Xuan Lie firmly rejects the king’s proposal, insisting that Jun Qi Luo should be his legal wife. However, the king refuses, citing her background as the reason. Xuan Lie then argues that Sun Zhao Min has just lost her father, and her feelings should be considered. The king responds that if it weren’t for this situation, he would have already arranged the marriage. He agrees to consult Sun Zhao Min before making a final decision.
Luo Zhi Zhou apologizes to Xuan Lie, admitting his failure to capture the spy. He also reveals that Xi Chang Kun attempted to sow discord between them but failed. Xuan Lie reassures him that their deep bond is not something Xi Chang Kun could ever shake.
Meanwhile, Xi Ji Xiu anxiously seeks an audience with the empress dowager, tearfully accusing Xuan Lie of framing her father. The empress dowager comforts her, advising her to wait until the truth is fully uncovered.
Elsewhere, the second branch of the Jun family is busy preparing for the upcoming merchants’ conference. Jun Jiang Juan is displeased and ends up in a dispute with them. At the same time, Dong Yin serves tea to Jun Qi Luo and the others, but Jun Qi Luo senses something suspicious and subtly warns Xuan Lie not to drink it. She then offers to switch cups with Xuan Lie, claiming hers is too hot, but in the process, Dong Yin accidentally spills the tea.
Jun Qi Luo immediately questions Dong Yin about the poisoning attempt. In desperation, Dong Yin draws a dagger and tries to stab Xuan Lie, but he swiftly subdues her. He orders his men to detain her but spares her life temporarily, intending to interrogate her about the mastermind behind the scheme. However, Dong Yin stubbornly refuses to reveal any information.
Just then, a messenger arrives in haste, reporting that Xi Lin has returned. The king urgently summons Xuan Lie. Before leaving, Xuan Lie presents the recovered weapon as solid evidence against Xi Chang Kun. Cornered with no way to escape, Xi Chang Kun finally confesses everything. Filled with resentment, he declares that he could never accept Xuan Lie’s father reclaiming military power and that both father and son deserved to pay the price. Enraged, the king orders Xi Chang Kun to be imprisoned and executed in ten days.
Later, Jun Qi Luo visits Dong Yin, who is puzzled as to how she saw through the poisoning plot. Jun Qi Luo smiles and explains that her family has been in the weaving business for generations, making her highly sensitive to color changes—just as distinct as night and day to her. Realizing her mistake, Dong Yin is shocked. Before parting, she curiously asks why Jun Qi Luo isn’t pressing her for the identity of the mastermind. Jun Qi Luo calmly replies that she knows Dong Yin would never betray that person.
Xuan Lie visits Xi Chang Kun in prison once more, offering to protect his daughter if he confesses everything. Finally, Xi Chang Kun reveals the past—Xuan Lie’s father had once proposed reclaiming military power from the previous king. Anticipating potential danger, Xi Chang Kun had secretly manufactured weapons in a lawless area as a backup plan. When Xuan Lie’s father grew suspicious and started investigating, he fell into an ambush and was killed. As for the Baigong craftsmen, Xi Chang Kun admits that they remained elusive, and he never saw their true faces, but he personally handed over the weapon blueprints.
Curious about the lost blueprints, Xuan Lie tentatively questions Jun Qi Luo. After some thought, she responds that if the blueprints fell into someone else’s hands, it would indeed be possible for them to have been used to create weapons.
Suddenly, Xi Chang Kun mysteriously dies from poisoning in his cell. Xuan Lie rushes to the scene, filled with suspicion. The prison guards insist that no outsiders had visited that day. Near the cell, Xuan Lie unexpectedly finds a red bean, deepening the mystery. Meanwhile, Xi Ji Xiu is devastated upon hearing of her father’s death.
Upon returning, Xuan Lie brings up the matter with Jun Qi Luo again. She candidly admits that her bracelet broke while she was out today. Xuan Lie offers to repair it for her, and she hands it over. At the same time, Luo Qi reports back to Xuan Lie with the results of his investigation—twelve years ago, the second branch of the Jun family was drowning in gambling debts. However, they suddenly received a large sum of money, which miraculously saved them from ruin.
