Episode 16 recap: Yang Ying killed Qingyun with her own hands.
Yang Ying was taken by Qingyun to the wilderness and suddenly felt something was amiss. She asked Qingyun about the bandits and what happened to Duke Du and Sun Lang. Qingyun advised Yang Ying to focus on their own escape and not worry about others' well-being. However, Yang Ying considered it her mission, not a trouble, to rescue her delegation.
Qingyun told Yang Ying that last night, someone came back and stole 100,000 taels of gold. Sun Lang's group framed him and intended to harm him outside the temple. Fortunately, he was clever enough not to fall into their trap and managed to knock them unconscious and escape with the princess.
Upon hearing Qingyun's words, Yang Ying couldn't believe it. She thought Qingyun must have misunderstood Sun Lang and his group; they wouldn't do such things. Yang Ying felt she should return and take charge of the situation. She had been away for so long, and they must be worried. Qingyun felt that if the princess went back like that, his efforts would be in vain. He then jumped off his horse, opened his clothes, and showed his wound from last night, claiming it was Sun Lang who stabbed him. He appeared pitiful and angry, making Yang Ying feel guilty.
As Qingyun spoke of his lowly status and observed Yang Ying's expression, she quickly apologized. But she also felt that she couldn't just leave everyone behind and escape. Qingyun reminded Yang Ying that the gold had been stolen by the bandits, and they had no ransom to rescue the emperor. Even if they returned, there would be no solution.
Yang Ying believed that even so, she had to bring back her imperial brother to An Guo. It was her duty and responsibility as a member of the royal family since childhood. Qingyun anxiously told Yang Ying that she was just an unloved princess born in the cold palace and didn't need to sacrifice her happiness for this. He suggested that they could escape together secretly and become a true couple.
Yang Ying agreed to become Qingyun's wife, but Qingyun wanted to take advantage of the situation and secure their future. Yang Ying struck Qingyun to the ground. At that moment, Yuan Lu felt the urge to save the princess but was fatally stabbed in the neck by Qingyun. Before dying, Yuan Lu instructed the horse to find Ning Yuan Zhou, as he sensed Yuan Lu was in danger.
Yang Ying also wanted to take advantage of the situation and explain to Ning Yuan Zhou and the others. After speaking, she turned and walked away. Qingyun tried to shoot Yang Ying with a hidden arrow but was saved by Ning Yuan Zhou. Qingyun couldn't withstand the torment and confessed that he was in cahoots with the bandits. Ruyi knew that Qingyun wanted the princess to truly become his woman, and even if their scheme was exposed, the princess would forgive him.
Upon hearing that Qingyun was willing to kill her for the sake of a general's position, Yang Ying was somewhat unable to accept it.
Qingyun felt that he had no way out and wanted to provoke Yang Ying by saying she was an unloved princess who constantly flirted with him. Yang Ying felt genuinely deceived and wanted to confront Qingyun, but he threatened her with a knife. Yang Ying, holding a knife herself, stabbed Qingyun and then passed out.
Thanks to timely rescue efforts, Yuan Lu managed to survive. Sun Lang was also treated in time. Ruyi suspected that these bandits might be under the command of Prince Danyang and believed that finding the gold was the right course of action. Ning Yuan Zhou also believed that they must retrieve the gold; otherwise, their peaceful negotiations would be in jeopardy.
Upon learning that the bandits' hideout had not been found, Ning Yuan Zhou felt that searching in eight different directions was too scattered and decided to rework the plan. Ruyi eliminated other directions, believing that the criminals would likely take the smaller path. Yuan Lu investigated the terrain and found the escape route of the bandits. The Six Dao Tang successfully intercepted the bandits and recovered the gold.
Duke Du felt relieved, knowing that with the recovery of the gold, there would be hope for the negotiations. Yang Ying, feeling morally corrupted, didn't want to take the medicine. Ning Yuan Zhou suggested that they could live a secluded life together after the matter was resolved, but Ruyi felt that she couldn't adapt to such a life. People from An Guo came to cause trouble, so Ruyi asked Ning Yuan Zhou to detain Li Tong Guang while she dealt with the situation herself.
Ning Yuan Zhou brought Li Tong Guang to meet the princess, and upon hearing his voice, Li Tong Guang found it familiar.
Ren Ruyi's stepmother was killed, and after the chaotic killings, her emotions collapsed, which further reflects the character's psychological growth. If Ning Yuanzhou didn't arrive at Qingfeng Guan to clean up the aftermath, would she have to calmly finish killing people and silently bury her stepmother herself?
How would the emotional breakdown be portrayed? With dozens of people surrounding her, if not a single scratch on her, so powerful to that extent, then how was her stepmother killed by someone else?
The inclusion of Ning Yuanzhou in this scene is meant to rationalize the plot. Even he only realized something was wrong and rushed there after seeing a signal flare, so his appearance is also justified.