Episode 20 recap: The quadrilateral relationship has surfaced.
Rong Er, carrying the treasures, is preparing to go to the palace to find the Emperor to prove that Li Qi was wrongly accused. She has already found the real thief. Everyone is very concerned for her safety and decides to wait for her outside the palace gates. The Emperor, upon hearing that Rong Er has found the thief, instructs Steward Yu to bring Rong Er into the palace.
Rong Er brings a bucket of swill into the palace and tells Puyi in detail about the entire incident. Rong Er says that Li Qi was framed, and the real thief, Li Taifeng, has also been arrested by the police. Puyi expresses that he has never believed Li Qi would steal the treasures, including the matter with Qin Fang, which he was aware of. Rong Er returns the two treasures that Liu Shougu found, and Li Qi is also reinstated to his original position.
Rong Er treats Li Qi's wounds and sees the scars on his body, feeling very guilty. Li Qi, thinking about how Qin Fang died because of him, cannot help but shed tears. Rong Er finds Rong Hui Taifei and states that Wu Tian is just a minor eunuch and could not have been the real culprit behind the theft. There must be a mastermind behind him, and she will continue to investigate until the true culprit is found.
Wu Tian sees a note in his food at the Shen Xing prison, saying that he will be saved and helped to escape. At night, he successfully flees from the Shen Xing prison, but Rong Er unexpectedly discovers his trail and follows him, only to find a group of guards trying to kill Wu Tian and her. Wu Tian protects her the whole way, but ultimately he is overpowered and killed.
Due to the major breakthrough in the theft case, everyone realizes that the treasures were actually smuggled out of the palace in the swill buckets. No wonder the Wufeng Hall was so wealthy - it was through this illicit means. The police report that they have found many palace treasures in the Wufeng Hall, and Li Taifeng will have to spend some time in prison. Rong Er wants to go back to the palace to reinvestigate, but Lu Qiutong advises her to carefully consider the dangers she would face by reentering the palace. Rong Er says she will think it over carefully.
Lu Qiutong wants to express his feelings to Rong Er, but is interrupted by Li Qi. The two of them go to visit Qin Fang's sister, and Li Qi promises to find the true culprit behind the scenes and avenge Qin Fang.
Sir Liu Shougu presents the bracelet that the Empress Dowager had entrusted to Xiaogui to give to Rong Er, conveying the Empress Dowager's message that she has been constantly thinking of Rong Er and hopes she can live well outside the palace.
Rong Er is deeply touched and decides to reenter the palace to reinvestigate the case, in order to find the accomplices behind the palace theft for the sake of Aunt Shou Xi (Qin Fang) and others. Rong Er tells Puyi that the stolen palace treasures have already been confiscated by the Republican government, and Puyi expresses that it is better for them to have it than the foreigners. He also acknowledges Rong Er's great contributions in the theft case and asks what reward she desires. Rong Er states that she wishes to reenter the palace to serve.
Puyi readily agrees, and Rong Er returns to the Chonghua Palace, to the great delight of Rong Hui Taifei. Liu Er asks Lu Qiutong if he has feelings for Rong Er, and Lu Qiutong says that as long as Rong Er and Li Qi are not married, he still has a chance. Li Yumei warns Lu Qiutong not to harbor thoughts about Rong Er.
Qing Er is shocked to learn that the little eunuch Wu Tian was actually the thief, as he had always seemed like an honest person. Rong Er tells her that Wu Tian was just a pawn, acting on someone else's orders. Seeing Rong Er and Li Qi together, Qing Er feels bitterly heartbroken.
Rong Er brings food to Li Qi, and they discuss Wu Tian's death. Li Qi says that the Shen Xing prison has never made such a mistake before, allowing Wu Tian to escape, so there must have been someone helping him. Rong Er expresses that Wu Tian had many chances to kill her but ultimately saved her. Li Qi gets angry, saying he knows Wu Tian is dead, which hurts Rong Er, but she reminds him that he killed Shen Daren and Qin Fang.
Li Qi admits that although he wishes for Rong Er to be safe outside the palace, he is still very happy that she has reentered the palace.
Comments(Episode 20)