Maomao meets Shisui again, who reveals her traumatic past to her. Shisui describes her mother Shenmei as a cruel and corrupting woman, whose shadow she desperately tries to escape—even at the cost of never having children of her own. Shisui confesses that her sister Suirei, who carries imperial blood, is being exploited by their father Shishou as a political tool. Although Shisui claims Suirei is not related to the Shi Clan, Maomao sees through this attempt to protect her sister and recognizes Shisui's deep affection.

Shisui sees herself as an insect that won’t survive the winter and accepts her own death to protect Suirei. She rejects Maomao’s advice to flee, insisting instead on pride and a sense of duty. At their farewell, Maomao gives her a hairpin and asks for luck. Shisui bids goodbye with the words that Maomao should take care of the rest.

Meanwhile, Jinshi, Lakan, and Lahan plan the siege of the Shi fortress. Since gunpowder is being produced inside, they devise a risky plan to destroy the supplies and trigger an avalanche as a distraction to avoid a bloody assault.

Inside the fortress, Shisui operates disguised as Loulan. She blows up the gunpowder storage, triggering the avalanche that buries the arsenal. In her final confrontation with Shenmei, Shisui exposes her years of abuse. Shishou finally recognizes his wife’s cruelty and his own inaction. At Loulan’s demand to take responsibility, he supports the avalanche operation.

The Imperial Guard takes advantage of the ensuing chaos for a successful attack. Jinshi insists on sparing unarmed enemies. After the battle, Jinshi rescues Maomao and reveals his true identity as the imperial prince. Maomao finds poisoned children in the fortress, who are secretly buried on Lihaku’s initiative. He then escorts Maomao to safety.

In the end, Maomao decides to fulfill Shisui’s last wish: "I will do what Shisui entrusted to me." The episode concludes with the hint of the impending reckoning with the Shi Clan.