Daggers in the Dark

The aftermath of the banquet brings unexpected consequences. While Changyu has gained the Empress Dowager's favor, she has also attracted the enmity of Qi Min and his faction. An attempt is made on her life during a visit to a temple — an assassin disguised as a monk attacks her in the prayer hall. Changyu fights back with her butcher's knife, holding her own until Xie Zheng's guards arrive.

Xie Zheng is furious. He doubles the guards around the estate and confronts Qi Min at court, though the minister denies involvement with practiced ease. The incident reveals to Changyu that her marriage has placed her at the center of a political conflict she barely understands. She demands answers from Xie Zheng, and for the first time, he begins to explain the web of alliances and enmities that define life in the capital.

The episode ends with Changyu telling Xie Zheng that if they are going to survive, they need to trust each other completely. He looks at her for a long moment and nods.