Episode 28 recap: Shang Yi Zhi was arranged to be engaged.
The eldest princess told A Mai that only by letting go could she find peace. She felt that seeking revenge would lead to an endless cycle of grievances. A Mai assured her that there were culprits behind the grievances and debts, and she should rest assured while A Mai sought revenge on her behalf. Shang Yi Zhi asked A Mai if his mother had caused her any trouble and suggested that A Mai accompany him back to Qingzhou.
A Mai told Shang Yi Zhi that once she entered the palace to assassinate Qi Jing, he would have the opportunity to rescue the emperor. A Mai and Shang Yi Zhi were discussing their revenge plan when the princess, Shenghua, invited A Mai to discuss matters. A Mai met with the princess, who thanked her for risking her life with Shang Yi Zhi. The princess asked A Mai what rewards she desired, and she had already selected a mansion for A Mai in the capital city.
A Mai told her there was no need for such rewards, as she lacked nothing. Her purpose in protecting Shang Yi Zhi was not for rewards. The princess explained that she was doing all this to express her apologies and asked for A Mai's continued assistance in helping Shang Yi Zhi. A Mai told the princess that all she wanted was to provide peace for the deceased and tranquility for the living. The princess asked how one could find tranquility, to which A Mai replied that letting go was the only way. A Mai found it difficult to let go, and the princess remarked that seeking revenge would only perpetuate the cycle of grievances. A Mai told her that she didn't know when the cycle would end, but she knew there were culprits behind the grievances and debts.
A Mai reassured the princess that she would only seek revenge on the true culprits and then left. The emperor knew that his health was deteriorating, and his close eunuch advised him not to worry and to rest. The emperor lamented that he carried heavy guilt, but the eunuch reminded him that it was all his own doing. Despite the emperor's troubles, he found solace in remembering his past experiences, which brought him immense pain. Shang Yi Zhi asked A Mai if his mother had caused her any trouble, but A Mai remained silent. Shang Yi Zhi suggested that A Mai accompany him back to Qingzhou. A Mai asked if he had given up on seeking revenge, to which Shang Yi Zhi replied that it would come after they achieved their goals.
A Mai advised him to focus on how to safely leave the palace this time. She revealed her plan to assassinate Qi Jing in the palace and instructed Shang Yi Zhi to rescue the emperor. Shang Yi Zhi didn't understand why A Mai had made such arrangements. A Mai explained that if she fell into Shang Yi Zhi's hands, she would have a chance to save herself.
And Shang Yi Zhi can also control the court to prevent anyone from causing trouble. Shang Yi Zhi thought the plan was feasible, but they needed to plan carefully.
Princess Shenghua visited the emperor. The emperor told her that lately, he had been thinking about the scenes of them playing together when they were young. He felt that back then, the princess never hid anything from him, but now they had grown distant. The emperor began reminiscing about their childhood memories, and the princess mentioned that it was during that time she met Marquis Hou.
The emperor told her that whenever he saw her happy, he felt compelled to bring Shang Wei into the palace. The princess acknowledged that he had indeed done so but had also taken Shang Yi Zhi away from her. The emperor asked the princess for one last favor. He was planning to abdicate the throne and pass it on to Qi Huan. Pang Shi informed Prince Kang that the emperor had summoned the princess. Prince Kang, feeling neglected by the emperor's prolonged illness, wondered why the first person the emperor chose to see was the princess.
Pang Shi also informed him that the emperor kept Yu'er by his side all the time. Prince Kang waved his hand dismissively, saying that a woman and a child posed no threat to him. A Mai and Shang Yi Zhi were discussing revenge once again when the princess invited Shang Yi Zhi to meet her.
Prince Kang found a maid in Zeng Mansion and questioned her about the day the maid was involved in an incident. The maid revealed that it was the princess. Prince Kang concluded that the princess had grown tired of living. The emperor asked what the reaction was among the people around Prince Kang upon learning that it was the princess's doing. The person informed him that Prince Kang was furious. However, the emperor had someone who understood the situation. He revealed that it was Pang Shi and instructed the person that Pang Shi should not survive. He provided the person with a document allowing them to pass through the northern desert once they completed the task.
The princess hoped that Shang Yi Zhi would become the emperor, but he refused. He only wanted to spend his future days with A Mai. The princess approached Prime Minister Lin and informed him that the emperor intended to pass the throne to Shang Yi Zhi. She wanted to arrange an early marriage between Lin Ze Rou and Shang Yi Zhi.
Shang Yi Zhi and A Mai were discussing the arrangements for entering the palace. Shang Yi Zhi asked A Mai to disguise herself as a member of the Dragon Guards.
This emperor is such a super villain! He clearly wants to establish his grandson as the crown prince, but on the surface, he claims to pass the throne to his nephew to make the eldest princess and others lower their guard. Secretly, he instigates conflicts between the second prince and the eldest princess, with the ultimate goal of eliminating all these people, so his grandson can ascend the throne without obstacles.
In the end, he didn't expect that it wouldn't be his biological grandson, and he went mad.