Xi Jixiu came to see the King, firmly believing that her father’s death was connected to Jun Qiluo. She accused Jun Qiluo and Xuan Lie of conspiring to frame her father and pleaded with the King to investigate the matter thoroughly. Faced with Xi Jixiu’s accusations, the King noticed the red beans in the hand of a maid, which were associated with Jun Qiluo, and ordered Jun Qiluo to be imprisoned for interrogation. Xuan Lie defended Jun Qiluo, stating that she only wanted to help him secure the position of Wolf Lord. However, Xi Jixiu was convinced that Xuan Lie had been bewitched by Jun Qiluo and cursed them, saying they would never find happiness.
The King, perceptive and clear-eyed, had long noticed Xuan Lie’s deep affection for Jun Qiluo. However, he reminded Xuan Lie that Jun Qiluo came from a merchant family in Yannan, and there was an insurmountable gap between her and the royal nobility. Their future together was likely fraught with difficulties. Despite the King’s warning, Xuan Lie did not back down. He firmly asserted Jun Qiluo’s innocence, stating that she had no connection to his father’s death, and begged the King for time to uncover the truth.
Later, Xuan Lie joined Luo Zhizhou for a drink, where he revealed that aside from Xi Changkun, there were others who wished him dead. Luo Zhizhou analyzed the situation and concluded that since Lord Sun had already sacrificed his life to save Xuan Lie, he couldn’t be the culprit. The Su faction was weak and had no interest in the Wolf Lord position, leaving the Luo faction as the only suspect. However, Xuan Lie expressed his trust in Luo Zhizhou’s innocence. Finally, Xuan Lie revealed that they had discovered a maid had met with a mysterious woman in the bamboo forest west of the city before her death, and he was eager to investigate.
Meanwhile, Jun Qiluo carefully packed some daily necessities and asked Luo Qi to deliver them to Dong Yin. While organizing, she suddenly recalled that the exquisite embroidery on Prince Yi’s hat was identical to the technique used on Luo Zhizhou’s sleeve. This realization made her feel uneasy. To resolve her doubts, Jun Qiluo decided to test Dong Yin. Through clever questioning, she confirmed that the person behind everything was indeed Luo Zhizhou.
At the same time, Xuan Lie followed the clues to the bamboo forest, where he was ambushed by an unknown assailant. Xuan Lie immediately recognized the person trying to kill him as Luo Zhizhou, who also realized he had been deceived. When questioned by Xuan Lie, Luo Zhizhou revealed his plight. He explained that he had met Consort Li in Xixiang and had planned to propose to her. However, he suddenly learned that the King of Xixiang intended to send Consort Li away for a political marriage. The only way to protect her and their child was to ascend to the position of Wolf Lord.
Heartbroken by this revelation, Xuan Lie was interrupted by the arrival of the King’s envoy, who came to take Luo Zhizhou away. The King presented a paper kite, clearly aware of Luo Zhizhou’s relationship with Consort Li. Luo Zhizhou admitted everything and offered to surrender his military authority and clan seal, pleading with the King to spare Consort Li. After weighing the pros and cons, the King ultimately agreed to Luo Zhizhou’s request.
Xuan Lie drowned his sorrows in wine, while Jun Qiluo silently comforted him. However, news soon arrived that Dong Yin had escaped. Jun Qiluo pleaded for Dong Yin’s mercy, and Xuan Lie eventually agreed to let her go. Meanwhile, the second branch of the family began to stir, attempting to seize power. Unexpectedly, Jun Qiluo’s father suddenly appeared and announced that he would temporarily take over the family until Jun Feifan returned. However, a sudden turn of events in the palace led to Jun Feifan being accused of treason. The entire main branch of the family was arrested, and Jun Qiluo’s father’s request to see the King was denied.
At a grand ceremony, Sun Zhaomin cleverly disguised Jun Qiluo as a maid and brought her along to observe the event. During the ceremony, the King solemnly bestowed a marriage between Xuan Lie and Sun Zhaomin. Faced with this sudden decree, Xuan Lie appeared troubled and reluctant. However, the King, seemingly aware of Xuan Lie’s feelings, proposed a compromise: Jun Qiluo could enter Xuan Lie’s life as a concubine. The King also sternly reminded Xuan Lie that, as the Wolf Lord, he bore an inescapable responsibility and should accept the decree promptly. Sun Zhaomin, surprised by this, quickly glanced at Jun Qiluo. In the end, Xuan Lie and Sun Zhaomin reluctantly accepted the decree.
