Summary Qing first suspects Ji Chu, but after a heart to heart with Chu's sister Wan'er, begins to agree that Chu could be innocent. Qing then offers to help Chu investigate who might be trying to frame him for his half-brother Ji Feng's murder. Chu is so delighted by this he actually smiles and allows her into the interrogation cell with him. Qing playfully tricks the chained suspect into speaking, then directly offers him what he says he wants, and he inadvertently confesses under quickfire questioning. Chu is impressed. In answer to Qing's final question as to why the suspect made an attempt on Chu's life, Chu pulls back the suspect's shirt to show her a mark there. This same tattoo had also been revealed while Chu fought off his brother's attacker, so they wanted Chu silenced. Meanwhile, crown prince Ji Yun is investigating as well, and needs to clear Chu. Chu resists, but Qing, thinking it nothing, grabs his arm, pulling up his sleeve to reveal many old scars. She then hurriedly explains that the assassin had confessed, but they still don't know who masterminded the attack. Yun apologizes, but Chu brushes it off, saying, "I'm used to it". The Wei family is chained and made to march to their own executions, all except for Imperial Consort Wei. Gong relives his misery. The remaining royal children, Ji Chu, Ji Yun, and Ji Wan and Qing have tea with the Queen, where she announces that she will hold a tea party to find a match for crown prince Ji Yun. Out of nowhere, Imperial Consort Wei appears at the event and tries to run Chu through with a knife, ostensibly as retribution for the murder of her son Feng. Qing speaks up for Chu asking the Consort to consider that Chu might not have been her son's murderer. Remembering Feng's dying words begging Chu to let his life pay for his mother's debts, Chu visits the consort in her confinement. Chu tells her that he has asked his father to spare her life, but vindictively informs her she will never leave Changhan place. Chu and Gong celebrate their progress and vow to get revenge for Gong's wronged Su family. Gong tells Chu that more than a hundred of his family members were wiped out in his childhood. He only escaped execution because he was young enough to run away and change his name. Chu blames the demon poison for that and wants it eradicated. Gong blames humans, but Chu compels him to be less pessimistic. Chu says we each forge our own path in a treacherous world. Gong retorts he's just a physician and can't bring the dead back to life. He feels powerless to change anything. Chu reminds him that he always wanted to be a nomadic physician after avenging his family. Thinking of his feelings for Ji Wan'er, Gong says he doesn't know if he can ever actually be that carefree. Next step for Chu is to eliminate the mastermind and keep Qing with him. Chu admits to Gong he wants Qing's heart. Wan'er confronts Qing for hiding her true identity of Hua Qing Ge and feels slighted that she wasn't kept in the loop. The two of them bicker momentarily over whether they're best friends or in-laws. Qing explains that she is Hua Qing Ge, but also is not, and that it's complicated. Wan'er retorts that she understands Qing, but she doesn't because it's complicated. Wan'er says she thought Qing liked Yun and was repulsed by Chu. Qing emphatically denies feeling for Yun and says that coroner Li Xiyao is his match. Alone with the evening stars, Ji Yun recalls the way Qing looked at Chu at the family get together, and realizes he's jealous of Chu. On a walk the next day, Gong's feet take him to Jingzhi library, where he makes an excuse to see Wan'er by ordering books she recommends. But Wan'er has tricked him into admitting feelings. She knows these aren't advanced medical books and asks him directly if he came to see her.

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