The three men of the Xu family coincidentally meet at the Jiaofang Division, creating a slightly awkward atmosphere. Resigned to the situation, they sit together at one table, exchanging subtle yet meaningful glances. Despite their self-deprecating attitudes, they participate in the poetry assessment hosted by Miss Fu Xiang. With his exceptional memory, Xu Qi’an quickly recalls a verse inspired by Miss Fu Xiang’s name: “Sparse shadows cast across shallow water; faint fragrance drifts under the moonlight.” This verse immediately captures Miss Fu Xiang’s attention, allowing him to meet her successfully.
Xu Qi’an deliberately asks Miss Fu Xiang why she hasn’t accepted the proposal of becoming a concubine for a wealthy or noble patron. She replies disdainfully, explaining that she is unimpressed by the frivolous demeanor of privileged young men. Additionally, she provides crucial information about Zhou Li: he frequently seeks out illicit pleasures and, during last year’s Lantern Festival, offended Zhang Yunying, the illegitimate son of Marquis Weiwu, by pursuing the same woman. This rivalry has since continued in secret.
Xu Qi’an seizes the opportunity to exploit Zhou Li’s sworn enemy. Marquis Weiwu, a powerful official of equal standing to the Deputy Minister of Revenue, becomes the key to Xu Qi’an’s plan. With his jade stone mirror, a magical artifact capable of absorbing objects and even people, Xu Qi’an discovers that anyone absorbed temporarily loses their memory. He enlists the help of his brothers, Xu Xinnian and Xu Pingzhi, to secretly abduct Zhang Yunying.
They imprison Zhang Yunying in a woodshed. Outside, Xu Qi’an and Xu Xinnian engage in a staged conversation, loudly discussing how the Deputy Minister’s son plans to torture Zhang Yunying by severing his tendons. Hearing this, Zhang Yunying quickly deduces that his captors are affiliated with the Deputy Minister of Revenue.
Desperate, Zhang Yunying escapes over a wall and rushes to complain to his father. Already resentful of the Deputy Minister’s influence, Marquis Weiwu seizes the opportunity to retaliate. Armored and ready, he storms into court, rallying the officials to impeach the Deputy Minister. Zhou Li is subsequently imprisoned and punished by both the Dali Court and the Disciplinary Division. Initially believing the situation to be a misunderstanding that would soon clear up, Zhou Li underestimates Xu Qi’an’s resourcefulness.
To deliver the final blow, Xu Qi’an visits the Directorate of Celestial Studies to seek help from his senior apprentice-brother. Although the senior apprentice usually avoids political matters, Xu Qi’an tempts him with a rare alchemical formula, compelling him to intervene. Using his secret techniques, the senior apprentice casts a spell on Zhou Li, coercing him into signing a confession for his crimes.
The court soon issues a public notice: Zhou Xianping, the Deputy Minister of Revenue, is dismissed and exiled for embezzling tax silver and failing to discipline his son. Zhou Li, accused of abducting Zhang Yunying, is also exiled. The Deputy Minister’s power base is thoroughly dismantled.
Fearing potential retaliation from the Deputy Minister’s allies, Xu Qi’an decides to go on a journey to avoid implicating his family further. After bidding farewell to his younger brother Xu Xinnian, he visits the Directorate of Celestial Studies one last time to say goodbye to his friends and capitalize on his alchemical knowledge by selling instructional booklets. Together with Caiwei, Xu Qi’an organizes a live demonstration, resembling modern livestream sales, to crowdsource funding for alchemical research, earning a tidy profit.
As Xu Qi’an departs the Directorate, he encounters Princess Lin’an. A brief glance leaves him captivated by her extraordinary beauty and graceful demeanor. Despite his extensive experience with people, he finds her elegance unparalleled. Lin’an, on the other hand, is deeply engrossed in her chemistry experiments, persisting despite repeated failures during her time at the Directorate.
