Qi Menglin wakes up after a day and night of unconsciousness, with Luo Shu diligently staying by his side, providing meticulous care. Wanting to serve him a bowl of porridge, Luo Shu is stopped by Qi Menglin, who feigns not being hungry, preferring to simply stay beside her.
Captain Cai returns to Linfen with the confessions of Jin Lao Liu and Warden Lao Song. Luo Shu advises Qi Menglin to eat well so they can return to Linfen sooner. Before leaving, Qi Menglin visits Yu Zhen’s home, tossing a packet of silver and a note through the wall, urging Yu Zhen to find a good man and lead a happy life. Yu Zhen is left bewildered by the gesture.
Qi Menglin and Luo Shu board a boat to return to Linfen. Qi Menglin is still recovering, and Luo Shu shows him great care, even buying him baozi (steamed buns). Feeling warm inside, Qi Menglin urges Luo Shu to forget about Han Muzhi, speaking ill of him. Luo Shu, not wanting to hear it, sulks and ignores him. Upon arriving in Linfen, Luo Shu disembarks alone, while Lian Shu learns that Qi Menglin is ill and waits for him early at the dock.
Back at the county office, Captain Cai eagerly informs Luo Shu that Liu Wan has left Linfen. Captain Cai inquires about Qi Menglin’s condition and urges Luo Shu to meet with Han Muzhi. Han Muzhi has finally obtained Luo Shu’s renunciation papers, making her a free person. She feels an unprecedented sense of relief and comfort. Chen Meiqing arrives shortly after, explaining the situation. Liu Wan is determined not to break off her engagement with Han Muzhi and threatens Luo Shu with her renunciation papers. Upon learning the truth, Luo Shu understands why Han Muzhi hesitated to defend her at the court gathering—because Liu Wan used her renunciation papers to blackmail him.
Han Muzhi interrogates Lu Wanchang and Lu Cong, bringing in Wu Zhuangyuan to confront them. Lu Cong confesses that Wu Zhuangyuan found him and willingly took the blame for Lu Wanchang, demanding a hefty sum in return. Wu Zhuangyuan, operating in Hejin County, arranged for two scapegoats to present themselves to the county office, forcing Lu Cong to protest his father’s innocence. Despite Warden Lao Song’s testimony, Wu Zhuangyuan stubbornly denies ever visiting Hejin County, calling upon his wife and neighbors to vouch for his alibi, and shifts all blame onto Lu Wanchang and Lu Cong.
Luo Shu steps forward to testify against Wu Zhuangyuan, presenting the testimonies of Jin Lao Liu and the jailer. However, Wu Zhuangyuan continues to deny his involvement. Wei Dianli, the corrupt official, arrives to testify against Wu Zhuangyuan. It turns out that Han Muzhi and Chen Meiqing had invited Wei Dianli for drinks, openly accusing him of being Liu Yiqing’s informant. Touched by Luo Shu’s sincere persuasion, Wei Dianli has a change of heart and agrees to testify against Wu Zhuangyuan. In front of everyone, Wei Dianli exposes Wu Zhuangyuan’s crimes, leaving him speechless.
The Ma Tianjin murder case is successfully resolved. Han Muzhi contemplates leaving after Luo Shu completes this final case, feeling a mix of emotions. Luo Shu approaches Han Muzhi to bid farewell, returning his jade bracelet as a token of gratitude for his efforts and sacrifices in securing her renunciation. She explains that their fates are intertwined but destined to part. Han Muzhi desperately tries to persuade Luo Shu to stay and join the constabulary, but Luo Shu graciously accepts, understanding that she and Han Muzhi cannot be together. As he watches Luo Shu return his bracelet, Han Muzhi realizes the depth of their unfulfilled love, feeling an indescribable pain.
Chen Meiqing notices Han Muzhi’s troubled state and advises him to let go of his feelings for Luo Shu. Han Muzhi does not hope for a future with Luo Shu but wishes for her to remain close to him. Qi Menglin, now recovering from his illness, maintains a rigorous exercise regimen. Hearing that villagers along both banks of the Fen River are in conflict over water sources, leading to tensions, Qi Menglin worries about Luo Shu’s safety and immediately leads his troops to provide reinforcement.
Qi Menglin personally leads the officers to the scene, ordering the arrest of the leading troublemakers among the villagers. Learning that Luo Shu has gone to gather reinforcements, Qi Menglin rushes to chase after her. From a distance, he sees someone abducting Luo Shu and quickly mounts his horse to pursue. The carriage arrives at a large mansion, where the kidnappers force Luo Shu inside. Qi Menglin hurriedly approaches to break down the door, but no one responds. He climbs over the wall to enter the courtyard.
Liu Wan has not left Linfen as previously thought; she has been staying at her cousin Xue Wenyin’s home. She orders her men to kidnap Luo Shu, forcing her to leave the Linfen county office. Initially, Han Muzhi had promised that as long as Liu Wan provided Luo Shu with her renunciation papers, he would ensure her departure. However, Han Muzhi reneged on his promise without Luo Shu’s knowledge. Luo Shu agrees to leave quickly and clarifies that she and Han Muzhi have settled their matters, and her reason for staying at the county office was merely because she enjoys the lifestyle there.
Xue Wenyin spots a shadow passing by and screams for help. Qi Menglin climbs over the wall into the courtyard but is immediately captured. He demands to see Luo Shu. Zhou Xian brings his concubine, Xiao Yue, to question him. Xiao Yue asks the maid Shuang’er to check what items are missing from Zhou Xian’s wife’s room. Liu Wan witnesses this and, fearing that her cousin Xue Wenyin will be mistreated by Xiao Yue, asks Luo Shu to help by lying and claiming she came to catch up with Luo Shu. Luo Shu agrees wholeheartedly.
Shuang’er searches Xue Wenyin’s bed and finds a piece of men’s clothing, which Zhou Xian recognizes as not his own. Convinced of an affair between Xue Wenyin and Qi Menglin, Xiao Yue incites Zhou Xian to order Qi Menglin’s execution. Luo Shu quickly intervenes, explaining that Qi Menglin is there to see her. Zhou Xian reluctantly releases Qi Menglin.
