Episode Title:
The Shi Clan
Episode Description:
During the royal guard's invasion of the Shi stronghold, Jinshi confronts Shishou, claiming responsibility for the assassination attempt and is stabbed to death by the royal guard—dying with memories of a young Shenmei. Loulan leads Jinshi to Shenmei and Suirei, revealing the truth: while summoned as a concubine, Shenmei was actually a hostage, held over the Shi clan to cripple their slave-trading business, making them pivot to the expansion of the rear palace. Shishou gave up his future to save her, marrying the emperor's illegitimate daughter—Suirei's mother—as part of an agreement with the previous emperor. Suirei (the real Shisui) was secretly recognized as imperial blood. Despite Shishou's devotion, Shenmei's resentment deepened. When Shenmei tries to shoot Loulan, the feifa misfires, killing her instead. Loulan asks Jinshi to spare clansmen exiled by her mother, and scars his face as token revenge for her. She performs a final defiant dance and is gunned down by Basen and his soldiers, falling to her presumed death as Suirei watches in grief. Jinshi later finds Maomao resting beside the poisoned children, fulfilling her final request.
