Episode 1 recap: Li Tianshun saved Huang Hexiang.
Li Tianshun was a jade craftsman in the palace. His father, Li Yunmian, was also a master in carving jade. During the reign of Emperor Xianfeng, Li Yunmian once carved a jade pomegranate, which was said to be priceless. There were rumors that whoever possessed the jade pomegranate would possess the world, indicating its preciousness. After Emperor Xianfeng passed away, the jade pomegranate went through many twists and turns before returning to the hands of Empress Dowager Cixi. The Empress Dowager then ordered Li Tianshun to replicate a jade pomegranate. However, to her surprise, Li Tianshun actually stole the original one. In her anger, she ordered Li Lianying, the supervisor of the Imperial Household Department, to execute Li Tianshun by beating him to death.
Li Lianying, carrying the imperial decree, went to Li Tianshun's residence only to find him absent. Finally, he dragged him out of the toilet and was about to order his execution when the Prince Regent happened to pass by. The Prince Regent instructed Li Lianying to temporarily halt the execution and then pleaded on behalf of Li Tianshun in front of the Empress Dowager. Seeing that the Empress Dowager was still angry, the Prince Regent did not dare to plead but reminded the Empress Dowager that even if Li Tianshun were to be killed, the matter should be investigated thoroughly and the jade pomegranate should be found first.
The Empress Dowager felt that the Prince Regent's words made sense, so she temporarily spared Li Tianshun's life and ordered the Prince Regent and Li Tianshun to search for the whereabouts of the jade pomegranate together. If they couldn't find it, they would be held equally guilty. In order to prevent thieves from moving the jade pomegranate, the Prince Regent first ordered strict inspections of the belongings of passers-by at the city gates. Li Lianying, carrying the stolen jade pomegranate, tried to leave through the city gate but found the guards there conducting thorough searches. He had no choice but to return to his original position.
The Prince Regent asked Li Tianshun where the jade pomegranate was usually kept and who was responsible for its custody. Scratching his head, Li Tianshun said that he was the sole custodian of the jade pomegranate and that he basically stayed by its side day and night to prevent theft. The Prince Regent asked Li Tianshun to think carefully whether he had recently left the jade pomegranate unattended. Li Tianshun then remembered that yesterday at noon, eunuch Xiao Xizi brought him a broken jade pendant and asked him if he could repair it. Xiao Xizi called him outside and showed him the broken jade pendant.
Upon hearing Li Tianshun's words, the Prince Regent immediately guessed that he had fallen into someone's trap. He quickly ran to report the matter to the Empress Dowager. The Empress Dowager was also informed that a eunuch in the palace had dared to steal from her. She ordered Li Lianying to lead a search of the eunuch's residence, leaving no stone unturned. Soon, Li Lianying returned with the discovered jade pomegranate and informed the Empress Dowager that it was found in Xiao Xizi's room. Xiao Xizi had already committed suicide out of fear.
Li Tianshun knew that Xiao Xizi couldn't be the one who stole the jade pomegranate, so he wanted to request an audience with the Empress Dowager to thoroughly investigate the matter. However, Li Lianying told him that the Empress Dowager was not someone that anyone could easily meet. In order to see the Empress Dowager, Li Tianshun knelt outside the gate of her sleeping palace. But several guards in yellow vests approached and arrested him without distinguishing right from wrong.
Because Li Tianshun intruded into the Empress Dowager's sleeping palace, he was sentenced to death. The Prince Regent pleaded with the Empress Dowager, feeling that Li Tianshun was a talented individual. His skill in carving jade did not belong to himself but to the Empress Dowager. It would be a pity to kill him. Persuaded once again by the Prince Regent, the Empress Dowager decided to demote Li Tianshun to Dongling and have him work as a stonemason as a form of punishment.
Huang Hexiang sought refuge with her aunt in a small town near Dongling. However, she was captured by two human traffickers. Just then, Li Tianshun happened to pass by and drove the traffickers away with a few punches and kicks. The traffickers purposely claimed that Huang Hexiang was Li Tianshun's wife and filed a complaint with the authorities. As soon as Li Tianshun and Huang Hexiang returned home, government soldiers surrounded their house. The soldiers refused to listen to their explanation and accused them of having an illicit relationship, intending to forcefully take Li Tianshun away. At that moment, Da Dao Wangwu happened to pass by and gave the soldiers who arrested Li Tianshun a beating.
Realizing that it was unwise to provoke Da Dao Wangwu, the officials had no choice but to leave with their men. Li Yunmian thought that Li Tianshun had really abducted someone's wife, so he punished him by making him kneel and reflect. Seeing this, Huang Hexiang knelt down with Li Tianshun and explained her situation of being abducted by the traffickers. Only then did Li Yunmian allow Li Tianshun to stand up. The matchmaker saw Li Yunmian's son return and began arranging a marriage for him. Huang Hexiang went to her aunt's house, where the nephew of her aunt, Boss Yang, fell in love with her at first sight, captivated by her beauty.
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