Recaps

Liu Wan took control of the Ninth Prince’s Residence and uncovered Ruyun’s role in poisoning Princess Ximing and aiding East Lin. The investigation exposed a spy within the Imperial Court, while Xia Siheng and the Empress Dowager prepared to pursue the wider conspiracy.

• Zi Mu asked Liu Wan to grant him the Liu surname, and she agreed to enter both him and Zi Xing into the Clan Genealogy before investigating the mistreatment of Qing Da’s family.
• Liu Wan forced Ruyun to surrender the household Jade Seal, while Xia Siheng revealed that he was using her loss of authority to expose East Lin spies and uncover the truth about his mother’s death.
• Yuanbao warned the Emperor and Empress that Xia Qianlin was threatened by evil spirits, and Consort Xian survived her attempt to escape the palace before an investigation uncovered a plot involving a poisoned rope.
• Daoist Qianyun identified Ruyun as an East Lin spy connected to Xia Siheng’s mother’s death, and Xia Wanwan helped Xia Siheng secretly follow Ruyun to a meeting with Wu Bi.
• Ruyun sought to become pregnant with Xia Siheng’s child using an East Lin potion, while Wu Bi discussed the prophecy surrounding Xia Siheng’s child and a plan involving the Gold-and-Jade Glazed Cup.
• Liu Wan exposed Ruyun’s servants for poisoning Princess Ximing’s wine, punished the ringleaders, freed A Niu and his family, and found evidence that Ruyun had embezzled manor funds.
• The Empress Dowager showed Xia Siheng evidence that East Lin’s substance had been used against Consort Xian and that a high-ranking Imperial Court official had colluded with East Lin.

Xia Wanwan and Xia Siheng faced demonic attacks, Southern Mei assassins, and East Lin spies while the Empress Dowager pursued the conspiracy. The arc ended with Xia Siheng preparing to confront Duke Yan and drawing Liu Wan into a private moment.

• The Empress Dowager ordered Xia Siheng to resolve Duke Yan’s treason discreetly and gave him the names of officials opposing Xia Wanwan’s law.
• At the Divine Temple, the Grandmaster spent his remaining power blessing worshippers, while Xia Wanwan learned she had been brought to the past to defeat Jiyan.
• Gu Ming attacked the Divine Temple, but Liu Wan used the gourd to absorb him and save the imperial family and gathered worshippers.
• Xia Siheng and Xia Wanwan helped the Eldest Princess survive attacks by Southern Mei death warriors and East Lin assassins, and Xia Siheng killed Aye.
• Liu Wan and Xia Siheng exposed Ruyun’s scheme to drug him, while Chunhua helped capture East Lin spies and uncover their failed mission.
• Ruyun escaped with an East Lin envoy by claiming she carried Xia Siheng’s divine fetus, while Consort Jing planned to steal the child for herself.
• Xia Siheng told Xia Wanwan that Duke Yan was an East Lin spy, then warned her not to call down lightning and entrusted her with the demon in Liu Wan’s gourd.
• Xia Siheng sent Xia Wanwan to her courtyard for the night, then asked Liu Wan to wear Zhao’er’s gift and walked toward her after she changed.

Xia Wanwan went to Hezhou to free the spirits trapped in the Abandoned Infant Pagoda and confront the people who protected it. At the Qiao Residence, she uncovered a plot against Zhong Youling and exposed the Qiao family’s abuses, then let Old Master Qiao take her toward the Government Office as her allies moved to rescue two child brides.

• Xia Wanwan learned from Gu Ming that the Demon God’s Compass was in the Abandoned Infant Pagoda, and Yuanbao followed him there to confront him and negotiate the spirits’ reincarnation.
• Yuanbao helped Ru Bin’s soul depart after Ru Bin died protecting Ruyun, then returned to Xia Wanwan, who set out for Hezhou with Yuanbao and Jing Wu.
• Xia Wanwan confronted Steward Qiao and the townspeople over the Abandoned Infant Pagoda, and Zhong Youyan joined her in seeking to destroy it.
• At the Qiao Residence, Xia Wanwan recognized that Zhong Youling and her unborn child were in danger, while Qiao Zhishu learned of his wife’s sacrifices and pledged to protect her.
• Xia Wanwan discovered that the Qiao elders had poisoned Zhong Youling’s pregnancy and intended to frame her, as Yuanbao and Jing Wu gathered evidence from the flower soil and medicinal residue.
• Old Master Qiao drugged the pig’s trotters and tried to dispose of the evidence, but Yuanbao stopped Madam Qiao while Xia Wanwan staged a confrontation with Qiao Tianci.
• Xia Wanwan let Old Master Qiao escort her toward the Government Office, while Xia Siheng and Liu Wan pursued Steward Qiao and Liu Zi Xing and Liu Zimu found two abused child brides in the woodshed.

Xia Wanwan exposed the Qiao family’s crimes, saved Zhong Youling and her child, and dismantled the Abandoned Infant Pagoda before confronting the Heavenly Dao over Hezhou’s treatment of girls. After returning to the Capital, she discovered Zhong Youyan was a fellow transmigrator, while Gu Ming warned Duke Yan not to target her.

• Liu Zi Mu and his companions were surrounded by Qiao family guards until Xia Qianhui and Constable Xiao arrived, while Xia Wanwan presented evidence of Madam Qiao’s crimes in court.
• Witnesses exposed the Qiao family’s child-bride abuse and poisoning, and a blood test revealed that Old Master Qiao was Steward Qiao’s biological father.
• Qiao Zhishu severed ties with his parents, and Xia Wanwan saved Zhong Youling and her baby after the Qiao elders’ poisoning caused a life-threatening labor.
• Old Master Qiao, Madam Qiao, and Steward Qiao died, and Xia Wanwan ordered the Abandoned Infant Pagoda destroyed despite opposition from Hezhou’s people.
• Xia Wanwan dismantled the Soul-Locking Formation and sent the infant souls onward, then provoked the Heavenly Dao to confront Hezhou’s treatment of girls.
• The female Heavenly Dao withdrew her protection from Hezhou and erased the crowd’s memories, while Duke Yan promised to fund the pagoda’s reconstruction.
• At the Self-Rescue Home, Zhong Youyan revealed she was a transmigrator from 1931, and she and Xia Wanwan agreed to work toward women’s freedom and equality.
• Duke Yan summoned Gu Ming’s soul to enlist him, but Gu Ming warned him not to target Xia Wanwan and promised to plead for his life if she pursued him.