Episode 3 recap: Gu Yan Xi returned home to visit his younger sister, Shao Yao.

Madam Xia Jin E, who was still in her role as the lady, was loudly ordering the servants to clean the house. Hua Zhi, seeing this, immediately arranged for her own four maids to tidy up and also joined in to help. Old Madam Lin Wan instructed Xia Jin E to take inventory of the things brought from the mansion, and Xia Jin E suggested hiring a few more household servants, saying that it's better to have more help. Lin Wan told her that times have changed and they need to work together and not burden their respective families. Finally, Lin Wan stayed alone with Xia Jin E and asked her to find out the emperor's thoughts. If they were truly unlucky, they would have to quickly find a reliable man, even if it meant marrying into another family, to take charge of their affairs and protect the women and children.

Shen Qi wanted to ask about the Hua family at the dinner table but was immediately stopped. Shen Qi's younger brother, Shen Huan, who was lively and active, was favored by their father despite being idle all day. Shen Qi asked their father for money, but he refused, saying that Shen Qi stayed at home all day while Shen Huan roamed outside.

Since there were no beds in the house, Hua Zhi spread clean straw on the ground around a charcoal basin for everyone to rest. Hua Ling, the third daughter of the Hua family, couldn't stand the current situation and insisted on taking a bath but unfortunately fell into the water. Gu Yan Xi reported the results of the search to Emperor Qing, Gu Chengtang, who expressed his thoughts while drinking tea, saying that as the emperor, whatever he does, right or wrong, is beneficial to the world. He reminded Gu Yan Xi not to spare anyone if there was a chance of making a mistake.

Outside the hall, Gu Yan Xi encountered Prince Xian, Gu Yangan, who reminded him that being close to the emperor was like being close to a tiger, and not to feel special and lose oneself in the imperial court. The women and children of the Hua family were all crowded in the cold hall and couldn't sleep. They were all feeling very uncomfortable with the sudden turn of events when suddenly, Zhong Shu, who had been with the old master, arrived.

He was separated from the old master and the rest of the male servants had also run away. Hua Zhi wanted him to come inside and join everyone, but the second lady felt that it was inappropriate for a man to do so. While talking in the courtyard, Hua Zhi noticed that the spies from the Qixu Department had been monitoring them nearby.

When Gu Yan Xi returned to Prince Ling's residence, he saw that Consort Xiao, the side consort of Prince Ling, was already waiting at the gate. He specifically went to see his younger sister, Shao Yao, who had a mental disability and had been kept locked in her room by Prince Ling. Consort Xiao told him that although Shao Yao was confined, Prince Ling had been tirelessly searching for renowned doctors, and no one in the residence dared to neglect her. Gu Yan Xi felt a deep sorrow for Shao Yao, but she no longer recognized him. She spent her days dealing with medicine and would play with ointments and medicinal pills in her free time.

When Hua Zhi entered the room, everyone was already asleep, so she also went to sleep. In the middle of the night, someone felt cold, so Qin Yi Niang, a distant cousin of Madam Hua, got up and tightly closed the door. The charcoal fire was still burning, and Hua Zhi woke up in a daze, sensing something was wrong. She quickly opened the door and called for Zhong Shu.

As Gu Yan Xi looked at the sleeping Shao Yao, memories of her childhood came back to him. In her dreams, Shao Yao was still calling for her brother. After briefly holding her hand, Gu Yan Xi left the room. The courtyard was overgrown with weeds, and at that moment, Prince Ling, Gu Yangan, arrived. The fire ten years ago had taken Gu Yan Xi's mother away and left his sister mentally disabled. He couldn't forgive his father for it.

But Prince Ling didn't care. He believed that it was the suspicion of their elder brother, Emperor Gu Chengtang, that caused all of this. Gu Yan Xi had entered the palace at a young age, and Gu Chengtang kept him by his side every day, which created a rift between them. With each additional heir, Gu Chengtang's suspicion grew, so for the sake of Prince Ling, Consort Xiao took medicine that made her unable to conceive, for which Gu Yangan was grateful.

Fortunately, Zhong Shu saved everyone in time, preventing them from being poisoned by gas. Qin Yi Niang cried and claimed that she didn't close the door; she was in Xia Jin E's room. To protect her, Xia Jin E and the second lady, Qi Hui Lan, had a big quarrel, which displeased Lin Wan.

Hua Zhi remembered the conversation she had with Hua Yi Zheng on the boat. It is human nature to seek advantages and avoid harm, and if something is beyond one's capabilities, one should refrain from doing it and understand what to pursue and what not to pursue. One should think carefully before making choices. The next morning, Shen Qi and two classmates came to visit Lin Wan's family and brought clothes, bedding, and food with them.