Massacred

A New Name

Return to the Capital

Becoming an Aide

Breakthrough

The Burial Trap

Narrow Escape

The Chief Aide

Rumors

The Tomb of Liu Xian

Identity Exposed

The Truth about Death

Background Mystery

Posing as Marquis Pingjin

Zang Hai seeks Xiang An Tu's help to get rid of Lu Jin. Xiang An Tu arranges assassins along Lu Jin's route back to the capital.

Hungry Ghost Festival

Zang Hai resolves the crisis successfully and crafts a camellia hairpin to thank Xiang An Tu. Xiang An Tu invites Zang Hai to watch the lights and have a chat during the Hungry Ghost Festival.

The Other Man

Zhongzhou is flooded. Chu Huai Ming tries to set a fire to murder Zang Hai before trouble arises. Zhuang Zhi Xing, who has received instructions from Zang Hai beforehand, apprehends him.

Treasure of Dongxia

Zang Hai learns about Zhuang Lu Yin and Shen Wan's past from Gao Ming. He helps Zhuang Lu Yin deal with his guilt and advises him to nurture Zhuang Zhi Xing while gaining more of his trust at the same time.

Resolve for Vengeance

After assuming office, Zang Hai finds out that officials of the Imperial Astronomical Bureau have been arranging posthumous marriage, sometimes even at the cost of innocent lives. He drafts a decree overnight and swiftly begins cracking down on corruption to purge the bureau of its rot.

Mastermind

Zhuang Zhi Xing heeds Zang Hai's suggestion. He joins the military but is put on the spot on multiple occasions. He intends to become a deserter.

Approaching Yong Rong

Zang Hai receives an invite to Yong Rong's banquet at Zhen Tower. Someone mentions Kuai Duo at the banquet. Zang Hai quietly probes Yong Rong.

Investigation at the Zhao Residence

At the banquet, several officials talk about Minister of Revenue Zhao Bing Wen. Their words spark Zang Hai's suspicion. He decides to visit the Zhao Residence and search the place in secret.

Owning up to One's Wrongdoing

Cao Jing Xian forces Zang Hai to complete the general's burial mound before the Double Ninth Festival. Zang Hai has no choice but to use Zhuang Zhi Fu to resolve his issue. When Zhuang Lu Yin finds out, he questions him. Unexpectedly, Zang Hai owns up to his wrongdoings.

A Trap to Sow Discord

Zang Hai sets up a trap to sow discord between Zhuang Lu Yin and Cao Jing Xian. He follows Cao Jing Xian and finds out that he is secretly meeting the hostage of Dongxia. Zang Hai is sure that the third person will appear soon.

Chaos at the Marquis' Residence

Zhuang Lu Yin covertly plans to impeach Cao Jing Xian but ends up being framed instead. Just as he falls into peril, Zhuang Zhi Xing, acting on Zang Hai's prior instructions, leads reinforcements and arrives in time to save the day.

Doubts

Zang Hai suspects that Xiang An Tu is his enemy upon finding out that she's the nation's hostage. Xiang An Tu denies his claim, yet she finds it difficult to explain the relationship between Dongxia and Cao Jing Xian.

Truth of the Annihilation

Zhuang Luyin tells Zhuang Zhixing the truth of the Kuai family's annihilation. Zhuang Zhixing gives Zang Hai the bronze fish piece he obtained from his father and tells Zang Hai the identity of the third person.

Prison Break

Zhuang Luyin attempts to seek a truce with Cao Jingxian, but the blood-written letter he sends is swapped by Zang Hai. Deceived by its contents, Cao Jingxian tricks Zhuang Luyin's former subordinates into launching a prison break.

Father and Son Duel

Zhuang Zhixing advises his father to give up on capturing the city and both of them begin a duel.

Empress of Dongxia

The Empress of Dongxia offers a wooden palace to the capital as tribute. Zang Hai thinks the wooden palace is made with his father's technique.

The Empress and Kuai Duo

Zang Hai lures the Empress into an empty tomb, while Xiang Antu escapes from the Zang Residence, determined to stop him from killing her mother.

Choice

The Empress tells Zang Hai about the history of the Gui Seal. She forces him to make a choice between the Gui Seal and her daughter.

Gui Seal

Zang Hai finally finds the Gui Seal. While he is focusing on carving the patterns on the forged Gui Seal, the Gui Seal is taken away by Cao Jingxian's foster son.

The Buried Past

Suspecting that Xiang Antu has stolen the Gui Seal, the Emperor orders the Hostage's Mansion to be surrounded.

Mysterious Figure

Zang Hai finds out that the third culprit has resurfaced. The Emperor orders him to investigate the third culprit and the location of the Gui Seal.

The Revenge Plan

Zang Hai obtains a new clue thanks to a mysterious person's help. Zang Hai finds the Gui Seal in the Shi Residence and hands it over to the Emperor.

Intersecting Leads

Zang Hai finds out that Cao Jingxian's original name was Lu Min before he joined the palace. All the leads intersect with each other. Zang Hai finds out the true identity of the third culprit.

The Third Person Appears

Zang Hai is captured by the Imperial Guards. When the Emperor questions him, he reminds the Emperor to be wary of the third person...

Execution

The third perpetrator agrees to grant Zang Hai a dignified death. The executioner layers sheets of wet paper over Zang Hai's face, until his pulse fades completely.

Escape from Prison

Xiang Antu asks to meet Zang Hai one last time. Both of them use a code to set up a trap and plan for the escape.

Last Clash

The third perpetrator barges into the sacred ground of Dongxia. He forces Zang Hai to consume the Gui Seal poison, coercing him into teaching him how to control the undead soldiers.