Zang Hai seeks Xiang An Tu's help to get rid of Lu Jin. Xiang An Tu arranges assassins along Lu Jin's route back to the capital.

Zang Hai resolves the crisis successfully and crafts a camellia hairpin to thank Xiang An Tu. Xiang An Tu invites Zang Hai to watch the lights and have a chat during the Hungry Ghost Festival.

Zhongzhou is flooded. Chu Huai Ming tries to set a fire to murder Zang Hai before trouble arises. Zhuang Zhi Xing, who has received instructions from Zang Hai beforehand, apprehends him.

Zang Hai learns about Zhuang Lu Yin and Shen Wan's past from Gao Ming. He helps Zhuang Lu Yin deal with his guilt and advises him to nurture Zhuang Zhi Xing while gaining more of his trust at the same time.

After assuming office, Zang Hai finds out that officials of the Imperial Astronomical Bureau have been arranging posthumous marriage, sometimes even at the cost of innocent lives. He drafts a decree overnight and swiftly begins cracking down on corruption to purge the bureau of its rot.

Zhuang Zhi Xing heeds Zang Hai's suggestion. He joins the military but is put on the spot on multiple occasions. He intends to become a deserter.

Zang Hai receives an invite to Yong Rong's banquet at Zhen Tower. Someone mentions Kuai Duo at the banquet. Zang Hai quietly probes Yong Rong.

At the banquet, several officials talk about Minister of Revenue Zhao Bing Wen. Their words spark Zang Hai's suspicion. He decides to visit the Zhao Residence and search the place in secret.

Cao Jing Xian forces Zang Hai to complete the general's burial mound before the Double Ninth Festival. Zang Hai has no choice but to use Zhuang Zhi Fu to resolve his issue. When Zhuang Lu Yin finds out, he questions him. Unexpectedly, Zang Hai owns up to his wrongdoings.

Zang Hai sets up a trap to sow discord between Zhuang Lu Yin and Cao Jing Xian. He follows Cao Jing Xian and finds out that he is secretly meeting the hostage of Dongxia. Zang Hai is sure that the third person will appear soon.

Zhuang Lu Yin covertly plans to impeach Cao Jing Xian but ends up being framed instead. Just as he falls into peril, Zhuang Zhi Xing, acting on Zang Hai's prior instructions, leads reinforcements and arrives in time to save the day.

Zang Hai suspects that Xiang An Tu is his enemy upon finding out that she's the nation's hostage. Xiang An Tu denies his claim, yet she finds it difficult to explain the relationship between Dongxia and Cao Jing Xian.

Zhuang Luyin tells Zhuang Zhixing the truth of the Kuai family's annihilation. Zhuang Zhixing gives Zang Hai the bronze fish piece he obtained from his father and tells Zang Hai the identity of the third person.

Zhuang Luyin attempts to seek a truce with Cao Jingxian, but the blood-written letter he sends is swapped by Zang Hai. Deceived by its contents, Cao Jingxian tricks Zhuang Luyin's former subordinates into launching a prison break.

Zhuang Zhixing advises his father to give up on capturing the city and both of them begin a duel.

The Empress of Dongxia offers a wooden palace to the capital as tribute. Zang Hai thinks the wooden palace is made with his father's technique.

Zang Hai lures the Empress into an empty tomb, while Xiang Antu escapes from the Zang Residence, determined to stop him from killing her mother.

The Empress tells Zang Hai about the history of the Gui Seal. She forces him to make a choice between the Gui Seal and her daughter.

Zang Hai finally finds the Gui Seal. While he is focusing on carving the patterns on the forged Gui Seal, the Gui Seal is taken away by Cao Jingxian's foster son.

Suspecting that Xiang Antu has stolen the Gui Seal, the Emperor orders the Hostage's Mansion to be surrounded.

Zang Hai finds out that the third culprit has resurfaced. The Emperor orders him to investigate the third culprit and the location of the Gui Seal.

Zang Hai obtains a new clue thanks to a mysterious person's help. Zang Hai finds the Gui Seal in the Shi Residence and hands it over to the Emperor.

Zang Hai finds out that Cao Jingxian's original name was Lu Min before he joined the palace. All the leads intersect with each other. Zang Hai finds out the true identity of the third culprit.

Zang Hai is captured by the Imperial Guards. When the Emperor questions him, he reminds the Emperor to be wary of the third person...

The third perpetrator agrees to grant Zang Hai a dignified death. The executioner layers sheets of wet paper over Zang Hai's face, until his pulse fades completely.

Xiang Antu asks to meet Zang Hai one last time. Both of them use a code to set up a trap and plan for the escape.

The third perpetrator barges into the sacred ground of Dongxia. He forces Zang Hai to consume the Gui Seal poison, coercing him into teaching him how to control the undead soldiers.