Mudan stops Jiang Changyang and requests him to purchase her freedom. She explains that if she wants to leave the military camp and return to Chang’an to rebuild her life, she must rely on Jiang Changyang. To achieve this, Mudan is willing to renegotiate their profit-sharing ratio. Jiang Changyang smiles and takes out Mudan’s property deed from his pocket, revealing that he had already bought her freedom. The two ride together and return to Chang’an. At this time, Zhu Fu has not yet received any news from Lord Jiang and is anxiously considering going directly with his mother to wait outside the military camp. Suddenly, there is a knock on the door. Upon opening it, they see Mudan, whom they haven’t seen for a long time. Zhu Fu, Lü Gengchun, and Madam Sun quickly welcome Mudan inside. Although Mudan’s money and valuables had already been seized by officials, Zhu Fu secretly hides Qingtai Yulu and some other items that are important to Mudan.
Wang Qing once again deceives Sheng Yi into helping him make fragrant powder and take care of the Flower Mansion’s business. Sheng Yi coldly refuses, only to be met with Wang Qing’s brutal beating. Sheng Yi returns to the dilapidated temple where she and Mudan started their business, praying to the gods for Mudan’s safe return. However, the candle is repeatedly extinguished by the wind, and each time Sheng Yi lights it again, it is blown out once more. Shocked and regretful, Sheng Yi realizes that her deep sins have made the gods unwilling to forgive her. Mudan appears, gathers her hands, and helps Sheng Yi relight the candle. Sheng Yi is overjoyed, but Mudan immediately questions her about why she betrayed her. Sheng Yi explains that she never betrayed Mudan, but she did not expect Wang Qing to manipulate her words and accuse Mudan to the Jingzhao Prefecture. She adds that it’s too late to discuss these matters now.
Mudan wants to tell Sheng Yi that she has now been reduced to a lowly status, and for Sheng Yi to re-enter the hardships of life would mean facing the high cost of recognizing Wang Qing’s true intentions. However, Mudan still holds genuine feelings for Sheng Yi and offers that if Sheng Yi does not fare well, she can always return. Feeling immense guilt, Sheng Yi does not want to appear before Mudan again and hopes that Mudan will only associate with true friends in the future, avoiding encounters with such people.
Jiang Changyang brings back items from Luoyang, and Mudan realizes that the honey-coated pastries are made by her father. Jiang Changyang says that since Mudan has restored He Weifang’s identity, she can return to Luoyang to see her family. Mudan recounts the scene of her attempted escape, explaining that her father believes women should be confined to the inner household to support their husbands and educate their children. However, Mudan is not that kind of person and is destined never to return to that family.
Regardless of Mudan’s status, Jiang Changyang has never looked down on her. Therefore, Mudan wishes to develop a relationship with Jiang Changyang beyond just financial matters. Jiang Changyang responds that they have already been friends for a long time. When Liu Chang learns that the flower envoy has bought Mudan’s property deed and allowed her to leave the military camp, he immediately seeks out Jiang Changyang. However, Jiang Changyang advises him that it is clear who ordered the mistreatment and murder of Mudan, suggesting that Liu Chang’s judgment of character is flawed. Lady Tang, the wife of the Grand Minister, is picky and difficult to serve. Her 80th birthday flower banquet order has left the flower shop with no willing participants. Just as Wang Qing arrives with a greeting card to see Lü Wanrong, he sends a message that he can take on Lady Tang’s flower banquet order. Unbeknownst to him, this is all part of Mudan’s plan to reclaim the Flower Mansion from Wang Qing and restore its reputation.
At this moment, the flowers Wang Qing bought from the flower shop wilted shortly after being delivered to the Tang residence. The housekeeper comes running to scold Wang Qing, ordering him to present fresh flowers no matter what the next day. Wang Qing uses all his remaining money to buy flowers, and now the flower shop is unwilling to lend him any more flower craftsmen. Desperate, Wang Qing ties up the bruised Sheng Yi to coerce He Weifang into cooperating. He Weifang sees through his facade of pretending to be generous despite being in a desperate situation and shamelessly agrees to collaborate.
