Ruiji beats Zifu, and just when Zifu thinks she is on the verge of death, Ruiji becomes peaceful again. Once she learns that Ruiji suffers from madness, Zifu knows that she had been sent for on purpose. One day Ruiji is suddenly poisoned and killed. Zifu is suspected of murder. Wei Qing pleads with Princess Pingyang to save Zifu, who in turn meets with the Empress Dou. However, Empress Dou refuses to intervene, as she had been close to Ruiji. Zifu is imprisoned and threatened with torture. Chen Jiao takes advantage of Liu Che’s absence from the palace to order Zifu’s execution. Princess Pingyang arrives with the emperor’s imperial decree just in time. When Liu Che returns to the palace and demands evidence of Zifu’s murder, Chen Jiao is unable to respond. Just when it seems like Zifu would be freed, Empress Dou forbade her release! (Source: Viu)