Fan Xian goes to the Eastern Palace to meet the Crown Prince and informs him that the Second Prince and Elder Princess are colluding with Northern Qi in a smuggling trade. Fan Xian says a place called Shijia Town must be investigated to find proof.

Fan Xian intends to enter Moon Embracing Pavilion through the purchasing caravan. He meets Mr. Jin by coincidence. Fan Xian gives Mr. Jin 500 taels and tells him to help locate the whereabouts of Teng Zi Jin's wife and son.

Prince Cheng Ze has his men surround the Moon Embracing Pavilion. He and Wang Qi Nian go upstairs and meet Fan Xian. Prince Cheng Ze hopes to form an alliance with Fan Xian, but Fan Xian firmly asserts that they are not the same kind of people and are destined to be enemies.

Fan Xian orders Fan Si Zhe to detain himself at home. He tells him not to leave his room until he returns with the convoy. Fan Xian goes to see Yan Bing Yun. He states that his period of fake death is over. However, Fan Xian's death has turned into a huge deal. Fan Xian's convoy encounters Prince Cheng Ru and his army outside the city gate. Xin Qi Wu, an official of the State Ceremonial Bureau, goes to see Fan Xian.

The crown prince tells the queen that he's the one who burned down Shijia Town. Chen Ping Ping consoles Fan Xian and returns the inspector pass to him. He wants him to assume his position in the Overwatch Council. Fan Xian tells Fan Jian and Madam Liu about Fan Si Zhe's brothel business. He arranges for Fan Si Zhe to head to Northern Qi. Fan Si Zhe gives it a try even though he's afraid of the journey ahead.

Fan Xian arrives at the Overwatch Council to review its affairs, but no one has any answers. Determined to reform the place and eliminate the stale and corrupt culture, Fan Xian decides to take action. He learns that the Vegetable Inspection Office has sent a valuable ingredient, which he intends to use as a starting point to address the corruption. Upon hearing that the Vegetable Inspection Office has been sealed off, Eunuch Dai hurries to handle the situation.

Prince Cheng Ze is confused about Fan Xian's act of bribery in public. Prince Cheng Ze decides to do nothing and observe the situation. Fan Xian asks Yan Bing Yun to lead the Fourth Bureau of the Overwatch Council to investigate the corruption outside the capital. Yan Bing Yun says he can help Fan Xian for the sake of the Qing Kingdom.

Lai Ming Cheng exposes Eunuch Dai for exploiting vegetable farmers with his traps. Cheng Ping Ping stands out and testifies for Fan Xian. Fan Xian is able to be acquitted of his bribery charge.

Prince Cheng Ze meets with Fan Xian again, hoping they can turn from enemies to friends. A murder occurs at Moon Embracing Pavilion, and Fan Xian personally investigates, only to find that the victim is Old Man Jin's daughter. Overcome with grief and anger, Fan Xian orders a thorough investigation of Yuan Meng, determined to bring the perpetrator to justice.

Prince Cheng Ze does not care about the rumors and wants to add insult to injury. He hopes to use Fan Xian's rumor at Northern Qi to affect Wan Er and Fan Xian's marriage. Ye Ling Er wants to cancel her marriage agreement with Prince Cheng Ze, but Prince Cheng Ze says there's no going back after His Majesty granted the marriage.

News of Fan Xian using the investigation of corrupt officials to deal with Prince Cheng Ze and his faction has been spreading in the capital like wildfire. The Overwatch Council states that the culprits of the murder in Moon Embracing Pavilion were finally arrested. They rat out their mastermind as well.

Lai Ming Cheng argues with Emperor Qing several times. In the end, he is flogged to death. Chen Ping Ping says Lai Ming Cheng's death will make the Overwatch Council an enemy of the Censorate. Fan Xian has literally become a lonely official.

The Spring Imperial Examination is nearing. Prince Cheng Ze recommends Fan Xian to host the examination. The Emperor of Qing grants Fan Xian the title of Central Official. He's in charge of overseeing the examination. Fan Xian senses that Prince Cheng Ze will set him up during the examination.

Deng Zi Yue gives a report of Shi Chan Li's surveillance to Fan Xian. Fan Xian has doubts and goes to the exam hall to investigate. All factions in the imperial court start delivering notes to Fan Xian in secret and hope that the name on the note will appear on the ranking of the Spring Imperial Examination.

Fan Xian arrives at Tongfu Inn and encounters Yang Wan Li, who is immersed in his studies. As Yang Wan Li talks about his aspirations for officialdom, Fan Xian finds his blood being stirred. Meanwhile, Fan Si Zhe and Guo Bao Kun stealthily make their way to the capital, evading the attention of others, to meet with Fan Xian.

Guo You Zi thanks Fan Xian for protecting Guo Bao Kun. He checks the rule manual provided to Fan Xian by Guo Zheng on his behalf. The incident with Moon Embracing Pavilion has come to an end. Fan Si Zhe volunteers to help Fan Xian with the business dealings with Northern Qi once Fan Xian takes over the Imperial Treasury.

Fan Xian inspects the area where the exam papers are reviewed. Officials who want to tamper with the exam papers have no choice but to give up. Before the results are released, Fan Xian checks the ranking and realizes the name of the candidate who is supposed to pass the exam has been changed. The crown prince denies changing the name on the list.

Shi Chan Li requests Fan Xian to investigate the Shijia Town massacre. He Zong Wei visits Fan Xian and kneels before him. He asks Fan Xian to punish him and he will inform Fan Xian if the Censorate does anything in the future. Fan Xian is disgusted with He Zong Wei's attitude.

The Emperor of Qing summons Fan Xian and Prince Li Cheng Ru to the palace. Fan Xian presents the list of Chancellor Lin's retainers handed to him by Chancellor Lin to the Emperor of Qing. The Emperor of Qing orders Fan Xian to be married three days later, much to Fan Xian's delight.

Princess Yun Rui arrives at Fan Residence. She delivers wedding gifts to Fan Xian, which are the ledgers of the Imperial Treasury. Fan Xian invites Chen Ping Ping to attend his wedding banquet. Chen Ping Ping hands him a red packet, telling him that he won't be able to attend it.

Fan Xian notices that Wu Zhu has shown up. They talk about the murders in Jiangnan. Wu Zhu says that he doesn't remember killing anyone in Jiangnan. Fan Xian excitedly speculates that someone framed him, but Wu Zhu is not as confident in this theory.

Jiangbei is devastated by a locust plague. Fan Xian volunteers to cover the Imperial Treasury's deficit and relieve the disaster victims. The Emperor of Qing states that no delays are allowed. Fan Xian sells treasury bonds to the merchants. The merchants are enticed by the notion.

Fei Jie investigates a murder case. The murderer disappeared in the capital. When the Emperor of Qing's edict regarding the Chrysanthemum Viewing Festival is sent, everyone starts rushing to buy the treasury bonds. Thanks to that, Fan Xian gathers an amount of money that exceeds his estimate.

Fan Xian heads to Xuankong Temple to attend the Chrysanthemum Viewing Festival. At the temple, various princes and ministers have arrived. Fan Xian quickly notices that there is a fire at Xuankong Temple. In the meantime, the emperor of Qing is at the highest level of the temple...

Fan Xian's messy internal energy surprises the white-robed assassin. The assassin hits hard and causes Fan Xian to be seriously injured.