Han Muzhi sets a trap at Lin Xiong’s house and successfully captures Li Fengchun. Realizing his schemes have failed, Li takes Qi Menglin hostage. Terrified, Qi Menglin invokes his father’s name, Governor Qi, to pressure Li into surrendering. Li demands Suo’er be brought to him, promising to release Qi in exchange.
Luo Shu, aware Li is cornered, brings Suo’er to show him. When Li sees Suo’er’s resemblance to himself, he is stunned. Overwhelmed by the realization that Suo’er is his biological child, he drops his knife and surrenders.
Li initially refuses to admit guilt, claiming Liu Sanniang was unfaithful, forcing his hand. After surviving his fall from a cliff, which left him lame, Li crawled back to Linfen to see his wife. He discovered she had remarried Lin Xiong and learned from neighbors that she had borne Suo’er. Believing Suo’er to be Liu and Lin’s child, Li vowed revenge on both.
Disguised as a sweets vendor, Li spied on Lin Xiong’s house, waiting for an opportunity. When Lin was on duty, Li sneaked in to kill Liu and Suo’er. Liu woke up and recognized Li, crying and attempting to explain her situation. Before she could elaborate, Xu Luan arrived, forcing Li to hide. Li witnessed Xu harass Liu and leave, which enraged him further, leading him to murder Liu in a fit of rage.
When confronted, Li remained adamant that Liu was promiscuous, tarnishing her character. Luo Shu clarified that Li misunderstood Liu and urged Lin Xiong to explain. Lin revealed that Liu was pregnant when they met, devastated by Li’s presumed death and contemplating suicide. Out of compassion and to conceal his impotence, Lin married her and claimed Suo’er as their child. Lin admitted his lie caused tragic misunderstandings, including Liu’s death.
Hearing the truth, Li was filled with regret but refused to accept responsibility for Liu’s murder, accusing Lin of lying. Qi Menglin rebuked Li, earning Luo Shu’s admiration, though Qi dismissed her praise by teasing her ghost disguise.
The next day, Lin left for his hometown with Suo’er, vowing to raise the child well. Luo Shu and Qi Menglin bid them farewell. Villagers, having learned the truth, praised Liu while condemning Lin, angering Qi. Luo Shu calmed him, advising him to let it go. Qi invited Luo Shu to celebrate over drinks.
At the prison, Xu Luan was seen repenting by banging his head against the wall.
Meanwhile, Jin Miaocui clashed with the matchmaker again, leading to another fight. Constable Cai intervened and attempted to mediate, but tensions between Jin and the matchmaker remained high.
When Luo Shu returned home, she found Jin bruised and venting about her hardships. Raised in Mingkefang, Jin was unaccustomed to such treatment and wanted to leave. Luo Shu advised patience, as her release documents were in process. However, Jin was determined to leave immediately.
Qi Menglin, impressed by Luo Shu’s investigative skills, sought her advice but often teased her appearance. When Luo Shu shut him in the mortuary as a lesson, Qi panicked at the sight and smell of corpses. His attendant, Lianshu, rescued him, and Qi furiously confronted Luo Shu.
Yu Mama, discovering Luo Shu and Jin’s location, attempted to take them back. Han Muzhi intervened, promising to buy their freedom. Yu Mama demanded an exorbitant price, but Chen Meiqing offered her money to leave, threatening legal action if she persisted.
Grateful to Han Muzhi, Luo Shu offered to buy Jin’s freedom herself. However, Jin, tired of the mistreatment, chose to return to Mingkefang with Yu Mama, despite Luo Shu’s pleas. She returned the hairpin Luo Shu had given her and left. Luo Shu watched Jin leave, feeling conflicted and sorrowful.
Qi Menglin, witnessing the scene, mistakenly believed Jin was Luo Shu’s lover and had returned to Yu Mama due to Luo Shu’s financial struggles. He offered Luo Shu money to bring Jin back, angering Luo Shu. She dismissed Qi as an idle rich boy and refused to explain further.
