EPISODE 21
King Xuan confirms that someone has added poison to the well water. He instructs Guiguzi to concoct an antidote to neutralize the poison.

On the day of the duel, Xu Qi does not turn up. Zhang Wu rushes back to his camp at word that a fire has broken out. Xu Qi attacks him and forces King Xuan to pronounce him the winner of the first round.

Liu Wen has consumed poisoned tea. He is defeated by Xu Qi as well when the poison acts up. Guan Ren too is defeated, because he goes to the rescue of his faltering troops.

Although King Xuan realizes Xu Qi has not won the challenge fairly, he has no choice but to pronounce him the winner. Zhong Wuyan suggests they give the four contenders an assignment before doing so. Xu Qi is ordered to subdue a two-headed snake; Zhang Wu has to pick herbs and prepare an antidote for the people; Liu Wen has to subdue all the troublemakers; an Guan Ren has to nab the culprit behind the water-poisoning.

Knowing Mojiang will be helpful to his career, Xu Qi humours her.

Zhong Wuyan warns Xu Qi not to have designs on Mojiang.   (Source: 8 Days)

EPISODE 22
Xu Qi agrees to be Wuchangzi’s disciple if the latter helps him subdue the two-headed snake. He is made the marshal when he presents the snake’s head to King Xuan.

Gloating, Xu Qi pretends to snub Mojiang and professes to have been warned by Zhong Wuyan to stay away from her.

Wenfeng is disturbed by rumours about Xu Qi and Mojiang. Xu Qi assures her that she is the only one he loves.

Mojiang falls out with Zhong Wuyan over Xu Qi. For the first time ever, the Queen Mother takes Zhong Wuyan’s side. She even praises Zhong Wuyan for her contributions to Qi. Zhong Wuyan helps the Queen Mother relieve back aches by teaching her specially choreographed dance steps.

Adviser Kong tells King Xuan ther is a new pastime in the palace – smoking drugs. Even Gao Sou and Official Lu enjoy it.

King Xuan wants to share the new pastime with Zhong Wuyan. She puts out the urn upon entering the room.   (Source: 8 Days)

EPISODE 23
Zhong Wuyan insists the drugs are addictive. When Official Lu and Gao Sou refuse to believe her, she challenges them to abstain and experience the effects.

Zhong Wuyan summons Li Ying back to the palace. He is happy to make a profit from sales of his ying hua guo.

Official Lu and Gao Sou go into withdrawal, and everyone comes to believe Zhong Wuyan. In turn, she sets up rehabilitation centres and puts Official Lu and Gao Sou in one of them. Soldiers are sent to raid smoking dens, and all the drugs are burned. The people are also educated about drug abuse.

Guan Ren finds many ying hua guo trees around Old Master Jiang’s grave and reports this to Li Ying. Li Ying makes Li Qiang tell him how he has obtained the seeds.

Zhong Wuyan barges into Wuchangzi’s hideout and kills him. However, she suspects the Wuchangzi she has killed is an imposter.

In the palace, Ling seduces King Xuan.

Li Ying urges King Xuan to execute his son, Li Qiang.    (Source: 8 Days)

EPISODE 24
After Li Qiang’s execution, Li Ying resigns. He hopes to set up a school in the rural areas to train more talents for Qi. King Xuan reluctantly lets him go. Official Lu and Gao Sou leave as well.

King Xuan looks the Queen Mother up and sees his three concubines with her. He is annoyed when Adviser Kong declares Zhong Wuyan can tolerate King Xuan having so many women only because she does not love him.

Zhong Wuyan bids Li Ying goodbye. She learns Pang Fen has become a great general in Wei. Li Ying urges her to be wary of Xu Qi.

Wei launches an attack on Qi. King Xuan sends Zhang Wu, Li Wen and Guan Ren to battle. Xu Qi offers to lead the troops, but Zhong Wuyan objects as his wife is a Wei princess.

At Wuchangzi’s instigation, Xu Qi kills Wenfeng to prove his loyalty to Qi. King Xuan gives him the marshal seal before Zhong Wuyan can stop him.

To gain Mojiang’s trust, Xu Qi claims Wenfeng has been unfaithful to him.   (Source: 8 Days)

EPISODE 25
Zhong Wuyan sees King Xuan in the bed with Ling. She packs her bags and leaves the palace again. He panics when the patch on her face disappears.

Xia Yingchun, Yingxia and Yingqiu discover Ling is more powerful then they are. Wuchangzi stops them from killing her and reveals she is his youngest disciple.

Disillusioned by Wuchangzi’s lack of trust in them, Xia Yingchun and the others express their desire to leave. Wuchangzi threatens to subdue their powers if they disobey him.

Ling has grown to feels for Zhong Wuyan and King Xuan; betraying them hurts her.

The Queen Mother tells King Xuan off for letting Zhong Wuyan leave. She reveals she had tried to make life difficult for Zhong Wuyan, hoping the latter would not bully King Xuan.

A depressed King Xuan tries to find someone to confide in. Mojiang is too upset to talk to him, the three concubines are in a bad mood, Ling has no desire to see him and Adviser Kong is injured. To make things worse, he receives news of Xu Qi’s defeat.  (Source: 8 Days)

NEXT >>