Yi Xiao catches a glimpse of Jing Shi’s pendant, prompting memories of her falling off the cliff. She decides to stay close to him, secretly asking Sui Ge for help. She discovers Jing Shi suffers from poisoning, but he keeps the details of this hidden, as it relates to his grand plan. Sui Ge awaits a response from the Emperor of Jinxiu as he, too, has grand plans of his own. Upset that Jing Shi shows a preference for Yi Xiao, the Empress enacts her own plan to ensure Jing Shi remains true to Xi Yang.