Episode 39 recap: Cui Lin woke up at a critical moment.

Prime Minister Gu felt doomed. He believed that if the Crown Prince found out about the plot to harm the Crown Princess, it would be a grave crime punishable by wiping out their entire family. Holding a sword to Gu Wanniang, Li Yi told her that he knew she and her father intended to kill Cui Lin. But even if Cui Lin died, she would never be able to replace her because Cui Lin was his only wife.

Cui Lin looked at the sleeping Li Yi and gently touched his face. Li Yi suddenly opened his eyes but realized that Cui Lin was still asleep. He opened an album and flipped through it, recalling the first time they met and the precious moments they spent together. As he smiled, tears welled up in his eyes, dampening the pages of the album. Li Yi cried and asked why Cui Lin hadn't woken up despite the dawn, leaving him all alone. Chang'er found Tao Zi at the chaotic burial mound. The physician told Chang'er that he wasn't sure if it was due to some medicine she had taken before, but her blood flow was much slower than that of an ordinary person, and her injuries were severe.

Chang'er pleaded with the physician to do everything possible to save Tao Zi. The physician assured him that he would try his best. Chang'er hurriedly fetched Tao Zi's medicine box and asked the physician to check if there was anything useful inside. Gu Wanniang came to pay respects to the Emperor and informed him that the Crown Princess had passed away. The Empress quickly stood up and asked what had happened. Gu Wanniang told them that she didn't know the details either, but she saw Li Yi carrying Cui Lin back to their residence. The imperial physicians also confirmed the Crown Princess's death, but Li Yi refused to believe it.

The Emperor felt that Li Yi was truly distressed, and Gu Wanniang wept by his side, expressing her deep concern for Li Yi. The Emperor comforted Gu Wanniang, assuring her not to be sad and promising to bestow her the title of Crown Princess once the mourning period was over. Gu Wanniang went from crying sorrowfully one moment to displaying a triumphant smile the next. Ashu visited Li Yi's residence and revealed everything to him. Prime Minister Gu also became aware of it. He knew that if Li Yi found out about their plot to murder the Crown Princess, it would definitely result in severe punishment for their family. Uluo, fearing that Prime Minister Gu would harm him, informed him that the imperial guards were lurking nearby. Prime Minister Gu reassured him, confident that he knew how to deal with Li Yi and his strained relationship with the Emperor.

As expected, early the next morning, Prime Minister Gu approached the Emperor and informed him that Li Yi was planning rebellion. He advised the Emperor to first retrieve military power and summon the Crown Prince back, asking him to surrender the military command token. He further suggested appointing a trustworthy person to oversee the Forbidden Army and proposed that the Crown Prince be abolished.

Upon hearing Prime Minister Gu's persuasive words, the Emperor agreed to go along with the plan and entrusted everything to Prime Minister Gu.

Li Yi informed Chang'er that Tao Zi was not dead, which brought relief to Chang'er. However, Chang'er mentioned that Tao Zi's injuries were severe, and there was no guarantee she could be saved. Overwhelmed with emotion, Chang'er burst into tears. Li Yi comforted him, saying that even though he hadn't been able to see Cui Lin before her passing, he didn't know if she would have been scared or in pain.

He told Chang'er to never give up as long as there was a glimmer of hope for Tao Zi's recovery. Li Yi revealed to Chang'er that he would not surrender the military command token, as he knew Prime Minister Gu wanted it to pressure the Emperor into abdicating. Li Yi placed Cui Lin in a coffin, placing her sword inside as well.

He reminisced about the battles he fought alongside Cui Lin and told her that today, carrying her with him, would be their final fight together. Qiu Cui rushed over in a hurry to inform Gu Wanniang that Li Yi had gone mad. Gu Wanniang ordered her to slap herself, believing it was Qiu Cui who had gone mad. Qiu Cui reluctantly slapped herself and asked what was happening.

Qiu Cui told her that Li Yi was carrying Cui Lin's coffin and preparing to enter the palace. Gu Wanniang quickly ran over and knelt before Li Yi, urging him not to go. Li Yi used his sword to knock off the flowers on Gu Wanniang's head and asked her if she didn't know why Cui Lin had died. Li Yi said he knew that Gu Wanniang had hoped for Cui Lin's death, but even if Cui Lin had died, he would never have liked Gu Wanniang. He told Gu Wanniang to leave the Eastern Palace from that day on.

Li Yi arrived at the palace with his soldiers. Prime Minister Gu instructed the Emperor to issue an edict that anyone who forcefully entered the palace should be killed without mercy. The Empress quickly tried to dissuade Li Yi, telling him he couldn't do this. However, the Emperor ignored her and only listened to Prime Minister Gu. When Li Yi stormed into the palace, Prime Minister Gu unexpectedly accused him of rebellion. Li Yi countered by saying that Prime Minister Gu was colluding with Jie Shuo, who was the biggest traitor in the court.

It was only when Jie Shuo held a sword to the Emperor's neck, forcing him to believe, that it became too late. Li Yi witnessed his father being coerced and engaged in a fierce struggle with Jie Shuo. At a critical moment, Cui Lin jumped out of the coffin and killed the leader of the Jie family, Uluo. Seeing Cui Lin awake, Prime Minister Gu was terrified and attempted to flee but was struck down by Li Yi's sword.

Li Yi was overjoyed that Cui Lin had awakened, and the two of them passionately embraced each other.