Shen Huizhao did not return to her room to rest, instead staying alone in the study to review case files. Haode, following the orders of the matriarch, brought her a “tonic soup.” However, Shen Huizhao failed to catch the hint in Haode’s expression, and in a hurry, Haode drank the soup herself. Shortly after, a maid locked the study, trapping the two inside. By midnight, the effects of the medicine kicked in, leaving Haode restless and feverish. Shen Huizhao instructed her to copy scriptures as a way to calm her down.
Meanwhile, Chai An accompanied Lady Li to a banquet and ended up drinking heavily on behalf of his mother-in-law. However, he accidentally revealed that his previous sea voyage was part of a strategy, which angered Kangning, who promptly kicked him out of the room. While trying to sober up, Chai An stumbled into a murder scene, nearly tripping over a corpse. Before he could react, a woman rushed out, grabbing his clothes and screaming, “Murderer!”
Haode spent the entire night copying scriptures, and by dawn, she couldn’t hold back her tears. Even the usually stoic Shen Huizhao was moved. However, Shen Huizhao advised Haode to turn back from her current path. The two had been living as a married couple in name only for a year, treating each other as siblings in private. Once the year was up, Shen Huizhao promised to personally select a suitable husband for her, allowing her to marry with honor as his adopted sister.
Meanwhile, Chai An was arrested as a murder suspect. Coincidentally, Du Yangxi and Shouhua were away from the capital, visiting Shouhua’s mother. Haode rushed to the Kaifeng Prefecture to plead for Chai An but was stopped by a servant. Shen Huizhao interrogated Chai An, who was furious and ended up being beaten forty times by Shen Huizhao.
Haode personally pleaded for Chai An’s release, but Shen Huizhao remained impartial and escorted Haode back. On the way, Shen Huizhao explained the details of the case. According to the testimony of Liu Shi, the wife of the deceased Zhang Ping, Chai An had attempted to assault her after getting drunk, and when Zhang Ping intervened, Chai An killed him. Haode refused to believe this and insisted on clearing her brother-in-law’s name.
As soon as they finished speaking, Haode and Shen Huizhao were involved in a carriage accident. The horses panicked, overturning the carriage, and Shen Huizhao was injured protecting Haode, falling into a coma. At this moment, Haode realized that Shen Huizhao was surrounded by danger and that his strict adherence to justice had led to the death of his sister and his mother’s resentment, who cursed him on her deathbed for being unworthy of having a family.
Haode stayed by Shen Huizhao’s bedside, caring for him diligently. However, when Shen Huizhao regained consciousness, he had lost his memory. The clever Wuniang Leshan saw an opportunity and convinced Haode to play along, pretending to be Shen Huizhao’s wife. However, with Chai An still entangled in the legal case, Leshan advised Haode to use this chance to truly become the lady of the Shen household.
But Haode knew that Shen Huizhao was an upright official and couldn’t let her ruin his reputation. She honestly explained their relationship and her true identity to him. Together, they worked to deceive the Shen family and the Kaifeng Prefecture, focusing first on resolving Chai An’s case. After losing his memory, Shen Huizhao became more compassionate.
Soon, Shen Huizhao re-interrogated Chai An and Liu Shi. However, Liu Shi stubbornly accused Chai An of killing her husband, leaving Shen Huizhao speechless. Shen Huizhao resorted to harsh interrogation methods, infuriating Chai An, who cursed Shen Huizhao for caring more about his reputation than justice, even at the cost of an innocent life. Chai An vowed that if he died, he would not let Shen Huizhao off easily.
Haode, hearing Chai An’s screams from the Kaifeng Prefecture, felt heartbroken but still held onto hope that Shen Huizhao would handle the situation fairly. In the end, Chai An bit his tongue and committed suicide, seemingly fulfilling Liu Shi’s wishes. When Kangning rushed to the Kaifeng Prefecture and saw her husband’s “corpse,” she was devastated.
Liu Shi left calmly, only to be caught by officials that night while meeting her lover. Meanwhile, Kangning and the Li family arranged Chai An’s funeral. Fuhui and Fan Lianghan appeared to congratulate them, only to see Chai An sit up and embrace Kangning, dispelling the earlier gloom. It turned out that Chai An and Shen Huizhao had set a trap to catch Liu Shi and her lover, Wang Sheng, in the act. Chai An was cleared of all charges, and everyone was overjoyed.
After the case was resolved, Haode was reassured that she had not misplaced her trust and was filled with joy. Shen Huizhao, for once, praised Haode and offered her his favorite sweets, bringing the two closer. Haode offered to assist Shen Huizhao in future cases, promising not to reveal their secret. Shen Huizhao gladly agreed.
