Feigning ill, Shen Jia excuses herself from the banquet. Zifu senses that something is amiss, and comforts Shen Jia when she admits that she had unrequited feelings for Wei Qing. Zifu fails to win Empress Wang’s favour even with Princess Pingyang and Yihan’s help. Chen Jiao further aggravates the situation by mentioning the gravely ill Tian Fen. Saddened by Tian Fen’s condition, Empress Wang brings a jade sword to Liu Che, giving him an ultimatum – to choose either Duan Hong’s or her death. Chen Jio and Princess Guantao presents the witch doctor Chu Fu to Empress Wang, as a means to defeat Zifu. (Source: Viu)