Xuan Lie took the initiative to approach the patriarch of the Jun family. He expressed his sincere love for Jun Qiluo and knelt before the patriarch, offering his whip and asking him to vent his anger by striking him. The patriarch, however, did not raise his hand. He had observed the changes in Jun Qiluo since she had been with Xuan Lie and had witnessed Xuan Lie’s efforts to protect her. He told Xuan Lie that Jun Qiluo had been carrying the entire Jun family on her shoulders. As the heir to the family’s craftsmanship, she bore a heavy responsibility. It wasn’t until Xuan Lie appeared that he saw his daughter truly come to life. Therefore, he would no longer stand in the way of their relationship. However, as a father, he hoped that no matter what happened, Xuan Lie would always protect Jun Qiluo. Xuan Lie promised that he would guard Jun Qiluo with his life.
Qing Kou moved back into the Jun residence on her own. She sneaked into Qi Min’s room with her belongings, already considering herself his wife. She believed it was only natural to live with him, and being by his side put her at ease. She promised Qi Min that she would stay quietly in his room to develop the antidote. Once it was ready, she hoped Qi Min would take her around the Jun residence. Qi Min had no choice but to let her stay for the time being.
Luo Zhizhou gathered the few troops he had left and decided to return to Beixuan to seek justice for Consort Li. Dong Yin, not wanting him to go to his death, tried to persuade him to start a new life. However, Luo Zhizhou told her that his entire life had been dedicated to Consort Li, and he would not let her die in vain. Dong Yin, who deeply loved Luo Zhizhou, had also lived her life for him.
Xuan Lie arranged for his trusted subordinate, Han, to deliver a letter to the King. The letter reported the progress of the peace negotiations with Yannan, which were going smoothly. However, Qing Kou refused to return to Beixuan alone, as her heart was with Qi Min. Xuan Lie, on the other hand, planned to stay in Yannan under a false identity to accompany Jun Qiluo. The King was furious. While he couldn’t control Xuan Lie, Qing Kou had to return. He ordered that she be brought back, even if it meant tying her up. As for Qi Min, if she wanted to bring him back, she could.
Under pressure from the elders, the patriarch abolished the ancestral rule that women could not lead the Jun family. He stated that if a woman was capable, she should be allowed to lead. Moreover, it was the three sisters of the Jun family who had worked together to save the family during its time of crisis. The elders had no choice but to agree. From then on, Jun Qiluo officially became the head of the Jun family.
Xuan Lie formally proposed to the Jun family, offering not only a large amount of gold and silver but also all his property deeds from Beixuan. Jun Qiluo accepted, and the entire Jun family was delighted. They had all come to accept Xuan Lie. Luo Qi took the opportunity to ask the third young lady if she had someone she liked. Unaware of Luo Qi’s feelings for her, she replied that she didn’t have anyone in mind yet. However, she emphasized one important point: the person she chose must be willing to marry into the Jun family. Luo Qi’s smile instantly faded.
The second young lady of the Jun family also began to reevaluate her relationship with Young Master Zheng. She finally realized that he was not the right match for her and not someone she could grow old with. Jun Qiluo noticed her sister’s thoughts and advised her to prioritize herself, to learn to love herself, and to truly understand what she wanted. Jun Qiluo also revealed that Young Master Zheng had helped Jun Yujue steal from the family. She made it clear that she wasn’t trying to influence her sister’s decision but felt she should know the truth. Whatever her sister decided, Jun Qiluo would support her as the eldest sister. The second young lady made up her mind to break off the engagement. After the annulment, she wanted to open her own embroidery workshop. The entire family supported her, as her embroidery skills were exceptional, and she was passionate about it. She wanted to create her own unique pieces.
Meanwhile, the Prime Minister, realizing that his schemes were about to be exposed, sought a scapegoat and chose Zheng Yuan, who had always been by his side. Qi Min also discovered that the person who had delivered the anonymous letter was from the Zheng family. He and Jun Qiluo went to find Zheng Yuan, only to discover that he had died in his home. The officials concluded that it was a suicide, but Jun Qiluo found the situation suspicious. Qi Min recognized Zheng Yuan as the Yannan spy who had appeared in Beixuan. At that moment, Xuan Lie arrived and overheard Qi Min’s words, confirming that their investigation was on the right track.
