Dou Zhao visits the prison to see Wu Shan, who notes that this is the sixth time he has met Dou Zhao. Dou Zhao, however, is concerned about why Wu Shan came despite knowing it was a trap. Wu Shan openly admits he suspects it’s a trap, but he cannot take that risk. He refuses to gamble with Dou Zhao’s life. He has no regrets about facing prison time, only guilt towards his grandfather, and he hopes Dou Zhao won’t be sad for him. Dou Zhao feels even more guilty, believing he has dragged Wu Shan into this situation and that he shouldn’t have met him. Nevertheless, Wu Shan thinks meeting Dou Zhao is the happiest thing that has happened to him.
When Wu Shan is taken to the execution ground, the common people try to stop him, claiming he is a good person. Wu Ge Lao and Song Mo kneel at the palace gate, submitting their resignations, declaring themselves too old and foolish to serve and loudly admitting their mistakes, wishing only to see the emperor and have a few words with him, willing to die without regrets.
At the execution ground, the judges still insist Wu Shan confess to his crimes, but Wu Shan refuses, stating he will not tarnish his grandfather’s name. He would rather die than admit to any crime. The execution officer orders Wu Shan’s execution, but Song Mo arrives just in time with the emperor’s edict. The emperor has agreed to see Wu Ge Lao, and the edict only demotes Wu Shan and orders the reconstruction of the Yuanyou Palace statue, without imposing heavy penalties. Wu Shan looks at Dou Zhao, who also shares a knowing smile.
As Wu Shan leaves the capital, he sees Dou Zhao there to send him off and tells him that freedom can be fought for. He hopes Dou Zhao will bravely pursue the one he loves. Dou Zhao watches Wu Shan leave, and then Song Mo persuades him, saying that at least Wu Shan has now freed himself from family constraints and can do what he likes.
Song Mo gives Dou Zhao the blood letter Wu Shan wrote in prison, believing he would surely die. Wu Shan had no complaints, only a wish not to be a caged bird. Dou Zhao feels desolate, sensing he seemed to hold the power from afar, but it amounted to nothing before real power, which is held by people like Dou Shishu. Song Mo tells Dou Zhao that Dou Shishu will soon be sent to Lichen, and the grass on the grave of the last envoy to Lichen is already three feet high. Dou Zhao finally understands why Dou Shishu has been so gloomy, realizing it is all due to Wu Ge Lao and Song Mo’s suggestions to the emperor. Song Mo believes freedom can be fought for and that a cage may not be able to hold a caged bird. He asks Dou Zhao if he wants to stop or take a walk in the mountains. Not wanting to go back, Dou Zhao heads towards the mountains, with Song Mo hurriedly following.
Three months later at the training grounds, Dong Qi produces the bow and arrow awarded by the late emperor, clearly intending to win. The Marquis of Haichang ridicules that Song Mo cannot win in the competition as he has received a beating from his father, but Gu Yu quickly rebuts, staunchly supporting Song Mo. The court holds a young ladies’ competition, with all participants being daughters of high-ranking officials. Because Dou Shishu has returned in triumph, the girls from the Dou family also have a chance to compete. Wei Tingzhen is a judge for this competition and has already received gifts from Wang Yingxue, wanting to help Dou Ming win, but unexpectedly, during the first cooking contest, Dou Ming’s completed dish is knocked over by Miss Liang and she is immediately eliminated.
Miss Liang mocks Dou Zhao’s dish as not fit for presentation and attempts to repeat her previous trick by knocking it over, but Dou Zhao is prepared and successfully dodges it, causing Miss Liang’s food to fall and her elimination, avenging Dou Ming. After the competition, Dou Zhao wins first place, which displeases Wei Tingzhen. He believes Dou Zhao should be disqualified due to her improper behavior as she is also participating in the men’s gambling. However, Princess Shude arrives and directly refutes Wei Tingzhen, stating she also participated in archery and gambling at Dou Zhao’s age, and the emperor has never prohibited women from gambling. Wei Tingzhen, seeing Shude speak, dares not argue further and hurriedly apologizes.
Dou Ming, seeing Wei Tingyu shooting at a small rabbit in the woods, feels a growing affection for her as she hesitates to shoot due to the rabbit’s cuteness. Shude is very fond of Dou Zhao’s demeanor, noting it reminds her of her youth. She asks Dou Zhao who she thinks will achieve the best result in the hunting event, to which Dou Zhao responds it should be Dong Qi. Although Shude thinks Song Mo is the best, she understands Dou Zhao has her reasons for her answer, surprised that Dou Zhao knows so much about Song Mo.
Dong Qi catches a fierce tiger, while Song Mo only traps a venomous snake, stating he only wishes to maintain peace. Song Yichun immediately mocks Song Mo for his eloquence, but the emperor recalls Jiang Meisun because of Song Mo and chastises Song Yichun for being unworthy of being a father, stating that he has been too harsh on Song Mo, which resulted in his injuries, and personally drapes his cloak over Song Mo, appointing him as the commander of the Jinyiwei. At this moment, Dou Shishu returns, and the crown prince is questioning about the horse market. The emperor, hearing this, rushes over, insisting that Shude and Song Mo accompany him, but Shude pulls Dou Zhao along.
When the emperor arrives, he hears court officials debating the horse market issue. The emperor urges everyone to express their opinions, and Shude suggests Dou Zhao should speak, as she is an expert in business. During the hunting event, Dou Zhao won a significant amount of money, so the emperor curiously inquires about her perspective. Dou Zhao explains that she won because she created a favorable situation where everyone thought Dong Qi would win, resulting in everyone betting on him while she bet on Song Mo, thereby winning a large amount. The emperor, delighted, continues asking Dou Zhao for her thoughts on the horse market, and her words please him. He personally supports Dou Zhao and orders that his wishes be followed.
The emperor wishes to reward Dou Zhao for her first place win, and Shude seizes the opportunity to suggest a match between Dou Zhao and Song Mo. Dou Zhao, however, preempts her by proposing potato planting, seeking the emperor’s approval. But Dou Shishu brings up the engagement between Dou Zhao and Wei Tingyu, mentioning that he can’t allow Wei Tingyu to plant potatoes alongside them. The emperor glances at Song Mo with some resignation. He considers the Jining Marquis family as a family of warriors, but the martial prowess has essentially stopped at Wei Tingyu. He specifically suggests sending Wei Tingyu to Jinyiwei for training while also recommending that Song Mo marry Princess Jingyu. Shude feels Princess Jingyu has a strong temperament, not someone anyone can control, and the matter is temporarily set aside.
As Dou Zhao is leaving, Song Mo stops her and offers to withdraw from the engagement for her sake, but Dou Zhao insists on handling her own matters. At this moment, realizing Dou Ming has not returned, Dou Zhao suddenly thinks that Dou Ming should be with Wei Tingyu and proposes to find them together with Song Mo.
