Hearing about the locust plague in Linfen, Qin Yi deduces that grain prices will rise sharply and seizes the opportunity to purchase grain on a massive scale. Having narrowly escaped death, Que Si’er returns to Taiyuan and reports his failure to Qin Yi. Instead of punishing him, Qin Yi—knowing how ruthless he is—chooses to keep him alive for future use.
Qin Yi receives a letter from Shopkeeper Li, learning that Qi Menglin and Han Muzhi are calling on the people to exchange captured locusts for grain. Qin Yi immediately sets off to see Lord Zhao from the provincial administration, apparently with a plan in mind.
Meanwhile, Han Muzhi personally oversees the locust control efforts. People work tirelessly in the fields to capture locusts. Luo Shu and Qi Menglin also help out. Worried about Luo Shu’s health, Qi Menglin advises her not to push herself too hard, but she pays him no heed.
The villagers bring their locust catches and receive grain in return. Han Muzhi’s men then burn the locusts. As the county granary is nearly depleted, Han Muzhi summons local gentry to the yamen and asks to borrow grain. They make various excuses to refuse. Han Muzhi clarifies that he will repay the borrowed grain in full within three months. Still skeptical, they finally agree after Han Muzhi mentions he has already written to Liu Yiqing requesting relief grain—and that he will publicly honor those who lend grain.
Liu Wan asks her father, Liu Yiqing, about the locust disaster in Linfen, but he forbids her from prying. Dejected, she heads out and runs into Qin Yi. Qin Yi, introduced by Lord Zhao, visits Liu Yiqing. He asks for the relief grain to be delayed by one month so he can sell his stockpile at a high price, offering Liu Yiqing 80% of the profits. Liu Yiqing flatly refuses, so Qin Yi lowers it to a half-month delay. Confused, Liu Yiqing demands an explanation. Qin Yi finally admits he has a grudge against the Qi family, and Liu Yiqing, intrigued by his story, agrees to help.
Governor Qi hears about the locust plague in Linfen and decides to inspect the situation himself. Before leaving, he instructs Qi Yanjin to keep a close watch on Liu Yiqing and Lord Zhao.
Despite the unrelenting efforts of the yamen and the villagers, the locusts are ultimately eradicated, but the crops are already destroyed. Heartbroken, the farmers lament the barren fields. Han Muzhi donates all remaining grain from the county granary, forcing Cai Baozi to cook thin porridge just to feed the yamen constables. Grateful for Qi Menglin’s assistance, Han Muzhi urges him to distance himself from Luo Shu to avoid dragging her into danger. But just then, Luo Shu arrives to see Qi Menglin, declaring her willingness to share both hardships and joy with him. Qi Menglin confesses his feelings, and Luo Shu happily agrees, wanting to marry him as soon as possible. Overjoyed, Qi Menglin sets off for Taiyuan with Luo Shu straight away.
Han Muzhi rushes to the docks on horseback but finds Qi Menglin and Luo Shu already sailing away. He tries to pursue them on the shore and sees them lovingly gazing at each other. Heartbroken, he can only watch them go, tears in his eyes. Meanwhile, Qin Yi has Que Si’er spread rumors in Linfen that the county yamen is hoarding grain. This sparks pressure on Han Muzhi to buy grain from Qin Yi at an exorbitant price to appease the gentry.
Back in Taiyuan, Qi Menglin and Luo Shu arrive quickly. Luo Shu sends Lian Shu ahead to find them an inn. Even after a thorough check, Qi Menglin feels uneasy. He suggests Luo Shu stay at his home, but she refuses so as not to trouble him. When Lian Shu returns to the Qi residence, he learns that the eldest son (Qi Menglin’s older brother) has died. He immediately reports the news to Qi Menglin.
Qi Menglin rushes home in a panic to find a mourning hall in place. Heartbroken, he breaks down crying. Qi Yanjin tries to comfort him and explains how their brother died: sickly since birth, he was rumored to be impotent and having an affair with a gardener. Aggravated by these slanders, his illness worsened, and ultimately, he died. Qi Menglin suspects foul play—someone must have deliberately spread rumors to push his brother over the edge. He presses Qi Yanjin again to confirm that the Qi family had no part in the deaths of Luo Shu’s parents, and concludes this must be Qin Yi’s doing.
Qi Yanjin also finds Qin Yi suspicious but lacks evidence. He decides to wait for their father’s return. Qin Yi sends Luo Shu her favorite pastries, insisting that the Qi family was behind her parents’ murders. Luo Shu refuses to believe him, suspecting that Qin Yi himself was the mastermind. Qin Yi denies this, claiming he personally saw Qi family servants dousing the Luo home with stone lacquer, then tossing a torch inside and burning her parents alive. He says he saved Luo Shu out of pity, but she doesn’t believe a word.
Qin Yi urges Luo Shu to give up on Qi Menglin, insisting he’s the one who truly loves her. Luo Shu accuses him of killing the Fifth Concubine and Jin Miaocui, which he freely admits, declaring that everything he did was for Luo Shu. Not wanting to hear more, she draws her sword on him.
