Liu Chang, intoxicated, stormed into He Weifang’s room, causing a commotion. He attempted to forcibly take He Weifang, trying to cement their union and prevent her from leaving the Liu household. He Weifang resisted in every possible way, but Liu Chang, embarrassed and enraged, directly lashed out at her, handling her roughly. He Weifang fought desperately, but Liu Chang pushed her aside, knocking over the tea table, causing blood to seep from her forehead. Liu Chang finally regained his senses and wanted to help her up. However, He Weifang refused to comply, and Liu Chang threatened that he would not let her leave the Liu household before angrily slamming the door and storming out. Once Liu Chang left, He Weifang looked at her disheveled reflection in the mirror, tears streaming down her face. To make the scene more realistic, He Weifang viciously stabbed her shoulder with scissors before heading to the Flower and Bird Envoy Jiang Changyang’s room to knock on his door.
Chuan Yu discovered that the lair of the righteous assassin society was not in Luoyang, but in Chang’an. Operating under the guise of purging the royal court, they carried out assassinations outside Chang’an, making them less likely to arouse suspicion. She relayed her findings to Jiang Changyang. When the door was knocked, Jiang Changyang and Chuan Yu worked in tandem—one hiding and the other opening the door. He Weifang, wounded, appeared before Jiang Changyang, who immediately recognized that the wounds on her shoulder were self-inflicted with scissors. Although her tactic was clever, her method was somewhat crude, and the bloodstains on her sleeves were a giveaway. He Weifang said nothing, directly snatched the fan from Jiang Changyang’s hand, and forcefully stabbed the wound with the fan handle. Impressed, Jiang Changyang agreed to help her leave the Liu household and Liu Chang.
In the official hall, despite the presence of numerous public supporters outside to bolster their position, listening to the county magistrate and Liu Shen’s words, it seemed they intended to close the doors and handle the matter internally, playing the role of officials protecting each other. He Weifang refused, but the commoners lacked power and influence, and public opinion couldn’t aid her. The county magistrate further defamed He Weifang, claiming that having no children after a year of marriage into the Liu family was a sign of immorality, downplaying the fact that He Weifang was being bullied by Liu Chang. At the critical moment, Jiang Changyang spoke up, causing the county magistrate to panic and agree to handle the matter according to the law. However, Mudan (He Weifang) had no other demands but to divorce Liu Chang and to have the Liu family return her dowry, which included the land and shops they had sold without her consent. Liu Shen tried to delay by citing complicated procedures, unaware that Mudan had already prepared everything and was just waiting for the county magistrate to seal the agreement.
Liu Shen knew that he couldn’t produce the already squandered dowry and tried to delay until next month under the pretense of inventory, but Jiang Changyang asked how many days Mudan needed for the settlement. Mudan responded three days. Jiang Changyang made the decision: three days later, the authorities would sign and stamp the agreement, issuing official documents to completely finalize the divorce. The next day, Jiang Changyang left Luoyang. Before leaving, He Weifang gave him a hot bun to eat. Since the Liu family had not yet returned her dowry, the money promised to Jiang Changyang had to be temporarily left unpaid. As soon as Jiang Changyang left, Liu Shen ordered someone to eliminate He Weifang. He Weifang resisted, hiding behind the water tank. Liu Chang, not wanting to repeat past mistakes, went to Liu Shen’s study to steal the divorce documents, inadvertently discovering that the imperial-prescribed Zi Xi Pill was still there, realizing that her parents had deceived her.
Liu Chang went again to the secluded courtyard to find He Weifang, coincidentally finding her hiding behind the water tank. Liu Shen’s attendants hurriedly ran out, asking about He Weifang’s whereabouts. Liu Chang lied to save He Weifang’s life and informed her that the carriage was at the back door. To protect herself, He Weifang fled without taking the dowry or the divorce documents, but she took a Qingtian Yu Lu plant with her. The servant made a mistake, and Liu Shen devised another plan, turning the tables to prevent the He family from assisting He Weifang.
