Elder Wu angrily scolded his grandson, Wu Shan, lamenting that imperial power outweighed everything else. He criticized Wu Shan for spending his days on trivial woodworking projects instead of shielding the Wu family from storms. In a fit of rage, Elder Wu smashed Wu Shan’s creations. Upon hearing that Physician Li had arrived, Elder Wu calmed himself and ordered his men to invite her in. However, Wu Shan refused treatment. The servants presented a wooden box to Wu Shan, relaying that Physician Li had instructed them to give it to him if he refused to see her. Recognizing the box as his earlier gift to Dou Zhao, Wu Shan was stunned.
Meanwhile, Song Mo prepared a farewell feast for Chen Qushui. Song Mo and Yan Chaoqing admired Chen Qushui’s talents, wondering why he chose to follow Dou Zhao despite his tainted past. Chen admitted that Dou Zhao had accepted him as an advisor despite his sins, allowing him a peaceful twilight. Song Mo grew even more curious about Dou Zhao.
Dou Zhao visited Wu Shan and persuaded him not to act stubbornly. She shared that she, like him, believed marriage should not bind unwilling parties. Wu Shan explained that his illness was not a ploy to pressure her but stemmed from a question she once asked him about protecting himself amidst external control. Respecting his grandfather, Wu Shan had never defied him—except in marriage. Dou Zhao advised Wu Shan to support his grandfather in court so that Elder Wu could rest, leaving Wu Shan to use his own strength to revive the family. Her words enlightened Wu Shan. As she departed, Wu Shan expressed his desire to meet her again, but Dou Zhao wished only for his happiness, finding it more reassuring than seeing her.
Su Lan arrived to escort Chen Qushui, raising Song Mo’s suspicion as to why Dou Zhao didn’t come herself. At that moment, Physician Li was brought in by Lu Ming. Originally invited by Song Mo to treat Wu Shan, Physician Li had been replaced by Dou Zhao, a fact revealed by Lu Ming. Song Mo ordered Lu Ming to summon Dou Zhao for questioning.
Dou Zhao, disguised in a large cloak, encountered Elder Wu in a corridor. Though he didn’t recognize her, he grew suspicious and ordered her to turn around. Dou Zhao hesitated until Lu Ming appeared, claiming he was escorting Physician Li to meet Song Mo. Elder Wu allowed them to leave without further questioning.
Back in his room, Wu Shan stared at the wooden bird Dou Zhao had brought, lost in thought. Elder Wu, realizing Dou Zhao had visited, reassured Wu Shan. Wu Shan apologized to his grandfather, expressing his newfound understanding of his family’s struggles and vowing to assist him in navigating court politics. Elder Wu, moved to tears, helped Wu Shan to his feet.
Song Mo learned that the court was targeting the Duke of Dingguo’s faction and that the imperial edict was delivered by Dou Shishu. Suspecting Dou Zhao’s involvement in delaying him, Song Mo intercepted her for an explanation. Dou Zhao, unable to justify herself, remained silent. Consequently, Song Mo refused to release Chen Qushui, returning only Su Xin to Dou Zhao.
Su Xin questioned why Dou Zhao didn’t defend herself, to which Dou Zhao replied that without evidence, coincidences couldn’t be explained. Lu Ming, frustrated by her cunning, joked that it might be better to marry her to keep her under watch. Song Mo, though silent, doubted Dou Zhao’s involvement in the schemes.
Song Mo investigated the Shadow Guards who escorted Jiang Meisun to the palace. He discovered a discrepancy: nine were listed, but only eight bodies were found. The missing person, Chen Jia, had been removed from the guards due to gambling but was retained by his foster father. On the fateful night, Chen Jia witnessed high-ranking officials ambush the guards and kill everyone, including his foster father. Fearing for his life, Chen Jia escaped and fell into despair. Song Mo tracked him down at a gambling den, paid his debts, and forced him to recount the truth. Moved by Song Mo’s words, Chen Jia vowed to seek justice for his foster father.
Meanwhile, Dou Zhao received a letter from Ji Yong, reporting that the Maritime Trade Bureau had seized An Su’s ships and demanded a severance of business ties with her. Sensing a political connection, Dou Zhao decided to travel to Futing for answers. Song Mo, also investigating Jiang Meisun’s death, planned to visit Futing, bidding his mother farewell. Jiang Huisun tearfully watched him leave, coughing severely. Song Mo promised to return and urged her to wait for him.
Upon arriving in Futing, Dou Zhao distributed grain to starving refugees. The locals, once reliant on tea exports, suffered after the Duke of Dingguo’s death halted trade. Maritime Trade Bureau Director Ding Wei summoned Dou Zhao and An Su, coercing them to confess to colluding with pirates under threat of severe punishment. Dou Zhao demanded evidence, but Ding Wei only produced fabricated weapons as proof, failing to provide witnesses. Dou Zhao and An Su were imprisoned and tortured.
Dou Zhao suspected Ding Wei avoided public punishment to avoid backlash. Ding Wei claimed An Su had confessed and urged Dou Zhao to do the same to avoid implicating others. Dou Zhao refused, confident in An Su’s loyalty. As Ding Wei prepared to intensify the torture, Song Mo arrived, mocking Ding Wei’s inability to extract confessions. To settle matters, Ding Wei allowed Song Mo to interrogate Dou Zhao alone.
In private, Song Mo questioned Dou Zhao’s alliance with Dou Shishu. Dou Zhao dismissed the connection and urged him not to conflate her actions with Dou Shishu’s schemes. Pretending to torture her, Song Mo secretly applied medicine to her wounds and whispered for her to cry out. Dou Zhao complied, fooling Ding Wei into believing Song Mo was ruthless.
Song Mo pressed Dou Zhao about her involvement in Futing. An Su revealed that Dou Zhao had sold her ships earlier in the year, seemingly predicting the political upheaval. Song Mo demanded to know why Dou Zhao anticipated Jiang Meisun’s death. Dou Zhao remained silent, leaving Song Mo suspicious.
