Twenty years ago, Liang used her power to force Yu Weiyi into marriage despite his resistance. Fast forward twenty years, Yu Weiyi, now leveraging his power, decided to resign from his position due to the political maneuvering and left his wife and daughter behind. His wife accused him of ingratitude, claiming his achievements were due to her support, leading to a bitter parting.
Now, Du Yangxi has been imprisoned for publicly questioning his father’s actions, committing the crime of unfilial conduct under Song dynasty law, which mandates capital punishment regardless of the truth. The Li sisters gathered to discuss strategies, but Mrs. Li insisted that Shouhua should cut all ties with Du Yangxi.
Chai An finally understood Du Yangxi’s previous words and was determined to help him. However, Shen Huizhao from Kaifeng Prefecture, despite admiring Du Yangxi’s loyalty and compassion, sentenced him to death according to the law.
Shouhua was deeply worried about Du Yangxi’s fate, especially with the Emperor’s order for a court discussion, where Shen Huizhao’s strong defense had garnered support. However, even with this, Du Yangxi’s prospects seemed grim. The fourth sister, Haode, overhearing this, angrily went to Kaifeng Prefecture, scolded Shen Huizhao, and threw mud at him before leaving.
Chai An and Sang Yanrang plotted ways to overturn the verdict. Shouhua knew that the only person who could save Du Yangxi was Empress Dowager Liu E. Since eunuchs from the palace often visited Panlou, Chai An personally used this connection to send a message to the Empress Dowager, offering a painting from the Imperial Garden with playful dogs, but without the customary daylilies, hinting at an unusual recent occurrence.
The next day, the Empress Dowager herself presided over Du Yangxi’s trial. Shen Huizhao stood by his verdict, but the Empress Dowager argued for the paramount importance of motherhood, noting that a child’s first word is typically “mama”. Despite opposition from the Emperor’s faction, who argued for the importance of fathers, Du Yangxi cleverly used a peach to demonstrate a child’s immediate call for “mother” when hurt, swaying the Empress Dowager to pardon him. Yu’s wife was sentenced, Yu Xiulei lost her noble status, and Yu Weiyi became a social pariah.
Du Yangxi then went to apologize to Mrs. Li and shockingly proposed to become part of the Li family by marriage, causing a stir. Despite Mrs. Li’s interest, the Sang family had already sent betrothal gifts. When Du Yangxi tried to stop the engagement, Sang Yanrang punched him for abandoning his mother, betraying Shouhua, and breaking their friendship, thus settling their grudges.
Hearing about the conflict, Shouhua invited Sang Yanrang into her room. Recognizing her true feelings, Sang Yanrang, about to leave for his new post, asked her to see him off, staging an act where he dressed as a servant to lead her horse, thereby giving his blessing to her relationship with Du Yangxi.
Du Yangxi then rode to confess his love to Shouhua, calling her “sister” in front of everyone, leading to their reconciliation. Meanwhile, the Li family’s business, Si Fu Zhai, prospered, but relatives who once mistreated them now came seeking aid.
Additionally, former maid A Cai showed up with her son, Li Youlong, claiming he was the posthumous child of Mr. Li, demanding a share of the estate. Mrs. Li, furious, expelled them, but they threatened to sue the Li family.
