Liu Yiqing believes Han Muzhi is unfit for great responsibilities and urges Liu Wan to break off her engagement with him. However, Liu Wan refuses, admiring Han Muzhi’s talent and understanding that his resignation stems from his unwillingness to compromise with the corrupt officialdom. She vows to marry no one but Han Muzhi, even threatening to become a nun if her father insists on canceling the engagement. Liu Yiqing is left speechless with frustration.
Luo Shu, Lian Shu, and Qi Menglin, disguised, return to Taiyuan under the cover of night. They approach the Qi residence but find it heavily guarded. Hesitant to enter, they attempt to leave but are discovered. Fleeing in panic, they are chased and eventually cornered in a dead-end alley, where their pursuers hold Qi Menglin at knifepoint. Fortunately, Sun Qian arrives just in time to rescue them.
Eager for news, Qi Menglin asks Sun Qian about his family and learns that his father and other family members have been taken to the capital. Luo Shu vows to help Qi Menglin uncover evidence to exonerate his family, but Sun Qian advises caution, as Taiyuan is now under Liu Yiqing’s control, making it nearly impossible to clear the Qi family’s name. Qi Menglin, however, refuses to give up and swears to seek justice for his family at any cost.
Qin Yi, furious that Qi Menglin, Luo Shu, and Lian Shu remain at large despite his elaborate trap, berates Peng Cheng. Lian Shu takes Luo Shu and Qi Menglin to his childhood home, long abandoned and in disrepair. Qi Menglin, feeling guilty for neglecting Lian Shu, promises to repay him in the next life. Worried about being discovered, Luo Shu advises Lian Shu to keep the place as it is, and they settle in for the night.
Qi Menglin is baffled, trying to piece together where things went wrong. He recounts the events from the beginning, realizing that his attempt to help Luo Shu only made things worse and implicated his family. Overwhelmed with regret, Qi Menglin is comforted by Luo Shu, who urges him to stay strong and uncover the truth. Qi Menglin suspects foul play, as the two shiploads of military grain he transported to Linfen were mysteriously replaced with rice husks, and the military granary was burned the same night, leading to his father being accused of negligence.
Qi Menglin believes someone orchestrated this series of coincidences. Reflecting on the plan to use military grain for disaster relief, he realizes only a few people were privy to the details: Lian Shu, the granary official, the centurion, and Lian Qi. Unable to pinpoint the leak, Qi Menglin sends Lian Shu to arrange for a carriage and boat. He forges a cargo document and secretly uses his father’s official seal in his study but is caught by the guards. Despite his attempts to explain, the guards refuse to let him leave. Lian Qi arrives and smooths things over, persuading the guards to leave. Qi Menglin pleads with Lian Qi not to inform Qi Yanjin or Governor Qi.
With the forged document, Qi Menglin goes to the military camp. Although the granary official and centurion recognize the document as fake, they dare not cross Governor Qi and allow the grain to be loaded onto the ships. Luo Shu suspects Lian Qi, but Qi Menglin dismisses the idea, as Lian Qi is Qi Yanjin’s most trusted confidant.
Liu Wan reads Han Muzhi’s resignation letter and travels to Linfen to persuade him to stay. She has always believed in Han Muzhi’s potential and encourages him not to lose heart in the face of official corruption. Returning the resignation letter, Liu Wan moves Han Muzhi to tears, as he realizes it was she, not Liu Yiqing, who initially supported him. Liu Wan admits she admires Han Muzhi’s talent and stood up for him in front of her father, who opposed the marriage. Liu Wan, however, was determined to marry Han Muzhi and no one else, forcing Liu Yiqing to reluctantly agree.
After Liu Wan leaves for Linfen, Liu Yiqing grows restless and goes fishing by the river in the rain, accompanied by Zhao Daoren, who tries to console him. Liu Yiqing feigns illness and writes to Liu Wan, urging her to return home. Liu Wan bids farewell to Han Muzhi, who admits he had misunderstood her and thanks her for her support. Han Muzhi resolves to fight against the corrupt forces in the officialdom, and Liu Wan promises to stand by him. At the dock, Liu Wan gives Han Muzhi a hand-embroidered pouch as a token of her love, and the two part reluctantly.
With Qi Menglin now a wanted man, he sends Lian Shu to gather information. Lian Shu learns from Sun Qian that the granary official has died under mysterious circumstances. Sensing something amiss, Luo Shu and Qi Menglin investigate the official’s home at night, discovering a large sum of silver and a handkerchief embroidered with the words “Yu Chun Ru Yan.” They deduce it belongs to a courtesan named Ru Yan from the Yu Chun Lou brothel.
Suddenly, Qin Yi arrives with his men, surrounding Luo Shu and Qi Menglin. Qin Yi declares his intent to destroy the Qi family and forces Luo Shu to marry him. Luo Shu, seeing through Qin Yi’s true nature, refuses. Qin Yi offers a deal: if Luo Shu agrees to marry him, he will spare Qi Menglin’s life. Qi Menglin vehemently opposes the idea, and Qin Yi orders his men to beat Qi Menglin mercilessly. Luo Shu remains steadfast, vowing to live or die with Qi Menglin.
As Qin Yi’s men continue to assault Qi Menglin, Qi Yanjin appears with a group of masked fighters, swiftly defeating Qin Yi’s men and rescuing Luo Shu and Qi Menglin. Qin Yi’s plan foiled, he flies into a rage, swearing to destroy Qi Menglin and Qi Yanjin. In his fury, Qin Yi takes out his anger on the three girls he had adopted.
Liu Wan rushes home, only to find Liu Yiqing unharmed and realize he had tricked her into returning. Liu Yiqing confronts her about taking Han Muzhi’s resignation letter, and Liu Wan admits she returned it, expressing her faith in Han Muzhi’s resilience. Liu Yiqing is livid. When Qin Yi arrives to meet Liu Yiqing, Liu Wan quickly excuses herself. Qin Yi tries to ingratiate himself with Liu Wan, but she ignores him.
Liu Yiqing, disappointed that Qi Yanjin rescued Qi Menglin, reprimands Qin Yi, who promises to capture Qi Menglin soon. Liu Yiqing threatens Qin Yi, who nervously agrees. Meanwhile, Qi Yanjin takes Qi Menglin and Luo Shu to Tianlong Mountain, settling them in a safe house at the foot of the mountain.
