Recaps

Di Qingyu returned to the past and began removing threats while building the Wei Family’s loyalty and aiding flood victims. After Du Yutao attacked her and Zhu Wuyang was wounded protecting her, Di Qingyu maneuvered Di Yunqian toward a punishment that would preserve imperial authority and contain the Du Family’s response.

• Di Qingyu died after Gu Wenci helped Di Chenzhe overthrow her, then learned as a ghost that Gu Wenci had used a system before she dissipated and returned to an earlier time.
• Di Qingyu secured her brothers’ release, arranged relief grain for flood victims, and traveled in disguise to kill Gu Wenci before his system could threaten her again.
• Di Qingyu confronted the palace consorts, endured Gao Qian’s warning about her political risks, and recruited the Wei Family after Wei Xin revealed Du Chengji’s past crime.
• Di Qingyu traced the stolen relief provisions, directed Wei Ning to stage a resignation dispute, and won Di Yunqian’s support for porridge stalls and winter clothing for the poor.
• Di Qingyu used the relief effort to draw Du Yutao into a confrontation, blinded him with a hairpin when he pursued her, and was carried to safety by Zhu Wuyang after he took a dagger wound protecting her.
• Di Yunqian investigated Du Yutao’s attack, imprisoned him, and punished Du Chengji after Zhu Juxuan confronted them in Xuanzheng Hall.
• Empress Zhang welcomed Wei Xin as an ally after Wei Xin disclosed Di Qingyu’s trap involving the Du Family, while Di Qingyu recovered and advised Di Yunqian to reward the family on Du Yutao’s execution day to protect imperial authority.

Di Qingyu orchestrated the Du Family’s downfall, gained Di Yunqian’s trust by revealing knowledge of explosives, and secured a secret base and resources for her weapons project. After arranging Wei Xin’s false death and the princes’ return, she entered their banquet as Grand Princess, leaving them stunned.

• Di Qingyu staged the moat explosion and spread accusations against Du Chengji, prompting an investigation that exposed his crimes and led Di Yunqian to imprison him and confiscate the Du Family’s property.
• Di Yunqian appointed Wei Ning minister of punishments, while Di Qingyu recruited Wei Xin as a spy and offered to help her escape the palace when the time was right.
• Di Qingyu presented Di Yunqian with an alchemy text about explosions and identified charcoal and sulfur as possible ingredients, persuading him to prioritize weapon development and elevate her to Eldest Princess.
• Di Qingyu arranged for Wei Xin to fake her death and serve her as Weisheng Xin, then received Du Chengji’s former residence, gold, and workers to establish a secret weapons base.
• Zhu Wuyang confronted Di Qingyu about deceiving him and helping bring down the Du Family, and she promised to protect the General’s residence if it faced danger.
• Di Qingyu had Wei Xin switched with a prepared corpse and learned that the four princes had returned from Yulu City.
• Di Qingyu entered the princes’ celebratory banquet as Grand Princess, surprising the four princes.