Ruoxi is angered that Yinxiang failed to attend the horse-riding lesson as promised. He had promised to go but had been intercepted on the way by Minmin to go sheep herding. Yinzhen, on his own initiative, took his place as Ruoxi's riding tutor. On seeing him, she tries to leave but is caught by the prince who passionately kisses her. That night, she goes to find Yinxiang to get an explanation as to why was not there to teach her riding. Yinxiang believes that Ruoxi has feelings for Yinzhen and that he is a passing fancy. Ruoxi, of course, cannot reveal that Yinzhen is to be the next emperor, which is why she so careful around him. Depressed by the situation, she returns to her estate to throw a tantrum. News of the eighteenth prince Yinxie's worsening illness arrives but the ministers feel that the emperor should concern himself with the affairs of the empire and advise against informing him of the prince's condition. However, Yinsi goes against the consensus and decides to inform him. Upon receiving the news, the emperor decides to decamp and return to the capital in three days. The crown prince, Yinreng, in a drunken stupor, trespasses into the Mongolian bivouac and is later scolded by the emperor. Yinreng believes that this incident was instigated by his elder brother and goes to demand an explanation from him. During the argument, he is told that it is only a matter of time before the emperor strips him of his title. Furious, Yinreng rushes to the emperor and erupts in a rage, further worsening the emperor's mood and endangering his succession to the throne. Shortly before the emperor's party reaches the capital, news arrives of Yinxie's passing. In his grief, the emperor confides to Ruoxi his reasons for doting Yinreng. From a young age, Yinreng had lost his mother and the emperor had personally taken a hand in his upbringing but age failed to bring wisdom. Late in the night, Yinreng again disturbs the emperor and, enraged, the emperor summons his
