi Yan realizes it’s Yanzhi up there and Ruoyu tells him that Yanzhi told her to search for Aunt Cai’s killer here. He tells her they both fell into a trap. He needs to get away before they find him here. Ruoyu says that she’ll stall them when they attack so he can get away. (I find myself wondering what happened to him being a tyrant and a monster…)
They trigger another trap in their search for an exit. Ruoyu pushes Qi Yan out of the way and Qi Yan pulls her to him to avoid another dart. Ruoyu grabs him and takes a dart to her shoulder, knocking them both down. (He doesn’t realize she’s hit.) She’s on top of him - again. He remembers Guang saying only someone with a chivalrous heart like hers would take a sword for him in a crisis.
The trapdoor above opens and Qi Yan pushes them both against a wall - the wall slides away and they fall into a passageway. The wall slides back. Up above Yan Xiu swears he saw two people fall into that room. He jumps down to investigate.
Qi Yan and Ruoyu exit the passageway into some woods. He’s limping and she’s struggling to keep up. Finally she leans against a tree and asks for a break. She wonders who rang the bell and who helped them escape. She also asks Qi Yan why he wouldn’t let her investigate Wu and the assassins. He tells her it would dig up matters from eight years ago. He admits it was him who let Wu go eight years ago but he had nothing to do with her return to the palace. Ruoyu passes out and Qi Yan finally realizes she’s hurt. He calls her a fool before picking her up and limping through the woods. Cheng Xi watches them go.
Qui Ziliang is furious with Yanzhi’s failure. He makes her ask for 30 lashes with his horsetail scepter-thingie.
Eunuch Huai sobs as Qi Yan treats the dart wound on his leg. Qi Yan asks why he’s crying about such a minor injury. Qi Yan says he should worry about his niece (who is currently unconscious on the dragon bed). Huai begs him to never sneak out like that - it’s too dangerous. Qi Yan is instantly suspicious and wants to know what Huai knows about the danger he was in. Huai points out that Ruoyu and Qi Yan came back injured. Ruoyu stirs and Qi Yan goes to her.
Cheng Xi is furious. She now realizes that since Cai’s arrest she’s been maneuvered step by step into a trap. It’s clear Qi Yan knows something about her swords. She decides she must confess to the Emperor before she loses his trust.
Yan Xiu helps Yanzhi into her room. She’s obviously hurting a lot from her punishment. She’s going to keep working, though, and sends him to investigate the personal items the women left behind at Pure Jade House.
Cheng Xi meets with Qi Yan. She hid the 300 women because Emperor Wen wanted them to be used by an Emperor with ambitions and goals for the country. She tells him the women are hiding on Qi Mountain. Last night, she says, was Qiu Yanzhi sowing dissention between them.
Guang’s aide shows up to tell him that the women of Pure Jade House are safe on Qi Mountain. Guang says that it’s pointless because Qi Yan can’t fight Qiu Ziliang without support. He decides he must return to the capital (palace?). His aide reminds him that the Dowager Empress hates him and Qi Yan probably doesn’t trust him either. Also, Qiu Ziliang won’t harm him if he does nothing but if Guang returns all bets are off. Guang says all he cares about is creating “benevolence, peace, and prosperity in the world”.
[Ep7] Cheng Xi talks to Qi Yan. She suspects Qiu Yanzhi is behind the assassination attempts. Ruoyu is listening from the Emperor’s bed. (She’s pretty weak from that dart in her back.) Qi Yan asks Cheng Xi how long she planned to hide the extra 300 people from him if he hadn’t found them already. She says she’s guilty and asks for punishment. Qi Yan says that after Ruoyu recovers she will be the leader of Ziyi Bureau and Pure Jade House. Ruoyu tries to protest but is too weak to actually speak. Cheng Xi protests that Ruoyu was demoted. Qi Yan says that Ruoyu is returned to her Swordbearer status as well as being the leader of the two groups of fighters. Ruoyu tries once again to protest but faints. Cheng Xi asks to check her niece’s pulse. She says she can’t treat Ruoyu and asks if she can take her to Prince Guang’s place. Qi Yan says he’ll take Ruoyu himself. He tells Cheng Xi to stay in Ziyi Bureau and tend to her ailments. (Since Cheng Xi is not injured I assume this is just another way of grounding her.)
Guang treats Ruyou. He and Qi Yan have an amicable conversation as family.
Yanzhi refuses the medicine Yan Xiu offers her (to deal with the pain of being lashed). The medicine is from Guang and Yanzhi feels he isn’t trustworthy since he stands to gain the most from Qi Yan and Qiu Ziliang fighting each other. Yan Xiu disagrees with Yanzhi’s conclusion because there’s no way for him to take the throne when there are younger princes that Ziliang could control more easily. Yanzhi’s asks: “What if he has the edict?” but then immediately says there’s no way he could have the edict. She decides to test him.
Guang now brings up Qi Yan’s injuries. He says the Emperor puts himself in danger by investigating matters on his own. Previous Emperors sent someone else to do the investigating. Guang offers to return to the palace and help Qi Yan. Qi Yan seems to appreciate the offer but says it will have to be handled carefully (since neither DE nor Ziliang want Guang in the Capital). Yan Xiu arrives but by the time he enters the room Guang is all alone.
Yan Xiu sees the Chief Advisor of Jiangqu Camp openly watching Guang. Guang tells Yan Xiu that he can report to Ziliang that he is well and not doing anything shady.
Qi Yan is in his comfy silk robe. (Seriously - he’s got two of them for his down time in the room and they’re sumptuous looking. I want one - or both - or more in a rainbow of colors.) He’s remembering his conversations with Guang and Cheng Xi and he asks his reflection in the mirror if he believes their words. Then he looks at the broken Sword of Light and remembers Ruoyu arguing with him that she must investigate who is behind the assassinations to protect him effectively. Qi Yan decides he doesn’t believe what the others say but she’s different. Maybe she is his Swordbearer. Qi Yan orders Eunuch Gao to have the Sword of Light repaired. (I’m no expert on swords but I’m pretty sure this is a bad idea in the real world. Repairing broken metal leaves a weak point for it to break again. However this is fantasy land and Ruoyu has cooperative scriptwriters so I’m sure the sword will be good as new.)
The next day Qi Yan visits his grandmother again. She approves of him attending court. He asks her if he can bring Prince Guang back to the palace to plan her birthday celebration. She hates Prince Guang so she hates this suggestion. She brings up the rumors that both of the previous Emperors wanted to give Guang the throne. Qi Yan pointedly tells DE that he knows she spread the rumors to get the Emperors to kill Guang. He says they didn’t kill Guang and neither is he. He also says that Guang must return to show that the right person is on the throne right now. DE doesn’t like it but she tells Qi Yan to do what he wants. After he leaves she tells her attendant that she’s known 5 Emperors now and Qi Yan is the one she understands the least. Qi Yan has the eyes of a falcon, she says. Qui Ziliang thinks he knows how to raise falcons but this one will peck his eyes out.
Qi Yan is at court. He opens the session by bringing up the Dowager Empress’s birthday and asks if anyone has ideas about it. Crickets chirp. He asks Ziliang if he has any ideas. Ziliang feels this is a family matter. Qi Yan agrees and declares that he’ll call Prince Guang to the Palace to plan matters. As they leave the court Ziliang's faction surround him on the stairs asking what this is about. Ziliang decides to call for the Chief Advisor.
Ziliang questions the Chief Advisor who says Qi Yan and Guang met the day before but nothing unusual happened. When the Chief Advisor leaves Yanzhi comes out and wonders why Qi Yan would ask someone DE hates to plan her birthday and why would Guang agree? She speculates that they want to work together against Ziliang. Ziliang says that Chief Advisor (poor guy doesn’t even get a name) has watched Guang for 8 years and has always reported that he follows the rules. Yanzhi says military governors are rotated out every four years to keep familiarity (and compassion, I assume) from forming.
Chief Advisor shows up and says goodbye to Guang. Guang asks him if they suspect Chief Advisor but Chief Advisor says it doesn’t matter - he’s done nothing wrong. Guang says they’ve both stayed true to their hearts and gives him a Laughing Buddha plant that he knows the Chief Advisor loves as thanks for having been left in peace for so long. Chief Advisor says he doesn’t want it but Guang insists.
Yanzhi tracks down the Deputy Advisor in a room full of books and learns from him that Laughing Buddha has a poisonous root and the pollen can make you hallucinate. It kills when consumed. She wants to know if the person hallucinating is aware that they are hallucinating. Deputy Advisor says it’s like Zhuangzi’s butterfly dream. Then she asks how you can tell if someone is under its influence. He tells her they will suffer withdrawal symptoms if they don’t have access anymore. After she returns to her room she decides something is wrong. If Guang used the plant to control Chief Advisor then why didn’t he destroy the plant? Why did he give it to Chief Advisor? She decides that Guang revealed this on purpose because he’s planning something else. He’s testing her and he wants to meet her.
Ruoyu is healing but she’s sad because the Emperor is angry with her aunt. Guang tells her she was abducted as a child and rescued and that he was the one who healed her as a child and reunited her with her aunt. That was when she lost her memory. Qi Yan arrives and gives her the repaired Sword of Light. She’s happy, but surprised, that it’s in one piece. He says he repaired it because he promised to return it. She mutters that he promised her a hundred. He tells her to return to the palace with him but she’s reluctant. She asks him why he would trust her if he doesn’t trust her aunt. He says she’s different. He removed Cheng Xi from her position but kept Huai Zhi because, even though they are brother and sister, they are different from each other. Ruoyu confesses that she doesn’t trust herself. She joined Ziyi Bureau to be with her aunt. She became Swordbearer because her aunt wanted her to. Everything was for her aunt and she doesn’t know what she would do if her aunt told her to point her sword at the Emperor
Qi Yan tells her he’s glad she told him the truth - it’s seldom that people are honest with him. He still wants her to be his Swordbearer. She says she will with the condition that he let her keep investigating the assassination attempts. She doesn’t want Yanzhi to take over Ziyi Bureau and she feels she’s the only person who can help him take down Ziliang. He agrees and then answers her questions about A’Wu. Yes, he’s the one who let her live all those years ago. No, he didn’t bring her to the palace. He’s a bit perturbed that she threw away her second chance at life.
Back at the palace Cheng Xi admits to Ruoyu that Aunt Cai was killed on her orders. She hands Ruoyu a ledger with Pure Jade’s people and explains their code for sending messages and keeping record of missions. It looks like musical notations but it’s more about assassinations. Cheng Xi also tells Ruoyu that it isn’t her sword that protects the Emperor but her life. She’s the Emperor’s second life. Ruoyu is now in charge of Ziyi Bureau.
[Ep8] (I just realized that somewhere along the way I changed Ziliang’s name to Lijiang - don’t know why I got turned around like that but I am now using Ziliang and I apologize for the confusion.)
Ruoyu leaves a building, musing that she must be crazy to voluntarily return to the hard job of being the Swordbearer. Then she vows to A’Wu’s spirit that she’ll find the true cause of her death. Yanzhi shows up and congratulates her on her reinstatement. Ruoyu glares at her. Yanzhi says she was helping Ruoyu but Ruoyu says Yanzhi got what she wanted. (She proved Cheng Xi was hiding something important from the Emperor and got her demoted - at the very least.) Now Yanzhi claims she was helping the Emperor. Cheng Xi was naughty to hide those 300 fighters and should be punished. This makes Ruoyu even angrier that Yanzhi tried to get her aunt killed. Yanzhi denies that intention and claims to have only wanted to get Ruoyu a promotion. She says she doesn’t like Cheng Xi but she likes Ruoyu and then suggests they work together to figure out and eliminate the third party creating trouble. Ruoyu says they’re on different paths and can’t work together. Yanzhi tells Ruoyu that one day she’ll need her and to come by anytime. Ruoyu stalks off.
Qi Yan is looking at A’Wu’s stained cloth again. He remembers saving her and sending her to her father’s friend. This memory is mostly to explain that he’s shooting these girls in the back with a special arrow and just the right amount of force to make it look like they’re dead when they aren’t. He also remembers practicing this shot over and over again and almost giving up because it was so difficult to master. He muses that A’Wu’s father told her about that method. He also remembers that he shot three girls that way during that year and wonders what happened to the other two. He challenges them to come to him for revenge if they’re still alive. (My take is that his challenge is from a place of depression and guilt.)
Ruoyu walks into her room with wash water but hears a noise. She investigates the noise which leads her to the Emperor’s room. (Their rooms are right next to each other.) He’s putting out candles by shooting arrows over them. She walks in and he alters his aim just enough that she has to pull her head back to avoid the arrow - which she does easily. She then walks to his side and bows. He shoots and puts out a few more candles and then apologizes for the noise. She asks him if he wants to leave the castle this evening and mimes tying a scarf over her face. He mocks her skills (again) and she suggests he help her improve. Then she tells him about the conversation with Yanzhi and ends by saying maybe she shouldn’t have turned Yanzhi down. Maybe she should have accepted the offer and used it to learn more about Ziliang’s plans and Jiangqi Camp. Qi Yan scoffs at the notion that Ruoyu could master a counterstrategy. She says (as she’s said before) that she got top marks in Ziyi training school. (Since this is her claim for everything from archery to strategy I’m guessing that either the training school is terrible or someone has been lying to her. The Emperor is better than she is in every area.) He tells her to go to bed but while he’s trying to push her out the door they trip and she falls on top of them for an accidental kiss. Uncle Huai walks in before she gets up and is shocked (and delighted) and suggests that the Emperor rest now and talk things over in the morning. Ruoyu flees the room.
Guang is working with his herbs when Yanzhi and Yan Xiu show up. Yanzhi wants to know why he gave the Advisor the Buddha’s Laugh. Guang says he did it for her. She says she won’t eliminate the Advisor for him. He says he’s not the one who wants the Advisor gone - it’s her.
Ziliang is confronting the Chief Advisor about being bribed by “a pot of grass”. He’s holding the Buddha’s Laugh and Chief Advisor’s eyes never leave the plant. Ziliang asks if he’d like to confess and then drops the plant. The pot shatters. Chief Advisor falls to his knees trying to scrape the soil back over the roots of the plant. Then he stops, kowtows three times to Ziliang, and declares he’s no traitor before stabbing himself in the chest with a shard from the pot. (This is a small shard, mind you, but it kills the Chief Advisor. He’s apparently quite good with tiny weapons.) Yanzhi seems shocked by Chief Advisor’s actions and tells her godfather that people under the influence of Buddha’s Laugh don’t know they’re under its influence. Then she blames everything on Guang and suggests she go kill him. After all, Godfather can suppress anyone with the 120,000 Imperial Guards under his control. He says those troops are worthless against the hardened fighters of the Governor’s armies and says attacking Guang will simply inflame Qi Yan. He says: “It’s not time yet.”
Men arrive at Guang’s place and trash it. Guang doesn’t resist and tells his aide it will reassure “them”.
Qi Yan is teaching Ruoyu archery. This involves guards randomly throwing red balls in the air for her to shoot. She misses every time. Qi Yan guides her with his hands on hers (because there hasn’t been any skinship for minutes already) and they hit the target. She turns in his arms to thank him (with a big grin) and they stare into each other’s eyes. Eunuch Huai arrives with news of Guang’s arrival.
Guang and the Emperor are discussing Guang’s plans for the good deeds to be done in the Dowager Empress’s name (for her birthday). He also brings up the need for a family banquet but Qi Yan muses that the list of family members has declined recently. Ruoyu interrupts to ask the Emperor to send a message to Princess Ninghe to get back a bunch of rare music scores that she took with her from Ziyi Bureau. Qi Yan asks Eunuch Huai why he hasn’t told his niece the rules and Huai pulls her aside to scold her. (Poor Huai is always getting blamed for Ruoyu’s rudeness but it was Cheng Xi who raised her.) Ruoyu’s response to his scolding is to reiterate that it was a lot of music that went missing! Prince Guang is amused and tells the Emperor to enjoy this because it isn’t often there’s someone to tease in the Palace. Qi Yan says that’s why she gives him a headache.
Yan Xiu goes to the Deputy Advisor for help figuring out the poison the assassins used (to kill the other assassins). The Deputy Advisor is reading (for fun) and throws a scroll at him telling him to get out. Jiangqi Camp’s Deputy Advisor, Zuo Xiang, shows up and offers to help. Yan Xiu is disturbed that the man is present - there’s clearly bad blood between them - but he accepts the offer to help. He needs ten people, male and female, aged 10, 20 , 30, 50, and 70 to test the poison to figure out what kind it is. Yan Xiu says he’s crueler than he was a few months ago. Zuo Xiang says Yanzhi has accomplished nothing during her time as Camp Guardian and it’s time for her to be replaced.
Ruoyu is studying the Ziyi Bureau/Pure Jade House scrolls. Qi Yan (in his luscious red lounging robe) shows up. She knows someone is there but doesn’t look up to see who. She taps the table for more tea. The Emperor chooses to be amused and sits down to pour her some. She knocks it back and taps for a second cup. He pours it and then speaks before she drinks. She’s horrified to realize how rude she’s just been to the Emperor. She respectfully reports her findings about Pure Jade House to the Emperor and suggests she bring Pure Jade House back to Ziyi. He tells her to wait for a few days.
Zuo Xiang reveals the source of the poison - it’s Houtai (Blowfish) organs. This is remarkable because it’s the same poison that Emperor Wen died of and it’s apparently rare. Yan Xiu speculates that the assassins want revenge for Wen’s death.
Prince Guang is looking at Cheng Xi who kowtows to him and thanks him for sounding the alarm so the people of Pure Jade House could escape. In their ensuing conversation he mentions the third faction.
Ruoyu polishes the Sword of Light. (She and the Emperor are clearly a match made in heaven. One polishes his bow and the other polishes her sword. I can just see them polishing away on long winter evenings while the kiddos play at their feet.) She hears something and investigates. She sees a man in black enter the Emperor’s chambers. The man is about to speak when the Emperor notices Ruoyu not-quite blending into the curtains and tells her to join them. He introduces Han Ding, Knight General of the Qianniu Army. Ruoyu finds the Qianniu Army part surprising but doesn’t say much. Han Ding hands the Emperor a report on his findings. Qi Yan looks up from the report and says: “Hong Gu?”
Now Guang is explaining to Cheng Xi that after Wu was coerced into trying to assassinate Ziliang the third party engaged in a series of provocations. His assistant, Yuan Du, discovered that Wu only interacted with people of Ziyi Bureau with one exception - Hong Gu who works for the Lady of Hanling Hall. (I’m not sure who that’s supposed to be.) Hong Gu’s older sister was Wu’s nursemaid. Three days after Wu died Hong Gu “slipped” into a pool and drowned. Her original mistress was Princess Ninghe.
Han Ding tells the Emperor that the only letter Hong Gu received from outside the palace in the past year was from… The Emperor says: “Lucong”
(To clarify, because the back and forthing is giving me whiplash - and I watched it - basically Yuan Du and Han Ding are telling their respective masters pretty much the same thing and the show is switching between their rooms/conversations.)
Cheng Xi concludes the letter from Lucong must have been from Princess Ninghe. Yuan Du says the letter was destroyed so no one knows it’s contents but that after receiving it Hong Gu was happy and said her fortunes would soon revive. (She lost her rank when the Princess married out of the palace.) Cheng Xi feels this means that Princess Ninghe was planning to return and then says that it was impossible for her to return. Guang wants to know why. (Note: Guang and Ninghe are siblings.) Yuan Du says Ninghe’s first husband was removed from power by his generals and replaced by Shi Quanzhong. Quanzhong also became Ninghe’s second husband. It wasn’t long after that the Hong Gu got her letter. But then Chen Yintai colluded with the Zhen Wu army to kill Quanzhong. (Do I know who these people are? No.) Lucong is now in turmoil. Cheng Xi says Guang must bring Ninghe back but that Ziliang has a grudge against her. No one knows the story behind that. Cheng Xi speculates that Ninghe is the third party and is borrowing the Emperor’s hands to remove Ziliang so she can return.
Back to the Emperor: Han Ding went to Lucong personally. Ninghe is missing. Qi Yan tells him to keep searching and Han Ding heads off. Ruoyu asks Qi Yan if he thinks Ninghe is the third party and he says it’s possible. Then she asks if the rumors that he killed his brother for the throne are true.
Back to Guang: “Ninghe is simple and pure and would never do such a thing.” Cheng Xi counters that people change over 15 years. Guang doesn’t believe it and instructs Cheng Xi to investigate further. Cheng Xi suggests that if it IS Ninghe then that’s good for Guang. (Specifically, it’ll be good for him in taking the throne.)
Qi Yan asks Ruoyu how she would respond if the rumors were truth. She says Ziyi Bureau’s mandate is loyalty to the Emperor and how he got his throne isn’t in their purview. She goes on to say that she doesn’t believe the rumors, though, because Qi Yan isn’t that sort of person. He’s obviously touched by her faith.
Guang says that if Ninghe is the third party then he needs to stop her -- all the more if her plan is to put him on the throne. He will not touch a crown that has been sullied by unrest and the murder of his nephew.
(I swear, with Bob as my witless, that I’m trying to keep these recaps as short as possible.) Ha.
[Ep10] Zuo Xiang treats his hand. The poison is apparently exceptionally painful. He’s drooling and even after he treats his hand (with a white powder and lots, and lots, of bandaging) it’s clearly hampering him. He knows Yanzhi will know it’s him and his first thought is to go to Ziliang but he doesn’t believe Ziliang will trust him. He takes a book from a hiding place in his room and scuttles away.
Ruoyu is walking through the woods and encounters Qi Yan’s white horse Rufeng. She remembers him promising to leave the horse there in case she needed it. (As a person who knows horses - never leave them bridled and saddled in the woods for indefinite periods of time. That’s animal abuse. But in TV land they don’t get saddle sores so it’s okay.) She hears men calling to each other. It’s Yanzhi’s guys and they’re chasing Xiang. She, being brave rather than smart, gestures him over to her utterly inadequate hiding spot. The miracle of cooperative scriptwriting occurs and The pursuers walk right past them. He sees that she’s the Swordbearer by her sword and follows her to Rufeng. She’s going to take him out of the woods but he hides his book under the saddle blanket when she isn’t looking and tells her to save herself. She leaves and he’s captured by Yan Xiu.
Yanzhi questions Xiang about what he was looking for in her room. He doesn’t answer so she calls one of her men in to report on Xiang’s movements over the past few months. He was investigating Yanzhi and he sneers that now she’s the one who is flustered.
Ruoyu spots the book Xiang left. She decides it’s Qi Yan’s and returns it to its spot under the blanket.
Xiang tells Yanzhi he knows her identity is fake. He also discovered her heart was injured before she entered Jiangqi camp. He was blamed for that injury and punished to clean toilets for three years so he’s a little miffed about that. Xiang tells her he gave his findings to Ruoyu. Now Yanzhi knows Ruoyu is not confined to her room.
Ruoyu reaches a building in the woods. It’s Pure Jade House’s hiding place. She shows her Sword of Light and tries to assume leadership. She’s told that she must be strong to lead them.
Yan Xiu reports to Yanzhi that Ruoyu is not in the palace.
Ruoyu is thrown out of the building (and down some stairs). She’s failed to prove her worth.
Ruoyu is running through the forest at night. She falls and the men from Jiangqi Camp catch and kill her. No, not really, it’s Qi Yan’s dream. He goes to Uncle Guang and asks that Guang send Yuan Du to protect Ruoyu on Mount Qi.
Ruoyu is still trying to prove her worth. She keeps getting thrown down the stairs as Yuan Du takes out the men of Jiangqi Camp who have found the place. He seems a little impressed with her perseverance as she keeps going back to be thrown down the stairs again and again.
Yanzhi shows up to “comfort” Ruoyu in her rooms, frightening Huai and Rong. Yan Xiu stops her, though. He has news that Pure Jade House has been found.
When she finally walks down the stairs on her own, convinced she’ll never succeed, he approaches her and gives her three embroidered sachets. One has Carps Leaping, one is Showing Filial Piety, and the last is Two Children Arguing over the Sun. Carps Leaping has the information of the Array of the Nine Celestial Fairies - which Pure Jade House has been using to defeat Ruoyu. Yuan Du shows her the array by them spying from an upper window and then Ruoyu starts practicing the moves to break the array.
Yanzhi congratulates a group of men on “passing”. Their first mission is to capture Ruoyu and sacrifice the 300 women of Pure Jade House.
Ruoyu succeeds in breaking the array. She faints immediately after. Yuan Du explains that Prince Guang has taught her how to do this - which shocks the ladies. When Ruoyu regains consciousness he praises her ability. She learned in one night how to break the array. Ruoyu agrees that she’s a genius. Yuan Du says they have to leave, though, because Jiangqi has found this place. Ruoyu knows she hasn’t succeeded in fully taking command, however. Now it’s time for the second sachet. It has a prescription to soothe the throat of the main leader. She never speaks because her throat was injured at some point. She gives Ruoyu her jade token of leadership. Xian (her second in command) protests but everyone else bows. The third sachet has nothing inside so Ruoyu mulls over the meaning of the embroidery on it. Yuan Du sounds the alarm. Jiangqi Camp is here. The ladies are to retreat to Jinyang to join Ninghe’s retinue and wait for orders. Ruoyu is to escape back to the palace. Ruoyu grabs Xiang and the two of them flee on Rufeng. Jiangqi chases them and Xiang is injured as the men shoot at them with arrows. (Kind of counterproductive if capture is the goal…) Xian uses darts and takes out several of the men following. There are people (and a carriage) ahead of them. Ruoyu gets off the horse and tells Xian to go ahead, she’ll handle this since Xiang is injured.
Yanzhi is in the group ahead and she confronts Ruoyu. She says they’re not enemies but Ruoyu says her actions say otherwise. Yanzhi wants what Deputy Advisor Xiang gave her. Ruoyu has no clue what she’s talking about. Yanzhi realized it’s on the horse and tells her men to catch Xian. She’ll just have to give Ruoyu to Ziliang. Ruoyu wonders if she can. Qi Yan arrives with a group of soldiers and carries Ruoyu off. (He’s already rescued Xian.) Yan Xiu wants to figure out how to explain this to Ziliang but Yanzhi wants to speak with Deputy Advisor Xiang first.
Yanzhi releases Xiang - to his surprise.
Qi Yan takes Ruoyu’s report and examines the embroidery on the sachets. Ruoyu explains she took Xian because she was the only one who resisted her leadership and she figured that’s what the “Kids Arguing About the Sun” was about. Qi Yan: “Seriously?” He tells her she might as well keep Xian and use her as a go-between from her and Pure Jade House and sends them off to rest.
[Ep11] Rong reports to Cheng Xi that Ruoyu has returned and the Pure Jade House is now in Jinyang with Princess Ninghe. Rong is worried that Ziliang will kill Ninghe which would be a death sentence for her entire retinue (for failing to protect her). Cheng Xi agrees and thinks about how to protect Ninghe’s life. She decides to let Yanzhi know that Ninghe was the person behind A’Wu. If Ziliang hates Ninghe more he’ll keep her alive longer (to torture her).
Yan Xiu reports to Yanzhi that 30 of their men went to Jinyang to escort Ninghe but they disappeared at a rest stop. There was no sign of struggle and no bodies. Their investigations revealed nothing but Yan Xiu did test the people of Zhenwu (Princess Misha’s people) and discovered they were all excellent warriors and Misha is the best. He has a man show Yanzhi Misha’s moves. Yanzhi is disturbed by what she sees and tells Yan Xiu to investigate “this person’s” (she wrote the name on a piece of paper) connection to Ninghe before she married.
Guang treats Ziyuan’s arrow injury for Ruoyu. We learn that Ziliang won’t let him touch herbs - apparently in the hopes that Guang will be an idle and useless prince. Ruoyu cheerfully declares that they will be free of that nasty old man one day. Guang is amused. Ruoyu thanks him for the tips in the sachets that helped her and shares that they were taken by Yanzhi. The Emperor arrives.
Yan Xiu returns to report his findings. The person is Han Yue. He was an important general for a previous emperor (I think the father of Qi Wen and Qi Xi) and then became Ninghe’s bodyguard. It must have been him who taught Misha her martial arts. Yanzhi is furious that Ninghe had Han Yue’s martial arts taught to people of Zhenwu. She tells Yan Xiu to escort Ninghe to Heng’an. Ziliang isn’t going to want her dead after he learns about this - he’s going to want worse.
The Emperor drinks tea, oozing disapproval while Guang, Ruoyu, and Ziyuan watch him. Guang asks the Emperor what it is he wants to know. Qi Yan wants to know how Guang knew how to defeat the array and about Yu Niang’s throat injury. Guang reveals that Niang was at Aunt Cai’s 4 years ago and she was molested and had her throat cut. Cheng Xi brought her to Guang for healing. She’s been grateful to him ever since. Qi Yan apologizes for being suspicious of his uncle. Guang kneels to him. He says he’s ashamed because he’s known of Pure Jade House for all this time and never told him. But he says Emperor Wen asked him not to. Ruoyu asks about the meaning of the last sachet. Was she right in bringing Ziyuan with her? Guang and Qi Yan smile at each other (because she obviously didn’t get the meaning of two children arguing about the sun) and Guang says he ran out of ideas and her solution was just fine. Ziyuan is also smirking so apparently she understands more than Ruoyu too. Yuan Du arrives with news that Ziliang dispatched 3,000 Imperial Guards to escort Ninghe home. He also shares about Yanzhi’s men disappearing. Qi Yan is impressed (and concerned, I think) that Zhenwu’s vassals are so capable. Cheng Xi shows up to beg forgiveness for telling Ziliang that Ninghe was behind A’Wu’s assassination attempt. She claims it was for Qi Yan and Pure Jade House’s benefit. Qi Yan is angry. She didn’t care what would happen to Ninghe. Cheng Xi says that Ninghe was slated for death anyway. Qi Yan thinks a life of torture isn’t better than death. He leaves and Ruoyu follows. Guang tells Cheng Xi that he thinks she doesn’t have a place helping the Emperor anymore. He reminds her that Ninghe is his sister.
Ruoyu and Qi Yan are in the woods (again). She tells him she’ll bear Cheng Xi’s. She also says that Cheng Xi did it for the Emperor and Pure Jade House but that’s no excuse. He asks her if she always defends those close to her. Yes, of course. She knows he wants to save Ninghe and feels that between Pure Jade House and the Zhenwu folks that they are a match for Ziliang’s Imperial Guards. Qi Yan says he doesn’t want to save Ninghe - she’s done too much. Ruoyu knows he still does. He wants to know why she trusts him. He tells her he’s a bad guy - he deserved those assassination attempts. She says she doesn’t know what he was like before but she knows in her heart that he’s a good person. He slowly reaches his hand out and covers her eyes as she’s staring at him with all that innocence and trust. He says he’s not a good person but he’ll never make her regret following him.
Yanzhi is combing Ziliang’s hair (and he looks like a cat in a creamery) and they discuss Ninghe. Yanzhi is positive she’s the one behind Pure Jade House and Yan Xiu tells of the evidence he’s found that supports that theory. She says the blowfish poison on the assassins’ needle weapons proves that she is trying to avenge Emperor Wen. Ziliang is angered that someone would attempt to avenge themselves on him and tells Yanzhi to be prepared to “welcome” Ninghe.
Ruoyu and Qi Yan return their mounts to the stable. Qi Yan finds the booklet that Zuo Xiang put under the blanket. (This booklet has amazing sticking power - just saying…) It’s blank. Ruoyu wets a few pages, hoping for hidden writing. Qi Yan tells her she was used. Ruoyu is angry that everyone takes her for a fool. Qi Yan smirks as he obviously resists telling her that’s because she IS a fool. Ruoyu says that Yanzhi gives her a “weird” feeling. She’s done too many things to be a “good guy” but she’s helped them too much to be a “bad guy”. Qi Yan suggests she give the book to Yanzhi. Ruoyu doesn’t think Yanzhi would trust her but Qi Yan says that if she wants it everyone would trust her the way he does.
Yanzhi is kowtowing to her Shen Nong painting. A body in a sack, tied with a purple ribbon, is thrown into her room. Ruoyu follows the body. Yanzhi ignores it to finish her bows and then she and Ruoyu have a stare down. Ruoyu insults Jiangqui Camp’s security and unity (the body is an eavesdropper she caught on her way in, apparently) and she tosses the book to Yanzhi. Yanzhi asks what she wants for it and Ruoyu tells her she wants Yanzhi to leave Pure Jade House alone. Yanzhi agrees because she was going to anyway.
Zuo Xiang is unconscious in what looks like a store room. A man in black tries to poison him with blowfish organs. Xiang was not unconscious. He grabs the assassin by the throat and asks him who sent him. Then he breaks his neck. (Because no one answers questions better than a corpse.) He enters Yanzhi’s room with gloves and a rolled up painting. This time he steals her painting without triggering the traps and replaces it with a copy. Yanzhi and Yan Xiu return before he can escape so he hides and hears them talk about how he’ll never learn her real identity. Yan Xiu asks why she’s helping Qi Yan and she says she wants to be Qi Yan’s Empress. Xiang is shocked. Yan Xiu leaves and Xiang watches her getting ready for bed. (Pervert!) He sees an arrow scar on Yanzhi’s back - where the heart is. As she sleeps he considers killing her but kidnaps her instead. (He knocks her out by suffocating her with his hand.)
Qi Yan wakes up from a nightmare that he found Ninghe dead in a carriage. Ruoyu is there. He’s not fully convinced that Ninghe is the third party. Ruoyu gives him a head massage to soothe him from the nightmare. (He was entertainingly alarmed when she climbed into his bed and she innocently points out it wasn’t the first time.) Huai arrives with the news that Ninghe was attacked in Jingzhou. She’s hurt and unconscious. The governor is interrogating everyone right now. They’re worried that Pure Jade House will be exposed. Qi Yan wants to go to Jingzhou but it’s too dangerous. Ruoyu volunteers.
Xiang watches as Yanzhi wakes up. She’s weak because he put Buddha’s Laugh in the candles. (No clue why it doesn’t make him weak) He’s mad about Chief Advisor and his hand, not to mention her framing him for a heart injury that she already had. (And that was it. Really abrupt end to this one.)
[Ep13] The Imperial Physician is treating Ninghe with acupuncture when Misha and Eunuch Huai arrive. Misha questions Huai about the quarters and Qi Yan’s marital status and then shocks him by asking where Qi Yan’s quarters are.
Guang is treating Ruoyu and Qi Yan’s minor injuries from Misha’s horse mishap. Huai arrives to announce that Misha is looking for Qi Yan. Guang advises Qi Yan not to meet her. Qi Yan tells Huai to prepare a banquet to thank the Zhenwu people for bringing Ninghe back.
Ziliang is still annoyed at Misha’s presumption. He and Yanzhi discuss the fact that Ziliang won’t let Guang marry. Qi Yan, he says, is unmarried because he’s waiting for someone who can help him. Ziliang asks Yanzhi just how she can help Qi Yan. He mentions that the Dowager Empress tried to marry him to Li Deyun’s daughter but he stopped that by sending them to Huainan. The daughter is still unmarried.
At the welcoming banquet Misha asks to stay a few more days in Heng’an. Qi Yan says that her help in bringing Ninghe home is worth staying a few years. Then she wants to compete with Qi Yan in archery. Ruoyu says he can’t (he dislocated his shoulder saving Misha) but she’ll do it for him. Ruoyu is given Qi Yan’s bow to use.
Yan Xiu tells Yanzhi that he discovered an empty skin of Kumis (fermented mare’s milk) in Misha’s room at the Jingzhou Post.
Misha fires her arrow at Ruoyu. Ruoyu catches it and thanks her for the gift of an arrow. She tosses it into a pitch pot by the Emperor.
Guang and Yanzhi meet in Ninghe’s room. Yanzhi detects the odor of Kumis. Guang says Ninghe has had a stroke from being intoxicated and then bleeding a lot. He doesn’t think Ninghe will wake up. Yanzhi asks if he really isn’t the person behind all this and he asks her if she really thinks he’s someone who would hurt anyone, even his family, to get what he wants.)
Ruoyu has caught all 7 arrows and tossed them into the pitch pot next to the Emperor. Misha accuses Ruoyu of disrespecting her because she hasn’t bothered to loose any arrows of her own. (I could be wrong but I suspect that if Ruoyu did hit Misha with an arrow her life might just be forfeit.)
Yanzhi gives Guang a list of Zhenwu envoys. One is Sun Lie - she says he’s actually the one in charge and wonders just who the warriors would listen to. She’s questioned two of the people and they both said there’s a strategist calling the shots.
Misha takes her last three arrows and fires them at once. Qi Yan rescues Ruoyu by throwing a silk handkerchief that blocks the arrows. He asks Misha who her instructor was. Misha leaves, unhappily, followed by Sun Lie. He tells her she needs to think about what she’s going to tell the Strategist.
Qi Yan leaves Ruoyu behind and goes to talk to Misha. Ziliang summons Ruoyu and tests her martial arts with petals from a flower before throwing the flower to her. He says her martial arts aren’t as good as Misha’s and that she needs to be careful. On her way back she eavesdrops on Qi Yan and Misha.
Misha wants to be Empress and offers her 80,000 men as her dowry. Qi Yan agrees if he can meet the Strategist first.
Ziliang talks about getting Ruoyu on their side and warns Yanzhi that she can be an obstacle to her goal of being Empress. When Yanzhi leaves he tells the female Chief Officer of Jiangqi Camp to keep an eye on Yanzhi.
Qi Yan tells Ruoyu that the flower Ziliang threw at her is the symbol of the Empress. Ziliang was both offering her the position and warning Qi Yan that he’s the one who chooses the next Empress. He tells Ruoyu he can’t love her “intimately”. She says she understands.
Ruoyu leaves and Yan Xiu arrives to share that Yanzhi is also putting herself forward as an Empress candidate. He was listening to Qi Yan and Ruoyu’s conversation and says he realizes the the Emperor has made his choice (not to choose Ruoyu).
Ruoyu follows Han Ding to the Emperor’s rooms and hears them talk about “him”. The Emperor senses her presence. Han Ding accuses her of spying for Cheng Xi. Ruoyu protests her innocence but Qi Yan banishes her to Ziyi Bureau. Han Ding suggest that the Emperor tell Ruoyu is real motives lest she misunderstand him. (Like ANYTHING is going to shake Ruoyu’s confidence in Qi Yan at this point.)
Ruoyu grumbles in her room while Qi Yan gazes at his handkerchiefs and remembers his instructor telling him he must never let his heart weaken or he’ll lose. Qi Yan vows not to lose.
[Ep14] Ruoyu is sadly leaving for Ziyi and sees Misha and Qi Yan meeting.
[Ep15] The Strategist has Guang tell Ruoyu what happened 8 years ago: The chancellor, Li Xu and a provincial governor, Zheng Lu, conspired to assassinate Qiu Ziliang. General Han was part of it. They failed. Emperor Wen wrote an edict and sent Han to Chancellor Wang Yang. Qi Yan shot General Han off of his horse while he fled the palace but Han was able to get back up and got away. He got the edict to Chancellor Weng but Ziliang’s men arrived shortly after. Han was shot in the eye and Chancellor Weng killed by Ziilang as they emerged from their secret tunnel. The edict wasn’t found and Ziliang used this as an excuse to get rid of everyone who ever opposed him. 1,000 officials were caught up in the affair.
[Ep16] Misha convinces Sun Lie to reveal that the Strategist is in the Pure Jade House. Ziliang says he isn’t and Sun Lie says that all he knows is that the Strategist is at Pure Jade House and promotes the marriage of Misha and the Emperor. A guard arrives with a written riddle for Ziliang telling him to go to the Rain and Sun Pavilion to save Yanzhi. Ziliang won’t go. Yanzhi must save herself to be proven worthy to be Camp Guardian.
[Ep17] Yanzhi enters her rooms through a secret door. She finds Yan Xiu who is badly beaten and urges her to escape. She says she can’t escape without him because of her lack of martial arts. Will he help her? (Girl, why are you even asking? You have the man wrapped around your finger.)
[Ep19] Ruoyu helps Qi Yan to his bed as Guang’s elixir wears off. She promises to stay with him.
[Ep20] Prince An is clutching Prince Guang and crying as Yan Xiu and Cheng Xi arrive to urge them back to their places.
[Ep21] Ziliang is receiving a report from the Chief Officer when Yanzhi arrives to report that Li Deyun has arrived in the capital and probably met with Qi Yan already. This is what Chief Officer was reporting so he already knows.
[Ep22] Yanzhi and Yan Xiu discuss the Chief Chancellor. Yan Xiu thinks his answers were sketchy but Yanzhi says they make sense.
[Ep36] Yanzhi tells Ruoyu she has one month to prepare to help with the Lucong rebellion.
[Ep37] Ruoyu is thrilled to meet with Qi Yan alone and hugs him joyfully. He rejects her and tells her she’s a fake. She’s heartbroken and leaves.
[Ep40] Ruoyu sobs her heart out about all the loved ones she’s lost. Qi Yan watches her impassively. She pulls herself together and recites her Swordbearer Oath to him. She tells him she’s the most incompetent Swordbearer ever because he’s had to save her so many times. He reminds her that he killed her family and offers her the Sword of Light telling her to kill him. He won’t mind dying if it’s by her hand. She lowers the sword telling him he knew she couldn’t kill him. He agrees and pulls the dagger (the Sword of Light comes with a matching dagger and they’re both in opposite ends of the scabbard) and stabs himself. He asks Ruoyu if she’s satisfied now and she runs off. She promises herself to get to the bottom of things.
[Ep41] Guang removes the sachets keeping Ruoyu immobilized (I have to say these magical drugs that only affect people with martial arts powers are almost as entertaining as the flashy martial arts themselves.) and calls in Yanzhi to talk to Ruoyu.
[Ep42] Ruoyu walks into Yanzhi’s room. (I think she was on a bed in a side room.) Yanzhi is in her wedding outfit. Ruoyu tells Yanzhi she’s heading to Dongchuan in Jiannan where the Wang family’s lands used to be. Yanzhi asks her to put her hairpin in (completing the wedding outfit). She promised someone they would put each other’s wedding hairpins in and having Ruoyu do it is just the same. (If she hints that they’re sisters any harder even “thick as a board” Ruoyu will catch on. lol) Yanzhi tells her to be careful and to contact her if she needs anything. Ruoyu says there’s no need. Their relationship is over as of now and leaves. Yan Xiu shows up to tell Yanzhi the security measures in place for Ruoyu’s journey.
[Ep45] Ruoyu intercepts Niang and the Ziyi women sneaking into Jiangqi. She thinks this is a bad idea but agrees to help. She offers to take them to Yanzhi’s room to access the secret passages there.
[First Impression (Ep1-6)] This is VERY complex. There are little clues in every episode so far, and a lot of big ones, and some tie in and some I’m still wondering about. It’s also a bit slow but it’s picking up speed. The romance is secondary to the plots and mysteries but I don’t mind that. I’m intrigued enough to continue on.
[Actors/Actresses] Cheng Yi and Rayli Zhang are both excellent in their roles. Cheng Yi has micro-expressions down to an art. Rayli Zhang is somehow able to be innocent, naive, brave, fearless, gullible, etc. without being annoying or being pathetic. She treads the line of “sweet and cheerful” without crossing over into painfully stupid. EVERYONE in this drama has put forth absolutely wonderful performances, though. Even the background actors do their jobs well.
[Behind the Scenes]
[Ending] Bittersweet - There’s no happy ending for the romantic leads together but the rest of the people will do well.
[Review & Rating]
Cheng Yi: Qi Yan
Zhang Yu Xi: Cheng Ruo Yu / Wang Ruo Ling
Xuan Lu: Qiu Yan Zhi / Wang Ruo Qing
Director
與君歌
Recapper: Rianya
Recap Grade: A
First Impression: 3/5
First Impression: 3/5
Guys, I'm excited to report that Rianya is here to give us Stand By Me!! This drama was on the back of my head – do I watch or do I not watch. And now Rianya is giving me us the recaps! Yay :D
Characters (and Important Connections)
Cheng Ruoyu – Swordbearer for Emperor Qi Yan
Cheng Xi – Cheng Ruoyu’s aunt, Eunuch Huai Zhi’s younger sister, and leader of Ziyi Bureau
Huai Zhi – Emperor Qi Yan’s chief eunuch, Cheng Xi’s older brother, Cheng Ruoyu’s uncle.
Qui Ziliang – Duke Chu, most powerful eunuch, Qi Yan’s Godfather, Qui Yanzhi’s Godfather, supreme leader of Jiangqi Camp
Qui Yanzhi – Qui Ziliang’s goddaughter, Camp Leader of Jiangqi
Yan Xiu – Deputy officer of Jiangqi Camp and Qui Yanzhi’s aide
Qi Chen – Prince Guang, Qi Yan’s Uncle
Mini Recaps
Narrator: In the 9th year of Taian, the Xin dynasty is on the verge of collapse. In order to escape the control of the eunuchs, the Emperor Wen of Xin plans to take his power back.
Images: Rain falling, soldiers hustling down streets in formation, two young girls painting in a quiet room, Qi Yan (currently prince but later Emperor) firing arrows at people.
A man bursts into a room with an old man (Chancellor Wang Yang) and two young girls (his granddaughters Ruo Qing and Ruo Ling) – the man warns them to run as Eunuch Qiu Zilang’s men approach. Yang and his granddaughters are helped down an escape tunnel by a soldier. He is later shot in the eye but pulls the arrow out and yells. Meanwhile, Eunuch Ziliang is waiting at the other end of the tunnel as Yang and the girls emerge.
Yang declares that eunuchs have never managed to keep power after they’ve stolen it and Ziliang takes a bow and shoots him dead. As the girls run Prince Qi Yan takes aim with his own bow…
It’s night and there are bodies everywhere in the wilderness. (I think that this is supposed to be a mass gravesite.) Prince Guang is covering the face of an old man. His aide calls out that there’s a survivor. It’s the younger of the two granddaughters.
Narrator: On January 4th Emperor Wen of Xing passed away. His brother, Qi Yan, succeeded him.
It’s morning. Palace maids kneel with various articles of clothing on trays. Emperor Qi Yan arrives and shows interest in a set of black robes. Eunuch Ziliang shows up. Qi Yan bows and gives his Godfather respect. Ziliang notes that Qi Yan likes the black robes but says only the purple will do Qi Yan justice. Qi Yan immediately agrees. Ziliang says that he can wear the black after all.
It’s night. Cheng Ruoyu is walking through the woods calling for “Wu”. She wonders where everyone is since they agreed to meet here but decides it’s fine because she can enjoy the beautiful moon. Soldiers trot along a path and Ruoyu hides. She watches with admiration as the Emperor takes aim with his bow but he suddenly turns and fires the arrow at her.
Ruoyu avoids the arrow and ignores the soldiers with swords pointed at her to bow and pay her respects to the Emperor. When he questions how she knew him she points out the soldiers and the fact that everyone knows the Emperor hunts foxes at night. The Emperor tells the soldiers to kill her but she protests that she’s a member of the Ziyi Bureau and his new swordbearer, not an assassin. The Emperor says she looks stupid and tells her to get lost. She thinks (to herself) that he looks familiar and wonders where she’s seen him before. He rides away.
Morning at the palace – Cheng Xi and Cheng Ruoyu are summoned to the Emperor’s presence. Ruoyu is officially declared the 23rd swordbearer for the Emperor and he personally hands her the Sword of Light. She vows to protect him and the Xing dynasty with the sword and her life.
As Ruoyu leaves the hall, she meets Qiu Yanzhi on the steps. Ruoyu flashes back to the memory of Yanzhi giving her a ride into the city the night before. She offered Yanzhi a candied fruit, which was ignored, and then cheerfully (but not on purpose) spoiled the book Yanzhi is reading by telling her the end. (The look of bland irritation Yanzhi gives her when Ruoyu spoils the book is perfect.) In the present Yanzhi congratulates her on her new appointment. They introduce themselves by name and Ruoyu declares she must repay Yanzhi with a meal. Eunuch Ziliang interrupts them as he heads down the stairs himself. While Ruoyu is bowing to Ziliang, Yanzhi vanishes.
Ziliang sends Yanzhi with a “pill of freedom” for the Emperor. She sits around with him for an hour before Ruoyu shows up. Then, before Ruoyu enters the room, she suddenly decides to dissolve the pill in water and force Qi Yan to take it. Qi Yan complains that he’s done everything Ziliang asks – why is he still doing this to him? Ruoyu pretends to have put out a fire and is very thirsty. She drinks the pill water and faints.
In her room Ruoyu is unconscious on her bed while her uncle frets. He asks if they should get a doctor for Ruoyu but Qi Yan just tells her to stop faking it. Ruoyu opens one eye and grins. She hops out of bed and reassures her uncle that she didn’t drink the water. She spit it onto her sleeve while pretending to wipe her face. She’s very proud of herself and asks the emperor if she made a great contribution. To her surprise, he’s very unhappy with her. Aunt Cheng Xi is also unhappy with her. Ruoyu pouts and doesn’t know what she did wrong. Qi Yan says she “exposed her weakness”. (I never figured out what that “weakness” was supposed to be. She’s suicidal? Foolish? Bad at acting?)
Outside Ruoyu’s room Cheng Xi swears she and Ruoyu are loyal to Qi Yan and advises him to strike at Ziliang first. She returns to Ruoyu and gives her a pill that blocks her martial arts because she’s supposed to be recovering from the poison she didn’t take. Qi Yan’s aide reports to him that there’s no evidence that Ruoyu has bad intentions but the emperor doesn’t believe anyone can be as innocent as Ruoyu. Elsewhere Ziliang absolves Yanzhi of blame for the failure to give the pill because Ruoyu is now supposedly recovering and unable to use her martial arts. He is also wondering if Ruoyu could possibly be that naïve.
[Ep2] Qi Yan polishes his bow while thinking about Cheng Xi’s advice (to strike at Ziliang). Huai Xiu comes in with food that Qi Yan isn’t interested in. Huai Xiu shares that the Dowager Empress (DE from here on out) is unhappy with Ruoyu’s appointment as swordbearer because she’s Huai Xiu’s niece. Huai Xiu swears neither he nor his sister were responsible for Ruoyu’s appointment as swordbearer. Qi Yan goes to a cabinet against the wall. It has a lot of doors and drawers. He pulls out a small-ish box and reveals a calligraphy brush. It was apparently his teacher’s brush. His teacher told him “The eunuch’s powers come from Imperial power.” Then Qi Yan discusses the Zhaolu Incident. (This happened 8 years ago and is when all the people were being killed by Qiu Ziliang and Qi Yan.) Qi Yan says that Ziliang was vicious but that part of the reason the incident happened was the greed and corruption of his brother’s people. He says Emperor Wen had incompetent people and asks Huai Xiu if he should really trust him and his sister. Huai Xiu swears his loyalty to Qi Yan. Qi Yan tells Huai Xiu to tell Cheng Xi that he’ll need more time to think about her suggestion.
Ruoyu dreams that she is running through the forest. Qi Yan is chasing her on his white horse. She falls against a tree, exhausted from running, and turns to face Qi Yan - who shoots her with an arrow. She wakes up gasping. When she tries to sit up she’s dizzy and weak and she wonders what was in the pill her aunt gave her. She has a flashback to Qi Yan telling her that she didn’t see the whole situation (after the pill incident).
Yanzhi enters Qi Yan’s room and congratulates him on avoiding the pill. Then she asks if he’ll be able to handle Ziliang’s anger. Qi Yan asks Yanzhi what she and Ziliang plan next and she says “a beauty scheme”. She suggests they go hunting together to boost his spirits. Huai Xiu comes in to tell the emperor it’s time for morning court. Qi Yan says he’ll go hunting instead and tells Huai Xiu to inform Ruoyu to get ready. Ruoyu is still dizzy and weak but she gets ready anyway.
Yanzhi is waiting for Ruoyu when she comes out while Qi Yan has gone on ahead. She jabs at Ruoyu that it’s pointless for her to join them when her martial arts are disabled. Ruoyu proposes they compete fairly since Yanzhi can’t use martial arts either. The competition is for who gets the most prey. If Ruoyu wins then Yanzhi has to go back to Jiangqi Camp and never bother the emperor again. If Yanzhi wins Ruoyu has to do something for her.
Ruoyu is setting up hunting snares when Qi Yan arrives. He tells her she didn’t see the whole picture - again. Later Ruoyu shows up with a bag of prey - just as Yanzhi’s men throw a few more birds down on her pile. Ruoyu is angry and accuses Yanzhi of cheating but Yanzhi says she can get her people to help too. Of course Ruoyu doesn’t have any people with her at the moment. Yanzhi tells her to start remembering that she has people backing her. (She’s giving her advice on being a good leader.) Then she says it looks like Ruoyu is going to lose. (Not with Qi Yan around!) Qi Yan helps Ruoyu to shoot a fox and says that since this is a fox hunt only fox count as prey. So Yanzhi trades in her other prey with a merchant for foxes and Ruoyu loses. Yanzhi asks Ruoyu to embroider something. (Ruoyu expected to be told to leave the emperor alone.) Ruoyu remembers Yanzhi’s advice and gets a friend from the Ziyi Bureau to do it. Cheng Xi is disturbed by Yanzhi’s request because it isn’t Yanzhi’s usual style. Qi Yan also feels this isn’t Yanzhi’s usual style and asks her what her real goal is. Yanzhi claims to be trying to help the emperor be a wise emperor who will help the people thrive and restore the Xing dynasty. Qi Yan is not convinced.
Li Rong (Cheng Xi’s aide) reports back on their investigation of Yanzhi. She appeared eight years ago at the Ecstasy House and Ziliang chose her to be one of his people. She defeated 80 some-odd people to become Ziliang’s goddaughter. She has no martial arts because she has a heart condition. Li Rong speculates that because she is so smart she must not have come from a common family. There are no records of her existence before eight years ago.
Qi Yan greets his grandmother the Dowager Empress. She scolds him for avoiding his state duties and asks him if he only wanted the title of Emperor (but not the duties). Qi Yan’s face remains bland but his hands are fisted. DE tells him to use his skills to lift up the people and not on his brothers before ordering him to leave. He bows politely and exits.
Ruoyu gives Yanzhi the embroidery (a handkerchief, I think) and is disappointed that Yanzhi already knows she got someone else to do the work. Qi Yan arrives and Ruoyu asks him why he is avoiding morning court again. Qi Yan tells Huai Xhi to teach his niece how to speak properly. Huai Xhi hisses at Ruoyu and she protests that they can’t let Qi Yan just make bad choices, can they?
Qi Yan, Yanzhi, and Ruoyu go hunting again. Qi Yan has Ruoyu join him on his horse with the pretext of teaching her archery. (Why they need to share a horse for this is a mystery to me.) An arrow flies at them and Ruoyu saves the Emperor by pulling them both off of the horse. She lands on top of the Emperor and there is some gazing into each other’s eyes. Then Ruoyu asks Qi Yan if he’s hurt. He says he’s hurt by her crushing him so she gets up.
Back at the palace Qi Yan reveals the arrowhead to Ruoyu. They examine it and Qi Yan leads Ruoyu step by step to realize all the clues point to Yanzhi. Then Qi Yan points out that it’s all too obvious so it can’t be the truth. Someone is trying to frame Yanzhi.
The next day the emperor again avoids morning court. Yanzhi suggests they walk in the city. Ruoyu suggests they have some biáng biáng noodles. At court Ziliang gleefully accepts the heavy burden of leadership again. He and his faction walk out of the hall with a pile of memorandums to the throne.
[Ep3] (My apologies, another really long one.)
[Ep4] Qi Yan puts the handkerchief (now dry) into his cabinet of souvenirs. He’s got quite a few things in this drawer. He’s thinking that Ruoyu is disappointed in him right now. (He’s right.)
They’re eating the noodles when Aunt Cai (owner of the tavern where they’re getting the noodles) is thrown into the room. It’s an assassination attempt. Yanzhi uses her umbrella to take out one assassin but Ruoyu is worthless because of the pill Aunt Cheng Xi gave her. The Emperor kills one with a dagger he hid in his sleeve. Yan Xiu rushes in with the rest of Yanzhi’s followers behind. Ruoyu accuses Yanzhi of being behind the attempt - Yanzhi accuses Ruoyu - the Emperor decides it’s time to return to the palace.
Ruoyu asks her aunt to detoxify the pill she took so she can defend the Emperor. Cheng Xi gives her pills to take for three days. She thinks the attempt was a plot by Yanzhi to gain the Emperor’s trust and Ruoyu agrees.
Yanzhi and Zhi Xiu discuss the assassination attempt in Yanzhi’s room. Yan Xiu thinks it was orchestrated by the Ziyi Bureau to gain the Emperor’s trust - or rather, to build affection between Ruoyu and the Emperor as they survive life and death situations together. Yanzhi wants evidence and doesn’t believe this was by the Ziyi Bureau because Ruoyu can’t use martial arts right now. She notes that Qiu Ziliang’s birthday is coming up.
In the palace Ruoyu polishes her sword and Yanzhi and Qi Yan read books. Eunuch Gao Ping arrives with a message from Duke Chu (Qiu Ziliang). He doesn’t want a big party but he does want to see the ladies from Ziyi Bureau do a sword dance. Ruoyu is outraged - Ziyi Bureau doesn’t perform for servants. Eunuch Gao counters that Lady Gongsun (the prior swordbearer and someone Ruoyu idolizes) performed for some event honoring the founding emperor of the dynasty. Ruoyu argues more and the Emperor asks Uncle Huai why he hasn’t taught his niece to speak properly. Uncle Huai hisses at Ruoyu, Ruoyu pouts, Yanzhi has a tiny smile of amusement. The Emperor tells the eunuch that he understands and the eunuch can tell Duke Chu that it will be well prepared.
Ruoyu asks Yanzhi if this is her idea - Yanzhi scolds her (indirectly) that her words criticizing Ziliang could bring harm to her, her aunt and uncle, and even the Emperor. Ruoyu remembers the Emperor teaching her about being “prey” and she decides the Emperor is waiting for a chance to act. Yanzhi tells Ruoyu to go inform her aunt so there’s plenty of time to prepare so Ziliang is satisfied and the Emperor’s burden is lessened. The Emperor never looks up from his book as Ruoyu leaves.
Ruoyu suggests to her aunt that she assassinate Duke Chu during the dance. Aunt Cheng Xi is furious and takes back the antidote she gave Ruoyu. Li Rong runs in and after Ruoyu leaves she consoles Cheng Xi that if Ruoyu didn’t have amnesia she’d understand Cheng Xi’s concerns. Cheng Xi says that if killing Ziliang was easy she would have succeeded but they need the Emperor. She needs to awaken the Emperor’s fighting spirit.
Ruoyu dreams again that Qi Yan kills her by shooting her with an arrow. This time Qiu Ziliang is in a carriage behind Qi Yan. Once again she wakes up gasping and she wonders how she can have such a foolish dream as Qi Yan and Qui Ziliang killing her.
The ladies are waiting outside the Ziyi Bureau. Ruoyu complains that Ziliang is making them wait in the cold. The Emperor arrives - before he can enter Ziliang arrives with his faction of officials. The ladies perform their dance with Ruoyu as the focal dancer. Ziliang notes that she has excellent rhythm and form. Yanzhi says she has no martial arts and Ziliang says Yanzhi needs to take Ziyi and make it hers. Ruoyu’s friend Wu attempts to assassinate Ziliang. Yanzhi blocks Wu’s sword with her body while Ruoyu grabs the blade with her bare hand. Yan Xiu intervenes and knocks Wu back and down. Ruoyu stops Yan Xiu from killing Wu. When asked who sent her, Wu says it was the Emperor.
Wu is turned over to Yanzhi for interrogation. Ruoyu begs for the chance to participate in the “trial”. Ziliang gives permission and then Ruoyu faints.
Qi Yan is polishing his bow when Cheng Xi arrives and asks for punishment. She says Wu was part of Ziyu Bureau for eight years and no one suspected she was an assassin. Qi Yan asks how his swordbearer is doing. Cheng Xi says Ruoyu is still unconscious but not to worry, this is an old affliction and Ruoyu will be fine. Qi Yan says they’ll discuss matters (about Wu) when Ruoyu awakens.
Ruoyu wakes up and leaves to see Wu immediately. Li Rong tries to convince her to wait and recuperate a bit but Ruoyu needs to know why Wu did that.
A doctor is treating Wu. She’s chained up and has been tortured. Yanzhi and Yan Xiu are supervising. The doctor says Wu has only 24 hours left to live. Ruoyu arrives and is horrified at what Wu has been through. Yan Xiu starts suggesting other torture methods to get her to talk. Yanzhi gives Ruoyu a painkiller to give Wu.
Wu begs Ruoyu to kill her. The Emperor arrives but says he’s just there to watch. Ruoyu gives Wu the medicine. She tells Wu that they need to know the mastermind behind her or everyone in Ziyi Bureau will be at risk. She knows Wu can’t be bought, therefore her motive must be revenge.
Cheng Xi and Li Rong are burning documents. Cheng Xi is concerned about this matter because it will cause them problems - she’s not behind the assassination attempt. Li Rong doesn’t care what is discovered about Wu but she doesn’t want Ruoyu’s past revealed.
Soldiers arrive at the archives (I’m assuming that's what the room of books is) and demand all the files about the Ziyi Bureau.
Ruoyu is telling Wu to voice her complaints. The Emperor is right there and can give her justice. Ruoyu guesses Wu’s actions have to do with her father because she saw Wu making offerings to her father the night before. Yan Xiu retrieves the plaque with Ruoyu’s directions and they find that Wu’s father is Zheng Lu. Yan Xiu says that there’s no injustice - a traitor is dead. Wu says her father wasn’t a traitor. Ruoyu asks the Emperor to reopen the case for Wu. Wu glares at the Emperor and says he knows her father wasn’t a traitor and then asks for a quick death. The Emperor tells them to unchain her. He says he grants her wish.
Wu kills herself with a guard’s sword. Qi Yan declares the case closed. He says Wu got caught and isn’t entitled to make any requests. Ruoyu is grieving her friend and angry that the Emperor is closing the case like that. Qi Yan tells Yanzhi to go give Ziliang “the answer he likes” and he leaves. Ruoyu runs after him demanding an explanation. Qi Yan says they were traitors and Ruoyu repeats that her friend said they weren’t. Qi Yan tells her a sword is for killing and if something like this happens again she’s to cut the person’s head off. This time Ruoyu lets him go. Yanzhi walks out and wonders (to Ruoyu) how Wu escaped her family’s destruction, who got her into the palace, and why did Wu act now?
Ruoyu goes back to Wu’s body and sees Yan Xiu doing something to her. She pushes him away as she asks what he’s doing. He says he’s doing her a favor. He has a habit of helping unfortunate dead people reincarnate in decent shape. (He actually carries makeup with him for this purpose. That’s not weird at all.) He also hopes they won’t reincarnate as humans. He has cleaned and beautified Wu’s face.
Qi Yan is washing a bloody handkerchief.
Ruoyu is arguing with Aunt Cheng Xi that they need to keep investigating.
Qi Yan remembers the massacre of the Zheng family. He shot Wu himself.
Ruoyu has decided that Qi Yan and Ziliang are the villains in Wu’s story. Cheng Xi agrees but says their job remains that of protecting the Emperor. Ruoyu decided the Emperor is a tyrant and a monster. Cheng Xi says that there is no right or wrong in politics. A swordbearer doesn’t think and has no opinions - she just does as the Emperor orders. (Like Ruoyu is going to accept that. Has she just met the girl?)
Ruoyu asks her aunt to detoxify the pill she took so she can defend the Emperor. Cheng Xi gives her pills to take for three days. She thinks the attempt was a plot by Yanzhi to gain the Emperor’s trust and Ruoyu agrees.
Yanzhi and Zhi Xiu discuss the assassination attempt in Yanzhi’s room. Yan Xiu thinks it was orchestrated by the Ziyi Bureau to gain the Emperor’s trust - or rather, to build affection between Ruoyu and the Emperor as they survive life and death situations together. Yanzhi wants evidence and doesn’t believe this was by the Ziyi Bureau because Ruoyu can’t use martial arts right now. She notes that Qiu Ziliang’s birthday is coming up.
In the palace Ruoyu polishes her sword and Yanzhi and Qi Yan read books. Eunuch Gao Ping arrives with a message from Duke Chu (Qiu Ziliang). He doesn’t want a big party but he does want to see the ladies from Ziyi Bureau do a sword dance. Ruoyu is outraged - Ziyi Bureau doesn’t perform for servants. Eunuch Gao counters that Lady Gongsun (the prior swordbearer and someone Ruoyu idolizes) performed for some event honoring the founding emperor of the dynasty. Ruoyu argues more and the Emperor asks Uncle Huai why he hasn’t taught his niece to speak properly. Uncle Huai hisses at Ruoyu, Ruoyu pouts, Yanzhi has a tiny smile of amusement. The Emperor tells the eunuch that he understands and the eunuch can tell Duke Chu that it will be well prepared.
Ruoyu asks Yanzhi if this is her idea - Yanzhi scolds her (indirectly) that her words criticizing Ziliang could bring harm to her, her aunt and uncle, and even the Emperor. Ruoyu remembers the Emperor teaching her about being “prey” and she decides the Emperor is waiting for a chance to act. Yanzhi tells Ruoyu to go inform her aunt so there’s plenty of time to prepare so Ziliang is satisfied and the Emperor’s burden is lessened. The Emperor never looks up from his book as Ruoyu leaves.
Ruoyu suggests to her aunt that she assassinate Duke Chu during the dance. Aunt Cheng Xi is furious and takes back the antidote she gave Ruoyu. Li Rong runs in and after Ruoyu leaves she consoles Cheng Xi that if Ruoyu didn’t have amnesia she’d understand Cheng Xi’s concerns. Cheng Xi says that if killing Ziliang was easy she would have succeeded but they need the Emperor. She needs to awaken the Emperor’s fighting spirit.
Ruoyu dreams again that Qi Yan kills her by shooting her with an arrow. This time Qiu Ziliang is in a carriage behind Qi Yan. Once again she wakes up gasping and she wonders how she can have such a foolish dream as Qi Yan and Qui Ziliang killing her.
The ladies are waiting outside the Ziyi Bureau. Ruoyu complains that Ziliang is making them wait in the cold. The Emperor arrives - before he can enter Ziliang arrives with his faction of officials. The ladies perform their dance with Ruoyu as the focal dancer. Ziliang notes that she has excellent rhythm and form. Yanzhi says she has no martial arts and Ziliang says Yanzhi needs to take Ziyi and make it hers. Ruoyu’s friend Wu attempts to assassinate Ziliang. Yanzhi blocks Wu’s sword with her body while Ruoyu grabs the blade with her bare hand. Yan Xiu intervenes and knocks Wu back and down. Ruoyu stops Yan Xiu from killing Wu. When asked who sent her, Wu says it was the Emperor.
Wu is turned over to Yanzhi for interrogation. Ruoyu begs for the chance to participate in the “trial”. Ziliang gives permission and then Ruoyu faints.
Qi Yan is polishing his bow when Cheng Xi arrives and asks for punishment. She says Wu was part of Ziyu Bureau for eight years and no one suspected she was an assassin. Qi Yan asks how his swordbearer is doing. Cheng Xi says Ruoyu is still unconscious but not to worry, this is an old affliction and Ruoyu will be fine. Qi Yan says they’ll discuss matters (about Wu) when Ruoyu awakens.
Ruoyu wakes up and leaves to see Wu immediately. Li Rong tries to convince her to wait and recuperate a bit but Ruoyu needs to know why Wu did that.
A doctor is treating Wu. She’s chained up and has been tortured. Yanzhi and Yan Xiu are supervising. The doctor says Wu has only 24 hours left to live. Ruoyu arrives and is horrified at what Wu has been through. Yan Xiu starts suggesting other torture methods to get her to talk. Yanzhi gives Ruoyu a painkiller to give Wu.
Wu begs Ruoyu to kill her. The Emperor arrives but says he’s just there to watch. Ruoyu gives Wu the medicine. She tells Wu that they need to know the mastermind behind her or everyone in Ziyi Bureau will be at risk. She knows Wu can’t be bought, therefore her motive must be revenge.
Cheng Xi and Li Rong are burning documents. Cheng Xi is concerned about this matter because it will cause them problems - she’s not behind the assassination attempt. Li Rong doesn’t care what is discovered about Wu but she doesn’t want Ruoyu’s past revealed.
Soldiers arrive at the archives (I’m assuming that's what the room of books is) and demand all the files about the Ziyi Bureau.
Ruoyu is telling Wu to voice her complaints. The Emperor is right there and can give her justice. Ruoyu guesses Wu’s actions have to do with her father because she saw Wu making offerings to her father the night before. Yan Xiu retrieves the plaque with Ruoyu’s directions and they find that Wu’s father is Zheng Lu. Yan Xiu says that there’s no injustice - a traitor is dead. Wu says her father wasn’t a traitor. Ruoyu asks the Emperor to reopen the case for Wu. Wu glares at the Emperor and says he knows her father wasn’t a traitor and then asks for a quick death. The Emperor tells them to unchain her. He says he grants her wish.
Wu kills herself with a guard’s sword. Qi Yan declares the case closed. He says Wu got caught and isn’t entitled to make any requests. Ruoyu is grieving her friend and angry that the Emperor is closing the case like that. Qi Yan tells Yanzhi to go give Ziliang “the answer he likes” and he leaves. Ruoyu runs after him demanding an explanation. Qi Yan says they were traitors and Ruoyu repeats that her friend said they weren’t. Qi Yan tells her a sword is for killing and if something like this happens again she’s to cut the person’s head off. This time Ruoyu lets him go. Yanzhi walks out and wonders (to Ruoyu) how Wu escaped her family’s destruction, who got her into the palace, and why did Wu act now?
Ruoyu goes back to Wu’s body and sees Yan Xiu doing something to her. She pushes him away as she asks what he’s doing. He says he’s doing her a favor. He has a habit of helping unfortunate dead people reincarnate in decent shape. (He actually carries makeup with him for this purpose. That’s not weird at all.) He also hopes they won’t reincarnate as humans. He has cleaned and beautified Wu’s face.
Qi Yan is washing a bloody handkerchief.
Ruoyu is arguing with Aunt Cheng Xi that they need to keep investigating.
Qi Yan remembers the massacre of the Zheng family. He shot Wu himself.
Ruoyu has decided that Qi Yan and Ziliang are the villains in Wu’s story. Cheng Xi agrees but says their job remains that of protecting the Emperor. Ruoyu decided the Emperor is a tyrant and a monster. Cheng Xi says that there is no right or wrong in politics. A swordbearer doesn’t think and has no opinions - she just does as the Emperor orders. (Like Ruoyu is going to accept that. Has she just met the girl?)
Ruoyu shows up at the archives. Yanzhi and Yan Xiu are there already. Yanzhi says they’re too late - someone already cleared out the records. The books were flawlessly altered too. Ruoyu notices that both Wu and her records were written in different ink, though. She checks with her aunt and is told that both books were recopied after tea was spilled on them. Cheng Xi warns Ruoyu not to get too close to Yanzhi and Ruoyu assures her aunt that she knows her “line” (not to cross). After Ruoyu leaves Li Rong says it was fortunate they made preparations for a day like this. Cheng Xi wonders at the coincidence that the record they also damaged to make Ruoyu’s record alteration less obvious just happened to be Wu’s. Li Rong is worrying about Ruoyu - Cheng Xi is worrying about Yanzhi. She’s a “little fox raised by an old fox”.
Yanzhi realizes that the Ziyi Bureau is missing hundreds of people. The prior Emperor allowed 1000 recruits but Ziyi has only 36 members right now. Also the Emperor’s hunting trips cost enough to maintain a second camp like Jiangqi. Yanzhi also wonders why Qi Yan has kept Cheng Xi and Huai Zhi next to him when they were both the prior emperor’s people and presumably not loyal to Qi Yan. (In fact many people believe Qi Yan killed his brother, the prior emperor, for the throne.)
Yanzhi is playing chess with Ziliang now - and they are discussing the assassination attempts. Yanzhi feels they are deliberate provocations. Ziyi has been hiding its power and a third party realized that. This third party wants to pit Ziyi against Jiangqi.
Ruoyu reports to the Emperor that the altered records were due to an accident, not fraud. The Emperor accuses her of wanting to keep investigating with Qiu Yanzhi. Ruoyu wants to keep investigating but not with Yanzhi. Qi Yan kicks over a small bookcase and repeats that the case is closed. Ruoyu says “No. It’s not closed.” (Anyone else getting Wei Yingluo vibes? Only not as smart as her?)
Uncle Huai drops to his knees and puts his head to the floor, shaking. Ruoyu continues her argument: If she doesn’t figure out this case she won’t know who to protect the Emperor from. Qi Yan says she’s no longer swordbearer then. He starts to leave but she grabs his sleeve. It was apparently very poorly made because the entire bottom half of his sleeve rips off in her hand. Qi Yan tells Uncle Huai to take his decree: Ruoyu is no longer swordbearer and is now a commoner. She must leave the palace and never return. Ruoyu throws down the half of his sleeve she’s holding and says: “Who cares?” before striding away.
As Ruoyu packs Li Rong tries to convince her to wait and let Aunt Cheng Xi convince the Emperor. Ruoyu is sad that she has failed them all but she’s determined. She tells Aunt Cheng Xi that she never wanted to be the swordbearer anyway - she just wanted to be close to her aunt. Ruoyu also says with her abilities she’ll be fine. Cheng Xi gives her the antidote to unlock her martial abilities (again) and suggests she go stay at Aunt Cai’s tavern for now. Ruoyu thinks this is a fine idea because now she can have biáng biáng noodles every day. She asks her aunt to return the Sword of Light (Qingguang) to the Emperor but her aunt says he hasn’t asked for it so she should keep it for now.
Qi Yan looks at his Shifu’s brush again and thinks that when the Heavens give a man a big task they will first make him suffer to learn perseverance and any other abilities he might need. (It’s my impression that these might be words his Shifu told him but it’s not clear.) Qi Yan then says he doesn’t need help or to know. He doesn’t trust anyone. “So… just go.” (Ruoyu isn’t there but this seems to be directed at her.)
Yan Xhi reports to Ziliang that Ruoyu was expelled by Qi Yan. Ziliang says that the enemy’s moves are out of Yanzhi’s control. Yanzhi says that Qi Yan concealing Ziyi’s strength requires them to protect Ruoyu. Ziliang wonders; if Yanzhi’s speculation is correct, why did Qi Yan close Wu’s case so quickly? Yanzhi: “To prevent clues about how she got into the palace.” Ziliang says they need evidence.
It’s night and Ruoyu is visiting the Zheng manor - Wu’s childhood home. Qi Yan is there dressed in black with a black scarf over his lower face. Ruoyu senses his presence and uses her magic Ziyi purple ribbon to grab his ankle and pull him out of hiding. They fight and he comes out on top. He tells her the Sword of Light is like scrap iron in her hands. (That man and his sweet talking…) Ruoyu fights with him again, a bit more forcefully but he’s winning again when someone else arrives. He covers her mouth, has a sword to her neck, and pulls them both into hiding. The men are looking for her but don’t see her - they leave. She starts to move out but he pulls her back against him. The men return and this time they believe she isn’t there.
Qi Yan criticizes her kung fu again and she hits him with her head (but there’s no force behind it.) He pushes her away from him. They won’t meet again, he says, because people like her get killed quickly. She bets that she’ll live long enough for them to meet again and says she’ll beat him that time. He throws her sword at her and she catches it in her scabbard.
The next morning Eunuch Gao notices and secretes some purple thread from Qi Yan’s boot. Qi Yan asks Eunuch Huai what his niece is doing. He tells the Emperor she’s selling liquor at Aunt Cai’s.
Yanzhi receives the threads and instantly knows it’s Ruoyu’s. (Swordbearers have FIVE silver threads in their ribbons.) She knows Qi Yan and Ruoyu met at the Zhang house. (My impression is that she thinks it was a rendezvous, not an accidental meeting.)
Aunt Cai goes shopping for vegetables and asks Ruoyu to mind the tavern. One of the Jiangqi spies (they’re keeping tabs on Ruoyu) starts to lure her from the tavern but the Emperor arrives (by himself, no bodyguards) before she gets through the front door. He says he’s there for biáng biáng noodles. Ruoyu tells him Aunt Cai is out and he should leave. He asks for alcohol instead.
Ruoyu brings a jug and he waits for her to test it for him. She says she isn’t his swordbearer anymore so why should she? He waits silently until she gives in. She says she’s doing it because he’s a guest and she’s the shopowner. She spits the wine out and runs to get another jug. This one is nasty too. He tries this one and gets up to inform the officials that Cai’s is selling watered wine. Ruoyu says it was an accident - the rain got into it. No, wait… it was her. She’s naughty and she likes watered wine. He asks her if she really wants to commit the crime of lying to the Emperor.
Ruoyu asks him if he wants to kick her out of Heng’an now that he’s kicked her out of the palace. Yes he does - she disobeyed his order. He was kind enough to let her go. She tells him to kill her then because she’s just going to keep investigating.
“Cheng Ruoyu, do you really think I won’t kill you?”
“Pity that I’m not afraid to die. Knowing that a friend is suffering and I’m not able to save her, knowing that injustice killed a friend and I’m unable to make an appeal, knowing that your Majesty is inhumane and I’m unable to discourage you, all these are more terrible than death.”
They do a little
Yan Xiu reports to Ziliang and Yanzhi that the Emperor went to Cai’s tavern to see Ruoyu and they’re being attacked by assassins. Yanzhi says they’ll know soon now if Qi Yan is disloyal.
Ruoyu runs out of the front of the tavern but stops in the street. She argues with herself that she’s not his swordbearer anymore and he deserves to die anyway. Besides, he insulted her kungfu. She decides she doesn’t want him hurt anyway and returns. Qi Yan has already defeated the assassins but she does kick one trying to flee back into the courtyard. She starts to interrogate the assassin but more assassins on the rooftop kill the ones in the courtyard with poisoned needles. Ruoyu gives chase but the Emperor just sits there waiting.
Yan Xiu reports that all the assassins were killed and the killers vanished without a trace. Ziliang talks about blunders (in chess) being due to incompetence and then declares “checkmate”. (This is too cryptic for me - I’m just a blundering American.)
Ruoyu returns to the Emperor and he mocks her for losing the killers. She pouts. They argue - again - he leaves. She asks what to do about the bodies and he tells her to report it to the officials.
Yanzhi and Yan Xiu examine the bodies of the assassins in the morgue. They discover poisoned silver acupuncture needles. Yanzhi thinks this is a great clue because very few poisons kill that fast. She also notes this is the weapon used by Zheng Wu. (Except it was a sword so I don’t even know what to make of this bit.)
Qi Yan is looking at his souvenirs again. He says; “It’s you, isn’t it?” Then he remembers Ruoyu in the tavern and concludes that she knows nothing about the things with the Ziyi Bureau. He says he wants her out of the capital before she spoils things.
Three days later Ruoyu is outside the government office. She wants answers about the assassins. The official says she’s just a commoner who isn’t entitled to answers. She stomps away grumbling about corrupt officials and stupid emperors. She has a mini-flashback of the Emperor at the tavern. Behind her a crowd is forming at the doors to the government office but she walks off without seeming to notice the protesters. She does, however, notice the man tailing her.
Uncle Huai brings an old eunuch to the Emperor. He says that Prince An was picked up by Ziliang’s men.
Ruoyu heads down a dead end, luring the spy. She captures the spy but doesn’t seem to notice that a person threw a silver needle through the spy’s leg.
Qi Yan tells Uncle Huai that Ziliang’s actions are to warn him that if he doesn’t behave he’ll be replaced.
Someone cleans up all traces of the needle.
Ruoyu gets the spy drunk (which takes a lot because Aunt Cai waters her booze) and then sets him free.
Prince An is weak and slows her down. Yanzhi catches them but escorts them to a secret entrance (that looks exactly like the one Chancellor Wang and his granddaughters fled through). Yanzhi says this will lead them out but that only one can leave. Either Ruoyu kills her and escapes with Prince An (proving her loyalty to the Emperor but being ungrateful to Yanzhi) or she leaves Prince An and pretends nothing happened (showing her gratitude to Yanzhi). Ruoyu protests that if she stays behind they’ll be able to recapture Prince An easily - which makes the whole thing pointless. (I was tickled by how completely she missed Yanzhi’s set up.) Yanzhi lets them both go.
Yan Xiu has investigated and found that the poisoned needles that killed the assassins were Zheng Lu’s. Yanzhi senses a frame up.
Ruoyu takes Prince An to Aunt Cheng Xi. Cheng Xi wonders if it’s a trap. She takes Prince An to Prince Guang. He is also known as Qi Chen and he is An’s uncle. He lives in seclusion and is good with medicine. Cheng Xi apologizes for putting Guang at risk but Guang thanks her for saving his nephew. A pigeon brings Ziliang the news that Prince Guang and Cheng Xi have helped Prince An. Moments later a messenger arrives with a note from Prince Guang saying that Prince An was accidentally poisoned and he’s helping him. Ziliang summons Yanzhi.
Ziliang has her recite the three groups he told her to never dispose of: Princes, cliques, and Prince Guang. Yanzhi wants to know if he’s angry that Prince Guang is involved with this. She tells Ziliang that she let Prince An go to see what Cheng Xi did. If she went to Qi Yan then they’d know he was disloyal but if she hid Prince An they’d follow her. She never expected Cheng Xi to take Prince An to Guang. She wants to know why Guang is not disposable.
Eunuch Gao is reading memorandums to Qi Yan. One says that Governor Lu Cong has died. Lu Cong was his Aunt Ninghe’s husband. Qi Yan orders that his condolences be sent to his aunt and that all her requests must be agreed to. Qi Yan receives a message from Guang saying that Prince An had been accidentally poisoned and he was being treated at Guang’s residence.
Ziliang tells Yanzhi about his childhood with the former Emperor and how he helped him with everything but then the Emperor neglected him. The Emperor even wanted to get rid of him! (During this monologue he’s acting very, very strange.) Ziliang then explains that the former Emperor wrote a secret edict making Guang crown prince. But, he goes on, he didn’t want to kill Emperor Wen - he wanted him to suffer. That’s why he didn’t die until just the past year (so - eight years later). Before he died Ziliang tried to force him to change the edict but Emperor Wen killed himself rather than make the change. The edict was lost during the massacres 8 years ago so Ziliang keep Guang hostage and in his grip in case the edict is ever found. Yanzhi notes that it also keeps Qi Yan helpless. Ziliang tells her that her “fishing for bigger fish” was used by the enemy.
Qi Yan arrives at Guang’s place to check on his brother (Cheng Xi and Ruoyu are still there). Prince An is unconscious but Qi Yan sits by his side and brushes a stray hair from his face. He thanks Guang for saving An but Guang says he should thank Ruoyu because she saved An. Qi Yan doesn’t look thankful. Cheng Xi immediately kneels and apologizes. After a second, Ruoyu kneels too. Cheng Xi tells her to apologize and Ruoyu mutters that she’s not guilty. Guang hurries to reassure Qi Yan that he’s already apologized to Ziliang and it should be okay. Qi Yan says Ziliang might have accepted the apology on the surface but there’s more going on behind the scenes. After all, didn’t Ziliang cause his injury? (I have no idea what injury Guang is supposed to have.)
Ruoyu apologizes. She says she was right to save Prince An but wrong to cause so much trouble. Qi Yan sends Cheng Xi and Ruoyu away. Guang tells Qi Yan that Ruoyu is too simple to see his kindness. Qi Yan says he’s not being kind but Guang says his mouth is hard but his heart is soft. Guang knows he wants her out of harm’s way. As they talk Qi Yan brings up the edict but Guang says it never existed. Qi Yan doesn’t seem happy with that response. Then they talk about Ruoyu and Guang says that people with a chivalrous heart, like Ruoyu, are the ones who will die for you in a critical moment.
Yanzhi finds a link between the missing Ziyi women and Cai’s Tavern. She sends Yan Xiu to arrest Aunt Cai. Yan Xiu arrests her (in front of Ruoyu) for not paying her alcohol tax and (after taking a mouthful of wine) for selling fake wine. Ruoyu sneaks into the palace to report this to Aunt Cheng Xi - Qi Yan happens to notice her and changes into his black suit to follow her. Li Rong has already been informed of Cai’s arrest and she and Cheng Xi discuss that. Cheng Xi says Aunt Cai needs to follow her husband (in death). They talk about their 300 “forged swords” as Ruoyu pauses just outside the room. Qi Yan is a little behind her and tries to stop her when she starts to enter the room. They spar for a moment before a purple ribbon wraps around Ruoyu’s ankle and pulls her down. Qi Yan flees.
Cheng Xi and Li Rong are relieved to learn that Ruoyu didn’t hear their conversation. Qi Yan now suspects that the Ziyi Bureau is hiding people from him. Aunt Cai is killed - Yan Xiu was watching and follows the killer to the Pure Jade House. Yanzhi wants to use Ruoyu to pull the third party into the light.
[Ep6] Yanzhi enters Cai’s Tavern to tell Ruoyu that Cai is dead. Ruoyu asks her why she killed Aunt Cai. Yanzhi said she hasn’t learned what she wanted to know so how could she be the killer. Ruoyu asks Yanzhi how Cai died and is told “poison”. Yanzhi gives her a ledger from Pure Jade House and Ruoyu asks her why would she give such an important clue? (Finally learning some caution?) Yanzhi says Ruoyu still owes her a favor and she wants Ruoyu to find the assassin.
Qi Yan is
In his room Qi Yan examines the household accounts and is surprised at how much he spends on wine during his fox hunts. Eunuch Huai begins to sob.
Ruoyu grumbles about Yanzhi’s assignment but she’s going anyway. Qi Yan follows her as she leaves the tavern. (It amused me when she resealed the government tape blocking the doors after she left. The girl is not good with rules.)
Huai meets with his sister Cheng Xi, worried because the Emperor is missing from his bed. He also tells her that Qi Yan noticed the wine bill and begs his sister to tell him she’s not the cause of this.
Ruoyu sneaks into the Pure Jade House. Qi Yan speculates that this is where those missing swords are. He now feels that Ruoyu conspired with Cheng Xi to deceive him. Cheng Xi gets a message that two people have snuck into Pure Jade House. They aren’t all gone, Li Rong tells her (because they only had six hours) and Cheng Xi is concerned. Pure Jade House has an automatic “kill all intruders” mandate. Yan Xiu meets up with Yanzhi and says their plan against Cheng Xi is now active.
Ruoyu is exploring the vacant building. There are clothes and instruments but no people. She’s in a kind of hallway that extends around an open hexagonal space. There are openings to this space at intervals in the hallway. Qi Yan is watching her from hiding.
Ruoyu wonders if this is an opera troup and decides to use her special power (of troublemaking). She makes noise on the instruments and starts telling whoever is hiding to come out and face her. Qi Yan is confused since he thought she knew what this place was. She steps into the open area but notices Qi Yan - they race around the hallway until they finally meet and she attacks him. They end up in the center of the open space and activate a trap. Their fight is suspended while they try to avoid the many (many, many) darts flying at them. Qi Yan saves Ruoyu from one by throwing his sword.
An alarm sounds and Yanzhi’s men rush into the building. Qi Yan and Ruoyu luckily step on the mechanism to stop the trap and stand in the very center of the room. A trapdoor opens and drops them into a room just as Yanzhi’s men race into the room. Ruoyu is suddenly afflicted with a terrible headache. (They’re connected to her amnesia somehow.) She remembers her dream of Qi Yan shooting her and demands to know “who are you?”. He pulls down his mask and her headache intensifies. He tells her she can’t get sick right now and when that doesn’t help gives her a liquid he just happens to be carrying with him. In the room above Yanzhi’s people activate the trap. Qi Yan asks her if she’s feeling better. She puts her hand between his eyes and her face (not touching him) and cries. Up above, Yanzhi’s men are dropping like flies.
Qi Yan has a dart in his leg from the trap above. Ruoyu pulls it out and binds up his leg with a cloth she ripped from her robe. They search for an exit from the room. Yanzhi is trying to figure out how to stop the mechanism. Qi Yan realizes it’s Yanzhi up there and Ruoyu tells him that Yanzhi told her to search for Aunt Cai’s killer here. He tells her they both fell into a trap. He needs to get away before they find him here. Ruoyu says that she’ll stall them when they attack so he can get away. (I find myself wondering what happened to him being a tyrant and a monster…)
They trigger another trap in their search for an exit. Ruoyu pushes Qi Yan out of the way and Qi Yan pulls her to him to avoid another dart. Ruoyu grabs him and takes a dart to her shoulder, knocking them both down. (He doesn’t realize she’s hit.) She’s on top of him - again. He remembers Guang saying only someone with a chivalrous heart like hers would take a sword for him in a crisis.
The trapdoor above opens and Qi Yan pushes them both against a wall - the wall slides away and they fall into a passageway. The wall slides back. Up above Yan Xiu swears he saw two people fall into that room. He jumps down to investigate.
Qi Yan and Ruoyu exit the passageway into some woods. He’s limping and she’s struggling to keep up. Finally she leans against a tree and asks for a break. She wonders who rang the bell and who helped them escape. She also asks Qi Yan why he wouldn’t let her investigate Wu and the assassins. He tells her it would dig up matters from eight years ago. He admits it was him who let Wu go eight years ago but he had nothing to do with her return to the palace. Ruoyu passes out and Qi Yan finally realizes she’s hurt. He calls her a fool before picking her up and limping through the woods. Cheng Xi watches them go.
Qui Ziliang is furious with Yanzhi’s failure. He makes her ask for 30 lashes with his horsetail scepter-thingie.
Eunuch Huai sobs as Qi Yan treats the dart wound on his leg. Qi Yan asks why he’s crying about such a minor injury. Qi Yan says he should worry about his niece (who is currently unconscious on the dragon bed). Huai begs him to never sneak out like that - it’s too dangerous. Qi Yan is instantly suspicious and wants to know what Huai knows about the danger he was in. Huai points out that Ruoyu and Qi Yan came back injured. Ruoyu stirs and Qi Yan goes to her.
Cheng Xi is furious. She now realizes that since Cai’s arrest she’s been maneuvered step by step into a trap. It’s clear Qi Yan knows something about her swords. She decides she must confess to the Emperor before she loses his trust.
Yan Xiu helps Yanzhi into her room. She’s obviously hurting a lot from her punishment. She’s going to keep working, though, and sends him to investigate the personal items the women left behind at Pure Jade House.
Cheng Xi meets with Qi Yan. She hid the 300 women because Emperor Wen wanted them to be used by an Emperor with ambitions and goals for the country. She tells him the women are hiding on Qi Mountain. Last night, she says, was Qiu Yanzhi sowing dissention between them.
Guang’s aide shows up to tell him that the women of Pure Jade House are safe on Qi Mountain. Guang says that it’s pointless because Qi Yan can’t fight Qiu Ziliang without support. He decides he must return to the capital (palace?). His aide reminds him that the Dowager Empress hates him and Qi Yan probably doesn’t trust him either. Also, Qiu Ziliang won’t harm him if he does nothing but if Guang returns all bets are off. Guang says all he cares about is creating “benevolence, peace, and prosperity in the world”.
[Ep7] Cheng Xi talks to Qi Yan. She suspects Qiu Yanzhi is behind the assassination attempts. Ruoyu is listening from the Emperor’s bed. (She’s pretty weak from that dart in her back.) Qi Yan asks Cheng Xi how long she planned to hide the extra 300 people from him if he hadn’t found them already. She says she’s guilty and asks for punishment. Qi Yan says that after Ruoyu recovers she will be the leader of Ziyi Bureau and Pure Jade House. Ruoyu tries to protest but is too weak to actually speak. Cheng Xi protests that Ruoyu was demoted. Qi Yan says that Ruoyu is returned to her Swordbearer status as well as being the leader of the two groups of fighters. Ruoyu tries once again to protest but faints. Cheng Xi asks to check her niece’s pulse. She says she can’t treat Ruoyu and asks if she can take her to Prince Guang’s place. Qi Yan says he’ll take Ruoyu himself. He tells Cheng Xi to stay in Ziyi Bureau and tend to her ailments. (Since Cheng Xi is not injured I assume this is just another way of grounding her.)
Guang treats Ruyou. He and Qi Yan have an amicable conversation as family.
Yanzhi refuses the medicine Yan Xiu offers her (to deal with the pain of being lashed). The medicine is from Guang and Yanzhi feels he isn’t trustworthy since he stands to gain the most from Qi Yan and Qiu Ziliang fighting each other. Yan Xiu disagrees with Yanzhi’s conclusion because there’s no way for him to take the throne when there are younger princes that Ziliang could control more easily. Yanzhi’s asks: “What if he has the edict?” but then immediately says there’s no way he could have the edict. She decides to test him.
Guang now brings up Qi Yan’s injuries. He says the Emperor puts himself in danger by investigating matters on his own. Previous Emperors sent someone else to do the investigating. Guang offers to return to the palace and help Qi Yan. Qi Yan seems to appreciate the offer but says it will have to be handled carefully (since neither DE nor Ziliang want Guang in the Capital). Yan Xiu arrives but by the time he enters the room Guang is all alone.
Yan Xiu sees the Chief Advisor of Jiangqu Camp openly watching Guang. Guang tells Yan Xiu that he can report to Ziliang that he is well and not doing anything shady.
Qi Yan is in his comfy silk robe. (Seriously - he’s got two of them for his down time in the room and they’re sumptuous looking. I want one - or both - or more in a rainbow of colors.) He’s remembering his conversations with Guang and Cheng Xi and he asks his reflection in the mirror if he believes their words. Then he looks at the broken Sword of Light and remembers Ruoyu arguing with him that she must investigate who is behind the assassinations to protect him effectively. Qi Yan decides he doesn’t believe what the others say but she’s different. Maybe she is his Swordbearer. Qi Yan orders Eunuch Gao to have the Sword of Light repaired. (I’m no expert on swords but I’m pretty sure this is a bad idea in the real world. Repairing broken metal leaves a weak point for it to break again. However this is fantasy land and Ruoyu has cooperative scriptwriters so I’m sure the sword will be good as new.)
The next day Qi Yan visits his grandmother again. She approves of him attending court. He asks her if he can bring Prince Guang back to the palace to plan her birthday celebration. She hates Prince Guang so she hates this suggestion. She brings up the rumors that both of the previous Emperors wanted to give Guang the throne. Qi Yan pointedly tells DE that he knows she spread the rumors to get the Emperors to kill Guang. He says they didn’t kill Guang and neither is he. He also says that Guang must return to show that the right person is on the throne right now. DE doesn’t like it but she tells Qi Yan to do what he wants. After he leaves she tells her attendant that she’s known 5 Emperors now and Qi Yan is the one she understands the least. Qi Yan has the eyes of a falcon, she says. Qui Ziliang thinks he knows how to raise falcons but this one will peck his eyes out.
Qi Yan is at court. He opens the session by bringing up the Dowager Empress’s birthday and asks if anyone has ideas about it. Crickets chirp. He asks Ziliang if he has any ideas. Ziliang feels this is a family matter. Qi Yan agrees and declares that he’ll call Prince Guang to the Palace to plan matters. As they leave the court Ziliang's faction surround him on the stairs asking what this is about. Ziliang decides to call for the Chief Advisor.
Ziliang questions the Chief Advisor who says Qi Yan and Guang met the day before but nothing unusual happened. When the Chief Advisor leaves Yanzhi comes out and wonders why Qi Yan would ask someone DE hates to plan her birthday and why would Guang agree? She speculates that they want to work together against Ziliang. Ziliang says that Chief Advisor (poor guy doesn’t even get a name) has watched Guang for 8 years and has always reported that he follows the rules. Yanzhi says military governors are rotated out every four years to keep familiarity (and compassion, I assume) from forming.
Chief Advisor shows up and says goodbye to Guang. Guang asks him if they suspect Chief Advisor but Chief Advisor says it doesn’t matter - he’s done nothing wrong. Guang says they’ve both stayed true to their hearts and gives him a Laughing Buddha plant that he knows the Chief Advisor loves as thanks for having been left in peace for so long. Chief Advisor says he doesn’t want it but Guang insists.
Yanzhi tracks down the Deputy Advisor in a room full of books and learns from him that Laughing Buddha has a poisonous root and the pollen can make you hallucinate. It kills when consumed. She wants to know if the person hallucinating is aware that they are hallucinating. Deputy Advisor says it’s like Zhuangzi’s butterfly dream. Then she asks how you can tell if someone is under its influence. He tells her they will suffer withdrawal symptoms if they don’t have access anymore. After she returns to her room she decides something is wrong. If Guang used the plant to control Chief Advisor then why didn’t he destroy the plant? Why did he give it to Chief Advisor? She decides that Guang revealed this on purpose because he’s planning something else. He’s testing her and he wants to meet her.
Ruoyu is healing but she’s sad because the Emperor is angry with her aunt. Guang tells her she was abducted as a child and rescued and that he was the one who healed her as a child and reunited her with her aunt. That was when she lost her memory. Qi Yan arrives and gives her the repaired Sword of Light. She’s happy, but surprised, that it’s in one piece. He says he repaired it because he promised to return it. She mutters that he promised her a hundred. He tells her to return to the palace with him but she’s reluctant. She asks him why he would trust her if he doesn’t trust her aunt. He says she’s different. He removed Cheng Xi from her position but kept Huai Zhi because, even though they are brother and sister, they are different from each other. Ruoyu confesses that she doesn’t trust herself. She joined Ziyi Bureau to be with her aunt. She became Swordbearer because her aunt wanted her to. Everything was for her aunt and she doesn’t know what she would do if her aunt told her to point her sword at the Emperor
Qi Yan tells her he’s glad she told him the truth - it’s seldom that people are honest with him. He still wants her to be his Swordbearer. She says she will with the condition that he let her keep investigating the assassination attempts. She doesn’t want Yanzhi to take over Ziyi Bureau and she feels she’s the only person who can help him take down Ziliang. He agrees and then answers her questions about A’Wu. Yes, he’s the one who let her live all those years ago. No, he didn’t bring her to the palace. He’s a bit perturbed that she threw away her second chance at life.
Back at the palace Cheng Xi admits to Ruoyu that Aunt Cai was killed on her orders. She hands Ruoyu a ledger with Pure Jade’s people and explains their code for sending messages and keeping record of missions. It looks like musical notations but it’s more about assassinations. Cheng Xi also tells Ruoyu that it isn’t her sword that protects the Emperor but her life. She’s the Emperor’s second life. Ruoyu is now in charge of Ziyi Bureau.
[Ep8] (I just realized that somewhere along the way I changed Ziliang’s name to Lijiang - don’t know why I got turned around like that but I am now using Ziliang and I apologize for the confusion.)
Ruoyu leaves a building, musing that she must be crazy to voluntarily return to the hard job of being the Swordbearer. Then she vows to A’Wu’s spirit that she’ll find the true cause of her death. Yanzhi shows up and congratulates her on her reinstatement. Ruoyu glares at her. Yanzhi says she was helping Ruoyu but Ruoyu says Yanzhi got what she wanted. (She proved Cheng Xi was hiding something important from the Emperor and got her demoted - at the very least.) Now Yanzhi claims she was helping the Emperor. Cheng Xi was naughty to hide those 300 fighters and should be punished. This makes Ruoyu even angrier that Yanzhi tried to get her aunt killed. Yanzhi denies that intention and claims to have only wanted to get Ruoyu a promotion. She says she doesn’t like Cheng Xi but she likes Ruoyu and then suggests they work together to figure out and eliminate the third party creating trouble. Ruoyu says they’re on different paths and can’t work together. Yanzhi tells Ruoyu that one day she’ll need her and to come by anytime. Ruoyu stalks off.
Qi Yan is looking at A’Wu’s stained cloth again. He remembers saving her and sending her to her father’s friend. This memory is mostly to explain that he’s shooting these girls in the back with a special arrow and just the right amount of force to make it look like they’re dead when they aren’t. He also remembers practicing this shot over and over again and almost giving up because it was so difficult to master. He muses that A’Wu’s father told her about that method. He also remembers that he shot three girls that way during that year and wonders what happened to the other two. He challenges them to come to him for revenge if they’re still alive. (My take is that his challenge is from a place of depression and guilt.)
Ruoyu walks into her room with wash water but hears a noise. She investigates the noise which leads her to the Emperor’s room. (Their rooms are right next to each other.) He’s putting out candles by shooting arrows over them. She walks in and he alters his aim just enough that she has to pull her head back to avoid the arrow - which she does easily. She then walks to his side and bows. He shoots and puts out a few more candles and then apologizes for the noise. She asks him if he wants to leave the castle this evening and mimes tying a scarf over her face. He mocks her skills (again) and she suggests he help her improve. Then she tells him about the conversation with Yanzhi and ends by saying maybe she shouldn’t have turned Yanzhi down. Maybe she should have accepted the offer and used it to learn more about Ziliang’s plans and Jiangqi Camp. Qi Yan scoffs at the notion that Ruoyu could master a counterstrategy. She says (as she’s said before) that she got top marks in Ziyi training school. (Since this is her claim for everything from archery to strategy I’m guessing that either the training school is terrible or someone has been lying to her. The Emperor is better than she is in every area.) He tells her to go to bed but while he’s trying to push her out the door they trip and she falls on top of them for an accidental kiss. Uncle Huai walks in before she gets up and is shocked (and delighted) and suggests that the Emperor rest now and talk things over in the morning. Ruoyu flees the room.
Guang is working with his herbs when Yanzhi and Yan Xiu show up. Yanzhi wants to know why he gave the Advisor the Buddha’s Laugh. Guang says he did it for her. She says she won’t eliminate the Advisor for him. He says he’s not the one who wants the Advisor gone - it’s her.
Ziliang is confronting the Chief Advisor about being bribed by “a pot of grass”. He’s holding the Buddha’s Laugh and Chief Advisor’s eyes never leave the plant. Ziliang asks if he’d like to confess and then drops the plant. The pot shatters. Chief Advisor falls to his knees trying to scrape the soil back over the roots of the plant. Then he stops, kowtows three times to Ziliang, and declares he’s no traitor before stabbing himself in the chest with a shard from the pot. (This is a small shard, mind you, but it kills the Chief Advisor. He’s apparently quite good with tiny weapons.) Yanzhi seems shocked by Chief Advisor’s actions and tells her godfather that people under the influence of Buddha’s Laugh don’t know they’re under its influence. Then she blames everything on Guang and suggests she go kill him. After all, Godfather can suppress anyone with the 120,000 Imperial Guards under his control. He says those troops are worthless against the hardened fighters of the Governor’s armies and says attacking Guang will simply inflame Qi Yan. He says: “It’s not time yet.”
Men arrive at Guang’s place and trash it. Guang doesn’t resist and tells his aide it will reassure “them”.
Qi Yan is teaching Ruoyu archery. This involves guards randomly throwing red balls in the air for her to shoot. She misses every time. Qi Yan guides her with his hands on hers (because there hasn’t been any skinship for minutes already) and they hit the target. She turns in his arms to thank him (with a big grin) and they stare into each other’s eyes. Eunuch Huai arrives with news of Guang’s arrival.
Guang and the Emperor are discussing Guang’s plans for the good deeds to be done in the Dowager Empress’s name (for her birthday). He also brings up the need for a family banquet but Qi Yan muses that the list of family members has declined recently. Ruoyu interrupts to ask the Emperor to send a message to Princess Ninghe to get back a bunch of rare music scores that she took with her from Ziyi Bureau. Qi Yan asks Eunuch Huai why he hasn’t told his niece the rules and Huai pulls her aside to scold her. (Poor Huai is always getting blamed for Ruoyu’s rudeness but it was Cheng Xi who raised her.) Ruoyu’s response to his scolding is to reiterate that it was a lot of music that went missing! Prince Guang is amused and tells the Emperor to enjoy this because it isn’t often there’s someone to tease in the Palace. Qi Yan says that’s why she gives him a headache.
Yan Xiu goes to the Deputy Advisor for help figuring out the poison the assassins used (to kill the other assassins). The Deputy Advisor is reading (for fun) and throws a scroll at him telling him to get out. Jiangqi Camp’s Deputy Advisor, Zuo Xiang, shows up and offers to help. Yan Xiu is disturbed that the man is present - there’s clearly bad blood between them - but he accepts the offer to help. He needs ten people, male and female, aged 10, 20 , 30, 50, and 70 to test the poison to figure out what kind it is. Yan Xiu says he’s crueler than he was a few months ago. Zuo Xiang says Yanzhi has accomplished nothing during her time as Camp Guardian and it’s time for her to be replaced.
Ruoyu is studying the Ziyi Bureau/Pure Jade House scrolls. Qi Yan (in his luscious red lounging robe) shows up. She knows someone is there but doesn’t look up to see who. She taps the table for more tea. The Emperor chooses to be amused and sits down to pour her some. She knocks it back and taps for a second cup. He pours it and then speaks before she drinks. She’s horrified to realize how rude she’s just been to the Emperor. She respectfully reports her findings about Pure Jade House to the Emperor and suggests she bring Pure Jade House back to Ziyi. He tells her to wait for a few days.
Zuo Xiang reveals the source of the poison - it’s Houtai (Blowfish) organs. This is remarkable because it’s the same poison that Emperor Wen died of and it’s apparently rare. Yan Xiu speculates that the assassins want revenge for Wen’s death.
Prince Guang is looking at Cheng Xi who kowtows to him and thanks him for sounding the alarm so the people of Pure Jade House could escape. In their ensuing conversation he mentions the third faction.
Ruoyu polishes the Sword of Light. (She and the Emperor are clearly a match made in heaven. One polishes his bow and the other polishes her sword. I can just see them polishing away on long winter evenings while the kiddos play at their feet.) She hears something and investigates. She sees a man in black enter the Emperor’s chambers. The man is about to speak when the Emperor notices Ruoyu not-quite blending into the curtains and tells her to join them. He introduces Han Ding, Knight General of the Qianniu Army. Ruoyu finds the Qianniu Army part surprising but doesn’t say much. Han Ding hands the Emperor a report on his findings. Qi Yan looks up from the report and says: “Hong Gu?”
Now Guang is explaining to Cheng Xi that after Wu was coerced into trying to assassinate Ziliang the third party engaged in a series of provocations. His assistant, Yuan Du, discovered that Wu only interacted with people of Ziyi Bureau with one exception - Hong Gu who works for the Lady of Hanling Hall. (I’m not sure who that’s supposed to be.) Hong Gu’s older sister was Wu’s nursemaid. Three days after Wu died Hong Gu “slipped” into a pool and drowned. Her original mistress was Princess Ninghe.
Han Ding tells the Emperor that the only letter Hong Gu received from outside the palace in the past year was from… The Emperor says: “Lucong”
(To clarify, because the back and forthing is giving me whiplash - and I watched it - basically Yuan Du and Han Ding are telling their respective masters pretty much the same thing and the show is switching between their rooms/conversations.)
Cheng Xi concludes the letter from Lucong must have been from Princess Ninghe. Yuan Du says the letter was destroyed so no one knows it’s contents but that after receiving it Hong Gu was happy and said her fortunes would soon revive. (She lost her rank when the Princess married out of the palace.) Cheng Xi feels this means that Princess Ninghe was planning to return and then says that it was impossible for her to return. Guang wants to know why. (Note: Guang and Ninghe are siblings.) Yuan Du says Ninghe’s first husband was removed from power by his generals and replaced by Shi Quanzhong. Quanzhong also became Ninghe’s second husband. It wasn’t long after that the Hong Gu got her letter. But then Chen Yintai colluded with the Zhen Wu army to kill Quanzhong. (Do I know who these people are? No.) Lucong is now in turmoil. Cheng Xi says Guang must bring Ninghe back but that Ziliang has a grudge against her. No one knows the story behind that. Cheng Xi speculates that Ninghe is the third party and is borrowing the Emperor’s hands to remove Ziliang so she can return.
Back to the Emperor: Han Ding went to Lucong personally. Ninghe is missing. Qi Yan tells him to keep searching and Han Ding heads off. Ruoyu asks Qi Yan if he thinks Ninghe is the third party and he says it’s possible. Then she asks if the rumors that he killed his brother for the throne are true.
Back to Guang: “Ninghe is simple and pure and would never do such a thing.” Cheng Xi counters that people change over 15 years. Guang doesn’t believe it and instructs Cheng Xi to investigate further. Cheng Xi suggests that if it IS Ninghe then that’s good for Guang. (Specifically, it’ll be good for him in taking the throne.)
Qi Yan asks Ruoyu how she would respond if the rumors were truth. She says Ziyi Bureau’s mandate is loyalty to the Emperor and how he got his throne isn’t in their purview. She goes on to say that she doesn’t believe the rumors, though, because Qi Yan isn’t that sort of person. He’s obviously touched by her faith.
Guang says that if Ninghe is the third party then he needs to stop her -- all the more if her plan is to put him on the throne. He will not touch a crown that has been sullied by unrest and the murder of his nephew.
(I swear, with Bob as my witless, that I’m trying to keep these recaps as short as possible.) Ha.
[Ep9] Qi Yan (in his gorgeous red lounging robe) is contemplating one of the bloody handkerchiefs in his collection. He has a flashback to watching a public shadow play and the late Emperor Wen joining. It was about some battle (that I know nothing about) and it inspires Qi Yan to tell his brother he wants to help Wen win “this battle”.
In the present Qi Yan muses that people think he killed his brother and that even he blames himself but there is one person who says it wasn’t him.
Prince Guang is told that Princess Ninghe (his sister) will soon return. He wonders if she’s really the third party in the conflict.
Qi Yan is in court reading a memorandum that says Princess Misha of Zhenwu has rescued Princess Ninghe from the rebels in Lucong. They’re escorting her back to Heng’an. Ziliang asks the messenger if that was Ninghe’s request. The messenger says that’s what Princess Misha said but isn’t it just right that they bring her to her home under these circumstances? Ziliang says the entire court go welcome her “home” when she arrives.
In Qi Yan’s chambers Ruoyu is trying to convince him that it’s too dangerous to let Ninghe back if she’s the third player. Qi Yan says it’s Ziliang’s idea. Ruoyu starts looking in records to find out why they have a grudge against each other. Qi Yan says it isn’t written down and flashback/tells her that the last he remembers is Ninghe told Ziliang that his actions have consequences and one day she will give back to him everything he gave to her. He told her that he knows she’ll return and everyone will be there to welcome her but what will it get her if it kills her? Emperor Wen looks pained. Ruoyu lists all the reasons why Ninghe is the third party and Qi Yan points out the major flaw in her reasoning. If she’s the third party then she should be waiting to return until Qi Yan or Ziliang had won against each other or both had defeated each other. Ruoyu agrees with this. Qi Yan says there are only two reasons for her return - 1) Lucong is too dangerous or 2) she’s not the third party but is bait.
In his chamber Ziliang tells Yanzhi to prepare for Ninghe’s big return. He’s going to grant her death and give a warning to all the officials in court at the same time. Then he asks Yan Xiu what the Emperor has been up to. Qi Yan hasn’t left the palace since he brought Ruoyu back. He’s just been practicing archery with her. Then Ziliang wants to know if Prince An has been brought back (from his maternal grandparents). He has and the grandparents are fine with obeying Ziliang as long as An can be crown prince. Yanzhi wants to know if it will cause them problems if the Emperor puts Ruoyu in an important position. No, because Ruoyu is just brave and not wise. (He’s kind of got a point. She’s almost painfully naive.) Then Ziliang notes that he misjudged Qi Yan back then. He says he taught Qi Yan martial arts for a few months and stopped because Qi Yan was too good at it. Then he had people teach him fox hunting and in a year Qi Yan was better than anyone else. In three years not even the imperial guards could defeat him. Ziliang doesn’t want Qi Yan to be good so he had pills created to weaken him and give him “peace of mind”. That’s when he placed Cheng Xi and Eunuch Huai at Qi Yan’s side. Prince An arrives - he’s clearly frightened. Ziliang compliments his cricket and tells him the best way to raise crickets is to make them fight.
Qi Yan is out hunting. He thinks it would be a good idea to bring his Pure Jade women back by sneaking them into Princess Ninghe’s entourage. Ruoyu isn’t so sure since Ziliang is against Ninghe - wouldn’t they be walking into a trap? Qi Yan says it’s up to her now and walks off. Ruoyu runs after him and trips on a branch right into his arms. They’re on the ground staring into each others eyes when a guard comes back to say they’ve found the prey he shot. Qi Yan throws an arrow at the guard (without looking) right through the guard’s helmet. He tells the guard to get lost because he’s “busy”. The guard leaves, grinning, and ushers his fellow guards away before they can get too close. Ruoyu kicks Qi Yan off of her and leaves, telling him that she’s sorry but her leg has a mind of its own. She’s grinning. He chooses to be amused.
In the palace everyone is gossiping about Ruoyu and she notices. Her uncle meets her and is very excited that she’s caught the Emperor’s eye. He tells her not to let the Emperor do anything inappropriate. It must be properly recorded when she serves him in bed in case she gets pregnant. Ruoyu runs off in embarrassment. When she enters the Emperor’s room the gossip is still going strong. He tells her to come rub his legs and she’s horrified. They do some talking with their eyes (“Get over here” “Everyone’s gossiping” “Get over here”) and he finally orders her again. When she complies he leans over to ask her why she’s still so dull. At the side Eunuch Gao is listening for all he’s worth while looking straight ahead. The Emperor very quietly tells her he has a task for her.
That evening Ruoyu goes to release a pigeon when Yan Xiu stops her. She breaks the message case on the pigeon’s leg which apparently destroys the message. (No clue how that was supposed to work but, whatever.) Yan Xiu hits her on the neck and knocks her out. Next we see, she’s standing in Yanzhi’s rooms with her arms tied behind her back. Yanzhi wants to know what was in the message. Ruoyu won’t say. Yanzhi orders the arrest of Ziyi Bureau. Ruoyu is angry but still not talking.
Flashback to Ruoyu and Qi Yan talking while she rubs his leg. They planned this to trick Yanzhi into thinking they’re going to protect Ninghe. Qi Yan told Ruoyu not to say anything because that would be out of character - someone else will confess.
Yan Xiu shows up with a burned scrap of a letter that Eunuch Gao “rescued” from Qi Yan’s brazier. Ruoyu wants to know why Ninghe can’t just come home. Yanzhi tells her that Prince An has already been brought back and that the Emperor is too weak to act against Ziliang. A man arrives to announce that the Emperor is looking for Ruoyu. Yan Xiu releases her hands and tells her to go back to the Emperor and stop making Yanzhi angry. After she leaves he tells Yanzhi that the Emperor treats her totally differently now that she’s back. He likes her. She says that’s just proximity and Yan Xiu asks about their years of proximity. She gives him a look and tells him to keep an eye out for Ninghe being moved to a different location.
Eunuch Huai is giving Qi Yan his medicine when Ruoyu arrives. Qi Yan wants Ruoyu to finish giving it to him. Huai scolds his niece for not being there when called for and ushers everyone else out of the room. Ruoyu holds a hand for Qi Yan to spit out the pill he didn’t swallow. The recorder is busy writing as Qi Yan orders Ruoyu to close his bed curtains. She obeys and then turns to leave but he pulls her into the bed with him. He tells her to sleep with him a while. She immediately closes her eyes. Huai is telling the recorder to get all this down.
Ruoyu keeps scooching away and Qi Yan keeps pulling her closer. Finally he asks her if she really thinks he asked her into the bed to sleep with her. This relieves her and she starts reporting about the encounter with Yanzhi. Eunuch Gao arrives with more medicine but Huai says the Emperor is already in bed. Qi Yan takes off his outer robe. Ruoyu covers her eyes. The recorder scribbles away. Qi Yan snuggles close to Ruoyu who is stiff and has her arms protecting her chest. Huai is still telling the recorder what to write about this encounter. Qi Yan tells Ruoyu to go to Mount Qi and check out the Pure Jade soldiers - make sure they’re trustworthy. Ruoyu asks Qi Yan if Ninghe is really the third party, would he still save her? Qi Yan mutters something about lust making a person lose their head and then tells her, yes he would. Huai is still telling the recorder to write about this wonderful bedroom adventure the Emperor is having when Qi Yan kicks Ruoyu out of bed (pretending to be angry) and orders her to go reflect in her room. He tells Huai to supervise her. The recorder earnestly asks Huai if he’s supposed to record those words too and Huai tells him to get lost.
Rong runs up to Cheng Xi and tells her Ruoyu has left the palace and Huai wants someone with Ruoyu’s figure to go to Ruoyu’s rooms. Cheng Xi sends Rong and then muses that Ruoyu must be heading to Mount Qi. She wonders what will happen when Ruoyu has control of those special soldiers (given Ruoyu’s temperament).
Zuo Xiang breaks into Yanzhi’s rooms looking for something. He decides to remove her painting of Shen Nong - which triggers a dart trap. He avoids the darts but his hand is turning red from a contact poison on the painting. He runs off. Yanzhi knows it was him and sends Yan Xiu after him.
In the present Qi Yan muses that people think he killed his brother and that even he blames himself but there is one person who says it wasn’t him.
Prince Guang is told that Princess Ninghe (his sister) will soon return. He wonders if she’s really the third party in the conflict.
Qi Yan is in court reading a memorandum that says Princess Misha of Zhenwu has rescued Princess Ninghe from the rebels in Lucong. They’re escorting her back to Heng’an. Ziliang asks the messenger if that was Ninghe’s request. The messenger says that’s what Princess Misha said but isn’t it just right that they bring her to her home under these circumstances? Ziliang says the entire court go welcome her “home” when she arrives.
In Qi Yan’s chambers Ruoyu is trying to convince him that it’s too dangerous to let Ninghe back if she’s the third player. Qi Yan says it’s Ziliang’s idea. Ruoyu starts looking in records to find out why they have a grudge against each other. Qi Yan says it isn’t written down and flashback/tells her that the last he remembers is Ninghe told Ziliang that his actions have consequences and one day she will give back to him everything he gave to her. He told her that he knows she’ll return and everyone will be there to welcome her but what will it get her if it kills her? Emperor Wen looks pained. Ruoyu lists all the reasons why Ninghe is the third party and Qi Yan points out the major flaw in her reasoning. If she’s the third party then she should be waiting to return until Qi Yan or Ziliang had won against each other or both had defeated each other. Ruoyu agrees with this. Qi Yan says there are only two reasons for her return - 1) Lucong is too dangerous or 2) she’s not the third party but is bait.
In his chamber Ziliang tells Yanzhi to prepare for Ninghe’s big return. He’s going to grant her death and give a warning to all the officials in court at the same time. Then he asks Yan Xiu what the Emperor has been up to. Qi Yan hasn’t left the palace since he brought Ruoyu back. He’s just been practicing archery with her. Then Ziliang wants to know if Prince An has been brought back (from his maternal grandparents). He has and the grandparents are fine with obeying Ziliang as long as An can be crown prince. Yanzhi wants to know if it will cause them problems if the Emperor puts Ruoyu in an important position. No, because Ruoyu is just brave and not wise. (He’s kind of got a point. She’s almost painfully naive.) Then Ziliang notes that he misjudged Qi Yan back then. He says he taught Qi Yan martial arts for a few months and stopped because Qi Yan was too good at it. Then he had people teach him fox hunting and in a year Qi Yan was better than anyone else. In three years not even the imperial guards could defeat him. Ziliang doesn’t want Qi Yan to be good so he had pills created to weaken him and give him “peace of mind”. That’s when he placed Cheng Xi and Eunuch Huai at Qi Yan’s side. Prince An arrives - he’s clearly frightened. Ziliang compliments his cricket and tells him the best way to raise crickets is to make them fight.
Qi Yan is out hunting. He thinks it would be a good idea to bring his Pure Jade women back by sneaking them into Princess Ninghe’s entourage. Ruoyu isn’t so sure since Ziliang is against Ninghe - wouldn’t they be walking into a trap? Qi Yan says it’s up to her now and walks off. Ruoyu runs after him and trips on a branch right into his arms. They’re on the ground staring into each others eyes when a guard comes back to say they’ve found the prey he shot. Qi Yan throws an arrow at the guard (without looking) right through the guard’s helmet. He tells the guard to get lost because he’s “busy”. The guard leaves, grinning, and ushers his fellow guards away before they can get too close. Ruoyu kicks Qi Yan off of her and leaves, telling him that she’s sorry but her leg has a mind of its own. She’s grinning. He chooses to be amused.
In the palace everyone is gossiping about Ruoyu and she notices. Her uncle meets her and is very excited that she’s caught the Emperor’s eye. He tells her not to let the Emperor do anything inappropriate. It must be properly recorded when she serves him in bed in case she gets pregnant. Ruoyu runs off in embarrassment. When she enters the Emperor’s room the gossip is still going strong. He tells her to come rub his legs and she’s horrified. They do some talking with their eyes (“Get over here” “Everyone’s gossiping” “Get over here”) and he finally orders her again. When she complies he leans over to ask her why she’s still so dull. At the side Eunuch Gao is listening for all he’s worth while looking straight ahead. The Emperor very quietly tells her he has a task for her.
That evening Ruoyu goes to release a pigeon when Yan Xiu stops her. She breaks the message case on the pigeon’s leg which apparently destroys the message. (No clue how that was supposed to work but, whatever.) Yan Xiu hits her on the neck and knocks her out. Next we see, she’s standing in Yanzhi’s rooms with her arms tied behind her back. Yanzhi wants to know what was in the message. Ruoyu won’t say. Yanzhi orders the arrest of Ziyi Bureau. Ruoyu is angry but still not talking.
Flashback to Ruoyu and Qi Yan talking while she rubs his leg. They planned this to trick Yanzhi into thinking they’re going to protect Ninghe. Qi Yan told Ruoyu not to say anything because that would be out of character - someone else will confess.
Yan Xiu shows up with a burned scrap of a letter that Eunuch Gao “rescued” from Qi Yan’s brazier. Ruoyu wants to know why Ninghe can’t just come home. Yanzhi tells her that Prince An has already been brought back and that the Emperor is too weak to act against Ziliang. A man arrives to announce that the Emperor is looking for Ruoyu. Yan Xiu releases her hands and tells her to go back to the Emperor and stop making Yanzhi angry. After she leaves he tells Yanzhi that the Emperor treats her totally differently now that she’s back. He likes her. She says that’s just proximity and Yan Xiu asks about their years of proximity. She gives him a look and tells him to keep an eye out for Ninghe being moved to a different location.
Eunuch Huai is giving Qi Yan his medicine when Ruoyu arrives. Qi Yan wants Ruoyu to finish giving it to him. Huai scolds his niece for not being there when called for and ushers everyone else out of the room. Ruoyu holds a hand for Qi Yan to spit out the pill he didn’t swallow. The recorder is busy writing as Qi Yan orders Ruoyu to close his bed curtains. She obeys and then turns to leave but he pulls her into the bed with him. He tells her to sleep with him a while. She immediately closes her eyes. Huai is telling the recorder to get all this down.
Ruoyu keeps scooching away and Qi Yan keeps pulling her closer. Finally he asks her if she really thinks he asked her into the bed to sleep with her. This relieves her and she starts reporting about the encounter with Yanzhi. Eunuch Gao arrives with more medicine but Huai says the Emperor is already in bed. Qi Yan takes off his outer robe. Ruoyu covers her eyes. The recorder scribbles away. Qi Yan snuggles close to Ruoyu who is stiff and has her arms protecting her chest. Huai is still telling the recorder what to write about this encounter. Qi Yan tells Ruoyu to go to Mount Qi and check out the Pure Jade soldiers - make sure they’re trustworthy. Ruoyu asks Qi Yan if Ninghe is really the third party, would he still save her? Qi Yan mutters something about lust making a person lose their head and then tells her, yes he would. Huai is still telling the recorder to write about this wonderful bedroom adventure the Emperor is having when Qi Yan kicks Ruoyu out of bed (pretending to be angry) and orders her to go reflect in her room. He tells Huai to supervise her. The recorder earnestly asks Huai if he’s supposed to record those words too and Huai tells him to get lost.
Rong runs up to Cheng Xi and tells her Ruoyu has left the palace and Huai wants someone with Ruoyu’s figure to go to Ruoyu’s rooms. Cheng Xi sends Rong and then muses that Ruoyu must be heading to Mount Qi. She wonders what will happen when Ruoyu has control of those special soldiers (given Ruoyu’s temperament).
Zuo Xiang breaks into Yanzhi’s rooms looking for something. He decides to remove her painting of Shen Nong - which triggers a dart trap. He avoids the darts but his hand is turning red from a contact poison on the painting. He runs off. Yanzhi knows it was him and sends Yan Xiu after him.
[Ep10] Zuo Xiang treats his hand. The poison is apparently exceptionally painful. He’s drooling and even after he treats his hand (with a white powder and lots, and lots, of bandaging) it’s clearly hampering him. He knows Yanzhi will know it’s him and his first thought is to go to Ziliang but he doesn’t believe Ziliang will trust him. He takes a book from a hiding place in his room and scuttles away.
Ruoyu is walking through the woods and encounters Qi Yan’s white horse Rufeng. She remembers him promising to leave the horse there in case she needed it. (As a person who knows horses - never leave them bridled and saddled in the woods for indefinite periods of time. That’s animal abuse. But in TV land they don’t get saddle sores so it’s okay.) She hears men calling to each other. It’s Yanzhi’s guys and they’re chasing Xiang. She, being brave rather than smart, gestures him over to her utterly inadequate hiding spot. The miracle of cooperative scriptwriting occurs and The pursuers walk right past them. He sees that she’s the Swordbearer by her sword and follows her to Rufeng. She’s going to take him out of the woods but he hides his book under the saddle blanket when she isn’t looking and tells her to save herself. She leaves and he’s captured by Yan Xiu.
Yanzhi questions Xiang about what he was looking for in her room. He doesn’t answer so she calls one of her men in to report on Xiang’s movements over the past few months. He was investigating Yanzhi and he sneers that now she’s the one who is flustered.
Ruoyu spots the book Xiang left. She decides it’s Qi Yan’s and returns it to its spot under the blanket.
Xiang tells Yanzhi he knows her identity is fake. He also discovered her heart was injured before she entered Jiangqi camp. He was blamed for that injury and punished to clean toilets for three years so he’s a little miffed about that. Xiang tells her he gave his findings to Ruoyu. Now Yanzhi knows Ruoyu is not confined to her room.
Ruoyu reaches a building in the woods. It’s Pure Jade House’s hiding place. She shows her Sword of Light and tries to assume leadership. She’s told that she must be strong to lead them.
Yan Xiu reports to Yanzhi that Ruoyu is not in the palace.
Ruoyu is thrown out of the building (and down some stairs). She’s failed to prove her worth.
Ruoyu is running through the forest at night. She falls and the men from Jiangqi Camp catch and kill her. No, not really, it’s Qi Yan’s dream. He goes to Uncle Guang and asks that Guang send Yuan Du to protect Ruoyu on Mount Qi.
Ruoyu is still trying to prove her worth. She keeps getting thrown down the stairs as Yuan Du takes out the men of Jiangqi Camp who have found the place. He seems a little impressed with her perseverance as she keeps going back to be thrown down the stairs again and again.
Yanzhi shows up to “comfort” Ruoyu in her rooms, frightening Huai and Rong. Yan Xiu stops her, though. He has news that Pure Jade House has been found.
When she finally walks down the stairs on her own, convinced she’ll never succeed, he approaches her and gives her three embroidered sachets. One has Carps Leaping, one is Showing Filial Piety, and the last is Two Children Arguing over the Sun. Carps Leaping has the information of the Array of the Nine Celestial Fairies - which Pure Jade House has been using to defeat Ruoyu. Yuan Du shows her the array by them spying from an upper window and then Ruoyu starts practicing the moves to break the array.
Yanzhi congratulates a group of men on “passing”. Their first mission is to capture Ruoyu and sacrifice the 300 women of Pure Jade House.
Ruoyu succeeds in breaking the array. She faints immediately after. Yuan Du explains that Prince Guang has taught her how to do this - which shocks the ladies. When Ruoyu regains consciousness he praises her ability. She learned in one night how to break the array. Ruoyu agrees that she’s a genius. Yuan Du says they have to leave, though, because Jiangqi has found this place. Ruoyu knows she hasn’t succeeded in fully taking command, however. Now it’s time for the second sachet. It has a prescription to soothe the throat of the main leader. She never speaks because her throat was injured at some point. She gives Ruoyu her jade token of leadership. Xian (her second in command) protests but everyone else bows. The third sachet has nothing inside so Ruoyu mulls over the meaning of the embroidery on it. Yuan Du sounds the alarm. Jiangqi Camp is here. The ladies are to retreat to Jinyang to join Ninghe’s retinue and wait for orders. Ruoyu is to escape back to the palace. Ruoyu grabs Xiang and the two of them flee on Rufeng. Jiangqi chases them and Xiang is injured as the men shoot at them with arrows. (Kind of counterproductive if capture is the goal…) Xian uses darts and takes out several of the men following. There are people (and a carriage) ahead of them. Ruoyu gets off the horse and tells Xian to go ahead, she’ll handle this since Xiang is injured.
Yanzhi is in the group ahead and she confronts Ruoyu. She says they’re not enemies but Ruoyu says her actions say otherwise. Yanzhi wants what Deputy Advisor Xiang gave her. Ruoyu has no clue what she’s talking about. Yanzhi realized it’s on the horse and tells her men to catch Xian. She’ll just have to give Ruoyu to Ziliang. Ruoyu wonders if she can. Qi Yan arrives with a group of soldiers and carries Ruoyu off. (He’s already rescued Xian.) Yan Xiu wants to figure out how to explain this to Ziliang but Yanzhi wants to speak with Deputy Advisor Xiang first.
Yanzhi releases Xiang - to his surprise.
Qi Yan takes Ruoyu’s report and examines the embroidery on the sachets. Ruoyu explains she took Xian because she was the only one who resisted her leadership and she figured that’s what the “Kids Arguing About the Sun” was about. Qi Yan: “Seriously?” He tells her she might as well keep Xian and use her as a go-between from her and Pure Jade House and sends them off to rest.
[Ep11] Rong reports to Cheng Xi that Ruoyu has returned and the Pure Jade House is now in Jinyang with Princess Ninghe. Rong is worried that Ziliang will kill Ninghe which would be a death sentence for her entire retinue (for failing to protect her). Cheng Xi agrees and thinks about how to protect Ninghe’s life. She decides to let Yanzhi know that Ninghe was the person behind A’Wu. If Ziliang hates Ninghe more he’ll keep her alive longer (to torture her).
Yan Xiu reports to Yanzhi that 30 of their men went to Jinyang to escort Ninghe but they disappeared at a rest stop. There was no sign of struggle and no bodies. Their investigations revealed nothing but Yan Xiu did test the people of Zhenwu (Princess Misha’s people) and discovered they were all excellent warriors and Misha is the best. He has a man show Yanzhi Misha’s moves. Yanzhi is disturbed by what she sees and tells Yan Xiu to investigate “this person’s” (she wrote the name on a piece of paper) connection to Ninghe before she married.
Guang treats Ziyuan’s arrow injury for Ruoyu. We learn that Ziliang won’t let him touch herbs - apparently in the hopes that Guang will be an idle and useless prince. Ruoyu cheerfully declares that they will be free of that nasty old man one day. Guang is amused. Ruoyu thanks him for the tips in the sachets that helped her and shares that they were taken by Yanzhi. The Emperor arrives.
Yan Xiu returns to report his findings. The person is Han Yue. He was an important general for a previous emperor (I think the father of Qi Wen and Qi Xi) and then became Ninghe’s bodyguard. It must have been him who taught Misha her martial arts. Yanzhi is furious that Ninghe had Han Yue’s martial arts taught to people of Zhenwu. She tells Yan Xiu to escort Ninghe to Heng’an. Ziliang isn’t going to want her dead after he learns about this - he’s going to want worse.
The Emperor drinks tea, oozing disapproval while Guang, Ruoyu, and Ziyuan watch him. Guang asks the Emperor what it is he wants to know. Qi Yan wants to know how Guang knew how to defeat the array and about Yu Niang’s throat injury. Guang reveals that Niang was at Aunt Cai’s 4 years ago and she was molested and had her throat cut. Cheng Xi brought her to Guang for healing. She’s been grateful to him ever since. Qi Yan apologizes for being suspicious of his uncle. Guang kneels to him. He says he’s ashamed because he’s known of Pure Jade House for all this time and never told him. But he says Emperor Wen asked him not to. Ruoyu asks about the meaning of the last sachet. Was she right in bringing Ziyuan with her? Guang and Qi Yan smile at each other (because she obviously didn’t get the meaning of two children arguing about the sun) and Guang says he ran out of ideas and her solution was just fine. Ziyuan is also smirking so apparently she understands more than Ruoyu too. Yuan Du arrives with news that Ziliang dispatched 3,000 Imperial Guards to escort Ninghe home. He also shares about Yanzhi’s men disappearing. Qi Yan is impressed (and concerned, I think) that Zhenwu’s vassals are so capable. Cheng Xi shows up to beg forgiveness for telling Ziliang that Ninghe was behind A’Wu’s assassination attempt. She claims it was for Qi Yan and Pure Jade House’s benefit. Qi Yan is angry. She didn’t care what would happen to Ninghe. Cheng Xi says that Ninghe was slated for death anyway. Qi Yan thinks a life of torture isn’t better than death. He leaves and Ruoyu follows. Guang tells Cheng Xi that he thinks she doesn’t have a place helping the Emperor anymore. He reminds her that Ninghe is his sister.
Ruoyu and Qi Yan are in the woods (again). She tells him she’ll bear Cheng Xi’s. She also says that Cheng Xi did it for the Emperor and Pure Jade House but that’s no excuse. He asks her if she always defends those close to her. Yes, of course. She knows he wants to save Ninghe and feels that between Pure Jade House and the Zhenwu folks that they are a match for Ziliang’s Imperial Guards. Qi Yan says he doesn’t want to save Ninghe - she’s done too much. Ruoyu knows he still does. He wants to know why she trusts him. He tells her he’s a bad guy - he deserved those assassination attempts. She says she doesn’t know what he was like before but she knows in her heart that he’s a good person. He slowly reaches his hand out and covers her eyes as she’s staring at him with all that innocence and trust. He says he’s not a good person but he’ll never make her regret following him.
Yanzhi is combing Ziliang’s hair (and he looks like a cat in a creamery) and they discuss Ninghe. Yanzhi is positive she’s the one behind Pure Jade House and Yan Xiu tells of the evidence he’s found that supports that theory. She says the blowfish poison on the assassins’ needle weapons proves that she is trying to avenge Emperor Wen. Ziliang is angered that someone would attempt to avenge themselves on him and tells Yanzhi to be prepared to “welcome” Ninghe.
Ruoyu and Qi Yan return their mounts to the stable. Qi Yan finds the booklet that Zuo Xiang put under the blanket. (This booklet has amazing sticking power - just saying…) It’s blank. Ruoyu wets a few pages, hoping for hidden writing. Qi Yan tells her she was used. Ruoyu is angry that everyone takes her for a fool. Qi Yan smirks as he obviously resists telling her that’s because she IS a fool. Ruoyu says that Yanzhi gives her a “weird” feeling. She’s done too many things to be a “good guy” but she’s helped them too much to be a “bad guy”. Qi Yan suggests she give the book to Yanzhi. Ruoyu doesn’t think Yanzhi would trust her but Qi Yan says that if she wants it everyone would trust her the way he does.
Yanzhi is kowtowing to her Shen Nong painting. A body in a sack, tied with a purple ribbon, is thrown into her room. Ruoyu follows the body. Yanzhi ignores it to finish her bows and then she and Ruoyu have a stare down. Ruoyu insults Jiangqui Camp’s security and unity (the body is an eavesdropper she caught on her way in, apparently) and she tosses the book to Yanzhi. Yanzhi asks what she wants for it and Ruoyu tells her she wants Yanzhi to leave Pure Jade House alone. Yanzhi agrees because she was going to anyway.
Zuo Xiang is unconscious in what looks like a store room. A man in black tries to poison him with blowfish organs. Xiang was not unconscious. He grabs the assassin by the throat and asks him who sent him. Then he breaks his neck. (Because no one answers questions better than a corpse.) He enters Yanzhi’s room with gloves and a rolled up painting. This time he steals her painting without triggering the traps and replaces it with a copy. Yanzhi and Yan Xiu return before he can escape so he hides and hears them talk about how he’ll never learn her real identity. Yan Xiu asks why she’s helping Qi Yan and she says she wants to be Qi Yan’s Empress. Xiang is shocked. Yan Xiu leaves and Xiang watches her getting ready for bed. (Pervert!) He sees an arrow scar on Yanzhi’s back - where the heart is. As she sleeps he considers killing her but kidnaps her instead. (He knocks her out by suffocating her with his hand.)
Qi Yan wakes up from a nightmare that he found Ninghe dead in a carriage. Ruoyu is there. He’s not fully convinced that Ninghe is the third party. Ruoyu gives him a head massage to soothe him from the nightmare. (He was entertainingly alarmed when she climbed into his bed and she innocently points out it wasn’t the first time.) Huai arrives with the news that Ninghe was attacked in Jingzhou. She’s hurt and unconscious. The governor is interrogating everyone right now. They’re worried that Pure Jade House will be exposed. Qi Yan wants to go to Jingzhou but it’s too dangerous. Ruoyu volunteers.
Xiang watches as Yanzhi wakes up. She’s weak because he put Buddha’s Laugh in the candles. (No clue why it doesn’t make him weak) He’s mad about Chief Advisor and his hand, not to mention her framing him for a heart injury that she already had. (And that was it. Really abrupt end to this one.)
[Ep12] Xiang is torturing Yanzhi (he’s putting rough paper, wetted, I think over her mouth and nose so she can barely breathe). He wants her to confess to falsifying her identity and setting up the Chief Advisor to betray Ziliang and become Empress. She refuses and he starts to strangle her but Ziliang arrives. Xiang accuses Yanzhi of all the things he’s trying to get her to confess to. Yan Xiu also arrives. He’s concerned for Yanzhi but just reports that Ninghe has been attacked and is severely injured. Ziliang orders him to capture the assassins. He clearly doesn’t want to leave Yanzhi but he obeys. Ziliang tells Xiang that he has one hour to prove his accusations or lose his life. He leaves. Xiang slashes open the painting of Shen Nong and underneath it is a painting of Ziliang. He starts to laugh but it’s more like sobs.
Yan Xiu faces his men - he has a quick flashback to Yanzhi planning all this and telling him that he mustn’t try to save her. They move out on their mission.
Xiang wakes up Yanzhi wanting to talk. He knows that damaging Ziliang’s painting will infuriate him, even if it was an accident. He says he lost but he doesn’t want to die. If Yanzhi will save his life he will serve her. She agrees and gives him medicine for the poison on his hand.
Ruoyu arrives at Jingzhou Post. She sees some of the Pure Jade ladies and meets Princess Misha. Misha won’t let her close to Ninghe and insults both Ruoyu and Ziyi as dancers. Ruoyu doesn’t argue and doesn’t take offense. Misha refuses to tell Ruoyu anything about the assassin, saying she’ll only tell Qi Yan.
Yanzhi greets Ziliang and he asks if Xiang is dead. He’s not - Ziliang seems unsurprised by that. Yanzhi then tells Ziliang she should get 30 lashes before she explains Xiang’s accusations.
Ruoyu reports all that happened when she met Misha and finishes by observing that Misha looked like a woman going to meet her lover and that all of the Zhenwu entourage are warriors - including Misha.
Yanzhi returns with a bloody back. She tells Ziliang that she didn’t falsify her identity, that she did cooperate with Guang to eliminate the Chief Advisor and that she has been helping Qi Yan because she wants to be Empress. She says the Chief Advisor thing was because she thinks there’s a spy in Jiangqi Camp.
Qi Yan and Ruoyu speculate that Zhenwu is behind the fall of Lucong and that they want to do something similar in Heng’an. When Qi Yan shares this with Guang, however, Guang says that they’re wrong. Assassinating Qi Yan won’t destabilize Heng’an because Ziliang holds the military power. Yuan Du shows up with the record of Yan Xiu’s investigation of the attack on Ninghe. It was apparently the Zheng family (A’Wu’s family).
Qi Yan tries again to tell Ruoyu that he’s not a good person. She brushes it off and tells him that he should stop remembering things from the past that interfere with his happiness. That night she dreams that Qi Yan is going to kiss her but she wakes up before he does.
The next day it is revealed that Qi Yan let A’Wu go in the first place and that the Deputy Chancellor falsified her documents to get her in the palace. Ruoyu is grossed out by the gore and left in the hall. A’Wu made the assassination attempt because she was dying - her bones show evidence of either poison or a long-term illness. None of them believe this is the Zhengs’ idea. The Zhengs were manipulated by the third party. Ruoyu bursts back in to say that Misha has brought Ninghe into Heng’an. She starts heaving as she notices the gore again.
As Misha enters the city she talks with the envoy Sun Lie about “the Strategist”. She loses control of her horse. Qi Yan saves her after the horse bucks her off and Ruoyu stops the horse with her impressive martial arts moves. Misha insults Ziliang for getting above himself and Ziliang snubs her. She says she’s not worried about him because she’s going to be the next Empress.
Yan Xiu faces his men - he has a quick flashback to Yanzhi planning all this and telling him that he mustn’t try to save her. They move out on their mission.
Xiang wakes up Yanzhi wanting to talk. He knows that damaging Ziliang’s painting will infuriate him, even if it was an accident. He says he lost but he doesn’t want to die. If Yanzhi will save his life he will serve her. She agrees and gives him medicine for the poison on his hand.
Ruoyu arrives at Jingzhou Post. She sees some of the Pure Jade ladies and meets Princess Misha. Misha won’t let her close to Ninghe and insults both Ruoyu and Ziyi as dancers. Ruoyu doesn’t argue and doesn’t take offense. Misha refuses to tell Ruoyu anything about the assassin, saying she’ll only tell Qi Yan.
Yanzhi greets Ziliang and he asks if Xiang is dead. He’s not - Ziliang seems unsurprised by that. Yanzhi then tells Ziliang she should get 30 lashes before she explains Xiang’s accusations.
Ruoyu reports all that happened when she met Misha and finishes by observing that Misha looked like a woman going to meet her lover and that all of the Zhenwu entourage are warriors - including Misha.
Yanzhi returns with a bloody back. She tells Ziliang that she didn’t falsify her identity, that she did cooperate with Guang to eliminate the Chief Advisor and that she has been helping Qi Yan because she wants to be Empress. She says the Chief Advisor thing was because she thinks there’s a spy in Jiangqi Camp.
Qi Yan and Ruoyu speculate that Zhenwu is behind the fall of Lucong and that they want to do something similar in Heng’an. When Qi Yan shares this with Guang, however, Guang says that they’re wrong. Assassinating Qi Yan won’t destabilize Heng’an because Ziliang holds the military power. Yuan Du shows up with the record of Yan Xiu’s investigation of the attack on Ninghe. It was apparently the Zheng family (A’Wu’s family).
Qi Yan tries again to tell Ruoyu that he’s not a good person. She brushes it off and tells him that he should stop remembering things from the past that interfere with his happiness. That night she dreams that Qi Yan is going to kiss her but she wakes up before he does.
The next day it is revealed that Qi Yan let A’Wu go in the first place and that the Deputy Chancellor falsified her documents to get her in the palace. Ruoyu is grossed out by the gore and left in the hall. A’Wu made the assassination attempt because she was dying - her bones show evidence of either poison or a long-term illness. None of them believe this is the Zhengs’ idea. The Zhengs were manipulated by the third party. Ruoyu bursts back in to say that Misha has brought Ninghe into Heng’an. She starts heaving as she notices the gore again.
As Misha enters the city she talks with the envoy Sun Lie about “the Strategist”. She loses control of her horse. Qi Yan saves her after the horse bucks her off and Ruoyu stops the horse with her impressive martial arts moves. Misha insults Ziliang for getting above himself and Ziliang snubs her. She says she’s not worried about him because she’s going to be the next Empress.
[Ep13] The Imperial Physician is treating Ninghe with acupuncture when Misha and Eunuch Huai arrive. Misha questions Huai about the quarters and Qi Yan’s marital status and then shocks him by asking where Qi Yan’s quarters are.
Guang is treating Ruoyu and Qi Yan’s minor injuries from Misha’s horse mishap. Huai arrives to announce that Misha is looking for Qi Yan. Guang advises Qi Yan not to meet her. Qi Yan tells Huai to prepare a banquet to thank the Zhenwu people for bringing Ninghe back.
Ziliang is still annoyed at Misha’s presumption. He and Yanzhi discuss the fact that Ziliang won’t let Guang marry. Qi Yan, he says, is unmarried because he’s waiting for someone who can help him. Ziliang asks Yanzhi just how she can help Qi Yan. He mentions that the Dowager Empress tried to marry him to Li Deyun’s daughter but he stopped that by sending them to Huainan. The daughter is still unmarried.
At the welcoming banquet Misha asks to stay a few more days in Heng’an. Qi Yan says that her help in bringing Ninghe home is worth staying a few years. Then she wants to compete with Qi Yan in archery. Ruoyu says he can’t (he dislocated his shoulder saving Misha) but she’ll do it for him. Ruoyu is given Qi Yan’s bow to use.
Yan Xiu tells Yanzhi that he discovered an empty skin of Kumis (fermented mare’s milk) in Misha’s room at the Jingzhou Post.
Misha fires her arrow at Ruoyu. Ruoyu catches it and thanks her for the gift of an arrow. She tosses it into a pitch pot by the Emperor.
Guang and Yanzhi meet in Ninghe’s room. Yanzhi detects the odor of Kumis. Guang says Ninghe has had a stroke from being intoxicated and then bleeding a lot. He doesn’t think Ninghe will wake up. Yanzhi asks if he really isn’t the person behind all this and he asks her if she really thinks he’s someone who would hurt anyone, even his family, to get what he wants.)
Ruoyu has caught all 7 arrows and tossed them into the pitch pot next to the Emperor. Misha accuses Ruoyu of disrespecting her because she hasn’t bothered to loose any arrows of her own. (I could be wrong but I suspect that if Ruoyu did hit Misha with an arrow her life might just be forfeit.)
Yanzhi gives Guang a list of Zhenwu envoys. One is Sun Lie - she says he’s actually the one in charge and wonders just who the warriors would listen to. She’s questioned two of the people and they both said there’s a strategist calling the shots.
Misha takes her last three arrows and fires them at once. Qi Yan rescues Ruoyu by throwing a silk handkerchief that blocks the arrows. He asks Misha who her instructor was. Misha leaves, unhappily, followed by Sun Lie. He tells her she needs to think about what she’s going to tell the Strategist.
Qi Yan leaves Ruoyu behind and goes to talk to Misha. Ziliang summons Ruoyu and tests her martial arts with petals from a flower before throwing the flower to her. He says her martial arts aren’t as good as Misha’s and that she needs to be careful. On her way back she eavesdrops on Qi Yan and Misha.
Misha wants to be Empress and offers her 80,000 men as her dowry. Qi Yan agrees if he can meet the Strategist first.
Ziliang talks about getting Ruoyu on their side and warns Yanzhi that she can be an obstacle to her goal of being Empress. When Yanzhi leaves he tells the female Chief Officer of Jiangqi Camp to keep an eye on Yanzhi.
Qi Yan tells Ruoyu that the flower Ziliang threw at her is the symbol of the Empress. Ziliang was both offering her the position and warning Qi Yan that he’s the one who chooses the next Empress. He tells Ruoyu he can’t love her “intimately”. She says she understands.
Ruoyu leaves and Yan Xiu arrives to share that Yanzhi is also putting herself forward as an Empress candidate. He was listening to Qi Yan and Ruoyu’s conversation and says he realizes the the Emperor has made his choice (not to choose Ruoyu).
Ruoyu follows Han Ding to the Emperor’s rooms and hears them talk about “him”. The Emperor senses her presence. Han Ding accuses her of spying for Cheng Xi. Ruoyu protests her innocence but Qi Yan banishes her to Ziyi Bureau. Han Ding suggest that the Emperor tell Ruoyu is real motives lest she misunderstand him. (Like ANYTHING is going to shake Ruoyu’s confidence in Qi Yan at this point.)
Ruoyu grumbles in her room while Qi Yan gazes at his handkerchiefs and remembers his instructor telling him he must never let his heart weaken or he’ll lose. Qi Yan vows not to lose.
[Ep14] Ruoyu is sadly leaving for Ziyi and sees Misha and Qi Yan meeting.
Yan Xiu reports to Yanzhi about Misha and Qi Yan and Ruoyu’s banishment. He also reports that about 100 merchants from Lucong also entered the city when the Zhenwu contingent arrived. They scattered throughout the city and said they were refugees but they have money and martial arts skills. They suspect the Strategist is hiding among them.
Ruoyu tells Aunt Cheng Xi that she doesn’t believe Qi Yan really suspects her - he’s got another reason for kicking her out. She leaves to check on the other ladies who have resettled back into Pure Jade House.
Misha and Qi Yan are strolling through the city. Misha is dressed very similarly to Ruoyu and is bouncing around being cute and enthusiastic. (Her personality seems fairly straightforward and somewhat naive but it seems to me that she’s deliberately trying to mimic Ruoyu.) Qi Yan is obviously not enjoying himself. He enjoys himself less when an assassination attempt occures. His worthless guards are quickly cut down but he and Misha hold their own. Ruoyu happens to be in the vicinity and she jumps in to help. Yanzhi and Yan Xiu are around the corner and Yanzhi calls off the attackers when Ruoyu shows up. Ruoyu brings Qi Yan a Lucong badge that one of the attackers dropped. Qi Yan orders Ruoyu to clean up the aftermath and leaves with Misha. Ruoyu notices Yanzhi and accuses her of being behind this. Yanzhi admits it but says it wasn’t to kill Misha.
A while later Yan Xiu arrives with a lot of men. They’ve locked down the city and will be rounding up all the Lucong merchants. They will be locked up until the Strategist assassin is found.
Qi Yan tells Han Ding to capture the Strategist before Ziliang gets his hands on him.
Yanzhi tells Ruoyu that Qi Yan sent her away to protect her from Ziliang if Qi Yan wanted to marry her. Ruoyu wants to return to the palace immediately. She has no intention of being Qi Yan’s concubine so Ziliang doesn’t need to worry. Yanzhi tells her Ziliang would rather kill her by mistake than let her become an opponent. Yanzhi says the only solution would be for Yanzhi to marry Qi Yan.
Misha supervises Guang treating the injury Qi Yan sustained in the assassination attempt. (Does she REALLY think that anyone thinks she’s that invested in Qi Yan a day or two after she met him?!?) Qi Yan asks Guang not to tell the Dowager Empress about this. She has health problems and she’s stressed about Ninghe’s condition. Misha offers to visit DE and cheer her up with stories about the grasslands. Qi Yan agrees. After Misha bounces off Guang asks Qi Yuan if he really wants her 80,000 men? No, he doesn’t. So why did Qi Yan send Ruoyu away? He’s trying to save her life.
When they’re alone again Yan Xiu reports he’s arrested all the merchants except for their translator.
Han Ding tells Qi Yan the same thing. Qi Yan orders him to keep looking.
Ruoyu considers reporting to Qi Yan but decides to go to Pure Jade House first. Zi Yuan pops out of an alley to tell her Pure Jade House moved and she’ll take her to them. She leads her to the woods and knocks her out. She bows to a man with an eyepatch and reports that Ruoyu is the head of the Ziyi Bureau and Very Important to Qi Yan. He tells her she did well and sends her off to her next task.
Eunuch Gao brings Qi Yan an urgent letter from Yan Xiu reporting Ruoyu’s abduction by Zhenwu. Misha demands Qi Yan’s attention before he can leave.
Ruoyu wakes up but pretends to still be unconscious. Her captor is baking cherry dumplings. Sun Lie arrives and reports about Misha’s brush with assassins. Ruoyu is now convinced her captor is the Strategist. The Strategist tells Sun Lie not to tell anyone, even Misha, where he is. He says he’ll see Misha married to the Emperor eventually. When Sun Lie leaves the Strategist tells Ruoyu to stop pretending. She opens her eyes.
Qi Yan arrives at the Dowager Empress’s quarters. Misha is now dressed like a Heng’an princess. DE wants Qi Yan to join them but he says he’s busy. Misha wants to join Qi Yan who has said he’s going hunting. DE tells Qi Yan to take her with him.
The Strategist tells Ruoyu he was blinded by Qi Yan’s arrow eight years ago. Over 300 members of his clan were also killed. He asks her if she thinks he shouldn’t get revenge.
Zi Yuan meets with Guang. He says he didn’t expect her to be the spy in Pure Jade House. She proudly declares she’s been working with the Strategist from the start. She’s here with a message from the Strategist: “Should he kill Ruoyu or not?”
Misha and Qi Yan arrive (with guards) at the Post House where the Zhenwu contingent have been staying.
Ruoyu asks the Strategist if he’s going to kill Qi Yan. He says he just wants Qi Yan to give back what he doesn’t deserve to have. Ruoyu makes a break for the door and the Strategist stops her by throwing a big stone pestle at her back. She lies on the floor with a trickle of blood coming out of her mouth.
Qi Yan confront Sun Lie who says he doesn’t know where Ruoyu is. Qi Yan orders his guards to search and threatens to interrogate everyone in the Post House. Misha is starting to suspect Qi Yan doesn’t plan to marry her after all.
Zi Yuan arrives with Guang who is blindfolded but not restrained. He checks on Ruoyu as soon as the blindfold is off. Zi Yuan takes the Sword of Light and leaves. Guang scolds the Strategist for hurting Ruoyu. He damaged her heart when he hit her.
Qi Yan is glaring at Misha who tells him he’s overreacting. Ruoyu is only a palace maid, after all. A servant is brought in who says he saw a man carrying a woman on his back heading north. When Qi Yan leaves Misha confronts Sun Lie.
Yanzhi watches Qi Yan’s search from her carriage. She notes that Ruoyu is more important to Qi Yan than she realized.
Guang tells the Strategist that he knows what he wants but “no”. Qi Yan and Ziliang may be bad people but at least they aren’t hurting the commoners. The Strategist says they commoners are being oppressed.
Guang is reported missing to Qi Yan.
Guang tells the Strategist to let Ruoyu go but he says she’s involved because Qi Yan values her.
Qi Yan says he knows what the Strategist has planned and the Guang will be fine. A messenger arrives with a message for Qi Yan to go to Pure Jade House to get Ruoyu.
[Ep15] The Strategist has Guang tell Ruoyu what happened 8 years ago: The chancellor, Li Xu and a provincial governor, Zheng Lu, conspired to assassinate Qiu Ziliang. General Han was part of it. They failed. Emperor Wen wrote an edict and sent Han to Chancellor Wang Yang. Qi Yan shot General Han off of his horse while he fled the palace but Han was able to get back up and got away. He got the edict to Chancellor Weng but Ziliang’s men arrived shortly after. Han was shot in the eye and Chancellor Weng killed by Ziilang as they emerged from their secret tunnel. The edict wasn’t found and Ziliang used this as an excuse to get rid of everyone who ever opposed him. 1,000 officials were caught up in the affair.
Deputy Advisor Xiang says Zi Yuan has arrived asking for help on Ruoyu’s orders. It’s a trap and Xiang was part of it. Yanzhi is knocked out by candles infused with Buddha’s Laugh.
Guang tells Ruoyu that 8 years ago Emperor Wen wanted to pass the throne to him but Ziliang imprisoned Wen for 8 years. He named Qi Yan successor shortly before he died. The Strategist scoffs that naming Qi Yan was done under duress.
Qi Yan arrives at Pure Jade House and is knocked out by candles infused with Buddha’s Laugh.
Guang carries Ruoyu through the secret passages and Zi Yuan meets them with a carriage. The Strategist assures Ruoyu that if Qi Yan has to die he won’t kill him until after he’s killed Ziliang. Ruoyu appeals to Zi Yuan and tells her not to make the same mistake of assisting a villain but Zi Yuan says Ruoyu’s the one who made the mistake.
Xiang wakes up Yanzhi and Qi Yan - they’re in the dungeons of Jiangqi Camp. The Strategist shows up and tells Qi Yan he’ll kill Ruoyu because she’s associated with him. Yanzhi says she needs to talk to the Strategist alone. He asks why should he and she says: “Because General Jin Wuwei would have.”
Xiang takes Qi Yan to where Ruoyu and Guang are being held. Ruoyu isn’t doing well but she pretends to be fine for Qi Yan’s sake. Qi Yan gives her a cylinder without letting Guang see. Ruoyu is happy because they’re alive and closer to the truth.
The Strategist demands to know how Yanzhi knew he was General Jin Wuwei (aka General Han). She quotes a poem. He realizes she’s one of Wang’s granddaughters. She says she’s Ruoquing. He apologizes for not finding her but he thought she was dead.
Ziliang is informed that Yanzhi, Deputy Advisor Xiang, Qi Yan, Guang, and Ruoyu are all missing. Yan Xiu’s body hasn’t been found.
Deputy Advisor Xiang wakes up Yan Xiu in Yanzhi’s bedroom. Xiang says he and Yanzhi both hid their true identities. He hid his for revenge - why did Yanzhi hide hers?
Guang apologizes to Qi Yan. He helped General Han 8 years ago and got him away from Heng’an but didn’t report it to anyone. He hasn’t been in touch with General Han, though. Qi Yan isn’t mad at him. Ruoyu asks Guang if he also blames Qi Yan for the incident 8 years ago. He doesn’t answer her but he pledges his commitment to help Qi Yan with “the great revival” and swears he’ll be loyal as long as he lives.
Yanzhi tells Han that when she woke up that night she couldn’t find her grandfather’s or sister’s bodies and people came so she went down the mountain. She fainted in front of an herbalist shop and they treated her injuries. She left them the next day so they wouldn’t be implicated by her presence. She was captured by human traffickers and eventually sold to someone in Heng’an. Ziliang came to that place looking for girls under the age of 12. She offered herself to him but he rejected her. She killed her master two months later and then Ziliang came for her. It had been a test. Jiangqi Camp is her family home and seeing it every day reminds her of the vengeance she is living to exact.
Yanzhi arrives - Ruoyu asks if she’s unharmed. Yanzhi says she’s safe because Ziliang hasn’t shown up - it’s Ruoyu who is in danger because Qi Yan is here.
Ziliang has Misha and Sun Lie (and the rest of the people in the Post House) captured. They’re brought before him tied up. A servant confesses that Sun Lie left the Post House. Misha obviously didn’t know that. Ziliang tells them that they have until the hourglass runs out of sand to tell him where the Strategist is. He will kill 10 Zhenwu people each time they don’t. Misha asks him how he can destabilize relations between Xing and Zhenwu like this and he says it’s not him doing anything - it’s assassins from Lucong.
[Ep16] Misha convinces Sun Lie to reveal that the Strategist is in the Pure Jade House. Ziliang says he isn’t and Sun Lie says that all he knows is that the Strategist is at Pure Jade House and promotes the marriage of Misha and the Emperor. A guard arrives with a written riddle for Ziliang telling him to go to the Rain and Sun Pavilion to save Yanzhi. Ziliang won’t go. Yanzhi must save herself to be proven worthy to be Camp Guardian.
Everyone in the cell (except Guang) sleeps. Qi Yan dreams of his Shifu, Chancellor Wang (also Yanzhi’s grandfather). Wang told Qi Yan to tell Emperor Wen not to try his plan to assassinate Ziliang. Yes, Ziliang is a villain but Zheng Lu and Li Xu would only threaten Wen after Ziliang was dead. Qi Yan tries to stop Emperor Wen’s plan but Ziliang intercepts him. Wang tells Qi Yan that Ziliang knows of the plan and only Qi Yan can save Wen and the Xing Dynasty. He says doing so will mean that no one will understand him, many will curse him, and even his relatives will be disappointed in him. God has given Qi Yan a terrible burden and if he can’t bear the suffering he will fail. Then Qi Yan dreams about shooting Wang’s granddaughters. Ruoyu wakes him, worried he’s having a nightmare. He asks her if he really treated General Han unjustly and really deserved to die for it would she still be on his side? Of course she would. General Han’s method of revenge is very brutal. Qi Yan has made mistakes but he admits them and is trying to make things right. She knows he is a good man. She coughs, obviously still doing poorly after the injury Han gave her. Qi Yan is worried about her but plays along when she claims she’s hungry.
Guang wants Yanzhi to help plan an escape since she knows this place best. He wants Ruoyu to hurry to Lucong and Zhenwu to explain matters to the generals and defuse tensions. He tells Qi Yan that it’s time to recall Li Deyun. Ziliang is wary of Deyun but the crisis right now will allow him to return and it will help pacify Lucong and Zhenwu. Yanzhi agrees that everyone is seemingly involved with this mess and they need a mediator. Han is eavesdropping and interrupts, calling them all idiots. He says no one can leave until Ziliang is dead.
Ziliang gets a message from his Chief Advisor telling him not to hurt Misha. She will make a good hostage for Zhenwu’s good behavior. Ziliang thinks it will be interesting to try and take power from the military governors.
Zi Yuan reports to Han that Ziliang didn’t take the bait. He says Yanzhi said he wouldn’t - that everyone is a pawn to him and pawns are easily replaced. They’re going to try plan B which is to reveal Yanzhi’s true identity. Ziliang’s weakness is betrayal. He is driven to punish those who betray him to prove they were wrong. Han is going to let Xiang tell Ziliang about Yanzhi. Zi Yuan is confused. Han wants to test Xiang to see if he’s truly still on their side or if he will betray them by taking the information to Ziliang without Han’s instruction to do so. They let Xiang overhear them talking about Yanzhi’s true identity.
Ruoyu’s injury is getting worse. Qi Yan has Guang check her and Guang reveals her injury over Ruoyu’s protests. He says they can’t hide it any longer because if she doesn’t get treatment now she might die. They call for someone and Zi Yuan arrives. She has no intention of getting medicine for Ruoyu. Ruoyu is surprised at Zi Yuan’s hatred for her. Zi Yuan says Ruoyu and Cheng Xi deserve to suffer for supporting a villain like Qi Yan. She is willing to take Qi Yan to General Han to beg for medicine, though.
General Han admires Qi Yan’s bow. He berates Qi Yan for his betrayal of his brother (who gave him the bow) and demands that Qi Yuan write an edict turning the throne over to Guang. He’ll let Ruoyu die if Qi Yan doesn’t comply. Qi Yan refuses, gets a little beating, then tells Han that Guang saved Ruoyu many years ago with great effort. What is Guang going to think of Han if he throws the life Guang saved away? Han doesn’t even need to make an effort to kill her since he’s already hurt her so badly she’ll die without medicine.
Xiang brings an old woman to identify Yanzhi as Ruoqing. She’s not sure but thinks that Yanzhi looks a lot like the Madam did when she was young. Xiang is happy to hear this.
Cheng Xi shows up at the Li residence. She meets with Li Zening, daughter of Li Deyun.
Guang is trying very hard to keep Ruoyu from falling asleep. She complains that she’s freezing. Qi Yan returns and she fusses over the bruises on his face. He apologizes for not bringing her medicine and she tells him she has no complaints about her fate and reiterates that he’s a good man. He pulls out a gold hairpin that he bought for her way back when they had biáng biáng noodles at Aunt Cai’s place. He tells her she’s given him the happiest days of his life and he’s going to set her free. He stabs himself in the chest with the hairpin and tells her to live a good life.
Cheng Xi tells Zening that Qi Yan was taken by Zhenwu’s Strategist. Zening goes for a silk bag her father left her in case of trouble in the city. She returns to hand Cheng Xi a paper and she asks how Ruoyu is doing.
General Han wants to know if Qi Yan is crazy. Qi Yan tells him that if he dies Ziliang will have Prince An on the throne before nightfall. Han says he already has Prince An. That’s okay, Qi Yan has plenty of brothers for Ziliang to put on the throne. Han says he’ll send Guang for medicine and Qi Yan says the only way he’ll live is if Ruoyu is set free. Han refuses and Qi Yan tells him to prepare for one of his brothers to take the throne before shoving the hairpin in further. Han gives in. Ruoyu doesn’t want to leave Qi Yan but Zi Yuan drags her away. Qi Yan passes out in Guang’s arms.
[Ep17] Yanzhi enters her rooms through a secret door. She finds Yan Xiu who is badly beaten and urges her to escape. She says she can’t escape without him because of her lack of martial arts. Will he help her? (Girl, why are you even asking? You have the man wrapped around your finger.)
Yanzhi returns to General Han with the map of the secret rooms and passages. They lay out their plan of attack. Zi Yuan takes Guang (with two guards) out of the secret rooms. General Han drags Qi Yuan into another secret room. Ruoyu is in a room in the Pure Jade House. She sets of the firework signal Qi Yan gave her. Han Ding sees it and rushes in that direction.
Xiang reports Yanzhi’s real identity to Ziliang while Han Ding rescues Ruoyu.
Princes Guang and An are in a carriage. The leader of Pure Jade House spots the carriage from an alley. Ziliang goes to Jiangqi Camp and General Han taunts him into following him down into the secret passages. Xiang sends for the Divine Army and settles down to wait for Ziliang to return. Yan Xiu kills the messenger before he can summon the army.
Yanzhi and Yan Xiu confront Xiang. The men he has with him are loyal to Yanzhi. He turns to run and Yan Xiu kills him with a poison needle.
General Han is no match for Ziliang but he’s still leading him through the secret passages.
Ruoyu reports the events to Han Ding as they take a carriage to Jiangqi Camp. Han Ding says Qi Yan knew the Strategist was General Han long ago. Qi Yan is the one who saved his life 8 years ago and sent him to Guang’s place.
Yanzhi and Yan Xiu confront Qi Yan. She wants him to clear her grandfather’s name. It has to be him because he has to admit he was wrong. He refuses but is glad she’s alive. He had promised his Shifu (her grandfather) that he’d save the girls but he couldn’t find them, he found Han instead. Yanzhi asks Qi Yan if he ever regrets what he did. He says he would do the same thing again. She’s furious and convinced that he is irredeemable.
Ruoyu doesn’t understand why Qi Yan didn’t stop General Han sooner. Qi Yan was giving him a chance to kill Ziliang and also using this chance to bring Li Deyun back to Heng’an. Ruoyu is confused: Why did he reject the idea when Guang suggested it? She realizes that Qi Yan doesn’t trust Guang.
Qi Yan wonders if he could trust Yanzhi. He really wants to protect his Shifu’s bloodline.
Ruoyu overheard Zi Yuan saying they were going to kill Qi Yan and Ziliang and she’s worried about Yanzhi too. Han Ding is waiting for further instructions. Ruoyu convinces him to give her another firework signal and goes in alone.
Yanzhi exits the secret passage into her rooms and Ruoyu confronts her, realizing now that she’s working with General Han. She demands Yanzhi free Qi Yan - Yanzhi refuses. Ruoyu threatens to kill Yanzhi. She begs them to let Qi Yan go - killing him will cause chaos and the common folks will suffer. Yanzhi and General Han will put Guang on the throne, all will be well. Ruoyu asks how Yanzhi is any different from Ziliang to kill one emperor to raise another up. Ruoyu moves to strike Yanzhi down but Yan Xiu steps in and they fight while Yanzhi retreats back into the secret passage.
General Han has led Ziliang to Qi Yan’s cell. Yanzhi activates a trap and the door closes and a gate comes down. Ziliang stops the gate before it hits the ground but his hand trembles. Buddha’s Laugh is weakening him. General Han asks him how long he thinks he can last as he grabs Qi Yan and pulls him through yet another secret door. Ziliang throws the gate up but doesn’t reach the secret door before it closes. He’s trapped. Qi Yan is placed in a small cell.
Yanzhi and General Han return. General Han says they need to kill Ruoyu or she’ll spoil their plans. Yanzhi doesn’t want to. She has Ruoyu taken away to be sent out of the city. Yanzhi wonders just what quality Qi Yan has to deserve a devoted Swordbearer like Ruoyu.
General Han demands the commander’s tally from Ziliang but he’s not stupid and refuses to share its location. Ruoyu has been tied up and put in a carriage but Han Ding rescues her. She wants to charge back to the Camp but Han Ding says they need manpower. He sends Ruoyu to get the Divine Army by telling them of Ziliang’s peril.
Ruoyu gallops back with the Divine Army but the secret rooms explode before they arrive. Yanzhi sends General Han away as the Army arrives. Ruoyu is frantic and helps with the digging out in spite of her injuries. At daybreak she seems defeated. Yanzhi has told her Qi Yan died in the explosion.
Yanzhi decides to use an undamaged entrance to the secret rooms to verify that Ziliang and Qi Yan are dead.
[Ep18] Yanzhi sneaks into the undamaged passage while Yu Niang (leader of Pure Jade House) follows the carriage with Princes Guang and An. (Poor An is scared even though Guang keeps trying to silently reassure him. I wonder how old he is supposed to be. He looks like he’s in his late teens/early twenties but his constant fear makes him seen much younger.)
Guang and An are in a tent and Guang is giving his nephew some tea. General Han gallops up to his camp. He barges into the tent and has An removed. He wants Guang to agree to be Emperor now that Qi Yan is presumably dead. Guang refuses. He won’t take a stolen throne and he won’t be a puppet Emperor like the late Emperor was. The ladies of Pure Jade House have followed Niang’s signal arrow to the camp and they attack. It’s a combination of quiet killings of the guards outside and putting the ones in tents asleep with gas. General Han hears one of the killings and rushes out of the tent, leaving a guard on Guang. He and Cheng Xi fight. He tells her that Qi Yan is dead and urges her to join them. Guang is rescued in the ruckus. Xiang (formerly second in command at Pure Jade House) and Niang begin to fight. Signal arrows fly overhead and the ladies break off their attacks and flea. Guang is gone but An is still cowering in a tent. (I want to comfort the poor guy so much. He’s a frightened child no matter how old he looks.)
Han Ding tells Ruoyu she should return to the palace and be seen by a doctor. She refuses. She remembers the secret passage Yanzhi let her escape through before and leads Han Ding to it.
Yan Xiu bursts into General Han’s camp to report that Yanzhi has located Ziliang but doesn’t know if he’s alive or dead. Qi Yan stumbles down one of the secret passages. Ruoyu and Han Ding find them. Qi Yan tells Han Ding that Ziliang is still alive and Han Ding rushes off. Qi Yan passes out in Ruoyu’s arms.
Cheng Xi has returned Guang to the palace. She serves him tea. He thanks the ladies for the rescue and asks about Prince An. He’s disturbed that Prince An was not rescued. Cheng Xi asks him if he shouldn’t take General Han up on the offer if Qi Yan is really dead. Guang is adamant. He won’t take the throne in the name of a traitor and be subject to him for the rest of his life.
General Han arrives where Ziliang is laying in the rubble. He takes Ziliang’s arm to shake it and is poked with a needle. He collapses, coughing blood, and Ziliang pops up. Ziliang flies out of the hole with his magical qinggong power and drops General Han. He says he’ll spare General Han’s life if he pledges loyalty. General Han will not but he will return Prince An in return for Yanzhi’s life. Ziliang admires Yanzhi’s ability to inspire loyalty in someone she betrayed. General Han asks her “Why?” and she confesses that she’s not Wang Ruoqing.
Ruoyu watches as a physician examines Qi Yan in Ziliang’s rooms. The physician reports to Ziliang that Qi Yan will recover in time. The physician leaves and Ruoyu tells Ziliang they want to return to the palace. Ziliang says not until Qi Yan recovers. After Ziliang leaves Qi Yan explains that Ziliang wants to use this opportunity to overthrow Qi Yan.
Ruoyu watches as a physician examines Qi Yan in Ziliang’s rooms. The physician reports to Ziliang that Qi Yan will recover in time. The physician leaves and Ruoyu tells Ziliang they want to return to the palace. Ziliang says not until Qi Yan recovers. After Ziliang leaves Qi Yan explains that Ziliang wants to use this opportunity to overthrow Qi Yan.
Yanzhi visits General Han in prison (Yan Xiu in tow). She kowtows and apologizes to him. She asks him why he waited so long to act? Why didn’t he do all those things when Wen was still alive? He laughs bitterly. He didn’t do those things - he wasn’t nearly as powerful as she imagines.
Ruoyu starts to try to escape to get help for Qi Yan but he stops her. Han Ding and Cheng Xi arrive moments later.
Yanzhi is wondering again just who the third party is. General Han now realizes he’s been manipulated this entire time. He asks for a quick death. Yanzhi nods and Yan Xiu apologized and then kills him.
Cheng Xi shares that she went to Li Zening for help and that the silk pouch gave her a solution. Ziyi Bureau arrives to escort Qi Yan back. They arrived with great pomp in a carriage that supposedly held Qi Yan as he “visited” Ziliang after his recovery from the explosion. The entire capital now knows that Qi Yan is at Ziliang’s place.
Ziliang is informed of this as he rests in his own rooms. Yanzhi reports that General Han took his own life. Ziliang says they failed their duty in guarding General Han and sends Yan Xiu out to be flogged. The report comes that provincial governor Liu Congjian is on the borders, geared for war, and claiming he has an Imperial Edict. Yanzhi suggests Ziliang let Qi Yan go back to the palace and he irritably agrees that since Qi Yan came, obviously he has to return. Yanzhi volunteers to see if the Governor really has an Imperial Edict and leaves. Ziliang calls his Chief Officer over and tells her to have Chief Chancellor visit him in the evening.
Qi Yan makes his way to the carriage. Ruoyu pauses long enough to thank Yanzhi for her help in convincing Ziliang. She says Yanzhi is a good person and asks her why she follows Ziliang. Yanzhi says she doesn’t know what Ruoyu is talking about.
In the carriage Ruoyu burbles on about what a wonderful Emperor and human Qi Yan is. He smiles very slightly. She goes on to say she thinks Yanzhi really is Wang Ruoqing. Qi Yan points out that if she is, he shot her with his arrow and she’d be his enemy. If she isn’t, she follows Ziliang and is still his enemy.
Eunuch Huai welcomes the Emperor back with tears of joy. (This eunuch cries so much I feel waterlogged.) Guang arrives to check on Qi Yan. He asks for medicine that will make him fit to ride. He’s going to send Princess Misha back to Zhenwu.
That evening Prince Guang leaves the palace in a carriage - he’s going to his outside house. Inside the carriage Qi Yan and Ruoyu sit quietly until they’re through the gates. Guang says the medicine works but too much will have a bad effect. Guang suggests he do this for Qi Yan but Qi Yan says he’s worried about the frontier and needs to do it personally.
They rescue Princess Misha and Qi Yan tells her to return to Zhenwu. She sobs that she doesn’t want to leave him. He’s unmoved by her tears (not mean, just indifferent.) She warns him that if she leaves she won’t come back. He’s fine with that. She bows to him and agrees to obey. As she passes Ruoyu she tells her to take care of him and not let another woman take him.
Flashback to Yanzhi realizing Qiu Ziliang is alive. She pretends to be glad she found him and claims she lied to General Han about being Wang Ruoqing to escape. She promised to prove her loyalty. (Obviously by betraying General Han.)
[Ep19] Ruoyu helps Qi Yan to his bed as Guang’s elixir wears off. She promises to stay with him.
Yanzhi mourns General Han and berates herself for betraying her conscience and having blood on her hands. Yan Xiu returns from giving Han a decent burial. He encourages her to continue her plans - she the only hope of clearing her family name and taking revenge on Ziliang and his followers. She renews her determination and fires off a spate of orders to him.
Zilian meets with Thirteen - the Chief Chancellor. He wears a full mask and doesn’t speak. Chief Officer speaks for him.
Ruoyu sleeps sitting next to Qi Yan’s bed and holding his hand. She wakes when he starts calling Zening’s name. Huai shows up with medicine and tells her Qi Yan and Zening were close once. She says it’s good that Li Deyun is being recalled then, they can have another chance to be together. (Her total willingness for him to be with anyone who makes him happy kind of touches me. I find it unrealistic but she sells this devotion.)
Zening polishes an arrow. She’s prepared a gift for him and she’s excited to meet him again. She worries that he hasn’t forgiven her for “that time”.
Yanzhi is called to Ziliang’s rooms. It’s looking bad for her but one of the people testifying claims it was all General Han and then kills himself. Yan Xiu tells Ziliang how Yanzhi looked for him at the risk of her own life. She’s escaped punishment but he obviously still suspects her. She returns to her room to find a message to meet with the Chief Chancellor that night (at the Sun and Rain Pavilion).
Qi Yan receives a message that his investigation to Yanzhi’s identity yielded nothing. Also, their plans will take a while and face obstacles.
Ruoyu is visiting Rufeng (the horse) when Zening shows up. Zening thanks Ruoyu for saving Qi Yan. Qi Yan arrives and Zening gives him a bow. She says his strength has improved so it’s time for him to upgrade to a better bow. Qi Yan tosses the bow to Eunuch Huai and tells him to take it to the Divine Army. The first person to draw it and shoot three bullseyes in a row will have it. He and Ruoyu ride off to find Guang. Zening accepts that Qi Yan hasn’t forgiven her.
Qi Yan take a break. He shares that he didn’t like the gift because he doesn’t like being spied on. He tells Ruoyu to avoid Zening in the future. They meet Guang at the Rain and Sun Pavilion. He says Prince An is in the area. Yanzhi shows up.
Zening tells her maid that she has to make Qi Yan yield to her to earn his respect. She says he will come begging to her soon.
Cheng Xi and Rong worry about the Dowager Empress creating a fuss while looking for Qi Yan - it might alert Ziliang.
Qi Yan figures out that there’s a mechanism under the table that moves it and reveals a hole underneath. Prince An is in the hole.
Commander Wang (of the Divine Army who calls Ziliang “Grandfather”) reports that Zening is in the palace and rumors say Qi Yan left the palace to avoid her. Chief Officer reports that Li Deyun hasn’t left his home. Ziliang decides that Deyun is a distraction and orders the Divine Army to find Qi Yan. He heads to Jiangqi Camp to talk to Yanzhi.
Yanzhi stops Qi Yan from rescuing An. She says that it’s his life or his brother’s life. She says she can save him by marrying him. He refuses.
Yan Xiu encounters Cheng Xi - She tells him Ziliang is on his way to Jiangqi Camp looking for Yanzhi and follows him to find Qi Yan.
[Ep20] Prince An is clutching Prince Guang and crying as Yan Xiu and Cheng Xi arrive to urge them back to their places.
Ziliang arrives at Jiangqi Camp. No one has seen Yanzhi and she’s not responding to them. Deputy Chancellor arrives just before Ziliang goes into her rooms wanting him to approve the new Cannon appointments. (Jiangqi Camp seems to use chess terminology for ranks.) Ziliang says they’ll go in and get Yanzhi’s opinion too. In the room is a strong smell of alcohol and Yan Xiu passed out on Yanzhi’s bed. He begs Ziliang for forgiveness. Ziliang wants to know where Yanzhi is. Yan Xiu doesn’t know.
In Ziliang’s room Yanzhi walks up as Yan Xiu is kneeling before Ziliang. She went to the archives to look for Deputy Chancellor since Yan Xiu had taken her bed - but here’s Deputy Chancellor next to Ziliang. Ziliang tells Yanzhi he thinks Li Deyun is ready to make his move. He tells her to tell the cannons to keep an eye on Deyun and make sure he can’t return to the capital. He also tells her to keep looking for Prince An because Prince An will live or die for them.
Prince An is refusing to cooperate with Qi Yan’s plan to send him to Zhenwu. Ruoyu knocks him out and sends him off with Cheng Xi. Ruoyu’s injury is acting up so she can’t chase the Chief Officer when she spots the woman spying on them.
Qi Yan meets with Dowager Empress. She scolds him for missing Zening’s visit but he says things are long over between them. Dowager Empress brings up Ruoyu. She tells him he can make her a concubine and promote her if she bears an heir. She just wants him to have heirs.
In his rooms a delighted Eunuch Huai (who was there when the Dowager proposed making Ruoyu a concubine) is pouring Qi Yan tea. Qi Yan asks if he wants to be a royal relative. He falls to his knees to apologize. Qi Yan says he does like Ruoyu just as she walks in. She looks at him with a tender smile. He goes on to say, but only as an Emperor to a good official, not as a man loves a woman. Her smile fades. He says Ruoyu can’t be his concubine. She gathers her scattered thoughts and reports that Chief Officer discovered Prince An. Qi Yan tells her to take her people and escort Prince An to Zhenwu with Cheng Xi and return after he’s safely there. She protests but he says it’s an order. After she leaves Eunuch Huai starts crying because he knows Qi Yan sent Ruoyu away to protect her. Qi Yan agrees that it’s safer for her to be away now that Ziliang holds power again. He has a plan but he feels it has only a 10% chance of success.
Chief Officer reports to Ziliang that Prince An is on his way to Zhenwu and that Misha is no longer in their hands. He orders troops to pursue. Dead or alive, An and Misha must be returned to him. He promises to punish Qi Yan for sending An away.
Yan Xiu reports to Yanzhi that Ziliang is on his way to the palace with some Houtai Soup (the same stuff that he killed Emperor Wen with).
Qi Yan asks Eunuch Huai if Han Ding is back. He’s not. Qi Yan fears it’s too late now.
A female servant races to the Dowager Empress to report Ziliang arriving with the soup. Dowager Empress faints.
Ruoyu is planning her route with the ladies of Ziyi Bureau when Yuan Du arrives to ask her what she’s doing when the Emperor is in danger? She sends the ladies after Prince An and races off on a horse to the palace.
Eunuch Huai begs Qi Yan to flee but he won’t. If he leaves the palace he’ll no longer be Emperor. Ziliang arrives. As a servant steps forward with the soup Ruoyu arrives and says she’s thirsty so she’ll drink it. Qi Yan knocks it out of her hands with a thrown writing brush. Ziliang says it’s time to teach the Swordbearer etiquette. Qi Yan tells him to bring the other bowl of soup that he knows Ziliang has. Ruoyu begs him not to drink the soup. Qi Yan scolds her for leaving her post and disobeying and Imperial decree. He tells Eunuch Huai to remove her. Ziliang says no one can leave and then says this scene reminds him of Gongsun Jing (the former Emperor’s Swordbearer.) The Emperor picks up the soup and lifts it towards his mouth…
A report arrives! Cheng Yingtai in Lucong has proclaimed himself king. All the provincial governors have joined together to petition Qi Yan to send troops to put down the rebellion. Qi Yan stares Ziliang in the eye and says maybe he doesn’t have to rush this soup after all. He drops the bowl. (The poor carpet! Poisoned twice now!!) Ziliang asks if Qi Yan really thinks he can’t punish him. Han Ding shows up with the Qianniu Troops to protect the Emperor.
Yanzhi tells Yan Xiu that “everything is wrong”. She wonders if Chief Chancellor never intended to save Prince An from the start. Yan Xiu asks her if Chief Chancellor did this just to make Ziliang mad enough to kill Qi Yan. Yanzhi asks how many people were sent after An - about 2/3rds of Ziliang’s troops went. Yanzhi realizes that Chief Chancellor is luring Ziliang’s troops away and decides to meet with the new cannons. It’s too late to do anything for the Emperor now anyway.
Ruoyu and Qi Yan have a tender moment alone while Qi Yan scolds her for putting herself in danger. He tells her to never do that again. (Dude, have you MET her? She lives to die for you.) They snuggle and he goes in for a kiss but Huai arrives with medicine. The moment is over. (Huai’s two talents: crying and disrupting Qi Yan and Ruoyu’s special moments.)
Yanzhi arrives at Ziliang’s place. He’s angry that he’s trapped by Qi Yan’s maneuverings. If he changes Emperors right now the provincial governors will take the opportunity to revolt. He asks if Liu Congjian really has Emperor Wen’s edict. Yanzhi is still checking - it’s not their territory so it’s taking time. Ziliang is deeply offended that the provincial governors would dare gang up to try and clean up the Imperial Court.
Qi Yan and Ruoyu examine a map as Qi Yan explains his plan to use Misha’s 80,000 men and the troops of the provincial governors to defeat Ziliang’s troops. Ruoyu mourns for the common people who will suffer in this war. Qi Yan mourns too but Ziliang and his supporters are a tumor that must be cut out of their nation. Bleeding is better than dying. Ruoyu recites a poem and Qi Yan immediately asks her how she knew the poem. She has no idea, she just did. It’s a poem by Wang Yang. (Hello Wang Ruo Ling. You knew it was her already, right?)
Yan Xiu brings Yanzhi (in a carriage) to an abandoned temple. There’s a carriage and some servants there. A man reports that Zening hasn’t moved at all and they lost Ruoyu. She sent Rufeng off riderless so they followed the horse for nothing. Yanzhi orders them to keep an eye on Rufeng because Qi Yan will want him back and to force Zening out of the carriage. Zening isn’t in the carriage. She sent it there empty and told the servants to wait for the monks to come down for a ride. Ruoyu arrives claiming to be there to offer sutras for the Dowager Empress. She acts surprised that the temple is abandoned. Yanzhi leaves, greatly frustrated.
Qi Yan waits, Huai worries, Li Deyun arrives dressed as a eunuch with some soup. Huai blocks Eunuch Gao from entering.
During court, all the generals make excuses why they can’t deal with the rebellion in Lucong. Li Deyun arrives and volunteers. If he can’t put down the rebellion in two months he’ll resign and retire to his estates.
Ninghe has recovered consciousness with Guang’s care. While visiting her Qi Yan pulls Guang aside and asks him to take Ruoyu away soon for her safety.
Yan Xiu reports the clues he’s found regarding Chief Chancellor’s mysterious identity. He was taken in by a hermit at the same temple where the diversion with Zening took place. Supposedly he has the second half of the martial arts book Ziliang’s teacher didn’t give him.
Qi Yan and Zening go hunting.
Cheng Xi takes Ruoyu off to see the Dowager Empress after saying it’s time to plan Ruoyu’s marriage. Dowager Empress is questioning Ruoyu’s qualifications for marrying Qi Yan but Ruoyu is clueless as to the point. She gives Ruoyu her jade bracelet and tells her to continue serving Qi Yan well. Ruoyu STILL doesn’t understand. After they leave Cheng Xi tells her it’s a betrothal gift from the Dowager Empress - her approval of Ruoyu becoming a concubine. Ruoyu is obviously unhappy with this turn of events.
Zening falls off of her horse to give Qi Yan the chance to meet privately with Li Deyun. Qi Yan and Deyun discuss toppling Ziliang without a war. Qi Yan returns and Zening presents the bow she tried to give him before, saying if he refuses it her father will be unhappy. He challenges her for threatening him and she says she just wants another chance with him. Back at the palace she says she’ll come to him in a few days for his answer - after he’s “thought it through”.
Qi Yan and Ruoyu meet - he’s brought her a white fox fur. He sees the bracelet and she apologizes, telling him she never meant for that to happen. Ziliang arrives to taunt Qi Yan with the news that Ninghe has died. He leaves, furious, with Ruoyu following.
Qi Yan mourns Ninghe. Ruoyu blames herself but Qi Yan says that if she were there Ziliang would just have killed her too. He tells her to leave him and stay safe, taking the bracelet from her. He tells her to forget the Dowager Empress’s words. Ruoyu agrees without hesitation. (Anything he wants, she’ll give it.)
Yanzhi meets with Chief Chancellor. He agrees to answer three questions (in writing because he doesn’t speak). Yan Xiu pulls off his mask to reveal his face is terribly scarred.
Qi Yan sends everyone away to hold vigil for his aunt alone.
Chief Chancellor tells Yanzhi that he has helped her because her grandfather was his benefactor. She leaves, greatly disturbed, because she is not willing to acknowledge that she is Wang Ruoqing.
Ziyuan attacks Qi Yan while he’s alone. She wants to kill him to avenge General Han and others. Ruoyu shows up and wins the fight. She tells Ziyuan to seek vengeance from Zilian since he’s the one who is responsible. Ziyuan doesn’t care - she doesn’t think Qi Yan is a good person either. (Admit it, girl, you know you can’t beat Ziliang.) When the guards finally arrive (Qi Yan’s guards are the slowest humans in creation.) Ruoyu asks Qi Yan to let her deal with Ziyuan.
[Ep22] Yanzhi and Yan Xiu discuss the Chief Chancellor. Yan Xiu thinks his answers were sketchy but Yanzhi says they make sense.
Ruoyu treats Qi Yan’s sword wound and tells him she will reform Ziyuan by showing her the facts that prove she’s mistaken about Qi Yan.
Next morning Ruoyu and Ziyuan argue - Ruoyu tells Ziyuan that Qi Yan is the one who saved General Han back then. She calls Ziyuan a coward who attacks Qi Yan because she knows Ziliang is too strong for her.
Zening meets Ruoyu as she enters the palace. She tells Ruoyu that Qi Yan needs to send someone with Ruoyu’s qualities to deal with Lucong. Ruoyu takes the hint. She goes to Qi Yan and volunteers. He doesn’t want her to go - he wants her to accompany Prince Guang on retreat.
Ruoyu packs. Yanzhi arrives and asks Ruoyu about the bracelet the Dowager Empress gave her. Ruoyu has already returned it. Yanzhi says that’s good since she’s not fit for Qi Yan. Ruoyu asks if she’s not fit then what about Yanzhi? Yanzhi finally gets to the point which is Ruoyu’s trip to Lucong. She smuggles Ruoyu and Ziyuan out in her carriage. Ruoyu asks her for a horse too and Yanzhi provides that as well. Yan Xiu is left to slice Yanzhi’s arm so Yanzhi can claim Ruoyu forced her.
Yanzhi reports to Ziliang but says that Ruoyu said she was going to meet with Liu Zhi before going to Lucong. Ziliang sends his Chief Officer to kill Liu Zhi and bring back Ruoyu. Yan Xiu is given ten lashes for failing to protect Yanzhi.
Qi Yan ignores his desk full of petitions and memorandums to moon over the betrothal bracelet. (He’s put it in an ornate wooden box.)
Ruoyu and Ziyuan arrive at a village full of despairing people. They’ve seen many on their trip. Ruoyu points out that political instability is what has caused all this suffering and that Qi Yan is trying to end that. Ziyuan blames Qi Yan for being incompetent. Ruoyu asks her to give Qi Yan a chance to bring the peace and prosperity he is fighting for.
Ruoyu faces Chen Yintai. He arrogantly asks when he will be given the battle axe of provincial governor. Ruoyu says she’s not here for that, she’s here for an explanation of his actions. He pulls his sword and kills her. Just kidding, it’s actually Qi Yan having a nightmare. He wakes up and pulls the bracelet out from under his pillow. Han Ding arrives to report that Ruoyu has arrived at the Lucong border. He assures a worried Qi Yan that he has men there to protect her secretly
Yan Xiu reports to Yanzhi that Ruoyu has reached the border and also that Liu Zhi has killed the general Ziliang sent. Yanzhi is happy her distraction is working.
Ruoyu meets with Chen Yintai (for real this time). He is arrogant and drinking with his men. He wants to know when he’ll get the battle axe. Ruoyu says that’s not up to her, she’s just here to investigate the death of Shi Quanzhong. He was the provincial governor assigned by the former emperor and he was unlawfully killed. She needs to get answers for all the soldiers. Yintai sends her and Ziyuan to their tent.
Ruoyu explains she did this on purpose so the men loyal to Quanzhong and Ning’he will find her. That night one does but before she can meet with the loyal soldiers a fight breaks out in the camp. A masked man in black takes them to a horse. Ruoyu sends Ziyuan off to meet with the loyal soldiers while she returns to the camp to find out what’s going on. She learns Chen Yintai was killed by his lieutenant Zhang Jiang.
Ziliang is furious that Ruoyu made it all the way to Lucong without him knowing. Yanzhi apologies for falling for Ruoyu’s scheme. (I kind of love it how Yanzhi makes Ruoyu look like a schemer to Ziliang when the girl can’t scheme her way out of a paper bag.) Ziliang orders General Wang to put his men on the city gates to kill Ruoyu on sight. Yanzhi hands Ziliang a list of officials that Deyun has visited over the past few days.
At the gates of the city Ruoyu and Ziyuan realize Ziliang’s men are waiting. They need to get into the city because today is the last day of the two month deadline and morning court has already started.
General Wang obeys Ziliang’s silent signal and starts the attack against Deyun in morning court. Ziliang’s sycophants join in calling for Deyun to be punished for failing to meet the two month deadline.
Ruoyu uses the secret tunnel that leads from Jiangqi Camp to enter the city. She and Ziyuan are surrounded by men and Ziyuan holds them off so Ruoyu can escape.
Qi Yan tells the court it’s his fault Deyun failed so he will take the blame. Ziliang says that can’t be because it will destroy the rule of law. Qi Yan says HE is the law. Ruoyu arrives.
[Ep23] Ruoyu reports that Yintai is dead by his lieutenant’s hand. Deyun is off the hook and Qi Yan rewards his cunning strategy (of “let’s wait and see”) by making him Vice Director of the Chancellery and Grand Chancellor. Ziliang plays his trump card. He has Prince An in his hands. He demands Qi Yan make him Crown Prince. His soldiers arrive, Ruoyu calls for Ziyi Bureau and they arrive, Qi Yan agrees as Ziliang starts to walk out and Prince An begs him. (Not spoken but certainly implied is that Ziliang was going to kill Prince An for being useless.)
[Ep24] Qi Yan is approached by Zening while looking out over the Forbidden City. She wants an answer - he refuses her. She asks if he thinks Ruoyu is more loyal, reliable, and useful to him. He doesn’t divide people into “useful” and “useless”. She tells him Ruoyu is part of a conspiracy and that her innocent demeanour is just a mask. She shares that it was Cheng Xi who brought An to Ziliang and suggests that he’s failed at everything since Ruoyu joined his side because she is part of her aunt’s conspiracy.
[Ep23] Ruoyu reports that Yintai is dead by his lieutenant’s hand. Deyun is off the hook and Qi Yan rewards his cunning strategy (of “let’s wait and see”) by making him Vice Director of the Chancellery and Grand Chancellor. Ziliang plays his trump card. He has Prince An in his hands. He demands Qi Yan make him Crown Prince. His soldiers arrive, Ruoyu calls for Ziyi Bureau and they arrive, Qi Yan agrees as Ziliang starts to walk out and Prince An begs him. (Not spoken but certainly implied is that Ziliang was going to kill Prince An for being useless.)
Yanzhi and Yan Xiu decide that since Ziliang has Prince An then he certainly has Princess Misha too.
Qi Yan wonders how Prince An ended up in Ziliang’s hands. Only he, Ruoyu, Guang, and Cheng Xi knew about the plan. He trusts the first three but not Cheng Xi. Ruoyu is sure that her aunt is innocent. They sneak out, dressed in black, to find Prince An and ask him.
They go to Yanzhi’s room first to see if she’ll tell them where An is. She isn’t there but her painting of Shen Nong seems familiar to Ruoyu and triggers one of her bad headaches. It passes quickly. They search the grounds until they find a heavily guarded room. Qi Yan distracts the guards while Ruoyu sneaks in. Yanzhi arrives before Ruoyu wakes Prince An so Ruoyu hides and eavesdrops.
Yanzhi wakes up Prince An and asks him how he came back. He doesn’t want to answer for fear of angering Ziliang but Yanzhi has his cricket. He tells her that Cheng Xi delivered them to Ziliang. Ruoyu barges out of hiding to argue with him. Prince An says it really was and Ziliang told her to run Ziyi Bureau well after he traded An and Misha for something - but he doesn’t know what. Yanzhi tells Ruoyu to go ask her aunt personally. She says she’ll release Ziyuan if Ruoyu comes to tell her Cheng Xi’s motivation. After Ruoyu leaves Prince An asks if she’s going to gouge out the Emperor’s heart. Cheng Xi said that Ruoyu’s dagger was specially made to gouge out Qi Yan’s heart.
Ruoyu doesn’t tell Qi Yan what she heard - she says she has to verify something first.
When she goes to confront her aunt she sees Ziliang’s Chief Officer talking to Cheng Xi. She hides and eavesdrops. Chief Officer tells Cheng Xi that Chief Chancellor is very upset by her actions. Cheng Xi says she did it for his sake. Chief Officer says she ruined his plans. Cheng Xi said she did it to force him to make a decision. She shares all the things she’s done to help Chief Chancellor; taking Ziyi Bureau out of Emperor Wen’s hands, hiding the Pure Jade House from him, and putting a wedge between Qi Yan and Ziliang. What Cheng Xi wants to know is when did Chief Chancellor change his mind and start helping Qi Yan for real? If Qi Yan gets rid of Ziliang and solidifies his rule then Chief Chancellor will have no grounds to overthrow him and take the throne. Chief Officer says she’ll send the Chief Chancellor to talk to her directly.
Cheng Xi hears Ruoyu move and calls her out. Ruoyu asks her “why”? Cheng Xi says that the Chief Chancellor is her younger brother and she’s glad she doesn’t have to hide the truth anymore. The only reason she has stayed in the palace is to help her younger brother take the throne. Ruoyu points out that the Chief Officer just said that’s not his goal anymore. Cheng Xi says that’s why she’s “helping” him understand he must overthrow the throne - the Xiang dynasty must fall. She asks Ruoyu to join them and Ruoyu refuses. Cheng Xi pulls her sword and stabs Ruoyu (but only a little) saying to help her or die. Ruoyu says she won’t resist if Cheng Xi kills her because she saved her when she was little but she won’t help Cheng Xi rebel. She chooses her country over her family, to Cheng Xi’s fury. After she leaves the room Cheng Xi says that this is good too. The closer the two of them get the more it will hurt when the truth is revealed. She says Ruoyu and Qi Yan will die together.
Ruoyu stands outside of Qi Yan’s room and agonizes about telling him. She doesn’t want to lie to him and she doesn’t want to tell him and have him deal with her aunt. She’s too ashamed to see him. She turns to leave and bumps into Uncle Huai who is bringing tea to Qi Yan. She leaves and Huai tells Qi Yuan that he apologizes if Ruoyu angered him again. Now Qi Yan knows that Ruoyu came and left without seeing him.
Ruoyu reports to Yanzhi about Cheng Xi and Chief Chancellor being siblings. Chief Chancellor was to use Jiangqi Camp to gain control of the Divine Army and use that to assume the throne but now he and Cheng Xi disagree. She wants to kill Qi Yan and he doesn’t. Yanzhi speculates that Cheng Xi has a particular hatred for the royal family. Ruoyu wonders if her lost memories are important but what she asks Yanzhi to do is investigate Cheng Xi and Chief Chancellor’s identities. If Yanzhi will do that for her she will do three things that Yanzhi asks her to do.
[Ep24] Qi Yan is approached by Zening while looking out over the Forbidden City. She wants an answer - he refuses her. She asks if he thinks Ruoyu is more loyal, reliable, and useful to him. He doesn’t divide people into “useful” and “useless”. She tells him Ruoyu is part of a conspiracy and that her innocent demeanour is just a mask. She shares that it was Cheng Xi who brought An to Ziliang and suggests that he’s failed at everything since Ruoyu joined his side because she is part of her aunt’s conspiracy.
Qi Yan asks Ruoyu how Prince An came back. Ruoyu doesn’t tell him because she wants a chance to get her aunt to repent. He believes that Zening’s accusations are true. She says she does have something to tell him but she needs to figure it out first.
Yanzhi meets with Chief Chancellor to find out his and Cheng Xi’s backgrounds. He admits that Cheng Xi is his half sister with the same mother. He indicates he wants Qi Yan to have a son so that the “brother” (Prince An) can’t inherit. Yanzhi says Ziliang will never let that happen. [Spoiler] (I could tell, looking at his eyes in the mask, that Chief Chancellor is actually - spoiler - Prince Guang. That is NOT the same person that she met with the first time.) [/Sp]
[Ep25] Ruoyu and Qi Yan study a map, trying to figure out where Cheng Xi has Misha stashed. Ruoyu speculates that the most dangerous place is safest and decides Misha is stashed at Ziyi Bureau. The get into their black sneaking suits and investigate Ziyi at midnight. Ruoyu is caught by Niang. She doesn’t attack Ruoyu but she won’t help her either. Ziyuan shows up and says Misha isn’t in Ziyi. They hear swords clashing and Ruoyu races to stop the fight between Cheng Xi and Qi Yan. He asks Cheng Xi why she betrayed him. She says he’s unworthy of the throne. It’s time for him to abdicate for someone competent. That person is her younger brother. Huai is there and exclaims that he’s her only brother. He scolds her for doing something that puts their entire family at risk of execution. Cheng Xi says she’s a descendant of Qi Hu of the Jiang Dynasty. Qi Yan’s grandfather killed her father. Ruoyu wants to know if she’s really Cheng Xi’s niece then. Nope - Cheng Xi took her in out of kindness after Guang saved her. Qi Yan scoffs at this supposed kindness. Cheng Xi agrees that Ruoyu was supposed to grow up and seduce the Emperor. She’s furious Ruoyu chose loyalty to the throne over loyalty to family. She starts to attack Qi Yan but Ruoyu protects him. Ruoyu wins against her aunt but can’t bring herself to hurt her. Cheng Xi takes advantage of that and tries to kill Ruoyu. Qi Yan protects her but causes a relapse from his injuries doing so.
[Ep26] Ziyuan and Ruoyu reach Misha. Ruoyu carries her out on her back while Ziyuan stays behind to get her revenge on Wang. Before they part Ziyuan asks Ruoyu to clear the names of those smeared in the Zhaolu Incident if she gets the chance.
[Ep27] Cheng Xi protests Ziliang’s plan but Ziliang won’t be swayed. He sends Cheng Xi back to her rooms.
Ruoyu is worried about Qi Yan who is not eating. She catches a glimpse of him polishing the bow Zening gave him but he has Huai shut the door on her.
Yanzhi asks if Chief Chancellor will team up with her to “fix the problem” (of Prince An being made Crown Prince, I assume). He agrees and asks her who she is. She admits to being Wang Ruoqing. She asks him to reveal his and Cheng Xi’s birth stories. He asks her where the Imperial Edict is. She says it was in her sister’s shoe and she doesn’t know what happened to it. He tells her he will tell her about his birth if she provides the Edict for him.
Ruoyu brings food to Qi Yan who tells her to leave. She has something to say. He doesn’t want to hear it. He accuses her of being a “honey trap” and threatens her with an arrow. She tells him about Cheng Xi but he says it’s too late and orders her to leave. She kneels instead. He orders Huai to take her away and for them both to never return. Huai is devastated.
Chief Chancellor meets with Cheng Xi. She declares he needs to carry out their plan now and take the throne during the ceremony to make An Crown Prince. She’s kept Princess Misha so they can forge and alliance with Zhenwu. She’s determined to make the Qi throne theirs.
Qi Yan vents his frustration by shooting many (many, many) arrows at a target. He remembers when Zening dropped him to leave the city with her father. Later, Zening approaches Qi Yan looking for his answer.
Huai confronts Cheng Xi. She’s arrogant and unrepentant. She orders him out of Ziyi Bureau. Ruoyu beats the drum to summon the women and accuses Cheng Xi. At least half of them turn on Ruoyu and the loyal ones (no fighting, just swords drawn). Cheng Xi kicks Ruoyu out. As Ruoyu leaves she says that Ruoyu will betray Qi Yan sooner or later because her fate was determined many years ago.
Ruoyu walks in the rain wondering where she should go when Yanzhi takes her up into her carriage. They talk about why Ruoyu failed (not enough authority) and how Ruoyu wants to turn her aunt away from this wrong path. Yanzhi says it’s already too late for that. She tells Ruoyu no one can please both sides and too choose a path and follow it to the end. Ruoyu wants to choose Qi Yan but he doesn’t trust her. Yanzhi tells her to bring him a gift (Princess Misha).
Ruoyu returns to Qi Yan and tells him she wants to help him recover Misha.
Qi Yan wakes in his rooms. Ruoyu is by his side and Huai is standing near. Guang is treating him and tells him he must rest completely for a month to recover. Qi Yan says that’s impossible but Guang says the Crown Prince ceremony has been put off for a month because Prince An is also sick. When Guang leaves to brew medicine Qi Yan asks Huai and Ruoyu who told them to return without permission. Huai falls to his knees and begs the Emperor not to send him away. (Yes, he’s crying again.) Qi Yan gives him permission to stay and wait to die with him. Ruoyu reports that Cheng Xi has joined Ziliang and blames herself for failing to protect Qi Yan. He agrees she’s an incompetent Sword Bearer and says she can’t remain at his side. She says she’d rather die than leave him alone. He agrees she can stay but she must understand three things. 1) He and Cheng Xi are in a fight to the death. (This upsets her but she says her aunt has committed four of the most heinous crimes against the throne and death is their penalty.) 2) He’s going to marry Zening. (This also upsets her but not as much.) and 3) He doesn’t trust her like he did before. She says she’s just grateful to be by his side and agrees to everything.
Ziyuan shows up in Ruoyu’s rooms. She’s on her way to deal with Wang Lin and she’s saying goodbye to Ruoyu. Ruoyu tries to stop her; it’s too dangerous. Ziyuan is determined. Ruoyu wants to join her. Ziyuan refuses.
Ziliang tells Cheng Xi that she and her ladies can stay with him. He asks her about Misha. She says she kept Misha for him and that Misha is with Wang Lin. She didn’t bring Misha to Ziliang because she doesn’t trust Jiangqi Camp and she especially doesn’t trust Yanzhi.
Qi Yan wants to go out for some fresh air but he’s not supposed to exert himself. Ruoyu offers to carry him on her back. Zening arrives with a sedan chair and bearers. She reminds Qi Yan of their childhood when he gave her a sedan chair to use after she twisted her foot and couldn’t walk. They flew kites together. She brings him out and flies a kite with him. He starts coughing. Ruoyu and Zening both fuss over him. As he’s carried away Zening tells Ruoyu she isn’t needed. Ruoyu leaves. Zening asks Qi Yan if he regrets selecting her. He tells her he hasn’t selected her. He makes it clear he won’t forgive her betrayal back then or her threats now. He was just watching her performance.
Ruoyu watches Wang Lin’s house (she’s worried for Ziyuan) and sees Ziliang enter. She sneaks in. Wang takes Ziliang to his torture room for the pretty girls he kidnaps. He pretends he didn’t know who Misha was. When ZIliang leaves he sends all the girls except Misha out. Ziyuan and Ruoyu bump into each other while spying and decide to work together to rescue Misha.
Yanzhi gets a message from a beggar (supposedly sent by Ruoyu) telling her that Wang Lin has Misha. Yanzhi says to have their mole at Wang’s side help Ruoyu.
Qi Yan is missing Ruoyu. He hasn’t seen her for most of the day.
(Halfway through! I want a medal - made of chocolate! :D )
[Ep26] Ziyuan and Ruoyu reach Misha. Ruoyu carries her out on her back while Ziyuan stays behind to get her revenge on Wang. Before they part Ziyuan asks Ruoyu to clear the names of those smeared in the Zhaolu Incident if she gets the chance.
Huai reports to Qi Yan that Ruoyu isn’t in the palace. Qi Yan is alarmed and aggravates his injury.
Wang realizes his keys are missing. He goes to check on Misha. Ziyuan is in Misha’s cage pretending to be her. While he’s feeling up her legs Ziyuan bursts out of the cage and knocks the man onto the rape bed he has in the chamber. Guards hear him yelling as Ziyuan uses the curtains and candles on the bed to burn him alive but they’ve been forbidden to enter the chamber if Wang is in there.
Cheng Xi intercepts Ruoyu on her way out. She thanks Ruoyu for rescuing Misha and demands Ruoyu hand her over or Qi Yan will die.
Yanzhi, also waiting for Ruoyu and Misha, realizes Cheng Xi used Misha as bait to trap her. She leaves to pretend she was not involved at all.
Ziliang is told Misha and Wang Lin have died in a fire. Jiang Ding says Wang was “playing” with Misha and got too rough and caught the building on fire. Ziliang asks if they’re sure it was Wang and Misha who died. Jaing is sure. He suggests Shi Yuan take Wang Lin’s place as general.
Yanzhi, hearing the news, believes Shi Yuan has been bought by Cheng Xi.
Huai brings Ruoyu to Qi Yan. She silently kneels before him and he asks what’s the matter.
Cheng Xi gets a reply from Zhenwu agreeing to her terms. Rong protests that Thirteen hasn’t agreed and Cheng Xi says that’s fine, she can be the second empress.
Qi Yan says Ruoyu’s failure to rescue Misha is “fate”. He also says if Cheng Xi wants to be Empress then she can replace him if she wants - he just wonders how long she can hold the throne.
Yanzhi meets with Ruoyu in her rooms asking her to help take down Cheng Xi. She needs Ruoyu to find out who Cheng Xi really is and use that information to discredit Cheng Xi before Ziliang. Yanzhi says she can either save Cheng Xi or she can save Qi Yan.
Ruoyu sits on her stairs agonizing over the choice Yanzhi has given her. The dilemma triggers one of her headaches. She’s waving the Sword of Light around trying to fend off hallucinations attacking her. Huai and Qi Yan see her. Qi Yan goes behind her and quietly says her name. She sees him and say’s “Majesty” but then he morphs into the soldier attacking her and she swings at him. She recites her Ziyi vows as she tries to stab him. He easily deflects the attack and speaks again. She recognizes him and collapses against him saying she’ll “always protect him”.
Qi Yan watches over Ruoyu who is unconscious in his bed. (She spends more time in his bed…) He asks Huai about her headaches. Huai knows about them but he’s never seen them this bad. He remembers when Cheng Xi introduced Ruoyu as their niece. He believed everything Cheng Xi told him then but now he realizes that her story has inconsistencies. Qi Yan summons Guang.
Guang tells Qi Yan that Cheng Xi said Ruoyu was her niece based on her looks and a birthmark. He says now that Cheng Xi could have seen the birthmark prior to making the claim. He says there’s no medicine for Ruoyu’s illness and he doesn’t know when the next attack might come.
Guang is suppressing tears as he leaves and thinks regretfully about a “wrong thought in the past”.
Han Ding reports that Zhenwu is getting impatient because Misha has been gone so long. Also, Zhang Jiang (in Lucong) is now demanding to be made governor just like Chen Yintai did - but he’s not taking action because of past events with Yintai. Qi Yan tells Han Ding to investigate Ruoyu’s past and interactions between Guang and Cheng Xi. Since Ruoyu was deliberately placed by his side and has been kept there in spite of his attempts to send her away, he must know her secrets.
Yan Xiu threatens Jiang Ding with Jiang’s illegitimate (and only) son. Jiang Ding reveals that Cheng Xi has promised to make him general of the Divine Army to buy his loyalty. Yan Xiu tells Yanzhi that he promised Jiang the same thing (and his son’s safety).
Ruoyu is sleeping in Qi Yan’s bed when Zening shows up. Ruoyu wakes up and Zneing accuses her of holding Qi Yan back and calls Ruoyu a good-for-nothing who has only gotten Qi Yan hurt. She says if Ruoyu really wants to help Qi Yan she’ll kill Cheng Xi and Ziliang for him. Qi Yan arrives and kicks Zening out, telling her that she isn’t allowed to enter his sleeping chambers without his permission.
Ruoyu walks with Uncle Huai. He tells her Guang said she needs rest to recover. She worries because she’s never hallucinated before. She tells Huai that they wanted to kill her and wore the armor of the Divine Army. She wonders if she should leave because she’s endangering Qi Yan.
Yanzhi thinks Cheng Xi has Misha at Ziliang’s now. She and Yan Xiu are also deliberately stirring conflict between Ziliang’s generals.
Ruoyu visits Yanzhi. She wants a map of Ziliang’s place with Cheng Xi and Ziliang’s quarters marked for her. She also wants Yanzhi’s help. Yanzhi agrees and Ruoyu sneaks into Ziliang’s place. She sees and confronts Rong. Rong won’t betray Cheng Xi (by answering questions) but she wants Ruoyu to leave before Cheng Xi knows she here. Too late, Cheng Xi is here. She and Ruoyu fight.
Qi Yan looks at the betrothal bracelet and thinks that it’s not Ruoyu’s fault.
Ruoyu is better than Cheng Xi - only her reluctance to kill her aunt saves Cheng Xi. Rong jumps between them to protect them both and Cheng Xi’s Ziyi women rush in to surround Ruoyu. A Ziyi woman rushes in to say the Alchemy Room is on fire. Cheng Xi realizes Ruoyu was a diversion.
Yan Xiu escapes with Misha on his back. Cheng Xi threatens to kill Ruoyu. Ziliang arrives. He has them brought to his rooms to find out why they were fighting. Cheng Xi can’t tell the truth about Misha so she says she was angry that she hasn’t taught Ruoyu well. Ziliang promises to teach Ruoyu well and deliver an obedient and sensible niece back to Cheng Xi.
(Too much happened this Episode. My brain hurts.)
[Ep27] Cheng Xi protests Ziliang’s plan but Ziliang won’t be swayed. He sends Cheng Xi back to her rooms.
Yanzhi arrives in Qi Yan’s rooms with “good news and bad news”. Qi Yan asks for the good news first - Misha enters the room. The bad news is that Ziliang has Ruoyu and is even angrier at her.
Zilian questions Ruoyu. He suspects she, Cheng Xi, and Qi Yan are plotting against him. She’s not talking. He calls Chief Officer in to deal with Ruoyu and leaves his room.
Qi Yan rides out with guards to rescue Ruoyu.
Chief Officer destroyed Ruoyu’s martial arts abilities by crushing her joints.
Ziliang confront’s Cheng Xi. Rong is crying for fear of what’s happening to Ruoyu but Cheng Xi says it’s what she deserves. As they talk, Qi Yan arrives. Ziliang says that Cheng Xi must prove her loyalty to him by killing Ruoyu in front of Qi Yan. As she goes to follow Ziliang Rong begs her not to. Cheng Xi wants to know why she should die instead of Ruoyu.
Qi Yan picks up Ruoyu and starts to leave but Cheng Xi stops him. She says that Rouyu’s life is forfeit for her actions this night. She claims that Ruoyu killed three members of Ziyi Bureau. Six women of the Ziyi Bureau act as witnesses.
Yanzhi waits for Ruoyu to pull out the ace up her sleeve.
Ruoyu says that if a woman is pregnant her execution must be delayed until 100 days after she gives birth. Everyone (even Qi Yan) looks at her in utter amazement. (Cheng Yi plays this part so well. His expression is understated and yet I could clearly detect surprise, disbelief, and faint amusement.) Cheng Xi challenges her statement. Ruoyu goes on to state that Cheng Xi and her had a falling out because Cheng Xi originally put her close to the Emperor to bear his child so Cheng Xi could put the child on the throne but that Cheng Xi betrayed her by bringing Prince An back to Ziliang, threatening her child’s future. She also says Cheng Xi used her to turn Qi Yan against Ziliang because her ultimate goal is to be Empress. Ziliang laughs heartily. Ruoyu ads that Misha is still alive because Cheng Xi wants the 80,000 men of Zhenwu to kill Ziliang, Prince An and Qi Yan during the Crown Prince ceremony. Ziliang sends men to check out three specific accusations Ruoyu made to prove her claims.
Ziliang’s men come back - two of the claims are pending verification but the third has been proven true. Cheng Xi counters by claiming Ruoyu isn’t really pregnant. Ziliang sends for physicians to check Ruoyu. Qi Yan sends for Eunuch Huai and The Record of the Emperor’s Daily Life. Ruoyu is moved to a bed in an adjoining room and she asks the Emperor why he sent for the records. He answers (with the tiny smile he reserves for when he’s amused and teasing her) “I have to give my child a legitimate origin.” but then he sobers and asks her if she’ sure she can pass the pregnancy check. She’s sure.
Yanzhi tells Yan Xiu that she’ll keep Ziliang in his quarters for the next 12 hours. Yan Xiu must kill Ziliang’s two problematic generals during that time. He promises not to disappoint her.
Yanzhi arrives at the same time as Huai and the records. Ziliang reads for himself that Ruoyu spent the night of May 7th all night to “serve the Emperor”. Cheng Xi claims it’s false but Huai says he wouldn’t falsify the records and other eunuchs and maids saw it too. Then Cheng Xi claims that would be professional misconduct on Ruoyu’s part. Huai counters that Qi Yan had removed her status as Swordbearer at that point in time. Cheng Xi wants to know how Ruoyu bribed Huai to turn against her.
The physicians (including one known for his integrity and loyalty to Ziliang) say Ruoyu is pregnant but the one loyal to Ziliang says that her pulse is more like someone in their fourth month. He says that it’s possible her terrible injuries have messed with the pulse and that an internal exam needs to be done. (While he was checking Ruoyu he gave her a pill after realizing the extent of her injuries. It seems to have been a pain pill.) They summon an experienced midwife.
Ruoyu has used her martial arts to alter her pulse to indicate pregnancy but that won’t fool an internal examination.
(Random note: Ziliang spends an awful lot of time in this show sleeping on other people. They have to kneel and he leans against them and sleeps. I guess that’s to let us know what a jerk he is?)
[Ep28] The midwife reports that Ruoyu is pregnant. (It didn’t appear that she was bribed so I assume she felt sorry for Ruoyu who is clearly in a lot of pain even with Dr. Shen’s pill. Dr. Shen is the one Ziliang trusts who said her pulse felt 4 months pregnant.) Ziliang tests the medical professionals. He has a “door of life” and a “door of death” brought in. Anyone who says Ruoyu is pregnant must stand behind the door of death. Everyone except Shen hurries to get behind the door of life. Shen is 70 now and he can choose to follow his ethics, he says. He stands behind the door of death. Ziliang has everyone behind the door of life put to death. He now believes Ruoyu is pregnant because everyone who is afraid of death will betray you. Shen doesn’t escape either. He told what he believed to be the truth but he took a stand for his own beliefs and Ziliang can’t allow that. In honor of his years of service to Ziliang he is permitted to die with a whole body and his family will be spared. Shen bows to Qi Yan and is taken off. Ziliang orders his people to prepare a “soothing soup”. (Obviously an abortifactant.) Qi Yan looks concerned.
“How can a sinner’s body be worthy to bear a prince for Your Majesty?”
Meanwhile, a soldier runs up to the guards at Ziliang’s manor trying to make a report. He’s turned away because Ziliang is handling vital matters and can’t be disturbed.
Qi Yan argues with Ziliang, saying it’s up to him to decide if the person is “worthy”. Ziliang asks if Qi Yan is trying to shield a criminal. He says he will shield her for the sake of his child.
The soldier is killed by Yan Xiu.
Ziliang threatens Qi Yan saying that Qi Yan himself gave Ziliang the power to hurt him and that even a prince must be held accountable to the law. Qi Yan says he’ll take the soothing soup to Ruoyu himself. (Let me say it again, Cheng Yi is really talented. He has these teeny tiny microexpressions that let him look like a grieving man who is trying to be expressionless. I’m kind of in love with him as an actor right now.) Huai is totally confused about what’s going on.
Yan Xiu walks into a manor filled with dead bodies and gore.
Qi Yan feeds Ruoyu the “soup” calling it a freedom pill. After the servants leave he grabs a cloth beside the bed and she spits the stuff into the cloth. Then he scolds her for taking risks, telling her that she is more important to him than the throne.
Ziliang confronts Cheng Xi again. She tries to get him to see that Yanzhi has set her up but Yanzhi doesn’t even try to defend herself against the accusation. A scout runs in confirming the second of Ruoyu’s accusations against Cheng Xi. With no other recourse, Cheng Xi takes Yanzhi hostage and she and Rong escape the manor.
Yan Xiu reports to Ziliang that two of the generals got into a fight and there is chaos. Another soldier runs in saying that there are huge casualties and four lieutenant generals of the Divine Army are dead, one general is seriously wounded and General Shi ran away. Qi Yan takes this opportunity to leave with Ruoyu. He and Ziliang face each other and Li Deyun arrives to report there’s chaos in the army barracks and that he’s deployed his men to restore order. Beset by problems, Ziliang allows Qi Yan to leave with Ruoyu. (She’s crippled right now because of the damage Chief Officer did to her joints. She hasn’t even been able to sit up without help.) Qi Yan orders Huai to bring Guang to the palace before they even leave Ziliang’s place.
On the way back to the palace Qi Yan tells Ruoyu he’s hoping Guang can help her. She says she’s feeling much better since the kind Dr. Shen gave her a pill. She hopes she can thank him personally soon. Qi Yan looks pained and promises to pass on her appreciation. Li Deyun reports that the barracks really are in chaos and about the fight and the deaths. He’s taken the opportunity to appoint a general loyal to them so Qi Yan now controls the Divine Army. Ruoyu now realizes that Qi Yan was in on the plot Yanzhi devised. She worries about Yanzhi’s safety but Qi Yan says she anticipated being taken hostage by Cheng Xi. This will keep Jiangqi Camp in disarray long enough for him to cement his hold on the Divine Army.
Cheng Xi takes Yanzhi to the abandoned temple. Yanzhi questions her about her family origins. She admits to Cheng Xi that she also wishes to be Empress and states that Qi Yan is the only of the royal males she considers good enough to marry (which is why she’s helped him so much.) Cheng Xi threatens to kill Yanzhi but Yanzhi tells her she’s Cheng Xi’s only hope of staying alive right now. She gets Cheng Xi to admit to being the third party that created so much chaos with Ziliang and Qi Yan. Yanzhi asks her if she really thinks she can recover from this setback. Cheng Xi says she’s not alone.
Ziliang confronts General Jiang (the one who Yanzhi controls because she has his son). He didn’t run away but waited for his punishment so Ziliang doesn’t kill him. While they talk Ziliang starts to cough and uses (magical) acupressure to contain the coughing. Jiang is concerned but Ziliang says he’s just been practicing his martial arts a bit too hard.
Chief Chancellor shows up. He tells Cheng Xi to let Yanzhi go. He says that Cheng Xi needs to leave and not return. Cheng Xi complains about everyone betraying her. (It never fails to amuse me when a villian who throws everyone, even their own grandmother, under the bus complains about being betrayed.) Yanzhi says she’s enjoying the show but makes it clear she doesn’t take it at face value. (Such a cynical young lady.) Chief Chancellor tries to separate Yanzhi from Cheng Xi and Cheng Xi knocks him down. Yanzhi is surprised that Chief Chancellor really doesn’t have any martial arts abilities. Chief Officer arrives to engage Cheng Xi in a battle and Chief Chancellor takes the opportunity to whisk Yanzhi away through a secret tunnel.
Yanzhi asks him why he’s helping her when she set up a trap that endangered him. He writes that he wants her to win. He doesn’t covet the throne. He’s in Jiangqi Camp trying to eliminate Ziliang’s followers and bring stability to the Xiang Dynasty, just like Wang Yang tried to do. Yanzhi scoffs at him, believing he’s trying to manipulate her by mentioning her grandfather.
[Ep29] Yanzhi returns to her rooms in Jiangqi Camp. She and Yan Xiu are both disturbed by Chief Chancellor’s actions and words. Yanzhi says his claims aren’t believable but she believes him. Her grandfather was selfless like Guang claims to be.
[Ep30] Gao shows what he’s written to Qi Yan and Qi Yan tells him to go read it. Ruoyu asks if he really thinks this will free her? He tells her one of them must live on but he does want her by his side until he dies first. She cries and then he cries.
Ziliang catches up with General Shi.
Yan Xiu reports that Yuan Xing hasn’t awakened. He says he has servants bribed to kill him if it looks like he will wake up.
Guang examines Ruoyu and says the Chief Officer was merciful and she can heal. He asks about Qi Yan’s injury, worrying Ruoyu. She promises they will both be good and rest to get better. After he leaves Qi Yan promises Ruoyu cherry dumplings and tells her Huai told him while sharing a childhood story about how easy she’d be to raise with the way she ate so willingly. Ruoyu says she’s actually very picky and will only eat cherry dumplings from General Han Yue’s home. He asks her how she knows Han Yue. She’s confused. She doesn’t know why she said that.
Yanzhi learns that Ziliang has placed “Nine” in the position of Right Rook. (RR henceforth) RR reports to Ziliang that the Zhenwu army continues to advance and Misha has (or will) join them. He says he couldn’t stop her but he got a letter from the barracks. The letter says Cheng Xi colluded with Zhenwu. RR also reports he’s found a doctor that can wake General Yuan Xing.
Qi Yan holds morning court without Ziliang who has said he’s sick. Deyun gives him a list of men to take over command of the Divine Army. Qi Yan says Ziliang let them be unruly so now Han Ding will be their Grand General and the new overall commander will be chosen from Deyun’s list. He leaves, hopeful that he might actually win this battle against Ziliang. (Never hope. Scriptwriters hate that.)
RR tells them that Xing’s coma isn’t because of the sword injury but because of magical acupressure injuries. Yanzhi shares that in Jiangqi Camp the only two people who know this technique are Chief Officer and Yan Xiu. Since Ziliang had Chief Officer with him (torturing Ruoyu) he asks Yan Xiu if he’s behind the injuries.
Ruoyu is in Qi Yan’s bed to recover. (Of course) He’s doing her personal care himself, washing her hands and face and she’s smiling and cheerful even though she can’t use her arms or legs. The eunuch who brings their food has a creepy look on his face.
Wanted posters for Cheng Xi and General Shi are posted all over. The reward for Cheng Xi is 100,000 coins. Chief Chancellor is in the crowd as this is announced.
Yanzhi and Yan Xiu worry about all the loose ends and what RR’s return means.
Qi Yan changes into his very pale blue and still gorgeous lounging robe to share the bed with Ruoyu. He teases her for being shy after she already claimed to carry his child. After they finally fall asleep an assassin arrives. Ruoyu wakes Qi Yan in time to defend himself and shouts for someone to help. (But we all know how useless the guards are, right?) Qi Yan tears off the mask of the assassin. It’s the creepy eunuch who isn’t a eunuch but is actually General Shi. He manages to stab Qi Yan in the chest (heart). NOW the guards run in, capturing Shi, followed by Ziliang. Qi Yan passes out.
Le Deyun is trapped in his library by strange men with swords.
Yanzhi arrives in Qi Yan’s rooms in time to hear a physician say that Qi Yan has only a month to live, at best. Huai breaks down, slaps the physician, orders them all out for being useless, and then kicking Shi. Ziliang tells him to calm down and listen to the interrogation - then he can beat people. Yes, Huai is crying again.
Chief Officer reports to Chief Chancellor that General Shi is exceptionally good at recognizing faces and voices. She doesn’t think things are hopeful for Yan Xiu.
Shi reports what happened that day. General Xiang brought an attendant who took charge of the fight several times. Looking around he says the man looked a lot like Yan Xiu only with a full beard. Yanzhi puts a full beard on Yan Xiu and Shi says that’s him! Yanzhi says that’s not enough and brings in three other men with beards. Shi can’t be sure which one is the man he saw. He tells them to speak because he’ll recognize the voice. He identifies Yan Xiu and another man by voice. Yanzhi tells Ziliang someone is framing them. Ziliang tells Shi he knows she was bought by Cheng Xi and has him dragged away. Shi shouts that Ziliang said he could make amends by assassinating Qi Yan. Ziliang gets the news that Xing has awakened. He leaves, ordering the guards not to let anyone see Qi Yan. Huai is dragged away by two guards.
Ziliang gloats about what a good chess player he is and how he has reversed Qi Yan’s moves. Yanzhi says with Zhenwu approaching it will be disastrous if Qi Yan dies. Ziliang says it’s fine as long as they don’t let the news get out and they have the Crown Prince anyway. He’s leaving Qi Yan’s life up to fate now.
Qi Yan wakes up. After Ruoyu reassures him that Ziliang didn’t hurt her he tells her he might be dying this time. He decides it’s fate and says he did his best and he hopes his brother and Shifu won’t be too disappointed in him. Before he dies, though, he has to do something. He calls for a servant and Eunuch Gao arrives. Gao writes his edict making Ruoyu an Honorary Lady and granting her a field of 1,000 acres. Also, after he dies she’s to return to her hometown and remarry if she wants. Ruoyu cries.
[Ep30] Gao shows what he’s written to Qi Yan and Qi Yan tells him to go read it. Ruoyu asks if he really thinks this will free her? He tells her one of them must live on but he does want her by his side until he dies first. She cries and then he cries.
Ziliang visits Xing. As he’s leaving the miracle doctor asks him if his abdominal accupoint is still twitching. Ziliang is disturbed by the doctor’s words and feels he’s talented to see so much with just a glance. RR suggests that this doctor fill Shen’s now-empty spot.
Xing asks Ziliang for revenge against Shi. Ziliang scolds him for being used and not even realizing it. He asks Xing about the bearded man who accompanied him. Xing is confused and wonders if Ziliang means his nephew. When the nephew is located he’s dead but he does resemble Yan Xiu somewhat.
Yanzhi advises Ziliang to investigate Jian Ding because he’s the one who recommended Shi. Ziliang agrees.
Ruoyu fills Qi Yan in on what happened with everyone while he was unconscious from the attack.
Ziliang ponders the person in the shadows who is chipping away at his power. It can’t be Qi Yan because the person knows both him and Jiangqi Camp too well. RR is assigned to keep an eye on Yanzhi but RR says Chief Chancellor is also suspicious. Ziliang has already assigned Chief Officer to keep an eye on him. RR points out that they seem to have a close relationship. Ziliang knows.
Chief Officer reports that Ziliang suspects both him and Yanzhi to Chief Chancellor.
Ruoyu is healing and can move her fingers a little. Guang arrives outside Qi Yan’s room to change his dressing. Eunuch Gao stops him because he needs Ziliang’s permission. Ruoyu calls for Guang over and over again until Gao enters to say Guang has left. After Gao leaves Qi Yan assures Ruoyu he can handle it (not being treated). He assures her that the “real” third party doesn’t want him to die yet and will do something to help.
Ziliang meets with his loyal officials. They have a list of loyal generals drawn up. The man praises Ziliang for skillfully turning the tables on Qi Yan. Ziliang knows the soldiers are agitated right now and decides to calm them by giving them three months of pay. Then the man worries about Cheng Xi being loose but Ziliang says that if Prince An dies before the ceremony he’s already told Jiangqi that they would all die as well.
Chief Officer sneaks into the room and fixes the damage she did to Ruoyu’s joints. She didn’t really break them back then, she just left Ruoyu in a lot of pain. Qi Yan pretends to be sleeping and both women believe he’s asleep. Chief Officer leaves medicine with Ruoyu to give to Qi Yan.
Ruoyu nurses Qi Yan. Ziliang prepares for the ceremony. (This is now to be Qi Yan’s abdication and Prince An’s enthronement.)
Ziliang learns that Misha was captured and the Zhenwu Army has stopped advancing. Yanzhi wants Yan Xiu to notify people but RR shows himself and tells them not to speak to people who shouldn’t be spoken to and not to go places they shouldn’t go. When the two are alone in Yanzhi’s room Yan Xiu tells her that Misha is dead. He also tells her that Chief Chancellor is now under suspicion too. Yanzhi is mad at herself - she’s blundered. Yan Xiu tells her to just focus on stopping the coming ceremony.
Qi Yan is doing a little better. Ruoyu assures Qi Yan she’s better than before. Ziliang arrives and Ruoyu hurries back into bed so he doesn’t know she’s recovered. He’s there to gloat. He thinks Qi Yan isn’t healthy enough to make it to the ceremony in three days but he assures them he’ll handle it all well. He tells them all the officials (except Li Deyun) have signed the petition asking An to be Crown Prince. Also, the Zhenwu Army has stopped approaching. Also, Mish is dead - he had his man cut off her head, in fact. Ruoyu and Qi Yan’s eyes are swimming with tears. Qi Yan congratulates Ziliang on his win.
Yanzhi decides to kill Prince An. She’s sure Ziliang won’t wipe out all of Jiangqi Camp.
Qi Yan asks Ruoyu to take him to see Prince An. She refuses. It’s not because she thinks he will kill Prince An but because she thinks he’s too weak to make the trip. He persists because this is his last chance to talk to his brother and finally convinces her.
Yanzhi intercepts them outside of Prince An’s rooms. They convince Yanzhi to allow the meeting to take place. Yanzhi requests that Ziliang allow it and Ziliang does. He wants to know if Qi Yan is “strong enough” to hold his throne by killing his brother. (He gave Emperor Wen the same opportunity before he died.)
The brothers meet with only Ruoyu there. An begs Qi Yan not to kill him. Qi Yan tells him he needs to ask him three questions. 1) “Can you take good care of yourself?” An is confused but says he can.
[Ep31] Qi Yan helps An to stand. An is still frightened but calming down as nothing Qi Yan does is even remotely threatening. Second Question: “Can you take good care of your brothers and sisters?” Qi Yan says he must swear to do this - that An and his siblings must stay alive because only then will the Qi clan continue on. An promises to do his best and Qi Yan smiles at him in approval. He starts to leave but An asks him about the third question. Qi Yan has decided not to ask that one. He tells Ruoyu later that he can’t ask An to accomplish what he couldn’t. As they leave An kowtows and urges Qi Yan to take care of himself.
[Ep31] Qi Yan helps An to stand. An is still frightened but calming down as nothing Qi Yan does is even remotely threatening. Second Question: “Can you take good care of your brothers and sisters?” Qi Yan says he must swear to do this - that An and his siblings must stay alive because only then will the Qi clan continue on. An promises to do his best and Qi Yan smiles at him in approval. He starts to leave but An asks him about the third question. Qi Yan has decided not to ask that one. He tells Ruoyu later that he can’t ask An to accomplish what he couldn’t. As they leave An kowtows and urges Qi Yan to take care of himself.
During the carriage ride back to the palace Qi Yan regrets losing like this.
RR lets Yanzhi know she was lucky Ruoyu and Qi Yan stopped her from making another blunder.
Qi Yan and Ruoyu have another scene letting us know how devoted they are to each other.
Yanzhi and Yan Xiu decide RR is working for Chief Chancellor, not Ziliang.
RR reports to Chief Chancellor. He thinks they should keep everyone alive and start a new game. (of chess, I assume)
Ziliang tries to use his martial arts energy but doesn’t like the results. He tells his people to bring the new doctor to him in the morning.
The next day the doctor suggest that Ziliang go on retreat to purge the toxins from his body. Ziliang says he’ll think about it after the ceremony. The doctor leaves.
It’s the big day. Ruoyu asks Qi Yan if he’s really giving up. Qi Yan won’t kill his younger brother to keep the throne. He’s happy with his choice.
Ziyi Bureau has dressed up as palace ladies to deliver Prince An’s robes. After they’re in the rooms Cheng Xi kills the guards and attacks Prince An. Chief Officer stops her and Chief Chancellor shows up. At a signal from him the ladies of Ziyi turn on Cheng Xi. (Ha! How does it FEEL?!? Sorry, got carried away.) Cheng Xi is knocked out with a dart and carried off by Guang and the ladies.
Ziliang decides to go to An’s rooms to guard him personally. While there he tells An to behave like an Emperor and to be grateful and reward appropriately. An flashes back to Chief Officer telling him not to tell anyone Cheng Xi was there and he doesn’t tell Ziliang anything.
The next day he’s dressed in his royal robes. He joyfully shows them to Ziliang who is thrilled and puts the crown on him personally. An asks that Qi Yan be there and Ziliang is willing for Qi Yan to witness him handing the throne to Prince An. An says the crown is a little heavy and Qi Yan walks a little away and turns away while pontificating about how it’s the weight of the Xing Dynasty but as long as Ziliang is alive An will be able to bear it. An’s nose starts to bleed and he starts calling for “Godfather” but Ziliang is too busy congratulating himself and laughing over his victory. Blood comes out of An’s mouth and he calls for Godfather a few more times. Ziliang turns around just as An collapses and dies.
(Poor, poor An - he was such a frightened child and they just killed him like that. I think I felt the sorriest for him of any character in the show.) :(
[Ep32] Cheng Xi wakes up in the Chief Chancellor’s rooms. She tells him he lost and Prince An is probably already dead.
[Ep32] Cheng Xi wakes up in the Chief Chancellor’s rooms. She tells him he lost and Prince An is probably already dead.
Yanzhi orders a woman (I think Ziyi Bureau but not sure) to tell Cheng Xi their plan worked.
Cheng Xi tells Chief Chancellor that there were different poisons on the cricket cage and the robes and that’s how Prince An was poisoned to death. Chief Chancellor isn’t giving her the response she wants so she goes on to explain (angrily) that Qi Yan is dying but she can’t let Prince An on the throne because he’ll be even harder to unseat. She says the only way he can save anything is to take the throne for himself.
RR walks into An’s room. There are dead bodies everywhere. Ziliang lays exhausted and speckled with blood next to An and his personal eunuch is prostrated nearby with the horsehair whip/scepter thingie in his hands. (It seems Ziliang is tired from killing everyone.) RR tells Ziliang it’s time for the ceremony. Ziliang tells him to escort Qi Yan to the ceremony and say that heaven has blessed Qi Yan with improved health so the abdication will be put off. Then RR is to bring the Miracle Doc to Qi Yan to see how to prolong his life.
RR arrives as Ruoyu feeds Qi Yan porridge. (He’s complaining it’s too sweet and she thinks it’s delicious.) They hurry to make it seem Qi Yan is in worse shape than he really is.
Chief Chancellor gives Chief Officer a look and she knocks out Cheng Xi. (I’d knock her out too - she’s a spiteful and selfish creature.)
[Ep33] Qi Yan’s response to her suggestion is the little smile he reserves for when she’s being adorably stupid. He explains this time is different. Jiang is alerted and knows who Ruoyu is. Since she’s all alone there’s no chance she could succeed. He tells her he wants to gather some troops from each of the provincial governors and have Zhang lead them against Jiang but he knows Ziliang won’t allow the governors to work with him. She’s angry on his behalf but he’s resigned. He thinks to himself that all the suffering he’s survived is worth it to bring Ruoyu to his side. Even if she learns the truth about him and hates him later he’ll be happy.
Qi Yan arrives in the hall where the Emperor’s hold court. His officials are surprised to see him. Li Deyun is thrilled and immediately bows and does the “long live” spiel. The other’s follow a beat later. After court Deyun is with Qi Yan in his rooms and reports that Prince An is dead. Ruoyu and Qi Yan are saddened. Qi Yan’s heart physically pains him (illness relapse?) and he asks how An died. Li Deyun tells him he heard it was poison and that Ziliang is sparing no efforts to investigate. Qi Yan tells Deyun to begin planning because he can’t recover from his injury - he’s only lingering.
Chief Chancellor shows up in Yanzhi’s rooms. She has no remorse for killing An. She challenges him to either report her to Ziliang or join her to conclude the “game”. He removes his mask. (Hello Prince Guang.)
Ruoyu asks Qi Yan if he’s suspecting Li Deyun. No, he isn’t but Deyun let himself be trapped even though he had military power at the time. But Qi Yan’s concern is the third party. They’re going to continue to seem weak and he will set up a trap to lure the third party in where they can’t escape.
Ziliang investigates. Cheng Xi seems to have been the one who poisoned the robe and the cricket cage was swapped by an old eunuch who killed himself with poison. The investigation is dead in the water.
Guang and Yanzhi face each other over her chess table. Now she understands so many things, she says. She asks if he’s Chief Chancellor to look for the missing Imperial Edict (naming him Emperor). Yes and no, he tells her. His goal is to weaken Ziliang who is too powerful. He asks why she never came to him but she doesn’t know why she should have. He remained well hidden as Prince Guang and never revealed his identity to her before. He tells her he had to change his plans to protect her but she doesn’t trust anyone any more. Finally he tells her he can understand her killing the other people she’s killed (because they deserved it) but Prince An was just a kid and innocent. She doesn’t care - revenge is all that matters.
Miracle Doc checks out Qi Yan with Ruoyu and Ziliang watching. He says Qi Yan can’t be cured and that he could die at any moment. Qi Yan mocks Ziliang by quietly observing that Ziliang needs to choose a new Emperor soon. Ziliang leaves. Ruoyu speculates that Miracle Doc is working for the third party. Qi Yan frets that he can’t figure out the third party’s goals.
Yanzhi is pleased that she’s confirmed Chief Chancellor’s real identity. This is why she killed Prince An. She’s learned that Cheng Xi and Guang share the same mother. Cheng Xi’s father rebelled against the throne and was killed by the Emperor. Her concubine mother was brought to the palace as a servant and later conceived Guang.
Chief Officer asks Guang when he plans to let Yanzhi know her younger sister survived. He’s not sure. He’s worried how Ruoyu will react when she learns that Qi Yan killed her family and shot her. (Obviously he hasn't met Ruoyu. She’s got so much faith in Qi Yan she’d make excuses if she caught him in the act of mutilating a kitten.)
Yanzhi and Ruoyu both dream of their childhoods. Ruoyu bolts awake after dreaming of being shot with an arrow, startling Qi Yan awake. (Of course they’re still sharing a bed. lol) She now remembers that she had an older sister she was very close to and she knows that she DID have cherry dumplings made by General Han Yue as a child. She’s excited at this lead to her identity. He’s not as excited, although he doesn’t tell her. It’s likely she is the child of a nobel and perhaps one he is guilty of harming.
Ziliang and Qi Yan (each in their own rooms) receive the news that Zhang Jiang is marching to the capital to rebel. Qi Yan blames himself for being incompetent. Ziliang is besieged by courtiers begging him to solve the problem and offering suggestions. He tells them all to go home. His Qi imbalance is acting up again. RR tells him that means his training is working but it’s a bad time for him to have to focus on overcoming the imbalance. He tells RR to get Miracle Doc. RR reports that LR (Left Rook) has been delayed because of Zhang’s rebellion causing roads to be blocked. Ziliang orders that Qi Yan not be disturbed by government affairs (because he’s recovering) and to ensure he doesn’t meet with Li Deyun.
Ruoyu brings a message from Deyun. Zhang Zhongru has written to offer his army to deal with Jiang. Deyun trusts him because he made the request in writing rather than assembling his army and then sending a request. Ruoyu thinks Zhang cares for his province the way she cares for Heng’an. She suggests Qi Yan send her to assassinate Jiang.
Guang wakes up Cheng Xi. She admits to instigating Jiang’s rebellion. She lets it slip that she despises their mother for giving birth to him instead of dying along with their father (as a properly “chaste” woman would do). She tries to backtrack at the look in his eyes but he doesn’t respond to her claims to care about him and be working for his sake. He tells Yuan Du that she can’t escape again because she’s got no martial arts ability any more. He won’t forgive her for harming his country and she won’t forgive him for not being her puppet emperor.
Ziliang sends even more guards to keep Qi Yan contained. Qi Yan tells Ruoyu that she can help him by leaving him. She will do anything for him except that
Yanzhi is disturbed by the situation but tells Yan Xiu they must wait and see what happens. She’s not proficient in war. Yan Xiu reports his findings on the miracle Doc. His family name is Wu but he has no family and has been a wandering doctor for the past ten years. He doesn’t care about money and has saved many lives. They conclude Doc Wu is Guang/Chief Chancellor’s man.
Guang and Doc Wu discuss Qi Yan. Doc Wu says Qi Yan won’t die and praises Ruoyu for being clever. Guang tells Doc Wu they must wait until the Lucong rebellion is resolved before they can put their plan in action. Doc Wu protests that he’s already waited ten years. Guang apologizes, calling him “Elder Disciple Brother”.
Ruoyu really doesn’t want to leave Qi Yan but he’s adamant that it’s the only way she can help him. She reluctantly agrees. Moments later the Dowager Empress arrives. She scolds him for not keeping her informed and curses Ziliang for trying to destroy her family. Qi Yan tells her to watch her words as Eunuch Gao’s ears prick up but she’s unrepentant. She turns her anger on Ruoyu, blaming her for Qi Yan’s injury. She asks if her unborn grandchild remains (I don’t know if she knows it was imaginary or not) and upon being told it’s gone she kicks Ruoyu out of the palace. Ruoyu glances back as she leaves and has a flashback to Qi Yan planning this with her. He used the Ziyi Oath to convince her it was her duty to follow his order and they each promised the other to stay alive. When she’s gone Qi Yan tells Zening to take her bow back. The Dowager Empress protests and Qi Yan tells her she kicked one out and now he’s kicking one out.
Ziliang knows that Ruoyu’s departure from the palace is a trick to allow her to perform a mission for Qi Yan. He knows the Dowager Empress cares about Qi Yan and would never forcefully remove the woman he loves from his side.
Yanzhi tells Yan Xiu that kicking Ruoyu out was a bad move on Qi Yan’s part. Ruoyu is alone and can’t accomplish whatever plan Qi Yan has to deal with the Lucong Rebellion. She tells Yan Xiu to enact their plan for the Divine Army.
Gao searches Qi Yan’s room while Qi Yan sleeps. He discovers an empty box in one of the drawers and leaves. Qi Yan wasn’t asleep.
Ziliang learns that the commander’s commission is gone (from Gao’s spying). RR asks why Ziliang is worried since the Divine Army is loyal to him. Ziliang points out that there are other armies. He tells RR to have Ruoyu followed.
Ruoyu tries to get into the Li Manor and is intercepted by Ziliang and a small army of soldiers. (It was kind of a “don’t move or we’ll be shooting ourselves” scenario and I laughed)
[Ep34] Ziliang’s qi acts up again on the carriage ride back to his place. He worries about putting off going on retreat as Doc Wu advised but feels he can’t leave while the situation is so unstable.
Yanzhi observes the glow of fire over the courtyard walls.
Ruoyu is searched but the commander’s commission isn’t on her. Ziliang is told there’s a fire in the Divine Barracks. Ruoyu tells Ziliang she’s never seen the commander’s commission. She was trying to deal with Zening for trash talking her to the Dowager Empress. Ziliang threatens her with a sword. Yanzhi shows up to share that there’s a rebellion in the Divine Army. Ziliang declares he’s arresting Ruoyu for stealing the commander’s commission and tells Yanzhi to take her back to Jiangqi Camp and interrogate her well.
Zening and Deyun talk about how best to use the commander’s commission (which Zening brought to him when she was kicked out of the palace). Deyun is worried about getting the provincial governors to cooperate and doesn’t know who should lead the army when it’s been assembled.
Qi Yan worries about Ruoyu. He tells the betrothal bracelet he’ll hang on for her.
Ruoyu and Yanzhi talk on the carriage ride to Jiangqi Camp. Ruoyu admits she was a distraction for Ziliang. Yanzhi says it’s blunder - now she’s in Ziliang’s hands. Ruoyu thinks Yanzhi will help her. Yanzhi says she can’t - Ziliang is suspicious of her and if she acts he’ll know she’s worked against him. Ruoyu says that’s okay, she was prepared to die if she had to. She thanks Yanzhi anyway. Yanzhi says she can do something to save Qi Yan and deal with the rebellion but in return Ruoyu must promise to work for her once it’s done. Yanzhi will even promise to remove Qi Yan from Ziliang’s control. Ruoyu doesn’t understand why Yanzhi wants her with all the gifted people around her. Yanzhi says that Ruoyu is a good leader and she likes Ruoyu. She tells Ruoyu to think about it.
Ziliang intercepts a group of soldiers in the city. The leader says they want their pay and provisions, which they haven’t received for a long time. They never got the money Ziliang promised, much to his irritation. The leader also demands higher pay because costs have gone up while they’ve been making almost nothing. A man rushes up shouting that the vice generals have been killed! The leader tells Ziliang that they were forced into this rebellion and they didn’t kill the vice generals, just tied them up. He asks for amnesty too. Ziliang kills him and tells the others that now that the troublemaker is dead they should return to the barracks. He’ll send them three months pay and provisions tomorrow. Yan Xiu has watched the whole thing from a nearby balcony.
Yan Xiu is frustrated that they have no way to disable Ziliang’s martial arts. Yanzhi realizes that Ziliang will (or already has) realize that Ruoyu’s martial arts are back and better than before.
Ruoyu is shouting in her cell when Ziliang arrives to question her about who it is in his inner circle who has betrayed him.
Yan Xiu convinces Yanzhi she must leave Ruoyu to her fate. He tells her to focus on getting control of the Imperial Guards.
Qi Yan paces in his rooms. A maid from Dowager Empress comes with oranges for Qi Yan but Eunuch Gao sends her back. Qi Yan now knows that Deyun has the commander’s commission.
Ruoyu’s arm hangs uselessly at her side - Ziliang has hurt her in the questioning. He didn’t believe her when she said she recovered with medicine and her natural ability so she accuses everyone in the cell of helping her. She tells Ziliang that everyone despises him so how can he believe anyone would be loyal to him? A messenger comes to say Qi Yan is dying. Ziliang leaves Chief Officer to watch over Ruoyu.
Yanzhi learns that Ziliang has left for the palace and wants to save Ruoyu. She regrets saying she’ll let her die.
Ruoyu apologizes to Chief Officer for implicating her. Chief Officer sees Yanzhi approaching and tells Ruoyu someone is here to save her. Chief Officer knocks herself out. (Yeah, it’s unrealistic enough when someone else hits them on the neck. Doing it to yourself is just jumping the shark.)
[Ep35] Yanzhi spends most of this episode creeping Ruoyu out by trying to pamper her. She’s trying to feed her porridge by hand or tuck her hair behind her ear and Ruoyu is extremely weirded out by it. Yanzhi won’t tell her that they’re sisters, though, because she’s got her revenge to do.
Yanzhi tries to get Ruoyu to promise to follow her again but Ruoyu says she believes Yanzhi is a good person and a friend so she won’t lie to her. Yanzhi wants to know if Qi Yan is such a good person (to have Ruoyu’s loyalty). Ruoyu lists many flaws of his but says she is loyal to the “real” Qi Yan. She’ll never betray him. Yanzhi thinks to herself that Ruoyu is just like her grandfather and resolves to save her.
Ziliang receives the report that Ruoyu’s helper has been found.
Ziliang intercepts a carriage being driven by Yan Xiu just as Yanzhi realizes that the opportunity to rescue Ruoyu was a trap. Yan Xiu, Ziliang, and Ruoyu (and a bunch of guards, of course) show up in Yanzhi’s rooms. Yan Xiu says Ruoyu bribed him to take her to the palace to say goodbye to Qi Yan. She was going to teach him Ziyi’s martial arts and mental techniques and he couldn’t resist that bribe. Yanzhi verifies that Yan Xiu is obsessed with improving his martial arts. Ziliang asks Yanzhi what the penalty is (kill without mercy) and tells Yanzhi to do it. She begs Ziliang to give Yanzhi a chance to atone because of his many years of devoted service. Ziliang agrees but says Yanzhi must kill Ruoyu. Yanzhi hesitates. Ziliang tells her one of the two must die by her hand. Yanzhi gets permission to go to another room to get her ring. (Apparently she kills people with it?)
In a room full of bottles of poison and knives and stuff, Yanzhi agonizes. She doesn’t want to kill anymore but she can’t waste all her effort for the past eight years. She finally selects a poison for Ruoyu.
Ruoyu snatches a sword to kill Ziliang but Yan Xiu knocks her out before she can take a step towards Ziliang.
Guang intercepts Yanzhi and tells her she can kill anyone else in the world but not Ruoyu. He tells her that Ruoyu is her younger sister. (Finally!) Yanzhi finally understands what Cheng Xi’s plan was with Ruoyu. Guang now tells her she has to kill Ruoyu. (Make up your mind, mister!)
Yanzhi stabs Ruoyu in the neck with her ring. Ruoyu is glad there’s no pain and asks Yanzhi to take her body to Qi Yan - then the pain hits and she dies, bleeding from the mouth and nose. Yanzhi tells her corpse that of course she couldn’t have a painless death after all the trouble she’s caused them.
Qi Yan’s heart starts hurting and when he touches it his hand comes back bloody. He passes out.
Yanzhi has Ziliang confirm Ruoyu’s death and asks what to do with the body. She’s to be dumped in the mass grave. A man runs in to report Qi Yan is dying. (This time it’s real.) Ziliang orders that Guang be brought to him.
Doc Wu tells men to prepare his prescription for Qi Yan. It will save his life. As Ziliang starts to leave a eunuch tells him to start preparing a new Crown Prince. Ziliang yells at the man and then orders the palace to be locked down so the news of this can’t be leaked.
Yanzhi sits next to Ruoyu’s body.
Eunuch Huai returns to serve Qi Yan (and cry). He immediately gets a day off to recover from “the anniversary of a loved one’s death”. Eunuch Gao makes sure Qi Yan knows it’s actually Ruoyu’s recent death that is devastating Huai. He then reports Qi Yan’s lack of reaction to Ziliang. Ziliang feels Qi Yan has decided to live to get revenge on him but he still prefers him over Guang who he can’t read at all.
Yanzhi tells Ruoyu that she’s dead now and can’t return to Qi Yan’s side - she’ll have to help him from the shadows. Her new name is Lingling and she’ll have to wear a half-mask (over the eyes and nose). She tries to tell Ruoyu that she has to work for her now but Ruoyu’s not having that. Yanzhi convinces her that she needs to leave with Zening to help Qi Yan deal with the Lucong Rebellion.
Huai and Qi Yan have a touching scene where Qi Yan lets Huai know he knows about Ruoyu’s death. He tells Huai to find Ruoyu’s body and bring it back. When the body is found it’s terribly disfigured and Huai could only identify it by the Sword of Light still fastened to her waist. (No one questions that it wasn’t stolen?) Ruoyu’s body is to be preserved in a crystal coffin. When Qi Yan dies she’ll be buried with him.
Yanzhi tells Ruoyu that she’s dead now and can’t return to Qi Yan’s side - she’ll have to help him from the shadows. Her new name is Lingling and she’ll have to wear a half-mask (over the eyes and nose). She tries to tell Ruoyu that she has to work for her now but Ruoyu’s not having that. Yanzhi convinces her that she needs to leave with Zening to help Qi Yan deal with the Lucong Rebellion.
Huai and Qi Yan have a touching scene where Qi Yan lets Huai know he knows about Ruoyu’s death. He tells Huai to find Ruoyu’s body and bring it back. When the body is found it’s terribly disfigured and Huai could only identify it by the Sword of Light still fastened to her waist. (No one questions that it wasn’t stolen?) Ruoyu’s body is to be preserved in a crystal coffin. When Qi Yan dies she’ll be buried with him.
[Ep36] Yanzhi tells Ruoyu she has one month to prepare to help with the Lucong rebellion.
Doc Wu convinces Ziliang he can’t put off going on retreat any longer. Ziliang assigns tasks to his worried sycophants and the Jiangqi crew.
Yanzhi is wondering if Ziliang will return since she knows both Right Rook (who is to be one of Ziliang’s guards) and Doc Wu are Guang’s men.
Doc Wu wants to celebrate the success of their plan but Guang thinks it’s too early for that. He gets the report that Cheng Xi has been escorted to a place in Tibet where 20 nuns are guarding her. He plans to bring her back after everything is settled because she is still his sister. Doc Wu says Guang needs to reconsider not taking the throne because Qi Yan doesn’t have long left.
Qi Yan has had “Ruoyu’s” body placed in a clear coffin and surrounded by ice in the Ziyu Pavilion. He knows she’s not really Ruoyu and speculates that the real Ruoyu is off putting down the rebellion.
Ruoyu is indeed helping Zhang Zhonglu put down the rebellion. She’s so effective that Zhonglu wants to adopt her as his Goddaughter. He sends her with a small troop to capture Zhang Jiang. They succeed but in the process Ruoyu discovers Jiang rescued Cheng Xi from Tibet.
Jiang tries to escape and is beheaded. Cheng Xi does escape and Ruoyu sends Yanzhi’s people to search for her while she accompanies Zhang Zhonglu back to Heng’an.
Left Rook has finally returned with a crutch and a limp and what seems to be Misha’s head (but Yanzhi isn’t fully convinced). She’s thrilled that Ruoyu is back, however, and greets her with cherry dumplings. Ruoyu asks her why Yanzhi named her Lingling. Yanzhi answers with a poem that Ruoyu doesn’t understand. (I’ve got no clue myself. I think maybe it’s one of Grandfather Wang’s?)
Qi Yan has been given some “secret notes” that Li Deyun’s men found. They indicate that Lingling was especially chosen because of her resemblance to Ruoyu. Qi Yan explains that Lingling is a fake Ruoyu to Eunuch Huai, who would love for Ruoyu to still be alive. He tells Huai that Lingling is supposed to bear a child for Ziliang to control after Qi Yan dies.
Ruoyu follows Qi Yan to Ziyu Pavilion after the court meeting is adjourned and Yan Xiu follows her.
Qi Yan has been given some “secret notes” that Li Deyun’s men found. They indicate that Lingling was especially chosen because of her resemblance to Ruoyu. Qi Yan explains that Lingling is a fake Ruoyu to Eunuch Huai, who would love for Ruoyu to still be alive. He tells Huai that Lingling is supposed to bear a child for Ziliang to control after Qi Yan dies.
Ruoyu follows Qi Yan to Ziyu Pavilion after the court meeting is adjourned and Yan Xiu follows her.
[Ep37] Ruoyu is thrilled to meet with Qi Yan alone and hugs him joyfully. He rejects her and tells her she’s a fake. She’s heartbroken and leaves.
At Jiangqi Camp Ruoyu decides that Qi Yan was only reasonable to distrust her, given the letters. She smiles because he called Ruoyu his “beloved” during their conversation. She’s not giving up on Qi Yan. Yanzhi comes and moves Ruoyu into her rooms. (Ruoyu, by the way, is very angry with Yanzhi because the notes were planted by her.) Yanzhi has plans to teach Ruoyu many things that she’s never learned. (Poor Ruoyu. She’s a fighter, not a scholar.)
Ruoyu runs to Guang to help her solve a puzzle (an array of some sort) that Yanzhi said she had to solve before she could go to the Emperor’s banquet. He helps her and he belatedly realizes he might not have done a good thing. Yanzhi meets with him and shares that Ruoyu would have found a way to go anyway. She thanks him again for saving her sister. (He’s giving off strong “I like you” vibes while Yanzhi is a cross between “you’re okay and I might make use of your affection”.) Yan Xiu overhears them and goes off to “train” with a bunch of Jiangqi pawns. Yanzhi asks Guang his opinion of Ruoyu’s martial arts. He feels that if she can train diligently and learn to be open minded she’ll surpass Ziliang one day.
Ruoyu intercepts Uncle Huai at the palace and convinces him of her identity. (She knows everyone’s favorite foods.) Qi Yan uses Rufeng to prove Ruoyu isn’t Ruoyu but it was really Rufeng following Qi Yan’s commands. She begs him to tell her his “concerns” but he just rejects her.
Yan Xiu is jealous of Guang. It’s okay for Yanzhi to marry Qi Yan for revenge but she can’t love Guang. (If you haven’t picked up on it yet, he’s in love with Yanzhi and she knows it.)
Ruoyu sadly leaves the palace.
Qi Yan is still with the corpse and coughs blood. He thinks about how Ruoyu can’t waste her life on a dying man. With Yanzhi she will be safe.
Yanzhi intercepts Ruoyu. She’s there to take Ruoyu home. Ruoyu coldly says she has no home. Yanzhi says it’s good that she knows she’ll never get back with Qi Yan (obliquely) and that now that she’s faced reality she has a lot to learn. Also, she has a home - it’s wherever Yanzhi is. Yanzhi takes her hand to lead her back to Jiangqi.
Montage of Yanzhi piling book learning on Ruoyu and Yan Xiu training her in martial arts. Yanzhi commends her on taking Qi Yan’s rejection well. Ruoyu is sure he knows who she is and that he’s protecting her. She also realizes that Yanzhi is teaching her wholeheartedly while Cheng Xi never really taught her anything. Ruoyu just wants to know why Yanzhi is so nice to her.
Chief Officer reports to Guang that Jiang rescued Cheng Xi two months ago and is missing. He sets Pure Jade House the task of locating her and keeping an eye on Li Rong (because Cheng Xi will certainly contact Li Rong.) He doesn’t want Cheng Xi to cause problems and bring Ziliang out of retreat.
Yanzhi tells Ruoyu that she reminds her of her sister who died. She’s training Ruoyu to be a second Lady Gongsun to lead Ziyi Bureau to glory and protect Qi Yan.
[Ep38] Yanzhi worries about Cheng Xi being at large. She knows Cheng Xi wants to tell Ruoyu her identity and Yanzhi doesn’t want her to know until after Qi Yan is dead. (I believe this is because she wants to spare Ruoyu pain but there’s an element of her believing - EVERYONE seems to believe - that she’ll try to kill Qi Yan herself. Apparently none of them have really paid attention to her character.)
Cheng Xi meets Li Rong as Rong is honoring her dead sister-in-law on her death day. She still feels guilty about Aunt Cai’s death.
Guang can’t leave his rooms so Ziliang doesn’t suspect him so he sends a message to Yanzhi asking her to show mercy when she stops Cheng Xi.
Yanzhi learns from Guang that he and Doc Wu arranged for Ziliang’s retreat by pretending to have the missing half of the martial arts method Ziliang’s original teacher had. They gave Ziliang the plans for Jiangqi Camp to prove their loyalty. (Interestingly enough, the man pretending to be Guang spoke during this interview. I wonder how they justified him not talking later…?) This is why the positions in Jiangqi Camp are chess pieces (Rook, Cannon, Pawn).
A woman escorts Ruoyu out of Jiangqi by pretending to work for Yanzhi. Ruoyu knows she’s fake but also knows she’s from Cheng Xi. She wants to see Cheng Xi.
Yanzhi prays to her grandfather (in front of the Shen Nong portrait), thanking him for looking down from Heaven and making their success possible. Once Qi Yan is dead she promises to live a peaceful and happy life with her sister.
Yan Xiu reports to Yanzhi that Ruoyu is gone. They intercept her before she can meet with Cheng Xi and Yanzhi locks her in a prison cell. Later Yan Xiu tries to convince Yanzhi to tell Ruoyu the truth before she starts hating Yanzhi. Ruoyu wonders just why Yanzhi doesn’t want her to know her true identity.
Han Ding reports to the Emperor that it was Guang’s men who captured him and allowed Misha’s death. This seems to confirm Qi Yan’s suspicions but of what it isn’t said.
Rong doesn’t want to hurt Ruoyu by telling her who she is but Cheng Xi convinces her it’s the right thing to do. She says Ruoyu needs to know so she can take her revenge.
Yanzhi decides to use Ruoyu as bait to find Cheng Xi. She releases her from prison. Ruoyu rushes to the palace to meet her uncle. She asks him to set up a meeting for her with the Emperor. On her way out a Pure Jade House mercenary leads her to Cai’s Tavern and Li Rong. Yan Xiu and his men follow Ruoyu.
Rong tells Ruoyu she’s nobel and her grandfather was a special person. Before she can tell Ruoyu her grandfather’s name Yan Xiu shuts her up with a dart (undoubtedly poisoned) to the neck.
[Ep39] Rong slips a purple cloth (the Ziyi Bureau ribbons) into Ruoyu’s clothes. No one, including Ruoyu, notices. Then she dies. Yan Xiu and his men rush in. Ruoyu attacks him with her sword, demanding he give Li Rong her life back. Yanzhi arrives and stops her. Ruoyu is escorted back to her cell.
Huai sets up a meeting between Qi Yan and Ruoyu in the Ziyu Pavillion where the body is. Qi Yan is touched that she still won’t give him up after he’s sent her away so many times.
Yanzhi tries to speak to Ruoyu while she’s mourning Rong. Ruoyu tells her to get lost. Yanzhi tries again and Ruoyu tells her off. She no longer believes that they can be friends because she now realizes that Yanzhi is just like Qiu Ziliang - cold, ruthless, selfish and disrespectful of human life. Yanzhi is hit hard by Ruoyu’s words and she leaves, her heart trouble resurfacing.
Yan Xiu brings Yanzhi medicine for the heart problem. He tries to comfort her but Yanzhi says she’s not upset at Ruoyu. She’s proud of her. Ruoyu is just like their grandfather and he’s surely proud of Ruoyu after seeing that. She doesn’t think her grandfather is proud of her, though. After Yanzhi falls asleep from the medicine Yan Xiu assures her that when she’s gotten her revenge he will allow Ruoyu to take her vengeance on him so the sisters aren’t divided anymore. (Ruoyu doesn’t work that way but it’s a nice thought.)
Cheng Xi cries a single tear over Li Rong’s death and tells her person to burn Li Rong and her favorite clothes in Cai’s Tavern as a burial.
Ruoyu finally finds the ribbon Li Rong stashed in her clothes and reads who she really is. Cheng Xi claims everything she’s been doing has been so Ruoyu can get her vengeance on Qi Yan because he’s her enemy.
Yanzhi is excited when Ruoyu asks to see her and crushed when Ruoyu confronts her with the words on the ribbon. Ruoyu knows from Yanzhi’s reaction that Yanzhi believes them. She uses the ribbon to capture Yanzhi as a hostage and escapes Jiangqi Camp.
Ruoyu meets with Cheng Xi in person. Cheng Xi has a box of evidence that proves her claims. She has the bloody clothes Ruoyu wore when she was “killed”, the arrowhead that went through her and her sister, and a jade pendant that Concubine Xian Yang gave Wang Ruoling when they visited the palace. Men from Jiangqi Camp surround Ruoyu as she leaves with the box of evidence.
Guang confronts Cheng Xi about heartlessly using the girl she was supposed to love as a daughter. Cheng Xi tells him “everything I’ve done is for you”. (I don’t know about you but I’m finding that hard to believe. She’s the most selfish person in this show - after Qiu Ziliang.) He tells her the only way he’ll be Emperor is through honorable means. She flips out on him calling him a coward and telling him that he’s as weak as their mother. Guang orders Yuan Du to send Cheng Xi to the west. To just keep going west until Guang tells him to stop.
Ruoyu left the Jiangqi men laying in the street. One of them tells Yan Xiu that she headed towards the palace.
Qi Yan arrives at the pavilion. He’s happy about this meeting, telling the dead body that she’ll be buried soon and telling the Sword of Light that he plans to return it to its master. (I don’t know if it’s healthy how much he talks to inanimate objects…)
Yan Xiu reports to Yanzhi who immediately calls for a carriage to stop Ruoyu from killing Qi Yan.
Ruoyu arrives with Cheng Xi’s box of evidence. She wants to know his reasons - hoping it will make them both feel better. He won’t offer any justification and offers her the Sword of Light to kill him. She cries because she knows he’s a good person and she really wants to know his reasons. He refuses to make excuses.
Yan Xiu steps out of the shadows as she’s leaving the palace. He tells her he still owes her his life and wants her to go back to Jiangqi and train in martial arts so she can take her revenge on him. (It’s like none of these people have even met her. She’s never been out for revenge this entire show…) Cheng Xi’s final loyal subordinate, A’Shi, is watching them. Ruoyu and Yan Xiu notice her and she pulls away. Ruoyu tells Yan Xiu that she doesn’t want revenge. All she wants is to never see any of them again.
A’Shi intercepts Ruoyu on the city streets and begs her to rescue Cheng Xi.
Qi Yan is refusing to see anyone and refusing treatment. Eunuch Huai is sobbing (of course) as he sends Doc Wu away.
Ruoyu and A’Shi intercept the carriage taking Cheng Xi away and remove her from it. They go to a place Cheng Xi obviously already had prepared. Cheng Xi plays the sympathy card with Ruoyu. She didn’t want to use Ruoyu but she had no choice. She only wants to get the throne to clear the names of her father and the Wang family. She wants Ruoyu to join her. Ruoyu just gives her a look and Cheng Xi tantrums a little. She whines that no one understands her. Ruoyu points out that Li Rong did. Cheng Xi agrees and says Yanzhi killed Li Rong but Ruoyu says it was Cheng Xi. She outlines how it went down. Cheng Xi invites Ruoyu to kill her then but Ruoyu just turns to leave before collapsing. She’s shocked (but why? Hasn’t she figured out Cheng Xi cares only about Cheng Xi yet?) that Cheng Xi drugged her. Cheng Xi says things will be easier if she has Ruoyu in her hands.
Guang and Yanzhi realize that Cheng Xi has Ruoyu. Guang wants to rescue Ruoyu so Ruoyu can help Qi Yan get better. Yanzhi is sure Ruoyu will forgive Qi Yan. She won’t forgive Qi Yan but she promises not to hurt him either. Guang seems reassured.
A’Shi reports that Qi Yan seems to be dead or dying. Cheng Xi sends her to get Eunuch Huai.
Huai wakes up from being drugged and brought to Cheng Xi. He’s angry with Cheng Xi - especially for her hurting Ruoyu. They argue a bit and finally Cheng Xi threatens to kill Ruoyu if Huai doesn’t write an edict making Guang Emperor, use the Imperial Seal to make it legit, and have it announced.
A’Shi is intercepted as she brings Huai back at knifepoint to make him write the edict. It’s Yuan Du and Guang. A’Shi kneels to Guang.
A’Shi returns to Cheng Xi and says it’s all been done. Guang walks in as soon as she reports their success. He wants Cheng Xi’s advice on what to do now. Cheng Xi is excited and shares her thoughts on how he can eliminate Ziliang and stabilize his hold on the throne. Cheng Xi insists she wants nothing in return except to see him on the throne but as Guang turns to go he staggers and has to sit down. There’s a debilitating drug in the sachet hanging in the window. Now Cheng Xi reveals that Guang is to be her puppet. She’s using him to make her father’s dream (he was a rebel who wanted to take the throne) come true. Eventually she plans to have him marry her and make her the Empress. He’s horrified by the thought since they’re siblings but she’s smug because no one else knows that. They’ll just kill anyone who finds out - which reminds her that it’s time to kill Ruoyu now that she has no further use.
Guang yells for Yuan Du and the man drops from the ceiling to stop Cheng Xi. More guards run in to capture Cheng Xi. She waits to be sent away but Guang isn’t doing that this time. He’s going to lock her up forever because she shows no remorse at all.
Huai is outside Qi Yan’s doors begging him to let the doctor treat him. Doc Wu says Qi Yan needs medicine for his heart (meaning for what’s making him depressed, not for a physical injury) or they can just prepare for his funeral.
Yanzhi tries to convince Ruoyu to visit Qi Yan and give him a reason to live. Ruoyu needs to think about it. Yanzhi and Guang talk outside the rooms while Ruoyu listens. Yanzhi wants Qi Yan healed to stabilize the country. Guang agrees.
Qi Yan and Ruoyu meet and he asks her if she “found out”. In a flashback we see that their time in the Ziyu Pavilion was spent planning this to test if Guang is a traitor or not. Qi Yan is sure he’s the third person. Ruoyu says it was Cheng Xi. Qi Yan still isn’t convinced because if they can put on a show then Guang can too. It’s Qi Yan’s turn to be the third party.
Huai happily watches as Ruoyu feed Qi Yan. Eunuch Gao asks who that woman is. Huai scolds him and sends him away. Yanzhi shows up. She’s glad Qi Yan is feeling better so that Ruoyu can be happy now. Han Ding (without going through the doors) shows up to report to Qi Yan that “everything is ready”.
Yanzhi returns to Jiangqi and is met by Left Rook with orders from Ziliang. Yanzhi is to prepare to enter the palace as Qi Yan’s concubine in three days. Yan Xiu is upset.
RR reports to Guang that Yanzhi is to become Qi Yan’s concubine.
LR offers to let Cheng Xi out of prison if she answers three questions: Is Ruoyu Wang Ruoling? Is Prince Guang the Chief Chancellor? What is the connection between Yanzhi, Prince Guang, and Wang Ruoling?
Ruoyu storms out of Qi Yan’s rooms (presumably over his impending marriage) as Huai begs her to stay.
Qi Yan tells Han Ding to tell Yanzhi about Gao’s activities. He wants to know if Yanzhi is Wang Ruoqing but if she is he doesn’t want Ruoyu to know. If Ruoyu knows Yanzhi is her sister she’ll never leave Heng’an.
Guang finds Cheng Xi gone.
Han Ding reports to Yanzhi that a man with a limp (who Yanzhi realizes must be LR) has left with Cheng Xi.
Ruoyu shows up in Yanzhi’s rooms as she’s drinking. Yanzhi promises to take good care of Qi Yan and grow old with him. She tells Ruoyu to leave. She never wants to see Ruoyu again. As she’s leaving Ruoyu hallucinates a woman’s voice calling her Ruoling and collapses on the steps.
Doc Wu tells Yanzhi that Ruoyu hasn’t remembered yet but this is a sign that she might remember soon. Yanzhi feels it’s even more imperative that Ruoyu leave. Yan Xiu is keeping watch on Ziliang and says there’s been no movement.
[Ep42] Ruoyu walks into Yanzhi’s room. (I think she was on a bed in a side room.) Yanzhi is in her wedding outfit. Ruoyu tells Yanzhi she’s heading to Dongchuan in Jiannan where the Wang family’s lands used to be. Yanzhi asks her to put her hairpin in (completing the wedding outfit). She promised someone they would put each other’s wedding hairpins in and having Ruoyu do it is just the same. (If she hints that they’re sisters any harder even “thick as a board” Ruoyu will catch on. lol) Yanzhi tells her to be careful and to contact her if she needs anything. Ruoyu says there’s no need. Their relationship is over as of now and leaves. Yan Xiu shows up to tell Yanzhi the security measures in place for Ruoyu’s journey.
LR is still torturing Cheng Xi to confirm Ruoyu and Chief Chancellor’s identities and the connection between Ruoyu, Guang, and Yanzhi. She won’t speak because she’s too proud to be a eunuch’s stooge and no one gets to hurt Ruoyu but her. (Is that supposed to be a twisted form of love?)
Guang and Qi Yan meet each other. Qi Yan isn’t looking good (thanks to some white lipstick on his lips) but he tells Guang not to look so sad. He says he should have died long ago so every day he’s alive is a bonus. He wants Guang agree to take the throne but Guang is still refusing. He tells Guang that he’ll pave the way with his death. He plans to poison himself, Yanzhi, and Ziliang at the wedding banquet. He has to poison all three of them together because of Ziliang’s suspicious nature. Guang is horrified and tells him they haven’t come to that point yet. Guang has faith that Yanzhi won’t be Ziliang’s puppet but he won’t tell Qi Yan just why he has so much trust in her. After he leaves Qi Yan asks Han Ding (who was hidden during the conversation) what he thinks. Han Ding is starting to think Guang is being sincere. Qi Yan isn’t convinced yet but he’s almost positive now that Yanzhi is Wang Ruoqing.
Yan Xiu reports to Yanzhi that 13 pawns and LR are missing. Yanzhi worries that Ziliang knows everything about the many hidden identities but since Ziliang hasn’t made a move she thinks he doesn’t have evidence yet.
LR catches up to Ruoyu in some woods. Yan Xiu’s men protect her and she runs away as they fight each other. She rides off and we get a flashback to her and Qi Yan planning things over a chessboard. First Qi Yan used eunuch Gao Ping to convince Ziliang that Qi Yan is at death’s door. Then they plant suspicions (via a spy at Ziliang’s side) that Guang is “unreliable”. (This will cause Ziliang to hurriedly marry Yanzhi to Qi Yan.) And THAT will prompt one of two things: Either Yanzhi and Guang will team up to take on Ziliang or Guang will attempt to prevent the wedding.) All this is to help Qi Yan see behind Guang’s mask. Ruoyu asks what her part is? Qi Yan tells her to leave Heng’an and be a distraction to take attention off of him. It will be dangerous but but she’ll be able to learn many things - like what Yanzhi really wants.
Yanzhi and Yan Xiu learn that LR has already attacked Ruoyu. (I got the impression that all the defenders were killed except the one that died just after bringing the news.) Yan Xiu is sent off to protect Ruoyu. Yanzhi tries to check on Ziliang. (We see enough of him to see that he looks fine for someone who was already expected to be dead by now.)
Yan Xiu blocks LR from capturing Ruoyu. While she rides off there’s a battle. Yan Xiu takes LR back to Yanzhi. He sneers about her sisterly concern for Ruoyu and tells Yanzhi that Chief Advisor (the guy who killed himself because of the Buddha’s Laugh plant) was his brother just like Ruoyu is her sister. Her arrest of him has proven that she is Wang Ruoqing and Ruoyu is Wang Ruoling. Ziliang makes his move (finally) and Yanzhi is arrested while Yan Xiu escapes.
Yanzhi begs Ziliang to kill her even though she knows he thinks death is a mercy. He has Guang sent for. Yanzhi promises to do whatever he asks if he’ll just let Ruoyu disappear. Guang arrives and Ziliang lets him know he knows Guang is the Chief Chancellor. Guang also asks Ziliang to let Ruoyu just disappear and he’ll do anything too.
Ziliang has set up an elaborate, slow, and brutal death mechanism. He makes Yanzhi set a candle to burn through a rope that will tilt a basin of boiling oil over Guang. Once she puts the candle down she stands by Guang’s side. (This seems particularly brutal to me because it would be a slow, excruciating death. There’s not enough oil to cause instant death.) Ziliang stops the oil from tipping at the very last moment. He tells Yanzhi to give birth to a son fast and Guang to continue to give him good advice to put the child on the throne. As he leaves he’s thinking bitter thoughts about their “betrayal” and making them all live in misery as vengeance. (Poor Ruoyu is lumped in with this and she’s the only one who didn’t betray him because she’s never known who she is in the first place! And she’s never pretended to be anything but his opponent.)
Qi Yan is in bed and Huai is feeding him medicine or broth. Ziliang arrives and sends everyone away. He pretends to be caring and gentle and to want reconciliation. Then he shares that to tame horses and eagles you have to start young (implying that he’ll train Qi Yan’s son). Qi Yan also begs him to spare Ruoyu but Ziliang tells him that’s not an option. (And that’s just stupid of him. He’d actually have a shot if he captured Ruoyu and kept her alive and well - each one of the other three has already offered Ziliang whatever he wants if doesn’t hurt her. Foolish not-man.) As Ziliang leaves Qi Yan clutches his sleeve and begs him, falling out of the bed and trying to crawl after him to beg him to not hurt Ruoyu. Huai rushes in and he sobs on Qi Yan’s lap (after helping him back into bed) while Qi Yan looks after where Ziliang left with considerably more energy than he showed during their talk.
Yanzhi and Guang are in her rooms together (it appears Ziliang has done this to them rather than it being their choice). Yanzhi mourns her failure in killing Ziliang when Han Yue attacked. Guang tries to console her.
Yanzhi and Guang are in her rooms together (it appears Ziliang has done this to them rather than it being their choice). Yanzhi mourns her failure in killing Ziliang when Han Yue attacked. Guang tries to console her.
[Ep43] Han Ding reports Guang’s long, slow effort to destroy Ziliang (starting all the way back at the Zhaolu Incident). He also reports that Ziliang’s retreat was actually to allow LR to investigate for him. Now Guang, Yanzhi, and Ruoyu’s identities have been discovered but Qi Yan’s activities are still unknown to Ziliang. Han Ding says it’s time to take the next step but Qi Yan is worried about Ruoyu. Han Ding urges him to not let his feelings interfere at this critical juncture. Qi Yan points out that even knowing what he has done to her family hasn’t stopped Ruoyu from throwing herself into danger to help this plan. He owes Ruoyu too much. Han Ding says Ruoyu knows what her grandfather died for. (But does she? Maybe somewhere in those buried memories she does. Yanzhi DOES say that Ruoyu is just like Grandpa.) He tells Qi Yan he has to win to stop all the nightmares.
Eunuch Gao arrives with instructions for Guang to prepare Yanzhi for her wedding as Yanzhi’s maternal family. (It’s very clear by now that Guang and Yanzhi are probably in love with each other.)
Ruoyu passes through a nameless town on the wedding day. Yan Xiu happens to be there too. He’s already drunk and has a fit about all the wedding wine being handed out to celebrate the wedding being “his”. Ruoyu is irritated with herself for feeling sorry for him. When he passes out on the street and the townsmen beat him up she walks past him “for aunt Li’s sake”. She picks up a jug of the wedding wine on her way out saying it’s wine that is too hard to drink.
Out of town she pours the wine on the ground in a sacrificial way but soon darts away after hearing “them” again. LR attacks Yan Xiu who is slumped against a tree too. Yan Xiu is a better fighter than him even drunk.
One of the “pawns” tells the other pawns that Camp Guardian’s orders have changed and Ruoyu is to be killed on sight. Ruoyu overhears this where she’s hiding from them and wonders what is going on since Yanzhi would never order her death. Yanzhi has completely defeated LR and stabs his sword deeply into LR’s good leg. He runs off as the pawns catch up to them.
Yanzhi and Qi Yan have their wedding night. Qi Yan is keeping up his “death’s door” act. Yanzhi says she needs a son. He laughs bitterly and says he’s too weak to help her with that. She starts to leave and he calls her Wang Ruoqing. She’s still denying it. Han Ding shows up with the old servant who identified her before. The woman says there’s another way to verify. Ruoqing was afraid of and allergic to cats. She gets a rash from seeing one. Han Ding and Qi Yan exchange a meaningful glance.
Ziliang is keeping tabs on Li Deyun who has met with some students. The spy doesn’t know what they discussed. Also, he’s captured “all of them” except Chief Officer. (I think this is all of Guang’s people but I’m not sure.) Ziliang confronts Doc Wu (who has been tortured) next. He wants to know “the solution”. (I think he means cure. I got the impression the pills that went along with the martial arts plan were some sort of slow-acting poison.) Doc Wu laughs and says there’s no solution - he’s going to die. Ziliang bows and Doc Wu spits. Ziliang says he sincerely apologizes. He just found out he killed Wu’s family. (He calls Wu Tian Shan.) Wu tells him not to be a hypocrite. Ziliang now tells him he’ll kill a member of Wu’s maternal family for every day Wu refuses to tell him the cure.
Zening pours tea for the Dowager Empress. Yanzhi and Qi Yan arrive to give their greetings. DE says Qi Yan can skip them since he’s sick. Zening excuses herself. Qi Yan offers to walk her out. DE keeps Yanzhi occupied while they walk out.
Ziliang is informed that Deyun talked to the students about cutting the budget of the Divine Army. He tells his people to let him continue and orders them to spread rumors that Deyun embezzled the missing funds and provisions from earlier and now he wants to cut their pay. It’s time to cut this thorn from his life. Also, Cheng Xi is in his cells.
Yanzhi asks Qi Yan what he talked to Zening about. Qi Yan asks her what she talked to Ziliang about on the day of the wedding. Yanzhi says his lack of a son is dangerous and he and Deyun should act soon. She tells him to lay down rules in court and eliminate back room deals.
Ziliang confronts Cheng Xi with all he’s learned. She is surprised he’s learned everything. He offers a new “game”. He knows everything and now he thinks it would be wonderful to get Ruoyu and Yanzhi to be rivals for Qi Yan. (So he’ll probably be angry if LR succeeds in killing Ruoyu then.)
Yan Xiu catches up to Ruoyu. He says he’s there to protect her. She rejects his offer. Cheng Xi helps her to escape (with smoke bombs) and then Cheng Xi faints.
The next day Ruoyu wakes in a hut where she apparently brought Cheng Xi. She asks her aunt if she’s really given up. Cheng Xi says she can’t do anything more because she has no martial arts and her reputation is ruined. She’s just taking Li Rong’s ashes back to her home town. Ruoyu is (of course) moved to sympathy and offers to escort her pitiful aunt. Cheng Xi says that after everything that’s happened between them she can’t face Ruoyu any more.
[Ep44] Ruoyu happens to find Cheng Xi as two Jiangqi pawns threaten her. Cheng Xi asks them why Yanzhi won’t leave her alone now that she’s crippled. Ruoyu runs the pawns off. Yan Xiu shows up and says he can’t let Cheng Xi stay by Ruoyu (because she’s evil). Cheng Xi pushes Ruoyu away and runs herself onto Yan Xiu’s sword while Ruoyu is facing the other way from the push. Yan Xiu tries to tell Ruoyu that Cheng Xi did it to herself but she’s not listening. He throws down his sword and then tosses her medicine to try and save Cheng Xi’s life before leaving. Cheng Xi refuses to take the medicine and spends the final moments of her life telling Ruoyu that she can’t trust Yanzhi or Guang. (I can’t tell you how much her death pleased me. What a revolting character she was.)
Ziliang hears of Cheng Xi’s death. He respects her for being willing to die to further her revenge. Now he’s planning to do his part to make Yanzhi suffer.
Qi Yan and Yanzhi talk about the edict to cut military pay that’s been sitting on his desk. It’s part of his plan. He’s upsetting the army on purpose so he can win their loyalty by providing for them.
Ruoyu passes by soldiers demonstrating outside Li Deyun’s property. She notices Han Ding egging them on, disguised as a soldier and decides it’s time to return to the palace.
Huai smuggles a kitten in to Qi Yan’s chambers in a carrying box and Qi Yan tricks Yanzhi into opening the box. Yanzhi is terrified of the kitten and starts scratching herself.
Ruoyu enters the palace - LR sees her go in (he’s in a wheelchair now) and tells his men to report her return to Ziliang.
Qi Yan lets Yanzhi know this proves she’s Wang Ruoqing. Ruoyu walks in as he’s helping Yanzhi to stand up. Ruoyu ignores their hand holding. Yanzhi tells her she shouldn’t be here. Ruoyu says Yan Xiu killed Cheng Xi. Yanzhi says she never ordered that. LR shows up with some men but just watches. Ruoyu threatens Yanzhi with a dagger she had up her sleeve. Ruoyu cuts Yanzhi’s throat (but it’s clearly not very deep - nor is it anywhere near the aorta or the jugular, but then they never do cut near those, do they?). Ruoyu is surprised when Qi Yan slaps a handkerchief on Yanzhi’s throat.
Huai is returning and sees all the Jiangqi men rushing to Qi Yan’s rooms. He rushes off to find the Jinwu Guards.
LR’s men have Yanzhi and the others are threatening Ruoyu who is being protected by Qi Yan. (He has the dagger now.) LR says he must capture the person who just tried to assassinate the Imperial Concubine. Huai bursts into the room as Qi Yan is defending Ruoyu. He has the guards with him. LR leaves reluctantly. Qi Yan slumps - his injury has been aggravated again - but he focuses on telling Ruoyu that she must never harm Yanzhi. She wants to know who Yanzhi is but Qi Yan won’t say. He sends Huai to escort Ruoyu out of the palace. He thinks Guang is pulling strings from behind the scenes to get the sisters to fight.
Zening rushes to tell her father that Ziliang has blamed him for embezzling the soldier’s pay and provisions and that the soldiers are protesting at their gate. She suggests he stay home from court but he leaves for court anyway.
Yanzhi is treated for her injury. Qi Yan tells her that everyone except Ruoyu now knows her identity and that Ruoyu will be really hurt if she discovers it herself later. Yanzhi doesn’t want her sister to know she’s related to someone like Yanzhi (with blood on her hands). She especially doesn’t want her to know if Ruoyu succeeds in killing her.
Ruoyu confronts Han Ding about the soldiers. He tells her it’s a plan but he’s concerned because it’s risky for Li Deyun’s life. Ruoyu has a plan to guard Li Deyun’s life. She asks Han Ding to tell Qi Yan that she said she’ll always be his Swordbearer.
Han Ding reports the encounter to Qi Yan, including her message. Qi Yan tells Han Ding to cooperate with Ruoyu. Han Ding also reports that all the leaders except for LR have been locked up in Jiangqi’s dungeons. Yanzhi says this is a great opportunity for them and hands over a Jiangqi command badge. Qi Yan asks where she got it since his was taken away by Ziliang. Hers was taken too but she stole LR’s badge.
Ruoyu sneaks into Ziyi Bureau. Yu Niang approaches her. Niang is now commanding the Ziyi Bureau. She’s willing to help Ruoyu but wants to rescue Guang first. Ruoyu tells her it’s too risky to try while Ziliang is selecting his new commanders and that they have to plan the rescue carefully.
Yanzhi watches Qi Yan taking his medicine. After Huai leaves she mentions she’s concerned that some medicine seems to help but really causes more damage. Qi Yan knows what she is saying but he says he has no choice. He’s on a mission to save the Qi clan’s heritage (their dynasty). Eunuch Gao brings an invitation (that’s actually an order) from Ziliang commanding their presence for the commander tryout.
When they arrive Ziliang says he won’t bow to Qi Yan because he doesn’t feel well and then orders Yanzhi to make him tea. LR sits in his wheelchair gloating.
[Ep45] Ruoyu intercepts Niang and the Ziyi women sneaking into Jiangqi. She thinks this is a bad idea but agrees to help. She offers to take them to Yanzhi’s room to access the secret passages there.
LR makes it clear they know Yanzhi’s true identity. As Ziliang starts the competition the ladies enter the secret passages. Ruoyu unlocks the combination on Guang’s prison door. Guang refuses to leave with them. He says his presence in the dungeon is keeping Qi Yan safe. Niang won’t leave Guang. They’re spotted. He sends Naing after Ruoyu (who is chasing the person who saw them) to protect her.
Ruoyu kills the person who saw them but he makes a noise alerting more guards. Ruoyu sends Niang and the Ziyi women to escape while she holds back the attackers. One of the men alerts Ziliang that Ruoyu is there and Ziliang tells the competitors that they need to capture Ruoyu to be considered for a command position. A flood of men rush into the room while Yanzhi and Qi Yan wait and worry.
After running through many secret passages (and not being killed by any traps because Yanzhi taught Ruoyu about all of them) they end up at the square where the competition took place. They’re surrounded by Jiangqi soldiers. The ladies fight well but they’re badly outnumbered. Eventually Niang is defeated and Ruoyu forced to surrender. Yanzhi begs Ziliang not to hurt Ruoyu. Ziliang uses this opportunity to get Yanzhi to say she’s only been using Ruoyu and that she killed Li Rong and Cheng Xi on purpose so Ruoyu could only be loyal to her.
Ziliang says LR can punish Ruoyu. Yanzhi says only Ruoyu knows where the edict is and they need her alive to regain her memory so they can find it. LR says he’ll keep her alive but break her will. (He’s planning to violate her.) Qi Yan declares that Ruoyu is his woman and no one is allowed to touch the Emperor’s woman. (She WAS “pregnant” with Qi Yan’s nonexistent child, remember?) To make Ziliang cooperate pulls out a long dart and stabs himself (nowhere near his heart but pretend the heart is way up high on the chest anyway). He tells Ziliang that if he dies right now everyone Ziliang has made an enemy will take advantage of his death to attack. Ruoyu is released with the surviving Ziyi women but Ziliang is furious.
Yanzhi and Qi Yan are taken back to his rooms and locked up in them. All the lights are removed and the doors and windows are covered by dark cloth. Yanzhi explains that this is a form of torture First Advisor came up with before he died. Apparently if you lock someone up in the dark with no food or sound for three days it will break their will. Qi Yan tells Yanzhi that Ziliang’s plan to turn the sisters against each other didn’t work. He and Ziliang both knew by the look Ruoyu gave Yanzhi before she left.
Niang cries about what happened because she didn’t listen to Ruoyu. Ruoyu tells her not to blame herself. She says their top priority is to rescue Qi Yan and Yanzhi because only then can they rescue Guang. She knows Qi Yan is pretending to be weak to catch Ziliang off guard. Right now Ziliang wants to use the Divine Army to kill Li Deyun but Qi Yan wants to use it to gain the army’s full support. So Ruoyu needs to protect Li Deyun. Niang agrees to help her.
The protesters confront Li Deyun as he tries to return home. When they draw their swords Ruoyu rolls two smoke bombs into their midst and spirits Li Deyun away.
Ziliang is angry. LR urges him to kill Ruoyu. He hands Ziliang a list of the top contenders for the commander positions. Ziliang tells LR to kill Deyun. They’ll blame Ruoyu and, after capturing her, take her to Qi Yan during court to accuse her. He wants to see how Qi Yan will wiggle out of that situation.
Qi Yan and Yanzhi have been locked up for 30 hours. (Qi Yan has been counting so he knows how much time has passed.) Yanzhi is sure the Jiangqi selections have been made and Qi Yan thinks that’s great because it means his men have been selected. Huai shouts from outside the room that Ruoyu rescued Li Deyun from the angry soldiers. Qi Yan isn’t going to wait any longer.
Ruoyu rides a horse through a forest path with a person in court robes and a black cloak on behind her. Jiangqi men intercept them and demand Li Deyun. Ruoyu reveals that the person behind her is Niang.
Li Deyun confronts the soldiers again. A person in court robes urges them to keep demanding their pay. Deyun orders his soldiers to capture the man (who says he works for Ziliang so they can’t do that - but they do anyway). A signal flare whistles overhead. Qi Yan slowly walks on the path over the gates and reveals himself to the soldiers.
Ziliang berates LR for failing.
Qi Yan tells the soldiers he never ordered a pay cut for them and scolds them for listening to rumors and rising up against their commander, Li Deyun. Ziliang arrives from one street and Ruoyu and the Ziyi women watch from another street. Qi Yan asks Ziliang if he isn’t ashamed to have made this mess. Ziliang admits it was his mess. Qi Yan declares that Ziliang is no longer the commander of the Divine army and orders him to return home to reflect on his mistakes. Before Ziliang can refuse, Zhang Zhonglu shows up with his men to support Qi Yan. Ruoyu also reveals herself with her women. Ziliang storms off. Qi Yan starts to collapse and Ruoyu rushes to catch him as he falls.
[Ep46] Qi Yan tells Ruoyu that Yanzhi and he are working together. He also shares that Eunuch Gao really works for him too. (He saved Gao’s sister and sent her to Gao.)
[Ep46] Qi Yan tells Ruoyu that Yanzhi and he are working together. He also shares that Eunuch Gao really works for him too. (He saved Gao’s sister and sent her to Gao.)
Guang and Eunuch Gao rush to release Yanzhi who isn’t doing well.
Qi Yan explains that all he’s gone through has been to help him deal with Ziliang. Her grandfather was his teacher and they hatched this scheme together. The edict thing was just to distract Ziliang in the event the Zhalou attempt failed. As Qi Yan hesitates to tell Ruoyu that Yanzhi is her sister, it’s reported that Yanzhi isn’t doing well. Ruoyu rushes off to see Yanzhi.
Ruoyu tells the unconscious Yanzhi that she knows Ziliang and Cheng Xi were deliberately trying to set the two of them against each other. She doesn’t know why they want them to fight but she does know she wants Yanzhi to wake up and be okay. Yanzhi wakes up and they hug and apologize to each other. Yanzhi tells Ruoyu to leave with Yan Xiu - that Yan Xiu has promised to protect her with his life. Ruoyu demands to know what everyone is hiding from her. Yanzhi promises to tell her tomorrow if they survive.
Ziliang has a breakdown because all his pigeons, including his most precious Number Nine, have been killed. He sends LR to kill Zheng Zhonglu and “all the other old bastards”.
Ruoyu keeps Qi Yan company on some high balcony in the palace. He promises her and the people a time of peace and prosperity.
LR brings Ziliang Zhang’s head. He’s now Camp Guardian.
More than half the officials for morning court are missing. Ziliang arrives with Zhang’s head in a box. Qi Yan tells Ziliang he was ordered to reflect on his mistakes. Ziliang says he heard many generals died and he was worried for Qi Yan’s safety. He turns and tells the ministers he’s worried for their safety too. Qi Yan tells Ruoyu to go bury Zhang’s head properly but Ziliang says no one can touch it. An emissary from Zhenwu is announced. It’s Misha wearing a veil on the lower half of her face. She’s brought Qi Yan a birthday present. It’s the command token for the Zhenwu Army. Ziliang laughs that they aren’t in Heng’an so they can’t do anything to him. Misha says if she can be in Heng’an so can they. She glares at Ziliang as she removes her veil revealing scars LR left on her face. Qi Yan thanks Ziliang for making Zhenwu so loyal to his throne. Ziliang says he killed all those generals and he can kill Qi Yan too. Ruoyu asks if it’s really Zheng’s head in the box. Obviously LR has a problem with his vision (seeing as how he couldn’t kill Misha either). Ziliang is surrounded by Zhenwu soldiers with their swords out.
General Zheng (who isn’t dead, of course) and Han Ding are rounding up all of Ziliang’s men in the Divine Army.
Ziliang laughs, saying Qi Yan can’t do anything to him and he can’t win. He walks past the soldiers, who part to let him leave. Outside he looks at the rows of soldiers waiting and orders the gates closed. Then he tells the soldiers to kill everyone in the palace. Archers pop up on the balconies above and start firing on Ziliang’s soldiers as more soldiers clash in the paths around the palace walls.
[Ep47] Li Deyun and the other ministers walk out to watch the show. Ziliang is standing about halfway down the steps leading to the throne room and the ministers are all up by the doors. Ziliang laughs and orders the soldiers to kill everyone and wash the place with blood. (By the way, Mickey He does “crazy” really well.) However, when LR (in his wheelchair) orders them to kill, not one of the men move. Yanzhi arrives - she’s in a wheelchair too. She holds up the leadership token she stole from LR. Ziliang yells at her for having a black heart. (This cracked me up. The villains are always so surprised when their victims turn on them.) Then he yells at the men for not being HIS men. They take out their Jiangqi tokens and toss them on the ground. Qi Yan says they’re his men. He’s carried out in a sedan chair thing. (I guess wheelchairs are hard to get over those raised thresholds.) Yanzhi mocks LR for being too stupid. LR gestures his few faithful guards to attack Yanzhi. Yan Xiu rushes to protect her. He quickly disposes of the guards and then takes out LR.
Ziliang flips out. He lets out a scream which somehow makes his outer robe tear off of him, revealing he’s wearing armor (which seems like a reasonable thing for a villain to do) and his hair falls down loose. He attacks (and kills) people in front of him. The women of the Ziyi Bureau rush to form a line between the fighting and the Emperor (and ministers).
Yan Xiu and Ziliang fight. Yan Xiu gets his behind handed to him. Ziliang targets Yanzhi. Ruoyu flies down to protect her. She can hold her own against Ziliang. Yanzhi helps out with the darts that fly from her umbrella. At least one gets through to penetrate Ziliang’s armor. (I’m not sure why no darts threatened Ruoyu.) She stabs his chest but can’t penetrate the armor. Ziliang kicks her away and she vomits blood. Ziliang picks up an arrow off the ground and charges at the sisters. Yanzhi somehow grabs Ruoyu off the ground and swivels her wheelchair, protecting Ruoyu with her body. Qi Yan takes his bow and aims at Ziliang.
Ziliang stabs the arrow through the back of the wheelchair and through Yanzhi’s body. Qi Yan releases his arrow which penetrates Ziliang’s armor. The Ziyi women release their magical purple ribbons. Ziliang’s arms and waist are grabbed and he’s pulled up the steps to fall before Qi Yan in a pool of blood. Qi Yan coughs blood.
Ruoyu sees the arrow protruding from Yanzhi’s chest and her memories return.
Ruoyu is in Qi Yan’s bed (again) and Eunuch Huai brings some medicine. Qi Yan’s hands are shaking and weak but he feeds some of the medicine to Ruoyu himself.
Doc Wu takes care of Yanzhi while Guang watches but Doc Wu says there’s no saving Yanzhi. The heart injury on top of the heart injury was too much. She has no regrets, though. She got her revenge (against Ziliang) and found her sister. She can die happy.
Ruoyu finally wakes up.
Yanzhi asks Guang to spare Qi Yan’s life so Ruoyu won’t be sad. She says she still hasn’t forgiven him either but for Ruoyu’s happiness she wants him to live.
Ruoyu rushes off to find Yanzhi, not noticing as Qi Yan collapses behind her. He pulls himself up to sit on the bed, saying he can’t collapse because it’s not over yet.
Ruoyu rushes to Yanzhi’s side. As he’s leaving Guang tells Yanzhi “I promise”. Yanzhi breaks the news that she’s dying to Ruoyu but assures her she has no regrets and will watch her with Grandpa from Heaven. Her only concern is Ruoyu. Yan Xiu arrives. Yanzhi hands the edict to Ruoyu and says it’s her protection if Qi Yan ever fails her. She can decide what to do with it.
Huai reports to Qi Yan that he doesn’t recognize the guards outside the room. He leaves to look for Han Ding. Qi Yan says the time has finally come.
Yanzhi puts Yan Xiu and Ruoyu’s hands together. They will be siblings from now on. Yanzhi asks Yan Xiu if he remembers his promise (to protect Ruoyu with his life). He remembers.
Qi Yan polishes his bow and tells his brother he finally won. Then he polishes an arrow (because that’s totally a normal thing to do…) and tells his brother he doesn’t have regrets but he’s really tired now. He doesn’t want anyone else to die and this time his opponent is his uncle.
Yuan Du tells Guang that everything is ready. Han Ding is a little behind Yuan Du and bows to Guang.
Yan Xiu and Ruoyu are preparing Yanzhi’s coffin for burial (with flowers) in the square at Jiangqi Camp as Yuan Du watches them from a distant balcony.
[Ep48] Huai reports his failure to locate Han Ding to Qi Yan. Qi Yan says it doesn’t matter. He sent off Ruoyu to bury Yanzhi to keep her safe. He doesn’t have the energy to protect her in this upcoming fight. He tells Huai to take his retirement papers and leave the palace after he leaves for court. Huai cries because Qi Yan has made a way out for everyone but himself. Qi Yan says he’s never had a way out.
[Ep48] Huai reports his failure to locate Han Ding to Qi Yan. Qi Yan says it doesn’t matter. He sent off Ruoyu to bury Yanzhi to keep her safe. He doesn’t have the energy to protect her in this upcoming fight. He tells Huai to take his retirement papers and leave the palace after he leaves for court. Huai cries because Qi Yan has made a way out for everyone but himself. Qi Yan says he’s never had a way out.
Yuan Du gestures and men in black surround Yan Xiu and Ruoyu. Yan Xiu hits a button and a smokey explosion goes off around the coffin. When the smoke clears they are gone (with the coffin) and a trap door closes.
Ruoyu, Yan Xiu and the coffin slide down a ramp into the secret passages of Jiangqi. Yan Xiu says the coffin is safe there until they can return and they make their way through the secret passages.
Morning court is waiting on Li Deyun. The news comes that he is sick. (We know that he is sick because his daughter drugged him. He’s very disappointed in her.)
Ruoyu tells Yan Xiu she will finish what her grandfather couldn’t.
Han Ding arrives outside the throne room with a bunch of soldiers.
The court asks Qi Yan to punish Ziliang’s followers and “clean up the court”.
Yuan Du intercepts Ruoyu and Yan Xie at the exit outside the city. He demands the edict. Ruoyu refuses. If he’d asked she might have done it but she refuses to be forced. He reveals that he has Yanzhi’s coffin. (He’s always come across as a slimy jerk but this move was the slimiest.) Ruoyu hands over the edict. After Yuan Du leaves (he actually bowed to Yanzhi’s coffin! She should haunt him for that bit of hypocrisy.) Ruoyu tells Yan Xiu to go bury her sister. She tells him she is leaving to “do my duty” and it’s okay that Yuan Du took the edict because it was meant for Guang in the first place.
Qi Yan appoints Han Ding the Grand General of the Divine Army. The memorandum is signed by all the people he put into place in the army - it appears that he’s being pressured into this move. After that he dismisses court but asks Guang to stay behind.
Huai is packing his bag to leave. (It very strange seeing him out of his eunuch robes and hat.) Ruoyu arrives. He tries to talk her into leaving with him. She asks him to stay and help her protect Qi Yan.
Qi Yan confronts Guang about all his schemes and calls him another Qiu Ziliang. He tells Guang to show his true intentions.
Huai and Ruoyu escort the Dowager Empress to the throne room. Ruoyu is dressed as one of her maids and Huai is back in his eunuch outfit. Han Ding tries to stop them. Yuan Du shows up and pulls out the edict. The Dowager Empress is shocked that it’s the real edict. Yuan Du tells the ministers to sign it.
Qi Yan has heard this and tells Guang that he was being kind to Ziliang to compare the two - Guang is obviously even more deceitful and cunning. He asks if Guang thinks Qi Yan owes him for taking “his” throne. Guang finally speaks and says he used to think that way. Now, however, it isn’t important. Qi Yan scoffs that of course it doesn’t matter now. Now he can take the throne by making Qi Yan a usurper. Qi Yan staggers and Guang shows concern but Qi Yan accuses him of pretending to care.
After the ministers have all signed Yuan Du assures them they’ll be rewarded by the new emperor. One of the ministers bows before the doors and loudly announces that he signed the edict because it is authentic but that he owes his position to Qi Yan and he feels uneasy and disloyal. Other ministers follow suit. Qi Yan smiles slightly and says apparently his reign wasn’t entirely useless and that some people will miss him. The ministers remove their hats. (Does this mean they’re resigning?)
Qi Yan tells Guang he knows he lost but asks him to “let go” the pillars of the nation and let them live how they see fit. Guang calls for Yuan Du and the Dowager Empress to enter. Ruoyu escorts the Dowager Empress in.
Qi Yan is unhappy but gratified to see Ruoyu by the Dowager Empress’ side. (Once again, this guy has amazing micro-expressions!) Ruoyu tells him her place is by his side during times like this. She turns to Guang and tells him she admired him the most but today she is deeply disappointed in him and finds his actions despicable. Yuan Du defends their actions as appropriate because of the edict but Guang refuses to take it when he tries to hand it to Guang. Guang says he’s refusing the throne and choosing “righteousness”. He won’t kill his family. He won’t kill his nephew. Yuan Du begs him to reconsider and Guang tells him to get lost. (That made me happy. He really did come across as slimy the few times he appeared in the show.) Guang tells Qi Yan that Qi Yan will always be his Emperor. He hugs Qi Yan and after a few moments Qi Yan hugs him back. Qi Yan stops Guang from tearing up the edict.
A messenger arrives before Li Deyun with an antidote (that he sniffs) and orders to report to court.
Misha shows up in the throne room. Qi Yan says he has an announcement and calls for all the ministers to be gathered.
[Ep49] Qi Yan shows the assembled people the edict. He says it’s genuine but there’s more to it. Ruoyu puts the edict into a basin of water and then holds it up. Guang’s name vanishes and is replaced by Qi Yan’s name. Yuan Du looks like someone kicked his puppy. Qi Yan says this was set up by Emperor Wenzong. He tells the ministers that Guang has treated him well but that he and Wen used Guang. He starts to bow to Guang but Guang stops him.
[Ep49] Qi Yan shows the assembled people the edict. He says it’s genuine but there’s more to it. Ruoyu puts the edict into a basin of water and then holds it up. Guang’s name vanishes and is replaced by Qi Yan’s name. Yuan Du looks like someone kicked his puppy. Qi Yan says this was set up by Emperor Wenzong. He tells the ministers that Guang has treated him well but that he and Wen used Guang. He starts to bow to Guang but Guang stops him.
Qi Yan explains that the edict was to deflect Ziliang’s anger from Qi Yan to Guang if the Zhaolu Incident failed. Since Guang was living quietly away from the capital he shouldn’t be affected. He and Guang share a look of understanding each other.
Now Qi Yan tells Guang he passed an important test. He stretches his hand out towards Ruoyu and she puts another edict in his hand. Qi Yan announces he gathered everyone together to witness him making Guang his Crown Prince. Guang accepts.
After court Qi Yan is in bed with Ruoyu by his side. Han Ding enters to make a report and to pass on a note from Li Deyun asking Qi Yan to forgive Zening her mistake (in drugging him to miss court). Ruoyu is confused - didn’t Han Ding betray Qi Yan? No, Qi Yan told him to pretend to be suborned.
Qi Yan tells Ruoyu he wants to spend the rest of his life with her. They press their foreheads together tenderly.
Now it’s the Lantern Festival and Qi Yan and Ruoyu are enjoying it together. (Well, Ruoyu is enjoying it and Qi Yan is enjoying her enjoying it.)
Poor Guang is stuck in a study toiling over a desk full of scrolls.
Misha meets Qi Yan and Ruoyu and pulls Ruoyu off a little ways. She’s saying farewell. She’ll be leaving the next day.
Ruoyu returns to Qi Yan’s side and talks about enjoying the festival with him again next year. He thinks that won’t be possible but he wants her to promise to enjoy it even if he isn’t there with her. She needs to be happy and eat all the delicious food for him. She promises with a big smile for him. He picks her up and spins her and then collapses.
Doc Wu is at Qi Yan’s bedside. He reveals that the medicine Qi Yan has been taking to be strong enough to defeat Ziliang and test Guang has destroyed Qi Yan’s health. He’s beyond recovery.
Qi Yan wakes and everyone leaves the two alone. He wonders if he was a good emperor and Ruoyu assures him he was. Everyone has a life of peace and prosperity because of him. He tells her he wants to live for himself in his next life. He wants to be an ordinary man and spend his life with her. This life has been too exhausting living for everyone else. Then he tells her he’s instructed Han Ding to take her from the city because he knows she doesn’t want to be trapped in the palace. He wants her to see the beautiful sights and enjoy the world for him. SHe promises.
Everyone, except Ruoyu and Han Ding, gather in Qi Yan’s room. Qi Yan has Guang help him to sit up. He passes the throne to Guang. He dies in Guang’s arms. Everyone cries.
Ruoyu and Han Ding are headed to the city gates on the deserted, rainy streets. The bell announcing Qi Yan’s death rings. Han Ding gets off his horse and kowtows towards the palace. Ruoyu gallops away to the city gates, crying.
Narrator: On March 23, Qi Yan passed away in Changming Hall with the dynastic title of Shizong. He was buried in Changling. Prince Guang Qi Chen ascended the throne and changed his dynastic title to Pingzhong.
Guang makes Niang his Swordbearer and the Ziyi women recite the oath for her (because she can’t talk).
Ruoyu is running Yu’s Biáng Biáng Noodle Shop. She’s her cheerful self, especially when she hears two customers praising Emperor Qi Yan for creating this time of peace and prosperity. She thinks that his dream came true. She looks at the camera and gives a cheerful grin.
Remarks
by Rianya
[First Impression (Ep1-6)] This is VERY complex. There are little clues in every episode so far, and a lot of big ones, and some tie in and some I’m still wondering about. It’s also a bit slow but it’s picking up speed. The romance is secondary to the plots and mysteries but I don’t mind that. I’m intrigued enough to continue on.
[Actors/Actresses] Cheng Yi and Rayli Zhang are both excellent in their roles. Cheng Yi has micro-expressions down to an art. Rayli Zhang is somehow able to be innocent, naive, brave, fearless, gullible, etc. without being annoying or being pathetic. She treads the line of “sweet and cheerful” without crossing over into painfully stupid. EVERYONE in this drama has put forth absolutely wonderful performances, though. Even the background actors do their jobs well.
[Behind the Scenes]
[Ending] Bittersweet - There’s no happy ending for the romantic leads together but the rest of the people will do well.
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