A stunned court reacts to Emperor Gao Zhan's sudden death. No one looks more stunned than his son/murderer, Gao Wei. (I so want to reach into the screen and snip that wayward thread on his robe.) Zu Ting thinks Team Crown Prince has nothing to worry about. No one will suspect Gao Wei of murdering his father. Zheng Er worries that there is one high ranking person who can bring their house of cards down. That one person is the Queen Dowager.
(Run, Grandma Fu, run!)
The Queen Dowager is at a temple praying to Buddha when she's attacked by ninjas who strangle her. Oh, you have pissed me off now, Show! Her death is explained away as a suicide caused by her grief. An De goes to the farmstead to inform Chang Gong and Xue Wu about the grievous happenings.
Gao Wei starts experiencing Lady MacBeth Syndrome. He can only find solace with Zheng Er, who can miraculously make a lute sound like string quartet. She keeps assuring him he's done nothing wrong. In fact, Gao Wei should be happy that he has fulfilled his beloved mother's greatest wish by becoming emperor.
Worried about his safety, Xue Wu doesn't want her husband to return to court. Worried about her safety, Chang Gong doesn't want his wife to accompany him to the imperial funeral. But of course she's going to go.
Over in Zhou it's nothing but good news as they hear about the changing of the guard in Qi. King Yung considers the three year truce between the states to be null and void now.
Gao Wei officially takes the throne. After the formalities, he asks for Chang Gong and Xue Wu to join him for a private luncheon. Xue Wu presents the new emperor with a gift of four small drinking cups. Gao Wei has wine served to them in these cups. (The cups are silver which is supposed to detect poison. The wine is fine. This time.) The emperor requests Chang Gong to resume his previous post in the government. The prince tries to wiggle out of it but Gao Wei won't take no for an answer.
Zheng Er sure is enjoying the good life now that she's the emperor's woman. Only Gao Wei won't bestow the official title of Imperial Concubine on her because of Zheng Er's criminal past. Zheng Er gets that look in her eye that means trouble.
Zheng Er is reunited with Xiao Lian, a maid who knew Zheng Er back in the harem days. Xiao Lian is ecstatic to be with her old friend again even though she's heard nothing but bad things about Zheng Er since she left the palace. Zheng Er tries to serve Xiao Lian a drink. The other girl politely declines as she's not thirsty. Zheng Er says, "You will drink this."
(Run, Xiao Lian, run!)
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