Ming Lan's gathering is spoiled by the squabbles between the wife and concubine of the Empress's younger brother, Shen Guo Jiu. It's up to Ming Lan and Gu Ting Ye to try to reconcile the relationship between Shen Guo Jiu and his new wife Madam Zhang.
Ming Lan and Gu Ting Ye have to host a banquet for their newly renovated home. All of the reputable men and women in the Capital arrive to attend the banquet. Unfortunately, several unsavory characters also attend including Ming Lan's step mother Madame Qin, aunt of no relation Madame Kang, and 4th sister Mo Lan. They are all up to no good. Ming Lan gets accosted by Qi Heng's wife and realizes that she must have a frank conversation with Qi Heng to stop holding onto the past.
Ming Lan returns for a family lunch back at the Sheng family where she gets into a quarrel with her father and her sister Mo Lan over the topic of the deceased Mistress Lin. Luckily, Gu Ting Ye steps in to provide her full support. When returning home, Ming Lan is presented with a concubine for Gu Ting Ye which she readily agrees as a way to help Gu Ting Ye from further troubles. Hilarity ensues as Gu Ting Ye is annoyed his wife is not jealous at all at this new woman.
Man Niang, Gu Ting Ye's former mistress's reappearance re-ignited Gu Ting Ye's drive to find his lost son. It's not easy though as the devious plans between Man Niang, the Bai family and Madame Qin are uncovered where the ideal end result is Gu Ting Ye's death.
Gu Ting Ye requests for leniency for his family from the Emperor but generates displeasure in court. With the death of his older brother, Gu Ting Ye inherits the title of Marquis. Ming Lan is granted a title too! Just as the couple expected a slight reprieve, the evil stepmother hatches a plan to reintroduce an old flame into the picture. Man Niang reappears and bargains with Gu Ting Ye to be named a concubine by withholding the whereabouts of their son. What happens between them? Listen to find out
Gu Ting Ye still refuses to assist his brother and cousins for their involvement in the previous coup and is in a stalemate with his brother Gu Ting Yu. After learning about the truth of his health, Gu Ting Yu makes hard decision and decides to come clean to his brother for all of their family's previous ill deeds. He grants Gu Ting Ye the title of Marquis for the promise that he will take care of his wife and daughter. Gu Ting Ye, finally relents and agrees to save his brother and cousins from jail.
Tensions within the Gu Family escalate as 1) the 4th and 5th aunt first try to blackmail Ming Lan into helping their sons, 2) Gu Ting Ye's younger brother is taken in for questioning and 3) a stalemate occurs between Gu Ting Ye and his older brother on conditions to help the family.
Elsewhere, the Empress Dowager is furious that Gu Ting Ye devised a trick to take the Imperial Seal from her for the Emperor
Ming Lan is summoned to the Palace an unexpectedly is forced to greet the Empress Dowager. She's able to avoid a dangerous trap by finding a clever solution to the Empress Dowager's intended gifts. Qi Heng is now favored by the Empress Dowager and begins to investigate families from the failed coup. Two of Gu Ting Ye's cousins are thrown in jail and the families coming begging for help. Does Gu Ting Ye agree?
Ming Lan is out inspecting the new farmsteads that were gifted to her husband. During her audit, it becomes pretty obvious that the overseers have been lying on their accounts. Ming Lan outwits one overseer but needs Gu Ting Ye's assistance on another. Who knew managing lands was so difficult? Her actions are reported back to the Capital and various factions begin to take notice.
