Key Events:
- The Chase & the Smelting Plot
After losing track of Zeng Xuan on Chang Le Street, Ye Ping’an (Liu Shishi) deduces he sought refuge at Yuan Shaocheng’s (Dou Xiao) residence. With the stolen 5,000 taels of military funds bearing a unique seal, Du Liang (Jiang Kai) plans to melt them down. Ye Ping’an’s aunt, Gu Erniang (Lan Xi), secures a map through her informant Lao Gui, pinpointing Du’s hidden silver-smelting factory in a mountain hollow. Surveillance begins, but time is ticking. - Yuan’s Gambit
To win Du Liang’s trust, Yuan Shaocheng burns Zheng Yuan’s incriminating petition and extracts a letter implicating Du’s adopted son, Qi Junshan. Yet Yuan’s meticulous plan unravels when he impulsively kills Zeng Xuan—a move that risks exposing Ye Ping’an to framing. Meanwhile, Ye Ping’an battles recurring nightmares, hinting at a deeper trauma Gu Erniang hopes to resolve through her niece’s daring schemes. - Clinic Chaos & Political Theater
Du Liang’s faction sends scholar Guo Yi to stir chaos at Ye Ping’an’s clinic. Hai Yiping (Huang Haibing), the Minister of Personnel, intervenes, but Ye Ping’an diffuses the crisis with empathy, persuading Guo Yi to surrender. Her poise earns Hai’s admiration, turning a trap into an opportunity. - Palace Intrigue
Before dusk, Ye Ping’an storms the palace with Guo Yi’s records and a forged copy of Zheng Yuan’s letter. She proves the murder occurred at the hour of Hai (9–11 PM), while the altered nightwatch logs implicate collusion. Though the Emperor remains skeptical of Du Liang’s guilt—wary of factional wars between the Li and Wu families—Ye Ping’an plants seeds of doubt. - Silver Vanishes, Alliances Shift
The silver-smelting factory is raided, but the funds are already gone. Du Liang dismisses it as “Mei faction meddling,” while Yuan grows suspicious of Ye Ping’an’s mysterious past. A new crisis erupts: 80,000 taels of military funds vanish en route to the capital. Enter Ni Chang (Zhang Yuxi), a cunning songstress from Wanguo Xiang, who offers Ye Ping’an a partnership—and access to secrets from pleasure-seeking nobles.
Character Dynamics:
- Ye Ping’an balances on a knife’s edge, leveraging intellect and compassion to outmaneuver foes. Her nightmares hint at unresolved vengeance.
- Yuan Shaocheng’s ruthlessness clashes with rising paranoia; his alliance with Du Liang frays as Ye Ping’an slips his grasp.
- Ni Chang emerges as a wildcard, blending artistry with espionage. Her motives? As elusive as her melodies.
- Hai Yiping becomes an unexpected ally, swayed by Ye Ping’an’s moral clarity.
Final Twist:
The stolen 80,000 taels vanish, implicating shadowy forces beyond Du Liang’s reach. As Ni Chang’s collaboration opens doors to the capital’s underworld, Ye Ping’an realizes the web of corruption stretches farther than she imagined—and her own past may hold the key to unraveling it.
Next: Will the silver’s trail lead to salvation… or a slaughter?
Starring:
- Liu Shishi as Ye Ping’an
- Dou Xiao as Yuan Shaocheng
- Zhang Yuxi as Ni Chang
- Huang Haibing as Hai Yiping
- Ding Jie as Cai Lian
- Lan Xi as Gu Erniang
- Jiang Kai as Du Liang
A dance of smoke and mirrors, where every ally hides a dagger.
