Luo Shu and Han Muzhi cared for and helped each other, gradually developing feelings over time. Luo Shu had previously promised to make shaomai (a type of steamed dumpling) for Han Muzhi. Not only did she make shaomai, but she also prepared a large table of dishes. Qi Menglin enjoyed eating shaomai and assumed that Luo Shu had made them especially for him. He even invited Han Muzhi to join them. Han Muzhi knew that Luo Shu had made the shaomai for him but chose not to mention it to avoid embarrassing Qi Menglin. Believing that Luo Shu had feelings for him, Qi Menglin was overjoyed, despite Lian Shu trying to dampen his spirits. Qi Menglin remained blissfully immersed in the happiness of being loved.
Han Muzhi accidentally discovered that Luo Shu was skilled in chess and decided to play a game with her. Luo Shu’s renunciation documents were about to be approved, and Han Muzhi wanted to know her future plans, but Luo Shu had not yet decided. As they played chess and chatted, they found themselves hitting it off. Luo Shu won the game with a brilliant move, earning Han Muzhi’s praise. Hearing that Luo Shu was adept at playing musical instruments, Han Muzhi wanted her to perform a piece. Luo Shu was reluctant, so Han Muzhi picked up a flute and began to play. Luo Shu was deeply captivated by the melodious flute sounds.
After experiencing a miscarriage, Qiao Ruohui had been frail and bedridden for years. Two days ago, she passed away. Her husband, He Shenwei, was preparing for her funeral when Qiao Ruolan, Qiao Ruohui’s sister, caused a scene at the mourning hall, adamantly accusing He Shenwei of causing Qiao Ruohui’s death. He Shenwei filed a complaint at the county office. Luo Shu and Qi Menglin were tasked with investigating the case. Qiao Ruolan insisted that He Shenwei was the murderer and demanded an open casket examination. He Shenwei firmly refused. Qi Menglin agreed to Qiao Ruolan’s request, allowing the constables to open the coffin on the spot. He Shenwei desperately tried to stop them, ultimately crashing into the coffin in a bid to end his life.
Xu Wuzuo performed an autopsy on Qiao Ruohui, confirming that she died of natural causes due to illness, not foul play. Qiao Ruolan refused to believe the results. He Shenwei earnestly pleaded with Qiao Ruolan to stop tormenting Qiao Ruohui’s memory and to allow her to be buried peacefully. Qiao Ruolan believed that He Shenwei, as a son-in-law, intended to seize her family’s distillery. He Shenwei wanted to follow Qiao Ruohui in death but did not wish to betray her final wish to expand the Qiao family distillery. He also presented Qiao Ruohui’s will.
Chen Meiqing publicly read Qiao Ruohui’s will, which stated that she wanted He Shenwei to manage the distillery. Qiao Ruolan refused to believe it, thinking that He Shenwei had forced Qiao Ruohui to write the will. The Qiao family distillery had been operated by five generations, with the parents entrusting Qiao Ruohui and her husband to manage it. Qiao Ruolan felt she had the right to inherit it. He Shenwei was distressed, as he and Qiao Ruohui had diligently managed the distillery and had even invested heavily in dowries for Qiao Ruolan, only to have Qiao Ruolan attempt to seize the distillery.
Han Muzhi publicly declared that He Shenwei was the rightful heir to the distillery and that Qiao Ruolan had no authority to interfere. He ordered that Qiao Ruohui be buried promptly, and He Shenwei knelt on the ground, repeatedly thanking Han Muzhi. Qiao Ruolan was dissatisfied and vowed to personally investigate the cause of Qiao Ruohui’s death. Luo Shu returned to the county office late at night, where Han Muzhi was waiting to discuss He Shenwei’s case. Han Muzhi disapproved of Qiao Ruolan’s disrespect towards He Shenwei and publicly humiliated him as an unwanted son-in-law. He feared that his judgment might be biased, while Luo Shu believed he was in the right.
Qiao Ruolan arrived early at the distillery and offered double wages to lure away the workers, forcing He Shenwei to send someone to the county office to file a complaint. Luo Shu and Qi Menglin soon arrived. He Shenwei desperately begged Qiao Ruolan not to take the workers, explaining that the Qiao family’s signature wine, Jinrui Wine, needed to begin brewing during the White Dew season, and missing the window would be disastrous. Qiao Ruolan was relentless, demanding that He Shenwei provide the secret recipe for Jinrui Wine. She claimed that Qiao Ruohui had not given it to him before her death. Qiao Ruolan took all the workers away, prompting Qi Menglin to disapprove of her actions.
Luo Shu deliberately disguised herself as a woman to approach Qiao Ruolan and understand the situation. She coincidentally saw Wang Mama, the Qiao family’s long-serving maid, delivering food to Qiao Ruolan. Wang Mama was loyal to both Qiao Ruolan and Qiao Ruohui. Qiao Ruolan avoided Luo Shu, but Luo Shu directly pointed out that Qiao Ruolan was not trying to seize the distillery but was merely seeking the truth about Qiao Ruohui’s death, which resonated with Qiao Ruolan’s true feelings. Qiao Ruolan opened up to Luo Shu.
Qiao Ruohui had dedicated herself to managing the distillery and cared deeply for Qiao Ruolan. To ensure Qiao Ruolan could marry peacefully, she chose the impoverished scholar He Shenwei as a son-in-law. Qiao Ruolan secretly investigated He Shenwei and found nothing suspicious, which made her comfortable with accepting him as a son-in-law. However, Qiao Ruolan harbored doubts because He Shenwei had never mentioned Qiao Ruohui’s illness and only notified her after Qiao Ruohui’s death. She suspected that He Shenwei had harmed Qiao Ruohui and Luo Shu promised to thoroughly investigate the truth.
Luo Shu went to find He Shenwei, and Qi Menglin accompanied her. They both went to meet He Shenwei, where Doctor Hua Miao happened to be present. He Shenwei claimed that Qiao Ruohui was physically weak and unable to have children. However, Qiao Ruohui insisted on having a child with He Shenwei, resulting in a miscarriage. Qiao Ruohui fell ill thereafter and did not want to worry Qiao Ruolan, asking He Shenwei to conceal her illness. He Shenwei stated that he discovered the will while organizing Qiao Ruohui’s belongings.
Qiao Ruolan suddenly burst in, publicly exposing He Shenwei’s lies. She questioned why Qiao Ruohui had prepared to entrust the distillery to He Shenwei but did not share the secret recipe with him. Qi Menglin disapproved of Qiao Ruolan’s unreasonable outbursts and shouted at her. Luo Shu pulled Qiao Ruolan aside, repeatedly assuring her that they would seek justice for Qiao Ruohui. Luo Shu asked Qiao Ruolan to produce her and Qiao Ruohui’s correspondence to look for clues. Qiao Ruolan sent someone swiftly to retrieve the letters from her in-laws’ home and revealed a clue: Qiao Ruohui had taken a secret recipe provided by Doctor Hua Miao to become pregnant. Luo Shu reported the gathered clues to Han Muzhi, who wanted to assist her, but Luo Shu declined to burden him further.
