The Princess Royal

With no other options, Li Rong secretly sends Pei Wen Xuan out of the capital to gather evidence. He has to return before the scheduled execution of the Qin family. Li Rong, under immense pressure, rescues the Qin family from the Ministry of Justice and shelters them in her residence, while Su Rong Qing arrives to intervene.

Upon returning to Pei's Residence, Pei Wen Xuan and Li Rong engage in a fierce argument to reclaim the inheritance left by Pei Wen Xuan's father, only to be met with adamant refusal from Pei Li Xian and their other relatives. At a crucial moment, the timid Madam Wen, inspired by Li Rong's unwavering support, finds her voice and boldly denounces the Pei family members for their ungratefulness.

Su Rong Qing is happy when Li Rong invites him to a meal. He goes to the restaurant, but Li Rong doesn't appear. He is sad. Su Rong Hua knows Su Rong Qing is sad, so they get drunk together. Back at home, Li Rong helps Pei Wen Xuan dress his wounds. Both of them have a heart-to-heart talk. Pei Wen Xuan feels very touched and sleeps with Li Rong in his arms.

Li Rong orders Xun Chuan to find the veterans and obtain their testimonies. At the same time, she intends to acquire information from the Ministry of Justice. Pei Wen Xuan was bullied in the Censorate as he went against the noble families. He has to work overtime day after day.

Pei Wen Xuan suggests to Li Rong that she establish the Inspectorate, leaving Li Rong in a dilemma. Qin Zhen Zhen is grateful to Li Rong for saving her life, while Li Rong plans for Qin Zhen Zhen to live on under the identity of a guard, Xun Chuan.

Pei Wen Xuan expresses that Li Rong was the only person he loved in the past. He never had any feelings for Qin Zhen Zhen. Li Rong becomes speechless, and she chooses to avoid him. Her cold attitude chills Pei Wen Xuan's heart.

Li Chuan musters enough courage and heads to Jiulu Mountain to confess to Qin Zhen Zhen. The Qixi Festival Banquet begins. Pei Wen Xuan receives news that Consort Rou held an incense-making contest for the ladies to help her niece, Xiao Wei, enter the Eastern Palace.

On their wedding night, Li Rong and Pei Wen Xuan can't sleep well. Instead, they discuss plans for after their divorce. Pei Wen Xuan deliberately arranges for Su Rong Qing to pick her up during their wedding day, while Li Rong is also thinking about how to stop Qin Zhen Zhen from entering the palace.

To promote Prince Su, Li Ming decides to send Consort Rou's brother, Xiao Su, to the frontline to replace Li Chuan. A day before the wedding, Pei Wen Xuan hands out red envelopes to other officials. And Su Rong Qing shows up unexpectedly.

After Li Rong is imprisoned, Liu Chuan visits her in prison. A lady was following him. It turns out that the lady is Qin Zhen Zhen. Pei Wen Xuan thought that Qin Zhen Zhen canceled the marriage because her family forced her to do so. However, Qin Zhen Zhen says that she did so of her own accord.

Li Rong and Pei Wen Xuan argue frequently, their bickering a daily occurrence, yet they exhibit perfect harmony when it comes to strategy. While investigating the Yang family, they simultaneously begin amassing military strength for the crown prince. In a display of tacit understanding, they temporarily set aside their past grievances involving Qin Zhen Zhen and travel together to Jiulu Mountain, seeking to enlist the help of Qin Zhen Zhen’s brother, the brave General Qin Lin, who has been living in seclusion in the mountains.

Pei Wen Xuan takes advantage of the situation to file a report on Yang Quan to Li Ming. After Yang Quan fails to kidnap the princess, he assassinates a court official. Moreover, he continues to get defeated on the northwest battlefield. Wen Xuan voices out that there's something fishy going on. Li Ming takes that opportunity to promote Pei Wen Xuan to a censor and asks him to investigate the Yang family.

Pei Wen Xuan has just left Qionghua Palace when he is summoned to the Imperial Study by Li Ming. Yang Quan is already waiting there, his eyes burning with envy at the sight of Pei Wen Xuan. Despite Pei Wen Xuan's sarcastic remarks, Yang Quan has no choice but to implore Li Ming to grant his marriage to Li Rong. However, Li Ming remains indifferent.

The next morning, Li Chuan and Su Rong Qing, who serves as the Vice Minister of Justice, lead a group of men to find Li Rong and Pei Wen Xuan. Just having learned that the one who killed her was Su Rong Qing, Li Rong feels a mix of guilt and conflicted emotions upon seeing him again.

Li Rong and Pei Wen Xuan test each other and arrive at the same conclusion, the other person has also come back in time. Both of them stop hiding their pasts and think there is no need to repeat their past mistakes. Pei Wen Xuan no longer suggests being the prince consort and even explains the best prince consort candidate to Li Rong.

Returning to her 18-year-old self, Li Rong intends to use the Spring Banquet to choose a prince consort again. Despite her previous entanglements with Pei Wen Xuan, she now sees him as nothing more than an inexperienced young man under 20. Thus, she plans to tease him a little for her amusement.

Princess Royal Li Rong and Prime Minister Pei Wen Xuan are husband and wife, but they're not in a harmonious state. They also have different political views. Emperor Li Chuan of the Great Xia is in danger of death due to elixir poisoning, and it's urgent to appoint a crown prince. Li Rong advocates that the son of Empress Shangguan Ya be the crown prince, while Pei Wen Xuan insists on supporting the son of Concubine Qin Zhen Zhen to inherit the throne. The two, who have been living separately, will be at loggerheads again because of this matter when they meet.