Royal Betrothal
Meng Tinghui, the first female scholar, climbs power through cunning, fueled by devotion to the emperor who saved her. Unaware of his love, their bond is marred by her infamy.
Episodes
Encounter
As a young child, Meng Tinghui fell into the hands of human traffickers. In her moment of despair, a youth clad in red enlightened her : only by studying, becoming an official, and having power can she truly exact revenge.
Standoff
To retrieve the handwritten resume Ying Gua took, Meng Tinghui deliberately leaks his whereabouts on the street to both the Black Tiger Hall and Huo An's faction. That night, Ying Gua returns to Bofeng House with people to confront Meng Tinghui about the betrayal, and the two face off amidst a torrential downpour.
A Deal
Meng Tinghui seizes the opportunity to escape prison and seeks out Ying Gua to propose a deal. She will guide him into Jiuyou City, and in return, he will restore her status as a law-abiding citizen, reinstating her eligibility for the Imperial Examination.
Childhood Memories
Ying Gua returns Meng Tinghui's handwritten resume to her and invites her to go horseback riding. As she recounts the story of being abducted and trafficked as a child, Ying Gua realizes she is the same young beggar who stole his jade pendant a decade ago.
Exposing Fraud
Meng Tinghui's discourse on policy in the Metropolitan Examination is plagiarized, and the perpetrator even attempts to silence her permanently. She decides to blow up the matter, printing and distributing leaflets on Changle Street to expose the fraud surrounding the discourse on policy of the Metropolitan Examination's Top Scholar.
His True Identity
The Magistrate of the Metropolitan Office, Dong Shoucai, conspires with Jiang Mei'er and has Meng Tinghui thrown into prison. Jiang Mei'er orders the prison guards to set the prison ablaze to silence her. At the critical moment, Ying Gua arrives with the Shenwei Army, and only then does Meng Tinghui learn that He Du is actually the reigning Emperor.
Mass Petition
Left Chancellor Xu Ting forcibly abolishes the Women's Special Imperial Examination. Meng Tinghui persuades Right Chancellor Gu Qin to help secure land for women's academies across all the provinces. She then gathers all the female tribute scholars to sign a joint petition and kneels in the rain in front of the Xu residence to plead their cause.
Establishing the Censorship Bureau
Ying Gua announces the establishment of the Censorship Bureau and appoints Meng Tinghui to lead it, but Xu Ting vehemently objects, arguing that it would throw the court into disorder.
Dealing with the Tiger Roar Gang
Meng Tinghui goes to Changle Street to offer a reward for information on the Tiger Roar Gang but unexpectedly uncovers a horrifying crime...
The Last Straw
Meng Tinghui commands the Shenwei Army to publicly cane Lyu Er and his accomplices to death, curbing violence with violence.
Luring the Enemy Into a Trap
Meng Tinghui is ambushed in prison, but the shadow guards arranged by Ying Gua appear just in time to rescue her. That is when she realizes that her imprisonment and the attack on her were all a trap set by Ying Gua to lure out the enemy.
Investigating the Gambling House
Meng Tinghui and Ying Gua become suspicious of Xingrong Gambling House and go undercover to investigate. They discover it is a den where innocent female students are imprisoned and trafficked.
The Real Culprit
Vice Minister Zheng of the Court of Judicial Review shields the culprit and falsely accuses Meng Tinghui of taking bribes. When Meng Tinghui unexpectedly notices the red jade thumb ring and bite mark on his hand, she realizes he is the true culprit behind Yue's murder.
Proposal
Left Chancellor, Xu Ting's son, Xu Runze hears of Meng Tinghui's achievements and falls for her. He shows up with betrothal gifts to propose to her at Bofeng House in front of everyone.
Lifesaver
Xu Ting, Wen Tao, and other court officials demand that Meng Tinghui be severely punished and the Censorship Bureau be dissolved. Ying Gua then reveals a shocking secret: he was the one who rescued Meng Tinghui in Shazhou 10 years ago.
Scandal
In order to distance Ying Gua from Meng Tinghui, he sends Wen Tao's daughter, Wen Ruomei, into the palace. He schemes to get Wen Ruomei close to Ying Gua and create a scandal that will mislead the court and the public.
Colluding With the Gang
The Blood Moon Society's Mr. Shangguan discovers that the Tiger Roar Gang is selling contraband drugs. He decides to join forces with them to distribute the Boundless Pill, a more potent and highly addictive drug, in a scheme to manipulate the powerful and wealthy.
Deepening Conflict
Influenced by Gu Qin, Shen Zhili begins to question Meng Tinghui's "act first, report later" approach. The two clash repeatedly during discussions, causing a rift in their relationship.
Infiltrating Wanxiang House
To investigate the source of the Boundless Pills, Meng Tinghui disguises herself as a man and infiltrates Wanxiang House, only to encounter Ying Gua, who is also there incognito to investigate.
Bloodbath in the Capital
Ling Yunfei's letters of challenge fill the sky at Changle Street. He threatens a bloodbath in the capital using the Boundless Pills if the Imperial Court doesn't hand Meng Tinghui over by nightfall.
Ten-Day Deadline
The victims surround the Censorship Bureau, crying and cursing. Faced with their fury, Meng Tinghui publicly sets a 10-day deadline for herself. If she fails to eradicate the Boundless Pills and apprehend Ling Yunfei, she will be removed from office and reduced to a commoner.
The Source of the Fuqing Herb
Luo points out that the "money herb" that has been cultivated by valley dwellers for generations is the fuqing herb and that merchants come to purchase it every month. Ying Gua decides to infiltrate first. He, Meng Tinghui, and Yin Qing disguise themselves as valley dwellers delivering the herb and conduct the transaction with the merchants.
Took the Arrow
Ling Yunfei forces Meng Tinghui to swallow the Boundless Pill. Huang Bo is stabbed by Ling Yunfei while saving Ying Gua and falls off a cliff.
After Hardship Comes Happiness
Gu Qin keeps vigil for Yuan Lingyi in the mourning hall, claiming that she died taking a blade for him. Gu Qin acts as if he can't go on living without her.
Restore Order
Under the guise of fighting corruption, the Censorship Bureau cracks down on the officials.
Nominating an Empress
At court, the officials formally submit a joint petition recommending Shen Zhili as empress. Shen Wuchen uses his Imperial Mandate Tally to urge Ying Gua to issue the decree within seven days.
Punishing Gu Qin
Chen Zhili barges into Gu Qin's birthday banquet and publicly exposes his hypocrisy. Ying Gua immediately produces a golden book that lists Gu Qin's crimes.
Edict of Self-reproach
During the grand ancestral worship ceremony, the Phoenix Pendant's chain around Meng Tinghui's neck suddenly breaks and falls to the ground. All the officials are in an uproar and accuse her of coveting the position of empress. Xu Ting furiously denounces her as an enchantress who will bring ruin to the state. All the officials kneel to pressure Ying Gua to retract his edict of self-reproach and execute Meng Ting Hui.
Childhood Memories
Ying Gua suspects that Shangguan is lurking close by his side. The Blood Moon Society holds a memorial ceremony for Mo Yuhan, Si Qin, and Si Hua. Mr. Shangguan vows to avenge them, welcome the princess, and reclaim their lost territory.
The Day of the Grand Wedding
Ying Gua and Meng Tinghui hold their wedding at the Imperial Ancestral Hall. Assassins from the Blood Moon Society descend upon them and hold all the high-ranking officials hostage. Mr. Shangguan appears and declares that he will use the blood of Great Ning's emperor as an offering to the lost souls of Zhongwan.
Seeking a Way to Survive
Meng Tinghui is brought back to the Zhongwan itinerant palace. The old clan leader performs a blood sacrifice, imploring her to restore the nation.
The Final Battle
Ying Gua confronts Shangguan Zhao. Meng Tinghui arrives on horseback and reveals the edict announcing the new policies.