Since the Mid-Autumn Festival and the announcement of Yin'e's engagement, Ruoxi has been moody. The inability to control one's destiny drove her to melancholy. Yin'e becomes depressed and spends much of his time drinking. Yinti believes that only Ruoxi can break him from this depression. Ruoxi meets Yin'e for the last time and lets him know of her feelings for him. Winter arrives and Ruoxi revels in the crystalline weather, frolicking in the snow when Yinsi joins her. In a moment of awkwardness, she nearly falls but Yinsi catches her hand to steady her, but does not let go. His behavior confuses Ruoxi and she feels a sense of guilt towards her sister. Yin'e's wedding day arrives and both Ruoxi and Ruolan attend, but Ruoxi is taken aside by Yinxiang. In their sadness, the two of them drink to drown their sorrows. After a time, they share their sorrows and it is an unburdened, though drunken, Ruoxi when she returns to her estate. The princes intend to hold a horse race and Ruoxi asks her sister to attend, but Ruolan mysteriously refuses. Ruoxi investigates and coincidentally hears about a general, which deepens her curiosity.
