Qingyuan accepts Chunzhi’s proposal while Old Madam Xie installs her maid Yuejian as Sixth Madam. Qingrong discovers Madam Hu gave her a Soul-Suppressing Mantra instead of Rebirth Sutras

Shen Run executes Hengtang’s corrupt officials but spares Xie Shu, newly made an earl, because the Emperor has secretly ordered him. Madam Hu is confined after Zhengjun tries to kill her

Madam Hu reveals she raised Qingrong as her own after Xia Yingying’s death, while Qingyuan quietly plants doubt in Qingrong’s mind. Pei Yuting warns Hengtang’s officials that Yan Rui is really Shen Run

As Madam Hu bristles under Old Madam Xie’s contempt, Shen Che drags Yan Rui away from Qingyuan before he can confess who he is. Lord Wei kidnaps Qingyuan to lure Yan Rui

As rumours spread that Yan Rui is an impostor, Shen Che tries to kill Qingyuan as a threat to their revenge, revealing he is Yan Rui’s brother and the sole survivor of the Shen family massacre.

Qingyuan tricks Second Madam into a deadly oath, with Zhenglun’s staged collapse forcing a confession that she poisoned Fifth Madam and framed Jin Chunqing

As Qingyuan nurses a gravely wounded Yan Rui, he leads her to Cui’er, now living as Madam Pei’s maid Guoniang, but the reunion turns tragic when a fleeing Lord Wei murders Madam Pei.

As northern bandits flood Hengtang, the Xie family sends Qingyuan into the chaos for help, where she discovers Yan Rui’s jade pendant is an imperial pass. Lord Wei overhears Yan Rui’s real name

Qingyuan wins Yan Rui an audience with the Marquis of Danyang, where he reveals his true mission and asks for troops. At home, Second Madam’s attempt to expose Qingyuan as an impostor backfires

Qingyuan provokes, then charms, the Marquis of Danyang to win the invitation Yan Rui needs, as her herbal snack shop opens to a roaring crowd. Meanwhile, Lord Wei and Xie Shu plot