Episode 35 reveals the hidden imperial edict naming Changjue as heir, while Taohua faces an impossible choice between saving a life or preserving a kingdom. Loyalty, sacrifice, and secrets unravel in a race against poison and politics.
🕊️ 1. The Last Edict of the Late Emperor
The episode opens with a stunning revelation: the final imperial edict from the late emperor—naming Changjue as rightful heir—is still intact and hidden.
A loyal insider smuggles the edict to Taohua, risking execution. This sets off a chain of events that could overturn Empress Lv’s hold on Beiyuan.
“The seal is broken, but the truth still remains.”
🧭 2. A Deadly Choice of Conscience
Taohua is led to retrieve the edict—but finds it guarded by a brutal trap. If she saves an old woman, the edict will burn. If she takes the edict, the woman dies.
State Preceptor Qian Mochen, always enigmatic, says:
“It’s a test. To see whether you’d trade a life for a throne.”
Taohua chooses to save the woman.
“To the common folks, an edict is paper. A life is priceless.”
The edict survives. It was a test of heart—and she passed.
🧪 3. Qian Mochen’s Double Game
We learn that Qian Mochen has been covertly supporting Changjue all along, aligning with the late Deputy Chief Yue and paving connections for the uprising.
“Right and wrong mean little in the face of survival.”
Though he worked under Empress Lv, his true loyalty was always to the children she tried to destroy.
🧫 4. The Poison with No Cure
Physician Mei, the creator of the Jiangtao pill, reveals the devastating truth:
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There is no antidote.
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The Yinghuo flower, needed for any possible cure, grows only in a hidden desert region.
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Without it, Taohua’s days are numbered.
Zaiye is devastated. In a moment of love and madness, he offers himself as a test subject for a dangerous "toxin vs. toxin" treatment.
“I promised to save her. I will keep that promise.”
💔 5. Zaiye’s Sacrifice
Physician Mei warns the treatment may kill him. He drinks the potion anyway, enduring the same torment Taohua has faced for years.
“So this is what it felt like, every time the poison attacked you.”
His pain is visceral, but he survives—barely. Mei begins preparing new batches, but it’s a race against time.
🕳️ 6. Secrets of the Cold Palace
Taohua and her allies hide in the cold palace—a place of exile where she and Changjue were once confined as children. There, she confronts the ghosts of the past and the truth behind Qian Mochen’s long game.
🧍♂️ 7. Changjue Returns
In a triumphant moment, Changjue returns to Hao City and reunites with his supporters.
“Father named me heir in his last edict. We will restore Beiyuan together.”
The people cheer, calling him "Your Majesty." But joy turns to dread when he learns Taohua is dying.
🗡️ 8. The Crown vs. the Cure
Changjue is ready to storm the palace to retrieve the antidote—until he learns:
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There is no antidote.
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Empress Lv’s poison mark is spreading across Taohua’s arm.
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The herbal “relief” was a temporary suppressant.
Taohua pleads:
“Don't throw your life away for a cure that doesn't exist.”
Their roles reverse—she who once needed rescue now must keep him from acting recklessly.
🧬 9. A Flower of Hope
Physician Mei reveals:
“Only the Yinghuo flower can neutralize the poison completely.”
It’s a rare desert flower—its location known only to Empress Lv. But a lead has surfaced. Zaiye and Taohua prepare to journey west in search of it.
🔥 10. The Empire Shakes Again
Meanwhile, Empress Lv learns of Qian Mochen’s betrayal and sentences him to public beheading. Notices are posted throughout the city.
“If Changjue is foolish enough to rescue him, I’ll kill two birds with one stone.”
The final scene shows Qian Mochen shackled, weakened by poison, but defiant.
💬 Standout Moments
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The “test of heart” trap scene.
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Zaiye’s self-experimentation with poison.
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Changjue’s emotional return and vow to save Taohua.
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The reveal that the final edict was always meant for someone worthy.
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Physician Mei’s cold but logical diagnosis: “Your days are numbered.”
🎯 Themes & Character Arcs
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Power vs. humanity: Taohua proves her worth not through ambition, but empathy.
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Reckoning with legacy: The dead emperor’s guilt echoes through every edict and scar.
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Love in the face of death: Zaiye’s quiet sacrifice contrasts with Changjue’s explosive rage.
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Truth over propaganda: The people of Hao City begin to question the “traitor” narrative about Qian Mochen.
🔚 Final Verdict
“Episode 35 is emotionally blistering and politically intense. Between Qian Mochen’s silent heroism, Taohua’s moral triumph, and the looming shadow of poison, the stakes have never been higher. A new dawn rises—but darkness follows closely.”