Qin Yi sends people to investigate the cause of Luo Shu’s parents’ deaths. He discovers a gambler named Xu Biao, who took Luo Qingfeng (Luo Shu’s father) to the Changsheng gambling den thirteen years ago. Xu Biao was a minor official in charge of a granary and a colleague of Luo Qingfeng. The Qi family instructed Xu Biao to bring Luo Qingfeng to gamble. Xu Biao is now terminally ill and deeply regrets what happened all those years ago. Qin Yi persuades him to confess the truth to Luo Shu.
Xu Biao wonders why Qin Yi is doing this, so Qin Yi admits he bears a grudge against the Qi family—he blames them for the tragic downfall of his wife’s family. Qin Yi gives Xu Biao a large sum of money, promising to buy a big house for his wife and children and provide them with a monthly allowance so they never have to worry about food and clothing.
Lian Qi learns that Qin Yi went to see Xu Biao and immediately reports it to Qi Yanjin. Qi Yanjin has Lian Qi tell Xu Biao that he sourced some stone lacquer from relatives in the military. Only after Qi Yanjin sets everything up does he inform Qi Menglin that they found Xu Biao. Meanwhile, Qin Yi tells Luo Shu where to find Xu Biao. Qi Menglin arrives in a rush, claiming that his second brother, Qi Yanjin, helped uncover Xu Biao’s whereabouts. Qi Yanjin and Qin Yi then take Qi Menglin and Luo Shu to Xu Biao’s home.
Xu Biao struggles to rise from his bed and collapses to his knees to confess to Luo Shu. He explains that he took Luo Qingfeng to the gambling den, and Luo Qingfeng won a large sum of money. Later that same night, Xu Biao went to the Luo house to steal money but failed in the attempt, so he set the Luo family home on fire. Because it was raining and the fire wouldn’t catch, he returned home for stone lacquer (shiqi) to ignite the blaze. Overcome with guilt, Xu Biao begs Luo Shu not to punish his family; then he kills himself by slamming his head against a pillar.
Learning how her parents died leaves Luo Shu in unbearable grief. She becomes seriously ill. Qi Menglin takes her back to the inn and stays by her side. When Luo Shu finally wakes from her stupor, the more she thinks about it, the more she realizes something is off. The culprit, Xu Biao, was found incredibly quickly—and just as suddenly, he’s dead. Luo Shu feels it’s all too convenient. She recalls the terrified look on Xu Biao’s face just before dying, and how he kept talking about his family. Qi Menglin also finds it suspicious.
They return to Xu Biao’s home but find the place empty. Neighbors say that shortly after Xu Biao died, someone came and took away his wife and children. Luo Shu recalls Aunt Guo saying the fire broke out before it began raining, whereas Xu Biao claimed it rained first, forcing him to use stone lacquer. Luo Shu believes either Xu Biao or Aunt Guo must be lying. She and Qi Menglin head off to question Aunt Guo.
When they arrive at the Guo household, they find a funeral altar set up. From the neighbors, they learn Uncle Guo and Aunt Guo both died from gas poisoning and have already been buried; their son has also moved away. Luo Shu is dumbfounded. After searching so hard for leads, everything is gone.
Qin Yi bluntly exposes Qi Yanjin for bribing Xu Biao into giving false testimony. Qi Yanjin is forced to compromise and gives Qin Yi one year of the salt license. Qin Yi is still not satisfied, but Qi Yanjin warns him not to be greedy and offers a truce. Qin Yi reluctantly backs down. Luo Shu remembers what Jin Miaocui once told her: never return to Taiyuan, and never trust anyone.
Qi Menglin urges Luo Shu not to lose heart; they will keep looking for new clues. Luo Shu wants to return to Mingke Fang in Linfen. The Fifth Concubine left her a large sum of money after her death, supposedly enough for her to buy her freedom. Despite her many attempts, she has never succeeded. Luo Shu feels there is an invisible hand manipulating her fate. She decides to go back to Linfen to find new leads, and Qi Menglin insists on going with her.
Luo Shu advises Qi Menglin not to spend money so lavishly and to be good to his grandmother. Qi Menglin readily agrees and promises to give Luo Shu a real home. That day is the Zhongyuan Festival (Ghost Festival), and Luo Shu asks Qi Menglin to wander through the Taiyuan Flower Fair with her. He’s more than happy to oblige. Dressed up carefully, he accompanies her through the bustling streets.
The Taiyuan Flower Fair is lively and crowded. Qi Menglin seizes the moment to confess his feelings and impulsively kisses Luo Shu. Shocked, she pushes him away and slaps him hard, then runs off. Qi Menglin chases after her, but Luo Shu quickly disappears into the crowd. When he returns to the inn, she’s nowhere to be found. Guessing that Luo Shu has already left for Linfen, Qi Menglin goes home dejected. Governor Qi scolds him harshly. Qi Menglin announces he’ll leave for Linfen in the morning. Governor Qi refuses, calling him naive and ignorant of proper conduct. Qi Menglin argues back, enraging Governor Qi, who raises his hand to strike him. His eldest brother intervenes, explaining that the Qi family is in a precarious situation, and any misstep could lead to total disaster, so Qi Menglin cannot just walk away. Governor Qi orders Qi Menglin not to leave the house from now on. Qi Menglin firmly refuses, further angering Governor Qi. His eldest brother begins coughing uncontrollably, and Governor Qi, worried, relents and lets Qi Menglin help the brother back to his room.
Luo Shu arrives in Linfen from Taiyuan and finds an inn run by Qiao Ruolan, who happily allows her to stay there. Luo Shu goes to Mingke Fang to see Jin Miaocui, but Madam Yu does everything to block her way. Luo Shu is forced to pay. She also wants to buy Jin Miaocui’s freedom, but Madam Yu advises her to give up. Jin Miaocui voluntarily returned to Mingke Fang. Luo Shu offers all of her money, yet Madam Yu still refuses and forcibly kicks her out.
