After narrowly escaping death, Luo Shu returns to the woodshed and eagerly recounts the harrowing events to Qi Menglin. Qi Menglin cannot figure out who killed Bai Yue and worries that Qian Dayou will discover Bai Yue’s corpse. Luo Shu assures him that she has cleaned up the blood traces and that the abandoned mine is unlikely to be found anytime soon.
Early in the morning, Qian Dayou receives news of Bai Yue’s disappearance and becomes frantic. Chen Meiqing takes the initiative to meet with Qian Dayou for a drink, presenting a denunciation letter delivered to the county office. The secret letter accuses Qian Dayou of colluding with Bai Ma Yi to forcibly abduct young women. Qian Dayou is terrified and loses his composure as Chen Meiqing applies pressure, warning that if Eunuch Zhang’s position is jeopardized, Qian Dayou will face dire consequences. Qian Dayou doubts anyone can topple Eunuch Zhang, but Chen Meiqing insists that Qian has been reported by trusted insiders and that the abduction of Zao Hua provides concrete evidence. Chen offers Qian a chance to redeem himself by turning himself in, which Qian reluctantly agrees to.
Chen Meiqing advises Qian Dayou to report Eunuch Zhang. Once accomplished, Han Muzhi will recommend Qian to Liu Yiqing, preventing Qian from being isolated. Meanwhile, Wang Mao overhears the conversation between Chen Meiqing and Qian Dayou from outside the door. Qian Dayou suspects that the missing Bai Yue betrayed him and summons his three trusted aides to find Zao Hua.
Wang Mao hands Zao Hua over to Qian Sidao, who immediately reports the good news to Qian Dayou. Qian instructs him to deliver Zao Hua to the mine to avoid detection by officials. Eunuch Zhang sends his trusted aide, Huang Gonggong, to the mine to eliminate old accounts and force Qian Dayou to expel Chen Meiqing and his team. As long as Chen Meiqing isn’t killed, it’s acceptable. Qian Dayou is eager to learn about Eunuch Zhang’s status and is relieved to discover that Zhang is not under imperial investigation and remains safe.
Qian Dayou takes Huang Gonggong to the mine to inspect. They find many women imprisoned there. When Qian Dayou opens the sack that Qian Sidao delivered, he is shocked to find Luo Shu inside. Taking advantage of the darkness, Wang Mao stuffs Zao Hua into a sack, intending to kill her to silence her. However, Luo Shu and Qi Menglin reveal their true identities. Wang Mao had known all along that they were government undercover agents sent to the mine but was unaware of their collusion with Qian Dayou. Realizing this, Wang Mao admits that he reported Qian Dayou to the county office, hoping the authorities would prosecute him. Upon overhearing Chen Meiqing and Qian Dayou’s conversation, Wang Mao concludes that Chen and Qian are colluding and decides to kill Zao Hua out of spite.
Luo Shu urgently tries to stop Wang Mao, revealing their mission plan. Wang Mao doesn’t believe her and accuses her of lying. Luo Shu explains that Chen Meiqing knew about Zao Hua’s imprisonment all along and that she didn’t come to rescue her to avoid alerting their enemies. Instead, she aimed to gather concrete evidence to dismantle Qian Dayou and Eunuch Zhang’s network. Luo Shu suspects that Wang Mao arrived just in time to kill Bai Yue. Hearing this, Wang Mao has a change of heart, apologizes to Zao Hua, and agrees to assist Chen Meiqing in capturing Qian Dayou.
Luo Shu sends Zao Hua to report to Han Muzhi, disguising herself as Zao Hua to investigate the locations where women are held. Along the way, she leaves markers for identification. Qi Menglin doesn’t want Luo Shu to take such risks but can’t think of a better solution. Wang Mao hands Luo Shu over to Qian Sidao, who imprisons her in the mine. Someone discovers Bai Yue’s corpse and rushes to inform Qian Dayou, who is thrown into panic. Luo Shu claims to be Zao Hua, Chen Meiqing’s fiancée, but Qian Dayou doesn’t believe her. When Huang Gonggong learns that Zao Hua is Chen Meiqing’s fiancée, he scolds Qian Dayou harshly, prompting Qian to confront Wang Mao.
Zao Hua asks Xiao Doumiao to help her escape the mine. Captain Cai finds Zao Hua and takes her away. The overseers attempt to kill Luo Shu to silence her, but Qi Menglin and Wang Mao arrive in time to rescue her. They attempt to free the imprisoned women but are bound together by heavy chains. Qi Menglin, Luo Shu, and Wang Mao use stones to break the chains.
Qian Dayou can’t find Wang Mao or the couple working in the kitchen, realizing they are government agents. Determined to fight the authorities to the end, Qian sends people to capture Chen Meiqing. Qian Dayou and Huang Gonggong return to the mine, capturing Wang Mao, Luo Shu, and Qi Menglin. Qi Menglin reveals his true identity as the governor’s son, prompting Huang Gonggong to berate Qian Dayou and force him to kill the captives. Qi Menglin explains the stakes to Qian Dayou, urging him to release them, as Eunuch Zhang cannot escape this time. Qian Dayou is momentarily unsure of what to do, and Huang Gonggong suggests blowing up the mine to create the illusion of a mining accident. Reluctantly, Qian Dayou agrees.
Qian Dayou and Huang Gonggong leave the mine, witnessing officials and miners in fierce combat. Huang Gonggong advises Qian Dayou to kill Chen Meiqing as well, but someone ambushes Chen. Zao Hua fiercely protects Chen Meiqing but is stabbed through the heart, leaving Chen devastated. Han Muzhi arrives with his troops just in time, capturing Qian Dayou, Huang Gonggong, and the unruly miners.
Chen Meiqing cradles Zao Hua, who is on the brink of death due to excessive blood loss. With her last breath, Zao Hua confesses her feelings to Chen Meiqing, leaving him heartbroken. Luo Shu instructs Qi Menglin to kick over the mine lamp, causing it to knock Wang Mao off his feet. Wang Mao painfully breaks the ropes, rescuing Luo Shu, Qi Menglin, and the imprisoned women. As they reach the mine entrance, someone throws explosives into the tunnel. Wang Mao uses his body to hold back the explosives, providing cover for everyone to escape safely.
